Beautiful Insanity (A Skyrim/Oblivion Fanfiction) ((ORIGINAL))

The Helpless Army

I summoned Arvak and galloped as swiftly as the violet-flamed equine could manage. When I reached Pinnacle Rock in just over half an hour, I gave Arvak an apple before he crumbled to the ground. A Dark Seducer female I presumed to be Adeo approached me, a panicked look in her eyes. Black hair feathered her fine blue face, and her wolflike eyes stared back at me.

"Thank you for coming. I apologize for summoning you, the blame is mine."

"No worries," I told her. "I wish I'd become the Duchess of Dementia instead, but... it just didn't work out that way, I guess." I smiled at Adeo, but she just frowned grimly.

"That's just it with our Duchess... we've lost control of Pinnacle Rock. Syl let them in... we had no idea she would turn on us." Understanding dawned on me, and I scraped the ground with my boot. This is my fault. "They captured our commander, Dylora, and have her imprisoned somewhere inside. Our first priority must be rescuing her."

"Where is Dylora now?"

"Syl had called her aside, separating her from the group. She meant to divide our numbers when Order entered, making us easier targets." The Dark Seducer began to pace, and I got an idea of just how terrified she was for her beloved commander. "They imprisoned Dylora somewhere within Pinnacle Rock. If they killed her, she could return to us, so they keep her hostage." Right. Daedra "respawn", per se. "If we follow the waters of the Wellspring, we will surely find her."

"What kind of opposition is there?" If we were to beat these sons-of-bitches, then we had to know what we were up against.

"Syl let them in," she spat venomously, curling her fingers into her palms furiously. "More than I could count. It was all we could do to fall back and regroup out here. We must free Dylora as soon as possible. She will know what to do."

"Right. Let's go."

"Forgive me for saying so, Your Grace, but I find taking orders from the Duchess of Mania to be... unsettling." Of course she would, she traveled along the path of Dementia.

"Then don't think of me as the Duchess of Mania," I replied. "Think of me as a friend." Adeo smiled.

"Aye. I can do that. You are the only remaining Duchess, which is a situation quite unprecedented. Normally, you would never be permitted to pass within Pinnacle Rock. Given the need for swift action, the normal customs shall need to be overlooked for now. We shall be right behind you, Your Grace."

...

I walked into the stone structure. The first room was the Hall of Honor. Inside, it looked like any regular dungeon of the Isles. Within the first few steps, I noticed the fallen form of a Dark Seducer in front of a Sheogorath statue. I placed my hand on her cold arm.

"May you return stronger than ever," I said solemnly. The next room held a few Knights of Order, all of which were child's play to get rid of. The Dark Seducer's fury was impossible to withstand. Ahead was a locked gate, just opposite of a crystallized doorway. I followed the straight path to the metal door.

Ahead were a few urns and the door to the next passageway, the Hall of Reverence.

"She must be in here," Adeo whispered to me. We fought through several more Knights and Priests before even more Knights, Knights, and-- what a shock! Knights!

The repetition was getting quite boring. Press the switch, open the metal gate.

Up ahead, I saw a Dark Seducer, presumably Dylora, trapped in those odd crystals.

"You must help me!" she pleaded piteously. "The barrier can't be broken by you. It's too tough... use the chime! Ring the chime, and that may shatter it!" I saw it on the other side, a brass tool suspended from the ceiling. I rushed over and slammed a dagger into it, sending out an ear-piercing ring that completely shattered the crystals, allowing Dylora to leap out and draw her weapon. "You have my thanks for freeing me," she said graciously. "But... just who are you?" I took a deep breath. Sheogorath knew this wasn't going to end well.