Ch.5

[Sundas, 11th of Sun’s Height, 4E: 221]

“Huh, I was not mistaken, these are all tools able to make guns.” I muttered as we walked through the swamp’s barely-there ‘road’ while I examined some of the tools in the repair kit Neethsi got for me. “I wonder if gunpowder has the same reaction or if magic alters them.”

“If you’re talking about blasting powder, we’ve had it for thousands of years. However, nobody has managed to make the powder safe enough to launch man-portable munitions.” Mellow informed me from where the robed roughly 5 foot 9 inch yellow unicorn walked between Neethsi and I. He wasn’t a combatant, so Neethsi relegated him to being between us at all times.

“Not even fireworks? It’s just dyed powders, pressure chambers, fuses for time.” I said and Neethsi looked at me over Mellow’s head. I didn’t realize I was 6 feet tall in this body. I just assumed Mellow was especially short.

“Of course we have fireworks. The alchemists are simply too careless and anyone who tries to miniaturize the explosive reaction, well, explodes. I figured out an alternative explosive fluid that when mixed with loamy sand makes a good small detonation. I have been using it as a lock buster when I don’t care to try magic or I’m out of lockpicks.” Neethsi informed me and I felt my face smile again. That means at least Neethsi has managed some small-yield blasting powder.

“How big or small have they made it? What is the cultural meaning for its use, has it been used in weapons before?” I asked with dangerous ideas forming in my head.

“Mostly fireworks at festivals and naval cannons, which are quite heavy. We don’t use them on land aside from entrenched defensive positions on fortresses. Why lug around a too-heavy mass of iron when you can move a battlemage much faster? Why destroy the walls of a city you’re trying to capture when launching toxic payloads or summoned scamps in cages over walls with trebuchets and catapults work better to weaken the enemy from the inside and leave the walls intact?” Neethsi replied and I got an idea for this world’s priorities considering siege combat. A captured city is useless defensively if you’ve wrecked it’s defenses.

“I guess no one thought of making a bullet then, but at least there are projectile weapons like crossbows.” I said thinking of how deadly an Ebony tipped bullet would be, it would act similar to an armor piercing round, corundum would be a good replacement for copper, Dwarven Metal would be a good choice for a proof of concept since there’s likely a form of brass already for the bullet casings. Firearms would turn this world on its head and they have all the tools to make a revolver or a Heilongjiang Hand Cannon at least if I used petrified wood or bronze. There is wood in Tamriel that could take the recoil. I wonder if I could make a barrel with rifling?

“Actually, why haven’t any of the races on Tamriel used a Hwacha?” Mellow questioned and I had alarms go off in my head. If Mellow knows what a Hwacha is and Tamriel doesn’t, how bloody has Nirn’s version of Equestria’s history been?

“Might be because they never understood it.” I said as I rifled through many of my other tools.

“What is a Hwatchya?” Neethsi questioned intently, his eyes intense with curiosity. Oh? Does the stoic and embittered ancient argonian have a weakness for learning new things?

“H-wah-chuh. No T or y in it. Take a bundle of arrows, tie small firework rockets to the shafts or better yet; have special arrows crafted as small rockets. Put them in a box of sectioned pockets for the arrows, aim, light the fuses, watch them hail death from above on incoming armies. A single Hwacha can do in moments what would take an entire firing line of archers to accomplish with only two people.” Mellow informed the Nerevarine in a mixture of bitterness and pride.

“How bad are the wars back on your continent?” I asked Mellow sadly and he shrugged, causing his overladen travel pack loaded with potions and scrolls to jingle and tinkle.

“I’m a second-generation Tamrielic Pony. All I know are the horror stories told by my granny before she passed and what she taught my mother. Back then, it was bad. People were dying left and right. Sword, spear, arrow or magic. It was all fair game from what they told me. Not that it’s much better here.” Mellow said sadly with his ears wilting.

“Hold.” Neethsi ordered and we stopped. He tilted his head and held up a hand to his ear hole. “...This way.” Neethsi led us off the mostly-dry mound of dirt that elevated us above the muck of the swamp and continued using his hands to cup around his ear holes. “Hm...was it...yes.” Neethsi went into a clearing and vanished!

“Neethsi?” I asked worriedly, only for him to poke his head out of the anomaly, like his head was floating.

