bopdog111: We're back for another chapter of the group through Skyrim where they found Esbern, and are heading out for Sky Haven Temple.
Ulrich362: True, and to learn about Alduin's Wall... then again, it's going to be a... tense trip?
bopdog111: Well they are all traveling together like before at Kynesgrove only with Esbern.
Ulrich362: Exactly, well let's see what happens. Enjoy the chapter
Disclaimer: We don't own Undertale or the Elder Scrolls Series, all we own are the OCs.
About a day after they arrived back for rest, and for talking information with Esbern everyone is gearing up for there trip to Cloud Ruler Temple. Of course Jin, and Undyne are currently shopping in the Riverwood Trader to get some equipment for Ainertick cause from it looked he will be joining them only... they find his habits didn't exclude at Riften.
"So that drunk was with you all?" Lucan who had heard about it asked over looking pretty angry himself.
"Did he also cause trouble here in Riverwood?"
"Not as bad as other holds but he is pretty infamous around here." Lucan answered over to him. "He took Camilla's nickers this one time, and tried flirting with her despite an age difference."
"Aye, that sounds like him." Jin agreed over nodding over. "Not to worry he'll stop being that stupid now that he's back with us."
"He'd better." Lucan stated over as he handed the equipment over. "You just learn to be careful with drunkards like him."
"We'll keep that in mind." Undyne mentioned as she paid.
After that, and wishing them farewell they exited the shop heading to the edge of town where everyone with Delphine, and Esbern are waiting. Delphine told Ognar this will be the last time she leaves, leaving the shop to him for now on so they can be focused on reaching Sky Haven Temple. Along with them was Ainertick who looks to be completely sober now after the night at the Sleeping Giant Inn.
"How are you feeling?" Asgore asked Ainertick.
"Feeling alright I think." Ainertick admitted over to them. "I must've dragged you all into some deep shit like I usually do."
"Debt paying is probably the most severe you would've had us do, at least not a jail sentence." Jin stated hearing that to him. "You still haven't taken care of that problem of yours after this long?"
"Not since I left the league." Ainertick confirmed over.
"Didn't expect you too, you really can't hold your mead." Jin sighed at that. "But your sober now so you won't be causing those troubles here unless you pick up a cup again."
"I'll try to not drink too much." he mentioned only to pause. "So... introductions as we travel?"
"Delphine." Delphine stated simply as they walked out of Riverwood while Ainertick dressed in the equipment Jin, and Undyne given him.
"Esbern." Esbern shared the same greeting.
"I'm Frisk... Frisk Dwellwyn, it's nice to meet you." Frisk smiled bowing over.
"I'm Asriel Dreemurr, hi." Asriel waved.
"I'm Chara Dreemurr." Chara waved herself.
"I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS HUMAN AINERTICK!" Papyrus grinned.
"sans, sans the skeleton." Sans lazily waved.
"My name is Undyne!" Undyne grinned over.
"A-Alphys." Alphys introduced herself shyly.
"Mettaton." Mettaton waved over.
"My name is Toriel, it's nice to meet you." Toriel smiled gently.
"And I'm Asgore Dreemurr." Asgore greeted over smiling to Ainertick.
Ainertick nodded over waving. "Well good to see you all... I'm Ainertick Matrph, a former Soldier of the Imperial Empire. But I probably guess the Slave Driver already told you that did he?"
"Slave Driver?" Asriel asked with a frown. "Why did you call Jin a slave driver?"
"That's cause that's what he is."
"Pay no literal attention to that. I was always trying to make sure he doesn't screw up much..." Jin stated over to them. "Next to Nazir, he's the most crazy soldier I know."
"Ah Nazir, haven't heard from him in a while." Ainertick recalled over with crossed arms before looking at Jin. "Though have you seen anyone else since you left?"
"I haven't seen anyone else from the league since I left Ainertick. Now only you." Jin admitted over towards his former comrade. "I did seen Maro's older brother though back at Solitude."
"Captain Aldis? Hell of a guy he is." Ainertick smiled fondly from that. "Always looking out for his brother even if he doesn't appreciate him."
"Yeah? And the fact that Maro is such a spoiled brat." Jin stated over bluntly.
"True enough." Ainertick agreed.
Frisk couldn't help but smile listening to them. She couldn't help but feel a little curious about what there talking about. A league in the Imperial Legion? She does sorta recall there used to be a group of people of difference races together before she was born but word from the grapevine is that it was disbanded cause the group was a bunch of cowards. Still seeing how Jin and Ainertick were talking she knew they were friends and that made her glad to have him along.
