This is quite a change of pace. And that skooma packs a wallop!

Looks like she's using all that money to get more drugs. Sad, but not especially surprising in this case.

"Never sample your own supply". True here, and true in Tamriel as well.

Interesting, so something's been making the stuff a lot stronger. I don't smoke, but I've heard from folks who do that the marijuana available these days is a lot stronger than what used to be on the street.

"No justice, just us." Also true here and in Tamriel.

Sybille has a good point about Sirdrasa. The woman might be off her gourd on drugs, but she is pretty cunning. I'm not sure if one needs to be that clever to evade Elder Scrolls guards... but regardless, the fact that she is shows she's clever enough to be a problem for Laprima.

Hm, so there are some interesting parallels between Laprima and Sirdrasa. There but for the grace of the Aedra...

Okay, so Sybille's explaining things here. She clearly knows the rules. Laprima can't risk striking first, even though that gives Sidrasa a bit of an advantage.

And some training! Good deal.

Today is Saturday, April 1st, and it's raining. Perfect spring day. But it's supposed to get over 70 degrees later on, which is too warm for Skyrim. Think it's time for some Oblivion, instead. And that's no joke.

I estimate there will be another 4 episodes of Laprima's saga, maybe 5. By then it'll be May, and who knows what sort of wacky weather we'll be having by then.


@macole-- Ha ha, hadn't been thinking of last week's comments as a press conference. I was pretending to be one of those writers who comes through the bookstore to greet readers. 📕 But that's pretty funny... "the clamour contiues..." I think maybe it'd be more like "where's the Sominex?"

I was right about the nehru jacket though, looks like. ☮ Groovy, man.


@SubRosa-- Hmm, not Skaal. Probably some of her ancestors were, though.
And yah, that was fun slipping Laprima's namesake into the story.

Yeah, fentanyl. That's the correlation between their fantasy and our reality; maybe that got picked up subconsciously. In story, the whole skooma thing is based on (guess) vanilla versus mods. The vanilla game, skooma's really weak, especially compared to MW and OB. With mods however, all of those things happen: the swirling colors, the "rush", the initial (really strong) boost to stats, but then a downplay in stats as well. Continued use causes "addiction" as well as a permanent decrease of stats, I believe.

So it's a good thing Laprima elected never to drink that crap again.

In tablegame terms, I'd say Sybille's Alignment is probably Chaotic Good with occasional Lawful tendencies. Yep, the law's pretty much just a guideline.


@Acadian-- Yes, as you well know, it's often enjoyable to flesh out characters, people in our stories. Sirdasa is partially based on a bipolar friend of mine from the west coast who was pretty messed up IRL, but also lots of fun to be around, if I was in the right mood for her antics. Her father was (is, if he's still alive) a Hell's Angel. 🏍 This friend helped me after my child was born, especially with post-partum depression and just being there (good) but she also introduced me to some really wicked narcotics. I fell into them, and eventually had to seek counseling in 2007 or so.

Anyway, that's whom Sirdasa's influenced by, partially. Bratty (in Vicious's tale) is also influenced by this chick. But with Sirdasa, I'm at the point where even though 'prima's filled with fear about the gal, I kind of really love her. Because she's so strikingly different from the usual Skyrim downtrodden NPCs.


@macole again-- You were at that party too! Somehow I think "that" party's somewhat eternal. We can all go there in our heads.

@Lopov -- No Lopov, dangit. C'mon man, you're missing the story!


@WellTemperedClavier-- Yeah, marijane these days is ridiculously potent. I actually don't get it. I'm a smoker myself, although starting about the age of 40, I no longer smoke to get stoned. I like taking a puff (usually before gaming) just to blur reality a bit. Sort of like my father, who used to drink wine, but only at dinner. He'd drink it for "the taste". I never once saw the man get sloshed.

I got that "Justice / Just Us" phrase from NPR. 📻 I was istening to a program about the rights of minorities in America while driving my car. Soon as I heard "Sometimes there is Justice, sometimes there are Just Us" I was like WHOOOOOAAAA, gotta use that for a chapter heading!

And yes, training. Right now, most of Lap's skillups have been through training: first Speech, then Lockpicking, and now Alchemy. During this next chapter she finally ascended to Level 2!

Let's see what happens next.

This post has been edited by Renee: Apr 1 2023, 06:50 PM

.
_______________

For Ill or for Ail

_______________




Turdas, Sun's Dusk 5

Laprima didn't sleep well. Anyone who’s been threatened at knifepoint twice, and then spent an entire night speaking directly to a magically-gifted sage who just happens to also be a vampire might know how she feels. When she finally went to bed this Sun's Dusk morning it was already daytime.

After a few hours tossing and turning and a fitful dream or two, she gave up her quest for rest, got out of bed. Had a look at her windows, guessed morning had already turned to afternoon. Too late to head to work; not that she’d be presentable for customer service. Instead she got dressed, had a bite to eat. Decided to have a look at the book given to her by the wizard: The Herbalist’s Guide to Skyrim.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Those avoiding this northern province due to claims of barbarism
or concerns over climate are doing themselves disservice.
In fact, Skyrim has a wealth of materials that every Alchemist would do well
to avail himself of. I have traveled extensively throughout this land,
and here are but a few of my findings...
------------------------------------------------------------------

As always, the scholar inside this former student from the City quickly took interest. Took over! She couldn't help but fall into that old habit: poring through yet another tome, studying, adding notations into margins with her quill. The Herbalist's Guide to Skyrim, illustrated and well-written, what a perfect introduction to anyone first gaining interest into the field of the apothecary.

Hours went by, as Laprima read about mushrooms and toadstools, feathers, berries, and even bugs. All of these could be ground, mashed, distilled, and sometimes brewed into potions, for ill or for ail.

Most of all, she learned about her flowers.

All the past week and into this one she’d been picking flowers from the bushes and vines of Solitude: the prettier the better. She'd gather these on her way to work, stuffing them carefully into her shoulder bag. Later, after returning to her room, the flowers were then scattered all over the floor, on her bed, and on her mantels. Some were red, some were blue, purple and pink. Laprima had no idea what types of blossoms she’d been gathering; she hadn’t studied botany in school. She was familiar with a few of Cyrodiil's variants: azaleas and alkanets, daisies and daffodils, but those were all warm-weather species.

Well now she knew. The little red, blue, and purple ones were mountain flowers. These could be ground into potions which restored mana, health, and one's ability to endure, respectively. The golden, fountain-like blossoms were dragon's tongue. She also had multiple examples of lavender and thistles.

But most curious to Laprima: the striking pink and purple ones she'd picked, and then strewn casually about her quarters. These blooms really caught her eye, so she'd collected several. After reading the book, she (horridly) learned these brilliant lovelies were nightshades! - Poisonous posies, tossed about her floor, her basket, and (...oh, no!) on top of her bed. Three of these laid upon her blanket at this very moment! She'd been sleeping under harmful plant material for over a week now!

