Rastislav

Arc 5 Chapter XIII: Conquest

Just as we discussed, the attack was quickly prepared for the following morning. The new arrivals eagerly signed up for the main assault, without any prodding necessary from our end, while the more veteran adventurers wisely decided to ask for more reasonable roles.

Even after all these years, the eagerness with which the people of Skyrim throw themselves at danger continues to boggle my mind. I know I shouldn't be one to talk but I am a Divines damned master mage, some of these dumbass...

Arc 5 Chapter XII: Deepholm

(General POV)

Three months had passed since the rather... pitiful attempt on Reyvin's life and the subsequent execution of the assassin by way of ravenous spider, and many things had happened in the meantime.

The hastily erected fortress rapidly sprouted into a small adventurer's town, a sea of tents and ramshackle huts now surrounded the pristine magically erected headquarters of the mages, and despite the difficulty a couple of enterprising traders quickly established themselves...

Arc 5 Chapter XI: Torment

(Reyvin's POV)

"I know what I am doing so stop distracting me damn it!" Edrassa hisses at me as her hands hover over a convulsing Falmer warrior, the creature's muscles bulge as the magic inside it twists and turns.

"Are you quite sure about that?" I retort condescendingly, my eyes glowing with attention.

Her head snaps in my direction just in time for the Magicka she poured inside the sedated creature to destabilize and cause all its blood vessels to burst, immediately cove...

Arc 5 Chapter X: Blood Of Snow And Sun

(Reyvin's POV)

I turn from the burned field stoically and speak up once more "Double the patrols for now, we must be prepared if they decide on another attack." The adventurers and armed laborers salute as I pass by them, expressions of fear and awe on their faces.

As I descend I am greeted by the sight of Tolfdir looking down at the piled up thralls with a mix of anger and sadness splayed on his wizened face. I stand next to the old man "How do you plan on helping them?"

He...

Arc 5 Chapter IX: Breaking Their Backs

"Honestly" I mutter dejectedly as I needlessly clean the already pristine blade of my staff "That was incredibly disappointing."

A small sea of dead Falmer lies in front of the fortress, most of them punctured by an arrow or an automaton's crossbow bolt. The attack consisted only of a couple hundred of them and considering our ridiculous amount of overpreparation they died without me even getting a swing in.

"Are you actually pouting right now?" Minthara deadpans.

Marco begi...

Arc V Chapter VIII: Chatting With A Spider

I take a deep breath and let out a tired sigh, Mephala's grin widens as I silently take a seat across her, and after making sure I am not about to ingest divine LSD I take a sip of the offered drink and sigh once more, this time in contentment.

"Getting confident, are we?" She teases.

I roll my eyes in response "I've been herding rowdy adventurers for an entire day and then spent the rest of my time tinkering with the same damn automaton over and over, I think I would accept a mug...

Arc 5 Chapter VII: Securing A Beachead

I spread my arms dramatically and run to my part "Welcome ladies and gentlemen to Fal'Zhardum Din, or as it is more widely known to us mere mortals: Blacreach." I explain most generously.

Marco claps enthusiastically and stops after realizing no one is following his lead, he shyly scratches his cheek and retreats to the back of the group eliciting chuckles from most of us.

As everyone takes a breath of the... surprisingly fresh air, I turn serious and start giving orders "Edrassa ...

Arc 5 Chapter VI: Battle of The Century

I still completely as I realize the six massive automatons were powered up.

This wasn't in the damn script!

Deciding to follow the wisdom of the ancients I put into practice the old adage of 'discretion is the better part of valor' and start walking backward very quietly. Naturally, it is at this exact moment that the world goes 'nope' and all six dull gold heads turn in my direction, their frozen expressions practically radiating menace.

(Minthara's POV)

"Are you quit...

Arc 5 Chapter V: Death Unrelenting

As the trio of Masters entered the fort, the stagnant air of Alftand shifted ever so slightly, drawing the attention of the many Falmer skulking in its halls. They had lost an entire scouting party some days prior and were on high alert for any intruders.

And so the moment that the disparate groups of hunched over elves felt fresh air they took their positions, traps were set, arrows poisoned and ambush points filled to the brim with eager warriors ready to defend their homes.

And...

Arc 5 Chapter IV: Down Familiar Halls

I leave Phineas' tower with a mix of excitement and dread. When I asked him for his anatomical research I expected a singular large tome, maybe two considering his possible experience. What I most assuredly did not expect however was twenty four hundred page tomes describing in painful detail every single experiment he had ever conducted.

When the flames in his eye sockets brightened ever so slightly at my gobsmacked expression I could swear that the lich gave me everything just to fuck...