"So 'Jin-Noyei'?" Ainertick couldn't help asking.
"As I said before 'Ffamran' is now dead to me. I have no right to be called by that name after what had happened." Jin explained over to him somber.
"Oh yeah to where the Thalmor destroyed your home in Black Marsh." Ainertick recalled hearing that frowning. "But your still living so reclaim it like between us I'll be calling you that for now on. Ffamran is still a legend in the Imperial Forces despite what happened."
"A legend... pfft most people scoff at those nowadays."
"Not to some who see the same vision as we used too." Ainertick shot over. "Besides Uthgerd would be all up on your ass if she sees you like this now."
"Yeah? That would sound like her." Jin agreed nostalgic. "That is if she doesn't kill you literally, and figuratively if she finds out how much woman nicker stealing you done over the years."
"The warden herself. Yikes." Ainertick said dramatically.
"Are you two done, we have more important things to focus on." Delphine told them.
"Sorry sorry." Ainertick waved over while Jin rolled his eyes a little as they walked. "So, can someone fill me in on what's going on here?"
"We... well, we're going to a Blades stronghold named Sky Haven Temple... i... it's supposed to have the secrets to stopping Alduin and the dragons who are coming back." Alphys answered nervously.
"The Blades? Boy Ffamran you are finding some friends in secret places huh? The Blades are suppose to be gone."
"Not anymore now." Jin stated over to him. "Frisk here is a member of them, and she's the one who freed the monsters from the mountain that the Greybeards live at."
"Well no wonder there free, a single Blade is probably as good as 100 soldiers." Ainertick remarked from this before looking at Chara. "So then little lady he told me that he's training you cause you want him too?" He mistaken her as Frisk.
"Huh, I'm not Frisk." Chara admitted.
"I am." Frisk mentioned nodding politely. "It's nice to meet you Ainertick."
"Huh? Oh sorry." Ainertick said from this before looking at Frisk. "So is he also whipping you in shape like me?"
"A little bit." Frisk admitted. "Actually, I'm more of a mage."
"A mage huh? That's surprising considering Blades are warriors of Talos. But it ain't for me to judge." Ainetick shrugged from this. "And 'Dwellwyn'... The same Dwellwyn that's the Grand Champion of the Arena who retired after the Oblivion Crisis?"
"How do you know that?" That sort of information was lost in history with only the Blade Archives recording Vipsanius' adventures before he went to Shivering Isles so she is understandably surprised he would knew that.
"I used to be a fighter in the Cyrodillic Arena before I became a soldier, so I heard about him from time to time." Ainertick explained.
"Yes, he's my great great grandfather." Frisk revealed.
"Really now? So do you know what he was up too when he retired?" Ainertick asked her interested.
"Well... not everything." Frisk admitted. "But he was a hero."
"Yeah, I have a book. I, I think I have it." Ainertick searched his bag before pulling out a book. "Here it is. 'The Oblivion Crisis' by Praxis Sarcorum." He opened beginning to read out loud.
The Oblivion Crisis
At the turning of the Fourth Age, in the year 3E 433, the Emperor Uriel Septim VII was assassinated and the Amulet of Kings was destroyed. This set in motion a chain of events that would bring down an empire and change forever the relationship between man and the gods.
The assassins first attacked the Emperor in the White-Gold Tower. While the Blades held them back, the Emperor made his way down to the dungeons, to a secret escape route built into one of the prison cells. For reasons known only to himself, the Emperor pardoned the fortunate prisoner in that cell. Some say the prisoner reminded him of a childhood friend. Others say it was a moment of prophecy. Whatever the case, the prisoner came to play a fateful role in the history of the Empire and Tamriel - surely a sign that the gods themselves were at work.
The pursuing assassins killed the Blades bodyguards in a relentless series of sneak attacks. Eventually they struck down the Emperor himself. Before he fell, Uriel Septim VII gave the Amulet of Kings to the prisoner, who somehow made it out of the Imperial Sewers and into the light of day.
The assassination is now known to have been the work of a group of daedric cultists known as the Mythic Dawn. (Those who still suspect the Dark Brotherhood should consider two facts: first, they would have only needed a single assassin, not a small army of them; second, the Dark Brotherhood would never be so foolish as to effectively declare war on the Empire and thus ensure their complete destruction. Witness to the eventual fate of the Mythic Dawn.)
