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Posted by: ghastley Nov 29 2019, 08:32 PM

Now I've created a second-era Clark, I need a story of how he got there. I'd started something similar for Minx, but it wasn't going anywhere, so I've adjusted a bit. This may be a bit infrequent, as my logic is that Azura sends him back to Morrowind, which is special for her, and needs some attention in this era. However, ESO Clark probably won't go there until we get him up to Champion level, and he can start doing things for the story, and not just levels and skill points.


---

Chapter 1 - Arrival


It wasn't exactly deja vu, because this was the first time, and the other happened in the fiuture. Which is why I can't remember it clearly.

Azura told me it would be like this. I would have no memory of the things that hadn't happened yet, because that would cause problems with temporal causality, or something like that. But yet, things that hadn't changed much, like Seyda Neen, where I'd just got off the boat, would seem familiar.

I could remember anything that happened in a Daedric realm, because time worked differently there. So I remember all about my dealings with Azura and Nocturnal, and why they'd made me immortal. I had some recollections of mortal women, including my wife, Dralsi, and our daughter Karliah, but only the things that happened in Nocturnal's Realm. Fortunately, both had been Nightingales, so there was a lot that took place in Evergloam, which might have included Karliah's conception.

I remembered a Bosmer called Cyndil, who'd been made a Nightingale at the same time I was. I had fond, but sparse, memories of a Nord called Gilda, who'd also been a Nightingale with my daughter. There was a Dunmer called Minx, that had joined me in Cyndil's rescue from Mehrunes Dagon's Dremora. Azura tells me that were a lot more that I wouldn't remember in my future.

Most of my memories about Mundus seemed to relate to Nocturnal, and quests that I'd done for her, and yet it was Azura that sent me back here. The mission I was on was particularly hers, as Morrowind was under her protection, perhaps as a result of her turning the Chimer into Dunmer all that time ago. And yet, I didn't really know what that mission was. It would work itself out, just because I was here at the right time.

---

This promised to be an interesting time. Azura had told me about Almalexia, Sotha Sil, and Vivec, and how they'd used the power of Lorkhan's heart to become like gods. And unlike the Daedric Princes, they had nothing restraining them from interfering as much as they liked in the affairs of mortals. Indeed, it was Sotha Sil who had engineered much of that restraint upon their Daedric rivals.

That didn't seem to concern her too much. I imagine that she felt it was the best arrangement for both sides. I got the impression that she felt that the Tribunal were at least as constrained themselves.

And I knew that Balmora was in that direction, and the city of Vivec was in the other. I might know some of the rocks along the way, but not the trees or mushrooms. I have no idea when I was here before, or rather, when I would be here in future. I might be a child when I learn my way around, or an adult. I'm an adult now, but I'm not sure how old to consider myself, considering that I haven't been born yet. It's so confusing.

I wasn't likely to bump into anyone I knew in future. This was far enough back in my past, according to Azura, that no mortal could live that long. Not even the elven mages could prolong their lives that much. If I did see a familiar face, it might be one of her winged twilights with a message.

Azura had also warned me about history. Everything I'd learned about the past, I'd still remember, up to the now I was in. However, some of the accounts may have been revised before I'd learned them, so they'd be false memories, and anything that had just happened here would be fresh in everyone else's memory, but seem vague and distant in mine. This would be especially true about the Tribunal, who Azura felt bent the truth liberally in their records of this time. If I thought I recalled something, I shouldn't trust that feeling until I checked the facts.

Posted by: Renee Nov 29 2019, 09:01 PM

That's so wicked. So Clark remembers what happens in the future, even though he's in the past! Yikes.

Is Clark the guy who was involved with Gweden Brothel somewhat?

Posted by: Acadian Nov 29 2019, 09:21 PM

Welcome to the Second Era, Clark! I'm delighted to see that I'm not the only one who views the Era hopping between Oblivion, Skyrim and ESO as simply an opportunity to figure out the means of time travel that best suits our characters.

Posted by: SubRosa Nov 30 2019, 12:16 AM

Let's hope Clark doesn't follow in the Flash's time-traveling footsteps and create Clarkpoint!

Posted by: ghastley Dec 15 2019, 03:57 AM

@Renee: No, Clark doesn't remember the future, but things in Daedric realms are outside time. In particular, he has no memories of Gweden, and none of those women were ever in the Deadlands with him. I'm still trying to decide if he'll remember anything about the Shivering Isles. Perhaps he will, but just not believe it!

@Acadian: As Cadwell puts it: Ah, magic, it's so ... magical!

@SubRosa: If clark did anything like that, he wouldn't remember.

----

Previously: Clark arrived in Vvardenfell with no memory of the future Tamriel, and only a few recollections of Daedric realms. He's forgotten all his skills, unless he used them outside Tamriel, too. He does know that Azura sent him there, but not why.

1.2 Seyda Neen

There was a shrine of some kind just outside Seyda Neen that I didn't feel belonged there. Perhaps it would not be there in future. I had no way of knowing. As I stared at it, a mer walked up to it, touched it, and disappeared! I backed away from it, just as a woman ran up to me, asking for my help, or anyone else's. Her companion, a Buoyant Armiger, had been attacked by Daedra, and was wounded. Canon Valasa had sent her to fetch aid. Did I know any healing spells?

Yes, I did, although they were a bit basic. I followed the woman to where the Buoyant Armiger lay. As I did what I could for the woman's wounds, I asked Canon Valasa what had happened. Were there more Daedra? She told me that the three of them - herself, Alavesa Arethan, the woman who found me, and Canon Llevule - had just entered the Andrano tomb when the Daedra appeared, and attacked them and the Buoyant Armiger guard. They weren't followed when they fled, but the Daedra were still in the tomb.

By this time, several travellers had stopped to see what was going on. Just as I agreed to go talk to Canon Llevule and offer any assistance I could, one of them started to glow, and rose off the ground. A moon and a star appeared above her outstretched hands and she started to speak in an unnatural voice.

"By Dawn and Dusk, evil creeps through the shadows of my beloved Vvardenfell. But an Outlander arrives to aid my people, just as I have foreseen."

I thought it was a bit heavy-handed of Azura to announce me this way, but it did at least confirm that helping these priests was the first part of what she wanted me to do. And I'm an outlander, am I? Well, I suppose that gives me cover for not knowing my way around like a native contemporary.

---

Canon Llevule was waiting outside the tomb, pacing up and down. He told me that it was his family's ancestral tomb, and he had been sent by Lord Vivec to make inquiries of his ancestors. He'd be needed to summon one of their spirits, and another would have to ask Viviec's questions, as the summoning required his full attention. He also needed help with the Daedra, of course.

Azura had mentioned Vivec before she sent me here. He, and Almalexia and Sotha Sil, were the Tribunal "gods". The way Azura described it, they were much like I was, mortals made immortal, but with a bit more magical power at their disposal, which was how they'd become immortal. Vivec was in Vvardenfell, building himeself a city, or rather, having one built for him. My first task, whatever that was, would mean getting involved with him.

So that made sense of why I was getting involved here. It would provide an opportunity to contact Vivec. But the task at hand was Canon Llevule's family tomb, and the Vivec connection would come later.

I wasn't exactly well equipped for fighting Daedra, having just arrived with no equipment whatsoever, and I pointed that out to the Canon. I had a few spells, which must have been ones I learned in Moonshadow or Evergloam, as I had forgotten any others I might have known. I had a sword and shield from the Buoyant Armiger, and I'd need to give those back after we were done here.

The Daedra in the tomb weren't particularly powerful ones, fortunately. The Armiger had just been unlucky in not expecting any, as the tomb was only supposed to contain Llevule's ancestors. Even if some of their sprits were floating around, they'd know him, and not be too aggressive.

I wasn't familiar with the "skaafin", as Llevule called them. The only Daedra I'd encountered were Dagon's - scamps, atronachs, Dremora - and these were apparently another Daedric Prince's minions. Canon Llevule wasn't forthcoming about which one it might be.

Eventually we reached the chamber the Cannon was hoping to, and went to the altar there to perform a brief ritual. It summoned the shade of one of his ancestors, but because he was busy holding the summoning spell in place, I had to ask the questions - on behalf of Vivec. I read them from the document he'd handed me.

Lord Vivec asks, "The heart of the world, key to ascension, should I be filled with apprehension?"

"Ah, Lord Vivec always had a way with words! Tell him to rest assured. The Heart remains safe. I wonder why that concerns him? Ask the remaining questions, as my time here is short."

Lord Vivec asks, "Has the enemy of old returned, so devious and bold?"

"An enemy of old, yes, but not the one that Vivec presumes."

Lord Vivec asks, "Did Sotha Sil in his unending crusade know our divinity would shrivel and fade?"

"Sotha Sil imagined multiple scenarios and contemplated endless solutions. He even experimented with his divinity, drawing energy to study before returning it. Loss will come, he foresaw, but not until the collapse of the Temple. Now, back to sleep."

I took note of the answers, as it appeared that I might have to deliver them to Vivec after all this.

We left the tomb, I returned the borrowed weapons to the Armiger, and chatted for a while with the priests, before setting off in the direction of Vivec City.

---

They told me I'd find crafting stations there, where I could make myself some equipment. There was a shop in Seyda Neen where I could buy some, but I'd do better making my own, as it would cost me less that way. I hadn't arrived with much gold, and I suspected that was because most of my coin hadn't been minted yet. The few coins I had in my pouch looked very worn.

The sword and shield had felt comfortable and familiar, but I wasn't sure if that was because I recalled using them in Dagon's Deadlands, or because I'd been skilled with them before. In future, I mean. Perhaps I'd used them because of my future skills, but I'd have to re-learn most of those. Still, if I had any aptitude for a fighting skill, it could be that one.

The few spells I recalled were fire-based, but that could have come from my memory of the Deadlands, too. Everything is fire-related there, of course.

Vivec City appeared to be mostly under construction, but that was just an impression from approaching it from the North. When I got closer, I could see that the southern part was already quite well completed, especially the palace, and its attendant buildings. The crafting area was on the western side, before you crossed over to the cantons, and I made my first stop there.

My crafting skills were also pretty meagre. Perhaps as well, as I couldn't afford the materials for the better equipment I didn't have the skills to make. I did what I could, and created myself some weapons and armour that should at least keep me in contention.

Canon Llevule had got ahead of me while I was doing that, so by the time I made my way to Vivec's palace, he was already there. I found him in conversation with Vivec, and Archcanon Tarvus. (I didn't know either of them, but Llevule made the introductions).

Archcanon Tarvus was reluctant to accept assistance from an outsider like myself, but Vivec overruled him. He sulked off to his office, leaving me with Vivec.

"Canon Llelvule says you helped him in his mission. As I have written, "the one who helps my ally becomes my friend. Despite the Archcanon's concerns, I greet you with sincerity and pose a simple question. Will you assist us further, Outlander?"

"What kind of help do you need, Lord Vivec?" I responded

"I have Ordinators and Armigers at my disposal, vast armies of followers and dedicated priests. What I don't have, however, is a fresh perspective. Will you set aside your personal goals for a time and become the eyes and ears of a god?"

"Of course, Lord Vivec. I can provide a fresh perspective."

"Good. I need assistance to investigate a … strange phenomenon that the ancestor confirmed may indeed be a problem. We'll start with a simple divination ritual. Archcanon Tarvus can tell you what we need to delve into this mystery."

And so I was dismissed to go talk to the Archcanon.

Posted by: Acadian Dec 15 2019, 08:14 PM

I’m sure Clark finds his new situation terribly confusing. Does he remember this? Has it already happened back in the future? This all must quite frustrate Clark since we know he analyzes things and prefers to make thought out, logical decisions.

Loved how you introduced wayshrines in the opening.

I’m glad you’re taking us through Vvardenfell of the Second Era. I confess I prefer Vivec among the Three.

Posted by: Renee Dec 16 2019, 08:20 PM

Ha! He's witnessing Players using Wayshrines! Clever. Hee, and there's the opening quest. My first character Ana Khanda totally avoided that quest, so in her game the lady's still kneeling there, asking for help.

Yeah, those "daedra" are walkovers, I agree with Clark. The equivalent of scamps in TES: IV .

Ha! He's got coins minted in the Second Era, brought back from the Third Era. Clark has the unique perspective of being able to tell these Second Era'd folks what's to come in their futures. Not that any of the NPCs in the game will know what he's talking about.

Posted by: ghastley Jan 2 2020, 11:27 PM

@Acadian: I'm more impressed by Sotha Sil than Vivec, and of course Clark will prefer Almalexia.

@Renee No, Clark can't remember the Tamriel future, specifically to avoid that kind of thing. And he'd be wondering why wayshrines fell out of use.

------------

Previously: Clark met Vivec, and delivered the answers from Llevule's ancestor.

-------

Part 1.3 - Vivec City

On my way out of the palace, Azura steered me towards the St Olms canton where I found a different kind of crafting station. "That equipment you made looks a bit too ... functional ... for my liking," she told me. "This station will let you create a different appearance, without changing the way the equipment works."

"So it's a kind of disguise, or illusion?"

"Illusion is a good word, as it does use some of that kind of magic. It's what we Daedric Princes do all the time, of course. I don't know if we have a 'real' appearance, as you see what you want to see. And I must say, you have good taste."

So we spent a while deciding how I should appear. The overall idea was based on the suit of finery that I'd worn for my trip to Dagon's Deadlands, one of the few bits of my future I could remember. That had been heavily enchanted to reflect damage of all kinds, and was better than armour. With this one, I'd have the armour on "underneath", so to speak. But the illusion also affected me, and the outfit was as comfortable as the clothes, instead of feeling stiif and heavy, like the leather and plate I was really wearing.

I liked this. Just as good as wearing my enchanted clothes from the future, and much the same effect.

Azura liked the blue I chose, or did she nudge my choice in that direction? I never can tell with her in the back of mind all the time. And the gold trim set it off well. We applied that theme to my shield, too, which now looked a bit smaller than it really was. The sword was fine, so we left it alone.

"So now you're fit to be seen, you can go back to the Archcanon's office. You passed it on the way here."

Of course, now I was looking at everyone else along the way, wondering if that was an outfit, or what they were really wearing. "It's the same thing," Azura reminded me. "They're wearing what they want you to see, and the practical considerations of what they need to wear are out of the way."

It seemed like most of the Dunmer women wanted to show off their breasts, as most of the styles drew attention to them. Or maybe it was just what I wanted to see. I don't know any more.

The exceptions were mainly uniforms. The guards needed to be seen as such, and the Mages and Fighters Guild members wanted to show their affiliations. The laborers on the building sites either didn't care for appearances, or wanted to look like laborers. Or maybe it wasn't their choice. This was a time of slavery, after all.

The Archcanon looked like a priest, of course. And he sent me off, back the way I'd come, to the construction site beyond. I needed to retrieve the Blessing Stone that Lord Vivec had provided, so that it could be used for a divination. I was familar with Varla and Welkynd stones, so I assumed this was another store of magicka, with a specific purpose. Soul gems were a bit like that, too.

I needed to ask the site Overseer for the stone, as they might be a bit displeased if I simply took it. I asked a woman standing near the site entrance for directions. Not because her dress showed a very nice pair of breasts through the gap in the middle, but because she was nearest. Really.

It turned out that the Overseer was her wife. So was the display for her wife's benefit, or was she advertising on behalf of both of them? Interesting people, these Dunmer. The overseer herself was dressed in workman's rough clothing. Apparently she was unconcerned by appearances, or just thought that more appropriate for the job site.

"Our Blessing Stone? Do you know what happens if we give up our Blessing Stone? Well, neither do I, but I'm sure it won't put us back on schedule or end our string of disasters. I'm not one to disagree with the Archcanon, but that's a terrible idea."

I pointed out that it was Lord Vivec that needed it. The Archcanon had just been the one to send me.

"Lord Vivec? Why didn't you say so? But I'll need you help before I can turn over the Blessing Stone. The passage that leads to the consecration chamber collapsed, trapping some of my workers. If you can clear the way, you can borrow the stone."

Why is nothing ever simple? Well at least this task was uncomplicated. Passage around the site was a bit restricted, with several paths blocked by the debris, but lifting the fallen beams off rhe workers, and digging away a bit of rubble, didn't compare too badly to fighting Daedra, as I'd done in the tomb.

The Blessing Stone wasn't hard to find, either. Once the way had been cleared it was prominently situated in the middle of the construction area, on a scaffolding frame. Getting there was a bit tricky still, and more debris had to be moved out of the way.

This stone glowed yellow, unlike the ones with which I was familiar. It had the same feel of magicka when I picked it up, though. I took it back to the Archcanon, who was waiting with Lord Vivec. Two similar stones had already been placed in receptacles in the floor of the chamber, and there was an empty for the stone I'd brought. When I placed the stone, beams of light from all three formed images in the space between. I saw a male elf holding a strange staff, a mage with a dwarven spider, and a Daedric cultist. Before any of it could make sense, the stones shattered, breaking the image.

Lord Vivec apparently got more from the images than I did, or wanted me to think so. Perhaps he knew some of the people, and I didn't. It wasn't clear to me whose cult was involved, and maybe that was more obvious to someone of this time.

I wasn't getting any clues from Azura, so either she din't know, or just didn't want to tell me.

The Archcanon left immediately after the divination failed, but I stayed to ask Lord Vivec what he'd learned. Apprently, the main thing he took from this was that his loss of power was not natural, but the result of interference by others. Which meant it could be stopped.

"You're losing divine energy? How is that possible?" I asked

He replied that it would be my job to find out. To follow the trail, and discover who was involved, and how. And I should start by asking Archcanon Tarvus if he got anything the two of us had missed.

Tarvus was in his office when I found him, consulting his books. The three images had indicated three locations, he told me. Balmora, Ald'ruhn, and Barilzar's Tower. I needed to go to those places, and see what I could find.

---

I bought a map before I left the city. Balmora would be in the same place in the future, so I knew roughly how to get there, but Ald'ruhn was somewhere I didn't know, and neither was this tower. Of course, I might know it as somebody else's tower. Barilzar was presumably just the current owner.

Balmora was also the nearest of the three, so I headed there first. All the clues I found - the overheard conversation at the docks, the proclamation notice on a wall, and the lengthy but unprofitable flirtation with the barmaid at the local tavern - pointed me to the Shulk Ore Mine as a source of cultist activity. But if I needed to know more about what cult it was, or anything like that, I'd have to go there.

I found the crew chief, a Nord named Hondulf, hovering outside, reluctant to go in. The cultists were still in there, he told me, and particularly irate, because an Ashlander had just stolen the weapon they'd summoned with their ritual. His crew were still trapped in the mine, hiding from the cultists.

Clearly I wasn't going to be able to get this weapon, as it was already gone, but there might be other clues, and I might be able to help the miners. I went in.

Posted by: Acadian Jan 3 2020, 01:38 AM

Oh this is great fun, seeing Clark’s perceptions of the Second Era. He certainly has a good tour guide in Azura.

Loved your description of the outfitting station and tying it to illusion magic.

So instead of following quest markers, Clark finds himself following breasts – at least around Vivec City.


Nit: "But I'll need you{r} help before I can turn over the Blessing Stone."

Posted by: Renee Jan 3 2020, 06:03 PM

Nice, he's doing some crafting. That's one area of ESO I haven't touched at all yet.

Awesome, he's retrieving the Blessing Stone.

Quote of the Year, when it comes to this game. And that's even if you've got the Quest Compass turned on.

Cool, I'm glad Clark is doing this quest. I started it, haven't gotten into it yet though. I won't mind reading a few spoilers.

Posted by: ghastley Jan 30 2020, 07:05 PM

@Acadian: There's a lot of Azura in this quest-line, and Clark might get a bit tired of being steered.

@Renee: Much of it is simple - "kill everything", but we don't do Cyrodiil.

---------

Previously: Clark had visited the first location his list, and found a mine.

--------

Part 1.4 - Ald'ruhn and Barilzar

I suppose any cultist is not in a normal state of mind, or they wouldn't have become one to begin with, but why do they have to become homicidal? At least there weren't many of them.

I found a couple of items that might be useful: a Nycotic Ritual Bag that may provide some clue as to what they were doing, and a note that had been dropped by the invading Red Exiles that had stolen the weapon. The latter told me that it was a staff, perhaps the one the divination vision had shown us? It didn't tell me much more, except that the sender's initial were "CC".

After talking to the crew chief again, who was still reluctant to enter even after I told him the place was cleared, I set off for Ald'ruhn.

---

As I approached the wayshrine just outside Ald'ruhn, I saw a young(ish) Dunmer woman in an argument with a couple of uniformed men. She was demanding to see her brother, who was apparently in these Red Exiles' camp. Whether that was voluntarily or otherwise wasn't clear.

Red Exiles were the ones who had taken the staff from the cultists, a further clue.

She'd apparently seen me approach, as after knocking the two men down, she called out to me. Even though she didn't appear to need any help, she solicited mine, in return for her assistance with Lord Vivec's quest.

She was Seryn, and her brother Chodala was Ashkhan of the nomadic tribe they belonged to. Her job was as ambassador to the other tribes. He was trying to unite the Ashlander nomads against the Morrowind Great Houses, but hadn't progressed very far with that, yet.

I went to the Red Exiles' camp, hoping they'd be more hospitable to a stranger, but was not surprised that they weren't. I did manage to discover that Chodala was no longer there, but a document of his meeting with them was still lying around. I took it back to Seryn.

I talked with Seryn for a while longer, getting more information about her brother, herself, and their Urshilaku tribe. Something in the document I'd retrieved alarmed her, and she gave me a scroll of her brother's writings to help clarify why. It appeared that he believed himself to be the Nerevarine - a term that rang a faint bell in my faulty memory. I imagined that these writings would make more sense to Vivec, anyway.

---

The last location on my list was Barilzar's Tower, and that was way across to the east of the island beyond Molag Mar. Apparently it wouldn't have been a significant journey if I'd found the wayshrine, but you had to travel to those and find them, before you knew how to get there. Since this was my first trip, I'd have to do it the hard way. I could at least use the one at Ald'ruhm to go back to Vivec City, which cut the travel in half.

The route to Molag Mar took me through the town of Suran, which seemed familar in many ways. Azura had told me I'd 'remember' places from the future, if they'd stayed much the same over the intervening years. That was true with Seyda Neen, where things seemed to be where I expected them to be, and there was much familiar-feeling about Suran.

I went into the local tavern, called Desele's House of Earthly Delights with such a feeling, However, the interior was a different matter. Presumably interiors get redecorated more often. I never did discover what the 'Earthly Delights' were. I don't imagine they were the drinks, which seemed to be the same varieties i'd found in the bars of Vivec. In particular, there weren't any dancing girls. I don't have any clue why I was expecting any, other than a vague hope from the name of the place.

---

Molag Mar was quite a bit farther. It was built in the same style as the cantons of Vivec city, so I wasn't sure if that was the source of any familiarity, or if I'd been here in future. In any case, Barilzar's tower was out in the coastal wetlands between there and Azura's Shrine. The shrine was on my map, but the tower wasn't. I found the local wayshrine first, and from there a passing traveller pointed out the tower in the distance.

---

Barilzar was in his tower when I arrived, but in the middle of an experiment that couldn't be interrupted. I offered to help in exchange for a few answers, and he readily agreed. I could activate the crystals for him while he operated the modulator, whatever that was. Apparently this would make an explosion less likely.

The required order wasn't hard to guess, and we did it quickly, and without any explosions. Barilzar was relieved (and maybe surprised) at that.

I told him that Lord Vivec had sent me to inquire about the transfer of divine energy, and that was a familiar topic to him. Apparently, he'd worked with Sotha Sil on just that topic, and his master had a tool that permitted him to do so. With its aid, he was able to isolate some of his own power and analyze it, drawing conclusions on how it might be sustained, and whether it was temporary or permanent.

I suspected that tool might have been a staff, and the notes he gave me only strengthened that suspicion.

---

As soon as I stepped outside, an apparition of Archcannon Tarvus appeared, urging me back to Vivec City as fast as possible. There was ... a problem.

Posted by: Acadian Jan 31 2020, 07:19 PM

Wow, Clark covered a lot of terrain in this one. I had to laugh about his true observation that wayshrines would be ever so much more helpful if they helped you get somewhere the first time instead of having to find them first.

Posted by: ghastley Feb 28 2020, 05:14 AM

@Acadian: He's about to have that reinforced by a longer trip.

-------

Previously: Clark had been sent around several locations in Southern Vvardenfell investigating the images from the divination. Now he'd been called back to Vivec.

-------

Part 1.5 - Cavern of the Incarnates

The problem was that Vivec was weakening further. Archcannon Tarvus quickly reached the same conclusion I had, that Chodala was using Sotha Sil's "tool" - the staff he called Sunna'rah - to steal Vivec's energy. Presumably it powered the staff, and it was that effect that Chodala wanted, rather than any harm to Vivec, but it was hard to tell.

We went to consult Vivec himself, who felt it strange that an Ashlander was involved. He'd had no problems with them before. He nevertheless sent me to discover more about Chodala.

This was what I'd expected, and the prospect of dealing with Seryn again was a pleasant thought. I rather liked women who could take care of themselves, and she'd shown me that in her confrontation with the Red Exiles.

---

Since this was no longer my first trip to Ald'ruhn, I now had the option of taking the wayshrine to get there. However, there were a few things I needed to do before travelling, which included some upgrades to my equipment. So I found my self approaching the wayshrine on the land side of Vivec City, rather than the one near the temple. And just beyond that was a stable.

---

Perhaps because I'd helped her before, I had no problem persuading her to help. In fact it was she who approached me as I returned to Ald'ruhn. She'd been thinking about her brother's ambitions, and needed to head him off before he could do anything rash. She asked me to talk to the Wise Woman of the Urshilaku. I agreed, but found Chodala in her hut, and the Wise Woman gone.

Apparently she'd left for the Cavern of the Incarnate to ask Azura for advice about Chodala's claim to be the Nerevarine. Chodala, who I noticed was holding a staff I assumed to be Sunna'rah, was convinced she'd return with confirmation.

When he left, Seryn told me to go after Wise Woman Dovrosi, and talk to her, try and persuade her to find against Chodala. She'd remain behind and try to rally the tribes.

---

The Cavern of the Incarnate was a long way away, up in the northern part of the island, where I'd never been (and apparently wouldn't in the distant future). So I didn't know any wayshrines in that area. The best option was actually to go back to Balmora, where I had found the wayshrine, and I could take a Silt Strider to Gnisis, which would get me half-way there, at least.

I didn't ask what a Silt Strider was, and perhaps I should have. I wasn't really prepared for the experience of riding a giant insect, and watching the way it was steered left me feeling a bit unsettled.

Gnisis didn't feel familiar at all. It probably changed a lot, or else this was my first visit. A bit of familiarity would have helped a lot, as it was a maze of bridges and canyons that I found it hard to navigate. However, I eventually found myself on the road to the Urshilaku camp near the shore. From there, I'd been informed, I could just follow the coastal trail to the Valley of the Wind, and the Cavern was at the end of that.

Red Mountain had erupted in this direction not long ago, and much of the trail was across barren lava flows, some of which were still warm. Indeed, I saw several pools of still-molten lava in places. There were abandoned settlements in a few places, and others that appeared to have been deserted, and then re-established, as there were makeshift buildings among older ruins.

There were Dwemer and Daedric ruins here, too, but I avoided those on this trip. If I passed a wayshrine, I could always come back. Except that there didn't seem to be one, until just at the end of the Valley of the Wind itself. From there it wasn't far to the Cavern.

I found the Wise Woman had only just arrived there herself, and had been ambushed by Daedra at the entrance. The Skaafin weren't particularly strong, but they were a nuisance. I sent her inside while I dealt with them.

---

Once inside, I found Dovrosi already in conversation with Azura, via her statue. "The outlander? Surely there's another way. No, my lady, I'll do as you ask."

"The Queen of the Night Sky insists I need your help. I must render judgement on an important claim, and she says you can offer guidance."

"This is about Choldala, and his not being the Nerevarine, right?" I surmised.

"The Red Exiles and a few others believe that Choldala is the Nerevarine. He has convinced them, but not me. However, I fear bloodshed if I find against him."

"So we need strong evidence against his claim, that you can't ignore." I suggested.

"Right. I need to remain impartial. Another needs to reveal the flaws in his claim, so I can reasonably deny it. Perhaps comparing him to the failed incarnates here would do it."

She gave me a bag of dust that would raise their spirits, so that I could talk to them. They each had a tale of believing themselves the one, and each had failed in a different way. Ranso had been the most powerful Ashkhan of his day, but power was not enough. Adusi had chosen a path of war, but it was the wrong path,and Danaat had ignored the council of the Wise Women, only to find they were right, and he was wrong.

Each gave me a scroll to call on their testimony at the coming judgement.

Azura's statue then spoke to me, although she could have done so directly. I think she wanted Dovrosi to hear what she said.

"I foresaw your usefulness before you even set foot in Vvardenfell. Now comes a test that will challenge your ability to separate truth from lies. You must convince the tribes that Chodala is not the Nerevarine."

I agreed to do so, of course, and she continued. "Let Seryn assist you. She is my champion, and a trusted friend of all Ashlanders."

That part was almost certainly meant for Dovrosi's ears.

---

The Wise Woman and I walked back to the wayshrine at the end of the valley, stopping several times along the way so that she could collect alchemical ingredients. Many of them were unknown to me, being plants that probably grew only on Vvardenfell. "You should get Seryn to teach you the plants," Dovrosi told me.

"You'll be spending more time with her, and probably going to other areas of the island, where the plants are different. The Ashland ones are different from the Grazeland ones, for instance."

