That reminds me, Vandrelis has his own theme music...

That guy playing heroic music on the piano and smoking cigarettes reminds me of Lopov! (or possibly one of this characters, but not Rattler!)

Just read through the whole story so far. I'm going to go back and read the summary of book 1, but for now it is late and I am tired. But I loved the beginning meeting between Mara, Kynareth, and Azura, it was a great way to entice people into the story.

These first seven chapters have been great, the part where Superian fuses with Phantom was truly magnificent, and I loved how you did the dove and scroll, as well as her conjured bow. And finally, seeing Buffy meet a native bosmer and tell her about the different tribes was very cool, and it made me feel bad for Buffy since she never got to know about where she is from.

Can't wait for more.

So Buffy’s not from Sunnydale? I love how the two cautiously lowered their guard as they spoke.

I was enthralled by the descriptions of the Strid River Valley and Cloud Dancer tribes, and not just because of the bronzed, shirtless, elven speaker. Vandrelis’s manner was delightful. I am super excited to meet the wood elves of Buffy’s world, and especially the one who was born among the Tall Trees! *happy dance*

In our last episode, Buffy and Superian were surprised by a wood elven huntsmer. After some revealing discussion about Bosmeri tribes and Buffy’s possible heritage, she agreed to accompany the mer to his tribe’s village to learn more.

hazmick- The plains tribe that Vandrelis belongs to will be quite different from the tribes of the tall trees that spawned Buffy. We’ll eventually get to see both. Thank you!

mALX- Thanks! The ground-dwelling Strid River Valley Tribe is inspired more by buffalo hunting tribes that once inhabited the American great plains than TES but I hope my world-building will feel like it belongs. Later, Buffy will meet the elusive tree-dwellers who live aloft in the deepest portion of central Valenwood. That will feel much more TES-like but their culture will still reflect heavy influences from ‘Buffy lore’.

ghastley- Yes! Thank you for catching our first real reference to the book's sub title. And you are right also at the extent of revelations she’ll learn during her time with Vandrelis’ tribe. The core of the book is indeed Buffy’s search for the Cloud Dancers.

SubRosa- Hee! Buffy is of course clueless about what a ‘Valley Girl’ is but I knew you would join me for a giggle at the reference. I appreciate the kind support for our humble efforts at world-building when it comes to Buffy’s heritage. I’ll be including more Bosmer quirks that seem very reasonable to me but not included in TES lore. Heh, as I’ve said though no Green Pact – I know that you and I are not fans of that concept.

Lopov- Thank you. I hope you enjoy the plains area Buffy is heading into next. She’ll spend some time there, but it really is primarily to prepare her for heading back south into the land of the Tall Trees. I think Vandrelis was right about the map also. Heavy canopied rain forest can certainly make navigating by sun, moons and stars challenging.

DE- Thank you! The name Vandrelis popped into my mind and seemed ‘right’. When that happens I always google the propsective name to avoid any embarrassing surprises. In my search I did rediscover the beautiful music that SubRosa linked to. Buffy’s tendency at this point of course is to compare any man who might interest her to the lofty standard set by her late Savlian Matius.

BretonBlood- Thank you so much for joining us! I’m so glad you are enjoying Buffy’s story – particularly given your own talent with telling the tale of Jak and Arissa’s roguish adventures in Skyrim. This book is indeed letting Buffy try to discover ‘where she is from’ - quite literally, her family tree.

Grits- Thanks for the Buffy Summers of Sunnydale vampire slaying reference! Oh, I hope you like the upcoming glimpse of the great plains the pair will traverse on their way to the river.



I conjured and shouldered Slayer before mounting Superian. At my urging, Vandrelis swung himself up behind me. Right away I realized the arrangement wasn’t going to work and allowed the weapon and quiver to dispel to make more room for the other mer.

As Slayer faded away, he asked, “Can you shoot that bow from the saddle?”

“Yes, but probably not very effectively with a passenger behind me – so if attacked, we’ll quickly decide whether to use my mare’s speed to flee, or dismount and draw weapons to fight from the ground.”

