The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into Confrontation

 The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into Confrontation

     "Was that Aleytys' egg? The one that the dragon took up into the mountains?"

     "Yes, it was. That was how she was conceived."

     "But how did it happen is what I do not understand."

     "It is difficult, even for me. It involves some heavy metaphysics. But as best as it was explained to me, the force I was channeling came directly from Aetherius. I think I do not know for certain, just think that it was directed by the Aurbis. The soul of the 'First Dragon of Destiny', the dragon soul that lives within me was the active receiving agent for the energy. 

     I was still mortal then, there is no way I could have survived channeling that much power of that kind without him bearing the brunt of it. When 'Varthlocuur' interrupted the flow, he tried to reverse it back to Aetherius. It caused something, I think it was called a 'standing wave'. I do not understand all that it means, but it had to go somewhere or the release of it would finish what was started.

     Whether it was the Aurbis or something else created by the 'standing wave', a compromise was reached where the energy was given a place to go."

     "The creation of the 'egg'?"

     "Yes, it has always been a deep desire within the dragon soul, from when he had a physical body, that he wanted to sire a child. The power was used to grant him that, in exchange for continuing to stay with me onward. Going forward with me through to my final Destiny. Which along with everything else that has happened and is yet to happen, fell to me when I survived what you just saw."

     "I take it you did not realize any of this until much later?"

     "Yes, very much later. The question in my mind now is why show this again, unless..."

     "Unless what?"

     "Unless Aleytys has a role to play in this path." Then Iriisii staggers, obviously in pain and distress. Dettlaff grabs and supports her to keep standing.

     "What's wrong? What can I do?"

     "Something involving Aleytys, she is in trouble, she is frightened out of her wits. We have to reach out and bring her here, with us. There is no more time to decide anything else."

     "Then let us do it." Dettlaff joins his strength of power to Iriisii's. Letting her locate Aleytys, then when her location is fixed in her mind. She opens a portal straight to her. As it clears, the image is indeed frightening. Aleytys is surrounded by a pack of 'blood fiends', collared and chained, being used to track her. There is evidence of at least one dragon lying dead over to the side of her, that looked like it was defending her. Then she sees the 'blood fiend hounds' keepers holding the ends of the chains, 'Glabrezu' demons.

     "What in Oblivion are they doing chasing her. They should not even be there! ALEYTYS!"

     Aleytys hears her mother's voice and calls out, without taking her eyes off of the hounds.

     "Mother! Where are you?"

     "I have opened a portal behind you, it leads straight to me. Slowly back up, we will pull you through. Keep watching those hounds!"

     "Who is we?"

     "Later, just back up, now!"

     Aleytys starts backing up, still threatening the hounds to keep them at bay. For some reason, they seem unable to see the portal. Iriisii thinks it is because of where it is originating from. Although 'evil' they still are of her Reality, and so without a link to the 'Gray Paths' unable to see anything coming from there. Once Aleytys is backed up against the portal, "stop, we will have to pull you through where we currently are, none of you can see it."

     Then Iriisii's and Dettlaff's hands appear out of thin air, as the Glabrezu will tell their master when asked why they return without Aleytys, grabs her and yanks her through, closing the portal immediately after in case something stumbles through. Aleytys gets back up to her feet, brushing off dirt from her leather armor. As she turns to face her mother, she sees Dettlaff and backs away.

     "Mother! Who is he?"

     "Aleytys, I have the distinct honor and pleasure to introduce to you, Dettlaff Van Der Eretein, my newest mate and Vyrkolos."

     "Dettlaff, this is my daughter, Aleytys."

     Dettlaff bows and says, "a pleasure to meet you at last."

     "Well." As Aleytys looks around at her surroundings. "This looks like somewhere in Skyrim!"

     "Not exactly, it is a very good representation, yes."

     "What do you mean, mama?"

