The Story Of Iriisii Dovahkiin Book One Chapter Seventeen

 The Story Of Iriisii Dovahkiin Book One Chapter Seventeen

                                                           Chapter Seventeen

     Desidarius: "Come, let us continue, we are close to the portal point now."

     They move on through the corridor at the bottom of the building. Only the lightest dusting of snow is present, like the 'Cold' could only convert the little moisture present into snow. The rest outside just had no means of getting all the way down here. Then they find themselves in a large open area, some tables scattered about, broken into pieces and just charred remains of fires left of them.

     Rigmor: "They made a futile last stand against the 'White Frost' didn't they?"

     Iriisii: "No last stand is ever futile, if you believe in what you stand for strongly enough. You may die thinking there will be no one to remember, but life always brings someone to find you, read what happened, and remember that you were here, and that you fought to the last."

     Osaquen: "And it is so, everywhere, even in the depths of the Abyss, in the darkness of the Hells. the stories of the Last Stand go on. The Dovahkiin is right, the Last Stand is not futile, it is worth the greatest of respect. It is easy to lay down and die, but to get up and fight time after time, your life's blood dripping from you, pain in every part of you, but still you get up and fight. Such courage in the face of death and tragedy, will always be remembered somehow, someway. These knew this was their end. There was no escape for them. But still they did not give up trying to live, to survive, until they no longer could. May whatever god or goddess you followed, hold you close to them and give you comfort."

     Rigmor: "I never thought..."

     Osaquen: "That those of the 'dark' understood these things, could even think and believe as those of the 'light' do? That is a failing of your teachers and of how they themselves were taught. It is easy to consider the other side to be everything you are not, to be your opposite. The truth is often far more murky and mixed than you think."

     Shivista, Desidarius, and Iriisii bow to the wisdom of Osaquen.

     Osaquen: "You Dovahkiin, once Aasimar Scourge, you know what I speak about, for you are one of the few to understand and rise above such iniquity. I will forever be honored to have known and walked with you, but we soon have one last portal to enter, and then the difficult part will begin."

     Rigmor: "What difficult part?"

     Osaquen: "It is often with such powerful and ancient relics, that they develop a mind and desires of their own. And this one is not willing to allow itself to go down to destruction without a fight. That fight will be on the other side of the portal, here its allies would die quicker than it could bring them here. And so it will wait until we cross over, so be ready for whatever tricks it has in store for us."

     As time moves on, Rigmor grows sleepy, yet cannot find a comfortable place to relax enough to fall asleep. Iriisii sees and understands her predicament. She finds a place where she can sit propped against the remains of a what looked like it held some kind of tree, before it became fuel for a fire. She places herself on the floor, leans against the block, and gestures for Rigmor to sit in front of her. Iriisii then has Rigmor turn her back around and lean back as Iriisii gently touches Rigmor's shoulders and pulls her against herself. She take a heavy cloak that was in her knapsack and covers the both of them with it.

     Rigmor relaxes in Iriisii's arms and falls asleep. Soon Rigmor's gentle, steady breathing lures Iriisii into sleep as well. Desidarius looks toward Shivista.

     Shivista: "I wondered when you would put some of the pieces together."

     Desidarius: "You are both of you, true Daughters of Shai Hulu'ud, even separated by a billion years?"

     Shivista: "Yes, we are, and she most definitely does not know. To her he is her spiritual father, a mentor, a teacher, a quiet voice in the midst of the storm of her life, and you are falling in love with her."

     Desidarius: "It is that obvious, isn't it?"

     Shivista: "No, not really. I first became aware by how you have tolerated Rigmor's outbursts and tantrums. What she has shown so far is very mild for her."

     Desidarius: "Really, then Iriisii must be a paragon of patience, because I could not withstand so much without striking back. Iriisii is the only reason I have not already done so."

     Shivista: I can well understand, but more to the point, you are aware that the two of them are falling in love with each other?"

     Desidarius: 'Yes, it is quite apparent to anyone who bothers to read the signs."

     Shivista: "And this does not bother you?"

     Desidarius: "No, why should it? I can be infinitely patient if there is something I really want. And so as I do want Iriisii, I am willing to wait for her to come to me. Whether she brings Rigmor with her or not, does not matter to me. I have interest only for Iriisii, and no qualms about sharing her. Her spiritual focus has changed from the 'Scourge' to the 'Balance', and so that creates a place where we can be together. Rigmor has a place within a different part of the balance that Iriisii is striving for. And unless I am greatly mistaken there will be others."

     Shivista: "What do you mean, others?"

     Desidarius: "The Gods that live outside Mundus, have their fingertips on her, gently guiding her within Akatosh's plans for her, waiting for when his plans for her are done so that theirs can start. But even so they are working to prepare her for that moment and as long as their preparations assist her with his plans or at least do not interfere, he will allow them to continue. I do wonder however, if he realizes how forbearing they are with him. If it were not that his plans and his training of her are giving her the base for theirs to build upon, they would have already taken her from him, and there would be nothing he could do about it."

     Shivista: I see, but what about these others you spoke of?"

     Desidarius: "As her power grows, she will be given a 'Test of Apotheosis'. If she survives the test, and I am certain she will, then she will at some point experience the Calling. If she answers it then her conversion to immortality will begin. As she grows and climbs the Celestial Ladder, her needs will grow with it, and then neither I or Rigmor will be able to satisfy her totally, not even the both of us together. She will be drawn by her inner nature to seek more mates as she grows capable of caring for and loving them. I have no problem with this, the problem will come from Rigmor. She will resist sharing Iriisii, but it is practically a certainty that it will happen anyway and she will have to learn to acccept it or lose Iriisii completely."

     Shivista: "Damn and I had no idea it was going so far."

     Desidarius: "You were kept too close to her to see the bigger vision of events. Even I do not see the greater part of it. Her future is still a morass of possibilities, growing larger each second, with each new decision and action. There must come a time when she will be given control of what path she takes, there is no other way for her to reach the pinnacle of what is possible."

