The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into Strange Times

The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into Strange Times

     "Lingrah has nii been since daar pogaan minne saw light, faal fille, faal iilah.  Fun zu'u hin name, hi wo called zu'u nol faal deep suvulaan beyond daar suleyksejun. Zu'u owe hi pogaas fah daar ahrk would mindok wo zu'u los ko debt wa?"

     "Zu'u los named, Iriisii Dovahkiin, kruziik gein.  Zu'u trust hi los whole ont more? Zu'u lost ni certain wa siiv pah do hin qethhe, scattered ol nust were, pogaan ko nameless stadde.

     "Hin uth do dovahzul los ol aan cool breeze nol aan strunmah pass.  Lingrah has nii been since zu'u lost held tinvok voth gein wo speaks ol aan dov ahrk wo adheres wa faal traditions do aan diist meeting.  Hi ofan zu'u faal right do diist speech, orin ol hin thu'um still echoes ko dii hah ahrk sil."

     "Your praise does me honor, hallowed brother, yet I must apologize as most here do not understand Dovahzul and so I would not have them believe we plot against them in speech they cannot understand."

     "You speak wisely for one so young, yet I sense a power within you as old as I am. Would you tell me how this came to be?"

     Iriisii gives him a short version of her history that answers what he wants to know.

     "The 'First', I now remember him from those old days. So you host his soul now?"

     "Indeed, if you wish I can allow him to come forward and speak with you."

     "That you would do this for one such as I, a 'Dragon of Chaos' speaks greatly of you, your generosity, and tolerance. Would that more like you existed in my time, things would be very different now."

     Her voice takes on a deeper, more masculine timbre. "Indeed, brother, they would. But it is not known if we would have this one here and now when she is direly needed to shepherd the 'Balance' through the dark fog of war."

     "Is this why she called unto me? Because of this coming war?"

     "If so, it is by the wish of the 'Great Mother' that her 'Daughter' should call one who was once the greatest supporter of the Balance in those lost times."

     "She is the 'Daughter' of the 'Great Mother'? Is this the same who first took up that 'Mantle' or is it another?"

     "No, brother, the 'Mantle' has not changed hands, not yet. 'She' holds it still as she did the day she took it up. But she only now grows tired and seeks one to take it from her, that she can go beyond."

     "For so long, far longer than any thought, the scramble for the position must be furious right now."

     "If only that was all we were dealing with."

     "Tell me then, brother. What is coming that is such that the 'Mother' would seek to summon me to aid her 'Daughter'."

     "The Wamphyrie have been brought back. This one has already been blooded against them and has done far better than expected. Those who watch these signs, say she is the one to deal with them for all eternity."

     "How did she stop the ones she encountered?"

     "She used her battle skills to keep them occupied with her on that level, while she gathered help to trap them within a temporal loop that they were using to keep themselves returning to their source. She broke the loop at its far end, and while the paradox traveled to the other end, she got there ahead of both Wamphyrie and Paradox. Broke it from the beginning, returned the timestream to its normal course, and let the paradox destroy the loop and the Wamphyrie."

     "That was well done. Worthy of one the 'Mother' chose to be her 'Daughter'."

     "And so there was an 'Egg Mother' among the Wamphyrie."

     "Tell me she was destroyed as well?"

     "Indeed, Iriisii called upon a few dragons whose fealty she holds. They and she destroyed the 'Egg Mother' and every last egg with Dragonfire."

     "If they were all destroyed then what is the problem, how have they returned?"

     "Someone acquired either spore, or eggs, or both, and they have been brought out and sold as a weapon, the only weapon capable of defeating her. The Dark Emperor has been infected, how many others within his court is not known. A number were able to escape infection, and have taken service with 'her' army. They now know what is at stake, and what will happen if she fails. They will do everything they can to see that she wins.

     But she especially wants to find who brought them back and how it was done. She wants to destroy it so totally, that no one else can ever do this again."

     "Then she shall have my aid, in whatever means I can give it, for I would see her succeed in this."

     "She will greatly appreciate your aid, my friend, as will all of us who have become a part of her."

