A nice visit to the Shivering Isles all around. Go easy on that Alocasia fruit though. They look like figs, but figs they ain't...

Stop putting in Status Quo lyrics. You're making me feel old for remembering them.

“Simple,” she purred. - - Rigghht. It seems his ladies were right and the Jandaga fell for the 'damsel in this dress distress' routine. Off to the Isles of Sheo.

Well, it seems the Fiery Haired Witch took care of that alocasia fruit.

Since most of Buffy's attire is made from either buck/doe skin or silk, she is quite expert at harvesting and working with silk. She finds daedra silk to be reasonably attainable and very strong (though eclipsed by more difficult to acquire dragon silk on both counts). Moth silk, on the other hand is ever so much more delicate, beautiful and takes both dyes and enchantments marvelously. So she normally crafts her silk garments from a blend of the two.

Good call porting out of the Isles for dinner.

Is it Dragonmoth or Daedric Spidermoth silk then?

< really hard laughing

Good god, so why does the Jandaga have to collect all those ingredients (alocasia fruit, a daedra heart, void salts...) to stop the addiction of others? Ah, I see. So this is to completely disrupt all skooma trade in the region.

Don't have a clue about today's Name That Tune, but it looks like ghastley does. Status Quo. Sorry to say I've never heard of them.

Ha ha I've seen some followers do that: collect ingredients (or pick up loot from the fallen) in this game like mad. And then you'll look in their inventory and there will be a zillion flax seeds or dozens of weapons they'll never use. I forget if that's due to a setting in CSR or Companion Share & Recruit.

I like the way this chapter ends. They've had enough of this crazy world, so back to Cyrodiil they go.

Pictures of Matchstick Men by Status Quo, 1968.

Companion Share & Recruit under the Party option. Have to be careful with it though. There have been times when I've been arrested when they'd pick up things they're not supposed to.

20230923 I-SL – Depoisoning the Well, ingredient collecting

Sitting around a table at Olaf’s we discussed what we were going to do next. Fiona pointed out that I’ve stashed ingredients in several of my houses. Naturally proud of her ingredient collection, she suggested starting with Shadowcrest Vineyard. More than likely, I’ll find all I need there.

Elenya suggested that since we’re already in Bruma, planting the Bruma spore for Kanaane first made more sense. Kanaane‘s directions for the Shivering Isle site was easy enough to follow seems right that the Bruma site would be equally easy to find. Search for the ingredients afterward.

After a night of drinking, dancing, and singing karaoke arm-in-arm we stumbled out of Olaf’s giggling and laughing all the way back to our house.

We left Bruma sometime around noon the next day (I think it was the next day). Anyway, we left Bruma to search for the site on Kanaane’s map. Head still a bit fuzzy from the night before, the site wasn’t easy to find. Blame it on Kanaane’s map. It was outdated. The landscape had change making certain landmarks hard to see from the Orange Road. We passed by the site two or three times before we found the spot to plant the spore.

The spore planted we returned to Bruma to spend another night before beginning our search for ingredients.
Checking our inventory after breakfast the next day, we found that I was only carrying Void Salts. Bummer, that means counting the Alocasia Fruit we’re still missing four ingredients on Do’leandra’s list; a Heart of Order, some Daedra Silk, a Scamp Skin, and a portion of Ambrosia.

Our first stop was Shadowcrest Vineyard. Fiona was certain that she had one or two of the ingredients stored away in the laboratory there. Unfortunately, the ingredient shelves at Shadowcrest yielded nothing. To make up for our disappointment, Fiona put together a great dinner and a bottle or was it several, I don’t remember exactly how many or much of anything after the first bottle of her latest vintage.

I awoke the next day feeling totally relaxed, ready to face a new day.

Embarrassed at the incompleteness of her ingredient cabinet, Fiona decided to stay at Shadowcrest to inventory and get things in order. Elenya and I said our good-byes to Fiona and continued on to Benirus Manor.

Arriving in Benirus Manor, Elenya and I found Claire down in the laboratory of the late Lorgren Benirus. Explaining what we needed the sorceress was eager to help. Rummaging through the ingredient storage shelves she found some Scamp Skin and a Heart of Order. We now have four out of the six essential ingredients.

