this is a love letter to R. A. Salvatore, a man who wrote the Dark Elf Trilogy, a series that I have read more than any other Trilogy. He's not considered the best writer in the world, but his books brought a lot of much needed joy when I was younger and going through a phase where I was lonely.
This is a retelling of the Dark Elf trilogy, kinda showing what Drizzt's story might be like if his homeland was in a secret underground Dwemer country in Skyrim. But it's not a crossover. I've got a version of Chapter 1-2 that I'm proud of, but I could use some advice on Chapter 3 and 4.
First time attempting a fanfic in a while. Advice appreciated. Simply telling me that you like this and would like more would mean the world to me!
I Present to you.
The Delves Saga
Prelude:
Rank: To the Deep Elf, the treacherous unnatural manifestation of the Dunmer themselves there is no more important word. It represents our religion itself. Desire overrides logic, compassion is thrown away in its face, all in the name of our daedric god Malath
Rise to power in Deep Elf society is a simple process of assassination. Malath the evil spider god is one of chaos, she and the high clerics, the true rulers of the Deep Elf. There are of course rules to this behavior. To openly slaughter invites direct vengeance, which are without mercy. to kill an ally during a chaotic conflict however, or within the shadows is something to celebrate. Investigation not what Deep Elves care for concerning justice.
Rank is the way of Malath. the desire he bestows to further the insanity. to keep her Deep Elf "childe" along their appointed course of self-incarceration. Their Dwarven wind up dolls for the Spider Queen more likely All climb her ropes, all hunt to fulfill their desires, and all fall for her desire.
Rank is the paradox of the world of my people. The limitation of our power, and the hunger for it. It is gained through betrayal, yet treachery is invited against those who acquire it. The most powerful in Underbarren spend their days watching their backs. Unfortunately for them, death hits them straight on the vast majority of the time.
-Razlar Ma'Rahn
---
The Delves Saga: Volume 1: Book one:Rank
Chapter 1: Underbarren
It was a dark and stormy night...on the surface anyways. Nanin however was on his way to the Underbarren, the Delven city, just one small part of the world of Nirn's largest underground dwemer country simply known as darkness.
He rode swiftly in the darkness that surrounded everything. Not a single candle was to be found in this part of the dwemer cave that that the dwemers had long since abandoned. Fortunately none were needed, as the Delve opposed an enhanced version of night eye that not even the Cat Race known as the Khajit could match known as Ultravison, letting them see perfectly outside the absolute darkest places in the Underbarren, allowing Nanin to half ride and half cling his Mount, not wanting to leave a trace of his visit.
Ironically enough he was riding the Delves choice of mount: and unnatural half-mole half-lizard abomination. He made his way along through a long tunnel, letting him know that he was close to the city.
He cast a silent Clairvoyance spell, one that was leading him around to to his destinations in his mind. He was more a warrior, but his bad sense of direction meant he had to take the time to learn how to make this spell undetectable, as it led him to the city's entrance. He felt nervous as this was the most guarded area of the Underbarren.
Nanin got off the mount. He took a deep breath, and stepped outside of the shadows. Spiders were leering down at him. he was a delve of the city, and regularly passed through many places here undetected, but he was at the Academy, and had heard that spiders here nowadays would attack for no real reason. For that he decided to disable the clairvoyance spell for now.
He made his way through the area, when a stranger whispered to him, asking if he was a student, or a master. Nanin told him that only a master is allowed around this time. The stranger drew closer, wearing a robe and a Daedric Mask. When he wore both, it provided him with complete immunity to fire.
He greeted the Masked One, and the Masked One greeted him by Secondborn Ma'Rahn, asking him for his payment. Nanin told him that he shall be compensated, daring him to doubt the promise of Mistress Ma'Rahn, of the 7th house of Underbarren.
The Masked One realized his error and apologized, bowing to him. He had recently failed a powerful spell, leaving his face horribly disfigured. His nose, his eyebrows, and one of his eyes burnt beyond recognition, hence the mask and robe, hence the named masked one. Mistress Ma'Rahn offered his a sliver of hope he could not turn down.
Nanin was without concern, but he needed the wizard. He told him that his face would be restored the second that he killed Malor Daville, and not a second sooner.
