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Post by Listener on Apr 3, 2012 19:44:15 GMT -5
Morning Star 1-4E 235
In the unnaturally cold winter of northern coast of the Pale, one of the nine holds of Skyrim, a secret plan has begun.
As the hold of Dawnstar slept, a young hooded Breton rose out of the snow, dressed in furred clothes, climbing out of a hidden hole in a pile of rocks near the main road. Brushing the snow off, he smiled to himself before a arrow stabbed near his heart.
Gasping, he looked down, and his shaking hand reached to grab it, but more arrows flew from the white winter fog of night and into his body. Falling back onto a rock, he gasped for more air as blood drained from him quick.
Looking with dying eyes, he saw armored figures stepping out of the fog. "By the Mother, no." He whispered before a crested figure pulled his sword out and impaled the man.
The killer ripped his sword out of the corspe and wiped the blood off on the fur. "Are you sure this is the place?" He asked gruffly. Then a cloaked figure stepped beside him. Kneeling, he pulled the fur cloak back, and reveal the black leather. "Yes." He answered.
Inside the secret entrance, there led a tunnel into a place where no mortal should go with a moral heart.
The cold winds blew into the tunnel.
Inside a stone-walled room, with dressers and a couple weapon racks, there sat a black sarcophagus. As the occasionally cold wind blew into the room and slid in the slightly open casket, the creature inside sniffed the air, and red reptilian eyes opened.
"My Listener, your old foe have returned." A shrill woman's voice whispered in his mind.
No sooner have those words spoke, a loud gutturnal howl of pain echoed into the grand Sanctuary of the Dark Brotherhood.
Everyone in their tomb-like home heard it and started to act. The sounds of clanging armor was heard and a scatter of glass echoed. The creature hissed vividly, "Imperials."
The Sanctuary overseer, Nazir, and a handful of fellow Dark Brotherhood assassins, dressed in their black-and-red leather armor, hurried in surprise to find their home infiltrated by a troop of Imperial troops.
"By Sithis, not again!" The red-garbed Redgaurd said before parrying the steel short sword of a soldier with his curved scimitar by instinct. The moment the Imperial's side was open, he twirled his sword, and spilled his innard out from the cleaved side.
"The first blood spilt in retribution of entering our home again, fools!" The Executioner laughed before lunging to fight on. The assassins were quite skilled in combat with their swords and daggers, but these soldiers are more experienced in multiple combat.
There is no telling who will win this battle of control.
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Post by White Wolf on Apr 3, 2012 21:54:34 GMT -5
Wolf ran down through the tunnels of the Sanctuary, followed by three of his fellow werewolves. Wolf had his sword drawn, as did the other wolves. Entering the main chamber, where Imperials skirmished with Brothers, Wolf let out a long howl. One of the Imperials, clearly a new recruit screamed and turned to run away. He didn't make it, as a fireball took his head off.
Wolf entered the melee, his sword dealing death left and right, striking down Imperials at every opportunity. But for every one he struck down, another entered the room. It was highly likely that the Imperials would keep coming, and the Sanctuary would be lost. It had happened before. His mind flashed back to his first clan, and the posse that had destroyed it. Rage filled his mind, and he began to fight even more ferociously.
Wolf knew that if came down to the Brotherhood being eradicated and him dying, or the Brotherhood being eradicated with him and his disciples surviving, he would choose his disciples. The Brotherhood was simply an organization. It could be revived. However, it was not as easy to reestablish a werewolf clan.
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Post by Listener on Apr 3, 2012 22:07:02 GMT -5
With the arrival of one of the Listener's recently-recruited Speakers, a aged Imperial Werewolf known as White Wolf, and his fellow Werewolves, the Dark Brothers and Sisters started to gain a advantage against the invading Imperials.
Nazir cut down another Imperial soldier and yelled out, "Jester, are you done yet!?"
Not too far, in a more secure location then she previously was, the Night Mother's corspe was being taken care of by her devoted Keeper, Cicero. The mad assassin was hasty in his packing as he checked on everything was made ready for her retreat into a secret escape route incase something like this would happen again.
