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

  第一紀(jì)元的最后一年

  by

  Carlovac Townway

  卡羅瓦克唐威

  3 Rain's Hand, 2920, Coldharbour, Oblivion

  3rd，雨手，2920，冰冷灣，湮沒(méi)

  Sotha Sil proceeded as quickly as he could through the

  索塔希爾以他所能的最快速度繼續(xù)在已然毀壞的宮殿大廳里前行，下半身浸沒(méi)

  blackened halls of the palace, half-submerged in brackish

  在一種令人不快的液體中。在他的四周，骯臟的凝膠狀生物急速蠕動(dòng)向叢叢蘆葦，

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

  白色的焰火從四面八方射出，最后黏在大廳的圓拱上，在消失之前炸裂開(kāi)來(lái)，

  of the hall before disappearing, and smells assaulted him,

  一種令人作嘔的味道突然向他發(fā)起沖擊，在那一刻他以為他會(huì)被那股腐臭味活生

  rancid death one moment, sweet flowered perfume the next.

  生熏死，但接下來(lái)又是一陣甜膩的花香襲來(lái)。有好幾次，他覺(jué)得他已經(jīng)一腳跨過(guò)

  Several times he had visited the Daedra princes in their

  死亡的大門(mén)，他都能看見(jiàn)諸魔神和他們的湮沒(méi)領(lǐng)域，但每一次，他都又被拉回

  Oblivion, but every time, something different awaited him.

  現(xiàn)實(shí)。

  He knew his purpose, and refused to be distracted.

  他知道他的目標(biāo)所在，并且下定決心不被干擾。

  Eight of the more prominent Daedra princes were awaiting him

  八個(gè)杰出的魔神正在已經(jīng)半融化的，有著圓拱的房間里等著他。阿祖拉，黎明與

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

  黃昏之魔神;波耶西亞，陰謀大君;赫麥尤斯莫拉，魔神大君，掌管著知識(shí);

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

  海爾辛，狩獵之魔神;馬拉卡斯，詛咒之神;梅魯涅斯大袞，災(zāi)難之魔神;

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

  莫拉格巴爾，憤怒，殘暴之魔神;謝爾格拉，代表著瘋狂。

  the Mad One.

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

  在他們的頭頂上，灰黑色的天空向下投射著痛苦的陰影。

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

  5th，雨手，2920，亞蒂姆群島，夏暮群島

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

  索塔希爾大聲喊叫著，聲音在封閉的洞穴中回響，“搬走那石頭!”

  rock!”

  Immediately, the initiates obeyed, rolling aside the great

  話音一落，學(xué)生們馬上服從指令，嘗試著把那塊堵住幻夢(mèng)洞穴入口的巨大巖石滾

  boulder that blocked the entrance to the Dreaming Cavern.

  到一邊去。索塔希爾的身影隨著巨石被移除漸漸顯露出來(lái)，他的臉上滿是灰塵，

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

  帶著深深地疲倦。他感覺(jué)自己像是離開(kāi)了好幾個(gè)月，甚至幾年，但實(shí)際上只有幾

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

  天而已。莉莉法走上前抓過(guò)他的手臂想要扶著他走路，但他輕笑著搖搖頭拒絕了

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

  她的幫助。

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

  “Were you ... successful?” she asked.

  “你……成功了嗎?”她問(wèn)道。

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

  “八位魔神都已經(jīng)同意了我們的條約，”他干巴巴地說(shuō)?！霸?jīng)降臨于吉佛戴爾的

  he said flatly. “Disasters such as befell Gilverdale should

  大災(zāi)難應(yīng)該要被制止。除非有巫師或者學(xué)者再次在一次召喚儀式中充當(dāng)中間人。”

  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

  “那么作為回報(bào)您給了他們什么?”那個(gè)諾德男孩維勒哥問(wèn)道。

  Welleg.

