Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-3293219-20140702211836/@comment-24449631-20140706181714

Rowan followed the magistrate through the halls.

“I’m sorry but what?!”

“You want me to go to Apocrypha?”

“No…”

“But you want to know how your friend is? Right?”

“Well, yes. But… Isn’t there another way?”

The Magistrate turned to Rowan.

“Is she a mage?”

Rowan was a bit puzzled by that question.

“Wa?... No.”

“Then there is no other way. Unless of course you’re willing to devote a few years of your life to learning magic, and the school of Illusion, to be able to communicate with someone from afar.” Londril said bluntly.

Rowan really didn’t want to do this. He had already crossed paths with a deadric Prince’s influence before, so he was justly afraid.

“Sigh… But how?” Rowan was at such a loss. Apocrypha was in another plain of existence. How would he get there.

“Solmavril will tell you everything.”

“Solmavril?” Rowan enquired, not being familiar with the name and such.

“Yes. He is a priest of Hermaeus Mora at our shrine, east of town.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan realised that deadra worship was completely normal on the Summerset isles. It sort of frightened him.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I see… But, really… How?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“The priest will tell you everything, my friend.” Londril turned right before the gates of the palace.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Wait… You’re not coming with me?” Rowan wondered.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Hah, no. I’m afraid not. I have other business I need to attend to.” The elf said softly.

<p class="MsoNormal">“But…” Rowan felt every bit of hope sink away.

<p class="MsoNormal">Londril looked at the flustered Nord once more.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Everything will be fine, my young friend. As long as you believe, nothing will happen to you. I promise”

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan looked up.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Sigh… Ok…”

<p class="MsoNormal">It seemed that little ungrounded promise was enough to pour some courage back into the Nord.

<p class="MsoNormal">“East of town you said, right?” Rowan asked the Elf.

<p class="MsoNormal">Londril showed a smirk.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan nodded at the magistrate and walked back into the Royal gardens.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Good luck…” Londril sounded right before he turned and headed back into the palace.

<p class="MsoNormal">-

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan sort of smiled nervously as he walked back in the gardens.

<p class="MsoNormal">Despite his dislike of anything resembling deadra or Oblivion he now had something to do. A goal to reach. A quest.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Nord walked on the little white stepping stone paths through the enormous garden. Now less exhausted then when he first arrived he could enjoy its beauty even more.

<p class="MsoNormal">Despite the fact fate would bring him possibly into Apocrypha, the plain of Oblivion of Hermaeus Mora, he found himself calmed by the soothing smell, sound and sight of Firsthold’s gardens and parks.

<p class="MsoNormal">It was so peaceful. Almost hauntingly so.

<p class="MsoNormal">As he looked around he saw elves meditate throughout the whole garden. Sitting next or sometimes in the small canals, eyes closed and whispering to themselves.

<p class="MsoNormal">They seemed to know so much more about life than Rowan could possibly imagine.

<p class="MsoNormal">''The mind of an elf is a complex thing for sure. That’s probably why so many nords dislike of them… We were always such a simple people. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan started to ponder as he walked the gardens. Seemed the spiritual beauty of it all was a bit contagious after all.

<p class="MsoNormal">As Rowan strode passed the velvet-like green grass. He reached the town square of First Hold. The stonework and everything was still as amazing as ever.

<p class="MsoNormal">It seemed there was a market this time of day. And there was no way around it.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan sighed as he, a Nord aka one of the last people you’d see on Summerset, had to pass into a crowded market place.

<p class="MsoNormal">He strode passed some of the vendors who sold the usual fair you’d see on market places, but everything seemed to be. ‘more perfect’ than for example a market place in Riften before the Beaumanic Revolution that is. Now there’s no more markets on Plankside, they all moved to the new districts.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan noticed some roasted chicken turning on a wheel. It smelled heavenly. If he had Adamantine currency he’d sure buy one.

