Rastislav
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Arc 8 Chapter CXXI: Oblivious Observations
🕑 Added 2025-05-03 22:25:35 +0000 UTCAn: This one is actually a bit relevant so do read if you usually skip it.
I did say I'd be whining about the whole side story shtick when I was done with the interludes but I just wasn't in the mood for it back then so here we go:
The side story vote thing was interesting as an idea but the longer I keep doing it the more I feel constrained by the fact I have to constantly plan around myself to fit it all in, now usually that wouldn't be too bad but when you take into account the fact I write them in full chapter format and I am already fighting myself when it comes to some of the usual chapters you can see how delineating the two may become an issue (I would hope at least)
Anyway the TLDR as it were, I will be shifting the side story shtick a bit and making it more of a "What do you want to see mentioned/expanded on?" kind of thing, moving away from the full chapter format and into making part of the usual chapters.
I will use this chapter as a testing grounds for the idea so do give me your thoughts and opinions, and of course the usual feedback and funny noises so I don't feel like I am writing at a wall :P
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(General POV)
The eternally shifting tides of Oblivion clashed against each other in a brilliant display as the concepts of domination and suffering pressed against a light so brilliant it burned out all it touched, their originators glaring daggers into each other even as each held back their desire to crush the other.
Unwilling to spend a second longer in her hated compatriot's presence, the blindingly beautiful woman clad in a toga of white and gold was the first to calm her power.
The horned demon clutching his clawed hand into a fist across her slowly did the same, his hatred momentarily pacified by his dominance being proven once again, even if he knew it to be a mere play.
'The two of them are almost cute' Their silent and unseen observer mused, nearly giving herself up with a titter of amusement 'so very similar at their core yet so very hateful of each other~'
"Mora has fallen" Meridia broke the silence "You assured me all they would do was weaken him and yet he was torn to pieces faster than any before him, and left us looking like fools."
"Yes, that is what happens when five of us go against one." Molag Bal scowled at her, refusing to acknowledge the true actor behind the killing even as he unconsciously flexed his still stinging hand.
"Attempt to ridicule me once more and I will simply leave." The 'air' around Meridia blazed with light as her voice rose "You are the one who demanded we retreat once our probing attacks were crushed!"
"Don't be foolish." Molag gnashed his teeth "Neither of us was ready for a full war, especially not when nearly all of their legions were present. My probing attack was met with Sheogorath's full power, we could not have done a thing even if we knew Mora was about to die."
"How pathetic." Meridia scowled "You call yourself the Lord of Domination yet the moment you are faced with opposition you tuck your tail between your legs."
"Silence yourself, whore!" Molag ignored the now searing pain in his arm as he once more clutched his fist "You know damn well that it would have taken us days to get through their defenses, only you are arrogant enough to think we could take them on, especially with our legions permanently damaged."
"There are always more worthy heroes to become my Aurorans" Meridia smiled 'serenely' "And you can always take more sniveling worms and ascend them to be something beyond mere playthings."
The demon across her exhaled his growing fury "We are wasting our time talking in circles, what is done is done."
Meridia frowned "Reminding you of just how pathetic you are is never-"
"I told you to be silent, whore!" Molag Bal grew massively in size, a jagged mace the size of a tower forming in his hand "This alliance only exists because we hate the mortal more than we do each other, and I have better things to do than waste my time listening to your mewling little insults. Now tell me what is our next step or I will do the elf's work FOR HIM!"
Their observer was almost tempted to interfere but held back, deciding to enjoy the show instead of risking discovery for a plan that would probably not work at best.
Meridia's power shimmered just below the surface as she realized Bal was being entirely serious, her endless pride warring with good sense as she nearly summoned her replacement for Dawnbreaker-
The moment the name flashed in her mind, it was as if someone had poured a river of freezing water all over her, her current rage was instantly subsumed by the veritable sea of hatred she held for the one who had dared to insult her and still live after the fact.
She lowered her hand and stiffly nodded "Our cooperation is more important."
Bal glared at her before ever so slowly allowing his form to shrink "Speak then. Direct assault has already proven useless, and the others will not sit idly by if we provoke another Apocrypha."
"The cowards are so afraid they'd rather protect the mortal than end him." Meridia's scowl could not have been more pronounced as she spoke. She very nearly said that the fact they would be defended from a similar attack would be useful but neither of their prides would survive admitting to the fact.
Instead she focused on what she could affect "If we cannot go after him ourselves, and our agents are insufficient for the task, then the next obvious step must be followed."
