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The Elder Scrolls Forums _ Elder Scrolls Lore _ RP: High Rock Hijinks

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 06:14 AM

Hello, and welcome to our Elder Scrolls Role Playing threads, where we adventure and socialize in the vibrant land of Tamriel.

Before we begin, we'd like to clarify a few things:

This is an 'open roleplay' and everyone is encouraged to join in at any time!

'Open' roleplay does not mean 'unorganized' or 'limitless', however. The events in this story are usually planned, and if something BIG happens, you can be certain that it is the result of much discussion between players, usually in the mIRC chat (#Loranna_RP). This is not just a bunch of disorganized individuals doing what they think would be fun for their character at the time.

So, while everyone is welcome to join in, they are NOT welcome to jump in and do big, world-changing things without DISCUSSING IT FIRST. Let me be very clear about what cannot be done without permission:

1:
Any action that effects another person's character, for ill or good. Although most people realize they can't harm another person's character without permission, many don't realize that you can't HELP another character without permission, either. Many characters have flaws for a reason. Don't go healing, saving, or otherwise fixing another character without DISCUSSING IT FIRST with the player involved.

2:
Any event that would drastically change things that have been done to the world, whether the change is physical (rebuilding destroyed locations), political (converting a population to a new cause), military (killing off all the badguys) or anything else. Almost every situation, good or bad, that exists in the RP was done for some reason. Don't go changing or fixing things without DISCUSSING IT FIRST with the group.

Everyone who is involved in the RP is welcome in the mIRC chat channel #Loranna_RP. If you have a plot idea then you are encouraged to go there and discuss it. If you cannot get on the channel for some reason, or if the player whos character you would affect with your plan is not there, then PM them using this board's PM function. That's what it's there for.

For information on reaching #Loranna_RP via Mirc or Chatspike, look http://www.ravensky.org/irc/.

Not following the above advice will only result in one thing: your post is likely to be completely ignored by everyone as if it did not happen. This is obvously not good for anyone, so please, discuss major events before doing them.

Remember: Secret plans and surprises are seldom fun for anyone else. Before they're revealed they're boring, because nobody knows about them, and afterwards they're just annoying, because nobody knew about them.


Thank you, and have fun!


===

Info for Loranna:

Race: Nord
Sex: Female

===

Summary for Loranna:

Loranna has recently helped Slyvos with a necromantic ritual meant to offer insight into the problem of the boundaries between the living and the dead weakening; during that ritual Slyvos and Loranna both endured horrific images and Slyvos's darkside, thought dealt with at Stormhold, made a reappearance ... and Loranna called upon the power of Beauty to urge Slyvos to put down that dark ugliness once and for all.

Now returned to Daggerfall, Loranna travels with Frostien and Sekka, having stumbled into Sekka's plight in the bowels of Daggerfall's jails.


Posted by: sjvan0 May 9 2005, 06:20 AM

Frostien Marcelle, male Breton Battlemage and Conjuror of the Mages Guild, is currently with Sekka and Loranna.

Posted by: S'reddit May 9 2005, 06:34 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 8 2005, 09:14 PM)

Now returned to Daggerfall, Loranna travels with Frostien and Sekka, having stumbled into Sekka's plight in the bowels of Daggerfall's jails.

*





A clarion call echoed through the ancient streets of Daggerfall.

'Make way for the Dowager Queen Nulfaga,' the heralds sang. Aliens and locals alike stood along the wide avenue leading to Castle Daggerfall to watch the Dowager Queen's carriages roll past.


Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 06:40 AM

QUOTE(S'reddit @ May 9 2005, 12:34 AM)

A clarion call echoed through the ancient streets of Daggerfall.

'Make way for the Dowager Queen Nulfaga,' the heralds sang.  Aliens and locals alike stood along the wide avenue leading to Castle Daggerfall to watch the Dowager Queen's carriages roll past.

*





As does everyone else, Loranna makes way, curious to see the Queen Nufaga.

I should have brushed up on recent Daggerfall history, she thinks with a slight blush. Too much time spent being a silly barmaid, then a Daedra's puppet, then just someone trying to save the world ...



Posted by: S'reddit May 9 2005, 06:49 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 8 2005, 09:40 PM)

As does everyone else, Loranna makes way, curious to see the Queen Nufaga. 

I should have brushed up on recent Daggerfall history, she thinks with a slight blush.  Too much time spent being a silly barmaid, then a Daedra's puppet, then just someone trying to save the world ...

*





An open carriage with the dragon shield of the royal family of Daggerfall rolled along the cobblestones away from the castle. The ancient, withered Dowager Queen sat quietly, staring ahead, holding her eldest great granddaughter, Princess Akorithi, on her lap. The Princess Mynisera waved enthusiastically at the crowd, who roared their approval at her enthusiasm and that of her brothers Prince Camaron and the heir of the kingdom, Prince Lysandus.

A bystander near Loranna, a grizzled old veteran warrior, grumbled to no one in particular, ‘Dark-skinned, them Princes and Princesses of a Breton kingdom, ain’t they?’

And dark-skinned they were, having the Redguard characteristics of their mother, Queen Aubk-I, former Princess of Sentinel.



Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 06:55 AM

QUOTE(S'reddit @ May 9 2005, 12:49 AM)

An open carriage with the dragon shield of the royal family of Daggerfall rolled along the cobblestones away from the castle.  The ancient, withered Dowager Queen sat quietly, staring ahead, holding her eldest great granddaughter, Princess Akorithi, on her lap.  The Princess Mynisera waved enthusiastically at the crowd, who roared their approval at her enthusiasm and that of her brothers Prince Camaron and the heir of the kingdom, Prince Lysandus.

A bystander near Loranna, a grizzled old veteran warrior, grumbled to no one in particular, ‘Dark-skinned, them Princes and Princesses of a Breton kingdom, ain’t they?’

And dark-skinned they were, having the Redguard characteristics of their mother, Queen Aubk-I, former Princess of Sentinel.

*





Loranna, the ashen-skinned Nord, gives the grizzled veteran a quick, small smile. "Their skin is dark," she agrees. "But not unpleasantly so."

She returns to watching the carriage pass, smiling a little at Mynisera's obvious enthusiasm. The crowd certainly seemed to like her.


Posted by: S'reddit May 9 2005, 07:00 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 8 2005, 09:55 PM)

Loranna, the ashen-skinned Nord, gives the grizzled veteran a quick, small smile.  "Their skin is dark," she agrees.  "But not unpleasantly so."

She returns to watching the carriage pass, smiling a little at Mynisera's obvious enthusiasm.  The crowd certainly seemed to like her.

*





The warrior raises an eyebrow, and muttering the word 'Dunmer' moves away.

A plump peasant woman shakes her head, 'Don't mind him. When you fight in wars against Hammerfell, and win them, and you see children who look like Redguards in line for the throne, some people get a little surly. Can't get with modern times, I suppose, poor fella.'

'Where's that old witch going?' asked a sour-faced harridan next to the woman.

'Shedugent, her castle, so's I hear.'


Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 07:03 AM

QUOTE(S'reddit @ May 9 2005, 01:00 AM)

The warrior raises an eyebrow, and muttering the word 'Dunmer' moves away.

A plump peasant woman shakes her head, 'Don't mind him.  When you fight in wars against Hammerfell, and win them, and you see children who look like Redguards in line for the throne, some people get a little surly.  Can't get with modern times, I suppose, poor fella.'

'Where's that old witch going?' asked a sour-faced harridan next to the woman.

'Shedugent, her castle, so's I hear.'

*





Loranna gives the peasant woman a small smile. "Ah; I see," she says. "Poor fella indeed; most everyone else seems to be with modern times though."

" ... Witch?" she asks, raising her eyebrows.


Posted by: S'reddit May 9 2005, 07:07 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 8 2005, 10:03 PM)

Loranna gives the peasant woman a small smile.  "Ah; I see," she says.  "Poor fella indeed; most everyone else seems to be with modern times though."

" ... Witch?" she asks, raising her eyebrows.

*





'You don't know our dowager queen is a renowned sorceress?' asked the plump woman. 'Oh, yes, very powerful. Controls the seas, raises the dead ...'

'Dreadful place, Shedugent,' sneered the harridan. 'No place to bring children.'

'They won't be there too long,' the first woman nodded. 'If King Gothryd isn't back by the 20th, they'll be needed at the Fire Festival in Northmoor.'

The harridan's face softened, and she smiled wistfully. 'Oh, beautiful. I went there once as a little girl ...'

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 07:11 AM

QUOTE(S'reddit @ May 9 2005, 01:07 AM)

'You don't know our dowager queen is a renowned sorceress?' asked the plump woman. 'Oh, yes, very powerful.  Controls the seas, raises the dead ...'

'Dreadful place, Shedugent,' sneered the harridan. 'No place to bring children.'

'They won't be there too long,' the first woman nodded. 'If King Gothryd isn't back by the 20th, they'll be needed at the Fire Festival in Northmoor.'

The harridan's face softened, and she smiled wistfully. 'Oh, beautiful.  I went there once as a little girl ...'

*





Loranna wonders how many people will be blaming the Dowager Queen Nulfaga for dead loved ones returning if Magnilde's predictions come true; she redoubles her resolve to head to Solunastra and find Arynel quickly - assuming of course he hasn't already figured out what she and Slyvos learned on his own.

"She sounds quite powerful indeed," Loranna agrees. "And Shedugent sounds spooky ... but Northmoor sounds lovely; what was it like?"


Posted by: S'reddit May 9 2005, 07:17 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 8 2005, 10:11 PM)

"She sounds quite powerful indeed," Loranna agrees.  "And Shedugent sounds spooky ... but Northmoor sounds lovely; what was it like?"

*





‘Oh, misty and mountaneous, the cradle of Mara,’ the woman sighed. ‘On the Fire Festival on the 20th, the mages all put on a show that is just breathtaking. If you have the means, I would highly recommend it. It’s all Daggerfall territory now, so the travel is safe. Just go north through Glenpoint, a few days ride …’

The carriage of the Queen Dowager and the royal guards having passed, the crowd begins to disperse, returning to their lives.


Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 07:21 AM

QUOTE(S'reddit @ May 9 2005, 01:17 AM)

‘Oh, misty and mountaneous, the cradle of Mara,’ the woman sighed. ‘On the Fire Festival on the 20th, the mages all put on a show that is just breathtaking.  If you have the means, I would highly recommend it.  It’s all Daggerfall territory now, so the travel is safe.  Just go north through Glenpoint, a few days ride …’

The carriage of the Queen Dowager and the royal guards having passed, the crowd begins to disperse, returning to their lives.

*





"Thank you; I'll remember that," Loranna says, wondering if she'll have the time to make it to the Fire Festival. One could hope ...

The crowd dispersing, Loranna rejoins her friends and returns to Soluastra.


Posted by: Shardie May 9 2005, 08:59 AM

Might do a bit of a summary, although I shall not post till later tonight...

Maranda Biennie
Race Breton
Class Conjourer
Sex female

Maranda has dissapeared off the face of the earth

Lord Landon and his Seven Paladins of Justice
Landon
Race Imperial
Sex Male
Class knight

Lord Landon is off searching for the lost Maranda to give her the letter given to him by his Wife to be, Maranda's sister.
He is armed with an Ebony Broadsword, and full Ebony Armour, as well as a charm that increases luck by 10 every time it is used.

Seven Palidins
Race, Mixed
Sex, Six Males, One Female
Class mixed

Lord Landons seven Paladins are his loyal companions from his adventuring days in the Black Marsh, and are his close friends.

Issac is the leader of the group, armed with a Daedric Spear he captured from a Daedroth once, as he likes to boast, "with his bare hands" and posesses elven armour. His main skill is Mounted Combat with his spear. He has a ring, given to him by his late Mother, which enhances his skills with the spear. he is a Imperial, and grew up in the same town as Lord landon

Paul is next, his skill is with his ancient elven Daikatana. A weapon dating from the first era, how he ended up with it is anyones guess. he is a breton, and proud of it, and met up with the party in Black Marsh. he also specalizes in healing magics and is supposivly in a relationship with

Arisa, the only female member of the Palidins. A Spellsword, and a very good one at that too... Her princible weapon is a mace, of unknown origin, but it looks of Aldmeri design. She is, like paul, a Breton, and also is skilled in Destruction Magics, but Unlike paul, she was a servent at Lord Landon's Estate before his departure, she came with him to make sure he kept clean

Red is a Nord, and like all good male Nords, he is big, and likes to drink. His princible weapon is his steel axe, which he has two of, and fights best when drunk. If one was to call him a class, it would be a barbarian, but his bravery is unsurpassed. even in the Taverns of the Summerset isles is his brave deeds noted. He saved Lord landon by holding up a horde of Goblins that were chasing them in during the Black Marsh Adventure. He joined with Lord landon as a mercanry on his mothers request, to guard him, but has since become good friends with him

Elverere is a high elf. And that is strange. He is a pure mage too, which is even stranger. And the fact that he is traveling with the Paladins as one of thier number is amazing to most people who don't know him. But Lord Landon saved he, and his family's life one winters night on the road to Chorrol, from some bandits, and has since vowed to serve him. He has an Enchanted Daedric Dagger as his weapon, but his primary weapon is his powerful spells. Skilled in all the mystical arts, he is a valuble member to the party

Cerius, the Imperial is another strange member, a Nightblade, formally under the Emperor during the Thawn years, was thrown out of service as he was suspected of being a conspiritor with the deranged battlemage. He got a job as a servent in the Landon Estate, and joined Lord Landon from the begining

Lacoriz is the Redguad, and last member of the seven palidins. Not much is known of him, except he is unparreleled with the blade by all... it is rumoured by his companions that he can summon a spirit blade, as the mystical yokodans did, but uses a Daedric Daikatana as his primary weapon. How he joined the party is yet to be revealed...

Lord Landon and his paladins search for Maranda... but how will they find her in the millions of miles of wasteland that makes up Daggerfall?

Posted by: w0nders May 9 2005, 09:25 AM

Summary-

Dante, male Dunmer, is somewhere at Solunastra.

Illidan, male Dunmer, formely known as vampire, is around somewhere...doing things.

Posted by: Sir Radont May 9 2005, 09:31 AM

OOC: Radont, male Imperial Knight Bachelor, is at Solunastra waiting for this ghost business to clear up so he can go to Cyrodiil.

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 09:39 AM

Setting info from the last thread:

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 6 2005, 04:04 AM)

ooc: 

You are all invited to Solunastra, the Void Ranger Guildhouse in Daggerfall City!

Solunastra is chartered as a "brotherly association of adventurers,"  which means basically that they have pension plans, charitable associations, and floats in parades. The public face of the Guild is of a group of semi-retired adventurers who pooled their earnings to buy a large house and sponsor a school for orphans.

Although most of the current residents of the Guildhouse are Void Rangers, they keep this a secret, and in the past there have been associate members who were not Void Rangers.

The house is large, with 5 wings, three floors, and a cellar, grotto, and dungeon under the house. It's on Royal Row in Daggerfall, just down the road from Castle Daggerfall, and it sits on a square with a large fountain and a statue of Tiber Septim out front. Out back is an herb garden and a statue of Kynareth, patron goddess of the city of Daggerfall. Tris habitually spits when he walks past the statue of Kynareth, to show that he's still a loyal citizen of Wayrest.

Daggerfall is a big city, with dozens of shops, taverns, banks, guilds, and a Mages's Guild with a guild guide. It's advised to rent a horse if you want to get anywhere in the city. There's a carriage house near the Guildhouse which will rent horses. Follow the Royal Road downtown to the dock district and you can hire a boat to take you anywhere in the Iliac Bay area.

The two closest taverns to the Guildhouse are:  The Rat's Satchel, a merry place frequented by athletes, actors, poets, and idle noblemen, notable for the lack of women servers and patrons;  and The Emperor's Jewel's, an upscale establishment frequented by retired military officers, mostly those who fought for Daggerfall's army in the recent wars.

The first floor of the Guildhouse is mostly public rooms, including a grand dining hall, an informal dining area connected to the kitchen, and the music room, a cosy wooden panelled room where people gather to play musical intruments (such as the organ) and do other handwork.  Upstairs is a ballroom, and private quarters:  this is where the party will be staying. The rooms are small, but private, although there is also a barracks area left over from the days when the Guild was much more populous. The third floor has Allerleirauh's quarters. The third floor staircase is legendarily treacherous. Don't go up there.  The armory and training area are underground, next to the cellars.

The primary residents of Solunastra are as follows:

Allerleirauh, a tall, slender woman with short silver hair who calls herself a Nord. She is the founder of Solunastra, and her title here is General Light.

The other two resident guild masters are Arynel and Solin.

Ciel Dolbinen is Solunastra's seneshal, which means he's in charge of keeping the place running.

Dragon, an older male Nord, is the sword trainer of Solunastra, among other things. He can often be found polishing swords and armor, or practicing in the training area.  He loves to spar with new people.

Mirror, aka Tris Gaerington, a handsome young male Breton.

Doll, a young girl with Akaviri facial features. She's a mage.

Skein, an older Imperial woman with long black hair and deep black eyes, is the Guild's seer.

Mirea, redheaded Bosmer girl, is Allerleirauh's spy.

Tamne, an Azurite child, is Allerleirauh and Arynel's adopted daughter.

Sen-Yedda, the infant princess of the Dunmer people, spends most of her time in Allerleirauh's company, when she's not with her nurse, Redguard woman Jalian Hawkford.

Igba gra-Busnak
is the Guild's cook. Don't go in the kitchen without her permission.

Timmon, a young Breton boy, is Igba's servant.

There are also 3 servingmaids, all young, all from poor families originally, although they are well-dressed in Solunstra's blue and silver livery.

*






Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 09:53 AM

Solunastra: Tris

It was the heat that woke him. The room seemed close, like a summer evening. His ears were ringing, or were those crickets he heard? He could smell pine needles, oilcloth, leather polish.

A youth stood by the foot of the bed. A handsome boy in armor, perhaps even younger than Tris's own nineteen years, with straight brown hair and a serious, quiet expression.

Tris could see the stone of the opposite wall, faintly, through him.

"I'm sorry," Tris whispered, sitting up. "Am I supposed to know you?"

"I'm confused too," the young man said. "What are you doing here?"

When Tris spoke to him, he became more solid, so that Tris could see the sigil on his tabard - the rose of Wayrest.

The young man looked over at Ciel, and Tris followed his gaze. In the silver-blue moonlight, Ciel's sleeping form shimmered, as if seen through water. For a moment Ciel was beardless, with the sharp angles and sleek smooth chest of a young man.

"Oh," the young man wearing the rose tabard said. "I remember now."

Tris looked back at the young man, as his head slid from his shoulders. It hit the stone floor with a thump, followed a second later by the thump of his body collapsing.

Tris screamed, and the phantom disappeared.

Posted by: Solin May 9 2005, 09:57 AM

Ciel came awake in a start at the scream.

"What's the matter?" he demanded of the darkness half rising from the bed. "What's going on?"

Tris felt Ciel's weight leave the frame of the bed and a moment latter a light was struck.

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 10:00 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ May 9 2005, 02:57 AM)

Ciel came awake in a start at the scream.

"What's the matter?" he demanded of the darkness half rising from the bed.  "What's going on?"

Tris felt Ciel's weight leave the frame of the bed and a moment latter a light was struck.

*




"Ghost," Tris said, trying to regain his self-control. "I guess he was one of yours. Young fellow, in a rose tabard. Wanted to know what I was doing here, and then his head fell off."

Blinking against the light, he looked at Ciel's familiar, bearded face, his grizzled hair, his furry chest.

"I saw you young," Tris said. "When he looked at you. You were my age."

Posted by: Solin May 9 2005, 10:05 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 03:00 AM)

"Ghost,"  Tris said, trying to regain his self-control. "I guess he was one of yours. Young fellow, in a rose tabard. Wanted to know what I was doing here, and then his head fell off."

Blinking against the light, he looked at Ciel's familiar, bearded face, his grizzled hair, his furry chest.

"I saw you young,"  Tris said. "When he looked at you. You were my age."

*




Ciel blinked at the words as he finished lighting a candelabra.

"My ghost? he asked. "I never died in my youth though."

The knight was still groggy from sleep and seemed confused.

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 10:08 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ May 9 2005, 03:05 AM)

Ciel blinked at the words as he finished lighting a candelabra.

"My ghost? he asked. "I never died in my youth though."

The knight was still groggy from sleep and seemed confused.

*




"Sorry, I'm not awake either," Tris said. "He was a young man, with straight brown hair, in a rose tabard. Looking to get into bed with you I reckon, only I was in his place. He didn't seem upset, only a little confused - I think he forgot he was dead. And then he looked at you, and I saw you how he saw you, like a young man, and then he said he remembered now, and his head fell off."

Posted by: Solin May 9 2005, 10:19 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 03:08 AM)

"Sorry, I'm not awake either,"  Tris said. "He was a young man, with straight brown hair, in a rose tabard. Looking to get into bed with you I reckon, only I was in his place. He didn't seem upset, only a little confused - I think he forgot he was dead. And then he looked at you, and I saw you how he saw you, like a young man, and then he said he remembered now, and his head fell off."

*




"Oh," Ciel said as full impact of Tris's words struck him, the air hung still for a moment.

"That was a long time ago," Ciel said pulling his thoughts together. He returned to the bed and sat down.

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 10:22 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ May 9 2005, 04:19 AM)

"Oh," Ciel said as full impact of Tris's words struck him, the air hung still for a moment.

"That was a long time ago," Ciel said pulling his thoughts together.  He returned to the bed and sat down.

*





There is a knock at the door.

"Tris? Ciel? You two all right?" comes Loranna's voice, sounding concerned.


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 10:29 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 9 2005, 03:22 AM)

There is a knock at the door.

"Tris?  Ciel?  You two all right?" comes Loranna's voice, sounding concerned.

*




Tris glanced at Ciel. It was their habit to pretend, publically, that they slept in separate rooms... but frankly Loranna knew already, there was no point in scrambling to pretend Ciel wasn't here.

Tris grabbed something to wrap around himself and opened the door a crack.

"Ghost," he said. "Everything's fine. I was just startled."

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 10:34 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 04:29 AM)

Tris glanced at Ciel. It was their habit to pretend, publically, that they slept in separate rooms... but frankly Loranna knew already, there was no point in scrambling to pretend Ciel wasn't here.

Tris grabbed something to wrap around himself and opened the door a crack.

"Ghost," he said. "Everything's fine. I was just startled."

*





Tris sees Loranna's face, looking lovely as it always does, pull into a small grimace. "Oh ... I see, of course," she says.

She lingers for about three seconds, her eyes hooded. " ... I'll be down getting some breakfast; ... see you when you're ready, sorry for bothering you."

Giving Tris a quick smile, she turns away; no use standing at their door and having them feel awkward about her presence while they were dressing or talking.


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 10:38 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 9 2005, 03:34 AM)

Tris sees Loranna's face, looking lovely as it always does, pull into a small grimace.  "Oh ... I see, of course," she says.

She lingers for about three seconds, her eyes hooded.  " ... I'll be down getting some breakfast; ... see you when you're ready, sorry for bothering you."

Giving Tris a quick smile, she turns away; no use standing at their door and having them feel awkward about her presence while they were dressing or talking.

*




Tris pulled the door shut behind her and turned to Ciel.

"This can't go on," he said, leaning against the doorframe. "It's not fair to us, it's not fair to the dead. Herwyn said something to me yesterday; that since all my gains have always been ill-gotten, how would I know what my life would have been like if I followed the rules?"

Posted by: Solin May 9 2005, 10:44 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 03:38 AM)

Tris pulled the door shut behind her and turned to Ciel.

"This can't go on,"  he said, leaning against the doorframe. "It's not fair to us, it's not fair to the dead. Herwyn said something to me yesterday;  that since all my gains have always been ill-gotten, how would I know what my life would have been like if I followed the rules?"

*




"Ill-gotten?" Ciel mumbled mostly to himself. "How can anyone know?"

He paused.

"How can we fix it?"

Posted by: w0nders May 9 2005, 10:48 AM

Illidan had a relatively peaceful breakfast, the screaming one of it's only interruptions. He looked around cautiously a moment before stealthily snatching up a few pieces of cold meat, and a knife. He headed groggily up the stairs to his room.

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 10:48 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ May 9 2005, 03:44 AM)

"Ill-gotten?" Ciel mumbled mostly to himself.  "How can anyone know?"

He paused.

"How can we fix it?"

*




"No idea," Tris said. "Let's go find out if Slyvos learned anything."

He seemed to be taking it for granted that Slyvos and Loranna had gone ahead with the ritual without the support of the others.

Downstairs, he greeted Loranna with a smile, leaning in to snatch the brown, crunchy end of the loaf of toasted bread - the best part, in his opinion.

"Good morning, pretty Loranna. How was your day yesterday?"

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 10:55 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 04:48 AM)

"No idea,"  Tris said. "Let's go find out if Slyvos learned anything."

He seemed to be taking it for granted that Slyvos and Loranna had gone ahead with the ritual without the support of the others.

Downstairs, he greeted Loranna with a smile, leaning in to snatch the brown, crunchy end of the loaf of toasted bread - the best part, in his opinion.

"Good morning, pretty Loranna. How was your day yesterday?"

*





Loranna looks at Tris and Ciel, a thick slice of bread cut from the middle of the loaf in her hand; she had always liked the middle of the bread best.

" ... Well, it went, and we learned an answer - one somewhat obvious in retrospect," she says, her tone nuetral, almost. "Ciel is alive, but to the book of Life and Death, he is listed as dead. The discrepency is the source of the problem, as we knew, and the discrepency needs to be remedied."

She closes her eyes for a moment, then stares at her bread. "Since none of us wish Ciel to die, that leaves the other option - the records must be set straight. That means Arkay, or to my thinking, that means Arynel and his shard."

She takes a bite; her demeanor relaxes a bit while she's chewing ...


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 11:01 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 9 2005, 03:55 AM)

Loranna looks at Tris and Ciel, a thick slice of bread cut from the middle of the loaf in her hand; she had always liked the middle of the bread best.

" ... Well, it went, and we learned an answer - one somewhat obvious in retrospect," she says, her tone nuetral, almost.  "Ciel is alive, but to the book of Life and Death, he is listed as dead.  The discrepency is the source of the problem, as we knew, and the discrepency needs to be remedied."

She closes her eyes for a moment, then stares at her bread.  "Since none of us wish Ciel to die, that leaves the other option - the records must be set straight.  That means Arkay, or to my thinking, that means Arynel and his shard."