     Shivista: "And what is that? "

     Desidarius: "You will have to ask your Father, he can see much farther than I can. And I even doubt he can see to that point."

     Shivista: "Surely you know of some who might could see?"

     Desidarius: "The only ones I am aware of would be the Seers of Dream, but they live beyond the bounds of Ilek Vad, beyond even the Frozen Wastes of Kadath, the Vale of Pnoth, and Celephais. King Kuranes took journey there in his youth and was one of only a handful to return sane. You would have to ask him if he would point the way for you, and you would have to go in your own body. It would be too great a risk to travel in Iriisii's body. Honestly, I would not suggest it, for if you failed wou would likely not find your way back to Iriisii, and she would insist on going to find you. The risk to her and the plans of those grooming her would be too great and they would interfere to keep her from going. And I am not going to speculate on where that would go."

     Osaquen: "Excuse me, but it would be dependent on how strong she is at that time and who she has around her that would undertake such a journey with her. It is known to Lloth that King Kuranes made his journey alone, he would not risk anyone else because of the failure rate of those who previously attempted it. There are precautions that could be taken to help ensure success. Such a journey is dangerous yes, but with care, attention to detail, courage, and perseverance, it is possible.'

     Desidarius: "If you were asked to go with her, would you do it?"

     Osaquen: "Yes. From what you have said of what you know of her future, added to what my mother has seen and heard through her contacts, there would be no hesitation on my part. Even though the journey is not about her directly, what she stands to learn, the power she could gather to herself, could make a vast impact on the future course of her life."

     Desidarius: "You know more than you say."

     Osaquen: "Of course, my mother is Loth herself, she is undisputedly the Queen of Secrets. But my actions should be what you judge me by, and what I know. You are one who could ferret out lies from truth, obscuration from clarity, true courage from ill intent, but most of all, sincerity from gaslighting."

     Desidarius: "I thank you for that, even as I see you speak clearly for one in your position. I can only posit that it is a trait you inherited from your father."

     Osaquen doesn't say anything, just nods his head.

     Desidarius: "The portal will open soon, it is time to wake the sleepyheads."

 

     They pass through the final portal to the Realm where one of the Outer Rifts exists. They walk out on to a beach of sand and wave scoured rock. The sounds of the waves slapping rocks worn smooth by uncounted years is heard and greets their coming. Iriisii feels refreshed as the mist and spray falls upon her face, and the breeze cools her. She looks toward the inland side and sees the wall of mist that obscures what lies behind it. She knows the temple that was built around the rift that lies at the island's center. Even as she knows how to enter and where to go within this temple, for it was once, long, long ages ago, a Temple of the Blade Dancers. When in their youth they were known as the Holy Order of the Blade Dancers, and were given the responsibility, by the Ageless Ones, of guarding it. Likely one of their ancient Guardians still stands its ever watchful vigil, and they will have to fight their way past it.

     Osaquen: "We should be heading toward our goal, company comes from two different directions yet are still a long way away."

     Iriisii: "Can you tell if the inhabitants of the mainland have become aware of them and pursue?"

     Osaquen: "I think so, from the haste the parties are making their way to the shore. They are still a good way from there, why do you ask that?"

     Iriisii: "Because the inhabitants are a bit peculiar, you see, they consume the plants and animals here like everywhere else does, but when those come here from other worlds and Realms, if they are not careful they will find themselves on the menu."

     Rigmor: "You mean they are cannibals?"

     Iriisii: "Only to those not kin to them, meaning anybody not native to this place. But they do not come here of their own choice. They can and will follow those who do not belong here, but once they are dealt with they always leave."

     Rigmor: "How can you know this?"

     Desidarius: "Because she is of high rank within the Ancient Order of the Blade Dancers, currently the founder and Mistress of her own School. And this island and the Temple at its center, was once in the deepest depths of history home to and guarded by the Holy Order of the Blade Dancers."

     Rigmor looks at Iriisii in amazement.

     Rigmor: "You never told me any of this!"

     Iriisii: "There was never any need to. Besides you know I do not like to brag about myself and for me to tell you these things would sound exactly like that."

     Rigmor: "True but still, I guess there is still a great deal I do not know about you."

     Desidarius: "More than you suspect, that I can confirm."

     Iriisii: "We need to be moving and not betray our presence here before the others arrive and bring the inhabitants down on all of us. If we can get into the Temple complex itself by then we will be all right. The inhabitants will not cross into the complex itself."

     Rigmor: "Because what guards the complex that they do not want to cross?"

     Iriisii: "You are learning, the ancient guardians are likely still active. They are golems, created for the purpose of guarding the Temple."

     Rigmor: "Like what the Dwemer left behind?"

     Iriisii: "The Dwemer could not build anything like the ancient guardians if they had a thousand years to learn how. They were made to mimic and learn from the very best warriors and battle masters that lived during their construction. They have learned from every foe that went up against them since then."

     Rigmor: "Then how are we going to get past them?"

     Iriisii: "Trust me, there is a way, and I am the only one of us that can do it."

     Iriisii turns and heads across the rock and sand inland. One by one the others turn and follow, Rigmor takes the last position wondering just exactly how much of Iriisii she does not know, and what this bodes for their future. It takes over an hour of walking before they reach the first signs of the terrain changing, strangely they could see vegetation in the distance from the shore, but it looked a lot closer than where it was proving to be.

     Iriisii: "Osaquen, are the two parties any closer to the island that they were when last you looked?"

     Osaquen: "One seems to have made it off the coast and on the water, though they are still pursued. The second party is bogged down fighting, their losses are very light at the moment. I suspect the natives are engaged in delaying them until more forces arrived."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, if things change significantly, let me know. We may have to alter plans."

     Desidarius asks before Rigmor, "You think we may need to turn and go on the offensive if one of them gets too close before we get to the Temple?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, that or both parties look to combine forces. I am certain if they did so, they would sweep through the native peoples. They would come to a screeching halt when they reach the guardians, but I cannot believe that they could get this far without some way to get past them."

