28-29 Hearthfire, 4E202 - Corinthe

"By Akatosh, I've seen enough palaces today to last me a lifetime!" - Hauk breathed with relief when he and Lena finally left the Palace District of Corinthe to return to a more down-to-earth Market District. "How can they stand wearing all those heavy velvets in this heat?" - his voice was momentarily muffled as he pulled off his robe. "Ah, that's better!"

"Yeah, it was getting rather repetitive" - Lena nodded. "Too posh for my blood!"

The air finally started to cool under the stars of the Southern sky.

"Hungry?" - she turned to Hauk, but for once he shook his head.

"No, they put too much sugar in everything" - he put a hand to his belly. "I think I'd better skip dinner tonight."

"Well, in that case..." - Lena turned and started to climb some steps leading to the narrow alleys of the more popular part of town. "A little more sugar will be just the thing" - she winked.


It was nearing midnight when they finally emerged from Sugar Coated.

"Well, that was a friendly place!" - Hauk remarked. "I could have stayed longer, but the smell of vomit was cutting through everything after a while."

"Mmm..." - Lena made some non-commital sounds, trying not to get lost in the alleys that ran without rhyme or reason. "Yeah, it wasn't the Feast Hall of Riverhold" - she sighed with regret. "All right, let's see what other entertainment we can find."

A red lantern peaked their interest. Did this center of civilization really have a brothel? The door was unlocked, so they entered.

"I am Inga, welcome!" - a young Nord woman greeted them. "Here for a threesome or did you just want to watch?" - she addressed Lena first, which made Hauk smirk. "Oh, perhaps it is you who wanted to watch!" - she turned to Hauk with a smile. "It's all good with me. I also provide training" - she added proudly.

"All right, let's see it!" - Lena grinned.

"See what?"

"What can you teach me?"

It is remarkable how professional people can make even the most exciting topics sound dull. Lena soon got bored with the theoretical foundations of eroticism in humanoid males, and Hauk discovered things about his "zones" that he never even suspected.

"That sounds fine in theory, but can you demonstrate?" - he cut through the lesson, becoming visibly impatient. "Because I have my doubts, you see" - he grinned.

What happened next was not what he expected. Inga got up from her seat, signalling Lena and Hauk to remain seated at the table. She walked around them and stood behind Hauk's chair with a quill in her hand. Then she started drawing on his neck and shoulders.

"You see, the primary zone of preliminary erotic stimulation in males is actually in their shoulders and the base of the neck" - she drew a line along the back of Hauk's shoulders, drawing blood with her sharp quill.

"Ouch! That hurts!" - he protested, but Inga continued unperturbed.

"One must suffer for all the good things in this world, so hush" - she cut him off. "Once you've stimulated him sufficiently there - which you can tell by the angle of the neck hairs, they must be what the laymen call 'standing up' - you can then gradually move on to the secondary zone of preliminary erotic stimulation which is in their earlobes, even with the Khajiit" - she smiled at Lena and stabbed Hauk's earlobe with her quill, drawing blood again. "It is not necessary to always draw blood, but many do like it, in particular Orcs."

"But I am not an Orc!" - Hauk protested again, but Inga slapped him on the head.

"Hush!" - she stretched out his arm, pointing at his bicepse. "The bicepse is the tertiary zone of preliminary erotic stimulation that is too often overlooked." She drew another line, right across Hauk's All-Seeing Eye tattoo, making the eye bleed. "It is important to follow the correct sequence and stimulate each zone in order, not jumping the queue, so to speak. The quartiary--"

"Enough!" - Hauk bellowed, jumping up from his chair. "I don't ever want to know what you'd do with my other zones! Come on, Wolf, we are leaving! And throw all of that nonsense right out of your head!" - he stomped out the door.

"Well, he's got a bit of a temper, doesn't he?" - Inga winked at Lena. "It does work out a lot better in practice, trust me, I am a professional."

"I have no doubt!" - Lena grinned. "I too follow the same method, but without the quill."

They laughed at that, hugged, and parted.

...

"What took you so long?" - Hauk scowled as Lena came out of Inga's house. "Don't let that witch put the wrong ideas into your head!"

"Oh, I don't know" - Lena looked dubious. "I think her method has merit. We should try it out tonight."

"WHAT?!" - the look of sheer horror and outrage on Hauk's face sent Lena into a fit of laughter, followed by giggles that she couldn't suppress for days.

"I wasn't actually serious" - she managed to say through her laughter. "That caravanserai doesn't have private rooms. It's just going to be plain sleeping tonight."

It appeared that Hauk was fine with that.


"We should visit the Mages Guild, you know" - Hauk said at breakfast, looking uneasy. "See what's been going on here since the events in Cyrodiil... Traven and whatnot." He didn't sound very convincing, and Lena thought there must be another reason for him wanting to visit the Mages Guild, but didn't say anything.

"That will mean going back to the Palace District" - she grimaced.

"Yeah, well, can't be helped" - Hauk mumbled, pulling on his robe.

...

"Well met, Warlock!" - a richly dressed Imperial stopped Lena in the street.

"Do I know you?" - Lena squinted at him. "Guild mate?"

"Indeed! The Mages Guild Hall is just down that way, if you wanted to stop by" - he smiled at her with his perfect pearl-white teeth. "Your reputation precedes you."

"Oh?" - Lena started, when Hauk finally caught up with them. The Imperial threw a disdainful glance at Hauk's not-so-fresh Battlemage robes.

"Evoker" - he said with emphasis.

"Optio, if you don't mind" - Hauk replied pleasantly. "I need a word with your Arch-Mage."

At this point the Imperial proved that he was a true mage by disappearing into thin air. Lena and Hauk exchanged grins.

The Mages Guild Hall exubed wealth. It was furnished with the best quality pieces, but its most luxurious feature was empty space. In a crowded city like Corinthe where space was at the premium, wasting it like that was something only very few could afford.

The conversation in the Guild Hall was almost a word-for-word recount of the conversation in the street, with the richly dressed mages looking down on Hauk's well used robes and Lena's casual attire. The Arch-Mage spoke benevolently and didn't appear to be impressed by Hauk's rank or questions, but an attentive observer would have noticed a slight twitch in his right eye.

"Your Guild chapter is doing very well financially" - Hauk smiled, looking at the rare plants and artefacts in Arch-Mage's reception room. "Quite impressive, really. My compliments, Arch-Mage! You put the chapters in Cyrodiil to shame, without a doubt."

"Oh, we are just doing our jobs serving the people" - the Altmer answered with a slight bow. "It isn't always the easiest path to take, but that's what we must do."

They exchanged a few more pleasanteries, then Hauk signalled Lena that he got what he wanted.


"An impressive display of wealth indeed" - Lena summarised their experience looking at the spacious white stone buildings occupied by the Mages Guild right in the Palace District. "I wonder where all this wealth is coming from" - she mused, looking at Hauk.

"A good question" - he nodded. "The Arch-Mage didn't say anything, and that says a lot. And here is another place I need to visit." They were standing before one of the Imperial Offices with the red banners adorning the walls.


"Of course" - Lena smiled. "I should have known."

The Imperial Offices were only partly occupied. The Offices themselves seemed in good order, with friendly staff giving directions and everything else you would expect. Multiple copies of the History of the Empire were on offer, no one needed to remain ignorant of anything. However, the Census Office was empty, apart from the guard. Oh, the furniture was in place, but there were no papers, no books, no scrolls, nothing of any kind there, and no staff. "What's up with that?" - Lena turned to Hauk, but he prodded her to go on and into the Vaults.

The Vaults were definitely not empty. Two stern looking staff members and several guards, one of which a Captain, were pacing the brightly lit room. All doors were understandibly locked.


"Don't even think about it" - Hauk followed Lena down the stairs, seeing her peering through the bars on the gate. "They'll confiscate your Nocturnal's key, and Nocturnal won't be happy about it."

"No, I wasn't..." - Lena blushed. "Honest. I was just wondering what they were keeping under such an impressive lock since the vault appears to be empty."

"Not all that is valuable is shiny and golden" - Hauk grinned. "I think you'll find it's information. Some dusty scrolls and well-worn missives, no doubt, stashed away out of sight. So, don't get me into trouble, because I need to leave you on your own for a bit." And with that he walked away, with the Captain following.

"No, I wasn't planning on another stay in the Imperial Prison" - Lena murmured to herself. The sight of those bars brought back memories.

...

Back at the caravanserai that evening Lena was surprised to find Hauk wearing full armour. He was making notes in his book, and the whole thing looked strange. Lena sat down at the table next to him and took out a notebook of her own.


"Did you learn what you wanted to learn?" - she asked in a hushed voice.

"Some of it" - Hauk nodded.

"What's with the armour?"

"I've got work to do" - he looked up, closing his book. "I should be back in a day or two, but don't worry if I stay out longer. I'll be back eventually."

And with that he got up and left into the night.

30 Hearthfire, 4E202 - The sewers and the Palace District

At six o'clock in the morning a young woman clad in black entered The White Moon Hotel in the Palace District of Corinthe. She was met and greeted by the hostess in a white dress of the finest quality accompanied by a Khajiit of an unusually short stature.

"Welcome to the White Moon Hotel!" - the hostess smiled. "My little brother and I run the best hospitality establishment in the city." The hostess' nose twitched because the visitor in black reeked of sewers. However, it would be bad manners to turn away potential customers, especially the ones with throwing knives tucked into their boots. The short-statured Khajiit took advantage of his height and his sister's engaging conversation to have a good look at the visitor. Satisfied, he gave her a little nudge and she proceeded with her room offer. "We can offer you the best experience anywhere at all! Would you like the Jone's Room which is a beautifully appointed lodging, well worth staying in, except that it would make you miss out on the luxury of the Jone's Suite which comes complete with dinner! What will it be? Oh, it's 50 septims for the room and 110 septims for the suite, per night. I mere trifle for a lady of your... err... profession." She twitched. "You may stay with us as long as you want!" - she added with a big smile.

Lena was listening to this tirade with a little smirk on her face, thinking to herself: "Oh yes, I'm sure you'd love to have me staying with you for a whole week, at 110 septims a night! Good grief, woman!" But she'd been up all night going through the sewers under Corinthe, and she could use a dinner and a bed - she intended to sleep all day and be out and about again in the evening. Perhaps this house of splendour even had a bath. So she smiled politely and paid for the Jone's Suite.

"Wonderful!" - the hostess beamed. "I am sure you will be most comfortable! My brother has got everything ready, you'll find your dinner served in the room. It's up the stairs, the door on your left."

Up the stairs on the landing there were three doors, and Lena dutifully opened the door on the left. The room was quite nice, but not exactly a suite, the table was indeed already set ("How long for?" - Lena wondered), and there was someone already at dinner...

"Oh, pardon me!" - exclaimed Lena, thinking that she got the wrong room.

"Well met, Guild mate!" - the richly dressed (what else?) Altmer at the table greeted her. "Please, join me." The table was indeed set for two.

"Err..." - Lena stumbled, she didn't really want company. Was that the extra luxury of the Jone's Suite? Was that Jone? There was just the one double bed in the room, she noticed. "I'll be back shortly" - she offered and stepped out onto the landing again. "I'm sure she said the door on the left" - she thought. "Hmm... What about these other two doors?"

The door on the right was locked, but the door in the middle wasn't. Lena entered. This room looked a lot more like a suite - it was at least double the size of the other one. However, all cupboards were empty and there was no dinner on the table. Lena tried the bed - it seemed nice, she could sleep here. "Oh sod it!" - she swore, really not wanting to go back to Jone next door, or whatever his name was. She got some food out of her pack, ate what she had and fell into the bed, exhausted. She'd take it up with the management in the morning... err... evening... whenever she woke up...

...

After Hauk left the previous evening, Lena decided to use the time on her own to investigate the less prominent sites of Corinthe, starting with the sewers. One might say that going there alone could be too dangerous, but she hadn't heard of a daedric incursion or a zombie plague, and figured that any vampires or necromancers would be keeping to their lairs. Besides, she had Dessos, the dremora in the service of Sanguine - he made Kynval by now and was eager to prove he deserved it. She'd be fine.

As it turned out, she didn't need Dessos - she could deal with rats on her own. There was nothing else down in the sewers! "How strange" - Lena thought, not finding anything of interest. "Oh wait, here's a door. Sewer lowlife, by the looks of it." Indeed, the hideout housed some bandits. Six in all, and after summoning a few clannfears, Lena called up Dessos.

"Fall on your sword!" - he roared, not bothered by the fact that the bandits were mostly armed with axes. It didn't matter though - they fell on their axes instead. "All finished" - he turned to Lena in a few minutes. "Anything else?"

"No, thank you" - she smiled. "There's nothing but rats here otherwise."

"And these were rats also" - he smiled back. "See you later."

"Give my love to Sanguine" - she waved and dispelled him.

She cleared the hideout of all valuables (not much) and fresh food (better not let it go to waste), and continued her exploration of the sewers. On the opposite end of the system she found another door, with open coffins in the water in front of it and cold emanating from the whole wall. "Vampires" - she thought. "Leave them be." If there was nothing else to do in Corinthe, she would return there with Hauk.

And so after a long and mostly fruitless dreg through the sewers, she emerged in the Palace District right in front of the White Moon Hotel and decided that rest was what she needed most. The 110 septim fee for the luxurious room was being paid by the bandits.

...

Lena woke up in late afternoon. There was still no food served in her luxurious suite, and the dining room downstairs was equally empty. There was also no one to be seen at the reception. "Well, so much for the best stay ever" - Lena thought with annoyance but didn't want to waste any time chasing after them. She wouldn't be staying at that hotel again, of that she was certain.

Feeling bored, she returned to the sewers to have a look at the vampire lair - just have a look, not slay everyone in sight, as that would be too difficult to do alone. And why would she, anyway. The lair was locked, they clearly didn't wish to be disturbed.

Yes, those were vampires, quite a substantial group of them. They had a comfortable dungeon under Corinthe with the door quite close to the sewer exit into the Palace District. "I suppose they have no need of a thrall" - Lena smirked. She went through all the rooms, occasionally throwing Nocturnal's Subterfuge spell at the vampires to keep them busy fighting each other while she had a good look around. A vampire coven. Nothing special. Every city had them. "These seem to be mostly nobles" - she noted from their attire and the furniture in the rooms. "Still like their comforts. Perhaps they are even locals. Leave them be." She left, while the vampires were still fighting.

The last thing to investigate in this city were the two abandoned houses that Lena spotted earlier. The doors were barred, but perhaps the windows offered access. The first one was positioned conveniently by a staircase - it was occupied by beggars. The second was a bit more troublesome, the window was quite high. Eventually Lena climbed in. A ghost of a woman was sitting at the table in a room with overturned furniture. "My babies are crying" - she said. Lena heard noises coming from above.

Jumping over some crates, she scaled the stairs to the upper floor, it must have been the bedroom. There was a skeleton on the bed and four or five little ghosts floating around. It was all too clear what had occurred.

The fight with the ghosts wasn't difficult, yet their spells triggered Lena's vampirism, and that was the bigger problem. She needed blood. She lay on the bed next to the skeleton to gather her strength, even spoke to the ghost of the woman again, but the ghost had nothing more to say. How did she die? The place wasn't rich, perhaps it was disease or starvation. In a city full of riches some people would still starve to death.


"Well, there's only one thing for it" - Lena decided, feeling the familiar powers curse through her veins. "And I am not wasting bottled blood on this."

In the dead of night she walked through Corinthe. Some passers by reflected on the paleness of her visage. Some blamed the lighting, some suggested she should see a healer. "No, it is much too late for that" - she thought to herself. The mages at the Corinthe chapter of the Guild were rich, not only in clothing, but also in their diet. "Better them than some poor sods sleeping rough" - she reflected, entering the Residence Hall. No one heard her, no one woke up. Someone had faint bite marks on the neck in the morning.

Lena returned to the White Moon Hotel to catch some much needed sleep in the room that was still hers. She'd be right as rain again when she woke.

Ah, the nights spent at The White Moon Hotel. We remember Bhirshasa and her little brother Buz. IIRC Bhirshasa is an Ohmes while Buz could be either a Dagi or a Dagi-raht.

Interesting how they determine the per-night rate.

Compared to some London hotels, they are being overly logical. A decent room for 50 septims, a room double in size for 110 septims. In London I've had options of a tiny room for £110 versus exactly the same room with a piece of toast for breakfast for £198, because we want to remain under £200. That was one expensive piece of toast! But the room was labelled "executive" because of that.

30 Hearthfire, 4E202 - The hot sun of Elsweyr

Hauk preferred to travel at night. The sun in Elsweyr was hot enough to melt his armour while he was wearing it, or that's how it felt. He regretted not having the enchanted robes he got in Antaloor - there too the sun was very hot. But an agent must do what an agent must do, whatever the weather.

Peace and opulence of Corinthe jarred badly with decomposing bodies in Orcrest, he felt, especially since the Pshara kept squabbling and did little to actually govern the city. Even though the presence of the Imperial Offices and the Imperial Legion accounted for some measure of tranquillity, the calm still felt enforced. But by whom? Hauk had to find out. The Captain of the Imperial Guard had some suspicions but couldn't leave town, which is where Hauk came in.

