The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into The Coming of The Cold Death

 The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into The Coming of The Cold Death

     The priest's acolyte arrives first, breathless and panting from his run. Iriisii bade the priest take the 'Holy Gem' and hold it until the others in the retinue arrive. While waiting she climbs onto the altar and sits down to wait. It isn't too long before those in the retinue see that nothing is happening on the altar dias. Within the palanquin being carried up the steps by muscled bearers, a hand gestures to a soldier walking next to it.

     The soldier grabs a few more and they take off at a run, up the stairs, and onto the dias. They see the priest and he is grabbed as the lead soldier demands to know why the sacrifices are not being carried out. The priest points to Iriisii sitting on the altar. As the soldier starts to order his men to grab Iriisii and restart the sacrifices with her. The priest attempts to intervene as the soldier strikes him with a mailed fist, sending him to the stone base.

     As he turns to Iriisii, she says, "I would not even think of doing that if I were you."

     The soldier asks, "and why not?"

     Iriisii gestures toward the dragon behind her, who raises her head and roars her displeasure at the soldiers. Power beginning to crackle more and more, up and down her back spines. 

     "I do not think you want to see what happens if you anger her anymore."

     The occupants of the palanquin, upon hearing the dragon roar, nearly fall out of it in their haste to see what is happening. Once they see the dragon's head above the altar, they begin running up the steps to reach the altar. The 'prince' arrives first and the people surrounding the altar kneel down to him, Iriisii remains sitting calmly.

     As the Court Mage and the rest of the retinue reach the dias, the Court Mage, gruffly orders, "you there, kneel to the 'prince', show some respect for royalty."

     Iriisii looks at the Court Mage and evaluates him as a blowhard with very little true power, a lot like a certain Farengar, perhaps a demonstration is in order to clear the record about who is actually in charge here. She slowly and calmly stands up, still on top of the altar. Then she looks up into the skies and shouts, 'STRUN BAH QO'. Clouds roll in from every direction, rain starts falling, and lightning can be seen moving from cloud to cloud, sometimes striking the ground in the distance.

     The Court Mage retorts, "a little weather magic is supposed to impress me, this is nothing but hedge magic. Soldiers do as you were ordered!"

     Then Iriisii again looks up at the stormy skies and summons a huge bolt of lightning. As it comes down she reaches out and grabs it, letting its power flood through her body. The lightning bolt stays in her hand, instead of dispersing into the ground. Everyone can feel its energy, tingling against their skin.

     "And is this 'hedge magic', Court Mage? I daresay you have never seen true magic in your entire life! Much less encountered a true goddess, for I am Iriisii Dovahkiin, Anointed Dragonborn of Akatosh, Elder Goddess of the Gods of Eld in Elysia." The power of the lightning bolt forms a halo around her body. "If you are a true mage, then come take this lightning bolt from me. I will not resist your taking it."

     Then the priest exclaims, "the 'Holy Gem'!. It is as the prophet said how we would recognize the 'Summoner'!" The gem was glowing brightly as the priest felt it move under its own power. He opened his hand and the 'Holy Gem' rises and floats to Iriisii until it rises enough to float above her head. It shines a blue glow down on her and then shines a white light onto an open spot on the dias.

     A familiar face looks out of that light upon Iriisii. "Skelos! Trust you to be at the heart of any prophecy about dragons!"

     The face within the light speaks, "this is she who is the 'Summoner', of whom the 'Hands of Destiny' wrote about within the Scroll that still sits in its cradle within the temple. Heed the words written within the Scroll, words only she can read, words only she can speak and call forth the power living within those words. Anger her not, for her anger can destroy worlds and even Gods, but listen to her words, those of you who wish for wisdom and enlightenment, for she speaks with the voice of the 'Mother'. She is of both 'light' and 'dark', allies and enemies among both, but she serves the Great Balance and has earned her place in the Celestial Heavens." The light fades and the face of Skelos vanishes, as a few close to her hear her mutter, "farewell my friend, may you find peace at the end of your journey."

