Rastislav

Arc 8 Chapter V: Lay of The Land

It was... odd, walking through the main hall of the manor, memories which were certainly mine but only ever experienced by a past self which was at the same time me and not. The nostalgia was very real though so I would simply accept that the child who grew up here was just half a soul waiting to be reunited with itself.

No point in getting into an identity crisis if I could simply choose to be both young and old Reyvin, right?

"So this is where you grew up?" Minthara asks, h...

Arc 8 Chapter IV: The Grand Reception

(General POV)

Lady Isabella of the Vampirum Order of Cyrodiil took another slow sip of blood wine as her thrall continued his tales. She was half tempted to tell him how utterly ridiculous some of his contacts' claims sounded but held her tongue for now as she had long since learned that even overblown rumors would have kernels of truth to them.

"Is that young Roland I see there?" Her eyes narrowed as she carelessly interrupted her servant with a raised hand "Last I heard he was t...

Arc 8 Chapter III: The Trek South

Marching down the Pale Pass and beyond the Jerall Mountains was like entering another world in its entirety, the endless forest of evergreen trees I got used to in Skyrim was now replaced with a sea of brown and orange, the late autumn making the sight of northern Bruma all the more beautiful to behold.

I had seen the sight a few times before of course, both during my youth and my visit during Minthara's stay in the Empire, but the contrast was such that I felt pointing it out twice was...

Arc 8 Chapter II: Imperial Summons

A/n: Is this cooking, or half baked? I need le feedback!

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"Why good morning Minthara" My grin was one of rather disturbingly shiteating proportions as I gave her a wave of greeting "I do so hope you had a nice rest."

She looks up before looking away the moment she met my eyes, the quietest "Morning" stumbling out of her mouth.

"Why so distant?" I ask, channeling my inner Mephalan "You were quite... enthusiastic last night, where did all that bluster go I...

Arc 8 Chapter I: Contemplation

Why are we here... Just to suffer? Every moment I can feel the bo-

"Pops" Scorch pops onto my shoulder with an annoyed squeak "It has been an hour, I swear if I am forced to continue listening to your inner monologue for one second longer I will blow myself the fuck up." Before I can respond that he does that anyway he narrows his eyes "In your library."

"Alright fine" I sigh dramatically, taking a long pull from my cigar as I leaned back into my gloriously overpriced armchair "I ...

Arc 7 Interlude V: Deep Within The Ashes

Within the ash-covered reaches of old Vvardenfell the sound of quiet steps broke the methodical noise of mechanical tinkering, the ever-curious work of the ancient elf pausing just as his 'daughter' made her presence known.

"Ah, Alfe my dear." The seated Mer looked up from the disassembled 'Dwemer' spider made from blackened steel atop his table "What news do you bring from our stubborn kin? I do hope it wasn't just another routine meetup of their clans, that would be unacceptably borin...

Arc 7 Interlude IV: Merriment, Panic, And More Merriment

(General POV)

"Serjo" The quiet voice of one of his aides almost made Davos jump out of his skin, his imported sujaama now quite thoroughly spilled all over his best pants. He glared at his subordinate but the Dunmer merely kept staring at him, the only sign of a reaction being the slightest upturn of the corner of her lips.

"What?" Davos almost growled as he was quite deep in his cups by now "Can't a Mer enjoy his time off after nearly getting crushed a dozen t...

Arc 7 Chapter CI: Spreading The News

(General POV)

"We've got another!" The sudden shout brought Torygg from the depths of this thoughts and worries as a quartet of hale warriors ran past him, carrying the wounded form of whom he swiftly recognized as Balgruuf's own niece to the nearby space the healers sectioned off to tend to the wounded.

His eyes met those of his currently most powerful Jarl as the man also realized what had just happened and barely held himself back from rushing after them "Damnation" The Jarl of...

Arc 7 Chapter C: Leaving Sovengarde

A/n: Me: I am going to fit so much stuff in this chapter!
Also me: writes almost a chapter's worth of words in once scene 

tehe~

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My impending and certain doom is postponed thankfully, as a cough that was more of a gurgle drew our eyes away from each other. The hole-riddled form of Tsun stood there looking at us both with eyes filled with respect as his numerous wounds could be seen closing down in real time.

