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Chorrol.com _ Fan Fiction _ Memoires of Rales Sarethi

Posted by: Remko Mar 18 2010, 01:12 PM

Dear readers, I posted this in the unnamed forum but since you were so kind to invite me here, I thought I'd "grace" you with my drivel. Without further adue, I present you the adventures of Rales Sarethi.

Part I Homecoming

Chapter 1: Seyda Neen.

Day 1

Over thirty-five years ago, I think I was about nineteen, maybe twenty, I got pulled from my bunk in the cell in Imperial City and was told I was to be deported to Vvardenfell immediately. First by carriage and then by boat.
Gods, even up to this day I resent carriage rides, they’re bumpy, dusty and tiresome, I prefer a horseback ride anyday.

The seajourney is pretty much a blur in my recollection, the gentle relaxing motion of the boat made me drift into a careless and refreshing slumber.
I briefly opened my eyes at times the sea was exceptionally rough and I remember a gentle yet compelling voice speaking to me. Can’t remember the words though, just the sound of the voice that stuck with me.

I woke up when a fellow Dunmer, one donning a huge scar across his face, told me we had arrived and that I needed to get off the boat. He called himself Jiub and asked what my name was. I politely answered my name was Rales. I didn’t bother telling him my last name, after all, he hadn’t told his either.
I never saw the guy again after I disembarked. A shame really, he was kind of like-able.

A grumpy Redguard legionnaire ordered me to report in at the Census and Excise office outside. Like I had a choice. On the boardwalk towards the offices, an Imperial officer asked me several random questions, like my race. Like he couldn’t see for himself. Sjeezzz…. I had to refrain myself from rolling my eyes and possibly insulting or upsetting the guy. Instead, I acted like the good Dunmer they wanted me to be, I played along and answered his questions.

After I had satisfied his curiosity he ordered me to report in at the office for my release form. ‘Release form? I was going to be released?’
I could hardly believe my pointy ears at that time. Let me tell you; looking back on what they had me go through, sometimes I wished they had left me to rot in prison. With a straight face I walked towards the rickety wooden structure that was the consensus and excise office. I couldn’t be showing surprise about my release, what if they had made a mistake and changed their mind?

Quickly I proceeded into the building. An elderly Imperial was sitting behind a desk, going through piles and piles of documents. Pre-occupied as he seemed to be, he hadn’t noticed me yet or maybe he was just ignoring me. Perhaps it had been my body-odour? Figuring that was hardly my fault, they were the ones that had plucked me from my cell, dropped me on a boat and had me report into an office without the chance to clean myself up. I shrugged and softly cleared my throat to get his attention, I didn’t want to startle the old man lest he would die from a heart-attack. Knowing my luck, they’d probably blame me and I’d be back where I started, in jail.

The following conversation with the old git almost felt like a job-interview. Socusius Ergalla, the census and excise officer, asked me all sorts of questions; like my starsign, my skills and whatnot. I didn’t have a clue what they wanted with the info but since it was hardly a secret, I just answered them while the Imperial wrote it all down on some sort of form. After the interview, Socusius told me to take my release form (that’s what the form turned out to be) to Selles Gravius where I’d receive orders. I was almost speechless - almost. ‘Orders? Whatfor?’ I remember exclaiming. He just shrugged. Apparantly he hadn’t a clue either. Well, that made two of us so I went to Gravius, hoping he would tell me more.

Halfway to Selles Gravius I got distracted by a hallway behind a sturdy looking wooden door that led to some sort of a basement where I found a variety of items. Some silverware, some bottles containing local booze, an iron dagger and a bag to put in the items I had “found”.
Ofcourse, only then I realised I still had to see that Gravius guy. He would notice me carrying a bag, suspiciously tingling with all sorts of gear a newly released prisoner shouldn’t have yet. I put the bag next to the table where I had found the dagger, checked my release form was still in my pocket and went to see Selles Gravius.

Gravius wasn’t much of a talker and looked like a formidable warrior. In fact; it made me wonder what in Sheogorath’s name he was doing here in this lousy office. When I asked him while handing him the form he almost bit off my head saying it was none of my busines and unpatiently snatched the release form from my hands. He glimpsed me over for a while with one eyebrow raised and ordered me to wait for a moment while he looked up some documents I was going to need. A few moments later he handed me a letter, some gold I quickly pocketed and a mysterious package for a certain Caius Cosades in Balmora, who-ever that may be. I figured I’d find out soon enough and didn’t ask any more questions.

Having been through that, - what I still consider a bureaucratical ordeal - as I went to retrieve my bag, I suddenly remembered there was a rainbarrel outside I hadn’t looked into. I had little gold and a dagger but no water, no food, no nothing so anything I could find would be useful and most of all; for free.
Turned out it only contained a ring with some engraving. Unfortunately I couldn’t make out what it was saying so I put it in my pocket, again wandered through the offices with an air like nothing was out of the ordinary, fetched the bag and made my way into Seyda Neen.
I was my own man again. I was free to go where I wanted.

***

My first steps outside were, well, quite frankly, disappointing. You’d expect a town with the main docks into Vvardenfell would be a big, prospering town. Suffice to say it wasn’t.
As a matter of fact, it was just the opposite. Most of the houses were run-down, shabby shacks, trading was limited to one tradinghouse and a swamp surrounded it so flies swarmed the town.
I won’t even mention the smell.

Still, I was in Morrowind, I could finally look up relatives I knew to still live here. My mother had told me plenty of stories of her and her cousin Athyn playing together. I couldn’t remember which town though, but from what I’ve been taught, the Sarethi family is well-known and shouldn’t be too hard to track down.

My sense of pride prevented me running off to find them right away, I could hardly arrive wearing nothing but the raggedy clothes, looking like a bum. I wanted to make a name for myself first. I wanted them to be proud to hail back a long-lost relative
For now, my pride would have to wait, I had more pressing matters, like finding somewhere to stay the night.

While looking around and - metaphorically speaking - sniffing up the atmosphere a Woodelf came upto me grinning child-like. The chap introduced himself as Fargoth and extended his hand which I grabbed. From moment one I knew I was going to like this friendly little fellow. Turned out he had been bullied and his family heirloom, a ring, had been taken from him. He told me it was magical and allowed the wearer to heal himself.

‘Would it have engraving, like this?’ I remember asking him while pulling the ring I had found in the barrel outside the office from my pocket and held it in front of his nose. Fargoth frantically shook his head and told me that was the one.
I was happy to give it back to him. Trinkets are easier to find than good friends and the gods know I could use some friends being a stranger in a strange land.
Singing happily he wandered off but not before he told me he was going to tell his friend Arrille a kind Darkelf had returned his ring to him and how happy he was to have it back.
I simply smiled.

My rumbling stomach made me aware that I needed to find something to eat as well. After some asking around I soon found out Arrille’s establishment was the only tradehouse around. If I wanted to survive any trip outside of town, I needed some sort of protection, I needed armour and a weapon and some supplies so I headed off to Arrille’s.

Politely the High Elf, Arille, greeted me and was quick to realize I must have been the stranger that had given Fargoth his ring back. He confirmed what I suspected, Fargoth was slightly retarded, he had the mind of a child and was almost chronically happy.

I removed the items from the bag I wanted to sell and displayed them on the counter in front of Arrille. We came to an agreement, he would gladly take all the items from my hands and I would buy the chitin cuirass, pauldrons and gauntlets, some food, a couple of useful spells and some scrolls. Even with those purchases I had more gold in my pocket than when I had entered the tradehouse. I had kept the dagger.
Then it hit me, I still didn’t have a real weapon, the iron dagger I had kept was hardly any more use than as a butterknife.
In the excitement I had forgotten to buy a real weapon. I double backed into Arrille’s and bought a chitin bow and some arrows.
Now I was set to face whatever was coming to me in the wild, or at least, that’s what I thought at that time.

I nibbled on a Kwama egg on a loaf of bread and adressed some inhabitants. Some locals mentioned Ergalla Socucius was looking for a missing tax collector, Processus Vitellius.
I wasn’t really feeling like heading back into the Census and Excise office, I had just left the damn thing, I decided to do some looking around myself. How hard would it be to find an Imperial tax collector?

Since it is always a good idea getting at least an idea where someone missing could hang out, I asked around for him. Ofcourse, blabbermouth Fargoth had heard rumours the Dunmer in the watchtower, Thavere Vedrano, was the only being able to stomach him. Apparantly, the guy was somewhat obnoxious. It was a start so I headed off to the lighthouse when in the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of something shiny – a weapon perhaps? – in a hollow stump. It cost me a pair of wet feet and trousers getting the item from the stump but it was well worth it. The enchanted axe would get me quite some gold, I never cared for axes, they are too heavy and too encumbring, so I intended on selling it but it would have to wait until I solved this mystery.

Posted by: Acadian Mar 18 2010, 01:21 PM

Yes, the light, conversational and informal style of Rales! How wonderful! I'm pleased that you are starting anew here and hope you will take your time that we may savor Rales and his adventures. biggrin.gif

Posted by: Fiach Mar 18 2010, 01:26 PM

ah a story in good old Morrowind ^^

I'm going to have to keep an eye on Rales he seems like an intresting character cool.gif

Posted by: Zalphon Mar 18 2010, 01:55 PM

I love the description. Excellent work, Ral--Remko.

Posted by: Remko Mar 18 2010, 02:26 PM

@Fiach: glad you like it!
@Zalphon, so this is where you buggered off to? wink.gif Good to see you again m8!

Don't want to spam but I guess I can post another part. biggrin.gif


Thavere was really pleasant to talk with. She had a quick understanding and told me Processus had confided in her telling the other day he had an argument with one of the locals; Foryn Gilnith. The guards had been able to interfere between the two in time or it might have ended up really ugly.
According to her they had argued about Foryn claiming Processus increased the taxes so he could skim some of it into his pockets without his superiors noticing. Obviously Processus Vitellius had denied the outrageous claims. I wisely kept my mouth shut about how I thought about such an “outrageous claim”. I had lived most of my, sofar, short life between Imperials and as such knew money was usually a big drive for them. Of course, there was the chance of him being different. Yeah right. And maybe minotaurs would fly.

I continued asking her if it was likely he had made other enemies or maybe he had just moved on into the next town. She smartly commented that in his line of work it was impossible to avoid making enemies so that was very likely. He wouldn’t have moved on to another place, she was sure he would’ve mentioned it.
I politely thanked her for her time and for the drink and continued my search outside.

If it had been a local and, judging by the name, a Dunmer he almost got into a fight with, it wasn’t unlikely for Processus to have run into an “accident” that would’ve got him killed – Dunmer are reknowned for being short-tempered, especially if it concerns an “Outlander” - so I started looking around the area if I could come up with his body or at least some sort of trace of where he had vanished to.

As I was wandering around in the area of Seyda Neen, I picked countless samples of the local flora. Never thinking about the consequences I dropped all the ingredients in the bag I was hauling around. When I was a child I’ve always found it very exciting seeing my mother brew mysteriously and curiously smelling concoctions so naturally I had to dabble with alchemy as well. Not that I had any experience with that before but I’ll get back on that later.

The gathering of plants almost made me lose track of what I initially set out to do – find the missing tax officer. After trotting around for hours through swamps I still hadn’t managed to turn up any trace of him and was starting to doubt I ever would when I heard a scream that nearly turned my blood to icicles. Certainly, this meant some menacing predator had sniffed me out and would make dinner out of me. I drew my bow, prepared an arrow – I was going to protect my precious hide with whatever means - and frantically started looking around for cover or for whatever had made the sound, when suddenly the scream ended with a resounding thud several passes behind me.

A Bosmer had fallen from the sky, trying to revive him proved pointless – blood was dripping from his nostrils and ears – I understood the poor bugger had died on impact.
Using the axe as a shovel I dug him a grave, took some of his gear, he wouldn’t be needing it anymore anyway, and rather unceremonally – what did you expect? I didn’t even know the guy – dropped him in the hole and closed it. At least predators and other vile creatures wouldn’t get to him.

It seemed miracles come in pairs. Not only acquired I a really nice robe, the bloodstains would wash away soon enough, a useful enchanted sword and some convenient and some not so convenient scrolls – thanks to the fallen Bosmer Tarhiel. I learned from the journal I found on him that was his name, as well as that he had been experimenting with what he called scrolls of Icarian Flight – I also found the body of the missing tax officer nearby.
He hadn’t been dead that long yet, the body wasn’t really stiff yet and most of his fingers were still attached. Some had been gnawed off by, well I didn’t really know and I didn’t really wanted to stay to find out either.

What I did find out was that he had most definitely been killed. He had been stabbed in the back several times and, I assume to make sure he was really dead, his throat was slit as well. The body had been dragged to this spot, the distinct lack of blood was evidence he hadn’t died where he laid. The trail led towards Seyda Neen, it would appear a local had indeed murdered Vitellius.

Searching the body led nowhere. No evidence, nothing. I followed the only thing I could do; the trail and find out where it ended. Dissapointingly, the trail ended not far from where I had found the victim’s body. I had no other choice, I was going to have to talk to every single inhabitant and find out what they know. Disappointed, I headed back into town to clean myself up.

Posted by: Zalphon Mar 18 2010, 02:36 PM

I feel like I'm there right with Rales. smile.gif

Posted by: haute ecole rider Mar 18 2010, 04:03 PM

Welcome, Remko! I'm happy to see you here as well!

Though I have read Memories before, it is enjoyable to read it again from the beginning. His good nature truly shines from the first chapter, as well as his sensible practicality. It's a combination I find very appealing!

Posted by: mALX Mar 18 2010, 04:39 PM

Yeah !!! Rales and Zerina !!!!!!

Posted by: SubRosa Mar 18 2010, 05:04 PM

Yay for Rales! Almost everyone is over here now, it seems.

Posted by: Destri Melarg Mar 19 2010, 01:24 AM

The best thing about revisiting all these stories from the beginning is the chance to reintroduce ourselves to some of our favorite characters. Rales stands out in that respect. haute hit the nail right on the head when she spoke of the combination of good nature and practicality. Add a kind of unrefined likability to the mix and it is easy to understand why he is such a popular character.

Posted by: Winter Wolf Mar 19 2010, 07:15 AM

I am very excited about the chance to walk the wilderness of Morrowind with Rales. Yippee!!
It is awesome that you are bringing this over here in its entirety.

I have only played the first one-third of Morrowind myself. Reading your story brought back a rush of memories. Cool!!

The conversational style you use works very well and suits the character perfectly.
I was very pleased to see him steal everything he could at the census office. My character did the same!!

QUOTE
his throat was slid as well.

Should that be - slit as well?

Posted by: Remko Mar 19 2010, 12:29 PM

Arille’s trading house was not just a place to buy and sell, for some gold he also rented out rooms. I had dinner at Arille’s and rented a room for the night.
As it was still quite early I spend the remainder of the evening exploring some more of the area around Seyda Neen. I remember being horrified when a rock I momentarily sat on to catch my breath grew a pair of vicious pincers, legs and a head.
The foul creature pinched my left thigh, I cut off its legs and pincers. Fair deal I’d say.

The meat I scraped out of its shell - the dagger came in handy, I was glad I had kept it - was brown and felt slimey to the touch.
Still, if I was to survive in the wild I figured I’d best stop being too picky and decided to taste it. I’m glad I did, it tasted wonderful! It would be no problem for me to live on crabmeat for several days. I was in the area anyway so I practised my bow- and sword skills on any crab I encountered with extreme prejudice and stocked up on crabmeat.

Day 2

The next morning I had breakfast and set out to do what I had started the previous day; find the tax collector’s murderer. I had a lead but thought it wise to investigate some more before blaming anyone. I wanted to make sure I was going to confront the correct person.
Everyone said the same thing; all the locals pointed towards Foryn Gilnith. Some had even witnessed the quarrel between Foryn and Processus. There was no one else I could ask, I had asked every single inhabitant, except one. Foryn himself.
I gathered all my courage and headed to Foryn’s shack and knocked. I didn’t get an answer so he was either asleep or out.

Foryn didn’t have many friends, when I inquired on his likely where-abouts no-one knew.
There was the option of breaking into his shack and look for evidence. I was sure the local guards wouldn’t approve. Unless, they didn’t know or see. I needed to slip into the shack while the guards weren’t looking and I was certain the owner wasn’t home.
Then, I had an idea. I needed a distraction.

‘How would you like to earn some gold?’ I asked Fargoth. He scratched his head and said he would be glad to help a friend.
‘What do you want me to do?’
‘I need you to raise hell just after dark.’ His face told me he hadn’t a clue what I meant with that. Suppressing a sigh I explained it as I would to a child.
‘Look, just start shouting and make the guards come your way. I don’t know, maybe act as like you were just robbed.’
A sparkle of understanding appeared in his mischievous eyes and a smug grin curled his lips.
‘Don’t worry, even the guards in Vivec will hear me,’ he assured me.
‘That will do just fine.’

That night, Seyda Neen was in an uproar. True to his word, Fargoth started his act just after dark. The guards were quick to respond and all converged to the panic point, giving me the opportune moment to slip into Foryn’s shack. And if he turned out to be home, I would act drunk and had accidently stumbled into the wrong house.
It was a bit thin; if Foryn knew I didn’t even have a house, he would see through it right away. I just hoped luck was on my side and that he hadn’t returned yet and entered the shack.

Lady luck was on my side, Foryn wasn’t at home. Quickly, not wasting any time, I rummaged through his cupboard, the crates, through anything that could hide evidence.
All I found in a corner underneath some clothes was a dagger with traces of blood on it and a bloody rag.
‘Why go through the problem of wiping the blade clean and then leave the rag next to the blade?’ I surmised. ‘Doesn’t make sense.’ It almost looked like he was being framed. And then there was the possibility Foryn was just really sloppy, dumb or both.

Truth is; I just didn’t know what to think anymore. On one hand, he was the likely suspect. There had been witnesses to Foryn and Processus nearly getting in a fist-fight. On the other hand; there was the conveniently placed evidence in his shack. Too conveniently.

I made sure everything was like I found it, except the evidence, I took that with me.
Then, Foryn entered. He wasn’t happy to see me in his shack and told me to get out.
I did as I planned, I acted drunk and mumbled the lousy excuse I had thought of before but then realized the predicament I had gotten myself into.
‘What if it was his dagger?’ I thought. If it was, he would soon miss it and know right away it had been me who had taken it. All in all, I felt I had made a mess out of it the whole situation.

I left the shack and thought what I should do next. Should I confront Foryn with the evidence, risking accusing an innocent man?
I decided to come clean with Foryn, I went back into his shack and explained the situation.

He didn’t even deny the accusations. Instead; he bragged about how he had stabbed that thieving Imperial son of a Mudcrab. When I asked him what he meant with that he said the same Thavere had told me; he believed Processus had raised the taxes so he could take some for himself. I shook my head and said that wasn’t a reason to kill him.
‘So you’re on their side? Then you’re my enemy,’ he roared. Before I could even defend myself, he attacked me. With his bare fists. I tried to convince him to give himself up, there was no need to get killed over it, he just got angrier and angrier. I had no choice but to defend myself and cut him down. It was either him or me. What was he thinking? Attacking someone armoured and armed with a sword? I guess my previous assessment was right; Foryn was stupid and sloppy.

Anyway; after the short, really, really short, “fight” I found plenty evidence on his body.
I found a ring Thavere had described as being Processus’, a taxrecord and tow hundred Drakes. Combined with the dagger and the bloody rag, there could be no doubt; Foryn had killed Processus and had made it look like he was plainly robbed.

Ergalla wasn’t happy with the news but was relieved the mystery had been solved and rewarded me with five hundred drakes. I was dumbstruck. Five hundred drakes, that was more gold I had ever seen in one place and now, I was carrying it. I felt really good about myself and decided to spend some. I headed to Arrille’s, had a king’s meal, bought some more supplies and a mortar and pestle he had for sale. Finally I could do something with the samples I had gathered the previous day. The problem was, I hadn’t a clue where to start. I needed a place where I could practise undisturbed. Then it hit me; I could use Foryn’s shack. At least for a while.

I cleared out all of Foryn’s stuff and dug another grave. It all reminded on his foolish actions and mine resulting in having to end his life. It didn’t really help to wipe the guilty feeling but at least I had some space to store my own goods I had acquired. For a while, I just laid in the hammock contemplating what I should do next but mostly doing nothing at all.
Few hours later I got off my lazy butt and tried out my newest acquisition, the mortar and pestle.
I dug up all the samples, which were all clogged together, seperated the most identifiable from the mess and started grinding them into a pulp. Did I say identifiable? What I meant was: the ingredients that weren’t completely un-identifiable. Not that I had idea what those were anymore but that hardly spoiled the fun.
After some mashing and grinding I did what I saw my mother do all those years ago, I added water to the brown, goowy substance, poured it into an empty bottle and drank it.

edit: a crab is hardly a honoured user

Posted by: mALX Mar 19 2010, 01:01 PM

This is where I first started loving Rales story !!

Posted by: Olen Mar 19 2010, 02:54 PM

Ah you've discovered the joy's of chorrol's rude word filter chaging words to random other ones. smile.gif

I like this piece, your style is very fresh and readable and the character quite likeable. It moves well and has lots of personality. Saying that I would like to see a little more characterisation, it's there in his actions but I don't feel like I really know him. Though maybe that's me being impatient seeing as you are doing a good job of it through his actions (which is difficult).

Nice piece.

Posted by: Remko Mar 19 2010, 05:55 PM

Thank you for the comments. Nice to see my work's being appreciated. Having said that, here's another.
@Olen:I'd like to think Rales' character will show through more and more as the story progresses.
The rude word filter had me change a part I wasn't happy with at all. The word I used wasn't just a word but a common proverb that now lacks punch..... ah well.


The moment the awful tasting, lumpy liquid passed my throat, I knew it had been a huge mistake. Besides tasting awful it affected me beyond anything I ever thought possible. I felt weak in my knees, felt hot and cold at the same time and wanted to retch up what I had in my stomach. I stumbled outside, emptied my stomach in the swamp, managed to haul my sorry backside back inside and curled up for days only reaching out to have a drink of water. That was the only thing I managed to keep inside.

The good thing about the debacle was that I had some time to think about how stupid I had been. Apparently, there was more to alchemy than just throwing some random ingredient together and mashing it to a pulp. If I didn’t want to kill myself with whatever next poison I’d contrive, I was going to need help.



Day 4

Two days later, I emerged the shack a wiser and very pale-looking Dunmer. The poison I had willingly drank had left me drained and weakened. Fargoth commented I didn’t look too well.
I snapped at him that I bloody well knew and that he should leave me alone. In hindsight I really felt bad biting the poor fellow’s head off and promised myself I’d make it up with him when I felt like myself again.
Arrille was worried too. I explained him what happened. He had the courtesy not to laugh at me although his lips were twitching. I could tell he was holding it back and would probably break out in laughter as soon as I’d leave. I couldn’t care less, I was starving yet still feeling quite miserable. I bought some light food and a large pitcher with crystal-clear water and went upstairs to have a quiet breakfast.

A chance to make it up with Fargoth came faster than I thought. A huge Nord who introduced himself as Hrisskar wanted me to persuade Fargoth into revealing his secret hiding spot. He promised me I could keep a third of whatever turned up.
I told him I’d consider it. Between you and me; that was a blatant lie, the dumb Nord fell for it however.
I never told Fargoth about the scheme, in my opinion the simpleton didn’t need to know people were out to steal his gold.
Someone once told me: what one doesn’t know doesn’t hurt one. That was certainly the case here.

The next few days I ventured out farther than before, further exploring the bittercoast region and decided to have a look at the cave slighty north of town, past the stiltstrider port. The locals had told me it was a smuggler’s cave and someone should put at an end to the illegal practises there. After having been the bane of all the mudcrabs in the area I figured I had enough practice to face more serious competition. Feeling exceptionally brave that day I entered the cave, Addamasartus.
I should’ve brought a torch…

‘Die N’wah!’ That was hardly a friendly greeting if I ever heard one. I readied my sword and prepared for the worst.
A single Dunmer woman attacked me. She didn’t close in, the cowardly wench was shooting arrows at me. Before I knew what going on an arrow lodged itself into my upperleg. I broke off the arrow’s shaft., causing me to howl in pain and moved in as quick as I could with my sore leg.
I think my opponent hadn’t thought I was going to be so determined because as soon as I closed the gap she hardly defended herself and I struck her down with relative ease. Luckily she had a potion on her, conveniently labeled as a healing potion, as well as a some lock-picks, a probe and some arrows.
I wasn’t sure what else I would encounter so I kept the potion for later.

The cave contained two more smugglers, I managed to sneak up on the first and ended his smuggling career with a single arrow in his throat. Ofcourse, that spoiled the surprise for his comrade. Soon, spells were singing by at an alarming rate, barely missing me.
I returned the favour by shooting some arrows in his general direction. I was in luck, I could hear him yelping when one my arrows struck goal and for a few brief moments the spells ceased allowing me to close the gap on him and finish him off with having to take only one shockblast to the chest. It took me a while to shrug off the spasm-inducing spell but the loot I found in the cave had been worth the spasms and the arrow to the leg.

A shockspell to the chest wasn’t the biggest shock I had to face that day.
Underneath a boardwalk I found the door the key I found on the spellcaster’s body fitted to. What I saw there almost made me gag. Three very skinny Khajiiti resided in a far too small pen were, obviously, forced to live in their own filth. The moment I limped into the slave-pen all of them shied away and held their arms above their head to shield themselves. I could see why. All had fresh crusts of blood in their dirty fur, indicating they had been severely mistreated. It almost brought a tear to my eyes.
I had known slavery still existed in Morrowind but this was inhumane.
Unlocking the slavebracers from the, now most grateful and not so scared anymore, cats I solemnly vowed to free any slave I’d encounter. I didn’t care one bit slavery wasn’t illegal, this had to stop.

On the way back to Seyda Neen, I downed the healing potion. I couldn’t stand the burning pain the arrow-head, still lodged in my leg, caused anymore. The greenish concoction was bitter to the taste but it tasted a lot better than the vile liquid I had brewed. Better yet; the pain dissipated and miraculously the arrow-head, with a short piece of shaft still attached, popped out. A small scar was the only indication of the arrow that had been there. I sighed in relieve

Posted by: Winter Wolf Mar 19 2010, 06:44 PM

I like the style of Rales. He commits manslaughter then spends the next two days living in the shack. So much for fleeing the scene!!

Looks like he also needs a shovel. With the amount of bodies he is leaving around Seyda Neen there will not be many left soon. tongue.gif

QUOTE
spells were singing by at an alarming rate

I smiled at that.

A fun and very enjoyable read. smile.gif

Posted by: haute ecole rider Mar 19 2010, 08:48 PM

Wonderful to re-read this again.

The bit about the alchemy was just as funny this time around as it was the first time I read it! He he!

Posted by: Zalphon Mar 20 2010, 02:23 AM

Amazing work, Sare--Rale--Remko! I got it right! smile.gif

Posted by: mALX Mar 20 2010, 07:02 AM

I am so glad you are bringing Rales here, and I can't wait till you catch it up !!!!!! I am dying to hear about Zerina at the Tourney (or will you cover that? ARGH !!!)

Posted by: Destri Melarg Mar 20 2010, 08:29 AM

All praise must be due to Azura because whether it's drinking poison or rushing into the midst of a smuggler's den, it is a wonder that Rales survives his leap before you look attitude.

Posted by: SubRosa Mar 20 2010, 06:58 PM

I am finally getting the time to start reading more. Rales is such fun to catch up on! Little things like this:

QUOTE
I could hardly believe my pointy ears at that time.


really make him come alive.


Edit:

Okay, I finally caught up. It is so much fun to go back to the start and get reacquainted with Rales again.

This is so Rales!
QUOTE
I remember being horrified when a rock I momentarily sat on to catch my breath grew a pair of vicious pincers, legs and a head.
The foul creature pinched my left thigh, I cut off its legs and pincers. Fair deal I’d say.


Important safety tip below!
QUOTE
Apparantly, there was more to alchemy than just throwing some random ingredient together and mashing it to a pulp.
Oh, and that is spelled "Apparently"


This is a good piece of writing here:
QUOTE
I snapped at him that I bloody well knew and that he should leave me alone. In hindsight I really felt bad biting the poor fellow’s head off and promised myself I’d make it up with him when I felt like myself again.

The reason I say that is because it shows Rales is not perfect. Instead he is a real person, loses his temper sometimes, and snaps at people when he should not.

Posted by: Remko Mar 22 2010, 12:21 PM

Arrille was far from amused when I dropped the goods I had taken from the crates in the smuggler’s cave on his counter. He said he wasn’t buying the moon-sugar from me and that I needed to get rid of the substance before he’d do business with me. Ah, so that’s what the strange satchels were. I had heard of moon-sugar but had no idea what it looked like. I shrugged, put all the goods back in my bag, bid Arrille a good night with a smile and returned to the shack. I was tired anyway, selling the goods could wait to the next day.
I stuffed a Kwama egg and some bread in large chucks in my mouth, flushed it away with some water and went to bed early.


Day 5

The sun hadn’t even come up when I awoke. Surprisingly enough, Arrille was awake as well. I sold him all my redundant goods, had a hearty breakfast and headed out into the wild. I didn’t plan on returning for days.
I was traveling light, I had brought my sword, the bow and arrow, some food, a sleeping bag and some dry clothes.

The following days I spent exploring most of the bittercoast region. Halfway the first day I noticed a beautifully crafted stone arch over a sturdy wooden door into a mountain.
A sign told me it was the Samarys ancestral tomb. There’s a first time for everything and this was the first ancestral tomb I had ever seen. Or been into for that matter. Praying to the ancestors to forgive me for what I was about to do, I opened the door and entered the tomb.

To be honest, the place gave me the creeps. More than once I considered turning around and head back home but every time I crushed those instincts asking myself where my sense of adventure had gone. Surely, I wasn’t a coward?

My sense of adventure got me into trouble as soon as I opened the door that had been trapped. Again, I was punished for my lack of attention. I noticed the trap too late and ended up with another scar.

As I proceeded farther into the tomb, something straight from a nightmare screeched and attacked. A collection of bare, white bones wrapped in a rag floated towards me with obvious malicious intent. The first spell hit me when I was still frozen in fear. Ever sat too close to a campfire? Well, this spell felt like I was sitting in a campfire. My entire skin burned. The good thing about it was that it brought me back to my senses and started hacking at the bones with my sword.
A few well-placed slashes and the bones scattered throughout the entire room. Actually quite amusing, if only the damn thing hadn’t hurt me so much.

The whole tomb was infested with bony things. I was a bit more careful throughout the rest of the tomb. The first bony - that’s what I was calling them - had taught me an expensive lesson. First; carefully look out for enemies and only then barge into a room. It saved my hide several times with taking out the other bonies in the tomb.
I had something to show for when I emerged the tomb dusty, tired and bleeding from more than one gash, though.
In a chest next to what appeared to be an ash-pit, the remainder of what I presumed were the ashes of the departed Samarys ancestors, I had found a really expensive looking ring.
It felt a bit like theft taking it but, then again, they shouldn’t have left such a nice trinket for anyone to take. Or perhaps that was the reason why the bonies were there, as guard? Nah…..
Shaking the guilt, I slid the ring around my right index-finger and marvelled on how good it looked.

Besides looking good, the ring was enchanted with a powerful spell as well. As soon as I put the ring around my finger, I could feel a positive tingle throughout my entire body.
I wasn’t sure but I felt more determined and more focused, like everything would be easier to achieve and comprehend.

The rest of the days of my exploration trip were hardly noteworthy. I went through some more caves, where I encountered bandits, smugglers, slaves and slavers, bonies and other undead things, bagging me some potions, weaponry, scrolls, food and had gained extensive experience using my weapons.
Having exhausted my arrows, most of my useful food, not having any more dry clothes and a soaking sleeping bag from the rain the last night outside, I headed back to Seyda Neen, back home.


Chapter 2: Blades

Day 9

I woke up, feeling well-rested in the safe confines of Foryn’s shack. It had felt exceptionally good sleeping in something more resembling a bed rather than the cold hard ground I had slept on the previous days.
When I put foot outside, it was raining, turning the soil in Seyda Neen to greasy mud, another downside of being situated amongst swamps I presumed. I ploughed through the mud to Arrille’s with the intent of selling the goods I had found on my trip the last few days. I’m sure there never had been anyone in this run-down town having more gold in his pocket than I did that day after selling it all.

Grinning contendedly I encountered a sad looking Imperial, called Vodunius Nuccius. I had seen him a few days ago, thinking nothing of it but he was still looking miserable. Something had to be wrong.
When I asked him he said he was sick and tired of this lousy town. He had had enough of this wretched province and wanted to go home but he couldn’t because he had squandered his money on a ring sold to him but now he was stuck with what he called a cursed ring.

His plan had been to earn some gold on what he thought to be a profitable deal but it turned out he had been scammed. Yes, the ring would enhance your stamina but the Redguard trader hadn’t mentioned it would also drain your life. No-one wanted to buy the ring so now he couldn’t afford the trip back to Cyrodiil anymore. He couldn’t remember the trader’s name unfortunately.

I felt bad for the poor Imperial. So I offered to buy the ring from him, I had plenty of gold and was sure I had a use for the ring. If only to dump it in the nearest swamp, which I, obviously, didn’t do but I did consider it. If only for a short while.
His face beamed when he finally got rid of the cursed ring, I handed him his gold and wished him a good trip back home.
‘Thank you, friend! I will never forget it,’ he shouted over his shoulder while running towards the docks. That was the last I ever saw of him. I hope he got home safe.
I rested throughout that day and prepared my trip for the following one.

Day 10

I got up early, I had packed my belongings I thought I was going to need before I had gone to bed, grabbed a quick bite and headed off to the stiltstrider-port north of town.
The rain of the previous day had dispersed, a watery sun was coming up. The surrounding swamps were shrouded in a dense, low-hanging, eery mist. Dew was trapped on the spiders’ webs between the trees, making it look like a ghostly veil. I remember just standing there for a while, in awe of the beautiful scenery.

The stiltstrider driver greeted me with a warm smile, she had been a friend of Vodunius and had heard of how I had helped him.
‘Where would you like to go?’ she asked. ‘I’ll make you a special price.’
‘To Balmora please.’ I replied with a smile.

The trip was calm, I found riding a stiltstrider really relaxing although somewhat icky, considering you were seated in the hollowed-out body of a huge bug.
I didn’t even start to fathom how the driver got the bug to go where she wanted.
All I could tell, she was pulling some sort of strings. I found out much later those strings were in fact the animal’s nerves.

The town of Balmora was gorgeous. In my eyes, it could measure up to the Imperial City. It even had a tower. Taking it all in, the first few hours I spend wandering through town gawking at everything, like a tourist. To be honest, I got lost but that doesn’t really matter if you have no particular place to go.
What was strange was that everywhere I looked crates, urns and baskets were standing outside. Even stranger was that nobody minded them and I could take from them whatever I wanted.

The first crate I opened, I did cautiously. There was a guard, entirely covered in an armour made from a material I had never seen before. To me, it looked like an insect’s exoskeleton and made the guard look very formidable. Not someone I’d fancy getting into a fight with.
I opened the lid, the guard said nothing. Slowly I put my hand in the crate, still the guard didn’t react.

It would appear the crates were no-one’s because when I took all the goods from the crate, nobody objected. Not even the guard, two steps away from me.
I shrugged and emptied all the containers I could find from useful goods.
By the time I was finished, it was getting dark and my bag was bulging with everything I had gathered. Even some gold coins. Now, who in his right mind would leave gold for the proverbial dogs?
Wandering around some more I eventually returned to where I had entered Balmora, the trader’s district nearby the stiltstrider.

I sold most goods I had found in the crates to Ra’Virr, a friendly Khajiit trader.
He tried to sell me a Daedric weapon but when I pointed out they weren’t Daedric but plain weapons carrying an enchantment, he quickly acknowledged I was right.
Still, I could see they would be very useful. I didn’t know much, but I knew swords.
Unfortunately, they were far beyond anything I could afford so I stuck with the blade I had found on Tarhiel’s body and continued my search for a place to sleep.

There was the option of taking the stiltstrider back to Seyda Neen but that meant I would arrive deep in the night. I aimed to spend the night here, in Balmora.
A local Nord woman pointed me towards a place to stay the night, called the Eight Plates. She told me not to expect too much but according to her the food was allright and the beds soft and as a bonus, not really expensive either.
Just what I was looking for.




Posted by: haute ecole rider Mar 22 2010, 01:55 PM

Good work!

Rales's musings about the crates and urns highlights one of the most ridiculous things I ever saw in Oblivion (obviously in Morrowind, too) - the amount of perfectly good stuff left in "unowned" containers, even gold! Yours for the taking! Sheesh!

I admit it makes survival easier when I can collect repair hammers, lockpicks and gold coins every few days. Food too, if my character actually got hungry. biggrin.gif

Posted by: mALX Mar 22 2010, 05:22 PM

Yeah Rales! Now hurry up and go meet Zerina !!!!! Lol.

Posted by: Zalphon Mar 22 2010, 06:07 PM

I felt there, Rales...Sarethi...No it's Remko, right?

Posted by: Remko Mar 22 2010, 07:18 PM

@Zalphon. Hehe, you're right, Rales is an extension of my very own personality. Even the names Rales isn't something I grabbed from thin air. Rales Sarethi is the exact same amount of letters as my own full name. Although I only figured out last week that Rales is also a nasty physical condition....
mALX I'll increase the size of the posts to get there faster, ok? wink.gif
Hauteecole Rider: That's something I couldn't resist taking the piss out of smile.gif Just like the very first sentence of day 5. I am glad they adressed the 24/7 openess of shops in Morrowind. Although it is convenient smile.gif I guess the convenience store was actually invented in Vvardenfell. biggrin.gif

Day 11

The next morning I decided it was a good day to search out Caius Cosades and get rid of whatever it was Selles Gravius had given me to deliver at Caius.
After asking around, I found out his house was in the poorest district of town, the north-eastern part.

Not knowing what to expect, I knocked on what was apparantly Caius’ house and waited for a reply. An elderly voice said I could come in. I was greeted by a balding Imperial man, only wearing trousers. Something smelled familiar in his messy house but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Untill I started looking around that was. I saw familiar satchels, empty bottles and a pipe underneath his bed. The man was a Skooma addict!

‘You have a package for me I presume?’ he asked me.
‘Possibly,’ I responded. ‘After you tell me how you knew that.’
He smiled mysteriously and said it was his job to know.
This didn’t sound like a in-coherent addict at all. There was something in his eyes, something sharp that made me think maybe his addiction was a cover. But for what?
Since the old man already knew I decided it wouldn’t do harm handing him the package - after all, it was destined to him anyway.

Caius briefly went through the contents of the package – I couldn’t see what it was – he looked me over a bit and asked me if I was ready to accept orders from him. Again, orders. Thinking that nothing is for free, not even a prison realease, and that I didn’t have a job yet, I might as well accept. It sounded exhilarating as well.

‘Good,’ he said and then proceeded to swear me into what he called the Blades - the secret Imperial intelligence agency. So that’s what the cover was for. The man in front of me was his Imperial Majesty’s spy-master.
‘Intelligence? Then what am I doing here?’ I joked.
He frowned but didn’t answer.
Instead, he told me to practice my skills, buy some weapons and training or buy a pair of shoes for all he cared, handed me two hundred Drakes and said I should return when I felt up to the mission at hand.
Caius also taught me a secret hand-signal with which fellow Blades could recognise each other.
‘Oh, and get a job, you’ll need some sort of cover. I’d advise you to join a guild,’ he pointed out just before I left.

***

Joining the Fighter’s Guild didn’t really appeal to me. If it was anything like in Cyrodiil – and why wouldn’t it? - it would be just a glorified name for a bunch of mercenaries. A place with swords for hire and where every life was counted in gold - as in how much would anyone pay to end someone else’s life.
I needed – no, wanted – something more glorious, something honourable. I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to help people, not simply smyth them with a piece of iron with a pointy end.

Next to the fighter’s guild was the guild of mages. It occurred to me that if I wanted help with my alchemy, this would be the place to find it.
Ranis Athrys, the head of the Balmora guild, told me to talk to Ajira I I wanted to be instructed in the art of alchemy.
I could find her downstairs, all I had to do was follow my nose towards the foul odour.
I wasn’t sure whether she was referring to Ajira or to her potions.

Ajira was more than willing to help an aspiring alchemist out. For a fee obviously.
I doubt she would’ve been as helpful if she had known what she got herself into.
She was shocked when she asked me to give her the ingredients I had collected so we could start with lesson one. She shoved all my ingredients into a bin underneath her desk saying the ingredients were useless. All of the properties of the ingredients had been corrupted by throwing them together. Made sense if you thought about it – which I hadn’t.

She took some fresh ingredients from a drawer in her desk. I could see she had each ingredient in separate small pots, neatly labeled with name and properties.
Ofcourse she had me pay for the ingedients. The next thing she did was hand me bundle of small satchels. Seeing my puzzled face she said they were to store collected ingedients while out in the wild. ‘Or would you prefer to carry a desk with you,’ she asked with a semi-serious face.
She had me pay for the satchels as well. It was a small price to pay to prevent another disaster that had happened on my first alchemy try.

The next thing was to learn the properties of plants available in Vvardenfell.
When I asked Ajira how she knew and kept them apart, she pulled a huge book from a cupboard behind her with all plants, other ingredients and its major properties. For now, I was allowed to use the book to find plants with similar properties that would together create a certain effect. But if I wanted to become an efficient alchemist, it would be advisable memorising the most important ones.
‘Do you have the necessary apparatuses?’
Proudly I dug up the mortar and pestle from my bag and put it on the desk in front of me.
‘Where’s the rest?’
‘The…. rest?’ I hadn’t a clue what she meant.
‘Yes, the rest. Calcinator, alembic and retort.’
‘I- I don’t have those.’
More expenses, my gold was drying up fast. Anyway, after buying the additional required apparatuses we continued. Of course only then Ajira said I didn’t really need the additional tools but they would help making better and stronger potions.

The Khajiit alchemist had me starting with preparing a basic potion with only the mortar and pestle. The use of other tools would be adressed in the next lessons.
She told me to find the ingredients to make a relatively simple potion that would restore fatigue and gave me some useful pointers to help me out. It didn’t take me long to seek out the necessary ingredients in the book: a Kwama egg and a loaf of bread. There are plenty more but those are amongst the ones most common. Making the potion however, was a different matter altogether. It took me ages to get it right. I added too much water, not enough water, cooked it too hot or too cold. Too much of this or not enough of that. I was really starting to lose my temper when finally I got it right. I had made a useful potion, one I wasn’t afraid of drinking without poisoning myself.

Eating the ingedients would have the same effect but would be far less effective than with a concentrated potion, she said. But would taste far better. We had quite some laughs over the afternoon. I always enjoyed the company of the Cat-folk. They are uncomplicated, usually friendly and have a wonderful sense of humour. Many of my child-time friends had been Khajiit. I guess that’s why I was so shocked in Addamasartus.

At the end of the day, my alchemy skill had increased greatly. I knew (well, in theory) how to make the most practical potions and already had memorised the main properties of some of the most common ingredients. Ajira told me most ingredients have more than one effect but only the more skilled alchemist knew which those were, how to recognise them and that I should forget about experimenting with those for a while, unless I had a serious deathwish. She also warned me that I had been lucky that I hadn’t killed myself with the poison I had made in Seyda Neen. It could have been far worse than the effects I had encountered.

Chapter 3: Rings

Day 12

Straying through the, now almost empty, streets of Balmora I was growing restless.
Caius had said I should find a job at a guild. I had already decided the fighter’s guild wasn’t what I wanted. I considered the guild of mages but I sincerely doubted I was mages guild material. Sure, I enjoyed dabbling with alchemy, especially now I - more or less - knew what I was doing but spending hours and hours researching a spell didn’t sound very exciting.

No, if I truly wanted to make a difference and help people, I needed to find something else. Since I had put myself on the, in my eyes, noble path of freeing slaves I thought I’d join the legion. I knew for a fact that in Cyrodiil, where I had grown up, the people frowned upon slavery and as such, as its defender, so did the Imperial Legion.
The Moonmoth Legion, south-east of Balmora didn’t need anymore recruits but the Legion’s commander, Radd Hard-Heart, mentioned the Gnisis Deathshead Legion might be looking for recruits.

Gnisis wasn’t really around the corner. It would be a several day walk or half a day with the stiltstrider. I decided on half-way. I took the stiltstrider to Ald-Ruhn and proceeded by foot to Gnisis after asking some directions. I wanted to see my birth-land, what better way than crossing it on foot?

It was on the third day of my journey that I came across a crying Breton lady.
She explained her ring had slipped from her finger into the small pond nearby when she was taking a drink from the sweet, clear water. When I asked her why she couldn’t retrieve it herself she told me she was a dancer and needed to get to Gnisis and couldn’t afford getting her hair wet. It had taken her hours to get it just right. I could see why, she looked absolutely stunning. I prayed she didn’t notice I was staring.

‘Lady,’ I said confidently, ‘don’t cry, I’ll find your ring.’
I stripped myself from my armour and clothes to my loincloth and dove into the pond. Even with the clearness of the water, it took me nearly two hours finding her ring.
Triumphant, I surfaced holding out the ring only to have an arrow swooshing by, just missing my left ear.
As fast as I could, I moved away from the pond towards the pile with my weapons and clothing while keeping my head down.

Synette, the Breton dancer screamed that she wanted the fancy ring on my finger and said if I didn’t hand it over her friend would put some holes in me and take it from my lifeless body. I shook my head and told her she couldn’t have it. I had almost reached my weapons, slowly I moved my hand behind me to reach out for my sword. Cleverly I managed to keep the dancer between me and where I suspected the hidden archer to be.

Out of seemingly nowhere, Synette pulled a dagger and jabbed at me. I managed to avoid the blade by letting myself fall backwards and grabbed my sword and bag at the same time. I was well aware I was unarmoured, if I wanted to get out of this alive I would have to be clever. I knew if I’d face the two women at the same time with only a sword, they’d have me for breakfast.

I scrambled back on my feet and ran to a cave I had passed about half an hour before I encountered the lovely Breton and her mysterious friend. Even though she had lunged at me with a deadly weapon, I still thought she was pretty and I didn’t really want to end her and her friend’s life. Surely, there would be another way that didn’t result in either having to hand over my ring or with me or them ending up dead?

Luckily for me, the ladies had lost my track and I was safe for a while. Ruffling through my bag I dug up a pair of invisibility potions I had found a few days ago. Knowing the inherent problems with invisibility, Ajira had explained any action would cancel the effect immediately, I exited the cave after having rested for a while and headed back to my armour. I just hoped the effect would last long enough to reach my armour and the rest of my weapons unseen.

My plan worked. I managed to reach my stuff, quickly grabbed it all, drank the second potion and ran back to where I had hidden before so I could put on my armour in safety.
Armed and ready and quite frankly; rather pissed off, I figured it was time for a talk with a pair of misguided girls.

Unfortunately for her, Synette was prettier than she was clever. She attacked me, again. With me being fully armoured. ‘It’s not too late,’ I warned her. ‘Put down your cutlery and I will put down mine.’ Her uncertainty was reflected in her beautiful eyes and they kept darting off to a place behind me. Towards the hidden archer’s position I assumed.

There wasn’t an arrow stuck in my back yet, meaning maybe the fight could be diverted. I heard a clang of a weapon being dropped behind me. Focusing my attention to the Breton in front of me I saw tears welling up in her eyes while she dropped her weapon as well. I lowered my sword.
‘If you want, I can escort you back to civilisation,’ I offered.
She said that wouldn’t be necessary, the girls were capable of taking care of themselves.
I gave Synette her ring back and wished the girls all the best.
‘Look me up if you are ever in Gnisis.’
‘I will,’ I responded and continued my path to fort Darius.

Posted by: SubRosa Mar 22 2010, 08:02 PM

Rales is also Laser...

It has been a lot of fun re-reading the beginning of Rales. He is such a fun character. There are so many "Hey, I do that too!" moments I come across while reading. Like rooting through all of the barrels and crates for loot.

QUOTE
The trip was calm, I found riding a stiltstrider really relaxing although somewhat icky, considering you were seated in the hollowed-out body of a huge bug.
I didn’t even start to fathom how the driver got the bug to go where she wanted.
All I could tell, she was pulling some sort of strings. I found out much later those strings were in fact the animal’s nerves.

ewwwww!


I loved this:
QUOTE
I could find her downstairs, all I had to do was follow my nose towards the foul odour.
I wasn’t sure whether she was referring to Ajira or to her potions.

rollinglaugh.gif

nits:
QUOTE
Ofcourse only then Ajira said I didn’t really need the additional tools but they would help making better and stronger potions.

Looks like a Cliffracer ate the space between Of course.

QUOTE
Put down your cutlary and I will put down mine.

That is cutlery.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Mar 22 2010, 09:39 PM

I enjoyed the alchemy lesson. I had to laugh at the way Rales's gold was trickling away from him during the lesson! Just like college - the tuition's only the start! Then you gotta pay room & board, buy books, get your own lab safety gear, etc, etc! He he!


Posted by: Olen Mar 22 2010, 09:40 PM

Good stuff. I like the informal fun style. You really catch morrowind to, the sense of exploration and alienness of some things. Nice and smoothly written too.

apparatuses - I found this a bit odd, it is strictly correct so perhaps it's just my accent but I've allways used apparatus as an uncountable noun. Just jarred me a bit really.

Nice stuff, I'm interested to see how joining the legion goes.

Posted by: Zalphon Mar 22 2010, 11:05 PM

You're scaring the other writers, Rales... You're making us feel inferior!

Posted by: Destri Melarg Mar 23 2010, 06:07 AM

I love the way you are able to move the story forward, from Balmora to Gnisis in less than two paragraphs. Even the Mages Guild is hard pressed to transport people that quickly. I also like the touch of the hand signal that Blades use to recognize each other.

And this:

QUOTE(Remko @ Mar 22 2010, 11:18 AM) *

Even though she had lunged at me with a deadly weapon, I still thought she was pretty. . .

is what we all love about Rales.

