Chapter 6

Narvith and Uvarin looked so similar to each other that Daria wondered if they might be related. Both of them were lean and cruel-looking Dunmer with heads of thick auburn hair. Narvith was middle-aged with a sharply cut beard, while Uvarin was maybe a bit younger than Daria, his face clean-shaven and marked by tattoos.

"What's this, Johanna? Gathered another apprentice?" Narvith asked, pointing to Daria. He and Uvarin still floated above the rocky surface. Link eyed them apprehensively.

Johanna chuckled. "Oh, no, she's just a friend visiting from Helnim."

Daria appreciated Johanna's lie—if this guy ever looked for her, he'd go to Helnim instead of Balmora.

"I'd worry about being outnumbered," Narvith said, "but given the quality of your apprentices, I'd say this is still stacked in my favor."

"It's not my apprentices you need to worry about, Narvith. I'm guessing you want to steal the amulet?"

"Yes. I heard about your mission. I have ears everywhere."

Daria stepped back. The Telvanni way ensured this would end in bloodshed of some kind. Her paltry magic had no place here. Link was only a kid, but he stared at Uvarin with all the boiling hatred born from a lifetime of injury.

She had no idea what to do. Nowhere to run. Hiding in the hull wouldn't keep her safe for long. Her life might well depend on how well Johanna and Link defended themselves. Which, she supposed, meant she had to help.

Daria had seen people die. But she'd never killed anyone.

Narvith struck first. A jagged bolt of lightning jumped from his palm and struck Johanna's shield with an ear-rending crack. Then Uvarin threw a sphere of flame down at Link. The young Altmer leapt out of the way as the sphere detonated on the slick rocks.

Daria focused on Uvarin. He floated six feet above the ground. Maybe if the shield was weak, Daria could dispel it, but she hadn't studied the right school for that. Nonetheless, she gathered her energies, hoping Uvarin wouldn't land on his head, but knowing that the apprentice posed a danger for as long as he lived…

Link beat her to the punch. A surge of white light engulfed his arm, and jumped to Uvarin's shield, shattering it. The Dunmer apprentice fell and hit the ground. He recovered in an instant, launching a blast of flame at Link.

A storm of lightning, fire, and frost raged above their heads as Johanna and Narvith unleashed their spells on each other. Daria focused on the fight occurring on the ground. Uvarin never let up. His hands shaped fire into burning spheres that he lobbed at his target, one after the other.

Somehow, Link kept dodging. The flicker of the shield around him reminded Daria to cast her own shield. It fizzled out when she tried. Another fireball flew. It hit Link and burst. Flames washed over his shield, and the magic broke. He fell.

Uvarin laughed. This time, Daria knew, he'd strike to kill.

She grabbed a wet rock at her feet and charged. She called magic as if on instinct. The spell quickened her speed so that she zoomed across the beach. She ran up close to the distracted Uvarin and slammed the rock into his side. Something snapped inside his chest, and he screamed in pain.

The combination of her speed and the wet stone beneath her feet made it impossible for Daria to stay balanced. She slipped and fell, pain shooting through her hip and left leg where they hit the ground. At least her glasses stayed on that time. Flashes of arcane lightning hued the sky a ghastly white.

Daria tried to right herself but lost her grip and fell again. Uvarin had dropped to one knee, clutching his side. She'd hurt him. Link stood on his feet again, apparently unharmed.

Narvith passed over her head. Bolts of electricity followed the mage as he fled. Johanna, still aloft in her bubble of force, pursued a little while before turning back around.

They'd won.

Uvarin wailed and cursed. He gestured at the approaching Johanna, but no spell came to his aid. She crooked her finger, and he stiffened in place, as if paralyzed.

Link ambled toward his rival, a grin on his face.

"Well, Link. I believe this boy's been causing you problems," Johanna said.

"Wait!" Daria cried. She tried to get up, but the pain in her hip brought her down. She'd fallen hard.

She tried again. "Wait! You already beat him! He's a kid—"

Link pointed at Uvarin. The lightning from his fingertip lit up the entire beach.

*********

Rain was pouring by the time Johanna's boat returned to Sadrith Mora in the mid-afternoon. She abjured the atronach once they reached the docks. They disembarked, Johanna with a look of satisfaction, while Link stayed stone-faced. Daria limped behind them, her leg still stiff from the fall.

"If it's all the same to you," Daria said, "I think I'll go back to Balmora today."

Johanna arched a skeptical eyebrow. "It's a long walk to Wolverine Hall. You're improving as a mage. Nothing compared to me. Not even much compared to Link. But better than before."

"Which means I got what I wanted. I need to go home."

Go home to where nobody knew that she'd been an accessory to a killing. She imagined her mother giving the defense.

"Narvith had initiated combat," she imagined Mom saying, "so by Tamrielic law, Daria was simply defending herself and her companions. Yes, killing Uvarin may have been in bad form, but the assaulted party is under no legal obligation to be merciful."

The thought made her sick.

Johanna didn't bother Daria as she gathered up her things. She simply watched with a knowing and faintly amused look in her eyes.

"I guess I owe you some thanks for the lesson," Daria said. "So, uh, thanks. Consider the favor repaid."

"Uh huh. You keep practicing, Daria. It's a mean world out there."

"Don't I know it."

Shouldering her backpack, she opened the door and set off on the fungus-draped main road around Sadrith Mora. If she walked quickly, she'd reach Wolverine Hall by late afternoon. The relay to Balmora—where it'd hopefully be sunny—would be instantaneous.

And then to Jane's. Daria couldn't come back to her mom and dad smelling of seawater and with a limp in her step. It wasn't a bad injury, but she needed some time to heal. Needed to tell someone what had happened. Jane wouldn't gloat about being right. Daria should have listened to her.

A door opened and shut behind Daria, followed by a patter of light footsteps.

