The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into A Tale of Middle Nirn

 The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into A Tale of Middle Nirn

     Iriisii turns to the Dragon, "watch that entrance, if anyone comes let me know."

     "As you wish, my Lady."

     "The rest of you, come follow me, I have business with those dragon bones. Then I will take all of you to safety."

     Iriisii, followed by the freed captives, quickly walks down to the dragon bones.

     "Everyone stay over there, out of the way. When I am done here, a portal will open. The first ones out are mine and will help defend and guard while all goes through the portal. There will be warm beds, food, drink, whatever else you may need. I promise you this, no one will harm you, not here, not there."

     Iriisii then walks among the bones, opening herself to their presence, the story of their history, steeped in mystery and dark times. But this matters not to her, her allies are of both 'dark' and 'light', 'Evil' and 'Good'. She will take what help comes her way, from whomever, offers it freely. Reaching the point where she feels the strongest connection to them, she raises her face to the darkening sky, a bright moon rising up from the teeth of the mountains in the East. Clouds slowly make their way along their own path.

                                                          

"Hear dii plea, Monah se Cosmos!"                      "Hear my plea, Mother of the Cosmos!"

"Hear faal rotte do hin Mon!"                               "Hear the words of your Daughter!"

"I kriist among faal qethhe do dii Kirre."             "I stand among the bones of my Children."

"Kirre, zu'u neh knew faal dez do."                      "Children, I never knew the fate of."                      

"Kirre, zu'u neh knew faal names do."                  "Children, I never knew the names of."

"For naal hin fen, ahrk ko hin name,"                   "For by your will, and in your name,"

"I would mindok nun dezze, nun names."             "I would know their fates, their names."

"Let niin hon dii zul, hon dii bel."                         "Let them hear my voice, hear my call."

"Let nii reach kotin faal depths se past."              "Let it reach into the depths of the past."

"Let nii reach kotin faal vulom                             "Let it reach into the darkness

tol holds niin nel."                                                 that holds them fast."

"Let faal light scatter faal vulom."                        "Let the light scatter the darkness."

"Let faal light show niin faal way wa zu'u."         "Let the light show them the way to me."

"Let niin kos reborn unto zu'u daar sul."              "Let them be reborn unto me this day. 

"That nust mindok faal 'Monah do Dovahhe'       "That they know the 'Mother of Dragons'

"Calls niin wa ek, calls niin hofkiin!"                   "Calls them to her, calls them home!"

"CALLS NIIN WA REBIRTH!"                           "CALLS THEM TO REBIRTH!"                                                           

      Suddenly the bright moon turns blood red, there is lightning on the horizon, the sound of thunder rolls from the distance. A pale red mist rises from the bones and gathers close to Iriisii. As a lightning bolt strikes the mist, pulling it into itself, taking on the form of a red woman.

     "Who is it that calls those I claim as mine?"

     "I, who am called the 'Mother of Dragons' calls her children to her!"

     "Why do you call to them?"

     "They are my children, is that not reason enough?"

     "They share the taint that is who I am, I am loathed to let them go."

     "And they are my children, and I call them to my side. If you will not release them, then I must purge you from them, free them from your taint."

     "Long and long have they been mine, and I do not give up what is mine!"

     Iriisii draws her katana, readies herself, her shouts, her spells, her skills. And those within her ready themselves as well, for they know she will not turn from her children. She first shouts, "Ven Lah Haas", then, "Mul Qah Diiv", then "Tiid Klo Ul". She is placed atop a pillar of arcane energy, magnifying the power of her shouts, when the second is completed a vibrant image of a dragon surrounds her expanding her strength, speed, and magic even further, and then she slows time around her. She draws her katana, and leaps from the pillar, curling into a ball in mid-air, landing with one foot directly under her, the other outstretched behind her for stability, her sword arm fully engaged in front of her, her katana only inches from the 'red crystal woman' holding the blade from her breast with both hands.

     The 'red woman' sends power down the blade toward Iriisii, red crystals covering the blade and moving toward Iriisii's hand. Iriisii hears the blade scream in her mind, its agony buffeting her even as Shivista extends a shield to ease the pain. Iriisii calls upon her own power, sending it down the blade to the red crystals. As they meet the crystals are shattered, falling to the ground in a red mist. Back and forth they go, the katana glowing with the forces running through it.