"Worshipping the Moons is weird" - Hauk thought, patting Luna and letting her relax into a quiet trot. "Why worship a celestial body? Even if it does determine their breeds - it does so reliably and every time the same, that's just nature, not any kind of a deity."

A ruined fort appeared in the distance, nearly swallowed by the sands. Hauk shifted in the saddle, his whole body straightening up - he sensed danger.

The fort presented several layers of defences. A Khajiit tribal village could be seen nearby, and that tribe clearly considered the fort to be their property. It took a while for Hauk to convince them otherwise, but after half a dozen warriors lay dead, the mages retreated into their huts, declaring ceasefire. Hauk was annoyed and wanted to chase after them, but they weren't what he came there for, so he left it for later and proceeded into the fort.

On the inside the fort was definitely not Khajiit property. A group of particularly aggressive necromancers were calling it home, and it took Hauk the rest of the night and the better part of the morning to clear them out. "Blast those zombies, they are too hard to kill" - he cursed, chewing on mandrake root again. Astral Vapours was a bane for mages as it stunted one's magicka flow, and every zombie there seemed to carry the disease. Finally feeling the familiar tingling of magicka in his fingertips, he spat out the rest of the bitter root and looked around for a place to rest before continuing on.

"One thing I'll say for necromancers" - he grinned, discovering their dining area, - "they do have good mead!"

He stretched out by the fire for a couple of hours to catch some sleep, but didn't eat anything - the heat seemed to make him lose his appetite. "There will be time for that later" - he told himself, getting up.

The furthest chamber of the fort appeared to be a dead end. With the ease of a long-standing habit, Hauk ran his hand along the embossed relief, found a hidden button, pushed it and saw the entire wall swing open revealing a passage beyond. A smell of fresh blood and old rotten flesh came rushing at him. "Ugh" - he grimaced. "But at least I'm in the right place."

Closing the door behind him, he descended into a system of caverns that seemed to house more skeletons than the necromancers had above them, except that the skeletons here were not animated. Each crevice was fenced off with prison bars - there was no where to run, and the skeletons weren't attempting it. A few iron maidens and stretching racks were placed around the room, chains were hanging off the walls in abundance.

Hauk walked from one cavern to the next, with the smell of fresh blood getting stronger as he went. Fresh blood stains started to appear, too. Moans were coming from the space ahead.

"Oh, there you are!" - Hauk greeted an Altmer sitting at a desk in the middle of a large cavern lined with prison cells. "I thought I'd find you here, Healer!"

"Animal!" - the Altmer looked up. "Welcome! Troubles again?" - he looked half-joking, half-concerned.

"Yeah, well, you know, the usual, some people just don't know where to stop" - Hauk grinned. "Any news?"

"None" - the Healer shook his head. "These ones won't talk or don't know anything, I can't figure out" - he jerked his head towards the prison cells - some of the prisoners were still alive.

"The Captain mentioned you could use some assistance" - Hauk grinned. "Are they..?"

"Picked up near the Oblivion gate where that unit was slaughtered" - the Altmer looked sad. "Those were good men. And they were not killed by the daedra!" He glared at the prisoners.

"Sword wounds?" - Hauk's eyes went hard.

"Swords and spears, mostly of a local make" - the Altmer nodded. "The same as what they carried" - he pointed at a heap of weapons in the corner.

"That doesn't prove anything though" - Hauk objected. "Everyone here carries this stuff. Did they say anything at all?" He walked over to the cells, peering through the bars. Some prisoners were listening in and looked back, others either didn't care or were already dead.

"They spit a lot" - the Altmer grimaced. "But this is not exactly my line of work..."

"No, Healer" - Hauk smiled and started removing his armour. "I've seen the equipment in the front rooms - have you got the elixirs ready?" The Altmer nodded. "Good, then let's not waste any time. We'll start with this one" - he pointed at a Bosmer cowering at the back of his cell. "Hello, darling! Starting to shake already? Tszt-tszt!"

"He hasn't had his sugar for two days now" - the Altmer unlocked the cell. "He's ready."

"No, it isn't the lack of sugar that makes him shake" - Hauk picked up the prisoner's chains, prodding the Bosmer to move. "Have you seen his eyes? He isn't a Bosmer."

"An Ohmes?" - the Altmer brought a torch close to the prisoner's face which made him cringe. "By the Nine, you are right! I feel foolish not to have noticed..." - he sighed. "I used all the wrong elixirs on him, no wonder he..."

"Which is why I prefer more universal methods" - Hauk nodded, lifting up the prisoner by the chains and fixing them to the ceiling. "Start from the ankles, then move up. Even the hardiest ones give up when we get to the groin. Tourniquet" - he stretched his hand and the Altmer handed him a piece of frayed rope. "Mmm, not the greatest, but it will do. Knife."

A trickle of yellow liquid ran down the prisoner's leg, some of it got on Hauk's hand.

"Remember me, do you?" - he stood up, shaking the liquid off his hand. "I said I'd find you eventually. So, what secrets do you have for me today?"

...

"Do you want him alive?" - the Altmer's hand hovered over a selection of vials. "Or are we done?"

"Alive" - nodded Hauk. "We'll take him back to the cell and he can tell the others all about his experience." He stood back and allowed the Altmer to inject the elixir into the prisoner's thigh. "He still has his feet, and perhaps he can convince the rest that they want to keep theirs too."

"He can't walk though" - the Altmer shook his head. "The Khajiit need their toes, even the Ohmes."

"I know" - Hauk grinned, hoisting the prisoner across his shoulder. "But I didn't cut all of them off. He'll adapt, eventually. He's done it before."

...

"It's been a while, Healer" - Hauk turned to the Altmer when they were sitting comfortably by the fire in a separate cavern. "Been keeping busy?"

"Oh, there's always work for someone like me" - the Altmer smiled, refilling his goblet. "Poisons and potions are ever in demand. But the Legion takes their dues, and I could not refuse when they called me here. Even though they really needed someone like you."

"I'm here now" - Hauk winked. "The Legion didn't take these attacks seriously at first, they thought simple alchemical stimulation would make these people talk. It works in everyday life, you know."

"Yeah, it's no longer everyday life, is it" - the Altmer clicked his tongue. "Reminds me of the Oblivion Crisis. We never had a lot of gates here in Elsweyr, the bandits and other lowlife overran these lands, not the daedra. And with the Legion being stretched thin..."

They sat looking into the fire, the Altmer thinking of the events two hundred years ago, Hauk thinking of much more recent events during the Great War.

"The Legion is stretched thin now again" - he noted. "There's unrest brewing, and the Elder Council is paralysed with fear" - he grimaced. "I'm off to Morrowind after this."

"Morrowind?" - the Altmer raised an eyebrow. "The Spy Master called?"

"Well, I never met the Spy Master personally" - Hauk opened another bottle of mead. "I hear he has a sugar problem?" - he grinned.

"That he does" - the Altmer nodded. "Which opens so many doors for him, you wouldn't believe. He's spending a lot of time in Riften now, too."

"Just over the border" - Hauk mused. "Of Cyrodiil, as well as Morrowind. Interesting."

That sat drinking in silence for a while.

"But he must be a very old man now" - Hauk said quietly. "Didn't he serve during the Morrowind Crisis already?"

"And he wasn't a young man then either" - the Altmer nodded. "That sugar is not just sugar, you know. But you didn't hear that from me."

Two old friends sat down for dinner. Nothing unusual about that.

4 Frostfall, 4E202 - The last day in Corinthe

Hauk returned to Corinthe just after dawn and found Lena missing. "Typical" - he thought to himself. "Leave her alone for a couple of days, and she'll be off all night exploring gods know what, most likely beneath the city." He was just about to pay for accommodation at the caravanserai, when the host assured him that the bed had been paid for a week in advance.

"Assuming you still want to share with her?" - he twitched his nose. "I haven't changed the sheets."

The bed wasn't the freshest, and Hauk thought he could smell death and sewers on it, but it was nothing like where he spent the last couple of days. He lay down and fell asleep immediately.

"Hrmph" - the host smirked to himself, poking his head into the common room. "They must be who people say they are."

...

Lena returned to the caravanserai just before midday, tired and ready for bed. She nodded to the host and went straight upstairs, pulling off her weapon belt going up. Hauk was still asleep, he looked tired and smelled of blood and poisons. Lena smiled, removed her boots and gauntlets and got into bed next to him. They'd need to find a bath house in the morning... err... whenever it was that they woke up.

...

Lena didn't sleep very long, just a few hours. She woke up to loud noises downstairs and poked her head to see what was going on.

"And I am telling you - he is an Imperial agent!" - a scruffy Khajiit was gesticulating wildly, pointing at Hauk. "A spy! A lowlife!"

"Well, now, contain yourself, J'rama" - the host was trying to calm him down, while Hauk was just standing there with a little smile on his face, clearly amused by the situation. "You can't just accuse every Nord of being an agent!"

"He's not just any Nord!" - J'rama grew more agitated still. "Can't you smell it? The blood!"

"Blood, eh?" - the host narrowed his eyes. "You should go back to that witch and ask for a refund!"

"So, my senses are better than yours!" - J'rama glared at him. "Call yourself a Khajiit! Ohmes are Bosmer!" - he spat.

Wow, that was the wrong thing to say. The host was at J'rama's throat in no time, and they tumbled on the ground, each trying to pin the other one down.

"What's it all about this time?" - a sleepy Redguard woman emerged from behind the screens. "They are always at each other's throats."

"Apparently I am an Imperial spy" - Hauk grinned at her.

"Oh, and are you?" - the Redguard winked. "Don't answer that. You are what you are and I'm not asking." She turned around and went back to sleep. This was another person who preferred to be active at night.

Lena pulled on her city clothes, picked up Hauk's robe and went downstairs.

"Here" - she pressed it against his chest. "Let's go. We have things to do." She went out, and Hauk followed.

"Where are we going?" - Hauk caught up with Lena who was walking briskly towards the gates leading into the Palace District.

"The Mages Guild" - she threw over her shoulder. "I have something for the Arch Mage."

"What have you been up to while I was away?" - Hauk stopped her. "Tell me first."

Lena sighed. "Oh, all right, I suppose it's for the best. Follow me." She turned into a side alley and held open a trapdoor. The sewers.

"So?" - Hauk asked impatiently once they descended.

"We can talk here" - Lena leaned against the wall. "A few things happened while you were away..."

...

"Wow, that explains a lot!" - Hauk whistled, looking through the book that Lena held before him. "I wonder what he's got to say about that!"

...

The business with the Arch Mage was concluded to Lena's and Hauk's satisfaction. It had no bearing on their respective assignments though, and Hauk disappeared into the Imperial Offices again to talk to the Captain. Lena was aimlessly strolling around waiting for him.

"Hello" - Raevus Palenix approached her with a smile. "That was quite a storm you raised at the Guild. Your reputation is well deserved, I see."

"Well, I just can't help it sometimes" - Lena smiled back at this attractive young Imperial. He reminded her of someone... "So, you're still talking to me, then?"

"Oh, I have no love for this establishment" - he scowled. "Can I come with you?"

"Come with me where?" - Lena was taken aback.

"Wherever you are going!" - Raevus beamed at her.

Lena looked over his rich clothing and his handsome, well-groomed appearance and shook her head with doubt.

"Do you actually know what you are asking?" - she asked, trying to sound friendly. "Do you know what I do? Where I spend my time? Whom I frequent?"

"I do, actually, Sister" - he smiled, pulling out an amulet from under the collar of his tunic. The Cruelty's Heart.

"Well, in that case, surely you don't need to stay with them" - she looked in the direction of the Mages Guild. "Unless there is a problem?"

"Yes, well, there is" - Raevus admitted. "I wondered if you could put in a good word for me... seeing how I gave you a hint?" He looked hopeful.

"What is the problem?" - Lena looked stern.

"I... well... killed someone I shouldn't have" - he sighed.

"It's a sin, but they would not have kicked you out for this" - Lena shook her head. "Continue."

"Gosh, you are a Silencer" - he looked at her in awe. "And I stole some scrolls."

"And?"

"And... what, is this not enough?"

"What else have you done?" This was clearly the last warning, and Raevus melted before her.

"Nothing else, but I've done it several times... I've fought the wraith, I'm not worried about that... I just want to be accepted back" - he pleaded with her.

"Well, it's not up to me, is it" - Lena was cold as ice. "Your Speaker will make his decision. Oh, he already has? Well then, it's out of my hands. I didn't realise we allowed Brothers to quit."

"We don't" - Reavus went pale. "Which is why I need to leave."

The further this conversation progressed, the more Lena was perplexed by it. Was any of it true? She couldn't decide. And why would she want to help this fellow, if he was breaking tenets left and right? Yet something about him was intriguing. Lucien had warned her not to reveal her membership with the Brotherhood to anyone, but this fellow already knew it... she wondered how he knew, who he was really... and was that amulet actually his or did he steal it too? Steal it or worse...

"So what you are really asking for is protection" - Lena was looking down at him. "I am no bodyguard."

"No, I was foolish to ask..." - he looked dejected and turned to leave, nearly bumping into Hauk.

"What's the matter?" - Hauk stopped him.

"Optio" - Raevus smiled with sadness and walked away.

Hauk looked at Lena with a question in his eyes.

"He says he broke the tenets several times and they kicked him out" - she offered, still looking at Raevus standing by the pool. "He's got the Cruelty's Heart, and if it's his, he is not a novice. We do not allow people above novices to quit, and he seems to be afraid for his life - he wanted to come with me!" - she smirked. "He knew my rank which is strange..."

"So you said no" - Hauk too was looking at Raevus. "There's more to him than meets the eye."

Lena nodded - she made up her mind, throwing caution to the wind, as usual. She walked over to Raevus.

"Go to Orcrest" - she spoke and his face lit up. "Find the Brotherhood Crypt, say your prayers. Who knows. Mind the local mercenaries - I think there's an imposter group. I don't know how to find the Sanctuary there. Survive. I'll be back for you, then we'll see."

"Orcrest..." - he smirked. "You are sending an Imperial to Orcrest!"

"Well, you survived the wraith that was set onto you, and you so far evaded the assassins, so you must have some skills. Improvise. This is not an absolution, Brother."

This offer was final, and Raevus bowed his head.

"I shall wait for you in Orcrest, Silencer - find me in the Crypt."

...

"So, what else have you been up to? Surely, that wasn't all" - Hauk was stretching in a full-size bath tub, scrubbing away the grime of the last few days. Lena was blowing bubbles in another tub - they finally found the bath house.

"What do you mean - surely it wasn't all?" - she looked at him quite innocently. "I thought that was plenty!"

"Oh come on, I know you!" - Hauk laughed. "There's a hole of 36 hours in your story."

"Well, I..." - Lena laughed awkwardly. "I got arrested."

Hauk's bellowing laugh sounded through the whole of Market District, if not further. Some heads turned, shook and sniggered.

"I... might have wanted to see what their dungeons were like" - Lena said tentatively. "Or who was in them. So I attacked someone in the street and went to jail. That was interesting."

"Interesting?" - Hauk smirked. "More interesting than your stay at the Imperial City Prison some two hundred years ago?"

"Well, no, not quite as dramatic as that" - Lena grinned. "But they have quite a varied selection of prisoners here, and no cells."

"No cells?" - Hauk looked up. "And the prisoners don't escape?"

"No, they can't. There's no way out. When you are due for release, the guards open up a manhole in the ceiling, shout your name, and if you are quick enough to appear, they throw you a rope and pull you out. They might try it a few times if you don't appear immediately, but after that they just give up. Most people rot there for the rest of their lives." Lena shuddered.

"Wow, that's decisive" - Hauk whistled. "And you can't pay your fine here either, only bribe the guard. But that's devolution for you - the Empire does not dictate its member states how to handle their prisoners." He contemplated the soap for a while. "So, did you meet anyone of interest down there?"

"The ones who hadn't lost hope yet, tend to stay close to the manholes - no one knows when they'd be due for release because it's impossible to tell the passage of time down there. But the ones that gave up, retreat to the back reaches of the dungeon, and lead a life of their own."

"Meaning?"

"They are cannibals."

"Oh!" - Hauk looked at Lena with worry. "And?"

"My wraith had a lot of fun chasing after them" - she smirked.

"Namira won't be happy about that! She protects them." Hauk looked at Lena with significance. "Remember Skyrim."

"Well, she wasn't there, was she?" - Lena replied with defiance. "And I didn't kill them all. I bet the survivors are grateful to me for all the fresh food they've got now."

"I think you should avoid getting arrested in the future" - Hauk said casually. "Next time it could be vampires, you never know. They might enjoy a slice of a juicy young mortal like yourself."