"Seryn is an alchemist?" I asked.

"Not specifically, but she does make all her own potions and poisons. She's often journeying alone, and it helps to be self-sufficient.

"And that reminds me, you should get yourself a guar, even if it's only to carry your extra equipment. They can use the wayshrines, if they're with you, so you don't have to choose between methods of transport."

"A guar, rather than a horse?"

"They're better suited to this place. A horse would probably starve in the Ashlands. It would have your problem of not knowing the plants, and which were edible, and which were poisonous. A guar can forage for itself, so it's much less bother. Take Seryn with you when you buy one, so you don't get fleeced."

Posted by: Acadian Feb 29 2020, 01:11 AM

I remember enjoying this quest of the false Nerevarine.

The silt striders were fun!

Dovrosi makes a good case for guar in Morrowind.


A couple tiny nits:
- - ’I rather liked women who could take care of themselves, and she'd shown me that in her confronttion (confrontation) with the Red Exiles.’
- - ’Another needs to reveal the flaws in his claim, so I can reasonable (reasonably) deny it.’

Posted by: Grits Mar 18 2020, 12:23 PM

I am delighted that Clark is telling this story in first person.

Neat, he discovered a Wayshrine! Azura’s ambush of the player feels quite natural in Clark’s story, since she placed him precisely when she wanted him.

Nice explanation of the outfit station. I can guess that costumes will simply be another illusion.

Oh, I liked this quest and the Cavern of the Incarnates. Good idea to get a guar. Scrambling around the lava on mortal horse legs can be unsettling.

Posted by: ghastley Mar 19 2020, 08:31 PM

@Acadian: I'm not sure if Clark will ever want to ride a Silt Strider again. And he may or may not take to guar.

@Grits: I'm less comfortable using first person, but since a lot of this is inside Clark's head, I couldn't find a better way. He is using a costume, but needed it died, so the outfit station was involved anyway.

--------

Previously: Clark went to the Cavern of the Incarnates to speak with Dovrosi the Wise Woman.

--------

Part 1.6 - Not the Nerevarine

I took the wayshrine back to Ald'ruhn, and Seryn was there waiting for me. She looked a little uneasy, which was exactly how I was feeling too. I'd figured out on the way back, that if I presented the case against Chodala, as an outsider, it might not carry much weight. What I really needed was someone who was a member of the tribe doing it. And the only candidate I knew was her. Could I ask her to oppose her own brother?

"Could you help me with a rather difficult problem?" I asked her.

"I will if you'll help me. You see, I know that I'm going to have to present the case against my brother, and I'll need your help. Hopefully, you've got evidence I can use from your trip with the Wise Woman, but it won't be easy for us. Chodal has the Red Exiles backing hime up, and they've intimidated most of the others into supporting him. We'll have to be very convincing."

Of course I agreed.

"Now what did you need?" she continued.

"Can you help me buy a guar? I don't know one end of those from the other."

---

We went to Vivec City to buy my guar and I showed her the scrolls I’d obtained from the Failed Incarnates. Her eyes lit up when she saw those.

"Perfect! It won't be me speaking against my brother, but them. They can't be intimidated, and they have the respect of the tribe already. But I'll still need your help selecting which one to use when. I suppose you talked to them, when you got these?"

---

Seryn persuaded me to ride the guar back to Ald'ruhn, rather than take the wayshrine. She pointed out that I'd better learn where nobody was watching me, except her, or my reputation would suffer. I suspected that she didn't want to share the inevitable amusement with anyone else, but her point was valid enough.

I did fall off a couple of times, and she helped me back up, and explained what I was doing wrong. With a straight face, most of the time. Fortunately for me, it wasn't a long trip, just enough to get the hang of the basics.

---

Apparently my riding a guar up to Skaar scored us a few more points with the tribal elders. Adopting the Ashlander ways was a good sign that I was sympathetic to their cause. Perhaps that was why Dovrosi had suggested it.

We went inside, and Chodola was already at the dais, ready to make his claim. He turned as we entered, surprised to see his sister taking the opposing position. He said as much, too.

Then he turned back to the Wise woman, seated in judgement at the high bench. "Even the Outlander can see that I am the most powerful Ashkhan. My strength alone proves that I am the Nerevarine."

I handed Seryn the scroll of Incarnate Ranso, and she nodded. She used the scroll to summon the Incarnate, and he did all the talking for her.

"As a warrior and as an ashkhan, I was the most powerful of my age. But for all my strength, I failed my people. Don't follow my example."

He faded back to his rest in the Cavern, and Chodala spoke again.

"The faithless Houses dare to threaten our land, but we shall meet them in battle and I will lead us to victory."

Again I handed Seryn a scroll, which she used. Incarnate Aduri gave our response.

" I thought the path to the Nerevarine was a path of blood and battle, but my love of war was my undoing. War is not the way."

I could see that Chodala was getting rattled.

"These Failed Incarnates prove nothing! I need no counsel but my own, as befits my status as the Nerevarine!"

I smiled at that, as it led perfectly to our next move. I handed Seryn the final scroll, that of Incarnate Danasi.

" I refused to accept the counsel of the Wise Women and the Ashkhans. I thought I knew best, but I knew nothing. That is not the way of the Nerevarine."

Dovrosi kept a stern, contemplative expression, although I was sure she wanted to cheer. She could now pronounce the judgement she wanted, with the backing of the ancestor spirits.

"Seryn and the Outlander...their arguments have merit. Chodala, we deny your claim. You are not the Nerevarine."

I thought we'd made a strong enough case to convince everyone, but Chodala didn't think so.

"This proves nothing! Look how the staff protects me. I am the Nerevarine!" and with that, he ran from the chamber. Seryn started to follow, but some of his Red Exile followers came in through the same door and blocked her way.

They also attacked us. I sent Seryn out another way and faced them myself. I suspect I had some help from Azura in the fight, as they went down more easily than I thought I could manage alone. Also, they didn't send everyone into the room at once. I had two groups of three weaker "troops" and then their Gulakhan, Yus-Zahten came in alone. I even had time to heal myself between fights.

---

I found Seryn outside, but Chodala had vanished. As I walked over to her, she rose up off the ground, started to glow, and a moon and star appeared over her hands. Azura's voice spoke to me, through Seryn.

" Mortal, I would have words with you"

You could do that without involving her, I thought. Azura must want Seryn to know what she's telling me.

"Chodala has been revealed as a failed Nerevarine, but that hasn't dissuaded him from his reckless course of action. As long as he wields the staff, he shall be unstoppable."

"So what should we do?" I asked

"Time is against you, mortal. Even now Vivec, that pompous usurper, grows increasingly weaker. As much as I deplore him, Vivec cannot fall to Chodala's vile magic. There's another power at work here, one I can't quite put my finger on …."

"There must be something we can do."

"Return to Vivec City. Do what you can to aid Vivec. And pay heed to my faithful vessel, Seryn. I name her Champion of the Moon and Star. She will play a pivotal role in ending her brother's march toward godhood—if she survives."

I agreed to return to Vivec City, and Azura released Seryn. I understood now what she wanted to achieve. Not only had she told Seryn of her new status, but the little scene had attracted quite a few of the tribe to come over and witness it. They'd have the news all over Ald'ruhn in no time. And she'd told Seryn to be careful. She wasn't immortal, like me, and perhaps I needed to be reminded of that, too.

Seryn was still recovering from the experience of being "possessed" by Azura.

"That was amazing! As a mage, I'm used to assessing my magicka reserves, so I know how many spells I can cast. That just felt like I had unlimited power! Azura's, of course, and she was in control, so it wasn't mine to use, but still ..."

"If it's any consolation," I told her, "Azura can't use it here, either. She can only act through someone who belongs in this realm. In Moonshadow, though, unlimited pretty well describes it. And she can use some of that power to help us, but we have to wield it for her. I think I had her help back inside with the Red Exiles. And since Azura just reminded me that you are in danger from those people, so we'd better stick together from here on."

"So we go to Vivec next?" she asked.

"Yes, Azura wants me to check on Vivec, and do what I can to help. That's probably going to mean finding a way to stop that staff from draining his energy. Chodola is just aware of its ability to protect him, and doesn't know what else it's doing when he uses it. So we avoid him until we're ready to move, and that way he shouldn't have any need to use the staff."

Posted by: Acadian Mar 19 2020, 11:39 PM

I chuckled over Clark’s concerns about asking Seryn for help testifying, only to have her ask him for help.

Woot! Clark’s now guar-qualified.

That is a well-done quest.

I enjoyed Clark’s insightful analysis of the complex reasons and likely intent as to why Azura spoke publically via Seryn.


Nits:
- ’We went to Vivec City to buy my guar and I showed her the scrolls i'd {I’d} obtained from the Failed Incarnates.’
- ’As I walked over to her, she rose up off the groound {ground}, …’
- ’i {I} agreed to return to Vivec City, ...’

Posted by: ghastley Apr 28 2020, 12:05 AM

@Acadian: Fortunately, guar-qualification has not had any long-term effects on Clark.

------------------

Previously: Clark had helped Dovresi deny Chodola's claim to be Nerevarine, and Seryn had been "possessed" by Azura.

-------------------

Part 1.7 - Dwarven Ruins

Vivec was, as expected, slowly getting weaker. Archcanon Tarvus warned me against working with that Ashlander, Seryn, who'd undoubtedly be in league with her brother, but otherwise had no advice. I decided to go back to Barilzar, who at least had some insight into the staff's origin, and its original purpose.

We took the wayshrine to Molag Mar, and set out on foot towards the tower. It wasn't worth taking the guars for such a short trip, and we'd have to dismount frequently to cross the water. The shortest route hopped from island to island in the shallow lagoons, and although you raely needed to swim, you wouldn't want to ride across the slippery rocks. Getting your feet wet was better than getting thrown off your guar.

It wasn't easy to keep your balance on foot, either, and Seryn and I frequently had to hold on to each other to avoid falling over. Perhaps not quite as frequently as we did, but often enough. And by the time we walked up the path from the shore to the tower, she had her arm around my waist, even though she didn't need the support any more.

Actually she did, because she wanted to empty the water out of her shoes. "These were made for the Ashlands, not the swamps," she pointed out. But after they were drained, the arm went back around me.

It was a pity that the entrance to the tower was so close to the bank. She hung back as I knocked on the door to announce our presence. Instead of Barilzar's voice in return, I could hear a creature's alarm cry, and it didn't sound like any of Vvardenfell's native ones. When we entered to find out, we discovered daedra had chased Barilzar out of the main room, and they were trying to break down the door to the basement.

"I'll hold them, you hit them," I called to Seryn. She was armed with a staff, and I had a sword and shield, so it made sense for me to get in close, while she attacked from a distance. "And don't worry about whether I'm in the area of your spells."

I quickly disposed of the skaafin, but something summoned a hunger as soon as I did so. That took us a bit more effort to overcome, believe me. Nothing replaced that, so I was able to get Barilzar to let us in to his hiding place.

I told the mage about locating Sotha Sil's staff, but that I couldn't get it back while Chodola was using it. We'd need to disable it before I could do that.

"A tonal inverter should counter it. Uses sound waves to temporarily disrupt the flow of energy," he replied.

"Do you have a tonal inverter?" I asked.

"No, I just invented it. And I'll need the proper components to make one. My hirelings should have kept me stocked up with them, but I haven't seen them for a while. Here's a list of what I'll need. You can head out the back door and ask them to direct you to these common Dwarven components."

"So I need to find your hirelings first? Where will they be?"

"Molag Mar, probably. And don't worry about more daedra getting in. Now I know they're trying that, I can take steps to prevent it happening again."

---

It was getting dark when we got back to Molag Mar, and I didn't want to travel at night, especially as I had enough trouble riding a guar when I could see where we were going.

"I'll look for the hirelings," I told Seryn. "You go get us rooms at the Penitent Pilgrim Inn, and I'll join you there soon."

---

Snorfin was fishing off the docks. He was happy to tell me where I could find a Dwarven sonance generator, but advised me not to go there. "The automata there are haunted. They're bad enough normally, but with the ghosts in them, they're even worse! I certainly won't be going back." Arkngthunch-Sturdumz was all the way up north, at the other end of the island, too.

The other two hirelings were both at the Inn. I found Leona Blaso just outside, and she directed me to Nchuleft ruins for the manual clockwork shaft. "You'll be lucky to get in and out before it collapses on you. I'm certainly not risking it."

Volrina Quarra was sitting in the lounge. She knew where I could get the inversion conduit, as she'd seen one in Galon Daeus, right before the vampires chased her out. "If you can wipe them out, it would be revenge for my brother. The Berne Clan were the same ones that killed him."

Seryn had got us a room. Whether they were full, or this was her decision, she didn't say, and I didn't ask.

---

In the morning, we looked up the Dwarven ruins on the map, and planned our journey. We discussed where we'd take the wayshrines, and where we'd need the guars. What to pack, what to leave behind. Everything but last night, and the new status of our relationship.

It wasn't until we were in sight of the first ruin that she brought it up. Perhaps it was the imminent danger we were just about to face together that triggered it.

"You know, I'm not sure what are my feelings for you, and what are Azura's. After she spoke to you through me, I've had the impression that she never left. At least not completely. Do you know what I mean?"

Having Azura always in the back of my mind was now something else we had in common.

"Yes, i suspect she's nudging you in the direction she wants you to go, but only because you're already leaning that way. I know she appreciates what I do for her, and perhaps you do, too."

Before she could think that through too completely, I carried on.

"It's in everyone's interest. Azura wants an end to the threat to Vvardenfell that Vivec's weakness presents. So she needs us to work closely together. With your brother on a path to self-destruction, you need my support, and if we come to a confrontation, I'll need you on my side, not his. And finally, Chodola needs me to be sympathetic to him, if only because you're his sister."

"Do you really think he'll live?" Seryn pleaded.

"It depends a lot on whether he has any choice in the matter. I believe that one reason Azura chose to speak through you, instead of directly to me, was that she wanted you to understand what it's like to be controlled by a Deadric Prince."

"You think that might have happened to Chodola? And by which one?"

"Maybe, and the main suspect is Clavicus Vile. He may have just made some bargain with him, and Vile always cheats with those. But we do have consider the alternatives."

We entered Galom Daeus with the same combat plan we'd used against the daedra at Barilzar's tower. I'd get any adversary's attention up close with my sword and shield, and Seryn would use her staff from a safe distance behind me. We'd gone through Vivec City to get here, and I'd taken the opportunity to upgrade my gear as much as I could. I felt reasonably confident we'd do better together than Volrina had managed alone.

And we got more help from the Dwarven constructs than she had. The last two of the vampires died when the spider they'd been working on electrocuted them as it fell apart. In the wreckage of the spider, I found a control rod, and, prompted by Azura, tried using it on another inactivated spider nearby. It got up, ran over to a warded chest nearby, and fell apart just as it reached it.

I tried again with another of the spiders, and this one turned hostile. Fortunately, it was already damaged, so it didn't give us much trouble. "Third time lucky?" I asked, pointing the rod at what appeared to be the only remaining inactivated spider.

This one survived long enough to remove the ward from the chest, and I was able to open it, and retrieve the inversion conduit we'd come for. Leaving the ruin was uneventful, and we set off for Nchuleft.

Posted by: Acadian Apr 28 2020, 05:40 PM

Clark is such a charmer as he draws the arm of Chodala’s sister.

"And don't worry about whether I'm in the area of your spells."
- - Life, during combat, is good in ESO.

I figured Seryn was sweet on Clark. Looks like the one room at the inn may confirm that. Next morning looks like I was right.

The Morrowind Chapter certainly tries hard to make Buffy dislike all things Dunmer. She has to school herself routinely while there that she knows many wonderful Dunmer. . . it's just that most of them don't live in Vardenfell. She thinks the pompous and rude 'Great Houses' are basically irredeemable. While she finds Ashlanders generally inhospitable and ungracious, Seryn is a welcome exception.

I’m greatly enjoying Clark’s recount of this quest. Coincidence would have it that Buffy the Bowsorc just completed this questline only yesterday so it is nice and fresh.


Nit: ”But we do have {to?} consider the alternatives."

Posted by: Renee May 13 2020, 01:51 PM

Ha ha ha ha!

That's always a sign, that first step when a room gets shared.

Posted by: ghastley Aug 18 2020, 03:31 AM

@Acadian: It's the people who see what's wrong with a land that leave it for somewhere new. The ones that remain are the apathetic, and the cronies.

@renee: Some of the game's jokes are worth quoting.

------------

Previously: Clark and Seryn had collected the first pieces Barilzar needed. One to go.

-------------

Part 1.8 - Tracking Down Chodala

There were exiled Ashlanders in Nchuleft, but they weren't part of Chodola's group. Apparently getting exiled was quite a common thing, and possibly not very permanent. "Come back when you change your mind," or something like that. Once we'd fought past the few in the entrance, we were quite content to let them battle the automata for us, while we found another route through the ruins. Barilzar had given us a rough map of where to look, and it helped a lot.

We found the chest containing the manual clockwork shaft unguarded, but only after a lengthy search. It certainly wasn't out in the open and obvious, like the one in Galom Daeus.

---

The final ruin, Arkngthunch-Sturdumz, was near Gnisis, so we took the wayshrine and spent the night there, most pleasantly, before heading out in the morning. Late morning, as we'd both needed plenty of rest.
Just like the last two ruins, the Dwarven automata weren't the only occupants. This time, however, they were working together, and we couldn't just let them fight among themselves. Snorfin's notes, which we came across just inside the entrance, gave us an idea what to look for, and what to avoid. The mention of the side-passage to the furnace room saved us from a lot of dealings with the guardians, but those in the room itself couldn't be avoided.

The two spectral warriors we encountered going in didn't seem hard to put down. As a team, we did better than Snorfin could have alone, and Seryn's staff had just the right spell to deal with the spectral foes. But as he'd told me back in Molag Mar, it was a different matter when the automata were haunted. The second of the spirits managed to escape into a Centurion just before it fell, and the lumbering construct came for us. Instead of just attacking the nearest target in its usual predictable way, it now had enough intelligence to chase the more vulnerable opponent - Seryn - and to stop using attacks that I blocked, and weren't working any more.

The good news was that those attacks were unchanged, and I could still block, if I managed to get between it and Seryn. It took a bit of manoeuvering and backing up to force it to fight the way we wanted, but it wasn't impossible, and eventually we prevailed.

Beyond it, further into the room, were the furnaces that gave the room its name. There was a chest in the middle, but flames were being blasted at it from three vents spaced evenly around it. We needed to turn off the flames, and probably wait for it to cool down.

The switches were at the back of each vent, and not too hard to reach. I wouldn't have liked to try getting to them with a centurion chasing me, so I could understand why the previous attempt failed.

The chest was remarkably cool to the touch. I imagine it needed to have a lot of fire resistance to protect the contents - the Sonance Generator that would be the heart of Barilzar's device.

"Is that all the parts we need?" Seryn asked.

"Yes, back to Barilzar's tower, and he can start work."

"Are we staying the night in Molag Mar again?"

I just grinned.

---

Barilzar was unaccompanied by daedra on this visit, and got straight to assembling the components we'd brought into the device he'd promised. He did concern me a bit with his "Please don't explode" when he used a hammer on it, but before long he was telling me it was complete.

I didn't like the way he stood back as I picked it up, but nothing happened. He explained how to use it, and it was apparent that it needed at least three hands. So I had him repeat everything to Seryn. To me, at least, it seemed like she'd need to operate the device while I directed the output, as I'd need to be closer to the target.

---

Now we needed to track down that target. We went back to Vivec City to see if there was any news we could use. Archcanon Tarvus was as hostile to Seryn in person as I'd expected from his diatribe aginst her before. But we did find out that Chodola had been seen travelling to Malacath's shrine at Kaushtari. Apparently he was going to ask the God of Curses for assistance.

"That's not a good sign," Seryn told me.

"On the contrary," I replied, "it's a sign that Chodola is making his own - bad - decisions, and not just being Vile's puppet. That means we have a chance to change his mind before anything too drastic happens."

---

"Now that's a bad sign," I told Seryn. "If there are skaafin in Malacath's shrine, then something is seriously out of line."

"And it looks like the Red Exiles that came here with Chodala have been slaughtered. They're not the greatest fighters, but they should have managed the skaafin," she responded.

"There's someone still alive over there. Maybe we'll get an explanation."

Renos Oran was only barely alive, but he rasped out a few answers to our inquiries.

"Chodala…he's gone mad. Sought to make a deal with a Daedric Prince…."

"What happened here?" I asked.

"Chodala appealed to Malacath…but the God of Curses rebuked him. Killed us all…said Chodala already served…another…."

"Where can we find Chodala?"

"He went…deeper into the ruins…into Malacath's shrine…."

So now it made a bit more sense. Malacath's minions had dealt with the Red Exiles, and presumably left already. The skaafin had arrived later, and were guarding Chodala's rear. It was unclear what he thought he could achieve, after Malacath's refusal, but we needed to follow anyway.

Past more of the skaafin, we found Chodala standing before a statue of Malacath, berating it.

"You don't refuse me! I am the Nerevarine!"

It seemed that he was still clinging to that idea, even after the Wise Woman's denial of his claim. We needed to change his mind before his failure became fatal.

More skaafin turned up to interfere. I can't be sure that Chodala didn't summon them himself. Whatever the case, they were quickly eliminated.

Seryn told me that the tonal inverter was ready to use. I stood in front of her, ready to direct its output at the staff, which Chodala was activating. He intended taking part directly, and expected the staff to make him invulnerable.

"Now," I told Seryn, and pointed the sound waves at the staff. It knocked Chodala off his platform, and Sunna'rah fell from his grasp, inert.

Posted by: Acadian Aug 18 2020, 11:11 PM

Some good teamwork fighting those guarding Barilzar’s two artifacts.

Seems like Seryn has taken quite the fancy to Clark.

Well, it looks like Barilzar’s gizmo worked. I bet Chodala’s no threat without Sunna’rah. . . and Vivec probably has a better use for it.

Posted by: Renee Aug 24 2020, 06:58 PM

I love that line.

In general I have no idea what's going on (except at the very beginning) but if I pick up ESO again this fall I'll have something to follow.

Posted by: ghastley Jan 26 2021, 09:38 PM

@Acadian Clark has to hope that Seryn will continue to like him.

@Reneee again I'm quoting the game.


Since my machine is reluctant to play ESO, I'm hoping it will prefer my resuming this story.

---------------

Previously: Clark and Seryn found Chodala, and confronted him. The tonal inverted turned the staff off.

--------------

Part 1.9 - Sunna'rah

"My protective shield! What have you done? I'll destroy all of you for this!" he shouted, drawing his sword. Of course, since he normally wielded the staff in the other hand, he had no shield. My advantage, and one I'd make sure he understood.

I fended off his first wild attack easily with my shield, and put a nick in his other arm with my own sword. Not a major wound, but enough to get his attention.

"You're bleeding, Chodala. Is that how a Nerevarine fights? Or should you be giving up that idea by now?"
He quickly cast a healing spell, something he could manage with his free hand. "A Nerevarine overcomes such set-backs easily." And then he attacked again.

I'm sure he believed that I'd spent so much of my training on defence that I didn't have an attack worth worrying about. That was quite a valid tactic for people who always fought as part of a squad, where one could provide all the defence, and others the offense. But I was on my own more often here, and I'd got a few moves he wouldn't be expecting.

I didn't just block this time, but bashed with the shield, to send him staggering back. "Yield, Chodola, you can't win this."

"The Nerevarine can always find a way to win," he retorted. Nothing was going to make him change his mind, especially the facts.

Of course, every time I used my shield to stop one of his blows, I could also use my sword with the other hand, and I did. Finally he spent all his remaining energy in one great leap, holding his sword with both hand to try and force it through my defence. He landed on the point of my sword.

"Oh, brother, why did it have to come to this?". She could see that Chodala wan't going to be healing that wound. "Azura, we've defeated the false Nerevarine, just as you commanded."

She turned to me. "That was…harder than I expected. Chodala was so angry…so full of rage. Not like himself at all. Still, I can't believe I helped kill my own brother…."

"We did what was necessary."

"I know that! It was either Chodala or the lives of hundreds of Dunmer, all because he convinced himself he was the Nerevarine. Or someone convinced him. Either way, my brother is dead and the Cavern of the Incarnate has another resident."

"We should return to Vivec City"

"You go. Take Sunna'rah and I'll meet you back in Vivec City. Your Archcanon made it quite clear that the staff was the key to saving Vivec. I need to take care of my brother's remains. Then we'll be done here."

---

Archcanaon Tarvus was hovering around the motionless figure of Vivec, who was lying on his bed, in=stead of floating above it. "Do you have the staff? Lord Vivec has collapsed, we must return his energies immeditaely, or he may not last!"

He directed me to plant the staff in a socket in the floor. The Archcanon walked over to it, and turned it back on. Before I could ask how he knew how to do that, energy started to stream from the staff to the recumbent Vivec, in a golden beam of light.

But a few seconds later, the beam started to turn green, and Vivec was obviously in some pain, writhing on his bed. Tarvus rubbed his hands gleefully. "Perfect! It's working just as I expected."

Seryn came running in, carrying the tonal inverter that I'd forgotten to bring with me. "What are you doing? It's killing him!"

Tarvus retorted "What did you expect? That's the point of all this."

Seryn started up the tonal inverter, and I guided its output to shut down the staff again, just like we had with Chodala. But this time, it seemed to affect more than just the staff. Archcanon Tarvus seemed to be melting, growing horns, looking more and more like a skaafin..

A final burst of energy from the staff as it shut down knocked me backwards, and the creature who had been Tarvus grabbed it. A projection of a clockwork hemisphere appeared near the staff.

"You're too late! I see it now, the Clockwork City! Look what Barbas has found for you, Master!"
He then disappeared, taking the staff with him.

Vivec remained motionless on his bed, but a ghostly projection rose and spoke to us.

"Barbas... pet hound of the Prince of Bargains. I should have known. Talk to the Ashlander while I... compose myself."'

Seryn told me that Azura had warned her about what was going on in the palace, and she had run all the way here. Barbas was familar to her, by name at least, and it all fit in with Clavicus Vile's influence on her brother.

Vivec's projection agreed. "It was all part of an elaborate plan. But they weren't trying to kill me, rather to find the location fo Sotha Sil's Clockwork City. They needed Tribunal enrgy to do that, and I was just the easiest target."

Just then, Canon Llevule came in looking for the Archcanon. He took in the scene, and was duly horrified.

"Lord Vivec looks terrible! Where's Archcanon Tarvus? He ususually knows what to do."

We explained about Tarvus being Barbas, at least recently. We wouldn't get any help from that source any more.

"We need to give energy back to Lord Vivec," Seryn reasoned. "But how?"

"A blessing stone!" Llevule exclaimed. "Some of Lord Vivec's divine energy is in each one. Go find the Overseer, and retrieve oneof the stones fro the construction."

I'd done that before, but this time was going to be a bit harder. With Vivec being weakened, the moonlet hovering over the city was starting to fall apart, and flaming rocks were falling all around. When I reached the construction site, I was told that the Overseer had gone in to try and chase looters out of the area.

I found her, and sent her back out while I fetched the blessing stone. I had to deal with several looters myself, not to mention dodging the barrage of falling debris.

The blessing stone's meagre energy was enough to stabilise Vivec, but no more. The rain of rocks ceased, but he remained flat on his back on the bed.

Seryn and I left Canon Llevule to look after him, while we went to the Archcanon's office to look for any clues as to where Barbas might have taken the staff.

Azura decided to intervene, taking over Seryn's body to speak to me again. She didn't know how to find the Clockwork City, but she knew who to ask. And that was why she was using Seryn, as she needed her to cast a spell. A portal opened, and Barilzar emerged.

"Interesting. Summoned by a Daedric Prince and her mortal mouthpiece. I was right in the middle of a crucial experiment, but I suppose I can spare a few clicks of the cogs for Azura and my erstwhile assistant.
So, did you break the tonal inverter?"

I told him why he was needed. It wasn't the tonal inverter, which had worked exactly as it should, but the location of the Clockwork City. He'd been there, hadn't he?

"No, not going to happen. No offense to the Lady of Twilight, but Sotha Sil was quite adamant about keeping the place hidden and warded against the Daedra.

Oh, wait. Pistons fall into place. This concerns Sunna'rah and Lord Vivec, I presume?"

"And Barbas, who now has the staff," I told him.

"Barbas? Another Daedra. Thinking…thinking….

So Sotha Sil's forgotten tool was modified to steal Vivec's energy, which in turn energized the Clockwork City. Lit it up like the top of Red Mountain. Even Vile's dog would be able to see that!"

"Can you get me to the Clockwork City or not?" I interrupted.

"What is Barbas after? Wait, gears click into place…the reservoir! You need to reach the reservoir that contains Vivec's stolen energy before Barbas!

I can get us to the entrance in Seht's Vault, beneath the Mournhold temple. Ready to go?"

"We're ready," I told him.

"I only have enough power to get myself and one other person inside. One of you will have to stay behind," Barilzar explained.

"You go," Seryn told me, or was it still Azura?

Posted by: Acadian Jan 26 2021, 10:09 PM

Welcome back to Clark!

Thanks for the ‘Previously’ reminder of where we were.

One threat neutralized (Chodala) only to reveal another as we learn Clavicus Vile has designs on Sotha Sil’s Steampunkville. But first, we probably need to put Vivec back together.

Posted by: ghastley Feb 8 2021, 12:47 AM

@Acadian Vivec would like to be back together.

