I liked the little discussion around the dinner table. The mention of Jeanne Frasoric was especially good. She is proof that one needs no magical ability to go far in the Mages Guild. Let's hope that Gwen is better than that though!

So Gwen stopped at the Wawnet Inn? I wonder if she enjoyed Nerussa's company as much as Teresa did?

No, Gwen does not enjoy women's company in that way. Although, we will see her strike up a friendship with Nerussa later. She, I suspect, would prefer Robért's company in that way, but that is also something that will be developed as we go on.

I am really enjoying the "daily journal" effect, as if we are peeking into her diary - Awesome and novel idea to use that approach !! You have a talent for subtle humor, and I love it !! Awesome Write !!

Once again, I like how this has a personal and immediate feel. Except for the editor's note, I happily forgot that I was reading a history. The diary format permits you to bounce forward at virtually any pace, based on the whims of the diary keeper. You are using this aspect to wonderful effect.

A lovely description of Skingrad. I particularly enjoyed reading Gwen's take on the guild of mages.

I think it was simply brilliant to end by Gwen pointing out that of course Summerset wines are superior to those non-Altmeri Cyrodiil wines! Speaking of which, you spelled the province as 'Summurset' in your last sentence, which I presume is unintentional.

I am enjoying Gwen’s journal format very much. Her comment that she is too exhausted to write one night, along with her ongoing tally of Septims are great reminders. She starts off with some very uninformed opinions about other races, which makes me think we’ll see her grow along her journey. I take that as a very good sign for the story.

Acadian - I am glad that you enjoy the personal touches. I like to add the thoughts of Mr. Steel-Quill from time to time, too, to remember that this is just part of an over-arching narrative. It is very easy to get lost in one character!

mALX - Thank you. It will be a different format for some of the other characters, but I do prefer this format for allowing more detailed recollection. When I come to write Martinus' memoirs, I will naturally not be able to use so much detail or do a daily journal.

Grits - Thanks for your observations! The act of keeping a tally of septims is a reli of my own university days (not all that long ago, incidentally!). I'm sure we've all been there. Thankfully, relief is on the way!

SubRosa - You know, Jeanne is the only in-game example of a mage whose spells actually fail. Makes me feel a bit sorry for her with all those mages in Bruma picking on her.

Now, we join Gwen as she arrives in the Imperial City, and finds the fat deposit from her parents, which she then proceeds to spend at breakneck speed!

First Seed 15, 3E430

8 P.M.

I have arrived in the Imperial City! Truly, it is as beautiful as I have heard. White Gold Tower is visible for miles around. The rest of the city is a bustling metropolis, and many fine houses abound, particularly in the Talos Plaza and Temple Districts.

First Seed 16, 3E430

Today, I spent money as though possessed. I admit, I did not feel particularly good about it, but it was necessary.

Immediately upon arriving in the city, I asked for directions to the Office of Imperial Commerce to collect my deposit. 1,000 gold septims. It came with the following note:

Dear Gwen,

Spend it wisely.

Your loving parents,

Caliphar and Arwen

My first purchase was some clothes. I bought a long red velvet ballgown for 12 septims from a shop called Divine Elegance. I also bought a new pair of gold trimmed shoes. (I justified them on the principle that a mage needs to dress to impress. The gown in particular is simply smashing!)

Then, I decided I needed a robe for university. After trying all of Rindir’s robes (not to mention his patience) I settled for a plain blue cloth robe. Simple, yet elegant. However, I decided to hold back on paying for instruction in any new spells. Edgar’s Discount Spells just didn’t seem the type of organisation a serious student of the arts magicka would contemplate buying from. I mean, even his sales pitch was artless. “You don’t want the very best”, the silver-haired man haggled, “you want CHEAP. And I got cheap.” (Anyway, I am sure the university’s wizards and master wizards could teach me something far superior.)