As ever though, the academic in her coolly took over. “So if I have some deathbell, I can mix nightshade into poison…” she mused after another glance into the herbalist's book.





...Not that she was actually going to follow the wizard's suggestions, oh no, such a concept was purely for the sake of theory, of research. And yet the question arose, could such a thing actually be done?

Time to turn hours of study into practical attempts. Because unlike architecture, which required the use of dozens of models, years of planning before the actual building of full-size structures could commence, Laprima had something tangible she could work with, right here and now.

Filled with the sudden excitement of a schoolgirl, she gathered up most of the flowers, placed them into a large basket, then hauled them through the door and into Sybille’s quarters. By now it was late afternoon. The wizard was up and about, no longer stuffed underneath sheets and blankets. Splendid. Wouldn't want to wake the old seer while making lots of noise.

The scholar put her basket on the floor. "Firstly to begin, there is wortcraft," she spoke quietly, mimicking an invisible teacher. "Wortcraft involves chewing and consuming various bits of flora, which is the easiest way to perceive the properties, the effects, of such flora."

She grabbed one of the blue mountain flowers, and took a sniff. It smelled just like anyone would expect: perfumey and fragrant, just like a flower. Laprima tentatively tasted its petals. Not so aromatic. A little chalky, perhaps. She carefully made note of this in her journal.

"Alright then, class. Let us commence."

She popped the flower into her mouth, chewed it down, yicch! Fully upon the tongue and then eaten, blue mountain flowers became a sour pulp which could not be described as 'savory'. Not at all! Their pleasant aroma betrayed nothing of their taste! - "Uch!!!" - Laprima gagged a bit, briefly distracted... But then suddenly, she could feel it. Could feel the magical property contained within the flower's stem and stamens, that is, as a sort of pulse within her body, her nerves. Unfortunately the effect was there, and then gone. She hadn't fully grasped which portion of her being the flower affected. Let's try eating another.

"Oh! Well, that is.. mm, not very palatable. Siouxsie, my dear, might you fetch some water?" she asked, imagining her best ladyfriend from the City was here beside her.

She took a sip from one of Sybille's water glasses, after carefully examining it for any signs of redness. Then, she chewed and swallowed another sample. Paying attention this time, she was able to discern: blue mountain flowers affected her overall aspect of health. If she'd had a cut to her hand or her arm at that very moment, chances are this cut would be partially salved. Similar to the sort of potion she'd been offered to drink as a child, after skinning a knee, perhaps.

Laprima continued to eat at least one of each blossom from her collection, with the exception of the nightshade, adding more notes to her journal. Red mountain flowers restored her mana. The thistle? Laprima got an odd sensation of warming from these. After consulting her book, she learned thistle consumption could influence a person's ability to resist the cold. Perfect for her, since she could not foresee becoming acclimated to Skyrim's constantly chilly air anytime soon.

After a few minutes of eating and scribbling, she felt she was ready to attempt her first potion. Strode in front of Sybille's alchemy table.

"Thing is, none of these flowers in my possession have what are called 'primary properties' which match," she spoke to her imaginary classroom. "For instance, if two samples of flora both contain the ability to restore mana as a first effect, they can be combined to form a definite potion. However..." She picked a blue mountain flower and placed it next to a red one. "However, this does not mean the alchemist hasn't got the option for combining these two anyway. One can do so, apparently," she said, patting her book. "Reckless experimentation can sometimes be rewarded through positive results."

She placed the two flowers into a bowl and mashed them with a pestle. Ground them, until they became an odd-colored paste. From here she could've continued, could've scooped the paste into the alchemy table's 'retort/alembic' area. This portion of the table featured a series of boiling/distilling flasks made of blown-glass, heated by a metal implement which she later learned was called a 'calcinator'. Thing is, Laprima didn't know how to use this portion of the table, not yet, anyway. So she poured a bit of Sybille's water into the bowl, pulverizing the sticky mixture until its consistency began to smooth.




Another minute or two, and she decided the substance was as ready as it would ever be. She tried a taste of what'd been smashed and mashed. Result? Unsuccessful. Laprima discovered it did not yield any particular feeling or effect. Made a notation in her journal. By then, nearly an hour had gone by. Let's try another combination. She mixed a blue flower with a purple one. A purple one with a red one. Both of these attempts yielded zilch. Experimental failures, carefully marked within her journal. She reread a couple pages of the herbalist's book, checking to make sure she was doing this right. Another hour passed.

Was she actually following the correct procedures for potion-making? "Would it be prudent to request my superior, the one who loaned me this book?" she asked aloud.

And then finally, success! - A blue flower combined with some lavender caused irrefutable results! - Laprima felt a moment of glee after concocting her very first magical imbibement, which caused a sort of alchemical zing within her person after taste-testing. Best of all, she'd done this on her own, without the help of Sybille Stentor. Although she did not exactly know what sort of power the mixture contained, she wasted no time. Poured it carefully through a funnel, which drained into an empty phial she'd found in a cabinet under the table. Corked the mixture.

"'Voilà', as Chamany would say."

She continued to crush, combine, and cull until most of the flowers were gone. Doing so caused a bit of sadness within her once the task was nearing its end; her room would no longer be as aromatic and pretty as before. But it'd been worth it. All of this was being done for the sake of learning. Her worries about the absence of her future husband, they had vanished. Her causal fears concerning the devious diva who was still somewhere out there, plotting her next ambush? They'd fallen to the wayside as Laprima the student, the scholar, imagined herself back home in sunny Cyrodiil.

Finally, the nightshade. Six of these, still in her basket. According to the book, nightshade could be combined with deathbell or imp stools, combined into what would certainly be considered as poison, if she were successful.

“Perhaps a trip to Angeline’s Aromatics is in order?” Laprima asked her unseen students.

How ironic.

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

Flowers on her bed - (meh, thought I had a better picture of this)

Practicing wortcraft

Dining with palace workers
.

Back in the late 60s early 70s, as the normal “straight man” (no drugs. no wine, no…well you know the one who called AR when BAD things happened) I had a standing invitation to many of those parties. Some new guy thought it a laugh to sugar cube my punch and not say anything. I nearly crash landed when I jumped out of the moving car to run through the park. The freak had a talking to but I didn’t go to too many parties after that.


I never did understand learning about ingredients by eating them. It’s like; here this is cyanide taste it see what you think. Fall over dead. Yep, it’s a poison for sure.
But, it is good Laprima is learning about poisons derived from flowers that way you can learn how to produce the antidote. So it is equally important to learn how to read the symptoms the poison produce in the victim so one can counter the poison with the proper antidote.

Laprima is using nightshade for bed decorations! In small doses, it is a powerful hallucinogen. It was the LSD of the world before the CIA invented LSD. Trouble is, it is easy to misjudge the dose and kill yourself with it.

