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Sathis Varryn damned the day when he had agreed to accompany this Nord mercenary Kjar for a hunt of the notorious necromancer, Gothren, on Vvardenfell. It was the reason for his current demise and in truth the reason why he felt so numb and tired of life. His continuous existence was…well, cursed.
He and Kjar had tracked the necromancer into a cave and the mercenary had insisted that he’d go in first since Sathis was a novice mage. They approached the mid section of the cave after they killed several acolytes of the necromancer. The aging necromancer was preparing a ritual whilst darkly muttering something about the noise.
“Always someone coming to disturb my work.” Gothren uttered as he turned around to face the duo. A smug grin spread across his lips when he saw the young mage, who now was pale. Gothren took a dark pleasure from it. “You do look suitable for my work, mage.”
“Your meddling ends here, Gothren!” Kjar shouted and charged with his two-handed axe towards the necromancer. He was determined to end this villain’s life with a few swings of his ax and to be done with it, all the while to protect the mage.
Sathis prepared his magicka for shock spells, but noticed the mercenary blocked his view. He frowned at the battle before him - Kjar was shouting as Gothren’s ice spike struck him. The Nord struggled with his ax, but managed to raise it with gritted teeth - Kjar struck his ax at Gothren’s side with brutal force. At the same time he felt a dagger in his chest, stealing his soul away.
“Run, Sathis!” Those words were the mercenary’s last. It was a mistake to come along. If only he had known better…
Sathis cast his fearful eyes on the necromancer, whose gaze was full of hatred and malice. The young mage prepared his most powerful spell while Gothren uttered strange words and pointed a bony finger at him. Sathis’ eyes widened as he cast the shock spell at the dying necromancer, who suffered greatly before he died due to blood loss and pain that struck his body.
Before leaving the cave, Sathis gathered the books and other useful items for his own study. He took a last glance over the mercenary, who had been way older than him and a good warrior for their short time on this hunt. “Rest in peace in Sovngard, Kjar.” He whispered upon his departure while he wondered what Gothren had done by saying those strange words.
Sathis continued his studies at the Mage Guild at Vivec City, without any more misadventures that would end his life. He was devoted to his study for destruction and enchanting. The life of young mage was promising and in time he forgot the necromancer’s words - he’d counted them as a dying mer’s ramblings.
In his later days of studying the daedric ruins, Sathis life changed tragically as he was slain by bandits that ambushed him. The mage felt his life fading away and thought he’d be leaving for Aetherius for eternal rest. Sathis wasn’t upset, he’d lived his life to the fullest as a mage can do; studying strange things, new and old. Maybe now he’d learn the secret that lie behind Aetherius and beyond.
But it didn’t happen. For a moment he’d felt the embrace of Aetherius, then everything went truly black.
Feeling groggy, Sathis woke up on a bed that wasn’t his own. In a tent that wasn’t his own. All he could see was a couple of Ashlanders looking at him and they had relieved faces. “You have finally awoken, Ashkan!” he heard the wise-woman saying with a smile. “We thought you’d gone with the ash.” Hearing this made Sathis shocked and he looked down his body and hands - he was…an ashlander now? What in the Tribunal had happened? “I’m… I’m not your Ashkhan. My name is Sathis Varryn of the Mage Guild. I come from the Vivec City.”
The Ashlanders and their wise-woman were puzzled at this. They were certain Sathis was their Ashkan and they let him rest. The wise-woman told Sathis that he’d caught a disease when he was hunting with others and had been sick for days until he fell under a fever, then died - or so they witnessed it. Sathis was more than confused. He had died, but he didn’t reach Aetherius - was he sent back?
While pondering his strange fate, Sathis continued his life as an ashlander even thought it felt weird for him. He learned many things from them. He joined them on the hunt and celebrated a new life in the tribe.
Even if the body wasn’t his own, Sathis still felt the weight of his age. He had no idea of how much time had passed since the time he’d died the first time. “I must be older than I look.” He muttered in his tent.
Until on later a date, he died, again, during the ash storms.
On his travels across Morrowind, Sathis met a wizard, Daras, who had taken look at him and frowned deeply. The wizard had invited him for tea at Narsis, and they discussed the current state of Morrowind and other topics that pressed the Dunmer at those times. Sathis listened to the wizard telling him how one Telvanni wizard went mad during his research and had disappeared, nowhere to be found.
It was then, Sathis gathered his courage and asked. “Why did you frown at me?” He observed the wizard’s concerned look on him and taking a deep breath. “Do you have any idea what had happened to you, Sathis Varryn?” Daras asked as his gaze was nearly penetrating as if he could see through Sathis. “Well, I must suspect I have a spell of some sort on me. What… what do you see then?”
Daras sipped his tea, his frown deepened. “Your aura is different; it’s black. You are cursed. Your soul is cursed by a necromancer.” He accepted Sathis’ nod, and continued, “Your soul is not at rest. When you die, your soul reaches for Aetherius, but is pulled back by the curse.”
At this point, Sathis told Daras how he had died and how many times; he was tired of it and wanted to be at peace, rest. “These aching bones, and aching minds that aren’t my own makes me weary. I’m tired of being like this. I feel like over three hundred years old, Daras.” To this, the wizard nodded, “Indeed, you are an old soul, but if you want to find a rest from this eternal cycle of the curse - we might have to find a Telvanni wizard, who knows a way of breaking curses.”
It sounded promising, even Sathis had heard of the wizard of Telvanni; the greatest wizard of all Morrowind. They were crazy folk, but he wanted to find peace no matter what the cost. “Well, it’s worth to try.” He replied, nodding.
