I loved your first version of Buffy Fiction - but I have to say Acadian - this is so much better!!!! That break you took has rejuvenated you!!! AWESOME !!!!!

That was a good section of character and world building, you bring the guild to life as a place where people live but don't always stay at as they travel to learn. I liked hearing what they were all doing, it made good reading and gave them real characters and aims, rather than standing around casting the odd spell and waiting for the PC to need them.

Now off to see Tar-Meena and presumably then to azura's shrine which is definately a must for all characters who use enchantments because charging is expensive. Giving us a reason why it costs so much and why you can't do it yourself fills in a rather gaping hole well. It's another thing the unusual tone of this story does, it's both tied to the game but also divergant in other respects (character interactions and the living world), but uses game mechanics as a how to guide. Then occasionally it fills in holes. Certainly it makes complimetary reading.

Well they are High Elves

Also love the description of "nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure" Delphine Jend.

Anxiously awaiting the Azura daedric quest in which she gets another string in her bow, perhaps the last one she needs.

Chapter 21 was the second episode of our seven part miniseries, 'Child of Dawn'. Buffy and Ardaline each realized they are not alone in sometimes envying the appearance of others. Buffy then met with Ita Rienus, the Bravil guild recharger. After discussing and rejecting several possibilities to deal with the challenge of keeping her newly enchanted bow charged, Buffy decided the Daedra Lord Azura may be able to help.

Rider- The Bravil guild does indeed seem like a women's dorm! Yes, the two pretty elves are both dissatisfied with 'what Mara gave them'. Leave it to Kud-Ei, even from the Black Marsh to point that out to them. Thanks for the wonderfully kind words!

hazmick- Most of the important characters in Buffy's life are older and wiser. Ardaline is truly a peer - a young and unsure of herself elf, like Buffy. Goofy, giddy, girly slumber parties and all. Thanks!

treydog- Thank you. It is wonderful having the more mature Buffy sitting on my shoulder to help revise these older portions of her story. I have seen her gradually outgrow the self consciousness about her ears. She is also asking much harder questions that she did not ask in 1.0. "Why can't I learn to recharge my own weapons like Ita does?" is a reasonable question that forced us to ponder the issue.

SubRosa- 'Sweet interlude' - thank you so much. The mages guild, and particularly the Bravil chapter of course, is very important to Buffy the orphan. You are exactly right in assessing our reasoning on the ability to recharge weapons. It is a capability that Buffy can never learn, so we wanted to try and answer, 'why not?'. In some fairness to Ardaline looking so very, very tall - Buffy's height is modified down to the diminutive size of her male Bosmer brethren. So, a picture of the two of them together represents the tallest and shortest characters in her game. Yes, as you can see, Azura plays a role in our plot. Thank you so much for the nit so I could fix it.

mALX- I'm so glad you are enjoying 2.0. At first I was quite intimidated by the concept of heavy revisions, but I have now (with the help of Buffy and our wonderfully supportive friends here on the forum) come to embrace it. Her story will be very recognizable, but with (as you can see) some notable changes.

Olen- Thank you so very much for your kind assessment of the admittedly unique tone and nature of BF. Yes, as you say, we like very much to work with the game physics and mechanics, but beyond that, Buffy can and does take extraordinary liberties - as we will soon see.

MyCat- We have great fun when we write of or for Delphine Jend. She is quite the bubbly bundle of fireballs herself, as well as the Bravil chapter's fashionista. Very astute of you to note the basic tools that Buffy finds necessary to function as a mystic archer. She will need only one more type of trinketry after Azura's Star.




Raising my eyes from the campfire, I glanced westward beyond the peacefully grazing mare. The golden warmth that Superian and I had enjoyed for this last day of our journey was finally yielding to a chill in the air as the treetops of the Jerall Mountains finally claimed the sun. From my pack, I retrieved the copy of 'Modern Heretics' I had borrowed from Tar-Meena at the Mystic Archives. I turned to a key passage.

'. . .the times when Azura would hear petitions, from dusk to dawn, and that the offering required by Azura was glow dust.'

Reaching back into the pack, I exchanged my book for the required sample of will-o-the-wisp remains I had purchased from The Main Ingredient in the Market District.