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

  “和魔族達(dá)成的契約，”索塔希爾說(shuō)著，一步步走向?？宋魉沟膶m殿，準(zhǔn)備面見(jiàn)

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

  賽伊克組織的統(tǒng)帥?！安豢梢耘c無(wú)辜者討論。”

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

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

  8th，雨手，2920，皇城，塞洛蒂爾

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

  一陣大風(fēng)刮進(jìn)王子的寢室，帶來(lái)一股濕潤(rùn)的氣流，與房間內(nèi)醫(yī)者點(diǎn)起的焚香和濃

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

  重的草藥味混合在一起。

  with burning incense and herbs.

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

  “這兒有一封來(lái)自皇后，您的母親的信件，”信使說(shuō)道?！胺浅n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擔(dān)心啊!”朱歷克王子躺在床上大笑。

  his bed.

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

  “這對(duì)于一個(gè)關(guān)愛(ài)孩子的母親來(lái)說(shuō)很正常，”薩維利恩卓拉克，君王的兒子說(shuō)道。

  Savirien-Chorak, the Potentate's son.

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

  “我的家人從來(lái)就沒(méi)有一件事是正常的，阿卡維爾人。我那被流放的母親一直害

  exiled mother fears that my father will imagine me of being

  怕我會(huì)被我的父親想象成一個(gè)叛徒，或是把我想象成一個(gè)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頭，煩悶地說(shuō)“而皇帝則堅(jiān)持認(rèn)

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

  為我需要一名為我的每一頓飯嘗菜的侍從，就像他一樣?！?

  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

  “這是一個(gè)陰謀遍布的地方”阿卡維爾人贊同地說(shuō)?！澳阋呀?jīng)臥床養(yǎng)病將近三周

  for nearly three weeks with every healer in the empire

  了，且帝國(guó)中所有的醫(yī)者都步履蹣跚地在你的臥室里晃蕩就像在跳社交舞一樣。

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

  至少，我能看出你正在一天天恢復(fù)過(guò)來(lái)?！?

  can see that you're getting stronger.”

  “Strong enough to lead the vanguard against Morrowind soon,

  “希望能很快恢復(fù)到能帶領(lǐng)先鋒隊(duì)?wèi)?zhàn)勝晨風(fēng)的程度，”朱歷克說(shuō)。

  I hope,” said Juilek.

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

  11st，雨手，2920，亞蒂姆群島，夏暮群島

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

  學(xué)生們沉默地沿著藤架涼廊站成一排，看著那條比他們的隊(duì)伍還長(zhǎng)的大理石深溝

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

  在他們前面閃著火光。溝渠上方的空氣因?yàn)槟亲迫说臒崂伺咀黜?。雖然每個(gè)學(xué)

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

  生都盡力讓他們的面部肌肉保持在面無(wú)表情這個(gè)模式上，就像一個(gè)真正的賽伊克

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

  一樣，但他們的恐懼還是像那熱量一樣明顯。索塔希爾閉上雙眼，給自己施了

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

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

  個(gè)防火咒。緩慢地，他走過(guò)那布滿跳躍火焰的深溝，爬上另一邊，毫發(fā)無(wú)損。甚

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

  至他穿在身上的白色長(zhǎng)袍也沒(méi)有絲毫燒灼的痕跡。

  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

  “防護(hù)咒的威力會(huì)隨著你能量的增強(qiáng)而增強(qiáng)，也會(huì)隨著你能力的提升而提升，其

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

  他咒語(yǔ)也是這個(gè)道理，”他說(shuō)?！澳愕南胂罅鸵庵玖κ浅晒Φ年P(guān)鍵。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

  道對(duì)抗空氣的防護(hù)咒，你也不需要防護(hù)咒來(lái)防范鮮花，而等到你施完咒語(yǔ)之后，

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

  你必須牢記這個(gè)咒語(yǔ)不是讓你與火焰絕緣。不要因?yàn)槲业难哉摳械交靵y：防護(hù)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

  不是用來(lái)忽略火焰的真實(shí)存在的。你會(huì)感覺(jué)到火焰的實(shí)體，它的質(zhì)感，它的饑餓

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

  和渴望，以及它的溫度，但你將清楚地知道它不會(huì)傷害你?！?

