Turdas, 18^th Midyear, 4E 202

Yesterday morning, I watched Serana take the oath and become a Divine Knight. After Vayu handed her my unredacted journals, I travelled to The College of Winterhold.

Serana was surrounded by Divine Knights, who answered any questions she had. If she wants to know more, she can ask me today as we travel to Castle Volkihar and The Soul Cairn.

At the College, Master Urag gro-Shub and I delved deep into the dusty tomes stored in The Arcanaeum’s vaults. I had never visited them before and was astounded at the size of our collection. The Museum’s collection is impressive, considering its relatively short history. However, it is minuscule compared to what stood before me. Mind you, The Arcanaeum is minuscule when compared to Apocrypha!

Under Master Urag’s instructions, I examined documents in one section and then moved on to another. He simultaneously searched elsewhere.

After twelve hours, we conceded defeat. We could find no information about Priest Zirato or The Phantom of Longwang. Auryen, with the assistance of Vayu, found nothing in the Museum’s library.

The entity I saw in Akavir when I Ethereally Travelled back in time remains a mystery. One or more powerful entities have obscured history. That is the only logical conclusion to be made.

The Phantom of Longwang has nothing to do with the sea-god called Longwang. The reason that the entity chose the name is just one of a myriad of questions that will only be answered when I visit Tenno Island.

When I returned to Aurane, Commander Maro contacted me via Corb. His Imperial Majesty asked his Spymaster if the Penitus Oculatus had any concerns about Mage Endyval. The major Penitus Oculatus outposts soon received the enquiry, and an answer was given to Commander Maro.

Mage Endyval can teleport. As I explained when sharing the spells with The Imperial Army, they are a two-edged sword. They make it easier for us to travel around but also make it difficult to spy on those who use them. Like him, many of Mage Endyval’s ancestors were Imperial Battlemages. Teleportation spells were shared with him for that reason.

There were reports of Endyval meeting with members of a growing bandit gang that operates on the border of Hammerfell and Cyrodiil. That was not unusual as many mages use bandits and thieves as sources for black-market alchemical ingredients. The meetings were noted, but no further investigation was conducted.

The Penitus Oculatus has agents in Morrowind who will observe Mage Endyval and the crew he has hired for our trip to Tenno Island. I will have weeks to study him onboard the ship.

Serana arrived in my chambers just after 9:00 AM. I regarded it as a minor victory against Lord Bal, seeing her wearing the kimono of a Divine Knight and displaying an Amulet of Mara.

I asked, “So, what do you think of Aurane?”

“It is a marvel with surprises around every corner. That includes a rather large and polite Minotaur.”

“Pado Tor, or Granite as he prefers, is a kind soul, and I find his lore knowledge valuable.”

“He laughed when I asked some questions about your journals. He is as lost as me as he is also trying to digest the information.”

“Details are not important, Serana. Understanding the status quo and why we must tackle things a particular way is essential.”

“Before heading out, can I summarise what I think?”

“Yes. I will correct any misconceptions.”

“I knew your parents were gods. You told me that as we travelled. However, discovering who those gods were and what that meant made many things make more sense. Any other god than Lord Talos would not require such secrecy. If people knew who your father was, the politics of The Empire, and all of Tamriel, would become far more complicated.”

“It does not matter what my desires are. Even if I had made it clear I was not interested in The Ruby Throne, my existence would be seen as a threat to some and a rallying point for others. The complicated politics would, I believe, lead to war. The danger to those around me would increase.”

“I was directed to several tomes covering the history of Tiber Septim. They were conflicting, and a few were not complimentary.”

“Father is not proud of some things he did and openly admits them. But he never stooped to murder. Assassins are essential for some in power, but Tiber Septim never used them. He did things I would never do. However, I say that without the burdens he carried. Would practicality when millions of people are reliant on you override moral convictions? I do not know without that experience.”

“Would you, if The Divines decided it was necessary, pursue The Ruby Throne?”

“They would have to explain why it was necessary and a bloodless path to The Ruby Throne presented. No matter what The Nine desire, I would never depose a moral and just Emperor.”

 “Do you know the details of your mother’s battle with Lord Bal?”

“We know very little, for Mother saw the danger and acted on impulse without a lengthy discussion with others. Even as a mortal, Mother’s foresight was phenomenal. Because the battle is in a pocket realm of Coldharbour, The Divines cannot see what is occurring. What she told Father is disturbing but makes little sense without further context. She protects the souls of children and prevents their use by Lord Bal. Who those children are and for what purpose the souls are to be used are unknown. However, based on many previous attempts, we can logically assume it has to do with penetrating The Liminal Barrier.”

“And, logically, the Brood Mother could gather those children.”

“It is interesting that mages who become Divine Knights surmise that, but others do not.”

“Even us heathens who never attended your shiny College can use logic.”

“It is not the use of logic but the structured mind that naturally occurs from studying magic that is the difference. The Brood Mother is mentioned once or twice in thousands of journal entries. Mages tend to tuck away snippets of knowledge in case they are useful. Other people will not unless it is obvious that those snippets are important. Also, because of the nature of our studies, the ability to remember small details is superior in mages.”

“Your memory and intuition are superior to other mortals, not because of your training or parentage.”

“From an early age, those exceptional skills were noticed by my parents and The Divines. When they discovered the reason, they did not inform me. I learned of Lord Shor’s blessings only a few months ago.”

“The Divines prefer you to discover things rather than be spoon-fed the information.”

“Wow, that colloquialism is used in Roscrea, but I have never heard anybody use it elsewhere!”

“Perhaps Roscrea is a bastion of lost knowledge. However, you have not confirmed my understanding of the assistance provided by The Divines.”

“Other knowledge of equal importance may be obtained when pursuing an answer. That is one reason I am not spoon-fed information. The other reason shocks many. No god is omnipotent, but they come close within their realm. Even then, mortals can hide their thoughts and actions from the god or gods of a realm. Otherwise, nobody could escape from Coldharbour or other realms of Oblivion. The Divines cannot see into Oblivion, so any time I enter that plane, I rely on knowledge gathered by mortals. The Nine have more knowledge of things on Nirn, but only through the prayers of regular people and the reports of mortal agents. Daedric Princes have the same restriction even if some pretend to have omnipresence on Nirn.”

“Like Lord Mora.”

“Yes, that Tentacled Turd is the most annoying of them all in that regard.”

“Followed by Lady Meridia.”

“Sort of. Like Lord Mora, Lady Meridia dismisses mortal free will and tries to command instead of ask. That does not sit well with me. However, there is another reason I despise Lady Meridia.”

“She left Magnus’ side and chose to be a Daedric Prince.”

“Exactly! Other Daedric Princes were locked into their roles at the beginning of the kalpa. Lady Meridia chose her role and has far more freedom of action than the others. There is no hiding behind metaphysical enforced instincts to explain her actions. All et-Ada had some semblance of free will. That was lost for most of the et-Ada who became Daedric Princes. Lady Meridia is the exception.”

“But even the Magne-Ge and The Divines lack complete free will.”

“Those gods still have restrictions enforced by the metaphysics of the Aurbis. Some say these restrictions were designed by gods who created our gods. I get dizzy thinking about that and other Psijic concepts, so let us leave them for now.”

“Complete free will is bestowed upon mortal sentient beings by the rules established at Convention. Therefore, complete free will is a gift bestowed by the et-Ada who became Aedra and Magne-Ge.”

“Exactly! Even when a mortal becomes a devotee of a Daedric Prince, their actions are mostly choices made using free will. The exception is when they are ensorceled or controlled by other means.”

“Do your parents have greater free will since they were mortals before their ascensions?”

“Yes, and some of their decisions are based on mortal compassion. There is no denying The Divines love mortals, and their actions are, in their judgment, for our benefit. However, Lord Talos might prefer a solution based on his knowledge of what mortals will experience. Mother is a valued voice of reason but cannot influence Nirn through mortal agents.”

“Lady Mara expressed a difference between The Divines and mortals. She said that you have ‘True empathy!’ and ‘Gods lacking the same fragility of mortals cannot grasp it.’”

“Yes, that is a difference, as is the extent of free will. You would have noticed how often I use wolves as an example of instinct compared to free will.”

“It is a good metaphor. You have not updated your thoughts about your encounter with a wounded Lord Bal and his petrified body in Aetherius.”

“ALBATROSS!”

“Okay, you have explained the use of that word in your journals. However, hearing you say it explains it better. You have no answer, and logic, knowledge, or life experience provide none.”

“I must put some things aside. They are not forgotten and will come to the fore if potential clues to an answer are encountered. I am certain they were premonitions as I can now distinguish them from time loops and other phenomena.”

“You are unique in many ways, Wulf. It must be difficult to have a combination of skills and divine gifts no other mortal has experienced.”

