The Story Of Iriisii Dovahkiin Book One Chapter Twenty

 The Story Of Iriisii Dovahkiin Book One Chapter Twenty

                                                                Chapter Twenty

     They continue on, while Iriisii thinks about what has been said about the 'Four Horsemen' and what needs to happen with them now to return them to prominence. She pushes it to the back of her mind, time to deal with it later. They are too close to Rigmor's mother to change course now. They climb and keep climbing, running along ice shelves, picking out stone paths. Finally they are at the point where Iriisii and Rigmor first came out of this area and went to Angi's. She leads them onward across the rocky boulders until she sees the stone slab with the cairn lit by a torch. And standing there, a solitary figure she knows.

     Iriisii: "Stay here, I know who that is. Rigmor, come with me, likely he will have something to say to you as well."

     Iriisii and Rigmor make their way down the wooden steps and walk to the slab. Stepping up on top of it...

     Iriisii: "Tendril Sethri, somehow I knew it would be you we would meet here."

     Sethri: "Dragonborn, it is good that you came. You are close to the end of this chapter of this part of the saga. But for now I must speak to Rigmor. Rigmor, all your roads have come together here at this place. That which you so fervently seek is close at hand. Yet there is still great danger ahead for you both. You will see things ahead that will raise your ire. Remember that punishment will come to those who did these atrocities. It does not need to come from your hand.

     It is vital that you follow the Trail of the Cairns, do this at either dawn or dusk, but do not tarry. Time is of the essence. You will see the 'who' and the 'why'. Speak with my 'Mistress' before you enter the mine. She has a gift for you. And now I am needed elsewhere. I will pray for your success Dragonborn, Rigmor."

     Sethri turns and hurries over to a notch in the edge of the cliffs and he is gone. Iriisii motions to her followers to come to them. They hurry and crowd around as she tells them what was said.

     Desidarius: "Do you know who this Sethri's 'Mistress' is?"

     Iriisii: "I have a good idea, but I do not want to say until I know for certain. If I am right, she will indeed help us. But he did say to follow the 'Trail of the Cairns. The torches would be easier to see in the dawn or dusk and allow us to see any obstacles as well. So let us get started, look around for the next closest torch mounted in a stone cairn."

     It does not take long before the torch is spotted, and all work through the loose packed snow to reach it. Once there they scan the area for the next one. On they go, up, down, around until at the next to the last one. Iriisii can see a very large stone statue rising above the last torch.

     Iriisii: "There is where we have to go. Rigmor, are you ready for this."

     Rigmor: "What will I find there?"

     Iriisii: "For now, the identity of your guardian angel."

     Rigmor: "Ok, then let us go and see just who it is."

     They move to the last cairn and see a desecrated statue of Azura. Everyone can feel the oppressive atmosphere around the area. They stop a short distance away as Iriisii explains what she thinks happened here.

     Iriisii: "This is a shrine to the Daedra Azura. Although she is Daedra, she is not considered to be 'evil', somewhat balanced between dark and light. She is the patron goddess of the Dunmer people, but not followed by all of them. This location has some direct tie to her, or the desecration would not have occurred, as it was done by the Thalmor. Likely to keep pilgrims away from seeing their activities in the mines. As to why we are here at all, my thoughts are that Azura has been manipulating events to bring Rigmor here and myself as her guardian to stop what is going on in the mines. I have no facts or details of this, just a feeling, and I have learned to trust them when I get them. Let Rigmor and me approach the Shrine and see if there is any kind of response."

     Karliah: "You expect something to occur?"

     Iriisii: "She would not guide us here without letting us know what she needs us for. She has no priestess here waiting for us so she will have to speak with us directly. Rigmor, come on, it is time you met your guardian angel."

     Rigmor: "As far as I am concerned you are my guardian angel."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, but someone or more than one had a hand in nudging me to where you were in need of help. After all did you not ever wonder why I heard Rose call out for help when Hadvar did not, even though we were separated by only a few feet walking along that road?"

     Rigmor stops to say something, then pauses to think.

     Rigmor: "Now that you mention it, no, I did not. Of course I was unconscious at the time."

     Iriisii: "I know, I noticed it at the time but paid it no mind. I think that too was at the nudging of someone."

     They walk to the shrine and mount the steps, as they heard Azura in their minds.

     Azura: "Come Daughter of Azura, come to my altar and speak with me. For there is much you need to know before proceeding."

     Rigmor walks up and places her hands on the Altar. Iriisii stands near her, watches and waits to see what is going on here.

     Azura: "I have been watching you from the Twilight for some time now, bending every effort to guide you to this place at this time. This place is sacred to me, for it bears within it the black diamonds that are the essence of my heart. Black diamonds that are being ripped from the ground beneath and used to create weapons and armor near indestructible.

     Armor, they have had success with making, not so with weapons. For they lack two necessary things, two relics of a mother's love, both wrought from bane. You possess two such, and so I will forge for you a weapon that will cut through their armor. Place the sword you were given by your father on the Altar."

     Rigmor looks toward Iriisii, who nods her head. Then she places the sword on the Altar.

     Azura: "Good, now place the necklace of Casius Varon's mother on the Altar."

     Rigmor does as Azura instructs her.

     Azura: "Now place your mother's wedding ring on the Altar."

