Ch.30

[Loredas, 31st of Sun’s Height, 4E: 221]

Thankfully Neethsi knew how to make sleeping draughts, because we’d just absorb spells. Alchemy was a subversive sort of magic able to slip past magic defenses like absorption. Good thing, otherwise Shade and I wouldn’t have slept last night. I’m sure she suffered nightmares like me. I repeatedly suffered having a C-section and my premature babies taken away for some nefarious purpose.

I was terrified of what happened to me, my world, my friends. They’re all dead. Zecora, my own Twilight, everyone. At least the monster had the cruel kindness to give me back Shade, but at the expense of tormenting her along with me. I was pulled from my despair by a hand entwining fingers with mine and I despondently looked up to see Shade smiling sadly and I squeezed.

I haven’t lost everything. I need to focus on that. Even if I didn’t get Shade back and gain a sister instead of a daughter, I had my new friends, lovers that I was freely able to claim such. Unlike before, when I was a total little bitch being paraded between studs since I had no fucking spine back then. I’m not much bolder now, but instead of just letting myself be carried away by fuck buddies, this time I am in a quite serious relationship with people.

Palu was incredible, no lie, but in the end, one hot passionate time together does not equal a relationship. We never got to deepen that bond. Now our children were the pawns of some monster in the Void. Shade and I are too, but we seem to have been slipping our leashes and Velka just snapped the collars on our necks. “Do you need to stay?” I looked up at Neethsi, male again because everyone knew him as a man.

“Do I have a choice?” I asked rhetorically, because now that some of the limiters on my mind have been broken, I can see the writing on the wall. I’m necessary. I may not be a great warrior or powerful mage, but I am integral to the success of the immediate future and the future of reality itself continuing to exist. Cruel my fucktard of a Displacer may be, but they clearly didn’t want this world to crumble for some reason.

“You always have a choice. Heroes have an uncanny ability to ignore the call of action for a good long time, as if time itself waits on them. I was rather astonished when time-sensitive matters always seemed to ignore causality and wait for my intervention. I even worried that reality was waiting for me to finish doing what it had decided was my job.” Neethsi rubbed my shoulders while Shade kept holding my hands.

“I read The Dragonborn, so I know he pretty much just sorted out all of Skyrim's issues and killed Ulfric before he even met his first dragon. Then he explored all of the ruins he hadn’t before for Dovahzul before killing thousands of dragons, then took on a vampire cult, made his home and defeated the First Dragonborn, Miraak, before finally killing Aldiun and becoming the High King.” Shade voiced and I chuffed.

“Unlike all of the previous Heroes, this time I’m foretold by the Equestrian Scrolls, not the Elder Scrolls. I doubt I have the luxury of time. I’m going. I’ll be with you, Neethsi.” I declared as I stood up and dusted imaginary dirt from my armor. Shade was in her matching set.

Neethsi, however, wore a hybrid suit of black bonemold that covered his entire body, tail included. “If you’re sure, I won’t try to stop you.” Neethsi put on his helmet, which looked like a mix between the bestial daedric helmet and the oddly elongated helmet the dunmer had with their own bonemold armor. Unlike them though, his suit didn’t have pointy long pauldrons.

“So why is your bonemold black, Neethsi?” Shade questioned as we followed him on his flanks. It felt oddly right to be standing just beside and behind him to his right with my sister mirroring me on the other side.

“Traditional bonemold uses iron with the resin to strengthen the bond that sets and holds the compressed bone meal together in the mold. I have over the years developed alternative recipes. I have a bit of an obsession with bonemold. This is my magnum opus for the craft: Ebony Dragon Bonemold. Lorkhan’s blood taints the bone, turning it black and gray. It is also much stronger than even Dragonplate while as light as steel.” Neethsi answered proudly.

“Cool, but why? Wouldn’t it be easier to just make steel or ebony armor?” I asked and Neethsi chuckled with a knock of his armored knuckles against his breastplate. The wood-like clack was surprisingly satisfying to hear.

“Of course, but worthwhile things are rarely easy. Bonemold doesn’t just have impressive impact resistance due to its nature as a composite, it is much lighter than the end product of more expensive armors. I’ve rigorously tested it and found that it handles the blows of weapons and combat better than traditional, more widespread materials. The fact it doesn’t slow the wearer down as much is also a big draw.” Neethsi said before we left the campus and headed straight for the command tent.

