The sun dipped low, casting a golden hue over the dense foliage of Riften forest. Inigo and Illia walked through the Rift's forest, having decided to spend some alone time together, in these moments of respite. Inigo continued to pour out a tankard to his old adventures with Cura and the others to her, and Illia listened with rapt attention.
The autumnal leaves crunched underfoot like old parchment as the pair continued through the trees. The air was filled with the sweet scent of pine and the distant chirping of birds settling in for the night. The chill of night would soon be upon the land and the twin moons were already beginning their ascent overhead to be adored by the masses below.
Inigo glanced at Illia, his eyes reflecting the warmth of the setting sun. "You know, Illia, there's something magical about this place." he said, his voice soft and sincere.
Illia smiled, her eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and affection. "It's not just the forest, Inigo. It's the company," she replied, her hand brushing against his.
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds being the rustle of leaves and the gentle whisper of the wind. Inigo reached out, taking Illia's hand in his. She looked up at him, her heart skipping a beat at the tenderness in his gaze.
"Thank you for being here with me," Inigo said, his voice barely above a whisper. "In this moment, everything feels right."
Illia squeezed his hand, her smile widening. "Always, Inigo. Always."
As they continued their stroll, the forest seemed to come alive around them, the beauty of nature shielded the pair from the goings-on in the Province. At this moment in time, the pair could just be themselves; lost in the company of one another.
"I have roamed these woods all my life," Illia mused, "but now, they seem unfamiliar. Perhaps it's due in part to Mehrunes Dagon's heavy footprints that have altered them."
"Indeed, the constipated red behemoth did shuffle the mountains around in his fit of rage," Inigo remarked dryly, injecting a bit of levity into the situation. In truth, he could recall with great precision the fear that gripped his heart when he stood in the presence of the Daedric Prince and his Host. "I would bet you probably felt the tremors all the way down in Darklight Tower."
"I had felt something," Illia recounted the strange shifts in the air some time back. "I just never would have imagined a revitalized Oblivion Crisis. Thank the gods that you and the others managed to push him backwards, otherwise he'd probably have flattened the Rift entirely."
"A drunken Breton in our party rode southwards from Windhelm, and Dagon chased him." Inigo explained. "Cosnach, you were one brave son of a Horker." He mused with somber amusement. They weren't close by any stretch of the imagination, but he respected Cosnach's courage in the face of such evil, to pry a horse and lure a Daedric prince away from the central conflict to buy the warriors a moment of control over the battle was no small feat.
Illia did not know who Cosnach was, but she greatly admired the bravery it must have taken Inigo and his friends to face Dagon like that. She resolved that when the time inevitably came to face them again, that she would stand firm by their side, and she would teach the Daedra how to fear the searing cold. Though she'd studied other kinds of magic, the one subsect of Destruction where Illia was unmatched was in her Frost Magic.
In mere seconds she could flashfreeze a Mammoth, if she were particularly spiteful that day.
Though she prided herself on this icy coolness, there was one thing she could never deny: Inigo found a way to melt her ice. As the pair of them wandered together, she basked in the warmth radiating from the blue Khajiit.
Halting abruptly by a narrow stream that flowed into a pond encircled by fallen trees and disrupted soil, Illia leaned over to gather some water in her hands. She splashed it over her face, finding the coolness revitalizing. "Ah, refreshing," she remarked.
Inigo chuckled in response, "If I attempted the same, my fur would end up resembling a mop." He kept his attention on the surrounding area in the case of an attack. After a moment of pause he wondered, "You know, I wonder what Lucien and Serana are doing. They have been gone for a couple of days now. It is very unlike Lucien to run away without notice."
Illia shook some of the excess water from her hands. "It's possible that they could be scouting the Rift's borders and we just haven't run into them yet."
"You are likely correct, but I will keep my ears peeled for any suspicious noises." Inigo said with a nod. He then wiggled his nose; "And I shall keep my nose peeled for any acrid smells."
"Acrid smells?" Illia gazed at him, her countenance one of mild concern and great confusion.
"Magic carries a strange scent, like the tang of sour grapes blended with exquisite honey, and the element it commands," Inigo described. "As a Khajiit, my senses are keen to such little nuances. And Lucien and Serana are both magic-users as well."
Illia was intrigued by his depiction. "Is that how you would describe it? I think I can see where you're coming from. It's always possessed a blend of sweetness and bitterness. After all, magic is the essence of everything, manifested into reality."
"Perhaps in Aetherius, they indulge in feasts of wine and honey?" Inigo chuckled heartily. "It's as if we're catching a whiff of Akatosh's Dining Table!"
It would not come as a shock to him; Cura's depiction of Sovngarde included a grand dining hall within Shor's Hall, replete with mead, oxen, and an assortment of other fine foods. His own eyes had beheld the splendor of Mara's Golden Wheat Field, teeming with cheerful, playing wolves. The absence of at least beer on the Aedra's tables would, indeed, be a surprising omission.