Laprima gets to work on her alchemy. I sense some poison on the horizon. Her evil drug ninja nemesis is going to be in for a surprise methinks.

A fascinating foray into alchemy. I love the way you treated the craft, to include LPD’s tentative, experimental approach and numerous failures – all of which she documented. She is learning though, and alchemy is a potent skill to have.

Still looking forward to her pending face off with the Skooma Skeever Devious Diva.


Just so you know, LPD is not the only budding alchemist who keeps notes for future reference. Below is an excerpt from Buffy's alchemy notebook -

-Datura – Poison that is used (with great caution/skill) by shamans for hallucinogenic rituals.
-Starblossom – Burn and inhale the smoke to invoke a Naga dream wallow vision.
-Felldew, Moon sugar. Best to avoid.
-Teethcleaning powder - First I add the most important ingredient to my mortar: dried iris flowers, well known for their magical teeth cleaning properties. Then a few pinches of salt to aid with cleaning and add some coarseness. Next goes in a pinch of glow dust for whitening and sparkle, then finally some dried mint leaves for a nice taste and fresh breath. I grind the mixture into a powder and carry it in a doeskin pouch. Oh, toothbrush? Well, the handle is bamboo. One end has been split three times and each slot carefully fitted with boar bristles. The end has been notched and tightly laced with fine silk thread to hold the bristles in place.
-Menstrual cramp potions: chamomile, ginger, primrose and cinnamon
-Heart’s Day Rose Tea: Rose petals, honey.
-Teas - primrose (maybe a touch of bergamot for citrus scent)/ jasmine+ginger / combery+honey.
-My hair conditioner: It contains just a touch of ectoplasm, along with some rosemary oil and aloe vera for conditioning, glow dust for shine, and some finely ground bergamot for a nice citrus scent.

I'd also have trouble sleeping if I'd gone through what Laprima did.

For me, at least, anxiety is a sign of a busy mind that doesn't have enough to do. It rings true that Laprima finds some relief in reading about alchemy.

Hm, poison might be an answer to her situation. But might not be the most convenient one. At least it keeps her occupied.

Heh, I like the way she mimics a teacher. Good sensory descriptions of the tastes, too. You made each one unique, in a way that fits quite well with the game.

Oh yeah, I remember you saying Siouxsie would make an appearance. I'm assuming she's a bard?

I'm starting to get Walter White vibes from Laprima...

This does put Laprima in a much better position. She's developing a trade skill, one that's pretty lucrative! It'll help her become independent, which I think is something she wants regardless of Chamany. Now for dealing with her more immediate problems. Does she want the aromatic to conceal the smell of nightshade? We'll see...

It is Friday today. Posting a bit early. Today's chapter really packed some surprises, stuff I wasn't expecting to happen! I wrote the story starting last week, and into this one, but didn't play the actual game until this morning. And like I said, a few things happened while gaming which I did not expect. As they happened, I decided they MUST be added into the story.

Same thing's gonna happen next episode too, I think. There'll be stuff I do expect, but also things I do not expect.


@macole: So you're saying even in the sixties there were Designated Drivers, and you became one of them? ☮ Anyway, I have had that happen to me at least a couple times. Getting dosed when you don't want to be is awful, I agree.

I've always taken the act of eating poisonous ingredients (to learn their effects) as they're not poisonous enough to kill us. In other words, we're not drinking or eating the cyanide, we are eating the mold, the fungus (whatever) in which a small amount of the poison exists. Tamriel has Alchemy, but not Chemistry. They don't need to know how to discern effects through the Scientific Process, all they have to do is eat stuff.


@SubRosa: I know! Imagine putting a bunch of poisonous plants in your room. 🌿 She did indeed create a few poisons, which boosted Alchemy enough to finally place my gal above Level 2!


@Acadian: Wow, hey, thanks! Yes, that was fun to write.

And what do we have here? Buffy's list of Alchemy successes! Wow, hold on...

-Datura – Poison that is used (with great caution/skill) by shamans for hallucinogenic rituals: Did she actually make this, and the other poisons listed, at some point? Or she just knows about them?

-Teethcleaning powder - First I add the most important ingredient to my mortar: dried iris flowers, well known for their magical teeth cleaning properties: This sounds like a Buffy concoction, as well as the Hair Conditioner one! I remember she made stuff like this in Oblivion, too. The

-Heart’s Day Rose Tea: Rose petals, honey.: Nice. I'll have a cup of this as I edit. 🫖


@WellTempedClavier: How true, about anxiety being sort of a mask for being unsure.

Yeah, she's pretending to be a teacher in that last episode. I imagine she's talking to invisible students to stave off lonlieness, but this is also part of her learning process.

Siouxsie is Laprima's best friend back in Cyrodiil; they were classmates. Siouxsie will hopefully make an appearance next season.

.
_____________________

We’ll never be Royals

_____________________


Fredas, Sun's Dusk 5


As the wild woman from the woods stirred at her campsite, the posh lady from the palace fretted, considered, and planned.

Sirdasa Noskal ran out of brews at some point the day before. Jittery and delusional, she’d been forced to spend the final twenty of gold filched from Posh Lady on more skooma. This additional expenditure wasn't in her plans; she’d been wanting to use this final bit of coin to finance supplies. She needed a new ball of twine, a new net for fishing, and so on. Sirdasa was good at subsisting from the land and river, but some items could not be constructed out here! They could only be bought from vendors.

As her original four phials of skooma dwindled the day before, she’d made a mad dash back to Solitude. Searched for that perfumed, prissy noble! But the wench was nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, Laprima made the trip to Angeline’s, entering the store just after the apothecary opened her shop this Fredas morning. She procured some deathbell, along with a few other ingredients recommended by the elder woman.

“Ahh, so you’re an alchemist, then?”

"I have recently gained interest in the study of herbs and potions, yes."

Being an alchemist herself, Angeline had an alchemy table, of course. Pretty soon Laprima was using it. As she combined her nightshade with some deathbell bought from the herbalist, Laprima explained that there was "a bit of a rat problem" in her home, not that Angeline asked any questions. The apothecarist was also able to identify the first potion created by Laprima. Turns out, she'd managed to create a substance which fortified the user’s abilities of Conjuration. The noblewoman had no use for such a draught, the only magic she was truly good at up ‘til now was her ability to self-heal.

“I can offer payment, if you’d like to sell,” Angeline informed the fledgling potion-maker.

Laprima declined. Now that she knew what she'd made, her plan was to place the golden-colored brew into the nightstand Chamany bought several days before. There, it could always be treasured as her first.

Final decision of the day: she decided she would not be heading to work, which meant two straight afternoons with no one on the floor at the Winking Skeever! But this had to be done, whatever ‘this’ turned out to be. This situation with Sirdasa; it had to be dealt with. She walked to the tavern to inform her superiors.

Would it be prudent to inquire about Sirdasa? she wondered over her usual bowl of soup. She could ask Corpulus and Barre Bakke what they knew about the woman who’d formerly worked under their employ.

