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Garyn met with a rather interesting reception from the garrison at Fort Buckmoth, having apparently arrived not five minutes after the news that he had caught corprus in an assault on the Sixth House base and assuredly been killed. It took some amount of explaining to sort out how and why the message was only half-true. A crowd had gathered as he told as much of the tale as he could - and his men seemed to regard him now like a ghost or a miracle worker.
But they'd be left to their second-in-command for the time being. Garyn had more important duties, along with the perfectly plausible cover story of an inspection of his new stronghold in Bal Isra. Which, as it happens, he would need to do anyway. The men saw him off, saluting as though he were the Emperor himself. He felt as though perhaps he should feel less at ease with such displays of praise and admiration. But he wasn't.
He made good time to Bal Isra, intending only to stay briefly. The Hetman had a few things he wanted to sort out, however. As he'd been told, House Redoran had already started work on the place before the death of Banden Indarys. It was handsome, if austere, on the crest of a ridge topped by a row of tall basaltic columns that formed the rear wall, with a shorter wall in the Dunmer style being constructed around it. They needed more clay to finish the unfilled portions of the wall, as well as the second crab husk for the smith and trader. They also needed to send for women to convince more workers to stay.
Fortunately, this didn't take any further trips on his part. In his dealings in Ald'ruhn and Ald Velothi, he happened to know where these things could be found. He told Hetman Guls where to send his men to get what was needed. From there, he was on his way to his true destination.
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There was a different look to the Urshilaku as he entered their camp again. He was known to them, a Clanfriend, so the usual ritual hostilities were dispensed with. He did make sure to show the obligatory courtesies before entering the Wise Woman's hut, of course.
Nibani Maesa sat down on the floor of the yurt, leaning forward and deep in thought as she took in all he told her about the Lost Prophecies. But she did not appear surprised. Her voice is deliberate, thoughtful but not lost in thought.
"So these are the Lost Prophecies, hmm? You will tell me these things, over and over, until I have them by heart. And then you will tell me what these priests say, what they see in these words. And then, you must leave me. Hunt. Sleep. Train. Feed. Learn the land. I must bring these things into me, and place them before my ancestors, and listen to them, and to the skies and stars of my dreams. And then, when the moons have come and gone, return, and I will give you my judgement.”
Garyn knew better than to question a wise woman. And even if he didn't, he could surely stand to wait a day among these people. And so he went, joining the day's kagouti hunt. A productive one it was - he had even earned himself a nod of acknowledgement for landing the killing blow on a bull.
At dawn he returned, and Nibani Maesa remained, seeming not to have even moved since Garyn left.
“The ancestors and stars have given me clear signs. The lost prophecies leave no doubt — the Incarnate shall be an outlander. You, blessed by Azura, must lift the seven curses of Dagoth Ur. Prophecy has shown the seven steps of the Nerevarine’s path, and I have been chosen as your guide for each step on that path. I will read the signs, and show you the way. It is time for you to walk the path of the Seven Visions, and pass the Seven Trials of the Seven Visions.
“You are born on a certain day to uncertain parents. So you have passed the first trial. My dreams show me that you also fulfill the second trial, that ‘neither blight nor age can harm him/The Curse-of-Flesh before him flies’. I have read the signs, but I cannot understand. Can you explain this to me?”
At this, Garyn told the whole story of how he had caught corprus disease in Ilunibi, and survived the wizard's cure that had killed all others who received it.
“That you have overcome the Curse-of-Flesh is strange enough, but that it should protect you from blight and age is past belief. Yet the signs of my dreams are clear. You have passed the second trial. But the third trial is unfulfilled. The mystery of the third trial is not my secret to share. Go to Sul-Matuul, the guardian of our cult, and he shall tell you of the third trial. When you have fulfilled the third trial, return to me for guidance on your next steps on the path of the Nerevarine.”
Garyn bowed his head. "I shall not fail to heed your wisdom, muthsera."
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At this point the whole camp was abuzz and murmuring. Every eye of the Urshilaku was on Garyn as he left the wise woman's yurt. The Ashkhan was standing in front of his yurt, waiting for him. Then he turned and slipped back inside, the invitation already clearly offered without words. Garyn followed.
Sul-Matuul's face was stern as always.