     Then Iriisii whispers more words and channels them through the blade, the stars in the sky wink out one by one, then she whispers the same words a second time. This time as the last syllable leaves her lips, a shaft of Starfire erupts along the blade, driving itself into the 'red woman', whose crystal body shatters in the heat. Iriisii hears a long distant whispering, "I...am...undone. Free...after...all...this...time. May...the...Gods...forgive...my...sins."

     She wonders about the words she heard, who the 'red woman' was, and what did she do to become what she was. Then she looks at the bones, the crystals embedded in them. They are no longer red now, but blue. She finds herself surrounded by Soulhounds, who kneel to her with one hand outstretched as if to touch her.

     And then she sees the vaporous image of the 'Mother of the Cosmos' floating before her.

     "This is Iriisii Dovahkiin, who has now passed from 'Greater Goddess' to 'Elder'. My pride in her knows no bounds, my joy is limitless. She who was my avowed Daughter, I now declare to be my 'Heir', to accept my 'Mantle' and its responsibilities when I pass it to her. You now have the power to initiate 'Rebirth' on your own accord. Use it wisely as I know you will."

     The 'Mother' fades back, and the Soul Hounds stand before her. "We will give you the time you need to call these dragons back into their bones. Know that this was something even Skelos could not foresee, but another did and wrote his words in a place you will find soon enough. We cannot say more, speak the spell of resurrection, and call your 'children' home to you."

     Iriisii looks back out over the bones, as they seem to be calling her. Crying out to return to her as she promised to call them to her in that far distant past as they sacrificed their lives to protect her and allowed her to escape a terrible prison made to hold her. She then raises her face to the heavens and shouts with all of the power of her Thu'um in her voice, "SLEN TIID VO"!

     The words reverberate, echoing, transcending the strictures of time, space, and relative dimensions. They are heard everywhere, by everyone, in past, present, and future. The bones gather together each to its proper owner, flesh forms on the bones, even as the blue crystals glow and pulse in time to her heartbeat. Then scales form over the flesh, and skin forms between the bones of their wings. She unfurls her own lambent blue dragon wings, the blue of her wings pulsing in time with her heartbeat, and with the tiny blue crystals within the blood vessels of her 'children's' wings.

     Then one moves from the crowd of dragons before her, "Mother of Dragons, you kept your holy word, your promise to us made so long ago in the unfathomable depths of time. Know we will keep our promise to you, and serve you as your 'children' until you decide to pass 'beyond'. And then we will go with you into whatever future waits for you, as a child follows their parent into the future."

     "It is time I got you all to safety, ready yourselves and I will have a portal opened. There is plenty of room for all and supplies will be provided as well. Some of my people will come through to help defend while you pass through, just know that they are mine as you are mine."

     The dragon who spoke nods his head. Iriisii concentrates and reaches through the crystal leaf links to Rigmor.

     "It is done, open the portal, quickly!"

     A huge portal opens up with Rigmor and Byrsael stepping out first and securing the portal from this side. Then Lambert, Eskel, Atticus, and a full detail of 'Dragons' pour through. Lambert and Eskel, stop short looking at the dragons in front of them as they look at Lambert and Eskell. Atticus runs up and yells, "come on you two, you would think you have never seen a dragon before."

     Lambert mumbles, "not as big as these, that is for sure", he looks toward Eskel and says, "just what the hell have we signed up for, anyway?"

     "Food, drink, weapons, armor, fighting and killing demons, angels, monsters, screwing women, telling stories over a mug of ale, you know, the usual."

     "Yeah, forgot for a moment. Let's go, up the hill there." As they follow the others to where they are to keep anything from getting out.

     After the portal is secured the dragons begin moving through as quickly as they can. Rigmor comes over to Iriisii, "you weren't kidding when you said how many you had to transport!"

     "Any problems with supplies or room?"

     "Not at all. Reaper took care of it without a sweat. And we have not even begun to make a dent in how many we can bring aboard."

     "Good, I have no idea how many we will need on a full-time basis, just have to take them as they come to us. I see Byrsael found the Ent."

     "That is an Ent? But he is just a ..."

     "Yep, a living, breathing, talking tree, possibly kin to another we know."

     "You think so?"

     "Possible, yes, he is young yet and so his thoughts are almost as fast as ours, as he grows they will slow down, be more deliberative. The old ones can take years to come to a decision, but do not cross one. They can be terrible enemies. Until we get him back among his family, make sure no one makes firewood jokes or anything else like that."