Posted by: Remko Mar 23 2010, 12:18 PM

QUOTE(Olen @ Mar 22 2010, 09:40 PM) *

Good stuff. I like the informal fun style. You really catch morrowind to, the sense of exploration and alienness of some things. Nice and smoothly written too.

apparatuses - I found this a bit odd, it is strictly correct so perhaps it's just my accent but I've allways used apparatus as an uncountable noun. Just jarred me a bit really.

Nice stuff, I'm interested to see how joining the legion goes.

Thanks you for the praise! I wanted to write a fan-fic that MW fans immediately recognised. I think I've succeeded in that.

AFAIK apparatuses is correct. Saw it spelled like that on the UESP too. Perhaps the "-es" is silent that's why you never noticed wink.gif


Chapter 4: Legionnaire

Day 17

Two days after my run-in with the ladies at the pond, I arrived in Gnisis and proceeded to the fort. The “fort” was hardly more than a wall into a mountain with some beds and a storage room and it was utterly devoid of soldiers and activity.
I was in the wrong place. I wandered through Gnisis and noticed soldiers entering and exiting a large building. Thinking that must be the barracks, I entered the building and started asking around.
The Legion’s commander, General Darius was to be found in the Madach tradehouse, in the center of town, an Orc legionnaire told me.

I left the barracks and headed off to the tradehouse. The place was bristling with people. I made some short inquiries by just mentioning his name:’Darius?’
‘Downstairs and straight ahead,’ the proprietor told me.

Politely I introduced myself to an Imperial clad in gold-coloured armour, his stature and armour were indication enough to me this would be the Legion’s commander, and stated I wanted to join the legion.
‘Do you think you have what it takes to represent and uphold the honour of the Empire,’ he asked me.
‘Yes sir,’ I firmly answered.
‘Well then, recruit. Report in with Optio Bologra for your uniform and return to me for orders.’
I saluted as I had seen the Legion do in Cyrodiil, wheeled around on my heels and marched to the barracks for my uniform.

‘So, you’re back,’ the same Orc I had spoken to earlier, rumbled in their typical way.
I nodded and said the General had ordered me to get my uniform from Optio Bologra.
‘That would be me, drillmaster Optio Bologra,’ Optio said and handed me an Imperial ring-mail cuirass.
‘Now, get out of here. Report with the General.’
‘Yes drillmaster!’

‘Why are you not in your uniform?’ the General roared.
“I.. I euh..,’ I stumbled over my words. ‘I haven’t got around to it, General Sir,’ was the honest answer.
‘I’ll let it slip this time because you are a new recruit, but from now on you will wear your uniform at all times, understood recruit?’
‘Yes. Sir!’
As quick as I could I changed my light Chitin cuirass for the mail cuirass.
‘Now, are you ready for orders?’

Another yessir later I was briefed upon my mission.
I was to retrieve a land deed from a Dunmer woman who had lost her husband in the local eggmine.
The Legion needed the Zabdas land deed for an additional dock so the town could finally reached by ships and that I shouldn’t take “no” for an answer.
I could see it being useful to the Empire but I couldn’t help but thinking bullying a widow out of her land didn’t seem honourable at all. Had I made a mistake joining the Legion?
I put my prejudice aside and decided to investigate on it first before expressing my opinion.

Widow Zabdas’ house was just west out of town. It didn’t take me long to reach the location.
The area was lovely, it was nearby a river and the surrounding pastures were green and lush. Several Guars were grazing happily on the fields.
The calmness of the area was highly in contrast to my state of mind. I really wasn’t happy with my mission. I swallowed a lump in my throat and knocked on the door.
‘Go away,’ was what I got.
‘Muthsera Zabdas, I wish to speak to you concerning your husband.’
‘Will it take long?’
‘No, not really.’
‘Well, allright then. Come in.’

She opened the door, offered me a seat and asked me to state my purpose for being here.
I explained the Legion had send me and that they wished to acquire her land. The Legion would provide her another place to live. I didn’t know if they would but if there was some decency left, they would, I was sure. Ofcourse I didn’t tell her the General hadn’t mentioned an alternative house at all. There and then, I made up my mind that if the Legion wouldn’t, I’d take care of that myself.

‘First, the Legion murders my husband and then desires my land as well?’ She was furious.
‘Murdered?’ I murmered. The General hadn’t mentioned anything about a murder. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Yes, murdered,’ she yelled. ‘My husband was one of the most experienced miners around. I don’t believe for a second he had an unfortunate accident as that foul beast says. I will never, ever, relinquish my land,’ she spat.
I had obviously overstayed my welcome. I got up, greeted her politely and walked back to the tradehouse with a heavy heart. I was torn between my duty towards the Legion and my own personal feeling of right and wrong. How was I going to explain this to the General?

The General turned out to be a lot more understanding than I could have ever hoped.
When I briefed him with what widow Zabdas had told me, Darius ordered me to investigate the miner’s death and complimented me on being discrete. He could see a bright future for me with the Legion, he concluded and dismissed me.
I can’t express how relieved I was. There was honour in the Legion after all!
The best place to start the investigation would be the eggmine, east of town.
Again, I was investigating a murder.

A short walk later I encountered a Dunmer guard outside the eggmine who said no-one was allowed to enter. When I told the guard I was here on Darius’ orders he unlocked the gate.
‘Just be careful, the Kwama queen has contracted a Blight-disease.’
At that time I had no idea what a Blight-disease was but I knew diseases so I took his advice to heart and thanked him for his warning.
I investigated the entire upper level of the mine and asked the workers what they knew or had seen. None of the workers knew anything and had seen just as much. I suspected one or two to be lying but I couldn’t prove it. There was nothing else to do for me but investigate further.

Had I known Kwama warriors were that territorial, I would’ve been more careful.
As soon as I set foot through the door into the lower level, lightning forks seared passed me, barely missing me. There were too many for me to handle so I raced past them. A bit farther, an Orc legionnaire barked at me to get out of this place and that I had ten seconds to do so. He was leaning leisurely on an axe the size of a small child and muscles, thick as boatropes, were flexing under his green skin. I muttered some excuse I can’t even remember and ran towards a door, leading even further down. Facing this Orc in battle would be my downfall, I was certain.

The moment I stepped through that door, I froze. An apparition, nearly transparant, floated above an underground river. I readied my sword and prepared for battle.
Slowly, the ghostly figure floated towards me but not in a threatening way at all.
From experience, I knew ghosts never came close, they kept their distance and flung nasty spells to you. This one didn’t. Instead, he started talking.

‘Have no fear, I won’t harm you. Listen to my tale and do as you will afterwards.’
I nodded briefly in agreement and the ghost continued:’My name is ….Zabdas, I was a miner here untill ill fate came upon me. A quarrel with a guard was my downfall.
The murderer’s axe is still lying with my broken body, proof that I was struck down innocently. Retrieve this axe, and let justice prevail so my weary soul can finally find peace.’ Upon his last words, the apparition moved to the side and pointed towards the underground river. I followed his lead an peered into the river. Underneath the surface I could see a corpse and an axe. Sofar, the ghost had spoken the truth.

It was too deep to dive into with my armour on, the weight would surely drag me drown and I’d die a horrible death.
To prevent such a gruesome fate, I undressed and left all my gear on the embankment and dove in to retrieve the axe. While I was under, I checked the corpse for proof as well. I didn’t find much although in the victim’s midsection an axe-wide wide gaping wound was a sign he had been struck down with an axe. Judging the depth of the wound, he had been struck hard. I suspected the poor fellow had died instantly.
The words the widow Zabdas had spoken arose violently.
‘As that foul beast says,’ she had concluded her rant. Had she meant the Orc in the other room?

Having found the proof I needed I scurried back to the tradehouse, past the ill-tempered Orc and the even worse tempered Kwama warriors.
‘This is Lugrub gro-Ogdum’s axe allright.’ The corners of Darius’ mouth turned downwards in a sad grimace.
‘How could he have betrayed the Legion? He is one of my finest,’ he murmured in a melancholic monologue.
Lifting his head he said:’Recruit, you will have to execute the traitor but do try to find out why he has betrayed his duty first.’
‘Yes Sir!’ I saluted and marched out his office without displaying any of my doubts about the mission I had received. How was I, a lowly recruit, going to defeat a highly revered legionnaire and one of the Legion’s finest warriors? Once more I had doubts about my choice joining the Legion. I needed to think this all through. In my own time. Hoping it wouldn’t be considered desertion, I left Madach tradehouse and Gnisis. I had enough of orders for a while.

Posted by: mALX Mar 23 2010, 02:06 PM

Remko...will you be bringing your Oblivion story over here too?

Posted by: Zalphon Mar 23 2010, 06:32 PM

Excellent descriptions, Rales.

Posted by: SubRosa Mar 23 2010, 06:39 PM

Rales joins the Legion! One thing I thought was lacking in Oblivion was that you could not join the legion there.

nits:

QUOTE
the weight would surely drag me drown and I’d die a horriful death.

I think you are looking for the word horrible here.

QUOTE
I didn’t find much although in the victim’s midsection a gaping clevege was a sign he had been struck down with an axe, and judging the depth of the wound, he had been struck hard.

I do not think you want the word cleavage here. In English it typically means the valley between a woman's breasts. You probably want something more like rent, or hole.
It is also a very long sentence. You might consider breaking it into two sentences, like this:
QUOTE
I did not find much, although in the victim’s midsection a gaping rent was a sign he had been struck down with an axe. Judging the depth of the wound, he had been struck hard.

Posted by: Remko Mar 24 2010, 12:40 PM

SubRosaI never realised the word cleavage is never associatiated with weapons. Strange that some weapons are called cleaver.. blink.gif Thanks!
@mALX1 Yeah, I guess I can do that. Yay, finally a reason to start working on that again as well. biggrin.gif

Chapter 5: Feathers

Day 28

I wandered for days and days in a row. I didn’t record much of what happened, I had sunk far into dark thoughts and self-pity.
One event brought me back to reality. I stumbled into some cave, tired, hungry and wet. Nearby the entrance I sat myself down, went through my inventory, sharpened my weapons, repaired dings where necessary, mended my armour and slept for a while. My dream was haunted by visions of dead people, screaming Mer and a huge Orc trying to bash in my skull.
I woke up in a sweat because of a rumbling sound from deeper within the cave. I snuck farther into the dark hole to find out what it was that had awoken me.

I reached a ledge with a ladder into a pit. In the pit several bodies were strewn around some sort of green blob with arms and legs. The blob didn’t try scaling the ladders so I assumed it was too heavy, too big or both. Shocked, I realized how unnerving that assumption was. If this thing understood it was too heavy for the ladders, it also meant it was sentient, intelligent. I would have to take care not underestimating it.
Not really fancying taking this monster on up close I started with shooting lots and lots of arrows at it from a safe distance. It didn’t even notice the pinpricks.

When I unleashed all the spells I had on my repertoire on it, I only managed to anger the hideous thing and draw its attention to its assailant, yours truly. If this would take any longer I feared it might find a way out of the pit somehow. In a desperate attempt to get rid of the creature, I scaled down the ladder, slowly approached it and with all the strength I could muster hit it with my sword. Its thick, scaly skin deflected my sword easily. Spinning around it swung its hammer-sized fists in my direction. I managed to dodge the first one but was too slow to dodge a swing with its other fist. It hit me straight on the head, sending a spur of pain through my entire body. I could swear from that day I was about an inch shorter than before. It certainly felt that way.
There was no way I was going to be able to defeat this creature, I turned and ran.

The creature tried to follow me but somehow it managed to get itself stuck between the walls of the pit, the ladder and some crates - it wasn’t that intelligent after all - I got away from it safely and even had time to grab some of the goods the former occupants, the ones lying dead all around, had left behind. I also found some sort of meat I had never encountered before. It smelled strangely familiar, even though I had never seen meat with that specific colour before. I shrugged, took a satchel from my bag to preserve it and put the satchel with the meat into my bag. Maybe an experienced alchemist would recognise it.

After the encounter with that monster I had seen enough caves for a while. I headed north-east and explored the coastal area. I was made painfully aware my skills weren’t up to scratch. I lived on what I could find or hunt, slept in caves when it was raining and in the open field when it was dry. The following weeks, more times than I’d like to recall, I barely escaped a grisly death by the hands of creatures, bandits and by something conjured up in Oblivion and dropped into Vvardenfell.
Venturing deep into the ash-regions of Vvardenfell I heard a wailing sound but couldn’t pinpoint its origin. ‘Not another Bosmer,’ I amused myself by imagining the strangest of scenarios just to keep my mind from wandering into melancholy again.

Something resembling a bat, only bigger, smellier, equipped with a tail ending in a sharp end and a ferocious beak, had its mind set on having Dunmer for dinner. Its dinner was cold steel rather than warm Dunmer, the creature looked a lot tougher than it actually was. A stab and a slash had it falling to the ground. I plucked its tailfeathers and stuck it in my hair as a trophy. There was no-one as witness to how silly that must have looked. It was just one of those things to keep me occupied in the lonely wastelands called the Ash-region.

Deafeating a single one wasn’t the problem. I soon found out where there was one, there usually were more. A lot more. Finally, I had some target practice.
Swordplay had always been one of my strong points. Having been brought-up as a Redoran, I was trained with a longsword ever since I had been strong enough to carry one. Before that, I had been playing with a wooden sword.
That day, as I was cooking the flying rat’s meat above a fire, I just wished I had a better sword. The enchanted blade I had found was starting to loose its effectiveness, fighting that green blob made me painfully - literally - aware of that fact.

The weeks wandering around aimlessly, I had the chance and plenty of time to practise my marksman skill. Compared to my sword-fighting it was rather pitiful. I wasted arrow after arrow but after days of practicing, missing and retrieving arrows and running from enemies I couldn't even hope to defeat yet, slowly I was starting to hit my targets.
The flying horrors were soon dropping like flies – untill I ran out of arrows that was, and I was starting to look like a bird myself, with all the flying rats’ tailfeathers in my hair.
For their sake, I hope they reproduce fast, otherwise I wouldn't me surprise me if I had managed to wipe out the entire pests' population thoughout those weeks.

Day 40

There is always a huge down-side to wandering aimlessly through a land you have no or hardly any geographical knowledge about - you are bound to get lost. Well, so was I.
I had no idea where I was or where I was going. It was time to set myself a goal again, I needed better gear. Weeks ago, someone, I can’t remember her name, warned me about wandering into Daedric ruins. Unfriendly worshippers and even more unpleasantly tempered monsters usually occupied the ruins was the bottom-line of the warning. I threw the advice in the wind as soon as I came across a ruin of the sorts I had never seen. Towers with points, jagged edges of broken walls, apparantly aeons ago, and, as I was warned, crawling with creatures so terrible I almost ran.
The urge to find a better weapon got the better of me.
Curse my sense of adventure!

I got far more than I bargained for. Before I even got the chance to enter the shrine, I was assaulted by creatures I used to run away from as fast as I could. A waist high creature with what looked like a collar came running in at an alarming speed. I raised my shield and braced for impact.
I reaped the fruits of the exercise and the weeks of fighting enemy after enemy and managed to keep standing behind my shield. Frantically the creature tried to bludgeon my shield aside in an effort getting to me. Remembering what the master of arms had taught me, I used the creature’s mindless ferocity and strength against it. I prepared my sword and let the shield slip a little, just enough for the creature to break through and impale itself on my sword because of its own speed. Unfortunately, it was also more than the already battered old shield could take. After the fight it was beyond repair and I abandoned it.
The path into the shrine was clear.

Inside, I tried a different approach. Instead of barging in, banners raised, I snuck in, using the shadows to hide my presence. Before the residing worshippers were even aware of me, two Dunmer were lying mortally wounded on the ground, an arrow to the throat is just as effective against spellcasters as a silence spell.
The third was alarmed before I got a clean shot, I stepped on a loose rock revealing my location. These things usually happened when I tried to sneak up on someone, that’s why I usually never bothered.

Drawing my sword I ran at him howling a battle cry. Mid-air my attack ceased. A glow was emmitting from the Sorcerer’s hand, paralyzing me.
There was nothing I could do, I had no cure. I had to wait for the effect to wear off.
Several agonizing seconds passed as the sorceror cast spells at me.
Suddenly, my hands were free and I finished the attack ending with my sword lodged in the Dark Elf’s chest.
Still I hadn’t found a decent sword. Weren’t these ruins supposed to be swarming with Daedra wielding the best weapons?

Disappointed with my findings in the ruin so far, I grabbed the best next thing. On a bowl near a shrine of a really ugly guy’s statue I found some valuable gems.
Imagine my surprise when out of nowhere a warrior emerged wearing a black and red armour from hell and swinging the scariest looking sword I had ever seen. That’s what I was looking for. The only thing I had to do was kill its current owner.

What a battle that was. This guy knew what he was doing. Upon my standard attack - a overhead chop as a distraction, a quick sidestep and a slash to the midsection - he did the exact correct thing. He dodged the chop rather than blocking it so he was ready for the slash to his midsection. Most, lesser, swordfighters were caught off guard by this attack and were usually cut down with the slash. I remember grinning maniacally. This was what the master of arms had trained me for throughout my entire youth.

We blocked each others’ every attempt getting the upper hand in the battle. This was no fight, this was a dance, as deadly as a hidden viper and I never felt more alive than ever. The first miss-step would mean defeat and certain death for either of us.
I almost ended the fight with a quick lunge straight to his gut, just before my sword hit him, he ducked and rolled to the side, recoiled and brought up his sword diagonally across my chest. If I would have been impatient and immediately had stepped in not recognizing the trap, the thrust would’ve cut me in half. I could feel the air displacement from the blade on my face as it flashed by.

This was the opening I had waited on, I grabbed the iron dagger from between my belt with my free hand and rammed it between the creases of his armour, into his armpit. The Daedra dropped his sword and fell to his knees. I ended the dance cutting of his head with his own sword in a single swipe. I’d call that poetic justice.

Posted by: mALX Mar 24 2010, 02:25 PM

I love that - poetic justice, lol. and YEAH! I love your Oblivion story too !!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Remko Mar 25 2010, 04:37 PM

Several hours later, I continued my search through the shrine. I figured I might as well sweep the entire thing while I was there anyway. The containers in the shrine turned up quite a collection of enchanted trinkets, ingredients, some books that taught me some nice tricks and a pile of gold.
I just had the fight of my life and ended up with a huge treasure. What more could I want?

A Dunmer, clad in an armour blacker than the darkest of nights saw me before I saw him.
His hands lit up in a ominous glow and I faced a monster, devoid of skin and with bones protruding through its flesh. Worse yet, the fleshy beast threw spells at me.
I could feel the strength seeping from my already fatigued body. If I didn’t defeat it or its caster soon, I wouldn’t be able to move at all.
Digging into my own arsenal of scrolls I had collected, I cast a spell to temporarily increase my strength and cut down the monster. My new ebony blade came in handy, it cut through tissue and bones like it wasn’t even there.
The severed parts of the creature disappeared in a puff of smoke clearing the way for me to the conjurer.

The expression on his face flashed between fear and rage. Before he could gather himself and conjure up another of those awful beasts, I physically attacked him, forcing him to have to defend himself with steel. I smiled. After having crossed swords with the Dremora Lord, this was going to be a breeze. I don’t think he realised I was playing with him. My sword grazed his cheek, leaving a bloody trail; I jumped out of the way when he tried to hit me with his axe; kicked his legs from underneath him when he was too static and slammed my elbow into his nose when he did close in.

The far superior reach of my longsword was too much for him. Once more he tried to summon something but before he even had the chance I slashed at his hands which prevented him finishing the spell.
Deciding I had enough practice with my new sword, I dove underneath one of his slow desperate swipes and thrust my blade upward, through his chin and base of his skull and added his armour and his black and red Daedric axe to my collection.

Returning to the main level of the shrine, my eye caught a door I had previously missed. Carefully - the painful memory of the trapped door in the ancestral tomb was still somewhat fresh – I disarmed the trap and unlocked it.
Behind the door was a Redguard woman – Malexa - tied with rope. After having cut her free she told me she had been captured by cultist for some kind of heathen ritual. I ensured her the cultists wouldn’t be performing any kind of ritual soon. It took her a while to understand what I had meant. In fact; when we headed out of the shrine – I had promised her to return her to her husband, Sason, she had been travelling with – she suddenly burst out in laughter when she saw the first bloody corpse. Only there she understood what I had meant.
‘Suits them right,’ she hollered. ‘Are they all dead?’
I nodded, bringing a smile to her face.

Having a companion for a while was a nice change. Malexa turned out to be a member of the great house of Redoran. She even knew my cousin, Athyn, and that I could find him in Ald'ruhn. I wasn’t planning on visiting him yet – I wasn’t ready for that – but it was nice to know in advance. During the journey to re-unite the couple we talked about lots of small things. Some things I already knew but there was a lot I didn’t know. She told me of politics, religion and whatnot. She wouldn’t stop yapping, I didn’t mind at all.

I was highly interested when Malexa told me about the Tribunal. Of course, I had heard of the famous Three, it was part of the Redoran upbringing, but I had no idea they had been mortal before they ascended to god-hood. In return; I told her about my adventures and why I was wearing the feathers in my hair - I had forgotten about those - which amused her to no end.

Day 42

We found her husband the next morning after having spent the night underneath a high placed rock-ledge so we were safe from predators prowling the area. I loaned her my sleeping bag to keep herself warm. It nearly took an hour before my teeth stopped chattering with the cold after we woke up. She insisted on leaving right away. She didn’t want to waste time making a fire and having breakfast before setting off. I knew better than to argue with a lady, besides, she knew where to go.

Seeing the happy couple together again was heart-warming, yet, it also reminded me of how lonely I actually had been the last few weeks. I hadn’t seen a familiar soul ever since I had left Seyda Neen.
The swamp town was a dump, true, but it was the closest to what I could call home.
I longed for a friendly, familiar face.

Posted by: Olen Mar 25 2010, 10:10 PM

Good update. I like this story, I think I said it last time but I'll say it again: this story is morrowind. It's more than just the setting and characters which bring bit of gameplay and the world to mind, the whole mindset and the pace and the descriptions are spot on and put me in mind of the game.

If I were to suggest anything I'd say a little more characterisation might be benificial, but that's just my taste (and me looking for something to say) as there's certainly a character there.

I might have to go and play Morrowind again when I have time.

Posted by: SubRosa Mar 26 2010, 12:30 AM

You are right about the word "cleave" and its other forms: cloven, cleft, cleaving. They all mean to cut something in half. It is only specifically "cleavage" that refers to women's breasts. It is a reference to the cleft between a woman's breasts.

Like Olen, reading Rales makes me want to fire up Morrowind and play it. You write so true to the game, that I constantly find myself saying "I do that too!". I have probably said that before, but I think it bears repeating.

I really liked this line:
Its dinner was cold steel rather than warm Dunmer

This is so Rales:
On a bowl near a shrine of a really ugly guy’s statue
smile.gif



nits:
We blocked eachothers’
Looks like one of those Cliffracers ate the space between each other's.


Posted by: Destri Melarg Mar 26 2010, 01:05 AM

Wow, every time I open this thread it seems that you have posted two new chapters! Excuse me while I check these two out. . .

QUOTE
Venturing deep into the ash-regions of Vvardenfell I heard a wailing sound but couldn’t pinpoint its origin. ‘Not another Bosmer,’ I amused myself by imagining the strangest of scenarios just to keep my mind from wandering into melancholy again.

biggrin.gif Hilarious!

QUOTE
We blocked each others’ every attempt getting the upper hand in the battle. This was no fight, this was a dance, as deadly as a hidden viper and I never felt more alive than ever. The first miss-step would mean defeat and certain death for either of us.
I almost ended the fight with a quick lunge straight to his gut, just before my sword hit him, he ducked and rolled to the side, recoiled and brought up his sword diagonally across my chest. If I would have been impatient and immediately had stepped in not recognizing the trap, the thrust would’ve cut me in half. I could feel the air displacement from the blade on my face as it flashed by.

This was the opening I had waited on, I grabbed the iron dagger from between my belt with my free hand and rammed it between the creases of his armour, into his armpit. The Daedra dropped his sword and fell to his knees. I ended the dance cutting of his head with his own sword in a single swipe. I’d call that poetic justice.

What a battle! Action-packed and well described.


Posted by: Destri Melarg Mar 26 2010, 01:05 AM

Wow, every time I open this thread it seems that you have posted two new chapters! Excuse me while I check these two out. . .

QUOTE
Venturing deep into the ash-regions of Vvardenfell I heard a wailing sound but couldn’t pinpoint its origin. ‘Not another Bosmer,’ I amused myself by imagining the strangest of scenarios just to keep my mind from wandering into melancholy again.

biggrin.gif Hilarious!

QUOTE
We blocked each others’ every attempt getting the upper hand in the battle. This was no fight, this was a dance, as deadly as a hidden viper and I never felt more alive than ever. The first miss-step would mean defeat and certain death for either of us.
I almost ended the fight with a quick lunge straight to his gut, just before my sword hit him, he ducked and rolled to the side, recoiled and brought up his sword diagonally across my chest. If I would have been impatient and immediately had stepped in not recognizing the trap, the thrust would’ve cut me in half. I could feel the air displacement from the blade on my face as it flashed by.

This was the opening I had waited on, I grabbed the iron dagger from between my belt with my free hand and rammed it between the creases of his armour, into his armpit. The Daedra dropped his sword and fell to his knees. I ended the dance cutting of his head with his own sword in a single swipe. I’d call that poetic justice.

What a battle! Action-packed and well described.


Posted by: Remko Mar 26 2010, 01:00 PM

DestrYou loved it that much you felt it necessary to repeat yourself? wink.gif If that isn't a compliment, I don't know what is laugh.gif


Chapter 6: Alchemist

Sason and Malexa were heading to the town Ald Veloth. Since I had decided to go home, I offered to trot along.
Walking all the way back to the south from all the way up north was not my idea of fun. From Ald Veloth it was only a short jump to Gnisis and from there I could go anywhere easily enough by stiltstrider.

The Redguard couple was more than happy to have me as company. With me around, they were sure to arrive safely. Sason offered to carry some of my gear. After the raid on the Daedric shrine, I could barely carry it all out so the offer was more than welcome. Swapping the mail cuirass for the ebony one I took from the dead Elf helped a bit as well.

By the Nine, that thing was heavy. I was sure I’d never get used to the weight of heavy armour. It uncomfortably pressed on my shoulders and neck, rubbing the dust and sand, swept up by the perennial winds, between the armour and my neck and shoulders. I had a dustrash in no-time. I wasn’t sure what was worse; carrying the damn thing or wearing it.

Once arrived in Ald Veloth, Sason and Malexa asked me if I’d stay the night, it was the least they could do. I politely declined, I was too eager to head back south.
Promising them to visit them if I’d ever be in the area again, I said my goodbye and left for Gnisis.

Several hours later, in the dead of night I arrived and immediately took the stiltstrider to Ald'ruhn, Balmora and last stop, Seyda Neen.
Well rested I arrived the next day in the early morning. Starving but with a bounce in my step I went to Arrille to have breakfast.

The moment I stepped through the door, the Elf’s eyes lit up. ‘I see you’ve been doing well for yourself?’
‘You could say that,’ I replied with a smile.
‘Yeah, I can tell.’ He glanced me up and down. ‘Where did you get that fancy armour from?’
‘Long story. I’ll tell you all about it, but how about some breakfast first?’

He knew exactly what I liked. In no time at all I was enjoying a pair of well-deserved fried eggs, freshly baked bread and a steaming cup of tea while telling Arrille all about my adventures up north.
Fargoth had also grabbed a seat, of course he had heard of my return and was listening to my tales while his eyes were glowing with anticipation like that of a child. I might have exxagarated some stories to amuse him.

Several hours later, I dumped most of the gear I had collected in the shack I inhabited, including the ebony cuirass. What a relief to take it off! If I’d be able to sell it, my fortune would have been made but Arrille said I could forget about that. No one in Vvardenfell had that amount of gold.
However; he had just heard a tale from a trader, who had come by recently, about the strangest thing he had ever seen in Caldera. According to the travelling merchant, in the town Caldera there was a scamp trader who might be able to give a good price for it.
I just had to see that for myself. In my travels I had encountered lots of scamps but those were hardly intelligent enough to recognise a superior warrior, let alone to do business and talk with you.



Day 46

With all my adventures and raiding of tombs, caves and shrines I acquired quite a fortune. Money itself is no good to anyone; you can’t eat or drink it. You can invest it however.
Which was exactly what I did. After having spent some days doing nothing at all in Seyda Neen, I took the stiltstrider back to Balmora and went to see Ajira for some more alchemy education and tricks.

Ajira was impressed with how quick I absorbed her teachings. Telling me once was enough; soon I had a good understanding of what apparatus had which function and how to make most of the ingredients I used to make a certain potion.
By the end of the day there was not much more she could teach me; lots of practice and experiments were what made a good alchemist, she said.

I knew exactly which potion to make; if there was anything I had learned, it was that it’s nearly impossible to cast a spell or swing a sword true when your tongue is on your knees.
I gathered ingedients to make potions to reduce the effect fatigue had. It was a fairly simple potion but I soon found out I could make stronger potions with longer duration by choosing ingedients that had more concentrated properties.

Choosing such ingedients proved to be risky though. I got it wrong on several occasions and made potions that had detrimental and sometimes even deadly effects next to the effect I wanted to create and had to dispose of several, quite valuable, potions. I couldn’t risk having them lying around lest someone found them. I collected them in a watertight casket and sank the casket into the deep end of the Sea of Ghosts eventually.

After a few days I had perfected the process and was able to make potions that allowed me to run for hours and still be able to cast a spell and be effective in combat without the necessity to rest first..
It wasn’t hard to see such potions would come in handy for everyone, not just adventurers like me. I traded several with Ajira for ingredients to make new potions and sell them off to anyone who’d buy them.

Most I sold under the price I was offered for them, making it interesting for the trader to buy a lot of them and sell them again for a decent price so they could restock with me soon. It didn’t take me long to acquire a decent fortune this way.

Posted by: SubRosa Mar 26 2010, 04:37 PM

Am I the only one who keeps thinking that Arille is female? The name sounds feminine to me.

The soldier's eternal lament:
I wasn’t sure what was worse; carrying the damn thing or wearing it.

It is neat to look back and see where Rales began acquiring his skills as an alchemist. It is something to contrast him now with the Rales I know from the future.


nits:

This too, is so Rales (and so male!)
I might have exaggarated some stories to amuse him.
however, that is spelled exaggerated.


What a relieve to take it off!
that is relief in this context.

Posted by: Remko Mar 26 2010, 06:31 PM

@SubRosa Thanks, I always struggle with exxagerate. In fact, I changed it before posting because I thought I had it wrong the 1st time... guess not laugh.gif Arrille's voice is male so I am pretty sure it's a he.

Posted by: mALX Mar 28 2010, 02:32 PM

Sorry, I barely had time to get on here this week. I will be catching up (hopefully, lol) <3

Posted by: Remko Mar 29 2010, 12:00 PM

That's okay, you've read it before anyway biggrin.gif


Day 50:

Caldera was fairly easy to get to. For a small sum of gold a Guild guide in the Mages Guild would teleport someone from one guild to the other instantly. I wished they had warned me about the weird feeling you’d get once arrived at the destination. The first few seconds after arrival I couldn’t tell what was up, down, left or right. Fortunately, the feeling soon dissipated.
The local mages had heard of the scamp trader, I could find him just around the corner in the Ghorak manor. I thanked them for the info, sold some potions to the Caldera Mages Guild alchemist and went to find Creeper, the scamp trader.

The travelling merchant Arrille had told me about hadn’t lied. On the second floor in the Ghorak manor there really was a scamp trader. I made a deal with him; I’d sell him convenient potions far beneath the commercial price and he would make sure they got sold so he could buy some from me on a regular basis. He said he usually needed a week to get his goods sold. The gold I made on selling my potions over several weeks far exceeded the value of the ebony cuirass so I kept it as decoration.

Back in Balmora I made the same deal with Nalcarya, the proprietor of the White Heaven alchemist shop. With my current fortune I couldn’t help but snickering in how wealthy I had thought myself with the missing taxman’s reward. It was dwarfed by what I had in my pockets after my successful trade-runs.

Most of it went on training sessions. I was adequate with a long-sword, fairly accurate with a bow and all the running around in the Ashlands had left me with a good stamina so needed no training in those disciplines.

Like a sponge soaking up knowledge I looked up trainers to teach me the arts of the other weapons and heavier armour than my favourite - light armour. Better weapons would carve through the light armour - like the Chitin one I usually wore - like a hot knife through butter. I had seen it happen several times with my own ebony blade. Fighting with it was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. The blade didn’t as much as kill as mutilate my enemies in the worst possible ways.
I cringed every time at the sound of the blade slicing through armour, tissue and bones. It made me feel more like a butcher than a sword-fighter and dreaded the thought of what would happen if I ever failed to block an enemy wielding one as well.
I had to make sure I was stronger, meaner and better equipped than my opponents.



Day 55

Several days of constant training hardened me. Skills I had never bothered with, were getting more familiar to me. I even learned to endure the weight and restricted movement of my limbs in heavy and medium armour although they would never be as comfortable as the light armour I preferred.
But then again; what good is being comfortable when you’re dead?
A Nord trainer had tried to convince me into using an axe rather than a “puny” long-sword. According to him an axe was a real man’s weapon and the toothpick I was swinging was for little girls.
I politely declined but did take him up on his offer learning me some basic skills in it.
After all; you can never know when it could come in handy.

I will never be a great axe-fighter. It’s perfectly understandable huge Nords are able to handle them but for a relatively small guy like me it’s just not convenient swinging a weapon heavier and almost taller than you are.
However; handling those encumbersome weapons for days did put some muscle on my scrawny figure. This first few days all I got was a terrible muscle ache in my arms, shoulders and back. I regretted and cursed the very day I was born every night I couldn’t get asleep because of my sore and bruised body. No matter how I turned and rolled in my bed, there was always a aching part that kept me from drowsing off.

The following nights the nightmares I was having recently got gradually worse.
Most I can’t recollect but the name “Nerevarine” lingered. It felt as though it was referring to me, as if I was supposed to be him. Some books I had read not long ago mentioned the name Lord Nerevar Indoril. I wondered if it had anything do with my dreams. It was time to go back to Caius; I considered myself ready for what-ever he wanted me to do. Maybe he had an answer to who that Nerevarine character was and what the hell it had to do with me.


Posted by: mALX Mar 29 2010, 04:17 PM

I love the paragraph you devoted to his aching muscles - how real is that !!!

Posted by: haute ecole rider Mar 29 2010, 04:53 PM

I've been sitting back and enjoying re-reading the Rales story again.

But now I feel inclined to pop up and say I agree with Rales about fighting with a war-axe. Better left to big tall guys like Nords and Altmer. I prefer using a weapon I can at least pick up one handed! Without throwing my back out! That part tickled my funny.

Posted by: SubRosa Mar 29 2010, 05:00 PM

It’s perfectly understandable huge Nords are able to handle them but for a relatively small guy like me it’s just not convenient swinging a weapon heavier and almost taller than you are.

http://everyview.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/final-fantasy-vii-cover-art.jpg

Posted by: Remko Mar 30 2010, 11:37 AM

A/N: This is one of my favourite chapters. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing this.

Chapter 7: Caius explains

Day 64

‘I assume you are here to discuss orders?’ Caius asked. He didn’t ask what had taken me so long.
I nodded in agreement.
‘You better sit down, this might take some time.’
Obeying, I sat myself down on a grubby seat and awaited what the Spymaster had to say.

The next hour he briefed me on what was expected from me. He explained the Emperor had taken an interest in the rumours that kept getting stronger about what he called The Sixth House. The Emperor wanted to know if there was any truth to the rumours of it returning and wanted me to investigate. I had the sneaky suspicion he knew more than he was telling but figured he must have had his reasons not to tell me.

When I asked him why he needed me and why Caius couldn’t take care of it himself, he simply said he was too old and too high-profile. Everyone knew who he was. I was a stranger so I could get into places he was denied access to.

Recognising the simple truth in that I asked what the first thing was that he wanted me to do. Caius ordered me to look up an informant, Hasphat Antabolis, more clued up on Sixth House cultists and the legend of the Nerevarine (again that name).
Since Caius asked me to investigate upon Nerevarine I didn’t bother asking him about it. It was highly likely Caius was as clueless about that as I was.
Locating Hasphat was easy, I could find him in the local Guild of Fighters hall, just across the river Odai that divided Balmora.

Hasphat wanted a favour in return for the information. To be more specific; he wanted me to retrieve a puzzlebox from a Dwemer ruin, called Arkngthand, southeast from Balmora. According to Hasphat the ruin was easy to find - the entrance would be concealed but all I had to do is pull a crank nearby to reveal it - which turned out to be more than true. Especially when you have found out a combination of some rather common ingredients - including the flying rats’ tailfeathers - make a very convenient flying potion.

I flew across the Balmora city walls and the surrounding mountains, straight to the Dwemer ruin.
Some people in Balmora were pointing upwards when they saw me passing by.
Except for being able to go straight to my goal, another advantage was that I was moving too fast for the Cliffracers - or flying rats as I call them - to be able to get to me. My flight was uneventful, I arrived at the ruin effortlessly about an hour later. If I had been on foot it would’ve taken me three to four hours easily because of the mountains I would’ve had to circumvent.

The flying potion wore off a bit too soon for my liking; I landed a small distance from the ruin on a huge steel bridge leading to the ruin.
As soon as I set foot towards the ruin, a spell hit me full on and a skeleton attacked me. A set of carriages with crates on it on the far end of the bridge had distracted me so I overlooked a bandit, probably smuggling contraband from the ruin.
The conjured skeleton disappeared with one hit from the ebony blade.

Shouting to him I didn’t mean him harm - as far as I was converned; his business was his business - proved useless. He snarled something undistinctive and threw another spell at me which I dodged easily.
This really wouldn’t do; I gave him a fair chance to surrender. But no…. he had to do it the hard way. I guess his associates were going to have a bigger cut with him out of the way.

As Antabolis had mentioned, an unpenetrable stone cover concealed the entrance. The crank was nearby, as soon as I moved it, the stone cover moved out of the way with a mighty rumble, revealing a heavy steel door, which opened without trouble. Those Dwemer – whatever they had been - sure knew how to make hinges.
I entered into a hall where more, probably smugglers as well, bandits took offence in my presence. Let’s just say my arguments for being there were stronger than theirs.

The ruin was enormous. It took me almost a day to go through all of the lower levels and to realise that’s not where the puzzlebox was. I did find several Dwemer artifacts, convenient ingedients, books and some rare weapons. I couldn’t carry it all out so I had to be selective with what I took with me. I left the heavier items behind.
Eventually, I got back into the entrance hall, still without the puzzlebox. Frustrated I sat myself down on a stairway, rested a while and had a quick bite while thinking what I was missing. There had to be something I had overlooked.

Carefully I looked around for a door I might have missed when my gaze caught another stairway I somehow managed to have overlooked. Feeling kind of embarrassed I followed it upwards and found a door into a chamber I hadn’t been into yet.
Two more smugglers were between me and my goal: behind them was a cupboard with a small, square item I never saw before. One smuggler went down quick, he was badly armoured; my ebony blade made short work of the Breton bandit.

The second bandit, an Imperial, was armoured far better than any bandit I had come across throughout all my travels. This must have been the boss of the smuggling operation they had going on. He was more clever than the rest as well; he kept well out of reach of my terrible sword and flung one spell after the other at me. How could I have been so stupid? I remembered a magical amulet I had found with which I could silence spellcasters, rendering them nearly harmless. It took me some time to find it; of course it was entirely on the bottom of my bag. I had to swallow some more spells which were really starting to hurt.

Together with the amulet I also dug up a healing potion from my bag. I sidestepped when another spell was hurled towards me, downed the potion and activated the amulet. The Imperial tried to cast more spells but soon realised it to be futile, drew his sword and attacked me. Needless to say; that was a bad move from his side. He payed dearly.

The item in the cupboard I had spotted behind him indeed turned out to be the puzzlebox, just as I had assumed. Finally I could leave this wretched ruin and report back with Hasphat to receive the information Caius requested. Returning the way I had arrived, I got back in Balmora in the middle of the night. Rather than disturbing Hasphat, I rented a room at The Eight Plates and went to see him the next morning.

Day 66

Hasphat Antabolis was pleased with my efforts. He told me everything he knew about Sixth House cultists and its re-ascension. Unfortunately, he knew nothing about the Nerevarine legend I didn’t already know, which was basically nothing at all.
When I asked him what he wanted with a toy he scowled and said it was a key to… well something else. It appeared he didn’t want to share his little secret.
He did give me a a set of notes he made to give to Caius.

‘How did you know I came from Caius,’ I asked him. ‘I am sure I didn’t mention him.’
He sighed in a way making me feel like it was pretty obvious. ‘He still owed me favour, now we’re even.’
So that’s how it is being a spy? Doing somebody else’s dirty work? I wasn’t amused at all.

Still angry I stamped into Caius’s house and threw the notes in front of his feet.
‘Here’s your favour,’ I snarled. ‘Anything else I can do for his royal Imperial Spymaster?’ and made a mock-bow.
The sarcasm wasn’t wasted on him. Caius excused himself for using me but also put me back in my place at the same time.

‘Look, I needed to know what you’re capable of. I know it may seem as though you were doing it for me but don’t forget; you are serving the Emperor, and do so without questioning. You owe him that much for releasing you from prison and allowing you to make a life for yourself once more.’
I realised I had been out of order and looked down on my worn-out shoes in shame.
A lesson in humility I guess. With having that ouf the way I proceeded to ask him what would be next.

‘I need you to look up another informant. I hoped Hasphat could provide all the info we need but I guess you noticed there is no information about the Nerevarine in Hasphat’s notes?’
I nodded; I had indeed noticed that.
‘There is a mage in the local Mages Guild hall-‘
‘Who you owe a favour as well?’
Caius smiled. ‘You are quick to comprehend the situation. Good. That means I won’t have to repeat myself. Anyway; I would like you to look up the Orc alchemist Sharn gra-Muzgob and ask her if she knows anything about the Nerevarine.’

A realisation to the whole situation came to me as I made towards the Guild of Mages. From what I gathered, spying was all about politics. And if you said politics in Morrowind, you also said Tribunal – the living gods of Morrowind. If I was to spy on the proceedings in Vvardenfell, I needed to come close to the Tribunal. I could see no easier way to create a viable reason to be in their presence than as a representative of the Temple of the Tribunal. But first, I needed new shoes.

Posted by: mALX Mar 30 2010, 02:00 PM

This chapter is revealing so much about Morrowind to me, the descriptions of Balmora, the explanation of the Tribunal - things someone who has never played the game can grasp onto and feel. Really love this chapter!

Posted by: SubRosa Mar 30 2010, 04:38 PM

"Flyyyin'... flyyin' in the skyyyy.... Rales flys so high.... flyinnn..."

Sorry, I just love that Cliffracer song of Aldos Othran...

Thanks to Rales, I have started playing Morrowind.

This is so Rales:
I guess his associates were going to have a bigger cut with him out of the way.

nits:
I need to you look up another informant.
I think this was supposed to be:
I need you to look up another informant.

Posted by: Olen Mar 30 2010, 04:57 PM

I love the description of Arkngthand, who didn't go through the whole ruin before finding that silly side room... Yes this is so Morrowind, and I love it.

I can't quite imagine how Rales will fit into the Temple though huh.gif

Posted by: Destri Melarg Mar 31 2010, 01:11 AM

Typical Rales, in the middle of a chewing out he notices the condition of his shoes. This leads to a final line that is both memorable and appropriate.

Something I think that is missing from Oblivion is the sheer exhilaration of being a part of the Blades. You get to be a Blade in Oblivion, you even get to wear Blades armor and wield an Akaviri katana, but you never really feel like one of the Emperor’s spies the way that you do in Morrowind. I am glad that you are able to capture that feeling so well through Rales.

One can really tell that you enjoyed writing this chapter. Know that this reader enjoyed reading it just as much.
goodjob.gif

Posted by: haute ecole rider Mar 31 2010, 01:58 AM

You said that you enjoyed writing this chapter.

I can see that it's true. You have captured the exchange between Caius and Rales so beautifully, I could see it clearly in my mind's eye.

And like Destri said, Rales's preoccupation with his shoes in the midst of a figurative storm is priceless and so clearly defines Rales's character.

This whole chapter made me smile. biggrin.gif

Posted by: Winter Wolf Mar 31 2010, 06:57 AM

The way you write combat scenes and humor is amazing.

QUOTE
But no…. he had to do it the hard way. I guess his associates were going to have a bigger cut with him out of the way.

I entered into a hall where more, probably smugglers as well, bandits took offence in my presence. Let’s just say my arguments for being there were stronger than theirs.

These two lines are priceless. laugh.gif

Posted by: Remko Mar 31 2010, 11:41 AM

Thanks everyone! biggrin.gif I don't consider myself a comedy writer like Rachel (the Breton) or Helena but I have my moments. tongue.gif
Pleased to announce this is the chapter before he meets Zerina.


The temple hailed me with open arms. Too few were joining the temple nowadays the priests said. Rumours of the failing of the Tribunal were becoming more prevelant. It was said it was their fault the Blight was claiming more and more victims every day.
Their power was obviously waning, people were losing faith in them and turned to the Imperial cult instead.

The situation suited me just fine. All I had to do to become a member was make a pilgimage to seven Tribunal shrines scattered all around Vvardenfell. I was given the book “The Pilgrim’s path” to help me on my way which I stuck in my bag and didn’t bother looking into untill I really needed it.

The first pilgrimage was easy; The Fields of Kummu shrine was due east from Balmora.
On my way there I encountered a kind old lady who had lost her way going there as well. Together we continued and reached the shrine without serious trouble. Nothing I couldn’t handle anyway.
Nevrasa wanted to give me some gold for escorting her. Initially I declined but she insisted so I promised her to donate it to the temple. A smile on her face told me I couldn’t have made her happier.

After having donated a piece of muck to the shrine - I wouldn’t have known I had to if Nevrasa hadn’t told me - I felt a weird, elevating sensation. Everything I was carrying felt lighter. The first part of my initiation into the Temple was complete. One down, six to go.

The next two shrines were easy to reach; they were both located in Vivec. I took the Stiltstrider to Vivec, then took a gondola to the Temple where the first of my two destinations was. I was glad I was handed the book. Otherwise I would’ve never guessed I needed to donate a potion of rising force to receive a blessing. Not that I had one with me; a home-made potion wouldn’t do. I needed to buy one from the Temple. Now I understand why everyone wanting to join the temple needs to go through the pilgrimages. The Temple probably makes a decent income from selling these potions.

I flew to my next destination, - after having donated a potion of rising force to the shrine I was blessed with a long-lasting levitation spell - the palace of Vicec.
Outside the temple I quickly found the Grace of Generosity shrine and donated some gold to receive a blessing. Pay to pray I guess.

On the pilgrimages I had plenty time to think over what had happened to me the last few weeks. I had been pulled into Blades and I dove headlong into becoming an Imperial legion but so far had neglected my order to investigate the murder of Zabdas. Maybe now was a good time to follow up on these.
I had learned two shrines were nearby Gnisis; I could kill two birds with one stone. Settling the business with the murderous Orc Legionnaire and getting two more pilgrimages out of the way.

Day 68

They day I arrived in Gnisis by stiltstrider an awful storm was blowing. Most people had sought shelter in local inns or inside their homes. It almost appeared to be a ghost-town.
Again, I took the trail upwards to the egg-mine and made my way inside.
Remembering the General wanted me to find out why Lugrub had so brutally murdered the miner Zabdas, I started with talking to the miners to try to find out what they had seen or maybe had heard.

Most were still refusing to talk to me. Either they were oblivious to what had happened or just wanted to stay out of the whole deal. Or more commonly said: they were covering their own precious hides.
This wasn’t working at all, I needed another approach. Rather than investigating as a Legionnaire, I took off my armour and dressed down as a regular Dunmer. If Darius would see me I’d probably get in trouble but they way I saw it, I had no choice. If I wanted to find out the motive I would have to act sympathetic to the harsh circumstances the miners were working in.

My new approach reaped its reward. Soon, I found out most miners were scared out of their wits of Lugrub. Apparantly he acted far different than as the honourable Legionnaire Darius knew him to be. One miner let slip that Vabdas had been the only one brave enough to voice his dismay about the miners having to work their butts off in the dangerous mines while the guards do nothing to make it easier on them, which was their - our - job. According to the loose-lipped miner, Vabdas had gotten in a serious argument with Lugrub where Vabdas had threatened to take his complaints to the General just before his unfortunate accident.

In the light of this new evidence, it was convincing enough, I was sure Darius couldn’t allow this to stand in his precious Legion. I knew what was next. I was going to have to confront the Orc about his mis-behaviour. There was no doubt in my mind about the truthfulness of the miner’s story. I had been confronted with the Orc’s hideous behaviour myself weeks earlier and really doubted he would’ve changed his attitude in so little time.

At least, I didn’t have to look for him, I knew exactly where to find my soon to be ex-collegue, Lugrug gro-Ogdum.
I made my way deeper into the mine and changed into my armour. I didn’t don my usual robe to make it very clear I was on official Legion business. After having checked my weapons - the ebony blade was as sharp as ever, it appeared it never needed sharpening - I opened the door and hollered: ’Lugrub, time to face justice! General Darius has ordered you to put down your weapons and surrender!’

‘I’m never surrendering to a whelp like you,’ he barked while running in my direction with a menacing grin on his ugly green face and his axe raised high above his head.
I swallowed hard. An Orc coming at you swinging his huge axe is a very intimidating sight, I wasn’t unsensitive to his posture at all. I didn’t intend on under-estimating him. That would have been a deadly mistake on my side. I readied my sword and braced for impact.