Illia's laughter erupted spontaneously, taken by surprise. "Not the worst scent to encounter before a mage incinerates one's face, right?"
Inigo chuckled with amusement. "Indeed, it is not. Imagine if the fire spells actually smelled like brimstone? Like having your face in a boiling pot of rotten eggs. Gods." He turned from the brook and begun to walk westward through the crushed forest.
"If they smelled like that, I don't think there would be Fire Mages." Illia scoffed. She tended to favour ice, true, but if fire smelled like that, she would never even attempt it. She followed Inigo's lead through the forest. Given the circumstances, they hoped that Lucien and Serana were faring well in these parts.
Lucien and Serana often found themselves grateful for the ability to Fast Travel, a convenience that transformed what would otherwise be a tedious voyage into an efficient one. With a swift move to Riften, they followed the X marked by Katria on their map, venturing towards its location.
Their anticipation grew at the thought of the Aetherium Forge; its potential to transform society was undeniable. Lucien was confident that the forge could be used to reshape and recast various Dwarven Metal pieces, and possibly, to imbue the Dwarven Scraps with Aetherium.
He also contemplated visiting Fort Dawnguard to share this significant find with Sorine Jurard and Gunmar, should it prove authentic. The existence of Aetherium Shards in his satchel greatly supported the existence of the Forge, making its discovery almost certain.
Serana gazed at the wide canopy of orange over their heads as they walked under the Rift's Boreal Forest. She mused, "I've always wondered what the Dwemer actually looked like. If one believes Nordssen, they were much like elves, but with beards. But what about young Dwarves... were they indistinguishable from, say, the Altmer, then?" She gazed around the verdant scape as she continued to ponder. "Maybe there were other differences - a lighter skin tone, or... tails? No... why would they have tails? Ugh, I don't know."
Serana waved off her fancies and groaned. "Don't mind my rambling. It's just; there's so many artifacts from their civilization, and yet we know so little. What did they look like? Where did they go?"
"Don't apologize for being curious, Serana. We are two halves of a brain when it comes to the Dwemer, it seems." Lucien responded with a playful chuckle. "You probably were thinking about Khajiit, like our Inigo. It's said that they come in a wide variety of forms, from actual cats to Bosmer with catlike tails."
"So Pelinal Whitestrake was right?" Serana asked out of curiosity. "Our Inigo is actually a furry Bosmer, technically. But not really?"
"The debate rages on." Lucien said with a laugh. "You know, if you think about it, our little band of misfits was kind of interesting."
"Do tell?" Serana chuckled.
"Well, firstly, we have the Dragonborn: a half-Altmer Nord who was raised by a Breton like a Breton, then we have a Blue Khajiit who was raised by Argonian and Khajiit parents who were assassins, me, a Nobleman from Cyrodiil with a passion for education - particularly on Dwemer matters. Then we have Vilja, the bard from the Islands of Solstheim who rejects her family's tradition as Apothecaries and has a strange habit of dancing on tavern tables. Then we have you, a Vampire from the strongest Vampire Clan in Skyrim, who was hidden away for thousands of years because both of her parents were petty and obsessed with a prophecy." Lucien described, "Er - no offense."
"None taken; it is what it is." Serana said with a calm sigh. "What do you make of that Illia girl?"
Lucien shrugged. "I don't know. She seems kind of cold, but I guess she must have her reasons."
Serana nodded, "That's true; I can relate to her there."
Katria reemerged slowly, so as to not startle Lucien again. "Okay, so... can we see your map again, Lucien?" she asked. He opened it and the three of them peered over its contents. Katria ran a finger along its surface. "Yeah, we're not far, now. It should be close."
Lucien looked around and spotted a set of Ruins far off in the distance. "I see a wreckage there, past the trees." he pointed forward. "You don't think...?"
"There's only one way to find out." Katria hovered through the bushes and trees, her invisible feet moving the discarded autumn leaves like a pushing gale.
"Wait!" Lucien scrambled to get ahead of her, and Serana caught up with them with haste. They knew that it would be best to stick together in these woodlands. Nobody knew what could lurk around any corner.
The trio ventured deeper into the forest, the dense canopy above casting dappled shadows on the ground. Lucien, ever the scholar, led the way with a map in hand, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of the ancient ruins they sought. Serana walked beside him, her vampiric senses alert to any danger, while Katria's ghost floated beside him, her aethereal form shimmering in the dim light.
As they approached the clearing, Lucien's eyes widened in excitement. "There it is!" he exclaimed, pointing to a set of ruins partially hidden by overgrown vegetation. In the center stood a short stone monolith, its surface covered in intricate carvings. At its face was an odd circular slot, unlike anything they had seen before.
Serana stepped closer, her fingers tracing the carvings. "This must be the place. This monolith is definitely of ancient Dwemer origin. But what could this slot be for?"
