bopdog111: Borkul gotten the Artifact he's assigned to get, and maybe an alliance from Largashbur.
Ulrich362: True, things went well for him to say the least.
bopdog111: Now we're at to where Madanach is off to get the Artifact from Perytite; Spellbreaker.
Ulrich362: Will he be able to obtain it, or will he die trying? Only one way to find out, enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: We don't own The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim but we own the OCs!
Madanach was near the Reach in his territory looking over a map for the location which was nearby. Soon he arrived at the top of a hill where he finds a set up where a Khajiit was by himself with a large gold cauldron in front of a large tree, and several other set-ups.
Noticing him the Khajiit looked up. "Ah, a wanderer, yes? No? Pilgrim, perhaps? Have you come to commune with Peryite, Taskmaster and blighted Lord, yes?"
Madanach stared before remembering what Noel mentioned to him, 'Find a Shrine of Perytite, and the person who lives there will direct you on getting ingredients for a fume for you to smell, and you'll speak to an Aspect of Perytite where you will be given Spellbreaker if you complete a task for him.'
'This must be who he's referring too...' Madanach thought before asking, "I was told you know a fume that you need ingredients too?"
"A fume?" the Khajiit inquired. "Ah, you speak of the incense to commune with Lord Peryite. Yes, I know how to make it. Do you have the items necessary?"
"What kind of items do you need? I might have them already." Madanach said pulling out a satchel.
"To make the incense, I require a Silver Ingot, A Deathbell Flower, a Flawless Ruby, and Vampire Dust."
Madnach looked through his satchel finding them before giving them to the Khajiit.
"Ah, have you? Let Kesh have them. Yes, yes. This will create a fine fume." Kesh noted putting the items into a cauldron before stirring it creating a potent fume. "That should do. Now - Inhale deeply."
Madanach walked before inhaling deeply which he coughed but it triggered something.
"Breathe deep, mortal. I would have you hear me well, so let these vapors fill your lungs." a voice said in his head as the sky changed as the tree in front of him changes in appearance while spectral skeevers walked around it.
"Peryite I presume?" Madanach inquired. "I assume as a Daedric Prince you already know why I'm here?"
"Indeed. I had been watching you, and your little Emperor for some time, you know. The decisions he makes intrigue me, and I wonder if you are a proper agent for a task of mine if he's sent you." the voice, Perytite, said to him before saying, "And what he seeks is my Spellbreaker Shield correct, well he's correct, it can be your little Emperor's by doing a small bidding of mine."
"I suppose there's only one way to find out, what is this small bidding?" Madanach asked.
"I sent a blessing to Mundus, a wasting plague that infected a scattering of Breton villages. One of my monks, the elf Orchendor, was sent to gather these Afflicted." Perytite answered before he spat as Madanach could hear the disgust in his voice, "He shepherded them into Bthardamz for me, but has since lost his way. I will not stand for betrayal. I want you to go to Bthardamz and Kill Orchendor, in my name."
"I'll see what I can do." Madanach nodded at that.
"So you have, mortal. Go now. Kill Orchendor." Perytite said before the environment turned back to normal with the skeevers vanishing.
Madanach shook his head before turning to Kesh. "Peryite has instructed me to go to Bthardamz to kill an elf named Ochendor, do you know where I can find this place or anything about him that could help with this task?"
"It's over in that direction." Kesh pointed to a direction at the west before then stating, "And these Afflicted, can release a substance that's acidic, so approach with caution, and do not go alone. Many Dwarven Machinary if not the Afflicted roam those areas."
Madanach nodded before heading to the west towards Bthardamz. Arriving at a Forsworn Camp along the way they turned to him before bowing to him.
"We have something to do, some of you come with me." he told them. "We're going into a Dwarven ruin called Bthardamz."
"Bthardamz?" one of the Forsworn asked shocked, "But Lord Madanach, that place is crawling with what seemed like cursed Bretons. Why are we going there?"
"None of you heard what happened in Markarth, did you?" he asked.
"No. Did we finally take back our rightful land?" one of the other Forsworns asked hearing that.
"In a sense, gather around." Madanach told them. "Things have gotten very interesting."
They all walked over to him at that. Madanach closed his eyes before telling them all what happened in Markarth, and about Noel's Wolf Empire.
"So now, this child is leading us in a Empire? And as a offering to us, he given us back Markarth, and rid the Silver-Bloods of their wealth?" the Forsworn Briar-Heart asked him once Madanach finished explaining.
"That's correct." Madanach confirmed.
"I can't help if I either be insulted, or glad." a female Forsworn admitted to her brethren, "We spent years trying to take Markarth back, and then this kid came in, and take it back in like 1 day."
"Then again, try to remember, we had done Madanach's bidding while he's in Cidhna Mine, under Thonar's orders to eliminate any rivals to the Silver-Bloods." a male Argonian Forsworn added to them, "That kid might've planned to be in there early to recruit Lord Madanach, and break him out right before Thonar can realize that we double-crossed him."