     Rigmor: "And that worries you?"

     Iriisii: "The Guardians are not invincible, beyond the abilities of most to defeat, yes, but not invincible."

     Rigmor: "But you can?"

     Iriisii: "The 'Elders' of the time knew there might be a need for someone to access the 'Rift', and so created a way for that to happen. But they made it so that it would take a Blade Dancer to accomplish it. Only then did they trust anyone to gain access to that Rift."

     Rigmor: "That powerful, huh."

     Desidarius stops and looks at Rigmor, just a hint of derision on her face, her voice neutral.

     Desidarius: "Have you not learned anything of Iriisii in the time you have been together? Like how she tried to have you stay behind, not because she wanted to hide anything from you but to protect you from the overwhelming dangers you would face. She allowed you to come because she knew you would find a way to follow and so would get yourself killed before you got halfway. There is so much she has not told you, again not to hide from you, but because you have no teaching to understand what those things mean. And that, by extension, means you would tread into areas you have no way to protect yourself from. There are far more hideous and dangerous things out here than your feeble imaginings can conceive, much less survive meeting. And so she cares enough to want to protect and shield you, until the time comes that you can stand on your own. And that is still a long way from now."

     Rigmor: "And how is it that you take it upon yourself to chastise me for my shortcomings when it involves Rissi?"

     Desidarius: "I will tell you, but I am not sure you will understand. I have taken it upon myself because I care for her, and my reasons are my own and not the same as yours. And you have no basis for understanding my reasons, one day, maybe, you will. We will see if you reach that point before you draw your last breath."

     Rigmor builds into a tirade directed toward Desidarius, when Iriisii grabs her, turns her to face her.

     Iriisii: "Say not one thing more! You are standing before a line in the sand drawn before you to test whether you are worthy enough to continue on alive. If you take that one step onward, I cannot protect you from what will happen to you. But you will most likely not leave this island alive. You took it upon yourself to come with us, no, you insisted and left me no choice but to bring you. I did it because I care for you, love you, and do not want to see you hurt, harmed, or killed. I knew it would be dangerous to bring you, but nothing like how dangerous if you went on your own, and so I chose the path less dangerous for you. But this is something that must be done and cannot be allowed to wait for a more convenient time, for too much hangs in the balance for that. If you love me as you say you do, then do as I do from here on. I will do my part to protect you but you have to stop placing yourself in unnecessary danger. You have never been around anyone like Desidarius, and there is much worse out here. Tilar Aedriath could not even come within leagues of Desidarius much less those others out here without killing himself in fear of what they would do to him. Hear this good for I do not want to repeat this. Do not think that you can only die once, for that would be the worst and greatest lie you could ever tell yourself. Now close your mouth and think while we move on."

     Darkstar: 'You were kind of hard on her were you not?'

     Iriisii: 'Yes, but that is sometimes the only way to get through to her. I love her dearly, and do not want to see her harmed or killed. But I have come to feel it is a full time job keeping her out of trouble. And the trouble she gets into will get her killed if there is not someone to stand between her and trouble.'

     Darkstar sighs: 'You are right of course. I sometimes forget it is not always what you do or say that makes the difference but why you say and do them. The problem here is that she does not know how to take a step back in these moments to see these things as you do."

     Iriisii: 'But what can I do? Events move so quickly I do not have time to train her as I was trained to know these things. And she does not have the help of a Dragonsoul to teach her as she lives each moment.'

     Darkstar: "Maybe being this close to the Rift, it might be possible, at least for a little while to do something similar.'

     Iriisii thinks for a few moments between the lines of this conversation.

     Iriisii|: 'You want me to see if I can transfer you to her for a short time and see if she will listen to you. I can only pray that it works, she is strong enough in her own body to override you if roused to do so."

     Darkstar: 'We will not know unless we try, will we."

     Iriisii: 'Ok, but we need to be closer to the Rift for me to draw upon it for this.'

     Darkstar: 'When you feel it is the right time, I will be ready.'

     Moving on they finally see the scrub line become visible on the horizon.

     Iriisii: "There is where the vegetation begins, as it changes from low scrub to grasses and trees, we must be even more vigilant. Even though there are no inhabitants living here, there are animals. I do not expect trouble from that quarter but there are always exceptions. Also I do not rule out some of our pursuers trying to out flank us. I also wonder what the presence of so many showing up at one time would do to the Guardians."

     Osaquen: "You think they may come and engage early?"

     Iriisii: "It is possible, they were given a great deal of autonomy in what tactics they could employ. This was to make it very difficult for any not a Blade Dancer to deal with them. Also with that degree of autonomy, it is difficult to say if they could not have evolved within their duties."

     Osaquen: "You mean grown into ways not anticipated by those who made them?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, so much time, literally millions of years spent within the vicinity of the Outer Rift and the energies that would leak from it. No one could anticipate what might happen. I am sure they tried to cover all possibilities that they could, but you cannot get them all."

     Osaquen: Sad to say you are right, but then, they had no other choice. Or I believe they would have taken another path."

     Iriisii: "I agree. They did the best they could at that time, and hoped that those who came after could deal with any changes to the Guardians. So we will likely have our work cut out for us, in that it will take all of us working together to do this. Because I am not going to stop until this unholy thing is destroyed."

     Desidarius in a low and pained voice, "Thank you for that."

     Iriisii looks over at Desidarius.

     Iriisii: "Desidarius, there is something about this situation that pains you greatly. Will you not share it now, so that the burden might be shared?"

     Desidarius: "Do you think now is the proper time?"

     Iriisii: "If not now, then when?"

     Desidarius: "True, but the whole tale is too long to tell here."

     Iriisii: "Tell only what is relevant to what we are doing. I can see the rest runs very deep indeed, and would not stir it up just to cause you such pain."

     Desidarius: "I went looking for 'he' who caused me to 'fall', to ask 'him' why' did he do this to me, only to turn and walk away as if I was nothing, as if it meant nothing for him to do this. I just wanted an answer as to 'why'."

     Iriisii: "Go on."