She takes a bite; her demeanor relaxes a bit while she's chewing ...

*




Allerleirauh didn't comment on the fact that the ritual had taken place. She had very good spies; few things were a surprise to her.

"Killing Ciel would not correct the discrepancy, in any case," she said. "Then there would be two deaths marked against his name. Well, Tris, you have a gift for sowing confusion. I only hope that the errors can be corrected instance by instance, that the whole of reality has not been irreparably corrupted."

Tris chose to ignore this. "Where is Arynel, anyway? I haven't seen him since everyone arrived."


Posted by: Solin May 9 2005, 11:06 AM

Ciel held his lips in a tight line and remained silent. He idisliked that the ritual had gone on against his wishes but relented in the fact that it was done.

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 11:06 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 05:01 AM)

Allerleirauh didn't comment on the fact that the ritual had taken place. She had very good spies;  few things were a surprise to her.

"Killing Ciel would not correct the discrepancy, in any case,"  she said. "Then there would be two deaths marked against his name. Well, Tris, you have a gift for sowing confusion. I only hope that the errors can be corrected instance by instance, that the whole of reality has not been irreparably corrupted."

Tris chose to ignore this. "Where is Arynel, anyway?  I haven't seen him since everyone arrived."

*





Loranna munches on her bread quietly, not having any idea where Arynel is; she usually didn't, anyway.

She'd told Tris she understood why he did what he did and might have done the same if she had been in her position; now, she wasn't sure what she thought of the latter statement. It might take a while before she knew how she felt about the situation.


Posted by: S'reddit May 9 2005, 11:17 AM

The Royal Dome of Wayrest, High Rock

Visitors and diplomats without state business were politely ushered out. Pages rushes through the gently winding corridors finding the Queen’s chief ministers of state in their offices and state rooms, banquet halls and parlors.

The Minister of War, the Chief Minister of State, Lord of the Queen’s Council, the Chief Castellan, the Chancellor, the Minister of Commerce, the Lord Treasurer, and Her Majesty’s Spymaster were wanted at once in Elysana’s throne room. Together with a dozen of the Queen’s advisors who had no official title.

Elysana had had a visitor last night. A most unwelcome one, for a woman who wanted no unannounced visitors.

A dead one.


Posted by: Nalion May 9 2005, 11:52 AM

OOC Summary:
Nalion, male Breton mage, currently resides within the Halls of Solunastra in Daggerfall City.
/OOC Summary

Nalion lay on his bed in a guest chamber in Solunastra and stared at the blank ceiling above him, his mind seemed to be far distant. Nalion's thoughts were troubled. This night he had slept badly again, as he had the night before. Not only because of what he had heard about the visitation of ghosts of the past that he and several other friends had encountered, but because of several other revelations that had been granted to him this past day.

Void Rangers...

As it was often in such cases, the true consequences of a revelation came not in the instance of the revelation itself, but after the first shock had settled. As he had said to Tris and Ciel the other day, several pieces of the puzzle now snapped together and formed a larger part of the picture - though not the whole one.

Since he joined this group on a day of blood and snow at the gates of Snowhawk, he had seen and done many things others would call impossible, crazy, daring and perhaps blasphemous, but it had gradually widened his mind's horizon. The latest and most important of these events was Hogithum.
Eight of them had taken up the role and the powers of the Aedra and tapped into the foundations of the world itself, thus being able to control the Eidolon to destroy the Azurites and not the whole world. What Tris said roused answers concerning this event, the things that really happened there.
What Azura had done when creating the Azurites, what they had done to remedy it. They had not just mantled the Aedra to take their powers, but to be able to "tamper" - as Tris had said - with the world on a different level, one that is not obvious to most people, a level that seems impossible to others. It was the level on which the Eidolon seemed to have operated, too, when it began to dissolve the world around them...

Nalion woke from his deep thoughts by the sound of guards shouting outside on the main street to make way for some noble. He did not bother to look out of the window, still trying to catch his wandering thoughts to make them think straight again. Instead, he moved to the pitcher and bowl that was standing on a small table. He poured water from the pitcher into the bowl and watched his mirror image staring back at him. His brown hair was mixed up, his eyes looked tired and the stubbles on his chin seemed to cry for a shave. The mage stifled a yawn, then began to wash his face. The cold fresh water felt good on his skin, it seemed to clear up his mind as well as it was cleaning his face.

He wasn't hungry right now and wasn't keen on talking either, yet he had in mind to speak to Tris later, so he did what he had done so often when he needed solitude for himself. In quick strides, he moved down the aisle towards a door and entered.
The scent that greeted him was very familiar, every library possessed this mixture of smells: leather and parchment and dried ink, a smell of wooden shelfs and of a little dust tickling his nose. He traced a line of books with his fingers, head slightly tilted to read the script on their backs. Nalion smiled upon the fine selection of books Allerleirauh kept in this library. The mage closed his eyes, chose a random book and entered the adjacent study, oblivious to everything that happened around him.

Posted by: Teleran May 9 2005, 01:08 PM

“Hello boy. You know, your mother was quite disappointed when you left Ald’Ruhn,” A quiet voice arose from the shadows. Teleran jerked around to see his father standing before him. “Don’t worry, not a vengeful spirit or whatnot, my business is finished. I just wanted to see you one again, how you’d grown.”

“Wha- How- Why?” Teleran stammered, “Dad?”

Teleran’s Dad smiled, “Still asking more questions than there is time for I see, and not the right ones at that. I already answered why, and as to how, your guess is as good as mine. It just seemed easier now, so I took the chance.”

“Are you real?” Teleran said

“Stop that. Am I real? I am dead, if that is what you mean. I see you still carry the dagger I gave you, finest stahlrim,” He produced an identical dagger from a scabbard at his side, “a good tool that is, got me out of many scrapes before I gave it to you. Not quite as reliable as a long blade, but it suits you.”

“It has served me well,” Teleran agreed.

“I am sure it has. Now about your other dagger… rid yourself of it, it will only lead you to pain and folly. One last thing before I go, take my dagger, I won’t need it.” He laid his dagger over the iron one and for a second the iron one disappeared and was replaced by the Stahlrim one, a blink later and the iron was once more in its place. “Goodbye Teleran, your mother will be along shortly if I know her, of course you Dunmer have that ritual binding of your ancestors so she might not be able. Good luck.”

“Nice to see you again Dad,” Teleran said. As he attempted to embrace the ghost the ghost started being torn apart, gashes almost cut the torso into quarters and chunks disappeared from the extremities.

“I had forgotten how much this part hurt,” muttered the ghost through gritted teeth. He disappeared as a thin line slashed through his neck and his head fell. He disappeared entirely a breath later.

Teleran stared at the space where his father had stood then lifted the iron dagger from its scabbard and looked at it worriedly for a few moments. He was turning back to sleep when another, very different voice spoke.

“That’s the blade you killed me with, isn’t it fetcher?” spoke a ragged ghost, a bandit probably.

“You weren’t even killed by a blade,” muttered another one, “you were shot through by your own arrow.”

‘What’s it matter?” piped up another one, “It’s his fault.”

Teleran turned to face them. “You can’t touch me,” He said, much more calmly than he felt.

“Oh? Can’t we?” The figure smiled grimly.

“Think again little boy,” said the first, smirking.

The third one chuckled soundlessly. “Shall we begin?”

They closed in on Teleran, the blades in his room started floating into the air through no will of Teleran’s, “Would you like me to show you what you did to me? I will admit, it was expertly done, but I think the challenge of duplicating it would be a challenge, think of it as a learning experience. Hehe, yes, a very good lesson for you. Wait, what is that? Something is coming!”

Teleran looked at his hand and saw the iron dagger, it flared brightly into the form of his father’s dagger then abruptly it was iron again. The spirits in front of him vanished, they were there then they were gone, with no in-between. In their place stood a young Dunmer, almost the exact image of Teleran, but there was something different, something wrong in the way he held himself, not to mention he still had both his arms.

The ghost-image held up its left arm, in it there was a daedric dagger; in its right hand was what looked like its twin, it came up parallel to the first. “Now I suppose you thought that was a clever trick? Breaking us into pieces, but we showed you better, yes, you know better now don’t you?

"Well, you should, yet you try it again moron, that barrier won’t hold us for long. Release us and we won’t make you suffer more than is necessary.”


“No,” Teleran said.

“Haha, you defy me? Enjoy your respite, fool.” The image’s daggers shattered and the body disappeared. A whisper reached Teleran after the room had emptied. “A price will be paid.”

Teleran remained awake for the rest of the night, contemplating ways to remove the dagger from his possession, since physically leaving it hadn't worked thus far. The dagger seemed oddly quiet for the time being, especially considering the topic. Absorbed in thought, he paid no heed to anything until the sun had cleared the horizon.

Posted by: Arrogant_Hero May 9 2005, 01:27 PM

Gris summary...

Gris, the massive, Orc, broods around Ald Raathim trying to figure out what to do to stop his ghastly, dream premonition from coming true, and be ready if it does happen.

***

I start by doing over two thousand pushups, with two boulders, the size of Guars on my back. I stop counting after two thousand.

Next I take the boulders, tie them tight with rope, then tie the rope around my waist, and climb the side of a small mountain outside of Ald Raathim. The rest is a secret Orc training technique to gain agility while having as much bulk as Orcs do.

After the training, and once the boulders are untied from me, I feel weightless, almost like if I jumped right now I would start to fly.

I flex my arms and I know, I’m ready. I’m back to my old form, in fact I’m far better then I was before. The fight with the Nord made me smarter, the injures made me stronger, and this training has made me faster.

A barely seen smile flashes on my face. “The rematch will be interesting.”

Speaking of that young, ugly thing. I have a feeling that fool Nord would know something about my lifelike dream. Maybe I will go to Daggerfall, but first things first...

I need my weapon back, my wench, Luciel.

I light up a long overdue cherry, and its smoke can be seen heading to Ald Raathim’s Smith Hall.

Posted by: Arrogant_Hero May 9 2005, 01:41 PM

I arrive to the Smith’s Hall cloaked in evil looks. I’m not surprised. I dropped in every once in awhile to check on the progress of my axe, saying nothing to anyone. Then after a few hours of brooding around the Hall, and loud sighs, I would leave. Needless to say I hadn’t earned friends in this place. They hate me, I can tell, but... they all respect me.

The word had spread around town of the battle me and Aricyn had. Most people in the town heard the short version of the fight, Aricyn won – but those that saw the fight, held a different story. Once that version spread around town, people begin to hold their own conclusion of who won. Which lead to awe inspired looks everywhere I went, and even free food in some places.

I’d say at this time the town was split fifty, fifty on the conclusion of who won.

Believe it or not, I actually had respect for one of these so called "Smiths", the old Nord working on my axe, Floki Longhammer. When he said he could speak to weapons, I laughed at him, and dismissed him as another crazy, old Nord. But he soon proved me wrong. Since I got her, Luciel only spoke to me, but somehow, the Nord got her to speak to him too, and he found out her name.

That was enough.

But respect or not, today would be the day I get my axe back. He better hope he’s done. The last time I was here the Nord was saying something about an enchantment he was working on. I told him magicka was for the weak, and he just laughed his old, hardy laugh. I wonder how that’s going?

“Longhammer!” I yell deep into the Hall.

I then light up another sweet cherry, as I wait for the old man to get off his backside and greet me.

Posted by: w0nders May 9 2005, 02:04 PM

Dante’s room-

Dante sat up in bed, throwing his legs over the edge. Staring down at the mound of pants, which he had slipped off moments before climbing into his bed. He let out a relaxed sigh as he drew his forefinger and thumb across his eyes, meeting at his nose. He loved to sleep in.

“Dante…” A soft voice said, “Dante, help…”

Dante looked up to see an elderly Dunmer woman, kneeling not too far from him, side on, only half her face visible. “What the…”

“Dante…what an odd name…” She continued, “I knew it was a mistake letting Illidan name you.”

“Oh…no…” He muttered, realizing who the woman was.

“Dante…” She said again, looking towards him. The sight causing Dante to reel back, half of her face…was gone, or caved in for the most part. Her jawbone hanging freely on one side, “…help.” At that, the specter vanished in a wisp of smoke.

Illidan’s room-

Illidan sat a small desk, the plate of cold meat sitting simply in front of him. With his knife he would cut thin strips from it, and place to them to one side…smiling tiredly as he did.

“I see you’re still interested in that crafty nonsense, eh?” Asked a gruff, raspy voice. Illidan almost choked on air. He turned, to see an old Dunmer man, leaning idly on his axe, one foot crossed behind the other.

“Oh great…visits from the dead and you show up.” Illidan scoffed, climbing out of his chair.

“You always were a disrespectful little bastard.” The Dunmer said, flicking his grey hair out of his eyes. “No wonder you never amounted to anything, I’m glad I’ve been given the chance to tell you that.”

“Shut up.” Illidan said, clenching his fists and staring at the floor.

“Oh, lovely…” The man said, hoisting the axe over his shoulder. “Anyway, how’s your conscience treating you? I wouldn’t think it’d be that great, watching as your own father was slaughtered…although given every opportunity to try and stop it.”

“I…I was young then, too young.” Illidan managed to stammer out.

“Young? You were twenty five!” The man snarled, “A coward is what you were, and I see you haven’t done much to change that.”

Illidan growled before marching towards the ghost, and staring it in the eyes.

“Hello.” The ghost said sarcastically, with a roll of its eyes. Illidan’s breathing became louder and tenser, Seconds past before he reeled back his fist.

Several loud thumps could be heard from Illidan’s room, along with the sound of cracking wood.


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 02:06 PM

QUOTE(Nalion @ May 9 2005, 04:52 AM)

OOC Summary:
Nalion, male Breton mage, currently resides within the Halls of Solunastra in Daggerfall City.
/OOC Summary

Nalion lay on his bed in a guest chamber in Solunastra and stared at the blank ceiling above him, his mind seemed to be far distant. Nalion's thoughts were troubled. This night he had slept badly again, as he had the night before. Not only because of what he had heard about the visitation of ghosts of the past that he and several other friends had encountered, but because of several other revelations that had been granted to him this past day.

Void Rangers...

As it was often in such cases, the true consequences of a revelation came not in the instance of the revelation itself, but after the first shock had settled. As he had said to Tris and Ciel the other day, several pieces of the puzzle now snapped together and formed a larger part of the picture - though not the whole one.

Since he joined this group on a day of blood and snow at the gates of Snowhawk, he had seen and done many things others would call impossible, crazy, daring and perhaps blasphemous, but it had gradually widened his mind's horizon. The latest and most important of these events was Hogithum.
Eight of them had taken up the role and the powers of the Aedra and tapped into the foundations of the world itself, thus being able to control the Eidolon to destroy the Azurites and not the whole world. What Tris said roused answers concerning this event, the things that really happened there.
What Azura had done when creating the Azurites, what they had done to remedy it. They had not just mantled the Aedra to take their powers, but to be able to "tamper" - as Tris had said - with the world on a different level, one that is not obvious to most people, a level that seems impossible to others. It was the level on which the Eidolon seemed to have operated, too, when it began to dissolve the world around them...

Nalion woke from his deep thoughts by the sound of guards shouting outside on the main street to make way for some noble. He did not bother to look out of the window, still trying to catch his wandering thoughts to make them think straight again. Instead, he moved to the pitcher and bowl that was standing on a small table. He poured water from the pitcher into the bowl and watched his mirror image staring back at him. His brown hair was mixed up, his eyes looked tired and the stubbles on his chin seemed to cry for a shave. The mage stifled a yawn, then began to wash his face. The cold fresh water felt good on his skin, it seemed to clear up his mind as well as it was cleaning his face.

He wasn't hungry right now and wasn't keen on talking either, yet he had in mind to speak to Tris later, so he did what he had done so often when he needed solitude for himself. In quick strides, he moved down the aisle towards a door and entered.
The scent that greeted him was very familiar, every library possessed this mixture of smells: leather and parchment and dried ink, a smell of wooden shelfs and of a little dust tickling his nose. He traced a line of books with his fingers, head slightly tilted to read the script on their backs. Nalion smiled upon the fine selection of books Allerleirauh kept in this library. The mage closed his eyes, chose a random book and entered the adjacent study, oblivious to everything that happened around him.

*




Nalion passed someone else in the library, as oblivious to him as he was to her.

Little Doll had fallen fast asleep while reading about the mysteries of Arkay, the theories of the various races on the afterlife, and the persistence of spirits after death.

Now she was dreaming, or was she?

She sat on an elaborate bed of dark wood, inlaid with mother of pearl patterns, laden with rich silks.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I won't serve you. You'll have to choose another girl."

He hadn't recognized her. She wasn't surprised, she had barely recognized him. She was too beautiful, and he too ugly. Once her youngest uncle had been a favorite of women. But that was before the fire. Now his face was white with massive, lumpy scars, stretched over his eyes, his nose gone, his lips barely mobile, distorting his voice. If she had recognized him sooner it would have been better. But she had only recognized him by the mole on his shoulder, when he took his shirt off.

"DAMN YOU!" he cried in his new, strange voice. "HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT, YOU WH*RE!"

Where were the house guards? They should come in now. She remembered it, remembered them dragging him, still screaming, into the street. Remembered hearing a week later that he had drowned, perhaps on purpose, that his suffering was at an end now.

He was still shouting at her. "YOU THINK I'M TOO UGLY, DO YOU? YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S UGLY! I'VE COME TO FINISH WHAT I STARTED, GET WHAT I PAID FOR!"

Doll screamed, shrinking back from him, and could not stop screaming.

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 02:16 PM

QUOTE(w0nders @ May 9 2005, 07:04 AM)

Dante’s room-

Dante sat up in bed, throwing his legs over the edge. Staring down at the mound of pants, which he had slipped off moments before climbing into his bed. He let out a relaxed sigh as he drew his forefinger and thumb across his eyes, meeting at his nose. He loved to sleep in.

“Dante…” A soft voice said, “Dante, help…”

Dante looked up to see an elderly Dunmer woman, kneeling not too far from him, side on, only half her face visible. “What the…”

“Dante…what an odd name…” She continued, “I knew it was a mistake letting Illidan name you.”

“Oh…no…” He muttered, realizing who the woman was.

“Dante…” She said again, looking towards him. The sight causing Dante to reel back, half of her face…was gone, or caved in for the most part. Her jawbone hanging freely on one side, “…help.” At that, the specter vanished in a wisp of smoke.

Illidan’s room-

Illidan sat a small desk, the plate of cold meat sitting simply in front of him. With his knife he would cut thin strips from it, and place to them to one side…smiling tiredly as he did.

“I see you’re still interested in that crafty nonsense, eh?” Asked a gruff, raspy voice. Illidan almost choked on air. He turned, to see an old Dunmer man, leaning idly on his axe, one foot crossed behind the other.

“Oh great…visits from the dead and you show up.” Illidan scoffed, climbing out of his chair.

“You always were a disrespectful little bastard.” The Dunmer said, flicking his grey hair out of his eyes. “No wonder you never amounted to anything, I’m glad I’ve been given the chance to tell you that.”

“Shut up.” Illidan said, clenching his fists and staring at the floor.

“Oh, lovely…” The man said, hoisting the axe over his shoulder. “Anyway, how’s your conscience treating you? I wouldn’t think it’d be that great, watching as your own father was slaughtered…although given every opportunity to try and stop it.”

“I…I was young then, too young.” Illidan managed to stammer out.

“Young? You were twenty five!” The man snarled, “A coward is what you were, and I see you haven’t done much to change that.”

Illidan growled before marching towards the ghost, and staring it in the eyes.

“Hello.” The ghost said sarcastically, with a roll of its eyes. Illidan’s breathing became louder and tenser, Seconds past before he reeled back his fist.

Several loud thumps could be heard from Illidan’s room, along with the sound of cracking wood.

*




Dragon heard the sounds from Illidan's room and cleared the stairs three at a time, sword in hand. He rapped on the door with the hilt of the blade, then set his shoulder to the door and burst in.


Posted by: w0nders May 9 2005, 02:25 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 09:46 PM)

Dragon heard the sounds from Illidan's room and cleared the stairs three at a time, sword in hand. He rapped on the door with the hilt of the blade, then set his shoulder to the door and burst in.

*





The door swung open to reveal Illidan on his knees, his fist bloody. He looked up at Dragon, "Oh..." He began searching for the right words. Not finding them, he remained silent.

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 02:32 PM

QUOTE(w0nders @ May 9 2005, 07:25 AM)

The door swung open to reveal Illidan on his knees, his fist bloody. He looked up at Dragon, "Oh..." He began searching for the right words. Not finding them, he remained silent.

*




Dragon's impassive face held neither fear nor censure. Instead he strode in, looked in all corners of the room, then said, "Are you all right, boy?"

Posted by: w0nders May 9 2005, 02:40 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 10:02 PM)

Dragon's impassive face held neither fear nor censure. Instead he strode in, looked in all corners of the room, then said, "Are you all right, boy?"

*





"I'm fine." Illidan said, cupping his clenched fist in his other hand. "I just had a...visitor, if you will. Seems to be happening to everyone lately." Illidan said with a small snort, trying to make light of the situation.

Posted by: sjvan0 May 9 2005, 02:41 PM

Somewhere deep below Cyrodiil
Two lanterns layed shattered upon a table in a narrow room filled with books. Two people, one an ancient Breton man, the other a dunmer boy no older than 17.

"YOU FOOL!" The breton shouted, furious. "How could this have happended!?"

The dunmer shrunk back, terrified of the towering man before him, a hunched cripple no longer.

"I am sorry master!" the dunmer weeped "I was cleaning the lamps when the rusted hooks broke."

"Stop crying you snivelling imbecile!" He roared, his voice almost shaking the walls around them. "Centuries of work wasted in single moment. You shall pay for your clumsiness!" And in a flash, the youth was gone, a cockroach in his place. The breton watched it scurry away, and looked to the shards of glass before him. His beedy eyes sat upon the remaining lantern like a hungry spider watching a fly. "All is not lost. One soullamp remains. Wether it shall be enough will remain to be seen."

Solunastra, Daggerfall

As the darkness around Yasur Aranakan receded, he looked around at his strange surroundings. He felt as if a great weight had been lifted from him.

Where on Niirn am I now? This place doesn't seem familiar.

His eyes wandered throughout the room he was in, but rested on a window. He walked towards it slowly, and looked outside.

Daggerfall! But how? And it looks different to the last time I was here, with father. It looks older.

He walked out the room, his ghostly form near invisble. He sauntered into the great dining hall, and looked upon the others eating there.

My friends. He smiled, happy to see that they were still alive, unlike he.

He felt a great tug, and saw a massive hole form beneath him. There was no light, only darkness, but he was not afraid. He knew he was free of his past now.

"Goodbye." He whispered, smiling. For a moment, the others could see him clear as day, then the great darkness swallowed him, leaving beautiful points of green light throughout the house.

For one moment, there was darkness. Then there was nothing.



Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 02:57 PM

QUOTE(w0nders @ May 9 2005, 07:40 AM)

"I'm fine." Illidan said, cupping his clenched fist in his other hand. "I just had a...visitor, if you will. Seems to be happening to everyone lately." Illidan said with a small snort, trying to make light of the situation.

*




"Unfinished business, eh?" Dragon asked, looking at Illidan's bloody fist. "You seemed to be holding your own when I came in."

He lit the candles on the candelabra, filling the room with light, then patted the younger man's back.

"It's easier for me, all my dead are so far away that I don't even remember their names. Just as well, my parents would probably have a word or two to say to me if they could find me. It's a safe bet they didn't go straight to the highest heaven with Akatosh the way they always said they would. You want company, just until you get over having the creepy-crawlies?"

Posted by: Nalion May 9 2005, 02:57 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 02:06 PM)

Nalion passed someone else in the library, as oblivious to him as he was to her.

Little Doll had fallen fast asleep while reading about the mysteries of Arkay, the theories of the various races on the afterlife, and the persistence of spirits after death.

Now she was dreaming, or was she?

She sat on an elaborate bed of dark wood, inlaid with mother of pearl patterns, laden with rich silks.

"I'm sorry,"  she said. "I won't serve you. You'll have to choose another girl."

He hadn't recognized her. She wasn't surprised, she had barely recognized him. She was too beautiful, and he too ugly. Once her youngest uncle had been a favorite of women. But that was before the fire. Now his face was white with massive, lumpy scars, stretched over his eyes, his nose gone, his lips barely mobile, distorting his voice. If she had recognized him sooner it would have been better. But she had only recognized him by the mole on his shoulder, when he took his shirt off.

"DAMN YOU!"  he cried in his new, strange voice. "HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT, YOU WH*RE!"

Where were the house guards?  They should come in now. She remembered it, remembered them dragging him, still screaming, into the street. Remembered hearing a week later that he had drowned, perhaps on purpose, that his suffering was at an end now.

He was still shouting at her. "YOU THINK I'M TOO UGLY, DO YOU?  YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S UGLY!  I'VE COME TO FINISH WHAT I STARTED, GET WHAT I PAID FOR!"

Doll screamed, shrinking back from him, and could not stop screaming.

*





Nalion startled and stood up from the desk as he heard the screams, the stool he had been sitting on tipping over and hitting the floor with a loud "THUD".
The screams came from the library, so near...

The mage hastened out from the study and past the bookshelves until he saw the source of the screaming.
Doll looked hysterical and Nalion rushed over to her, and gently stretched out his arms towards her, brushing her hair and shaking her lightly to wake her.
"Doll, Doll! Wake up... wake up." he said softly, yet insistent. "You're here, safe... wake up!"

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 03:02 PM

QUOTE(Nalion @ May 9 2005, 07:57 AM)

Nalion startled and stood up from the desk as he heard the screams, the stool he had been sitting on tipping over and hitting the floor with a loud "THUD".
The screams came from the library, so near...

The mage hastened out from the study and past the bookshelves until he saw the source of the screaming.
Doll looked hysterical and Nalion rushed over to her, and gently stretched out his arms towards her, brushing her hair and shaking her lighty to wake her.
"Doll, Doll! Wake up... wake up." he said softly, yet insistent. "You're here, safe... wake up!"

*




"He's here," Doll screamed, sobbing. Nalion had never seen the self-possessed young girl so upset, it made her look her true age. "Get him away from me!"

At first she seemed so hysterical that she was in danger of hurting him. But at his touch she stopped thrashing. He ended up holding her in his arms while she wept hot tears against his shoulder. Whatever vision she had seen, she didn't seem inclined to share it.

