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Posted by: minque May 8 2005, 11:02 PM

Always be smarter than the people who hire you.
Lena Horne


Chapter 3 Gathering Forces

I decided to take a walk through the beautiful City of Balmora before finding my quarters. It was a rather big city, sturdy houses made of some kind of yellowish stone were scattered on each side of a river. I did meet quite a lot of people strolling on the riverbank, and in the streets. Most of them were very friendly, with few exceptions, who were clad in a strange type of armor and called themselves “guards”.

There seemed to be a lot of service available here, armorer, outfitters, various shops and to my greatest satisfaction I found a book-store. Now I can´t resist visiting a book-store whenever I find one and this time was no exception.

“Balmora Bookstore – owner; Dorisa Darvel” the sign by the door said and I stepped inside, meeting a young Dunmer girl, looking up from a book she was reading, friendly smiling at me.

“Good evening to you” she said, “what can I do for you?”

She was beautiful and the kind tone in her greeting touched me, so I smiled back to her;

“ I love books” I said, not the most intelligent answer, but I was somewhat stunned by the open friendliness with which she addressed me. “I´d like to look around for a while if that´s Ok with you?”

“By all means Muthsera, you´re welcome, take your time” With those words she got back to her reading.

I turned to the books, there were a lot of them, many unknown to me but also some titles I remembered seeing in Cyrodiil, even in the Library of the prison. When strolling among the bookshelves I suddenly heard someone coughing, naturally I got terrified, I didn´t expect someone else to be there besides the lovely Dorisa, but now I spotted a “guard” in that weird armor I´d seen in the streets. “Well naturally”, I thought when my heart stopped pounding, “she had to have some kind of protection, so young and all alone in her store.”

I found a couple of useful books though; A Guide to Balmora, and then there was another one where the name of it caught my interest, it was a Guide to Ald´ruhn, Ald´ruhn…there it was again…..my fate was somewhat bound to this place I imagined, far too many coincidences lately! Then I had to stop buying books, if I should be able to pay for night-quarters. It was obvious that I must try to get some kind of a job because I´d soon run out of the few septims I had.

With my new books in my satchel I then took a hearty godbye of Dorisa Darvel, certain that I´d visit her store again and made my way down the street. I noticed that the Mage´s and the Fighter´s guilds were situated nearly right across the bookstore, that knowledge could eventually come in handy later on…..

Further down, the street broadened a bit, stairs leading down to the river Odai, that I just learnt from the Guide, and also stairs leading upwards, then again I didn´t bother exploring anymore of the city tonight, all I wanted now was a decent meal and a bed for the night.

From a distance you could hear the whereabouts of the inn “Eight Plates”, laughs and raised voices accompanied by some weird kind of “music”…sounded out from a building to the left of the street. I hesitated for a while but decided it couldn´t be all that bad so I went inside…..

It was an Inn alright, but quite different from those back in The Imperial City….This one was dark, there was a distinct mouldy smell oozing from the very walls, and there were not many guests, just two Dunmeri sitting at a table heavily arguing about someone sleeping with someone else´s wife…..another rather drunk man in an ever weirder armor than the outside guards, was pacing back and forth muttering and hissing at some invisible enemy. Then there was the landlady, a tall elderly Dunmeri woman with an extremely dark voice, shouting at the drunken man to shut up and sit down otherwise he would be expelled from the premises.

I stopped at the counter and asked for night-quarters. The landlady stopped yelling at the drunk and turned to me thoroughly examining me before saying;

“Nah look what we have here guys!, an Outlander….and a woman, now that´s quite extraordinary” She laughed and stared at me, undressing me with her looks and I felt quite bad. It was not a good idea of coming here, but what choice did I have?

“Nightquarters” she laughed….”the little lady wants a bed, right?..and maybe some company to go with it?”

“No, I just want somewhere to sleep and something to eat if it´s possible” I tried to keep calm and be polite, despite the rage I felt inside by this insulting comments.

The men who were arguing before sat silent now and watched me with curiousity, the armored drunk had finally given up, lying beside the wall heavily snoring.

