The Gweden report, A story of the story of the stories. Options

[mALX]

"The bears would prefer that, but the watch don't allow it."

And you can't be unfaithful to me, because then I'd have to kill you. This could be tricky."

ROFL !! Uzgash Gra-Marghak hasn't even slept with him yet and is locking him down, ROFL !!

This ruse looks like it opens the reporter up to all kinds of issues, especially dealing with Uzgash wanting to run everything !! Great Write !!

[Grits]

This time she just wanted to tell Uzgash that the assay on the gems she'd brought more than covered the cost of the bear, and she was free to take it back to Orsinium. Right away, if she wanted. Meija stomped off back towards the tavern.

Perfect! The young reporter’s act of extreme bravery is hilarious. I love their intricate plan.

[Acadian]

Our reporter is becoming quite skilled, now Sugar-certified as an Orcish consort.

Handy trick with Unna’s night eye – an accident, but not all bad. I wondered if she had perhaps had it poked out by the breast of another bear rider.

"I have an amulet with Frost Resistance that's enough to make me immune from the cold," she told him. "Nords are half-way there from birth, so it doesn't take much."
How lucky that the report has both eyes to enjoy the view!

I like Uzgash! Of course, I have a soft spot for Orsimer women. Poor reporter will have to make enough noise to fill the tavern at night. No Pelena potion of quietus for he and Uzgash!


Nit – ’He wasn't so surprised to see a contended smile on Timo's face.’
Did you mean contented?

[ghastley]

@mALX: Uzgash is Gortwog's daughter, so she's used to running things her way.

@Grits: It's going to be a bumpy ride!

@Acadian: Unna really has an eyepatch to match her inspiration - the Rumple Minze girl - but her excuse is that a Khajiit healer didn't know she wasn't supposed to have that ability, and healed her too much.

- - -

Uzgash part II

That reminded Uzgash why she'd come here. The Orc adventurers that Gortwog had scouring Tamriel for treasure had reported finding less magical items recently. Someone else was apparently doing the same thing, and they weren't interested in the gold, or unenchanted items. Only the magical was disappearing.

They had their suspicions that the searchers were Altmer, as they'd found a few victims of the Ayleid traps, and Altmer seemed to be over-represented among them. Those that had fallen on their way out of the ruins had enchanted loot on their corpses, but little gold or other items.

One piece that Gortwog was sure they'd want was the Helm of Tiber Septim. He'd heard that the armor had been recovered from Sancre Tor, but no mention had been made of the Helm. That was supposed to have multiple enchantments, and would be a prime target for these Altmer dungeon-divers. If his own people couldn't retrieve it, Gortwog would prefer that it be reunited with the rest of Tiber's equipment, rather than fall into the wrong hands.

The reporter took note of the distrust of the Altmer here. He'd heard stories of plots and scisms among the people of the Summerset Isles, and this fit in with those all too well. Gortwog would naturally want to be seen as an ally, so facts would need to be checked, and the first would be the Helm. If it still remained at Sancre Tor, that lent credence to the whole story Uzgash had outlined.

He also got the impression that the alliance between Orsinium and Wayrest was strained, and Gortwog was looking for support elsewhere. The recent fiasco with the Ambassador's "wife" would not have helped

- - -

When he walked into the tavern with his arm around Uzgash the look of relief on Kintyra's face told him the whole story. He wished her every happiness with Jokull, and asked if the room was available. "There's only a single bed," she reminded him. She didn't charge him for the room, but she did let him pay for dinner. "I'll bring it over when it's ready," she told them.

Uzgash and the reporter found a bench in the corner. She leaned up against him and he put his arm around her shoulders. If anyone looked in their direction he squeezed her affectionately. When their food arrived they made a point of feeding each other, like the pair of lovebirds they wanted everyone to see. When Meija came in to eat, they beckoned her over to join them.

She sat down rather reluctantly on the seat opposite. Uzgash told her that she'd be leaving tomorrow, and she wanted her to take care of her partner while she was gone. Meija's expression was one of mixed shock and joy. "But you're an Orc." was all she could spit out.

"Yes, and now I'm a Bear Rider too. It wouldn't be honorable to make promises to him that I can't keep, so I don't expect any from him. All I can do is leave him with someone like me, so he'll still have the same tastes when I return." Uzgash was a genius, he thought. That was the perfect hook for this fish.

They'd concocted a story about how they met in Hammerfell, carefully contrived to be after his last visit here, but giving each enough time for their trip home. It established the idea that they'd have little opportunity to see each other, so they'd make the most of the time they had together, and that this was the convenient mid-point where they'd do so. Meija seemed to be buying it.

He'd arranged a day trip further into Skyrim that would have him return here tomorrow night, which would be his chance to work further on Meija. Then he'd be going back to Cyrodiil.

They bought her a drink when they left the bar to go their room, so she'd still be in there to listen to their performance. Kintyra would be behind the bar, and a few others could be expected to drop in during the evening.

He didn't have any potions with him but Uzgash wasn't as wild as he'd feared. That's not to say she was meek and mild either, and he didn't benefit from Sugar's training. She didn't seem to be faking her enjoyment either. He wondered if she could do it quietly when she wanted to, or if this was all spontaneous and involuntary. He was at liberty to express himself, too, of course, and that all added to the fun.

"Why did I tell Meija I'd be gone tomorrow?" She asked him afterward. "I want to do that again."

He told her he'd need weeks to recover before he could manage it, and she laughed. "Me too, but I can't tell you that. I have my Orcish reputation to think of."

- - -

He helped reinforce that the following day when he bought a few restoring potions from Dro'bari. Ashara, Dro'Bari's wife, was the source of most of the town gossip, and this would be common knowledge in a couple of hours at the most. He hoped Meija would understand the significance.

He headed north out of town and found the wayshrine he was looking for. It was both his excuse for remaining in Skyrim, and an aid in what he had to do next, which was planting the story with Meija. Dibella's Kiss to boost his persuasion skills, a charm spell when she was distracted, that should do it.

