Vvardenfell Reborn Part 2 – The Incarnate

Chapter 1 - Awakening

Author's Note - This story is the sequel to Vvardenfell Reborn. One does not need to read that story to understand the events of this one, but if you do wish to read it, the first chapter of this story contains spoliers. NB

Varo Sinclair gently drifted to sleep. However, he soon found himself awake, in a place that looked strangely familiar. A huge, pyramidal cavern deep in a volcano. In front of him stood a strange figure – they looked like a person but had pale grey skin and wore an ornate golden mask.

"So, Commander Sinclair, finally we meet" the figure said calmly.

"Who are you?" Varo asked.

"I think you know, Varo" the figure replied. "Remember, you are dreaming. Think of what Father Velas told you all those years ago"

"Dagoth Ur…" Varo whispered to himself.

"Honoured" Dagoth Ur said. Through a small slit in his mask, Varo could see he was smiling. "I have come before you in this dream because I want to speak to you. First, I promise you that I mean no harm to you"

"I trust you" Varo said. "I know that you are not as evil as you are made out to be"

"I merely wanted what was right for my people" Dagoth Ur said. "I despise the Dunmer, as do you. They betrayed me. Their incompetent false gods murdered my friend, Indoril Nerevar. That day I ceased to be Lord Voryn Dagoth of the Great House that bore my name. I swore an oath that I would rid Vvardenfell of the Dunmer. That almost happened, when I defeated the man who believed he was the reincarnation of Nerevar in battle. Believe me, Varo. I knew Indoril Nerevar better than any others. No other man as great as him will ever be born, especially not Commander Drothan Indoril"

"I hope I did you proud by killing him"

"Yes, you did, Varo. Using Wraithguard as a weapon. I was most impressed. Anyway, I must continue. The Dunmer were almost driven from Morrowind when Vivec used the very volcano I called home to destroy me. My kinsmen, the Ash Vampires, slowly died out and joined me in this strange dreamland in which we now stand. The ash creatures and the ascended mortals who led them slowly died out without my influence. The Dunmer were gone, but so was House Dagoth. But then they returned. I knew this would happen. I now exist outside the mortal perception of time – I can see everything that is happening, everything that has happened and everything that will happen. Shortly after your people arrived on Vvardenfell I foresaw Drothan Indoril and his brethren, and their diabolical plan to drive you and the Azura worshippers from the island. That is why I sent you the dream, telling you what must be done. Thank you, Commander Sinclair. Thank you for everything"

"That's not the only reason you're here, though, is it?"

"No, Commander. I come with a warning. Something has been set in motion on the mainland that may have great repercussions for your new empire. Think of the remaining four Houses – after what happened during the time of the False Incarnate, the point where Vvardenfell was almost destroyed for good – Houses Hlaalu, Redoran and Telvanni became disillusioned by the Tribunal Temple. They realised that they were corrupt and wielded no real power where it mattered. But House Dres, their religious beliefs unmarred by the death of Vivec, or the murder of Sotha Sil by Almalexia, still worship the Tribunal, and are trying to re-instate them"

"They wish to re-instate gods?"

"Remember, the Tribunal were not true gods, just elevated mortals who wielded immense magical and socio-political power"

"But why is it a threat to me? Although I imagine Vivec will want his city back"

"Vivec City lies in ruin, partly thanks to you and partly thanks to nature. What the incarnates will be interested in is the power of Vvardenfell itself. At this stage I cannot tell you more, because I don't know how they intend to tap into this power. But there is a reason that Vvardenfell has been the epicentre of almost all major events in Morrowind. Heed my words, Commander Sinclair"

At that moment, Varo awoke. As he had been dreaming, night had passed and first light was beginning to shine dimly through his bedroom window. He got out of bed, leaving his wife, Galmina, sleeping next to him.

Varo estimated the time to be around 6am. It was early, but he needed to speak to someone about what he had just experienced. He knew Vvardenfell wielded power, but he had friends who knew more, experts in old Vvardenfell and the arcane. By the time he reached New Pelagiad from his manor atop the Odai Plateau it would be nearly 9am.

--

As Varo left his manor atop the Odai Plateau, nodding a 'Good morning' to the brace of mercenaries guarding the gates, he heard rapid footfalls behind him.

"Father!"

Varo turned around.

"Fariel, what are you doing up so early?"

Fariel smiled. "I heard you getting dressed and I knew you'd be going somewhere interesting. Can I come?"

