The constable and finder of lost kittens seems well-occupied at Mir Corrup. Fortunately (I think), his duties look like they will include significant travel. Useless is not too far off the mark for those staves. I would have chosen the daylight one as well.

20240723 I-SL Mir Corrup quests

After spending the night at Merendin, we decided to return to Mir Corrup, deliver the Daedra seducer blood to Girovve, and purchase a teddy bear from S’ariana. As we were preparing to leave, Zerreshju stopped us to ask that we investigate an Imperial City book merchant who is researching the Stranded Light. Zerreshju wants to know his motives and if we can, ensure that his research puts the Stranded light in the “right” light.

Well, I have to go to the Imperial City soon enough so I assured Zerreshju that I’d look into the matter.

First thing we did after arriving in Mir Corrup was visit the Beyond the Vei. Girovve was excited to receive the seducer blood and was eager to finish her “Turumerin” painting.

The Boiling Cauldron was close by, so we paid a visit to inquire about the availability of Strong Potion of the Sea. Maya gra-Orag gave me a free sample and had six for sale. I’m just shy of halfway there.

The only other vendor in Mir Corrup that I could think of that might have Strong Potion of the Sea was Velerya, at the Red Navel. She had two bottles for sale. Now I only need six more bottles of the stuff.

Now we began looking for S’ariana. She was sitting under the pavilion on the northern side of the lake when we found her.

“I like teddies,” she said when we asked if she had any for sale.

Yes, S’ariana did have teddy bears for sale. In fact, she had seven different colors of teddies: blue, purple, brown, light brown, white, a frowning pink one with a big red heart, and a black and white panda teddy bear.

“Get the light brown one,” Elenya suggested. “It’s a near a match for Jo’beala’s fur.”

That may be true, but I was still unsure which color Jo’beala would like best, so I bought one of each.

Well, we’ve done all we can here in Mir Corrup so it’s time to head on down to the island south of Leyawiin and speak to Tiridar. But before we leave there’s a small garden behind the Boiling Cauldron. I’m sure no one will mind if we stop and pick a pumpkin and a watermelon, just in case Tiridar needs a little incentive.

Merendin is on the way to Leyawiin so we made a stop to inform Karashivuel that we have the toy she wanted to put in the gift hamper. Karashivuel is happy that the gift hamper is ready, but she is afraid to deliver it in person to Jo’beala. Aware that her presence makes Jo’beala cringe in fear of being eaten, Karashivuel asked me to deliver the gift to Jo’beala.

Jo’beala really liked the gifts, especially the light brown teddy bear.

“The same color as my fur, wheee! How cute and nice!” Jo’beala exclaimed when she saw it. “And maybe, just maybe, this one has misjudged Karashivuel. The Xivilai seems to care. Strange. Something that needs to be thought about.”

Wanting to see Jo’beala’s reaction to the other colors, I offered the all the teddies to her. Most of the colors Jo’beala thought were cute but she reacted badly to two colors. The panda bear was so strangely colored that Jo’beala thought it looked Akaviri.

“Jo'beala doesn't want any Akaviri colored things.” Jo’beala said as she pushed the panda away.

The pink teddy with the heart brought a similar reaction. Jo’beala felt it was too overly cute and that she is too old for such childish toys.

“Hearts and pinks and everything, ugh,” she said.

Karashivuel was relieved to hear of Jo’beala’s reaction after receiving a basket of such thoughtful gifts. With

Jo’beala rethinking her reaction to everyone in Merendin, Karashivuel is hopeful that relations between the two will improve.

We leave Merendin and travel to Fort Oceanmoth to petition Tiridar to allow Khajiit Dune Walker agents share her island. For three days we argued with Tiridar as we tried to persuade the reluctant Maormer female to accepting the Dune Walker agents. She rejected all our arguments for one reason or another, until we mentioned that they would bring more food.

“You really got me where it hurts,” Tiridar relented. “I’m sick of fishes and crab meat. If they’re supplied with some other food and some crops here, well, alright. They can come.”

