Chapters Year 583 of the 2nd Era.
The redguard fought his way through Molag Bals realm of oblivion known as Coldharbour, cutting down every daedra that was thrown at him. This did not slow him down. His heavy steel armor blocked most incoming damage dealt from blades, maces, axes, and arrows. He uses his shield to block an attack from a dremora and stabs him through his chest with his own blade. However he didn't react fast enough to block another attack and paid the price with a sword slashing downward and cutting open his helmet and nearly cutting his eye. The redguard redoubled his effort and decapitated the last dremora. Still battle ready he looked around the area before he finds it safe to takes a quick break. He removes his helmet, exposing his frizzy hair and rubs his chin, feeling his 5 'oclock shadow rubbed against his gauntlet. He inspects the damage of his helmet.
"Damn. Useless now." he said and toss the helmet aside. He felt his face and finds a vertical cut on the right side of his face. He sighed. The redguard concentrated until a golden glow illuminated in his hand then spread through out his entire body. He felt refresh and rejuvenated. He was thankful to learn the art of restoration magic from his mother along with the art of destruction magic from his father. He also remembered learning a bit about alteration, but only learned how to create armor flesh and transmutating iron to gold. He brought his hand to his face again to feel his healed cut. Healed obviously but he could feel rough skin where the wound was. "Hmph another scar to add to the collection" he said to himself. He looked at his destination; a dark castle housing the prince of domination himself. The redguard continued his way there to fight to free the souls of his loved ones that have been taken by the mighty Molag Bal.
he must succeed... no matter the cost.
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A lone dremora looks out one of the many castle window as he sees the redguard makes his way to the castle. He smirked to himself as he might finally face an opponent worthy of his skill.
"Hmm persistent" the dremora said to himself. He turned away from the window and started to walk to the throne room were his lord awaits the challenger.He was impress by the redguard skills. Most who came to Coldharbour from Nirn would perish almost instantly, yet here the redguard has slain some of Molag Bal's toughest daedra with ease. "No mere mortal can do that so there must be more to this warrior than meets the eye." thought the dremora.
The dremora broke his thoughts as he enters the throne room. There, on the throne was Molag Bal and he kneel before his god.
"My lord, the redguard is nearing the castle."
"Do I sense fear in your voice Dohlyekem?" Molag Bal said.
"Quite the opposite my lord, he has slain my brothers with no trouble. I merely wish to kill him when he arrives." answered Dohlyekem.
Molag Bal was silent. This made Dohlyekem nervous. What was his lord thinking? Will he allow him to fight the redguard? Before he delved into deeper thoughts Molag Bal spoke.
"No. He may be of some use to me." A small but noticeable smirk formed on his face. "Not often I see a mortal with my blessing challenge me in my own plane of oblivion.
"Blessing?" the dremora said. He thought for a moment before he found out what his lord meant. "Hes a vampire? That explains some of his prowess in combat. But what use could he provide for you my lord?" Dohlyekem questioned.
"It has been a while since I had a champion form the mortal plane. And it would satisfy me to break the redguard's spirit and have him serve under my name. Don't you agree commander?" Molag Bal said
"It would be interesting to see the mortal beg and weep for your mercy."
"My thoughts exactly"
A loud clash of metal followed by a war cry was heard from the other side of the castle doors.
"It seems he has arrived" Dohlyekem stated.
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After killing two more dremoras guarding the entrance, the redguard open the castle doors and walked in. There on the throne resides the prince of domination and at his side is another dremora. This dremora seems different as he is a head taller than the others the redguard has slain and he was wearing no helmet. He turned his attention back to Molag Bal.
"Molag Bal." the redguard said with voice full of venom.
Molag chuckled before speaking. "That was an interesting display you showed. You mortals never ceased to amaze me." Molag Bal said. "Tell me, what do they call you and what is your purpose here?
The redguard walked towards the two as the dremora brought up two war axes, obviously preparing for whatever the redguard is planning. He stopped when he was a good five meters from the two and spoke. "I am Dromone of Hammerfell. As of my purpose, you know why I'm here."
"Ahh so it's the souls of your loved ones you want. Why should I give away my trophies of accomplishment?"