     "We are within the 'Gray Paths', this is a simulation of sorts. Someone is testing me with scenes from my past. This is just outside of Jonestead."

     "Jonestead, I have heard you mention this place, but you never said more."

     "I am sorry, it still holds powerful and painful memories. I guess you should know about them since you can see where it is and can find it again once it is safe for you to return home. This is where Kasia died, and you were conceived."

     Aleytys whirls around to look at her mother with shock on her face.

     "I was conceived here? Who was this Kasia that died?"

     "A young woman about your age, your mother was hired by her father to protect her. She was being hunted by Project Purity like Rigmor was being hunted by the Thalmor."

     "Who is Project Purity?"

     "That no longer matters, they are no more. And thank the Nine for that."

     Just then, another voice Iriisii knows well, makes an unwelcome appearance.

     "And just as well for it, they never were any fun to play with."

     "FREYA!!", as Iriisii lunges for her, Dettlaff catches her, "not yet, we do not know why she is here or who set this up."

     Freya looks Dettlaff over, "and just who is this tall flagon of ale, mind if I take him and have some fun with him. I promise not to hurt him, very much."

     Dettlaff half turns to look at her, summoning his 'beast' to the fore, and in an almost guttural growl, "you have no idea of what you are suggesting, 'seducer'. If you wish to end your life, such as it is, I can drink you dry, of both blood and soul. It would mean final death for you, no reconstitution in Oblivion, so are you still desiring my attention?"

     Shuddering at the thought of just what he could be to be able to do that to her, for she has no doubt he could indeed do it, "I think I will pass, I still like living for now." She looks over to Aleytys, "a bit young, but I do not mind in the least. How about you, I like both sexes when it comes to fun."

     Aleytys gives her a calculating look, "you could not handle me on your best day, so better for you not to even try."

     "Ooooh, a challenge, I love a challenge, especially from something as yummy as you."

     Aleytys, smiles at Freya's comment, "if you think you can?", and morphs into her dragon form, opening her jaws and preparing to shout."

     "Aleytys, no. I would like nothing better than to see Freya fried, except maybe to remove her head, but she is not here on her own. Someone else brought her here, and I need to know who and why."

     "What makes you think I know anything."

     "I know you well. The visions that were fashioned for me of the events that happened here, came from your mind. You knew of them, did you not? I do not see anyone else here with knowledge of those events. They could not be taken from me without my knowing it, and any others are beyond the reach of whoever set this up, so yes, you know what I wish to know."

     "I am truly sorry, but I am in much the same boat you are. I found myself on the outside of a raw deal that found me stuck here. Yes, the one you want, took the memories from me, but I never saw who it was. They have a payment coming to them and I mean to collect."

     "I would not bet on that, if what I suspect is true, you are way out of your league on this one. Better to hope to find a way back, otherwise you are going to be in for a very rude awakening. Just where do you think you are anyway? I can promise you, this is not Nirn, as much as it looks like it."

     "Not? Then where is this place?"

     "The 'Gray Paths'."

     "Shit! Someone is going to pay dearly for setting me up."

     "Comes with the territory."

     "What?"

     "You deal with the dirty underbelly of the universe, it rubs off on you."

     "Well, you could help by joining me in a bath to clean it off."

     "Not even in your dreams."

     "You really hold grudges, don't you."

     "Want to find out?"

     "Not really, like you said, I need to focus on getting out of here."

     "I know I am going to regret this but stick close and while I am not promising anything, if I can I will get you out."

     "Are you certain of this?"

     "No, but as much as she knows of me, I do not want her left here and have her brains picked over."

     "Well, when you put it like that, I have to agree. Your call to make, and I will back you up."

     "Thank you."

     Iriisii gives Dettlaff a hug. "Tell your 'beast', thanks for me. I appreciate his stepping up for me."

     "Believe me, he would not do it for just anybody. You have him tied around your little finger."

     "Tell him, when we are alone sometime, I will sing to him."