For the price of a pumpkin Tiridar gave me another clue on finding the missing love letter. She tells us that she can’t say for sure that Sirelle has the letter she does know that Sirelle was able to carry quite a bit with him.

We left Fort Oceanmoth, walking across the sea looking to get a decent dinner in Leyawiin.

Oh GOOD. Such a relief. Not only did they deliver the daedra blood, but they made sure to buy a Teddy bear, phew! .... These are the things which keep me awake at night...

Sheesh, he's halfway toward his goal for Strong Potions of the Sea tally. See, those are the sort of quests, the "fetch X amount of X" quests, which can clutter up our roster. Easy to miss (for me, at least). Which is why I keep Notepad pages for all my characters, which are better for me than the in-game quest journals.

Anyway, How many quests does Jandaga currently have to keep track of?

Jo'beala loves her teddy bears. 🧸 But not ALL of them. Not the pink one, for instnace. Yeah, totally get it. I am very discerning, when it comes to stuffed animals toys.

The end is so wonderful. They walk across the water, off into the sunset. ☀



This post has been edited by Renee: Jul 24 2024, 04:07 PM

Nothing that the right teddy bear can't fix and, thanks to Elenya, the right one was indeed chosen.

I have 52 open quest of which I'm actively tracking seven. Six for Integration - The Stranded Light and one for The Ayleid Steps.

20240730 I-SL Mir Corrup quest, Safe Haven

I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time

Nowhere else in Cyrodiil can you get a plate of baked fish with vegetable stuff bread as good as the plate served at the Mermaid Inn at the docks of Leyawiin. With outdoor seating, one could enjoy dinner while listening to the gentle sound of the waves lapping against the piers and watching the occasional ship coming into port.

Dinner was long over and we had tired of watching the ships (the bar closed), we walked over to our Leyawiin house. Small and cramped, the Leyawiin house really wasn’t suited for sleeping four. Fortunately for us or unfortunately depending on your point of view, J’Dato came upstairs from the Order of the Virtuous Blood chapter house office to see what all the commotion was about.

“Got plenty of room downstairs, Vampire Hunter,” J’Dato said. “Come on down and make yourselves comfortable.”

That sounded good, so we followed J’Dato downstairs to the OVB Chapter House rooms. After J’Dato gave brief update on vampire activity in the area (hard to believe that it’s been so quiet) we settled down for the night.

The next morning after a brief visit to the Mages Guild we cast spell to takes to Merendin. Tesserayiel is there to greet us when we appear in the Reception Hall. She has noticed a changed in Jo’beala’s attitude and is glad that Jo’beala is beginning to feel safe living in Merendin. Only good things can come from this.

After talking to Tesserayiel, we were on the way to inform Do’leandra that Tiridar had agreed to with sharing the little island when I realized that we didn’t have enough bottles of Strong Potion of the Sea.

What to do, what to do? I panicked for a moment then remembered Teshekru sold potions at the Merendin Cabaret. Stopping at the cabaret hoping to buy the necessary number of potions, I asked Teshekru if she had any for sale. She did and offered to give me 5 bottles at no charge.

Such a dear friend.

Armed with 15 bottles of Strong Potion of the Sea, we found Do’leandra and told her of Tiridar’s decision and to give her the bottles of Strong Potion of the Sea. Upon hearing the good news, Do’leandra said the outed agents are ready and can move in immediately. She will contact them right away.

Ah, another completed task for the Stranded Light. That had a good feeling to it. Then Do’leandra made another request. She asked that I go back to Fort Oceanmoth and make sure that all goes well.

“Um, sure,” I said. “Why not come along? We could check it out together.”

Demurely she declined. “Maybe some other time when all this trouble is over.”

I laughed. At least she didn’t say she had to wash her hair. The Ladies and I spent the rest of the day relaxing and early the following morning we once again left for Fort Oceanmoth.

Back on Fort Oceanmoth isle the change was immediately noticeable. Three stilt buildings now sat on the northern side of island, housing five Ohmes and Ohmes-raht Khajiit, 2-male 3-female, Dune Walker agents. On the eastern side of the island, was a start of a small garden that the Khajiit took turns tending.

