Love on an Adventure

[ladys_night]

LOVE ON AN ADVENTURE meme Lucky you. For a while, you get to eschew a normal life and see life past your door; you're going on a quest! It could be for personal reasons, for fun, for profit, or to save the world as you know it. In all likelihood, it's the latter, given the natural order of things, but hopefully it's not. Whatever the case may be, you won't be going it alone, however. Whether it's just you and a partner or a true fellowship, you've got people to back you up. You may not all start out as the best of friends, that's true - still, the fires of potential life or death scenarios or the threat of losing your booty draw you closer together, and a friendship forms. With one member of your party, more than friendship grows between you. But wait, you have to defeat the dark lord, find the oldest wand, fight evil by moonlight, create a giant robot, or any other number of tasks. There's no time for this sort of nonsense! Actually, you may push them away because of the mission or due to past wounds that tie into said mission. Maybe, though, you can steal moments to get closer, let a romance blossom...or more. HOW to PLAY Comment with your character, preferences, and any other info - ie, keep it PG, etc. Even though I used a fantasy picture, don't feel constrained! In Harry Potter, they have to find a wand, in Supernatural, the Colt, in Avatar, they have to fight the Fire Lord, etc. Feel free to AU your character or include information about them. Reply to others.

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[drehnifusbahi]

[Absolutely! They could run into each other on Solstheim during the events of Dragonborn, maybe?]

Pardon Me for Getting Kirkbridey Here. My post-MW headcanon goes strange places.

[moonandstar]

He has been away for a long time. He's not sure he even recalls the date he first ascended to Masser, but he has been watching ever since. Indeed, watching and preparing, as the craftsmen beneath the surface make of it a safe place for mortals to escape, for the day that Landfall comes and the Dragon breaks for good. The Thalmor are hard at work, and need only one victory to unmake the Mundus. And the mystics of Imperial Masser have sensed instability above and beneath Solstheim - instability their equations cannot explain. It could be the Thalmor. It might not be. Either way, they must know.

Nirn hangs on a skeleton of Earthbones. Atop the greatest of these points were built the Great Towers - White-Gold, Snow-Throat, Walk-Brass, Red-Heart, Crystal-Like-Law, Ada-Mantia, Orichalc. But there are also lesser points - points like the Standing Stones. The Skaal know well of the importance of these stones, and can sense the ebb and flow of the Earth-magic beneath them. And no one on this moon knows the Skaal better than the Nerevarine.

He's glad to be on solid ground, to be honest. Khajiiti sugar-poets and Akaviri Aetheronauts make poor company.

He lands outside the walls of Raven Rock. Now as in his glory years, he stands armed and resplendent in golden Indoril plate armor. His eyes scan the outskirts of the settlement, of the walls that are higher than he remembers. Raven Rock has changed much in the days since he built it.

Take that dragon, for instance. That definitely wasn't there before.

"Well," he drawls, drawing his sword, "That didn't take long."

no worries!

[drehnifusbahi]

While most of the citizens of Raven Rock are running away from the dragon, one particular mortal is running toward it - an Imperial, by the look of him, in armor somewhere between Elven and Ebony style-wise. In one hand is an Akaviri blade, in the other, a flame spell lays coiled and waiting. He tosses a fireball at the dragon's wing, and when it turns to retaliate, he Shouts back at it in it's own tongue.

"Joor Zah Frul!!"

A blue glow surrounds it, and it seems to be pinned to the ground under the weight of the magic.

The mortal dares to draw closer, close enough to swing his sword at it; he doesn't seem to have noticed the elf in the golden armor, too focused on the dragon.

[ooc: and just for reference, this one already has the main questline and Dawnguard under his belt at this point.]

[moonandstar]

He had, for a moment, thought to reach for his Daedric bow. But when it grounded itself, he did not hesitate to rush in.

The dragon has a nose for other dov, and its eyes are fixed on the Dragonborn rushing toward it. It pays no attention to the elf advancing behind it until his sword is already buried in its hind legs, and Trueflame's Dwarven enchantments lick the side of it with flames.

This may shift the dragon's attention somewhat.

[drehnifusbahi]

It does indeed shift the dragon's attention, but as it's still suffering the effects of Dragonrend, there's not much it can do to get away. Instead, it swipes its tail at the attacker behind it.

The Dragonborn quickly regains its attention, though, burying his sword in the flesh just beside its wing and causing lightning to arc up from the wound; it screams, snaps, and he barely avoids it jaws, tosses more fire into its face.

[moonandstar]

He rakes the creature another time with Trueflame when its tail catches him beneath the knees and sends him onto his back. He scrambles into a kind of improvised somersault, but he's out of the action for the next several seconds at least.

[drehnifusbahi]

The effects of Dragonrend are beginning to wear off. The dragon flaps its wings, starts to rise - only to be caught by the Shout again and crash down onto its belly with a roar that sounds distinctly frustrated. It whips its head toward the one still attacking it and breathes frost at him.

He doesn't know of any ward that'll deflect that for long, so he's forced to duck and roll, and jump back up once it stops.