The fight was long, hard and sweaty. I kept darting away from the swing of his axe as soon as I recognised it and blocked the blows I couldn’t get away from. Every hit I blocked send a spur of pain throughout my entire body.
Sweat was pouring down my neck, across my arms and straight into my handpalms. The feel on my sword wasn’t what I was used to and a sensation – fear – made me feel most uneasy. I had to change the course of this fight or it would end with a very bloody - and very dead - Dunmer on the ground.

Swing after swing crashed into the rocks underneath our boots, barely missing me. It was getting harder to dodge his swings, I was getting tired. I had hoped swinging the heavy weapon would fatigue the Orc before I was fatigued by dodging it but I had been wrong. The Orc had a strength and stamina unsurpassed. A frightening thought rattled my existence- I was going to lose this battle if I didn’t act fast.
I jumped out of the way of another swing of the axe and jabbed my sword to where I had been a split second ago. The blade cut deep into the Orc’s left arm but he didn’t as much as flinch even though blood was pouring out of the wound staining his bracers crimson.

Then, I made a mistake. For a brief moment I blinked the sweat from my eyes and was too late dodging the flat of the axe aiming towards my head. All I saw was a flash and then everything went black. It could’ve been a second, it could’ve been an hour, I don’t remember. What I do remember was a load of screams from behind the Orc just before I was hit and went unconscious.

When I came around, the proud warrior was reduced to a pile of green and red all-over with several miners standing around him with all sorts of sharp objects; pick-axes, chisels, anything they could their hands on. I guess they finally had found the courage to stand up to the lazy guard who had killed one of them and to save the man who had defended their rights and the honour of their murdered collegue.
He had been maimed to the point of being unrecognisable. I turned and retched up my stomach’s contents. My head was still ringing with the blow and I had severe difficulty focusing. Suddenly I felt my knees getting weak and I collapsed into a helpless heap on the ground.

Posted by: Olen Mar 31 2010, 01:50 PM

Good update. The miners joining in is a particuarly nice touch, adds a realism and interaction with the environment which the game lacked. Just what i like in a fanfic smile.gif

a home-made potions wouldn’t do - a typo, I don't normally bother pointing them out (or notice them unless I'm looking) but this one was quite distracting.

"Pay to pray I guess" - catches the temple exactly. So morowind.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Mar 31 2010, 02:18 PM

I had noticed the same thing as Olen:

QUOTE
Pay to pray I guess.

It's not unique to Morrowind. I've seen that IRL as well. biggrin.gif

It's great that Rales knows he's not über, but still goes ahead and confronts a guy that is twice his size. He does it because he has to do it, because it's the right thing to do.


Posted by: Destri Melarg Mar 31 2010, 04:27 PM

Rales’ pragmatism just sings in this chapter. I doubt that there are many Temple initiates who ruminate on the Temples profit earning ventures during their pilgrimage.

QUOTE(Remko @ Mar 31 2010, 03:41 AM) *

When I came around, the proud warrior was deduced to a pile of green and red . . .

I think the word you are looking for is reduced here.

Posted by: Remko Mar 31 2010, 06:18 PM

Okay, one more, a short one, for today


‘Wha?- where am I?’ I mumbled when I opened my eyes. A severe throb in my head remembered me of the fight that had almost been my undoing. Gently I brought my hand up to the offending place on my head. A huge bump had manifested itself where the flat of the axe had hit me.
‘You should be resting,’ a gentle female voice ordered me. It sounded faintly familiar but I couldn’t quite place it.
I tried to look around to see who it was that had adressed me but I couldn’t see anything. Briefly I panicked – I was blind – but then my hand drifted off lower and I found I had been blindfolded.
‘You have a terrible concussion so we blindfolded you,’ the gentle voice said.
‘Don’t take it off, lest you want a splitting headache. We blinded your eyes to save you the pain of light into your eyes.’

I tried to speak but only managed to blurt out unrecognisable grunts. My mouth felt as though I had been chewing on a dead Cliffracer. Luckily for me, my caretaker understood as I felt a cup being brought up to my lips. I almost choked when I quenched my thirst a bit too enthusiastically drawing a giggle from the nurse.
Having wetted my mouth, I was able to form sentences. ‘How long have I been out?’ I was sure it had been several days, I felt my stomach rumbling but I wasn’t hungry at all. A side-effect of the concussion I figured.
‘Almost a week,’ was the reply. I was astounded. I had been out a week?
‘The miners brought you here; they said you confronted my late husband’s murderer and almost lost your life protecting his honour.’

So that’s why the voice sounded familiar, I was in widow Vabdas’ house again.
I directed my face to where I thought she was standing and smiled.
‘Thank you,’ I said simply.
‘That’s okay,’ she replied. ‘You should try to rest some more, no more talking.’
I had no problem with that, the short conversation had drained me of all my energy. I lowered my head into the castle of pillows and drifted off in a dreamless sleep.

‘Rales, wake up,’ a gentle hand, belonging to a even gentler voice I didn’t recognise, softly shook my shoulder. ‘Time for your medicine.’
‘Medicine? What medicine,’ I thought but didn’t ask. I felt much better so it must do me good. I could hear her pouring liquid in a cup and then offered it to me. With unsteady hands I tried to take it from her, splashing half of the contents into my lap.
Gently she took the cup from me and held it in front of me so I could drink from it. It tasted slightly bitter but I could feel the healing effect coursing through my body.
The question must have been evident on my face.
‘It’s a mixture my mother made. She used it for when father got home from the mine with minor wounds, like broken fingers and such,’ Vabdas’ daughter explained in a pained tone. ‘It’s simple but effective; ground marshmerrow mixed into some water.’
After having emptied the cup she gently pushed me down on the bed.
‘Rest now, we will wake you again soon.’

Day 89

Almost two weeks later, I was allowed to leave my sick-bed for the first time.
Widow Vabdas’ daughter, Zerina, had been at my side tirelessly. I honestly believed I had died and gone to heaven when she took the blindfold away. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. Her eyes were perfectly almond shaped and long, red hair draping onto her back crowned her delicate face.
She helped me get out of bed, onto my shaky legs, guided me through my first steps and caught me when I almost collapsed again.
I had never met a more caring and tender person ever. In the weeks of my recovery she became my heaven, my moon, my sun and stars.

Initially, Zerina and I took short walks around the house and to the river-bank and back to get the strength back in my legs.
Soon, we took longer walks and talked about everything that came to mind. I told her things I hadn’t told anyone before and about my adventures. I don’t think she was very interested in hearing tales of bloody battles but she did laugh heartily when I told her about the feathers and the ring I had dove up for a seriously misled Breton girl.

It was the most care-free time in my life. We went from long walks to long walks hand-in-hand and had long picnics alongside the river. I taught her how to swim and she taught me how to ride a Guar. She would mount first and I would chase the Guar with her on its back until I could hop on behind her. Of course, the Guar wouldn’t cooperate and we both ended up rolling through the pastures, laughing until we couldn’t breathe and our stomachs hurt.

One such afternoon, as we rolled downhill up and over each other, Zerina’s warm breath caressed my face. Impulsively I threw my arms around her, our lips connected and my world went spinning.

Widow Vabdas frowned when it became apparent to her what was happening between us.
One evening when Zerina was out for supplies, her mother asked me what my intentions were. Quite frankly, I had no idea. It had just happened. She, nor I had given it any thought. ‘It’s not that I don’t like or trust you but one day you will disappear, like all adventurers and leave her heart-broken.’
I bit my lip, she had struck a point. I had duties to attend to. Dangers I wouldn’t want her to face. If she was to come with me, I had to be sure Zerina was safe somewhere.
‘I promise you, I will not break her heart. There are some duties I have to attend to and then I will return for her.’
‘Don’t tell me. Tell my daughter.’

Posted by: Fiach Mar 31 2010, 06:59 PM

ahh poor Zerina, she'll be crushed ='(

Posted by: mALX Mar 31 2010, 09:47 PM

I know it is a way over-played statement, but I think Zerina completes Rales.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Mar 31 2010, 10:10 PM

Introducing Zerina lets us see another side of Rales, and adds even more dimension to an already well-rounded character.

This made me chuckle:

QUOTE
My mouth felt as though I had been chewing on a dead Cliffracer

If I ever write a Morrowind story, I might steal this!

A nit:
QUOTE
‘Time for your medicin.’

It's spelled medicine. While spelling can be altered to reflect accents (i.e. ya ain't seen nuffink yet! instead of you have seen nothing yet!), the e in medicine is silent and its presence or absence does not alter its pronunciation (in English, anyway), so it's better to leave the e in place.

QUOTE
In the weeks of my recovery she became my heaven, my moon, my sun and stars.

Music to every romantic's ears!

I'm really enjoying re-reading this at a more leisurely pace. Good job!

Posted by: SubRosa Mar 31 2010, 10:39 PM

Pay to pray I guess.
Welcome to organized religion.

This is so Rales!
’Lugrub, time to face justice! General Darius has ordered you to put down your weapons and surrender!’
you missed a space just before this however.

I liked Lugrug's fate. He discovered the Angry Peasant Law. Namely that a big enough mob of incensed regular folks will always rip apart their tormentors, no matter how big, strong, or well trained they might be.

Here is something Teresa would envy Rales for:
After having emptied the cup she gently pushed me down on the bed. biggrin.gif

And yay for Zerina! I have been looking forward to seeing her appearance. smile.gif


nits:
I could catch two birds with one stone.
usually this is kill two birds in English.

It almost appeared as a ghost-town.
This reads a bit awkwardly, perhaps something like:
It almost appeared to be a ghost-town.


Rather than investigating as a Legionnaire, I took off my armour and dressed down as a regular Dunmer – if Darius would see me I’d probably get in trouble but they way I saw it, I had no choice if I wanted to find out the motive - and acted as a sympathiser to the harsh circumstances the miners were working in.
this is really long. It would read smoother if you broke it up into multiple sentences.

Rather than investigating as a Legionnaire, I took off my armour and dressed down as a regular Dunmer. If Darius could see me I’d probably get in trouble. But they way I saw it, I had no choice. If I wanted to find out the motive I would have to appear sympathetic to the harsh circumstances the miners were working in.


chizels
That is chisels


‘Wha?- where am I,’ I stumbled unhearable when I opened my eyes.
This is awkward at best. First ought to put a second question mark at the end of the dialogue rather than a comma, as it ends with another question. Second, I am not sure what you mean by stumbled unhearable. Stumbling means to almost fall, but it can apply to speech as a metahpor, as in "stumbling over your words". Unhearable is not an English word, it sounds like you want deaf? Did you perhaps mean something like:
‘Wha?- where am I?’ I mumbled quietly when I opened my eyes.


I tried to speak but only managed to blur out unrecognisable grunts.
I think you want blurt here.


I almost choked when I quenched my thirst a bit too enthusiastic drawing a giggle from the nurse.
I think you meant:
I almost choked when I quenched my thirst a bit too enthusiastically, drawing a giggle from the nurse.


ground marshmarrow
I believe that is marshmerrow you want.

Posted by: Remko Apr 1 2010, 11:42 AM

@SubRosa: Thank you for the editorial insight. Of course you were right on all accounts. cool.gif
I felt I had to express my own sentiment about certain aspects of religion I.... well, let's say I don't agree upon. The Tribunal Temple allowed me hidden criticism. Gotta love writing!
@Hauteecole Rider: You're welcome to it! You couldn't do me a bigger honour!


Chapter 8: Zerina

Day 97

‘You’re leaving, aren’t you,’ Zerina said matter-of-factly from behind me while putting her arms around my waist. I nodded slowly, broke my gaze from nowhere in particular outside and turned around.
Gently I kissed her forehead. ‘I don’t want to but I have to. But believe me; I will come back for you.’
She smiled, her eyes filled with sadness and looked into my eyes. A wry smile formed around her lips. ‘You better. When?’
‘Soon.’ I just wasn’t sure when. Events had been spinning out of control; I had a feeling it was about to get worse but didn’t want to worry Zerina.
I think she felt my inner struggle. She clenched my hands in her hands and took me upstairs.

Zerina was still asleep when I carefully slipped from underneath the covers so she wouldn’t wake up. For a minute I remained utterly silent and just watched her. I had to pinch myself to make sure this wasn’t some dream I’d wake up from any moment.
Dawn was breaking just when I had packed my gear and headed to Gnisis on foot. My heart was heavy and I felt my eyes burning as I turned around and looked at the house where I had been nursed back to health and where the woman I loved lived. I made a vow to come true to my promise I had made to Widow Vabdas and Zerina. I would return when I had a safe place for us to stay. It would have to wait until I had de-briefed with General Darius and told him the dirty job was done.

Of course the General already knew what had taken place in the mine. Even though I hadn’t been the one that had ended the Orc’s life, Darius congratulated me on a job well done, promoted me to spearman and gave me an Imperial shield. I thought the congratulation was rather unappropriate but didn't say anything about it.
My next orders were to cure the Kwama Queen in the egg-mine. To cure the queen from a blight disease I could buy a scroll from Hetman Abelmawia.
He didn’t tell me those things were very expensive! I knew no spell of my own with the same effect so I had no choice.
To make sure I didn’t have to walk all the way back should the spell miss, I bought two and went up the trail leading to the mine. Hopefully for the last time.

Like with Lugrub, I knew exactly where to go. The mine’s production had been halted due to the Kwama Queen being sick so there were no distractions. I raced down the mine, drank one of my home-made healing potions just in case and went to where I thought the Queen’s lair was located. I had a faint idea where it would be. I assumed the Queen would be guarded by Kwama warriors, the ill-tempered ones I had encountered weeks ago. Logic dictated the Queen wasn't far away from her gaurdians, the Kwama warriors.

My assumption was dead on. As soon as I entered the part of the mine where Lugrub and I had fought, I was attacked by Kwama warriors. Behind them, I could see the gigantic Kwama Queen. With the healing potion still active, anything the warriors threw at me was healed instantly. I ignored the warriors and headed straight for the Queen. The moment I cast the spell to heal her, a warrior struck me in my back, causing the spell to miss the Queen by a fraction of an inch. Annoyed, I downed an invisibility potion, temporarily confusing the Kwama warriors and allowing me to cast the spell on the second scroll. This time I didn’t miss. Having completed my mission, I felt much better. At least now I was doing some good and was actually helping people. The kind of thing I had joined up for.

Darius thanked me for curing the Queen. Now the mining operations could be continued and bring some good to Gnisis. The mine was the only real income for the
town. Many residents counted on it to make their living from mining the eggs.
‘I need you to rescue someone,’ Darius replied when I asked what my next assignment was. This sounded just like something for me.
‘A pilgrim called Madura Seran has gone missing nearby Ald Velothi, see if you can locate and rescue her.’
I saluted and headed north, to Ald Velothi.

***

Since there were no travel accomodations leading to Ald Velothi, I got to stretch my legs a bit. A small trail leading through the mountains was the quickest way getting there.
The scenery was stunning, I couldn’t help thinking I should take Zerina here once. From the high cliffs you could see the sea to the north and west and steep, white-tipped mountains, reflecting the last light of the day, dotted the area. I was sure she’d be delighted.
Several hours later, I had ran most of the way, I arrived at the Ald Velothi outpost.
Almost everyone had heard of Madura gone missing but strangely enough no-one had any idea where she could be. After running around in circles for what seemed like hours and having asked nearly every villager I ended up back at the outpost.
I realised this was the only place where I hadn’t inquired yet.

And, of course, this was the place I got directions to where she might be.
Often you hear someone saying: ’It’s always on the last place you look.’ That’s a pretty dumb statement if you think about it. Of course it’s on the last place you look. There’s not really a point in keep looking if you already found what you’re looking for, right?
Orero Omothan suspected she had been captured by Ashlanders in a camp nearby.
He told me I could find the camp south-west of Velothi, just past a hill with a lighted tree. I remember distinctly raising a brow. ‘Lighted tree? What’s that supposed to mean?’
Orero shrugged and said I’d know what he meant as soon as I saw it. Couldn’t miss it, he assured me.
I thanked him and headed south-west.

Shortly after I had left from the outpost, I saw what Omothan had meant; a tree with some kind of travel-lantern in its branches lit the way.
The small camp was easy to find. Outside two Ashlanders looked at me with suspicion.
In an effort to break the ice, I approached them and asked them politely about the pilgrim. They simply pointed towards the biggest tent in the camp.
The hint was obvious. I pulled away the hide that functioned as a door and entered the yurt. Inside were two people; a proud looking Ashlander, holding a fearsome looking axe, I preferred not to get into a fight with and a Dunmer woman. In broken Dunmeri the Ashlander asked me what I was doing inside. I explained him I had come to take Madura Seran back home, to Ald Velothi. The Ashlander shook his head and said he needed a tribute before he’d release her. I sighed and dug up several hundred gold Drakes and handed them over. I could see the common language - greed - glistening in his yes.
‘That will get you somewhere, Outlander. You can take her.’ I couldn’t help noticing the gold had a educational value as well. Suddenly he could speak accentless Dunmeri.
Madura nearly sprinted out of the yurt, I had to chase her just to catch up.
We arrived safely back to the Ald Velothi outpost shortly after.

‘Did you find the missing pilgrim?’ General Darius inquired after I had returned to Gnisis from my mission.
‘Yes Sir, she was captured by some Ashlanders.’
‘You didn’t wipe them all out, did you,’ General Darius asked with a wink.
‘No Sir,’ I said with a toothy grin. ‘All it took was some gold to persuade them to let her go. My gold to be precise.’
Darius cocked his head. ‘You’ll be wanting a refund then, I guess?’
‘That would be nice.’
‘Fair enough, report with the Drillmaster and he’ll repay you your professional expenses. I don’t have any orders for you at the moment. Return to me in a few weeks, maybe I’ll have work for you then. Meanwhile, enjoy your new rank, I am honoured to call you Trooper Sarethi from now on. The Drillmaster will also give you the armour belonging to your new rank, don’t forget to ask him about it.’
I saluted and went to the Legion Barracks to retrieve my gold and new armour.

Since I had nothing on my hands for a while, a return to Balmora and finishing the task Caius had given me, would be in order. I had another, more selfish, reason to return to Balmora. Rumours of a recent assassination of a prominent Hlaalu member had reached me and had given me an idea.
Puuting words to deeds, I took a stiltstrider to Balmora and started with the investigation. I was getting quite proficient in investigating murders. This was going to be the third one. The thought of starting a business crossed my mind but soon cast it to the side, dead people can’t reward you. Besides, my alchemy trading was lucrative enough.

Posted by: SubRosa Apr 1 2010, 01:51 PM

Now that had to be one of the most tactful sex scenes I have ever read. A very gentle way of avoiding forum filters. smile.gif

I couldn’t help noticing the gold had a educational value as well. Suddenly he could speak accentless Dunmeri.
Funny how money can do that! biggrin.gif

Posted by: mALX Apr 1 2010, 02:27 PM

She's Baaaaack !!!

Posted by: Remko Apr 2 2010, 11:39 AM

@SubRosa: smile.gif Yeah, I figured I'd just hint at it and leave the rest open for imagination. Treading into details is hard without making it vulgar. You get away with it somehow (credit to your skill!) but then again, you're a sensitive woman wink.gif
@mALX1: Yep, do you think this would be the appropriate time to launch her background as well?

I made small change to the next chapter, something I wanted to put in initially but forgot. I got the chance to rectify that here. I felt that although the explanation of the tight confines was some explanation why Rales previaled over five enemies was alright but inadequate. I elaborated. I hope you agree and like it.


Day 99

The first thing I did when I arrived in Balmora was to proceed to the scene of the crime, Hlaalo manor in the north-west of town, nearby the White Haven alchemy shop. Unfortunately, the door into the manor was locked. Breaking into a house in broad day light wasn’t the best course of action – especially considering the area was crawling with Hlaalu guards – so I started asking around if anyone had heard anything.

Most ignored me, some said they didn’t even know Ralen. I found that rather hard to believe, some had been standing next to his house while stating that. To me it felt like the crime was being covered up. Apparantly, I had to dig deeper to get to the bottom of this. Soon, I had asked practically every citizen in Balmora. It wasn’t until I asked Caius about it that I was starting to get somewhere. The Spymaster pointed out there was only one organisation capable of such a major scale cover-up, the Camonna Tong.
‘I thought you told me the Camonna Tong are on the Hlaalu payroll? Why would they murder one of their beneficiaries?’
Caius shrugged. ‘Beats me. You could try with the Thieves’ Guild. The Tong and the Thieves’ Guild have been in a blood-feud for years. Most of the members will be in the South Wall Cornerclub. Just be careful Rales! The Camonna Tong are a ruthless bunch.’
Just before I left, Caius suddenly remembered an old friend of his, Larrius Varro, was looking for me. I could find him in the nearby Legion fort, fort Moonmoth.

The South Wall Cornerclub was nearby Caius’ house so it didn’t take me long to find it. A Khajiit called Sugar-Lips Habasi greeted me. After having introduced myself I came straight to business and asked her if there was anything she knew about the murder of Ralen Hlaalo and about the Camonna Tong. As soon as I brought up the Tong, Sugar-Lips refused to answer more questions. It seemed I was getting close but no further either.
It was the same with every one else I asked about it. When I brought up the Tong, everyone acutely lost their tongue. An Argonian had mentioned “bad people” before he realised he had said too much.
Putting one and one together, bad people could only refer to the Camonna Tong.
I had found a suspect, now I needed proof.

Later that day, well after dark, I returned to the Hlaalo manor, waited for the few guards - who were still patrolling the area - to be out of sight and picked the lock.
The victim was lying on his face in a huge pool of his own blood. A familiar looking wound – you can hardly mistake the awful wounds axes make for anything else – covered most of his back. He had not just been murdered, he had been struck down cowardly from behind. Disgusted I looked around for clues. I could tell it hadn’t been a professional job, red foot prints led from the victim to the door. I couldn’t imagine a professional assassin would have stamped through his victim’s blood, leaving such an obvious trail.

Upon inspection, I noticed something weird with the trail, the prints of the right shoe showed a discrepency compared to the prints from the left shoe. It seemed as though there was a part missing from the sole from the right shoe. All I needed to do was to find the footwear that had the same strange flaw and I had found the killer.
How I was going to pull of that feat was a different story. It wasn’t like I could ask every single person in Balmora to show me the sole of their right shoe.

***

Instead of simply following that single clue, I continued searching the house for more.
The only additional clue I found confirmed my suspicion about it not having been a professional hit. I actually found a witness, Ralen Hlaalo’s servant had seen everything through the keyhole of her door. She told me she had seen a red-headed Dunmer with a very peculiar hairdo and a huge axe. Unfortunately, she hadn’t seen his face but at least now I had some descriptions I could follow. For a brief moment I wondered why she hadn't done anything but then again; what could a frail old woman have done except getting killed herself?
How many red-head Dunmer men with a very peculiar hairdo could there be? I was considering paying a visit to the Council-Club the next day to see if my suspect hung out there. I had to start somewhere. Why not at the most likely place for my suspect to be?

Day 100

Finding a suspect is one thing; confronting a suspected murderer who is presumed innocent until proven otherwise is something else. Especially when the suspect is an aggressive Camonna Tong member. How was I going to subtly interrogate him while not directly making accusations?
Let me start at the beginning: as soon as I walked into the Council Club top floor entrance a Dunmer exactly fitting the description was banging away at some armour with a hammer. Apparantly Thanelen Valas was a smith. That would certainly explain how he was able to handle the gigantic axe strapped to his back. Until now, the only ones I’ve seen being able to, were Nords and Orcs, not a relatively - compared to Orcs and Nords - small Dunmer, even though he was huge for one.
Instead of being blunt I decided to show interest in his profession and admire his handywork. I even bought a dagger from him to get in his good grace. I, on purpose, overpayed Valas for it.

After some small talk, about politics and such, I asked him what he knew about Ralen Hlaalo’s murder. Surprisingly, he said he had heard about it and that Nine Toes, a local Argonian - one I knew to be a fellow Blade - had done it. I couldn’t believe it. He actually denied being the murderer. I couldn’t be blowing Nine Toes’ cover by saying I knew for a fact he wasn’t the murderer and how I knew that. Even if I hadn’t known him, Argonians weren’t very likely to be mistaken for a Dunmer - unless you’re blind as a bat.
My patience had run out. ‘You’re a liar,’ I blurted out. ‘There was a witness to the murder. You are the only one in whole Balmora fitting the descriptions the witness gave.’
‘Alright, I killed him!’ he growled. ‘So what? People get killed all the time.’
‘Not if I can help it,’ I retorted.

He made an insult directed to my mother, I refuse to repeat, and drew his axe. I think he should’ve stayed at his smithy. He was useless as a warrior. Sure, his hands were as big as spades and he swung his axe like it was a feather – albeit a heavy one – he wouldn’t have been able to hit a Stiltstrider if it had been in front of his nose. I couldn’t resist taunting him. ‘A lot harder to kill someone when he’s fighting back isn’t it?’ I growled in contempt.
He wasn’t able to form decent words in between his panting. I soon had enough of this facade and made a move he never saw coming. With a resounding thud his severed head dropped on the wooden floor. Bloody justice but justice none-the-less.
His right shoe’s sole had the exact pattern cut out I had seen in the bloody trail in the Hlaalo manor. The only two regrets I had were that I hadn’t been able to extract his motives and having bought the dagger from him. What a useless piece of scrapmetal that was!

***

A second chance to learn of his motive arose soon. His friends downstairs had heard the unmistakable sounds of combat. Two of them came upstairs to see what it was all about.
They asked me what the reason was their friend had lost his head. I explained the situation. Strangely enough, they completely understood. They even revealed to me it had been about a petty squable concerning a payment the Hlaalu noble had refused to make. Valas hadn’t been much of a smith either, Ralen Hlaalo had refused to pay because the repairs were far below standard.
After having explained the circumstances of the murder, they said that even though it was perfectly understandable I had killed Valas, they couldn’t allow some Outlander to get away with killing their friend – a Camonna Tong member.

The consequential battle drew in two more Camonna Tong members from downstairs. After I was done basically tearing them apart, five maimed bodies and several body parts were strewn around the club, its walls painted red with their blood. They hadn’t posed a much bigger threat to me than Valas alone had posed - as a matter of fact; the fights had been fairly easy because we had been inside a building with narrow corridors. Had we been fighting outside they would’ve been able to surround me and I wouldn’t have stood a chance. All the swordtraining in my youth payed off there. I was used to fighting right-handed swordsmen. Most right-handed swordsmen don't know how to handle rare left-handed swordsmen, like me. Then, there was the fact that they were dumb enough attacking an enemy higher than them. Any tactician will tell you: 'Be extra careful when attacking an enemy above you.' Another lesson they hadn't been taught. The Council Club ended up without customers of the criminal kind.
A turn for the better in my, slightly prejudiced, opinion.

Ralen’s servant, Uryne Nirith, had entrusted me with the knowledge the other Hlaalu nobles offered a reward for finding the murderer and bringing him or her to justice when I went to inform her she needn’t be afraid of the murderer anymore. I assured her he wouldn’t come back to get rid of loose ends.

Finding the local Hlaalu noble was easy for a change. The council manor was right across the street. The noble I needed to speak to receive the reward, Nileno Dorvayn, was thankful I had solved the most foul murder and had put the murderer to justice. She was puzzled why someone not belonging to the same great house would go through so much trouble. I explained I had a problem with people getting killed for no good reason. (I wondered what a good reason would be, except self-defense, to kill someone anyway)

The reward was a thousand gold Drakes but I offered Nileno an alternative.
Ralen Hlaalo wouldn’t be needing his house anymore and I could do with a roof over my head. I suggested she’d keep the reward. Instead, I asked her to allow me renting or buying the house. I promised I’d get the place cleaned up and keep the servant employed. She could use the reward for a decent burial for the victim.
Nileno acted as though she had to give my proposition some thought but her eyes betrayed her true emotions. I could clearly see the thought not having to give me the reward appealed to her. After some – obviously faked – consideration she agreed on letting me rent the place. Selling a Hlaalu house to a Redoran wouldn’t be appropriate she said but making a profit is something the Hlaalu always strive for. We agreed on a rent of five hundred gold Drakes per month, six months to be payed in advance. It was a lot of gold to hand over at once but I could easily afford it.

Posted by: SubRosa Apr 2 2010, 02:06 PM

This is our Rales!
My patience had run out. ‘You’re a liar,’ I blurted out.

I thought Rales' victory over the five Tongs was completely believable, given the circumstances. As long as he kept them in a hallway only one or two would have been able to get at him at most, and if he was at the top of the stair you are quite right about the advantage of height.

The First Siege of Rhodes was decided in exactly that manner. The Turks attacked the city with a huge force (supposedly 100,000) and eventually were able to break into one of the towers. 2,500 Knights Hospitallers defended the city. The entire battle came down to a struggle on the narrow tower stair, men fighting chest to chest. Given the circumstances the overwhelming numbers of the Turks were completely nullified, and they were driven off.

nits:
I think you have gotten Hlaalu and Haalo mixed up in a few places, such as mention of the manor and guards being Haalo instead of Hlaalu. The game makes it confusing, given the similarities of the names.

In stead of simply following that single clue
Instead is one word in English.

Posted by: Remko Apr 2 2010, 02:23 PM

I confused Hlaalu and Hlaalo somewhere? Mind pointing it out 'cause I checked but didn't see anything wrong. wacko.gif

Posted by: SubRosa Apr 2 2010, 05:59 PM

It was places like here:

The first thing I did when I arrived in Balmora was to proceed to the scene of the crime, Haalo manor in the north-west of town,
That should be Hlaalo.

‘I thought you told me the Camonna Tong are on the Haalu payroll?
and that Hlaalu

I asked him what he knew about Ralen Haalo’s murder.
That should be Hlaalo.

They even revealed to me it had been about a petty squable concerning a payment the Haalu noble had refused to make
and probably Hlaalu here, although you could use his family name instead. And that should be squabble.

Ralen Haalo had refused to pay because the repairs were far below standard.
That should be Hlaalo.


Posted by: Destri Melarg Apr 2 2010, 09:36 PM

He had not just been murdered, he had been struck down cowardly from behind. Disgusted I looked around for clues.

Spoken like a true Redoran.

The battle scene was well-described, and your explanation for Rales’ (apparently) easy victory was both interesting and believable. Sometimes I have a hard time reconciling the incredibly fierce and skilled Rales depicted in this fight with the Rales who relies so much on Zerina later. Love must make him weaker. tongue.gif

Posted by: mALX Apr 2 2010, 11:20 PM

I use that same trick in Rock Milk Cave when you have to attack roomfuls of bandits/marauders at the same time - it is the only way to survive when it is one against a roomfull. Good going on this!

Posted by: Zalphon Apr 5 2010, 12:03 AM

Sorry it's been so long, Rales. School>Forums. I do like your recent chapters. You're vastly improving!

Posted by: minque Apr 5 2010, 04:26 PM

yay..another one which I haven't posted about. Ahhhrg, you guys are sheer post-machines, a hard working woman has no chance to comment as much as she'd like to... biggrin.gif

Aaaanyway, I really like this story, (yeah, yeah, I've said that about mostly all the new exciting stories that popped up here the last few weeks, but since it's true!....)

I can relate very well to this because I've played MW so much...And I enjoy it everytime..

So this adds another one to my "must-read-list" Oh aye, it's so relaxing and enjoyable to take the time and sit down and read...and the nine Divines know there's a lot to read here nowadays

More Remko, ya hear!

Posted by: Remko Apr 6 2010, 12:08 PM

Why, thank you Minque! Always makes me happy to read I amused someone. smile.gif

@SubRosa: Now I understand why I couldn't find anything wrong... I was looking for Hlaalu / Hlaalo-mix-ups rather than looking for the missing "l".... OOps....

@Destri: I see where you're coming from. I like to think he had it easy so far. The only "hard" parts he faced before he met Zerina was the Dremora Lord but that was one-on-one, his specialty. You agree?
I really like your opionion on this 'cause if it in fact a point I goofed up, I should find a way to make it more realistic. Thanks for pointing it out!


Day 102

Uryne and I spent nearly two days cleaning and redecorating the manor. While she was getting rid of the awful stains on the floor the blood had made, I took several trips to Seyda Neen and back to retrieve all my goods from the shack I had been living in for the last months. A spell that enabled me to instantly teleport myself from the shack to the house in Balmora cut the travel time in half and made it possible for me to take far more items in one trip.
After my third and final trip, I had just got back to the manor, a Hlaalu messenger brought an invitiation to Ralen’s burial ceremony. Uryne told me it was a rare honour for someone not belonging to the same house to receive such an invitation.
I told the messenger to inform the Hlaalu nobles I’d be more than honoured to attend and gave him some gold for his effort.

Wasting no time, I ran to the Stilstrider port and payed for a trip to Ald’ruhn and from there to Gnisis. There was nothing I wanted more than having Zerina at my side with the ceremony. My heart was beating in my throat when I finally arrived at the Vabdas house nearly one and a half day later. Not from running but from pure anxiety. What if Zerina wasn’t ready or even unwilling to leave Gnisis to come live with me? With soaking wet hands I knocked on the door.

Widow Vabdas opened the door and let me in. Zerina was out, feeding the Guar but would soon be back she informed me. I respectfully greeted Widow Vabdas and went outside to find Zerina.
Knowing the area well because of all the walks we had made, it didn’t take me long to find her. I knew all the spots where she could likely be. Zerina was feeding a Guar, I was certain it had been the exact same one we used to try to mount. From the moment she spotted me, I knew my doubts and fears had been unfounded. She ran towards me and threw herself in my welcoming arms. ‘You came back,’ she breathed.
For several minutes words were obsolete to express the feelings we had for eachother.

‘How would you like to live in Balmora with me? If she wants, your mother can come too. The house I’ve rented is big enough.’
‘I don’t think mother will leave this place. It’s where she has lived her whole life. Gnisis is her home. I would love to though,’ she said and kissed me on my cheek.
I was ecstatic as we walked back to the house to ask her mother for permission.

Widow Vabdas made no objections. It was more than clear I could provide for her. The sparkle in Zerina’s eyes was reason enough for her to grant us her blessing.
All she wanted was for Zerina to be happy. She wouldn’t join us for the exact reasons Zerina had indicated but she did promise to come visit us soon.
Quickly we gathered all her clothing and typical woman things I didn’t recognise.
There wasn’t much to pack, half an hour later we were ready to walk to Gnisis if it hadn’t been for the long farewell between daughter and mother. Tears and laughter were shed while I kept myself to the side.

‘Who’s the pretty lady at your side?’ the Stiltstrider pilot in Gnisis asked. With all the trips I had taken recently I had gotten quite familiar with several pilots.
Zerina was blushing as I took a glimpse to my right.
He saw it too. Discretely he mumbled something like he understood and took us to Ald’ruhn and Balmora.

Day 109

We arrived in Balmora in the early evening. The sun had just began to set, bathing the town in a orange and yellow haze. Rather than head straight for the manor, we stopped at the Eight Plates and had a drink outside watching the sun go under the mountainridges. After we finished our refreshments we proceded to the manor to drop off Zerina’s belongings. I had promised her to show her around town afterwards.
Sometimes, an expression can say more than words. The expression on Zerina’s face when we arrived at the manor made my heart jump in my chest. She couldn’t believe how pretty the manor was and that I had been able to afford to rent a big house like that.

Her belongings were far less than the cupboards I had installed could ever fill.
After having put her belongings away in a cupboard, we ventured outside so I could show her around. Some men sent glimpses I recognised for jealousy, the beauty by my side didn’t notice but I gloated in the attention.
Several stops were made at various shops. After several hours, we arrived back at the manor holding more than we first arrived. The cupboards would be full in no time at this rate.

For the second time that day Zerina made my heart leap after she had changed into an absolutely stunning dress we had bought for her. The colour of it complimented her fiery red hair that was held up by sticks. She didn’t wear it for very long, that night we celebrated life and drank its pleasurable aspects with great thirst.


Day 110

The morning after, I awoke unexpectedly early with Zerina’s delicate body entangled with mine. In the back of my mind I knew there were duties I should attend to but I just couldn’t bring myself getting out of bed and to get dressed. The images of the night before made a mess of my determination, I was uttely intoxicated by the woman lying next to me. Duties would have to wait until another day. Distraction was a deadly flaw in my line of work, I needed to have a clear head first.
For hours I simply watched her mumbling in her sleep. The words were not understable but they soothed me until I too drifted back to sleep.

Clear-headedness was not something I was going to be granted. When I awoke for the second time that day, Zerina was yawning and leisurely stretching herself next to the bed.
I think she noticed I was admiring the cat-like nimbleness of her naked, slender body. She turned to me and smiled in a way that made my heart race and my ears glow.
Aroused, I grabbed her around the waist playfully. Giggling girlishly, she allowed herself to be dragged back into bed and the game started anew.

Afterwards, we were starving. We got dressed, headed downstairs and asked Uryne to make us something up. The amused look in her eyes and faint smile told me she might have heard us during the night but she was discrete enough not to mention it. When I was giving Uryne the rest of the day off after our lunch, Zerine poked me in my side with her elbow. Our servant ended up getting the rest of the week off and plenty of gold to spend so we had the house entirely to ourselves.

Day 111

Zerina wanted to go swimming. Ever since I had taught her it had become one of her favourite pass-times. Besides that, we both could do with a bath. She smelled wonderful as always – in my opinion anyway – but I certainly didn’t.
With something to eat and drink stowed away in a basket I found in the house, we took the path south out of Balmora passed the Stiltstrider port and followed the river to the Odai plateau.

Zerina was still in the river, washing her hair while I was already ashore reading a book I had meant to study for weeks but never got around to it when a bone-chilling scream tore me out of my concentration. I tossed the book carelessly to the side, drew a dagger I had taken along as a safety measure from the basket and ran to the river as fast as I could.

Zerina was jumping hysterically on a boulder. I would’ve burst out in laughter hadn’t it been for the grave expression on my love’s face that turned my blood to ice. When I asked her what was wrong she answered with a little voice there had been something below that had brushed her feet.
I drank a waterbreathing potion and submerged, dagger in hand.
A creature, I quickly recognised as a Dreugh, was lingering several feet below the surface. I smirked as it attacked and wished I had brought my long-sword in stead. Dreughs are slow but have a thick, hard to penetrate, insectlike, exoskeleton. Experience had taught me they were exceptionally vunerable beneath their arms, slightly below the armpit. I dove deeper and came up below the Dreugh for a surprise attack. Before it knew what happened, I stabbed my dagger several times in the spot where its armour was the thinnest. Wailing, it sank deeper while its lifeblood briefly stained the river red.

The rescued lady was keen on thanking her “brave hero” for rescuing her from the awful predicament. Of course I was most reluctant holding the shaking Zerina and comforting her. While I was whispering re-assuring words into her ear everything was alright, I made a decision to teach her to defend herself. What if I hadn’t been there to slay the Dreugh?
I didn’t leave her out of my sight for a second after the attack.

An hour later, the business with the Dreugh practically forgotten, we were back in the river, carelessly playing like children and chasing each other through the warm, wet sand.
‘Look what I found,’ I said when I emerged after a long dive.
‘What?’
I showed her the pearl. ‘Maybe I can have it made into a necklace for you. Want to see if we can find anymore?’
Her eyes sparkled with the anticipation. She pressed her wet frame to mine, whispered a thank you and gave me a quick kiss. The thankyou-kiss in the river soon became a series of kisses, then a passionate embrace, our wet, naked bodies entwined almost inseparately. Gently, I lifter her of her feet and carried her to a soft patch in the grass as we lost ourselves in eachother. Time held no significance, no substance what-so-ever. For hours we remained on that same spot, in turn snoozing and making love, far into the late afternoon, the pearl-diving entirely forgotten.

Posted by: mALX Apr 6 2010, 01:34 PM

Rales is complete now, his woman by his side! I love how feminine Zerina is here, screaming and jumping over a creature - when I know she is a mage of no minor talent, lol.

Posted by: SubRosa Apr 6 2010, 06:06 PM

So Rales is not officially hooked up! I have been looking forward to this ever since starting over reading again. Once again, you portrayed the romantic aspects with a very gentle touch, telling us everything, without having to tell us everything. That is nicely done. goodjob.gif

I loved Rales' nervousness at going meeting Zerina, and wondering what she would do when he asked her to accompany him. I think you wrote that rather nicely, showing us his anxiety, which is all too natural given the circumstances.


nits:
Uryne and I spend nearly two days cleaning and redecorating the manor.
Spend is present tense, I believe you want spent, which is past tense here.


‘You came back,’ she exasperated.
Exasperated means irritated or annoyed. I think you wanted something like overjoyed?


I was extatic as we walked back to the house to ask her mother for permission.
That is ecstatic.


Some men send glimpses I recognised for jealousy
Another present tense with send, past tense would be sent.




Posted by: Remko Apr 6 2010, 07:12 PM

@SubRosa: I always struggle with past tense / present tense when it ends with -d. Thanks for catching that. I thought exasperated indicated a positive disbelief, Y'know? Eyes wide spread, breathless, that kinda of thing. I changed it into breathed. Seen you use that on more than once occassion. Maybe exuberantly is more appropriate?

Posted by: Destri Melarg Apr 6 2010, 09:00 PM

I sense the editor’s quill has been pressed into service in this chapter. The whole thing reads smoother, fresher. Maybe it’s just a sense of nostalgia in this reader, returning to a time when Zerina still acted like the ‘damsel in distress’. As always, you are able to show two people falling in love that captivates and entrances. I fell into this from the first word and let it carry me like the gentle currents of the Odai River.

This installment was just chock-full of ‘Ralesian’ insight:

QUOTE
Quickly we gathered all her clothing and typical woman things I didn’t recognize.


QUOTE
Some men sent glimpses I recognized for jealousy, the beauty by my side didn’t notice but I gloated in the attention.


QUOTE
Afterwards, we were starving.


Just great! biggrin.gif

Posted by: SubRosa Apr 6 2010, 10:41 PM

QUOTE(Remko @ Apr 6 2010, 02:12 PM) *

@SubRosa: I always struggle with past tense / present tense when it ends with -d. Thanks for catching that. I thought exasperated indicated a positive disbelief, Y'know? Eyes wide spread, breathless, that kinda of thing. I changed it into breathed. Seen you use that on more than once occassion. Maybe exuberantly is more appropriate?


Exuberant is a good word choice. It means full of energy, excited.

http://dictionary.reference.com/ is an excellent resource for both checking spelling and definitions in English. I use it so much I have it as one of my search engines.

To be honest, it amazes me how well you write in English, considering it is not your native language.

Posted by: Remko Apr 7 2010, 11:55 AM

I always had a feel for foreign languages. Besides that, I had English on school from when I was 13 so it isn't really a surprise I'm quite capable of writing in English. smile.gif

@Destri: I made some minor changes that shouldn't have made a big impact. Some inconsistancies I overlooked (like usage of spells and shields) and some spelling. (like the first 'l' I missed several times in Hlaalo/Hlaalu) Glad it's amusing enough to warrant a second read-through. Thank you!


Chapter 10: Vivec

Day 118

Before going to bed, Zerina and I discussed the mission to Vivec the following day. Going alone and leaving Zerina for days in a row didn’t appeal to me at all. In fact; the thought alone almost made me feel queasy to my stomach. We decided to walk to Vivec rather than taking a Stiltstrider or a guild guide. That way, I could teach her some basic combat skills and meanwhile show her the lush, green Ascadian Isles region. And then there was the bonus of being able to spend lots of time together – something we both really appreciated..

Zerina only knew Vvardenfell as a desolate ashen wasteland. She was delighted to see the green hills roll on one after the other and huge pastures with Guar grazing.
Since we had hugely overslept the first morning, we made camp not long after we passed Seyda Neen. We dropped in briefly for some supplies with Arrille and an additional sleeping bag. Arrille insisted that we stayed for coffee. Fargoth couldn’t keep his eyes away from Zerina.

After having pitched the tent, we got to sorting out some dinner. Zerina insisted to go hunting. Briefly I instructed her on the use of a bow but to my surprise, she was almost as capable with a bow as I was. She couldn’t pull full tension on my long-bow but a light Chitin short-bow I had brought along as well was perfectly suitable for her frail frame. She was far more able fending for herself than I would have given her credit for.
Smiling, I let her go hunting while I made a cooking hole in the earth.
With not having much else to do, I let my mind wander back over the last few weeks and wondered if Zerina had maybe feigned her hysteria when we went swimming several days ago. I realised there was still so much I didn’t know about her.

Imagine my surprise when she returned to camp without a prey.
‘I couldn’t carry it, I need your help,’ she excused herself. ‘It’s just over that ridge,’ and pointed south. A small walk later, a fully grown adult Alit with a single arrow through its throat was awaiting our attention. I grabbed its legs, tied a rope around it and dragged the creature back to camp where we skinned it, cut it up in pieces and cooked it. Throughout the gruesome job, Zerina didn’t flinch once. In my admiration and adoration of her I ignored a crucial point: she had been taking care of such things together with her mother long before I even knew her. I was getting more and more certain her hysteria had indeed been an act.

Over dinner I decided to ask her about it. Smiling innocently, she replied:’I was naked. Besides, how else was I going to get your attention away from that book?’
I blinked, not knowing what to say and burst out in laughter. ‘Women,’ I sighed, bringing a mischievous smile to Zerina’s face.
That night, the second sleeping bag proved unnecessary, we shared one, it was rather cramped. But then again, we didn’t sleep. Much.

Day 119

Making up for the lost time from the day before, we got up early and had a simple breakfast. In hindsight, we might as well have slept in because we didn’t get very far that day anyway. Being mid-summer, a blistering sun high in the sky, accompanied us so we stopped several times a day for a brief swim in the clear blue rivers as well as in small to medium sized lakes we came across and cuddled often in the soft, tall grass. Our love was a roaring fire I was more than willing to burn myself on – it still is.

Several days later, by the end of the day, we reached the shores of the huge lake Vivec was built in. Cantons stretched as far as the eye could see. I had thought Balmora was big but Vivec truly dwarfed it. Guards were patrolling the various levels of all the cantons. Just the sheer amount of guards alone gave me an impression on how mindboggling many people would be living there. I couldn’t wait to enter Vivec. Zerina’s eyes were shining mirrors of my own eager anticipation.

Grinning like an idiot, I took Zerina’s hand. Together we walked across the bridge leading to what was known as the Foreign Quarter. Zerina looked at me with , what I had got to know as her mischievous smile and joked I should remain here with the other outlanders while she would explore the city. I reprimanded her by giving her a playful slap on her behind and chased her when she ran off laughing.

We realised soon that we would need to prepare for a several-day mission so we needed a place to spend the night. We were informed there were three taverns throughout the city that provided rooms to weary travellers. In the Foreign Quarter was the “Black Shalk Cornerclub”, actually just around the corner, an Ordinator – a holy guard - enlightened us.
Then; there was the “Lizard’s Head” in the Telvanni canton and last; “The Flowers of Gold” inn, located in the Redoran canton.
I had business with a certain Argonian in the “Black Shalk” but since it was already quite late, we decided to get ourselves installed into an inn first. A gondola took us to the Redoran canton with a small touristical de-tour and after some inquiring, we soon arrived at “The Flowers of Gold” inn. I was glad we had chosen this inn rather than the ropey club in the Foreign Quarter.

The room we rented wasn’t cheap but it was worth every gold Drake. The bed was hardly smaller than the one we had at home, the matrass soft and the sheets were spotless.

We booked the room for four nights, I was sure we would find ways to amuse ourselves in case I was going to be done sooner with my mission than anticipated. Zerina had already noticed there were lots of shops selling jewelry and clothing that were only available in the holy city of the living God – Vivec.
At least; she wouldn’t get bored while I looked up my contacts. Something I wasn’t really looking forward to.

Day 123

For a change, Zerina was already up and gone when I woke up. A note, carrying her scent, on the pillow said that she had gone shopping and that she hoped I could make it for dinner.
The first one I was was going to look up was the Argonian. Relying on the intel I had gotten from Caius, I headed straight for the “Black Shalk”.
The moment I walked into the club I could see Huleeya was in what you might call a tight spot. Three angry Dunmer were looking at him with the unmistakeble fire of pure hatred burning in their eyes. Throughout my travels I had encountered several cases of unfounded hatred towards the beast-races but none as severe as with these guys. If looks could kill, Huleeya would have been a smouldering pile of ash at their feet.

‘Blending in is part of being a succesful spy,’ Caius had told me. ‘Act as though you belong where you are, better yet; believe that you do.’ What better way to blend in at a bar, than by ordering a drink? Who said you can’t mix pleasure with business?
After having ordered a drink, I discretely asked him about it and whether or not he needed help, he shook his head and said they were hardly more than pests but annoying pests none-the-less. He was confident that they couldn’t hurt him. Rather; it was the exact opposite. The Argonian was afraid they would attack if he would turn his back and leave the inn, forcing him into hurting them. If I’d join him to his friend’s bookstore, the chance of the three of them attacking the two of us would be negligible. Surely, they wouldn’t be that stupid, especially with you wearing that?' he said while winking and briefly redirected his gaze on Wretched. His perception and reason were undeniably sound. The way he moved told me his self-confidence wasn’t misplaced at all; he moved with the grace of an experienced martial-artist. Not a muscle or limb flexed more or less than absolutely necessary.

The walk to Jobasha’s rare bookstore was short and un-eventful. The bookstore was across the hallway on the other side of the Foreign Quarter Lower Waistworks. Huleeya was grateful for my assistence and taught me all he knew all about Ashlanders and the Nerevarine Cult. When he was finished, he gave me his notes, summarizing what he had just discussed, to hand over to Caius.
As a side-note, he advised me talk to Jobasha, he might have some books about the same subject for sale I might find interesting.
A good shop-keeper knows exactly what he has for sale. Jobasha was an outstanding shop-keeper.

Jobasha first said he had no idea what I was talking about, mentioning Huleeya had told me he might have useful books about the Nerevarine Cult in his shop's inventory helped a lot. After a lot of persuasion and assurance I wasn't a Temple Agent (It was sort of the truth, I was only a Layman), finally he sold me an illegal book called “The progress of truth”.
When I briefly flipped some pages and read some short passages, I could see why the Temple wasn't happy with its existance.
Two worrying words were ominously prominent:"Dissident Priests" I wondered what it meant.
‘It’s officially been banned by the Temple so don’t go waving it around or tell anyone who sold it to you, alright?’
Huleeya warned me that if anything happened to Jobasha, he'd take it out on me.
I believed him.