     Rigmor hesitates but Iriisii again nods her head as Rigmor looks toward her. She then places her mother's wedding ring on the Altar with the sword and necklace. Once done the three objects begin to glow and rise up into the air. As the glow brightens and the objects begin to merge, Azura declares her intentions.

     Azura: "Behold the 'Bane of Azura', forged from two objects of a mother's love, both wrought from bane. I AM AZURA, MOTHER OF THE ROSE, MISTRESS OF THE DUSK AND THE DAWN, KEEPER OF THE TWILIGHT, THE POISONED CHALICE OF WOE. THIS, THE BANE OF AZURA, IS WROUGHT FROM THE ESSENCE OF MY HEART AND GIVEN TO THE DAUGHTER OF AZURA. MAY SHE USE IT TO PROTECT MY PEOPLE FROM HE WHO DESIRES TO USURP THE LAND AND WASH IT CLEAN WITH THE BLOOD OF MY CHILDREN.

     There is danger yet ahead for the both of you. The Guardian I sent to you has done exceedingly well in protecting you. Still you will need her efforts to combat what is being brought against you. I am unable to see who it is that moves behind the fog and smoke, you will need to find this out and then you will know what you must do. My daughter, know that I will always be with you, even from the twilight."

     Azura's voice slowly fades from Nirn and Mundus.

     Rigmor: "Azura's Daughter, how in the world did this come about?"

     Iriisii: "I have no idea, in fact, I have no idea of how I have acquired what I have. So in that at least we are in the same boat. Now are you ready to go on?"

     Rigmor: "Yeah, let us get it over with. I wonder if she will even remember me?"

     Iriisii: "I would not worry about that, blood speaks to blood, she will know you."

     Rigmor: "Thank you for all that you have done in getting me this far. Anyone one else I think, would have left me on the side of the road a long time ago."

     Iriisii: "I made a promise to you, I intend to keep that promise come what may. After that we shall just have to see what happens and where we go from there."

     They walk onward to the mine entrance.

     Iriisii: "I do not know for certain what we will face in there, so be ready for anything. One thing I can be sure of, there is only one friendly to us in there and she is likely locked in a cell, so there is no reason to take prisoners. Once we get to her, then we will decide what further to do. Likely we may spit up, some to get Rigmor's mother safely out of there, the rest to clear out the remaining areas and collapse everything. I trust everyone's judgement on what to do and when to do it. So be careful of traps, we will proceed slowly. I do not want to alert our enemies to our presence until I want them to know of us. Let's go."

     The first thing that is noticed as they enter the mine is the stench. This is not the smell of unwashed bodies, but rather the smell of rotten flesh. It brings back memories from her past, Iriisii thought deep buried, being trained by the Sinister Seven. Rigmor notices the expression on her face and instantly knows what has happened, even if she does not know the exact event that caused it.

     Rigmor: "Wait!"

     Karliah: "What is it?"

     Rigmor: "Risi has had a bad memory surface. Give her a moment to get past it."

     Karliah: "What caused it? I know this smell is bad but.."

     Rigmor: "Parts of her past you really do not want to know about, what this triggered in her memories is one of them."

     Desidarius: "Part of her training as an assassin of the Sinister Seven, she had to endure some very sadistic events. She was ordered into a pit with a number of other trainees, the slaves used to dig the pit and fill it with just enough water to force anyone down there to not be able to sit or sleep without threat of drowning were killed and dumped into it. This was where she was tested for endurance and adherence to orders given. Understand she was under the influence of Black Lotus for some number of years while this was going on."

     Karliah: "Wait, you did say 'Black Lotus' did you not?"

     Rigmor: "You know about that stuff?"

     Karliah: "I wish I did not. In the areas where it grows, it is cultivated for a select group of people who use it. They take it in very small doses spaced widely apart in time. How was she given this shit, and for how long?"

     Desidarius: "They used it to ensure her compliance to orders and to facilitate training. They kept her on a constant maintenance dose for years."

     Karliah: "Sweet mercy, I have never heard of anyone surviving that much for so long. And for her mind to still be intact and functional."

     Desidarius: "I am not aware of how and with what it was cut with, but the 'Mother' of the Seven was a Master Alchemist. She knew what she could mix with it to downplay the effects she deemed inappropriate to what she wanted, and enhance those she wanted to keep. Anyway, she was ordered to keep everyone in the pit until they were released. By the time that came about, over half of the group had died with their bodies rotting in the water in the bottom of the pit. This made for a very noxious and toxic soup, I believe you can imagine what it was like based on what we are smelling here."

     Karliah: "I am afraid I can. To think that someone could be that sadistic and even had those who would carry out such orders. If Iriisii was under Black Lotus, I can understand her part and why. She had no choice in it, the drug took that from her, but the others..."

     Rigmor: "Are all dead now, she took care of that when they came to either kill her or return her to the fold."

     Karliah: "They are all dead?"

     Rigmor nods her head.

     Karliah: "Then there is still justice in the world."

     Rigmor: "Akatosh has made her the Divines' Hand of Justice, and given her the tools to do the job with."

     Rigmor remembers speaking with Darkstar, within her own mind about what Iriisii endured at the Seven's touch. No reason to go into how her mind was indeed fractured by the long term use of Black Lotus that created the personality of Darkstar.

