The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into A Dish Of Friends And Allies

 The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into A Dish Of Friends And Allies

     Iriisii instructs the Gate Overseer to open a small person-sized gate to the already encoded destination. Then she places everyone where they can take care of anything that jumps through as the gate is opened. Giving the final command to the Overseer, the gate field flashes into existence. Previous gates she has seen opened make the field look like bubbling blood in a waterfall, this one has tinges of black. She inquires of the Overseer, who replies, "phenomenon is consistent with the presence of damaging high energy particles, suggest proper shielding before crossing over. Protection suits are stored in the wardrobe cabinets along the wall to the left side."

     She walks over and pulls one out to examine it, like she thought, the Dwemer cannot seem to do anything that is not big and bulky. She puts it back, goes to the gate field, and studies it. Then turns and cast personal shields around everyone tuned to repel the damaging particles based on their frequency. Then she leads the way across.

     Once on the other side, the dichotomy of the two locations is startling. Here there is rubble and battle debris everywhere, some ancient, some not, bones, automatons, damaged equipment, suits of armor, some familiar, some very strange and different. More than one mutter under their breath, 'just what in the hells happened here.'

     Carefully, not to disturb more than needed to clear a path, she tries to reconstruct in her mind what happened. Rebuild the forms of the beings involved based on the debris left behind and the signs of various types of damage. It is obvious that many fights occurred over a long period of time, using physical weapons, natural weapons, and even a few kinds of energy weapons.

     Then she spots what she was looking for, signs of an assassin taking down enemies, quickly, silently. The killing blows were deep and efficient, with no excessive effort used. Every single blow was a killing blow, only some enemies took more than one to take down. Those she looked at more closely to remember what they look like, how to recognize them from a distance. For if a Vampire Assassin takes more than a single strike to kill them, they will be tough opponents for anyone.

     She points these out to everyone to be alert for and explains her reasoning. There is no disagreement from anyone about her conclusions. She also points out that although her shielding is strong, look for any bright glowing spots or areas and avoid them. For they could be strong enough to breach even her shields if unprepared. Then after having covered all that she can think of, they start out. She keeps the same lineup as before, but instructs to stay closer together, and do not attack unless attacked.

     She takes a last look around for anything she might have missed before, noting that the Overseer Node in this room was totally destroyed, maybe they can find the backup somewhere and get the whole story of what happened. They begin their march through the desolate remains of this installation, trying to piece together the story and not get any of themselves killed in the process.

     They stop and check every room, every hallway, and in a still unopened room off of a long hallway, barred at the opening, and the trap protections still in place, they find the backup Overseer Node. It is still, quiet, with no sign of power. She searches the room while everyone else watches for trouble. Finding a lever, mounted flush in the wall with only a small indentation on each side for fingers to grasp and pull it, she does so and hears the presence of steam flowing through pipes inside the walls. 

     The steam flows into the Overseer Node and builds until it is enough to reanimate it. She cautions everyone to let her talk to it. She walks up to its visual receptors and speaks in Dwemeri.

     Iriisii: "Report current status."

     Overseer: "Analyzing. Situation degraded. Loss of sensory capability on multiple levels. Main Overseer Node nonfunctional, Auxiliary Node now functional, several extraplanar gates remain open since installation shutdown ordered. Presence of unauthorized entities on several levels. Unknown entity type detected as having begun this node's operational status. 

Request identification."

     Iriisii: "Name is Iriisii Dovahkiin. Status is 'Immortal'. Current state of previous occupants is deceased. Request authorization to access records."

     Overseer: "Request you elaborate on status of previous Masters."

     Iriisii: "Approximate time, three millennia past, Dwemer identified as Kagrenac engaged in an experiment with item identified as 'Heart of Lorkhan'. Result of experiment was disappearance of all Dwemer race, only a few survived in isolated and protected locations. All other Dwenmer status verified by ancilliary evidence as deceased."