As a thank you for no doubt...

Arc 7 Chapter XCIX: The Fateful Deed

A/n: For the rightest experience in reading this chonker of a chapter I recommend starting with the ole' reliable and playing the Dragonborn song and then blasting Nerevar Rising (from Skywind specifically and from the third minute of it when Reyvin starts doing his thing)

Just thought I'd recommend something since this is a rather big climax (wink wink nudge nudge)

(I have been contractually obligated by an unseen overlord to add battle music because it is apparentl...

Arc 7 Chapter XCVIII: The Fateful Moment

A/n: Ooooh boy, tomorrow is going to be fun to write.

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It took the 'honored dead' less than a minute to gather the food and drinks, a number of them stepping into the center that was not the center of the hall with instruments of all kinds and promptly breaking into an admittedly enjoyable composition, even if the style was likely antiquated beyond measure.

"Come" Jurgen Windcaller waves for us to follow after him "You will not shake them from their re...

Arc 7 Chapter XCVII: Confusing Gods And Crashing Parties

Tsun gathered himself with an almost deliberate slowness, pointedly looking away from me and surveying the rest of those gathered, most of whom were now kneeling before him. In fact, all of them had taken a knee, everyone except Minthara and myself in fact.

'How incredibly cut- solemn.' I reflexively covered my mouth to conceal a cough that never came.

Though judging by the amused shine in Minthara's eyes she shared my thoughts.

Nodding to himself after having found whatever...

Arc 7 Chapter XCVI: In The Mists of Sovengarde

A/n: Previous chap has been thoroughly edited, the ending is completely different so I recommend a re-read.

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"Oof!" I groan as my back hits the dirt, more for dramatics than any actual pain.

Minthara looks at me for a moment with a genuinely dumbfounded expression before letting out a snort "Dumbass." She mutters and offers me a hand.

I wince as I feel a rock which had perfectly wedged itself in the space between my crown and my armor, th...

Arc 7 Chapter XCV: The Temple Summit

Even as I prepared to charge my opponent I still felt the wards of this place pressing down on all of us, trying to stifle our magic utterly, and while I myself was more than capable of pushing through it with contemptuous ease, the rest would suffer greatly before the battle was done.

That needed to be dealt with quickly "Shalazar, Tolfdir, ward, now!" I yell out without looking away from the Draugr Overlord, feeling the duo I called out still briefly before nodding at...

Arc 7 Chapter XCIV: Assailing Skuldafn

(General POV)

The remnants of the living Dragon Cult who were granted passage to Skuldafn felt the shift in the air as acutely as their long-undead brethren, the surge of power coming from the south and roars in the skies being their only warning before arrows began showering every open inch of their defenses and the shouts of the dragons above began destroying everything around them without care for their surroundings.

Nahkriin watched helplessly as a full three of his master's l...

Arc 7 Chapter XCIII: Striking The First Blow

Our gigantic mounts cut through the late night sky in a blur of their respective coloring, crossing the entirety of Skyrim within less than two hours. We all remained silent as we travelled, only the sound of beating wings and howling winds distracting us from our preoccupied minds.

As we reached the Velothi mountains I felt the edges of my vision begin to shift and soon a glamor which I could barely detect even now that I discovered it gave way for a closed off section of the mountains...

Arc 7 Chapter XCII: Gearing Up

(Reyvin's POV)

Nudging the Redoran contingent in volunteering themselves for the mission was easier than I expected. Oh sure I heard they were getting hit by dragon raids on the eastern edges of the Velothi mountain range but it was apparently worse than I initially thought.

And for all the apparent lack of belief in his own abilities, this Almeril was without a doubt a proper warrior champion, likely endowed with a fair bit of strength after participating in a proper dragon slayi...

Arc 7 Chapter XCI: The Scarab And The Beetle

A/n: Something a tad different before we get into the meat of it all.