"The Thalmor." The way the Lord of Domination said the name, he may as well have been talking about a particularly irritating bug too small to be worth the effort of scraping off his boot "You want us to empower them to do our work for us."
"They are a tolerable choice of servants" Meridia allowed herself the slightest glint in her eye "Why, some of them are closer to your own 'ideals' than my own." The ensuing growl had her very slightly raising her arms in placation "But my point remains, the mortals are far more numerous than our legions and there are some among their number who could very well be a danger in their own right."
"Which is the only reason I am even considering it." Molag grunted.
A beat of silence passed and Meridia pressed "So?"
"So" Her reluctant compatriot growled "We throw our power behind the elven idiots, and hope" the word was spoken as if it would make him violently ill "That they are able to win where Mora could not? That is your grand plan?"
"Yes." Meridia's face was utterly blank as she nodded "We find ourselves lacking in options, lest you forget."
Molag looked like he wanted to admit to anything but... but after a full minute of hateful glaring he forced himself to nod "Fine." And that was that "Do try not to embarrass us both, whore."
"Try to keep yourself from your distractions long enough so we can win, worm." Meridia spoke at exactly the same time.
The two did not wait for the other's response as they simply left, no doubt convincing themselves that they were the one who had the last word.
"Oh my" Their observer tittered, finally free of risk "How very, very, delectable."
===
Within the parallel to a very specific room of the White Gold Tower encompassed by the Spiral Skein, a dark skinned figure previously enshrouded by a pair of crystalline wings slowly sat up, blinking herself awake as she realized she was nowhere near where she remembered.
"Ah, finally awake my dear." Her attention was instantly drawn to a dangerously seductive red eyed elven woman of pale grey skin and midnight black hair "You took quite the thrashing, I was almost afraid my efforts were wasted."
"Where am I?" Ithelia immediately demanded, mangled powers tensing in a panic. All of her felt sluggish, so much so that even thinking was painful, but she would not allow herself another jail, not again.
"Within my guest room, of course." Mephala smiled, raising both hands placatingly "It is a bit of a new addition so do forgive me for the lack of entertainment."
A beat of tense silence passed.
"I was weak enough to be devoured." The Prince of Paths narrowed her eyes, spreading her senses wide enough to realize she was well and truly stuck in the middle of the Webweavers realm "Yet I am still alive, why?"
"Well now" Mephala clasped her hands and smiled brilliantly "I would say that preserving your life for a potential alliance was simply more efficient but that would be lying." She leaned in, not an ounce of threat in her movement "The truth is as they say, more entertaining than fiction, and the way my dear Chosen handled you was simply far too inspired to extinguish so swiftly."
The near-obsession echoing with the title nearly made Ithelia shudder "I see." She accepted everything else far too easily, entertainment was the reason Daedra did pretty much anything these days "And the reason I was not simply deposited back in my realm?"
"Well you do still owe me." Mephala smiled and winked "And what better way to pay it all back than joining my little... posse I do believe the word is."
"The same one who helped you use me as bait, and watched as I was tricked by an arrogant spirit?" Ithelia asked.
"And" Mephala rose her index finger and pointed it at her "The same one who helped you ensure dearest Hermaeus would meet his end. Do try to keep up dear, there is only soo much slowness one can excuse through battle wounds."
Ithelia felt the helplessness she was far too used to bubbling within her chest but understood she was nowhere near ready to stand on her own two feet just yet, pretending to consider the far too amused arch-schemer's proposition before very slowly nodding "Very well, am I to remain your... guest then?"
"Only until you are recovered enough not to fall over." Mephala clapped her hands cheerfully "Now that that is out of the way." She leaned in "Want to go and bother-" She did a pretend cough "Visit my dearest little immortal? I assure you, Nirn has only grown more interesting while Mora was exploring you with his tentacles."
Ithelia did shudder this time "Please never phrase it like that again."
"Like what?" Mephala tilted her head.
"Nevermind" Ithelia sighed "You seem to be forgetting the fact one of Akatosh's fully realized children is currently running around with the Chim-El Adabal dangling around her neck." That kind of existence usually meant she and those like her were not welcome.
"Oh don't you worry your pretty little head about it." Mephala patted said head and dodged out of the reflexive swat without the barest hint of effort "I have a special pass~"
'Is this feeling the reason most mortal wizards never leave their towers?' Ithelia pondered as she started considering smashing her head against a wall "Fine, just don't expect me to tolerate you for too long."
