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"Hear me, o people of Cyrodiil!" he cried, his voice being carried to everyone in the courtyard. "Look well upon the Cathedral of Dibella; Look at the faces of the dead. This is your future. Evil has returned, and the Nine need a champion! Is there no one who would stand for the Nine? Now Mara’s children cry out from ... |
From the first word the crowd was hooked, listening and watching his every motion as he gestured and raised and lowered his voice in perfect cadence to draw attention and emphasised his words. Every syllable was perfectly placed and every word was precisely enunciated. It was obvious why Viconia had chosen to attend t... |
"Most of this I don’t understand." She said as the Prophet continued with his speech. His words had hushed the crowd but neither Viconia or I were gripped by the same religious fervour that held sway over those around us. "The names he mentions seem important but I have no idea who they are." |
"I’m not surprised." Listening carefully, I nodded despite he being unable to see the motion. "He’s talking about the creation of the First Empire during the Alessian Rebellion." |
"Must have happened a long time ago." |
"Three or Four thousand years." I shrugged and jostled her with the movement. "Give or take a few centuries." |
"Who are the individuals that he’s talking about?" |
Blowing out a breath I puffed my cheeks in thought. "That is a history lesson that could take days to explain, but simply put mankind used to be enslaved by the Ayleids. Alessia led the rebellion to gain freedom and as the stories go the gods sent her help." |
"This Pellennial Whitestruck?" |
"Pelinal Whitestrake." I corrected. "He and the demiprince Morihaus were sent to assist her and mankind in gaining their freedom. Pelinal was a great warrior." |
"Right up until he got killed at least." |
I couldn’t help but laugh at her tone. "You seem to be picking up surfacer history." |
"Such deaths interest me. He must have had a name for himself for the Ayleids to go to the effort of cutting him up into pieces and scattering him about Cyrodiil. They either hated him immensely or they didn’t want to risk the chance of him coming back to life." |
"Knowing half the stories I wouldn’t be surprised if the truth was a bit of both." |
"And this Umaril was the one who defeated him?" |
"Umaril the Unfeathered. He was one of the last and most powerful sorcerer kings of the Ayleids. While Pelinal succeeded in killing him the witch-king’s followers ensured he didn’t live to celebrate the victory." |
The two of us stood in silence for a few minutes and continued listening to his calls and proclamations that doom was approaching Tamriel. It was not the emotion driven pledges of a doommonger but rather a simple statement of danger, a warning of a threat. He wasn’t inciting panic or a riot and so the guards were for ... |
"You pore over your dusty tomes of lore." He continued, looking over the crowd and somehow managing to make every single person present feel as though he was talking to them and them alone. "You study ancient genealogies and bloodlines. Look you to blood for truth? There is truth in blood, but it is not the truth that... |
With a finger that stabbed in the direction of the towering cathedral on the far side of the courtyard he almost snarled the words out, his tone hardening like steel and the eyes flashed with righteousness. "The truth is written in the blood of the innocent, there in the Chapel of Love! Can you not read the ancient ru... |
Viconia stiffened at the words and I heard her sudden and sharp intake of breath. Even before the Prophet could translate the words for the crowd she had choked the words out. The sheer level of disbelief in her voice enough to leave it cracking. "By the eternal power of Umaril, the mortal gods shall be cast down." Sh... |
"You understood that?" I said to her, resting a hand on her shoulder and giving it a reassuring squeeze. |
"That was Drow." There was no mistaking her level of surprise and I could almost feel her shaking. |
"It didn’t sound like Drow to me." |
"It is but it isn’t. It’s a very old dialect, like what ancient Cyrodiilic is to common." |
"But you can speak it?" |
She shrugged again. "Fluently. It’s the language used by the priestesses when conducting rituals and by Drow officials for diplomacy and the like. I never expected to hear it spoken on the surface, much less by a surfacer." |
"Well, you’re not the only one he seems to have gotten the attention of." I added quickly, looking at the way eyes and heads continued glancing back at the increasingly nervous guards standing outside the barricaded cathedral doors. His words were starting to have an effect and there was a religious fervour starting t... |
