text stringlengths 0 41.4k |
|---|
"But the Sword is still cursed though," I said carefully, feeling his attention turn to me. "What is it exactly, and how did a relic of the Nine get corrupted in the first place?" |
"For that explanation I have to go right back to before the Order of the Nine was founded." Sir Berich sighed and for a moment a lighter mood crept into his expression. "I was eighteen when the Sword and Greaves first came into my possession. The lands around the family estate had always been home to various vagabonds... |
"What was the ritual?" |
"I never really found out, nor am I knowledgeable enough to understand what their intentions were with the Sword. Whether they were simply seeking to desecrate the holiest artefact of the God of Birth and Death or they had other plans I don’t know. At the time I thought that I had stopped them, and all the years that ... |
Stopping for a moment, he looked between Sir Amiel and Sir Caius, breathing out heavily enough though he no longer had a mortal body or a need for such earthly concerns. "My pride and arrogance cost all of us so much. Never did I stop long enough to consider my actions, and especially in my youth I was heedless to eve... |
Sir Caius gestured to Sir Berich as he fell silent for a moment. "My death it seems was the catalyst for the sword’s corruption to take hold. Since that date it began spreading its corruption into Berich, up to and beyond his own death." |
"You all have felt its power." Sir Berich added. "You can sense the foul energies and the way that the sword calls to the darkness in your souls. Right now that dark power is eating its way into the Duke and all those around him and if the other relics are joined with it in its current state..." |
Purposefully letting his words hang leaden in the air I could feel my stomach drop and my entire body tense as though I was preparing for battle. Judging by Alexi’s and Viconia’s expressions they were feeling the same thing and I found myself beginning to pace back in forth in frustration. |
"Waiting for the Black Knights to arrive is looking more and more attractive a proposition." Alexi muttered, and by the tone of his voice I don’t think any of us; himself included, knew whether he was making a joke or not. |
"Short term it will help, but the Relics are needed against Umaril. As is someone who can actually wield them." Stopping for a moment I looked over the ghosts, focussing my attentions on Amiel, Berich and Casimir in particular. "You all were able to use the relics that you claimed while you were alive, did you not?" |
All three of them nodded, while Casimir looked a little uncomfortable being reminded of the years he had the gauntlets and the way he had lost them. "We did. Anyone pure of heart enough or who repents their sins honestly and truthfully can wield the relics with varying degrees of success. The theory we all had during ... |
"Yes; you have to be pure of heart but you also need to be chosen by the Eight Divines as being a worthy soul." Amiel said softly. "While the relics are powerful, none of us proved capable of using them to their fullest." |
Alexi, Viconia and I all seemed to have a thought at the same time and looked at each other with realisation. "Caleb." |
Almost as a single entity, the ghosts nodded. "That young man is one of a few worthy enough to use the relics as more than just weapons and armour. There are others within Tamriel equally worthy but he is the only one you have at hand who can use them as conduits of the gods’ might." |
"Time is running out." Sir Ralvas said, his Morrowind accent thickening his words in comparison to the other knights. "Even now we can sense the Unfeathered. The barriers have weakened enough and he walks Tamriel somewhere to the east. He will gather his strength and unleash an assault on the faithful that they will n... |
"Well, aren’t you all the bearers of morale and happiness?" Alexi spluttered. "On one hand we have a desecrated relic with the ability of corrupting the other relics, and on the other we have a reincarnated monster that only one or two people can kill." |
Sepula and Lathon were watching the conversation we were having with wide eyes, glancing between all of us as we spoke and it seemed that only Viconia seemed to be silent and deep in thought. As Alexi tried his best to deflect the foreboding and doom with his usual good humour and I tried my best not to feel entirely ... |
"I don’t suppose that we can call for help from someone. Jauffre and the Blades perhaps? What about Count Hassildor?" |
Only the ghosts seemed to lack any surprise at her simple query, while Lathon openly gaped at the casual mention of the Blades and Alexi started snorting in bitter laughter. |
"The Blades can’t help us; they have their hands full as it is. I also don’t think that Janus can do anything for us either. Duke De’Leorion technically outranks him after all." |
"But aren’t we technically in part of his county?" |
"Well, yes. But De’Leorion is on the council of the King of Wayrest which gives him the ear of a King. Militarily and economically, Skingrad is more than a match for a single Breton Kingdom, but this is a war of politics. Besides that, we don’t have the time to be able to waste toing and froing in a diplomatic war. |
"I agree with Lex then. It’s a good thing that the Black Knights are coming." |