“Yeah.... Sirdasa....” Corpulus said later on.

The man seemed embarrassed after hearing her name. Judging his body movements, Laprima discerned the bartender was also wary, now that the subject had come up. Like he’d prefer to forget about Sirdasa Noskal altogether.

“She was here a few weeks, did her job fine, stayed quiet. I heard all sorts about her, how she’s mean and how she grew up here acting all tough, and so on. In the end I decided to give her a chance. Can't say I have any complaints, really," he admitted.

"Well, I've got one. She stopped showing up about a week before you showed up," Barre informed in his thick Nordic accent. "And I must say, I enjoy your company much more, Laprima. For one thing, you just happen bathe regularly, a-ha-ha!"

Laprima wondered if she should tell them she was about to go and confront the woman (or try, at least). In the end, she chose not to. Doing so could complicate things. Let us get this matter over and done with...





A few minutes later, she exited the gates of Solitude. Today would be the first time she left the town since her arrival thirteen days ago. My, how things had changed since then. If only she’d known of the litany of events to come…

She walked the road, which angled down a slight hill. Passed by a man with a carriage-for-hire. A second road branched left, which was the way toward Solitude’s docks. Laprima continued walking straight.

“Oh... dreadful!”

Light snow began to fall, swirling all around. The sky darkened. "Blime. Is it really?" An hour ago it’d been sunny!






“If anything, this turn of weather shall certainly hasten my desire to avoid dawdling.”

The road itself was also covered with tamped-down snow. Good thing she was wearing boots. In Solitude, all the ground's ice and snow must regularly be getting melted.

She continued moving forward, walking briskly. Wishing she’d worn warmer clothes. For the air was also becoming chillier. Everything is dead! Laprima observed. The grasses by the side of the road, for instance. Everything except for the trees, that is. Skyrim’s trees remain green, though they were becoming closer to black as the day's sunniness diminished. The forest became darker. Thicker. Now that she had traipsed just outside the town’s limits, trees, grass, and bushes encroached right to the roadside.

The wind picked up just then, causing the Heartlander from Cyrodiil to shiver. She walked a little faster. And that’s when she heard Sirdasa.

“You think you stand a CHANCE?”

Laprima froze! ... Definitely, that was the woods' woman's voice, but who was she speaking to? -- The woman was nowhere to be seen, as of yet. Was she threatening Laprima? - Up ahead, the road bent to the left, blocked slightly by a large boulder and some low-lying fir trees. The Heartlander was pretty sure the voice she'd heard came from that direction.

Laprima grabbed the wizard's blade, which she'd carefully poisoned earlier in the day. Cautioned a few forward steps. Up ahead, a flurry of activity. A fight!!

Peering into the gloom, eventually Laprima could see Sirdasa, whose arms were flailing, beating and slashing about some sort of creature with her knife. The creature (whatever it was) jumped about on four legs. It seemed larger than Sirdasa, not that this seemed to matter; the scrawny fur-wearing shrew was obviously holding her own. As if she'd done this sort of thing before.

"C'mon, let's see you put up a fight!"

Laprima Donnaugh, Heartlander and noblewoman from sunny, magnificent Cyrodiil, could've simply left the scene right then and there. Could've run back to Solitude, where a series of bored guards were on duty, waiting for any excuse to draw their weapons. But she didn't. Instead, she rushed forward! --- Dashed straight towards the melee, where she struck the creature's (a wolf's) hindquarters with Sybille's blade. A flash of light danced across the wolf's fur, shock-magic, for sure. Posh Lady and Woods Woman shredded about the animal, which growled and leapt and snapped, not happy there was now a second bipedal being to deal with. After a few more slices the wolf fell to the ground, definitely dead. Though the fight lasted maybe twenty seconds or so, it seemed to Laprima as though an hour had passed.

“The heck's you doin’ out here?” Woods Woman sneered after a moment of confusion, eyes wild, her adrenaline apparently dropping not in the slightest. She bent to the ground to wash the wolf's blood from her blade, before sheathing it. “Thought we was s’pposed to meet somewheres in town!”



Laprima, breathing hard herself, said nothing. Shuffled warily a couple steps to the left, before coming to a halt. Stared hard, tried to steady her nerves. Truth was, she had no idea what to say to the woman who'd badgered her in town, at least not yet. She recalled the language Sybille instructed her to use: I shall not divulge you any more coin, or some such, but somehow these words could not be stated just yet.

“Well, it’s good you is here,” the woman in furs said eagerly. “Might be best. This way, ya ain’t gotta deal with tha awkwardness of me takin’ all yer miserly coin, with others standin’ by as witness. So…let’s git this over and done with. How much you got fer me today, hmm?”

Laprima noticed her opponent was not holding her blade. So, attempting to take whatever advantage she could, the city-dweller grabbed Sybille’s daggar from a leather pocket sewn into her dress (for she hadn’t a true scabbard in which to carry the weapon upon a belt). She held the knife pointed forward, in a hand which trembled just a bit. Her feet were planted in stance, mimicking the manner the old wizard taught two nights ago.

“A-ha-ha! What is this? The HECK you thinkin’, rich girl?”

Laprima made no reply. Stood stock still, trying to focus. Random thought which crossed her mind at that very moment: Where is Sybille Stentor?





“You really think, that you can take me on?" Wild Woman asked. "Ha! ... I’ll carve you up like a wild turkey! ... How many brawls ya been involved up ‘til now? Huh? - I been fussin’ and fightin’ since I was twelve! … You ain’t even holding that proper-like, wench!”

Laprima said nothing. A bead of sweat slowly escaped the pile of raven-colored hair upon her head, rolled slowly down her face. She was forced to wipe it away with her left hand before it absorbed into her eye. Ironically, it was at this very moment she realized that she, for once, had been unaware of Skyrim's cold for the past five minutes or so.

“So. You mean ta tell me, you came all the way out here just to fight?!” the woman said, amazed. “No. That ain’t gonna happen, girlie. Here’s my thought. You give me MY coin, and give it ta me NOW!”

“No.”

“Huh? What’d ya just say?”

“I said no. I shall not give any more coin to you… Sirdasa.”

At the mention of her name, Sirdasa Noskal blinked, incredulous. Unable to fully comprehend for a moment or two, for her abuse of skooma (along with a lack of restful sleep these past few days) was clouding her mind.

“That is right. Your name is Sirdasa, isn’t it?”

“How yew know ma name?”

“I do know it,” Laprima said, her voice trembling. “I know your name, Sirdasa. I know that you grew up here in Solitude, and that you had yourself lots of troubles during youth. You were dwelling upon the top of this mountain we stand upon now, in an old fort, along with others. And that you chose to return to Solitude not long ago, where an attempt was made to better thyself, for whatever sort of choice or inference. You took the job at the Skeever…”

The fur-wearing woman seemed astonished, as she received all this information from someone she barely knew, all which seemed undeniably true. “Who told'ja all that?” she demanded.