Nanin retrieved his mount, recast his clairvoyance spell, and made his way, passing by a few slave goblins, who knew their roles well, and dared not make eye contact. Nanin was feeling extra cruel that night, and so he let his mount eat one of them, making sure they continued to know their place, as the goblins cowered in fear. The Mole-Lizard spit the bones of the digested goblin at another goblin, killing it, causing the other goblins to scramble. This eased his mind a bit, as he was trying to keep his nerves in check. Feeling much better, he began his way back to House Ma'khan, secure than his Mistress would not figure out he had secret plans.
Dax, Nanin father, and Mistress Ma'Rahn husband knew that their child would come into existence soon, and that he would be male, and a sacrifice to the spider queen Malath, which Mistress hoped would grant House Ma'Rahn the needed favor to win against the coming battle against the Daville's. His emotions were hidden very well. The preparation for the sacrifice was interrupted by news from Nanin, but he was told to bite his tongue and wait for the preparations of the sacrifice. An hour passed, and Nanin was allowed to speak.
Nanin told Mistress that the preparations were complete, and that Malor would soon be no more. Mistress dismissed Dax, telling him that it was time to strike. Dax thought of how he looked forward to killing the Deville clerics, and he also thought about how much he would love to kill the Ma'Rahn clerics just as well. He really didn't care which Delves he killed.
He just wanted to kill Delves...
---
Chapter 2: The end of House Deville
Nanin had no reason to use his clairvoyance spell now, as he followed the same path of 50 soldiers that marched with him. behind him were 80 slaves goblins, and 80 zombies. Everyone that saw them knew exactly what was going on. Something that only happened around once a decade. There were going to war, but who could be their target? One thing was for sure, the Mah'rans would either to take out every single noble, or they would be retaliated by the other houses instead.
Nanin then kept to the shadows, making sure that his enemies wouldn't see him . The slaves looked around, trying to find a good spot to retreat. a few tried to escape, but Nanin wouldn't let this happen, still staying the shadows, he motioned for his mole-lizard to go after them. they were slaughtered within mere moments The mole lizard eating one of the them and spitting bones as a couple more goblins, causing more senseless murders. The deed done, the chimeric abomination returned to its master.
Nanin whistled, and on cue, his Delves pulled out their enchanted fire arrows, and let loose upon their appointed targets. They hit their targets, setting them on fire, and at the time silencing their vocal cords, the fire silenced as well, the flame s burning out as soon their victims heartbeats stopped. It truly was a terrible way to die.
On the other side of the Underbarren, Mistress Ma'rahn, her daughters, and a dozen common clerics were gathered in Malaths unholy square, calling for the daedric spider god! They chanted in unison, combining it into one powerful spell. Liza, one of Mistress's daughters, understood that Nanin's first attack group was in position, sending waves or slow acting poison into the Deville house.
Miistress Deville, her daughters, and five powerful clerics gathered together in in their own unholy square, gathered in worship, They gathered there since they learned that they had fallen in Malalth's disfavor. Mistress Deville knew how powerless they were without her favor, and she felt it first, as the black death entered her lungs,. It wasn't long before this was transferred over to the rest, as they continued to pray, begging the spider king for forgiveness, desperately denying that they'd soon meet the king they always worshiped, and their prayers had been in vain.
Nanin whistled twice this time, putting the slaves into position. Stealth as their ally, they rushed to the mushroom fence, cutting their with their blades. The Secondborn laughed, amazed at how unprepared they were. And then he laughed some more as the slave races triggered the dwemer traps., making a note of of a few specific trap locations.
Nanin knew that after this time other houses must have been watching this attack, the time for stealth was at and end. It was time to show the power of their well earned favor. He rushed in, signaling for his older brother Razzle the battlemage to follow. They made their way into the temple, and Nanin suddenly told Razzle that they were on a firetrap. Razzle quickly moved, activating the actual firetrap a few feet away. He was burnt into ash, as if he had never existed, Nanin smiled, which was seen by several Ma'rahn. There was no way they'd dare go up against Nanin.
Back to the Ma'Rhan unholy square, Mistress and her subordinates continued the slow acting poison assaults on House Deville. Malath heard their prayers, making the poison more painful, hitting many of the remaining clerics.