My mind was suddenly filled with the images of what would happen when a group of men like Falid arrived to claim the Relics. There would be blood spilt, there was no doubt about it and whatever the outcome there would be no one left to deal with Umaril. |
"No... If the Black Knights arrive with the Order in its current state, they will claim the Relics and there won’t be many people left standing afterwards. If we force their hand and try to claim the Relics ourselves the Duke will use his political sway to have us declared outlaws and probably excommunicated. Hells, h... |
"Why not kill De’Leorion and remove him from the picture." |
Lathon and Sepula were the only two that seemed to react in any way different to indifference and Lathon especially was spluttering at Viconia’s casual mention of murder. "Kill... A Duke? Has your mind been addled by Sheogorath?" |
"He’s still mortal is he not?" Viconia shrugged, her eyes as cold as the temperature within the storeroom as turned to Sir Berich. "The Sword hasn’t made him immortal or anything?" |
The wight shook his head. "Not that I am aware. If its enchantment included eternal life I suppose I wouldn’t be here the way that I am." |
"Killing him will raise too many questions and there’s no guarantee that Sir Wirile or Baron Jaseton will not simply claim the relics themselves. My guess is that the corruption of the Sword has allowed anyone to wield it which complicates things somewhat." I trailed off, scrunching my face in concentration and feelin... |
"Even if I had never met the man," Alexi began, leaning against a small pile of crates. "I doubt that he or anyone else in his position would simply give up such prestige and stature. I don’t know of any force on this earth that could persuade or coerce him into doing something like that." |
A niggling thought in the back of my mind finally succeeded in making its presence felt and I stopped my slow pacing along the floor, turning and looking Sir Berich in the eyes. "Just how and why exactly are you here?" |
If he was taken aback from my question he didn’t show it beyond a tiny shrug that left his tabard fluttering slightly in an unearthly breeze that no one alive could feel. "I don’t understand how, but with the destruction of my cursed body my spirit was freed to join the others. When we formed the Knights of the Nine w... |
Rubbing at my face in concentration, I looked between him and Sir Amiel hovering close behind the man who had once been both a friend and bitter rival during their mortal lives. Sir Berich’s appearance was not as entirely surprising to me as Viconia and I had lain eyes on Sir Amiel’s remains in the flooded Shrine to t... |
Slowly, a thought began to blossom within my mind and I could feel my heart racing as a result. I could feel my excitement building as I thought over it, looking at all of those around me, alive or dead with a smile breaking out on my face. |
"I... I think I have an idea..." |
In my experience, simple plans always worked the best. The less complications, and certainly the less elements left up to chance the better. As a member of the Legion, especially as a forester I was very much one for ensuring that there was very little left up to the whims of fate and luck, especially in comparison to ... |
This attention to detail and experience towards planning was one of the many, many reasons why I found myself sweating nervously in the morning sun, feeling the building heat adding to the prickly sensation of moisture dripping down my spine and blooming in my armpits. Even in situations like those Viconia and I had fo... |
The gamble was no simple game of chance or the simplistic roll of a dice with little more than septims to lose. This time the prize was even greater than the worth that I put on my own life and it was taking all that I had to remain still as I laid eyes on that which I was gambling. |
An armour stand had been placed in the heart of the courtyard, standing resolute as a handful of select individuals adorned it with the Relics of the Crusader. Each of the pieces gleamed in the sunlight and despite the handful of clouds lazily making their way across the skies not once did the artefacts fall into shado... |
Thinking of Pelinal wasn’t difficult in this situation either, especially as I could see the next would-be claimant to his title standing and watching with obvious greed as the last of the relics were brought up from the under croft. I also couldn’t help but feel terrified at the fact that the entire plan revolved arou... |
There had been resistance of course, especially when I had first voiced the idea that would become "the plan’. It was also the first time that Alexi and I actually came to blows over a difference of opinion. In the end it all came down to the fact that no one else could come up with anything different and so here we al... |
Despite all the anxiety, trepidation and outright fear this was a situation of our own making, one that had taken several days and a lot of careful planning and manoeuvring before we reached it. Deception and lies had been protected by the simple fact that the Duke and those closest to him weren’t expecting such deceit... |
And so we stood, the entirely of the Order of the Nine, the Duke and his Baron’s assorted knights and camp followers and every man, woman and child within several kilometres were gathered and standing in sight of the Relics. Several hundred were pressed around the edges of the courtyard, shoulder to shoulder and packed... |
