The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into The Forge OF Stars

The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into The Forge OF Stars

     "There is one last thing I was asked to tell you."

     "And what might that be?"

     "In the new supplies, there is a small locked chest, within the chest is a special scroll. When you begin scribing the spells you wish into the metal of your weapons and armor, yours, not anyone else's. Copy the spells from the scroll onto the metal as well as whatever else you wish to use. You will not be able to read the spells, the language and lettering will be unknown to you as they have only been used within the Quantum Realm. What they will add to your weapons and armor, are protections and enhancements to the other spells you want to place on them.

     They will raise the weapons and armor to a level worthy of your position as an Elder Goddess and Heir to the Mother of the Cosmos. No one else has had this done before, only you have fulfilled the expectations to be given this. So far much has been asked of you, and you have given all that was asked. Now is the time for you to be given the rewards for what you have worked so hard for."

     "I thank you, and ask that you express my thanks and gratitude to the Quantum Lords."

     "It is rather they who feel thanks and gratitude to you, for what you have accomplished and giving all that you are into the righting of the most grievous of wrongs that have languished within this Dimension. You are the only one who has been able to progress far enough to take these tasks on, and you have done so with grace, compassion, mercy for those wronged, and unrelenting fierceness toward the perpetrators.

     The people of your Creation, have seen and heard your story, they know you are the one seeking to bring back the Balance, to this Creation, to the Realms they live in, and to their lives. This is why they follow you now and will follow you, even into the Great Abyss if you ask it of them. For you would lead the charge, risking yourself before anyone else. You will be the 'Mother of the Cosmos' they need and deserve to have. When you take the 'Mantle' reorder the Cosmos as you see it needs to be and let this Creation shine as an example of what it can and should be, for all others to emulate."

     "That was a mouthful, even for you!"

     "Well, what can I say, you inspired me. Oh, and do not leave yet, there is at least one more to see you before you go to the Forge. And take this", handing her a ring of some shiny metal, taking it she sees a fine band of writing along the inside of it. "No, it is not 'that' ring. This one was made for you by the 'Forgemaster' himself. Wear it and summon a portal, thinking of the 'Forge of Stars' as your destination, the ring will do the rest. Now I must take my leave of you."

     And vanishes as quickly as he appeared. She hopes the next visitor will be the one she most needs to speak with and wonders how strange this conversation is going to go.

     It does not take long, before her last visitor shows and she is as nervous about it as she has never been before. It is like looking into a mirror, and seeing yourself as you hope others see you. Her visitor smiles, trying to put Iriisii at ease, knowing how ner nerves are firing like a forest fire.

     "Calm yourself, dear, there is no reason to be this nervous. Just think of me as your twin sister, if that will help."

     That does indeed help, as she always did want a sister, to talk to in the late nights, share stories with, giggle when looking at the boys. All the things she would dream about but never could happen. She gives a heartfelt sigh of sadness.

     "I know, I have felt the same within my dreams. But you have Rigmor, Illyria, Byrsael, and Dettlaff. You have the children. Perhaps one day I will start my own family, with whom though is the question, right now at least I seem to not have many to choose from."

     "Somehow, I do not think you will go too long without suitors, not once this gets by us and it becomes known you are awake."

     "You might be right about that, but this Creation right now is what is on my mind. I have used the tether to see what you have been thinking about on this, and no I have not been intruding any deeper. Your private life is yours to keep private. I would want the same, so I respect that with you. I do agree with what you want to do. It will not be easy, but easier with the two of us working together. I do not mind having a fully evolved Creation to help look after, its own Gods will need help after what they have been through, but because of what we will do, they will listen to me when I need to correct anything."

     "This is good to hear, I wanted to help them, but was concerned about what might come afterward."

     "Do not worry, you are doing just fine. No one expects you to bear the complete burden on your own. But to business, we will need to enact 'Rebirth' together. You do not need to worry about my being able to handle my portion of the power flow. With my melding, my capacity has been greatly increased. It is a part of why the Aurbis, acting on behalf of the Creation itself, moved me into that other Dimension.