“Women don´t come in here unless they want some company”, the landlady snapped at me, “but nevermind, I´ll let you have the room downstairs to the right”. She then handed me the key and turned away.

The room was very small, a bed, a chair and a little table at the bedside, and it was filled up. Now I didn´t mind that at all, all I needed was a bed, but I checked the lock on the door very thoroughly, didn´t want any visitors….

After putting my gear on the bed, I went upstairs to investigate the possibility of having something to eat. The landlady was not very pleased with the thought of cooking me a meal so she shook her head in a negative answer on my request.

“Now now Dulnea, what about those kwama-eggs I brought you this afternoon, you haven´t finished them already have you?” A soft voice came out of a dark corner of the inn, and a young man stepped forward. He was a Dunmer, tall and slender, of about my age, maybe a few years older, pointed cheekbones, a complexion fairly light grey, and a tribal tattoo on his forehead, his red-brownish hair glowed in the dim lights from the lanterns on the wall, his eyes were red but then very sad and he looked thoughtfully right into my face.

“Oh heck,” Dulnea snapped at him, “Very well I´ll fry some eggs then, you certainly are a strange kind of man, Sedrane Mirpal, always volunteering to aid, being a woman or an outlander, your father would be ashamed of you”…..

“You know perfectly well that I don´t have a father” he said harshly and then turned to me;

“I bid you welcome to Balmora lady, and do forgive Dulnea, she is a hag sometimes but basicly she has a heart of gold, by the way my name is Sedrane Mirpal” .The young Dunmer reached out his hand to me and looked me straight into the eyes.

I felt weak, my legs trembled as I took his hand; strong and warm…..I was all lost in his earnest gaze, my voice was not but a whisper when I told him my name.

I simply had to sit down, having no idea what was happening to me,…….

“Ok Serene, let´s put you to bed before you pass out”, Sedrane took my hand again and led me down the stairs to my room, “I´ll bring you the food in a minute, but I think you have to
lie down for a while”
Lying on my bed I let my thoughts wander…..No doubt I was attracted to Sedrane Mirpal, he was very handsome, and that dark low voice, so soothing so calming and so sexy……and his hands, strong, warm and supporting. I closed my eyes and let it come to me, the feeling of something not yet experienced but still I knew what it was….Love!

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 May 8 2005, 11:10 PM

very good Minque

Posted by: Fuzzy Knight May 9 2005, 02:03 PM

Nice Minque, like how the "spirit" is in the Inn how u discribe it is very good I think, cant wait for the next part to come :lickinglips:

Posted by: minque May 11 2005, 05:10 PM

Hey, thought I´d submit a picture of the young ashlander so you can see wy Serene fell in love with him.....I think he´s gorgeous...


[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/SedraneMirpal.jpg[/img]

Posted by: Fuzzy Knight May 11 2005, 05:57 PM

Nice story... :goodjob: and nice made, wish I could make mods like that...

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 May 11 2005, 09:31 PM

wow hes cool

Posted by: Aki May 11 2005, 11:16 PM

And the plot thickens...

Heh, thats a nic etattoo he's got there. I think i remeber having a face like that, dunno where i lost it to though.

Oh well.

Heh, lets see....if Racial Phylogentics is right, any children that *could* result from this would look like Imperials.

With the occaisonall Dunmeri trait. You know, pointy ears, one might have flaming red eyes(which would give one a rather impressive glare :goodjob: )

Posted by: minque May 11 2005, 11:43 PM

[quote=Aki]And the plot thickens...

Heh, thats a nic etattoo he's got there. I think i remeber having a face like that, dunno where i lost it to though.

Oh well.

Heh, lets see....if Racial Phylogentics is right, any children that *could* result from this would look like Imperials.

With the occaisonall Dunmeri trait. You know, pointy ears, one might have flaming red eyes(which would give one a rather impressive glare :goodjob: )[/quote]

Ah yes that would be a real treat, maybe I should ask Darkie to "make" a charachter like that ? I really would like to see how it looks like....hmmm

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 May 11 2005, 11:54 PM

i can see it now, an imperial with pointy ears and flaming red eyes. :evil5: :evil6: :evil7: **cough** deamon **cough**

Posted by: minque May 12 2005, 09:42 PM

The door opened and Sedrane came in with a large bowl filled with something that smelled quite good.