Filled with anger, Dromone drew his sword and raise his shield. "I will kill you and free the spirit of those you torture for your own pleasure." he said
Molag laughed openly at the redguards statement. "Do you honestly think you can kill a god? Your as impressive as you are naive."
Dromone smirked. "Molag Bal. You go by many names: Prince of domination, Father of Vampires and King of rape. But truth is, your just another being who has power.You may be a prince, but you're no god.
Now it was Molag Bals turn to get angry. He turned to his commander at his side. "Dohlyekem, do what you wish, but I want him alive.
"With pleasure my lord."
Dohlyekem charged at the redguard as Dromone did the same. The redguard parried the first blow the dremora threw and attempted to counter attacked, only to be blocked by the other axes. Dohlyekem kicked Dromone back and continued to swing his axes in an attempt to injure and cripple his opponent. Dromone block and countered every blow that the daedra threw but he couldn't land a killing blow and neither could Dohlyekem. Desperate, Dromone side stepped out of the way to give himself some room and cast a concentrated fire spell at the dremora. Dohlyekem shield his face as the intense flames covered his body and backed away until the spell couldn't reach him. Dromone took this opportunity and sprint towards him with his blade ready to strike.
He successfully stab the daedra through his abdomen, piercing the tough daedric armor and push the blade in to finish him., Dohlyekem surprisingly recovered quickly and shoved Dromone off of him while his sword is still in his chest. As if it was nothing, he casually pulled the sword out of his stomach and tossed it aside out of his opponents reach. Dromone got to his feet only to be knocked down again by Dohlyekems' fist. Dromone nearly lost consciousness as the dremora laughed.
"You fought well for a mortal." Dohlyekem praised. "But it's time for you to learned your place." Dohlyekem raise his two axes to deliver the final blow.
"Enough!" Molag Bal roared."I want this one alive."
Dohlyekem immediately halted his action and turned to face his lord. "Forgive me my lord, I was...caught up in the moment." he said.
Molag Bal ignored his apology and rose up from his throne. At his full height he is at least five times taller than Dohlyekem and even Dohlyekem was roughly eight feet tall, two feet taller than Dromone. Molag Bal walks towards the down redguard and puts one foot over him and added pressure, causing Dromone to yell in agony.
"Yes. He will make an excellent champion." Molag Bal said.
Dromone caught his breath. "I'll never bow to you, deadra!" he choked out.
"We'll see" Molag Bal said as he applied more pressure on Dromone, making him unable to breathe and soon fell into unconsciousness. "Take him to a torture cell and start when he wakes."
"Yes my lord." Dohlyekem said and dragged the redguard away to carry out his order like he has always do without question.
"Twilight, are you sure about this?" Spike asked with uncertainty in his voice. "I have never heard of a spell that lets you summon creatures before."
"Oh spike, I assure you its going to be fine." Twilight said. "I made the necessary preparation and procedure to make sure this spell will work without failure." Twilight took one more look at her work.
The center of the library was filled with dozens of candles forming a circle, The center of the circle has a strange symbol that has an almost complete oval with a dot in the center of it. Around that symbol are smaller symbols that obviously spoke a language not known throughout Equestria.
Spike viewed the circle and looked back at Twilight. "Where did you learn to do this anyway?"
"Well, after we saved the princess and returned the Elements of Harmony to its rightful place, I came across a book while we were returning home through the Everfree Forest. I have never seen a book like this one before; no author, no title and its in a foreign language. However some parts of the book were translated and one page in particular showed a spell of summoning a creature from a world called Oblivion." Twilight was getting excited as she talked. "Think about it Spike, If we can summon this creature and befriend it, we can have an opportunity to learn about this creatures race and knowledge. Ohh just thinking about it makes me so excited!"
"I wonder if this other world have any gems?" Spike said. Twilight rolled her eyes.
"Lets go round up the girls. I'm sure they'll be interested in this as well." Twilight said. The two left the library to find their friends as Twilight still thought about the knowledge this world of Oblivion has to offer.
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Year 202 of the 4th Era, 30 of Frostfall.
Dromone was chained up against the wall in one of the many torture cells stripped of his armor and weapons leaving only a tunic and trousers. His wrist restraints had enchantments were he was unable to use his spells in case he tries to escape. Dromone lost track of time after his imprisonment. He wished he never became a vampire in the first place. At least he would live a short life and death would be peaceful. He thought about the events that led him to be a vampire in the first place.