     She swears she begins to hear a purr rattling deep within Dettlaff.

     "You two really are mated, that likely went over well with Mama Rigmor."

     "At first, you can imagine, but now, things are quite different. He has won her trust through some very tough situations. The toughest ones are yet ahead."

     "What do you mean?"

     "He is going with me to rescue your sister Kathea, along with Elric."

     "Kathea! You know where she is?!"

     "Almost, I am very close, I know the beginning of the path to her, but beyond that my sight is blocked."

     "That is bad."

     "I do know this, if I go to her with Dettlaff and Elric, we all come back alive."

     "Who is this Elric, another mate of yours that you have neglected to mention."

     "Ooooh, tell me about him! Is he as yummy as this one?"

     "Freya, shut up. You would not like him in the least. He is an 'Aspect of the Eternal Champion', the one who bears the black sword, 'Stormbringer'."

     "Why can you not pick ones I can share with you?"

     "Because I know you too well, you forget I was there when you set up the Vigilant with 'Walks With Grace'. Had her seduce him according to the book, 'The Lusty Argonian Maid', then had her kill him, burning his house down around his body to make it look like an accident."

     "You did nothing to stop it."

     "And you know why too, so stop with trying to deflect responsibility onto me."

     "Mother, you let someone get assassinated, that is not like you."

     "I had greater matters I was dealing with at the time, namely trying to stop Project Purity and the one this trash was working for, from doing what I stopped Alduin from doing, destroying this Kalpa and guiding its rebirth. I did not intend to allow either one to go through with that. Not to mention that I got brought into it by the Nine, to do just that."

     "Are you so sure about that?"

     "Yes, I am. I know Matari/Salaquine thought she was the one pulling my strings. She knew who brought me into it, but she thought she could subvert me from the path. Convince me to join her side, even though I knew exactly what that would mean for me. It would not have worked anyway, there is more to who I am than even she suspected at that time, and you for certain are still ignorant about."

     "What would it have meant, I mean how do you really know she did not succeed."

     "Alyetys, that is something you do not have to worry about. There are parts to me, far stronger than Salaquine is, they would not have allowed it."

     "Ok, I will take your word on it, for now."

     "I promise, we will have a long talk and I will explain everything."

     "But just who is this Elric?"

     "As I said, he is one of the 'Aspects of the Eternal Champion'. You will get to know him soon enough."

     "We are not going to...?"

     "No, you are not, not with him anyway."

     "But you know who though, don't you."

     "I have been made aware, yes. But I am not saying any more, lest it falls apart."

     "So it is with someone you approve of?"

     "My approval means nothing, yours is what is important. All I did was to say if 'he' could win you, I would not interfere. It would be your decision to make and I would go along with it."

     "But you already know how it is going to happen, which way it is going to go?"

     "Only one of several possibilities, it is not set into stone, and I am not going to influence you on your choice."

     "I bet Mama Rigmor would tell me."

     "No, she won't either. I have laid down the law to everyone who knows anything at all, they are to say nothing. You will make your own choice with no interference from anyone."

     "If you say so."

     "Spoilsport."

     "You comment again and I will remove your tongue. At least I would not have to listen to you while you grew it back."

     Freya wisely for once shuts up and does not push Iriisii.

     "Perhaps you should tell her about Kallie before she finds out from someone else."

     "Now what has been going on behind my back, that I have to find out from someone other than my own mother?"

     "Damn, I was not ready, but I cannot fault you on this. Aleytys, you have two new siblings."

     "WHAT?!"

     "Two baby sisters."

     "When can I meet them?! Tell me about them!"

     "Kalle Kiir Aaz is my and Dettlaff's daughter, and she bears the 'Dragon Wings of Power'. Your other new sister is named Dovah Sot Yollus, and she bears the 'Dragon Wings of the White Phoenix'. She is my and Rigmor's daughter."

     "Both have dragon wings! From birth?"