“You wish to know about the Third Trial, and I shall tell you.”
Garyn merely nodded.
“You have entered the path of the Nerevarine. This is a hard thing to believe. But Nibani Maesa has spoken to me at length of this, and I have had time to consider. Therefore I shall keep my own counsel, and set before you my own test. I do not dispute with the wise women, but their ways are not the ways of the warrior. Many before have tried the path of the Nerevarine, but all have failed the warrior’s test. All too many times, a hope has risen and died before it. I myself have seen this. You must have strength, courage, and cunning. These things I would test."
A younger Garyn - not even MUCH younger - would have been frustrated at these words. Now, however, his face showed only determination and confidence.
“Nearby lies Kogoruhn, the ancient halls of the forgotten house, House Dagoth. In recent time, creatures of the blight have come to dwell there. I myself went there, with some brave hunters, and came back again, but it was a bad place, and I am not ashamed to say I was afraid, for myself and my men. If you would have from me the secret of the Third Trial, the ‘caverns dark’ where Azura’s eye sees, you will first bring to me three tokens from dark Kogoruhn.
“The first token is corprus weepings from a corprus beast, to show that you are proof against the disease’s corruption. The second token is a cup with the mark of House Dagoth, for I have myself seen such cups there, and will know you have seen with your eyes what I have seen with mine. The third token is the Shadow Shield, which lies on the Tomb of Dagoth Morin, in the lava tunnels deep beneath ruined Kogoruhn. Bring these things to me, and then I will tell you the secret of the Third Test.”
Garyn stood with his hand by his scabbard. "You need but tell me the way."
But they'd be left to their second-in-command for the time being. Garyn had more important duties, along with the perfectly plausible cover story of an inspection of his new stronghold in Bal Isra. Which, as it happens, he would need to do anyway. The men saw him off, saluting as though he were the Emperor himself. He felt as though perhaps he should feel less at ease with such displays of praise and admiration. But he wasn't.
He made good time to Bal Isra, intending only to stay briefly. The Hetman had a few things he wanted to sort out, however. As he'd been told, House Redoran had already started work on the place before the death of Banden Indarys. It was handsome, if austere, on the crest of a ridge topped by a row of tall basaltic columns that formed the rear wall, with a shorter wall in the Dunmer style being constructed around it. They needed more clay to finish the unfilled portions of the wall, as well as the second crab husk for the smith and trader. They also needed to send for women to convince more workers to stay.
Fortunately, this didn't take any further trips on his part. In his dealings in Ald'ruhn and Ald Velothi, he happened to know where these things could be found. He told Hetman Guls where to send his men to get what was needed. From there, he was on his way to his true destination.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There was a different look to the Urshilaku as he entered their camp again. He was known to them, a Clanfriend, so the usual ritual hostilities were dispensed with. He did make sure to show the obligatory courtesies before entering the Wise Woman's hut, of course.
Nibani Maesa sat down on the floor of the yurt, leaning forward and deep in thought as she took in all he told her about the Lost Prophecies. But she did not appear surprised. Her voice is deliberate, thoughtful but not lost in thought.
"So these are the Lost Prophecies, hmm? You will tell me these things, over and over, until I have them by heart. And then you will tell me what these priests say, what they see in these words. And then, you must leave me. Hunt. Sleep. Train. Feed. Learn the land. I must bring these things into me, and place them before my ancestors, and listen to them, and to the skies and stars of my dreams. And then, when the moons have come and gone, return, and I will give you my judgement.”
Garyn knew better than to question a wise woman. And even if he didn't, he could surely stand to wait a day among these people. And so he went, joining the day's kagouti hunt. A productive one it was - he had even earned himself a nod of acknowledgement for landing the killing blow on a bull.
At dawn he returned, and Nibani Maesa remained, seeming not to have even moved since Garyn left.
“The ancestors and stars have given me clear signs. The lost prophecies leave no doubt — the Incarnate shall be an outlander. You, blessed by Azura, must lift the seven curses of Dagoth Ur. Prophecy has shown the seven steps of the Nerevarine’s path, and I have been chosen as your guide for each step on that path. I will read the signs, and show you the way. It is time for you to walk the path of the Seven Visions, and pass the Seven Trials of the Seven Visions.