Hysterical laughter emanating from the bath house caused a few more heads to turn, but the bustle of the Corinthe market soon drowned out the noise. Lena and Hauk would be leaving on the morrow.


~~~~~~~~~
The business with the Arch Mage is a part of a new quest to appear in the next release of Elsweyr Mysteries. So I am not revealing anything about that!

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Feb 7 2022, 02:12 PM

4 Frostfall, 4E202 - Corinthe bath house

"D'ya know what I find so str-hic-range?" Hauk kicked another empty bottle of sujamma. "We're in Elsw-wweyr, yet that's from Morrowind!"

"I d-don't mind," Lena giggled, taking another sip from her own sujamma bottle. "We don't discri-... mmm... -criminate?"

Sujamma-induced hilarity filled Corinthe bath house.

"Better not get into any ffffights now," Hauk shook his head. "I think there's thr-ree of you over there."

"But w-which one d'ya like best?" Lena laughed and sank under the water.

Hauk stared at her bathtub for a while, but as Lena wasn't coming up, he started getting worried, even through all the sujamma he'd consumed.

"Hey, c'm'n now, that's long enough!" He called, but Lena stayed under water. "Wh't'f'?" He swore and shook his head again, then cast a spell to try and clear at least some of the alcohol out of his system. The room stopped spinning. Hauk got out of his tub and walked over to Lena's. He could see her shape under water, but there were no bubbles coming up and she wasn't moving... "Hey!" He lifted her up, ready to push the water out of her lungs.

"Hmmm?" Lena opened her eyes, finding herself in Hauk's arms. "Wassss'up?"

"Phew," Hauk breathed out, setting her down on the rug. "You scared me."

"Why? With what?" Lena seemed to have sobered up too. "What did I do?"

"I thought you drowned!" He looked at her with worry and reproach. "You were drunk and I didn't see you cast any waterbreathing spells."

"Ah, but look at this," Lena stretched her neck to show a patch of skin covered in Argonian scales. "I did cast that spell."

"Gills," Hauk rubbed her neck as the spell started to wear off. "But I didn't see..."

"I was brought up by an Argonian, remember?" Lena smiled. "My grandma - my adoptive grandma - drilled it into me from an early age. I grow gills as soon as I enter the water now, quite subconsciously."

"That's..." Hauk was still examining the spot on Lena's neck where the gills were a few moments ago. "That's not how the rest of us do it, though." He cast a waterbreathing spell onto himself, but his appearance didn't change - there were no gills on his neck. "I can breathe under water now, but I didn't grow any new body parts."

"Oh..." It was Lena's turn to be surprised. "Wait..." She dispelled Hauk's waterbreathing spell, then cast one onto him herself. Still, Hauk had no gills on his neck.

"It feels the same, it's the same spell as what I use," he said. "But it isn't the same one that you cast automatically."

"Hmm... What I cast on you was the spell that Deetsan taught me back at the Guild," Lena mused. "Remember that awful story about the drowned associate?" Hauk nodded. "Well, Deetsan wanted to make sure I wasn't another one... She couldn't know of course that I already could breathe under water."

"Deetsan taught you the standard spell," Hauk nodded. "She herself being an Argonian, has no need of it, of course. But what your grandmother taught you with the gills - that's different. How do you do it?"

"I..." Lena tried to imagine herself casting that spell. It was indeed different. "I... don't actually cast any spells," she finally realised. "I transform." She paused, thinking of something. "Geralt is a werewolf, did you know that?" She suddenly asked.

"Yes, he told me," Hauk nodded. "Not just any werewolf though, he can transform at will. Or not transform even under full moon. He thought it was brought about by the witcher mutations."

"No, we have it from our father," Lena said slowly. "He was marked by Hircine for the Great Hunt of the Third Era, and we thought it was because he was Dragonborn. But may be there's more."

"How do you know this?" Hauk was listening intently, completely sober now.

"Skyrim..." Lena was transported in her thoughts to that day when she and Geralt saw a ghost of their father deliver a message to them in the Crystal Chasm near Falkreath. "Father left messages in Jyggalag's crystals for us, we found one of them. Geralt said he felt Hircine's call too, for the Great Hunt of our era. Skyrim is overrun with werewolves in preparation for the Hunt."

"Yes, I noticed the werewolves," Hauk nodded, ignoring the humour of his understatement. "But the Blood Moon hasn't risen yet."

"No," Lena was thoughtful too. "Geralt said it could be a while still... I am not sure how he knew, he just did. He said he would go to Solstheim when it was time."

"Hircine must have spoken to him," Hauk said firmly. "Like Molag Bal speaks to you - in your head. But you are not a werewolf... and I don't think your father was one, not from birth anyway. So what exactly did you inherit from him?"

"The ability to transform, according to Geralt," Lena looked straight at Hauk. "He thinks this is why I picked up vampirism so easily, this is why it wasn't cleared by the Witch's Potion, and this is why I am still... well... not rid of it."

"May be," Hauk didn't seem convinced. "But again, your father wasn't a vampire, and you do not transform at will. He was Dragonborn, which doesn't mean he could transform into a dragon."

"No, indeed," Lena nodded. "It allows us to learn the dragon language easily, that's all... Well, may be not all... We consume dragon souls, too. We absorb them."

"And how does that work, exactly?"

"You're asking me?" Lena looked up. "I have no idea! It just happens... I feel this surge of energy, and words in the dragon language rush through my mind, and I suddenly know what they mean... But it doesn't make me grow wings or talons!"

"But it does make you breathe fire," Hauk interjected. "Have you learned that one yet?" Lena nodded. "How do you do that?"

"Stop asking me questions I cannot answer!" Lena exclaimed half-annoyed, half-laughing. "It just happens!"

"Well, there must be more to it than 'just happens'," Hauk wasn't satisfied. "But if you don't know, then you don't know. This ends the interrogation," he winked at her and smiled.

"Oh, I'd like to have those answers too," Lena smiled back at him. "There's so much that doesn't add up here - about Geralt, me and our father, together and separately. And why do I feel that Father might still live... Geralt doesn't believe it, but I just know it..."

"Geralt isn't Dragonborn, you are," Hauk pointed out. "May be that matters. I guess time will tell."

Thinking about Geralt made Lena wistful - she missed him. She missed Skyrim too, a stark contrast to the hot sands of Elsweyr. But she was only half way through her assignment and they had to go further South still. She got up, sighed, and started clearing up the mess of empty sujamma bottles in the bath house.

"I am going to Morrowind after this," Hauk said suddenly. "After we're done in Elsweyr, that is," he clarified. "I shall be gone for a long time. I may not be back in time for when you give birth."

"Oh, I'll miss you," Lena hugged him. "How soon will you leave?"

"Right after your wedding," he looked into her eyes and kissed her softly. "Lucien will look after you and the newborn."

She smiled at him. "Yes, I have no doubt. But I still think the child is yours."

"Then I'd better stay alive in case you're right," he grinned. "And try to keep the babe's future uncle out of trouble too."

"Are you going to Solstheim?" Lena exclaimed in surprise.

"Not in the first instance, I have business on Vvardenfell... But when the Blood Moon rises, things will change."

"You too..?"

"No, but I can recognise the White Wolf even when he transforms. And I too want answers about Wolf Asgarsen, for your sake, if anything." Hauk started getting dressed, indicating that the topic was closed.

"So you too believe that the child is yours," Lena watched him, suddenly realising that he must have known it for a long time.

"I do," he nodded. "As does Lucien. But he will raise him, nevertheless."

"Him? It's a boy? How do you know?" Lena was still standing in the middle of the bath house, barely dressed. Everyone seemed to know more about her pregnancy than she did herself.

"If it's mine, it's a boy," Hauk grinned. "Runs in the family."

"Wishful thinking," Lena murmured and proceeded with getting dressed. "Men," she added to herself, not quite knowing what she meant by that. She wished her grandmother was still alive... she didn't remember her mother... and now that she was going to be a mother herself, she suddenly felt apprehensive about it. "Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it," she told herself, brushing away the anguish. The child in her belly turned, and she suddenly realised that that bridge was already behind her - her motherhood started the moment she decided to keep her pregnancy. She froze. She wasn't ready yet!

"You're doing fine," Hauk whispered in her ear, hugging her from behind. He noticed her standing there in the middle of the room with a hand on her belly and a look of horror on her face, and guessed what was going on. "Being a mother doesn't make you stop being yourself," he said, turning her around. "You're still a mage, an assassin, an adventurer, explorer of Ayleid ruins and slayer of monsters," he smiled. "And a woman. You don't stop being any of that."

"Thanks," Lena smiled, relaxing. "I don't know what came over me."

Hauk released his embrace, letting things fall into place again. It was good to get back to normal.

6 Frostfall, 4E202 - Scorpion fever

"Snow, we need more snow! There's not enough snow!"

Lena woke up on a beach in Southern Anequina, Hauk was tossing in his sleep next to her. His forehead felt hot.

"Uh-oh," Lena shook her head. "He's coming down with a fever."

Hauk was never ill. He could swim in a frozen river, then walk for miles in wet clothing, get hit by poisoned arrows, bitten by rabid wolves, and yet with a flick of his wrist he'd cast a healing spell, and be right as rain again. But here under the hot sun of Elsweyr, he got the fever... What was Lena to do?

"The cities here have no Temples of the Nine," she was thinking with regret. "Most don't even have any Temples at all," she sighed. "And there's no mandrake root..." She fumbled in her bag, finding a shrivelled piece that wouldn't yield any juice for Hauk to drink - he would have to chew on it and hope for at least some healing effect. "Out here, on the beach, far from everything... Not something I anticipated..." She threw a knife at an approaching red sand crab, hitting it at the base of its neck and killing it instantly. "At least lunch comes right to you," she smirked, retrieving her knife and preparing to roast the crab along with several others that she killed earlier. Hauk was partial to crab meat.

The sun was rising, and with it the breeze was getting warmer. Hauk was lying under a palm tree and some shrubs, and although they shielded him from the sun, he was still overheating. Cold sweat was gathering on his forehead in big beads that would swell, then melt and drip down into the sand, only to be replaced by new beads of sweat... He started thrashing, he was having a nightmare or a feverish delusion - Lena wasn't sure that his state could be described as "sleep".

"Salah..?" Lena could make out some of his disjointed speech. "Your Aunt... The medicine..." The rest was incomprehensible, but the thrashing got worse. "Sailors, they were sailors..." Lena cast a mild frost spell on Hauk and he calmed down a bit. "Cool, dark, looks fun..." The tone of his voice changed, it was calmer, more relaxed. "Scorpions... You filth!!"

Suddenly he sat up, awake.

"Huh?" He looked around, wiping off his forehead. "I was dreaming..." he smiled at Lena. "I got poisoned yesterday," he loosened the belt on his trousers, dropping them just enough to reveal an angry wound on his hip. "See, it's not healing. Scorpions. I don't do scorpions."

"Scorpions?" Lena noticed that the edges of Hauk's wound were black - it wasn't a fresh wound, yet she'd never seen it before. "But there are no scorpions here..."

"Not here - in Antaloor. A tar scorpion pinched me there... they are poisonous, but also magically corrupt, so the wound never heals. Yeah, you didn't see it before... It goes in remission, a bit like your vampirism. But when I get poisoned with something similar, it reappears, bright and angry..." He swore with resentment. "Some creature poisoned me yesterday, or may be some plant - there's a lot of strange stuff around here..." He glared at the surrounding palm trees. "Put some ice onto it, will you?"

Lena cast another frost spell and watched the ice crystals form and melt on the wound.

"So what do we do?" Lena looked at Hauk with worry - she had no idea how to treat something like that.

"Nothing, it will pass," Hauk sighed. "The fever will rise and fall a few times, then eventually it will subside. Don't pay any attention to what I might say when I'm rolling around with it," he winked. "None of it is true... Isn't it what you assassins say?" Sweat started gathering on his forehead again. "Here it comes." He lay down and braced for another nightmare.

"Yes," Lena said softly, realising that Hauk was getting delirious again. "Nothing is true. Everything is permitted." She got nightshade extract out of a secret compartment of her bag, poured some into Hauk's mouth, swallowed the rest herself. Using her silver dagger, she sliced into the black flesh of Hauk's festering wound - a drop of dark coloured blood appeared on the surface. She bit into the cut and drank deeply. The world around her started to spin - she was falling into the Void, taking Hauk with her.

...

"You don't have the Sight," a man with a strange pale face and almost blank eyes was speaking with a shallow, echoing voice. "The Swallows will kill you."

"Yet I have to try," a tall, broad shouldered man insisted. "I must find out what happened."

"Well, if you must..." The pale man seemed to look right into Hauk's soul. "I can give you the Sight. Which eye do you want to sacrifice?"

Sharp pain seared through Hauk's skull as Eric was cutting into his eye. Yet besides the pain, there was something else... It wasn't just his flesh that Eric was cutting. "Once you get the Sight, you will never be able to lose it, and you will want to," several people had warned Hauk. "The curse of Sight is that seeing is believing." Hauk didn't understand it at the time.

The visions came and went. The Sight allowed Hauk to see shadows of what once was, in places where something of importance had happened. A memory would linger if the event involved strong emotions or a lot of magic. At first he thought that he was seeing ghosts, but then he realised that some of the people in the visions he had met, so they were not dead and those were not their ghosts. "Seeing is believing" meant that he now knew the truth, knew what really happened in Antaloor some twenty five years ago - a huge magical explosion ripping through that space, devastating the larger part of the island he was on, creating a corrupt forest known as the Swallows. What was once a tropical island became a dark and warped jungle filled with mutated beasts, demons and other creatures that he didn't know how to classify. Yet the Swallows wasn't without human habitation. The people who lived there, were affected by the magical corruption as well - their skin was unnaturally pale, their eyes almost blank, their voices strangely hollow, and they had the Sight. These people moved through the darkness like shadows, blending with their surroundings, surprising Hauk more than once with their sudden appearance. They did not congratulate him on gaining the Sight, rather they commiserated with him - some truths were best left unknown.

It was there, in the dark forest of the Swallows that Hauk got pinched by a tar scorpion. Tar scorpions were common there - they were once the regular giant scorpions native to Antaloor, but the magic explosion corrupted them, turning their chitin black. They were just as poisonous as their regular cousins, and that alone could kill a man, assuming one avoided getting one's head clipped clean off with those razor sharp pincers. But on top of that, tar scorpions spread magical corruption, so any wound they inflicted, would never heal. Every resurgence of the poisonous fever sent Hauk back to Antaloor, back to the Swallows, the caves, the swamps and the towers filled with anguish and suffering that he was forced to see through the power of the Sight. It was a curse indeed.

...

"Which way?" A strangely familiar young woman appeared next to Hauk. "Which way to the scorpion cave?"

"What?" Hauk spun around. "What scorpion cave? What are you talking about? Who are you? Wait... I see..." A vision of the gates of Sovngarde made Hauk stop. "That... hasn't happened yet."

"And this isn't Antaloor," Lena said softly. "We must find the cave where you got poisoned, I must try to stop the corruption."

"That won't be easy," Hauk smirked. "But there's no point in arguing, is there?"

"None," Lena confirmed. "Now, which way?"

The Swallows wasn't an easy area to cross, and its version within the Void wasn't any different. As a mortal, Lena still could not navigate the Void, but her repeated outings had taught her at least how to find the island that she wanted. The nightshade extract and Hauk's corrupted blood helped her to get in, even if she wasn't entirely sure how to get out. Something would come up, she argued. It always did.

"I don't know which way," Hauk was apologetic. "It happened more than once... There are a lot of tar scorpions here! Well, there were, in Antaloor. What do you intend to do?"

"I don't know," it was Lena's turn to be apologetic. "Something will come up."

She turned and started walking before Hauk could stare her down.

"Watch out!" She barely took two steps and got hit by something green and slimy. It stang like acid, eating away at her skin. Stingers. Elephant-sized mosquitoes with an acid spit. "You won't last here this way!" Hauk screamed, pushing Lena behind a rock. "This isn't Tamriel!" He raised his staff and cast a spell, summoning a giant spider that promptly attacked the nearest stinger. He cast another spell sending a missile through the air that exploded behind the largest stinger summoning three spiders there. When the total number of legs reached a hundred, he crouched behind the rock next to Lena. "Let me see that acid burn," he opened up her collar to expose the area, took a vial from his bag and smeared the viscous liquid over the burn. The stinging stopped.

"This is the wrong way around," Lena smiled. "I'm supposed to be saving you... and you're supposed to be delirious with fever." She looked at his attire - a robe like she'd never seen before, a heavy staff that looked more like a blunt weapon than a magical instrument, a sword on one hip, a dagger on the other.


"I didn't know you could summon giant spiders," she pointed at the battle of multi-legged creatures that was still raging just ahead.

"Well, now you do," Hauk smiled at her. "These are very mean poisonous ones, native to here... They don't turn up in Tamriel. Stay behind this rock," he looked at her sternly. "There's a Colossus up ahead."

Lena looked where Hauk was pointing but saw nothing but some twisted branches. Then the branches grew bigger, turned into a tree with a vaguely humanoid shape, the tree was now marching towards them, swinging its massive arms... Hauk shot a missile from his staff, fire, Lena thought, that staggered the Colossus for a moment, long enough for Hauk to get close. Another fireball, and then... he spun around and hit the Colossus with his staff - the heavy crystal on its top end was not just for focussing magic. Another hit, and the Colossus fell to his feet.

"What are you doing?" Lena couldn't stay behind the rock and was now crouching next to Hauk who was cutting into the Colossus' trunk with his dagger. "That heart is still beating!" She exclaimed with horror seeing what Hauk was stashing into his bag. "But why? We won't be staying here! Not long enough to indulge in alchemy, anyway!"

"May be not," Hauk looked weary. "But I want to make sure he doesn't get up," he kicked it suspiciously. "Come on - that way."