“Serene, I brought you this, it’s something we usually eat back home at the Camp,” he said with a faint smile, “It’s simple but it fills you up real good.”

It was a porridge-like stew made from boiled saltrice and in it there were small chunks of kwama-egg and scuttle. I must admit it didn’t look very fancy but the taste was wonderful and it really satisfied my hunger. Sedrane and I ate from the one bowl, also sharing one spoon; there was nothing wrong with that, it felt quite normal to share the meal like that. I was beginning to wonder about what strange fate that brought this lovable young man to my side, but decided to just enjoy the fact that he was there at all!

Sedrane told me about his origin, he was an Ashlander, from the Ahemmusa-tribe, which had its Camp in the northern Grazelands, northwest of Tel Vos. Now this didn’t tell me much since I was completely unfamiliar with the land I currently was in.

He told me about the small tribe, the hard times they were experiencing at the present time. They were hunters mainly and the prey in the surroundings had diminished continuously during the last years. Besides that, they also lost their ashkan this last winter, so the tribe was now lead by the Wise Woman. When he mentioned this I saw tears in his eyes; I took his hand and just held it…..

“Sinnamu Mirpal is the Ahemmusa Wise Woman….she is also my mother,” Sedrane whispered, bowing his head down. His shoulders were shaking and I understood he was crying. I just put my arms around him and so we sat for a while……

“She’s old Serene,” he then said, “It’s too much for her leading the tribe in combat as well as being their spiritual leader and healer, and she can’t prepare the potions we need! The tribe is falling apart, the young ones are leaving for greener pastries, the older ones are too weak to hunt for the support of women and….and there have been no children born in several years, due to some unknown curse; Azura knows we need some coming generations…..oh what will become of my people?” Sedrane cried out in agony and pain so I just put my hands around his face and kissed him…….I don’t exactly knew what made me do this, it just felt like the right thing to do at the moment.

The consequences of my action were maybe expected…..we fell down on my bed tightly locked in an embrace…...

It was true that I was no virgin, due to the events in my past, but this time it was something completely different, it was an act of love and caring, of support and warmth, and I just let go…..drifting away on the waves of love…

“Serene, Serene of Cyrodiil, your next task has begun, fear not child, just follow your heart and everything will be revealed, I am watching over you…..”

Azura! I sat up in my bed, disoriented and dizzy. The room was completely dark; the only thing that was heard was the calm breath of the young man beside me. “Sedrane,” I whispered his name, gently stoking his chin; he moved and dragged me down beside him again. I cuddled up in his arms and fell asleep again.

That night I had the best sleep for a long time so I awakened quite refreshed and very happy, turning aside to wake up Sedrane…..but he was gone! On the pillow there was a small leather-satchel with a long strap attached to it. I opened it and found a selection of medical herbs, all very useful for making restoration-potions, and also quite powerful. I was stunned; how could he know I was a healer and alchemist? How could he know I was able to make good use of herbs like that? I sat down tears running down my face; he had left me, but he also left deep marks in my heart….I understood the hidden message in this, somehow the Ahemmusa-tribe was connected to my future, and as Azura had told me; I was to follow my heart…

So I rose from the bed, washed my face in the bucket in the corner and headed upstairs. Dulnea Ralaal, the barkeep, looked suspiciously at me;

“Ye had a good sleep little lady huh?’ She chuckled, “Yer hunter-boy left hours ago, headin´ home he was, in a hurry, hadn’t time te have breakfast he didn’t…”

I just nodded at Dulnea and asked her if I could have a cup of tea; I had no appetite this morning, I just wanted to get on with what lay ahead of me, visiting this Caius Cosades, and then….my heart was with the young ashlander who now was heading home to his tribe.

While having my tea, which Dulnea provided me without hesitation, I consulted my “Guide to Balmora” to find out where to find Caius Cosades.