Standing, I then walked the short distance past Azura's prayerful followers and presented myself before her shrine.

The stone form of a woman towered above me. Her arms were outstretched, a star in one hand and a crescent moon in the other. I reached up and placed my glow dust at Azura's feet, atop the round pedestal upon which she stood. Almost afraid to breathe, I stared up towards her face and waited.

"My hand attended the sunrise marking your birth." The feminine words of the Daedra Lord echoed from everywhere and nowhere. Her voice was somehow soothing, yet penetrated my consciousness as effortlessly as arrows passing through a ghost. "It was I who placed the inevitability of this meeting into your destiny. You are here to perform a service, which holds promise of discovery and reward. Long ago, five of my followers slew the vampire Dratik, but all were infected by the foul creature. Knowing their fate, they sealed themselves in the vampire's lair. Their suffering has weighed heavily upon me, for it has been almost a score of years since I touched your fate to preordain their salvation. Travel to the Gutted Mine. The door will open to you. Bring the peace of death to my followers, and you shall earn my gratitude."

I slowly retraced the few paces to my camp. I was torn between exhilaration and fear as I sat in front of the fire to think. Yes, I had been born at sunrise. The fact that Azura knew this, being a Daedra Lord and all, was no surprise. But why would she care about an insignificant she-elf from Bravil? And I wasn't sure at all that I liked the idea of someone touching my fate. I shrugged. Who could fathom the ways of a Daedra Lord?

Reaching for the copy of 'Modern Heretics', I again leafed through its pages and tried to focus on my purpose here.

'. . .quest, which, if completed, might have earned me the reward of Azura's Star, a Daedric artifact of legendary magical powers.'

Was this Azura's Star the same artifact Ita Rienus had spoken of? A reusable soul gem?

I granted that Ita had warned me of the risks. Tar-Meena had added her cautions as well. I knew little of vampires, having never encountered one. I had heard they possessed deadly strength and speed, favored dark places and could infect others with vampirism. I didn't remember my father at all, but apparently he was a hunter of them.

"Acadian," I began softly, "that we're here in pursuit of some artifact to help keep my bow charged is all my doing. I was so captivated by the idea, that I never asked your opinion. I'm sorry. Now you're stuck here with me, the eve before a battle with vampires. I don't mind telling you that I'm frightened, but of course you can feel that. I can't do this alone. I mean, I know you'll come with me wherever I go, but since I put us both at risk, I want it to be something we agree on. If you think it's a bad idea, my paladin, we will leave here at first light and not return." I stirred the fire with a stick, and stared at the flames for answers.

The paladin's initial response was a question. After a moment, I answered, "Well, I think so. My bow is powerful indeed, but it is for naught if I can't keep it charged. Being my only weapon, it eats a lot of soul gems. I don't know if there really is a good Daedric Prince, but from my research, Azura seems to come closest to that. Her task does indeed seem noble." I nodded my head. "Yes, Acadian. I do want this - but only if we're of one mind."

The moment I uttered the words, 'I do want this,' his decision was instant and unambiguous.

"Thank you, my paladin. I hope I know what we're doing."

A light snow was beginning to fall. I briskly rubbed my shoulders, then slipped on a ring that had a weak enchantment to help guard against the cold. I pitched a tent over my bedroll and staged Superian's tack, as well as my bow and quiver out of the weather. The campfire brightened and sparks jumped as I added several pieces of wood from the large pile I had gathered. Hopefully, the fire would survive the night.

I pulled the furs of a bear and wolf from Superian's saddlebags, then led the mare under the partial protection of a tree. With strips of leather, I carefully secured the bear pelt to her back for the night. Returning to the tent, I tugged off my clothes and crawled into the bedroll. After dragging the wolf pelt in with me, I twirled myself up into a little ball.

*

The morning sun provided scant warmth to augment the leather cuirass and greaves I wore. Snow crunched under hooves as we made our way up the short path to Gutted Mine.

When we arrived, I slid to the ground and patted Superian's shoulder as she rubbed the side of her long nose against my head. After a few moments, I steeled myself to approach the mine's entrance.

The ancient wooden door shimmered softly. Upon the touch of my hand, Azura's warding dissipated. As I drew the bow from my back, it responded with a brief glow of its own. The weapon had yet to be tested against a serious foe, but I was pretty sure that was about to change. I cast a spell, then blew a kiss over my shoulder to the massive pink glow that was now Superian.