There was a path before them, a clearing of sorts where the bushes weren't as dense as elsewhere. Lena thought she could even see cobblestones.

"This was a road once," Hauk confirmed. "There is a ruin of a temple over there," he pointed at an area darker than the rest. "But let's not go there, this is where the explosion happened... I'd rather not relive it again," he added, his brow furrowed. The Sight was manifesting itself.

"Where are we going?" Lena was surprised that Hauk suddenly knew where to go.

"That way," he waved in the general direction of forward. "There are... things... if anything... may be that..." He was muttering, not making any sense to Lena, and she was hoping he was making sense to himself. This was no time to come down with a delirious fever.

"Watch out!" Hauk yelled again, pulling Lena to the side so hard, she nearly fell. A man of sorts stood where she was a moment ago, his sword drawn, and he was lunging at her... Suddenly time stood still. Every sound was hushed, Lena's limbs felt mushy and lifeless, she was being pulled to the side, thrown to the ground, out of reach of the man's sword. She saw Hauk spinning with his staff outstretched, felling several such men in one twirl. They fell to the ground, but they were not dead, far from it, they were rising, two, three, six of them... A bolt of some dark energy was flying towards Lena and Hauk, there must be a mage a little further away... Slow motion seized as suddenly as it began, the air was ripping with the sounds of lightning, screams, taunts, animal noises. Six men in black armour were rushing at Lena and Hauk, their swords, maces and spears pointing at them. "Fire! Use fire!" Hauk screamed, casting fireballs and spinning his staff, aiming at their heads. Lena caught herself, summoned a clannfear, but the spell failed - it wasn't Tamriel. She swore, drawing her sword, casting a fire shield, all in one motion. The man nearest to her was already lunging, no time to block, damn that footwork - Geralt was right! She was nearly tripping over her own feet now... Some assassin! Oh wait... assassin...

Invisibility did work. Her attacker's lunge found its target though, and Lena felt the trickle of blood running along her side, yet she felt no pain... Strange... But at the same time she felt empty... "Is that how a victim feels when a famished vampire sucks them dry?" She wondered. Her disappearance disoriented her attacker for a moment, he stopped, looking around, then noticed Hauk who was fighting three others. "No!" Lena thought with defiance. "Not like this!" She lunged, aiming for the man's heart. Her sword made contact, and the man fell, but was his chest empty? The sword ran through him and Lena didn't feel his heart. At that moment another bolt of that dark energy hit Lena, and she felt emptier still, her will faultering.

"An assassin fights with his will as much as with his weapon," she recalled Altair's words. "You must always act to your greatest advantage." Right. Act to your greatest advantage, not rush into battle against overwhelming odds and get slaughtered. The mage.

The mage was standing behind a rock shooting spells from cover. There was no way for Hauk to shoot back, even if he wasn't fighting several others already. He was getting pale, Lena noticed, and grey somehow... Were those bolts of dark energy doing that? But she had no time to think about it. She had no magicka left for another invisibility spell, so she crouched and moved towards the mage, keeping to the bushes. She hoped her footwork would not fail her now.

The mage was too tall for her to reach his heart from crouching, and she hoped that his kidney would do. He wasn't wearing armour, just robes. She thrust her dagger into his side and drove it under his ribs. He stopped casting, staggered and fell, but he wasn't dead, he went for his dagger. This was going to be a messy battle.

Hauk realised that the casting had stopped, shrugged off the remaining effects of the hostile spells and finished the last attacker with simple decapitation. He looked around. Six Vidons were littering the ground, but something was going on behind the rock... Huffs and puffs, moans and swears, cries of pain and then silence. Somebody won. He hoped it was Lena.

He moved slowly, leaning heavily onto his staff. The Vidons were not to be trifled with, and he didn't come away unscathed. It took him a few minutes to walk the short stretch to the rock behind which Lena and the mage had their fight, behind which they both still lay. He heard movement, then quiet swearing... too high-pitched for a Vidon, he realised with relief. Lena was cleaning her dagger on the mage's robes, and it wasn't an easy task.

"Does this blood ever come off?" She shot a glance at Hauk, taking in his battered condition. "Sit down," she patted a small rock next to her. "We won't be going anywhere for a while. What were they?"

"Vidons," Hauk replied, dropping heavily onto the rock. "Very dangerous. They come from under the earth - through the earth. They have no hearts or souls, they are neither dead nor alive. Tall, strong, hard to kill. Their mages are the worst... They drain your soul."

"Tar scorpions seem warm and cuddly in comparison," Lena smiled.

"Yeah..." Hauk shot her a glance. "You shouldn't be here. This is my burden to bear. I had to have the Sight... I had been warned. It cannot be undone. It isn't the tar scorpion's poison that pulls me here, it's the Sight."

"So, I cannot save you," Lena said softly. "I was foolish and rash, I didn't think. I didn't ask. I thought I knew it all." She stared before her, keeping her hand on that wound in her side that was still bleeding. "And now... we might both perish here."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is an account of real events seen in Two Worlds II.

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Feb 20 2022, 09:50 AM

That was really exciting. Had me on the edge of my seat at the end.

6 Frostfall, 4E202 - Castle Vahkmaar

"Well, darling, welcome home!" Hauk was thrown down the stairs in a dingy dungeon, a cell gate lock clicked behind him. "Long time no see!" The guards' laughter was mocking. "Oh, watch yourself - don't want bruising that pretty face again."

It was best not to reply, and Hauk didn't.

"Here's another one," another guard was leading the second prisoner, a young woman, bound and gagged. "She spits a lot," he explained apologetically.

"What are we to do with her?" The first two guards looked confused, although there was no shortage of empty cells in the dungeon. "There was only supposed to be the one prisoner!"

"I don't know, lock her up!" The newcomer was getting annoyed. "It's a jail, isn't it?" He pushed the woman into a cell and kicked the door shut. The lock clicked.

"Now what did you do that for?!" The two resident guards glared at him. "We've got no keys to that door!"

"Who cares?" The newcomer shrugged. "She'll rot in here anyway." He looked sternly at them and left.

"She'll rot in here now, that's for sure," the guard who was mocking Hauk previously, turned to look at the woman in the cell. "Such a shame. Come here, I'll untie your hands at least," he added, addressing the woman.

Lena approached, extending her hands through the bars. The guard wasn't a monster, just a soldier like many others. Not a proper jailor either, she noted. He untied her hands and removed her gag. "Don't spit at me," he smiled. "Although I can see why you'd want to spit at the others. We'll see if we can get you some food..." he shot a glance at the other guard. "There isn't enough food for two, you see," he continued explaining. "And darling in the other cell is supposed to be well fed," he glared at Hauk. "Well, he'll just have to go a little less well fed than usual, won't he?"

"They'll have our heads if they ever notice," the other guard objected. "I say we let the girl starve. They never told us what to do with her. She can have water, but nothing else."

The guards left.

...

Once Lena and Hauk recovered somewhat from that tough battle against the Vidons in the Swallows, Hauk insisted they should find shelter and rest, even though Lena kept telling him that they were not in real Antaloor, that this was a pocket of the Void, and normal rules did not apply.

"May be you are right, but can you walk?" Hauk interrupted the flood of reasons why they shouldn't be resting. "Didn't think so," he pointed at the bleeding wound in her side. "This needs bandaging up, you need rest, whichever world this is, or else you'll be dead within the hour. Come on." He helped her up and pointed at a door hidden between the branches. "This shouldn't be too hard. There may be some creatures inside, but nothing we can't handle."

The door led to a disused training room. It was indeed infested by some giant multi-legged wildlife, but Hauk summoned a few spiders and they cleared it all up. There was no food, but they found some water, although it didn't look fresh. "Good enough," Hauk tasted it and passed it to Lena. "Now, let's see that wound of yours..."

It didn't take long, and they were both asleep on the old beds of whichever guild used to call this place home. In Antaloor, they would have woken up in exactly the same room a few hours later, but this wasn't Antaloor.

...

"What was all that about?" Lena peered through the bars - Hauk's cell was a bit further away. "Darling? They know you?"

"The real guards know me, yes," Hauk was testing the strength of the bars. "But this isn't Castle Vahkmaar. We went to sleep in the old training room in the Swallows, we woke up in a torture chamber of Castle Vahkmaar dungeons, and I wouldn't even be surprised at that, but the scene that just played out, happened long before I ever knew that Swallows even existed... In fact, the reason they kept me well fed... Well, let's just say, that reason had been dead for many years now! Time doesn't flow in a straightforward fashion in the Void, does it?" He sighed.

"Time has no meaning here at all," Lena nodded. "The question is how to get out of here. And once we're out, you can tell me all about the reason you were being well fed," she winked, but Hauk was too far to notice.

"Well, last time I got out..." Hauk started saying, then interrupted himself, hearing distant footsteps - those were not the guards. "Why, what do you know..." he muttered.

"Time to go," a slender Orc vixen was fiddling with the lock on his door. "Hurry and make no noise - I didn't kill them all."


The lock clicked and she was just about to turn around and run, when Hauk caught her by the arm, pulling her close.

"Dar-Pha..."

Lena couldn't see what was happening, but the sounds of shuffling, a stifled surprise and deeply felt moans were clear enough.

"You?" Hauk was speaking very softly, but sound carried in those old dungeons. "Is it really you or is it your shadow? Your eye! What happened to your eye?"

"It's really me, and never mind the eye," Dar-Pha whispered back. "Which demon brought you here? It wasn't for this that we pulled you out back then!" She sounded angry. "And this isn't Antaloor - it will be harder this time!"

"Dar-Pha..." Hauk didn't seem to be listening. "It's been so long..."

"Wrong place!" She tried to sound stern but wasn't succeeding. "There will be time for it later."

No, Hauk wasn't listening. When the sounds of reunion finally stopped, the conversation continued.

"The demon that brought me here is locked up in the other cell," Hauk answered the question. "Don't be too hard on her though..." But Dar-Pha was already fiddling with the lock on Lena's door. The door swung open, and Lena faced two black eyes burning right through her. One living eye, and the other... there was something wrong with it, she realised.

"I see," Dar-Pha nodded to Lena. "Well, come on. We can talk later."

Dar-Pha led them through a maze of corridors, some dark, some flooded, some covered in the slime of bodily fluids... Then suddenly they stood on a marble-clad spiral staircase looking at an impressive door of wrought iron.

"Through here," Dar-Pha threw over her shoulder, fiddling with the lock.

"No, Dar-Pha, not this time," Hauk stopped her. "The others are not with you, are they?"

"We know what's on the other side of this door! We have no time to stand here and discuss it like a committee! Many people gave their lives for this information, and I'd rather their sacrifice was not in vain!" She was about to resume fiddling with the lock, when Hauk grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.

"Snap out of it, Dar-Pha!" He said with urgency. "This was what happened then. You don't need to lecture me again," he smiled.

She froze for a moment, piercing him with her gaze. If looks could kill, this vixen would have had no need of her dagger. She relaxed, anger replaced by worry.

"Right. Yes, you are right. We are replaying the same story," she looked around, as if seeing it for the first time. "But there's three of us now, and this isn't Antaloor," she looked at Lena. "Why did you bring him here?"

"I thought we had no time to discuss things like a committee!" Lena started tentatively. She wasn't sure what to think of Dar-Pha, but if it was an argument that Dar-Pha wanted, Lena was happy to oblige.

At that point they were both proven right as the doors swung open and six soldiers poured into the staircase, swords at the ready, with archers at the back. No time for a committee debate indeed!

"Run!!!" Dar-Pha yelled, diving head first into the crowd of soldiers, pushing them out of the way and disappearing around the corner somewhere ahead. Lena and Hauk followed.

"Where did she go?" Lena hit a marble wall at the end of the corridor, but there was no sight of Dar-Pha. Hauk was there though.

"There are side corridors off this main one," he turned around. "She must have turned off, but I didn't see where to..."

At this point the soldiers caught up with them and a hot fight ensued. It was still no time for discussions.

The soldiers had razor sharp heavy longswords, shields, maces and daggers and they where wearing armour. Their archers at the back where shooting fire arrows. Lena and Hauk were dressed in prison rags and had no weapons - this wasn't a fair fight. Yet the soldiers seemed careful not to kill them, or at least not to kill Hauk - they didn't care what happened to Lena, she noticed. Without his staff, Hauk couldn't do much magic, yet he managed to summon a skeleton - weak in itself, it still provided a distraction, and the nearest soldier stopped in surprise. Hauk knocked over his own skeleton, picking up its mace and smashed the skull of the soldier. They now had weapons.

With their backs to the wall, and without much room to manoeuvre, it didn't look good. The soldiers put up their shields, blocking all attacks. Lena cast paralysis a few times, it bought her a little time, but it was a costly spell to cast and her magicka wasn't returning as fast as usual. Still, she got to the archers, crouched, and took out her dagger. "An assassin always acts to the greatest advantage," she thought to herself. Without the fire arrows raining down on him, Hauk was making better progress with the soldiers.

"That's the last of them," Dar-Pha put away her own dagger when the last archer was dead. "Take the left flank, I'll take the right." This was an order and Lena obeyed.

"Finally!" An Orc with a massive sword appeared from a side corridor just when the last soldier dropped to the floor with a thump. "We started getting worried."


"Rogdor?" Hauk looked up. It seemed the scene from long ago was still playing.

"What? You? And who is this?" Rogdor took in the view and focussed on Lena. "Is she..? No. She shouldn't be here." Then evidently dismissing her, he turned to Hauk. "Come on. As disappointing as it is to do it again, we have to keep moving."

He too was proven right as more soldiers appeared behind him.

"Will it never end?!" Hauk yelled, this time holding his own in the battle that followed.

"You are in a better shape this time," Rogdor grinned, shaking the blood off his sword. "We might even pull off plan A." And without another word, he ran ahead, with Hauk, Lena and Dar-Pha following.

"This is all wrong," Hauk thought to himself. "We are replaying the old story, yet everyone seems to know it. I wonder if Sordahon..."


"And where do you think you are going?" A massive knight with an even more massive sword stood in the middle of the next room.

"Sordahon..!" Rogdor leapt at him, his sword outstretched. Sordahon swept him aside with a single move. If the real Sordahon was a formidable fighter, this version of him was greatly amplified. Dar-Pha took out her dagger, and Lena couldn't suppress a snigger - a dagger against this monster? But Dar-Pha wasn't paying attention to Lena, she was fixed on Sordahon, piercing him with her gaze, as if seeing past his armour... What did she see?

"Drop it, Sordahon!" Hauk bellowed, shooting a fireball from his wrist. Sordahon turned and took a step towards him, sending a shock bolt back at Hauk.

"I learned a few tricks since last time," he smirked. "You ought to be quiet. It's a pity I can't just kill you..."

Hauk was out cold and Sordahon turned to Lena.

"You, on the other hand..." He raised his sword - in the next moment Lena would be split in half...

"NO!!!" The scream seemed to come from all directions, and it did. Rogdor leapt onto Sordahon again, ready to plunge his sword into Sordahon's neck, just where the helmet ended and the cuirass didn't quite begin. Dar-Pha leapt at Sordahon too, her dagger aiming at his side, under the arm, between the plates of armour. But a fierce fireball got him first, coming from behind, the force of the impact pushed him forward, past Lena, smashing him into the wall. Dar-Pha ended on top of Rogdor, Lena was swept aside, and several guards that rushed to aid their master, lay singed on the floor. An Orc mage stood at the back of the room, fire still in his hand, skulls and bones adorning his robes.


"You never quite know when you might need a good fireball," he smacked his lips in satisfaction. "Are we done here? The teleport is just ahead." And while everyone except Sordahon was getting up from the floor, he shot a quizzical glance at Lena. "I don't remember you... surely we didn't drink that much! Who are you and what are you doing here?" His tone did not encourage disobedience.

"I... umm..." Lena started, then suddenly remembered that it was all her fault... Them being there, the scene being replayed, history repeating itself... So many people involved... Were they their real selves or were they mere shadows created for the sake of the performance? Was that all smoke and mirrors or... could they all just die there?

"She's the demon that brought him here," Dar-Pha jerked her head towards Hauk. "What of Gandohar?"

"The same person we left last time," the mage said, not taking his eyes off Lena. "With the same needs."

"Oh!!!" Dar-Pha looked worried and Rogdor looked grim. "That..." Dar-Pha hesitated.

"That is a disaster," the mage nodded. "Grant a human free will, and they will bring down the world. I'll never understand what you see in them."

Dar-Pha was about to protest, but another wave of soldiers poured into the room, and the fighting resumed.

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Feb 24 2022, 03:23 PM

6 Frostfall, 4E202 - The way home

The corridor opened into the throne room of Castle Vahkmaar, and many soldiers fell defending it. But when three Orcs and two humans finally stood on its polished marble floor, they met no resistance - not even from the high bridge above, usually occupied by guard archers. They too now lay dead below.

The throne was empty and the teleport in the centre of the room was inactive. The Orc mage started casting a spell to activate it, tension was literally visible around him.


"This is when last time a fresh group of archers turned up on that bridge and started shooting at Ghortarius," Hauk whispered to Dar-Pha, shivering. "So far the story repeated itself almost in every detail..."

"Almost," she whispered back, not taking her eyes off the bridge, a throwing knife at the ready. Hauk readied a fireball, and Lena did the same, quickly realising what they were expecting. But no archers appeared, and Ghortarius was able to keep the teleport active for everyone to jump in, himself included.