“I’ve lost my quietness,” Tiridar said when I ask how things were going. “But they brought a rich assortment of food.”

Tiridar’s last statement was a good indication the transition was going well. With that information we were confident that Do’leandra would be pleased at the progress.

Kaleah, Elenya, and Pym are growing tired of all this running back and forth, so we planned to spend a few days relaxing on the beach as while we determined how well Fort Oceanmoth’s new arrivals adjusted to their new life.

Without camping gear and no spare bed on the island we made do sleeping on the beach. Lucky for us the sea was calm, the weather was mild, and at night the clear sky was ablaze with stars. We sat there on the beach watching the lights of Leyawiin twinkling on the horizon until we fell asleep.

Peace never lasts long. The morning of the second day our idyllic working vacation was disturbed by Ayleid True Descendant cultists. Now the Ladies are itching to see some real action. Fearing an open revolt I yield to their wishes and we head north to the Imperial City shops.

This post has been edited by macole: Jul 30 2024, 07:48 PM

Today's song is by Otis Redding, final answer. Hmm. Maybe Otis didn't originally write the song, but he's a singer who made it popular. Monterrey Pop Festival.

I like how J'Dato refers to your guy as Vampire Hunter. That shows some history. Fame, as well.

Uh oh, they haven't got enough potions. Okay, phew. What a relief. :sweat: I know the feeling. The lady in Pell's Gate is often good for these lifesaving moments assuming no mods; she's got a huge selection of potions & ingredients.

Sleep on the beach.

No rest for the weary! Though sometimes it is two quests completed for every one quest gained; other times it is one quest completed for every two gained. . . .

20240809 I-SL - Inquiring the Light, TAS – Mapping Mayhem

The fog was so thick the morning we left Leyawiin that we could hardly see the road we were walking on. But, that wasn’t the reason it took three days to reach the Imperial City. No, the real reason was that we may several stops along the way, visiting our many friends.

White Stallion Lodge to see our friend Mazoga.

Silver Sky Temple, the island floating high above the Niben, spent a day and night here visiting with our friend Clan Master Kikyo and her contingent of Akavir Battle Dancers as we waited out the storm.

Bravil wasn’t on our list of destinations in the beginning but it’s been awhile since I made an official Arch-Mage visit to the Mages Guild. With all the fanfare involved the brief visit turned into an overnight stay.

The Archeology Guild Hall, another day and night spent with Sova, Norlene, and Domitian Verus discussing future operations of the Archeology Guild.

That was as far as we got by road. As soon as we stepped out of the Archeology Guild doors all thoughts of with any semblance of decorum vanished in an instant. At the sight of the docks’ outer walls standing across the water, entering the, my Ladies made a mad dash across Lake Rumare to invade the Goddess Store.

Well, with the writing on the wall I thought it best to visit the Bank of Cyrodiil office located in the Market District and set-up line of credit for the Ladies.

On the way to the bank, as I passed through the Temple District, I placed Velerya’s bouquet of flowers intended for the man Velerya could not name at the Shrine of Akatosh. The devotion was accepted, and I continued on to the Market District.

After stopping by the bank, I spent the afternoon doing some trading on my own. Once I had replenished the inventory of nearly every shop in the market District I stopped by the first Edition.

Phintias beamed with anticipation as I walk through the door, and it wasn’t over the prospect of increased sales.

Phintias has a problem. He feels that a major chapter of history is being written and that he is unable to go out and watch it unfold. So, he asked if I would help in gathering the information he needs to write an article on the members of the Stranded Light.

This must be the book vendor that Zerreshju asked us to investigate a few days ago. Well, there is me, I started with but that didn’t satisfy him. Phintias wants to get to know the Daedra members on a more personal level. He wants me to interview at least ten or more daedric members of the Stranded Light.

“Please visit interview the daedric members of your guild,” Phintias asked. “I’d like to know some interesting tidbits about them. What little secrets do they have? First and foremost, it should be interesting for the average citizen, nothing about daedric lore or any of the usual propaganda stuff. I want other people to get to know them on a more personal level.”