Arc 5 Chapter III: Duels and Preparations

A firebolt whizzes past Reyvin's masked face as he dodges rapidly, immediately retaliating with a bolt of crimson lightning which his opponent evades with practiced ease. Before he can even blink Faralda starts bombarding him with wide-area spells, forcing him to shadow-walk out of her line of sight.

Not a moment later he feels a sense of danger behind him and shouts "FEIM!" barely in time to feel Faralda's fire-enhanced axe kick pass through his ethereal form. He attempts to overwhelm ...

Arc 5 Chapter II: The House Grows

(General POV)

Within the unusually empty confines of Reyvin's mansion, a clandestine meeting of great importance was taking place.

Well, it was about to anyway...

"Come on little girl, I thought mages were supposed to be all smart and tactical" A short Dunmer with a sharp goatee mocked his opponent in a game of chess.

Said opponent, a silver-haired young woman, glared at him and scoffed "I have better things to do in my life than waste it on games." she retorted icily....

Arc 5 Chapter I: Revelations And Recruitment

(Reyvin's POV)

"Do go on" I tell one of my agents who was reporting the results of my students' expedition, as I lounge in a comfy armchair in my quarters atop the Mage's Tower.

He nods "Upon defeating the overlord the apprentices approached a nearby dragon wall, and started chatting about something completely ignoring the possibility of betrayal, the traitor incapacitated them with a scroll of paralysis and started grandstanding like an old fool. Your senior apprentice did a fair...

Interlude IV: Vengeance

The fishing village of Kirkheim was the westernmost settlement under the domain of Winterhold, like most other settlements in Skyrim it was composed of many large families living in equally large, well-insulated longhouses. A palisade wall surrounded it from three sides and a small fishing port connected it to the Sea of Ghosts.

A singular stone structure stood above all the other buildings, a tall signal tower, the summit of which was now burning brightly, informing all that could see ...

Interlude III: Of Visions and Titles

On a cold Rain's Hand morning, the eerily calm sea of ghosts was disturbed by a small warship cutting through its waves and batting away the thin sheaths of ice formed due to the near-constant frost.

The fog parted to reveal the wide war galley that bore the flag of the Jarldom of Winterhold hurtling with utmost speed toward the west, its crew as silent as the sea they sailed. A tense atmosphere gripped the unit of heavily armed guards as the ship's sailors went about their business, ma...

Interlude II: Folgunthur

The trio of explorers entered the ancient prison with cautious steps, the first chamber that greeted them was suspiciously empty of any Draugr guardians, the walls however were completely covered in ancient Nordic script, the words even untranslated gave out an ominous feeling.

After they made sure there were no traps, Daynas approached the writings and started mumbling to himself and looking at a journal he fished out of his robes while his two younger companions busied themselves with...

Interlude I: Roadside Ramblings

A/n: I was going to have this chap be the whole dungeon crawl, but as usual I went on a tangent... sorry not sorry? :D

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(General POV)

The noisy cacophony of the northern Morthal marshes was broken suddenly and mercilessly by three sets of feet marching across its soggy and most likely poisonous grounds. Having left the small boat they used to travel here from Solitude the trio was forced to come face to face against the most unwelcoming of Skyrim...

Arc 4 Chapter LXXIV: Of Weddings And Ambassadors

Time flew as the date of Torygg's wedding approached.

The young King seemed much more relaxed and confident now that all the urgently imminent crises had been dealt with. He decided to host yet another royal hunt and I once more got to embarrass myself with my lack of skill with the bow, aiming magic is so different from doing so with a bow that I could barely hit a stationary target, which amused everyone greatly. I was tempted to just start launching arrows with telekinesis but common...

Arc 4 Chapter LXXIII: Projects and Ceremonies

I blink at Savos' sudden appearance "How nice of you to visit Archmage." I say, my tone implying the obvious question.

He huffs "So cold Reyvin, you wound my old heart."

I narrow my eyes and deadpan "Uh huh."

A defeated sigh leaves him "I swear I am not here to play around... this time."

I blink "You aren't lying... who would have thought it possible?"

He seems somewhat confused by the certainty I am showing but merely shrugs "Indeed, I have come to inform you th...

Arc 4 Chapter LXXII: The Glorious Return

"So" I start, riding up to the lonely King of Skyrim "How does it feel to consign thousands to their deaths while subjugating the rest?" I ask with false cheer.

Torygg twitches violently, we have been riding for three days now and the young man was constantly deep in thought, the consequences of the invasion weighing heavily on his shoulders.

He gives me an irritated glare "Must you word it like that?" he grits out, already knowing the answer.

I shrug "You know damn well tha...