Hearing the old Redguard's voice, he screamed back, "Cicero is doing the best he can! The coffin is heavier than it looks!" Then he glared at two of his assistants, a female Imperial and male Altmer, "Hurry you two. We must get the Night Mother out of here!"
"Yes, Keeper." They both answered, quickening their packing as well.
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Post by White Wolf on Apr 3, 2012 22:41:19 GMT -5
Wolf continued slicing through the Imperials. They were dropping like flies. Hearing Nazir yell to Cicero, Wolf turned to one of his disciples.
"Lucius! Fetch Kelsir and Fenrir from our quarters, and help Cicero! Keep him safe!"
"Yes, Speaker!"
Being a Speaker, Wolf was entitled to his own quarters. During his time at the Sanctuary, Wolf had gathered around him a group of disciples both werewolf and non-werewolf. They shared a set of quarters, and were all part of the Network first and foremost, then the Brotherhood. In addition to the ones he had met in the Brotherhood, there were four other werewolves he had brought with him when he joined the Brotherhood.
Confident that Cicero and the Night Mother were in good hands now that he had dispatched three of his disciples to protect them.
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Post by Justice on Apr 4, 2012 18:54:58 GMT -5
Out of the darkness of the shadows surrounding the battleground a lone figure stood. A simple steel long sword hung by his side. The hooded man smiled, revealing his bright white, sharpened teeth. His robs was pitch black and dragged along the floor. The tales of the garb were shredded and withered with age. The man whistled a five note tune and waited for the slaughter to begin. Four Imperials turned from the battle and grinned with anticipation.
There was no possible way for this lone assassin to take all of them at once. The boldest one, a Nord, stepped forward. The dagger that flew across the short distance moved like lightning from the Vampire's hand and soon found its mark in the skull of the daring fool. The assassin smiled before disappearing in the darkness yet again. The three tha had followed the Nord gaped in shock at the state of the once courageous man. The Vampiric assassin was not finished yet and made it perfectly clear when he appeared behind the Imperial at the back of the group, driving the steel blade deep into the back of the man at a downward angle. The man shrieked once before falling paralyzed to the floor. Before the other two soldiers could turn to strike the assassin, he had disappeared again. Fear was evident on the faces of the two younger Imperials.
Appearing this time on the balcony surrounding the room, the dark robed figure unstrung a bow from his back. The two soldiers did not notice the expert marksman as he let loos two well placed arrows through their throats.
"Silence..." the man whispered, pouring a flow of magicka into the word. Immediately two weaker minded Imperials dropped, squirming as their throats tightened. Justice smiled and notched another arrow. He let loose the ebony made arrow at a Legion commander. The shaft soon buried itself into the chest of the stunned Nord. The arrow was followed by two more just like it. Finally, the death dealing arrow struck the man through his left eye. Justice disappeared yet again, only to come back into sight behind the line of Imperial soldiers.
He slung the bow back over his should and drew a dagger. Grabbing the nearest man, the Vampire drove the blade deep into the un-shielded neck of the soldier. He quickly drew the blade back out and bit deep into the area where the blade had dug into. A rush of blackish red blood filled the mouth of the waiting Vampire. The nourishing flow of fresh sustenance flowed through Justice. He continued to take in th nourishment until he knew that he would last for a few days without any more of it. The man fell to the ground, writhing in agony as more of his remaining blood poured down over the floor.
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Post by Listener on Apr 4, 2012 19:18:16 GMT -5
With the crazed battlethirst of the Speaker Justice, the battle was easily turning to the Dark Brotherhood's advantage, with the veteran assassins cutting through scores of the invading Imperial soldiers coming out of the secret enterance, but more still poured in relentless.
Nazir impaled a distracted soldier in the back before throwing him into another, the Redguard started to tire abit, but his incredible stamina kept him going. "How did they find us this time?" He growled to himself before evading a rash slash from a steel-plated soldier and effortlessly cutting his unprotected legs.
In his short exposure, a crafty soldier tried to strike Nazir from the side but a ebony knife flew through the crowd and struck its mark in his head. Not taking the time to look for his savior, the angry Executioner swung his sword in wide arc, cutting several at once, and caught a falling claymore.
