Haa-Rei, you need to run away now!! Especially if she Smiled with a capital S.

Acadian - You know how it is, all the best loot and toughest enemies are at the back of the dungeon

ghastley - Ah c'mon, what's the worst that could happen?



Previously - The two companions made their way toward the werewolf lair, and Haa-Rei started getting used to his enhanced senses. After finding the lair they made a good start, but more trouble lurks ahead...

Chapter 43



We moved through the tunnels faster than before, not a werewolf in sight. Usually I'd consider an absence of werewolves to be an ideal situation, but at that particular moment it was nothing but worrying. The more wolves we didn't fight out here, the more wolves we'd have to fight later. That 'later' came all too soon, as we arrived at the entrance to an enormous cave. The scent of werewolves was at its strongest here, though the row of human skulls above the door was also a good indicator that this was where we'd find the leader.

Trivea held up a hand to order a stop, and we fell back several feet. She nodded at me with a glint of excitement and silently handed me a scroll before making her way back to the cave.

The scroll was a spell that would allow me to summon a storm atronach, which would no doubt come in handy. I myself could only summon Eithne the flame atronach, who had little in the way of combat ability.

I could now hear Trivea's voice coming from the chamber, and scrambled to get there. She was speaking loudly in the local Nordic tongue, which I had no understanding of, and around her was a large group of werewolves with the huge white pack leader at its head.

More words were exchanged, and the pack leader let out a loud barking laugh. Even though Trivea was half its size, she was standing as nonchalantly as one might if they were facing down a mudcrab or a baby skeever. After another exchange, the wolf nodded and then turned to look at me.

Even from across the dark cave I could see the red swirls of rage that were its eyes. The creature's very presence was like a force of nature, suppressing my ability to do anything but stand and shiver slightly. It grinned before turning to the wolves to either side:

"Send that one to the Hunting Grounds." it commanded in growling Cyrodilic, and its comrades sprang into action. At the same moment, Trivea lashed out in a flurry of attacks, which the wolf parried with its long claws.

I turned my attention away from them, to the more pressing danger. Almost a dozen werewolves were advancing towards me, and I immediately regretted that I wasn't a swordsman.

Trivea trusted me though, so I couldn't run. Instead, I unrolled the spell scroll and tossed it on the ground. Lightning crackled in the space above the scroll and the very air itself seemed to rip and tear open as the storm atronach appeared. Without needing a command it lobbed a ball of crackling light into the mass of werewolves, killing one outright and knocking three others back. Sensing the greater threat, most of the wolves moved to attack the summoned creature and left four to attack me. I loosed an arrow and brought one down straight away, slowly walking backwards as I did so in an attempt to give myself more room.

A second werewolf fell at my feet, and I raised my bow to block the incoming swipe from a third. As I did so the cave echoed with a horrifying screech, and everyone's attention was drawn to the duel which had been going on nearby. The pack leader was covered in dozens of cuts, and one of Trivea's daggers had embedded itself in the thick white pelt. Even so, the werewolf looked plenty strong enough. Trivea was likewise covered in injuries, and had gone down on one knee. The pack leader took a step forward, no doubt to finish his opponent, but stopped in his tracks. My spines tingled as a wave of power surged through Trivea and she transformed.

She was as tall now as the pack leader, but otherwise quite his opposite. Her skin was black and leathery, her armour replaced by ancient looking robes and ornate jewelry. Her features looked similar in this form as in her Dunmer form, but the bat-like nose and teeth were much more pronounced, and her ears were almost twice as long. From her back sprouted two wings, which looked too small for flight but nevertheless seemed to give her the ability to float a foot or so from the ground. A spell glowed in each hand, swirling reds and greens around long talons. She was terrifying.