“My knowledge of horses wouldn’t fill the bladder of an Abecean sparrow,” he replied with a chuckle, “so I’ll defer to your judgment.”

We then set off to the north. The warmth of his chest against my back and one arm around my waist was necessary of course and, I had to admit, not unpleasant.

Before long, open forest yielded to golden grasses. Gently rolling hills hosted the occasional acacia tree and clusters of bergamot orange trees. We saw several small herds of prairie mammoth, plucking tall grass with their trunks. “These majestic animals are the lifeblood of my tribe,” Vandrelis explained. “When we take one, we honor it by fully using every part of the animal. Food, shelter, sleeping furs, clothing, cooking and eating vessels. Candles, soap, weapons, waterskins. . . the list is long.”

I nodded approvingly. “My archery master in Bravil trained me the same way – to appreciatively use the bounty of nature, but never waste it. Only when hunting to feed many mouths or preserve a good supply of meat have I taken large prey such as deer or elk. Since I travel with just my mare most of the time, it's generally rabbit, fish, crab or the occasional a game bird that roasts over my campfire.”

The prairie gradually began to host more trees and its grasses grew green as we descended. Soon enough, the Strid River came into view.

The settlement we found there featured a central cooking fire. There were numerous conical tents of varying sizes made from mammoth hide draped around supporting frames of wooden poles that were lashed together at the top. The evidence that several hosted small fires inside wafted upward through smoke flaps. Next to the largest of these tents was the massive sun-whitened skull of a mammoth.

Quite a few of the elves took note of our arrival as they looked up from activities that included cooking, curing hides and fletching arrows. I noted a small, crude smelter and roughly-hewn forge surrounded by lumps of ore, silver-gray ingots and baskets of arrowheads. Several chickens and goats roamed freely. At least two mer, armed with bow and blade, appeared to be guarding the village.

Closer to the river was a sturdy wagon, heavily stained with old blood – probably from transporting many large kills. Grazing nearby was a gelded river buffalo that looked quite capable of pulling a heavy load.

Once Vandrelis had directed us near the water’s edge, he dismounted first. The elf then reached up and, with both hands around my waist, gallantly lifted me from Superian’s back and placed me on the ground. If he noticed the warm flush that I felt rise to the tips of my long ears, he was courteous enough not to stare or mention it.

We stripped off the mare’s crude wolf pelt saddle and bridle of vines before turning her loose to graze and drink.

Vandrelis then showed me around the village, introducing me to numerous members of the Strid River Valley Tribe. Finally, he lifted the entrance flap of the largest tent and we stepped from bright sunshine into its dim interior.

Right away I smelled wood smoke, drying herbs and a hint of incense. At first, all I could really see were the embers of a low-burning central fire with a large pot suspended just above. Soon enough, five dim figures seated just beyond the fire grew into focus.

I was introduced to the elders, including the tribe’s chief, his wife, brother, medicine woman and shaman.

When invited to sit, we did so on two of numerous pelts arrayed on the dirt floor outside the fire's protective ring of stone. I explained how it came to be that I didn’t know my tribe. The elders agreed with Vandrelis that, based on my appearance, I was likely conceived in the Tall Trees and belonged to one of the Cloud Dancer tribes.

“And you would like to know your tribe.” The chief’s words were more statement than question. He was broad-shouldered, bare-chested and his hard face reflected the weathering and lines of many decades. Although perhaps past his prime, he very much cut the imposing figure of a warrior.

“Very much so,” I replied respectfully.

The tribe’s shaman was cloaked in the pelt of a bear. Even shrouded in fur, I could tell he was a mer of slight build. The vicious line of a scar traced a path from his forehead, through a gaping hole where one eye used to be and continued down into the grizzled gray beard that covered his cheeks. He nodded in response to a look of query from the chief before speaking to me. “I believe I can help divine the knowledge you seek, child.” He then set about adding what appeared to be a variety of alchemical ingredients to the simmering cauldron before him while others among the tribe’s elders continued to question me about my history and travels.

