Some phrases from the intro sound familiar, were they already mentioned in one of Laprima's dreams in her early stories?

Uh oh, it looks like a house actually led Laprima in her direction. I bet we haven't read the last of this house yet.

Now who could this mysterious person be? Maybe it's Siouxie, her childhood friend from Cyrodiil?

That was certainly a foreboding prologue to today's episode.

And once we get into the meat of the tale, it seems that Drapes and Rokks made a simple error, that may not have been so simple at all, nor even their error. It seems hidden forces are arranging events to insure Laprima travels this particular path.

My guess is we will be seeing more of that mystery house, that the others in the party could not.

After all their traveling, they made it to Riverwood safe and sound. But who is this in the Inn? At first I wondered if it might have been Chamanay. But I see from the picture that the mystery newcomer is a woman. So maybe Sirdrasa?

A frivolous mistake that’s not so frivolous, hmm? Could it be sorcery or witchcraft?

All caught up with this, Renee - I love reading this from her perspective. It's also interesting to view the Civil War from the lens of what appears to be the losing side (so far). Going back a few chapters (and months), I have to say there was a small part of me wishing Laprima would dump Chamanay's butt and not look back, but I suppose the heart wants what the heart wants. And she is rather young.

I love the niece/aunt dynamic with Elisif, too, and enjoy reading her flip between Jarl and family during their conversations. Tårn has my interest piqued. I'm hoping to see her and Laprima start to understand one another and really click.

This post has been edited by Kane: Mar 5 2025, 02:35 PM

Alright folks, time for comments. Really am curious what people thought of that last chapter. Because a lot went on and some of it showed up spontaneously during editing. I'm going to use the Quote-a-rama.



Those opening segments are written in a much different style, you may notice. Those are inspired by Stephen King's Jerusalem's Lot (not 'Salem's Lot... the vampire story), in which King writes in three completely separate styles: 1800s, 1700s, and finally it's the 1970s at the end of that short story. During the 1800s there are some words used (such as wainscotting) that I didn't know when I read it originally because they are archaic. Then it switches to the 1700s; the language becomes almost bizarre it's so different. And finally it's the 1970s and some guy buys (or inherits) the old house from the story's beginning. The language becomes exactly like the way we are familiar with from our time.

It's up to the reader whom they "hear" (if anyone) speaking in those opening snippets. I like to think of those snippets as being said by an old librarian woman with some sort of thick accent. But others might read that in a man's voice, whatever you'd like to imagine.

Hmm, Sirdasa you say....




Those are from one of her dreams, yes. The dream she had during real-life Halloween of 2022 in our terms. 🎃

Here, I might as well link that post. Save me from having to find it again.

Lopov thinks the mystery lady is Siouxie, okay.




Indeed.

The mystery house, okay. Gosh darn I'm nervous!

Sirdasa again. Sirdasa x2. Definitely not Chamany, he's still in the clink. But (small spoiler) his life will improve as LPD is far away.




Ah, witchcraft. 🧙🏿 Now we're in the ballpark.

Nervous, nervous...




WHAT??? Oh gosh, you didn't have to read all that so fast! I mean I'm glad you did. Appreciate it.

The Civil War is going on, yes. I hope to have the time to write some of that up from Sir Vyvoor's perspective, sometime this spring. Vyvoor is my Dragonborn, see. Plus it might become necessary to take a break from Laprima's side of things, just in case I run into Creation Kit troubles or whatever.



Me too. From my perspective that's probably my favorite facet of the story, not the combat scenes or the more action-y stuff. Everyone expects this properly-groomed member of nobility to show up. She's not exactly a Rebel Without a Cause, she's here in Skyrim to do the right thing, yet Elisif has all these 'problems' with her niece.


All my favorite online people are packed into this forum. These are good times here at Chorrol. Lena, Acadian, haute, macole, Kane, and myself, all writing week-to-week. Good times.

.
__________

. Siouxie

__________






. Sundas, 28th of Sun’s Dusk, early evening


"Suh--"

How can this be? Standing across the room with a typical dose of amused ambivalence upon her face, how could she be here?

"Suh, Siouxie...?"

Siouxie "Banshee" Balion struck a pose, arms up high, face painted in contrasts of white and dark, standing in the middle of Riverwood's inn like a gothic statue. For a moment, Laprima thought that maybe she was now hallucinating; it'd been a long day! But then the statue spoke.

"The one, the peculiar, the 'she who has trekked and tracked and travelled across the border, from the city to Bruma, from Pale Pass to Helgen!', which, by the way, has become quite the town of ghosts." The arms came down, her face now contrary. "Dragon attack, everyone's been saying, poof, dragons! Such a peculiar blend of legends and pig's fodder."

"Siouxie! Balion!"

Again: How? How could she be here, in Skyrim? Siouxie, the mischievous yet charismatic chum who'd joined Laprima on any number of after-class escapades over the past decade or so, originator of the term "Gothic" (a reference to their painted faces and stoic attitudes {especially when caught during moments of mischief}, which shocked the adults) had been the last person Laprima had ever expected to see at this time. A massive dragon itself, lifting across the sky and darkening the land, frightening all who cowered under its belly seemed more likely! --- She'd gained the nickname "Banshee" at some point due to the cackling shriek she'd sometimes emit, especially later at night.

For a moment the former schoolmates stood and stared. They then rushed and crashed into each other: hugging, kisses on cheeks, holding shoulders at arm's length, fondling of sleeves, as though each was checking to see if the other really, actually existed.

"Well" "So" "what're ya--""So what's all th--"

Their words collided, and the pair separated.

"You" "So" "fir--""how about--"

Finally a truce, as Siouxie took the conversational lead. The Sleeping Giant's two innkeepers, Delphine and Orgnar, became quickly amused by this obvious reunion. Because the two estranged/now reunited, raven-haired gentlewomen were speaking loudly. It was impossible for the inn's publicans to not overhear the entire conversation to come. Let's also consider that entertainment of any kind was rare here in Riverwood. Time to pay attention!

