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Arc 8 Chapter LX: A Special Breed Of Knife Ear
🕑 Added 2025-01-03 19:37:15 +0000 UTC(Reyvin's POV, earlier)
For what felt like the millionth time I found myself cursing my childish arrogance as the far too violent energies of a gods damned death mountain attempted to turn me into soul slush and use me as a snack.
'Oh yeah Reyvin, just piggyback an ascension off a ritual, what could possibly go wrong?!'
It felt like a decade had passed as I sat there in the storm of ash, even if I knew intellectually that it had only been minutes, most of my thoughts and reasoning crushed utterly by the constantly surging waves of power ever so inexorably threatening to turn me into so much broken memory.
But I was a stubborn and spiteful little bastard, not to mention a rather brilliant one at that. My preparations stopped me from getting shredded and bought me time to get my shit together, my power and divinity gave me the ability to interact with the raging winds, and my shroud, that beautiful piece of art, protected my soul even now.
It started slow but soon I found myself funneling the energies of the ritual to where they were supposed to go, a few grooves in the ground incapable of accomplishing such a complex action no matter how powerful, all the while I hoped against hope that Kyne wouldn't bail on me.
Because for all my preparations and planning, all that energy had to go somewhere, and while I would certainly take a lot for my own purposes far too much remained to simply be shunted back into the mountain to explode a few centuries later.
So the obvious choice was to redirect it into blessing the land instead of cursing it, which is why I yoinked an Eldergleam branch after offering the proper prayers and bonking the Allmighty Wind Mommy into awakening with my infantile divinity.
All in all, it took me a few hours and a teleport, it was super easy, barely an inconvenience.
My internal sarcasm must have registered as some kind of prayer because after an unknowable amount of time I finally felt a connection flickering and in the turbulent whirlwind that was the ash currently surrounding me I felt a surge of fresh air, like a morning breeze carrying with it the smell of spring dew.
It made my very soul feel awake.
Another influence soon joined, destructive yet nurturing, then came the sun, gentle yet lifegiving, with a distinct sense of 'you better not fuck this up, I don't want to timesnap this place', followed soon by a trio of gazes of whom two hesitated before getting dragged in by the third and I felt magic stir and my determination be bolstered, and all of this be covered behind a veil of web so that no other could join in.
Feeling the shift in the air, my blood that was not blood burned in anticipation and another surge of power struck me, this time aiming to join me and not the mountain and now instead of being shredded I felt all of myself bloat beyond reason.
Gritting teeth I did not have I held on for dear life and slowly began noticing change taking place.
There was something there, at the edge of my vision, beckoning me to look at it and promising an infinity and beyond if only I were to reach out but I held back. That way led to ego death and I would have none of its poisoned gifts.
Take your CHIM and shove it!
Layer after layer smacked into me but the fact I knew my plan was working bolstered my confidence with each passing second, giving me just enough grit to keep going even as my soul began to ache.
I only faltered for a moment when I felt the idiot bird join me, my worry overpowering me for but a moment and nearly getting me crushed before I once more grit my proverbial teeth and focused on surviving.
He was on his own for now.
Finally, after what felt like decades of being too little butter spread onto too much bread I felt the ritual complete, and the power shift in nature, bursting our in waves upon waves of distinctly positive energies as it did.
I almost felt sorry for any undead hanging about.
The air stilled, all my sight still covered in ash for a long quiet moment, before my ego reasserted itself and I felt the ash surge back toward a central point, toward me.
And with an almost audible snap, my eyes opened.
Never have I felt quite so... alive. So much so that, as was tradition at this point, I began laughing, the noise coming straight from the soul as I felt like a weight had been lifted from my everything, the numerous influences constantly bothering me retreating from the greater being that now took the elf's place.
Naturally the world decided this was the perfect time to bring me back into reality.
[Quest Completed]
"Ow!" I something smack me in the head far too hard and immediately grabbed the book that was for whatever reason deposited right above my head.
This is when another voice joined my own "Mission passed, Respect+"
And was promptly smacked in the head by said book "Oi! What the fuck pops?!" Scorch squawked as the book disappeared into my inventory.
"What the fuck were you thinking?" I turn to the bird, and am momentarily stunned by just how bright and vibrant his flames were and how peaceful the air around him was. Naturally I ignore all that and immediately flick a pebble at his stupid head "Do you have any idea how risky that was?"
"Uh huh" He deadpans "If you die I die dumbass, we've been over this."
"Which wouldn't be an issue since I had everything under control" I point at him.