     "Yes, we were just as surprised then, as you are now."

     "How did you and Rigmor...wait, I really do not want to know."

     "Let us just say that once you reach a certain power level, physical forms are no longer an impediment."

     "One last thing, and we must be going on. Both of your new sisters are the subject of a newly written 'Scroll of Skelos'."

     "What! It cannot be, he has been dead for at least a few hundred thousand years!"

     "Freya, he is not dead. I should know, I met and talked to him about that Scroll and a few others, one specifically about me. I watched as the 'Hands of Prophecy' wrote his words in the Scroll as he spoke them. I now have possession of four of his Scrolls pertaining either to me personally or my family."

     "He..is..not..dead! This changes everything, everything I was told is a lie, how could this be!"

     "Salaquine had you brokering non-interference pacts with Mehrunes Dagon and Hermaeus Mora, did she not?"

     "Yes, she did."

     "And so it was likely one of them that you are referring to, am I right?"

     "Yes, you are."

     "If I had to guess between them, Hermaeus Mora told you Skelos was dead."

     "Yes, he did."

     "Now, what was that in reference to? It had nothing to do with what Salaquine tasked you to do for her. But Hermaeus Mora does nothing without a reason or a goal in mind, what was it he wanted you to do, that required you to believe Skelos was dead."

     "She cannot tell you, her mind has been tampered with, to prevent her from revealing that information, to anyone, but especially to you."

     "Do you know what this was about?"

     "I do not, it was just as much hidden from me as from you."

     "Well, it seems he is involved in something that he most definitely does not want us to know about. And knowing him, it involves him controlling all knowledge within Creation, and likely us out of his way, permanently."

     "An astute analysis."

     "What I want to know is did he somehow get loose from when I threw him back into Apocrypha and locked the Gates behind him? I wonder if someone managed to summon him past the wards I placed to hold him in? Because if he did, and he is meddling again, I have a more permanent solution to deal with him. He can just join Sithis, and the Ravenous Darkness in a prison cell I am constructing just for them. Although I have to thank you for the initial idea of how to begin its construction."

     "My idea?"

     "Yes, I am starting with a Mantella, and building upon that. There have been some discoveries made in recent times that greatly enhance its holding power, even though they are very unlikely to ever be thought of in the same manner. Still, I do not plan on making this information generally available. I am sure you understand my reasons."

     "Perfectly."

     "As long as you stay on the same course I am following, we will not have any further problems between us. I will help you with what you want, somehow I will find a way to make it happen."

     "Then we are in agreement."

     "Yes."

     "Good. I would suggest taking Freya with you, just watch her carefully. There is no way to know how far she has been compromised. But leaving her here with the knowledge she possesses would not be wise."

     "Reluctantly, I agree. If I can get her out, I will. If it comes to it, however, I may have to kill her shell to allow her essence to return to Oblivion."

     "Whatever you have to do."

     "Now to see what next is in store for us."

     Next was a trip through the 'Tower of the Fallen', as they watched Iriisii fight her way through hordes of werewolves, various types of clones, and a series of boss opponents that represented what is said to be the, Seven Deadly Sins. Dettlaff and Aleytys wondered about why this was being shown. All Iriisii would say was to wait until the end, then it would become clear.

     Once they got to the last door, passed through and made their way up to the top of the tower. They looked out at what they saw and were amazed. 

     "Is that...?"

     "No, an Avatar of him, yes. One that, like Alduin, has rebelled and so must be put down."

     "But he is being held here by those ghosts of dragons!"

     "Yes, but they are weakening, soon he would be able to free himself, and with the essence of the 'Seven Deadly Sins' held within him, well you can imagine the carnage that would ensue."

     "What happens when you kill him?"

     "All of it returns to Akatosh. Those that were guarding him, were not aware that he was an Avatar. They thought he was in fact, Akatosh. And that without those negatives, he has been unbalanced. He finally determined that he needed them to keep himself grounded. But it seems he tasked me with killing his rogue avatars, Alduin, Bormahu. Not sure if there were any others involved. 

