Alright, fine. If you want him to strike a manly pose, here you go.



This post has been edited by Thomas Kaira: Mar 26 2011, 05:45 AM

ROFL !!!

It was both interesting and creative to weave Henantier's dreamworld with Dere's! The result was a nice mysterious blend.

'My feet met the stone floor of the darkened halls, lit only by the dim twinkling of sky-blue crystals.'
I really liked this description. Very effective!

'and her high cheekbones imparted the shape of a heart across her face.'
And another great description. This one was both lovely and creative.

Nit:
'We shall meet soon, you an I; far sooner than you may think.”
You want 'and' instead of 'an' here of course.

@naughty haute: Correct you are. Exactly why the two nightmare realms intermingled will be explained shortly (or rather a suspicion will be confirmed).

@SubRosa: Now that we have fed your Freudian desires, let us return to the story. He certainly did get a good work-over, and is definitely going have a hard time living with the images he received from the Dreamworld. Indeed this was an important stepping stone for him, and repercussions of these events will be felt later.
Nit be picked.

@mALX: You know about me and imagery. That is one of my favorite ways to add meaning and depth to a scene, so I use it quite a bit.

@Acadian: I always wanted to do this, and I'm glad it worked out. Considering how important dreams are to this tale, it made sense that our hero would have to face his own at some point. What better time, I thought, than when an Altmer who bit off more than he could chew needs a helping hand?
Nit be picked.

@all: Your readership and support of this project continue to be appreciated.

next: The nightmares end, but there are, as always, repercussions....






Upon my return to Henantier’s twisted madhouse of a bedroom, my first glance was toward the mer responsible for its existence. No longer did he look wispy or fragile, he was whole again, and his Altmer poise restored in full. As he stood from his cowering posture in the remote corner of the room, our eyes met.

“Oh! Uhh… erm… greetings.” Henantier sputtered, looking quickly back toward the wall he had been cuddled against in fear for the duration of my visit. I suddenly became aware once again of the fact that I was wearing nothing but a silver necklace, and I felt myself growing hot once again.

“I… uhh… see you’ve managed to restore my fractured mind,” Henantier continued, addressing the wall to avoid glancing at me. “So, well… thank you.”

Unfortunately, no thanks could ever undo what happened in here. My feeling of triumph was now shattered by rage; rage against everyone responsible for this. I would have to control myself, though. At least, for a little while longer; long enough for Henantier to remove me from this dreadful place.

“Listen,” I began, barely bothering to hide the vicious contempt in my voice, “I didn’t do this for you and after what happened here, I wish I never got involved. Just get me out of here.”

“Well, you certainly have an attitude,” Henantier responded, an affronted tone in his voice. “Surely, it wasn’t too much…”

“Don’t test me!” I nearly shouted. “This is your nightmare so you’re the only one who can end it. Just wake up, I’m finished with being trapped in your demented brain.”

I didn’t care if I offended the mer; it wouldn’t even matter soon enough. Once I was out of here, it would be the last I saw of this fetcher.

“Very well,” Henantier responded in a shaky voice. “If that is all you wish, my most unpleasant friend. Grasp my hand.”

I took hold of the golden hand he extended me, and watched as the world around me dissolved into blackness for the final time.




----




My eyes blinked in the inviting evening light. They were so used to darkness and blood-red walls it took awhile for me to remember where I was, then I heard a barely repressed yawn beside me. Turning my head slightly, I watched as Henantier rose and stretched, the tips of his fingers nearly brushing the timber ceiling. One shriek later, and he was buried in the arms of a female Argonian in a green silk dress.

“Thank Mara, you’re back!” Kud-Ei nearly cried, her eyes closed in a vain attempt to fight off tears of joy.

“S’alright,” came Henantier’s muffled voice. It was quite an achievement that Kud-Ei had managed to bury the face of a mer a full head higher than her in such a manner. “I’m okay.”

