The Talendor Chronicles, Part One Options

[TheOtherRick]

AUTHORS NOTE AND DISCLAIMER

This is my first attempt at fan fiction. I am not a writer, by profession or hobby. At least it wasn't a hobby until now. We'll see where that goes. So since I am not a writer, grammatical and spelling errors may slip past the spell-check from time to time. Please feel free to point them out so that I may make the proper edits.

I have read very little fan fiction, which is to say that I have not finished reading any story that I started reading...yet. But starting to read a few has put a flow in my creative juices. (Go Buffy!) Any similarity to any other fan fiction posted in this or any other forum is purely coincidental, with one exception. I have posted this story on another site. I am posting it here because I would like feedback, and I am not getting any at the other site. The readers here seem to post more feedback than readers at the other site. I'm not trying to be a glory hound, and I encourage constructive criticism.

The story is a gameplay narrative. It starts in the 3rd person for the prologue only, the rest will be in 1st person. It is not a walk-through of the Main Quest. However, as it is a gameplay narrative, so readers will have to plod through the tutorial section much as I had to plod through while writing it. The tutorial is essential for character development, as you will see. The posts will be relatively short so that the reader will not have to wade through miles of text per post. To keep them short, I am going to borrow Acadian's chapter numbering system (1.1, 1.2, etc.) so I don't end up with three digit chapter numbers.

I hope you will enjoy...The Talendor Chronicles

Post Script - I have already screwed up. Instead of putting "Authors Note and Disclaimer" in the subject line, it should read "Part One". Is there a way to change that?

Post Script #2 - The first four installments after the Prologue are way too long. This was a rookie mistake and has been rectified Beginning with Chapter 3. I apologize for the long posts, but I promise you'll be glad you slogged through them.

This post has been edited by TheOtherRick: Feb 5 2011, 02:00 AM

[TheOtherRick]

Another couple days have come and gone...time flies when you're having fun

RE: Homicidal maniacs that don't run away...I agree whole-heartedly that the devs dropped the ball here. At times, human enemies will in fact retreat, but unfortunately it is only temporary. Without spoiling future posts, suffice it to say that Talendor will find some compassion. The only reason I know this is because I have already written it.

@ h.e.rider - Thanks for the nit (picked) . So far, Talendor has only had limited exposure to bandits. Since the first one was an admitted child killer...well, if it walks like a duck...

@ Acadian - You are correct. Talendor would prefer to strike from a distance and remain unscathed...for now...because it hurts!

@ mALX - Relief from poverty! Visions of homelessness are gone!

@ All of you - Thanks again for your comments and support!

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Chapter 8 – Honditar’s Offer

I awoke feeling in better spirits than I had the past few days, eager to get to today’s tasks. I got up and washed my face, pausing again to look at the unfamiliar face framed by those impossible ears staring back from the basin. Sighing, I got dressed and placed my armor and weapons at the foot of the bed. Gathering up all of the loot from yesterday, I shouldered my satchel and went down to the common room. Talasma bid me a good day and I ordered some breakfast. While eating, I planned out my day. I knew where I could sell the boots and shields that I had purloined from the deceased child-killers. However, I wasn’t sure about the odd gem and potions. I asked Talasma where might be a good place to sell these items.

“Well, this one would suggest the Mages Guild. Seed-Neeus over at Northern Goods & Trade would likely purchase them as well. If none of them are interested, then come back and see me,” she replied.

“Talasma, if I knew you better, I’d scratch you behind your ears,” I said grinning.

“You keep that room rented and Talasma will remain helpful, despite the pet cat joke that I’ve never heard before,” she said, the last part dripping with sarcasm and punctuated with a roll of her eyes, and then she added that the breakfast would be ten Septims.

I finished eating, paid for the meal, and left. I saw Northern Goods across the street and decided to go there first instead of the Mages Guild. When I entered, an Argonian female walked right up to me and spoke.

“Hello. I don’t think we’ve met. Are you new in town?” She said very pleasantly.

“I am indeed. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I replied.

“Likewise! I am certain that my mother will be glad to meet you as well,” she said jovially.

“Your mother?” I asked.

“Yes. She is the owner of this shop. My name is Dar-Ma.”

“Talendor,” I said with a slight bow, “and I have already met your mother. She seems like a very nice liz…umm…lady. I was just about to see her.”

“Well, let’s not keep you then,” she said and practically bounced up the stairs. I followed and found Seed-Neeus at her usual station.

“Good morning. I just made your daughter’s acquaintance,” I told her.

“Dar-Ma here is the best daughter a mother could ask for, kind hearted and a friend to everyone she meets,” she said, and then she gestured to my satchel as she continued, “Have you brought me more rats? They had better be cleaned this time.”

“Actually, I have some potions I would like to sell,” I said. I fished out the small vials, almost knocking the blue gem out of the satchel, and handed them over for her to inspect.

“These are actually poisons, not potions. See the green color of the liquid? It’s a dead giveaway. I’ll give you five Septims each. But I noticed an oval shaped stone in your bag there. May I see it?”

“I was going to inquire about that as well,” I said as I reached into the satchel and pulled out the pale blue stone. Her eyes widened as I handed it to her.