Disappointed I asked Claire if she had any ideas where to find ambrosia. Claire quietly thought for a moment. Then after a brief pause she said she knew where to get a portion.

“Ambrosia,” Claire said in an unusually serious manner. “Useful in making health potions, comes from the reddish-purple Mana Bloom flowers. Lichor is harvested from the bluish-purple Mana Bloom flowers. The plant only grows wild in Mankar Camoran's Paradise.”

“Mankar Camoran’s Paradise!” I interrupted. “We’re lost, there’s no way I can go there.”

It’s like, no biggie.” Coherence didn’t last long as Claire continued excitedly. ”It’s like, Mana Blooms grows in Frostcraig Spire’s garden and like… Eee gawds! Like, Anvil Mages eat it all the time. It's, like, so dandy candy! Gotta hurry before it’s all gone.”

Were we too late? There was none on the dinner table. We’ll go upstairs and find Ellirijan the Stranded Light Guild guide. He should know when to expect more.

We found Ellirijan upstairs in the living quarters sound asleep. Sitting unattended on a table nearby was a plate with a portion of ambrosia and lichor. I’m sure no one will miss it.

With portions of ambrosia and lichor in our possession there was only one ingredient left to acquire, Daedra Silk. Where are we supposed acquire Daedra silk. Summoning a Daedra spider won’t work. Kill the summoned and its body disappears. Hoping for a random encounter with a Spider Daedra to harvest for silk is highly probable.

While Claire, with unfaltering confidence in my abilities, looked at me expectantly, I was beginning to doubt if it could be done. Steady Elenya came to my rescue with a suggestion. “My Jandaga, think J’shivrizza, the strange Khajiit mage at the Skingrad Mages Guild might be of some help?”

Using the Mages Guild transport system we arrived at the Skingrad Mages Guild Hall in the late afternoon. J’shivrizza didn’t have any ingredients to sell but he did have an interesting spell in his inventory, “Create Mundane Oblivion Gate”.

It cost 750 magicka to cast and even when wearing all the fortifying trinkets I had I’d still be a little shy of that, purchasing the spell today would not help. Still, the idea of being able to create an Oblivion Gate and step through to the Deadlands of Oblivion is intriguing so I asked J’shivrizza if she would demonstrate the spell. As I expected she refused. Putting on my warmest smile I touched her hand and charmed her into relenting.

Purring contentedly, J’shivrizza led us outside to a wide section of the street. Wailing like a 100 alley cats fighting, she raised her hands slowly up high above her head. The sickly yellow clouds boiled across the sky, the earth shook, and molten black obsidian rose up from the ground framing an angry red eye of a portal.

It was a great show but it didn’t work as I had hoped. It didn’t give me access to the Deadlands of Oblivion. As we stood there pondering the burning hole to nowhere, a Xivilai stepped trough followed by a Storm Atronach.

As Skingrad guards came rushing to battle the Daedra, J’shivrizza shutdown the demonstration. I guess if we would have left the gate open long enough eventually a spider Daedra would have stepped through but how many would have died until then? It’s best that J’shivrizza shut it down.

The excitement done for the day we headed for Rosethorn Hall to spend the night. Eyja put together a marvelous feast of Skaal meatballs and gravy with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam. How she does it on such short notice, I’ll never know.

As Claire, Elenya, and I sat around the dinner table discussing the misadventures in collecting daedra silk, Eyja spoke up, “Mi’lord, there’s a jar of what looks like spider web sitting on the ingredient cabinet in the hall.”

Jumping up from the table, we raced to the entrance hall. There it was a jar full of Daedra silk. Thanks to Eyja we now have all the required ingredients. I think she deserves a raise.

We just need to go to Leyawiin and see S’drassa about acquiring a sample of his “Skooma Cure”. We’ll leave for Leyawiin first thing tomorrow but tonight we celebrate. Eyja arrived with several bottles of the best wine from the wine cellar, a tray of cheese, sausages, and crackers and carafe of a golden liqueur that seemed to dance in the candlelight.

Taste like almonds, I thought as I sipped the sweet liqueur.

I overheard Eyja whisper to Claire and Elenya, “It’s something Sinderion is working on. Calls it Amouraetto. “Serve it to that stuffed shirt lord of yours. Guaranteed to get you a raise”, Sinderion told me.”

