Previously- Buffy went for a ride and vented her disappointment about the Arch Mage to Acadian. Upon finding a waterfall she lingered for a swim then basked in the sun. Kynareth visited, along with a nixad named Willow. Buffy learned Willow was a tracker and would accompany her during her travels. After notifying the Elden Root guildmagister and treethane that she would be departing the following day, Buffy spent the night with a tribemate high in her tree. The following morning, she breakfasted with Mirri and they agreed to leave for Windhelm immediately.

*

Lopov- Nixads are great fun to write because we have no preconceived notions about what a pixie–dragonfly creature would be like. The noises and acrobatics we describe for Willow are pretty close to the game. Nixads tend to be gregarious and generally harmless – unless you’re a bug, for bugs constitute much of the nixad diet. Buffy will have another encounter with Vanus late in this book and it will be similarly tense and only successful due to Praxedes' intervention – again.

Grits- I’m so pleased to see you continuing Jerric’s story! Willow is quite based on the game nixads with two significant differences: She is about half the size of a normal nixad (making her about as long as Buffy’s forearm) and has hands (instead of a claw on each wrist). We hated losing Kitsune the fennec fox but the possibilities expand greatly with a familiar who has hands. I wanted Buffy’s 2nd Era familiar to actually be an important part of her posse so we made her a tracker and, with those little hands, she can manage the contents of Buffy’s mage pouch, pick locks and retrieve things from places that that Buffy can’t access. Thanks for catching my typo.

SubRosa- Yes, as Rider cautioned, be careful about wanting to meet your heroes. You’ll appreciate that Willow’s name was borrowed from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. On the time travel, you’re right again; Kynareth exists across all times and is aware of them all at the same time.

Renee- The opening of Book 2 was a rare departure from Buffy’s first-person perspective and featured (unbeknown to Buffy) a meeting between Kynareth, Mara and Azura. Kynareth was then featured again near the end of Book 3 when she chose Buffy to be her paladin. Nixads come in many varieties but don’t seem to be featured in any TES game aside from ESO. Buffy imagines that perhaps they somehow became extinct before the 3rd Era?

ghastley- I agree completely on ‘enhancing’ the nixad with skills so she is indeed a little more helpful than just a pretty little bugface. ESO does a nice job of exploring some of the history between Vanus Galerion and Mannimarco. ‘Bout time for a Clark in the 2nd Era update, yes?


One of the ‘Old Holds,’ Eastmarch was among the first regions of Skyrim settled by the Nords when they arrived from Atmora. Its capital, Windhelm, is the oldest continuously inhabited human settlement in Tamriel, and was founded by Ysgramor himself.


“Brrr!” I complained through chattering teeth after we materialized in Windhelm. I pulled the hood of my mage robe over my head.

Mirri chuckled as I attuned myself to the wayshrine. “Well, we are in Skyrim now.”

“I’m glad for this enchanted toe ring,” I said through the visible fog of my breath. Willow climbed out of my mage pouch, jumped up into a hover and began rubbing her arms while chittering her disapproval of the cold as well.

Mirri shook her head. “The Mages Guild is only a short distance. Let’s go, princesses.”

It was deliciously warm inside as I pulled back my hood and Willow began exploring the place. The guildhall was unsurprisingly of Nordic heavy wooden construction. We were in a large eight-sided chamber. One side hosted the guild’s crafting and vendor facilities, and the other was lined with full bookshelves. The warmth I felt came from a large firepit that dominated the center of the ground floor. The middle of the chamber was open to the second level to which a circular staircase led.

A Nord approached. “I’m the Guildmagister here, Ciceri the Bold. Welcome to the Mages Guild.” After giving me a cursory appraisal, her eyes lingered dubiously over Mirri’s heavy armor and weaponry. “How may I help you?”

I placed my palms together in front of me briefly in the traditional guild greeting. “Thank you for your welcome, Guildmagister. I am Buffy, a pala-“

“Say no more,” she interrupted rather sternly. “You’re that paladin the Arch Mage ordered me to hop for. Who’s your friend here?”

“This is Mirri Elendis,” I replied, “a warrior who has agreed to accompany me and assist with my quest.”

Ciceri frowned but returned her gaze to me. “So what are your orders, Dame Buffy?”

