卷十一 2920年
Sun's Dusk
日落(月份)
Book Eleven of 2920
卷十一 2920年
The Last Year of the FirstEra
第一紀元的最後一年
by
Carlovac Townway
卡羅瓦克唐威
2Sun's Dusk, 2920, Tel Aruhn, Morrowind
2nd,日落，2920，泰爾阿汝因，晨風
"Aman to see you, Night Mother,” said the guard. “A
“有人想要見您，夜母，”守衛說道。“一個考夫林吉部落成員，據他出示的證明
Kothringitribesman who presents his credentials as Lord
來看，他應該就是吉迪恩的皇家護衛隊中的祖克大人。
Zuukof Black Marsh, part of the Imperial Garrison of Gideon.”
“Whatmakes you think I'd have even the slightest possible
“是什麼讓你自認爲我會有那個閒情逸致去會見他?”夜母問，聲音甜美卻帶着
interestin seeing him?” asked the Night Mother with
危險。
venomoussweetness.
“Hebrings a letter from the late Empress of the Cyrodilic
“他帶來了一封來自塞洛蒂爾帝國已故皇后的信件。”
Empire.”
“Weare having a busy day,” she smiled, clapping her hands
“看來我們今天註定要是忙碌的一天啊，”她笑着說，雙手愉快地排在一起。“帶
togetherwith delight. “Show him in.”
他進來。”
Zuukentered the chamber. His metallic skin, though exposed
祖克走進了房間。雖然他只裸露出頭部和雙手，但他那金屬色的皮膚還是因爲房
onlyat his face and hands, caught the light of the
間裏壁爐的火光以及窗外電閃雷鳴的暴風雨而反射出炫目的光芒。夜母顯然也注
fireplaceand the lightning of the stormy night from the
意到這一點，當他們兩對視時，她能從祖克的臉上看到自己的鏡像：平靜而美麗，
Night Mother noted also that she could see
卻莫名能讓看到她的人心生恐懼。祖克進來後一句話也沒說，只是把手中皇后的
herselfas he saw her: serene, beautiful, fear-inspiring.
信遞給夜母。夜母啜飲了一小口酒，把信拆開仔細閱讀。
Hehanded her his letter from the Empress without a word. Sipping her wine, sheread it.
“TheDuke of Morrowind also offered me an appreciable sum
“前不久哀傷之城公爵也提供了一筆十分可觀的賞金，讓我們刺殺皇帝。”夜母
tohave the Emperor murdered earlier this year,” she said,
說着，將信折起來。“可惜載着報酬的船出事故沉了，而那批金子再也沒送過來。
foldingthe letter. “His payment sunk, and never was delivered. It was a considerableannoyance, particularly
可以說，這件事帶給我不小的麻煩，當時我可是已經將一個手下安排進皇宮裏了。
asI had already gone to the trouble of putting one of my
你要怎樣讓我相信一個已經死亡的女人給我，信中提到的，更大的報酬能安全
agentsin the palace. Why should I assume that your more-
送到我手上呢?”
than-generouspayment, from a dead woman, will arrive?”
“Ibrought it with me,” said Zuuk simply. “It is in the
“我已經把獎賞帶來了，”祖克直白地說。“就在外面的馬車上。”
carriageoutside.”
“Thenbring it in and our business is complete,” smiled the
“那麼，把它拿進來完成我們的交易吧，”夜母笑着回答。“皇帝會隨着這一年的
NightMother. “The Emperor will be dead by year's end. You
結束而一起逝去。你可以把錢交給阿帕拉迪夫。除非你想留下來一起喝杯酒?”
mayleave the gold with Apaladith. Unless you'd care for some wine?”
Zuukdeclined the offer and withdrew. The moment he left
祖克婉拒了夜母的提議並走出房間。他剛一踏出房門，房間裏掛毯的陰影處悄悄
theroom, Miramor slipped noiselessly back from behind the
走出一個人影—米拉莫。夜母倒了杯酒遞給他，他欣然接受。
darktapestry. The Night Mother offered him a glass of wine, and he accepted it.