     Desidarius: "He was enraged that I had the audacity to look for him, to find him, to question him 'why' he did anything he desired. Then he said there was something he had wanted to attempt, but could not find a suitable subject, a vessel for what he wanted."

     Iriisii: "I see where this is going, you do not have to relate this. You can move ahead if you want."

     Desidarius: "No, I need to let this go, I have held it inside for far too long. He raped me along with other far more evil things that he also did to me. Then as he cast me aside, he said he would return to see what I had done with his 'gift'."

     Shivista: "I do not fear 'him', and some day should our paths cross he will rue the day he did what he did to you, sister! This I promise!"

     Desidarius: "Thank you, Shivista. It...means a lot to me, but I need to go on. The child took after me, as it seems all interracial children do in Mundus. He was born 'Protector'."

     Iriisii's eyes widen in surprise.

     Iriisii: "That must have been a difficult childhood to get through."

     Desidarius: "Yes, it was, but we managed. And as he grew into his nature, he sensed within me what I am telling you now. And it woke his 'protective' nature and bound us together through our shared blood. I think if 'he' had not returned, my son might have been able to undo what 'he' did. But such was not to be. 'He' did return and 'he' was most disappointed in what 'he' found."

     Iriisii: "I think I can guess what happened next."

     Desidarius: "You probably can, given your past experiences, but I need to let this out."

     Iriisii nods her head for Desidarius to continue.

     Desidarius: "As 'he' went for me to express 'his' displeasure, my son stepped between us. 'He' was so surprised that my son got the upperhand over 'him' first. But unfortunately it did not last long, had my son had a way to be properly trained, it may have turned out differently. 'Protectors' are very strong, especially against 'Evil' foes, but they must be trained to properly use their gifts and talents. And he was not. 'He' took great pleasure in destroying my son, and in my having to witness it, unable to move against 'him'. Just before my son died, 'he' cut off his hand, fashioned it into a 'Hand of glory' and then used it to trap my son's soul within it. You have to understand the near constant torture my son's soul is enduring in that hellish relic, especially every time it is used. And so you know why I want it destroyed."

     Iriisii: "To release your son's soul and allow him to move on."

     Desidarius: "Just so, and you also know how overjoyed I was when you summoned me and I felt the presence of it there with you. That maybe this would be the time he would be released."

     Iriisii: "There have been others before then, times when 'he' intervened and the chance was lost."

     Desidarius: "Yes, but never before has one who made the attempt been an Aasimar, much less a Scourge, and definitely not as well trained or as powerful as you are. If it can indeed be done, with all of us here, this time could see it through."

     Iriisii: "Then let us be off then, the sooner we get there, the sooner you son is freed."

     Another few hours walking on rock and sand finds them closing in on the sparse grasses growing in the sand that marks the beginning of the scrub. At this point it is still low to the ground and sparse in coverage. Osaquen has his head up and is listening all around.

     Osaquen: "The outsiders have arrived on the shore, one party is to the east of us, while the other is to the southwest. Both are still being chased by the natives, more than that I really cannot tell right now. As they get closer I can give more details."

     Iriisii: "Positional awareness right now is good enough. We know how long it took us to reach here. You might think they are traveling faster because they are being chased, but they have to deal with unfamiliar terrain and watch for ambushes from the natives. So it should balance out in the end. What I do not know is if they can catch up while we are dealing with the Guardians and the Rift itself. We will just have to see what happens at that time."

     Desidarius: "Just get us there, I will deal with the Rift. I will not ask any of you to risk yourselves more than you already have. This is my task and your help is most appreciated, but again I must be the one to complete this."

     Everyone understands Desidarius stance, and makes certain within themselves to do whatever is needed to allow her to do what she has to. Moving on inland through the scrub, the grasses give way to bushes and the paths inward are harder to find, game trails provide the best traveling, but they are becoming more scarce.

     Rigmor: "The game trails are disappearing. The vegetation should not be the cause, but should encourage game movement."

     Desidarius: "It is the influence of the Outer Rift. It affects only the smallest animals and insects, but the effect cascades into the larger ones. As we get closer the population and the animals will lessen until we will not see any. It has been speculated that it has to do with what is on the other side of the Rift. And no one seems to know for certain what is on the other side. The few who have braved it have not returned to tell us what they found."

     Iriisii: "Then all remember that and stay back from the Rift. It may draw you to it or it may not. If it does, step back until you no longer feel its pull. If it does not draw you, remain far enough from it to stay safe, especially if something makes a move to drag you into it."

     Rigmor: "Like some long, slimy tentacle?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, especially the ones with mouths all over and dagger teeth."

     Rigmor: "Now you are joking."

     Iriisii: "Do I look like I am joking?"

     Rigmor: "No, you do not."

     Looking toward Shivista.

     Shivista: "Yes, they exist, and no, you do not want to know where they live."

     Osaquen: "The tentacles all sprout from a central mouth located at the tips of its fingers. The rest of it does not bear describing."

     Rigmor turning to the side and emptying her stomach.

     Rigmor: "That is alright, you do not have to go any further. I find I would rather not know any more about them."

     Onward into the brush they go, moving as quickly as they can pick out a trail to follow. Osaquen keeps them apprised of those seeking them and their positions. Up ahead in the distance they can pick out stone monoliths of some kind, the stone shiny enough to flash as light strikes it at the correct angle to them. They slow down as they approach noting how tall these raw stone monoliths are, seemingly made of some sort of volcanic glass, but appearing nowhere near as fragile. One by one they begin to feel vibrations emanating from them, vibrations that cause strange sensations within their bodies and minds.

     Rigmor pointing to a statue with four arms, each one armed with a wicked katana-like blade. At first it is hard to tell, but the armor on the statue is real. The statue itself looks to be made of some kind of flowing crystal.

     Rigmor: "What is that?"

     Iriisii: "No one move. That is one of the Guardians."

     Rigmor: "But it is not moving!"

     Iriisii: "DO NOT MOVE! I will come to you, but on all of our lives, do not move!"