Suddenly Mistress went into labor screaming in a daemonic tongue. The baby was coming.
There were many more Deville clerics and soldiers left, along with several nobles, and now lighting strikes were taking them out, but not quickly enough. Dax stood amazed at how well so many Deville were able to dodge so much lighting, and realized that he had to step it up himself. slashing through foe after foe until none were left, high on adrenaline , Dax then went for Mistress Deville, only to find that the poison had finally done its work.
That was it. . House Mah'rahn had won. The only thing left was to thank Malath with their sacrifice. Liza, one of Mistress's daughters looked at the new baby, demanding she name the sacrifice. She screamed and named it Razlar, putting it on the altar, and brandished her sacrificial knife...
---
Chapter 3: The Child
Sacrificial knife branded, Mistress Ma'Rahn began to praise Malath, thanking her for such a glorious victory.
Suddenly, a spy working for Mistress Ma'Rahn burst into room, screaming at Mistress, letting her know of Razzle the first born had been wiped out of existence. Mistress Ma'Rahn smiled at this, thinking of the favor she'd get from 2 sacrifices. But Liza warned her that she was unlikely to conceive again. Mistress screamed daemonic curses at her body, and dropped the blade. Liza tried to calm her Mistress, only receive a harsh slap upon her face. She then calmed herself, and thanked Malath for the gift of the Delve child. Liza grumbled, remarking that was just a male.
Dax had just heard the news from another soldier. Razzle was dead. And though the word was her fell on a dwemer fire trap, deep down he knew differently. Nanin had likely pushed him on the firetrap.
Despite his fighting skills, and his perceptive nature Dax had only been around for 10 decades, which wasn't long considering that Delves live for several centuries. He was picked as a replacement husband to the centuries old Mistress because of his fertility potential first and foremost, although this did lead him to become the Ma'rahn's weapons master as his marriage brought him more into the limelight, making his efforts more apparent.
Azaz, the young apprentice mage, a rank that often got him spat on saw Malor move through the door into the highest chamber of the spire. He almost felt sympathy for him, as he was about to fight to the death with the Masked One, and he watched them confront one another.
Malor moved towards Masked one, telling him that he heard he requested his presence. Masked One kept his back to him, deciding to do this quickly before her learned on his House's defeat. Malor was close to graduation, and would be made into a fully fledged wizard, but he had failed a recent important mission, something which he suspected might be the end of him, as his master was the Masked One, and he was very unforgiving.
Suddenly, the doors exploded around Malor, showering the room with splinters. Azaz was thrown against the wall, which did nothing but excite him.
Malor stumbled, and did a quick roll, evading a lighting bolt from the Masked One. He didn't like how the show had started, but he had been given the best seat in the house, front row center. Regardless, he knew he had to try to escape, for he was no match for his Master, who had taught him everything he knew.
The fight went on for quite some time, eventually leading the the Masked One's private enchanting room, which was bring for the Underbarren. This put Malor at even more of a disadvantage, as Malor, like most Delves hated the light, but this was something Masked One was used to. He came up with a plan however. If he could make it to the courtyard, he might just have a bit of an advantage.
He finally found the exit door in the blasted blinding light, and tried to open it, and was shot with a blast a magical energy, causing great harm. He cursed the place. As it was magically locked. Masked One shot a wave of magical energy towards hims again, but he dodged it, and while he was charging something more powerful, he cast an opening spells, and sped out the room. Masked One hissed at Malor, telling him that he only delayed the inevitable.
Malor cursed Masked One back. The chase continued for some time, and suddenly came across an Oblivion Gate. There were many in the Underbarren, filled with demons who saw Delves as on one of their own, and left them alone, they also often had a second gate entrance, and this likely would lead to another part of the city. He quickly jumped inside. He immediately saw another gate, and jumped through that one as well. He was suddenly outside, in the courtyard like he had hoped, praising the Spider King for his luck!
Liza looked into Razlar's eyes, commenting on just how different they were. He was only out of the womb for a few hours, yet his eyes were glowing bright red. Mistress commented that he was blind, and made her way to him, ready to sacrifice the cripple. Children with birth defects were not something that the delves considered worth keeping around. Liza stopped her however, noting that he was following her finger, wondering what untapped power those eyes possessed.
