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Arc 8 Chapter LXXXII: The Solstheim Issue
🕑 Added 2025-02-13 21:59:39 +0000 UTC(Reyvin's POV)
As decided as the two of us may have been by the end of our talk, the actual negotiations still took hours after we returned, even if everyone could easily see things were a done deal.
There was some grumbling from my subjects about the whole Minthara being a human thing but even in Morrowind her deeds and power had a reputation and when someone can shout a mountain off the map people tended to forget about such little details as racial differences.
That and they knew better than to tell me what I could and could not do.
Still, most of the actual negotiations had to do with migratory rights and trade as since Morrowind was now on the rapid route to prosperity people were already getting ideas about settling in the current 'land of opportunity' as it were.
And as much as I'd have liked to just grab any potential hard worker looking for a new lease on life I still had to somewhat respect the opinions of those under me and so while I managed to permit some very minor human immigration, most of the actual permissions were focused on the Dunmeri diaspora, whom I pretty much gave carte blanche to return and claim the land I offered to the rest of our people.
As far as trade went, both sides agreed to massively reduce tolls on each other's goods for the duration of twenty years, so as to give the new landowners a chance to build themselves up on the cheap.
It was a very simple decision in both idea and practice as lower tolls would mean traders would be able to offer their goods at much lower prices for the same amount of profit, and while I totally expected some idiots to try and use the chance to just make more money I had confidence that they would be outcompeted by those with more capability for long-term planning.
Well that, and both the Sadras and the reformed Camonna Tong would be following my directions and they would definitely keep their prices to a reasonable level simply because I could punish them much more harshly than some random trader.
Mostly because objectively speaking minor traders' lives weren't treated as all that valuable so even if I offed them it would still be considered minor by the smug fuckers.
My economical prowess (read: common fucking sense) aside, by the time the negotiations were over the sun had already begun to rise and after offering everyone breakfast and giving them one final toast, I excused myself and signaled for Minthara and her posse to follow me alongside of a few of my own people.
-----
We found ourselves atop one of the conveniently cleared-out bastion towers of Kragenmoor, the very same tower I remember planning out the siege now that I think on it.
Having made sure we were not being observed I finally turned to everyone, focusing on Minthara, and bluntly spoke "An issue has cropped up that is going to be taking both of our attentions for a time."
"What is it?" She asks immediately, sounding almost excited about it the idea.
"First" I raise a finger and look to Davos "What do we know of Solstheim?"
"The little island up northwest?" The elf currently leaning on one of the battlements asks "Not much beside some issues with their local goblins from what I know." He shrugs "It wasn't really a priority so that is all I've got."
"Sosthem you say?" Savos perks up "I think we received a request from aid from them at the college, no one was truly interested but Marwyn wanted to test his new... prowess and chose to go after some goading from Phineas."
"When was this?" I ask with a slight frown.
Savos hums, shakes his hand a bit "Around... two weeks ago?"
I give him a pointed stare "And you did not think to tell me?"
"What do you want me to say?" He gives me a dry look "We were on the eve of battle and distracting you with something relatively minor is not something you ever told me to consider."
My retort pauses in my throat "Yeah, that's fair."
"Pardon me, Flame-Tongue" The voice of one Skirnir Stormcloak joins the conversation, the Nord looking rather confused with the entire situation "But would you please stop being cryptic about the situation and actually tell us what the problem is?"
"Yeah" Marco drawls from his seat atop a battlement "I am sure this is all kinds of entertaining to you but the rest of us mortals are getting worried."
"That sounds like a you problem" I fire back and before Minthara herself can interject I raise my hands placatingly "But yes, I will tell you now. I have reason to believe there is some Daedric fuckery of the highest order going on there and that it will become a much greater problem if not dealt with soon."
The group reacts rather predictably as all of them suddenly grow much more tense.
It is Savos who breaks the ensuing silence "And how problematic are we talking here?"
"If my hunch is right?" I ask aloud "It could easily fuck the whole world over if it goes catastrophically wrong, seeing as it involves a certain tentacular lord of knowledge and his pet Dragonborn." Ignoring the sudden intakes of air I smirk and add "Oh and we can't forget their pet dragons of course!"
Minthara looks the most worried of all, even if her expression remains perfectly controlled I can feel her very sudden and very visceral need to know everything I do. But she manages to hold back and asks "And how long have you known about this... other Dragonborn?"
"A bit" I lie as easily as I breathe "I've been investigating the squid fuck for a while now and my... allies in Oblivion were rather forthcoming with the information after I was done doing them a few favors on Nirn."
"Your allies in Oblivion?" I hear Stormcloak mutter.
I turn to him with a dry look "I am the bloody Hortator" I hear Nerevar quietly chuckling somewhere behind me "You'd think the individuals I am talking about would be rather obvious."
The Nord warrior blinks "Ah."
"Yes, ah." I drawl, much to the amusement of my fellow Dunmer "As I was saying this is an issue that will need dealing with sooner rather than later and since it involves fuckery of the highest scale part of me is of the opinion that only Minthara and I should go."
She looks rather excited at the prospect, as one might expect.
"Only part of you?" Savos asks tersely, obviously worried that I'd actually go for it.
"Only part" I nod "The other one thinks fuck that and I should bring all the help I might need since doing otherwise would be fucking stupid."
'Ah so now you don't want to be stu-'
The eternal annoyance is promptly whacked for its impertinence, and ignoring the indignant squawk of the poor fool I focus back on reality "We will obviously not be going there immediately as simply disappearing would be asking for trouble but we should go to Solstheim in a month at most."