The only problem was that they'd been too successful last night. Meija was reluctant to use the room at the tavern, as she didn't want the whole town to hear her. The charm spell got her past that, but now he didn't have it for later, and he needed her to do that one thing, so he could associate it with Uzgash.

He need not have worried. She was on her knees as soon as he closed the door to the room, possibly because the charm spell hadn't completely worn off.. He told her she was even better at it than Uzgash, which wasn't a lie, after all. He hoped she was paying enough attention to what he said, and not just what she was doing. Her reaction was a great relief. "You let her do this? Brave man!"

From there on, he just let her take him wherever she wanted. She wasn't as strong as Uzgash, but she was just as supple and athletic, and had a good repertoir to try and impress him. He somehow managed to find the energy to keep her happy too.

- - -

He left early the following morning, so that he'd meet Unna as she left the cave, and wouldn't have to spend the night there. He knew she'd be disappointed, and he knew what he'd be missing, but he needed some rest. She was thinking more clearly than he was. "A day's walk to Bruma is going to be restful?" she asked. "Go rest in the cave for the day, we'll go back to the Lodge tomorrow."

"I need to make my patrol to Lipsand Tarn, but I'll be back late tonight, and we'll see how you feel then." she argued. He was too tired to reply, so he just did as she suggested.

She returned to find him weak and incoherent, in the grips of a fever. That's why he'd been feeling tired earlier, it was just the early symptoms of something he'd caught. She searched in all the barrels and crates around the cave, hoping to find some Mandrake Root, but there wasn't any. She'd given the last one she carried to Thor, her bear, after they'd fought that Necromancer.

He'd summoned a headless zombie, and it had given Thor the Collywobbles, even though it didn't put up much of a fight. She didn't know that at the time, the bear didn't show any sign of being sick until today. He'd sneezed a couple of times, and that's what drew her attention. Had he sneezed on the reporter, and passed it on to him?

She had to do something, but the nearest chapel was over the border in Falkreath, and she wasn't supposed to go there. Well, she could ask the guard at the border crossing for help, and see what he said.

She helped the reporter to his feet, made sure he was wearing his ring to keep out the chill, and half-dragged, half-carried him along the trail. The guard saw them coming and ran over to help. He put the reporter's other arm around his shoulder, and the two of them carried him to the chapel.

Martine Petit, the priestess, was up on the top of the tower when they entered. She heard the door open and close and came down to assist. The guard smiled as he watched her descend the ladder. She didn't always have underwear beneath her robe.

They took the reporter over to the altar and called the blessing of Arkay to heal him. The reporter sat on a pew, and gratefully waited while his strength, endurance and speed slowly returned. Unna asked if she could buy some Mandrake root in town. She wanted to keep a stock in Sky's Edge Cave in case this sort of thing happened again.

The guard didn't know about the cave. He'd not been over the border at all. He wasn't allowed to do that. Unna admitted that she shouldn't be here either, but you did what you had to when someone needed help. She described the location to him, and told him about the traders using it.

He'd seen Jokull going in that direction, and had accompanied him as far as the border a few times, But he'd stopped at the border hut, and Jokull had continued without him. "Pity you weren't with Jokull when that Ogre stole his amulet," said Unna, and recounted the tale Claudia had told her.

"It would be better if that route got a patrol," he agreed. "But it's on both sides of the border, so I can't do it, and I assume you can't either."

Martine suggested that they go talk to the Jarl about it. Maybe they could work out an agreement for a joint patrol. The guard's eyes lit up at that idea. It was obvious that the idea of a joint patrol with Unna was very appealling.

The reporter was feeling much better by this time, and he told Unna and the guard to go find the Mandrake root, and he'd talk to the Jarl. Diplomacy was his trade, and if the Jarl saw Unna, he'd know what the guard's true motivation was.

It didn't take much persuasion. Jarl Ulfric saw the benefits, especially if it also helped keep the Ogres away from the town. He'd authorize the Riders to come as far as Falkreath, if his men could use the trail to Sky's Edge Cave in return.

He met Unna again in the middle of town. Dro'Bari did have some Mandrake, and she'd bought his whole stock. Then she'd gone to meet the other guards at their barracks. "Did you talk with the Jarl already?" she asked.

As they walked back to the cave he told her what the Jarl had agreed to. He needed to get it ratified by the Elder Council, but he didn't see there being a problem. Gudrun probably had enough authority to permit her crossing into Skyrim, but they'd better make sure it was allowed for the Falkreath guard to cross the other way.

Unna had told the guards about her colleagues. They already knew about Bear Riders, with Meija in town. They appreciated the show of skin, but Meija was off-limits to them. She was a resident of the town, and they weren't supposed to have any conflicts of interest in dealing with the citizens. Unna, Pala, Svana, Claudia and Ystrel weren't citizens, so this had a lot of potential.

They didn't have to worry about making Sky's Edge Cave more comfortable, there was a private room at the barracks where a guest could spend the night. The cave would be too chilly for Imperials anyway, especially without any enchanted rings to help them.

Unna was working it all out. The rotation Gudrun had aready approved for the run to the cave would still work.The extra distance to Falkreath being so short, they wouldn't have to make any adjustments. There were five of them, and only three guards, so they wouldn't find themselves always with the same partner.

"So no favorites?" he asked, as they entered Sky's Edge Cave again.

"Only you," she replied.

"And why me?"

"Because you're here, now," was her reasonable response.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Aug 1 2012, 02:23 AM

[Acadian]

Nice reference/game tie in to Gortwog’s orc adventurers!

As much as I love orcs, I’d have second thoughts about the tusks too!

Woot! Joint patrols! Nice bit of cross-border diplomacy.

"Because you're here, now," was her reasonable response.’
This is so in keeping with the credo of the Bare Bear Riders!

Nit: ’She searched in all the barrels and crates arond the cave,’

[mALX]

*
This line was my favorite:

The guard smiled as he watched her descend the ladder. She didn't always have underwear beneath her robe.