"Hey!" Link caught up with her. "Are you mad at me?"

She heard the accusatory tone in his voice. "No," she said.

"Yes, you are. I saw your look when I fried Uvarin. You know that if we let him live, he'd have killed me, right?"

Daria stopped. Next to them, a Bosmer dockworker guided a guar-pulled wagon full of spiny urchins and blue crabs down the street to the shellbreaker's. She waited for the rumbling wagon to pass.

"I understand why you did it, Link. I'm not mad at you." She gestured at the awful, living city around them. "I'm mad that they put you in this position."

But he shook his head. "It's the only position there is, Daria. You think Summerset's any different? Or Balmora? It's the same there! They use fancy words and pretty pictures to hide it. Killing Uvarin felt good. I don't have to be scared of him anymore."

Daria nodded. "I believe you. And yeah, I know things aren't great anywhere. Maybe I just wish they were a little better."

Link shrugged. "If you want to change things, magic's a way to do that. You could stay here and get more powerful. You annoy me a lot less than most people."

"Thanks, but I can't see myself spending the rest of my life in a mushroom."

"You don't have to be in a sadrith. I don't think so, anyway. We can work something out. Change things up, like you want. Make the world better."

"Has any Telvanni lord made the world a better place?" Daria asked.

"Maybe. There's been a lot of Telvanni lords over the centuries. Don't know what all of them did. Look, most places have all these stupid customs and laws that make it impossible to do anything. Here in Telvanni lands, you only need to be strong."

"Do you remember how Narvith fled?" Daria asked. "He didn't do anything to help Uvarin. Do you think Johanna would help you in that situation?"

"Probably not. It'd be her decision. It's my job to be strong enough to not end up dead."

"But you almost did. I'm the one who helped save you."

He made an exasperated grunt. "What are you getting at? Yeah, I'll be stronger on the defense next time. Yeah, you helped me. Thanks! I mean it! But at the end of the day, if I get killed, well, it's my fault for being weak. That's true anywhere. The Telvanni just admit it, is all."

Daria saw what she was up against. "I don't think I'm cut out for a life that vicious."

"It's not that bad. I'll watch out for you, okay? I mean, as long as you're also practicing and all that. It gets…"

He looked down at the ground. "It's lonely without anyone to talk to."

"I'm sorry, Link. Sadrith Mora isn't the place for me."

Link narrowed his eyes and then spat on the ground. "Fine. Run away to Balmora. It's not any better there."

He turned around.

"Wait, Link!" She called.

The boy stopped and looked over his shoulder.

"Stay safe, okay?" she said.

Link eyed her for a moment. Then he turned his head and marched away.

Cold and shivering, the pain in her hip worse than before, Daria stayed to watch him go back into Johanna's house. Once the door shut, she turned around and resumed the long hike to Wolverine Hall.

Musical Closer - Black, by Danger Mouse (featuring Norah Jones)

The End

This post has been edited by WellTemperedClavier: Dec 1 2024, 05:40 AM

What you (Clavier) and Renee were talking about with the Santa Ana winds reminds me of an episode of the old Magnum PI show, called The Kona Winds. It is named after the titular western winds that blow at the beginning of winter. It is one of the darker episode, both literally and metaphorically, with the spectre of the winds looming over it all.

Well, that got ugly quick. Here we go. Hopefully Johanna has the chops to take down this rival Telvanni wizard and his brood. If this was a martial arts movie, it would be Mr. Miyagi and Daniel facing down the Kobra Kai.

And Daria is there to save the day with a rock and some quick feet! And she saved her glasses while she was at it. All in all, a good save, for someone who still is clearly not an aficionado of magic.

I am guessing that Uvarin got what was coming to him. What is coming to every Telvanni sooner or later, as I doubt too many of them die quietly of old age.

I imagine that won't sit well with Daria though. She knew what the Telvanni were like going in. But that is what she had been told. Now she has both seen it, and been part of it firsthand. I suspect that her time in the Isles is done.

You annoy me a lot less than most people.
Now that is a sentence Daria is not used to hearing from others!

That is about what I expected from Daria's farewell with Link, on both sides. Nothing was going to change there, not Link, not Daria. But at least they both survived it.

Way to go, Daria! Once a mage’s shields have been weakened, smash them with a mace. Or a rock.

Very telling that Narvith ran away, leaving Uvarin to die.

“Yes, you are. I saw your look when I fried Uvarin. You know that if we let him live, he’d have killed me, right?”
- - I would have made the same call, Link. For the same reason.

I’m glad that Daria realized that Telvanni is not the way for her. Too bad about Link though. He is bitter enough to perhaps fully embrace Telvanni ways.

Daria has kind of limited her choices regarding magic in terms of learning new things as well as practicing. If the mages guild is too boneheaded/corrupt for her. . . are there druids in MW? Witches of the Wyrd? Ashlanders have skilled magic users (shamans) don’t they? Psijic Order perhaps?

Yessir I can imagine how creepy that'd be, those sort of desert winds. Lonely, too.

Absolutely (about magic taking practice). And the need to get it right for real-life applications, too. Speaking of....

DAMN this is making me nervous, this battle. Every spell getting cast...

... Link is dodging, good. I don't know how true to the game you're taking this, but after a while the newcomers will run out of magicka. That's one thing I've noticed about the vanilla game. A lot of gamers add magicka regen in so that they can keep casting spells. I never opted this. Reason being: it gets real interesting when NPCs run out of magic. Which they eventually do if we keep dodging them like Link!

OH [censored]. DAria's getting into it! -- Narvith flees?? Wow. Didn't seem to take much. Thing is, it seems like Daria's the one who turned the tides, here. Seems like Narvith only flees because his bud is down.

Gooood... end of the fight! It's the only way. You don't just defeat them, you let them know they LOST. Good job Link (sorry Daria). You gotta go all the way when it comes to battling.

