Sunset's Adventure in Skyrim

by Blackdrag-rose

46: The Bloodskal Priest

It had taken about ten minutes for Sunset's friends to calm Frea down to the point where she would take them to her village, where they could interact with her father and, hopefully, discover if he knew where one of the other six Black Books were located. Sunset knew that Frea was still sore about them allying with Miraak, as he had apparently placed a mind control spell on the majority of the people on Solstheim, but she was pleased when the women sighed and admitted that they might need his knowledge. She could tell that the two of them were just like Delphine and Elenwen, though she knew that they might never reach the level of cooperation that the two former sworn enemies had.

Once Frea and Miraak had formed their shaky alliance the entire group departed from the final chamber of Miraak's Temple, where they slowly emptied out into the mountainside. The moment they were outside Frea pointed at one of the Six Stones that doted Solstheim's landscape, where the villagers that had been at work on it were gathering themselves and returning to their village. She apparently wanted to say something about how it was Miraak's fault they had been working on the Stone, but then decided not to say anything and beckoned for the group to follow her.

Before they did so Sunset turned to the draugr that had gotten her through Miraak's Temple, who were eager for her to issue them their next set of commands.

"There's a Dragon Priest buried near Fort Frostmoth, my base of operations," Sunset told one of the Deathlords, the one who had noticed who she was at the beginning of the temple, "you'll recognize it by the banner of the twin colored sun that will have been set up around the building. I need you and your soldiers to head to the buried barrow and dig the Priest out of his resting place... we're going to need him and the Black Book that he's no doubt guarding."

"It would be our honor to awaken Lord Ahzidal," the Deathlord replied, bowing his head before turning to his soldiers and shouting commands at them.

Sunset watched as the army of draugr advanced down the mountainside, taking a route that would take them around the Skaal Village and allow them to get to the barrow in question a lot faster. Her own soldiers knew that she was allied with the Dragon Cult, so she didn't have to worry about her soldiers suddenly freaking out and attack the undead. She turned back to the group and found Frea staring at her, as if she was the enemy for a moment before the women sighed and beckoned them onward once more. They followed the now freed villagers back to the village, where Sunset watched as loved ones were reunited with each other and caught up with what they had missed over the last few days.

"Father! I have returned!" Frea suddenly said, breaking from the group and approaching a group of people that tended the barrier that surrounded the village, though Sunset immediately noticed that one of them was very powerful in terms of magic, "I bring good news... and bad news."

"Frea! I had worried I would not see you again." the elderly man said, lifting his eyes away from the circle he and a few others had formed, to which he looked at his daughter and the villagers that had returned, "Ah, not only have you returned, but our people have been saved. Tell me, if this is the good news you have brought to us, then what would your bad news be?"

"Well... the man responsible for the suffering of our people is still alive," Frea said, pointing behind her, to which her father noticed the group of strangers that had followed her inside the village, including the one that Frea was referring to.

"Miraak... I should have expected that you would lead a frontal assault on the village," the man stated, sighing as he made no attempt to get up from where he was sitting, "yet I am not strong enough to get up and fight... not when I have been powering this barrier to protect the rest of my people."

"My Master told me to release your people, and all of Solstheim, from my control," Miraak stated in return, though Sunset merely watched and waited her turn to speak, "which I did before I returned to Solstheim. The Last Dragonborn is fighting an enemy that has shattered the barrier between Nirn and Oblivion, so she has been given my aid until her enemy is dealt with. She also requires your aid in finding the six remaining Black Books of Hermaeus Mora."

"Old Herma Mora... that answers so many questions," Storn said, shaking his head slightly as he shifted his gaze between Sunset and Miraak, "but I can offer you no aid in this besides the name of the elf that has been studying the Black Books... the dark elf wizard Neloth should have the information you seek. These books are dark things, unnatural... Herma Mora is planning something, of that I am sure."

Sunset resisted the urge to tell the shaman about what the Daedric Prince wanted her to do, which was recover all seven Black Books and defeat the seven emotions he had awakened. she had no idea how the man would react to Hermaeus Mora having the ability to do such a thing, as it appeared that the Prince was not well liked on Solstheim. Still, despite the fact that Storn could not tell them where one of the other six Black Books Sunset had a pretty good idea where she could begin looking for them. All they needed to do was travel back to her fortress and see if Neloth was still there, otherwise she was going to have to hunt him down to get the information she needed.

With Hermaeus Mora's time limit he had opposed on her she knew that she didn't have the time to be searching for the dark elf, not when she had three days to get the job done.