It's nice that Vandrelis' tribe honors their prey - instead of only eating meat, they use anything that can actually be used to help them in their everyday life.

A very vivid description of the village, I could almost smell some wood smoke, drying herbs and a hint of incense.

Maybe I've mentioned this before but for me one of the favorite things in your stories is, that you visually describe Men (or Mer in that case) that Buffy meets on her travels, like you did with Vandrelis, the tribe chieftain and the shaman. It's much easier to imagine them when we know how Buffy sees them.

There are suggestions in this of the Valenwood Improved and Elsweyr Anequina mods joining forces. Did you use both of those?

"Use it all" is something I noticed too. A pity the game doesn't encourage it more.

I really love the Native American influence you have chosen to take with the tribe. It's actually kind of how I imagine some wood elves live in Valenwood.

And then I enjoyed your description of whst Biffy saw once she was in the tribe, everyone has a Jon and does their part to keep the tribe going.

Let's up the shaman is able to help Buffy, I can't wait to see what he says.

First, I forgot to say last time how much the description of the Cloud Dancers’ adaptive coloration helping them hunt from above made my biologist heart sing. I thought immediately of countershading on birds and fish (and dragons!).

Vandrelis’s anatomically specific reference to a sparrow bladder made me laugh out loud. When later he explained that they use every part of everything, I believed him!

I absolutely love the description of open woodland transitioning to grassland with the occasional tree and then to the greener riparian zone as Buffy and Vandrelis approached the river. When they reached the tribe’s settlement, Buffy’s swift impressions were so vivid that I got a complete picture at the pace of her looking around. Most of all I thought how the tribe fit there as a natural part of their environment. Lil would have felt very much at home pulling up a pelt and sitting at that fire. I am so pleased for Buffy that she is on the verge of discovering her origin and learning about her mother's roots.

And finally I was so happy to see the signs in Buffy that she was noticing Vandrelis’s very masculine presence, particularly when she noted that he was courteous and gallant. Not that I’d swipe her phone and set up a Tinder account for her yet, just glad to see signs of spring.

Hmm. So Mr. Vandrelis hitches a ride on Superian. I had a kick out of this:





You provided fantastic descriptions on the geographical shift as they passed from open forest to a grassy enviornment. Valenwood is mysterious as it is beautiful.

The two Wood Elves share quite a bit. I enjoyed Vandrelis' comment on the bounties of prey and nature; something Buffy has learned and mentioned numerous times before. She's among friends here.

Indeed, we have confirmation of her heritage and that she was conceived in the Tall Trees, and part of the Cloud Dancer tribes, no less. I'm curious as to which ones, and what this revelation will mean for Buffy and her future and travels in Valenwood.

Loved that sparrow quote, gave me a chuckle.

Loved the village too. I was reminded of a Bosmer settlement in ESO that also uses mammoths for cheese as well as for their squishy parts. They're like a walking buffet!

The description of the scarred shaman was so vivid and easy to picture. Alchemy isn't a common practice among Bosmer, but let's hope it helps.

I've been saying this for awhile but I love hearing about Valenwood in various ways, whether it's tmar's pictures or a Buffy story. This one really takes me there too.


Like... totallaaay.

That was a very direct display of trust of Buffy, to dispel her weapon when Vandy mounted up behind her. Though granted, with that right next to her, a bow would not help Buffy much anyhow. He does seem to be a trustworthy fellow though. Unless he belongs to a tribe of cannibals and is just luring Buffy back to their lair!

Something to consider about fauna is that the American Mastodon was a forest-dweller. So while the mammoth browse the plains of Valenwood, mastodon might be living within the trees.

