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]

@macole - the chase is on indeed!

@SubRosa - all of them kidnapped again. Will the history repeat itself again and will the girls be saved or will this time the evil prevail?

@Acadian - the story is partly composed of fixed / scripted events, which I orchestrate myself, but I also allow some random events to happen. One major random / unexpected event was in the previous story, when Marie resisted the spell and even briefly attacked Rieltar with an axe. So it felt appropriate to modify the story and include these events as well. In the previous story the fact that Edouard survived, was a random / unexpected event. In my vision of the events he was supposed to die, but I forgot to toggle off his essential status in the GECK. I had a different plan, for how Ves would get on Rieltar's trail but I think the story is even better with the fact that Edouard pointed him in the right direction.

@Renee - do you mean markings on his armor on skin? If you mean skin, it's probably just some shadows. His armor is from some mod, that adds a lot of armor, I think it's Brasher's.

All bandits were Rieltar's temporary followers, thanks to the Sharing and Caring companions.


IX

Brother Elritar, Lartier the courier…

…the name was the same, that was immediately clear to Ves as he was riding as fast as possible north along the Green Road.

“Lartier. From the Imperial City! That’s where he took her!” were Edouard’s words.

“I’d advise you to visit her in the Imperial City. Brother Elritar escorted her there.” Primate’s words echoed in Ves’ head.

It couldn’t be a coincidence. The same girls that were kidnapped five years ago, were now kidnapped again. Two of them at least. Ves hoped that Branwen was safe. Elritar, Lartier, Lartier, Elritar…he kept repeating these names in his head. They were very familiar...

“The son! It must be because of the son, Odysseus.” The black horse snorted just as he’d understand his owner’s words. “Thaldorns had a son…I don’t remember his name, I know it started with R…but it was similar to Elritar and Lartier.”

Thinking back, Ves remembered that nobody paid any real attention to the only heir of the Thaldorn Manor. His superiors took the matter in their own hands, and all Ves knew, was that by the time of the events in Cyrodiil, the young Thaldorn was apparently studying magic in Skyrim.

Did he come back? Did he return home?

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As he rode past Pell’s Gate, Ves stopped at the hill overlooking the Thaldorn Manor. The house stands still…not sure what I expected? That it’ll move? Shivers went down his spine. Even birds didn’t chirrup near the manor.

If it weren’t for the sound of the waterfall behind it, there’d be complete silence.

Not a sign of life.

He could climb down and check the door but he sensed that it’d be locked. It was locked five years ago…maybe keys are still being kept in the Imperial City Bastion? It was worth a try. But would the mysterious kidnapper really bring Marie and Jolie back to the manor? Perhaps yes…perhaps mentioning the Imperial City was just a trick. But even if it was a trick, Ves couldn’t enter the manor without the proper key and he had no other lead to follow. He almost rode away, then changed his mind in the last second. If he doesn’t at least climb down and try to get inside, he’ll think about it all the way to the Imperial City.

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Locked, just as I thought. The doorknob was big and rusty and one half of the door was covered in moss. Wood underneath his feet creaked as he moved. Ves tried picking the lock, but it was in vain. It was one of those complicated locks that could only be opened with a proper key.

Not a sign of life.

Time to check on Branwen.

If anyone hurt her, he’s in troubles. Big troubles. That’s a promise from Vesuvius Lex!

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They were together now, the three of them. Jolie, Marie and Branwen. Just like five years ago. Once again they were reliving the common nightmare. Rieltar came to the basement two times day, and as Branwen noticed, it was always the “ashamed Rieltar.” He’d bring them some food and water, then quickly leave. Fortunately, the mother didn’t appear again. Branwen hoped to never see her again. She couldn’t know that this was about to change very soon.

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“Honestly, now that I think of it, I haven’t seen Branwen for almost two weeks.”

After hearing words of the Imperial guard in the Arena, Vesuvius thought that he’d faint. If he had only returned to the Imperial City sooner! If he had only remained sober in Skingrad! If he had only remained sober years ago!

“And her Argonian friend…Saliith?” asked Ves, his voice full of hope.

“Hmm…now that I think of it…I haven’t seen him either. Maybe they finally decided that the Arena isn’t a place for them.”

“Can’t be. They left all their belongings behind. Wasn’t that suspicious to you? Couldn’t you start an investigation? You’re standing here all days or nights long, you saw that they’re both suddenly gone and you just stood there?”

“I know that you used to be a guard captain,” arrogantly said the guard. “But now you’re only a mere citizen. And as such, you have no rights to question my work.”

Ves realized that he won’t get any more useful information out of the guard. It was time to return to the Imperial Bastion. Hopefully his older brother can help him.


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“Julianos help us all!”

