254 Chapter LXXV: Digging Caves And Making Waves
Looking at the serene view of the Sea of Ghosts through the illusory wall in the cliffside I ask "This spacious enough?"
"A fine place to rest, the sea winds are most pleasant when I slumber." Krein rumbles, his eyes closed as he enjoyed those very same chilly winds battering against his scales, completely ignoring the snoozing figure of Scorch perched atop his head.
The bird boi was apprehensive of the reformed dragon at first but as his own affinities reflected my own it did not take long before the not-quite-phoenix pestered the amused dragon into tolerating his presence. It was honestly kind of cute.
I nod, satisfied "Apologies for forcing you to hide like this but we can't have the world aware of your presence before Alduin shows his hand, it would create far too many annoyances that can be avoided."
"Ah, the politics of mortals. You waste much time in humoring them." The dragon notes dismissively.
"And you risk much by discounting them." I snark back, earning a half-approving hum after a brief silent consideration "Still, you don't need anything else? Want me to send one of the Falmer to read something from time to time?"
He lets out a low chuckle "You need not worry about my comfort, to wait mere months is not a bother for one of the Dovah, and I can bask in the skies when Father's light leaves the horizon. Still, I did enjoy the tribute of mortal bards once upon a time, a well crafted epic would be welcome."
"I will make sure someone with enough discretion visits you then." I assure him easily and turn to leave "Enjoy your rest."
"Thuri." Is all he says as he lays his head onto the stony floor.
It had been a couple of days since we returned from Castle Volkihar, and for once I appreciated the utter monotony that followed. Too much excitement can get to even one such as I or so it would seem.
Krein had been the image of patience and tolerance, even humoring Shalazar's many questions and finding the tiny lizard wizard amusing if anything. The dragon's personality was a complete flip from what I expected it to be, even with the ritual. He was patient, reasonable, and dare I say wise. Whatever he saw in my soul combined with his newfound freedom was a character defining moment, a rare thing of true consequence in the life of an immortal.
Speaking of defining moments, I had him liberate Jiub's soul and after thanking him profusely for his aid and probable rescue of my life I offered him a choice between finding a way to revive him, as his spirit was still very much present, or guiding him to the afterlife... And like only a true hero could he chose the afterlife without hesitation.
When a vision of Azura herself came to pick him up I could barely hold back the cackling laughter that threatened to burst from within me as the literal meme character was taken to the heavens by the very hands of god.
A true chad of an elf if there ever was one (Not counting Glorfindel of course, that madlad is in a tier of his own.)
The vampires spent most of their time secluded in a section of the manor I had furnished to their standards, and Serana took the time to guide her mother through the current situation in the world. They were finally willing to talk today so that is where I was headed.
Tolfdir was hard at work with both Aren and Shalazar in devising some kind of dragon-slaying spell. I would have joined them but I had too much to do as it is and was already the most politically active member of the college, besides I could always just have them teach it to me when the time came.
It wasn't like I was out of options when it came to butchering rogue time spirits, unlike them.
Speaking of options and my successful (almost solitary) act of dragonslaying, it wasn't without consequence. I performed a deed most glorious and even without many others knowing about it the world offered its just reward.
[Str: 33 => 36]
[Dex: 35 => 38]
[Vit: 50 => 55]
[Mind: 57 => 60]
[Mag: 1130 => 1250 (3700)]
The changes did not come instantly but with each day that passed since I busted the cairn I felt myself growing without the need to do a thing. It would obviously peter out very soon as I was no Dragonborn but the feeling of becoming... more without doing a thing was the definition of intoxicating as always.
And as if the stat growth was not enough I also got this little thing:
[Dovah-Thur: You are the lord of a dragon without being one yourself. The very act and manner of binding a being of such power and dominant nature has caused a bleed over from you to your new vassal, attuning it to yourself and your powers, and shifting it from its original affinities to more resemble your own.
Features: Telepathic link, increased shadow affinity, increased sun affinity]
[War-Crown of Kogoruhn: Royal guard slots: 13 => 26]
And just to top the whole cake off, using dragonrend at its full power also pushed me into a higher realm of dragonspeak.
[Adept Tongue => Expert Tongue]
It was at such times I regretted anyone knowing about the system and its classifications... so many tongue jokes wasted. Truly my existence was a cursed one.
But that was enough stroking of my ego.
The Dawnguard responded very well to my successful extraction of the scroll, with Isran even sending me a half-polite congratulatory letter, though it was worded more toward the praise of slaughtering numerous vampires than any praise of my character, as usual. He had already sent entire units of his Dawnguards toward the Ancestor Glade as the Vlokihar were forced into a temporary retreat due to the attack on their home base and the attacks on the populace had lessened dramatically.
He still failed to respond to my 'slightly' exaggerated report on the entire excursion. Probably because he either felt it fictitious or just did not want to bury his pride and praise my most glorious self.
