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Chapter 5: Infiltration

''So these assassins attacked you at the inn were contracted by the Mythic Dawn?'' Jauffre questioned Dragon.

''Ya, its obvious. Looks like they heard of my doings at Kvatch.''

''Indeed. Well in that case I suggest you be alert at all times in public areas. By the way Martin was able to decipher a code within the books, he's in the Temple's main hall.'' It was ironic to Dragon that Jauffre did not provide more advice to a situation like this. But perhaps he was already to busy with other tasks. As Dragon entered Cloud Ruler Temple's main hall he saw Martin absorbed into a book called ''Modern Heretics'' while books piled upon the table in front of him. Martin apparently was so absorbed that he didn't even wave at Dragon as he came by.

''So you've deciphered a code within the commentaries?''

''Yes, its actually the name of an area. The Lake Arrius Caverns.''

''Let me guess... The base of operations for the Mythic Dawn?''

''Correct... or not. We don't know if its actually their base but the caverns are worth checking out. In any case you'll need to head over there and infiltrate the caves.''

''Wait, what if they know me? I'm the Argonian that saved Kvatch. They'll know me.''

''Don't worry, the Blades have been doing some hunting for the cult's agents. I'm sure that news of your achievements haven't been reported to the caverns.''

''You better or I'm dead once I get over there. Isn't Lake Arrius somewhere to the east of here?''

''Yes, its north of Cheydinhal.''

''Wheres Cheydinhal exactly?''

''Its southeast of here, just read the signs out of Bruma and follow the road east. Once you get there, head up north until you see a lake. The rest is up to you.''

''Hey do you know anyone who can give me some money?''

''Sorry Dragon you can't keep depending on others. Try selling the loot you get from dungeons or caves.''

''Gee Martin thanks.'' Dragon left, quickly eating a nearby bread loaf near Martin as a snack and mounted his horse in the stables, riding out toward Bruma. It took more time for Dragon to get to Cheydinhal than expected. Along the way he saw a young Khajiit woman who beckoned Dragon to come over to her. Dragon kept on riding but instantly came to her as she took off her shirt revealing her breasts. Being too gullible he did not know of the trap placed for him. As soon as Dragon came close enough the woman kissed him deeply robbing him of his senses. The ripping of flesh sounded and Dragon saw that a Dark elf had thrust his sword through him. Bandits. But this did not take Dragon by surprise; he pushed the Khajiit away and punched his attacker so hard that it killed him. Ironically that was the only one. The small group of two was nothing more than amateur bandits. He left the Khajiit since he disliked killing females. After that he remained on the road to Cheydinhal but then his horse lost its shoe resulting in him landing onto the ground head first. Then he trailed off the road on a dirt path thinking it was a short cut but led to a band of trolls in the vicinity. Pretty much after he ran away from the trolls, nature called to him in a nearby bush. He had some ''difficulties'' resulting in him staying at the spot for atleast thirty minutes. For the rest of the time he came upon no other troubles and headed straight for Cheydinhal. The trip lasted five hours when it would've been only three. Now it was five in the evening when Dragon arrived at the city.

''Hey do you know where Lake Arrius is. I know its up north but how far?'' Asking a nearby guard. He didn't smile nor show emotion. Just pointed north to the mountains. ''That's not answering my question.'' He pointed again but this time his arm fell off. ''What the hell?!'' The guard looked up and his entire face was nothing more than a skull, crawling with maggots. It began to shake and quickly dismantled itself causing a pile of dust to appear. As the dust dissipated Dragon saw a person clothed in complete black in front of him. The person spoke in a seductive female voice.

''Hmm I'll need to work on that spell. Anyway, too bad my friends didn't kill you back in Bruma, your pretty handsome; I can tell even with that helm on. Oh well I guess I'll kill you now.'' Great, thought Dragon. Another Dark Brotherhood assassin and this time its a woman. He spotted a green tail behind her. Great even worse! Dragon screamed in his head. Its a damn Argonian woman!

''Look I'm not gonna fight you! Just leave me be.'' Dragon tried to make peace with the woman but she ignored them. Instead using her silver shortsword as a response. She was extremely fast as she matched Dragon's speed. But Dragon dodged her as she hacked away at him. ''Alright you leave me no choice.'' Dragon got farther away from her but then suddenly charged at her, bringing upon all his body weight upon the assassin. Strangely she did not dodge Dragon's attack but instead froze there for a moment of time.''Listen I don't want to hurt you!'' Dragon held her tightly onto the ground.