Next, I bought some books. I already had the standard text Manual of Spellcraft, plus Galerion the Mystic, with me. I added to this a most interesting book, The Black Arts on Trial, which is written by Arch-Mage Hannibal Traven himself, and which contains an account of disputation in the university on the topic of necromancy, and Mysterious Akavir. I also bought a book containing the Mages’ Guild rules and charter. The proprietor, an immaculately-groomed Redguard, was pleased to see me buy plenty of books. He was, however, somewhat less happy with my manners (I snacked on a sweetroll while browsing the store – a mage needs her energy!), all the while appearing more and more uptight in his stuffy quilted doublet.

After this I sought out a horse. I did not relish the possibility of being ambushed by a highwayman again and having to flee under my own steam, or of trying to fight him off with apple-sized fireballs. So, I purchased a Paint Horse from the Chestnut Handy Stables for a very reasonable 500 gold. I named her Mellt-taran, after my mother’s favourite mare, who passed away when I was 54. For some reason, she seemed very happy that I had bought her, almost as though I was saving her from some terrible fate. Haha, Gwen. Stop being so silly.

And now, I am occupying one of the rooms in the Tiber Septim Hotel. It is a sobering 40 gold per night. At this rate, my stipend will be gone in no time!

This post has been edited by Ceidwad: Apr 17 2011, 02:53 AM

Finally Gwen arrives at the IC with some very nice descriptions of the city.

She then reinforces her coin purse for some shopping. Poor thing is shopping with Divine Elegance/Tiber Septim Hotel tastes while on a Edgar's Discount Spells budget!

I can sense Gwen's anxiousness to get to business at the University.

A fun little dig at the infamous and dangerous (to horses) IC stables, as Gwen buys her horse!

I continue to very much enjoy reading Gwen's diary.

This post has been edited by Acadian: Apr 17 2011, 03:37 AM

Another fun episode as Gwen prepares to start school, by spending her parents money! I see college kids are no different in Tamriel than they are on Earth. Eating the sweetroll in the bookstore was just perfect. I student does need her energy indeed! But I expect that Phintias would have been uptight in any case. He always seems to sneer at my characters.

ROFL !!! She shops like a banshee then worries that the hotel bill will break her, lol.

I don't know why I pictured her being much younger, I felt a shock at reading she was in her 50's !! How did I get the impression she was a young girl? I guess in spite of her 176 years, she still comes across as a girl going off to college.

I too love the reference to the horse's being eaten at the IC stables, ROFL !!

Awesome Write !!

This post has been edited by mALX: Apr 19 2011, 01:32 AM

Acadian - The budgeting is immensely hard for our mage, who has always been used to the best! She will have to adapt, as we will see.

SubRosa - Whenever I went into First Edition in-game, I always wondered about Phintias and the way he said 'Good day' in that smug tone of his. Sounds like an arrogant little man. He and Gwen should get along famously!

mALX - Gwen is 87. I figure, given a lifespan of several hundred years for Altmer, this would probably make her a young adult. I certainly try and show glimpses of her immaturity in The Famous Five. But hey, my characters of all ages have their immature sides, as I will show later.

Well, that shopping trip has left Gwen ready and raring to start her studies at the Arcane University. But, there may yet be a twist in the tale! Let's read on to find out why!



First Seed 17, 3E430 – The Tiber Septim Hotel

9 P.M.

A devastating disappointment. I have been barred from entering the Arcane University! As I have discovered, I must first attain ‘recommendations’ from the local guild halls in Cyrodiil, such as the one I visited in Skingrad a few days ago. I am bitterly disappointed. Indeed, I could have saved myself the perilous journey from Anvil (though it proved to be rather profitable!)

The day began pleasantly enough. After spending most of yesterday reading and further exploring the city, I felt ready to commence my study. But it would seem the guild authorities did not agree.

I had been walking along Green Emperor Way and City Isle to the university, enthusiastically looking forward to meeting my fellow mages and wearing my blue scholar’s robe. When I arrived at the great central tower of the university, flanked by great purple flames of magicka, I greeted a security guard, who looked rather like the legionnaire who had assisted me in slaying the foul Khajiit, save that he wore a blue Mage’s Hood, and asked to see Raminus Polus.

“Looking for Raminus, are you? Well, you’ll find him in the Arch-Mage’s lobby, in the central tower. We’re taking in new apprentices and associates at this very moment, so you’ve arrived at an apt time, citizen.”