The Amulet of Kings next surfaced at the Weynon Priory near Chorrol. Jauffre, secret Grandmaster of the Blades and head of the priory, took possession of the amulet. The messenger was set off to Kvatch to find a lowly priest named Martin Septim. Unbeknownst even to himself, Martin was the bastard son of Uriel Septim VII, and the last heir to the Ruby Throne. He alone could use the Amulet of Kings to light the Dragonfires that wards the barrier between Tamriel and Oblivion, and save the world from the Mythic Dawn plot.
The prisoner arrived at Kvatch to find it overrun by Daedra that had poured in from a newly-opened Oblivion Gate, the start of the Empire-spanning devastation of the Oblivion Crisis. How the prisoner closed the gate is not recorded. Once closed, Martin and the surviving Kvatch guardsmen drove back the daedra.
Now known as the Hero of Kvatch, the prisoner and Martin returned to Weynon Priory, only to find the priory sacked and the Amulet taken. Jauffre survived the attack, however, and the three of them made their way to Cloud Ruler Temple, bastion of the Blades. This secret fortress in the mountains outside Bruma is where Martin was held safe while the Hero of Kvatch searched for the lost Amulet.
Knowing only that a mysterious group called the Mythic Dawn was behind the assassination and thief of the Amulet, the Hero of Kvatch was sent to locate the cult. With the help of Baurus, a Blade in service of the Emperor, they somehow used the Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes, esoteric works by the madman Mankar Camoran, to direct them to the Mythic Dawn's secret Lair. Scholars familiar with the Commentaries claim the location is not directly mentioned in them. How they did this remains a mystery. No official records exist of how the Hero of Kvatch penetrated the Mythic Dawn's lair near Lake Arrius. There is a bardic tale that claims the Hero used trickery and disguise, but that is just speculation. What was discovered there is that Mankar Camoran was behind the Mythic Dawn, and that the group worshiped the daedric prince Mehrunes Dagon. Mankar Camoran believed himself to be a direct descendant of the Camoran Usurper, the infamous pretender to the throne of Valenwood.
Somehow the hero escaped with the Mysterium Xarxes itself, the holy book of the Mythic Dawn cult. Mankar Camoran fled to Oblivion with the Amulet of Kings. With some effort and great risk to his sanity, Martin deciphered the Mysterium Xarxes and intended to use it to open a gateway to Mankar Camoran in order to recover the Amulet of Kings.
Before Martin could do the ritual to open the gateway, Mehrunes Dagon opened an Oblivion Gate outside Bruma. the Hero of Kvatch saved the city and Martin by entering the gate and closing it before a daedric siege engine could destroy Bruma and the Cloud Ruler Temple. Many songs and stories have been told of this battle and I will not retell them here. The Hero of Kvatch was now known as the Savior of Bruma.
With the city and Cloud Ruler Temple safe, Martin opened the portal to Mankar Camoran's "Paradise". The detail of what transpired in this place have not been recorded. All that is known is that the Savior of Bruma traveled to this Paradise, killed Mankar Camoran, and returned with the Amulet of Kings.
With the Amulet in hand, Martin Septim presented himself to the Elder Council to be crowned Emperor of all Tamriel. Once crowned he planned to relight the Dragonfires and seal Tamriel from Oblivion. In a last-ditch attempt to stop him, Mehrunes Dagon launched an assault on the Imperial City, opening several Oblivion Gates within the capital itself. Uncrowned, Martin joined the battle in the city streets.
Mehrunes Dagon himself left Oblivion and entered Tamriel, breaking the covenant. Only the unlit Dragonfires allowed this to be possible. Now that the barrier was ripped asunder, it was too late to relighting the Fires. Martin Septim chose to make the ultimate sacrifice - he shattered the Amulet of Kings to become the avatar of the god Akatosh and do battle with Mehrunes Dagon.
Records of this battle vary wildly. What we do know is that Mehrunes Dagon was defeated and sent back into Oblivion. The avatar of Akatosh was turned to stone and can be seen to this day in the Temple of the One in the Imperial City. With the Amulet gone, the Dragonfires quenched, and the last Dragonblood Emperor dead, the barrier to Oblivion is sealed forever.
"True, there are records of those events in the archives of the Blades… or rather there were." Esbern noted. "Akatosh himself saved us that day… though now his son seeks our destruction."
"True, there are records of those events in the archives of the Blades… or rather there were." Esbern noted. "Akatosh himself saved us that day… though now his son seeks our destruction."
"Well I know some of things that were missing that the book didn't have." Frisk admitted over. "Like how he closed the Oblivion Gates, he actually entered the Daedric Realm of the Deadlands, and removed a Sigil Stone from the main tower."