Well, this isn’t going so well. Perhaps I had been wrong to seek the support of our heavy-handed Arch Mage? Of course, showing up unannounced might have gone just as poorly - as Dagail had warned. Oh well, too late now. I ignored the fact that Mirri directed a protective glare at our host and had curled the gauntleted fingers of one hand into a fist. Controlling my own temper was not hard, for I sympathized with the Guildmagister’s resentment.

At length, I broke the awkward silence, “Guildmagister, I would never presume to order you. My quest is to track down a rogue mage who may have ties to Windhelm. I ask that you hear the details and, if you deem them worthy, allow me to interview yourself and perhaps some of your mages. I apologize if the Arch Mage’s communication to you implied any coercion. I only discussed it with him as a courtesy, since my target is a former mage of the guild. While I felt obliged to notify him, it is your aid I humbly seek, not his.”

She appeared taken aback by my words and stared at me for a moment. “I guess maybe I should apologize, Dame Buffy. I was a bit rude there.”

“No need, Guildmagister," I replied. "Having met the Arch Mage I understand how readily his manner can generate offence.”

“You got that right!” She actually smiled. “So tell me about your quest.”

“Kynareth, has asked me to track down and stop the rogue spellcaster known as Drodda the Icewitch, whose current course of action poses a serious threat.”

Ciceri let out a low whistle. “Enough to attract the attention of a Divine? It must be grave indeed.” Her face clouded with sadness. “It doesn’t surprise me, however, given what our once sweet young protege has become.”

“Continue, please, Guildmagister,” I encouraged.

“How about we drop the Guildmagister and Dame stuff?”

“Agreed, Ciceri,” I replied with a smile.

“You’re not stuffy like I figured a paladin would be, Buffy. Tell you what, let me get us something to drink while you two have a seat over there. Then I’ll tell you the sad tale.”

Soon enough we were seated near the fire and sipping mead. Well, mostly I was touching the mug to my lips trying not to drink much of it. Mirri seemed to be enjoying it though. Willow found us and alighted on the rim of my cup. She stuck her face into the mead, withdrew it and sputtered her displeasure before returning to exploring the guildhall.

“The rogue mage you seek," began Ciceri, "was born to a couple named Argenssen who earned their modest living from a small plot of land outside Windhelm. Her parents named her Dreanna and, at a young age, she displayed unusual skill with ice magic. After some accidents on their farm, the Argenssens brought her to me pleading for help controlling their daughter’s growing power. Despite her tender age of thirteen, we agreed to take her into the guild. We quickly discovered that her skill far exceeded her ability to control it and we based her training around rectifying that. For nearly three years, she made progress toward learning the discipline and control necessary to responsibly wield her formidable power. Until. . . .” She stopped to take a large drink of mead.

“Please, continue, Ciceri,” I urged.

She lowered her mug. “While visiting her parents one year during the New Life Festival, their farm was attacked by bandits. Dreanna responded with a magical ice storm that froze every bandit into a statue of ice. It was only after her storm subsided, she could see that the same fate had befallen every living thing on the farm. Bandits, mother, father, younger brother, twin babies. . . even the animals had not been spared.”

“Did anyone try to magically thaw and save them?” I asked.

“We did indeed,” she said sadly, “but the bodies inside the ice were quite dead.”

“I come from a large family myself, Ciceri,” commented Mirri. “I can’t imagine how Dreanna must have felt.”

Ciceri nodded. “It broke her. She was never the same after that, growing bitter and resisting our efforts to help control her ice magic. As her control deteriorated, her hunger for power grew until she posed a threat to not only my guild, but all of Windhelm. The city magistrate and I finally had no choice but to give Dreanna an ultimatum: either fully embrace our efforts to teach control of her abilities or risk being placed in magic-blocking null iron manacles and imprisoned. She tearfully pleaded to remain with us in the guildhall and promised to diligently cooperate. Over the magistrate’s objection, I accepted her promise. The next morning, she was gone without a trace.”

“It sounds like you did everything you could to help her,” I said gently.

“Thank you for saying so, Buffy. Not a day goes by I don’t second guess myself for not heeding the magistrate’s recommendation.” She heaved a sigh then continued, “At any rate, shortly after she disappeared incidents involving a rogue mage calling herself Drodda and using ice attacks of enormous power were reported. Fearful folk began calling her Drodda the Icewitch, but I knew right away it was our Dreanna. . . or whatever she had become.”

“Tell me,” I asked, “when was the last report of her activities?”