Thanking him for his help, I entered into the splendid lobby. In front of me stood a magical portal, much like those I was used to seeing commonly in Alinor, but which seemed very rare here in Cyrodiil. Either side of this, on two oaken benches, sat a male Imperial and a Bosmer woman. Asking the Imperial if he was Raminus Polus, he said:

“Indeed I am. And you must be……”

I quickly showed him my letter of acceptance. As he read it, his face broke into a faint smile.

“Ah yes, you are Gwenyan. I’m afraid there’s been some......misunderstanding. You see, we used to accept aspiring mages such as yourself into the university as apprentices, provided they supplied good references and the coin to finance their study, but some recent.......dishonesty has forced us to change this policy. It was one of the first things that our new Arch-Mage, Hannibal Traven did. However, it would seem we haven’t had time to edit all the acceptance letters we send out accordingly. My.....apologies.”

“But, what of my study here? I came here to study the art of Restoration.” I demanded. (We both knew my parents had spent a lot of money to secure my tuition here).

“Ah, do not fear. We have a recommendations process in place. It is simply a way of protecting the University against taking on incompetent apprentices, as has sadly occurred in recent times.” He then muttered under his breath something about a count's son and a ‘total disaster’.

“I am afraid that, as new guild policy, I must regrettably turn you away, for now. I hope we shall meet again in future. In the meantime, I grant you associate membership of the guild. You will be free to stay at any of the guild halls in Cyrodiil and use their resources for yourself with this letter.” He stamped it with a red-ink seal containing the word ‘associate’.

At this point, as you can imagine, I felt quite low. All the risk I had taken to get here seemed to be wasted. And what would I do now? I had two options: fulfil tasks of mundane servitude to guild hall leaders, whom, I believed, would no doubt use me as their errand-girl; or return home in disgrace. I wanted to go home. But what would I do there? My parents would be disappointed in me for having returned home; their money would be wasted; and it would be difficult find a posting in the royal court, as I hoped for, if I backed out now.

As I exited the lobby into the open air, I saw a friendly Bosmer in green brocade, who told me his name was Hagaer. I told him about what had just happened and showed him my letter. He chuckled.

“Ah yes, the ‘we forgot to change the letters’ line. I’ve heard that from many an aspiring student turned away at the Arch-Mage’s lobby. It’s nonsense, of course. That policy’s been in place for over a year. Since Gellius Terentius’s brief debacle as an apprentice here, they seem to want students to jump through more and more hoops just to be here. I’ll bet the first test they wanted you to pass was to see if you could get here safely. Completely unnecessary, if you ask me. It’s not like every rich kid who isn’t quite good enough to make it to Wizard or Master-Wizard or even Journeyman rank is going to go into a skooma-induced hallucination and attack the Mage Scholars for thinking they're minotaurs! Ah well, listen. Don’t give up. I’ve seen many a young mage give up after hearing they have to travel all around Cyrodiil, and it’s a crying waste. This guild needs young talent, if it is to meet the new challenges of the future.”

I must say, this kind man’s words were a salve to my wounds. Looking at my map, the nearest town from here would be Chorrol. I plan to visit it soon for my first recommendation.

At least a hard day is made a lot easier by coming back to the Tiber Septim Hotel. The proprietor, Augusta Calidia, is well-spoken and polite; the dining-room is always well-stocked with food and drink, there is an upstairs study to retreat to for peace, and music plays softly in the downstairs lobby. One can feel at ease there, even if one’s coinpurse bears a burden for it. I have around 650 septims left.

This post has been edited by Ceidwad: Apr 21 2011, 03:31 PM

Your reasoning for having Gwen do the circuit of recommendation quests was brilliant, as was your portrayal of Polus !!! (Hilarious vision of the Count's son, lol). Great Chapter !!!

This post has been edited by mALX: Apr 20 2011, 05:21 PM

Poor Gwen has to do that silly recommendation process! The nerve of those Imperials! Is it just me, or does it seem hard to believe that any of the people you meet at the Arcane U could have survived traveling from one city to another? Let alone managed to complete the recommendation quests, which usually involve killing things like zombies, rogue mages, and necromancers?