The momentary lapse of concentration was over, and the fighting resumed with the same fury as before. I was quick enough to block one, two, three blows from a werewolf to my left, but this served as a distraction which prevented me from seeing the werewolf to my right. Pain shot through my side very briefly, and then I went numb. I looked down dumbly at the werewolf's hand, which had lodged itself in my abdomen, and felt my consciousness slipping away.

No, not slipping away. Moving aside, stepping back. My body moved of its own accord, and I could do nothing but watch as I pushed the wolf away with a strength that was not quite my own. A swirl of mist enveloped by entire form, beginning at my chest and spreading outward. I could feel my limbs stretching and my face morphing. It wasn't painful, but felt very strange, like being dipped into a pool of warm mud.

The mist cleared and I held up a hand to see that it wasn't my own. Or rather it was my own, but changed, transformed. It was enormous, with long clawed fingers and covered in thick white fur. I could feel the ears on my head moving around and the nose on my lupine snout twitching.

The two werewolves renewed their attack, and were killed almost instantly by a flurry of my claws. I was still restricted to watching helplessly as my body moved by itself.

A final roar from the storm atronach announced its departure, and in its wake I could see the broken bodies of 4 werewolves, leaving two advancing for me. My arm lashed out and grabbed one by the throat, lifting it off its feet and throwing it against a nearby wall with such force that it died instantly. The last werewolf faltered slightly, but attacked nonetheless with a reckless swing that my body dodged with ease before counterattacking with another sequence of fast strikes. The cave floor was now slick with the cruor of battle, and I was victorious.

I turned toward the duel that was still ongoing, and could feel the wolf spirit in my body urging me forward to join in and kill them both, bloodlust guiding its thoughts. It took all my strength of will to slow my body down, but still I advanced. I was going to kill Trivea.

Chapter 5 Still trying to get caught up

This chapter was chock full of awesome lines to quote, so I'm going to have to limit myself to some I just couldn't stand not to mention:



What a perfect sentence that is! I can visually see it like watching a movie the way you phrase things, yet so concise! That is such a gift!!!




This is just spectacular, you have not just set the scene; you have set a mood here with this description! Awesome, Awesome!!!




You could have stopped at the "fallen comrade," but instead you added a perfect touch with her paleness - that takes it into a whole new level, amazing job you did on this!




You have set the urgency here, really making the reader feel like they are holding their breath with Haa-Rei!




This was just plain funny!!!

AWESOME WRITE !!!!!!!!

Chapter 6 - This chapter really gave the feel of a group of people on a trip that has lasted way too long already and still has a long way to go, lol. But I saw "Faregyl" and knew what they would be doing next, I love that Haa-Rei is visiting Maxical's parents in her absence!!! Awesome Write !!!

Chapter 7



What a perfect sentence !!! So visual it is like watching a play unfold, but you somehow manage to do it so concise that it seems effortless (when I know it is NOT easy at all to do!)

Love how you captured S'Jirra's overly exuberant hugging and kissing at the end!!!!

Awesome Write !!!!!

Chapter 8

Your description of the minotaur and that feeling of akinship with it was Awesome in this chapter!

This whole paragraph was perfect:



Another great one:







I LOVE this line !!!

Awesome Write !!!!

Chapter 9

Your description of Bravil here is absolutely AWESOME !!!!! You brought the whole atmosphere of it to life in this chapter!!!


Awesome, Awesome Write !!!!!




Chapter 10


This chapter was spectacular from beginning to end! I absolutely am nuts about the conversation with Daenlin; especially that bow; the whole inner dialogue Haa-Rei had about Hist trees - spectacular !!! This chapter was inspired in so many ways; from Haa-Rei's reaction to cold right down to Daenlin's final deal with him - Totally Awesome !!!!! My absolute favorite chapter so far !!!







This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 23 2016, 04:20 PM

"The cave floor was now slick with the cruor of battle, and I was victorious. " If it's become cruor, is it still slick?

Still, the Werewolf wants to kill the Vampire Lord, regardless of those nominally in control of those forms. Everything would now hinge on control of the transformation, methinks.