Ciceri thought for a moment. “Almost a year I figure. I don’t believe for a moment that her reign of freezing terror is over though. She’s either laying low or planning something, for I believe her thirst for power to be unquenchable.”

“You’re right, Ciceri,” I stated, acutely aware of the slow but ever-present drain on my dragon-mare. “May I ask if she left any trace of herself – belongings or such – here or perhaps at her family’s farm?”

“Not at the farm. Locals believed the farmhouse to be cursed and burned it down shortly after the incident. The land itself was absorbed by other nearby farms. One of our mages had grown close to Dreanna though. . . if anyone has any of her belongings or insight into where she may have gone, it would be her.”

“May I interview her?” I asked.

“Of course,” she replied. “Vanus Galerion could certainly learn some grace, tact and manners from you. Follow me, I’ll introduce you.”

Poor cold princesses. Thankfully Buffy has some frost resistance thanks to that toe ring.

Ciceri does not seem to be much for pleasantries. Right down to business she is. Must be the Nord in her.

It looks like Buffy's liberal application of butter was able to smooth over some of rough spots left behind by Galerion's less than diplomatic nature. In fact, now that Ciceri is beginning to ease up and feel more comfortable, I wonder if she might be a future pal?

Finally we learn something of Dreanna/Drodda's history. Her story is certainly a heart-breaking one. Unfortunately she did not learn that the great power which she wields requires just as great responsibility and restraint.

And we have a possible lead. I look forward to meeting this old friend of Dreanna.

"Princesses!" Mirri is a hoot.

Oh dear, a visit with Vanus is a gift that keeps on giving. The Arch Mage being a jerk was a nice subject for Buffy and Ciceri to forge a little bond over. I like Ciceri’s forthright manner.

Buffy and Willow enjoy mead as much as they enjoy Windhelm weather!

What a terrible fate for Dreanna’s family, and for young Dreanna. I can see how a downward spiral could lead to bad behavior.

I quite like Windhelm’s Nordic guild hall. Let’s hope they keep that fire going, and that Willow doesn’t "borrow" Buffy’s toe ring!

I enjoyed the backstory of Drodda the Ice Witch. Is she an actual NPC in ESO?

At first I thought that Ciceri went through Vanus' school of how to talk to other beings. But then she melted.



I feel a touch of sarcasm here.

Poor Dreanna. I fear she's another case of absolute power corrupting absolutely.

My guess is nixads might be mentioned in lore, perhaps in one of the in-game books, but only now with ESO they become portrayed. Maybe I'll do a search later.

Okay, there's a book in Online called Flora and Fauna of the Sever which describes nixads. They are also featured in TESIV? They can be encountered in most provinces of Tamriel.[17] Nixads can also be found in Oblivion, such as in Apocrypha and the Deadlands. Despite being found in Oblivion Nixads are not Daedric. SOURCE 🧚

Ciceri is pretty Cistuffy. But Buffy's able to persuade her calmly. "You got that right!" she says!

"After some accidents on the farm..." And that's where this Drodda's apparent maleficence began. Yikes, she froze her entire family! -- So it sounds like she wasn't exactly Evil in those days, just OP, and unable to control her prowess.

This post has been edited by Renee: Mar 24 2025, 05:48 PM

Previously- Buffy and Mirri arrived in Windhelm. Guildmagister Ciceri the Bold relayed the sad story of how a young farm girl named Dreanna joined the guild to learn how to control her prodigious skill with ice magic. After a deadly accident that killed her entire family while trying to defend them from a bandit attack, Dreanna changed – growing bitter, resentful and eventually leaving the guild. Soon after, a rogue ice mage began terrorizing the area around Windhelm. Locals called her Drodda the Icewitch – but Ciceri knew it was their Dreanna. Buffy gained permission to interview the guild’s youngest mage who had been friends with Dreanna.

*
SubRosa- Ciceri has clearly experienced ‘Vanus-burn’ before. As you’re already beginning to see though, she is a good sort and will indeed prove herself worthy of her position. I wanted our ‘Big Bad’ to have of a compelling and tragic story as to how she developed into who she is.

Grits- As you recall, their rocky introduction started with Mirri calling Buffy a parchement princess. I couldn’t resist Mirri reusing the princess theme, only in a much more endearing way. Buffy and Mirri will get to spend a couple more days at the Windhelm guild.