     Iriisii returns to herself and steps toward the City Council.

     "You have seen more than was anticipated for you to see. What you do with this knowledge going forward will determine your fate. I will help you in your decision of what to do from now on. Tamara, the papers if you please."

     Tamara hands Iriisii the stack of papers she found hidden in various hidey-holes in the church properties. From what few she read, she knows the information within them could be quite explosive.

     "Those of you who had side dealings with the 'Church of the Eternal Flame' really ought to have known better than to trust them at their word. They recorded everything, every detail, every transaction, even when those transactions further link you to the 'more shady elements'. By that, I mean the criminal underground."

     The Commotion from the City Council is reaching a fever pitch, some are trying to call the guards on Iriisii, others as shouting them down, not trusting if the guards hear what is going on, that the information will leak and the whole city will be out for blood, theirs. Iriisii reads the reactions among the City Council to see who is embroiled, and how deep in the pockets they are. The High Councilor is not a part of this, and although he had suspicions, he had no solid evidence before now. Eventually, he gets things back under control.

     "My Lady, would you allow me to peruse a few of those documents to ascertain their veracity? I would ask that no one leave this room for now. This situation must be resolved." Looking at 'Ek Diiv Grah' he respectfully asks, "I know this is none of your business or interest, but may I impose upon you, to ask that you allow no one to leave here until this is settled?"

     Ek Diiv Grah looks to Iriisii, who nods her head in agreement with the High Councilor's request.

     "As the 'Mother of Dragons' has given her agreement with your request, I will do as you ask." And settles himself in front of the doors. The high Councilor gives his thanks to both Iriisii and Ek Diiv Grah, then begins reading through the top portion of the stack of papers.

     As he reads each page, he stops and looks at a different counselor. After the first dozen or so pages he stops, sighs, and asks Iriisii, "are there any here, who are not involved in this morass of greed and depravity?"

     Iriisii looks at Tamara, who gives the High Councilor three names.

     "I see, as much as it pains me, I must thank you for this. I thought that there were some unsavory activities going on, but I had no proof and I had no idea it went so far. Novigrad and its people deserve better, and now it is up to me to see to it. I want to be open with the people about this, but I know what will happen. 

     The people will revolt and the aftermath will be worse than what has gone on thus far. My Lady, I must first ask, what are your intentions as to Nilfgard?"

     "I intend to stop its military advance. We will hold to its current borders, and I will concern myself with establishing peace, prosperity, and justice within its borders, for everyone within its borders, equally. There will not be one level of justice for some and another for others. It is my task to see to the Empire's future, such that it is healthy when Emhir's daughter should decide she wishes me to step down for her ascension to the throne."

     "So he does indeed have an heir?"

     "Yes, he does. I am acquainted with her and understand her desire not to sit on the throne at this time. When she will be ready, I cannot say, when or if ever. I did not seek this position, yet I also understand his decision, and so accept the responsibility to guide the Empire in his absence."

     "But with all that is going on beyond our borders and knowledge."

     "I have the means and ability to deal with it, along with my other responsibilities. To be honest it is really a matter of scale. I have examples of many others in how to deal with all of this. It is more a matter of do I have the will to do what is needed to bring everything together, and I do.

     As long as the Northern Kingdoms respect our borders, we will respect theirs. This I promise to you here and now. This also extends to all of the other kingdoms in this world. We will not interfere so long as no one interferes with us. We may not agree as to how to rule our respective lands, but I would say to all others be careful how you rule. If you are overthrown by the people you rule and they ask to join with us, we will accept them. We will not take any action to bring this about through our own agency. It will be by your own actions and how you respect the will of the people you rule and serve."

     One of the others on the Council asks, "and how do we know all of this is true. that you will keep to your word?"

     Rigmor looks at the Councilor like he was something she should scrape off of the bottom of her boots. "I have known her for years, and even under the most stressful of situations, never has she lied to me or to anyone she has ever met. I have traveled with her on the most dangerous of roads. Watched as she gave the last of her gold to farmers who had lost everything to dragon attacks, and she gave it not a second thought. Adopted orphans sleeping in the streets all while the cold winter winds from the north blew through the cities. She gave them a home, a family, a name to be proud of. She established a boarding school where she could send less fortunate children, to receive an education, learn a trade, be productive when they chose to go out into the world.