He was resplendent in his finery but for one of the few times his armour and personal arms were nowhere to be seen. There was no doubting his wealth or status as there was more gold and silver on and within his clothes than what most jewellers had access to. |
"Servants of the Nine." His words rolled over the hushed crowd and I wondered whether he realised that they were not in awe of him. "You are all witnesses to the most glorious of occasions. Not only have you been blessed with seeing with your own eyes the majesty of the gods, but you are also here to see them taken up ... |
As he lifted his arms to the heavens and turned I vaguely wondered whether he or any of the others realised that this was all too easy for them. From where I stood in the crowd I could see Baron Jaseton standing with a pair of his knights by his sides, and Sir Wirile was hovering only a few short metres to my right. De... |
Alexi and Viconia were by my sides as they usually were and despite our initial inclinations we had ensured that the rest of the Order of the Nine were scattered rather than clumped together in a group. As steadfast as the mountains far to the north, Alexi was standing as a perfect example of martial nobility and while... |
"The Relics, long since lost to time have been recovered! From this moment, may the darkness be banished from the lands, the evils and sins stemming from the lesser races and women be purged and the glory of the Nine spread throughout the Tamriel!" |
I could feel Viconia’s grip tighten around me and I couldn’t tell who out of the two of us were the wariest. Nothing on her face spoke of her tensions and I hoped mine was the same, seeing many within the crowd struggling with their own emotions and thoughts of the situation as the Duke turned, and moved towards the re... |
Only the greaves and the sword were not present on the armour stand and it had been the Duke’s plan from the moment that I had told him that a "spare’ key had been found within Skingrad. I had subtly dropped hints in that particular meted to ensure that when the Duke did claim them that it would be a public affair. His... |
His speech continued on for several minutes but I didn’t hear much of it. All my attentions were on the handful of people through the crowd who were considered loyal to myself and the others within the Order of the Nine and the Relics themselves. They were resplendent, even more so than the clothing that the Duke was w... |
When he finally stopped his speech there was a swelling undercurrent of emotion from the crowd, a shifting eagerness as those standing towards the back tried to move forward slightly or stand a little taller for a better view. Even the knights of the Horn and Baron Jaseton’s men who had been tasked to form the ring of ... |
No one breathed, and the quiet seemed so intense that even the wind stopped in place and I could feel my jaw tightening so much that my teeth threatened to crack under the strain. There were shadows across many expressions of those watching, but there was no mistaking the smile of triumph on the Duke’s bearded face as ... |
The metallic crash and clatter of metal on stonework made nearly every person in the crowd jump as the gauntlet slipped from the Duke’s fingers and fell. In the comparative silence within the courtyard the impact ripped through the air as though the skies had erupted with thunder and after a moment’s surprise a chorus ... |
Armoured heads twisted this way and that, seeking out the source of the laughter and amusement at the Duke’s expense as he went red, first from embarrassment, then from anger as he too looked around for anyone daring enough to show any signs of delight at his clumsy attempt to grab the gauntlet. |
After several moments of looking about at the crowd pressed in around him, he turned and looked, staring down at his feet for a moment as though contemplating whether he should suffer the indignity of kneeling down to pick it back up. A tiny dent in his ego and calm had appeared but there was little that could remove h... |
A larger dent definitely appeared when the same thing happened with the second gauntlet as it too slipped from his fingers despite his best efforts and slammed into the ground. The Duke’s expression also changed to an even more intense red as he tried, and failed to keep his grip and appeared to get pulled downwards as... |
"Silence!" Roared Wirilie and he stomped his way back and forth between the ring of knights and his liege. Like De’Leorion, the champion of the Host of the Horn was now infuriated and a centimetre of naked blade was viable from his grip on the weapon. "You will all hold your tongues or I will personally rip them from y... |
The tournament champion not the only knight moving and several of the others were now stalking back and forth, seeking anyone who was foolish enough to show their amusement at the Duke. Their threats were also not idle ones, and many of shrunk back under the intense scrutiny of the Duke’s enforcers. |
One of the many knights, dressed in the Duke’s colours moved quickly to his lord in an attempt to assist but the Duke shoved him aside, snarling under his breath while trying and failing to retain his composure. The gauntlets had struck the cobblestones when they had fallen but there were no outward signs of damage to ... |
My face almost cracked as he grasped one of the gauntlets, wrapping his pudgy fingers around the wrist and pulling to no avail. The gauntlet entirely refused to budge, and after a second of tugging on it he resorted to grabbing it with both hands, heaving back with all of his strength which achieved nothing more than i... |