Love the part when mom does her lawyer-speak in Dar's head! - Indeed, it was self-defense, your honor. 🔨

The ending is touching, too. Always tough to say goodbye, isn't it?

Norah Jones, nice. She is Ravi Shankar's daughter, you know who he is?

This post has been edited by Renee: Mar 14 2023, 08:29 PM

Episode 23: Big Mer on Campus

Chapter 1

Students came in and out of Drenlyn Academy all the time. The academy was as transactional as everything else in Hlaalu lands: An outlander family paid the entry fees, their bright-eyed child made some connections, and then both parties went their separate ways, never to meet again. A new student normally warranted no particular attention.

But this new one was an exception.

He was a Dunmer in Ondryn's class, which was a class specifically intended for outlanders clueless about Morrowind. Daria watched him take a seat on the middle bench one Middas morning. Had he stepped into the wrong room? Or was he another Cyrodiil-born Dunmer, like Jane? He certainly dressed like an Imperial, and a wealthy one at that, with his blue moth-silk frock coat and white cravat. Only the dots of raised flesh running beneath his hairline, artfully concealed by a few loose locks of dark hair, suggested an origin in Morrowind.

"Good morning, class!" Sera Ondryn said as he hurried up to his podium. "I have a special announcement to make!"

"Your retirement, hopefully," Daria whispered, wishing Jane still sat next to her, ready with a sharp comment of her own. But work kept Jane busy. It had been over a week since her last visit to campus.

"Drenlyn Academy—and this class—now has the honor of hosting Serjo Tomal Sloan of Great House Hlaalu! Let us all acknowledge this young man on whom so many of our hopes rest!"

He pointed at the new Dunmer, and the whole class turned to look, murmuring and bowing their heads.

"Uh, thank you, Sera Ondryn," Tomal said. "I was actually hoping to keep a low profile here, but I guess that ship already sailed."

Daria narrowed her eyes. Who did Tomal think he was kidding with the false modesty?

"The honor is ours, Serjo Sloan," Ondryn said, bowing again. "Class, Serjo Sloan isn't an outlander like the rest of you, but he has spent the last two years—"

"Five years," Tomal corrected.

"—in the Imperial City itself! I'm sure he has so many exciting stories to tell us."

Great, Daria thought. More Imperial City braggadocio. She'd heard too much breathless enthusiasm about the place to ever want to visit it.

"Well," Tomal said, "if you want something exciting, I could tell you about my dad's reaction when he got the bill for the arena seats."

That got him a few chuckles, and Daria scowled more deeply. Another noble kid so jaded that he couldn't even say anything interesting about the Imperial City.

Ondryn gave a faltering laugh. "When I found out Serjo Sloan was attending Drenlyn, I specifically requested that he attend this class, and am ever so thankful that he accepted."

"Of course."

"As Serjo Sloan is familiar with both Imperial and Dunmer culture, he can help the rest of you better acclimate yourselves to life in our province. Remember: Great House Hlaalu cares and has room for everyone."

"As long as they're wealthy," Daria muttered.

Tomal glanced over to her and raised his eyebrows in amused acknowledgement. Daria immediately switched her gaze to Ondryn. Stupid of her to openly mock a great house like that, but she wasn't used to sharing this class with Hlaalu members. She wouldn't get in big trouble for it.

Probably.

"Which," Ondryn continued, "actually brings us to your next project: the city of Balmora itself!"

He paused, as if waiting for a reaction. Not getting any, he cleared his throat. His smile got a bit more forced.

"Except for Serjo Sloan, you have all come from somewhere outside Morrowind. But Balmora has graciously accepted you in spite of that. Since we are all in this together, I decided that the next phase of your education will be to learn more about the city in which you live. What is your place in Balmora? What do you enjoy about it?"

Not that long ago, Daria might've said "nowhere" and "nothing". But Balmora sure beat Caldera and Sadrith Mora. And Charach, for that matter.

"I want you to dive deep into the history of this city," he urged.

"As deep as you can get with the twenty paltry years of it," she whispered. Commentary felt weird without Jane.

Tomal offered her a faint smile. He'd heard her again. Mer did have better hearing than humans. "Hey, you can fit a lot of treachery into a few decades," he said.

What the hell was she supposed to say? He was a noble. Didn't he get that?

"I have no idea how you want me to respond," Daria said.

Ondryn zeroed in on the noise and drew himself up, looking about as threatening as an offended gopher. "Daria! Do not distract Serjo Sloan!"

"It's my fault, Sera Ondryn," Tomal said. "I was asking her a question."

"I see," Ondryn said. Then he focused on Daria again. "Regardless, Daria, while I'm not trying to make you feel like you don't belong, you need to remember that, in Morrowind, students do not hold conversations during a teacher's lecture!" He let out an exasperated sigh.

Daria glared at Tomal, and he shrugged apologetically.

"Back to the instructions. You'll be working in pairs assigned to different areas of the city." He chuckled. "Don't worry, I won't make any of you go to Labor Town. I don't think any of you live there… hmm. Anyway, you and your partner will have the exciting opportunity to learn about your assigned area. When you're done, you'll use your talents in oratory to relay your findings to the class next Morndas so that we can all learn. All right, let's see, the pairings will be: Jolda and Julien, you'll get to learn about Guild Row. Daz'rir and Treads-on-Ferns, you get to uncover the fascinating history of the strider port!"

Daria dreaded her partner already. It'd most likely be whoever sat next to her. Which that day, meant either Jonus (and his incessant attempts to get her to set him up with Quinn) or Tiphannia (and her inability to understand basic concepts like finishing sentences in a timely manner).

"Let's see, middle row: Karl and Jonus, you two will learn about Silk-hawkers' Street!"

Odd. He'd skipped over Tomal. Maybe kids of Tomal's rank didn't have to complete assignments.