“The outcome of two ascended mortals conceiving a child was likely to produce something unique. However, I discovered that much was not random but was planned by Lord Shor. The only real mystery is how I received Lord Akatosh’s blessing.”

“Do you think you will meet that unknown god again? The one from The Void?”

“Yes. I do not know how much manipulation, if any, is being done by that entity. However, I know it wants this timeline to continue. Therefore, if I need more prompting to achieve that, it will contact me again.”

 “I have many unanswered questions, but they can wait. Shall we visit Mother and tell her the good news?”

“Yes, but before we visit The Soul Cairn, I want to understand your expectations.”

“We will not be able to rescue a soul. However, we may be able to reduce their worries, as we did with Saint Jiub.”

“There is also a chance we will quicken a soul’s transformation by the Ideal Masters.”

“That is inevitable anyway. It does not matter if we trigger it or if it happens in the distant future.”

“Okay, you understand the limits and the possible outcomes.”

“Which is more than I can say about Mother.”

“I know the truth, and so do you. You never chose to be a vampire, no matter what Valerica says about your rejection of Lord Bal.”

“I will stand my ground, Wulf. But do not be surprised if Mother sticks her fingers in her ears and pretends not to hear me.”

“Valerica doing that would result in uncontrollable fits of laughter.”

“That would not amuse her.”

“Which would probably make me laugh even harder.”

“I do not think we should mention you defying Lord Mal in Markarth.”

“He did not remember me from the previous encounter.”

“Perhaps that happened to a different Molag Bal?”

“ALBATROSS!”

Serana laughed, and it warmed my soul. It is something she rarely did since her parents sacrificed her to Molag Bal.

Serana asked, “What happened to Vigilant Tyranus? Did he retire?”

“He was shocked that Molag Bal managed to ensorcel him even though a fair distance from his shrine. I explained that he panicked and had not used his faith to resist. Although a veteran, it was a lesson he learned and one he will teach younger Vigilants. He participated in destroying the shrine and then returned to Cyrodiil.”

I teleported us to my Aetherius Room. No spell was needed, just willpower.

Serana gasped, “Where are we?”

“In my Aetherius Room. If you look outside, you can view the home of The Divines.”

Serana walked with me, and when she looked outside, a look of wonder and awe crossed her face.

I asked, “What do you think?”

“It is beautiful!”

“The view is different from each window. For instance, Aetherius has sparse stars and cosmic clouds in some parts. Some parts are nothing but cosmic clouds. Some parts are so sparse of stars or cosmic clouds, it is like staring at The Void.”

“I have never seen The Void, and your descriptions do not instil a desire to do so.”

“The nothingness has its attractions. You can see it from The Soul Cairn. Now, close your eyes and tell me what you sense.”

Serana closed her eyes, and seconds later, she smiled.

She said, “It is what I felt in Riften’s Temple of Mara, but stronger. It is love in its pure form.”

“Love permeates Aetherius.”

“Every part of it except Sovngarde.”

“Yes. What else can you sense?”

“If I had not read your journals, I would not understand the danger. My Lifeforce is being drained.”

“As mine was when I entered The Void. Yet we will enter a realm of Oblivion, and no Lifeforce will be drained.”

“Not unless we get too close to an Ideal Master.”

“There is an explanation found within our limited understanding of metaphysics.”

“Therefore, it is gobblygook, and ALBATROSS is unnecessary!”

“Precisely.”

Serana opened her eyes and looked around.

She observed, “This place looks like any large, unpartitioned room on Nirn.”

“I wanted it that way. Mother and Father changed it to how I desired. I cannot use Creatia.”

“Not on purpose. You have used it accidentally.”

“Yes, and that is another mystery worthy of ALBATROSS!”

“Do the large owls represent Juliano or Jhunal?”

“Both. I do not distinguish between the gods of the Nord Pantheon or the Cyrodiilic Pantheon.”

“Are they reminders of the importance of logic and wisdom?”

“Yes. If my interest waned after hours or days of study, I would look to them for inspiration.”

“Can we visit again when I am better equipped to withstand a feeling of impending death? I am still getting used to my mortality.”

“Yes, of course, Serana. Not every mortal feels their Lifeforce being drained. Your reaction is no different to many others who do realise the danger.”

“Thank you for showing Aetherius to me. If only I could make Mother understand what she denies.”

I could have teleported us into Valerica’s laboratory. But I decided Serana should see what we have done to the castle since she owns it. So, we exited the ether on the small jetty used for rowboats to the mainland.

I turned to the newest Divine Knight.

“What do you notice, Serana?”

“The gargoyles are still in place.”

“We have not removed those or the various Molag Bal altars. It is up to you what is done with those.”

“What about the room where we defeated Father?”

“It has been made off-limits. Nothing in there has been touched.”

“What about his ashes?”

“Still there.”

“Do the Vigilants of Stendarr know we are visiting?”

“Keeper Carcette contacted me and asked me to allow The Dawnguard to garrison the castle for some time. I made Isran panic when I visited the other day. He wants to prove they are not redundant. They are redundant, but this posting allows them to prove they are Vigilant material. And no, they do not know we are visiting.”

“I do not know if Mother would leave the area we gave her and walk amongst them.”

“They know Valerica has the run of the castle, and they must accept her and the active shrines of Molag Bal.”

“In a way, it is also a test for Mother.”

“Valerica probably knows little about the purpose of The Vigilants of Stendarr or The Dawnguard. To her, both would be reduced to mindless vampire hunters.”

“Come on then. Show me what Imperial engineers and artisans have done to my castle.”

We had a quick look around. Many Dawnguard members greeted me and Serana.

Celann was one of the original Dawnguard recruits and an ex-Vigilant.

• Wulf: Are you surprised how clean the castle looks, Celann?
• Celann: Yes. It did not improve our opinion of vampires when we saw the filth they accepted.
• Serana: Other wealthy clans go in the opposite direction. The luxury they wallow in is probably as offensive.
• Celann: It is my first time seeing you as a mortal, Divine Knight Serana. I think there is more to the change that I see than the removal of Lord Bal’s curse.
• Serana: I spent time at Riften’s Temple of Mara. The compassion shown and felt there taught me much about the challenges and opportunities of a mortal life.
• Celann: And now you wear Lady Mara’s amulet.
• Serana: I am still trying to learn about the other divines, but I can understand why Lady Mara is a member of many Pantheons. I can think of no greater gift than love in all its forms.
• Celann: Sir Wulf, many of us want to return to The Vigilants. We hope to prove we are worthy of such an honour.
• Wulf: Skyrim’s Vigil is far different than even six months ago. I can understand Isran’s opinion about their lack of martial abilities, but he abandoned the teachings of Lord Stendarr. He has yet to convince me his hatred for all vampires is gone.
• Celann: We all need more exposure to vampires who live amongst mortals.
• Serana: Mother is free to move about this castle. A good test will be how you react to her hostility.
• Wulf: No matter how nasty she gets, Valerica will not risk violence.
• Serana: I wish you the best, Celann. The Vigilants of Stendarr are needed, and you could be an asset to them.
• Celann: That is high praise coming from you, Divine Knight Serana.

 Serana had seen enough of the cleanup, so we went to Valerica’s garden.

I explained, “All that has been done here is the removal of the smaller bits of rubble. If Valerica wants the larger pieces removed, she can let us know.”

We travelled through other repaired rooms, even though this area will probably remain unused.

When we entered Lady Mara’s Chapell, Serana gasped.

We approached the repaired and reconsecrated statue of Mara.

I was surprised when Mara spoke to us. Serana was startled, and I knew she was not yet ready to speak to a Divine.

“Special Child and Serana, thank you for restoring my presence in Castle Meniatius.”

“Is Meniatius the name of the original owners?”

“Yes, but I know not what happened to them.”

“Were they devout followers?”

“Coselus and Mintina were married in The Great Chappel of Mara in Bravil. A full-time priestess maintained this chapel that the Meniatius family and many of their staff used regularly.”

“When they stopped attending this chapel, did they pray elsewhere?”

“I am not supposed to mention who reached Aetherius. However, I think Serana should know that no single family member or other who used this chapel reached Aetherius or prayed to me after Lord Harkon claimed ownership.”

That news upset Serana, who stepped away. It seems her parents told more lies to hide their savagery.

I explained, “We have not found evidence that Lord Harkon purchased this castle. As I suspected, it seems he obtained the property via other methods. He fled his kingdom with few assets, and I doubt he could have afforded an honest transaction.”

“Do not feel guilt, Serana. I have told this tale as you need to start your new life with clarity of the past.”

Serana stayed silent. The trip to Aetherius and a Divine speaking were overwhelming. However, she must adapt to her new reality to travel with me.

“Lady Mara, this chapel may be used again by those who guard the castle. I thank you for the information.”