     "Understood. I do think that he could 'grow on you' you know."

     Iriisii looks at her.

     "All right, all right, no more jokes."

     "Go and help some of the others get through the portal, if you would. We need to get out of here as soon as we can. I do not know why whoever is down inside there has not come out yet, that is beginning to worry me."

     It is then that a new hole in the side of the mountain blasts forth, forcing the 'Dragons' to form a shield wall over their heads. Eskel and Lambert use their signs against the larger rock pieces, deflecting them from landing on the shield wall and likely buckling it by their size. Iriisii too can be heard shouting out, "Fus Ro Dah", pushing the biggest pieces away.

     The figure floating out from the new passage is another Elf. But this one is steeped in darkness, it is like a second skin covering him. The psychic stench of his 'darkness' no, 'Evil' is enough to cause the sensitives in the 'Dragons' to clutch their torso's in painful cramps. Atticus details a few of his stronger 'Dragons' to get the sensitives back through the portal. Lambert and Eskel take positions to fill the gap left by the departing 'Dragons'. Atticus sees them move in and nods his head, 'they just might make 'Dragons' one day'.

     The floating Elf spies Iriisii coming up quickly and moves to intercept. Once more she shouts, "Tiid Klo Ul" and the Elf is caught by surprise as time slows once more around her. She reaches a spot between her 'Dragons' and the Elf, as the shout expires, she calls to Atticus, "Get everyone left through the portal, now. Lambert, Eskel, flank me."

     "You heard her, move to the portal now, get whoever is left through", he looks to Lambert and Eskel, if you let her get hurt. You had better hope the Gods will have mercy on you because I will not!"

     "Go, we have this now, besides you would have to beat Geralt to us."

     Lambert goes to Iriisii's left side, Eskel to her right. Witcher silver blades were drawn, off-hand ready to cast signs. Each watching Iriisii for hand signals and the Elf for any sign of what he may attempt. The Elf looks over the trio, dismissing the Witchers, he concentrates his attention on Iriisii, who he sees as the greater threat.

     "Who are you to interrupt my most important work?"

     A low, grave voice from farther on Iriisii's right side responds, "she is the 'Mother of Dragons', beloved of Vampires, pack friend of Werewolves. She is a sister to Angelics and Seraphim. Gods call her Harbinger and listen when she speaks. And now she commands the combined Valkyries of Meridia and Valhalla!" Raising his clenched fist high in the air, the sound of innumerable wings can be heard on the winds, the shadows of those wings as they pass across the moonlight causes the light to play a game of tag with itself as they run across the rocky floor.

     The moonlight gleams across the golden armor of the Valkyries mounted on the winged Pegasi, their weapons drawing on the moonlight to add to the magical power already imbued within said weapons. And there at the point, leading the charge, is Gloriana, wielding a new reforged 'Dawnbreaker'. Eskel looks over to his right, recognizing the massive hulk he sees, 'Letho'!

     "Greetings brother, you did not think I would let you have all the fun now."

     "I have important work that calls to me for completion, I have no time for this."

     The Elf moves his arms and hands in some form of magical summoning gesture, then shouts the name, "Smaug"! Leathery wings are heard in the distance as this legendary name from Middle Nirn's past arrives and settles on a rocky outcrop near the Elf.

     "Why do you summon me Elf? If you do not have the power to deal with these arrayed against you, you should not have antagonized them. It is not my responsibility to deal with your adversaries."

     "We both serve the same master, and it is he who has given me the right to call upon you!"

     "Tread carefully, Elf, it is known you walk on thin ice with the master. Your loss of one of his favorites cost you dearly in his eyes. Another failure like that one and he may allow me to have you as my plaything, at least until I decide whether to devour your carcass or simply burn the flesh from your bones."

     "Be that as it may, until he changes his mind about me, I still have the right to call upon you."

     "Then tell me your bidding that I may be done with it and your offensive stench."

     "The one standing there has interfered with my work for the master. Deal with her and you may leave."

     Smaug takes a hard look at Iriisii.

     "I sense something about you that is familiar to me, it causes me to consider other possibilities. What is it about you that sings to me like I have not heard since my hatching?"

     Then another set of leathery wings is heard, and Iriisii senses who has just arrived. She motions to a place on her left, and well behind Lambert. All feel the landing of a huge black dragon.

