Hermaeus Mora's tentacular potential for pleasing the human form died out quickly when the Telvanni realized how much he was willing to give out for new books and secrets. Many of his tentacles possess eyes and their perpetual state of lubrication meant prostate exams could be done painlessly and efficiently. To the Prince of Peeping he had peeped too far and the sexual form of humanoids was poisoned into an image of walking things that possessed various holes of bad stink.
To some this is fetish fuel but to me this is legitimate lore that needs to be respected and applied to most high level Telvanni magelords you encounter in the series.
Shadows danced across Naris' vision. The ashes of Red Mountain swirled before him. "Nerevar Reborn, Incarnate." A voice cut through the dark vision. "Your first three trials are finished. Now two new trials lie before you." The shadows shifted and changed, forming the shapes of buildings and yurts. "Seek the Ashlander Ashkhans and the Great House Councilors. Four Tribes must name you Nerevarine. Three Houses must name you Hortator. My servant Nibani Maesa shall be your guide. And when you are Hortator and Nerevarine, when you have stood before the false gods and freed the heart from its prison, heal my people and restore Morrowind. Do this for me, and with my blessing." Azura's voice and vision faded.
Naris' eyes flicked open. He was standing alone in the Cavern of the Incarnate, hand still gripping the ring. There was no denying it now, no small chance that he wasn't the Nerevarine. Moon-and-Star glittered on his finger.
Naris looked around. The cavern was still empty, probably would be from now till the end of time. He took a deep breath, shook his head softly and turned to leave. With a final glance back at the door, Naris pressed the rock and felt it slide open.
It was dark now, the moon moving up in the sky. He should rest before returning to the camp. It was dangerous to walk around the ashlands at night. Naris pulled his sack off his shoulder and took his blanket out. He was way too tired.
Naris woke as the sun began to rise, packing his things back up and trekking back towards the camp. He crested the hill behind which the yurts were situated. Sul-Matuul, Nibani and Ryna were stood around the central hearth. They all looked up as Naris came into view.
He saw Ryna shift from side to side. Sul-Matuul gripped his sword tighter. Nibani hands clenched and unclenched.
Naris raised his hand, Moon-and-Star glinted on his finger.
"Yes!" Ryna called. She jumped up and down a few times before collecting herself. She smiled brightly as she bowed, "Nerevarine."
"Nerevarine," Sul-Matuul repeated, he dropped into a very deep bow. Nibani followed, moving completely onto her knees. One by one, the mer in the camp began to drop to their knees as well, mutters of Nerevarine and Incarnate came from them.
Naris swallowed.
He walked forward, head held high, and stopped in front of the ashkhan. "Please, rise." Sul-Matuul did so, and everyone else rose with him. "I- thank you for helping me."
"You are welcome," Sul-Matuul gave a nod.
Naris cleared his throat and glanced around. "Azura umm," he cleared his throat again. "She said that next four Ashkhans must name me Nerevarine."
"We must," Sul-Matuul nodded. He straightened. "I, Sul-Matuul, Ashkhan of the Urshilaku tribe, do hereby name you, Naris Indarys, Nerevarine of the Urshilaku-" he pulled an amulet from behind his back- "and I gift you this. The Teeth of the Urshilaku."
Naris took the amulet, slipping it over his head. "Thank you."
"I wish you well, Nerevarine," Sul-Matuul bowed again. "I will always offer you support from here to my death."
---
Naris and Ryna recalled back to Ald'Ruhn after speaking with Sul-Matuul and Nibani about next steps. They suggested Naris start with House Redoran, as he was already on track to becoming a Councillor and it would be easier to become Hortator.
"Your stronghold needs to be completed first," Ryna said. "And you are missing an endorsement from Lady Aduri Venim."
"I know," Naris sighed. "The cousin of the Archmaster... Athyn said she is kind."
“I heard similar,” Ryna nodded. “We should visit Galsu first.” Naris nodded in agreement, fixing his ring and beginning to lead Ryna to the back of the council hall.
Galsu wasn’t in her chambers today, instead she was seated on a daybed in the common area speaking with another dunmer. “House Father! I was just about to send a messenger to find you. Your stronghold is completed. Ready for you to live there whenever you wish to.”
“Thank you,” Naris smiled. He turned back to face Ryna. “Lady Venim, where is she?”