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He wondered through the alik'ir desert looking for a hideout full of vampires. After vampires attacked a nearby village and kidnapped five of the villages residence, Dromone was hired as a sellsword to kill these vampires and save any villagers that are still alive. Dromone didn't need much convincing since his fiance was among those villagers. He was tired, thirsty and suffering from this dreadful heatwave. He stopped and grabbed the jug of water hoisted around his waist and took a sip. He looked out to the endless ocean of sand.
"Shandra...by the divines I hope your safe." he said.
After two days of travel, Dromone found the destination, a cave with trails of blood leading to the entrance. Dromone wasted no time as he entered the cave and sneaked inside. As he entered the cave he heard two voices talking.
"(Sigh) There's not enough blood here to get us through the week. We'll need more if we're going to survived." Said a male voice.
"Well with the war going on between the alliances, the covenant can't focus on us and their enemies at the same time." Said a female voice.
"Until we can hunt again, we'll just have to make due with the last prisoner."
Dromone needed no more info from these two. He pulled out his sword and moved silently as he can, preparing to kill. He focused his attention on the first vampire, gripped both hands on the hilt of his sword and-
A searing pain shot through his neck before Dromone realized what's going on. He spun around and swung his blade at his attacker. However his attacker was too fast for him. His body was starting to stiffen and his vision began to fail him. He passed out just as the vampires spoke once more.
"Heh someone you know?"
"Know him?, he's my fiancé.
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Dromones thoughts were intrupped by the sound of a metal screech. He looked around to see the source of the noise is coming from his cell.
Someone is opening his cell.
Once the cell door opened. A familiar daedra walk in and spoke to him as he undid Dromone's chains.
"Lord Molag Bal reqiures your presence." Dohlyekem announced.
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*15 minutes earlier*
Molag Bal was standing over a fountain full of blood staring into the crimson liquid. The liquid started to stir in a circular motion as an image was staring to form. The image show of a mortal facing a dragon with piercing red eyes and scales as black as night. The mortal faced the dragon with no fear as they fought. Molag Bal grinned as he witness this battle and Dohlyekem, who was at his side, seems to notice.
"This fight seems to have caught your interest my lord."
"Yes, this Dragonborn is strong unlike his predecessor, yet he's young and inexperience." Molag Bal stated. "All he needs is a little guidence."
"Thinking of a new champion?" Dohlyekem said.
"The redguard has potential but despite our efforts he has never truly been broken. His sanity is still intact. However, the Dragonborn lust for power like his fellow dragons, even if he doesn't know it."
Molag Bal step away from the fountain and looked at his most trusted daedra.
"A new champion is an order since the redguard is quite the stubborn one. Bring him to he so that I may put an end to his pitiful existence."
"It will be done my lord"
Twilight and Spike returned to the library with there friends excluding Rarity and Fluttershy. Rarity needed to finish an order of dresses and Fluttershy needed to care for the animals, leaving Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash to see Twilights latest project. As they entered the library, the girls looked at the strange writing on the floor and the candles light up in a circle.
"*GASP!* Twilight you've been drawing on the floor? Can I draw on the floor too? What about the walls? Can I use crayons? What about chalk? Do you have pink chalk? Maybe we can-" Rainbow shoved her hoof into Pinkies mouth.
"Pinkie relax." Rainbow Dash said before removing her hoof from Pinkies mouth. "But seriously, why are you drawing on the floor Twi?" Rainbow said.
"Ugh there not drawings, they're runes of a sort. Remember the book I found in the Everfree Forest?" Twilight said. "Well the book showed a way of summoning other worldly creatures. I believe if we befriend this creature, we can lear-"
"Twi," Applejack interrupted. "While it all sounds good and fun, how do we y'all know this creature is nice and not some sort of monster?" Applejack said.
Twilight poundered on Applejack's question. She hasn't considered what this creature is capable of or if it's even a sentient being. Pinkie took this time to speak up.
"What if we throw them a party? Maybe it'll like parties and - OHHH! Maybe it eats cupcakes and-mmmmff" Dash's hoof mysteriously found its way back to Pinkies mouth.
