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King Edward, Part XII
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*題名 [#z7eeddc5]
**原題 [#h0d72072]
-Death Blow of Abernanit
The dragon had paused, so Edward interjected, "Mother and I have been discussing the nature of the gods recently, Akatosh, and she thinks that poetry would be a godly activity. What do you think about that notion?"
**訳題 [#jd4ceb9c]
-【訳題記述エリア】
"I am not so certain that one can attribute anything to the gods, Edward. They are another example of an unbounded problem, of course, but also, their characteristics are just not very well known to us."
*本文 [#u59df225]
"But surely one can determine things about any being that is a god?"
**原文 [#t823f9b2]
// 注意：訳文の部分は中括弧({と})が3つづつ。
#pre{{{
<font face=1><br>
<DIV align="center">The Death Blow of Abernanit<br>
With Explains by the sage<br>
Geocrates Varnus<br>
<br>
<DIV align="left"> Broken battlements and wrecked walls<br>
Where worship of the Horror (1) once embraced.<br>
The bites of fifty winters (2) frost and wind<br>
Have cracked and pitted the unholy gates,<br>
And brought down the cruel, obscene spire.<br>
All is dust, all is nothing more than dust.<br>
The blood has dried and screams have echoed out.<br>
Framed by hills in the wildest, forlorn place<br>
Of Morrowind<br>
Sits the barren bones of Abernanit.<br>
<br>
When thrice-blessed Rangidil (3) first saw Abernanit,<br>
It burnished silver bright with power and permanence.<br>
A dreadful place with dreadful men to guard it<br>
With fever glassed eyes and strength through the Horror.<br>
Rangidil saw the foes' number was far greater<br>
Than the few Ordinators and Buoyant Armigers he led,<br>
Watching from the hills above, the field and castle of death<br>
While it stood, it damned the souls of the people<br>
Of Morrowind.<br>
Accursed, iniquitous castle Abernanit.<br>
<br>
The alarum was sounded calling the holy warriors to battle<br>
To answer villiany's shield with justice's spear,<br>
To steel themselves to fight at the front and be brave.<br>
Rangidil too grasped his shield and his thin ebon spear<br>
And the clamor of battle began with a resounding crash<br>
To shake the clouds down from the sky.<br>
The shield wall was smashed and blood staunched<br>
The ground of the field, a battle like no other<br>
Of Morrowind<br>
To destroy the evil of Abernanit.<br>
<br>
The maniacal horde were skilled at arms, for certes,<br>
But the three holy fists of Mother, Lord, and Wizard (4) pushed<br>
The monster's army back in charge after charge.<br>
Rangidil saw from above, urging the army to defend,<br>
Dagoth Thras (5) himself in his pernicious tower spire,<br>
And knew that only when the heart of evil was caught<br>
Would the land e'er be truly saved.<br>
He pledge then by the Temple and the Holy Tribunal<br>
Of Morrowind<br>
To take the tower of Abernanit.<br>
<br>
In a violent push, the tower base was pierced,<br>
But all efforts to fell the spire came to naught<br>
As if all the strength of the Horror held that one tower.<br>
The stairwell up was steep and so tight<br>
