EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei, though she was somewhat tired, reflected Vera’s good mood. There was a great deal she could be worrying about, but it was occasionally helpful to remember that there were positive developments she could focus on. “Indeed. And if we are ever short of livestock, there is always the Falmer and their Chaurus. Dangerous prey, but if we arrange a steady supply of ingredients for poison resistance potions, our warriors could organize hunts to sate their hunger, and thin the Falmer’s numbers. Although, I am beginning to question whether it would actually be a good idea to eliminate them entirely. They are a reliable source of meat and souls, and they keep intruders away from the Blackreach entrances we do not yet control. They seem to avoid the Silent City out of superstition, likely because of whatever wiped them out before. If they did not occasionally attack us, I would not mind them as neighbors.”

After Oswall and Gallus arrived, it was not long before most of the others followed suit. Vera’s lieutenants were, of course, present as usual, but there were also several scholars, alchemists, and a curious Bosmer who had specifically asked to attend. Members of Meesei’s pack, like Lorag, were also in attendance, though he had nothing to do but observe. The Dwemer scholars had brought a stack of parchments as tall as a child, as well as a rather large crate. The others, like Marcaille, had a more tame collection of research notes, but it was clear they would have quite a lot to cover.

Once everyone had taken their seats, Meesei started off the meeting. “It seems we have quite a lot to cover today, so I shall begin directly. We do have some administrative matters to discuss. For instance, Saras has reported that he has nearly established secure communication routes between us and the rest of Tamriel’s clans, so we should be able to resume regular communication soon. However, I believe the first matter we should address is the results of our many research projects so far, as, from what I understand, they could all have a large impact on the short and long term course of this clan. To start, I will give the progress of a project myself and Darahil have been closely involved with.”

Reaching into the bag beside her chair, Meesei produced a broken shard of a disk or crest, made from a glowing blue material and etched with obviously Dwemer markings, and slid it onto the table between them all. “As most of you know, we discovered this unusual shard in Raldbthar shortly after we arrived. Now that we have had a chance to study it, we have found that it is even more unusual than it appears on the surface. It seems to be near indestructible, and as Marcaille has confirmed, entirely alchemically inert. There is a great deal of magical power locked within, but we have found no way to tap into it. There is no way to forge it, or otherwise work with it. But, we have learned more about it. Based on translations our scholars have made in Raldbthar and the Silent City, and other writings we have gathered from elsewhere in Skyrim, we have determined that this shard is made from a material known to the Dwemer as Aetherium.”

Meesei paused a moment to collect a few of her notes in front of her. “Evidently, the dwemer learned how to mine and forge with this Aetherium. They described it as being immensely powerful, and considering that this is the race which build a machine god from the heart of Lorkhan himself, that is not a description I take lightly. Considering its name, it could be related to Aetherial fragments, the rare and powerful materials from which the Ayleids created many of their magical constructs, like welkynd and varla stones. However, we have only just begun that avenue of research. What we do know is that several of Skyrim’s Dwemer cities played different roles in the production and refinement of Aetherium. Raldbthar just happened to be the city that mined this Aetherium; Blackreach was the primary source of this material. From what we have learned, some of the glowing blue crystals we have found in this cavern are pure Aetherium. However, despite its power, we still cannot work with it. The Dwemer built a special forge specifically to work with Aetherium, but we have not been able to locate it. All we can say is that it is not in Blackreach, or any of the ruins connected to it. It is possible that, if we explore some of the other Dwemer cities involved in Aetherium production, we could perhaps locate this forge.”

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Since Sabine has been a part of various research projects, you think she would attend the meeting?

I'd also like to delve a bit into Saras' past, but I'm not sure how to bring that up. I suppose someone not in the meeting could meet up with him, but I'm not sure what would justify talking about his past. He has been coordinating a lot of scouts and general information gathering since they arrived.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I think I'm going to go with the usual interpretation that cities in the lore are physically bigger than portrayed in game, so the Silent City would probably have more buildings and rooms. It would give us a bit more freedom with using it.

Also, you could have Sabine take part in one or more of the research projects, if you wanted. I think Meesei would have been trying to help with them however she could. She knows very little about the Dwemer, but anything relating to enchanting she would have liked to be involved in. Ahnasha would be doing her own, private necromancy research away from the Silent City, as well as training with the Breton woman whose name currently escapes me. All of those skeletons probably would have been useful to her.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

With the size of the warband, it did not take long to clear the citadel; not that there was actually anything to clear. Even after a thorough search, no hint of danger was found within, just long-dead skeletons. Meesei and Ri’vashi both agreed to focus their remaining efforts on their expedition to securing the path from the citadel to Raldbthar, then returning to the surface.