I quietly entered the mine.

Patiently, I crouched in the cold dimness allowing my eyes to adjust. The air smelled of ancient dust, stone and the staleness of being sealed up for many years.

A subtle, but dark sensation grew within me, like vines silently grasping at the branches of a sapling. This feeling of an ominous presence was strangely familiar. I recalled the unforgettable sensation once before, as Superian and I had passed close to Castle Skingrad before my time at the University. I shrugged off the feeling now, as I did then, to perhaps something from my dinner that didn't agree with me.

A straight tunnel lay before me and there was one life sign ahead - distinctly humanoid. At the end of the tunnel, beyond the pink glow, appeared a soft flicker of light, perhaps from a wall torch or sconce. I crept forward.

The thin tautness against my shin alerted me, but not before the tripwire snapped. I frantically spun around and threw myself to the ground. After a moment, I lifted my face and looked back over my shoulder. I could see the spiked metal ball still slowly swinging from its chain. The trap had made little noise. Quietly regaining my feet, I waited for the pounding of my heart to slow.

The life sign ahead started moving towards me. The glow stopped, perhaps ten paces away, and I heard a voice that was as feminine as one could expect from an Orsimer. "Although you do not show yourself, I can smell your presence. Tell me, can you somehow sense me as well? Are the legends true?" I heard the unmistakably chilling sound of steel slowly scraping free of scabbard. The orc then resumed her advance.

Confused by her words and panicked at her approach, I lifted a glowing fist and disappeared. Pressing myself tightly against the shadowy wall of the stone tunnel, I tried to breathe silently.

The steel-clad orc slowly continued past me, long sword at the ready. Before she was ten paces beyond me, she stopped and sniffed the air.

I was glad my selection of arrows included both broadheads and a small number of arrows with bodkin-shaped hardened tips that were enchanted to weaken and pierce armor. Thanks to my partitioned quiver and the relentless drilling of Boderi Farano, I was quite adept at using differences in shaft length and fletching to quickly select my desired arrow.

I didn't wait for the orc to turn around. My arrow pierced the back of her cuirass and I was reaching towards my quiver for another. That the orc remained standing after being struck by the powerful bow was testimony to the stoutness of her race. The enchantments did stun her however. As she staggered to face me, the left side of her chest was pierced by my second arrow. The intentional off-center impact spun her around violently. Still, she remained on her feet.

As she again turned to face me, her roar of pain and rage echoed down the tunnel. Leveling the tip of her blade, she charged.

By now I had nocked my third arrow, opting for a riskier shot using a broadhead; however, at this range I knew I couldn't miss.

As soon as I released my bowstring, I heard facial bones cracking. The orc's head snapped back and the tail of my arrow, now deeply imbedded in her face, scraped the low ceiling of the tunnel. Dead on her feet, her massive body fell away from me. The pink glow was gone even before I heard the clatter of steel meeting stone.

Recasting my spell, I verified there were no nearby life signs. I slowly exhaled into the silence. Only then did I allow myself to feel, instead of just thinking and acting as I had been trained. Tremors of fear and relief washed over me as my heart gradually slowed its pounding. I lowered a hand to check, and noted with some satisfaction that my greaves were dry.

After several minutes in the dark, I slipped on a ring that provided a small radius of illumination around me. The ring of light was less bulky than a torch. It could also be quickly removed if necessary - faster than dispelling a cast light effect. I knelt to inspect the body.

The Orsimer features were strangely distorted and her skin was a pale green. So, Buffy, this is a vampire. I searched the body and collected some of the dust that covered her corpse. Removing the ring, I returned to the dim shadows. That strange sense of ominous presence had lessened with the vampire's death.

I recalled her words. She could smell me?

I had bathed in the cold waters of Lake Arrius just the day before. I ran my nose along one arm. After undoing a couple of the top buckles, I sniffed inside my cuirass. Finally, I whispered indignantly, "I hardly smell badly."

This post has been edited by Acadian: Aug 30 2010, 05:09 PM

Poor Buffy still can't tell the difference between smell and stink!!!