Taking another sip, not quite Fiona class but shows promise. Perhaps, Eyja would like a wardrobe of new outfits and a remodel of the basement servant’s quarters?

This post has been edited by macole: Sep 23 2023, 07:14 AM

That's a good thing to do, stash ingredients away. Great method for alchemists, especially if they're in the habit of keeping all their potion-making apparatuses (apparati?) in that location as well.

You have karaoke in your game? Is that a mod? Dude, the hippies are doing a lot of drinking & partying in this episode. 🍷Better moderate themselves or else... or else.... hmm.

Yikes, so they have to go to a daedric realm just to get some ambrosia.

... right, there's Frostcrag, phew. There's also the Arcane Uni's garden area itself I'd imagine, assuming Better Cities is running. Ha ha Claire talks like a valley girl.

That's hilarious, they opened an Oblivion Gate right in the middle of town! "STOP RIGHT THERE, MAGICAL SCUM!"

This post has been edited by Renee: Sep 23 2023, 03:21 PM

Eyja comes through with spider daedra silk! And even some amouraetto. Yum. On the amouraetto. . . not the silk.

I wish there was a karaoke mod. Nah, it's only my stereo playing in the background. What's a poor bard to do.?

That's the way I think of the blue-eyed blond sorceress. She really is very intelligent though.



Late at night it's either a snifter of DiSaronno or Grand Marnier. They're pretty good over cherry ice cream, too.

20230927 I-SL – Depoisoning the Well

The Ladies were not too happy with my behavior the night before. Early in the morning the day after, Claire and Elenya virtually dragged me by hand out the door of Rosethorn Hall. They didn’t slow down until we had exited the city gates and were well away from Skingrad.

Stopping at the county line, Elenya turned to me, wagged her finger, and lectured me on the evils of overindulgence. “After resisting the sweet temptations of some of the most beautiful vampires we’ve ever seen, you were fawning all over the maid last night. The maid! If you hadn’t fallen asleep you’d have given away your precious armor!”

Ouch, that hurt but they were right. Too much party can be a bad thing. I was fine until Eyja served up dessert. Always did have weakness for gals that can cook better than I can.

“Yeah, like, totally freaked me out,” added Claire, who had been standing there with her arms folded disapprovingly while Elenya read the riot act. “If I hadn’t used a sleep spell on you, we’d be poor wretches out in the street. It's, like, totally disgusting.”

“Anyways, while you had Eyja distracted I totally snatched a vile of the awesome liqueur. Fiona can smooth it out and add it to our product catalog.”

“Yeah, and I know who’ll be the test subject,” Elenya said giving me a steely sidelong glance.

Teasingly I said, “Can’t wait.”

It was a long and quiet walk to Leyawiin that day.

Arriving at Leyawiin we made a stop at our Leyawiin house to change into robes more Arch Mage appropriate for the visit to the Mages Guild. Looking the epitome of authority, we strode confidently to the Mages Guild in hopes of catching S’drassa in a sharing mood.

Outside the Mages Guild front door we ran into Yaranil, the Stranded Light Guild Guide. We asked the Ayleid or Hidden Elf, as she likes to be called, if she knew anything about S’drassa’s skooma cure. Yaranil told us that it doesn’t work but S’drassa does have a few samples of the potion.

Unexpectedly, Yaranil produced a jewelry box key. She handed it to me saying, “You might be interested in this.”

What it opens, Yaranil didn’t say? I assumed that Yaranil knowing S’drassa wouldn’t want to share, the key would unlock S’drassa’s potion chest. We might have to snitch a sample.

Catching S’drassa at his desk we engage him in conversation about his skooma cure. Knowing that he is having trouble getting the cure to work I offer to help or get someone to help him with development. I try to convince him that a sharing of ideas can be beneficial and offer several suggestions.

S’drassa absolutely refuses to the sharing of ideas or accepting any help from High and Mighty, I’m Too Good for You, Altmers like Sinderion. This is his project and his alone. S’drassa laughed out loud when I offered to personally help with his experiment, pointing out that in no way could I be considered anywhere close to being an expert alchemist.

S’drassa knows who I am, surely. I can tell because he seemed to become more and more uncomfortable as our conversation went on. It was the expression on my face when he laughed at my offer to personally help that told S’drassa he had taken a step too far.

