An Enchanting Tale, by Aaron Dennis
This is a fanfiction based on The Elder Scrolls series of video games and incorporates the worlds from Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim. An Enchanting Tale is free, thus eliminating any copyright infringement. This novel is not intended for profit.
S’maash is a young dark elf bent on making new discoveries in the field of enchanting. After discouraging words form his fellow mages, S’maash and his brother, S’maath, venture into the dwemer ruin of Dmalzthur in an effort to discern just how the deep elves crafted items such as Volendrung, Keening, and Sunder, yet they find only death and ash in the ancient ruin. S’maash then travels into Cyrodiil, hoping to find some clues on the ayleids’ enchanting practices. When things go awry in the ruin of Anutwyll, S’maash makes his final move into Skyrim, joins the College of Winterhold, and finds himself on a quest for the Daedric Prince of Knowledge, Hermaeus Mora.
The daemon sets the dunmer on a path to reforge the Heart of Lorkhan, meet the dwemer in their new city of Xranthrnl, and eventually break ground on unknown forms of enchanting. This is the perfect addition to The Elder Scrolls.
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Chapter One
S’maash always had an affinity for magick—enchanting especially—his natural talent was rivaled only by his love for the art. In his days as a child of Morrowind, he ran about with his friends and siblings stirring up all sorts of trouble. While they tried to stow away on silt striders, large insects utilized for the purposes of traveling long distances, S’maash normally found himself in trouble for different reasons, such as skulking into a mage’s workshop to catch a glimpse of a master spell craftsman at work. Most of his endeavors ended with a slap to the back of the head followed by the derogatory you s’wit, but that did little dissuade him.
Upon reaching adulthood in the year 4 E 221, S’maash, a striking, young, dark elf with a shock of gray hair on his head, and a gray-blue complexion, took a job as an inventory manager for a local union of mages in the town of L’Thu Oad. It was a small settlement southwest of Narsis, and his home town.
Working with the Mages’ Coalition consisted of little more than taking notes on their studies and cataloging their findings. Other menial tasks involving the organizing of reagents, soul gems, and magickal equipment kept him busy enough. Although he did learn a great deal about enchantments, the dunmer’s curiosity was never satiated. His knowledge of over fifty enchantments was a testament to the fact that knowledge led only to more curiosity, and that led him to speak to one of the elder mages, an old altmer—or high elf—named Rosoleola, the head of the Mages’ Coalition in L’Thu Oad. Ancient and surly with a shimmering, gold hue to his skin, he was not an easy person to approach.
“Master?” S’maash called.
The old altmer was stooped over an arcane enchanter, a malevolent-looking table adorned with the skull of a three-eyed beast, several candles, and a misty, green bauble. Rosoleola turned to the young dunmer while flipping through the pages of a journal.
“What now?” he barked.
“I couldn’t help, but notice you’re attempting to enchant that steel dagger with fire damage,” S’maash stated the obvious. Rosoleola winced as he returned his steady gaze to his journal. He remained quiet, absorbed, so S’maash stirred nervously before breaking the silence. “Why is it that we can imbue a weapon with fire damage, but not a shield or gauntlets?”
“S’wit…must you ask such a foolish question?” The altmer’s voice was raspy and condescending.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand, Sir. I’ve been watching and taking notes for these past seven years. Along the way, I have realized many truths, but some of them seem to have no logical base.”
Rosoleola turned to the youngster with contempt. He pushed an errant strand of silver hair behind his ear.
“What are you babbling about now, boy?”
“Sir, a flame cloak spell can be cast by a mage. This provides him the ability to damage an opponent by merely standing adjacent him without so much as warming his own skin. Why not can a piece of iron armor be enchanted as such?”