Next on my list was the priestess Mehra Milo in the Halls of Wisdom. The Khajiit was going to be last. I knew from experience – from playing hide and seek when I was still a kid – that if a Khajiit doesn’t want to be found, you would have a hard, if not impossible, task finding her.
Since I was a member of the Temple I didn’t need to make up some false pretence for being there and entered the Halls of Wisdom inconspiciously by late afternoon.
So far, the mission itself was easy; it was getting to the right location that was the time-consuming part. I had wandered for hours through the various cantons and lost my way several times, so entering the Halls of Wisdom was a big relief; finally I had reached my destination. Now all that was left was finding the right priestess among all the others.

Secrecy wasn’t really asked for. As I mentioned earlier, I had every reason for being where I was. Several people hadn’t a clue where I could find Mehra.
It took six or seven inquiries with various people before I finally learned that she would most likely be in the library, which was down the hall on the righthand-side.
I was just about to give up asking and just barge into all the rooms out of frustration.
Following the precise directions I had received, it was a matter of mere minutes until I had found the library where only one priestess among many priests was present.

This time, I took my role as an Imperial Spy more serious. Directly asking her about legends and obscurities that were highly frowned upon and regarded with disdain by the Tribunal Temple seemed rather unwise. In stead, I engaged a discussion with her by asking about the pilgrimage I still hadn’t fulfilled – that was the thing I had forgotten; the pilgrimage to the shrines in and around Gnisis, I suddenly realised. Gladly she told me all about them. Where to find the shrines and what to donate. All this information could also be found in the “The Pilgrim’s path.” I faked a cough to hide I almost burst out in laughter because of the irony in that.



Posted by: haute ecole rider Apr 7 2010, 06:20 PM

I've been enjoying the last few chapters of Rale's story. The meeting with Zerina, the anxiety he felt when he went back to ask her to go with him, the growing relationship between the two of them, has been a very enjoyable interlude.

In this last chapter, this phrase is quoted for truth:

QUOTE
that if a Khajiit doesn’t want to be found, you would have a hard, if not impossible, task finding her.

My own Siberian Forest cat is very skilled in invisibility and sneak as well!

Posted by: mALX Apr 7 2010, 08:32 PM

I agree with Hauty, the story takes on a whole new life when Zerina gracefully emerges on the scene! She brings a whole side of Rales out we would never have seen otherwise! Great Write !!!!!!

Posted by: SubRosa Apr 7 2010, 10:00 PM

A nice chapter that shows us the deepening relationship between Rales and Zerina. My kind of stuff.

This is definitely most female:
Besides, how else was I going to get your attention away from that book?’
biggrin.gif

This was my experience with Vivec as well:
I had wandered for hours through the various cantons and lost my way several times
It does not help they all look the same from outside.


nits:
the matrass soft and the sheets were spotless
that is mattress.

I could see why the Temple wasn't happy with its existance
This is one that often gets me too. it is existence.

Posted by: Zalphon Apr 8 2010, 12:30 AM

I love it, Rales!

Posted by: Destri Melarg Apr 8 2010, 09:01 AM

I have already told you how much I enjoyed Vivec Informants when I went through Morrowind. Reliving it with Rales and Zerina is almost as much fun as playing it myself. As usual, you make me want to pull the Morrowind out of the cabinet and fire it up again. I can’t think of a better compliment than that.

QUOTE(Remko @ Apr 7 2010, 03:55 AM) *

Our love was a roaring fire I was more than willing to burn myself on – it still is.

I love this line.

Posted by: Remko Apr 8 2010, 11:40 AM

Awww... shucks.... smile.gif Thanks everyone!

While she told me about the shrines, I slipped her a clue Caius had sent me. Her voice changed from slightly pedantic to a whisper and told me to follow her to a more secluded area where we could talk freely. Nodding, I followed her lead to the back of the library, between several bookcases.
Frantically - I don’t think she had much sense of discretion - she looked around to check if no-one had followed us and told me all she knew about the Sixth House cult. From what I understood, this cult worshipped the unmourned, lost House Dagoth and its evil leader; Dagoth Ur in the Red Mountain at the heart of Vvardenfell.

Like Huleeya, she handed me a summary of everything we had just discussed and advised me to read the book called:”Progress of Truth.” Good thing I had already bought it with Jobasha.
‘Thank you, I’ll go see about that shrine,’ I said, slightly louder than normal speaking volume. Much to her credit, she picked up on it and wished me good luck with my pilgrimage.

Longing to get back to Zerina and our rented suite, I took a gondola to the Redoran canton and tipped the gondolier to make haste. Halfway I got annoyed with the slow pace and shoved the gondolier aside, stating I’d row myself. The poor guy almost fell into the canal. All in all, the day had been a good day; I had visited two out of three of my informants in a single day. If I’d be able to locate Addhirannir – the Khajiit informant - just as quick the next day, I’d manage to finish my mission in two days rather than three, leaving one day for Zerina and me to have some fun. The thought alone brought an ear-to-ear smile to my face. I even managed to get back in time to have dinner together.

***

Passing by a vendor on my way back to “The Flowers of Gold”, I couldn’t resist buying Zerina a present. A truly gorgeous silver necklace with a highly detailed pendant and a flawless ruby in the center, matching the colour of her hair, caught my eye. The seller tried to convince me it was an antiquity, almost as old as the Tribunal. I had my own thoughts about that but didn’t insult him by arguing. It probably would’ve only raised the price - it was expensive enough as it was. A delicate, black mahogany box with gold lining around the edges came with the necklace. Cautiously, he placed the necklace on the red silk cushion in the small box. I could swear the box alone was worth half the value of the necklace. I couldn’t wait to see Zerina’s face when she would open the giftwrap and the box inside, after dinner.

With the gift hidden in my sleeve, I entered the suite only to find Zerina wasn’t there. Some personal belongings, she’d never leave behind for long, were evidence she had been back to the room, if only briefly. I hid the present among my other belongings, hoping she wouldn’t find it and spoil the surprise for herself.

‘Have you seen Zerina?’ I asked Sorosi Radobar, the proprietor of the tavern.
‘Who? Oooh, you mean the kind lady that was with you yesterday? She’s downstairs, taking a bath.’
‘A what? Ah, never mind, thanks.’
‘Would you like a towel?’ Gladly I took the incredibly soft towel she handed me, bought a bottle of wine and headed downstairs. Apparantly, they had a room especially for bathing. Something I had never seen before.

Of course, the door was locked.
‘Is that you, Rales?’ Zerina asked after I knocked.
‘Yeah, open the door will you?’
Several moments later, Zerina opened the door with a towel wrapped around her upper body. Her wet hair, heavy with the weight of the water, reached all the way to her waist. I gasped with the sight.
To keep the heat inside the room, I hastily took off my boots, stepped carefully inside the room so I wouldn’t slip on the wet tiles and locked the door behind me.

Zerina had already got back inside the gigantic bathtub - it could easily be used by five people at the same time.
‘Be a dear and channel some heat through those pipes,’ she asked me and pointed at pipes that ran underneath the bath.
The cleverness of the heating installation looked familiar. ‘Its designer must have taken a good look at some of the constructs inside Dwemer ruins,’ I mused.
I focused my will and channeled a firespell through the pipes. I made sure not to overdo it so the water wouldn’t get blistering hot all of a sudden.
A satisfied ‘Aah…’ confirmed I had got it just right.
After I had undressed, I filled two glasses and joined Zerina in the bathtub.
‘What took you so long?’ Zerina jested.
I scoffed and stuck out my tongue. She laughed, peddled over and nested herself in my arms.

***

My muscles relaxed and little pains that ached me, evaporated in the steaming water and underneath Zerina’s soft, yet firm hands.
The bath was such a delight, I immediately made up my mind to have one constructed in our house as well, although not as big as this one. The water was lightly scented - I think it was lavender - but thankfully not too femine. We soaked in the calming bath, enjoying each other’s company until our skin was wrinkled and the bottle of wine was empty.

Back in our room, still dripping and wrapped in a moist towel, Zerina insisted I donned my best clothes for the night; she had planned a dinner in a nice tavern she had come across while shopping.
‘Do you think you’re gonna need that?’ she asked with a smile when I strapped Wretched - my sword - around my waist.
‘Good habits die hard,’ I retorted and unbuckled the scabbard. When she turned around, facing the life-size mirror to do her hair, I slipped the gift into my left sleeve.

I had no idea where Zerina had bought my new robe, a dark green one with gold thread stitched in intricate patterns, but somehow she managed to find a better looking one every single time.
Not to mention the absolutely divine dress she was wearing that night; it almost seemed alive as the dark purple silk swirled around her legs when she moved. She appeared to be floating rather than walking.
I resisted getting down on my knees and thanking the gods for the happiness they had bestowed upon me.

The chique tavern Zerina had seen was in the Redoran Plaza, the level above the Waistworks, where “The Flowers of Gold” was located.
I was glad it was in the area, I had wandered through Vivec more than enough that day.
Half an hour later, we were seated at a table for two and each ordered a glass of expensive, imported wine. I never really acquired a taste for the local beverages, I retained my taste for Cyrodyliic wine and brandy.
The service was terrific. As soon as either of us emptied our glass, a waiter would be standing ready to re-fill it - if so desired.

We both ordered the same, a crabcocktail as an appetiser and roasted Netchmeat with fresh vegetables on the side as the main-course. I wasn’t sure what to expect but the cocktail was a lot more tasteful than what I called a “Rales Special”, which basically was a Mudcrab I cast a fireball - just big enough to kill it – at it so it was cooked while still in its shell. The first time had been an accident, I had meant to roast - proverbally speaking - a cursed flying rat behind it but my aim had been off so I hit the crab instead. Since I was starving, I still ate it even though I thought it had been burned to a crisp. I had been wrong; it turned out to be delicious. Even better than raw.

The Netch meat was very different from what I expected. To be quite frank, I would have chosen a different main course because floating Jelly Fish doesn’t sound tasteful at all, but Zerina insisted I’d try it. The texture was similar to beef but it tasted sweeter, almost like venison. The dish came with a sauce that reminded me of the sauce that is usually served with game but slightly more bitter. When I inquired about the sauce, I learned it was made from Gomberries and sweetened with a dash of Moon-Sugar. The cook sure knew what he was doing.

During coffee after dinner, I took the gift from my sleeve. When she opened the box her eyes were positively beaming and asked me where I had gotten it from. I made some vague remark about having taken it off the dead. With her toes she kicked me underneath the table while acting insulted. Some other customers looked at us in dismay when I suddenly let out an honest laugh in reaction to her act. The purple dress looked like it was made to be worn together with the necklace; a match made in heaven. Of course she persuaded me into telling the truth eventually. Her persuasion methods - involving plenty of kisses - had been worth the kick a thousand-fold.

The walk back to the suite took twice as long as it took to get to the restaurant. After our dinner, we had ordered a second bottle of wine- and a third.
Zerina fell on the bed face-first and slept almost instantly. I gently undressed her, taking care not to wake her up or to ruin her dress in the process, and tucked her in. With a semi-amused grin seeing her passed out like that I snuck into bed next to her. I remember thinking she was in for a rough night just before I dozed off into an alcohol-induced haze of blurryness.

Halfway the night, my final thought proved prophecy. I woke up to familiar noises coming from the privvy. Knowing exactly how miserable she must have felt, I only poured her a big cup of lukewarm water, put it on her bed-side table and left her alone. I stayed awake to comfort her once she’d return. I was no stranger to the symptoms and knew all too well what one usually wanted most after just having spewed one’s guts out; a drink of water and warmth. But mostly sleep.
Pale as a sheet, she slumped back into the bedroom shivering, with a look on her face that had an accusing ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ written all over it.
Once back in bed she was glad to crawl snug-close to me to benefit from my body-heat and, luckily for her, slept through the rest of the night undisturbed.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Apr 8 2010, 01:45 PM

My hat's off to you.

I don't know how you can do it - write such sweet romance without it being smarmy. Just enough classic Rales tongue-in-cheek to keep it from being too treacly.

Loved the little scene where he kicked the gondolier out of the boat for being too slow.

Enjoyed the interest he showed in the bath's plumbing.

Licked my lips at the description of the wonderful dinner.

Stifled a chuckle at Zerina's suffering after too much imbibing.

Wonderfully done!

Posted by: mALX Apr 8 2010, 04:48 PM

This one was on my favorites list when I first read it, and it still is! Really well done Remko!

Posted by: SubRosa Apr 8 2010, 05:06 PM

Pictures Rales shoving the gondolier aside and rowing himself... biggrin.gif That is so Ralesian!

A very sweet romantic interlude. It makes my estrogen tingle. With good touches of detail, from heating the pipes, to the dinner of jellyfish, to Zerina's drinking too much. All around nicely done! smile.gif

Posted by: Remko Apr 8 2010, 06:35 PM

Thanks for the support my friends!! I promise I will make an effort reading yours and properly comment on it. As you know, this is just a re-cap from the other forum with some minor editing. Quite frankly, I haven't written anything recently but I just finished reading Minque's story and now know where it should be heading.

Expect a new chapter somewhere end of next week. biggrin.gif

Posted by: Remko Apr 9 2010, 03:04 PM

Day 124

As was to be expected, the next morning Zerina didn’t feel her regular self. While I prepared my expedition to find an elusive Khajiit, she mumbled something about taking a bath and remaining there throughout the entire day. The day before I had already learned that even though the city looked beautiful from afar, there were filthy parts underneath - much like pretty flowers that grow best on manure. Underneath my armour I wore the oldest pair of trousers and shirt I had brought so the green robe wouldn’t be reduced to a dirty rag.

Caius already informed me she would most likely be in the St. Olms canton so that narrowed down my search drastically. Especially if she would really be still there.
From the Redoran canton I took a gondola to the Temple, my feet still hurt from the day before. Zerina would be pleased I left my good robe in the suite; rain was pouring down in bucketloads. Within seconds after having gotten into the little vessel, I was soaked to my skin. From the Temple area I had to walk a little distance to the St. Olms Canton.
Looking back I had better could have gone walking, it would have been quicker. The bright side was that I got to see the splendour of Vivec’s palace and the High Fane. The pearls of the city.

From a book I once read, I knew Saint Olms the Just to be the one to have conceived and articulated the principles of testing, ordeal and and repentence. Two of those principles reflected my state of mind during my visit to the canton. I repented being put through the ordeal of the Saint Olms canton. It was far dirtier than any other part of the city I had been. Probably because the Hlaalu that mainly lived there were too cheap to maintain it.

Hours in a row I meandered through the decrepit canton, looking for traces of the Khajiit when I came across an apothecary. Thinking that maybe I could concoct something against Zerina’s inevitable headache and nausea I bought some basic apparatuses - I hadn’t brought my own - and some ingedients for making a very special healing spell. Throughout my experiments I had learned by adding a very tiny part of an ingredient usually not used for that specific effect, the potion’s effect would increase exponentially. Of course under the risk of creating a highly potent poison that would kill you instantly. Experience had taught me to recognise the colour and to be most wary of important details - like temperature - to brew it on to create something different altogether.

When I started putting ingredients together in the little workshop in his establishment, Vaval Selas almost interrupted by warning me about what I was doing but soon realised he wasn’t talking to a novice but to a master. Intrigued, he grabbed a seat and watched me closely mashing, grinding, mixing and regulating temperatures.
With the heat of the boiling concoction and the heightened concentration that was absolutely vital with the brewing of the potentially lethal potion, I was bathing in sweat. I almost made the mistake of letting my mind wander off to the warm bath Zerina would now probably be in.
About two hours later, I was finally satisfied with the colour, viscosity and smell of the potion and thanked Vaval for the usage of his workshop. I had no space to take the tools I had bought with me so I left them behind. Vaval asked me if I could return some day to teach him what he just witnessed, the tools would be right here waiting for me. I didn’t promise him anything but kept the possibility open.

The concentration had cleared up the fog from my mind of last night’s debauchery. Determined I put myself back on the task of finding Addhirannir. I found lots of things in the canton; a wandering Skooma addict I gave some coins, lots and lots of rats and even a secret Daedric shrine to Mehrunes Dagon. I drew Wretched and almost found myself heading to the innards of the shrine to wipe out the evil Daedric Prince worshippers when I realised I had a different mission - one that could no longer wait. Besides, who was I to decide the worshippers were evil and needed to die?

Working my way up in the canton, inquiring with everyone I came across, I ran into an Imperial who seemed very out of place. How much out of place he was became apparent when he informed me of his profession: taxman. No wonder he was looking lost and had a hint of desperation in his eyes. An Imperial and a taxman. In Vicec. I held no personal grudge to him but it was obvious he was being massively ignored and looked at with contempt by the locals.

‘Have you seen Addhirannir?’ he asked me. So I wasn’t the only one looking for her. Something I found rather inconvenient so I made up a story that I had seen her the day before, heading ashore. Probably to Ebonheart..
‘I was heading for mainland anyway, I’ll look for her there,’ Duvianus said.
I wished him good luck but damn well knew that even if the Khajiit had indeed left for mainland he was never going to find her. Ever. I hoped she was still somewhere in Vivec or I’d have a serious problem.

***

It took me several hours before I found a substantial clue. Once I had worked my way up to the Plaza and still hadn’t found any trace, I started over outside.
Several tiny, what looked like former storages to me, rooms only accessible from the outside of the canton, were turned into small single-room homes so the poorest of the poorest had a roof over their head as well. In one of those pauper homes I encountered a Khajiit who was actually a friend of Addhirannir.
He wasn’t keen on informing me where he had befriended her or what their exact relationship was but after some persuasion - the gold kind - he finally let slip I could find her in the Underworks, beneath the Redoran Waistworks. In a generous mood - and most relieved I might add - I gave him some more coins and wished him a good day.

Scouring every nook and cranny of the shadowy, dimly lit Underworks I finally found my mark behind a pillar. No wonder I had missed her the first time.
‘You are Addhirannir,’ I assume?’
Apprehensively she looked over my shoulder. ‘Don’t worry,’ I said. ‘The Census and Excise officer has left for the mainland.’
‘In that case; yes, this one’s name is Addhirannir,’ she purred. ‘What can she do for you?’
‘Well,’ I started and continued with explaining the reason for me looking for her and why and how I had got rid of the taxman.
She in her turn, told me she knew very little of the Sixth House itself but had heard rumours about smuggling operations for them but that it was all very hush-hush.

In her opinion, that was the really strange thing about the whole situation. She said smugglers usually bragged about large scale operations but about this one no-one had. Almost as though they were afraid. Afraid of what she couldn’t say.
As soon as she finished I immediately realised this was the kind of thing Caius would find interesting. Tired and dirty, but succesful, I headed back to the Redoran canton.

Suspiciously Zerina sniffed the fluid after having swirled it around in the vial and uncorking it. ‘I’m not sure I can stomach this, Rales,’ she commented whille wrinkling her nose.
‘Trust me, it’ll do you good.’
She looked me into my eyes intensely to check if there was a sparkle of amusement about her state, shrugged and gulped down the content. ‘Tastes just as it reeks,’ she said with a disgusted look on her, still quite pale, face. I grinned and said that’s how you know it’ll work. She feigned an angry look but I could tell the potion had taken effect. Slowly, the colour was returning to her face, her eyes lost the watery look and her usual smile brightened up her face - and my day.

After Zerina already had gone to bed, I was still wide awake, overthinking today’s mission and about how experienced Zerina had seemed with the concoction I had given her. The way she had held the vial and had swirled the fluid around made it clear she had done that before. Had she spoken the truth about “the simple potion” she had given me when I was recovering? I wished I had been more clearheaded when I had drank it so I could’ve recognised the effect and the ingredients. The two questions that haunted me throughout the night were simple: Should I just ask her or wait until she’d tell me herself? The second questions was: Why would she hide the truth from me?

Posted by: mALX Apr 9 2010, 04:23 PM

When I first read this chapter I kept thinking, "What is Zerina up to?" - I had to keep going back to that line where you said, "And we still are" to realize she wasn't up to any mischief, ROFL !!!!!

Posted by: SubRosa Apr 9 2010, 05:01 PM

Once more I liked your description of alchemy. You gave it much more depth than just "mix these and drink". I had this picture in my head of Rales as this mad scientist, like Dr. Frankenstein working in his lab.

I grinned and said that’s how you know it’ll work.
quoted for truth!

nits:
Looking back I had better could have gone walking, it would have been quicker.
The beginning of this is disjointed. I think you meant:
Looking back, it would have been quicker to just walk.

Posted by: Destri Melarg Apr 10 2010, 12:38 AM

Rales is a master alchemist now, eh? His description of the craft certainly shows his facility and passion for it, but it seems a bit early for him to be a master already, doesn’t it? It almost seems like a slap in the face to those who have spent years unsuccessfully trying to attain a level of skill that Rales has achieved in just a few months. Of course, it might just be that ‘Rales self-confidence’ that we have all come to know asserting itself. He might be overestimating his own abilities. If that is the case, I hope you take the opportunity to show that to us (Rales’ near-death experience from mixing a poison instead of a potion still stands as one of my favorite parts of the early chapters). Hubris is always entertaining, ask the Greeks. biggrin.gif

Posted by: Olen Apr 11 2010, 04:23 PM

Great stuff, seems I haven't commented here for a while but I've been reading and enjoying Reles's development.

I enjoyed his disgust at the St Olm's canton.

the next morning Zerina didn’t feel her regular self - I can imagine not tongue.gif

Posted by: Acadian Apr 11 2010, 04:23 PM

Well done Remko. Zerina is such a treat and I am so glad to see her join Rales.

Posted by: minque Apr 11 2010, 10:46 PM

ohhh many updates since I was here last! And all of them excellent work. I really enjoy how well you depict the romance between Zerina and Rales...so truthworthy and "real"...

Hmm come to think of it..is Rales related to the Sarethi's of Great House Redoran, by any chance?

Posted by: Remko Apr 12 2010, 11:24 AM

@Minque: Thank you! Not spoiling it though, you're just gonna have to stick with the story to find out. biggrin.gif

@Destri: Errrr, yeah... maybe he's just a quick study.. tongue.gif Have him goof up again with a potion could be... interesting. Will give it some thought.

@SubRosa: Thanks, that reads a lot better. Will change it.


Day 125

Enthusiastically Zerina reacted to the news we had the entire day to waste. No missions or hangovers to spoil it. The rain had dispersed so we went outside for an extensive tour around Vivec, mostly by gondola. We visited an outstanding armourer in the Foreign Quarter to have my boots widened so my feet wouldn’t hurt after wearing them for several hours.
I would’ve never have guessed they could do that if Zerina hadn’t told me after I mentioned I wanted new boots because my old ones were rather uncomfortable.
The un-eventfulness of the day had granted me plenty of time think about the conundrums I faced. I had decided that if Zerina wanted to tell me, she would do so in due time. Women are mysterious and I have a feeling they like it that way.

With the weather cleared up, instead of having something to eat in a tavern, we left the confines of the city and had a picnic on the banks of one of the small, deep lakes that dotted the area.
A spell I had recently learned to master was most amusing to play with. When Zerina was floating on her back in the water and contentedly humming some melody I didn’t know, I cast a levitation spell on her and dispelled it when she was five feet in the air. The first time she shrieked because she hadn’t counted on it but soon the game became a friendly competition who dared to go higher and make a bigger splash.


Chapter 11: Revelations

Day 126

Back in Balmora, Caius was happy to see I had managed to trace all three informants and got the intel from them and it hadn’t even taken several weeks. Since it was quite a lot to read through, the Spymaster suggested I’d come back later so he would have some time to read and digest it all and winked. I knew all too well what he meant, his sharp insight was never too far off. I smiled crookedly and said I’d be back in a couple of hours.
Caius made a rather intimate joke about something I had never given any thought over the last few months that could put a blush on many a people’s cheeks about “us young ones being safe and taking care”.

No matter how personal the matter was; Caius had struck a point. And a good one at that. Denying I had any knowledge about procreation would be hypocritical. I was no stranger to a woman’s bodily function. Back in Cyrodiil, young couples would take consult with the Mages’ Guild, a local alchemist or an apothecary but Zerina and I had taken no such precautions. How did she prevent getting pregnant? Another conundrum but to this one I wanted an answer. Before I was deported to Vvardenfell, someone in Skingrad once told me Dunmer women could turn off their capability of conceiving but I had considered that to be drunken stupor - especially considered the establishment where I had heard it, some tavern I care not to remember.

Zerina was rather surprised when I brought up the matter. My excuse for not discussing children earlier was that I was busy chasing down informants all over Vvardenfell and never had given it any thought before. When she asked me what caused me to wonder about it, I told her about Caius and the Blades and disclosed what the information I needed from the people in Vivec had been all about.
Only Caius and the Emperor know the deeper reason I explained to her truthfully. Once more, her kind-heartedness and intelligence made me aware there was more to her than just a gorgeous package.

She wasn’t shocked to hear I was basically a spy for the Empire. With a mysterious smile she had commented: ’Most people hardly ever make a choice, their lives run as a Foyada; wild and without sense of direction. Some people’s choices however - some of those destined for greatness,’ she paused a while to look in my eyes, ‘will determine the course of history. We can only hope the last category makes the right choice. You have to figure out which you are, the first or the second. But, know this my love: I will always be at your side to support you.’
‘Always is a long time for us Dunmer,’ I said dryly.
‘I do hope so.’

***

What I had discarded as drunken stupor proved to be true after all. Since we Mer have a far longer lifespan than humans, it is less prevelant to bear children on regular basis to sustain our race than it is to humans, Zerina explained to me. Mer women conceive two times, some even three but never more than four times throughout their entire life and have evolved into being able to switch their fertility on or off.

‘Would you want children though?’ Zerina whispered panting in my ear during our mutual grand declaration of love.
‘What? Now?’ I laughed.
‘Oh, you, you- N’Wah! she cursed in good humour.
The truth was; I would love to have children with her but I wasn’t ready for such a responsibility next to the ones I was already facing. I’d want my children to grow up with both parents around. Something I couldn’t be certain about at that time.

Day 127

‘Hmm, took you long enough,’ Caius grumbled but his eyes were laughing.
‘You have read through the notes yourself?’
I nodded. ‘Even Progress of Truth.’
‘Good, good, I haven’t yet got around to reading that but have flipped through it briefly. Interesting, is it not?’
‘Yeah, although there is a lot I don’t understand.’
‘Understandably so,’ Caius bobbed his head intermittedly. ‘You agree the rumours about the Sixth House could be true?’
I shrugged. ‘Possibly, there is plenty of evidence pointing that way.’
‘I agree, although I haven’t been able to see it for myself. Ah, the curse of superiority.’ Caius sighed deep. ‘I know you won’t like it but I need you to look up another informant- the last one, I promise,’ he quickly added, ‘although this one is a lot more interesting. I’d like you to look up an Ashlander in Ald'ruhn who has abandoned the traditional Ashlander-customs and made a fortune in trading. We need to know more about the Ashlanders, this could be just what we need. Learn of their habits and find out what they know of the legend of the Nerevarine - Lord Nerevar reborn and their interpretation of it. Maybe you could also try to find out what the smuggling operation is about. Oh, and make sure to bring the Ashlander a gift, here’s some gold to cover the expenses.’

Again I found myself walking back to the manor contemplating my latest mission. I agreed with Caius, it would be interesting meeting one of the Ashlanders. No-one really knew much about them. Only that they’re a secluded nomadic people holding on to the old ways of worshipping their ancestors and Daedric Princes. What kind of present would persuade the Ashlander to tell me what I wanted to hear? I figured there was only one way to find out; I’d have to ask him. The Ashlanders I encountered so far were easily persuaded by some gold but I doubted a rich trader would be so easily persuaded. No, I was sure it wasn’t going to be easy this time.

However; I had a trump-card up my sleeve. No man can resist a beautiful woman and I just happened to know someone like that. I picked up Zerina and told her I needed her help with the mission at hand. Her eyes shone with anticipation, she had always wanted to visit Ald’ruhn. To save time, I payed the guild-guide at the Mages’ Guild to have us teleported to Ald’ruhn and warned Zerina about the temporary disorientation upon arrival. The teleportation had affected her balance briefly and she probably would’ve fallen, hadn’t it been for my arm I held out - a completely natural thing to do when accompanying a lady.

Two taverns provided rooms in Ald’ruhn. It wasn’t very likely the wealthy Ashlander was going to be found in the cheap inn called “The rat in the pot”. If he was in Ald’ruhn, he would be in the luxurous place, the “Ald Skar inn”.
My instinct proved correct. The proprietor, Boderi Farano, informed me the Ashlander rented a room in her establishment and that I could find him downstairs, probably reading some poetry.

It’s truly amazing what a huge distraction a woman can create. Hassour Zainsubani, the Ashlander, couldn’t keep his eyes off Zerina, who cunningly had donned a low-cut dress with a long slit exposing her left thigh. From the little interaction I had with Ashlanders before, I knew they always liked to discuss business.
‘Much like the Hlaalu,’ I thought to myself amused. When I asked him about business he reluctantly shifted his attention to answering my questions but only half-heartedly. Exactly what I had in mind with bringing Zerina. Well, that and a more selfish reason. Absent-mindedly he answered all the questions I had for him. I didn’t even have to bribe him for it, or run around in an effort finding him a suitable present.

Soon, I learned Ashlanders like to receive what he called thoughtful gifts. Some will be content with food - like a Trama root - but most prefer gold gifts. I didn’t really need him to tell me that - who doesn’t? I had found out that myself weeks earlier. Conveniently, he too had made notes he handed over. That would save me a lot of time telling Caius all I had learned from him.

Like a pair of tourists we meandered through Ald’ruhn for hours until an ash-storm picked up and our sight was obscured by ash, turning everything to a grey-reddish blur. More on touch than vision we found our way back to the local Mages’ Guild and were teleported back to Balmora. The first time is always the worst; when we returned to Balmora, Zerina didn’t need support.

‘Maybe it’s about time I told you more about what’s really going on,’ Caius excused himself when I handed him the notes. While I was out of town, he had read through all of the notes - including the book “Progress of Truth”.
‘I already told you you have been released by order from the Emperor himself. I never told you why you-’
I interrupted him. ‘I’ve been wondering about th-‘
‘Wait, wait, wait, lemme finish,’ Caius put up his hands in defence. ‘You have been released and recruited into the Blades because the Emperor suspects you fit the profile of the Nerevarine prophecies.’
My jaw dropped.
‘Here, take this.’ Caius gave me a familiar looking package.
‘Isn’t that what I brought you?’
Caius nodded. ‘It is. I decoded it so you should be able to make sense of it. Read it, memorise it and then destroy it. When you’ve read it and think you can handle a more dangerous mission, come back and I’ll brief you. Now, I’m sure you have more- ah, amusing ways to fill your day than hanging around with an old sugar-tooth. By the way; I’m also promoting you. Get outta here Finder.’

There was one more thing I wanted to wrap up before heading home. I remembered Caius’ friend, Larrius Varro, wanted to have a little chat with me.
The Moonmoth Legion Barracks also provided the Imperial Cult shrine so I could instantly travel there by casting a Divine Intervention spell and casting a different spell, an Almsivi Intervention spell would teleport me straight to Balmora’s Temple.

Since I was heading to a Legion Fort I had put on my Legion armour, cast the spell to get me to the Fort Moonmoth and asked where I could find Larrius Varro.
The soldier simply pointed to a large building with a huge steel-enforced wooden door.
‘Trooper Sarethi, I’ll presume?’ an Imperial Legion officer in a black with gold armour, indicating his high rank, greeted me.
I saluted. ‘Yes Sir! You wanted to speak to me?’
The champion beckoned to me to sit down and offered me a drink which I gladly took. The smell and taste of the ash still overwhelmed all my senses. I was more than keen flushing it away with a nice glass of Cyrodiilic wine.

‘Now,’ Larrius started. ‘I’ve heard of your run-in with some bad people in Balmora.’
‘Bad people Sir?’ I acted like I didn’t understand what he meant. Of course I damn well knew he meant the criminals I had torn to pieces recently but I wasn't proud of that at all.
‘Yes, bad people. Let me tell you a little story.’
He told me a story about bad people that had been bribing the local magistrate, Nolus Atrius, into fixing sentences for criminals. Larrius told me he’d been wanting to root out corruption but was faced with the syndicate thwarting his every effort.
Now that I had removed that obstacle he could finally continue with his task and was most grateful for the bloodbath I had created. According to him, it was enough repellent to prevent it from happening again soon. He awarded me with a very expensive enchanted gold ring - from His Majesty’s own finger, he claimed - and a book and sent me on my way.

I saluted, marched out of the building and cast the spell to get me back to the Balmora Temple. A part of me wanted to dump the ring in the river Odai straight away. I wasn’t proud of what had happened that day in the Council Club. I had meant to bring one outlaw to justice, it had not been my intention to slaughter five people and even get awarded for doing so - even if it had been for the better.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Apr 12 2010, 04:16 PM

I am still so enjoying reading this a second time!

Just a nit:

QUOTE
Caius made a rather intimitate joke about something I had never given any thought over the last few months that could put a blush on many a people’s cheeks about “us young ones being safe and taking care”.
I think you meant intimate. Also, the period is outside the closing quote instead of inside. Regardless, this sentence made me smile! Such concerns cross generations and cultural boundaries!

QUOTE
The teleportation had affected her balance briefly and she probably would’ve fallen, hadn’t it been for my arm I held out - a completely natural thing to do when accompanying a lady.
This is deceptively simple and revealing - so in character for Rales. Any woman would be so lucky to be accompanied by him!

QUOTE
Hassour Zainsubani, the Ashlander, couldn’t keep his eyes off Zerina, who cunningly had donned a low-cut dress with a long slit exposing her left thigh.
Ah, the lovely Zerina knows how to use her feminine wiles! She makes a great partner for Rales! cool.gif Then:
QUOTE
When I asked him about business he reluctantly shifted his attention to answering my questions but only half-heartedly. Exactly what I had in mind with bringing Zerina.
Typical Rales! Pragmatic! biggrin.gif
QUOTE
Well, that and a more selfish reason.
This is even more classic! hubbahubba.gif

Posted by: Destri Melarg Apr 13 2010, 09:31 AM

Your handling of the ‘baby question’ was both relevant and well-placed within the confines of your story. How many other tales about ‘heroes’ would be comfortable with issues of procreation, fertility, and Dunmer physiology? Chapters like these are what separate Rales from the rank and file, in my opinion.

Posted by: Remko Apr 13 2010, 11:26 AM

Why thank you! biggrin.gif

@Hautee: I could be wrong but I think the period needs to be outside the quotation marks 'cause I didn't use them for dialogue.

Posted by: SubRosa Apr 15 2010, 08:53 PM

I would’ve never have guessed they could do that if Zerina hadn’t told me after I mentioned I wanted new boots because my old ones were rather uncomfortable.
This is both so typically male, and typically female.

Women are mysterious and I have a feeling they like it that way.
Quoted for truth!



nits:
and have evolved into being able to switch their fertibility on or off.
that is fertility, and what a handy trick!

Larrius told me he’d been wanting to route out corruption
that is root.

Posted by: Remko Apr 16 2010, 11:29 AM

Part II: Heretic or Saviour?

Chapter 1: Poison

Day 140

For days in a row I was dazed and confused by the ramifications of the contents of the package Caius had given me. Some aspects in it could not possibly refer to me. How could the Emperor have made such a mistake? Sure, I am an orphan but I had known my mother and knew my date of birth, the twenty-first of First Seed. There was no way I could meet the conditions of the prophecy. And then there was the fact the prophecy states the Nerevarine will drive out all Outlanders from Morrowind. Wasn’t I an Outlander myself? It wasn’t making sense at all.

Caius had been right about one thing; I now knew exactly what the Emperor wanted from me. He wanted me to force my way into becoming the Nerevarine - as his puppet on a string. Not something I really felt like doing; helping to subdue the Dunmer people - my people - by being instated as His Majesty’s agent to become a local legendary hero. My unease with the Emperor’s letter was countered by the fact the prophecy also stated the Nerevarine is prophesised to cleanse the land of what was festering within the Red Mountain, something I learned from reading all the notes and books I had been handed throughout my persuit of all the informants. They way I saw it, I was faced with two choices; become the Emperor’s puppet and help my people along the way or run, throw everything away and basically leave my fellow Dunmer to rot.
It was time I found out more about my heritage, it was time to seek out my relatives in Ald’ruhn. I needed to know who I really was and to determine who I was to become.

The nightmares that had plagued me hadn’t bothered me for weeks but returned worse and more vivid than ever. A man behind a golden mask calling me Nerevar dominated every single one. In some he was my enemy; I could see him being killed by a Mer in armour clearly indicating he was some sort of commander and with a strange ring around his finger. In another nightmare he hailed me as a friend. He said we had been friends and if I wanted, it could be that way again. One thing was always the same: I’d wake up screaming and sweating all over.

It didn’t take me long to figure out the man behind the golden mask was no other than Dagoth Ur himself. His claim we could be friends again was undone by the attack that followed. One night, I was snoozing after I had woken up from another nightmare when I felt something in our bedroom was wrong. With sleep-ridden eyes I just managed to see a creature with a skin almost as grey as ash, I had never seen before, wielding a spiked club that was aiming for my head. Acting purely on instinct I shoved Zerina aside from the bed but couldn’t avoid being hit by the club myself. The club hit me full in the chest, several spikes on it pierced my skin. I could taste the metallic aroma of my own blood filling my mouth.
With my strength failing I grabbed a dagger I had within arm’s reach and stabbed the thing several times wherever I could. The last thing I heard was Zerina screaming, a spell being cast and smelled something I can only describe as smouldering remains of a camp-fire. Then; everything went black.

When I got around again, there were several people by my bedside in a room I didn’t recognise. Zerina; her face grey from exhaustion and with bulging eyes from crying, Caius; frowning in his typical way, the Khajiit alchemist; Ajira, Uryne; our servant, even Nileno Dorvayn was at my side looking quite worried.
‘We thought we had lost you there son,’ Caius said and looked at Zerina.
‘Hadn’t it been for her, we would’ve never got to you in time.’
I tried to speak but found I couldn’t utter more than some grunts because of my dry troat and my severely weakened state.
Caius shook his head. ‘Don’t speak. The club was poisoned, you were very near death. A spike punctured one of your lungs, Nileno and Zerina patched you up and Ajira made a potion to counteract the poison. We moved you to a different location in case of another attack.’
I pointed at a pitcher with a trembling hand. Uryne immediately filled a glass and held it to my mouth.
Grateful I drank some water but couldn’t empty the glass. I tried to sit up a bit more but the effort drained me of my energy and I passed out again.

***

How long it had been, I don’t know but when I opened my eyes, Zerina was the only one remaining in the room, sitting vigilantly next to the bed. We shared some glimpses words couldn’t hope to describe.
She got up from her seat, laid herself next to me and wrapped her arms around me lovingly. Just her presence, the very beating of her kind heart lifted some of the pain surging through my entire body. The poison that had been used must have been a potent one. Lifting my hand to wipe the tears from Zerina’s cheek took nearly all of what little strength I had left. Zerina smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. I smiled back, in an effort letting her know I was going to be fine and how much I appreciated her.

For weeks I was torn between waking and unconsciousness. The pain was ever present, so were the nightmares of the man behind the golden mask. Since the attack, he no longer pretended to be my long-lost friend; he was always my enemy, always the betrayer out for my demise and utter failure. In some of the nightmares I could even see myself dying - dissociated, like I wasn’t a part of it. In one I would fall and burn to a cinder in the fiery heart of Red Mountain. In some I would be destroyed by some huge, reddish pulsating artifact and in another Dagoth Ur stabbed me through my heart with a strange looking short-sword.
Every time I woke up in a sweat, screaming. And always was Zerina there.

Gradually, my system flushed out the poison - aided by Ajira’s potions - and I was starting to feel like myself again. The changes to my mental state however, were profound. If there was one thing the Sixth House had accomplished by poisoning me in my own house, it was that I was even more determined in rooting out the evil they spread, to the point of it becoming a grim obsession. I wanted to grab a sword and wipe out everything and everyone supporting or sympathising with House Dagoth.
Not to save Vvardenfell, not for the Emperor. I just wanted them wiped from existance. Again, it was my Zerina who kept me from slipping over the edge.
I kept my sanity and over the following weeks I shed most of the grim determination that had firmly grasped my heart in its icy talons.

Still, it was clear I had lost my youthly light-heartedness, nothing was ever going to be the same again. Except for the bond Zerina and I had, a bond nothing could sever, not even Wretched. She was more than the love of my live, she was my soulmate, my very reason I hadn’t ventured out on a indiscriminate killing spree. There was nothing I hid from her anymore. My doubts, fears and hates, I laid them bare for her to dissect and rationalise.
She was the saviour of my soul, my beacon in the mist.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Apr 16 2010, 03:49 PM

This is well-written. The transition from Rales Sarethi, Outlander orphan to the Nerevar Reborn begins here, in a subtle yet profound manner. Now we see what will drive Rales through the rest of the story.

I liked how Zerina came to his aid when he was attacked by what? an ash-creature? Sorry I'm not up on Morrowind lore, but I'm guessing this is one of Dagoth-Ur's minions? And she stayed with him through his recovery, as she has done before. The bond between them only gets stronger with time, and here we get to watch it. It is a wonderful thing to watch, too.

Well, I'm rambling on, but I want to let you know how much I'm enjoying this story the second time around!

Posted by: Remko Apr 16 2010, 04:38 PM

I- I.. err... euhm... I am speechless.... Thank you Hautee!

Since I havent posted many updates this last week, here's another.

Chapter 2: Artifacts

Day 197:

My sword, Wretched, I usually thoroughly despised for its awful effectiveness, suited the gloomy state of my mind. Caius and I had discussed recent events and came to the conclusion we should count on another attack on me by the Sixth House. Our house in Balmora wasn’t safe anymore until we - or rather; I - did something about it. For that, we needed to know our enemy. It was crucial to determine their bases of operations and plans. Caius was confident there should be a base nearby from where they could launch their attack. The Imperial Spymaster suggested I’d venture out on a search and destroy mission to nearby Sixth House bases, most likely dark caves but advised me to quest for powerful artifacts to assist me first.

Zerina didn’t agree, but I insisted she’d return to her mother for a while. The path ahead of me was going to be dark and gruesome.
I left Balmora and headed east. After half a day of walking I left the green pastures and entered the violent, fire-scarred parts of Vvardenfell in search of my enemy.
In Hassour, the Sixth House base I found, I windmilled my way through the same kind of grey-skinned creatures that had attacked me with total disregard for my own safety, leaving a trail of scattered limbs and dead bodies in my wake.

After having ripped my way through the lesser Ash creatures, I encountered a creature with tentacles instead of a face, that was apparently far more intelligent than anything I had encountered so far. The abomination safely stayed out of range of my terrible blade and kept pounding me with spells. It mocked me with saying he would leave some pieces of me for Dagoth Ur when he was through with me. I hissed through clenched teeth it would be hard for him to do that as a smouldering heap at my feet but I knew my insults to be bluff. I couldn’t hope to defeat him; my meager spells were useless, he dodged them or seemed to absorb them. Even worse; I couldn’t get a single hit with Wretched in. I did something I never thought possible: I cut my losses, turned and ran.

Bloody and with gashes all over my body I returned to Balmora with my head hung in shame. I had failed. How was I to defeat Dagoth Ur if I couldn’t even defeat his lesser minions? Caius didn’t even ask; my face told my story.
‘I failed,’ I sighed with my spirit broken.
‘What do you mean, failed?’ Caius was puzzled.
‘Just as I said,’ I snapped. ‘I failed, I couldn’t defeat them!’
‘Didn’t I warn you to quest for powerful artifacts first? What did you expect? Just to barge in and wipe out the Sixth House cult? I knew you were brave but never considered you stupid or utterly senseless!’ he retorted angrily.
Of course, Caius was right. Headlong I had plummeted myself into something I didn’t really understand yet and had almost lost my life in the process. However; at least now I had an idea of the formidable foe we were facing. It would take something special to break through their lines. Just a frightful sword wasn’t enough, I needed something to tip the scales in my favour, just as Caius had said.

After a brief stop in Gnisis to pick up Zerina - I realised I needed her at my side with what was at hand, more than I had thought - we travelled all over Vvardenfell, looking for books and hints on locations of lost powerful artifacts. We travelled around for weeks before we finally learned an enchanted cuirass, the Lord’s Mail, had just recently mysteriously vanished from the armoury in Ebonheart. The enchantment on it would protect the wearer against magical attacks, just the thing that would be a big help to my cause.
All my collegues in the Legion based in Ebonheart, stubbornly denied the rumour but an Argonian ex-slave told me he hard heard it might have been an inside-job and that the thief shouldn’t have gone far.
He suggested looking underneath Ebonheart.

Underneath Ebonheart, that meant sewers. We walked around Ebonheart in search of the sewage entrance and made our way into the sewer through a partially submerged iron gate. The stench of human waste was overwhelming but Zerina didn’t complain once.
Out of all places, why someone would want to hide in this damp, cold hole I didn’t know but after looking around the rumours proved to be true. Nearly hugging his campfire I encountered an Imperial donning a powerful looking cuirass.
He wasn’t happy with our presence and angrily asked about our motives.
Calmly I explained to him I was after the cuirass he was wearing and told him I was willing to pay him royally for it.
He shook his head. ‘However tempting it may sound, no can do. It needs to remain a secret. Since you two,’ he paused to look at Zerina and me dauntingly,’ already know of it, I’m sorry to say you have to take my secret to the grave.’ The Imperial got to his feet and drew his sword. I was already reaching for Wretched when I felt Zerina’s hand gentily restraining my sword-arm. ‘I have a better idea,’ she whispered.
Her hands began glowing and the next moment the Imperial was suspended in the air, paralysed and upside-down. Grinning in amazement I took the cuirass from him and wondered if he had known the true potential of it.

We could hear him screaming in anguish just as we surfaced outside of the sewer.
‘How did you do that?’ I asked Zerina who was wringing her hair and wrinkled her nose because of the putrid smell of the water dripping down.
‘Oh, a little levitation, a little paralysation and some telekinesis,’ she answered airily.

***

Except for the cuirass, our hunt for ancient artifacts turned out rather fruitless. Nearly empty-handed we returned to Balmora to report with Caius.
He had a pleasant surprise for us; to help me defeat Dagoth Ur and his minions he had sent the Blades out for artifact-hunting as well. From a small chest underneath his bed he took several rings and amulets, all infused with magical properties. Some of them had been missing for most of the third Era. Among the trinkets was an enchanted blood-red ring he called the Vampiric Ring. Supposedly, the wearer could leech of his or her target’s life. I solemnly vowed I would never use it against another living being. From what we learned in books about it, it’s power was truly horrible, but I wouldn’t hesitate using it on those foul Sixth House abominations.

Most of the amulets and rings he produced, provided the wearer a magical shield, something I most certainly could put to good use. I wasn’t much of a mage, I knew some basic spells, but as soon as the rush of battle set in, I confided in my blade skill and the everlasting sharpness of Wretched. With my new cuirass - it was a lot heavier than what I was used to but far lighter than the heavy Ebony monstrosity I had but never used - I was a lot more confident my armour could deflect powerful weapons, like Ebony or Daedric weapons and the magical trinkets should protect me adaquately from powerful spell-casters. Maybe, after some more training, I wouldn’t be without a chance of defeating Dagoth Ur after all. That night, I went to bed in a far better mood than the weeks before and planned the trip to Ald’ruhn in search of my relatives I had postponed and dreaded for so long.

Posted by: Olen Apr 16 2010, 05:11 PM

Good stuff, we being to see the change to Nerevarine, and again you've really caught the feel of the game here and how the gameplay and feel changes as you get further into the sixth house.

You fitted the change into Rales smoothly, the question of who he was doing it for being removed by his anger and doing it just to destroy them. The on going mystery surrounding Zerina is excellent too, I want to find out who she is and how she knows so much magic...

One thing I saw: a little paralysation and some telekinetics,’ -- I think you mean telekinesis (telekinetic is an adjective associated with telekinesis).

Great stuff.

Posted by: mALX Apr 16 2010, 07:05 PM

Sorry Remko, my PC crashed. I finally got it running. These last chapters are amazing!

Posted by: minque Apr 17 2010, 12:29 PM

QUOTE
my date of birth, the twenty-first of First Seed


Amazing! Rales and Serene have the same birthday!! ohmy.gif

Great chapters! I really enjoy reading this...So curious about the continuation!

Posted by: Remko Apr 19 2010, 03:57 PM

Chapter 3: Heritage

Day 233

From the Stiltstrider we headed straight to the Manor District where the Sarethi manor was located. After having wandered through the maze of rope bridges connecting all the houses under Skar - the shell of a long-dead gigantic Emperor crab where-in the manor district was founded - we finally found the entrance to Sarethi manor. Not having forgotten my manners, I knocked on the door.
‘Enter,’ a gruff voice answered. For the special occasion I had put on my best clothes but I was still nervous.

‘Rales, is that really you?’ an older Dunmer dressed in exquisite clothing asked me when we walked into the expensively decorated manor.
I bowed to the man I presumed was my first cousin, Athyn Sarethi.
‘Yes Serjo Athyn. How did you know?’ I respectfully inquired.
He send me and Zerina a knowing smile. ‘How could I not recognise the adopted son of my dear niece? Besides, rumours have been spreading about a certain Rales Sarethi and his pretty red-head lady.’
‘Excuse me. Adopted?’
Athyn’s surprise was evident on his face. ‘You didn’t know?’
I shook my head in denial.
‘One day she found you on the doorstep of this manor. In fact,’ Athyn continued, ‘you were the very reason my niece left Vvardenfell fifteen years ago. She left out of fear for your life.’
I was shocked. First I found out I was adopted, then I heard I had been the reason my mother - or rather; fostermother - had left Morrowind.
‘How come?’ I asked.
‘Well,’ Athyn’s face turned grim, ‘it’s kinda complicated. What do you know,’ he lowered his voice,’ about the legend of the return of Lord Nerevar Indoril?’
I decided to be vague. ‘I’ve heard of it.’
‘And what do you know about the Moon-and-Star ring?’
‘No idea,’ I answered truthfully.
‘You better sit down Rales, this could be a shock.’
I did as suggested and awaited what was to come.