The Cyclopean Shaman is an interesting figure. I wonder if his injuries came from war, or if he did it himself? Shamanic initiation can be very harsh, and often involve the shaman dying in a very violent manner, only to be reborn again. Typically some physical organ or flesh is taken from the shaman's body, and replaced with something magical. An Inuit shaman described being eaten by a polar bear, only to be regurgitated out again. In Australia the old shamans pull out the prospective shaman's innards and replace them with magical crystal. In my own initiation I burned in the heart of a star, only to be reconstituted again by Hekate - with Earth, Air, Fire, and Water added in to my ashes. IRL, these experiences are usually metaphorical. But in a setting like Tamriel, it might be literal reality.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Aug 14 2016, 05:33 PM

D'awww, Buffy was adorable with Vandrelis! I doubt anything could grow out of it with Buffy's grieving for Matias, but I do think it is good that she is interacting with another male close to her age in a way that may help her heal from those emotional wounds.

I have to agree totally with what SubRosa said here - huge amount of trust for her to have him ride behind her like that; she is totally vulnerable if he had bad intentions. She must trust her instincts about people thoroughly or trusts Acadian will stop her if he senses danger. That is not a small thing; and probably could have used a small explanation of why she felt the trust; but it was still such an awesome scene that it doesn't matter (because we know nothing happened to Buffy!!!!)

But at first all my female warning buzzers were going off big time on that, because = he doesn't know Acadian and Phantom are there, all he sees is a tiny elf and a horse alone in the woods. A female reading that is going to think Buffy was just lucky his intentions were good if she doesn't clarify how she knew she could trust him to put herself in such a vulnerable position.

I'm a bit confused on the age of the elders at Vandrelis's village. Buffy thinks "decades" here; but the Mer is grizzled and with a lined face.

Since in game the Mer age much slower and don't show it till centuries; was Buffy thinking "decades" as in how a Mer would think of it?

If so = this chapter is well short enough that it might be good to add a sentence indicating that to a Mer a decade is much longer than man's years or something so the reader isn't looking at a decade as being just 10 years there.


I just didn't know if you were world building Buffy Fiction with her own age/time that works different than in game; or if Buffy was saying "decades" in Mer timing - so it kind of left me confused as to what she actually meant by "decades" there.



OMG, I Love this line!!!!


I have to agree with Lopov on your descriptions of people - very visuall!! Really Awesome!

Also agree with Ghastley on your descriptions of using all of the Mammoth and for what - very cool !!! I also liked how Buffy compared it to her own experience with deer to feed many - that was just so darn cute! It kind of makes you wonder how huge his tribe is and how they have learned to prevent the meat stored from spoililng in those hot temps !!!

You know, I wondered for a second here if it would turn out that Daenlin learned his preservation and use of everything in a kill from this tribe! WOO HOO !!!

Great description on that village, that is another great visual!!! To this day I will never forget your description of Bravil for the Tourney - OMG, I could visualize every single inch of it!!!


The water buffalo being gelded was another touch that just added to the whole here! Tribes were doing that centuries before civilization caught on, and the removed were (urgh) another part that was not wasted. (gaaaack)

Another AWESOME Write !!!!! I am loving seeing Buffy finally finding her roots (literally too!) and maybe meet some who may have known her mother!







This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 15 2016, 07:56 PM

I’m posting a day earlier than my preferred Friday routine since I’ll be leaving town today for a few days. I look forward to returning next week and catching up with things here.

In our last episode, Buffy and Vandrelis rode across an area of high plains then down to the Strid River where Vandrelis introduced her to the village of his tribe. Buffy met the tribe’s elders who agreed that she was likely from one of the Cloud Dancer tribes. The shaman began preparing a brew to help divine more of her origins.

Lopov- Thank you! Vandrelis will be a significant character and I tried to paint a reasonably detailed picture of him. The elders only have a small role so my goal was just enough detail so they do not seem overly generic.

ghastley- I love the Deserts of Anequina Oblivion mod and used it for a long time. I also used Valenwood Improved but only briefly as I had problems with it. Thanks!

BretonBlood- Thank you! The Strid River Valley tribe and its adjacent prairie hunting grounds was influenced by several sources, including the buffalo-hunting tribes of the American great plains.

Grits- It somehow gives Buffy comfort knowing that she is supposed to be the way she is rather than just a big-eared fragile runt of the litter. I worked hard on the transition across the prairie and into the village trying to paint a vivid picture without excessive wordiness. Thanks so much for your encouragement on that count. Vandrelis is indeed unknowingly tugging at the damaged heartstrings of the vulnerable Buffy.