-----------

Previously: Clark retrieved the staff Sunna'rah, and started to restore Vivec, but Archcanon Tarvus revealed himself as Barbas, reversed the flow, and ran off with the staff, leaving Vivec even weaker.

----------

Part 1.10 - Clockwork City

The portal Barilzar opened led only to a vault beneath Mournhold. This was apparently where we'd find the entrance to the Clockwork City.

Naturally, Barbas had left guards to cover his rear, and we had the additional problem of Sotha Sil's automata also resisting our intrusion. If we'd been in less of a hurry, we could probably have set the two sides to eliminating each other, but we didn't have the time for that. So progress was fraught, but we made it through to where Barilzar was trying to reach.

"So where's the door?" I asked.

"You're much too large to see it. We'll have to do something about that."

---

Apparently the small domed mechanism we'd been standing next to WAS the Clockwork City. Just sitting on a pedestal down in the vault looking like a parked experiment in storage. An ingenious hiding place.

When we'd finished shrinking, I found myself standing in a hallway, with metal walls, and the sound of electricity and whirring mechanisms everywhere. Much of the electrical noise was coming from a barrier just ahead of us, and I could see Barbas on the other side.

The barrier came down only after Barabas had passed beyond the next one. "Don't bother following him," Barilzar advised. "We'll go this way and try to get ahead of him.'

He led me through a side-door into a maintenance chamber, where he fiddled with a control panel. He explained that he was both opening routes for us, and shutting down the defenses, as well as trying to divert Barbas onto a longer path. We needed to reach something he referred to as "the Reservoir" first. That was where Sotha Sil stored parts of his own energy for his experiments, and Barilzar presumed that it was now filled with Vivec's, as Sunna'rah was the tool Sotha Sil used to transfer his own energy.

"The protection effect that Chodala prized, was a safety feature to protect my master from harming himself. If the drain was too much, the wielder of the staff was be healed, and the transfer cut off. Of course when Chodala used it, it was draining Vivec, and not harming Chodala at all.

The capacity of the reservoir is immense, So none of Vivec's energy will have been lost - yet. If Barabas gets there before us, it could be. I believe the dog's intent is to open a portal for his master into the Clockwork CIty."

"And that would give him access to the vault we came through, and then the rest of Mournhold, and so on...?" I inquired

"Exactly," Barilzar replied. "The thin end of the wedge indeed."

---

Barilzar had not managed to shut down all the automatic defenses, and where he had, Barbas was able to summon skaafin to take their place. So our progress was not exactly uneventful.

As a result, we arrived at the Reservoir at the same time as Barbas. Barilzar ran to a control panel to try and get the defense mechanisms working for us, for once. If he at least managed to stop them interfering, and making things easier for Barbas, that would be good.

Barbas was alone, dressed in a suit of armour that liked a bit like the Daedric I was used to seeing on Dremora. The helm, though, resembled a dog's head. He brandished two swords, to my sword and shield. I felt that gave me a slight advantage, as nobody attacks as well with their off-hand, and a sword is an inferior blocking device.

So after a few flurries of attack and riposte, he started to use spells, mostly summoning skaafin to try and surround me. But if he summoned enough to attack from all sides, they were too weak to bother me, and fewer gave me openings to evade them. Still, they did take the pressure off of Barbas for a while.

He could not sustain that, however, and was soon back to using his swords to defend himself, while his magicka returned. I'd become a bit more confident that I could grind him down, and I think he was thinking the same.

A portal opened next to us, and Barbas transformed into a dog and bounded through it, back to his master.

Barilzar came into the room, and opened a portal to take us back to Vivec's palace. But before I left, I needed to draw Vivec's energy back into the staff from the reservoir. That took me just a few moments, and I was ready to follow Barilzar back to Vivec.

---

I didn't arrive where I expected. I found myself in a cave, with a statue of Clavicus Vile, which spoke to me.

"So you're the mortal who gave my poor dog so much trouble. I suppose we should have a chat, you and I.

"How dare you discipline my dog? He was only trying to appease his master. And I'd never harm a hair on whatever insignificant creature you hold dear.

"You, on the other hand, require a lesson in manners…."

"Barbas tried to kill Lord Vivec and destroy Vvardenfell," I pointed out. "What did you expect me to do?"

"Indeed? What ambition! As you can see, Barbas isn't a bad dog. He does get easily excited and overzealous. He embellished my plan somewhat, but it all worked out in the end. And we found the Clockwork City."

"So you were trying to take control of Clockwork City? I asked.

"This little flea thinks it's smart, but my plans are beyond its comprehension! Still, by delaying the inevitable, you caused my associates and I some trouble. You'll stay here until you're no longer a threat. How does a few decades sound to you?"

An apparition of Barilzar appeared, just behind Vile's statue.

"I lost you somewhere between Clockwork City and Vivec, but it was simple enough to trace your energy signature to this Daedric shrine," it told me. "Unfortunately, some power is interfering with my efforts to open a portal for you."

"It's Clavicus Vile. He wants to trap me here for a few decades."

"Hmm. That would be unfortunate for you. Luckily, you have me to assist you. Well, me and Sunna'rah. Expend a small amount of Vivec's energy at the statue and that should provide enough of a distraction for me to pull you out of there."

I'm not sure how I knew how to do that, but I pointed the staff at the statue and it seemed to just happen. Perhaps the staff was more automatic than I was used to.

The result was that I arrived in Vivec City as if I hadn't been diverted on the way. I found myself next to Barilzar, and Seryn and Llevule were there, too.

"Were you successful?" asked Vivec. "Can you restore my energy/"

I was reluctant to try using the staff without some instruction on how it worked. I'd already seen that the flow could go the wrong way. Vivec was prepared to take the risk, and told me to place it as I'd done before. The staff seemed to be working as intended this time, and the beam remained golden as Vivec rose from his bed, and he and his projection merged back together.

Posted by: Renee Feb 8 2021, 06:49 PM

Clockwork City sounds amazing. I assume Barbas is the same 'dog' from Skyrim, eh?

Yeah right. Good luck with that, Clavicus dude. Congrats to Clark on finishing this quest (or at least one of its main stages).

Posted by: Acadian Feb 8 2021, 09:32 PM

A fun run through part of Clockwork City. I enjoyed Clark’s combat observations while dueling Barbas.

Good to see that Sunna’rah worked as intended and that Vivec is now topped up on divine energy once again.

Posted by: ghastley Apr 10 2021, 10:48 PM

@Renee: Yes, and Barbas was in Oblivion, too. Apparently, he may also have appeared in Morrowind as a Scamp, so shape-shifting isn't new for him.

@Acadian: Well, it started that way before, let's hope it doesn't reverse again.

I need a break from ESO events, so let's have a bit more Clark.

-------

Previously: Clark brought the staff back from Clockwork City, and they're trying to restore Vivec.

-------

Part 1.11 - Restoration

For once, we didn't need to use the tonal inverter to shut the staff down. When it had completed its transfer, it did so of its own accord. Vivec seemed to be back to normal, or at least Canon Llevule assessed his condition as such. I wasn't at all sure what a normal Vivec was supposed to be, having arrived after he was already suffering his loss of energy.

"Remarkable! No ordinator or armiger could have done any better! You uncovered a Daedric spy in our midst, brought a Living God back from the brink of death, and saved all of Vvardenfell. Well done, my friend!"

"I did what I could," I responded.

"As my next sermon shall proclaim, 'Modesty is the false cloak off a flatterer or the sincere garment of the humble.' Again, you have my gratitude, and that of all my people. Indeed, even those who rail against the Tribunal owe you their lives."

He pondered for a moment or two and continued. "You have done much for me and for Vvardenfell. But as the warrior says, 'Do not think the battle is over when the enemy is dead. The hearts and minds of the people must also be won.' I must ask you for one more service."

"What do you need me to do?" I asked.

" 'Gratitude is its own reward,' I once told the crowds in Ebonheart. But I've found that some of my followers appreciate something more tangible. Help me reward those who aided in the saving of Vvardenfell so we can reassure my people."

I think I understood what he meant. If we proclaimed a great victory over an unseen foe, the people would be even more concerned. We had to stage-manage a celebration of returning to normal, with only the events that everyone had seen being part of our story. The Baar Dau instability was probably the most obvious to everyone in Vivec City, but that could remain unspoken, and they'd all assume it was the reason.

Vivec sent me to retrieve the Archcanon's ring from his office. Then I met with him on the plaza in front of the temple, where he had already started the ceremonies. He handed me a bag, and told me that as each name was announced, I should take out the first thing I found in it and hand it to them.

Overseer Shiralas was first, and I handed her a blessing stone, humming with renewed power. Vivec promised her a new, stronger stone for each canton in the construction, implying that he'd ensure the work was not interrupted again.

Barilzar received some gems, charged with mystical power, for his experiments.

Canon Llevue received the Archcanon's ring. It took him a few moments to understand that he was being promoted to the office that went with it.

And finally, I, an outsider, was named hero of Morrowind, and given a modest piece of armour as my token. It wasn't something I'd use, being more suited to Seryn, and I understood what he was doing. He was rewarding us jointly, as if we were an item, which was pretty accurate, after all.

There was, of course, no mention of Barbas, Clavicus Vile, or even Azura. Invoking their names would have made this all a much more serious matter, and public order meant playing it all down.

I accepted my token, and with it the ttle of "Champion of Vivec". Which apparently meant that I wasn't "an outsider" any more. Seryn was still an Ashlander, but she'd stepped a little closer too. I made sure to keep my arm around her to reinforce the show of unity.

---

We went to rent a room for the night. There was a place in the St Delyn canton that had been recommended to me, on the Waistworks level.

The woman there made us an interesting offer. We could just rent, but we could actually buy a room, for a remarkably small sum, instead. It may have been part of becoming Champion of Vivec, or it could just be a way to get travelers to put down roots in the new metropolis. Either way, it was a deal that was hard to refuse.

It was unfurnished, but that meant we got to choose what went in there. Starting with a nice big bed, of course. I let Seryn choose most of the pieces, as I suspected Azura would be finding me work elsewhere before long. It was important that Seryn felt at home here, if I wasn't around.

---

When all the furnishings were in place, it was time to check out the bed.

- - -

"Clark, when Azura was speaking to you through me, I got a good idea of what she was thinking, and it seems that ... that she knows you as well as I do."

"And ... ?"

"How can I compete with a Daedric Princess?"

I interpreted that as "I'm feeling insecure, tell me what's special about me." If only she'd asked it that way, I could just have answered "everything", and got back to work. But she didn't, and answers like "Just keep being you" would only make her ask me again.

So I decided to give her the straight answer she wasn't really wanting. "You can't even think of competing! Azura will take that as a challenge, and probably cheat! You would be much better advised to share, or take turns. After all, she's immortal, and can afford to wait for hers."

"What kind of sharing did you have in mind?" she asked, but it wasn't her own voice, and she'd started to glow. "If i join with Seryn, then it's no better than she'd get on her own, and she might not like me taking control for that."

"The alternative," Azura's voice continued from beside the bed, "is probably preferable. And I know Clark likes it better that way."

"Did I summon you?" I asked.

"Of course you did. When Seryn mentioned my name, this possibility was one of the first things that crossed your mind. And I don't blame you. It was fun last time."

"And by the way," she continued, "You almost summoned Nocturnal, too. But she's busy already."

Because Azura had been listening to us, she knew how Seryn was feeling. So she was a little shorter than the Dunmer, and definitely cute rather than awesome. She's always a bubbly blonde, whatever size she decides to be, and smaller was a good choice for the circumstances.

I don't know what Seryn's expectations were. I imagine most people expect her to be just like her statues, if not quite so large. But statues all have a solemn expression, and she had the most wicked grin you could imagine. With her chosen stature, she most resembled a Breton, with everything rounded - ears, chin, buttocks and breasts, with her nipples like small domes on the larger domes.

Seryn was all angles, pointed ears, pointed chin and almost conical breasts where the nipples were just a change of shade at the tip.

The one thing they had in common was the perfect balance of soft and firm.

"Did you remember to bring the Crescent?" I asked Azura. I suspected she hadn't, but when I looked on the bedside table, there it was. Of course, that was a cue to have Azura explain all about it, and maybe tell http://chorrol.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4822&st=320&p=191358&# I could remember telling my side of the story to Azura, of course, but nothing of the Khajiit herself.

Of course, the two women put me to work, while they discussed the whole subject of involuntary spell-casting and the sensible precautions required. Seryn's ability to hold a conversation despite my best efforts reminded me of someone else, but I couldn't find her in my memory, no matter how hard I tried. It was a skill I admired, that much I knew.

Posted by: Acadian Apr 11 2021, 01:31 PM

All's well that ends well. I should think Clark preferred Azura's award ceremony to Vivec's.

I can imagine Azura's inspiration to manifest as a small bubbly blonde, but I've no idea where she got the idea about those round ears.

Posted by: Renee Apr 20 2021, 01:58 PM

Congrats on attaining Champion of Vivec. Do you happen to know if all of this material with the staff and restoring Vivec if supported in any of the in-game books? I have a feeling maybe it is.

Uh oh. Well that's what happens sometimes, for those of us who assemble ourselves to become a pinnacle of exaltation in the worlds of Tamriel. Clark should expect to claim situations such as this, I'd imagine.

Can you post a picture of Clark in the Second Era? Or does he not exist in ESO as a tangible character?

Posted by: ghastley Apr 20 2021, 04:06 PM

http://ghastley.org/ESO/Characters/Clark.shtml (and all my other ESO characters)

Posted by: Renee Apr 20 2021, 05:17 PM

Ha, his name is Clark Kent. The look on his face helps me visualize the guy as you told that last chapter. Especially since it seems like he's getting his head wrapped into things he didn't plan much on and stuff.

Posted by: ghastley May 26 2021, 01:53 AM

@Acadian: Notice how both Vivec and Azura made him do all the work?

@Renee: Just Clark, and he's not even Earl of Gweden yet.

-----

Previously: Clark soothed Seryn's concerns about Azura, with her help, and thought everything was neatly wrapped up. However ...

------

Part 2.1 - Next assignment

I half expected to wake up the following morning with both of them cuddled up to me, but I found myself alone. Seryn was already awake, and fixing breakfast.

"I suppose you deserve some extra sleep," she told me. "Last night was truly something to remember!"
Did she know that my lack of memory was troubling me? I understood why it was, but the gaps were most annoying. Especially as the missing memories should have been very pleasant ones. And because I couldn't explain any of it to Serym.

Seryn prevented me from brooding over that by talking about Azura, as you'd expect her to. It's not every night you get a visit from a Daedric Princess. Oh, that was a question. Did I really think she'd make a habit of joining us.

"No," I told Seryn, "but last night you needed the reassurance that she only wanted to share."

"Anyway, the reason it's important that last night was memorable is that it helps you form the memory of this place, so you can recall here whenever you want to," she told me.

"Recall?"

"Yes, the same spell that works the wayshrines. They're built the same everywhere, so that you're already familiar with the shrine, and just have to remember the surroundings to travel there again. Home is the easiest place to remember, so you can travel home from anywhere, and don't need to be at a wayshrine to remind you.

"The Mages Guild say that they're working on a spell to reinforce your memory, and then you'll be able to travel back to anywhere you have been before, without needing wayshrines at all. Some of them can already do something like that, and create their own portals for travel."

"Portals are a bit different, though. Anyone can use them, without knowing what's at the other end," I reminded her.

"Yes, but the creator of the portal needs to know, so it's the same thing for them."

"What will happen to the wayshrines, if they finish work on that spell.?" I pondered.

"Well, they won't need to build any more, at least. The ones we have can get a bit crowded at times, which is why they're usually at the edge of town, and a bit off the road, so it doesn't get blocked. Vivec needs two already and most major towns are thinking of where to put a second."

---

We left to go shopping, and as we passed the front desk, the clerk handed me a note. It had a large and elaborate seal on the envelope.

"That's Divayth Fyr's seal!" Seryn exclaimed. "Why's he sending you notes?"

"I'll know once I've opened it, I presume. And who's Divayth Fyr?"

"He's the older Mer alive. Probably immortal. He knew the Tribunal before they became gods, and Nerevar, too. He usually keeps himself to himself in his mushroom tower out in the Telvanni Coast region, but he turns up from time to time when he needs something."

I read the first part of the note. Fyr had heard about the incident with Vivec and Barbas, and wanted my assistance in further investigating some other strange turns of events in the Clockwork CIty. I should meet him in Mournhold, as Barilzar wouldn't be my guide this time.

A little voice inside my head told me that Azura wanted me to go, too. I wasn't sure Seryn would agree with her, but surprisingly she had no objections. "If Fyr summons you, it's a good idea to go." she told me.

"How do I get to Mournhold? I don't know any wayshrines on the mainland."

"Then take a boat across from Seyda Neen. You've been there before, and the wayshrine will get you close to the docks."

---

I asked around in Vivec first, and found out there was a boat direct to Mournhold, without going to Seyda Neen at all. It was a small, slow one, but I wasn't in a hurry. And it took me all the way up the river to the capital, instead of dropping me off at the coast. A rather winding river voyage, as there were several falls on the main flow, and we had to skirt around those along side-channels. I suspected they had been artificially dug out specifically for transporting goods.

I was beginning to distinguish one House style of architecture from another, and the majority of what we passed was Indoril. There were a few obvious exceptions, mainly the Argonian homes built by the ex-slaves who'd settled where they were freed. Some signs of Imperial presence, not surprising on the mainland, but no Redoran bug-houses. I was unsure if I could tell Hlaalu apart from Indoril yet, so some of it may have been theirs, too.

Mournhold is dominated by the Tribunal Temple. It takes up nearly one third of the area, and rises way above the other buildings. Some of that is the higher ground it's built on, but the edifice itself is nothing short of huge!
I was to meet Fyr in that building. I hoped he'd be somewhere close to the main entrance, or I'd never find him.
---
As soon as I'd stepped off the boat, I was met by an Ordinator. As an outsider, I was expected to register at the city center. Registrar Rivel told me I was expected. Apparently Vivec had sent word that I was coming, and Almalexia herself wanted to speak to me. She'd ordered that I be admitted as a citizen, not just a visitor. So should I talk to her, or Fyr first?

And before I could find either of them, I was waylaid by a Dunmer called Naryu Virian, who appeared to know of my visit, too. Apparently there were members of a Daedric cult, called the Maulborn, trying to infiltrate the city. It wasn't clear why, but she thought I'd be interested in helping her investigate. "Find me at the Flaming Nix, when you're done with Almalexia."

Almalexia was waiting outside the Temple's main door. She floated above the ground in much the same way that Vivec had done above his couch, except for their postures. Vivec's cross-legged pose would not have been appropriate for a women, so Almalexia kept her legs together. That meant that she was significantly higher up, and talking to her up there would be a strain on my neck. So I kept my eyes level as we spoke.

"Vivec appears to know of our situation, as he has sent me his Champion," she began. "Since I wish for my people to love me, not fear me, I am reluctant to take action myself, at least publicly. Sending in a Champion, with my blessing and support, is a much better .... WILL YOU STOP STARING AT MY CHEST!!!"

"Isn't that what you wanted?" I asked, as innocently as possible. "You have it levitated up to eye level, as uncovered as public decency permits, not to mention the subtle glow to draw anyones' attention."

It should have been clear to anyone that she wanted attention. I've already mentioned the glow, and that lack of coverage extended to her whole body. She was showing as much skin as she could manage. I suspected that was because she retained the Chimer golden hue that had been replaced by Dunmer grey in everyone else. The levitation, too was a show of power. It's a spell that requires a lot of magicka, and mortal mages can't sustain it for long.

What I was lacking was the proper deference, of course. She wanted me to admire her, worship her, even. Instead, i was just treating her as an equal, or at least not as special as she wanted to be.

She lowered herself to the ground, so our eyes met naturally, and she continued the conversation. "As I was saying, we have a situation here that needs you. There are cultists in Mournhold, and they've managed to summon Daedra into the temple. I need you to find the source, and eliminate it."

When I agreed, she turned and walked away. This time my eyes weren't on her chest. She'd have drawn less of my attention if she'd levitated again, as her hips wouldn't have moved like that.

Posted by: Acadian May 26 2021, 04:56 PM

Off on the next adventure! I like your logic on wayshrines, portals and such.

I see Clark was suitably impressed by Almalexia. I suspect she shops at the Goddess Store?

Posted by: Renee May 30 2021, 03:23 PM

I hate when I've apparently had a great night, but can't remember the details! Totally get how Clark feels there. Then again, it's been over two decades since I've had a night like that.

Very nice. I like how you've managed to describe how Recalling to a Wayshrine works, in terms which make sense from Clark's perspective (rather than our perspective as we play the game).

Posted by: ghastley Dec 10 2021, 02:34 AM

@Acadian: If she doesn't shop there, I'm sure she has their labels sewn into her things.

@Renee: I'll be trying to do the same for crafting in this one.

------------------

Previously: Clark traveled to the mainland, and arrived in Mournhold.

------------------

Part 2.2 - Mournhold

I noticed another pair of eyes watching her leave. An elderly Dunmer in Daedric armour was standing nearby, and he came over to talk to me. "I've not seen Almalexia stared down before. It will probably do her good."

This was Divayth Fir, the one who'd sent for me. He was a contemporary if the Tribunal, but had not participated in their use of the Heart of Lorkhan. as he preferred to earn his immortality by diligent study, not opportunism. I took that to mean that he'd succeeded in that objective. His task for me could wait until I'd dealt with the cultists. "You've got two women expecting your assistance, and me. I know who I'd put first. Besides, having the cultists and their daedra here when we get back would complicate matters."

I asked if he had any clues as to whose cult we were dealing with. He thought it might be Boethia, but it wasn't at all clear. There were hints of other Princes being involved, although they rarely worked in concert. Too much rivalry, and fondness for treachery.

Naryu didn't know which Daedric Prince was at work here either, but our best chance to find out involved the House Dres farm outside town. There had been a lot of suspicious activity, and it was locked down tight. There was a courier she'd been watching, who was apparently delivering bribes to the other house leaders and city officials. He might be our opportunity to progress in the case, especially if he had a key to the farmhouse.

She suggested an elaborate plan involving drugged wine, and following him until he drank some and fell asleep. I pointed out that if he waited until he was back at the farm, we'd fail, and alert the others at the same time. "Ok, then the simpler approach is that I get his attention, and you knock him on the head. All it should take is a little cleavage."

If that was her idea of a little, I want to be around when she decides the situation needs a lot.

---

With the key in my pocket, I set out for the farm. It wasn't hard to evade the guards, who seemed to patrol on a rigid schedule, and were totally predictable. The farmhouse was empty, but various items in it were suspicious, not the least of which was an oddly-placed rug, which turned out to be covering a trapdoor.
Just as I opened it, Naryu came through the door. She'd followed me from the city as soon as she could get away.

She wasn't distracting me the way she had the courier, so I was able to take in the outfit she was wearing. Dark and inconspicuous, much like the members of the thieves guild would wear, but with a lot more locations for concealed weapons. That made me suspect she was an assassin by trade. The Dark Brotherhood didn't get involved with other Daedric cults, so I didn't think she was with them. I'd heard of a specifically Dunmer outfit called the Morag Tong, and that seemed much more likely.

When we found a trapdoor in the farmhouse leading down to the city sewers, she confirmed my suspicions. "My organisation has these sewers warded aginst spying, and it looks like the Maulborn are taking advantage of that,"

I asked if she knew which Daedric Prince he Maulborn were associated with, but she didn't. She didn't really care for the Deadra anyway. They just got in the way of business.

I asked her about that.

"Well, take my current contract. Usually I just track the guy down, let him take me to bed, and then I wake up in the morning and he doesn't. That fulfills my need to positively identify my target, and I don't feel too bad about killing him, because I know he died happy.

"But this time, I find that he's behind the Llodos plague that was rampant in Serk, You wouldn't sleep with a guy who's spreading plague, would you?"

She reflected a moment. "Maybe I could have phrased that a bit better, but you know what I mean."

"So where does the Daedric Prince fit in, and which one?" I asked.

"Well, with plague involved, my first thought was Peryite, but it appears to be one of the 'three anticipations', as they're now called: Azura, Boethiah, and Mephala. It's not surprising that they'd be a bit displeased with the Tribunal, and the plague seems to be directed at Almalexia. It could be all of them, but they rarely cooperate that much. I haven't found out enough to know which it is, yet,"

"Perhaps they're not knowingly working together. Sometimes they'll provoke each other, just to get a reaction that affects a third party, usually us here on Nirn," I suggested. "They're a devious bunch."

"That's certainly true," she agreed. "and whichever it is, we have to deal it with all the same way, by taking down their agents here."

---

While Naryu did help me get into the sewers, showing me the right door, and helping me with the sequence of levers required to unlock it, she left before I went in.

"My intelligence reports tell me the boss of the little group down here is a woman. Obviously, you'll do better than I would," she pointed out. "I'll see you back in Mournhold."

I did, however, get help from Almalexia. After I took down Commander Kalara, she showed up to wipe out the rest of the witnesses. The exception being one Farona Telvanni, a mage that the Maulborn had coerced
into bypassing the Morag Tong's wards for them. Almalexia sent her to the Mage's Guild for healing, but left me to find my own way back.

---

I ran into Naryu again, on my way to get my armour and sword repaired. "don't bother with that," she told me. "You need to get yourself a matched set that will work better anyway, and I know just the place to do so."

I followed her to the way-shrine, and she took me to a location somewhere in the Rift, that I'd never been to before. "Why would anyone put all these crafting stations in a cave out in the wilderness?" I wanted to know.

"Because some places are special, and you can make armour and weapons here that have properties unlike the ones you'd make in town. Look, I don't know how it works, either. Just that it does. The set you can make here gives you an extra bonus if you wear five pieces, although that can include weapons, and jewelry. It's one that would benefit your style, I think."

I was surprised at how much material I needed to use, but Naryu told me that was more due to the quality of items I was making. The step up from the level I'd been using was a big one, but at least I'd reached the top, now. "And watch what traits you're assigning," she reminded me. "You can change it later, but that's not easy."

---

When we returned to Mournhold, I began to understand why she'd done that. Almalexia's next task for me was to clear daedra out of the temple. "Alone?" I asked.

"I'll be assisting," responded Fyr, who I hadn't noticed standing nearby. "But that will mostly be healing, and weakening the daedra. You'd be doing most of the damage."

"But still just the two us. No army of Ordinators, or anything like that?"

"They wouldn't do any better, and it would just get them killed. I notice you've just had your equipment upgraded, and you won't believe how much better it is than the guards' gear. Almalexia herself can't get involved directly. When it comes to disputes between the Tribunal and the Daedra, there are contractual obligations involved, that require the use of proxies."

"Huh?"

"Blame Sotha Sil for that. He negotiated a deal with the Daedric Princes, and now everyone has to live by it."
Fyr looked over my new equipment. "Just the one set? That may not be enough for this job. You can wear two complete sets, and a couple of additional items more. We'd better take you for a second set, at least."

It turned out that I had some pieces that matched already, so it was just a case of hunting down the missing ones. We checked the Guild merchants in town, and Fyr took me to a couple more cities to trade there, and I soon had all I needed.

"Most of what you have needs improving, but you can do some of that yourself. And when it comes to the jewelry, having the complete set makes more difference than the last upgrades of quality. I think you're in good enough shape for the job, now"

We did go back to the crafting area in Mournhold first, and I upgraded a couple of the items. Azura's voice in the back of my mind was noticeably silent, so I presume she agreed with what Fyr was telling me.

Posted by: Acadian Dec 10 2021, 07:41 PM

’With the key in my pocket, I set out for the farm. It wasn't hard to evade the guards, who seemed to patrol on a rigid schedule, and were totally predictable.’
- - It seems Naryu’s cleavage gambit worked well. And how convenient of those guards to be so predictable.


Commander Kalara, of the Maulborn Sewer Forces. Wonder who she pissed off to get that assignment? Well, she’s gone now, thanks to Clark.

Great job of weaving equipment crafting and the intricacies of sets and traits into the story.

Posted by: ghastley Dec 18 2021, 04:12 AM

@Acadian: At least her assignment wasn't rats. That means you're assigned to the fighter's guild.

-------------

Previously: Clark has met Divayth Fyr. Almalexia wants them to clear daedra out of the Temple.

-------------

Part 2.3 - To the Clockwork City

"Are these daedra much weaker than I'm used to, or is it all down to the new equipment?" I asked, during the first break from the fighting.

"Both, I suspect. If my spells are doing their job, then they should be less able to resist your attacks, as well as those doing more damage because of the better weapons etc. And on the other side of the equation, you've got better defensive pieces, and I'm healing you, as well."

We both agreed that it hadn't exactly been easy, but at least it was possible.

"But I can't help you with the next part," Fyr told me. "Entering the central chamber requires that you get the blessing of each of the Tribunal, and I have enough history with each of them, to know that's not happening for me."

"Almalexia's is already given. You've got this far, which is what she asked. Sotha Sil and Vivec have tests for you, and even though Vivec sent you here, his is still a requirement."

---

Sotha Sil had me repair, and then destroy, a Dwarven Centurion. The cogs and dynamo cores were a puzzle to test my brain, and the battle with the mended construct a test of brawn, I assume. Vivec's was not so much a murder mystery play, as a lesson in Great House politics.

With blessings in hand, I entered the central chamber to find a Dunmer mage attempt to summon even more
deadra to his cause. Or rather, that of Magistrix Vox, whom he represented. I got the impression that she was not in Mournhold herself, so hopefully I'd be done here once I dealt with this mage.