Exciting, the fight was very good, it showed her using her brain to win the fight. All that training must be paying off though I noticed that she didn't use any poison or spells, just the bow. Nicely written too, lots of quoitables.


I shall restrain myself to just this line. I love it, and it fits her perfectly.


It appears she has some ability to sense vampires. And there's legends about it maybe. Could Azura be behind this, or perhaps a family thing seeing as her father hunted them. And what became of him anyway... There were enough hooks liad in this part to land a barrel of fish.

The final line is so Buffy.

Nit:
That strange sense of ominous presence had lessoned with the vampire's death. - lessened?

Finally, Buffy the vampire slayer. If she meets the count of Skingrad I hope she will control herself, he is such a kind person. I loved your description of wrapping Superian in bear fur, and the description of the vampires face.

Delightful, evocative imagery in both these passages.





The training that no one at the Arcane wants to talk about- bladder control. Perhaps Buffy should follow one of the primary rules for reading Maxical- and Ada- and Adryn- and Edward- and Ra'Jirra before she enters dangerous places.

Buffy has a bit to learn about how vampires hunt- she needs to combine her knowledge of forest creatures with the fact that vampires are hunters, too. And all the best hunters (except men and mer) have superb olfactory senses.

The nugget that Buffy’s father was a vampire hunter adds a great deal to this quest.

Buffy's decision to consult her paladin after- not ignoring him- (perhaps becoming overly-focused on her goal?)- was a very nice touch. And his Socratic response- unwritten, but clear from the context, was also an illustration that our bow-girl is her own person, most definitely NOT a paper doll.

Nits:



The chill must have affected the typist’s fingers, as well…



For some reason, this does not scan for me. It was not the bow that allowed her to stand, but her innate strength. How about:

“That the orc remained standing even after being struck by the powerful bow was testimony….”



Probably preference rather than rule, but I would expect to see “cast” here.



“lessened”

Like Buffy, I had no problem with the first vampire just within the entrance, and like Buffy, I killed her much the same way (attacking from ambush, not necessarily with a bow). Please tell Buffy to be careful - they get harder the deeper you go. The last two down in the bowels are difficult, mostly because the layout of the place makes it hard to get a clear shot from a safe distance. Perhaps Old Bones could be helpful? Just a suggestion.

That closing paragraph made me laugh out loud! How many of us have done just that? Oh, and checking the greaves for wet spots is classic Buffy! Whew, not this time, or she'd be far more stinky!

the treetops of the Jerall Mountains finally claimed the sun
This was a lovely turn of phrase.

I love how you worked Azura into Buffy's past, making this quest almost her birthright. It changes it from being just a quest to get a magic goodie to something personal. It also makes me wonder if we will see more of Azura in Buffy's future.

The use of the Resist Cold ring was a good touch for sleeping in the winter. It is one I have never gotten around to in the TF, but will be there sooner or later.

A subtle, but dark sensation grew within me, like vines silently grasping at the branches of a sapling. This feeling of an ominous presence was strangely familiar. I recalled the unforgettable sensation once before, as Superian and I had passed close to Castle Skingrad before my time at the University.
Dum, Da, Dum, Dum! Here is a bit of foreshadowing! One wonders if Buffy's strange feeling is somehow related to being touched by a Daedric Princess?

A heart-pounding battle with the first vampire! More foreshadowing of Buffy's strange feeling in her dialogue, and lovely touch of her being able to smell Buffy's warm blood. My only possible nit is on using the term bodkin for Buffy's armor-piercing arrows. Archaeology has found that bodkins were made of iron, so in spite of their drill-like shape, they were too soft to pierce armor. It was a relatively narrow, barbed type made of steel that the English appeared to use against armored targets. I suggest simply using a more generic term for Buffy's armor-piercers, as you do with her broad-heads.

And finally, dry greaves! Yay for Buffy!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Aug 27 2010, 07:43 PM

By the Nine!

No, by Azura! by Azura, by Azura!

You should write a comedy.

This post has been edited by hazmick: Aug 28 2010, 04:09 PM

Now let me see, where was I?

Grey Melbourne day – check.
Hot cup of tea in hands – check.
Catching up on one of my favourite girls on the net – check.

Who said that only Kud-Ei could have that sort of fun?!!

