This is the beginning of a long story that I created about a month ago, a tree fell on a powerline and knocked out the power to my house for nearly 3 days. In those 3 days, I outlined a story that, at the time, had no setting. While I was playing Skyrim a few days ago, it occurred to me, Nirn was perfect. This is the exposition of the story, not very active, but gives the basic info you need. So, without further ado....
Red-Vein
In an age lost to Tamriel, when magic flourished and the schools of magic had no walls, there was power. Power that was born to battle evil cults that hid in each dusty recess of Nirn. Cults were dedicated to magic that was created. Each hid their secrets deep underground, deeper than Falmer or Dwemer. These cults fought against Priestly Orders in bloody battles across Tamriel. Cult Dracia fought against The order of Glaius. Cult Lemos fought against The Sacrid Order., The Stelliat fought against The Terrius Brotherhood. The Aquia fought against The Aerion Sun.
Dracia, born from Dragons, formed magic around Dragonfire. A magic fire that burned, but was not hot; it was paralytic, but not lightning. Their opponent, The Order of Glacius, was dedicated to a magic that caused a chill-less ice. It would only act at the command of Glacius magic; Grow or constrict, melt or change shape. Skilled Brothers of Glacius could charge the ice to explode. These magics would eventually fade into what would be known as Destruction magic.
Lemos, born of spirit could command the power of the poltergeist. They could evaporate themselves and raise the dead. They controlled the very ebb and flow of life energy, they held their enemies on the edge of death to make them suffer. The Sacrid Order, however, developed magics that could keep the undead at bay, even destroy their 'souls' in a burst of dust. The Sacrid Order went on to develop Restoration, and the Lemos set the stage for the development of Conjuration.
Stelliat, the Cult of Space, learned to control the very fundamentals of the Galaxy. Their development and methods are as mysterious as their members, whose hooded robes shrouded their faces in shadows darker than the night sky, revealing only shimmering lights rotating around the darkness like a swinging hypnotic charm. They could collapse gravity in on itself, and even call meteors down upon their enemies. This magic was difficult to master and took a vast toll on the body, those who were skilled enough to perform even the slightest feats sometimes died due to the physical strain or misdirection of magic. They fought The Terrius Brotherhood, an order of monks who commanded the very ground. Skilled in Magic and Arms, they were pugilists and masters of the hammer. They crafted a hammer that the Dwemer would steal and recraft into Volendrung.
The Aquia, created water magic, they called oceans and rainstorms to drown enemies. They could jet water into the lungs of opponents and tear the lungs like wet paper. These mages eventually became so devout, it is rumored they themselves became the purest waters. The Aerion Sun kept their power in balance with nature. They had few battles, they instead preferred a life of pacifism and diplomacy. When challenged, Children of the Aerion Sun could harness the winds sharp maw and rip the flesh asunder, or pull air out of the lungs. Funny how diplomatic priests caused such intense pain.
Finally, there was the Sanguis Cult. They controlled the very power of human form: Blood and Flesh. The mages named themselves Caromancers. They were reclusive, vowed against fighting until their Champion, their "Cor" came of age. It is said that every woman gave birth into a pool of blood. If the pool began to glow, the Cor was born, and he or she would immediately be taken to their most scared chantry, The Chord. Named for the harmonious beating hearts that lined the walls of the chantry.
On the day the Cor was born, the pool of blood shone so bright it sent a beacon into the sky. The other cults and the priesthoods sent armies ahead to destroy the child. He was pale, with large grey eyes. He did not cry, as most children do. He was calm, if not purely happy to be alive. As his eyes wandered the room, the grey shifted to a bright white which eclipsed his eyes and began glowing like fire. He looked to the open sky and a barrier manifested around the chantry. The Caromancers were given a vision of the battle to come. They barrier would be bombarded with everything the Mages and Priests had available. After a few moments the barrier shattered, and the vision did too.
The childs eyes faded to the familiar grey as the Carmancers took the child away. His mother was given one chance to see the boy before he was taken to the Chord. Before the eyes of the druids around her, the woman took a small iron knife and plunged it into her left wrist. She pulled the now maroon knife out of her wrist and drove it down again an inch lower. Out of one of the cuts, she pulled a wad of nerves and veins. She pulled an amulet of glass and silver out of her dress pocket; while the dark clerics quickly worked to heal her, she placed the warm mess of herself against the glass amulet. She hummed an incantation and when she pulled away, her veins were in the glass. She instructed the man holding her child to give this to him on the day of his 18th year, when he would come of age. She said his name would be Avery Red-Vein. And with that, the child was taken into the darkness...
To be continued..
Thanks for reading!