Hollering a warcry, he kneeling the surprised Imperial knight in the groan. The knight hissed in pain, lowering his gaurd, enough for Nazir to knock the sword aside, and nearly decapitate the soldier, blood splattering on his dirty red cloak.
As the bloodthirsty Redguard started to enjoy his killing, a sudden tremor quaked the sanctuary. Putting a slight halt to the fighting.
Everyone were equally confused but the Imperials, seemingly knowing what it was, started to fight again. Catching a few less experienced assassins off guards, but the majority was much more quicker and vicious to their attacks.
Stepping out of the darkness of the upper levels of the sanctuary, there standing at the stairs was a tall, black-bearded Imperial. His face was strong and serious, a beard encircling his fine line of a mouth, eyes almost as black as his well-kept beard, but the rest of his head was hidden under a trident-crested helmet. Dressed in a dirty cloak and pieces of armor protecting his shoulders and arms, whilst the rest was underneath his cloak.
In one hand was a copper-hilted sword with a long, slender, and curved blade, crimson with dripping dark blood, and in his other was the slowly decaying head of a red-headed Breton girl, mouth agap with sharp canines.
Nazir very well saw it and looked with bewildered sorrow as he realized who it was. Babette.
With fury sparking completely, the mad assassin cut through his enemies in ones and twos as he drew towards the Imperial dog who have killed the precious little and sadistic vampire girl.
Disembowling a frightened soldier in leather armor, he pushed the dying man with a bloody hand, and charged up the stairs with his far more bloody scimitar in hand and a war cry of vengeance.
The Imperial's eyes darkened at the fast moving sight of Nazir and was ready as Babette's head slipped out of his hand and into ash. Their blades clanged to each other's confrontation.
Drawing back as Nazir struck hard and fast, the swordsman blocked one-handed and evaded every move, chuckling with each clang of steel. Angered at this mockery, Nazir chopped his sword hard and the swordsman had to block with both hands.
Looking into the other's eyes, there was vivid battle of willpower and intimidation introduced into the battle. Despite Nazir's venomous fury and ferocity, the Imperial showed no fear before his foe.
"You look upon the face of a victim of your games, Assassin. Look upon it well, for it might be your last." The Imperial said indifferently. Nazir pushed hard and the battle started again, ignoring the coming rush of Imperial soldiers from the gaping hole that once held the Sanctuary's Black Door.
The assassins was quickly becoming overrushed with the Imperial infiltrators and whilst they were trying hard to fight them off. A few have crept deeper into the Sanctuary.
Yet, when one of the new infiltrators tried to enter the living quarters, a hail of poisoned arrows flew into them, leaving little survivors. The protective assassins put their bows on their backs and moved to assist their brothers and sisters, in the front was some of the most skilled of them. The Batu Twins, Khajiit twins who have been devoted members since cubhood in the first year of the Listener's command in Skyrim.
"For the Night Mother and her Listener!" S'Batu-Kar cried out in reverence in his voice and a glimmering ebony sword in his claws. "For the eternal survival of our Dark Brotherhood!" S'Batu-Qa hissed in equal reverence and a pair of ebony daggers in her claws.
With these words, they charged into battle.
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Post by White Wolf on Apr 7, 2012 15:40:49 GMT -5
Wolf's attacks began to grow more and more frenzied as the bloodlust began to take him. Gutting Imperials left and right with his enchanted sword, Wolf howled in glee. The blood, guts, and adrenaline of battle was what he lived for. Wolf began to almost dance, his sword striking left and right. True swordsmanship was like a dance, and almost inseparable. Wolf continued to dance around, gutting and decapitating the Imperials, howling in glee.
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Post by Listener on Apr 10, 2012 13:00:53 GMT -5
The sanctuary was completely in chaos, the Assassins were striking hard and precise, killing leaders and their subordinates but they was quickly replaced by more soldiers, and soon enough succumbing to their fatigue or outnumbered.