I was not sure what I was expecting when knocking on the door of Caius´s house, but definitely not the sound of a drunkard’s hoarse roaring:

“ENTER, dammit, she door ish opennnn….arrrghhh.” then followed by the unpleasant noise of someone vomiting heavily.

I took a deep breath and opened the door. The smell that met me was indescribable; I had to cover my nose and mouth with a corner of my shirt to endure it. On a filthy bed lay a middle-aged Cyrodiilic man totally knocked out, his trousers in a mess, he had no shirt and was gasping for air in between severe coughing-attacks.

I rushed towards him and turned him on his side so he shouldn’t be suffocated if he should vomit again. He muttered something I couldn’t understand and then lay still. I opened the window to let some fresh air in and then tried to find something to boil water for tea-making. When I happened to look at the man’s face....there was a thin stream of blood running from his mouth that was absorbed by the pillow under him. Now that was a bad sign, there was most certainly an open wound inside his stomach, so tea wouldn’t be the best thing to give him....

I closed my eyes for a moment then sat myself beside him on the bed. I slowly rolled him over on his back again, he moaned a bit, but did not move. My hands were a bit cold so I rubbed them against each other, then put them on his stomach, concentrating........forcing the power to come, to emerge through my fingers into the poor soul on the bed.

The power built up inside me; I could feel the familiar tickling sensation in my fingertips, the heat.....then I felt the open wound inside him slowly close. It was a slow process this time; maybe because the man was dead-drunk, the amount of alcoholic beverage in his stomach hindered the effect of my healing-powers. I concentrated even more; sweat was running down my back, over my face, I was shivering....”Close...close.” I formed the words with my lips....Then it went faster, I could feel the wound finally close, so I fell to my knees panting heavily, I had succeeded again; it never stopped puzzling me, that I always managed to perform that healing-process ....It was a true wonder, even though Marthona always said that it was a natural gift I had and no wonder at all!

I wiped Caius´s face with a piece of cloth I found, and noticed he had fallen asleep, naturally asleep, so I began tidying the place up. After a while I felt that peculiar sensation in the spine that tells you someone is watching you, so I turned around and looked into Caius Cosades´s sad blue eyes.

“Who are you girl,” he said in a hoarse voice, “What brings you here to watch the misery of an old addict?”

“My orders were to see you master,” I said, “I have a package for you”

“NO you can’t be the one!” he yelled at me, trying to rise from the bed, “Not a girl, it just can’t BE.” He fell down again on the bed; the effort of sitting up was too much for him, besides he was still rather drunk...

I did not understand the meaning of his last remark, so I just handed him the documents and watched his face turn from anger and wrath to astonishment and then happiness as he read...

“My request has been approved. “He said quite happily, “Look here:”

He handed me the document and I read with fear rising in my heart:

“Spymaster Caius Cosades, Knight Errant of the imperial order of Blades, Director of Imperial intelligence in Vvardenfell District, eastern Provinces”

I have, in the name of His Majesty Emperor Uriel Septim III the honour to fulfill your request concerning the corruption of the Imperial Legion in the District. I therefore have the honour to acquaint you with Serene , an individual of no rank or consequence or even a last name, though with remarkable skills in the noble art of healing, and a strong sense of justice.

Serene has been released from prison by His Majesty’s authority and sent to you with this message. Serene is to be entered as a novice in the Imperial order of The Blades and to serve under your absolute authority as you shall see fit except insofar as His Majesty’s particular wishes are concerned.

His Majesty’s particular wishes are as follows:

Serene has to be enrolled in The Legion under cover and investigate the nature of the ongoing corruption in order to develop sufficient evidence on the basis of which We shall act.

You will provide Serene with adequate disguise, as well as a usable last name and introduce her to General Darius at Fort Darius. She shall report directly to you. If her true mission is revealed, the Emperor will not show any recognition of Serene_.

I have the honour to be your most humble and obedient servant,

Glabrio Bellineus
Personal secretary to the Emperor”


I trembled when I finished reading.....I couldn’t believe it....It just couldn’t be true. What could I, a 23 year old ex-convict, newly arrived from Cyrodiil, possibly be able to achieve with the Imperial Legion in Vvardenfell?