That wasn't as easy as I'd hoped. I had to activate three warding stones in the right order before I could reach him, and he was firing off spells at me as I did so. He went down as rapidly as the barrier did when I touched the last stone. One solid blow from my shield to wind him, and then a follow-up thrust with the sword.

---

I assume that killed him. Before I could check, I found myself in another room. It appeared to have no doors, or windows, and the light all came from a glowing ceiling. The floor was covered with a resilient matting that would let you fall without injury, and gave your bare feet a good grip.

Oh yes, bare feet. And everything else. And Almalexia was bare too.

She was attacking a straw dummy in the middle of the room with an unarmed style of fighting that was both acrobatic and effective, judging by the way the dust was flying from the target. Still, something told me that display was mainly about showing me what she had, more than her skill in using it.

Perhaps a part of that suspicion came from the way her breasts moved. Unrestrained, they should have been flailing around all over the place, but they didn't. There was clarly some magical support, and restraint, involved. Whether it was for her own comfort, or just vanity, she was still using at least some of her levitation.

She was glancing at me, seeing if I was showing an interest, so I didn't. I remembered a spell from somewhere that let me totally fail to react. Now, why did I even want to learn a spell like that in the first place?

And then I recalled teaching patience to Drelka, Azura's guard captain. That's why I could recall this one, because I'd used it in Moonshadow. It was able to counter-act the seducer's Allure spell, so hopefully Almalexia didn't know anything more powerful.

"Very few get to watch me practice," she was saying. "I do expect you to appreciate the privilege."
She stopped dancing around the straw man, and came over to dance around me. An impressive show of acrobatic/erotic poses, that still failed to change my apparent disinterest. Then contact, rather gentler than the straw man had endured. She took my hand and guided it, letting me know that she was ready to accept my offering, and where she'd like it delivered.

I couldn't get her thoughts very clearly. My telepathy isn't that good, and one of the Tribunal probably has a greater ability to hide them than most. But some of the surface ones were leaking through.
My lack of reaction was beginning to get to her. And her mood was darkening. And then, abruptly, it lightened again, as she "understood" that I was resisting her, not ...

There was an old wound behind that thought that I'd just missed re-opening. And naturally, she misunderstood my intentions.

"I know what you're trying to do and it won't work," she told me. "I am not going to kneel before a mortal!"

---

As abruptly as I'd been pulled into that room, I was ejected again. I found myself standing outside the Temple, next to Divayth Fyr. Fortunately, she'd dumped me out with my armour back in place.

"I think I may have got on the wrong side of Almalexia, a bit," I told him. "At least that means she's not likely to call on me for another errand for a while."

"Then we should take this opportunity to go to the Clockwork City," he responded. "The entrance isn't far, but it's a bit hidden away, to say the least. Follow me."

I soon understood what he meant by that. The entrance to a cave was hidden behind a waterfall just outside town, and the entrance to the dwarven ruin was hidden in the cave, and then ...

Eventually we came out in the same small room that I'd been to with Barilzar, and there was the miniature dome of the Clockwork City before us. The process for shrinking down and entering wasn't a surprise any more, which was perhaps a disappointment to Fyr.

More of a disappointment was where we arrived. "This isn't the Brass Fortress. What's going on?"
I began to wonder that myself when Fyr's shadow started to run ahead of him. "Follow that shadow! I need it back!"

I started to run after it, but the factotums around the walls started to energize and attack us. Presumably, without his shadow, Fyr was no longer someone they recognized, and of course, I wasn't either. To make matters worse, losing his shadow had also drained Fyr of a lot of his magicka, and he could only manage a few healing spells.

His memory was intact (unlike mine), and he knew the factotums' weaknesses, and could instruct me on how to exploit them. He knew where the traps were, and the switches that turned them off - although those always seemed to be on the far side of the traps themselves.

His shadow apparently didn't remember the way out, or maybe it couldn't go out into the daylight without him. We caught up to it eventually in a large hall, where after a bit of a struggle, I was able to subdue it, and Fyr was soon back in one piece.

On our way to the nearest way-shrine, we discussed the purpose of that incident. Was someone just trying to delay our arrival, or did it mean more? I had a vague feeling that someone was trying to warn us about something, and the shadow separation was a clue that we'd need later.

Posted by: Renee Dec 18 2021, 02:55 PM

That is true, all the daedric princes surrounding Mundus can be confusing to know, and study. I haven't the foggiest, either. Uh oh, here comes the cleavage.

That forge in the middle of nowhere sounds neat. I bet there's stuff like this scattered all over the gameworlds.

The scene with Almalexia is captivating. Why would Clark be resisting her actions? I mean, I know why... but he sure has some willpower at that moment. Whoa, this next scene in the Clockwork chapter is crazy. Will Clark figure it all out?

EDIT: this is http://ghastley.org/ESO/Characters/Clark.shtml, I just discovered. Phew, you have a lot of characters, ghast.

Posted by: Acadian Dec 18 2021, 07:45 PM

So Clark demonstrates that he's not just a boy toy for Almalexia. Buffy and I struggled to warm up to any of the Three and never did. Nor to any of the 'great house politics' that the Dunmer of Vvardenfel seem so fond of.

Posted by: ghastley Jan 10 2022, 07:08 PM

@Renee:See below, and Clark is the same Clark he always was, or will be ... he's not certain himself any more (or should that be yet?)

@Acadian: Almalexia got off to a poor start, and he's also trying hard not to get any "mission creep".

-----------

Previously: Clark has avoided Almalexia, and gone to the Clockwork City with Fyr, He's had to put Fyr's shadow back, after it tried to escape from him.

----------

Part 2.4 - Brass Fortress

The whole shadow thing was starting to nag at my mind, but Fyr interrupted me by introducing us to Proctor Luciana Pullo, an Imperial with a livid scar across one side of an already striking face. She obviously knew Fyr, and wasn't too pleased to see him again, which is why he wanted me to do the talking.

She told me I'd need a sponsor to get full citizenship, and access to all of the Brass Fortress' facilities. Finding one was my problem not hers. Fyr didn't count, appaently, and I'd have to find someone else. She gestured with the hand that wasn't wielding a large battle-axe, and I noticed that it was a mechanical one, attached to a mechanical arm, and ... it appeared that her entire body was a mechanism.

When she'd stomped off back to her guard post near the main door, I asked Fyr about it. He told me that she'd been a battle-mage under Reman Cyrodiil in the previous era. She'd been caught in the magical explosion when her conjured sword annihilated itself cleaving the staff of a powerful Wood-elf mage in the invasion of Valenwood. Sotha Sil had found her and taken her back to the Clockwork city to try and save her. He'd only been able to do so by replacing most of her with prosthetic parts.

"I assume that he tried to make her look as much like she did before, as he could manage," I queried.

"Yes, and for a very practical reason," Fyr replied. "That metal body is the size, shape and weight that she was accustomed to when wearing her usual armour. That meant that she didn't have to learn to balance, adjust her reach, or make any other accomodations to it. Just give up on eating, and a few other pleasures."

"The metal's really that light?"

"It's mostly hollow, and the ornate filligree is much stronger for its weight than plain plate. The placement of the internal pumps and things keeps the weight where she expects it, so she still moves like a woman, not a factotum."

---

One of the people milling about outside the gate saw an Imperial face (mine) and came over to introduce himself. He assumed that I was also seeking a sponsor, not being from around here, as he put it, and maybe I'd like to join him and his associates in a task that should get sponsorship for us all.

His name was Neramo, and he was an Altmer scholar of Dwemer artifacts, not that his knowledge was proving much help here. The other two, the Dunmer siblings Raynor and Kireth, seemed to be making more progress, as they'd discovered that the oil from Firepot Spiders was valued by the Clockwork Apostles. They hoped to collect enough to present to Provost Varuni Arvel, to trade for her sponsorship, but the Firepot Spiders were being .. uncooperative. Could I help?

Kireth told me that her brother had seen some spiders down in the gully beneath the bridge, and he'd gone down to investigate. "Can you go down and keep him out of trouble?" she asked me,

---

The problem with the Firepot Spiders, and the reason that their oil was so hard to get, was that they attacked by shooting burning oil at you. Not only did that make the process dangerous, but the more they did so, the less oil remained to be collected. Raynor wasn't getting a good return for the risk he was taking, and he really needed a different approach.

It turned out that my shield bash stunned the little automata quite well, and Raynor could finish them off, and collect the oil before they recovered. Together, we made good progress, and soon had enough to climb back up to the gate and decide our next move.

---

While the Proctor was delighted with the quantity of oil we'd gathered, as I expected, it wasn't quite enough to get us all sponsored. We'd have to do just a bit more for that. She had just the task - investigate the recent disappearances of several other outsiders. Any evidence she could use against their abductor would gain us what we sought.

Neramo was confident. He'd been tinkering with a device called a skeevatron - essentially a mechanical rat - that he could use to investigate areas we couldn't reach. And he had a good idea where we'd need to look. Kireth had overheard a conversation between Constable Baldan and a Khajiit that had made her more than a little suspicious. Since the Constable's departmental records would all be in the Document Depository, he'd like a look at some of them. and the skeevatron could get in and make a recording for us.

However, I'd need to get the device past a couple of obstacles first. The lock wasn't hard to pick, but did need opposable thumbs, so the little skeevatron couldn't have managed on its own. And there were a couple of heavy doors to open. Quietly, so the occupants of the room wouldn't notice.

The curious little construct managed the rest on its own, although it did require s0me steering to the right locations. Neramo had instructed it on what to look for, so it soon emerged with recordings of several pieces of important records. All of which showed signs of having been altered, as they no longer matched what we knew had taken place.

So now we knew how it was all being done, but since the Constable's account matched the official record, we still had a problem.

Kireth had an idea. We needed to make our record of events, that couldn't be refuted, and let Constable Baldan make his changes yo the official one. Then we'd not only be able to prove his crimes, but also the cover-up.

That sounded like a decent plan, except for one detail. I wasn't happy with the idea of her being the one to talk with Baldan while I made the recording. Somehow, however, she managed to persuade me that she was a more credible victim than I was, and that I was more able to keep hold of the evidence.

So I found myself with a memory stone, crouched above the skylight of Baldan's office while Kireth negotiated a deal with him for her citizenship. As soon as she mentioned an amount of gold, and that she had it with her, of course she was hit over the head from behind and robbed. I had to watch, and record, in silence, and wait until it was all over before I could do anything.

Some inquiries in Slag Town, the local slums, revealed that she was likely to have been dumped in the Mechanical Fundament. This was the local equivalent of a sewer, except that it was infested with clockwork creatures instead of rats. Ir was nominally patrolled by clockwork factotums, but they were more likely to attack intruders than rescue them.

I got directions to the entrance, and went down to look for Kireth.

Posted by: macole Jan 10 2022, 08:59 PM

Stunning the firepot spiders to maximize oil collection was a great solution to prevent slipping into financial ruin.

Posted by: Acadian Jan 10 2022, 09:56 PM

Wonderful intro of Proctor Luciana Pullo – one of the somewhat limited number of ESO NPCs that Buffy grew to rather like. Neat discussion of some of the considerations that went into rebuilding her.

That trio of sponsor seekers are also well-familiar faces.

Having a skeevatron sure comes in handy.

Well, looks like it’s down into the mechanical wastelands to recue Kireth. Across Tamriel, she and her brother are known as pros when it comes to needing to be rescued.

Posted by: Renee Jan 28 2022, 03:09 PM

Wow, Luciano sounds intense, with all her mechanical parts and whatnot.

That sounds like a fun quest, collecting oil from those giant spiders. Go to it Clark! SubRosa might have problems there, but I'd be okay. As long as there are no centipedes. I love winter because there are no centipedes.

Got some oil, Good job, Clark.

Skeevatron. I see what Zenimax did there. Anyway, that sounds like a fun quest as well. One of these days I need to return to ESO. Keep saying that, though.

Posted by: ghastley Jan 30 2022, 05:02 PM

Tuesday would be a good day for that. Chorrolites Guild meeting is at 6:00 PM Eastern at mALX's primary residence. Maybe you'll meet Unna the Bear Rider.

Posted by: Renee Jan 31 2022, 01:48 PM

Beautiful, is it every Tuesday? I think I'd like to show up. Well, not me, probably it'll be Anita Greatsword.

Posted by: ghastley Jan 31 2022, 03:02 PM

Monthly, not weekly. As Guildmaster, I can add you to the membership, so you can enter the guildhall, if I have your @player ID. A few others, such as Acadian, and Grits, can do that for you, too, and of course mALX, as it is her house. If you are on the EU server, the guild is there too, with first Monday meetings.

Posted by: Renee Jan 31 2022, 03:33 PM

Sure. It's been over a year since I fired up ESO so I'll try to find my info, then send it over. Hopefully I still have an account! Sounds like fun.

Posted by: ghastley Mar 1 2022, 06:32 PM

@Acadian: This stays vanilla for a short while, including this part. So Kireth will stay true to form.

@Renee: Luciana will re-appear at various times.

-------------

Previously: Clark had teamed up with Neramo, and the Dark elf siblings Raynor and Kireth, to gain sponsorship for citizens of the Brass Fortress. Clark is looking for Kireth in the Mechanical Fundament.

------------

Part 2.5 - Sponsored

I found her almost immediately, but as I should have expected, she'd made things more complicated. She'd managed to arm herself with a sword she'd taken from a defunct factotum, and was about to make her way out, when she'd bumped into another of Baldan's victims. The Khajiit had started to follow her out when they had been spotted by another factotum patrol, and he'd run off in the wrong direction. Now Kireth felt an obligation to go find him, which she passed on to me.

The two of us wandered further into the fundament, looking for the Khajiit's trail. Apparently he'd been hiding down here for a few days, as we found various places where he'd made a temporary camp.

"He hasn't been here for a while, the fire's gone cold," Kireth noted. "but it's at least a sign that he's been this way. If he keeps to parts he's familiar with, we may find him."

There was a regular pattern to the design of the place, so we had some idea where the cozy dead-end areas would be that made for good camp sites. Places with no mechanisms to service, so no reason for patrols to visit. We moved on to where the next one should be.

There were indications that he'd used that before, but he wasn't there now. Keep searching.

I think it was the fourth or fifth where we caught up with him. By that time we'd gone in almost a complete circle, and were presumably close to where I'd entered. But the path ahead was blocked by a huge fan with a grate over it. At least that stopped us risking the whirling blades to try and pass.

There was a hole in the floor and a murky darkness beneath. I dropped a piece of debris down and heard a splash not far below. It was worth the risk of jumping down, if we could assume that the chamber connected to a way out. Or we could retrace our path, through the factotum patrols that now knew we were here.

We took the short drop, and found that the oily water was only ankle deep. And there was light at the end of the tunnel. Not only that, but we heard familiar voices. We emerged to find Neramo and Raynor waiting for us. Provost Varuni Arvel and ProctorLuciana Pullo were there with the Constable, about to come looking for us.

It appeared that Baldan was trying to deny that Kireth had ever existed, which didn't correspond too well with Varuni's memory of things. Although by now it probably did match the official record. I produced the memory stone, as further proof, and the Proctor led Baldan away for further interrogation.

Varuni was happy to have the mystery solved, and gave all four of us the sponsorship we needed for full citizenship. I'm not sure if that extended to the Khajiit that we'd rescued, but at least he was alive for another chance.

I went to the Chancel of Records to have my details entered, and ran into Fyr again on my way out. He'd met with Sotha Sil, and was unsettled by how much his old friend had changed.

"I'm convinced that he really isn't himself," he told me, "and we need to find out who he really is."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I think that Seht is an imposter, and I mean to find out more. I'll need your help, of course. If I go asking questions, people just clam up out of deference. My assistant, however, can swap complaints about his duties with others' assistants, and find out a lot from that about what's really going on."

"I suppose you have a list of these assistants that you'd like me to talk to?"

"I do. Especially anyone connected to Chancellor Gascone. He's a particulary obnoxious boss, who really demands deference. I would imagine you'd get a lot of dirt on him."

"Before I do that, I understand that my new citizenship lets me use the wayshrines here in the Clockwork City?"

"Yes, but you only know the one here in the Brass Fortress so far."

"Will that let me travel back to Vivec City?" I enquired. "I'd like to go back and pick up my guar."
Actually I wanted to spend some time with Seryn, before she forgot me.

---

Let's just say that it look me a long time to recount everything that had happened since I got Fyr's letter. Seryn hadn't forgotten me, but I suspect my guar had.

"Now you have access to the wayshrines, you can come back more often," Seryn reminded me as I left.

"And the next time you do, I have a job for you."

---

Back in the Brass Fortress, I went looking for the other assistants.

Kiliban Arethi, who worked for Varuni, didn't have much to complain about. Yes, she was over-enthusiastic at times, and expected everyone to share her youthful energy, but she didn't get angry if you fell a bit short. If anything it was Sotha Sil who made life hard, through her. Turning the lights down whenever he passed through was getting tiresome.

Sedris Nadaren, Sotha Sil's assistant, was sure he'd changed recently. He wasn't always changing his mind before. "But you can't say a word, or Chancellor Gascone is accusing you of treason, or blasphemy."

Gascone Dusant's own assistant, Agral, had a lot more detail. He'd been put in charge of replacing ll the lamps with - to his mind - an inferior model. And not just replacement, all the lamps taken out had to be destroyed according to meticulous instructions, so they could not be repaired and re-used.

Fyr had the same idea that I had. We needed to find out what problem the imposter Sotha Sil had with the light. I was pretty sure I knew where this was all leading, but I didn't like the answer. I agreed for now to work with Neramo on re-creating the original light.

Rummaging around in the fundament, I found enough parts of the old lamps for Neramo to deduce their construction. Fabricating new ones however, required gathering materials from other sources, such as factotums and fabricants, that were ... reluctant to part with them. But soon Neramo and Raynor were busy making the new lamp. I wasn't at all surprised that Raynor was brought in to supply labour. Neramo seldom did anything for himself.

And then Kireth pointed out that the balcony where I needed to place the lamp had just had extra guards assigned. This wasn't going to be simple.

At least it wasn't far, and the guards weren't particularly effective. There was just the one carrying a lamp, so I was able to hide in the shadows and avoid detection. Once the lamp was in place, i dropped off the balcony into the empty chamber, and quickly returned to Fyr to report success.

Posted by: Acadian Mar 1 2022, 07:12 PM

Black oily water - ugh! Well, Kirith's been rescued. Once again. And citizenship for Clark.

A nice respite visit with Seryn back in Morrowind.

Sil acting not himself. Sure sounds like an imposter to me.

Posted by: Renee Mar 1 2022, 07:13 PM

That must be great to have extra Wayshrines just pop available just because we've accomplished whatever. If only real-life were like this. Every time I forget to pick up something from the grocery, I can just teleport back...

Aww.

Quite a complex questline Clark is involved with... phew.

Posted by: ghastley Mar 6 2022, 02:13 AM

@Acadian Well, sort of an imposter. It's not him, but it isn't anybody else.

@Renee If you're going to the grocery. remeber to take the pack-guar.

------------

Previously: Clark rescued Kireth from the Mechanical Fundament and was made a citizen of the Clockwork City. Now he's trying to find out what has happened to Sotha Sil.

------------

Part 2.6 Evergloam

When Sotha Sil began his address in the chamber I flipped the switch and bathed the podium in bright light. The figure dissolved revealing Sil's shadow had taken his place. This reminded me of the events with Fyr's shadow when I arrived, and I wondered now if that had been a deliberate clue.

"Nocturnal, what are you playing at?" I wondered. Nothing made sense right now, but I didn't have time to think. The shadow was getting away, and I needed to chase after it. It was our only chance for finding Sotha Sil himself.

The battle with the shadow was brief, and at the end of it, the shadow just disappeared, leaving me with nothing to go on. I headed back to Fyr, to see if he had any ideas. I found Varuni Arvel arguing with Chancellor Gascone about what to do next. The Chancellor just walked away and left the problem in her hands, announcing that he had to leave the Brass Fortress for a while.

That obviously surprised her. She'd been certain that Gascone would seize the chance to take control himself, but now he didn't seem to want the responsibility. She remained confident that Sotha Sil would return and put things right but Fyr wasn't so sure,

I decided to go to Gascone's quarters and find out what I could. I didn't expect to find one of Nocturnal;s shrikes searching the place for something. When she saw me, she grinned, tossed her head, and disappeared.

"Did she just flash her boobs at me deliberately, or was it an accident?" I wondered. Maybe it was another clue from Nocturnal, and I should be piceing things together about now, but it all remained a mystery.

I found a note from Gascone, that was not what the shrike was looking for. It revealed that he had left the Brass Fortress already. Varuni sent me after him, directing me to an artificer who would supply a tracking aide. This turned out to be a fabricant nix-hound, who followed Gascone's scent trail down to the oily river at the bottom of the ravine. The smell from the effluvium drowned out Gascone's trail, but I was able to follow his oily footprint a bit further west.

Eventually, I ran into a couple more shrikes who were also hunting for him. Apparently Gadcone wasn't on Nocturnal's side either, but that hadn't always been the case. He'd at some point betrayed her and thrown in his lot with Clavicus Vile, and was probably headed for sanctuary at the Ventral Terminus, which was overrun with skaafin.

It was getting dark, and trying to chase him right now didn't seem too productive. I decided to head up out of the ravine to a wayshrine. Spending the night back in Vivec City would help me relax, and think things through.

---

The following day, I didn't get far along the road from the Sanctuary Wayshrine toward the Ventral Terminus when a suggestion from Azura popped into my mind. I tugged on the reins of the guar and we turned off up a side trail that appeared to lead to a blank cliff. However, when I got closer, I found a man standing by an ominous portal in a cleft of the rock.

Adjunct Daro told me that his more impetuous companion had decided to investigate the portal, and she hadn't come out. He handed me a device he called a perception tabulator, and asked me to at least find out where she'd gone, and anything more about the nature of the portal.

I didn't tell him that the shadowy nature of the portal already told me that it lead to Evergloam. I just accepted the device and stepped through.

---

"Do I need to concern myself with what this thing is picking up?" I asked Azura as soon as I could. Nocturnal replied for her.

"No, I can control what it records. It will get enough to satisfy Adjucnt Daro, and pique his interest in this place. It's all part of my plan."

"You will explain some more of that to me, won't you?" I asked.

"Of course, but let's get Daro's little charade over first."

So I wandered around for a whiie, finding items that Acolyte Variah had dropped. Apparently, Nocturnal had arranged for her to be startled at convenient moments, so she could leave a trail for the tabulator to record. And then I found Varia herself, as well as a couple of earlier venturers, standing as scarecrows in a pumpkin patch near a small cottage in the woods.

The other two had apparently entered on their own, and it wasn;t until Variah arrived that someone was left outside waiting. So now the next part of the plan could begin. Releasing them with enough of a story to tell would draw more adventurers to this testing ground. I'd have a pitch to make to Daro when I left, too.

I went up the hill to "deal with" the Shrike Commander running the show. We flirted for a while and she shut down the compulsion field, before directing me to the cottage. "Nocturnal would like to complete your briefing herself".

When I went back down, the ex-scarecrows had all fled, and the door to the cottage was open. Two big armchairs were either side of a cozy fireplace, and Nocturnal was already relaxed in one, with a glass of wine in her hand. She handed me another glass as I sat in the opposite chair.

"I don't suppose anything is making any sense right now," she began. "All you know so far is that Clavicus Vile was scheming to find the Clockwork City, but naturally, you don't know why.

"When I got involved, I didn't either. All I knew was that Vile wanted help with something big, and of course that wasn't likely to be anything I'd approve of. I decided that 'helping' was a safer bet that letting any other Daedric Princes gang up with him. At least this way, I'd have some control over what happened, and maybe turn things my way.

"Vile's objectives are only gradually being revealed. At first it was the Clockwork City, but that was just a stepping stone to Sotha Sil, and he's supposed to help us locate Arteum. You know that he was a Psijic himself, so he's well aware of its location, and has full access."

"Is Sotha Sil in any real danger from Clavicus Vile?" I asked.

"He should not be. I'm sure Vile doesn't care one way or the other, but I'd prefer to be able to put things back the way they were, Seht included. Or maybe better. You'll be eliminating one of the weak links when you deal with Chancellor Gascone.

"Seht himself is safely locked away from harm. Anyone who wants to reach him has to travel through part of Evergloam, but he's actually in a part of the Brass Fortress that's cut off from the rest. That way, I haven't broken our agreement by abducting him to my own realm, but he's still safe. And once he's reunited with his shadow, he'll be back to normal.

"Gascone was supposed to be guarding the Skeleton Key, but he sold out to Vile, and it's gone missing. You'll need to get it back at some point, as you'll need it to reach Sotha Sil. That's so that Clavicus Vile sees that as the imprisoning device, and overlooks the requirement to pass through Evergloam to reach him."

"What do you need from me?" I asked

"Two things. First, to continue what you've started here. You'll be seen as Azura's agent in this, rather than mine, so Vile won't think we're on the same side. And second, I'd like you to look out for anyone who could become my agent. I'm going to need someone competent, independent, and loyal only to me. That last part rules out most people you already know. For example Seryn has all the right qualities, but her loyalty to her tribe, and especially to you, means I can't use her."

"Is that why you have this setup here?"

"Yes, I'm certain that Adjunct Daro will help direct adventurers to this part of my realm for evaluation. The portal itself will need investigation, and then scholars will need rescuing, and so on. There should be a steady stream of candidates coming through, and my shrikes will have some fun with those who don't measure up."

"And should I expect to be heading for Arteum next?"

"It's too soon to tell. Clavicus Vile seems to have an alternative strategy in the works in case I fail here with Sotha Sil. He has Mephala working on some other scheme in the Summerset Isles. If she gets the Sload involved, then that's likely to bring in Meridia against him, as she can't abide necromancy.

"However, with everything else going on, Meridia's stretched thin on the Molag Bal front, so at best she'll be a distraction."

Posted by: Acadian Mar 6 2022, 09:40 PM

Twists and turns! Daedric Princes conspiring against each other while feigning alliances. No surprise there.

Posted by: Renee Mar 10 2022, 02:50 PM

Yes indeed, this is a very busy update. Not to mention Clark gets a boobie flash, that's hilarious. (.)(_) Or so he assumes.

Wow, he gets to sit down and chat with Nocturnal. DON'T drink that wine!!! ... Then again, Nocturnal's demeanor has never struck me as purely evil. Nefarious, yes, shady, yes, but not downright Evil and tricksterish like Bolag or Mehrunes.

Posted by: ghastley Mar 10 2022, 03:53 PM

Clark has known Nocturnal since http://chorrol.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=4822&view=findpost&p=180439 of his Oblivion story. Of course, that happens in the future, but before he was sent back. It may help explain my take on her motivations.

Posted by: ghastley Mar 19 2022, 03:20 PM

@Acadian: This isn't Skyrim. It would be twist and shout there!

------------

Previously: Clark found out more about what Nocturnal is doing, but that has just added more
questions.

------------

Part 2.7 - Gascone

As I rode my guar along the road to the Ventral Terminus, I considered Nocturnal's requirements. Neramo and the Dunmer siblings worked well as a team, but she needed an independent individual. Naryu, the Dunmer assassin, was inseparable from the Morag Tong. Divayth Fyr wouldn't work for anyone but himself. The various Apostles I'd met all were devoted to Sotha Sil, or else people that were going to get weeded out. I didn't have any candidates for her at present, as she'd said.

I did have Gascone to deal with, and he'd run to ground among the skaafin.

Once I got past the guard of daedra at the main door to the Ventral Terminus, I found it locked, and the voice of Gascone told me so through the speaker device nearby. Somehow, maybe from the little voice in the back of my mind, which was as likely to be Nocturnal's as Azura's, I knew there was another entrance.

So I went up the ramp to higher ground to start searching.

More skaafin were waiting up there. I wasn't surprised, just a bit delayed. And the fabricants were taking no notice of them, and just attacking me, which seemed a bit unfair. Still, I soon had another door in front of me, and it wasn't locked.

It might as well have been, as it wasn't long before I came to a dead end at a solid wall of masonary. At some point in the past, the structure had been sectioned off, and this part was no longer connected to the one Gascone was in. The only thing on my side of the wall that had any hope of breaching it was a large clockwork automaton, which of course, was powered down.

I rummaged around looking for alternatives, trying the steam valves to see what they'd do. and flipping any switches I came across. Then I noticed that the pipes were getting some pressure, and judicious use of the valves let me direct it towards the station where the automaton was slumped.

All that happened was that a cylinder started to glow, as if it had just filled and was ready to use. I picked it up and looked for somewhere to place it in the automaton, not really expecting to find one. But there was a socket that matched.

I must have done the right thing, as it started to stand up straight, and a number of skaafin materialized to try and stop it. Without any guidance from me, it flung them aside and demolished the wall, as if it had been programmed to do so before it was shut down.

I followed, using my bow to help it with the stragglers, until it seemed to run out of power just short of another wall. I looked around for any more of the glowing cylinders, but there weren't any visible. I did find a stairway that took me up a level, and I had more luck up there. Just the one core, and I hoped it would be enough.

Going through the second wall was much like the first. Skaafin arrived to try and impede our progress, and failed. Soon I was in the section where Gascone was hiding.

It appeared that Gascone was the one summoning the skaafin, as he did so again as I entered, perhaps playing his final trump. This was a more powerful one than the others, and maybe not entirely in the chancellor's control. "You summon me again? I grow tired of this, mortal!"

The Daedra didn't seem reluctant to attack me, however, it just wasn't so pleased to be aiding Gascone. And after I defeated it and talked to the chancellor, I think I understood why. He didn't have the key any more. It had been stolen by crows, before he could hand it over to Clavicus Vile. I didn't need to ask what key he was talking about. It could only be the Skeleton Key.