Katria's ghost hovered beside them, her voice echoing with a hint of urgency. "We need to be careful. These ruins are likely guarded, and not just by time." She was excited as the two of them, but wary at once.
As if on cue, a rustling sound came from the surrounding trees. Lucien's heart raced as he turned to see a group of bandits emerging from the shadows, their weapons drawn and eyes gleaming with malice.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" sneered the bandit leader, a burly Orc with a scar across his face. "Looks like we've got some trespassers."
Serana's eyes narrowed, her hand reaching for her dagger. "We don't want any trouble. Don't do this." She narrowed her flaming eyes dangerously at the Bandits.
The bandit leader laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Oh, I don't think so. You see, these ruins are ours. And anyone who comes here has to pay the price."
Lucien stepped forward, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his insides. "We have no quarrel with you. We're just here to study the ruins. There's no need for violence."
The bandit leader's expression darkened. "Too late for that, Imperial. Get them!"
The clearing erupted into chaos as the bandits charged, arcing around the winding trees. Serana moved with lightning speed, her blade flashing in the dim light as she parried and struck with deadly precision. She blocked an axe swing with one hand on the handle, and placed her hand on a Bandit's chest, causing an Ice Spike to slide out of her palm and through his neck.
Lucien, though less skilled in combat, used his knowledge of spells to fend off their attackers, summoning the power of the Unbound Flames Faralda had taught him. The fire snaked around the grass like twin leviathans, closing in on the unfortunate assailants.
Katria's ghost nocked a spectral arrow and fired it into the side of one of the bandits, alerting his attention, though he was unable to locate the one who fired it. And in that instant a familiar voice shot through the forest: "I am an artist, the world is my canvas, and you morons will be my paint!"
An arrow streaked through the twining branches like a flash of light, striking the Bandit in the forehead. With a gasp he fumbled over sideways and his eyes bugged out before he dropped to his knees and fell onto his face, tilting it slightly due to the protruding projectile.
Katria's eyes widened at the accuracy of the shot. She stared at the Khajiit who stood some distance away.
Lucien turned his face briefly and saw Inigo standing there atop a large stone, a stalwart blue figure with a bow in his hands.
The Blue Khajiit narrowed his eyes at the brigands dangerously. "Who else wants to help me paint a masterpiece of death?" he inquired with a low growl hanging in his throat.
"Inigo!" Lucien called out to his friend.
"That's Inigo?" Katria asked. Now she understood what Lucien meant when he said he would give him Zephyr. She nodded in acceptance. If Inigo could nail a hit like that from such an odd angle - perhaps he would be the ideal wielder of her Bow.
The Bandits turned their gaze from Lucien and Serana to face the Blue Khajiit. "You'll make a fine rug, cat."
"You will not touch him!" An Icicle whizzed through the air and struck the bandit in the leg, causing him to fall, clutching his shin and howl in pain.
Illia stepped into the fray, her blue skirts swishing behind her as she stepped on discarded branches. She was a dark figure emerging under the moonlight beside Inigo. She had two spells in hand; fire and ice. "Bandits. I'm getting real sick of seeing your kind in these forests."
Inigo's sword danced through the air, his movements fluid and precise. "You picked the wrong fight, bandit scum! And now you will become paste!" he shouted, cutting down an attacker with a swift strike. Illia weaved her powerful spells through nature's auditorium in a symphony of colour and pain. Ice and fire intwined with one another, colouring the canvas a frosty blue and scorched black as the Bandits danced in anguish, leaping to and fro in a desperate attempt to escape her reach.
"Glad you could join us, Inigo!" Serana called out with a fanged smile, her eyes never leaving her opponent.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Inigo replied with a grin, parrying a blow and countering with a powerful thrust.
Illia moved to Lucien's side, her magic bolstering his defenses. "It looks like we came right on time."
With their combined strength, the tide of battle quickly turned. The bandits, realizing they were outmatched, began to retreat. The leader, his face twisted in rage, shouted, "This isn't over!" before scurrying into the brush.
"I think it is." Inigo nocked another arrow and loosed it, where it sung through the air and embedded itself in the back of the Bandit Leader's head. His large green form fumbled forward and skidded into the mud before laying still for good.
As the dust settled, the group stood amidst the fallen bandits, their breaths heavy and hearts pounding.
"Nothing like a brush with death in the middle of the night to remind you that life is worth living, eh?" Inigo said with a chuckle as he sheathed his sword.
Lucien, Serana and Katria met the two of them halfway. "Inigo, what are you doing here?" Lucien inquired, "Not that I'm complaining, of course."
Inigo laughed, "I guess you could say that we were on patrol duty and I smelled the odours of honey, wine and fire." He nudged Illia gently and she chuckled as well.
"Yes; Inigo was worried about the two of you. You disappeared spontaneously." Illia explained.
"Oh, well, you see, about that," Lucien began. "I was approached by Maven Black-Briar and the Thieves Guild. Long story short, they want to employ Dwemer Technology for use against the Daedra, so they consulted me, naturally."