He just stares at me blankly and repeats "Uh huh"
I poke him in the head, much to his dismay "I" Poke "Had" Poke "Everything" Poke "Under" Poke "Control."
He pecks my finger, only for his beak to simply pass through it as if it were moving through loose ash, the digit reforming the instant the obstruction disappeared.
Both of us stare at what just happened for a good ten seconds ""Huh""
"You feel that?" He asks.
"Nope" I shrug.
He pecks my hand this time, causing much the same result.
Well now "Neat."
"Neat?" He deadpans "That is all you have to say?"
"Thefuck do you expect me to do?" I ask "Squee like a little girl?"
"Do it bitch." Is his instant reply.
"No."
"Coward" He chirps/huffs.
Rolling my eyes I shift the topic "You also seem to have changed."
His little eyes widen and he starts checking himself out before seemingly not noticing anything different and then closing said eyes which then snapped open in what almost looked like panic.
"And?" I ask as I lean at the tree behind me 'Right, that was now a thing.'
He stares at his wing for a long moment before letting out a chirpy laugh "Oh I am all sunfire now. Got a blessing from Auri-El too..."
"Neat." I repeat with a shiteating grin.
He makes the closest approximation to a growl a bird is capable of and glares at me "Alright you twat, check your notifications before I blow myself the fuck up."
"Fiiiine" I definitely do not whine at my procrastination being discovered so easily.
[Reyvin of Great House Dagoth]
[Age: 21]
[Race: Dunmer => Ashen Ehlnofey]
[Fireblood => Heart of The Mountain: Once its child, now its master, you are of Red Mountain, and now it too is of you.
Complete immunity to fire, immense control over fire, immensely empowered fire magic.
You do not die, and are merely banished to the Heart Chamber upon defeat.]
[Lorkhansblood => Lorkhansson: A true demigod and kin to the Aedra, acknowledged by Lorkhan and blessed by his domains, your first Kalpa awaits oh child of the trickster.]
[Reyvin's Reticence (Upgrade) Freed from such petty limitations as emotional filters, you may now use your power at will and even bless those following you with enough skill]
[Ashen Constitution: Ash forms all that is you in the physical world, granting immunity to most mortal troubles and a great resistance to most damage. You must be crushed both physically and mentally before being banished. You may retain the use of your mortal functions at will.]
[STR: 85 => 110]
[Dex: 90 => 115]
[Vit: 121 => 250]
[Mind: 126 => 250]
[Mag: 2150 => 5000 (25000)]
[Div 100 => 1000]
[Greater Aspects: Anti-Outsider, Ash+]
[Lesser Aspects: Mortality, Defiance, Deceit, Fire+, Life+]
[Ashen Bond => Sunfire Bond: The Solar Hawk, having ingested the energies of Red Mountain as it was being blessed by Auri-El himself has drawn upon that blessing and ascended to the status of a Nascent Phoenix, eternity awaits.]
All I can do as I finish reading through is stop myself from descending into another bout of giggles. If the mere feeling made me finally loosen up and relax, then reading it was like getting a divine ordainment that all would be well if I didn't fuck up massively.
It was so very liberating.
"Soooo?" The bird appears in front of me "Did it work properly?"
"Let's just say Mehrunes' joke is no longer completely inaccurate" I chuckle "The Altmer are going to throw such a fucking fit..."
Both of us spend a moment imagining their expressions.
Snapping my fingers I turn fully to him "Oh and you are a baby Phoenix now, congratulations!"
He stares at me for a while before his beak curls ever so slightly "Neat."
I kick him into the tree and he dematerializes with a squawk.
'Disrespectful little shit' I snort and get up, my movements feeling so effortless and swift a normal person wouldn't even notice me get up. Patting myself down and confirming that my equipment did indeed survive and wasn't about to fall through me like the most horrific scenario my mind came up with, I smiled and left the little indent in the tree.
"Though calling it a tree would be rather... boring" I mutter and look up at the majestic new heart of the mountain, feeling a connection with it almost as intimate as the one I had with Scorch.
'Ga-' Whack.
"Magmagleam?" I frown "No that is too lazy... Mountaingleam? Does it even have to have gealm in the name though..."
"Firegleam?" A familiar voice purrs into my ear, not surprising me one bit "Simple is best sometimes dear~"
I turn around and come face to face with the trio of Daedra who sent me here "Firegleam it is" I shrug and smirk "What brings you three wonderful ladies to my new Heart Chamber?"
Mephala smirks back but lets Azura speak first "You..." She narrows her eyes, seemingly looking for any reason to disparage me or lessen my achievement. But not even the little shit I was could make Azura deny the blessing I just gave 'her' people, and she knew it well.