Seeing the change in S’drassa’s demeanor, I changed my tactic. Exerting my authority as Arch Mage, I ordered him to deliver to me a sample of his potion. Slumped shouldered he complied.

“Be thankful that I allow you to keep a sample that you may continue your experiments on this cure. And be doubly thankful that this disrespect did not happen under Telvanni rule, else as Archmagister by my hand you’d be a puddle of slime staining the floor!”

“Yes, Arch Mage, thank you Arch Mage, forgive me Arch Mage.” S’drassa stammered over and over with much bowing.

“It is good to be the Arch Mage,” I said as we walked out of the guildhall.

“It is good to be the Jandaga.” Claire and Elenya said in response as they looped their arms around mine. What a difference a day makes. Proudly my Ladies escorted me back to our lovely Leyawiin shanty at the edge of the swamp.

Later that night, after Claire and Elenya had gone to sleep I sat outside at the water’s edge listening to the night sounds. Croaking of giant Devil Frogs serenaded me as I contemplated the jeweled key Yaranil gave me. Holding it up to the candlelight I asked myself, “We didn’t need this to get the skooma cure sample, I wonder what it opens?”

With all the required ingredients in-hand we left for Skingrad first thing the next day.

As expected, the first thing Sinderion wanted to know was how the search for nirnroot was going. He was eager to get a supply of 20 in order to continue researching a stronger Elixir of Exploration. It had to be a disappointing to hear that I had been too busy with other things that I didn’t have time to go root collecting.

After handing him my bag of ingredients and explaining what I needed, I fully expected him to object. So, I wasn’t a bit surprised when he exclaimed, “You want me to make a potion out of this mess!”

What surprised me was his reaction a couple seconds later. “I accept the challenge! I’ll have it delivered via the Guild Guide to wherever you wish. Do’leandra at Merendin, you say? Give me a week or less.”

As we were leaving Sinderion’s lab we could hear him loudly talking to himself, “I’ll show that mangy Leyawiin swamp cat what a real Alchemist can do. Thinks he’s something ‘cause he got some dunce adventurer to collect some frozen tears for him. What did he do with them? Nothing! The blowhard probably melted them with all his hot air.”

On an on he went until we were out of earshot.

Walking up the street to Rosethorn Hall I turned to Claire and Elenya and asked, “Well Ladies, looks like we have some free time. What would you like to do?”

Their eyes glazed over and with the sound gold coins clinking in purses, I wondered why did I even bother asking?

A mysterious key, eh?

Yeah, sometimes an Arch Mage just has to remind his guildies who is in charge.

I don't suspect shopping in Skingrad is that bountiful but the Ladies will doubtless make do.

You'll be pleased to know that back in the 2nd Era, nirnroot grows and respawns normally. And red nirnroot is even rarely seen.

Acadian: Is there a giant nirnroot too?

20231005 Ayleid Steps – Audacious Argonians

Having made a shambles of the local Skingrad emporiums Claire and Elenya insisted on going to the Imperial City. That was fine with me, as long as we traveled overland.

All along the watchtower
Guardsmen kept the view
While all the Moth Priests came and went
Barefoot servants, too
Outside in the cold distance
A wildcat did growl
Three travelers were approaching
And the wind began to howl.

“Quickly,” one guard instructed a runner. “Notify all the shops in the city that they’ve returned.”

Walking from Skingrad to the Imperial City had worked its magic. Claire and Elenya had sufficiently recovered from the troughs of their shopping frenzy. Now as we crossed the Talos Bridge, all they wanted was a long soak in the warm pools of the Imperial Bath house.

We didn’t make that far. It wasn’t long after passing through the gates of the Imperial City when we were approached by one of the Imperial Guards.

With ridged formality, guardsman Jannus Mercium informed me that Captain Tertia Aurum wishes to speak with me.

Captain Aurum, hmmm? Ayleid Step research for fun and profit, what more could an Archeology Guild Headmaster ask for? We immediately set off to find Captain Tertia Aurum.