"Oh unhappy Tamriel!" He continued on his platform, raising his hands and head to the sky as though he called upon the gods themselves to appear. "Where is your Divine Crusader, in these latter days of petty strife and lesser men? Who will match the deeds of Sir Amiel and his companions when they smote the Wyrm of Ele... |
"Oh fuck..." It was my turn for my breath to get lodged in my throat and my mouth was suddenly dry. "He’s declaring a crusade..." |
"A crusade, he’s declaring a crusade!" My words hissed between my teeth and I saw that I wasn’t the only one to have realised the same thing. Judging by the way that a pair of robed priests had scrambled onto the platform and were doing everything short of grabbing and physically hauling him off the stage it was not a... |
"A crusade for what?" |
"To recover the relics of Pelinal Whitestrake!" |
The pair of priests had managed to gather the courage to approach the Prophet but were stopped in mid motion as a pair of words were bellowed out over the growing noise of the crowd. |
One of the many knights attending the sermon, clad in his gleaming silver plate and a violet cloak thrown over an armoured pauldron raised his fist in salute and began to stride towards the prophet. With a simple shouted affirmation, a path appeared in the crowd as they parted to allow him free movement, and without t... |
To the official members of the church, they could only stare aghast at the sight of the Knight, as he was soon joined by several more who punched their fists or weapons into the sky and joined the crusade. It was not an official crusade, but like a rolling boulder down the side of a mountain now that it had gained mom... |
Viconia and I stood in silence, watching as the first knight made a show of kneeling to the Prophet, offering him his sword in his gauntleted hands as several others clambered up to join him. One after another, Knights, soldiers, mercenaries and other faithful rose to the challenge. Soldiers and citizens alike; a mult... |
With every individual who declared themselves part of the growing crusade, I began to feel dozens of expectant eyes falling on Viconia and myself. It began as one or two of those closest to us glanced in our direction to see whether we would be the next to step forward. As more and more assembled in front of the crowd... |
As the last of the Knights, a handful of sell-swords, adventurers, mercenaries and even a few of the common folk joined the Crusade, the crowd’s cheers rose in pitch until the ground shook with the noise. There was at least thirty men and women who had pledged themselves in service of the Divines, and the entire city ... |
The Prophet silenced the crowd with a single wave of his hands, drawing attention to himself once more as he ritually blessed each and every one of the newly sworn crusaders. Even despite his whispered prayers of protection and guidance being far to muted for anyone to hear, the meaning and intent behind the words was... |
With the Divines’ blessings imparted upon the faithful the Prophet turned to the crowd once more, his words flowing as easily as before. He spoke of a journey of hardships that each of them would have to face. Only clad in the holy armour, and wielding the mace and sword of Pelinal Whitestrake could the new Divine Cru... |
It was an incredible spectacle, but not one that fully gripped me as tightly as many within the crowd. The relics had been lost for centuries. Some for thousands of years. Such a quest was an impossibility and while it was impossible I understood what the true effects of his proclamation would have. With such a simple... |
The sermon finished shortly afterwards, with the Prophet granting the blessing of the Nine to all those present. Slowly the crowd began to shuffle and disperse back through the city. Most slowly moved back to their normal daily routines without the slightest hint of disturbance, but there were some who remained behind... |
Empires and kingdoms had been toppled by less. |
"We need to meet him." Viconia’s voice was cold and dark and she was stating a simple fact. The way he had spoken a language that she had recognised had ensured that there would be no option but to follow, and her current mood wouldn’t allow any alternative actions. |
Moving towards the platform I saw how most of the Crusaders had already left or were in the process of doing so. Their oaths had been made and many of the more experienced of the warriors had already gone to stock up on supplies or to prepare themselves for their quest. Many had travelled this far with nothing more th... |