***

‘When you were still an infant we already knew there was something about you. Has your mother ever told you about the incident with a ring?’
‘No.’
Athyn breathed in sharply and took a sip from his cup. ‘I think it was several months after she found you, something really miraculously happened. I haven’t told anyone since but there is good reason to believe you are the prophesised Nerevarine. Your mother told me that one day you held out your hand and grabbed a very particular ring out of thin air. To be more specific; you held the Moon-and-Star ring, which no-one, except its true owner, can hold. As suddenly as it appeared it also vanished. We believe the goddess Azura herself had something to do with it. Why else do you think we decided your birthday was to be the twenty-first of First Seed? Hogithum, the summoning day of Azura? Be careful pursuing your destiny though; if the Temple would find out, they’d most surely hunt you down and imprison you as a heretic - or worse.’

I was speechless. For a while I remained silent, in turn looking at Athyn and Zerina.
All the pieces of a puzzle were suddenly falling into place, like they had been there all along, waiting for the right sequence.
Now, the realisation dawned to me the Emperor had been right and what I had thought to be true in the past turned out not to be as certain as I had previously assumed.
Some of Zerina’s words about choices spun my head, especially the sentence:’some destined for greatness’, now held more significance than I - or she - could have ever anticipated.
I was to rise up to the greatness thrust upon me - or fail and die in the process.
Just like in my nightmares.

I was hailed into House Redoran as a lost son, even though I officially wasn’t a Sarethi at all. To Athyn, that made no difference; in heart, mind and soul I was a Sarethi. That made me a Redoran through and through, he said convincedly and wouldn’t hear otherwise. That night, a banquet was organised for all of House Redoran’s members wishing to attend. Of course, Zerina was welcome too.
For a while, all problems ahead of me were ignored as we carelessly laughed, ate and drank to our hearts’ content deep into the small hours.

***

Zerina’s previous encounter with too much drinking had taught her a valuable lesson. The next morning she was completely clearheaded and tauntingly scorned me for not being as fresh as her. Varvur - Athyn’s son, in whom I had immediately taken a liking - and I had continued drinking and talking long after she had excused herself so it was my turn to be out of my usual self. I stayed in bed in the guest-room overthinking my next course of action. Diving into the next Sixth House base was out of the question; the debacle the last time I tried that was reason enough to refrain from that for a while. Artifact-hunting had been a good start but I was sure my skills were lacking - not to mention my self-confidence that had been severely dented.
Maybe by now, General Darius in Gnisis had some jobs for me. Several weeks, he had said. Weeks had turned to months, if I waited any longer they might consider I had deserted. I made a mental note I also still needed to look up the mysterious Ashlanders, something I was actually really looking forward to. From what I gathered, the Ashlanders were a proud and honourable people - my kind of people.

Posted by: SubRosa Apr 19 2010, 05:28 PM

I am better late than never I hope. As others have stated, seeing the transition from Rales-the-Adventurer to Rales the Neveraine was wonderful to read. This is a very important part of the story, where we see Rales finally learning who he really is, and what is ahead of him. A daunting proposition!

Out of all the stories I am seeing the second time around here, I think I am having the most fun re-reading Rales.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Apr 19 2010, 05:55 PM

I liked how you turned Rales's world upside down with the revelation that he was adopted into the Sarethi fold, not born as he had thought all his life. That is pretty earth-shaking for him. I also found it funny that this time it is Rales's turn to have the hangover. Smart Zerina!

Posted by: minque Apr 19 2010, 08:12 PM

Ahhhh.....now then this is interesting! Rales being the adopted son of Athyn's niece! (Didn't know Athyn even hed a niece!, question is is she the daughter of Athyn's sister or brother????)

Anyway I really enjoy this and desperately want to hear more....

Oh my some ideas come to my mind reading this tongue.gif

Posted by: mALX Apr 19 2010, 08:26 PM

This chapter does not lose anything in the re-read - it is very powerfully done!

Posted by: Remko Apr 21 2010, 08:54 AM

Thank you all for the kind words smile.gif

@Minque: I don't know. Athyn had a brother but he was killed in that duel right? To be honest, I made it all up so it might be clashing with the lore. I couldn't really find much about the Sarethi family-tree.

Posted by: Acadian Apr 22 2010, 03:25 AM

My goodness you have come so far since you began this story on the other forum. Your skill has grown most impressively. This is wonderful to read. I don't understand the Morrowind stuff (as you know), so Rales is my guide. I did enjoy the way you refined things this time around as far as elven procreation - makes perfect sense given their longevity - otherwise the world would be overrun by elves instead of those pesky humans. tongue.gif

Posted by: Remko Apr 23 2010, 04:19 PM

Thanks Acadian. I appreciate it! cool.gif

Chapter 4: Conspiracy

Day 236

Zerina happily agreed with my proposition to visit Gnisis - she could visit her mother while I looked up the general in the meantime - and afterwards continue with looking up the Urshilaku Ashlander tribe after I did my duty for the Legion.
I left Zerina and her mother just after tea; the reunion of the two women was rather emotional. I figured I’d best let them to it while I prepared myself to travel to the Malach Tradehouse where general Darius resided.
My intention was to travel light. I took some potions, some food, my armour, a bedroll and Wretched with me. A tent wasn’t going to be necessary; the Legion provided a roof over the head for any legionnaire in need of one. Besides, the Vabdas house was just outside Gnisis, maybe spending the night in the Legion barracks wasn’t going to be necessary. In fact; I was counting on it.

‘Ah, trooper Sarethi, how nice of you to finally drop by,’ Darius said, his voice filled with sarcasm.
‘Please excuse me Sir, I was badly wounded and haven’t been able to report in earlier.’
‘Yes, well, I have a mission you might like. I think it’s just the thing for you.
I’d like you to find a missing tax-collector. From what I’ve heard, you’ve had some experience in that area in Seyda Neen.’
‘You’ve heard of that, Sir?’
Darius smirked. ‘Oh yes, Socucius wouldn’t stop talking about the heroic Dunmer solving his problem. Anyway; Ragash was last seen heading to Arvs Drelen, the wizard’s tower at the edge of town to collect the taxes. The owner, Baladas Demnevanni is a bit of an eccentric Telvanni mage. Be careful what you say to him. Now, off with you.’

The general had been right, the Telvanni wizard was indeed eccentric. Throughout his tower, several, non hostile, Daedra were posted. They followed my every step but took no effort in obstructing me. I was certain things would be different had I drawn Wretched. They appeared to be docile but the flame of rage was easily identifiable in their eyes. I wondered what power the wizard held over the Daedra for them to be restrained like that.

When I mentioned the tax-collector a thoughtful expression appeared on Baladas’ wrinkled face.
‘To be quite honest, I have no idea where she is, I had her thrown in the dungeons somewhere downstairs. You can take her when you find her but unstand this; I refuse to pay taxes to those… those- Imperial usurpers. I have been here long before those savages ever heard of Morrowind and I will still be here when their precious Empire has fallen and their bones have turned to dust. Promise me the Legion - or anyone else from the Empire for that matter - won’t bother me again and I’ll even give you the key. Now, leave me!’
This was not the time to disagree and possibly agitate the wizard. I was in no position to argue with a several thousand year old mage, he’d probably turn in me into a Scrib before I could say “Kwama”. I simply nodded, promised to belay the message to my superiors and took the key he held out.

Ragash gra-Shuzgub, the orcish tax-collector, couldn’t believe it when I finally found her cell in the dungeons and opened her cell-door.
‘You are here to set me free?’ she asked me wide-eyed. You’re not going to kill me?’
‘Kill you?’ I frowned. ‘Now, why would I want to do that? General Darius has sent me to get you out of here. I must insist on you not bothering Baladas again though. That was the condition of your release. No more tax-collectors at his door, I promised him.’
‘I won’t.’ Ragash shook her head frantically. It was obvious she was terrified of the ancient Telvanni wizard.
‘Let’s get back to Gnisis,’ I suggested. She was more than eager to leave the wizard’s tower, never to return.

In short words I told the general what Baladas Demnevanni had instructed me to. Darius wasn’t too happy with the news but wouldn’t risk losing any of his men to the whims of an eccentric wizard. He joked to just raise all the other taxes to compensate.
‘While you’re at it, I have something else for you to investigate. Recently, weaponsupplies have been mysteriously disappearing. I also noticed the morale has been steadily declining. I have a feeling something is wrong within our ranks. See if you can find out where those supplies have gone and why a lot of men seem unhappy. It wouldn’t surprise me if these two things are related. You are dismissed trooper.’

General Darius hadn’t exaggerated, the morale of the legionnaires in Gnisis was far below standard. Most soldiers wouldn’t even talk about it during the day and grumpily told me to leave them alone. It’s a known fact alcohol tends to loosen lips. I too was well aware of this and conveniently used this knowledge at night in the tavern. I pretended to get hammered along with the rest of my collegues but as soon as my target of interrogation looked the other way I poured some of my drink away into a plantpot and meanwhile pretended to guzzle it down. I just hoped Scathecrow plants liked Sujamma or it would show in the morning. Acting almost as drunk as most of the men I managed to scratch the surface of what was going on in the Gnisis Legion. Rumours of a conspiracy spread through the ranks like a disease. No wonder morale was low, no one dared to trust one-another. Unfortunately, all I got the first night were rumours of the conspiracy. What the conspiracy was about no one knew or dared disclosing. Rather disappointed I, keeping up my act of being sloshed, swayed back to the Vabdas residence.

Posted by: mALX Apr 23 2010, 04:41 PM

Tricky Rales!!! Great Write!

Posted by: Olen Apr 24 2010, 12:42 PM

Great stuff, I like this one a lot. It's just so morrowind smile.gif

I'm really looking forward to Rales meeting the ashlanders once he's done in Gnisis...

Posted by: Acadian Apr 27 2010, 03:32 PM

Ah, one little quest complete only to be assigned another. Just keep Zerina away from the booze, ok? tongue.gif

A pleasure to read, Remko!

Posted by: SubRosa Apr 27 2010, 04:33 PM

Another fun Rales update!

It’s a known fact alcohol tends to loosen lips.
Quoted for Truth! and not just lips either... wink.gif

Posted by: Remko Apr 27 2010, 04:40 PM

Thank you guys smile.gif
Sorry for the lack of updates lately but spring has made its entrance so I've been pre-occupied with outdoor activities smile.gif


Day 238

‘A conspiracy you say?’ Darius said the following morning while scratching his chin. ‘That’s most concerning news. Any idea what the conspiracy is about?’
‘No Sir. Nobody will say anything when sober and when drunk all I got were the frayed ends. I was hoping you might have some insight in that, Sir. You’ve known the men far longer than I have. Has anyone been acting suspiciously recently?’
‘I wish I knew my men as well as I’d like trooper. However; now you mention it, last week Uritius Maro was reported by Optio Bologro. According to the drillmaster, Maro was snooping around in the store-room. Maro’s excuse was that he had lost his ring but I nor the drillmaster has ever seen him wearing any kind of jewelry. I guess that could be considered suspicious, wouldn’t you agree?’
‘Highly suspicious, Sir’
‘Well, then what are you standing around here for? Get to work, Sarethi!’

The following nights I followed the same strategy. If I wanted the Gnisis legionnaires - all of them - to trust me I had to become one of them rather than just one of the Legion. I made no progress the second and the third night. All I got was pretty much the same as in the first; some vague remarks but no names. Fearing my collegues would see through my façade, the fourth night I let go of some of my caution with drinking. Rather than acting I drank myself into a nice buzz along with the men. I also lost a pretty coin with playing cards. They were playing a game I didn’t really know but joined anyway. If there was a better way to get sympathy and building some camaraderie than buying drinks, it’s with losing most of your gold on a cardgame.
Let’s say I had a lot of sympathy that night.

Day 242

It had been a strange night. I actually managed to get a conversation going with Maro - one of the suspects - but I couldn’t entirely remember the following day. According to Zerina I came swaying, or rather; nearly crawling home. Apparently I was too far gone to even realise I had first draped myself over the dinner table when she urged me to go to sleep. Then on the stairs, then on the floor and finally crashed on the bed.
What I did remember was that Maro had been complaining that his associate - the usage of that particular word caught my undivided attention - had been too careless lately and almost spoilt their future activity. He wouldn’t eloborate on “activity” saying he didn’t trust me. I guess that was more or less my last coherent thought that night: ‘you don’t trust me enough yet’. I figured I needed another night to gain enough trust.

Playing cards and getting utterly hammered together with the men proved its usefulness. The fourth night I was spontanuously invited to join the game - no doubt to rob me of my coins - and had a huge mug of ale pressed into my hand.
My stomach warned me to take it easy on the booze that night but I repressed it. I was sure this would be the night I’d find out Maro’s associate and the activity they had been planning on.
After the second mug my stomach didn’t protest anymore. while I was getting to the third I noticed Maro and what I presumed to be his associate - a fellow legionnaire - talking in a secluded corner of the tavern. Inconspicuously I my made my way over to them in the hope catching some of the discussion. I was in luck; even though I only a caught a fragment of their conversation, three words stuck out like a Nord in Valenwood. Uriel, strike and the third one: Vvardenfell.
You didn’t need to be a genius to figure out what they might mean together. They were planning to assassinate the Emperor during his visit to Vvardenfell!
I was certain Darius would be happy I had found out the conspiracy but I also knew I was going to need some hard evidence to back up the most serious accusations.

Day 243

Darius had already given me a location where I should start my hunt for evidence, the storeroom.
I had just started my rummage through the goods when I encountered Maro’s associate, Arius Lurician. He asked me what I was looking for, I quickly made up a story I was looking for something to sell because I had lost most of my money with the card-games. He smiled and promised to teach me a little of the game. ‘Not too much though,’ he laughed, ‘or I can’t win from you anymore.’
I promised to look him up in the tavern when I had some more coin to bet with

Luckily, he had to report to Optio so he couldn’t stay, so I had some time to continue looking undisturbedly. Below some sacks of flour I found a secret entrance to what appeared to be a shrine with a small, locked box on top. My instinct told me that what-ever was in that box, held the key to what the conspiracy was about. Picking locks, however, isn’t something I was very good at. I didn’t have the patience - nor the time - to learn.
I used Wretched’s tip to violently pry open the box and took the note from it. The conspirators would notice the box had been broken open but it didn’t really matter anymore.
The note held all the evidence I needed. All it said was that they needed to strike quickly when Uriel Septim was in Vvardenfell. Exactly what Maro and Arius’ had been discussing about in the tavern. I guess they weren’t conscripted for their intelligence. There was only one sentence for traitors and conspirators.
I had an eery feeling I already knew who was going to be their executioner.

***

As I climbed the stairs from the shrine a sudden bone-chilling thought almost made me shiver physically. Playing cards and having a drink with these two legionnaires had indicated they weren’t the sharpest tools; someone with a lot more influence must be behind the conspiracy. What did two lowly legionnaires have to gain from murdering the Emperor? Except a quick death by the executioner’s blade obviously, there was nothing I could think of. Gold? Not likely. Religious or political fanatics rarely care about monetary gains. There had to be something else.

A better question was: who would have something to gain with the Emperor’s death?
It was doubtful the two pawns would have any idea, if someone really was behind it, he or she wouldn’t be so stupid to enlighten the expandable soldiers and possibly ruin their devious scheme. Which the two legionnaires already had, even with their lack of knowledge of the big picture.
An even worse scenario appeared before my mind’s eye, even though they probably wouldn’t know anything substantial, they still had to be interrogated. I knew the questioning wouldn’t be pretty, I just hoped Darius wouldn’t order me to wring out what litle knowledge the two conspirators had. The general had already shoved an executioner’s task into my shoes before, if he ordered me to torture these two guys, I’d refuse. I hadn’t joined the Legion for such horrendous, yet sometimes recognisably necessary, measures.

‘Found any clues?’
‘Yes Sir. You’re not going to like this though. It seems two soldiers were conspiring to assassinate the Emperor. I’ve found a hidden shrine below the store-room dedicated to this purpose.’
‘What?’ he bellowed in disbelief. ‘Are you sure about that?’
I nodded and gave him the evidence I found in the shrine. ‘To be quite honest Sir, I don’t believe they are the master-mind behind it all. I’ve played cards and talked with these guys and really doubt they’d be smart enough to even plan such a conspiracy. I think someone or something, possibly a powerful person, is behind it all.’
‘Any idea who that could be?’
‘No Sir. At least, not yet.’
‘Hmmmm..’ the general hummed thoughtfully. ‘Do you think Maro or Lurician would know?’
I furrowed my brow. ‘Not likely Sir.’
‘I guess you’re right Sarethi. If there really is someone behind it - we’ll asume it’s a someone rather than a something for now - the soldiers would probably act on a need-to-know basis only.’
‘That’s what I was thinking too Sir.’
‘We’ll need to question them to-’
‘Before you continue Sir,’ I interrupted him. ‘I refuse to act as a torturer. I’m a soldier, not an executioner.’
‘Your conscience flatters you; I was in fact planning on ordering you to do so. You’ve never let me down and have been most effective in your tasks. I’ll find someone else but don’t you ever refuse an order again!’
‘I won’t Sir,’ I replied while shaking my head.
‘As long as it’s an honourable order, right trooper? We’ll need to find another reason to promote you soon. I can do with officers with their head screwed on the right way. Interested?’
I spread my eyes wide. Me, an officer? It did appeal to me, as an officer I would have possibilities to change things, to improve the Legion for the Legion.
‘Can I think about it, Sir?’
General Darius nodded and dismissed me. ‘Don’t take too long though, I have lots of other contenders,’ he winked.
Glad to able to get out of the job of having to violently interrogate my former collegues, I hurried back to the Vabdas residence. If I’d hurry, I could just make it in time for lunch.

Zerina commented I was back early and asked me what was wrong. I could never hide anything from her, my face was an open book to her.
I sighed deep. ‘Two of my collegues in the Legion were found conspiring against the Emperor. General Darius asked me to…. euuhmm… interrogate them.’
‘You mean torture, right? And you refused I guess?’
I didn’t even have to say it, the answer was apparent in my eyes.
‘So, now what? Were you discharged?’
‘No. Actually; I was offered a promotion to officer, I’m not sure I really want that kind of responsibility though.’
‘I think you’d be an excellent officer. You have a kind and just heart as well as a well-founded sense of honour and respect.’
I hugged and kissed her, as usual she had hit the right spot. My mind was made up, I’d accept the promotion.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Apr 27 2010, 05:37 PM

This chapter is as good as I remember it - it highlights Rales's ethical boundaries very effectively. A quick, clean execution is all right (not necessarily good, but sometimes necessary, right?), but torturing for information is not. The fact that Zerina could see the effects of these ethical quandaries on Rales's face is yet another clue to the depth of their relationship.

From the drunk investigation (including losing at cards) to the discovery of the plot and the location of the evidence, to the moral discussion with Darius and coming home to the lovely Zerina, this is one of my favorite chapters.

Posted by: minque Apr 28 2010, 12:41 AM

Ahh the talos cult plot! oh I liked that a lot playing it. Very nicely depicted here, I think Serene dealt with those guys....in chapter 3....

Very good job!

Posted by: SubRosa Apr 28 2010, 04:34 PM

And who would think that drunken gambling would get one promoted in the Legion? Only Rales could pull that one off! biggrin.gif (well, I suppose thwarting a plot against the Emperor might have had something to do with it as well... wink.gif)




Posted by: mALX Apr 29 2010, 01:15 PM

I love Rales inner dialogue in this one, it gives insight into the workings of his mind. Zerina pushing his career forward, lol - That leaves a strong impression, I remembered it from my first read!

Posted by: Remko Apr 29 2010, 05:05 PM

Chapter 5: Urshilaku

Day 250

General Darius was most pleased I had accepted the promotion. He gave me some insignia to fasten to my armour to indicate my rank. Unfortunately, there were no more jobs for an officer in Gnisis. Frald the White in Ebonheart might have some imporatant work for me, he informed me.
General Darius also told me the two conspirators had been dealt with appropriately. Like we had surmised, they hadn’t known anything worthwhile. Maro had gurgled some incoherent words just before drawing his last breath; ‘Dawn is breaking’. I wished the words held some meaning to me but they were nothing more than a dead end.

I didn’t inquire further, I didn’t really wanted to know anyway. At least their blood wasn’t on my hands. I felt guilty about their deaths none-the-less, even though it had been inevitable.
I just couldn’t shake the irrational feeling I had been the one who had exposed them and was to blame for their untimely deaths. Without me they would be still alive, I lied to myself in spite of the circumstances. The remark by Darius that their pain hadn’t endured for long because they hadn’t known anything was some comfort. They died quickly and painless, Darius assured me. I think that summarised what the legion stood for; we did what needed to be done but ultimately were merciful.

Since Ebonheart was on the entire other end of Vvardenfell; Gnisis being north-west and Ebonheart south-west, I decided to visit the Urshilaku Ashlander tribe first.
There was no quick way of getting there, we would need to walk east from Gnisis along-side the shoreline untill we reached a Daedric shrine. From there it was only a short trek east-north-east to find the Urshilaku camp, the rich Ashlander in Ald’ruhn had told me weeks earlier.
I wished I had thought of that little fact before before leaving Balmora. All of our camping-gear was still in the Hlaalo manor in Balmora so it would be necessary to travel back and forth.

Zerina suggested buying new gear but no-one in Gnisis had these kind of special things for sale. It was only a small miner village with little to no shops.
We took the Stiltstrider to Ald’ruhn and bought teleportation service from the Mages Guild. We arrived in Balmora in the dead of night. Rather than immediately collecting our gear and traveling back to Gnisis, we decided to spend the night in our own comfortable bed.
After a hearty breakfast - the nightly exercise had left us both famished - we leisurely collected our gear, I donned my armour, checked bowstrings and set off to Gnisis and the Ashlander camp.



Day 253

Even though we were on a mission, the journey east was a joyful one. Much to Zerina’s delight, our path kept us close to water at all times, meaning every night after having set up camp she could wash her hair. Of course she insisted I’d clean up myself too. The water was most refreshing, if bitter cold but she didn’t seem to notice. I emerged shivering all over, didn’t waste any time to get dressed and huddled at the roaring campfire. Being nearby the water had another advantage; there were plenty of mudcrabs around I could make my “Rales special” out of. I selected a medium sized ones - the bigger ones tasted more leathery and more bitter than the smaller ones - and tied it down until it was ready to cook. I found out they taste best as fresh as possible, much like fish.

When I had told her about my specialty, Zerina was sceptical. ‘How can a filthy Mudcrab taste good when it spends most of his life wading through mud?’ she had wondered but her sceptisism had vanished as snow for the sun when I gave her a small part of the soft, pinkish meat. ‘You know,’ she had commented after having swallowed it. ‘it would taste even better with some herbs and some vegetables on the side.’
With a large stone I cracked the shell of the crab to get to the rest of the meat and divided it over our plates.

A purple and red hue accompanied the sun to its nightly slumber as the twin moons rose. With my arm around her shoulders and her arm wrapped around my waist we quietly sat on a flat rock and marvelled at the gorgeous sunset.
‘How easy would it be to leave everything behind, build a small hut and spend the rest of our lives in quiet solitude? Maybe raise some children?’ I contemplated. It was like Zerina had read my mind. She looked at me briefly and smiled. ‘Shall we just forget the world and remain here?’
I let out a chuckle. ‘I was just thinking the exact same thing. But we both know we can’t- well, I can’t,’ I said with my face showing no amusement anymore about that wry realisation.
She nodded and kissed me on my cheek. ‘I know dear,’ she sighed melancholically. ‘But it’s nice to think about it, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, yes it is,’ I mumbled.
‘Let’s go to bed, tomorrow is going to be a long day again,’ Zerina suggested, her eyes glowing.
‘But- but it’s still early.’ I countered, although I very well knew what she had meant.
‘So?’ she laughed.
I followed her into our tent with a boyish grin on my face.

***

‘Rales,’ Zerina elbowed me in the middle of the night, ‘there’s something skulking about, outside our tent.’
I lifted my head and reluctantly forced my sleep-ridden eyes to open. ‘A mudcrab?’
‘No, it’s bigger. I think it’s about Guar-sized.’
‘Make breakfast out of it then,’ I suggested while yawning, rubbed my eyes and put my head back on the pillow.’
‘I’m not dressed,’ she said with a small voice. The kind of voice I recognised she used to get me to do something. Not that I could ever refuse her anything.
‘Neither am I,’ I retorted. I could feel Zerina’s eyes almost piercing a hole in my back. I knew there was no escape out of it; I quickly put on my trousers, grabbed Wretched and set foot outside onto the cold, damp grass. Winter was making its entry, I shivered in the cold night air. Around our tent the grass had been flattened by what I made out to be two pairs of paw-tracks from two bi-pedal creatures, possibly Kagouti. I revived a smouldering branch from the camp-fire back to a flaming torch and checked out the tracks. Whatever it had been, it was obviously gone now. Two pairs of fresh paw tracks led south, away from our tent towards the inlands. Shrugging I returned to the tent and gratefully crouched back into the warm sleeping bag.
‘The critters were probably looking for the crab remains. Didn’t you bury them?’ I quietly asked Zerina but she was already fast asleep.
I gently brushed a lock of hair from her forehead and went back to sleep as well.

Although the nightmares were less intense than they had been before, they were never far off. Maybe it was because they had returned for the umpteenth time they didn’t scare me anymore or perhaps because I had taken a resolve to it, fortifying my mental state. After I got back to sleep, again Dagoth Ur haunted my dreams, trying to undermine my determination. I realised this was more than a dream, he was trying to pry a reflection of reality the way he saw it, into my mind and he tried to convince me of it being the absolute truth. In stead of being the victim, I used the dreams to learn about him. It was quite obvious he was delirious, tainted with corruption. His down-fall was a warning to me, absolute power absolutely corrupts. I vowed not to make the same mistake as he had. My resolve must have severed a crucial link between me and him; after that particular night the dreams didn’t return. Or he had given up but I thought that be to be rather unlikely.



Posted by: haute ecole rider Apr 29 2010, 08:19 PM

QUOTE
Maro had gurgled some incoherent words just before drawing his last breath; ‘Dawn is breaking’.
"Greet the new day!" Okay, I couldn't resist, not after writing the Dagon Shrine scene!

QUOTE
I think that summarised what the legion stood for; we did what needed to be done but ultimately were merciful.
Good way to put military necessity. Sometimes the unpleasant job has to be done. Ugh.

QUOTE
After a hearty breakfast - the nightly exercise had left us both famished
I loved this very quiet and tasteful reference to a very private aspect of Rales's and Zerina's relationship. It made me smile!

QUOTE
When I had told her about my specialty, Zerina was sceptical. ‘How can a filthy Mudcrab taste good when it spends most of his life wading through mud?’ she had wondered but her sceptisism had vanished as snow for the sun when I gave her a small part of the soft, pinkish meat. ‘You know,’ she had commented after having swallowed it. ‘it would taste even better with some herbs and some vegetables on the side.’
I've only recently started cooking because I enjoy it, not because I have to. And it's amazing what flavors I can come up with!

QUOTE
‘Make breakfast out of it then,’ I suggested while yawning, rubbed my eyes and put my head back on the pillow.’
‘I’m not dressed,’ she said with a small voice. The kind of voice I recognised she used to get me to do something. Not that I could ever refuse her anything.
‘Neither am I,’ I retorted. I could feel Zerina’s eyes almost piercing a hole in my back. I knew there was no escape out of it; I quickly put on my trousers, grabbed Wretched and set foot outside onto the cold, damp grass.
Classic!

QUOTE
His down-fall was a warning to me, absolute power absolutely corrupts. I vowed not to make the same mistake as he had. My resolve must have severed a crucial link between me and him; after that particular night the dreams didn’t return.
Very interesting! Most people can't control their dreams (I can sometimes - I can make my dreams tell stories!). It also works to move the plotline forward in the story without being contrived.

Posted by: mALX May 1 2010, 02:54 AM

I like it broken into days this way! It gives the feel of a journal!

Posted by: Olen May 1 2010, 10:05 AM

Your inclusion of the 'Rales special' is great, it highlights how much he has changed since he arrived on morrowind. Great stuff, you also do a great job of showing his strength of character in refusing the execution order (an a variety of other ways). Makes me wonder how he'll get on with the Urshilaku.

QUOTE
‘Make breakfast out of it then,’

Good call. Still the idea of Kagouti prowling round your tent isn't a nice one.

Posted by: Remko May 3 2010, 11:59 AM

Thanks you all for reading and commenting smile.gif

Day 260

Several days later, we arrived at the Urshilaku camp. We had no idea what to expect but at least I had expected it to be bigger. About ten tents made from what looked like flexible wooden sticks, covered by Guar hides were congregated in a circle.
Some Ashlanders were speaking to one-another in a dialect Zerina nor I could understand. Hassour had told me the Ashlanders rejected the ways of the Great House Dunmer and were still true to saint Veloth’s teaching. I wasn’t quite sure what that meant but they looked at us suspiciously. I hadn’t forgotten Hassour’s words to bring thoughtful gifts. Along the way I had dug up several Trama roots and had taken several Kwama eggs to please the natives. Together with the gold I had brought I was sure I could get the information I needed.

‘What do you want, Outlander?’ the Ashlander I had hailed, asked me grumpily.
Being forthright seemed the right thing to do, I didn’t want to insult the tribesmen by lying. ‘My name is Rales Sarethi and I want to talk.’
‘So, talk Outlander.'
Hassour had told me about this aspect of Ashlanders. If an Ashlander said “talk” he meant the appropriate thing to do was to give them a thoughtful gift first. I dug up a Trama root from my bag and bowed from my waist ever so slightly, just enough to show respect.
‘Please, accept this little gift from a humble Outlander,’ I said.
‘A Trama root? I was feeling a bit hungry actually, thank you for this gift Rales Sarethi. You show respect for our customs, that is good. My name is Hainab, what can I do for you?’ His mood had cleared up considerably.
‘I would like to see your wise-woman,’ I replied.
Hainab shook his head. ‘No-one is allowed to speak to our wise-woman before our Ashkhan, Sul-Matuul, grants permission. You will need to ask his Gulukhan Zabamund first though. His yurt is next to the Ashkhan’s,’ he said and pointed at the two biggest tents.
I thanked Hainab and headed off to Zabamund’s yurt.

***

‘State your purpose, or leave Outlander,’ the man I presumed to be Zabamund, ordered me.
‘Honourable Gulukhan, I would like to speak to you,’ I said and offered him a thoughtful gift.
‘You do me honour. I’m not too proud to accept a gift. I prefer, what you call a…. euhm…’, he thought a moment finding the correct word. ‘….a bribe, yes?’, he said and took the gold I handed him. ‘Talk Outlander. Speak with respect and I will listen.’
‘I am here to talk to your wise-woman and your Ashkhan about the Nerevarine prophecies.’ With this, I drew Zabamund’s undivided attention, he had been intermittently sizing up Zerina and meanwhile licking his lips. ‘What do the prophecies mean to you?’ he asked me.
I sighed deeply, both in annoyance of his rude behaviour towards Zerina - I wondered if he realised she wasn’t my slave - but also because of the heavy burden the words were, I was about to speak. ‘I believe I fulfill the prophecies and would like to learn more.’

His eyes spread wide in disbelief. ‘The Nerevarine prophecies are not for Outlanders. Who are you that we should trust you? Why should I even allow you to talk to our wise-woman and our esteemed Ashkhan?’ he scornfully asked me.
I told him my name and everything I had learned and had experienced the last few months.
‘That is very concerning news and not to be taken lightly. I’ll admit, you know more than I thought you would. I'm sure Sul Matuul needs to hear this as some of it was unknown to us. Very well, follow me. I’ll introduce you to our Ashkhan, Sul Matuul. He will not appreciate being disturbed, but I’ll take that chance. Follow me Rales Sarethi. She,’ he gestured with his head to Zerina, ‘must stay outside.’ Halfway in his yurt, he suddenly stopped. ‘One more thing; do not speak until spoken to when we are in the Ashkhan’s yurt. Understood?’

‘Zabamund, what is that…. that Outlander doing in my yurt? Explain yourself!’
‘Khan, this Outlander claims to fulfill the Nerevarine prophecies and would speak to you and to Nibani,’ he replied while bowing to his chieftain.
‘Then speak Outlander. If Zabamund thinks it is important enough to disturb me, I will listen to what you have to say.’
I bowed deeply to the Ashkhan like Zabamund had and again I told everything that happened the last few months. The dreams Dagoth Ur had tormented me with, the attack on me in my house, I even informed him about the Moon-and-Star tale from my youth Athyn had told me. The Ashkhan seemed impressed with my knowledge but was still doubtful about my intentions.

‘Let me see if I get this straight. You, an Outlander,’ he emphasised the word “outlander”, ’think you fulfill the Nerevarine prophecies. You wish to be tested to see if you truly are the Nerevarine. However; no outlander may join the Nerevarine cult. Perhaps if you were a Clanfriend - an adopted member of the Ashlander tribes. I have an initiation rite in mind. If you pass this rite, I will adopt you as a Clanfriend of the Ashlanders. Only then then will I submit you to Nibani, our wise woman, to test you. Do you accept this trial?’

It seemed I had little choice but to accept Sul Matuul’s challenge. It was either that or go home. ‘Alright,’ I said while nodding slowly. ‘I will accept your trial. Tell me what I have to do and it will be done.’
‘I like your determination Outlander. To be accepted as a Clanfriend I need you to retrieve a weapon from our sacred burial chambers. Defeat the wraith of Sul Senipul - my father - and bring back his bow. Do this and I will accept you into our tribe as a Clanfriend. The Urshilaku burial ground is half a day’s walk south-east of our camp. I will give you a little advice. Go well prepared, many dangers lurk in the dark cravesses of the tomb.’
The Ashkhan made it very clear the conversation was over and that I was to leave his yurt. I wasted no time to get back outside. I wondered how the Ashlanders could stand the smell in their yurt. A mix of old leather, the smoky smell of the cookingfire and a scent I didn’t recognise, probably from some herbs the Ashlanders smoke, in the yurt made breathing hardly bearable.

‘He wants you to destroy his father’s wraith and take the bow back to the camp?’ Zerina exasperated after I told her what happened in the Ashkhan’s yurt. ‘They are an odd bunch aren’t they? Did you see how Zabamund was licking his lips? To be honest, I found them rather rude,’ she commented while slowly shaking her head.
I shrugged. ‘I suppose he thought you were my slave. Don’t forget, the Ashlanders are accustomed to having slaves. Besides that, they’re a secluded people with little to no interaction with others outside their tribe.’
‘I know,’ Zerina replied. ‘But I still think he was rather rude.’
‘Give them time, dear. I am quite sure when we come back they won’t be as rude to a Clanfriend and his companion.’
‘I guess,’ she said but it was clear she was still sceptical.

Posted by: mALX May 3 2010, 03:44 PM

I was thinking cannibalism or inbreeding, but I have never played the game, ROFL !! Great Write Remko!

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 3 2010, 04:34 PM

Actually, based on what I've read about the Ashlanders, they strike me as being very similar to the nomadic steppe tribes found in southern Siberia and Mongolia. Hail, Genghis Khan!

One nit:

QUOTE
With this, I drew Zabamund’s undivided attention, he had been intermittedly sizing up Zerina and meanwhile licking his lips.
I think you meant to spell it intermittently.

I'm finding the different interpretations of the Ashlanders very fascinating! Much like the different historical interpretations of the steppe tribes (from ancient Greeks through the Romans to the Chinese and nineteenth century explorers).

I enjoyed reading this installment again!

Posted by: SubRosa May 3 2010, 05:17 PM

Time for Rales to go play in the Ashlander tomb!

Another fun installment. The way that Rales had to speak to one person in order to speak to another person in order to speak to another person and do something for him so he can speak to another person later reminds me of a bureaucracy. All the more so since he had to bribe everyone as he worked his way through the chain!

Posted by: Remko May 4 2010, 12:56 PM

Sul Matuul’s directions proved vital in finding the Urshilaku burial grounds. The entire region was dotted by sharp rocks and rolling green hills stretched as far as the eye could see. The tomb’s entry was entirely obscured by rockfaces and only a small path led to it, a path we had almost overlooked. I imagined it would be possible to wander around in circles for days without even noticing, everything looked the same.
The sun had set when we arrived at the entrance of the burial grounds. After having walked most of the day, we decided to make camp for the night and enter the tomb after a well-deserved rest. I put up the tent while Zerina went hunting. She proudly returned with a small Guar, dragging it by its legs.
Together we cut it in usable pieces and cooked it above a camp-fire. After dinner I buried the un-usable remains of it a little distance away from our tent so we wouldn’t be disturbed by scavengers during the night.

The moment we opened the door to the tomb, I could clearly see this one was very different from the Great House Ancestral tombs I had crawled through. First of all; it was huge. Far bigger than any tomb I’ve seen before. The second thing that was different was that it was guarded by lots and lots of skeletal remains wielding silver two-handed swords. I had faced skeletons before but those weren’t as formidable as the ones here. I ducked underneath the first swing - thanking the gods I was only wearing light armour, otherwise I would have been too slow - and brought Wretched up in a vertical movement, through its jaw and into the skeleton’s skull. As I tore Wretched back, the skull remained stuck on the tip of my sword. If it hadn’t been for two more skeletons approaching menacingly, I probably would have been amused.

‘Zerina!’ I bellowed commandingly. ‘Disappear!’ The heat of battle had taken over. Tact was positioned in a spot in the back of my mind and replaced by pragmatism. She didn’t question me for a moment. I heard her mumble the spell I taught her to focus a caster’s willpower into a magically charged artifact to activate it. When she moved, I could just make out her outlines but as soon as she stopped, those outlines faded and she blended into the surrounding entirely, rendering her practically invisible. No wonder the Emperor had named it the Ring of Surroundings.

‘What are these things?’ Zerina muttered just before I engaged the second skeleton, hoping the third one wasn’t clever enough to attack me in the back but then realised I had someone covering the rear - something I wasn’t used to.
Holding my sword with both hands I just managed to block the overhead chop from the second guardian. For things that had no muscles or tissue they were incredibly powerful, the block sent a painful tremble through my arms, shoulders and back. I spun to the left, away from the blade to the skeleton’s flank, sank on one knee and slashed at its legs, severing them just above the knees.

***

‘Blast the other one!’ I barked and turned away from the legless skeleton, assuming I was done with it. Suddenly a burning sensation in my right leg made me howl in agony. Even with the most of its legs missing, the skeleton attacked me and had managed to swipe his blade across the calf of my leg, cutting deep into it.
Angered, I stamped my boot onto the silver claymore and used the pommel of my blade to bash in its skull. After four rapid blows it shattered and the skeletal remains went limp. I remember grimacing in wicked amusement and hobbling over to the battle between Zerina and the third Skeletal Guardian as fast as I could. I had to clench my teeth with each step to refrain me from screaming.
By the time I had closed the gap between the third skeleton and Zerina, she had disintegrated the animated corpse, its bones scattered in a six foot radius.

‘You okay?’ I asked her. ‘You did better than I did, that S'wit almost cut off my leg,’ I cursed exaggeratedly.
Blood was pouring from the wound into my boot, forming a small puddle that sloshed every time I took a painful step.
‘I’m fine. We’ll have to domething about that leg of yours unless you prefer Black Rot,’ Zerina commented. ‘Take off your boot and greaves.’
‘Yes ma’am,’ I winked and stripped. The trousers I was wearing were soaked with blood and were already starting to crust up into the wound.
‘Dagger,’ she demanded while holding out her hand. With the dagger I gave her she cut away the trousers around the wound. ‘This is going to hurt,’ she said matter-of-factly and ripped the piece of cloth from the wound in a single motion. She wasn’t kidding, that really hurt. Immediately she tended to the open gash that was now pouring out bucketloads of blood, I could feel it draining away and severely weakening me with every passing second.

Her hands glowed up and a warm, soothing tingle spread through my leg. Soon after, the gaping wound was reduced to a thin, white line on my leg and the pain dissipated. As I rose to my feet, my head spun and I instantly collapsed into a heap on the cold ground. I realised the bloodloss had weakened me more than I had thought. Several hours passed before I was able to stand up and stay upright but I was in no real condition to fight anything. Obviously, I didn’t plan on returning to the Urshilaku empty-handed, I had come this far, I wasn’t going to give up now.
I dug up some food - An orcish legionnaire had taught me eating red meat helps the body replenish its blood - handed Zerina an apple and thoughtfully chewed on a chunk of the Guar we had left from dinner the night before.

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 4 2010, 03:01 PM

QUOTE
‘Blast the other one!’ I barked and turned away from the legless skeleton, assuming I was done with it. Suddenly a burning sensation in my right leg made me howl in agony. Even with the most of its legs missing, the skeleton attacked me and had managed to swipe his blade across the calf of my leg, cutting deep into it.


They ain't dead until they're good and dead! It's obvious Rales hasn't watched enough slasher flicks to know that fundamental rule! Ow, ow, ow!

The healing process later in the chapter reads much better this time around.

Again, I enjoyed reading this story a second time. I'm noticing new things this time around that I didn't notice the first time, which to me is the mark of a good story. Definitely well worth reading twice!

Posted by: SubRosa May 4 2010, 04:56 PM

H.e.r. is right, this reads much more smoothly than the first time. The battle with the second skeleton most especially so. viking.gif

I winced with Rales when Zerina pulled the pant leg out of his wound! Youch! Well done there too! goodjob.gif

Posted by: Remko May 5 2010, 11:00 AM

I've only made very tiny changes. Is it because it's the second time around you read it that it seems smoother?

‘Why didn’t I think of that before?’ I thought while I was swallowing the last bite of the meat. I took my mortar and pestle, some ingredients and a small empty vial from my bag. After grinding an ash-yam to a brown sludge, I added a small part of Dreugh wax. The mix turned darkish purple while I mingled the two ingredients and turned violet when I poured some water into it.
From experience I knew the combination of these two would fortify my strength to compensate for my weakened state. It wouldn’t last very long but long enough to finish the mission - I hoped.

After I had transferred the concoction from the mortar into the vial I swirled the liquid around. The colour and viscosity weren’t entirely what I had in mind. ‘If only I could distill it someway,’ I surmised. Distilling it would increase the effect two-fold but I hadn’t brought my other equipment, only the most basic one.
‘I do have a way of distilling it!’ I exclaimed happily. I gathered some of the skeletons’ femurs and made a stand to rest the vial on. I had to be careful with the vial, it was very fragile, heating it too far would shatter the glass and ruin my potion but if I didn’t get it hot enough, the heating process would be an utter waste of time.

***

With extreme caution I stacked some dry wood and thin bones underneath the vial and carefully ignited it with a weak fire-spell - about the best I could do. After about half an hour of boiling I was content with the colour and viscosity, extinguished the fire and allowed the potion to slowly cool down. The smell was as bad as the taste but I could feel energy and strength surging through my body. I was ready to face what was ahead. I woke up Zerina, she had dozed off while I was making the potion, and together we proceeded further into the tomb.

‘Remember when I said I was going to need an edge to defeat the Sixth House and Dagoth Ur?’
‘Yes, I do. You mentioned you didn’t believe just a sharp sword wasn’t going to be enough?’ Zerina replied with her head slightly tilted. I couldn’t get over how attractive that made her look - even more so than usual.
I swallowed a lump in my throat and nodded. ‘Exactly. I finally figured out what that edge is going to be. It’s been there all the time. Alchemy!’ I said exuberantly. ‘With the right preparation and potions I should stand a chance - a fairly decent one actually. Especially with you by my side. We make a good team, don’t you think?’

She smiled and kissed me. ‘That we do. Now, let’s focus on keeping that rat from gnawing on our ankles.’
‘Rat? What rat?’
Before I had time to spin around to skewer the rat, forks of lightning flew from Zerina’s fingertips to a point several feet behind me. The smell of burned fur and scorched rat-meat assaulted my nostrils. The awful smell reminded me harshly of how close it had been in the Sixth House base. I shuddered when I realised I could have ended up the same, as a burned out corpse on the ground.
‘Ah, that rat,’ I commented dryly, despite my unnerving thoughts, when I sullenly peered down upon the the smouldering and spasming remains of a now very dead rat.

At the end of a corridor we encountered a mouldy wooden door leading to a huge hall that was entirely submerged. Apparently it had been flooded ages ago, the rocks were green with moss and algea. In an effort to keep our feet dry we hopped onto stepping stones that led to other side of the lake, but I slipped on the second and ended up in the murky water with a big splash. At least Zerina thought it was amusing seeing me wet all over - and all of our gear. Elegantly she floated across the lake while I was forced to swim. The only way of getting on the dry again was on the far end of the lake. Zerina asked me if I needed her to levitate me out of the lake, barely containing her laughter, but I was already wet.
I suggested it would be better to save her magical energy. She agreed, reluctantly of course.

‘Look out!’ Zerina screamed. I was tending to our wet gear on a rockface and was just pouring water from my boots when a sudden flash, a ray of light reflected on a metal surface - a silver sword - caught my eye. In a reflex I dropped on my stomach and rolled away. With a clang the claymore impacted on the ground where my head had been mere seconds earlier. I rolled farther away out of reach of the skeletal guardian and scrambled to my feet. Much to my disgrace, I had been too pre-occupied loudly cursing the slippery stones and my own clumsiness to notice his approach. Instinctively, I reached for my sword but grabbed into thin air. My sword was still lying on the rockface, next to the rest of our gear. I had taken it off to get rid of the water in its sheath, something I now regretted to my core. ‘Never leave your sword behind, S’wit,’ I angrily reprimanded myself and darted away from another swing.

Posted by: Olen May 5 2010, 12:37 PM

I always liked the burial caverns, there was a good dungeon and your description of it works well, the healing was well written as was his use of a potion. It's fun to read and is very reminiscent of the game.

I liked how you protrayed the ashlanders too.

Great stuff:)

Posted by: SubRosa May 5 2010, 05:17 PM

Maybe it was just because of being the second time around after all. I did look back at the original on the Beth forums and you are right. They are much the same.

Once again I really enjoyed your description of Rales' expensively purchased alchemical skills, especially his home-made calcinator (I remember all the training he paid for early on).

‘Rat? What rat?’
This gave me such a good laugh! laugh.gif

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hasKmDr1yrA biggrin.gif

nits:
In an effort to keep our feet dry we hopped onto stepping stones that led to other side of the lake but I slipped on the second and ended up in the lake with a big splash.
You have the word lake twice in the same sentence here. It is rather long as well, and could do with a comma in the middle. Maybe something like this:
In an effort to keep our feet dry we hopped onto stepping stones that led to other side of the lake, but I slipped on the second and ended up in the water with a big splash.

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 5 2010, 05:36 PM

Sometimes all it takes are very tiny changes (such as using one word for another) to make something so much smoother and better. That's the difference between illustrations and art . . .

Another good write. I liked how you explained how a rattling skeleton can "sneak" up on our Rales.

And the interaction about the rat was chuckle-worthy, as well as Zerina's comment about levitating an already wet Rales the rest of the way across the lake.

Like SubRosa, I love the dry humor Rales brings to his narrative.

Posted by: Acadian May 5 2010, 08:11 PM

Finally caught up again. Very nice development over the last five updates of the relationship between Rales and Zerina. You do simply a marvelous job with that. He 'bellows' commandingly for her to disappear, and she does. She sticks out her hand and states 'dagger' and he instantly places it in her hand. Much love, trust and mutual respect so very evident in their actions.

Posted by: mALX May 5 2010, 09:07 PM

I thought you already fixed that in the ...other place? Anyway, great write!!!!

Posted by: Remko May 6 2010, 03:29 PM

@mALX: You're right, I adressed the problem with the "sneaky" skeleton in that other place.
Speaking of which; anyone still visit it? I feel kinda sorry I utterly abamdoned the RP we had going but I think it wasn't going anywhere anymore anyway. indifferent.gif


‘Get down!’
I obeyed without question or hesitation. A wave of heat passed me overhead. The firespell fully encapsuled the skeleton, effectively blinding it. I raced back to where I had left Wretched and ripped it from its scabbard. There was no time to don my cuirass or greaves, I had to face the walking boneyard un-armoured.
Our swords collided in a rain of sparks, neither of us budging an inch.
For a time, what seemed like ages, we stood in a stalemate, our swords sliding against each other but never broke contact. One second I had the overhand and the skeleton had to back off but my bare feet slipped on the wet rocks. Rather than losing my balance, I let my self fall to my back on purpose and prepared to block the inevitable pending attack.

The attack never came. The skeleton was floating just out of reach. ‘What the..,’ I started cursing but then I heard Zerina chuckling and saw that her hands were glowing.
‘Finish him off already, will you?’ she said with a smile.
‘Gladly milady,’ I replied with a bow and hacked into the only parts I could reach, its legs. After several blows the skeleton crashed down, launching fractured bones all over the place. I couldn’t help but snickering, which I regretted the very same moment. A rock had lodged itself into my back when I had dropped onto the ground, leaving a bruised and most painful mark. Something I hadn’t noticed earlier due to the rush of battle. I rubbed the sore spot when a sharp pain seared through my body. ‘That’s all I need, a sodding broken rib.’ I cursed through my clenched teeth.

Another healing session with Zerina later and I was as good as new. I had indeed fractured a rib in the fall but luckily it hadn’t damaged or punctured one of my lungs. Wary for more guardians we continued our search for the wraith of Sul Senipul.
We did find more rats, one was careless enough to come close enough for me to step onto its head. I took great satisfaction in squashing it with the heel of my boot. With a resounding crack, its skull caved in and made a red mess underneath my boot in a slowly expanding pool of blood. The other ones were either taken care of by Zerina or skewered by several feet of cold ebony.