Lopov- Fortunately, Buffy’s decision to use tact and grace did indeed melt away Ciceri’s resentment over the Arch Mage’s orders. And you nailed it in seeing Mirri’s sarcasm dealing with the pair of cold-sensitive princesses she is escorting. Drodda does exist in ESO as the final (and appropriately terrifying) boss in the group dungeon (designed for four players) of Direfrost Keep. Drodda has no background in game though so that presented us with a wonderfully blank slate upon which to craft some depth.

Kane- When all is said and done, my intent is to indeed show Dreanna / Drodda as a tragic figure who eventually took the path of evil. That won’t make Buffy feel any better about having to put a stop to her though.

Renee- Ciceri clearly has had a run in or two with Vanus Galerion. Thankfully, Buffy was able to disarm her understandable defensiveness at being ordered around by the Arch Mage. I imagine the missive Ciceri received conveyed the Arch Mage's normal dearth of tact. You are right in that Dreanna (later turned Drodda) was trying to defend her family using power that she was not fully able to control. Accidently killing her own family is the crucial event that changed her. It will be uncertain whether that drove her subsequent choices, or perhaps rendered her vulnerable to some form of malevolent possession.



Ciceri led us upstairs as Willow - explorations apparently complete - found her way back into my mage pouch. The eight-sided interior balcony on the upper floor hosted numerous doors that Ciceri explained were living quarters. She opened one to an unoccupied room with a bunkbed, armoire, dresser, small desk and chair. “You and Mirri can stay here as needed.”

We then proceeded to another room, where Ciceri knocked on the door. Momentarily it was opened by a Nord who appeared no older than perhaps seventeen. “Hreinhilde, this is Buffy, a guildsister and paladin of Kynareth, and her friend Mirri. They are searching for Dreanna and I’d like you to talk with them, please.”

“Dre-Dreanna?” asked the young mage as a look of concern. . . or perhaps fear, crossed her face. “If you say so, Guildmagister.” Hreinhilde looked at me and said uncertainly, “Come in?”

“Ciceri,” injected Mirri, “that mead was quite good. Might you consider sharing another flagon?”

The guildmagister appeared surprised for a moment, then seemed to understand Mirri’s intent. “Why of course. I fancy another mug myself. Let’s go.”

I heard, “Have you been to Vvardenfell, Ciceri?” as the pair headed downstairs.

I turned to Hreinhilde and smiled. “Is that offer to come in still open?”

“Yes, Dame Buffy,” she replied nervously.

“Just Buffy, please.”

She led me inside and we both sat down, her on the bed and me on the only chair in the small room.

“Hreinhilde, your guildmagister told me what happened to Dreanna and I’m trying to find her. I understand that you two were close?”

“Well, we were the youngest mages in the guild and did become friends.”

I nodded and smiled encouragement. “Go on, please.”

“Our magics were very different. I’m learning to become a healer and Dreanna could do astonishing things with ice magic. One time she cast a spell that was a little bigger than she thought, I guess. I woke up on the floor, freezing cold with Dreanna leaning over me. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she gently rocked me and kept saying how sorry she was. I was kind of scared of her after that. There were a couple more incidents like that, but I knew she didn’t mean it when her magic got away from her.” She looked down at her feet. “I didn’t tell anyone, hoping she’d learn from the other mages trying to help her control her magic better.”

“You were trying to aid a friend, Hreinhilde.” I took her hand. “I’m a healer, like you. That’s part of our nature.”

She raised her eyes back to mine. “Later the same year, there was that terrible incident at her family’s farm.”

“Yes,” I said, “Guildmagister Ciceri told me about it.”

“When Dreanna came back here, I tried to console her over the loss of her family and kept reassuring her it was an accident. But something about her had changed. She was . . . distant. It became clear that she no longer cared about controlling her ice magic, only becoming more powerful. I was afraid of her and made sure to stay out of her way. She was no longer my friend, no longer the Dreanna I had come to know. Then one day, Guildmagister Ciceri told us that Dreanna had run away. I never saw her again.”

“Thank you, Hreinhilde. I imagine recalling these things is painful for you.”

She nodded as her gaze returned to the floor.

“Do you know if Dreanna left anything behind at the guild when she left?”

“She had a jewelry box where she kept her treasures, including a diary. After she left, I went into her room because I knew where she hid it.”

“Were you able to find her jewelry box?” I asked.