     "Greetings, my mother, Soulhounds of the 'Great Mother' spoke to me and asked me to come to your need. You seem to find the most interesting adversaries, and even more interesting allies."

     "I welcome your presence, my son, the events of this day grow in importance with each passing moment of time. May I introduce you to the Dragon called Smaug, Scourge of the Lonely Mountain."

     "And who is this you refer to as your 'son'?"

     "He is named, Alduin, firstborn and avatar of Akatosh, Lord of Dragons and Father of Time. Alduin, known among my people as the 'World Eater', the only dragon I am aware of with the ability to consume the souls of the dead."

     "And she before me, whom I call 'Mother', is Iriisii Dovahkiin, Dragonborn of Akatosh, Dragonchild of Alessia, and Thunderchild of Kyne. Called by the Soul Hounds of the Greater Gods, the Dragon of War, known among Dragonkind as the 'Mother of Dragons', holder of the 'Mantle of War' first of the 'Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the holiest host to the soul of the First Dragon of Destiny, and the greatest appellation of all that exists, she is the Child of Infinity."

     "Some of your accolades I know nothing of, but some, yes I know. Your name has been on the winds as I have flown high in the skies, your name is spoken within my journeys into the Dreamlands, and now I see just who it is that the whispers of shadows speak of in the same voice as Ragnarok! I greet thee, 'Mother of Dragons', and I am well pleased that one has risen to gather all the kin of Dragons together as one.

     Not since the 'First' has this been done, and now time circles around once again."

     "I commanded you to deal with her, not talk to her!"

     "Do I hear the sounds of ice splitting beneath your feet? Do you still not understand the workings of Celestial Power? And you would aspire to one day supplant the master."

     "No, No, I would never dare to supplant the master!"

     "Do you expect him to not already know of your desires? Why do you think you were sent up here to the surface to see to this disturbance? And again you fail him. Perhaps for the last time, I think, for it looks to me this was to be your final test. Succeed and survive, or fail and die."

     "No! This is not the way it looks, I have not failed. It is you who have failed, you who refuse to deal with this, not me."

     "Then prove yourself to the master, if you can. Personally, I do not think you are up to it. She is far more now than you could ever imagine yourself to be, and she has not reached the top of the mountain yet. No, you truly do not have even half of the intelligence you think you have, or you would realize that someone able to resurrect three hundred thirty ancient dragons from the 'Dawn Times of Creation', and to do it all at once!

     No, I am afraid the master has decided it is time to cast you aside. No, there is no need to go back down there, he is long gone. You have been left to your just deserts."

     "It cannot be, not after all these years!"

     "He is yours to do with as you will, personally, I wish you well, 'Mother of Dragons'. It has been too long since we have had one we could truly place hope within. Maybe it is not too late, after all. And so, I give to you the right to call me, 'Mother of Dragons', speak my name and I will come. And now I leave you to your destiny, stride proudly 'Mother of Dragons', you have earned that right this day."

     Smaug takes to the air, and journeys where only he knows. Iriisii looks toward the Elf, "bind and gag him, we will drop him with the King of Gondor, I am sure he can find some charges that will stick to him that are certain to warrant his execution. Lambert and Eskel grab him before he thinks to try and run, tie him securely and gag him so that no one has to hear his pleadings, which will likely not stop until the ax meets his neck.

     As Iriisii turns to walk back down, Letho asks, "what about the captives down below?"

     "You can look for them if you wish, this 'master' if it is who I think, would not leave anyone alive behind him to tell tales of his doings. I am certain you would not find even bones left down there, nothing to give a clue to what he was working on."

     "Who do you think it was?"

     "Names can have special power if not handled correctly, I will not utter his name while being so close to one of his places."

     "I understand, we are to go with you if you would have us."

     "All of you?"

     "Yes, the God the Valkyries of Valhalla serve, said he would meet you when you come to the Forge of Stars. He has some special ores for your use when you are ready to use the forge."

     "Who is he?"

     "As you said, names can have special powers in certain places. Although this world is not one of his places, I think he would rather not have his name mentioned here."

     "I really do not blame him for that. Well, let us drop this stinking carcass with the King of Gondor, and get back to the Krang. Do not worry about the room, I am sure Rigmor and Byrsael have already informed Reaper we need more space opened up. Hmmm, better to open another tower, I do not think the Pegasi would appreciate sharing a tower with a bunch of dragons."

