59: The Calm Before the Storm

I stepped out of the mages guild with heavy thoughts on my mind. Surely Ald’Ruhn could not have fallen so quickly! It must have just been a fluctuation in the teleport fields or something. I let the Dark One ponder this and I sullenly followed the Nerevarine through the city. I was surprised to see the amount of activity that there was. Soldiers clad in the characteristic bonemold armor of the Redoran strode purposefully throughout the city carrying documents and implements of battle. The air was clear of ash and foul weather, but the tension was palpable. I followed Darkasha and the Nerevarine up a short incline to a building set into a hill.

We entered the building and were greeted with reverent silence. The Nerevarine proceeded to sit in a chair offered him by a Dunmer in glass armor. “Thank you, general,” the Nerevarine’s voice was firm but polite, “Everyone, please continue your duties, there is much to be done yet if we are to win this battle.” After an instant of stillness, the soldiers returned to whatever it was they were doing. I stood aside quietly as the Nerevarine shared a few words with the grizzled general. Finally he turned to Darkasha and me. “I will get straight to it,” he said simply, though his lips still did not move behind the thick coat of ash that covered his face. “We are in a difficult position here. Our walls and natural defenses are relatively strong, but the Daedra are not easily impeded by our efforts. Thank Azura that the Redoran forces were already concentrated here due to the Nord invasion. Still, I fear we will be outnumbered and overpowered. Who knows what the Daedra could throw at us.”

“I might.” I interjected. The Nerevarine’s eyebrows rose and his ashen mouth curled into a smirk. I continued, “I’ve engaged the Daedra multiple times, maybe I can tell you something you don’t know. Darkasha might be able to fill in any gaps in my memory, as well.” The Nerevarine gestured for me to procede. I did. “The Daedra apparently prefer to open two kinds of gates to bring their forces through. The smaller of the gates is very tall, but only wide enough to let maybe two to four men through, shoulder to shoulder. Scamps, Dremora, Xivilai and the like come through these usually. The other gates are about the same height, but are about twice as wide. They always open the small gates before the big ones, I guess to let the advance force soften things up for the main attack. The big gates let in all the beasts that the small gates do, but they also…” I hesitated, trying to picture and find words for the monstrosity that had lurched through the big gate at Ghostgate. “They also let worse things through.”

“What kind of worse things?” The Nerevarine had been listening intently, clearly eager to learn as much as he could.

“Big things,” Darkasha said, “Big, metal, spider-like things.”

The Nerevarine pondered this, “Like Dwemer constructions?”

“Not exactly,” I said, “Much, much bigger and nastier looking. A little shorter than a silt strider, and just as strong as one. Also, they can spew fire from their… heads.” Darkasha nodded in concurrence. “I don’t think any number of soldiers could take one of those things out without siege engines.”

The Nerevarine shook his head sadly and said: “Something which we do not have, unfortunately… So there is nothing we can do against them?” Darkasha smiled faintly, and I couldn’t help but follow suit.

“No, there are some ways of stopping them.” I said, “Number one, and I’m not sure this would work, but there is a sigil stone at the head of the creature, and I believe it is what powers the construct. If that stone could be removed it might render the whole monster useless. The other option, which I know works, is to fight them with silt striders.”

The Nerevarine nearly burst out laughing, “Are you kidding me? Those things couldn’t hurt a scrib!”

Darkasha shook his head, “No, really. If the anger inhibitor is removed from a strider, it could take out one of those things pretty quickly, not to mention dozens of smaller Daedra.”

The Nerevarine looked at us both very carefully, as if trying to discern the truth of the matter. Finally, after a short moment of consideration, the Nerevarine sighed and conceded. “Very well, I’ll see to it that silt striders are gathered and their handlers informed of their role. In the meantime, I have plans for you both. Will, You will stay here and help me prepare defenses for the coming assault, as well as continue informing me of as much as you know about Daedric tactics.”

“As you wish.” I said, I really didn’t know what else I would do.

He continued, “Darkasha, you have a task much more suited to your… condition?” Darkasha seemed a bit startled, and discreetly liked the sharp points of his vampiric fangs. The Nerevarine nodded, “Yes, that. As you may or may not be aware, the Nord invasion force has established itself at a nearby camp. We cannot afford this threat at a time like this. I need you to use a bit of cloak and dagger, as it were. Keep an eye on them, and keep us apprised of their movements. I will see to it that you are given directions to their camp and other relevant information.” Darkasha nodded solemnly.

“Oh,” the Nerevarine said as an afterthought, “And feel free to spread fear through their ranks through the use of your particular talent.”

“Gladly.” Hissed Darkasha.