Why had Nocturnal let an idiot like this guard it for her? I angrily killed him, and stormed off back to the Shadow Cleft to have another talk with Nocturnal.

---

"And who else was I going to give it to?" she asked me."Anyone more trustworthy is loyal to Sotha Sil. If I'd given it to Varuni or Luciana, then Varuni would have done the research to figure out what it was, and then Luciana would have gone off trying to release Seht.

"That would have been a disaster whatever the outcome. If she failed, then the Clockwork City would be lacking a good Proctor, and if she'd succeeded, then Sotha Sil would have been returned prematurely and Vile would probably have succeeded."

"But, Gascone ..."

"He was the sort of bureaucrat that just files things away, and does as little as possible. He put it with all the other items he needed to guard, and detailed his minions to watch over them. No curiosity, so it should have just remained where it was until I needed it again.

"However, I did make a mistake at that point. I told my minions to go and get it, forgetting to add 'and bring it to me'. The crows just took it for themselves - it is shiny, after all - and who knows where they went with it. They don't remember, and it's probably been stolen from the first ones by a rival flock by now. You're going to have to find it for me."

"So Sotha Sil doesn't need to be imprisoned any longer?"

"No, it appears that Vile has decided that Mephala's use of the Sload is more promising, and he's given up here. So as soon as you've released Seht, I need to figure out how to deal with that. If I'm not careful, I'll get left out of the plot, and not know what's in store. But if Meridia gets involved, he'll need the extra help"

"What should I be doing next?" I asked. "If the crows have the key, then it's at least where Vile can't find it, if he decides he needs it adter all. I'd think you need me finding you an agent before I go hunt down the key."

"That's true, but either quest relies on luck at this point. There aren't any clear leads to finding either of them."

I decided to go back to Vivec City, and find out what Seryn wanted me to do for her. There was always a chance it would connect in to everything else.

---

Well there was a connection, and it was Naryu. She'd been given a contract to take out one of the councilors of House Redoran, and found out about their dealings with the Ashlanders. She'd tried to contact me, and found Seryn instead. And that's what Seryn had meant when she said she had a job for me.

It appeared that the pro-slavery faction of House Redoran had also been trying to sieze land from the Ashlanders. It was not clear whether Ulran Releth sided with the Ashlanders, or against the slavers, but the result was the same, and he'd been eliminated with prejudice.

Now his sister Veya was out to avenge him, and as a colleague of Naryu's, that wasn't allowed. The Morag Tong weren't supposed to persue their own personal vendettas, as it was bad for business if they killed without a formal contract. So Naryu wanted me to stop Veya, and Seryn wanted me to do the job for Veya, and avenge the Ashlanders' protector.

Posted by: Acadian Mar 20 2022, 12:10 AM

Ahah. Skeleton key + Nocturnal. . . begins to make some sense now.

Ugh. Crows. Hate them.

Now, Seryn’s idea sounds delicious. Any chance to kill or otherwise screw with the pompous house of Redoran sounds worthwhile. And enjoyable!

Posted by: Renee Mar 28 2022, 05:29 PM

About the section which is blocked off, too bad there aren't any Destroy Wall spells in this game. :0 Still, Powering up that automaton must have been a challenge to figure.

Nice, so Clark got the Skeleton Key? What a confusing quest this sounds like. Do you need to take notes as you play? I often do nowadays. Because my memory.... Not the best.

Posted by: ghastley Apr 24 2022, 12:40 AM

@Acadian: Shhh... mirocu may be listening. And Redoran are making their own trouble for themselves.

@Renee: Clark almost got the skeleton key. The crows have it, and even Nocturnal doesn't know where it is now.

-----------

Previously: Clark tried to recover the Skeleton Key, but found that the crows have stolen it. While he figures out how to find it, Seryn has given him another task. Time for Clark to do what he does best.

-----------

Part 2.8 = Daedric Possession

I took the way-shrine to Balmora and went looking for Naryu. I was discreetly directed to a cellar door in a back alley, and found Naryu and Veya down there waiting for me. I'd arrived too late, and Veya had already played her hand.

Naryu still had need of my assistance. She'd not managed to stop Veya from killing her father, but she had made it look like Veya had been killed, too, so at least the Morag Tong and House Redoran would not be hunting for her. But now there was the problem with what to do with her. She couldn't say on Vvardenfell, or someone was bound to spot her.

"She'll have to be exiled, and as far away as possible," Naryu declared. "I have contacts on the Summerset Isle who could take her in and give her work. With her skills, she'd make a good bodyguard.

"I just don't understand what got into her, going it alone like she did. She probably could have taken her case to the Morag Tong leadership, and got a judgement to do it legally, but she just fired up, and went on her killing spree.

"It's just not like the Veya I thought I knew."

"Maybe it wasn't all her idea," I suggested. "There's always a possibility of Daedric possession when someone behaves out of character." I looked over at Veya, and continued "Do her pupils looks a bit contracted to you?"

"Now you come to mention it, perhaps they are," Naryu replied. "I'd put that down to shock, as she'd just come round from my knocking her out, but she should have recovered by now."

I was hoping that Nocturnal was listening in to my thoughts, as it had just occurred to me that Veya might be just what she was looking for. And if she was, I could use a little assistance.

"Is Daedric possession common?" Naryu was asking me, and I'm not sure that Nocturnal wasn't prompting her.

"Not very common, and it does require some willingness on the part of the possessed. For example, Seryn wasn't averse to letting Azura use her to speak to people several times, and even cast a spell for her once. It was clear that Azura's intentions didn't conflict with her own, and she was happy to lend a hand, ... or all of her, actually."

"Well, this wasn't Azura. Any ideas which Prince might have been involved in this case?" Naryu asked.

"Did Veya run rampage, and destroy everything in her path?"

"No, she did cut a swath through the guard, but she's quite capable of that without help"

"Then it probably wouldn't be Mehrunes Dagon. He likes as much collateral damage as possible. Property as well as people, and as much chaos caused as can be managed."

"Who else?" Naryu prompted. "Clavicus Vile doesn't seem likely. He wants the bad outcomes to be all someone else's fault, so he won't take control like that."

I offered the opinion that it could be Boethiah. "It's all about provoking combat with that one. And Veya acted fairly rationally, so I think Sheogorath is ruled out, too."

"Hmm, are there any other symptom we could look for?" Naryu asked.

I was getting prompts from Nocturnal now, and I wondered if Naryu was, too.

"Well, we don't know if the supposed Daedric Prince was trying to arrange her father's death, and just using her as an implement of opportunity, or if it's an attempt to sway Veya herself. If it's the latter, she'd be losing interest in Mundus, and other people."

"Like a lowered libido? That would be the first thing to affect a young Dunmer woman. She'd have shriveled nipples, and be drying up."

Naryu was probably projecting her own ideas here, but I let her run with it.

"Veya, take off your shirt," she commanded. "we need to see ... What do you think, Clark?"

"I don't have a before image to compare against," I pointed out.

Veya took everything else off. She was determined to prove that if she had been possessed, she wasn't now. She grabbed my hand and showed me.

"So there's a good chance the possession wasn't complete," I announced. "And that means we can do something about it. There's a ritual of re-possession that will reclaim her for Mundus, and since you and I, Naryu, represent man and mer, male and female, we have enough to perform it."

Prompted by Nocturnal, I rummaged in my pack and found a couple of hooded masks that I know weren't in there before. "You and I need to wear these, and nothing else. We have to be anonymous, as we're representing everyone."

"But I already know who you are," Veya interjected. "So how are you anonymous?"

"It would be too creepy if you didn't know who it was, wouldn't it?" I replied. "It's symbolic, which is why we don't need all races; just a Dunmer and an Imperial can stand in for Altmer, Bosmer, Breton, Redguard, Nord, and Orc. Khajiit and Argonian may be a stretch, but the principle is valid."

That seemed to satisfy her. If I'd had to take it further, I could have pointed out how Veya was clearly part Altmer, as she was tall and slender for a Dunmer, and Naryu was as top-heavy as a Nord.

---

---

"Her libido seemed to be normal," I remarked to Naryu afterward, while Veya slept. "So if we are sending her off to Summerset, she won't have too much problem making new friends."

"Except that you just gave her a reason to want to come back here," she replied. "I hope you're planning to disappear before she starts to think about that."

"I have to go back to the Clockwork City, wherever that really is," I told her. "And all I have to look forward to there is crows."

Posted by: Renee Apr 25 2022, 12:17 PM

I like the way they are discussing which daedric being could it be. Really gotta keep up with the lore to know all that stuff.

Whoa. (I think you know what I'm whoaing about.)

Yeah, see if there are crows out there. This could be proof mirocu is in the game.

Posted by: Acadian Apr 25 2022, 08:19 PM

I confess that in the game, Buffy and I were cheering Veya as she went on her Redoran hunting spree. Some things are worse than crows. . . speaking of which, mirocu is the only TES crow that I like. Daedric involvement? Could be I suppose, although given how we feel about the great houses, I wouldn't rule out Divine intervention instead.

Posted by: ghastley Mar 12 2023, 10:44 PM

Time for the annual update to Clark's story - has it really been that long?

Previously: Clark found a potential agent for Nocturnal in Veya, a Dunmer who'd just avenged her brother's death by killing her father. She was conveniently about to be shipped off to hide in the Summerset Isles, which is where Nocturnal needed her.

------------

Part 2.9 - Reuniting Seht

"I'm not so sure that Veya's going to make those new friends quite as much as you expected, Clark," Nocturnal told me, back at her cottage. "The ruling faction on the Summerset Isle is quite xenophobic, and Altmer look down on everyone else."

"But there are a lot of outsiders there, too. Imperials, Bretons, Nords, Khajiit ..."

"And she'll start under the tutelage of that Razum-Dar, the Eye of the Queen that Naryu has contacts with. He'll not waste the opportunity, but she'll most likely decide that comfort takes precedence over other things, and move on. That will be when I take over.

"You did a good job preparing her for me. She's got 'daedric possession' as a salve for her conscience, if she starts feeling guilt about her father, and at the same time, she has your accounts of Seryn to tell her it's not always a bad thing. Plus, I think I got you masked up before she learned your face, so she likely won't know you if she sees you again. And by that time, I'll be in a position to convince her she's mistaken.

"So now I can help her, if she'll help me."

"Help you how?" I asked

"I don't know yet. Vile hasn't played all his cards, so neither will I. And we still don't know for certain whether Meridia's getting involved, because of the Sload. If she does, then her agent, a Breton named Darien Gautier, is likely to show up. Watch out for him, will you?"

Just then, we were interrupted by the arrival of a crow, flying in through the door and landing by the fire.

"You sent for me, Mistress?" he inquired.

Nocturnal introduced me to the Duke of Crows. "Have you located it?" she asked him

"The heroic Blackfeather Court has done as you asked and found the shiny for you!"

"Then hand it over."

"We found it, but we could not retrieve it, Mistress. The Shadow has taken it."

Nocturnal didn't seem too surprised at this turn of events. "It was to be expected that the Shadow would attempt to take control of the rest of Sotha Sil. If they're reunited, then it loses out to his better judgement, and effectively gets suppressed.

"it wasn't what I had in mind when I set this all up, of course, and it does complicate things quite a bit. Restoring Seht was supposed to be a simple job for the key-bearer, but the Shadow will have turned on all the defensive apparatus of the Cogitum Centralis to protect his back.

"No doubt he'll be looking for a way to make Seht's protective custody permanent. You'll have to go there and put them back together for me."

"Can I get there from here?"

"If you're asking if this part of Evergloam connects to Seht's location, then the answer is no. I wanted the path to be easy to guard, so it's quite cut off from everything else, other than the portals in and out."

"So where do I need to go?"

"There's another gloaming gate, like the one that leads here, out on the eastern edge of Clockwork City, down in a cleft off a canyon where nobody is likely to find it. Nobody but Proctor Luciana Pulllo, that is. See if you can meet up with her and send her the wrong way. You'll need her help in the Cogitum Centralis, but we don't want her starting a fight in Evergloam."

---

I went to the Brass Fortress to try and locate her, and found her waiting for me. She knew of two gloaming gates, and couldn't be in both places at once. She wanted me to explore one, while she searched the other.

"You take the western one, and I'll go east, then. Are you sure there's just the two of them?"

"Clockwork City's not that large. Unless the daedra have opened new ones today, my daily reports only mention the two."

---

"Got that," the voice of Nocturnal in the back of my head acknowledged. "As soon as she steps through the gate here, I'll get a shrike to flip her sleep switch, and she won't even know she arrived.

"It does mean you'll have to rescue her later, but we can stage-manage that so she doesn't suspect anything."

---

The shrike laid down and played dead while I flipped the switch to wake Luciana. Before the Proctor could examine the "corpse" Nocturnal faded her out of our sight.

Luciana looked around. "This isn't the part of Evergloam where I came in," she remarked.

"No, that was the first place they'd expect me to look for you, so you were moved here," I told her. "But wherever we are now, let's get out." I pointed at the nearby gloaming gate.

---

"I know where we are," Luciana exclaimed. "This has brought us to the Mechanical Fundament, just outside the Cogitum Centralis. We must be close to where they're holding Sotha Sil!"

"Well, I hope you know the way from here, because I don't," I pointed out. "This is all new territory for me."

Knowing the way wasn't all the story, of course. The Shadow had activated the Cogitum's defensive mechanisms, which meant that the first part of the way wasn't where we needed it to be. The bridge we had to take was rotated to where we couldn't use it, so our first task was to get it back in the right position.

"And naturally the rotation mechanism is locked," Luciana remarked. "I think I can override it, if I have more power. Can you activate the Core Pumps, so I can try?"

She pointed me off to either side of the bridge, where power terminals were located. "Expect guards," I was told, rather redundantly, as they were already announcing their presence. I managed to reach the first switch, and activate the pump, and headed back for the other.

Back at the bridge, the automata had found Luciana, too, and I went to her assistance. "I can hanlde these.: she shouted. "Get the other switch!"

So I did, and when I got back, she was still in one piece. A rather bent piece, with one arm looking the worse for wear. "I need to mend this first," she told me. "And you'll have to help".

She opened a flap in one thigh and took out some tools. "One advantage of hollow legs." she pointed out. "Now you hold the ends of that strut while I straighten it out."

"Does that hurt?" I asked. Bending my arm that way certainly would have hurt.

"I do have an 'awareness of damage', but it's not exactly pain. It serves the same purpose of dissuading me from letting the damage continue, but I can turn it off for procedures like this. And most repairs are done by the factotums, while I sleep."

She paused, before continuing. "What I'm really missing is a better sense of touch so I can avoid this sort of impact in the first place. I only have that in my hands so I can modulate my grip, and a rudimentary sense in my feet to supplement my balance."

She got back to her work overriding the bridge lock-out, and soon it swung back around to where we could use it. I followed her across.

---

"It's getting rather dark in here," I pointed out. "The shadow obviously has his preferences, and they don't match mine."

"Nor mine either," Luciana responded. "But I'm out of magicka, so we need to find the light switches. You go that way, and I'll try over here."

By the time we found what we were looking for, the shadow had almost reached Sotha Sil, who was locked into a complex apparatus that held him immobile. Someone was trying to pry the metal apart, apparently with no success. And between us and the contraption was the Shadow.

"Deal with the Shadow, while I try and get Seht out of this thing," Divayth Fyr shouted.

"You'll not open that without the Skeleton Key," the Shadow interrupted, "and I have it. So Seht's going nowhere, and you should all just leave now, before I kill you."

Fyr's reaction was to abandon his efforts on the apparatus, and fire a spell at the Shadow. Luciana had regained enough energy to do the same, and I added some physical assault to the mix. Although this was only part 9f Seht we were dealing with, like Fyr's shadow when I arrived in Clockwork City, we all knew that this wasn't going to be easy.

However, Nocturnal was the ringmaster here, and she could help us a bit, so long as Sotha Sil didn't catch on. And the rest of him was there watching, so it had to be a convincing battle. There was an impressive display of light, and dark, effects around us all the time, probably obscuring much of it from Seht's view, but also hindering the combatants. Fortunately that worked both ways. The result was that we won, but Fyr was exhausted, and Luciana took a bit more damage than Nocturnal would have liked.

"Take the Key and release Seht, Fyr commanded. "Turn it in that lock. over there."

As I turned the key, the dark pool that had been the Shadow faded (brightened?) and Sotha Sil himself seemed to become more solid, and aware of what was happening. The confining bands dropped away, and retracted into the walls and floor. Sotha Sil was aware of Nocturnal's presence, and dismissed her, giving her the opportunity to let him know that Summerset was next on our agenda. I suspect she wanted him to take an interest on what was about to happen there.

"We should return to the Clockwork Basilica," Sotha Sill announced. "We can discuss events there."

---

Factotums had carried Luciana back, and Fyr and I had found our own way, not being able to take the same shortcuts the mechanicals could use. By the time we arrived, they were already at work on repairing, or perhaps deconstructing, the Proctor. Sotha Sil asked me what I wanted as a reward for my help,

In the long term, I wanted his help on Summerset, but this part of the story wasn't complete yet. Nocturnal wanted Vile's damage here repaired, and part of that was now Luciana. "Can you save her, again?" I asked.

"Altruism. A rare trait. Luciana will die. If not here and now, then elsewhere and later. I can delay her death if you wish, but to what end? Consider carefully. Luciana means a great deal to me, but grief cannot be avoided - only deferred."

Nocturnal had told me that she thought the Proctor was essential to the recovery of Clockwork City, now that Clavicus Vile had moved on. I concurred with that, even if I wasn't sure that it was what Luciana herself would have chosen. I did have an idea that might make her happier with her continued existence.

---

After I was done with Sotha Sil and Fyr, I went to visit Luciana in her retreat at the Basilica.

"Seht. Sotha Sil. Is he…?"

"He's fine. We did it, Luciana," I told her

"Thank the gears. The people … my people … they're safe. He knew. He knew this would happen. He said I would shine a light one day … do you see? Everything built to this. Everything. Every battle … every sorrow. It finally makes sense."

"You'll see Sotha Sil soon. I asked him to save you."

"You asked him that? After all the impatience I showed you? The bad temper? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I've never met a more altruistic soul. Still, I'm not sure even Sotha Sil could save me this time. I feel it in my bones. This is how I end."

I said nothing, just gave her a hug. After a while, it dawned on her that 'feeling it in her bones' wasn't quite the figure of speech it used to be.

"It feels like I'm in my armour, hugging a man who's also in full armour, so perhaps not what you'd describe as exciting, but from my perspective..."

"Better than before?" I ventured.

"Much better. Thank you."
---

Posted by: Renee Mar 13 2023, 03:03 AM

Cool, I was wondering when we'd get to read some more Clark. Even though I barely know what's going on in this game, these chapters are still fun!

So how does Nocturnal appear in-game? As a sultry vixen wearing all black? That's how I'd picture her. Of course, Aedra and Daedra can appear however they'd like. But that's how I'd picture her, showing herself before a mortal.

This whole mechanical part sounds complicated! Trying to picture it all... https://en.uesp.net/wiki/File:ON-place-Mechanical_Fundament.jpg. Looks sort of Dwemer, eh?

Well it sounds like they are successful at whatever the heck they just did. Mission accomplished. Nocturnal can go back to being the Dark Mistress that she is.

Posted by: Acadian Mar 13 2023, 01:55 PM

Wow, lots of moving parts here! I do remember some of the chase down Sotha Sil and deal with the shadow. Luciana is on my list of fave NPCs in ESO.

Posted by: ghastley Mar 23 2024, 01:12 AM

Wow, March again already! Must be time for another piece of Clark's story.

Previously: Clark had wrapped up things in the Clockwork City, and Sotha Sil was himself again. Luciana was a bit closer to her old self again, too.

-----

To Summerset

I started to wonder if my part in this was over, as we'd concluded all Nocturnal needed in Clockwork City, and she now had Veya for anything that would happen in Summerset. I was happy killing time with Seryn in Vivec City, but expecting at any time that Azura would yank me out of there and send me somewhere else. It didn't quite happen that way.

Azura did change our plans, but not in the way I expected. She told me that I needed to go to Summerset, as it wouldn't all be over until Clavicus Vile's scheme had been thoroughly undone, but I could take my time. Why not take Seryn with me, and go on a slow cruise to Summerset? I could board a ship in Mournhold, travel around the coast, stop off at a few interesting places along the way, and arrive before Nocturnal needed me. Seryn could then take the wayshrine home.

Since she was explaining this to both of us, and Seryn liked the idea, it was going to happen.

---

The war between the Alliances meant that many of the potential stops along the way were blockaded, or at least closed to commercial traffic, but we did get to visit Lilmoth, Kenarthi's Roost, and Vulkhel Guard before we landed at Shimmerene. So now I knew wayshrines in three more provinces, should I ever need to travel there again. I started to wonder if that was part of Azura's plan.

I also suspected that Azura had plans for Seryn. She hadn't ventured off of Vvardenfell before, and the Argonians and Khajiit she'd met were all merchants, not exactly representative of their races' diversity. Altmer seldom visited Morrowind, either, preferring to keep their own company.

I had been referred to as an outlander in Morrowind, but the term didn't seem to include any resentment, just that I wasn't Dunmer, so wouldn't understand the local customs. Here in Summerset, "outsider" was a term of derision, and I was clearly inferior for not being an Altmer. And unwelcome, to boot. They seemed reluctant even to let us off the boat.

We quickly made our way through town to the wayshrine, so that Seryn could return to Vivec City. When a mer ran up to us shouting about the Island springing a leak, and "let the cat take care of them", I decided to investigate, if only as a reason not to head back into Shimmerene. I took my leave of Seryn, and headed in the direction the mer had come from.

Not far up the road, I came upon the Khajiit mentioned, finishing off the last of some hostile creatures I had never seen before. The bodies lying on the road were spiny things that looked like they'd come out of the ocean, and didn't really belong on land at all.

I asked a woman standing nearby what they were, but she didn't know either. "Ask Razum-dar, " she told me, pointing at the Khajiit.

I didn't get the chance to ask, because, after smashing what looked like a large pearl radiating dark magic, he spoke to me first.

"Have you ever seen such creatures? Raz has not. Probably neither have you. You are a newcomer, yes? New to this island of High Elves? This one has an eye for such things. And you look capable. So, can Raz interest you in some cloak-and-dagger work?"

"Cloak-and-dagger work? Sounds ominous," I responded.

"Ominous? No, nothing of the sort. Well, maybe a little of the sort. Depends on how things develop. Raz has come to Summerset at the behest of Queen Ayrenn. To make sure her decree regarding the opening of the island proceeds as she directed."

"So how can I help?"

"Ask some questions. Determine the mood in Shimmerene and see how the newcomers are faring. Rumors have reached the Queen and she is concerned. So Razum-dar comes to see what's happening and fights strange creatures. Now Raz is concerned as well."

"I'll ask some questions around the city," I told him. I'd like to find out more myself, especially if this had anything to do with my being sent here.

"While you ask questions around the city, Raz can take care of some other business. It may or may not involve scratching and clawing. Let's meet near the entrance to Shimmerene when you have something to report."

I started by asking a few of Razum-dar. What was this decree he'd mentioned?

He explained that Queen Ayrenn had lifted the prohibition on foreigners entering the main island, as it hampered her from strengthening the Alliance with the Bosmer and Khajiiti, but many of the more hidebound residents had opposed it. The prohibition was relatively recent, and many had settled here before it came into effect. Of the three people he wanted me to question, only one was an Altmer. The other two were a Redguard and an Argonian.

And I wanted to know why he just decided to trust a complete stranger with this mission.

"But you are not a complete stranger, are you? You are the Champion of Vivec, and the rescuer of Sotha Sil, and Divayth Fyr informs us that Almalexia owes you more than she'd admit. You are known to be in a relationship with Azura's champion, who accompanied you here. And how does this one know it is you? Sotha Sil records his memories, and he shared an image with us when you set off on your trip here. The common folk may not know you, but Raz does."

"Besides, when those creatures attacked, everyone else fled, but you came closer. Raz would have preferred that you arrived a little earlier, but he needed the exercise."

---

I spoke with the three people Razum-dar had directed me to, or rather two of them. The Argonian was dead, and I found a note in his backpack that provided the same information I got from the live ones. Recent arrivals, "newcomers" as they termed them, non-Altmer from other provinces, were being rounded up and taken to the monastery. When I took this back to Raz we witnessed a further example, with several of the locals complaining to an official about their servants being taken away. At least one of them agreed with his pronouncement that they needed to be "sequestered" until their suitability for Altmer society was determined. "Lock up the newcomers" was a bit of an extreme way to phrase it, in my opinion.

Raz and I agreed that we needed to check out the monastery. We split up to approach it from different directions. Raz told me he'd distract the guard, so I could slip inside, and It would be best if I did so from behind the guard's back.

On the way there, a golden-clad knight appeared, from a bright portal, and almost immediately left again, complaining that the portal wasn't working. I don't understand why, but this suggested to me that Meridia was trying to get involved, but was meeting resistance. I'm guessing that thought came from Azura, but she's not confirming it. Nocturnal had mentioned that possibility, and it would mean that Mephala had involved the Sload, whatever they were. The resistance could have been Mephala's doing, but it was also possible that Azura and Nocturnal wanted to keep her involvement in reserve.

Entering the monastery went as planned, and there seemed to be few, if any guards inside. I talked to one monk, who seemed disgruntled by the new Aldarch's methods, but I found nothing of major interest on the ground level. One the floor above, however, I found a large pearl similar to the one Razum-dar had destroyed, but seemingly inert, just sitting on the Aldarch's office desk.

"Unusual knick-knack for an Aldarch's office, wouldn't you agree?"asked a voice behind me. I turned to find an elderly Altmer woman entering the room. She was here looking for a friend who had disappeared, and was about to continue her search in the undercroft. She suggested we do so together.

Immediately on entering the undercroft, we both felt uneasy. "I sense magic, dark magic," she told me. And we both saw the cages. I went to let the one remaining prisoner free, while Valsirenn examined a corpse on the floor. "What's a skaafin doing down here?" she asked.

The obvious answer was that Clavicus Vile was involved, but that was ... obvious, so I said nothing. We continued down the passageways.

It wasn't long before we encountered live skaafin, and some of the same creatures that Razum-dar had been fighting when I met him. It was now apparent that they were being summoned by the same Daedric cultists, so Vile and Mephala had already started to join forces here. There was yet another pearl here in the great hall of the undercroft, and it appeared to be the focus for summoning the sea creatures.

"I'll deal with the pearl, you keep the creatures away while I do that," she decided. Since that was the method I was about to suggest, it's what I did. The cultist that had summoned them had already escaped, so that might mean that reinforcements weren't on the agenda.

When we had time to talk, Valsirenn told me that she was a member of the Psijic Order, and she'd sent the pearl to them for analysis. I told her about Razum-dar and Queen Ayrenn's decree triggering this uprising.

"You'd best inform him about what happened here. I'll catch up with you later," she said. "Living on Arteum for a few centuries doesn't prepare you for physical action, and I need a rest."

---

Razum-dar had a room at the nearby tavern, and he'd been doing a bit of snooping of his own. None of it had turned up anything like a Daedric cult, and a life-sucking pearl, however. But he'd managed to obtain an invitation to an event at the Kinlady's townhouse, where it was likely that the decree would be discussed. In particular he wanted to know whether the Kinlady had sanctioned the Aldarch's actions, or if he was acting on his own. Since the Kinlady knew Razum-dar, and they did not get along, it fell to me to attend.

Talking to Kinlady Avenisse convinced me that she had taken the Aldarch's story about sequestering the newcomers at face value, and had no idea what was really going on. She did have a slight suspicion about him, as her chancellor had been unable to verify the Aldarch's existence prior to his coming here. "He did have high recommendation from Kinlord Mulinthel, whom I trust," she told me.

As I was about to leave, a servant brought in a note from the Aldarch. "He wants me to meet him at the Coral Forest? That's an odd place for a meeting, but I need to hear him out."

---

Raz agreed with her assesssment. And confirmed that Tilcalar did not not exist until he arrived here. "and is this your Psijic friend?"

"I'm glad i found you both," Valsirenn said. "I just saw Kinlady Avenisse sneaking out of the city, and came looking for you."

I made the introductions, and we agreed to meet again at the Coral Forest. "We should travel separately, so we don't arouse suspicion, yes?" Raz suggested.

Posted by: Renee Mar 23 2024, 03:14 PM

Cool, was wondering when we'd see some more Clark. Was actually gonna make a request for some! Acadian & I have been waiting with bated breath.

I'll reiterate what I said a year ago: I don't know much of what's going on in this story since I barely have played ESO. But it's fun to read. Yeah. being sent to locations which just happen to have Wayshrines does seem mighty convenient.

Ha! It's the Second Era, yet even way back then they still referred to non-Dunmer as Outlanders, from the way this is described at least. Well, they referred to actual Dunmer as Outlanders too, in TES3. Wonder what would happen in ESO if a Dunmer walked around in Morrowind. Outsider does have a more ominous ring to it.

'Spiny things' sound like urchins.

Uh oh. The workings of Clavicus Vile are afoot?

Off to Coral Forest they go. https://images.uesp.net/thumb/8/81/ON-place-Coral_Forest.jpg/1200px-ON-place-Coral_Forest.jpg. Nice.

Posted by: Acadian Mar 23 2024, 08:12 PM

Welcome back to Clark!

Locking up newcomers to Summerset is not likely to please Queen Ayrenn. Nice job introducing Raz and Valsirren. I hope Clark gets to visit Arteum – it’s beautiful.