Moving into the alleys behind the platform on the far side of the courtyard to the Cathedral, we followed the trail of faithful, pilgrims and the collection of priests and acolytes milling about like a flock of nervous geese. The Prophet had shaken up their routine and lives in a way that they had never had dreamed of... |
"-don’t care your reasons, you are not an ordained member of the church and have no authority or right to call upon the retrieval of the Relics of the Eight!" |
"Well, it certainly appears as though such esteemed individuals such as yourselves were not stepping up to the mark and shouldering the burden. What would you have done instead hmm? Sit around waiting for the end of the world or wait for the Eight and One themselves to appear before you to tell you to get up off your ... |
"How dare you! You are not so disconnected from the Church not to be excommunicated you bast-" |
One of the bishops caught our movement out of the corner of the eye as the small crowd lurking at the edge of the public garden parted for us. His first glance at us was short and quick but a tremor of recognition caused him to look back and watch as Viconia continued to stride in their direction with me following in ... |
"We interrupting anything?" Viconia said, somehow conveying threat and the fact that she obviously didn’t care whether she was anyway. |
The small group of priests shared a glance and one shook his head after a moment of considering whether it was worth crossing the dark elf burning holes into him with her gaze. "No. Not anymore at least." |
"Good. I have business with this man." |
Another glance was shared between the group and there was almost a mutual sigh from them. "Very well." The priest who had spoke to Viconia turned and pointed at the prophet with such aggressiveness that his orange tinged ropes snapped about his arms. "Don’t think of going anywhere Saccicius. You are going to help us i... |
"If the Eight and One see fit." The Prophet replied, not quite hiding the smile from his face as the collection of priests and their acolytes shuffled their way out of the garden. As they receded from sight amongst the crowd he turned and gave a full smile to Viconia. |
"Oh my, Madame DeVir and Sir Desin... To what do I owe this honour?" |
Viconia stepped closer, her eyes never wavering from the Prophet’s and the cold expression on her face deepening. "I have questions of you, questions that need answering." |
"Of course my child. I am but a humble prophet but I will answer whatever I can." |
Her eyes narrowed and the cold expression turned into a grimace. "Lu’oh xun ni epe va xanalress av va Ilythiiri?" |
The old man was taken aback, mouth opening and opening and closing several times and looking utterly confused as he returned he gaze. "Know of the... what? I don’t fully understand what you are saying." |
"The Drow." She snapped, her patience suddenly wearing thin. "How do you speak a language of the Drow?" |
"The Drow?" I could almost hear the cogs in his mind turning as he looked between her frustration and appearance before his expression suddenly lightened. "Oh... Oh! I see. I have caused some confusion it seems." |
"Confusion over what?" Stepping closer, I found myself looking down on him as he was hunched over due to his age. Many years before he would have easily been a similar height to myself, but old age had added its weight until his eyes were in line with Viconia’s chin. |
"Although I have heard of them, it is not the language of the Drow that I am able to speak, but Ayleidoon." |
"Ayleidoon... The Ayleids?" |
He nodded, the thin white head on his head bouncing slightly by the motion. "Indeed." |
"You can speak their language?" I asked incredulously. "It’s supposed to be a dead language." |
"For the most part it is yes, but there are still ancient texts and writings that have survived since the first era. It is one of the languages that Cyrodiilic is derived from and as it shares its linguistic roots with Aldmeris, and in turn Ehlnofex. It can be recreated, if given enough time and effort in any case." |
Staring at the man standing before us, I could feel Viconia’s roiling emotions from where she stood just a few short metres away. The implications were more staggering to her than myself that the Drow may have ties with the Ayleids but I found myself more interested in the Prophet than ancient history. He was old, ver... |
The smile he gave was of a mouth filled with yellowed teeth but there was no hostility to it. Viconia seemed stunned and somehow disappointed and he proved himself to be a very good judge of character when he recognised it. "You seem troubled my dear." |
