Chapter 454: Big Speculations
"Michael then decided to ignore my words and cast a spell upon the fleeing elf, obliterating him and the bridge..." Savos says, causing a variety of reactions.
Ulfric and some other Jarls smirk as they imagine the face of Ancano before he was annihilated. All of them had received word of the massive explosion that'd temporarily made the College inaccessible. If anyone deserved such a death, it'd be a Thalmor.
Ambassador Elenwen disagreed of course, "The Thalmor has awaited recourse for long enough, High King, under the laws of this land he should be put on trial and then executed for the murder of a government official." she states, ignoring the twinge of annoyance at the fact her attempt with the Dark Brotherhood hadn't worked.
"And under the laws of this land, you and your allies should be tried the same! Or do you think the happenings in Northwatch Keep had gone unnoticed!?" Ulfric angrily retorts, causing Elenwen's eyes to widen. The torture of Nord civilians and officials in Northwatch Keep was perhaps the most dangerous thing to be revealed... It might just give Torygg enough cause to expel the Thalmor from Skyrim entirely.
Unfortunately for her, her reaction had not gone unnoticed.
"And what is held in Northwatch Keep, Ambassador? I'm sure I only gave permission for it to be used to station the unused Thalmor forces?"
Elenwen shakes her head, "Worry not, High King, it has been used just so. But we will drop the matter of Michael Tahlin if it's such a controversial issue. For now at least."
"Oh, so you won't explain why so many missing Nords were last seen in that area? Or that one Nord claims to have been held in Northwatch Keep's dungeons along with many others? What about the torture and interrogations done there?" Ulfric continues, unwilling to let this go so easily.
"Big words for someone who is likely doing the same at this very moment. How many Nords have died already due to your greed, Stormcloak? Just so you could claim the High King's throne?" Elenwen spits, attempting to draw attention away from Northwatch Keep. "For someone who claims to love Nords and Skyrim, you are responsible for more death and destruction than anyone else this century."
Torygg lets out a sigh, "And do you have anything to substantiate your claim, Ulfric? As you know, I cannot just force my way into what is essentially an Aldmeri embassy."
Ulfric leans back and folds his arms, "Unless you'd take the word of a well respected and honourable Nord who'd once been their prisoner, no."
"Then we should leave this matter for now, and discuss the real subject I called you all here for... Markarth, Whiterun, Windhelm, Dawnstar, and my own Solitude, all have been affected by these Daedric plots. If the Blood Moon wasn't already ominous enough." he explains.
Jarl Igmund nods, "Were it not for Michael Tahlin, I believe most of Markarth would either be dead or still hiding within Understone Keep... He managed to dispatch a Vampire supposedly wielding Molag Bal's Mace, and an Orc who was using the infamous Volendrung, the bastard tore down Markrath's gate with it..."
"Hmm, do you have confirmation that these artifacts are the original ones?" Savos politely inquires.
Igmund lets out a chuckle, "Well, yeah, Michael left Volendrung stuck in the side of a building on the third floor... It's still there to this day, people are actually calling it a blessing from Talos, despite it being a Daedric Artifact." he says, ignoring the slight glower from Elenwen at the mention of the banned god.
"And the Mace of Molag Bal?" Elenwen asks curiously, and with a greedy gleam in her eye.
Igmund shrugs, "No idea, Michael must've taken it. I'd rather it be in his hands than someone else's anyway, so no harm done."
Torygg crooks a brow, "Hmm? He surely did the same with the Mad God's Wabbajack..." he trails off, unsure of what to think of this news
Balgruuf coughs into his fist, "Years ago, one of my citizens was possessed by Mephala's Ebony Blade, causing a litany of murders around Whiterun. Michael Tahlin eventually visited and uncovered the threat after joining the Companions, unfortunately having to kill the possessed person in the middle of the street... It's then that he revealed to me and my Court Wizard that he possessed an artifact, a book, which was seemingly able to seal away Daedric Artifacts...
I named him Blade-Bearer and gave him the responsibility for it, which seems to have worked as we haven't heard of any other news concerning the blade... It makes sense that he might be collecting these cursed items, but perhaps that's what brought the Daedric Prince's wrath down upon us?"
The new Jarl of Riften decides to chime in at this moment, "Yes, but that still wouldn't explain everything else that has been happening. The destruction of Azura's Shrines? Moon Sickness? Clavicus Vile's change in status to a Patron god of Elsweyr? Plus, Michael didn't seal Volendrung either.
If the Daedric Princes were truly doing this in response to Michael's actions, wouldn't they be targeting him instead of attacking random towns? Indeed, it looks to me like it was he who was hunting them." Brynjolf says, bringing many doubts to those who thought they were actually getting somewhere.
Ulfric nods, "This would match what I saw. Two different people serving under different Daedric Lords fighting one another. One belonging to Boethiah, and the other belonging to Clavicus. Clavicus' slave won, and when they did, they ignored me and my men entirely, claiming the Ebony Mail of Boethiah before disappearing instead of attempting to slaughter us as you might expect."
"So... A war between the Daedric Princes?" Torygg speculates.
"It seems so?" Igmund mutters.
"It isn't completely unheard of, though, I believe the Blood Moon itself holds implications that none of you has mentioned yet." Savos states from the side, having researched the topic when the Blood Moon appeared.
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