“I am so glad to hear that,” Kud-Ei responded, releasing Henantier and looking into his incredulous face. Neither of them even seemed to notice I was up — and much for the better that way, I thought. Given what I had just put myself through, I did not feel I could be held responsible for what I might do to Kud-Ei if she got in my way. I never felt more inflamed to hurt someone in all my life. What I needed right now was some time alone; time to clear my head and figure out where I would go from here. Perhaps I’ll talk to Kud-Ei about this again tomorrow, I mused as I pulled open the creaky door to Henantier’s home and stepped out into the ruby evening light.

“DERELAS!”

A resounding shout like a whip-crack broke the sky around me, and sent me leaping a good foot into the air. The next thing I saw was an utterly livid Tadrose Helas practically sinking herself into the muddy street as she stamped her way towards me.

“Where on NIRN have you been?!” She commandingly requested of me, jabbing her pointing finger into my chest. “I’ve been looking all over town for you for a good week now! Care to explain where you disappeared off to?”

My voice sputtered and died. A week?

“Erm… well… it’s… it’s a bit of a long story…” I replied weakly.

“I do hope you didn’t leave town,” Tadrose demanded of me.

“No,” I responded quickly. “Kud-Ei at the Mages Guild can testify to where I’ve been if you ask.” I then added quickly. My hopes were that if Tadrose were to pursue that lead, she would be able to see through the blatant lies that would be uttered in response. However, seeing how Kud-Ei nearly stole my life from me without a second thought, that was a bit of a long shot. Nevertheless, it would be fun to watch her squirm if that time came around.

“Don’t think for one second I won’t hold you to that statement,” Tadrose growled, removing the finger she attempted to gouge my lungs out with. “Now, if you don’t mind, we must return to the Fighters Guild. Follow me.”




----




The familiar ash-skinned face and raven hair of Faith was waiting within Tadrose’s private room on the third floor. She practically leapt to her feet as we entered, her face a mess of aggravation and what I could only describe as edginess.

“You took your bloody time!” she exclaimed towards me. “What in Oblivion have you been up to?”

“Long story, apparently,” Tadrose mentioned irritably, making no attempt to mask that she didn’t believe a word I said. “I’m thinking it was rather lucky that I found him at all.”

Silently, I had to agree, but now that we were someplace private, I felt now was the time to divulge.

“Well, then I assume you’ve got the time to hear the story, then?” I asked. Tadrose looked a little flummoxed as she turned back to me; apparently she was not expecting me to be quite so quick to admit to my misgivings.

“Well, if you are ready to come clean to us, do please go on,” she replied briskly.

The story was over in roughly half an hour, gauging by the softly ticking carriage clock mounted on Tadrose’s dresser. I carefully skirted the more personal parts, though, making it sound as though the final ‘test’ was merely a trap-filled gauntlet. I wasn’t sure they believed me, but frankly, I didn’t care. Some of the scenes I brought back with me from the Dreamworld were not meant to be shared. When I had finished, Tadrose looked quite bemused, but Faith had turned roughly the color of limestone.

“Gods’ Blood…” Tadrose was first to break the silence. “So, you visited someone’s nightmares? How is that possible?”

I then noticed that I was still wearing the amulet Kud-Ei had given me. This time, when I tugged on the chain, it finally came loose, freeing me of the last vestiges of Henantier’s self-crafted prison. I then handed it over so that Tadrose might examine it.

“So, it’s been inlaid with…” Faith then began, but hesitated shortly after.

“…Black pearl.” I finished for her. This time, it was Tadrose’s turn to blanch.

“That idiotic Altmer…” she voiced. “He must have been desperate; black pearls are the gateway to Vaermina’s Oblivion. How could he possibly have missed that?”

“Wait, so you’re telling me I was in Oblivion this whole time?” I asked incredulously.

“It does explain a lot,” Faith then quipped. “Time doesn’t follow the same rules between the worlds. What is one week here might only be a couple hours there.”

“Nevertheless,” Tadrose then snapped, her characteristic briskness returning to her voice, “you were most foolish to risk your life in such a way, Derelas. To even attempt to steal the secrets of the Prince of the Dreamworld is folly and even this Henantier character should know that.”

