卷四 2920年

Rain's Hand

雨手(月份)

Book One of 2920

卷四 2920年

The Last Year of the First Era

第一纪元的最后一年

by

Carlovac Townway

卡罗瓦克唐威

3 Rain's Hand, 2920, Coldharbour, Oblivion

3rd，雨手，2920，冰冷湾，湮没

Sotha Sil proceeded as quickly as he could through the

索塔希尔以他所能的最快速度继续在已然毁坏的宫殿大厅里前行，下半身浸没

blackened halls of the palace, half-submerged in brackish

在一种令人不快的液体中。在他的四周，肮脏的凝胶状生物急速蠕动向丛丛芦苇，

water. All around him, nasty gelatinous creatures scurried into the reeds, bursts of white fire lit up the upper arches

白色的焰火从四面八方射出，最后黏在大厅的圆拱上，在消失之前炸裂开来，

of the hall before disappearing, and smells assaulted him,

一种令人作呕的味道突然向他发起冲击，在那一刻他以为他会被那股腐臭味活生

rancid death one moment, sweet flowered perfume the next.

生熏死，但接下来又是一阵甜腻的花香袭来。有好几次，他觉得他已经一脚跨过

Several times he had visited the Daedra princes in their

死亡的大门，他都能看见诸魔神和他们的湮没领域，但每一次，他都又被拉回

Oblivion, but every time, something different awaited him.

现实。

He knew his purpose, and refused to be distracted.

他知道他的目标所在，并且下定决心不被干扰。

Eight of the more prominent Daedra princes were awaiting him

八个杰出的魔神正在已经半融化的，有着圆拱的房间里等着他。阿祖拉，黎明与

in the half-melted, domed room. Azura, Prince of Dusk and Dawn;

黄昏之魔神;波耶西亚，阴谋大君;赫麦尤斯莫拉，魔神大君，掌管着知识;

Boethiah, Prince of Plots; Herma-Mora, Daedra of Knowledge; Hircine, the Hunter; Malacath, God of Curses; Mehrunes Dagon,

海尔辛，狩猎之魔神;马拉卡斯，诅咒之神;梅鲁涅斯大衮，灾难之魔神;

Prince of Disaster; Molag Bal, Prince of Rage; Sheogorath,

莫拉格巴尔，愤怒，残暴之魔神;谢尔格拉，代表着疯狂。

the Mad One.

Above them, the sky cast tormented shadows upon the meeting.

在他们的头顶上，灰黑色的天空向下投射着痛苦的阴影。

5 Rain's Hand, 2920, The Isle of Artaeum, Summurset

5th，雨手，2920，亚蒂姆群岛，夏暮群岛

Sotha Sil's voice cried out, echoing from the cave, “Move the

索塔希尔大声喊叫着，声音在封闭的洞穴中回响，“搬走那石头!”

rock!”

Immediately, the initiates obeyed, rolling aside the great

话音一落，学生们马上服从指令，尝试着把那块堵住幻梦洞穴入口的巨大岩石滚

boulder that blocked the entrance to the Dreaming Cavern.

到一边去。索塔希尔的身影随着巨石被移除渐渐显露出来，他的脸上满是灰尘，

Sotha Sil emerged, his face smeared with ash, weary. He felt

带着深深地疲倦。他感觉自己像是离开了好几个月，甚至几年，但实际上只有几

he had been away for months, years, but only a few days had

天而已。莉莉法走上前抓过他的手臂想要扶着他走路，但他轻笑着摇摇头拒绝了

transpired. Lilatha took his arm to help him walk, but he

她的帮助。

refused her help with a kind smile and a shake of his head.

“Were you ... successful?” she asked.

“你……成功了吗?”她问道。

“The Daedra princes I spoke with have agreed to our terms,”

“八位魔神都已经同意了我们的条约，”他干巴巴地说。“曾经降临于吉佛戴尔的

he said flatly. “Disasters such as befell Gilverdale should

大灾难应该要被制止。除非有巫师或者学者再次在一次召唤仪式中充当中间人。”

be averted. Only through certain intermediaries such as witches or sorcerers will they answer the call of man and mer.”

“And what did you promise them in return?” asked the Nord boy

“那么作为回报您给了他们什么?”那个诺德男孩维勒哥问道。

Welleg.