"Alright dearie, what is with th' garb?" Siouxie waved her hand distractedly. "Furry-type hide armor? What've you become, a bear?"

"Aye, I am now a bear, rawr!" Laprima beamed. "What else?"

"You've got yerself some arrows..."

"Aye! Got a longbow and arrows," she nodded furiously. Laprima felt as though her face might just split in two if she grinned any harder. "Anything else?"

"'Got a longbow and arrows', says she. Uhm. Uh-uh, halt right there, Donnaugh. For things such as this demand explanation!" Siouxie's tone became mockingly-low and haughty, suddenly a voice unlike her own. "Come now, what of this, then? She's wearing the carcass of a bear, and she's become a markswoman," then it changed to a lighter soprano's register. -- "Last I saw, she was hefting stacks of books round the college while donning russet felt, hee hee!" Siouxie's chin was then gripped by her hand, this time her voice became the studious monotone of one of their class-instructors back home: "So what has happened? -- Oh! It was she who hunted the furry bear-carcass she's got on! Used her fancy longbow. Cheers." Finally, she gestured her arms dramatically, not unlike one of the hammier Bard's College actors up in Solitude. "Like some matron schoolmarm of the frontier! Doft it, blime, Laprima Donnaugh's become a homesteader, like some defiant agonist in an adventure book! SHE shall save us all from the bears and lions and monsters with her bow...!"

As was typical of their past, Laprima was losing it by then (laughing) while Siouxie continued her spontaneous playact. Though this might seem like a customary occurrence between a couple of past-twenty bezzies (one of them unable to control her felicity while the other took advantage with jabs of humor), truth is this disparity had come from heavier contexts. Siouxie had often been the one attempting to cheer Laprima up during those darker days. Though she hadn't known Laprima's brother -- who'd gone missing years ago -- Siouxie had often borne the aftermath of Elija's disappearance, especially when her friend really plunged to the depths.

Jokes and foolery, indeed whatever worked to uplift her mate, had become a facet of their relationship in the past, and was working again now.

Within seconds, the bow-toting archer/ambassador had forgotten the grim-faced realities of road travel; forgot about striding into treacherous territory with a group of soldiers she literally hadn't known a week ago, attempting to change the face of Skyrim's Civil War at the behest of her ever-commanding aunt. Suddenly, it all seemed too much!

-- Lady Donnaugh, back with her schoolmate again. Almost seemed as if tomorrow would just be another day. They'd leave this comfy tavern, only to emerge within the city. Then they'd head to class to study all day, planning to goof after class.

From across the room Delphine and Orgnar leaned upon the inn's counter, taking in the banter between the pair of Heartlanders like attendees of a sideshow.

"Let's have us a cozy natter then," Laprima continued, perhaps an inside joke. "My turn. So what are these... these... these..." she noticed the glyphlike design on Siouxie's apparel. "By the Gods, she's wearing robes?! Banshee's become a wizard, then?"

"Banshee has," Siouxie replied proudly. "She's gone beyond the apprentice stages of magic, in fact." Siouxie then lowered her voice a bit, attempting to keep the innkeepers from continuing their obvious eavesdropping. "I can conjure dead things," she winked cheekily. "I can blast fire like a wicked lady shaman on the warpath to Clavicus, and more. Wanta see?" the Nord raised her arms.

"Nay...NAY!!" Laprima's eyes went wide, her hands began swatting at Siouxie. Because she knew the potentialities of her friend's words, knew that her mate often did exactly what she warned she would do: whether this was carrying out some jokey words, or befouling the city's Lucky Lady recreation with some rotten fruit, or even following through on a threat against the bullying of some other schoolmate; Siouxie would become Banshee. And Banshee could be an entirely different person: someone who was not docile, and not very well disciplined either, damn the consequences!

"Aye, what she says," Orgnar bellowed across the room. "No magic-casting in here, ladies. Not unless you're fixing to brighten up this place with a candlelight spell."

"Place could use some brightening..." Delphine mumbled.

"Rats!" Siouxie scream-whispered. Her arms lowered.

Phew, Laprima breathed a sigh.

"You're welcome to practice outside of course, just be wary of the guards," Delphine added. "Now, are ya gonna rent a room or what?"

Aye, let's get those rooms. Laprima spent some coin for herself and party, forty gold for the night. The pair of friends then rushed outdoors. "Oh, I've also got a horse.... a chestnut-colored palomino, just wait'll ya..." ---- SLAM -- went the door behind them. And the silence which followed was absolutely golden.

"By the Gods, they're gone!" Delphine moaned to her partner.

"But they're coming back," Orgnar dove behind the counter, looking for something stiff to drink.

Delphine decided now would be a good time to break one of her steadfast rules, filled herself a mug of ale right there on the spot.

"Wonder if we got any skooma round here," she joked to her partner.






Mid-evening
Siouxie always had an air of something about her.

Outside, darkness had fallen. The area beyond Riverwood's northern guard overpass was pitch. Laprima and Siouxsie, Imperial and Nord respectively, walked underneath the overpass, strode a few paces, and stopped just short of the bridge. Siouxie began preparing her mind, ready to show off her newly-honed abilities. "Been training down in the city, see."

Oftentimes, Laprima had been surprised by her friend's ability to skeeve her way into places and situations normally exclusive and guarded, but also out of them when trouble occurred. For instance: Laprima had gotten caught breaking into the city's Red Diamond Jewelry after hours, Siouxie had not. Laprima had spent a night in the city's lockup for 'Attempts at Thievery', gaining freedom only after her father set aside his anger, and spent some vast sum of gold to bail daughter out. Siouxie's name never came up.

And now here she is, claiming to be more than a mere apprentice.

