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Fall from High Rock	By : mistressarachnia Category: +A through F > Elder Scrolls - Morrowind Views: 4940 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The Elder Scrolls universe belongs to Bethesda. Alyssa Elbert belongs to me. I make no money from writing about her adventures.

Chapter List
- 37
- 38
- 39
Chapter
38: Mysteries
Alyssa hurried after Mistress Dratha
down the vine-filled corridors that made up Tel Mora, carrying a skull.� She
felt she was starting to get the hang of this.� Well, sort of.� For some reason
the skulls were just easier to deal with.� She would let the Bosmer handle
their beloved� meat�� She shuddered.� She really didn�t want to know what it
was they were serving in The Covenant, but she was starting to suspect that it
wasn�t nix-hound.� The Bosmer weren�t keen on serving vegetable dishes, so for
the most part� well� she just tried not to think about it.
They reached Dratha�s chambers,
where she had already set up a series of elaborate alchemical equipment.�
Alyssa took a seat nearby, setting her skull on the table.� She fished through
her robes for the piece of cloth and little vial she had prepared earlier.� The
skull was the last piece she needed � she had already coated the rest of the
skeleton with the potion and it was now waiting down in the chambers below.�
Just this one piece more and Dratha could resurrect it� or him, rather.� Alyssa
could tell just by looking at the skull now that it was male, probably one of
the human races.� She couldn�t tell which one though.� She smiled, pouring a
few drops of the mixture out onto the cloth.� Dratha was busy mixing two vials
of blood.
�Do you know much about porphyric
hemophilia?� Dratha asked.� Alyssa blinked.� She could swear Dratha was
speaking a different language sometime.
�No, I can�t say that I�ve ever
heard of it,� Alyssa answered, as politely as possible.� There was no need to
hide her confusion.� Dratha seemed to expect that no one had any idea what she
was talking about most of the time.� But she was always more than happy to
explain it, so Alyssa felt that she was learning a great deal.
�When left untreated, the disease
results in the condition known as vampirism,� Dratha explained.� Alyssa
blinked.� Oh of course!� She knew a little about vampirism at least.� She was
glad her family had thought to teach her somewhat about the art of necromancy�
she just wished� oh never mind, it wouldn�t do to resurrect them now, to think
of the condition they�d be in�� Alyssa shuddered.� No, on second thought, she
didn�t really want to think about the condition of her parents� rotting
corpses, actually.� She tried to block it out, concentrating on polishing the
skull in front of her.
�It�s a terrible condition to live
with, but there are many benefits to the disease as well,� Dratha continued,
�For example, immortality � a stop to the process of aging.�� Alyssa looked
up.� Was that how she did it?
�I was able to modify the virus
somewhat after I pinpointed the exact location of the genes.� When ingested,
the mutated virus now binds to the telomers of an individuals� own DNA thus
causing a virtual stasis in the genetic degradation process.� There are still a
few side effects I am attempting to manage, but ones life it is well worth the
slight annoyances I have endured over the years.� After a lifetime of
perfecting the methods, I imagine that a younger mage recreating my work would
experience even fewer side effects from the genetic manipulation.� I have been
meaning to send a milder dose in the form of a cream over to Elegnan � I feel
that as a beauty aid it will be quite a hit amongst her customers,� Dratha
explained as she stirred the mixture.� A slight puff of red smoke rose from the
mixture, yet she hadn�t even begun to heat it.
�Elegnan asked me to model some of
her new High Rock fashions,� Alyssa said, watching the smoke swirl gracefully
to the ceiling in delicate crimson wisps.
�Ah!� So her new stock has finally
arrived, has it?� Mmm� I would be rather interested to attend myself, if Elegnan
doesn�t mind keeping the lights a bit dim.� Slight side effect from some of my
earlier experimental attempts at this formula, you see.� I believe I�ve fixed
it now but�� Ah well,� Dratha mused.
�The lights hurt your eyes because
of your potions?� Alyssa asked, �I�m sorry to hear that, it sounds like a
rather unpleasant side effect.� Can you go outside at all?� I mean, I know
vampires can�t�� Dratha laughed.
