Chapter 9: Interlude - A Walk Across Vvardenfell

Heartfire 15 (Day 31)

It was still dark when I awoke and I made my way through a silent town. I had originally planned to first return to Balmora then continue on to Vivec City and with this in mind I once again returned to the Mage's Guild in Wolverine Hall.

However, once I got there, I decided that I had earned myself a slight break. So, instead of speaking with the Guild Guide I inquired among the other guild members and purchased several potions then returned to the night. Finding my way to the shoreline, I drained the first of my water walking potions and set off towards the southwest.

My intention was to travel from island to island until I reached the coast then find my way overland back to Balmora. Despite the time I had spent here I realized that I really had seen very little of Vvardenfell and I felt a desire to see what the other areas of the island looked like. Once I had quenched a bit of my wanderlust I would return to Balmora and see what Cosades had planned for me next.

I took a somewhat indirect path as I did not want to be too far from land when my water walking potions wore off so I traveled from island to island. I took a more southerly course than when I had visited the mainland in search of Yasalmibaal's yurt and so passed south of Tel Aruhn. I had expected to find nothing of importance along the way and so was surprised when, as I neared the mainland again, to see one of the large, plant-like Telvanni towers rising from an island to the south of me. Once again I let my curiosity get the better of me and I diverted from my course to see what I had found.

Tel Fyr

A short water crossing took me to a dock, beside which hung a banner identifying the place as Tel Fyr. I knew the Telvanni had a reputation of not liking outlanders such as myself but the banner and dock implied that visitors were welcome to some extent. So, I made my way to the main entrance of what I found to be the Tel Fyr Oynx Hall.

Inside, I was almost immediately greeted by a Dunmer woman who identified herself as Beyte Fyr and who asked if I was here to plunder the dungeon! I hastily tried to assure her that I was just a traveller who had stopped to rest briefly but she in turn said that doing so was actually expected of those who stopped by. In fact, Divayth Fyr, the owner, encouraged it. Of course, she pointed out, most of those who ventured into the dungeon never returned.

Changing the topic of conversation, I asked her what the purpose of this place was and she informed me that Divayth Fyr had established it as a place to study the dread Corprus disease. Beneath us was a Corprusarium; a place where those afflicted with the disease lived. Divayth was studying the disease in an attempt to find a cure.

I was somewhat uncomfortable at being so close to so many with the disease and Beyte quickly assured me that I was safe, unless I decided to enter the Corprusarium for some reason. By this time I had realized why so few of those who attemted to raid the "dungeon" ever returned and assured her that I had no intention of doing so.

Beyte had continued speaking and mentioned that she was the wife of Divayth. I nodded at this but she suddenly corrected herself and said that "consort" was probably a better description of her status then paused and added that "daughter" would probably work as well. I stared at her with some confusion at this and she explained that Divayth had created her and her "sisters" from his own flesh to be his companions. In that sense they could be thought of as his daughters but they were more than that too.

I didn't quite know how to respond to that so I started to take my leave. Beyte seemed almost disappointed that I was not going to attempt to try my luck in the dungeon but said that if I wished to speak with Divayth that he was upstairs in his study. She also added that she hoped I knew how to levitate as there were no stairs; just a flywell.

Giving a polite goodbye I left the central chamber and returned to the hallway which seemed to circle the tower. I followed the hallway in a descending direction and eventually found myself near a locked door opposite a large room where I met Delte Fyr.

Delte was another of Divayth's "daughters" and looked much like Beyte though her attitude seemed somewhat different. Delte pointed me towards a second door in the room, saying that it led to the Corprusarium and that I was free to try my luck there if I wished. I indicated that I had no desire to do so and she said that a good thief should have no trouble plundering the dungeon. Of course, she added, they didn't see too many good thieves; just stupid ones.

