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48.06% Dragonborn Saga / Chapter 360: Information Gathering

Chapter 360: Information Gathering

A/n: Last week's 8K votes bonus.

~~~~~~~~~~

"So… it went rather well?" Nurina was standing in front of Alfe locking her arms together and glaring.

"... Hm? You were saying something?" Alfe kept dismissing Nurina's constant nagging for the past hour or so.

"You know, not everyone is pleased with what you said and I need to explain to them what is going on." Nurina kept demanding.

Right now, they were back at Alfe's hut on the mountain south of Winterhold. As Alfe kept ignoring Nurina, someone else had to step in.

"Grandmaster, I beseech you… Jon is now taken by vampires and we don't know anything. If you can just help us, we…"

"Girl, quit talking like that idiot." Alfe spoke with annoyance as she looked at Alina.

Nurina became flustered as the word 'idiot' was clearly aimed at her. Alina herself didn't want to say anything further and kept looking between Alfe and Nurina.

"Crazy old hag! Out with it." Nurina was already at her limit as she raised her fists only for Alina to hold at her back.

Alfe was coolly enjoying her dinner while watching her first and second generation apprentices make a mess.

"I had to go some trouble you know, give me some time to rest." Alfe was fed up with all the noise.

"Not until you tell us." Nurina shouted.

"Tell you what?"

"All what you know."

"I was just told to come and save the day. You know the usual, fix some mess here and there."

Alina and Nurina tilted their heads.

"You… were told?" Nurina couldn't understand it.

The only person who can tell someone like Alfe around is none other than Divayth Fyr himself and the man showed no interest in the material world for the past two hundred years.

Alfe smiled and pointed with her head to the window. Alina and Nurina looked through to see nothing but the peak of the other mountain whose top carried the massive Shrine of Azura.

Nurina flinched.

"The Daedra? What do they want with Jon?"

Her voice was grim. Alina too was nervous.

"I was told nothing. Just in exchange for some things I wanted from Oblivion, I came to help you lot." Alfe said while focusing on her food.

"Help us? You just let Jon get taken." It was Alina's turn to be angry.

"Well… that vampire was strong and the boy wasn't my concern anyway. Whatever it is, he can go through it. The one I came to save was you lot."

"Us?"

"Yes, Azura was so focused on saving that girl don't know what's her name… she even dropped her tone and spoke properly." Alfe spoke with ridicule then laughed.

"You mean Jull?" Alina asked.

"Yeah, sounds like the name. I also had to get you all out of there alive. Seems like the boy made quite the bargain with Azura to keep you lot safe."

"Wait a minute! Saving us and especially Jullanar? What does the Daedra want this time?" Nurina asked.

"Azura wants what is best for her followers so she can get their praise and thanks all day long. Seems like change is going to happen and the boy and the girl will be in its center. Ha! I even had to go through 13 versions of the future to save you all without any of you dying and that's how you thank me?"

Alfe said many important things to fast.

"Change?" Nurina questioned.

"13 versions of the future?" Alina shuddered.

"Yeah, that old hag can perform divinations on the future to see many possibilities of battle before she goes through with it." Nurina explained, "She must have been through many futures where things went completely wrong."

"Exactly. That's why I said 'it went rather well' judging that nobody died." Alfe was finally pleased. "You idiot girl, you could never learn that trick." And she scolded Nurina in the end.

"Are you kidding me? The [Tonal Magic] of all things? It is literally the hardest magic there is! Have some shame, woman." Nurina couldn't stand Alfe putting salt on the wound.

"[Tonal Magic]?" Alina asked.

"Something you can't use unless you are a Dwemer, Sotha Sil, Divayth Fyr or one of his clones." Nurina dismissed the subject right away.

"And you won't be able to use when you are a half brain dimwit." Alfe continued.

"Grrr!" Nurina kept growling.

"I'll tell you what it is." Alfe said, "[Tonal Magic] is not a fixed form of magic, it is a term said to describe many. As you may tell, it is a magic based on Manipulating the Tones of the world to create results. The only thing that idiot said right was it is indeed the hardest magic there is. Sometimes you need to make a tone to make an effect and sometimes you need to listen to the world to see what it tells and make no mistake, music is all around the world."

"Ah!" Alina got the hint. "Chanting Magic? I can do that."

"Chanting? Ah, that! Well, it is a very basic form, nothing too fancy. Maybe you can show it to that dumb girl and she may actually get some enlightenment." Alfe attacked Nurina again then continued.