[b][/b]

Posted by: jonajosa May 12 2005, 09:46 PM

keep it up please. I need somthing to read. Im getting tired of reading my soon to come updates of my story(hint hint)...

:goodjob:

Posted by: minque May 12 2005, 09:49 PM

yay...you will update soon...? niiice......I´m waiting...

Another part is in progress here........so hang on ......it´ll come .....erhm soon?

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 May 13 2005, 01:21 AM

don't worry Minque take your time...... oh who am I kidding please hurry!!! lol

Posted by: burntsierra May 15 2005, 12:28 AM

[quote=Soulseeker3.0]don't worry Minque take your time...... oh who am I kidding please hurry!!! lol[/quote]

Very true Soulseeker, couldn't have said it better myself

Well, now you've introduced the first stirrings of the plot, and it looks like it'll be a humdinger too. Need to know what hapens next :lickinglips2: Update soon, please.

(beg, beg, grovel, grovel)

Posted by: Elongar May 15 2005, 12:19 PM

[quote=burntsierra](beg, beg, grovel, grovel)[/quote]

I think I'll follow your example there! Some very nice writing there, minque (well, not just some..., a whole lot more than just some)!

Posted by: minque May 15 2005, 09:02 PM

“ This must be a mistake,” I addressed Caius, “I am not a soldier, I don´t fight....besides I hate the Legion ..out of personal reasons.” Tears were running down my face again; this was a complete outrage, and I just wanted to run away.

“No, no it´s no mistake, this paper here clearly states it´s you, Serene!” Caius smiled at me, “Now we can´t disobey the Emperor´s orders can we? Besides you just proved your outstanding healing-skills.”

I shook my head and remained silent. Was this some kind of joke? Not a very amusing one that was; I once again had that terrible feeling of being set up somehow....

Caius gave me 300 septims, in order to get myself some decent armour, and a letter of introduction to General Darius in Gnisis. He also told me that the easiest way to go to Gnisis was to take the Silt-Strider to Ald´ruhn and then another one from there to Gnisis.

“Well, I´ll have to give you a last name, what about Catraso? Serene Catraso sounds good, don´t you think?”

I just nodded, took my 300 septims and bid the man goodbye. I didn´t bother to buy some armour, because I knew when joining the Legion I would get some for free, if the rules were the same here as in Cyrodiil, that was...So I spent some gold on new clothes instead; I happened to find a fine clothier in Balmora, Milie Hastien, a sweet Breton who willingly showed me her stock of nice clothing.

While spending the afternoon in Milie´s shop I forgot about the strange tasks that lay before me. I was a woman again, a woman on a shopping-spree........that really made me feel good. Milie and I had a cup of tea together, and she told me a lot of Balmora and it´s services, and we giggled like schoolgirls over the amusing anecdotes she could tell about different citizens. Milie reminded me of Leila, the sweet Breton who was my friend in prison, and it made me feel sad for a moment.

The young clothier had another skill as well, something that usually pleased women greatly ; she was very good at fixing hairstyles, so I let her have a go with mine.....I never had changed hairstyles in my entire life so it was an exciting moment as she afterwards held a mirror in front of me and let me have a look at the “new Serene.” It was astonishing, originally my hair was a mess of auburn waves, just hanging down my back, really nothing special. Now, after proper washing, she´d dyed it jet-black with the help of an extract of Ash-yam, choke-weed, corkbulb-root and a dash of heather, then she styled most of it in a high set ponytail, but left a part falling down on the side of my face. I really looked ravishing, but also harder, tougher, which was the purpose. If I was going to be Serene Catraso, a Blades spy and enroll in The Legion I really had to look like a warrior.

I left Milie´s shop with light steps, heading towards the Strider-port for take-off to Fort Darius. Before leaving Balmora I decided to pay a visit to the Mage´s Guild, just out of curiosity. On my knocking on the door it was opened by a tall Dunmeri woman in a beautiful blue robe. Her hair was long and dark and the look in her face was kindly neutral.