     Iriisii slowly moves across the ground to where Rigmor stands. Placing her feet in a complex, timed dance. She moves first in one direction, then turns into another, raises her arms into a benediction, then kneels on one knee. Stands and bows toward the Guardian, then flexes her fingers into a martial pattern, stretching them wide, turning with arms outstretched making a single revolution. head leaning back as far as she can push it, the sun sending a bright ray piercing the clouds to illuminate Iriisii's 'dance'. Once she reaches Rigmor, she places both hands on each side of her head, then whispers.

     Iriisii: "Take care of Darkstar for me, and please listen to her when she speaks to you."

     A slight 'whoosh' and Darkstar makes a place for herself in Rigmor's mind. Iriisii continues the 'dance' moving closer and closer to the Guardian, whose eyes are seen to be following her every movement. Then before Darkstar can do anything, Rigmor blurts out.

     Rigmor: "Its eyes moved, its alive!"

     The Guardian comes alive, even as Rigmor draws her two-hand blade. Darkstar manages to stop her from moving any further.

     Rigmor: 'What are you doing?!'

     Darkstar: 'Saving your life and Iriisii's, she told you not to move for a reason. Now watch that thing and help me distract it when it attacks.'

     The Guardian goes for Iriisii as the closest, as she uses the skills she learned and demonstrates why the Matriarch allowed her to create her own Martial School. She avoids all the swings, strikes, and stabs that the Guardian employs with all four of its arms, not once drawing her own blade. Around and around they go, sweat pouring off of Iriisii's body, but she just keeps going, ignoring everything but the 'dance'.

     Darkstar: 'Get ready, we need to distract it very soon. I hope you have been studying its movements, because we will soon be in deep trouble if we do not stop this thing.'

     Rigmor: 'Why so soon?'

     Darkstar: 'Because it is learning her skills, and once it learns what she knows there will be no chance we can take it. Now! Charge it and veer to the right when it turns toward you! As soon as it turns, do not delay!'

     Rigmor leaps into action, legs pumping her body across the ground with her arms holding her blade upright. When she sees the Guardian turn toward her she turns to the right, and a foot slips on a spot of ground, moist with Iriisii's sweat. The Guardian swings one blade around intending to cut Rigmor in half at her midsection. Darkstar grabs control, turns and blocks with Rigmor's blade. The clang rings across the entire area, as Rigmor/Darkstar is sent up into the air by the sheer power of the strike. Iriisii sees they are heading straight for a collision with the monolith.

     Iriisii: "NO!"

     She figures how long she has to reach Rigmor? Where will she be at that time? As her personal time sense slows the action to a crawl. She leaps toward where Rigmor will be, turns her head down and back, then shouts, "FUS RO DAH", and prays this works. The others see the force wave strike the ground and propel her to intercept Rigmor. As she reaches her, she curls her body around Rigmor and places her back to the monolith, cradling Rigmor tightly in her arms as they strike the monolith. A sound of ribs cracking and breaking can be heard, then the pair slide down to the ground. Darkstar unwinds herself from Rigmor, turns to face the Guardian. Iriisii staggers to her feet and uses her hand to pull Darkstar back. As she steps past she speaks quickly to Darkstar.

     Iriisii: "When I have its attention, leap on its back, reach its head and speak, "andowin", then jump down and run."

     Darkstar nods their head and Iriisii girds herself, using her pain management training to push the pain into a dark corner and forget about it for the rest of the fight. She then calls upon a deep battle trance to maintain her bodily functions while she concentrates on this fight. She rolls across the ground in front of the Guardian even as she enters the trance. The Guardian takes notice of her again since she is the only one moving since the hit upon the monolith. This time Iriisii goes on the offensive, blocking and dodging, but also timing her strikes for the few places where they might do some damage to the Guardian. Once she has its attention she unleashes her shouts, knowing this at least is something it cannot mimic. Try as it might, it does try but nothing happens when it does, until something clicks inside it and something else besides the shouts she knows comes out of its mouth. And her world goes crazy as she sends a shout to counter the Guardian's shout. This is when Darkstar makes the leap onto the Guardian's back while it too is disoriented, she makes a second leap, wrapping her arms around its head, puts their mouth close to its ears and says, "andowin". 

     She leaps off to the ground and races to where Desidarius, Shivista, and Osaquen are prepared to either jump in or move past depending on what happens. As she reaches them she turns to see the Guardian come to a halt and freeze in place, its forward movement chasing Iriisii causes it to topple over and hit the ground, shaking it like a tremor. Iriisii goes down kneeling on both knees on the ground, cradling her ribs. Desidarius immediately goes to her and begins to examine the damage. She looks at Iriisii's eyes and realizes she is in a deep trance.

     Desidarius: "Stay in the trance! This is going to hurt, bad, but there is no other way. You have broken and cracked ribs. They have to be set and wrapped before you begin healing them. I know you can hear and understand me, so I will start now."

     Desidarius' fingers go to the places where the ribs are damaged, the flesh around them turning a dark blue/grey. Then her fingers seem to slip into the flesh and set each rib to correctly heal. Once she is done, Shivista applies a linen wrap tightly around her midsection. Once she is satisfied she ties it off and steps back. Desidarius checks everything and declares it is as good as they can make it. It is now up to Iriisii to begin the healing.

     Desidarius: "Osaquen, how far are our pursuers?"

     Osaquen: "At least a day, maybe more. The natives are seriously slowing them down. How much time will Iriisii need to heal those ribs enough that we can travel?"

     Rigmor: "Not long, a few hours at most. I have seen her take arrow wounds and heal them almost as fast as the arrows can be removed."

     Desidarius: "What happened out there?"

     Darkstar: 'Say nothing about my helping you for now.'

     Rigmor: "Rissi told me to watch for a moment when I could distract the Guardian and give her a chance to speak a 'trip' word. Just in case, she told me what the word was as well. When I went to make my right turn away from the Guardian, my foot slipped in a patch of ground, wetted by her sweat. I barely got turned around in time to block its swing."

