187 Chapter L: Project Snow Blood
'The chambers under the great cliff of Winterhold are surprisingly warm considering they are covered in ice most of the time.' I muse as I descend down the tunnel parallel to the one leading to my ancestral shrine. It was rather obvious that they could be kept warm but the contrast was rather jarring when one could look from each perspective simultaneously.
Speaking of my underground base, the whole thing was now as large as all my above ground property. Much to my pleasant surprise, the law concerning this specific issue went something along the lines of 'Anything under your property is also your property' a loophole I abused with abundant glee and without a hint of care for being reasonable.
Would people kick up a fuss that I was practically digging out a small village below their city?
Probably.
Would I give the singular fragment of a shit?
Not really.
Besides, the whole thing was concealed under a bunch of wards, and there was no real risk of the cliff falling apart due to the work of my architect. The old Imperial woman had settled in nearby and I kept her busy with my all too many projects, her work ethic and dedication impressed me so much that I un-crippled her son a couple of months back.
The woman looked so happy she could have died on the spot and still have been satisfied.
I whistled a happy tune as I passed a couple of closed-up chambers, they were still getting dug out, and even through the thick doors, I could hear my spider workers hard at work digging ever deeper.
I couldn't help but smirk as I passed by the next section, rows upon rows of combat automatons stood arrayed in a vast chamber behind large panes of magically transmuted glass. A singular massive leg stood at the room's center proudly showing my progress in my next attempt at replicating the might of the Dwemer.
My cheerful tune, which was joined by Scorch halfway through, stopped as I finally reached my destination. An ornate gate bearing upon it the symbol of Auri-El's sun stood before me, the protections placed upon it so potent they were able to be felt even by those without my gift of sight.
With a flick of my hand, I announced my presence and the gates opened welcomingly, the sight beyond eliciting a satisfied nod from both me and my familiar. Rows upon rows of personal rooms surrounded a central communal chamber, much like the student's quarters did within the college. A vast table stood at its center surrounded by adjustable seats of various heights.
I could see Nightshade talking to two Mer who looked similar to herself dressed in plain but quality white robes while Edrassa sat nearby, rapidly writing down notes in her notebook, all the while a dozen mid-transformation Falmer sat around the table and gawked at their newly rejuvenated brethren.
I approach them without saying anything, immediately drawing looks of awe and respect from the Falmer. The fact I was going through the trouble of reviving them as a race didn't mean I was going to waste the opportunity to bind them to myself through some clever propaganda after all.
Scorch also drew a bunch of looks an the moment he started preening under the attention I tossed him back into my Magicka pool. That will teach you to lose a verbal battle against Savos' bird!
Nightshade sniffs the air and turns to me, drawing the looks of her two... students? as well. She bows lightly in greeting "Master." immediately followed by the other two.
I ignore the grumbling from the still somewhat degenerated bunch sitting around us but if they wanted to be acknowledged by me then they should put in the effort and grow strong enough to survive the rejuvenation process.
Maybe I would give them the time of day once they were actual people.
'Like these two did apparently.' I muse as I look over the two Falmer males standing to Nightshade's sides, one was tall and one short but both of them were indubitably blessed with the usual beauty associated with the Snow Elves.
"I see you have had a major breakthrough." I state in lieu of greeting "Though one might wonder why I wasn't called for when such a risky procedure was undertaken." I give a pointed look to Edrassa.
To my surprise, the young Dunmer woman doesn't seem bothered in the slightest but instead remains calm and collected.
"It was something of an emergency." She explains "Alor, the taller one" She points at him and he inclines his head "Had apparently reached such a point with his Magicka that it started working on its own to... upgrade him on its own for lack of a better word. So, instead of allowing his unpracticed magic to bring him potential harm, I initiated the ritual immediately. The surging Magicka actually helped a great bit and even made him taller and stronger than previously projected."
I raise an eyebrow toward the now named Alor and he bows "Indeed, this one... er... I was always a shorter one." His voice was as raspy as Nightshade's was when she first transformed but he had the advantage of actually being taught Tamrielic unlike his senior who had to piece it together on her own.
I nod in approval and look at the other, much shorter Falmer. It took me only a moment to realize something was very wrong with him, his limbs were frail and his nails lightly elongated into claws, his jaw still too sharp to be considered fully restored but overall he was rejuvenated enough that his situation wouldn't warrant another ritual attempt.
"And what happened to you?" I ask him with narrowed eyes.
Before he can say anything Edrassa interrupts "This complete idiot decided it would be a good idea to eschew all propriety or patience and simply threw himself upon the ritual circle, quickly flooding it with Magicka." She nearly hisses in annoyance "He was, naturally, not yet ready for it and the results speak for themselves."
"And what do you have to say for yourself... " I trail off as if to ask for his name.
"Eldor, my lord." He answers with a shifty grin while rubbing his hands like the caricature of a merchant, unlike his frail body his voice is far firmer and clearer than his comrade "As for why I did what I did..." He trails off, his eyes losing focus for a moment before turning firm and somewhat manic "I could hold back no more!" He exclaims "The temptation was too great and living as a lesser creature while surrounded by the literal image of my potential was too much!" As he ends his rant he glares at Nightshade with hatred and jealousy.
