No way, not even close. Like I said, I probably did a few Daedric quests, but this is way back in 2008-9. For what it's worth, here are Lena's guesses. We messaged yesterday.



I shall catch up on the story later today or tomorrow. Hate when Xivilai females get turned into statues. It's like: what can ya do now?



Ha ha ha!

Wow, Sergius attacked! Didn't see that coming.

No idea where Sneakin' Sally comes from. I'm guessing it's a 60s-era boppy tune, but really no idea.




This post has been edited by Renee: Mar 19 2025, 08:20 PM

Renee: Sneakin' Sally is a Robert Palmer song

20250321 TAS – Vanuasecul

… Come on over baby
Whole lot of sneaken' goin' on
Yes, I said come on over baby
Baby, you can't go wrong
We ain't fakin'
Whole lotta sneaken' goin' on

The Ring of Khajiiti is not in my Midas Chest. Nor is it in two chests that follow us from location to location i.e. The COBL Luggage, and the Stranded Light Reliquary. It could take days searching containers stashed away at all my houses. The most likely location would be either Shadowcrest Vineyard or Benirus Manor.

With Kaleah and Pym staying at the Merchanats Inn, I left for Shadowcrest Vineyard. Fiona and I spent the rest of the day and most of the night searching through every chest, nook, and cranny to no avail. Late the next morning despite Fiona’s most tempting invitation to spend another night umm searching, I left for Benirus Manor.

Just outside the vineyard gate I turned and waved. “Dang,” I thought. “Her latest brew of bitter orange and cognac is so good. What did she call it? Grande something or other, I can’t remember.”

At Benirus Manor Claire helped me I in my search. Even though we didn’t take as many timeouts as Fiona insisted on, the search for the Ring of Khajiiti didn’t go any better. I was certain the ring was in a jewelry box in one of the bedrooms. It wasn’t. It was very late when we fell in bed and went to sleep.

The next morning, I mentioned to Claire that as much as I didn’t want to I may have to visit Deepscorn Hollow to look for the ring. Claire, with a horrified look on her face, took me by the wrist and dropped the Ring of Khajiiti in the palm of my hand.

With a concerned voice, the little trickster told me she had it in her pocket the whole time. The little blond from the valley is not as dumb as she sounds. Laughing at the trick, I grabbed her up in a long hug and kiss. I gave her the glowing Nightmare Stone to investigate and promised to bring back anything I find of interest from Vanuasecul. The next morning, I walked out on a cloud to return to the Imperial City.

Back in the Imperial City I shared a toast with my Ladies at The Merchants Inn before going to the Arena District. Finding the Arena Ayleid Stepstone, I took the first step to Vanuasecul.

Using the information Councilor Osciuro provided, I set the keys to 1101.

The stepstone took me to another junction with stepstones arranged in a circle. The instruction was a simple SE. Thinking the stepstone arrangement as points on a compass, I determined which stepstone was southeast and activated it.

Instruction for the next room was W. Similar to the previous junction, I activated the west stepstone. The step dropped me off in the pitch-black darkness of Vanuasecul. Comfortably cloaked in chameleon I stealthily crept up a flight of stairs to find myself in the midst of a True Descendants stronghold. They were everywhere.

In a panic, I cast the only invisibility spell I can master. The spell only lasts 20 seconds, so it will have to be refreshed every 15 seconds or so. Overkill maybe, but I felt much safer as I crept through Vanuasecul.

I had crept through nearly the entirety of Vanuasecul before I found the gate to Vanuasecul Nornalseli. Nornalseli was just as crowded with True Descendant Cultists as the first level if not more so. Not only that, it was much brighter making sneaking even more difficult. Fortunately avoiding the most heavily populated areas led me to the gates of Vanuasecul Ehlnadaseli.

Ehlnadaseli, no chameleon or invisibility spell would work here. Instead of True Descendant Cultists, the undead that populated Ehlnadaseli could sense my life force. Drawn to the elixir of life, the undead attacked.

I may be alone but I do have resources at my command. I called forth the Midas Angel. Together we cleared Ehlnadaseli of undead as I searched for the gates to the next level. It is fun to watch her throwing her searing ball of light at the undead creatures.

Before she departed, I asked the Angel if she was related to the Magna-ge. She just looked at me, smiled, and then rose up to the heavens. For a moment I stood there wondering where does the angel come from?
With no cultists around I decided to loot every Ayleid container I could find on this level of the dungeon. It was on this level where I found the purple welkynd stone for Aryarie.

I came across a gate back to Vanuasecul Nornalseli. There was a stepstone nearby. For a moment I was tempted to use the stepstone, but this wasn’t the stone gate I used to enter Ehlnadaseli and I had yet to find what I had come here for. I opened the stone gate and entered Nornalseli a second time.

Cloaked and invisible, I stiffened as a cultist passed within an inch of me. Waiting until he turned the corner to my left, I crept along the wall to my right. Up a flight of stairs, using a giant root I crossed from one balcony to another.