     She would stop and help anyone who asked, without regard for their station, from the lowest beggar to the High Queen of Skyrim. The great Civil War had ground to a halt until she took a hand in it on the side of the Empire. It was she who stood by the leader of the Empire's legions, General Tullius at the final battle at Windhelm when they fought Ulfric Stormcloak, leader of the rebellion. And she gave him a warrior's death, to bring the civil war to an end and the Empire started on the road to reunification.

     But these were just the smallest things she accomplished, the greater tasks have gone unsung because she does not seek personal recognition of her deeds. If her reputation follows her or precedes her, it does so on the merits of what other people say. She has faced down Daedric Lords within their own Realms within Oblivion. She has saved my own life, time and time again, carried me in her arms, from one end of Skyrim to the other, after saving me from being a sacrifice to restore a God to his former self. Only to have to part from me, send me home to Bruma to take on my own destiny, while she stayed in Skyrim to do the bidding of our Gods, to slay the dragon known as Alduin, the 'Worldeater', firstborn of Akatosh. He who rebelled in the early times of our world, and sought to rule our world until the 'Dragon Wars' resulted in his banishment into the 'Streams of Time', only for him to return thousands of years later to resume his plans of conquest. It was her task, given to her by Akatosh, when he anointed her 'Dovahkiin', to stop Alduin, by whatever means necessary.

     She tracked him, even as she learned what she was capable of as a 'Dovahkiin'. She trapped another dragon, Odahving, by name, got him to take her to Skuldafn on his back, for the only approach to that place was by air. From there she fought her way through Draugr, undead warriors, not vampires but something else, until she found Alduin's entrance to Sovngarde, the afterlife for our warriors deemed worthy in life. It was there that Alduin was vulnerable and could be killed. She joined with the spirits of the three who first banished him and together they fought and killed him.

     The weapons and skills she learned to do this with, she has kept honed and continues to build upon. She has continued to fight greater and more deadly foes, and at no time has she forgotten who she once was. The humblest of roots she has climbed from, to approach the highest of powers. There is no one else I would trust to do what she has been asked to do, not even myself. I say these things about her because I know her like no other does, for we were joined and wedded as mortals according to the Rites of Akatosh, and again as immortals, joined and wedded according to the Rites of the 'Mother of the Cosmos'. I trust I have answered your question, and if not, then tough shit."

     Iriisii looks to the councilor, "you can either believe her or not, that is up to you. But you cannot deny the evidence of your own eyes that saw me resurrect this dragon. A dragon whose very bones were lost deep within the dark mists of time. You can go from this chamber and go about your business as you have been, although I think you would be taking your chances if you did. I imagine that the High Councilor now knows the things you have done to amass the wealth you now have.

     Well, he might not go after you directly, but if he went after your 'business partners' instead, they would likely take out their frustrations on you and maybe your family as well, for they have no respect for anyone other than themselves. Yes, I am certain of it, if they could not get to you, they would go after any of yours they could get to, and so you would have a choice to make. Save yourself and abandon your family to their 'not so tender mercies' or give yourself over to them and hope that would be enough to appease them. If it is not, be prepared, for they would still go after your family, enslave them, and ship them off to be sold to cover your debt to them.

     Or you could pack up what you can carry and take your family with you as you leave the city for somewhere else, far away. High Councilor, if any of the councilors named in these papers take leave from the city to somewhere else, I am willing to loan you a group of my best people, to assist yours in apprehending those sordid criminals. You will also need to safeguard the properties of those who leave so that they are not cleaned out by the criminals before the City can determine the best use of the said properties. Consider it a gesture of goodwill on my part.

      For I am sure when the criminals have been dealt with, the city will settle down and get back to the business of being prosperous once more. At least until the old criminal masters are replaced by new ones, but I think your guards can keep a close eye on any who remain and can 'nip it in the bud' should they try to come back."