“Trust me, that woman Kud-Ei is a master manipulator,” I replied, growing mildly irritated now that Tadrose continued insisting I was solely to blame. “Anyways, I sincerely doubt you wanted to bring me here just to put my nose to the grindstone about my juvenile Bosmeri ways.”

The two Dunmer locked gazes for a brief moment before Tadrose turned back to me.

“Actually yes,” she responded. “We don’t think it is safe for you here any longer.”

This post has been edited by Thomas Kaira: Mar 30 2011, 01:48 AM

It's wonderful that you have time moving differently in Oblivion than it does out on Nirn. I've always been surprised by how much time has already passed with each Gate I've closed. While in game Gate time = Nirn time, it certainly doesn't feel that way!

And including Vaermina in Henantier's dreamworld is genius! It shows what an idiot Henantier was to undertake this experiment of his without adequate preparation and study.

And I wonder how much of his feelings on leaving the dreamworld was his alone, and how much of it was triggered by the manipulations of Vaermina.

From 6-3: My knees buckled, completely unable to support my weight after my previous experience. It took many moments, perhaps hours, to steady myself and find my footing once again.

The turmoil and disorientation you weave throughout the Dreamworld is so effective. It makes perfect sense at the end that a week has passed in Bravil, and that continues the sense of disconnection.

The scene in 6-4 with Dere’s mother is especially moving. The dream elements evoke the nightmare without clouding the message. Outstanding!

It was a relief to find Derelas extremely ticked off in 6-5 again, and not fractured by his own nightmare like Henantier was.

There is nothing at all Freudian about me wanting naked pics of Derelas. Both Buffy and Teresa have already done so in their fics. The Bosmer girls are due a little reciprocity from the boys. Something you still have not come across with btw. You wrote that Derelas was naked, not wearing a loincloth. So this was the perfect opportunity for a full moon.

If that is all you wish, my most unpleasant friend.
Unpleasant indeed. I'd sooner be trapped in the dream forever than put up with an boat like Derelas. Obviously our Bosmer Bowman has a lot to learn about grace under pressure, not to mention what it means to walk the path of hero (no matter how unwillingly).

I thought they made pirate ships from Black Pearl? Not Dreamworld Amulets. Well, maybe they are not so different... Seriously though, the idea to make the Dreamworld not Henantier's, but rather Vaermina's Oblivion Realm was a brilliant idea. Not only is it inventive, but is also makes Derelas' personally-oriented visions make much more sense.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Mar 29 2011, 09:39 PM

Okay, okay... I'll see to getting a properly nude photo. I've just finished packaging a replacer for my installer, so it won't be too long now. That image was intended as a joke, anyways.

EDIT: Here we go.

The Test of Perception (which we did not do in the story)


The Test of Patience


There we are, a properly nude young man who is not very good under pressure (which is actually rather unlike myself).



This post has been edited by Thomas Kaira: Mar 29 2011, 11:11 PM

Oooh, nice tushies!

And Buffy awards Dere a certified cute butt rating!

'but Faith had turned roughly the color of limestone.'
This is so perfect for an uncomfortable Dunmeri lass!

'black pearls are the gateway to Vaermina’s Oblivion.'
I agree with SubRosa that it was brilliant to tie this quest to Vaermina's. It certainly conjures images of the forever sleeping Arkved and the similar fate that Henantier could have suffered.


Nit - 'Some of the scenes I brought back with my from the Dreamworld were not meant to be shared.'
I expect you wanted the word 'me' vs 'my'.

This post has been edited by Acadian: Mar 30 2011, 02:00 AM

Now that is more like it!

Now it is Aradroth and Talendor's turns. Then we will have the Bosmer in the Buff album complete!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Mar 30 2011, 01:54 AM

@haute ecole rider: I'm glad it worked for you making the Dreamworld actually become Oblivion. It felt quite fitting for me to do something like that, and I'm glad it answered any questions you might have had about Dere's nightmares seeping in alongside Henantier's.