Loved the whole chapter, but this line had me rolling. I remember even in Elementary School the boys standing under the stairwell and looking up constantly, ROFL !!! Great Write !!

[Grits]

I love the references to Tamriel's political climate and developments with the Altmer.

She searched in all the barrels and crates arond the cave, hoping to find some Mandrake Root, but there wasn't any.

And isn’t that the way it goes when you’re looking for one specific thing?

Great idea for a cross-border patrol. Also, I really like the name Sky’s Edge Cave.

[ghastley]

@Acadian: A lot of the things in my mods try to tie up the loose ends in the vanilla game, or at least connect them to new loose ends of my own. So the Orc Adventurers took me in some new directions, just like the Old All Things Alchemical, and Gweden itself.

@mALX: When I gave Martine the AI package to go up the tower and pray at her little shrine to Dibella, this crossed my mind and I knew it had to be in the story, because I couldn't do it in the game.

@Grits: That part was inspired by my current character's hunt for yarn for the Sheo shrine quest. There's alway some in one of the barrels around Water's Edge, except when it would be useful.

---

The reporter has met Uzgash gra-Marghak, daughter of Gortwog, in Falkreath. Now it's time to report back.

Uzgash Part III

The reporter arrived back at the Red Dragon Club, and Taminwe was there, waiting to debrief him in her usual way.

Uzgash had told him that the Orc adventurers, that Gortwog had sent out to scour the dungeons of Tamriel for treasure, were sending back less magical items recently. They'd also reported finding dead Altmer in the traps in the ruins, and it looked like someone else had copied Gortwog's idea. It appeared, however, that they were only interested in enchanted items, and were ignoring anything else.

She'd also passed on a rumor that Tiber Septim's Helm had been in Sancre Tor, with the rest of his armor. They'd heard that the Champion had retrieved everything else, but not the Helm. Those Altmer would be especially interested in that, as the legends said it had multiple enchantments. Gortwog didn't trust Altmer, and if his men couldn't find the Helm, he'd prefer that it be reunited with the rest of the armor.

Taminwe decided that she wouldn't just pass that all on to Ocato, but she'd tell the Champion, too. He'd probably be the one who'd go look for it, as he knew the layout of the place, and would have a reasonable idea where he hadn't looked before. And if he found the Helm, it would be a good sign that Gortwog was playing straight with them.

The Altmer, or some of them at least, were up to something. That plot against the Mane, that Enilwen had been caught up in, was another indication that there were problems brewing in the Summerset Isle. Ocato had reminded her that the Altmer are anything but united, and that this was probably a particular faction among them, although it wasn't yet clear which one.

"It could be the same bunch that's stirring up trouble in Valenwood. They haven't taken any direct action yet, but we're keeping an eye on them, just in case. They seem to be trying to act through proxies, rather than expose themselves to any retaliation, so they'll be a hard nut to crack!"

Taminwe wanted to know more about Uzgash herself. They hadn't expected that Gortwog would send his own daughter. That must indicate that he doesn't trust anyone else, which might mean that relationships between High Rock and Orsinium were breaking down. The failure of Queen Elysana's ploy with the Ambassador's "wife" would only have made things worse.

Since Taminwe was a lot more fun when she was just a bit jealous, he painted a glowing picture of Uzgash for her. Not that he had to embellish it at all, as she'd inherited a lot of admirable qualities from both her parents. He'd experienced a little of her skills at intrigue and diplomacy that she'd got from her father, and quite a bit more of those abilities she got from her mother, and they were germane to their current .. er ... intercourse?

Taminwe was quite aware that he was attempting to manipulate her. She'd been training him to do that, and reaping the benefits of his progress. And awareness didn't confer immunity, so he was getting what he wanted, too.

She found his description of their performance for the listeners in the tavern rather amusing. She'd always prided herself on her ability to stay silent under extreme conditions. The thought of deliberately doing the complete opposite was a great novelty.

She was careful not to tell him that, or he might have considered it a challenge. With the training he'd got from Sugar, and now Uzgash too, she wasn't so confident of having the upper hand.

Now she was more concerned with getting a good profile of Uzgash gra-Margak, as they'd be dealing with her on important matters in future. The fact that she used her real name, and preferred to use selected truth rather than lies, was a good sign. As long as they knew which way her interests lay, they could probably trust any information she provided. She might not tell them all she knew, but if his training paid off, the reporter would get more than she wanted to reveal.

As he'd only spent a day and a night with her, she wasn't expecting a lot of detail, and he'd impressed her considerably with the amount he had discerned in that brief time. Of course, it had been a rather close encounter, aided by Usgash's need to win him over to her side. He was probably exagerating a bit to try and make her react, but it was all based in reality from which she could draw a valid conclusion.

He interrupted her thoughts with the same idea she'd just reached. "Gortwog didn't send Uzgash just because she was the best woman for the job. He has another purpose in mind."

She concurred. Her conclusion was that Gortwog was dispersing his children to make them less vulnerable. Uriel's sons had been slain together in the Palace, and Gortwog would have learned from that. But a solo patrol in the Wrothgarians wasn't any safer for Uzgash, so that wouldn't be the end of the story. Establishing contacts for her in Cyrodiil was part of it, but they'd have to wait and see what developed.

"How many children does Gortwog have?" he asked.

"Officially none. He's still an eligible bachelor, if politics requires an alliance." Taminwe replied. "But we know he has seven with Marghak, four sons and three daughters. Uzgash is the middle one. We have no reason to believe there are any other consorts or offspring, but can't rule it out. That's probably the way he wants it."

"And what do we know of the other six?"

"The eldest son commands an army based as far from Orsinium as you can get, within his province. Another is ambassador to Elsweyr. The others have no specific duties, or locations, and have been reported all over Tamriel. Cyrodiil's representative at Gortwog's court has not seen more than one in the Iron Fortress at any time. That's making more sense now."

Taminwe continued "I'm assuming that Plan A was to have you fall for Uzgash, and become her protector. She does appear to have made a good first impression, doesn't she?"