Posted by: ghastley Mar 24 2025, 02:55 PM

Looks like both Grits and I decided the maintenance period was just the time for an update!

@Renee - the Spiny things sort of look like urchins with legs.

@Acadian - Clark does get to visit. He's following that quest line fairly closely, with a few minor variations, because Nocturnal needs to play it that way.

-----

Previously: Clark and Seryn arrived in Summerset. Clark got involved in a local quest, while Seryn headed for home.

-----

Coral Forest

When I arrived there, I could only find Valsirenn. She was reluctant to use magical means to locate the Kinlady and Aldarch, as she was sure they'd detect that. So we set off along the beach to look for them.

"There's more of those Yaghra here," Valsirenn remarked. Now I had a name for the sea creatures, but still no explanation of where they were coming from. The Sea Vipers and Salamanders belonged here on the shoreline, but Yaghra didn't. They appeared to be creatures from the depths, and I wished they'd stayed there.

And now I could hear the Kinlady's voice, exclaiming "Murder? I want no part of that, Aldarch! That wasn't part of the plan."

"You know nothing of the plan, you fool. Let me give you a taste of what the Prince of Bargains has in store for this pitiful world!"

We stepped around the rock to see Lady Avenisse running away from the Aldarch, and another of those glowing pearls. "I want nothing to do with Daedric Princes, either."

Valsirenn ran after her, leaving me to deal with Aldarch Tilcalar. He didn't look much like an Aldarch, his robes looked decidedly more cultist than priestly, and he was wielding an inferno staff. Naturally his first move was to summon more Yaghra to assist him.

They appeared between us, and much closer to him than me, blocking our view of each other. So my opening salvo was an area spell, covering his Yaghra and hopefuly Tilcalar himself. When the air cleared, I was surprised to find them all dead.

That worried me. If the Aldarch had really been Vile's agent, I would have expected a stronger opponent. But since he usually employed Barbas for that purpose, perhaps this one was more disposable.

Whatever the case, Valsirenn was beckoning me from the shore. I smashed the pearl that Tilcalar had used to summon the Yaghra, and went to talk to her. Razum-dar had apprehended the Kinlady, and Valsirenn was returning to Artaeum to brief the Ritemaster. I should follow her, after I'd spoken to the Eye of the Queen. For that, I'd need to be attuned to the portal, so she did that, before transporting herself back directly.

I thought about that afterward. Artaeum was "home" for her, so she could return the same way I did to Vivec City. I'd never even seen Artaeum, so I'd need a different way in. I hoped the wayshrine network extended there, as the location of the portal at the Keep of the Eleven Forces seemed a bit out of the way for regular use.

Raz was talking to Kinlady Avenisse a bit further inland, towards the wayshrine she was trying to reach, and which I presumed Raz had used to get here. His attitude softened a bit when I confirmed that the Aldarch was actually Clavicus Vile's agent, and that she hadn't known that until their meeting here at the shore. The Queen would still need to know, and Raz would leave the judgement to her. He'd told me before that he and Lady Avenisse had a history that might affect his own opinions, so that was perhaps best.

So I should go off to Artaeum, while he dealt with the Kinlady, and started to investigate the Daedric angle here in Summerset.

---

As I arrived at the Ceporah Tower on Artaeum, I heard Valsirenn talking to the Ritemaster. "And there was no sign of Leythen. I don't know whether to be grateful or concerned."

"We'll find him, Val. Now go check on the pearl while I speak to our new guest." he replied, and turned to me.

"What a rare honor Valsirenn bestowed upon you. Only a select few not of our order have ever walked upon this sacred island. Val tells me your aid was indispensable in uncovering the false Aldarch's plot on Summerset."

"We discovered that newcomers to Summerset were being murdered to power the abyssal pearls," I told him.

"Unfortunate, certainly. The magic you describe sounds familiar, though I can't quite recall where I've heard of it before. I fear the pearls may be a harbinger of the threat Sotha Sil warned us about."

So Nocturnal's warning to Seht did register with him. Enough for him to come here himself. That was a good sign.

If I wanted to help with investigation of the pearl, I'd need to go talk to Oriandra, who was in the Ritemaster's study in the tower. The others would start the ritual to extract the pearls' information.

Oriandra told me that Sotha Sil had made an elixir to help with the divination ritual, and sent me back down with it. When I arrived, Iachesis had me pour it into the pool beneath the floating pearl, while the other cast their divination spells.

We were rewarded with a vision of the late Tilcalar and two associates in conference. One of those looked familiar to me, and I noticed Valsirenn peering closely at the other. The conversation confirmed that the Court of Bedlam served the triad of Vile, Mephala, and Nocturnal, but revealed nothing of what they were planning, other than the next part taking place at Relenthil.

---

It was not a surprise that Valsirenn and I were on our way to Relenthil, but Razum-dar also made an appearance when we arrived. His investigations from the cultist side had brought him here to make inquiries with the local Canonreeve. We discovered that the man's own son was meeting with a group of other young Altmer in a sinkhole near town. Raz suspected this was the cult he was tracking and sent us to take a look at the sinkhole.
Sinkholes are common in limestone areas, as the rivers often flow underground, carving out systems of caves.
When the roof of a cave collapses, the sinkhole formed provides easier access to the cave system beneath, if the drop isn't too far. If you are really fortunate, there will be a ramp of dirt and boulders.

Just as we arrived at the top of the ramp, a glowing golden figure appeared, looking much like the golden knight I'd seen failing to arrive in Shimmerene. He didn't do much better this time, disappearing again before we could speak with him. I seemed to hear "Not yet" in the back of my mind.

An Altmer lass ran out of the hole just as the golden light faded, shouting something about being attacked. We didn't get the chance to ask her who, or what, as she was in too much of a hurry to get away.

The caves we entered at the bottom of the hole had been explored even before the sinkhole formed, and we came across several places where adventurers has stashed supplies for their explorations. The entrance didn't look safe, so Valsireen took some time to shore it up, as I pressed on into the caves. I soon came across Yaghra, along with evidence that the collapse had been downward as well as up to the surface, and they had got in from below.

Valsirenn caught up with me just before we found Eldhon, groaning that he'd been stabbed. It wasn't the Yaghra that did it, but Nedoril, the son of the Canonreeve, for being "unworthy". What was more, the wound was poisoned beyond my healing ability, or that of Valsireen, and we couldn't save him.

It just got worse after that. Around the next corner, we found ourselves overlooking a pit where more of those Abyssal Pearls were drawing in Yaghra, and Valsirenn spotted a Sea Sload on the ledge opposite. She told me a little of their history of hostility with the elves of Summerset, but we needed to deal with the current situation before she could tell me more. I went after the pearls, while she tried to get to the Sload.

By the time she reached the ledge, and I'd smashed all the pearls, the Sload was gone. We found an exit and went back into Relenthil to look for Razum-dar and tell him what we knew.

Posted by: Grits Mar 24 2025, 09:28 PM

So much to enjoy in this year’s update!

That was a lively jaunt along the sunny coast. I love the Coral Forest area. Clark’s account makes me want to go back for a visit, despite the occasional hostile deep-sea creature.

Valsirenn, Razum-dar, and the mysterious Golden Knight are some of my favorite characters. I am delighted that Clark is going on this adventure! Artaeum! Yay!

Posted by: Acadian Mar 24 2025, 11:46 PM

Wonderful to see you (and Grits as well) continuing your stories!

Delightful to see Clark working with the Psijic Order. I quite enjoyed the characters of Valsirenn and her Ritemaster in game and, of course, Artaeum (as nixad central) is spectacular.

Clark made pretty good progress toward what is going on but more questions remain.

Posted by: Renee Mar 27 2025, 03:17 PM

So you've got a rather unique strategy with the story updates, ghastley. Once a year. Interesting.

"They appeared to be creatures from the depths, and I wished they'd stayed there" -- Love that.

Posted by: ghastley Mar 31 2025, 09:43 AM

@Grits: - Golden Knight again in this part. Well almost, again.

@Acadian: - The game's version of the story seems to be deliberately confusing at this point, so I'm staying vanilla, until someone explains it.

@Renee: - I'd better break up that pattern.

-----

Previously: Clark and Valsirenn found a Sea Sload in a sinkhole.

-----

A Sload's Memories

I'll admit I was surprised at Raz's summary execution of Nedoril, but as he put it once we were all back outside the Canonreeves's house "If it had gone to trial, the Canonreeve would probably have been found guilty as well. Treason, murder, conspiracy with Daedra ... people are going to want more than one execution."

He hadn't mentioned the need to act quickly. We didn't know what the next move was going to be. so we went back to brief Ritemaster Iachesis, and see what turned up. Just in time, it turned out, as the Yaghra had started an assault there.

In hindsight, bringing the first Abyssal Pearl back to Artaeum seemed to Valsirenn as being a bad idea. It gave the Sload a focus for the invading Yaghra, although how it got to the beach was still a mystery. Iachesis and I went through the old college buildings to the small beach behind it where the Yaghra forces were arriving. We needed to eliminate the pearl while the others set up defences should they break through to the rest of the Island.

The first part of that wasn't too hard. We'd got there early enough that not too many Yaghra were in place. With the pearl destroyed, there would not be any more, but Iachesis was still concerned. We needed to check the Psijic Vaults beneath the old college, as he suspected the target of this invasion was something stored there. In a sense, he was right. Actually he was the target, but the Sload K'Tora also needed to use one of the stored artifacts against him. The Orbs of B'Raken-Drel were the tool required to extract memories from his mind, and there was something the Sload needed to know, that apparently only Iachesis was privy to.

It was clear from the brief conversation before K'Tora siezed him, that Iachesis had a faulty memory of their last encounter. He recalled defeating the Sload in the invasion 300 years ago, but obviously K'tora was still alive. And whatever he was doing to the Ritemaster also prevented me from reaching them.

I heard Valsirenn calling from outside. She'd come through the old college from the other side, making sure it was cleared, and had heard us.

She directed me to another artifact in another part of the vault. The Ul'vor staff was kept well away from the Orbs, so there would be no interaction between them. Both had been retrieved from the Sea of Pearls after the abortive invasion had been put down, and brought here. She handed me the key to the locker, and pointed me in the right direction.

The staff had attracted more Yaghra, so there was more fighting to do before I got to it, but fewer coming back. K'Tora was still ranting at Iachesis, so apparently he hadn't found the memory he was looking for yet. We still had time.

The staff wouldn't reverse what the Sload was doing, but it could let me in to the mental confrontation, and maybe I could have some influence. It was worth trying.

It's hard to describe accurately what happened. It's like I was walking through the Sload's memories, the way he was trying to explore the Ritemaster's. Scenes played out from the past, and I was getting involved in some of the battles, probably as a defence against my intrusion. I saw K'Tora bargaining with Clavicus Vile, trading the conquest of Summerset for the Heart of Transparent Law. The Sload didn't have it yet, but he was confident he could get it.

That was a useful piece of information. Now we knew what Vile was after, even if I didn't understand what it would do for him. But he'd also mentioned Nocturnal, so maybe she could could explain.

Another scene had K'Tora commanding Iachesis to forget, presumably the outcome of their battle. The Ritemaster obviously recalled himself defeating the Sload, and now I knew that it was a false memory implanted to let K'Tora escape from the rest of the Psijic and Summerset forces.

The final one had the Sload commanding Iachesis to steal the Heart, and then forget about that, too.

At this point, Iachesis may have started to wake up, or perhaps K'Tora noticed what I was doing, but everything reverted back to the present. And a big fight. I was probably still in the Sload's mind, giving me a bit of an advantage, as I knew his moves in advance.

When K'Tora died, I somehow used his memory of the staff, or my own, to return to reality, and found Sotha Sil waiting for me, and examining the Sload's corpse. He told me Valsirenn had taken Iachesis back to Ceporah Tower to tend to his wounds, and asked what I'd learned from the memories.

I told him what I knew, with all the apparent contradictions. In particular, that the Ritemaster had hidden the Heart of Transparent Law, and that Vile and the others were seeking it. However, the Sload had both wanted the location, and had commanded Iachesis to forget it. That made no sense to me.

Posted by: Grits Mar 31 2025, 04:11 PM

I love the idea of ancient vaults beneath the old college where artifacts are so dangerous they have to be kept apart from one another.

You just summed up Jerric’s experience with pretty much the whole questline. Clark is explaining things in a way that makes me finally see the pieces coming together. Maybe I should go through it again with a mage.

Posted by: Acadian Mar 31 2025, 07:40 PM

Wow, a lot of players involved! A sload, the Ritemaster, two Daedric Princes and Sotha Sil! And still plenty of mystery. We did learn that the sload was apparently able to trick the Ritemaster into stealing the Heart of Transparent Law, hiding it, then forgetting. So the sload wants the Ritemaster's memory of where he hid the Heart. I'm glad you're more or less following the quest here - it is complicated enough in vanilla without adding to it.

Posted by: ghastley Apr 7 2025, 10:41 AM

@Grits: - Fewer and less nasties in the vaults in this episode, but the new narrator is just getting started.

@Acadian: - I'm going to need some time to untangle the Summerset quest line, so this is the right time to change viewpoint.

-----

Previously: Clark dropped Seryn off at the Shimmerene wayshrine, and went off to get involved with Razum-Dar, Valsirenn and the Psijics. While he sorts out that complex mess, we'll get another point of view - Seryn's

-----

SERYN

I was going to return directly to Vivec City and our apartment, but Azura had other ideas.

She thought I needed some more experience of the lands outside Vvardenfell, and this trip had just been the beginning. So I was going to travel on to High Isle, to have some adventures of my own, without Clark.

"But I need him," I protested. "we work so well together."

Azura agreed that I needed a companion, and one that mirrored Clark's style of getting in close while I used ranged spells, but it didn't have to be Clark. Learning to adapt to someone else will do me good, too, I was informed.

She had someone specific in mind for me, and all would become apparent really soon.

---

When I stepped away from the wayshrine where I had just arrived, I heard two of the locals talking about some Sapphire Tournament that was taking place at the castle just by the wayshrine. This was a regular event, where the aspirant squires had the chance to prove themselves, and gain promotion to full knighthood. This time, there was an extra prize available - the hand of the Knight Commander's daughter.

That got my attention, especially as they said at least two of the squires were female, and the poor daughter didn't seem to be getting any say in the matter. I needed to find out more.

Down near the arch at the end of the jousting arena, I found Aurelia, the "prize", talking with another young lady in light plate who seemed to be trying to reassure her. She introduced herself as Isobel Veloise, and confirmed that she was one of the aspirants in the tourney. She asked if I would be willing to help her, as they were each permitted a second, and she didn't currently have one. Azura told me to agree, so I did.

She filled me in on the background I was missing: Isobel had grown up as almost a sister to Aurelia. Her parents were merchants, and spent a lot of time travelling, leaving young Bella with the Jourvel family. Isobel had always looked on Commander Jourvel as a role-model, who had shown that a woman could be as good a knight as any man. To some extent, that had resulted in Aurelia being a disappointment to her mother, as she did not want to follow in her footsteps, and be constantly compared to her. On the other hand, she hadn't shown any clear interest in any other career, and Isobel could see her mother's point of view, too.

She explained the rules of the tourney. Each of the Knightly Orders had set a task, so there were three possible. They involved retrieving an item, that would be presented to the order as proof of completion. Two of the items were in known locations, which meant they'd probably be hard to reach. The Hilt of Redheart, for the Order of the Iron Knot, however, would need to be tracked down, which might give us an advantage. Isobel remembered reading something in a book in the castle library that mentioned it. She didn't think the others did much reading, although most of them probably could, so they probably would not have come across that clue.

In the library we found several books lying open on the tables, and one indeed did refer to the Hilt. That probably meant that at least one other aspirant had found the clue, and might be a step ahead of us. We headed off in that direction anyway.

Squire-aspirant Langley Le Tarte was already there when we arrived. He was standing in front of a tangle of branches blocking the entrance, commanding his servant (and second) Berjo to clear the way for him. "And hurry up. You still have to cook my meal when you're done."

We decided to go look for another way in. Isobel had been here before, and recalled another entrance around the back of the rocks, a bit steeper and narrower, but hopefully not blocked. There were a few wild creatures along the way, but Isobel and I fell naturally into the same method of fighting that Clark and I had used, without even having to plan it. At the same time, it was clear that we both needed each other's help, and we were learning from working together. Azura's plan was making sense.

We found the Hilt on a stone plinth, and scrambled down the rocks near to where Langley was still issuing orders to his servant. We avoided talking to them, so Langley didn't discover we already had the Hilt. With luck, that meant less competition for the other quests.

With one item collected, we discussed which should be next. The Golden Lute for the Order of the Albatross was down in the catacombs, so we were likely to have to battle our way through undead, spiders, and who knows what else to get there. But that wasn't what Isobel was most concerned about. If we did get the Lute, the Order would also expect her to compose a poem or ditty about her exploits. Poetry was not her forte.

There was another problem when we got to the chapel. The door to the catacombs was locked, and whoever was down there ahead of us had taken the key with him. I suggested picking the lock, but Isobel would have none of that. It wasn't what a Knight would do. "Neither was locking the door behind him," I pointed out.

"There has to be a spare key somewhere. I'll look here in the chapel, you go back to the castle and ask around there. Somebody should have a duplicate," Isobel told me.

I ran into Aurelia in the hall, and she recommended that I ask one of the commander's aides. Either Dame Hendra, or Nilsmon might have a key. I got the impression that Dame Hendra was the preferred option, but she didn't explain why. So I spoke to the Dame, a small amount of gold changed hands, and I had a key.

I opened the catacombs door, and hung the key back where it should have been. If anyone followed us, we were playing fair. Isobel and I continued down the passage, hoping the dead would oblige us by staying that way.

We mostly encountered spiders, who were definitely alive, and aggressive. Nothing that gave us any real problems, especially working together. Then we heard a voice, which Isobel recognised as that of Mortens, another of the aspirant squires. It seemed to be coming from behind a locked door.

"Langley, is that you?" it asked.

"No Mortens, it's Isobel. What are you doing locked in there? Do we need to find another key to get you out?"

"No, I've got the key. I'm just trying to keep myself safe from that spider. And I may have dropped my sword when I ran back here. Could you get it for me? You'll need this other key I have to get further, so perhaps we could trade?"

With a few extra conditions to make sure Mortens could not cheat us, we came to an agreement. Once we had the sword, and exchanged it for the key. he'd leave the catacombs, and not follow us. Suggesting there might be more of those spiders seemed to make him want to leave quickly anyway.

OK, so it was a big spider, but not actually much more dangerous than the smaller ones. It was slower, for one thing, and easier to dodge. And it went down soon enough. We found Mortens' sword and went back to make the trade.

Beyond the next locked door (he had given us the right key) the spiders gave way to skeletons and wraiths. A bone collosus, an amalgam of several skeletons into a single construct, rose up from a bone pile at one point, but we soon took it apart again.

The final foe we had to face was another spectre, that of the Mad Baron that had slain Sir Brenvale, the owner of the lute we were looking for. He was the toughest opponent we'd encountered so far, but not beyond the two of us working in tandem. Isobel blocking, and my fire and lightning spells, wore him down quite effectively.

Then the ghost of Sir Brenvale himself appeared as we picked up the lute, and we thought we were going to have to fight him, too. It turned out he just wanted to serenade us as we departed, which was almost worse.

When we got outside, we had some time to talk. "So Langley is a pompous, self-centered buffoon, Mortens is a cheating coward, what are the other aspirants like?" I asked.

"Well, Snegh is a traditional Orc. His only method for dealing with a problem is to use his battleaxe, and if that doesn't work, hit it harder. Brelannal is motivated entirely by gold. If she wins the tourney, she'll probably want to sell Aurelia into slavery. We'll likely meet them at the next location, and you can judge for yourself."

"So where are we going?"

"To Erlibru's cottage, down by the shore. He loves puzzles, so I expect there will be some cunning device we'll have to solve. We've known him for years, and he taught me a lot of my healing skills. Hopefully that gives me an advantage in this one."

When we arrived, we found the other two aspirants, Snegh and Belannal, examining a magical barrier that had been erected across the only entrance to the cottage grounds. Three tall stone pillars, and a transparent green shimmering wall of pure magic between them.

As Isobel had predicted, Snegh's approach was to hit the barrier with his axe. He went flying backwards, over our heads, and landed on his back in the mud. "I'd better make sure he hasn't injured himself," Isobel said. "That didn't look like a soft landing."

As she did that, Brelannal tried her luck with a bit of her own magic. The result was that she was turned into a cat, which ran away.

I decided not to touch the barrier itself, but examined the pillars, which looked safer. There were markings on them that resembled birds, plants and things that I didn't know. This would need Isobel's local knowledge to decypher. She left Snegh groaning, and came over.

"That bird is a forest heron, they're quite common around here, and that flower is called a cat's paw. The other one is a Spriggan's veil, a cluster of leaves they shed from time to time. I would guess that we need to collect those items, and put them on those little pedestals in the pillars. Well not a whole heron, probably just one of its feathers, and a flower from the cat's paw, not a whole plant."

She pondered a bit longer. "You know, this reminds me of a story Erlibru used to read to us when we just little. I think he lifted the whole thing from that book!"

Snegh groaned again. "I'd better try and heal him some more; can you find the things while I do that?"

Before long, I was back with a feather I hoped was the right kind, and a spriggan's veil, and a flower. That really did look like a cat's paw, apart from the reddish-purple colour. Now to place them, very carefully, into the pillars.

"That did it! Now let's go in and pay our respects to the old wizard." Isobel was eager to see Erlibru again. While she chatted with him about old times, I fetched the staff, which was leaning against the wall outside.

"Erlibru says that Brelannal will turn back again as soon as we leave," Isobel told me. "and he'll make sure Snegh is all right, too, so I don't need to stay and look after him. I'll meet you back at the castle."

Posted by: Acadian Apr 7 2025, 08:49 PM

Isobel will indeed make a fitting fighting partner for a mage such as Seryn. Giving Aurelia away to the winner as a prize sounds a bit. . . well, medieval I guess. And Isabel’s competition sound more like dishonorable rubes than squires qualified for knighthood. I’m guessing that if Isobel wins, she’ll likely do the honorable knightly thing and give Aurelia some say over her own destiny. So we’ll hope Isobel and her worthy second win the tourney.

Looking good so far. You’ve done a nice job of portraying Isobel’s personality. Plain spoken, forthright, honorable and sweet-natured. She does carry 'lawful-good' to the point of being a bit of boneheaded – evidenced by being unwilling to pick a lock regardless of the circumstances.

Posted by: Grits Apr 8 2025, 02:18 PM

Isobel! Yay! I like how fair-minded she is about the conflict between her friend Aurelia and Aurelia’s Knight Commander mother.

Seryn left the key! Very knightly. She and Isobel are a good pair. After the description of the other aspirants, it’s clear that Isobel is the only acceptable option for Aurelia.

Funny that Isobel is most concerned about the poem part. As long as Seryn doesn’t expect further poerty recitals, the two should make a great team. This was a fun tournament.

Posted by: Renee Apr 8 2025, 05:40 PM

Sload are in ESO, cool. I remember before Skyrim was out, folks who didn't get the lore around sloads asking why aren't they in the game? Why can't we PLAY as a sload??? Anyway, good to know they're in ESO. Wonder what they look like. https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=sload+elder+scrolls+online&form=HDRSC3&first=1.

Yeesh. "Win the hand of the daughter..." that's so wrong. But there are also clues to follow, hmm.

"I suggested picking the lock.... it wasn't what a knight would do..." So no lock-bashing, eh? Anyway, how thoughtful for them to leave the key hanging where it should be.

A serenade is worse than fighting! But what happened to Aurelia?

Posted by: ghastley Apr 14 2025, 09:58 AM

@Acadian: I suspect that Seryn is aware of the possibility of judges being picky with the rules, so leaving the key is a good precaution. I liked the consistent way the game's author writes Isobel, so I'm trying to match it. Naive but learning, perhaps.

@Grits: Seryn and Isobel do have similar outloks, but from very different backgrounds. They should work well, I hope.

@Renee: Aurelia died horribly from being serenaded. Aurelia's involvement is far from over.

--------

Previously: Seryn was diverted from her trip home, to go help Isolbel on High Isle.

----------

Knight Errant

I found Isobel again talking to Aurelia near the jousting arena, this time at the other end, near a large platform where the Knightly Orders' representatives were waiting to receive the quest items. The ones I was carrying, in my role of second to the aspirant.

A herald announced us, and we climbed up the steps. We presented each of the items we'd collected: the Hilt, the Lute and the Staff, to the Orders that had requested them, and even Isobel's silly little ditty about the Lute went down well enough.

Since we'd got them all, and none of the other aspirants had returned anything, it was indisputable that Isobel had won the tourney. She received her promotion to knight, becoming Dame Isobel, from the Knight Commander herself. As expected, and greatly to Aurelia's relief, Isobel requested that Aurelia be freed to make her own decisions.

Speaking to Dame Jourvel in her office afterward, I got the impression that the whole "daughter's hand" thing was a ploy to light a fire under Aurelia, and get her to make up her mind what she wanted to do, if it wasn't going to be becoming a knight herself. I mentioned that Azura seemed to want me to become well-traveled, making sure Aurelia heard me, in case she took the hint.

I wasn't sure if she did. Mostly she seemed relieved to have escaped the clutches of Langley and Mortens. Hopefully she'd see the advantages of putting some extra distance between them and her.

Isobel was told she was now a Knight Errant, which meant that she should go travelling herself, and find some worthy quests to do. She needed experience, and there was a limit to what she could get on High Isle. At Azura's prompting, I offered to take her with me on my travels, as I had the same objectives myself.

---

I now understood that one of the reasons we'd stopped at Vulkhel Guard on the way to Shimmerene with Clark, was so I could go back there and join the Guilds. The Fighters guild, the Mages guild, and the Undaunted all had paying work for adventurers that would be perfect for us. I could also get certified for crafting writs, which would be another source of both gold and experience, as well as letting me upgrade my equipment, when I needed to do so.

The first thing we did was to get Isobel into a costume that matched her idea of what a Knight was supposed to look like. It was a traditional Lion Guard light plate, so not the heavy, clunky kind that a dedicated tank wears. More of a medium armour, which matched much of what she'd actually be wearing. She had skills for most support roles, but they could all do with a bit of development in the field, so a middle-of-the-road approach suited best.

We gave it a dye job, so she wouldn't get confused with the actual Lion Guard, making it a bit more blue and shiny, and maybe even more Breton than the original.

---

Although we joined the guilds at Vulkhel Guard, we'd need to travel a bit more to pick up some daily quests to get us started. "There are job brokers on High Isle, in Gonfalon Bay. I suppose we can do those, now, too," Isobel suggested.

"The whole idea is to travel, not go back home. But we'll go there once we have seen a bit more of Tamriel, I promise."

We joined a group of travellers going to Elden Root, as we could pick up the guild dailies there. Travelling as a group meant only one of us need to know the wayshrine there, and once we'd visited, we'd have another landmark. We would still probably need to learn more of them to actually do the quests we were getting, but we'd handle that when it arose. I had my guar, and Isobel had a horse, so we could ride when we needed to.

---

Elden Root is the biggest tree I've ever seen. The top can't be seen from ground level, it just gets lost in the clouds or haze. I was amazed by the tree, but apparently Isobel was more amazed by the Undaunted Enclave, judging by her reaction when we first went there. "Look at all these people! Look at all this stuff! I just hope we get to see a fraction of the dungeons this must have come out of."

"One at a time," I reminded her, and we went to get a daily delve quest from Bolgrul. We were lucky, and he gave us the task of retrieving stolen goods from a tower just outside Daggerfall. Isobel had been there before, so she knew the wayshrine. It was a port city, and she'd been taken along with her parents on a business trip.

There was another wayshrine just beyond the tower, so we added it to our portfolio before tackling the quest itself. "If we miss any of the stolen goods and have to come back, this one will be quicker," I reasoned.

We entered the Ilessan tower dungeon through the trapdoor, and started looking for the stolen silverware. It appeared that the bandits had shared out the spoils, as we recovered pieces one or two at a time from the individuals we encountered. Killing the boss was on our list of things to do, but we had all the silverware we were sent for by the time we found her. What she did drop for us, though, was a "companion's greatsword", of better quality than the sword and shield Isobel was using.

I noticed that I couldn't use it myself, nor would I be able to improve it, deconstruct it, or anything like that. But Isobel coul use it, and she'd trained with all weapons as a squire, so I gave it to her. In return, I had to take her sword and sheld. I'd also noticed that she had not been allowed to join the guilds with me, but I'd put that down to her already belonging to the Knightly Order. Apparently companion status was more complicated than I'd thought. It was most likely the same sort of considerations that made me a sorceror, and Clark a dragonknight. There were skills each of us had, that the other could never learn.

After we'd cleared the dungeon, collected the skyshard, (again, I could do that but Isobel couldn't), we stopped outside to discuss what companion meant. It turned out there were a lot of differences in being one. Different skill lines, different equipment, and a whole lot more. A useful one was that she could travel directly to me when I needed her, instead of us having to meet at the nearest wayshrine, like I did with Clark.

---

We traveled back to Elden Root, and climbed up the stairs to the first landing, where the crafting stations were, and the entrances to the Fighters and Mages guild halls. We went in and picked up their daily quests, to close a Dark Anchor, and retrieve an artifact of Sheogorath, respectively. I took the time to pick up the day's crafting writs, too, but decided to do them at the same time as deconstructing the surplus loot from the daily quests. Then we could turn in Bolgrul's quest and the crafting writs down at the ground level at the end.