Over worked and understaffed, Captain Aurum asks if I would assist with an incident reported by an Argonian merchant. The Argonian, Hal-Neer staying at the Merchant’s Inn, claims his wife is lost in a recently discovered Ayleid ruin. The Argonian wants the Imperial Guard to send a search and rescue party to fetch his wife.
Stepping, as adventurers call it, has drawn all sorts fortune-hunters. The lost ruins often hold a bounty of welkynd stones and at current prices a week of dungeon diving could yield a lifetime of easy living. But, it was risky business and often came at a high price. Some never return.

The fortune that could be had with investigating a Lost Ayleid Ruin brought a sparkle to the eyes of Claire and Elenya could be seen on Masser and Secunda. There was no way I could turn this down. What else could I say but, “Of course, where do I find this Argonian?”

Not finding Hal-Neer at the Merchant’s Inn we began canvassing nearby inns and taverns. We found Hal-Neer at the King and Queen Tavern dancing with the Ohmes-raht chickie, Revendri. For someone anguishing over his missing wife he sure was taking it well.

Something about the story he told of how he lost his wife while Stepping didn’t sit right with us.

Beset upon by monsters in a Lost Ayleid ruin, Hal-Neer thought his wife Nur-Deen was right behind him as he fled for his life. He it made out alive but his wife never showed. Now, Hal-Neer is looking for someone go back to rescue his wife. He gave us directions to finding the Lost Ayleid ruin where Nur-Deen was last seen and offered a reward for, as he told it, news of her de… err, the safe return of his wife.

It was the way Hal-Neer paused, and restarted several times that led me to believe that something wasn’t right. I got the feeling that at the first sign of trouble Nur-Deen turned tail and ran leaving his wife behind.

“The old, I don’t have to be faster than the tiger, just faster than you strategy”, Elenya surmised.

Shocked, Claire’s hand shot up to her mouth, “No! He didn’t, err wouldn’t do that, would he?”

Thinking Nur-Deen may be in serious trouble we left immediately. Hal-Neer told us that a series of two stepstones would take us to the lost Ayleid ruin. The first was located just east of Vaermina’s shrine. It was easy to find and we soon stood in Lost Dasqa Cit.

We didn’t find Hal-Neer’s wife in the first level of Dasqa Cit; just a bunch of ghosts, ghouls, and a nether lich. That disappointment was made palatable by collecting a basket full of welkynd stones, a varla stone, and some nice Ayleid meteoric weapons (COBL).

Coming across an Ayleid stone door, we entered Dasqa Cit Torasel. The way forward was blocked by a locked iron gate. The gate was opened by pressing a push block located on the wall. Once through the gate, the gate raised behind us locking us inside Torasel.

We didn’t realize that right away because our attention focused on another iron gate across the hallway. A female Argonian stood inside a small room behind a locked iron gate. Unlocking the gate with a spell the Ladies and I entered the room.

“Are you here to kill me?” Nur-Deen asked before I could make any introductions

Her tale was worse than what we had imagined. Assured we weren’t here to do her harm, Nur-Deen went on to tell how her husband clubbed her over the head and left her here to die so he could lay claim to her inheritance. She was three times fortunate; Hal-Neer did not strike true, she had with her a large sack of food, and she found this small room. Here, protected by a locked Ayleid iron gate she was safe from the monsters of Dasqa Cit for as long as the food lasted.

Taking Nur-Deen with us we intended to return to the stepstone and leave Dasqa Cit. Our leaving was delayed a bit as we had to search Dasqa Cit Torasel for the mechanism to unlock the gate to the exit. The wall push switch was located some distance away from the so far away that by just walking it would be closing by the time we got there. I had to run quickly to beat the closing gate.

“Have you ever noticed that ghosts and other ethereal creatures cannot pass through the locked iron gates found in Ayleid ruins? How did they do that magic?” wondered Claire as we were clearing out Torasel.

I had no answer.

After getting out of Dasqa Cit Torasel we safely made it back to the exit stepstone. Expecting the step to deliver us to who knows where outside I was surprised to find we were standing in the hallway that surrounds the Chamber of the Elder Council.

Nur-Deen has devised a plan. I am to convince Hal-Neer that his wife is dead. Nur-Deen on the other hand will inform the guards of what Hal-Neer had done. I suspect Hal-Neer is going to get the shock of his life. Nur-Deen left us with an invitation to see her in about four days and she’ll have a reward for us.

In the meantime we need to go to visit Do’leandra in Merendin.

