Buffy's Book of Short Stories, Somewhere in Time Options

[Acadian]

Welcome to Buffy's book of short stories! Rather than another chronological saga, this will be a collection of independent (generally short) stories that freely span Buffy's long and ongoing adventuring career. She'll tell you a bit more about that choice of format in her prelude below. One feature of the format she has insisted on is that the stories are not directly linked, sequential or particularly interdependent. While I believe you will find them reasonably consistent with 'Buffy lore', I'm looking forward to what I hope will be quite a bit of freedom and flexibility. The format should also make it easy for any readers who join us in progress or return from an absence, to jump right in with the current story.

For those well-familiar with Buffy, I hope you will continue to enjoy the enigmatic elven mage as she presents selective peeks into her neverending adventures across Tamriel. It is easy for Buffy and I to become emotionally overwhelmed as we contemplate the kind, enthusiastic and encouraging support that many have graced us with over the years. And for that we are profoundly grateful. My fervent hope is that you continue to find our efforts worthy of your valuable time.

For those new to Buffy, please do not let her long history deter you from jumping right in and joining us. While her series of full books are available on the Acadian sub forum, their sheer size makes reading them a daunting prospect. Fortunately, our 'Executive Summary' thread on the same sub forum offers what I believe to be a very effective summary that can easily be read in one sitting per book.

Table of contents

- Hard Crowds and Dancing Whales (1 episode) – post #12
3rd Era. Buffy fills in for a sick bard at an Anvil tavern.

- Unfinished Business – Buffy and the Box (1 episode) – post #24
3rd Era. Buffy finally reports back to Sanguine after inflicting nakedness upon the Courtess of Leyawiin and some of her party guests.

- A Bard’s Tale (5 episodes) – posts #34-66
4th Era. Buffy receives some musical training at the Bards College in Solitude.

- The Case of the Missing Court Mage (2 Episodes) – posts #76-85
4th Era. Buffy helps locate an absentminded missing mage in the Riften area.

Prelude

"Acadian, I don't want to write about the Oblivion Crisis right now." Getting up from the desk, I climbed up atop the corner bookshelf and sat down. "I want to write about being ambushed in the Reach by a Thalmor patrol. Or my first encounter as a Slayer with the vampiric Count of Skingrad. Or how, after I managed to lose Azura's Star, we traveled through time to retrieve it. Or maybe about that time when-"

"Buffy," interrupted the paladin, "all those things can eventually be crafted into your larger, overarching plot such that they fit properly along your timeline."

I hopped to the floor. "No!" Both hands planted themselves on my hips as my chin lifted defiantly. "I want to write about those things when the passion moves me to do so, not wait until it 'fits' into some silly book that's so long and complicated we can never write it. Whenever I write something I want, you complain if it doesn't make 'perfect sense' or that it doesn't fit at this point in our 'chronology'. By the time most of the tales I want to share fit into your unmanageable plan, I've long lost the passion that motivated me to write about them!"

There was a long silence before Acadian dubiously remarked, "Are you proposing a book with neither plot nor timeline?"

"Exactly! I am not a plot. I am an elf who travels, adventures and explores - with you, of course." I spread my arms expansively and twirled all the way around once before seating myself on a corner of the desk. "What's hard to understand about that? And would you rather read a story that I wrote when passion moved me to do so, or one that I had to force myself to write in support of some silly timeline?" I softened my tone. "Look, Acadian, you and I can travel between worlds and even move through time together. Why do my stories have to be 'in order'? When a butterfly moves across a meadow visiting flowers, does she do so 'in order'?"

The old paladin chuckled. "Despite my years and experience, the ability to successfully argue with an impassioned woman continues to elude me. Your butterfly metaphor contains a simple logic that I cannot refute. I will never fully understand the. . . whimsy that drives your choices but, over the years, I have grown to at least appreciate it."

"Does that mean. . . ?"

"Yes," he replied. "You are the true source of our passion for writing. I shall constrain you with neither plot nor chronology considerations."

"Thank you, my paladin." I crossed my dangling legs, folded my hands in my lap and smiled. "I know that I can sometimes be a little, well, erratic or even elusive."

Acadian sighed. "Like a butterfly in a thunderstorm, my bowgirl."

"This will be fun!" I chirped.

[Acadian]

mALX- Thank you! You know Buffy well, my friend, when it comes to sharing fresh venison with the soldiers of both sides.

mirocu- Thanks! Buffy does believe there are times when war is necessary, but Skyrim’s tragic civil war is not one of them.

SubRosa- Hadvar and Ralof were exactly who we were thinking of when Buffy talked about likely childhood friends now on opposite sides of this civil war. Thanks!

Lopov- Thank you! In this next episode, Buffy will talk a bit more about the war even as she tries to come to terms with trying to make her rendition less depressingly graphic.

DE- Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. I do believe Bethesda did a pretty good job in presenting the civil war in uncomfortable shades of gray.