“Could you make sets for us? While we like these armors, we’d feel safer wearing something you made.” Shade requested and I perked up at the idea of wearing something Neethsi made for me. Shade, you really know how I think and feel about things, huh?

“Once this battle is done, I see no reason why not. Until we have our defenses settled I don’t need to work on the Wayshrines beyond Pact territory.” We entered the tent and Berserker looked up from the table. Oo~! He may be fully encased in his armor so I can’t even smell him, but I can tell he had a good time last night. “Hortator Nerevarine reporting with Meen-Rei and Shade.”

“Good morning, I trust you all rested well?” Berserker asked idly as he continued going over the map provided from what had to be pegasus scouts, since that was the only way I figured anyone could get a good look at the Xanmeer the daedra were using as their base.

“As best as we could after learning we’re just toys for some fucked up entity.” I huffed and Berserker visibly bristled, but forced himself to calm down.

“I see. I’m glad Velka was able to help, for what it’s worth. Now, I plan on holding to the dunmer tradition of placing the Hortator among the forward standard bearers, do you object?” Berserker questioned and Neethsi shook his head. “Then you know your place, in the forward center position. Miun-La’s argonian soldiers will provide guidance and take to the waters to both give us air-breathers more room and keep us from being ambushed.”

“More like to keep us and the elves from stumbling into dumb deaths. Nords aren’t meant for these lands.” Birnir grumbled before he donned his helmet. “Due to our inexperience with marshy terrain, we’re the rear guard with the elves filling the center ranks behind the lizards since their lands have more swamps as well. I told the Jarl not to be so proud and let Morthal’s sons and daughters come to Black Marsh, but no, nobody listens to the Housecarl.”

“I’ll file a formal complaint to try and get you and your troops reassigned to somewhere less inhospitable to your skill sets, but I can’t promise anything. Besides, the fight is now. Your job is mostly to ensure none of the daedra try to get past and head for Lilmoth or the outlying plantations. Otherwise you’ll be keeping the wildlife from using the battle as an advantage for an easy hunt.” Miun-La said before he, Golnis and Birnir filed out of the tent.

“I’d be on the front too, but I’m the acting general, so I’m stuck in the back with Birnir and using pegasi to command the troops. You three give them hell for me.” Berserker put a fist to his breastplate and Neethsi mirrored, so I and Shade did the same before following Neethsi back out. I felt the jitters as I prepared my musket. This was a proper battle we’re going into, not some skirmish or mere encounter. I just hope I’m ready to face it.

📜

We marched on the ruins to the west in a measured fashion with the argonians guiding the dunmer and nords through the safest paths before the pegasus scouts flew back to report that the nearest of the daedra were just a mile out and a halt was called through the ranks without horns. We didn’t want to give away our position just yet.

“Have all of the musketeers target the Daedra, everyone else in defensive positions! Prepare for the enemy to charge us as soon as we open fire!” Berserker ordered and I joined Shade with the musketeers as the argonian skirmishers ducked into the swamps ahead of us to lie in wait and the dunmer pikemen prepared to cycle position with us.

“Sir, it seems unlikely for the enemy to come charging at us. We’re in the middle of a swamp.” Golnis protested, but Berserker pointed at the pegasus who reported the patrol.

“Then why are there fucking Daedra out in the open where we could clearly see?” Berserker was right, I can see the patrol through the spyglass of my musket. “Prepare to fire!” We waited, the patrol was getting closer. “As soon as you feel like you can land a hit, fire!”

Shade fired first. My sister surprised me since she didn’t wait at all, but what surprised me more was that she shot a dremora through the gut in one try. The other daedra of the patrol charged while one of the dremora lifted his visor and blew on a horn that wailed like a shrill tuba before joining the charge in our direction.

I fired next and the rest of us musketeers began bombarding the patrol through the trees. By the time us 32 musketeers had finished cycling three rounds of fire, the patrol was dead before they even reached the skirmishing line. “By Ysmir. These weapons are incredible. If we had these twenty years ago, the dragons would have known fear other than the High King.” A nord woman next to me said in awe.

“Don’t get overconfident. They may be strong, but the pellets are ultimately just iron balls. If something sturdy enough or even angled and strong plate armor is the target, they might just glance off.” I warned her and she nodded in understanding. She may be a nord of Skyrim, but thankfully she understood that when the artificer is saying something about the weapon you’re using, listen.