     Overseer: "Request nature of ancilliary evidence."

     Iriisii: "Presence of ghosts."

     Overseer: "Understood."

     Iriisii: "You accept the existence of ghosts as evidence of demise?"

     Overseer: "Analysis of millions of records involving thousands of different species, existing in different universes yields conclusive evidence of energy signatures that sometimes remains after life was terminated in subjects. Masters also used the term,'Ghosts' to describe this state of existence."

     Iriisii: "You accept my declaration that I am a God?"

     Overseer: "Masters also accepted the existence of 'Gods' although they did not follow or believe that they were necessary to the evolution of the Dwemer race."

     Iriisii: "I understand, yet they are gone and I, a Goddess, stand before you. What conclusion does the evidence present?"

     Overseer: "Not capable of making that type of assessment."

     Iriisii; "Understood. Request access to available records from past to present."

     Overseer: "Why is records access needed?'

     Iriisii: " I seek to understand what the purpose of this installation was, what happened to cause multiple dimensional breaches before 'shutdown' order was given and interrupted by disappearance of Masters. If it is possible to close dimensional breeches and evaluate causational factors if breeches are closed."

     Overseer: "Raising viewing device, records will be projected on it, use vocal commands to control speed of display."

     As the display begins, Iriisii lets the records go directly into her memory to parse and come to conclusions later. She increases the speed of display until she can draw it into memory as fast as the Overseer can display it. Even then the time it takes before the last records are scanned runs into several hours.

     She then instructs the Overseer to maintain what surveillance it can, while she begins the task of collating the data with what she already has and assigning priority to what pertains to the current situation. She places herself into meditation, while Rigmor tells the group to get comfortable for a while.

     After a few more hours she rouses herself from meditation, leaving the bulk of the records for her ancestral memories to sift through, she now has a grasp on what happened in the past, as well as the present, both with the current beings traversing the upper levels and with their target having moved through and exited to the surface.

     Rigmor: "What can you tell us now?"

     Iriisii: "Thank all the Gods that Kagrenac did what he did when he did it. Because otherwise, it would be a very different world we would be living in if we lived at all."

     Rigmor: "What did you find out?"

     Iriisii: "The experiment that he did that caused their demise and halted what was being done here, could not have happened at a better time. They were opening gates, cataloging the inhabitants, and evaluating them for possible uses as trade, slaves, and experimental subjects. Then they went and opened the wrong gate, the wrong one for them, and of course, they were stupid enough to open some more to try and find help to deal with the first bad one. Then when they finally figured out their mistake, it was too late. They began to try and shut down the entire installation and Kagrenac's experiment put a stop to that."

     Rigmor: "You are going to try and finish what they started?"

     Iriisii: "No."

     Rigmor: "No?'

     Iriisii: "No, that cat is out of the bag, I could do it, but it would not hold."

     Rigor: "Why not?"

     Iriisii: "Because they took the time to learn what the Dwemer did to open the gate in the first place. They have not opened more gates from their 'home', because they learned from the Dwemer's mistakes. They are using the gates here to do what they want, thus protecting access to their home."

     Rigmor: "And just what is it they are doing?'

     Iriisii: "Exploring, trading, when the Dwemmer first started taking some of them, they banded together and came back through to take theirs back. Dwemer went into a panic when they lost control of the gate and then compounded the problem by opening still more gates to find help against the first one. The only problem was those gates opened into some very nasty planes, with equally nasty denizens."

     Rigmor: "So what happened, I assume it was during all of this that Kagrenac did his thing and killed all the Dwemer?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, as to what happened after, the race that started this, withdrew to the area around the gate to their home and defended it against the others. Those others soon lost interest when they could not make any headway and fought amongst themselves. Back and forth, through each other's gates, they learned from science and technology. Some of the ones that opened later were destroyed or destroyed themselves with the weapons they learned to create.

     However, on one of those universes, they caught the attention of someone else, someone we know about."