Marie’s scream woke up Branwen and Jolie.

“What is it?” asked Jolie.

“There…in the darkness…behind the cabinet. AAAAAAH!”

Branwen and Jolie looked in the darkness and understood why Marie screamed.

Something blue was shining in the utter darkness.

Something bright blue.

The amulet.

Her amulet.

“It’s her!” panicked Marie! ”It’s her! The undead mother of his!”

“Quiet, Marie!” shouted Branwen, surprised at her own words. “You there, in the darkness!” she went on. “Is it you, Deurexia? Stop hiding, show yourself!”

“Don’t provoke her, Branwen,” hushed Jolie. “We don’t know what we’re up against…”

“RGHHHGR…” gurgling sound came from the darkness as if someone’s throat was full of water. Or some other liquid. Poison?

Branwen regretted saying anything.

Jolie had a lump in her throat.

Marie was silently praying to Julianos.

The figure in the darkness stepped forward, stumbled, then jumped down to the ground, landing on all fours like some animal. She slowly lowered the head and sniffed the floor.

“BGGHHHR!” The figure made an unexpected long leaping jump towards them.

“It’s her!” Marie panicked again. “She’s coming for us! Julianos take me! Julianos come for me! End my life, end my suffering…”

“GHHHHR!”

Gurgling yell interrupted Marie’s hysteria as the figure suddenly stood up and with stumbling zombie-like footsteps began walking towards her.

Now all of them were screaming.

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“Rubbish, dear brother. Utter rubbish.”

Did Ves even expect to hear anything else from his supposedly wiser and older brother?

“Your former girlfriend probably realized that her Argonian friend doesn’t have problems with alcohol and traveled with him to the Black Marsh, perhaps.”

Oh, how much Ves wanted to punch the pride of the Lex family straight in his nose.

“Then how about the priest of Julianos that was supposed to bring one of the healers to the Imperial City? Did this healer make it here? I was to the Temple of the One and Marie, the priest, isn’t there.”

“Such a shame. Maybe they’re somewhere else. In some inn perhaps. In that case you won’t have troubles finding them.”

He knew that hitting his brother would only worsen the situation, but the temptation was hard to resist.

“And Lartier? The courier that was supposed to bring thousands of septims to Jolie Retienne? Her wounded husband said that he had claimed to be sent on behalf of the authorities. Do you know of any Lartier? Edouard Retienne almost died!”

“Report the crime in Leyawiin, that’s not my county.”

“And Lartier? Ever heard of him?”

“Don’t know, don’t care. There are many couriers in employ of the Legion.” Hieronymus Lex stood up from his comfortable chair in the Imperial City Bastion. Ves noticed that his desk was full of various reports about the Gray Fox. Some things never change.

“I have work to do. The Thieves Guild is making…”

“Damn you and your Thieves Guild! They never killed anybody! If you don’t want to help me, Hieronymus, then please for the sake of our family, please at least give me the key to the Thaldorn Manor and I’ll check out the place out myself. Please!”

“Hmmm…begging are you? Well… I’d really like to help, “ sarcastically said Hieronymus, “but I don’t have the key. Three of them existed and as far as I remember, all of them were sent to the son of Thaldorns to Skyrim.”

“Do you remember the name of this son, Hieronymus?”

“Huh…no, not anymore. Why does it matter?”

“Because I think he’s returned.”

“Go get yourself a drink, brother. Just don’t make a ruckus afterwards.” Hieronymus put a coin bag out of a drawer and opened it, but before he could get septims out, Vesuvius was already out of his office.

Despair.

Utter hopelessness.

Was there really no way inside the Thaldorn Manor?

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Marie’s screaming was echoing in the basement as the dark figure was seismically jumping towards her, producing gurgling sounds.

“JULIANOS! JULIANOS HELP ME!”

Rieltar wasn’t lying…thought Branwen…there can’t be any other explanation. It can only be her! She behaves like some wild beast but she’s going for Marie.

Just when they all thought that the figure would jump on Marie and tear her apart, it suddenly crouched down on all four, sniffed the floor and hastily crawled up the stairs out of the basement.

The door creaked as it opened.

And creaked as it closed.

In the basement there now reigned utter silence.

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Perhaps mages can help me unseal the door, they’re my last hope, thought Ves as he hurried out of the Imperial Bastion.

“Har har har, Imp! We meet again!” The familiar voice, followed by the familiar face. Khetto was coming from behind the corner, waving at Ves.

“I just been released. Stole a horse…”

“Out of my way, Khetto. I have no time for you!”

“But you promised, Imp! You promised that you’ll listen to my story of goblins, wine and the secret passage.”

“Next time, Khetto!” Ves was running down the stairs.