“Keep the faith, Special Child. Saint Alessia will return to us, for love is the most powerful force.”

I approached Serana, who asked, “Am I the legal owner of this castle since my parents stole it?”

“Yes, Serana. There are no records of relatives claiming an inheritance or other rights to this property. Records dating back to the 2^nd century of the 2^nd Era are intact. Since nobody has come forward to claim it in centuries, you are the legal owner of this castle.”

“More lies from my parents. Innocent people were denied their mortal lives and preferred afterlives. I do not feel shame for crimes I have not committed nor could prevent. But there is great anger, Wulf. It is not an emotion I am used to. Well, it is one amongst many.”

“Lady Mara did not tell you out of spite.”

“Lady Mara knows I am having difficulty with my feelings towards Mother. I had discussed the issue at length with Priestess Dinya and prayed for guidance. There is also something else that concerns me.”

“Which is?”

“You explained in your journals that Lady Mara’s voice sounds like the motherly woman closest to the listener’s heart.”

“Yes, which is why she sounds like Saint Alessia to me.”

“Lady Mara sounded like Priestess Dinya to me.”

“A mother is supposed to be caring and nurturing. If Valerica never displayed those traits, it is logical that Priestess Dinya is more of a mother figure.”

“There was affection when we worked in Mother’s garden. However, the totality of that is not large.”

“Yet you think there is more affection to be found.”

“Mother loves me, and I am determined to beat the emotional suppression of Bal’s curse. However, success depends on the willpower of Mother.”

“We shall give her motivation.”

“Let me try first and alone.”

“Yes, of course.”

The rooms adjacent to Valerica’s lab had not been repaired. As with her gardens, we await instructions on what she wants to be done. Therefore, we encountered the dust, debris and cobwebs that once dominated every room in the castle.

It did not take long to find Valerica or feel her disapproval.

• Wulf: Good morning, Valerica.
• Valerica: I can see your influence has removed Serana’s birthright. Excuse me, I have things to recover from The Soul Cairn.
• Wulf: Being raped by Molag Bal is not a birthright.
• Serana: Before you go, Mother, can I talk to you?
• Valerica: There is nothing to discuss. You have chosen your path, Serana.

Valerica rushed to the portal and entered.

I told Rigmor via Mara’s Rings, “I am about to enter The Soul Cairn. We might be in there for quite some time.”

“You know the rules, my Dragonborn.”

“Yes, my beloved. I shall talk to you when we exit.”

I grabbed the stunned Serana by the hand and dragged her into the portal.

Valerica was heading towards where she was imprisoned.

I told Serana, “Go and speak to Valerica. Do not let her brush you off like that!”

“I did not expect that level of hostility.”

“You being a mortal shocked her. Please try again. You will not rest until you do.”

Valerica was moving at a rapid pace. Serana sprinted to catch up with her.

There was an animated discussion that lasted seconds. Then Serana stood still and stared as her mother walked away.

I hurried towards the newest Divine Knight.

When Serana turned to me, I saw deep sadness, and my anger towards Valerica grew.

Serana said, “As you can tell, that did not go as well as I had hoped.”

“Do you think your total rejection of Molag Bal is behind Valerica’s behaviour?”

“I do not know, for she did not enlighten me. I cannot move forward without discussing things with Mother. But I am at a loss, Wulf.”

“I am sorry, Serana.”

“But what did I expect? How foolish to think I could talk to her and everything would be fine.”

“It was not foolish, Serana. It was a daughter seeking the love of her mother. That is worth pursuing even if there are obstacles in the way.”

“Yes, you are right. At least Mother agreed we could start exchanging letters now and then.”

“What? No, that will not do! Let us leave Valerica alone for a few hours, and then I will tell her some truths. She will listen voluntarily, or I will paralyse her and give her no option. I cannot stand adults throwing tantrums like a spoiled child. It is worse when their actions hurt a friend.”

“You tore shreds off Mother when we found her in this place. She will listen to a reasonable tone to avoid your dragon half. He is not very polite.”

 “Let us hope so, for he will lurk and wait for a turn.”

“Where do we start looking for souls that need help?”

“We look for souls that have upset The Ideal Masters. They attract the attention of this realm’s guardians.”

“Souls not content with the peace generously provided are torn apart.”

“Yes, because that can only add to the tranquillity.”

“I lost count of how many times Rigmor called you weird or strange in the journals.”

It did not take long to find two souls attacked by Bone Wolves. One of them showed skill with sword and board and wore Dragonbone armour. The other was a hooded woman wearing common robes. She was using her fists.

There were no Bone Wolves a month ago when we last visited The Soul Cairn. We have seen very few Bonemen and no Wrathmen or Mistmen. It seems The Ideal Masters have struggled to replace the hundreds of minions we destroyed.

Serana and I quickly dispatched the Bone Wolves.

The warrior wandered off without saying a word. The woman waited for us to approach.

The woman was in her mid to late 30s when death arrived. She has a scar that reaches from her left eye to the corner of her mouth.

• Glendora: Thank you.
• Wulf: I am Wulf. My companion’s name is Serana. Who are you?
• Glendora: I am, or was, Glendora Messenia.
• Wulf: Do you know where you are?
• Glendora: Another soul told me. I am in The Soul Cairn.
• Wulf: Do you know the warrior that fought beside you?
• Glendora: No, but I have seen him pacing back and forth not far from here.
• Serana: Was that the first time something has attacked you?
• Glendora: Yes, but it seems the attacks on souls are more frequent than I remember. But I cannot measure time, so I do not know how long ago that was.
• Wulf: Do you know how you died?
• Glendora: Oh. Uhm… I do not know.
• Wulf: Your accent is that of Kvatch.
• Glendora: I owned an inn called The Eight Blessings in the rebuilt Kvatch. It was The Nine Blessings for some time, but The Thalmor got upset.
• Serana: You were alive after The White Gold Concordat was signed.
• Glendora: Yes. But you two should focus on getting out of here and not trying to remember your past self.
• Serana: And why is that?
• Glendora: The longer you stay in this place, the easier it becomes to forget who you are.
• Wulf: We are not dead, Glendora, and The Ideal Masters cannot harm us.
• Glendora: Why would the living visit this place?
• Wulf: We desire to help trapped souls.
• Glendora: I am starting to forget my life. I have been here too long, and I need to leave. Will you help me?
• Wulf: Do you have a plan?
• Glendora: Yes. Do you know about The Battlespire?
• Wulf: I do. It was a floating island inside a pocket plane of Oblivion. It is where the Imperial Magic Academy once stood.
• Glendora: This Battlespire used to have portals to teleport Imperial Battlemages from place to place.
• Wulf: It had many portals.
• Glendora: One of them was linked to The Soul Cairn. And another portal inside The Soul Cairn was used to teleport people into other realms.
• Wulf: It was called The Chapel of Love. The existence of these portals led to Mehrunes Dagon invading The Battlespire and Soul Cairn.
• Glendora: It is good you know the history.
• Serana: The question is, how does an innkeeper know of it?
• Glendora: Innkeeping paid the bills. Studying lore and history kept me sane.
• Wulf: Dusty manuscripts and tomes with some good wine and cheese.
• Glendora: Indeed. If this portal still exists, it might be my way out. And I need to get out of this place!
• Wulf: I have an idea where The Chapel of Love is. It should be in the southwest and straddle the perimeter barrier. Compass directions are arbitrary since there is no magnetic field. However, The Ideal Masters have designated the cardinal directions on approved maps.
• Glendora: Will you look for it?
• Wulf: Yes, but if you intend to follow, do so from a distance. You cannot defend yourself against even the weakest of the minions.
• Glendora: Okay.

We started walking towards the southwest.

I stopped and pointed upwards.

I explained to Serana, “That is a portal to The Void. You can use it to reach thousands of other realms and pocket planes. The Ideal Masters invited their demise by creating it.”

“You said Mehrunes Dagon invaded The Soul Cairn.”

“In 3E 398, Mehrunes Dagon invaded The Battlespire and used its portals to invade The Soul Cairn. He intended to use The Soul Cairn as a staging area for invasions into other realms, including Mundus. A young but brilliant apprentice Mage thwarted his plans. His name was never disclosed in historical records, so we refer to him as The Apprentice. He had some assistance from The Ideal Masters through knowledge and advice. Other Daedric Princes helped him as they recognised the danger Lord Dagon presented.”

“Did The Apprentice use The Chapel of Love?”

“He used it to travel to Shade Perilous, the home of Lady Nocturnal. It is one of seven pocket planes of Lady Nocturnal’s realm called Evergloam. Normally, The Skeleton Key would be needed to enter Shade Perilous. However, it was reachable from The Battlespire and The Chapel of Love.”

“How did The Apprentice thwart Lord Dagon’s plans?”