Several True Descendants had gathered to my left, I went to the right. At an arched-entryway leading to a well lit room I could see a table with papers on it. So close yet so far away. Half-a-dozen cultists milled about talking in the vicinity of the archway. Minutes went by as I waited for the crowd to disperse.

After what seemed to be an eternity, I was able to sneak through the entryway. Crouching next to the cot with the sleeping cultist, I paused. There are several cultists milling about the room. If I grab the envelope, they are liable to see me. With a prayer to the Mother of All Creation that the sleeping cultist would not wake-up, I waited.

More minutes than I care to count went by as I waited for everyone in large room to turn their backs to me. Then, with silent smoothness, I snatched the envelope off the table and backed out of the room.

Carefully avoiding True Descendant Cult members, I made my way back to the gate leading to Vanuasecul Ehlnadaseli. Re-entering Vanuasecul Ehlnadaseli, I searched for the stepstone I saw when I first passed by here. I was so relieved when I found it. I didn’t want to sneak all the way back to where I first entered.

Activating the stepstone deposited me deep in the Blackwood, right next to the Besieged Spire. There stands Captain Tertia Aurum and three guards. They’ve been sent by Councilor Osciuro to escort me back to the Imperial City. Why am I not surprised that they would know that this is where I would exit Vanuasecul.

At my insistence, we first went to Bravil to pay a visit to Aryarie at Bravil’s Mages Guild. Aryarie appreciated that I had found the purple welkynd stone for her. As a reward she taught me a spell to locate stepstones. It might prove useful.

The next day, as we walked along the Green Road, I took some time to read the letter I found in Vanuasecul. A couple of things stood out. First, was the need to find someplace called Fefandor. The writer of the letter insisted that Fefandor, its so-called machinery and anyone that dwells there be obliterated.

The second item was a bit more personal. The instructions were to find and secure the person who woke up the Ayleid Steps. He carries the key and knows where the Activator is.

I think the letter is talking about me. Should I worry?

The note ended with ominous boast, “The Ayleids will be back.”

When I arrived at the Imperial City, Councilor Osciuro was waiting for me in the Arena District. He eagerly took the letter I had retrieved from Vanuasecul and read it. His face grew stern as he exclaimed, “Not good, not good at all. Their aim is to revive the Ayleids. They must be insane!”

The way I see it there are two Ayleid groups seeking control over an Ayleid resurgence; Osciuro and his agents, v. the True Descendants.

The mention of Fefandor in the letter worries Councilor Osciuro and he asks if I would do one more thing for him. Nothing hard he promised. All I had to do was come back tomorrow at this time and escort a friend of his to Skingrad.

Hmm, haven’t heard from Taminwe. She’s still in Senchal I’ll take the time to take Kaleah and Pym shopping. I got a ton of stuff to unload.

Entering the Merchants Inn, in my excitement I loudly announced, “I’m back.”

“Good,” Velus Hosidius said, handing me a yard long receipt. “Here’s the bill.”

Okay, nice. I only know a couple Robert Palmer songs (both of them were heavy on MTV way back), isn't he Addicted to Love? Yep, sure is.

Jandaga has too much stuff, in too many containers!

"Late the next morning despite Fiona’s most tempting invitation to spend another night umm searching"

What's the "umm"? Hmm, maybe shouldn't answer in these public forums. "Timeouts?"

CLAIRE has it!!!! Ooh that trickster!

How much is the bill?

20250401 TAS – Vanuasecul, OOO – Shadows in a Struggle for Power

“Let’s just say your ladies had a very good time while you were gone,” Velus Hosidius said as he handed me a receipt that trailed on the floor.

Having been away on a mission for Councilor Osciuro I expected I’d have to settle a tab upon my return. But, I didn’t expect one quite so large. Taking the receipt to read the total, I turned to my Ladies to ask, “Just what were you thinking?”

Pym looked so vulnerable as tears welled up in her Mother of Pearl eyes. How could I hold it against her for more than a minute?

Kaleah on the other hand stood up and proudly said, “We’re worth every golden Septim.”

It would be foolish to argue that point. It’s like the question “does this make me look fat.” No matter how you answer, you’re in trouble. I left the Merchants Inn and went directly to the bank.

After taking care of the tab, we retired to the Arch-mage’s quarters for the night. Later as I watched the two sleeping, I wondered how such innocent looking creatures could rack up such a staggering amount in food and drink in such a short time. Must have been a humdinger of a party. I really wasn’t gone that long, was I?

Apparently I was. The next morning the Ladies and I went shopping I found every shop had an outstanding tab to resolve. It truly felt like was handing out more to cover their tabs than I was taking in with the loot I sold. And they stood there behind me looking oh so innocent.

The depressing shopping trip complete, we made our way to the Arena District. There we found Councilor Osciuro waiting for us. A familiar looking woman was with him.

Instantly, I recognized Elsabeth Selatuse, a member of the third faction vying for control of the Ayleid Steps. She pretended not to recognize me. Knowing that she was playing Osciuro, I played along with her.