18 -
I can see that Buffy is certainly progressing beautifully with her bow skills and illusion. Boderi is exactly the task master that Buffy needs. Combine that with the love and friendship of Daenlin and that is a deadly combination.


I remember when I first played Oblivion I could never understand the point of having a door in the Uni that I couldn’t use. Eventually I went to uesp and realized that it was part of the add-on. Lol.

I have been wondering for some time when the screenpics would come back?? I really miss that addition to the journal. Thanks for the Uni yearbook!!

19 –
A placid guard dog?!! That is certainly a first. There must have been a sedative in the deer meat he was stealing from the fire. Lol. It was a lovely idea to show more of the caring side of Buffy. She only kills when there is justification. Very interesting what you say about facing them unarmed. I must try that!


Delightful writing! After her meeting with Falcar I can understand Buffy’s apprehension.

20 –


A beautiful line!


A cool bit of background here. Daenlin doesn’t want to juggle soul gems and decides to palm the bow off onto his customers. At an exorbitant price, of course!


Buffy’s disconnected thinking and speech pattern always makes me smile. The depth of her character really comes across in your writing. Bravo!

21 –

Very clever interpose. It worked perfectly in the conversation!!

I also loved the smooth working in of the Azura quest. Everything here flows naturally onwards. Awesome!!

22 –
Delightful use of description in the Gutted Mine. You really nailed the creepy, claustrophobic feel of that place. And that first wire trap is something that all silent, sneaky characters seem to hit (at least those who do not use night-eye). The accidental tripping of it really allowed you to bring the first encounter alive, especially this –


Wow! The huge, female orc just about to turn around and face Buffy. That is a moment straight out of Hollywood. Very atmospheric!!


My first impression is that this is because Buffy used a wolf pelt to sleep under the night before.
Right or wrong? Now I am not sure!!

Sorry about the large post, brother. Have I been gone that long??!!

That scene with the vampire was a huge opening for this quest - Awesome !!!!!

Chapter 22 was the third episode of our seven part miniseries, 'Child of Dawn'. Buffy entered the Gutted Mine on behalf of Azura. The words of the Daedra Lord, and Buffy's first ever encounter with a vampire left her quite confused by things she doesn't understand.

Foxy- Buffy is quite concerned about what she might smell like to these vampires - and confused as to why they can smell her at all.

Olen- Thank you for highlighting this: "I hope I know what we're doing." I smile when I contrast that to her words from back in chapter two as I realize how much Buffy is growing: "Acadian, I sure hope you know what we're doing."

Her fight with the vampire was indeed pure bow. Things moved a little too quickly to apply a poison, and she often makes mistakes when she gets rattled or surprised. My hope was also to demonstrate that a lesser bow may have caused Buffy to lose that fight. I love your reference to laying lots of hooks. Buffy is horribly confused and will become more so before answers are forthcoming to her. I am hoping her readers are able to share in some of her confusion at this point. One thing I will confess is that we have no plans to delve into the mystery of Buffy's father. He is presumed missing as a result of his dangerous profession.

hazmick- I'm glad you liked the 'horse blanket'. I was trying to use Buffy's actions to show both the cold and how much she cares for her precious mare. Thanks so much for catching my typo.

treydog- Thank you for the wonderful words. Although Buffy revealed her father to be a Breton vampire hunter in chapter one, that was such a long time ago, and considering the current context of a pending vampire fight, I thought it wise to mention here as well. More coming up on how and why those pesky vampires seem to be able to smell Buffy. Similar to King Rislav's 'Call of Corsair', we will be manipulating small threads of lore into a hopefully plausible tapestry of Buffy Fiction. Thank you for the nits. I so appreciate you pointing them out so I could fix them.

Rider- I'm touched at your concern for Buffy as she progresses into the more dangerous parts of that mine - tough indeed for a no-melee archer. No doubt, Buffy will learn from her first fight and adapt. I expect she will make some mistakes as well - especially if she gets rattled. That her greaves are dry so far, is encouraging methinks. Thank you!

SubRosa- Thank you for the kind words. Yes, foreshadowing. From the uncomfortable feeling passing Castle Skingrad to events well beyond Book 1. Aside from hopefully earning a nifty trinket, Buffy will learn something about who she is. What she learns will not dominate her story, it will simply become a part of her.