"I'm only going to Pelagiad to speak to Jurard and Father Indarys" Varo replied. "But you're welcome to join me"

Fariel Sinclair was Varo's seventeen-year-old daughter, possessed of her mother Galmina's blonde hair and delicate features and her father's lust for adventure. Varo had married his friend Galmina, a Bosmer mage, after a dramatic series of events that had resulted in them being where they now were.

Hundreds of years ago, the Dunmer believed to be the reincarnation of Lord Indoril Nerevar, had gone to Red Mountain to challenge Dagoth Ur but had been defeated, also losing Kagrenac's Tools to Dagoth Ur, and as a result surrendering great power to him. As Dagoth Ur's power grew exponentially, Vvardenfell was abandoned. The Dunmer returned to mainland Morrowind, the remaining races moving to the Imperial holding of Solstheim or returning to their homelands. Just as it looked like Dagoth Ur had claimed Vvardenfell as his own, Red Mountain erupted and killed him.

Over the next five hundred years, remnants of civilisation were slowly destroyed as nature took its hold. With the Blight gone, nature also reclaimed Molag Amur. As plantlife began to tentatively grow and die out again, a rich, fertile soil began to cover what was once a barren, rocky wilderness and transform it into a lush, vibrant garden. Weather and erosion destroyed Vvardenfell's cities and wild animals became the dominant species of the island.

However, a small band of surveyors eventually deemed Vvardenfell safe to colonise again. Varo Sinclair was in charge of the Imperial expedition and reached the island first, establishing small colonies in the ruins of Ebonheart and Pelagiad. An Azura-worshipping sect, the Sun And Moon Cult, landed at Molag Mar and formed an alliance with Varo's people. However, the Grand Council of Morrowind soon sent a large army, led by the ruthless and cruel Commander Drothan Indoril. Indoril had formulated a plan to rid Vvardenfell of its new occupiers – by causing the Blight to reign once again.

Thanks to dreams broadcast by Dagoth Ur's spirit, now infused in the very rocks of Vvardenfell after the great eruption of Red Mountain, Varo and Galmina located the left-hand copy of Wraithguard, buried deep beneath Vivec's palace. Little did they realise, however, that this was part of Indoril's plan. Varo was captured and eventually led to a facility deep beneath Vivec where the war between his people and the Dunmer reached its dramatic conclusion.

In the years following these events, Varo's people and the Sun And Moon Cult had begun rebuilding Vvardenfell. New Pelagiad was the first major construction, built from pictures and maps of the original town, but with an extensive mining facility to its west. One of the effects the numerous eruptions of Red Mountain had caused was a reshaping of certain parts of Vvardenfell – much of Ald-Ruhn now lay buried under lava, many of the canyons and ravines in the Red Mountain area had been levelled, and the Foyada Mamaea had channelled a huge stream of lava, rich in glass and ebony deposits, to the north-western part of the Ascadian Isles.

Romanus Ratarius was the man in charge of the mine, originally sent by the Emperor with Varo to control whatever resources could be found on Vvardenfell. The huge exports of ebony and glass from the Pelagiad mine had resulted in many members of the operation making a lot of money, meaning the standard of living in Pelagiad was very high.

Elsewhere on the island stood Hlormaren, a city built around the ancient Dunmer fortress of the same name, so well-built it had stood the test of time almost intact. Houses had been built around the stronghold, now used as a Legion garrison, and a harbour built in the natural bay to the fortress' west. Ebonheart had also been rebuilt into a harbour town.

The Sun and Moon Cult had also been busy building – the city of Moonstar now stood just to the north of the Azura shrine on Azura's Coast.

Varo was officially still the highest-ranking man in the Imperial expedition but had passed the majority of responsibility to the newly-formed Council of Vvardenfell. The Council resided in Pelagiad castle and consisted of the Sun and Moon Cult's Father Indarys, a powerful war wizard and renowned scholar, the Mages' Guild's Arch-Mage, Jurard Aurmine (an old friend of Varo and Galmina's), the Legion commander Ralix Hermidius and Erdora, an old Altmer soldier who was formerly employed by Romanus Ratarius, but had left active service when he became too old.

Although only a small amount of Vvardenfell had been populated, a friendly and tightly-knit community had been made, free of the corruption, hypocrisy and segregation that had plagued old Vvardenfell.

--

Pelagiad, later that morning

Varo and Fariel reached the gates of Pelagiad just before nine, their journey being uneventful. Some wildlife had attempted to attack them, but it had merely been good practice for Fariel's spellcasting. Varo enjoyed bringing Fariel with him wherever he went – she was always enthusiastic, even about routine trips such as this one, and was quickly developing into a sorcerer of considerable talent. Varo was extremely protective over Fariel after his son, Velas, had been killed at the age of fifteen, attacked by ancient Dwemer constructs whilst exploring a ruin.