     "You would do this for me, why?"

     "You are a rarity among city politicians, an honest one. There need to be a great deal more people like you in positions like this. I feel that helping you clean things up, will make life better for all here, and I do have friends who make this city their home. If Novigrad is clean and prosperous, it serves as an example to others that it is possible to be done. And if more follow your example, the entire region stabilizes and hostilities no longer are felt to be needed. And so peace and prosperity grow without it being from the tip of a sword. All of us benefit from that, and it also pleases the Gods as well. This is something I know whereof I speak. I will leave these documents for you, High Councilor, use them however you will with my blessing."

     "Thank you, my Lady, but if I may ask, how do you intend to...?"

     "A good question, High Councilor. Ek Diiv Grah, if I can port you outside these chambers, would you take to the countryside and wait for me. I do have some things I would like to discuss with you at your leisure, and I am sure you would enjoy some time to fly up in the skies after so long a time without."

     "Mother of Dragons, truly you have earned that title, you speak with respect even when you are the greater elder, and you show that you do care for those you take under your wings. If you will port me outside the city, I will take to the skies and bother no one. When you are ready to speak to me, call my name and I will come to you."

     Iriisii casts a teleport spell and ports him well past the city boundaries. Her magic still tying him to her for a bit, as she feels the pure joy of the winds rushing through his wings as he climbs ever higher. Once he is high than the clouds, she releases the tie her magic has on him, and now he is truly free once more. Rigmor comes up to her, putting her arm around Iriisii's waist, and whispers, "I hope I never grow tired of feeling the joy they get from flying free in the skies."

     "Odahving was right in what he told me as we left Dragon's Reach for Skuldafn that day."

     "What did he say?"

     "That when you see the world as a Dov sees it when flying in the skies of Keisal, you will forevermore be envious."

     "If ever a monument is carved to honor him and his actions on your behalf, I will see those words carved into the stone, for all to read and wonder."

     "Yes, that would be fitting indeed. Come let us get back to the 'Chameleon' and sleep for a while, I will need to see var Attre and plan our entrance into Nilfgard. Tamara, you are welcome to come with us if you like, I am sure we can find you a clean bed somewhere on the third floor. After all, what use is renting the entire floor if we do not make use of it."

     "You talked me into it, I was not relishing walking all the way back to the main building in the middle of the night."

     "Then come with us, please. You will be safe with two goddesses escorting you."

     "Is what was said earlier about those 'parasites' real?"

     "I am afraid so. A more terrible scourge, I cannot think of. Somehow, someway, I will see them destroyed."

     "Good, if there is anything I can do to help, please let me know."

     "Rest assured, if there is anything that you can do, we will let you help. Now let us get back to the 'Chameleon' before Zoltan locks the doors for the night."

     The next day, Iriisii rises to find var Attre waiting for her in the main room. She invites him to have breakfast with her as they discuss what news he has.

     "Where do we stand for now?"

     "My Lady, I have made the arrangements we talked about for the Lady Rigmor to enter Nilfgard and act as your agent. My daughter Edna has agreed to accompany her as her 'Lady in Waiting' to keep up appearances. It will cause less notice as long as the proper proprieties are observed."

     "She can act as she needs to when she sees the need for it. Now tell me, do you think I should make a spectacle of an entrance, in full regalia, the works so to speak?"

     "Tell me what you have in mind?"

     "I am loaning the High Councilor some of my best troops to help him in cleaning out the criminal underground. I know we will not get them all, but we know who the leaders of each section are and we are confident we can get them. They will not expect us to go after them all at once, and with my own people leading the way, this will come as quite a shock to them."

     "How is the High councilor going to deal with them?"

     "I gave him enough documents detailing the relationships between the various sections, and some on the current council, who are even now preparing to flee the city, leaving behind everything they cannot carry, their funds within the City are frozen and will be confiscated. Requests are already being sent to the other banks, etc, in other cities requesting the same be done there.