In a few months she had somehow become a member of the Imperial City's Synod, one of the two very exclusive institutions of wizardry which had resulted after the dissolution of the Third Era's Mages College. Let us sidestep the question "how?" for the moment. During this short time, from Second Seed until today's date in Sun's Dusk (five months in all), Siouxie claimed to have surpassed the institution's Apprentice stages, gaining knowledge of several magical disciplines with the ease a scaffolder uses to monoprint a wall.

"I cannot believe this," Laprima smirked, unsure if her friend was being entirely serious. She decided to cast a spell of her own: candlelight magic from the School of Alteration. Now they could at least see the path they'd walked upon. "Banshee Balion, Tamriel's latest sorcerer," she chuckled. "Could it be?"

"It could be! It IS! It shall be! So set aside thy doubts, Donnaugh. Stand back, and watch.. THIS!"






She waved her arms to the fore, arched her back, then shrieked aloud into the night! And voilà, before them stood (floated, actually...) what looked to be a fiery being. "It's a seraph!" Banshee cried, a look of half-madness within her eyes. She then waved her arms again, casting a second spell which forced a series of flames from her fingertips at the flaming being, which seemed to delight in the extra heat.

Laprima uttered a noise halfway between a sigh and a squeak, speechless for once!

The magician raised her arms again and..

"Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa!" called one of Riverwood's guards, who'd gotten curious at all the flashes of light and crazed screams going on just outside the village. "Watch the magic!"

"Rats!"

"Better do what he says," Laprima regained her voice. "Customs are different here. We're not in the city anymore. Each hold here in Skyrim tracks its own crime, unlike Cyrodiil. And we don't want to wind up within Whiterun's lockup, eh?"

"Rats and more rats!" Banshee's arms went down, her back straightened, her face seemed disappointed. She had returned to being Siouxie Balion.

"No worries; there's always tomorrow."

Display over, it was time for Laprima to blab more details of her life, as they returned to the Sleeping Giant. She described her move from Bravil to Solitude upon that freighter ship, several weeks after her fiancé had arrived. For now, she skipped the whole skooma debacle, but told Siouxie of the arguments with her aunt about employment, her final decision to take a job in Solitude's most prominent tavern, and also her practicing to become a Bard's College actress.

Then the war began.

..."An ambassador? You've become an ambassador in representation for aunt Elisif, not to mention the Empire itself?"

Laprima nodded. "Seems difficult to believe, especially as I aim to impart these matters while keeping my face straight." She also explained about learning alchemy from Solitude's Court Wizard. But kept silent about the part when Chamany convinced her to steal the skooma cure hoarded by Angeline in her aromatics shop.

"I really am in awe, Laprima. She's an ambassador! With guards at her side, bloomin' GUARDS, she's got guards!"

"Mm hmm, I do."

"She's a guarded ambassador! She's an actress! An alchemist! An archer. Yet she does all these things while performing the lowly duties of serving wench during her offtime..."

And I haven't even gotten to the fate of Chamany, nor the whole Sirdasa shrew dilemma!

This could be a long night, with one heck of a gabfest on its way. Would she ever get any much-needed sleep?
On top of this, Laprima's biggest question hadn't even been brought up yet: How on Nirn had Siouxie managed to find Laprima here? In Riverwood? On the exact day she'd arrived?

"Well actually, been here a couple days, actually three," was the answer. "And I've done some roaming about the local forests here. Got something to show you, fact of matter."

"Something to show me?" Uh-oh. "Well come on then, out with it!"

"Ha, can't tell ya now, 'prima, other than it's more of a place than a thing!" Siouxie said sort of fiercely. "We must arise to-morrow early, before your guards, if possible. B'cause I think the place has something to do with why we've both arrived here at nearly the same date."

More of a place than a thing.

"Hmm, if you say so. Now, how are we going to arrange this scrawny bed for two, eh?"


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

"Stand back and watch... this!" (alternate view)


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

Notes: Siouxie Balion is actually Alex's Betnja, a Conjurer Companion by AngryKarakuri, with hair from Apachii. Soon as I saw her at THE Nexus... whoa, it's HER! That's Siouxie!

Ahah! So Siouxie wins the contest of the mysterious lady in the tavern. Goth Girl has quite the bardic talent it seems. Oh my, and potent magery as well. On the other hand though, Siouxie’s long lost friend is now a bow-wielding, bear-wearing ambassador. With guards even!

The banter between Banshee and ‘Prima was a joy to read.

So many questions! Might we achieve an answer about the mysterious house? Might Siouxie join the ‘Prima band as its mage?

I find it ironically amusing that Delphine in Skyland does not trust magicks. . . yet Delphine of Oblivion was a mistress of destruction and known for her spell ‘Enemies Explode’.

Oh dear, oh dear, Siouxie better know what she is doing. Summoning an angel of the first rank, servant of the Magna-ge, can be very dangerous.

So it is Siouxie and the Banshees. That is cool. I see Siouxie is as happy to reunite with Laprima as the Lady Donnaugh is with her.

It looks like Siouxie will be a welcome addition to the team. Much more so than their previous magician.

Granted, her Chaotic Neutral nature might require some supervision. Though things are bound to be exciting with her around.

So I was right that it's Siouxie! Now where's my cake?

A meeting of two friends that haven't seen each other for so long, that they don't know what theme should they discuss first.

Banshee is a fitting nickname for Siouxie.

Looks like that some dark forces or some unknown entity isn't responsible just for bringing Siouxie to Skyrim but it has been orchestrating even Laprima's arrival to Skyrim. I wonder if the place in question is the mysterious house that the party saw on their way to Riverwood...

Ooh, I think I'm going to like Siouxie. Curious to see what those two will get up to together!

This post has been edited by Kane: Mar 11 2025, 02:39 PM

Gosh, March is half-over already. 🍀

@Kane: Funny thing about Siouxie is I had no idea what the heck she's supposed to speak. What does she say? How does she structure words? I knew she'd be extroverted, but how is she extroverted?