"But they won't have counted on that, would they?" he responded. "They didn't know who we'd send to Falkreath, and it could just as easily have been a woman. And frankly, I don't consider myself the protector type."

"They knew that we knew why Falkreath was chosen, and that we'd expect a Bear Rider as their contact. That made you, or someone like you, the most likely candidate, and their plans would include that detail. I don't see their Plan B being much different, either. You are willing to work with her again, and both sides know that. It's not you personally that they want as a protector for her, it's the service you work for, all of us. We just wait for their next move, and see what direction it takes."

"And in the meantime, she's on the move, with a bear to look after her."

"Yes, she should be safe enough for now." Taminwe agreed. "But I'd be a lot happier if we knew where the threat was coming from. This Altmer faction appears to prefer acting indirectly, so she's probably in more danger from the Bretons and Redguards. For all we know, the bandits on the roads might be their agents."

"I can't see bandits being any worry to her," the reporter replied. "The Frost Shield on her outfit must make her nearly invulnerable to their weapons. She's got the strength to make good use of her battleaxe, too."

"Still, I don't see Gortwog having her make a predictable patrol for too long. It would keep her out of touch with her intelligence sources for longer that he'd like, as well as making her easy to locate. Expect to see her at Falkreath again, before much time elapses."

That reminded the reporter to mention his negotiations with the Jarl of Falkreath over joint patrols. He'd like Taminwe to bring it up with Ocato, when he next visited.

She chuckled. "I think he'll agree to that without my persuasion. It can only enhance border security, and a local agreement is all it really needs. The prospect of increased trade with a safe route isn't a bad thing, either"

Taking of trade routes reminded her that a ship had arrived in Anvil from the Summerset Isle, the filrst since the Oblivion crisis had ended. Newheim the Portly, as harbormaster, had to report the comings and goings of all vessels in Anvil. The Black Horse Courier would want a report on events from the Altmer province, and since none of the Imperial agents had returned on the vessel, so would Ocato.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Aug 2 2012, 01:17 AM

[mALX]

*

When I gave Martine the AI package to go up the tower and pray at her little shrine to Dibella, this crossed my mind and I knew it had to be in the story, because I couldn't do it in the game.

Ha! We had one teacher that the boys couldn't tell if she wasn't wearing underwear or had a nest of flies buzzing, but made up numerous stories about what could be hiding under that skirt which were made much more interesting by the fact that she walked with an odd limp. I learned all this eavesdropping, of course.

It could be the same bunch that's stirring up trouble in Valenwood. They haven't taken any direct action yet, but we're keeping an eye on them, just in case. They seem to be trying to act through proxies, rather than expose themselves to any retaliation, so they'll be a hard nut to crack!"

This is so intriguing! I love the genius behind the proxy attacks, what a cool quest that would/will be!

Awesome Chapter !!


*

[Acadian]

’And awareness didn't confer immunity, so he was getting what he wanted, too.’
This struck me as a wonderful line.

Wonderful in depth speculation by Taminwe as she ‘interviews’ the reporter. And Wow! She has the discipline and self-control not to need a Pelena silent passion potion.

Plenty of political intrigue going on, it would seem.

A couple tiny typos:
- ‘And if he found the Helm, it would be a good sign that Gortwog was playing straight with tem.’
- ‘SInce Taminwe was a lot more fun when she was just a bit jealous,’

[Grits]

Uzgash inspired me to create my first two orc adventurer characters in Oblivion: Burzul (she died) and now Bezel gra-Grubsakh (still going). Sadly their vanilla world has a shortage of young reporters.

"It could be the same bunch that's stirring up trouble in Valenwood. They haven't taken any direct action yet, but we're keeping an eye on them, just in case. They seem to be trying to act through proxies, rather than expose themselves to any retaliation, so they'll be a hard nut to crack!"

Good thing Taminwe knows some expert nutcrackers.

Since Taminwe was a lot more fun when she was just a bit jealous, he painted a glowing picture of Uzgash for her.

Love it!

[ghastley]

@Grits: Good thing Taminwe knows some expert nutcrackers
You weren't thinking of Sugar, were you?

@Acadian: Nits picked, on with the politics.

We left our reporter on his way to Anvil to try and meet the first ship to arrive from the Summerset Isle since the Oblivion gates started to appear.

-----

Lathenil of Sunhold - part I

Taminwe had told the reporter that when the Oblivion Crisis started, the seas around the Summerset Isle had seen their worst storms for centuries. Sailors who turned back to the mainland to avoid them reported seeing wreckage floating on the ocean from the vessels that had been caught up when they started. The storms had ended when the Avatar of Akatosh sent Dagon back to the deadlands, but it seemed there were no sea-worthy vessels left to cross the Abacean Sea from the ports of the Summerset Isle.

The ship that had berthed in Anvil had started its voyage in Hammerfell, probably from Hegathe or Gilane. It was likely moving on to Valenwood and Elsweyr, and they might see it again at Leyawiin. If the crew were still in Anvil, he was to ask them what they knew of the conditions in the port cities of the Summerset Isles. Any news from Hammerfell would not be unwelcome, either.

---

The reporter had just walked onto the docks at Anvil, when he was accosted by a robed Altmer, with a deep tan and an angry expression.

"You there, have you seen Rynandor?"

"Who's Rynandor?"

"Like me, he's a Master Wizard, not the sort of person you just don't notice. But everyone here denies having seen him! Why are they all lying?"

"Perhaps he's just not here?"

"How could he not be here? He was on the ship before mine. I'd have been on the same vessel if I hadn't just missed it at the port. When they sentenced him to exile I was determined to accompany him, but I didn't account for their haste."

"Yours was the only ship that's come here from the Summerset Isle. Apparently Rynandor's didn't arrive yet. Was it sailing directly here?"

"Yes, that was the sole purpose of the voyage, to take Rynandor into exile. Why would they go anywhere else? Those accursed Thalmor must have done something to prevent it getting here. They're behind all of this!"

"Who are these Thalmor? I've not heard that name before."