Introducing Elsabeth Selatuse, Councilor Osciuro asked that I escort her safely to Skingrad. He fears that Elsabeth has become a target of the True Descendants.

With no word of Taminwe returning from Senchal, we figured that we’d have time to do this. Elsabeth was ready to go so we left immediately.

It wasn’t long before what should have been a nice sojourn along the Gold Road turned ugly. As we passed through Weye, a fight broke out. A guard subdued a True Descendant cult member. For the rest of the journey we were harassed by the grey robed cultists. We witnessed a couple more fights between guards and cultists occurred before we reached the borders of County Skingrad.

There between the towering stone guardians Elsabeth stopped.

“This is where we part,” she stated matter-of-factly.

“What? I get you here safely and now you’re going to just pop off without so much as a thank you?” I ranted. "I am just a puppet to you all."

“I understand how you feel,” Elsabeth said sympathetically. “However, nobody asked you to get involved. You took a key, you activated the Steps and then you teleported through the world at will. You alerted many people, and you set several big events in motion. You gave no consideration to the consequences. Now you cannot undo what has happened and what will happen. Now I must ask you to leave me here. I have to be unseen before I can travel home.”

That said, Elsabeth cast invisibility and was gone.

Elsabeth just disappeared leaving us standing in the road wondering what to do. There was a moment of stunned silence before Kaleah mentioned she’d rather stay at Benirus Manor than here in Skingrad.
Something about the dungeon at Benirus makes her feel more at ease.

Benirus Manor it is then and with a wave of the hand we were there. Claire was overjoyed to see us. Together with the young housemaid Rosalind, Claire prepared a wonderful dinner (I think she called the inn and had dinner delivered).

The following morning after breakfast, I was going over my journal when Pym silently pointed to the Shadows in a Struggle for Power entry. Kaleah pointed out that Yeleri is not far up the coast from Anvil. We passed it when on our way to Anvil from Oyster Bay.

Remembering the vision I suffered when I first tried on the Dread Helm and how the Heart of the Forest flew northwest from Nariño, I was determined to find the ruin of Yeleri.

Leaving Benirus Manor, Kaleah, Pym and I went to the wharf in hopes of catching a ship sailing north. We didn’t find a ship, but we did run into Errallius, the Maormer. Talking to Errallius, we mentioned finding Ocean Elysium.

Waiting for a ship to sail south has become very depressing. Reports of a new pirate queen raiding the South Seas, has brought shipping to the south to a virtual standstill. Tired of spending his days swimming in the Anvil harbor, Errallius is eager to go to Elysium where he can spend some time out of the water.

Pirate Queen? Remember, we left Vilja in charge of the pirate den, Dunbarrow Cove. It seems she’s made a name for herself. Pity those that frequent the Abecean Sea.

Errallius departs for Elysium, we leave Anvil to find Yeleri. Traveling north along the coast, the rooftops of the town of Oyster Bay were in sight when we noticed the white stone of an Ayleid ruin. That’s the one we’re looking for.

Yeleri is conquered. An army of twenty-four corrupted Sylvan Rangers, plus their leader Eregor lay dead in the now silent halls. The final battle in Yeleri Verasdal was brutal. Eregor and four of his captains, all cloaked with chameleon, engaged us at the foot of an alter dedicated to Molag Bal.

As it is written, Molag Bal bore witness to the battle (little good it did Eregor).

I now have all of the Dread Armor. I try it on. Looks good, but something is wrong. A cold wind blows as a vision overwhelms me. Far to the north deep within the Ayleid ruin Varastal lays a sword of great evil. It calls to me to make the Dread kit complete, I must find it.

With the demise of Eregor Molag Bal fled and Y’ffre granted me a gift of Nature (Elenya would be proud). I can now summon Y’ffre's creatures to my aid. The wild beasts will now respect me as a favorite of Y’ffre, the God of Song and Forest (it kind of works).

The "Shadows in a Struggle for Power" quest continues. Still no word from Taminwe, we leave Yeleri and head north toward Sutch.

This post has been edited by macole: Apr 2 2025, 07:22 AM

Wait, how much was the tab though?

I'll put it this way: depending on the PC I'm with, I'll either be able to shop on autopilot without fear of running out of money, or there will be a predictably desperate rush to Bank of Cyrodiil at some point, because all the sudden.... "You do not have the funds for that transaction..." And the shoppes are about to close.



Omygosh! "The depressing shopping trip over"

Wow, Elsabeth gets in Jandaga's face, like she's all mad at him. Doesn't she understand his schedule is so packed with quests & events that there are times The Jandaga can't get it all done properly? Give the elf a break!

Wicked! That Dread armor is wicked!! Ugly, but also brutal. Like if we can put Buffy on one side of a spectrum (regarding brutality of armor), Buffy's apparel being efficient and probably also pretty, Dread Armor on Jandaga presents the opposite scenario!