I began wondering if the real Siouxsie made any movies. Or maybe I could find some old interviews with her on YouTube. I would study how Siouxsie speaks, and try to get some inspiration that way.

In the end I did none of this (I haven't got time..) so she surprised me more than probably anyone. Her words fell into place with hardly any edits.


@Lopov: Oh yeah, you sure did guess correctly. That is usually what it's like when we haven't seen someone for a long time that we love, right? You don't know where to begin as you catch up.

Banshee is a reference to the real Siouxsie's band name: the Banshees. Dang, I get the feeling you don't know Siouxsie! Maybe she's before your time as we all get older.

Kane, do you know Siouxsie and the Banshees?


@SubRosa seems to know them. Thanks hon that was a fun chapter to write. Wow, you think she's CN? I haven't thought about it, really. I don't really know her that well yet.

Exactly, it'll be nice to have another magic user again. Unlike the previous one who tried to sabotage the party and kidnap my t00n. (DIE Sixpenny you lameoid wretch!) Overall some upcoming chapters when the party gets moving again are going to be interesting.

I had an idea for Vicious, that she would travel with this huge gang rather than just two others at a time. So this is what's going to happen in LPD's game. Probably better in Skyrim, with its lack of CTDs in comparison to Fallout 3.


@macole: She does know what she's doing, but there are ... well, you'll see.

Hmm, who or what is Magna-ge? - They fled Nirn just after it was created, holy [censored]. "The Magna Ge are now synonymous with the stars, which they created." That's so deep.


@Acadian: It's okay, you have cake too. "Bardic talent!" Yeah, she's a loudmouth, ain't she?

The banter between Banshee and ‘Prima was a joy to read.

Nice. Was worried she'd be too much. Was telling Lopov maybe I should curtail her enthusiasm a bit, but now I'm glad I didn't. My experience with real goths from real-life is a lot are surprisingly extroverted; probably because if you go for that look you're gonna garner a lot of stares. At least, this was true way back. When my sister became goth way back in the MTV era when it all started (for us in the States, anyway) she was all doom and gloom. This was her rebel teen phase. She hated everyone! She carried a rat on her shoulder when she went to the mall, etc. But almost every goth I've met from latter life were way more enthusiastic, etc. Fun to be around, even.



Soon to come.

.
_______________________

.The House of Crows

_______________________


Of our dreams, volatile imagery becomes the mainstay. Fixtures common amongst waking lives trade for the unfettered, bizarre prevails above commonplace, sights and scenes exchange abruptly, unheeded circumstances wrack expectations. The dreamer might be standing upon some platform of posies one moment, contently immersed within sweetness and merryment, only to be drowning rough eddies the next.

Our dreams might last ten seconds yet profoundly inspire the rest of our day. Our dreams might last for hours, yet any elucidations contained within escape our meager grasp; snow melting upon a sloped roof as sudden warm fronts and sunbeams dissolve. Affirmations, unbecoming. Symbology, rather than tangibility, prevails and persists.

Let us immerse.



She assumed they'd be too abuzz to sleep that night. Especially after Siouxie was introduced to the soldiers, who marveled over this overly-loquacious, startling specimen from the city. Then, after learning of her magical abilities, they eagerly accepted her into the party. "We lost our previous mage," Draper said vaguely, choosing not to elaborate.

After an hour or so of chatter and supper, Laprima feared a night of insomnia was ahead. Truth is, they both slept like stones, spooned against one another in one of the inn's rented beds.

Morndas, 29th of Sun’s Dusk


The next morning they made sure to rise before the soldiers awoke; a remarkable feat for Siouxie, who was fond of sleeping in. But this also meant two days in a row of interrupted morning rest for Laprima! -- Not so good, since everyone was supposed to trek towards Falkreath on this day. But whatever Siouxie had found in the nearby woods had to be shown; that diabolical look in her eyes the night before said it all.

But first, time for a bath. Siouxie had brought a bar of lavender-stone soap with her from down south, as well as some sort of rosy-smelling, gooey concoction for their hair. It'd been four days since Laprima had bathed, definitely a milestone of grunginess for her after years of near-daily visits to the Market City's Bathhouse, or their own tub at home. Oh what a relief this'll be.





They both feared the water would be too cold. They'd take a dip, rub some soap and lather their hair with haste, dive fully into the water to rinse (all the while being surrounded by slimy fish swimming upstream) but the water wasn't too chilly! And the salmon run had apparently ceased.

"Alright," Laprima said to Siouxie as they waded out of Riverwood's river, shivering a bit. "W-what is this you have to s-show me?" -- As is typical of Skyrim, the sun was nowhere to be seen. And now that they were out, that slight breeze in the air felt much chillier than it had two minutes ago. "Whatever it is, g-got to take us there quickly. Draper and Red are making a fuss we must hustle today, to reach Falkreath in due time."

But before Siouxie could answer, a sleek, multicolored bird, perhaps a dove, came floating downward from the sky above. The way the animal angled itself as it neared the river, and then settled upon a nearby perch, caught Laprima's attention. There was an obviously manmade pouch tethered under the bird's feathery breast.

"Siouxie!"

"Hmm?" The conjurer was already dressed. Much easier for her, since all she had to don were underclothes, her robes and breeches, finally her boots.

"That is one of the Blue Palace birds! They breed them up in Solitude for delivery of missives and such. They enchant them somehow, so the bird can locate its destination or person. In this case, this person must be I."

Best way to tell for sure was to simply approach it. So she walked toward the bird, which began bobbing its head a bit; a sure sign of domestication. It didn't just fly away.

"Have you found me, love?"

Laprima nimbled her fingers about the bird's scruff, and untied the knot tethered there. Removed the pouch it'd been carrying. The bird lingered a bit on the branch, perhaps expecting some sort of treat for flying so many dozens of miles. "Here!" Siouxie called, grabbing something from her rucksack, then threw what looked to be seeds on the ground while Laprima stared inquisitively. "What? The Synod also breeds avian carriers!" she explained.