"You're going to have to entertain yourself for a while" Varo said to Fariel. He smiled and handed her a small bag of Septims. "Go and buy yourself some new clothes"

Fariel smiled back at Varo then skipped into the town, Varo walking behind her on his way to the Mages' Guild building.

"Commander! What a pleasure to see you!" Jurard Aurmine exclaimed as Varo walked into the Mages' Guild.

"I'm glad you're up" Varo replied. "I was worried I might be a bit early"

Jurard was a man of many talents – a scholar, a knowledgeable historian, an engineer and an extremely talented enchanter. He was eccentric to the point of being occasionally irritating, but his talents and loyalty more than made up for it.

"What can I do for you, then?"

"I need to talk to you. I had a rather… interesting dream last night. I was hoping you'd help me make some sense of it"

--

"So we are under threat again" Jurard said in a low voice after Varo had finished explaining his dream.

"Maybe not" Varo replied. "I just can't stop thinking about what Dagoth Ur said, about Vvardenfell's untapped power. What does he mean? Could it be the purple crystals we keep finding?"

Jurard looked Varo in the eyes for a few seconds. "The crystals. There's something I need to show you. Follow me"

Jurard left his bedroom, walking quickly and with purpose, with Varo following him. Jurard led Varo into the guildhouse's basement, which was little more than a natural cavern that had been tunnelled into. It was now filled with barrels and crates containing ingredients and soul gems, and chests filled with books and scrolls.

"Over here, in this corner" Jurard said, running across the room and pointing at something behind a large chest. Varo caught up with Jurard and peered over the chest.

A small purple crystal was growing out of the ground, emanating a dull purple light.

"It wasn't here when we built the guildhouse" Jurard explained. "I've always suspected a connection between the crystals and magicka, and here, where we've been practicing magic constantly for years, one of them has grown"

"Interesting" Varo said, gently brushing the crystal with his hand. "Has this been known to happen anywhere else in Tamriel?"

Jurard shook his head. "These crystals, whatever purpose they serve, seem to be native to Vvardenfell"

Varo stood up and turned to Jurard. "Assemble a research team and send them to everywhere else where magic is practiced regularly. Temples, healing houses, even the hills behind my house where Galmina and Fariel practice their spellcasting if they have to. If there's a link between these crystals and magicka, I think we will have found the power source Dagoth Ur told me about"

"It will be done. Oh, a document arrived for you from the Blades. It's being kept in the castle at the moment. It looks important"

--

Clutching a thick, wax-sealed envelope in his hands, Varo stepped out of Pelagiad castle and scanned around, spotting Fariel and another girl talking to one of the Legion soldiers patrolling the town. Varo called Fariel and she ran towards him.

"We need to head back now" Varo said to his daughter. "Your mother will probably be wondering where we are. Who's your friend?"

Fariel looked at the young Dunmer girl. "Saria. She's the daughter of the Mages' Guild enchanter. She's very clever"

"I'm sure she is" Varo replied. "You know, her father helped Jurard make Wraithguard safe for me to wear"

"What's in the envelope?" Fariel said as the pair started walking.

"I don't know, I haven't looked" Varo said as he broke the wax seal. Inside were several sheets of paper bound together with string, with a small note displaying the document's title.

Ralix Hermidius' connection to Cammona Tong.

For the eyes of Commander Varo Sinclair only.

Varo shook his head. "This is all I need…"

"What is it?"

"Nothing for you to worry about, darling. Come on, we really need to go home"

--

Varo heard a knock at the door of his study. He put the Blades document about Hermidius down and got up out of his chair.

"Yes?" he called. Galmina opened the door and walked in.

"Are you alright, Varo? You've been in here all day"

"Galmina… I'll explain later. Are you in the mood for an adventure? Just like the old days?"

Galmina's eyes lit up, remembering the first time she had seen many of the natural wonders Vvardenfell had to offer. Every time she went anywhere with Varo she discovered a fantastic new part of the island.

"Where are we going?"

"Hlormaren first, to speak to Hermidius"

"Ralix? You know he can never be persuaded to come exploring with us!"

"No, it's nothing to do with that. If you must know, I'm trying to recover Kagrenac's Tools"

"Kagrenac's Tools? Why?"

Varo paused for a few seconds.

"Preparation"