“The deals we make with Daedra,” said Sotha Sil, continuing

“和魔族达成的契约，”索塔希尔说着，一步步走向埃克西斯的宫殿，准备面见

on to Iachesis' palace to meet with the Master of the Psijic

赛伊克组织的统帅。“不可以与无辜者讨论。”

Order. “Should not be discussed with the innocent.”

8 Rain's Hand, 2920, The Imperial City, Cyrodiil

8th，雨手，2920，皇城，塞洛蒂尔

A storm billeted the windows of the Prince's bedchamber,

一阵大风刮进王子的寝室，带来一股湿润的气流，与房间内医者点起的焚香和浓

bringing a smell of moist air to mix with the censors filled

重的草药味混合在一起。

with burning incense and herbs.

“A letter has arrived from the Empress, your mother,” said

“这儿有一封来自皇后，您的母亲的信件，”信使说道。“非常忧心于您的健康。”

the courier. “Anxiously inquiring after your health.”

“What frightened parents I have!” laughed Prince Juilek from

“我的父母是多么容易担心啊!”朱历克王子躺在床上大笑。

his bed.

“It is only natural for a mother to worry,” said

“这对于一个关爱孩子的母亲来说很正常，”萨维利恩卓拉克，君王的儿子说道。

Savirien-Chorak, the Potentate's son.

“There is everything unnatural about my family, Akavir. My

“我的家人从来就没有一件事是正常的，阿卡维尔人。我那被流放的母亲一直害

exiled mother fears that my father will imagine me of being

怕我会被我的父亲想象成一个叛徒，或是把我想象成一个垂涎于王冠的小人，以

a traitor, covetous of the crown, and is having me poisoned,”

至于下毒手加害于我，”王子重重地倒向他的枕头，烦闷地说“而皇帝则坚持认

the Prince sank back into his pillow, annoyed. “The Emperor

为我需要一名为我的每一顿饭尝菜的侍从，就像他一样。”

has insisted on me having a taster for all my meals as he does.”

“There are many plots,” agreed the Akavir. “You have been abed

“这是一个阴谋遍布的地方”阿卡维尔人赞同地说。“你已经卧床养病将近三周

for nearly three weeks with every healer in the empire

了，且帝国中所有的医者都步履蹒跚地在你的卧室里晃荡就像在跳社交舞一样。

shuffling through like a slow ballroom dance. At least, all

至少，我能看出你正在一天天恢复过来。”

can see that you're getting stronger.”

“Strong enough to lead the vanguard against Morrowind soon,

“希望能很快恢复到能带领先锋队战胜晨风的程度，”朱历克说。

I hope,” said Juilek.

11 Rain's Hand, 2920, The Isle of Artaeum, Summurset

11st，雨手，2920，亚蒂姆群岛，夏暮群岛

The initiates stood quietly in a row along the arbor loggia,

学生们沉默地沿着藤架凉廊站成一排，看着那条比他们的队伍还长的大理石深沟

watching the long, deep, marble-lined trench ahead of them

在他们前面闪着火光。沟渠上方的空气因为那灼人的热浪劈啪作响。虽然每个学

flash with fire. The air above it vibrated with the waves of

生都尽力让他们的面部肌肉保持在面无表情这个模式上，就像一个真正的赛伊克

heat. Though each student kept his or her face sturdy and

一样，但他们的恐惧还是像那热量一样明显。索塔希尔闭上双眼，给自己施了

emotionless, as a true Psijic should, their terror was nearly

as palpable as the heat. Sotha Sil closed his eyes and uttered

个防火咒。缓慢地，他走过那布满跳跃火焰的深沟，爬上另一边，毫发无损。甚

the charm of fire resistance. Slowly, he walked across the

至他穿在身上的白色长袍也没有丝毫烧灼的痕迹。

basin of leaping flames, climbing to the other side, unscathed. Not even his white robe had been burned.

“The charm is intensified by the energy you bring to it, by

“防护咒的威力会随着你能量的增强而增强，也会随着你能力的提升而提升，其

your own skills, just as all spells are,” he said. “Your

他咒语也是这个道理，”他说。“你的想象力和意志力是成功的关键。你不需要一

imagination and your willpower are the keys. There is no need for a spell to give you a resistance to air, or a resistance

道对抗空气的防护咒，你也不需要防护咒来防范鲜花，而等到你施完咒语之后，

to flowers, and after you cast the charm, you must forget there

你必须牢记这个咒语不是让你与火焰绝缘。不要因为我的言论感到混乱：防护咒

is even a need for a spell to give you resistance to fire.