     As to the criminal leaders, they will be brought to trial according to the laws of Novigrad. The High Councilor feels their fates are already sealed, as the information in those documents is so damning, they will have no defense against them. Anyway, I thought to bring more than I need to give the High Councilor to use as my own escort into Nilfgard. I also have a surprise as well that I will show you if you like. I will need to arrange a meeting place outside the city for the transfer of power to take place. I want everyone, Generals, nobles, and common people to be able to attend and see everything. This will make an impression like nothing else has."

     "What is this surprise, please just tell me, I still have much to do, and if I have some idea what you have in mind, I can better prepare for it."

     "The City Council prepared a little test for me last night. I do not think they were prepared for how it went. They have had a large unidentified bone in their possession for a long time. They brought it out and asked if I could identify what it belonged to."

     "They must have had some idea if they intended that to be a test."

     "I am sure some thought they knew what it was, they were so very wrong. It belonged to a dragon, not one like is sometimes seen here. This one was one of the Ancient Elders, one who lived in the early times of Creation. I cast a spell in Dovahzul to reach into the forgotten past and find all the other pieces of his skeleton and bring them to me in the Council Chamber. Once that was done and his complete skeleton lay before me, I knew I could bring him back."

     "What are you saying? What did you do?"

     "Any of the Elder lineages of Dragons who die or are killed, if their souls are not consumed, they can be resurrected, with the proper spell and enough power. The spell requires fluency in Dovahzul, and I do not lack the power needed. So I brought him back, and in return he has vowed fealty to me, to serve me in battle when once more I am called to fight against the Wamphyrie."

     "So you would show yourself to Nilfgard on the back of a Dragon?"

     "Yes, he is about four or five times the size of the biggest ones that have been seen around here. So he alone would make a strong impression, but along with a contingent of my Sirens, my 'Hand of Blood', with my 'Dragon Legion' at the head flying the 'Banner of the Celestial Dragons'. It will show that I mean business, and my words are not hollow and empty of meaning. Especially with Dettlaff, Reaper, and Elric standing behind me."

     "I have to agree, a show of force is the only thing to grab and hold their attention, and the bigger the show, the more time you will have to consolidate your position."

     "Those who you are certain are going to follow us, let them know ahead of time what is going to happen. They can fake surprise along with everyone else, but this has to be done fast. I cannot give the military forces time to shoot or it will be a bloodbath like no other. The numbers that I will need? How many do you think will be needed?"

     "How many can you bring?"

     "My 'Hand of Blood' number two thousand total, my 'Sirens' are currently at another two thousand, the 'Celestial Dragons' number, one thousand five hundred, so five thousand five hundred if I pull them all. This in no way dilutes the Celestial Army, this is but a drop in the ocean to their numbers."

     Var Attre's face pales as the numbers take shape of exactly how many she is talking about. "Just the five thousand five hundred is enough to overmatch all of the troops assigned to the capital and the surrounding area."

     "Then I will have them set up camp outside the city, and when I actually go in, I will only take, say, two hundred of each, the absolute best of them. Six hundred of my absolute best can take ten times their number of anyone else without breaking a sweat."

     "Please forgive me for asking, but are you certain of that statement?"

     "Yes, I am. I have personally built and set up the training of the 'Sirens'. My 'Hand of Blood' are desert warriors of unmatched ferocity and discipline. And of the 'Celestial Dragons', they will and have followed me into the darkness of the Abyss without wavering. So, yes, I am certain of their fighting skills, their training, their discipline. I trust each and every one of them with my life and the lives of my family, my mates, my children."

     "Then bring all of them, and as soon as you are ready we will descend on the capital."

     Everyone is in place, the decision has been made to transport all the troops just out of sight of the capital and allow them to march into clear sight of the city. The 'Dragons ' in the center with their Banner unfurled, half of the 'Sirens' on each side of the 'Dragons', the 'Hand of Blood' to come up behind all of them, then split to either side and flank them when they reach their stopping point.

     Dettlaff, Elric, and Reaper will be in front, with Atticus. Lord var Attre will be on horseback and move to stand next to Iriisii when she lands. Iriisii will land with Ekdiivgrah, just in front of all of them as the 'Dragons' use their new 'Dragon Horns' designed to mimic a generic roar of a Dragon. And all of this timed to occur at dawn when the guard change happens at the Capital.