“In that case, why not load it with something sturdier like steel or orichalcum?” She questioned while we uneasily waited. That horn along with the chain of gunfire definitely called more of the daedra, we can’t be caught unprepared.

“Lead would be best, but it’s poisonous. What do you think, sis?” Shade asked while still scanning with her scope.

“Well, true. Lead ruins everything. Iron will work fine until we figure out what metals are the most dense.” I knew Ebony was, by default, the most dense. I’m not making bullets out of godsblood. I feel queasy enough making the bayonets out of it. How are people so blase about using the blood of one of the gods who made the world as metal to-. “Here they come!”

Shade took the first shot this time too. She’s a crackshot! However, this time the daedra came in force. It wasn’t just a patrol coming to check, it must’ve been a proper response force from the Xanmeer. No Juggernauts, thank gosh.

We whittled them down, but there were so many that they neared the skirmishing line. We began backing away and took a few final shots before Miun-La and his ambush squads leaped out of the water, grabbed daedra and dragged them kicking and screaming under the water.

“Get behind us!” One of the dunmer pikemen shouted and we obeyed as the bonemold armored dark elves formed a line. They knelt, planting the spikes of their large tower shields in the soft soil, locked the hooks on the left sides of their shields to the loops on the right sides of the shields and then planted their pikes halfway down those 4-foot tall bone shields in a rest while digging the haft into the dirt too, forming a phalanx wall. “Use our cover to fire upon them!”

“Right!” One of the other musketeers replied and we began shooting at the daedra smart enough to continue past the skirmish line since they couldn’t possibly get at the argonians in the water, leaving the dumber daedric creatures to try. The dremora warriors and their Xivilai leaders came for us with Alteration reinforcement spells cast upon themselves, causing our bullets to stagger, but not kill them.

“Battlemages!” Berserker shouted and horns blew. The mages behind us, including Neethsi, moved forward and began raining lightning and ice spells on the enemy. Physical reinforcement won’t help you against magic! Ha! I see, I need to have the muskets enchanted too to compensate for magic defenses! “Musketeers, keep the pressure up on any enemies approaching from beyond the skirmish line!”

Shit! I forgot about that! I joined the others in changing focus and cursed aloud as we fired upon the next wave of daedra. Miun-La and his ambushers could only take 20 individuals into the water at once at best without committing suicide to attempt more. They had the most dangerous position in this situation and we all knew it. This strategy wouldn’t even be possible if we were using bows or crossbows.

To think, we’re going against a daedric forward invasion force with only 120 soldiers not counting the commanders, Neethsi, Shade and myself because of the suicidal danger involved with fielding a proper army in Black Marsh. Damned daedra don’t have to worry about disease and death for them is just an inconvenience, so unlike mortals they could dash through the swamp in numbers and not care about losing troops.

“The skirmishers reduced the enemy further, but the mages have only just finished dealing with the first line of enemies.” Shade announced and then another, shriller sound echoed from the direction of the enemy. “They’re retreating!” Shade’s announcement caused a few soldiers, mostly nords, to cheer prematurely. “Don’t cheer yet! We don’t know what they-!” A whistling sound...fuck!

“Fall back!” Neethsi bellowed as he rapidly wove a powerful spell with both his hands and his body before casting a green barrier above us just in time for an impact against it to knock some of us down, but the phalanx held. “They’re using artillery!” What the fuck?! The daedra have mortars or something?!

“Full retreat! We need to get beyond their range!” Berserker shouted before turning to a pegasus. “Fly to the Xanmeer and locate the enemy artillery for me. Do not engage.”

“What’s the plan to deal with this?” Birnil questioned angrily, clearly not at Berserker, but likely at this unexpected roadblock.

“The plan is I’m fucking breaking tradition and dealing with the artillery myself. I’d rather not put our good pegasus friends at too much risk and the airships are easy targets for their artillery. I’ll be taking Neethsi, Meen-Rei and Shade with me since they’re overpowered in their own respective ways.” Berserker said and Birnil nodded along with Golnis before the horn for full retreat was officially sounded and the soldiers began a slow retreat while Neethsi kept us all shielded.

“So, once we’re a safe distance, we’re going to be taking the waterways-hrk-to reach the Xanmeer easier.” Neethsi staggered when another enemy projectile smashed into his barrier, so Shade and I steadied him and began pouring magicka into him. “Thanks, girls.”