In the two months that followed, what was formerly the Bruma clan was quite busy relocating themselves. Before the non-combatants could be settled in, they had to ensure that their new home would be completely safe for day-to-day life. The Bruma, Riften, and even Solitude clans lent warriors to the cause. Raldbthar was easy enough to clear of any remaining trace of Falmer or Chaurus, though the occasional Dwemer spider or sphere would still appear from time-to-time from the walls. The cavern below was more difficult, as there was quite a distance between the Raldbthar entrance and the citadel they had discovered. Ri’vashi eventually settled on a large-scale hunt of the area surrounding the pathway, followed by regular patrols across all sections of the path. It required a constant, dedicated effort on the part of their warriors, but Falmer attacks became small scale and infrequent. Meesei had most of the skeletons removed, apart from that of the dragon. She was not interested in claiming a trophy from a creature she had not killed, so she had its bones, and some scales they found partially covered in dirt beneath it, taken to a storage room in the citadel that she deemed sufficiently secure. Dragon bones were rare and valuable, so she was sure they would find a use for them eventually.

At the same time as they were clearing the cavern, Meesei sent word to clans across Tamriel, in somewhat covert terms, to send their Dwemer and Falmer scholars to them. It was not a mandatory order, but the nature of their discovery meant that there were many who were more than willing to undertake the journey to Skyrim. And, of course, there were scholars nearby, among the Riften and Solitude clans, who were eager to explore the ruins. There were even trusted, non-lycan scholars that were allowed to live among them. Some discoveries were made fairly quickly, once the scholars had the chance to translate some of the Dwemer inscriptions and written materials they had found. The cavern itself, Fal Zhardum Din, was often simply called Blackreach by the Dwemer, and the citadel they had discovered was known as the Silent City. Alchemists and enchanters also performed tests on some of the unique resources in Blackreach. Despite hopes to the contrary, the glowing mushrooms that filled the cavern were found to be inedible. In fact, they were a largely poisonous fungus that could cause blindness if ingested over time. However, they still had some useful alchemical properties, and were certainly abundant. There was also a curious, crimson red variation of nirnroot growing throughout Blackreach. While nirnroot was somewhat rare in Tamriel, this crimson nirnroot was actually fairly common throughout the cavern, and it was exceptionally useful for creating particular potions and poisons. As such, a group of alchemists set out to see if they could find a way to cultivate the root reliably. Since it grew naturally in Blackreach, it would be somewhat easier than trying to grow nirnroot on the surface.

Eventually, the clan was once again able to settle down into a routine, and with more members than before. There was some disagreement on whether they should refer to themselves as the “Blackreach clan” or the “Silent City clan,” but the fears of relocating had largely worn off. Saras in particular seemed to like the idea of expanding their reach in the new location. The scholars had determined that there were many entrances and exits to Blackreach across a large section of Skyrim, so if they could secure them, he reasoned that it would make it easier for them to maneuver in the province. Any sort of expansion would take a dedicated effort, but from what Meesei had been told, several of their other problems now had potential solutions.

It was early in the morning, or at least, Meesei assumed it to be. Her duties had kept her underground for the better part of a month, so she simply had to assume that her sleep cycle at least somewhat lined up with the day and night cycle on the surface. There were, of course, members of the clan who left the cavern regularly, particularly those who dealt with their supply runs. Although, Meesei had recently been informed that week that the light from the Silent City’s “sun” could actually sustain plant growth. They had already planned to receive a shipment of seed from the Riften clan to begin their own, underground farms. Saras was currently in the city, though he was currently dealing with an issue regarding his supply shipments, so he would not be able to attend the meeting that Meesei had planned. Evidently, the efforts of several scholars, alchemists, and other members of the clan, had finally bore fruit, so she and Ri’vashi would be meeting with the scholars, and the clan’s leadership, to decide how their findings would impact their future plans. Meesei had told her pack that they could attend if they wished, though they did not necessarily need to.

The clan had dedicated a room inside the Silent City’s debate hall to be their new meeting room. It had a large enough rectangular stone table to accommodate quite a few people, and they had provided wool and fur cushions to deal with the uncomfortable stone chairs. Meesei was among the first to arrive, so she had time to collect her thoughts.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Oh yeah, forgot about that. Well, Meesei's pack would be going to Black Marsh. If Peiter asked, she would be willing to allow him to accompany them, though she would not go all the way to Gideon.

Edit: Meant to say Gallus.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha would likely tell Fendros that they could hold a small ceremony in Cheydinhal, or just outside of it. Perhaps find someone willing to perform Dunmer ceremonies between him and a Khajiit. Though, she may or may not have ulterior motives to try and get him to meet with the rest of the family.

I think Peiter and Sabine might start to see more of each others' flaws as things settle down. Peiter's mental state won't be as much of a factor, but he isn't always going to be so over-the-top affectionate as he was when things were fresh. If they are separated for a period of a few months, he might not want it to continue either. Being a part of Meesei's pack would take Sabine away from the clan rather frequently.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The meeting would probably take place in a month's time, IC. I reason that would be enough to bring in the rest of the clan, clear away rubble, and secure enough of Blackreach for them to come and go safely. At the same time, Meesei would have brought in any scholars on the Dwemer from clans across Tamriel to study the place.

For Ahnasha and Fendros, if I'm remembering correctly, Ahnasha has been encouraging him to go to Cheydinhal to see his family. She might suggest to him to go to Cheydinhal, ostensibly to see his sister and allow her to be a part of the wedding.