Serana rolled her eyes.
Lucien continued, "I had heard legends of this place known as the Aetherium Forge - I wondered if it could be used as a construction base, where we could reforge the Dwemer Centurions and Automatons. Long story short, we met the ghost of an Adventurer, Katria. She dedicated her life to studying the Aetherium Forge."
Inigo looked at the specter who stood behind Lucien and Serana. "I see. this must be her, then?" He pointed at the ethereal woman.
Katria nodded in response. "Yes. The two of them have been a great help. Without Lucien and Serana I'd be aimlessly wandering the Ruins of Arkngthamz for all eternity with nothing but shame to keep me company."
Inigo nodded, "Oh, yes; and shame does not make good company." He extended a hand. "It is nice to meet you, Katria."
"I'm a ghost, remember?" Katria chuckled at his offer for a handshake.
"Right." Inigo pulled back his hand. "Well, you could not have found better companions to help you. Lucien has great knowledge of the Dwemer, and Serana has the most levelled head of our friend circle."
Katria cleared her throat and turned to Lucien. "Didn't you have something you wanted to give him?"
Lucien wondered what she meant at first, and then it dawned on him as the sun rises over the ocean. "Oh, right!" He reached into his bag and drew out Zephyr, "For you, Inigo; a gift from Katria actually."
"A Bow?" Inigo inquired. "Wow; is this Dwarven?" he looked over the ornate arch as it was presented to him.
Katria nodded, "It's my old bow, Zephyr. I think Lucien was right; you're an excellent bowman. I'd be honoured if you would accept it. I know it'll do well in your hands."
Inigo aimed the bow and tested its string. "Zephyr," he repeated the name, tasting it on his tongue. "I like it!" He twanged the string a few more times. "Solid handling, sturdy wiring... it is a good bow! Thank you, Katria. I will carry your legacy with every arrow flung."
Illia walked over to the monolith, which appeared to have gears attached to the paneling on the stone floors. "I think something is meant to go in here. The runes need to be activated by something..." she traced her finger along the Dwemer scribing. "Unfortunately, I can't read Dwemer, but I know a magical seal when I see one. But... what could...?"
Katria hovered over to Illia and looked upon the face of the monolith, understanding what she meant. She beckoned to Lucien, Inigo, and Serana, inviting them over to look over the intricate Dwarven seal. Magic and Mechanism married in the form of this pedestal. "Look at the device here - the gear in the center is just about the right size. Try putting the shards in and... we'll see what happens."
Lucien reached into his bag and drew the Shards of Aetherium. As soon as they emerged, their blue light shimmered, casting a cerulean glow on the surrounding area. The shadows of the trees and the forms of their allies danced as black waves all around the woodland floor.
Illia gawked at the sight of them. "No way! Those metal shards... I can feel the power radiating off them from here! What are those?"
"Pure Aetherium." Serana explained briefly. "The Dwemer, as it turns out, found a way to harness the Aether into a metal like this. They could use its power for many interesting things."
Inigo's eyes sparkled with excitement. "You could craft the world's biggest Spider Trap with those! Imagine it - a flat platform on a catapult, made of Dwemer Technology-" He observed the perplexed expressions on the faces of his allies."-no? Psh. No fun at all." He sulked and looked away.
Lucien placed the shards on the round surface and then something strange happened: the runes that Illia had mentioned began to glow white and the metal pieces began to melt into one another within its confines. The golden rim set in place on its side and the fused object emerged: an Aetherium Crest of sorts. It looked to be demanding to be turned upon the lock it rested upon.
With a glance at his agreeing party members, Lucien spun the Crest by its metal handle, and the earth began to rumble beneath their feet. Plates of stone began to shift and the center opened up before them. A Dwemer tower entrance was erected before their very eyes, slowly sliding upwards from the depths. When it settled, the group stood there, amazed and awed by the sheer sight of it.
"Everything we've done in our small excursion has led us here," Lucien cleared his throat. "after you, Katria."
"Me?" Katria asked.
"Yes; you dedicated your life to this moment; it's only right that you go first." Lucien said with a smile as he removed the Aetherium Crest from the pedestal, now that its use was served.
Katria smiled gratefully and floated to its door, which shifted open. She swallowed, barely containing her excitement before stepping inside. Inigo, Lucien, Illia and Serana followed her in. There was an elevator with a lever at its center and Lucien pulled it to descend into the earth.
The voyage down was long; seeming to go on and on and on before the lift slowed and came to a stop. Katria spoke up, "That took longer than usual... How deep are we?"
Serana's eyes adjusted to the darkness. "Definitely lower than in some of the other ruins... and is it just me, or is it hot down here? Unpleasantly so."
Illia nodded. "Ugh, I despise this heat. It's like sitting at the edge of a Blacksmith's Forge in a small stone room."
Inigo shuddered, "Well, it seems like I will become a mop anyways."