     They knew that Creation could not take the strain of both of us at the power levels we are at together, one of us had to move, and you were the first of us, so I was the one to move. I do not blame them in the least, it gave us some time to work out our feelings before this meeting."

     "It is so strange having a twin sister now after so much time has passed, but it is something I always wanted deep down. Maybe that was what convinced the 'Wisdom of the First Ones' to do what it did. It saw the desire and need, then acted on it."

     "I have no intention to question it on that, it was in a position to see far more of what may be needed than even the 'Mother' could. So do not worry, go to the Forge of Stars and do what is needed there. I will keep an eye out for this Creation, if you are within the Forge, I can deal with any problems that crop up while you are there, although I do not anticipate any. I know you expect to only be gone from here a few seconds, but since when has that ever held true when neck-deep in trouble as we seem to be in constantly."

     "Well said, and nothing but the truth. I will be able to think better knowing these people are not alone when I go."

     "Go and do what you do best, I will hold up this end while you are gone."

     "Thank you, for everything, and for being the sister I never had before."

     "And you as well, I really like having a sister. Now I must go and prepare, this Creation will need a medium to float itself in, the one that was created for me is far, far, too small. Take care, and give my love to my nieces and nephews."

     Iriisii cries gentle tears as the Child of Infinity, now her twin sister leaves to go prepare a place for the new Creation to rest in. She waits until she has calmed herself a bit more before going back, no need to upset Rigmor with her crying once again.

     She wakes up within the glowing circle, seeing no one around her. She then listens to see what she may hear, if things are calm or if fighting in the distance may be heard. But she hears nothing, absolutely nothing, no voices, no footsteps, no heartbeats. She then sets herself on alert, staying calm but ready to do whatever she must. For now, she just wants to see what she can and determine what is going on.

     She walks outside, the sun is up, but she feels no heat, the air is still, the clouds in the sky are unmoving. Then she realizes what has happened and looks around to see if she can pinpoint the source. She stands expectantly, knowing that someone went to great effort to set this up. Moving her between moments of time just as she was waking up took power, and no one is going to expend that much just to play a prank on her. No, someone wanted a quiet, private meeting with her, and also give a show of the power it commands.

     "You might as well come on out and talk to me, that is the reason you did this is it not?"

     A slow, rhythmic clapping of a single pair of hands reaches her from off to her right, moving around a stone wall to an open gate. As the clapping figure rounds the gate and enters the courtyard where she waits. She reaches out and feels exactly what she expected, nothing.

     "A little ostentatious to go to this much trouble only to send an image to greet me."

     "Yes, but I could not be sure you would stop to speak with me or just move to separate my head from its shoulders. I have rather gotten used to it where it sits and would like to continue the relationship."

     "Shouldn't you have thought of that before going out and spreading the pestilence of those zombies around, not to mention the Wamphyrie!"

     "You wound me, really, I had not a thing to do with their creation, nothing at all."

     "But you are responsible for their current spreading, I mean, selling them to those unsuspecting..., well even the side of 'Evil' deserves better than that. For I am sure your agent did not tell his customers everything about what they do once they get established in someone's body."

     "What was that saying they use on that backwater world, oh yes, let the buyer beware."

     "Cannot say I disagree with that, but still, is the reason you really would not come in person was that you sampled your own wares one time too many? Or maybe a rival slipped one to you when you were otherwise engaged."

     "Very close to the mark, we think alike, you and I, but I am not so easily caught like that. It was fun feeding it to the one who tried it though and watching everything as it took control."

     The image moves exactly like it was real, she sees the emotion on his face, as the memory crosses his awareness. She takes that moment to study him. He is maybe a little taller than Iriisii is, not muscular but athletic, fast reflexes, a rapier by his side reflects this. He is dressed in a black suit reminiscent of one she has seen before, but where. His face is thin, with only a few minor scars, as he speaks on, she suddenly remembers where she saw his clothes before and wonders if it could be the same person.