"He actually went into Oblivion, and managed to close the gate from there? He sounds like a tough son of a bitch." Ainertick remarked.
"That's what made him the Champion of Cyrodill." Jin nodded over to that. "But the Thalmor claimed that there the ones who ended the Crisis rather then him probably cause he's not an Altmer Elf."
"Why are the Thalmor like that?" Asriel frowned.
"Racism is everywhere." Frisk frowned.
"Well your Grandfather sure is one hell of a guy. We really need HIM right now at this time of age." Ainertick admitted over towards Frisk that someone like Vipsanius would really help them out against the Thalmor, and the Dragons right now.
"He's dead, we can't rely on a ghost of the past... we need to deal with this ourselves." Delphine mentioned.
Of course Frisk really knows Vipsanius is Sheogorath right now, and due to Daedra rules, and such he can't directly make a move into Tamirel. Though speaking of her Grandfather does remind her of... other things. "Chara?"
"Huh, yeah?" she asked hearing that. "What is it Frisk?"
"Well... there is something about him that... you, and him share together." Frisk admitted over.
"Huh, what do you mean?" Chara asked curiously.
"...Stuff involving the Dark Brotherhood." Frisk answered looking down.
Chara's eyes widened before she looked down.
"He... well after being released, and finding Martin he returned back to what he was before. A thief who steals from the rich." Frisk admitted over to her. "On one of his heists he... murdered someone by accident."
Chara froze at that. She softly hugged her.
"What… what ended up happening?" Chara asked.
"Well... one night he was visited." Frisk admitted.
"Visited, by who?" Chara asked nervously.
"Well... by a Speaker of the Dark Brotherhood... Someone named Lucien Lachance." Frisk softly explained to her. "He told Grandpa that he can come join the Brotherhood by... killing a man named Rufio. He then gave a small token... a dagger called the Blade of Woe. Grandpa... done what the test was, and became a member of the Brotherhood."
"He did?" Ainertick asked shocked. "But he was a hero."
"Well it was before he became what he was now." Frisk admitted over. "Initially he stayed in the Sanctuary at Cheydinhal lead by Ocheeva. But he was contacted by Lucien of a traitor within the Brotherhood, and ordered Grandpa to do a secret rite called 'the Purification'."
"Save the story, Forsworn up ahead." Esbern interrupted her.
Frisk frowned over to Esbern from this not fond of being interrupted when it was gonna help Chara but looked as they see a camp of men wearing animal hides, and wooden weaponry made of nature.
"The Forsworn." Jin frowned seeing them. "The Natives of the Reach, and who claimed to be the true owners of Markarth driven out by Ulfric making the Markarth Incident."
"Don't they look rather tense by something?" Undyne noticed that them seem to be on edge for something.
There answered by a roar checking over seeing a Dragon flying into the camp as the Forsworn moved around shooting arrows around which the Dragon flew around. "FOH KRA DIIN!" It fired a frost breath over the camp as it attacked.
"WE HAVE TO HELP THEM!" Papyrus declared.
"No no!" Jin drew his sword stopping Papyrus from moving over. "The Forsworn aren't too fond of those are aren't Reachmen. Let's let the dragon deal with as many as it can before we head in."
"What? We can't let them die." Asriel argued.
"There barbarians they want to kill us if we get closer." Delphine stated over. "The Dragonborn is right let's have the dragon take care of them."
"No!" Frisk slipped passed running in not willing to let them die.
"Dammit Frisk!" Jin cursed running after her.
Ainertick stared before he asked. "Well she's not one to leave one in danger is she?"
"No, she isn't." Asgore nodded running after them along with Toriel, Undyne, and Papyrus while Sans shrugged and walked towards the battle.
The dragon stopped above some Forsworn Archers before it readied a breath. "FOH KRAH DIIN!" It fired a frost breath which they brace themselves against before something appeared which they looked seeing a Flame Atronach took the brunt of the force just barely surviving. Shocked they turned to see Jin and the others running to try and fight against the Dragon with them.
"Let's see how you like these." Undyne smirked snapping as a wall of spears appeared and flew into the dragon striking its face and wings.
The Dragon roared from this flapping a bit harder with holes in it's wings before moving to fly off but feels some resistance with a blue outline around it as it struggled to stay airborn.
"NYEHEHEHEH! YOU'RE BLUE NOW, THAT'S MY ATTACK!" Papyrus grinned as Toriel launched flames at the dragon's wings.