Illia giggled, catching his comment while the others were confused.
As they all stepped out of the elevator, they found themselves in a curious place.
The air was thick with anticipation as they prepared to delve into the depths of the forgotten city.
"Stay close and keep your wits about you," Lucien advised, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "These ruins are filled with traps and hidden dangers."
They moved cautiously through the open wall on their right, discovering an apprentice-locked chest filled with random leveled loot. Inigo deftly picked the lock, his nimble fingers working with practiced ease. "Got it," he said with a grin, revealing the treasures within.
Returning to the lift, Lucien pulled the handle next to the gate. The gate creaked open, and the first brazier ignited, casting a warm glow over the path ahead. "This way," Serana instructed, leading the group forward. The braziers lit up one by one as they followed the path across the river.
At the bottom of the first set of stairs, they turned right, finding a path that circled around to another apprentice-level chest. Illia's magic made quick work of the lock, and they gathered the loot before returning to the main path. The braziers continued to light their way, casting light over a cave-like structure.
Before crossing the river using the land bridge, they descended the rest of the way to the water level on a dirt path. "Let's see what's down here." Katria suggested, her ghostly form gliding effortlessly over the terrain. They continued into the water, swimming under and keeping left to find a soul gem underwater. Next to it lay a skeleton and a dwarven sword, relics of a long-forgotten adventurer. The preservation of it was fascinating, to say the least. Were they the bones of a Dwemer?
"There's something behind the waterfall, and it is not a bathing Dwemer." Inigo called out, his keen eyes spotting a hidden chest. They swam to the waterfall, discovering a locked chest concealed behind the cascading water. With a bit of effort, they managed to unlock it and retrieve its contents.
Returning to the main path, they crossed a land bridge to reach a small altar filled with Dwemer gear and scraps. "This must have been an important site," Lucien mused, examining the ancient artifacts. "it really gives the impression that they worshipped their constructs, doesn't it?"
"Didn't they create the Numidium, which they called the metal god?" Serana inquired, as if to prove his point.
"Maybe they angered the Aedra and then were poofed out of existence?" Inigo said with a mild laugh. "I do not see Talos relishing the idea of people worshipping a bucket of bolts over him."
"Talos also used the Numidium, you knucklehead." Lucien muttered as he walked over a few strewn stones.
Katria smirked at their banter, and returned attention to the space around them. "Just think ... No one's been here for four-thousand years." She placed her hands on her hips. "The Nords up there are so busy bickering over Talos all the time, and yet they couldn't see the pioneering genius that he himself saw in the Dwemer's Technology. It really is ironic."
They moved cautiously, heading west over the next bridge to a huge stairway leading up between several smaller buildings. Before climbing the stairs, they decided to explore a path at the cliffs' edge to the east. There, they found a leveled Dwarven Battleaxe with a fire enchantment of some kind. "I bet this could fetch a pretty septim; or maybe you could smelt it down and use it to fix the other pieces?" Inigo picked it up, admiring the craftsmanship before they returned to climb the Great Stairs, ignoring the frozen Dwemer Spheres on either side.
At the top of the stairs stood a tree, almost completely yellow, and obviously dead and frozen in time. The sight was eerie, a stark reminder of the ancient past. There were two blocked entrances, north and south. The south entrance had an expert-locked chest, which Illia managed to unlock with a bit of effort. The north entrance led into the cliff and to the top of the waterway they had crossed over twice by bridge before. Turning to the right, they hugged the northeastern part of the building, finding two silver ore veins.
"Let's go back to the beginning of this path and swim across to that expert-level chest." Serana suggested. "Gods... these ruins always feel like a labyrinth, don't they?" They followed her lead, diving into the water and swimming to the chest. Before swimming back across to continue their quest, they dove to the east. Right before the water cascaded down, they found a small filled soul gem on the ground, next to a skeleton and a dwarven sword.
"Now, let's return to the main path," Katria's ghostly voice echoed, guiding them back. As they approached the western gate, Katria pointed out, "Door's shut tight. I bet those Resonators would open it, though." She directed their attention to the two resonators high above. Lucien and Illia hit the Resonators with a ranged weapon and spell, and the gate opened.
As they descended the stairs, Katria commented, "The air here... it feels different. Almost like..."
At the bottom of the stairs, the hall turned to the south and ended at a door. On their left, just before the door, they found two Health potions, and a Potion of Magicka. There was also a random Dwarven Helmet. "It's a good idea to retrieve all the potions before opening the door," Lucien advised. "We'll need them."
"Do you think it is safe to drink a 4000-year-old potion?" Illia asked, gritting her teeth nervously.
"We've done it before, don't worry." Lucien waved it off.
With their supplies gathered, the group prepared to face whatever lay beyond the door, their hearts steeled for the challenges ahead.