     "Hmmm, something has come over you, may I ask what it is?"

     "I know you from somewhere, difficult to remember exactly where, though."

     "Hmmm, I do not remember you at all, and if we had met before, I would know it." A grinning lear on his face. His attitude gives her the last piece she needs.

     "I do know you, and we have met before, however, you will not remember the circumstances, because for you it has not happened, while for me it happened quite some time ago."

     "Would you recount this for me then, not that I doubt you, but a little explanation to help me understand."

     "I was in Molag Bal's Oblivion Realm of Coldharbour. I was exploring one of the buildings still standing in the Imperial City section close to the center. I found some prison cells, one of which held an acquaintance of mine. You were in one of the others."

     "That does not sound right, no one could hold me in a prison cell if I did not want to be there."

     "You most definitely did not want to be there, because you kept asking me to release you. This was of course after I killed the Daedroth Jailer. I think he was the reason you were still in there, you know, big, scaly, ugly, bad temperament."

     "Doesn't ring any bells for me, but I will take your word for it by your description of the Jailer. I take it this encounter takes place in my future and your past?"

     "Sounds right. Oh also, you were dead. It was your soul that was trapped."

     "That sounds quite bad, how did my soul end up there, do you know?"

     "Somehow you met up with Molag Bal, either did a job for him or accepted a bribe from him, some kind of interaction. He would then take a small piece of your soul, and later when you either died or were killed, he would lay claim to your soul and send it to Coldharbour. In my case, I was trapped in a burning mansion and he offered me escape. That way I entered in my still-living body. He hoped to somehow damn me by the decisions I would have to make while trying to get back out. But what bothers me is why are you here in the Second Creation when you should be in the Third."

     "Wait, this is the, what, Second Creation? Just where in the Nine Hells am I, anyway?"

     "That is a very good question, I could not tell you how far back into the past you are. I have no way to know the time span between the Creations, but this one is about to be destroyed and I think it was meant for you to go with it."

     "Gods damn it all! I knew I should not have trusted that shadowy asshole when he offered me this job!"

     "Tell me about him."

     "I was in a tavern, sitting and quietly getting drunk when this guy comes up and plops himself in the seat opposite me at my table. I could not tell much about him, he was wearing a dark grey hooded robe, his face was obscured by the hood and there was no firelight to illuminate his face. He asked if I would be interested in a job and named some absurd amount of gold. When I asked where the job was he said not to worry, he would provide transport to and back. I knew it was too good to be true, but I could not let that much gold go by. Now I am stuck, no gold, about to be destroyed along with this Creation. Can it really get any worse, don't answer that. There must be some way it could."

     "Oh, yes, it can definitely get worse. I expect a horde of zombies to get let loose sometime soon, and maybe some Wamphyrie added in to make things interesting."

     "Zombies, Gods I hate zombies, makes me think of my first wife, and her mother."

     "Well, I cannot help you with your first wife and her mother, but I need to go on a little trip soon, and I am willing to pay a bounty for each zombie you put back into the ground. Say ten gold each."

     "Thirty."

     "Fifteen, and you are robbing me as it is."

     "All right, twenty!"

     "Done. Here is an advance on the body count, just so you know I am serious."

     Iriisii tosses over a heavy gold pouch.

     "You are known as, the Black Worm, are you not?"

     "Yeah, that is me, all right."

     "There will be more where that came from depending on the body count, but only zombies. If you manage to kill any Wamphyrie, I will add fifty gold for each one."

     "Fifty! Bring them on!"

     "You might think differently after you kill a few. You have to kill the leech inside the bodies as well or they just find another host. The leeches are not hard to kill, it's the host and the leech together that are a real pain. Oh, and I will throw in a return trip to the Third Creation. Let's see, Nirn, sometime during the Alessian period, ok with you?"

     "Fine with me, now to go look for some zombies and Wamphyrie to kill!"

     Iriisii notices a wavering in her surroundings as the Black Worm leaves on his hunt. She begins to see people coming into focus, first not moving, then beginning to move, until everyone is once more moving normally. Her mates see her and quickly move around her.