<p class="MsoNormal">But as he moved on he felt eyes pierce him in the back. Elves who probably never have left Summerset before, seeing a human in the first time of their life.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan didn’t much like the attention. And hoped for Talos’ sake he wouldn’t be stopped and asked questions by some random stranger.

<p class="MsoNormal">Luckily it didn’t come to that. All in all, it didn’t took that long to reach the other side of the market place and he was free to venture forward at a quicker pace again.

<p class="MsoNormal">The broad elven boulevards were made him feel quite humble. He thought that the Temple of Mara in Riften or the Keep were a sight to see.

<p class="MsoNormal">Seeing these Elven cities just made him realise just how small and insignificant he was to the world around him.

<p class="MsoNormal">It sort of created a lump in his throat.

<p class="MsoNormal">He could’ve done without this information.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Gods I wish this war is over soon… So I can go home.” He sounded to himself.

<p class="MsoNormal">He looked back at the palace on the hill behind him. If he squinted he could make out the balcony of his room at the side of the building, overlooking the northern part of the city and the abecean sea.

<p class="MsoNormal">So he was going the right way at least. East.

<p class="MsoNormal">-

<p class="MsoNormal">A few minutes of walking later he stopped in front of a large temple complex of some sort.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I guess this it.” The Nord said to himself as he felt his nerves getting back.

<p class="MsoNormal">The temple had some text written in Altmeri elvish over the entrance. So he wasn’t sure. Hopefully someone inside speaks common tongue.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan took a deep breath and entered the large temple with tall white elven spirals.

<p class="MsoNormal">Inside it became immediately apparent that this was like the temple of the divines in Solitude. It housed more than one shrine.

<p class="MsoNormal">You had a large hall, which echoed immensely, and entrances to different shrines and rooms along the whole corridor.

<p class="MsoNormal">“One of these must be for Hermaeus Mora…” Rowan whispered.

<p class="MsoNormal">His shoes echoing through the large hall as he looked at the emblems on top of every entrance.

<p class="MsoNormal">He recognised some. Like the anvil of Zenithar or the dragonbody of Peryite, but some he just couldn’t figure out.

<p class="MsoNormal">It seemed like Deadra and Aedra were worshiped in the same building. An odd idea, according to the Nord.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan was at a loss. But before he had to go to each shrine one by one.

<p class="MsoNormal">A voice called him over.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Can I help you? Rowan?” An old Altmer asked. As he rested on a staff.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan looked surprised. First of all, it seemed like the old man appeared out of nothing, and secondly…. How on Nirn did he know his Name?

<p class="MsoNormal">“Euh? Yes, wait what! How do you know my name?!” Rowan asked nervously.

<p class="MsoNormal">The old mer grinned.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I know a lot…”

<p class="MsoNormal">He slowly walked around the Nord who followed the old mer with his head.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Are you Solmavril?” Rowan asked determined.

<p class="MsoNormal">“That I am, Rowan son of Heppni Autumn-Arrow.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan’s eyes widened.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What? How! How do you know those things of me!” The Nord felt threatened by the not at all threatening looking old man, who must’ve been centuries old…

<p class="MsoNormal">“There is no need for alarm. Soon all will be revealed.” The old Altmer coughed.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I sure hope so… I don’t like this one bit. But honestly. How did you know?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I didn’t…” The altmer sighed.

<p class="MsoNormal">His feeble finger then pointed at a shrine in the hallway.

<p class="MsoNormal">“He did. Hermaeus Mora… Deadric Prince of Knowledge.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan looked at the old man again.

<p class="MsoNormal">“And I am his mortal servant and priester. Solmavril… At your service.” The old man nodded with his head. As bowing seemed out of the question for someone that old.