Burned up the dragon crashed down into a rock structure as everyone present winced from it. The dragon slowly pulled itself out injured with a broken wing, burst eye, and scales broken around as it glared in pain moving ahead to attack only for Jin to shout. "FUS RO DA!" He launched his Unrelenting Force shout striking the dragon which stunned it. Ainertick widen his eyes staring at Jin in shock which the Argonian yelled. "Later!"
Ainertick nodded before looking over. "Stand back this nasty feller's mine!" He charged in drawing his sword.
Esbern's eyes widened seeing that. The dragon looked seeing the Breton, and roared moving in as Ainertick let out a battle cry charging a spell before calling. "Storm Atronach!" He summoned a gravity rock monster in the Dragon's mouth which launched down lighting down it's throat electrocuting the dragon from the inside before moving over, and stabbing into the Dragon's brain through it's bad eye as it roared before then collapsing dead.
A second later it starts to burn up as Jin walked over spreading his arms which the soul of the dragon flew into him which he glowed as the energy is transferred before stopping showing the Dragon's skeleton.
"What the, Ffamran what did you just do?" Alnertick questioned in disbelief seeing that.
Jin turned over to his comrade. "I am the mythical Dragonborn the ultimate Dragonslayer. I am the one who can stop Alduin, and the Dragons from destroying all of Tamirel."
"Then it's true, you are Dragonborn." Esbern nodded.
Hearing something they turn to see some of the surviving Forsworn drawing there weapons at them which they moved to defend themselves only for one of the Forsworn Frisk's Flame Atronach saved raised his hand. "No no wait!" He ran in front of them stopping his comrades. "Don't hurt them brothers!"
Frisk smiled hearing that.
"Brother stand aside." a ripped Forsword with some bandages at his heart ordered over.
"They rescued us! Shouldn't we be grateful to them?"
"There not Reachmen. They understand nothing of the Forsworn!" another member spoken up.
"Now it doesn't matter if there not with us!" the defending Forsworn argued. "They still saved our camp from a dragon, and that the Argonian is the Dragonborn to destroy Alduin!? Can't we express gratitude for that at least!?"
At that some Forsworn talked over as they hear talks of 'Dragonborn', 'Alduin', and 'Dragons' around before the rip Forsworn shouted. "SILENCE!" He then turned over. "Be it as it may they saved our camp there still not Reachmen. They won't understand what we are going through."
"...Yes we do." was Ainertick who had spoken.
Hearing that they turned to him. "How can you claim to know what we're going through?"
"Cause I am also Forsworn." Ainertick walked over which shocked everyone. "My name is Ainertick Matrph, Grandson of the King of Rags, Madanach!"
"What!?" the apparent leader of the Forsworn questioned hearing that.
"Your comrade was a Forsworn?" Delphine asked Jin shocked.
"He told me to keep it under lips." Jin explained why he didn't say anything. "Any mention of it would result in unneeded hostility."
"I may have been away from the game for a long time since I been away drinking my life away but I can see the damage building up." Ainertick stated over to the ripped Forsworn. "You all are doing well listening to my Grandfather... but you sure don't want to displease him by attacking us after we saved your sorry hides from a scaly bastard such as a dragon." He then narrowed his eyes to the leader. "Would you?"
The leader flinched but didn't say anything.
"That's what I thought." Ainertick said staring before then smiling. "But hey, I'm willing to just... let this go if you let me, and my comrades continue our trek forward. We have something we need to do deep in the caverns where this camp is, so if you let us head down there I'll forget all about this. Sounds like a fair deal doesn't it?"
"... Alright." the leader nodded.
"Good to see your reasonable." Ainertick grinned over. "Maybe we can have a drink sometime thanks for being kind!" He then turned to the group. "Our path awaits." He bowed over smiling.
Jin frowned at the idea of Alnertick drinking again but the group walked into a cave.
"So your Forsworn... but you were in the Imperial Legion?" Frisk asked Ainertick.
"Yup."
"And your the Grandson of Madanach the leader of the Rebellion?"
"Yes."
"...Why?" Frisk was rightly confused but Ainertick was fighting against his Grandfather at that time.
Ainertick shrugged over. "Just decided to leave. Forsworn life was too boring, I'd rather be in on the action thank you very much. And barely any mead so I want to let myself loose."
"So you left the Forsworn so you can drink more, and be in on the action?" Chara guessed if she understood right.
"That's right." Ainertick confirmed grinning.
"That's... wow." Asriel whispered hearing that.