     Rigmor stops to look at her sword. Seeing the damage, she starts cursing.

     Rigmor: "Damn, but that thing hits hard. I do not know if this blade can be repaired properly or not. I may have to have it reforged entirely."

     Desidarius: "Let me see it."

     Rigmor hands it over and Desidarius goes over it to assess the damage.

     Desidarius: "This was a very well crafted blade, anything else would have broken in two and so would you have as well. I know where it can be repaired at. It is not the Forge of Stars, but better than anything you have on Nirn. I will see to it once we get back."

     They sit down to rest while Iriisii and the First Dragon work on healing her ribs. Shivista gets up after a minute and walks to the monolith, looking it over, feeling the vibrations coming from it.

     Shivista: "Did anyone take note of just what the Guardian shouted at Iriisii? It was definitely not Dovahzul, and as far as I can tell not Draconic either? I want to know what language that was and how did it learn to use it so quickly? In fact, where and how did it learn it at all?"

     Desidarius: "All very good questions, unfortunately I have no answers to them. There may be those I can ask of that may know some answers to them. But it must wait until we leave here for me to be able to contact them and ask."

     Osaquen: "I may be of some use here. Whereas I do not know for certain, there are similarities to things and events I do have some knowledge of, and I believe that it may be tied to this Rift, or more directly where it leads to."

     Desidarius: "Do you know where it leads to? Or at least have a good idea of it?"

     Osaquen: "Lloth has spent a good deal of time looking into ancient legends and stories that abound in the Abyss and the different Hells. Looking for similarities but tied to distinct and separate events."

     Rigmor: "Like how many different peoples may have similar stories about some things, but they are so widely separated that the stories cannot have crossed from one to another?"

     Osaquen: "Exactly. But the things I am considering are so few in number yet known to so many that common elements may lead us in the right direction to discern truth from myth. I believe the source of all of it is the possibility of the existence of an opposing creation, a mirror image to our own so to speak."

     Desidarius: "What have you been drinking or smoking to give you such delusions?"

     Osaquen: "Hear me out, Lloth is one who sees truth in this. Others do as well. The problem comes in that it is so difficult to find reliable information, due to so few events happening. If it is in truth a mirror image, it may not be possible for anything physical from one to exist in the other. But language, and possibly magic, those could exist but their effects would be twisted beyond recognition. It would also go far to explain the events around the formation of the 'Exalted Ones'."

     Desidarius: "Now you are interesting me in this. I have made the acquaintance of a few of them and anything that could explain what happened to them is worth consideration."

     Osaquen: Lloth spoke to some of them and one word came up again and again in her conversations, 'Enunciation'."

     Desidarius: "Okay, what is this 'Enunciation' and how is it involved here?"

     Osaquen: "As 'Dovahzul' is the main language of power in Mundus, Iriisii's home Realm, it is but an offshoot of 'Draconic', kind of like a dialect of a host language. Draconic works in every Realm of our 'Existence', but not outside of it, with one caveat. If the speaker of it is so close to the source of it, then they can use it anywhere, in any Realm, of any Existence, and it will work. Because it is working from within the structure of the speaker, utilizing a rare capability tying them to the 'creative source'."

     Desidarius: "But what does all this have to do with what that Guardian shouted?"

     Osaquen: "As Draconic is the prime language of our Existence, so is Enunciation the prime language of its mirror. Because they are so close and our Existences mirror of each other, it will work in ours even though twisted. How the 'Words' came across, no one knows or no one is saying. But the Exalted Ones saw something disturbing them in their Realms, tracked the sources, and absorbed them into themselves to stop the spread of them any further. And so the 'Words' twisted them into the forms they now hold today. The few that escaped, have broken themselves into fragments and hidden themselves within our own languages. The fragments do not cause major problems, only when they are connected with other fragments does the truly horrendous things happen. In fact, it is now thought that a phrase of Enunciation was spoken aloud and caused the thousand year Blood Wars in the Abyss to begin."

     Desidarius: "I have often wondered how that got started."

     Osaquen: "It was thought that so much time had passed that the real reason was completely forgotten. But the Exalted Ones felt the effect of the spoken phrase as it went out, twisting and corrupting everything it touched as it passed through the Abyss. Since it was a simple spoken phrase, not a sentence or something greater, not a shout, it went until its power ran out, then it simply faded."

     Shivista: "That answers a lot of questions and enigmas that I have known of for my long existence. I also think that the entrance of this 'Enunciation' came about some two or three billion years ago. Before then a great deal of the problems we know and live with now, did not exist."

     Desidarius: "So you think this Rift may be how some of it came here, that the other side of it is in this mirror Existence?"

     Osaquen: "Yes, I do. It is also why it was felt that Guardians like these were thought needed to protect both sides, to keep them apart."

     Desidarius: "That does make a kind of sense. Why put constructs this powerful, this advanced, all the way out here on the edge of Existence to guard a Rift, unless..."

     Iriisii/First Dragon: "...it was needed to keep both from merging and thus destroying both. And know this, there are more of these Rifts, scattered across Existence. Some are guarded like this one, others are in places where no one can get to them. Only a handful are not guarded and accessible, but scattered so far and wide, no one has thought there might be others and so gone in search of them to attempt to link them together. But this is something very far beyond us now, many years from now we may be able to deal with that situation, not now. It is enough to know that simply throwing that artifact into the Rift will completely undo it, releasing your son's soul."

     Rigmor: "Where will his soul go?"

     Desidarius: "What?

     Rigmor: "Is there an afterlife waiting for him to be released?"

     Desidarius: "I really do not know, my main concern is to keep his father from acquiring him. Anything else I can live with."

     Iriisii/First Dragon: "Then you must have Iriisii give him the 'Last Rites of the Aasimar'."

     Desidarius: "But why, neither of us, his parents, are of the 'light'."

     Iriisii/First Dragon: "But he was a 'Protector' when he perished. He cannot go on unless given the 'Last Rites'. Even though Iriisii is not a Priestess, she does have the 'ear' of 'Death' himself."