“Iknow that fellow, Zuuk,” said Miramor carefully. “I
“我認識剛纔那個人，祖克，”米拉莫謹慎地說。“不過我那時不知道他是爲老皇
didn'tknow he worked for the old Empress though.”
後工作的。”
“Let'stalk about you some more, if you don't mind,” she
“讓我們再談談你的遭遇，如果你不介意的話，”夜母說，心裏清楚米拉莫肯定
said,knowing he would, in fact, not mind.
會答應她的要求。
“Letme show you my worth,” said Miramor. “Let me be the
“我會向你展示我的價值的，”米拉莫說。“派我去殺掉那個狗皇帝吧。我已經殺
oneto do the Emperor in. I've already killed his son, and
掉他的兒子了，你也看到我能很好地隱藏自己。我猜你剛纔連掛毯上的一點波紋
yousaw there how well I can hide myself away. Tell me you
都沒看見。”
sawone ripple in the tapestry.”
TheNight Mother smiled. Things were falling into place
夜母心情愉悅地微笑。看來一切都牢牢掌握在她手裏。
rathernicely.
“Ifyou know how to use a dagger, you will find him at
“只要你懂得如何正確使用一把匕首，你會在博得朗姆找到他的，”她說完，又
Bodrum,”she said, and described to him what he must do.
跟米拉莫詳細交代接下來的計劃。
3Sun's Dusk, 2920, Mournhold, Morrowind
3rd，日落，2920，哀傷之城，晨風
TheDuke stared out the window. It was early morning, and
公爵凝視着窗外。現在正是清晨時分，而這已經是第四天他看到那團紅色的迷霧
forthe fourth straight day, a red mist hung over the city,
圍繞着城市，隨之而來的還有接連不斷的閃電。一陣怪異的風吹過大街小巷，將
flashinglightning. A freakish wind blew through the
streets,ripping his flags from the castle battlements,
城垛上的旗幟卷向天空，強迫他的人民緊緊抱着胳膊在街上行走。有些邪惡的東
forcingall his people to close their shudders tightly. Something terrible was comingto his land. He was not a
西侵入了公爵的領土。他不是個聰明的學者，但他知道那些徵兆。他的人民也是。
greatlylearned man, but he knew the signs. So too did his subjects.
“Whenwill my messengers reach the Three?” he growled,
“我的信使什麼時候能與那三人碰面?”他咆哮着問城主。
turningto his castellan.
“Vivecis far to the north, negotiating the treaty with the
“維瓦克正在遙遠的北方，跟皇帝協商關於協議的事情，”男人回答，身體和聲
Emperor,”the man said, his face and voice trembling with
音都因恐懼而顫抖。“阿瑪萊希雅與索塔 希爾則在奈克羅姆那裏。或許再過幾天
fear.“Almalexia and Sotha Sil are in Necrom. Perhaps they
信使就能趕上他們。”
canbe reached in a few days time.”
TheDuke nodded. He knew his messengers were fast, but so
公爵點了點頭。他知道他的信使速度很快，但湮沒之手的速度也不會慢。
toowas thehand of Oblivion.
6Sun's Dusk, 2920, Bodrum, Morrowind
6th，日落，2920，博得朗姆，晨風
Torchlightcaught in the misting snow gave the place an
火炬的光芒在漫天飛雪中顯得模糊而迷茫，像是來自另外一個世界的景象。來自
otherworldlyquality. The soldiers from both camps found
兩邊不同陣營的士兵都抱成一團，圍着營地中最大的篝火取暖：嚴冬的到來使得
themselveshuddled together around the largest of the bonfires: winter bringing enemies offour score of warring
本是敵人的士兵們不得不待在一起。只有少數幾個暗精靈會說塞洛蒂爾語，所以
closetogether. While only a few of the Dunmer guard could
兩方士兵大多數打鬥的共同原因是爲了取暖。當一個漂亮的紅衛少女走近火堆來
speakCyrodilic, they found common ground battling for warmth. When a pretty Redguardmaiden passed into their
在回到談判帳篷前暖和暖和自己時，兩方士兵也不約而同地擡起頭，視線緊隨着
midstto warm herself before moving back to the treaty tent,
難得一見的美女。
manya man from both army raised their eyes in approval.