"C'mon AJ, even if it's a monster, we can kick its flank to next week. What's the worst that can happen? We don't need the Elements of Harmony to be awesome." Dash said with both confident and arrogance.
Twilight smiled at Dash's little speech. "Your right Dash, as long as we have each other there's no challenge we can't overcome." Twilight finished.
Applejack sighed but couldn't help but smile. "Alright, I guess it's safe if were around, so d'cha need any help Twi?"
"No not at all, I just want you girls to be here to watch my first summon spell. Thank you for showing up. But first I just need to over the spell a few more times." Twilight said wasting no time checking for any form of errors.
"This is gonna be while." Spike muttered under his breath.
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Dromone fell to the ground as the chains were undone. His wrist and showed marks were the chains held him. He rubbed his sore wrist to try and ease the pain and eyed his arch enemy, Dohlyekem.
"What does Molag Bal want with me?" He said, carefully observing his rival.
"That's none of your concern mortal. All you need to know is he requires your presence." Dohlyekem answered. The two being have been at each others throats ever since Dromone was captured. He has been through many things no ordinary can could endure, but Dromone was no ordinary man; he is a vampire, imprison in Coldharbor by the very Daedric prince he swore he would have vengeance on. Dromone never stopped fighting after his capture. He would fight back whenever the opportunity arises and sometimes he would successfully kill a few daedras before he gets captured again. Dohlyekem would always hunt down the rouge vampire when he escapes. While Dromone see this as survival, Dohlyekem would see this as a little game.
Despite Dromone's stubbornness, Molag Bal saw potential in him that very few mortals possess throughout the centuries. Hoping he could 'convince' a mortal with such prowerss, Molag Bal declared him champion among his realm even if Dromone despised it. Dromone would be whipped, gutted, burned and even be skinned should he disobey Molag Bal.
He wished he'd endured it all, but even he has a breaking point.
"(Sigh) Very well, no time like the present I guess." Dromone said.
After going over the ritual spell (for the hundreth time), Twilight finally concluded that the spell is ready. Wiping a bead of sweat off her head, she turned around to face her friends to find them completly bored. Dash is readind a daring do book, Applejack fell asleep on one of the library sofa and Pinkie is playing tic tac toe with herself.
"Ahem." she cough trying to get their attention. "The spell is ready."
"About time!" Dash said closing the book. "I thought you would never finish." Applejack stirred awake from her sleep from the announcement.
"I didn't take that long."
"Sugarcube, It's been almost two hours." Applejack stated matter-of-factually. "Ah'm not one to complain but if ah knew it would've taken this long, ah could've gone back to the farm to finished my chores."
Twilight blushed in emberresment for keeping her friends waiting for so long. "Sorry girls, you know how I always wanted a spell to go just perfect." Twilight looked around the library to find out that somepony is missing."Uhh wheres Spike?"
"Spike was playing with me but he got bored and left to play with Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell. I felt alone so I started to play tic tac toe with myself." Pinkie answered.
"Well sorry for the wait. But now the spell is finally ready." Twilight announced. The girls gathered around the circle of lit candles waiting and wondering what kind of creature will show up in the conjuration circle."
"Ohhhh! I can't wait to throw our new friend from another world a 'Welcome to Ponyville party' *Gasp* What about a 'Welcome to Equestria' party. That way Everypony in Equestria can come."
"Well let's see if I can complete the spell first before we can be friends with it."
"If it's even friendly anyway." Applejack said.
"Yeah yeah can we get going already?" Dash said with excitement.
"Excited Rainbow?"
"Well yeah. I mean come on Twi, This whole alien from another word thing is gonna be awesome. Well not as awesome as me of course."
"Well let's get on with it shall we?" Twilight said.
Twilight's horn started to luminate. A lavender shimmering glow engulfed her before it reached out to the circle. The runes on the floor once written in black now turn a bright lavender color. The candles forming the circle now burn more intensely, their once orange flames now turn a ghostly blue color.
Dash, AJ and Pinkie Pie watch the colorful display while Twilight focus her magic in completing the spell.
Somewhere above Ponyville, a dark storm was brewing.
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Dromone walked down one of the many corridors of Molag Bal's castle. His escort Dohlyekem was behind him to make sure his prisoner wouldn't make a break for it. Dromone didn't have any restraints, but one wrong move and he would end up being a daedras dinner.