"The Thalmor are one of the syndicates of wizards in the Summerset Isle. They're clearly trying to seize control of the province. They claimed to have defeated the force of invading Daedra that toppled the Crystal Tower, and they've got most of the people believing them. More likely they brought it down themselves, just so they could destroy their opposition among the other mages."

"The Crystal Tower has fallen?"

"Yes, the Tower of Crystal-Like-Law, and the University it housed, with its library and laboratories, all gone! And no sooner had the Tower fallen, than the Daedra all disappeared. The Thalmor claimed responsibility for the latter. If they had that power, why didn't they use before the Crystal Tower was lost? Because it didn't suit their plans! And if they could dismiss the Daedra like that, what's to say they didn't summon them in the first place?"

"The Mythic Dawn did that. And the Daedra were banished when Martin Septim defeated Mehrunes Dagon in the Imperial City. Presumably from all of Tamriel." The reporter recounted what he knew of the Mythic Dawn.

"So the Thalmor were in league with these Mythic Dawn people? Was Mankor Camoran an Altmer? Not that it would have mattered. The Thalmor will deal with anyone to further their ends. And then stab them in the back when they have no more use for them!"

The reporter continued his conversation with the agitated wizard for a few more minutes, trying to calm him down enough that his rantings would make sense. He considered using a Calm spell, but he knew that he didn't have the skill to do so without it being noticed.

He found out that the Altmer's name was Lathenil of Sunhold, and that he'd been among the defenders of the Crystal Tower. He guessed that the stresses of that battle had rather unhinged the wizard.

The Daedra had opened a Great Gate just outside their defences, just as they'd done at Kvatch, and Bruma. The Siege Crawler had emerged and attacked the Tower, which toppled quickly, as if it had been held up by magical forces that had been dispelled. Fortunately, most of the defenders had evacuated before the collapse, but the contents of the library and laboratories had been lost.

Lathenil blamed all the misfortunes of his people on the Thalmor. He denied that they had the power to defeat the Daedra, yet attributed them equal power to afflict their own kin. The reporter had little idea what was fact, and what was exaggeration, and what was just plain supposition on Lathenil's part. He was clearly not a neutral observer, but just where his loyalties lay was unclear, other than his opposition to the Thalmor. He tried to get Lathenil to make statements that other agents could verify, but most of it was just a stream of accusations of Thalmor duplicity.

The conversation was interrupted when Lathenil glanced over the reporter's shoulder, and swore in Aldmeris. (At least it sounded like he was swearing, the reporter didn't know the language that well.) The wizard's glance was swiftly followed by a fireball, but when the reporter turned to follow it, he saw no-one.

That changed when the fireball struck someone. An outline of flame appeared where nobody had been standing a moment before, and a man's voice expressed considerable discomfort. As the flames died out, a slight shimmering in the air replaced them. Whoever was there was using a chameleon spell or equipment, and presumably still a threat. Now that his attention had been drawn to the invisible adversary, he could detect the distorted outline of a Bosmer (he was too short to be anything else).

The reporter backed away, not letting his eyes leave the Bosmer, or he'd have never found him again. He heard the angry shout of an Anvil Guard, as he ran to intervene, and saw another fireball strike. This time, its target fell, and the chameleon dissipated.

The guard bent and examined the body. The Bosmer was holding a silver dagger, enchanted with Drain Magicka, clearly a weapon for use on a mage. He'd approached under chameleon, too, and had he struck first, Lathenil would have found it difficult to respond. That didn't matter to the guard. Lathenil had attacked first, so he was under arrest. He could argue his case later, in a court, but not now.

The reporter advised Lathenil not to resist. There were other guards running towards them, and the odds were not in his favor. Remarkably, the wizard was rational enough to agree.

The reporter found a note on the Bosmer's corpse that confirmed that he'd been hired to kill Lathenil. Naturally, it gave no clue who'd sent him. The Altmer may be deranged and paranoid, but he did at least have some justification for it.

He decided that he needed to know more, so he'd go pay Lathenil a visit in jail. But fIrst he'd ask around the docks for any other news from the ship.

As he expected, the ship Lathenil arrived on had already sailed on for Valenwood. There were no other passengers, and all the goods they'd unloaded had come from Hammerfell. Nobody had any information on the missing vessel with Rynandor. There was nothing to say he wasn't an invention of Lathenil's.

---

Lathenil was a lot less agitated behind bars, and talked quite rationally to the reporter about what he knew. He admitted feeling a lot safer in the jail, although he wished the guards had let him keep his ring of life detection. The reporter suggested that he ask the jailor to wear it, just in case, and that idea seemed to cheer Lathenil considerably.

The reporter had shown the Bosmer's dagger, and the note that he found, to the magistrate, and got Lathenil's sentence reduced. That got Lathenil worried again, as he'd be back in danger when he was released. He needed somewhere to hide from the Thalmor.

Perhaps it was the earlier mention of the Mythic Dawn that put the idea into his head, but the reporter saw a similarity with Silanu's case. Gweden farm was a perfect place for her to take cover, and maybe it would be just as good for the Altmer. The fact that he wouldn't mind visiting there if he needed to question Lathenil again had nothing to do with it.

He mentioned Silanu, and he could tell that Lathenil was intrigued by the idea. Perhaps a taste of her discipline would do him some good, too.

His time with the prisoner was up, and he left the Castle. He skirted the town wall and joined the road up to the farm. He'd better let Tsarrina know that she had a guest arriving shortly. He had no doubt that Lathenil would pay handsomely for the protection (and other services), but it was just the courteous thing to do.

The Breton girl he met just outside the farm wasn't one he knew, but she came right up to him and kissed him as soon as she saw him.

That was the last thing he remembered.

---

Lathenil is the author of Rising Threat - a book series in Skyrim. The events in it start at the fall of the Crystal Tower, so they're just the right period for this. The quest in the mod follows the events here quite closely, but will diverge as the reporter is not the player character.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Oct 2 2014, 06:54 PM

[Grits]

It is so neat to see what I’ve read as history in Skyrim happening in the time after the Oblivion crisis! I’m really enjoying this, ghastley.