The Sanctuary was lost, anyone could see that, but these young assassins weren't going to fall back in fear. Fear is their weapon and they was not going to be control by it.
The Listener, in the shadows, could see that. Wrapped in his black old robes and eyes beaming from his cowl, he slid through the shadows and into Cicero's quarters.
Appearing before his dark brothers and sisters like a wraith, he looked at the progress, and was satistifed. "Enough, that is all we need. Go, take our Mother to a safe place till I and as many of us that I can assemble return to you." He ordered while opening the secret tunnel.
Cicero looked through the dark tunnel and chuckled sadly, "It is a shame to our home again, Listener, but Cicero knows when it is time for the little birds to live their cold and decaying nest."
"Indeed." The Listener said. With that, Cicero and his assistants with surprising strength, managed to put the enclosed coffin of the Night Mother onto a cart, and began the journey into the tunnel.
Watching them go, the Listener growled. Flicking a long black tongue from his fanged muzzle, the Argonian smelled the approaching soldiers, as if knowing their every step.
Turning, he watched seven Imperial soldiers rush into the room. Silent before the attackers, he looked at each man with gleaming red eyes as they started to shout about the escape tunnel, but the battle outside the room blocked out any noise.
A evil smirk slid very slightly at the corner of his cracked lips and a curved black blade slid from his sleeve, emitting a subtle chill into their hearts.
In their slow fear, the Imperials didn't understand and were slow in their coming assault, but the Listener lunged into the air like a black raven, diving for his prey as they screamed at the massive beast.
Landing on the front soldier with all of his massive weight, the Listener easily crushed his armored ribs, and stabbed the Blade of Woe into the ear of a soldier to his right. Catching the coming wrist of the left's swordarm, he snapped it with a flick of a clawed thumb. Quickly silencing the scream with a swing of his dagger to the throat, the Listener thrown the dying form into another. Parrying a sword swing, he stomped on the offender's foe, distracting him with pain before punching his throat in.
Spinning, he ducked under a decapitating slash, and sliced the knees of the fourth, and stabbed his knife upward into his jaw. Ripping it out quick, he picked up the body, and slammed it onto another before stomp the corpse's head into the other's.
The sixth fearfully tried to attack from behind but a long and sharp-ended tail whipped out from underneath the Listener's robe and impaled the unfornatune man in the ribs. Blood dripping from his mouth, the Imperial looked at the hole in his chest when the tail ripped itself out, before dropping dead.
The last, absolute terror in his heart, ran for his life but a spear-like tongue shot of the Listener's maw like a arrow and stabbed into the base of his neck.
Paralyzed and wounded, the Imperial stood rigid for a second before he was pulled back violently into the Listener's savage embrace.
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Post by White Wolf on Apr 10, 2012 20:25:49 GMT -5
Wolf looked around the room at the Assassins. Almost all the lower-ranked Assassins--with a few exceptions such as Wolf's disciples and a select few others. Wolf was the highest-ranked Assassin in sight.
"Brothers! Sisters! Fall back to my quarters!"
Wolf's quarters were the closest set of quarters to the entrance, and ones that could be easily defended. There was also an additional bonus--Wolf's quarters contained an exit to a set of ice caverns that led to the surface quite a distance from the Sanctuary. Wolf stopped one of his disciples and ordered him to form the Assassins into a battle line, then hold that position and wait for him.
Wolf held back the Imperials for a bit, then turned and ran to his quarters. The Assassins who wanted them had gotten shields, and they all had formed a phalanx. Wolf slipped into a hole in the first rank and stood there, waiting for the Imperials to come. And come they did. The first rank of Imperials came running around the corner, only to be slaughtered by swords. And so did the next rank. But the third rank was not as stupid. They advanced slowly, with shields up. Wolf barked and led the phalanx in a charge against the Imperials. Surprised, the Imperials began to rout. But more and more Imperial reinforcements coming into the Sanctuary boosted their morale, and they began to fight even more ferociously.