The stalking knights moved closer and closer to the crowd as the murmuring of laughter grew at the Duke’s failed attempts to shift the Gauntlets from where they had fallen. For hundreds of years they had remained on the floor of Chorrol’s Cathedral and there had been no force of man, mer or nature that have moved them.... |
Shaking his building embarrassment off with all the skill of a noble, he gave a confident smile that only partially hid his uncertainty and attempted to regain his composure. Then, in full view of everyone he did something that almost made me break out into laughter myself. He grabbed the Mace of Zenithar. |
Unlike the Gauntlets, the Mace allowed him to lift it and with a roar of triumph he lifted it high for all to see. The Mace truly was splendid beyond all comprehension, catching the beams of light from the sun and scattering them about in rays of purity, but I was watching with building expectation as the Duke laughed ... |
At first his smile softened, his mouth dropping open in confusion as he glanced towards his hand and as he brought the mace down in front of his face I could see the way how sweat had suddenly begun to pour from his forehead. He first went red, eyes widening in confusion and then white as the Mace reacted as it did wit... |
His cry of pain was louder than the sound of the Mace slamming into the ground as he dropped it, clutching his hand in agony from the way that the holy relic had burned him. In their own confusion several of his knights had rushed forth to assist their liege, one managing to carefully pull his satin glove off to reveal... |
"The Relics are corrupted! Tainted and cursed!" he shouted, the pain and indignation flowing into his words until they poured from his mouth in a shrill screech. "They..." |
Almost as one, the knights tending the Duke paused in mid motion, one of which pouring water over the De’Leorion’s burned extremity stopping as though frozen as he saw the movement from the Relics themselves. This sudden change in his retainers made the Duke forget his pain for a moment and he too turned to look at wha... |
An all-too-familiar mist was beginning to seep from every crack and hollow of the armour as though it was covered in a morning dew evaporating in the sun. It bubbled and flowed, pouring out in waterfalls that spilled across the ground and began to rise to waist height. All those that had been close enough to see the Du... |
From within the mass grew a collection of beings that formed directly from billowing cloud, growing limbs and torsos and clad in the armour that they had worn in life. As we had planned, the ghostly Knights of the Nine appeared with all the theatrically that they had promised, forming a diamond of spectres around the r... |
"By the strength and guidance of the Nine, who dares touch the Relics of the Divine Crusader?" Sir Amiel growled, projecting his voice that all could hear his voice. "For the vows that we failed to revere in life, we shall uphold in death. No unworthy soul shall lay hands upon these sacred artefacts without leave of th... |
My face finally gave up the struggle to contain my emotions and I felt myself grin for a moment. Sir Amiel was entirely hamming up his performance but it was having the desired effect. For most beings within Tamriel, ghosts were subjects of stories used to scare children or creatures to be feared by those who travelled... |
The crowd shifted away like their minds were linked, pressing further and further away from the avenging spectres and it was only a rare handful of knights and soldiers who stood their ground. On the far side of the courtyard I saw how one of the few people to barely react was Carodus, who was wearing a tired expressio... |
"K-Knights! Attend me!" |
Despite the plea in his voice, the obvious fear consuming the Duke was shared by almost all and barely anyone budged in his direction. More than one of the Host of the Horn simply broke and ran, and I saw how one of them disappeared in the crowd, pushing and shoving his way out in panic. |
"Hold your ground!" I roared, ensuring that my voice could be heard over the building chorus of panic and fear. "My Lord, you have to prove your worthiness to them!" |
"I am worthy!" he snapped back, his upbringing and nobility finally gaining supremacy over his shock, pain and fear. "I am a Duke! I retrieved the Sword of Arkay! I am-" |
"A fraud and trickster, unworthy to claim the relics of the Crusader!" Snapped Sir Amiel, and he stepped forward from the diamond of his fellows menacingly. "Bradelc Weylinille Stenanius de’Leorion. You are judged and in the eyes of the Nine you have been deemed unworthy. Only those pure of heart and with noble intenti... |
Stammering and scrabbling at the ground in panic, the Duke tripped and fell on his behind at the sight of the advancing ghost as Sir Amiel stared down upon him. I could feel a chill of fear up my own spine as I remembered my first encounter with the Knights and how close I came to death at their hands and at that point... |
Almost without warning, the only figure who seemed willing or brave enough to move towards the ghost suddenly broke into a dash straight at the Duke and Sir Amiel. In a single, rushing movement the armoured figure broke into a sprint, drawing his sword and attacking without hesitation. |