Despite of Sathis’ protests, Daras insisted he’d come along. He also wanted to see this Telvanni Wizard from Vvardenfell. They packed needful things into their backpacks for their journey. It made Sathis very excited, perhaps he’d reach his peace yet - if he didn’t die before that. Daras hired some tough mercenaries to protect their lives.
They arrived on Vvardenfell, but their struggles were only beginning. One of the mercenaries caught a disease and died a few days later. The other mercenaries in their group pressed on because Daras had promised them quite a sum of septims once they reached their destination; Sadrith Mora. It was there where the Telvanni Wizard Voryn was located, Daras had told Sathis.
Traveling by foot, Sathis felt again the weight of his age. Truly the aching bones felt like they were his, but he knew they weren’t. Sometimes he suspected his thoughts weren’t his - so many thoughts were roaming in his mind.
The night fall came quietly as they spent the night at Suran. Daras decided they’d rest at the Desele's House of Earthly Delights to which to the mercenaries agreed eagerly. Sathis just tagged along and took a seat next to Daras as they sipped tea. “How do you feel now, Sathis?” The wizard asked quietly.
“I’m weary. I’m afraid that these bones will not carry me for long. I’m afraid… what if the Telvanni fails?” In truth he was both happy to try it out and horrified about failure - what would happen then?
“I wish I’d could know what happen if it fails. Let’s hope for the best.” Daras said and raised his brows when a beautiful Redguard woman walked to them.
She looked to Sathis with a charming smile. “You look weary, sir. Allow me to ease your tired body. Come?” she offered her hand to him while Sathis looked to the woman and then to Daras, who winked. “You should try it and relax. It might your last if everything works out.”
The next day, Sathis found himself somewhat refreshed and his muscles didn’t ache as much as they did yesterday. It must have been the wonder massage the Redguard gave him, after which he couldn’t resist the following lust that took over him. The way she held him was…
“Focus!” Daras nearly barked, witnessing Sathis straying from the path. The mercenaries shared a laugh, but Sathis let them. At least he’d had some pleasure time. He strolled beside Daras and looked around their surroundings. He had been there before his demise. It brought back memories - his years of being a mage. What was he now? Sathis wondered. Maybe a wandering soul if nothing else.
The Erabenisum Camp was left behind and they continued their journey towards Sadrith Mora. Cautiously Sathis stepped in the shallow waters, but he kept his mind open for the possibility that his trials would end soon. How he longed for rest and peace. He looked to Daras who seemed to be in his own thoughts. What was the wizard thinking?
At Sadrith Mora they were greeted roughly as the guards told them they didn’t have a invitation to see Master Voryn. Daras assured them that he indeed had sent a word to the Telvanni Wizard and they were expected. The guard who had spoken frowned and sent another guard to Master Voryn. “We’ll see soon enough, Wizard.” The guard scowled as they waited for a reply. Sathis had to admit to himself that he was afraid, but he had no other choice than to trust himself in Voryn’s hands if this one takes them in. He didn’t want to go back to his wandering days just to die and live in another’s body.
The guard came back with Master Voryn’s permission to come in and so they they followed in. Though, the mercenaries had to remain outside.
Master Voryn was an aging Dunmer. His calculating gaze studied Sathis while he rubbed his chin. He also saw this black aura about Sathis. Voryn asked specific questions from Sathis and the younger Dunmer did his best to answer them. “Hmm, why didn’t you go straight to Neloth, then?” The Telvanni Wizard asked Daras.
“Because I’ve read you’re specialized on curses and those sort of things.” Daras replied, frowning. “Can you help him?”
Voryn looked at Sathis again. “Why to give up on living and the possibilities of searching for something more? You’d be a great resource for me with that curse of yours. Are you sure you want to waste the opportunity?”
Sathis frowned. “You don’t have a clue what it feels like! I have already told you! I want to be rest and free of this cursed cycle!” He took a deep breath. “Can you help me or not?”
The Telvanni wizard listened calmly to Sathis’ outburst and hummed. “Fine. I just need to go through my books first.” With that he went over to his books on the side table and began to search a specific information on a ritual. “And, what are you doing here, Daras? I thought you’re long gone with your Dwemer studies.”
“I’m here to provide more assistance, should it go wrong.” Daras replied. “Gone? Not yet, but I’m close to reach my goals. Have you learned any divination spells yet?”
Sathis was overwhelmed by the two wizards who seemed to know each other. Something told him this was a bad idea, but there was no going back now. He eyed the Telvanni Wizard; something was off with him, but Sathis tried to not to let it bother him.
Once the preparations for the ritual were ready, Voryn asked Sathis to step into the middle of the circle. Daras was standing nearby and nodded to Sathis. Voryn began to mutter words while he held a dagger in his other hand. With some finalizing words, the Telvanni wizard stepped closer to Sathis and on the last word he stabbed the mer, who was shocked before collapsing on the floor.
First was blackness, and then Sathis saw it. The Aetherius; it was beautiful like always. He was approaching it, but at the same time he was waiting for the pull back to Nirn. Did the ritual work? The mer wondered. A warm feeling engulfed his soul and it joined the other souls that were circling around Aetherius.
And, Sathis was free and at peace. The curse had been broken. It was a great relief after countless years of life and dying. How he had longed for this peace. Sathis Varryn was finally free.
Comments
The ending feels a bit rushed in my opinion. Sathis gets stabbed and--poof--he's free. I think you could've done better there like say add some kind conflict which prevents Sathis fro... more