"And we got back our land, and he given us back our King, and the same fear, and strength we use to have back then." the Forsworn Briar-Heart agreed at this, "Then the Imperials tried to take it back, but we were ready this time if not for his thinking."
"Anyone who's agreed to serve the new Emperor raise your hand." the first Forsworn said raising his hand which was joined by all the other Forsworns before he turned to Lord Madanach, "My king, we shall stand by you, and our new Emperor for whatever you both shall need, just give us the word."
Madanach just nodded calmly at that. "Then we head to Bthardamz."
"So what are we going to do there my king?" the Argonian Forsworn asked him curiously as they headed to Bthardamz.
"There's an elf we need to kill, and then... we're getting a shield for the Wolf Emperor." Madanach answered. "A gift from a Daedric Prince himself."
"A Daedra?" the second Forsworn asked shocked, "And our Emperor serves them?"
"Serves them no, but he is collecting their artifacts." Madanach answered.
They all nodded walking into the Ruins where they see people were there talking to each other wearing Bandit Armor. Madanach frowned seeing that as he he signaled for them to move cautiously and avoid unnecessary fighting if possible. They all moved silently before at the door Madanach opens it allowing them to enter just as a Afflicted notices them from walking to the door, "Hey, intruders!"
Hearing that the Forsworn all drew their weapons and prepared to fight against the Afflicted. Several sprayed a green liquid which they dodged before turning seeing that the stone behind them where it hits is melting before turning back charging in letting out battle cries attacking the Afflicted fighting through before an Afflicted grabbed a dagger managing to grab a Breton Forsworn stabbing his side with the dagger as the Forsworn cried out before turning expertly pulling out a dagger stabbing the Afflicted at the neck killing him before stepping back placing his hand on his wound.
"Let me see." Madanach told him walking over to the injured Forsworn.
The Forsworn pulled his hand back allowing Madanach to see the wound.
"Deep, and likely infected given the situation." he frowned before reaching into his pouch before taking out a vial and a torn cloth. "Drink this, then bandage the wound. The rest of us will head inside and search for Orchendor."
"Yes my king... Will you, and they be okay?" the Forsworn asked sitting down taking the supplies.
"We'll be fine." Madanach confirmed before walking over and pulling a small lever as a gate of iron bars opened. "He's in there, but there are more than likely more of these afflicted as well. Be on your guard."
They all nodded heading in before noticing a meele Afflicted waking a mage Afflicted, "I'm sorry to wake you, my Brother. I have a request from Orchendor."
"Yes, what is it?" the mage asked annoyed.
"He requests more barrels of ichor to be delivered to the Arcanex tomorrow."
"This is the reason you wake me? I already have Orchendor's request taken care of."
"I'm sorry my Brother."
"Now leave me to my sleep. My strength and patience are waning."
"Yes, my Brother. Forgive me. May the blessing of Peryite be with you."
"Yes, yes, as with you. Now be off."
"Orchendor must must be in the Arcane." a Forsworn noted.
They all went down together facing Afflicted they spotted, and some Dwarven Automatons. Against a Dwarven Sphere it shot one Dwarven Bolt striking the back shoulder of the Argonian Forsworn making him cry out in pain holding his shoulder from the attack. One of the other Forsworn shot an arrow at the Dwarven Sphere destroying it as a third moved to support the injured Argonian.
The female Forsworn moved seeing the bolt, and takes it pulling it out with a yank making the Argonian winced deep from this, "Agh!"
"You'll live brother." the female Forsworn said tossing the bolt aside, "Looks as though once this is bandage he should be alright to keep going."
"Alright." Madanach nodded only to pause. "Do you all hear something?"
Hearing that they all quieted down paying attention. Hearing something that sounds like loud footsteps.
"Something's coming, something big." a Forsworn frowned.
Sensing something another Forsworn turned around, and screamed before something attacked it. His scream alarmed the others looking just in time to see a large Dwarven Mechanism known as a Centurion had just murdered the Forsworn that screamed.
"Get away from that thing!" Madanach called.
(Cue Theme: Messenger from Behind)
The Forsworn quickly moved away before the Centurion shot steam towards the group. Madanach winced from the heat of the steam. "This thing must have a weakness of some kind, do any of you see anything?"
The female Forsworn shot an arrow striking but it dealt almost no damage while it attacks with it's hammer hand before moving firing a bolt which made a Forsworn avoided before moving attacking it's leg with a Forsworn Axe before the Centurion stepped back attacking with steam which the Forsworn rolled in between it's legs to avoid before shooting arrow causing little damage before it turned to another Forsworn moving to attack which he avoided striking it's arm with his sword.
Seeing it had turned away Madanach turned to another Forsworn as the two of them ran up behind the Centurion and tried striking at its joints from behind only to it to still take barely any damage. The Centurion turned to strike at them which the dodged looking on grunting.
"How the fuck can we kill this thing!?" the Argonian Forsworn growled frustrated.
Noticing something the female Forsworn told Madanach, "My king."
"What is it?" he asked as he barely managed to avoid being cooked by the Centurion's steam.
"Tell the Little Emperor, this is for him."