Fortunately for us, both of the guild quests were in Auridon, and we already had a wayshrine there. We rode out of town to look for more wayshrines, and just as we arrived at the first one at Windy Glade, a nearby dolmen started up. We arrived in plenty of time to join the crowd of adventurers fighting the daedra, and the anchor was soon destroyed, and we had our first Fighter's guild quest done.

Now we had to find Toothmaul Gully, which my map told me was quite a bit further up the coast, if we decided to go that way. Alternatively, we could pick up a couple more wayshrines by taking the roads inland. We opted for the inland route, as we'd use those shrines again.

We encountered a traveling merchant on the road, and traded a few things. He didn't have any companion gear, but he bought the ones I had, that Isobel no longer needed. We also found out that Toothmaul was just around the corner at the end of the trail down to the beach. It was rumoured to be full of goblins, but they seemed to stay in the cave, and not venture out much. The merchant had never seen any outside it.

When we entered the cave, we didn't find goblins in the first part, but some Altmer fighting amongst themselves. I declined a request to assist, as I didn't know anything about what the two sides of the conflict represented. I wasn't here to get involved in their disputes, just to retrieve the artifact for the Mages guild.

There were a few hostile goblins in the next chamber, and we fought through the ones we needed to reach the exit that lead most directly to where we were trying to go. The were a couple more exits, but the crude map I had suggested they were just longer paths leading to the same place. The tunnel we'd picked had its share of goblins, and imps, but nothing major. My map suggested that the western route had significant enemies lurking along it, and the eastern one lead to the goblin chief's den. The main chamber, where all of them converged, would have a scattering of major enemies, but it was likely we could get in and out without having to deal with most of them.

By the time we emerged into the main cave chamber, Isobel and I had done about as much fighting as had in the whole of Ilessan Tower earlier. We still had to find our way across to the the chest containing the artifact, and deal with whatever was guarding it. Fortunately, there were other adventurers there, presumably on quests of their own. Perhaps some of them had agreed to help one or other side of the Altmer conflict.

So we could pick our battles, and wait for assistance with the harder ones. The strangler that we had to kill to reach the chest seemed to be on everyone's dance card, for one reason or another, and it went down from sheer force of numbers. "Now let's get out of here, and go turn this in for our reward," I declared.

Posted by: Acadian Apr 14 2025, 08:20 PM

I’m sure Aurelia was glad to be free of the threat of becoming the property of one of those loser squires.

I hope I didn’t imply a negative impression of Isobel. In fact, she would certainly be my second choice as a companion after Mirri. For Buffy, we just wanted a companion that was more worldly.

I like how you are embracing quite a bit of the way ESO actually works, such as the guilds, companions and even quests. It feels very familiar and comfortable.

The Morrowinder and High Isler have quite a bit of Tamriel to explore!

Posted by: Grits Apr 15 2025, 01:30 AM

Interesting take on why Isobel can’t join the Guilds. I like it. Swapping gear with Isobel and carrying her old stuff made me think about a character who could be her squire. Hmm.

That was a fun trip through Toothmaul Gully. You described it well enough that I would have known it without the name.

I am enjoying these travel adventures!

Posted by: ghastley Apr 21 2025, 10:38 AM

@Acadian: More exploring coming up.

@Grits: Travel adventures are what Seryn is supposed to be doing, if Azura has her way.

-----

Previously: Isobel got her knighthood, and she and Seryn have gone to Elden Root to start raising their guild ranks (and get paid for it).

-----

Bathing

t had been a long day, so we wasted no time traveling back to Elden Root. Isobel wanted to wash off the stink of goblin, but I persuaded her to wait until we could use the tub in my Vivec apartment. We collected our pay from the Undaunted, the Mages and the Fighters, and went to Vivec to sell the loot and count up our earnings.

Isobel was surprised at just how hot the bath water was. "I couldn't get into that, I'd be jumping right back out again. How can you stand it?"

"Probably because I'm a Dunmer. We're resistant to fire spells, so hot baths are no problem."

"I'm used to bathing in the sea, and if it got this hot, we'd not need to cook the fish," Isobel replied.

Isobel got herself a room for the night in the same inn - with a cooler bath, she informed me. We met up for breakfast the next day and went over our accounts. The guilds paid well, and we'd made even more from selling off the things we'd picked up from chests, and crates, and dead enemies along the way. My crafting writs had paid well, too. I did a few quick calculations.

"I reckon in about a week, if we do the same daily quests, we could buy that Bosmer pod house near the Elden Root entrance. Then we'd be right next to the stables, for our riding lessons, and pretty close to the Undaunted Enclave. I can make bedrolls, and fur-pile bedding to put them on, so we could use it as a base. It's larger than my inn room, so there's space for storage chests, and other things I don't currently have room for."

"Walking distance to the Enclave sounds great," Isobel thought, "but if we can only do one delve a day, what's the point of saving time?"

"I can only get one quest, but you could go along with any of the other Undaunted who wants help. I noticed you preferred their dailies to the other two we did, so maybe you could do more of them while I'm doing my crafting writs. We both need to do the Mages and Fighters dailies for the ranking, so we can learn their skills."

And that's what we did. Snugpod effectively became Isobel's home. The Vivec apartment was mine and Clark's and that hot bath was one thing we both liked, even if Isobel wasn't convinced. Since we could travel instantly between them it was an ideal arrangement.

---

Our daily routine was first to take a riding lesson from Galolion, and then pick up the daily delve quest from Bolgrul at the Undaunted Enclave. At the first landing in the tree, we'd get the guild dailies, and I'd pick up the crafting writs. Depending on where the daily quests took us, we'd go do those, and then return to Snugpod.

Isobel would go turn in Bolgrul's quest, while I did the same for the other two. She'd ask around if anyone needed a swordswoman's help with their Undaunted daily, while I made all the items for the crafting writs up in the tree. After I finished those, I had to take them out to the quartermaster's crates near the bridge, before returning to Snugpod to meet up with Isobel. Then we'd go off and find somewhere new to eat.

Most days we both finished about the same time. Some of the Undaunted quests took you further from the wayshrines, so they took a bit more travel time than others. If I got a sealed Master writ to do, then that would take me extra time to make, as I'd have to travel to the crafting station that made that set. So it wasn't unusual for one of us to be waiting around for the other to turn up.

---

When Isobel finally did arrive, she had a silly grin on her face that told me she hadn't just been fighting in a delve. "Come on, spill the beans," I told her.

"You remember Snegh, the Orc aspirant back on High Isle? The one I said was a typical Orc, because he just hit everything with his axe? Well, I just met an Orc who was the exact opposite of Snegh," Isobel began.

"When I went to the Enclave, he was standing near Bolgrul, who was looking up at him, and giving him his daily task. He wore no armor, unless you count the metal armbands and collar, just regular cloth pants and shoes, and he carried a staff on his back. He was showing a lot of muscle for a mage.

"I was curious, to say the least. I asked if he needed a sword-wielding companion to assist in the delve, and he agreed. We headed off for Mehrune's Spite, a cave in the North of Auridon. It was full of daedra, a lot of them stinky little banekin, but with clannfears and flame atronachs as well. There were the usual cultists, but the boss we were after was a Dremora mage.

"None of it was particularly difficult, especially as I'm used to working with a mage like yourself. So we didn't work up much of a sweat. However, daedra in a confined cave still left us rather odorous, and I was eager to get cleaned up. We came out of the cave and I ran down to the nearby beach to clean my armour, and bathe.

"Bud, the big Orc, followed me. He seemed surprised that I was going to bathe in the sea. He told me that where he came from in Wrothgar, the sea had Ice floating in it, and nobody even considered going in deliberately. You'd only get hot water in the bathhouses, and generally they had separate times for male and female bathers. So he wasn't expecting me to strip off and dive in.

"I told him that on High Isle, most people bathed in the sea. Nowhere was far from a beach, and the water was nicely warm, like it was there in Auridon. And of course you bathed naked, if you were trying to get clean.

"Apparently, he appreciated what I was showing. I'd always thought I was a bit too well-muscled for Breton tastes, but Orcs think differently. He told me that some of the Orc women take it too far, and end up looking like men, but I was properly smooth. Curves, not lumps. I was tall for a Breton, and that helped, too.

"So it's my fault that he needs to loosen his pants. After a quick dip to clean off, that problem hadn't gone away. It was my duty to do what I could, or we wouldn't be able to go back to the enclave with him in that condition."

"And you would have done a thorough and diligent job of it," I snickered. "A Knight should always try to excel, right?"

Isobel laughed. "What took all the time was that he had the same ideas, and made sure I got what he thought I deserved, too."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but when we left High Isle, I was convinced you preferred women," I told her.

"Well, I grew up with Aurelia, so she was like a step-sister, and I did have a bit of a crush on her at one point. And you saw what the choice of men was like back there. Langley, Mortens, Nilsmon, and Snegh were the cream of the crop! So at that point in time, you were probably right."

"Does this mean you'll be looking for him at the Enclave again tomorrow?" I asked.

"Just that I won't mind if I find him there," she grinned. "But there's quite a few other guys I like doing a delve with. It's just that the circumstances haven't conspired so well before."

"Tell me about the others over dinner," I suggested. "I'm starving, and the tavern opposite has a special tonight that I want to try."

---

So Isobel told me about the other mages she'd been out with. The elderly Breton that had her wear the dancing girl costume so that the enemies would underestimate her. "And I expect he enjoyed the show, too," I inquired.

"Probably, but he never tried anything. I suspect he was a bit afraid of me, just like the other squires back in High Isle. We all bathed naked at the beach after our training sessions, but they soon learned that even if I did look tempting, they'd get hurt if they tried anything.

"There's another guy that likes me to wear a costume, too, but only when we're being social. In the delves, he doesn't care what I look like, but he thinks I should look elegant in company."

"So you just go delve-clearing with guys?" I asked.

"Mostly. The women are looking for a male companion, or just don't want one, because they have something to prove."

---

So now, whenever I'm at the Enclave, I'm looking around to try and guess who else Isobel knows. And noticing a few of the others in the process. There was one Reguard man that caught my eye, with a greatsword (curved, of course) on his back, but wearing a fancy costume that made him appear to be a wealthy merchant, not a delve-diving adventurer. I asked him where he got it, as I hadn't seen anything quite like it before.

He didn't remember. It could have been Hew's Bane, or Sentinel, or even Stros M'kai. None of those were places I'd ever been, but he'd never visited Morrowind, and my Ashlander outfit was just as exotic to him. He'd started his adventuring life on Stros M'kai, so come to think of it, that probably wasn't where he got the costume. If he ever had enough gold, he'd go back there and buy a big house to live in. But he spent it as fast as it came in, so that wasn't likely.

I asked Isobel if she knew any of the places he'd talked about. She'd heard of them, but not been there herself. They all had ports, so she'd been told tales by ship's captains that worked for her parents. Hew's Bane was full of thieves, but was generally safe if you stayed in the docks area. Sentinel was a major city with more than one dock area. Veloise shipping used only one of them, so she didn't know much about the rest. Most of the trade there was minerals, as so much of the kingdom was desert. Stros M'kai was pirate territory, but the Redguard king was making progress in cleaning them out. It was a small island, so that could happen quite quickly.

"But it's strange you should mention that place, because I just heard from Aurelia. She's gone there, on her travels, and had a ring I gave her stolen. She wants us to meet her there, and try and get it back."

"Is it a special ring?" I wanted to know.

"Well, yes. It's a Veloise family signet ring. I gave it to her because I wanted to show her that she was family to me. And not just like a sister. I may have understated that crush when I told you earlier.

"The problem now is that somebody could use that ring to impersonate a Veloise Mercantile agent, and really do my family business some harm, financially, or to our reputation, which comes to the same thing in the end."

Posted by: Acadian Apr 21 2025, 08:24 PM

Very nice job developing the partnership between Seryn and Isobel. Isobel’s good in a dungeon and the facts that she loves clearing them and is an Undaunted fangirl help.

The two have a profitable system worked out.

Buffy fully understands Isobel’s ‘water makes her clothes fall off’ habit.

Speaking of lots of water, it seems there’s trouble afoot on the island of Stros M’kai with Isobel’s family business signet ring and Aurelia. Hmm, didn’t Seryn say that Redguard she met at the Enclave came from Stros M’kai?

Posted by: Grits Apr 21 2025, 11:11 PM

It was fun to hear about some of other mages that Isobel has worked with, and especially the reasons for some of the outfits.

To Stros M’kai, where the water is probably perfect for bathing!

Posted by: Renee Apr 28 2025, 07:01 PM

A bathing chapter. Those are fun to write, right? Yes that makes sense; dark elves are going to want really hot bathwater, to the edge of toleration for them would be scalding for any other race.

Bosmer pod house sounds cute. Snugpod!

I love the orc finding it strange to bathe in the sea. Because I wouldn't think orcs would even have a preference, being brutal types, mostly. And Bud the orc also, oh gosh. Oh gosh, that's ... he loosens his pants. Yikes.

"And you would have done a thorough and diligent job of it," I snickered. "A Knight should always try to excel, right?"

Oh gosh. Yikes. Think I'm too young for this chapter. Unless my mind's insinuating stuff not intended by the author. Could be that, yeah.

Redguards: They've got curved swords.... Curved swords.

Hopefully the ring won't get used to impersonate, but chances are that's exactly what'll happen.

Posted by: ghastley Apr 29 2025, 05:39 PM

@Acadian: Isobel likes the Undaunted daily delves in particular. I may have to bend the ESO story a bit, or she won't do the pledges.

@Grits: Outfits are fun, as they have nothing to do with what you actually wear.

@Renee: What Bud needed was a cold shower, but only a warm sea was available.

-----

Previously: Various events happened while bathing.

------

Port Hunding

It wasn't too hard to find a ship going to Port Hunding. Nobody was sailing to Saintsport, because that's where all the pirates were. It appeared that the cleanup had started, but was only half-complete. Rumour had it that Headman Bhosek was a "reformed" pirate, but there were enough of the King's agents present to keep him reasonably honest.

Aurelia had been staying at the Screaming Mermaid, not too surprisingly, as it was the only inn in town. We met outside, and she had another familiar (to Isobel) face with her. "That's Captain Marso. He works for my parents," Isobel told me.

What had happened was that Aurelia had let her guard down, and a thief named Kiv had got enough information from her to let him get access to her room, and steal several of her possessions, including the ring.

"It looks like he ran off this way, dropping things as he sorted through his haul," Isobel exclaimed, picking up a jar of something smelly, and dropping it again, with a disgusted look on her face.

We took a guess at which direction he'd headed, and soon found an engraved arm band of no particular value. So we continued in the same direction, and found he'd dropped his journal, which suggested he knew he was being pursued, and couldn't spare the time to pick it back up. It also confirmed that he was heading for the docks.

He'd dropped a sweetroll on the docks, but I steered Isobel past picking it up, and rushed to ask the shipping agents if they'd seen him, or knew what ship he was on. We'd just missed the boat he'd taken, which was headed for Seyda Neen.

We didn't need to follow on a ship, as I knew the wayshrines on Vvardenfell. So we talked a bit more with Aurelia and Marso.

Coming to Stros M'kai had been Marso's idea. Aurelia had wanted an adventure, and this seemed to him like the right place. Port Hunding was pretty safe, (Kiv excepted) but the island provided opportunities for exploration and adventure that were not too scary for a beginner. And he could do some trade to justify the trip, as Dwemer artifacts were starting to emerge from the newly opened ruins of Bthzark.

Aurelia thought it would be best if Isobel kept the ring if we got it back. Now that she understood what it could be used for in the wrong hands, she didn't want to risk this happening again. She had ideas on how she could limit the damage, and she and Marso would go back to High Isle and work on those.

On our way to the Port Hunding wayshrine, to get to Seyda Neen, Isobel explained that Marso was an old family friend, as well as an employee of her parents. They always took his ship when they went on family trips, and on many of those they took Aurelia with them, as she and Isobel were such close friends. So they'd known him since they were teens. He wasn't a lot older, as he'd been quick to rise to Captain. Her parents promoted on ability, not seniority.

As we reached the wayshrine, I remarked "I'm glad we're picking up this wayshrine, as I wouldn't mind coming back here to look around. I like the exotic architecture, and the dry climate."

"Me too," Isobel replied. "Maybe it's because of growing up on one, but I like islands. You're never far from the beach."

"And we know what you do on beaches, don't we?"

---

Of course, Vvardenfel is an island, but a much bigger one. And Seyda Neen doesn't have a beach, so much as mud flats and swamps. We headed for the tavern, as that's usually a good place to start making inquiries. Before going in, we asked the woman standing outside if she knew anything about Kiv Lindres.

Galedra Athram not only knew about him, she was looking for him herself. He'd got her fired from her job at the inn, because she'd vouched for him, and then he'd pulled the same kind of stunt he had in Port Hunding, and robbed one of the patrons. He'd left a bag behind in his rush to escape, and we were welcome to look through it.
The only clue that gave us was that a man named Julles Laurdon was another likely victim, and he was in Wayrest.

"I know the wayshrine there," Isobel announced. "Another family business trip when I was younger. I can get us to quite a few of the major cities around Tamriel. If they have a port, it's likely Veloise Mercantile has an interest."

---

"I should go check at the bank while I'm here," Isobel remarked. "If Kiv Lindres has tried to use the ring as proof of identity, that's the first place he'd try, and I want to make sure he fails."

As luck would have it, we ran into Julles Laurdon outside the temple on our way there. He was about to go looking for Kiv, too, as several items of value had gone missing, and he knew Kiv had at least one of them, because he'd handed it over himself. He had found a note from someone called Goldleaf, and he thought Kiv had gone to Belkarth to meet with him. He suggested we all go there, too, and try and warn this Goldleaf about Lindres.

With four of us, there was little problem using the wayshrine to reach Belkarth, and we were soon walking up to the local inn, to go find this Goldleaf fellow.

We found him in the upper lounge, and for once we'd got there first. He'd received a letter from Kiv Lindres, telling him that Kiv was now working with Veloise Mercantile, and so he could put a lot more business his way. They were due to meet in the basement later.

"Why the basement?" Galedra asked.

"Kiv presumably needs the storage space, now he's trading on a bigger scale," Goldleaf suggested. "Seemed legitimate to me."

We told him about the stolen ring, and that we believed the basement was probably a trap. The four of us would go in his place, just in case.

We weren't wrong, Lindres had a couple of mercenaries with him, but they were bright enough to be able to count. They didn't like being outnumbered and promptly quit, leaving Lindres alone. He still drew a sword on us, but was quickly subdued.

He didn't have the ring on his person; he didn't trust Goldleaf enough for that. He told us where he'd buried it, and we'd just have to trust that he wasn't lying. We could, however, make sure that he couldn't just go fetch it from any other place he'd hidden it. Both Geladra and Julles had idea on what to do with Kiv.

Galedra would like to try an alchemical experiment. She had a potion she'd made, that should turn Kiv into a skeever for a time. Long enough for us to go dig up the ring, at least.

Julles wanted to send Kiv to a monastery, where they'd reform him. He'd be there for a year, or more, he told us.

Isobel and I were of the opinion that Kiv would just talk his way out of Julles' monastery, so we let Galedra have her way. She poured a bottle of something over Kiv, and he turned into a spider.

"Not a skeever? I must have used too much spider silk in the mixture," Galedra exclaimed.

She reassured us that the transformation should last as long as she'd told us, even if the form wasn't right. We'd have time to find the ring before the spider turned back.

---

Surprisingly, the ring was where Kiv had told us it would be. Perhaps he wanted to be sure nobody else found it, and he'd know where it was if he got the chance to go looking for it again. Isobel felt that the only safe place was with her parents.

---

As we walked back to the wayshrine in Gonfalon Bay, after leaving the ring with the Veloises, I asked Isobel what other places she could take us. I knew that Azura wanted me to travel, so perhaps I should indulge her, and see a bit more of Tamriel.

"Just port cities, as I mentioned before, and we've already seen most of them. We haven't been to Sentinel, though, want to go there?"

Posted by: Grits Apr 29 2025, 11:23 PM

He'd dropped a sweetroll on the docks, but I steered Isobel past picking it up

How satisfying to have the people he’d duped all confronting Kiv. Wise decision to go with the alchemical option. I can see Kiv creating havoc at a monastery.

Ooo, Sentinel! So much to see and do there!

Posted by: Acadian Apr 30 2025, 12:04 AM

The trail begins in Port Hunding. Aurelia and Marso are able to fill in some of the gaps and provide a name. The hunt is on!

Knowing Isobel’s sweet tooth, steering clear of that sweetroll was probably wise.

Isobel, being a beach bunny – er – involved in her family’s mercantile business -explains the wonderful fact that she is familiar with so many port city wayshrines. Very handy for Seryn as she wants to travel more of Tamriel.

Several cities later, with Kiv learning how to be a spider, the ring is found and delivered to Isobel’s parents. Nicely done.

On to Solitude, is it?
Edit: Oops, I meant Sentinel.

Posted by: ghastley May 5 2025, 09:59 AM

@Grits: Seryn already knows about Isobel and sweetrolls. And banana muffins, taffy, ...

@Acadian: Isobel and beaches could become a theme.

-----

Previously: Seryn and Isobel went to Port Hunding to help Aurelia.

------

Tourists

Sentinel was like a much larger version of Port Hunding. Bigger docks, bigger buildings, especially the Royal Palace, where King Fahara'jad lived. The architecture was the same, just on a larger scale. Many of the buildings were eerily familiar, as the builders had used the same plans when they constructed the same kind somewhere else. So the Sisters of the Sands Inn was just like the Screaming Mermaid that we'd lodged in on the island, and the Crossroads Tavern in Belkarth came to mind, too.

We walked out to the edge of town to return to the wayshrine, and I looked out across the sands, which stretched as far as the eye could see. There were rain-catchers like the one by the wayshrine clustered in the distance, but beyond them was just more sand. Too much desert for my tastes. The few palm trees I could see were around the edge of the city or the rain-catchers.

We took the wayshrine to Daggerfall, the other port that Isobel knew. The Breton buildings were just like those in Wayrest, and it didn't help that it was raining there when we arrived, making them look even greyer. The Rosy Lion was cheerful enough, and we got offered the chance to buy a room, just like we did in Vivec City. It may even have been the same woman who made the offer. I don't remember clearly, as Clark made all those arrangements.

That got me thinking about homes, and not just exploration. I'd bought Snugpod in Grahtwood as a base, partly because it was so cheap, and partly because of its location. I asked Isobel where she'd like to live, if she could choose anywhere she knew.

"Would it mean giving up Snugpod?" she wanted to know. "That might not be my idea of Home, but I wouldn't want to lose the access it gives me to the all the Guilds."

"No, I mean what else do you want from a Home, with the capital H?"

"I'd want it to be on an island, because I like bathing in the sea. And that means warm sea, of course, so no houses in Wrothgar or Eastmarch.

"The bigger the better, but only up to a point. I grew up in a castle, and that's too big to be a Home. You only get to live in a part of one, and there's servant quarters, barracks, and stuff where other people live, so it's not all yours."

We continued discussing the idea, and soon discovered that we both preferred sandy beaches to swamps and mud-flats. We visited Khenarthi's Roost, one of the few places I knew that Isobel didn't, but neither of us liked the way Khajiiti buildings were either stone ruins, or unstable-looking wooden ones up on poles.

I admitted to her that I felt I'd outgrown The Vivec apartment I shared with Clark, and I wanted to find something bigger for us. Since he wasn't here to ask, I was getting my second opinion from her.

"Who's Clark?" she asked.

I had been avoiding mentioning Clark, because I couldn't tell her about him without also giving her the whole story, and that meant Azura, too. I wasn't sure if Azura wanted her to know about sending me to High Isle in the first place.

Of course, she was listening. A winged twilight materialised silently behind Isobel. Nobody paid it any attention, as mages summoned them all the time.

"Perhaps I can help answer that," she said. "Seryn is well-known in Morrowind as the Champion of Azura, as Clark is Vivec's Champion. The two of them saved Vvardenfell from an impending disaster. They're here in the West for a well-deserved vacation, but it seems that neither of them knows how to relax."

"I think I heard something about that," Isobel exclaimed. "Didn't Vivec's Champion clear daedra from the temple in Mournhold, too? Did Seryn have anything to do with that?"

"Yes, Clark was part of that, but no, it was Divayth Fyr with him on that occasion. There's also a lot more to the stories that you won't have heard, and I'm not at liberty to divulge. The Tribunal aren't telling, and nor is Azura."

That pretty well covered all that the public knew, and did match any facts Isobel might dig up. Vivec had announced Clark's title publicly, and Azura's method was a bit more theatrical, but just as public, when she told me. I still miss that feeling of power!

I admitted to Isobel that I wasn't sure what Clark was up to on Summerset. I did know that Azura wanted him to go there, and for me to go exploring somewhere else. He'd been back to visit in Vivec City whenever he could, which was another reason she had Snugpod to use.

"So your trips back haven't just been about hot baths?"

"Hot, yes; baths, no" I confessed.

"And he hasn't told you about what he's doing there?"

"Not much. He's mentioned a few well-known names, like Queen Ayrenn and her Eye, Razum-Dar. He has described some of the places he's visited since I left him at Shimmerene, but nothing that tells me what's really going on. Much like I'm not telling you any more about what really happened back on Vvardenfell, because it's all on a need-to-know basis for our own safety.

"And if it's anything like last time, I'm sure it wouldn't make any sense until it all plays out, anyway."

"So did Azura send you to High Isle, or were you just a tourist?" Isobel wanted to know.

"I was a tourist at her suggestion," I replied. "It was her idea, but not a directive. She'd persuaded me that I needed to travel more, and learn new skills, and that was an opportunity for both. Plus I needed a combat partner while she borrowed Clark, and you fit the bill. I don't know if she has any plans for you beyond that, as she hasn't told me."

"If she does, she'll tell you herself," the twilight added. "That's the way she does things." And she disappeared again.

We decided to go and eat our evening meal at the Screaming Mermaid on Stros M'kai, as we'd both liked the food there on our last visit. Maybe we'd stay the night there, too, and look around in the morning on our way to the wayshrine. We did want to get back to Elden Root and do our dailies for the guilds, but they didn't usually take long, if Isobel avoided beaches..

The innkeeper told us that the big house just to the south was for sale, but it wasn't just a case of coming up with the gold. Pirates could do that, and the King had enough of them. You'd have to prove yourself as honest citizens of the Daggerfall Covenant first.

That was a bit daunting for me, as I now owned property in the other two alliances, and could consider myself a citizen almost anywhere except the Covenant. Isobel, however, was a Breton, so maybe it wasn't an impossible task. The innkeeper pointed out that the honesty part was the important one, as whoever bought the house became a citizen that way.

It turned out that we were part way there anyway. We'd cleared delves, and closed anchors, and a number of other things along the way that had all been noted, The other encouraging aspect was that anyone else who wanted to buy had the same hoop to jump through, so perhaps we had the lead in any race for it.

Now our interests were piqued, Isobel and I went for a tour of the property. "It's on its own island!" Isobel exclaimed, as we walked over the bridge to the imposing front gate.

Indeed the outer walls of the property did enclose the whole island. At the very back, away from the "mainland", there was no wall, but nothing overlooked the beach except a number of large uninhabited offshore rocks. In one direction you could just see Saintsport, but the other direction was open sea to the horizon. We'd been told not to try to swim out too far, as there were slaughterfish in the deeper water, but they didn't come in close enough to be a nuisance. They would, however, make short work of anyone trying to swim in from outside the property. As private a beach as you could ask for.

The house itself had a large courtyard, surrounded by walls tall enough to cast a good shade to sit in. There were a few awnings already in place to provide more, and it would not be hard to add to them. The building was airy and open inside, effectively all one large room on two floors. There were domes at the top where heated air could escape and a very gentle breeze came in through vented walls to keep the place cool. The lack of interior walls helped this circulation, and made the interior very comfortable.

There were several towers whose only purpose was to support the exterior wall, but a larger one on the beach side of the property was big enough for one person to live in, having as much floor space as Snugpod. You could climb up that one and get a very good view of the bay.

There was a stable, a rain-collecting pool, and various other amenities, and plenty of room to add more. We liked this place. The price was a bit more than we had, but with what we'd earn doing quests to qualify for it, it was in reach.

I decided that I wouldn't tell Clark that I intended buying it until it happened. There was a chance somebody else would beat us to it, after all. And maybe I'd wait a little longer, as it would need furnishing, and I wanted to do that myself, too.

Posted by: Acadian May 5 2025, 04:27 PM

"Who's Clark?" she asked.’
- - I’ve kind of been waiting for this. A winged twilight arrives to provide the answer – clever and convenient!

Not surprisingly, the ladies are drawn back to the warm seaside charm of Stros M’kai. And it seems an unused palatial island home might be available if they can pass the quests to get it. . . .

Posted by: Grits May 6 2025, 06:58 PM

Nice observation that the Sentinel buildings can be eerily familiar. I often feel the same way, especially in the various inns.

"Who's Clark?" she asked.
That was a good recap from the winged twilight.

"Hot, yes; baths, no" I confessed.

Sounds like they found an excellent potential Home. I hope they get it!

Posted by: ghastley May 12 2025, 01:24 PM

@Acadian: I'm trying to work "who's Seryn?" into Clark's narrative, too. I'll be able to go back to his viewpoint when I have.

@Grits: Qualification starts after a short interruption.

-----

Previously: Seryn has decided she'd like to buy Hunding's Palatial Hall, if she can.

