The road proved to be an excellent opportunity to analyze Ruby’s general behavioral patterns. She spoke a lot, bombarding me with questions that I did not particularly want to answer. She showed much interest in combat and assassination techniques, always looking to improve her own, and always seeking to formulate strategies against those around her if things went sour.
-What did you do to knock me out when we first met? I know about some aspects of the alteration school, including the general paralysis spells. The powerful run of the mill paralyze, and of course the ash spells developed by the Telvanni wizards. But even though they are supposed to encase you in ash, and the regular paralyze just freezes your central nervous system, both preventing your movement, but the first giving you a layer of protective ash, and the later preventing you from feeling anything because it numbs your senses. But fuck, both essentially prevent you from feeling pain, and what you did to me hurt like… like… well, I don’t think I would feel like a proper lady after describing that pain… - said Ruby
-Impressive knowledge on alteration, in part you are right, your description of the different types of paralysis is very accurate, but what I did to you was not paralysis. I’m sure you noticed that I am able to use alteration, but I can substitute flesh spells with my shadow armor, besides, I never learned to use those properly and even if my shadow armor slows me down like a set of heavy plates would, and can be easily blown away by a strong flash of light, they still provide better protection. For me the true power of alteration lies in transmutation techniques, truly an art of limitless use. Turning Edward’s highly durable steel chain into thin, frail gold links is just one of the many things transmutation is capable of doing. No, I don’t particularly like to use the more orthodox spells of alteration, what I froze you with was my specialty, illusion – I said, expecting her to further her inquires
-Illusion, what do you mean by that? Is that even possible? – She asked
-As you may have noticed before, I don’t use conventional magic. You won’t find a single teacher of illusion in Tamriel that is capable of analyzing and reproducing my techniques. The way illusions are generally cast is very similar to the way a mage uses destruction magic, most illusionists focus a projectile of energy that is able to affect the minds of those hit by it and create a strong emotion that overwhelms the victim, whether it’s a calming effect, the feeling of pure terror, or even mad rage, that forces them to attack anything close by. This is but the art of novices, true master illusionists don’t project energy, and they use a suggestive effect instead, all the while disguising the means they are using to weave the spell. While a normal mage uses his hands to twist and turn energy into a spell, that is not the only way to do it. This effect can be transmitted to the sensory organs of the body, effectively putting the victim under the illusion, and doing it without any trace of magicka whatsoever. Lets use my illusions as an example, even though they are probably more advanced and elaborated than any other you may be subjected to – I said with a slight tone of pride, even arrogance over my technique
-What do you mean by using other forms of weaving? The usual drill for stopping a wizard from casting is by binding his hands is it not? How does one cast without manipulating magicka with his fingers? -
-Oh, that is another, particularly complex ability. A mage, as you've stated, needs to concentrate to cast a spell. If he can't summon the appropriate amount of energy, or can't weave it into a suitable pattern, the spell will generally whiff, or even worse... But using your hands is but a mental block, with enough training of your mind and concentration, one can weave a spell even inside his head. Later releasing it with his hands. This essentially makes said mage unpredictable, and much more dangerous -
-Is that what happens with my shouts? Or the Voice in general? -
I thought for a moment before answering, while I'm no stranger to the Nordic art of using the Thu'um, I never had much interest for it, and never went into much depth as with other arts - I suppose you could say so, the word itself would be the pattern for the spell. But, and this is just my opinion, for the trained eye there isn't much difference. While a regular mage is pretty much drawing the plan for his attack right in front of me, you're shouting the specific spell that you'll use at that moment -
-I see, well, back to the previous point, how do you manage to hide all traces of magic? –