Bodkins. I worked with your suggestions and will continue as we move forward. I had used the term 'bodkin points' without elaboration to try and save some words. I agree that 'bodkin points' is a pretty precise term that could certainly conjure iron earth arrows. I will try and use terms that better and more generically describe the aspects that pierce armor in BF:
1. Hardened materials or alloys that avoid excess brittleness. Tamriel has plenty of that.
2. A slender pointed tip that is short enough to avoid being bent or broken on impact. I actually quite like the root word 'bodkin' (dagger, awl, piercing tool, needle) to concisely describe the general shape while retaining a 'medieval fantasy' feel. Bodkin sounds better than sharp pointy thing to me. Similarly, excess use of 'armor piercing' reminds me of depleted uranium antitank rounds.
3. As arrowhead material becomes more sophisticated, so does armor. The equalizer is a mild disintegrate armor enchantment on the arrows themselves. Expensive, but worth it when needed.
As always, you really make me think through things. Thank you so much for your suggestions and helping me to improve BF!

Wolf- Thank you so much for the wonderfully encouraging words, my friend. That vampires can smell Buffy is not related to her warm blood or sleeping wrapped in a wolf pelt. Buffy is quite confused and more than a little concerned about that. More clues coming up.

mALX- Thank you for the kind words regarding the fight! I tried to build it around a very clear, even cinematic image in my mind.




As I crept into the small cavern, a pair of life signs began to glow from beyond the walls around me. I turned down a corridor to my left, but quickly discovered it was a dead end. Retracing my steps, I paused as I noted the only other exit from this chamber. The life signs were quite close within the maze of tunnels. I could hear women's voices echoing quietly through the rock, and strained to listen.

"Do you smell it, Nille? The scent of nightshade flowers where none grow."

"Aye, and it frightens me, for we both know who and what that hearkens. That which we have waited so long for now draws nigh. Only Our Lady Azura could unseal the wards to this wretched mine. I want the foul darkness that infests us destroyed - I want to fully die at last."

"I feel the same, sister. My spirit aches for salvation, yet I know the beast within me will try to kill the very messenger of death that Our Lady so mercifully sends."

"Please, Azura, allow the vampires within us to fall today. Let's go, Avita."

The glows were now moving my way and I didn't have time to deal with the swirling questions in my head. As they drew closer, the uncomfortable sensation that I now believed alerted me to vampires grew stronger.

I crouched and waited. The two glows rounded a stony corner and emerged in the same cavern as I. Forming a soft emerald globe, I loosed it at the closer vampire.

As the magic of illusion engulfed my target, the spell momentarily displayed the fur of her armor. She raised a short sword and snarled at her companion, "Jump on my blade while you can!"

The other vampire frantically shouted, "Nille! I'm on your side!" She then drew a dagger and spiked a fist above her head. I recognized the burst of white magic as a shield. As it descended, her simple skirt and blouse were briefly illuminated.

With the arcane display of lights complete, the mine was plunged again into near darkness. It was difficult to follow the cursing, swirling pink glows. I poisoned a broadhead arrow, set it to the nock and waited. Blades clashed repeatedly amidst cries of pain and anger.

The dance suddenly stopped with a loud moan, as one of the life forces faded and fell. I immediately loosed my arrow into the remaining glow. She was knocked to the ground, her short sword clattering across the stone floor of the mine. Before I could nock another arrow, she spoke to me. "My spirit will soon be free." The voice was Nordic, but soft and pained. "I thank you for my salva. . . ."

Her pink glow had yielded to my poison.

I quivered the arrow, then refreshed my spell. There were no life signs within range. The dark presence I felt was weaker - but not gone.

I donned my ring of light. The faces of the Imperial and Nord women were clearly disfigured. It was easier to see the vampiric characteristics on these women than it had been on the orc. Their skin color was odd. It was not the creamy white that one saw on noble ladies who despised the sun kissing their skin; rather, the vampires' complexions were almost a pale gray. The gaunt hollowness of their lower faces emphasized prominent cheekbones. With my thumb, I lifted the upper lip of one of the women to reveal small fangs. Similarly, I raised an eyelid to display an unusual pink eye color. These were features I would not forget.