�I�m not a vampire.� I can go
outside in bright sunlight without taking damage, but the light is blinding.�
It gives me a headache and on the sunniest day I can hardly see where I am
going.� My pupils simply do not constrict enough.� One of these days I�ll
figure out a remedy for it, but it isn�t too debilitating.� As I said, a very
small price to pay for over a millennia of life,� Dratha smiled.� Alyssa�s eyes
widened.� It always surprised her to hear the true ages of mer.� What was Dratha
like, she wondered, when she was Alyssa�s age?
�Well, you seem to be very good at
figuring out solutions to every problem you attempt,� Alyssa replied politely,
feeling a bit in awe of her mistress.� Dratha shot her a sad smile, picking up
a second vial and stirring it into the first so that a large puff of green
smoke arose from the tiny vial.
�No, not everything, I�m afraid.� I
still have yet to figure out the mysteries of the mind itself.� I have been
studying for centuries to no avail,� Dratha replied with a hint of wistfulness
in her melodic voice.� Alyssa looked at the skull in her hands in confusion.
�I remember that you keep all of
the brains from your experiments,� Alyssa replied, �So I�m sure that once you
get enough you will be able to figure out everything.�� Dratha laughed softly.
�I find I enjoy having a young
Breton woman in my company.� Your adjustment to the practice of necromancy has
been much smoother than it is for many of the others.� Even the Bosmer in their
enthusiasm often fail to grasp the deeper implications of their work, only
looking so far as their next meal.� It�s refreshing really.� You seem to
understand the subject already in a way few others ever come to understand it�
and so young, too�� Dratha mused, reaching across the table tenderly to caress
Alyssa�s cheek.� Alyssa smiled.
�But no� it isn�t the quantity that
is lacking, unfortunately.� My problem is that I still cannot repair much of
the tissue once it is damaged.� I have an easier time with physical trauma�
disease is a bit more difficult� and some types of magic�� Dratha broke off,
setting down her vial for a moment as she gazed off into space.
�Well I don�t think I�ve ever met
anyone as intelligent as you,� Alyssa replied, �So I�m sure that if anyone can
do it, you can.�� Dratha turned to her with a smile.
�You are a beautiful girl, Alyssa,�
she replied softly, �And very kind as well.�
�Well, if there is anything more I
can do to help, I would be happy to do so.� I�m almost done with this skull
after all,� Alyssa replied happily, returning her attention to polishing.� She
had to be careful not to break through the delicate bone of the orbits, so
worked slowly over those areas.
�Hmm� I�ve been trying out a new
mixture combining some of the properties of corprus with porphyric hemophilia,
but it isn�t completed yet.� I want to try it out on a few more test subjects:
reanimated, damaged, and intact for comparative analysis of the results.� The
initial results have been most promising, and I�ve at least gotten the mixture
to the point where it does not damage the intact specimen too badly.� Once I am
finished though I am curious� well, I�ll have to perfect it first but� I�m
optimistic that this time it may actually work!� Of course, it wouldn�t be the
first time I thought I�d found the cure�� Dratha sighed, bringing her hand to
her forehead in what appeared to be a combination of sadness and frustration.�
Alyssa remembered the corprus stalker in Berwen�s shop� she could see now that Dratha
was intentionally collecting victims of the disease.� She shuddered.� She knew
they were just diseased but� corprus stalkers were creepy nonetheless.� It only
made it worse that they had once been normal men and mer.
�I should have a few potions ready
by tomorrow.� I�ll need someone to take them over to Tel Branora,� Dratha said,
looking wistful.
�To Mistress Therana?� Alyssa
asked.
�Yes.� Or one of her loyal
retainers, rather.� Poor thing.� There are men on that island nowadays, some of
whom my dear Therana was even said to have hired herself� proof that her
once-brilliant mind still isn�t well.� In fact, I fear she may be getting
worse,� Dratha sighed.� Alyssa watched her carefully.� What a terrible fate to
fall from genius to insanity�� Therana was the only Telvanni councilor she had
not yet met.� Perhaps she should volunteer.� Before she could open her mouth, Dratha
interrupted.