     As they move forward slowly, being even more cautious to avoid any chance of even minor scrapes or cuts, they come upon a pile of burned bodies sitting in a large pool of water at the bottom of the slope. Water formed from melted snow blown in from around the door by the high winds and condensation dripping from the walls.

     Iriisii: "There is the source of the smell. They were miners executed by the Thalmor. I daresay the one who did this enjoyed his work."

     Rigmor: "What makes you say that?"

     Iriisii: "They manner in which this was done was to ensure maximum pain. There are a number of more humane ways this could have been done, no, this was done this way to please a most twisted bastard. The Gods call out to me to find him and deal with him. For me to send them his soul for its most deserving punishment."

     Desidarius: "I have seen some of the most horrific things done and endured, but I have no argument against sending the soul of this 'jabrezu' to its just deserts. Wait, I hear the skittering of tiny paws, prepare yourselves!"

     And they are flooded with a large pack of skeever. Everyone lends a hand in killing them, for no one doubts they are carrying Gods know what diseases from their exposure to this cesspit. After the last is dealt with, Iriisii moves them onward.

     Rigmor: "Do you think that bastard had those skeever put there just to ambush anyone coming through?"

     Iriisii: "I do not know for certain. He did not have to, for they would have been drawn here anyway. He likely knew that and did nothing to clear them out. So I hold him responsible at any rate. If those things had left and reached a town, we could have had the beginnings of a plague. This Thalmor has a lot to answer for, and I intend to see to it that he does. We need to keep moving, if it moves and it is not Rigmor's mother, kill it. At this point we will just let the Gods sort this out."

     They keep moving deeper and deeper, encountering corrupted skeever, rats, spiders, trolls. All covered in some kind of black dust. Desidarius took a good look at it during a break after a particularly vicious fight with some corrupted trolls.

     Desidarius: "This is not truly black diamond dust, but what is left over after it has been used in whatever process the Thalmor have invented for forging this new armor with black diamonds. It seems to have been changed into something, I would almost say 'cursed'. The effect is very similar to being subjected to a 'curse'. I think this new process uses magic, and this magic strips part of the physical properties of these black diamonds. This powder is what is left and it is damaging everything it touches. It would eventually kill everything, but that seems to take time for it to get to that point."

     Rigmor: "If the use of the black diamonds is stopped, would things return to normal?"

     Desidarius: "That is hard to say. It is possible, if things have not gone too far and tipped over the edge. If too much black diamond ore has been mined, you would have to seal the mine shut, permanently. If it has not, with enough time it would recover once the already corrupted animal life dies off and no new ones take their place. And pray that none of the corrupted animals develop a resistance to the dust. If they did, they would need to be hunted down and their bodies completely destroyed. Beyond that it is anyone's guess."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, much as it disappoints me to think about, we needed to hear it. Now we can take it into account as we go on."

     They keep going until the rock tunnels begin morphing as Dwemer construction can be seen here and there. Increasing as they go further. Finally they get to a door, Iriisii calls a halt.

     Iriisii: "Once we go through this door, we go quietly. I do not know how far until we encounter anyone, but I will take no chances. We will look at who they are, how many there are, how are they armed, can we surround them so none get loose and sound the alarm? When we attack, we do so quickly and quietly. Kill everyone, if you see any loot you want, take it, but you will be responsible for carrying it and not letting it cause any noise. I expect the Thalmor to put the most expendable the closest to this door, they themselves will be deeper inside. Again I know not what we will face, magic and necromancy is a strong possibility, so be ready."

     The first group is mixed male and female, gathered around a fire placed in the center of seated, descending rows of seats with some rockfalls here and there. Iriisii points out how she wants the kills distributed to their maximum advantage. Desidarius notes to herself that this is a side of Iriisii that she has not seen before. Planning for battle, she is ruthless, and cold as the starless depths. Desidarius knows it is because none of these are innocents, all are equally as guilty as the Thalmor, and she is now the Gods 'Hand of Justice', readying to reap the Gods harvest of souls.

     It is done in less than a minute, each taking out those assigned, and no alarm was given. The only loot taken was a few potions. Iriisii nods her head in acceptance of their forbearance and obedience to her suggestions. She gestures to move on ahead. Each time everything goes as she expects, until this last time when she sees some Thalmor walking around, a series of skeletons arrayed in an oval pattern. She takes note of the pattern of the Thalmor walking around and the time it takes each to make a circuit of the room.

     She moves everyone back and uses her hand signals to tell them what is going on. She instructs Desidarius and Temussin to take down the skeletons as they rise while she goes straight for the Necromancer. Rigmor and Karliah are to each take a side and take care of the wandering soldiers. She will assist them once the Necromancer is down. She is to go first, charging straight for the Necromancer, Desidarius and Temussin go next, then Rigmor and Karliah.

     As Iriisii charges full speed straight ahead, all of the Thalmor concentrate on her. Desidarius and Temussin reach each end of the oval and cast disruption spells, the rising skeletons bones shattering and falling back to the stone floor. Rigmor and Karliah both begin taking out their picks, then Iriisii steps up behind one pounding on Karliah's parrying blade and slices his throat before turning and heading to assist Rigmor. The job is done almost as fast as it took to lay out the plan.