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Post by Listener on Apr 11, 2012 11:48:51 GMT -5
In the fight, a loud shrill noise screamed throughout the sanctuary, hurting everyone's ears. Stopping the fight as words hisses through the halls and slowly spectres of ancient brothers and sisters materialized from the crypts of the Sanctuary. The legionnaires who looked upon the pale face of one of the spectres, stared in despair.
When its cold, dead eyes fell upon them. The Spectre's eyes burned with a infernal fire and a pale sword appeared in his gloved hand. "For the Listener!" It screamed before lunging, followed by its comrades.
Still few left from the Listener's cleansing for Cicero years prior, their duty is for the true protection of the sanctuary. Giving the survivors time to escape now.
Meanwhile Nazir and the Imperial was still battling as equals until a knife struck the back of his leg.
Hissing in pain, the wounded Redguard turned to see who struck, and looked wide-eyed at the cloaked figure before him. "You! You traitor!" He yelled but before he take action, the Imperial struck the back of his head with the hilt of his sword, knocking him unconscious.
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Post by Justice on Apr 11, 2012 17:30:22 GMT -5
As he waited for his command to be carried out he picked off yet another two Imperial soldiers. He decided it was time to leave. He moved with unimaginable speed and agility. Drawing his long Elven blade, he cut down all that barred his path to the main entrance. If he was to fall to these weaklings, he would do it to allow his brothers and sisters time to escape. He fought along side the spirits of past assassins, smirking as blood splattered his face.
The entrance loomed ahead. No doubt there were reinforcements waiting outside on the cold shoreline. He parried the blade of another soldier, turning his wrist quickly. He then used his free hand to grab the Imperial's throat. He wrapped his cold dead fingers around the unfortunate soldier's gullet. Using his immense strength, Justice tossed the man into an oncoming squad of reinforcements.
"The Night Mother curses you all." He yelled as he sliced through the hordes. The tide was turning quickly with the aid of the spectral assassins. Justice pushed on to the entrance, driving the Imperials back with his blade. as they neared the entrance hall he stopped. The support beams holding up the trap were weak with age, and were displaced by the thunderous movements of the Imperial Legion. Justice kicked back a heavily armored soldier and brought his blade across the nearest support beam. The wooden beam was sliced through easily, sending the reverberations through the room as it splintered and fell apart. The area of boulders it had been holding in place fell loose, starting to rain down on the helpless Imperials. The ancient trap had worked, but they would not stop until the entire sanctuary was theirs.
Justice turned and bolted back down into the sanctuary, following the several other assassins to the secret entrance.
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Post by Listener on Apr 17, 2012 11:57:34 GMT -5
As the remaining few defenders of the Dark Brotherhood tried to hold off the relentless flood of flesh and iron, the last of the assassins tried to make their escape through the Speaker’s route, but a armored group were close behind.
Turning with a feral hiss, S'Batu-Kar and a few others lunged to fight them back. His beloved twin was about to move to help but a invisible hand stopped. “Get out of my-“ She screamed but quickly silenced herself when the Listener materialized from his camouflage.
“Go, sister! We will hold them off, we embrace the Void, and we will watch over you all!” S’Batu-Kar said as he kicked a Legionnaire back and sliced another’s throat.
S'Batu-Qa cried and still tried to reach her brother but the Listener was much stronger and pulled her back, “Hush, child. He knows what is needed to preserve the brotherhood.” He hissed as he pulled her further down the tunnel, the sounds of battle ringing loud and evident.
S’Batu-Kar fought fast and hard, using all of his teachings to kill his enemies, appearing to dance in a rain of flying blood and singing blades until his clawed foot slipping, allowing a legionnaire to stab into his side. Hissing in pain, he continued to fight, and gained wounds for his trouble. All around him is his fellow brothers and sisters were falling to the enemy.
Finally blades starting piercing his sides and back and a final legionnaire moved for the final blow.
Finally outside in the snow, the Listener threw the brave Khajiit’s sister in the arms of a Orc, before spinning back around to the entrance of the tunnel where a few legionnaires are passed to the assassins.
Growling, the Listener took a deep breath, and hissed out old words that are spoken by few…
“Fus…” He breathed before unleashing, “RO DAH!”