“You are born on a certain day to uncertain parents. So you have passed the first trial. My dreams show me that you also fulfill the second trial, that ‘neither blight nor age can harm him/The Curse-of-Flesh before him flies’. I have read the signs, but I cannot understand. Can you explain this to me?”
At this, Garyn told the whole story of how he had caught corprus disease in Ilunibi, and survived the wizard's cure that had killed all others who received it.
“That you have overcome the Curse-of-Flesh is strange enough, but that it should protect you from blight and age is past belief. Yet the signs of my dreams are clear. You have passed the second trial. But the third trial is unfulfilled. The mystery of the third trial is not my secret to share. Go to Sul-Matuul, the guardian of our cult, and he shall tell you of the third trial. When you have fulfilled the third trial, return to me for guidance on your next steps on the path of the Nerevarine.”
Garyn bowed his head. "I shall not fail to heed your wisdom, muthsera."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At this point the whole camp was abuzz and murmuring. Every eye of the Urshilaku was on Garyn as he left the wise woman's yurt. The Ashkhan was standing in front of his yurt, waiting for him. Then he turned and slipped back inside, the invitation already clearly offered without words. Garyn followed.
Sul-Matuul's face was stern as always.
“You wish to know about the Third Trial, and I shall tell you.”
Garyn merely nodded.
“You have entered the path of the Nerevarine. This is a hard thing to believe. But Nibani Maesa has spoken to me at length of this, and I have had time to consider. Therefore I shall keep my own counsel, and set before you my own test. I do not dispute with the wise women, but their ways are not the ways of the warrior. Many before have tried the path of the Nerevarine, but all have failed the warrior’s test. All too many times, a hope has risen and died before it. I myself have seen this. You must have strength, courage, and cunning. These things I would test."
A younger Garyn - not even MUCH younger - would have been frustrated at these words. Now, however, his face showed only determination and confidence.
“Nearby lies Kogoruhn, the ancient halls of the forgotten house, House Dagoth. In recent time, creatures of the blight have come to dwell there. I myself went there, with some brave hunters, and came back again, but it was a bad place, and I am not ashamed to say I was afraid, for myself and my men. If you would have from me the secret of the Third Trial, the ‘caverns dark’ where Azura’s eye sees, you will first bring to me three tokens from dark Kogoruhn.
“The first token is corprus weepings from a corprus beast, to show that you are proof against the disease’s corruption. The second token is a cup with the mark of House Dagoth, for I have myself seen such cups there, and will know you have seen with your eyes what I have seen with mine. The third token is the Shadow Shield, which lies on the Tomb of Dagoth Morin, in the lava tunnels deep beneath ruined Kogoruhn. Bring these things to me, and then I will tell you the secret of the Third Test.”
Garyn stood with his hand by his scabbard. "You need but tell me the way."
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That doesn't mean the monster didn't leave a mark, however. In an instant, he's at her side with a potent health potion.
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"Sturdy creature to regenerate like that from lightsaber blows, I'm not sure anything at home can do the same."
If there is, she's sure it will try to kill her at some point. Her life is like that.
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Garyn bends over to search the body, checking, perhaps in vain, for any clues for the location of the Shadow Shield.
"The Shield isn't far, I hope. In the meantime, there's this enchanted belt, I suppose."
It's a powerfully enchanted belt, at least.
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"I'm also hoping the Shield is close. That fight took more out of me than I anticipated." She snorts, bitter amusement in her tone. "They're rather like the Sith in some ways. We impose Rules upon Sith in the Empire to keep our power struggles from tearing everything to pieces."
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Garyn gestures toward the door to Red Mountain that Dagoth Uthol had been guarding.
"Perhaps down that other path, then. Stealthily, again."
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"Hopefully you can find a door back to Milliways nearby. I've a Mark set, and I'd rather neither of us have to walk all the way out. Especially not Uthol's way."
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She still doesn't know why teleportation is dreadful for her and apparently no big deal to anyone else. It may just be One Of Those Things.
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"This looks promising."
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It's only paranoia if you're WRONG, after all!
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"I think I've found it."
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She tilts her head, listens. "Doesn't feel trapped or anything either, which is a plus."
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"Yes, this is definitely it. Can you sense a way out?"
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