Dread Sword too, fun times ahead for macole.

I see the ladies left a trail of tabs and bills all over town! The lesson it seems is to not leave them unsupervised methinks.

Yeleri yields up the last of the dread armor. Oh, wait there's a sword calling to the Jandaga as well - beware!

Vilja the Pirate Queen! There is another lady probably best not left unsupervised.

Incalculable, imagine if you will someone celebrating a successful return from exploring several Ayleid Ruins, strolled into the Merchants Inn and announced, “All day, all you can eat and drink on me.” Within hours everyone in the Imperial City is lined up on the Merchant District streets. A stage was setup in the district center for traveling troubadours like The Zombiettes & Ghouls of Broken Peach Asylum, in hopes of keeping the crowd happily entertained. Wasn’t long before every inn in the city was sending food carts to satisfy the mosh pit that the Merchant District had become. Extra guards were needed to maintain order for two days. All this cost was passed on to the Merchants Inn which passed it on to you know who.

Ha ha, okay. I've seen that Zombiettes video before, so silly!

20250412 OOO – Shadows in a Struggle for Power - Varastal

The taxing battle (some would call it an epic battle) with Eregor in Yeleri left us drained. Even the indefatigable Kaleah was moping along when we left Yeleri. Thankfully my house and vineyard, the Silver Star Estate was nearby, just outside of Sutch. We’ll be able to rest there before the journey north.

Elenya greeted us warmly, rushing enthusiastically out the door when he saw us approaching the door to the manor. There were hugs for everyone as we entered the manor.

Over dinner, Elenya updated me on the Silver Star’s financial statement. It’s that time of the year again, you know. Once the annual accounting done, she hinted that she would be ready to join us on the road again.

“The caretakers are really doing a great job,” Elenya said. “The monthly income is steady and the chest is full of gold coin, as you can see.”

“Good,” I said. “When you’re finished, bring the papers to my office at the Universitum Arcanorum in the Imperial City. I’ll be there as soon as we find this Ayleid Ruin called Varastal. Oh, and thanks for reminding me about tax season. I wonder if Tsarrina needs any help. Perhaps I should pay her a visit?”

After dinner we sat talking over a bottle or two of wine until I looked out the window. Elenya jumped up with a start when I mentioned how full and blue Secunda looked.

“Shan’t we be doing something USEFUL with this time?!” Elenya declared and stormed outside into the night.

“What’s got into her?” Kaleah, Pym, and I wondered as we got up to follow Elenya.

It was a rare Blue Secunda night. Elenya led us to the center of the vineyard. There we found a newly formed faerie ring. Motioning to us to stay outside the ring of mushrooms Elenya fixed her eyes on Secunda, whispered a chant, and stepped inside the ring. As she did, Secunda’s blue finger touched the grass in the center of the ring.

Kneeling with head bowed Elenya gently caressed the grasses touched by Secunda’s blue light. Softly she asked for a special favor.

“I, a daughter of the silvery moon, humbly beseeches for my need is great, reveal to me the whereabouts of Varastal.” she whispered. “Nature’s servant awaits.”

Sitting down outside the ring Kaleah, Pym, and I waited for the question to travel through the Root Network. Long minutes went by as Elenya rhythmically chanted Varastal.

Elenya was getting impatient. Out of frustration she unexpectantly shouted, “VARASTAL!”

Another minute passed.

“Finally!” Elenya spay. Pacing back and forth, waving her arms wildly, Elenya stomped on the circle of blue light and shouted in a whinny falsetto voice, “The bitter little horehound weed was laughing at me. Playing deaf as well as being dumb, it was.”

“Calm down Elenya,” I said trying to put her at ease. “It’s nothing to get so irritated about.”

“I NEVER GET IRRITATED! I AM THE CALMEST WOMAN IN THE WHOLE OF FAERÛN!”

Embracing Elenya tightly yet warmly, I said, “Yes, my dear little päkapikk, you are our sensible steady hand.”
Resisting the urge to mention that we were in Cyrodiil, not in Faerun, I hugged her gently until she calmed down.

Kaleah looked down at Pym and whispered, “Take note. See how skillfully she maneuvered him into giving her hugs and caresses.”

Pym grinned knowingly and nodded as she jotted down a line in a notebook titled How to Get Your Way with the Faeche Jandaga.

“Mmmm,” murmured a much calmer Elenya. “Here’s your clue to finding Varastal; east of Ninendava’s burning arch”

Two days later we stood at the doors of Varastal.

Set in the steep slope of a mountainside not far from Ninendava and a destroyed Oblivion Gate we found Varastal. Accessible only by a snow and ice-covered foot path, Varastal was easily overlooked unless you knew where to look.

Reaching out to open the ancient Ayleid my hand was shocked by an intense freeing pain. A thought comes to me that I should wear the Dread Armor.

Changing to the Dread Armor kit brought about an instant reaction. A Dread Visage overcame me. By the Mother of all Creation, this armor sickens my stomach.