     The 'prince' looks seriously disgusted at the Court Mage, who is wondering how he is going to salvage something of his reputation, position, and maybe even his life over this. He starts to respond to what has happened, but the 'prince' preempts him. He walks up to Iriisii and bows, drawing a scowl from the Court Mage, "Elder Goddess, as the 'Holy Gem' has named you, might I inquire as to what you know of the current situation?"

     "Prince, in actuality, very little as I have only within the last day arrived here. And even then I arrived deep within a buried cavern where I met my companion", as she gestures toward her dragon. What I know of it right now, I was informed of by the priest upon my witnessing the beginning of these sacrifices. It was at my insistence that he cease them, for honestly, they serve no logical purpose. They will not sway the forces of magic, indeed the only branch that benefits from such is necromancy, and there are usually better ways to advance your goals than to resort to ritual murder."

     "I bow to your superior knowledge, goddess. May I ask if it is indeed possible for you to summon armies and flights of dragons?"

     Iriisii smiles, "if I find a situation where I need such assistance, yes, I can call upon it. But please understand this, those I call, come because they believe in me, believe in my cause, believe I am the balancing force that is needed. They come because they wish to, not because I force them or order them.

     I can kill with the skills of the greatest assassin, but I can also offer redemption to the lowest offender if they sincerely want it. I can assure you, if armies and dragon flights are needed, I can call upon all that will be needed."

     "Then I pray such will not be needed, for it would mean a war greater than any yet seen on this world."

     "I need to speak with my companion for a moment, then I need to see this scroll resting within the temple. Perhaps it can shed further light on just what task is set for me here. If you will excuse me, your highness."

     As Iriisii turns and walks to the dragon, the young woman to be sacrificed still on her back, she hears the Court Mage, trying to once again court favor by denigrating someone else, this time, her. She decides to let him speak, as he is likely digging a hole that will become his own grave. Besides, he is most certainly not Lord Martin Blackwell and can not even compare in the arena of court politics as her Lord Chancellor can.

     She walks up to her dragon and places a hand against her face, speaking mind to mind, she relates what she knows, then what she suspects.

     'As long as I can stay close to you, I shall. I can position myself to be out of the way, and still watch for signs of trouble. Any help I can be, you have but to ask.'

     'Thank you, it just might come to that, but we will see. It might be a good idea for me to summon a friend or two, then it will be easier to bring over more if needed. You will like them, I am sure as they are mates to me.'

     'I have not felt the yearning as yet, but I did want to ask...?'

     'Yes, I have a great many male dragons who follow me. And I can think of one or two who I think you would like, and I know they would like you.'

     'Perhaps later then, we can discuss this in more detail?'

     'Whenever you feel like it, but I do need to see what to do with our friend. I do not know if just letting her go back is wise, since she was about to have her heart taken from her body.'

     'If you can summon 'friends' could you not send her to where they come from?'

     'Yes, I think that is a very good idea, I will need to see if she has family still living here and give them the same choice. If they would go with her, it will make the transition easier to bear.'

     Iriisii then looks up at the young woman, "as I am sure you heard, I am called Iriisii Dovakiin. you may simply call me Iriisii."

     "Thank you, Iriisii, for saving my life"

     "I could not in good judgment allow that to happen to you, one close to me many years ago almost had the same happen to her."

     "May I ask what you did to save her?"

     "I killed all of the cultists present at the ceremony, then entered an extraplanar portal to find and deal with the one to whom she was to be sacrificed to. I allowed him to live, but I let him know that although I had sympathy for his plight, her life was too great a cost to correct what had been done to him. I also knew what he intended if it had been successful, and that I could not allow either.

     But I wanted to ask if you would be safe to remain here, if not, I have a great deal of room where I have set my home, you and any family who would wish to go with you would be welcome."

     "I would need to speak with them, there is only my mother and younger brother, my father was killed in the last war. It was probably why I was chosen, no one old enough to protect me."

     "Of course, you are under my protection now, when you are ready, let me know. I will send word that you will be arriving as the others I call will be leaving."