@Grits: Welcome back, and thank you for your kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed our romp through the Dreamworld Oblivion.

@SubRosa: Moraility is not black and white in this world. Cyrodiil has become a much darker place than you might realize now, and I hope to make this very clear in the next chapter. Heroes and villains do not exist in this world, nor is morality presented in black and white.

@Acadian: Thank you much for your insight, it is always welcome. Also, you make Dere blush, Buffy.

@all: I shall say it again, this tale does not put much by Oblivion's original black-and-white morality. Heroes suffer, and legends are drenched in blood in this brave new world. You knew it when I made Bravil into a huge dung-heap, and that is going to become all the more clear very soon.

next: Plans are made, and the Black Horse Courier is back with a vengeance.






I woke early the next morning. It was decreed by Tadrose, at Faith’s council, that we find a way to move me to a town less well connected to the Dark Brotherhood. For that, they asked me to bed down early, despite the fact that I had just spent the last week in a similar position. Savoring the waking world once again would have to wait.

“They lost the trail when we fought off those assassins in Vergayun,” Faith told me, retaking her seat. “But it probably wasn’t the best idea to flee here. The Brotherhood owns this city and many say Count Terentius has had many dealings with them in the past.”

“And it is not unreasonable to suspect he may have a hand in this contract, as well,” Tadrose added, handing me back the black pearl amulet. “You’ve stayed here long enough.”

“Trouble is, they’ll be waiting for you to leave,” Faith continued. “You know very well how vulnerable you will be traveling the roads.”

“Even with a guard?” I asked.

“I can’t guarantee your safety any more on my own; not with the Brotherhood in play,” Faith responded. “We have to find a way to get you away from here without needing to travel across country, because you do not want to be found kipping in the wilderness by a scouting party of vampires.”

“And that’s where the problem arises,” Tadrose quipped, looking very concerned. “I proposed this should happen, but the truth is there seems no way possible to do it. We can’t use travel services, either; they’re too easy to track.”

“Then why propose it in the first place if you knew it impossible?” I inquired.

“Can you see any other choice?” Tadrose snapped. “You made a grave mistake bringing him here, sera Dresdan. We’re pretty much cornered here, easy prey for his assailants. If only Vitellus and his men were back, I might have been able to organize an escort, but obviously that’s off the table.”

“That leaves teleportation as the only option,” Faith finished, ignoring Tadrose’s chastising remark. “Problem is, the Mages Guild hasn’t finished their network yet, so they won’t let us use it.”

I then had an idea flash across my mind.

“Is it functional, at least?” I asked.

“Some sections,” Faith replied. “I think they sent a few people down here from the University about two weeks ago to check on the progress of the Bravil branch’s Guide, as well. They might have made some progress. Why, do you want to ask them? I doubt they would give much regard to an unknown associate’s request.

“Not entirely unknown,” I responded. “That debacle with Henantier I told you about? I might be able to call in a favor on that.”

Faith gave pause, and spared a glance at Tadrose. There was a certain gleam in her eyes that I had come to associate with a rapid release of tension.

“You know what, that might be worth a shot,” Tadrose responded slowly. “We’ll try first thing tomorrow morning. Best get some rest now, Derelas, we need to be up bright and early tomorrow. You should probably stay here in the Guild, as well. There’s some free space on the second floor.”

I made my way downstairs as the poppy-yellow sun filtered in through the grimy windows into the well-kept foyer. The small contingent of fighters left behind were gathered around the dining table, enjoying a light breakfast of crunchy-crusted bread with olive oil and reading the latest news. Tadrose seemed completely engrossed in the paper, as well. I found a spare laying on a chair nearby, picked it up, and began to read….





Looking up from when I had finished, I saw that Tadrose looked absolutely disgusted. She proceeded to ball up the paper and sling it into the fire.

“Trash,” she commented to no one in particular. “Complete tripe. How could Ocato do such a thing, ignoring all the good Savlian did for his city? Completely uncalled for.”

“Sounds like Ocato wants to turn Captain Matius into a political scapegoat,” I replied, letting Tadrose know I was there.