“Come on in.” He retreated back into the spooky nothingness and Mellow promptly did as he said, excitedly poking his hands in and out of the vanishing field before he entered. I did too by this point and gawked at what I saw past the barrier. “Find a seat. It’s best we make haste to Lilmoth. I’m not leaving my boat for some blessed idiot to somehow discover.”

It’s a boat! It's a flying boat! The airborne skiff levitated a foot above the swamp water, was clearly dwarven in design and was fairly large. It easily had enough space for ten people including the pilot, who Neethsi obviously was since he was standing at the console at the back which simply had a trio of levers. Mellow had happily jumped in and was running his hands over the dwarven-metal banded flat-bottomed flying boat.

“Granny told me these didn’t exist here.” Mellow said in awe while I approached and climbed up into the boat, feeling guilty about getting swamp muck on the floor, but Neethsi clearly didn’t care, having trudged mud about the thing before either of us.

“What is this, Neethsi?” I asked warily, uncomfortable being on something that, by many laws in the Empire and definitely the Aldmeri Dominion, was beyond illegal.

“It’s something I and my master Neloth built as a proof of concept. The hull is enchanted with a combination of Levitation, Slow Fall and Feather. The dwarven metal bandings are enchanted with Fortify Armor. The stealth field is an independent thing I put in the storage trunk behind me. It’s all powered by a Dwarven Centurion Dynamo, which Neloth theorized merely acts as a conduit for the magic of Aetherius to pass. Thankfully those last forever unless they take damage.” Neethsi proudly informed us as he gently moved a lever and the boat began rising!

“It doesn’t seem as advanced as the airships the Diamond Dogs made to kill dragons. Granny wouldn’t shut up about how spooky those were.” Mellow commented, but still clearly enjoyed the novelty of being in a flying boat.

“Isn’t this illegal?” I asked the scary-convenient ancient Hero and he hacked up a loogie over the side. Ew. Then again, my throat does feel rather phlegmy, so I mimicked. Ah, better.

“Very. Just another example of the Empire and Dominion being small-minded fools unable to bring prosperity or stability. They were more afraid of the security risks of Levitation than the vast potential it had for revolutionizing the world as we know it.” Neethsi huffed and I had to agree on that front. Then again, Bethesda didn’t have a good track record for making stable games. Airships or even keeping Levitation was beyond their abilities.

“However, Black Marsh and Morrowind aren’t part of the Empire anymore. Not since Black Marsh invaded Morrowind, destroyed houses Dres and Hlaalu, liberated the slaves and annexed Morrowind with support from House Indoril and Redoran if it could be believed. That was...six years after the Oblivion Crisis, right?” Mellow questioned Neethsi, who nodded and I was dumbstruck.

‘What?’ I thought to myself in disbelief at this massive divergence from canon.

“That’s right. Black Marsh and Morrowind have prospered under the renewed Ebonheart Pact in spite of the Red Year and Red Mountain’s insistence on reminding us all that the Heart of Lorkhan still beats, despite how hard I stabbed the damn thing with Keening before I cast it into the liquid Ebony. At least it wasn’t set off by Baar Dau. I managed to convince that s’wit Vivec to toss it towards Akavir before he decided mortals weren’t worth bothering with anymore and fucked off to Aetherius.” Neethsi grumbled at the end while he stopped our ascension a good dozen feet above the canopy and we began moving forward.

“I’m just happy to be a Citizen of Ebonheart rather than the Dominion. My cousin keeps writing to me about how prejudice is harming her life in Elsweyr. My cousin in the Empire keeps saying the Empire is better, but she’s in the military there. Hm, since you mentioned Vivec ascended, I wonder if Celestia is in Aetherius too.” Mellow mused and I had to sit on one of the benches of the boat. All this info being dumped on me. It’s too much.

“Ah yes. The Living Goddess who helped keep Magnus on a steady course for thousands of years, along with her sister who kept Masser and Secunda in position for the same time frame. The Void Nights were a terrifying time. Your people arrived not long after the disappearance of the moons and when you delivered news that it was because the living embodiments of the sun and moons were at war in your homeland, well, that stirred up quite the can of worms.” Neethsi commented and I moaned in dismay at trying to piece all of this info together.

“Please stop. I can only take in so much at once~.” I whined as I rubbed my head.

“Fine then. Just sit back, relax and hope a stray Hackwing doesn’t hit us.” Neethsi-a stray what?