     The dragon interrupts with a warning for Iriisii, 'there is something approaching, slowing as it grows closer. It is using some form of light bending to hide from view. What I can feel about it, says it intends to attempt to kill you. I do not think it is connected to the events happening here, as this feels completely alien to this world.'

     'Show me where it is and how it is coming here.'

     The dragon shares her location sensing with Iriisii, 'good, it is trying to stay away from the crowds. If I walk out in an open area, I can challenge it without anyone else being hurt or killed.'

     "Please, tell me your name, then go and speak to your mother and brother about my offer, then come and find me. I have a little matter to take care of at the moment."

     "If it pleases you, my name is Calystis." She then turns and proceeds as asked to find her mother and younger brother, to give them the news.

     Iriisii then looks around to find a route out in the open that would take her toward whoever is using stealth to get close to her. Then she starts out, it does not take long once she was aware of someone tracking her, and she was able to pinpoint their own position. There was also an odor about this individual, not easily detected, but could be locked onto once you were aware of it.

     It struck her as acrid, with an undertone of incredible age. She thinks, 'I need to consider what form the attack might take, something unexpected could get through and whoever sent this attacker would arm them with something that should conceivably do her damage.' This made her heighten her awareness.

     It was Darkstar who saved her from the initial attack, for suddenly Darkstar grabbed control and rolled her to the side, then leaped up into the air, curled into a ball, and started rolling in the air, continuing when she hit the ground. Whoever was shooting that stream of whatever, could not keep track of her and missed each time. Then she was able to slash out with an extended leg, her foot connecting to a knee.

     She felt the joint give under her assault, yet the attacker gave not a sound in response.

Now she was able to stand and see her attacker. Once she got a good look, she wanted to turn her head and vomit. The attacker was once human, not anymore though. A female, her hair, what was left of it, was stringy, matted, with open sores on her scalp where hair had been either pulled out or caught on something and came out as she kept moving. It was obvious whatever was given to her was destroying her body, rendering her unfeeling of pain.

     Then she noticed there were open sores all over this unfortunate's body, flesh just wasting away under the skin. But it was somehow still driving this woman, still enabling her to move in stealth, creating this vile fluid that she could spit like a venom. She took a chance to see if this thing could still speak.

     "Why are you doing this?"

     The woman responds with a severe rasp to her voice, like her throat and vocal cords were half eaten away by whatever she ingested.

     "You must die. You are a threat to me and my father."

     "Who are you, I have never seen you before?"

     "You would not know my name or my father's name. But we know of you and yours."

     "Leave my others out of this, you came hunting me! Leave it with me!"

     "All trace of you must be eradicated from this existence. There must be nothing of your blood to procreate."

     "You will leave me no choice but to utterly destroy you and your father before you touch one of mine!"

     "I am but one of many, eventually one will succeed. Then we will claim this existence once more, our exile will end."

     "Who, who exiled you? When did this happen? Where did it happen?"

     "Search for the answers all you wish, we will get to you before you find the answers."

     "Then I will have to get my answers from another of you!" And she shouts, "FUS RO DAH", the force wave hits the woman, every major bone is broken, and over half of her joints are dislocated. Still, Iriisii has to avoid those venom streams. She shouts 'LIZ SLEN NUS' as ice forms over the body, giving her a few precious seconds to think about what to do next. She hits her again shouting, 'KRII LUN AUS' and the body deteriorates even more.

     The lesions grow larger, more muscle flesh has deteriorated, warped, corroded bone is showing in some places. She follows it with 'RII VAAS ZOL' and her body almost literally deflates, sinking in on itself, the wasting process taking its last toll. The woman falls back finally dead, and Iriisii notices a dark green vapor floating up from her mouth and nose. The vapor then disperses, gone in a few seconds. She senses no life left, but this body might still be dangerous, even in its current state, so she uses 'Fire Breath' to consume it till there is nothing but ash remaining.

     She looks over her shoulder to see the dragon coming toward her. It looks with its keen eyes at the spot where Iriisii destroyed the body, sniffing the air around it.