TheEmperor Reman III was eager to leave negotiations
雷曼三世皇帝在這場談判開始之前就無比渴望它的結束。一個月之前，他覺得在
beforethey had ever begun. A month earlier, he thought it
維瓦克的軍隊曾經擊敗他的地方面見維瓦克是一種善意的表現，但顯然這個地方
wouldbe a sign of good will to meet at the site of his defeat to Vivec's army, butthe place brought back more bad
讓他回想起的糟糕回憶比他想象中的多很多。儘管貝西多—沙耶斷言河裏面的石
memoriesthan he thought it would. Despite the protestations of Potentate Versidue-Shaiethat the rocks
頭是因爲某種自然原因而變紅的，但皇帝能發誓他在上面看到了他的士兵的鮮血。
ofthe river were naturally red, he could swear he saw splatters of his soldier'sblood.
“Wehave all the particulars of the treaty,” he said, taking
“談判的所有細節已經盡在我們掌握之中，”皇帝說，從他的新歡科爾達手中拿
aglass of hot yuelle from his mistress Corda. “But here
走一杯熱飲。“但此時此地並不是簡述協議的最好地點。我們應該前往皇宮，爲
andnow is not the place for signing. We should do it at the Imperial Palace, withall the pomp and splendor this
這個歷史性的時刻舉辦一場盛大華麗的宴會。你也應該去叫來阿瑪萊希雅，以及
historicoccasion demands. You must bring Almalexia with
那個老巫師
youtoo. And that wizard fellow.”
“SothaSil,” whispered the Potentate.
“索塔 希爾，”首相輕聲補充道。
“When?”asked Vivec with infinite patience.
“什麼時候?”維瓦克帶着極大耐心問。
“Inexactly a month's time,” said the Emperor, smiling
“就在整整一個月之後，”皇帝說，臉上帶着慷慨的笑容，雙腳有些笨拙地勾在
munificentlyand clambering awkwardly to his feet. “We will
一起。“我們會在那兒舉辦一場奢華的宴會來紀念這一時刻。現在我想我得出去
holda grand ball to commemorate. Now I must take a walk.
走走。我的雙腿因爲這寒冷的天氣都抽筋了。科爾達，我親愛的，你能陪我散散
Mylegs are all cramped up with the weather. Corda, my dear,
步嗎?”
willyou walk with me?”
“Ofcourse, your Imperial Majesty,” she said, helping him
“當然了，陛下，”科爾達回答，扶着皇帝幫助他走向帳篷的入口。
towardthe tent's entrance.
“Wouldyou like me to come with you as well, your Imperial
“您願意讓我也加入散步的行列嗎，陛下?”貝西多—沙耶問道。
Majesty?”asked Versidue-Shaie.
“OrI?” asked King Dro'Zel of Senchal, a newly appointed
“或許加上我?”森夏爾的卓澤爾王問，他是皇宮中一個新進的顧問。
advisorto the court.
“Thatwon't be necessary, I won't be gone a minute,” said
“沒必要，我不會離開超過一分鐘的，”雷曼皇帝說。
Reman.
Miramorcrouched in the same rushes he had hidden in nearly
米拉莫蜷縮在八個月前他曾藏身過的那個相同的灌木叢中。現在地面被凍硬且滿
eightmonths before. Now the ground was hard and snow-covered, and the rushes slickwith ice. Every slight
是積雪，灌木叢的枝椏上也掛滿碎冰。米拉莫只要稍微動一動，整個灌木就會嘎
movementhe made issued forth a crunch. If it were not for
吱嘎吱地響。如果不是篝火旁晨風和帝國的士兵們接連不斷傳來的沙啞的歌聲，
theraucous songs of the combined Morrowind and Imperial army gathered about thebonfire, he would not have dared
他也不敢就這樣潛行到皇帝和他的小老婆旁邊。他們正站在峭壁下冰凍住的小溪
creepas close to the Emperor and his concubine. They were
彎折處，四周圍繞着因爲碎冰而閃閃發光的大樹。
standingat the curve in the frozen creek below the bluff, surrounded by trees sparklingwith ice.