With the dove gorging itself, Laprima opened the pouch, her hide armor coat only half-fastened, while Siouxie clambered near. "What is it?" Inside the pouch was a note, which Laprima unfolded and read aloud.

To the Ambassadorial Assemblage of Lady Laprima Donnaugh and Sargeant Pierre Draper,

Heed these words!
A contingent of additional soldiers has been dispatched to join and assist thy brigade.
Ye are to dwell or return to Riverwood until the contingent arrives, thereby increasing
thy partition by whatever numbers have been delegated.

These are the orders given by Jarl Elisif the Fair. Please adhere and ably comply.
The contingent should arrive within a day of receiving this missive.

~ Regards, Our Jarl's Benevolence and Magesty ~

"Well, seems this takes care of our need then, for haste," Laprima stated.

"Like we've got the entire day to now dawdle and explore..." Siouxie said with a smart smirk. "So let us begin with what I've found in the local woods."





Mid-morning

Laprima returned to the inn so she could inform the soldiers of Solitude's order: nobody goes anywhere until reinforcements arrive. She then visited her horse to gather some things: her weapons, some arrows and potions. Then they embarked, Siouxie leading the way. And Laprima was not entirely surprised when her longtime pal began directing them south.

One woman followed the other woman.

"Not too far," Siouxie explained. "We 'aven't got too far to go."

She's repeated herself in short order, as if affirming the notion. Hmm. Apprehensive?

"I had a particular sort of dream about this locale we're heading towards, before coming to Skyrim. Couple weeks ago. Several dreams, actually. About this locale."

Laprima said nothing. But she already knew. For no reason at all, she began thinking about that messenger bird. Looked over to where it'd been perched, but the animal was now gone.

Despite what seemed to be a struggle with confidence in her words, Siouxie didn't show it as she walked; she led with a confident stride; typical Lady Balion, while Laprima tagged and kept wary. Glad she'd grabbed her bow, glad she'd grabbed some arrows, glad she was bringing the magic staff she'd looted from one of Sixpenny's goons.

"Had yourself a dream...?" She's been brought here as well....or whatever is occurring.

Oh, stop this nonsense, Laprima! Get a hold upon thyself.

"Aye." They were crossing the bridge. Siouxie's usually boisterous tone became abruptly quiet. "A sort of dream, though am not sure I was asleep." She glanced at her friend, slowing her pace. "Keep a face dear, and listen."

Siouxie stopped, so Laprima stopped.

"This place, it led me here."

"Led you here?"

The mage nodded. "It wants me here. It wants us here. And the matronly woman. She wants us here."

"Matronly woman? Us?"

"Uch. Don't be contrary, Donnaugh, your efforts at nonchalance are pathetic. Yes, 'us'," Siouxie glared a bit. "You know this already, I can see it within thy face. You have seen this matron too within thy dreams, out with it."

Laprima's fingers twiddled a bit upon her sleeve, straightening a crease which wasn't there. Fine. "Big old manor house at the top of an unkempt hill? But I never saw no woman. Never had no dreams."

Siouxie didn't reply immediately. Began striding forward again. They crossed the bridge, came to the road's intersection (left, right, or straight...) and to Laprima's un-surprise, Siouxie ploughed straight.

"So listen," she continued, almost whispering. "I ....ee .... ell ou-"

"What? Cannot hear you--" Laprima realized her eyes were adhered up the path which now bent up the hill to their right, glimpsing, glancing, gleaning... are there birds?

Suddenly Siouxie stopped. Folded her arms firmly, as if committing to some hidden decision. Her eyes averted. "Said, I need to tell you something."

"Alright. 'Tis alright, my darling. Say it." Laprima encouraged her mate, wondering if her voice wavered. She placed a gloved hand on the Nord's sleeve. "We haven't need for hurry to-day, so take all manner of time."

"I shall. And I imagine you shalt be rather outraged about this, but." Siouxie paused, looking bashfully toward the ground. "But I wasn't being entirely honest last night. Concerning my enlistment with the Synod."

Hoy then, what of this? Laprima's eyes broke their fixation with the path ahead with so she could fully study her friend. To her surprise, Siouxie was shedding tears. The house had not yet come into view.

"'Tis alright, Siouxie!" Laprima exhaled, relieved. Relieved that the subject to come had nothing to do with the place they were (apparently) trekking towards. "We can discuss this matter now, if you'd prefer," anything to delay our destination. "What occurred, exactly? You were dismissed after burning a classmate like some Wild Mage? Or you were caught cheating in some way?" she asked, immediately wishing she hadn't! -- "Erm, hey, I did not mean to say that--"

"'S'alright, Laprima."

"Apologies, Balion!" she grabbed her precious ladyfriend as though suddenly drowning. "I did not mean..."

"Let us press forward, Laprima," Siouxie Balion decided, taking the unintended insult stoically, her face impassive. Gothic to the core. "Perhaps let us persist our walk, for now."

"Siouxie! It was not my intention..."

"Shhh...!" Her friend shushed a little too loudly. "Let us persist."

Laprima sighed, resigned. Again, a random stray thought about birds. "Apologies. Many and many and even more."

But her friend was already moving. They plodded forward more slowly; literally a step, then another; the path crunching beneath their boots. Rather dreamlike, their stroll had seemingly become, the air so sweet, the sounds of nature so persistent. Pretty soon, the manor came into view: first the very top of its roof peeking above tangled foliage, then the manor's apex shingles, then the roof's A-frame support beams... place does not look so shabby Laprima's inner architect spoke up, surprising her. As if she'd been in a daze. Not so actually decrepit... In fact, she realized she was now feeling none of the trepidation from the day before. None of the foreboding she'd experienced while dealing with her reluctant horse, no looming. What's to fear? Place is nothing but a house!