When they opened it, they found themselves in a large, boiling hot Dwemer subterranean chamber. After being hit by the sweltering heat, Lucien almost felt as though he were going to pass out. But he shook it off fervently. He focused on what was ahead of them.
The ancient, monumental structure stood in the heart of a cavernous expanse, its presence both awe-inspiring and foreboding. At the center of this subterranean realm, a stone pedestal with a circular base held a mechanical device - a fusion of statue and machine. This enigmatic contraption was bathed in a brilliant, vertical beam of light that descended from above, illuminating the intricate details of its design.
Surrounding the pedestal were several cylindrical objects, symmetrically arranged, their purpose shrouded in mystery. The cavern itself was vast and rocky, with a river of molten lava flowing through it, casting an eerie, otherworldly glow over the surrounding area. The oppressive heat and the flickering light from the lava added to the ominous atmosphere, making the place feel like a forbidden temple or a site of ancient rituals.
However, the mechanisms told a story of smeltering; of life being made of metal; of magic weaving its heavenly strands through the coils.
"The... the Aetherium Forge!" Lucien pointed to the Dwemer Face Bust which was emblazoned at the top center of the impressive structure. "That has to be it. Gods... look at it! I have to..." with trembling hands, Lucien unfurled his journal and began to sketch what he saw to the best of his ability. "We must use it! I need to see what the mechanisms do! This is incredible!"
Katria gawked at the structure, "I... I almost can't believe it. We did it! We actually did it! There's only one thing left to do. We have to prove this actually works. That this is the real Aetherium Forge." She looked around to see if there was any Aetherium in the immediate area, but in no corners could she see evidence of the holy blue metal; merely some remains of Dwemer Scrap metals. "There isn't any Aetherium here, is there? Damn it!" And no sooner did she condemn their misfortunes than she remembered that they had some immediately. "Wait! ...Yes, yes there is. The shards we collected... they're pure Aetherium, remember? It's not much, but it'll do. With them, and the materials in this room, we should have everything we need."
Lucien nodded in agreement. "Then let's get cracking!" He walked around some of the steam geysers shooting up through the floor grates with the Aetherium Crest in hand, and sweat poured down his face like a river.
Illia charged a Frost Cloak spell around herself and stood nearby to keep her friends alive as they walked forward towards the forge.
Suddenly, the earth rumbled, massive tremors that shook the foundations of the forge room and the lava ahead boiled and bubbled. Its surface rippled and shuddered like water as the head of a Dwarven Centurion slowly crept upwards, coated with magma. The form of this mechanism slowly unveiled itself from the liquid stone's surface, molten and red. It was twice the size of any Dwarven Centurion they had ever seen before; it was like witnessing a mountain rising from the earth.
"Gods above... is that a Dwarven Centurion?!" Lucien bawked at the sight of the massive mechanism. It was mind-blowing that such a construct could even be forged. Fascinatingly, its joints glowed with a cerulean hue.
Author's Note: for this battle, "Elden Ring OST - Radagon of the Golden Order Phase 1" thanks for reading! :)
"The Forgemaster..." Katria's eyes widened in awe as the metallic colossus stamped its foot upon the floor grate, sending a circle of magma and embers scattering with its impact. The metal giant lumbered forward, leaving a trail of magma with each lumbering step. Its movements rippled through the air itself; a being of unimaginable power. And yet, still tangible.
The shifting of its gears clamped and churned the air; a shrill noise, coated with the hiss of steam and the bubbling of the magma behind it would deter any sane explorer, but Lucien and his party had come too far to be considered sane, it seemed. He readied an Ice Spell, but Illia beat him to it, blasting the Forgemaster with a stream of cold, slowing its movements down. Lucien and Serana exchanged nods and joined Illia at either side of her, focusing their own Frost Spells to aid in slowing down the colossus.
"Watch out for its fire breath!" Katria warned. "It can incinerate you in an instant if you're unprepared!"
"Well, aren't you lucky to be a ghost, then!" Inigo shouted over the stamping of metal feet.
Inigo and Katria drew their bows; her phantom Zephyr and Inigo's physical one, and they began to pelt the tempered Forgemaster with arrows from a safe distance.
The Forgemaster unleashed a blast of fire from its head and engulfed the party in it. However, Serana thought quickly and cast a protective Greater Ward to shield them from the worst of it. The trio scattered to make themselves more difficult to hit and used their magic to heal themselves.
The steam left behind began to clear, revealing the massive form of the Forgemaster. It stood tall and imposing, its eyes glowing with a malevolent light. With a deafening roar, it unleashed another torrent of fire, drawing a molten line across the metal floor grates. Merely running on the heated metal caused pain on the group, so they found themselves jumping onto the stone areas of floor.
"Inigo, flank it from the left!" Lucien shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the flames. "Serana, Illia, keep it distracted with your spells!"
Inigo darted to the left, his sword flashing in the dim light as he struck at the Forgemaster's joints. Serana and Illia unleashed a barrage of spells, their magic crackling through the air and striking the Centurion with bursts of energy. Katria's ghostly form hovered nearby, her voice guiding their movements and her arrows the Forgemaster's line of sight.