  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

  學(xué)生們一個(gè)個(gè)點(diǎn)頭，嘗試施展咒語(yǔ)并穿過(guò)那些燒得正烈的火焰。有些進(jìn)展快的學(xué)

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

  生甚至俯下身子，舀起一團(tuán)火焰，將新鮮的空氣喂給饑餓的烈火，這使得它在手

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

  中像泡泡一樣膨脹起來(lái)，然后從指間流向地面。索塔希爾的嘴角微微勾起。學(xué)

  it expanded like a bubble and melted through their fingers.

  生們表現(xiàn)極佳，他們已然戰(zhàn)勝了他們的恐懼。

  Sotha Sil smiled. They were fighting their fear admirably.

  The Chief Proctor Thargallith came running from the arbor

  這時(shí)，首席學(xué)監(jiān)法爾加利斯從藤架拱門(mén)跑來(lái)，“索塔 希爾!阿瑪萊希雅已經(jīng)到達(dá)

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

  亞蒂姆了。埃克西斯讓我來(lái)叫你。”

  told me to fetch you.”

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

  索塔希爾才剛剛轉(zhuǎn)頭看向法爾加利斯，但一聲尖叫又讓他轉(zhuǎn)了回去。那個(gè)諾德

  instantly from the screams what had transpired. The Nord lad

  小子，維勒哥，沒(méi)有恰當(dāng)?shù)厥┱怪湔Z(yǔ)然后很不幸地?zé)似饋?lái)。血肉和頭發(fā)燒焦的

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

  味道使得學(xué)生們很快開(kāi)始恐慌，爭(zhēng)先恐后地想要拖著他跑出深溝，但那個(gè)土坡對(duì)

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

  于那這個(gè)人的他們來(lái)講太陡峭了。索塔希爾揮了揮手，熄滅了火焰。

  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.

  維勒哥和其他幾個(gè)學(xué)生都燒傷了，但并不嚴(yán)重。學(xué)者在轉(zhuǎn)向法爾加利斯之前朝他

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

  們?nèi)恿藗€(gè)治療咒語(yǔ)。

  to Thargallith.

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

  “我會(huì)很快去找你的，并且為阿瑪萊希雅的到來(lái)做好清掃工作，”索塔希爾又看

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

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

  向他的學(xué)生們，語(yǔ)調(diào)平淡?！翱謶植⒉粫?huì)破壞咒語(yǔ)，但懷疑和生疏向來(lái)都是法師

  but doubt and incompetence are the great enemies of any

  施展咒語(yǔ)時(shí)的大敵。維勒哥先生，我想你今晚得收拾你的行李。我會(huì)準(zhǔn)備一艘船

  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陸上。

  morning.”

  The sorcerer found Almalexia and Iachesis in the study,

  不一會(huì)兒，學(xué)者在書(shū)房中找到了阿瑪萊希雅和?？宋魉梗麄冋诹奶?，喝著熱

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

  茶。她比他印象中的更加美麗了，雖然他還未曾見(jiàn)過(guò)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

  著一條毛毯，甩著她那潮乎乎的黑色長(zhǎng)發(fā)力求讓其盡快變干。索塔希爾在走向

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

  她的途中，就被從座位上跳起來(lái)的她抱住了。

  leapt to her feet and embraced him.

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

  “難道你是從晨風(fēng)一路游過(guò)來(lái)的嗎?”他笑著說(shuō)。

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

  “從長(zhǎng)天堡一路到海岸都下著傾盆大雨，”她解釋道，也還給他一個(gè)笑容。

  explained, returning his smile.