Glass suddenly fell on from the sky towards Malor, cutting his own face sharply as he shifted his weight to avoid more broken glass. To his surprise he quickly realized that it was a mirror that had fell on him. He suddenly heard the faceless one groan about his mirror, even more outraged. Malor indeed was at an advantage now, he may have been injured, but there was nothing more vulnerable than a mage not able to keep his temper.
Malor cast a paralyzation spell on Masked One, holding him in place. He then asked him why he wanted him dead. Masked One told him that it was because he broke his mirror. Malor asked him another question, asking him why he wanted him dead before that. He told him that it didn't matter. Malor then told Masked One that the house shall hear about this, and then Masked One revealed that House Deville is no more, thanks to House Ma'Rahn and, and suddenly broke free of the paralyzation spell, summoning a Fireball. But suddenly the Masked one fell forward, and expired, a crossbow bolt appearing on his head.
Lost in his own shock, Malor slowly checked the bolt. It was especially made to pierce through skin. It has likely hit his brain very quickly.
A voice spoke saying that it was a nice weapon.. Out of the shadows, Azaz suddenly revealed himself.
Liza continued speaking to Mistress Ma'Rahn, mentioning how in a few years if she kept to her studies she could become a cleric, and asked her mother permission to return to the academy. Mistress shook her head, telling her that she was needed elsewhere, to teach Razlar the basics.
Malor wiped some blood off his face, and nursed his would. He was badly wounded from the glass. He asked why Azaz killed his master. Azaz spat on the Masked One's corpse, and mentioned that in the time as his apprentice he didn't learn a thing that he didn't teach himself, and was treated like a lowly cleaning slave, and that he was going to send him to be trained as a warrior instead of a mage. Then he came by and made it convenient to seek his revenge. Azaz thanked him, and said that this was goodbye as he aimed his crossbow at him.
Malor stopped him, and said hat he had a better idea. Why not burn the body, and have Malor himself take over as the Masked One. He'd actually be his mentor, and teach him well. In the meantime, they could work on taking out Ma'Rahn. Azaz agreed.
---
Chapter 4: I can't fly, you fool!
For several yeah, Liza spent nearly every waking moment with Razlar, but it was not to nurture, it was to indoctrinate. It was the way of the Delve. It was how they learned the precepts that bound their very chaotic evil society. Liza spent hour after hour reminding him of the inferiority of the delve male,. And since almost all of his time was spent at the family temple, he rarely saw other males.
When Razlar was old enough to follow commands, Liza had less to do, but still continued to teach him how to act and how to think. However, she mostly assigned him cleaning duty, for Liza despised Razlar for making her do what she saw as a menial task. She wanted to study and become a cleric, and to her he was just an annoyance. Keeping her away from what she truly desired. She wanted him to finally become 10 already, and stop wasting her time.
Razlar reached year 9 of his life, and Liza told him it was was now time to complete a rite of passage for the Ma'Rahn He told him to go up a wall, and clean a statue. He began to climb, slowly making his way. Liza picked him up and slapped him telling him to will himself to rise.
Razlar closed his eyes, trying to concentrate, as he imagined himself floating, believing in himself as he suddenly rose from the air. He laughed happily as went around the air, for the first time feeling free as he rose higher and higher in the air, laughing, feeling like the king of the world. Within a few minutes, he wasn't just levitating, he was flying, smashing through the ceiling as he made his way to the outside world, landing himself in Whiterun, the king telling him that he was a dragon born, when suddenly he felt another large slap upon his face, shattering his illusions.
Liza told him to stop daydreaming, and focus on the task at hand. Hours passed, and he was able to do naught. This angered Liza all the more, and with that she blindfolded him, and carried him, telling him to remain silent.
Hours passed and finally they reached their destination, Liza slapped him once more and told him that there were where their god the spider king resided, and that she was going to throw him into the pit which led to a portal where Malath resides. If he couldn't will himself to levitate out of it, he would meet Malalth before his death, and the afterlife would be far far worse! Razlar begged Liza to show mercy, but she ignored him, as she counted to 100. It felt like an eternity, but she finally reached 100
She shouted at him, telling him to die like the useless male he was, and she threw him in...