📜

After coming to the understanding that the Void Nights were two years where Masser and Secunda: the moons, had disappeared from the sky was because whatever caused the schism in Equestria killed Luna, causing the celestial objects she governed to vanish. That or she was banished to somewhere that wasn’t one of the moons. Why they returned, nobody could fully understand, though of course the Aldmeri Dickheads claimed to have returned the moons, getting those sugar-licking idiots ruling Elsweyr to throw their lot in with them.

Their reward was to be treated as third class citizens at best, not mentioning anyone else not a Khajiit, Bosmer or Altmer living in Elsweyr. There were supposedly hushed whispers about Elsweyr seceding from the Dominion and joining either the Empire or the Pact. At least according to Neethsi, who wouldn’t give a straight answer on whether or not he had a hand in such treacherous notions among the people of Elsweyr.

Either way, the flight was smooth and uneventful. Here I had thought I’d be trekking deadly swamps, fighting dangerous monsters, delving into half-sunken or fully-submerged caves. I won’t complain, I like living and danger increases the likelihood of that ending, but for an adventure, this was turning out quite mundane. Well, aside from the highly illegal aircraft that spits in the laws of science and physics, but who cares about those?

Wait a second… “Is this the only one?” I asked Neethsi with a pat of the boat’s rim.

“I’m not answering that.” Neethsi firmly replied and I sighed in frustration.

“I hardly think knowing for certain if there are more flying machines is harmful to us by this point.” Mellow commented from where he was laying between two of the benches in the boat using his bedroll while watching the clouds pass overhead, relaxed as can be.

“You said you built this with Neloth, right? He’s not the sort to just let something like this be a secret. He loves shoving people’s noses in how great and powerful he is.” Or at least I believe that’s the case from what I remember of him in both Morrowind and the Dragonborn DLC for Skyrim. The pompous amoral old Telvanni was quick to remind everyone around him that they’re scum on his shoe and how they all continue to fail him simply by breathing.

“Hmph. Fine. Yes. The Ebonheart Pact is amassing a secret airship navy with clandestine assistance from Skyrim’s High King, what with there being far more Dwarven Ruins across the whole of Skyrim than there is elsewhere in the entire continent.” Neethsi admitted and leered at us both. “That said, this little skiff and that information, along with who I really am is to remain a secret.” Neethsi hissed with a warning growl.

“That goes without saying. It’s just good to know. So, in that vein, the Pact is planning to swoop in, wipe out the Dominion and maybe do the same with the Empire?” I questioned and Neethsi hissed at me.

“I’m not going to say any more than I have offered already. Just know the Pact can defend from attempts by the Dominion or Empire to invade or otherwise try to use military might to force obedience.” Neethsi grumbled and then looked over the port side of the boat. “Ah, look off the port bow. We’re passing Blackrose. It is on the way to Lilmoth. We’ll be stopping here for the evening. Flying by night is a fool’s errand. You never know where you’ll end up.”

“Huh? This thing doesn’t go very fast does it?” I asked and Neethsi actually had his eyes widen in some expression I couldn't recognize.

“Not very fast? We just made a week’s journey on foot in the span of a day.” Neethsi said in audible disbelief and I felt embarrassed for assuming that the world was smaller than it really was. Of course it wouldn’t be 1:1 scale with the games. Likely the games crunch distance several times since you could cross Whiterun Hold within a single day’s walk in ES5.

“I’m just impressed with how smooth the ride has been. I only went on a few ships in my life, but they were always bobbing and swaying sick-causing voyages. I can only hope that you succeed in making vessels like this one a common thing.” Mellow said while Neethsi began a slow descent, guiding us towards a small clearing in the swamp a good several minutes walk from the city.

“Hey, isn’t this where the most infamous prison on the continent is?” I asked my guide curiously and he nodded grimly.

“Oh yes. Blackrose Prison is still known to this day for being the most deadly and secure prison in all of Tamriel. However, it is no longer where the Imperials can dump their unwanted wastes of skin. Now it is where the most vile and hated monsters daring to call themselves people are sent by writ of the Council. Of course, that mostly means Thalmor that are too brainwashed to be reeducated.” Neethsi informed us as he set the boat into position a foot above the swamp.

“So the Pact is governed by a council?” I questioned as I helped Mellow to his hooves and gathered up his bedroll.

“Yes. Although I made, er, I mean. Bah, damn it. I am the Hortator of Morrowind and nominal leader of House Indoril, as you can guess. It took a long time to get those s’wits to realize that my House had been a product of lies and deceit. I had convinced my House and House Redoran to side with me in aiding the incoming invasion from Black Marsh to destroy Houses Dres and Hlaalu for their continued treachery and relishing in Molag Bal’s and Clavicus Vile’s spheres respectfully.” Neethsi lectured and I nodded along as I got out of the boat with Mellow and followed our guide.