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(General POV, a slight bit earlier)

Almeril Faren, House Brother of the Great House Redoran felt his brows crease as he and his retinue were led through a portal below the city of Winterhold, that the hold was on a war footing against beasts of legend only served to make him more tense as the resident Nords all looked at him and his followers with harsh suspicion.

A reasonable sus...

Arc 7 Chapter XC: Upgrades Galore

A/n: If anyone notices any discrepancies in the statline do tell me so I can correct it posthaste.

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(Reyvin's POV)

Another week had passed since Minthara's challenge to Odahviing, the smug look she gave me once she told me she managed to get two dragons under her command for the price of one was rather amusing.

Of course said smug look disappeared the moment I reminded her that none of them were actually bound to her and could not do Krein's neat shadow m...

Arc 7 Chapter LXXXIX: Lizardly Investigation

(General POV)

A duo of unusual figures strolled slowly through the thick forests of Skyrim's southernmost hold, as the two conversed, one voice a squeaky and the other almost unnaturally cheerful, the canopy gave way to a vast opening, revealing the in some places still smoking ruins of Falkreath.

The taller of the two, a silver haired old man blinks at the scene, shrugs, and looks back to his companion "So anyways, as I was saying one of them nasty flying bulls tried to interrupt...

Arc 7 Chapter LXXXVIII: A Proper Bout Of Tinvak

(Minthara's POV, continued)

A few moments pass after my 'invitation' and nothing seems to happen. Immediately the idea that I would go ignored appears but I squash it just as quickly.

Chuckling lightly I lean onto my hammer, digging the butt of it into the dirt as I barely contain a facepalm 'Of course he would take a while to reach you Minthara, you idiot.' Amused at my own impatience I allow my thoughts to drift somewhat, going between anticipation towards the fight to a rather ...

Arc 7 Chapter LXXXVII: Time Whizzes

(Torygg's POV)

My hand passes my forehead, revealing a thick sheen of sweat. Uncaring for my lessons of etiquette I simply wipe it on my coat and return to the letter from Tullius.

All the lands excluding Falkreath, which would need a full restoration, were put to swift order by the legion. Tullius' message was as simple in wording as it was relieving to receive.

A small part of me took cruel satisfaction when I learned that the bandits trying to earn the dragons' favor by r...

Arc 7 Chapter LXXXVI: A Bit of Relaxation And A Plan of Action

I groan and let my face plant into my study table, explaining to Torygg just what exactly Alduin was doing in his people's afterlife was an exercise in patience and careful wording. All the Nords present, including even Erikur which somehow managed to surprise me, were to say the least fucking livid and keeping them calm enough to listen to me for even a minute almost made me telekinetically shut their mouths.

Which I thankfully managed to stop myse...

Arc 7 Chapter LXXXV: Calculating The Damage

A/n: The arc's finale approaches ever so slowly! We enter a planning phase and only a single short side quest is left before the World Eater learns his fucking place (It is in the trash by the way, if it wasn't already obvious)

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(Reyvin's POV)

Leaving the solemn Isran behind I made to check if anything critical remained before I had to go to Solitude and see the true extent of the damage.

I shudder at the mere though of how many people died today. Oh sur...

Arc 7 Chapter LXXXIV: Consequences

A/n: Planned on this whole thing just being a starting snippet but apparently I had way too much fun writing it so here we are

(Maven Black-Briar's POV)

It had been ten minutes since the commotion outside calmed down but I still refused to let my guard down. The dragons may have beaten those mercenaries and were too busy feasting to attack any further.

Or at least that is what my idiot Court Wizard's research said they would do, not that the dunce's word was to be taken seri...

Arc 7 Chapter LXXXIII: Scrambling Defense

(Reyvin's POV)

With a silent flash, Minthara, the Blades, Akulakhan and I walk out of the wayshrine below my tower, having left Tullius to deal with the aftermath after we saw Paarthurnax driving off the two other dragons both of whom looked battered and barely breathing.

"I still don't understand why he spared them." Minthara grumbles.

Delphine visibly holds back a comment in favor of Esbern speaking up "What baffles me is how he forbade you from finishing them off."

...