"It’s just..." She paused for a second before physically shaking the thoughts from her mind. "Nevermind. It was just strange to hear words from my people in such a place." |
"Your people are not familiar to me, but unfortunately the Ayleids are. Hence I have found myself here, where the Divines and the souls of the slaughtered cry out for vengeance." |
"Umaril." My words were a hiss and he nodded solemnly. |
"The Unfeathered has returned and like the Prince of Destruction he too threatens the world in these dark days." He paused, wetting his lips with his tongue and gesturing for the both of us to follow, much to the disappointment of those awaiting benediction from him. "I saw you both in the crowd but I also noticed som... |
"How we didn’t join the crusade?" I said, pre-empting his question as we moved deeper into the tiny garden where he made his home. It wasn’t anything special, just a single tent’s worth of canvass stretched between a pair of trees near the winding path in the greenery and a single travellers bag. Normally leaving such... |
He simply nodded, looking between us and noting Viconia’s expression as she gazed at me. |
"Many have pledged themselves to recover the Relics, but we have already pledged ourselves to another cause." |
For several moments the Prophet looked at me, blinking slowly as he thought over my words. I stood there, feeling the level of nervousness growing as I wondered whether my answer was truthful or whether he could see the seed of doubt planted within my mind. |
"What Legion?" |
The questions startled me, and I twitched as he grinned at my discomfort. |
"Uh, 14th Legion, 8th Casta." |
"Morrowind. That’s a dangerous posting." He nodded once before kneeling down over his bag. "And your rank?" |
"Archer-Praefect." |
"Thought so. You don’t look like a legionary but you certainly aren’t a quill-pusher." |
"You were in the Legion." I replied, making it a statement rather than a question. |
"A long time ago, but yes." For a few moments he rummaged through his bag, shifting through the small amount of personal possessions before retrieving a book with dog-eared pages. |
Raising himself painfully to his feet with swollen, arthritic knees he sighed at the sound of his cracking joints. Carefully, he handed the book to Viconia, who took it from his slightly trembling hands. |
"What is this?" She simply asked. |
"The book that taught me all that I know about the ancient Ayleids, including the portion of their language that I can read and speak. It is of no further use to me, but I think it will be of benefit to you." |
Nodding, Viconia ran a gloved thumb over the pages and took note of the age and wear of an extremely well read book. Her uncertainty was still obvious but she still had the presence of mind to give the tiniest of smiles it polite thanks. |
"Would you mind my dear if an old legionary reminisces with your companion?" The question was put very politely and he had the air of a paternal grandfather about himself for just a few moments. She shrugged, flicking open the book to a random page and scrunching her face in concentration. |
The elderly prophet motioned for me to walk beside him as Viconia leaned against one of the trees while flicking through the book. I hesitated briefly, wanting to go and provide her what little comfort I could but knowing that in her current mood she would prefer to be alone. It was green in the gardens, the flowers a... |
"How many years has it been since you retired?" I asked him as we walked and despite his shuffling gait the two of us soon moved in step with each other. "Twenty." |
He recognised my polite query for what it was and chuckled. "It’s been much, much closer to thirty and you know it. In another life I was Centurion Saccicius of the 8th Legion, 1st Casta." |
There was an amused sigh as we came to a small bench in the centre of the gardens and he carefully lowered himself into it. "The older one gets, the closer one comes to the gods and they look upon their life with all the brutality afforded by hindsight. I gave the Legion my life despite the fact that I still live to t... |
"So coming here and declaring a crusade for Pelinal’s Relics is a way of releasing you of these weights?" |
"In a way." Reaching down he snapped a strand of sweetgrass from the ground before popping the end into his mouth. |
"Then why do it?" |
Clouding with age and the early beginnings of cataracts, his eyes looked into my own as I sat down beside him. "Because someone had to. Because despite Pelinal’s efforts and success Umaril’s spirit survived and now he has returned to seek vengeance upon the gods. Most of all, I did it because dozens have died as a res... |
"Dozens? I thought there were only a few who died here." |
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