“Venim Manor I would guess,” Ryna shrugged. “We may have to find a way past Archmaster Bolvyn to get to her.”
Naris grumbled, but didn’t speak as he marched past her and out into Under-Skar. There was a surprising amount of people in the Manor District, more than Naris had ever seen before. He had to push past a few people to reach the other side of the district and the entrance to Venim Manor.
Once he stepped inside, Naris froze. Archmaster Bolvyn Venim was standing in the centre of the entrance hall, arms crossed and face stern. “You!” He snarled the moment Naris stepped into the room.
“Me?” Naris squeaked. He slipped his right hand behind his back in an attempt to hide the shining ring still placed upon it.
“You,” Bolvyn repeated. “You outlander , are attempting to infiltrate this house, I will not allow it!”
“Huh?” Naris stared blankly at the Archmaster.
“You will never be Archmaster!” Bolvyn insisted. “Meet me at the Arena in Vivec where I shall prove my right to rule in a duel to the death!” The archmaster stood slightly taller and marched past Naris.
“What just happened?” Naris said softly after staring in the direction the older dunmer had gone for a minute.
“I have no idea,” Ryna shook her head slightly. “But I guess we’re going to the Arena?”
---
Naris and Ryna got teleported to Vivec City by Erranil at the Mages Guild. The Arena was the Canton where the Morag Tong had been located, on the east side of the Redoran Canton. Naris ran a whetstone over Goldbrand, having paused on the lower level of the Arena to make sure his equipment was ready for a fight.
“Naris,” Athyn Sarethi’s voice caught Naris’ attention. “I am sorry.”
“What?” Naris scoffed lightly. “What are you sorry for?”
“I asked you to become a councillor,” Athyn closed his eyes and sighed. “I led to this moment.”
“I could have refused,” Naris said.
“I would not have accepted it,” Athyn took another deep sigh. “Bolvyn is the greatest warrior in House Redoran. I believe you may have a chance… but a small one.”
“You have never seen me fight,” Naris pointed out.
“I haven’t,” Athyn agreed. “And I have hope that you will succeed in this fight. May the Three bless you.” He bowed and walked towards the stairs to the upper level.
Naris watched his go, then took a deep breath, placed the whetstone down, and walked out the door.
Archmaster Bolvyn Venim was already waiting on the other side of the clearing. He was dressed in dark ebony armour, gripping a daedric dai-katana in his hand. Naris gripped Goldbrand tighter, and struck.
Bolvyn Venim was a fabulous fighter. He moved quicker than Naris had thought he could with his heavy armour, and there was a great strength behind his strikes. Naris dodged to the side, feeling the air shift as the blade barely missed his arm. He was conscious of the many sets of eyes staring at them from the gallery.
Naris spun, raising Goldbrand and managing to get a glancing blow on the side of Venim’s shoulder. Venim managed to dodge. And Naris copied with his own dodge of the Archmaster’s blow. They’d been doing this dance for a while now, and Naris could feel his arms growing heavier. He raised his shield to block another blow and gritted his teeth as it reverberated through his arm. He needed to finish this fight.
Naris rolled to the side, shifting back to put more distance between the two of them. His eyes traced over Venim’s form. Before locking on his head. The arrogant mer had not even put on a helmet, but he was quick and very good at defending his head. Naris needed to find a way to distract him so he could actually land a strike. He dodged another sword swipe.
He stepped back again. Narrowing his eyes an old idea came to him and he analysed Venim’s body position. Yes, it would work. Naris slowly took a few steps to the left. Shifted his arm to loosen his shield. And then flung it full force at the older mer. Venim’s eyes widened and he moved back quickly to dodge the bonemold shield. Naris moved fast, swinging Goldbrand in a high arc and feeling as the blade connected with Bolvyn Venim’s head.
There was a crack, and the Archmaster fell to the ground, blood pouring from his head.
A long moment of silence followed. “Yes!” Ryna’s high call broke the silence. “You did it!” She shrieked. Naris looked up to see his friend jumping the barrier between the gallery and the arena, rolling as she landed and racing towards him.
Naris dropped Goldbrand and caught her as she flung herself towards him, gripping him tightly. “You beat him! You did it!”
“That you did,” a regal voice called from the gallery. Naris glanced up. Aduri Venim had leant forward over the gallery wall, eyes sharp. “Well done.”