“This is a Soul Gem. A petty Soul Gem, if I am correct. Do you see this slight glow in the center? That means that there is a soul trapped within it. I don’t get many of these. Would you part with it for say, twenty-two Septims?”

I agreed to her price and then told her that I also had a ring I would be willing to sell. She paid another nine gold pieces for it. With our business concluded, I bid farewell to the ladies and left. Forty-six Septims richer, I walked over to Fire & Steel, grinning the whole way. When I arrived, I found the store closed. Shrugging, I decided to walk up to the great oak tree in the cul de sac at the end of the lane. There were benches arrayed around the trunk and I took a seat.

I pondered my situation as I waited for the smith’s shop to open. I was no closer to solving the riddle of my current dilemma. At least I had a name to confer to people, but I was still clueless as to whom I really might be, and how I came to be in this land. I was managing to fit in, but some of the lessons had been painful, literally. The most confusing part was my familiarity with some aspects, like using a bow and incanting amazing powers. As soon as I was concluded with the selling of my loot, I would seek out Honditar. Perhaps he would have some answers for me. Looking down the lane, I noticed a woman come out of Fire & Steel to shake out a small rug. I got up and walked to the store. When I went in, the woman I had seen greeted me.

“Hello. I am Rasheda – the smith – and this is Fire and Steel. I have quality weapons and armor, and I can repair your gear as well. What can I do for you?” she said with a smile. She reminded me a little of Rohssan in Imperial City. Well muscled for a woman, with her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. She wore a leather blacksmith’s apron over her stained shirt and trousers.

“I recently came across these boots and shields while…on an excursion…and would like to sell them,” I said.

She examined them and offered twelve Septims for the six pairs of boots and two fur shields. I frowned a little, expecting they would bring in more than that, but agreed to her offer. She paid me and I thanked her. Leaving the shop, I set out to find Honditar. I had been up by the great oak when I met him for the first time, so I went back to the benches by the tree. My wait was a short one, because about ten minutes later, Honditar rounded the corner by the inn and headed toward me. I got up to intercept him.

“Good morning Honditar,” I said when we met in the street.

“And salutations to you as well, my new Bosmer friend. So, did you take my advice and search Crumbling Mine?”

“Well, that’s a story. Is there somewhere we can talk?” I asked.

“We could go to the inn, or sit on the benches near the oak,” he replied.

“I would prefer somewhere more private.”

“We could go to your room, I suppose. That might start some pretty ugly rumors though. Tell you what, let’s go to my place. We can talk over some mulled cider,” he offered.

“That sounds fine,” I replied, and we headed for the town gates.

Honditar’s house was little more than a shack just outside the town walls. Despite its outward appearance, the interior was clean, with a frugal, rustic décor. No frills, just the creature comforts of a bachelor’s domicile. Stag heads on the walls attested to his hunting ability. He poured some cider into an iron pot and hooked it on a rod over the glowing coals in his fireplace.

“Please, have a seat,” he said, motioning to the bench in front of the table.

I placed my satchel by the door and sat down. The aroma of apples and cinnamon began to fill the air as he grabbed a couple of cups from a shelf and placed them on the table. Then he placed some sliced cheese on a plate and set it on the table as well. Lastly, he wrapped his hand with a cloth and removed the pot from the fireplace. He filled the cups with the steaming brew as he sat.

“Okay then, what did you wish to discuss that we could not talk about in the open?” Honditar inquired.

“This is going to sound crazy, but please hear me out to the end,” I said.

I wasn’t sure I was making the right decision, but I needed help, and Honditar was the only person to date that had called me a friend. I spilled the whole story. My waking in the cell, my amnesia, my belief that I was smaller than I ought to be, my intuitive knowledge of many things, the Emperor’s death…the whole story right up to my sitting here with him. This took several cups of cider and caused more than one raised eyebrow on Honditar’s face. When I finished, he just sat there for a bit, looking as if he were contemplating whether to believe me or not. Finally, he spoke.

“That is a fantastic tale, Talendor. It does explain why a Bosmer would be asking an Altmer for hunting advice, when normally the opposite would be true. I am afraid that I have no answers for you, but I can help you. Here is what I will do, and it will not be for free mind you. I expect something in return, but we will negotiate that later. I will be your tutor, for lack of a better word. I will teach you about Tamriel, about her races and cultures, her lands, and most importantly, her dangers. What say you?”

“Are you kidding me? I knew I could trust you! Of course, the answer is yes. But I have very little money. I made enough to keep me in the inn for a bit, but that’s all,” I replied.

“We can discuss payment as we go along. Your poverty is going to be the first thing that we address. I know of many more locations in this area that will provide for your rise to solvency. You wouldn’t have a map by chance, would you?” he asked.

I reached for my breast pocket and realized that it was still in the breast pocket of my cuirass. When I told him of this, he said to go get it and bring it back here.

“Make haste, so that we may plan your travels for tomorrow and allow you time for sufficient rest,” he said, and rose from the table.

I stood as well and told him I would be right back and left. Walking back to the inn, I was smiling ear to ear. So far, today’s events could not have gone any better!