Carefully,Miramor removed the dagger from its sheath. He
米拉莫小心翼翼地從護套中拔出匕首。在夜母那裏，他是對自己使用短刃武器的
hadslightly exaggerated his abilities with a short blade
能力稍稍誇大了一些。事實上，他曾用一個短刃割開朱歷克王子的喉嚨，但當時
tothe Night Mother. True, he had used one to cut the throat of Prince Juilek, butthe lad was not in any position to
那個小夥子怎樣都不可能給予反擊。儘管如此，去刺殺一個只有一隻眼睛的老人
fightback at the time. Still, how difficult could it be
能有多難?這麼簡單的刺殺任務需要多少技巧啊?
tostab an old man with one eye? What sort of blade skill would such an easyassassination require?
Hisideal moment presented itself before his eyes. The
這時，米拉莫腦中的想象畫面就那樣顯現在眼前。那個女人在森林中看到了些奇
womansaw something deeper in the woods, an icicle of an
怪的東西，一個掛滿冰錐的身影，她向皇帝說了些什麼，然後慢慢走向森林深處。
unusualshape she said, and darted off to get it. The Emperor remained behind,laughing. He turned to the face
皇帝則依舊站在那裏，爲女人的疑神疑鬼而笑出聲來。接着皇帝轉過身去，背對
ofthe bluff to see his soldiers singing their song's
峭壁，來欣賞他的士兵們不斷反覆的歌謠。米拉莫知道最好時機已經來到。他特
refrain,his back to his assassin. Miramor knew the moment
別小心地在結冰的地面上無聲前進，舉起匕首，已經非常接近目標了。
hadcome. Mindful of the sound of his footfall on the icy ground, he steppedforward and struck. Very nearly.
Almostsimultaneously, he was aware of a strong arm holding
幾乎是同一瞬間，他意識到抓着匕首的那隻手被一隻更爲強壯的手擒住，然後那
backhis striking arm and another one punching a dagger
個人的另一隻手將一把匕首插進他的喉嚨。米拉莫連尖叫都做不到。皇帝則仍舊
intohis throat. He could not scream. The Emperor, still
專心致志地看着士兵們，絲毫沒有看見身後的米拉莫被拉回灌木叢，一支比他更
lookingup at the soldiers, never saw Miramor pulled back
有技巧性的手劃開他的後背，使米拉莫只能全身癱瘓地躺在灌木叢後。
intothe brush and a hand much more skilled than his slicing into his back,paralyzing him.
Hisblood pooling out and already crystallizing on the
他的血緩緩流出，在寒冷的地面上漸漸結成鮮紅的冰晶，米拉莫看着皇帝和他的
frozenground, Miramor watched, dying, as the Emperor and
情人重新回到峭壁上溫暖的營地，慢慢死去。
his courtesan returned to join the camp up onthe bluff.
12Sun's Dusk, 2920, Mournhold, Morrowind
12nd，日落，2920，哀傷之城，晨風
Agout of ever-erupting flame was all that remained of the
哀傷之城城堡只剩下一團永不熄滅的火球，欣長的火舌伸向天空，攪入沸騰的雲
centralcourtyard of Castle Mournhold, blasting skyward into the boiling clouds. Athick, tarry smoke rolled
團。一波厚重烏黑的濃煙穿過街巷，將所有木頭或紙做的東西點燃。長着翅膀，
throughthe streets, igniting everything that was wood or paper on fire. Winged bat-likecreatures harried the
形似蝙蝠的奇怪生物將公民趕出他們的藏身處來到大街，在這兒，哀傷之城的居
citizensfrom their hiding places out into the open, where
民們見到了這支龐大的軍隊。之所以哀傷之城還沒有被全被燒燬，是因爲潮溼的
theywere met by the real army. The only thing that kept
地面，上面濺滿了人們的鮮血。
allof Mournhold from burning to the ground was the wet, sputtering blood of itspeople.
MehrunesDagon smiled as he surveyed the castle crumbling.