Behind another mouldy door we stepped into an even bigger room where we had to fight more undead and other vermin. After having dispatched several more skeletons my left arm was burning with fatigue. Sul Matuul had warned us to go well prepared. I had imagined we were but it appeared I had thought wrong. There were no useful potions left in my bag and I had not stocked up on ingredients to replenish my supply, most of our food had gotten wet - which had forced us to throw most of it away - all in all, we were in trouble. Even Zerina looked exhausted despite her rest earlier.
A change of tactic was needed; there was no way we could fight every single gaurdian and live to tell the tale.

Our new strategy was to run through the rest of the tomb, ignoring the un-important guardians and grabbing whatever useful goods we’d come across until we would find the wraith. If it hadn’t been for my lovely Zerina, I would probably have fallen in battle then and there. She cast a levitation spell on both of us allowing us to float upwards in the hall, avoiding all the remaining skeletal guardians patrolling the rooms.
I suspected we now were in the main hall of the tomb. A gigantic natural pillar towered in the middle of the hall with a foot wide path - if you could even call it a path - around the pillar, led upwards to several minor side rooms. When I took a closer look, I could see more moss and algea, indicating the winding path was probably as slippery as the stepping stones I had fallen off. Since we had no idea where the wraith would be, we had to check every single room. Zerina suggested splitting up so we could cover more ground quicker but I - I wouldn’t have said it to anyone else - countered with saying we needed each other all the way if we were to survive this deathtrap. Truth was; I was certain I needed her more than she needed me, if only to get me to the top without falling to my death on the risky trail.

Entering the most upper side-room Zerina and I clasped our hands on our ears. A terribly loud and high-pitched screech, one I had never heard before, almost made our ears bleed.
Zerina hastily tore a strip from her dress and tied it around her ears just to get rid of the awful sound. Since I had no dress to tear a strip from to do the same, she tore off another - according to her, the dress was ruined anyway - and gave it to me.
It helped filter out the most of the noise, just enough so we could pinpoint its point of origin. Just around the corner a nearly transparant, ghostlike creature attacked. The good thing about it was that the cursed racket finally stopped as it lunged at Zerina with a rusty sabre.

It appeared to me the wraith was attracted to mages. My efforts of distracting it were practically futile, my sword just passed through the ethereal creature without doing any damage whatsoever.
For a brief moment, the apparition stopped its approach on Zerina, granting her enough respite to activate a shield spell. The wraith’s reaction confirmed my suspicion. It was indeed attracted to mages because as soon as Zerina cast the spell, it again completely ignored me and re-directed its full attention on the mage.
‘I’ll be all right. Just keep those skeletons from my back!’ she shouted while she blasted the wraith with one spell after another, floating just out its sword’s reach.

This time the two skeletal guardians rushing in, their swords raised high, didn’t surprise me. I sidestepped to my right as the first one brought its sword down in a wide arc over its head. I used the opening in its defence to slash off its head in a single side-swipe. The ebony sliced through the neckbone effortlessly. The second skeleton raced passed me towards Zerina and the wraith. Still holding my sword with both hands - I was too tired to wield it with only my left hand - I went into pursuit but soon realised I wouldn’t catch up on it in time. I couldn’t allow it to reach my girl, she still had her hands full combatting the ferocious wraith. I feared Zerina would be overwhelmed if I wouldn’t do something to even the odds.

Posted by: Olen May 6 2010, 04:31 PM

Another cliffhanger. ohmy.gif

And more of Zerina's ability comes out, who is she... how does she know so much. It's a good hook drawing me on. And I want to see more of the ashlanders once he gets the bow.

I liked Reles standing on the rat, it was entertainingly gory.

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 6 2010, 05:25 PM

Loved this chapter even more the second time through. As Olen said, it really plays up the growing partnership between Rales and Zerina - she is proving to be quite the sidekick here!

I did pick up a couple of nits:

QUOTE
our swords sliding against eachother but never broke contact. One second I had the overhand and the skeleton had to back off but my bare feet slipped on the wet rocks.
In the first, a space is missing between each and other - it should read each other. This happens again later in the story, when Zerina was suggesting splitting up to search the rooms.

The other is one that confuses even native English speakers:
QUOTE
‘I’ll be allright.
It is such a common colloquialism in the English language that many people spell it alright, but the correct way to write it is as two words, all right.

Overall your writing is as refreshing as ever, with Rales's combination of a macho sense of duty and honor with a humble acknowledgement of Zerina's feminine superiority in certain matters. biggrin.gif His tongue in cheek narrative is wonderful and never fails to bring a smile to my face as I read this. tongue.gif

Posted by: SubRosa May 7 2010, 12:37 AM

Exciting! and a cliffhanger ending! Been taking lessons from treydog I see.

QUOTE(haute ecole rider @ May 6 2010, 12:25 PM) *

As Olen said, it really plays up the growing partnership between Rales and Zerina - she is proving to be quite the sidekick here!


I was going to mention how Rales was proving to be quite a sidekick! tongue.gif

Seriously though, MoRS really takes off once Zerina is added to the mix. Her presence brings out something extra in the storytelling.


nits:
A rock had lodged itself into my back when I had dropped onto the ground, leaving a bruised and most painful mark on my back.
You have the word "back" twice in the same sentence here. I think you can just lose the last three words of the sentence.
A rock had lodged itself into my back when I had dropped onto the ground, leaving a bruised and most painful mark.


we needed eachother
Looks like each and other are quite inseparable here, even as Rales and Zerina are...


I sidestepped to my right as the first one brought its sword down in a wide arch over its head
I am thinking you wanted arc there.

Posted by: mALX May 7 2010, 12:48 PM

ARGH! Save Zerina Rales!!!!!! Another Cliffhanger!

I have been going to the other place and putting up new updates on Maxical's story but no one goes there to read anymore, lol. It is dead as a doornail - bleah!

Posted by: Remko May 7 2010, 03:22 PM

In a desperate act to slow it down, I threw my sword at it. Somehow, the blade managed to trip the skeleton, sending it plummeting to the ground. Upon impact, its sword arm fractured and seperated from the rest of the body. Screeching nearly as vicious as the wraith, it attacked me with its only remaining arm, his hand stetched out and opened as if he wanted to strangle the life out of me. I darted around it, to where Wretched had ended its tumble over the ground. Apparently, together with all its tissue, the guardian had also lost all common sense. Once I had my blade again, it was almost too easy cutting of its other arm as well. Wasting no time on the now helpless and harmless skeleton, I kicked it to the side and rushed towards Zerina.

By the time I reached the battling duo, the wraith had given up trying to hit Zerina with its sword and had started to cast spells back at her. Her magical shield hadn’t collapsed yet but the glimmer around her was rapidly diminishing, indicating it would disappear soon, rendering her defenceless.
In one of the side-rooms, I had found a magical staff. Instead of trying to hit it with Wretched - which was useless on all accounts - I sheathed it and used the magical staff to attack the wraith of Sul Senipul. It took me several shots and some instructions from Zerina before I got the hang of it but soon the wraith was caught in a cross-fire. With a final screech, it fell to the ground in a glowing heap of whatever it was made of and a shimmering bow - I assumed it was magically enhanced.
I ran my finger through its remains. I had read in a book about the extraordinary alchemical properties but couldn’t remember exactly what they had been. It was nearly odourless, there wasn’t much I could make of it but I scooped it up nonetheless and carefully poured it into the an empty vial so I could inspect it more closely back home.

Upon inspection the bow was indeed enchanted and had been Sul Senipul’s. Unfortunately, the bowstring was missing. Our mission in the damp tomb was completed. When we emerged the tomb, filthy and utterly exhausted, a clear starlet sky greeted us back to the land of the living. It turned out it had taken us more than a day to reach the wraith and to defeat it.
‘Is it necessary for us to immediately return to the Urshilaku camp?’ Zerina asked me with a dirty face and visible bags - even in the dark - underneath her eyes. I imagined I looked terrible as well, the Gods knew I felt even worse. The fortify potion I had drank had worn off before we emerged the tomb, I was on the skin of my teeth.

The staff I used to help Zerina defeat the wraith was now laying on the bottom of the very same lake I had taken a refreshing dive into. To get rid of a lot of weight we couldn’t carry, we had to make choices on what to keep and what to discard. The heavy iron staff was the first thing that came to mind, together with a steel shortsword and a shield. Regretfully, we had sank them off, the weapons weren’t anything special but the shield in particular was very skillfully crafted and would have come in handy should I decide to start using one again.

‘Well, I was thinking just to get it out of the way,’ I replied sullenly. ‘Even though I can barely place one foot for the other.’
‘That’s what I mean,’ Zerina answered implacably. ‘We are both exhausted and still have to walk for at least several hours. What if we’re attacked? I don’t think I have enough energy left for a powerful destruction spell- or even a moderate one for that matter.’
‘Then, what would be your suggestion? To rest here? May I remind you we have no food and all of our gear is still wet. Including our sleeping bags and all of the bowstrings so hunting is out of the question as well.’
‘I know, I know,’ she sighed. ‘I was just thinking aloud. It seems we have little choice but to rest here. We could use the tent to at least keep the wind and most of the cold out and share each other’s bodyheat to keep sufficiently warm. No- not like that,’ she quickly added with a smile.
I scoffed mock-like and acted the murdered innocence itself. ‘Like I would have that kind of thing on my mind in a time like this.’ Zerina placed her hands on her hips and looked at me with a doubtful look on her face. Seconds later we were both laughing until our stomachs hurted. A most welcome relief in a otherwise rather dark day.
And so it was decided we would spend another night in the shadow of the tomb we had just crawled out of.

Posted by: minque May 7 2010, 10:54 PM

Finally! read through the last chapters...wonderful writing Remko....really wonderful. Raley among the Ashlanders...awesome, just awesome!

More please?

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 8 2010, 12:25 AM

Please forgive the length of this post. I find that I am woefully behind when it comes to the adventures of Rales and Zerina. Now I shall try to catch up.

Part II: Heretic or Savior
Chapter 1: Poison


haute nailed it. This chapter marks a rite of passage as Rales transforms from an outlander trying to play Imperial agent to an Imperial agent ready to play Nerevarine. I like that through his delirium the only constants are his guiding star Zerina and the certainty of his new purpose.

Chapter 2: Artifacts

Now that’s the Rales that I have come to know and love, rushing headlong through a Sixth House base, Wretched in hand, oblivious to concerns for safety. My only small nit about this chapter (and I believe that I have mentioned this before) concerns the spell that Zerina cast on the Imperial. Wouldn’t the Lord’s Mail render her spell useless against him? Or at the very least wouldn’t it give him a chance to shrug off the spell? I’m not sure if it is your intent, but the way it reads now Zerina appears to be a superwoman, able to cast spells that bypass resistance with ease.

Chapter 3: Heritage

The circumstances of Rales’ uncertain birth are finally revealed to him. By what you’ve told us in this chapter it s logical to assume that Rales spent at least the first 5-10 years of his life under Athyn Sarethi’s roof, so his recognizing Rales at the door is not at all far-fetched. I’m still not sure if it fits the character of a senior Redoran Councilor to use phrases like ‘it’s kinda complicated.’

The bit with the ring is very interesting. Apparently Azura has had her eye on Rales for quite some time. Pity she did not see fit to back him up in Hassour.

Chapter 4: Conspiracy

I can only imagine the conversation between Zerina and her mother:

“Yes, mother. The young man that I ran off to Balmora with, you know the one that saved your house and laid the smackdown on the Orc that killed father? Well, turns out he is the re-incarnation of Nerevar come to unite the Great Houses and Ashlander Tribes, defeat Dagoth Ur, cure the blight, and drive the outlanders out of Morrowind! How have you been?”

Rales will be lucky if the Widow Vabdas lets Zerina leave the house again. She’s probably calling for a Temple exorcist as we speak!

I really enjoyed your rendition of Arvs Drelen and my favorite mad wizard, Balades Demnevani. I know that he has the one quest for books that he gives you, but wouldn’t it have been great if he were a major quest-giver for House Telvanni? I would much rather have him for my patron than that idiot Aryon.

Chapter 5: Urshilaku

There are several lines in this chapter that stand out. I would quote them all but this post is already too long as it is. Suffice it to say that the interaction between Rales and Zerina was as close to perfect as anything of yours that I have read to date.

QUOTE
“But I’m not dressed.”

“Neither am I.”


Priceless.

I always have to suppress the urge to draw my sword and throttle the Urshilaku when I first meet them. The number of hoops that they make you jump through to get anything done is ridiculous. Given how they react to something as simple as a Trama Root, I am willing to lay 2-1 odds that chewing it gets you high! You would think that someone showing up in their camp claiming to be the reincarnation of their messiah would be afforded a little more respect.

Although having said that, maybe they think he’s been chewing too much Trama Root.

Finally, the battle with the skeletons was excellent. The detailed description of Rales’ calf wound made my own leg hurt.

QUOTE
I remember grimacing in wicked amusement and hobbled over to the battle between Zerina . . .


This is an awkward sentence. I think you need to either change ‘and’ to ‘as I’, or leave ‘and’ alone and change ‘hobbled’ to ‘hobbling’.

Posted by: mALX May 9 2010, 01:36 AM

Love the interplay between Rales and Zerina, they make a perfect couple!!! Like a hand in hand, each filling the gaps of the other - love it!

Posted by: Remko May 10 2010, 10:43 AM

Thansk everyone smile.gif

@Destri:The Imperial was too stupid too realise the true potential of the lord's Mail. tongue.gif Ooooo.... shiny..... hehe..

I made a hint in the story (just as Zerina is wringout out her hair) that Rales seriously doubted the Imperial knew the true potential of it. Was kind of a pun to how badly NPC's use ites in the game)
Normally speaking you would be right smile.gif
I on purpose had Athyn speak more informal. I wanted to portray a different side of him. Someone who cares for his family and is kind underneath the icy Councelor surface.

Posted by: Remko May 10 2010, 04:32 PM

‘This must be the worst night I ever spend with you,’ I whispered shivering halfway the night to Zerina’s sleeping shape, her head in my lap. The cold had set in my bones and wouldn’t allow me to stay asleep for more than an hour in a row. For a moment I had thought about trying to dry a sleeping bag with a firespell but after some consideration I decided against it. Knowing my limited skills in the Arcane arts, I would have probably burned it and the tent along with it. Maybe I would succeed but then it would be reeking of smoke. I wasn’t sure what would be worse; the cold or the potential acrid stench.

‘But, by the Nine as my witness, I love you more than anything in this world,’ I mumbled on in the dark. ‘Dibella must have smiled down on me when I entered that egg-mine to grace me with such a blessing.’
That night seemed to last forever; I felt like cheering when finally Masser and Secunda payed their last respects to the night and a watery sun emerged above the hills of the Ashlands region, heralding in a new day.

Day 263

The walk back to the Urshilaku camp seemed to drag on and on. To make matters worse, halfway a cold downpour from the heavens soaked me to my skin once more. For a brief instance, I thought I heard the distant rumble of thunder but soon realised it was my stomach. It had been over a day we both had something decent to eat. After washing away most of the dirt from several fresh Trama roots in a small muddy puddle, we found they didn’t taste too bad actually, although slightly bitter. Promising myself to alchemically experiment with the root - once I had swallowed a bite, I briefly felt my mood lifting and was engulfed with a refreshed will to keep going - Zerina commented about how her mother used to draw a bitter tea from the roots and how it could be combined with Cliffracer plumes to make a levitation potion. Of course I already knew Racer plumes - or rather; the marrow inside the feather-shafts - were a main-ingredient of levitation potions but I didn’t know Trama roots possessed those kind of alchemical properties as well. The best part of it was that Trama roots were far more easy to acquire as plants usually don’t fight back.
‘How do you swallow feathers?’ I asked her, my brow raised in a jestful frown.
Zerina chuckled briefly. ‘Difficult,’ was the only thing she said.
‘I can only imagine.’

With the Urshilaku camp looming in the fog in the distance, Zerina suddenly halted and faced me with a concerned look. ‘There’s something we need to discuss,’ she said.
‘Now? I held out my hands to indicate we were still out in the rain.
‘Yes, now. I have noticed you are rather keen on getting this Nerevarine-business behind you but I am concerned about you rushing it. I know you are eager to prove yourself to your House, I can see it in your eyes. Ever since Athyn’s story, there’s been a spark that wasn’t there before. But you nearly got yourself killed in the Sixth House base and let’s face it; it didn’t really go as planned in the the Urshilaku tomb, did it?’
I shook my head. ‘No. No it didn’t. But Caius said that-,’
‘Yes, Caius said you should investigate. But you’re not helping anyone by getting yourself killed. Not Caius, not the Emperor and most certainly not the Dunmer people. Don’t forget, we’ve been living with the Blight and the evil underneath Red Mountain for hundreds of years, surely we can hold out for another year or two? Even if things have been getting increasingly dire lately - and we know they have. If you fall, how long do you think it will take before another incarnation will rise up? There is so much you still could - and should - learn. Quite frankly; I don’t think anyone can defeat Dagoth Ur with just a sword and some potions. Dagoth Ur has been around for aeons, most likely he is a very powerful mage, one of the likes you have never encountered before. To defeat him you will need to become one too. I love you, you’re one of the greatest swordsmen I have ever seen but-’

I interrupted her with a wink. ‘You’ve seen many swordsmen then?’

Zerina smiled mischievously. ‘Well, er, that’s to say… we used to sneak out and watch the legion… exercise, but I digress. What I was saying was: you’re one of the most skillful swordsmen I have ever seen but only in one-on-one combat. Don’t get me wrong but you can be a bit overconfident sometimes. Overconfidence bears a large resemblance to naivité, both tend to originate from inexperience and both would get you killed should you confront Dagoth Ur today.’ She embraced me tightly, I could hear her emotions in her voice as she continued. ‘My love, all I’m saying is that you should consider taking ample time to prepare. What would I do without you?’
I took her teary face between my hands and looked into her swollen eyes intensely.
‘Let’s make sure that never happens,’ I said, my voice now hoarse with emotions as well. Deep down, I knew she was right and decided to heed her words carefully.

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 11 2010, 08:29 AM

See!!! I knew that Trama Root got you high! wacko.gif

Zerina’s words of wisdom are right on the money. It is good to know that Rales is going to heed them.

I like the fact that you open this chapter with Rales lamenting his overall lack of magical skill, and end it with Zerina encouraging him to become a better mage. I think they bookend each other nicely.

QUOTE(Remko @ May 10 2010, 08:32 AM) *

I felt like cheering when finally Masser and Secunda payed their last respects to the night and a watery sun emerged above the hills of the Ashlands region, harrowing in a new day.

I think that I pointed out this sentence to you before. In the context that you are using it, I think that ‘heralding’ is the word that you are looking for.

Harrowing – adj. extremely disturbing or distressing; grievous: a harrowing experience.

Herald – verb. To indicate or signal the coming of; usher in.

The problem is that, given all that they have been through ‘harrowing’ just kind of fits in a delightfully Ralesian kind of way. My advice to you would be not to change it. goodjob.gif

Posted by: Remko May 11 2010, 10:56 AM

Yes, you did mention it and I forgot to change it in the original draft... wacko.gif
I was thinking harrowing had more or less the same meaning as heralding. Heralding is what I wanted. I wanted to portray relief after the hardship of the night and in the tomb.

Posted by: Olen May 11 2010, 03:19 PM

I love it, good as ever. His continuing interest in alchemy is good to read.

I agree with Destri that Zerina's comments on him needing more magic and his feeelings that more would aid him fit well together, makes me want to know how he's going to learn.

QUOTE
‘Well, er, that’s to say… we used to sneak out and watch the legion… exercise

Great line. The humour really makes this piece.

More? smile.gif

Posted by: SubRosa May 11 2010, 04:36 PM

That was a truly epic campaign through the tomb in order to gain the bow. You really made that feel desperate. Just as it should be for such a pivotal event. Good touches with the miserable aftermath. No food, cold, wet, exhausted. Talk about blah, and then it starts to rain on the way back!

As Zerina so wisely pointed out, this has been a wake-up call for our Rales as well. Intrepid as he is, he still plainly has a long way to go before he can live up to his destiny. Obviously he is going to start using alchemy more. I cannot wait to see what else he is going to pick up to give himself the edge he needs.

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 11 2010, 06:57 PM

The aftermath is as real as it gets! Talk about an adrenaline crash!

Brr! I'm reading this chapter and it's cold and rainy outside! How in the heck do you do that?? blink.gif

Off to make something hot to drink. biggrin.gif

Posted by: Remko May 12 2010, 11:41 AM

This was a very hard part. I had to use parts of the in-game dialogue and improve on them to make it a story-worthy dialogue. It's easier when there are no restraints.
Anyway, here it is:



Chapter 6: Prophecies

Sul Matuul glared daggers at Zerina by my side but didn’t send her out. When I handed him the bow he was both surprised and impressed.
‘I hadn’t thought you’d be back,’ he commented. ‘It seems you are couragous and resourceful. It would be my honour to name you Clanfriend of the Urshilaku tribe. Keep the bow, you’ve earned it. Feel free to talk to our Wise-woman, unless there is more you want to ask me first.’
‘Thank you, honourable Khan,’ I replied sincerely with a bow. I could tell from looking into his eyes my respectful manners pleased him. It wasn’t hard to be sincere about it, the bow was magnificent. The stave was light and flexible yet incredibly strong. It was also enchanted but we hadn’t taken the time to figure out what it was enchanted with yet. ‘I will wield it with pride.’
Sul Matuul nodded in approval at my words. ‘As a Clanfriend, I will also allow you to sleep in any bed in our camp but if you steal from my kin, I wil revoke our hospitality.’
The weight of these word didn’t pass me by unnoticed. Not that I was of the thieving kind but I took them to heart nonetheless.

‘He was hardly any less rude than last time,’ Zerina commented softly as soon as we had exited the Ashkhan’s yurt.
I winked in reply. ‘At least he wasn’t looking at you as if you were some prized animal like the Gulukhan did last time.’
‘True,’ she chuckled. ‘Let’s go visit the wise-woman, shall we?’

‘Welcome in, Clanfriend,’ a grey-haired Dunmer woman hailed me. ‘Our Ashkhan has told me about you and said you were hard-headed and ignorant of our ways but I think that is hardly your fault. Sul Matuul has also said you claim to be the Nerevarine and that you would like to be tested against the prophecies, correct?’
‘Actually,’ I replied, ‘I would like to ask you some questions about the prophecies as well, if you’ll allow me.’
‘You are wise to come to me for counsel. Very well, ask and I will answer.’

‘Wise-woman, please tell me, what can you tell me about the Neverarine prophecies?’ I asked respectfully.
‘Well, there are many prophecies. Some true, some false, some yet to be determined but they all have one thing in common; they may suggest many things. Aspect and uncertain parents; The moon-and-star, Sleepers, Seven curses, The curses' bane, The prophecy of the Stranger,’ she ticked of on her fingers.
‘You mentioned the aspect and uncertain parents. Just recently I found out I am an orphan and have no idea who my real parents were.’
‘Well, if it’s true what you say you are indeed born on a certain date to uncertain parents; that is a part of the prophecy but doesn’t necessarily mean you are the Nerevarine. Aspect refers to the fact that individuals born under certain constellations - or more commonly known as starsigns - are said to be fortunate in their aspects. Such persons are often blessed - or cursed - with remarkable abilities or weaknesses as a result of the magical conjunctions of celestial influences.’
‘I understand. I don’t have any special powers - at least, none that I know of - and have no idea what constellation I was born under. A relative said that my mother, or rather, my stepmother, had determined my name-day on Hogithum.’
‘Lord Azura’s summoning day? How… appropriate,’ Nibeni smiled.

‘Can you tell me of the significance of the Moon-and-Star? I’ve learned it is a ring only Lord Nerevar Indoril could wear,’ I continued.
‘You are partly correct. Legend says Indoril Nerevar's family standard bore the moon and star, and Nerevar's armour and weapons bore this sign. Some say he bore a moon-and-star birthmark. Some say he had a magic ring marked with it. Others say he was born under a moon-and-star. Some claim it is just a sign of the goddess of Dusk and Dawn’s meddling. In any case, I think the moon-and-star is the mark of the Nerevarine, do you have such a mark?’
I smiled wryly. ‘Zerina,’ I gestured to her at my side, ’claims I do but I can’t see it for myself.’

Nibeni’s eyes flew open wide. ‘Show me!’ she demanded.
The two women looked at each other and smiled in a way I knew I was in trouble, I could almost feel the colour drain from my face.
‘Be a dear, and pull your pants down,’ Zerina said.
There was no escaping it so I pulled down my trousers as requested and turned around. Soon I could feel cold probing fingers going through the hairs on my left inner thigh when a finger, I hoped Zerina’s, remained on a spot just underneath the left cheek.
‘Here! This is what I mean,’ Zerina’s voice sang.
‘Yes, that birthmark does indeed resemble a moon-and-star,’ Nibeni mumbled barely understandable but the disbelief in her voice was almost tangible. ‘Maybe he really is the Nerevarine, we shall see,’ I could just make out from her muttering.

‘Sleepers,’ I surmised after having pulled my pants back up. ‘What do you suppose those are?’
Nibeni thought deeply for a while. ‘Rumours say that in the towns, mad cultists called "sleepers" are randomly, or so it seems, attacking people, saying that Dagoth Ur has awakened, and will drive the outlanders from Morrowind. Perhaps it is just coincidence, but I believe it is a sign of the Nerevarine. Not necessarily a sign that you are in fact the Nerevarine. Perhaps the time of the Nerevarine has come, and you have come at the same time. This is not passing a test, but it may mean you have some part to play in the coming of the Nerevarine.’

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 12 2010, 03:51 PM

Though you may have felt constrained by the in-game dialogue, you certainly have done well with it.

As before, I loved the part about the birthmark. I'm sure its location wasn't in the game! biggrin.gif

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 12 2010, 05:08 PM

I couldn’t agree more. It would be an easy thing for Rales to start getting an overblown sense of his own importance. The location of the birthmark is like a guarantee of his continued humility. It is almost as if Azura meant it as a parting joke. wink.gif

I thought that you did a great job with the dialogue. I remember being slightly annoyed at how much Nibeni sounded (or should I say read) like Yoda in the game. Everything was done in cryptic half-sentences. Here you give her a personality that includes some traces of humor, well done!

Posted by: mALX May 12 2010, 07:24 PM

Zerina's hints to Rales to slow down and prepare in the previous chapter were so well done!

On this chapter, since the first time I read it I must say that I have done some rudimentary research and found that ANY man that drops his drawers displays a moon with a star looking...er...ROFL - I loved it as much on the second read as I did on the first, your imagination really shines on that one!!!! Both chapters Great Write!

Posted by: Acadian May 13 2010, 01:01 AM

Caught up with the last four updates now. Plenty of action and plenty of Rales+Zerina. Wonderful stuff Remko!

Posted by: SubRosa May 13 2010, 02:52 PM

Destri gave us the Sweetroll Negotiations, and now Remko has given us the Cheek Prophecies! Seriously though, I love how you put the birthmark on his rear. As the others have noted, it keeps Rales as a down-to-Nirn person who we can relate to, in spite of the whole Nerevarine business.

It was also enchanted but we hadn’t taken the time to figure out what it was enchanted with yet.
This is one of those things that the game takes for granted. You just automatically know what ever magic item does as soon as you pick it up. Yet we writers have to find some way to rationalize or change. I still have not come up with anything definitive myself.


nits:
The segue from the Khan to the wise-woman was a bit abrupt. It took me a few sentences to realize that the grey-haired dunmer woman was in fact the wise woman. At first I thought it was a woman in the Khan's tent. Perhaps putting in a sentence between saying that Rales went to see the Wise-Woman would make things flow smoother?


Posted by: Remko May 14 2010, 11:34 AM

@SubRosa: I kinda agree with you but hoped it was clear enough because of this sentence:

QUOTE
Feel free to talk to our Wise-woman, unless there is more you want to ask me first.’

I will look into it and change it to make it more clear. I guess I cut make up some dialogue between Zerina and Rales to make it clear thgey left the Ashkhan's tent and entered the wise-woman's tent. Thanks for pointing that out smile.gif

Everyone; I took SubRosa's critique to heart and realised she was bsolutely right. So I added some lines of dialogues to smoothe the transition from the Ashkhan's yurt to the Wise-woman's. Hope you like it, it's a small pun to the part of dialogue where Zerina felt insulted by the way the Gulukhan was sizing her up like a horndog.

Posted by: SubRosa May 14 2010, 06:14 PM

That works much better! I especially liked Zerina's very natural comment.

Posted by: Remko May 14 2010, 07:45 PM

Glad to hear (read wink.gif ) you like it. Makes me feel all fuzzy inside biggrin.gif

I nodded in recognition, I had come across these strange stragglers in the major towns but had avoided them totally. ‘So, that’s who those grumpy people are.’
‘You’ve talked to them?’ Nibeni seemed surpised by that.
‘No, not really. I bumped into them, that’s about it,’ I shrugged. ‘So far, they haven’t attacked me but we have been attacked by zombie-like creatures with ashen skins several weeks ago.’
The Wise-woman nodded. ‘Dagoth’s minions, it would appear the evil underneath Red Mountain has taken an interest in you. Is there more you want to ask me?’
‘Please tell me what is meant with The Stranger.’
‘Good that you ask me about that, your humility flatters you. This is the part of the prophecy that is well-known to us. Would you like me to recite it?’
‘Yes, I would very much like to hear that.’

Nibeni scraped her throat and started:

‘When earth is sundered, and skies choked black,
And sleepers serve the seven curses,
To the hearth there comes a stranger,
Journeyed far 'neath moon and star.

Though stark-born to sire uncertain
His aspect marks his certain fate.
Wicked stalk him, righteous curse him.
Prophets speak, but all deny.

Many trials make manifest
The stranger's fate, the curses' bane.
Many touchstones try the stranger.
Many fall, but one remains.’


I swallowed a lump in my throat. ‘Again the reference to the moon-and-star,’ I thought abashedly. The first part of the verse wasn’t much of a conundrum, we had discussed several details of it but the rest of it wasn’t as straightforward.
‘Do you understand?’ Nibeni asked me, tearing me from my thoughts.
‘Partially, yes. Wicked stalk him; would this refer to the sleepers or maybe those Ash-Zombies? I don’t understand the second part of that sentence though.’
‘Don’t you see?’ Zerina interrupted. ‘The prophecy goes against all the Temple has stood for all those years. I think the righteous means the Temple; the Nerevarine prophecies are considered heresy by the Temple, aren’t they wise-woman?’

‘Listen to your woman for she speaks with wisdom,’ Nibeni answered. ‘You were right about the Wicked though, I am almost sure that is exactly what is meant by that.’ She thought for a while.
‘Or it could mean Dagoth Ur himself,’ Zerina interrupted her reverie.
Nibeni nodded, ’that thought crossed my mind too.’
‘Let me guess,’ I said. ‘The many trials part are the trials I have to go through to fulfill the prophecy? I am the stranger, or at least I could be. That much is clear to me, but what is actually meant by the curses’ bane? What curses? In the very first part of the rhyme, “and sleepers serve the seven curses” there is also the reference to sleepers and curses. Are these the same curses?’

Posted by: SubRosa May 14 2010, 09:21 PM

‘So, that’s who those grumpy people are.’
I love this line. It has a ring of understatement of British proportions.

‘Listen to your woman for she speaks with wisdom,’
Well that goes without saying, she is a woman after all! biggrin.gif

I still keep wondering about the curses, and Rales being their bane. Are they minions? Effects of Dagoth Ur in Red Mountain such as the ashfall?

Posted by: Olen May 15 2010, 12:00 AM

Good stuff. I like this piece, and I like that section of the main quest where it all starts to come togther. And he's about to become a heretic...

I want more smile.gif

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 15 2010, 12:43 AM

I like the new paragraph in the last chapter. It does indeed make the transition to the wise-woman’s hut a bit less jarring.

There isn’t much to this latest chapter is there? Just when I was becoming drawn into the discussion of the trials of the stranger and the seven curses the chapter ends. While I am all for cliffhangers, this felt a bit too abrupt for my taste.

On the positive side I am very impressed with the way that you continue to develop Zerina. It’s nice to see that she is far more than an appendage for Rales.

Posted by: mALX May 15 2010, 03:20 AM

Zerina ROCKS! She is going to drag Rales through the Nerevarine - I can't wait to read the confrontation with Dagoth Ur, now that you are up to this stage of the storyline I begin to know a little bit of the game storyline and it gets more exciting to me. Great Write!!!!!

Posted by: Remko May 15 2010, 04:09 PM

Sorry Destri, it was etiher gonna be huge or a bit short. I chose the short one. I will make it up next installment smile.gif

Posted by: minque May 15 2010, 10:08 PM

Nice Remmie! I honestly like your approach....and as others here already have said...Zerina ROCKS!!

Posted by: Remko May 17 2010, 11:40 AM

It is another Ashlander prophecy of the Nerevarine,’ Nibeni replied. ‘It is also called "The Seven Curses of the Sharmat." Sadly, I do not know it, and don’t know of anyone still alive who does. I fear it may have been lost through time. Regrettably, such things happen. A Wise-woman dies, or forgets, or a clan is wiped out. Perhaps someone knows, but is keeping it hidden. Perhaps it is in one of those many books of your settled people. I have heard that some priests of the Temple may have such books but don’t know any names.’
‘What do you think the curses’ bane means?’ Zerina asked. ‘It seems to me the Nerevarine is the curses’ bane.’
‘That seems likely, but which curse’s bane? There are so many, it’s likely it refers to the seven curses but there is no way to really tell for sure.’ The Wise-woman shrugged. ‘In the prophecy of the Seven Visions there is also some mentioning of curses. Maybe it will help you to hear that too? The full name of this prophecy is called “Seven Visions of Seven Trials of the Incarnate”’.

Seven trials
What he puts his hand to, that shall be done.
What is left undone, that shall be done.
First trial
On a certain day to uncertain parents
Incarnate moon and star reborn.
Second trial
Neither blight nor age can harm him.
The Curse-of-Flesh before him flies.
Third trial
In caverns dark Azura's eye sees
and makes to shine the moon and star.
Fourth trial
A stranger's voice unites the Houses.
Three Halls call him Hortator.
Fifth trial
A stranger's hand unites the Velothi.
Four Tribes call him Nerevarine.
Sixth trial
He honours blood of the tribe unmourned.
He eats their sin, and is reborn.
Seventh trial
His mercy frees the cursed false gods,
Binds the broken, redeems the mad.
One destiny
He speaks the law for Veloth's people.
He speaks for their land, and names them great


‘You already understood the importance of the trials; they determine who the Nerevarine will be and what he will have to go through to fulfill his destiny. I will not say I completely understand it all, because quite honestly, I don’t, but if you wish, we can discuss the trials together and try to make more sense of it. Some of it is very similar to the prophecy of the seven visions.’
‘Like the first trial?’ I interjected. ‘It sounded very similar to the first verse of The Stranger prophecy.’
‘Exactly,’ Nibeni confirmed. ‘The second trial is more difficult to understand though. I have thought that one over and over but it still isn’t quite clear to me. I think the Curse-of-Flesh means the Corprus disease, I assume you know about that?’
I hesitated. Rumours had reached my ears about deformed people but I hadn’t seen it for myself. ‘I’ve heard about it.’
‘The Corprus disease causes terrible deformed growth on its victims, on both men and beasts. Maybe the Nerevarine can cure this awful disease, maybe it is another sign of the Nerevarine. I don’t know what is meant by “Neither blight nor age can touch him”, it is stil a mystery to me.’
‘Maybe it implicates an Elf will be the Nerevarine? Elves have far longer life-spans then humans,’ Zerina suggested.
‘Maybe, but I don’t think so. We are still touched by time and will age eventually,’ Nibeni answered and looked at me intensely. ‘I fear it is up to you to find that out.’

‘What of the third trial?’
Nibeni shook her head frantically. ‘Legend says there is a cave with a shrine to Lord Azura, called the Cavern of the Incarnate. There are secrets about this cavern I can’t tell you, at least, not yet. Please, do not ask me of that.’
‘All right, I respect that although I don’t understand. Then, please tell me, am I right in thinking the Velothi is another word for us, the Dunmer? I remember reading somewhere when we visited Vivec it was Saint Veloth who led our common ancestors to this land.’
My question clearly fascinated and pleased Nibeni.
‘You are correct. The Velothi are the Dunmer, all Dunmer. The last time the Velothi were united underneath one banner, it was underneath Nerevar’s banner at the battle of Red Mountain, thousands of years ago. One destiny, one people. Nerevar will return and unite the Velothi - the Dunmer if you will - once more and restore the greatness of the Velothi people.

‘One last question.’ I was tired and noticed I could hardly focus anymore. ‘I’m sure I will come up with more soon enough but what is a Hortator exactly?’
‘A Hortator is the war-leader, named and agreed upon by all the Great Houses. For a Hortator to be named, the Great Houses must put aside their petty differences and suspend fueds to stand as one against the common enemy. The last time this has happened was when the Septim Usurper unjustly invaded our land.’ Nibeni emphasized “our”, in such a way I thought it unwise to inform her I was actually instructed by the Emperor’s Imperial Spymaster to seek out the Urshilaku and chase after the meaning of the Prophecies. It was becoming clear however, that the Nerevarine prophecy was bigger than me, bigger than the Emperor, bigger than the Empire even.

Posted by: SubRosa May 17 2010, 05:03 PM

Very cool. So it looks like Rales will be visiting a cave in the near future? and his birthmark will glow? biggrin.gif

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 17 2010, 05:55 PM

So it looks like Rales will be visiting a cave in the near future? and his birthmark will glow?

He, he, that'll make an interesting chapter!

Thanks for explaining the prophecies to me, I've never been a big one for them. They tend to be overdone in fantasies, but in your story, with Rales and Zerina's personalities, the prophecies fit quite well instead of being a contrived plot element. Well done!

Posted by: mALX May 17 2010, 06:14 PM

This part gets fascinating to me, because it is a part to the game I never knew you had to do before confronting Dagoth Ur - I love this!!!

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 18 2010, 01:29 AM

QUOTE(Remko @ May 15 2010, 08:09 AM) *

Sorry Destri, it was etiher gonna be huge or a bit short. I chose the short one. I will make it up next installment smile.gif

No worries. I only made the comment because this is one of the seminal moments in Morrowind and I don’t want you to think that you need to break it up for our benefit.

I like the way that you are taking your time dissecting the prophecies. I wonder if Nibeni’s reluctance to tell Rales about the Cave of the Incarnate has more to do with mistrust, or fear. The early description of Corprus brought back bad memories!

Rales is being shown the map that he must follow to embody his destiny, here’s hoping that he is equal to the trials ahead.

Posted by: Acadian May 19 2010, 07:06 PM

I don't know from prophecies, so this is all new to me. . . and fun to read and discover. biggrin.gif

Posted by: minque May 21 2010, 10:29 PM

ohh now he's into it! i'm very fond of the little dunmer, so fond of him! haha he's related to my charachter....that's awesome.!

More Rem, please!

Posted by: Remko May 26 2010, 11:32 AM

A short one but that's because I am still working on what comes after it. smile.gif It comes hard, don't know why so might take me another week getting it updated (still no Word on my own PC so can only work on it for 1 maybe 2 hours in a week)

‘A Hortator sets an example, he takes the fight to the enemy and vanquishes the evil in its own lair. As Hortator and Nerevarine, you must unite the Velothi. The Great Houses and the four tribes; The Urshilaku, The Erabenimsun, the Ahemussa and the Zainab tribe. Uniting the four tribes that have been warring each other for centuries would truly be a miracle. A miracle the Nerevarine must perform.
‘Like in the fourth and fifth trial?’ Zerina commented.
‘Exactly,’ Nibeni nodded. ‘But first,’ she eyed the both of us. ‘you must rest. You can use my tent, I need to speak to Sul-Matuul anyway and will be away for hours.’ As she laid her hand on the the leather slab that acted as a door, the Wise-Woman turned towards us and winked. ‘Behave.’
Zerina and I looked at echother grinning ear-to-ear. ‘We will,’ we said in unison.
‘Good.’

Of course, as soon as we had laid ourselves down onto the thin, but surprisingly comfortable bedrolls, it took mere seconds for the both of us to fall asleep.
How exhausted we had been exactly was obvious the following day. Apparently we had slept over twelve hours straight because when we emerged Nibeni’s tent, it was already mid-day.
‘Feeling rested?’ Nibeni asked us when we encountered her outside.
‘Very,’ I answered. ‘Thank you. We hope we didn’t keep you from your own nightrest though.’
She smiled mysteriously. ‘No, Sul-Matuul and I are…close friends.’

‘I am starving, let’s go find something to eat,’ I said smilingly. I was hungry but it was more a subtle way to move the conversation away from Nibeni’s love-life I didn’t really wanted to learn more about.
‘Finally. Some sense,’ Zerina jested and rolled her eyes towards the heavens.
I scoffed. ‘I didn’t hear you come up with it.’
She hugged me still laughing. ‘Sometimes you’re adorable, Rales.’
I wasn’t sure that was entirely a good thing but how could I keep a grudge with her?

The Wise-Woman showed us where we could restock our exhausted supplies. The trader also sold us some bowstrings. To prevent the disaster from last time, we stored the strings in a small oiled leather sack and hung it around my neck for safe keeping. For all we knew, our lives could depend on it.
One string was used for the bow we so painstakedly had retrieved from the tomb and what a weapon it proved to be! Sul-Matuul had said his father had named it Bonebiter and it was clear why. With the drain-agility enchantment on it activated, its target was rendered practically helpless and could be picked off easily. Like shooting cliffracers in a cage. It wasn’t as powerful as a longbow nor did it have the range of one but it was extremely light and the enchantment more than made up for the disadvantages. Even Zerina could easily handle and string it.

Posted by: Olen May 26 2010, 12:48 PM

It's been wholly too ling since I replied here. Great as ever, and good to se it continued. I love reading about Morrowind, it's making me think of writing something set there.

It's excitingly written and I can't wait to see how you handle the next quest...

EDIT (after post below): I know I'm writing something in morrowind but it only touched on Vvardenfel and was set about 30 years after the Nerevarine.

Posted by: SubRosa May 26 2010, 04:44 PM

Ahh, the ever adorable Rales. smile.gif Good to see him (and Zerina) back. He has to unite all of the Velothi? Yikes, killing Dagoth Ur sounds much easier!


QUOTE(Olen @ May 26 2010, 07:48 AM) *

I love reading about Morrowind, it's making me think of writing something set there.

You are writing something set there! biggrin.gif

Posted by: Destri Melarg May 26 2010, 05:17 PM

QUOTE
‘No, Sul Matuul and I are...old friends.’

I am 100% with Rales on this, some images are best left unseen! Now I can never play Morrowind again without imagining the two of them together!
QUOTE
Like shooting cliffracers in a cage.

I love the lore-friendly analogy!

I think we all know what it’s like when the words just refuse to come. All you can do is keep plugging away at it. I hope you get your new PC soon so that we can get more Rales and Zerina!

Posted by: mALX May 26 2010, 05:59 PM

A turkey shoot with cliffracers!!!!!! My favorite line was already picked by Destri, but it is worth posting twice!!!!! Love it!!!

Posted by: haute ecole rider May 26 2010, 06:13 PM

This made me smile:

QUOTE
I was hungry but it was more a subtle way to move the conversation away from Nibeni’s love-life I didn’t really wanted to learn more about.


Glad to see an update of Rales and Zerina!

Posted by: Acadian May 26 2010, 08:10 PM

This short story was stuffed with names that are foreign to me; that's why Rales is my guide to Morrowind, lol. The love between Rales and Zerina continues to shine like a wonderful beacon though. Well done!

Posted by: Remko May 27 2010, 11:20 AM

Thanks for the kind words everyone smile.gif

PC isn't the problem, I have an awesome machine biggrin.gif The problem is that I have windows 7 HE premium and that doesn't include the Office package. kvright.gif

Words are starting to come. I actually wrote a couple of sentences yesterday hehe. sometimes all you need is a single sentence to set an entire chapter into motion. Just need to find that one laugh.gif

Posted by: Olen May 27 2010, 01:00 PM

QUOTE
The problem is that I have windows 7 HE premium and that doesn't include the Office package.

A couple of suggestions:
http://abisource.com/ is very much like Microsoft Word and can read and save as .doc format. It's free and open-source so no need to pay, it's stable and no nasty surprises. It's also availible in a variety of languages. IMO it's better than Open Office Writer unless you need to embed graphs (which I'm not expecting to see in Reles... tongue.gif)
If you don't want to install software then http://docs.google.com/ isn't too dreadful and runs in browser. It has spell check etc.

Just a couple of options if you get a sudden urge to write...

Posted by: Remko May 27 2010, 03:11 PM

Thanks Olen! Will have a look at that tonight smile.gif Office package costs about 80 Euro so this is a much cheaper solution to my problem.

Posted by: Zalphon May 31 2010, 10:19 PM

Wow, Rales. You've changed so much over the time I've read of your crazy adventures. Perhaps you could take me, a humble scribe along with you? I have basic knowledge of first-aid and can be of assistance, Mr. Sarethi.

Posted by: Remko Jun 1 2010, 05:41 PM

An update. (yes really hehe) Let me know what you think. I had to move the story on but I hope I dind't cut too many corners. I allowed myself some leniancy from how the game goes. Some events in Tower of Fyr are a bit strange. Everyone having played through the mq will know what I mean. The thing with the boots you have to get...
Anyway, I won't spoil anymore; here it is.


Chapter 7: Decisions

Happily we trotted around the grazelands aimlessly for days. Having suspended the fulfillment of my destiny, it was like a load had fallen of my chest. I imagined even breathing came easier. Again, we lived on what Vvardenfell had to offer and on the supplies we had purchased in the Urshilaku camp. Zerina and I had hourlong conversations and training sessions together. Every night she amazed me with her arcane skills and a certain night she had entrusted me with a secret that had blown me away. Her mother was originally a powerful Telvanni mage but had refused to become a councillor. In fact; she was now an exile because she had freed a slave and had run off with him.
When I asked her if Athyn had known that truth she had shaken her head. Appararently, Telvanni wizards usually are rather eccentric and keep everything that happens within the House silent. Her mother and her father had been helped by another Telvanni master-wizard but she wouldn’t disclose who because her mother had vowed never to tell it to anyone.

We utterly lost track of time as we slowly headed south. Days became weeks and weeks became months as we got to see most of the northern part of Vvardenfell. The only indication of the passing seasons was an increase in temperature. Zerina still bathed every single night before going to bed and I was increasingly less reluctant to join her in the cold rivers. When we got close to a town – a smoking chimney usually was the tell-tale of a nearby settlement – we briefly entered for supplies that were hard to get by, like salt and fresh water, and had our gear repaired when necessary. After all the months of hard use – sometimes as a shovel when needed – Wretched still didn’t show any signs of being dull or of burs anywhere. ‘Forged with Oblivion’s blood,’ Zerina had said.

Zerina was most impressed with the improvement of my magical skills in the few months we had been practicing it. Over time I even managed to cast a spell while in combat. Deliberately, we looked up places where I and Zerina could practice my skills. Some were easy, some had ended with me needing healing. Badly. And, of course, at the times I needed it most, Zerina refused and said I had to do it myself.
Initially, I was puzzled why but soon - as I was patching up another bloody hole in my leg from a dart - it dawned to me it actually made sense. I had to be ready to heal myself in an emergency situation, even when wounded badly. My life could depend on it.


Several months after we had left the Urshilaku camp we returned to Balmora, only to find our house in a dreadful shape. Fear of what might have happened seeped into both of our minds. All colour drained from Zerina’s face when she noticed stains of long-dried blood all over the place. Her mouth formed the word “Uryne” and I could see her eyes filling up with tears. With trembling hands I opened a dusty letter I found on our doormat.

Sera Rales and Zerina,

With pain in our heart we inform you about another attack on your house while you were away. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to locate you to inform you about the dreadful news and hope you find this letter soon. The Sixth House scourge have slain Uryne and


I could’t read any further. I sank to my knees while tears poured down my cheeks.
‘Why?’ I screamed and threw my arms up to the sky in despair. ‘Why her? I should have been here! I could have…’
‘Shhh..’ Zerina shushed me gently while kneeling next to me and embracing me. ‘No point in torturing yourself with such thoughts. We did what we had to do.’
I shook my head violently in anger and grief. All of my uncertainty, fear and hate converged into a smouldering point in my mind and exploded in a single burst. The Sixth House was going to pay. Dearly. I growled like an animal and jumped to my legs. Again, I lost all restraints and self-control. Not even Zerina could calm me down that day. She didn’t even try.

***

In my blind rage I stumbled into a familiar cave. I should have recognised it but I didn’t. The last thing I remember was a maniacal cackle and a malevolant shroud engulfing me. Every now and then I had brief moments of clarity after that but they were as incoherent as my own dispersed state of mind.

‘Found him wandering around, mumbling your name over and over.’

‘Bring him in, gently.’

‘…. can’t help him, maybe our old friend…..’

‘…...it could kill him….’ A coarse voice.

‘He’ll die anyway if we don’t.’

A burning potion was poured down my throat. I could feel it make its way to through my throat, into my stomach and spreading from there.

‘It’s working!’ The same coarse voice again. ‘The symptoms are vanishing.’

Then… darkness.

***

‘How are you feeling?’ I recognised that voice.
‘Weird. Like I haven’t been myself lately. Where am I?’
‘With an old friend.’
I started looking around me. My day brightened when I saw Zerina’s smiling face. Around me several Dunmer were standing, most of them I didn’t know. A very old man, dressed head-to-toe in armour as black as Wretched, was intensely looking down at me. ‘You were lucky, Rales,’ he breathed. ‘So far, you have been the only one ever to survive.’
‘Survive?’ I mumbled. ‘Survive what?’
‘Corprus,’ was the short answer. ‘You attracted the Corprus disease somewhere, so you might not feel like yourself for some time.’
He was right, I didn’t feel like myself at all. Something was different. I felt stronger, yet weaker at the same time. My mind was sluggish.
‘We decided to use my cure - well, it’s not really a cure, I will explain later - on you even though it hasn’t worked before. We were afraid it would kill you like it has previous cases but if we hadn’t you would’ve either perished or ended up like my poor patients in my Corprusarium anyway. Rest now, we will explain later.’