     As they begin to move on, Iriisii hears some distant footsteps behind them coming closer. She gestures for everyone to hold while she waits to see who is approaching. Once they come into sight, she breathes a sigh of relief as she recognizes them. once they come close, both sides look at each other warily.

     Iriisii: "I think I should make introductions before we do anything more. I am just going to use names, no background information, it should be enough that I trust all of you."

     She starts with Baa'Ren-Darr.

     Iriisii: "This is Baa'Ren-Darr."

     Moving to Casius.

     Iriisii: "This is Casius Varon.

     And then puts her hand onto Yngol's arm.

     Iriisii: "This is Yngol Stormblade."

     She then moves to Karliah.

     Iriisii: "This is Karliah."

     Next she goes to Temussin.

     Iriisii: "This is Temussin."

     And then moves to Desidarius, putting her hand gently on her shoulder.

     Iriisii: "This is Desidarius. And you all know Rigmor, already. I am sure you followed the trail of bodies to find us, but why did you come?"

     Baa'Ren-Darr: "This one was contacted by a Seer in Corinthe, she said this one needed to bring help to this place to assist you. This one brought only those he could trust."

     Iriisii: "I do agree with you about that, my friend. It is only going to get more difficult and dangerous from here on inward. I will tell you as I have told these, we go slowly and quietly. I scout and then form battleplans. Then we proceed and leave no survivors behind us. The miners that were here have been released and should be gone."

     Casius: "I believe that is accurate as we saw no one at all as we came down here."

     Iriisii: "Good, Sigunn should be the only innocent here, and I expect she is locked in a cell. So everyone else we find is 'dead meat'. It should mostly be Thalmor left, perhaps some bandits for them to order around, but no matter, all others beside ourselves and Sigunn are to be eliminated. They have crossed the line and interfered with the Gods' plans one time too many. Akatosh has laid it upon me to be his 'Hand of Justice' in this place. And so his will be done."

     Baa'Ren-Darr: "The Gods have laid upon you a heavy burden, but this one knows of no other who can do what they want."

     Rigmor: "You can say that again. Wait! You do not have to, just take my word for it."

     Iriisii: "Come on, we are only about half way through this place. This way."

     Iriisii takes off through a passageway from the left of where they entered. The path goes around corners, up inclines, and down slopes. Then the come to a long hallway with piping crossing underneath in sections. Iriisii sees a bandit chief nearly as big as Yngol wearing Carved Nordic armor and holding a two-hand bastard sword. She gestures that this one is hers, as she takes off at a run toward him. He in turn starts jogging towards her holding his sword upright above him. She decides not to draw her katana, but instead draws daggers from her ankle sheaths one at a time while on the run.

     Casius starts to draw and follow when he sees her pulling daggers against a two-hand bastard sword. Desidarius pulls him back.

     Desidarius: "Trust her to know what she is doing. I have seen her fight ever since she was a young girl, and I know the training she has undergone since then. Her enemy does not stand a chance, watch her and learn how a true Blade Dancer fights."

     He does watch and prays that Desidarius is right in Iriisii's battle skills. When they are just a few yards apart, Cassius almost misses what happens it occurs so fast. Iriisii feints with one dagger toward the chief's neck. As he drops his sword down to block, Iriisii slides under him, between his legs. There is his weak spot, as Carved Nordic is heavy armor, and the leg pieces are separate with the torso covering them on the outside. Underneath, the groin area is exposed. As she passes under she drives the other dagger straight up between the leg pieces. He howls in agony and surprise, even as once past him, she grabs his ankles and pulls them with her. Dropping him face down onto the stone floor. She them wrenches the dagger from between his legs, clambers along his back, and pulls his helmeted head back as she slices across his throat with the dagger. He bleeds out in seconds, as she sheathes the daggers and pulls the katana in front of her in case anyone from further up comes to investigate.

     Karliah: "I have heard whispers of the Blade Dancers but never have I witnessed anything like that."

     Desidarius: "She was given training in every facet they could give her, and when she mastered all they could teach her, they sought outside masters to teach her what they could not. The Gods told them what she would need and why. Her teachers did not disappoint."

     Casius: "How is it you know so much of her past?"

     Desidarius: "What is it that she sometimes says, 'Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it.'"

     Yngol: "In other words old friend, accept it and do not question it. Some things are not for the likes of us to know. Just be glad she is on our side."

     Desidarius: "Just so. Your intelligence matches your stature, and you let your enemy underestimate you. A powerful and deadly combination. She chooses her friends well. I am honored to know you Yngol Stormblade, friend of Iriisii Dovahkiin."

     Desidarius moves on to where Iriisii is waiting for them. Rigmor comes up to Yngol and Casius as they watch Desidarius walking down the hallway.

     Rigmor: "You want to be very careful with her."

     Casius: "Why is that?"

     Rigmor: "She could literally eat you alive, and you would beg her to take another bite. Do not get me wrong now, stay on her good side and there is no one else you would want at your back. But get on her bad side, and there is nowhere you could run where she could not get to you. She is not vampire or anything like that. In fact, if I understand correctly, she and Iriisii are somehow related to each other, separated by a lot of years, but still related, perhaps the only relation Rissi has left in this world. I know it would be hard to imagine, but she has endured worse in her time than I did at the hands of the Thalmor. Come on, Rissi is waiting on us."

     Casius and Yngol look at each other.