"But that's not just it, you see, [Tonal Magic] has more than just [Chanting Magic] such as the [Kiai] of Akavir, which is the parent technique to the Battle-Spirit art; the [Thu'um] of Nords, which you use and abuse on daily basis; the [Sword Singing] of Redguards, which destroyed their former home continent; the [Green Singing] of Bosmer and also the [Tonal Architecture] of the Dwemer. What I was taught is some skills of the [Tonal Architecture]."

"Wait, the Dwarves too used the [Tonal Magic]?"

"Of course, how do you think they dug massive cities underground? How do you think they made a metal that can withstand the passage of time for thousands of years? The Dwarves may have been too educated but they are not enigmatic like what most think. When the Snow Elves sought out refuge with the Dwemer, the Dwemer blinded them so they can't learn their secrets leading the Snow Elves to become today's Falmer."

"... I- I see." Alina was enlightened by Alfe.

She looked between Nurina and Alfe feeling the difference between the two.

"What?" Nurina was annoyed.

"She thinks you are an idiot too." Alfe kept going.

"No! Never." Alina defended herself right away.

"We strayed too far from the subject." Nurina said. "Now, will Jon be okay on his own with Vampires?"

"I don't need [Tonal Magic] to tell that he will. The boy sounds a lot like Lord Fyr. Both are fearless when it comes to their actions and know nothing of regret. Come to think of it, both of them are two annoying Philanders. Heh heh! Now imagine the boy coming home with a Vampire girl one day." Alfe laughed.

"Jon would never do that." Alina stood up flustered.

"... To be honest, I can see him doing it so casually." Nurina thought it was possible.

"It sounds like him but please NO!"

***

*Sneeze*

"Cat bless, Hooman."

"Thanks."

Damn! I sneezed a lot lately. It sounds like I am Skyrim's hot topic right now and all are talking about me.

It has been a day since my meeting with Harkon and I could take a breather away from him in the kitchen of Castle Volkihar where the Human Cattle live.

What I needed was some space to recharge on Magicka, gather information and device a plan.

Still, the process of gather information yielded some horrifying facts.

First, I started to see how those Human Cattle were treated and how they were gathered but it was all rather messed up.

The vampire attack bandits and travelers to steal them as people. Those who are weak-willed can get charmed by the eyes of the vampires and turn into enthralled beings either 'Thralls' as cannon fodder or 'Cattle' as food.

With my level of power, I was already too much for the vampires even if Harkon himself tried to use his eyes to hypnotize me.

Anyway, those 'Cattle' were being used as warm blood bags but each day, some of them actually get slaughtered like sheep by the Cattle Butcher to fill the blood barrels.

More to that was the Cattle themselves weren't aware of anything. They are all under hypnosis and follow orders blindly.

The second major discovery was the ten vampires, that raided yesterday alongside Harkon, are not dead. I mean… those Vampires fought with Nurina, Jonrad and Tyr but they were obliterated by half then Alfe showed up and killed the other half. So whatever magic it was, it is something I don't think I can easily match.

Revival or Resurrection… I don't think that is the case. Something else is at play here.

It seems that these 10 Vampires are important in the Volkihar Clan as well. I am not sure if they are the NPCs I know but their Revival seemed important to Harkon as they are the top brass after him… which brings me to the hierarchy system around the Volkihar Clan.

From the bottom, it starts with the 'Cattle', the ones I am locked up with, the situation is crazy and inhumane as they are not even aware of their identities as humans anymore, I don't get that sort of treatment as I am merely a prisoner and Harkon himself can make me a Thrall. The second class from the bottom is the 'Thralls', these are not any better than the 'Cattle' and the highest class mortals can get in this clan; just like the Cattle, the Thralls got their minds manipulated by the Vampires and they possess a certain ability to fight which make them useful cannon fodder. Next up are the 'Death Hounds'; skinned hounds with black bodies, red eyes and a mean raw of teeth; the main reason why the Volkihar Clan is worthless is because they are dog loving heathens and the worst kind at that; to top it all, those Death Hounds are higher than the Cattle and Thralls in rank and devour whoever died. The higher class is the 'Normal Vampires', the ones that compose the majority of the Volkihar Clan and work from Guards to Servants. After them come the 'Noble Vampires', the ones which are blessed by Harkon himself to become vampires and can transform into the Vampire Lord mode, the mean ugly mugs that attacked us; they take the high ranking jobs in the clan from stewardship to office jobs… as if dirty vampires need that. The highest vampire class is the 'Royal Vampires' and these are Harkon as well as his wife and daughter.

And that pretty much sums up the whole hell hole I am in.

How do I gather information?

I don't, others do it for me.

How so?