     It looks like whoever is orchestrating this is doing it not just to drag me through this all over again, but to prove a point to other observers of my capabilities. That makes me wonder what they want me to do for them here. And how it ties into what else I have to do."      

     Suddenly they are engulfed by a shadowy fog, their visibility is nearly so bad they cannot see each other except as a darker part of the fog. Then the fog begins to clear, the first thing Iriisii sees is tall, rough cut, pillars of some kind of stone with crystalline streaks running through them. They are dotting the landscape everywhere, several nearby are fallen over, some being held up where they fell against still others.

    The light seems to have no definable source. The ground is covered by some kind of grass, lying low to the ground, soft to the touch. As she touches one of the pillars, she feels an inaudible hum coming from deep within it, even though it does not seem to extend either into or from the ground. As she looks around she sees everyone close by, no one is missing.

    The ground starts to tremble, but it does not escalate into a quake. A flat dias seemingly made of a glowing crystal extends up from the ground about a hundred feet away, a set of steps coming down from the top to the ground, the steps are spaced upward easily for them to ascend, with the flats large enough for all to comfortably stand on each step.

    They all look toward Iriisii, who shrugs her shoulders and starts up to the top. Once up there, they notice an ancient-looking, stone table, sitting in the center. They approach with guarded curiosity, for almost any kind of activity could have been performed with that table.

No one makes a move to touch it, Freya wants to, badly, feeling a pull toward it that she must struggle and fight against constantly to keep from going to it.

    Iriisii notices this and catches Dettlaff's eye, shaking her head in Freya's direction. He takes the cue, sees her reaction, and moves to put himself between Freya and the table. Once he does so, the pressure on Freya lessens up to allow her to move further away. She shakes her head as if trying to shake out cobwebs after waking from a deep sleep.

    Iriisii then walks toward the table, extending her senses to see what she can read without coming into physical contact. Whatever this is, it is immensely powerful, yet she cannot quite grasp what it either was or is being used for. She cannot even tell what the power it seems to hold is. It is not like the magic she knows, but it is also not of any other kind of energy she has experienced. She feels just the lightest touch upon her mind, and it is gone.

     She makes to turn and see what everyone else is doing and sees a strong shadow of herself form, everyone else looks just past her, with expressions ranging from awe to terror. She spins around, taking a defensive stance when she sees what appears to be a single eye in front of her. There is wavering in the air around it, energy extrusions like flames crackling from it, but there is no heat, no cold, no movement of air. The eye itself is huge, its pupil vertically oriented and slit like a serpent's, the sclera is deep violet. It looks over everyone, finally settling on both Iriisii and Freya.

     Freya holds her arms around herself, rubbing them up and down, while under the gaze of the 'eye'. She feels like her entire existence has been laid bare before it. It then turns to Iriisii, Dettlaff moves to step between them, and is picked up, then tossed back, falling down a few of the steps before regaining his feet. Iriisii motions with her right hand behind her, to command him to stay close but behind her.

     She sets her own gaze onto the 'eye', trying to match its stare in the old children's game of 'chicken'. It takes all of those within her helping, Darkstar, Shivista, Beast, the Dova, but they manage to hold up, even keeping her mind's defenses solid against its calm probing. Whoever, whatever, it is, seems satisfied with her. A line forms from top to bottom within the 'eye', then expands to encompass its entire form. Within a vision can be seen, a vision of a world she has seen before.

     Now she has more of an idea of what is going on. The world she sees is massive, much larger than Nirn, yet the force of weight on it is comparable to that of Nirn. She feels it is because the physical laws that command it are different there, allowing for the differences that otherwise would require a large portion of her strength to overcome, to just walk around.