The success of Phintias' project depends on my ability to choose the right question. All I need to do is walk around and talk to Stranded Light members, sounds easy enough.

It was getting late in the afternoon when I left the First Edition. Passing through the Arboretum on my way to the Arch-Mage quarters I spotted Councilor Osciuro. Flagging him down, I told him that I was ready to map another route.

Smiling faces sometimes
Pretend to be your friend
Smiling faces show no traces
Of the evil that lurks within (can you dig it?)
Smiling faces, smiling faces, sometimes
They don't tell the truth
Smiling faces, smiling faces tell lies and I got proof

Phintias smiled and asked which one.

Choosing Leyawiin, Councilor Osciuro called for Watchman Jannus Mercium to accompany me and record the steps. Councilor Osciuro then handed me a coded letter to be delivered to Hlidara Mothril when I reach Leyawiin. Given a target time of 2-hours and 7-steps, Watchman Mercium and I left immediately for the Imperial Palace.

Standing at the 4th Stepstone to the left of the entrance, with a deep breath I used a welkynd stone and stepping into the unknown. Sure enough I remembered the way, and 6 steps later I stood on a boulder near the city of Leyawiin. There was precious little of the stepstone visible, just a couple white chips jutting out of the rock that I’m surprised that the stepstone worked at all.

It was so foggy; I couldn’t see the city at first but there it was down the hill a bit from where I stood. Watchman Mercium congratulated me on successfully completing the mission and returned to the Imperial City. I, in turn, walked down to Leyawiin to deliver the letter to Hlidara Mothril.

Hlidara Mothril, another High Elf, close companion and advisor to Countess Alessia Caro, took the coded letter and told me to give Councilor Osciuro her regards. I can’t shake the feeling that something is rotten in the state of Danmork.

With the route to Leyawiin recorded and the letter delivered it’s now time to return to the Imperial City. The recall spell still works and I’m soon standing in the Arboretum.

It’s late, around 9:00PM; Councilor Osciuro had left the Arboretum for the day. Too tired to go searching for my darling ladies I decide to spend the night at the Arboretum Hotel (Better Cities v6.0.8 addition).

A strange little glitch happened with the desk clerk, Suranie Marelle. Seranie has a bedroom in the servants’ quarters but I’ve since found that she likes to sleep in the guest bedroom when not rented by the player. If you ask Suranie Marelle for a bed at the right time (somewhere between 9-10 PM) and the right place (second floor hallway leading to the guests room), Suranie will respond in the usual manner and for 40 gold she will direct you to the room “upstairs, through the dining room to the far door. Your room is the middle on the right.” She will then lead you to the room and climb into the bed. Made for some interesting RP.

The desk clerk, Suranie Marelle, a Briton, was not at the desk when I entered the hotel. I know it’s late in the day but I didn’t think it was that late. Oh well, there’s usually someone at the dining room and bar upstairs. Perhaps I’ll be able to get a room, there.

No one was at the counter on the second floor either. I was about to leave when Suranie walked by. She entered the doorway just to the left of the bar. Catching up to her in the hallway, I asked about a room.

“For you?” Suranie asked. Then she gave me a look that said, “It’s after hours, why are you bothering?” or so I thought.

After a brief pause Suranie continued, “I have a lovely room you can rent for the night, for a mere 40 gold. Just go upstairs, through the dining room to the far door. Your room is the middle on the right.”

Strange that she would say that considering we were standing right in front of the room’s door. Plus, the price was little high but I agree to the price. Suranie then unlocked the door to show me the room. Entering the room she climbed into bed.

Well, with service like this no wonder the exorbitant high price for a room. Perhaps she wants to audition for a position at Gweden. Best practice is to interview the candidate before the giving the exam.

Touching Suranie on the shoulder, I said, “Excuse me.”

Suranie Marelle jumped up and stormed off mumbling something that sounded like “some Witcher he is!”