“Oh, I found it alright. Or what was left of it. She had burned all her belongings in her fireplace. I tried to see if I could read anything of the burned pages from her diary, but I could only make out a word or two here and there.”

“Do you recall any of those words?”

She wrinkled her face in concentration. “I think. . . yes: ‘must resist’, ‘overwhelmed’, ‘leave’, ‘they’ll pay’. Do you think those words mean anything?” Before I could answer, she added, “Oh, I almost forgot. When Dreanna and I were still close, we exchanged locks of hair, intertwined our little fingers together and promised to always be friends.” She frowned. “I found what was left of the locket she kept my hair in burned up in her fireplace. So much for promises. Though she frightened and even hurt me, Dreanna had once been my friend. I still have her lock of hair; it’s all that I have left of her. Of who Dreanna once was.”

“Hreinhilde,” I said, “Dreanna’s current activities are very dangerous as she seeks to increase her power. That could lead to her hurting many more people than she already has. Kynareth has asked me to stop her. To do that, I must find her. I have a friend who, if she can examine Dreanna’s lock of hair, may be able to help divine her location.” I lifted the flap on my mage pouch. “Willow, can you come out and meet Hreinhilde?”

The nixad climbed out, hopped into a hover and twirled around once before rendering a showy curtsy to Hreinhilde.

The young Nord perked up. “She’s adorable!” That generated a pleased backflip from Willow. “This little nixad can locate Dreanna?”

“If you let her examine Dreanna’s lock of hair,” I replied, “yes, I think maybe she can.” I was pleased to see Willow nod encouragement to Hreinhilde.

“Even if you find her, she won’t cooperate, you know,” Hreinhilde said to both of us. “In fact if you anger her, she’ll try to kill you. The Dreanna I once knew is gone.”

I nodded. “I suspect you’re right.”

Willow held out her hands.

Hreinhilde opened one of her dresser drawers and produced a folded piece of parchment. After carefully opening it, she held a lock of blond hair in her hand. She began to extend her hand to Willow, then stopped, clutched it to her breast and closed her eyes. When she opened them, a tear slid down one cheek. Nevertheless, she reached out again and offered the lock of hair.

“Thank you, Hreinhilde,” I said.

Willow took it in both hands and brought it to her face. After a few moments, she held Dreanna’s lock of hair to her own breast, then returned it to Hreinhilde. Willow then nodded to me.

As Hreinhilde folded it back within the parchment, she said, “You must think me silly for keeping this.”

“No, Hreinhilde. Loyalty to those you call friend courses strongly within you. Though it can sometimes be painful, it’s an admirable trait. Would you like me to sit with you for a time?”

“No, I think I need to be alone,” she replied.

“I understand. Thank you for your help. We’ll leave you now.” With that, Willow and I slipped out of the room and headed downstairs.

As the focus now shifts to Dreanna and her past, the story got a different pace and tone - in a way sad, as it's explained, what led to Dreanna's state of mind, on the other hand more tense / faster paced.

So Dreanna is actually that young. She must be of Hreinhilde's age or maybe slightly more. I must "change" my portrayal of her in my mind now - I had pictured her as older.

Fortunately, Dreanna wasn't bald.

The incomplete burning of Dreanna's belongings implies she didn't use a fire spell. But ESO's way of linking the use of Destruction spells to the choice of staff makes this happen, I suppose. If she is using frost then fire or shock take a bar swap.

Hreinhilde is probably wondering if her avoiding Dreanna had anything to do with her leaving, even if she doesn't say so.

I love Buffy’s gentle treatment of Hreinhilde. As a healer and exceptionally loyal friend herself, I imagine that the young mage’s situation could be especially touching to Buffy.

Mirri and Willow both prove their worth as Buffy’s companions. I shared Ciceri’s moment of surprise at Mirri’s request, then understood her intent as she did. That was fun!

I’m glad that Buffy and Mirri have a cozy guild room for their stay. Now I can’t help but wonder, will they sort the bunks by leg length, or by who wants to be closer to the sky?

Also I have to say, every time I think “Buffy and Willow,” it makes me smile.

A flagon of mead does seem like just the thing to arrange some privacy between Buffy and Hreinhilde.

Hreinhilde - wow that is a name but it is growing on me - seems pretty skittish. At least where Dreanna/Drodda is concerned. Given that D is now a big bad, one can imagine that the past association she had with her does not burnish Hreinhilde's current reputation.