     "What happened, we all felt something but we were not sure? Phillipa said it was some kind of temporal event, but very localized."

     "I met with the agent, or more likely one of them, that was sent here to set the destruction in motion. Right now he is working for me, running bounties on zombies and Wamphyrie."

     "Is that wise? I mean you know the dangers of hunting Wamphyrie."

     "He can handle himself, otherwise he would not have earned the name of the 'Black Worm'."

     "Where have I heard that name before, he is not that necromancer called by that name in some of the books?"

     "No, he is not. He is of the 'Dark', yes, but a very accomplished light swordsman. He lived during the Alessian period when the Order held sway after Alessia's ascension. I encountered his soul in Coldharbour, where I freed him to move on."

     "You mean you killed him."

     "If you kill a trapped soul in Coldharbour, that is what you have done, freed it to move on."

     "If you say so."

     "With all due respect, have you ever been there yourself?"

     "You know I have not."

     "Then take what I say about it as true, because you know I have been there and escaped."

     "You are right of course, I should have thought it through before opening my mouth."

     "Be that as it may, later when things calm down, I have a better use for your mouth."

     "Promise?"

     "I promise!"

     "I am going to hold you to that."

     "Now we need to go on to the Forge of Stars before something else happens."

     Sanshae pops out from behind a wall, "can I go with you, please!"

     Iriisii looks at her, judging whether she could put up with everyone for the subjective time they would be gone.

     "Go and ask her father, he might not want her to go, and then you are off the hook."

     "Okay, but first we ask your father. I want both of you to understand what this could mean."

     They find him back inside the Council Hall, coming to the doors leading outside.

     "Lorem, I need to speak with you for just a moment."

     "Of course, my Lady, what do you need."

     "First send word to your guards and soldiers, if they see a man dressed in black, wielding a rapier, attacking zombies and Wamphyrie, they are not to interfere with him. He is working for me, collecting bounties for each that he kills. I know he is but one man, but he has special talents that will make him most effective in whittling them down."

     "I will do so at once, anything else?"

     "Yes, we are about to go to the Forge of Stars, and Sanshae overheard us talking about it."

     "And she wishes to go along?"

     "Yes, I told her I would need to speak to both of you, lay out what it actually means, what effect it will have if any, and let you have the final decision."

     "Thank you, I trust your opinion on this, but I appreciate your giving me the final say in this."

     "Very well, the Forge of Stars is in a timeless place. Time does not run there at all as it does here. What that means is that we will feel time subjectively while there, we will not age unless we will it so. For me and mine, we will not age at all, Sanshae will likely age some but definitely at a slower pace than everyone here.

     With that being said, I intend to come back here with as little time passing here as possible. So she may appear to have aged a little more than when she left but not very noticeable. On the experience side, this will be truly exceptional for her. Mainly only Gods and extremely powerful mortals are ever allowed to visit or use the Forge. She will meet a good number of both, as I am sure they will be drawn to visit the Forge when they hear I am there.

     Subjectively we will be there for what will feel like a number of years, not too many though. I have a lot to do there, and if she wishes she can learn the arts of the Forge for herself. My grandfather first taught me, and I have honed those skills throughout my life. As they have saved my life and allowed me to gather great wealth, they can do the same for her."

     "Please, papa, I promise to do whatever she tells me to do. Please let me go with her."

     "My mates will be with us always, so she will always be guarded by the best there is. I have trusted and continue to trust each one with my life and soul. They will see that she comes to no harm."

     "Very well then, you may go. Learn all you can, make friends with those she approves of for you, and above all, obey her in everything. I want you to come back to me safe and sound."

     "Thank you, papa, I love you!"

     "And I love you, my child."

     "Do not worry for her, I promise you, she will return safe, and I never break my promises."

     "Thank you for this, it will be a rare honor for her and the chance to learn a good trade skill. I will worry less for her knowing she is in good hands."

     "Let us go, then. I will summon the portal out in the main hall."