     Yngol: "Let it go, friend. It is not worth the risk. There are other women out there, one day we will find one for ourselves, that one is not for either of us."

     Casius: "If you say so."

     Yngol: "If you decide to pursue her, you do so at your own risk. I will not drag your sorry hide out of any trouble you get into over her."

     Casius: "When have you ever...don't answer that. Besides I believe you are right about this one, best to leave her alone."

     They join Iriisii and then move on deeper toward the 'forge'. They find a few more small groups of bandits with a few Thalmor mages. All of them go down with no mercy given, for they know if the positions were reversed there would be none for them. Another necromancer, and this time at least twenty skeletons laid out in an oval, submerged in a water cistern. Iriisii targets the Necromancer, while everyone else hits the rising skeletons. Once they are done, Desidarius examines the skeletons.

     Iriisii: "What do you see?"

     Desidarius picks up a bone and points out something to Iriisii.

     Desidarius: "Look here, notice that all of these bones are not just clean, but polished. Not a speck of the black dust on them."

     Iriisii: "Why is that?"

     Desidarius: "I think that the black dust interferes or inhibits the necromantic raising of these skeletons in some way. Why that is I have no idea, but I would be interested in knowing why?"

     Iriisii: "If enough could be gathered into a bomb, cast in the midst of a group of them, would it drop them or at least interfere enough to make them easy targets?"

     Desidarius: "That is what I would like to know. I have been in situations that would have been much less harrowing had I had something like that."

     Iriisii: "Perhaps it might be possible to duplicate the effect with other more easily acquired materials. We just need to know if this would work, then why would it work."

     Rigmor: "Where did they get all of these skeletons from? There is no barrow anywhere near they could rob for them."

     Desidarius: "These are likely from deceased slaves and miners who died here in these mines. Then for the Thalmor to use their bones, with all of the black dust they were exposed to, they had to clean and polish them before their magic would work on them."

     Rigmor: "That is just..."

     Desidarius: "I agree. As I agree with your gods that these here need to be brought to divine justice for these atrocities. At least their souls are at peace, as now also are their bones."

     Iriisii looks over to the Necromancer she had just gutted. Something in the way his guts were splayed out on the floor seems to call to her, speak to her. She steps over to them and stands rapt by what is happening within her mind.

     Rigmor saw her step over to the Thalmor's body and then notices her complete attention being drawn to the morbid display.

     Rigmor: "What is it Rissi, that holds you so?"

     Iriisii for all intents and purposes does not hear Rigmor, does not hear anything but what the patterns and changes of color and texture of the Necromancer's guts are telling her.

     Desidarius hears Rigmor and noting Iriisii's lack of response looks for herself at what is happening. She now has to resign herself to finish something she started a very long time ago, very shortly after she was exiled into the Deepest Hells. The memories come flooding back into the present even as she was hoping they would stay buried forever.

     (Thousands of years ago, in the Deepest Hells)

     A portal flashes into existence in a remote corner of one of the planes of the Deepest Hells. A place that has become a dumping ground for those of the Aasimar clans who have for whatever reason had a member 'Fall' into darkness. Some of them escape and go their own way within the Realms of Existence. Most however do not, they are captured, and exiled into the Deepest Hells. Who set this policy into place, no one remembers. As far as they know it has always been this way. Perhaps one day, one will come who can change this, find a way to deal with this practice in a different manner, but that day is a long way off.

     She who will one day be known as Desidarius, is unceremoniously tossed through the portal like a sack of garbage. Bound, gagged, and hooded, clothed in rags, and for this one time, at the behest of her mother, whose position in the clan as Sage, allows for her to gift her 'Fallen' daughter with a dagger to take with her into exile. 'Desidarius' clumsily grabs the dagger where she heard it clatter against some rocks, cuts through her bonds, rips the hood from her face in time to see a final glimpse into the world she once knew as home as the portal closes. Her last vision is that of her mother's face, tears making wet tracks in the dust on her face, and then it is gone.

     She cuts the gag from around her head and screams out her rage, anger, grief, and remorse. And as her voice is heard echoing across the barren, rock strewn plains of this plane, she can hear in the distance a scrabbling sound. She lifts her face to the dim light, looks out over the plain to see a distant cloud of dust making its way toward her. And then she sees the field of bones, gleaming white spread all around her for as far as her eyes can see.

     'Desidarius': "Shit! I WILL NOT END LIKE THIS! I WILL LIVE AND MY VENGEANCE WILL BE HORRIBLE TO BEHOLD! THIS I VOW IN THE NAME OF THE GODS WHO TOUCHED MY PEOPLE AND MADE ME! HEAR ME NOW! IF YOU HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS YOU WILL PAY!"

     She feels some faint attention lay its gaze upon her, read her, and make a decision. Another portal opens and a male demon warrior steps out. As the portal closes behind him, he looks to 'Desidarius' and evaluates her by whatever standards he possesses.

     Telgaer: "If you truly mean the vow you shouted to the entirety of this plane, my master would offer you his help to assist you to see it through."

     'Desidarius': "Can he whisk me away from here before whatever is coming reaches me?"