Posted by: mALX Jun 1 2010, 05:59 PM

Oooh! You really stepped it up in this one!!! Awesome emotional scenes, you did excellent on them!!! Oh! And I can't wait, here comes Divayth Fyr!!!! WOOOOOO HOOOO !!!!!

Posted by: haute ecole rider Jun 1 2010, 06:10 PM

Now this is new to me! Are we now up to new stuff for you as well?

Certain diseases have a way of blurring time and space for their sufferers. Good job on capturing that void and confusion!

More, please!

Posted by: Remko Jun 1 2010, 06:26 PM

The wandering around in the Grazelands was a double-sided edge. I needed the couple away for a time to insert some drama.
I also moved it away from the game's events slightly. It always struck me as odd the PC gets Corprus (which basically turns you into a unthinking, berserking monster) and still manages to keep his/her head straight and find his/her way back to Caius before being sent out to find a cure. wacko.gif
I gave it my own twist, glad you liked it smile.gif
Updates will come quicker now again. cool.gif

Posted by: SubRosa Jun 1 2010, 09:20 PM

Yay! Rales returns!

Things are pushing on quickly I see. With the attack on Rale's house, his becoming a corpuscle, and the 'cure'. I have not played far enough into Morrowind to be familiar with what that really is, so I am rapt to discover it in future posts.

Posted by: Destri Melarg Jun 2 2010, 12:10 AM

Interesting revelations about Zerina’s mother! They shed a good deal of light on the origins of Zerina’s arcane skill. I think I know who the Telvanni master-wizard who helped her mother and father is; it will be interesting to see if I am right.

You don’t have to worry about changing some of the MQ around to suit the demands of your story. Your reasoning for doing it is sound; I wondered the same thing myself. Your new version of it, especially Rales’ motivation for seeking out Illunibi, is fantastic! I believe Rales has just fulfilled another part of the prophecy! wink.gif

Posted by: Remko Jun 2 2010, 03:09 PM

Having found my schwung again, I got another update.

I closed my eyes. What had I gotten myself into this time? And where exactly was I?
The short glimpses I had cast around earlier, indicated I was in what looked like a tower where a strange, organic smell linguired all around. I wondered if I was in one of the fabled Telvanni Wizard’s tower. ‘With an old friend,’ Zerina had said. I chuckled softly when I recalled his face. ‘Old indeed,’ I mumbled to no-one in particular.
I couldn’t help but wondering if the old man had been the Telvanni wizard that had helped Zerina’s parents escape.

Several hours later the old man had gathered all of us in his study. He was behind his desk with four women standing behind him that strangely enough all resembled him. I think he noticed I was staring at them. ‘My daughters,’ he said proudly. ‘Made from my own flesh and blood. My wife died ages ago and we always wanted children but couldn’t have any so I made them them in her honour. In fact, initially they were a side-effect from some of my experiments with the Corprus disease. ’ He briefly he looked at his daughters affectionately and continued with a melancholic tone. ‘If only they could have looked like her. But they helped make my long life beareble. Don’t know what I would have done without them these last few hundred years.’
The middle-left one briefly placed her hand on her father’s shoulder and the old man put his hand on hers. ‘Sweet Beyte,’ he mumbled.

The old wizard directed his gaze upon me. ‘As you may have understand by now, you are in Tel Fyr, my tower. My name is Divayth Fyr and these are my daughters. It would appear you have fulfilled another of the Nerevarine Prophecies. Supposedly, only the prophesised re-incarnation of our Lord Nerevar could survive the Divine Disease - or Corprus disease as you know it. Zerina has told me all about your… ah- adventures. Like I said earlier; you were not cured of Corprus - it can’t be cured - but the potion I gave you stopped the disease from spreading and causing the awful deformation to recede and cease forever. However; there are some..... interesting side-effects you should know about. First of all; you will be now immune to all diseases. Second, you may not like this, age will also not catch up on you.’ He paused to let it sink in, and sink in it did. I paled.
‘Surely you don’t mean I..’ I didn’t finish the sentence.
The wizard nodded slowly. ‘That’s exactly what I mean.’
‘That sounds…. lonely,’ I commented.
‘True,’ Fyr answered. ‘Immortality is a burden you will have to learn to live with. It can be lonely at times.’ He smiled briefly. The smile warmed up his wrinkled face and lit up his eyes. ‘However; it seems you have found someone to spend the exceptional long-life with you.’ His gleeming eyes fixed on Zerina for several moments and then looked at me again. ‘Hmm,’ he hummed, ‘judging your response, she hasn’t told you yet.’

I was at a loss for words. First of all because the old man could read me like a book and second because of what he had said about Zerina.
‘I am sorry, my love,’ she excused herself while looking down. ‘I just didn’t know how to tell you. I-,’ she sighed. ‘I am a lot older than you might think.’ Zerina looked in my eyes, the truth was evident.
It all clicked into place for me. Her mysteriousness sometimes suddenly made sense. As did her arcane skills.

‘So, how old are you really?’ I asked her whisperingly.
‘I was born a hundred-fourty-two years ago. The magical powers I inherited from my mother have severely slowed my aging process, like it did with my mother and my godfather.’
‘He,’ I looked at the ancient wizard behind his desk. ‘is your godfather?’ I had never been more confused with my emotions in my entire life. On one side I was exuberantly happy that I had someone like Zerina to share my exceptional long life, on the other side I was not sure how I should feel about being an immortal. Divayth made it very clear that as long as I wasn’t killed by unnatural ways - like a sword or poison - I would never grow old and would never die. That was distinctly different from the mages. Looking at the ancient master-wizard I could clearly see age eventually did catch up on them, regardless of how powerful they were. But I had no idea when.

‘Dare I ask, Lord Fyr; how old are you?’ I needed to know. I couldn’t imagine me spending aeons without my beloved.
‘Let me guess Rales, you are worried of ending up alone?’ I nodded and Divayth shook his head amusedly. ‘To be honest, I have lost count but I think about four thousand years, so you don’t have to worry about that for quite some time.’
‘Four thousand years….’ I breathed in awe.
The wizard winked at us both. ‘And should you end up alone before that, it would suggest you got her killed. In that case; I promise you, you don’t have to worry about living much longer anyway.’ He said it as a joke but I knew it wasn’t.
Luckily for me, I didn’t intend on getting her killed.

Posted by: Acadian Jun 2 2010, 04:44 PM

Yay! If they don't screw up and get themselves killed, Rales and Zerina could be together for a veerryy long time. biggrin.gif

Posted by: Olen Jun 2 2010, 05:15 PM

Good to catch up on this again smile.gif

Fyr has to be my favourite character from Morrowind and I like your take on him. I agree that jumping that last bit of the main quest somewhat was a good narrative decision seeing as the build up was really towards him being named nerevarine and horator. I can't wait to read about that.

Posted by: SubRosa Jun 2 2010, 10:47 PM

Very cool! I liked how you linked Zerina into it all, as she creates a bridge between Rales and Divyath. At the same time it hints that their meeting may not have been quite as accidental as it first appeared. Rather perhaps there was a divine (or infernal?) hand guiding things?

nits:
But they helped make my long life bareble.
You want bearable there. Bare is to unclothe, or be without covering.


or Corpres disease as you know it
Corpus?


I was at a losfer words.
That is loss for

Posted by: Destri Melarg Jun 3 2010, 12:11 AM

Well, turns out I was wrong about the identity of the Telvanni master-wizard. I thought it would be Demnevanni because of his proximity.

You know, it wasn’t until reading this chapter that the side effect of immortality resonated with me. When my character was cured of corprus I concentrated more on the immunity to disease and the fact that I no longer had to quaff potions like a vampire in Oblivion. Once again I think that Rales should thank Azura for putting someone like Zerina into his life. She looks great for being a hundred and forty-two years old!

I hesitate to think about them together four thousand years into the future. Can you imagine the nagging?! ohmy.gif

Posted by: SubRosa Jun 3 2010, 12:22 AM

Destri's comment about how Rales approaches the idea immortality is one I thought I would reply again to agree with. You did that quite well. It reminds me of Karl Edward Wagner's character Kane (who killed Abel) who was cursed with immortality, and the way Wagner presented it, immortality was definitely a curse.

Posted by: Remko Jun 3 2010, 10:09 AM

The take on immortality I've adopted actually kind of comes from the film Highlander but mostly from the song "Who wants to live Forever" by Queen and a little from "Interview with a Vampire". I am not really a big fan of Queen necessarily but the lyrics from that particular song always stuck with me.

@DestriPfaaww.. no nagging with my happy couple wink.gif

Posted by: Remko Jun 3 2010, 01:17 PM

As I said, I had some trouble getting the story to run after their "fun" in the Urshilaku tomb but now it all comes fluently again smile.gif Writing about Divayth is big fun. I am trying to portray him a bit as though he was kind of Zerina's grandfather so he may be a bit more cheerful than he should be. Come to think of it, my story "lacks" detestable personae anyway. Should I try to incorporate some?

I hope you all like the new parts smile.gif

‘What about the children we want together after all this?’ I said softly, almost afraid of the answer. ‘Will they share our life-span?’
The corners of Zerina’s mouth dropped. It was clear she hadn’t thought about that yet.
‘Uncertain,’ Fyr answered. ‘The situation you two are in is unprecedented throughout history. Who knows?’ he ended with a shrug and a wry smile.
An unsatisfactory answer but an answer none-the-less.

Divayth stroked his white goatee and moustache thinkingly for a while. ‘It would be interesting to find out though,’ he commented misschievously. Zerina and I looked at eachother for a while, not sure how to react to his interest.
‘You know what, before you decide to have children, come to me first. I will discuss your little- eeuhhm… issue with Baladas. He’s been reading up into that material. I have been wanting to visit him for, well-,’ he smiled briefly and winked again, ‘a couple of hundreds years actually. Time does fly, doesn’t it?’ Suddenly, the wizard got distracted and mumbled something about some armour and started rummaging through a chest next to his desk.
‘Ah, here it is,’ he exclaimed and pulled out a glowing cuirass of the like which I had seen only once before. Only the Lord’s Mail Zerina and I had retrieved from underneath Ebonheart could compete with the splendour of the cuirass Fyr held out reverently.

‘It’s a bit old - ancient in fact - but she,’ he gestured to Zerina, ‘told me about your resentment of heavy armour. You might like this, it’s really light and flexible and will protect you from magical attacks to a certain degree. Hmmm, Cuirass of the Saviour’s Hide it’s called if I remember correctly. I know; it sounds horrible,’ he laughed. ‘Take it, it will be of use to you come your confrontation with Dagoth Ur and his minions underneath Red Mountain.’

Gratefully I took the armour Divayth held out. He was right, it was really light, it weighed about half of the Lord’s Mail and was far more flexible than anything I had ever seen before. I didn’t dare guessing at the value of it nor dare insulting the wizard by saying I couldn’t take it because it was too valuable. Looking around his study, it was easy to see the ancient mage hadn’t a use for coin. Invaluable items were cluttered in his cupboards and weaponracks. I recognised several priceless ebony and daedric weapons. Not to mention the extemely rare daedric armour the wizard was wearing.
‘Thank you,’ I simply said and bowed slightly.
‘You are most welcome, son,’ he answered smilingly. ‘Oh, you also might want to take closer a look at some of the weapons you’ve been eying.’

I suddenly became aware of the lack of a sword strapped around my waist. The question was apparent on my face.
‘I am so sorry Rales,’ Zerina excused herself. ‘When they brought you in, Wretched wasn’t with you anymore.’
‘It’s gone?’ I whispered in disbelief. I couldn’t fathom I had lost Wretched in my disease-induced delirium. Even though I had hated it at the same time, the blade and I had been through so much together, it felt like I had lost an old friend.
‘Take anything you like,’ I have no need for them,’ Divayth added.
Slowly I strolled past all of the weapon racks weighing and balancing the exquisite blades on display. Finally, I stuck to a hellish looking Katana that felt just right. It was heavier than Wretched had been but the balance more than made up for it.

Divayth nodded in approval. ‘Good blade you are holding there. You know, you could have it enchanted to increase the effectiveness of it even more. Or how about a feather enchantment so it feels much lighter?’
The idea of such a formidable weapon feeling lighter appealed to me a lot. Offensive echantments are nice but they always seem to run out of charge when it’s least convenient. My heavy weapons training with the Nord in Balmora, what appeared to be ages ago, helped me a lot but heavy weapons are always that; heavy and encumbersome.
‘Look up my fiend Yagarn in the Corprusarium, he can enchant that blade for you and might have some interesting things to say to you as well. Zerina, remember not to come too close to my patients. The disease doesn't seem to be airbourne but can be transferred by touch. Raise your shield to make sure you don't catch it. It would break my heart to have you down there permanently.’
‘Thank you Lord Fyr,’ I neighed my head respectfully.
He waved his hand dismissively. ‘Call me Divayth, all of my friends do. Now, get out of here so I can finally get some work done again,’ he winked.

Posted by: SubRosa Jun 3 2010, 02:40 PM

You are right, Divayth - or should I say Uncle Divayth? - was very personable. Although I do keep in mind that being Zerina's godfather, he is likely to be predisposed to be a little nicer to Rales than any schmo off the street. Lucky for him he is not a godfather in the sense that Al Pacino was in the Godfather films!

There is nothing wrong with not have irascible characters in your fiction. They can add some interest however.

I feel the same way as Rales does about losing his sword. No Wretched! That is like an elf not having pointed ears, or Homer Simpson without beer! I always loved the name Wretched btw. That was one you created was it not?

nits:
I had retrieved from underneath Ebonheart could strife with the splendour of the cuirass Fyr held out reverantly.
Strife sounds awkward there. I think you mean compete? Also you have a typo in reverently.


‘told me about your rescentment of heavy armour.
A typo in resentment. You might also consider using the word disliking instead.

Posted by: Remko Jun 3 2010, 04:00 PM

Yes, I made up the name Wretched for the sword myself. smile.gif

The words you suggested I should change are exactly the ones I doubted about whether or not I got the spelling right... guess not laugh.gif laugh.gif Thanks for pointing them out.

I am sticking with resentment. I want Divayth to speak scholarly, to the point of being formal but not too formal.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Jun 3 2010, 04:06 PM

I too find it difficult to write hateful characters in my fiction, too. I always end up giving them some kind of redeeming quality.

I enjoyed this, but my heart sank when I realized that Firen had lost Wretched. That's like Julian losing her Kvatch Wolf! (which she does, eventually).

SubRosa has caught the typos I noticed, so no nits from me.


Posted by: Remko Jun 3 2010, 04:12 PM

errr. H.E.R.... Firen? Rales you mean? tongue.gif

The loss of Wretched is loosely based on my game char swapping the Ebony longsword for a Daedric Katana at some point. But I wanted to make it a bit more dramatical than just discarding a sword for a better one. In my opinion, a swordfighter gets attached to his blade. The blade in its turn has to be just right for the wielder. So I deiced to have him lose it while under the influance of Corprus. smile.gif Glad you liked it.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Jun 3 2010, 04:37 PM

Oops, my mistake!

yes, Rales.

and I agree about a fighter becoming attached to his/her weapon. Especially one that has lasted as long as Wretched (or Julian's katana and Kvatch Wolf), through so much, it's hard losing it. One's hand feels so strange without it.

Posted by: Olen Jun 3 2010, 07:44 PM

Divayth certainly doesn't want for coin... I swear he just put ten septims into a high interest account when he was young wink.gif . I said I liked him and I still do, you show him as very friendly as he is in game and then some.

And wretched gone, I shuld hope the new sword develops a name soon. A daedric katana with a feather enchantment... sounds... nasty...


Posted by: mALX Jun 3 2010, 10:57 PM

I knew it was Divayth! Yeah! And in the early chapters Rales said, "And we still are." (happy together) - WOO HOO !!!!!! I love this, of course you know how much I love Divayth anyway - I think you did an Awesome job portraying him !!!!

I agree with you about that attachment to a sword, it fits your hand automatically after a period, you know its strengths and weaknesses - it becomes your friend that is by your side at all times whether others are or not.

I am loving these new chapters!!!!

Posted by: Destri Melarg Jun 3 2010, 11:41 PM

I don’t know how much you want to stray into the lore for a name for the new sword. But since daedric material comes from ebony refined and crafted by the magic of Oblivion’s lesser minions, and since Azura remains Rales’ patron as Nerevarine, Why not name the sword after Azura’s plane of Oblivion: Moonshadow? It certainly fits with the Moon-and-Star relic that identifies the Nerevarine.

As for writing disreputable characters, you should try it. There is something positively liberating about writing a character that just doesn’t give a @#%&! When you do, just make sure that you give him/her some moral imperative that allows him/her to justify actions that the rest of the world would find reprehensible.

Posted by: Remko Jun 4 2010, 10:04 AM

Glad you all like what I've done with Divayth. cool.gif

Not sure I am going to name his new sword. The name "Wretched" came spontanuously because of his love/hate relationship with it. Don't want the name to be to contrived. Moonshadow, think I'd prefer Moonshard. Thanks for the idea though Destri. biggrin.gif

Well, I still have the Redoran/Sarethi questline I have some ideas about. God, I hated the arch-master in the game... And then there's Neloth and the Telvanni arch-master.... Hmmmmm...

Posted by: Remko Jun 7 2010, 12:00 PM

In yhis chapter I am trying something new. I hope you like it. I also gave Yagrum a bit more to say than in the game.


Apparently, Telvanni master-wizards have no need for stairs because there were none to be found in Fyr’s tower. Although my arcane skill had improved over the last few months, I was still suffering from the drawback of Corprus and wasn’t quite myself yet. I couldn’t focus my will enough to cast a spell to get me safely down so Zerina cast what she called a “slowfall” spell on me and on herself, allowing us to float down the hole gently. It was completely safe but it still felt good having both of my feet on the ground again. It didn’t take us long to find the huge door leading to Divayth’s Corprusarium. An Argonian, who introduced himself as Vistha-Kai, was guarding the passage into the bowels and warned us not to harm the inmates in any way. He wouldn’t less us pass before we solemnly vowed to leave them in peace.

‘Was I deformed like that as well?’ I asked shudderingly when we entered the bowels of the Corprusarium. Several, barely recognisable as human beings, were aimlessly wandering around while moaning in an completely un-understable language. To be fair, they had plenty to moan about it, no one deserved the awful fate the poor buggers were suffering down there. What sort of madman could justify this horror and call it the “divine disease”?
‘Not as bad as the poor victims you see here but if we hadn’t found you as timely as we did, we wouldn’t have been able to recognise you and you would have been lost to us forever,’ Zerina answered, her voice trembling.

Cold chills ran down my spine as I observed the diseased while we snuck by them so we wouldn’t arouse their anger.
To be honest, I wondered if it wouldn’t be more humane putting them out of their misery but no one deserves death. Besides, maybe studying them would eventually lead to a real cure. As Divayth had stated, so far I had been the only one ever to recover from Corprus meaning the cure was either faulty or just not finished. Had it been luck I had survived or was it providence?

As we slowly made our way down to Divayth’s friend Yagrum my mind starting wandering off to months ago in the Urshilaku camp going over the prophecies with Nibeni.

Neither age nor blight can touch him. The Curse-Of-Flesh before him flies

It seemed Nibeni was right about the Curse-Of-Flesh. It was indeed referring to Corprus; the deadly disease I had conquered and what had rendered me immortal. We had solved the mystery but the price was terrible. What else had those damned prophecies in stock for me? What more did we need to suffer before this whole Nerevarine business was finished?
Shaking my head I pushed the worrying to the back of my mind and focused on the task at hand; finding Divayth’s friend Yagrum down there. I assumed he was a master-wizard like Divayth, helping him with his research of the dreaded disease.
Nothing could have prepared us for what we were about to encounter.

Amidst all the horrors down there, there was a carpeted spot and several cupboards like someone was actually living down there. I almost drew my new blade to protect us from what I thought was a construct like I had encountered in the ancient Dwemer ruins. There was some things that set it apart from the mechanical monstrosities. First of all, it was partially organic and partially mechanical. Its upper torso was awfully deformed - much like Corprus victims I realised - and its lower body looked like a metal spider. Secondly, it - or rather, he - spoke.

‘Ye here ta gawk at the last Dwemer or are ye sent by the old coot in his tower?’
Suddenly he became a lot more friendly when his gaze fixed on Zerina.
‘Is tha you ‘Rina?’ he asked, while scratching his monstrous belly briefly. ‘Last time I saw ye, ye were- hmmm… this high,’ he said laughingly while indicating four feet from the ground with his hand. ‘Hmm, I s'pose ye don’t remember, it has been over a hundred years ago.’
His ugly face was split into by a sincere grin.’It seems ye done better than I did,’ and looked down his deformed body. ‘Div and I have been able to slow down me deformation but haven’t been able to find a cure. All the poor buggers keep droppin’ dead when we give them the poison Div’s been brewin'. Anyway, enough of me naggin'. Why ye really here?’

‘Are you Yagrum?’ I asked him dumbstruck.
‘Aye, that be me, Yagrum Bagarn, the last livin’ Dwemer - as far as I know - and master crafter with Lord Kagrenac,’ he proudly stated. ‘What can I do for ye?’
‘I thought all the Dwemer had disappeared?’ I asked him, forgetting why we were down there.
‘Aye,’ he answered, the smile on his face replaced with a sorrowful expression. ‘I was in a different realm when Kagrenac’s tools became my race’s undoin’ so I was spared. Y’know, I warned Lord Kagrenac about tapping into Lorkhan’s heart but he wouldn’t listen to me,’ he continued melancholically. ‘I had been looking for traces of my people for over a millenium - unsuccesfully I might add - when I attracted the Divine disease and have been down here ever since. I guess I was right about usin’ Sunder and Keening on the heart. Me current form is the proof. And I still consider myself lucky, just look at me fellow Corprus victims. S'pose it could’ve been worse, much worse,’ he said thoughtfully.

Much of what he told us was a mystery to me but I had the feeling it was all related. The disappearance of the Dwemer, the Corprus disease and the Nerevarine prophecies.
‘I think you should know I survived the Corprus cure,’ I nearly whispered.
Yagrum’s eyes spread wide. ‘Say again, lad?’
‘I survived the cure Divayth gave me,’ I said aloud.
Yagrum frowned. ‘That could could mean two things; first,’ he ticked off on his sausage-like fingers while looking upwards. ‘the ol’ old coot has finally done it or, second; ye are truly the prophesised reincarnation of Indoril Nerevar. Which is it laddy?’

Posted by: Olen Jun 7 2010, 01:28 PM

blink.gif wacko.gif panic.gif rollinglaugh.gif

Yagrum... that was unexpected. Calling his game version two dimensional would be an insult to flat shapes so I expected you'd do something but not that. I love it. He's a real character and an entertaining one too.

QUOTE
Nothing could have prepared us for what we were about to encounter.

We were warned. tongue.gif

Great stuff, real imagination and development and as ever you capture the feel of morrowind as the mystery starts to unravel and things being to come together (which was really what made that game great). Awesome.

Posted by: SubRosa Jun 7 2010, 03:34 PM

No stairs in Divayth's tower? Well, wizards are supposed to be eccentric...

The last Dwemer is Scottish! Seriously, that is the accent I heard when I was reading his dialogue, which I am sure was intentional. Yagrum was very cool! I hope we see more of him.


nits:
warned us not to harm the inmates in anyway
I think the corpus rotted away the space between any way.


noone deserved the awful fate
It got the space between no one as well.


but noone deserves death
here too.


eventually lead to a real cure.As Divayth had stated
and the space after the period here.


my mind starting wandering of to months ago
I think you meant off?



Posted by: haute ecole rider Jun 7 2010, 03:43 PM

I enjoyed Yagrum's dialect. He ought to be just a little mad, being the sole surviving Dwemer and stuck down in Divath's basement with a disfiguring disease and all. I think you've done well giving us a whole new character to enjoy.

Posted by: Remko Jun 7 2010, 05:06 PM

Yeah, bit lame using a Scottish accent but it's the only I knew how to write and I really wanted to set him off.
I am definately not yet done. He still has to enchant Rales' new sword and I reckon he has some more to say about Sunder and Keening. I think the approach without the Divine help could be an interesting one although I played it with help from Vivec.

Posted by: mALX Jun 7 2010, 05:52 PM

I am loving these new chapters!!!! Divayth and Yagrum - WOO HOO !!!! Now you're talking !!!! I loved what you did with both of them!!!

Posted by: Destri Melarg Jun 8 2010, 08:38 AM

I agree with the others about Yagrum. That was an interesting characterization to say the least. I wonder about Zerina’s past dealings with him, and why she didn’t react at all when Uncle Divayth mentioned him. Even if their last meeting was a hundred years ago she would have still been in her early forties. I also wonder about her ability to walk through the corprusarium with impunity, as if she has no doubt that she can’t contract the divine disease. With each chapter it seems that the mystery surrounding Rales’ true love grows. I am eager to see what happens next.

Edit: ‘Moonshard’ is a much better name for a sword than ‘Moonshadow’. That would be why you’re naming the swords and I’m not! wink.gif

Posted by: Remko Jun 8 2010, 10:32 AM

Well, my explanation is that people (I indicated Yagrum mentioned 'Rina was about 4 feet high last time he saw her so really, really young and not in her fourties yet tongue.gif ) hardly ever remember their very early childhood. He says over a hundred years. Imagine what it would be like having spent so many time down there like Yagrum has. A hundred years, a hundred-fifty years, hell; even three hundred years. Pretty much the same I imagine.
You have a point with Zerina casually strolling along though. I will change that she raises a shield or something.

edit: I have added some lines in the conversation with Div. I hope it compliments the story because Destri was right. I neglected to adress the fact Zerina is NOT immune to Corprus. It might break with Lore (although there is notice of how Corprus gets spread) but I think its plausible to presume its not an airbourne virus or everyone in Vvardenfell would've had it.

Posted by: ureniashtram Jun 8 2010, 11:01 AM

Jeeennnkkkiiiiinnnnsss!!!!

Oops, dis be anoder geym, mon! Zularan Tusk-Eater be atta' here. Leytar, mon! ( a bare naked troll runs off in the wrong direction.)

Sorry, but the mere mention of that name put's me in trance where I shout some curses in Taurahe and Orcish in delight.

Now, I gotta second what Hauty said. Truely, this is one of the most best written stories I've seen so far, if not the most!!

Oh, and I'm sorry for catching up now.

Posted by: Remko Jun 8 2010, 02:37 PM

Thanks for the compliment Urenias smile.gif I disagree but thanks anyway biggrin.gif

Posted by: Remko Jun 8 2010, 04:33 PM

A little history-lesson in here biggrin.gif Sorry for the walls of text. There was no real good way of breaking them up.

If there still were any doubts about me being the Nerevarine, there were none left now.
I sighed deeply. Yagrum didn’t need the confirmation, his body may have been deformed but his mind was untouched. He nodded his understanding.
‘I feel for you lad, it must feel like you’re carrying the weight of Nirn on your shoulders, right? Neverar was just like that,’ he mused. ‘Always so serious. Ye seem to be a bit more light-hearted though. Don’t ever lose that lad.’

‘You actually knew Hortator Nerevar?’ I asked.
Yagrum scoffed. ‘Aye, I knew the lad. Him and Dumac, Dwemer king Dumac,’ he elaborated, ‘were close friends before…..’ he paused a while. It was clear to see raking up all this ancient history was painful to him. ‘…before the war between the Chimer and the Dwemer. I wasn’t present when it broke out because Kagrenac had sent me on an urgent matter in a different realm - y’know, like I told earlier?’ Zerina and I nodded in acknowledgement. ‘So I don’t really know the ins and outs but from what I gathered, Nerevar was betrayed by his close friend Voryn Dagoth - ye might know him only as Dagoth Ur but he was once a Chimer named Voryn Dagoth and leader of the Sixth House, House Dagoth - and presumably murdered by his three councillors. His wife; Almalexia, the warrior-poet Vekh and masterwizard Sotha Sil.

Some say Nerevar died from his wounds after he had fought with Voryn, some claim the Tribunal murdered him but no one really knows for sure. Except the Tribunal itself of course. All that is sure is that the Tribunal and Voryn all four have used Kagrenac’s tools to tap into Lorkhan’s heart and make themselves a god with it. Something they vowed to Nerevar they wouldn’t, but I digress. Where the Tribunal have to tried to do good with it, Dagoth has aligned himself with the evil in the heart and has become far more powerful over the years where the Tribunal have diminished in power. The spreading of the Corprus disease is proof of this. Not even that dreadful Ghost-Gate stopped it’

‘For someone stuck here,’ I looked around to emphasise my words, ‘you are quite well informed,’ I remarked.
‘Ah, y’see lad, Div’s been keeping me updated. I may be deformed but my mind,’ he tapped his temple, ‘hasn’t left me. Well, at least not yet,’ he joked.
‘Can you tell us more about the relationship between Nerevar, Voryn and Dumac?’ I asked Yagrum. ‘I had dreams about Dagoth claiming he was my friend but at most he was my enemy. You seem to be the only one who knows what really happened.’

‘I wish I knew as much as I would like to. As I said before; the poor lad was betrayed by either the Tribunal, by Dagoth or even by both. Most of what I’m gonna tell ye now is based on several sources so might not be what really happened but it would appear the most likely. What I think that happened is that after the war between the Chimer and the Dwemer, Kagrenac’s tools fell into the Chimer’s hands. Nerevar entrusted his best friend Voryn to guard the tools so he could consult his councillors what to do with them. The decision was made to destroy them. When Nerevar asked Voryn - he possibly used the tools to tap into the heart’s power - to hand them over to be destroyed, he refused. In the following fight Nerevar was mortally wounded and Voryn presumed dead. However; Voryn Dagoth was not slain. In stead, he now had Kagrenac’s tools and access to the heart and made himself a god. When or how the Tribunal did or did not betray Nerevar, I dunno. All I know is that at some point they got their mitts on the tools to make themselves a god too.
Why they don’t have the tools anymore is a different question altogether. You will have to ask Vivec. Sotha Sil hasn’t been seen in millenia and from what I’ve heard, Almalexia has gone insane from her paranoia.’

‘What was the war about, Yagrum?’ I asked.
‘Ah, now there ye ask a question I can answer. Kagrenac made the tools to bring life to what he called the Numidium. Us Dwemer do not believe in Gods. We believe in science and craftsmanship. To prove this point, Kagrenac had built a terrible construct - the Numidium - and was planning on using the tools on Lorkhan’s heart to empower it so it could take its rightful place as the only true god on Nirn. I can only assume his calculations were off and wiped our race from existance when he used the tools but I am getting ahead of myself.
General Nerevar had heard of this abomination and had asked his friend Dumac about it. Dumac denied it but only because he just didn’t know. Kagrenac had not informed his king.
Nerevar’s councillors were certain Dumac was lying, so the Chimer declared war on the Dwemer.
After the war, when the Tribunal supposedly betrayed Nerevar, Lady Azura was enraged about the loss of her champion and she cursed the Chimer. She turned their skin to ashen where it had been gold like that of the Altmer and their eyes turned red as fire so it would be an eternal mark of the nature of their betrayel. Thus the Chimer became the Dunmer.’

Posted by: Olen Jun 8 2010, 04:52 PM

History in six paragraphs. Nicely done, brief, to the point and it's always nice to read that bit again. I think the blocks of text worked fine (they weren't so big anyway) seeing as the content was moving quickly.

My one comment on the writing front would be to be less afraid of the word 'said', there's nothign wrong with it. I find that quite often the synonyms are more distraction than just repeating 'said' which is so common it's more or less invisible.

I'll confess I thought the accent was meant to be archaic rather than scots but then you made a better job of it than I'd likely make of trying to write someone elses accent... and it still makes him special as a character anyway.

Posted by: Remko Jun 8 2010, 05:03 PM

Hmm, you got me redhanded Olen. I must confess, I wanted to have it sound Archaic (hence the usage of "ye") but I couldn't figure out how to transcribe it so it ended up more Scottish-like. Close enough hehe.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Jun 8 2010, 05:31 PM

This is actually the best explanation of the whole Dwemer/Chimer war and the Heart of Lorkhan business I've read. Well done!

As for the wall-o-text, it reads tons better than my Organic Chemistry textbook! laugh.gif

Posted by: SubRosa Jun 8 2010, 05:47 PM

Thus the Chimer became the Dunmer. They really are a hard-luck race in many ways. First they leave Summerset under Velothi and struggle to survive in the east. Then they get turned blue because some of their leaders made themselves gods. Then all the Dagoth Ur, corpus, ashfall, stuff. Then finally they get a rock dropped on them and wiped out.


nits:
far more powerful over the years were the Tribunal have diminished in power.
A typo on where


‘I had dreams about Dagoth Claiming he was my friend but at most he was my enemy.
That ought to be a lowercase "c" in claiming.


You seem to be the only one what really happened.’
I think something got lost between one and what. I think perhaps "who knows" was meant to go in there?


Dumac denied but because he just didn’t know.
but sounds odd here. Perhaps you meant it instead?

Posted by: Destri Melarg Jun 9 2010, 12:57 AM

The mystery of what happened at Red Mountain revealed by the last living dwarf! Like Olen said, the wall of text didn’t distract because the content was so fascinating. I once started a lore topic that went on for pages debating what really happened at Red Mountain. The consensus is that nobody really knows. I like the fact that your history lesson doesn’t seek to explain everything. Yagrum is the first to say when he doesn’t know something. Given his removal from the events, how could he? Extremely well done!

Posted by: Remko Jun 9 2010, 11:23 AM

@Destri: Wow, that means a lot comiong from you, the lore buff you are (don't deny it, you are tongue.gif ) Thanks a lot! And there was I fearing I'd mess it up. Fact is; I am hugely fascinated by the whole Dunmer/Chimer/Tribunal/Ashlander stuff. It's just so deep. I truly resent the path Beth have taken with "the Loveletter" and "Landfall: sad.gif Ever since I started with Oblivion, Dunmer have always been favourite race to play with. I started loads of other characters but the only non-Dunmer character to make it through the MQ (and the rest of the game laugh.gif ) was Brennan the Imperial Warrior/Paladin. And that's because he was my first serious character after gimping a Dunmer archer because I just didn't understand the levelling system/game physics then.

Posted by: Acadian Jun 9 2010, 08:16 PM

You're doing great Remko! Losing Wretched was a big deal, but I think losses like that are to be expected. It is nice that Rales has found a good blade. I hope you will give his new katana a name at some point. smile.gif

Posted by: Remko Jun 11 2010, 10:48 AM

‘What happened to the Sixth House?’ Yagrum’s story made some things Nibeni told us a lot easier to understand. The House unmourned just had to be the Sixth House. But unlike what was led to believe that the Sixth House - House Dagoth – had vanished, it was still alive and very much so.
‘Well, that one is hard to answer. Some of the former Sixth House members were taken into the other five. Most went to House Dres, some into House Indoril and the rest were scattered amongst House Hlaalu and Telvanni. House Redoran refused to take in any former members from House Dagoth and with good reason. It is said that the influence of Voryn was forever embedded into their very being. Some forever heard what they called the “Poison song” and were driven mad by it. I believe ye may have encountered the most powerful of these members during your travels.’

‘The minions with tentacles in stead of a face,’ I murmured.

‘Exactly laddy. The disease has mutated them into a mockery of their former existance. Corrupted and deformed but still fiercely loyal to Dagoth Ur. The weaker ones probably eventually died or were killed. Some,’ he took some glimpses around the Corprusarium, ‘might be wandering around here.’
‘How dreadful,’ Zerina said. She had been quiet ever since we entered the bowels.
The shield she had raised blurred her outline somewhat but it was as clear as glass she was emotionally heavily affected by the victims. I decided to cut to the chase so we could leave. ‘Yagrum, Divayth mentioned you might be able to enchant this sword,’ I said while slowly unsheathing the wicked looking blade. The sound it made leaving its scabbard almost sounded like a sigh, as if the blade was relieved to be out of its confinement, eager to bite into tissue.
Yagrum let out his breath slowly and smiled widely. ‘Ye couldn’t have made me happier,’ he said while taking the blade I held out to him, hilt first.
‘I’ve been wanting to get me mitts on one of these beauts for quite some time but Divayth always forgets to give me one. Been naggin’ him for years about it,’ he chuckled.
Slowly he inspected the blade, looking for dings or any other flaws in the steel.
‘Tis as good as I imagined,’ he whispered. ‘What kind of enchantment would ye like?’

‘Well,’ I said thoughtfully, ‘you probably noticed it is rather heavy.’
‘Indeed, I have lad,’ Yagrum answered smilingly.
‘Offensive enchantments are nice and all but in my experience, it always runs out of charge when it’s least convenient so-’ Before I could finish Yagrum burst out in laughter. ‘That’s exactly how I feel about enchantments. I like your thinking lad. So what’ll it be?’

‘Divayth suggested a feather enchantment so it wouldn’t feel as heavy. I really like the sound of that.’
‘Hmmmm,’ Yagrum hummed. ‘The ol’ goat has some good ideas every once in a while,’ he winked. ‘I could imbue it with a dual-effect enchantment for ye. A feather enchantment so it feels lighter to the wielder and a minor strength fortifying effect so the impact of it is increased. I will also bind the sword to you so no one else will be able to use it without suffering physical pain. Sound good?’
I couldn’t help but nodding in approval.
‘Hold out yer swordhand laddy.’
Obeyingly, I held out my left hand. Before I knew it, Yagrum had taken the Daedric blade and cut my hand with it.
I cursed sharply and was about to ask him why he did that when he excused himself. ‘That’s for the binding, shoulda mentioned it to ya.’
Indifferently I shrugged, licked off the blood, focused my will and cast a restoration spell to heal the gash in my palm.

His six metallic legs clicked and hissed as Yagrum made his way to one of the cupboards and loudly started rummaging through it.
‘Ah, here it is,’ he said while holding out a small golden disc.
‘A grand soul gem,’ Zerina breathed. Yagrum nodded in acknowledgement.
‘Correct. Now comes the hardest part. Please be quiet while I channel the magic from the gem to the blade.’ Yagrum closed his eyes and started chanting. After a brief moment the disc began glowing and started making a low-pitched hum that made the glasses on the small table ring. Slowly the noise got louder untill it climaxed with a whoosh and the light vanished.

‘I felt a shiver go through my entire being when the sound was at the loudest,’ I commented.
‘That was the attunement of the blade to your essence,’ Yagrum said, his voice suddenly exhausted. ‘The more powerful the enchantment, the more exhausting it becomes for the enchanter. I really enjoyed yer company but if there’s nothing more I can do for ye, I kindly bid you to leave me for a while now.’
‘Thank you master craftsman. I am in your debt,’ I said while bowing like I had for Divayth.
‘You’re most welcome….. Nerevarine. And take care of ‘Rina.’
I nearly cringed at the word Nerevarine, even though it was the truth.
‘I will Yagrum.’

Posted by: Olen Jun 11 2010, 02:51 PM

Feather and burden? Interesting choices of enchantment... methinks Yagrum might be having a little joke. tongue.gif

As ever I liked it, this slight deviation from the game works far better in the context of the story. Yagrum is a good character and it'll be sad to see him go, still I suppose there will be more ashlanders to see to soon.

I liked the description of enchantment, and of the blade being steel, I'd wondered exactly what daedric blades were made of...

Posted by: haute ecole rider Jun 11 2010, 05:37 PM

Wonderful chapter again! I liked the description of the enchanting, and that it takes concentration on the part of the enchanter to make it work. A lot more realistic than the game mechanics, if you ask me (of course, I'm speaking of Oblivion, which is quite different from Morrowind in many ways).

I liked Yagrum's affectionate use of Zerina's name at the end - it gives him an added dimension that I'm sure is not present in the game.

Posted by: ureniashtram Jun 11 2010, 06:52 PM


Now that enchantment is probably very effective!! Feather and Burden? That's like combining coffee with creamrolls! Bittersweet taste but delicious nontheless!! Hmm.. Now why am I talking about food and not about your story?

Anyway, that chapter was outstanding! Like Hauty said, you really made the enchanting part very realistic!

Posted by: SubRosa Jun 11 2010, 09:01 PM

I have to admit, at first the feather/burden combination sounds like they would just cancel each other out. But think the way it is supposed to work is that it makes the blade lighter for Rales to hold, yet hit with more mass. I think I would have just gone with a Fortify Strength instead.


This I particularly enjoyed:
The sound it made leaving its scabbard almost sounded like a sigh, as if the blade was relieved to be out of its confinement,

Posted by: Zalphon Jun 11 2010, 09:28 PM

Very creative, Rales.

Posted by: Destri Melarg Jun 15 2010, 12:13 AM

Am I reading it wrong, because to me it sounds like feather on Rales and burden on whomever or whatever it strikes? That, to me, is a very cool enchantment! Although now having said that, I don’t see how you can get around the charge that a ‘cast on strike’ weapon requires. Perhaps ‘Rosa has the right of it, after all.

I love the description of the act of enchanting a weapon, and mentioning Zerina’s shield was an especially nice touch. I also like the incorporation of one of the best books in the game, Poison Song. Your writing has improved tremendously since we all left the Imperial ship with Rales. I must admit that I am a little envious.

Posted by: Remko Jun 15 2010, 12:09 PM

Yeah, I suppose SubRosa was right. If it needs to be a constant effect, burden won't do the job because it will still run out of charge.. Hmmmm... forgot about that little detail. I will edit it into fortify strength in stead cause although it's a nice idea, on 2nd thought it's flawed. Ah well biggrin.gif

@Destri: My idea with the feather/burden was as you said it but Sub/Rosa poked a hole in it. wink.gif Go figure, the writer of Interregnum envious of lil ol' me laugh.gif

Posted by: Acadian Jun 16 2010, 03:01 PM

Well, the nice thing about being late to the races, is that I got to read the edited version of Rales' new sword. Remko, you are brilliant! I love the way you conceived of tuning the sword to Rales, then using his blood to help execute it. I was hoping the successor to Wretched would get the attention it deserves and you have not disappointed. Now. . . don't forget, that wonderful blade still needs a suitable name.

Yes indeed, take take of 'Rina'. tongue.gif

Posted by: Remko Jun 22 2010, 11:13 AM

Guys; I have been thinking the story over and came to the conclusion Rales and Zerina are after answers more than anything. There is only one path I can put them on, the path to Mournhold. Unfortutately, I haven't even started playing Tribunal yet. So I am sorry to say, the next update could take a while. sad.gif
I don't want to UESP the whole quest cause that wouldn't allow me to have my own view and opinion on it. It would be too dry if you know what I mean.

I could write a chapter of them visiting Caius and Rales doing some Legion work but the legion work is more a side note than really contributing to the story so not really sure about that.

Posted by: Acadian Jun 23 2010, 03:38 AM

You and I have talked before about the really long term plans you have for the happy couple. For other readers, let's just say that Rales and Zerina are 'permacharacters'. tongue.gif

However, at this point for your mid term plans, I shall have to yield to your judgment since I have not played MW. What you say makes sense though. It sounds as if you want to play through the parts first, then write them. Makes perfect sense. Keep us posted here. smile.gif

Posted by: Destri Melarg Jun 23 2010, 08:34 AM

Whatever feels right for the characters is what you should do, Remko. Have fun with Tribunal.

Posted by: Remko Jul 1 2010, 01:36 PM

You know me; I can't cut things short so I didn't. Besides, there are still some trials to go through, let's carry on shall we?


Nearby the exit of the Divayth’s tower, we came across a gigantic golden door and my curiosity got the better of me. A frantic pull and push on the intrically decorated doorknob proved it locked tight. Fyr waved his hand dismissively when I asked him about it and threw me a small golden key.
‘Go right ahead opening that door. To be honest, I can’t even remember what is behind it,’ he absentmindedly added.

The lock opened effortlessly and silently the heavy door swung open to reveal a Dunmer woman behind it. She shielded her eyes from the sudden cascade of daylight into the dank room. It reeked of old sweat and human waste. Zerina wrinkled her noise as the smell assaulted our senses. The girl, who introduced herself as Delyna Mandas, abashedly excused herself.
‘Thank you for letting me out Sera. Sorry about the smell but I can’t even remember how long I was locked up in there.’
I winked at her. ‘Quite a long time, judging the scent.’

She looked down at her bare feet. ‘I guess I could use a bath,’ she said with a small voice.’ Then her mood brightened. ‘You are here to get me out?’
I looked at Zerina briefly. ‘Well, I was just curious what was behind this.’ I said while tracing the patterns on the door with my indexfinger. ‘But I suppose Divayth won’t mind. After all; he doesn’t even remember you were here anyway. So, why were you locked up in here?’
‘One of the mad wizard’s daughters,’ I chuckled silently at her interpration of Divayth’s personality. ‘locked me in here because according to her I was a Redoran spy.’

‘And?’ I inquired although I already knew the answer. Redorans do not spy, that’s the Hlaalu way. ‘Are you?’
‘Of course not,’ she answered insultedly placing her hands on her hips. ‘I am the daughter of a noble. My grandfather - Maybe you’ve heard of him, Llerar Mandas?’ I shook my head. Although I was a member of the Redoran I didn’t know all the nobles and councillors yet.
‘My grandfather wanted me to request the Telvanni Master Wizard for an audition.’
‘Why?’
‘No one in Vvardenfell knows more about diseases than he does,’ she said. ‘Llerar wanted to consult him about the Blight Diseases that has been rapidly spreading. And more in particular; about the Corrpus disease.’ She lowered her voice conspiracally while her eyes darted from left to right. ‘Some say the Holy Tribunal has weakened and that they can’t keep the Blight out of Vvardenfell anymore. But of course, this rumour is considered heresy and is fiercely denied by the Ordinators and the Temple.’

‘So, have you spoken to Divayth?’
‘No,’ she answered frustratedly. ‘That wench locked me up before I even got the chance.’
‘You’re not going to like this, but I know that Divayth hadn’t been able to help anyway. In fact; he has devoted years in creating a cure but so far has failed…’ I let the last part of the sentence trace off. I had almost disclosed things we better keep silent. Delyna luckily hadn’t noticed I didn’t really finish the sentence.

‘There is no cure for Corprus,’ I said. ‘At least not yet.’
Delyna sighed defeatedly. ‘I will bring my grandfather the bad news then. Take this in gratitude for my release,’ she said while taking of a delicate necklace as soon as we emerged outside the tower.
‘It’s not very valuable but should you two ever find your way to my father in Ald’Ruhn or my grandfather in Ebonheart, I am sure they will properly reward you for rescueing me. This locket will be proof of your kindness toward me. Farewell kind strangers.’
‘It was our pleasure,’ Zerina said while softly placing a hand on her shoulder. ‘May the Lady of the Moon and Stars always guide your steps.’

And with these words our paths parted; Zerina and I headed north west, back to the Urshilaku camp and eventually back to Caius in Balmora and Delyna vanished in a flash after a short incantation - I assumed she teleported back to where ever she was heading. I was sure both Nibeni and Caius would be most interested in hearing how I had contracted the dreaded Corprus disease and how I was “cured” of it with a terrible - or; as Divayth called it, interesting - side-effect.

***

‘You look- Well, different,’ Nibeni and Sul Matuul agreed. Zerina and I had entered Nibeni’s yurt earlier and had walked into the Ashkhan and the Wise-Woman in an intimate embrace but it hadn’t bothered them at all. The couple leisurely finished their lovemaking before Sul rolled off Nibeni and lazily laid himself next to her as if we weren’t even there. Dunmer were reknowned for the lack of prudeness but it appeared the Ashlanders lacked any form of it. Even my own Zerina had often surprised me with spontanuously dropping all of her clothes - leaving them for me to pick up after her - when we were wandering around the Ashlands during summertime.
‘What if someone sees you?’ I remember asking shockedly and - admittedly - pleasantly surpised at the same time. Seeing her like that moved me to my core and stirred something in my lower region. She had simply shrugged laughingly.

‘We all look the same underneath our cloths, don’t we?’
‘More or less,’ I had agreed and eventually we were both naked as the day we were born. It was some getting used to for me but I had to agree; it felt good shedding the burden of civilisation. In the back of my mind I knew we could be in trouble if we would run into an enemy or a predator but a levitation spell negated that threat, we added a shield spell in case of an archer or a spellcaster.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Jul 1 2010, 04:05 PM

Raaaales back! And with Zerina in tow!

I enjoyed the latest installment, though finding the Dunmer lady behind that locked door was a little jarring. I'm sure it's not your fault, but rather some of the weird stuff I've heard about Morrowind quests.

That last bit about attitudes about sex was worth a smile on my part. I'm a bit prudish by nature, but hey, as long as you're comfortable about it I'm not going to quibble! Besides, I enjoy beefcake as much as the next woman (assuming the woman next to me is straight!). hubbahubba.gif

Posted by: SubRosa Jul 1 2010, 05:23 PM

Rales and Zerina are back! I like how you took the Delyna quest and changed it up a bit. The encounter is now one more piece of evidence that the Tribunal's power is slipping, and that of Dagoth Ur steadily rising.


nits:
Ofcourse not,’
Of course got squished together here.

Posted by: Acadian Jul 1 2010, 06:45 PM

As always, I am completely unfamiliar with the quest here, but relish hearing it from my guide Rales.

Anytime Rales and Zerina are traveling together, it is all good.

Nice characterization with the girl behind the door, and fun to hear about Rales and Zerina running around like little wood nymphs - oh. . . no. Wrong kind of elves! I understand Zerina perfectly though; Buffy loves waterfalls for example, but they make her clothes fall off. tongue.gif

Posted by: Winter Wolf Jul 2 2010, 07:29 AM

It has only been a week and you are back. Such is your passion for storytelling!! Bravo.

QUOTE
but a levitation spell negated that threat

To put the word levitation into the part where you talk about naked men and women in the buff was very devious. laugh.gif It couldn't be an accident, no?