So it was Count Bravil's son who mucked it up for everyone! I was first suspecting the no-good son of the Count of Cheydihnal might have been the one.

go into a skooma-induced hallucination and attack the Mage Scholars for thinking they were minotaurs
I loved this!

I'm so glad you both enjoyed this episode! I think to date it's my favourite, and in particular I like the way it allowed me to show Polus's character (thanks for the compliment on that, mALX). In-game, he seemed to be not only a great mage, but also an accomplished 'politician'. Just look at the quest where you go to Skingrad to 'retrieve a book'! He seems like the sort who would gladly be liberal with the truth if it meant the advancement of the guild's aims. Hey, I bet they're still sending out misleading acceptance letters in the Fourth Era!

SubRosa, I agree, most of the Arcane Univ's inhabitants look like the academic sort rather than the battle-hardened veterans of an MG recommendation quest! (though try standing in front of Gaspard Stegine as he fires off a shock spell - I bet he would handle himself alright against Necromancers!) I square that circle by having the recommendations 'policy' being set a year before Gwen's arrival, thus allowing for the existing Mage Scholars to be the beneficiaries of recommendation.

What a crushing disappointment for Gwen! I'm glad that nice Bosmer cheered her up some. I certainly hope everyone she deals with in Chorrol for her recommendation is pleasant to her.

Oh thank Mara for the Arch Mage's new policy! If it keeps Count Bravil's kid out of the University, I'm for it!

And still counting her septims. It is getting quite fun to watch as she tracks her balance!

You have a wonderful way of displaying Gwen's somewhat privileged background and I find myself liking her - a lot.


Nits:

“But, what of my study here? I came here to study the art of Restoration.” I demanded.
I would recommend a comma instead of a period after Restoration to introduce the speech tag.

I hope we shall meet again in future.
Perhaps you meant 'the future'?

He stamped it with a red-ink seal with the word ‘associate’ contained within it.
You might want to consider a means of avoiding using the word 'with' or variations of it less than three times in such close proximity. Perhaps you might consider something like:
He stamped it with a seal dipped in red ink that bore the word 'associate'.

My parents would be disappointed in me for having returned home; their money would be wasted; and it would be difficult find a posting in the royal court, as I hoped for, if I backed out now.
Semicolons are best used sparingly and to connect two complete sentences that are very closely related. Here you seem to be using them to combat a run-on sentence. Short simple sentences are best.
Perhaps: My parents would be disappointed in me for returning home after wasting their money. If I backed out now, my hope of finding a posting in the royal court would be difficult to fulfill.

It’s not like every rich kid who isn’t quite good enough to make it to Wizard or Master-Wizard or even Journeyman rank is going to go into a skooma-induced hallucination and attack the Mage Scholars for thinking they were minotaurs!
I recommend changing 'were minotaurs' to 'are minotaurs'. That way it is consistent, since every other verb in this piece of dialogue is in the present tense.

Well, we're long overdue for an update, aren't we? Apologies for the delay, which has been due to work.

mALX and SubRosa - thanks again for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed reading that episode. I look forward to hearing more from you in future!

Acadian - Thanks for your thoughtful critique. I have implemented some of your suggestions. I'm also very happy that you like my portrayal of Gwen as being very much the priviliged rich kid. It is something that I try to convey in my writing. In addition to being prejudiced against many races, cultures and cuisines which do not quite reach the high standards of Altmer society, we shall see that side of her personality in other ways as her story develops.

Well, that was indeed a disappointment for Gwen, wasn't it? Let's hope things turn out better for her in Chorrol. Or, as the case may be, they may have to get worse before they get better.....



First Seed 20, 3E430 – Chorrol, Cyrodiil

12 P.M.

I have just arrived in Chorrol. The journey from the Imperial City was peaceful, thanks to Mellt-taran’s gainly strides, which kept us out of harm’s way. It took us about 3 hours to reach Chorrol. She is now resting in the North Country Stables outside of town. I think I need to take a break now, too. The Oak and Crosier looks like a nice tavern.