"Well, move along, move along," Lena heard his even-toned voice. They materialised in a small chamber, a research laboratory of some sort, with bookcase-lined walls and alchemical equipment taking up most of the room. "Do try not to break anything, it's a bother getting replacements. There's a large chamber just ahead, we can talk there," he added, touching Lena on the arm. She stifled her curiosity and obeyed.

The large chamber had a suitably large round table in the middle, and everyone was taking seats around it, so Lena did the same.

"All right, and now you tell us everything," Dar-Pha's black eyes were burning through Lena. "Don't make me ask twice."

"But..." Lena momentarily panicked, then collected herself. "There isn't much to tell. Hauk was getting delirious with fever, his scorpion poison wound reopened, flesh all black around it, he said it was from a magically corrupt scorpion, that it kept coming back from time to time, and when he lost consciousness, I decided to take us both to wherever that wound would lead us in the hope to cure it... And we emerged in the Swallows. I don't know how we got into prison from there."

"That's the easy bit," Ghortarius dismissed Lena's unasked question. "We have a problem with shattered past. Never mind that now. How did you get from wherever you were to the Swallows? That isn't an easy feat."

"I..." Lena stumbled and blushed, turning deep purple.

"She's a vampire, she drank his corrupted blood," Dar-Pha answered in her stead. "And something else... a poison of some kind. They both died, and emerged in the Void, where Hauk's Sight led them to the Swallows. The rest you know," she looked at Ghortarius and he nodded.

"How..." Lena started, looking at Dar-Pha wide-eyed. "And where are we now?"

"I have the Sight too," Dar-Pha's eyes smiled, you could not see her mouth under her veil. "So don't ever try to lie to me," she added and the smile vanished. "We are on Alsorna - an island in Antaloor. The real Antaloor, we are no longer in the Void. And you are far from home."

It wasn't Lena's first trip to the Void, and she knew that she had to die to enter it. She also knew she could return. But never in her dreams did she think she would return to a different world than the one she had left. Well, it wasn't technically a different world, you could take a ship and sail back to Tamriel, you would arrive in a few months, provided the ship was strong and the crew experienced... Such journeys were not without peril. But people undertook them, in fact Hauk had done it many years ago. But several months at sea wasn't something Lena was looking forward to.

"Oh come on, Dar-Pha, she meant well - you are being too harsh," Ghortarius smiled but his tone was mocking. "Humans. Inferior to mer in every way. Yet so much more dangerous." He looked disgusted. "But I suppose we'll have to help you and return you home," he sighed. "Although Hauk is welcome to stay, of course." He looked at Hauk with an expression that could almost pass for fondness.

"You have been very quiet," Rogdor suddenly spoke up, having kept quiet thus far himself. "What is your version of events, Hauk?"

"The same as everyone else's I guess," he shrugged. "Two things I don't understand though: what were you all doing in the Void, and why are you helping me again?" He looked at the Orcs around the table, lingering on Dar-Pha a little longer than on the others.

"We need you again," Rogdor offered. "Shattered past - what Ghortarius mentioned. It isn't as bad as it was last time, it's worse. But on the other hand, there is no rush because time itself broke. You can leave now, but we need you to come back."

"Come back when your child can walk," Dar-Pha's eyes smiled again. "I'll be waiting."

Ghortarius, Rogdor and Lena got up and left the room, with Ghortarius motioning Lena to follow. He led her to the laboratory with the teleport in the corner.

"If you ever had plans for Hauk, drop them now," he faced her, but he didn't look unkind and his disgusted expression vanished. "I don't actually hate humans, but I'm an Orc, it's expected. Getting here was no mean feat, even for an Orc. What magic did you use? What poison..?" He was going to ask more questions, then changed his mind, interrupting himself. "You can tell me later, we need to give Hauk and Dar-Pha some time. You need to eat and sleep too, you child needs rest and sustenance. Use the room across the hall, you'll find everything there... I don't expect Hauk will need it any longer. I shall send you both home when you are ready."

...

It was several days before Lena saw Hauk again. Oh, she heard him - he was in the castle... fort... fortress... whatever that building was called. He was busy, and Lena didn't want to interrupt. Hauk had had a life in Antaloor, she suddenly realised. A life that he had left behind when he boarded that ship bound for Tamriel, never expecting to return, because you only made such a journey once in a lifetime. What would he do now? Would he want to stay?

"I am sorry I've been preoccupied," Hauk approached Lena sitting on a clearing overlooking the bay. "Dar-Pha... she's rather special to me," he shuffled uneasily. "I never thought I'd see her again... And when I said I loved you - I meant it, I still do... But..."

"I know," Lena smiled at him. "I love you too, but... there's a reason I'm marrying Lucien."

Hauk took her hand and squeezed it gently.

"You are my best friend," he said softly. "My very best friend - make no mistake. Yes, I think we understand each other." He paused, sitting down next to her. "It's peaceful here now, or at least it seems that way." They were looking at the fortress rising from the sea. "We can leave when you are ready. We shall emerge on the beach in Anequina where we started, on the same day, if Ghortarius gets it right. He usually does. I shall come back here in a few years time, when my son can walk." He put his hand around Lena, pulling her close. "But I shall return to Tamriel again. And may be this time... who knows..."

"Your son?" Lena smiled, shooting him a sideways glance. "You sound certain."

"I told you, if it's mine, it's a boy - it runs in the family."

Lena shook her head, smiling at such stubbornness and wishful thinking. Men.

8 Frostfall, 4E202 - Going South

"Is that what passes for roads here?" Hauk was looking at a twisting path ahead of them. "It's just a marking on the side of a cliff!"


"Oh, it's not as bad as that," Lena was peering into the distance too. "I'm sure it gets better further on. Let's go."

After that disturbing journey into the Void with a detour through Antaloor, Lena and Hauk spent a couple of days relaxing on the beach in Anequina. Hauk's poisoned wound had closed, but the whole experience left them both rather shaken. Eventually when they'd had enough of crab meat and coconut water, they decided to go South into Pelletine, towards Torval and Senchal, and this was the road they were looking at.

The coastal scenery was splendid, but after Roach stumbled on sharp rocks a few times, Lena found it necessary to watch the road more than to watch the scenery. She had to admit, Hauk had a point.

"The Imperial Highway Code is very clear on this," he continued with annoyance. "A road must have a flat surface, be devoid of debris and vegetation and preferably be paved. And above all, it must be passable, mounted and on foot. Can you imagine a horse pulling a heavily loaded cart along here? It would tumble into the sea in no time!" Luna gave a loud snort as she too stumbled on a sharp rock. "There! Again!"

The road soon turned into the jungle, just as they came up to a small settlement of Tenmar. Just three houses there - a Mages Guild, a House for Sale and a single owned house. Several guards patrolled the area, but there were no guard barracks in sight.

"Do you ever sleep at all?" Hauk struck a conversation with one of the guards who was pacing nervously up and down the square.

"Khajiit sleeps every night, yes," the guard responded, sounding surprised. "Unless Khajiit is on guard duty, then he does not sleep," he clarified. "Does the Nord not do the same?"

"Yes, of course we do the same," Hauk nodded, suddenly realising how strange his question must have appeared. "But I see no guard barracks here..."

"Khajiit does not need barracks, Khajiit is one with nature," the guard replied proudly, looking down at Hauk, as difficult as it was for a short person to look down onto a tall person.

"Khajiit talks rubbish," the second guard joined the conversation. "Tenmar has no guard barracks, no place to sleep for Khajiit, no place to eat, nothing! It's the worst posting Khajiit has ever had!" He glared at the first guard as if it was his fault. "Too much skooma is not good even for the Khajiit!"

And with that the two guards turned around and marched off, resuming their nervous patrol of the village square.

"Yeah, it's a bit of a rotten post, to be honest with you," a Legion soldier further up nodded, noticing the newcomers. "There's an old fort just by the coast, but it is not in use, and frankly I'd rather take my chances with the forest spiders sleeping rough here by the village than trying to clear that fort." He looked at Lena and Hauk with a hope in his eyes. "May be some adventurer like yourselves will deal with it eventually... Or better yet, may be I get transferred some place else!"

Well, that didn't sound very promising, so they tried the Mages Guild. The mages seemed happy enough there, but also somehow nervous, constantly pacing up and down the hall.

"No-no, it's nothing," one of the mages hastened to reassure them. "N-nothing at all. W-we are just a bit... hot... you know... the weather..."

It was of course rather warm outside, but inside the building it was nice and cool, so Lena and Hauk couldn't quite figure out what would be the matter... But after their recent adventure they had no wish to delve into this particular mystery. Perhaps later.

"So, where can we get from here?" Lena changed the topic. "We are looking to get to Senchal or Torval, in no particular order."

"Well, they are both South," the mage smiled at her. "But both quite far away, you won't get there in a day, and travelling through the jungle at night... well... get your summons ready, and even then..." Somehow Lena got the feeling that the mage was advising her not to travel South at all...

Which was obviously completely unacceptable, so after lunch they set off straight South from Tenmar, going through the jungle rather than along the coast.

After a couple of hours riding, they came to a dead end. A large rock with a door was blocking their way, with "Torval" and "Senchal" road signs pointing at it.

"Are we supposed to take the tunnel?" Lena tried the door, and moist air wafted at her from within. "Roach won't be able to do it."

"Typical," Hauk got annoyed again. "There's a clearing behind this rock, and also a clearing going to the right, so it looks like they intended to make roads there, but then stopped for some reason and dug a tunnel instead."

"Or used a pre-existing tunnel, more like," Lena nodded. "What do we do?"

"Let's try this trail to the right," Hauk peered into the jungle. "It's been cleared of trees, let's hope it will lead us somewhere."

The trail was actually a pretty decent road, even if not paved. Paving wasn't required by the Imperial Highway Code, but flat surface was. Lena decided it was a good road, and the mood lifted. Right up to the point when they went head over heels down the slope where the road suddenly ended in a nearly vertical mossy hill.

"Blasted Khajiit and their skooma!" Hauk was beyond annoyed now. "That's why there was that rock going into a root tunnel!"

The good news however was that the hill ended in an actual paved surface... even though the lack of flatness disqualified it from the title "road".


The sideways incline got worse further on, and Roach and Luna were hanging on for dear life, considering that paving rocks were just as slippery as the moss, if not more so.

Eventually the road straightened out, and they came upon another tiny settlement with just two houses and no one in sight. The paved road ended in another cave entrance with signs pointing into it.

"No, we are not trying to ride past this tunnel entrance!" Lena protested. "Roach will break her ankle next time for sure, and then what will we do? Let's go back."

"Go back where?" Hauk shook his head. "If you remember, that hillside we tumbled down, was pretty steep and slippery, there's no way we can get up there from this side."

"Then we'll find another way," Lena was adamant. "We'll get through the jungle if we have to! We are going back to Tenmar and we'll try the coastal road tomorrow."

"...or whenever Luna agrees to carry me again," Hauk muttered, patting Luna who seemed to quite agree with his assessment.

The sun was setting when they went past the hillside that they had tumbled down earlier. There was no way to climb back up, so they continued following the paving, which straightened out eventually and could be called a "road" again. Then that too came to an abrupt stop - just got swallowed by the jungle. Lena and Hauk had to turn back.

"All right, this stretch of woods looks pretty flat," Lena was trying to see into the jungle, but it was very dense and the canopy made the twilight into complete darkness. "Let's go," she turned to Hauk. "Head East. Follow the stars." She motioned Roach to go in.

"What stars?" Hauk shook his head in disbelief again, but followed. You couldn't see the stars through the trees!

At first all was quiet, the forest seemed asleep around them. Then Luna bolted. Hauk nearly fell out of the saddle, but not quite, managed to calm her down enough to dismount, and promptly got attacked by two giant spiders - black spiders in a pitch black night against the black soil weren't exactly easy to spot... A fierce but short battle ensued, with Hauk being knocked out cold by the hits and the poison combined. Roach had bolted too, and Lena was having rather more trouble calming her, not until they found a clearing and noticed buildings showing through the trees - Tenmar. Lena dismounted and Roach took off to Tenmar, while Lena headed back into the jungle to look for Hauk.

Suddenly the jungle was filled with life, or may be Lena's life detection spell malfunctioned. Every tree was glowing, every root, every mushroom. "What the..?" She swore, rubbing her eyes, but the glow didn't dissipate. She spotted some movement not far from her, followed by a sharp sting and a hefty injection of poison... Lena too was out cold before she knew it. It was the Swallows all over again.

Fortunately the jungle spiders of Elsweyr were not magically corrupt, and after a short while Lena came to, but remained motionless, quietly casting night eye. She could see shapes now, bent and crooked - roots, branches, spider legs, she couldn't tell which. She heard clanking of metal not too far away and distinct Nord swearing - Hauk. A red glow appeared further ahead and a mighty roar shook the forest - Hauk summoned a daedroth. Lena followed his example summoning a clannfear, and together they eventually managed to finish the two forest spiders, having both received numerous cuts and bites.

"Funny, they don't look so big when they are dead," Lena noted, lighting up a torch and examining the dead spiders. "Just the two of them, and it was enough to overwhelm us like that..."

"It wasn't just the two of them," Hauk objected, pointing at another dead spider a little further away. "Let's not search for any more of them, this isn't a song I would sing in the mead halls of Sovngarde," he smirked. "Which way is the way out?"

"That way," Lena consulted her compass. "East. But what about Luna?" There was no sight of her anywhere.

"Don't worry about Luna, horses are smarter than they look," Hauk was ready to start walking. "She'll find her own way to Tenmar, probably avoiding forest spiders much better than we ever could."

You wouldn't expect a person wearing heavy armour to move silently, but then you probably never met a seasoned soldier. When Hauk said he was used to his suit of armour, this was what he meant, and this was why he was unwilling to have it upgraded - a fancy guilded suit was of no practical use, and added protection of daedric armour was offset by its increased weight which made for clumsy movements. The sheen of Hauk's steel armour was reflecting what star light was penetrating the thick canopy, and this was the only thing giving away his position. Moving quietly, they reached the clearing near Tenmar and saw the white stone of its buildings show through the trees. Lena was about to pick up the pace, but Hauk grabbed her arm, pointing at a bush right in front of her. He pushed her back a bit, raised his sword and forcefully stabbed the bush with both hands from above. The bush deflated. It was another forest spider.

"You're getting the hang of it," Lena whispered, trying to stay close to Hauk.

"It's just like in the Swallows," he nodded. "It's all coming back to me now."

When they finally emerged in the village square of Tenmar, it was well past midnight. A Khajiit guard was pacing nervously, he gave them a nod and continued his patrol. Roach was grazing on some flowers in front of the House for Sale, then suddenly they heard clattering hoofs and Luna came running down the road from the South. Phew. It was time for bed and they headed into the Mages Guild for the night.

9-10 Frostfall, 4E202 - Haven - Southpoint - Elden Root

"It's the Ninth of Frostfall," Hauk looked at Lena with significance at breakfast. "We have to be back in Anvil in a week. We have no time to go exploring the South of Pelletine." He hovered over the plate of fruit, picking up an apple. "And I've had enough of coconuts."

"You are probably right," Lena nodded, also searching for a familiar piece of fruit. "Besides, I hear that the coastal road has very steep patches as well, and we'll get stuck again. So what do you suggest?"

"Turn North and take a peek in Valenwood," Hauk seemed to go over a list in his head. "There is nothing that would interest the Legion in this jungle. Other than the Khajiit pocketing the Imperial Infrastructure Grant... But I've seen enough to report on that," he added with renewed annoyance. "Now I'm curious to see whether the Bosmer have done any better."

"Imperial Infrastructure Grant..?" Lena had never heard of such a thing.

"Yeah... Did you think they financed the roads themselves?" Hauk smirked. "The Empire paid for it, and root tunnels were definitely not a part of the deal!"

"But why would the Empire bother with provincial roads?" Lena was still not getting it.

"Because roads are a sign of civilisation!" Hauk recited what sounded like a slogan. "And because the Legion needs decent roads to move the troops," he winked. "Anyway, I hear the terrain in Valenwood is even more challenging, may be not so much of a jungle, but deep lakes, steep cliffs and generally not very passable areas. Plus you know how the Bosmer feel about cutting down trees... The kind of jungle clearing that the Khajiit have done here, would simply not be happening in Valenwood. We need to go and see," he concluded firmly.

"Well, all right," Lena nodded. "I don't think I'll find any clues for my assignment down South either. The only 'Dark' thing around here seems to be the spiders." This was probably not entirely true, but it had been clear from the start that Lena would not have time to visit everywhere. And Valenwood meant finally going North.

...

"Where is everyone?" Hauk struck a conversation with the harbour master in Haven. "It's an impressive city but has everyone just up and left?"

"But it's the holiday season, of course!" The harbour master gave him a big grin. "Everyone is off to the countryside, bond with nature, avoid the crowds, that sort of thing."

"Well, if they wanted to avoid the crowds, they should have stayed right here!" Lena seconded Hauk on that. "But we are not complaining. Is there an inn in town?"

"Oh yes," the harbour master nodded. "The Stairway to Heaven it's called. You will find it eventually."

"All right," Lena turned to go. "Oh, what about the horses?"

They entered the city over the bridge from Anequina, and this was the harbour side, not the "official" entrance on the other end.