I did not find anything else of interest in the area. Other than the locked and trapped door there was also a chest with an incredibly complex lock that I did not even attempt to try to open. As I was leaving Delte told me, somewhat condensendingly, that if I wanted to speak with Divayth then I would either need to know a spell of levitation or have a potion. They did not have a stairway to the upper levels in order to keep out the "barbarians and other undesireables".

Returning to the hallway, I proceeded in the opposite direction until I found my way to the main flywell leading upward. Unfortunately, I had not thought to purchase any rising force potions so I was unable to explore in that direction. However, there seemed to be several unoccupied rooms in the area so I took the opportunity to explore.

The first room I entered seemed to be a study or workroom. There were quite a few books on the shelves but I was a bit disturbed by the fact that human skulls were being used as bookends for all of them. I skimmed through the books but the one that held the most interest was titled Lunar Lorkhan and seemed to contain some useful insights into Alteration.

However, the major items in this room were several greater and grand soul gems which were sitting openly on a shelf. Though my own skill in Mysticism was not sufficient to make much use of them I collected them anyway knowing that I could sell them for a good price.

There was also a locked chest on a shelf with a bent lockpick sitting nearby. I opened the chest but only found a few gold pieces.

Finding nothing else in the room except for a variety of alchemical ingredients I crossed the hallway and entered what seemed to be Divayth's sleeping quarters. There were more alchemical ingredients here as well as a complete set of alchemical equipment. I briefly considered taking them to sell but decided that it was not worth the weight to carry them around. I did take several potions of invisibility and rising force that were sitting on the shelf with the equipment.

There was little else of interest in the room beyond another chest with another of those impossibly complex locks. The only other room on the level was a sitting room which also contained nothing of interest. So, returning to the flywell, I drank one of my recently found rising force potions and drifted upwards.

Four corridors branched off from the top of the flywell and down one of them I saw an elderly Dunmer watching my arrival. I drifted towards him and found myself face-to-face with Divaynth Fyr himself.

I knew that the Dunmer, and especially the Telvanni, did not particularly care for outlanders so I was surprised by the warm greeting I received. Divaynth said that he saw few visitors there at Tel Fyr and was always happy to meet a new face. He noted that I did not have Corprus and so asked, with a smile, if I was there to plunder his dungeon or to leer at his daughters.

I assured him that I had no plans to enter his dungeons and he, apparently assuming that I had come for another purpose, asked me what I thought of his daughters. He said they were beautiful, "Especially for something that came from a jar." He confirmed that he had created them from his own flesh to give him comfort and companionship. He had four daughters of which I had met two. Beyte was the most gentle of them, he said, and gave him the most comfort. He added that she also had a wonderful singing voice. Delte had the sharpest mind and she handled most of his day to day affairs. Alfe had a sharp wit and tongue and always helped keep him in line. Finally, Uupse had the biggest heart of his daughters and she tended to the patients in the Corprusarium.

I asked about the Corprusarium and he told me that it was a place where the victims of Corprus could stay. He had been studying the disease for centuries and called it "The Divine Disease", saying that it was either a gift or a curse from the gods; or possibly both. Corprus granted upon its victims complete immunity to all other diseases and the ravages of time. Barring accidents, those with the disease could theoretically live forever. On the other hand, it also destroyed the mind of those afflicted with it so they were unable to appreciate the gift they had received.

He had devoted much of his life to the study of Corprus and he seemed ready to spend hours telling me what he had learned but I changed the topic and asked why he encouraged visitors to raid the Corprusarium. He admitted that after four thousand years of life it had become difficult to find anything that entertained him. He had collected Dwemer and other magickal artifacts for centuries and stored them in his Corprusarium and it gave him some measure of amusement to watch the usually fatal attempts of those who tried to steal them.

He again invited me to try my luck in the dungeons if I so wished and said that he only asked that I not attack either the patients or his daughters; his guards could look after themselves. As he spoke, he gestured at an object on his desk. I picked it up and discovered it to be a key, engraved with the number 637. I looked at him with a puzzled look and he, with a laugh, gestured for me to keep it. I shrugged and stuck it in my pocket. I certainly had no desire to enter his "dungeon" but supposed the key may possibly become useful at some point.

