Previously- Buffy entered an Oblivion Gate threatening Leyawiin and navigated the perils of the Deadlands. After locating the body of the Legion Forester who had preceded her by several days and fighting her way to the sigil stone, she managed to close the gate.
*
SubRosa- When Buffy was ‘flying’ across that gorge, I did think of Stormcrow.
![smile.gif](style_emoticons/sinders/smile.gif)
Buffy and I were delighted long ago when we figured out how to illuminate dark chambers by tossing persistent weak frost spells into walls and ceilings in TES4.
Renee- Early in Buffy’s TES career, we lifted the two ring restriction so, yes, she wore a very effective combination of two rings of detect life and one with resist fire inside the Deadlands.
DE- Getting her magic severed by a Daedric spellcaster quite inflicted a déjà vu terror in Buffy’s heart. She vividly recalls that is exactly what led to her inability to prevent the mortal damage Savlian took during their final battle back at Kvatch. There, her potions had been crushed. Though there was no opportunity to describe it in this episode without breaking the flow, she now uses custom vials made of light mithril steel and never adventures without dispelling potions. So glad you got my Star Wars ‘force’ reference.
ghastley- Heh, I think Buffy’s choice to turn the atronach with fear, grab the sigil stone and flee was more that she could ‘smell the barn’ and anxious to exit the Deadlands. Knowing that pulling the sigil stone would kill any Daedra inside was just a bonus.
Rider- I well-remember Julian being a skilled warrior who gradually embraced magic to augment her traditional soldierly skills to good effect. I think Buffy’s lack of physical strength that causes her to eschew melee is what drove her to augment her bow with magic. After a couple failed attempts to teach Buffy to use a dagger, it was Daenlin who pointed her toward Kud-Ei and the guild of mages to increase her survivability.
Grits- Buffy (and her greaves) hates dangerous surprises so warding the sigil tower doors behind her seemed natural. Though Buffy tends to rely on her bow for actually delivering raw damage, she’ll readily admit that she could survive without her bow; she couldn’t survive without her magic. Her skill evolution is slow and gradual, but she has changed her primary self-perception from archer to mage.
Lopov- Buffy’s pretty creative with ‘utility’ spells like summoning hunting knives, feathering heavy items, lighting up dark areas, etc. Illusion is her primary school of magic and it proved its worth through most of the Deadlands. Against the dremora mage, however, it displayed its drawbacks of traveling slowly and not actually doing direct damage.
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Episode 14
After bouncing once and rolling twice, I scrambled to my feet and gratefully inhaled Leyawiin’s cool damp air. By the time I had stuffed the sigil stone within my satchel to silence it and healed my bruises, Caelia Draconis was upon me.
“Thank Zenithar!” she exclaimed.
“How long?” I asked.
“You were in there over the middle of the day – about seven or eight hours.” Her face clouded. “Did you find any sign of Jovanah?”
I nodded solemnly as I produced the forester’s personal effects and gave them, along with the now empty waterskin I had borrowed, to Caelia. “You may truthfully pass along to the Legion and any family Jovanah had that she died bravely.”
“Thank you, Buffy.” She gazed at the steam rising from the broken gate’s flickering and glowing remnants for a long moment. “Once again, Leyawiin is in your debt. You mentioned you have business with Count Caro?”
“Yes,” I replied. “I’d appreciate any help you can provide arranging an audience. It involves martial assistance relating to the Oblivion Crisis, so you should attend as well.”
“Can it wait until tomorrow morning?” In response to my frown she continued, “Look, we’re both exhausted and need some cleaning up. . . actually, a lot of cleaning up. Besides, my hope is that by morning the White Stallion Knights will have that final gate closed. I’d like to have their knight commander at this meeting.”
“You’re right, Caelia,” I admitted.
“I’ll make the arrangements then,” she stated. “Will you require quarters at the castle?”
“No thank you,” I replied. “I’ll stay in the Mages Guildhall.”
“Fine. I’ll pick you up there midmorning on the morrow and escort you to the castle. That will give us the opportunity to privately discuss something you should know before we meet with Count Caro.”
“What might that be?” I lifted an eyebrow.
“The Count recently had Alessia Caro executed for treason.”
A score of questions swirled in my mind, but before any could reach my lips, Caelia held up a hand to stay my words and continued, “Like I said, there are things we need to discuss.” As a soldier approached, she added, “But this is not the time or place.”