As tendrils of dark smoke began to swirl around me, I fell into a dark angry corner. I could feel my personality drop. By the looks on Kaleah and Pym’s faces, I knew that they sensed it too. They may still support me but I feared they’ll abandon me when things get tight. Maintaining their undying support was going to be more difficult.

It might take a bit of luck to keep the party together and lucky is something I didn’t feel at the moment. Along with Personality, Luck also drained away from me the instant I put on the Dread Armor. But, wearing the Dread Armor was the ticket to opening Varastal’s door. The door responded to the Dread Armor and slowly opened.

Varastal is a small Ayleid ruin with two midsized rooms. Dimly lit with numerous Welkynd and Varla stones the room separated by a short corridor. After descending a rather long staircase and taking a short hallway, we enter the first of the two rooms. Two spectral warriors were there to greet us.

Now, spectral warriors are very difficult adversaries; hard to kill and have a devastating frost numbing attack. Very difficult for the inexperienced, but we’ve met these undead monstrosities before and know how to deal with them. My Ladies wasted no time in taking care of the threat.

Unfortunately, two spectral warriors was not the end of it. The last of the first two spectral warriors had barely hit the ground when five more of the freezing apparitions; three spectral warriors, a spectral reaver, and The Reaver of Ghuul Icxth came charging from the second room.

My first thought was to summon the Midas Angel, but Pym had her dancing shoes on and with a rare “Yippee” tore the floor up with the two closest spectral warriors.

Accepting the challenge Kaleah turned to face the remaining frozen ghosts. Drawing her own sword, Kaleah laughed and issued her own challenge, "Come, come kill me if you can!"

The Varastal dancehall finals had commenced.

It’s a shame that I couldn’t judge the competition. Unfortunately, I found myself facing The Reaver of Ghuul Icxth and his spectral wolf. Wielding an unusual looking sword, The Reaver of Ghuul Icxth sicced his wolf on me and blue fire in his eyes the Reaver of Ghuul Icxth advanced.

It took just a few minutes to prove The Reaver of Ghuul Icxth unworthy to carry the unusual looking sword, Icxth.

“Well,” Kaleah commented when all was quiet. “Just like The Night Lord at the end of the Vampire Hunter campaign, the Reaver of Ghuul Icxth was underwhelming to say the least.

“Yeah,” I agree while starring at the sword Ghuul had dropped. “Interesting sword though.”

Without thinking I leaned over to pick it up. It was the force off habit that caused me to flinch when I touch the ghostly sword. I stood there for a moment starring at the sword Icxth in my hand.

How? I’ve never been able to loot the spectral before. A severe freezing shock would always force me to stop looting the spectral forces. It must be the Dread Armor allowing me to touch the spectral loot. Still can’t loot the spectral bodies though. My hand just passes through them.

The Dread Armor was making sick, so I secured Icxth in my belt and started to remove the Dread Armor. A searing freezing pain tore through me.

Icxth, the spectral blade had fallen to the floor.

Bummer, how do I carry that ghostly sword? Kaleah suggested storing it in the ethereal Midas Chest.

“But you have to do it in the right order,” cautioned Elenya.

Pym made a pantomime of putting the Dread Armor on, picking up Icxth, summoning Midas Chest, storing away Icxth first and then the Dread Armor second before closing the chest.

It worked. Except for one minor detail, I’m standing there in my skivvies with three cheerleaders jumping up and down laughing like it’s the funniest thing they’ve ever seen. I may have set the record for getting into a suit of full plate armor.

With the claiming of the sword Icxth the Shadows in a Struggle for Power has come to an end.

Too weary to go outside looking for a more suitable site, we made camp near Varastal’s entrance and rested until the following morning.

This post has been edited by macole: Apr 15 2025, 07:23 AM

More going on at that Fairy Ring than we know, methinks. Nevertheless, the location of Varastal is revealed.

Yikes, that Dread Armor doesn't sound very healthy. Some tough fighting to gain claim to Varastal. Good idea to put that sword in a magic box, then get out of that armor!

Silver Star, that's Sutch, right? Yep.

Sutch has an interesting landscape; being built on a gentle slope from the north, and from the south. Like if it rains heavily, there'd only be flooding toward the middle, where those small farms are. And that would be temporary because water would sluice off to the east (I think).

Elenya has annual accounting? As in taxes?? Jandaga mentions taxes, yep. Does the Jandaga need to file taxes too?



Jaheira, Baldur's Gate!

Anyway, Elenya's getting freaked. She NEVER GETS IRRITATED!

Whoa: päkapikk, WHAT'S that? Looks like a song.

"How to get your way with the Janadaga!" This is a funny episode. This is great too...

It might take a bit of luck to keep the party together and lucky is something I didn’t feel at the moment. Along with Personality, Luck also drained away from me the instant I put on the Dread Armor.

This post has been edited by Renee: Apr 23 2025, 04:05 PM

Yes.
every year at this time
Yes, that's the sound set I use for Elenya.