     Rigmor: "Who?"

     Iriisii: "The 'Tar-Aiym'."

     Rigmor: "You have got to be kidding me."

     Iriisii: "No, I am not kidding. The Tar-Aiym could not defeat them decisively, the birthrate of this race was so high they could replenish their losses almost indefinitely. So the Tar-Aiym developed a biological weapon as well as several other options if that one failed."

     Rigmor: "And the 'Krang' was one of those options."

     Iriisii: "Yes, it was. The biological weapon did the job against the race that they were fighting, too good a job."

     Rigmor: It got loose, didn't it."

     Iriisii: Yes, it did, it not only spread among the Tar-Aiym and the race they were fighting, but it passed through here into the others as well. They have only come back and started reusing the gate fairly recently."

     Rigmor: "So Kagrenac doing what he did kept it from passing through the Dwemer into Nirn."

     Iriisii: "At least into Atmora, which at that time was the ice and snow we know today. Whether it would have made it to the mainland, possibly it would have, maybe not. That is too hard to say for sure. But that is past, now I think it best suits our needs to see if we can talk our way past to the surface and move on."

     Rigmor: "All right how are you going to do that, if I may ask?"

     Iriisii: "I have a translator crystal Yennefer and I have been working on. We move forward until we are close to where those who have come through are. I will put myself in the open with the crystal and wait until I am contacted."

     Rigmor: "If you do not get shot, stabbed, pierced, or otherwise maimed, dismembered, have I left anything out?"

     Iriisii: "No, that just about covers it. But according to current records, they are not fighting with each other but instead trying to talk, and establish trade. That translator crystal could be what is needed to bring this about. I have no issue with letting them use the gates, as long as they do not use them to conquer their neighbors. This will help us get out sooner if we do not have to fight for every foot. And they may be able to tell us about the surface, what it is like up there, what happened to it."

     Rigmor: "Well when you put it like that. What do we have to do?"

     Iriisii: "Just stay back when we get there, I will handle the rest."

     They travel on heading upward one level at a time, seeing the debris and remains of fight after fight, no telling how many hundreds or thousands of years old. About four levels from the bottom they come close to the first of the open gates. They find a near cross hallway and Iriisii sits in the middle, sitting in midair with the translator crystal floating by her. She motions for the rest of the party to stay behind her while she waits.

     About a half hour later she sees some furtive movement up ahead that disappears. She figures it is on its way to pass on her presence and ask for instructions. About an hour after that, she sees signs of movement down the hall. Waiting patiently while they make up their minds about what they want to do. She notices they are bipedal, with two arms and a pair of another type of appendage as well. Sometimes waving around while other times coiled around their torso.

     Finally one slowly, gingerly, makes its way down the hall approaching her. As it gets close, it makes a series of sounds from an orifice mid-center of its torso. The translator crystal blinks and flashes with the sounds, and then repeats this time in Cyrodillic.

     Eloisu: "Who are you? What are you? Why are you here?"

     Iriisii replies and the crystal translates, "Who I am is Iriisii Dovahkiin. What I am may be beyond your understanding, but call me a Goddess. Why I am here is that I seek to pass to the surface."

     Eloisu: "Are you from they who were here before?"

     Iriisii: "No, from the same world, yes, but they who were here before are all gone."

     Eloisu: "Why do you wish to go to the surface, very dangerous up there, safer down here."

     Iriisii: "A little one of my people was taken and brought here. The one who did this wishes to force me to come to him. He came here, so I must then follow to retrieve the little one from him."

     Eloisu: "We saw him pass through, our Elders felt his power and said to let him pass. So long as he did not take from us, we were not to offer harm."

     Iriisii: "I understand, no offense is taken by your actions to let him pass."

     Eloisu: "Your power is far greater than his, why would he anger you so by taking the little one?"

     Iriisii: "He had no idea of how powerful I had become when he set his feet on this path. He started with more than himself, he is now alone, and the time has come for justice to cross his path."