DE- Coming from one with such mastery of description, your kind words humble me. Buffy is rather excited to meet a whole tribe of fellow mer whose hunting philosophy matches her own.

hazmick- Thank you. Since the elders are not big players in the story, I wanted their descriptions to be very brief, but still have a bit of interest.

Renee- Another who recalls the Valley Girl fad! So glad you’re enjoying the story and thanks much for reading!

SubRosa- Thank you. My inspiration came partly from the bison-hunting tribes of America, but since Buffy loved the mammoths so much in Skyrim I couldn’t resist using them and even keeping their perhaps too heavy fur for the more temperate clime where Buffy is. Our shaman is quite a minor character so I’ll kind of leave him shrouded in mystery – also because I don’t have the knowledge to go very deep into what makes him tick.

mALX- I suppose if Vandrelis had acted up once up in the saddle, Buffy would have had to rely on Superian rearing and dislodging him. I agree that a sentence or two displaying Superian’s intuitive comfort near Vandrelis and Buffy’s choice to trust him would have been helpful. In truth, it was a questionable decision made more with her kind heart than her analytical head. Happily it seems like the right choice. On Bosmer age, when Buffy said many decades, she meant twenty or thirty decades perhaps - not six or seven. ‘Several centuries’ would have been an okay alternate but the target I had in mind was around 300 years old. A good reminder for me to think carefully about how we relay her perceptions though. Thank you for pointing out your concerns, as well as your ever so kind words about our descriptions.



After a time, the shaman looked up from stirring his simmering concoction. “I require one final ingredient for this divination brew. Each Cloud Dancer tribe lives in their own tree. Tree and tribe are linked in a mutually dependent and intensely loyal relationship. As children come of age, they are bonded to the tree via a ceremony where a small amount of blood and sap are exchanged. Little is known outside those tribes exactly what benefits elf and tree gain from this exchange of their essences. Assuming your mother had some of her tree’s sap in her blood, a trace of it will have been conveyed to you.”

I obediently stuck out my hand.

After obtaining and swirling a bit of my blood into his brew the old mer began quietly chanting incantations.

“Do you need help healing that?” inquired the medicine woman. Her hair and eyes were the same color as the strands of raven feathers that adorned her. The mer’s ageless face was sharply featured, but her tone conveyed the caring nature of a healer.

“Thank you for the offer,” I replied, “but I can manage.” I closed both eyes briefly, feeling my paladin’s restorative magic flow into and close the small wound to my hand.

The shaman had ceased his incantations and was peering into the simmering caldron. Finally, he soberly announced, “The tree you seek was called Alderglean.”

“Was?” I repeated.

Ignoring my question, he exchanged glances with the other elders. It was the chief who finally said, “Vandrelis, go find Violet and bring her to us.”

Quite unsure of what was going on, it was with significant effort that I held my tongue as Vandrelis stood and left the tent. I looked to the shaman but he offered no words. His one eye just stared into the fire as we waited.

Within a few minutes, Vandrelis reentered the tent with another mer in tow. I was struck by her diminutive size and slight build. Her eyes and hair were pale lavender in color. Beyond appearing to be in her long elven prime, I couldn’t discern her age. She stared back, with what appeared to be equal fascination.

It was the shaman who spoke. “Buffy, this is Violet. You both carry sap from the tree of the Spirit Catcher Tribe. The tree and most of its inhabitants were destroyed just over two decades ago. Violet, sit and please tell Buffy what you remember”

“I was thirteen at the time," she began after folding herself crosslegged onto a pelt next to me. “The season had been unusually dry, so when a lightning storm struck Alderglean’s upper branches, the resulting fire quickly spread. Our entire tribe, armed with rainwater pods, battled against it but. . . it just spread too fast. After several tribesmer were burned alive, Father, Mother and I were forced to hurriedly descend.” She paused and took a slow breath, her chin quivering. “Only Mother and I ever found the ground.” Tears filled her eyes as she stared into the flickering embers under the shaman’s caldron. “Many whole families refused to leave, preferring to die in the branches of Alderglean rather than live without our precious tree. The fire raged from ground to clouds for three days.”