A second path branched from the upward trail and to the right. Ancient cobbled (stones?) became a rather well-worn surface. Another detail Lady Donnaugh noticed: apparently, others must've recently walked here. For not a sapling nor a patch of weeds interrupted the path's sandy top. And hadn't there been thatches of briars up here the day before?

"Walked by here just a day ago," Laprima revealed, her voice not cracking or showing emotion. Rather dreamlike, rather merry. "Down upon the road below. My horse was ... Hey! D'ya see the birds?"

Siouxie glanced at the house, her mind half-muddled in its own sort of reverie. "Birds?" She glanced at the trees.

"Look at them, all over the rafters and shingles. Crows and ravens and blackbirds!" Laprima cried aloud, completely unlike herself, Siouxie could see this. "They are all over," Laprima Anne Donnaugh, stunned and dazed. Structural cruxes, cedars and pines. Fastened and sound. "Don'cha ... Hey, what is it?"

"There are birds?"

Laprima's gaze returned to the manor. Where there suddenly were no blackbirds, no crows, no ravens, not an avian creature in sight. "I...."

"That lady though, she is waving at us," Siouxie interrupted. "Beckoning us to come forward."

"Beckoning?"

"Ha! It's the matron from my dreams. See her? In the window?" Her voice had become rather colorless. Rather unlike Siouxie "Banshee" Balion.

Four windows faced the two of them. Laprima peered at one window, then tried to peer into it. Nobody she could see. She peered at and into the next, the next, and the next. Tried to see whom her friend described. And could glimpse no woman, matronly or otherwise, in any of them.







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A night of revelry, and catching up!

Goofing off

Elisif's Redirective -- (learned a lesson about posting illegible notes in the story itself!)

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Notes: The House of Crows is inspired by Crow Home, by SubRosa Florens. 🦉

A surprisingly good night of sleep followed by an early and chilly bath. Yay for lavender soap!

A missive from Auntie Elisef via courier dove, harkening reinforcements and to hold in Riverwood until their arrival. Fortunately, that provides a respite with which to investigate the mysterious house that seems to have somehow magically affected both ladies.

The trek there was positively dripping with mystery and suspense. It seems we will have to wait until next episode to learn more, however.

Ok, now I'm really starting to get spooked. Last week it was Siouxie Banshee. The song Cities in Dust has been going through my head all week. Is that a premonition of things to come. Now there's 'dreams', an old woman, and a dilapidated house. Visions of a shower scene has invaded my psyche. And black birds everywhere! Holy Alfred Hitchcock, what is going on?

Uh oh, so there's a woman (a matron) that only Siouxsie the Banshee sees? It is really getting spooky, this tale.

Just like macole, I also thought of Hitchcock with all those birds around.

Looks like we need to wait some more to get some answers...

A long night's sleep, a cleansing bath, and products for her hair, that all sounds like paradise after days of schlepping about Skyrim's roads.

I loved the magic-ed up carrier bird delivering messages. They had something similar in Baldur's Gate 3, but a winged cat (a Tressym) was killing all the postage birds (there is a quest to stop the cat - with or without killing it).

So now they have time for a Souxie's side quest. Time to go exploring!

As I expected, the two women are off to find the source of the mystery that has drawn both of them hither: the totally not creepy house on the hill.

It is really intriguing how each of them is seeing something different. Corvids for one, a matron for the other.

That certainly is one foreboding manor!

@Acadian: Oh yeah, now that their calendar is free, several activities commenced on this day! From my perspective there's also an 'explanation' why they're not shuffling off to Falkreath immediately, which means more time for bug testing stuff. I'm setting a few things up.


@Macole, Vampire Hunter: Spooky! But you played Daggerfall in your literally dungeon basement!

Cities in Dust, there she is. Spellbound & Happy House are a couple other faves from way back.


@Lopov: Hee hee not anything to do with Hitchcock! 🦅 (I just put your name in Sleak color!)

In The Stormcrow there's a house which the main character inherits from her great, great, great, great, great (etc.) grandmother, who is a vampire, and once lived in the days near when America was just a bunch of colonies. In the house is a special room which.... ah... hmm, don't want to spoil. But I hope to do the actual Crow House some sort of respect in this next chapter.


@SubRosa: I installed Bathing in Skyrim, so there's a literal reason for their river-dive, and an immersion reason for me. Apparently we also can buy soaps from some merchants, though Lucan doesn't sell any, that worrywort.

Thanks! I was going to do a whole segment on the bird landing in some farm so it could eat & rest. Other animals somehow knowing what the carrier is, and giving it leeway at their feeder.

the totally not creepy house on the hill.

It's not, you're right! The story's embellishing the place a bit, but then maybe not. It's not necessarily the house itself, see.

Originally began thinking of these Crow Home chapters way back a year ago, when I knew the party would be heading to Riverwood. Was thinking I should ask permission first, but then you'd be spoiled. As I said to Lopov, I hope to do the place respect.




All credit goes to Miss Florens.

.
____________

.Becoming

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Morndas, 29th of Sun’s Dusk, Fourth Era, late morning


They'd been ordered to remain within Riverwood, which meant everyone could structure the day to suit their needs. With no particular schedule to follow, Draper, Rokkr, and Tårn also dove into the river at their leisure. Tårn earned some extra coin chopping and stacking wood. The three of them also spent more time at the forge, (a great place to learn local gossip in any burg or hamlet) where Tårn continued expanding her vocabulary.

Though Riverwood was part of Whiterun Hold, and Whiterun itself was full of Stormcloaks, there hadn't been any rebel activity in this outlying village for days. Still, the mood was occasionally tense as concerns were whispered about their presence. Otherwise, their time in Riverwood passed without incident. Because of this, the events of their day were unplanned, but otherwise ordinary.