Buffy's kind and earnest approach once again proves very effective in her interrogation of Hreinhilde. She and January have a lot in common that way. In fact, interrogation does not even seem like the right term. Consultation might be appropriate.

That lock of hair sounds like it might be just the thing. Again, in real world sympathetic magic, things that were connected remain so even after being physically separated. Sort of like a magical version of quantum entanglement.

I suspect that Hreinhilde knows that Buffy's task is to kill Dreanna/Drodda, and that her helping Buffy is likewise helping to kill her former friend. That is a hard thing. But clearly Hreinhilde understands that it has to be done, no matter how she might feel about her former friend.

Aw, she froze Hreinhilde. See, I feel bad for Dreanna. It's like she was too OP for her own good. Reminds me of Neera, the Wild Mage of Baldur's Gate, who occasionally casts spells which backfire, or cause harm to friends as well as foes. Dreanna must've been blaming herself left and right. And we, as readers now should keep this in mind. I've been viewing Drodda as this really wicked person. Meanwhile she's not.

Well maybe she is now, but that frightened, blaming side of her is still buried, I'll bet. She's no good at being Good (or views herself as cursed) why not as good at being Evil instead? I mean, who is Buffy eventually going to face (assuming she meets the Ice Mage one-on-one)?

Wow, they exchanged locks of hair! We used to do this (friends of mine) in high school. How far away do you figure Drodda is from where they are now?

I love the depths you are laying onto poor Dreanna's story. I doubt it will be very cut and dry when it comes time to confront her!

Previously- Buffy spoke with Hreinhilde, a young mage who had been friends with Dreanna. She learned more of Dreanna’s background and behavior while at the guild. Hreinhilde had a lock of Dreanna’s hair that Willow examined to try and divine Dreanna/Drodda’s location.

*

Lopov- Thank you! Yes, Dreanna is about the same young age as Hreinhilde. That Hreinhilde had something of Dreanna’s for Willow to use for tracking was fortunate. Bearing in mind that Willow doesn’t know names of places or what a map is, translating what she knows to something Buffy can use will prove a bit of a challenge in today’s episode.

ghastley- Good point about Hreinhilde possibly feeling partly to blame. In some ways, she is like Buffy in terms of being nurturing and tending to claim responsibility for things that aren’t her fault.

Grits- Thank you. As I said to ghastley above, I can see elements of a younger Buffy in Hreinhilde. I enjoyed showing how Willow intuitively joined Buffy in gently supporting Hreinhilde. In a couple episodes, Buffy and Mirri will indeed sort out who gets which bunk in their quarters! Heh, if Buffy ran with a clannfear and winged twilight, I suspect she’d name them Spike and Drusilla.

SubRosa- Thank you for appreciating Hreinhilde’s name. I wanted something that was definitely Nordic but not overused. Buffy has felt kinship with several of your characters, most notably Teresa, Aela and January. I think it is because they all share an underlying good, caring and even noble nature.

Renee- I’m so glad Dreanna/Drodda is coming across as I had hoped – complex, conflicted and confused. I love how you put it that she’s just not good at being good. As we’ll see later however, Drodda has become quite good at being evil but is there anything of Dreanna remaining? Buried deeply inside perhaps? Buffy’s paladin ability to detect evil will ultimately offer some (but not complete) illumination.

Kane- Thank you! As they get closer to their quarry, Buffy and Mirri will see and learn more about how Drodda’s dark side and skills have grown.




Mirri was regaling Ciceri with the basics of kwama mining. They both looked up expectantly as Willow and I came down the stairs. “Let me thank you both," I began, "for your perceptiveness. Hreinhilde is young, unsure of herself and easily intimidated. Much better for one of us to sit and quietly talk with her than three or even two of us overwhelming her.”

“Well,” said Mirri, “Ciceri and I discussed that over a mug down here. We both agreed your skill with words is better than ours.”

Ciceri nodded her concurrence.

“Well, when you’re small and fragile,” I said while trying to repress a blush, “you learn to compensate.”

“Was Hreinhilde able to help?” asked Ciceri.

I nodded. “She had a lock of Dreanna’s hair from which Willow – she’s a tracker – was able to divine some useful information. I hope.” I turned to the little nixad. “What can you tell or show us about Dreanna’s location?”

Willow flew over to the guild’s main door and turned around expectantly as if waiting for us to open it.

“Buffy,” said Mirri, “we can’t just follow her out into Eastmarch with no idea of where or how far she may lead us.”