     Telgaer: "That he will not do, you must first prove yourself to his satisfaction that you are worth his effort. He senses about you the flux of prophecies and destinies. He would see if you are strong enough to take them up and see them to fruition. If you can, and should you do this, one day all of Existence, Good and Evil, Light and Dark, will bow before you and tremble as you walk before them. You will stand with the 'One' who will be highest. That one is not yet come, and will not yet for thousands of years, so you will have time to hone your skills and learn what it will take to build your future."

     'Desidarius': "Will I have my vengeance against 'he' who made me 'fall'? 'He' who cast me aside once he was done with my metamorphosis?"

     Telgaer: "Not by your direct hand, but through the works of your desire will the 'One' who is to come, accomplish that deed. And your reward will be more than even you could imagine."

     'Desidarius': "Then tell me what I must do?"

     Telgaer turns and looks at the dust cloud growing ever closer.

     Telgaer: "Survive."

     

     The battle was long and bloody. Both of them had wounds everywhere, but both were also ecstatic, in their element. The feeling of surviving against that large a number of opponents, proving your worth as warriors by living while your opponents bodies are piled high around you. Now, 'Desidarius' felt that she had a chance to truly live, to expand her skills, knowledge, and personal power to accomplish her goals. Telgaer was impressed at how quickly she pulled herself out of her slump, gathered herself and set about making her opponents rue this day when they tried to make a meal out of her. He knew his master avidly watched to see what would happen. If she could pull herself together in a crises and climb to the top. He felt she would be one to watch and see how far she pushes herself to go. Then a portal opens and Telgaer motions for her to precede him.

     Telgaer: "My master shows his approval of you."

     'Desidarius': "How so?"

     Telgaer: "We do not have to spend the next several days walking to his palace. After you."

     Desidarius strides through and is amazed by what she sees. She did not know what to expect, how these demon princes lived. But this...both opulent and sparse, reflecting a balance between the two that worked extremely well. Then she saw the large muscular figure seated on a simple throne. He was watching her with great interest, now she had to find out just what kind of interest.

     Desidarius: "My Lord, will there be anything else required of me, such as warming your bed?"

     Xceinam: "Only if it is your choice. I do not consider you to be a plaything for my pleasure, at least not for my bed anyway. The arena is a different matter, but not until you are properly equipped and trained. That will take as long as it takes, I am in no hurry. We will see where your strengths lie and where your weaknesses need honing. No knowledge of skills or anything else you can learn and excel in will be denied you. Once you have seen to your wounds, eaten, and rested, then we can talk more. There is much more to this place that I believe you can make good use of."

(About five hundred years later, give or take.)

     Desidarius: "You called for me, My Lord?"

     Xceinam: "Yes, I have acquired a new prisoner, who disturbs me greatly with his pronouncements. The things he speaks of give me pause enough for me to delay deciding what I should do with him. I want you to take some time to talk with him, find out if there is any truth to his words. If he is truly capable of doing what he says he can do. Then I will try and make an informed decision, he may be harmless, then again."

     Desidarius: "I understand, My Lord. It shall be as you desire."

     Xceinam: "I have informed the prison guard you are to have free reign with this prisoner. No one else is to touch him without your express permission. Take what time you need just find me an answer. I do not have to like it, I just want a truthful answer."

     Desidarius: "Yes, My Lord."

     Desidarius turns and paces out of the throne chamber and makes her way to the prison ward. As she steps outside the palace, she still marvels at how everything works together to present a seamless environment. Walking by the various shops, merchants, and purveyors of services, she thinks how no one from her past life would believe how similar the 'Dark' lives to how the 'Light' lives. Although you are more likely to find much more available in a 'Market of the Dark' than its counterpart in the 'Light'.

     Many of the merchants hawk their wares harder as they see her, knowing how the High Lord values her opinion. She takes it in stride knowing the reason why they do it. Yet it makes no matter, for if the High Lord asks her opinion, she gives it. Straightforward and no nonsense, exactly as he expects from her. Thus only the best merchants will approach her with offerings of goods and services, ones they know the High Lord would be interested in. Otherwise they let the rest make fools of themselves.

     She enters the prison ward, and the head jailer, waiting for her, silently turns and leads her to where the new prisoner waits for her arrival. When they arrive at the cell, he unlocks it, gives her the key, and a bell for her to summon help with. He then bows and goes on about the High Lord's business with the other prisoners being held. As she looks at this prisoner, shackled against the wall, she senses something different about him. She cannot place his alignment, and wonders why he was even in this Realm. She shakes her head to clear the cobwebs and looks at him with new appreciation of his skills. He then chuckles at her reaction.

     Desidarius: "You find this situation funny?"

     Jolbert: "Do you? No, I think it exceptional that the High Lord has found someone strong enough to pierce the first veil and gave questioning of me to that one."

     Desidarius: "I can see already this is going to be interesting. So, what are you willing to tell me without more persuasive means?"

     Jolbert: "Whatever you wish to know. I cannot guarantee you will understand, but you have a better chance than anyone else I have met in this Realm."

     And so it went, back and forth, for days, into weeks. Deep did they discuss ideas that she found both profound and a little frightening at the possibilities. Trying to discern where these ideas came from, what kind of beings could understand them and even live them. The means whereby he discovered some of them, she did not necessarily agree with, but was not above using them herself, just not for the same ends.

     After some weeks she reported back to the High Lord.

     Xceinam: "What have you found so far?"