"You really are a mindless pig are you?" Delphine expressed disgust on it which Ainertick frowned over before she shrugged turning away. "Whatever, as long as it saved our strength for ahead I don't care less." With that said they moved looking around seeing a large chasm was there seeing the sky, and ruins all around.
"so... how do we get to this temple?" Sans asked Esbern.
"This looks promising."
They looked where Delphine was walking up some stairs seeing pillars with symbols.
"Yes. Definitely early Akaviri stonework here." Esbern agreed seeing them.
"We've got to get this bridge down." Delphine said staring at them. "These pillars must have something to do with it."
"Yes. These are Akaviri symbols. Let's see... you have the symbol for "King"... and "Warrior"... And of course the symbol for "Dragonborn." That's the one that appears to have a sort of arrow shape pointing downward at the bottom." Esbern said looking at them.
Frisk getting what this means walked over, and moved the pillars over as a puzzle changing the symbol to all Dragonborn as the bridge lowered that Delphine turned. "Whatever you did it worked. Let's go, and see what the Blades left in our way." They all continued on pass the bridge into the next room. The next room looked like ruins with symbols on the ground that Esbern notices, and stops them from going further. "Why are you stopping?"
"We should be careful here. See these symbols on the floor?" Esbern gestured to the floor for them to see.
"Huh, isn't that the Dragonborn symbol?" Asriel asked. "Should we step on that one?"
"Hang on these look like pressure plates." Delphine frowned.
Frisk realizing what this is smiled turning to Chara. "Chara." She turned to her before saying. "This next part involves getting to the chain while managing your footing. Just walk on the Dragonborn symbols over to the chain, and pull on it so it can disarm all the traps the others have."
Chara blinked but nodded carefully following the path.
"You're rather good at solving these puzzles." Esbern noted to Frisk. "I'm impressed."
"Well there are frequent puzzles in the Underground where all the monsters are." Frisk admitted with a small smile.
Delphine frowned hearing that but just gave a cold look without saying anything. When Chara reached the chain she pulled it, and stepped on a wrong pressure plate to see if it worked. Seeing no traps popping out Delphine nodded. "Looks safe now. Let's move."
"Yes, yes! I think we must be close to the entrance." Esbern agreed as they headed off together. Moving over pass a bridge they see large stoneware statues holding something which Esbern looked fascinated. "Fascinating! Original Akaviri bas reliefs... almost entirely intact! Amazing... you can see how the Akaviri craftsmen were beginning to embrace the more flowing Nordic style..."
"We're here for Alduin's Wall, right, Esbern?" Delphine spoken up to remind.
"Yes, of course. We'll have more time to look around later, I suppose. Let's see what's up ahead." Esbern snapped out of it as they continued forward. Eventually they reached a large arena where a large stone head was there with a floor pattern in front of it. "Wonderful! Remarkably well preserved, too."
"What is this?" Alphys asked in awe seeing it.
"Ah... here's the "blood seal." Another of the lost Akaviri arts. No doubt triggered by... well, blood." Esbern said looking at the floor before turning to Jin. "Your blood, Dragonborn. Look here! You see how the ancient Blades revered Reman Cyrodiil. This whole place appears to be a shrine to Reman. He ended the Akaviri invasion under mysterious circumstances, you recall. After the so-called "battle" of Pale Pass, the Akaviri went into his service. This was the foundation stone of the Second Empire."
While he was talking Jin walked over knelling down taking a small dagger gripping it, and pulled his hand. Squeezing his hand some of his blood dripped down as the seal started to glow before the head starts to pull back.
"There's no telling what we might find inside!" Esbern said excited beyond from this while Delphine lights the bas reliefs with her torch.
"Is anybody else a little bit nervous about this?" Asriel asked.
"Yes." Frisk admitted as they all walked in together.
They walked up the stairs looking around seeing a large temple amazing everyone from how it looked around. They see a large table, and lots of other things around. But it was Esbern who spoken up. "Shor's bones! Here it is! Alduin's Wall... so well preserved... I've never seen a finer example of early second era Akaviri sculptural relief..."
They looked over seeing a large carved wall showing of multiple things but something looking like a dragon in the middle seeming to have been defeated.
"What does it say?" Toriel asked him.
"Yes, we need information, not a lecture on art history." Delphine pointed out.
"Yes, yes. Let's see what we have..." Esbern walked to the far left side of the wall checking over. "Look, here is Alduin! This panel goes back to the beginning of time, when Alduin and the Dragon Cult ruled over Skyrim. Here the humans rebel against their dragon overlords - the legendary Dragon War." He walked as he explained it over reaching to the middle of the wall. "Alduin's defeat is the centerpiece of the Wall. You see, here he is falling from the Sky. The Nord Tongues - masters of the Voice - are arrayed against him."