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 03:06 PM

QUOTE(sjvan0 @ May 9 2005, 07:41 AM)

Somewhere deep below Cyrodiil
Two lanterns layed shattered upon a table in a narrow room filled with books. Two people, one an ancient Breton man, the other a dunmer boy no older than 17.

"YOU FOOL!" The breton shouted, furious. "How could this have happended!?"

The dunmer shrunk back, terrified of the towering man before him, a hunched cripple no longer.

"I am sorry master!" the dunmer weeped "I was cleaning the lamps when the rusted hooks broke."

"Stop crying you snivelling imbecile!" He roared, his voice almost shaking the walls around them. "Centuries of work wasted in single moment. You shall pay for your clumsiness!" And in a flash, the youth was gone, a cockroach in his place. The breton watched it scurry away, and looked to the shards of glass before him. His beedy eyes sat upon the remaining lantern like a hungry spider  watching a fly. "All is not lost. One soullamp remains. Wether it shall be enough will remain to be seen."

Solunastra, Daggerfall

As the darkness around Yasur Aranakan receded, he looked around at his strange surroundings. He felt as if a great weight had been lifted from him.

Where on Niirn am I now? This place doesn't seem familiar.

His eyes wandered throughout the room he was in, but rested on a window. He walked towards it slowly, and looked outside.

Daggerfall! But how? And it looks different to the last time I was here, with father. It looks older.

He walked out the room, his ghostly form near invisble. He sauntered into the great dining hall, and looked upon the others eating there.

My friends. He smiled, happy to see that they were still alive, unlike he.

He felt a great tug, and saw a massive hole form beneath him. There was no light, only darkness, but he was not afraid. He knew he was free of his past now.

"Goodbye." He whispered, smiling. For a moment, the others could see him clear as day, then the great darkness swallowed him, leaving beautiful points of green light throughout the house.

For one moment, there was darkness. Then there was nothing.

*




Those gathered at breakfast saw the spirit in its fullest form.

"Yasur," Allerleirauh said, standing up.

"Wasn't that... that guy?" said Mirea, never good with names.

In Allerleirauh's arms, the baby laughed, and held her arms out, trying to touch the drifting green light.

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 03:09 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 09:06 AM)

Those gathered at breakfast saw the spirit in its fullest form.

"Yasur,"  Allerleirauh said, standing up.

"Wasn't that... that guy?"  said Mirea, never good with names.

In Allerleirauh's arms, the baby laughed, and held her arms out, trying to touch the drifting green light.

*





"He looked so happy," Loranna says, standing as well. "Farewell Yasur; ... take care friend ..."

Hearing Sen-Yedda laugh brings a smile to Loranna's face, and she whispers quietly Thank -you-, dear to the baby.



Posted by: w0nders May 9 2005, 03:10 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 10:27 PM)

"Unfinished business, eh?"  Dragon asked, looking at Illidan's bloody fist. "You seemed to be holding your own when I came in."

He lit the candles on the candelabra, filling the room with light, then patted the younger man's back.

"It's easier for me, all my dead are so far away that I don't even remember their names. Just as well, my parents would probably have a word or two to say to me if they could find me. It's a safe bet they didn't go straight to the highest heaven with Akatosh the way they always said they would. You want company, just until you get over having the creepy-crawlies?"

*





"Unfinished buisness." Illidan said, placing his own hand over Dragon's as he climbed to his feet. Dragon's words helped him to relax a bit.

"I wouldn't want to trouble you..." Illidan began, "...but another person around really wouldn't hurt right about now." He said, moving over to the desk.

He sat down, and turned to face Dragon, ignoring the plate of meat for the time being. "So...tell me a little bit about yourself, Dragon, was it? I think I overheard that somewhere." Illidan said with a slight shrug, "how'd you come across this place?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 03:17 PM

QUOTE(w0nders @ May 9 2005, 08:10 AM)

"Unfinished buisness." Illidan said, placing his own hand over Dragon's as he climbed to his feet. Dragon's words helped him to relax a bit.

"I wouldn't want to trouble you..." Illidan began, "...but another person around really wouldn't hurt right about now." He said, moving over to the desk.

He sat down, and turned to face Dragon, ignoring the plate of meat for the time being. "So...tell me a little bit about yourself, Dragon, was it? I think I overheard it somewhere." Illidan said with a slight shrug, "how'd you come across this place?"

*




"The General and I found each other," Dragon said, sitting down as well. "Allerleirauh, you call her. We call her General Light. I was an old retired soldier whose wife and children had died, just marking time by killing peasants for fun. She gave me something to do with myself."

His manner was a little hard to get used to. He talked about the deaths of his family, about killing peasants, as calmly and pleasantly as if he were talking about something in a book he had read.

Posted by: Nalion May 9 2005, 03:19 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 03:02 PM)

"He's here,"  Doll screamed, sobbing. Nalion had never seen the self-possessed young girl so upset, it made her look her true age. "Get him away from me!"

At first she seemed so hysterical that she was in danger of hurting him. But at his touch she stopped thrashing. He ended up holding her in his arms while she wept hot tears against his shoulder. Whatever vision she had seen, she didn't seem inclined to share it.

*




Inside, Nalion was shaken himself, the few times he had actually seen Doll, she seemed so strong and willful. Seeing her in this condition deeply disturbed him, and he himself felt a sting in his heart. Still, Doll could feel the mages shoulder tighten as if in defiance to someone.

Nalion began to stroke her hair gently with one hand, trying to reassure her by his presence. The other was slung around her back and held her tightly.
The mage knew not who "He" was, yet, this was unimportant now.
"He cannot hurt you, Doll." the mage spoke softly to her. "He has no power over you unless you yourself give it to him. He cannot hurt you. I'm here, I won't let this happen. I'm here..."

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 03:28 PM

QUOTE(Nalion @ May 9 2005, 08:19 AM)

Inside, Nalion was shaken himself, the few times he had actually seen Doll, she seemed so strong and willful. Seeing her in this condition deeply disturbed him, and he himself felt a sting in his heart. Still, Doll could feel the mages shoulder tighten as if in defiance to someone.

Nalion began to stroke her hair gently with one hand, trying to reassure her by his presence. The other was slung around her back and held her tightly.
The mage knew not who "He" was, yet, this was unimportant now.
"He cannot hurt you, Doll." the mage spoke softly to her. "He has no power over you unless you yourself give it to him. He cannot hurt you. I'm here, I won't let this happen. I'm here..."

*





Doll recovered quickly. Her slanted black eyes, though red-rimmed, were hard, as if she were angry at herself for her lapse.

"Thank you. You're very kind," she said. "The problem is that I do owe him, I have always felt bad about what happened to him... he will be back. I have to think of something to do. His is business that I cannot allow to be finished."

Again, she showed no inclination to explain herself.

She smiled, a tiny smile that showed no teeth, and sat up, straightening her clothes. "Perhaps we should sleep with a light on, in company."

As she brushed her clothes, a scrap of torn cloth fell from her hand. It was homemade cotton cloth, dyed bright red originally but now faded, embroidered in a pattern that looked exotic to Nalion's eyes.

Doll picked it up and stared at it.

"Not just a dream then," she said.

Posted by: w0nders May 9 2005, 03:28 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 10:47 PM)

"The General and I found each other,"  Dragon said, sitting down as well. "Allerleirauh, you call her. We call her General Light. I was an old retired soldier whose wife and children had died, just marking time by killing peasants for fun. She gave me something to do with myself."

His manner was a little hard to get used to. He talked about the deaths of his family, about killing peasants, as calmly and pleasantly as if he were talking about something in a book he had read.

*





Illidan was taken aback by Dragon's casual tone. He blinked, before speaking again, "I'm sorry to hear about your family..." He said, growing silent in thought a moment, thinking of his other comment.

He wasn't entirely sure of how to react to such a remark, does he laugh? Pat him on the back? Of course, he could just as simply call him a monster. But then again, Illidan was no saint himself...and wasn't one to hold opinions on people for their past actions. Instead, he smiled...whilst rubbing the light stubble on his chin.

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 03:35 PM

QUOTE(w0nders @ May 9 2005, 08:28 AM)

Illidan was taken aback by Dragon's casual tone. He blinked, before speaking again, "I'm sorry to hear about your family..." He said, growing silent in thought a moment, thinking of his other comment.

He wasn't entirely sure of how to react to such a remark, does he laugh? Pat him on the back? Of course, he could just as simply call him a monster. But then again, Illidan was no saint himself...and wasn't one to hold opinions on people for their past actions. Instead, he smiled...whilst rubbing the light stubble on his chin.

*




"The line between hero and monster is very slim," Dragon said. "No one but me remembers those deaths, and they fade even in my mind. Like the battles I've lost. You won't find them in any history book, they didn't happen. Your own story, in the end, is always what you want it to be."

He changed the subject. "So. Your ghosts. Do you want to talk about them?"

Posted by: Nalion May 9 2005, 03:49 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 03:28 PM)

Doll recovered quickly. Her slanted black eyes, though red-rimmed, were hard, as if she were angry at herself for her lapse.

"Thank you. You're very kind,"  she said. "The problem is that I do owe him, I have always felt bad about what happened to him... he will be back. I have to think of something to do. His is business that I cannot allow to be finished."

Again, she showed no inclination to explain herself.

She smiled, a tiny smile that showed no teeth, and sat up, straightening her clothes. "Perhaps we should sleep with a light on, in company."

As she brushed her clothes, a scrap of torn cloth fell from her hand. It was homemade cotton cloth, dyed bright red originally but now faded, embroidered in a pattern that looked exotic to Nalion's eyes.

Doll picked it up and stared at it.

"Not just a dream then,"  she said.

*




Nalion looked straightly into her eyes, a sincere and troubled look - with a hint of surprise - on his face.
"I've made the experience that when troubles are shared, they weigh less on an individual's." he said. "It's your decision whether to share it or not - and it may be a hard decision - but, if you ever need someone to speak to, I will be there, dear Doll." Nalion smiled in return. "Some people say I'm good at listening to others."
The mage took a breath.
"I just want you to know one thing: you don't have to go your path alone. That's what we're all here for."

In response to her proposal, he touched her shoulders reassuringly.
"I'll be there for you, Doll. Yes, a light would probably be good."

Seeing the piece of cloth in her hands, Nalion's expression grew worrisome for a moment, then he managed to present a kind and reassuring face again.
"If there actually can be something left in this world, things have grown worse..." he thought.
"Please, I know you don't want to talk about it, but don't you think it's time to share the burden, Doll?"


Posted by: w0nders May 9 2005, 03:50 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 11:05 PM)

"The line between hero and monster is very slim,"  Dragon said. "No one but me remembers those deaths, and they fade even in my mind. Like the battles I've lost. You won't find them in any history book, they didn't happen. Your own story, in the end, is always what you want it to be."

He changed the subject. "So. Your ghosts. Do you want to talk about them?"

*





He remained silent as Dragon spoke, nodding at several intervals.

"Ah, my ghosts...I suppose it's better to get this stuff off my chest now than to bottle it up." He said, clearing his throat.

"My visitor, just now...was, my father." Illidan said, taking a deep breath. "Heh, to be honest I would of much rathered my mother to show up...she at least didn't have a reason to hate me."

Illidan caught himself, "don't get me wrong, my father was a loving man in life, but in death...he despises me, as I have just found out. Can't say that I blame him, either. It's a terrile feeling, watching someone you love be killed in front of you, but having the ability to possibly stop it, only to choose not to, that's far worse."

"He was a much bigger fan of Dante anyway, he could have stick fights with him." Illidan said with a chuckle, struggling to conceal moist eyes.

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 03:57 PM

QUOTE(w0nders @ May 9 2005, 08:50 AM)

He remained silent as Dragon spoke, nodding at several intervals.

"Ah, my ghosts...I suppose it's better to get this stuff off my chest now than to bottle it up." He said, clearing his throat.

"My visitor, just now...was, my father." Illidan said, taking a deep breath. "Heh, to be honest I would of much rathered my mother to show up...she at least didn't have a reason to hate me."

Illidan caught himself, "don't get me wrong, my father was a loving man in life, but in death...he despises me, as I have just found out. Can't say that I blame him, either. It's a terrile feeling, watching someone you love be killed in front of you, but having the ability to possibly stop it, only to choose not to, that's far worse."

"He was a much bigger fan of Dante anyway, he could have stick fights with him." Illidan said with a chuckle, struggling to conceal moist eyes.

*




"We don't choose our parents, and we all remember a time when we were small and defenseless. My own parents... you could say I killed them. It was my fault that the priest came to question them about their religious beliefs, my fault they were burned at the stake while I watched. For many years I told myself I was only a child, I had no way of knowing what would happen. But I did know. Our hearts are capable of the blackest moments; to deny that is to deny ourselves, and when we do that, our darkness can catch us by surprise. Own your darkness and honor it. Only then will it obey your will."

Dragon put an arm around Illidan's shoulders.

"What happened to your father? Can you talk about it?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 04:01 PM

QUOTE(Nalion @ May 9 2005, 08:49 AM)

Nalion looked straightly into her eyes, a sincere and troubled look - with a hint of surprise - on his face.
"I've made the experience that when troubles are shared, they weigh less on an individual's." he said. "It's your decision whether to share it or not - and it may be a hard decision - but, if you ever need someone to speak to, I will be there, dear Doll." Nalion smiled in return. "Some people say I'm good at listening to others."
The mage took a breath.
"I just want you to know one thing: you don't have to go your path alone. That's what we're all here for."

In response to her proposal, he touched her shoulders reassuringly.
"I'll be there for you, Doll. Yes, a light would probably be good."

Seeing the piece of cloth in her hands, Nalion's expression grew worrisome for a moment, then he managed to present a kind and reassuring face again.
"If there actually can be something left in this world, things have grown worse..." he thought.
"Please, I know you don't want to talk about it, but don't you think it's time to share the burden, Doll?"

*




Doll shook her head. It was a long time before she decided to speak, and when she did, her voice was tiny.

"If I had told him who I was, it might have made all the difference in the world... might have saved his life. He was my youngest uncle; he had been burned nearly to death in the fire that took my father's boat. Magic healed him but did not remove his scars. And so he had to pay women to be with him. Only... I suppose he thought he was so disgusting that not even his money could buy a woman. He didn't recognize me. He thought I turned him away because of the scars. But he was my uncle, my father's youngest brother... they said he drowned himself after that."

Posted by: Sir Radont May 9 2005, 04:05 PM

Radont paced restlessly through the halls of Solunastra, popping into a room, looking around, then exiting as quickly and as quietly as he had entered. For all his skill with the blade and all the power he had as Knight Bachelor, he was powerless here against an untouchable enemy. He was frusterated and it showed in the way the Imperial's brow was furrowed, his gray eyes lost in deep thought as he proweled the grounds. He resolved to return to the main hall and stay there until he knew more.

Posted by: w0nders May 9 2005, 04:20 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 11:27 PM)

"We don't choose our parents, and we all remember a time when we were small and defenseless. My own parents... you could say I killed them. It was my fault that the priest came to question them about their religious beliefs, my fault they were burned at the stake while I watched. For many years I told myself I was only a child, I had no way of knowing what would happen. But I did know. Our hearts are capable of the blackest moments;  to deny that is to deny ourselves, and when we do that, our darkness can catch us by surprise. Own your darkness and honor it. Only then will it obey your will."

Dragon put an arm around Illidan's shoulders.

"What happened to your father?  Can you talk about it?"

*





"I can talk about it, yes." He said, accepting Dragon's arm. I'm really not that sure of what happened when I think back to it, most occurences leading up to the killing are quite clear, but the series of events that happened during it are quite fuzzy. Who knows, maybe I'll remember something once I go over it."

Illidan cleared his throat, before starting, "well...my father was a mercenary, of sorts. Often helping out where help was needed, for the right price, of course. Well, he was escorting a trader out from Ald Ruhn...this trader was a family friend of ours, so my father made an exception with money. Well anyway, he brought me along, said I needed some experience with this sort of job." Illidan paused, laughing a little as he recalled the scene in his mind.

"But...on the path out, we were ambushed, the guar and trader were killed first, from what I can remember, by crossbow bolts, I believe. well then...I'm not sure who or what they were, they seemed like bandits. But I guess I can't accept the fact that my big, powerful father was overpowered by bandits. Though...they seemed to be a lot more skilled than your ordinary bandit. I remember hearing him scream, that's when I ran...I even left my staff behind I was in suh a hurry to escape."

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 04:26 PM

QUOTE(w0nders @ May 9 2005, 09:20 AM)

"I can talk about it, yes." He said, accepting Dragon's arm. I'm really not that sure of what happened when I think back to it, most occurences leading up to the killing are quite clear, but the series of events that happened during it are quite fuzzy. Who knows, maybe I'll remember something once I go over it."

Illidan cleared his throat, before starting, "well...my father was a mercenary, of sorts. Often helping out where help was needed, for the right price, of course. Well, he was escorting a trader out from Ald Ruhn...this trader was a family friend of ours, so my father made an exception with money. Well anyway, he brought me along, said I needed  some experience with this sort of job." Illidan paused, laughing a little as he recalled the scene in his mind.

"But...on the path out, we were ambushed, the guar and trader were killed first, from what I can remember, by crossbow bolts, I believe. well then...I'm not sure who or what they were, they seemed like bandits. But I guess I can't accept the fact that my big, powerful father was overpowered by bandits. Though...they seemed to be a lot more skilled than your ordinary bandit. I remember hearing him scream, that's when I ran...I even left my staff behind I was in suh a hurry to escape."

*




"Destiny is a funny thing," Dragon said. "If it was his day, nothing could have saved him. Your big, powerful father could have been kicked to death by guar. Why did you run?"

Posted by: Nalion May 9 2005, 04:37 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 04:01 PM)

Doll shook her head. It was a long time before she decided to speak, and when she did, her voice was tiny.

"If I had told him who I was, it might have made all the difference in the world... might have saved his life. He was my youngest uncle;  he had been burned nearly to death in the fire that took my father's boat. Magic healed him but did not remove his scars. And so he had to pay women to be with him. Only... I suppose he thought he was so disgusting that not even his money could buy a woman. He didn't recognize me. He thought I turned him away because of the scars. But he was my uncle, my father's youngest brother... they said he drowned himself after that."

*




Nalions eyes spoke more than words in this moment.
Dear little Doll, what hard times did you have to go through in your young life!
The mage's steady gaze spoke about compassion and shared pain, paired with care and understanding.
"You refused him because you knew who he was - your uncle - and not because what he was, Doll. There is a difference. I know how hard such a burden can lie on one's shoulders, to blame oneself for the death of another."
The mage took a deep breath and stretched out his arms towards her.
"I don't know if telling him who you were would have eventually saved him. He seems to have been deeply hurt before. He might have sought other women and be refused there. Nontheless he is restless in death. You cannot give his life back to him, but you can give him consolation. Tell him that because you were his niece, you refused him out of respect for him - you valued your family."
Nalion hoped he was right in this.
"How about we two offer him this consolation? Together? Tell him what has really happened and why you refused him?"

Posted by: w0nders May 9 2005, 04:40 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 11:56 PM)

"Destiny is a funny thing,"  Dragon said. "If it was his day, nothing could have saved him. Your big, powerful father could have been kicked to death by guar. Why did you run?"

*





"I'm not too sure..." Illidan said, flatly. "Fear, I suppose. I was too scared to run into the initial melee, and once I heard him scream I guess I just lost it."

He paused a moment, then looked up at Dragon. "This has helped, thankyou." He said softly.

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 04:53 PM

QUOTE(Nalion @ May 9 2005, 09:37 AM)

Nalions eyes spoke more than words in this moment.
Dear little Doll, what hard times did you have to go through in your young life!
The mage's steady gaze spoke about compassion and shared pain, paired with care and understanding.
"You refused him because you knew who he was - your uncle - and not because what he was, Doll. There is a difference. I know how hard such a burden can lie on one's shoulders, to blame oneself for the death of another."
The mage took a deep breath and stretched out his arms towards her.
"I don't know if telling him who you were would have eventually saved him. He seems to have been deeply hurt before. He might have sought other women and be refused there. Nontheless he is restless in death. You cannot give his life back to him, but you can give him consolation. Tell him that because you were his niece, you refused him because out of respect for him - you valued your family."
Nalion hoped he was right in this.
"How about we two offer him this consolation? Together? Tell him what has really happened and why you refused him?"

*




"I was too proud," Doll said. She had folded her hands neatly in her lap; now she began to rock back and forth, rhythmically. "It was because of my pride that I didn't tell him. I am still too proud. You have no idea how it feels to me, that you know this story, that you have seen me this way. I will never forgive you."

She laughed a sweet little laugh, so that it was impossible to tell whether or not she was joking.

"My parents were proud people. I send them money every week. Today I have learned that they kept none of it, they sent it all back to me. Who are they to be so proud? Only poor people on a boat who could not feed their own daughter. Who am I to be so proud? Only a girl, who worked in a brothel to keep herself alive."

She stood up.

"I am tired of pride, it is something I reject, it is a useless thing. Come with me to the docks here. I will burn these bank notes that my parents sent back to me, in honor of my uncle."

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 05:01 PM

QUOTE(w0nders @ May 9 2005, 09:40 AM)

"I'm not too sure..." Illidan said, flatly. "Fear, I suppose. I was too scared to run into the initial melee, and once I heard him scream I guess I just lost it."

He paused a moment, then looked up at Dragon. "This has helped, thankyou." He said softly.

*




"You're welcome, lad."

Dragon stood up.

"You never know how you're going to act until you've been tested. And even then, a man who's been tested a dozen times might break and run on the thirteenth. I've been a soldier a lot of years: I've seen it. The man everyone counts on, a man who's a hero, might be the man who cries like a baby and turns tail, on any given day. Courage is the breath of the gods, it comes from Kynareth, and all a man can do is pray he has enough when the moment comes. Don't punish yourself because you failed your father; let it teach you compassion for the weakness in all of us."

Dragon grinned. "And if you want more specific advice - use healing potions when you practice, learn what it feels like to get hurt. Nothing is worse than fear of the unknown."

Posted by: w0nders May 9 2005, 05:09 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 12:31 AM)

"You're welcome, lad." 

Dragon stood up.

"You never know how you're going to act until you've been tested. And even then, a man who's been tested a dozen times might break and run on the thirteenth. I've been a soldier a lot of years:  I've seen it. The man everyone counts on, a man who's a hero, might be the man who cries like a baby and turns tail, on any given day. Courage is the breath of the gods, it comes from Kynareth, and all a man can do is pray he has enough when the moment comes. Don't punish yourself because you failed your father;  let it teach you compassion for the weakness in all of us."

Dragon grinned. "And if you want more specific advice - use healing potions when you practice, learn what it feels like to get hurt. Nothing is worse than fear of the unknown."

*





"Heh, I'll have to remember that." Illidan said, standing as well. "But I think I'm going to have a short nap, try and sleep this whole thing off."

"It's been a pleasure speaking with you, Dragon. And may our next meeting be one under better circumstances."

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 05:11 PM

QUOTE(w0nders @ May 9 2005, 10:09 AM)

"Heh, I'll have to remember that." Illidan said, standing as well. "But I think I'm going to have a short nap, try and sleep this whole thing off."

"It's been a pleasure speaking with you, Dragon. And may our next meeting be one under better circumstances."

*




"Come spar with me some time," Dragon said. "Shout if you see any more ghosts."

Posted by: Nalion May 9 2005, 05:14 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 04:53 PM)

"I was too proud,"  Doll said. She had folded her hands neatly  in her lap;  now she began to rock back and forth, rhythmically. "It was because of my pride that I didn't tell him. I am still too proud. You have no idea how it feels to me, that you know this story, that you have seen me this way. I will never forgive you."

She laughed a sweet little laugh, so that it was impossible to tell whether or not she was joking.

"My parents were proud people. I send them money every week. Today I have learned that they kept none of it, they sent it all back to me. Who are they to be so proud?  Only poor people on a boat who could not feed their own daughter. Who am I to be so proud?  Only a girl, who worked in a brothel to keep herself alive."

She stood up.

"I am tired of pride, it is something I reject, it is a useless thing. Come with me to the docks here. I will burn these bank notes that my parents sent back to me, in honor of my uncle."

*




"I see a beautiful woman, both in body and soul, Doll. Never is such a final word, if you think about it..."
Nalion smiled.
"A weakness is weakness no more once it is recognized as such. You have proven your inner strength in recognizing this weakness, and moreso, in willing to overcome it. Let me help you with this."
Nalion offered Doll his hand.
"Come, my dear Doll, let us both step down, both symbolically and in reality."

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 05:34 PM

QUOTE(Nalion @ May 9 2005, 10:14 AM)

"I see a beautiful woman, both in body and soul, Doll. Never is such a final word, if you think about it..."
Nalion smiled.
"A weakness is weakness no more once it is recognized as such. You have proven your inner strength in recognizing this weakness, and moreso, in willing to overcome it. Let me help you with this."
Nalion offered Doll his hand.
"Come, my dear Doll, let us both step down, both symbolically and in reality."

*




She took his hand with the grace of a dancer.

The dockyard district was straight down the street, where Royal Row met the bay. The houses of nobles gave way to the houses of merchants, then the houses of craftsmen, the houses of pieceworkers, the apartments of servants. And finally to the tumbledown shacks and shells of buildings where dockworkers lived. At the very docks themselves stood warehouses, and a solid block of buildings which seemed newer than the others.

"Once when I was a child the wealthy people of the town decided that it was a shame people should live in such houses," Doll said breezily. "They decided that such houses were unfit for human habitation, and so they pulled the worst of them down. They build instead these new houses you see here, so the dockworkers would have a decent place to live. Only, the people who had lived in the old shacks could not afford the rent of the new houses. Some became thieves and were hanged; others were thrown out into the streets as vagrants. You know the name of this street? Gaerington Row. Yes, that is right, Tris's father owns the bank that built these houses for charity. I believe he meant well. But meaning well is nothing unless you see things through for yourself."

The docks held many-masted Breton ships, Nordic longboats, Redguard galleys. And a few brightly colored ferries, small flatboats painted red, with fan-shaped sails. On one of them, carrying passengers to a nobleman's house that had a private dock, Nalion glimpsed a face just like Doll's; catlike, flat-nosed and angular, with a strong square jaw and tilted, dark eyes. The boatman wore red, and his clothes were embroidered with exotic designs.

