The secret of Thaldorn Manor Options

[Lopov]

What I first intended to post as separate snippets / texts in the Where are you? thread, alongside with screenshots in the Screenshots thread, I now decided to post as a full story instead. Mostly, because it will be easier for me to post stories and screenshots at the same time. At first I didn't intend to make a story out of it, but lately I've been getting some ideas, so I decided to flesh them out.

It'll be sort of a horror story and will revolve around Rieltar Brunos Thaldorn, the mage and the former necromancer, who returns to his home - Thaldorn Manor.

I don't know how long will the story be, but definitely as long as I'll feel inspired to write and as long as I'll have time - I'm estimating anything between one to three months. I'll post one or two stories per week, in the beginning just one. For now I'll just copy the first entry alongside with screenies and with the comments, and with some added extras at the end.

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I

Not many Cyrodiilians want to talk about the Thaldorn Manor. Five years ago it became publicly known, that in the noble house east of Pell's Gate, horrific deeds have been going on for years. Myraan Thaldorn, the high-ranking battlemage in the Legion, and his wife Deurexia, the respected teacher at the Arcane University, have been keeping a group of young maidens imprisoned in the manor basement. By sheer luck, one of them one night escaped and on her way to Pell's Gate, ran into a group of patrolling legionnaires. Before Thaldorns even found out that one of their captives was no longer chained, the patrol already stormed the manor and rescued two more maidens. As soon as they realized that their scheme has been exposed, Myraan and Deurexia committed suicide. The house was locked by the Legion and since that day nobody has stepped inside.

Myraan and Deurexia had one son - Rieltar Brunos - who was at that time a student at the College of Winterhold. News of his parents' death reached him a few weeks later, along with the key to the manor, he was after all the only heir.

*five years later*

Conjurers that have been occupying Sardavar Leed, the Ayleid ruin close to the manor, saw tonight for the first time light inside it. But not the light of candles, but of someone casting spells, they assumed.

The only heir returned home.

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"You cannot walk on water or move mountains without faith. Or at least without a proper spell. I bought my water-walking spell from Trayvond in Cheydinhal. The bridge was probably intentionally collapsed after...deeds of my parents were revealed."

"South of the Imperial City, between Pell's Gate and Fort Alessia, lies the Thaldorn manor, in old records mentioned also as Thaldorne manor. It's where I spent my youth. I like the surname of my ancestors - Thaldorne - better. "

"Welcome home, Rieltar. Please, make yourself at...home. Your father is upstairs, polishing his armor. Go and greet him, right son? Except that there's no one to greet."

"This door is forbidden to open, Rieltar. It must remain locked at all times. Beasts lurk below. Ugly, abominable beasts! Beasts from all planes of Oblivion. They'll burn you alive and your mother won't be able to help you!"

"Pieces of the past, secrets of my parents."

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Extras:

The abandoned manor in my hometown, that served as an inspiration for the Thaldorn Manor. The manor as such is the work from another author, but I edited a lot of stuff to my own liking, both outside and inside.

The name of the protagonist is a nod to Baldur's Gate I, specifically to the leaders of the Iron Throne organization. Their names were Rieltar Anchev, Brunos Costak and Thaldorn.

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First comments from the other thread, so the authors don't need to repeat themselves.

A new adventure begins in 3rd Era Cyrodiil it seems?

The scowling necromage has returned!

Oh noes!!! Well now we know how he got that spooky manor. Picutres!

Goodness, what were his parents up to? Those poor maidens.

I love his shorts! That's a first for me.

Thaldorn Manor looks extremely appropriate - overgrown, cobwebs, mysterious doors, chains. . . .

Now, that mysterious door he is never supposed to open. I'm sure he never will. Nope. Not a chance. . . .

Thaldorn Manor looks like the kind of place the Scooby Gang would visit. I wonder if there are any ghosts! They would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for that meddling Rieltar...

When do we go through that door!

This post has been edited by Lopov: May 13 2020, 11:00 PM

[Lopov]

It's time for the next chapter, as I already said, it'll be posted today instead of on Sunday, because it's mostly a recollection of past events through the eyes of Vesuvius Lex.

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V

***9 days before Branwen’s capture***

After adventuring in the vicinity of Cheydinhal for a day, it was time for Vesuvius to return back to the town to buy some supplies, particularly healing potions. The battle with a lich deep below Kemen almost completely depleted his supply of healing potions, and it was of utmost importance to buy new ones, before departing on a new adventure.

Borba gra-Uzgash didn’t have any healing potions for sale anymore, so Vesuvius headed to the nearby Mages Guildhall. He stepped in just in time, when some Imperial with a staff on his back was asking one of the mages if they’re having the Water walking spell for sale. Being in a good mood, Vesuvius couldn’t help but say:

“How about you learn to swim instead? Just joking, kinsman.”

The stranger with the staff glanced at him, and a forced smile played on his narrow, downward turned lips.

“What a scowl”, thought Vesuvius as he headed down the small stairs to the right of the entrance, to buy an ample supply of healing potions. Fortunately, Eilonwy the local alchemist, had plenty of them in stock.