"Yeah, you should have left them on the other shore," the harbour master agreed. "There's no hay for them here, and we are not keen on... you know... they stuff they leave behind," he twitched his nose and Roach snorted. "I always say we ought to build stables there so that travellers would get the idea."

"That is all well and good," a well-dressed mage joined in. "But what if people want to pass through the city? They'll still have to bring their horses in. I wager these travellers also intend to continue into Valenwood, that is to come out from the main entrance." Lena nodded vigorously.

"Yes, well, there's that," the harbour master agreed. "Leave them here then, or take them to the shore so they could graze. Come back once you know your way through the city." He nodded to his own solution and walked off.

The city of Haven was magnificent. All these stately houses with orange tiled roofs, narrow streets and complex layout. There were quite a few soldiers in the streets, and even an open air bar, with mead kegs found throughout the city.

"These people know what's important," Hauk approved.

The views of the harbour and of the hilly countryside were fabulous, and Lena and Hauk walked every street at least three times as they got thoroughly lost in the labyrinth of narrow passages, stairs and arcades. Of course Lena managed to fall into the same pothole twice, and had significant trouble getting out, having found herself somehow under the paving...

"Well, you shouldn't investigate every dark corner, really," Hauk was stifling a laugh. "Look, I didn't fall into any potholes at all. And in fact - here's the inn."

It was getting late and the inn was certainly a welcome sight.

"These Bosmer are really weird," Lena was saying as they were climbing to the top floor to the only guest room. "Just the one room?"

"Yes, but it comes with a triple door!" Hauk smacked his lips, examining that extraordinarily secure construction. "Was this built for royalty? Look at the size of the room!"

"Close the doors and never mind that," Lena grinned. "I like it. The bed's good too..." And seeing how it was well past midnight and they'd been in the saddle and on their feet all day, the bed was the best news of all.


The morning greeted them with bright sunshine - a lovely day for travelling. Southpoint was only an hour away, and they spent the morning wandering around the port and the markets of this beautiful sprawling city. A lady in an evening gown was pacing up and down a square, a few dock workers were lazying about the docks, but otherwise the place was deserted. Holiday season was clearly in full swing.

"That is a beautiful frock you are wearing," Hauk smiled at the lady. "Going some place nice?"

"I wish!" She looked at the same time annoyed and pleased to chat with them. "It's all nature and countryside, I'm fed up with it!" She said rather hotly. "What about culture, I ask you? Civilisation? You don't find that up a tree!" She went quite red. "There's nothing going on here! No shops, no theatre, no entertainment! You can't get flowers because that's against Bosmer values - plants can't be cut!" She snorted. "Oh I so miss the Imperial City!"

"But surely... somebody built this town?" Hauk looked at the elegant buildings around him. "A city to rival any in Cyrodiil. Haven too. And both so empty. What happened?" He smiled at the lady, gallantly offering her his arm. "Would you be so kind as to show us around?"

"Well, if you put it like that..." She calmed down and smiled. "It is a rather lovely city, actually. We have this long promenade along the water..."

The walk around town was very pleasant, and it was well past midday when Lena and Hauk finally took their leave, still not having found out where everyone had disappeared to.

"This is really odd, you know," Hauk was saying as they were riding on. "It's as if everyone just vanished."

"Together with their belongings," Lena nodded. "I poked my nose into a few houses - they were empty inside!"

"Very odd indeed," Hauk mused. "Hey!" He spun around and swore, pulling an arrow from between the plates of his armour. "I think we've found some locals!"

Bandits dealt with, they continued their journey along a scenic green road until they reached a small village of Meadow Run. This settlement wasn't empty.

"Does this look familiar to you?" Lena looked around at the tall houses.


"Umm... No," Hauk shook his head. "Why? What are you thinking of?"

"The Shivering Isles," Lena smiled. "Not the same of course, in particular not the same nature, and these rock formations are quite different, but there's something about these wooden steps and the doors being so high up..." She sighed. Perhaps she simply missed the Shivering Isles, or perhaps some of the Bosmer who came to live there, brought their style of building with them.

"Are you going to Elden Root?" One of the villages approached Lena. "It's just up that way, you know."

"Yeah, I suppose, we'll go see if it's nearby," Lena nodded.

"Elden Root is an ancient Elven city," the villager proudly informed Lena. "Well worth a visit! The inn there is still open too - the Eagle's Nest, on the Market Square. You can't miss it."

"Oh, that's good to know," Lena smiled. "Thanks!"

"Just..." the Bosmer shifted her eyes uneasily. "Well, you know, don't be too surprised..."

"Of what?" Lena had a suspicion. The holiday season.

"If you don't see a lot of people about," the Bosmer managed. "It's..." She seemed quite lost for words.

"The holiday season?" Lena suggested.

"Yes, that's true, but... Never mind," the Bosmer concluded brightly. "Enjoy your visit! The city is still there in all its splendour."

Lena and Hauk rode off, it was indeed just a short stretch to Elden Root. The city was nestled between the hills, and the views were lovely, despite the rain.


It was a wonderful place, they really liked it. But this city too was nearly empty.

"I am starting to wonder..." Hauk was saying as they were walking the streets. "That woman back in Meadow Run - what did she mean? There's more to it than just the holiday season."

"I had the same impression," Lena nodded. "Something isn't right. Oh wow, look at that!"


Elden Root was indeed an ancient Elven city.

Crossing the water, they found themselves in a poorer part of town. Grand stone houses were replaced by wooden shacks with people living on two levels, like in Bravil. But unlike Bravil, people here built whole streets on the upper level, much of it around a boarded up chapel and on top of an old Ayleid ruin. Wooden houses covered it all. A few people were walking around there, happy to see new faces. Lena cautiously asked whether everyone else was on holiday.

"Holiday?" The Bosmer didn't seem to understand what she was talking about. "Oh, you mean where everyone is gone to?" He clasped his mouth. "Me and my big mouth! Yes, holiday, indeed."

"Umm... Really?" Lena smiled her most charming smile. "It must be a wonderful place if everyone just up and left..."

"Well, if you must know..." the Bosmer looked around, but there was no one else in sight. "It isn't a holiday," he continued in a hushed voice. "Something awful has happened! They've all been taken!"

"What?!" Hauk exclaimed, then caught himself and also lowered his voice. "We've found the same in Haven and Southpoint!"

"Really?" The Bosmer went pale with anguish. "I... I didn't know that! This is worse than I feared! Oh Gods..!" And with that he buried his face in his hands and disappeared into the nearest house.

"This doesn't bode well," Hauk sounded grave. "And people are afraid to talk about it for fear of being taken also, no doubt."

"Taken..." Lena was trying to think what it could mean. "As in - kidnapped? By whom? And are they still alive?"

"We'll need to find out," decided Hauk. "This town is the only one so far when at least one person didn't try to cover it up. Perhaps there are clues to be found."

They walked around the city until it got quite late and their feet firmly refused to walk any further. They passed the Market Square several times, it was eerily empty without any traders, but the Eagle's Nest tavern was open, even though there were no customers. The Eagle's Nest inn was just next door, and Lena and Hauk gratefully headed inside.

"Welcome, welcome!" The publican greeted them cheerfully. "Do come in! We've got food, drinks and beds - and have you seen our outdoor cafe as well?"

"Yes, we are just coming from there, thank you," Lena beamed at her. "We are looking to stay the night."

"But of course!" Bothiel the publican was overjoyed. "You can use either of the larger rooms on the top floor - a twin or a double, whatever your preference," she winked at Hauk. "Would you care for any dinner first? We have a proper dining room just upstairs."

This was music to their ears and they allowed Bothiel to fuss about the food and the drinks. Lena had no wish to spoil the evening by asking about any mysterious disappearances, after all, that could wait till the morning.





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A new mod TWMP Valenwood Cities is in the making. You guessed it - it will be for TWMP Valenwood Improved, with or without the Southern Alliance. I am uncertain at this point whether it could be easily converted to the original Valenwood Improved - it could be a problem because of the changed FormIDs. We'll see. But my game is all TWMP, follow me if you wish! Those Bosmer will need rescuing and it won't be easy...


This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 6 2022, 09:40 PM

11 Frostfall, 4E202 - Holidays in Elden Root

"Holidays? Ha!" Jorgen Rammstein laughed derisively. "That's what the cowards would tell you. Rubbish! This city is in big trouble!"

Finally, Lena and Hauk found someone who wasn't afraid to talk about what happened. Jorgen Rammstein was an old Nord who'd clearly seen enough battles in his life to not be afraid of almost anything.

"Necromancers," he continued. "Swooped down onto the city shooting their spells everywhere tucking people into their black soul gems. A massacre it was. Those folks that had some wits about them, ran for cover, hid in their houses, in basements, crypts, what have you, but those that had to see what was going on... It wasn't just the cats that got killed through their curiosity." He shook his head in sorrow. "We tried to stand up to them, the City Guard fought bravely, and those of us who could still hold a weapon... But those were no ordinary Necromancers, I am not even sure they were of flesh and blood..." He beckoned Lena and Hauk to follow, leading them to his house - a stately mansion in the Upper District. "Some of them were, just people I mean, and we killed them all, but it didn't stop the attacks."

"Did they capture everyone into the soul gems?" Hauk was looking grim.

"Not everyone," Jorgen turned to him. "The City Guard... they are all dead. Just dead. But the Captain got taken."

They entered Jorgen's house, a comfortable home with many trophies on display, and Jorgen led them into the basement. There, between the kegs of mead and old battleaxes, lay some robes and scrolls.

"This is what they had on them," he pointed at the robes. "Regular Necromancer robes, some scrolls, some soul gems, nothing unusual. I just kept these as a sample. These were just acolytes - foot soldiers. But I found a few notes on them."

He handed them a stack of wrinkled notes. They were just scraps of messages, brief excerpts of communication, many were about getting more black soul gems, and none of it made any sense.

"You should go see the Chapel of Arkay," Jorgen was saying, passing the mead to Lena and Hauk. "Our coward of a Mayor had it locked up! What a disgrace! Instead of cleaning it up, he locks it up and denies access to those few of us that survived the attack!"

"Chapel of Arkay? Where is it?" Lena didn't recall seeing any chapels during the walk the day before.

"It's in the Lower District, it's quite built up there," Jorgen calmed down. "But the people used to go to the Chapel, and the Priest was a good man. Oh, just break those damned boards and go see inside! Prepare for a shock... But may be you'll find some clues. You are looking into it, aren't you?" He looked at Lena and Hauk in turn, and Lena nodded firmly.

...

"I wonder who else is still around," Lena turned to Hauk when they were back in the street. "Perhaps we should knock on some doors and see."

That seemed like a good idea and they knocked on the next door.

"Who is it?" A hoarse voice came from within. "If you are not from the inn, go away!"

"We are not from the inn, we are travellers," Lena was taken aback and said the first thing that came to her mind. "We were just..."

"Are you all right in there?" Hauk interrupted her, speaking loudly at the door. "We've just spoken to Jorgen, your neighbour. We know what's going on."

The lock clicked and an Orc peered through a narrow opening.

"Spoken to Jorgen, have you?" He squinted at them. "So are you looking into this matter or what?"

"We are," Hauk nodded.

"Well, why didn't you say so!" The Orc threw the door open wide. "Please, come in! Have you eaten? Do you have a place to stay? This town is a mess! I'm Ogg gro-Kash, at your service."

The change of tone was quite remarkable. Ogg gro-Kash was showing them around his lovely mansion, as if trying to sell it to them.

"Do you live here alone?" Hauk asked pleasantly, noticing that some of the rooms looked rather unused, if pristine.

"I do, I do!" The Orc nodded vigorously. "I just use that bedroom, quite enough for me! This suite here however is vacant! Well, fully furnished as you can see, but without an occupant. And you've seen the common room downstairs, we get supplies and service from the inn, even in these dire times, and..." He suddenly stopped talking, perhaps realising that he already said all that he wanted, and more.

"Very nice," Lena smiled at him.

"You think so?" Ogg smiled back at her. "Then perhaps would you consider taking it on? The suite, I mean. I would sell it to you for a pittance." He blushed and shuffled uncomfortably. "I no longer want to live alone."

"I see," Hauk looked up. "Thank you. We'll think about it, I don't know how long we'll be staying."

They chatted a bit longer, then Lena and Hauk continued their tour of the city. Most buildings were empty, but a large mansion with a door on the corner certainly wasn't. They were greeted by a butler who informed them that his Master and Mistress were currently not receiving visitors, and that because of the recent events in the city, his Master was no longer attending the Council meetings, as those had been cancelled. He suggested that all enquiries should be lodged directly with the Council.

"But is the Council still in office?" Lena asked in surprise.

"Not as such, no," the butler shook his head. "But the Mayor is still alive, if that's what you mean, and his clerk is usually loitering in the Council Chambers. Just go and see for yourselves, it's just over the water in those Ayleid buildings."

There was indeed a cluster of buildings on the other side of the canal looking very much like the buildings in the Imperial City.

"The Imperial City was built by the Ayleids," Hauk reminded Lena. "It is not Imperial architecture, it is Ayleid architecture."

The first door led to the Mages Guild. The room was well appointed but empty, as was the residence suite upstairs.

"Four beds," Lena noted. "And four chairs at the dining table downstairs. This chapter has four mages."

"Had four mages," Hauk corrected her. "We don't know what happened here. Do they have a basement?"

They did, and in it they found Menandril.

"Well, I am not coming out, not until the City Guard is restored," he said defiantly. "Forgive me. It was awful. And yes, I am a mage, but not a Battlemage," he looked at Hauk with significance, recognising a battlemage in him. "I am the head of this chapter, and as such responsible for my mages. I've teleported them to safety. Restore the City Guard and we will be back, but until then I'm staying here."

The next door led to the Council Chambers.

"The Council is closed," a clerk informed them as they came in. "Due to the recent events, the Mayor cancelled all Council meetings as there aren't enough people left to govern." He looked dejected. "And we have no City Guard."

"The City Guard seems to be the key to many things here," Lena noted.

"Oh yes, the Captain--" he clerk interrupted himself. "Well, yes. The Captain was so reliable..."

"And let me guess - the Mayor has locked himself in his residence and is not coming out until the City Guard is restored," Hauk offered.

"Yes! How did you know?" The clerk looked at him in surprise, then realised something. "Oh, you've been talking to some of the others... Yes, well, it's not like the Mayor can do anything about it, can he?"

This was a very depressing scene, so Lena and Hauk left. The next door led to the City Guard Offices and barracks, the building was well furnished and completely devoid of people. Crossing the cemetery, they returned to the town proper, now looking for the Chapel of Arkay somewhere in the Lower District. They soon came upon two doors that were boarded up.

"This must be what Jorgen talked about," Hauk tried the boards. "These are solid, and the door behind is that of a house, this must be the Priory. Try the other one."

The other door looked like a chapel door, and the boards were somewhat loose, so after a few attempts they managed to break them off. The door behind them wasn't locked, so they entered.

"Oh Gods!" Lena exclaimed in horror. The Chapel had been desecrated, with blood and decomposing bodies everywhere. A corpse was strung up by the statue of Arkay, mort flesh was on the altar. Dried blood covered the floor.

"They could have cleaned it up!" Hauk looked around with disgust. "It must have been awful when the attack happened, but now it's just disgusting rather than dangerous. But what is this?" He walked over to a side table pointing at a scroll and a book on it. "The Register of Elden Root," he read on the cover. "Look - names and occupations of everyone living here... Everyone who used to live here," he corrected himself with sadness.

"Oh, this scroll is interesting," Lena unrolled the blood stained document. "It's a really nasty letter to Prior Livan - he must have been the Priest here. But it does explain what had occurred." She passed the scroll to Hauk who read it attentively, trying to focus on the important information among all the angry dribble.

"So, there is a way to rescue these people," he looked at Lena thoughtfully, rolling up the scroll. "We better take this, but leave the Register here, we'll be needing to consult it time and time again. This is going to be a very lengthy affair, trying to find those soul gems..."

"Yeah," Lena sighed. "Where should we even start looking? And when? We have no time for it now..."

"Oh hello!" A voice coming from the door startled them. "Finally someone came to investigate!" An ageing Orc woman entered the chapel. "Ngana gra-Kadash, a mercenary, an adventurer, now retired," she introduced herself. "We've killed quite a few of them, between the City Guard, Jorgen and myself," she was looking around the chapel, turning a rotting corpse with her boot. "They rot just like everyone else," she snorted. "It's such a shame and such a disgrace that the Chapel is just left like this," she sighed. "The Priest was a good man, but I was too late to save him..." She looked away, and Hauk thought he saw a tear glistening on her cheek. "He's been taken, you know," she looked at Lena and Hauk with anger. "Into a black soul gem - I saw it!"

"Then we might be able to rescue him," Lena handed Ngana the Necromancer's scroll. "Except we have no idea where to look."

Ngana took a few moments to read the scroll, her face contorting with rage.

"Oh, that changes everything! The bastards!" Ngana added a few words that made Hauk blush. Lena figured that was an Orc swear. "I can help you with this," Ngana's tone suddenly changed from angry to hopeful. "I've got scraps of paper I took from their bodies. Made no sense to me, but I saved them anyway. They make sense now. Follow."

She led them to her house nearby and handed them a bunch of scraps similar to those they got from Jorgen.

"These must be the names of the ruins where they took the black soul gems, or at least where they were going to take the soul gems," Ngana was pointing at some of the inscriptions. "Noutar Emero, that's a ruin near Haven, for example. And here's another - Atatar."