By now I was convinced that I could sense vampires, and that they could smell me. The idea terrified me - the bowgirl who relied so heavily on remaining hidden. Nightshade? There was none currently in my pack, nor did any of my current batch of poisons contain its lethal toxin. I tried to console myself. Nightshade was pretty, and there were certainly worse smells to be associated with - troll dung or a beached slaughterfish in the sun came to mind.

As I collected vampire dust from the corpses, a thought occurred. Daenlin had taught me how to disguise my scent when hunting. It wasn't a very pleasant thing, but I wondered. . . . I rubbed myself down with vampire dust, then slid off my ring and melted back into the dark stone walls.

After more searching of the mine I found myself in another small chamber. Even through the rock walls between us, I knew the glow on the other side was a vampire. Exploring the tiny cavern revealed two dead ends and a rope with a weighted handle hanging from the ceiling. I pulled it, then quickly faded back into shadow. Part of the rock wall lowered, to the sound of stone scraping stone.

After the dust created by the moving rocks settled, I quietly proceeded into the newly revealed tunnel. The vampire's glow had retreated deeper into the mine. I wondered if my scent disguise was working, or if perhaps I was being led into a trap.

I cautiously entered the next chamber. This one was softly illuminated by several flickering candle lamps suspended from the ceiling.

The retreating vampire had joined the newly blossomed glow of another. They were quite near, but obscured by numerous support beams, tangled tree roots and rocky outcroppings. Getting a clear shot here would be difficult. I studied the pair of glows while pondering how to deal with this.

One of the shapes was very tall and slender like a high elf. The other was almost as tall, but quite massive - perhaps a Nord or Orsimer.

Patience bore fruit, as one of my foes crept into view. With her bow drawn, she scanned the cavern suspiciously. She was indeed an Altmer, and clad in a black robe. A green trail swirled from my fingertips and blended with the pink glow. Convinced to temporarily join my cause, she shouldered her bow, drew a short sword, and charged back towards her massive companion, yelling threats.

My right hand sought the quiver on my back, then hovered indecisively. It was Acadian that guided my fingers to the tail of an arrow that could pierce heavy armor. They were expensive and there were only a few in my quiver, but I didn't question his judgment. We didn't know what might come out of that cavern and it was best to be ready for anything. The slender, hardened tip was enchanted to weaken armor at the point of impact and improve penetration. I quickly coated the arrowhead with poison and fitted the nock to my bowstring.

By now the two vampires had set upon each other. The tall slender glow of the Altmer that I had commanded was quickly extinguished. The remaining vampire had not only summarily killed her, but was now racing my way!

Ah, HEAT warheads on arrows, eh? Quite the touch friend Acadian!!

I liked the eavesdropped interaction between the two vampires. We both learn more clues about Lady Nightshade, a.k.a Buffy the Bowgirl Vampire Slayer, and had the opportunity to see the pair as people rather than simple monsters. The reference one makes to the beast within her was classic vampire lore. A good touch to add as it explains that they are driven to commit horrors by something monstrous within them which they cannot control.

We also see an example of excellent tactics to use in the game. Cast a Frenzy on one of a pair, then wait in hiding and shoot the one that is left.

At the first mention of Daenlin teaching Buffy to disguise her scent, I was wondering if she was going to cover herself in deer urine!

The idea of Disintegrate Armor on an arrow is an excellent one! The game has arrows that do elemental damage in it already. It would be natural though for all manner of effects to be possible. How about a Damage Fatigue arrow on a blunt point (knockout arrows), or a Dispel Magic arrow to use against people wearing bound armor, weapons, or shield spells? Sadly they do not give us any way of enchanting arrows ourselves. Sounds like a good idea for a mod though...

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Aug 30 2010, 09:21 PM

I always get excited about Buffy using the frenzy - and never remember to do it when playing! ARGH! Great addition to the series!

This was an exciting continuation to the quest for Azura’s Star. I liked everything about it, from the revealing dialogue between two of the vampires, to Buffy’s contemplation of her apparent “vampire-sense.”

The combined magic and archery show that our elf has learned some useful tactics.

Perhaps the most “Buffy” moment of all was:



"Well, perhaps I smell, but at least I don’t stink!"

And, to quote mALX- Cliff-hanger! AARGH!