...Yet they had not a clue what was going on two miles to the north, where the noblewoman they were supposed to protect (swayed by her unpredictable chum) was being captivated into vector-like currents of mind perhaps familiar to those with greater understanding of realities. Perhaps a vampire, a soothsayer, or even a practitioner of theoretical calculus might be able to explain their extraordinary situation.








Whether it was the manor itself, or some entity surrounding or within the manor, who's to say? By the time Laprima and Siouxie found themselves leaving the tamped path and approaching the residence's lawn their better judgement had mostly evaporated. Siouxie was adamant about the matronly woman she was seeing in one of the manor's windows, while Laprima remained unable to see her. Because of this, she refused to continue.

"But she's come all this way!" the Gothic whined, flailing her arms a bit. "And now she's become disinclined to traipse within? Please. Laprima, come with. For I detest the thought of entering alone."

They argued a bit, each misconsidering the others' opinion on the matter, each entirely naïve. "But if she appears within this abode, as you affirm, why does she not literally open her door, and invite the both of us?"

"Perhaps those are not the usual customs, where she is from," Siouxie hypothesized lamely.

"Usual customs?" Laprima scoffed. "In any region of Tamriel, we cannot just barge in like a pair of malefactorists, Siouxie; we cannot just invade this [supposed] woman's privacy!" Laprima shouted, thinking the word 'supposed' without saying it.

"She stands in the upper chambers, right above our eyes!" Siouxie insisted, somehow picking up on her mate's disbelief. "Jovial face, grayish strands of hair. And you cannot see?" Her voice was nearly accusatory.

Sigh. Laprima relented, just as she'd done numerous times down in the city, after Siouxie explained that maybe the old woman couldn't file downwards to the lower floor. "Perhaps it may be that she is weak, or disfigured in some way. And needs assistance."

"Fine. I shall step forward to accompany, but," she pointed, "you enter first, Balion."

"With glee, sister." Siouxie nodded impatiently. "Now come with."

The matter had been settled. Because of this, something in the air, the ground, the foundation of the home's exanimate psyche shifted imperceptibly. Forces portending, now becoming. (Ironically it was at this moment when the sun finally began to shine.) Seldom utilized senses of mind which had caused warnings to toll and chime within Lady's cognition the day before were now off to slumber.

Yet wasn't it her own curiosity which prodded, as well? She would follow Siouxie, alright surely she would, but only to satisfy her usual intellectual quest to examine any home's interior, if only to gain her usual opinions on build and decor.

Or so she told herself.

The pathway became a lawn, patches of mixed ground foliage: grasses and shamrocks and clovers. No weeds. No overgrowth. Somebody indeed must be living here.

Laprima stepped with caution onto the lawn. In contrast, Siouxie strafed sideways one moment, pranced forward the next like a spooked mare; even the way she moved at this moment could only be described as 'chaotic'. Or even disrespectful. On their left was the home's southern anterior wall, constructed of sturdy but uneven mortar-affixed granite stones, similar to the dwellings of Solitude. The lawn continued to merge a bit to the left, where the wall presented an arched entryway which they glimpsed into. Turns out, this contained a quaint little courtyard. The grasses and clovers abruptly became a short series of paving stones, a walkway which led forward a few paces then bent to the left, where the home's wooden porch awaited.

Laprima began hoping the front door would be locked. This would only be a temporary barrier of course (Siouxie knew Laprima could break in) but if Laprima lied and claimed she didn't currently have any lockpicks, perhaps she could convince this mad woman it's time to turn tail. -- But no such luck! -- The front door swung open without a word.

Inside the house was a stillness; a literal feeling of presence which is difficult to put into words. The place was well-decorated, yes. Not barren, nor dim or dismal. Not exactly what most would picture when the words "haunted house" are spoken. So what apprehension was Laprima feeling, exactly?

It's as though everything's been put into place recently, went her thinking. As though arranged.

Siouxie called into the initial room they'd entered: "Greetings! We have arrived!" only to be answered by silence.

...And there it is; there's that certain look in her eyes, the look of Banshee! Unable to temper herself, Siouxie's alter-ego's exploration began: dashing and tromping from room to room, bootfalls echoing throughout the house, until she found the stairs. Banshee just needs to see for herself perhaps, damn the consequences.

Laprima, on the other hand, moused into the place with prudence and respect: listening and sensing rather than pouncing. But it wasn't as though anybody or anything, a warlock or a monster, jumped out at them right away... so she relaxed a bit. Place is nothing but a home. (And there had not been any birds outside.)

But this was madness! What is it we are accomplishing here, exactly? Laprima put her head in her hands.

Attempting some form of logic, she began the usual scholarly habits she'd employed whenever entering an unfamiliar room in the past, but even this became sidetracked. - Her first impression now that she was in architecture mode was not an observation of angular wall bracings or which method of stonework the floor had been patterned with, it was: everything's in its place, and perhaps even disuse. No rack of dirty rags or refuse by the hearth or within the dining area, no errant dust bunnies under the cabinets, not a spot of grease by the cooking cauldron or near its fire pit. Candles lit, tarts and pastries and perfectly-ripe fruits arranged on plates and trays (for whom?), potions and phials and books on shelves. Yet she could not help but wonder: does anyone actually dwell here?

Banshee's sussing had come to a halt it seemed, catching her Laprima's attention. She focused her ears. Initially, she heard nothing. Then from somewhere upstairs came the sound of a voice; but was it Banshee/Siouxie's voice?

Laprima edged through a couple rooms at a dreamlike pace until locating the stairs, then up the banister she went. She arrived at a landing with several directions to go including two doors, one to her left (door closed) and the other behind (door open). She looked into the open door. And there was Banshee Balion, speaking deliberately. Almost discreetly. A master of voice manipulations, her pitch had lowered to almost baritone, definitely not a way of enunciating Laprima had ever witnessed in the past. This was not any manner a gentlewoman might find common amongst Tamriel's Fourth Era when greeting a supposed stranger (especially after barging into her home!), and certainly not the typical eloquence of Siouxie.