That two warriors could not ascend it side by side.<br>
So single-file the army clambered up and up<br>
To take the tower room and end the reign<br>
Of one of the cruellest petty tyrants in the annals<br>
Of Morrowind,<br>
Dagoth Thras of Abernanit.<br>
<br>
They awaited a victory cry from the first to scale the tower<br>
But silence only returned, and then the blood,<br>
First only a rivulet and then a scarlet course<br>
Poured down the steep stairwell, with the cry from above,<br>
"Dagoth Thras is besting our army one by one!"<br>
Rangidil called his army back, every Ordinator and<br>
Buoyant Armiger, and he himself ascended the stairs,<br>
Passing the bloody remains of the best warriors<br>
Of Morrowind<br>
To the tower room of Abernanit.<br>
<br>
Like a raven of death on its aerie was Dagoth Thras<br>
Holding bloody shield and bloody blade at the tower room door.<br>
Every thrust of Rangidil's spear was blocked with ease;<br>
Every slash of Rangidil's blade was deflected away;<br>
Every blow of Rangidil's mace was met by the shield;<br>
Every quick arrow shot could find no purchase<br>
For the Monster's greatest power was in his dread blessing<br>
That no weapon from no warrior found in all<br>
Of Morrowind<br>
Could pass the shield of Abernanit.<br>
<br>
As hour passed hour, Rangidil came to understand<br>
How his greatest warriors met their end with Dagoth Thras.<br>
For he could exhaust them by blocking their attacks<br>
And then, thus weakened, they were simply cut down.<br>
The villain was patient and skilled with the shield<br>
And Rangidil felt even his own mighty arms growing numb<br>
While Dagoth Thras anticipated and blocked each cut<br>
And Rangidil feared that without the blessing of the Divine Three<br>
Of Morrowind<br>
He'd die in the tower of Abernanit.<br>
<br>
But he still poured down blows as he yelled,<br>
"Foe! I am Rangidil, a prince of the True Temple,<br>
And I've fought in many a battle, and many a warrior<br>
Has tried to stop my blade and has failed.<br>
Very few can anticipate which blow I'm planning,<br>
And fewer, knowing that, know how to arrest the design,<br>
Or have the the strength to absord all of my strikes.<br>
There is no greater master of shield blocking in all<br>
Of Morrowind<br>
Than here in the castle Abernanit.<br>
<br>
My foe, dark lord Dagoth Thras, before you slay me,<br>
I beg you, tell me how you know how to block."<br>
Wickedly proud, Dagoth Thras heard Rangidil's plea,<br>
And decided that before he gutted the Temple champion,<br>
He would deign to give him some knowledge for the afterlife,<br>
How his instinct and reflexes worked, and as he started<br>
To explain, he realized that he did not how he did it,<br>
And watched, puzzled, as Rangidil delivered what the tales<br>
Of Morrowind<br>
Called "The death blow of Abernanit."<br>
<br>
<DIV align="center">***
<br>
<DIV align="left">Geocrates Varnus explains:<br>
(1) "The Horror" refers to the daedra prince Mehrunes Dagon.<br>
(2) "Fifty winters" suggests that the epic was written fifty years after the Siege of Abernanit, which took place in 3E 150.<br>