     At the appointed time, the portals are opened for the troops to enter, as the last pass through, Iriisii and Ekdiivgrah fly through a portal Iriisii has conjured for them. They remain high in the sky watching the show below. As her troops are seen from the city, the scramble begins. Never before has something like this happened to Nilfgard. How did such a force get so close before being seen? Almost like they wanted to be seen just at that time.

     The Nilfgard response is mobilized as Iriisii's forces reach their places and stop. As the Nilfgard cavalry start toward them and reach about one hundred yards distance, the Dragon horns are presented and blown. A full dozen of them ring out with a roar that stops the cavalry's horses in their tracks, some of the riders being spilled onto the ground. It is then that Iriisii and Ekdiivgrah drop out of the sky, plant themselves on the ground in front of her forces, and both add their own voices to the 'Dragons' roar.

     Lord var Attre rides forth and stops to the left of Iriisii where she sits astride Ekdiivgrah's neck. The Nilfgardians try hard to create some kind of order in their ranks, their Sergeants running along the lines screaming at the top of their lungs. The disarray is quite evident as is the total shock of this happening. Finally, some generals are seen coming to the front to take charge.

     As a trio move forward in some semblance of decorum seeing that Iriisii's forces are not attacking, yet, anyway. They are some thirty yards away when Lord var Attre rides forth and requests they stop. As they recognize him and do as he says, Iriisii climbs up onto Ekdiivgrah's head and he flips her high into the air. As she reaches a peak she stops and starts walking invisible steps, wearing a solid black leather skin suit, covering her from neck to where it disappears into her boots. Again black leather was stitched to look like very small dragon scales.

     The hilt of her now favored katana visible from behind her back as it shows above her right shoulder, a close-fitting and simple gold circlet around the crown of her head. The only other ornamentation is a gold necklace dropping down between her breasts with a stylized dragon head in full voice attached. The generals look to var Attre who walks up beside her, unfurls the roll of paper with the Emperor-in-Exile's words written on it as he begins to read aloud.

      

     "I, Emhyr var Emreis, do hereby declare my intention to go into self-imposed exile in a place undisclosed and unknown to all. I undertake this path in penance for certain actions of mine that had they not gone unchallenged, would have endangered everything I have attempted to build since taking the throne.

     It is my desire to step down in favor of my daughter, Cirilla, who does not at this time wish to take my place on the throne of Nilfgard. I do not know when or if ever she will relent her decision and accept the responsibility of Empress of Nilfgard. But I will not step away and leave my Empire unguided.

     The one standing next to my faithful servant, Lord Henry var Attre, is herself a Warrior Empress of the Empire of Cyrodiil on the world of Nirn. How she came to be here is her business and not to be interfered with. However, I know her to be one who well knows the meaning, the cost, the burden, of ruling an Empire. I also know she does not seek the Throne of Nilfgard for herself, and because of this and other reasons that are mine only to know and understand, I have asked of her to be Regent of the Empire of Nilfgard, until such time as Cirilla should accept the Throne.

     Cirilla knows her and trusts her, as do I now. We both feel she will guide Nilfgard well and watch over its people like they were her own. Obey her as you would obey me, as you would obey Cirilla if it were she sitting the Throne. I know there will be those who will disagree with this decision, but I know it is the right decision to make.

     Disobey my Regent at your own peril, for she has all the rights and responsibilities to rule Nilfgard until she steps down for Cirilla. This is written in my own hand, under no duress, no compulsion, with a clear mind, and sealed with my personal seal. May the Gods that I have spurned and turned away from, look with favor upon me now, and bless the Empire of Nilfgard, under the guidance of the Regent, the Dragon Empress Iriisii Dovahkiin."

     Lord var Attre, furls the missive up into a roll again. "Our Emperor has spoken, these are his words that I have verified and attest to." He turns to Iriisii, bows, "my Lady, would you wish to speak to your Empire?"