It's an Estonian word for elf. I at times have used Finnish, Estonian, or Galic words for terms of endearment for my companions.
I like that song, Armin and the children - Elf

20250428 TAS, The Road to Fefandor

With the Reaver of Ghuul Icxth dispatched, the Shadows in a Struggle for Power has come to an end. This OOO quest was interesting.

Leaving Varastal, we climbed up to the road above us and began our long walk south to the Imperial City. Walking along the road I began to notice several things. Most, not all forest animals Boars cougars, and wolves leave us alone.

Even giants pass us by peaceably.

The Gift of Nature that Y’ffre granted me for ending Eregor’s transgression must have something to do with it.
It was after midnight when we entered the gates of the Imperial City. Passing through the Arboretum on our way to the Arch-mage’s quarters, we were stopped by Captain Tertia Aurum with an urgent message to meet Councilor Osciuro in the Temple District, immediately.

Councilor Oscuiro informs us that our friends, Elsabeth and Bertold Selatus are in danger. The True Descendant cultists had been shadowing Elsabeth when we escorted her to Skingrad. Observing her leaving us when we reached Skingrad they searched there area. Finding the stepstone Elsabeth used to return home, the cultists they used it to invade Fefandor. Their intention is to destroy and kill all that they find there.

Councilor Osciuro wants me to go to the aid of Elsabeth, Bertold, and their stepson Ervvin Austel. In the process Councilor Osciuro lays out a plan to trap the cultists in Fefandor and eliminate True Descendant Cult.

It’s that time of the year, I had intended to meet with Raminus Polus to go over the yearly financial statements but now that will have to wait. In the meantime, I’ll leave orders for Raminus to have the Mages Guild yearly statements ready to submit to the Empire should I not get back by the end of the month.

On that thought, I better send messages to the Sova at the Archeology Guild, Tsarrina at Gweden Farm and Fiona at Shadowcrest Vineyard asking that they submit their financial statements to Raminus. Oh, and let’s not forget to have the Bank of Cyrodiil to prepare mine. I’ll sign them all as soon as I return from Fefandor.

Executing Councilor Osciuro’s plan, Kaleah, Pym, and I left the Temple District and went to Sideways Cave to deactivate the Steps Network. This will prevent the cultists from escaping. The Network deactivated, we returned to the Temple District.

Handing over the Network Activator room key to Councilor Osciuro, as a precaution should I fall in the next step of the plan, the Ladies and I left to meet Captain Aurum outside the east gate of Skingrad.

Kaleah, Pym, and I arrived at Skingrad’s East Gate to find Elenya talking to Captain Aurum and her company of three Imperial guards. Come to find out that Elenya had finished her audit of the Silver Star Vineyard and was heading to meet us at the university when she ran into this company of legionnaires.

Once we hook up with Captain Tertia Aurus, she led us to the stone gate of Silorn Andaseli, the rabbit hole, a secret backdoor entrance to Fefandor.

South of Skingrad, near the waterfalls overlooking the Strid, stands the ruins of Silorn Andaseli. A memory of Great grandpa describing the majestic Ayleid Bridge of Silorn that spanned the Strid River comes to me when I see the ruins of Andaseli. Great grandpa told many histories as we sat around the family’s Heart Stone (a magical stone similar to a welkynd or a varla stone) but describing the beauty of this bridge always brought tears to his eyes.

Captain Aurum’s voice shook me out of my memory. She was explaining that Fefandor is located in a volcano crater somewhere in Valenwood. Once inside Silorn Andaseli I should find a tunnel that will take me down under the river, eventually leading me to where the Selatus family is securely hidden. All I have to do is keep traveling southward when in the tunnels.

Acting as a rear guard, Captain Aurum said that she and her company will remain here to guard the entrance.

Speaking as if she expected that this was a solo mission, Capt. Aurum was surprised when Elenya, Kaleah, and Pym entered Silorn Andaseli right behind me. Before Captain Aurum could object, Kaleah pulled the door shut, locking Capt. Aurum out.

“I’ll not have that Nord spoiling our party.” Kaleah said.

“What?” I said. Sometimes I think Kaleah doesn’t like Nords or is it just Nord women? Shaking my head in bewilderment, I summoned Twinkle and we began our journey to Fefandor.

Is there a reason why most Earthlike animals leave the party alone? -- Ah, I see. The Gift of Nature.

Jandaga talks of great grandpa. Was he an adventurer too?

Kahleah locks Captain Aurum out of the ruins. Reason? She apparently doesn't like Nords, or Nord women. The Jandaga summons a will o' the wisp (I think) as they delve within. What a cliffhanger.

That Gift of Nature is a handy aura!

Trouble with being the Arch Mage is paperwork. Fortunately, Raminus is quite good at managing it.

Setting a trap for the True Descendant Cult by preventing them from fleeing Fefandor. This could work.

Silorn Andaseli sounds impressive. Slipping in the back door sounds like a good plan. Their target area is in a volcano? Yikes!

