Rastislav
patreon
Arc 8 Chapter XXIX: Meaty Literature Part Two, Fleshcrafted Bugaloo
🕑 Added 2024-11-11 23:08:35 +0000 UTC(Reyvin's POV)
There I was, in my study, sipping some delightful coffee while doing my utmost to make Edrassa's life uncomfortable as she tried to look confident in relaying to me her most recent progress in rebuilding the grand Dwemer forge we stol- appropriated.
That was of course, until suddenly messages began popping up on my Orb™ at great frequency, veritable essays thrown my way by Alor as he explained every single issue and discovery before him in exhaustive detail.
Something must have quite thoroughly shaken his confidence if he wanted to simply offload everything onto me like this but that kind of interrogation could wait for his return.
And then there was also the name he told me was written below the glassy corpse of a horned Dremora, one that was even now attempting to escape the grip of my mind which most definitely meant some form of Daedric fuckery.
It never would escape of course but the fact that it was still trying to was more than just a bit worrying.
Still, there were more important concerns to go over first, like planning on some curse-breaking once Alor returned so we could heal his missing hand that was struck by a Blade of Woe, or how to help him in locating Cicero's 'charge' without anyone noticing.
The latter took far greater precedent, something the snow elf understood thoroughly as I began sending him instructions for a sympathetic scrying ritual which should allow him to follow the connection between Cicero and the Night Mother to find the cursed corpse.
A small part of me suspected the creature had some way to escape its fate but a far greater part was already thinking on what I could use the void infused carcass.
'Make deathsticks.' Scorch immediately said while still lounging in my Magicka pool.
I immediately knew damn well to what he was referring to and muttered "Well, it would be funny at least."
Scorch chirped his agreement 'Fucking hilarious pops.'
"My lord?" Edrassa asked hesitantly.
Looking back up to the uncomfortable Dunmer I shook my head "Don't worry about it, just some inane ideas popping up in my mind."
Without bothering to wait for her response I returned to my Orb™
[Big D: So in short, use the ritual and follow it as far as you find reasonable. If you suspect an ambush I am fully expecting you to retreat, and if you have to choose between keeping the clown alive and letting him escape then you are allowed to remove the little bastard's head from his shoulders.]
[A-lore: As you wish. How long should we remain in the city once we get our hands on everything?]
[Big D: Since Hassildor was able to co-opt the city guard into his service and you brought a downright unreasonable amount of supplies with you you should only stay for a short while longer, a day or three just about. Best have our vampiric friend's forces do most of the heavy lifting so he can earn the trust of the people as he rebuilds.]
[A-lore: That is... probably wise.]
Could it be that things are worse than I expected? Perhaps a bit of interrogating would be in order.
[Big D: Something bothers you, Alor?]
There is a prolonged pause before I get his response.
[A-lore: I should have expected you would notice something. I lost twenty four of your household guards in the fighting, most of them died during the assault on the keep itself but some were unlucky in the streets as well.]
Ah.
[Big D: Those are reasonable losses.]
A very long pause ensues.
[A-lore: Pardon me, my lord, but what?!]
[Big D: Those are perfectly reasonable losses considering what you faced, Alor.]
[A-lore: But- But my lord, they are my responsibility! I can't just wave their deaths away!]
[Big D: And I am not expecting you to. You were fighting beings of great power and to expect you would not lose any of your followers would be idiocy of the highest order. And before you try and deflect this by using my low losses in recent times as an example I will remind you that I am far more powerful than you are.]
[A-lore: So is that it then? I should just grow stronger so no one dies again?]
[Big D: Expecting to never lose anyone is idiocy of the highest order. They were soldiers, they knew they were fighting for something greater than themselves and they were ready to lay down their lives for it. Death is a natural part of life, as I once taught you. Respect that.]
[A-lore: I... very well. It will not be easy but I will try and accept it.]
[Big D: Good, there are still those relying on you to guide them and you wallowing in self pity will dishonor both them and the fallen. Contact me once you discover anything and do make sure to purchase that manor you mentioned, I did some minor research about Skingrad and the building belonged to some of Minthara's ancestors after the crisis, it ought to make a good gift.]
[A-lore: I will have to search it first as it was the rebel's main base but I will do as you ask.]
[Big D: Good, make sure to get some rest as well once you are done with the immediate issues, tiring yourself out will help no one. Take a sleeping concoction if you can't do it naturally.]
He gives his hesitant affirmation and gets back to work.
I fully expected this moment to come once I gave him his command. The soldiers I assigned him were my elite so they were obviously going to be able to facetank most blunders he made but there were always going to be casualties, even if admittedly he did lose a bit more than I expected.
Probably due to the clown fuck now that I think on it.
I would definitely need to question Anondor about the minutiae of Alor's performance, the younger elf was incredibly bright most of the time and almost as importantly loyal to a fault but I needed to see how he dealt with working under pressure.
And as callous as it may sound the best way to test his abilities were situations like this, a mission to put down some rebels and hunt down a few admittedly powerful assassins. It was relatively safe ground but still carried risks, as we both learned today.