Ahah! A wonderful display of dual transformations during this tense fight.

Oh, and Stormie was of great help. Scrolls are a neat device to help in a pinch while preventing the character from routinely running around overpowered.

Trivea’s transformation to vampire lord form was magnificent and does much to explain her confidence. And just when we thought Haa-Rei might be a goner, he did his own transformation. It was very neat how he was almost an observer as the wolf within more or less took control of him. Uh-oh, I hope something intervenes to prevent him from trying to kill Trivea.

Chapter 11 -


Your lore on the Hist is so amazing through these last couple chapters! I feel more understanding of it after reading them than I have through numerous Histy quests in ESO! LOVE what you are doing with it!

Also = loving the intriguing feeling of unease Haa-Rei is having here! What could it be? I was wondering if it was the Leyawiin Blackwood Company's Hist; but can't be sure if you are leading us there or not!!!

It is kind of a cliffy, but a subtle one! AWESOME WRITE !!!!!!

Wow, I love this whole story of how Haa-Rei became a werewolf. Both Trivea’s and Haa-Rei’s transformations were vivid and easy to imagine but didn’t bog the fight down with too much detail. Yikes, I wonder if he will be able to keep his wolf spirit from killing Trivea’s vampire self!

There was something awry with the way that dark elf woman carried herself ever since Haa-Rei woke up with her standing there, and the hint has been pointed out, too.

I do wonder how this will affect Haa-Rei, as he's essentially fighting his own kind now. But judging his character, he finds no kinship with these beasts.

After a violent confrontation with the wolves, Haa-Rei's bestial instincts takes him to fight a worthier opponent, no doubt ancient and deadly. A vampire lord is no base prey!

mALX - I'm so glad you're enjoying it! Heh, you always manage to pick out the parts that I was most pleased with when I was writing. Keep an eye on that Leyawiin Hist - you might be on to something there

ghastley - I think cruor can be slick, like a petroleum jelly sort of consistency. You're right about the transformation control, though I wonder who is really the one in charge of the situation.

Acadian - I never really use scrolls, but I can't deny their usefulness.

Grits - Thanks! I thought it was a part of the story that was worth telling properly, but I don't want it to go on too long.

DE - I think it's worth keeping an eye on anyone who willingly lives in a cave on Solstheim. Haa-Rei's just glad that she's on his side, though the inner wolf spirit seems to have missed that announcement.



Previously - Aided by a Storm Atronach scroll, Haa-Rei fought several werewolves while Trivea engaged the pack leader in a duel. After being injured, Haa-Rei transformed into a werewolf and began advancing towards Trivea...

Chapter 44



Even with all of my mental energy trying to stop myself, my body was moving ever closer to Trivea. I could feel the wolf spirit's thirst for blood, its innate need to hunt and kill and feed. Its raw power was staggering, and I could understand why so many people were overpowered by it and became feral.

Trivea had noticed too, but seemed completely calm, focusing her attention on the pack leader as it attacked again and again. She lashed out with one hand, pushing the creature back several feet and allowing a spell to be cast with her free hand.

The spell floated lazily in my direction and exploded in a puff of purple smoke at my feet. From the smoke rose a creature I'd never seen before. It almost resembled an Imp, with grey skin, a muscular body, and a pair of wings on its back. Unlike an imp it was enormous, even taller than me in werewolf form, with a hideous face that was frozen in a mask of fury. Its grey skin looked to be made of stone, and my body instinctively raised my arms to block as the creature swung a massive paw towards me.

The impact jarred my arm, drawing out a growl from deep within my chest. I countered quickly, opening several deep wounds on the creature's chest. Its skin was not stone, but a very tough hide - I hoped that I would never face one of these creatures in Argonian form.

The creature and I traded blows for another minute or so before it vanished in a flash of light. Either it was weaker than it looked, or Trivea had recalled it. The latter option seemed the most likely, and I briefly wondered just how strong Trivea was if this creature could be summoned and recalled so easily.