"Serjo Sloan, would you be willing to work with Daria so as to learn the history of the Hlaalu Council Manor?"

"Oh, certainly," Tomal said.

Dammit.

Musical Closer - Kiss Them For Me, by Siouxsie and the Banshees

This post has been edited by WellTemperedClavier: Dec 1 2024, 05:41 AM

A new chapter!

Tomal as a subject matter expert on bowing to the great houses and, thus, fitting in to Morrowind? Makes sense I guess. Doesn’t take long for Tomal and Daria to begin irritating each other though.

Uh-oh, as soon as Ondryn announced the next assignment would involve working in pairs, I was afraid Daria would get paired with Tomal – sure enough. This ought to be interesting. Perhaps Tomal will harbor a few surprises from what Daria expects as they delve into the history of the Hlaalu Council Manor.

The academy was as transactional as everything else in Hlaalu lands
Burn!

Uh oh, it's the return of Tom. This cannot bode well for Daria's relationship with Jane.

Oh my a local history lesson. I wonder how much treachery could be uncovered? Probably quite a bit, I imagine. Or House Hlaalu is slipping...

Well, at least they won't have to go to Labor Town! They might get something on them if they did...

Oooh, and Daria gets to team up with Tom to delve deeply into the Hlaalu history of treachery itself!

Ha ha she wants the teacher to retire! Daria's so priceless. This opening scene is already cracking me up. Every time you use an explanation point, like this: ! I'm laughing. Don't know why.

What is Jane busy doing? Is she painting? Well that's good then, right?

Oh my gosh... "I won't make you go to Labor Town, I don't think any of you live there..." what the heck, dude? Isn't that statement sort of highbrow?

Too bad Jane isn't there, maybe she'd be Daria's partner. Then again, I bet being with this Tomal fellow's going to turn interesting. Like, why is he the Big Mer on Campus?

Chapter 2

It was almost noon, and Ondryn's class cared only about getting out for lunch. A dozen small conversations filled the room, and Ondryn more or less admitted his irrelevance by busying himself with paperwork.

Daria did not like her situation. Nobles meant trouble. Tomal acted like it was no big deal, but it absolutely was for a commoner like her. She could talk to Ondryn about it. She could also talk to the wall for all the good it would do.

"Hi, Daria, right?"

It was Tomal. He sat down next to her with an ingratiating smile on his face.

"Serjo Sloan," she acknowledged.

"You can just call me Tomal. All my friends in the Imperial City did."

Her mind raced for a response. Why couldn't people be direct? "I'm sure your noble friends did. Forgive me. I wasn't sure—"

Daria's whole body roiled at having asked for forgiveness when she'd done nothing wrong. Had not, in fact, really done anything.

"Look, I can't stand all the phony titles either," Tomal said. "So please, call me Tomal. I didn't want Ondryn to announce who I was. Guess he didn't get the memo."

"If it's all the same with you, I'd prefer to continue referring to your title. That way, no one can accuse me of disrespect."

Tomal sighed. "If that makes you feel better. I wanted to apologize for getting you in trouble. It was crummy of Ondryn to blame you for all that. It was my fault, too."

"Which," Daria said, "is exactly why I prefer to keep calling you serjo. Because even if you want to act like your nobility doesn't matter, it does. And I'll be the one who pays for it."

"Right. Well, in that case, when do you want to do this assignment? I'm helping my father with a business deal tomorrow, and on Fredas I have to attend Serjo Uvath's birthday. I should be free on Loredas."

"Since my schedule clearly doesn't matter, why did you ask?"

"Trying to be polite?"

She usually got together with Jane on Loredas. But with how busy Jane had gotten, Daria didn't think that would happen. "Fortunately for us both," Daria said, "I'm an asocial shut-in who doesn't have any schedule beyond school and work."

"Uh, great?"

The bell's sorrowful clang sounded out in the courtyard, and the students fled the class. Tomal said goodbye, and Daria waited for him to leave the room before she marched up to Ondryn. She barely bothered with a bow.

"Sera Ondryn. May I have a moment of your time?"

His mouth tightened. "Of course, Daria." Then he smiled. "You needn't worry. I forgive you for your earlier interruption."

"If I'd come to ask forgiveness, I'd be thankful." Probably not the best lead, she realized, so she launched right into it before he had time to criticize her attitude. "Why have I been given the honor of working with Serjo Sloan? All of the other students were assigned to work with the person sitting next to them."

Ondryn's eyes moved from side to side, as if searching for an exit. Conversation from the outside drifted in through the narrow windows. "Oh, well, I suppose I wanted to liven things up. You know, we Dunmer know how to have fun, too!"

"Unfortunately, as a boring old Imperial, a slight alteration in the partner selection process is too much excitement for me to handle. Which is why I'm wondering if there was any other reason."

Ondryn was squishy. For all his stiff pride, it didn't take much for him to lose his nerve, even to an outlander. His sense of superiority only lasted up until an actual confrontation.

He gulped. "If you must know… first, I want to say that I absolutely believe you can fit into things here. But you are sometimes… well, a bit recalcitrant, heh."

Recalcitrant. Wasn't it enough that she did her schoolwork and did it better than everyone else (except maybe Jolda)? "I'm not sure what that has to do with Serjo Sloan."

"You see, Serjo Sloan is a role model. I'm a strong believer in role models for education. Think of some of the role models you Imperials have like…" His brow furrowed in thought. Then his eyes brightened. "Like the emperor!"

"Clearly, you're thoroughly informed as to the intricacies of our culture," Daria said.

"I try my best. Anyway, I think that Serjo Sloan's time in Cyrodiil means he's someone the students here can relate to. I daresay he's a pretty cool guy!"

"Your hope is that he'll be a good influence on me?"

"Exactly! I'm so glad you're finally taking a proactive approach to your education by realizing this. Is there anything else?" He sounded almost like he was begging for her to leave.