As for the trip to Black Marsh, I don't think Meesei would find it necessary to enlist the help of another pack, since they are not undertaking a dangerous mission. Just a visit to Thorn, mostly. That said, she would have no objections if Sabine requested that Pieter come along. Pieter himself would be improving in terms of his mental condition, especially once he focuses on training magic. However, I think that "new love" feeling would start to wear off between them. Even in good mental health, Pieter does have some flaws.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I feel it is about time for us to skip ahead. There would be quite a bit for them to do in Blackreach to make it livable, and there would be certain discoveries they would make once Meesei brought in the relevant scholars and experts. But, we can summarize most of it. I feel like I want to bring us to a scene where Meesei is holding a meeting with the other leaders to recap and present some of the scholars and other experts are working on. I also kind of want to have a chance to go into Saras' background. Perhaps have a conversation with him.

Then, there are other things we've had planned. Ahnasha and Fendros would have their wedding, maybe go to Cheydinhal. Meesei and probably Sabine would go to meet with Ariel. Kaleeth and Janius could piggy back onto that trip if we wanted to do a thing where Kaleeth re-visits her home. When do you think we should do these things, and in what order?

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Could be automatons." Ahnasha reasoned. "Physically, they are powerful, and they obviously wouldn't eat the bodies. They could deliver these sorts of wounds, especially a centurion. Though, this particular room would be pretty tight for one of those to maneuver around with all this rubble."

Meesei nodded. "It is a strong possibility. We have not yet seen any evidence of automatons active in this citadel, but that does not mean they are not present. I do not know why there would be men, mer, and Falmer all present to fight against them, but it would be consistent with what we have observed. Although, these skeletons are all years old, at least. It is also possible that whatever killed them has long since moved on. Still, be on your guard."

Exploring the first chamber, Meesei's group found several rooms branching off from the main chamber which, based on the ancient stone beds, were bedrooms. They had obviously been used for that purpose since they were built by the Dwemer, but they also seemed to have more recent tenents. There was rotten food on the tables, along with more modern bags and other items. Again, all of the skeletons they found were Human or Elven, instead of Falmer.

There was certainly a mystery as to what happened in the ruins, particularly since one of the Human skeletons they found was killed by an arrow not of Falmer make, but it was a mystery for later. Since each of the side rooms were dead ends, the group continued on up the stairway and came across another lift. Just as before, Meesei's pack was the first to test it, and as she had guessed, it was a much shorter lift that carried them up to the high platform they had seen from below when entering the ruin.

Stepping out onto the platform, even Meesei could not help but to be impressed with the sight before them. They were slightly above the glowing orb hanging above the citadel, so they had an excellent view across a large portion of the cavern. It was like a forest of glowing mushrooms separating grand and ancient Dwemer structures. She could even see, ever so faintly in the distance, the entrance they had used to enter the cavern. Although, there also appeared to be other potential entrances, some even closer to the citadel.

On the platform, there was a single stone throne overlooking the ruin beneath them, which Meesei leaned herself against. "This place somehow seems even larger than before from up here. I cannot pretend it would be easy for us to settle here, but...it is probably the most defensible home I could imagine. I doubt there are many people in Tamriel, if any, that even know of this place. If there were, there would be scholars coming from all corners of Tamriel to study it. There is no telling what we could learn from it, what resources we could find. Provided there are no dangers lurking within, this citadel would be a secure enough position, and the Falmer seem to avoid it. If we can secure the closest exit, we can begin bringing in people and supplies to further fortify it. This could be our safe haven, though I have no doubt it will be a long process to make it so." Meesei commented to the others.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei scanned the area around them, still finding no hint of life other than fungus, and the warband itself. The sent of Falmer was much weaker atop the citadel than it had been at any other point in the cavern. It was weak enough that it was almost easy to forget they were present at all. "It is difficult to say. It could be danger keeping them away, or something else we are yet to see. Regardless, it looks like there are several buildings to explore, so we should split the warband and clear it all at once. Our numbers will not be as useful in confined spaces anyway."

Once again, the warband split into three gruops, headed by Meesei, Ri'vashi, and Hjergir respectively. Meesei's pack lead her group into the tallest of the structures, which actually seemed to connect to a part of the cavern's ceiling that hung down to meet it. Stepping inside, Meesei prepared herself for an ambush or other dangers, but just as before, they were met with only bones and the constant hum of Dwemer machinery. The first room they entered was particularly badly damaged, with rubble scattered all around the room. It did not look like it was in imminent danger of collapsing, but it would certainly need to be repaired if they intended to settle in the place.

Immediately to the right as they entered, Lorag spotted something which caught his eye. Against the wall, there were two skeletons, one Falmer and one Human .In itself, that was nothing unusual, but it was the way in which they were arranged that he found interesting. "Huh, that's weird. Look at these two; both dead against the same wall, with a lot of shattered bones. Looks like the Falmer had the back of its head caved in, and the ribs of the Human are really shattered. I'd say something smashed the both of them against the wall hard enough to cause the majority of the damage. 'Course, that would mean they were both attacked by the same thing." He observed.