What’s a Witcher? Well, this lowly vampire hunter may have misjudged this encounter. Perhaps I should have just laid down and gone to sleep.

edit used wrong NPC name

This post has been edited by macole: Aug 11 2024, 06:21 AM

A busy day! Numerous stops between Leyawiin and the Goddess Store, then stepstoning back to Leyawiin and returning to the IC.

No wonder the Jandaga's tired. Hey 40 gold for nice room with a free desk clerk is a good deal!

20240816 TAS – Mapping Mayhem, Better Cities Bravil

A few days after mapping the steps to Leyawiin and spending a strange night at the Arboretum Hotel, My Ladies and I were splurging, having dinner at The Tiber Septim Hotel when Kaleah leaned forward and glared at me.

“What do you mean, you got lost? How can you get lost?” Kaleah said rather loudly.

“Well,” I began trying to explain my way out of an embarrassing situation. “You see, it all began like this…”

*****

The day of step mapping started out much like the previous mapping sessions. I left the Arboretum Hotel after breakfast and caught up with Councilor Osciuro as he entered the Arboretum. Of course, he was happy to hear that I was ready to map the steps to Bravil. Like the previous mapping sessions, I was given a coded letter. This one to be delivered to Aryarie of the Bravil Mages Guild, upon reaching Bravil. Watchman Jannus Mercium arrived to tell me that the target to reach Bravil was 6 steps in less than two hours. We left immediately.

Entering the Imperial Palace, we took the third stepstone to the right of the entrance. The first three steps went as anticipated. It was when we landed at the Ayleid Well near Sardavar Leed things turned sour. Under heavy attack from the inhabitants of Sardavar Leed, I activated the wrong step.

For some reason or other the watchman didn’t follow as I ended up in An Unknown Cave alone. The watchman, I’m sure, will find his way back to Councilor Osciuro back in the Imperial City Arboretum.

This Unknown Cave is small. Not much to look at here except for an interesting tower-like structure. The tower’s door beckons to the archeologist in me to investigate.

The door opens to an Unknown Lovers’ Hideout. A cozy little place, poorly furnished but the bed was clean. It seemed safe and being tired I lay down on the bed to take a nap

Waking refreshed I left the hideout to return to the stepstone and left the Unknown Cave.

*****

“And did you bother to set a Mark so we could all go see?” Kaleah asked sarcastically.

“Um, No.”

“You big dummy!” shouted Kaleah.

“It’s as I’ve always said,” commented Elenya. “You need us to keep you balanced and thinking straight.”

Her arms folded across her chest, Kaleah declared, “If you ask me, he’s been spending too much time with that angel!”

Pym made several rapid hand signals.

"Yes Pym," Elenya agreed. "Perhaps we should send him to Fiona for a potion."

Thoroughly admonished by my ladies for losing their chance to see the Lovers’ Hideout, I continued on…

*****

Well, I know I should have come right back to the Arboreum after losing Watchman Jannus Mercium but I felt adventurous and used the stepstone once again.

This time I found myself standing in the small, Cave of Lost Siquise. As my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting a pair of ghouls rushed me from out of the darkness. The two ghouls fell easy enough to the Light of Dawn but why take chances? I called Twinkle and the Midas Angel to help clear the cave tunnels of the ghoulish menace.

Combing Siquise for whatever I could find of value yielded little, mostly chests containing one or two items of low value. But one large chest with a very high level lock, made exploring Siquise worthwhile. The large chest was packed with stuff including a rare MOO Rune Skull of Earth.

Packing the Rune Skull away in the Midas Chest, I decided not to take any more chances and used the recall spell to send me back to the Arboretum.

Another night spent at the Arboretum Hotel and the next morning back at it again asking Councilor Osciuro to map Bravil. This time it all went smoothly. The hotel desk clerk didn’t try any funny stuff (darn), Watchman Jannus Mercium didn’t get lost, and a route to Bravil was mapped within the time allotted.

With Bravil in sight, Watchman Mercium left shortly after arriving at final destination to inform Councilor Osciuro of our success. In turn, I headed to Bravil to deliver the letter to Aryarie.