We spoke for a bit longer on various topics before he bid me farewell and returned to his work. I briefly explored the rest of the level, finding a storage room with various alchemical ingredients and a cabinet with another of the insanely complex locks that I had seen all over the tower. I also met Alfe Fyr and found out that Divaynth's description of her as having a sharp tongue was correct. She looked me over and sarcastically said that I looked smart enough to raid the dungeon and either contract Corprus or be ripped to shreds.

"Raid the dungeon of a four thousand year old wizard." she said. "Really smart."

My explorations complete I dropped back down the flywell then quickly left the tower. I then downed another of my water walking potions and was quite happy as Tel Fyr faded out of sight behind me.

The rest of my journey across the water passed without incident and I soon found myself on the shoreline of the main island of Vvardenfell. After briefly consulting my map I headed south along the coastline, planning to angle inwards once I reached the mountains.

I had not been walking long when I encountered an encampment and noticed several people sitting around a fire. I approached and hailed them, hoping to find some information about this part of the island.

Their reaction surprised me. With cries of "Die fetcher!" and "You n'wah!" the two of them lept to their feet and charged towards me, one drawing a weapon while the other began casting a spell.

I quickly got over my surprise and my jinkblade was out and ready before the first attacker arrived. He was paralized by my first swing and I quickly switched to my longsword and finished him off.

My other opponent had continued his attacks and I had felt several blasts of Magicka strike me while I was fighting their colleague. I immediately charged the spellcaster who attempted to fall back while continuing to hurl magickal bolts towards me. Despite this I easily closed the distance between us and he soon joined my first opponent on the ground. Searching the lone yurt in the camp revealed a single occupant who attacked as soon as I entered but I was easily able to defeat him as well.

As I caught my breath I cast my healing spells to recover from the wounds I had received then searched the bodies and the camp. I found nothing to indicate why they had attacked me so I assumed that they were a group of bandits who either saw me as their latest victim or as someone who had come to bring them in. Either way, they were dead. There was nothing of interest on them or in their camp beyond a few coins, though I did learn the place was known as Sobitbael, so I simply disposed of the bodies and continued on my way.

The path to the south soon became lost in a jumble of boulders and steaming mud pits so I reversed my course and followed the beach to the north. Shortly past the camp a small inlet of water led towards the west and I followed the path alongside it inland.

I turned south again at the next opportunity but this path only led to the Missr-Dadalt Eggmine. Assuming I would find nothing else of interest there I returned to the main road and climbed a short ridge. Spotting a figure standing beside the path ahead I called a greeting to which they responded with a short wave.

The figure turned out to be Marsus Tullius and he was not in a good mood. He was a guar hide salesman, he told me in frustration as soon as I approached, and a group of "Thieving Ashlanders" had attacked him and stolen his latest shipment.

He looked me over then, in a more calculating tone, asked me if I would be able to help him. He said that the Ashlanders who had taken his hides had fled to the south and asked if I would be willing to hunt them down and recover his hides. If I did then his father, who lived in Tel Aruhn, would be able to give me a reward the next time I was there.

I described for Tullius the Ashlanders I had just encountered at the Sobitbael camp but they did not seem to be the ones who had robbed him. Those, he said, were somewhere in the rugged terrain south of the road. I told him that I would see what I could do then continued down the path in my original direction. I briefly considered searching for the Ashlanders in question then decided that it was more effort than I wanted to expend at the moment, especially since my only promise was of a possible reward at some future date. I also wondered why, if Tullius was so concerned about his shipment, he was doing nothing about the theft except standing beside the road and asking random passers-by for help as opposed to going to Tel Aruhn and arranging for support. So, I resolved to look into the matter if I came across the Ashlander camp but otherwise not to concern myself with it at this time.