The Breton girl he met just outside the farm wasn't one he knew, but she came right up to him and kissed him as soon as she saw him.

Uh oh…

[Acadian]

He considered using a Calm spell, but he knew that he didn't have the skill to do so without it being noticed.
I love this acknowledgement of what only a master of illusion can do!

Paranoia. . . but seemingly justified. That is one scared wizard to almost prefer the safety of jail. I wonder if that Bosmeri assassin was DB or simply hired by the Thalmor? More intrigue, regardless.

Here’s a few more tiny typos:
-"So the Thamor were in league with these Mythic Dawn people?”
-‘He'd approached undcer chameleon, too,’
-‘He decided that he needed to know more, so he'd go pay a Lathenil a visit in jail.’
-‘He had no doubt that Lathenil would pay hansomely for the protection’

This post has been edited by Acadian: Aug 7 2012, 01:40 AM

[mALX]

WOO HOO !!! Toppling the Crystal Tower - I love that !!! This whole paragraph is absolutely perfect - love the whole thought behind that, ROFL !!!

And no sooner had the Tower fallen, than the Daedra all disappeared. The Thalmor claimed responsibility for the latter. If they had that power, why didn't they use before the Crystal Tower was lost? Because it didn't suit their plans! And if they could dismiss the Daedra like that, what's to say they didn't summon them in the first place?"

The Breton girl he met just outside the farm wasn't one he knew, but she came right up to him and kissed him as soon as she saw him.

That was the last thing he remembered.

GAAAAH !!! What happened?

Awesome Write !!!!!

[ghastley]

@Grits: When I went researching for things that should be starting to stir around 4E1, I discovered that the Thalmor had begun the moment the crisis ended, by claiming responsibility for the Daedra's defeat. And that was chronicled in Rising Threat, whose author conveniently followed Rynandor to Anvil. The rest is history...

@Acadian: Typos always seem to happen between the cut from Wordpad, and the paste and cleanup here. I edited this one, so ther are probably more.

The unused Calm spell was intended to do two things at once: reinforce the fact that the reporter knows one, and his belief that Lathenil really was the level of mage he claimed.

@mALX: I didn't write the loss of the Crystal Tower, Lathenil's ghost-writer at Bethesda did that. But it is a nicely dramatic feature for his tale.

----

Lathenil of Sunhold - part II

The reporter woke with a pounding in his head, on the bed inside the farmhouse. Freija was standing over him with a worried look on her face.

When his eyes could focus properly, he saw that most of the others were standing in a circle around the bed, looking on anxiously. The door opened and the Legion Patrolman came in.

"She's dead" he told them. "We'd have preferred to interrogate her, but she wasn't to be taken alive. And if we let her summon another of those Clannfears, we'd have taken a lot more damage."

Nelrene followed him into the room, dressed in a fetching set of dark armor that she filled very nicely. The reporter hadn't seen her wearing that before. He wondered if that was her guard's uniform from the Shivering Isles. She cast a healing spell on herself as she put away her mace.

"Who was she?" the reporter asked, but nobody knew. Just some crazy witch who wanted to kill him, and nearly had.

He tried to get out of the bed, but a sharp pain in his leg stopped him.

"Wait until I've taken that arrow out" Freija advised him. The Patrolman looked a little embarassed when she mentioned the arrow, and ducked back outside. Freija beckoned Prizna and Nelrene, the largest of the women, over to help her. Although being held down by those two was quite a pleasure, the reporter still passed out again when Freija pulled the arrow out.

---

"He's awake!" Meena called out cheerfully, and Freija came back in to see how he was doing. This time his head didn't hurt, and his leg didn't either.

Freija explained what she knew about the attack. She'd been passing between the farm and the Lodge when she saw the reporter approach, and started to walk towards him. The stranger had appeared from nowhere, and kissed him, and he'd fallen over paralyzed. Then she'd summoned a Clannfear to finish him off.

Freija had cast her bound claymore and armor and run to intercept the Clannfear before it could reach him. The patrolman had come out of the farm, with Nelrene close behind, and they'd gone after the witch. When the Clannfear switched its attention to Nelrene, in defense of its mistress, Freija had picked him up and carried him inside.

She didn't know when the arrow thing happened. It was all too quick, and there were spells and arrows flying everywhere for a time. She'd seen the witch afterwards, and there were a lot more arrows in her. And another thing crossed her mind. "Why did you let her kiss you like that? I've never seen anyone uglier."

The reporter assumed that she'd used an Illusion spell to make her look young and pretty. Clearly she'd known some powerful magic, if she could summon Clannfears. And he'd heard about people who could paralyze with a kiss. Had something to do with their birthsign, if he remembered correctly. Freija didn't think that it was just the Lover's power. His health had been damaged at the same time. More likely the Cobra's Dance.

Lathenil had warned him that the Thalmor might go after him too, but he didn't think it would have been that quickly. Still, if they'd had a second assassin ready for Lathenil, it wouldn't have been hard to divert her to a new target. His story was looking more plausible all the time. These Thalmor probably were a significant threat if you weren't on their side.

When he spoke with Tsarrina about Lathenil, she didn't seem to be worried. Another customer was always welcome, and the threat from the assassins might be over, anyway. "We have an immortal Arena Champion, a Mazken guard, and a bear hunter here to look after us. Not to mention Maeva has Rockshatter back, and Sugar's handy with her axe. We'll do all right"

Tsarrina was forgetting Prizna, he reminded himself. She may walk around naked, and appear vulnerable because of that, but she hurls a mean shock spell when she wants to. Not only that, but Lathenil was intending to travel here under invisibility. The Thalmor would probably never know he was here.

---

The reporter was attacked again between Anvil and Skingrad. He couldn't be sure if it was just a highwayman, or another assassin. This man wore heavy armor, which was unusual if he was a Bandit, but he swung an axe, which didn't fit the Marauder norm either. At least he saw him coming, and he'd just passed a Legion Patrol. He ran back up the road and alerted him, and together they subdued the Redguard.