“The is an interesting piece of history. The Apprentice’s victory over Lord Dagon is legendary. I am not surprised Glendora knows the tale. I have several not-so-dusty tomes and manuscripts on the subject.”

“I will read them. Will the portal still be active?”

“I do not know. Logic says The Ideal Masters removed the three control rods needed for the portal to function. We might as well have a look. If nothing else, it will sate my curiosity.”

“If it works, how would Glendora use it?”

“You must stand in front of the portal and say, in any language, the realm or pocket plane you wish to travel to. I would advise Glendora to say, ‘Sovngarde.’ Tsun would return her to Nirn.”

“Mundus would not be specific enough. She could end up on one of the moons or in the middle of an ocean.”

“Sovngarde would be the safest choice.”

We encountered a few Boneman, but they were weak opponents.

I saw the soul of a woman that seemed to be suffering. An Ideal Master was hovering over her.

I told Serana, “I will fly up there and see if I can assist her.”

I Shouted Dragon Aspect.

Serana commented, “Impressive. Have fun!”

I flew close to the woman, and The Ideal Master started to drain my Lifeforce.

The woman’s Consciousness was fading away, and she could not communicate. She would soon be turned into a minion. There was no helping her.

I returned to Serana, dismissed Dragon Aspect, and explained the situation. We then continued our journey.

We destroyed the occasional Bone Wolf pack and other minions as we went.

We stopped to talk to a familiar soul.

• Wulf: Greetings, Morven. How are your sales?
• Morven: Surely you can see my long line of customers.
• Serana: Oh, have we jumped the queue?
• Morven: Did you find the necromancers who sent me here?
• Wulf: Yes, Morven. We eliminated the coven. You are avenged.
• Morven: Then you deserve a discount. How about twenty Soul Husks per item?
• Wulf: That is very generous of you, but you have nothing I need.
• Morven: Pity. I want to make at least one more sale before I forget who I am.

We diverted to where Valerica was once trapped. She was not there, to Serana’s relief. She dreads my promised talk with her mother.

We found The Chapel of Love, where the histories indicated it would be.

We entered, and I explained how it worked.

“Beyond that door is the portal. Three control rods were required. They were The Rod of the Pilot, The Rod of the Pillar, and The Rod of the Passage. The rods were kept in a central chamber where several Ideal Masters resided. I do not think gaining access to the chamber is so easy anymore.”

“Where did the rods go?”

“You inserted them into a pedestal that is no longer here. It may be that the pedestal only appears if you have the rods.”

We walked over to a strange apparatus. There was a matching one on the other side. A single large crystal pointed towards its opposite. Next to the device was a lever.

“These are called The Fingers of Life. Once the rods are inserted, levers are pulled to enable them.”

“They look Dwemer in design.”

“It is amazing how much Dwemer technology I see in the various Daedric realms and pocket planes.”

“What happens then?”

“The doors open to reveal the portal. You stand in the Mana Font and say the destination required.”

I tried the levers, and nothing happened.

Glendora had entered The Chapel of Love. I approached her with the bad news.

I told her, “Sorry, Glendora, but we do not have the three control rods. We cannot open the portal.”

Glendora cried out in despair, “No! I must try something. I cannot stay here any longer!”

The distraught woman ran over to the Mana Font and stood in its middle.

Serana and I watched helplessly, for there was nothing we could do to help.

Glendora cried out, “Shade Perilous!”

Nothing happened for several seconds, and then she vanished.

An Ideal Master then appeared.

I approached it and asked, “What happened to Glendora?”

In a smug, crystalline voice full of arrogance, it answered, “You stand within the precincts of The Soul Cairn. It is an otherworldly refuge dedicated to peace, love, eternal rest, and harmony.”

“BOLLOCKS! We know we are in The Soul Cairn. It is dedicated to nothing but the suffering of lost souls. I asked what happened to Glendora.”

“This soul’s desperation to escape was enlightening. Its dedication to its cause will be useful.”

“You are going to turn her into one of your pathetic minions!”

“Yes. That soul will be born again as one of our servants, dedicated to protecting our paradise.”

“Paradise is Aetherius where all memories are preserved, but the soul finds peace amongst The Divines, deceased friends and family and the boundless love that permeates that realm. The Soul Cairn is a place of torture, and you deny people their preferred afterlife. Why have you removed the ability to speak from your servants? Were you embarrassed by what they told visitors?”

My questions were met with silence, so I continued.

“When The Apprentice visited this abomination, every Wrathman and Mistman he met complained bitterly about broken promises concerning peace and harmony. Boneman repeated an incantation that replaced the memories they once had. In their arrogance, The Ideal Masters have tortured countless people.”

Colours swirled within the crystalline creature, but still, it remained silent.

I growled, “You have no defence against me. I killed the Keepers, The Reaper and nearly every single servant. I defeated Durheviir and released Valerica from her prison. Valerica now comes and goes as she pleases, as do I. Durheviir now flies the skies of Nirn, free from your tyranny. You are weak. Many mortals have created realms within Oblivion. I have not met anyone as arrogant and misguided as The Ideal Masters. Your trading of Black Soul Gems causes harm and despair within Mundus. It took a single mortal to save your realm from Lord Dagon. If I dedicated myself to the task, this mortal could rip this realm from its moronic creators and free every soul imprisoned. It is fortunate for you I must deal with more immediate threats to Nirn’s existence and its people.”

I turned and walked away from The Ideal Master. I laughed at Serana’s concerned look.

She asked, “Is it wise to antagonise the creators of the realm you are in?”

“What is it going to do? Throw more scary minions at us? The Ideal Masters are crystallised egos. Nothing I say will penetrate its shield of smugness. But I must say what I feel, or my Dovah will force his way to the front. I want to control when that happens, Serana.”

“I understand. Anyway, we tried to help Glendora and in a way we did. She will become a minion, which is inevitable. We just hurried the process, which is merciful.”

“Yes, in a way, it was a mercy. But I cannot stand arrogance, injustice, or self-inflicted ignorance. The Ideal Masters represent all three.”

“Shall we try and help the man in the Dragonbone armour?”

“Yes. Glendora said he moped around near her.”

“You assume he is moping, not skipping around whistling, and full of joy.”

“Who is the weird one?”

The warrior was pacing back and forth, not far from where we first saw him. He was an Altmer.

• Wulf: Hello, I am Wulf.
• Serana: And I am Serana. What is your name?
• Angarion:  Aaah… This place… What is this place?
• Wulf: Tell us your name, and we will answer your question.
• Angarion: I am Angarion the Bold, hero of The Battle of Roseguard and Grand Champion of The Arena. Now, answer my question!
• Wulf: Did Angarion make a demand, Serana?
• Serana: He did, Wulf. It seems Altmer arrogance survives death.
• Angarion: Death?
• Wulf: You are in The Soul Cairn. Soul Trapped people end up here when somebody uses the Black Soul Gem holding their soul.
• Serana: Or somebody trades the Black Soul Gem to The Ideal Masters, the creators of this realm.
• Wulf: What is the last thing you remember before arriving here?
• Angarion: I am dead? I do not remember what happened. Did I ever know?
• Wulf: This place will make you lose all memories. At what speed that happens is dependent on a person’s willpower.
• Angarion: I feel drawn to something. Like I am drawn to a place. Something rings familiar to my ears.
• Serana: I suggest you follow your instincts, Angarion.

Four crystals appeared. Angarion walked towards one of them.

He stood in front of the crystal and then touched it. He vanished.

We approached the crystal, and I held my hand close.

I exclaimed, “This is fascinating!”

“I can tell it is a portal, but not to where.”

“Time in The Soul Cairn flows in the same direction and pace as on Nirn. However, this portal leads to the past. At a guess, fifteen years plus or minus five.”

“You can tell this how?”

“My Dragonsoul makes me sensitive to time. Father placed a dweomer on my amulet to help me with time fluctuations and alternate timelines.”

“After your experience in Helgen when Alduin appeared.”

“Yes. If we enter this portal, we shall join Angarion in the past.”

“Can we affect the now by changing the then?”

“That question can cause quiet old men to snarl and bang the table if somebody dares counter their opinion. But I am proof that sometimes, going into the past can affect the future on the same timeline. Alduin detected my ethereal presence when I went back in time, and that changed how he acted when he returned to Nirn.”

“Recently, you went back in time to investigate what is happening in Akavir. That has changed the present, as you plan to visit and investigate further.”

“Yes. However, if I were to go back in time and kill my father or grandfather, this timeline would not change. I would still exist.”

“Another timeline would be created.”

“Its method of creation would likely result in a Dragon Break.”

“I will get dizzy if we discuss this further.”

“I do not think we are going into an active past.”

“What do you mean?”

“We had better enter before Angarion panics.”

I touched the crystal and joined Angarion in a memory. We were inside the living room of a house. It was devoid of people. Another crystal containing a portal was in the room. Serana soon joined us.