(Better Cities – Bravilian Maid)

Filthy, sleazy Bravil has never been one of my favorite places to visit. My dragon-spirit armor doesn’t like the mud of the Bravil streets. It clings to metal like grease making the armor hard to clean properly.

Not far from the gates of Bravil I passed by the Silverhome on the Water inn. A rough little place known for its late night barroom brawls, I paid it no mind. Standing on the walk just outside the inn’s door, a young Imperial woman commented on the excellent fit and finish of my leather kit.

That stopped me in mid-stride. Turning, I addressed the woman, “Hello.”

“I know who you are,” she said in a silky-soft voice. “The stories about your adventures just missed something, I see. Your handsome countenance.”

“If you’re talking to me, then thank you,” I said.

“Right. Bravil is no shiny spot for a girl like me. But where is my hero coming for rescue?”

“Rescues are one of my specialties,” was my reply.

"Don't you know a more quiet place?"

Standing in the muddy street outside a one of the rowdiest Bravil inns, I could think of none. “I usually stay at the Mages Guild when I visit Bravil,” I said. “Perhaps, you can suggest a one.”

“I am actually not so easy to have,” Yana’s soft voice taking on a more predatory purr. “But, not to take my chances would be a very regretful decision. I got a home right over there. It's maybe not like the places you are used to seeing, but has a very, very private atmosphere. Just follow me...”

Remember all those times I spent laughing at the naked Nords? Well, I just fell for the oldest trick in the book. I let some sweet-talking tart talk me into escorting her home and lead me to her magical bed.

At that point everything went blank. When I woke up, I found myself sitting naked in a cave on a small island in the middle of the Niben just south of Bravil. She had robbed me of everything I was carrying.

Standing there naked I summoned the Midas Chest and grabbed something to put on. Intent on teaching the freelancer some manners, I made my way back Yana’s house in Bravil. The strong lock on the door opened easily to my Unlock Everything spell. I was in.

Yana was not there. The house was empty, but I could hear or feel the Dragonspirit calling, pulling me to a secret door.

Opening the locked secret door with the Unlock Everything spell, I descended down to the basement. There in the large room filled with stolen loot, I found a chest that held all of my missing things.

By the looks of it, Yana has been operating unfettered for quite some time. If I didn’t have more important things to do, I’d go find Yana, drag her back here, turn her over my knee, and persuade her to give up her evil ways. Instead, I packed everything in her treasure room that wasn’t bolted to floor into my Midas Chest.

Before leaving, I left a note telling her that Gweden Farm will not tolerate unauthorized competition that impinges unfavorably on our honorable and respected brand. If she wanted to retrieve her loot she would have to appear before officers of Gweden Farm to discuss recompensation for damages incurred to our reputation. I signed it “X – Vamp Hunter”.

From Yana’s house I went straight a way to the Mages Guild to deliver Councilor Osciuro’s message to Aryarie. With the mission accomplished I cast recall to return to the Imperial City Arboretum

*****

“X – Vamp Hunter”, you really signed it “X – Vamp Hunter”?

“Yep, thought the title fit. Besides, I doubt we’ll ever hear from Yana again.”

It’s a good thing we were finished with dinner; the Ladies knocked the table over as they fell out of their chairs roaring with laughter.

This post has been edited by macole: Aug 16 2024, 08:11 AM

Ooh - the Jandaga having adventures on his own! And promptly falls for the Naked Fae trick...

More stonestepping, this time to (eventually) Bravil.

Wow, the Yana incident really does strengthen the Ladies' case that the Jandaga should not adventure without them.

How do they get to Silver Sky Temple? - I like how you included little details of each place they stopped.

Goodness, the Goddess Store yet again. What would the Field Hippies do without that mod-added establishment. Just imagine. Wonder if they'd go crazy if they were stuck with Black & Gold dresses, or Shirt with Suspenders + Tan Pants for their only options.



*snicker!*

Smiling Faces song, not a clue. I'll Bing it. Says it's the Temptations.

