Well, first things first:

Here is Ralyn Orethi: Pic Pic

As ever, both pics are taken in Rindir's Staffs.

I'll try to keep this short, because otherwise I'll fail to fight the temptation to write a chunk from a journal or something about him, though that's probably inevitable at some point or other But tonight I'm really not feeling up to it.

Anyway, he's gotten himself established in Anvil by joining both Guilds. He's got his first recommendation, developed a slight interest in Carahil, and is halfway through being hazed by Azzan. Which he is definitely not pleased about.

He looks good, I think. Nice to have another Dunmer in Cyrodiil

Welcome to Rayln! He's a looker indeed! Especially in leathers. Joining both guilds sounds perfect for a spellsword.

I agree, Ralyn looks good, he has a unique face, not a typical Dunmer and he has piercing eyes. So he joined both guilds, smart, now he definitely doesn't have to worry about sleeping on the streets in any town.

__

I also sort of fell in love with Bruma when I saw it for the first time. It was the first proper "city in snow" which I saw in any video game and the combination of its yellow emblem with white snow and wooden houses made me feel at home immediately. When I saw the Jerall View Inn (especially the underground bedroom), I loved it even more. And in case it wasn't obvious above, its emblem is my favorite as well.

This has a big impact on my gaming because I still didn't have a character that wouldn't like Bruma. Everyone feels welcome there. And with Lothran guarding it for ten years, nothing bad can happen there, right?

Bruma´s new slogan: Now with 100% less bandits and deadric siege crawlers!


I agree on Bruma´s colours and logo - it´s something about it all that just fits a town in the snow

This post has been edited by mirocu: Mar 3 2016, 09:37 PM

Yup, the best part about Bruma is that Lothran lives there!

Don't tease us like this!

Callidus, Ralyn is one good-looking Dunmer! He has an intense stare. I could stand to read a chunk of his journal. Anvil is a good place for a spellsword to get his start.

Ralyn sends his thanks for the compliments



Well, I had been planning to leave it awhile, but thoughts began to converge, and the inevitability gained a degree of immediacy, so here we go.


The Journal of Ralyn Orethi

1st Entry; Anvil, 3E 433. 29 Last Seed.

I expect you're wondering why I'm writing this?

It's my retirement. Once I'm too old for mercenary work I'll have a scribe neaten this up and make a proper book out of it. Until then, it's going to be a repository of everything I do, more or less, all the fighting, all the killing, and everything I gain from it.

Why?

Because I'm not a hero. and that's a good thing.

Heroes make people feel inadequate. They shame people by their very existence, a marker that everyone else falls short of. They might be the people that make history, but outside of history texts, people don't want to look at them too closely. They'd much rather read about my kind.

We can have principles. We can have honour. We can give them a fighting chance, even if they're criminals, brigands, pirates, or slavers. But ultimately, we'll still trade someone's life for a fistful of Septims.

That lets them look down on us, as we do the things they could never bring themselves to do. And that suits me just fine. Because that's what I get paid for; to do the things they won't, that they try to convince themselves they can't do. And everytime they do they put coin in my hand, food in my belly, and a roof over my head for the night.

They feed me to spare their consciences, all the while reveling in even the merest rumours of my deeds, fascinated and repulsed in equal measure, and all to my gain.

Not that they'll ever admit that, of course.

But that's fine by me.

This post has been edited by Callidus Thorn: Mar 4 2016, 09:55 PM

Ooh, nice intro there

I wonder how many cells he will see the inside of..

Yea I totally agree. I love CT's writing. Always have.

Actually, it's Ralyn's writing.

This post has been edited by Renee: Mar 5 2016, 02:36 AM

Nice to see Rayln writing a journal. We see already that he's a mercenary and pretty well-adjusted to the emotional rigors of his profession.

Very nice intro for Ralyn, Callidus. I look forward to hearing of his adventures!

When Lothran left his house this morning it had suddenly stopped snowing. For the first time in three months! A clear sign, he thought, that it´s his last day in Bruma this winter!

The day was spent visiting all the shops, giving the beggars and Bruma´s only prisoner some extra food and checking up on some of the citizens who don´t go out so much. And as evening fell it was time for one last huzzah at Olav´s Tap and Tack. The place was crowded and in high spirit and Ongar did his usual thing to attract even more, if very temporary, patrons



And tomorrow it´s off to Chorrol!