“Captain?” The Imperial’s helmet was tucked between his arm and the singed fabric of his Leyawiin surcoat. The tired face was streaked with soot and his closely cropped hair bore flecks of gray.
“Dame Buffy,” said Caelia, “this is Ignatius Varro, my sergeant of the guard and second in command.”
“Pleased to meet you, Ignatius.”
Rather than shaking my offered hand, he formally touched the back of it to his lips. “I see Milady’s reputation as one of Leyawiin’s first knights is well deserved. Thank you for destroying this gate.”
“Report,” ordered Caelia, limiting the reply I could give Ignatius to what I hoped was a graciously humble smile.
“I’ve directed a withdrawal from this position and asked S’drassa to thank his guild for their assistance,” the soldier began. “Our guards are returning to the barracks to get themselves healed, fed and tend to their gear. I’d like to get them back into the semblance of a routine. A rider’s been dispatched to the knights dealing with that remaining open gate up north. He’ll notify them that this one’s been closed and remain there until he can bring us word of the final gate’s closure.”
“Outstanding job, Sergeant.” Caelia then turned back to me. “By your leave, Dame Buffy. I’ll call for you in the morning at your guild.”
She waited for me to nod, then the two soldiers turned and began walking toward the awaiting ferry. I watched their backs for a time as they talked and opened the distance from me.
Alone, under a gray afternoon sky, I gazed at my handiwork. The collapsed pillars of a closed Oblivion Gate were normally rather unremarkable stone that went cold as soon as the portal was closed. I noted, however, that the detritus of this one continued to mock the surrounding forest with an orange glow. Sigil stones were infused with a variety of effects, but I didn’t need to check the one in my satchel to know that its magic was fire. No matter how many vines the spriggans planted in the name of Kynareth to reclaim this patch of woods, the small flames that flickered from these rocks would likely take years to eventually die out.
“Superian, I need you,” I said. The combined spirit of mare and dragon stirred within me. A bluish white mist - the color of ancient glaciers and ice dragons – formed in my hand. As I opened my fingers, the vapor quickly expanded and solidified into the fully tacked up form of Superian. I hugged my precious mare’s neck and mounted. Kitsune appeared and, after circling my waist, settled into her spot between my hips and the saddle’s pommel.
We slowly rode the short distance to where the Yellow Road met the Niben, and didn’t mind waiting the few minutes it would take for the ferry to return.
*
After carefully examining my sigil stone the guild’s storekeeper, Alves Uvenim, opened a display case containing two others. The teeth-tingling discordant hum of three sigil stones forced both hands over my ears. When she quickly added mine and closed the case’s transparent cover, the noise blessedly stopped. As I lowered my hands, the Dunmer pointed at my stone through the clear barrier and emitted a low whistle. “That transcendent fire stone is worth a great deal.”
The amount of coin she then offered rendered my eyes likely the size of saucers. I managed to nod acceptance while finding my voice. “That’s much more than my traveling expenses require. Can you give me a hundred gold now and credit the rest to my guild account?”
“I think that’s a prudent choice, Buffy. According to the Black Horse Courier, the Legion cautions that the roads just aren’t safe anymore.”
She began counting out gold. “Did you hear about Countess Caro?”
“Yes,” I replied as Alves filled my silk coin purse. “Captain Draconis will call for me in the morning and has promised to share more details of the lady’s fate during our walk to the castle.”
“I couldn’t wish such an end on anyone, but part of me wouldn’t blame our local Khajiit and Argonian friends if they held a celebration.” She dropped in the last coin. “Is there anything else you need?”
I stowed the purse in my satchel, then glanced down over buckskins that were streaked with black soot and white dried sweat. I was pretty sure my face and hair looked no better. “A bath, and rather badly I should think.”
“Oh, you’ll love the new tub Agata had installed downstairs! I hope to see you later at dinner.” Slender blue-green hands opened the top drawer of her sales counter and began rummaging among the parchments and journals within. “Now, where’d I put my quill?”
I suppressed a giggle as I realized the long feather nestled in her dark hair was not a fashion statement. “Is that it behind your left ear?”
“Welcome back to Leyawiin, Buffy.” The interruption came from behind, but I recognized the Nordic voice as that of the deputy guildmagister.
Smiling, I turned. “Thank you, Agata. I hope to stay for a day, perhaps up to three.”
“That’ll be fine. Boderi Farano sent word by courier dove to expect you. I’ve assigned you Kalthar’s old bed downstairs for your stay.” She looked me over then wrinkled her nose. “You need a bath, Journeyman.”
“Yes, Agata.”