Chapter 375: The Battle Of The Hollow City (1/2)
2 Days until the Battle of Winterhold
”Sir Cadwell, what is going on here?”
”Oh, good to see you Krilon, ather your items, it is your turn to help us Don't worry, the objective is too si you help us, you don't need to do et it that I a et an explanation please?”
”Hathered the men and we are ready to march behind you I am sure this tiathered men that were lined around the Cadwell's Shelter and felt a strange urge to smack his forehead Numberwise, the Soul Shriven were not impressive in any way possible
”What do you want me to do with that soul shriven militia, Cadwell?”
”Well, you see It's an event we do here every year really, nothing new We gather every tin It usually ends up in failure thought”
”Hey, Xikil Do you knohat he is talking about?” Jon lost patience on Sir Cadwell
”It's nothing iather every year to raid on the old Hollow City So it in the name of Meridia” Xikil said
”Wait!” Jon turned to Sir Cadwell, ”You want o with those undisciplined untrained and obviously unequipped militia of yours to attack and conquer the Hollow City?”
”Well, it's not a enius, really You see, this is a et it yet? It is an iain” Sir Cadwell said
Jon looked at Sir Cadwell the ancient ?” Jon asked
”Huh?”
”How long have you been doing this? Gathering Soul Shriven and raiding the Hollow City every year Since when?”
Jon's question seems to have hit a nerve on Sir Cadwell and the other Soul Shriven around They seeht came to mind The one who answered was Xikil
”Haha! Those idiot slaves have been doing it for many years, even before I spawn for the first tio and their Hollow City falling to us”
Jon heard Xikil and frowned
”Meridia abandoned the Hollow City? This is a bit strange! Can't you Sir Cadwell still open portals? Isn't that the power bestowed upon you by the Daedric Prince Meridia?” Jon asked
” Indeed it is the case but The Hollow City was abandoned not long after the Plane for a ti the visitors Year after year, no mortal sat foot in the city especially after the Heroes disappeared It was only us Soul Shriven but none was faithful to Lady Meridia other than me All they wanted and all they still want his either salvation or freedom but this is Coldharbour and the matter of eternal servitude is quite the theme here You know the drill”
”I see” Jon nodded
After the disappearance of the Soulless One and the appearance of Tiber Septi around Coldharbour and as the Septim Wars were the next major event after the Planeht of Meridia?” Jon asked
The Light of Meridia was a powerful crystal associated with the Lady of Infinite Energies, Meridia It was used to destroy the Planer Vortex, the artifact that was ht of Meridia was later used as a mean of Teleportation by the Soulless One to roa of Meridia and the assistance of Sir Cadwell
To Jon's question about the crystal, Sir Cadwell seemed down He put his hand in his pocket and took out a small pouch
”This is all what I have”
In the pouch, there was a handful of crystal fragy Jon took back a few steps while Serana and Xikil retreated to the other end of the Shelter
'Strong!'
Jon could only gasp in his e whose pride was handling Energies, this one was so It was as if the power of a nuclear reactor can be carried in one hand This was so
”Where Where is the full crystal?” Jon asked
The [Light of Meridia] is not soe as an adult's forearht I brought it back here once no one needed it so it can be put to preserve the city but we got attacked and the full crystal was shattered by a traitor as proed to grab this handful of frag it ever since I always asked Lady Meridia for aid but it is vexing to say but I think we are abandoned”
Jon felt the bitterness in Sir Cadwell's story Meridia ht but is also the Glister Witch The obscure Daedric Prince who helped the people of Nirn in the Planemeld yet turned on theed the Temples of the Divines, the Daedric Prince who despises the Undead yet gets her followers to be mindless extensions of her will
Jon could understand
”So What is the plan? Retake the Hollow City, retrieve the other Fraght of Meridia and reactivate the city's protection mechanism?” Jon asked
”Couldn't put it any better ht away
”The thing is What's in it for et what? It seeht of Meridia to power up the city”
”Oh dear You are as perceptive as a cat” Sir Cadwell's smile turned cold
”Thank you” Jon liked the coht of Meridia was formerly five smaller Beacons that were used to transport the Hollow City to Coldharbour long tio We won't be able to restore the Full Crystal without Lady Meridia's interference but we can put the five Beacons back together”
”Five Beacons? Wait! Like the Beacon of Meridia that caused oes 'A NEW HANDS TOUCHES THE BEACON'? Five? Holy cow!”
[A/n: a reference to Meridia's Quest in Skyriet that you are enthusiastic about the quest but let's not rush it We still need to prepare a plan for retaking the city” Sir Cadwell took out athis retaking the city scenario?”
”Around 900 years, give or take Why you're asking?”
”900 damn! Fine, what is in the city?”
”Dremora, lots of them We may find an elite or two”
”You don't know?”
”Well, we haven't made it beyond the city walls for the last 500 years so yes We do not knohat's in there But cheer up, the Daedra always underestimate us and don't seriously defend”
Jon was speechless They didn't make it past the walls for the past 500 years and the Daedra is not seriously defending?
Jon took a quick look around the Soul Shriven Sir Cadwell gathered and shook his head