154 Chapter XVII: Mzark
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(General POV)
As the group slowly and cautiously entered the ancient tower their steps echoed loudly through the empty halls, none among them wished to be the first to speak for fear of incurring the wrath of whatever metallic abomination they imagined awaited deeper within.
Upon leaving the first hall they finally started seeing the signs of the tower's ancient occupants, discarded clothes, dropped utensils, and even books and scrolls standing atop stone pedestals, likely left open when whoever was reading it got disappeared with the rest of their race.
One adventurer was just about to touch one of said books only for an ebony-clad gauntlet to wrap around his wrist like a vice, he hissed in pain and turned toward the aggressor only to be met with gold and red eyes glaring at him like he was a complete idiot "I do hope you weren't about to touch the fragile ancient books that could disintegrate at a touch?" Reyvin near growls "Because you aren't stupid enough to sign yourself up as spider food are you?"
The adventurer nodded rapidly and quickly rejoined the rest of the group after his hand was finally liberated from the impending threat of decapitation. He looked for support among the two other masters, hoping they would speak out against their overbearing colleague but all he got instead was Phineas ignoring him utterly and Tolfdir lightly snorting like he just heard something incredibly chucklesome from one of his grandkids.
Soon they ascended to the second floor which housed much of the same, most of those actually interested in learning about the place concluded that the many rooms to both sides of the hallway were meant for housing the architect's apprentices or maybe even his family or clan. Dwemer marital customs and traditions were long since lost to time and no one really knew how big one of their families could really get.
Upon reaching the third floor they were greeted by what seemed to be a massive warehouse of components and different automaton parts, some kind of assembly line lay dormant still covered in half-connected animonculi eternally awaiting their completion.
One of the younger adventurers that stood at the edge of the group angrily muttered "This place is bloody creepy" He looked at the mages with a questioning gaze "How come there is nothin' defending this place?"
Reyvin didn't even have the time to facepalm when, as if guided by some cosmic prankster, that same adventurer got his head whacked by what looked to be a suspiciously humanoid automaton wielding a Dwemer warhammer.
The group stared at the 'creature' for a moment and then all hell broke loose, as suddenly spiders, spheres and even a ballista emerged from the edges of the massive chamber and started unleashing their ranged attacks at them, more of the humanoid creations charging into melee, every single one of them armed and armored with master-crafted equipment.
Unfortunately for the mechanical defenders of the ancient tower, what might have worked against most invaders proved incredibly useless against three master mages and their veteran retinue.
The bolts were harmlessly flung out of their path and the pitiful bolts of lightning coming from the spiders could barely scratch even the least equipped among the adventurers, if they were even permitted to hit their target by the ever-vigilant Tolfdir.
Their melee forces fared a bit better, as in they did not get completely and utterly ignored by the invaders. Sadly, even with all their incredible equipment they were rapidly cut down with hammer and halberd as a sturdy wall of shields held them off, many a carcass quickly disappearing into Reyvin's oblivion storage as his eyes shone with excited greed, even as they were rapidly shifting between targets for his crimson lightning.
The automatons were thus dismantled with utmost efficiency, not a one escaping the experienced group of explorers, every one of them now standing on full alert for further attacks.
Reyvin went to check on the idiot who got himself killed and burst into laughter as he realized he was still alive, his skull apparently being far too thick to die even to a bloody warhammer. One quick restoration session later and they were ascending once again.
The fourth and fifth floors were passed by without any further ambush waiting for them, seemingly being a bunch of alchemical and magical research centers. A passing glance revealed a large diagram upon one of the walls detailing the creation of a certain concoction followed by what looked to be a full diagram of the cycle of transformation from snow elf to Falmer.
'Definitely something to look at once we are done.' Reyvin thought excitedly as they ascended the final floor.
A duo of mercenaries were just about to open the door when Reyvin suddenly stilled and stopped them telekinetically, all eyes landed on him in alarm yet he seemed to be not quite there. A couple of tense moments pass and he finally speaks "Something dangerous waits beyond this door, we must be cautious."
"Dangerous like what?" The sole companion present asks gruffly.
To that the youngest master merely shrugs "I don't know, I am not that good at divination yet." He scratches his chin "Could be another group of automatons, just on a larger scale, or even some kind of ancient creation from the war of the first council..." He chuckles "Who knows, it might even be a surviving Dwemer spirit cursing us for daring to enter his resting place!"
The adventurers shiver and some even glare at the careless Dunmer.
(Reyvin's POV)
We push the large door apart and are met with a gorgeous sight, as evidenced by the quiet gasps of my less experienced companions.
A massive chamber stood proudly, much like the rest of the tower, yet even more majestic with a large domed roof engraved with constellations and seemingly forming an incredibly complex calendar.