''Pfft really do you? Then get your damn hand off my breast!'' Dragon looked down and blushed heavily as he saw his hand groping her breast. In embarrassment he jumped off her body. ''You men are all alike, disgusting and perverted. Always too prideful and foolish at times. Too bad there are only a few good men in this world...''

''Hey I'm not disgusting! I'm a little of a pervert but not disgusting!'' Dragon responded aggressively.

''Being perverted is the same as being disgusting but enough of this I need to get out of here...'' She was interrupted as three guards rushed through the gates with swords out.

''THERE SHE IS! GET HER!'' They charged at her but she casted an unusual spell that Dragon had not seen any of the magic schools. Tree roots soon erupted from the ground and entangled the guards who struggled to get out.

''What kind of spell is that?'' Dragon asked.

''It's called Druidic magic. Learned it from a neat little book.'' The assassin began walking away, sheathing her sword.

''Wait your not gonna kill me?''

''Nope. There's something about you during the fight. I can't place it but I like you Dragon.''

''You know my name?''

''Of course idiot you were my contract. I'll let you go this time.''

''Wait you were angry at me for being a perv a moment ago and now your letting me go? What that's it?''

''Hey I'm letting you go because of the vision I had, when I froze.''

''Vision?''

''Never mind . I get the feeling that we'll be meeting again soon. Before I go, my name's Rana. See ya later.'' She then disappeared as a puff of smoke rose from the ground concealing her escape. The roots entangling the guards withered away and desperately searched the area.

''Did you know that Argonian?!'' The guard put his face so close to Dragon that their helmets almost touched.

''No. She was an assassin, I didn't know she was until I saw that mark on her shoulder. I'm not her target but I stopped her.'' Dragon lied. He felt sympathy for the Argonian woman strangely for sparing his life. Ironically he too felt that the two would meet again.

''Hmm very well... I take it she was a Dark Brotherhood member?''

''Ya, how did you know that?''

''She's done this before in Chorrol to a man named Francois Motierre. Ran off before Chorrol guards could get arrest her.'' Dragon remembered the scene he saw with the Argonian woman fleeing from Chorrol guards. He left after a few more questions pondering about the woman. She seemed familiar to Dragon too, like they had met before. He dismissed it as he did not want to get too preoccupied with something else in mind while the real objective was needed to be done. Lake Arrius stood in view as he came upon the aged mountain path. Strangely there were no animals around; not even the birds. An eerie silence filled the air that only the smallest of sounds from the cracking of leaves to a small rock dropping to the ground could be heard. The entrance to the caverns was just a little north of the lake, covered with a putrid smelling moss and grotesque insects. Inside, a torch was lit on the wall revealing a man robed in red standing before a banner of a rising sun behind him. He approached in a bit of a hunched manner.

''Welcome brother, the hour is late but the master is accepting new members. By following the clues given in the commentaries and the orders given to you, you have been proven worthy to join Lord Dagon's chosen few. Before entering the shrine you must give Harrow your items and he will give the, 'grand' tour.'' He opened the door behind him, inviting Dragon to come. Beyond stood a Dumner who had a serious look upon his face with wrinkles all around it.

''I am Harrow, warden of the shrine of Dagon. You have been given a glorious chance, to join Lord Dagon at our finest hour. Now give me your possessions and we'll be on our way. Put on these robes while your at it.'' He grabbed a nearby box and beckoned Dragon to put his items in. He undressed his armor and did as he was told though he did not have a weapon at the time so he couldn't conceal a dagger of sorts. After that he put on the cult robe given to him but it was uncomfortable at his bottom since it didn't have a tail hole like most of his clothes. ''Excellent, now follow me.'' Harrow carried the box of items with him and a torch as Dragon followed. The caves had been clearly inhabited for a few decades already as it the stone structures within had an aged look. The lobby of the shrine contained only a moonlit stone platform and a few braziers along with a hallway leading to another area. The two entered the hall leading to the Shrine where it was patrolled by cult guards in unique armor unknown to Dragon. They reached the shrine and heard preaching. ''Shh we must be silent here for the master is preaching.''