“No, no, no next time. Khetto tell you story now!” The Nord was now running behind Ves like an adoring fan would follow champions of the Arena.

“You can run behind me if you want, Khetto, but I’m in a hurry. I can’t listen to you now. I have lives to save.”

“Sure, Khetto run behind and tell a story. How ‘bout that?”

“Do what you want by I won’t listen to you!”

“Oh but you will. I won’t give you any other choice!”

By the Nine, is there no way to get rid of this stupid annoying har har horse thief?

“So! Once there a lived a family. They lived in the lake. By the lake. Their surname was Thaldorn.”

Vesuvius stopped running as if being hit by a stun spell.

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The door creaked as it opened.

And creaked as it closed.

Normal footsteps.

Rieltar came down the stairs and calmly sat on the throne. He crossed his hands as he was about to have an important speech. All girls were silent, waiting for what’s to come.

“So…what you have witnessed…was an introduction. Yes, that’s quite a proper word. My mother went for the one with the purest blood. The one most innocent. But I called her upstairs with a simple spell. I wanted you to feel fear. I wanted you to fear powerless, hopeless. That’s how I felt when news of my parents being dead, reached me. I hope you felt it all. Because today…is the last day of your mortal life. Tomorrow I’m once again opening the door…I’ll let the mother in. No worries, you won’t die, in a way you’ll live forever…as undead.”

He was silent for a few seconds, then continued…

“Yes, I’ll let the mother in. I admit that I’ll have troubles listening to your screams. She’ll hurt you, there’s no denying. I assume she’ll start with Marie, since she’s the most pure. Once she’s done with her, she’ll turn on any of you two. Which one will she choose first – I know not. I don’t ask for forgiveness but perhaps you can at least understand me. To say ‘enjoy the last day of your human life’ would be inappropriate, so I won’t say anything instead and I’ll just…. take my leave.”

“RIELTAR!” Branwen’s shout came completely unexpectedly and scared even the owner of the manor.

“You don’t need to do this!” She knew it was in vain but it was the last chance. “You’re no weakling. Don’t listen to your mother. You’re your own man!”

Rieltar started at her, as if pondering about something, then made one step closer. Branwen recognized anguish on his face.

“Do...do you really think so? I’m no…weakling?”

He covered his face with his hands and sobbed.

“It’s not just me, Rieltar. We all think so! You’re not evil…I mean, you’re not bad…bad as your parents were! You’re your own man. You don’t need to follow your mother’s orders.”

“Then what should I do? What should I do?” He continued to cover his face.

“Release us! Release us, Rieltar! I know you…”

“You know me?” Rieltar interrupted her. His voice was now different, sobbing no longer. He put his hands down and there was no anguish on his face, but such an evil look that Branwen gasped.

“Then you know me very baaaad, sweet Branwen,” smiled Rieltar. “I can be anyone I want. I can be weak and I can be strong. And you…you will be dead! Soon! All of you! Eaten alive! That’s what SHE will do to you! She’ll savage you like boars savage dead horses!”

He turned around and with a wild glance at Marie and Jolie proudly walked up the stairs.


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“Khetto, what did you just say?”

“The story about the family that lived in the lake. By the lake. Thaldorn. Khetto smuggled wine for the master of the house, Myraan. Years, years, many years ago. He liked rare wine, didn’t want to buy it. Khetto stole wine, brought the wine to the master. The master paid him good. Real good.”

“Khetto…you mentioned before some goblins and a secret passage, not right?”

It sounded too good to be true.

“See, Khetto knows that you find the story interesting. Yes, Khetto never allowed to enter through the main door. Master Myraan told Khetto a secret. West of the house lies Horn Cave, full of goblins. A secret passage goes between the cave and the manor. Master Myraan told Khetto this way to use to bring wine. Khetto must kill goblins but Khetto got to the house. Got paid. Back out. Ta ta!”

A spark of hope.

“Khetto…do you think this passage still exists?”

“Don’t know, but why not?

“Khetto…can you lead me to this passage like…now? I’ll pay you a lot!”

“See, I told you ‘tis a good story. If you listened to Khetto, then Khetto already told you this story in Cheydinhal. Khetto knows where the passage is. Lead on, off we go! You and me! Nord & Imp!”

---

Along the Green Road

Thaldorn Manor

The house of horrors

Locked

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The basement of despair

Blue

Blue in black

The mother returns

Horror of the Thaldorn Manor

The end of the introduction

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"Har har!"

"Story! Story!"

"What did you just say?"

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"There we are, Khetto! Now lead on! Let's hope we're on the right track! And let's hope we're not too late!"

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The door creaked as it opened.

And creaked as it closed.

Branwen saw the mother first, as she came down the stairs, for the time being walking like a normal human being.

"GHRHRHG!"