“I…” Naris cleared his throat. “Thank you. I am sorry for your loss.”
“Don’t be,” Aduri waved her hand. “My cousin was a good warrior, and a great general. But a bad mer.” She straightened before turning back to the other watching councillors. “Are we all in agreement then?” There were nods all around. “Good.”
Aduri Venim signalled to her cousin's corpse. “The Archmaster’s ring, take it. It is yours Archmaster Naris Indarys of House Redoran.”
“What?” Naris’ eyes widened. “I didn’t fight this duel to become Archmaster. Surely there are more qualified council members?”
“Bolvyn challenged you in his capacity as Archmaster,” Brara Morvayn spoke. “In accordance with Redoran tradition. The winner of the duel takes the title.”
Naris stared up at the councillors in shock for a long moment. Before a throat being cleared beside him caught his attention. Ryna stood beside him, holding out a golden ring with red gems glistening on it to him. “Archmaster,” she bowed.
Naris stared at the ring for another long moment before reaching for it and slipping it on his finger beside Moon-and-Star. He cleared his throat, eyes locked on the two rings. “I actually had something to discuss with you before… before this,” he waved his hand in the direction of Venim’s corpse.
“Then we shall convene in the council chamber back in Ald’ruhn,” Aduri bowed her head.
---
The councillors filed into the chamber. Silence rained and Naris had no idea how to break it. He had not joined House Redoran with the goal of becoming its leader. He had not even wanted to be a councillor. Now he was Archmaster and was about to ask them to make his Hortator. What a journey.
“What do you need to speak of Archmaster?” Hlaren was the first to break the silence.
Naris cleared his throat, standing behind the Archmaster’s chair. “Well… there are a few things now, first we still need a new councillor,” he stalled.
“We shall each find a contender,” Brara suggested. “Accept you Athyn, you chose our new Archmaster.” Athyn smirked but didn’t protest.
“But that was not why you called us here,” Aduri pointed out. “What brought you to Ald’ruhn in the first place, Archmaster?”
“As you know,” Naris began. “The Sixth House grows stronger by the day. The ash storms from Red Mountain blanket this town more often than not.” There were nods of agreement. “And it is House Redoran’s duty to protect this island. The Temple is failing. They are failing. And we must do something!”
“What do you suggest?” Athyn asked.
“We must name a Hortator,” Naris said firmly. “We must unite this island.”
“A Hortator?” Miner blinked. “We have not had one of those since the days of Resdayn, since-”
“-Nerevar,” Naris sighed. “That is the crux of the matter.” He stepped back from the chair and turned away, fiddling with his rings.
“What is it Naris?” Athyn asked, “what are you saying?”
Naris took a moment to consider his words. “I am Nerevar,” He declared.
There was silence, then a few gasping noises. “What?” Brara gasped.
“I am the Nerevarine, to be specific,” Naris turned back to face them. He held up his right hand, showing Moon-and-Star to them all. “ Incarnate moon and star reborn ,” he recited. “Azura herself gifted me this ring and declared me Incarnate.”
“You are serious,” Athyn breathed. “You are- impossible.”
“I wanted to think so too,” Naris laughed. “And I do not need you to believe this fact.” He shook his head. “All I need is confirmation that you understand something must be done about the encroachment of the Sixth House. That you understand we must fight back and a Hortator is necessary to do this.”
The councillors stared at him, at his raised hand it’s shining ring, for a few silent minutes. Then Athyn Sarethi spoke. “I trust you Naris, you have proven to be trustworthy. If you say this is true. Then I believe you. And you have my full support.”
“Thank you,” Naris smiled.
“You have my support as well,” Miner said. “You rescued my daughter without prompting. I trust you.”
“I do as well,” Brara nodded.
“As do I,” Hlaren said.
“I always thought there was something about you,” Garisa Llethri spoke for the first time. “You have my backing too.”
“Thank you all,” Naris said. His eyes turned to the blank-faced Aduri. “Lady Aduri?”
“I do not know if this talk of the Nerevarine is true,” she said slowly. “But you are right about the Sixth House. And if anyone on this island is fit to lead us in this fight it is the Archmaster of House Redoran. You have my support as well.”
Naris blinked, looking around the table as the six mer who had just given their blessing for him to assume a title that had not been used for thousands of years. “I will not let you down.”