The Forgemaster roared again, its fiery breath sweeping across the chamber like a hose. The embers collapsed onto the ground, staining the floor in red liquid form. The hissing sounds of the stone dissolving filled the air as the heat increased to unimaginable heights. Lucien could feel his sweat evaporating off his flesh with each movement. His tongue was growing dry and he felt clouded; as though he were outside of his own body.
Lucien raised his Greater Ward, deflecting the flames as he closed in on the Forgemaster with a Dwarven Sword. With a swift motion, he struck at its leg, causing it to stagger.
"Now, Inigo!" Lucien called out.
Inigo leaped forward, his sword slicing through the Aetherium joint with precision. The Forgemaster let out a howl of rage, its movements becoming more erratic as it struggled to maintain its balance.
"It would be great if we could use the Thu'um to knock it off-kilter." Lucien mused. "Where's Candle when you need her? Ugh." He wiped some soot off his armour.
Serana and Illia continued their assault, their Frost and Lightning spells striking the Centurion with unrelenting force. The air was filled with the sound of clashing metal and the crackle of magic, the heat from the flames almost unbearable.
"We're wearing it down!" Serana shouted, her eyes blazing with determination. "Keep up the pressure!"
With a final, coordinated effort, the group launched their attacks simultaneously. Lucien's sword struck the Forgemaster's core, while Inigo's blade severed another joint. Katria's arrow embedded itself in the Centurion's forehead. Serana and Illia's spells hit the Centurion with a mighty Lightning Storm bolt, causing it to shudder and collapse.
The Forgemaster let out one last roar before falling to the ground in a metal heap, its fiery breath extinguished. The chamber fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the victorious adventurers.
"We did it," Lucien said, his voice filled with relief. "The Forgemaster is defeated." He wiped the sweat from his brow and nearly fell to his knees, but Inigo caught his friend.
"Steady there, Lucien. Think of the wonderful Ale we will drink after this!" the Khajiit said playfully.
Katria's ghostly form hovered nearby, a look of satisfaction on her face. "Well done, all of you. The Aetherium Forge is ours."
As they stood amidst the wreckage of the battle, the group felt a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie. The secrets of the Aetherium Forge lay before them, waiting to be uncovered by those brave enough to seek them out. Lucien walked up to the Forge with Katria by his side, and Serana stood nearby, watching.
Katria began, "According to the research I'd done, there were three incomplete artifacts the Dwemer intended to make before they vanished. The Aetherial Crown, the Aetherial Shield, and the Aetherial Staff. I'd wager you have enough Aetherium there to make one of those three things."
"Are you serious?" Lucien's expression fell. "That's all?"
"No advanced Spider Trap? It is still an option." Inigo suggested from a distance away.
Lucien sighed, "Okay; tell me about these alleged artifacts, then."
Katria spoke, recounting from memory. "The Aetherial Crown is a circlet that allows you to become intoned with more than one Standing Stone - to harness the blessings of multiple constellations. The Aetherial Shield is a heavy shield that makes enemies become ethereal. The Aetherial Staff is a staff that summons a Dwarven spider or Dwarven sphere for 60 seconds."
Lucien pondered, "I don't know. None of them sound very... long-lasting. I mean, I was hoping to be able to revolutionize our world with Dwemer Technology."
"It does sound kind of lame." Serana crossed her arms. "The best one sounds to me, to be the Aetherial Crown. But even then, you would have to spend days finding Skyrim's Standing Stones. And how do you know which blessing you will lose?"
"Well, you need to make something." Katria stated. "We've come all this way to prove its existence, and you could use it to repair the Dwemer tech that the Thieves found, as you said. It's not a loss. We all win in the end."
Illia thought for a moment. "The Staff doesn't sound so bad. Think about it."
"Of course the mage favours the staff." Inigo laughed, "If Cura were here I know she would suggest the Shield."
Illia scoffed, "No, not because I'm a mage! I was thinking about the Summoning a Dwarven Spider. Do you have any idea how useful that is?"
"Not at all? They're quite fragile." Lucien raised a brow at her suggestion.
"Ugh." Illia groaned. "You can summon them infinitely! Think about it. If you ever run out of Dwemer Scraps, you can summon one, dismantle it, smelter its parts, and use the metal! Infinitely!"
The group fell silent at her assertion, and after a long thought, Serana spoke up. "She's right. Damn, that's smart."
Katria chuckled, "See? Not a loss."
Lucien shrugged. "You know what? I think I'll do it."
The ancient forge chamber hummed with latent energy as Lucien approached the Aetherium Forge, the precious Aetherium clutched tightly in his hand. The air was thick with anticipation, the very walls seeming to vibrate with the power contained within the forge. Inigo, Serana, Illia, and Katria watched intently, their faces illuminated by the flickering bronze light of the forge.