Large workstations for different arts stood at the edges of it, dormant animonculi of incredible quality standing guard over each section. And finally, the massive observatory rising upon a great pedestal at the chamber's center, the crystalline construct housing our ultimate prize glimmering invitingly.
I immediately used any and all detection spells or techniques I knew, going over each and every tile of the floor and wall thrice over just in case the master of this place felt it would be funny to gas whoever decided to gaze upon his work uninvited.
After I confirmed that nothing was amiss I stepped inside, soon followed by the rest as we slowly advanced toward the observatory. Yet just as we stepped halfway toward our destination a large conflux of Magicka gathered in front of me.
All of us immediately went on high alert as a tall figure formed before us. Blue skin, pointed ears, braided beard covered in bronze ornaments... yup, it was a Dwemer.
"Architect Mzark, I presume?" I ask, remaining polite for now.
He looks over my yet unmasked face in curiosity, whatever furious tirade he was about to go on stilling in his ethereal throat for but a moment. Finally, after what was quickly becoming awkward silence he asked "I have seen many Mer during my lifetime, yet I have never learned of those with ashen skin." His voice was accented with the expected hardness of people who consider Rhaltharbarch to be a normal name for a city.
I tilted my head "You haven't left this place since your people disappeared?"
He frowns "No."
Not going to explain, eh? Fine, let us see how this will play out then... "Right, in any case, I am Dunmer, Azura-twisted Chimer."
The ancient 'dwarf' chuckles with mirth "So the changed ones became changed... as expected of Azura." He then turns serious "Now what exactly are you doing in my tower?"
"If I may" I interrupt his questioning "How exactly do you exist right now?"
He looks insulted for a moment but then nods "A question for a question then, very well." He straightens up "When that fool Kagrenac decided to try and ascend our entire race like a complete idiot I ran back home as fast as possible, I attempted to move my entire family into oblivion as to escape the upcoming disaster but I misaligned the timing and only managed to save my own spirit, everyone else was zero-summed."
"My condolences" I incline my head.
The Dwemer snorts derisively "They are unneeded." And once more his eyes narrow "Now, why have you come to my tower?"
I share a look with the two other masters and they both nod at me, diplomacy is a go then... "We have come here to discover as much as possible about your people and their works, we hope to use that knowledge to do good in the world."
The ancient is silent for a while, his expression shifting before finally focusing on me once more "And why should I allow you to desecrate my family home for your own greed?"
I snort causing his eyebrow to crease "Oh please, the word 'desecrate' doesn't even belong in your people's vocabulary, if you want to induce guilt upon me at least try and make it believable."
This time he actually smiles "Indeed, nothing is truly sacred."
You do you, you neckbeard cave-dweller.
"And yet, you still haven't answered the question. Why should I allow you to attain my great work?" He reiterates patiently.
Hmmm.... how to approach this? Ah, yes! I nod to myself and speak "Because while your people might have been deleted by the world itself, their memory doesn't need to disappear as well. Instead of the 'ancient lost civilization' you could very well turn into the progenitors of progress after a few centuries." I offer him a genial smile "You might have lost your lives, but your memory would live on for eras to come."
Mzark scratches his elaborate beard in consideration "You speak many flowered words, but if you wish to follow in our steps you would need far more than mere niceties."
"Oh?" I ask "Do you require proof of my dedication then?"
He raises an eyebrow "And what kind of proof would you offer?"
I point at the floor "If I may?" He nods and I use terramancy to quickly inscribe a rune, moments later Gatecrasher appears in a flash of light, the massive ballista immediately scanning the entire room with its targeting matrix.
Mzark focuses on it immediately, examining it with experienced eyes and muttering something to himself. Minutes after he looks back at me "This is your greatest creation?" He asks and I nod, humming to himself he goes on "It is a work of someone stumbling in the dark and relying on pure talent to succeed but I dare say it does hold signs of dedication and deep interest in our arts."
My blessing promptly informs me that the little shit is trying to sound wise but I smile at his 'praise' non the less.
He stares at me for a long while before nodding to himself "Very well" He tosses a small cube my way "If you wish for our knowledge you shall earn it by unlocking my puzzle box, each new level shall uncover the next lesson in my great art but only once you have mastered the previous step." I see a hint of cruel mirth in his eyes before he straightens up once more "Now I shall finally rest and seek my family wherever they ended up, never stop advancing... apprentice."
As a last courtesy, he raises a hand and activates all of the automatons in the chamber, ordering them to line up at the center, much to the alarm of my companions, and then merely shuts them all down. He nods at me with a smile and disappears in motes of Magicka.
Charisma check success! YUS!
I cough into my hand and turn to the rest of the group, most of whom are gawking at me like I grew a second head "Oh come now" I scowl "You should all expect this by this point."
Many of them snort or chuckle and I turn toward the observatory, time to get me a scroll!
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I greet you my friend
Yours is a good stock
I note you are wealthy
So grant me thine rock!
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