Northbound Pilgrimage III

Chapters LI - The Evils of the World

"It's kind of pretty, you know?"

Melia ran her hand over the blade almost reverently. Over the odd white metal, the intricate carvings of the hilt and, finally, over the strange gem that was shining brightly enough to illuminate any chamber.

Snow was falling softly on the artifact and evaporating the instant it got near. It was like that sword radiated some sort of heat. It was... disturbing.

"Pretty but evil," Vuaerion sighed. "The Daedra lure the unsuspecting and weak with pretty words, powerful artifacts and empty promises and then they take back from them tenfold."

"I know," she nodded absentmindedly. She had heard this lecture a thousand times before. All his paladins had. But it was a lecture worth repeating.

Resisting the evils of the world was a constant struggle, day in and day out. Vuaerion had seen it too many times. He had seen friends and family succumb to the temptations and then give their lives away to unspeakable monsters. It never got any easier. It always hurt to lose someone this way. It always left behind a scar that would never heal.

"Brother Vuaerion, is there anything more we need to do here?" Ragnaak interrupted them as he gazed at the statue nearby with a deep frown on his face. Meridia stood tall on her mountain, wings spread wide and arms reaching to the skies. There was a pedestal in front of the statue that was sure to hold something – maybe another artifact that awaited its champion.

No such luck, monster.

The Vigilants had their own ways. Although this mission was more of a stroke of luck. Their patrol came across a mage being attacked by vampires and they disposed of them swiftly. The mage was shaken though. And after a long talk with Vuaerion, he agreed that the Daedric menace in Skyrim was out of control. That was about the time he admitted that his faction – these Synod mages – uncovered a Dwemer device that pointed them to an object of Meridian power near Solitude. He was more than happy to give them direction to this place and let the Vigilants dispose of this evil.

They breached this ancient temple, tore down any barriers that Meridia's evil magic held on this plane, until they found this sword. It was an admirable victory. And hopefully their own dispelling rituals ensured that no followers of the vile Daedra would ever find sanctuary in this place again.

"No. We are finished here," Vuaerion's eyes went to the large statue as well. He would like to tear it down. Maybe they could send a few men to do that too. But right now, there were other concerns to address. "Take a few men and bring the sword to our vaults, Ragnaak," he nodded. "The rest of us will head to Markarth."

It was about time they made their way there.

On their way to Mount Kilkreath, a messenger caught up to them with a strange plea from the old priest of Arkay in Markarth. Apparently there had been cases of half-eaten corpses in the Hall of the Dead. It definitely sounded sinister and the priest was right to contact the Vigil. Vuaerion wasn't sure yet what this could mean, but they needed to investigate this as soon as possible.

What was much more concerning, however, was the fact that the letter was so old. It spoke of the strange events spanning over several months – since Sun's Height. But Sun's Height was beginning tomorrow. That could only mean one thing. The letter was at least half a year old. Why was it only delivered now? The messenger had no answers for Vuaerion. Apparently the letter was collected from one of their mailboxes. Why did the priest wait so long to send it?

No matter. It was clearly something that needed to be investigated thoroughly.

And hopefully the Vigil would be able to neutralize yet another vile threat in that city. The place bore bad memories for all the paladins ever since they had to deal with the shrine of Molag Bal in one of the houses and the death of their brother. It was such an unfortunate tale.