-It’s simple really, but lets start with the basics, I have developed three stages, or planned patterns, in which I am able to use them. The first, even if it was considered the weakest stage, is one of the most demanding. This is the only one that does not require a focus; I will get into that later, and is traceable since it releases quite a lot of magicka in the process. The way the first stage works is simple, I use my illusion to distort the area around me, creating images of myself, projections of my choosing and even changing my foe’s perception of where I am. Even if it does not have incredible range, it works in a very respectable radius, which is more then you ever need for a melee fight. To extend the range even more would tire me a lot more than necessary. The second stage requires the focus I was telling you about. This “focus” being something I will use to project the necessary magic into the target’s brain. In my case it is my eyes –
-But is that the only way of doing that, I mean, using a “focus”? – She asked
-Not at all, the focus is just the vehicle that transmits the magicka to the target, some other illusionist of respect use other means, for example, I once fought a man who had a large silver hand guard on his cutlass, with a strange symbol engraved on it, once he flashed that thing against the sun, directing light into my eyes, I would feel my body becoming weaker, and tired –
-How did you manage to beat him then? –
-That was an interesting fight, I managed to use the first stage of my illusion to make him think I was one step ahead of my location, when he tried to hit me, he found only empty air, and my dagger –
-Well remind me to keep my wits about me when training with you, wouldn’t want to not notice the liberation of magika before you activate the first stage, but what about the other two? – She said
-I believe that will have to wait my dear, we appear to have found quite a mess here – I said while looking ahead
In the immediate area we found the crypt Bryn told me about, and in front of it I saw two figures, one was a man wearing a set of light chainmail, he was wounded and disarmed, and standing next to him was a vampire. The man cowering in the snow was desperate, and the vampire lady next to him had just noticed our presence. She quickly grabbed the man and held him up, using him as a shield.
-Step back worms! If you come any closer I will consider you prey, I’m feeling generous today, so if you go away now I won’t give chase, but if you come closer I will tear all of you to pieces! – The vampire woman said
-Interesting, because you are blocking our path, we mean to go inside that crypt for our romantic holiday, and now you are ruining our special evening, how rude of you! Hey! Look into my eyes when I’m talking to you – I said
She took her gaze out of Ruby and met my own in an involuntary stare, quickly realizing her mistake she averted her eyes before even a second had passed, no matter, the damage was already done. I told Ruby to advance and kill her, and right after she started to move the vampire looked to her side and let go of the man she was holding, ready to block Ruby’s mace. Her stance was good, her posture, magnificent, she readied a perfect counter and would surely hurt my companion. That is, if she was looking in the right direction. She held her sword in the empty air and fired a lighting spell in the direction she though Ruby was, and shortly after the real Ruby crushed her face with her demonic mace.
-I suppose a demonstration of the second stage is as good as an explanation, look into my eyes for even a fraction of a second and I can create a small illusion of my choosing, a simple projection most of the times, but enough to pull away the attention from the real strike. That is achieved with a simple weaved pattern that I keep engraved in my memory. It's not a complicated pattern at all mind you, even a novice could do it, but the true art behind it is using the spell without your opponent noticing –
We quickly helped the man up, his arm was torn up a bit, but I was able to tear a part of his shirt and create a bandage to stop the bleeding. He thanked us and asked about our purpose here. I told him that we were bounty hunters contracted by the jarl of Morthal to eliminate the ones who were attacking traveling merchants on this part of the road. He tried to talk us out of going in there, vampires he said.
-And who might you be? What are you doing here? – Asked Ruby
-I am part of the Dawnguard, we are vampire hunter you see, I was tasked to find and eliminate the vampires inside this cave, but my partner got captured and we were overwhelmed. That woman you just took care of chased me out of the cave; she was at the entrance when I got out. The vampires probably put her on watch duty, they did not even bother to make sure their partner took care of me, they just abandoned chase, and when I thought I was safe I get hit in the arm with an ice spike, good thing you arrived when you did –
-The Dawnguard, in that case you should return, we can take care of things over here. Don’t worry about your partner; if we find him we will help him, but now you should leave – I said, with a certain tone of authority
He thanked us again and started to walk towards the nearest town, it would be easier now that he was not here to make more noise. We should hurry, before they decide to switch shifts.