Without even batting an eye, my foremost Falmer follower waves her hand and slams the idiot into the ground with a telekinetic pull, and then proceeds to place her foot on his grounded head. Her eyes remain firmly focused on my own as she asks "What is to be done with this idiot?" There is not even a hint of mercy in her tone.
I tilt my head before shrugging "Grueling training and work for a month, your choice."
"Have you heard that, worm?" She questions her fellow Snow Elf.
He squirms in defiance for a moment, but as Nightshade presses on his head a bit harder he taps the floor and forces out a "I will do it! Just cease!"
She removes her foot, her expression not shifting for even a moment, and returns to her earlier position.
I naturally, was completely unsurprised by her current behavior. Nightshade took the whole project with utmost seriousness. The opportunity for her people's revival was, in her eyes, above any single individual under her care, and those who dared to scorn the opportunity presented to them would be punished and outright discarded if they proved too unruly.
I permitted such behavior as quite frankly I didn't care for herding a bunch of goblinoids who just awakened their consciousness. Rejuvenating Nightshade felt great and was an achievement worthy of stories but after that, the novelty of the work was lost on me and I was content to mostly leave the minutiae to my subordinates.
Speaking of subordinates... I look back to Edrassa "And how exactly was Eldor permitted to even enter the ritual chamber?"
She huffs in annoyance "After Alor's rejuvenation I had to bring him out to get cleaned up and properly clothed. This little shit" She nudges her head toward the slowly rising Eldor "Used illusion magic to pass by me undetected and threw himself into the chamber like an idiot."
I give Eldor a deadpan look, to which he actually looks a bit sheepish, before getting a sudden idea. "So... shorty here is a rather crafty one, yes?"
Edrassa nods "Indeed, he is surprisingly capable with illusions all things considered."
"Hmmm" I scratch my chin "Send him to Davos after his punishment is over, he should be able to sort him out and make him useful." I purposefully make my tone as ominous as possible.
Eldor shivers in fright as no one deigns to elaborate on my words. That will serve as some nice extra punishment for his idiocy.
"All in all, I have to say I am rather satisfied." I say proudly as most of the Falmer retreat to their rooms "The project is proceeding with minimal losses and is apparently safe enough for even unprepared Mer to survive the transformation."
Edrassa practically preens at the hidden praise.
Well, I suppose she earned it "You may use your authority for some personal projects or luxuries but do make sure not to go overboard, you don't want to have me intervene." I tell her with an imperious look.
To think I could coax a genuine smile out of her... huh.
Time to ruin it somewhat "Speaking of status and authority." I look to Nightshade "You may henceforth consider yourself a Retainer of House Dagoth, your duties shall remain taking care of your kin but now in a more official role."
The Falmer's eyes show no reaction but the minuscule movements of her face tell me that her thoughts are in a whirl. It doesn't take her long to realize I just practically named her the leader of her revived people and she bows deeply "I will not disappoint."
"Of course you won't." I agree without any doubt, causing yet another genuine smile to appear, only marred by a now lightly scowling Edrassa.
Hehehe, poor girl just cannot realize that the only power that matters in this world is that of the personal variety and no amount of my favor will ever make that untrue.
"Now that that is out of the way." I break the silence after a minute or so "I would like a full report on your progress."
And a full report is what I got. We currently held about a hundred feral Falmer even deeper below ground with 28 awakened ones living in this chamber specifically, and of course, a trio of rejuvenated Snow Elves stood as living proof of our success.
I remained below ground for some time after that, chatting with my servants and settling accommodations for my new elven servants.
We can't have them living in a fancy cave now that they could be considered actual people, now can we?
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(Some months later)
It was late Morndas, the fifth of Rain's Hand of the year 199 in the fourth era.
I sat within my study, my brow creased in deep focus and thick blue smoke dimming the light within.
I was currently pondering a yet unfinished scrying orb and its inner workings. We were getting close to completing our task, a small central matrix was built where the Augur of Dunlain once existed, its purpose to connect all scrying orbs to one singular source.
Indeed, after so many years without I would finally begin the recreation of the internet!!!!
My shoulders slump with a deep sigh.
Nothing so glorious unfortunately, but having gps, a phone, and a database accessible to me and my colleagues at all times was no doubt going to be great and amazing but developing it to the point of the addictive monstrosity I knew from my previous incarnation was going to take at least a century at this point.
Still, our progress was worthy of celebration!
Naturally my mood had to promptly be ruined by Karsus rushing through the door, his breath hitched and heavy.
"What is it?" I ask him, my eyes narrowing at the interruption.
"Apologies my lord." He bows deeply "But important news have just reached us."
"Speak." I command.
His next words bring forth a wave of frustration unlike any I have felt in recent times "Ulfric Stormcloak has just called for a kingsmoot in Solitude and is already halfway through the province."
So it begins....
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Arm thy author with stones to throw at Ulfric!
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