Nalion found that he might as well have been invisible. The people of Daggerfall were friendly, or at least polite, and passing down the street nearer Solunastra, he and Doll had been met by cheerful waves and greetings. Here, nearer the docks, no one spoke to them or even glanced at them.

"You might have a wife," Doll explained.

There were no boats tied up at the dock to which she led him; all were out working. The surface of the water was dark with insects; Doll bent and picked one up on her finger. It was a mayfly, dark with age; having mated, it would now die.

"I used to catch thousands of them," she said. "They only last a little while, only three days out of the year. My uncle and I would have contests catching them."

She tossed the insect away, and it flittered its wings, flew in a small circle, and settled on the surface of the water again, so light that it didn't sink.

Together they folded the bank notes into cones and lit them on fire, then tossed them out over the water.


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 05:36 PM

Solunastra: Tris

"Mirea tried to rip my nose off for encouraging you," Tris said to Loranna. "You and Slyos did learn something though, so it wasn't a total waste. Is everything all right?"

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 05:52 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 11:36 AM)

Solunastra:  Tris

"Mirea tried to rip my nose off for encouraging you,"  Tris said to Loranna. "You and Slyos did learn something though, so it wasn't a total waste. Is everything all right?"

*





Loranna's expression is a curious mix of bemusement at the plight of Tris's poor nose and ... dismay ... at the seeming casualness in which he described what she and Slyvos went through. Still, a thoughtful smile finds its way to her lips.

"I suppose everything is all right, in the same sense that I'm now all right as the former Incarnate Mother, free of Azura and the madness that consumed us both," she says. "The end result was different than expected but positive nonetheless; nevertheless the price paid to reach that was harsh."

She sighs. "Tris, necromancy is a magic that ... requires pain, and suffering, and death; if the caster does not inflict these on others to fuel their powers then the magic will inflict them on the caster instead, body, mind, or soul, it makes no difference. Slyvos isn't the monster he once was; his spirit isn't callous enough to inflict that suffering on others, and no spirit is strong enough to endure that suffering without withering."

" ... But," she continues, "in the end, he and I both knew in our bones never to touch such magic again; the ghost of his past, his lich-born darkside, has finally been put to rest ..."

She pauses for a moment, before saying " ... and I helped him do that - I, Loranna and Dibella. When I heard his darkside try to reassert itself, I mantled Her again, Tris ... without even stopping to think about it, I castigated the ugliness that would consume my lover, and then ..."

"It was like I was dreaming for a bit," she continues, growing more animated, the words pouring forth as though she removed a dam. "I remember finding my way out of the mine and the world outside was more lovely than ever, but I was all covered in dirt and grime and it made me want to vomit, only this woman's voice whispered in my ear that I should clean myself off, and I started crying silver tears and used them to wet my sleeves and I wiped myself and Slyvos off, and when I was more aware the world was as it was - except there were flowers around us, right outside the mine, and my face had more tearstreaks for a bit, though those faded."

She looks at Tris, her expression excited and worried and hesitant. " ... Tris, I ..." Unable to finish her thought, she shrugs helplessly.


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 06:05 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 9 2005, 10:52 AM)

Loranna's expression is a curious mix of bemusement at the plight of Tris's poor nose and ... dismay ... at the seeming casualness in which he described what she and Slyvos went through.  Still, a thoughtful smile finds its way to her lips.

"I suppose everything is all right, in the same sense that I'm now all right as the former Incarnate Mother, free of Azura and the madness that consumed us both," she says.  "The end result was different than expected but positive nonetheless; nevertheless the price paid to reach that was harsh."

She sighs.  "Tris, necromancy is a magic that ... requires pain, and suffering, and death; if the caster does not inflict these on others to fuel their powers then the magic will inflict them on the caster instead, body, mind, or soul, it makes no difference.  Slyvos isn't the monster he once was; his spirit isn't callous enough to inflict that suffering on others, and no spirit is strong enough to endure that suffering without withering."

" ... But," she continues, "in the end, he and I both knew in our bones never to touch such magic again; the ghost of his past, his lich-born darkside, has finally been put to rest ..."

She pauses for a moment, before saying " ... and I helped him do that - I, Loranna and Dibella.  When I heard his darkside try to reassert itself, I mantled Her again, Tris ... without even stopping to think about it, I castigated the ugliness that would consume my lover, and then ..."

"It was like I was dreaming for a bit," she continues, growing more animated, the words pouring forth as though she removed a dam.  "I remember finding my way out of the mine and the world outside was more lovely than ever, but I was all covered in dirt and grime and it made me want to vomit, only this woman's voice whispered in my ear that I should clean myself off, and I started crying silver tears and used them to wet my sleeves and I wiped myself and Slyvos off, and when I was more aware the world was as it was - except there were flowers around us, right outside the mine, and my face had more tearstreaks for a bit, though those faded."

She looks at Tris, her expression excited and worried and hesitant.  " ... Tris, I ..."  Unable to finish her thought, she shrugs helplessly.

*




"I'm such a jerk," Tris said. "I'm sorry, I didn't think."

He appeared to be thinking now, however.

"Let's walk, it's a beautiful day and I'm tired of being indoors."

He took her arm and led her outside.

"Dibella is... I don't know much about her, for all I'm a professor of her temple. I don't know what her history is like. Allerleirauh says Dibella is a corruption of a higher concept, a splintering, a diminuation of The Goddess, an intellectual concept given form for a state religion. I think there's more to it than that. If she's just a diminuation, then where did the planet come from? I know it sounds like I'm babbling, but bear with me. Who she was matters. If Dibella was ever a serving maid, if she had a cruel mother who rejected her, if she went through fire and ice and crushing blows to become what she is... like silver hammered out for jewelry. Like all beautiful things, diamonds shaped and shattered, more beautiful than left in the matrix of the stone. Are you following me at all or am I just talking out of my spotted owl?"

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 06:12 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 12:05 PM)

"I'm such a jerk,"  Tris said. "I'm sorry, I didn't think."

He appeared to be thinking now, however.

"Let's walk, it's a beautiful day and I'm tired of being indoors."

He took her arm and led her outside.

"Dibella is... I don't know much about her, for all I'm a professor of her temple. I don't know what her history is like. Allerleirauh says Dibella is a corruption of a higher concept, a splintering, a diminuation of The Goddess, an intellectual concept given form for a state religion. I think there's more to it than that. If she's just a diminuation, then where did the planet come from?  I know it sounds like I'm babbling, but bear with me. Who she was matters. If Dibella was ever a serving maid, if she had a cruel mother who rejected her, if she went through fire and ice and crushing blows to become what she is... like silver hammered out for jewelry. Like all beautiful things, diamonds shaped and shattered, more beautiful than left in the matrix of the stone. Are you following me at all or am I just talking out of my spotted owl?"

*





Loranna walks with Tris without complaint, murmuring " Dear, I was the one to first suggest asking Slyvos to try something."

Loranna listens to Tris, her own brow furrowed in thought. "The Aedra I've heard described as the Eight Imperfections," she says. "By Allie maybe, or else someone else at that mock-trial of mine - yet for all that, they consecrated the trial hall in their name, didn't they? But still ..."

"You think there's a more painful ... no, pained, side to Dibella - that her beauty comes from painful experiences that shaped her," she says, hoping she's following Tris. " ... Sort of like what we've all been through; we all have been tempered by our experiences, still are being tempered in my own opinion."

" ... You meant more than that though, didn't you?" she asks.



Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 06:22 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 9 2005, 11:12 AM)

Loranna walks with Tris without complaint, murmuring " Dear, I was the one to first suggest asking Slyvos to try something."

Loranna listens to Tris, her own brow furrowed in thought.  "The Aedra I've heard described as the Eight Imperfections," she says.  "By Allie maybe, or else someone else at that mock-trial of mine - yet for all that, they consecrated the trial hall in their name, didn't they?  But still ..."

"You think there's a more painful ... no, pained, side to Dibella - that her beauty comes from painful experiences that shaped her," she says, hoping she's following Tris.  " ... Sort of like what we've all been through; we all have been tempered by our experiences, still are being tempered in my own opinion."

" ... You meant more than that though, didn't you?" she asks.

*




Tris heaved a sigh of exasperation. "I'm not very good at explaining this. The Everlasting Imperfections... that's because when you pick one angle to look at things from, you lose all those other possibilities. To give something a name, a quality at all, is to set limits on it. Vehk's sex-death of language. But, okay, so if you're down among the crowd you can't see the movements of the people. If you've above them, looking down, you can't see the faces, the details, the things that give it all meaning. It's the question of the Arena, the Big Question. Vivec said he could do both at once, but look at him. He was a two-toned bloke with no pants who locked himself in a temple until the Nerevarine came along to rescue him.

"Yes, I mean more than that. It wasn't an accident that the one whose Anticipation was secret murder, murdered his own father. It isn't an accident that Allerleirauh really is a princess. I doubt it's an accident that Aricyn was a foundling, or that Arynel is. As above, so below. Mantling is making things work in the other direction. It's not necessary to have a perfect image for it to be magically useful. But a better correspondence makes things easier."

A horse whinnied and trotted into their path.

"Come back here, you..." a young woman called, shaking a bucket full of oats at the horse. "Pardon me, ma'am, sir. I swear, you nag..."

Tris turned to the side. The smell of horses was strong here; they were passing the livery stable.

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 06:30 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 12:22 PM)

Tris heaved a sigh of exasperation. "I'm not very good at explaining this. The Everlasting Imperfections... that's because when you pick one angle to look at things from, you lose all those other possibilities. To give something a name, a quality at all, is to set limits on it. Vehk's sex-death of language. But, okay, so if you're down among the crowd you can't see the movements of the people. If you've above them, looking down, you can't see the faces, the details, the things that give it all meaning. It's the question of the Arena, the Big Question. Vivec said he could do both at once, but look at him. He was a two-toned bloke with no pants who locked himself in a temple until the Nerevarine came along to rescue him.

"Yes, I mean more than that. It wasn't an accident that the one whose Anticipation was secret murder, murdered his own father. It isn't an accident that Allerleirauh really is a princess. I doubt it's an accident that Aricyn was a foundling, or that Arynel is. As above, so below. Mantling is making things work in the other direction. It's not necessary to have a perfect image for it to be magically useful. But a better correspondence makes things easier."

A horse whinnied and trotted into their path.

"Come back here, you..." a young woman called, shaking a bucket full of oats at the horse. "Pardon me, ma'am, sir. I swear, you nag..."

Tris turned to the side. The smell of horses was strong here;  they were passing the livery stable.

*





Loranna smiles just a little at Tris's description of Vivec, but for the most part she remains quiet as he explains his thoughts to her.

At the end, she says " ... I think I see what you're getting at, dear ..."

She raises her eyebrows at the horses. "Where we going?" she asks.

... Do both at once ... the Big Question ... What Tris was suggesting would have seemed crazy to her a year ago; now it simply seemed the inevitable conclusion to draw from what they'd all been through. A serving girl who had suffered abuse; a daughter of a cruel mother who cast her out; a barmaid who learned the hard way what happens when you play with forces beyond your comprehension ...



Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 06:37 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 9 2005, 11:30 AM)

Loranna smiles just a little at Tris's description of Vivec, but for the most part she remains quiet as he explains his thoughts to her.

At the end, she says " ... I think I see what you're getting at, dear ..."

She raises her eyebrows at the horses.  "Where we going?" she asks.

... Do both at once ... the Big Question ... What Tris was suggesting would have seemed crazy to her a year ago; now it simply seemed the inevitable conclusion to draw from what they'd all been through.  A serving girl who had suffered abuse; a daughter of a cruel mother who cast her out; a barmaid who learned the hard way what happens when you play with forces beyond your comprehension ...

*




"I was just walking," Tris said honestly, looking at the door of the stable. "But I guess we're going to the Mages' Guild, which is a bloody long walk without a horse to ride. I think it's time I took you to someone who knows more about Dibella than I do. I'm taking you to Emaera, my confessor in the Dibellan temple in Cyrodiil. Come on."

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 06:40 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 12:37 PM)

"I was just walking,"  Tris said honestly, looking at the door of the stable. "But I guess we're going to the Mages' Guild, which is a bloody long walk without a horse to ride. I think it's time I took you to someone who knows more about Dibella than I do. I'm taking you to Emaera, my confessor in the Dibellan temple in Cyrodiil. Come on."

*





Loranna smiles, but she demurs just a bit. "Lemme go let Slyvos know I'm out for a bit so he doesn't get worried," she asks. "He's still rather shaken up; he's told me some of what he saw but I can see in his eyes he hasn't told me everything yet ..."

She turns and hurries back inside, leaving Slyvos a message: Gone to a Dibellian Temple, will be back later, please rest and relax love.

Feeling slightly guilty about heading off on Slyvos like this, she hurries back out to the stables. "Okay, I'm ready; let's go."


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 07:00 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 9 2005, 11:40 AM)

Loranna smiles, but she demurs just a bit.  "Lemme go let Slyvos know I'm out for a bit so he doesn't get worried," she asks.  "He's still rather shaken up; he's told me some of what he saw but I can see in his eyes he hasn't told me everything yet ..."

She turns and hurries back inside, leaving Slyvos a message:  Gone to a Dibellian Temple, will be back later, please rest and relax love.

Feeling slightly guilty about heading off on Slyvos like this, she hurries back out to the stables.  "Okay, I'm ready; let's go."

*




"He could come too, you know," Tris said, smiling. "I'll catch him when he wakes up. A touch of Dibella would do him good, even if it does make him nervous. You'll find the big public temple in Cyrodiil isn't much like the brothel we went to in Menevia."

They rode to the Mages's Guild, then traveled half the length of the continent in a few short moments.

Tris remembered the last time he had been to the big temple - on the eve of the Emperor's New Life speech, traveling with Ciel, fleeing fron Elysana. He and Ciel weren't lovers yet. Tris too freshly wounded, too damaged by the loss of his foot, believing he would never be a Void Ranger again, Ciel too sorry for him, too dazed by the loss of his standing as a knight, and too concerned with both their safety.

He and Loranna made their way through the city to the Temple district. Horses weren't allowed here, because no one wanted horse poop in the streets outside the temples.

Inside it was much like any other temple of Dibella. Beautiful maidens draped in diaphonous garments beckoned them inside. Soft lighting, rich perfumes, beautiful furnishings. Only here, the maidens were far more beautiful than in a little provincial temple in Menevia. The donations expected were higher. The perfumes subtler. And the furnishings were ones you might have read about, seen pale copies of, in kingly residences.

Tris gave his name, and they were taken in to wait.

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 07:10 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 01:00 PM)

"He could come too, you know,"  Tris said, smiling. "I'll catch him when he wakes up. A touch of Dibella would do him good, even if it does make him nervous. You'll find the big public temple in Cyrodiil isn't much like the brothel we went to in Menevia."

They rode to the Mages's Guild, then traveled half the length of the continent in a few short moments.

Tris remembered the last time he had been to the big temple - on the eve of the Emperor's New Life speech, traveling with Ciel, fleeing fron Elysana. He and Ciel weren't lovers yet. Tris too freshly wounded, too damaged by the loss of his foot, believing he would never be a Void Ranger again, Ciel too sorry for him, too dazed by the loss of his standing as a knight, and too concerned with both their safety.

He and Loranna made their way through the city to the Temple district. Horses weren't allowed here, because no one wanted horse poop in the streets outside the temples.

Inside it was much like any other temple of Dibella. Beautiful maidens draped in diaphonous garments beckoned them inside. Soft lighting, rich perfumes, beautiful furnishings. Only here, the maidens were far more beautiful than in a little provincial temple in Menevia. The donations expected were higher. The perfumes subtler. And the furnishings were ones you might have read about, seen pale copies of, in kingly residences.

Tris gave his name, and they were taken in to wait.

*





Loranna smiles a little at Tris as they set out. "Probably, considering his fiancee is rather attuned to Dibella," she says, not mentioning right now her suggestion to Slyvos to consider pursuing knowledge of Arkay. There'd be time enough to talk about things later.

Re-entering the Imperial City was slightly daunting for Loranna; the last time she had been here, her home of thirteen years, was Hearthfire ... and the infamous ball that left people shaken, maddened, children dead and broken under a carriage's wheels. She had almost disguised herself when entering, but the Loranna anyone remembered here was a silly, pale-skinned Nord girl who somehow loked younger than her years, not the lovely, ashen-skinned, silver-tearstreaked Nord woman whose eyes were young-old. Loranna felt grateful for small favors; she liked playing with different hair colors and styles now and then but on the whole preferred her usual look; she was proud of her skin.

The Temple itself made Loranna stare, mildly awestruck and appreciative of the beauty around her. She smiles at the maidens and feels the subtle scents tickle her nostrils, urging her senses to sharpen so she can truly appreciate the fine scents.

It was lovely here, even if the donations asked were on the high side; Loranna gives her name and waits, wondering what Emarea was like.


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 07:17 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 9 2005, 12:10 PM)

Loranna smiles a little at Tris as they set out.  "Probably, considering his fiancee is rather attuned to Dibella," she says, not mentioning right now her suggestion to Slyvos to consider pursuing knowledge of Arkay.  There'd be time enough to talk about things later.

Re-entering the Imperial City was slightly daunting for Loranna; the last time she had been here, her home of thirteen years, was Hearthfire ... and the infamous ball that left people shaken, maddened, children dead and broken under a carriage's wheels.  She had almost disguised herself when entering, but the Loranna anyone remembered here was a silly, pale-skinned Nord girl who somehow loked younger than her years, not the lovely, ashen-skinned, silver-tearstreaked Nord woman whose eyes were young-old.  Loranna felt grateful for small favors; she liked playing with different hair colors and styles now and then but on the whole preferred her usual look; she was proud of her skin.

The Temple itself made Loranna stare, mildly awestruck and appreciative of the beauty around her.  She smiles at the maidens and feels the subtle scents tickle her nostrils, urging her senses to sharpen so she can truly appreciate the fine scents. 

It was lovely here, even if the donations asked were on the high side; Loranna gives her name and waits, wondering what Emarea was like.

*




A dusky-skinned Imperial woman in leather clothes ushered them into a private room, far quicker than Tris expected.

"There's a warrant in the city for your arrest," she said bluntly to Loranna. "You should wait here, where you won't be seen."

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 07:18 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 01:17 PM)

A dusky-skinned Imperial woman in leather clothes ushered them into a private room, far quicker than Tris expected.

"There's a warrant in the city for your arrest,"  she said bluntly to Loranna. "You should wait here, where you won't be seen."

*





Loranna's expression fell. "Right; from now on, go with the disguise girl ..." she mutters to herself. "Thank you."

She glances at Tris, dismayed.


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 07:32 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 9 2005, 12:18 PM)

Loranna's expression fell.  "Right; from now on, go with the disguise girl ..." she mutters to herself.  "Thank you."

She glances at Tris, dismayed.

*




"Welcome to the fugitive club," Tris said, his eyes crinkling with good humor.

"There you are, you beautiful boy! Let me look at you. Don't stand up."

Tris's confessor, Emaera, was an Imperial woman, nearer fifty than forty, with close-cropped grey hair and merry grey eyes, brilliant against her warm skin.

"I can stand perfectly well," Tris said, sweeping her into an embrace. "The foot, it's wonderful."

Emaera turned towards Loranna. Loranna felt the grey eyes sweep over her as thoroughly as if she'd just been subjected to a body cavity search. There was no nonsense in that gaze, but no judgement either; it was the look of someone who was no fool, but knew how to make the best of what she found.

"Loranna," Tris said. "She's not... we aren't lovers. She's a friend."

"My dear boy, what an introduction," Emaera said. She held out her hand to Loranna. "Emaera, of the rite of Gentle Sunrise."

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 07:36 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 01:32 PM)

"Welcome to the fugitive club,"  Tris said, his eyes crinkling with good humor.

"There you are, you beautiful boy!  Let me look at you. Don't stand up."

Tris's confessor, Emaera, was an Imperial woman, nearer fifty than forty, with close-cropped grey hair and merry grey eyes, brilliant against her warm skin.

"I can stand perfectly well,"  Tris said, sweeping her into an embrace. "The foot, it's wonderful."

Emaera turned towards Loranna. Loranna felt the grey eyes sweep over her as thoroughly as if she'd just been subjected to a body cavity search. There was no nonsense in that gaze, but no judgement either;  it was the look of someone who was no fool, but knew how to make the best of what she found.

"Loranna,"  Tris said. "She's not... we aren't lovers. She's a friend."

"My dear boy, what an introduction,"  Emaera said. She held out her hand to Loranna. "Emaera, of the rite of Gentle Sunrise."

*





Loranna finds herself wishing she had Emaera's ability to see so clearly; hopefully time and experience would help teach her how to look at she looked.

"Loranna Pyrel, lady of Daruhn in Morrowind," she says. " ... And ex-Incarnate Mother, as people have heard. A pleasure, my lady."



Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 07:49 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 9 2005, 12:36 PM)

Loranna finds herself wishing she had Emaera's ability to see so clearly; hopefully time and experience would help teach her how to look at she looked.

"Loranna Pyrel, lady of Daruhn in Morrowind," she says.  " ... And ex-Incarnate Mother, as people have heard.  A pleasure, my lady."

*




"You're a troublemaker," Emaera said, smiling. "And I can't have you two magpies chattering about me behind my back. You need your own confessor, young woman. Besides my rite isn't suited for you. We have a brother visiting who's an initiate in the rite of Dibella the Weeping Reedemer, isn't that serendipitous? Tris dear, close your mouth. Come on, dear boy. You and I need to catch up."

Emaera led Tris, unresisting, from the room.

Loranna was left alone in a lovely, white room, with white tracery and white furnishings. The details of the architecture were astonishingly delicate, the ceilings, soaring. The mural on the floor, a picture of Dibella surrounded by lovers, was made up entirely of white stones of different textures, so that they caught the light differently. Here in this room she was forced to contemplate shape and proportion. There were no windows. Only man-made objects. Yet every object of art was made in the image of some natural creation. How else should they be made? What else was there to imitate? Could there ever be something entirely new, and if there were, would it be beautiful, or simply cacophonous?

She became aware, gradually, of the music. Someone was playing a flute. The tune was wandering, achingly sweet. Sad? Did it repeat? No. It was more that it evolved. Where was the flute player, anyway? The many panels of the room made it perfect acoustically. It felt as if the flute player were standing just behind her, and to the right, no matter which direction she turned her head.

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 08:04 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 01:49 PM)

"You're a troublemaker,"  Emaera said, smiling. "And I can't have you two magpies chattering about me behind my back. You need your own confessor, young woman. Besides my rite isn't suited for you. We have a brother visiting who's an initiate in the rite of Dibella the Weeping Reedemer, isn't that serendipitous?  Tris dear, close your mouth. Come on, dear boy. You and I need to catch up."

Emaera led Tris, unresisting, from the room.

Loranna was left alone in a lovely, white room, with white tracery and white furnishings. The details of the architecture were astonishingly delicate, the ceilings, soaring. The mural on the floor, a picture of Dibella surrounded by lovers, was made up entirely of white stones of different textures, so that they caught the light differently. Here in this room she was forced to contemplate shape and proportion. There were no windows. Only man-made objects. Yet every object of art was made in the image of some natural creation. How else should they be made?  What else was there to imitate?  Could there ever be something entirely new, and if there were, would it be beautiful, or simply cacophonous?

She became aware, gradually, of the music. Someone was playing a flute. The tune was wandering, achingly sweet. Sad?  Did it repeat?  No. It was more that it evolved. Where was the flute player, anyway?  The many panels of the room made it perfect acoustically. It felt as if the flute player were standing just behind her, and to the right, no matter which direction she turned her head.

*





Rite of Dibella the Weeping Redeemer ... Loranna had to keep her own mouth from hanging open; serendipitous indeed. Loranna briefly wonders at the serendipity of the universe, before shelving such thoughts as mildly blasphemeous.

Man-made objects that took the form of natural creations; delicate detail in a room which was built seemingly to convey a grand, sweeping, majestic beauty with its soaring ceilings and its white on white decor. There was beauty here, in forms her mind could feel but not totally see - like looking sideways, catching a glimpse from the corner of her eye, intuitively knowing what she saw but unable to form a recollection of the sensation when she thought about it, nor able to see it when looking dead on.

The music, for the briefest of seconds, calls to mind the musical voice that had spoken to her outside of Ald Raathim; though that sweet voice hadn't been sad - or had it? Was the music she heard now sad really? Were the two similar at all, or was it simply the fact that both were beautiful that made them seem related, despite being different? The voice was but a memory as from a dream now, heard more easily when she wasn't thinknig, and the music in the background was ...

Loranna stops trying to think; her head would hurt if she thought too hard on all the questions the room evoked in her mind and something in the back of her said the key was not to think, but to sense, to accept, and to feel; thinking could come later ...


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 08:15 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 9 2005, 01:04 PM)

Rite of Dibella the Weeping Redeemer ... Loranna had to keep her own mouth from hanging open; serendipitous indeed.  Loranna briefly wonders at the serendipity of the universe, before shelving such thoughts as mildly blasphemeous.

Man-made objects that took the form of natural creations; delicate detail in a room which was built seemingly to convey a grand, sweeping, majestic beauty with its soaring ceilings and its white on white decor.  There was beauty here, in forms her mind could feel but not totally see - like looking sideways, catching a glimpse from the corner of her eye, intuitively knowing what she saw but unable to form a recollection of the sensation when she thought about it, nor able to see it when looking dead on.

The music, for the briefest of seconds, calls to mind the musical voice that had spoken to her outside of Ald Raathim; though that sweet voice hadn't been sad - or had it?  Was the music she heard now sad really?  Were the two similar at all, or was it simply the fact that both were beautiful that made them seem related, despite being different?  The voice was but a memory as from a dream now, heard more easily when she wasn't thinknig, and the music in the background was ...

Loranna stops trying to think; her head would hurt if she thought too hard on all the questions the room evoked in her mind and something in the back of her said the key was not to think, but to sense, to accept, and to feel; thinking could come later ...

*




The music ceased. "Aren't you coming?" a deep male voice asked. "You have no curiousity at all. Are you so old then? We must rectify that, you and I. We must be children in a garden."

The music began again, and this time it was sad, unmistakably. It was a playful tune, a springtime tune, of green grass growing and fresh flowers, and it made Loranna's heart ache for a past that had never been, an innocence that had been lost before she was old enough to know she had ever had it.




Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 08:22 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 02:15 PM)

The music ceased. "Aren't you coming?"  a deep male voice asked. "You have no curiousity at all. Are you so old then? We must rectify that, you and I. We must be children in a garden."

The music began again, and this time it was sad, unmistakably. It was a playful tune, a springtime tune, of green grass growing and fresh flowers, and it made Loranna's heart ache for a past that had never been, an innocence that had been lost before she was old enough to know she had ever had it.

*





Loranna blushes, feeling foolish; then, she laughs at herself for feeling that way. Then, the music starts up again and her heart aches - but her curiosity has been fired up by the man's teasing words.

The acoustics of the room made it hard to tell where the music comes from, however; she tries following the sound of the music, looking around the room more actively.

"It's been a while since I've played in a garden," she says, thinking briefly of the herb garden back at home, and Jazbet; her heart aches again but she smiles to herself, knowing that Jazbet is happy, and so should she be. "I think I should take more time to do so, dear. Now where are you ..."


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 08:33 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 9 2005, 01:22 PM)

Loranna blushes, feeling foolish; then, she laughs at herself for feeling that way.  Then, the music starts up again and her heart aches - but her curiosity has been fired up by the man's teasing words.

The acoustics of the room made it hard to tell where the music comes from, however; she tries following the sound of the music, looking around the room more actively.

"It's been a while since I've played in a garden," she says, thinking briefly of the herb garden back at home, and Jazbet; her heart aches again but she smiles to herself, knowing that Jazbet is happy, and so should she be.  "I think I should take more time to do so, dear.  Now where are you ..."

*




Behind one of the panels, the music grew louder. Following the sound led her to a garden.

Not an herb garden but a flower garden. At this season, late in spring, the primary flowers were lilies and roses and irises. But there were flowers of all dimensions, all scents, from peppery fresh to majestically rich. All white.

The man who sat in the center of the garden was a Nord. He was naked, and he sat crosslegged, playing the flute.

He was not a thing of beauty, at least not at first glance. He was an older man. His head was shaven, his face scarred. His fair skin was tattooed in white, swooping curves, across his whole body. The massive lines of his arms, his legs, his muscular chest and belly, all said that he had been a warrior in his youth, and would be an alarming opponent in a fight still.

He finished his tune, then lowered the flute.

"Harman of the Rite of the Weeping Redeemer," he said. "Although in my younger days I was a knight of the Order of the Lily. And you are?"

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 08:42 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 02:33 PM)

Behind one of the panels, the music grew louder. Following the sound led her to a garden.

Not an herb garden but a flower garden. At this season, late in spring, the primary flowers were lilies and roses and irises. But there were flowers of all dimensions, all scents, from peppery fresh to majestically rich. All white.

The man who sat in the center of the garden was a Nord. He was naked, and he sat crosslegged, playing the flute.

He was not a thing of beauty, at least not at first glance. He was an older man. His head was shaven, his face scarred.  His fair skin was tattooed in white, swooping curves, across his whole body. The massive lines of his arms, his legs, his muscular chest and belly, all said that he had been a warrior in his youth, and would be an alarming opponent in a fight still.

He finished his tune, then lowered the flute.

"Harman of the Rite of the Weeping Redeemer,"  he said. "Although in my younger days I was a knight of the Order of the Lily. And you are?"

*





Loranna smiles agsin upon seeing all the flowers, feeling an urge to lose herself in walking among them, enjoying their colors and their scents, but she follows the music, finding herself facing the still-impressive Harman.

For a brief few seconds, Loranna lets her eyes take in the sight of Harmon; she had never been one of those women who thought scars proved a man's worth, but she finds herself thinking somewhat differently when looking at Harmon. He wasn't what most barmaids would call beautiful but he had beauty; you just had to stop and look, see the man rather than just the older face and the scars.

She wonders what his hair was like before he shaved his head.

"I'm Loranna, Loranna Pyrel, lady of Daruhn," she says by way of introduction. " ... Are you my confessor, good sir?"


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 9 2005, 08:48 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 9 2005, 01:42 PM)

Loranna smiles agsin upon seeing all the flowers, feeling an urge to lose herself in walking among them, enjoying their colors and their scents, but she follows the music, finding herself facing the still-impressive Harman. 

For a brief few seconds, Loranna lets her eyes take in the sight of Harmon; she had never been one of those women who thought scars proved a man's worth, but she finds herself thinking somewhat differently when looking at Harmon.  He wasn't what most barmaids would call beautiful but he had beauty; you just had to stop and look, see the man rather than just the older face and the scars.

She wonders what his hair was like before he shaved his head.

"I'm Loranna, Loranna Pyrel, lady of Daruhn," she says by way of introduction.  " ... Are you my confessor, good sir?"

*




"Not yet," Harman said, looking up at her from his seated position. "You're only a postulant, you haven't been accepted as a novice. Sit down, Loranna Pyrel, Lady of Daruhn."

He began to play the flute again.

Posted by: Loranna May 9 2005, 08:55 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 9 2005, 02:48 PM)

"Not yet,"  Harman said, looking up at her from his seated position. "You're only a postulant, you haven't been accepted as a novice. Sit down, Loranna Pyrel, Lady of Daruhn."

He began to play the flute again.

*





Loranna does as she is bidden, sitting down and listening to Harman play his flute. This wasn't quite what she had expected - though, upon reflection, she decides that's probably exactly as it should be.

Children in a garden, after all, tended to be spontaneous in their play; that was part of the beauty of being young.


Posted by: S'reddit May 10 2005, 09:19 AM

At dawn, every High Rock Mages Guild east of Anticlere, dozens of them in villages and cities, was closed, locked up.

Word began to spread that the few independent witches covens that were left in Queen Elysana's realm -- the ones that hadn't already been destroyed for harboring Azurites -- were being rounded up.

Posted by: Shardie May 10 2005, 01:12 PM

Daggerfall
Seven horsemen sat around the square, waiting paitently for the eighth of thier number to return, and sure as light follows dark, Cerius rode up to the party, and gave his sombore news. A woman in a white werewolf skin cloak was seen leaving through the Northern Gate, heading for Gothway Gardens. So Lord Landon and his seven Palidins rode north, for the city of Gothway Gardens

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 10 2005, 06:27 PM

Cyrodiil, The Temple of Dibella: Tris

"You're nervous, why is that?" Emaera said, tracing a finger slowly down his chest. It stopped at the ridge of a new scar, traced a circle around the white circle, and passed on.

"That's the scar I told you about," Tris said. "The time I almost died, the vision I had of Dibella."

"You have a lot of new scars," she said.

"I don't know what's wrong with me," he said. "Ymalna, my father's wife. That Redguard witch, Sharlian. I've found what I want so why am I still looking?"

"Don't seduce your father's pregnant wife," Emaera said. "It's in very poor taste. Tell me about this Herwyn Brand."

"I've told you already. I won't lie, he is my type - physically - but I don't go after straight men. It's not that sort of thing."

"Did I say it was? Tell me, how old are you?"

"You know how old I am," he said sullenly, turning over onto his stomach. "I'll be twenty years old in the season of the Steed."

"How old is your lover?"

"He's... he's never said and I've never asked. I guess he's nearly fifty."

"Sweet child, do I have to spell it out for you?"

Tris ignored her for a moment, letting her talk to the back of his hunched shoulders. Then sighed and laid his head down on his arms. "I suppose not. What's the solution, then? I can't just make up the difference between my age and his with random passing strangers."

"You could," Emaera said. "Do you want to?"

"No! What a question."

"Sweet boy," Emaera said, "You've never given way for anyone in the world. You like to be beloved, you're not in the habit of putting yourself out. Now you've put this man you love in a box, where you can take him out and play with him when you feel the urge, and otherwise, you go about your business."

"You..." Tris said. "Is this some woman thing, some change of life thing? You've never been mean to me like this before."

Emaera stood up, collected her robes, and walked out. It took only a very few moments for Tris to come to his senses and go after her.

"I'm sorry," he said. "That was uncalled for. Please, I'm listening."

She was writing in a scroll. "Must I give you all the answers?"

"Ymalna... it's because she's my father's wife, isn't it. She's not even pretty. I just want to take everything my father has. Just to see his face. That's him talking, the part of me that's like him. I hate that, hate that sometimes I talk and it comes out in his voice, and it works, damn it, because he's good at what he does. I don't want any part of him to be part of me, not even his strength."

He fell silent, waiting for her approval.

"Go on," she said.

"Ciel... Ciel's not as wild as I am, that's all. I'm afraid to shock him."

"He's wilder than you give him credit for," she said. "He's more than twice your age, he's been married and widowed, he's fought in wars. He went with you across Tamriel with the law chasing you. Why must he find out what you're doing after you're done?"

"It's me I sell short," Tris said. "I... I'm trying. But sometimes I feel as if my will is a horse that someone else is riding."

"Don't be afraid to ask for help," she said. "That is what our rule is for, to sanctify what is awkward and unseemly, to make it beautiful."

He stood in front of her, naked, head lowered, wrestling with his spirit.

"I wrote to Bryn," he said at last. "My first lover. He wrote back. He's not angry, everything's fine between us now."

"Better," she said.

Posted by: Loranna May 10 2005, 09:05 PM

Cyrodiil, Temple of Dibella

The day wore long into the afternoon and into nightfall, and Loranna wanders through the Temple, her mind preoccupied with her first meeting with Harmon. It had been an interesting first meeting ...

The temple had many areas for people to just sit and relax, offering various levels of privacy; Loranna finds herself drawn to one garden which reminded her of the herb garden back home, with many lovely scents and pleasing sights for her eyes.

She finds one slightly unexpected but very pleasing sight in this garden; Tris, shirtless, smiling, looking very relaxed and very, very ... inviting; Loranna finds herself thinking that she could just eat him up when he looked like that, then she blushes a bit at her own effrontary.

Clearing her throat, she waves to Tris. "Hi dear; I see you like this garden too," she says, smiling.


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 10 2005, 09:09 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 02:05 PM)

Cyrodiil, Temple of Dibella

The day wore long into the afternoon and into nightfall, and Loranna wanders through the Temple, her mind preoccupied with her first meeting with Harmon.  It had been an interesting first meeting ...

The temple had many areas for people to just sit and relax, offering various levels of privacy; Loranna finds herself drawn to one garden which reminded her of the herb garden back home, with many lovely scents and pleasing sights for her eyes.

She finds one slightly unexpected but very pleasing sight in this garden; Tris, shirtless, smiling, looking very relaxed and very, very ... inviting; Loranna finds herself thinking that she could just eat him up when he looked like that, then she blushes a bit at her own effrontary.

Clearing her throat, she waves to Tris.  "Hi dear; I see you like this garden too," she says, smiling.

*




Tris turned very slightly towards her and smiled, lazily. "This is me avoiding reality," he said. "It won't last long; soon it will be back to fighting ghosts, organizing symposiums, and dealing with the fact that Queen Elysana seems to have finally lost her tiny little mind. Right now though, the evening is the perfect temperature, the honeysuckle's blooming, and I have a pocket full of cracked walnuts. How are you?"

He offered her a fistful of walnuts.

Posted by: Loranna May 10 2005, 09:14 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 03:09 PM)

Tris turned very slightly towards her and smiled, lazily. "This is me avoiding reality,"  he said. "It won't last long;  soon it will be back to fighting ghosts, organizing symposiums, and dealing with the fact that Queen Elysana seems to have finally lost her tiny little mind. Right now though, the evening is the perfect temperature, the honeysuckle's blooming, and I have a pocket full of cracked walnuts. How are you?"

He offered her a fistful of walnuts.

*





Loranna accepts the walnuts, sighing and looking upward. "Hmm, I'm perplexed, a little embarrassed, a little aroused in a slightly predatory way ..."

" ... but mostly perplexed and thinking of Slyvos, and flowers - lots and lots of flowers," she says. "Did they have you memorize the names of flowers when you were first interviewed, or is that a newer trend?"


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 10 2005, 09:24 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 02:14 PM)

Loranna accepts the walnuts, sighing and looking upward.  "Hmm, I'm perplexed, a little embarrassed, a little aroused in a slightly predatory way ..."

" ... but mostly perplexed and thinking of Slyvos, and flowers - lots and lots of flowers," she says.  "Did they have you memorize the names of flowers when you were first interviewed, or is that a newer trend?"

*




"You don't have to talk about this, you know," he said. "In fact you shouldn't talk about your initiatory experiences with anyone outside the Temple. It's okay to talk about them with me, although I was initiated under a different rite so we may not have many experiences in common."

He smiled. "I remember reading a number of boring dissertations on aesthetics. But mostly my training was of the hands on sort. You noticed the 'furnishings' in the lobby as we came through? That was me, in my initiatory days. I spent a lot of time learning to submit to the will of the goddess, and you can interpret that just as you like because I'm not explaining."

Posted by: Loranna May 10 2005, 09:29 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 03:24 PM)

"You don't have to talk about this, you know,"  he said. "In fact you shouldn't talk about your initiatory experiences with anyone outside the Temple. It's okay to talk about them with me, although I was initiated under a different rite so we may not have many experiences in common."

He smiled. "I remember reading a number of boring dissertations on aesthetics. But mostly my training was of the hands on sort. You noticed the 'furnishings' in the lobby as we came through?  That was me, in my initiatory days. I spent a lot of time learning to submit to the will of the goddess, and you can interpret that just as you like because I'm not explaining."

*





"Joy; me not being able to talk to someone about what's on my mind," Loranna says, "what irony ..."

"Though I'm afraid I really didn't tell Harmon much of what he was asking," she continues. "He seems very nice and trustworthy, but ... well, you can guess ..."

She stops for a moment, thinking about Tris submitting to the will of the goddess, and smiles, then chuckles. "Did make him laugh a lot, though, which I guess is okay since laughter is precious and his laugh is beautiful. Now, if I'd been trying to make him laugh I'd feel even better about it."


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 10 2005, 09:32 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 02:29 PM)

"Joy; me not being able to talk to someone about what's on my mind," Loranna says, "what irony ..."

"Though I'm afraid I really didn't tell Harmon much of what he was asking," she continues.  "He seems very nice and trustworthy, but ... well, you can guess ..."

She stops for a moment, thinking about Tris submitting to the will of the goddess, and smiles, then chuckles.  "Did make him laugh a lot, though, which I guess is okay since laughter is precious and his laugh is beautiful.  Now, if I'd been trying to make him laugh I'd feel even better about it."

*




"It's all right to feel foolish," Tris said. "If you knew everything already you wouldn't be here."

Posted by: Loranna May 10 2005, 09:36 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 03:32 PM)

"It's all right to feel foolish,"  Tris said. "If you knew everything already you wouldn't be here."

*





Loranna laughs, and says "If I knew everything already half of us wouldn't be where we are now, for good or ill." She pops a walnut into her mouth, savoring the taste.

" ... I might have annoyed him though," she contines, sounding a bit contrite. "He ... well, he kinda suggested I abstain for a while, and I more or less said I couldn't - I couldn't do that to Slyvos, now especially. He needs a warm, caring, human touch to help him get through what he saw ..."


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 10 2005, 09:40 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 02:36 PM)

Loranna laughs, and says "If I knew everything already half of us wouldn't be where we are now, for good or ill."  She pops a walnut into her mouth, savoring the taste.

" ... I might have annoyed him though," she contines, sounding a bit contrite.  "He ... well, he kinda suggested I abstain for a while, and I more or less said I couldn't - I couldn't do that to Slyvos, now especially.  He needs a warm, caring, human touch to help him get through what he saw ..."

*




"What did he say, exactly?" Tris said, leaning back on one elbow. "What happens in the temple stays in the temple, ordinarily. There are married people who are temple members, we work around them so that their temple business remains private."

Posted by: Loranna May 10 2005, 09:47 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 03:40 PM)

"What did he say, exactly?"  Tris said, leaning back on one elbow. "What happens in the temple stays in the temple, ordinarily. There are married people who are temple members, we work around them so that their temple business remains private."

*





Loranna closes her eyes. "Well, he had asked me what sex was," she says. "And I tried to answer as best I could, sharing and loving and seeing and touching on a whole different level, and he asked how that was different from what one did with most any friend, and I thought about it and said I couldn't really tell. Then he asked me how many friends I had and how many I slept with, and I found myself thinking my definition needed work, so he told me to think on the meaning of sex."

Glancing at Tris's chest, she adds " ... Though I kinda didn't mention the crushes I have, since I don't really plan on trying to follow up on any of them."

" ... And, well, that's when he suggested I abstain until I figured the sex thing out, and I nearly jumped and said I couldn't do that to Slyvos right now after what he just went through."

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 10 2005, 09:54 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 02:47 PM)

Loranna closes her eyes.  "Well, he had asked me what sex was," she says.  "And I tried to answer as best I could, sharing and loving and seeing and touching on a whole different level, and he asked how that was different from what one did with most any friend, and I thought about it and said I couldn't really tell.  Then he asked me how many friends I had and how many I slept with, and I found myself thinking my definition needed work, so he told me to think on the meaning of sex."

Glancing at Tris's chest, she adds " ... Though I kinda didn't mention the crushes I have, since I don't really plan on trying to follow up on any of them."

" ... And, well, that's when he suggested I abstain until I figured the sex thing out, and I nearly jumped and said I couldn't do that to Slyvos right now after what he just went through."

*




"Should I put a shirt on?" Tris said, grinning. "I was looking at myself in the mirrors here, I look terrible! Still trying to work my body back up to the level it was at before I lost my foot. That Wind kid, he probably could take me if I didn't cheat. It's pitiful. Look at the scars on my arm, I have white hairs all over the place like a tomcat who's been in a fight."

He turned his shoulder towards Loranna to examine. It was true; the talons of a Winged Twilight had caught his upper arm, and now the curly blonde hairs were mixed with paler ones growing from angry red scars.

"Abstaining was a suggestion, not an order," he said practically. "And besides, why not?"

Posted by: Loranna May 10 2005, 10:04 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 03:54 PM)

"Should I put a shirt on?"  Tris said, grinning. "I was looking at myself in the mirrors here, I look terrible!  Still trying to work my body back up to the level it was at before I lost my foot. That Wind kid, he probably could take me if I didn't cheat. It's pitiful. Look at the scars on my arm, I have white hairs all over the place like a tomcat who's been in a fight."

He turned his shoulder towards Loranna to examine. It was true;  the talons of a Winged Twilight had caught his upper arm, and now the curly blonde hairs were mixed with paler ones growing from angry red scars.

"Abstaining was a suggestion, not an order,"  he said practically. "And besides, why not?"

*





"Tris hun we'd both know by now if I couldn't control myself around you," Loranna smirks, looking at Tris's shoulder. Her fingers trace the scars with a healer's professional yet gentle touch.

" ... Why not? Tris, you didn't see Slyvos yet," Loranna says as she examines his scars. "He was shaken right down to his soul by what he saw, what he endured. I'm his lover; I need to be there to comfort him, and sex was always my best way of doing so ..."

"Dear, didn't you have these looked at after Hogithum?" she asks. "Did I do this bad mending job on you?"


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 10 2005, 10:16 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 03:04 PM)

"Tris hun we'd both know by now if I couldn't control myself around you," Loranna smirks, looking at Tris's shoulder.  Her fingers trace the scars with a healer's professional yet gentle touch.

" ... Why not?  Tris, you didn't see Slyvos yet," Loranna says as she examines his scars.  "He was shaken right down to his soul by what he saw, what he endured.  I'm his lover; I need to be there to comfort him, and sex was always my best way of doing so ..."

"Dear, didn't you have these looked at after Hogithum?" she asks.  "Did I do this bad mending job on you?"

*




"These scars are older than that," Tris said. "From the trial in Vivec city. You were a little busy having a baby cut out of you, if I remember correctly, so you didn't get around to healing my arm. That tickles."

He put his hand on top of hers.

"I think I'm starting to see what Harman was getting at," he said. "I'm not sure I know what sex is, but I know what it isn't. It's not something you do for someone."

Posted by: Loranna May 10 2005, 10:17 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 04:16 PM)

"These scars are older than that,"  Tris said. "From the trial in Vivec city. You were a little busy having a baby cut out of you, if I remember correctly, so you didn't get around to healing my arm. That tickles."

He put his hand on top of hers.

"I think I'm starting to see what Harman was getting at,"  he said. "I'm not sure I know what sex is, but I know what it isn't. It's not something you do for someone."

*





Loranna raises her eyebrows. "So then what exactly am I saying I'm going to do for Slyvos?" she asks, her wording sounding semi-deliberate.


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 10 2005, 10:27 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 03:17 PM)

Loranna raises her eyebrows.  "So then what exactly am I saying I'm going to do for Slyvos?" she asks, her wording sounding semi-deliberate.

*




"I don't know what to call it, but it doesn't sound like much fun for you," Tris said. "And that's not right for Slyvos either. It's a pale shadow of what sex should be. A healthy selfishness is at the very core of good sex.

"Loranna, sex is complicated... believe me, I've been over this ground. It can be used in a lot of ways it shouldn't be used. I have a history of using it to manipulate people into giving me what I want. It can be used to gain power, when you feel powerless. To show off. And the way you use it, to feel better about yourself, like you're a good person, a generous person. But sex can't be a gift from one person to another. There are two people there. And that kind of generosity ferments and turns toxic. What happens when Slyvos needs you and you're not in the mood? Are you the loving martyr? Or do you think that could never happen because neediness gets you hot? That's just perverse."

Posted by: Loranna May 10 2005, 10:36 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 04:27 PM)

"I don't know what to call it, but it doesn't sound like much fun for you,"  Tris said. "And that's not right for Slyvos either. It's a pale shadow of what sex should be. A healthy selfishness is at the very core of good sex.

"Loranna, sex is complicated... believe me, I've been over this ground. It can be used in a lot of ways it shouldn't be used. I have a history of using it to manipulate people into giving me what I want. It can be used to gain power, when you feel powerless. To show off. And the way you use it, to feel better about yourself, like you're a good person, a generous person. But sex can't be a gift from one person to another. There are two people there. And that kind of generosity ferments and turns toxic. What happens when Slyvos needs you and you're not in the mood?  Are you the loving martyr? Or do you think that could never happen because neediness gets you hot?  That's just perverse."

*





Loranna's hand slips off of Tris's shoulder. Her expression looks shocked for a couple of moments, then she droops her head.

" ... So, sex isn't about the other person ..." she says quietly, a pained expression coming over her face. She thinks of Slyvos and winces a bit, thinking about his return to mortality, their recent experiences, her feelings for him ...

She rubs her eyes. " ... I've been hurting him by trying to ..." Damnit, I feel like I did right after Vivec now - stupid, clueless, every other word out of my mouth just hurting someone I care about ...


Posted by: Dagoth Lich May 10 2005, 10:38 PM

~somewhere just outside the imperial city...~

Slyvos sat down on a rock somewhere, fishing around his pack for something he hadn't used in a while. At last he found it; a silver flute.

'I hope I still remember how to do this...'

He put his lips to the instrument, and placed his fingers in their positions. He then began softly playing a song, the only one he could remember... the one he played the day before his family was murdered, the one his mother played for him as a child... before she too, was murdered.

It's melody was sad indeed, and it carried on in the wind for miles from that spot, while the music gently carressed his ears. This was his secret passion during his first life, the only thing that could heal his soul, when no one else was around to care...

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 10 2005, 10:43 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 03:36 PM)

Loranna's hand slips off of Tris's shoulder.  Her expression looks shocked for a couple of moments, then she droops her head.

" ... So, sex isn't about the other person ..." she says quietly, a pained expression coming over her face.  She thinks of Slyvos and winces a bit, thinking about his return to mortality, their recent experiences, her feelings for him ...

She rubs her eyes.  " ... I've been hurting him by trying to ..." Damnit, I feel like I did right after Vivec now - stupid, clueless, every other word out of my mouth just hurting someone I care about ...

*




"Now, stop that," Tris chided her. "You're talking to a man who has an entire tavern wearing black armbands at the moment because I stopped giving favors in the alley behind the tavern. Even bad sex is better than almost anything else we get to do in this lifetime. But listen, Loranna: what's sexier? I'm here for you? or I want you, right now?"

Posted by: Loranna May 10 2005, 10:49 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 04:43 PM)

"Now, stop that,"  Tris chided her. "You're talking to a man who has an entire tavern wearing black armbands at the moment because I stopped giving favors in the alley behind the tavern. Even bad sex is better than almost anything else we get to do in this lifetime. But listen, Loranna:  what's sexier?  I'm here for you? or I want you, right now?"

*





Loranna grins a bit. "I know, I know," she says. "I just ... eh, forget it."

"The latter; the former is something mothers say to their children, and what lovers tell their partners when they're going off to do something silly," she replies, almost without thinking. " ... I do want him; maybe though I need to reexamine my reasons, so I'm not hurting myself or him. I'm tired of hurting those I care about; that's for stupid witches who don't know any better."

" ... Lot to think about ..." she says, "especially after what happened the other day ..."


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 10 2005, 10:52 PM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 03:49 PM)

Loranna grins a bit.  "I know, I know," she says.  "I just ... eh, forget it."

"The latter; the former is something mothers say to their children, and what lovers tell their partners when they're going off to do something silly," she replies, almost without thinking.  " ... I do want him; maybe though I need to reexamine my reasons, so I'm not hurting myself or him.  I'm tired of hurting those I care about; that's for stupid witches who don't know any better."

" ... Lot to think about ..." she says, "especially after what happened the other day ..."

*




"The other day you did something brave, to try to find a way to fix a situation that still needs fixed," Tris said. "I'm not overly known for keeping my hands clean either. Maybe I should. But it seems to me that trying to keep your hands clean leads to a special breed of hypocrisy, or to even worse evils than people commit by just being evil in the first place. Come on, girl, stop moping and let's go back and see Slyvos."

Posted by: Loranna May 10 2005, 10:55 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 04:52 PM)

"The other day you did something brave, to try to find a way to fix a situation that still needs fixed,"  Tris said. "I'm not overly known for keeping my hands clean either. Maybe I should. But it seems to me that trying to keep your hands clean leads to a special breed of hypocrisy, or to even worse evils than people commit by just being evil in the first place. Come on, girl, stop moping and let's go back and see Slyvos."

*





"Bravery can be beautiful," Loranna says. "All right, all right ... let's go find my curious kitty."

She gets up. "Better grab your shirt though lest someone get the right idea," she adds with a wink.


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 11 2005, 12:55 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 03:55 PM)

"Bravery can be beautiful," Loranna says.  "All right, all right ... let's go find my curious kitty."