A bit further down the road I found a sign pointing the way to Vos and Tel Vos. I took the opposite path, on towards the south through a barren landscape of rock and dried mud, broken only by the occasional hissing steam vent. I passed through a stretch of road identified as "Uvirith's Grave" (though I saw nothing that looked like a grave in the desolate landscape around me) before coming to a fork in the path. The left path seemed to be the most direct path to the south but after following it I found the trail dead-ended at another of the odd caves I had been finding around Vvardenfell; this one identified as Zenrbael. I had avoided most of those I had seen but I decided to take a break from the desolate landscape through which I had been wandering and entered.

The cavern was dark but lit by torches and a steep slope led downwards. I was proceeding along carefully when I heard a cry ahead and felt a distinctive jolt as magicka flared around me. Looking about, I saw a figure running towards me, another bolt of energy leaving its outstretched hands. With a yell, I drew my jinkblade and charged to meet them.

The fight was brief but I had sustained more than a few injuries before my opponent fell. I cast what healing spells I could then continued onwards into the cavern.

I came to a large cavern with a large pool of water at the bottom. A wooden ramp led to a small ledge of stone beside the water where another Dunmer stood, apparently feeding a mudcrab! The Dunmer saw me and, yelling a challenge, tried to run up the ramp towards me but the mudcrab, apparently startled by the sudden yell, had frozen at the base of the ramp and blocked his passage. Seizing the opportunity, I hastily drew my bow and started firing arrows at the distant figure.

The Dunmer finally managed to vault the mudcrab and come running up the ramp but by then I had managed to hit him several times with arrows. A final arrow struck home as he charged towards me and, with a groan, he fell first to his knees then face down onto the ground.

A search showed nothing of interest and none of my arrows were salvagable so I disposed of the body and climbed down the ramp. The mudcrab attempted to attack me as I approached but it fell to a single thrust of my longsword. Shoving it aside, I stepped onto the ledge.

The remainder of the cave consisted of just a few chambers, most half-full of water. I fought two more opponents but was able to defeat both as well as a second mudcrab. The charge on my jinkblade did run out during one battle but the medusa head ring I had taken from Vorar Helas was able to work in its place.

The caves contained a large number of crates, barrels and sacks and it was obvious that I had found another smuggler or bandit cave. My searches turned up a good number of potions and scrolls of various types as well as several weapons and most of a complete suit of steel armor. I collected what I was able to carry then exited the cavern and resumed my journey.

I had spent more time than I had planned in Zernbael and the light was fading when I emerged. I returned to the fork in the path and took the opposite route. This led me to a wider area with an open lava stream along one side. I was a bit concerned about this but saw another road sign off to the west and so headed in that direction. The sign pointed the way to several mountains but also indicated the direction to Molag Mar (which I had selected as my destination).

I set out in the indicated direction and almost immediately saw something lying on the ground. It turned out to be an almost unreadable page from a book and after puzzling over it for a minute I finally decided that it came from a copy of the History of the Empire. I found another page some short distance further along and was beginning to wonder why they were there but my thoughts were interrupted when I rounded a bend and came across an Argonian crouched beside the road.

I spoke to him and he introduced himself as Reeh-Jah. He almost seemed afraid to speak to me and at first only said that he wanted to go home. After a while, however, he began to relax somewhat and finally revealed to me that he was a slave who had escaped from the slave market in Tel Aruhn. He had been hiding from the hunters who had been sent track him down and asked if I would be willing to help him reach the Argonian Mission in Ebonheart where he would be safe. I readily agreed and the two of us set off on down the road.

We had not travelled far when we were attacked, this time by a frost acronach! This proved to be the most fearsome opponent I had yet met on Vvardenfell and I was barely able to defeat it even with Reeh-Jah's help. My jinkblade was still discharged from my battles in Zernbael and the creature easily resisted the magicka in the ring. Only after a long battle did it finally fall before our combinded attack and I sank to my knees myself soon after.