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***8 days before Branwen’s capture***

After clearing Nagastani of minotaurs that took the ruin over, tired Vesuvius Lex was now sitting on his faithful Odysseus by the shores of Lake Rumare, close to where All Things Alchemical used to be, before it burnt down.
He had plenty of valuable stuff for sale and was thinking of going to the Imperial City to sell it all. But in truth he didn’t like returning to his hometown. He knew most of its residents and he also knew that they don’t value him highly, especially because his older brother has been successful, while Vesuvius has been more or less a loser. In their eyes at least. Secondly, because almost every legionnaire would recognize him. Thirdly, because he didn’t want to run into his brother. Not that they cut off all contacts but both of them were better off without seeing each other too often. There was only reason for returning to the Imperial City, but Vesuvius doubted that this “reason” would be too happy to see him.

Branwen.

The meeting with her was the peak of his life. One rainy night five years ago, Vesuvius and two legionnaires, namely Ancus Tavaniq and Sulis Parva, were patrolling the road between Fort Virtue and Fort Alessia. Neither of them expected this night to be any different than from previous ones, but how very wrong they were. On the umpteenth ride between the forts they suddenly saw some woman running towards them. She cried for help before falling to the ground, and legionnaires hurried to help her, offering her “their ears” as it was in their custom to say.

The girl's name was Branwen, and in a few sentences she told them the most horrible story any of the young legionnaires ever heard. Together with two more women she was supposedly held captive in the Thaldorn Manor. The name Thaldorn was widely-known in Cyrodiil. Myraan Thaldorn was a battlemage in the Legion but Vesuvius barely knew him, because he spent most of his time serving in other provinces and returned to Cyrodiil only after his retirement a few years ago. His wife Deurexia, on the other hand, was a well-known teacher at the Arcane University and quite a popular figure in the town – some called her Lady Blue, because she was always wearing the shining blue amulet around her neck.

Ancus proposed to inform authorities in the Imperial City but Vesuvius decided that it'd be better to get to the manor as soon as possible, before Thaldorns find out, that one of their captives escaped. It was decided that Ancus should return with Branwen back to the Imperial City, while Vesuvius and Sula would check out the manor.
It was an impressive building, constructed in style of Chorrol manors, and though never before it looked ominous to Vesuvius, it seemed like a vile nest on this particular night.

The main door was unlocked, because Branwen managed to snatch the house key, and soon after gaining entrance, her words were confirmed. They found two girls chained in the basement next to the strange looking altar, inscribed with Daedric runes. After rescuing them, Sula stayed with captives while Vesuvius hurried upstairs.

"We've been exposed", yelled the man on the upper floor and as Vesuvius looked upwards, he saw the scared face of Myraan Thaldorn.

"Quick, Deurexia! The little flasks!"

Just when Vesuvius reached the top floor, he witnessed Deurexia, her blue amulet around her neck as always, and Myraan both drinking from small green flasks. As soon as the liquid touched their tongues, both of them crumbled to the floor. Vesuvius witnessed one of the worst convulsions he had ever seen, foam mixed with blood was coming out of their mouths as their bodies trembled like being hit by some shock spell over and over. The gruesome death lasted for about a minute, then Thaldorns finally stopped trembling.

"May you rot in Oblivion, for what you'd done!" Vesuvius wanted to spit on their corpses, then spat on the floor instead.

He escorted both captives, Jolie and Marie, out of the manor and back to the Imperial City, while Sula stayed at the manor. By the time Vesuvius returned to the capital, Ancus already arrived there with Branwen, and the Legion commanders were informed of the events that took place on this night. They immediately sent two soldiers with horses back to the manor, to bring corpses of both Thaldorns back for examination.
Vesuvius and his legionnaires were promoted to guard captains for their heroic deed, but the biggest reward for Vesuvius turned out to be Branwen. Shortly afterwards they started seeing each other, and quickly fell in love. Since she couldn’t live with him in the barracks, they rented one of the houses in the Elven Gardens District and moved in. If Branwen could at first overlook Vesuvius’ occasional drinking troubles, the scene with Leiunomei, the subsequent arrest and dishonorable discharge were too much for her to handle. She tried to bring him on the right way, even after he was no longer in the Legion but after one too many bar brawls she gave up and left him one morning. Thinking back, Vesuvius realized that Branwen was the best thing that happened to him in his life. A real shame that his problems with alcohol ruined, what was once such a great relationship.

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***7 days before Branwen’s capture***

Vesuvius couldn’t help but stare at the Thaldorn manor after passing it the next day. The building surely fell to disarray after he saw it for the last time. The bridge leading to it finally collapsed and the moss found its new home on the façade.

It’s good that the bridge collapsed, he thought. Unless one’s a dedicated climber, the only way to get there now is to swim…or walk on water.

By one of the windows of the manor Rieltar Brunos Thaldorn was standing, staring at Vesuvius from the inside. He remembered him from the Cheydinhal Mages Guildhall, making fun of him because of the spell, that he was interested in.

Why are you staring at my family house? Rieltar asked himself. After a while Vesuvius turned Odysseus around and slowly rode in the direction of Pell’s Gate. Rieltar sighed with relief. For a moment he was afraid that the stranger will come knocking on the main door. He hoped to never see the blonde fighter again.

His hope, alas, was not fulfilled.

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At the same time at the same place

Lizardmen - Renee's mod

They went for the horse

No match for Vesuvius

Late night swimming

Minotaurs of Nagastani

Odysseus in the air

Thaldorn Manor

Unpleasant memories

On the other side