She gets up.  "Better grab your shirt though lest someone get the right idea," she adds with a wink.

*




Outside in the Temple district, they could hear faint music. A flute. Tris smiled, thinking they were hearing music from inside the House of Dibella. But the sound proved to be coming from outside the walls.

"Pretty," Tris remarked.

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 12:56 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 06:55 PM)

Outside in the Temple district, they could hear faint music. A flute. Tris smiled, thinking they were hearing music from inside the House of Dibella. But the sound proved to be coming from outside the walls.

"Pretty,"  Tris remarked.

*





Loranna brushes her now raven-black hair out of her newly-fairskinned face, closing her eyes and listening.

"Very pretty," she agrees. "I was encouraged to be more curious; shall we go see who's playing?"


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 11 2005, 01:04 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 05:56 PM)

Loranna brushes her now raven-black hair out of her newly-fairskinned face, closing her eyes and listening.

"Very pretty," she agrees.  "I was encouraged to be more curious; shall we go see who's playing?"

*




"Up and over," Tris said, casting a levitation spell on Loranna, then offering her his hand.

They followed the mysterious flute to a rock by the river, where sat... Slyvos.


Posted by: Dagoth Lich May 11 2005, 01:08 AM

Slyvos did not notice Tris or Loranna approach, for he was too engrossed in playing the song. His fingers danced along the instrument, his breathing almost perfect, playing the notes as though it was just natural for him to do so.

After about 2 minutes he finished playing, and had a content look on his face. Still though, the sad melody had brought a few discreet listeners to tears as he finished.. then he noticed Loranna and Tris.

'oh.. um...'

Posted by: Sheogorath May 11 2005, 01:10 AM

Nowhere

Somewhere


There was a little girl.

Her name was Bosriel.

Her home was a box with no doors or windows.

She will never grow old.

She will never die.

She will never see anyone.

She will never hear anything but the wind outside and her own screams.

"I will do as you want," Bosriel sobbed. "Please let me free."

Vaernima smiled. It was a very unpleasant thing to see.



Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 01:11 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ May 10 2005, 07:08 PM)

Slyvos did not notice Tris or Loranna approach, for he was too engrossed in playing the song. His fingers danced along the instrument, his breathing almost perfect, playing the notes as though it was just natural for him to do so.

After about 2 minutes he finished playing, and had a content look on his face. Still though, the sad melody had brought a few discreet listeners to tears as he finished.. then he noticed Loranna and Tris.

'oh.. um...'

*





Loranna simply stares at Slyvos for a moment, having been listening raptly to his playing.

"I didn't know you played the flute, love," she says. " ... That was lovely ..."

And he looked peaceful too ... Loranna thinks to herself, Tris's earlier words coming back to her.


Posted by: Dagoth Lich May 11 2005, 01:14 AM

He looked at Loranna, and smiled softly.

'it's my secret from the world... one of the few things I remember from my first life... that song is special to me.'

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 11 2005, 01:17 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ May 10 2005, 06:14 PM)

He looked at Loranna, and smiled softly.

'it's my secret from the world... one of the few things I remember from my first life... that song is special to me.'

*




"You play very well," Tris said. "It's lovely."

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 01:22 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 07:17 PM)

"You play very well,"  Tris said. "It's lovely."

*





"He's right," Loranna says, thinking to herself that she and Slyvos had bared their souls to one another, shared a nightmare and seen one another's pasts, yet she had never seen his skill with a flute, nor his love for the music, until tonight. It was something new in him to her, and she rather liked it.

That horrible ritual seemed to have brought out at least one positive thing besides the possible solution to the dead returning, Loranna thinks.

"Slyvos dear, what are you doing waiting outside here?" she asks, raising her eyebrows.


Posted by: Dagoth Lich May 11 2005, 01:32 AM

Slyvos just sighed, not expecting to be caught like this.

'I was just waiting for you two to get done... I mean, I don't have anything really to do. And I got kinda lonely... so I did what I used to do all those many years ago.'

Playing that brought back some memories for him...
'I remember that song... my mother sang it for me. It's all I remember of her... before she...'

He cut himself off, not wanting to sour his mood.

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 01:44 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ May 10 2005, 07:32 PM)

Slyvos just sighed, not expecting to be caught like this.

'I was just waiting for you two to get done... I mean, I don't have anything really to do. And I got kinda lonely... so I did what I used to do all those many years ago.'

Playing that brought back some memories for him...
'I remember that song... my mother sang it for me. It's all I remember of her... before she...'

He cut himself off, not wanting to sour his mood.

*





"Dear ... could you play again for us?" Loranna asks Slyvos. There were a lot of things on her mind right now, things she wanted to say but was still trying to work out - but she did want to hear Slyvos play, watch him make music while sitting here outside the Imperial City, with the night sky above looking down upon them.


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 11 2005, 01:55 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 06:44 PM)

"Dear ... could you play again for us?" Loranna asks Slyvos.  There were a lot of things on her mind right now, things she wanted to say but was still trying to work out - but she did want to hear Slyvos play, watch him make music while sitting here outside the Imperial City, with the night sky above looking down upon them.

*




"He could get paid for playing like that," Tris said, then realized it sounded crass. "I mean, people would want to hear it."

Posted by: Dagoth Lich May 11 2005, 02:00 AM

Slyvos smiles.

'sure, hold on a sec...'

He licks his lips a bit, and coughs alittle, then begins to play again... this time softer, but enough so that they could hear every sorrowful note. He put his heart and soul into playing that flute...

As the song came to an end. 5 minutes later, he lowered the flute, and took a deep breath.

'I never expected to have either of you hear me play... or like it.'

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 11 2005, 02:07 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ May 10 2005, 07:00 PM)

Slyvos smiles.

'sure, hold on a sec...'

He licks his lips a bit, and coughs alittle, then begins to play again... this time softer, but enough so that they could hear every sorrowful note. He put his heart and soul into playing that flute...

As the song came to an end. 5 minutes later, he lowered the flute, and took a deep breath.

'I never expected to have either of you hear me play... or like it.'

*




Tris was silent while Slyvos played. He was thinking about his own mother. About ghosts. He wondered if his mother had any unfinished business.

Besides the rest of her life... not really.

"We should get back," he said.

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 02:10 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ May 10 2005, 08:00 PM)

Slyvos smiles.

'sure, hold on a sec...'

He licks his lips a bit, and coughs alittle, then begins to play again... this time softer, but enough so that they could hear every sorrowful note. He put his heart and soul into playing that flute...

As the song came to an end. 5 minutes later, he lowered the flute, and took a deep breath.

'I never expected to have either of you hear me play... or like it.'

*





Loranna listens, enrapt, her heart feeling fit to burst from the sorrow in Slyvos's song but loving each note just the same.

"Love, that's beautiful ..." she says, "I can't believe I've never seen this side of you until now ..."

Looking at Tris, Loranna nods, holding her hand out to Slyvos. "Let's get to the guild; we'll talk when we're in Solunastra," she says.

She was confused, wanting Slyvos very much but also feeling he needed comfort too - and with Tris and Harman's words fresh in her mind, it was hard to sort out what exactly she should be doing. Hopefully the trip back to Solunastra would give her time enough to sort it out.


Posted by: Dagoth Lich May 11 2005, 02:12 AM

Slyvos took Loranna's hand, and stepped down from the rock.

'yes... let's get going.'

He picked up his pack and put the flute back in it, separateing it into three pieces.

Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo May 11 2005, 02:21 AM

Solunastra

The old Imperial walked across the guild hall. He was sweating. He looked as if he had hay on him.

He held a great hammer.

------------

Issa was sleeping, his armor on racks near his bed, with Prophet's Edge hung on a cabinet.

The old man walked into the room, saw the sword and made a grab for it. He could not touch it. He swung his hammer at the sword, as if he were trying to break it. It did not actually hit the Edge, but when it would have made contact, it made a piercing ring in Issa's mind, jolting him out of bed.

Issa looked into the face of the old man. He was Dunmer, the man was Imperial, but except for skin color, they had almost the same face.

Suddenly, the Imperial burst into flames, as did Issa. Although Yojimbo did not actually feel the pain, he was half-alseep, and extremely frightened.

"Ahhhh! Grandfather!!!"

Issa burst into the hallway, wearing only his black skirts.

He was trembling...

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 11 2005, 02:29 AM

QUOTE(Issa_Yojimbo @ May 10 2005, 07:21 PM)

Solunastra

The old Imperial walked across the guild hall.  He was sweating.  He looked as if he had hay on him. 

He held a great hammer.

------------

Issa was sleeping, his armor on racks near his bed, with Prophet's Edge hung on a cabinet.

The old man walked into the room, saw the sword and made a grab for it.  He could not touch it.  He swung his hammer at the sword, as if he were trying to break it.  It did not actually hit the Edge, but when it would have made contact, it made a piercing ring in Issa's mind, jolting him out of bed.

Issa looked into the face of the old man.  He was Dunmer, the man was Imperial, but except for skin color, they had almost the same face.

Suddenly, the Imperial burst into flames, as did Issa.  Although Yojimbo did not actually feel the pain, he was half-alseep, and extremely frightened.

"Ahhhh!  Grandfather!!!"

Issa burst into the hallway, wearing only his black skirts.

He was trembling...

*




By now the household was almost expecting nighttime disruptions.

Dragon was the first on the scene, followed by Mirea. Mirea had been asleep; she wore only her green cloak, thrown over her shoulders, and held a dwemer shortsword. Dragon was better dressed; he slept half-clothed, and carried a lantern in one hand and his sword in the other.

Dragon went past Issa into his room, waving the lantern towards the dark corners.

"What? What did you see?" Mirea demanded.

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 02:35 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 08:29 PM)

By now the household was almost expecting nighttime disruptions.

Dragon was the first on the scene, followed by Mirea. Mirea had been asleep;  she wore only her green cloak, thrown over her shoulders, and held a dwemer shortsword. Dragon was better dressed;  he slept half-clothed, and carried a lantern in one hand and his sword in the other.

Dragon went past Issa into his room, waving the lantern towards the dark corners.

"What?  What did you see?"  Mirea demanded.

*





Solunastra

The carriage ride back from the Mage Guild had not quite been enough time for Loranna to sort through her thoughts, but she had at least some inkling of what she was thinking now. That was something.

She was still trying to think of how to broach her thoughts to Slyvos when the commotion hit; Loranna looks up, saying "What? Who?" and going out of their room to see what the commotion is this time.


Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo May 11 2005, 02:37 AM

"I saw...no...it couldn't be..."

Issa, although now a hardened swordsman, and hardly the crying type, curled up in a fetal position and began to whimper, his eyes moving about maniacally. It was almost a comical sight.

When he had relaxed a bit, he spoke up.

"I thought I saw my grandfather, Issius Iogimbus. We share a name, if you can't tell...but..."

He let out a sob.

"...He was considered a traitor, for trying to destroy the Elder Scrolls, so he was tortured and killed in front of me, my father, and my sister...I thought I had forgotten about that day. Gods know I've tried..."

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 11 2005, 02:42 AM

QUOTE(Issa_Yojimbo @ May 10 2005, 07:37 PM)

"I saw...no...it couldn't be..."

Issa, although now a hardened swordsman, and hardly the crying type, curled up in a fetal position and began to whimper, his eyes moving about maniacally.  It was almost a comical sight.

When he had relaxed a bit, he spoke up.

"I thought I saw my grandfather, Issius Iogimbus.  We share a name, if you can't tell...but..."

He let out a sob.

"...He was considered a traitor, for trying to destroy the Elder Scrolls, so he was tortured and killed in front of me, my father, and my sister...I thought I had forgotten about that day.  Gods know I've tried..."

*




Dragon emerged from Issa's room, set the lantern down, and put his arms around Issa.

"That's funny," Mirea said. "Dragon's parents were burned alive as heretics in front of him."

"Mirea has a strange sense of humor," Dragon said.

Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo May 11 2005, 02:45 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 08:42 PM)

Dragon emerged from Issa's room, set the lantern down, and put his arms around Issa.

"That's funny,"  Mirea said.  "Dragon's parents were burned alive as heretics in front of him."

"Mirea has a strange sense of humor,"  Dragon said.

*





When Issa had recovered himself a bit, he noticed he was nearly naked, and somewhat embarassed.

He retreated into his room, putting his shirt on, and boots.

When he came back outside, he had to ask.

"You all don't seem to shocked at this. I just saw a ghost. That isn't weird to any of you?"

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 02:48 AM

QUOTE(Issa_Yojimbo @ May 10 2005, 08:45 PM)

When Issa had recovered himself a bit, he noticed he was nearly naked, and somewhat embarassed.

He retreated into his room, putting his shirt on, and boots.

When he came back outside, he had to ask.

"You all don't seem to shocked at this.  I just saw a ghost.  That isn't weird to any of you?"

*





Loranna, having stood outside Issa's room while Dragon and Mirea handled things, shakes her head. "The borders between the living and the dead got weakened and we're still working on fixing them," she says with an intentional casualness. "We've all been seeing ghosts lately dear."


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 11 2005, 02:49 AM

QUOTE(Issa_Yojimbo @ May 10 2005, 07:45 PM)

When Issa had recovered himself a bit, he noticed he was nearly naked, and somewhat embarassed.

He retreated into his room, putting his shirt on, and boots.

When he came back outside, he had to ask.

"You all don't seem to shocked at this.  I just saw a ghost.  That isn't weird to any of you?"

*




Mirea, on the other hand, didn't seem at all bothered by her lack of appropriate clothing. She stood with one hand on her hip, watching.

"Not at the moment, no," Dragon said. "Ghosts of people with unfinished business have been popping up all over. The barriers between this world and the spirit world have been damaged somehow. Mirea! Go tell the General what happened, I'm sure she's waiting next to the baby with a weapon at the ready."

"Yes, sir," Mirea said. And winked out of existence.

Posted by: Arynel May 11 2005, 03:00 AM

Another one flew by, hidden, like a whisper in a storm, yet somehow distinct. It reached out with translucent fingers that brushed against the Breton’s cheek; they did not touch, but a bit of his hair moved as if a gust of wind had gone through the locks. Arynel’s eyelids slid open and the swirling sea of half-molded thought sculptures dissolved into the placidness of the fixed world.

“Well, hello there,” the Breton said to the shimmering figure before him, “Could you even tell the difference before?”

The figure cocked its head, but did not answer.

It wasn’t so different than those that had come before, they were all different, certainly, different as a Khajiit was from a Dunmer, or a Nord from an Argonian, and yet, as if a sculptor had fashioned many statues which he intended to all be the same, but they were made different by unintended aspects of the creation.

“Although,” Arynel pondered, “I may be too self absorbed to notice if you were.”

The figure hovered in the air and crept around him, studying him from all angles. At last Arynel lifted his hand and held it out towards the shimmering form.

Silver thought dreams flowing
Like an ancient stream
Eternal font from which a river runs
Eroding all things left untouched
Procured at last into final sentiments


The figure twirled, and then vanished.

"If only I knew the source, then I could be rid of all of you."

It was amazing how quickly plans had begun to grow here along the western Vvardenfell shoreline after all that had happened. And look, there was a mudcrab.


Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo May 11 2005, 03:06 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 10 2005, 08:49 PM)

Mirea, on the other hand, didn't seem at all bothered by her lack of appropriate clothing. She stood with one hand on her hip, watching.

"Not at the moment, no,"  Dragon said. "Ghosts of people with unfinished business have been popping up all over. The barriers between this world and the spirit world have been damaged somehow. Mirea!  Go tell the General what happened, I'm sure she's waiting next to the baby with a weapon at the ready."

"Yes, sir,"  Mirea said. And winked out of existence.

*





"So the barriers have weakened...What can I do to help? My grandfather's soul is not at rest. He say trying to...do something...tell me something...important..."

He let his voice trail off as he remembered Issius trying to destroy Prophet's Edge.

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 03:10 AM

QUOTE(Issa_Yojimbo @ May 10 2005, 09:06 PM)

"So the barriers have weakened...What can I do to help?  My grandfather's soul is not at rest.  He say trying to...do something...tell me something...important..."

He let his voice trail off as he remembered Issius trying to destroy Prophet's Edge.

*





"We're all working on that right now," Loranna says to Issa. "For the moment, though, we're waiting to hear from Arynel."

" ... Do you want to talk about what your grandfather said?" Loranna asks Issa.


Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo May 11 2005, 03:19 AM

"He didn't say much, but..."

At first this was true. The ghost did not utter many words. However, suddenly, memories that did not belong to Issa were in his head.

"He says that he is sorry...for everything. He wants me to find mother, and tell her that he accepts her now, even though he feels it could be too late. He is also sorry for his biggest mistake. This..."

At this, Issa brandishes Prophet's Edge. The sword that was supposed to be able to alter prophecy, but the expiriment failed. And it exposed it's crafter, Issius Iogimbus, to the Emperor. Since trying to destroy the Elder Scrolls is one of the worst crimes imaginable. He was sentanced to flogging, and then burning at a stake. In front of his family and loved ones.

"My grandfather, he didn't like mother, because she was a Dunmer. When he was disgraced, my father ran away, renouncing his name and married my mother."

Issa let eveyone see his teary eyes. One was Dunmer red. The other was brown.

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 03:25 AM

QUOTE(Issa_Yojimbo @ May 10 2005, 09:19 PM)

"He didn't say much, but..."

At first this was true.  The ghost did not utter many words.  However, suddenly, memories that did not belong to Issa were in his head.

"He says that he is sorry...for everything.  He wants me to find mother, and tell her that he accepts her now, even though he feels it could be too late.  He is also sorry for his biggest mistake.  This..."

At this, Issa brandishes Prophet's Edge.  The sword that was supposed to be able to alter prophecy, but the expiriment failed.  And it exposed it's crafter, Issius Iogimbus, to the Emperor.  Since trying to destroy the Elder Scrolls is one of the worst crimes imaginable.  He was sentanced to flogging, and then burning at a stake.  In front of his family and loved ones.

"My grandfather, he didn't like mother, because she was a Dunmer.  When he was disgraced, my father ran away, renouncing his name and married my mother."

Issa let eveyone see his teary eyes.  One was Dunmer red.  The other was brown.

*





Loranna looks sympathetic. "Poor dear ..." she says quietly. "No one should have to watch a loved one die like that."

" ... Your grandfather sounds like he wishes to make peace though," she says. "Where is your mother, Issa? Are you and she still close?"



Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo May 11 2005, 03:35 AM

"We're Ashlanders...of the Urshilaku tribe...my mother and I. I don't know where she is now, but it's most likely on Vvardenfell. When my parents married, they moved to Tel Mora, where I grew up. We were very poor. My father taught me to be a treaure hunter, so I could make a living to keep my family supported. Then, my sister Relena left, and my parents went looking for her. I was out hunting at the time, so when I got home, all I found was a note and Prophet's Edge. It was all very puzzling. And illogical. They wouldn't just leave, would they?"

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 03:40 AM

QUOTE(Issa_Yojimbo @ May 10 2005, 09:35 PM)

"We're Ashlanders...of the Urshilaku tribe...my mother and I.  I don't know where she is now, but it's most likely on Vvardenfell.  When my parents married, they moved to Tel Mora, where I grew up.  We were very poor.  My father taught me to be a treaure hunter, so I could make a living to keep my family supported.  Then, my sister Relena left, and my parents went looking for her.  I was out hunting at the time, so when I got home, all I found was a note and Prophet's Edge.  It was all very puzzling.  And illogical.  They wouldn't just leave, would they?"

*





Loranna's eyes widen a bit. " ... Dear, you know what happened to Vvardenfell, right?" she asks. "Your mother is almost assuredly not in the tribe's traditional area anymore."


Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo May 11 2005, 03:43 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 09:40 PM)

Loranna's eyes widen a bit.  " ... Dear, you know what happened to Vvardenfell, right?" she asks.  "Your mother is almost assuredly not in the tribe's traditional area anymore."

*





Issa froze.

"By the gods...what do you mean?"



Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 03:51 AM

QUOTE(Issa_Yojimbo @ May 10 2005, 09:43 PM)

Issa froze.

"By the gods...what do you mean?"

*





Loranna kicks herself for having brought the topic up, but if Issa hadn't heard, he would have to find out sooner or later ...

"VVardenfell was pretty much decimated by the Azurites," Loranna says, "and then the Azurites themselves got decimated. There's been some rebuilding but Vvardenfell is still pretty empty ..."

"I'm sorry dear; I thought you had heard; you were with us when we went to get the Flamekiss, so I thought you knew ..."


Posted by: Teleran May 11 2005, 03:56 AM

QUOTE(Issa_Yojimbo @ May 10 2005, 06:43 PM)

Issa froze.

"By the gods...what do you mean?"

*




Teleran came out of a shadowy corner behind them. He shied from the lantern light. “My, my, how to phrase this so the half-wits will understand… She is more than dead, she will not be seen among the living. The consequences of removing a people from the world, it seems, what a shame,” Teleran grinned, hands at his twin daedric daggers.

Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo May 11 2005, 03:59 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ May 10 2005, 09:56 PM)

Teleran came out of a shadowy corner behind them. He shied from the lantern light. “My, my, how to phrase this so the half-wits will understand… She is more than dead, she will not be seen among the living. The consequences of removing a people from the world, it seems, what a shame,” Teleran grinned, hands at his twin daedric daggers.

*





"What? What now?"

Issa was unnerved, and getting violent. He was not ready to accept news of his mother's death.

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 04:01 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ May 10 2005, 09:56 PM)

Teleran came out of a shadowy corner behind them. He shied from the lantern light. “My, my, how to phrase this so the half-wits will understand… She is more than dead, she will not be seen among the living. The consequences of removing a people from the world, it seems, what a shame,” Teleran grinned, hands at his twin daedric daggers.

*





"Tel what's gotten into you?" Loranna demands. "Show a little tact; we don't know his mother bowed for sure, or that she got killed."

Though the odds did favor it, Loranna thinks to herself grimly, wondering when Teleran got new Daedric daggers. Or were those ones he had before?


Posted by: Tri May 11 2005, 04:09 AM

Wandering around through the desolated ruins of Vvardenfell, he tried to formulate some concept of how he would help these people in his mind - not like there were many people, anyway.

He stumbled over a small pile of dusty, seemingly recently unused belongings. Among them a small dunmeri doll caught his eye. Just the sort of toy he had never gotten, never played with himself. It was beautifully crafted, but clearly handmade, probably by its owner; what a talented little girl, and maybe all alone in this wasteland! He would have to find her.

He pocketed the doll.

Posted by: Teleran May 11 2005, 04:10 AM

"Is the little mongrel getting angry?" Teleran laughed.

"Yes Accursed Mother, your little group does not know. Not that I expected them to. Hmm, you speak so familiarly, but do you know me, no, I do not believe so? I am Teleran. I am here."

There was a snapping sound from his sheaths and he vanished.

Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo May 11 2005, 04:13 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ May 10 2005, 10:10 PM)

"Is the little mongrel getting angry?" Teleran laughed.

"Yes Accursed Mother, your little group does not know. Not that I expected them to.Hmm, you speak so familiarly, but do you know me, no I do not believe so? I am Teleran. I am here."

There was a snapping sound from his sheaths and he vanished.

*





"Why you..."

Issa slashed at where Teleran was with Masamune, striking nothing but thin air.

He sheathed the katana.

"I've had too much. I'm going back to sleep. If I see any more ghosts, I'll let you know."

He put his hand on Loranna's shoulder in thanks, and retired to his room.

Posted by: Shardie May 11 2005, 04:16 AM

Gothway Gardens, Daggerfall

The Paladins made thier way into the city, it was nearing dark, so they stopped by a tavern for the night

"where is that girl? I would have thought we would pass her on the way here!" Lord Landon said
"My Lord, there are many roads to Gothway Gardens, perhaps she took another?" Issac replied
"Or perhaps she is already here" Elverere replied, picking up the broadsheet before him
"Who might you be asking about?" an old man asked casually, "perhaps I have seen her around"
"Her name is Biennie, Maranda Biennie" Red said between drinks
"yes... I remember. I sent her to Graysile Tower to retreve some mummy dust for an experiment of mine... I am in the mages guild, you see, and I really need Fresh Mummy Wrappings..."
"Graysile Tower?" Lord Landon said, "Then we are off!"
"Can't we stay the night?" asked Arisa
Lord Landon rose his sword in Triumph, "No, a great palidin never gives in to the needs of the lesser beings, sleep included! We're off!"

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 04:17 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ May 10 2005, 10:10 PM)

"Is the little mongrel getting angry?" Teleran laughed.

"Yes Accursed Mother, your little group does not know. Not that I expected them to. Hmm, you speak so familiarly, but do you know me, no, I do not believe so? I am Teleran. I am here."

There was a snapping sound from his sheaths and he vanished.

*





" ... What the bloody ..." Loranna says.

Something was wierd; she goes to look for Teleran, to confirm that he didn't just go completely nuts and suddenly vanish. "Some ghost playing tricks maybe ..."


Posted by: SEKKA May 11 2005, 04:20 AM

*Clank* *Clank* Sekka awoke and looked at his feet, his boots were on..but he wasnt walking...He looked up..."What the!....uhhhh....silence both of you! hello Shurgga, why are you here?"

hardly higher standing than Sekka's waist was a spirit that was ugly in life...The little sheogorath priestess, the rat-pig,Shurgga Gra Migrua.
"Ive come back for you baby, Our master showed me this opportunity that has arisen, and I could not pass it up, its great to see you my little darling, Ever since you murderd me ive been wanting to have a talk wiht you..."

"GET AWAY FROM ME!! YOUR DEAD!!" Sekka screamed. Shurgga took a step towards him, *CLANK" every time she took a step the boots on Sekka's feet would rattle like he was walking but they were just laying on the bed. Sekka jumped out of his bead and grabbed his shortsword from it's scabbard.

Posted by: Teleran May 11 2005, 04:23 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 07:17 PM)

" ... What the bloody ..." Loranna says. 

Something was wierd; she goes to look for Teleran, to confirm that he didn't just go completely nuts and suddenly vanish.  "Some ghost playing tricks maybe ..."

*




Teleran sat cross legged on the floor in his room staring at the iron dagger laid out before him. He was muttering to himself as he thought, “
…no that won’t work…i tried that already…hmm, no tried that before too…

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 04:31 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ May 10 2005, 10:23 PM)

Teleran sat cross legged on the floor in his room staring at the iron dagger laid out before him. He was muttering to himself as he thought, “…no that won’t work…i tried that already…hmm, no tried that before too…

*





Loranna knocks on Tel's door, hearing another scream elsewhere in Solunastra. Where the heck was Arynel?