     "This is like nothing I have seen or smelled before. It smells of incredible age and evil beyond anything I could imagine. What did you do to attract the attention of something like this?"

     "That is indeed the question that needs answering the most. But I have no answer, not even to speculate about it. All I can be certain of is it does not come from the Creation that birthed me. It is too alien, too far outside the natural and physical laws that bind us here. All I can do is prepare to meet it as it comes for me. I will not turn away from the path I tread, it is too important to the fate of our Creation itself."

     "Is it possible that may be tied up in the reason for this encounter? That whatever it is that showed its hand, stands against you in determining Creation's fate?"

     "I think that unless I find stronger evidence for a different reason, that holds the greatest weight of truth. Now I know I will need to bring assistance here, the only question is who is best suited to help. Many more will want to come than I am comfortable bringing at the moment. If I need more, I can bring them in an instant. But sometimes it still hurts to see their disappointment."

     "That is a great strength that you hold, the desire of so many of the powerful to want to aid you in all that you do, and you, concerned for them and their welfare that you do not wish to risk them unnecessarily. But sometimes they need to bear the risk, to feel that you need and depend on them, that you value them and their skills."

     "You are right, I need to do a better job of balancing those factors against the losses I have endured."

     "It hurts to lose friends, allies, loved ones. But I think they would not feel their lives spent in vain if it aids you, so strong is their belief in you. It is their belief, that brings about your desire to protect them from harm. Yet, is protecting them to that degree, the best thing for their growth?"

     "So by protecting them to ease my own pain over hurts they endure for me actually places them in more danger than if I allow them to risk themselves?"

     "I know how it looks, sounds, and feels, but yes, that is so many times true."

     "Thank you, that helps me decide who to bring over first."

     "I am glad to be of assistance to you. It should be safe to enter the temple, I sense no others like this one was."

     "Please stay watching, there is no way to know what will come next, or when."

     As Iriisii moves toward the Temple she saw when she first flew over the city. The priest comes and walks behind her, staying three feet from her. Slowly, others who witnessed the events gather behind the priest and follow them. She walks up the steps and enters the coolness of the shade as she steps out of the light. Turning to the priest, "please ask the people to wait outside, I will bring the Scroll to them, and together we will see what it has to say." 

     So, the priest does as she asked, addressing an acolyte, he directs him to escort Iriisii to the Scroll and do whatever she asks. She follows the acolyte deeper into the Temple complex until they reach a room in the center. Brightly lit, but not by torches or braziers, even as they are around, but by a series of strategically placed mirrors of polished metal.

     As she looks at the acolyte, he explains how the light from the sun on the top level of the Temple is reflected back down by way of the mirrors into this room, then bounced around the room to increase the light level. She nods her head in thanks and looks to the central plinth, which has a small alcove carved out of it and the Scroll resting within. As she approaches, she feels familiar energy around the Scroll. The same kind as she has experienced with the other times she has interacted with them. This one however has one important difference. It also has a far greater power level of a different kind permeating the Scroll. One that while very familiar is also different. It is very close to the power she feels when around dragons, but somehow it is also different.

     Older than any other Scroll she has been near, older than the books in both the Great Library at Carcosa and the Library at Elysia. She has a feeling she knows who this power was placed here by, but better to play it out than to preempt this grand drama. She reaches out and takes the Scroll in her hands. As they touch it, the light in the chamber brightens markedly, and she feels..., she really does not have words for what she feels.

     Even the ancestral memories within are silent, watching everything through the lens of her eyes, hearing through her ears, recording every sense that they can sense. They can feel an 'absolute crux' building to its apex. This will be a turning point that will spell the direction of everything that comes to be afterward. Then in a moment of inspiration, she knows who to bring over to her.

     She asks the acolyte to stand back behind her, and she grasps the Scroll with a hand at each end. Raising it above her head, she opens a 'transliminal portal', this one going to multiple locations while remaining a single portal. As the images settle, each destination sees the others as well as her own, with her holding the raised Scroll above her. They all pay close attention to what she has to say.