Arboretum Hotel is a nice place. Suranie's glitch does sound as though it could provide for some fun RP. Like Jandaga isn't busy enough.

Jandaga's getting talked up by one of the BC wh0r3s, I see. That surprised the heck out of me when I began modding Oblivion 10 years ago. But it's also distracting. Like if you say the wrong thing to a Lady of the Evening you could wind up getting 'stuck' somewhere.

But it's just funny she's talking up a guy she can't really see, since he's fully suited in psychedelic armor.



Yup. Happened to my skooma dealer too, long ago.

Wait, is Yana Better Cities, or Gweden Brothel?

Yes, it is the Temptations

Silver Sky Temple hovers over the Niben near Water’s Edge. First encountered in chapter 20181024 Hentai Mania II (before I started posting here).

The Eastern Woman Orica is standing just off the road near Water’s Edge, she will teleport you up to the floating island. After the first time there is a location marker you can use to teleport to the temple. Sometimes I use it, sometimes I flirt with Orica. She has such a lonely life standing there all alone, hidden behind the bushes.

The Jandaga meets Yana. The Jandaga didn't want to wear his armor that day. Cleaning Bravil's filthy muck off is just disgusting.

Yana is one of the Bravil’s working girls from Better Cities. A bit of RP imagination reveals a business rivalry between the independent operators of Bravil and the Gweden Brothel conglomerate. Of course, the Jandaga has to protect his investment.

20240822 TAS – Mapping Mayhem, I-SL - Inquiring the Light

The morning after the dinner at The Tiber Septim Hotel, the Ladies spent the day at the Universitum Arcanorum while I left to finish up the stepstone mapping for Councilor Osciuro. There are only two more routes to map, Chorrol’s and Anvil’s, then the task is complete.

Councilor Osciuro arrived in the Arboretum shortly after 10:00 AM. Watchman Jannus Mercium followed close by. Approaching the councilor, I told him that I was ready to map the route to Chorrol. As has been the custom, Councilor Osciuro gave me a letter to deliver to Angalmo of the Chorrol Mages Guild.

When Watchman Jannus Mercium arrived, he informed me that the target for the Chorrol route is 2hr 30min in less than 8 steps. We best get started. Arriving at the Imperial Palace we start with the first step to the left from the entrance.

Everything went smoothly. Well, sort of. At an Ayleid Well there were two good stepstones, I chose the on my left which resulted in getting lost and exceeding the time limit. I had to go back to Councilor Osciuro and start over.
This time, correctly taking the stepstone to my right I manage to complete the route in only six steps.

With the walls of Chorrol in sight, Watchman Mercium declared the mapping of the route to Chorrol a success and returned to the Imperial City to inform Councilor Osciuro.

With the watchman gone, I was left to deliver Councilor Osciuro’s letter to Angalmo. I wonder what that page full of seemingly random numbers is saying. I don’t think it is an invitation to a fancy dress ball. Anyways, I deliver the letter, Angalmo thanks me, and I leave the Mages Guild to spend the rest of the day trading in much of the loot I have stashed away in my Midas Chest.

Leaving Fire and Steel, I’m walking up to Arborwatch when I spot Nareyla, the Golden Saint stationed in Chorrol as the Stranded Light Guild, standing near the Great Tree. Remembering that I had offered to help Phintias with interviewing the Daedra of the Stranded Light, I engaged Nareyla in conversation. I just have to be careful with the questioning. Like Zerreshju, I would want to avoid painting the Stranded Light in a bad light.

After a few minutes of pleasantries I asked what one would think to be to most obvious of questions, “Why don’t you wear armor?”

Isn’t that the thing most people of Cyrodiil would be curious about? No one ever thinks of an Aureal, a Golden Saint without the golden armor and yet here Nareyla walks around Chorrol without armor. In fact, I’ve never seen her in the traditional Golden Saint armor or armor of any kind for that matter. She gave a long answer explaining why and how the Guild Guide job provides her the opportunity to serve the population without having to be in a constant war mode.