"That's not far from Leyawiin," Lena nodded. "I recognise a few others, but not all."

"Some are in Valenwood, some in Cyrodiil," Ngana confirmed. "I can mark them on your map. It's a start."

...

"This isn't something we can solve in a day," Hauk was pouring over the map with Ngana's markings. "Not in a week, and not in a month, it's all over the place!" He sat down at the table. "And I'm due to leave for Morrowind soon. You must promise me you won't go alone."

"I promise I won't," Lena smiled. "What are we expecting here? More Necromancers and undead?"

"Undead, I should think," Hauk nodded. "Take Jowan. And Garrus - Jowan is no good with a blade."

They were drawing up battle plans, assessing potential resistance, putting it to a schedule. Lena was four months pregnant, she still had time before she'd be forced to take a long break. Yes, she could help at least some of these people until then...

It was well past midnight when Lena and Hauk finally got up from the table at the Eagle's Nest Inn and went to bed. Their current assignments were pressing them on, they'd be leaving Elden Root on the morrow. The hunt for the soul gems would have to wait.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The people, places and events in this episode are a part of the upcoming mod TWMP Valenwood Cities. They are already present in my reality!

12 Frostfall, 4E202 - The journey

In the morning Lena and Hauk left Elden Root to continue their journey North. They would be passing through Silvenar and Arenthia on their way to Skingrad and finally Anvil where Lucien was expecting Lena in just a few days. The Legion was expecting Hauk too, but he wasn't saying when or where.

The road was scenic, it went through a forest studded with lakes, white stones of Ayleid ruins visible in many places. Suddenly Lena stopped her horse, peering into the distance.

"Whaa--?" Hauk was caught off-guard, nearly colliding with her. He too was lost in thought in that landscape.

"There - can you see it?" Lena pointed into the valley. It was hard to make out anything at that distance, but Hauk too saw a figure in red.


"That's an unusual robe, I'll give you that," he nodded. "But that's not why you stopped, is it?"

"No," Lena said slowly, still peering at the figure. "I've seen this person before... in a dream."

"Oh?" Hauk turned his horse to look at Lena. "Good or bad? Good, it seems. Look, there's a clearing just there, why don't we stop for lunch, and you can tell me all about it."

...

Sands everywhere, dunes moving across the horizon. Wind moving sand, gently and slowly, it was a landscape that never stood still. At night the sky was dotted with stars, some were falling. One star at the far horizon shone particularly brightly, calling you to follow...

As the sun rose, Lena got up, wrapping her red cloak around her and lowering her hood - the sand was getting everywhere. And yet this wasn't an unpleasant morning. She tried to remember which way was the bright star, no longer visible during the day. She wasn't entirely sure, so just picked a direction and started walking.

The sand was soft under her feet, it was easy to walk - she was almost gliding above it. Almost. She felt the warmth under her feet. "May you always walk on warm sands," she remembered an old Khajiit greeting - this must have been what it meant.

A ruin appeared from the sand, there was a carving on the wall. As Lena approached, the carving lit up, it seemed to be telling a story. A pilgrim walking towards a bright star...

Lena climbed on top of the ruin, and now she could see further ahead. There were more ruins there, larger ruins, something looking like a city buried in the sand. And something else - fireflies. Bright shining slivers floating in the air, then swarming, rushing upwards, breaking up the swarm and gently falling to the ground again. One floated close to Lena, touching her scarf. The scarf caught fire - no, wait, it grew longer, and with it, Lena felt lighter than air. Now she could fly.

Flying consumed the scarf though, and then she had to walk again. But there were more shining slivers around, they would attach themselves to her scarf for a time, allowing her to fly. She was sure that's how it worked.

She was nearing the large ruin now. She started noticing standing stones in the dunes. They had carvings on them, but she couldn't make out the words - the sands have washed away the details. They looked like tombstones that one finds in the wilderness or along roads - tall narrow things, marking a place where someone died during their journey.

Lena stood at the ruins of several buildings arranged in a circle, with a tower in the centre. They all seemed to be gateways to somewhere, each having a wide porch with a door leading into the dunes. Some were not accessible - the porches were too high, and the staircases had collapsed. But look - here were the fireflies, perhaps there was a way...

...

At night the sky was dotted with stars again, and some were falling. The bright star at the horizon was still calling Lena to follow. She was sure which way to go now.

As the sun rose, it coloured the sands pink. Lena could see far from the top of the tower in the centre. She noticed more ruins in the distance, and more tombstones. What was this place? She felt the urge to go through one of the portals.

A pilgrim in a red gown was approaching the ruins, wondering about the same things that Lena had been wondering about. Their gowns were the same, only their scarves differed in length. Together, they gathered enough fireflies to rise above the central tower and reach a shining beacon. Suddenly a bridge appeared linking the tower to one of the porches, and Lena and the other pilgrim took it. As they stepped onto the porch, a bright light stopped them in their tracks and a shining figure of a tall pilgrim appeared, lighting up the carvings on the walls. They were to seek out the bright star, and the carvings told of a perilous journey ahead, a journey taken by so many pilgrims before them. There was hardship ahead, danger and possibly death, but also great wonders and discoveries - everyone's journey was different.

The light on the porch was extinguished, the carvings on the walls fading into the shadows again. But as Lena's companion got up from her seat, they both saw a bright light shining from within the depth of a passage at the far end of the porch - the passage into the dunes. A great gate was opening, and the light was shining from within. The light of the bright star. Lena and her companion walked towards it, and their respective journeys began.

...

"That sounds like quite a magical dream," Hauk smiled. "Did you manage to explore more of that world?"

"Oh yes, the dream would revisit me occasionally," Lena nodded, looking into the distance and seeing dunes coloured pink by the rising sun. "And every time I would continue from the point where the previous dream ended. I always flattered myself thinking it was just my rich imagination, but now that I've seen that pilgrim here, in Tamriel... I am not so sure. I mean, you've seen him too, haven't you?" She looked at Hauk, uncertain.

"Indeed, it wasn't just your rich imagination," he agreed, passing Lena a sweetroll. "Dreams can take you to other worlds, after all Vaermina does it all the time. Although this doesn't sound like on of Vaermina's nightmares."

"It definitely wasn't a nightmare," Lena shook her head. "There was some danger in it, sure, but nothing that couldn't be overcome."

"And how did it end?" The sun was high above them and Hauk thought it was time to get going.

"It didn't..." Lena smiled. "Oh, I reached the bright star... But that wasn't the end, it was only the beginning of another journey."



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The dream is the Journey. The pilgrim's gown was brought to Tamriel by Natterforme. The pilgrim is now in Valenwood, and there are rumours of an unusual red gown seen on the shelves of the Adventurer's Heaven in Elden Root. Stranger things have happened.

15-16 Frostfall, 4E202 - Back to Anvil

When Lena and Hauk were finally approaching Anvil, the night had already fallen.

"Shall we stay at the Gweden Farm?" Lena turned to Hauk, looking and sounding tired. "Then go into town tomorrow?"

"Good idea," Hauk agreed. "I think you'll find someone picking you up in the morning, too," he winked at her. Lena was missing Lucien, and knowing that he was somewhere in Anvil, somewhere nearby, made her wistful.

...

"Oh hello!" Signy greeted them enthusiastically as they entered. "It's been a while! Gosh, you both look tired, come in and sit down - we'll fix you something to eat." Then called out over the shoulder: "Faustina! Come and help me get their armour off!"

"Oh thank you, but we can manage with the armour," Lena protested, but Signy and Faustina were already undoing the buckles and pulling various bits of metal off Hauk, while Tsarrina was purring around Lena's sword belts and throwing knives.

"This is a Desert Robe, is it not?" She was shaking the sand out of Lena's robe. "Heavily enchanted, but no shield. This one knows such an enchantment," she gave Lena a toothy grin. Even after a month in Elsweyr, Lena still had trouble with that. "Someone wearing the same enchantment was asking about Warlock quite recently." Tsarrina wisely chose Lena's Mages Guild title over the one that went with the robe.

"Is he here?" Lena exclaimed with hope in her voice, and Hauk smirked. She'd been trying to hide her impatience and apprehension for the last day at least, as they were headed towards Anvil, but he noticed it anyway.

"No, he isn't here now," Tsarrina shook her head. "But this one knows where to find him. Warlock needs to rest, her Speaker will be here in the morning."

Lena sighed with disappointment, but with her travel garments removed, she suddenly felt her every muscle hurt as if... well... as if she'd been in the saddle for the last day and a half non-stop. Which she had.

"We have a bath house if you want it," Signy looked at Lena and Hauk as they were tucking into their stew. "You will sleep better afterwards."

"I'm falling asleep already," objected Hauk. "Do you know when was the last time we stopped for a meal and a rest?" He looked at the ladies, and all they could do was shake their heads.

"And in your condition, too," Faustina looked at Lena sternly. "You need to eat and rest regularly, you know." Hauk gave her a warning look, but it was too late.

"My condition!" Lena exclaimed hotly. "First, how do you know? And second, it doesn't mean I'm an invalid!"

"Oh, well..." Faustina crouched level with Lena and put her hand on Lena's shoulder. "You're all this town is talking about now, of course." Lena felt a wave of calm wash over her, just like what Lucien would do it in such situations. Faustina too was an Imperial. "Your upcoming wedding."

"My wedding," Lena repeated with disbelief. "I didn't realise I was such a celebrity here. And you didn't answer my question - how did you know I was pregnant?"

"Well, dear..." Faustina didn't have another charge of calm in her and had to turn to more mundane diplomacy. "Cyrodiil is but a small village in a way... That robe of yours... We know what title it carries, and when someone from your organisation gets married, people hear about it. In particular people who are in the business of information exchange, as we are here. At your own suggestion, by the way." She smiled in the most charming way and shot a pleading glance at Hauk.

"It's true, you know," Hauk said to Lena soothingly. "They are supposed to know rather more than an average person. I wager it isn't widely known otherwise."

Lena sensed that he didn't believe it himself, but she was too tired to argue. She supposed she might have done a thing or two in all these years that made her stand out from the crowd. And of course it wasn't all about her - the better part of it was probably about Lucien. Master Assassin was getting married! That would make heads turn. She sighed and went to bed.


"You sleep rather soundly for a murderer," she heard a familiar voice in her sleep. "That is good - you need your rest."

"Wait, no, this isn't how it goes!" She laughed and woke up. Lucien was sitting on the bed next to her, and everyone else had left the room. "I missed you," she pulled him in and allowed him to take advantage of the privacy.

...

"How was your trip?" Lucien asked her after some time, handing her a robe and pulling one on himself. "We should let the others in, you know," he smiled.

"If we must," Lena giggled. "Do you want a report, now?"

"No, not about the assignment - we'll talk later, it can wait, can it not?" He looked at her and Lena nodded. "I was referring to a more personal side of it. How have you been?"

"All right," Lena looked at him with suspicion and thought to herself: "He means how have you been travelling around Elsweyr with a pregnant belly. Good for him that he didn't say it." Then continued aloud: "But you've talked to Hauk, haven't you? So you know."

"I am asking you, though," Lucien objected. "Tell me."

Was there anything to tell? It was a month-long trip, they've had their share of dungeon delving, fights and unpleasant encounters, and that being Elsweyr, she'd consumed more skooma than was probably good for her... in her condition... she had to admit, it did make a difference.

"I'm all right, we both are," she put a hand on her belly. "My vampirism relapsed a couple of times, but I had blood with me, so it wasn't too bad... Not too long, anyway. And Hauk wouldn't let me go without feeding... you know how he is. But you can't buy bottled blood anywhere there, did you know that? Ah, you didn't!" She concluded with triumph, watching worry wash over Lucien's face. "I'm all out of it now, so I'll need to restock. We didn't stop at Skingrad - there was no time."

"We can get some in Anvil," Lucien was writing a note. "Here, give this to Beatrice Gene at the Castle." He handed it to her.

"Who is Beatrice Gene?" Lena glanced over the note which simply said "As usual. LL.".

"She's a maid at the Castle, you will most likely find her around the dining room," Lucien replied matter-of-factly. "She supplies the local Sanctuary. Since the Sanctuary itself is not open to us - we must follow the rules, mustn't we - you'll have to ask her directly."

"There are vampires at the Anvil Sanctuary?" Lena looked up, surprised.

"It isn't that unusual," he smiled. "Vicente is certainly not the only vampire in the Brotherhood."

Of course not. She was one too, she reminded herself.

There was a knock on the door, then Signy's head appeared on the top of the stairs.

"Are you two up? We heard voices," she smiled and entered, seeing them already dressed. "Coffee and sweetrolls are here!"

"Sweetrolls!!" Lena jumped out of bed in excitement. "I missed sweetrolls!!"

No Khajiit Delight could replace a sweetroll for her. The day was starting well.

16 Frostfall, 4E202 - Elsweyr report

"So, let's hear it. What did you find out?" Lucien sat back in his chair, looking straight at Lena. The Dark Brotherhood Speaker Lucien Lachance was waiting for a report from his Silencer. Lena swallowed involuntarily. Lucien's new Anvil office was established in the previously abandoned house that came into possession of the Brotherhood after Lena completed the contract on Corvus Umbranox. It was uncommon for Speakers to have more than one office - and Lucien's main office was of course at the Cheydinhal Sanctuary - but the Night Mother must have had her reasons to deviate from the rule this time. This office wasn't particularly secret either - or sufficiently secure, and it was on purpose. No valuables or papers were kept in it, but the Black Hand tapestries could be seen through the windows from outside, if anyone was curious enough to peer in. This house was a message, even if Lena wasn't entirely sure what it said.

"Well, I haven't found the attacker," Lena started her report. "But this wasn't the requirement. I poked into every mystery I could find and talked to everyone and tried to separate gossip from information. There's also a revolt against the Empire going on, which complicated things. I believe it is completely unrelated."

"This is the first important conclusion," Lucien nodded. "Are you sure?"

"Not fully, but I think it very unlikely." She gave Lucien a long look - as usual, he knew more than he was saying. "Why, is there a connection between the Brotherhood and the Empire?"

"May be or may be not," he smiled. "Continue."

"I met several people with assassin skills, but as you requested that I shouldn't reveal myself to anyone, I don't know if any of them were ours, because they didn't say anything either," she smiled. "They were not hostile to me, and I haven't seen them work at all, which could mean anything really, but I don't think any of them is our attacker."

"Why not?" Lucien's gaze was probing. "They could simply be biding their time."

"True, and I can't explain it. It's just my impression," Lena was apologetic. She didn't have proof one way or the other - it was very hard to prove that someone didn't do something. "But I had to limit the number of leads to follow. I can give you a list of their names, if you want." Lucien shook his head, signalling her to continue. "In Orcrest I was contacted by someone wanting me to do a job on behalf of the Dark Brotherhood. I thought it suspicious, took the job, but I now think that isn't our attacker either. I think it's a local mercenary group posing as us, actually. The same amateurish approach as that of Skyrim assassins - parading their affiliation and babbling something about being the only survivors of a Purification. They've got a house plastered with the Black Hand tapestries worse than this one," she rolled her eyes at the tapestries around her, "and a Black Door in a rat-infested hole, but the door is fake - it's just a door without any protection. Painted to look like ours." Lucien was listening intently, then suddenly took out a scroll and started making notes.

"Not our attacker, most likely, I agree, but an imposter organisation needs investigating anyway. Purification, indeed!" He smirked. "I wonder what our branch in Orcrest has to say about this? It's right under their noses!" He sounded annoyed, and Lena thought that someone was likely to receive a visit from an equally annoyed Listener in the near future.

"Orcrest was a mess anyway. The anti-Empire revolt started there, no Imperial is safe, and even Hauk was picked on, since Skyrim had been with the Empire from the start. But Hauk has no difficulty standing up to a couple of stray Orcs, so they soon left him alone," Lena chuckled. "It is however an ideal place to hide for someone who wishes to vanish into thin air. Although I don't think that the attacker resides there, I think he or she uses it as a stepping stone to get away. You lose track of anyone there very quickly."

"Interesting," Lucien nodded, making more notes on a fresh scroll. "Anything else?"

"About Orcrest? No," Lena shook her head. "Didn't find anything of substance there. Hauk had his own business, as you can imagine, so I had a lot of time on my hands, and nothing. This isn't it."

"All right," Lucien drew a line under his notes. "Continue."

"Corinthe," Lena started a new chapter. "Lots going on there, that's a big city, bustling with all sorts of things, and I thought I caught a trail of someone suspicious." She smiled contentedly, and Lucien looked up. "A woman approached me with a proposition to steal something, said I looked promising. I thought she singled me out because she suspected me to be an assassin though."

"And?"

"Well, she's dead. Sorry," Lena blushed and Lucien looked annoyed. "I went on this 'heirloom recovery' job with her that she was talking about, but there was an ambush set up in the cellar. I had to defend myself. Didn't get a chance to interrogate her..."

"Hauk?" Lucien interrupted her.

"Wasn't with me," Lena looked apologetic. "I regretted it the moment that woman attacked. Hauk would have made her talk..."

"You need to invest in a paralysing dagger for just such an eventuality," Lucien pointed out. "Like the one I gave to Fenris back in Leyawiin - ten seconds paralysis. Impossible to resist and gives you enough time to tie them up." He made another note. "And Fenris' blood - he did give you some, I trust? That would have been the time to be a vampire again."