     Desidarius: "He believes what he has said, and I find great power in some of his words and ideas. My understanding is nowhere as great as his, even as he shows great patience in explaining some of the concepts behind them. As to what precisely he is. He is a Sacred Anatomancer, not as it is practiced by witches and necromancers, but a completely different path from those others. His is very deep and much more complex, even as he uses entrails to divine information from. That is the only similarity. He uses human entrails both reading how they fall when released, and also when he wishes a deeper reading, he displays them on a special board that he has given me instruction on constructing. They then sing to him and the song passes the information to him, sometimes simple and sparse, sometimes deep and full of meaning.

     He also preaches how giving up one's name to such deities he worships, they will hide those from all gods and entities that would search for them. Those that such a one would encounter are blinded by the lack of a name and thus no memory of their presence can be found as they pass by. I do not know what the end result of such would be. Nor do I know who those entities are as they in the past gave up their names. And so now exist without names. I need some time to think over what he has told me, ask questions of my contacts. There is something underlying all of this that disturbs me"

     Xceinam: "Then take what time you need. Clear your mind of what disturbs you about him and his teachings. Then I will have something different to discuss with you."

     Desiderius: "As you command, My Lord."

     

     Desidarius takes a few years, contacting others she had met through doing business for Xceinam. First she winnowed the list to those she felt would have no problem sharing information with her. Many she knew would have ulterior motives, some directly involving her. Those she preferred to stay far away from. Once her list was done she sent letters describing what she wished to discuss. Then waited for responses to maybe come back.

     Desidarius: "Tell me something Jolbert. I have felt you dancing around one particular thought. It is like you are drawn to bring it to my attention, but for some reason you have reservations about what that might do between us."

     Jolbert sighs: "You have come to know me quite well, perhaps too well."

     Desidarius: "Why is that? We have been open and honest with each other so far. I have learned a great deal from you, and find our conversations fascinating."

     Jolbert: "I thank you for that, my Lady Desidarius. What I have kept back is something that even I have come to somewhat fear, because of where it might go. There are places within anatomancy that once are uncovered can take the practitioner to the most obscure visions. They are drawn to archetypes that while they are thought to exist, very few encounter them."

     Desidarius: "Why is that, tell me?"

     Jolbert: "You well know the connotations of the word 'hero', but what of its antithesis?"

     Desidarius: "You mean 'villain'? No, somehow you mean something else, do you not?"

     Jolbert: "'Villain' came about much later, and is but a side thought, really."

     Desidarius: "All right, you have my attention now. What is this word?"

     Jolbert: "Sharmat."

     Desidarius does not realize that she has gone into a near paralysis while her mind races toward an epiphany that threatens to unlock every secret that the future holds in store for her. Once she locks onto a vision of herself gutting Jolbert and arranging his entrails on a display board. Reading what they have for her to know. Then she skips forward thousands of years to see another powerful female warrior standing before the spilled guts of some necromancer. She feels the shared vibrations of both events overlapping each other. The warrior is seeing one set of visions, some possible, some far from anything she has had experience with before, and some completely unknowable. Desidarius is seeing complementary visions and then it hits her like a lightning bolt. The visions the warrior is seeing involves just herself as the primary. But the ones Desidarius is seeing involves what would change if she was introduced into the warrior's life.

      Desidarius thinks to herself, 'Who is orchestrating this, bringing us together now in this way, all to show different possibilities of future paths. But why do this, what is the purpose?' The female warrior seems to have heard Desidarius thoughts as her mind looks around for her, but for whatever reason cannot latch on to her. Then a voice unlike any she has ever heard speaks to her.

      VOICE: "You realize what you are being shown. How does this make you feel?"

      Desidarius: "How am I to know what I should feel without any context or understanding of why this is being done?"

      VOICE: "This is all that can be shown without damaging both your minds. The result of that would doom Existence to chaotic destruction. This is what we are trying to avoid."

     Desidarius: "Are you Gods?" 

     VOICE chuckles, "We have never been Gods. We are something very much different, even as there are similarities. We deal with far greater terms of scope than the Gods you know. If it aids you in understanding, you may think of us as such."

     Desidarius: "Then why is this happening? Why me, why her, who is she, why do I feel a kinship with her?"

     At this the female warrior is able to lock on to Desidarius position in whatever reality this is, but waits to listen and understand her own place in this unfolding drama.

     VOICE: "She is aware of us, or more specifically aware of you. You seem familiar to her, and she is beginning to understand who you are. It should be quite interesting to see how she makes sense out of it."

     Desidarius: "Why? What have you done, no, are doing right now? You are doing this for a reason, something you want, again no, something you want to anchor, yes, this timeline? I cannot tell, too many possibilities. Overloading the Anatomancers guts, you sent him to me! You are one of those who exist as nameless! What does the word, 'Sharmat' have to do with this? TELL ME!"

     VOICE: "Bravo, I knew you would make the association. As to what 'Sharmat' has to do with this, it has everything to do with this. Sharmat is a word to describe what would otherwise be known as 'anti-hero, polar-opposite, even evil-twin, has its connotations', but essentially it describes one who filled a specific 'life role' within Existence, and then for whatever reason turned and became the opposite of what they once were. It is bad enough when it happens to mortals, even immortals have been known for it to happen to them. Generally they turn and completely destroy what they once built up and stood for. And no, you are not 'Sharmat', neither of you are, although she has met a few in her adventures.