"Tel? You in there?" she asks.


Posted by: Aki May 11 2005, 04:33 AM

Reichi, wandered out the room, Sekka's much more animated shrieks drawing more interest from him that Issa's. The dunmeri walked to Sekka's room, his Dagger of Senses in his belt, the Daedric shortblade back in his room. "You okay in there?" he asked.

Posted by: SEKKA May 11 2005, 04:35 AM

Sekka was now facing the evil little pig with his sword in his hand. He tried to take a step but something was wrong, his feet would not move. Shurgga lifted her stubby leg and stepped down. As she did this so did Sekka's leg, "was that you...no id didnt do it...do you do it...no...SHE DID IT!"
Surely enough the previous owner of those pretty boots seemed to still have control over them in the afterlife.

The ugly little thing (ugly even for a dead orc) cried with glee and started to dance

do a jig with the pig
he he he he he
do a dance without romance
ho ho ho ho ho
i have come back for the babe
ha ha ha ha ha
and his life noone can save
har har har har har

i will run him off a cliff
he he he he he
flailing and screaming in rage
ho ho ho ho ho
Killed by the crazy heliopause
ha ha ha ha ha
these boots will be mine once more
har har har har har


much to Sekka's horror he danced along with the spirit as it stomped around the room *Clank* *Clank* *Clank*

Posted by: Teleran May 11 2005, 04:39 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 07:31 PM)

Loranna knocks on Tel's door, hearing another scream elsewhere in Solunastra.  Where the heck was Arynel?

"Tel?  You in there?" she asks.

*




Teleran placed the dagger back in its sheath before answering. “Yeah Lor, come on in,” Teleran said, “it’s unlocked.” He stood up and walked over to the door.

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 04:45 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ May 10 2005, 10:39 PM)

Teleran placed the dagger back in its sheath before answering. “Yeah Lor, come on in,” Teleran said, “it’s unlocked.” He stood up and walked over to the door.

*





Loranna walks in, and stares at Teleran for a moment ...

" ... Dear, there anything wierd going on for you?" she asks.


Posted by: SEKKA May 11 2005, 04:52 AM

Sekka can't hear Reichi over the singing of the mad little thing.

suddenly to his surprise the dance suddenly stopped and he heard another voice...."Stop it, please, he does not deserve this"

Posted by: Teleran May 11 2005, 04:52 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 07:45 PM)

Loranna walks in, and stares at Teleran for a moment ...

" ... Dear, there anything wierd going on for you?" she asks.

*




“Well, I saw my father, who is dead and he gave me some advice,” Teleran said, “then a few of the bandits I’ve slain over my years came back, I guess some people can really hold a grudge…”

“But ghosts of the past have been seen by everyone. You said so yourself, the barriers are weakening,” Teleran tried to force a chuckle, “So nothing any more unusual than anyone else has been seeing.” He glanced worriedly at his belt sheaths.

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 04:53 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ May 10 2005, 10:52 PM)

“Well, I saw my father, who is dead and he gave me some advice,” Teleran said, “then a few of the bandits I’ve slain over my years came back, I guess some people can really hold a grudge…”

“But ghosts of the past have been seen by everyone. You said so yourself, the barriers are weakening,” Teleran tried to force a chuckle, “So nothing any more unusual than anyone else has been seeing.” He glanced worriedly at his belt sheaths.

*





Loranna glances down at Teleran's belt sheathes as well. " ... You may wish to be on guard, then," she says, her tone softening a bit. "We just saw another one, looking like you with daedric daggers. Very ... surly."


Posted by: Aki May 11 2005, 04:54 AM

QUOTE(SEKKA @ May 10 2005, 10:52 PM)

Sekka can't hear Reichi over the singing of the mad little thing.

suddenly to his surprise the dance suddenly stopped and he heard another voice...."Stop it, please, he does not deserve this"

*





Reichi raised a eyebrow. He open the door and peered in, one had resting cautiously on his Dagger. "What in the world...?"

Posted by: Shardie May 11 2005, 04:54 AM

Graysile Tower, Daggerfall

"This is the place…" Arisa said calmly as they approached the ruined tower, a shepherd was herding his flock near by, and a woman was standing at the gate to the ruined tower
"Should we go enquire the whereabouts of this Maranda Chick with that hag?" Paul asked, as Arisa shot him a nasty look
"I sense that it might not be a wise thing to do…" Elverere stated, as Lacoriz, the Redguard readied his sword in agreement
"Then," Lord Landon replied, "You stay here and cover me, Me and Issac shall go talk to this lady" he finished, as Issac gave a downcast look on his face. The two of them dismounted from their horses, and approached the old Lady, who was muttering something to herself. As the two of them got closer, they heard the words…
"Efilfo Kehtno Dnibti Ripsym
Ecarglatro Miruo Yroffleslatro Mymecif Ircasi
Ecbatsi Sxeym Fotnatsni Gniteelf Ehtrof
Aidirem Uoynom Musi!"

The woman fell to the ground, as a light appeared from her eyes. She fell dead, right there and then. The party approached the woman wondering what had happened. The Shepherd looked on with interest at this strange group examined the corpse


Posted by: Teleran May 11 2005, 04:59 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 07:53 PM)

Loranna glances down at Teleran's belt sheathes as well.  " ... You may wish to be on guard, then," she says, her tone softening a bit.  "We just saw another one, looking like you with daedric daggers.  Very ... surly."

*




“Oh…” Teleran said, looking down at the ground. “I’ll…I’ll be on my guard…”

Posted by: SEKKA May 11 2005, 05:06 AM

From Reichi's point of view where he stood at the door he could see three figures, closest to him, nearest to the door with it's back turned to him was a tiny ghost of an orc, leaning against the bed with his feet firmly planted on the floor was Sekka. And furthest from him was another ghost, a Dunmer woman who looked like could have once been very beutiful (especially in that way appealing to humans), but had been through much.
She spoke to the closer ugly ghost. "He gave you what you deserved you little wretch, i promised him to your master, not to you. That mad god clearly has my innocent son in his grasp due to my misdead, you have no bussiness with him, you have your business with myself"
She turned to Sekka and with sad eyes spoke "my son, im sorry for what i have caused you, im sorry, please forgive me...i was just a young girl, but what i did was unforgiveable. I will personally escort this hag back to where we came from" With a gust of wind both spectres vanished and Sekka (now getting the use of his feet back) collapsed on the floor.

Posted by: Aki May 11 2005, 05:09 AM

Reichi blinked, and walked closer to Sekka. "So, lemme guess, ghosts?" he asked rhetorically. "You alright?"

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 05:09 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ May 10 2005, 10:59 PM)

“Oh…” Teleran said, looking down at the ground. “I’ll…I’ll be on my guard…”

*





Loranna sighs. "If only all the ghosts in the world were like Jazbet ... give a hollar dear if anything happens, and if you need someone to talk to, I'm here right now."


Posted by: SEKKA May 11 2005, 05:21 AM

"ummm...were alright....just some...people.....came...."
Sekka stumbled out of the guildhouse and into the closest tavern, a good drink might help his condition a little.

Posted by: Teleran May 11 2005, 05:22 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 08:09 PM)

Loranna sighs.  "If only all the ghosts in the world were like Jazbet ... give a hollar dear if anything happens, and if you need someone to talk to, I'm here right now."

*




“No need, Well there is…” Teleran said haltingly, still looking at the floor. “I did see him earlier, the one who looks like me, he, he promised that I would pay. Then he left as quickly as he came and I’ve been thinking on how to make him stay gone since, but this, this is unexpected. Did he say anything about why he was here?”

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 05:24 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ May 10 2005, 11:22 PM)

“No need, Well there is…” Teleran said haltingly, still looking at the floor. “I did see him earlier, the one who looks like me, he, he promised that I would pay. Then he left as quickly as he came and I’ve been thinking on how to make him stay gone since, but this, this is unexpected. Did he say anything about why he was here?”

*





Loranna shakes her head. "He showed up and tried to taunt Issa, who'd just been asked by his dead grandfather to relay a message to his mother. Thing is, his mother's an Ashlander, and your ghostly double chortled about how she was most likely destroyed by the Elodoin."

"He was ... very distasteful," Loranna says.


Posted by: Teleran May 11 2005, 05:37 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ May 10 2005, 08:24 PM)

Loranna shakes her head.  "He showed up and tried to taunt Issa, who'd just been asked by his dead grandfather to relay a message to his mother.  Thing is, his mother's an Ashlander, and your ghostly double chortled about how she was most likely destroyed by the Elodoin."

"He was ... very distasteful," Loranna says.

*




“Sounds about right,” Teleran muttered, “I’ll try to resolve his problem with me if I can, but first I’ll need to figure out what exactly I can do. For now… just check for daggers if I show up unexpectedly. I don’t think he’ll bother you again, but I didn’t think he would try anything this time either. What the hell kind of payment is he planning on exacting? Never mind, my problem, I’ll figure out a way to deal with him.”

Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 05:48 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ May 10 2005, 11:37 PM)

“Sounds about right,” Teleran muttered, “I’ll try to resolve his problem with me if I can, but first I’ll need to figure out what exactly I can do. For now… just check for daggers if I show up unexpectedly. I don’t think he’ll bother you again, but I didn’t think he would try anything this time either. What the hell kind of payment is he planning on exacting? Never mind, my problem, I’ll figure out a way to deal with him.”

*





"All right - but remember, we're all here for each other," Loranna says, giving Teleran a grin. "Try to get some rest; our days are gonna get more trying until this is resolved."

Loranna returns to her room, and looks at Slyvos, taking a deep breath. "Love, I'd like to talk ..."


Posted by: Shardie May 11 2005, 06:04 AM

A mist rose from the body, and took the shape of a woman. A different woman from the one that just died. She looked intensely at the eight of them, and then disappeared into the morning mist. A voice rang out. "My time here is but temporary, but you eight fit the profile quite nicely. I think I can finish you all off in the ten minute I have left on this plane…"
The woman reappeared, as a Scythe formed out of the morning mist
"Spread out! Get ready for a fight!" Landon yelled, as the other seven prepared their weapons, and fanned out, "now horrid fiend…" Landon started, but saw that the woman once again had disappeared into the mist, "Where did she go?"
"Behind you!" Arisa yelled, preparing a fire spell, but it was too late, as Landon turned, the woman struck him beneath his chin with the blunt end of her scythe, knocking him unconscious, yet as this occurred, Lacoriz and Red approached from both sides, their weapons at the ready to strike this mysterious woman, but their weapons passed through the woman as if the was mist. She swung her Scythe around, knocking out Red, the Nord, and completed a full turn, attempting to strike Lacoriz, who blocked it. The woman smiled, as she clicked her finger, and Lacoriz was encased in ice. This was all in one swift movement, as the other five stood back amazed.
"Who are you?" Paul asked
'Who am I?" she said, crouching into battle position, "That is a question lowly mortals such as your self should not worry themselves about, and no" she clicked her fingers once more, "Such a weak spell will not work on me, Elverere, my dear…"
"Elverere, what's wrong?" asked Arisa, whilst Elverere only responded with muffled cries
"What good is a mage if he can not speak?" the woman said laughing, as Issac and Paul charged at her, their swords and spear ready to strike.
"This is why I do not deal with mortals that often, they are quite the foolish lot…" the woman said, jumping high, avoiding the blades, and quickly casting two extremely powerful sleep spells into the two men, who fell under its sway immediately.

Arisa looked amazed at this act. No mortal she knew could cast spells so quickly, or move so fast… the mist… she looked beside her to where Cerius was a few minutes ago, to find him gone. She suddenly realised what Cerius had done.
"No, Cerius! Don't! You can not defeat her like that!" Arisa said
"Too late," the woman replied, as she swung her scythe around, hitting the invisible Cerius into the air, landing on the now silent, paralysed Elverere, knocking him unconscious. She turned to Arisa
"I will go willingly, but tell me this," Arisa started, "why are you doing this?"
Meridia smiled, as she placed a charm on Arisa, "its all a test…"
She looked at the nearby shepherd, and nodded politely, before disappearing, taking the unconscious bodies of the eight heroes with her


Posted by: Loranna May 11 2005, 04:05 PM

Loranna's Journal

Middas, 11th of Second Seed

I wonder sometimes at myself; how I say I feel for others and how I am actually regarding them don't always match up, and realizing that in me always leaves me shaken.

I'm not sure how it happened - well, maybe not. I'd always thought of Jazbet as being older and more mature than myself, and Dagoth despite his years as being younger than myself ... emotionally, that is. I looked to Jazbet for instruction about love and feelings, and I tried offering what I knew to Dagoth, anon Slyvos.

I'm a fool; I love Slyvos, and respect him, yet I regarded him in the back of my mind being younger than I emotionally. Some lover I am, to be looking at the man I adore like that. Slyvos is young - young in his new mortal life, young in that some part of him is ever-young, but in terms of his emotional maturity, I am not his senior. Harmon's words and Tris's comments have helped me finally realize that, and I feel like a fool for not seeing it before.

We sat down last night after I checked in on Teleran, made sure his ghostly double was known to him, and we talked. I started off by saying maybe I'd been looking at things off-kilter, putting us in a potential spot in the future. I went on about how sex is selfish, how I'd looked at sex as a way to offer comfort and that implied some rather unpleasant things when you looked at it closely, I spoke like I was the one who knew more.

And Slyvos, bless his heart, spoke earnestly, trying to answer my questions to him - and he asked questions of his own, asking me what sex was to me, telling me that sex is different for everyone, that it's a way for people in love to express their feelings ... and it dawned on me, that he knew as much as I did, and then I realized I'd been acting like I knew more, and I just couldn't believe it. My dear, wonderful Slyvos, who can make music that can bring tears to my eyes, who braved the horrors of a ritual he knew would torture his spirit, in order to help us, who's always tried to be there for me and who, like Jazbet, had to deal with me loving two men at once ...

I love him; I should be treating him as an equal, not thinking I'm his emotional senior. I'm not; I'm as confused by Harman's words as anyone else would be, and Slyvos is as wise as anyone else I could ask right now regarding sex. I love him ...

===

So, what have we come up with? I admitted that sometimes I was thinking more of trying to please Slyvos than my own pleasure, as did he - we both thought that the point was not just our own feelings but the feelings of those we love. We both acknowledged that we love one another, and we looked a bit at what drew us together in the beginning, the shared feeling of being monsters trapped in a hostile world and by our own natures, seeking comfort in each other's presence. He mentioned that sex and love are not the same, but they can be ... joined; that is probably not the word either of us was looking for. I mentioned again that sex is selfish, but that selfishness can include others.

And in the end, we kissed each other and looked in each other's eyes as though we were new lovers having their first kiss, and we both said the same thing - we loved each other very much, yet at the same time, we both were very, very hot for one another. I love him, and I want him.

Stopping and looking back ... I felt this way for Jazbet; I still feel this way for Jazbet, though I find myself thinking wistfully that I would have liked to have had this conversation with him as well. He's watching, though, and he's laughing I'm sure - Jazbet love, you still get me very hot, and may my sister treat you right. I ... sort of feel this way for those I have crushes on, but not really; I want Allie, but she doesn't return the sentiment and so it's not as strong, more just a little daydream to ponder. Tris, sweet lovable Tris, we both have loved ones who would get hurt, and much as I want him, I'm not sure he and I are suited as lovers as Slyvos and I are. My other crushes ... not even as strong as those two; just having stopped to think about them this way I can almost feel them lesseing a bit.

So, then, what is sex ...

I want Slyvos, and the thought of him wanting me makes me hot as much as the thought of him himself. Wanting and being wanted - which is not loving and being loved but the two can exist together, for we both love one another.

Slyvos had said my crushes were lust - nothing wrong with lust per se, just that what he and I have is love, not lust, and that sex is a way to express that love.

I ... I still love that feeling of sex so good it scares me.

Wanting and being wanted; a way to express love, something different from sex itself but as complicated as sex if not moreso; being so satisfied it scares me ...

It doesn't feel like a complete answer, but it feels a little closer than my first one.

Sharing feelings and giving to my lover - if my lover wants me as much as I want him, he'll be happy just by having me, I don't have to give him anything special - I should be concentrating on my own happiness, my selfish need, and knowing that when we're done, we'll both be satisfied. ... It sounds strange to say it like that, but maybe I'm just letting my own need to feel like a giving person get in the way.

(Speaking of which, I should look at how I look at myself and act soon ...)

Sex is more than just this though, there's the act of creation involved too ... or is that something slightly different? Or is sex the mechanics of the act of creation, if that means anything ...

I know sex is beautiful, at least; even with the bad lovers I had prior to my new life sex was something to be enjoyed and appreciated. It's beautiful and so it's part of Dibella ...

I wonder how Harman will feel about an answer that only raises more questions in my head; hopefully he'll not mind.


Posted by: Sheogorath May 11 2005, 09:55 PM

Nowhere

Somewhere


The Daedra Vaernima was gone.

The box was much smaller now. Bosriel could again feel the ceiling merely by standing on her tip-toes, and the walls in all directions by putting her hands out just a few inches.

It was dark.

She screamed, "You promised to set me free!"

But she knew her voice couldn't be heard outside the box. The whistling wind was gone.

The little girl was alone.

Posted by: Arynel May 11 2005, 10:34 PM

In Daggerfall, a little alleyway sets empty. An elderly Breton woman walks by, and a leaf on a single green sprouting up from a crack in the road quivers at her passing.

In Daggerfall, a little alleyway sets empty, but for a cloaked figure, who was just before absent. A middle aged Imperial man passes by and passes a glance towards the cloaked figure, and then walks on.

Arynel steps out of the alleyway and begins the trek towards the guild house.


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 11 2005, 11:33 PM

Solunastra: Allerleirauh

Despite the comings and goings of ghosts, Allerleirauh continued to conduct her daily business. Tithes and relief for Vvardenfell. The rebuilding of Vivec city. The admission of a new foundling at the orphanage next door. Interviewing new staff, since it seemed her current staff was inadequate to deal with her present houseguests.

Most of her business was conducted with Sen-Yedda resting in her arms, or in her lap.

Mirea finished giving her latest surveillance report.

"So what should we do about him?" Mirea asked. "I vote we drop him in the well. And the guys can stand around and pee on his head."

"The well is to drink from," Allerleirauh said, smiling. "Since the horse is already out, there's no point in shutting the barn doors, so to speak. Continue to watch him, and keep me informed."

She dismissed Mirea, and turned to writing in her journal. The one Master B, the psijiic, had given her. She had been neglecting it lately. Surely nothing was more tedious than the day to day joys and tribulations of a new baby, as reported by the doting parents. But this was business.

Dear Master B,

We have an interesting development... spirits of the dead appearing. Have you noticed the phenomenon there? Does Loremaster Celarus have an opinion?


Posted by: Shardie May 12 2005, 05:15 AM

Gothway Gardens

Maranda looked triumphantly at her sword. That short detour to that identifier at the Mages Guild was defiantly worth the extra trouble. After much testing, he discovered the true identity of the weapon known as the White Gold Sword. From his expertise, he knew that it was not made by any swordsmith on Tarmiel, and most properly came from Akivar. The material it was made from was strange too. None he had ever seen before, it seemed it could store magic. With no inherent magical value itself, whatever spell cast apon the weapon would then be what the weapon strikes. If a flare (20-40 flame damage) spell was cast on the blade, it would give (20-40 flame damage) in addition to the sword attack power. If she cast dispel upon it, the last enchantment would be wiped. She sat in the tavern looking lovingly at her sword, as she overheard a conversation.
“A group of men, yes, and a girl too… they looked different to the other people, and gave off an aura of power” the man said, shaking, “and that’s when it happened… a lady sacrificed herself, and another woman, deadly beautiful woman at that, came and annihilated this group, in a matter of seconds, they were all down, the woman looked at me, then disappeared with all the bodies!”
“Sure, sure, you have had a bit too much to drink, in my opinion…” a second man said
“Were was this?” Maranda said urgently
“I can take you there for…” the man started, as Maranda through a bag of coins on the table. He had never seen so much money… with this he could pay off all his debts and retire to the good life, he smiled
“We will leave now, so we can get there before dark,” he said, standing up and walking out, Maranda followed him


Posted by: Sheogorath May 12 2005, 09:04 PM

Wayrest

The closing of the Mages Guilds throughout eastern High Rock had not bothered the populace very much. Adventurers and scholars were naturally put out about it, but to the peasants, the Guild had little effect on their day to day lives.

A rumor had begun that the temples throughout the region were being closed as well, and that was different.

It was only a rumor, however. True, the top hierarchy of the temples had been called to the Royal Dome of Wayrest to meet with the Queen, but the day-to-day activities of the temples was uninterrupted.

It was fortunate timing that today was the fifth birthday of Princess Tymona, and parades and celebrations in her honor were held throughout Wayrest. Anyone worrying that things were amiss was silenced by the sheer spectacle of the event.

Tymona herself loved it. Her first through fourth birthdays had not been such occasions.

Her brother Eadwyre was old enough to know that his mother was an expert at manipulating the populace. It was a trait he was eager to learn at her feet.


Posted by: B May 13 2005, 02:05 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 11 2005, 05:33 PM)

Dear Master B,

We have an interesting development... spirits of the dead appearing. Have you noticed the phenomenon there?  Does Loremaster Celarus have an opinion?

*




The Isle of Artaeum, Summurset

In the middle of an orchard sat an Altmer in a grey cloak. A slight, warm breeze blew through the trees as B sat quietly reading his journal. He had been out of contact for quite some time, and it was good to hear from Allerleirauh again.

The Psijic turned the page in his journal and ran his finger across the blank paper. In the wake of his moving finger, words began to appear. Simultaneously, the very same words appeared in Allerleirauh’s journal:

My dear Allerleirauh,

It is so good to hear from you. I know it is not much of an excuse, but I have been extremely busy of late. Shame on me for not writing, though.

I don’t know if you were aware or not, but the 1st of Second Seed was the Vigyld. It is one of the most sacred days for the Order. We spent much of the day in study and meditation in an attempt to empower the salutary spirits and debilitate the unclean ones. We have noticed some unrest in the phantom world. I cannot say I know why the ancestor spirits are so restless, but I, for one, am keeping an eye on it.

I wish I had more to give you, but for now, all I can do is watch and wait. I will try to get in touch with Loremaster Celarus and see if he can offer any advice.

Yours,
~B



Posted by: Shardie May 13 2005, 05:46 AM

Graysile Tower, Daggerfall

The shepherd pointed to the doorway to the ruined tower "That’s where they were…"
"And what's inside that dungeon?" Maranda asked
"Mummies, werewolves, and vampires… hang on, your not going in there?" the Shepherd asked
"I have to, I am being drawn to it" Maranda said, as she entered the dungeon. The first room was like nothing she had ever seen before.

As she entered the dungeon, the door behind her disappeared, and Maranda found herself on an island, a fountain in the middle of this marble tiled square island. Maranda walked slowly towards the fountian, and placed a finger under the brown liquid coming from its insides. She tasted it, and her eyes opened wide
"Ale…" she said quietly to herself, drawing her sword out of its sheath, and casting a shock spell upon it, "well, toto, I don't think we are in high rock any more…"
The lights went out, just as she was wondering how this room was being lit. It was pitch black, when a voice rang out, a terribly familiar voice
"No, my dear servant, you are not in High Rock any more… not even on Tarmiel… you are I in…" a spotlight came down upon her, "Meridia's "Gauntlet of Heroes!"" Cheering started from unknown source, as the voice continued, "In order to be truly free of my hold, you must defeat the eight heroes I have picked from the Mortal Realm!" more cheering, "in each of the halls lays a different warrior, all with some relation to your sister. If you defeat them all, you will gain what I have used to control you all this time… now, in the Hall of Ale, you will face your first opponent, Travelling all the way from Skyrim, here is Red the Mean!" A second spotlight appeared, highlighting a monsterous, orc like creature, two axes in his hand, a horn coming from one side of his head, and a bull ring through a pig-like snout… "Of course, I did have to mutate him… so have fun!"


Posted by: Issa_Yojimbo May 13 2005, 06:06 AM

Issa Yojimbo slept deeply in his room in Solunastra. He had dreams.

He stood in a large crater of fire. Before him was a young woman. She was Dunmer, with long, red hair. She was very beautiful. Issa went over to her. Suddenly, seven dragons roared overhead. When Issa looked at her again. She was an Azurite, only covered in flames.

Then he looked again. The Azurite became a fiery skeleton with horns. Behind the monster was the woman again. The fiery skeleton grew to immense size, and swallowed both Issa and the girl.

Suddenly, he was on a foggy beach. He saw the woman, and recognised her.

The last time he saw his sister, she was a child. She was kidnapped. Their parents went out looking for her, and Issa hadn't seen his family since.

But now, in a dream she stood before him, a grown woman. Issa Yojimbo knelt down and cried. Relena Yojimbo put her arms around him, with the most comforting look in her eyes. Suddenly, Issa was alone, floating in the sea.

He woke up on the floor. He knew in his heart that he had to find Relena.

The rest of the night, he slept dreamlessly.


Posted by: Rhedd May 13 2005, 08:23 AM

QUOTE(S'reddit @ May 9 2005, 03:17 AM)

The Royal Dome of Wayrest, High Rock

Visitors and diplomats without state business were politely ushered out.  Pages rushes through the gently winding corridors finding the Queen’s chief ministers of state in their offices and state rooms, banquet halls and parlors. 

The Minister of War, the Chief Minister of State, Lord of the Queen’s Council, the Chief Castellan, the Chancellor, the Minister of Commerce, the Lord Treasurer, and Her Majesty’s Spymaster were wanted at once in Elysana’s throne room.  Together with a dozen of the Queen’s advisors who had no official title.

Elysana had had a visitor last night.  A most unwelcome one, for a woman who wanted no unannounced visitors.

A dead one.

*




Herwyn Brand had tried to calm his queen's fears. He had failed, but in his defense he had been working with two notable handicaps. One was that he had no idea who the spectre was that had so upset the Queen. The second was that he was unwilling to tell her everything he knew.

Herwyn felt his job as Spymaster was, certainly, to keep the Queen informed, but more than that, he felt it his duty to keep her protected from her enemies and as happy as possible. He suspected that bringing Tris Gaerington's name into the matter of the haunting visitor would do little for the Queen's happiness.