When my breath had returned I cast my healing spells and attempted to stand, only to find I could not. I felt weak and tired and realized that one of the spells the Atronach had cast upon me had damaged my strength and endurance. I had no potions or spells with me that would allow me to recover and I was unable to continue with the load I had been carrying. So, I went through my pack and tried to determine what I could safely leave behind. I wound up dropping most of the items I had picked up in Zernbael as well as an iron spear and enchanted axe that I had picked up somewhere along the line. Finally, with reluctance, I was forced to drop my glass tower shield as well. I hid the items as best as I could and marked the location on my map, planning to return and retrieve them once I was cured. My load lightened, Reeh-Jah and I resumed our journey.

By this time night had fallen and the two of us carefully made our way along the road, fighting several cliff racers along the way. After a bit, a large structure loomed ahead of us and I quickly recognized it as a Dwemer ruin from the distinctive shape of its towers. A quick check of my map showed me that we had reached the ruin Nchuleftingth, which I remembered from the information Hasphat Antabolis had given me. If for no other reason than to get away from the cliff racers for a while, Reeh-Jah and I entered the ruin.

A brief search led me to a room where Senilias Cadiusus and his daughter Pania had apparently set up their base of operations. Cadiusus was curious as to who we were at first but once I gave him Antabolis' letter of introduction his mood improved considerably. He then asked if I could help him with a problem.

Cadiusus and his team had explored this level of Nchuleftingth but had not been able to find an entrance to the lower levels. One of his colleagues, one Anes Vendu, thought he had found a way down but he was now missing and had taken with him a copy of Cadiusus' excavation report. He had contacted the Mages' Guild asking for help but none had as of yet arrived and he asked if Reeh-Jah and I would be willing to search for him. I looked at Reeh-Jah who shrugged and I told Cadiusus that we would see what we could do.

The area we were in seemed to be where the archaeologists had their base so I started my search in the opposite direction. This led me to a large chamber with several Dwemer machines spinning in the center of the room. More machines lined one wall and each had an odd crank on the front, similar to the one I had used to get into Arkngthand. I idly turned the crank on the first machine, only to be hit by a blast of steam from the machinery. I cried out and jerked back from the crank then turned to look at Reeh-Jah, who seemed to be trying to surpress a laugh. Giving him an annoyed look I searched the rest of the room.

There looked to be nothing else of interest in the room and it seemed as if we had already seen all there was in this small area of the ruin so I approached the machines with cranks again. Selecting the one furtherest from the entrance, I turned the crank and this time was rewarded not with a blast of steam but instead with the sound of a door grinding open. Looking about, I noticed that a door had opened on the opposite side of the room and the two of us cautiously made our way down a short flight of stairs.

We found ourselves in another set of rooms and, in the first one to the right, I found the body of Anes Vendu. A damaged Dwemer Sphere Centurion lay nearby; apparently the cause of Vendu's death. He had managed to destroy it but not before being fataly wounded himself.

I had knelt beside the body to search for the excavation report when I heard a familiar scuttling noise. I looked up just in time to see a Centurion Spider and another Sphere Centurion moving towards us and lept to my feet, sword at ready. Reeh-Jah joined into the battle beside me and together we were able to defeat the two Dwemer automatons.

Returning to the body I soon found the Excavation Report that Cadiusus had been concerned about. Also, near the body, was a copy of the book Hanging Gardens of Wasten Coridale. I noted with interest that the book had originally been written in Dwemer but had then been translated into Aldmeris. While I had only minimal knowlege of the latter (and of course no one could read Dwemer) it seemed to me that someone who did know Aldmeris could use the book to translate some Dwemer script! I took the book, intending to show it to Cadiusus.

I quickly searched the room and found a good number of items in various crates and barrels including some emeralds and rubies. I also found several chunks of ebony and glass and some dwemer metal scraps but was unable to collect any of them due to my still weakened strength. Then, having found what we had come for, Reeh-Jah and I returned to the upper room and Cadiusus.