Mephala may have said I had three months but I wasn't about to leave it to the last moment.
"Well, I am obviously going" Minthara speaks up, only somewhat hiding her eagerness "And as much as I'd like to just fly there immediately you are quite right about the possible problems. The Imperial City is going to grow... excited" She looks away "At the news of our engagement and an excited city of that size is not a problem I want to deal with."
"And just after the slums were finally taken care of." Marco adds with a smirk.
"Yes, that" She gives him a nod "I don't want to give the idiots any reason to riot so we will probably have to make a few appearances here and there and crack a few heads while we are at it."
"Guess I will be employing both the guild and Hassildor sooner than I expected then" I hum, and as everyone gives me a look "What? Some idiots are obviously going to be stirring shit up, and I am not about to let them."
"Yes, I was just about to get to that" Minthara clears her throat "I'd employ the Pennitus Occulatus for the job but..."
"They are undermanned and only a few are actually competent" I finish for her, drawing a momentary look of frustration from the still silent Junia. Being my most delightful self I naturally add "Don't worry yourself Junia, I think you are plenty competent."
Marco laughs his ass off and the agent looks somewhere between flipping me off and actually trying to stab me, which of course leaves her stuck vibrating in the spot.
"I myself have a question" Nerevar finally speaks up.
Just as I was about to ask him what he wanted to know, Minthara directed her gaze at him "Who are you exactly?"
He says nothing and Minthara slowly shifts her gaze to Davos who just raises his hands in faux surrender "Don't look at me like that, all I know is that he has been hanging around Boss ever since they returned from Vvardenfell and is a complete monster in battle. Besides Boss seems to trust him and I don't feel like asking questions, feels like all I'd get is a headache."
Savos chortles.
Minthara hums along and once more faces Nerevar "Well?"
"My, my." The ancient elf chuckles "Children these days are so demanding."
The Dreaded Dragon Overlady is not amused.
His eyes meet mine and I give him a shrug, it was his choice if he wanted to reveal himself ultimately.
I hear him grumble something about responsibility under his helm before he ever so slowly removes it, revealing his rather unique haircut and the equally unique tattoos on his face "Allow me to introduce myself since you are so insistent" He smirks and bows with an elaborate flourish "Indoril Nerevar, at your service."
Davos palms his face with both hands and groans in despair.
"Hold on" Marco nearly falls off the battlement as he jumps up "Nerevar as in-"
"As in my predecessor, yes" I cut in dryly.
"So as you can plainly see, I have very good reason to be here" Said ex-Hortator goes on as he rights himself.
Minthara blinks in surprise before narrowing her eyes "Hold on, if you are who you say you are then why-"
"Why not take my 'rightful' place?" He asks with airquotes.
She nods "Yes."
"Because I've long since grown tired of dealing with others." He simply shrugs and points his thumb at me "Besides, your man here is obviously doing a much better job than I ever could. I even wanted to retire but the youngster convinced me otherwise."
"I thank you for helping him then" She gives him a thin but genuine smile to which he just inclines his head, and then she turns to me "So, you managed to convince the First Hortator that you would be the better choice? And to top it off then had him follow you, and did not boast about it?"
"Does that really surprise you?" I quirk an eyebrow.
"No" She shakes her head "I wanted to say that it all tracks."
"Why thank you" I grin and bow dramatically, before turning to the rest of the crowd "We will be going into more detail once we return to Cyorodiil, but does anyone have any pertinent questions that need immediate answering?"
"How long do we have at most?" Davos asks immediately, now completely ignoring Nerevar's whole existence like he was the plague.
"Two and a half months I'd say" I answer conservatively "So just over a month long operation. See to the planning if you would."
"Sure thing, Boss." He nods.
"Anyone else?" I ask and receiving their negatives as they were all still processing the threat I start walking away, waving for Minthara to follow me once more.
"You did not tell them everything." She points out as we stroll across the walls, politely greeting the bowing guards but otherwise ignoring them.
"That is because it will not truly concern them in the long run" I say a bit cryptically.
She frowns "Oh?"
I grow silent and after we pass yet another patrol, I finally speak "Unfortunately, we will probably have to enter Apocrypha to deal with all this."
"Apocrypha" She mutters "Well, that is certainly an adventure at least. How sure are you?"
"Near definitely." I grunt.
"And you don't think they would survive inside?" She asks.
I pause "Maybe Nerevar and Akulakhan but the latter might cause some avoidable issues."
"And Nerevar?" She asks, obviously still a bit dubious about his presence.
"I will ask and he will decide." I shrug "He'd be able to survive there but he is still thoroughly mortal in his nature, even if his soul is no doubt ridiculously resilient at this point, so it would still be a minor risk."
She obviously files the whole 'mortal' bit for later but remains focused on the topic "So who is this Dragonborn you mentioned?"
"Good on you for keeping that question for so long" I chuckle and she huffs "Have you ever heard the tale of the First Dragonborn?"
She shakes her head "I don't think so? Unless you are talking about Empress Alessia of course."
"There were many more Dragonborn than just those who founded their empires" I point out "We need to go even further back in history, even before the dragon war, when dragons still ruled Skyrim and a young man was born into their cult."
"A young man named Miraak."
Comments
Hakkira
Thank you kindly for the chapter 😁
StarlightGhoul
Ooooooooo what a great chapter!!!!!! So exciting! Thank you for such a marvelous read!