No doubt he was correct, but now the temples and Mage's Guilds were being shut down, and Herwyn found himself wondering if it was all for the best.

Time would tell, but meanwhile he considered the thought that it might be in the Queen's best interests for him to provide aid to young Master Gaerington in the matter of fixing what he had broken.

Of course, the possibility of that meaning he would get to speak to the elusive Doll a bit more hadn't slipped his mind, either.

Posted by: S'reddit May 13 2005, 08:31 AM

The Royal Dome of Wayrest, High Rock


QUOTE(Rhedd @ May 12 2005, 11:23 PM)

Time would tell, but meanwhile he considered the thought that it might be in the Queen's best interests for him to provide aid to young Master Gaerington in the matter of fixing what he had broken.

Of course, the possibility of that meaning he would get to speak to the elusive Doll a bit more hadn't slipped his mind, either.

*





‘This must be handled with the greatest of discretion,’ the Queen said, her face stony with resolve. ‘I must find if there is a Necromancer who wishes me harm. I need the witches of High Rock, any who still survived the expulsion of the Azurites, rounded up. They hide themselves away, so a Spymaster is more useful than a general in routing them out.’

Elysana turned before going to meet with the Magister of the Wayrest Mages Guild. ‘I will expect a full report of your progress every morning, Herwyn.’


Posted by: Rhedd May 13 2005, 08:48 AM

QUOTE(S'reddit @ May 13 2005, 12:31 AM)

The Royal Dome of Wayrest, High Rock
‘This must be handled with the greatest of discretion,’ the Queen said, her face stony with resolve. ‘I must find if there is a Necromancer who wishes me harm.  I need the witches of High Rock, any who still survived the expulsion of the Azurites, rounded up.  They hide themselves away, so a Spymaster is more useful than a general in routing them out.’

Elysana turned before going to meet with the Magister of the Wayrest Mages Guild. ‘I will expect a full report of your progress every morning, Herwyn.’

*




"Of course, your Majesty. Rest assured I will find and eliminate the cause of this disturbance."

Herwyn left the audience with much on his mind.

Posted by: S'reddit May 13 2005, 08:53 AM

The Royal Dome of Wayrest, High Rock


QUOTE(Rhedd @ May 12 2005, 11:48 PM)

"Of course, your Majesty. Rest assured I will find and eliminate the cause of this disturbance."

Herwyn left the audience with much on his mind.

*





Young Prince Eadwyre sat in the hallway, reading a book. At Herwyn's footfall, he looked up, and then back to his page.

'I heard her,' he said quietly, not looking up. 'She saw grandfather, the King, her father. I heard her call his name, the same as mine. I think she murdered him.'


Posted by: Shardie May 13 2005, 12:46 PM

Gauntlet of Heroes

Before Maranda stood the beast that was once the Nord, Red. Tall, and pig-like, he was nothing like what the once human Nord looked like. A horn petruded from the left side of his head, a bull ring through his pig like nose, Two Steel axes were in each of his hands, a band on the ends of the axes around his axe, a flask hanging around his waste, his tatters of clothes were shaped as like a Toga.
"ROAR!" He yelled in an instant, as Muzak started to play in the background. He Charged at Maranda, in a clumsy way, Maranda dodged, buy casting a jump spell, and landing on his head. Red was quite annoyed at this, and began flailing his axes above his head in a dangerous way. Maranda jumped off to avoid this attack, but cast a drain Strength spell, touching the back of his head. Red let out a roar in dissatisfaction, and took a swig from the flask at his side, and then clicked a flint between his teeth, and breathed fire in Maranda's general direction. IT seemed like taking it easy would not do... she had do things Maranda blasted another shock spell onto her blade, increasing its strength, and charged at the lumbering creature before her. Dodging his clumsy attacks, she struck her sword across his chest, as Red gave out a roar of pain. Maranda jumped back, and looked around. This was not going to defeat him... just sword strikes would bounce off the heavy armour like skin that the Mutated Red now possessed... She looked around for some inspiration...


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 13 2005, 08:15 PM

Solunastra:

Allerleirauh lay with her eyes closed. Near her bed stood Sen-Yedda's cradle. She trusted Jalian Hawkford to protect the child with her life; but Jalian's life was far too fragile, considering the powers that were interested in an infant demigod. Besides, when it came to the point, Allerleirauh trusted only herself.

She felt his presence in the room, as she had for the past three nights, but she did not open her eyes. What unfinished business brought him here? Gentle, malign, loving and ruthless, did he long to apologize to her, to punish her for her part in his downfall, to start again anew and just this once do things right? If he ever did, would the world end, or become something like a world but never seen before?

She felt his breath on her face, but he did not touch her. As long as he left the cradle alone, she would lie still, with eyes closed, until the break of day.



Posted by: Arynel May 13 2005, 09:03 PM

Arynel arrived at the guildhouse, took a sidelong glance over his shoulder and then opened the door. The Breton entered therein and looked around, scanning for anything that might catch his attention.

Seeing nothing of interest, Arynel made his way upstairs. Stopping at Allerleirauh's room he reached up and knocked on the door.

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 13 2005, 09:53 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ May 13 2005, 02:03 PM)

Arynel arrived at the guildhouse, took a sidelong glance over his shoulder and then opened the door.  The Breton entered therein and looked around, scanning for anything that might catch his attention. 

Seeing nothing of interest, Arynel made his way upstairs.  Stopping at Allerleirauh's he reached up and knocked on the door.

*




Within the room, Allerleirauh started and caught her breath, but did not open her eyes. A man's voice, stern and with an accent Arynel did not recognize, said,

"Come in."

In the room stood the ghost of a man of medium height and uncertain race, bearded, wearing a hunter's boots and a warrior's sword. The spirit was all grey, like a drawing made with a silver pencil, except for his eyes, which were piercing blue.

Posted by: Arynel May 13 2005, 09:55 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 13 2005, 01:53 PM)

Within the room, Allerleirauh started and caught her breath, but did not open her eyes. A man's voice, stern and with an accent Arynel did not recognize, said,

"Come in."

In the room stood the ghost of a man of medium height and uncertain race, bearded, wearing a hunter's boots and a warrior's sword. The spirit was all grey, like a drawing made with a silver pencil, except for his eyes, which were piercing blue.

*





Arynel opened the door and glanced at Allerleirauh out of the corner of his eyes, but the Breton's pupils were fixed firmly on the spirit before him.

"What do you want?" Arynel asked, stepping into the room

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 13 2005, 09:58 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ May 13 2005, 02:55 PM)

Arynel opened the door and glanced at Allerleirauh out of the corner of his eyes, but the Breton's pupils were fixed firmly on the spirit before him.

"What do you want?"  Arynel asked, stepping into the room

*




"If I could say the right words to her, all would be right," the spirit said. "But I don't know the words. Have you come to tell them to me?"

Posted by: Arynel May 13 2005, 10:01 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 13 2005, 01:58 PM)

"If I could say the right words to her, all would be right,"  the spirit said. "But I don't know the words. Have you come to tell them to me?"

*





"There are wounds no words I know can mend, and rifts no words are made fit to bridge," Arynel said, "tell me, though, what do you have to say?"

The Breton looked at the spirit with an expression that was at once both calm and alert.



Posted by: Allerleirauh May 13 2005, 10:04 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ May 13 2005, 03:01 PM)

"There are wounds no words I know can mend, and rifts no words are made fit to bridge," Arynel said, "tell me, though, what do you have to say?"

The Breton looked at the spirit with an expression that was at once both calm and alert.

*




"It's truth you want, is it?" the spirit said. "Sometimes lies are more revealing. Are you her husband?"

Posted by: Arynel May 13 2005, 10:06 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 13 2005, 02:04 PM)

"It's truth you want, is it?"  the spirit said. "Sometimes lies are more revealing. Are you her husband?"

*





"No, I am not." The Breton said plainly. "I would much like truth, though I would hear your lies if you would give them."

"Whichever will do most good." Arynel said.

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 13 2005, 10:09 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ May 13 2005, 03:06 PM)

"No, I am not."  The Breton said plainly.  "I would much like truth, though I would hear your lies if you would give them."

"Whichever will do most good."  Arynel said.

*




The spirit smiled. "You lie, boy. Do you think that you can touch a woman and have no part in her? That will happen on the same day you drop your jellied toast face down on a dirt floor and both toast and floor come away clean.

"This one has had many husbands, and will have many more, until the day one of them overcomes me. But I see you have no sword."


Posted by: Arynel May 13 2005, 10:14 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 13 2005, 02:09 PM)

The spirit smiled. "You lie, boy. Do you think that you can touch a woman and have no part in her?  That will happen on the same day you drop your jellied toast face down on a dirt floor and both toast and floor come away clean.

"This one has had many husbands, and will have many more, until the day one of them overcomes me. But I see you have no sword."

*





"I have a bladed tongue," the Breton said, "and so I say to you be now overcome, if I am found to have right stature to will it so."

Arynel paused, then continued.

"If not, then let me gather proper armament and I shall try my hand at your fate."


Posted by: Allerleirauh May 13 2005, 10:24 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ May 13 2005, 03:14 PM)

"I have a bladed tongue," the Breton said, "and so I say to you be now overcome, if I am found to have right stature to will it so."

Arynel paused, then continued.

"If not, then let me gather proper armament and I shall try my hand at your fate."

*




"Very good," the spirit said. "Right now you reach just about to my big toe. Mend your sword first, a sword makes any man feel larger."

He narrowed his eyes.

"The mirror shattered when it reflected what was shattered. To mend it, hold it up to something whole. Good luck with that, for I know nothing in this world or the next that is not broken."

He bent over Allerleirauh, who had still not opened her eyes, although her heart was beating so rapidly they could see the pulse in the large vein at her throat.

"The sun comes. And so I go."

He evaporated into a mist and a ray of morning light through the paned window.

Allerleirauh sat up, gasping.

Posted by: Arynel May 13 2005, 10:26 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 13 2005, 02:24 PM)

"Very good,"  the spirit said. "Right now you reach just about to my big toe. Mend your sword first, a sword makes any man feel larger."

He narrowed his eyes.

"The mirror shattered when it reflected what was shattered. To mend it, hold it up to something whole. Good luck with that, for I know nothing in this world or the next that is not broken."

He bent over Allerleirauh, who had still not opened her eyes, although her heart was beating so rapidly they could see the pulse in the large vein at her throat.

"The sun comes. And so I go."

He evaporated into a mist and a ray of morning light through the paned window.

Allerleirauh sat up, gasping.

*





Arynel ran forth to Allerleirauh, embracing her to offer his support.

"Are you alright?" The Breton asked.

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 13 2005, 10:32 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ May 13 2005, 03:26 PM)

Arynel ran forth to Allerleirauh, embracing her to offer his support.

"Are you alright?"  The Breton asked.

*




Red-faced and gasping, Allerleirauh wasn't able to answer him at first. She nestled against his chest.

"I was afraid he would hurt you," she said at last. "He can't hurt me anymore, it's too late for that. I don't know if he notices Sen-Yedda. Perhaps she has power enough to ward him off."

The baby, in fact, was awake, watching them both out of eyes like liquid gold, eyes that had only recently learned to focus properly.

Posted by: Arynel May 13 2005, 10:34 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 13 2005, 02:32 PM)

Red-faced and gasping, Allerleirauh wasn't able to answer him at first. She nestled against his chest.

"I was afraid he would hurt you,"  she said at last. "He can't hurt me anymore, it's too late for that. I don't know if he notices Sen-Yedda. Perhaps she has power enough to ward him off."

The baby, in fact, was awake, watching them both out of eyes like liquid gold, eyes that had only recently learned to focus properly.

*





Arynel waited for a moment, allowing Allerleirauh time to catch her breath.

"Who was he?" The Breton asked.

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 13 2005, 10:37 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ May 13 2005, 03:34 PM)

Arynel waited for a moment, allowing Allerleirauh time to catch her breath.

"Who was he?"  The Breton asked.

*




"Don't you know?" Allerleirauh said. "Even without the specific trappings. Even only half dead, whatever part of his shade is free to haunt. That was my father."

Posted by: Arynel May 13 2005, 10:41 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 13 2005, 02:37 PM)

"Don't you know?"  Allerleirauh said. "Even without the specific trappings. Even only half dead, whatever part of his shade is free to haunt. That was my father."

*





A breath caught in the Breton's throat like a turrent and he nearly fell over.

"And what am I," Arynel said, "to stand against him? Nevermind though, I must gather the shards and build once again my blade. Tell me, if you know, what is there that I could mend it on?"

Posted by: Rhedd May 13 2005, 10:44 PM

QUOTE(S'reddit @ May 13 2005, 12:53 AM)

The Royal Dome of Wayrest, High Rock
Young Prince Eadwyre sat in the hallway, reading a book.  At Herwyn's footfall, he looked up, and then back to his page.

'I heard her,' he said quietly, not looking up. 'She saw grandfather, the King, her father.  I heard her call his name, the same as mine.  I think she murdered him.'

*




(Royal Palace, Wayrest:)

Herwyn turned and bowed politely to the young boy.

"You should be careful to whom you tell such information, my Prince. Not all who serve your mother have her best interests in mind."

Posted by: Sheogorath May 13 2005, 10:49 PM

The Royal Dome of Wayrest, High Rock


QUOTE(Rhedd @ May 13 2005, 04:44 PM)

Herwyn turned and bowed politely to the young boy.

"You should be careful to whom you tell such information, my Prince. Not all who serve your mother have her best interests in mind."

*





The boy looked up at Herwyn, and smiled. It was his mother's smile, entirely charming and unrevealing, "What information?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 13 2005, 10:52 PM

QUOTE(Arynel @ May 13 2005, 03:41 PM)

A breath caught in the Breton's throat like a turrent and he nearly fell over.

"And what am I," Arynel said, "to stand against him?  Nevermind though, I must gather the shards and build once again my blade.  Tell me, if you know, what is there that I could mend it on?"

*




"What can there be?" Allerleirauh said. "Even this little one, she came into the world greedy and hungry and crying. Perhaps there is a more perfect world. Perhaps something can be made. I don't know. If it's a riddle, you are the one to solve it."

Posted by: Arynel May 13 2005, 10:54 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 13 2005, 02:52 PM)

"What can there be?"  Allerleirauh said. "Even this little one, she came into the world greedy and hungry and crying. Perhaps there is a more perfect world. Perhaps something can be made. I don't know. If it's a riddle, you are the one to solve it."

*





Arynel frowned with uncertainty.

"I will gather the shards first, then," the Breton said at last, "and then I will look to solve the riddle, if indeed it is solvable."

Posted by: Rhedd May 13 2005, 10:58 PM

QUOTE(Arrogant_Hero @ May 9 2005, 05:41 AM)

I arrive to the Smith’s Hall cloaked in evil looks. I’m not surprised. I dropped in every once in awhile to check on the progress of my axe, saying nothing to anyone. Then after a few hours of brooding around the Hall, and loud sighs, I would leave. Needless to say I hadn’t earned friends in this place. They hate me, I can tell, but... they all respect me.

The word had spread around town of the battle me and Aricyn had. Most people in the town heard the short version of the fight, Aricyn won – but those that saw the fight, held a different story. Once that version spread around town, people begin to hold their own conclusion of who won. Which lead to awe inspired looks everywhere I went, and even free food in some places.

I’d say at this time the town was split fifty, fifty on the conclusion of who won.

Believe it or not, I actually had respect for one of these so called "Smiths", the old Nord working on my axe, Floki Longhammer. When he said he could speak to weapons, I laughed at him, and dismissed him as another crazy, old Nord. But he soon proved me wrong. Since I got her, Luciel only spoke to me, but somehow, the Nord got her to speak to him too, and he found out her name.

That was enough.

But respect or not, today would be the day I get my axe back. He better hope he’s done. The last time I was here the Nord was saying something about an enchantment he was working on. I told him magicka was for the weak, and he just laughed his old, hardy laugh. I wonder how that’s going?

“Longhammer!” I yell deep into the Hall.

I then light up another sweet cherry, as I wait for the old man to get off his backside and greet me.

*




(Smith's Hall, Ald Raathim:)

Floki Longhammer was nearly as wide as he was tall, now that his height had deteriorated with age. He heard the bellowing call of the orc and laid his hammer and tongs aside.

Wiping his brow of sweat and leaving soot in its place, he strode down the hall, eyeing the work of the lesser smiths as he went.

"No need to shout, Master Orc, I'm not deaf yet!

"Come for you axe, finally? Took you long enough. I was beginning to wonder if you still wanted it." The old man's keen blue eyes sparkled with humor.

The axe hung on a wall, in a place above other fine weapons, bathed in the firey light of the forges. The haft had been replaced by the finest black Nordic hardwood, carved intricately but tastefully with knotwork, runes, and leering faces. The grip was wrapped in a complex weaving of hard leather.

"Better than new," said the old smith. "Don't hurt yourself with it, now."

Posted by: Rhedd May 13 2005, 11:01 PM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ May 13 2005, 02:49 PM)

The Royal Dome of Wayrest, High Rock
The boy looked up at Herwyn, and smiled.  It was his mother's smile, entirely charming and unrevealing, "What information?"

*




The Royal Dome of Wayrest, High Rock

Herwyn smiled.

"I believe you said something about how interesting your book was, my Prince, but my mind was wandering.

Good day to you, your Highness."

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 13 2005, 11:40 PM

Daggerfall: Tris

The hour before dawn. Soon the farmers at market would be setting up their booths. Soon the lamplighters would douse the streetlights. Now, though. Now he had the streets to himself.

No potions, no spells, no Void Ranger tricks. Well, one. The state altering trick that let him ignore the fact that this wasn't really his foot.

Dibella has blessed you, Tris... do her another service, and the Temple will improve the leg you were given.

Thinking, now he was thinking. Out of condition, not just physically but mentally. Don't think. Be the road, the air brushing his cheeks. Be the burning in his thighs, the sweat tickling as it ran down his spine. Run, that's all.

His lungs burned. Too soon. He was ridiculously out of condition. Ignore it. Take it to the next level.

The cramp in his side hit like a knife, and he jolted to a stop, hand pressed against the pain, forcing himself to walk so his muscles wouldn't stiffen.

It would be a long, slow, walk home. His fault for letting himself go so badly.

*



At the back door of Solunastra, the tradesman's entrance, someone knocked, and Ciel Dolbinen opened the door, because it was almost time for the workmen to arrive.

The visitor was a woman with the figure and face of a teenager. Only very fine lines around her eyes and a lack of baby padding beneath her features said she was no child. Clearly a Breton, but with fair skin and honey blonde hair pulled back from her forehead into a loose knot that spoke of Nords in her pedigree somewhere. Perfect, regular features, lips curved into a permanent half smile, warm green eyes. She was so lovely that she might have been an actress or a high paid courtesan, but her clothes were those of a modest wife. She might have been the wife of a working man, except for an enormous garnet ring on her finger, carved with an image of Dibella.

"I'm looking for Tristayn Gaerington," she said. "Is this where he lives?"

Posted by: Solin May 13 2005, 11:53 PM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 13 2005, 04:40 PM)

Daggerfall:  Tris
At the back door of Solunastra, the tradesman's entrance, someone knocked, and Ciel Dolbinen opened the door, because it was almost time for the workmen to arrive.

The visitor was a woman with the figure and face of a teenager. Only very fine lines around her eyes and a lack of baby padding beneath her features said she was no child. Clearly a Breton, but with fair skin and honey blonde hair pulled back from her forehead into a loose knot that spoke of Nords in her pedigree somewhere. Perfect, regular features, lips curved into a permanent half smile, warm green eyes. She was so lovely that she might have been an actress or a high paid courtesan, but her clothes were those of a modest wife. She might have been the wife of a working man, except for an enormous garnet ring on her finger, carved with an image of Dibella.

"I'm looking for Tristayn Gaerington,"  she said. "Is this where he lives?"

*




Ciel was a bit suprised by the unexpected visitor. He wasn't sure about answering her until he noticed the ring on her finger.

"Yes, Tris makes his residence here sometimes," Ciel said. "He's not here at the moment, unfortunatly. Is there anything I may do for you?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 13 2005, 11:56 PM

QUOTE(Solin @ May 13 2005, 04:53 PM)

Ciel was a bit suprised by the unexpected visitor.  He wasn't sure about answering her until he noticed the ring on her finger.

"Yes, Tris makes his residence here sometimes," Ciel said.  "He's not here at the moment, unfortunatly.  Is there anything I may do for you?"

*




When the visitor smiled, it was like watching a bird take flight or a flower bloom or a shining fish leap out of the water. She was very thin, for a wealthy woman. Very. Perhaps she hadn't been well.

"Do you know him?" she asked. "Is he well?"

Posted by: Solin May 14 2005, 12:00 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 13 2005, 04:56 PM)

When the visitor smiled, it was like watching a bird take flight or a flower bloom or a shining fish leap out of the water. She was very thin, for a wealthy woman. Very. Perhaps she hadn't been well.

"Do you know him?"  she asked. "Is he well?"

*




Ciel raised an eye brow at the question.

"I do indeed know him," he responded. "And last I was with him he seemed well enough, have you been given cause to think to the contrary?"

He thought a moment and then spoke again.

"Would you like to come in?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 14 2005, 12:05 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ May 13 2005, 05:00 PM)

Ciel raised an eye brow at the question.

"I do indeed know him," he responded.  "And last I was with him he seemed well enough, have you been given cause to think to the contrary?"

He thought a moment and then spoke again.

"Would you like to come in?"

*




"Thank you," she said, stepping into the house. "No, I haven't... haven't seen him in two years. I love him, that's all. I'm probably making a fool of myself."

Posted by: Solin May 14 2005, 12:11 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 13 2005, 05:05 PM)

"Thank you,"  she said, stepping into the house. "No, I haven't... haven't seen him in two years. I love him, that's all. I'm probably making a fool of myself."

*




"Two years, that's quite some time," Ciel remarked. "No, I don't think you're making a fool of yourself in the least if you're inquiring after someone you care about."

Ciel gave her a smile.

"Is there anything I can get you? Do for you? Perhaps I could convince Igba to relinquish some supplies from her kitchen."

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 14 2005, 12:15 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ May 13 2005, 05:11 PM)

"Two years, that's quite some time," Ciel remarked.  "No, I don't think you're making a fool of yourself in the least if you're inquiring after someone you care about."

Ciel gave her a smile.

"Is there anything I can get you? Do for you?  Perhaps I could convince Igba to relinquish some supplies from her kitchen."

*




The woman smiled nervously. "I... I'm not hungry. This is a beautiful house, isn't it? In Daggerfall. He's happy here, really? He doesn't take good care of himself, you know. He needs someone... to catch him when he falls on his face."

Moment by moment, the visitor was growing more nervous, like a shoplifter expecting a policeman to walk up behind her and grab her shoulder at any moment.

"Just tell me he has someone to look after him," she said. "Please."

Posted by: Solin May 14 2005, 12:22 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ May 13 2005, 05:15 PM)

The woman smiled nervously. "I... I'm not hungry. This is a beautiful house, isn't it?  In Daggerfall. He's happy here, really?  He doesn't take good care of himself, you know. He needs someone... to catch him when he falls on his face."

Moment by moment, the visitor was growing more nervous, like a shoplifter expecting a policeman to walk up behind her and grab her shoulder at any moment.

"Just tell me he has someone to look after him,"  she said. "Please."

*




"It is a wonderful house and he is very happy here," Ciel said smiling. "He is rather impulsive isn't he?"

The former knight tried to reach out and place a comforting hand on hers, he looked into her eyes.

"Here he is surrounded by friends and loved ones, people who will support him whatever the need may be," he said resolutely. "Is there anything you would like me to mention to him when he returns?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh May 14 2005, 12:27 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ May 13 2005, 05:22 PM)

"It is a wonderful house and he is very happy here," Ciel said smiling.  "He is rather impulsive isn't he?"

The former knight tried to reach out and place a comforting hand on hers, he looked into her eyes.

"Here he is surrounded by friends and loved ones, people who will support him whatever the need may be," he said resolutely.  "Is there anything you would like me to mention to him when he returns?"

*




"You've very kind," she said. Her fair skin flushed deep pink. She avoided his outstretched hand.

"Tell him not to forget he has a brother," she said. "Oro is more like him than he realizes..."

The policeman came. Or, to be more precise, the lamplighter outside doused the street lamp. The first rays of the sun touched the roofs of the houses. And the woman made an awkward dash for the door. Ciel could see the door handle through her body. She was too insubstantial to turn it; instead she passed through it, and out into the street.

Singing to himself, Tris entered the courtyard. He saw nothing; the spirit was all but invisible in daylight. But he thought he smelled a familiar fragrance.

Posted by: Sheogorath May 14 2005, 01:34 AM

The Dome of Wayrest, High Rock

A man walked unaccompanied up the gently sloping corridor that led to Elysana’s audience chamber. He stopped when he saw Prince Eadwyre, and looked curiously at the boy reading on the floor.

“You like to read, do you?” the man asked.

“Yes,” said Eadwyre, looking up. “If you’re here to see the Queen, you’ll need to be announced.”

“She called for me,” the man smiled. “I’m with the Mages Guild.”

“My mother is already talking with the Magister of the Wayrest Mages Guild.”

“He works for me.”

Eadwyre’s eyes opened wide. He got awkwardly to his feet and stuck out his hand. “You’re the Archmagister? I’m Eadwyre Gardner.”

“I know who you are,” the man chuckled. “After I’m finished talking with your mother, I’d like to discuss books with you. I like to read too.”

Eadwyre grinned, as Hannibal Traven bowed slightly, and entered the Queen’s audience chamber.

Posted by: Arrogant_Hero May 14 2005, 02:43 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ May 13 2005, 04:58 PM)

(Smith's Hall, Ald Raathim:)

...The axe hung on a wall, in a place above other fine weapons, bathed in the firey light of the forges. The haft had been replaced by the finest black Nordic hardwood, carved intricately but tastefully with knotwork, runes, and leering faces. The grip was wrapped in a complex weaving of hard leather.

"Better than new," said the old smith. "Don't hurt yourself with it, now."



I shoot the pasty, fossil, a cold look, before I look at my axe with a squinted glance.

“What have you done to her? She reeks of magicka.”


Posted by: Loranna May 14 2005, 02:55 AM

And so, it is time once again to move on to a new thread, where mysteries shall be resolved and raised all in one, and doom shall come to the unwary.

... Wait; that includes me ... blush2.gif

LOCK ON!!!

Loranna

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