Grits- I know what you mean about Vilkas’ views on the war. Thanks for endorsing Buffy’s own brand of empathy – you know her well. Toning down the sadness in favor of at least a little hope will be Buffy’s next challenge.

*

In the third episode (of five) in A Bard’s Tale, Buffy faced two challenges as she prepared to sing Age of Aggression. The first was a neutral elf attempting to convey support for the Empire; on that count it seems she was successful. Her second challenge was trying to control her own passionate feelings about the horrors, carnage and futility of Skyrim’s civil war, lest they overwhelm the images she projected; not surprisingly, the emotional elf fell short here. . . .

* * *

A Bard’s Tale – Part 4

By the time I finished singing Age of Aggression, all three of us had tears in our eyes.

As Lisette lowered her lute, she said, “By the gods, Buffy. That was beautifully sung, but so much. . . carnage. I’ve never seen a real battle. . . I had no idea the level of brutality.”

I swallowed hard. “Now you see why this war breaks my heart. Each of those valiant young soldiers, regardless of uniform, believed they were fighting for a just cause.”

“Lisette’s words are true enough,” said Pantea. “Your rendition is, frankly, too depressing. A bard’s job is to inspire, not to engender hopelessness.”

“Inspire?” I repeated. “To encourage the Stormcloaks and Legion to kill each other simply delivers this beautiful land to the Thalmor who would doubtless purge it of any surviving humans.” I thumped a small fist against my chest. “Even an elf can see that; why cannot the Emperor and Ulfric Stormcloak?”

“The only ones who might benefit from emphasizing the blood and tragedy that you have shown us are those decision-makers who send young soldiers to war – and you will not find them in your typical tavern audience.” Pantea lowered her lifted eyebrow and softened her face. “We sing for those who grieve their dead or fear for loved ones in harm’s way. Your voice and images can provide comfort that the cause they sacrifice for is not in vain. The blood and tears their families have left on the battlefield is worthy of the honor your song can bring them. While that honor may be an illusion, the comfort it brings is not.” She studied my face.

I tilted my head. “I think I understand. . . but I’ll have to think on this before trying again.”

“Agreed,” said Pantea. “You have worked your voice, heart and emotions more than enough for today. I’m going to challenge you with an assignment, however.”

“I-I’ll try my best,” I said.

“Very well. Have Lisette introduce you to our Dean of Lute who will issue you an instrument and begin lessons. With time, you will be able to provide your own accompaniment. After some initial training, you will be able to practice on your own during your trip.”

“Trip?” I repeated. Don’t tell me she wants some dusty relic fetched from a troll-infested cave somewhere. . . .

“Your trip to Windhelm. I’d like you to gain some understanding of what motivates Jarl Ulfric and his Stormcloaks."

* *

“Welcome back, Buffy!” Pantea greeted me warmly. “I hope your pilgrimage was productive?” Without waiting for an answer, she sent word for tea and led me upstairs where we found Lisette practicing in the recital room.

After Lisette and I exchanged hugs, we all sat down to catch up as tea arrived.

“Tell me, Buffy, what are your impressions of Ulfric Stormcloak?” asked Pantea.

I let out a long breath. “I do have a better understanding of the complex man now. His charisma could charm an ice troll. Part of me – a very small part, mind you – was drawn to follow him into battle or even his bed. Another, much bigger part of me wanted to take a hot bath after listening to him in order to wash off the. . . oiliness that oozed from his words. His loyalty to the Stormcloaks and their cause knows no bounds, while his treatment of elves and other non-Nords is contemptible. And there is no doubt that he loves Skyrim more than life itself. He is both mesmerizing and disconcerting - the most confusing set of contradictions I’ve ever met.”

“From what I have seen during my few performances at his palace,” confessed Pantea, “I rather agree. More importantly, can you now understand the mind of a Stormcloak well enough to perform their song with passion?”

“I believe so,” I replied. “I’ve also spent much time pondering the wisdom of your words that I should try to focus more on inspiring my audience and less on the. . . grittier aspects of the war.”

“I look forward to hearing, feeling and seeing what you have learned,” said Pantea as she set her cup on the table and stood. As Lisette and I did likewise, Pantea added, “Lisette, I know that Age of Oppression is. . . a difficult song for you, but do you think you could accompany Buffy with your lute for us?”

“I do realize that it just a song, Lady Pantea, albeit one that praises the disgusting likes of a treasonous killer of kings. That said, I also realize that you are trying to expand Buffy’s ability to convincingly represent either side in song – a feat I will never achieve.” Lisette then picked up her lute and turned to me. “I will be pleased to accompany you, my friend.”

“Splendid!” proclaimed Pantea. “Now a word of discretion. Performing Age of Oppression in holds sympathetic to the Empire may be viewed as treading close to treason.” She closed the double doors to the recital room. “Ladies, you may begin when ready.”

3:14 min music video (song ends at 2:40)