This post has been edited by mirocu: Mar 5 2016, 08:06 PM

Tirdas, Sun's Dusk 20, 4th Era 20 -- Renee Gade III is in Skingrad, buying and selling before she heads back to Kvatch. She's fallen in love with 4th Era Kvatch.

Sounds like someone is using Kvatch Restored or a similar mod

Bruma's only prisoner? Would that be the Weet Bandit or the Bosmer Manuin?

I reckon those were on holiday leave - only Jorundr was left

I would have written more yesterday, but I wasn't really feeling up to it, so this next one's going to be a bit lengthy, and cover some more old ground before getting to recent events. Next part will be in the spoilers thread.





The Journal of Ralyn Orethi

2nd Entry; Anvil, Mages Guild. 3E 433. 29 Last Seed.

I suppose I'd better tell you a little more about myself, hadn't I?

30 years ago, I was trained as a Spellsword by House Telvanni, in the service of Mistress Therana. She is one of the highest ranking members of House Telvanni, one of the few Telvanni Councilors. She is ancient, powerful, and insane. Needless to say, it was not long after I was fully trained that I began to think it would be best to leave her service. A dangerous proposition. A Telvanni Councilor does not like to lose the services of those they've invested time and effort in, so permission is rarely granted, and desertion carries certain consequences.

Which is what brought me to Cyrodiil. I left her service, and spent the next twenty years looking over my shoulder. As much much as I would like to say my survival was down to my skill with blades, magic, and a dash of stealth, luck played its part. The first assassin she sent, one of her agents, would have killed me in my sleep had I not woken only moments before to take a piss. Other attempts were carried out by the Morag Tong, who are more executioners than assassins, and always chose to cross blades with me. And since I'm writing this, I'm sure you can guess how they fared.

Therana made one last attempt before I left Vvardenfell, sending another of her agents. She almost got me. She was fast, talented, and smart. I'd just gotten back to the house I rented in Balmora, having escorted a pair of merchants as an associate of the Fighters Guild. I was tired, and I was lax. That almost got me killed. Luck played its part again, and the blade meant for my heart instead dug into my left arm as I turned in response to a flash of movement caught in the corner of my eye. She'd been waiting on the left of the door as I entered, giving her an almost unhindered strike. I still can't move that arm properly, nor lift any great weight with it.

That fight was a nightmare. She was as good in a fight as I am, unwounded, and so fast. The only edge I had was my longer blade, but the confines of the room meant I couldn't use it properly. We both knocked each other around badly, bleeding from a half dozen lesser wounds apiece, but I was catching the worst of it. The house was trashed, my spellbook destroyed, and I had neither the time nor the opportunity to grab my spare. I barely got away as it was, and that was only because I managed to catch her in the head with the flat of my blade. I'd have preferred to slit her throat, but in a fight like that you take what you can get. She caught me as I charged across the city, and we fought again on one of the bridges over the river. There at least I was able to use the length of my blade properly, and managed to knock her into the river. I fled to Vivec, traded my damaged gear for what replacements I could get. They're nowhere near the quality of what I lost, but I didn't dare spend the time to have them repaired. I booked passage on the first ship leaving, which brought me here, to Cyrodiil.

Anvil was a good place to dock. It's a wealthy town, home to a branch of both the Fighters and Mages Guilds, so finding work should be easy.

I've had to join the Mages Guild, since they've got a stranglehold on magic. I can buy spells from them without being a member, but I can't create my own, or get my equipment enchanted, without becoming a full member of the Guild, so my hands are tied on that front. I can only hope the Guild is more formidable in Cyrodiil than it was in Vvardenfell. My next stop is the Fighters Guild. I've worked for them before, and they seemed to be a solid enough organisation, that allow a good deal of freedom. Hopefully they've got an empty bunk. I've got some coin, but I'd rather not spend it on a room at the inn if it can be avoided.

Tomorrow, I'll find out what the Mages Guild requires of me.


This post has been edited by Callidus Thorn: Mar 5 2016, 11:42 PM

Lothran has just left Bruma and is currently resting by Shadow´s Rest Cavern. The scenery was just too beautiful to press on, it had Buffy Falls right there and besides, he´s in no hurry. The whole of Cyrodiil is there and even though Chorrol awaits him he will take his time and enjoy the wonderful forests and the bird song



Gamer´s note: It does feel a bit odd to leave Bruma while we still have winter over here, but I gotta draw the line somewhere, right? Don´t wanna overstay our welcome

This post has been edited by mirocu: Mar 6 2016, 11:24 AM