Arc 4 Chapter LXXI: Sharing Secrets and Settling The Defeated

"Can someone please explain to me what is going on here?!" A very confused Marco exclaims after a beat of silence. His fellow apprentice narrows her eyes while staring at me intently.

This is usually where one spins lies and denials in an attempt to keep things in the status quo, but I have had armies crash against me and have come out the victor, I no longer need to fear being found out. After all, in this world, the rules apply only to the weak.

I shrug "That was me conquering t...

Arc 4 Chapter LXX: Putting Them To The Sword (Part 4/Hag's End)

I enter the temple and immediately tense at its aura. The feeling and most disturbingly, the smell reminding me all too well of Dyrren's tower, even the bone chilling gaze of the disgusting Daedra was present.

Behind the ruined gate stood a massive chamber housing a Dovahzul word wall, using it as some kind of support for the entire building. The dozens of Forsworn inside were all scrambling into position as a small circle of witches were busy chanting and seemingly forming yet another ...

Arc 4 Chapter LXIX: Putting Them To The Sword (Part 3/The Assault)

(General POV)

Three Forsworn found themselves guarding a small section of the walls of their new holdfast, the place that should have been the hope of their people and a path to their ascendance was now mired in an aura of despair evident to even the least sensitive among their number.

A younger man elbowed his elder who was gazing at the perfectly built fortified camp their attackers had risen overnight "How many heathens do you think we'll get to kill, old man?" the other youth ...

Arc 4 Chapter LXVIII: Putting Them To The Sword (Part 2/Planning Phase)

(Reyvin's pov)

Less than an hour after I sent out the two hunting parties the miasma finally dispersed completely and I let out a relieved sigh. Channeling Magicka at a constant rate for so long was still tiring, but at least it was good exercise, right?

Sybille and the Dunmer were the first to return, none of them looked even a tiny bit winded by the experience, except for the slightly stronger aura Sybille emitted. I guess she had a nice meal on the job.

The other group to...

Arc 4 Chapter LXVII: Putting Them To The Sword (Part 1)

I raise a hand and enhance my voice lightly "Hold!"

The entire column stills and Rikke rides up to me "What is going on?"

I look around at what must be some kind of curse slowly surrounding us and note it is coming from two directions "It appears we are being cursed." I mutter.

Her eyes widen but she is not shaken and immediately asks "Do you have countermeasures?"

"Give me a moment." I say and focus on the feeling the cursed Magicka gave out, it was far too spread out...

Arc 4 Chapter LXVI: Reprieve

The celebratory feast was prepared in record speed, the deeply ingrained Nordic need to get drunk after a good battle being far more potent than any exhaustion the defenders might have felt. Barrels of mead and ale were rolled out from the Thane's own stock and the abundance of supplies prepared for the siege was now being cooked up by the merry residents.

I had just finished reporting the entire thing with Harald to the new arrivals and went to relieve myself when a young Nord approach...

Arc 4 Chapter LXV: Rampage

(Reyvin's pov)

Moments after the housecarl brought us the news, Sybille and I found ourselves atop the wall, looking over the new and much better equipped force of Reachmen standing across the field, their usual bone and hide covering iron and steel obviously not originally fitted for their use.

Bloody Thalmor can't even do that right.

Even now that they were joined by a dozen witches and two hags hiding behind flesh golems I could see the fear in their eyes, my earlier work...

Arc 4 Chapter LXIV: Stalling

The metallic clang of ebony against ebony resounds in a volume far louder than one might expect as my fingers connect.

A massive wave of Magicka rips its way out of my body, almost all of it in fact, and surges toward the runes bearing my mark combining with the petty soul gems I had placed there.

I do not need to turn around to feel the terror of those among the enemy who know what is coming.

The fools should thank me, after all, they need only fear for but a moment.

...

Arc 4 Chapter LXIII: The True Enemy Arrives

(General POV)

The day following Reyvin's slaying of the Reachman chief and his cabal of witches passed with surprisingly little movement from their enemy. Small assaults were attempted by the most stubborn among them, but they were repelled with disdainful ease by the well practiced defenders.

"Or not all that surprising when you think about it" Reyvin lazily refutes Harald's assumption.

"I know you offed their leader, but after witnessing their insanity I am still surprised...

Arc 4 Chapter LXII: Shadowbinding

(Reyvin's POV)

The feeling of fading into a ghost-like existence is an odd one, I am here yet I am not here, it almost feels like the ti-

A mournful cry interrupts my inner monologue as the shout's power dissipates.

Ah yes, the caveman.

I look at him tenderly holding the spellcaster I made him kill and come to the realization that all of them look somewhat similar "So you barbarians practice kin slaying now?" I ask mockingly.

His tearful eyes bore into mine as he...