<p class="MsoNormal">He looked like he one of his bones would snap any moment now.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan scratched his head.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You said you knew why I was here?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes, you are here to find out about your loved one. Manja.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Wow! wait. Hold on a second there. I’m not…” Rowan stumbled

<p class="MsoNormal">The old man simply smiled at the Nord.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan sighed, and just shut up.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You miss her. And you want to know how she is, in this uncertain climate of War and strive, correct?” The old mer went on.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan felt like any words he would mutter would backfire so he simply nodded.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well in your path of enlightenment I cannot help you. If I would dig deeper into your knowledge I might lose my mind.” The old man went on.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Apocrypha is a dangerous place to the ‘unwarned’. And even with proper preparations it is a dangerous place. Daedric Princes aren’t  mortals you can simply understand. Some even are mysteries to themselves, so don’t even try to understand them. And most certainly do not appeal to their human nature, for they have none. Especially not Hermaeus Mora.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Apocrypha needs to be delved, delicately and with a goal for eyes. Do not stray from this goal, or you will find your doom. Doom in the forbidden knowledge within that no mere mortal could understand. Understand this… You will become mad if you do.” The old mer warned the Nord.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan nodded. He obviously wasn’t planning on staying there.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I got that. But… How do I get there?” The Nord wondered.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ah, that’s where this comes in.” The Old mer smiled as he revealed out of his long sleeve a book, black as night and cold as ice when touched.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan looked in awe at the weird book.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What is it?” he wondered.

<p class="MsoNormal">“This… Is one of the books of the library of Apocrypha.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“You mean this is a book from another plain of reality?” Rowan asked surprised.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes. It is one of Hermaeus Mora’s Black Books.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“So this will get me to Oblivion?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes. You are quite lucky actually. There are only two places that I know off where these books work. Solstheim, North of Blacklight, in Morrowind. And here… In Firsthold.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“But how do they work.” Rowan said as he got handed the mysterious black book and carefully watched it’s cover and rim.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You read it.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh…” Rowan sighed, feeling like an idiot.

<p class="MsoNormal">“read the texts within and they will transport you to Apocrypha, read it again to return to our world.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“just like that?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Just like that.” The elf smiled.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So… Which page do I read?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Doesn’t matter.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan started to get a nagging feeling, perhaps this wasn’t the best idea.

<p class="MsoNormal">But he had to do it. He needed to know if Manja was safe. Otherwise he wouldn’t hold it out here, on this perfect island.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Anything else I need to know?” Rowan asked a final time.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes, there are monsters that roam the plain of Apocrypha. Be careful, they are dangerous. Avoid them if you can.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan nodded.

<p class="MsoNormal">''Great. There are monsters. Could’ve told me sooner ''

<p class="MsoNormal">And opened the book.

<p class="MsoNormal">At first.

<p class="MsoNormal">It looked like a page, full of gibberish. But as he looked closer, the ink started to move.

<p class="MsoNormal">Was it trickery? The worlds started dancing in front of him. He couldn’t even look away anymore. No matter how hard he tried the book had him.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan felt a cold shiver go down his spine, suddenly he realised why he didn’t want to go. As pitch black tentacles wrapped around his neck and pulled him nearer to the pages.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan wanted to scream for help but he couldn’t see Solmavril or any of the old temple from the corner of his eye he was surrounded by blackness, pure darkness.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Nord had difficulties breathing as he started to wrestle with the book.

<p class="MsoNormal">“No!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Let me go!” Rowan shrieked pulling himself away.

<p class="MsoNormal">Until suddenly he felt the tentacles pull away and the force he had put in pushing himself from the book was transferred in him falling to his back. The book fell forward. It was as if he had been pushing against wind who suddenly stopped pushing back.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oopmf!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan felt kind of dizzy since, he had landed on his head.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ah… What…” He sounded all discombobulated.

<p class="MsoNormal">When he looked around he realised he wasn’t in the temple anymore, let alone, Nin.

<p class="MsoNormal">A yellow-green sky.

<p class="MsoNormal">Archways made out of books.

<p class="MsoNormal">And an unholy silence.

<p class="MsoNormal">He was here…

<p class="MsoNormal">He was in Apocrypha.

<p class="MsoNormal">