     "Will I need to bring anything, clothes, food, water, that sort of stuff?"

     "Everything you will need will be provided. Either the Forgemaster or I will. Even if you need a silent place to sleep from time to time."

     "Everyone ready? Good, as soon as I summon the portal, step through." Iriisii holds her hands outward, sending her desire for a portal to the Forge of Stars, though her hands, outward. The ring given to her, responds. The sounds of a hammer falling on metal can be heard, the ghostly image of a gate, beautiful in its construction takes shape. In the center is the image of a muscular male wielding a smithing hammer, striking an unusual anvil. Around the outer rim are images of weapons, every kind imaginable and some unknown. Armor, brilliant and strong, some flexible, woven of metal thread, others encasing their owner totally in plate metal.

     The gate opens for them, the center image detaching and sliding downward out of sight. The sound of a hammer striking metal changing into bells ringing. These bells have a tone giving the feeling of Power Incarnate welcoming Power Incarnate. They step through and are transported to a vast courtyard, buildings all around, simple but sturdy, clean, well maintained, buildings you would call home. 

     Another gate opens and a muscular male, his chest exposed, a towel draped over his neck, sweat dripping from his body. An automaton, not like the Dwemer ones Iriisii is used to seeing, this one walks on mechanical legs, approaches the male, takes the smithing hammer from him, douses him by pouring a bucket of cool water over his head. As the water drips from his body, the male uses the towel to wipe his head and chest dry, exchanges it with another from the automaton, who turns and walks into one of the nearest buildings.

     The male walks up toward Iriisii and her group looks her over appraisingly, then nods his head. "The Mother chose well, perhaps even better than she knew, when she chose you to succeed her."

     Iriisii nods her head in acknowledgment and remains silent.

     "Ah, someone not apt to run at the mouth constantly, good, good. It shows manners, wisdom, and respect, something far too lacking these days. You wish to speak, then say on."

     "You are the Mother's consort?"

     "Short and to the point, I like that, yes, I am. I love her dearly, but we both have our duties, and oft-times they work to keep us apart."

     "Then may I consider you, as my Father?"

     "One of many I suppose, but I know what you mean by Father. For you, it is not a word easily given or lightly meant. I would consider it an honor above most that I have known if you would do so, my child," as a smile crosses his face. Iriisii steps up to him and embraces him in a solid hug, turning to kiss him on his somewhat grizzled cheek as she releases him.

     "I thank you, my daughter, in the thought in which you greeted me. Almost I never thought to ever experience that in my long life. You have touched me in a way that only the Mother has until now. Tell me, who else have you brought with you. I would know the measure of your companions."

     Iriisii turns and motions Rigmor forward. "This is Rigmor Ragnarsdottier, High Queen of Cyrodiil, and my first wedded mate."

     "Ah, then I can call you daughter as well then Rigmor?"

     "It would be a great pleasure to me if you would."

     He then draws Rigmor into an embrace, not too strong, but he notices she returns it as strongly as he gave. His opinion of her rises highly. On a hunch, he takes her hands and looks them over, seeing sword calluses, he smiles, "A swordswoman, two-hand, if I may make a guess?"

     Rigmor smiles and nods her head.

     "A strong sword for a strong woman."

     Iriisii gestures Illyria forward. "This is Illyria, also Aasimar as I am and my second wedded mate."

     "Two! Let no one say you do anything by half measure."

     Illyria walks up to him and embraces him, "I give greetings unto you ForgeFather, may your hammer ever strike true."

     As he releases her, he looks her deep into her eyes. "Long has it been since I last heard those words spoken to me. In your eyes, I see such pain and sadness endured and risen above. Strength of will in abundance do you have, daughter, to have endured so much. I am proud my daughter saw such in you that drew her to wed you as well."

     Iriisii gestures Phillipa forward. This is Phillipa Eilhart, a High Sorceress. And no we are not wedded or mated to each other, yet we do share hosting the souls of two of the Dragons of Destiny."