Lucien took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He carefully inserted the Aetherium Crest into the slot on the forge, the round crystal fitting perfectly into place. As soon as it was secured, the forge roared to life, the ancient machinery whirring and clanking as it began the smelting process.
The room was bathed in a brilliant blue light as the Aetherium was heated to unimaginable temperatures. The heat was intense, but Lucien stood his ground, his eyes fixed on the forge. The Aetherium began to melt, its liquid form glowing with an otherworldly radiance. Katria's hand hovered over the third lever, and Lucien pulled molten Aetherium flowed into the mold, filling it with a shimmering, ethereal substance.
As the forge continued its work, the air was filled with the sound of hissing steam and the clanging of metal. The process was mesmerizing, the ancient technology of the Dwemer working in perfect harmony to create something truly extraordinary. The mold began to take shape, the Aetherium solidifying into the form of a golden staff with a flanged head that pointed skyward, with a cerulean gemstone at its center.
Finally, with a final burst of energy, the forge completed its task. The light dimmed, and the room fell silent once more. Lucien stepped forward, his hands trembling slightly as he reached for the newly forged Aetherial Staff. The staff was a masterpiece, its surface gleaming with the iridescent glow of Aetherium. Intricate runes were etched along its length, and it pulsed with a powerful, magical energy.
Lucien held the staff aloft, a sense of awe and accomplishment washing over him. "We did it," he said, his voice filled with wonder. "The Aetherial Staff is ours." A tear beaded in the corner of his eye and ran down his cheek. Real Aetherium. True Dwarven Mastery in his grasp.
It was like a Dream he never knew he had coming true.
Inigo, Serana, Illia, and Katria gathered around, their faces reflecting the same sense of amazement. They had witnessed the creation of something truly remarkable, a testament to the ingenuity and power of the ancient Dwemer.
As they stood in the forge chamber, the Aetherial Staff in their possession, they knew that their journey was far from over. This was the beginning. The beginning of a resurgence of Dwarven Technology.
Katria's eyes softened; her spectral form wavering. Her voice trembled, heavy with the knowledge that the truth has finally come to light, and that her life was not lost in vain. "And with that... it's done. No one could possibly deny what we've found now." she said as she hovered closer to Lucien.
Serana asked her, "What happens now, Katria?"
The ghost closed her eyes and took a few steps back. "For me? I've done what I set out to do. But you... take that out into the world. And if anyone asks, tell them what we discovered. Together." A bright smile spread across her face and she held her hands over her chest. She bowed her head forward in a show of gratitude, and a bid of farewell. "And now... I think I can rest. Farewell, my friend, wherever your travels take you."
With those final words, the phantom form of Katria shimmered in the orange light of the forge and she vanished into sparkles, ascending to Aetherius.
"Katria..." Lucien felt bittersweet seeing her fade away. In the short time that they'd known her, he'd grown to enjoy her presence. And now, that time they all spent together had come to an end. A warmth of acceptance spread into his heart. "I will. I will ensure your name is attached to these findings, Katria. It couldn't have been done without you."
Inigo looked at Zephyr in his hand and ran the palm of his right hand over the length. "I shall cherish this bow, always. A gift from a great adventurer."
Lucien aimed the staff forward and, with a flash of light, a Dwarven Spider was summoned. It scuttered forward a few paces. Lucien and Illia exchanged a knowing glance and he struck it with a Firebolt. Its pieces scattered, but remained. Serana bent down to pick one up and walked up to the Aetherium Forge. She dropped the metal into the smelting pan and it began to heat up.
She gasped. "Illia, your idea works! It actually..."
Illia's eyes widened and she hurried to Serana's side to see the metal melting for herself. "Eureka." she said simply.
Lucien leapt up and down with excitement. He hurried to Inigo. "Do you know what this means, Inigo?"
"The Spider Trap is constructable?" Inigo's toothy grin spread across his face.
"Sure! The sky is the limit, my friend! This moment will go down in History!" Lucien placed a hand on his shoulder. "Spider Traps, Daedra Traps - Chariots that can propel themselves... you are looking at the future of Tamriel!" He cleared his throat. "We are going to have to collect the Scrap Heaps from the Riften Docks. I am so excited!"
Serana pursed her lips. "Are you sure the Thieves Guild won't backstab you? I mean... this Forge is an incredible find..."
"They need someone who knows how to operate it." Lucien responded. "And if they try anything we'll put them in their place. Right?"
"If they get in the way of my revolutionary Spider Trap, I will single-handedly put them in their place." Inigo asserted.
"What is your obsession with spiders?" Illia asked at last.
"They are fun to crush." Inigo responded plainly.
"Definitely a Cat." Serana muttered to Lucien.
Lucien sighed; "Let's save the drama for another time, shall we? We have work to do!" He hung the Aetherial Staff on his back with pride and headed to the exit. It was a long road ahead of them, but one well worth travelling.