There might have been another nearer the city. He passed an archer fleeing across the meadows from a Minotaur, firing arrows as she ran. He left them to their fun, and hurried on up the road, hoping he hadn't been noticed.

---

Taminwe had heard of the Thalmor. She described them as an insignificant faction that was fanatically racist. They wanted to send all foreigners back where they came from, and dreamed of recreating the civilisation of the Ayleids. She felt that their views were far too extreme to have any traction with the rest of the people, and they probably weren't a serious threat to the Empire. But they'd still be a threat to any weaker group that opposed them, if general order broke down. The Daedric invasion had probably given them a chance to assert themselves more than usual, and they'd bear watching.

She'd heard of Rynandor the Bold, too. Another minor faction leader, but one with a practical and honest demeanor that meant he'd never amount to anything in politics. If Lathenil was in his group, at least they weren't anti-Empire, like many of the others. He was probably harmless, although she'd have preferred that he hadn't brought the Summerset Isle's squabbles to the mainland.

He didn't understand why he'd become the new target of the assassins. Taminwe had a theory. It was because he was a reporter. Lathenil's was a lone voice, and his tale of Rynandor's probable demise would likely go unheeded. An article in the Black Horse Courier would be seen everywhere, even in the Summerset Isle, and the Thalmor would presumably not like that.

Ocato had connections with the bureaucracy in the Summerset Isle that would give them some more information on Rynandor. Any banishment or exile had to be communicated through diplomatic channels. The other provinces didn't like criminals being dumped on them without notice, after all. Since Rynandor's trial had been public, the Thalmor could not have suppressed that notification without arousing suspicion. They might have intercepted his ship on the high seas, of course. She reminded him to be on the lookout for reports of piracy in the Abacean.

"If it weren't for those assassins chasing you, I'd have asked that you go to Leyawiin and Senchal, and see if the ship that brought Lathenil puts in at either of those ports. Now I think it would be better if someone else does that. I may even go there myself." Taminwe told him. "The Black Horse Courier won't print anything until we have a full picture of this, and then not if it puts you in more danger. You should take another trip to Falkreath, and see what Uzgash has for you this time. See if she knows anything about Lathenil, Rynandor or the Thalmor."

This post has been edited by ghastley: Aug 14 2012, 01:59 AM

[Acadian]

Were you trying for this: “I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I took an arrow to the knee and now I’m a reporter.”

I loved the debate over Lover’s Kiss and Cobra’s Dance.

’Another minor faction leader, but one with a practical and honest demeanor that meant he'd never amount to anything in politics.’

So Taminwe’s putting our reporter on ice for awhile by sending him back to Skyrim. Probably safer for him. I can imagine what Uzgash has for him.

[mALX]

Ah, I never played Elder Scrolls before Oblivion, didn't know the tower got toppled!

I had originally suspected the birthsign kiss too, but didn't suspect the illusion to look beautiful - nice touch !! You nailed the description of Thalmor politic and beliefs! Awesome write!

[Grits]

"Wait until I've taken that arrow out" Freija advised him. The Patrolman looked a little embarassed when she mentioned the arrow, and ducked back outside.

Oops.

The reporter was attacked again between Anvil and Skingrad. He couldn't be sure if it was just a highwayman, or another assassin. This man wore heavy armor, which was unusual if he was a Bandit, but he swung an axe, which didn't fit the Marauder norm either.

I like this. Running back to the Legion Patrolman is a familiar tactic, and the combination of weapons and armor are great clues that this is not the usual bad guy. I really enjoyed Lathenil’s story.

[ghastley]

@Acadian: Glad you liked that bit. The reporter suspects the Lover's Kiss from the way it was delivered. Freija is a bit more realistic.

@mALX: It's getting hard to write about the Thalmor without making too obvious what's really going on. The Imperial side has to discount most of the facts or they'd have been prepared. Lathenil being the only one to point at them in particular, and his being a bit paranoid, should keep it down.

@Grits: I had to give the Legion a chance to make amends.

-----

Uzgash - Part IV

When the reporter arrived at the Falkreath Tavern, he found that Kintyra had made a few alterations to the room he rented. The bed had been replaced with a larger one, and when he flopped onto it, he noted that the frame didn't creak like the old one. There was a new, rich, tapestry hanging on the wall closest to the bar. He peeked behind it, and found that someone had stuffed wool into the gaps between the logs. There was a thicker rug on the floor, too. Uzgash would get a good laugh out of all this new sound-proofing, he thought.

He'd arrived before her, this time, and Meija was out of town fetching a new bear to train. He'd travelled here with Svana and her bear, but she'd already left to continue her patrol. That meant a night alone, and he could get some rest for once.

He stowed his gear in the chest in the corner, and went back down to the bar for a drink and a meal. Ingvar had killed a boar in the forest; it was roasting on the spit, and nearly ready to carve, if that delicious aroma was anything to judge by. Svana and the reporter had been joined on his trip here by Jokull, back from one of his many trading trips, and perhaps that was the cause for tonight's feast. Kintryra got Jokull to carve thick slices off the boar, while she stirred a pot simmering next to the fire.

The reporter's plate arrived just as Uzgash slipped into the seat next to him. Kintyra set another plate in front of her, and she breathed in the unfamiliar tang of the sauce. "Oranges!" Kintyra beamed. "Jokull just brought some back from the South, and I've been dying to try this recipe."

---

Everyone affirmed the success of the sauce, by taking a second helping of everything. Uzgash leaned against him and pronounced herself too well-stuffed to move. Loudly enough to announce that there wouldn't be a repeat of their last visit's performance, in case anyone was wondering, and to let Kintyra know that her cookery was appreciated.

For public consumption, it was just as effective to cuddle in the corner over a slowly-sipped glass of wine. And then to walk slowly to their room with his arm around her waist, chatting inconsequentially.

When Uzgash saw the changes Kintyra had made to the room, she laughed so much it almost hurt. But she stopped suddenly, and turned to him with a sheepish look on her face. "I guess I owe you a bit of an explanation" she said.