"Only the bitter acknowledgement that I have no choice but to obey the authorities."

"That's a very healthy attitude to take, Daria! I think you've grown a lot these past few years."

"Oh, I sure have," she remarked.

She waited until she went out the door before finishing her thought. "And none of it was from your class."

The beginnings of a headache manifested behind Daria's eyes. She took her glasses off and blinked like an owl in the bright autumn sun. The world returned to focus as she donned the lenses again. Middas was one of her busier days. She had a class with Dimartani in the afternoon, and a stretch of lunch before that. Not that long ago, she'd have spent lunch snarking away with Jane in some secluded corner. Lacking other options, she retreated into the library. The building's dark mustiness recalled the dark kitchen in Charach, where she'd spend days hiding between pages from the other kids.

"She's gotta be somewhere!" Quinn's voice came through the window. "Wait, she always goes wherever there's books!"

"Great," Daria muttered. "I'm predictable, too."

The door opened, and Quinn hurried inside. "Daria! Is it true—"

"Sorry, Quinn, but this library is a temple to literacy, which means you and your ilk are not permitted to cross the threshold."

Quinn made a dismissive wave. "Whatever! Tiphannia just told me that you're working with Serjo Tomal Sloan. The Sloans are like the richest people in Balmora! Do you know what this means?"

"That the Empire's skewed economic priorities allow certain families to accumulate more wealth than they deserve?"

"Ugh! Don't try to mix me up with all of your… things! Daria, making friends with the Sloans is a really big deal. They could open like, doors and stuff."

"I usually use my hands for that sort of thing."

"You know what I mean! Oh, I should have been the one to work with him. Don't screw this up, Daria. I mean it."

"And you're so sure Tomal's a great guy?" Daria questioned. "Don't you remember that whole episode with Turimar?"

"Yes, Daria, as a matter of fact, I do. But not all nobles are like that. Briltasi's a noble, and she's nice."

"I'm not getting involved with this. Hopefully, we'll get the assignment done and never see each other again."

"Get to know him at least. If he's not mean, or creepy, or anything, maybe introduce him to me, and then I can get our whole family ennobled through marriage. Then things would be great for us! Like, I could get the best dresses and go to the most fashionable parties all the time!"

"But what would I get out of it?" Daria asked.

Quinn rolled her eyes and gave an exasperated sigh. "A life of aristocratic luxury where you could spend all day reading whatever you want, duh! Sometimes I think there's something wrong with your brain." She shook her head. "Look, ask me if you have any questions about how to be, like presentable, and stuff. Like it or not, there's a lot riding on you here."

Daria grunted.

"Anyway, I have to go back out. Poor Satheri's having another fashion crisis. She needs to stop picking pink as her color! Remember what I said!"

Quinn gave a little wave before stepping back out into the courtyard. Alone in the library, Daria had no choice but to admit that her sister had a point.

Musical Closer - Everything I Want to Be, by Save Ferris

This post has been edited by WellTemperedClavier: Dec 1 2024, 05:43 AM

Alright, let's see why this Tomal guy is the Big Mer, or try to see. o^0

Daria's right. She's always putting the social mores first, even though Tomal says it's not necessary to do so. Tomal is not used to seeing things from the "other" side.

Recalcitrant. Always loved that word. Nobody actually says recalcitrant in everyday speech, yet it hasn't completely disappeared from modern English yet, know what I mean? It's one of those words only used in stories. Or by teachers or lawyers, perhaps. 🖋

Right, normally she'd be working with Jane, which it's been awhile since they've spoken to each other (at least in this story). Speaking of Jane, didn't she meet some guy who swept her off her feet? Even her mean, sort of traditional Dunmer family was impressed, as I recall.

Dimartani. Is tthat the TEACHER who TALKS like THIS?

Anyway, that's pretty funny. It's like Quinn has no qualms about getting to know Tomal as meal ticket to greater things, not at all as a person. She immediately jumps to the "he can open doors" part. Which believe me, I've known a couple girls like that, so it's not too farfetched. It's comical how infatuated she is with climbing Society's ladders, though.

Those who've played TES3 generally seem to approve of how ESO treated Morrowind. And if one quests there, it does involve a fair amount of time in Balmora.

Interesting discussion with Tomal and equally so the followup with Ondryn.

“She’s gotta be somewhere!” came Quinn’s voice through the window. “Wait, she always goes wherever there’s books!”
“Great,” Daria muttered. “I’m predictable, too.”

”Daria, making friends with the Sloans is a really big deal. They could open like, doors and stuff.”
“I usually use my hands for that sort of thing.”

Quinn is a hoot here!

I agree, I really love the way they made Vivec so that it was under construction, Lots of NPCs wandering around building stuff. Zenimax got a lot correct, most of all the atmosphere. The only one complaint I had was a lack of a trader shop in Seyda Neen. My gosh. First character I rolled in ESO, Ana Khannda, really wanted a bow for instance. I was so used to heading over to the Tradehouse in the beginning of TES III, for just about any sort of starting equipment, that the lack of a shoppe to buy stuff to start the game with shocked me.

And I had just met Lopov's Argonian in-game too. Poor guy had to follow my Ana all the way to Vivec, while my gal searched all over for a bow. I was going nuts! But anyway yeah, they did a good job otherwise. And I'm off-topic.


Totally. She's lovable in a way, right?

This post has been edited by Renee: Mar 21 2023, 01:54 AM

I liked that Daria is quite aware of how Tomal's noble status sets him aside from people like herself. Especially that no matter how much he like to pretend that it does not exist, people of Daria's social status literally cannot.

How generous of Ondryn to forgive Daria for her interruption.

Yep, I kind of did see Ondryn's decision to partner up Tom with Daria coming. Like Ferris Bueller, Tom's a "righteous dude".

Back to the library. Hopefully it will not collapse on her this time...