"Well then, I'm off to find Neloth then," Sunset said, before she turned and looked at her friends, "We're heading back to Fort Frostmoth, where we should be able to find the wizard and inquire about the remaining Black Books..."

"I might be able to help you there," Miraak interrupted, to which he received a glare from Frea, who apparently didn't like the fact that the former Dragon Priest was interrupting the person who had, in some say Sunset guessed, saved her people, "there is a mine in Raven Rock, one that's been closed for who knows how long. At some point that mine connects to a nordic barrow, one that will lead you to one of the four Dragon Priests that resides on this island; Zahkriisos. Just passed him you should be able to find one of the Black Books, not to mention the 'Test' that my Master told you about."

Sunset could tell that Miraak had picked up on the fact that she wasn't going to mention to anyone, including her friends at the moment, that her emotions had been released and that the She-Demon, Pride as she called herself now, was awake at long last. Calling it a test from the Daedric Prince sounded like a smart plan, but she also knew that Fiona would likely figure out that something was wrong and eventually ask her about it. Her friends had briefly seen the power that Pride had wielded when she was in control of Sunset's body, but Sunset knew that when she fought with the demon it would be like two of her fighting each other.

She also knew that when it came time to fight Pride that wherever they fought in Apocrypha, be it at the summit or someplace else, was likely going to be destroyed during their fight.

As they left the Skaal Village Frea followed along, telling Sunset that she intended to act as a representative for the Skaal, but Sunset knew what she was really up to; she wanted to keep an eye on Miraak and make sure that he stayed upon the path that he claimed that he was on. Sunset already knew that Miraak was well informed about her conflict with Tirek, considering that his master was the Prince of Fate and Knowledge, so she actually couldn't see the former Dragon Priest betraying her until the demon was defeated, though she suspected that he wasn't willing to do so when she had the Alliance backing her.

-----------------------------------------------

When they finally returned to Fort Frostmoth Sunset was surprised to see that her forces had already cleared out most of the ash that have covered the area, revealing the rest of the abandoned fortress that had buried by the ash. Her soldiers were hard at work making sure that the fortress was in livable condition, though she did take note of the banners that were hanging on the walls, the same ones she had told the draugr about. Many of her soldiers briefly acknowledged that she was present before returning to their duties, though there was someone that she needed to talk to before she considered delving into the Raven Rock mine.

She found Delphine, General Tullius, and Orak in the room where the undead commander had been slain, though it appeared his body had been moved someplace else. They appeared to be going over the possible locations that covered Solstheim, as if they were already trying to figure out where they could find something to aid them in their efforts.

"Ah, Dragonborn, we were wondering when you'd return," Delphine said, turning back and seeing Miraak for the first time, but she simply shrugged and beckoned the two of them over to the table, "I take it we have reached some form of agreement between the two of you in the time you were away?"

"In a sense," Miraak replied, leaving Sunset to know that he intended for her to speak up next, something that she had figured that she was going to have to do anyway.

"Then we should be ready to leave soon..." Delphine started, but when she looked up at Sunset she could tell that they had something else they needed to do before their departure, "Okay, what do we have to do now?"

"Hermaeus Mora has given me seven Tests," Sunset told the assembled group, which also included her friends, "I am supposed to find all seven of his Black Books, reach the end of whatever trial they throw at me, and then defeat the emotion that calls that book home. Fiona, I take it that you and the others remember your brief meeting with the She-Demon?"

"Its hard to forget something like that," Fiona replied, shaking her head as she remembered what the demon did in the brief time it had been in control, before her eyes widened as she made the connection, "No... don't tell me that one of the emotions that Hermaeus Mora awakened was her."

"She's the worst emotion of them all..." Sunset said, sighing as she realized that what she was about to say next might bring up more questions for her to answer, "...she's my Pride. She's taken on the darker side of myself, the past that I thought I had buried and forgotten about, but it seems that if I am to have any true chance at defeating Tirek I must first conquer the She-Demon."

"Let's not get carried away by telling stories," General Tullius stated, turning to the map for a moment, "So we need to find six more Black Books, which could be anywhere on the island. I guess someone will have to go to Tel Mithryn and see if Neloth knows anything about them... I can tell that he's got an eye for magical artifacts from the way he stared at those spheres you created."

"He might actually have one of those in his tower," Miraak commented, drawing attention to himself once more, "What? Lord Hermaeus Mora always keeps track of whose in possession of one of his artifacts, be it the Oghma Infinium or the Black Books, and he mentioned something about one of them being found by a 'dark elf wizard' a few days ago. Neloth is, by all accounts, the only dark elf wizard on Solstheim... not counting his fool of an apprentice."