Well, that is a spectacular story. You see, I met that freshman Vampire that called himself Hjor Black-Bone. A former member of the Black-Bone clan. From what it seems, he is the source of my current trouble. It seems that Hilda and Jonrad have raided the Black-Bone clan and after they finished off the enemies, they became careless and spoke to each other about me when they thought no one can hear them; lucky for me, Hjor was a weasel son of a bitch who played dead.

After he survived, some Vampires found him and the survivors of his clan. As both are fellow Molag Bal worshippers, they were kept as Cattle and sent to Volkihar. Before he gets Thralled, Hjor exchanged his freedom for information about me and Harkon agreed to make him a Vampire.

Now, that idiot came to find me for vengeance and held my arm then bit on it. It was really satisfying to see his fangs get broken just by trying to penetrate my skin. I am not your average human anymore, you know.

Well, he tried to use the rest of his baby teeth to drink blood from my wounds directly and I allowed it. I cut my palm and gave him a sip just for experimenting.

The result was amazing.

I am now at the 'Ebon Blood Stage' and my blood is superior to any not just in grade by meditating but by nature as a Dovah Sos, a Dragon Blood.

Once poor Hjor took the sip, he was never the same again. Instead of me becoming a Thrall, a Vampire became my Thrall.

Now the mystery is… does this mean that I am still a Human? ...… Just kidding, of course I am not, I am Hooman.


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Chapter 361: The Fourth Labour

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The second day, I had a visitor and let's just say it is one very annoying visitor.

"Young Jonhild."

"Priestess Aranea."

Just in case you are wondering, that is the very same Aranea who is the Priestess of Azura and the Prophet of my Labours. Also, in case if you are wondering how am I meeting her, then I have no idea. I am still held in a cell with the Cattle of the vampires and here I go ask her about how she got in here.

"How did you get in here?" Clearly me asking.

"The guiding of Lady Azura never led me astray from where I must be. Be it in the depth of Oblivion or some vampire den." Aranea replied with a haughty tone.

"Does this look like some vampire den to you?." I think that is a proper response.

"I am here to inform you about your Fourth Labour."

"Fuck off."

Aranea was clearly bothered by my attitude but seeing the shit hole I am sitting in, it was clearly not the time to hear about the goddamn fourth labour.

She cleared her throat at spoke the words of Azura.

"The Cold March, the Dragon Hunt, the Stone Built, the Old Hold, in ten suns and ten moons. Save Parents and Children."

I looked at Aranea and had the urge to stand up and beat the ever living shit out of her.

"Translation, please."

Aranea sighed.

"This is an easy one." She said.

"Clearly. I said so too when I heard it for the first time. Let's share our thoughts together… Me, no idea! Your turn…"

"'The Cold March' means an enemy is coming through the cold lands, 'the Dragon Hunt' refers to the enemies aim which is clearly you, 'the Stone Built' refers to the cities you built by stone, 'the Old Hold' is clearly Winterhold, 'In ten suns and ten moons' means you have ten days. 'Save Parents and Children' means that Lady Azura is worried about the safety of the Dunmer populace in Winterhold."

"... Wait! Hold up a second! Say it again."

I who turned away before Aranea finishes her words looked to her direction again only to find no one there.

"Fuck! Where did she... Nefertiti, did you just hear that?"

"Yes." Nefertiti jumped up from my shadow and looked at me. "An enemy is Marching to Winterhold, their aim is you and they will arrive in ten days. The people are in danger."

"But- But I got kidnapped by the vampires in front of their spies and… fuck! They won't even care about that... I see now." I arrived to a realization.

"It is as you think, Hooman. You have made two cities from a broken hold, they think you already possess the Elder Scrolls."

She read my mind correctly.

"Okay, what are our options?" I asked.

"We tried [Greed] and the Shadow World trick but the Space itself is locked by the effect of that 'Domain' thing." She said.

"The [Skeleton Key] is also not an option since I have no idea what am I unlocking or locking about this 'Domain'. That's not it, even if we escaped, the Vampires will come after me and it will mean that Winterhold has to face two enemies." I said.

"What do we lack?" She asked.

"Communications with Winterhold and a source of information as we are locked in a 'Domain'. We also need a way to escape and we need a way to keep the vampires in place." I answered.

"Complicated!"

"Indeed."

I have every piece of equipment in the [Cube] and I have the space if I want to go in there and create whatever absurd machine that can blow this 'Domain' open and set me free but I don't think that is the wise curse of action.

"Alina gave you this." Nefertiti put her hand in the [Cube] and took out the tree branch Alina threw at me.

I looked at it and nodded, I won't mistake its energy anywhere in the world.

"An Eldergleam Branch." I was feeling its unique energy with a daze, "Just how on Nirn could Alina cut out a branch with that size?"