(3) "Thrice-blessed Rangidil" is Rangidil Ketil, born 2E 803, died 3E 195. He was the commander of the Temple Ordinators, and "thrice-blessed" by being blessed by the Tribunal of Gods.<br>
(4) "Mother, Lord, and Wizard" refers to the Tribunal of Almalexia, Vivec, and Sotha Sil.<br>
(5) "Dagoth Thras" was a powerful daedra-worshipper of unknown origin who declared himself the heir of the Sixth House, though there is little evidence he descended from the vanished family.<br>
<br>
<br>
}}}
Akatosh replied, "I do not think that we can, at present; they are not like the Daedra, who have a nature that is with them at their birth. That is, the Daedra capabilities are inherent in them, and not are the result of any changes that have occurred to them."
**訳文 [#e288e3c5]
// 注意：訳文の部分は中括弧({と})が原文部分と異なり4つづつ。
#pre{{{{
<font face=1><br>
<DIV align="center">Abernanitに下さん、必殺の一撃<br>
注釈<br>
賢者Geocrates_Varnus<br>
<br>
<DIV align="left"> 破壊された胸壁と粉砕された城壁<br>
そこらに於いて、かつて〈恐怖〉〔Horror〕（１）崇拝が奉じられていた。<br>
５０の冬（２）の霜と風の咬み傷が<br>
その不浄の門どもにヒビを入らせ穴を穿ち、<br>
その冷酷にして卑猥なる尖塔を崩落させた。<br>
なべて塵、塵そのものに他ならず。<br>
血は乾き、叫びは木霊となって消えた。<br>
Morrowindの<br>
極めて荒涼かつ寂寥たる地の丘々の傍に形を成しつつ、<br>
Abernanitの不毛なる屍は横たわる。<br>
<br>
みたび祝福されたRangidil（３）が初めてAbernanitを認めた時には、<br>
それは活動性と永久性によって明るい銀に光かがやいていた。<br>
熱を帯びる硝子の義眼と〈恐怖〉に授かりし力を具えた、<br>
それを守護する恐ろしげなる者どもの、恐ろしげなる地。<br>
丘々の頂より死の荒野と城砦を注視して、<br>
みずから率いる僅かばかりのOrdinatorとBuoyant_Armigerを遥かに越える、<br>
仇敵の数をRangidilは知った。<br>
屹立しながら、<br>
Morrowindの人々の魂に呪詛を吐き出す、<br>
それこそ、呪わしい邪悪なるAbernanit城なり。<br>
<br>
戦に赴く聖戦士を呼ばわる警報が響いた、<br>
非道の盾が正義の槍に応えるため、<br>
前線の勇ましい戦闘に合わせて武装するため。<br>
Rangidilは固く盾と黒檀の細槍を握り締め、<br>
そして、合戦の喧騒は響き渡る大轟音に合わせ始まり、<br>
天上の雲を掻き混ぜ地上に引き下ろさんほどであった。<br>
盾の壁は砕かれ、血は止められ、<br>
その戦場こそ、<br>
Abernanitの邪悪を打ち砕かんとする、<br>
Morrowindの戦に違いなかった。<br>
<br>
狂気の大群は、なるほど、武具の扱いに長けていれど、<br>
しかし、〈母〉・〈君主〉・〈魔術師〉（４）の聖なる３の拳は、<br>
突撃に次ぐ突撃によって、魔物の軍勢を押し戻していった。<br>
Dagoth_Thras（５）彼みずから悪辣なる塔の尖頂に立つ姿を、<br>
Rangidilは高みから見て取り、守りを固めるよう軍に促しつつ、<br>
そして、彼は知っていた、邪悪の中心が捕えられて初めて、<br>
この地に永久の平安は正しく訪れるだろうことを。<br>
かくして、<br>
彼はMorrowindの〈寺院〉〔Temple〕と聖なるTribunalに誓った、<br>
Abernanitの塔を攻め落とさんことを。<br>
<br>
荒々しい猛攻によって塔の基部を刺し貫くけれども、<br>
しかし、その尖塔を崩さんとする在らゆる努力は無に帰した、<br>
あたかも〈恐怖〉の全力によって、その塔は支えられているかのようであった。<br>
上に至る吹き抜け〔の階段〕は険しく何とも窮屈にて、<br>
２人の戦士が肩を並べて上れないほどであった。<br>
そのため、軍勢は１人ずつの縦隊でもって一歩一歩と上って行った、<br>
塔室〔tower_room〕に辿り着き、<br>
AbernanitのDagoth_Thrasという、<br>
Morrowind史の内で<br>
最も劣悪かつ冷酷なる暴君の１人の支配を終えるために。<br>
<br>
塔を上って行った第一軍からの勝どきを人々は待っていたけれど、<br>
しかし、返るものは静寂、そして血ばかり、<br>
その最初には小川に過ぎなかったものは緋色の水流に変じて、<br>
険しい吹き抜け〔の階段〕に注がれ下った、<br>
「Dagoth_Thrasは我々の軍勢を１人ずつ平らげている！」<br>
という階上の叫びに合わせて。<br>
Rangidilは配下の軍勢を呼び戻し、<br>
OrdinatorとBuoyant_Armigerの全軍そして彼みずから階段を上って行った、<br>
Morrowindの内で最上の戦士たちの血に塗れた遺体を過ぎながら、<br>
Abernanitの塔室に辿り着くために。<br>
<br>
高巣に住まう死の鴉のごとく、Dagoth_Thrasは、<br>
血まみれの盾と剣を構えながら、塔室の扉の傍に立っていた。<br>
どれだけRangidilが槍を突こうとも、それは容易に防がれてしまった。<br>
どれだけRangidilが剣を振ろうとも、それは横に逸らされてしまった。<br>
どれだけRangidilが戦棍を打とうとも、それは盾に迎えられてしまった。<br>
如何なる弓の早射ちであれ、それは〔自軍を〕有利にするものではなかった。<br>
その魔物の並ならざる力は恐ろしい祝福に由来するため、<br>
Morrowindに見出される<br>
如何なる戦士の如何なる武具であれ、<br>
Abernanitの盾を突破すること能わなかった。<br>
<br>
時の過ぎるに連れて、Rangidilは分かってきた、<br>
どうして彼の素晴らしい戦士たちは<br>
Dagoth_Thrasによって命を絶たれてしまったのかを。<br>
Dagoth_Thrasは彼らの攻撃を防いで疲労困憊させることによって、<br>