Laprima noticed Sirdasa was unarmed; hadn’t bothered to grab for her blade. Didn't seem bothered in the slightest about the weapon pointed at her. So Miss Donnaugh took a chance, pocketed her own blade. Now they both stood before each other, neither of them portending immediate threat. It was time to bring this (whatever ‘this’ was to be) confrontation to some sort of conclusion.

Laprima, gaining confidence now that weapons were no longer involved, was able to discern Sirdasa’s condition.

“Your pallor, Sirdasa, it is wan. Your skin’s got sores. I cannot help but realize you are unwell. And perhaps I can.... perhaps I can help.” She paused, thinking for a moment. Realized she was taking a risk: improvising her words.
Is this wise? -- Nevertheless, Laprima pressed on. "Perhaps I can make some sort of assitance, Sirdasa. Get you set into a flat, in town, where you'd be safe. Get you dressed into some proper clothes..."

“Mmm, no. I do not think so. Now you LISTEN, miss. I want my coin!” Sirdasa growled. “Don’t care about my skin… don't wanna go back in that wretched town. Don't fit in there, nah-ah. Now listen here, sister. And listen real good....”

It was at this very moment when everything changed. Because Laprima Anne Donnaugh, she became aware of how very cold it was, here in the woods. Really cold. Not the sort of chill she'd experienced in town, oh no. Back in Solitude the air was nippy at times, but Laprima had been able to face it down. Because there was always a door to walk through, a door to a shop or the tavern or the palace itself. And on the other side of these doors there was warmth. Frigid and windy on one side, cozy and comforting on the other.

Out here there were no doors. Only woods and snow and pine needles. The wind, it became almost a gale, blowing and whistling through the trees. Blowing right through her skin, it seemed, and into her bones. Laprima, fully acclimated to lush foliage and a much pleasanter climate, wondered how far away was she from town? And was the wizard's idea really going to come to some sort of fruition? Was it really? - Was Laprima Donnaugh really going to attempt stabbing and poisoning Sirdasa Noskal to death out here? Was she really?

"... ain't gonna say it again, prissy princess! 'Cause it ain't like I'm some kinda royal, livin' on my--"

"Sirdasa," Laprima interrupted. "Sirdasa, I am cold. I am really... cold. I..."

Sirdasa Noskal, ever the loquacious one when it came to threats and taunts, suddenly was saying nothing. At a loss for words. Her mouth hung agape in mid-sentence.

"Might we... I know you've got yourself some sort of campsite,” Laprima continued, surprising herself. “By the river, aye?"

The woodsy woman blinked, completely flummoxed. Unable to yammer her usual set of one-track thoughts.

"Perhaps you and I, we can continue conversing beside your fire? Actually, might we do so, please?”

As the wild woman from the woods pondered this abrupt proposal, the posh lady from the palace wondered what, pray-tell, the heck she was doing.


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

Lopov'd

Leaving Solitude -- (notice the weather is sunny)

Snowfall begins

Woman of the Woods in action!

"Princess" joins the fight

Pwning the Wolf

------------------------------------
Notes: The way this chapter originally was written, I hadn't anticipated the fight with the wolf. And this meant half the episode had to be amended. I also did not anticipate Laprima's reaction to the cold. I knew she might possibly ask Sirdasa to take her to the campsite, but the question was "Why?" Now we all know.
.

Laprima has a rat problem alright, a two-legged rat problem...

“You think you stand a CHANCE?”
It always sounds so weird when the NPCs are making taunts like this when they are fighting animals. Do they expect the wolves to understand what they are saying?

I cannot help but think that maybe Laprima took the wrong side in that Wolf on Shrew battle?

I too am wondering what the post lady from the palace is up to? I don't think she is going to have much luck appealing to Sird's better nature.

Posh Lady’s got stones, I’d say, trekking out into the snow to hunt Skooma Shrew – then diving into a wolf with her dagger. One can hope that ‘sharing combat’ in taking down that wolf might ease the animus. If they actually get to the campfire, that’d be even better. Maybe.

Looks like Sirdasa's running out. No surprise there.

The classic RPG rat problem raises its furry head again. Wonder if Laprima will be tasked with solving it...

Not sure if the Winking Skeever's proprietor will be happy with Laprima not showing up two days in a row. But if she goes onto alchemy, it may not matter that much. Alchemy will open more doors than serving, that's for sure.

Okay, looks like her boss isn't too upset. And now she has some useful info about Sirdasa.

Thirteen days. That's quite a busy few weeks for Laprima, but I suppose that can happen when you move someplace new.

And this excursion's a good reminder for what a tough place Skyrim can be. It's a long way from the more settled lands of Cyrodiil. Good descriptions of the grim northern woods, too.

Huh, this is interesting. Sirdasa's in a confrontation. This might give Laprima more options...

Ah, Laprima's jumped in to help her rival. Now we'll see if this eases things, or if Sirdasa's still going to make life difficult. Sadly, I suspect the latter.

Believable that Laprima would have some difficulty voicing those words. It's easy to say those things in a safe environment, quite another to actually use them in a confrontation.

Uh oh, Laprima's committed herself. Not a good idea to take out a weapon unless you're absolutely sure you're willing to use it and know how. Sirdasa senses Laprima's uncertainty, too. This is bad.

Oof, and now Laprima's getting hit with how cold this place actually is. Supposedly, one of the best ways to get people can be to ask them for help. If they help, they feel more invested in you (or something like that). Wonder if that'll work with Sirdasa letting Laprima use her camp. Interesting development.

I wonder is the Donna thinking of setting up Sirdasa as a mole to get the goods on a certain someone named Chamany.

Hello everyone. There are several things I messed up in that last chapter. Firstly, I somehow got the date wrong! The last chapter claims Fredas the Fifth, but in pictures clearly we can see it was Loredas the Sixth. There's a lot of parts moving in these last few chapters: some of them visible, some of them behind the scenes, the date thing is actually pretty minor. Still.

There was also an entire part of the story which got lost, as I edited in the wolf scene last week. Sybille the wizard was supposed to tell Laprima she'd be 'watching over her' as Lap met Sird in the woods. So when ‘prima seems to be wondering about the palace’s court wizard all the sudden, that is why.

In fact, pay attention to that wizard.

Finally, I should recount an experience I had when I was a child. It was winter. After school one day, a pack of my friends went to someone's house or something. I had no way of getting home, and both my parents were working at that point. Some other kid gave me a ride on the back of his bike. By the time I got home my fingers were freezing, this was serious frostbite, and I mean, it actually hurt. 🌨


"Laprima has a rat problem alright, a two-legged rat problem..."

Heh heee ha, you got that right!

That is very true, about the NPCs saying funny things to critters or monsters which cannot understand these words. My fave was in Oblivion, when Imperial Legions say, "FORRRR THE EMPIRE!" .... while cutting down a mudcrab. 🦀 As if that ONE crab portends the downfall of the entire Septim dynasty.