My lupine body was bleeding from numerous wounds, and I could feel the wolf spirit weakening gradually. With no small amount of effort I managed to focus my will and suppress it, slowly taking back control of my body. At first I wasn't sure if it had worked, but I could start to feel things more clearly now, and then move various body parts - first a finger, then a paw, then my whole arm.

I was still in werewolf form, but I was now in control. I was too exhausted to move though, and simply stood back and watched the ongoing duel as my wounds knitted themselves back together.

Trivea had the upper hand. A large set of claw marks crossed the pack leader's face, and had taken an eye with them. Its regeneration seemed to have stopped, unable to keep up with so many injuries, and its attacks had also slowed, allowing Trivea to dodge more than she had to block. Sensing that it was losing, the pack leader launched a desperate flurry of attacks, but none of them found their mark - Trivea simply turned into a cloud of mist and disappeared.

She reappeared behind her foe, and before it could react she lashed out and grabbed its arms. Her wings then folded into two spear-like appendages and embedded themselves in the werewolf's torso. The creature was now completely immobile, and I watched with a grim sense of satisfaction as Trivea's fangs were introduced to the pack leader's neck. I felt my connection to it vanish as it crashed to the ground, the pristine white pelt now a bloody ruin.

A dark mist swirled around Trivea and moments later she was back to her Dunmer form, grinning widely like a Khajiit in a sugar den. She walked over to me as casually as one might approach a small puppy, and retrieved a glass vial from her pocket. It took the last of my strength to kneel down to her height and allow her to pour the liquid into my mouth.

"Good dog." she said quietly, reaching up to scratch my head.

I slumped down onto the ground and even as I felt my body begin to shrink and return to normal, my vision darkened and I fell into a deep sleep.

I awoke to a familiar sight, packed snow above me. I was back in Trivea's cave.

I was also back to my Argonian form, and I sat up slowly to inspect myself for any wounds, fur, or other signs of the battle. I'd healed completely, and all scales were accounted for.

"If you continue sleeping in my bed people might start to gossip, you know." said Trivea from somewhere off to one side.

"Where...where are you?" I asked, only just noticing the adjoining room. Was that always there?

"Come and see."

It was a small room, big enough for a bed and a small desk which my pack was sitting on.

"Did you just build this?"

"I did indeed, my dear. You need somewhere to stay while you train, and a girl needs her privacy." she placed her hands on her hips and nodded, clearly satisfied with her construction work. Apparently any post-battle discussion would wait for another time, for which I was thankful.

"Oh. Well, thank you Trivea. Erm...what training, exactly?" I asked hesitantly.

"Werewolf training, of course. We can't have you transforming in the middle of a town now can we? Then there'll be alchemy training, some conjuration training, and some lessons in demi-daedric lore." Trivea counted out her list on her slender fingers. As expected, I wouldn't get a say in the matter.

"Conjuration? I'm not a mage."

"Not yet you're not, but I can sense your affinity for it. It's all about your soul, you see. That's why the pack leader chose you too. You have a strong soul, and thus the potential to be a strong werewolf, and mage." I didn't understand, but nodded anyway. "Well, no time like the present, shall we get started?"


Several weeks later, and my training was all complete. I was now slightly more able to control my Lycanthropy, though I still needed to keep the potion handy - the scent of blood was a powerful catalyst for the wolf spirit. I could also summon a Flame Atronach, who had introduced herself as Eithne, and was working on summoning a Storm Atronach. It was time for my mentor and I to part ways.

"Make sure to keep a good stock of potion with you, and practice your spells as often as you can." Trivea reminded me for the fourth time that morning.

"I will, Triv. Where will you go now?"

"I have business in Cyrodiil. We'll see each other again though. You'd be surprised how small the world truly is when you're immortal." She gave me a quick hug, despite knowing of my aversion to physical contact, and patted me on the head. She was a terrifying vampiress, who had stalked the face of Nirn for over 1000 years, and she had become one of my best friends.