Posted by: Remko Jul 2 2010, 11:26 AM

@Everyone: Thank you all for the kind words. To be fair; I put in the part of the nakedness to voice my own disapprovement of every little thing be censored nowadays. That's why I put in the sentence:

QUOTE(Zerina)
We all look the same underneath our clothes

Oh, and because I thought it would be fun. Gotta love writing. cool.gif

@Winter Wolf; Errm, well, I hadn't looked at it that way... laugh.gif laugh.gif with levitation I did NOT mean bodily funtions biggrin.gif

@Hautee: Yeah, the girl behind the door was one of the game's weird little things but I tried to make some sense out of why she would be locked up in there (don't remember the game's explanation). I kept how long she had been locked up there a bit vague on purpose, but don't be disheartened, I will get back to it. (MW vets will remember the importance of her in a Redoran house quest) I considered letting it out but it was too much of a nice opportunity to show the Blight is affecting the whole of Vvardenfell rather than just the PC and that other people are concerned about it too and actually do something about it rather than just moan. I also thought it would be a nice way to link the mainquest to the Redoran house quest line. (lord of Milk anyone?)
As a sidenote, I do not run around naked myself tongue.gif

The story continues;

I will always remember the look on the first bandit’s face we encountered like that. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t live to tell the tale. He insisted on having our valuables, especially the necklace - the only thing she never took off except when bathing - I had given to Zerina in Vivec. I had tried bribing him - I still preferred spending some gold rather than having to end a life, even it was a criminal - but he refused and had attacked us. Like Zerina who never took off her necklace, I still had my katana - Zerina had dubbed it MoonShard because according to her the blade reflected the light as dimly as Masser did - strapped around my waist.
He was the first to fall to the effectiveness of the Daedric blade and Yagrum’s enchantments on it. It was as effective as it was terrible, just like Wretched had been. Maybe even more so.

I nodded in acknowledgement of Nibeni and Sul Matuul’s assessment.
‘I have fulfilled the second trial, wise one,’ I said. ‘”Curse of Flesh” was indeed referring to the Corprus disease.’
Nibeni and Sul Matuul eyes spread and their faces paled while the moved away from me.
‘You have Corprus?’ Nibeni asked me frightenedly.
‘No, wise one,’ I replied patiently. ‘Well,’ I added thoughtfully, ‘ technically I still do but the ill effects have been undone by Lord Fyr. It can not be transferred from me to anyone anymore either.’
Sul Matuul's face was puzzled. ‘What do you mean Clanfriend?’
‘It means that nor age nor disease can still touch me.’
Nibeni immediately grasped the terrible truth in those words.
‘You,-‘ he said hesitantly. ‘You are as the ancient Master Wizards of the East? Immortal?’ Her face, displaying the deeper understanding of the situation, snapped to Zerina and looked at her intensely for a brief moment. It seemed women often didn’t need words to understand each other.
‘You are from the east too,’ Nibeni said to Zerina noddingly. ‘It will be- ah interesting to see what happens when you two ever have children.’ She waved her hand in a vague manner.

‘Now, you have fulfilled the second trial, you will need to find the Lost Prophecies. I have heard of priests that doubt the teachings of the temple and scorn the persecution of so-called heretics. You need to find these dissident priests and find out what they know about the trials of the Nerevarine and the Lost Prohecies. The word is lost among the tribes but the settled Dunmer have books in which it might still be found. Go with haste. Eat, sleep, make love but leave next thing in the morning. She pointed towards a new yurt. ‘We have taken the liberty to construct your own yurt so you two don’t need to use mine,’ she winked. ‘Sleep well.’

‘Rales?’ Zerina whispered, her head resting on my chest.
‘Hmmm,’ I replied sleepingly, still basking in the afterglow from our love game.
‘Have you ever considered the alternative of our decision concerning having children?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean; we decided not to have children before the end of this Nerevarine business.’
‘Oh, that. Can’t say I have, my love.’
‘You do know, if you do not make it, I will be left all alone,’ she said softly.
I was starting to see where this was going. ‘You mean…’ I left the sentence unfinished.

‘Exactly,’ she nodded, her hair brushing my chest with the movement. ‘I want your children so I have something from you, should you…’ her eyes filled up with tears and her voice became thick with the sudden emotion. ‘should you…,’ she broke down in tears and I embraced her tightly while whispering reassuring words into her hair. Deep down, I knew her argument made sense although I didn’t dare ask what would happen if not I, but she would perish. Would I allow to put herself at risk should she get pregnant? Would it even matter whether or not she was with my child? I didn’t want to lose her, period. The answer was simple; I would just have to make sure that we survived.

‘Ok,’ I finally whispered. ‘Let’s have a child. I am tired of letting this prophecy controlling our life’s path anyway. I am tired of being a leaf in the river, I want to be the rock withstanding the stream again.’ I hadn’t a clue whether or not she would be able to conceive right away or needed some ritual to enable her fertility again first but that night we made love countless times as though it was our first - or last - night together. I was sure that if she was indeed fertile again, that night she would have conceived.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Jul 2 2010, 04:03 PM

He he - it never occurred to me that you might run around nekkid yourself! blink.gif

Anyway, this is a sweet little chapter. The discussion of children is a great way to show the age-old quandary. Life is so much simpler when there are no wee bairns underfoot, but at the same time those rugrats are often an affirmation of something wonderful between a couple (though some may disagree on that point!).

I'm glad you are continuing the adventures of Rales and Zerina, and not skimping on their relationship in the mean time!

One nit:

QUOTE
Zerina had dubbed it MoonShard because according to her the blade reflected the light as dimly as Masser did - strapped around my waste.
Waste refers to trash or bleak country (Riders of the Wasteland, anyone?), while waist refers to the body part that usually carries a belt. That's all.

Posted by: SubRosa Jul 2 2010, 04:52 PM

So this means that you walk around naked, rather than run... laugh.gif

As haute said, a very sweet chapter between Rales and Zerina. I can fully understand Zerina's desire to become pregnant. Children are an affirmation of life, and a commitment to the future.

nits:
Nimeni asked me scaredly.
A typo in Nibeni. Also scaredly is not an English word. Frightenedly is. You might consider replacing that last part with a little more showing though, such as saying "asked me with eyes wide in fear"


It seemed women often didn’t need words to understand eachother.
A very true statement! However, each other got squished together here.


I have heard of priests that doubt the teachings of the temple and scourn the persecution of so-called heretics
That would be scorn.

Posted by: Acadian Jul 2 2010, 06:32 PM

Moon Shard. goodjob.gif
I knew you would not disappoint with an appropriate name for Rales' new weapon. The fact that the name was chosen by Zerina was a wonderul touch.

Speaking of. . . what a sweet interlude with the endearing Rales and Zerina during the latter part of this.


Posted by: Olen Jul 3 2010, 04:13 PM

Great to see this continued smile.gif I like the morrowind main quest and it's fun to read about. Reles and Zerina keep developing as characters too which is good, they're both well rounded now (even if they do have potentially disasterous habits in the ashlands (cliff-racers anyone?)). As ever I'm interesed to see what happens next.

QUOTE("subRosa")
So this means that you walk around naked, rather than run...

Nah I'm betting on swimming tongue.gif

Posted by: Remko Jul 5 2010, 05:32 PM

How could I skimp out on Rales And Zerina's relationship? It's the driving force in my story. I love writing about them. smile.gif
actually, I was re-reading my last few installments and realised they needed "icing"
I hope I didnt't cross a line of decency but I made the part of Sul and Nibeni a tad more spicy to emphasise their lack of prudeness/shame. The thought dawned to me that in small tribes the tribespeople would be living so close on one another 24/7, privacy is non-existing.

I also added some minor details in the earlier installments, basically from the point Rales contracts Corprus.

Posted by: SubRosa Jul 5 2010, 05:50 PM

QUOTE(Remko @ Jul 5 2010, 12:32 PM) *

How could I skimp out on Rales And Zerina's relationship? It's the driving force in my story. I love writing about them. smile.gif

And I love reading about them. They are my favorite part of the story too. But then again, chick talking here. Seriously though, love and lust are very powerful emotions that we all have. Not all stories need a romantic element, but having it does add more depth to the characters.

QUOTE(Remko @ Jul 5 2010, 12:32 PM) *

I hope I didnt't cross a line of decency but I made the part of Sul and Nibeni a tad more spicy to emphasise their lack of prudeness/shame. The thought dawned to me that in small tribes the tribespeople would be living so close on one another 24/7, privacy is non-existing.


You have nothing to worry about. That was far from indecent. As long as you refrain from describing things "gleaming wetly" I think you will be fine! wink.gif


Posted by: Remko Jul 15 2010, 01:39 PM

Day 401

The following morning we, while still mostly undressed, had a simple breakfast of sweetened Trama roots and the local delicacy; stonepetal tea. We had resolved in wasting no time to get back to Balmora. We gathered what things we really needed; some clothes, being high summer, we didn’t take many; some supplies and our weapons.
‘Grab hold dear,’ Zerina said holding out her hand. ‘I am going to take us to Gnisis.’ She muttered a spell and the next moment we were looking at a familiar sight; the Temple in Gnisis.
The Stiltstrider south of Gnisis took us to Balmora within a day. Zerina slept while I thought recent events over. How would Caius react? I hadn’t reported with him for months but wasn’t worried about that. He had ordered me to prepare for the next mission. I was sure I was now as prepared as I could be. The Corprus had almost been my undoing but now I was stronger and tougher than I had ever been before.

Day 403

‘I am ready for your next assignment, Caius.’
‘I am glad you took my warning seriously, Rales,’ Caius commented. ‘You seem different from last time.’
I nodded. ‘I have been ill.’
‘Ill? Ill how?’
‘I contracted Corprus in Hassour several months ago after I found out about Uryne’s murder.’
‘You what?!’ Caius fumed. ‘And you didn’t bother informing me? And why the hell did you return there?'
Before I could answer the question, Zerina put her hands up in my defense. ‘He couldn’t help himself, Spymaster. The illness basically turned him into a mindless animal. We have been most fortunate someone recognised him before he was lost to us forever and that Divayth Fyr’s cure didn’t kill him like it did all the other victims he tried to treat.’

‘I see,’ Caius said looking defloated. ‘Okay, well, I want you to go to another Sixth House. Our scouts have found a Sixth House base nearby Khartag point called Ilunibi. Except for one terribly deformed soldier, none of the scouting party have returned. All are presumed dead - or worse. We could determine he was one of the scouting party by the scraps of his uniform alone. I want you to venture in and find out what happened to the party and we’d like to you to kill the Dagoth - one of Ur’s brothers - residing in there as well. Oh, you do know where Khartag point is, don’t you? In case you don’t; head to Gnaar Mok first, they will be able to tell you where to proceed from there. Please, be careful, don’t get yourselves killed in there now, you hear?’
‘We won’t, I promise,’ I said.

In Gnaar Mok we were reminded Khartag point was a holy place to Orcs. Apparently a famous Orsimer had died there after a battle so we were asked to act respectfully. It was also believed to be the location of the lost shrine to the Daedric Pince Boethiah.
‘So, no streaking,’ I whispered to Zerina jokingly. She could barely contain her laughter and elbowed me in my side.
From Gnaar Mok we headed north-west to Ilunibi.

From the outside, the cave was nothing special except for the eerie name; Ilunibi, Carcass of the Saint, which gave us both the creeps. Before we entered Zerina raised her shield. If we hadn’t had the specific order to go in and end the reign or terror the Sixth House inhabitants had over the area, I would have left the place as soon as we entered.
The whole place breathed malevolance. Familiar red statues littered the place as well as more Corprus victims aimlessly wandering around, just like in the bowels of Divayth’s Corprusarium. The only pleasant thing in the cave was a wonderful waterfall cascading from a underground stream unto the rocky surface of the cave and throwing up a mist of waterspray. Beams of light coming through the cracks in the rickety entrance door bathed the whole room in a crescendo of dancing colours.

The deceptive beauty of the of the entrance was soon forgotten. As soon as we left the well lit entrance room and entered the more shadowy parts of the tunnels we encountered the first hostiles. Without any form of self preservation, they mindlessly lunged themselves at us. Most were skewered by three feet of Daedric Katana, some were utterly turned to dust by Zerina. There was no holding back anymore. Even Zerina had a grim determination over her into wiping out every single inhabitant from this evil place. They had struck us where it hurt, now we were going to return the favour.
Unlike in the Corprusarium, we eradicated any form of Corprus infection we encountered. Upon inspection of the corpses we found more scraps of the uniforms from the scouting party Caius had described. All had fallen to the dreaded disease. At least they were at peace now and not an unwilling agent for the enemy anymore.

Something I hadn’t really been able to put the test before was proven correct. No matter how many times I swung my blade, I just wouldn’t become fatigued. The blade glew up everytime I struck, indicating Yagrum’s enchantments on it did their work but there was something else. I really was far stronger than I had ever been. Another side-effect of the Corprus disease I had defeated.
After hours of trudging through murky waters that had submerged all passages, eventually we came to our destination; Dagoth Gares.

As soon as we opened the door to Soul’s Rattle, a gritty voice started shouting at us. Promises of a truce if I would just lay down my weapon and agree to the Sixth House terms. Like Dagoth Ur had tried with invading my dreams he claimed Voryn and I could be friends once more, just like we had been aeons ago. Then he made the mistake of threatening Zerina.
‘My name is not Indoril Nerevar,’ I growled between clenched teeth. ‘My. Name. Is. Rales. Sarethi,’ I spat in his deformed face while I drew Moonshard and buried it untill its hilt in Dagoth Gares’ chest. ‘And I will never submit to you or join your despiccable Sixth House. You tell Ur that when you meet him again in Oblivion.’
‘Foolish mortal,’ he maniacally cackled. ‘You will come to my master in his flesh and of his flesh.’
Gares mumbled a spell and a familiar cloud enveloped us both.
I grinned. ‘You haven’t heard the news yet? I am not mortal.’ Dagoth Gares' eyes spread wide as I twisted my blade in his chest and tore it upwards, effectively cleaving his upper torso in two.
I wiped the black blood from my blade on his robe before sheathing it.

~~~

edit: I made some small tweaks so it's more clear. I also added the bit of dialogue Destri mentioned.

Posted by: SubRosa Jul 15 2010, 03:07 PM

Rales is back! And back on track hunting down the Sixth House. I found myself wondering if this was the place where he got Corpus from?

It is neat reading Zerina here again, after seeing her a child in the other topic. She feels deeper and more real here now, thanks to what we know from the other thread.

Soul’s Rattle, that would be a good name for a sword. I had to look it up in the Wiki to find out it was the final level of Ilunbi however. So you might want to change that to simply say "The last level", or "the last door".


nits:
Zerina slept while I overthought recent events.
I believe you want "thought over"


but now I was stronger and fitted than I had ever been before.
likewise, "more fit" would read more smoothly here, or perhaps "tougher"


‘I see,’ Caius said defloatedly.
I think you want to say "Caius said, looking deflated"


the cave was nothing special except for the eery name
A typo on "eerie".

Posted by: haute ecole rider Jul 15 2010, 03:59 PM

Rales and Zerina are back in action at last! yea! Now I get to find out what happens next!

I agree with SubRosa on everything she said, including the nits! Zerina seems richer now for having had her own thread for a while.

Loved it! It's good to see Rales again. It has felt a little like a drought over here for a while.

Posted by: Acadian Jul 15 2010, 10:15 PM

Yay! Rales is back. Wonderful chapter. smile.gif

QUOTE
Then he made the mistake of threatening Zerina.
Oooh, big mistake, Gares. Know what Rales is gonna do to you?
QUOTE
I twisted my blade in his chest and tore it upwards, effectively cleaving his upper torso in two.


QUOTE
The whole place breathed malovelance.
Oh my. blink.gif Before Foxy rolls teasing you about ma love lance, you should change that to malevolence. tongue.gif

Posted by: Destri Melarg Jul 16 2010, 01:04 AM

Well, it took me awhile but I am finally caught up again. Let’s start back in Divayth’s Tower, shall we? I like your take on the quest with Delyna, and I especially like your comment to haute that you will revisit it in a subsequent chapter. I can understand why she found it somewhat jarring; here we have the daughter of a Redoran lord trapped in Divayth’s closet yet no one in House Redoran seems all that interested in her plight. Explaining exactly who her father is will go a long way toward giving your reader some insight into why her being trapped in Tel Fyr is such an under the radar kind of event.

The discussion that Rales and Zerina have concerning children was perfectly executed. Rales, I have some news for you. Your concern over the prospect of putting the love of your life, the woman carrying your child, in danger is both understandable, and admirable. But if you think that you are going to be in a position to ‘allow’ Zerina to do anything then you have a very rude awakening coming!

One of my favorite things about Morrowind is the names of the various chambers inside the endless number of caves, ruins, and strongholds that you stumble across in your travels. Things like ‘Carcass of the Saint’, ‘Blackened Heart’, ‘Tainted Marrow’, and ‘Soul’s Rattle’ (and that’s just in Illunibi) are wonderfully evocative. I imagine that the Vvardenfell Chamber of Commerce is composed of a group of wizened old Dunmer sitting in the dark drawing smoke from a hookah and getting drunk on Telvanni Bug Musk!

I don’t know why, but I was under the impression that Rales contracted corprus in Illunibi already. That he went through the whole Sixth House quest while in a rage-induced stupor after the death of the maid. It seems that you have changed the order of events around a bit. Good, I love being kept on my toes like this. The only bad part I see is that you miss out on some of Dagoth Gares dialogue: “You will come to my master in his flesh and of his flesh” (I’m paraphrasing) as he curses you with corprus is just chilling!

Posted by: Remko Jul 16 2010, 10:59 AM

@Everyone: Thanks for the nits. Of course you were right on all of them
@Acadian: Meh, Foxy doesn't read my stuff anyway kvright.gif But MaLoveLance is a bit too much biggrin.gif

I agree with what you're saying Destri, but I think it was always a flaw in the game you can only contract Corprus in Ilunibi so I changed it so he contracted it in the cave south-east of Balmora (the one he ran into after being poisoned)
Remember I wrote that Rales mentioned the cave was familiar to him, that he just didnt notice? Same cave he turned and ran from first time and returned with tail between his legs to Caius? That's where he caught Corprus in my story. I know I am missing out on original game dialogue and breaking a bit with the game's storyline but I'm not bothered. I prefer the dialogue between Rales and Gares I wrote anyway tongue.gif

Shame on me that I didn't make that more clear wacko.gif

As a sidenote: I don't think Telvanni Bug Musk would taste very good. It's a perfume tongue.gif

Posted by: Olen Jul 16 2010, 12:09 PM

Wooo Rales is back! And it's good, he's certainly changed since his last assault on the Sixth house, he tore his way through Illunibi.

I'm glad you included it, I think that quest is great and where Morrowind really starts to stand out as a game in terms of the MQ. It's an interesting change to have him already immune (well sort of...) - good stuff.

Posted by: Remko Jul 21 2010, 11:38 AM

A bit short but it's closure of a chapter.

Day 406

‘What is that awful smell?’ Caius asked me when I put a bundle of dirty cloth on his table.
‘That,’ I said, ‘is the remainder of what was once Dagoth Gares.'
Slowly Caius unwrapped the bundle and looked at the contents disgustedly.
‘I had heard they looked terrible but I hadn’t expected it this bad,’ the Spymaster commented while lifting Gares’ head on one of its tentacles thad had replaced his Dunmeri features ages ago and turned it around to inspect it.
With a thud the head dropped onto the table when he was done.

‘Good job, Sarethi. Have you found any trace of the Legion’s contingency that was sent to inspect the base?’
Zerina and I nodded in unison. ‘You’re not going to like it Caius,’ I ruefully said.
‘They’re all dead?’ I saw no point in telling what had really happened in Ilunubi so I simply nodded. ‘There was nothing that could have been done for the poor soldiers anymore.’
‘I see,’ the balding Imperial softly said. Somehow I had the feeling Caius knew exactly what we had meant but much to his credit he didn’t inquire any further. The task had been gruesome enough, we were glad not to have to relive it by having to tell the whole story.

‘What is bothering you Caius?’ I asked. ‘I can tell there is something you’re not telling me.’
The Spymaster sighed. ‘I have been recalled to Cyrodiil, meaning you will have to carry on without me.’
‘What?’ I exclaimed. ‘You pulled me in into this mess and..’ Caius’ look on his face stopped me mid-sentence.
‘I am promoting you to operative so you have full access to the Blades’ resources. Continue in pursuit of the prophecies, find Mehra Milo in Vivec - I haven’t received any intel from her for weeks, I fear the Temple has found out about her sympathy for the Dissidents Priests. I want you to see what’s going on. If anything is wrong, she will have left a note in her appartment with a code word, Amaya.’

‘How can they do this to you, Caius?’ Zerina asked.
‘Word has reached them about my- ah, sugar problem,’ he wryly smirked.
I scoffed. ‘You know as well as I do that’s a cover.’
‘When did you figure that out?’ Caius smiled. ‘You know, you’re a lot more clever than you look Sarethi,’ the old Spymaster winked. ‘Oh, I would like you to have these,’ he said while handing me a black bundle he pulled from underneath his bed. ‘I won’t be needing it anymore. Now, get out here so I can finish packing. Good luck kids and may the Nine be with you.’
‘Thank you Caius- for everything,’ I said while extending my hand.
Caius grabbed it firmly. ‘No,’ Caius shook his head while drawing his forearm over his eyes. ‘Thank you Rales. Finish what we started; save Morrowind from the Blight and free it from the Sixth House menace. Maybe we will meet again some day but I doubt it,’ he said with a faint smile.’
‘Farewell Caius.’
‘Farewell.’ Tears were now running openly over his cheeks. ‘Oh, and Zerina?’
‘Yes Caius?’ she replied.
‘Take care of that scoundrel for me, will you?’

Posted by: Acadian Jul 21 2010, 02:39 PM

Nicely done, Remko. I really liked the interaction with Caius. smile.gif

QUOTE
Somehow I had the feeling Caius knew exactly what we had meant but much to his credit he didn’t inquire any further.
I think this line was wonderful. Just perfect.
QUOTE
‘Farewell.’ Tears were now running openly over his cheeks. ‘Oh, and Zerina?’
‘Yes Caius?’ she replied.
‘Take care of that scoundrel for me, will you?’
This was beautiful!


A couple tiny nits-
QUOTE
‘Good job, Sarethi. Have you found any trace of the Legion’s contingency that was send to inspect the base?’
I'm sure you want 'sent'.

QUOTE
Caius shook his head while drawing his forearm over his eyes. ‘Thank you Rales. Finish what we started; save Morrowind from the Blight and free it from the Sixth House menace. Maybe we will meet again some day but I doubt it,’ he gleefully said.’
The word gleefully seems inconsistent with the emotional tone you create in this farewell scene. Perhaps you were trying to insert a clever touch that Rales was a lot of trouble? If so, might you consider this?
"Maybe we will meet again some day, but I doubt it." Mustering a smile, the old spymaster added, "Given the trouble that follows you, perhaps that is for the best, Sarethi."

Posted by: haute ecole rider Jul 21 2010, 03:49 PM

I echo Acadian - he already picked out the lines I loved!

So old Caius is leaving? He'll be missed! I rather liked him - he was like the reliable old sergeant who can be counted on to fix your screw-ups. Now Rales is really on his own (not really, so long as he has Zerina to cover his back - among other things hubbahubba.gif ).

Posted by: SubRosa Jul 21 2010, 04:15 PM

Short, and very sweet. I enjoyed this chapter immensely. Like the others, I will be sorry to see Caius go.

Posted by: Destri Melarg Jul 21 2010, 06:01 PM

Ah, the passing of the torch. Rales is now the ranking Blade on Vvardenfell. I wish that you could give orders to the other Blades now in your charge. If that were the case I would order Rithleen and Tyermailin to move. It just seems silly to have three of the, what seven, Blades on Vvardenfell live within a hundred yards of each other. Nine-Toes can stay because he’s sort of entertaining, but it wouldn’t bother me at all if Tyermailin found himself a yurt out in the middle of nowhere like Sjorvar Horse-Mouth . . . out of sight, out of mind.

There is a bittersweet feel to this chapter of the story that I think you have captured well. Losing Caius is always sad, but this also marks the moment when the main quest really begins to take off so I am itching to see where you take Rales and Zerina from here! biggrin.gif

Posted by: Remko Jul 22 2010, 11:16 AM

@Everyone: Thanks for the kind words. smile.gif

With "gleefully" I wanted to say it was kind of a bitter/sweet mood. You know, sad to go but also glad to go home? What's the word I was looking for if it's not Gleeful?

Not a bad idea, using the Blades more efficient by spreading them over the province rather than within a stone's throw reach in Balmora.... hmmm....

Posted by: Acadian Jul 22 2010, 12:50 PM

Gleefully normally evokes pure joy, such as the reaction of a child when given a pony as a present.

It can be used with a twist of evil or insanity as well, such as - The necromancer eyed me gleefully as he slowly drew his dagger.

You might try,
. . . he said with a bittersweet smile.
. . . he said with a sad smile.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Jul 22 2010, 04:20 PM

. . . he said with a rueful smile.

Posted by: SubRosa Jul 22 2010, 05:20 PM

Dare I say, a faint smile...

Posted by: mALX Aug 7 2010, 10:36 PM

Wow, you have really added a lot to this since I've been away! I am not caught up yet. <3

Posted by: Remko Aug 18 2010, 11:58 AM

Good to see you back Malx smile.gif

Chapter 10: Old acquaintances

When we arrived at Mehra’s appartment and had knocked no one opened so it appeared Caius’ suspicions were correct. Mehra wasn’t at home and judging the dust gathered on the doorknob, she hadn’t been at her appartment for some time. The door proved locked and no matter what Zerina tried, the lock wouldn’t open to any spell. As soon as the patrolling Ordinator turned around the corner out of sight, I put my shoulder to the door and used my Corprus enhanced strength to dislocate the lock and bolt with a powerful push. With a louder crack than I had anticipated - stealth really wasn’t my specialty - the door gave in and quickly we made our way into the small two-room appartment after briefly checking the Ordinator around the corner hadn’t heard the door and would arrest us for breaking and entry. With the door closed one could hardly tell except for the small cracks around the lock. By the time anyone would find out, I was sure we’d be long gone.

While Zerina searched the bedroom - I wasn’t comfortable rummaging through a lady’s properties of the kind one would find there - I scanned the rest of the appartment looking for clues where she might have disappeared to. It didn’t take me long to find the note on her desk.

Amaya,

Sorry I missed you. I had to run some old documents over to the Inquisitor at the Ministry of Truth and I’m likely to be tied up there for a while. Why don’t you meet me there as soon as you’re able? Then we leave together as soon as I’m done.
And Amaya, please don’t forgot to to bring those two Divine Intervention scrolls I borrowed you to study. Or, if you used them, buy a couple of new ones for me. I think I am going to need them soon. The Breton mage, Janand Maulinie, at the Mages Guild in the Foreign Quarter has them in stock.

Alvela Saram is the guard at the entrance, just tell her you’re looking for me and she will let you in.

Your faitfhul friend,
Mehra Mila

Ps. I left some levitation potions for you, just in case. I couldn’t remember if you knew the spell or not, so I drew a couple from stock.


I wasn’t sure if it was true or legend but I was now part of a legend and the rock was really there - floating above the Temple canton - and it was serving as a prison as well as an archive. It hadn’t been necessary to stock up on Divine Intervention scrolls, I always carried one or two with me in case of an emergency but now it would appear they would be used for a jailbreak. Just how we were supposed to find her inside the moonlet I hadn’t a clue yet. I just hoped the guard mentioned in the note would provide us with the information allowing us to locate Mehra Milo somewhere inside - if the whole thing wasn’t a trap.

Our second obstacle was figuring out the best way to actually get up there. We had two options; either Zerina would cast a levitation spell on both of us or we could use a potion I made. We had left the potions Mehra had referred to in the letter, after my ordeal months ago I was careful drinking some random potion. For all we knew it hadn’t been Mehra that had left them for us but by someone else instead, someone with far less good intent. It didn’t make much of a difference which option we would choose, except for the minor detail that I had only three potions left. We decided to have Zerina cast the spell to get there so we could save the potions for later. A spell was noisy and cost time to cast where a potion could be swallowed in mere seconds and the effect would be instantaneous

Slowly we floated upwards to the rock in the sky and headed to where we could see a female Ordinator. Hoping it was Alvela Saram and not another that would arrest us on sight, we made our way to her on the wooden walkway that had been created around the Ministry of Truth.
‘What are you doing here, you are not allowed to be up here citizens,’ she adressed us, her hand slowly reaching for her blade. I had heard enough of the Ordinator’s reputation to not want to fight one.
‘Mehra send us,’ I stated. Those three words were enough for her to stop the descent of her hand towards her sword. In stead, she procured a key from her belt.
‘You can use this key to access the ministry from the back-entrance. Please be aware that even though some of us sympathise with the Dissidents priests and keep an open mind towards the prophecies,’ she looked at me instensely for a brief moment,’ if you kill or harm any of the guards, you will lose that sympathy and we will cut you down. Nerevarine or no. Do I make myself clear?’
I nodded. ‘Crystal clear.’
‘Good.’
‘Alvela?’ I asked.
Her reply was hardly more than a growl.
‘Could you tell us where Mehra is most likely to be held?’

‘Ignorant Outlander,’ she scoffed insultingly but continued to explain us we would need to make our way through the Halls of Processing and at the end we would find a door leading to the Prison Keep. According to Alvela, the door to the Prison Keep was locked with a unpickable lock and that we could most likely find the key in the first room to our right in the Halls of Processing. True to her word, we found the key exactly where she said it would be and soon after, Zerina and I found ourselves in the Prison Keep. The place was crawling with Ordinators. I saw no way to sneak past them to the three small holding cells at the opposite side of the Keep of where we had entered it. Alvela had entrusted us that Mehra was most likely be held in the most southern of the cells but getting there was problematic.
‘The way I see it, we have two options,’ Zerina said. ‘Our first option is to risk sneaking past the guards,’ she paused briefly to look at me in a way I knew she was wondering why she even brought that up, knowing my sneaking skills - or rather; the lack of it - it wasn’t a viable option.
‘Our second option is similar to how we got up here by-’
I interrupted her ‘But we might need the flying potions to get,’
Zerina placed a finger over her lips and shushed me. ‘I was going to say by casting both a levitation spell and an invisibilty spell on us so the guards won’t hear our footsteps nor see us.’
I grinned. Of course she was right, as always. ‘Go ahead. The guards are too far away now to hear your casting.’
Once more I marvelled how easy it was to her. I could feel a tingle as the spells washed over us and our forms slowly disappeared. Gently we pushed off and floated to where - if our information was correct - Mehra Milo was held captive.

My paranoia about a trap proved wrong. Mehra was exactly where she would be according to our sources. The invisibility spell had worn off as soon as we had entered the small cell. I had to check twice to make sure it really was the priestess I had spoken to weeks earlier. Her skin-colour was sooted, her wrists and ankles were swollen and red and her eyes were devoid of any passion. Her hair had been shaven off and traces marked her cheeks. Anger boiled up within me. How could they do this in the name of the Tribunal? Was this the Temple’s benevolance? Locking up and torturing people?
‘Mehra,’ I whispered. She looked up to me without and sign of recognition in her eyes and embraced her knees tighter.
‘Mehra?’ I tried again but she had drawn herself back into a corner of her cell and wasn’t responding to reason and just looked at us in fear. I looked at Zerina in desperation. How was she going to give us any useful information? The Temple had broken her and I wasn’t entirely sure she’d ever recover from it. One thing was sure, we needed to take her out of this place. I cast a regretful look over the other two holding cells close to Mehra’s cell. There was just no time to rescue the other prisoners as well. We didn’t have enough time, nor did we have potions to get them to safety. I promised them quietly that if I was indeed the Nerevarine and was destined to change things, this was the first thing that needed changing. The persecution of innocent people was going to be put to a halt. No Religion could justify what was going on here.

Ignoring her frantic screaming and the scratches she made on my back and shoulders, I gently lifted Mehra’s slender body in my arms and nodded to Zerina to take us out of here. Cries outside indicated we had been heard and that we had to leave in a hurry. Again, I could feel the tingle of a spell as we were teleported to the nearest Imperial Cult shrine – the shrine in Ebonheart. We had made it to safety. Now we had to save Mehra’s mind before it was lost forever. If it already wasn’t.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Aug 18 2010, 02:42 PM

This is new to me! Is it a side quest or part of the Morrowind main quest? I don't remember this from the other MW fan fics I've read.

Pretty grim, torture, but almost a fact of life. Sad in reality, but it certainly adds something to fiction, doesn't it?

Posted by: Remko Aug 18 2010, 03:18 PM

It is part of the mainquest. At some point you have to rescue Mehra Milo from the holding cell but I gave it a more sinister twist. I imagine it's not called the ministry of truth because it sounded nice. In my vision I see it as a place where they wring "truth" from people. Bit like the Spanish Inquisition. Hurt people long enough and they will confess to anything.

Posted by: haute ecole rider Aug 18 2010, 03:39 PM

To me, the Ministry of Truth has a Kafka-esque or Orwellian overtone. I agree that the Ministry of Truth is just a front for government-authorized torture. Good decision on making it dark.

Posted by: Destri Melarg Aug 18 2010, 03:44 PM

Good to see you back, Remko. Sorry to hear about your game. If memory serves, this is the first time that an Ordinator has identified Rales as the Nerevarine. Too bad it won’t be the last. I like your take on the Ministry of Truth. It sounds very much like something that the Temple would do to those it deemed a threat.

One observation I do have is that you might want to say that Zerina’s spell wore off before Mehra looks at Rales and before he looks at Zerina. When I first read it I assumed they were still invisible. laugh.gif

Posted by: Remko Aug 18 2010, 04:14 PM

QUOTE(Destri Melarg @ Aug 18 2010, 04:44 PM) *

Good to see you back, Remko. Sorry to hear about your game. If memory serves, this is the first time that an Ordinator has identified Rales as the Nerevarine. Too bad it won’t be the last. I like your take on the Ministry of Truth. It sounds very much like something that the Temple would do to those it deemed a threat.

One observation I do have is that you might want to say that Zerina’s spell wore off before Mehra looks at Rales and before he looks at Zerina. When I first read it I assumed they were still invisible. laugh.gif


Yeah, it took me a while to update. Now the ball is rolling again, the next update shouldn't take another 3 weeks.

edit: I put in additional sentence so it's clear they aren't invisible anymore.

Posted by: Olen Aug 18 2010, 11:17 PM

Good to see this updated, especially once it's at the bit of the MQ where Morrowind really starts to shine as one of the best games made. I can't wait to read more, it's so fun reading another take on my favourite game.

Those who haven't played it should wink.gif

Posted by: Acadian Aug 19 2010, 01:35 AM

What a complementary pair the two are!

Rales - I may not know any magic, but I can break down doors and lift heavy things.
Zerina - Say the word and we're magically outta here.

tongue.gif

Posted by: SubRosa Aug 19 2010, 01:58 AM

Yay its Rales! Once again, he and Zerina make a perfect team. The Ministry of Truth does sound very Orwellian, and I liked you presented it as dark, cold, and cruel.


nits:
small scracks around the lock.
I think you meant either scratches or cracks, not sure which.

Ps. I left some levitation postions for you, just in case.
I am sure that is potions.

a potion could be swallowed in mere seconds and the effect would be instantainuously.
and this instantaneous.

In stead, she procurred a key from her belt.
This ought to be procured.

Posted by: Remko Aug 19 2010, 01:39 PM

Glad you enjoyed it smile.gif Look forward to writing about getting named Hortator. The Telvanni part was big fun while playing and should leave enought gaps for humorous encounters.
I also look forward to sending the pair to "Uncle" Crassius laugh.gif laugh.gif

Posted by: mALX Aug 20 2010, 07:14 PM

I wish I knew all the quests too, but even not knowing them this story is great! Like Acadian, I love the balance between Rales and Zerina - like two holding hands, one's skills fill in the gaps the other lacks - really perfect !!!

Posted by: Remko Sep 1 2010, 04:42 PM

I promised it wouldn't take weeks but my holiday got in the way. Anyway, I won't keep you waiting any longer.

Still carrying her, we ran as fast I dared with our precious cargo to the altar. ‘Clear the shrine,’ I yelled pantingly.
‘You Ash-borne savages! This is a holy place and I will not stand for barbarians desecrating the shrine!’ the local priest shouted at us.
I growled. ‘We don’t have time for this nonsense.’ Zerina wasted no time. With a single swipe of her arm, the clutter on the altar was cleared and crashed on the floor, much to the priest’s anger.
Gently I placed Mehra - who had finally succumbed to her exhaustion and had passed out - on her back on the altar. Immediately, Zerina’s hands started to glow and soon the soothing light enveloped Mehra’s body. Even the priest had stopped his angry ranting and had jumped into the healing process of the mangled priestess, while I stood there feeling helpless.

‘I can heal her physical wounds but I am not sure I can still get to her,’ Zerina commented exhaustedly. ‘She has withdrawn into a lethargic state and only she can break free from it. There’s nothing else I can do for her.’
‘Pray for the Nine to save her,’ the priest mumbled whle eying the broken artifcats scattered all over the floor. I put my hand on his shoulder while I toed a large shard of a vase that had been on the altar.
‘This,’ I said, kicking the shards to the side, ‘is a worthless piece of clay without people to pay tribute and appreciate to what they represent. Good people like her,’ I said while pointing at Mehra.
The priest’s eyes glowed up. ‘I don’t know who you are, but you are right stranger. How could I have been so blind to the obvious truth? Honouring the Nine isn’t done by worshiping some man-made icon.’ He smirked briefly. ‘Even it was an expensive one. It’s in serving what the Nine Divine care about. Their creation. Us. Thank you.’
I held out my hand in comradery, which the priest grabbed firmly.

***

‘She’s awake!’ Zerina’s cheerful shout awoke me from my slumber. Yawningly I rubbed my eyes. I had meant to stay awake vigilantly but fatigue had caught up and had lured me into closing my eyes for just a second. Mehra’s eyes still reflected the horrors she had been through when I looked into them.
‘How do you feel?’ Zerina asked her softly.
‘Is it over?’ the priestess shakingly asked.
Zerina nodded. ‘You are safe and among friends now.’
When the realisation dawned she was really out of that dreadful place, she broke out in tears, streaming over her face. In mere seconds her cheeks were soaking wet and her eyes swollen. Zerina just embraced her and let her cry out on her shoulder.

After her tears and cheeks had dried up, we had to take her somewhere safe, somewhere out of the Temple’s reach. ‘Mehra,’ I whispered. ‘I know you have been through a hard time but we really have to leave here as soon as it’s dark. It won’t take the Ordinators long to get back on our track. We have to go somewhere you are safe. Do you know such a place?’
She looked at me with blank eyes. For a moment I feared her sanity was lost, raptured by the harsh interrogations she had endured but slowly intelligence returned together with a spark in her big red eyes.
‘Holamayan,’ she whispered. ‘Take me to the docks in Ebonheart, to my friend Blatta Hateria. Fisherman.’
I sighed in relief. Ebonheart was an Imperial town so the risk of being spotted by Ordinators was minimal. To make sure, I gave Mehra an invisibility potion and told her she needed to drink it because it would make her feel better. Without hesitating she poured the potion down her throat and slowly her form disappeared. Like a bag of potatoes I hoisted her over my shoulder. It might have appeared a bit disrespectful carrying her that way but carrying an invisible person in your arms might raise unwanted questions we wanted to avoid at all costs. Hurryingly we made our way to the docks. Thankfully, the Imperial shrine was only a short distance away from the docks. No one had taken a specific interest in us between the shrine and the docks and soon our boots rapped the wooden walkways towards a female inspecting her nets. Quickly deducing she had to be Blatta as she was the only female Imperial fisherman present, we walked over to her.

‘What do you want, can’t you see I’m b-’ she started but her rude line trailed off as Mehra’s form slowly reappeared on my shoulder.
‘She,’ I head-gestured to Mehra,’wants to go fishing.’
‘Get on board, quickly,’ she breathed. ‘I will take you to the monestary right away.’
‘Monastery?’ I suspiciously asked. ‘Won’t there be Ordinators to arrest her again?’
The fisherman shook her head amusedly. ‘You misunderstand, Holamayan is a safe haven for people who question the temple doctrine.’
‘I also misunderstood you for a fisherman,’ I replied.
Blatta smiled mysteriously, asked me to lift anchor and set sail.

When we arrived at the island, on which the monestary was built, a couple days later, Mehra was almost back to her old self. Her hair had started to grow back and the hollow look from her eyes had all but been replaced by a vivid spark again. Two days at sea had also done her complexion good. In stead of the sickly grey, her skin had regained the usual tone. Somewhere between blue and green.
Gently I awoke Zerina. ‘Wake up my love, we have arrived.’

Stepping onto the dock, we were hailed by a Dunmer donning a simple, brown cloak.
‘You have arrived at the Holamayan Sanctuary. Welcome pilgrims,’ she said.
‘The monastery is up those stepping stones but it will open only at dawn or dusk, so I suggest you find something to pass the time.’
I smiled at Zerina. The sun had set an hour before we had landed at the docks so we had the entire night to spend. Crookedly she smiled back at me and grabbed me by the hand.
‘Will you two ladies excuse us, we eeuhmm, well-’ I didn’t finish the sentence. Mehra and the Dunmer monk who had hailed us grinned. ‘Just make sure you are back before dawn, or you will have to wait untill dusk again,’ Mehra commented.

Zerina and I awoke before dawn, our bodies entangled as usual after a passionate night. Breathlessly we watched the early rays of light piercing the purple hue of the morning sky. Breaking free from the mesmerizing sight we got dressed and made the short trip to the monastery. Mehra and the monk were already there when we arrived just before dawn.
As soon as the sun peeked above the horizon, the stone mantle hiding the monastery opened with a mighty rumble and slowly revealed the ancient monastery of Holamayan.

Posted by: Olen Sep 1 2010, 05:37 PM

Good to see this continued. The slight deviation from the game works well and makes more of the effects of Mehra's imprisonment. And now they arrive at Hlormaren where I suspect Reles will find certin answers to some questions. Certainly the best part of the game begins around this point.

Posted by: mALX Sep 1 2010, 07:01 PM

Yeah! You finally updated and I got my fix of Rales and Zerina !!!!!! Woo Hoo !!!!!

Posted by: treydog Sep 1 2010, 07:53 PM

Cool! New Rales! Your much darker take on the Ordinators and the Tribunal is spot-on, I believe. There has to be a reason they wear those masks to conceal their true identities- and it has to do with more than just "honoring" their Chimer ancestry.

Posted by: SubRosa Sep 1 2010, 10:14 PM

Honouring the Nine isn’t done by worshipping some man-made icon.
People have been tortured and murdered for saying that IRL! However, that should be worshiping.

Your story certainly has taken a darker turn since you began to take a closer look at the temple, ordinators, etc... Which is not a bad thing at all, imho. It feels that you are upping the stakes. Where before it felt like a cut and dried good guy vs. evil monster king, now things become much grayer, and dingier, in Morrowind.

The monastery only opens at dawn and dusk? Would Azura be worshiped there by chance?


nits:
It might have appeared a bit respectless
The word you are looking for there is disrespectful.

‘I will take you to the monestary right away.’
This is monastery.

When we arrived at the island on which the monestary was build several days later
You have the wrong tense here. For past tense, that should be built.

Posted by: Zalphon Sep 1 2010, 11:49 PM

I like how it's in line with the game smile.gif

Posted by: Remko Sep 2 2010, 11:02 AM

Thank you all smile.gif I am glad you appreciate my darker take on things. It seems the story has strayed far from what started as a light-hearted MW fan-fic wacko.gif
Imo darkness is far darker when there's light to contrast from.

That last part was really fun to write; it allowed me to go deeper into the conflict between the dissident priests, the temple doctrine and the Imperial Cult. The battle between the Nerevarine and Dagoth Ur is far less interesting because it's the chewed out good vs evil.

@SubRosa:

QUOTE
Honouring the Nine isn’t done by worshipping some man-made icon.
People have been tortured and murdered for saying that IRL!

I had a feeling you'd pick up on that. biggrin.gif
You probably figured out I have little sympathy for religion. I (usually) respect religious people but please don't ask me on how I feel about churches and stuff laugh.gif laugh.gif

Posted by: Acadian Sep 2 2010, 12:39 PM

A neat journey you have us on. As ever, the centerpiece is the interaction between Rales and Zerina and those they encounter. Nicely done!

Posted by: Remko Sep 6 2010, 05:52 PM

Chapter 11: Dusk and Dawn

Day 412

The four of us were greeted by a wrinkled Dunmer. He looked even older than Divayth Fyr.
‘Mehra!’ he exclaimed emotionally. ‘What happened to you?’
I could see the pain in Mehra’s eyes while she shook her head. In stead of answering she threw herself in his arms, her eyes filling with tears again.
‘They will pay for this,’ the Dunmer hissed between clenched teeth. ‘They have gone too far. This can’t be what lord Vivec had in mind.’
‘No Gilvas,’ Mehra sofly said. ‘Don’t be angry with them. They are misguided souls and should be pitied, not punished.’
The old monk scoffed but didn’t comment. ‘Who are your…. friends?’ he asked.
‘These,’ Mehra started,’are Rales and Zerina. They have rescued me from the Ministry’s holding cell.’
The monk’s eyes narrowed. ‘And why would they do such a selfless thing?’ He drew his staff threateningly. ‘Maybe they are Temple spies, sent to infiltrate our ranks under the pretenses being your friend.’
Mehra shook her head. ‘They are not spies.’ I cringed with that remark, glad she didn’t know the whole truth about me. Or maybe she did but decided to keep silent about me being in the Emperor’s secret service.
‘Then why are they here and how come you are so sure they’re not spies?’
Mehra shrugged. ‘I don’t know but somehow I am sure they are not.’
I decided to come clean and hoped the Dissident Priests had a more open mind towards the Lost Nerevarine prophecies. ‘Truthfully, we are here to find the Lost Prophecies.’

‘Then you are spies,’ he growled. ‘Nobody knows about those, except us and the Temple.’
‘And the Ashlander tribes,’ I added.
His demeanor changed immediately. ‘What do you know about them?’
I sighed deeply. ‘More than I’d like to. The Lost Prophecies are about me. I am here to find more answers about the prophecies. Unfortunately, the Ashlanders don’t have the written word on it and parts have gone missing through the ages. The Urshilaku Wise-Woman believes we could find the Lost Prophecies with the Dissident Priests and unless I am very mistaken, I have found them.’

‘You,’ Gilvas hesistated. ‘You are the prophesised Nerevarine?’
I nodded slowly. ‘I didn’t want to believe it at first either but I-,’ I corrected myself while looking at Zerina,’we have been through too much to still deny the simple truth.’
‘I see,’ Gilvas reconciled defloatedly. ‘How much do you know?’
I told him everything I had learned the last few months, about the Corprus disease I had contracted and defeated and how we had rescued Mehra from the Ministry of Truth.
‘Follow me,’ he said after I finished. ‘I think we have the answers you are looking for.’

All the answers we had been looking for, were right there. Gilvas and I talked for hours about the prophecies, how they had gone missing with the Ashlanders and the difference of opinion between the Dissident Priests and the Tribunal Temple’s point of view. It was the Temple’s opinion that the Blight could be defeated by resolute, unified faith but it was the Dissident Priests’ opinion that the only chance in defeating the evil underneath Red Mountain lies in the spirit of the great General Nerevar Indoril and the unification of the Dunmer underneath a single banner.

Gilvas then explained that if they could find a way to show the Temple the Dissident Priests were capable confronting Dagoth Ur and his minions more effectively than the Temple and the Buyant Armigers could, the Morrowind people might recognise the Tribunal’s power was waning and that they were gradually losing the war.

‘The worst thing,’ Gilvas said, ‘is the fact the Temple are hiding the awful truth.’ He showed me some books, exactly the ones we had come looking for, that held the terrible truth about how the Tribunal had acquired their godhood so long ago. In an ancient document, called “Kagranac’s Tools”, the event was clearly decribed. The Temple had persecuted the Nerevarine and the Dissident Priests to hide the fact they had used the same corrupt power as Dagoth Ur had. According to Gilvas, the persecution has to stop and the Tribunal, the Ashlander tribes and the Nerevarine have to stand together as one against the true enemy; Dagoth Ur and the Sixth House. But for that to happen, the people of Morrowind needed a miracle. The look he gave me told me I needed to be that miracle. I was going to have to be the one to give shape to the ancient legend, to become someone people could look up to, someone to follow. An avatar of hope and renewal.

‘Take these.’ He handed me some books, containing more explanation concerning the Nerevarine Prophecies - including one that specifically stated the Nerevarine was prophesised to be an Outlander, something the Aslanders might have resented or even rejected, hence the disapperance of that specific prophecy.
‘May our Lady of Dusk and Dawn be with you. Good luck….. Nerevarine.’
‘Lady of Dusk and Dawn?’ I thought to myself. ‘Azura? Again her meddling?’ Had she been coercing me towards my destiny since birth? Deciding that it mattered little, I said my goodbye to Gilvas, thanked him for the books and went to find Zerina.
‘Bring the books back when you are done with them, please,’ Gilvas shouted after me halfway the stairs.

Posted by: mALX Sep 6 2010, 06:33 PM

The more I read of these quests, the more I am dying to play Morrowind!!!!! Awesome write Remko! (as usual, I knew that already!)

Posted by: Olen Sep 6 2010, 07:29 PM

And the journey continues. I always thought the dissident preists got too small a part in the game but you brought them to life rather well.

QUOTE
‘Bring the books back when you are done with them, please,’

That line made me grin, the mismatch between 'save the world' and 'look after my books' is one I appriciate.

And for those who haven't played Morrowind you should, the GOTY version is availible for peanuts on ebay/amazon etc and it's not exactly hard on the old processor.

Posted by: Acadian Sep 7 2010, 02:54 AM

QUOTE
I nodded slowly. ‘I didn’t want to believe it at first either but I-,’ I corrected myself while looking at Zerina,’we have been through too much to still deny the simple truth.’


As ever, the centerpiece is how Rales and Zerina SHOW how they care for each other. Wonderful.

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