     Eloisu: "I do not know this word 'justice'."

     Iriisii: "Punishment for a wrong action done."

     Eloisu: "Thank you for enlightenment."

     Iriisii: "Would you tell your Elders, I mean no harm, but simply wish to pass by. If they know of the surface world, I would like to know what they know. It would help me find the little one."

     Eloisu: "I will go tell them your words. Please to wait if you would."

     Eloisu then turns and walks back to the others who came with her. Iriisii hears their voices as Eloisu explains what was said. There is a lot said from various others, but Eloisu simply says to let the Elders decide and all the voices cease.,

     Another hour passes and Iriisii sees Eloisu approach with another obviously older one.

     Iriisii: "I greet thee Elder one, may the blessings of my Gods light your path."

     Even as the Elder does not understand all of what Iriisii said, he understands her intent.

     Elder: "I greet thee Iriisii Dovahkiin, I am called Tejiil. Eloisu has told me of your speakings to her. And of this crystal that allows understanding between you."

     Iriisii: "May I offer it to you as a gift, to allow us better understanding between us?"

     Elder: "I could not take from you such a rare gift."

     Iriisii: "Please, it is a small matter. I am able to make more."

     Elder: "You can make more of these wonderful crystals?"

     Iriisii: "Indeed I can, once the knowing is fruitful, the knowledge can be passed on. I believe this would help you in trading knowledge with the others here as well?"

     Elder: "Yes, yes it would, very much. But what could we offer in exchange for such a treasure?"

     Iriisii: "I need knowledge of the surface world here. One came through here with a little one of my people. I came to find him and return him home. The one who took him, did so to force me to meet with him about a debt he believes I owe him from some time in the past. It came about due to the payment of a debt owed to me by one of his. These debts never seem to be settled in a reasonable fashion. His involving others who had no part in the first debt has caused great harm for which my Gods now declare justice must be served to him. He is the last of his group, and so once this is finished, it will be truly finished."

     Elder: "I see the truth in your words. Sometimes these debts cannot be laid to rest without blood. As to the surface world, what information we have we give to you freely. We will also ask among the others to allow you to pass."

     Iriisii: "I thank you, Elder. I would inform you that it is my intention to allow the gates to continue to remain open so that you may trade with the others as you have begun to do. The ones who created them are gone, never more to return. I would like to set a task for a few of my people to repair the systems and keep them running so that all of you may benefit. The systems recognize me not as one who built them but one who stands above."

     Elder: "May your path be blessed with light."

     As the Elder turns to return, Iriisii bids him take the crystal to help in speaking with the others.

     Eloisu: "Do you not need it to speak with us?"

     Iriisii: "As it has worked to translate your words for me, so have I learned your speech. I no longer need it and if I should need another, I have enough and the knowledge to make more. May I ask, do your Elders know which of the others once fought the Tar-Aiym?"

     Eloisu: "You know of them?"

     Iriisii: "Only he who is their last Prophet. All others are gone."

     Eloisu: "I will ask the Elders, the information concerning the Tar-Aiym will be well received. All of us feared their return one day, to know that will not happen."

     Iriisii: "There are enough out in the vast expanses without having to look to the past. Be cautious as your people travel outward and remember my name. It may forestall much trouble if used properly."

     Eloisu: "Thank you, Iriisii Dovahkiin. Do you have young ones?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, I do.

     Eloisu: "Then they are blessed greatly to have a mother like you."

     Iriisii smiles and gives a half bow, "as am I to have them as my children."

     Eloisu turns and walks back to where the Elder waits for her.

     Iriisii steps down and goes back to her people, "we wait for the Elder to speak to the other groups. With any luck, he will be able to secure safe passage to the surface for us, as well as gather all the information he can on what we will face up there."

     Rigmor: "That Eloisu is so sweet, you should offer to adopt her."