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

  “云團(tuán)離我們只有半個(gè)隊(duì)伍的距離，但這里從來(lái)不會(huì)下雨，”埃克西斯驕傲地說(shuō)。

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

  “當(dāng)然，我有時(shí)也會(huì)想念夏暮群島的激情，甚至有些懷念大陸上的生活。盡管如

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

  此，我總是為大陸上的學(xué)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

  世界充滿了干擾，總讓人心煩意亂。說(shuō)到干擾，聽(tīng)說(shuō)外面正在打仗，戰(zhàn)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

  “您指的是那場(chǎng)在最近八十年里使整個(gè)大陸陷入腥風(fēng)血雨中的戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)嗎，大師?”

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

  索塔希爾問(wèn)，帶著調(diào)侃的口吻。

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

  “我想那正是我在談?wù)摰哪菆?chǎng)，”?？宋魉孤柫寺柤纭！把詺w正傳，現(xiàn)在外面情況

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

  如何?”

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

  “我們會(huì)輸，除非我能說(shuō)服索塔希爾離開(kāi)亞蒂姆，”阿瑪萊希雅說(shuō)道，嘴角不再

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

  上揚(yáng)。她原本打算不那么著急，找個(gè)合適的時(shí)機(jī)私底下跟她的朋友談?wù)?，但年?

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

  高精靈給予了她現(xiàn)在提出想法的勇氣?！拔铱匆?jiàn)了未來(lái)，且我心中確定那必將實(shí)

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

  現(xiàn)?！?

  to be true.”

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

  索塔希爾沉默了半響，然后下定決心看向?？宋魉梗翱磥?lái)我得回一趟晨風(fēng)。”

  “I must return to Morrowind.”

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

  “我了解你，以你的脾氣就算我阻止你，你也還是會(huì)悄悄溜走，”年老的大師嘆

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

  了口氣?！百愐量藗兊牡缆凡荒鼙桓蓴_。戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)即是戰(zhàn)斗，關(guān)乎帝國(guó)的崛起和墮落。

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

  你必須得去，就像我們一樣。”

  we.”

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

  “我不明白，?？宋魉?你也要離開(kāi)島嶼了嗎?”

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

  “不，這座島嶼會(huì)離開(kāi)海洋，”埃克西斯說(shuō)，他的語(yǔ)調(diào)開(kāi)始變得輕柔恍惚。再過(guò)

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

  幾年，迷霧會(huì)遮蓋住亞蒂姆的身形，到那時(shí)我們勢(shì)必要離開(kāi)。我們是天生的導(dǎo)師，

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

  但現(xiàn)在泰姆瑞爾已經(jīng)有太多的指導(dǎo)員了。不，我們也將會(huì)離去，并在大陸需要我

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

  們的時(shí)候再回來(lái)，或許那已經(jīng)是另一個(gè)時(shí)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

  老高精靈的意識(shí)在和他的雙腳作斗爭(zhēng)，但最后他只能喝干最后一滴飲料，隨后將

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

  房間留給索塔希爾和阿瑪萊希雅兩人：“不要錯(cuò)過(guò)了最后一只船。”

  “Don't miss the last boat.”

  The Year Continues in Second Seed.

  今年會(huì)在‘次種’中繼續(xù)。

  Locations:

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

  盲目懸崖堡壘(馬卡斯領(lǐng)地)(只有進(jìn)行‘烏鴉鬼婆的事務(wù)’任務(wù)時(shí)才能進(jìn)的地方)

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

  法利昂的小屋(莫薩爾)，在一個(gè)桌子上。

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

  亡者之廳(莫薩爾城)，神父的床旁邊的書(shū)架上。

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

  工人的臨時(shí)休息處(冬堡的東南方)再往東北偏北方向走370英尺，在一個(gè)冰裂縫的終點(diǎn)

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

  在寡婦的廢墟(一座塔)后面(海芬加，孤獨(dú)城的領(lǐng)地，天際西北)