• Angarion: I feel something familiar. What could it be?
• Wulf: Your subconscious found a way to preserve your memories. We are inside a memory.
• Serana: Do you recognise this house?
• Angarion: Uh…yes. I remember this place. This room is where mages attacked me.
• Wulf: What was the outcome of the attack?
• Angarion: I cannot recall. I think the next thing was waking up in what you called The Soul Cairn.
• Wulf: Some time between visiting this house and waking in The Soul Cairn, you died. Immediately after death, your soul was trapped in a Black Soul Gem. We cannot say what happened to The Black Soul Gem without further evidence. However, the result is your soul being trapped in The Soul Cairn.
• Angarion: What? That is impossible!
• Serana: Alert! I detect Altmeri arrogance approaching.
• Wulf: Why is that impossible?
• Angarion: I am Angarion the Bold, Hero of The Battle of Roseguard and Grand Champion of The Arena!
• Wulf: Nothing in that declaration makes you immortal.
• Angarion: I cannot die. This theory of yours is impossible. There must be something else!
• Wulf: There were other crystals. Perhaps they hold more memories.

Angarion turned, touched the crystal, and returned to The Soul Cairn. We followed.

Angarion did not hesitate and immediately headed towards another of the crystals.

Serana asked, “Will he enter the memories in chronological sequence?”

“Since he subconsciously created them, logic suggests he will enter them in the correct sequence. But we do not know how confused he was when they were created. So, a definite maybe.”

“That is better than a probably maybe. Do you know how long ago Angarion died?”

“The Battle of Roseguard occurred in 4E 179 as part of Hammerfell’s resistance against The Dominion after The Great War. I would not be surprised to find Rigmor’s father participated in it. Only one Arena could declare a Grand Champion, and that was in The Imperial City. Other Arenas could declare champions.”

“The armour he wears would not have been cheap.”

“It is an abomination.”

“To you, he is wearing the bones of a brother!”

“It further insults my senses that he did not kill the Dov from which it is made.”

“Why did people not believe in dragons when they could see their bones and even make armour and weapons from them?”

“ALBATROSS!”

“Are these memories accurate?”

“I think the locations are, but I am unsure about the sequence. The accuracy of Angarion’s recall depends on how much his memory deteriorated before the deposits were created.”

“Are these similar to hauntings?”

“There is a correlation, but since Angarion’s Consciousness is still active, the hauntings are in this form.”

“Should I worry I figured that out?”

“Not at all. You are a powerful mage with a nimble mind. I would be more worried if you did not see a correlation.”

“You have seen a lot of ghosts or spirits, as you refer to them.”

“I have often helped them to pass onto their afterlife. That rewarding experience helps counter the darkness that threatens to overwhelm me.”

“Are you still counting those you kill with sword and bow?”

“Yes. I will never stop inflicting that pain on myself.”

Angarion touched the second crystal and vanished.

We approached, and I placed my hand close to the crystal.

I said, “It is impossible to tell if this memory was earlier or later.”

I touched the crystal and appeared inside a tavern. Like the earlier living room, it lacked people and had another crystal. Serana followed me a second later.

• Wulf: What do you remember of this tavern, Angarion?
• Angarion: I can feel it. It is close.
• Serana: What is close?
• Angarion: I remember this inn. A man came to me, claiming he was a fan.
• Serana: The Grand Champion must have had lots of fans.
• Angarion: I did, but mainly young warriors and women who found arena fights stimulating, if you understand my meaning.
• Serana: I have read of the side benefits earned by competitors.
• Angarion: This man was unusual as he was an elderly mage. I was intrigued and agreed when he asked me to follow him to his residence.
• Wulf: Can you remember any details of the conversation?
• Angarion: No. I would like to know why I followed a stranger to his house.
• Wulf: There are other crystals. Let us hope one of them provides that answer.
• Angarion: His house is where I died! Oh, he is the one that attacked me!
• Wulf: You said earlier that several mages attacked you.
• Angarion: I will find him, and I will defeat him!
• Serana: He is not listening, Wulf.
• Angarion: This is not the end. I am Angarion the Bold, and I will remain undefeated!

Angarion rushed over to the crystal, touched it and vanished. We quickly followed.

Angarion ran towards another crystal.

As we ran to keep up, I said, “It seems he is not entering the memories in chronological order.”

“He could make the wrong conclusion based on an incorrect sequence.”

“We might have to decipher it for him.”

Angarion touched the crystal and vanished.

We did the same a second later.

We were in a fighting pit. It was one of several standard layouts with two towers and two sets of barricades. Instead of rows of spectator seats, solid walls surrounded it. That was how Angarion’s mind stored the memory. There would be bows atop the towers, but using one would make you unpopular with the audience. Close combat deaths are what the bloodthirsty crowd wants. The more brutal the death, the more coins and other gifts will be thrown into the arena as bonuses for the victor.

Arenas are tolerated as a tool to keep the population happy and less inclined to hold grievances about whatever annoys them. I find them barbaric and would not hesitate to ban them if Emperor. It would not be difficult for The Penitus Oculatus to find and close clandestine ones.

Angarion did circles of the pit and climbed up and down towers, and his agitation increased.

After a few minutes, I used a bit of Thu’um and said, “STOP!”

Angarion stopped, and we approached him.

• Wulf: Calm down, Angarion. You must try and think straight.
• Angarion: Where is he? I will end his pitiful life.
• Serana: Nobody is here but us. This place is a memory.
• Angarion: I will find where the miserable rat is hiding.
• Wulf: Look around, Angarion. This small pit is not a place where a mage could hide.
• Angarion: What is this place?
• Wulf: You should know. You earned a lot of money inside such places.
• Angarion: Oh, it is a pit inside an arena.
• Wulf: It looks like many other pits.
• Angarion: I know this one because I spent some time staring at the bottom of that tower. I died in this pit. But not the first time I was defeated. My opponent did not finish me when I was down the first time.
• Serana: Why?
• Angarion: He wanted a rematch. It would draw large crowds and a lot of gambling. It was a financial decision and not out of mercy. I have done the same.
• Serana: Lives reduced to profit and loss equations. No wonder you dislike this barbarity, Wulf.
• Angarion: I died during the rematch. As I took my last breaths, a lifetime of riches was thrown into the pit. The crowd had a new champion.
• Wulf: Think hard, Angarion. Why did you blame the mage for your death?
• Angarion: The mage approached me as I took my last breaths. It must have been he who took my soul. But why?
• Wulf: There are missing parts to this tale. Perhaps in the fourth and last memory, we shall find those parts.
• Angarion: Something is wrong. The Divines would never have wanted me to die.
• Wulf: The Divines could not prevent your death, Angarion. You were not dying from a curable disease. Not unless stupidity can be classified as one.
• Angarion: Maybe my soul was saved to come back and get revenge!
• Serana: Revenge against who?
• Angarion: Maybe I am not dead and will return to my body. That is what The Divines would have wanted!
• Wulf: The Divines would not have wanted you to die in the pursuit of wealth but would not and could not resurrect you.
• Angarion: I need to know!
• Serana: Let us hope the answer puts your mind at rest.

Angarion touched the crystal and vanished. We quickly followed.

As we approached the last crystal, I asked, “Logic exercise, Serana. What do you think happened?”

“The mage told Angarion about soul-trapping. He followed the mage to his house, where more details were given. Angarion agreed to a Soul-Trap if, under the almost impossible scenario, he was to die in the arena.”

“When did the mage approach him with this idea?”

“After Angarion was defeated the first time. That made our conceited Altmer consider the almost impossible scenario somewhat possible.”

“Why would Angarion want his soul captured in a Black Soul Gem?”

“The easy answer is ego. Angarion might have thought that he could somehow return from death. But that would require deceit by the mage. Was he a true fan offering an honest service or a necromancer who thought Angarion’s soul would be worth something to The Ideal Masters?”

“An Ideal Master thought Glendora’s soul was above average due to her determination.”

“There is no shortage of confidence in Angarion. His soul would also be considered above average.”

“I believe the mage was a genuine fan offering a service that appealed to Angarion.”

“You want me to practice logic because you think it is essential when dealing with gobblygook.”

“That is correct. You have read my journals, so know that I often ask for Divine Knights and Rigmor to apply logic.”

“Does your uncanny intuition suggest a different answer?”

“Yes, it does. An altruistic, if misguided, one.”

“No hints?”

“Nope. But if my intuition is correct, my accusation of stupidity by Angarion is well founded.”

Angarion entered the memory crystal. We followed.

We were in a different home. It was more upmarket than the mage’s.

All arrogance was gone. Angarion’s tone was tainted by regret and despair.