“The only reason there can be,” Tadrose responded, turning to look at me. “He’s just looking to save his own imp chips right now. He knows he botched the siege, the Legion never responded to Kvatch’s many calls for aid.”

“You heard?” Faith then asked, making her presence known as well. There was fire in her eyes to match the blaze in Tadrose’s and she, too was holding a balled up newspaper.

“Unfortunately,” Tadrose replied, handing me a couple slices of bread and a small plate of oil.

“Well, we can’t dwell on that right now,” Faith quipped, turning her gaze to me. “We still need to get you out of here posthaste. I hope you have a plan of some sort?”

“I enter the guild, and speak with Kud-Ei about using the Guide to send me to Anvil,” I recited. “If she doesn’t go for it, I remind her that she owes me a favor for rescuing Henantier from Oblivion.”

“And if she still turns a white scale?” Tadrose asked. “Kud-Ei is a known manipulator, you said it yourself.”

“Who’s the Court Mage for Castle Bravil?” I returned quickly.

“Fathis Aren,” Faith replied instantly, “why?”

“Because if worst comes to worst, we can always try blackmail,” I answered. “Kud-Ei wanted this off the record, so I’m sure she would be much more agreeable if I threatened to put this on the record. Given what I went through in Vaermina’s Oblivion, it would hardly be unwarranted.”

“And if you must know, you couldn’t possibly choose a better person,” Tadrose began with a rather heavy face. “He’s remarkably well connected, Aren, all the way up to Arch-Mage Hannibal Traven. There’s just one glaring problem with that idea, though….”

“Which is?”

“He’s been spending increasingly huge amounts of time down at the Arena in Cyrodiil City,” Tadrose answered me. “Why he would do such a thing is anyone’s guess, he is not the kind of person who would strike me as a gambler. Nevertheless, it’s been almost a week since he was last here. How do you plan on presumably telling him?”

“We’d have to hope the threat of her secret being made public is enough,” I started. “But she does know I’m traveling, and I’ll need to see the University grounds eventually. I could easily tell him then.”

“But you can’t travel the roads, remember?” Faith quickly rebutted. “We went over this last night, they’re just too dangerous right now.”

“And I have no intention of ever revealing that to her,” I finished. Faith’s eyes once again met Tadrose’s as they sized up what I had told them.

“Well, it’s the best we have,” Tadrose spoke after about a minute. “I don’t think there’s any other way. Best you be off now, Derelas, and good luck to you.”

“Thank you,” I bade, handing the emptied plate back to Tadrose.

This post has been edited by Thomas Kaira: Apr 1 2011, 11:18 PM

Good luck to you, Derelas, and may you not end up in the back end of a cow (or worse)!

Brilliant storytelling on your part, having Matius get into trouble for not staying beside Count Kvatch's side. Though I can't recall where in the game it says he was the Count's bodyguard. UESP wiki says he is actually the Captain of the Kvatch Guard - as such I'm not sure his duties would lie with the Count rather than with the townspeople themselves. That said, I still like your twist on the sad tale that is Kvatch, and the tragedy of the lack of recognition of Savlian Matius as the real Hero of Kvatch.

I think you misinterpreted what I meant by hero. I did not mean someone who rescues every cat caught in a tree (yes, I am looking at you Julian). A hero is someone who takes responsibility for their destiny, then stands and delivers. The reason I said Derelas has a long way to go before he learns what it means to be a hero is that he is blaming someone else for his problems. He blames Kud-Ei's for Henantier's rescue not being a cakewalk. If it would have been, she would not have needed to hire a thug with the promise of a recommendation to do it. She'd have done it herself. He also blames her for his personal Daedra spilling over into Henantier's Dreamworld and making life uncomfortable for him. As if she somehow orchestrated it all to make him suffer.

Not that I am criticizing Derelas. He is reacting like an ordinary person. The reason that heroes are looked up to, is that they are a cut above ordinary. They stop making excuses and pointing fingers, and just get the job done instead. Derelas is going to have to learn how to do that if he is going to face a vampire king and survive. Being ordinary is just not good enough for him anymore. He has to become a hero. I am looking forward to see him grow into those big shoes he has to fill.