The Eldergleam is no ordinary tree. It is the oldest living tree possibly in the world and maybe something older than the Hist trees of Black Marsh. Due to the age of the Eldergleam, its wood is tougher than any metal known to man.

"What can you do with it? A bow?" Nefertiti asked.

I flicked her forehead with my finger.

"Do I look like a damn Wood Elf to you? A Bow? Humph! This is the highest quality wood material in the world. An Eldergleam Wood. The amount of energy in this twig alone is scary."

I looked at the branch while Nefertiti was holding her forehead. The amount of wood in that branch can fit out anything from a bow to a spear or a staff. Hell, it can be used as a weapon just like that.

But the process of crafting this wood will be near impossible. I need strong material that befits its value. Can't possible attack an iron head to an Eldergleam Wood and call it a spear. Sadly, I don't have material worthy of the branch.

Putting that aside, I need a plan. I can start enthralling lesser vampires by my blood but I still don't know a lot about that and it takes time to get rid of the vampiric infection I get from them.

Also, the place itself is very threatening. To what extent can that 'Domain' watch my actions. I need answers with no one knowledgeable enough to answer me. Even after asking that vampire Hjor about the domain, he had no knowledge at all.

All I could tell him was to act naturally and keep checking with me every now and then in case I needed anything.

"What about Winterhold?" Nefertiti asked.

"... Alina can handle it with the Firemanes and the Moonblades. Neo Saarthal may no be completely built yet but the fortress and the walls are ready. Whatever enemy comes won't be a problem. Also, I told her about that place."

"That place? Ah, you mean that room. When?"

"When she threw the branch to me, I moved my lips and I think she read them. If she finds that place, she will be able to counter whatever happens on her own."

"But she will be scared." Nefertiti said.

"Of course. But let's have faith in her. Right now, let's not sit on our butts. We have work to do."

I stood up from the place I made for myself and walked through the area.

This was the kitchen, the place where the cattle are kept. The Vampires also come to the place frequently so I make sure that Nefertiti stays hidden.

The cattle are kept in cells and cages and so was I but actually there is no need to go that far. They only kept me in a cell without even locking it knowing that I won't escape that so-called Domain no matter what.

I actually tried to analyze the Space but I got a very isolated feeling. It was as if this was a world of its own. I can't cast [Levitate] or [Teleport] neither can I reach the outside world with [Telepathy].

This felt like the [Cube]. I can call the [Cube] my domain if these are the same things Harkon can do with the castle but I doubt so. From what I also can tell, [Clockwork City] of Sotha Sil has some qualities of the Domain but still was different. Sotha Sil is the one who created the [Haven Cube] after all.

If I needed to put it in theory then, Domains are places where certain entities can gain a certain amount of control over the laws of the Domain. The more stable the Domain is, the less control people possess.

Take the World for example, in Mundus, Average Mortals can control Magicka and other Forces of Nature freely to a certain extent overlooking the talent. Castle Volkihar and its isle are a Domain on their own where Harkon and his Nobel Vampire can have more power while some of my powers are reduced.

I get it now. A Domain needs a source of power. [Clockwork City] had a source of power represented in Sotha Sil, a living God. As Sotha Sil fell from Glory 200 years ago, Clockwork City was no longer a Domain. The same goes for the [Haven Cube], a subspace where I can expand it by using Magicka and reshape some of its interior features, I am the source of power to the [Haven Cube]. The source of Mundus should be the Towers or the Heart of Lorkhan.

That only means that Castle Volkihar has a source of power as well. With its size, I don't think it is Harkon as he is not that powerful. Both the [Haven Cube] and [Clockwork City] are actually Microscopic Realms which means things need to get magically shrunk to enter. Maybe that's the answer, a smaller Domain is easier to power up.

"Wait… if more stable Domains deny control of its residents, doesn't that mean Earth, my previous world, was stable as fuck? Possibly, right? God! Now I hate being sober."

Well, that was silly… anyway, with the size of Castle Volkihar, it needs an outer source of power.

I had no way to roam around the Castle freely neither does the lesser vampires I can enthrall. The layout is also much larger and more complicated than the game.

I need an ally who grew up in this place.

"Hey, Fuck Face." I called the ugly Cattle Butcher, "Tell your Lord I can stand this torture no longer and I am ready to cooperate but we need to talk first."

The Vampire Butcher saw me out of the cell and looked at me with anger.

As he brought his ugly face over to me, and wanted to exert some authority, I could do nothing but sigh in tiredness.

"Fine, fine. Show me those baby teeth, maybe an ugly mug like you has a use in the end."

Enthralling the guy in the kitchen should be of use one day, wouldn't it?


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