"Wait, so Hermaeus Mora could possibly know where Tirek is located?" Sunset asked, just to make sure that she was understanding what Miraak was saying.

"Theoretically," Miraak replied, shaking his head for a moment, "I do not understand my Master some times, but that isn't important at the moment. We need to find those Black Books."

"Then while Sunset goes off to the Raven Rock Mine in search of one you can help Delphine map out the ones you know of," Fiona said, before beckoning to herself and the rest of her companions, "We, on the other hand, will go to Tel Mithryn and speak with Neloth... hopefully we can convince him to give us his aid in securing some of the Black Books."

Sunset nodded her understanding and made for the door to the fort, where she began the journey back to Raven Rock, though not a few minutes later she found the barrow that the draugr were supposed to be working on. They had already found the entrance and were hard at work clearing the inside out, but considering how many of them there were Sunset knew that if she woke another Dragon Priest, and his army of the undead, then they might be able get deeper into the barrow in a lot less time. She watched them for a few minutes before she sighed and continued on towards the settlement, where she knew she'd be able to find a way into the mine.

When she entered Raven Rock she easily found her way to the mine, as all she really had to do was ask one of the guards and was immediately pointed towards the opening in the mountainside. Inside the mine she found two people arguing about someone going into the actual mine in search of something that may or may not actually be down there.

"Damn it, woman!" the old man said, clearly upset with the woman, "I said to leave me be!"

"Crescius, last time you explored the mine you almost fell to your death." the woman replied, sighing as she looked at the man, "I'm not spending the rest of my days as a widow!"

"And I'm telling you that I'll do whatever it takes to find my great-grandfather's remains." the man, Crescius, snapped at her, "He's down here, I can feel it."

"That was almost two centuries ago." the woman countered, trying to come up with a way to stop the man from going into the mine again, "There may be nothing left to find."

"Just let me go, woman!" Crescius demaned, who was clearly determined to head into the mine.

"Crescius, you're an obstinate old fool and you're going to get yourself killed." the woman sadly said, as if she had no idea how to talk her husband out of his rash decision.

It was at that moment that Sunset inserted herself into the conversation, where she eventually reached some sort of agreement with the man and his wife. It was rather simple; she was to go into the mine and discover where his great-grandfather's remains were located, and then bring out whatever she could find. Since she was going down to find Zahkriisos and the Black Book he was guarding she figured that she could help someone out while she was trying to save all of Nirn. Once the arrangement had been struck, and Sunset had been given the key to the locked section of the mine, she ventured into the depths of the mine in search of the door that would get her closer to her destination.

The only enemies that she found in her way happened to be a few spiders, which she barely used her magic against and, instead, pulled out her ebony sword and cut them down. After breaking through the wooden barrier that was hiding the area that Crescius mentioned, and unlocking the door, Sunset discovered the nordic barrow that Miraak had mentioned. As she walked into the crypt she summoned her staff and started tapping it on the ground as she walked, to which the slumbering draugr awoke from their sleep and followed after her. She was thankful for the other perk about being a Dragon Priestess, the part where the undead draugr followed her orders and made sure that any other enemies were dealt with so she could reach her destination.

She eventually reached what appeared to be a drop off point and found what appeared to be some sort of entrance, with two skeletal corpses resting on the ground before it. She leapt down to the ground and approached one of the bodies, before moving onto the second one and finding the journal that Crescius had mentioned to her... as well as a strange two handed sword. She opened the journal and scanned it for any mention of the door and the sword, to which she discovered that the only way to progress passed the door would be to swing the blade and release the energy stored inside. Once she knew what to do she turned to one of the heavy weapon Deathlords and explained what she needed him to do, to which the draugr nodded and solved the puzzle in a few minutes.

She then found a swinging blade trap passed the door, but she merely flashed between the blades until she reached the end and flipped the switch, opening the way for the other draugr to follow her. She stopped before a nearly floated chamber, to which the sunken coffin burst open and the Dragon Priest, Zahkriisos, rose into the air, before turning and faced her. The Priest floated through the air and approached her, to which the draugr behind her knelt before the Priest they served in life, before Zahkriisos knelt before Sunset.

"Long have I awaited your arrival, Warlord," Zahkriisos said, greeting her to his tomb for a moment, "Am I correct in assuming that you have come to awaken the remaining Dragon Priests and collect the Black Books that we're guarding?"