[moonandstar]

The tall Dunmer bounds at the creature's outstretched neck, plunging his sword into it. Desperately it tries to thrash away as the flames continue to scorch the wound, but the elf grabs on with unnatural strength.

[drehnifusbahi]

There are potions that can increase strength and stamina; in the corner of his mind not focused on the dragon, he presumes the unnatural strength is a result of such a brew.

He plunges his own sword into a point further along the dragon's neck, lightning crackling along the wound - and perhaps there's a second enchantment on the sword that effects only dragons, because it seems the blows from the Akaviri blade hurt it far more than any flames.

[moonandstar]

The dragon's strength is rapidly ebbing - its struggle is subsiding, as its efforts to throw him from his neck grow too feeble to threaten him. It's practically dead already - no sense in delaying the inevitable. He digs in deeper, levering the blade across the dragon's spine.

He expected the loud SNAP. But he certainly isn't expecting that swirling vortex of flame emerging from its disintegrating corpse. He tumbles off the beast's neck.

[drehnifusbahi]

The young man who's been fighting the dragon alongside him doesn't seem surprised by the light show; he is surprised when it's drawn off away from either of them, apparently absorbed by a tall figure in dark robes and a face-covering mask horribly suggestive of writhing tentacles.

The figure speaks in a faintly echoing voice, apparently addressing the young Imperial. "It takes a strong will to command a dragon's soul. Perhaps you aren't as powerful as you think." Once the storm of swirling light subsides, the dark figure chuckles mockingly. "Thank you for your help. We will meet again soon."

The young man rushes toward the masked man - who vanishes as abruptly as he appeared.

[moonandstar]

The Dunmer slowly lifts himself to a crawl. He'd seen - or at least heard - enough of this stranger's encounter for his interest to be piqued. He had known of the coming of dragons - even of the visit to Sovngarde to defeat Alduin, as the Aetheronauts had detected it. But this masked man is an anomaly. Perhaps this was the source of the disturbances.

For now, though, his helmet has jostled loose. More to the point, he seems to have had the wind knocked out of him.

He won't admit it, but he probably wouldn't mind a hand.

[drehnifusbahi]

The Imperial gives the spot where the masked stranger was standing one last, dubious look before turning his attention back to his erstwhile ally.

He quickly casts Healing Hands -while it wasn't a far drop from the dragon's neck to the ground, it's entirely possible for the Dunmer to have landed badly and been more injured than he looks- and once the spell's done its work he offers a hand getting up.

"I'm sorry you had to get caught up in that," he says, though it's an open question whether 'that' is referring to the battle or the strange encounter with the masked man.

[moonandstar]

"Mmmf, I've fought bigger," he mutters. He runs a hand through his long red hair, staring at the ground as he secures his helmet once again before his gaze finally rises to meet...well, now. Now that's...well. Eyes, and...

Gods, has it been so long? He supposes it has. And it's not like he's off in his assessment.

He banishes the thought. A moment of weakness, brought about by dizziness. A few centuries of experience have certainly granted him enough maturity to be an adult and move on to the true matter at hand.

"Who was that? And what does he want with you?"

[drehnifusbahi]

Whatever the mer recognizes in him, it doesn't seem to be mutual. The mortal's expression remains one of faint concern until the redhead is standing under his own power. At which point he too is willing to move on to the matter at hand.

"I... don't know," he admits, looking troubled. "I've never seen him before in my life. If I had to guess, I'd say he's connected somehow to this business with the cultists and Miraak. I just don't know how yet."

He might be as unconnected as Harkon was to Alduin, but Vanyel doubts it. The masked stranger was clearly Dragonborn; perhaps he was even the one those cultists considered the true Dragonborn...

[moonandstar]

"Cultists?" he repeats. "What sort of cultists? And what sort of business?"

His brow furrows. Coincidences happen all the time, of course. And he's never heard of anyone, Thalmor or otherwise, by the name of Miraak. (Which puts him one down on everyone else on this island - or one up, depending on your perspective).

"It wouldn't happen to have anything to do with the Earth Stone to the west of here, would it?"

[drehnifusbahi]

"All I know for certain is that they worship someone called Miraak, who they consider the true Dragonborn. And someone sent them to Skyrim to kill me." He reaches into one of the many compartments of his pack and withdraws the note he took off the leader's corpse, offering it up for the other man's inspection.

The message simply reads: Board the vessel Northern Maiden docked at Raven Rock. Take it to Windhelm, then begin your search. Kill the False Dragonborn known as Vanyel before he reaches Solstheim.

Return with word of your success, and Miraak shall be most pleased.

"The Earth Stone?" He repeats. "I'm beginning to think it may. Councilor Arano mentioned it too, when I was asking around about Miraak."

[moonandstar]

He reads the message in implacable silence. He glances up at Vanyel, not moving his head.

"And this 'False Dragonborn' is you, I take it."

Not one, but two shards of Aka, appearing at the same time, near the same mundic anchor point he sought to investigate. That much coincidence can't possibly exist in one place. Not in his experience.