After we parted ways I returned to the Imperial Fort and gave a...slightly altered report on what had transpired several weeks ago. Fortunately the captain was much more interested in his flask of brandy than he was in me, and waved me off without any questions.

Several days later I returned to Morrowind, and from there I was transferred to Cyrodiil.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I finished my story and flopped back onto the floor of the Skingrad guild hall, exhausted after speaking for so long.

“Wow…I…thank you for telling me…� Cirinwe said quietly. She looked to be deep in thought for a few moments before she continued. “I think I have a plan.�

“Hm?� I made a vague noise to indicate that I was listening and slowly sat up.

“We’re going vampire hunting.�

Now that got my attention.

Very neat conclusion of Haa-Rei’s tale to Cirinwe of how he became a werewolf. I really enjoyed his descriptions of what it felt like to be in beast form – power but at the same time, powerless in a way.

Trivea turned out to be a great ally indeed. A mentor, even.

Hmm, now what could Cirinwe have in mind? Can’t wait to find out!

Acadian - Trivea and Cirinwe have certainly helped Haa-Rei a lot already. Where would we be without Mer-maids, eh?



Previously - Haa-Rei finished telling the story of his Lycanthropy, and after hearing everything Cirinwe came up with a plan...

Chapter - 45



“We’re doing what?� I asked, unsure if I’d heard Cirinwe correctly.

“Vampire hunting. Or searching. For your friend Trivea.� Cirinwe clarified.

I thought about it for a few moments. “Hmm, I see. You think she might know something that could help.�

“You said she’d told you she was coming to Cyrodiil, right? Surely it’s worth a shot.�

“The only problem is that I have no idea whereabouts in Cyrodiil she is. She could be in a cave in the wilderness, or a townhouse in the Imperial City. She’s a very small needle in a very large haystack.� I could track lots of different creatures, but vampires are a much more elusive quarry than I could manage.

“Well, the only other thing that could help us is the library at the Arcane University. We could always try and think about ways to find Trivea on the way to the city.� Cirinwe suggested. I had no idea why she was so intent on helping me, but I was most grateful for it.

Seeing no reason to hang around in Skingrad, we set off several minutes later. We’d only been in the town for a single evening and the better part of a morning but it felt like I’d been there for weeks.

It was good to be out in the relative wilderness of Cyrodiil again. The sheer abundance of life so close to the walls of major settlements always surprised me. Of course, not all wildlife is friendly. We passed a mound of burnt goblin corpses outside an old mine, the Fighter’s Guild emblem daubed on the door to show that they had cleared it out.

We had an encounter with a particularly angry imp, but a single arrow was enough to put a stop to its lightning lobbing. The creature that was notably absent on such an important road was the now-elusive Imperial Guardsman. Usually they would patrol the roads of Cyrodiil in small groups to make sure traders and travellers could go about their business unmolested, but I was yet to see anything resembling law and order on the road. Surely a Daedric invasion was when the guards were needed the most. Putting those thoughts aside, I turned my attention to my companion, who’d been deep in thought ever since we’d left the guild hall.

“Cirinwe?� I began, remembering a question I’d been meaning to ask.

“Hm?� she looked up from her study of the road and its effects on one’s boots.

“Back in Anvil, you said that you’d read my file at the Mages Guild…what exactly is in the file?� I’d been curious for a while now.

“Well, it said that you’re from Black Marsh, and that you’re an adventurer. Oh, and you’re in the Legion. That’s all just information to help decide what role would suit you best in the guild.�

“I see. What role would suit me best?� I was relieved that my Blades membership wasn’t included, but now more curious than ever.
“Well that’s not decided until you finish your recommendations, but since you’re an adventurer you wouldn’t be stationed at a specific guild hall. You’d be more of a travelling scholar. Legion members are usually assigned to battlemage groups though, so it would also depend on your Legion rank and duties.�

“Hmm. I quite like the sound of being a travelling scholar.� I said, wondering how it would be any different from the dungeon-delving and adventuring that I had always done. More note taking? Less looting?