“You’re right,” I admitted. After scratching my head, I added, “I have an idea.” I summoned my map, but by using the tricks Dagail had taught me, it appeared on the floor at my feet instead of in front of me. More importantly though, its orientation exactly reflected that of Tamriel. The small north arrow depicted on the map perfectly aligned with north on the ground. I touched the map a couple times until just the province of Eastmarch was displayed. “Willow, this is our current location in Windhelm,” I said, placing my finger on the city. “Can you stand here and point to where Dreanna is?”

She hovered over to my finger and landed. After kneeling down to carefully examine my finger, she stood and pointed south by southeast. With another finger, I applied a magic line to the map running from Windhelm along the direction Willow was pointing out to the edge of the map.

“Very clever,” Mirri said. “You’ve plotted a precise bearing to our quarry!”

I frowned. “We still don’t have any idea of the distance. Willow, can you show us how far away Dreanna is?”

The nixad nodded confidently and spread her arms as wide as they would go.

“That doesn’t help us much,” commented Mirri with a chuckle. “Dreanna – or Drodda as she is apparently called now - could be in Eastmarch, The Rift, Stonefalls, Deeshan or any other province along that bearing.”

“Perhaps not,” offered Ciceri. “I don’t think she would have left Eastmarch. Beyond the mountain range along our southern border the weather gets much warmer. . . and your target embraces the cold.”

“There’s still a lot of territory along that bearing between here and Eastmarch’s southern border,” said Mirri. “What we need is another bearing taken from somewhere well offset from here so we can see where it crosses this one.”

Ciceri leaned over to study the map. “Here,” she said as she pointed. “Fort Amol is well off to the southwest in a safe area and there’s a wayshrine nearby. One of my mages could help you get there.”

“I’m familiar with that wayshrine,” replied Mirri, “and that’s an excellent idea. Buffy and I should be able to take Willow there, get another bearing and be back within the hour.”

Our brief trip to Fort Amol was uneventful as Willow helped us plot another bearing on my map. By the time we stepped back into the Windhelm guildhall, my teeth were chattering. Ciceri brought hot tea as Willow and I warmed ourselves by the fire. Once recovered enough from the cold, I conjured my map – this time in front of me instead of on the floor – proudly displaying where the east southeast bearing we had plotted from Fort Amol crossed the south southeast line from Windhelm. “Thank you, Willow,” I said to the little tracker.

The nixad placed both hands on her hips and proudly twirled once in the air. She then hovered off – chittering happily - toward where I believed the kitchen area was.

Ciceri focused on where the bearings intersected in the southeastern portion of Eastmarch. “Direfrost Keep? The last place I’d expect . . . unless, oh my! Has our little Dreanna become so depraved?”

“What do you mean, Ciceri?” I asked.

“Yes,” added Mirri. “What’s Direfrost Keep?

“It serves as home to the Direfrost clan of witch hunters,” began Ciceri. “We see them in town here occasionally as they stock up on supplies, but no one’s heard or seen a thing of them for, oh, must be close to a year now. The timing would be about right . . . . The more I think about it the more it makes sense that Drodda the Icewitch might relish both the irony and strategic value of slaughtering a keep full of witch hunters and claiming their lair for herself. It’s isolated, easy to defend and cold as the proverbial witch’s teat.”

“Who are these. . . witch hunters, Ciceri?” I asked.

“They’re not a bad sort, and their intentions are good. They specialize in hunting down practitioners of dark magicks, or mages who use spellcasting to foul purpose.”

I asked, “Does our guild not similarly try to stop the irresponsible use of magic by those with ill intent?”

“The differences, Buffy, are that the Direfrost clan does so for hire and they embrace the use of fire to fight fire, so to speak. That is, they’re not above using Daedric magic or necromancy.”

“Such practices,” I replied, “can be a dangerous and seductive trap. . . but not without merit if the risks can be resisted. Many healers, for example, quietly study the aspects of necromancy that focus on restoring flesh. Doing so on a living and willing patient is quite different than manipulating the dead without their consent.”

“An interesting and debatable point,” replied Ciceri, “but perhaps a discussion for another time.” She then retrieved a volume from one of the guild’s bookcases and returned to us. Opening the tome, she pointed to a coat of arms shaped like a kite shield. It depicted a crossed sword and staff, over a background of flame. “This is the crest Direfrost clansmen wear on the front of their armor or robes.”