それから、そうして弱ってしまったところを、ただ切り伏せたに過ぎないのだ。<br>
その悪漢は粘り強く、盾の扱いに長けており、<br>
Rangidilは、その強靭なる両腕が痺れてくるようにさえ感じてきた、<br>
何れの一撃であれDagoth_Thrasが先んじて防いでしまう一方にて。<br>
Rangidilは恐れた、Morrowindの聖なる３柱の加護なく、<br>
Abernanitの塔に命を落としてしまうかも知れないことを。<br>
<br>
だが、それでも、こうして叫びつつ彼は幾撃も加えた、<br>
「敵よ、私はRangidil、〈真なる寺院〉の王子である。<br>
私は幾度もの合戦を、幾人もの戦士と戦ってきた、<br>
彼らは私の刃を止めんとして、そして失敗に終わってきた。<br>
ほんの僅かばかりの者達のみが、私の企図する一撃を予想できた、<br>
そして、もっと僅かばかりの者達のみが、<br>
その意図を止めるための術を知っていた、<br>
あるいは、私の在らゆる打ち込みを和らげるための力を持っていた。<br>
Morrowindの何処であれ、Abernanit城の此処よりも、<br>
盾でもって身を守る術に長けた匠は存在しない。<br>
<br>
私の敵よ、闇の王Dagoth_Thrasよ、私を殺す前に、<br>
私は請いたい、その守りは如何に為し得るものかを。」<br>
邪ながらも誇り高いDagoth_Thrasは、そのRangidilの嘆願を聞き入れ、<br>
そして、〈寺院〉の勇者のハラワタを抜き取る前に、<br>
Rangidilの本能と反射が、<br>
彼の動作が始まるに合わせて如何に作用するものかという、<br>
冥土の土産の知識を与えてやることに決めて、<br>
その説明を始めたところ、Rangidilの振る舞いが以前のそれではないと気づき、<br>
そして、見つめ、途方に暮れていたところ、Rangidilは、<br>
このMorrowindの物語が呼ばわるところのもの、<br>
「必殺の一撃」を加えたのであった。<br>
<br>
<DIV align="center">***
<br>
<DIV align="left">Geocrates_Varnusによる注釈:<br>
（１）〈恐怖〉とは、Daedraの王子Mehrunes_Dagonを指し示す。<br>
（２）「５０の冬」とは、この叙事詩が、第３時代１５０年に於ける〈Abernanit包囲〉〔Siege_of_Abernanit〕の５０年後に著されたことを示唆するものである。<br>
（３）「みたび祝福されたRangidil」とは、第２時代８０３年に生まれ第３時代１９５年に死んだRangidil_Ketilである。彼は〈寺院〉のOrdinatorの指揮官であり、「みたび祝福された」とは、Tribunalの神々に祝福されたということである。<br>
（４）「〈母〉・〈君主〉・〈魔術師〉」とは、Almalexia・Vivec・Sotha_Silから構成されるTribunalを指し示す。<br>
（５）「Dagoth_Thras」とは、有力なるDaedra崇拝者であった。その出自は知られておらず、その姿を消した一族の血を引くという証拠を殆んど持たないが、みずから〈第６の名家〉〔Sixth_House〕の末裔であると公言していた。<br>
<br>
<br>
}}}}
// 注意：訳文の部分は中括弧({と})が原文部分と異なり4つづつ。
#pre{{{{
<font face=1><br>
<DIV align="center">Abernanitに下さん、必殺の一撃<br>
注釈<br>
賢者Geocrates_Varnus<br>
<br>
<DIV align="left">__破壊された胸壁と粉砕された城壁<br>
__そこらに於いて、かつて〈恐怖〉〔Horror〕（１）崇拝が奉じられていた。<br>
__５０の冬（２）の霜と風の咬み傷が<br>
__その不浄の門どもにヒビを入らせ穴を穿ち、<br>
__その冷酷にして卑猥なる尖塔を崩落させた。<br>
__なべて塵、塵そのものに他ならず。<br>
__血は乾き、叫びは木霊となって消えた。<br>
__Morrowindの<br>
__極めて荒涼かつ寂寥たる地の丘々の傍に形を成しつつ、<br>
__Abernanitの不毛なる屍は横たわる。<br>
<br>
__みたび祝福されたRangidil（３）が初めてAbernanitを認めた時には、<br>
__それは活動性と永久性によって明るい銀に光かがやいていた。<br>
__熱を帯びる硝子の義眼と〈恐怖〉に授かりし力を具えた、<br>
__それを守護する恐ろしげなる者どもの、恐ろしげなる地。<br>
__丘々の頂より死の荒野と城砦を注視して、<br>
__みずから率いる僅かばかりのOrdinatorとBuoyant_Armigerを遥かに越える、<br>
__仇敵の数をRangidilは知った。<br>
__屹立しながら、<br>
__Morrowindの人々の魂に呪詛を吐き出す、<br>
__それこそ、呪わしい邪悪なるAbernanit城なり。<br>
<br>
__戦に赴く聖戦士を呼ばわる警報が響いた、<br>
__非道の盾が正義の槍に応えるため、<br>
__前線の勇ましい戦闘に合わせて武装するため。<br>
__Rangidilは固く盾と黒檀の細槍を握り締め、<br>
__そして、合戦の喧騒は響き渡る大轟音に合わせ始まり、<br>
__天上の雲を掻き混ぜ地上に引き下ろさんほどであった。<br>
__盾の壁は砕かれ、血は止められ、<br>
__その戦場こそ、<br>
__Abernanitの邪悪を打ち砕かんとする、<br>
__Morrowindの戦に違いなかった。<br>
<br>
__狂気の大群は、なるほど、武具の扱いに長けていれど、<br>
__しかし、〈母〉・〈君主〉・〈魔術師〉（４）の聖なる３の拳は、<br>
__突撃に次ぐ突撃によって、魔物の軍勢を押し戻していった。<br>
__Dagoth_Thras（５）彼みずから悪辣なる塔の尖頂に立つ姿を、<br>
__Rangidilは高みから見て取り、守りを固めるよう軍に促しつつ、<br>
__そして、彼は知っていた、邪悪の中心が捕えられて初めて、<br>
__この地に永久の平安は正しく訪れるだろうことを。<br>
__かくして、<br>
__彼はMorrowindの〈寺院〉〔Temple〕と聖なるTribunalに誓った、<br>
__Abernanitの塔を攻め落とさんことを。<br>
<br>
__荒々しい猛攻によって塔の基部を刺し貫くけれども、<br>
__しかし、その尖塔を崩さんとする在らゆる努力は無に帰した、<br>
__あたかも〈恐怖〉の全力によって、その塔は支えられているかのようであった。<br>
__上に至る吹き抜け〔の階段〕は険しく何とも窮屈にて、<br>
__２人の戦士が肩を並べて上れないほどであった。<br>
__そのため、軍勢は１人ずつの縦隊でもって一歩一歩と上って行った、<br>
__塔室〔tower_room〕に辿り着き、<br>
__AbernanitのDagoth_Thrasという、<br>
__Morrowind史の内で<br>
__最も劣悪かつ冷酷なる暴君の１人の支配を終えるために。<br>
<br>
