LIFE IN MORROWIND - DAY 7

This day marks the end of my first week in the surreal land of Morrowind and it is yet another day that has been packed with events and discoveries so incredible, wonderful, and terrible, that having experienced them, I am myself transformed. 

The morning started with a failure. I returned to Edwinna in Ald'ruhn, to see what other tasks she had in store for me. I got another "fetch" quest but this one proved tricky. She asked me for a book, but the person who was supposed to own the book, Sirilonwe, refused outright to even talk about it. Was I supposed to steal it? Well, I had no idea where to look for it and how do it without I getting caught, so I gave up on this task - at least, for the moment.

Instead, since I was already in Vivec, I thought it would be a great opportunity to make some progress with the temple - as many as three Pilgrimage sites happened to be located in this city. And so I set out in the direction of the Temple district.

The city of Vivec is named after a living god of the local people, and it is a spectacular manifistation of his power, a marvel of architecture even by the standards of our world. Essentially the entire city is just a collection of enormous buildings, the so-called cantons - each one the size of an average town block. These cantons are connected by bridges - for their foundations are submerged below the sea level. And above it all, the floating rock of Baar Dau, apparently an actual asteroid that has been stopped in mid air by Vivec himself - and left there by him, suspended over the city, an ever-present reminder of Vivec's godly power. As I approached the Temple, it loomed ominously almost directly above me, its shadow streching over a large part of the city. I wondered how it feels to live with a mountain hovering precariously over your head. I supposed one gets used to anything.

My goal was in fact the Shrine of Daring, known also as the Shrine of Stop the Moon - dedicated precisely to this feat of godly benevolence. And as impressive as the original event was, I could not complain that the shrine fell short of its high standard. Even as I made my donation and read the inscription on its surface, I felt a surge of magical energies engulf me. I knew this feeling already for I had used a levitation spell before - but this time it was so much more potent. I soared up in the air, moving at breathtaking speed without the slightest effort. The feeling of freedom was overwhelming. Yet I knew that it would not last long, as it had been with the blessing of the previous shrine. 

It seemed appropriate to use this blessing from Vivec to pursue further the Pilgrimage commemorating his glorious deeds. One site in particular, the Shrine of Pride, was located in a place that could be rather challenging to reach: it was near Ghostgate, on the slopes of the notorious Red Mountain. Not only that, but the shrine was on the wrong side of the gate - it was inside the ghostfence, where, from what I heard, all kinds of deadly creatures lurked, held at bay only through the unceasing efforts of the Tribunal gods. 

Under normal circumstances, attempting to reach that shrine would mean putting myself in mortal danger. But going there - or rather flying there right now - that was quite different. For a short time, I could move through the air, and most likely faster than any other creature in Morrowind. I had nothing to fear, and I could reach any place - safe and fast. And so I set my course northward, rushing through the air, gaining speed and altitude, and hoping the blessing would last long enough to get me there. 

It was also at this time that I realised how lucky I had been to get the Amulet of Slowfalling from the two scholars back near the fields of Kummu. Without it, this flight would have been a lot more risky. As it were, I did not have to fear for my life if the levitation spell would suddendly wear off. Coincidentally, I got this amulet right next to another Shrine of Vivec. Could it be that some godly purpose arrange the events in just such a way? How much exactly do these Tribunal gods interfere in the daily life of their people? For now, I could only guess.

I reached the Ghostfence quite quickly, crossing half the island of Vvardenfell in just a few hours. The Red Mountain now loomed directly ahead of me, a black mass of volcanic rocks towering miles and miles above the scorched and blighted lands around it. And like a precious sparkling necklace, the ghostfence ringed its slopes: a wall of shimmering mystical energies, impenetrable and unbreakable, containing the evils within and protecting the rest of Vvardenfell. I flew directly about it until I saw the massive structure of the Gate - for it was more than just a gate, it was a citadel, a forepost of the Tribunal. 

As I began to descend, I could see now the tiny monument of the shrine not far from the gate. I directed my flight there and drawing closer, I could see some horrible, distorted figures shambling not far from it. I did not waste any time looking at them too closely: using my supernatural speed, I swooped down next to Shrine, reading quickly the words inscribed on it, and dropping a gemstone as it was the customary donation. As I felt the magic of protective energies swirl around me, I knew this part of the pilgrimage was now complete. I had no disire to linger in this hostile place - I cast a spell of Divine intervention and a moment later found myself standing in the yard of the Buckmoth fort near Ald'ruhn.