She was annoyed, not stupid.
"Excellent!" The far too peppy weaver of webs preened.
And in a flash they were elsewhere, the Aldmer tower they were in swiftly replaced by an elven palace, one of a variety the Prince of Paths was only vaguely familiar with.
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(Reyvin's POV)
"Greetings once again, my most favorite customer." The Dremora merchant grinned as he was summoned.
"Xelzaz." I greeted "How is business?"
"Booming as always, thanks to your patronage." The money demon's grin widened "Those Telvanni have deliciously deep vaults once you learn how to pry them open."
"With fair and honest trade dealings?" I narrowed my eyes, even if it felt distinctly heatless.
"But of course" He clutched at his heart as if horrified "I only offer the best products, and same day delivery at that! My premium is as always worth every single golden coin."
"Yes, yes, one of Mephala's own being honest, right." I deadpanned at him "Do you have it?"
Instead of answering, the Dremora opened one of the many drawers of his travelling stand, the far too small container quickly consuming his entire arm as he rummaged through it before he draw a large head sized ball of shimmering energies from within "It was a bit of a challenge to get my hands on this one, asking my lady for one would have been far simpler."
"And deprive you of a lucrative business opportunity?" I blink in 'surprise' "How could I ever do that to an honored business partner?"
"Yes, yes" He nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world and pushed the orb forward "One unreasonably stable, fully powered sigil stone straight from Mehrunes' own portal realms as requested."
I quickly scanned it to see if it was the real deal, Xelzaz had never cheated me but I needed to know if its parameters would suffice, and surprisingly enough they would "This will do." I said, more to myself than the Dremora.
"Most excellent." The demon clapped his hands before looking at me expectantly.
Still focused on the orb of power, I snapped my fingers and a long knife enchanted solely by my anti-outsider aspect over the course of a week flopped atop Xelzaz's stand, the Dremora flinching away as he felt the unassuming blade's presence.
For the first time since I summoned him all the way back in Winterhold, I saw him gulp in fear before very delicately using a pair of tongs to lay the weapon into a specially made stand.
"Satisfied?" I quirk an eyebrow as I deposit the sigil stone to my inventory.
He startled at my voice and nodded shakily "Completely. I see now why you are so feared."
"You were at Apocrypha." I deadpan "You already knew that."
"Ah, but I was too distracted" He composes himself "Serving my lady's wishes and all that."
"Looting Mora's libraries you mean?" My face remains firmly flat.
"Ah well" He scratches the back of his head "The spice must flow?"
"Indeed it must" I snort "Do compile all the texts you gathered and bring them with you the next time you are summoned, I will even throw in a bonus if you don't offer them to anyone else beforehand."
And his signature greedy grin was back like it had never left "But of course, always happy to serve such a loyal customer."
Rolling my eyes I wave him off and end the summoning.
"Too bad he was unable to get me more aetherium" I mutter, still feeling a tad miffed about that fact "But the sigil stone should do, it was used to power an entire interdimensional portal before Ulrika dealt with it."
"Indeed my master." Akulakhan nods, having remained utterly silent during Xelzaz's visit "Is it time then?"
"Not quite yet" I allow myself a sigh "The Great Lords have finally managed to schedule a proper council meeting between all the tasks I keep throwing at them so I have to attend that first." Will probably have to put out a fire or ten but such was the life of an absolutist monarch.
"I see." Is all Akulakhan said in response.
Something told me that if he had the hormones for it, he'd probably be fidgeting in anticipation or due to lack of patience right about now.
I went to reassure him but just then, out of the corner of the room stepped out a pair of familiar figures, one infinitely more expected than the other.
"Well now" I cupped my chin as Mephala outright dragged a pathetically weak projection of Ithelia with her "Isn't this a surprise."
Knowing Mephala, it really shouldn't have been one.
Comments
Rastislav
She is withdrawn due to multiple large losses (the Bretons shat on the Reachmen in the background)
Hakkira
Thank you kindly for the chapter π I am curious what Namira is up to as shouldn't she hate our boy too? I'm not sure if it is canon but the Falmer were most likely her followers based on her spheres of influence and their current lifestyle so not only has he attacked her followers, he has deprived her of a whole army of underground goblins...π€ Looking forward to seeing the other princes in the future π€©
StarlightGhoul
Hehehehehehhehhemuahhahaha. Getting more interesting. π Thanks for the chapters!