In room below lay a giant statue of Mehrunes Dagon along with thirteen cult members listening to an Altmer on the platform of the statue. His robes were blood red and engraved with black rose like thorns along with black metal shoulder pads of sharp design. As they reached the bottom and Dragon got a better view, he instantly was shocked. The Altmer was wearing the amulet of kings. This was Mankar Camoran, the leader of the Mythic Dawn. He was somewhat of an old man yet his hair still retained its black color. His body was so gaunt that it looked like he had not eaten for sometime though his cheeks seemed a bit rotund. He had a bit of a pointed nose along with small lips. His chin jutted out a bit. He seemed all too proud for his achievement, the retrieval of the amulet of kings. He announced in a echoing booming voice.

''The Dragon throne is empty, the Septim line has been severed and we hold the amulet of kings!'' The crowd of acolytes responded in a monotone.

''So sayeth Lord Dagon praise be.''

''Praise be to your brothers and sisters. For great shall their reward be in Paradise! Hear now the words of Lord Dagon... 'When I walk the earth again, the faithful among you shall receive your reward! As for the rest, the weak shall be destroyed! The strong cast down into the refiner's fire!''

''So sayeth Lord Dagon praise be.''

''Now the time of Cleansing is nearly nigh! We make ready our supplies and preparations! For now I go to Paradise! I will return at the coming of the Dawn.'' Camoran then summoned a bright flashing portal and entered it with the doorway closing behind. The chance to get the amulet was now lost but there had to be another way in that very room. Dragon glanced at a book on the nearby pedestal. It was white, worn with age but had a distinctive Daedric letter on it. Dragon walked closer to it to examine it more clearly but then was stopped by a Altmer woman.

''You must be the new initaite Harrow has talked about.''

''Ya, I'm here to join your cult... thing.''

''Indeed you are. Come up the platform and we will prepare your initiation.'' As Dragon reached the top he saw, an Argonian, half naked, chained to the ground. He was pretty young, about seventeen years of age with spines protruding from his head. He looked at Dragon as if he knew he was coming. The woman drew a dagger and handed it to Dragon. ''Here use this on the sacrifice. Let his blood be spilled upon the altar and Lord Dagon's thirst for red drink will be quenched.'' Dragon held the dagger and thought deeply. Should he kill the innocent in order to receive invaluable information or don't and be killed by everyone in the room. The sacrifice looked at his eyes as if he would accept his fate and die. Then Dragon drew the dagger and slashed downward. The entire room was filled with silence as the acolytes looked in confusion along with the guards. The chains fell to the ground and the young Argonian looked up smiling, happy to know Dragon made the right choice. ''Traitor! He is no servant of Lord Dagon! Slay him!'' The Altmer conjured a wooden staff and was about to release a spell until she stopped. She began to scream and instantly her body combusted into flames and ran from the shrine but then fell to the ground dead a few seconds later. The guards and acolytes looked in fear, not of Dragon but of the young Argonian behind him. His eyes were began to glow a bit and instantly he became fully clothed in runic robes. Then he spoke with a terrifying presence.

''Now this entire base will be reduced to rubble and the evil lurking within no more!'' He reached out his hand and clenched it into a fist, slamming it into the ground. Suddenly the entire cavern began to shake and stalagmites fell upon the unsuspecting people below. Chaos erupted and the cultists ran in all different directions but were crushed under falling rocks. ''Thanks for helping me. I would've destroyed these pests if those chains did not stunt my mana. But we can't talk now, lets get out of here. Get you stuff and the book!'' The statue of Dagon then collapsed but the Argonian created an arcane shield around the two to protect them. Dragon reached for the chest containing his items and rushed back to the platform. ''The book!'' He had forgotten the book. Dragon looked desperately but found the book under, ironically, the giant head of Dagon's statue. ''Now allow me.'' The Argonian grabbed Dragon's hand and grabbed a small pile of sand from his pocket, blowing it into the air. The sand surrounded them and entirely covered the two. The sound of the falling cavern fell farther and farther away. Then the sand dispersed, revealing that the two were just outside the rubbled entrance to the Lake Arrius Caverns. Dragon looked at the Argonian with astonishment.

''Wha... H.. How did you do that?!''

''You can do a lot of things as a Magus but nevermind that now. Keep the book safe, return it to Martin and we will see each other again.''

''Wait how did you know what? And what's the book?''