     "I greet you, Phillipa Eilhart, host to the Second Dragon of Destiny. Yes, I knew them of old, among Dragons, none were held with higher respect or esteem. To know they have returned speaks of high events unfolding, and your place in those events will ensure your immortality."

     In an uncharacteristic move on her part, she leans forward and kisses his cheek, "Consort to the Mother, when the day comes if ever, I find a man worth binding myself to, may he share a spirit and depth with you."

     "You honor me, Phillipa Eilhart, I will entreat the Aspect of Life on your behalf, to see if such a one can be found and guided to your side."

     Iriisii then gestures for Dettlaff. This is Dettlaff van der Eretein, my Vyrkolos, and fourth wedded mate."

     Dettlaff comes forward and locks forearms in the traditional old greeting among warriors.

     "You honor me Dettlaff van der Eretein, few remember the old greeting of warriors and her wedded Vyrkolos at that. You are truly a man among men to have captured her heart and given yours to her in return."

     "The last of my wedded mates is named Byrsael. She was a Ranger of Gondor."

     "I know of them, solid, upright to a fault, but you can depend on them like no other. Tell me, daughter, are there any grandchildren for me to call mine?"

     "Indeed there are."

     "Well then, tell me of them."

     "Kintyra III, my and Rigmor's daughter, will step up to my throne when she reaches her 'Coming of Age'. Ystrell, my and Illyria's daughter, will step up to Rigmor's throne when she steps down. Two grandsons, Darius and Ragnar, both with the Ancient Order of the Bladedancers. Both leaders in their chosen roles, Darius is the most gifted tactician and warrior the Bladedancers have seen in millennia. Ragnar is their finest fighter, gifted in all forms of combat, and only the second to master the fighting school I developed in my time with them. Then there is Aleytys, she is a true half dragon, Rigmor and I both imprinted her at her hatching. I think you will be pleased to know, she is soon to meet one she will come to desire above all others and will then begin the pursuit to win him."

     "Wait, she will be the pursuer, and he the pursued?"

     "So I understand that will be the way of it."

     "And who is to be the one she catches?"

     "Arioch of the Courts of Chaos."

     "HO, HO, HO! This will be one to have tales sung about. I know Arioch well, he is not the sort you would imagine to be a Prince in the Courts of Chaos. But a fine match for a half-dragon granddaughter!"

     "There is also Sotyoldovah, she is also called the 'Dragon of the White Phoenix'."

     "So the 'White Phoenix' returns at long last."

     "Will you tell me what you know?"

     "Later, we will have time for me to relate the whole story to you."

     "As you will, father. There is Kallekiiraaz, she is also called the Dragon of Spirit."

     "And with her will begin the Jihad of Truth, the war for the fate of the Third Creation."

     "It seems we will have no lack of things to talk about when we are working."

     "Aye, much there is for you to know, and it was thought best you learn of it here, undisturbed, or as much as we can be."

     "There is one last grandchild."

     "I know of her, Kathea, the lost one. The one in order to retrieve, you must journey where no one has ever journeyed before and returned. If there is anyone who can do this, it is you. And I will help you make the weapons and armor that will allow you to do this."

     "You know what we will face?"

     "It is not given to me to know the names of what and who you will face, but what it will take for you and yours to win through to where you must go, that I am given to know. And what we will make here will forever be sought after but never more to be earned will be the right to forge them. You and you alone, have earned the right to forge what you must have to complete your destiny. Nothing more needs be said, nothing more can be said."

     "And this is Sanshae, daughter of Lorem, High Councilor to the Second Creation."

     "I am honored to meet you, Sanshae. I am certain we can find some things around here for you to take back with you."

     "Thank you, Forgemaster, I promise not to be a burden to you."

     "Do not worry yourself over that, I am glad for the company. It does sometimes get a bit lonely."

     "You cannot go and see...?"

     "The Mother. Would that I could, maybe after all of this mess is sorted out, it may be possible. For now, though I have all of you for a time, let us get something to eat, my cook has been complaining I never bring anyone here to enjoy his cooking, it will be a pleasant change to prove him wrong this time."