梅魯涅斯大袞俯視着搖搖欲墜的城堡廢墟，臉上掛着滿足的笑容。
“Tothink I nearly didn't come,” he said aloud, his voice
“想想看若是我沒來的話，”他大聲地說，轟隆隆的聲音傳到腳下混亂的每個角
boomingover the chaos. “Imagine missing all this fun.”
落。“會錯過多少樂趣啊。”
Hisattention was arrested by a needle-thin shaft of light
突然，他注意到在那烏雲遍佈的暗紅色天空中，一道針一般細的錐狀光束強行割
piercingthrough his black and red shadowed sky. He
開天空射了進來。大袞追尋着光束的源頭，他看到了兩個人影，一個男人和一個
followedit to its source, two figures, a man and a woman
女人正站在小鎮邊上的小丘上。他一下子就認出那個穿着白袍的男人正是索塔
standingon the hill above town. The man in the white robe
herecognized immediately as Sotha Sil, the sorcerer who
希爾，那個跟所有湮沒魔神達成毫無意義的停戰協議的學者。
hadtalked all the Princes of Oblivion into that meaningless truce.
“Ifyou've come for the Duke of Mournhold, he isn't here,”
“如果你是來找哀傷之城公爵的話，他不在這兒，”梅魯涅斯 大袞笑着說。“但
laughedMehrunes Dagon. “But you might find pieces of him
你可能在下次下雨的時候找到他的一部分軀體。”
thenext time it rains.”
“Daedra,we cannot kill you,” said Almalexia, her face hard
“魔族，我們雖然殺不了你，”阿瑪萊希雅說道，她的臉冷酷而堅決。“但你很
andresolute. “But that you will soon regret.”
快會爲你的所作所爲感到後悔。”
Withthat, two living gods and a prince of Oblivion engaged
話音一落，兩個在世神和一位湮沒魔神在哀傷之城的廢墟上打了起來。
inbattle on the ruins of Mournhold.
17Sun's Dusk, 2920, Tel Aruhn, Morrowind
17th，日落，2920，泰爾阿奴因，晨風
“NightMother,” said the guard. “Correspondence from your
“夜母，”守衛說。“一封來自您在皇宮中的線人的信。”
agentin the Imperial Palace.”
TheNight Mother read the note carefully. The test had been
夜母認真地閱讀便箋。測試成功了：米拉莫已經被成功地發現並殺死。而皇帝則
asuccess: Miramor had been successfully detected and slain.
步入一個極不安全的地步。夜母馬上對此作出反應。
TheEmperor was in very unsafe hands. The Night Mother responded immediately.
18Sun's Dusk, 2920, Balmora, Morrowind
18th，日落，2920，巴爾莫拉，晨風
SothaSil, face solemn and unreadable, greeted Vivec at the
索塔希爾神情嚴肅而難以辨認，在他的宮殿前面的大廣場中迎接維瓦克。維瓦
grandplaza in front of his palace. Vivec had ridden day
克在他位於博得朗姆的帳篷中聽到關於戰鬥的消息後馬上啓程，爲
andnight after hearing about the battle in his tent in Bodrum, crossing mile aftermile, cutting through the
儘早趕到目的地，他抄近路盲速穿過危險的達格斯—烏爾的領地。在趕往南方的
dangerousground at Dagoth-Ur at blinding speed. To the south, during all the course ofthe voyage, he could see
途中，不管他走哪條路，維瓦克都能看見天空中盤旋的紅雲並且因此得知戰鬥
thewhirling red clouds and knew that the battle was
還在繼續，一天接着一天。在格尼瑟斯他見到了來自索塔希爾的信使，讓他盡
continuing,day after day. In Gnisis, he met a messenger
快趕到巴爾莫拉見面。
fromSotha Sil, asking him to meet at Balmora.
“Whereis Almalexia?”
“阿瑪萊希雅呢?”
“Inside,”said Sotha Sil wearily. There was a long, ugly
“在裏面，”索塔 希爾疲倦地說。他的下巴上多出了一道深長而醜陋的傷口。
gashrunning across his jaw. “She's gravely injured, but
“她傷得很重，但梅魯涅斯 大袞會有很長一段時間不再出現。”
MehrunesDagon will not return from Oblivion for many a moon.”