''Sorry can't tell you. But the book is the Mysterium Xarxes. Also by the way... the name's Hekem...'' Then Hekem disappeared in a flash of bright light as he finished the sentence. A million questions clouded Dragon's mind but he had no time to think about them now, his main priority was getting the book to Martin. After a long grueling walk back to Cloud Ruler Temple, Dragon finally gave the book to Martin only to have him yelling.

''By the Nine! What are you doing with that book! Burn it!'' Dragon recoiled in surprise but rebutted.

''Look Mankar Camoran had the amulet but I couldn't just take it from him or I'd be dead. The book was the only thing there and besides the Argonian said I had to take it.''

''Wait an another of your kind?''

''Ya he called himself Hekem, a Magus. Told me to give it to you.''

''Interesting... I heard about them once in a book. Said that they were supernatural beings with powerful magicks. They were said to have existed during the Dawn Era as servants of the god Magnus who constructed the plans for the mortal plane. People have said to have seen them from time to time but its pretty rare and the last account was atleast thousand years ago.''

''Hmm weird, but do you know about the book?''

''Yes the Mysterium Xarxes an evil book supposedly written by Mehrunes Dagon himself.''

''Well Camoran read out of it. He said something about a Paradise.''

''It must be some sort of pocket dimension he created using the book. If we were to decipher it then we would have access to Camoran's world. But I can't translate it. The Daedric lettering in the book is quite difficult and might take a few weeks which will waste a numeral amount of time.'' Suddenly an instant flash of bright light entered the room and there appeared Hekem, the Argonian Magus dressed in mage-like wear.

''I can.'' Martin and Dragon looked in surprise at the Magus. ''What? You've never seen someone teleport into your halls before?'' A rushing of footsteps hurried to the main hall and a group of Blades led by Baurus and Jauffre burst into the room.

''Are you alright sire? We saw a blinding light come from the main hall.'' Baurus quickly drew his sword at Hekem.

''Hold your sword Redguard I mean no harm to you or anyone but I come to aid.'' Hekem raised his hand and moved the blade down as his hand did without touching the weapon.

''Don't harm him or else he'll destroy us. He's here to help.'' Martin protected the Magus as the Blades' eyes landed upon the Argonian.

''Very well then my lord. Blades go back to your posts. As for our guest I will talk to him'' Jauffre motioned for the Blades and they left. Jauffre approached the Magus, shaking his hand. ''So you must be...''

''Hekem... last Magus of Tamriel.''

''Last?''

''Yes, my friends were taken away by dark forces not from your world. But that is another matter, for now we need to discuss the book.'' Hekem reached out his hand and the book teleported from Martin's to his hand.

''I take that be the Mysterium Xarxes?'' Jauffre questioned.

''Yes and our only way of stopping Dagon and retrieving the amulet.'' Dragon responded. Hekem sped through the book with furious speed until finally he stopped. He sat down in a deep thinking position and grabbed his tail sucking on it. Announcing in a questioning voice he said.

''Well... I can supply two of the items needed here but... the other two I cannot even with my powers.''

''What items?'' Martin questioned.

''The four keys or items I should say to open the portal to Paradise. They are one, the storm, a great welkynd stone. Two, the rush of plagued rain, a great sigil stone. Three, the all the tinder of Anu, blood of an Aedra. And four, the very eyes of Padhome, blood of a Daedra Prince. The two I can supply are the third and fourth but the other two I cannot.'' All three people looked at each other and then asked the Magus where to achieve the stone and sigil stone. ''The welkynd stone remains in Miscarcand, a great Ayleid ruin while the sigil stone must be retrieved from a Great Oblivion Gate, the same one that destroyed Kvatch. The blood of an Aedra I can get for my blood can be used as a substiution since I am a lesser Aedra. The blood of a Daedric Prince I have for the Ring of Namira I have and I can use it for the ritual. I suppose you rest up Dragon and be ready for the journey to Miscarcand in the West Weald.'' Hekem then disappeared in a flash of light. Echoing the words. ''I will return when the time is right.''

''I've got a bad feeling about this...'' Jauffre foreshadowed.

''Why? I've got the welkynd stone covered but the sigil stone I can do that to.''

''No you don't understand Dragon. You see for a great Oblivion Gate to be summoned three lesser gates must be opened. While you were gone our scouts found and killed a Mythic Dawn spy nearby Bruma. There were documents on her stating of a plan to attack Bruma using a great Oblivion gate.''

To Be Continued...