"I suppose the Earth Stone is all you have to go on at the moment. I happen to be headed that way myself."

[drehnifusbahi]

"This is the first I've been called 'false,' but... yes."

He meets that gaze head-on, without flinching. He has nothing to hide.

The news that the other man is also looking for this 'Earth Stone' is met with a curious tilt of the head from him. "Would you mind terribly if I accompanied you, then? You seem to know the lay of the land far better than me."

We'll pretend for the sake of this thread that the Earth Stone ISN'T in a slightly different place.

[moonandstar]

"Well, you're the first Dragonborn of any kind I've met," Garyn says. "Hasn't been a disappointment so far."

This must be the one responsible for that Alduin business. It's certainly an accomplishment when even people on the moon take notice of you.

"I'll be glad to lead you there. Just follow along the south coast."

Works for me!

[drehnifusbahi]

He is indeed the one responsible for the Alduin business, much to the chagrin of certain factions who were expecting the hero of Nordic legend to be, well... a Nord.

"Ah... thank you, I suppose," is the only response he can muster to that compliment of sorts.

Then he falls into step behind Garyn as they make their way toward the Earth Stone.

[moonandstar]

Prophecy seldom turns out quite the way the people expect. He knows that much.

But Solstheim, it seems, he doesn't know as well as he thinks. It's a good thing the stone is as near to the sea as it is. This isn't the frosty island he remembers. This is ashland, swept as far as the eye can see. And the distant column of belching smoke from the southeast reminds him of why this is so.

It was necessary, he thinks. It was worth it. There was nothing I could have done for them here.

Maybe, if he keeps reminding himself, he'll actually believe it. At the very least, the thought of it can keep him until the Earth Stone comes into view. From here, he can hear the faint clinking sound of tools against rock.

[drehnifusbahi]

He begins to get the feeling something is badly wrong when none of the workers gathered around the stone even seem to realize they're there. There's also that chant, which becomes more audible the closer they get.

"Here in his shrine, that they have forgotten. Here do we toil, that we might remember. By night we reclaim, what by day was stolen. Far from ourselves, he grows ever near to us..." And so on.

"Three guesses who 'he' is," he says to Garyn before he can quite stop himself.

He moves closer, to the stones and the shrine they appear to be building, when a new voice cuts in.

"You there... You don't seem to be in quite the same state as the others here. Very interesting. May I ask what it is you're doing here?" The voice belongs to a Dunmer mage who's walked up to the site from the opposite direction.

[ooc: Couldn't figure a way to namedrop him in the actual tag, but it's Neloth Telvanni. So if he'd recognize Garyn or Garyn would recognize him...]

[moonandstar]

"No bet," he mutters.

The structure has been built up and around it - as though it means to swallow and subsume it. Clearly its magic has been corrupted by this Miraak, whoever he is. And whatever his purpose is. As for the workers...he's seen this song and dance before.

I am a Sleeper, one amongst thousands...

He's about to say something when he hears the sound of the mer's voice and turns his head. He's not certain where he recalls it - until he sees his face.

S'wit. A godsdamned idiot. That's what he is. He ought to have anticipated that something like this might happen. It's hardly unusual for a Dunmer, particularly a Dunmer wizard, to still be alive after a few centuries. He can only hope Master Neloth doesn't recognize him in return.

Admittedly, Neloth is an apathetic, self-absorbed, antisocial prick even by Telvanni standards, so it's not an unreasonable hope.

"I...would think it's the same thing you're here for, serjo," he says. "We're here to have a look at the Earth Stone. And to see what it might have to do with someone called Miraak."

[OOC: In Morrowind, he's entirely dismissive of the Nerevarine when he wants to be named Hortator, and pretty much only says yes to make him go away. I think he might get a vague sense of deja vu but not much more.

Though I do have a fun little tease I'd like to work in if it arises organically. We can split his dialogue if you like.]

[drehnifusbahi]

Luckily for him, Neloth has been far more interested in studying the shrine and the workers from the start, only looking over the pair long enough to determine that they aren't hypnotized.

He does glance at Garynn again when he speaks, but his expression quickly grows clouded and thoughtful. "Miraak... Miraak... It sounds familiar, and yet I can't quite place... Oh. Wait, I recall. But that makes very little sense. Miraak's been dead for thousands of years."

So had Harkon, Vanyel thinks but doesn't say. So had any number of the dragons Alduin revived. But he keeps a civil tongue, and simply says. Then I suppose the question becomes whether we're dealing with the original, somehow revived... or whether it's someone else borrowing the name."

The comment wasn't directed at Neloth per se, but Neloth answers almost immediately all the same. "I'm afraid I can't give you any answers. But there are ruins of an ancient temple of Miraak's toward the center of the island. If I were you, I'd look there."

"I suppose that will be our next port of call, then. Thank you."

But Neloth has already turned away from him, back to studying the shrine in progress.

[ooc: Ahhh, got it. And I don't mind at all splitting dialogue, for him or any other NPCs they run across.]