Almalexialay on a bed of silk, tended to by Vivec's own
阿瑪萊希雅躺在一張絲綢大牀上，在維瓦克用他自己特有的藥物治療時歪着頭。
face, even her lips, was gray as stone, and
她的臉，包括她的嘴脣都毫無血色，慘白如石，血浸透了身上的繃帶。
bloodstained through the gauze of her bandages. Vivec took
維瓦克握着她冰冷的手。阿瑪萊希雅的嘴無聲地動着。她在做夢。
hercold hand. Almalexia's mouth moved wordlessly. She was dreaming.
Shewas battling Mehrunes Dagon again amid a firestorm. All
她是在一個火焰風暴中和梅魯涅斯大袞戰鬥的。在她四周，燒黑的城堡外殼被
aroundher, the blackened husk of a castle crumbled, splashing sparks into the nightsky. The Daedra's claws dug
捲入風暴，帶着火花飛向夜空。在阿瑪萊希雅抓向魔神的脖子時，大袞的爪子也
intoher belly, spreading poison through her veins while
埋進了她的腹部，將毒藥注入她的血管中。當阿瑪萊希雅和她那被擊倒的敵人一
Almalexiathrottled him. As she sank to the ground beside
起墜向地面時，她看到了遠處被燒燬的城堡並不是哀傷之城的。那座被吞沒於
herdefeated foe, she saw that the castle consumed by fire
火焰之中的是塞洛蒂爾的皇宮。
was not Castle Mournhold. It was the ImperialPalace.
24Sun's Dusk, 2920, The Imperial City, Cyrodiil
24th，日落，2920，帝都，塞洛蒂爾
Awinter gale blew over the city, splashing the windows and
一陣冬日的寒風吹過城市，強力拍在皇宮的窗戶和玻璃穹頂上。頂上的光源顫抖
glassdomes of the Imperial Palace. Quivering light rays
着，給站在下面的人蒙上一層不現實的光暈。
illuminatedthe figures within in surreal patterns.
TheEmperor barked orders to his staff in preparations for
皇帝大聲咆哮着命令他的僕人準備待會兒的宴會和舞會。他永遠都享受着這一刻
thebanquet and ball. This was what he enjoyed best, more
的爲所欲爲，相比於戰爭。卓澤爾王則在監督娛樂項目的部署，他在這個事情上
thanbattle. King Dro'Zel was supervising the entertainment, having strong opinionson the matter. The Emperor himself
有不少意見。皇帝自己在負責晚餐的一些細節。烤魚，新鮮蔬菜和西葫蘆，奶油
wasarranging the details of the dinner. Roast nebfish, vegetable marrow, creamsoups, buttered helerac, codscrumb,
濃湯，調味肉汁。貝西多—沙耶首相對此提出不少他自己的建議，不過顯然亞龍
tonguein aspic. Potentate Versidue-Shaie had made a few
人的口味十分獨特。
suggestionsof his own, but the tastes of the Akaviri were very peculiar.
TheLady Corda accompanied the Emperor to his chambers as
科爾達小姐在夜色降臨之後陪着皇帝回到他的寢室。
nightfell.
TheYear is Concluded in Evening Star.
今年會在‘夜星’中終結。
Locations:地點
FellglowKeep Dungeons, on a shelf.
菲戈羅要塞地牢裏，一個架子上
Alva'sHouse, on the mantle of the fireplace.
艾娃的房子裏，壁爐附近
Angeline'sAromatics, upstairs on a bookshelf in the east.
安吉琳的芳香(孤獨城內的鍊金藥店)，在樓上靠東邊的書架上
VolkiharRuins, in one of the bookcases in the top hall.
沃基哈爾廢墟，大廳裏的其中一個書架上。(黎明守衛DLC)
Apocrypha,Waking Dreams, Chapter IV.
異典，夢幻(湮沒中的一個領域)，第四章中(龍裔DLC)