Cadiusus was dismayed to learn of the death of Vendu but also pleased that he had found the entrance to the lower levels and said that he would make sure that Vendu was given credit for that discovery. However, he was extremely excited when I showed him the book I had found. He agreed with my assesment of its value but said that he could not do anything with it here. Instead, he asked if I would hang on to it and deliver it to Edwina Ellebert in the Ald-Rhun Mage's Guild, along with a copy of his excavation report. She was also studying the Dwemer and he felt that she would be the best person to study the book.

He immediately started making plans for the study of the lower levels of the ruin and invited us to join him but I, to Reeh-Jah's apparent relief, said that we had a long journey ahead of us and that we needed to be on our way. He understood and bade us farewell before returning to his plans.

I spoke briefly with Pania but she was not in a particularly good mood. In fact, she seemed to have no interest in the Dwemer or the ruin at all and stopped me before I could say anything about Vendu. I am uncertain why she was even there but both Reeh-Jah and I said our goodbyes and returned to the surface.

Heartfire 16 (Day 32)

The first thin light of dawn was starting to appear in the east when the two of us exited the ruin. After briefly consulting the map we set off up the road again before turning to the west and then to the south towards Molag Mar.

The rest of our journey passed with little incident. We were attacked several times by cliff racers and other creatures but with Reeh-Jah's aid we were able to defeat all of them with little trouble. We did spot a dome of Velothi design at one point but Reeh-Jah was becoming worried about the slave hunters out looking for him so I passed it by after noting its location for later.

We did cut across country for a while but for the most part we followed the road and let the signs guide us. Though it seemed more than once that this took us far out of our way we eventually found our way to the outskirts of Molag Mar.

Molag Mar was designed along the same lines as one of the cantons of Vivec, or at least appeared that way from the outside. We did not enter the town and instead went straight to the Silt Strider and booked passage to Vivec itself.

The Silt Strider dropped us off on the shore opposite the main Cantons. We did not go into town and instead made our way to the west until we encountered the road leading to Ebonheart. From there it was an easy journey on down to the fortress and the Argonian Mission there.

Reeh-Jah relaxed visibly once we entered the mission and thanked me for my aid, saying that he would be safe now. I wished him luck and, after nodding a greeting to Rabinna, was about to leave when I was stopped by Im-Kilaya, the leader of the Argonian Mission.

Im-Kilaya thanked me for the assistance I had given Reeh-Jah and handed me an object as payment for my time and effort. I tried to tell him that no reward was neccessary, that I would not have left Reeh-Jah to his fate, but he insisted. He also cryptically told me that "the lamps would continue to shine" on me but, before I could ask him to explain what he meant, he turned and left. I examined the object he had given me and discovered it was a Blood Belt, a magickal device that would enhance my strength and endurance for a short while. This reminded me that I still had my damaged strength to take care of and left the mission and Ebonheart.

There was a bridge to the Hlaalu Canton just a short walk up the road and I crossed it then cut across the Foreign Quarter. From there I climbed to the plaza level and found my way to the local Mage's Guild where I was able to buy potions to restore my strength and endurance. I even purchased a few extras just in case I found myself in the same situation again.

Then I stopped and considered my options. I needed to go back to the Morag Tong guildhall and report my success with the writs I had been given. I also needed to check in with the local Thieves Guild, which was supposedly in this Canton. Then there were the "bad people" that Larrius Varro had asked me kill for him and the Cammona Tong operative that had threatened Ahnassi that I needed to get rid of for her. I sighed. I certainly had a great many people with expectations of me.

However, I also needed to talk to Cosades again. I reminded myself that I still did not know why I had been released and assigned to the Blades and that it was probably not a good idea for me to stray from my assigned tasks for too long. Plus, it was now close to two days since I had slept and I was feeling quite tired. So, after a moments further thought, I found my way to the guild guide and had them transport me to Balmora. There, I found my way to Nerano manor and soon found myself in a sound sleep.