THE SIXTH TRIAL
MEETING VIVEC
THE BIG CHEESE FESSES UP
The door closed behind us as soon as we were through the threshold. We waited a few moments for our eyes to adjust to the light. In the dim light, we could see a figure, floating in the air just ahead of us. |
"We have business to discuss, you and I" He certainly wasn't what I expected. He looked thin, gaunt, as if the last several thousand years of floating in the air, holding up the Ministry of Truth in the air, and maintaining the power of the Ghostfence was taking everthing else out of him. "When I was young, like you, I was very impatient." he said. "So, I willkeep our business short. Then, later, there may be time for other things. First, I propose to remove my curse upon the Nerevarine, end the persecution of the Dissident Priests, and proclaim to all Morrowind, that Eldorf Dragonmeal is the Incernate and Nerevarine, the prophesied savior of Morrowind, and the last hope to withstand the manace of Dagoth Ur and the Sixth House. These things I will do, whether you wish or not." So far, so good. I was no longer a wanted man. |
"Next," he continued, "I propose to surrender to you the power and responsibility of defeating Dagoth Ur. You may choose to refuse; I will not compel you. You will receive the power as a gift, in the form of an artifact called 'Wraithguard'. You may accept the gift, then do with it as you will. You will receive the responsibility as an oath. You may give your oath, then keep it or break it as you like." Well, that seems a little wishy-washy to me, but ok, let's continue. "First, will you accept Wraithguard as a gift?" he asked. I accepted. "Good. Sensible of you." he replied. "And now, will you give your oath, before all gods and men, before all spirits visible and invisible, before my honor and your honor, to dedicate yourself and Wraithguard to the defeat and destruction of Dagoth Ur, and the preservation of Morrowind and it's people?" No small task, but I had come this far, and the wisewoman said I would need Wraithguard to defeat Dagoth Ur. I accepted this oath. |
"Very well." he replied. "You will now have a brief, momentary sensation of time passing. Don't be alarmed. You are being taken out of time in order to avoid the unpleasant experience of learning how to use Wraithguard. It will be done before......" I had a brief sensation of motion in total darkness, floating, but without a sense of weight or direction, then suddenly I heard his voice again. "....you know it." Now, I will notify the Temple that you are our champion. There shall be no more persecution of the Dissident Priests, and I hope both sides shell swiftly be reconciled." |
"We have time for questions, if you like" he continued, "or you may leave, if you wish. But I think there are at least two things you ought to know before you leave; how to use Wraithguard, and how to defeat Dagoth Ur." "What about Dagoth Ur's defenses?" I asked. "Confer with the ordinators and Buoyant Armigers garrisoning Ghostgate for the latest information about the defenses of the citadels of Dagoth Ur and his hearthwight kin." "What can you tell me about Dagoth Ur's plans?" "We know nothing for sure," he replied, "but we have learned much from interrogating Sixth House cultists and victims of dream compulsions, and from our study of Dagoth Ur's actions. The temple scholars and Inquisitors have prepared a document entitled 'Dagoth Ur's Plans' that summarizes what we know or suspect." I found a copy of this document in my left hand, though I do not remember picking it up from anywhere. |
"What can you tell me of his powers? I asked. "He is able to send his mind into the dreams of susceptible victims across vast distances." he replied. "The victims are either swayed by his compulsions or driven mad. He also seems nearly invulnerable to physical and magical harm. His flesh, and the flesh of his followers, evolves towards a mutable, magical form. Dagoth Ur and the highest ranks can control the distorted manifestations of their flesh; lower ranks lose control of their bodies, and become mindless corprus monsters." "What of his servants?" "Chief among his servants are his seven brothers, the ash vampires." he replied. "They are powerful hartwights and cunning sorcerers of old. These creatures appear to die, but always are revived at the Heart. Somehow, Dagoth Ur has conferred some portion of his immortality upon them. Or perhaps they sustain themselves through more conventional sorcery." |
"So, Lord Vivec," I asked, "what is our plan? How do we defeat this evil thing?" "To defeat Dagoth Ur, go to Red Mountain." he replied. "There, you must recover the artifact hammer Sunder from Gate Citadel Vemynal. You must then proceed to recover the artifact blade Keening from Gate Citadel Odrosal. Once you have them, along with Wraithguard, proceed to the citadel of Dagoth Ur. Within the citadel, find the Heart of Lorkhan. Use the three artifacts to sever Dagoth Ur's connection to the heart, and he will be destroyed, and the Blight ended on Morrowind." |
"How exactly do I use Keening and Sunder" I asked. "Do I use them on him?" "No." came the reply. "To destroy Dagoth Ur, you must sever his connection with the Heart of Lorkhan. To do this, strike the Heart with the hammer Sunder once, then strike the Heart more than once with the blade Keening. You must wear Wraithguard when using them, because without it, their profain magic will kill you. |
"I give you further council." he continued. Prepare for war. Beyond the Ghostfence, there are no safe places, no allies. Stockpile resources. Plan for retreat and replenishment. Quest for artifacts of power." "Ordinators and Buoyant Armigers stationed at Ghostgate have the most practical knowledge of the nightmare world inside the Ghostfence. Seek them in my name for counsel and aid." |
"One more thing." I said. "What really happened during the battle of Red Mountain?" Without hesitation, Vivec responded, as if he knew the question would come up. "In my library, I have made available two conflicting accounts of the events of Red Mountain, my own true account, and another false account common among the Ashlanders and preserved in the Apographa. I don't care whether you believe my account or not. I leave it up to you to judge which is true." |
Laurenna tapped me on the shoulder. While I had been busy speaking with Vivec, she had found something of interest - it was this "library" that Vivec had spoken of. "You might want to see this." she said. |
There, displayed neatly for all to read (both of us), were all these pieces of information that Vivec wanted us to have, including that account of the Battle of Red Mountain, that had two possible storylines, depending upon who's account you wanted to believe. The Battle of Red Mountain Nerevar at Red Mountain (NOTE: Each link opens in a separate window) |
|
We had seen enough. We took our leave and headed back to the office of the archcanon to report our findings. |
Tholer Saryoni acknowledged our arrival with a smile. "We have heard the proclamation. Vivec has removed his curse upon the Nerevarine, and has ended the persecution of the Dissident Priests. Vivec has acknowledged you as the Incarnate and Nerevarine, the prophesied savior of Morrowind, and the last hope to withstand the menace of Dagoth Ur and the Sixth House. |
There wasn't much more to say. Tholer wished me luck on my mission, a mission that would take me into the depths of Ghostgate, and into the heart of Red Mountain. We decided to head back to Balmora and regroup my resources there. |
Laurenna noticed that I was silent all the way back to Balmora. "Are you ok?" she asked, concerned over the next step. "I'll be ok." I replied. "I just have to think about the next step." Heading into the middle of the most dangerous area of Vvardenfell was not high on my list of things to do, but I could see this is where I would need to go. |