The shout ripped through the legionnaires and the icy wall, causing the tunnel to collapse. S’Batu-Kar closed his eyes as the blade started to touch his flesh and the loud sound boomed in their direction, seeing only the beautiful face of his beloved sister. Feeling the kenetic energy hit his back, everything went black, sparing him the fate of the legionnaires as the ice and stone fell on them all as the columns broke apart.
With no need to breathe, the vampiric Listener slowly turned to the last of the great Brotherhood…while of the Skyrim Chapter. Everyone was awed by their Listener’s power of the legendary Thu’um but also bewildered by the attack.
“Brothers…Sisters,” The Listener spoke over the howling winds, “We have stricken a grievous blow once more by the Empire. This wound will not go with a even more painful retaliation, I vow to you on that. It was mistake to believe we would be left alone with that foolish Emperor now ruling. No more will we be passive to those who harm us. No more will be sit and allow knives to strike our body. We will have vengeance and all will truly know the terror of the Dark Brotherhood!”
Everyone howled in agreement, except for S’Batu-Kar, who scorned with hatred. Walking to the Khajiit, he placed a cold hand on her shoulder, and said softly, “Once more, we disappear into the veil of our dreadful Father, and wait. To Cyrodiil, we walk in the shadows.”
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Post by White Wolf on Apr 17, 2012 22:09:15 GMT -5
White Wolf had made his escape with two of his disciples not long before the tunnel collapsed. Reaching the position of the Listener, he caught the last few words.
"Listener, I have many allies throughout Cyrodiil and some here in Skyrim. If we can make it to Dawnstar without being detected, I can secure us transportation for as far south as Whiterun. Farther is possible, but we would be spending nights in places we may not want to, such as cities."
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Post by Listener on Apr 18, 2012 10:35:29 GMT -5
After hearing White Wolf's suggestion, the Listener nodded, "Excellent. It might our travel easier. But we have to move quick and seperate or the Empire will get suspicous of the sudden activity."
"Listener." A Night Brother, a Nordic Assassin named Frukas, called.
Looking at the Nord, the Listener nodded. "May I volunteer to stay?"
"And for what reason, dear brother?" The Listener queried. "To keep some sort of influence on this province. We need eyes in Skyrim and I will proudly risked my very life to keep our brotherhood alive." Frukas said.
The Listener chuckled in a form of cackle, and nodded. "Very well, you may. Anyone wish to join him."
It took little time but a handful stepped forward to volunteer. Allowing these few to remain in Skyrim, the Listener ushered everyone to leave before the legion finally figure where they were, and perpare for their leave out of the cold province of Skyrim.
Stepping out of the destroyed sanctuary, the Captain of the Imperial cohort cleaned the blood off his blade as he smiled immensely at this great victory.
"There, the accursed Dark Brotherhood is no more." He said but someone didn't agree with that. "No, it isn't."
Turning, the captain saw his superior-a senior member of the Blades-emerging from the shadows of the sanctuary. "Several have escaped through tunnels, along with the corspe of their unholy matron. As long as she is whole, the Dark Brotherhood will continue to live." He explained. "We must eradicate the body, and with that, we have cleanse Tamriel of their evil influence for good."
With a little smirk, the Blade moved aside as two legionnaires dragged out a Redguard and a few more assassins. "We will take these prisoners back to the Imperial City for questioning. I want all of the escaped to be captured and executed on sight understand?" The Blade said and the Captain saluated, "As you command, sir! I will have our spies on constant survellience."
With that, the Empire have won this night.
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Post by Listener on Apr 18, 2012 11:02:37 GMT -5
The Empire have struck us for the last time. This is the third time I have watched the Dark Brotherhood nearly fall; if it isn't from the internal machinations of a vengeful madman, it is the Empire trying to 'purge' us from Tamriel.
Fools, we are the children of Sithis and his bride. We will never disappear from existence. As long this is the Void, we will always remain.
Now, I lead my black herd to my old home of Cyrodiil. There we can rebuild from the roots of my dark ascension. There, the Dark Brotherhood will ascend to a terror unlike any Daedra!
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