Chương 67: Chasing Echos
Several weeks after the last Vampires on Earth were killed I was in the 1st Primordials library finishing another one of his books. I had learned much from this library. Specifically the complete history of the Vampire race. It turned out the 1st was an avid historian. he loved keeping records of what happened in both the mundane and magical side of the world. He was also quite laid back and reclusive. He had a special ability that allowed him to be the perfect historian. He could see everything that has ever happened on Earth. He couldn't see the future but he could predict it based on the history he knew.
'I really regret not using Drain Knowledge on him but I know I wouldn't be able to use it. He was both too strong and he knew too much. He was easily by far the most knowledgeable being on Earth when it came to Earth itself. Still from the records he left behind, he expected he would die eventually. I have barely read a 10th of his library and I still haven't found the knowledge I am looking for.'
I see a clone rushing over to me.
Clone: "Hey, I think I found what we are looking for. The only issue is that it is protected by a robust barrier."
Rio: "Let me see."
I follow him back and see what he means.
Rio: "Yeah this won't be easy to breach. How can you tell this is what we are looking for."
Clone: "You can barely make it out but look at the title of that book. Also, the words above the door is The Restricted Section."
I do exactly that and see that it is called the History Of The Banished Clan.
Rio: "Yeah that is indeed what we are likely looking for."
I summon 20 clones and we start on studying the barrier and how to undo it. We also searched the library for any books that might be related to the barriers. I have to leave and come back every so often as I have other duties to take care of.
2 Weeks Later...
Rio: "Finally this stupid barrier is down."
Clone: "Geez we really are lucky we didn't play fair against the 1st as we would have never beat him."
Rio: "Yeah no kidding. Now all of you should go in and see if it is trapped."
It takes 30 minutes to disable the traps that were set but we eventually get complete access to the Restricted Section.
Clone: "It's all clear."
Rio: "Thanks now you guys should dispel now so I can take the exhaustion."
All the clones dispel and I deal with the exhaustion fairly easily. After that I take the book the clone saw that started all of this. What I read in the book shocks me.
'No wonder they sealed them away. These Vampires are outsiders. They are also very dangerous. They spread like an actual disease with no outward signs you have been infected. Moreover, the name of this clan is familiar to me. The Volkihar Clan. They were given Vampiism by an unknown entity and they were attempting to bring said entity to this reality. Before they sealed the clan they had nearly 10k numbers. They also had a very powerful artifact that does not exactly say what it was. If I had to guess it is probably an Elder Scroll. The seal is located under a mountain and is protected by many magically created creatures and surprisingly Gargoyles.'
I use the Palantir to find the seal's exact location and see many thousands of creatures taking up nearly the entire cave that supposedly holds the seal. I wasn't able to see the seal.
'It seems like the current Ancient One hasn't been keeping the population in check. It looks like the cave and entrance haven't been serviced in centuries. Could the current Ancient One not know about the seal?'
I send a clone to investigate. I only have to wait an hour to get an answer and what I learn is troubling.
'No one has checked the place in many centuries. The exact number of creatures in the cave is nearly 50k. Moreover, the clone sensed a dimensional barrier that separated the seal from this dimension. He wasn't able to see into the barrier. I will have to send in our Undead army to clear the place out.'
I make the preparations and send 100k Death Knights to clear out the cave. We lost 27k but it was a minor loss all things considered. Once we cleared the cave I had clones make sure the area was secure then sent the clones through the barrier. Eventually a clone returns.
Clone: "The other side is secure. We just had to kill the Vampires and Gargoyles protecting the seal."
Rio: "Wait, there are Vampires inside?"
Clone: "Yep, and worse they are the Elder Scrolls variety. Moreover, the other side of the barrier looks like a ruin we know."
Rio: "Which one?"
Clone: "Forebears' Holdout."
Rio: "That is a bit troubling. Was a Weystone present?"
Clone: "Yep, it currently protects a staircase that leads to the seal. We couldn't find the Weystone Focus to disable the barrier."
Rio: "Let me check the Palantir."
I use the Palantir to see if I can find the Weystone Focus and find it very quickly.
Rio: "It seems that it is currently in an old chest near the bottom of the ocean."
I use Gate and take the Weystone Focus from inside the chest. Once it is free I hand it to the clone to disable the barrier. After a few minutes, I receive the go-ahead to enter. Once inside I head down the unsealed stairs and come to the seal that was made many years ago and I am shocked at what I see.
Rio: "Are those enslaved spirits?"