“Yes. I can breathe underwater with the EVA system my suit has, so I’ll be able to follow without using magic. We’ll get there, destroy their artillery, then once that’s done we’ll signal for the pegasi to deliver the order for the soldiers to march again. I’m sure Golnis, Miun-La and Birnil can handle that without me breathing down their necks.” Berserker said before the mentioned argonian and his skirmishers succeeded in fleeing from the pursuing daedra with cover fire from our musketeers.

“Just don’t expect Shade or I to be legendary warriors.” I nervously said, but wasn’t about to opt out of the action.

“You’re mostly there for support, don’t worry. Neethsi and I have enough legendary warrior prowess to go around.” Berserker pet my head and I gasped at the nostalgia, of having people petting me like I was some fluffy pet to adore. I loved it, but it hurt to remember, so I ignored it.

“Don’t worry sis, we’ve got this.” Shade encouraged me and I hoped she was right.

📜

Ew, ew, ew, ew~! I haven’t been able to enjoy a swim since Neethsi and I deep-sea dove into the Topal Bay for questionably-legal money. I am not enjoying how nasty this swamp water is! I feel icky all over! I need to swim in the ocean after this to make sure none of the scum sticks to me! What’s worse is I’m breathing this disgusting water! I can taste everything~! Eugh~!

I almost breached the water too quickly when Neethsi led us up the bank to the surface, but thankfully I was halted by Neethsi’s quick hand. He shook his head and we waited for Berserker, stuck walking on the bottom, treading silt due to him turning off his armor’s featherweight runes.

Once he joined us, we slowly emerged on the bank of the water with Neethsi casting Muffle on us to make sure we didn’t make any noise. The bodies of the Wamusu and Behemoths were all gone, likely tossed into the swamp like the lesser beasts we’d had to swim under and around. The Xanmeer was being corrupted and some deep, primal part of me felt outraged that the past of my new people was being destroyed like this.

The ziggurat-like pyramid was much more exposed now though. Before the top of it barely reached above the ground, now the daedra have somehow elevated it out of the murk of the mire of Murkmire, the region Lilmoth resided. “Is this the work of a Master Alteration mage?” Berserker asked Neethsi warily and thankfully he shook his head.

“No. The signature isn’t that of someone using a transcendent formula. This was done by either a team of Adepts or a few Experts. Either way, it would seem the master of these daedra has felt it prudent to field skilled Alteration mages here. A wise decision, since no other could possibly elevate a whole Xanmeer out of the ground.” Neethsi informed us as his keen eyes swept-.

“There’s a mortar.” Shade whispered and pointed out said emplacement nearby. “There, there, there and there. All where the pegasus scout said they’d be.” Hot damn sis, why do you have such sharp eyes and more talent for magic than me? I’d better excel at martial prowess or I’ll feel cheated, Displacer!

“That should be all of them, but we’ll have to climb the Xanmeer to see if they put more near the top or on the other side.” Berserker pulled out a big super-futuristic rifle with red glowing runes and I gulped nervously. “I’ll draw as much attention as I can, you three work on destroying the enemy artillery. If you find any enemy Intel that could help us, make sure you take it. Here we go.” Once he jumped out of the water, he opened fire. The gun was loud when it went off, destroying anything it was aimed at in one or two shots of high-explosive, incendiary rounds.

“Okay, let’s hurry!” I said before my conjured bow jumped into my hand much to my surprise as it sparked and arced with magic. Well, I guess this isn’t exactly a good situation for a musket. I followed Neethsi and rapidly fired at the nearest enemies while Shade used her musket to get the furthest ones. Neethsi just tossed spheres of freezing blizzards spinning with shards of ice.

I pulled as far on the bowstring as I could with my aim at a Xivilai and a massive magical arrow launched, impacting with the force of a ballista. Woo! I don’t remember my bow having this much kick! It must be because I’m a magicka atronach! “Good to know your nature makes your magic more potent. I’ll need to train you both more in magic.” Neethsi commented as he summoned two daedra, both scantily clad but one dark and the other radiant. “Feel like shoving your blades up the asses of Molag’s servants, ladies?”

They didn’t respond and simply charged in with eager expressions. At least we’re not alone.

Next Chapter: Ch.31 Estimated time remaining: 13 Hours, 35 Minutes