Not even the barrier of literacy could stop the Fashion Club!

As ever, Daria's conversation with Quinn is filled with delightful puns and turns of phrase, doors and hands and all.

I could get the best dresses and go to the most fashionable parties all the time!”
As ever, Quinn has her priorities straight.

Chapter 3

Jane's expert eyes studied her latest work, a three-quarters portrait of a bald Redguard. She pursed her lips and dabbed the slightest touch of dark paint to his eyes. Then she turned to Daria.

"I get that it's scary," Jane said. "But from what you tell me, Tomal sounds a lot better than some of the other Hlaalu nobles I've heard about."

It was a cool Fredas afternoon, the sun above shining bright on a city still damp from the morning's rain. Daria sat on the adobe railing around Jane's balcony, venting her troubles as her friend worked on a commission.

"How do you know it's not an act?" Daria asked.

Jane shrugged. "You could ask the same question about anyone. Besides, this whole thing was Ondryn's idea, not Tomal's. And Quinn's smarter than you think."

"I'm aware that my sister hides her ferocious intelligence behind a veil of superficiality. Gods, I feel dirty saying that. Now I feel like my family's future depends on me sucking up to someone I hate."

"Does your mom know about this?"

Daria shook her head. "Quinn agreed not to tell her on the condition that I do my best to make a good impression. But I don't want to get that close to anyone in a great house. I definitely don't want my sister marrying into one."

Jane looked back at her painting, eyes narrowing at the neck. She leaned forward, then dipped her brush into the palette and added a bit more darkness beneath the man's chin.

"You're worrying too much. Young Tomal might already have a bride lined up for him. He's a Hlaalu, so he won't give up a family business deal for a human trophy wife."

"Everything about him irks me."

"So, how does that make him different from everyone else?"

Daria rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean: the unearned privilege, the way everything's handed to him, and how he tries to act like it's not a big deal because he's so used to the good life that he can't notice it any longer."

"It's all relative. But hey, if he turns out not to be a bad guy, maybe you could put in a good word for me? Getting a noble patron is an essential career step for us artists."

"Do you have a Plan B that doesn't involve me brown-nosing one of Hlaalu's spoiled scions?" Daria asked.

"Yup. Waiting for you to rise high enough through the ranks of the Empire's bureaucracy that you functionally become an aristocrat and hire little old me to beautify you in portraiture."

"At least you'll know I got there by being honest and incorruptible."

Jane sighed. "So much for Plan B."

"At least you're realistic."

Jane put the brush down. "Don't have much choice in my position. What kind of assignment is it, anyway? I can't wait to find out about all the school crap I don't have to worry about anymore."

"So you did quit?" The casual way Jane said it sent a little jolt right through Daria's heart. She'd be stuck in the library from now on. Once upon a time that'd have been paradise for her but not anymore.

"More like I just stopped going. Lli never noticed. No surprise there. I did tell Sera Defoe."

Daria still had another year at Drenlyn—its endless classes and awful students—and now without the one person who made it bearable. "Good to know that the pursuit of education won't get in the way of your quest for lucre," Daria said.

Jane's lips twisted in irritation. "Come on, Daria. Don't tell me you're going to pretend that Drenlyn offers a decent education."

"I'll admit it's not great. But you yourself said it was useful."

"I did get some clients there. But not close to enough. Drenlyn's tuition—even at the discount I got—costs a lot. The city keeps raising taxes on 'non-essentials,' too. Which, apparently, includes a lot of my art supplies. I'm stretched too thin, Daria, and Drenlyn doesn't help anymore. Back to Tomal," she said a bit loudly. "What kind of nonsense did Ondryn assign you? Please vindicate my departure with tales of Drenlyn's stupidity."

Sure, life was tougher for Jane. But to give up like that? Everything was business, business, business in this town. It wasn't much better in any other town, either.

"Ondryn wants us to learn about Balmora's history. What little of it there is."

Jane nodded. "The city's older than you might think. Except it wasn't a city for most of it."

"How do you mean?" Daria asked.

Jane pointed northwest to High Town. "The whole town used to be scrunched up in there. Bunch of little adobe homes behind a palisade—to protect us against Ashlander raids. Huh, wonder if any of your boyfriend's ancestors killed any of my ancestors."

Daria blushed. "Tedannupal's not my boyfriend, and I haven't seen him since that one time."

"Oh, but he's still in your heart," Jane cooed. "Someday you'll be the bride of Ashkhan Tedannupal of the Odaishannabab! One of his brides, anyway."

"I hate you."

Jane snickered. "So yeah, folks have been living on that hill since the early Second Era, at the very least."

"That is pretty old," Daria said, standing up for a look. Balmora's sprawl was new, but the town itself was not.

"Granted, we're talking about village history here. The kind of history that's more about who slept with whose wife or gave a bad deal in the marketplace than about conquests and kings."

"I'm not sure the difference between those is as pronounced as you think," Daria said. "What happened to your old house?"

"Mom and Dad left for the Imperial City, and they didn't leave me and Trent with enough to pay the Council Company's new property fees. We got kicked out, they tore it down, and built a very nice manor on top of where it used to be. Same thing happened to everyone else. Most moved out. A few of us tried to make it in Labor Town."

Jane stared at the great blocky mansions surrounded by equally blocky watchtowers and then turned her eyes back to her painting. She added some quick, jabbing strokes to the edge of the painting, her arm tense.

"Uh, sorry that happened to you. The Hlaalu suck."

"That they do."

Daria sat in silence as Jane focused on her work. Jane's concentration had a clarifying quality; the whole world and all its confusing mutability shrunk down to a single canvas over which she had total control.

"Do you want to get some drinks at the Lucky Lockup?" Daria finally asked. "I'll buy."

"I wish I could," Jane said. "I have another commission to work on right after this. One I'm barely getting paid for."