Still, it would be worth it in the end. I could not be expected to lead every single minor thing personally and as good as Davos, even if he still refused to admit it, and Nightshade were having only two reliable leaders would just not cut it and the rest just didn't show much promise in the field.
There would have probably been some grumbling if I inserted him in a military rank, as my soldiers were internally organized in the Redoran style of meritocracy instead of the more loose formation of most other forces save for the Legion to a much lesser extent.
Giving him a leadership position in a more overarching sense was perfectly acceptable though, can't have people thinking you can earn a spot at the top without connections, now can we?
Nepotism for the win and all that.
As for Anondor and why I didn't simply put him in command of the whole thing?
He was old, like incredibly old even by elven standards and his mindset reflected that. His first mission in life baring noting else was to serve Auri-El and he did that with his sword and shield. He had an understanding of tactics but it was nothing impressive by modern Tamrielic standards and it was best to start nurturing someone not quite so set in their ways.
Also unlike his fellows who swore to guard the Chantry during their lifetime, Anondor swore to protect me and my descendants until his dying breath, something he could not do if he was sent to lead long term missions and command greater forces.
Me being the literal savior of his people and their unofficial King, they liked to puff themselves up even with their distinctly lacking numbers it would seem, had him leaving the usual duties of a Paladin behind with very little reluctance.
Seeing how Alor had cut the connection off from his end, I shook the barrage of thoughts away and turned to Edrassa, who had by this point grown bored with being uncomfortable in my presence and was absentmindedly staring at the titles of some of the books I had on nearby shelves.
Clearing my throat just a bit too loudly, I almost cackled as she jumped in her seat, her pale grey face darkening considerably as she tried and failed not to glare at me.
"Anyway, where were we?" I asked with a downright saintly smile.
Knowing she could do nothing about it, she took a deep breath and proceeded to spend the following hour elaborating on her grand plan for a semi-automated factory of our lesser automatons, the ideas she had come up with being downright revolutionary by Tamrielic standards.
My eyebrows nearly disappeared in my hairline as I kept listening to her and by the time she was done I started at her for a long moment. Just as she as about to start squirming again I spoke "I am genuinely impressed by all this. You will have all the support you need to develop your ideas as much as reasonably possible."
Stunned by the genuine praise, she straight up gaped at me for a full minute before realizing what she was doing and visibly holding back a facepalm "I- my lord- I..." She took a sharp breath "Thank you."
Don't worry, you will go back to hating me in a day or two.
-----
Hours later, after I was finally done discussing things with my unofficial tonal apprentice, I opened a secret passage in the back of my study, the stone brick wall splitting apart as I walked into the large hidden chamber filled to the brim with artifacts worthy of a small war.
And at the center of it all, atop a podium radiating power and funneling the same to its peak, stood a book. A familiar book in fact, a disgusting yellowish green thing with pulsating veins that seemed to move around its surface without rhyme or reason.
The fleshy book still looked as disgusting as ever, the soul within slowly awakening under my gaze after months upon months of slumber.
Without waiting overlong, I opened to the tome and wrote: A fair day to you, Ariovistus. Have you slept well?
It was never a bad idea to be polite when you needed something from someone.
There was a distinct delay in the soul before it began vibrating for the lack of a better word and text began appearing atop the page: I greet you once more, Lord Dagoth. My sleep was indeed sound, thank you for asking.
A shame you slept for so long however. I write down, unable to hold myself back: Alduin has fallen already and we are now in Cyrodiil.
Once more the soul hesitated for a while before responding: Cyrodiil you say? Excellent! Have you been able to discover the great works and writings of Ariovistus Max yet?
I couldn't help but snort at the sudden enthusiasm: No, I am afraid not. Dealing with an empire on the precipice of failure takes far too much time for one to engage in leisure reading.
I totally had the time but I wasn't about to admit to the book I completely forgot about his supposed fame as a writer. Well, saying I forgot would be a lie, forgetting something that happened this year was a dubious prospect at best with my mental stats, classified as unimportant would be more fitting I suppose.
The book radiated sadness for a moment before it was all promptly buried below a sea of bluster: But of course! One must indeed have priorities in their life and enjoying the art that is my work is a luxury that needs to be sampled with deliberation! How else would one understand my deep metaphors and hidden lessons?
His false confidence would have been endearing... if it wasn't so bloody sad.
Throwing those useless thoughts into the tiny corner of my mind still reserved for anything surpassing the most basic of morality, I began to write: I find myself in need of your assistance once again.
The book hummed: But of course my good sir! The great Ariovistus is as always at your service!
Nodding to myself I went on: You have told me that you spent an inordinate amount of time in Apocrypha studying all of the Daedra. My people have recently come into contact with a particular name that resonates in a certain way yet this is the first time I have heard of it.
The soul practically leapt into responding even before I was done writing: You, good sir, have just piqued my curiosity most thoroughly!
Right, hopefully he would be able to tell me something about a name that I have not heard in either of my lives, or at least I don't think I ever did... best keep my expectations low just in case: Good. Now, Ariovistus, what can you tell me about Ithelia?