-----

Finding Aurelia

"I got a letter from Dame Jourvel," Izzie told me. "You know she was trying to get Aurelia to go get a life of her own, and now she's upset because that's what's happened. We should go visit her at Castle Navire and try to do something."

It made more sense when we talked to the Knight Commander herself. The problem was that Aurelia hadn't told her where she was going, and had left rather suddenly, too.

"Aurelia can be a bit impetuous," Izzie agreed. "I wonder if this has anything to do with Kiv, and the ring."
Dame Jourvel suggested we start by finding Nilsmon, her aide. She doubted that Aurelia had gone anywhere with him, but the man was infatuated with her, and was probably more aware of her movements than anyone else we could ask. "I haven't seen him around the castle in a while, so go check out his bunk in the barracks." she told us.

The scraps of "poetry" we found confirmed his obsession with Aurelia. "Maybe she's just trying to avoid him," I suggested. "Especially if he's a habitual drunk, like all these bottles imply. If she thinks he's drinking because of her, she might also think he'd stop if she wasn't around."

Izzie didn't believe Aurelia would reason that way. And she probably didn't care what Nilsmon did to himself, either. The bottles did give her a clue, however, as that brand of rum, All Flags, was a local brew of Gonfalon Bay. It wasn't good enough to be worth shipping anywhere else. It was likely that we'd find Nilmon there.

---

The "poet" was well-known in the Ancient Anchor. We'd started there, as they sold the rum, and it was right by the wayshrine if we needed to go anywhere else. Someone had seen Nilsmon heading towards the docks, so we did the same.

A trail of empty bottles confirmed this, and another page of "poetry" that it was indeed Nilsmon. We found him on the beach, swigging from a tankard, and staring out to sea. He wasn't exactly what you'd describe as coherent, but we did figure out that he'd seen Aurelia getting on a ship. Which one, and where it was going, we'd not find out from him, in his drunken state, but it wouldn't be hard to ask the shipping clerk about the recent departures.

It took a small bribe, of course, but the only ship that had sailed was headed for Rivenspire. "Is that Northpoint?" Izzie asked. "I can take us there, if it is."

She explained that Northpoint wasn't really much of a commercial port. Northsalt, where the docks were, was more of a fishing village than anything. The whole coast was a bit rocky and dangerous, with several lighthouses warning ships away. Northpoint was built around one of them, and one of the local Dukes had his manor there.

---

We could hear the commotion on the beach from the wayshrine. Someone was in a fight down there, and Izzie knew who. "That's Captain Marso's voice," she told me. "We should go help."

He'd have preferred us to have arrived a bit earlier. He'd dispatched the two brigands that had attacked him, but
not without taking a wound himself. "Isobel, thank Leki! Quickly, Aurelia is this way," he called out, as he limped along the beach ahead of us .

Around a large rock we found his first mate struggling to his feet. "Two more of them jumped us, and they've taken Aurelia. Threw her in a boat and headed down the coast."

We talked with Marso about what had happened. It appeared that Aurelia had had people looking into Kiv Lindres, the thief that stole the ring. Although Veloise Mercantile didn't do any business in Rivenspire, Kiv did, and he had debts here he was trying to pay off. He'd sent letters here, pretending to work for Iosbel's family, but it's not clear how he was going to get access to the funds he needed. Aurelia had come to find out.

Izzie hadn't told Aurelia about the whole story of our dealings with Kiv, just that we'd got the ring back, and it was safe with her parents. Aurelia probably felt that Kiv deserved some payback, and clearly she had a good idea of what he could get up to, even without it, if she'd found out about this situation.

Marso didn't have any more details. Aurelia hadn't told him much, just that she needed his help, and Veloise Mercantile interests were involved.

---

Finding where they'd take Aurelia was complicated by there being a state of civil unrest in Rivenspire. One of the factions was preparing to besiege the town, and we had to skirt around their forces on the beach. It wasn't easy to tell which camps were theirs, and which was the one we were looking for. The only way we'd know is that it would be the one with Aurelia in it.

When we found it, there was only Aurelia in it. Her captors had tied her to a post, and gone off somewhere, possibly foraging for food, and hadn't come back. Maybe they'd run into the same soldiers we'd seen in the other camps.

It meant that all we had to do was untie her, and wait for Marso to catch up, which was only a few moments.

"What are you two doing here?" she asked us. "I'm so glad you found me; I have so much to tell you."

Aurelia explained to all of us, Marso included, what she'd been doing. She'd written to everyone she could think of that Kiv might have been able to swindle. In most cases, she'd shut things down before they could even get started, but this one was only apparent when the account in Northpoint was accessed. She'd enlisted Marso's help, and they'd been attacked when they approached Northsalt, which told her they'd stumbled onto something bigger than expected.

Marso chimed in with "I know, I know. It's all a bit unusual. But I wouldn't have come all the way out here if I didn't think there was something to Aurelia's story. This business is worth looking into, I think."

"You're going to continue to help Aurelia with her investigation, then?" I asked him.

"I will. Aurelia has a caring heart. She was so ashamed after that day on Stros M'Kai. She acted the fool, even if she's too proud to say as much. She is bound and determined to right the wrong she created. And I'm honored to help."

---

"Marso seems to be quite fond of Aurelia, if you know what I mean," I remarked.

"I noticed that, too. And it seems it goes both ways. When Aurelia and I were travelling with him before, he would always have been mindful that I was the boss's daughter, and treating us both very carefully. Now that constraint doesn't apply."

Posted by: Grits May 12 2025, 06:35 PM

Nilsmon! One of my favorite documents in the game is Langley’s Note to Nilsmon Booklover. “You stink of rum and sorrow.”

You’ve captured the hunt for Aurelia beautifully. She’s in real danger, but she charms everyone so thoroughly that it’s hard to believe she’ll come to harm.

Nice observation that without Izzy around Aurelia and Captain Marso can openly show their interest.

Posted by: Acadian May 12 2025, 08:27 PM

I quite enjoyed Isobel’s questline in game and it feels wonderfully comfortable and nostalgic as you take us through it.

I was glad to see Aurelia’s interest in Marso because it helps Isobel move beyond her own adolescent crush on Aurelia. Nice also to see Aurelia and Marso trying to squash any further damage by Kiv to Veloise Mercantile.

Posted by: Renee May 14 2025, 04:40 PM

I've fallen behind Clark's story! What happened to once a year updates?

Kiv's bodyguards decide to quit because they're outnumbered. Just like that!

Man, turning someone into a skeever. You know how many bosses I've had which would receive that treatment? Shazzam, would you like a treat Bryan? No? Okay, your loss.

don't remember clearly, as Clark made all those arrangements.

Yikes, whoa. All this time I thought Clark is the "I" in the story. So what is Clark's relationship to the protagonist? --- Alright here we go. "Who's Clark?" she asked.

"Seryn is well-known in Morrowind as the Champion of Azura, as Clark is Vivec's Champion."

Alright, thank you Winged Twilight.

I'm trying to work "who's Seryn?" into Clark's narrative, too.

And Seryn = the protagonist, correct? Hey at least I'm not the only one asking questions!

Posted by: ghastley May 20 2025, 03:47 PM

@Acadian - Izzie is growing up fast. Hopefully, the travel is having an effect on Seryn, too.

@Grits - I still can't believe Aurelia's propensity for getting tied up. Maybe she takes after Minx?

@Renee - Yes we're letting Seryn continue her part of the story, as Clark is busy on Summerset Isle.

-----

Previously: Seryn and Isobel have rescued Aurelia from bandits, after she went investigating Kiv's activities in Rivenspire.

------

Spearhead

We went back to Port Hunding, to see what we might do about the house. From what the innkeeper had told us, some 'good deeds', like we did for the Undaunted, were the thing, but there wasn't an Enclave on Stros M'kai.

We did run into a Redguard sea captain who told us a bit more about Headman Bhosek. Kaleen's ship had its crew mutiny, and she suspected Bhosek was behind it. The King had ordered a stop to the harrassment of Breton shipping, as they were all part of the Covenant now, but Bhosek hadn't wanted to give up his main source of profit. A lot of her former crew had backed him against her, and although she had the ship back, she was short of a crew right now. All that remained were Lambur, the Orc First Mate, and Nicolene, the cabin 'boy'.

There were a number of likely recruits, but they all had matters to straighten out before they could join her. Jakarn was in jail, having got on the wrong side of Bhosek. Neramo was trying to get into Bthzark, to retrieve some Dwemer schematics his brother had located. Crafty Nerisa had lost her own ship to the pirates, but might have some of her own crew available, if they could join forces.

If we could get them all to join her, Kaleen thought she had a way to get back at Bhosek, and it would help us (and her) with our reputation with the King.

---

Bhosek's jail was a place known as the Grave. There was an entrance off the river not far from the docks, but a lot of traps between there and the cells, keeping the prisoners in, and visitors out. We probably would not encounter guards inside the Grave, but prisoners who'd got loose might be just as much of a problem. We walked down there, and found an Altmer woman waiting outside, telling everyone that her Jakarn was innocent.

Talking to her gave us a good idea what sort of person Jakarn really was. Kaleen had described him as a thief, and she wanted to recruit him for those skills, but con-man was closer to the mark. Irien believed that he was a Prince, from Westtry in Glenumbra. She was convinced he'd take her back there with him, if he could just get out of the Grave.

"Another Kiv Lindres, do you think?" I asked Isobel, as we made our way past the fire and spear traps in the entryway. She paused to let the spears fall before stepping over and giving me an answer.

"I'll tell you what I think, once I've met him. Some women hear what they want to hear, not what was actually said."

We ran into quite a few loose prisoners, who had found themselves some weapons, and were running around in the corridors. All hostile as soon as they saw us, presuming we were guards, I suppose. We fought our way through to some locked cells at the end, one of which contained Jakarn. He didn't think we looked like guards, and wanted out.

I asked if he had really stolen a gem from Bhosek. He admitted that, but said he was getting it back for the merchant Bhosek stole it from in the first place. Bhosek had tossed the merchant in here too, when they caught Jakarn, and he presumed he was dead.

"Why would Kaleen want a thief who gets caught?' I asked him.

"Because most times, I don't. And this time I think the merchant dropped me in it when they went back to him about the gem."

"Did you give it back to him?"

"Never got the chance. I had to drop it off somewhere safe while I waited for the right time, and it never came around."

"And tell me about Irien."

"The Altmer girl? I told her I'd get her off this rock if she was nice to me. And I still will, if I get the chance. Selling the gem should have bought us both passage out."

I told him that Captain Kaleen had sent me for him. That she had a job for him, that could provide that chance.

"Let me out, and I'll help however I can."

I decided to believe him, for now.

We didn't have a spare weapon for him, so we agreed to meet up at the entrance. He made himself invisible to sneak out, while Isobel and I walked back, cleaning up any murderous inmates we'd missed on the way in. At the entrance, we found him listening at the door.

"We can't go that way, Irien is out there. And guards, lots of guards. We'll have to use the side entrance.'

That was a ladder leading up to a trapdoor near the stables. When we were all outside, Jakarn told us what he'd done with the stolen gem.

"You gave it to goblins?" Isobel exploded.

"Safest thing to do,' Jarkarn explained. 'They won't sell it, and nobody else will take it from them. Bhosek's men will never consider the goblins might have it. Of course, it won't be easy for us to get it back, but I'm resourceful, and I've got you helping me. It will be easier than I'd originally thought.'

"We might get some credit for reducing the goblin population, on top of whatever comes from Kaleen's scheme," I reminded Izzie. "They may not be pirates, but I'm sure they count for something."

Jakarn had found himself a weapon by now, but he was still going to use stealth rather than the direct confrontation Isobel and I would be employing. I could tell that Izzie considered that un-knightly, but Jakarn wasn't claiming to be one, so I didn't care, even if it offended her a bit.

I found it telling that Jakarn trusted us to retrieve the gem, while he dealt with the goblin guards. Isobel didn't. Of course she could be trusted, she was a knight!

We met Irien outside the Screaming Mermaid when we went to meet up with Jakarn. She was livid with him, as she'd overheard him telling a Redguard girl that he was a ship's captain, and he could transport her off the island.

After returning the gem, I asked him about that. He'd actually said that he had a ship, meaning that he'd have access to Kaleen's once the caper was complete, and could ask her about taking another passenger. Irien had inflated that the same way she had when he'd told her his father was the mayor of the town when he was born.

Because Summerset towns are the fiefdoms of Kinlords, not run by democratically elected, term-limited citizens, she'd made assumptions. She always did, and never questioned them.

I noted that he hadn't got around to correcting her, but said nothing.

Nicolene came in to ask if we were going for Neramo, or Larisa, next. She gave us directions for both, just in case, then went back to report progress to Kaleen.

Posted by: Acadian May 21 2025, 12:15 AM

Great fun watching Seryn and Isobel working through the Captain Kaleen quests on Stros M’kai. Trust your instincts, Seryn! Jakarn is indeed a con man. A smooth talking skirt chaser, but a con man nonetheless. That all said, you've done a great job at showing how roguishly smooth and not quite evil he is.

This really epitomizes Isobel:
‘Jakarn had found himself a weapon by now, but he was still going to use stealth rather than the direct confrontation Isobel and I would be employing. I could tell that Izzie considered that un-knightly, but Jakarn wasn't claiming to be one, so I didn't care, even if it offended her a bit.
I found it telling that Jakarn trusted us to retrieve the gem, while he dealt with the goblin guards. Isobel didn't. Of course she could be trusted, she was a knight!’

Time for some goblin huntin’ it seems.

Posted by: Grits May 21 2025, 01:54 AM

And guards, lots of guards.

I am cackling over Isobel having to deal with Jakarn, and Jakarn utterly failing to charm Isobel. If not for Seryn’s influence, those two could never work together!

I enjoy the Stros M’kai quests very much, and Seryn’s account is making me want to go do them.

I love your portrayal of Jakarn. His explanations sound reasonable, but I’m still left not quite sure of the truth. Which is very Jakarn!

Posted by: ghastley May 26 2025, 09:33 AM

@Acadian, @Grits - Yes, Jakarn and Isobel play nicely off each other. I couldn't resist the contrast.

-----

Previously: Seryn and Isobel have started to do something about buying Hunding's Palatial Hall.

-----

Spearhead 2

We went looking for Neramo next, as he was nearest. We found him camped near the Dwemer ruin of Bthzark.

Neramo had ascertained that there were a pair of crystals outside Bthzark, that could prove useful for getting inside. The problem was all the wolves and assassin beetles prowling around them. He needed help retrieving them, and that could be Isobel and myself. He could reach the entrance, if they were distracted by us going for the crystals, too.

So we did that, and found out what he had in mind. The crystals were the components he needed to restore a Dwemer spider, that he could control enough to get it to open the door for us. Once inside he handed the control rod to me, and asked us to get the construct to restart the generators, so the inner door could be opened. Of course there would be other hazards to deal with, like hostile constructs, but they shouldn't hamper his spider, as they'd see it as one of their own. It was a pity the control rod had such a short range, or we wouldn't have to go with it.

Dwemer spiders aren't the nastiest of the automata, and Izzie and I had dealt with enough of them doing Undaunted quests to know how to handle them. We soon met up with Neramo again in front of the door to the inner part of the ruin. There was a chest on a pedestal in the chamber beyond the door, and enough evidence for Neramo to decide that the schematics he was looking for had once been in it. "They must have taken deeper into the complex," he decided. "Keep looking, while I try to find any clues to where they might have been moved to."

We had a choice of two doors out of the chamber, well three if you counted the one we came in. We considered taking one each, but there was no guarantee we'd be able to find each other again if we did. Arbitrarily taking the right-hand one put us on a bridge with steam and spark traps blocking our way. Those are just a matter of timing. Once you know how often they fire, you just pass while they don't, and you're good. It did take a good bit of time, but eventually we were on the other side.

The chamber we entered had another door leading out to the other bridge, the one we didn't take. Dwemer spiders were swarming all over that, more than enough to be a real nuisance. I decided we'd made the right choice of bridge.

Inside, we crossed a pit to an area where a Dwemer Sphere was guarding something, on a pedestal behind it. I couldn't see what it was from where I was standing, but once we got close enough for it to notice us, and attack, it looked like it might be the schematics.

The sphere was tough. It didn't deal a lot of damage, but it could take a lot. Isobel and I were pounding on it for ages before it went down, and then nearly got caught by a spider coming from near the exit. At least we got those schematics, but where was Neramo?

We found him waiting for us just outside the door. He took a look at the drawings, and confirmed they were the ones he wanted.

"So that means you're free to help Kaleen?" I asked.

"I hear she's headed for Betnikh next, and there are ruins there that I'd like to investigate. I'm in your debt, so I'd be glad to assist."

He offered us a portal back to town, but we were headed off in the other direction, towards Saintsport, to try and find Crafty Lerisa, and any of her crew that remained.

---

One of her crew found us. As we approached the wayshrine outside Saintsport, an Altmer named Telonil begged our help in rescuing the rest of them. The Sea Drakes had caused the Maiden's Breath to wreck off the coast, and the surviving crew had been captured. Only Lerisa and himself had escaped, and the Captain was hiding somewhere in town, looking for a way to release the others. He told us to look for Howler, the Captain's pet monkey, who would lead us to her.

"How's the monkey going to know we're not Sea Drakes?" I asked.

"Because you're not wearing the uniform," he replied.

Once we got into Saintsport, I could see what he meant. Everyone was dressed in the same armour, no matter if they carried a bow, a staff, a battleaxe, or sword and shield. The monkey wasn't, and fortunately, there was only one monkey.

We followed him, with a few skirmishes along the way, to a partly ruined building on the other side of the town square. It wasn't the only damaged-looking building. Most of them seemed to have walls broken, parts of the roof missing, or the doors torn off. The place had been thoroughly sacked at some point not too long ago.

We followed the monkey out the back of the building, and turned to find Lerisa behind us. She told us where to find the crew members she'd located so far, and suggested we take uniforms from the hamper so we'd fit in. "Or off dead Sea Drakes, which would be even better." Meanwhile, she was going to find a way to rescue Deregor, her First Mate, who was locked up on Captain Helane's ship.

We did take some disguises for the crew we were rescuing, but we hadn't seen more than two pirates together on our way in, so the sneaky approach didn't seem worth considering. Besides, Lerisa's crew would know we weren't Sea Drakes, and that might make it easier to release them.

---

With the three men on their way out of town, we headed for the beach near Helane's ship, where we'd agreed to meet Lerisa. A large fern suddenly became Lerisa as we approached. "Neat trick, huh?"

She'd got a key from the cabin girl, who she suspected was a slave, and sent her off to Port Hunding in disguise. Now she was going to settle the score with Helane, while we released Deregor from the hold.

---

With Deregor on his way to freedom, we dropped in to the Captain's cabin to see how Lerisa was doing. We found Helane with her Bosmer cabin girl.

"Wait, you're not ... did you poison me?" asked Helane, slumping to the floor.

The Bosmer cabin girl now looked rather different, exactly like Lerisa, if you asked me. And not like a fern at all.

Lerisa explained that she had indeed poisoned Helane, using one of her own poisons. Jarrin root was particularly nasty, as it killed slowly, and you were in pain for most of the time. Nobody used it, except for people like Helane.

We left Helane to her fate, and all met up on the beach outside Saintsport. With her own ship in pieces, Lerisa would gladly join Kaleen in her heist, in return for passage off of Stros M'kai. She could use the gold, too, if she was to raise enough to buy another ship to replace the Maidens Breath.

---

Back at Port Hunding, Kaleen laid out her plan. We'd be stealing Bhosek's shipping logs. They would be solid proof that he'd continued raiding Breton cargoes in defiance of the King's decree, and they'd get a substantial reward for turning them in to the King's representative at the docks. "Every illicit cargo, every bribe to Bhosek, will be in those logs. You can count on it."

The logs were kept in a lockbox at Bhosek's palace. The key to the lockbox was on a chain around Bhosek's neck. I'd need to get into the palace, get the key, and take the logs from the box. And there was a guard on the box that I'd have to deal with, too.

Neramo had a device that could disable the guard. It was an adaptation of the control rod we'd used in Bthzark, and it should cause a short-term paralysis. "Let me know if there are any convulsions, or other side-effects."

Jakarn could arrange for Bhosek's key to be available. He had contacts in the right places.

Lerisa could get me the right disguise for the job.

I told Isobel to wait with the others while I did this. It wasn't a combat job, after all, and I was going to be doing a theft, that she might not approve.

---

Lerisa met me outside Bhosek's palace, wearing a servant's uniform. I noticed several others wearing the same thing, and was not surprised when she handed one to me. I was told to ask Hulya where to find Bhosek, so I did so, and she pointed me out to the courtyard at the back. Jakarn was waiting out there, looking down on a sleeping Headman. "Headman Bhosek is sleeping off the attentions of these two delightful young ladies. I'm sure he won't be needing this key for a while."

I took the key and went back into the palace. On the upper floor there was a large Nord, obviously guarding something. I could see a box on the table behind him, as well as a few other items that could also have been valuable. I pointed Neramo's device at him, and pressed the button on the handle. The Nord fell down and twitched a bit, unable to move. I unlocked the box with the key, took out the papers inside, and strolled down the other stairs.

Once outside, I took off the servant uniform and headed for the docks. The others were going to meet me on board the Spearhead, but Kaleen was waiting at the foot of the ramp, talking to another Redguard in a shiny suit of armour. I handed her the papers, and she checked them and smiled.

"Here you are, Tharwab, the logs I was telling you about. Proof that Bhosek has been defying the King's decree."

Tharwab took the papers, perused them briefly, and nodded. Kaleen and I walked up the ramp onto the Spearhead.

As well as Lerisa's crew members we'd rescued from Saintsport, and Lambur and Nicolene, who we met at the start, there were several other familiar faces on board. Irien was there, avoiding Jakarn, but apparently getting passage off the island anyway. The Redguard girl from the Screaming Mermaid, who wasn't avoiding Jakarn. And were those two ladies the ones from the palace courtyard?

Neramo introduced us to Vimy Lecroix, a frequent collaborator, who had been on her way to help with Bthzark, but got delayed, and we'd done it all before she arrived. She and Neramo had plans for Betnikh, and they were travelling together this time.

Some of the sailors had apparently remained on the vessel all the time, and I hadn't met them before. Only a few, and not enough to work a ship of this size on their own. But with Lerisa's men, it was a different matter.
Kaleen asked Isobel and I if we were going to Betnikh with them.

"Is there a wayshrine there? If there is, we can always come back." Izzie reasoned.

"Several," Lambur replied. "All built after I left, or I'd have been back before now. I miss my clan."

"Then let's go," I agreed. "It's always good to find new places."

Posted by: Acadian May 26 2025, 08:38 PM

Neramo’s Dwemer fetish can always be counted on for good times.

Nice job showing us Crafty Lerisa, along with some of her crafty tricks.

So, we learn the nature of the heist Kaleen has planned now. Seryn will be the point girl, with appropriate help from Neramo, Lerisa and Jakarn. Having Isobel sit this one out go look for a gift for Aurelia is a good idea.

Success! Looks like Kaleen’s given Headman Bhosek a boatload of problems and she now has an adequate crew for the Spearhead – next stop Betnikh.

Posted by: Grits May 27 2025, 12:08 AM

Victory! The various personalities are well represented here, love it!

I never noticed if the two courtyard ladies made it to the ship. How funny. I will pay more attention next time!

Good idea for Isobel to sit out the activities that would not be becoming to a knight. I hope she likes Betnikh. More beach!

Posted by: ghastley Jul 2 2025, 09:20 PM

Previously: A start has been made along the path to acquiring Hunding's.

@Acadian I was debating Seryn taking Isobel along, rather than leaving her with Jakarn.

@Grits I'm not sure if it's them, but there are a few extra passengers.

-----

Betnikh and Daggerfall

Betnikh was an island, about the same size as Stros M'kai, but greener, damper, and quite a bit cooler. The Orcs living there, (and it seemed it was all Orcs, and anyone else was just visiting), built crescent-shaped houses I hadn't seen anywhere else. Their tents were smaller versions of the same shape, and we saw several of those being used as temporary structures while more of the larger ones were built. A small town had grown up around Stonetooth Fortress, which lived up to its name by being the only fully stone building.

There were quite a few older ruins in a totally different architecture that I think was Ayleid, or maybe Aldmeri. I'm not a scholar of architecture, so it's just a guess. The Orcs had taken the island from the Bretons centuries ago, and there wasn't a lot of Breton influence remaining. Some of the old graveyards suggested Breton style in the crypts and mausoleums, but even tourists like us don't linger long in those.

I couldn't find any presence of the guilds, although most of the other amenities were there - a bank, stables, traders and a tavern. You couldn't do daily crafting writs here, either.

We found the wayshrines, just in case we ever wanted to return, and then went back to our routine of crafting, guild dailies etc at Elden Root.

---

"One of the Undaunted was telling me that they have other Enclaves at Wayrest, and Mournhold. The other guilds are there too, and crafting writs are available in lots more places," Izzie began.

"We're supposed to be establishing our credentials as good potential citizens of the Covenant so we can buy Hunding's, so shouldn't we be doing our dailies in Wayrest?" she asked.

"It's the same guilds, whichever alliance's capital we go to, so I don't think that matters, but we should probably be doing more non-guild things in between. Maybe we should just pick up any side-quests that are offered whenever we're in the Covenant territory anyway." That was my take on it.

"The guilds do send us all over the map, so that makes good sense," she conceded. "And we've often found lost items to return in the delves, or done other quests for people in the dungeons."

---

Bolgrul sent us back to Ilessan tower the next day, so I decided to do my crafting in Daggerfall, instead of Elden Root. It was a long way between the crafting stations and the quartermasters there, and I was hoping they'd be closer in Daggerfall.

I noticed a dog following me around as I did them, and stopped to find out what it wanted. It led me to a corpse lying in the river, and I was attacked when I picked up a note lying next to it. I left the assassin's corpse with the other, and called up Izzie, to show her the note.

It looked like a shopping list, not something that anyone would get killed over, but the items on it were strange. I decided we should talk to the vendors, and see if the items were anything special.

The grocer told me that 'three blood oranges' told him we'd found Roy, and this was all about the King's intelligence network. He'd rather not get involved. The florist told us that 'black roses with thorns' meant dark magic was involved somehow. The tailor added that the 'cloak with a crescent moon' pointed at house Casimir, the king of Daggerfall. We should speak to Captain Aresin of the King's Guard about the note. We'd find him up near the castle.

We'd apparently been followed, as another assassin waylaid us on our way up the castle steps. Just one, so no much of a problem, but it all pointed to a larger group being involved somehow. Captain Aresin knew the code Roy had used in his 'shopping list', Added up, it meant that someone intended to use dark magic to assassinate King Casimir. He sent us the the tavern, to talk to an Orc agent there.

Grenna gra-Kush was standing by the fire in the downstairs room, where she had a good view of the people coming and going. She'd seen of the Bloodthorns go upstairs, but he'd know her if she followed. Could we go up and try and get him to talk? As strangers, maybe we wouldn't arouse his suspicion.

Yes, but would he talk to a stranger? It turned out that he'd attack a stranger - as soon as we stepped onto the next floor. We found another man up there, cowering in a corner. Leveque had been hired by Martine Lenneaux to get hold of some plans of the tunnels beneath the castle, and it looked like Martine had decided to eliminate him, instead of paying.

We went back down to Grenna, who suggested we search Martine's manor, just next door to the tavern, and see what we could find. "Take any evidence direct to Captain Aresin; there's no time to waste."

The door wasn't locked, but we ran into guards on the upper floor, as well as Martine himself. There was a note on a desk about assassins hiding in crates in a ship in the harbour, ready to move when the time was right. We took the note straight to Aresin, up by the castle.

By this time, we'd already killed at least four of the Bloodthorns, so when he asked us to go search the ships, we agreed. We didn't want to be the Bloodthorns' loose end. And we hit pay dirt on the first ship, when an assassin popped out of a crate we opened. She sneered that we were too late, and Verrik (whoever that was) was already on his way to kill the king.

Joining up with Captain Aresin on the way, we rushed to the main door of the castle and entered. King Casimir saw us arrive, at the same time as assassins appeared from the basement. He ran upstairs, hoping the fight would stay on the main floor.

We followed, as I suspected that these people had been sent to drive the King to the real assassin, and I wasn't wrong. Isobel put herself between Verrik and the King, while I faced Verrik directly. Of course he attacked me, and I had to block, but that let Isobel thrust her sword into his back. Aresin came panting up the stairs, having cleaned up the rest with the aid of the palace guards.

King Casimir apologised to Aresin for not believing his warnings, and asked him to give Isobel and myself all possible assistance against the Bloodthorn.

Did we just get volunteered for another quest? At least we got a reward for this one.

---

"Remind me to avoid stray dogs in future, Izzie. I was not expecting all that."

"Well, if we were going to do an unplanned quest, at least this one's going to count a lot towards getting Hunding's. You can't do much better than saving the life of the King."

Posted by: Acadian Jul 3 2025, 12:00 AM

I'm not surprised that the two ladies didn't linger in Betnikh.

Isobel makes a good point about the Undaunted sending them all over for good exposure and experience, but she is an Undaunted Fangirl, after all. Daggerfall is probably an even better idea.

Paydirt! An important Covenant quest completed! And one that was appropriately knightly for Dame Isobel. She's right that such a feat should help pave the way into the Hunding's house.

Posted by: Grits Jul 3 2025, 05:23 PM

Izzie has an excellent point. If you’re going to do some quests in Covenant territory, why not for the King of Daggerfall? That should count double toward acquiring Hundings!