     "I need your help, I will explain later, but I need the ones I call to come through to me. Rigmor, Illyria, Byrsael, Aleytys, Dettlaff, Elric, Reaper, please come through. Atticus, ready our troops, the Dragon Legion, and the Sirens, if I call, I will need them all to come through. They will need to be equipped with the armor and weapons I made at the Forge of Stars.

     What occurs here is of paramount importance to the future of our Creation. Phillipa, I need you to act in my stead until I say otherwise. Call upon Kthanid and Nodens if you need their help, and make sure Johannes is close by. I made need the two of you as well. I will be sending a young woman, her mother, and her younger brother back to you later. Take care of anything they may need."

     Phillipa nods her head, grateful for the trust and responsibility Iriisii is giving her and determined to live up to expectations. As the ones named come through the portal, the acolyte is amazed and trembling, he can feel the power coursing through each of them, certain they are all Gods or avatars of Gods. Rigor looks at the Scroll in Iriisii's hands, "another one?"

     "Yes, perhaps the most important one yet. The power sitting within its pages is like nothing I have felt before. It eclipses even the 'Kel'. Aleytys steps forward, holding her hands near but not touching the Scroll, "dragon, but more than just dragon. You have not gazed at its words yet, have you?"

     "No, but soon, yes I will. We need to back to the outside. There will be a sizable crowd gathered by now. I told them I would bring the Scroll outside and then we would all read what it has to say. Also, you will see a strange dragon sitting outside, she is an ally and likely a formidable one at that."

     "She?

     "Yes, Rek Krah Gaaf, she went to sleep some ten thousand years ago, while the inhabitants went to war. Think of a war where one side had the power of the Psijics and the other the power of the ancient Dwemer."

     "And this world is still here and intact?"

     "Seems so, but there are oddities involved that we will have to investigate later. First, we need to consolidate power here, in this city. War is still everywhere, and it must be brought to heel, also there are assassins hunting me."

     "What is so strange about that?"

     "These are like nothing I have ever encountered. you would have to see them for yourself to understand."

     "All right then, let us get this show started! Ughh, you were serious when you told Atticus to mobilize the Dragon Legion and the Sirens?"

     "Yes, I was. Something stirs in the frozen north, something strong enough to wrap this entire world in the deadly cold. This must not be allowed to happen."

     "With all of us here, now, in one place! It will not happen, not against all that we can bring to bear."

     "HEAR, HEAR!"

     "Come on, we have a 'Scroll of Skelos' to read", as Dettlaff starts for the entrance, then stops, looking for the acolyte. "I assume you know the way to the outside?"

     The acolyte scampers past quickly leading them through the complex to the outside. As they all set foot outside, the crowd has tripled in size, with more joining each second. The Prince and the Court Mage catch sight of the additional people with Iriisii. The Court Mage starts out with, "who are these...?"

     The Prince cuts him off, "quiet if you ever want to avoid living in the slums outside the capital city." He then looks to Iriisii and calmly says, "please, continue as you will.        

     "Your highness, thank you. She quickly points out, Rigmor, Byrsael, Illyria, and Dettlaff, saying these are my mates. Then points to Aleytys, who is my half-dragon daughter. She points to Reaper, this is my son, Reaper, and finally points to Elric, and he is an 'Aspect of the Eternal Champion', Elric of Melnibone. I have put my Dragon Legion and 'Sirens' divisions on alert, to be equipped, armed, and ready to come at my call. Each number ten thousand and are battle-hardened veterans, my Dragon Riders are not yet ready, having only recently been formed."

     The 'Prince' reacts, "if I may be so bold, but how many mates do you have?"

     "These are all of them", muttering under her breath, 'for now, anyway.' Rigmor catches her muttering and smiles, mischievously. Aleytys also catches it but sees Rigmor's reaction and decides it best to inquire about that later, in private.

     Iriisii displays the Scroll for all to see. "This is one of the 'Scrolls of Skelos', written at the direction of the mage/prophet, Skelos of Acheron. This one is not the first I have read, but it may very well be the most powerful. And then she unrolls the Scroll.