     Iriisii: "And what if she has family, would you take her away from them as the Dwemer would do?"

     Rigmor: "No, I would ask first if she would be interested, and only then would I make the offer."

     Iriisii: "Then I leave it in your hands."

     Rigmor: "Wha.., I meant..."

     Iriisii: "I know what you meant, you meant for me to do it. But you brought it up, and it is you who want it, so you see to it."

     Rigmor: "But you want it too or you would never have put it in my hands."

     Iriisii: "All you have to do is ask, it may not be possible or she may decline."

     Rigmor: "And she may say yes, too."

     Iriisii: "Yes she might, so ask and find out."

     Rigmor: "Ok, I will! ...Did she just do what I think she did?"

     Desidarius: "And with such style too."

     

     Iriisii calls the Custodian.

     Iriisii: "Do we have anyone experienced in repairing Dwemer technology?"

     Custodian: "Not directly, no, but there are some promising students who have some ideas for replacing some of the steam technology for more modern stuff."

     Iriisii: "Where are they now?"

     Custodian: "On board the Krang. That is where the classes are going on. It was originally a comparative class about how the Dwemer accomplished so much using steam compared to how other races use other means to do the same thing. The students took it upon themselves to start with the Dwemer and see how their steam technology could be enhanced with other types to increase efficiency, longevity, capabilities, especially where their control systems are concerned."

     Iriisii: "Do you think we could arrange for a field addition to the class? I have one working unit in need of repairs and one completely demolished one that could be rebuilt from the ground up. Afterward, I need to arrange for maintenance and general observation. Also would need some guards just to be safe."

     Custodian: "I will get right on it, Goddess."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, Custodian."

     Morning comes, or so Iriisii's time sense tells her, Eloisu and the Elder return. the Elder tells her that with the translator crystal and the possibility of acquiring more, the others have granted safe passage. He then passes a metal rod to Iriisii, telling her the information on the surface has been transcribed into it for her. He gives her instructions on how to access it.

     He then also tells her that he passed on the information about the Tar-Aiym to those who knew of them. All have expressed their thanks to her for the news that now they no longer have to fear their return.

     As Iriisii accesses the information rod, the device projects the imagery and voice data into her mind. The story that unfolds is both mournful and frightening. At one time this was a flourishing world, harnessing the power contained in the smallest parts of matter, they learned to use it as a clean, nonpolluting power source. They were well on their way to developing the means of using that power to replicate food, water, and other basic needs. 

     Until trouble arrived with the opening of a gate within the Dwemer installation. They did not realize the trouble until it was too late to do anything about it. The parasites escaped and sought hosts they could control. The parasites soon became aware of where the real power lie in this region, and so made their way to these important beings, made contact, and began their path to control.

     The other equally large and powerful nations soon discovered the same parasites attempting to gain control of their own leaders and they took matters into their own hands to stop them. The peace between nations was uneasy, the controlled kept trying to enter the non-controlled, and the non-controlled had finally had enough. If the controlled nation would not stop then they would be made to stop, and the non-controlled struck first. War came to this world, a devastating, radiation-polluting war.

     It went on for years until finally the last enclave of the parasite-controlled leaders was tracked down and a prototype warhead capable of burrowing down deep, to where the targeted leaders felt themselves safe to wait out the war, found its target, and cleansed them all in nuclear flame. But by now the damage was done, and the surface suffered. Mutations, storms of such power that they changed the very landscape as they passed, came and went, leaving nothing whole and untouched.

     Life is trying to reassert itself. Plants returning where radiation has lost its hold. Mutated but still viable animals are seen more and more. The inhabitants coming out of hidden places, trying to adjust to the new ever-changing landscape. And the worst elements no longer caring who knows who they are or what they do. They abound everywhere, such that the ones just trying to live have had enough and are banding together to take the fight to the worst ones. They just need an effective leader, someone who can show them what to do, what to believe in once more, for that person they would become an army.