Cirinwe was quite for a while, and after several false starts spoke again. “Can I ask you a question?�

“Of course.�

“My sister said she’d told you about my past…� she trailed off, clearly uncomfortable.

“Only a little. You’re a talented mage from the Summerset Isles who left a prestigious mage academy after some sort of incident…and that’s it.� Now that I thought about, I didn’t know much about her at all.

“Well, that’s certainly quite brief.�

I shrugged. “I just assumed that you’d tell me more if you thought I needed to know.�

“Oh, well thank you. I want to tell you more, it’s just…difficult to talk about.� She absentmindedly rubbed her scars. I decided that I wouldn’t pursue it.

“Don’t worry about it. You’re a good person, and that’s all anybody should need to know about their travelling companions.�

She smiled slightly and looked as if she wanted to say more, but remained silent. We resumed our journey and after a day, a night, and another half a day we arrived on the outskirts of the village of Weye.

Almost immediately after we entered the village we were approached by a man wearing the traditional fisherman garb of waterproof waders, though one leg of the waders had been removed to allow bandages to be applied to the man's leg. He had the aura of a quest-giver about him, and I could only hope that the job wouldn’t be too difficult…

At least he didn't have a glowing arrow over his head, pointing at him! Then you'd know you already have the quest in your journal.

So, vampire hunting means looking for Trivea. Good idea and Cirinwe is both wise and helpful. Oh, and going to the Arcane University is always a great idea, almost no matter what you’re seeking.

I enjoyed their trip and, as ever, Haa-Rei’s always interesting observations. I also like how you are gradually coaxing more info out of both them as they interact. Haa-Rei has recently spilled all his werewolf guts to Cirinwe so, hopefully, she’ll reveal more of her past to him as well.

I quite chuckled as the couple entered Weye – only to be approached by a fellow with the ‘aura of a quest giver about him’.

As ever, this story is a joy to read!

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Chapter 12

This chapter is outstanding in every way; really makes it very clear the difference between someone creating and writing about a character; and someone who intimately knows that character integrally.

It is such an awesome feeling reading this; I am learning about Argonians and Haa-Rei more than I have known about him these many years - LOVING this story!!!! And loving your writing too! You have such an easy 'tongue-in-cheek' style of writing that just makes reading it a total pleasure! Like Treydog said about Buffy = comfort food for the soul.

You even made going to fill a flask from the river an adventure when heard through the mind of Haa-Rei; and that was just one example of many!

This paragraph in particular was just plain fantastic:




Awesome, AWESOME Write !!!!!


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Chapter 13

I am loving the idea (if I'm right about this) that the Hist locked up by the Blackwood Company has drawn Argonians from all over! And Haa-Rei wondering why he wasn't "called to the party" = a perfect touch!!! But he is still feeling that unease, so maybe he was drawn there like the others?

I don't know, but I am totally LOVING this story!!!! And the close easy bond between Haa-Rei and Deeh is so well written !!!

This has already been quoted, but I can't go without pointing it out:



Amazing how you bring Deeh to life here, and your own world building with Argonians is spectacular !!!

Fantastic Write!!!




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This post has been edited by mALX: Sep 17 2016, 09:57 AM

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Chapter 14




SPEW!!!

All of Haa-Rei's conversations with (and especially inner diaogues about) Olorin have kept me in stitches laughing! This whole scene of Olorin wanting Haa-Rei to join the Mages Guild was just perfect!

Well that was a molst exciting fight! And WOO HOO on Haa-Rei joining the Mages Guild!!!


Awesome Write!!!



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This post has been edited by mALX: Sep 18 2016, 07:50 AM