     Flickering images, fleeting visions, all racing across her eyes, as the history of this world is unfolding from its beginning to its present. She sees the wars, atrocities, races wiped from existence, every possible evil imaginable, and then more unimaginable taking place.

She feels like she must turn and empty herself of what she has seen as if she could cast it onto the ground at her feet

     But she stands firm, knowing there is a reason for this, a very important, very personal reason. As even more battles take place, destruction rampant, wanton killing, one entity begins to stand forth. Surviving everything that is thrown at him, prevailing against enemy after enemy. Females of every conceivable size, shape, race, throw themselves at his feet, willing to do anything for him to notice them.

     To no avail, even the most bloodthirsty acts fail to gain them anything from him. After long years of no interest, he has tired of their incessant pleading, begging him for attention, trying anything to gain a touch, a glance, a word. He calls out in his darkest want, his deepest desire, and is answered.

     From where it came, no one can even hazard a guess. Did it even come in its true form? No one knows for sure, no one even wants to know. For a short while, all they knew was that something answered his call. Showed him what he wanted to see, and then named its price. It started with the sacrifice of all those who kept clamoring for him to do his will upon them. And he finally did as they asked. None escaped, none lived, their bodies used not for pleasure because he took no pleasure in what he did.

     She begins to think, is it possible that the Ayleids who created the flesh gardens did see this in their dreams and try to reproduce it. If so they failed miserably. Even what Umaril and Pelinal did was but a pale, faded, image in a mirror in comparison to what 'he' did.

     When it was done, the one who answered the call, came and looked upon this creation, and was pleased with the effort. It then opened a tunnel, a writhing, squirming tunnel that pierced through everything in its way until it opened aboard a ship at sea. And 'he' stepped forth onto the deck. To give those onboard credit, they did not hesitate to draw weapons and attack. But they all died, as he extended his hand and drew from them their very lifeforce. Leaving them shriveled husks, still in their armor and clothing.

     He goes below decks, sounds of doors being bashed open, locks shattered can be heard. And then silence, until booted feet are heard coming up the steps from below. A small form wrapped in a blanket strung across his shoulder, a blanket Iriisii recognizes, and a terrible fear seizes her gut. He with his prize in tow, walks back through the tunnel, back to his unknown homeworld.

     She can do nothing but watch, as he has a fortress constructed. A fortress, like no other she has ever seen till now. It encompasses a huge expanse of land, with streams, trees of all kinds, a veritable garden of beauty surrounding the central fortress, all held within by a wall as tall as the clouds. He then stands on a balcony of his fortress overlooking everything to the walls. He then casts a spell, pouring into it the very lifeforce he took from those he killed.

     The ground cracks around the outside of the walls. And then lifts itself up into the sky, leaving a ragged hole behind. A hole from which something horrible climbs out of the darkness, its prison breached. It looks upward at the fortress floating in the sky, with a look that says, not yet, but soon.

     He reaches inside the door behind him and pulls out a young child. Iriisii almost faints, the emotions hurtling across her awareness are too quick to register. For she only knows the face of Kathea, her lost daughter. Aleytys sees her mother's reaction but is slower to realize who the child is, for she has never laid eyes on her before. Kathea was taken as Iriisii brought Aleytys home from the mountain Temple to Kyne, where she hatched out. Brought her home to find Kathea gone, and one of her guards eviscerated, near to death.

     Then it dawns upon her, who she is seeing as she whispers, "Kathea"? She hears her mother say the same thing, and the resolve in her grows to the point where she has to fight to stay 'human'. They both hear the words of 'he' who captured Kathea from the captors who first took her.

     "This will be your home now. Until she comes to wrest you from my grasp, and I claim her for my own. For she is the only one worthy of all that exists, to stand beside me. To fight with me, live with me, bear life within her from me. No harm will come to you child, you have free run of this place, inside and out. Your needs will be met, you have but to ask, you must stay and not leave, until she comes for you, then you decide your future."