Dromone knew his way around Coldharbor and the castle like the back of his own hand. When Dromone became Molag Bal's champion, He was allowed free roam of the castle (under heavy supervision of course). One of the areas of Coldharbor lay the Dark Anchors. These Anchors allow passage from Coldharbor to Tamriel, however it requires an intense amount of magic to just activate one anchor. Dromone is a master spellsword, but activating an anchor would require at least five arch mages.
"So why does Molag Bal 'require' my presence?"
"Hmph. Curious one aren't you?"
"Well after my last escape attempt, I figured he want nothing but my death."Dromone thought for a moment before turning his gaze to Dohlyekem.
"He wants me dead doesn't he?"
Dohlyekem chuckled, knowing there's no point in hiding the truth anymore.
"You are right mortal. Molag Bal has no use for you anymore. He has found a more suitable mortal to take your place." There was a long pause as Dromone took in this information. Molag was known to prove his dominance over mortals one way or another before either enslaving them or killing them. Did Molag Bal give up simply because he got bored, or is it out of something else? Hate, regret, fear? Just these reasons alone rekindle a fire in Dromone.
Now he has a reason to fight once more.
"Heh heh heh, so the lord of domination has given up on me out of fear. Is that right?" Dromone said, coming to a halt.
"Watch your tongue mortal or I'll cut it!"
"But tell me, is it like your lord to give up on a mortal before proving his strength?"
Dohlyekem couldn't help but ponder on the redguards question. Molag Bal has more than enough patient to torment his victims and yet he gives up on Dromone, demanding his execution. Is his lord scared of this mortals strength?
Dohlyekem was distracted and Dromone took this time to act. Before Dohlyekem could react Dromone balled up his fist and punched Dohlyekem hard in the face. Dazed Dohlyekem stumbled backwards before regaining his balance. By the time figured out what happen, Dromone was already gone. Dohlyekem yelled with rage has he gripped his signature dual daedric war axes from his sides.
"I WILL FEAST ON YOUR HEART!"
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Once he was certain that he was at a safe distance from Dohlyekem (as safe as he can be anyway) he began sneaking around looking for a potential way out. Using his vampiric stealth, he snuck around other daedras and soul shriveled prisoners. He ducked into one of Coldharbors' narrow valleys to avoid prying eyes. He took this moment to catch his breath, forming a plan.
"Well well well. What do we have here? Little lost aren't ya?"
Dromone spun around wielding a combination of fire and ice magic at the ready. The perpetrator was a man with white hair and beard. His eyes are as white as snow. His attire is a divided red and purple sleeved shirt and dark purple trousers. He holds a staff in his right hand and a daedric sword in his left. Many would mistake him for a madman, but Dromone knew better.
"Madgod."
"Ahh so you DO remember ol' uncle Sheogorath. I must say you been a good little sport.
"Why are you here? Are you trying to stop me?" Dromone said, not letting his guard down once.
"And miss you attempting yet another futile escape? Oh how this would be good if only I had some cheese. Oh wait!" Sheogorath staff seemingly vanished from thin air and was replaced with a cheese wheel. "There. All better. Now where was I?"
"I asked why you are here..." Dromone said running out of patience.
"Oh that's right! Well I heard that one of my favorite vampires was going to be executed and it would be very sad to see one of my favorite sports go bye bye."
"So...you're here...to help me?" Dromone said clearly confused. "Why?"
"Well I need some entertainment when I'm not ripping mortals entrails out of their bodies. And besides..." Sheogorath blinked his eyes revealing a pair of brown eyes. Making him look human. "Like you said before; we may be princes, but we're not gods."
A loud roar was heard all across Coldharbor coming from a certain dremora. Sheogorath toss the sword to Dromone before speaking once more.
"I felt some CRAZY magic coming from the dark anchors. Me thinks you should check it out." Sheogorath said before teleporting back to the Shivering Iles.
Dromone would never trust a daedra, but if the Prince of Madness was offering a way out, he could make an exception. Quickly examining the blade, Dromone sped off towards Coldharbor's dark anchors with a question haunting his thoughts.
"Was Sheogorath mortal once?"