"I didn't take Fenris' blood when I was there last," Lena blushed again, realising just why he had left it for her. "I couldn't imagine why I would want a relapse on purpose... I see it now."

"Well, anyway, that's for another time," Lucien dismissed the topic. "Continue."

"I didn't find any documents on the woman's body, save for a scrap of parchment - a fragment of some pamphlet or a manifesto." She passed the fragment to Lucien. "I searched the house, nothing out of the ordinary, but lots of valuable jewellery, so I think she probably was with the Thieves Guild. May be a fence or a doyen or something. But this trail went cold."

"It's a lead though," Lucien looked thoughtful, turning over the fragment in his hand. "The Thieves Guild has every reason to hate us, what with your recent projects and all," he smiled. "Both in Cyrodiil and Skyrim. Perhaps they want to warn us not to try the same thing in Elsweyr. Be on the lookout for more such scraps of parchment." He gave it back to Lena.

"Since when have thieves become skilled assassins?" Lena looked dubious. "Skilled enough to kill some of ours?"

"The attacker is not necessarily a skilled assassin," Lucien objected. "I did say that most attacks ended with the attacker running away. They are good at stealth and escapes, but they are not that great with a blade. This is not a professional assassin."

"That was my impression too - that there are no professional assassins in Elsweyr. Which means of course that they keep out of sight. I did find a lot of thieves though, and most of them not affiliated with the Guild, but just working for themselves, with little skill too, I might add. Which is probably why they are not allowed into the Guild."

"They just add to the general confusion which allows the attacker to escape," agreed Lucien. "But what about smaller places like Riverhold, for example?"

"Great skooma there!" Exclaimed Lena, then blushed. "Umm, I mean I had to mingle, didn't I?" Lucien shook his head and smirked.

"You know it addles your brain, right?" He looked at her, still smiling. "Do you even remember anything of Riverhold? Apart from the skooma den?"

"Of course I do!" Lena said hotly, but with little conviction. "Well, there wasn't much to remember - nothing happened. The people there were very talkative. There's a lot of smuggling going on, but with the Khajiit it's almost legal, even the Legion often looks the other way, and Riverhold thrives on that. An assassin would stick out as a sore thumb there. Or someone who was trying to kill assassins," Lena corrected herself. "Dune, on the other hand, is a different matter entirely."

"Oh?" Lucien sat up, feeling that she was now coming to the juicy bits.

"A city of mysteries, that one," Lena grinned. "Pretty much everyone you talk to, has a story that they are not telling. You can tell from what they do say. There's always more of everything."

"And?"

"And... nothing," Lena sighed. "Nothing concrete. Too much potential, I couldn't choose which lead to follow and didn't have time to follow them all. An attacker could be hiding there. Or it could be a group of attackers, or - if it is indeed run by the Thieves Guild - it could be directed from there. But I have nothing, other than to say that I don't see another place with equally good provisions."

"All right, I see. Were any of those possible assassins that you mentioned, living in Dune?" Lucien raised his quill, ready to take notes.

"Yes, Jagar, a Redguard. He was rather obvious though, so might not be one of ours - I hope we're better than that. And I think their Fat Cat Zayiq Cherim is with the Thieves Guild, must be the local head. He practically runs the city. And then there's Under the Influence - a skooma den without an obvious owner with a Redguard woman selling skooma and a Khajiit doing apparently nothing. They have a chest there with odd jobs from various 'clients' - some 'heirloom recovery', some 'honour recovery', some also just plain requests for rare ingredients like vampire dust or daedra hearts. I think this might be an independent mercenary broker. I took a few of those scrolls, they turned out quite straightforward."

"Honour recovery?" Lucien looked up with amusement.

"Revenge killing. Someone didn't want to do a Sacrament. The Khajiit can be finicky about making an effigy of one of their own."

"But that chest does not guarantee the results," noted Lucien.

"Quite. Yet it seems to be good enough for some."

"All right. A small scale mercenary broker, never mind that. People who want guarantees will do the Sacrament. However, that broker could be used to set a trap for one of our own."

"Without anyone realising it, yes," Lena nodded. "And we would never be able to catch them doing it, either."

"We'll need to watch that somehow," Lucien paused in thought. "And I don't even know if we have a branch in Dune. I wonder why... A city of mysteries..." He looked at Lena searching. "Coupled with an escape via Orcrest... That could well be how they do it. Whether it's just one person or several." He made some more notes, then took out a fresh scroll. "Well done! I have enough for a report, it will have to do for this round. If they won't tell me whether or not we have a branch in Dune, they can continue the investigation themselves," he said with defiance. "I am but a Speaker..." He smirked. "All right, we'll see." He got up, walking over to Lena and raising her from the chair in an embrace. "I have a report to write... and some other duties. You have things to do as well, don't you?" He kissed her and she got the distinct impression that he was trying not to make her feel dismissed. But he was the Speaker, and, well, he had work to do.

"It's all right, I'll leave you to it, Mr. Lachance," Lena smiled. "See you later."

"Are you staying at the Benirus Manor?" He asked, not quite letting go of her.

"Yes, I think I will," Lena nodded. "Hauk is already gone - he's got a report to write as well." Lucien released his embrace and Lena turned to leave. "I've got some chores to run, but then... I could use some rest. Find me at the Manor when you are finished."

Lucien nodded, sitting back down at his desk, and Lena stepped out the door, catching a glimpse of him already absorbed in his report. "I've got a report to write too," she suddenly remembered. "For the Cartographers Guild. They did ask me to check those Elsweyr maps on the ground. Now, where did I put those notes..?"

16 Frostfall, 4E202 - An evening in Anvil

"I grew up in this city, you know," Lucien was looking over Anvil from the top of the lighthouse. "It was quite different back then."

"Yeah... I can imagine," Lena put her arm around his waist. "And with everything that happened in this lighthouse, too..."

"Oh, that is still ongoing," Lucien turned to her. "What with Rayenna still living here... She's got to live somewhere, of course, but I can see why some think that the lighthouse carries a curse."

"So... where did you live? Is the house still standing?"

"It is, but we didn't live in a house," Lucien laughed. "We lived in the chapel - my mother was an initiate and later a Priestess here."

"I see..." Lena nodded. "So when you joined the Brotherhood, you left."

"Yes, I was assigned to the Cheydinhal Sanctuary, so I moved there." He paused. "My mother's grave is on the chapel grounds. She lived to be an old woman - for an Imperial," he smiled, looking at Lena over the shoulder.

"Did she not object you joining the Brotherhood? It is quite different from the service to Dibella."

"Well, she would have preferred me becoming a Priest, yes," Lucien smirked. "But I followed my father's path, and she did not object. She saw him in me somehow."

"But your father - are you in touch? I assume he still lives?" Lena raised her eyes to Lucien in question.

"He lives, as far as I am aware," Lucien nodded. "But we've never met. He chose to stay away in order to protect us, and he was probably right - he is with Morag Tong."

"Yeah..." Lena was remembering something. "But wait... weren't you born in Morrowind? So you can't say you've never met. It's just that you don't remember."

"Well..." Lucien laughed. "True - he was with my mother of course when I was little. But it's like you say - I don't remember any of it. When the Arnesian War started in Morrowind, my mother left for Cyrodiil, and all contact with my father was lost. As far as I know," he added with some hesitation.

"I think you might find that not to be entirely true..." Lena sensed that there was more to it, but that it wasn't the time to pick at that particular mystery. "Things may have changed since then. Perhaps the future holds surprises."

Lucien looked at her with amusement. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you are playing a seer. Yes, the future definitely holds something, when does it not?"

They dropped the topic - the sun was setting colouring the sea and the sky pink, with the deep blue of the night already creeping in from the East. The evening was too beautiful to waste on philosophical discussions, so they locked their arms and went down to the quay for a stroll.

...

The Flowing Bowl was busy and Maenlorn was dashing back and forth serving drinks and food, but he noticed Lena and Lucien come in, motioned them to a table at the back of the room and disappeared into the kitchen. A few minutes later he emerged with a loaded tray and started offloading it before them.

"It's good to see you again, Lucien," he smiled. "Even though you won't be needing a room here any longer, I expect? And congratulations on your upcoming wedding," he beamed at Lena, then turning to Lucien, he added: "Your mother would have been pleased to see her boy finally settle down. Although I wouldn't count on that myself." The twinkle in his eye was unmistakable.

Lucien laughed, not trying to pretend he didn't get Maenlorn's insinuations.

"We don't worry about such things, Maenlorn," he looked around the room, noticing some people turning to listen in, and some women staring a little too hotly at the mention of the wedding. "Dibella be praised!" He raised a toast to the room, and people quickly turned away to mind their own business. "I see this city remembers me in more than one capacity," he winked. "How did you know about the wedding?"

"The Temple, of course," Maenlorn's broad grin directed at Lena showed her that Lucien's question was for her benefit. "You're all they talk about - the word came from Bravil almost immediately. Lucien is getting married! Who would have thought! And we believed he was a true Dibellan! And so on, and so forth. Oh, and also: but his bride is already pregnant! No surprises there though," he grinned at Lena again. "Don't you worry dear, we don't mind such minor details. Not here in Anvil we don't." He moved a few platters towards her. "You've got to eat."

Maenlorn walked off as new customers were coming in.

"I remember Maenlorn from long ago," said Lena watching him dash around the room. "And his brother Caenlorn too. But they probably don't remember me from back then."

"Of course they do," Lucien smirked. "Bosmer have long memories. But they don't let on much."

"I wouldn't be so sure..." Lena looked around the room noticing people being interested in Lucien, not herself. She didn't mind. "I am only known here as one of the mages with the Guild."

"Yeah, the one who sorted out the Benirus Manor. And the Serpent's Wake. And Lelles' 'houseguests', and that Bjalfi at Fort Strand... Oh, and the Gweden Farm of course - do I need to go on?" Lucien smiled. "You are not exactly incognito here."

Lena smiled at the recollections. "The Serpent's Wake was really strange though. 'Someone murdered the entire crew!' - Varulae told me and I didn't believe her, I thought it was she who murdered the crew. But then I changed my mind, and I still don't know what to think of it."

"When was it that you helped her?" Lucien looked at her shrewdly.

"Mmm, last year? Why?"

"Because she's been running that gag for two hundred years at least," Lucien smirked. "It was true enough back then - they had returned from the Summerset Isles and someone did in fact murder the entire crew. It was one botched job if you ask me - the contract was on Varulae, not the crew!"

"It was ours?" Lena sat up. "So how come Varulae is still alive?"

"Did you not find any papers on that when you were searching the lighthouse?"

"In the cellar?" Lena looked shocked.

"In the cellar," Lucien nodded.

"Oh... Yes, I did... A contract on the owner of the Serpent's Wake... I didn't pay attention to it though, I found many other similar papers, I just thought since Bellamont was a Speaker..."

"Yes, of course, most of those papers were just ordinary contracts," Lucien nodded. "But he had started undermining the Brotherhood already long before he main events. That was supposed to be an ordinary contract and it should have been passed on to the Anvil Sanctuary, but Bellamont twisted it, murdered the crew instead of the actual target hoping that the contract giver would complain... Trouble was, the contract giver was among the crew... And Varulae now had a ghost ship to milk."

"Milk? But she paid me for the recovery of the crystal ball? A most ordinary crystal ball, I might add..." Lena said, still puzzled.

"Yes, she paid you - what? A hundred septims? And collected a few thousands from the bookie. Why do you think there was a crowd there waiting to see whether you'd come out alive?" Lucien sat back, smiling.

"So if that was - is - a common thing, why would anyone remember me for falling for it?" Something didn't add up.

"It was because of the noises heard coming from the bowels of the ship when you were inside, and because of the damage to the ship," Lucien explained. "Did you summon a daedroth? Or something equally destructive? Were you throwing fireballs? On a wooden ship?"

"Well... I might have done..." Lena turned red realising her mistake.

"Oh don't worry about that!" Lucien laughed. "Varulae made more than enough money on you to cover the expense of repairs. But she became a lot more careful with her selection of candidates after that. No more mages!"

"Right... So she was doing it for two hundred years, and then one Lena Wolf comes along, and boom goes Varulae's ghost ship..." Lena noticed several people in the room smirk and giggle and wondered just how many of them were listening in on their conversation. "Yeah, I can see why they might remember me," she concluded with a smile.

...

They returned to the city through the Castle Gate and Lena noticed Lucien glancing at the cemetery by the Chapel. He seemed somehow detached.

"I need to stop by the Mages Guild," offered Lena. "I'll see you at the Manor shortly."

Lucien nodded and smiled.

...

Irene Lachance's grave was well cared for, although the stone was plain, with just her name on it. No dates, no epitaphs.

"Hello, mum," Lucien kneeled by it. "I did as you asked. I've waited for the right woman. It took a while."

He didn't expect a reply. Ghosts of Imperials did not linger in Mundus, didn't follow their children along like Dunmer ancestors did. Yet he thought he felt something... a presence. "Probably just my imagination," he reasoned. He looked up and saw a faint ghostly apparition further on among the graves. It beckoned to him. Lucien got up and followed.

The ghost disappeared through the doors of the chapel undercroft. Lucien pushed the door fully expecting having to fight Sanctified Ghosts within, but the undercroft was empty, the dead resting peacefully in their coffins. The ghost from the cemetery was hovering in the middle of the room, looking more solid in the gloom.

"Your mother has departed," the ghost said to him. "Just as you thought. But I am still here. We are all still here - you are not alone."

Lucien peered into the ghost's face, he could now make out the features. They didn't look familiar, but they were Dunmer.

"My father's side? Are you my father?" He asked.

"I am your Great Uncle," the ghost replied. "Your father still lives. You wished to speak with your mother... That isn't possible. So they sent me instead. I was like you - an assassin. Like your father. You are one of us."

"My father... I don't remember him." Lucien wasn't sure what to say to the ghost.

"No, you were too young. And you know why he's been staying away, although it might be less of an issue now..." The ghost turned around, as if listening to someone behind him whom Lucien couldn't see. "They say I shouldn't interfere, that you know what to do. Do you?"

"Do about what?" This was a most perplexing conversation.

"Your marriage will anger that other woman... a Redguard? She will turn to Mephala for help."

"Rayenna?" Lucien had been talking to Sa'Sinar about her only that very morning. Rayenna had tried to have Lena murdered before, hoping to have Lucien for herself, and now she had been exiled from the Dark Brotherhood. That didn't mean she couldn't work, it only meant to she had to face the Wrath of Sithis in her sleep. Sa'Sinar, her Speaker, was giving her contracts, trying to keep her close and under observation, more than for any other reason. It seemed the Ancestors thought she would make a move.

"Yes," the ghost nodded. "There is no telling what she'll do, but if she turns to Morag Tong..."

"All sorts of unpleasantness might follow," Lucien finished his sentence. "Yes. I know. But what can I do? Lena won't stay at home, and other than taking precautions and sending someone to warn my father, I don't see..."

The ghost laughed, and the sound of its cackle resonated in the crypt.

"You do know what to do, my boy!" He exclaimed, clapping his hands. "Welcome to the family!" He span around, listening to the unseen others. "Come and visit us in Morrowind some day," he said, as if relaying a message. "We have an Ancestral Tomb not far from Odrosal, just inside the Ghostfence."

"The area obliterated by the eruption of the Red Mountain," Lucien looked at the ghost with suspicion. "I know it must have been after your time, but..."

"But don't I read the papers?" The ghost chuckled. "Yes, I do. Well, come and see for yourself. Perhaps not all of the official accounts were true," he winked. Could ghosts wink? Evidently.

"Come when things get settled, we are in no hurry," the ghost winked again.

"Why have you never come to me before?" Lucien wondered why none of his Dunmer ancestors ever came to his defence as they did to their Dunmer children.

"You are not a Dunmer," the ghost came closer. "We can't... It's against the rules. But you called on your mother now, and since she couldn't attend, we figured those rules were more like guidelines anyway. I mean, what can they do to us? We are already dead..." The ghost paused, listening to something. "Oh, turns out, they can do things to us after all... But never mind that, we'll manage. Come and visit us some day..."

The ghostly shape twisted, swirled and disappeared. "Someone definitely did something to that ghost," thought Lucien with a shudder. Odrosal, just inside the Ghostfence... the Salvel Ancestral Tomb... he'd remember that. For later. For some day.

I am up to Page 5, Post 93. I have never had a character go to Shivering Isles yet, so I have no idea what it actually entails. But the verbal exchanges between Lena, Sheo, and Dylan are a delight! I also 'enjoy' (not sure if that's the right word) the fact that Lena actually struggles with her semi-vampirism.

Maybe I've said this before in the past, probably have. But vampirism should not be something as casual as portrayed in ES games, it should be dramatic at times. Stressful. Maybe even embarrassing, amongst her friends & followers. Which is definitely captured at times.

Renee - the way Sheogorath speaks, is pretty much taken from the game. Not necessarily the actual words, of course, but when you do get there, you'll recognise it, I hope.

As for vampirism... Lena indeed has a problem with that. I mean, she got infected by accident, it took her literally years and years to get everything together for that cure with the Witch's Potion (the only possibility before Vile Lair came out), and then when she took it, she lost such a chunk of her abilities and looked so bad, that everyone shunned her because of that... And now it turns out she wasn't even fully cured! Yeah, she's got a problem with that.