“What about House Telvanni? I don’t think they’d just let the argonians kill their members and free their slaves.” Mellow questioned and I felt good for not being the only one in the dark here.

“I managed to convince Neloth that his house was better off without slaves. Here’s how he took it, ahem: ‘Indeed, slaves are worthless wastes of flesh eating, pissing and shitting all over the place and doing horrible work on top of it when paid workers can at least have the skills to do their damn jobs’.” Neethsi spookily managed to sound exactly like Neloth from Skyrim.

“Well that’s...one way to look at it.” Mellow muttered in disbelief and I simply shook my head. That was 100% Neloth alright.

“I considered it a win. He was my instructor in magic, so I got the rather exclusive and prestigious privilege to be treated as a test subject and nearly a slave for months. By the end of my tutelage, he declared me ‘beyond help’ and shoved one of his best staves and tomes in my hands and kicked me out of his tower. Heh, I knew the old coot simply didn’t want to admit I’d impressed him when I discovered you could fold dimensions-.” Neethsi suddenly grabbed Mellow and pulled him back, the unicorn yelped when seconds later numerous massive spikes shot up from the mud before the ground where they came from shifted.

“Crap Baskets!” I yelped as the mud sloughed off of a massive black-scaled reptilian creature that looked like a komodo dragon the size of a large canoe with bone blades punching through it’s back. It hissed raspily at us while electricity jumped between the bladed spines. “What is it?!”

“Mudlurker, don’t let it stun you!” Neethsi shouted while he retrieved a brutal morning star mace that was made of Bonemold, but had Stalhrim spikes. “Don’t let it bite you either! It’s bites are so toxic they even incapacitate argonians for a few hours!”

“I’ll be staying back here, thanks!” Mellow shouted from behind me as I brought my bow out of my satchel and prepared one of the cheap iron arrows Neethsi gave me, saying he had an untold number of them from his adventures and said I could fire them as much as I wanted.

“I’ll draw it’s attention, you-!” Neethsi was interrupted by my arrow punching into the beast’s eye and it slumped back into the mud with an anticlimactic plop. “...Okay, that was a good shot.”

“I never mentioned I’m a savant with a bow, did I?” I asked sheepishly and Mellow patted my shoulder as he released a breath in relief. “Is it’s corpse worth anything?”

“Of course. Most of the beasts in Black Marsh are worth plenty. Mudlurkers are one of the few land-dwelling creatures known for electro-chemical magic channeling specialized for raw shock magic. Then there's its venom, which is in regular need of antivenoms to fight it for survivors of attacks. Said survivors tend to only be argonians and Redguards however, due to our mutual resistances to poison.” Neethsi waved his mace through the air and the Stalhrim spikes shimmered before he put it back on his waist and fished the corpse out of the mud.

“Now then, long-story-short. Council?” I asked while I put my fancy bow away and we continued onward to Blackrose as if the encounter was just a normal occurrence.

“Right. I was able to convince Redoran and Indoril into reopening a more permanent alliance with Black Marsh, but only if both sides were willing to put forth an even number of councilors with an odd numbered impartial Hortator. Which ended up being me. I was voted on by both groups to act as a mediator and tie-breaker in decisions. It’s worked for the past couple centuries if I do say so. We haven’t had a single upheaval in the citizenry in several decades and general happiness is reportedly quite high.” Neethsi said with pride and I figured that must be one of his personal favorite achievements, considering he helped reestablish the Ebonheart Pact, even if Skyrim hasn’t joined it...yet, from the sounds of things.

“Which is also why my people were so well received. Unlike in the Empire or Dominion, we were welcomed here as refugees so long as we understood the dangers inherent to both Black Marsh and Morrowind. In exchange, our magics and inventions have allowed life in both allied countries to become easier. My magic self-composting toilet back home...well, back at my old clinic, was just one of them.” Mellow added on and I had to hum in appreciation for-.

“Halt!” We paused and two argonians in full carapace armor with matching shields and axes rushed towards us from the gate into the city. “State your business in Blackrose!”

“We intend to stay the night?” Neethsi said in bemusement. Uh-oh. I feel a Quest coming…

Next Chapter: Ch.6 Estimated time remaining: 19 Hours, 12 Minutes