"Posh Lady’s got stones, I’d say, trekking out into the snow to hunt Skooma Shrew – then diving into a wolf with her dagger."

The wolf thing was interesting. As stated, that was not planned. As I am gaming, I have to take into account the feelings and thoughts I receive from whomever I am with at the time. From my perspective they are not just pixels & polygons on my TV screen, they are also essences of energy. I'm sure you and Buff have a similar relationship, except you've got 2-way communication with her, whereas for me I can only receive. Anyway, the fact that Laprima immediately chose to help Sird with the wolf highlights a bit of courage I did not know my gal has.

To illustrate further, I did have one story-character in the past (Sarah Phimm) who did not get involved with combat, or would only do if cornered. This factored into her story in real-time, even though it would've been more exciting for me if I just mashed some buttons, pwning AI and whatnot. Kahreem also avoided combat most of the time. He'd rather get on whatever horse he'd stolen, and ride away. 🐎


"t sure if the Winking Skeever's proprietor will be happy with Laprima not showing up two days in a row."

Ooh, that's another thing which got messed up. Not that 'prima's gonna get fired, but notice how Corpulus has nothing but good things to say about his former employee. YET, also notice how uneasy he gets when the subject comes up. I meant to expand on that, because the fact is he did have some problems with Sirdasa: cash missing from the till and so on.

OTOH, maybe it's good I didn't expand. That part (as it is) is pretty subtle.

Thirteen days is a mistake on my part. She got to Skyrim on the 24th, so it's been fourteen days! Oops.

Exactly. Easy to plan that this and that shall happen, but Laprima's no warrior, not a mage, and not the semi-rogue she'll probably become in future chapters. Not yet, anyway. First, she's gotta crank out her fears. But... again, the whole wolf thing. It's like I didn't even get the feeling my gal hesitated there in the slightest.

The fact that she's super-cold is partially due to the Frostfall mod (tolerance to the cold must be built over time), and partially my own experience (see above).


"I wonder is the Donna thinking of setting up Sirdasa as a mole to get the goods on a certain someone named Chamany."

'The Donna'. I like that!

There are quite some things happening behind the scenes (and in the Donna's head), as you've definitely intuited. Chammy will factor in here, for sure.

.
________________

Princess Laprima

________________


Loredas, Sun's Dusk 6, late afternoon


"Do what now? ... You wanna sit by my fire because you cold?"

"Aye. I think that'd be best," Laprima chattered. "At present, it feels as though my fingers ... I cannot gain a sense of them all."

This was the moment when things could go very, very wrong, of course. Laprima knew this for certain, for she was making a request so unexpected, even she wasn’t sure where this spontaneous set of ideas was going.

And during this moment, it looked as though things would go very, very wrong. Sirdasa’s eyes flitted and danced about. Her brows narrowed suspiciously. Laprima could certainly take a guess as to why.

"You are concerned," the noble shivered. "How is it I know these things of you: your name, where you lived, some of your upbringing, where you lay your head now."

Sirdasa's face twisted and contorted, like the pointed snout of the wolf they'd just killed.

"Yea, how’d you know all that?” she asked stiffly. “Well, I reckon ya coulda gotten my name on account as you been workin’ over at the Skeever.” She rubbed her chin. “But how is it you know about me livin’ up at Fort Hraggstad and all that other stuff? Huh? Who ya been talkin’ to?”

The Woods Woman glared, perhaps wondering if one of the lowlife wretches she’d been associating with lately somehow relayed personal information to the princess shivering before her. – Meanwhile, Laprima struggled to fathom an answer. Should this answer be truthful, revealing the fact that Sybille Stentor told her these things? Or should Laprima concoct some sort of story which (no doubt) would stretch into one heck of a lie, as imaginary details unfolded.

Luckily for her, she did not have to come up with an answer at all.

“Well, here's what I reckon," Sirdasa spoke, a sudden gleam in her eye. "We both gots something the other wants, mmm? You wants to come an' gather yerself before my fire before you fixin’ to freeze to death, and I ... well you know what I want."

“Fine.” The woman wants her skooma. "And I can assist, Sirdasa. Although not here. I sha’n’t hand any coin out here, not as I’m losing feelings within my fingers. … Might we please go!?"

The wild woman considered further. "Well… you did also just help me take down this animal, here,” she added. The gleam in her eye was joined by a smirk across the lower half of her face.

Sirdasa set off into the woods; apparently this was her way of invitation. Just before Laprima followed she gave a quick look around. Peered into the trees, where she thought she saw a quick flicker of something just to the right.

"Sybille?" she called.

But nobody was there. Just a wisp of snow, blowing in the wind.





… Years later, an older, wiser Laprima Donnaugh, set into a comfortable middle age, would gaze back upon this particular portion of her life and wonder why she’d chosen to prolong her meeting with Sirdasa Noskal. Why hadn’t she simply handed some coin to this lawless, chaotic user of skooma and returned to the Blue Palace, where she’d be safe forever? As always, she had enough money in her purse at the time to sufficiently placate the addict.

And the answer to this question, it was vague. Somehow, Laprima just knew. She knew and sensed what was to come.



Sirdasa moved through the woods, deftly pacing over fallen logs and dead foliage, confident with every step. Laprima trailed at a distance, much more tentatively, every other footfall causing obvious noise. Twigs snapped, the lower hem of the expensive black dress she’d bought at Radiant Raiment (the same dress aunt Elisif disapproved of) caught and tore a couple branches. In some areas the snow also deepened, causing her made-for-the-city boots to slip and stumble. This was not her territory!





Though it was still daytime, Laprima, once again, could not see Magnus’s position in the sky. But it seemed as though the afternoon had come to an end by now.

Off in the distance to their right, a series of men and women were milling about what looked to be an outdoor encampment. Sirdasa explained these were Stormcloaks: rebel soldiers who called themselves 'Sons and Daughters of Skyrim'. They’d shown up here recently, perhaps to stage some sort of eventual front against Solitude.

"They don't pay me no mind, 'less they wanta buy a slab of meat. 'Cause I been huntin' and fishin' in these parts for years,” Woods Woman said quietly, as though fearing someone might hear her state this revelation aloud. “Ain't like my poachin's hurting anybody. Jarl Elisif and your precious Blue Palace entourage can hardly eat every slab of venison, now, can they?"

Laprima stumbled, teeth gnashing. "Ehm, how much farther have we to go?"

It didn't take much longer. Within a minute, Laprima heard the sound of rushing water. True to Sybille's word, Sirdasa Noskal was living right beside the river.






Her camp consisted of a small tent made of animal hides, supported by twine and deadfall. Under the tent, a furry bedroll to lie within. There were several sacks made of burlap here, a couple of ceramic pots and metal implements there. A cooking stand made for roasting, and a small boat for travelling.