Now to today's episode.

move me to a town less well connected to the Dark Brotherhood.
I hope it is not Cheydinhal!

One of our most prominent cities is now without a leader,
Not to mention without a population...

As with the previous BHC's, it is both neat and refreshing to see the main quest unfold without the intervention of the protagonist.

He’s just looking to save his own imp chips right now.
Cyrodiil's favorite snack! I would save them too!

So its off to the Guild Guide we go? The only thing Derelas seems to be overlooking is that if Kud-Ei is really the dark skullduggerer he seems to think that she is, she would see to it that he has an 'accident' during teleportation. Too bad about his head turning up in Anvil while torso ended up in Bruma, his arms in Cheydinhal, and legs in Leyawiin...



nits:
I might have been able to organize a escort,
I think an might work better here.

Much to like here!

Excellent use of the Courier to keep us apprised of the Oblivion Crisis in progress.

The trio of elves logically inventory their options and come up with a plan. To introduce the guild guide rapid transit system is great, and for Dere to hit upon the concept of blackmail to enhance his chance of using it is brilliant. The nightmare quest was just the ticket to set the stage for this.

I look forward to seeing how Dere does at the guild.

If only that darn Vitellus fellow and his men were back in Bravil, but I expect they have bigger Daedra to fry. And I suspect Fathis may be up to his own imp chips in the Imperial City.

WOO HOO !!!

I loved Dere’s temper tantrum at the end of Henantier’s dream world - Awesome to have a real emotion after an ordeal like that !! (and he is hilarious when he is angry!!) I hope you keep his personality intact instead of “hero-izing” him, perfection becomes ad nauseam very quickly. Dere’s unpredictable-ness will def keep him interesting!!! (as will his buns) Great Chapter !!!

P.S. I don't agree that heroes have to be (or are looked up to because they are) "a cut above the ordinary citizens." Anyone can be a hero, most heroes are ordinary people who just act at a time it is needed. (personal growth and maturity are not required, and they are looked up to simply because they risked themselves to save another)

Last chapter:

I absolutely love your use of the BHC to run the main quest line in the background of your story !!! This is the second time you have caught me by surprise with an insert that rocked your storyline !!! Awesome Chapter !!!

This post has been edited by mALX: Apr 2 2011, 05:16 PM

That is basically what I was saying. Ordinary people don't act at a time when it is needed. They whine and complain and play the blame game instead. Everything bad that happens to them is always someone else's fault. Heroes are the people who skip all that, and just do what needs doing. They are not people who are ten feet tall, with six pack abs, shoulders the size of football fields, and capes fluttering in the breeze. They are just people: fat, bald, toothless, stuttering, etc... But people who take command of their destiny.

For example, Derelas throws down with the best of them for most of the dream. Until he gets to the part with the Vampire Lord. There he passively stands by while he has a dagger stuck into his heart. Then afterward, he is angry at Kud-Ei and Henantier for putting him through all that. Yet it is really himself whom he is angry with. For he is the one who surrendered his power and allowed himself to be a victim. If he does that for real, he will be dead for real.

People can do bad things to you, but no one else can make you a victim. Only you can. A warrior fights on, because they know that their power is their own, and no one can take it from them. A victim doesn't, instead they surrender their power and feel sorry for themselves. This is something I learned the hard way (as I suspect most people have to). Derelas has to learn this as well. When he does, he will be a hero.

Which is all good. As you said, characters who are perfect are boring. It is the characters who have a long inner journey to make along with their physical actions who are the most interesting ones. They are also the ones people can most identify with, because like real people, they have vulnerabilities that they must overcome. Watching them do that is uplifting for its own sake.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Apr 2 2011, 07:38 PM

You said a mouthful here! (I agree).

This post has been edited by mALX: Apr 3 2011, 02:04 AM

You’re right, Cyrodiil just got a lot darker. Hauling Captain Matius off to the IC, yikes!