• Angarion: The Divines will save me from this place!
• Wulf: This is part of Oblivion, Angarion. The Divines cannot rescue you.
• Angarion: This was my home! It is where I lived with my wife and child.
• Wulf: A couple of wins in The Arena would have paid for this house. Your armour would have cost several times what you paid for your home. You no longer fought in the arena to provide for your family.
• Serana: In a way, you were like a Skooma addict. Your addiction was the adulation of the crowds. Maybe you also enjoyed the violence.
• Angarion: I left them behind. I cannot protect them anymore.
• Wulf: You wanted to forget your foolishness. The remorse you now feel is the reason why you wanted to forget.
• Angarion: We still had so much to do together. How could I abandon my family like that?
• Serana: The thrill of combat and the adoration of your fans took precedence.
• Angarion: Yes, and I am ashamed.
• Wulf: Did you ask the mage to Soul-Trap you?
• Angarion: He attended all my fights. When he told me about the Black Soul Gem, it was agreed that he would Soul-Trap me if I died. He would then give the Black Soul Gem to my family.
• Serana: I do not think the mage emphasised the dangers involved. You seem devout, Angarion. Trapping your soul prevented Lord Arkay from leading you to Aetherius.
• Angarion: And somehow, the Black Soul Gem was used by a necromancer or traded to an Ideal Master.
• Wulf: You would have been wiser to be cremated and an urn full of your ashes given to your wife.
• Angarion: I left them. I left them all alone.
• Wulf: Let us leave this memory and discuss this more.
• Angarion: It hurts! It hurts to think about them.
• Serana: Follow Wulf’s advice and leave this memory.
• Angarion: Yes. I need to go.

Angarion touched the crystal and vanished. We did not immediately follow.

I remarked, “You look distraught, Serana. We have not finished helping Angarion, so do not despair.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Angarion will have died less than twenty years ago. We can find out what happened to his family and tell him.”

“What if something tragic happened to them?”

“It does not matter if their story is happy or tragic. The uncertainty of what happened to his wife and child is what tortures Angarion. That has led, rightfully, to intense guilt. In Aetherius, he would wonder but not worry about his family. With death comes wisdom. He would accept he made mistakes but realise that is the price we pay for free will. He would hope for the best but not fret. He would understand the limitations imposed upon our creators by the act of creation. They gave up much, including immortality, creating Mundus. They are not going to fix our problems.”

“They cannot visit their creation and must watch us struggle and suffer.”

“Think of a battle and hundreds if not thousands of combatants plead for help from their chosen god or gods. They plead for their mother if not crying out for a god to help them.”

“Priestess Dinya told me of this. Lady Mara would hear those pleas for help, whether directed towards her or the soldier’s mother. I wept when I thought about the pain the Goddess of Love must feel.”

“Lady Mara wanted me to aid the people of Evermore. However, her greatest hope was that I could also aid a single entity while doing so.”

“Berienie Lotlinie. His story touched my heart.”

“Let us comfort Angarion. Despite my anger at his stupidity or ignorance, his story has touched my heart.”

We were surprised to see another crystal had appeared. When we exited the last one, it and the three other original crystals vanished.

Angarion was staring into infinity and likely deep in thought. He sat with his feet dangling over a ledge as we approached.

• Wulf: Have you remembered more, Angarion?
• Angarion: I wanted them to have a great life. I did everything I could to achieve that. But I died.
• Wulf: You should have quit The Arena after you made enough money for Dragonbone armour to be affordable.
• Angarion: You do not mince words, and you are right. I became addicted to the fame and adulation. My wife begged me to stop. I assured her I was invincible.
• Serana: Your first defeat shattered that illusion. You knew why your opponent let you live.
• Wulf: You said you were named Hero of The Battle of Roseguard. Were you fighting in Hammerfell before The White Gold Concordat?
• Angarion: Yes. At first, we thought Mede betrayed us. We did not feel like abandoning our Hammerfell allies. But word reached us that we could keep fighting and retain our pensions.
• Wulf: You became one of the Invalids. His Imperial Majesty did what he could to aid Hammerfell and still secure a treaty with The Dominion. Declaring you invalids rather than deserters was a solution.
• Angarion: Even though we were fighting Altmer, my appearance was never a problem in Hammerfell. I cannot say the same when we were sent to Skyrim for R and R. My uniform meant nothing to those who hated the Mer races.
• Serana: What part of Skyrim was that?
• Angarion: Windhelm.
• Wulf: Mer, Khajiiti and Argonian now walk the streets of Windhelm with little to no xenophobia.
• Serana: Where are you from?
• Angarion: My parents were traders from Summerset Isle. I grew up in The Imperial City and became a devout follower of Lord Akatosh. My parents did not discourage me from adopting The Nine as my religion.
• Wulf: The Battle of Roseguard was one of the final engagements before The Dominion withdrew from Hammerfell. You must have been exhausted from those years of conflict.
• Angarion: I would prefer to think my actions in Roseguard resulted from honing martial skills. The truth is, my anger removed all fear and thoughts of self-preservation. I made The Sons of Talos look tame.
• Serana: Did a single event generate this anger, or did it slowly grow over time?
• Angarion: The Redguard High Command had assembled a reasonable-sized force consisting of Redguard and Invalids to continue the fight. It took some time for Mede to withdraw the Imperial Armies from Hammerfell. While they were still there, The Dominion did not press us.
• Wulf: You found yourselves in territory ceded to The Dominion when you received orders to withdraw. At that stage, the resistance had not yet engaged The Thalmor.
• Angarion: You know of this tragedy?
• Wulf: I am a student of war. But I also know soldiers, Invalids and Sons of Talos, who fought beside you.
• Angarion: My memories are incomplete. Please help me tell the tale so they can be renewed.
• Wulf: The resistance was tasked with escorting a sizeable civilian population as they withdrew, for The Dominion did not want an inferior race polluting their new territory. However, The Thalmor wanted some sport, so they attacked the column of civilians. They did not think your force would provide much resistance, and they would soon be free to murder, torture and rape unimpeded.
• Angarion: It was a shock. The fighting had always been brutal, but the Dominion troops left the non-combatants alone. The Imperial City occupation was the exception, and that was due to the same savages known as The Thalmor.
• Wulf: Order was kept despite The Thalmor nipping at your flanks. However, when the civilians realised you were surrounded, panic ensued. That is when The Thalmor started their slaughter. The line of unarmed civilians was three miles long and fifty people wide. The baggage train following stretched another five miles. All eight miles surged forward, hoping the resistance soldiers would breach the enemy lines.
• Angarion: We made that breach at a significant cost, and then our task was to keep the civilians moving towards unceded territory. We were like frantic dogs trying to herd unruly sheep with wolves attacking the rear of the flock.
• Wulf: The elderly and ill fell behind and were the first to die. Adults carrying children were next. Most children had been bundled into carriages and were still safe. You thought the majority would survive because The Dominion would not risk invalidating The White Gold Concordat by crossing into unceded territory.
• Angarion: We were being whittled down but were spurred on by the thought of a defensible position on the opposite bank of a river.
• Wulf: You reached a major ferry port on the Brema River. However, Thalmor agents were already there and had torched every boat.
• Angarion: We slaughtered those laughing bastards, but then the absolute horror started. Everything to that point was just a taste of the savagery to be unleashed.
• Serana: You had tens of thousands of unarmed civilians and no way of crossing the river.
• Angarion: Carpenters and other tradespeople started to tear apart the wagons and other wooden objects. In a short time, large rafts were created, and the process of crossing began.
• Wulf: You and the other soldiers, plus many civilians who armed themselves with farm tools and other ad hoc weapons, did your best to hold back the tide of rabid Thalmor.
• Angarion: Women, children and men of all ages were being slaughtered by laughing monsters in Aldmeri armour. Some took the time to rape and torture. I had seen much during the war, but nothing prepared me for that display of savagery. I was crying as I fought with rage mixed with desperation. And then I met my wife.
• Serana: What?
• Angarion:  A twin scimitar-wielding whirlwind in traditional desert pantaloons danced among the enemy. Each step brought a death. Thalmor started to backpedal to get out of her way. I had seen Sword Dancers before, but thought they all died early in the war. Salmna turned to me and said, “I need you to protect my back. Can you do that without staring at my arse?”
• Wulf: Why does that remind me of somebody else?
• Angarion: I replied, ‘I can’t see your arse if we are back-to-back.’ Salmna’s laugh was that of a young girl, not a warrior. Her face mirrored her laugh. If she were older than sixteen, I would have been surprised. I did not have long to contemplate the conundrum before we were surrounded by snarling Thalmor. We killed many, but more importantly, every enemy that attacked us was not slaughtering the innocent.
• Wulf: When things looked lost, weapons banging on shields, horns and war chants were heard over screams and weapon clashes.
• Angarion: I did not know what it was, but The Thalmor turned towards the sound, and fear replaced savagery.
• Wulf: Casius Varon described the sound as rolling thunder. When Ragnar the Red’s banner came over the crest of a hill, murmurs followed by cheers rippled through the civilians and soldiers. Thalmor officers barked orders, but the monsters of seconds before routed before the first of them fell to Ragnar Fjonasson and The Sons of Talos.
• Angarion: Do you know Casius?
• Wulf: Yes. I also know Yngol Storm Blade.
• Angarion: That giant! Amongst the six thousand berserkers, he was easy to spot. Do you know Ragnar?
• Wulf: Ragnar died about four years ago. My fiancé is his daughter, Countess Rigmor Ragnarsdottier of Bruma.
• Angarion: How did Ragnar die?
• Wulf: He sacrificed himself to save his wife and daughter from animals.
• Angarion: His daughter is a Countess?
• Wulf: Yes, and the finest wielder of the greatsword I have fought beside. She has led armies and even travelled with me to Oblivion. Recently, she fought for thirteen hours against Daedra when an Oblivion Gate opened in High Rock. She recently turned nineteen, so I have also been ensorceled by a young female warrior.
• Serana: Did you and Salmna stop fighting or join in the extermination of the enemy?
• Angarion: Salmna had seen her young sister, mother and father killed by those trying to flee. She was wielding her father’s scimitars. She took a few seconds to introduce herself and tell that story, and then we joined the Nord giants to celebrate vengeance.
• Wulf: What was Salmna’s maiden name?
• Angarion: Bellin. An uncle taught her Sword Dancing. She never intended to use those skills in battle. She wanted to be an artistic dancer and used the sword lessons to improve those peaceful skills. The battle at Brema River was her first and last. We rarely saw each other for the next few years, but knew we had met our lifelong partner. We married not long after The Dominion left Hammerfell.
• Wulf: Do you know what year you died?
• Angarion: No.
• Wulf: It will be less than twenty years ago.
• Angarion: I am sorry I took you through all of this. I must accept this is my end and somewhat deserved.
• Serana: You made mistakes, but they did not earn you this ending.
• Angarion: I must believe they got through the grief and are fine.
• Serana: What is your child’s name?
• Angarion: Waydret. That was Salmna’s father’s name.
• Wulf: I shall find out what happened after your death, Angarion.
• Angarion: How?
• Wulf: I have many resources. You have been dead for twenty years or less. It should not be difficult. If nothing else, your service pension would have been transferred to Salmna. You should know from experience how much The Empire loves their records.
• Angarion: I once lost my army-issued scabbard in battle. Getting a replacement involved at least seven signatures from my commanding officer and me.
• Serana: Wulf is one of the most influential people on Nirn and has many titles. One of them is Champion of The Divines. The Nine are just one of his resources.
• Angarion: Nine? I thought the worship of Talos was outlawed.
• Wulf: It was, but His Imperial Majesty told The Dominion to shove it, restoring The Nine.
• Angarion: Do you think the mage tricked me? Did he use the Black Soul Gem or sell it?
• Wulf: I cannot guarantee that the fate of the mage or Black Soul Gem will be found. However, I am optimistic we will discover the fate of your family.
• Angarion: Good or bad or whatever, my mind will not rest. I need to know!
• Wulf: You have my word, Angarion. Somebody will return here and tell you the outcome of our enquiries.
• Angarion: Thank you, and I apologise for my conceit and blasphemy. My love for The Nine has not diminished.
• Wulf: The Divines cannot hear your prayers or blasphemy from Oblivion. However, they do not get offended when their beloved mortals say things under duress.