The End
This is a retelling of the Dark Elf trilogy, kinda showing what Drizzt's story might be like if his homeland was in a secret underground Dwemer country in Skyrim. But it's not a crossover. I've got a version of Chapter 1-2 that I'm proud of, but I could use some advice on Chapter 3 and 4.
First time attempting a fanfic in a while. Advice appreciated. Simply telling me that you like this and would like more would mean the world to me!
I Present to you.
The Delves Saga
Prelude:
Rank: To the Deep Elf, the treacherous unnatural manifestation of the Dunmer themselves there is no more important word. It represents our religion itself. Desire overrides logic, compassion is thrown away in its face, all in the name of our daedric god Malath
Rise to power in Deep Elf society is a simple process of assassination. Malath the evil spider god is one of chaos, she and the high clerics, the true rulers of the Deep Elf. There are of course rules to this behavior. To openly slaughter invites direct vengeance, which are without mercy. to kill an ally during a chaotic conflict however, or within the shadows is something to celebrate. Investigation not what Deep Elves care for concerning justice.
Rank is the way of Malath. the desire he bestows to further the insanity. to keep her Deep Elf "childe" along their appointed course of self-incarceration. Their Dwarven wind up dolls for the Spider Queen more likely All climb her ropes, all hunt to fulfill their desires, and all fall for her desire.
Rank is the paradox of the world of my people. The limitation of our power, and the hunger for it. It is gained through betrayal, yet treachery is invited against those who acquire it. The most powerful in Underbarren spend their days watching their backs. Unfortunately for them, death hits them straight on the vast majority of the time.
-Razlar Ma'Rahn
---
The Delves Saga: Volume 1: Book one:Rank
Chapter 1: Underbarren
It was a dark and stormy night...on the surface anyways. Nanin however was on his way to the Underbarren, the Delven city, just one small part of the world of Nirn's largest underground dwemer country simply known as darkness.
He rode swiftly in the darkness that surrounded everything. Not a single candle was to be found in this part of the dwemer cave that that the dwemers had long since abandoned. Fortunately none were needed, as the Delve opposed an enhanced version of night eye that not even the Cat Race known as the Khajit could match known as Ultravison, letting them see perfectly outside the absolute darkest places in the Underbarren, allowing Nanin to half ride and half cling his Mount, not wanting to leave a trace of his visit.
Ironically enough he was riding the Delves choice of mount: and unnatural half-mole half-lizard abomination. He made his way along through a long tunnel, letting him know that he was close to the city.
He cast a silent Clairvoyance spell, one that was leading him around to to his destinations in his mind. He was more a warrior, but his bad sense of direction meant he had to take the time to learn how to make this spell undetectable, as it led him to the city's entrance. He felt nervous as this was the most guarded area of the Underbarren.
Nanin got off the mount. He took a deep breath, and stepped outside of the shadows. Spiders were leering down at him. he was a delve of the city, and regularly passed through many places here undetected, but he was at the Academy, and had heard that spiders here nowadays would attack for no real reason. For that he decided to disable the clairvoyance spell for now.
He made his way through the area, when a stranger whispered to him, asking if he was a student, or a master. Nanin told him that only a master is allowed around this time. The stranger drew closer, wearing a robe and a Daedric Mask. When he wore both, it provided him with complete immunity to fire.
He greeted the Masked One, and the Masked One greeted him by Secondborn Ma'Rahn, asking him for his payment. Nanin told him that he shall be compensated, daring him to doubt the promise of Mistress Ma'Rahn, of the 7th house of Underbarren.
The Masked One realized his error and apologized, bowing to him. He had recently failed a powerful spell, leaving his face horribly disfigured. His nose, his eyebrows, and one of his eyes burnt beyond recognition, hence the mask and robe, hence the named masked one. Mistress Ma'Rahn offered his a sliver of hope he could not turn down.
Nanin was without concern, but he needed the wizard. He told him that his face would be restored the second that he killed Malor Daville, and not a second sooner.