Before Madanach can ask what she means she ran up a ledge before calling out jumping up as the Centurion turned too late before the female Forsworn got on it stabbing the Centurion's exposed joints with her sword as it stubbled around trying to shake her off before losing it's balance on the edge of a ledge falling down with the female Forsworn on it. Madanach's eyes widened in shock before running to the edge as he looked down in shock. A large crash was sound as everyone looked.
The Centurion was on the ground looking like it's immobile dead now with the female Forsworn a foot away from it looking like the fall had killed her.
"Her sacrifice won't be in vain." Madanach whispered tightening his grip on his weapons. "Let's keep moving, Orchendor must be nearby."
They all nodded heading down further.
They soon arrived in a room where a mage robed man was there with his back behind them not turning when he senses the Forsworn behind.
"Orchendor I presume?" Madanach asked.
The man turned over seeing him asking, "And who wants to know?"
"My name is Madanach, and while it isn't personal. Peryite wants your death." Madanach answered.
"So he sends the King of the Reach Barbarians after me? He must be getting too low for his own good. But that's just what it is, he's the weakest of the Daedra Princes after all." the man, Orchendor shrugged at this, "Do you seek to become another mindless puppet of the Daedra, or is it because you have something else in mind, eitherway the Daedra will do anything to take your soul."
"I don't serve the Daedra." Madanach stated drawing his weapons.
"Then I ask again, what do you have to gain from this? I did you no wrong." Orchendor told him.
"I am simply on a task for my emperor. That's all." Madanach stated while waiting for an opportunity to strike.
"Emperor? I been hearing from reports that a new Empire is building, guess they were serious." Orchendor said at this, "No matter, once I kill you, then your so-called 'Emperor' will learn his place, as the true Emperor, and Empresses here is myself as I spread my Afflicted influence across Tamriel."
"Too bad you won't get a chance too." the Argonian Forswon said to him.
"Isn't it always?" Orchendor asked with a smirk before calling, "Frost Strom!" He fired a storm of ice at them.
The Forsworn all avoided the ice as one of them shot an arrow at him. Orchendor avoided the arrow before firing several Firebolts before dodging an attack, and backed up calling, "Come Flame Atronach!"
At that a portal opened where a demonic woman made of fire, and stone came in firing bolts of fire at the Forsworn. The Forsworn all took cover from the flames before suddenly an iron dagger flew past them and embedded itself in Orchendor's gut.
"Ah! What?" Orchendor pulled the dagger out looking over to see who threw it.
The Forsworn that was stabbed outside had joined them with his side bandaged. "My king, are you alright?"
Using the confusion Madanach struck Orchendor from behind. "Yes, unfortunately not all of us are."
Orchendor froze from this kneeling twitching with the Atronach vanishing while the Forsworn looked around noticing the female one isn't with them.
"She gave her life for us, come with me." the Argonian Forsworn told him as the two of them walked to the ledge as Madanach sighed.
"All of you head to Markarth, I'll join you soon." he told them.
"Are you sure my King?" the Argonian Forsworn asked him, "Shouldn't we have an escort or something protect you?"
They all nodded as they headed off before Madanach arrived at the Shrine where Kesh notices him, "Hm? Ah, you. So were you successful in what Lord Perytite asked of thee?"
"I was, am I still able to contact him?" Madanach inquired noticing the fumes were still coming from the cauldron.
"The vapors are waning, but not yet gone." Kesh answered with a nod before directing, "Take a breath. Peryite will speak if He sees fit."
Nodding Madanach walked over before inhaling the vapors again.
He transported back into the world as he heard Perytite talking, "Well done, mortal. All things are in their order, and Orchendor roams the Pits. His betrayal will be punished, and your obedience for your Little Emperor, and myself is rewarded."
Madanach simply nodded at that.
"And now as promised, I give you the token that your Little Emperor tasked you to find."
At that magic build around before what appeared was a inverted shield that looks Dwarven made but more fancy before Perytite explained to him, "My token Spellbreaker, a magical shield that is able to defend from all manner of spells including the power of the Thu'um. Use it well in your Little Emperor's Quest, and know that I will be watching."
Madanach nodded taking the shield before the world returned to normal and he turned back to Markarth to return with the shield.
"I see you have the Token, Perytite reward you with." Kesh said to him, "Be sure to expect Kesh in Markarth soon to spread Perytite's influence from within."
"Right." Madanach nodded as he walked off.
Meanwhile...
Noel was walking by himself taking in the directions from the map before looking seeing a town near a frozen lake which he smiled, "Hello Dawnstar... Time to get Mehrunes' Razor, and possibly a visit to the Dawnstar Sanctuary."
Ulrich362: And with that, two Daedric Artifacts belong to the Wolf Empire.
bopdog111: With a third about to follow.
Ulrich362: Mehrune's Razor, a blade capable of instantly killing anyone it strikes.
bopdog111: Which would be the most ideal weapon for assassins despite low chances to do so.
Ulrich362: True, let's see if Noel can claim it. See you in the next chapter.
bopdog111: Be sure to review!