Do not confuse what I am saying: resistance is not about

不是用来忽略火焰的真实存在的。你会感觉到火焰的实体，它的质感，它的饥饿

ignoring the fire's reality. You will feel the substance of

和渴望，以及它的温度，但你将清楚地知道它不会伤害你。”

flame, the texture of it, its hunger, and even the heat of it, but you will know that it will not hurt or injure you.”

The students nodded and one by one, they cast the spell and

学生们一个个点头，尝试施展咒语并穿过那些烧得正烈的火焰。有些进展快的学

made the walk through the fire. Some even went so far as to

生甚至俯下身子，舀起一团火焰，将新鲜的空气喂给饥饿的烈火，这使得它在手

bend over and scoop up a handful of fire and feed it air, so

中像泡泡一样膨胀起来，然后从指间流向地面。索塔希尔的嘴角微微勾起。学

it expanded like a bubble and melted through their fingers.

生们表现极佳，他们已然战胜了他们的恐惧。

Sotha Sil smiled. They were fighting their fear admirably.

The Chief Proctor Thargallith came running from the arbor

这时，首席学监法尔加利斯从藤架拱门跑来，“索塔 希尔!阿玛莱希雅已经到达

arches, “Sotha Sil! Almalexia has arrived on Artaeum. Iachesis

亚蒂姆了。埃克西斯让我来叫你。”

told me to fetch you.”

Sotha Sil turned to Thargallith for only a moment, but he knew

索塔希尔才刚刚转头看向法尔加利斯，但一声尖叫又让他转了回去。那个诺德

instantly from the screams what had transpired. The Nord lad

小子，维勒哥，没有恰当地施展咒语然后很不幸地烧了起来。血肉和头发烧焦的

Wellig had not cast the spell properly and was burning. The smell of scorched hair and flesh panicked the other students

味道使得学生们很快开始恐慌，争先恐后地想要拖着他跑出深沟，但那个土坡对

who were struggling to get out of the basin, pulling him with

于那这个人的他们来讲太陡峭了。索塔希尔挥了挥手，熄灭了火焰。

them, but the incline was too steep away from the entry points. With a wave of his hand, Sotha Sil extinguished the flame.

Wellig and several other students were burned, but not badly.

维勒哥和其他几个学生都烧伤了，但并不严重。学者在转向法尔加利斯之前朝他

The sorcerer cast a healing spell on them, before turning back

们扔了个治疗咒语。

to Thargallith.

“I'll be with you in a moment, and give Almalexia the time

“我会很快去找你的，并且为阿玛莱希雅的到来做好清扫工作，”索塔希尔又看

to shake the road dust from her train,” Sotha Sil turned back

to the students, his voice flat. “Fear does not break spells,

向他的学生们，语调平淡。“恐惧并不会破坏咒语，但怀疑和生疏向来都是法师

but doubt and incompetence are the great enemies of any

施展咒语时的大敌。维勒哥先生，我想你今晚得收拾你的行李。我会准备一艘船

spellcaster. Master Welleg, you will pack your bags. I'll arrange for a boat to bring you to the mainland tomorrow

在明天早上送你去大陆上。

morning.”

The sorcerer found Almalexia and Iachesis in the study,

不一会儿，学者在书房中找到了阿玛莱希雅和埃克西斯，他们正在聊天，喝着热

drinking hot tea, and laughing. She was more beautiful than

茶。她比他印象中的更加美丽了，虽然他还未曾见过如此衣冠不整的她，身上裹

he had remembered, though he had never before seen her so disheveled, wrapped in a blanket, dangling her damp long black

着一条毛毯，甩着她那潮乎乎的黑色长发力求让其尽快变干。索塔希尔在走向

tresses before the fire to dry. At Sotha Sil's approach, she

她的途中，就被从座位上跳起来的她抱住了。

leapt to her feet and embraced him.

“Did you swim all the way from Morrowind?” he smiled.

“难道你是从晨风一路游过来的吗?”他笑着说。

“It's pouring rain from Skywatch down to the coast,” she

“从长天堡一路到海岸都下着倾盆大雨，”她解释道，也还给他一个笑容。

explained, returning his smile.