Nanin retrieved his mount, recast his clairvoyance spell, and made his way, passing by a few slave goblins, who knew their roles well, and dared not make eye contact. Nanin was feeling extra cruel that night, and so he let his mount eat one of them, making sure they continued to know their place, as the goblins cowered in fear. The Mole-Lizard spit the bones of the digested goblin at another goblin, killing it, causing the other goblins to scramble. This eased his mind a bit, as he was trying to keep his nerves in check. Feeling much better, he began his way back to House Ma'khan, secure than his Mistress would not figure out he had secret plans.
Dax, Nanin father, and Mistress Ma'Rahn husband knew that their child would come into existence soon, and that he would be male, and a sacrifice to the spider queen Malath, which Mistress hoped would grant House Ma'Rahn the needed favor to win against the coming battle against the Daville's. His emotions were hidden very well. The preparation for the sacrifice was interrupted by news from Nanin, but he was told to bite his tongue and wait for the preparations of the sacrifice. An hour passed, and Nanin was allowed to speak.
Nanin told Mistress that the preparations were complete, and that Malor would soon be no more. Mistress dismissed Dax, telling him that it was time to strike. Dax thought of how he looked forward to killing the Deville clerics, and he also thought about how much he would love to kill the Ma'Rahn clerics just as well. He really didn't care which Delves he killed.
He just wanted to kill Delves...
---
Chapter 2: The end of House Deville
Nanin had no reason to use his clairvoyance spell now, as he followed the same path of 50 soldiers that marched with him. behind him were 80 slaves goblins, and 80 zombies. Everyone that saw them knew exactly what was going on. Something that only happened around once a decade. There were going to war, but who could be their target? One thing was for sure, the Mah'rans would either to take out every single noble, or they would be retaliated by the other houses instead.
Nanin then kept to the shadows, making sure that his enemies wouldn't see him . The slaves looked around, trying to find a good spot to retreat. a few tried to escape, but Nanin wouldn't let this happen, still staying the shadows, he motioned for his mole-lizard to go after them. they were slaughtered within mere moments The mole lizard eating one of the them and spitting bones as a couple more goblins, causing more senseless murders. The deed done, the chimeric abomination returned to its master.
Nanin whistled, and on cue, his Delves pulled out their enchanted fire arrows, and let loose upon their appointed targets. They hit their targets, setting them on fire, and at the time silencing their vocal cords, the fire silenced as well, the flame s burning out as soon their victims heartbeats stopped. It truly was a terrible way to die.
On the other side of the Underbarren, Mistress Ma'rahn, her daughters, and a dozen common clerics were gathered in Malaths unholy square, calling for the daedric spider god! They chanted in unison, combining it into one powerful spell. Liza, one of Mistress's daughters, understood that Nanin's first attack group was in position, sending waves or slow acting poison into the Deville house.
Miistress Deville, her daughters, and five powerful clerics gathered together in in their own unholy square, gathered in worship, They gathered there since they learned that they had fallen in Malalth's disfavor. Mistress Deville knew how powerless they were without her favor, and she felt it first, as the black death entered her lungs,. It wasn't long before this was transferred over to the rest, as they continued to pray, begging the spider king for forgiveness, desperately denying that they'd soon meet the king they always worshiped, and their prayers had been in vain.
Nanin whistled twice this time, putting the slaves into position. Stealth as their ally, they rushed to the mushroom fence, cutting their with their blades. The Secondborn laughed, amazed at how unprepared they were. And then he laughed some more as the slave races triggered the dwemer traps., making a note of of a few specific trap locations.
Nanin knew that after this time other houses must have been watching this attack, the time for stealth was at and end. It was time to show the power of their well earned favor. He rushed in, signaling for his older brother Razzle the battlemage to follow. They made their way into the temple, and Nanin suddenly told Razzle that they were on a firetrap. Razzle quickly moved, activating the actual firetrap a few feet away. He was burnt into ash, as if he had never existed, Nanin smiled, which was seen by several Ma'rahn. There was no way they'd dare go up against Nanin.
Back to the Ma'Rhan unholy square, Mistress and her subordinates continued the slow acting poison assaults on House Deville. Malath heard their prayers, making the poison more painful, hitting many of the remaining clerics.
Suddenly Mistress went into labor screaming in a daemonic tongue. The baby was coming.