__塔を上って行った第一軍からの勝どきを人々は待っていたけれど、<br>
__しかし、返るものは静寂、そして血ばかり、<br>
__その最初には小川に過ぎなかったものは緋色の水流に変じて、<br>
__険しい吹き抜け〔の階段〕に注がれ下った、<br>
__「Dagoth_Thrasは我々の軍勢を１人ずつ平らげている！」<br>
__という階上の叫びに合わせて。<br>
__Rangidilは配下の軍勢を呼び戻し、<br>
__OrdinatorとBuoyant_Armigerの全軍そして彼みずから階段を上って行った、<br>
__Morrowindの内で最上の戦士たちの血に塗れた遺体を過ぎながら、<br>
__Abernanitの塔室に辿り着くために。<br>
<br>
__高巣に住まう死の鴉のごとく、Dagoth_Thrasは、<br>
__血まみれの盾と剣を構えながら、塔室の扉の傍に立っていた。<br>
__どれだけRangidilが槍を突こうとも、それは容易に防がれてしまった。<br>
__どれだけRangidilが剣を振ろうとも、それは横に逸らされてしまった。<br>
__どれだけRangidilが戦棍を打とうとも、それは盾に迎えられてしまった。<br>
__如何なる弓の早射ちであれ、それは〔自軍を〕有利にするものではなかった。<br>
__その魔物の並ならざる力は恐ろしい祝福に由来するため、<br>
__Morrowindに見出される<br>
__如何なる戦士の如何なる武具であれ、<br>
__Abernanitの盾を突破すること能わなかった。<br>
<br>
__時の過ぎるに連れて、Rangidilは分かってきた、<br>
__どうして彼の素晴らしい戦士たちは<br>
__Dagoth_Thrasによって命を絶たれてしまったのかを。<br>
__Dagoth_Thrasは彼らの攻撃を防いで疲労困憊させることによって、<br>
__それから、そうして弱ってしまったところを、ただ切り伏せたに過ぎないのだ。<br>
__その悪漢は粘り強く、盾の扱いに長けており、<br>
__Rangidilは、その強靭なる両腕が痺れてくるようにさえ感じてきた、<br>
__何れの一撃であれDagoth_Thrasが先んじて防いでしまう一方にて。<br>
__Rangidilは恐れた、Morrowindの聖なる３柱の加護なく、<br>
__Abernanitの塔に命を落としてしまうかも知れないことを。<br>
<br>
__だが、それでも、こうして叫びつつ彼は幾撃も加えた、<br>
__「敵よ、私はRangidil、〈真なる寺院〉の王子である。<br>
__私は幾度もの合戦を、幾人もの戦士と戦ってきた、<br>
__彼らは私の刃を止めんとして、そして失敗に終わってきた。<br>
__ほんの僅かばかりの者達のみが、私の企図する一撃を予想できた、<br>
__そして、もっと僅かばかりの者達のみが、<br>
__その意図を止めるための術を知っていた、<br>
__あるいは、私の在らゆる打ち込みを和らげるための力を持っていた。<br>
__Morrowindの何処であれ、Abernanit城の此処よりも、<br>
__盾でもって身を守る術に長けた匠は存在しない。<br>
<br>
__私の敵よ、闇の王Dagoth_Thrasよ、私を殺す前に、<br>
__私は請いたい、その守りは如何に為し得るものかを。」<br>
__邪ながらも誇り高いDagoth_Thrasは、そのRangidilの嘆願を聞き入れ、<br>
__そして、〈寺院〉の勇者のハラワタを抜き取る前に、<br>
__Rangidilの本能と反射が、<br>
__彼の動作が始まるに合わせて如何に作用するものかという、<br>
__冥土の土産の知識を与えてやることに決めて、<br>
__その説明を始めたところ、Rangidilの振る舞いが以前のそれではないと気づき、<br>
__そして、見つめ、途方に暮れていたところ、Rangidilは、<br>
__このMorrowindの物語が呼ばわるところのもの、<br>
__「必殺の一撃」を加えたのであった。<br>
<br>
<DIV align="center">***
<br>
<DIV align="left">Geocrates_Varnusによる注釈:<br>
__（１）〈恐怖〉とは、Daedraの王子Mehrunes_Dagonを指し示す。<br>
__（２）「５０の冬」とは、この叙事詩が、第３紀１５０年に於ける〈Abernanit包囲〉〔Siege_of_Abernanit〕の５０年後に著されたことを示唆するものである。<br>
__（３）「みたび祝福されたRangidil」とは、第２紀８０３年に生まれ第３紀１９５年に死んだRangidil_Ketilである。彼は〈寺院〉のOrdinatorの指揮官であり、「みたび祝福された」とは、Tribunalの神々に祝福されたということである。<br>
__（４）「〈母〉・〈君主〉・〈魔術師〉」とは、Almalexia・Vivec・Sotha_Silから構成されるTribunalを指し示す。<br>
__（５）「Dagoth_Thras」とは、有力なるDaedra崇拝者であった。その出自は知られておらず、その姿を消した一族の血を引くという証拠を殆んど持たないが、みずから〈第６の名家〉〔Sixth_House〕の末裔であると公言していた。<br>
<br>
<br>
}}}}
Willow interrupted: "Akatosh, we can determine that the gods have a few basic characteristics, can't we?"
Edward added "Of course, Akatosh - they are powerful beings who can perform acts that are incomprehensible to us. That in itself must signify their difference."
Akatosh nodded and replied "I understand your point of view, but to a farming community on Tamriel in our southern lands, that could also describe how they would perceive me. Perhaps this is attributable to the fact that they seldom see a dragon nowadays, but it also does not mean that I am a god ... neither does it mean that I am not a god."
Willow giggled, and said "Of course you're not a god, Akatosh" and Edward, smiling, nodded agreement.