�But anyway, enough about me,� Dratha
continued, setting down her potion as she stood and turned her attentions to a
small chest on her nightstand, �How are you enjoying yourself in Tel Mora?� Do
you find everything satisfactory?�� She took a small glistening black gem from
the chest and returned.� Alyssa stared at it.� There was something� familiar�
about it�
�I�ve seen those before,� she
replied, �I think� back in High Rock��
�They are soul gems,� Dratha
smiled, settling herself once more at the table.
�Yes, but they aren�t normal soul
gems� are they?� I think my parents kept them around the Daggerfall Mages
Guild.� I used to play with them as a young girl, but they always took them
away when they caught me,� Alyssa replied with a giggle.� Dratha laughed.
�It seems you were born for this
kind of work.� They are black soul gems,� Dratha replied with a wink.� Alyssa�s
eyes widened.
�You mean they capture the souls of
men and mer?� But� when I was in Neloth�s tower he had a black soul gem� I
think� and it didn�t look anything like these.� It was bigger, and more
angular,� she replied in a tone of curiosity mixed with mild skepticism.� Neloth
had sucked the soul out of her own body� at least temporarily.� She knew it.
�Ah� those varieties are more
difficult to come by, and are designed to hold more powerful souls.� I have
several in my possession as well.� However, I typically do not have need of
such powerful artifacts to collect the souls of my more common test subjects
when they expire,� Dratha explained.� �It�s a rare occasion when I require
something stronger.�
�So you mean� my parents were
collecting souls as well?� Alyssa asked, feeling suddenly uneasy.� It was one
thing for Dratha�s experiments, nearly expected even, but� her parents had not
been necromancers.� They studied enchantment... at least as far as she knew.
�It would seem so.� Ah, to live in
a world where necromancy is considered the respected subject it should be!� Dratha
smiled, looking at your young pupil with admiration, �Your people have more
sense than my own do, I�m afraid.�
�But� my parents were murdered��
Alyssa continued, not sure why this new information unsettled her so, �And I
never knew they practiced necromancy.� I mean, I never saw any bodies�
everything was always so neat.� Not just the castle � the whole town was neat
and clean.� It was beautiful � everyone was happy there.� And I remember the
other Guild members had those little black soul gems as well.� Then suddenly�
they were all dead�� Dratha spoke a short incantation over the vial and the
gem she was holding.� The vial glowed for a moment as the gem suddenly crumbled
to dust in Dratha�s fingers.� She looked up at Alyssa with concern.
�Hmm� sounds like� you say you have
no idea who killed your family and burnt your home and Guild?� Dratha asked,
raising an eyebrow.� Alyssa shook her head sadly, biting her lower lip to keep
from trembling.
�And you say that the entire town
was happy and� clean� you mean to say that there were no beggars?� No street
urchins?� Dratha continued.
�No, everyone was well-fed and had
more than adequate shelter,� Alyssa replied.
�Interesting.� And your family was
killed only after you left for the university?� Who did you speak with there
about your family?� Dratha asked, her glowing pink eyes fixed on the pupil
before her.
�Well, I had a few friends and I
suppose I might have mentioned this or that to them� I wasn�t there for very long
really.� I suppose I was probably closest to my roommate,� Alyssa replied.
�Tell me about her,� Dratha
requested.
�Well, she was Altmer, with red
hair and very pretty.� She always had all the men after her, but she only liked
other Altmer boys,� Alyssa said.� Dratha snorted.
�Better she was rid of all of
them.� Poor girl� they wind up so lost out there�� Dratha mused.� Alyssa
giggled.
�Well she didn�t like my boyfriend
very much.� I mean� well� um�� Alyssa replied, suddenly blushing.� She had a
feeling she wasn�t supposed to mention her boyfriends around here.� Dratha
leaned in closer.
�Hmm.� This sounds promising.�
Women often have intuition about these things.� What was his name?� What else
can you tell me about him?� Dratha asked, her tone growing icier even as she
fought to be soothing.
�Um� Aaron Traven.� He was Breton
but grew up in Anvil.� I only dated him for a few weeks and we, um� well, we
weren�t very serious I suppose,� Alyssa continued.
�Did you tell him anything that
might lead him back to your family?� Dratha asked, her eyes narrowing.� Alyssa
stifled a giggle.� Surely Dratha didn�t really suspect Aaron of hiring the Dark
Brotherhood� he was barely older than her.