Her glistening eyes turned to me. “Buffy, before the fire, the Spirit Catchers numbered over a hundred. When the smoke finally cleared, not even a score of our tribe remained. Eventually, we dispersed in small groups. Some left to petition neighboring tribes to accept them; others struck out for various cities. Mother decided we would leave Valenwood altogether and the two of us headed north. Our destination was Skingrad where she had heard humans and elves lived together in towering trees of stone that were immune to fire. We never made it though. She was skilled with bow and magic, but died killing a pair of trolls that attacked us as we entered the Strid River Valley. I was badly wounded and would have died as well, if not healed and taken in here by what became my new tribe.”

Violet studied my face. “Your age appears less than mine, yet I’m sure that I was the youngest survivor. How. . . how could you carry the sap of Alderglean?”

“I-I’m not sure,” I replied. “All I know is that when my parents came from Valenwood to Bravil, I traveled in my mother’s womb. By the time I was old enough to begin asking such questions, I was an orphan.”

The shaman suggested, “Buffy, tell us what you recall of your parents. Perhaps Violet can remember them from among the survivors.”

Violet nodded encouragingly.

“My father was a dark-haired Breton called Superior. Mother’s name was Marian and she was small with golden hair and light green eyes.” I added with a bittersweet smile, “My horse is named for them both – Superian.”

“Yes!” Violet’s face lit up. “There was one round-ear in our tribe and his name was Superior! He was the mate of my mother’s sister, Aunt Marian. I recall they both survived the fire, but I had no idea she was with child. Mother and I were among the first to leave, so I never learned what happened to them or where they went.”

It was the tribe’s chief who spoke next. “It sounds like you two cousins have much to discuss. Buffy, you are welcome to remain a time and share my tribe’s hospitality. Violet, our guest is now under your charge for the duration of her stay.”

As we stood and faced each other, it was clear that we were indeed of nearly identical size. Violet took my hand. “Come with me, Buffy. We have much to catch up on.”

“I have so many questions for you!” I replied.

Well I certainly wasn't expecting that! So Buffy is/was bonded to a tree via sap? How very Argonian!

Looking forward to learning more about the mer.

Well that was unexpected.... I feel bad for Buffy now considering she wanted to learn about her origins, and technically she has, but it's in a bad way. At least one of the last remaining tribe members is related to her. That was a nice twist. I want to know what Violet will tell her about her tribe and family.

Wow I didn't expect that either. I loved this chapter. While sad and tragic that the majority of Buffy's people had perished in the fire caused by the lightning storm, and she never had been blessed enough to meet her parents . . . there was hope that came in the form of a lavender-haired wood elf. Violet is an appropiate name for her

This was just great. After so long we are given a glimpse of what remained of Buffy's family, and though she had many that perhaps could be counted as such(despite being her friends) I think, perhaps, this is first time we see someone of blood relation, yes?

Awesome!

Buffy has questions, and so do we. I'm eager on finding out more about our Mystic Archer and the revelations that will come with Violet's answer . . .

To be honest I want a hunting trip with Buffy, Violet and Vandrelis!

I think it's good to know one's past, even if it means to uncover some sad events.

What a great story behind Superian's name!

Nice that Buffy met one of her relatives, maybe even the last one still alive.

I very much liked the exchange of sap and blood in the symbiotic bonding ritual of the tree dwelling elves. It not only gives us some wonderful cultural depth, but also provides a clear means of moving the story along. Like a clan-specific tattoo or ritual scarring would.

Sad news about Alderglean. But OTOH, at least Buffy was not the only survivor. Amidst the ashes of her past, a cousin has arisen! So there is a silver lining to that cloud. I wonder if Violet and Buffy might make a journey together to the old site of Alderglean? It has been some time now, so I would imagine a new tree or trees might already be growing in its place. Which leads to new possibilities for both.