Akatosh replied "How do you know, Willow? I can understand that you would guess that I am not a god, particularly since I am a dragon." He grinned, and then continued "But how can you know that I am not a god?"
Edward scoffingly replied "Well, I know that I'm not a god anyway. And I've certainly never seen you perform any godly acts, Akatosh - you also don't seem to have any worshippers about either."
The Companions were smiling and generally agreeing with this, but Akatosh responded "But that does not mean that I have no worshippers, nor does it mean that I cannot perform any godly acts - it just means that you have not seen either of these. I am not yet certain that gods and goddesses require worshippers to maintain their existence. And as I said, I can perform magic that would look like 'godly acts' to many Tamrielians."
"But the gods must have worshippers, Akatosh" said Aliera, "That's how they get their ... sustenance, or whatever it is that allows them to continue ... to be godly. Husband, you must know more about this subject. After all, you made a god of your brother S'ephen."
"I did no such thing!" Moraelyn responded, with a touch of indignation. "His godhood is between him and his worshippers, among whom I am numbered. I did establish a temple cult in his memory. Anyone with the worldly means could do as much for anyone, living or dead. That alone is not enough. Maybe it helps -- facilitate matters, but I think it's not really necessary. I know no more of it, but if you want my opinion--" he paused politely for confirmation that it was indeed still solicited, as elven etiquette demanded if one were giving opinion at length.
He continued. "There must be something, well, godly, in the person's soul or essence or whatever part it is that does not die with the body. I know not whether that capacity is innate in the person, from birth or conception, or quickening ... whene'er it is that soul and body are wedded for a life span, or whether great deeds and great generosity might breed it, enlarging the soul and transmuting it, so to speak. We all change and grow with each passing day, with every breath, some more than others. What else is life about?"
He went on without pausing for an answer to his rhetorical question, probably for fear that he might get one. "In other cases, gods seem to arise from a locality, a mountain, or a spring, or wood, or a collection of localities, such as Tamriel itself. Places, like persons have souls, some greater than others. This place might produce a god or a daedra -- or maybe it already has one or more. As it changes, so do its gods and daedra, I think. Maybe they can choose to resist the change or aid it, if propitiated."
He looked at Akatosh inquiringly. The dragon had stopped fighting the new gods, he said, but would he go so far as to worship them? "That speaks to the question of whence gods arise, but source is not nature: of that I know as little as the rest of you, maybe less, since the question does not truly interest me. The gods are; my worship of them benefits me and mine. It is sufficient."
Akatosh did not respond immediately and Aliera refused to be distracted, "But suppose such a cult were established and worshippers provided for one of small and mean spirit. Would that spirit not become a god?"
"I suppose it might be done, if one were determined enough and had a sufficiency of means to pay worshippers to perform rituals without -- spirit -- behind them. Maybe that's where small, mean gods come from, wife. Or maybe daedra? Maybe I'll raise a cult to thee and see what happens."
"Are you calling my spirit small and mean?" Ali glared at him.
"Only by comparison -- you don't fancy yourself a goddess, do you? You might make a daedra,
though. The experiment might be a bit too chancy. Could I just mourn you for a century or two instead?"
"Mm. I'll think on it. What about you? You've deeds enough already to qualify for godhood, surely ... although if you plan on many more such you may not outlive me."
"I'm doomed to be R'Aathim, living and dead. It's godhood of a sort, but what a sort! Don't begrudge me my long life span. Think of me doomed to eternity in the gloomy Ebonheart council chamber listening to the eternal wrangles ... small wonder the dead R'Aathim pulled the place down on the live ones twenty years ago, thus causing my brother and my mother to join their number. The dead R'Aathim must have welcomed the century and a half of respite while the Nords held Ebonheart."
"But your brother S'ephen was killed too, as well as your brother King Cruethys, and S'ephen wasn't R'Aathim, being your mother's son and not your father's, if I have the story straight -- that's why he got his own temple," Edward said. "So why did they kill him, too? The story sounds very daedric to me."
"You'd have me justify the ways of the gods to you, would you? I think they act for ends we cannot see, and slay the just and the unjust together -- not that I'd label any of my Kin as either -- not altogether. We see only the means -- how can we judge? Gods too face choices; I do not think their power supreme. They can overrule nature on occasion, as can any Mage, yet they, like Mages, are in the end bound by it -- and their overrule must answer other rules still -- and in those rules, whate'er they be, I think lies the answer to your questions. I think it's not something men and women may know while living."
Akatosh smiled and replied "It is not so easy to describe the gods, is it? This is true even though, myself included, each of us thinks that we have a mental picture of what godliness means. On the other hand, the gods and goddesses certainly do exist - and I also believe that there is a connection of some sort between them and the Daedra, and another connection between these entities and the power associated with performing magic."
"The priests of Julianos have been calling this power 'Magicka'" said a stranger who had joined the group.
Akatosh replied "Greetings bard. Please allow me to introduce ... Geoffrey, a ... wandering poet who has been visiting our village for these last few days." The Companions greeted the wood elf newcomer, some rising to their feet to do so according to their individual customs, and then all resumed sitting (actually sprawling about) and conversing.