But what interested Laprima most of all at this moment was the fire.

"Gracious. Many thanks, Sirdasa."

Wood had been gathered and torched at some point, arranged into a rock-lined pit measuring a couple meters in diameter. Despite Sirdasa's absence over the past couple hours or so, the blaze was still going. Laprima wasted no time. Rushed right over to warm her hands and body. Immediately, she could feel what seemed to be ice in her fingers thawing away.

But she also watched Sirdasa carefully. Now that she was here, she was unsure how long she should stay. Because obviously, the plan she’d made with the wizard was not going to happen. Sirdasa was right; if the two of them had gotten into a knife-fight there’d be no way the noblewoman could win. Sirdasa handled her weapon like she’d been born holding it.

But there was also something else going on, which caused Laprima to second-guess her host. Sirdasa Noskal seemed to have ‘dropped the act’, as the saying goes. All her bluster, all the meanness she’d displayed in town was now gone. On some level, Laprima knew it would happen this way. Now that Sirdasa had a guest to attend to in what was essentially her home, she became a somewhat different person. Cordial, even. Still pretty rough around the edges, of course. But not nearly the snarling, menacing beast she'd portrayed in town.

“You hungry? Well, I certainly am.”

Laprima blinked. Now Sirdasa was holding her blade.

“Gonna get us supper. Problem is, my net’s broke, which means I ain’t got no way to catch anything as easy. So… be right back.”

To Laprima’s astonishment, Sirdasa took a deep breath, and leapt into the river. Dove right in, causing a splash of near-zero water! Laprima could see the Nord swimming against the current; treading under water which must be just as frigid as a witch’s teat. - How can she stand such frosty water? - After thirty seconds or so, Sirdasa returned to shore. Indeed, she had somehow managed to catch a fish half as long as her arm, and with her bare hands.

“Looks like we gonna have some trout for supper,” she said while water dripped from her hair and furs. “Want some, wench?”

Laprima nodded. The sky was getting dark. Didn't look like she'd be going anywhere, anytime soon.

Sirdasa began gutting the fish with her blade, slicing its scales this way and that. She chopped the trout into pieces with an axe. Threw a metal pan onto the fire and began frying their dinner.

The noble found herself fascinated with this entire process. “Everything you need for sustenance, it’s right here,” she said aloud. By now, Laprima had thoroughly regained feeling in her fingers. Her boots were also off, drying by the fire.

“Aye. This ain’t your pretty blue palace,” the hunter agreed. “Gotta do it right if ya wanta survive out here, wench.”

“Wench. Wench!” Laprima shook her head, displeased. “Might we let go of the unpleasantries, Sirdasa?”

“Do what, now?”

“The unpleasant things you constantly say. The name-calling. You are always calling me names!” Laprima smashed a palm into the sand, unable to hide the anger within her voice. “Well perhaps it is because we’ve never been formally introduced. My name’s Laprima, by the way. Not wench. Not girlie. Not harlot. I am Laprima Donnaugh.”

“Laprima Do-what?" Sirdasa scowled. "Well what kind of a–”

“Just… Laprima. La-pri-ma,” the Heartlander enunciated slowly. “Might you find fit to just refer to me as such?”

“Hmph. Laprima. Sounds like a name for a royal,” Sirdasa spat. “How ‘bout I just call you princess, instead? Yeah, think I’ll just call you: Princess Laprima….”

“Fine, Sirdasa. Although I’ll never be royalty, just so you know, there’s a process which must be entertained for one to become royal. And I shall perhaps never attain such position. Especially not, if Chamany and I are to wed.”

“What-ever you say, Princess.”

Dinner was served. As the lady and the hunter ate, Laprima’s fascination with Sirdasa’s simplistic lifestyle continued. Such an opposite way to live. In Laprima's world, everything was done for you. Food was always prepared, bed linens changed at least twice a week, floors got swept, magical music got played from devices unseen, and so on. But out here, Sirdasa’s entire existence was organized by just one person: Sirdasa Noskal, herself. It was something Lady Donnaugh could not entirely wrap her head around. The woman before her was crude and selfish, yes. But she was also like a character Laprima might've read about in an adventure novel during youth. A character who lived off the land, doing things her way to the utmost.

By now, it was definitely getting late; too late (and too dark) to safely find her way through the woods and back to Solitude. Laprima argued a bit with Sirdasa, tried to convince the woman not to give in to her addiction. But eventually she handed over some coin, because this was part of the half-spoken agreement between them. Laprima had been freezing half-to-death, and begged Sirdasa for help. Now it was time to pay her end of the bargain.

“Well, you ain’t goin’ nowheres," Sirdasa said, taking Laprima's money. "Do me a favor, eh? Stay here at camp while I go off for a bit. Ain’t nothing’s gonna bother you out here, no critters, that is. Be back soon, I promise.”

Coin in hand, Sirdasa Noskal rushed up the beach, leaving Laprima alone. Fortunately, she wasn’t gone for too long.

When she came back she immediately uncorked one of the phials she’d bought.

"Want some?"

Laprima Donnaugh shook her head: No. Absolutely not.

So Sirdasa smiled. Palmed the pink phial, then quaffed it down all at once, just as Laprima and Chamany had done two weeks ago. “Ahhhh! ... Ohhh lalaa!!!” … The addict plopped herself down on the shore. Began sighing and rolling about. Laughed at the moons, like some sort of primitive. Laprima sat cautiously; now getting a full view of what happens when a user of this new skooma gets taken under its influence. Sirdasa, dancing a bit in front of her fire, wavering drunkenly on her feet. Speaking in tongues. At one point, she contorted her face into an odd shape and began sobbing, even.

Laprima oversaw the entire process with detached curiosity. She was getting tired by now but forced herself to stay awake, watching over the loon, making sure their campfire stayed lit. Still, after an hour or so, she couldn’t help but fall asleep right on the sand. Sirdasa herself had passed out, after all; as the drug’s initial effects changed from inspirational and flashy, to somnolent.





The night wore on. Somehow, the posh lady from the palace was able to spend most of her time asleep. Next thing she knew it was daylight again. Daylight, and cold. For her company was too frazzled by the brew to continue maintaining the campfire’s blaze throughout the night.

As Laprima tended to the fire (learning how such things are done, in fact) she couldn’t help but take notice of Sirdasa’s condition, even as she was itching to get away from the skooma-user, and return to her usual, comfortable existence.

“Sirdasa, you really have taken ill. I cannot help but feel concern about your state of being as of now.”

“Ah, ‘tis nothing, princess. I shall be alright. Always am.” Woods Woman moaned, her body basking before the fire’s returning warmth. For a moment, Laprima could see a bit of surprise within her host’s eyes. As if she’d forgotten somebody else was there.

Laprima by now had had enough of this. She was ready to go. She could see herself away from this malaise, following the tracks they’d made in snow the day before, perhaps. To make the desire to leave even more pertinent, Sirdasa the addict looked as though she couldn’t do anything about this. At the moment, she appeared to be too weak to even stand up.