This post has been edited by macole: Oct 5 2023, 07:35 AM

I guess there is a giant nirnroot or two in Oblivion and Skyrim, but (to my knowledge) not in ESO.

A wonderful rework of a wonderful song! The shoppers approacheth!

Not a bad plan to deal with the traitorous Hal-Neer. . . but letting Nur-Deen test out some of those Ayleid COBL weapons on him would have been a good plan too.

Today's song = Bobby Dylan (or Jimi Hendrix, if we're talking the more rock version), final answer Regis.

Jandaga's getting another job, the mer's work is never done. WHOA. Another rainbow in your game!

Alright, this is getting frustrating. Been playing Oblivion again recently, yet still haven't seen one. Funny thing though, this morning I saw one over my mom's house, took a picture of it, even.

There they are in the King & Queen. My skooma dealer was just there recently (though he prefers the shadier Luther Broad's to stay in).



Gotta be a difference in the physics (or whatever) comparing Earth to Mundus. Like, spirits on Mundus retain some of their physicality. Or something. So they can't pass through solid objects like we assume they can here in our realm. 👻

Nur-Deem's plight is in good hands, in any case.

Oh my! I didn't even notice the rainbow in the corner.

20231011 TAS, Audacious Argonians – I-SL, Mycelium Sanctum

We spent the night in at Arch Mage quarters. A little cramped for three but we made do. The next morning before leaving for Merendin we went looking for Hal-Neer at The Merchants Inn.

Hal-Neer didn’t seem to be too upset when we told him of Nur-Deen’s death. Of course we knew he wouldn’t be. All he wanted to know was could we prove it.

Handing Nur-Deen’s gold amulet to Hal-Neer, I reminded him of the promised reward. Hal-Neer told me that it would take about a week for the paper work to go through. He’d have the money then.

“See you then,” I said and with a wave of my hand the Ladies and I traveled to Merendin.

If our sudden appearance in the reception hall startled Kanaane as she sat at the reception desk she didn’t show it. She was happy to hear the news that the spores had been planted. She had a feeling that they had been and had already dispatched agents to move in once the mushrooms had grown. Now she would like for me to go back to ensure that everything is in order.

After talking to Kanaane we went looking for Do’leandra. We found her sitting with a visitor to Merendin, an Ohmes named Chirran. By the way they were looking at each other I assumed they were dear, dear friends but then they could be brother and sister. With Khajiits you just never know.

“Sorry to interrupt but did you get a potion from Sindarin?” I asked.

Do’leandra handed over a small vial of an experimental potion with these instructions, “Be careful, the Renrijra Krin will try everything to stop you.”

As Claire, Elenya, and I prepared leave for the Hidden Cellar in Bliss by way of the Midas Gateway, a dark voice, soft as sable came from the shadows of a corner.

“So, you’re just going to pop in and leave again without so much as a hello?” Kaleah laughingly admonished.

Oops, a bit embarrassed I put on my most charming smile and began to offer my defense. I didn’t get very far. Swept up in her embrace, Kaleah spun me around and around before setting me down near the giggling Claire and Elenya.

With a firm pat on the back Kaleah said, “Now go do what needs to be done and hurry back.”

*****
The apostate Daedra seducer, Kaleah stood staring at the spot where her Feache had stood just a moment ago. As the color of magic dissipated a tear welled up in the corner of her eye.

Deep within the grey maybe, beyond the grasp of time, a presence stirred in its death slumber.

“Big girls don’t cry. They don't cry! Daedra don't cry, that's just an alibi!” Kaleah cried out in tormented anguish.

The tear forming in the corner of Kaleah’s eye retreated. The ripple in the void smoothed out and the presence coalescing there settled back down into the comfort of its death slumber.
*****

Using the Midas Gateway Claire, Elenya and I were soon standing in the Hidden Cellar in Bliss. With it being late in the day we had dinner and retired for the night. The morning came we left Bliss to inspect the Stranded Light’s mushroom house.

We were barely out the gate when we saw the house. Look at the size of that thing. From my days in Vvardenfell I don’t remember Telvanni houses growing so fast. Of course it is rather on the small side.

There was only one problem. The staircase hadn’t solidified properly. I kept fall through as I tried to climb the staircase. No problem. I’ll just levitate up to the door as I would have done in Morrowind.