"A number of priests are theorizing that the gods and goddesses live on another plane, as do the Daedra - there is some debate amongst these priests as to whether they share the same plane of existence, or whether each has their own. And some of the Alessian priests are claiming that we can visit these alternate planes in our nightly dreams" added Beech.
Edward asked "Why doesn't someone just ask a goddess or a Daedra about this?"
Geoffrey chuckled and replied "Most of us are not able to be so thoughtful when confronted by one of these beings, Edward. Also, there is a common belief that the gods and Daedra are as reluctant to discuss their own natures as dragons are to reveal anyone's True Name."
Edward looked quizzically at Akatosh, but Beech stated to Geoffrey "Well said, Bard" ... and that pair shared the slightest of smiles.
Beech then said, "Do you know what the Resolutions of Zenithar has been saying about the gods and magic? This magic power, or Magicka, is just the power generated by the existence of, well, existance itself. When it becomes focused by living beings through natural processes, then it becomes accessible to the gods and goddesses as worship power, which is the next level of Magicka. After receiving some from their worshippers, the gods can then concentrate it up to god-level power - the true Magicka. The gods themselves can't generate the mid-level Magicka, since they are dependent on it for their own existence, but they can 'convert it' to Magicka, which can then be used by mortals to cast spells. This Magicka is usually dispersed widely across the planes but there are areas of greater and lesser concentration due to interferences with the dispersion process."
"When a goddess loses worshippers, her inflow of mid-level Magicka is decreased, so she in turn produces less god-level Magicka. With less Magicka under her control (for providing to worshippers, or dispersion), her influence is decreased in the mortal planes - of course the converse is also true. In the extreme, she receives nothing, and is relegated to a state of Stasis, barely existing from the ordinary Magicka generated by her few remaining Consecrated lands, zones of influence, and so on."
Beech continued, "On the other hand, Daedra receive very specific, or 'modified' mid-level Magicka from a few mortals with specific areas of interest, and these Daedra are normally tied to very specific circumstances. Because of their nature, they gain much more power from their small worship base, but the gods, with their much broader base, generally have greater overall power, even though the amount of concentrated worship that they receive from any one source is much less than a Daedra's. Most of the Magicka that the gods 'process' is dispersed into and throughout the universe, no longer under their control, thereby making it available for everyone. It's not really something they do consciously, but as a natural process that happens automatically - in other words ... just because they are divine."
Aliera said, "I would think that Magicka is simply available to sentient beings, although the gods and Daedra could facilitate its usage. I would think that the gods and Daedra have other influences on us as well, because not everyone has spellcasting ability! Maybe in those 'alternate planes' it's actually existance, and not sentient entities, that radiates Magicka, just as the stars give off light in our dimension. I just assume that Magicka is 'out there' in the ether, or maybe sentient consciousnesses automatically tap into an alternate plane as they sleep. I think that everyone has some supply of Magicka, but most don't know how to use it very well, or else they adopt a way of life that inhibits or forbids its use. Maybe certain gods and Daedra serve as facilitators for the entire process; that is, both obtaining and using Magicka? But how do priests heal and cure and bless? Is Magicka involved at all or do they invoke their goddesses directly?"
Ssa'ass said, "I am not ssssure that Magicka isss usssed; perhapss there isss yet another capability involved here. Thisss capability would be unknown at thisss time, and maybe even unsssenssssed... but I feel fairly certain that sssomehow it is a godly 'force' that they are employing."
Then Geoffrey responded: "Ssa'ass, I believe that Magicka fills the universe of planes. All things are infused with Magicka to one extent or another. In this regard Magicka is attracted to some people and things over others, and some people with talent or training can control and even release Magicka in new forms. There may be other sources of Magicka available by tapping into alternate and otherworldly planes. There is also the possibility of alternate planes that are entirely void of Magicka. Regardless, certain beings of great power, such as the gods and Daedra, can not only control Magicka, but can see, absorb, and transfuse Magicka to and from objects and people. By employing this ability, worshippers of these beings are sometimes capable of greater acts of Magic than they could accomplish otherwise. Also in this way, some items sacred to powerful beings can be said to be holy, with additional amounts of directed Magicka provided by gods or goddesses."
"Magic items fall into two main categories by definition. Items that draw on the surrounding Magicka to create spell-like effects, and items that hold Magicka in reserve for their own internal effects. Normally magic items which absorb Magicka, giving increased abilities to their wielders, only affect themselves and are considered to use internal Magicka. In some areas where great amounts of Magicka have been used, the surroundings may be completely devoid of it. This of course negates the ability of beings to produce magic effects in these areas, although gods and Daedra carry their own supplies of Magicka, as do magic items that do not depend on the use of surrounding Magicka."
Aliera said, "We've been investigating some rumors and stories concerning something that might be called anti-Magicka. I think the presence of a powerful Daedra with whom you weren't in 'tune' could cause interference with spellcasting - maybe even cancel out existing spells. Perhaps particular Daedra simply favor thief or warrior types. Or some goddesses, and their priests, might frown on 'competing' magic in certain areas, for example in locations dedicated to them. So then unauthorized spells could interfere with their rituals."