The Jandaga is used to operating with Twinkle and the ladies. Don’t need no Nord. Though. . . I wonder how big this cult in Fefandor is? Fortunately the Jandaga knows spells to summon plenty of help if he needs it.

This post has been edited by Acadian: May 2 2025, 08:17 PM

My Ladies don't like The Gift of Nature so much. Many times, the wild beasts run past me to attack the Ladies.

What a cheapskate Y'ffre is! That aura should apply to your whole party!

20250509 TAS, Fefandor

Silorn Andaseli turned out to be a single small heavily damaged room. It appeared that there was no way out. The one hallway connecting Andaseli to rest of Silorn was completely caved in. a quick search found an Ayleid push block. Pushing the block activated a hidden wall door, revealing a secret tunnel. We stepped into the darkness of Andaseli’s secret passage.

We continued down the tunnel until we found a trapdoor taking us to Fefandor’s Crater Passage.

What was I expecting to find down in the depths’ of Fefandor’s crater passage; monstrous beasts, a legion of undead, deadly traps, or all of the above? What we got was rats, spiders, boars, wolves, imps, and if it wasn’t for Twinkle, a long tedious trek in the dark.

Broken up into five sections the first section took us descended deep below the surface. Down and down it went or the longest time, seemed it would go on forever. Mind numbness set in. How far had we descended?

We didn’t give it much thought until we were wading waist deep in water. The crater passage had leveled out.

“We must be underneath the Strid,” Elenya commented.

The passage didn’t appear to be ascending but it had. Just enough for the water to recede allowing the crater passage to widen into a room, strewn about with white marble building blocks of obvious Ayleid construction. We had discovered an Ayleid ruin.

I’m always amazed at finding Ayleid structures buried deep below the surface, but finding an Ayleid vault under the Strid takes the cake. What reason would an Ayleid have to excavate a passage so deep to place a vault under the Strid?

With caution we advanced slowly through the darkness. Caution proved prudent, as we were soon attacked by imps and gargoyles. Once we got past the imps the passage began to ascend, taking us up to a wooden door.

The second section of the Crater Passage led us through the ruins of some long-forgotten fort more than likely constructed to counter the Ayleid presence. Now the ruined fort served as a mystic imp breeding ground.

Continuing the ascent, the third section of the Crater Passage brought us to the Forgotten Mine Galleries. Here in a long abandoned mine we were harassed by wolves, mean tempered boars, spiders, and bears.

Finding a ladder, we climbed up to another section of the Forgotten Mine. Making our way through the mine I can see why it was forgotten. Whatever was being mined here has been panned out.

Hours later, after traveling through a maze of tunnels, caverns, buried Ayleid ruins, and a forgotten mine the last section of the Fefandor Crater Passage leads us to the door of the Selatus family’s basement.

Up until now the Councilor’s plan had progressed smoothly. Having received word from Councilor Oscuiro that I was on the way, Bertold was at the door to greet us. Ignoring the Ladies, Bertold led me down a long flight of stairs to the safe room where he and Elsabeth were holed up.

Elsabeth and Bertold updated us on their situation. They are safe for the moment but their stepson, the Guardian of Fefandor, had grown impatient waiting for help to arrive. On his own, he entered Fefandor to stop the cultists from destroying the Ayleid facility. Bertold and Elsabeth pleaded that we hurry to join their stepson in the fight.
Bertold led us back up the stairs to a small room. Pointing to a door he told us this would take us outside where we could gain access to the ruins of Fefandor.

Opening the door, the Ladies and I stepped outside into the sun drenched Fefandor Crater and…

Everything went black.

A ghostly image of a Fefandor Ayleid appeared, telling me to get up and heal myself.

Dust in the closet, I thought. Groggy, thinking that the vision was just me telling myself to wakeup I stood up. Holding my head, I turned, and shouted, “Alright, what did I do now?”

Instead of rolling in laughter, I saw my Ladies sprawled out naked on the ground, dazed and confused, struggling to get up. Casting a Healing Cloud helped them regain their composure, I came to my second realization that I too was standing there naked.

It was then that I remembered the vision. We had been ambushed and robbed of nearly all of our possessions. Saved by the ghostly Ayleids of Fefandor; the only thing left to me was my sword, The Light of Dawn. I suppose the cultists couldn’t touch a blade that had feasted on the souls of over 300 vampires.

I looked around. A few dead cultists missing hands or arms lay nearby, telling me that my Dragonspirit armor didn’t go without a fight.

Can’t have my Ladies walking about naked in a battle zone, now can we? No, this just won’t do. Summoning the Midas Chest, soon everyone was outfitted with suitable arms and armor.

The Ladies grumbled a bit but they knew this was a time when function overruled frippery.

"Sorry, you may have to forgo the gossamer spider silk bustier and other exotic armor for a while," I said as we rooted through the Midas Chest for functional arms and armor.

