Rise and Fall of the First: Betrayal

"But there has to be more to it, Miraak." Vahl said. "How exactly did you find out you were Dragonborn, and how did you come to be involved with Hermaeus Mora?"

Miraak looked at the Dunmer and frowned, saying "Well, the moment the man you know as "Miraak" found out he was Dragonborn, was the moment the good man "Fenrik" died."


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Solstheim: One year after the Christening


Miraak sat in his study, staring at a strange object Vahlok had brought him just days earlier. A book, as black as night surrounded by a corrupted aura. The Dragon Priest sat there and pondered the meaning of the book. He made a gesture towards the book as though he was about to open it to discover its contents, but before Miraak could do such a thing Vahlok bursted in through the door.

"Miraak, come quickly! Vokluumriik and Kruzvedzah are fighting." Vahlok yelled out.

Very rarely do two Dragons engage in a battle of the Thu'um, to witness a debate of the Dov was a privilege few were able to experience, and Miraak could not pass up this opportunity. So Miraak slid on his mask and quickly ran to the site of the battle where they saw the two Dov engage in an aerial battle. The two hurled their Thu'um at each other for the next half hour, and at the end Volkuumriik laid motionless on the ground, while Kruzvedzah flew away victorious.

"Vahlok, take the cultists back to the temple. I wish to study Volkuumriik in solitude." Miraak ordered. Vahlok complied and rounded up his fellow spectators.

Miraak was about to walk up to the corpse of Vokluumriik to collect scale samples, but barely made a few steps before the slain Dragon began disintegrating. The Dragon Priest was then struck with a colorful aura and felt a surge of power coursing through him. His blood felt hot and cold at the same time, and his very soul was on fire. Everything was hazy for Miraak, he was forced to the ground wondering what had happened. He then remembered that Dragons could absorb the souls of their fallen brethren by the same method. Miraak then stumbled back to his study, in pain the whole way, wondering what had happened. How could a lowly mortal absorb the soul of a Dragon? It was simply inconceivable. He went to record this event in his journal, but in his power-drunken state, he opened the Black Book by mistake. All went dark for the Priest.

"Where am I?" Miraak questioned when he came to, his vision slowly returning to him

"You..... are in my realm..... of Apocrypha....."  A voice said to Miraak "It was a matter of time.... before you came here... seeking for the knowledge you have always wanted.... yet did not know you did..."

"Who are you? Speak quickly!" Miraak cried out, demanding the entity's identity

"I.... am Hermaeus Mora.... Daedric Prince of Knowledge and Fate.... and I possess the answers you seek.... I have been watching you Miraak from the very beginning..." Mora spoke in his slow and steady pace.

"If you have the answers to my questions, tell me why a mortal like me was able to absorb a Dragon's soul." Miraak demanded

"You are not a normal mortal... Miraak... You are.... Dragonborn.... The first of your kind... You possess the blood and soul of a Dragon... but... you are in a mortal body..... In essence... you are a Dragon... and as Dragon.... you crave power.... I can give you what you need... to achieve such power.... but all knowledge has a price...."

Miraak was puzzled, yet somewhat intrigued. When he absorbed the Dragon's soul, he felt as if he were in a state of ecstasy. Something inside, told him that he needed more of this forbidden power.

"What is your request, for this knowledge to a greater power?" The Dragonborn asked

"I simply ask for your allegiance... for you to become... my Champion..." Mora requested

Miraak's heart told him to say "no", but his blood and soul told him "yes". The First Dragonborn submitted and kneeled before Hermaeus Mora.

"Excellent choice... my champion.... Here.... is a shout of my own creation.... Use it bend the world to your will..." Mora chuckled with delight

What felt like months to Miraak's consciousness, was only a few hours in the real world, and Vahlok was sitting by his friend's bedside worried. As far as Vahlok had known, Miraak had fallen ill and was in a coma, but as Miraak came back to reality, he immediately demanded an audience with Sahrotaar, Kruziikrel and Relonikiv.

"Miraak, you know better than to speak to the Dov, uninvited." Vahlok pleaded, but the Dragonborn would hear none of it.

The First Dragonborn marched towards where the three Dragons were perched with a deathly glare in his eyes.

"We have not requested for your presence, Miraak. It is a great disrespect to interrupt a Dov, you know this." Sahrotaar chastised

However, Miraak feared the Dragons no longer, he was now backed by a Daedric Prince's power and he intended to use it.

Kruziikrel demanded for Miraak to turn around before he made the Dragons unleash their wrath. However, Miraak only said three words in response.

"Gol... HAH DOV!!!!"