Taking an unnecessary breath, the Lady of Dusk And Dawn spoke "You have accomplished the task given to you, and while your irreverence is" Mephala clears her throat, causing Azura to momentarily close her eyes "Grating" She goes on "It cannot be denied that you have gone well and truly beyond of what was asked of you."
"I am glad to have proven myself" I offer her a flamboyant bow "Though I admit the walk was a bit unnecessary."
"Do not try and dance around me with words, child" Azura narrows her eyes "I know well that you used the time to further your goals."
Not a word leaves me as I just keep smirking at her.
Finally done with her posturing she sighs "Very well" And I feel a by now familiar touch of foreign power "No strings shall be attached, my child. Bear your reward with pride."
"Don't mind if I do" I grin and feel Azura's blessing join the many others.
[Blessing of Dusk And Dawn: Boosts mysticism and Magicka regeneration/control]
She doesn't bother speaking further and steps back. I had her begrudging respect, but she didn't suddenly start enjoying my presence.
Boethiah now stands at the head of their little trio, and for once her expression isn't severe but is instead one of pride as she looks down at me with a barely contained grin "When I spoke to Veloth and showed him the Psijik Path I fully expected none would ever achieve it."
"Cunt" I snort.
She stops containing her grin "Consider me pleasantly surprised then, that instead of a coward hiding behind borrowed power and poor humor stood someone bold enough to achieve what you just did." She waves her hand and I feel another blessing take hold "Use your power as you will, you have certainly earned it."
[Minor Blessing of The Warrior => Boethiah's Blessing: Increased mastery of all things warfare.]
'Huh, forgot I even had that one'
"Our priests will tell all of the trinity of blessings you now bear" Azura speaks again "Do not misuse such authority" And with that the two of them disappear without another word, leaving behind only Mephala.
"So" I spread my arms as if to present the sight behind me "How do you like the new place?"
"Very traditional Bosmeri." She grins teasingly.
I deflate in an instant "Fuck, it really does, doesn't it?"
"Oh there, there" She appears next to me and pats my shoulder "Your deathfire tree is much better than the Valenwood, I assure you. Much less hungry for its inhabitants too!"
"I am calling it that out of spite" I grumble and her smile practically sparkles.
Accepting the inevitable defeat I ask "So, happy with your scheme?"
"I am sure I have no idea what you are talking about" She covers her mouth with a hand "Why would I, the terrible murderous Webweaver ever organize such a convoluted series of events just to save my favorite pack of Mer?"
Cupping my chin, I narrow my eyes "False modesty doesn't suit you."
"And authority suits you~" She purrs back and leans onto me and whispers silkily into my ear "How about we... celebrate your ascension, hmmmm?"
Crossing my arms with a huff I give her a pointed look.
"Yes, yes I am well aware of your mortal hang-ups dear, but you need to let a woman hope~" She raises her hands in faux surrender and smirks coyly before turning to leave.
Not without looking back one final time though "I am not worried though, after all..." An edge of pure mania and obsession enters her gaze "We now have all the time in the worlds."
And with a pop she is gone.
Suddenly feeling just a tiny bit worried I find myself staring at her previous spot for a few seconds too many, long enough for Scorch to materialize atop my shoulder with a glint in his eyes "Would."
I facepalm.
------------------
A/n: A full updated statline for your perusal
[Reyvin of Great House Dagoth]
[Race: Ashen Ehlnofey] [Age: 21]
[STR: 85 => 110]
[Dex: 90 => 115]
[Vit: 121 => 250]
[Mind: 126 => 250]
[Mag: 2150 => 5000 (25000)]
[Div 100 => 1000]
[Greater Aspects: Anti-Outsider, Ash]
[Lesser Aspects: Mortality, Defiance, Deceit, Fire, Life]
[Skills]
[Mage]
Destruction Master (Elemental Malleability)
Restoration Expert
Alteration Master
Conjuration Expert (Summons list: Scorch, Shackled Reach, Skittering Swarm, The Changed Ones 13/50)
Mysticism Master (Sight Beyond Sight)
Illusion Master (Psionics)
Enchantment Master (Dwemertech Master)
Potioncraft Adept
Expert Tongue
[Warrior]
Sword Expert
Pole Expert
Dagger Expert
[Thief]
Adept Sneak
[Abilities]
Ancestral Summon (Racial)
Magnus' Gaze (Divine Blessing)
[Traits]
Heart Of The Mountain: Indestructible Philactery bound to the Tower that is Red Mountain, fire immunity up to and including supernatural flames, immense increase to both fire control and power
Lorkhansson: Divinity Source, Domains of Lorkhan
Reyvin's Reticence: Expression of Divinity, power in tune with your Magicka it works best against "outsiders" such as Aedra or Daedra. May be used to grant blessings.