2 P.M.

The Oak and Crosier is a fine tavern. It has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, yet the quality of its food and drink is exceptional. The proprietress, Talasma, is well-dressed and softly spoken, nothing like the previous Khajiit I have met. I have only met three Khajiit in my entire life; one was a highwayman, one was a street-performer, an acrobat, that I once saw in Alinor whom I suspect was there as novelty value. And the third is Talasma. The other Khajiit I have met have been in books. It is a pleasant surprise to learn that, despite their short lifespan, some Khajiit are capable of dedicating themselves sufficiently to the finer things in life: good speech, good dress, education, good food and wine. Perhaps I may even meet some Khajiit mages here in Cyrodiil? Cyrodiil is the most cosmopolitan province of the Empire, so, if it is to be found, it is surely to be found here.

I cannot go on writing like this. I have a recommendation to obtain!

10 P.M.

I have my first task as an associate of the Mages’ Guild. I am to travel to an old ruin nearby known as Cloud Top, and retrieve a book named ‘Fingers of the Mountain’. It would seem that my fears regarding becoming the Guild’s errand-girl have been realised.

I received this instruction from the head of the guild here, Teekeeus. He is an Argonian; another race I am not acquainted with. I do not know what I think of him. He is involved in a feud with an Altmer who is staying here in Chorrol, named Earana. The two refuse to talk to each other, so I had to enquire on Teekeeus’ behalf to determine what Earana wants.

It seems that Fingers of the Mountain is an important text because, when I related to Teekeeus that Earana seeks the book, his tone became stern and he demanded that I return it to him rather than the silver-haired Altmer. It is hardly as if I would do otherwise. I need Teekeeus’ recommendation, and besides, Earana is rather frightening. Her hair is striking; she is tall even for one of us, and her expression stares daggers at you. She must be a powerful mage, and I have no intention of acquiescing in her request to deliver the book to her.

As I write this, I am staying downstairs in the basement of the Chorrol Mages’ Guild chapter. I must share a decidedly modest bed with a man named Contumelorius Florius, who is a middle-aged Imperial with a taste for appalling puns. Teekeeus explained that “all the other beds in the hall are taken……I can’t give you special treatment, you know, Associate.”

I wonder when the next boat back to Summerset Isle is……

Gwen met her 3rd Khajiit today? And this one could speak and even wear clothing! As always, I love the subtle Altmer conceit that you weave into her writing.

She is playing fetch for Teekeus and he cannot even give her a bed of her own to sleep on? What is this, Skingrad! And with Contemptuous Florius of all people. I hope she stays at the Oak and Crosier instead.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: May 7 2011, 01:24 AM

Another delightful day with Gwen! Like SubRosa, I love her observations regarding Khajiit. I almost expected that perhaps she might get on with her sister Altmer (Earana), but I must say that it speaks well of her that she does not.

Her reaction to sharing her bunk was priceless (next boat home?) and left me with a big smile.

This post has been edited by Acadian: May 7 2011, 12:32 AM

SubRosa - Haha, yes, this Khajiit could speak and dress! We know this of course, but to Gwen I imagine the shock of the experiece almost knocked her off her (very high) horse! (And no, I'm not talking about Mellt-taran!)

Acadian - I think Earana is pretty scary to people of all races. Our mage is no different, in spite of her prejudices! It is true that at the moment she finds sharing a bed intolerable, but she will have to grow to get used to much worse in time. However, for at least a few months, the culture shock of not being in Alinor with a silver spoon in her mouth will come through strongly in her journals.

Well, not such an auspicious start to Gwen's recommendation-hunting. Fingers crossed it improves for her (but I wouldn't hold my breath!)



First Seed 21, 3E430 – Cloud Top, The Colovian Highlands

6 P.M.

So, this is the reality of guild life. This trip has been thoroughly unpleasant, and I am far from being home and dry (in so far as the Chorrol Mages’ Guild is home) yet. I have the book, but the pains I have endured to get it have been almost intolerable.