“Only a half a league away, and it never rains here,” said

“云团离我们只有半个队伍的距离，但这里从来不会下雨，”埃克西斯骄傲地说。

Iachesis proudly. “Of course, I sometimes miss the excitement

“当然，我有时也会想念夏暮群岛的激情，甚至有些怀念大陆上的生活。尽管如

of Summurset, and sometimes even the mainland itself. Still,

此，我总是为大陆上的学者能取得一些意想不到的成就而感到印象深刻。外面的

I'm always very impressed by anyone out there who gets anything

世界充满了干扰，总让人心烦意乱。说到干扰，听说外面正在打仗，战事如何?”

accomplished. It is a world of distractions. Speaking of distractions, what's all this I hear about a war?”

“You mean the one that's been bloodying the continent for the

“您指的是那场在最近八十年里使整个大陆陷入腥风血雨中的战争吗，大师?”

last eighty years, Master?” asked Sotha Sil, amused.

索塔希尔问，带着调侃的口吻。

“I suppose that's the one I mean,” said Iachesis with a shrug

“我想那正是我在谈论的那场，”埃克西斯耸了耸肩。“言归正传，现在外面情况

of his shoulders. “How is that war going?”

如何?”

“We will lose it, unless I can convince Sotha Sil to leave

“我们会输，除非我能说服索塔希尔离开亚蒂姆，”阿玛莱希雅说道，嘴角不再

Artaeum,” said Almalexia, losing her smile. She had meant to

上扬。她原本打算不那么着急，找个合适的时机私底下跟她的朋友谈谈，但年老

wait and talk to her friend in private, but the old Altmer

高精灵给予了她现在提出想法的勇气。“我看见了未来，且我心中确定那必将实

gave her courage to press on. “I have had visions; I know it

现。”

to be true.”

Sotha Sil was silent for a moment, and then looked at Iachesis,

索塔希尔沉默了半响，然后下定决心看向埃克西斯，“看来我得回一趟晨风。”

“I must return to Morrowind.”

“Knowing you, if you must do something, you will,” sighed the

“我了解你，以你的脾气就算我阻止你，你也还是会悄悄溜走，”年老的大师叹

old Master. “The Psijics' way is not to be distracted. Wars

了口气。“赛伊克们的道路不能被干扰。战争即是战斗，关乎帝国的崛起和堕落。

are fought, Empires rise and fall. You must go, and so must

你必须得去，就像我们一样。”

we.”

“What do you mean, Iachesis? You're leaving the island?”

“我不明白，埃克西斯?你也要离开岛屿了吗?”

“No, the island will be leaving the sea,” said Iachesis, his

“不，这座岛屿会离开海洋，”埃克西斯说，他的语调开始变得轻柔恍惚。再过

voice taking on a dreamy quality. “In a few years, the mists

几年，迷雾会遮盖住亚蒂姆的身形，到那时我们势必要离开。我们是天生的导师，

will move over Artaeum and we will be gone. We are counselors

但现在泰姆瑞尔已经有太多的指导员了。不，我们也将会离去，并在大陆需要我

by nature, and there are too many counselors in Tamriel as

们的时候再回来，或许那已经是另一个时代了。”

it is. No, we will go, and return when the land needs us again, perhaps in another age.”

The old Altmer struggles to his feet, and drained the last

老高精灵的意识在和他的双脚作斗争，但最后他只能喝干最后一滴饮料，随后将

sip of his drink before leaving Sotha Sil and Almalexia alone:

房间留给索塔希尔和阿玛莱希雅两人：“不要错过了最后一只船。”

“Don't miss the last boat.”

The Year Continues in Second Seed.

今年会在‘次种’中继续。

Locations:

Blind Cliff Bastion (The Reach) on Petra (only as part of quest The Affairs of Hagravens).

盲目悬崖堡垒(马卡斯领地)(只有进行‘乌鸦鬼婆的事务’任务时才能进的地方)

Falion's House (Morthal), on a table.

法利昂的小屋(莫萨尔)，在一个桌子上。

Hall of the Dead (Markarth), on the shelf next to the priest's bed.

亡者之厅(莫萨尔城)，神父的床旁边的书架上。

370 ft NNE of Journeyman's Nook (Winterhold), at the end of a crevasse. (map)

工人的临时休息处(冬堡的东南方)再往东北偏北方向走370英尺，在一个冰裂缝的终点

Behind Widow's Watch Ruins (Haafingar). (map)

在寡妇的废墟(一座塔)后面(海芬加，孤独城的领地，天际西北)