"That is correct," Sunset replied, casting her eyes around the chamber for a moment, but didn't find anything that resembled a Black Book at all, "I assume you know where the one that was buried alongside you is located?"

"Yes," Zahkriisos answered, getting back into his floating position and leading the way to an area that was blocked by a gate, which he opened with a lever and revealed the hidden Black Book.

Sunset approached the Black Book and pressed her hand against it, allowing the magic around her to warp and shift, taking her from Nirn and depositing her into Apocrypha. When she opened her eyes she found one of the creatures that had been standing beside Miraak waiting for her arrival, as the moment she was able to move again it beckoned to her before heading into the depths of the Book. Sunset knew what the creature was doing, it was under order to get Sunset to her Tests, so she could fight the emotion that was resting at the end. She took the opportunity to take in the sights of the Daedric Realm, studying the puzzles that might be put in her way if Hermaeus Mora decided to take the creature away in the future.

She eventually came to what appeared to be a room that had a black pool in the middle of the area, though floating in the middle of the lake was one of her emotions, a deep grey one she noticed.

"There is no hope," a voice echoed as Sunset entered the room, while the creature stayed behind, "We cannot hope to defeat Tirek, not with the power he commands."

"Despair, turn and face me!" Sunset called out, drawing her ebony sword as she faced the hopeless version of herself.

Before she could do anything Despair turned towards her and enforced her power over the area, to which Sunset was forced to her knees as all the hope around her was stripped from the area. She knew that she should have expected something like this from one of the emotions, but she had no idea that the first one she encountered would have had access to this kind of power. As she struggled against the power that Despair was enforcing on the area she looked up and found that Despair was preparing her own attack, something that looked similar to the condensed energy beam she had used a few times.

"It is hopeless," Despair said, weakly pulling her arm up as she leveled it in Sunset's direction, "Tirek will win and we will lose... his power will erase this world and there is nothing we can do to stop him."

Sunset, deciding that a direct conflict wouldn't be in her best interest at the moment, gathered her magic into a shielding spell, wondering if she'd have enough time to counter something that was on the same level that she was. Despair, seeing that something was happening, ignited her power and a tidal way of magical energy tore towards Sunset, who grunted and activated her spell. The energy collided with her shield and moved around her, destroying the structures behind her as Despair released all of her power into the single blast. Even the lose of hope that Despair had imposed on the area was lifted, something that Sunset had been sure that would have been used to stop her from fighting back, so it allowed her to use her full power as well.

When the attack was over Sunset lowered her shield and found that the entirety of the area she had walked through had been completely torn apart by the power of one of her emotions, a powerful one she mentally added. She sighed and approached Despair, who frowned as she approached her and fell into the water, waving her arms as if it would help make Sunset go away. Sunset, on the other hand, knelt before the other her and embraced her, allowing the hope that she had inside of her to override the despair that her counterpart felt. The moment that the other her smiled, even weakly, she faded from existence, returning to her place in Sunset's mind that she had been torn from by the Daedric Prince.

With the deed done, and the emotion defeated, Sunset smiled just a bit and pulled out the book that had brought her here, allowing her to return to her draugr allies. With one more Dragon Priest awoken, and one of the seven emotions defeated, she could now leave the crypt with her undead soldiers and get to work finding the other Black Books. She only prayed that she had enough time to go through the process of finding each book and defeat each emotion, as she had no idea how long her enemy was willing to wait before beginning his plan to return to Equus.

She would complete the tests that Hermaeus Mora had planned for her and show the Princes that she had the potential to defeat the demon at his own game.

Comments

[Leo Archon]

I can only imagine Delphine's thought process was something like, "Great, NOW what?" when she saw the look on Sunset's face.

So that's one down, six to go (counting Pride), and Tirek is free to fuck Skyrim up in the meantime.

Run, little pony. You don't have time to waste.

[Vigilant of Stendarr]

7114864 Delphine was likely hoping that the journey to Solstheim would be short and sweet, so they could head back and destroy Tirek before he destroys something else. I can also agree with you on what Delphine was thinking when she looked at Sunset for that brief moment.

Three days to recover all seven Black Books and defeat all seven of her 'Demons'... she's not going to be able to rest if she wants to meet the time limit.

[HB_DS2013]

I'm guessing the Black Books are the only thing keeping Herma Mora intact before Tirek comes in and causes the second Oblivion Crisis.

[Sonata Blaze]

7115044 It seems that way, though I think the moment that Sunset finishes Pride off it will allow Tirek to summon Hermaeus Mora and allow him to drain the final Prince. Herma Mora is only putting off what's going to happen to him by a few days.