A thought occurred. “Could these witch hunters be co-opted or their services purchased by Drodda?”

Ciceri shook her head. “Doubtful. Witches are their sworn enemy.”

“Might they have captured her?” I persisted hopefully. “They are witch hunters, after all.” I knew the answer even before the words fully left my mouth, for I could still feel the drain on my dragon-mare.

“I don’t think so,” confirmed Ciceri. “The Direfrost Clan has a legacy spanning generations of giving no quarter to witches. If they had managed to capture her, they would have killed her and delivered the corpse to the magistrate here in Windhelm for a bounty.”

Mirri frowned. “That all suggests perhaps she’s grown powerful enough to defeat an entire clan of witch hunters in their own lair.”

“I hope not,” said Ciceri and I in unison.

I looked at Mirri who suggested, “It’s getting late in the day, Buffy. How about we stay here tonight, spend tomorrow gathering the supplies we need, then set out for Direfrost Keep the following morning?” She pointed to a wayshrine on my map more than halfway down the province. “We can wayshrine to here but will need to proceed by horse the rest of the way.”

I nodded and, after a last look at the map, dispelled it.

Yes, that's the question: is there any Dreanna left? My official guess is YES there is. But it's packed way down below Drodda.

I love that Willow does not communicate through words! She communicates sometimes through example.

Magical map sounds like an HUD feature for you. Like a different way of viewing the map. Willow sets the Quest Marker. 💎

Direfrost Keep, love that name.



Indeed, healers would definitely benefit from studying some necromancer practices, good point. Never considered that myself, but it's something which would make total sense to know, in a classroom situation for instance.

The banter back and forth, different opinions on why Drodda would choose that location...

I'm guessing the Witch Hunters are still there. But now under the control of...

This made me cackle. Willow is adorable. I love how the three non-nixads managed to interpret her tracking.

Direfrost Keep! A chilly witch hunter fortress sounds like just the place for an Ice Witch to take over. Good idea to go shopping, er, gather supplies before heading out.


This was my favorite section. I love that Ciceri found it “interesting and debatable.” That suggests a rich world of folks with differing opinions around even healing magic. It’s not as simple as heals=good.

If Willow can indeed track down kitchens, I know a Nord who wants to meet her!

I'm with Grits on the healers learning from necromancers front. Transplant surgery is the ultimate example.


He has a dog. My understanding is that they are equally effective.

I loved Buffy's use of the map. It something that would have leant itself very well to taking place in a movie, given how visually striking it is. Willow is just adorable as she dances around Buffy's light map to mark the way.

All this talk of taking bearings conjures up images of sailing ships, or submarines. For a moment I was expecting Captain Horatio Hornblower to step onto the quarterdeck, or for Captain Nemo to raise periscope.

The name Direfrost Keep certainly sounds appropriate for the lair of an Ice Mage.

Practicing your healing powers on the living does sound a bit reckless. In spite of what Bob Ross said about mistakes just being happy accidents, it would be awkward if you 'healed' someone's eyelids together, or their lips. The dead usually do not complain.

So it looks like Drodda scratched off an entire Witch-Hunting clan. That does not bode well for Buffy. But then again, if it was 'Mission Difficult' they would not have needed a Paladin. 'Mission Impossible' is where people like Buffy come in.

Sorry, couldn't resist a reply to this:

Like Subrosa said. Hence the reason why we practice on cadavers first (both human and veterinary medicine)!

I have quite enjoyed the story thus far - and chuckled at Vanus's tendency to rub folk the wrong way, even in his missives! Reminds me of Lady Laurent (my ESO males all tell me her voice is enough to make their balls shrivel)! And it does fit in well with Vanus's personality as I've seen it too.

Nice touch at the Windhelm Mages Guild Hall, though I missed the Coon-Unlicker Festival that I've come to associate with Second Era Windhelm (thanks, Rigurt!).

Little Willow is the perfect 2nd Era companion for Buffy - they suit each other very well! Seems to me that though Willow seems a bit air-headed, she is actually quite pragmatic in the same way Buffy is grounded.

Good on you for making Drodda more than just a cardboard Witch. I love villains that have backstories and motives for being what they are. It makes them more believable.

Let the search begin! Interesting that the trail leads to somewhere else Eastmarch, I figured she would be secluded away deep in Winterhold where it's the coldest!