�This isn�t funny Alyssa.� Don�t
you want to know what happened to your family?� Dratha asked, �I have
experience in such matters.�
�Well, we were planning on visiting
my family when school got out for the semester, so I suppose I told him a bit
then.� But we were going to visit his uncle in Anvil as well, so it wasn�t
entirely one-sided.�
�He could have been making things
up.� Men are notorious liars, especially when they see something they want,� Dratha
explained.� Alyssa couldn�t help a smirk.
�Well, we never� got physical, you
know?� He never even asked me to.� So I�m sure that wasn�t what was on his
mind,� Alyssa smiled.
�Then it is clear he wanted
something else from you,� Dratha replied.� Alyssa sighed.� This was going
nowhere.
�On the night you left� did you see
him?� Dratha asked.
�Well, yes, although I didn�t have
much time to say goodbye.� I gave him a quick hug before the guards tore us
apart and he pressed a note into my hands,� Alyssa replied.
�What did it say?� Dratha asked.
�Oh you know� just a silly love
letter between teenagers� he wanted me to write to him when things were safe,�
Alyssa smiled.
�Hmm� interesting that you barely
had time to hug him yet he had time to sit down and pen a note�� Dratha mused,
�And I bet he wanted you to write.� You didn�t� did you?�� Alyssa shook her
head.
� �Well, no.� I was told not to contact
anyone,� Alyssa admitted, �And you know, after a few months� well� I told you
that we weren�t very serious to begin with.�
�Have there been any attacks since
you�ve been in Morrowind?� Dratha asked.
�Um� once, when I first arrived.� I
was attacked in my bed in Ald�ruhn, in my sister�s Guildhall.� I was sleeping
in her bedroom at the time,� Alyssa replied, feeling thoroughly confused.
�Intriguing.� Do you know anything
else about the matter which might be of use?� Any detail at all?� Dratha asked.
�Um� my sister is getting strange
reports from one of her field sites � Nchu Nchuleftingth I believe�� I don�t
know what they consist of, but she once mentioned she suspected the Dark
Brotherhood,�� Alyssa offered, feeling a bit foolish.
�Where is Nchuleftingth?� Dratha asked.� Alyssa shrugged.
�Um� in the Molag Amur region� near� um� Uvirith�s Grave I think��
Alyssa replied.� Dratha�s eyes widened.
�A fitting place for a gang of dark misogenistic assassins to set up
camp to prey upon beautiful and brilliant young women,� Dratha replied with
more than a hint of venom in her voice.
�But Edwinna said there wasn�t any landmark there � at Uvirith�s Grave
I mean �� not even a tomb.� It doesn�t make any sense.� What is Uvirith�s
Grave, anyway?� Alyssa asked.� Dratha smirked.
�It is the most beautiful place in Tamriel,� she replied icily, �For
it�s significence if not its location - for it means Soryn Uvirith is dead and
his tower destroyed.�� Alyssa tried to hide her confusion.� Yes, of course but�
this still didn�t make any sense.� What did any of this have to do with her
family?
�I shall tell you what.� I have a scout named Borwen in my service � a
Bosmer initiated into the Urshilaku Ashlander tribe.� She is excellent at
tracking� although she has yet to find her lost Ashlander lover, Peakstar� poor
girl�� At any rate, it may help take her mind off the situation somewhat to
help you.� I will give her this information and have her investigate further.�
I also have a contact in the Morag Tong in Sadrith Mora who may have valuable
information� and I think she may be just the thing to distract poor Borwen from
her misery as well.� Hmm, yes, this should work out well for all parties
involved,� Dratha laughed.� Alyssa blinked, still feeling confused.
�Thank you,� she finally replied, not knowing what else to say.
�You are quite welcome, my beautiful little Breton witch,� Dratha
smiled, reaching across the table to take Alyssa�s hand, �Didn�t I tell you I
would take care of you?� Now� would you care for a nice hot cup of tea?�
~*~
�I think she likes
you,� Berwen giggled.� Alyssa had returned and relayed her strange conversation
with Dratha.
�Well, I like her
too, I suppose�� Alyssa replied, �I mean, I really respect her.� I think she�s
brilliant, even if I don�t understand her all the time.�� Berwen burst out
laughing.