We made our way quietly into the crypt, staying out of sight of the first vampires. I stayed further ahead and eavesdropped on their conversation, they seemed to be talking about some planning, a great effort being leading to this situation. They spoke in secrecy, laughing, thinking that were already on the winning side of a war that did not even start. As I continued my eavesdrop I heard about something inside the crypt, some long dark secret, and some prophecy. They were already starting to get bored, and sat down to play some dice.
I closed my eyes and concentrated, when I opened them again I could see the essences of the vampires as a bright red color, but besides them I also saw a big, hulking hound that had a stench of death around him, and he was heading straight to Ruby.
I had no time to lose; I quickly threw a knife at the dog, hitting him in the neck. He started to bleed heavily, and went a mad, not surprising, those knives were always kept coated with a frenzy toxin for moments like these. After the dog attacked one of the vampires and I quickly got behind the other one and stabbed him through the larynx. The remaining enemies were already half dead, so it was simple enough to finish them off.
We moved on, the place was crawling with vampires, spiders, death hounds and undead, but with stealth and skill we overcame those challenges. Eventually we got to a large cave area, with a big platform that stood on top of an enormous underground lake. There was a bridge connecting the platform and the small balcony near us. In the balcony were two vampires and their thralls, interrogating a man that seemed to be the partner of the Dawnguard soldier we rescued earlier.
The vampire interrogating him quickly became impatient with the man and killed him by snapping his neck. I whispered a quick prayer for the man that just died at the hands of the vampire, and ordered Ruby to advance and kill the vampire thralls.
She eagerly obeyed my command, ready for a taste of blood. Jumping down the platform we were at, she did not even bother to draw her mace, cutting the throat of the first one with her ebony stiletto, and using her hand like a spear to perforate the other one. The two vampires quickly noticed her and started to advance. Before they reached her I jumped down and grabbed the vampire closest to me by the neck.
-Close your eyes Ruby – I whispered in her direction
She heard me and imminently obeyed. Good. I closed my eyes and concentrated, weaving the complex layers of this spell's pattern in my head; when I opened them again I was staring directly into the eyes of the vampire that was charging my position. My eyes pulsed with energy, sending it towards my enemy, and when he noticed what was happening it was already too late, he dropped his sword and fell to the ground. The vampire was now passed away, I admit, maybe I was a bit cruel with this one, but that is the purpose of the third stage.
-The third stage, nightmare realm – I said while looking directly into the other vampire’s eyes, still holding her neck tightly – when I release this power I will control all your perception of space and time. Your friend laying over there, he was inside the nightmare realm for but a second, but in his perception he spent days inside this illusion, tortured without end. None of that was real, but he felt all that pain, his mind simply could not handle it… and now it’s your turn… - I said as I released another pulse of energy directly into her eyes, then dropped her to the floor.
-Finish them off, after what I did to their minds it will be a mercy –
After Ruby had done that nasty business we carried on to the main platform.
-What was that, they were completely mad, insane beyond belief… - she said
-That my dear was the third stage, my most powerful illusion, the nightmare realm, it requires the fixed attention of the target until the pulse hits their gaze, then I can create any illusion I want. It effectively manipulates space and time inside it, leaving them in prolonged periods of mental torture, effectively breaking their sense of reality. It's complicated to pull of though, as I need enough concentration to weave a spell inside my head, without the help of my hands, that is much more complicated than these so called, "Master" spells some mages are so proud to have learned. That was what I used to paralyze you, of course, I did not do to you what I did to them, I only caused enough pain to knock you out – I said, wanting to end that conversation.
The puzzle on the platform was simple enough, after hitting a switch in the center a couple of braziers showed up and we arranged them according to the energy irradiating from the floor. What followed was very strange indeed; a large monolith appeared from the ground, rising from a pool of dark energy.
The large stone object revealed it to be actually a coffin of sorts, and as soon as it was raised above ground enough it opened up. Ruby quickly put her hand on her mace but I gestured her to wait, as the coffin opened a woman fell out of it, into the ground. She seemed disoriented, but did not show any signs of aggression.
-Who are you? Are you, like me?
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