     Desidarius: "What do you mean?"

     Iriisii/First Dragon: "'Death' holds the key to the Final Gate. The only way into the 'Great Beyond'. If she asks, Death will take him there. Once there, his 'father' cannot reach or touch him. And when your own time comes, should you wish it, you could join him there."

     Desidarius: "I could join him? How can this be?"

     Iriisii/First Dragon: "The 'Great Beyond' does not respect between 'light' and 'dark'. If a soul has an expected afterlife, that is where they go. Otherwise they are given the chance to pass the 'Final Gate'. Only 'Death' knows what lies on the other side, and 'he' is forbidden to reveal that to any but those he takes across. All that is known is that it is a new beginning, a new life, a chance to start over. So you have a means to deny his 'father' the chance to claim his soul once it is released."

     Desidarius with a tear running down her face, "Thank you, First Dragon of Destiny, should you ever require my assistance, you need only to ask, and I will do whatever you desire of me."

     Iriisii/First Dragon: "The only thing I would ask of you, dear Desidarius, is to call you 'my friend'."

     Desidarius: "And that you are indeed, 'my friend'. The greatest of a very few that I hold."

     Iriisii/First Dragon: "Then rest now, be calm, soon these ribs will be healed and we can continue."

     About six hours later, Iriisii asks Osaquen for an update on their pursuers.

     Osaquen: "They are a half day, about twelve hours behind us. I do not know how much further we have to go, but if we leave now, we can maintain this gap."

     Iriisii creakily gets up.

     Iriisii: "Then let us get moving, I do not know for certain how long we will need to reach the Rift itself. It is somewhere within the Temple. When the mists swirl just right, you can see the shadow of it within them."

     Rigmor: "You are right. Oh my, it is huge, who was it first built for, freaking giants?"

     Iriisii: "Close, not all those who live in this Existence are our size, many are bigger, many are smaller, many do not even have physical bodies as we know them. The Temple was constructed with all lifeforms in mind, not just some for convenience."

     As they start off, Iriisii staggers.

     Rigmor: "Here, you are still not completely healed, we can wait a bit longer."

     Iriisii: "No, we need to preserve our lead. I can make it."

     Osaquen: "Come and climb behind me. I can carry you without a problem."

     Iriisii: "You are sure?"

     Osaquen: "I would be honored to assist in this way."

     Iriisii: "Okay then."

     She moves to his side, between the leg pairs and he reaches down with a long sinuous arm, wraps it around her and pulls her up behind his torso. Sitting on the chitinous shell, he leaves one arm holding her stable until she gets a feel for his movements and he can release her. They continue to make good time now, once past the Guardian they meet no more as they make their way through the mists toward the Temple.

     Rigmor: "What about the Guardian?"

     Iriisii: "What about it?"

     Rigmor: "Is it going to stay like that, face down on the ground?"

     Iriisii: "For about a day, then it will recover itself and resume its duties. And no, since we have gotten past it, it will not come after us. Depending on how we leave, if we have to walk back out, it will not attack as long as we are walking away from the Temple."

     Rigmor: "That is good to know."

     As they get closer to the Temple, they all realize it is not just bigger, it is cyclopean in size, and they still have not reached its entrance.

     Desidarius: "Could it really have been the Ageless Ones who built this?"

     Iriisii: "I think that is likely, since the Rift formed long after Existence came into being. It would make sense it was either them or some other race close to them. And I have the feeling that we are going to see some surprises when we get there, so be ready."

     Desidarius: "You anticipate another fight?"

     Iriisii: "No, surprises of a different nature."

     Desidarius: "What makes you say that?"

     Iriisii: "Memories of even older memories. Stories in our oldest scrolls relating in myth and allegory what went on here. The Temple was 'supposed to be all things to all races'. I do not think that is literal, but it could be physical."

     Desidarius: "What do you mean?"

     Iriisii: "I think it has an original size, which we see now. As we get closer, it will reshape itself to accommodate our physical size. Or more closely, we will experience it as if it were our size, someone smaller or larger would experience it as if it was their size, and all this would happen in real time."

     Desidarius: "So it could be tiny enough for a small 'Fey' and at the same time be large enough for a collossus?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, that is an apt description of what I think we will experience."

     Hours later, they are at the front entrance to the Temple. The main pillars are as large around that all of them could not link arms and reach around them, and they are tall enough that looking up they cannot see the top. The gap between the pillars is large enough to march an army division through with plenty of room on both sides. Looking straight inside it seems to go on forever.

     Rigmor: "How are we going to get anywhere in here. It is just too big!"

     Iriisii: "It does look that way does it not?"

     Rigmor: "You know something, or think something about this, do not deny it."

     Iriisii: "If you had been listening earlier, you would know what I said about this possibility. Come on, we are still on the outside of it, things will change once we get inside."

     Darkstar: 'Do not get riled up over this. She is perfectly correct in what she said. I did listen and so I know what to expect. This situation will, once you get inside make you look contrite, so be prepared. You have never experienced anything like it before, so watch and learn. For unless I miss my guess, it will not be the last time you experience something like this.'

     Rigmor: 'I hope you are right in that this will be resolved, even if it does make me look silly.'

     Darkstar: 'Watch and learn, as with much involving Iriisii, watch and learn."

     As they step inside the cyclopean Temple, there is a moment of disorientation, then shock as everything is now sized for the party now inside.

     Rigmor: "How in Oblivion did they do this?"

     Iriisii: "I barely understand myself, but I do not have the words to describe how. To be honest I do not understand the concepts involved. I just know that it works."

     Rigmor: "Well, I do not feel so bad them. But this is beyond everything I could have imagined. I mean look at it all, the carvings on the pillars look so real they might step off of them."

     Iriisii: "There are possibilities here that transcend common sense. Anything and everything is possible here. Anything you can think of could happen, not that it will, but it could."

     Rigmor: "So these carvings could come to some kind of life?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, they can. Some are servitors, sleeping until needed. Some are living works of art to portray ideas, thoughts, emotions. But we need to be moving on, even scaled down to our size, we still have a fair way to go."