�No!� Not like that!�
Silly girl.� I mean� I think she wants to take you as her lover,� Berwen
teased.� Alyssa�s eyes widened.
�That�s ridiculous!�
Dratha is probably the wisest and most powerful wizard in all of Morrowind!�
What on earth would she want with a silly girl like me?� Alyssa scolded,
placing her hands on her hips.� Berwen giggled.
�I bet I could think
of a few things she sees in you,� the wood elf winked with a smirk looking her
up and down mockingly.
�Yeah, well I�ve
already got enough drama in my love life as it is.� I�m just not even going to
think about it,� Alyssa retorted, feeling slightly defensive.
�Oooo!� Drama!� Do
tell!� Berwen giggled, jumping onto the bed in one giant leap, �I hope it involves
men.� Lots of them!�� Alyssa giggled, relaxing a little.� It was clear that the
little wood elf only liked to tease.
�No, it isn�t very
exciting, really,� Alyssa replied, feeling suddenly foolish.
�Ha!� Around here,
ANYTHING new is exciting!� Berwen snorted, flipping her blonde hair over her
shoulder enthusiastically, �Come on!� Tell me everything!�
�Oh come now.� It�s
nice here,� Alyssa insisted.� Berwen giggled.
�Yeah, but that�s
because you haven�t been living here for years and years.� I don�t even have
any good stories to tell.� Well, besides the Imperial with corprus you know�
but you know all about that.� Otherwise� it�s pretty much just the same old
drama with Elphiron over and over,� Berwen complained.
�Yeah, I remember she
said something about you when I first got here that wasn�t very nice,� Alyssa
said, trying to remember back to what it was.
�Yup.� Sounds about
right.� She�s just bitter because she practically stalked me for so long and I
wound up saying some guy�s name in my sleep one night � freaked her out.� So I
finally just told her I wasn�t ever interested � which I wasn�t!� It was just
that she was so damned persistant and I finally got desperate enough to try it
out,� Berwen replied.
�You mean you� were
intimate� with her?� Alyssa asked.
�Yeah, and it wasn�t
all that great, if you ask me.� Not much different than doing it yourself
really.� Well, I mean� I guess it was better than THAT� but you know� it just
made me feel MORE frustrated afterwards.� So in that sense it was worse.� Like,
you get all worked up but with no release.� Eh, whatever.� Maybe she just
didn�t know what she was doing.� Wouldn�t surprise me,� Berwen giggled.
�Well, I�ve never
been with a woman before,� Alyssa said.
�Yeah well� you will
if Dratha gets her way!� Berwen giggled.� Alyssa glared, throwing a pillow at
her, which she easily dodged.
�Oh come on!�
Everyone thinks we�re lovers, you know!� Berwen snickered, �Elphiron won�t even
talk to me now.� It�s great!�
�Why would they think
THAT?� Alyssa asked incredulously.
��Cause I let you
live in my house with me� and �cause I maybe possibly told them so,� Berwen
snickered.� Alyssa stared at her inconfusion.
�Why?� she asked,
feeling a little uneasy.
�Oh don�t worry!� You
know I like men� nasty little things that they are!� I just wanted them to shut
up!� Now they�ll leave both of us alone.� And the look on Elphiron�s face was
just priceless!� Berwen laughed, falling back onto the pillows.� Alyssa only
stared at her.� She was giggling so much her face was turning red.� Suddenly
Alyssa burst out into laughter herself.� This was ridiculous.
�Now� tell me about
those males of yours!� Berwen giggled, fighting to catch her breath, �I can get
you some shein if you want� it�ll be fun!�
�Alright,� said
Alyssa, falling backwards a bit when Berwen bounded from the bed to fetch the
shein.� She returned quickly with two glasses.
�Okay!� Now drink
away!� I want ALL the details!��
Berwen smirked, downing her glass in one great gulp and quickly pouring herself
another.� Alyssa giggled, taking a big gulp of shein and letting the taste
linger over her tongue before she swallowed it.� She took another sip, pleased
that Berwen kept such quality liquor.� Well, Berwen had quality EVERYTHING, it
seemed.� She simply refused to either use or sell second rate merchandice.