Sir Wirile, tournament champion of High Rock and one of the most dangerous fighters in Tamriel attacked Sir Amiel from behind, his blade whispering through the air with lethal intent. He had waited for the moment to strike, when Sir Amiel had moved far enough that he wouldn’t be able to see the attack, choosing to atta... |
Showing his true abilities as one of the greatest swordsmen to have ever lived, Sir Amiel twitched before Sir Wirile managed to make it three paces, twisting and making his own strike so quickly that his blade appeared to be little more than a silverly streak through the air. Not only had he struck so quickly that no o... |
With a look of utter confusion on his face, Sir Wirile took another faltering pace, his expression one of dawning realisation and horror as his sword clattered from his hands and he pitched forward onto the cobblestones. His throat was gashed almost entirely through, severing all but his spine and death was quick to fo... |
The silence that fell upon the courtyard at the sudden and quick demise of the Duke’s champion was a physical sensation and the shock overwhelmed the fear. It had been obvious to all who saw the Sir Wirile had attempted to attack the spirit of Sir Amiel from behind in an act considered extremely dishonourable within Br... |
For what felt to be an age, no one moved. the shock of the unravelling events was too great to truly comprehend. Most were simply standing in shock, some had dropped to their knees in horror or religious awe and those of the group who were of a martial background were standing in various degrees of readiness. However, ... |
Of the dozens of tradesmen and artisans who had come, there were a handful who didn’t deal with the mundane and physical but of matters of the faith. Several of the people who lived and worked around the priory were priests or men of the cloth, and where the dozens of knights and men at arms had stood their ground or b... |
For their part, the ghosts facing the courageous priest looked on with a degree of amusement. Sir Torolf, the bear of a Nord clad in his rune etched armour chuckled at the sight of the priest moving towards them. "Spare your words father. We are not some malign spirits in need of exorcism. Our faith in the Nine is just... |
Comically, the priest’s exorcism dribbled away at the utter lack of effect it was having on the ghosts, leaving him standing there like a beached fish. His mouth was opening and closing wordlessly as another stepped from the crowd and walked towards the ghosts. |
Areldur Salingaerith, a tall, well-built Altmer with a muscular build at odds with the way he moved like a cripple stepped out from the crowd and shuffled his way forward. His appearance, especially how he like the rest of us were dressed in armour and chainmail almost entirely hid the fact that he had spent the better... |
As he moved past the priest, standing closest to the ghost he rested a reassuring hand on his shoulder and nodded with a smile. "It’s quite alright brother." |
With shaking steps that had nothing to do with fear, he approached the ghosts with a faint smile and bowed his head to them. Sir Torolf and Ralvas, standing closest to the approaching ex-bishop nodded in return, and to the utter astonishment of all those present, stepped aside and let him pass. |
"Areldur Salingaerith. You have been judged and found worthy. Your selflessness is an honour to the Order of the Nine." |
Bowing once again to the ghosts, I could feel the growing tension and incredulousness of the crowd as he moved forward. The curse that had been ravaging Sir Casimir’s lineage for centuries had been lifted by the ex-bishop’s actions and while he had taken the curse upon himself he had more than proved his worth. Slowly,... |
Shaking his head and mouthing gibberish, Duke de’Leorion’s mental state seemed to be diminishing even quicker than it was once before and I watched with some considerable pleasure as he began scrabbling and kicking away from the relics and the ghosts. In full view of everyone he somehow managed to get to his feet, shak... |
"Those who have repented their sins and pasts may touch the relics, but only those truly noble of heart may wield them." Declared Sir Amiel, cutting through the whispers of shock emanating from the crowd. "It is the Nine who deem who is worthy and who is not, but we; the Knights of the Nine will enforce their judgement... |
It began with a handful of people within the crowd, the faithful who had journeyed far who dropped to their knees before the relics of their Gods. The hushed whispers grew in volume as more and more people realised who the ghosts were, and while there was a fearful edge to the crowd from the death of Sir Wirile, there ... |
Taking my cue, along with Alexi and Viconia we stepped forward from the crowd and immediately felt the weight of everyone’s expectations and gazes upon us. The whispers and mutterings died within an instant, and despite the inherent threat there was a sense of anticipation as we approached the ghosts. |
Through Sir Amiel’s transparent form I could see how Areldur returned the gauntlets to the wooden supports of the armour rack before stepping away, content that they had been reunited with the rest of the relics. I could also see the way that the small collection of courtiers who had been carrying the greaves of Mara a... |
"I serve the Nine." I said, raising my voice just enough for everyone to hear before lowering myself to a knee, my actions being quickly followed by Viconia and Alexi. |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.