"In that case, I guess I'll leave you to it." Daria stood up.

"Sorry," Jane said. "It's tough right now."

"No need to apologize. Great House Hlaalu's the one to blame."

As Daria walked down the steps leading to the street, she wondered if there was some way to weave Jane's story into her report.

Musical Closer - Fire Escape in the Sea, by Sea Power

This post has been edited by WellTemperedClavier: Dec 1 2024, 05:45 AM

I have missed Jane. Her biting observations are always something I look forward to.

“At least you’ll know I got there by being honest and incorruptible.”

Jane sighed. “So much for Plan B.”

Case in point.

It's too bad Jane can't finish school. But that is just reality, and a subtle reminder that a real world does exist here, in which people are trapped by class and economic status. Unlike in the games, where you start out in a prison cell and end up in the palace, schlepping around a zillion gold pieces.

Jane has a nice recounting of local history, from the town on the hill beset by Ashlanders, to the inevitable gentrification. I bet Mr. O'Neill would love it if Daria included the latter in her report!

No wonder we haven’t heard from Jane. She’s having to paint her fingers off and drop out of Drenlyn to make ends meet. The hardship has also sharpened her wit a bit and she’s not shy about returning some of Daria’s biting sarcasm. Nice bit of local history on how she and Trent ended up in Labor Town.

Drenlyn doesn’t offer a painting scholarship by chance? Lol. And appearance-conscious Quinn doesn’t have the gold to commission Jane to immortalize the Fashion Club.

Jane’s take on Balmora’s history is likely to conflict somewhat (okay, a LOT) with whatever Tomal comes up with in his research. Maybe Tomal will surprise Daria though.

Tomal does come across as old money, ha! -- Sorta like he's out of touch. Oh good, Jane the painter is back.

?Whoa, she quit school?? Well at least she's got a working talent. She's already got both feet into it, too. I just hope she's able to survive.

I am glad Teddy gets mentioned. Tedannupal, that is. He's awesome.



Damn, that's damn-near poetry, Clavier. Crystals, man.

One thing I really like about this phase of the story is that Daria's now got some magical talent, yet she's sitting on it for now. Not going around casting spells all over, but maybe practicing in her room. It's just a little secret we're now all aware of. And I feel like it's going to play some part in a future storyline, perhaps.


Today's song is dreamy. Never heard this band before. Sea power. 🌊

Chapter 4

Daria hiked up the stairs to High Town not long after breakfast and walked straight to the big fountain plaza, where she and Tomal had agreed to meet. A patchwork of light clouds covered the sky, and a faint whiff of sulfur fouled the air. As Daria passed between the stately adobe manor houses, she tried to imagine the place as it might have looked decades ago: a small huddle of simple homes surrounded by miles of rocky desolation. That was the world Jane must have come to when she was a small child, fresh from the Imperial City.

And now, it appeared that the city had followed her. Hard to imagine standing on the hill and hearing only the wind.

The Hlaalu Council Manor was the closest thing Balmora had to a town hall. It didn't look much different from the buildings around it, standing out only by the banner displaying the tipped scales that served as Great House Hlaalu's sigil. Fat, metallic beetles buzzed in circles around the big fountain in front. Unlike the busy public spaces of the Commercial District and Labor Town, this one felt almost deserted. Only a few people, all of them Dunmer in imported Cyrodiilic clothes, walked through, never staying for long. A few cast suspicious glances at Daria as she passed by.

Their reaction to Tomal, when he arrived, was the complete opposite. As he walked onto the scene, hands in pockets and expression unassuming, the few people present practically ran over to greet him.

"Honor unto your family, young Serjo Sloan," one said.

"Under sun and sky, I greet you warmly, serjo!"

"Serjo Sloan: may ALMSIVI smile upon you and your kin."

Each greeting turned into a chat. Tomal exchanged pleasantries, his lips smiling and his eyes a million miles away. As always, the subject turned to business.

"If your father is still interested in raising money for his Cyrodiilic investments, I would be interested in purchasing some of his land in the Ascadian Isles. New fields for the netch, you see," one Dunmer said.

"Thank you for your offer, Muthsera Naravyn," Tomal said, "but I'm not authorized to make that sort of business decision."

"Serjo Sloan, my house is holding a celebration in honor of my third cousin this evening. There will be a fine dinner, and you and your family certainly have a place at the table," said another.

"I'm honored by the offer, Sera Demnevali. I will relay this to my father, but I believe he has his own obligations tonight."

"I hope our gifts were to your family's liking, Serjo Sloan," said a third.

"The wine was excellent, Muthsera Amnavas!" Tomal replied.

Amnavas shifted in place. "Ah, forgive me, serjo. I was referring to the slippers of imported leather. Made from cow hide! Cows are these great beasts that roam the fields of High Rock and Skyrim—"

"Oh, yes, the slippers! They're exquisite, and I was wearing them this morning."

"Excellent." Amnavas bowed.

Daria crossed her arms and leaned against the wall as she watched the shameless display of flattery. They reminded her of Quinn's suitors, but somehow worse. She'd feel sorry for Tomal if it weren't for the fact that each offering was something the Sloans could turn to their own benefit. True to form, he happily went along with the nonsense.

Tomal finished the meet-and-greets and resumed his walk, only to get sidetracked by a second mob of favor-seekers who'd noticed the first. Daria waited until Tomal handled the second crowd and finally reached the manor.

"Forgive me for interrupting your court with petty schoolwork, Serjo Sloan," Daria said, trying to sound like she meant it.

"Are you kidding me? Schoolwork sounds pretty great after dealing with all those dissemblers." He rolled his eyes.

"Can't you tell them to get lost?" Daria asked.

"I wish. No, doing that risks alienating important business contracts for my father. Look, Daria, maybe we got off on the wrong foot. I'm not sure what I did to make you dislike me so much, but whatever it is, I'm sorry."