"So, does it show how they defeated him? Isn't that why we're here?" Delphine questioned to get straight to the point.
"Patience, my dear. The Akaviri were not a straightforward people." Esbern assured her to be patient. "Everything is couched in allegory and mythic symbolism." He checked over a part of the wall before nodding. "Yes, yes. This here, coming from the mouths of the Nord heroes - this is the Akaviri symbol for "Shout."" He gestured over to the part of the wall. "But... there's no way to know what Shout is meant."
"You mean they used a shout to defeat Alduin? You're sure?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes. Presumably something rather specific to dragons, or even Alduin himself." Esbern confirmed over to Delphine answering that. "Remember, this is where they recorded all they knew of Alduin and his return."
Delphine frowned over from this. "So we're looking for a Shout, then." She then looked annoyed. "Damn it." Turning over to Jin she asked him. "Have you ever heard of such a thing? A Shout that can knock a dragon out of the sky?"
"No, I'm afraid not." Jin answered shaking his head also feeling lost.
"I was afraid you were going to say that." Delphine frowned before sighing, "I guess there's nothing for it. We'll have to ask the Greybeards for help. I hoped to avoid involving them in this, but we have no other choice."
Jin hearing that looked confused over. He does know the Blades, and the Greybeards are at odds with each other given Arngeir's reaction to Frisk in Tiber Septim's armor, and that he spoken that the Blades never served the Dragonborn, and now Delphine also seems to have something against them. "Hang on what do you have against them?"
"If they had their way, you'd do nothing but sit up on their mountain with them and talk to the sky, or whatever it is they do. The Greybeards are so afraid of power that they won't use it." Delphine stated over glaring over before then saying. "Think about it. Have they tried to stop the civil war, or done anything about Alduin? No. And they're afraid of you, of your power. Trust me, there's no need to be afraid. Think of Tiber Septim. Do you think he'd have founded the Empire if he'd listened to the Greybeards?" That last sentence caught Frisk off guard widening her eyes but didn't say anything much in shock.
"The Greybeards are right though, power is dangerous."
"Only if you don't know how to use it. All the great heroes have had to learn to use their power." Delphine shot that down firm on her belief. "Those that shrank from their destiny... well, you've never heard of them, have you? And there are the villains - those that misused their power. There's always a choice, and there's always a risk. But if you live in fear of what might go wrong, you'll end up doing nothing. Like the Greybeards up on their mountain."
"Are you joking?" Frisk finally spoken up shadows over her eyes.
"Frisk?" Chara asked hearing that.
"Excuse me?" Delphine questioned glaring at Frisk.
"I asked are you joking?" Frisk repeated over shadows still over her eyes. "Are you joking that the Greybeards didn't help Tiber Septim found his empire?"
"Of course they didn't, all they do is sit on top of that mountain while the rest of the world struggles to survive." Delphine answered coldly.
Frisk raised her head showing a PISSED look. "THAT'S COMPLETELY WRONG!"
"Frisk?" Asriel asked in shock seeing her look angry.
"My child?" Toriel started putting a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"It was the Greybeards that told Tiber Septim of his destiny to found the Third Empire! You claim they did nothing when there the ones that told him about it!?" Frisk told Delphine off. "If your a Blade you would know DAMN well that Tiber Septim as the Blades Patron Deity, Talos founded the Imperial Empire thanks to the Greybeards! So you had the nerve to say they done nothing to help him!?"
"Anyone could have told him... what he needed was people by his side the Graybeards abandoned him when he left their mountain." Delphine pointed out.
"They still helped him out when he founded the Empire, and he went to them for guidance which they told him of his destiny to be Emperor! Back when Cuhlecai was growing in power, Talos went to the Greybeards for help to see what he can do when they told him it was his destiny to be Emperor!" Frisk snapped over to her. "So don't you dare say they done nothing! They helped brought Tiber Septim to the person he is today, if he didn't then he would never have been heard of, and the Blades themselves would NEVER have existed!"
Delphine flinched a bit at that.
"I don't know what you have against the Greybeards... but they are the ones that helped brought the Blades, and the Empire the way it was back then." Frisk glared over before turning away. "Think long, and hard before saying they aren't worth mentioning. They have every right to be mentioned they helped Tiber Septim be who he was today." That said she walked looking at Sans. "Sans? Please take us to High Hrothgar."