By casting Midas Angel Wings I was able to fly up to the door and entered the Stranded Light Shivering Isles house. The one room mushroom house is definitely colorful.

There we met the Stranded Light agent Firstande. Believing that baliwogs rule Bliss from the sewers underneath the city the Queen of the Baliwogs, as the big Xivilai calls herself, fits right in with everyone else in the Isles.

To test the functionality of the new facility, Claire used the enchanting alter to buff my robe with enhanced magica. After ensuring all was in order we left the new Stranded Light office. When I found that the Take Me Home spell would not work in the Shivering Isles, I discussed using other means of teleportation with the Ladies. They objected.

“Ranger and a sorceress,” I thought. “What a pair they make.”

The Ladies wanted to walk about for awhile exploring the land collecting exotic ingredients. I know full well that they’re going to rub in the flaming haired witch’s face and gloat, “Looky what I got and you don’t.”

Next thing you know I’ll have to bring Fiona here for a private tour of the Looney Bin. Hmmm, on second thought I’ll help with the collecting.

Combing the countryside as we headed north on the road from Bliss, we came across the wooden door of a ruin that look rather interesting. Feeling the silliness of the Isles, the giggling Claire and Elenya playfully pulled me through the doors of the timeless ruin, Fain.

All of Claire’s and Elenya’s playfulness quickly evaporated when we were attacked by three Transformed Heretics and their conjured Hunter Bees.

“Jandaga, they’re calling on the evil eastern forces that we fought when we helped the Silver Sky Temple.” Elenya cried out during the battle.

The fight over, we investigated the now quiet room. Up on the center pedestal we found a scroll that read like sacrificial instructions for ritual to summon an ancient obscure god called Gyup.

Turning to the Ladies, I leaned against a short stone pillar and said, “But, I don’t see a pit to throw the victim in.”

A sickening feeling came over me as I felt the face carved on pillar depress. There was a slight “click” and the floor beneath us opened up.

It was a long drop down. I don’t know why we didn’t think of casting a spell to teleport us out of there or to at least slow our descent. Lucky for us we landed in a deep pool of soft water.

The only way out was through a tunnel infested with grummites. It was near midnight by the time we fought our way through the grummites to the exit.

Huddled together trying to keep warm, we spent the rest of the night there on that moss covered rock. It might have been romantic had we not been too exhausted to cast a simple housekeeping “Laundry Day” spell.

It’s as Claire said, “Sticky, stanky grummite blood is like, so gross. Like, barf me out and gag me with a spoon!”

Last night my skooma dealer made it to Bruma. All the Nords up there, most of them hate the guy because he's Dunmer. But he's also gotten into a profession which is illegal, and some NPCs seem to just "know" this. 🍾

But anyway, we saw what I assume was supposed to be Northern Lights. Green & blue colors moving across the night sky; only problem is they were moving way too fast. I do have a specific Northern Lights plugin. Maybe this mod (and All Natural, which I also have ) are messing up the whole rainbow thing.



WHAT?

That is true. Telvannis houses DO in fact grow (and die, I assume). Never thought of it that way. Wow look, he's flying.

Apparently, "gag me with a spoon" was never something real valley girls said. Zappa wanted his daughter to talk like a val for that song, but in the process she made up a bunch of phrases which became canon, but only after the recording was famous!

A Telvanni mushroom house on Shivering Isles on felldew!

Looks like Fain didn't offer too much - except stinky grummites.

Sometimes a picture helps in describing a scene.

After speaking with Kanaane we went in search of Do’leandra in Merendin’s west wing where Do’leandra often can be found at the practice dummy honing on her swordsmanship skills. Upon entering the west wing of Merendin soft whispers could be heard. There on a seclude bench at the far side of the room sat two Khajiit. Sitting close together their eyes locked on one another, the two Khajiit, an Ohmes named Chirran and Do’leandra an Ohmes-raht didn’t notice the three of us approaching.

That led me to ask, why would two sharp-eared Khajiit not notice us approaching? Then I notice that Do’leandra was dressed more casual than normal, forgoing her usual armor attire. A party dress, was this a date?

There could be only one conclusion; the two were lovers (dear, dear friends). But then they could possibly just be brother and sister.

This post has been edited by macole: Oct 13 2023, 05:21 AM