The weather has been the first problem. When I set out from Chorrol this morning with my robe, bag, some bread and cheese, a flask of wine, and a silver dagger I borrowed from the guild hall for protection, the sun was shining and all the signs were that it would stay that way. However, at about 1 P.M., it began to rain heavily and has been raining since. My hair is utterly drenched, and I am only able to write this entry coherently thanks to the shelter provided by the folds of my robe, which has absorbed the rainwater very nicely. It is almost as good as Robért’s specially modified robe; not only that, it keeps me warm in the wind and rain. Without it, I dread to think how I would have coped with the weather today.

My second problem has been trying to find Cloud Top. I had been so intimidated by Earana yesterday that I did not think to ask Teekeeus for directions. This morning he was gone, apparently on some alchemical research trip to the Imperial City. None of the guards, guildsmates or townspeople knew where Cloud Top was, either. So the result has been that I have spent hours trying to find the ruin. Eventually, after much wandering, I found a path leading up into the mountains, and followed it here.

The unpleasantness does not end there. When I arrived here at Cloud Top about an hour ago, I began to search for the book. A rat suddenly ambushed me and bit my leg, before I could kick out at it and throw a small enough (but still, to a rat, deadly) fireball. It was easy enough to heal the damage to the leg with a Restore Health spell, ensuring that damage to the skin was fully repaired, but the area around the bite wound is still a bit sore. That is one thing about typical Restore Health spells – they do not always totally heal the wound. In accordance with standard healing practice in Alinor and elsewhere, a wound is only totally healed if the level of pain is considered sufficiently harmful to the individual as to be a threat to their life in itself.

Some pain is so great that the affected person cannot move normally because of it, for example, such is the psychological effect of the pain. If a restoration spell targets a wound of that magnitude, it must not only restore function to the affected area, but heal it fully to relieve pain too, because the pain in itself can inhibit movements which could be essential for battle survival. On the other hand, there are sound medical reasons why these spells do not completely restore affected areas in minor to moderate wounds. If the pain is immediately and totally removed in these injuries, an individual does not build up their psychological wariness to avoid pain – they do not fear pain and, consequently, do not fear injury. This can be a serious security risk to the individual.

Even knowing this, I resent the fact that I am unable to cast a spell to remove the pain of the bite – it will go away naturally over time. Silently, I am also dreading the possibility of the wound becoming infected, even in the short period of time between my leg being bitten and my healing spell. Altmer have great resistance to disease, compared to humans, but we can still be forced to take to bed for a short while or resort to expensive potions to recover should we be struck by malady. Advanced healers can cure most disease with a spell of white magic. This ability eludes me at present, although in theory I understand the principles of healing diseases. A curse on you, Raminus! I should be studying this at the Arcane University now, not lamenting the consequences of my lack of practical knowledge in the field!

Worst of all, when I finally found the book, it was on the remains of a person who appeared to have been frazzled by a strong blast of shock magic. At first, I was wary to touch it due to this; however, it seems it is not dangerous.

It is time to try to return to Chorrol, as soon as I have eaten. The weather has eased off a bit now.
Midnight.

I am lodged in the Oak and Crosier tonight. I can’t abide any more of Contumelorius’ dreadful jokes, especially after a day like today.

I have 613 septims left.

This post has been edited by Ceidwad: May 12 2011, 02:29 AM

Ahah! We know exactly how she is progressing in the quest without her overloading us. Nicely done and very appropriate for her to focus on things of immediate concern, like healing a pesky rat bite.

Interesting thoughts Gwen shared on healing and some of its limitations.

And moving to the inn for the night was a very understandable choice!

I'm guessing she is going to drop that book with Teekeus, get her recommendation and be gone from Chorrol. I hope she doesn't get waylaid by Earana.

Poor Gwen, she is indeed getting a taste of what life is like in the Mages Guild. Fetch this! Carry that! Mind the rats! She is lucky the latter was the worst of her problems, and she was not attacked by a wolf or imp. I am sure she will be in time though!

Like Acadian, I enjoyed reading Gwen's musings about Restoration spells that do and do not relieve pain as well as heal. One observation though, if the wound itself is healed, why would there be lingering pain afterward, as there is nothing left to cause it anymore?

I also like how she is counting her septims. That is a nice touch of reality.