We continued our search for souls we could help. That involved approaching and speaking to them. Most were confused and beyond help. Serana was silent as we walked, and I knew she was thinking about our interaction with Angarion. Eventually, she was ready to discuss it.

“Can I ask about Angarion, Wulf?”

“I am spending this time with you specifically to answer questions. Aiding any soul here is a bonus.”

“You were careful not to give him any grim news.”

“I wanted him to remember things, as that will give us more time to find answers about his family. I did not want to introduce more despair.”

“Mention of the civil war, The New Order and Ragnar’s betrayal by Mede would have created despair.”

“When you fight for years to achieve a goal, as Angarion did, you hope your sacrifices and those of others achieved something. Telling him about ongoing conflicts would diminish the value of those sacrifices in his mind.”

“You experience that form of despair.”

“I do, and that contributes to the darkness that threatens me. I can see our intervention in Evermore has achieved something, but then I worry about whether it will last past the Imperial governorship. Will somebody come along and reverse the progress?”

“The meddling of Daedric Princes seems endless.”

“That is their enforced nature and must be accepted. However, even if I understand their motivation, the number of mortals willing to commit evil is disheartening. Devotees of Lord Bal are amongst the worst. Those who worship Boethia can be, using the common measurements, good or evil. It is the same with Lord Malacath’s faithful. I am yet to meet a ‘good’ devotee of Molag Bal. They can not worship him if they want to fit that definition.”

“The New Order were not devotees of Lord Malacath.”

“They had priests, but from what I could tell, before butchering them, it was lip service and not the real connection Orsimer shamans have with Lord Malacath.”

“What would happen if Orsimer knew Lord Malacath worked with Altmer and not them? I assume that information is redacted from the public journals.”

“If believed, the social structure of the Orsimer would collapse. Some would argue that Malacath intended to double-cross the Altmer. Other Orsimer would think otherwise and reject Malacath. Since their laws are based on Malacath’s teachings, chaos would ensue.”

“Is Lord Malacath insane?”

“Yes. I also think Lord Akatosh is insane or, at the least, overly paranoid. I do not think Uncle Sheo is bananas.”

 “Bananas?”

“A few sheep short in the top paddock.”

“Huh?”

“Loopy loo.”

“What?”

“Bonkers.”

“If I ever visit Roscrea, I will need an interpreter.”

“Yeah, the locals will probably struggle with your primitive dialect.”

“That was another poor attempt at humour. I do not know why you embarrass yourself.”

The Ideal Masters had different shapes and hues. Aesthetically, I quite like the diamond-shaped ones. However, they are all egotistic arseholes that have no concept of the suffering they cause.

Minions were scarce and no challenge to either of us. Unrelenting Force disposed of them quickly.

I was about to call it a day when a soul waved to get our attention.

I cannot scan souls within The Soul Cairn. I did not need that ability to determine that Gavo’s was dark. I hoped Serana would realise my game and follow along. She did.

• Gavo: Who are you? You are not a soul. You are not like any of us here.
• Wulf: I am Wulf. My friend is Serana. You are dead. We are alive. That is a big difference, wouldn’t you say?
• Serana: What is your name?
• Gavo: Why should I tell you?
• Serana: If you do not, we shall assume you cannot remember and, therefore, beyond our help.
• Gavo: I am Gavo Antonius, and you two might be what I was looking for.
• Wulf: How can we assist you, Gavo?
• Gavo: I used to be a mage before I ended up here.
• Wulf: Do you know where we are? I do not think it is where we were heading.
• Gavo: Are you that ignorant? We are in The Soul Cairn.
• Serana: I told you we took a wrong turn in Markarth. This place is probably nowhere near The Gold Coast.
• Wulf: There is a lot of sand! We could be near a beach.
• Serana: That is ash, you idiot.
• Wulf: Okay, dead mage person, what help do you need?
• Gavo: I need a Soul Gem, but not an ordinary one. I need a special type that is called a Black Soul Gem.
• Wulf: What is a Soul Gem? Are black ones worth more?
• Serana: I know what a Soul Gem is, Wulf.
• Gavo: That is good because I do not speak moron and would hate to explain what a Soul Gem is.
• Serana: There are plenty of caskets and so on around here. Perhaps we should look inside those.
• Gavo: The Black Soul Gem must be empty. A full one is not suitable.
• Wulf: How do we tell if one is full?
• Serana: You shake it, idiot. If something rattles around, it might be partially full.
• Wulf: Yes, but if lots of stuff is crammed inside, it might not rattle. So, who is the idiot now?
• Gavo: How about you bring any Black Soul Gems to me? I can tell if they are full.
• Wulf: What if there is stuff inside a Black Soul Gem? It might not be something you want, but we do.
• Serana: Yeah, I could kill for a Sweetroll right now.
• Gavo: Bring them to me, and we can negotiate any contents found.
• Wulf: What if it is empty? Where is our motivation?
• Gavo: If you bring me an empty Black Soul Gem, I will give you something interesting.
• Wulf: A surprise?
• Gavo: Yes, it will be a surprise. Power? Magic? You will have everything. I need the empty Black Soul Gem.
• Wulf: This place might be better than The Gold Coast. No kind stranger there will give you a surprise.
• Serana: You might be right. Come on then, Wulf. The quicker we find a Black Soul Gem, the quicker we get its contents or a surprise.

When out of earshot, we burst out laughing.