     Letho chuckles quietly, "indeed, that would not be a good idea."

     "Come, the sooner we get back, the sooner I can introduce you and Gloriana to the babies."

     "She is sure to be happy about that. Is it true they both have dragon wings?"

     "Someone has been talking, I take it. No matter, yes, they do and wait until you see them, you may not believe your eyes."

     "Then I cannot wait, let us go."

     A little later, Iriisii and Letho are dragging the bound Elf through the White City to the Citadel Gates. At the Gates, they introduce themselves to the guards, one of whom calls the Captain of the Guard. Once the Guard Captain arrives, he recognizes Iriisii as the Ranger that helped settle the trouble that was growing within the Shire some years back.

     "Ranger, a pleasure to meet you once again."

     "The pleasure is all mine Guard Captain."

     "May I ask who this is and why you think we would be interested in him?"

     Iriisii grabs the hair at the back of his head and shows his face to the Guard Captain.

     "By the White Tree! You there, go inform the King, he is needed at the Gates to the City. Now man, move it! How in the world did you? No, I do not think I want to know, although I am certain the King will want to know. There was another with this one we knew of."

     "That one is dead, so you need to look no further for him. Their master however never came up from under the mountain so I am certain he had a means of escape if he needed it."

     "Ah well, cannot have everything, but likely he is far away in someone else's hair at the moment. Your Majesty, see what this hallowed Ranger brought us!"

     As he realizes who this Ranger actually is, his face cracks a grin. His grin threatens to split his face in two as he recognizes the prisoner.

     "Esteemed Ranger of Gondor, you have once more done a great service for Middle Nirn and for Gondor. Where in the world did you find him?"

     "South, your Majesty, beyond Mordor, beyond Southron, within a nameless mountain range with peaks like the teeth of a wolf."

     "I have never been so far, but I have heard of that range. Guards, take this offal to a cell and guard it with your lives", turning back he notices Letho, "if you are with our Ranger, then you are welcome anywhere you wish to go within our lands or city."

     "Thank you, Your Majesty, we have been friends for some time, and have fought together until our eventual parting. Even then when I have the opportunity to fight by her side, I never pass it by."

     "He is called Letho, and I call him 'friend'. I owe him for saving the life of my mate, Rigmor. A debt I will never be able to repay."

     "Please, you brought Gloriana and me together, there is no debt between us."

     "Spoken like true friends, but come, there is still food and drink in the kitchens and I would love to hear this tale, please follow me."

     As the food and drink disappear, the kitchen staff find more and more reasons to stay in earshot of the story. Once it finally dies down, the King's questions begin.

     "Do you know anything about this 'red crystal woman'?"

     "Not at this time, I am sending questions to all the Libraries, monasteries, everywhere where old lore is kept, asking if anyone has anything on her. Who she was? Where did she live? What are these red and blue crystals? What is different about them?"

     "Good, you know what questions to ask. Who do you think it was down in that mountain?"

     "Honestly, I think you yourself have a strong suspicion, but this is who I think it was."

     And she writes a name on a small piece of paper, before handing it over she says, "whether it is who you think or not, it would be best if that paper burns after you read it, your Majesty. Names of certain individuals can have a strong presence if they are said aloud, those they name can tell if someone is talking about them. And usually, these are ones you do not want to attract their attention."

     As the King, unfolds the paper and reads the name, he then folds it back up and holds it to the cooking fire. Hanging onto it in his hand until the last second before dropping it into the fire to completely burn.

     "We are in agreement on that, and on who we think it was."

     "Keep the Rangers roaming, collecting information, listening for rumors of things that should be looked into. If and when he should return, call for me and I will bring all my people and resources to bear to defend Gondor and Middle Nirn."

     "Thank you for that, I will sleep a little easier at night now."

     Iriisii gets up, "by your leave, your Majesty, we need to be going on. Much still needs attending to, and 'Evil' waits for no man, but follows its own time."

     "Wise words, I shall have to remember that saying, I will escort you to the Gates."

     Iriisii smiles, "there is no need of that, what I am to show you, very few here know I can do. But your Majesty may one day have to need to know."

     Iriisii turns and gestures, a portal opens in the middle of the kitchens.

     "This goes to my Krang, part fortress, part weapon, part ship. A true marvel of craftsmanship. One day I will take you on a tour of it, I promise you will never look at it in the same way as you would when you first see it."