Sans just looked at her before chuckling. "sure thing kiddo, hold on. you too Jin."
Jin softly nodded before then turning to Delphine. "Next time you try making a point make sure to get your facts right." That said he turned placing a hand on Sans' shoulder.
With that the three of them vanished as Asgore turned to Delphine. "Frisk's right you know."
"Well Delphine, it be good to say you probably gone a bit far." Esbern spoken up to her. "I believe her myself, the Greybeards did had a hand in the Third Empire being how it is now."
Delphine frowned over from this. "The Greybeards never helped out whenever we were in trouble. I just needed the Dragonborn to understand that."
"You fought, the Graybeards advised. Isn't that how an empire is supposed to work?" Undyne questioned.
Safe to say Frisk's trust in Delphine had dropped quite a bit.
Meanwhile...
Arngeir was meditating by himself outside before he senses something from behind opening his eyes. "So you have returned... Young Blade, and Dragonborn." Jin, and Frisk appeared behind him with Sans.
"Yes, I need to ask something of you." Jin answered. "A Shout."
Arngeir softly stood up turning over walking down. "Well we felt whispers of the Voice around. I can show on the map if you want a-"
"No no." Frisk softly interrupted which he looked over. "We mean... the shout that defeated Alduin in the past."
Arngeir blinked over staring before he closed his eyes. "I see..." He normally would react in anger or refuse cause of the Blades' involvement but from Frisk's words earlier when she first visited with everyone learned that not all Blades are power arrogant idiots. "Well, I know the name of this shout, 'Dragonrend'. However the path to find it will be... difficult."
"Dragonrend?" Jin repeated the name of the Shout as Frisk frowned.
"You don't want him to learn the shout, why?" she asked softly.
"No, no do not misunderstood." Arngeir assured over to Frisk. "I can't teach him Dragonrend because I do not know it."
"Wait, but if you don't who does know it?" Jin asked.
"There is probably one person who does. Our leader Paarthurnax." Arngeir probably guesses that the Greybeard leader knows the shout. "He probably know what's been lost."
"Lost?"
"The Words of Power of Dragonrend have been lost in history. We do not regret this loss, Dragonrend holds no place within the Way of the Voice as it was created by those who had lived under the unimaginable cruelty of Alduin's Dragon Cult. Their whole lives were consumed with hatred for dragons, and they poured all their anger and hatred into this Shout. When you learn a Shout, you take it into your very being. In a sense, you become the Shout. In order to learn and use this Shout, you will be taking this evil into yourself." Arngeir explained over to Jin over why Dragonrend was lost.
"So can we head to Paarthurnax?"
"He lives in seclusion on the very peak of the mountain. He speaks to us only rarely, and never to outsiders. Being allowed to see him is a great privilege." Arngeir explained over to him. "The path ahead is dangerous but I can teach a Shout that can make the way safe for you, and your comrade to head up."
"Thank you." Frisk whispered hearing that as she politely bowed.
They walked up with the rest of the Greybeards arriving over to see over. Arriving at a small gate they see a large storm was there before Arngeir turned over to Jin. "The path to Paarthurnax lies through this gate. I will show you how to open the way."
He takes a breath before speaking words on the ground similar to how the other Greybeards done before. "Lok... Vah... Koor..." The Words of Power appeared on the ground turning back as Jin walked learning the Words of Power before turning over to Arngeir. "I will grant you my understanding of Clear Skies. This is your final gift from us, Dragonborn. Use it well." At that Arngeir bowed as energy flowed from him to Jin who looked over himself over before Arngeir looked at him. "Clear Skies will blow away the mist, but only for a time. The path to Paarthurnax is perilous, not to be embarked upon lightly. Keep moving, stay focused on your goal, and you will reach the summit."
Jin nodded walking up in front of the storm before taking a breath. Opening his eyes he called. "LOK VAH KOOR!" A large shout pieced through the storm that dispelled it. Seeing the storm clear slightly Frisk and Jin exchanged a glance before heading towards the summit of High Hrothgar, to meet Paarthurnax... the leader of the Graybeards.
Ulrich362: Dragonrend, a shout to slay a dragon... it must be powerful.
bopdog111: It is the only hope to stop Alduin now. What will Paarthurnax tell them?
Ulrich362: That's a good question, only one way to find out though.
bopdog111: Agreed. And that won't be the only time Frisk will put Delphine in her place so you all are aware.
Ulrich362: Sounds fun, see you in the next chapter.
bopdog111: Be sure to review!