     As they progress, everyone finds things to comment on, gawk at, even test how real it might be. Shivista especially found one that had Rigmor blushing, and almost had to be dragged away, asking if the carvings came to life could she join in. Finally Desidarius stepped in and shoved Shivista over her shoulder and walked away. All the while Shivista cursing up a blue streak, with some things she said, no one else had ever heard. Then they came to a wide circular stair that went up, up until they grew dizzy trying to see exactly how far up it went.

     Rigmor: "Do we have to climb that?"

     Desidarius: "Oh I do not know it is that bad, at least the view from where I am is pretty good."

     Shivista: "Yeah but you are...oh, I see."

     Iriisii cocks her head, listening off into the distance, then turns upward and motions for everyone to hurry upward and keep silent. They move quickly until Iriisii calls a halt and motions everyone against the center tower and to squat or sit down to stay out of sight. Then the rest hear the sounds of armor clanging on the floor as troops come walking in their general direction. Osaquen wonders how they got this close without his hearing them. As they come closer, it is apparent they are speaking several different languages. Even as one attempts to find a common tongue that all can understand. A mage among them casts a general translation spell, and suddenly everyone can understand what was being said. A few fights nearly got started over some of the things said, and the erstwhile leader has to knock some sense into some hard heads.

     Leader: "I have no qualms about killing the ones causing all the trouble, but we have lost enough to the damned cannibals already. We barely have enough to complete what we came here for, so shut it down so we can get moving before they catch up to us again. Mage? Do you know what direction we have to go in now?"

     The mage lifts his head, yet most of his face is still covered in shadows, his bare arms covered in some form of growth that looks like a tattoo, yet is alive. At least because it keeps moving around his arms, only a glimpse of bare skin now and then. He answers the Leader with a voice that has a slight syllabant growl with undertones of hissing.

     Mage: "We go that way."

     As he points off at an angle from the circular stairs about twenty degrees to the right.

     Leader: "Alright, we have a direction now. Let us get to it."

     Party voice: "What was it we came here for?"

     Leader: "You will find out soon enough."

     The rest of the party voices their opinions and it grows more strident.

     Leader: "All right, all right already. We are here to grab a distinct scroll. If the rest of you know what is good for you if you see it yell out and do not touch it. Anything else you find, if you can carry it out, you are welcome to it. But touch that scroll and...well you will not have to worry about anything after that, if you get my drift. Now let us go, we still have to find it and get our selves out of here, preferably alive."

     They tromp off in the indicated direction, and once they are far enough away, Iriisii looks to her party to see if anyone cares to comment.

     Iriisii: "Anyone have any idea what they could want?"

     Desidarius: "No, but I think it would be advisable to find out and see that they do not get away from here with it. Anything found here and taken away could have dire consequences for Existence if it is misused. And I have no doubts that is what would happen."

     Shivista: "I agree. I still remember some of the things that existed in the early periods of time. I hope they are all truly lost, but if they came for a scroll. That makes the skin on my back crawl. The scroll itself is likely bad enough, but what could be written within it...so much worse it could be."

     Iriisii: "All right, we follow them. It seems they are heading in the same direction we would have been. But I do believe we are definitely after different things, and I do agree with Desidarius, anything we find here stays here. We give them a little more distance then we follow. Shivista, do you by any chance know what that stuff on the mage's arm is?"

     Osaquen: "It is called 'Vir', and yes, it is alive. It is a symbiotic parasite."

     Rigmor: "A what?"

     Osaquen: "Symbiotic parasite. It takes its nourishment from the host, and in return, in this case anyway, enhances the host's magic. The greater the amount of Vir growing, the greater the magical enhancement. The mage is, I estimate, a level three. I have heard of it reaching level five, but no higher. A five is almost as powerful as a demigod, a mortal demigod, I should stress. There is no written or spoken records of Vir growing on an immortal."

     Iriisii: "How powerful would a 'three' be?"

     Osaquen: "Based on how powerful they were when they took the 'Vir', it cam be hard to say. It amplifies their natural ability level, but I would say he would only be a magical threat to Rigmor, any of the rest of us could take him down on our own. Magic against Magic. So if we get into a fight with him, ward Rigmor and we all go after him."

     Rigmor: "Do you know where that stuff comes from?"

     Osaquen: "A very long way from here, but it is from our Existence, so it is natural to us."

     Iriisii: "All right, we keep quiet, use battle gestures and not spoken words. We have no idea how far our voices can carry, and I do not want them to know we are following them."

     They start out, and Iriisii adjusts the walking order, to put Rigmor squarely in the middle, with Osaquen bringing up the rear. She puts Desidarius on front while she takes point. She gestures to Desidarius that she is going to recon ahead and to keep everyone on a steady pace. When she has more solid information she will find them. She then turns and in the blink of an eye, fades from view. Osaquen gestures to Rigmor, asking.

      Osaquen: 'Has she always been able to do that?'

      Rigmor: 'Since I have known her, yes. She says it is a combination of skill training and mental belief. She also says it is possible to one day be good enough to use the shadows to even travel through, but that it takes specialized training and she does not yet know where to go to get that level of training.'

     Osaquen: 'Thank you, once we are done here, I will ask among my contacts if they know. I will send word of what I can find out.'

     Rigmor nods her head in agreement. They travel just every once in a while a word or noise from the group ahead will filter back to them. This way they know they are still on track. They also see scratches from their armored boots, and can actually discern individuals from the distinct scratches they leave. Once or twice they have to stop and freeze when the group ahead sends outliers to their sides to look for possible ambushes. They just stay still, and clear their minds, imagining they are as the stone pillars scattered around.

     Later Rigmor gestures Osaquen if he knows anything about the monoliths outside the Temple.

     Osaquen: 'Not really, just that they seem to be able to pass a great deal of magical energy through themselves. What that is used for, I have no idea. But it is used for something, of that I am certain.'

     Rigmor nods her head as they continue on.