I said, “I hoped you would pick up on my plan.”

“His robes have the common symbol that a conceited necromancer would display. Smarter ones hide their interest. I know from your journals how little you think of them, so I thought it was suspicious you were so polite.”

“I bet two Sweetrolls he thinks he can Soul Trap me and then use my body to walk out of here.”

“No mage could do that!”

“I think some witches or hedge mages might be able to do that to mortal souls through old magics. But he is from The Imperial City and well groomed.”

“Why are we wasting time with him?”

“You read about how stupid some of my enemies have been. Now you get a live or dead demonstration. This pretence could be amusing, if somewhat mean of spirit.”

“Even if he had some way of achieving the soul swap, you cannot be Soul Trapped.”

“I have met Soul-Trapped dragons, but they were in Oblivion, and it took a Daedric Prince to do it.”

“What is your prediction, mighty oracle?”

“Gavo will act superior, tell us how stupid we are, and probably outline his plan. Then we educate him and let him decide his fate.”

“He will attack, as he knows what The Soul Cairn is and that he is doomed.”

“He might think, even if we were stupid, that his plan has little chance of succeeding.”

“He has a dagger. You are a mountain in Ebony armour. Does he think we carry katanas for decoration or walk unmolested through this place?”

“I often encounter desperate actions and am sympathetic to those trying to survive. However, I doubt Gavo was ever a model citizen.”

We eventually found an empty Black Soul Gem in a casket.

We returned to Gavo, and the game resumed after I handed over the Black Soul Gem.

• Wulf: Is that what you wanted?
• Gavo: Yes, and it is empty.
• Serana: How do you know that without looking inside? We tried but could not find out how to open it.
• Wulf: Gavo must know it is empty because of its weight.
• Serana: Oh, of course. How silly of me.
• Wulf: Does that Black Soul Gem belong to The Ideal Masters? Are we thieves?
• Serana: One of the other dead people told us about them.
• Gavo: They are the creators of this so-called ‘paradise’ dedicated to ‘peace’ and ‘love’.
• Serana: That sounds nice.
• Gavo: It is a playground for necromancers, and I happen to be… forget it.
• Wulf: Were you a member of a coven?
• Gavo: Yes. I was part of The Shadowed Path. But why am I telling you? Even if they were indiscreet, there is no way an idiot like you would know about them.
• Serana: The idiot knew you were a necromancer and likely a coven member.
• Gavo: Oh.
• Wulf: Divine Knight Serana was, until recently, a Vampire Lord and Daughter of Coldharbour. Fortunately, she recognised what a shitty god Molag Bal is and is now a mortal that loves The Divines. The transformation from vampire to mortal required far more knowledge of Soul Gems than you possess.
• Serana: Have you seen any other mortals wandering around The Soul Cairn? I wonder what powers we possess that you can only dream about?
• Wulf: Tell me, Gavo, did you die before or after the Dark Anchor failed above Bruma? The Shadowed Path did terrible things there.
• Gavo: What is a Dark Anchor?
• Wulf: Which Circle were you in? Who was your ranking Diabolist?
• Gavo: How do you know all this?
• Wulf: What was your plan, Gavo? Did you think to kill me, Soul Trap me and somehow resurrect this body with your soul inside?
• Serana: All while I stood back and watched.
• Gavo: Who are you?
• Wulf: I am pleased to tell you The Shadowed Hand was wiped out soon after Molag Bal’s Planemeld failed. By 2E 300, they were nothing but a bad memory.
• Serana: It is now 4E 202. You have been dead for a long time.
• Wulf: I am Sir Wulf Welkynd, Dragonborn and Champion of The Divines.
• Serana: Wulf told you I am Divine Knight Serana. That means I have sworn an oath to eliminate scum such as The Shadowed Hand.
• Wulf: I guarantee our knowledge of all Schools of Magic, including necromancy, far exceeds yours.
• Serana: Sorry we spoiled your plan, but we find egotistical loudmouths entertaining. Besides, it could never work anyway. You have no hope of defeating Sir Wulf, the greatest warrior on Nirn, one its most powerful mages and, as he said, a Dragonborn.
• Wulf: Gavo seems rather dull and probably has no idea what a Dragonborn is.
• Serana: That is unfair. They were not talked about much in the 2^nd Era.
• Wulf: I have been blessed by Lord Akatosh and have the blood and soul of a dragon. I cannot be Soul Trapped.
• Serana: A fellow mage might have betrayed Gavo and sold his soul to The Ideal Masters.
• Wulf: Why would they do that? He is such a charming individual.
• Serana: Gavo, you are already doomed, so I do not need to eliminate you. Is that not marvellous?
• Wulf: Playing you for the fool you are has been fun. However, if there is nothing else, we should be going.

Gavo drew his dagger. I lopped his head off.

All that remained was a puddle of ectoplasm.

We decided we had enough of The Soul Cairn and went to Valerica’s lab.

I contacted Rigmor via Mara’s Rings.

“Tada! Your favourite Dragonborn has returned from the dangers and perils of The Soul Cairn!”

“My favourite dragonborn? I dunno, Miraak is quite handsome and doesn’t tell terrible jokes.”

“You had better join us for supper at Aurane’s tavern. Otherwise, some other woman with poor taste and eyesight might steal him from you.”

“I will be there in an hour. Have a bath! The last time you returned from that place, you stank.”

“Yes, milady. I promise to be squeaky clean and not stinky.”

Serana knew I would confront her mother and watched from a distance as I cornered the Volkihar matron.

Valerica was seated and looked startled when I said, “We need to talk.”

Valerica stood and tried to get past me. She soon realised that was not going to happen.

I growled, “You are far from stupid. So, listen and learn!”

“And what is a vampire hunter going to tell me? How many of my kind he has slaughtered recently?”

“In the last month, I have hired many vampires to work on my properties. We have accepted four more child vampires into my orphanages. Is that news more to your liking? I am not a vampire hunter and never have been. If I were, we would not be having this conversation. Instead, you would be the guest of Molag Bal. I am not sure what reception you would get. After all, you squandered the gifts he gave you and failed to increase his influence on Nirn.”

“Whatever you have to say, get it over with.”

“Oh, sorry if I have interrupted your busy schedule. But your only child, Serana, deserves a break from your mixing of potions and fiddling with reagents.”

“What ensorcellment did you use on Serana?”

“Serana chose to become mortal. She saw the compassion and love that I and others enjoy. She realised they represented the gift Lady Mara provided to all mortals. Serana loves you and is convinced you love her. Serana also loves The Divines and wants to spend her afterlife in Aetherius. Her one trip to Coldharbour did not enamour the place to her. That might be due to her parents allowing her chastity to be stolen by Molag Bal. Such a rape by such a monster will inevitably cause trauma to a child. She was not yet a young woman.”

“You have already made your feelings on that matter known to me.”

“I do not care if you end your days as a vampire. What I care about is Serana’s happiness and well-being. She will be surrounded by love in life and death. You can add to that love or harm your daughter with indifference. The latter would be as grave a sin as you have ever committed, for Serana deserves more. If she can forgive your treachery, you can accept her desire to be mortal. It is not an insult to Lord Mal but the reclamation of a choice you stole from her.”

I looked at Serana, and she mouthed, “Enough for now. Please!”

I stared into Valerica’s glowing red eyes again and said, “We are leaving now. A tavern full of laughter, love and good food awaits us. Can you remember the joys of such simple things?”

I walked closer to the stunned Serana and teleported us into Aurane.

Serana still looked stunned as she said, “That was the most effective takedown of Mother I have ever seen. Not a lecture but a barrage of undeniable truths.”

“Valerica will see reason, Serana. Guilt will not motivate her, but the love of her daughter will. I made her realise her foolishness without spelling it out.”

“Ah, I will see you in the tavern later.”

“A full bladder is another mortal inconvenience you will get used to.”

“Haha…”

Serana rushed to the privy. I took a deep breath and enjoyed the smell of fresh air. The Soul Cairn has a rather odd stink.

Inigo intercepted me on my way to my private quarters.

“My friend, I just wanted to say I think Serana is a good addition to our ranks. She is confused and unsure, but we shall make her more comfortable.”

“You must admit that it takes some adjustment, even for those who haven’t missed recent events and history.”

“Miraak will be a great help with that. They have things in common the rest of us lack.”

“The only stumbling block for Serana’s happiness is Valerica.”

“I take it she was not pleased by Serana’s choice.”

“No, but I think I got through to her. We shall see.”

“Is Rigmor joining us in the tavern?”

“Of course she is. It has been a few days since she got her fill of gossip!”

“You stink.”

“That is why, if the blue tower of fleas allows, I will soak in a hot bath for a while.”

Inigo wandered away whistling. He has been trying to teach Granite how to whistle. Minotaur lips are not suitable, but they have fun trying.