There were many more Deville clerics and soldiers left, along with several nobles, and now lighting strikes were taking them out, but not quickly enough. Dax stood amazed at how well so many Deville were able to dodge so much lighting, and realized that he had to step it up himself. slashing through foe after foe until none were left, high on adrenaline , Dax then went for Mistress Deville, only to find that the poison had finally done its work.
That was it. . House Mah'rahn had won. The only thing left was to thank Malath with their sacrifice. Liza, one of Mistress's daughters looked at the new baby, demanding she name the sacrifice. She screamed and named it Razlar, putting it on the altar, and brandished her sacrificial knife...
---
Chapter 3: The Child
Sacrificial knife branded, Mistress Ma'Rahn began to praise Malath, thanking her for such a glorious victory.
Suddenly, a spy working for Mistress Ma'Rahn burst into room, screaming at Mistress, letting her know of Razzle the first born had been wiped out of existence. Mistress Ma'Rahn smiled at this, thinking of the favor she'd get from 2 sacrifices. But Liza warned her that she was unlikely to conceive again. Mistress screamed daemonic curses at her body, and dropped the blade. Liza tried to calm her Mistress, only receive a harsh slap upon her face. She then calmed herself, and thanked Malath for the gift of the Delve child. Liza grumbled, remarking that was just a male.
Dax had just heard the news from another soldier. Razzle was dead. And though the word was her fell on a dwemer fire trap, deep down he knew differently. Nanin had likely pushed him on the firetrap.
Despite his fighting skills, and his perceptive nature Dax had only been around for 10 decades, which wasn't long considering that Delves live for several centuries. He was picked as a replacement husband to the centuries old Mistress because of his fertility potential first and foremost, although this did lead him to become the Ma'rahn's weapons master as his marriage brought him more into the limelight, making his efforts more apparent.
Azaz, the young apprentice mage, a rank that often got him spat on saw Malor move through the door into the highest chamber of the spire. He almost felt sympathy for him, as he was about to fight to the death with the Masked One, and he watched them confront one another.
Malor moved towards Masked one, telling him that he heard he requested his presence. Masked One kept his back to him, deciding to do this quickly before her learned on his House's defeat. Malor was close to graduation, and would be made into a fully fledged wizard, but he had failed a recent important mission, something which he suspected might be the end of him, as his master was the Masked One, and he was very unforgiving.
Suddenly, the doors exploded around Malor, showering the room with splinters. Azaz was thrown against the wall, which did nothing but excite him.
Malor stumbled, and did a quick roll, evading a lighting bolt from the Masked One. He didn't like how the show had started, but he had been given the best seat in the house, front row center. Regardless, he knew he had to try to escape, for he was no match for his Master, who had taught him everything he knew.
The fight went on for quite some time, eventually leading the the Masked One's private enchanting room, which was bring for the Underbarren. This put Malor at even more of a disadvantage, as Malor, like most Delves hated the light, but this was something Masked One was used to. He came up with a plan however. If he could make it to the courtyard, he might just have a bit of an advantage.
He finally found the exit door in the blasted blinding light, and tried to open it, and was shot with a blast a magical energy, causing great harm. He cursed the place. As it was magically locked. Masked One shot a wave of magical energy towards hims again, but he dodged it, and while he was charging something more powerful, he cast an opening spells, and sped out the room. Masked One hissed at Malor, telling him that he only delayed the inevitable.
Malor cursed Masked One back. The chase continued for some time, and suddenly came across an Oblivion Gate. There were many in the Underbarren, filled with demons who saw Delves as on one of their own, and left them alone, they also often had a second gate entrance, and this likely would lead to another part of the city. He quickly jumped inside. He immediately saw another gate, and jumped through that one as well. He was suddenly outside, in the courtyard like he had hoped, praising the Spider King for his luck!
Liza looked into Razlar's eyes, commenting on just how different they were. He was only out of the womb for a few hours, yet his eyes were glowing bright red. Mistress commented that he was blind, and made her way to him, ready to sacrifice the cripple. Children with birth defects were not something that the delves considered worth keeping around. Liza stopped her however, noting that he was following her finger, wondering what untapped power those eyes possessed.