Clone: "I think they are. This looks like the seal around Morokei in the Labyrinthian."
I use Observe on the spirits and I am disgusted and shocked at what I see.
Rio: "All of these are the spirits of previous Sorcerer Supremes. All but the one before the current one. This is horrible. Their souls have been nearly destroyed by this seal. However, the seal is due to break in less than a decade. What were the creators of this seal thinking?"
Clone: "I think we found something."
I move over to the clone and see the body of the previous Ancient One. I decide to get some answers from him in the best way I can. I summon Bartleby.
Bartleby: "What do you need summoner?"
Rio: "I want to speak to this man's spirit."
I point to the body of the previous Ancient One.
Bartleby: "So it shall be."
A massive green light comes from Bartleby and when the light fades I see the previous Ancient One.
Aryon: "I am Aryon the previous Sorcerer Supreme, what questions do you have?"
Rio: "Why did you make the seal like this?"
Aryon looks guilty and sad at my question.
Aryon: "I had little choice. The Volkihar were nearly ready to do their ritual. I couldn't allow it to happen so I used the Darkhold to summon the spirits of 8 previous Sorcerer Supremes to help me seal them. I know what I did was horrible but it was for the greater good."
Rio: "Did you tell your replacement of this seal?"
Aryon: "No I didn't tell Yao of this seal. I wanted to die with the knowledge of this seal."
Rio: "How do I dispel this seal?"
Aryon: "You have to defeat the remaining spirits of the Sorcerer Supremes and defeat the Guardian."
Rio: "Who is the Guardian?"
Aryon: "A member of the Volkihar Clan who helped me seal away the rest of their clan. They were the ones who told me that the clan was nearly ready to complete the ritual. They also hold the artifact that the clan was going to use to bring their creator to this reality."
Rio: "Once the seal is undone will the Volkihar be free?"
Aryon: "No, the seal only keeps the pocket dimension sealed. They would have to have the capabilities to traverse dimensions. As far as I knew they couldn't do that. But time passes normally in the pocket dimension so they could have learned how to travel dimensions in that time."
Rio: "How strong was their Clan Head?"
Aryon: "They were very strong but the real issue was they couldn't be killed. They normally wouldn't be able to be sealed away either but thanks to stealing the artifact I was able to seal him. The biggest threat he poses is his Blood Magic. It can bypass any defenses you have no matter what their origin. He used said magic to permanently harm Vishanti when he sent an avatar to help us."
Rio: "Hmm, I see. Is he the only threat in the Volkihar Clan?"
Aryon: "There are none as dangerous as him but there are 5 others who are very dangerous. I have fought 3 of them and they were powerful and difficult to kill. However, I could have killed them if they were alone. Another one of the 5 is the guardian of the seal. The last one was almost never seen but supposedly ran away from the clan and hid somewhere else."
Rio: "Any suggestions as to how I could kill the Volkihar Clan?"
Aryon: "On my body is a totem of an Angel. You can use it to convince Angels to help you in fighting the Volkihar Clan. It is a sacred totem so they must assist you to repay a previous debt they have to me. Beyond that, I would suggest making a weapon that can kill Harkon before undoing the seal as if he doesn't die then all of the fighting is pointless."
Rio: "Got it. Do you have a secret stash of artifacts you never gave to your successor?"
Aryon: "Yes they are in this castle on this mountain. You have to use the blue key I have on my body to access it. Don't use the red key or you will activate the emergency teleportation array."
Bartleby: "Your time is almost up."
Rio: "Last question. Where is the Darkhold you used to make this seal?"
Aryon: "With the other artifacts I kept."
The spirit fades away and so does Bartleby. I take the items on Aryon and decide to take the artifacts he collected. I then focus on making a weapon that can kill Harkon before I undo the seal. I gained a surprising 23 Million from Aryons stash as he stored a lot of cursed items and magical items. None of the items were good enough for me to keep. I left a lot of undead in the chamber near the seal to prevent anyone from disturbing the seal until I was ready. Then I studied a way to kill Harkon based on the information I received as well as an info packet I purchased from the store.
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Authors Note:
So some background Yao has been serving as the current Sorcerer Supreme for almost 1500 years. Aryon served as the Sorcerer Supreme for 1100 or so years. Most Sorcerer Supremes only live for 800 or so years. So the Volkihar was sealed for about 2000 Years. The next chapter will be the end of the Vampires for good this time. Some Vampires will be spared though it will be those who are innocent or repenting. Less than 5 will fit that description. I hope you liked the chapter and until next time Ciao.
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