Damn, Scorch was influencing me.
The recruitment drive had picked up madly after my victory at Falkreath. Ulfric had apparently blamed the Dunmer for my interference and was now outright cutting down the supplies he sent into the closed-off Grey Quarter in an attempt to get some of the residents to shift to his side due to some kind of idiotic misguided hatred for me.
Honestly, if that is the way his mind operated I am not at all surprised he started his rebellion.
In any case, the poor fool played right into my hand as all I had to do was spend the percentile of a percentile of my income to feed the whole place for the simple little price of swearing vague loyalty to me and mine. Truly, the propaganda wrote itself.
A mere month after Falkreath refugees running from Ulfric's conscription efforts arrived at my gates with fear in their hearts and exhaustion in their minds, only to be met with open arms and given a brotherly welcome. Almost all of them entered my service in one way or another.
And it didn't even take that much to convince close to three hundred of them to enter my personal forces. The promise of high pay, periodic free healing (for the entire family), high level training, and equipment had the Dunmeri salivating at the mere prospect of being recruited. This naturally led to raised standards but even when the cowardly or reluctant were filtered out they were allotted different purposes within my burgeoning noble house.
I was ridiculously rich and tossing some loose change toward the masses would just make them all the more loyal. If not... Well, Davos would show them why that was a very, very bad idea.
Karsus was an absolute godsend throughout the entire thing as he dealt with the entirety of the paperwork on his own leaving me to spend time fully resting for once. I naturally rewarded him with an enchanted item of his choice. It was a mere gesture as his pay outright surpassed some middling nobility but it was the intent that mattered, and he understood as much.
To make a long story slightly less long, House Dagoth was starting to gain an actual presence and the politics that will no doubt follow our burgeoning rise will reflect that, for good or ill.
I lazily avoided a recently rejuvenated Falmer carrying a massive stack of books and slid through the door behind him, the scene that awaited was Valerica and Serana pouring over the somewhat recent reports on Ulfric's activities and the older vampire outright cursing at the sheer idiocy of his actions.
A woman of true culture, that one "A good day to you ladies." I greet them, somewhat startling Valerica and leaving Serana completely unmoved and unamused "Enjoying the library?"
"If I knew current politics were this offensive to one's intellect I would have stayed in the cairn." Valerica huffs "Things used to be elegant back then, plots behind plots behind false politeness. Now all we have is a naive youth battling a traumatized veteran over who is more foolish, utterly disgraceful."
"Hey!" I raise my index finger dramatically "Don't do my boy Torygg like that. He is a good King with a genuine desire to protect his people and others, that is rare." And I did genuinely respect the man for his way of doing things, I did not share many of his views but he was no idiot and accepted sound advice when it was needed, leading to his actions bringing real actual change to the world.
A storybook image of good Kingship, the excuse used by entire bloodlines to justify their rule.
"Foolish is what it is" She raises her nose in the most bluntly aristocratic way possible "The boy is more fit as a mere housecarl galivanting around in search of glory instead of a position of power."
Yeah, no "Ah yes, because the wife of a failed tyrant knows the best way to rule." I snark.
She scoffs "Blind idealism is the realm of the young and foolish."
"Just as decrepit surety is the realm of the ancient." The retort rolls out of my mouth without hesitation, Serana's eyes swapping between the two of us as her confusion and surprise grew.
"To speak with such assurance without a hint of understanding is the sign of the arrogant." She shoots back.
"And to discount the words of all but yourself is the sign of conceit and idiocy." I roll my eyes, getting just a tad annoyed at her proud remarks. Her little comment on Torygg showed just how little she took 'us mortals' seriously, and I was having none of that.
Her eyes narrow "You may be powerful, child, but that doesn't give you the ri-"
Time to go for the throat. Her voice catches as my eyes blaze with fury and I grit out "I will tolerate no demands for unearned respect from someone who consciously had their child raped to death."
She flinches back as if slapped and glares at me before giving her daughter a hurried and worried look.
To her surprise, Serana simply shrugged, the barest hint of amusement danced in her eyes as she spoke "I am well past being over that... thing, and someone had to say it."
For a moment she was left completely speechless as she realized that even Serana was ganging up on her before she finally realized she was beaten. I could almost see her mind gritting its metaphorical teeth as she lay a hand on her daughter's shoulder and gave her an apologetic smile before turning to me and offering the slightest inclination of the head "Apologies, I am still unused to my change in status."
"If you want to call it that." I roll my eyes "In any case I came here to talk to you about the future and our plans going forward."
Both the vampires immediately became interested and Valerica's eyebrow rose "And what new suicidal plan has your mind concocted?"
"We..." I pause for dramatics "Are going on vacation!"
Serana let out a defeated sigh while her mother simply stood there, a disappointed stare leveled at me that was so potent it had an aura of its own.
Everyone is a critic...
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I dig cave you dig mine
simple as.
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