Ashen Constitution: Lesser Invulnerability
Sunfire Bond: Scorch (Nascent Phoenix)
Allseeing Third Eye
Greater Dunmer Paragon
Greater Falmer Paragon
Honored Nordic Paragon
Unbound
Dovah-Thur
Mephala's Blessing (Chosen): Deceit
Kyne's Blessing: Healing
Mehrunes' Blessing: Destruction
Auri-El/Akatosh's Blessing: Time and Sun
Zenithar's Blessing: Crafting
Azura's Blessing: Mysticism
Boethiah's Blessing: Warfare
[Equipment]
[Sharmat's Reach: The pinnacle of Tamrielic craft, these rings are enough for one to declare themselves a Sorcerer King by the simple virtue of wearing them.
Eyehold: Channeling the Eye of Magnus is twice as efficient.
Aetherius Descended: Quintuples Magicka reserves without limitation.
Untouchable: Violently distorts space once the bearer is sufficiently threatened]
[Dragonfell Amulet: The bane of time spirits and their progenitors.
Provides the bearer with immense resistance to temporal effects.]
[Vestments Of The Blasphemer: Vestments of Dagoth, the greatest of his line. Highly protective and comfortable, they are made in such a way that they shall remain the same forevermore without any need for maintenance.
Blasphemy Unbound: Channels and guides the bearer's divinity in a far more controlled and efficient fashion. Can only be worn by one of Dagoth's blood.
Heavy layered ebony plate mail (Weightless)
Provides ten times the normal regeneration of Magicka.
Absorbs spells of immense potency (up to 500 Magicka per second)
Aetherial Escape: Transforms the bearer into their soul form, slows time, and grants immense speed in case of grave danger or injury.]
[Mercy's End: Transfer's the effect of the blade attached onto spells (Excluding rule-breaker).]
[War-Crown of Kogoruhn: A crown fit for a lord among sorcerers, infused with the soul of an ancient necromancer Queen of divine blood, this crown is one that even Daedra would covet.
Royal Guard: Satisfies the Magicka needs of up to 26 powerful bound creatures on its own.
Draconic aspect: The tiny strand of Akatosh's power empowers the wearer's voice while at the same time allowing for greater thu'um to be used without risk.
Draconic defenses: Resist all damage (10%)
Dread Aura: All. Shall. Bow.]
[The Blade of Blasphemy: A blade once carrying the sun's radiance now usurped by mortal hands, it shall forever carry the taint of such a deed.
Vorpal Blade: The smallest cut becomes grievous injury.
Bane of Undead: A mere touch destroys all but the strongest of undead.
Rule Breaker: No binding survives the strike of this weapon.]
[The Shroud of Reyvin: An item not meant for mortal hands yet one made by them, none may observe the bearer against their will while they are covered in its silken grasp.
Self-repairing, soul-bound, intangible, eternal
Lighteater: The shroud will consume anything that might make the bearer noticeable, whether it be light or sound, in such a way as to make physically detecting the bearer near impossible.
Hallowed Seclusion: Any kind of metaphysical sense is blocked completely. From mere magic sight to conceptual detection, not even death itself will find the bearer while hidden under the shroud.
Soulshroud: The bearer's soul is intangible to all and cannot be interacted with without their express permission.]
[Auri-El's Bow: The sun shall burn away the wicked.
All arrows loosed from this bow deal massively increased damage against any creature which might be considered 'dark' or 'wicked' the effect is further increased if the arrows are properly sunhallowed.]
[The Mortal's Razor
Lifedrinker: Steals lifeforce in an almost perfect ratio and stores it for later use.
Spider's Own Liar: Grants power over all lies, allowing an extremely minor form of reality manipulation with enough lifeforce used.
Destruction Incarnate: All strikes which may be considered as 'Critical' activate a surge of conceptual destruction, doing immense damage and ignoring all defenses.
Ambition Incarnate: This weapon is capable of doing damage to anything and everything.
Unstitchable: Wounds caused by this weapon are far harder to heal.]
[Surge: Greatly improves the wielder's ability to channel vast quantities of Magicka]
[Void's Blink: Even while chained, the Void desires to slay and destroy all.
Reveals the weakest points, anything from physical to outright conceptual, granting the bearer the chance to strike down anything with enough preparation.]
