exsilium | Video ♦ 007

[ The camera pans onto a bored-looking, surly-sounding demon, arms crossed, grinding his teeth, disdain thick in his voice. He stands in the center of a summoning circle, its runes growing on and off, an eerie pulse. ] You defeated my Lord, yet you summon the Kyn, Septim? [ He looks around and below him, laughing maniacally. ] A ward? For me? I see you're no longer the simpering child who fancies himself a master of the arcan—

Enough! [ Not present in the recording, it is Martin's shout that silences the Dremora. ] I would've rather thrown myself at Dagon once more than summon the likes of you, daedra. [ His tone is full of regret, and self-loathing. ] But if I am to keep others safe, then I must know...

Ah, desperation, I should've known. Even then, that was the only reason why you called me. [ The Dremora smirks arrogantly, teeth rows of viciously sharp fangs. ] I see it in your eyes: you're afraid. Pathetic. Instead of embracing your nature, you gave up your life for these mortals, and you continue to live among them. Weak, doomed to death and failure and loss...

[ And then the Dremora stops, tracing the sharp edges of his sword with his fingertips, then continues in the same haughty, amused tone. ] You can't stop it. To be dragonborn is a curse and a blessing. And you, once possessed by the Dragon himself, it will be so much worse for you.

You will burn the flesh off your enemies, you will rend their bones with your jaws. And you will delight in it, for that is the nature of the Dragon's Children.

The Dragon wakes, Septim. You know this.

I pity any in your path.

[ With a final laugh of malicious glee, the Dremora disappears in a shower of purple sparks. And the transmission ends. ]

OOC: All answers will be VOICE or TEXT for most responses.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

But Dagon was the thing you were trying to kill and yet you summoned his servant? Did none of that seem like a bad idea to you?

You know what? Forget it. What happens now? You didn't answer my question about what happens when you become a dragon.

It wasn't a bad idea, but a choice I would've rather not made. If someone from Tamriel who could help me were here, I wouldn't have dared to summon the Dremora.

But dragons have been extinct for centuries. And I doubt any other priest of Akatosh could've helped me.

....I don't really know. There's no other dragonborns I can ask about this issue. And I'm the only dragonborn I know of who turned into a dragon.

But this has happened before, right? Do you remember nothing from then?

I remember the scent of my flesh burning, tearing Dagon's throat out and enjoying it, then my limbs turn to stone. I don't remember this...hunger inside me. [ But Martin remembers that hunger from his younger days as a mage. Not that he wants to admit that, these people have already seen enough. ]

[She's going to debate on asking this... so there's a pause and hesitation.] Hunger?

Of power, control, knowledge. Darker instincts I thought I defeated years ago.

Then it probably only gets worse.

So what do plan to do about this? Because of that broadcast, everyone's going to know. They're already asking questions. So what will you do?

Yes. It is.

It would be best for me to leave the Hold. I'm a danger to all right now.

At least now everyone's been warned.

Leave by yourself? You're considering others but what about yourself? Being alone out there might be just as dangerous. And I don't mean because of the environment. No one is exiling you yet, you shouldn't be alone for this.

Where are you right now?

I'll be fine, I've lived alone most of my life. And this isn't a permanent exile, just long enough to learn how to control whatever this is.

...outside the Hold.

And if you can't control it? Do you really want to be out there without any help?

If I can't control it, I'm sure a dragon flying about would be...disposed of quickly.

That's not funny, Martin.

I wasn't joking.

Then you should have been. No one here wants to kill you, dragon or otherwise. It shouldn't have to even come close to that.

You're right, no one wants to kill Martin Septim, but I might not be myself as a dragon.

Right. So since you're doomed to be a dragon anyways, maybe we should just get this over with while it's easier for everyone.

[A pause. Maybe that was a bit too far. Maybe. She'll sigh.]

I don't mean it. Just... unless you are 100% sure you won't be yourself when this happens, if this happens, then don't make those assumptions.

And you avoided my question from earlier. Where are you right now.

[ She's right, this isn't the time for fatalism. But it's so hard not to think of this transformation as inevitable when that dark side of him is delight at the prospect. ] An abandoned factory outside the Hold. It's northeast, the very first one you come across.

Are you planning to stay there?

Yes. I've already packed enough supplies to last me for a week.

A week isn't exactly long...

Never mind. If you want, I can stop by during the week. I'm not really sure what good it will do but I can at least bring you some supplies.

[ Clearly Martin didn't think this through, and that speaks volumes about the situation at hand. ] You could leave the supplies at the factory's entrance. That way, you won't be at risk.

I'm pretty sure a dragon is going to notice whether something is approaching the area or not.

Look, secluding yourself isn't going to work. There's no way this is going to end well, especially if you cut off contact from the rest of us because you're afraid you'll hurt someone.

If anything, I can take care of myself. At least long enough to drop off some blasted bread for you.

I'm not a dragon. Not yet.

[ There's no arguing, is there? And at least there's still someone willing to speak with him, despite the awful summon he's just performed. ] Alright. But please, don't tell anyone else where I am. Especially Anders.

Edited 2012-07-10 07:04 (UTC)

How long do you think it would take then? Until... you are a dragon.

And don't worry. I won't tell him. But I'd like to know why I won't be telling him.

(no subject)

septim - 2012-07-10 07:20 (UTC) - Expand

uncalled_for - 2012-07-10 22:02 (UTC) - Expand

septim - 2012-07-10 22:14 (UTC) - Expand