Willow asked, "Can Daedra supply Magicka? And how about both a god and a Daedra being nearby? - wouldn't they sort of nullify each other's powers? This might be the cause of the anti-Magicka effect."
"I've experienced an anti-Magicka zone myself" inserted Mith. "It felt a lot like the effect of casting a spell like Dispel Magicka. At the time, I thought that a truly powerful spellcaster could still effectively cast spells, but their resulting power would have been much reduced. I didn't get a chance to test this out though" added Mith with a smile.
"We can also assume that certain powerful spells, creatures and even magic items might actually drain the surrounding area of Magicka," replied Geoffrey. "This could be extended to places where great amounts of magic energy were once gathered and expended, for example in ancient temples where great spells were cast, or battlefields where powerful mages contested. Perhaps certain metals or stones could act as absorbers of Magicka, allowing for whole structures of anti-Magicka zones. If so, you might be able to wear a amulet made out of anti-Magicka material and gain a good advantage against spellcasters. Perhaps the purity of the material used would allow for better and better magic resistance".
Akatosh spoke: "Dragons have long been interested in the anti-Magicka effect, naturally enough. We have found some amulets that appear to act as Magicka absorbers. They might contain something like Negative Magicka, in which case they would attract any 'stray' Magicka floating free in the local area. They are made of a stone, or mineral, resembling marble - it is very rare, but could be extracted, and shaped by skilled craftsmen. For example, I'm sure that the dwarves could have worked with this material. They might have made these amulets - or even that statue that I once saw ... it was taller than any of you humanoids. Regardless, in these mountains we have found deposits scattered throughout the halls and tunnels at random, sometimes deep within the walls. Consequently, one appears to go in and out of these anti-Magicka zones of varying intensities, with little or no warning. I have been imagining that this material works almost automatically; it seems to 'reflexively' absorb Magicka if given a chance to. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that they have been magically charged somehow - perhaps this happened long ago, but the charge has somehow remained."
Moraelyn asked, "Would the amulet affect its wearer, or would he be immune?"
"Maybe a blocking spell could be developed, and then cast, to shield the wearer from the effects of the substance."
Moraelyn then asked, "But Akatosh, getting back to our earlier discussions - what do you think of the speculations concerning the connections between the gods and goddesses, Daedra and Magicka?"
Akatosh replied, "I think that there are many truths that we do not know, and perhaps there are some truths that we are not meant to know."
Moraelyn asked with a smile, "All right then, I've always wanted to know this - considering the shape of your mouth and teeth, how do dragons manage to speak the humanoid languages so clearly?"
Akatosh paused, and then carefully responded, "Why, in much the same way that we can fly, even though our wings are not naturally strong enough to support such heavy torsos."
"Speaking of dragon flight and sunsets..." Mith said, rising to his feet and squinting into the red-gold eastern sky, "We have a vistor, Dragon Lord. That's not a bird."
Akatosh's head came up and he too scanned the sky. Tension grew in him, and one by one the Companions rose, watching as the distant dot grew nearer and resolved itself into the largest dragon they'd seen yet.
"Ma-Tylda!" Akatosh exclaimed, "She deigns to bestow her presence on us!" His wings lifted and unfurled, and the Companions broke and ran for cover as he took flight. The two dragons wheeled through the sky, spouting great gouts of flame against the purpling sky.
"They're fighting," Edward cried, "what does it mean. Who is Ma-Tylda?"
"I don't know who she is, son," Moraelyn replied, "but they do not fight. You behold a dragon greeting ceremony." The pair alit beyond a rock outcropping out of sight.
"Should we go greet the stranger, too?" Edward asked.
"Nay," Mith said. "They'll let us know if our presence is wanted -- look, even the other dragons stay away." It was true. Dragon heads had poked from the caverns to witness the event, but none of them had taken wing, and now they were retreating to their hoards within.
The Companions ambled back into the meadow together and built a fire as a chill wind had sprung up. The elves sang an evening hymn to the stars, deftly weaving the dark elf version with the wood elf form. Aliera added her voice to theirs, but Mats and Edward and Silk and Ssa'ass sat listening silently. They couldn't manage elven music of this kind. Geoffrey had a particularly clear sweet voice, Edward thought.
Akatosh returned presently, smiling in satisfaction. "Ma-Tylda's going to join us here, at least for awhile," he said. He was actually glowing in the dusk, each scale giving off a golden radiance.
"Is she your queen?" Edward asked, feeling very small and human.
"She -- just is. Maybe she'll want to meet you all some day. I hope so. Until then, well, I don't talk about other dragons, you know."
To which Edward blinked in surprise and then surmise, and the discussion dissolved into jokes and songs for the remainder of that clear and beautiful evening.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's what Marilyn Wasserman has to say about this text: "Glad you enjoyed the King Edward books. I'm afraid you've read all there is of them. That series, like many of the Daggerfall books, was written by one of the beta testers (me, in this instance) before there was any Daggerfall to test. (I was one of a group of testers left over from the post release effort to debug Arena.) Once Daggerfall testing got underway Ted Peterson asked me to write the Queen Barenziah series. Between that and testing I was too busy to do more with Edward & co. With Daggerfall's release the books became the property of Bethesda Softworks.
These books should be regarded as historical novels, not official lore or history."