After spending the night at Arborwatch with the Pinder sisters, I returned to the Imperial City’s Arboretum. Councilor Osciuro and Watchman Jannus Mercium are there and I make it know that I’m ready to take on the stepstone route mapping of the final city, Anvil.

Watchman Jannus Mercium tells me the task must be completed in 2hrs and in less than 8 steps. I haven’t thought of it before but why the time and step restrictions? It’s almost like they already know how long these routes should take? What is going on here? Is this some sort of test?

This route was pretty straight forward. It was also a two for one deal. Starting with the first stepstone to the right of the Imperial Palace entrance it only took it only took 5 steps to reach Anvil.

As a bonus, the fourth step landed us outside the walls of Kvatch.

One more step and we could see the walls of Anvil.

This presented the only difficulty with mapping this route. The Unique Landscape of the Gold Coast made getting close to Anvil difficult. There are a few boulders to navigate around. Choose the wrong path and Watchman Mercium will get lost.

Watchman Jannus Mercium caught up with me after I reached the gates of Anvil. After declaring that the route was achieved Watchman Mercium left to inform Councilor Osciuro of the results leaving me to deliver the letter to Carahil.

Carahil is nowhere to be found.

“Don’t you remember,” someone at the Mages Guild said. “Randonil was installed as head of the Anvil chapter, when Carahil took the late Caranya’s seat on the Council of Mages.”

Oh yes, I remember now, part of the Gweden Brothel “Getting Randy” affair. This does pose a problem. Randonil knows nothing about the coded message. He can’t read it. So, who am I supposed to deliver the message to now? Guess I’ll have to find Carahil in the Imperial City.

Leaving the Mages Guild, I walk over to the wharf to visit with my old friend Norbert Lelles. A little friendly chit-chat takes the mind off the frustrations of the day. I even let Norb talk me into putting my Champion of Cyrodiil mark on a few shirts so he could get a bit more on their sale. Who said Norbert Lelles is simple minded? It’s all an act, if you ask me.

Later, walking along the docks near the castle, I meet Erriallus. The Maomer is still swimming in the harbor looking for a ship to carry him south. I ask him what he knows about the missing love letter.

Erriallus doesn’t know much about the book other than it was in a chest that they were bringing to Cyrodiil. He doesn’t know what happened to that chest. If someone saved the chest it wasn’t Oraggel or Paoles. Erriallus then told me the gruesome details how he last saw Paoles fighting a giant shark which had swallowed Oraggel.

I must say, I had a bit of trouble with the grilled shark that Rosalind and Claire served up for dinner. Was it my imagination or was that shark steak deliberately avoiding my knife and fork?

I think I need a nap.

Whew! Finally, Chorrol and Anvil finish the steppingstone exercise. I also wondered about the 'targets' assigned to the exercise.

'Was it my imagination or was that shark steak deliberately avoiding my knife and fork?'
- -

You made me go and check if Carahil was moved or cloned by my quest. It looks like it's the same Carahil, so nothing should be broken. But I don't recall if you've now unlocked another quest. She might have more work for you.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Aug 24 2024, 04:15 PM

Thanks for the warning. Funny you should mention having more to do. Something just caught my eye.

I've been playing Oblivion since it was released. The Ayleid Steps, Gweden Brothel and a few other mods have been included in my install since within a few months of their release. I am just now getting deep into TAS and GB. I have no idea where these stories are taking me, I just follow the flow.

I am thinking that if I had gotten to the Ayleid Steps Mapping Mayhem before Gweden Brothel Getting Randy everything would have worked out just fine. It's just one of those scheduling things I wasn't aware of. Do this before that and all is well. Do this after that then it's... setstage and move on.

I don't understand the time restraint thing. "The task must be completed in 2 hours...." I'm not saying you have to try to explain it, in fact I kind of like the question mark. I just want to ask: is getting such a task done within such a specific amount of time stressful? Seems it could be, especially with the pile of other quests Jandaga's got on his platter.

Hmm, I think it's time while traveling they're discussing, after the steps have been put in place. Not actual time while mapping the steps. Gosh my head is spinning.



I think so too.