Skyrim: Lore Accurate Necromancer

Maven Black-Briar sat alone in her chambers, the flickering light of a single candle casting shadows across the fine mahogany desk piled with contracts, letters, and records. Her brow furrowed as she poured over the latest trade agreements, her quill scratching across parchment as she made calculated amendments.

Business was her kingdom, and Riften's veins pulsed with her influence—but tonight, she was keenly aware of encroaching threats, both seen and unseen. Just as she turned to sign a particularly lucrative shipment agreement, a faint sound at the window caught her ear.

Without looking up, she spoke in a low, unimpressed tone. "I trust you have a very good reason to be in my chambers unannounced."

Nazir stepped forward, his dark clothing blending seamlessly with the room's shadows. His steps were soundless, his stance calm and unthreatening, but Maven's sharp gaze was already fixed on him, unyielding as steel. She narrowed her eyes.

"Nazir, was it...?" she said icily, the name dropping from her lips with a hint of disdain. "I'm well aware of your kind and their... talents. But even the Dark Brotherhood should know better than to intrude upon my home without invitation."

Nazir inclined his head respectfully, showing neither fear nor irritation at her chiding. His voice was smooth, well-practiced. "Forgive the intrusion, Lady Black-Briar. I am here at the behest of Erik Deathsong. He sends his regards...and a message."

At the mention of Erik's name, Maven's brows lifted, and her posture relaxed slightly, though her eyes were as sharp as ever. She leaned back, one manicured hand smoothing over the papers before her, and gestured for Nazir to continue.

"Very well," she replied, her tone softened, though still guarded. "Show me this message."

With a practiced motion, Nazir reached into his cloak and produced a folded letter, sealed with Erik's distinctive mark. He held it out respectfully, waiting for her to take it. She regarded him for a moment, then accepted the letter, breaking the seal with deft fingers.

As she unfolded the parchment, she noted Erik's familiar, elegant handwriting. Her lips pursed slightly as she began to read.

"To Maven Black-Briar," it began. "I trust this letter finds you well and that Riften continues to thrive under your hand. Our respective arrangements have seen profitable outcomes thus far, and it pleases me to continue cultivating a mutually beneficial relationship."

She snorted slightly, amused. Erik had always had a way with words, never quite revealing the extent of his knowledge or plans. She read on.

"I write to inform you of recent developments that may interest you. As of late, I have assumed command of the Dark Brotherhood, a change that has proven... advantageous. In addition, the mercenary company currently operating out of Riften, led by a young man named Kaiden, is also under my auspices."

Maven paused, tapping her finger thoughtfully against the edge of the letter. 'So,' she thought, that boy really is one of Erik's...'

When a mercenary company appeared in the Rift, led by a talented young warrior and composed of veteran warriors, Maven was the first to notice and take interest. She went out of her way to financially support the mercenaries in hopes of winning them over, but it didn't take long to discover that she wasn't their only lifeline.

After some investigation, Maven discovered that most of their finances were provided by Iona, Erik's housecarl, using a percentage of his earnings from the Forelhost mines to arm and train the mercenary company.

She already suspected the mercenaries were Erik's people, so she wasn't surprised by the revelation. Still, she would have never imagined he'd even take over the Dark Brotherhood.

She shook her head slowly, a rare look of intrigue crossing her features, and resumed reading.

"I urge you to keep the Brotherhood and the mercenaries in mind during your dealings. With my support, they can be a valuable asset to the Black-Briar legacy. Consider this an extension of my vouching for them in all matters of business, security, and influence."

Maven leaned back in her chair, letting the weight of Erik's words sink in. The Dark Brotherhood and a loyal band of mercenaries working under her hand, bound by Erik's word? It was a tempting prospect, one she hadn't fully realized she needed until now. She looked up, her gaze finding Nazir once again.

"You seem quite at home delivering messages," she noted with a faint smirk. "But tell me, Nazir, do you also come with a guarantee? If I am to consider the Brotherhood as Erik's allies, I'll need more than parchment promises."

Nazir held her gaze steadily. "We serve where we are called, Lady Black-Briar. Lord Erik Deathsong speaks for us now. If he sees value in bolstering your position in Riften, then that is our purpose, at least for the time being."

Maven's lips curved in a calculating smile as she looked back at the letter, reading its closing lines.

"In the days to come, I intend to accomplish much in Skyrim, and I consider the Black-Briar family as an ally worth fostering. I have no doubt that you will continue to raise your family to the status they rightfully deserve in Riften and beyond. With your influence and my our combined resources, we shall see to it that no one forgets the Black-Briar name."

Maven set the letter down, her mind already weaving plans. Erik was bold—too bold, perhaps. But his ambitions seemed aligned with hers, and she knew better than to ignore an ally who had the Brotherhood at his command, not to mention, this was Erik. She had witnessed both his might and financial power with her own eyes.

She met Nazir's gaze once more, her eyes gleaming with newfound resolve. "Very well, Nazir. Your master's message has been received. Riften and the Black-Briar family have their priorities, and now... they have their allies. If Erik wishes to see his interests grow here, he need only make good on his promises... you can expect to hear from me soon."

Nazir bowed slightly, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Then I'll leave you to your evening, Lady Black-Briar." He stepped back, vanishing into the shadows as smoothly as he had arrived.

Left alone in the flickering candlelight, Maven glanced down at Erik's letter again. Her fingers brushed the parchment, the promise of power thrumming through her veins. It was a partnership forged in shadow, but one she had every intention of using to its fullest.

..

Erik landed hard in front of Snowhawk Fortress, dropping Geri to the ground before his legs gave way, knees digging into the rough earth. He let out a ragged breath, feeling the burn of exertion tingling through his muscles. The rush of magicka from transforming into a vampire had given him the power to fly, but the cost was still brutal on his reserves.

"Damn..." he muttered, tipping his head back as he fished out a potion of magicka from his pack and downed it in one go. The cool, tingling liquid eased the strain, but he'd be feeling it for hours.

In the world of The Elder Scrolls, flight was a peculiar and seldom-practiced feat. No spell allowed true, effortless flight; the closest thing available was the levitation spell, an art far more rigid than it sounded. Levitation merely lifted the caster, allowing for hovering and careful gliding at best, but any ambitious maneuvers in the air drained magicka fast.

Worse, the Empire had banned the spell for all but a few Telvanni mages of Morrowind, who depended on it to navigate their towering mushroom homes. That Levitation Act was meant to keep dangerous magic under control, but Erik doubted the Legion cared about enforcing it out here.

"If I had this much Magicka from the start..." Erik muttered, considering the possibility. If he was able to use Levitation from the moment he realized the damage to his soul, then tangling with the Volkihars and Isran wouldn't have even been an option.

He would already be more than halfway through the path to Black Marsh where one of the old necromancer's hideouts with a full functioning portal to the Soul Cairn lay dormant. Still, Erik was pleased that wasn't the case, even though the path he was forced to take proved more challenging.

The time that could have been wasted on horseback and levitating over mountain ranges was used by Erik to make connections and build a solid foundation that would serve him in the future.

Breathing steadier, Erik rose to his feet, shaking out his shoulders. Geri was already sniffing around, nose to the ground, tail wagging with curiosity. Erik managed a tired grin. "Come on, boy," he said, gesturing toward the ruins of Snowhawk Fortress. "Let's have a look around. It's been awhile since I've been here..."

Geri gave an excited yap and bounded ahead, eager to explore.

...

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