Maybe not suitable for Grand Joust or the fashion sheet of the Black Horse Courier, but well equipped never the less, we approached the ruins of Fefandor. The entrance to Fefandor was easy to find. The Guardian, Ervvin Austel, stepson of Bertold and Elsabeth had left a trail of dead cultists to point the way.

Grim faced for having to wear such common gear, Kaleah, Elenya, and Pym entered Fefandor. I, wearing the recently acquired Dread Armor, followed.

The first level, Nenyondsel was not as heavily defended as I had assumed it would be. Ervvin Austel had done his job well, only a few cultists opposed us. They were easily swept away.

Wearing the Dread Armor has one major drawback which I found out the hard way. My lovely companions at times fail to recognize me after combat and attack me. I must be very careful about causing any friendly fire damage.

Finding a door we entered the second level, Dederosel. Here like in Nenyondsel we face light opposition. Pym tugged at my arm directing my attention to a raised podium in the center of the great room. There sitting on the altar was a chest.

I wonder why a chest would be placed on a sacrificial altar. Remembering Sanguine’s party, I say let’s have a look.

It took some time to find the way to the chest, but it was worth it. Unlocked the chest and sure enough there was all of our missing gear. Oh it feels so good to be out of that dreadful Dread Armor, and to be once again in the embrace of the Dragonspirit armor.

After equipping ourselves with our favored arms and armors, we continued our search for Ervvin Austel. The search took us to the door to Dasqasel.

Dasqasel, an Ayleid walkway with its foundations set in the volcano’s fiery lake of lava. How the Ayleids set foundations in these fiery lakes, and they are not eventually consumed by the fiery pools is one of those unexplained mysteries of Nirn that I may never understand.

“My Feache,” Kaleah said in a seldom used, soft gentle voice. “You really don’t want to know.”

Elenya was a bit more forthcoming when she said, “Remember in Ahrtabazus’ paper, The Faerie, he wrote about intelligent rocks, and mountains. Have you never given any thought why we’ve never spoke with one during our travels? The Mer and Men have used our cousins for building blocks. Shocking the number of “intelligent house” rumors that run rampant throughout the Root Network. They spread like a virus. A most recent discovery comes from north of Riverwood in Skyrim. They say it can project ones’ thoughts into reality.”

Interesting, but I don’t have time to think on it now.

Progress was slow. Careful to stay on the track, we stepped around bodies and fought an equal number of cultists until we reached a wide platform. In the center of the floating platform rose a dais. Bodies of four cultists lay scattered around the dais. At the foot of the dais still clutching a sword lay the armored body of Ervvin Austel, the Guardian.

On a throne atop the dais sat a figure. Ronus Etzwane, the leader of the cult stood and approached us.

Well knock me down and call me outlander, the leader of the True Descendant cult is a Dunmer!

Ronus Etzwane gives a long spiel about how belief makes things true. He firmly believes he is the truest Ayleid descendant, and his belief alone makes it true. Now even without an army of cultists behind him, he still tries to persuade me to join his cult. It didn’t work and we quickly came to a test of swords.

After defeating Ronus Etzwane, I’m compelled to activate the three projector towers. A bright pillar of energy streams upward to the ceiling as each projection tower is activated. With all three towers operating, we return to check on the condition of the Guardian.

Our return to the dais is halted by the appearance of the ghostly Ayleids. Three Ayleids have gathered around the body of Ervvin Austel. Frozen in place, we watch as the transcendent Ayleids lead the spirit of Ervvin Austel through the primary projector energy stream.

A short time after the disappearance of the transcendent Ayleids, Bertold and Elsabeth arrived. We explained to them how after fighting his way to the fourth level, Ervvin fell here by the hand of Ronus Etzwane.

Handing me the Guardian’s Key, Bertold asked that I go to Ervvin’s quarters and wait three days, while he and his wife will clear up the mess and bury their son. Bertold and Elsabeth will talk to us then.

A place to rest for a while sounded good to us. Hope there is a bath. Judging by Kaleah’s wrinkled nose as she passed me by, we sure could use one.

This post has been edited by macole: May 11 2025, 06:49 AM

A truly massive dungeon crawl!

’Can’t have my Ladies walking about naked in a battle zone, now can we?’
- - Of course not! They need their kini-armor! I mean, what's the point of adventuring if you can't look good doing it?

Whew, they manage to find their stuff and get fully equipped again.

Looks like the plan worked and that cult is no more. Too bad about the Guardian; at least he has some Ayleid ghost pals to escort him and keep him company now.

Bath and a rest – sounds good to me!

Descending into Fefandor does sound truly like a mighty plunge into darkness. At least it doesn't sound as though it's extensively underwater!

Goodness, how tough that must be, to forgo the gossamer spider silk bustier armor!

So wait. So they lost their armor somehow, and it all got stored into some chest deep underground? Seems that way.

Yeah, that's not gonna work. "I'm the ancient leader of the Ayleids!" says a modern Dunmer. Nice try, guy.