"An bhfuil tú faoi deara mo ghnóthachain bealaigh a chur i gcrích..." she queried the air in front of her, gesturing with intensity. "Caithfidh tú dul isteach sa brogue agus fáilte a chur roimh do chara."

Silence. No one replied. Because the presence of anyone else inside this wayward residence is for naught. Nobody here, yet her friend was entirely convinced that there was. The essence of static which went down Laprima Donnaugh's spine just then, as she realized the implication that she, or her friend, is currently going mad caused goosebumps upon her arms which bordered upon painful.

She backed slowly down the stairs, hoping not to disturb or dismay.





Late afternoon


Moments later, Laprima had returned outside. Shivering on the porch despite the sun's warmth, rattled, breathing too hard, staring into the day's pleasant air, vision palpitating. Torn between just leaving the loon behind so she could retreat to the village. ---- Back to some semblance of normalcy.

Should I wait for that lovely black-haired maniac to emerge? she mentally asked the sky. She began pacing off the porch.

Either way, Lady Donnaugh wanted no part of whatever twisted séance or intangible causality was occurring inside. Let Banshee lose her wits, she's always been half-way there, anyway.

Still, her thoughts twisted like a skeever trapped in a barrel for several seconds or so.
...And then somehow, in some way, she suddenly understood.

"This manor of crows..."

Siouxie Balion. Claimed to have some dreams about an old woman. Became obsessed about the images from her dreams, and is now...

"She's directly holding court alongside her vision."

Laprima began thinking about the birds again. Closed her eyes, concentrated her thoughts. And opened her eyes. And the birds were back. Dozens of them, maybe hundreds! Blackbirds, ravens, and crows, all over the roof, its ridges, its gutters, abutments, and eaves! Gathered in the trees, on the quaint little fences and...

She closed her eyes again. Shuddered a bit, wondering could this really be so? Focused this time on something much more personal: Elija Donnaugh, missing since the age of seven. If she concentrated upon her long lost brother, would he also appear? Because isn't this what the house seemed to be doing? Mirroring one's thoughts into some sort of fleeting reality? - Hence, the looming, the birds, and the matronly woman existing for one and not the other. Perhaps the determining factor, whether one's thought was reflected into one's personal reality at all, had something to do with the intensity of rumination.

She opened her eyes. Her brother didn't appear but one of his prized possessions, a flute he often carried around the city, did.

"Lo!"

The flute was made of some sort of gold-colored metal; perhaps it was even Dwemer. Therefore, not a commonly-crafted instrument made of cheaper materials, such as wood or ivory. The flute had been made to last the ages; perhaps only a smelter could destroy it. Elija often played the flute in public places, or within their Aristocratic District home. He wasn't so good at being a flautist yet, but of course he was only seven....

And this time, Siouxie, who had emerged from the house, shared what Laprima was seeing.

"What is...?"

They both stopped in their tracks, Laprima too surprised. Because that instrument had to be his, yes?

Against her better judgement (yet who could be rational at such a point?) she grabbed for the musical instrument as though it were about to disappear like the birds. But in this case, the vision continued persistence.

"It's his flute!" she cried to Siouxie, her face displaying an entire catalog of emotions: wonder, amazement, even fear, over the course of twelve seconds. "This was HIS. My brother, he owned this pipe." Her fingers clambered over device.

And that was when Siouxie began to get a grasp. "This manor. Or perhaps the hallowed grounds it was constructed on," she said, her voice no longer that of some demonic entity. "It is like--"

"--'Tis like the reflecting surface of a pond," Laprima finished.

"What we glimpse and what-ever we fancy--"

"--portends and becomes--"

"--as paints upon a canvas--"

"--as rays illume from the sky--"

"Alright?"

"S'alright, dear!"

"Hold me," Siouxie, still halfway between herself and her 'other' self, said. "My hand. Hold my hand."

Their fingers intertwined. They then returned to the village of Riverwood. Without saying so, each decided that no discussion about their experience would occur, at least not now. Each was eager to return to her usual self.



Mid afternoon

"Ah, was beginning to wonder'f we should commisshion a search party," Rokkr Van Hagar slurred half-drunk upon their arrival.

The rest of the afternoon and into the evening, Lady Balion managed to convince Lady Donnaugh into one final bout of roguery. As the pair of Heartlanders finally treated themselves to lunch, and the subject of money came up, and how the party was just beginning to realize their budget would soon wane thin, Siouxie snapped her fingers.

"I know us a way we c'n earn us some coin," she whispered conspiratorially. "Time to go for a delve, 'prima."

Oh goodness, what now? "A delve?"

"The locals, they want some brave souls to take care of a... little embarrassing problem," Siouxie said slyly, showing her gullible mate the pamphlet Delphine the innkeeper had passed along the day before. "They're rabbles, they're scum, and the good peoples of Riverwood wish their eradication."

Which was how Laprima Anne Donnaugh found herself tagging along with Siouxie "Banshee" Balion into the nearby depths of Embershard Mine. What a bizarre day.

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"You enter first, Balion!"

"With glee."

"We have arrived!"

Phantasmic Viewing

Her brother's flute?

Quest Update

I'm not going to write it up, but here are a few pictures of Laprima's first dungeon dive. Really I've been itching to do some delving with my archer for ages! Turns out, she's OP. Most of the NPCs she successfully shot became instakills as long as she was sneaking. Perhaps it's because she's Level 5 in Embershard Mine, which is one of the easier lairs.

Sneaky Laprima (I lost count of how many Sneak level-ups she gained in Embershard.)

"What was that?"

Loosing an arrow

Banshee bedazzles!

Sure Shot -- (notice the magical effect. Siouxie always hits my t00n with a bit of magic when combat occurs, perhaps it's a Rally spell...)

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