The Nisin Cave in Southern Cyrodiil seems to be just another burrow of the Shadowed Path cult, albeit a little too close to Vlastarus for the towns comfort. But the difference here is that this circle of necromacers is lead by a Dremora fire mage, and this particular Dremora fire mage is dedicated in service to the Daedric Prince of Cruelty and Torture, Boethiah.

That this Shadowed Path circle seems to worship Boethiah, or at the very least are working under one who serves the Dark Mistress, raises many concerning questions. Whilst it is rare that deadric princes work together it is not unknown, for sometimes their hatred of mortals outweighs even that which they have for each other. But it is never a straightforward pact and their reasons for doing so are often beyond the comprehension of us mortals. I recall for instance the unanswered puzzle of the statue of Vaermina I discovered within the Shivering Isles whilst retrieving another of those cursed tomes for Shalidor.

Is it possible that this circle of the Shadowed Path worships a different, or indeed multiple daedric princes? Or are they here simply at the grace of Boethiah, being complicit in Molag Bal’s insidious plans for the heartland of Tamriel? Or could Boethiah itself be searching for the very same relic as Molag Bal for its own evil intent. Of course even daedric princes are not omnipresent, so perhaps it is that this Dremoa works for its own profit, unbeknownst to its patron? I recall seeing no evidence evidence of Boethiah cult activities when I returned to the Imperial City, or anywhere else in Cyrodiil for that matter.

Ultimately there were no answers to be found in Nisin Cave, just as there were none in the Shivering Isles. So I must presume and hope, that this is but an anomaly. It matters little however for these sheepish cultists which Daedric Prince thy choose to follow, for there is only one truth for them to discover, and that is that the shepherd always eats its sheep in the end.

S.K

The Shadowed Path cult have reportedly been taking over a number of caves and delves across Southern Cyrodiil in search of an unnamed artefact they believe will aid their dread patron’s conquest of the Imperial City, and eventually all of Cyrodiil. My first encounter with this cult was when I discovered them trying to raise a Lich at an Ayleid ruins within the Great Forest. Thankfully at Lindai their ambitions outweighed their talents.

The leaders of Vlastarus however are worried that the necromancers nefarious need for corpses to practice their foul rituals upon may soon lead them to prey upon their town. So they have asked that I venture north to Haynote Cave and cut down their numbers to thus reduce this threat.

These caverns by all accounts were once part of one of the most successful fungus-farming operations outside of Morrowind. Now however all that remains of the enterprise are the rotting wooden supports, and the foul musty stench of fungi. Though to be honest the stink could just as easily be coming from unburied rotten corpses, one must be careful where one tread when there are necromancers about.

I do what I can to cull their number, including going up against the leaders of this foul circle, the Dark Elf Theurgist Thelas, and the Imperial Bonelord Diabolist Volcatia. It is soon clear however that what this cult lacks in talent, they make up for in numbers and resources. The immediate threat to the people of Vlastarus may indeed be quelled, but it wont be so long before the towns leaders will be hiring other mercenaries to return to these caverns. In the end the only way to end the threat of the Shadowed Path cult will be to put an end to the threat of their dread patron, Molag Bal.

S.K

The people of Vlastarus endeavour just to survive in a world that keeps trying to destroy them. From the dispassionate occupation of the ever fluctuating banners, to ruthless bandit gangs, savage goblin tribes, and necromancers raising dead from their graveyards. But it was when the dead began to rise unsolicited from the nearby Ayleid ruins of Ceyatatar that they may just have begun to suspect that the whole of Mundas has it in for them.

Regular ghosts would be bad enough, but these are the spirits of Hadhuul the Fire King’s notorious army who have somehow retained through quietus, their ability to summon and control flame atronachs. Ghosts will oft retain their power to cast simple destruction spells beyond the grave, perhaps it is that their magic becomes so much a part of their identity that it remains with them through death, but rarely have I seen or heard of ghosts that retain their ability to summon other entities. I mean, what self respecting daedra would want to be commanded by a dead mortal.

The townsfolk have a cunning plan to use an attuned crystal to collect essences of flame from the atronachs to prevent them from being resummoned, but first they require a hired hand to dispatch them. Luckily for them I have had no better offer this evening; not for lack of searching could I find a gambling hall, or bawdy house nearby. As I cut through the atronachs one by one, I watch with fascination their bodies crumble to dust, their essences rise into the air dancing in the dusk like shooting stars, and then disappearing into the crystal.

Only when I feel I have done enough do I venture to challenge the ghost of the fire king himself. This was not a request from Vlastarus, this is purely for my own pride. Rarely it is that one gets to face an opponent of such repute. Perhaps not since the Worm King raised the Yokudan heroes against us in the Ancestral Crypts beneath the Valley of Blades; not counting of course my encounter with the Lord of Brutality himself, for a thousand, thousand souls had my back on that day.

S.K

A few days ago an armed skeleton wondered into the town of Vlastarus, thankfully one of the townsfolk crushed it before it could do any harm. The town leaders believe that it came from a graveyard outside of the Howling Cave where it has been reported that a necromancer named Atirion has recently taken up residence to practice his craft.

Necromancy isn’t illegal in Cyrodiil, and hasn’t been for many generations since the reign of Reman II. You wont get arrested for raising a skeleton in Bruma or Cheydinhal as you would in Sentinal or Mournhold. But whilst it isn’t illegal, it is certainly considered ethically questionable in these rural towns where the consequences for immorality can be just as harsh as for criminality.

I arrive outside the Howling Cave and it is clear this Atirion has been busy, and successful; he appears to be using the graveyard to build some sort of undead army. It is soon also clear that he is beyond reasoning with, or simply being encouraged to move on.

His transgression is not his actions, which are legal, nor his intent, which cannot be assumed, but in the threat his recklessness iniquity poses. He may consider himself unlucky that his skeleton wandered off into a nearby town, and mayhap he was, but ultimately the root of his misfortune was of his own manufacture.

S.K