Daria mulled it over. "May I have permission to offer some mud-spattered lowborn wisdom?"

"The muddier the better."

"You haven't done anything wrong, Serjo Sloan. But in case you haven't noticed, practically half of High Town was groveling at your feet just now, and every one of those people has more power than a lowborn foreigner like me. I have no sway and no protection in your world, and that makes me uncomfortable."

He nodded. "Daria, I promise that you have nothing to worry about from me. Say what's on your mind. The shock of blunt honesty is practically a mild high for me after all the flattery I have to deal with."

Daria shook her head. "You can say that, but you're still a noble, and I'm still not.

Tomal sighed, clearly disappointed. "I know about the power difference between us—"

"You know about it, but I'm not sure you understand it. I just interrupted you, didn't I," Daria said.

"You did." Tomal shrugged.

"Am I supposed to praise your magnanimity in not sending me off to the executioner's block?"

"Daria, the law wouldn't let me do that even if I wanted to," Tomal protested.

"Another thing you may have noticed is that I'm very bad at filtering my thoughts."

"I may have picked up on that, yes."

"Which is another reason I'm nervous working with you, despite your claims of being understanding. Look, let's get this over with. The Council Manor has all the town records, so we can look up the building's history and put together a report."

"Right. Getting them will be easy; I know the people in here."

"Because of course you do." She decided to test him a bit. "I did learn some interesting things from someone who used to live here in High Town. Before Balmora got big."

"I'm sure Sera Ondryn will appreciate an eyewitness account," Tomal said, opening the nearest door. "Come on."

She scowled at his back. "Of course, Serjo Sloan."

Daria followed Tomal into a vast adobe room supported by a central wooden column. Bushes and flowering plants surrounded the column and lined the walls, making the place feel a bit like a forest. A group of well-dressed Dunmer and a few outlanders seated around a table discussed business over cups of coffee and under a cloud of tanna smoke flowing from a bright blue hookah. Silk-screen panels sectioned off a handful of smaller offices. A bulky desk made of imported hardwood, probably from Elswyer, stood before the door front.

Synda sat at the desk. The perpetual sneer carved onto her face fell away the second Tomal entered, her eyes widening and lips parting. She stood up and bowed.

"Serjo Sloan! Truly, I am honored."

Then she actually smiled, her shoulders bunched up like a nervous child's.

"Muthsera Grilvayn, always a pleasure," Tomal said. He smiled back and sauntered closer to her, leaning forward a bit. "I trust the morning finds you well?"

"Far better now that you have graced me with your presence, serjo." There was something approaching actual warmth in the girl's eyes.

Synda's eyes swiveled to Daria and hardened. The look of familiar haughtiness almost came as a relief. "Excuse me, Daria, but in Morrowind, it is considered poor manners to dawdle in an open doorway," she said.

"Eh, I don't mind her letting in the fresh air. As fresh as it gets here in Vvardenfell, anyway," Tomal said.

Synda suddenly looked unsure as Daria stepped in, closing the door behind her.

"The ash in the air is a legacy of our heritage," Synda said, with a sniff.

"Not to mention a carcinogen," Daria said.

Tomal nodded. "It's all a big make-work project to benefit the healers. Our sick lungs are their payday."

Daria couldn't resist cracking a smile at his comment. Synda blanching from the same made it all the sweeter.

"Just joking around!" Tomal said. "Sorry. Uh, muthsera, we were wondering if we could get access to the records for this building? Sera Ondryn wants us to write a report."

Synda gulped and drew a deep breath. "Certainly. I will take you to—"

"Serjo Sloan!"

The call came from a Redguard in a bright orange coat. Tomal's eyes widened in recognition. "Muthsera Bando al-Ragath," he said.

Bando already walked toward Tomal, a bold grin on his face. "They told me your honored father was in town. Truly, fortuitous timing. My compatriots and I are actually here to discuss the investment in Cheydinhal."

"I could let my father know," Tomal said.

"Well, this involves your entire family, and we're all the more fortunate for it. Please join us," he said, gesturing to the table.

"I am..." Tomal looked around, his jaw clenched. "Uh, sorry about this, Daria, but this is actually kind of important."

"Shall I fetch records for serjo?" Daria asked.

"Don't worry," Synda said. "I'll make sure she doesn't get lost."

"On my way," Tomal said, striding over to the table, whose occupants stumbled over each other in the race to see who could flatter him first.

Synda watched him go and then turned her attention back to Daria.

"Come with me," she ordered.

Musical Closer - Sylvie, by Etienne

This post has been edited by WellTemperedClavier: Dec 1 2024, 05:47 AM

I like British Sea Power better! Disco Elysium's ringing a bell. That name is.

Wow, these Hlaalu are kissing some Tomal arse. ()() Jeez, stop it already!! Tomal must be used to it, I guess. But it's like they're so desperate for this guy's attention. Daria is his polar opposite in this regard. Nobody want's Daria's attention, except maybe three people.

Well, now I guess we see why he's the BIG Mer on Campus!

“Under sun and sky, I greet you warmly, serjo!” =---Hee hee, I always love this line.

Hmm, Tomal actually seems pretty genuine, when he apologizes and stuff. There are some rotten ppl in this story so far (like the guy who refused to pay Jane full price after she painted his ugly face) but Tomal's coming across as genuine.

Synda.... why do I know that name? Is that name coming from my story or yours? Hmm, I'm guessing yours! Edit: Never mind, I remember her now. My memory sucks. Need to get more brain-RAM.

This post has been edited by Renee: Mar 28 2023, 12:34 AM

I’m quite enjoying the interaction between Tomal and Daria – like two porcupines trying to dance.

I agree with Renee’s assessment of Tomal.

Uh oh. Synda, of thug-recruiting and glasses-smashing infamy. Don’t turn your back on her, Daria!