     This concerns the very first 'Sharmat' before the word was even coined. He was once one of us, the 'Nameless', whether he has remained so, taken his old name, or came up with another, we have no idea. What we do know is that he wishes to tear apart what was once his greatest achievement, the creation of this Existence."

     Desidarius: "And what has this to do with me?"

     VOICE: "Your ties to this warrior here are enough, because she will be the one to stand against him."

     Desidarius: "What ties! I have no ties to her, none whatsoever!"

     VOICE: "Are you so certain of that? Look deep, beyond her present, look into her past. Look back and trace her lineage."

     Desidarius: "What? How is this possible?! They should have passed away long ago!"

     VOICE: "But they did not, although she is the last, the last of those on Nirn at least."

     Desidarius: "But what does that have to do with this Sharmat?!"

     VOICE: "Because one of her destinies is to reach for and become 'the Highest'."

     Desidarius: "Ok, the highest what?"

     VOICE: "Truthfully, whatever she decides to put her mind to. Akatosh has made her his last Dovahkiin, the one to set everything right that Nirn suffers for and from, and given her the power she will need to do this. And then is when the real fun starts. Normally once a Dovahkiin has done their job, they just fade away into history. But this one will not, this one will go on and leave Nirn. And when she does, even the stars will not limit her from whatever she chooses to do. And if you so choose, you can walk by her side, for as long as you choose to do so, even until the end of time itself. And if you have played your cards right?"

     Desidarius: "Go on, what if I do play my cards right?"

     VOICE: "You can go with her into the Great Beyond."

     Desidarius in an awed whisper, "The Great Beyond. A chance at a new beginning, free from all of the old debts, encumbrances. A totally new life that can be whatever I want it to be."

     VOICE: "Now you see what it can mean to you, for you, if you have the, ahem, 'guts' to grab it."

     Desidarius: "All right, what have these Sacred Anatomances have to do with this? Do I have to travel their path to gain a foothold?"

     VOICE: "No, rather it is they who have come to you. To draw you into their world view, in the hopes of using you to climb with with this warrior, and so enable them to spread their vision across all of Existence. They have already made inroads in that direction, but have not tied you strongly enough to them. The path you must take to clear yourself from them is a difficult one, much like the path this warrior has begun to tread. You must learn all that the Sacred Anatomancers can teach you, yet you must not take the final step into their realm, their mindset."

     Desidarius: "So I must keep my 'name', that which defines me, which carries with it all that I am, who I am, my wants, desires, strengths, weaknesses, past, and future!"

     VOICE: "Now you truly see what they want. For what they never reveal is what happens to all of that when one takes their 'vow' and surrenders all of that within themselves."

     Desidarius: "The ones who stand behind them, like you, take it into yourselves!"

     VOICE: "Once that was true, in the beginning and the early times. Until the first Sharmat became more than an idea and took physical form. Then 'he' took the reins and has since been absorbing all of those who take the 'vow'."

     Desidarius: "That then is why you are doing all of this, trying to guide me in my choices, to return what 'he' is taking back into your hands."

     VOICE: "If you were in our position, would you not do the same?"

     Desidarius thinks a moment and quietly gives her answer.

     Desidarius: "Yes, I would. And yet, you try to do the same with this warrior. And you are much less open about it, why?"

     VOICE: "Now is the only time when we could even try. Later, she will undergo the 'Trial of the Catalyst'. Should she pass it and live, which we anticipate she will. We will no longer be able to establish a path to her mind. She will be forever closed to us. No, for us to have a chance, it must be done now."

     Desidarius: "And if you succeed with me and fail with her, still you have at least a second chance to influence her. I assume this is to primarily upend this first 'Sharmat' and thus allow you to take back what once was yours?"

     VOICE: "Of course."

     Desidarius: "Excuse me if I choose to think there is more to this that just that, but I have no illusions that you would ever truthfully reveal what more you have planned to me. Still I think you are right in that this first 'Sharmat is going to come after us, both her and me. So I must do what I can to help the both of us deal with that, even if it means allying myself to you, at least until then. Afterward will have to see to itself."

     VOICE: "Then we have an accord?"

     The other warrior looks on at this with only a modicum of understanding, her Dragonsoul, remaining hidden in the background, whispers to her.

     First Dragon: "Let this go for now, she does as she must from her place for the both of you. Later you will grow into the power to change the path and negate their later plans. For even as they can see some of your future, they cannot see all of it, and so there will be choices open to you that they can not sidestep or block. Just remember that Desidarius no longer goes into this blindly, but she does do this for your mutual benefit. She now realizes that she is not alone, that she has at least one kin left in Existence. And I daresay that is the reason why she has taken such an interest in you, that and the fact that here in our present, she has grown to fall in love with you. How much of that is truly her and how much is the 'one' still buried deep within her, the one she once was and now is no more, but still there waiting for a chance to return? I think it really does not matter, the future holds the possibility of your having both, if you wish it."

     The other warrior nods her head in agreement, and Desidarius feels she is giving her acceptance to go ahead.

     Desidarius: "We then have an accord, until the first 'Sharmat' is dealt with and then it is dissolved."

     VOICE: "DONE! May this work out well for all of us."