�Well, I was also in
love with an Imperial, once upon a time,� Alyssa started, �He had long hair,
light brown in color, with piercing blue eyes.�
�Oooo!� Sounds
dreamy!� sighed Berwen, lying back lazily, �Was he good in bed?�� Alyssa
laughed.
�Yes, well� yes, I
suppose he was.� He always got me on fire anyway.� I mean, he�s really the only
person I�ve been with unless you count�� she trailed off.� If Berwen wanted
sexy stories, Tiram was probably not the best subject to bring up.
�Who who who?!� asked
Berwen, her eyes widening.� Alyssa sighed.� Too late, it seemed.
�Well, I sort of kind
of got drunk after he left on some silly quest � the same one Peakstar went on
I think, for the Nerevarine prophesies or something?� Alyssa mused.
�An Imperial?!� The
Nerevarine?!� Oh, that would be priceless!� HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!� I think the
Dunmer would commit mass suicide - especially the Ashlanders.� It would be so
funny though.� The Nerevarine is supposed to get rid of all of us outlanders.�
Totally ridiculous, but I�m amused nonetheless.� Anyway� so who was this other
guy you got drunk with hmm?� Details!� Berwen gushed.� Alyssa took another sip
of shein.
�Well it wasn�t
really very hot.� I mean, I totally wouldn�t have slept with him if I wasn�t drunk,
but I thought I needed to in order to save my sister�s job, �cause SHE already
slept with her alchemist, which is against the rules, and also her Telvanni
research partner, which is kind of like fratrenizing with the enemy in the
Mages Guild if you don�t keep things quiet� you know?� Alyssa continued,
finishing her glass and reaching out to pour another.
�So if you really
didn�t want to sleep with him then why not make your sister do it?� Sounds like
she kinda likes that sort of thing,� Berwen replied.� Alyssa nearly choked.
�No, I don�t think
she would.� I mean, her alchemist is really attractive� and nice� and sweet�
she was silly not to stay with him,� Alyssa complained, �Her new Telvanni guy
is so strange.�� Not bad looking either, Alyssa had to admit.� But� that wasn�t
the point.
�Ooo!� Sounds like
you�re sweet on him too!� Mmmm, the plot thickens!� Berwen giggled, �So� what
did he look like?�
�Well he�s Altmer,
with copper hair and eyes��
�GAH!!!� I LOVE
Altmer males!� They are so totally delicious!� I never had one myself, but I�ve
heard stories!� We never get them around here, and whenever we do Dratha just
chops them up.� Such a waste!� Berwen complained.� Alyssa giggled.
�I kissed him just
before I left,� Alyssa confessed.
�I hope that�s not ALL you did!�
�Oh� it is� my sister
walked in on us� unfortunately,� Alyssa giggled.
�So you had to have
sex with some other guy �cause you were all hot and bothered?� Berwen asked.
�No!� No, that was
before.� And I could never be THAT hot and bothered!� He was the Archmage�s
Dunmer chief advisor and he was much too old for me!� Alyssa complained.
�Yeah, well� wait
�till you�ve been around here a few years longer,� Berwen complained, �Besides,
you�re human so you�re like what?� 16 years old?�
�I am 17� and almost
18 actually!� Alyssa replied, �And really!� I refuse to ever become THAT
desperate!�
�So then, who would
you rather get physical with?� Creepy old Dunmer guy or� me?� Berwen smirked.�
Alyssa�s eyes widened.
�I thought you didn�t
like women like that!� Alyssa replied.
�I don�t!�� Berwen
replied, �It�s hypothetical!�
�Well then, what�s
the point?� asked Alyssa.
�Tonas says it gets
all the guys hot and bothered if you tell them you�re from Tel Mora �cause they
think you get physical with girls all the time,� Berwen smirked.
�How does THAT make
any sense?� Alyssa retorted, �It�s not like they are benefitting from the
activity.� I mean, by definition it doesn�t involve them.�
�Who knows?� They�re
MEN!� They aren�t logical!� Berwen giggled.
Just then a gust of
wind blew into the room.� Berwen�s laughter faded unnaturally before she
slumped over, suddenly asleep.� Alyssa�s heart caught in her throat.� What was
happening?� The breeze settled as a familiar form materialized behind Berwen.
�Malcus!� she gasped.
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Fall from High Rock