Still, Laprima, conscious of what it must be like, ailing all alone out here with a skooma hangover, couldn’t help but try dispensing some advice before she left.

“You know, there are ways to…counteract the effects you are suffering,” she began. “Chamany told me: chewing flowers of alkanet is one method of doing so. Do you know of these blooms?" she asked. "Not sure if alkanet grows here in Skyrim. But surely, there must be some other leaves or flowers you can try.”

“Ah, you speak of the elixir…” Sirdasa murmured.

“Ehm. Elixir?”

“Aye,” Sirdasa nodded. Tried to raise her head from the sand so she could get a better look at Laprima while she spoke, and was unsuccessful at this. “Was supposed to be some elixir for this…”

Sirdasa's voice droned off. Laprima waited patiently for the woman before her to continue. For it seemed as though she had something else to say.

“The alchemist …" she finally regrouped. "One of Chammy’s clan … he was workin’ on it. B’cause they knew this skooma’s good. ... Best they’d ever seen. But also bad. Bad, in a way that it makes us suckers sick. So they was workin’ on that elixir, to solve what comes after… But he couldn’t get it all mixed up, or some such. So, one of them went to Angeline, the potions lady. Wanted to know if she could, ya know, if she could help get it all mixed up proper-like. Brought his mixture right to her.”

“One of Chamany’s clan went to Angeline?” Laprima asked, already seeing where this was possibly going.

“Aye. And when that witch of a alchemist heard what they was wanting the elixir fer, she immediately called the guards!” Sirdasa hacked. “B’cause skooma’s illegal, don’cha know? Angeline, she took the elixir away, right then and there. Not knowing. B’cause this brew, it’s got a kick, alright. Ain’t nothing like it before, nor since…”

“Hmph. So I see.”

Where, oh where are you, dear Chamany Lacroix? … For now, there are even more questions which require a series of answers.

“Stay right here," Laprima said, ignoring the better judgement which screamed Just go! within her head. "Perhaps I can return sometime later to make an assistance.”



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

Sirdasa's proposition

Battling a lynx

Warmed by the Fire

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

Notes: the moment when Laprima made her proposal, when Sirdasa says "Here's what I reckon..." was another Speechcraft moment. If Laprima failed this would've caused the Wild Woman to attack, instead of taking 'prima to the campsite.
.

This post has been edited by Renee: Apr 23 2023, 12:38 AM

I notice you are getting the Gray Face bug with your NPCs. You can fix this with the following:

1.) Create a new NPC

2.) Edit the necessary sections of the face. If there are additional textures installed in actors/character, NPC customization will result into a two toned NPC, move all the extra textures into a back up folder.

3.) Click "Okay" on the character window closing it, Highlight your new NPC in the actors list and press CTRL + F4 to export FacegenData.

4.) Save plugin.

5.) You can confirm success by checking Meshes/Actors/Characters/FaceGenData/FaceGeom/<mod name> folder &Textures/Actors/Characters/FaceGenData/FaceTint/<mod name> folder. If it is simply a change to a vanilla NPC, it will be in the .../FaceGeom/Skyrim.esm subfolder. The file will be a .nif with the same name as the base id in the construction set.

Cool, thanks. I'll try that.

There's always a lot to keep track of in writing. Anyone who does it knows what it is to forget a detail or two. Lord knows I've done that plenty.

Scary story about the frostbite. It doesn't snow where I live, but I know frostbite is not something you want to mess around with.

And yeah, sounds like Corpulus tries be optimistic about people, but that's hard to do when cash keeps disappearing.

I can see how your personal experience with frostbite is shaping the story here. Laprima wants to warm her fingers, of course. Still curious as to how this will turn out.

Hm, still not sure I trust Sirdasa. But Laprima needs to get shelter of some kind and fast, so I suppose she doesn't have much choice.

Interesting Stormcloak cameo here. Makes sense that Sirdasa doesn't much care about politics, though. The less anyone interferes, the better (which I suppose means the Stormcloaks are safer for her, at least for the time-being).

I'm also a little surprised that Laprima doesn't seem to be aware of the rebellion. I suppose it's not something they care to talk about at court, and she's not really involved in politics. This does give her some pretty useful information for Elisif, should she choose to offer it.

And so it happens: by helping Laprima, Sirdasa now feels invested in her.

Whoa, Sirdasa's hardcore! She could fit into one of those polar bear plunge groups.

Addict though she is, Sirdasa's still aware enough to be a pretty effective survivalist. I can definitely see how this would appeal to Laprima, given how she's been pushing against the constraints of court life. Skyrim's a rough place (as is most of Tamriel), and having these skills can be helpful.

Laprima's knowledge of alchemy could also be pretty helpful for Sirdasa, assuming Sirdasa utilizes it. But an addict needs to be the one to make the decision to change, and that's an uphill battle.

Also, we see here one of the big downsides about blanket criminalization of drugs. It's much harder for someone to get clean if they can't get help.

I really liked the way you took this story. I'd anticipated a showdown between Laprima and Sirdasa, but this is far more interesting. Troublesome as Sirdasa is, she also has a lot to offer Laprima. That she's neither full ally nor enemy makes this feel quite realistic.

Very nicely done how you showed us the gradual thawing of animus between these two. Sirdrasa and the Princess does have a certain ring to it.

Sirdrasa would make a Bosmer proud with her command of woodscraft. And she could make a Nord jealous with her ability to withstand the cold. If only she could kick the skooma thing. . . .

Looks like Princess is going to work some alchemy to see if she can help her newfound not quite friend.

Not sure where this is going but anxious to find out!

I'm replying a bit early, just because of a few things I'm insecure about. I dunno, maybe if I type these things publicly I'll be able to gain some perspective.

I know Sirdasa's obnoxious, and that maybe the simple story outcome would be Laprima just killing her. This is how it was originally going to happen.

But I wanted to try a few new things, and so I opened my mind. After playing my first Bioware game (Mass Effect) these last couple months, I've really been attracted to the idea of choices: two true paths the story could take. This is something I've never done before in other tales. Goblin Lady, Sarah Phimm's story, Miss Vicious, and so on... all of those had hand-written quests, but there was only one outcome.

So I wanted to try something new. In LaprimasWorld.esp there are two choices during this Skooma Addict quest. If one choice was made, the outcome would be what we'd all expect: Sirdasa and Laprima get into a brawl, Laprima wins, and so on.

But.... the other choice got made, and it was actually made by Sirdasa herself (sort of), via an unseen dice-roll by using Skyrim's Persuasion system during the quest. I'm glad it happened this way, just because it's something new (for me). From a writer's perspective, following this second path is more of a challenge.

Anyway, there are probably two more chapters left. And there are a couple more random things which can occur, meaning that even I don't know which final outcome will take place.

Hope this helps!