"You probably noticed my lack of inexperience last time. Especially with your training." she went on. "I've been studying the report on you from our agents in Cyrodiil, so I know a bit more now. I shouldn't have let myself get so carried away, with someone who knows the professional tricks."

"Those reports should have convinced you that we were both sent here for the same reason," he argued. "I don't think anyone was being decieved, certainly not me. When you mentioned your mother, I was already expecting that you'd learned from her, and delighted that you had. Expert-level stuff, too!"

"And what did your intelligence reports say about me?" she asked. "Did they tell you that my mother had let me work in her Guild, and earn the price of my first armor that way? She said it would help me think of myself as an ordinary Orc, not a princess. I realise now that it's also good training for a spy."

He admitted that his own reports on her were now the most complete, and they didn't have much other detail. How much more did she want him to know?

She decided to tell him what else her mother had taught her. Spells to keep her free from disease and "other complications" that any Guild member needed. As well as a few special ones, nasty painful ones for dealing with abusive customers without actually being fatal. The reporter was glad she was just telling him about those, and not demonstrating anything.

"I was going to use that armor I'd earned to go dungeon-diving for better equipment, but that was more my older sister's style than mine. She'd been the only girl for a while, and she was used to playing rough with my brothers. As the second daughter, I got to do more girly things, and I developed a taste for pretty clothes. You don't find those in dungeons, so I stuck to earning them the way I liked best."

"So what have you been doing since we were here last?" he asked her.

"Patrolling on my bear," she replied. "Fighting a few ogres, and wolves, and bandits. Oh, and a Spriggan. And getting more and more impatient for a chance to come here!"

He reminded her of the heavy meal they'd just eaten, and protested that he was in no condition for a repeat of their last encounter. She wasn't either, but she felt he owed her some of the seduction and foreplay that they'd skipped last time. And that had been a bit extreme for her tastes, too. It was what the occasion called for, and she'd enjoyed it at least as much as he had, but she'd be perfectly content at a more sustainable level. He knew just what she meant.

---

Later, it was her turn to ask him about recent events, and he told her about his visit to Anvil, and Lathenil. She knew pretty much the same about the Thalmor as Taminwe had told him. They were known to be hostile to immigrants to the Summerset Isle, and generally considered too extreme in their views to become a popular movement of any significance. They hadn't been seen in the other provinces, although they probably had sympathisers and contacts all around Tamriel. The Orcs saw a lot of prejudice, and it wasn't easy to tell the Thalmor's from anyone else's.

When he got to the part where the assassin had attacked him outside Gweden, he got a mixed reaction. She was genuinely grateful that the attack had failed, but also inclined to think he'd been too easy a mark. When he told her about the arrow being pulled from his leg she expressed surprise that only two could hold him down. He decided not to mention passing out.

He led her to believe that his subsequent fragility was just a ruse to get sympathy from the girls (which wasn't too much of an exaggeration), although she told him that it would have had the opposite effect on her. "If a man's fragile, what use is he to me?" she snorted.

That thought led her to talk about the situation between Wayrest and Orsinium, which could equally be described as fragile. Queen Elysana had never been any real threat to Gortwog. Her duplicity was somewhat cancelled out by the simplistic nature of her frequents plots against him. She was predictable, and therefore caused little or no problem. Until recently.

Either she had new advisors, or another party had joined the game. There had been acts of sabotage, and thefts of material and information, that she'd never have managed. There had even been an attempt to kill Uzgash's younger brother on his way back from Lilmoth, in Black Marsh.

The An-Xileel had declared that the absence of an Emperor made their accords with Cyrodiil null and void. Black Marsh had received no help from the Empire when the Daedra invaded, and felt they owed nothing in return. They had decided to secede, and were preparing to notify the Elder Council. That had made her brother's presence in Lilmoth "unnecessary", as they put it, and he was advised to return home.

It wasn't until he'd crossed the border from Wayrest that the attack took place. The boat in which he was travelling up the river had been moored for the night, and someone set it ablaze while they slept. He'd managed to get off alive, if a bit singed, but many of the crew had perished. The Argonians had had many better opportunities to do the same thing while he was leaving Black Marsh, and hadn't, so they were the least likely suspects. Gortwog believed that he was supposed to think Elysana was behind it, but he knew her style, and this was completely different.

It also wasn't clear if this was a failed attempt at an assassination, or an attempt to create friction between Wayrest and Orsinium. They could have used much more subtle methods if they just wanted him dead. The fire would be widely reported, and become the topic of speculation in all the markets and taverns around the land.

Gortwog had not sent couriers to warn his other children, fearing that they would be followed. Uzgash only learned of this when her duty roster returned her to the Iron Fortress.

So this trip was a welcome break from her routine in more ways than one. If she was a target, they'd be looking for her in the Wrothgarians, and not in Falkreath.

Taminwe hadn't mentioned which side had instigated this meeting. But there must have been a message sent between the agencies, and that courier could have been compromised. Uzgash told him not to worry on that score. They didn't need a courier for something that simple. There was a crystal ball sitting on a desk in someone's office in Orsinium, and if it glowed, she'd be sent here. She assumed another one existed in the Imperial Palace, to tell them to send him. The mages who did this didn't know what the signal meant, just that they had been told to send it. Another similar ball could cancel the request, from either end, if they weren't available. Any messages that needed to be passed would have been given to him or her to bring.

So why were they here this time? He hadn't been given a message for her, and she didn't have one for him. The events they'd just discussed were important enough, but there were no explicit instructions for either of them.

He asked her when she was due to return. "Whenever I'm done here," she responded. "Whatever done means. If you don't have any specific orders from your side, then I'm not sure why I'm here at all."

It didn't take long for them to realize that they'd both been sent here to hide. With assassins potentially looking for each of them, they were most likely safer here than anywhere else. They'd chosen this town because it was small, and easy for them to get to know, and be known by, everyone here. They'd soon spot a stranger, or they'd hear the rumors if any showed up.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Aug 22 2012, 02:16 PM