Glass suddenly fell on from the sky towards Malor, cutting his own face sharply as he shifted his weight to avoid more broken glass. To his surprise he quickly realized that it was a mirror that had fell on him. He suddenly heard the faceless one groan about his mirror, even more outraged. Malor indeed was at an advantage now, he may have been injured, but there was nothing more vulnerable than a mage not able to keep his temper.
Malor cast a paralyzation spell on Masked One, holding him in place. He then asked him why he wanted him dead. Masked One told him that it was because he broke his mirror. Malor asked him another question, asking him why he wanted him dead before that. He told him that it didn't matter. Malor then told Masked One that the house shall hear about this, and then Masked One revealed that House Deville is no more, thanks to House Ma'Rahn and, and suddenly broke free of the paralyzation spell, summoning a Fireball. But suddenly the Masked one fell forward, and expired, a crossbow bolt appearing on his head.
Lost in his own shock, Malor slowly checked the bolt. It was especially made to pierce through skin. It has likely hit his brain very quickly.
A voice spoke saying that it was a nice weapon.. Out of the shadows, Azaz suddenly revealed himself.
Liza continued speaking to Mistress Ma'Rahn, mentioning how in a few years if she kept to her studies she could become a cleric, and asked her mother permission to return to the academy. Mistress shook her head, telling her that she was needed elsewhere, to teach Razlar the basics.
Malor wiped some blood off his face, and nursed his would. He was badly wounded from the glass. He asked why Azaz killed his master. Azaz spat on the Masked One's corpse, and mentioned that in the time as his apprentice he didn't learn a thing that he didn't teach himself, and was treated like a lowly cleaning slave, and that he was going to send him to be trained as a warrior instead of a mage. Then he came by and made it convenient to seek his revenge. Azaz thanked him, and said that this was goodbye as he aimed his crossbow at him.
Malor stopped him, and said hat he had a better idea. Why not burn the body, and have Malor himself take over as the Masked One. He'd actually be his mentor, and teach him well. In the meantime, they could work on taking out Ma'Rahn. Azaz agreed.
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Chapter 4: I can't fly, you fool!
For several yeah, Liza spent nearly every waking moment with Razlar, but it was not to nurture, it was to indoctrinate. It was the way of the Delve. It was how they learned the precepts that bound their very chaotic evil society. Liza spent hour after hour reminding him of the inferiority of the delve male,. And since almost all of his time was spent at the family temple, he rarely saw other males.
When Razlar was old enough to follow commands, Liza had less to do, but still continued to teach him how to act and how to think. However, she mostly assigned him cleaning duty, for Liza despised Razlar for making her do what she saw as a menial task. She wanted to study and become a cleric, and to her he was just an annoyance. Keeping her away from what she truly desired. She wanted him to finally become 10 already, and stop wasting her time.
Razlar reached year 9 of his life, and Liza told him it was was now time to complete a rite of passage for the Ma'Rahn He told him to go up a wall, and clean a statue. He began to climb, slowly making his way. Liza picked him up and slapped him telling him to will himself to rise.
Razlar closed his eyes, trying to concentrate, as he imagined himself floating, believing in himself as he suddenly rose from the air. He laughed happily as went around the air, for the first time feeling free as he rose higher and higher in the air, laughing, feeling like the king of the world. Within a few minutes, he wasn't just levitating, he was flying, smashing through the ceiling as he made his way to the outside world, landing himself in Whiterun, the king telling him that he was a dragon born, when suddenly he felt another large slap upon his face, shattering his illusions.
Liza told him to stop daydreaming, and focus on the task at hand. Hours passed, and he was able to do naught. This angered Liza all the more, and with that she blindfolded him, and carried him, telling him to remain silent.
Hours passed and finally they reached their destination, Liza slapped him once more and told him that there were where their god the spider king resided, and that she was going to throw him into the pit which led to a portal where Malath resides. If he couldn't will himself to levitate out of it, he would meet Malalth before his death, and the afterlife would be far far worse! Razlar begged Liza to show mercy, but she ignored him, as she counted to 100. It felt like an eternity, but she finally reached 100
She shouted at him, telling him to die like the useless male he was, and she threw him in...
The End