“Please come in, Outlander.” she spoke in that dark and seductive voice that is common among the Dunmeri women, “What can I do for you?”

“I´m Serene Catraso, and I´m a healer and mage, so I.....”

“A healer you said?” she interrupted, “Well now that´s interesting, would you consider joining the Guild? I´m Ranis Arthrys, by the way.” Her handshake was hard as stone and so was the gaze she gave me whilst waiting for my reply.

Naturally I joined the Mage´s Guild, and not just for the nice benefits that were given to members only; teleportation between the Guilds for a low fee, possibility of acquiring accommodations in the guild for free and also free to take what I wanted from the supply-chests. Those were rather nice benefits and I immediately inventoried the chest in the Balmora-guild, and so took care of some restore-magicka-potions, a nice set of scrolls and a couple of soul-gems. Also the chest contained some nice books, that made a good addition to my current collection.

I then bade Ranis Arthrys good-bye and walked away towards the Strider-port.

As I arrived at the port the evening was long gone already, the sun had set and the sky had the colour of warm red comberry-wine. I then took the night-strider due for Ald´ruhn, laid myself comfortably down on the pillows inside the “creature” and fell asleep.

The early morning-sun woke me up as we went down for landing at Ald´ruhn Strider-port. As I stepped off the vehicle I spotted a landscape of a kind I never had seen before; it was grey, all grey, not a sign of green as far as I could see. The ground was cracked, dry and...well just grey! The houses that were scattered in front of me were of a peculiar shape, like shells of some maritime creatures. I decided to make a stop here; the mighty General Darius just had to wait a day longer for his new recruit. I had come to think of Elone´s sister, who I´d promised to visit when in Ald´ruhn......

The citizens greeted me politely but with no warmth; their suspicion towards outlanders was very obvious. The first building I came to when entering the town was the Mage´s guild. The door was open so I stepped in to introduce myself as a new member; it wouldn´t hurt to show a bit of courtesy I thought...

I was welcomed by a Cyrodiilic woman a bit older than I. She told me her name was Edwinna Elbert and that she was the guild-guide in Ald´ruhn-mage´s guild. Somehow she already knew I was a member, and she was kind enough to offer me some breakfast and an opportunity to wash myself.

Almost fully refreshed, body and soul, I took a walk around town. I had my Guide to Ald´ruhn ready so I could easily spot the two buildings that dominated the city; the Temple and Under Skar, where the council was supposed to be. I asked a woman in the street if she happened to know of a redguard-woman called Neminda and to my surprise the woman not only smiled in a friendly fashion, she also knew Neminda and so she could direct me without hesitation; Neminda lived in the council hall in that strange construction called Under Skar.

When entering Under Skar, that actually was a shell taken from an ancient huge Emperor-crab, I was stunned. Before me was a gigantic hall, wooden ladders and hanging bridges crossed this void, leading to doors in the walls. Guards patrolled the ladders and bridges all the time. I asked my way to the Council Hall, and was directed to a spot where 3 of these peculiar doors led right into the wall.

I opened one of the doors and stepped into an entrance-hall that was absolutely gorgeous with its arched roof, exquisite carpets and huge flower-arrangements.

I caught a glimpse of a dark-skinned woman in a blue expensive-looking outfit giving some heavy-armoured guard orders, and realized that must be Neminda.....

I approached the dark woman, who turned towards me with a curious smile;

“Neminda,” I said, “I´m Serene Catraso and I have a message for you....”

Posted by: Fuzzy Knight May 15 2005, 09:08 PM

Great Minque! :lickinglips2: Your stories are good very good! Keep it up woman :hugesmile:

:goodjob:

Posted by: Aki May 15 2005, 10:30 PM

Very cool. :goodjob:

Interesting interpretation of Caius.

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 May 15 2005, 10:35 PM

good job MInque and is there by any chance that we will see a screen shot oh this "new Serene"? pwweeeaaaasssseee?? I wub you. :crying2:

Posted by: minque May 15 2005, 10:45 PM

Well Naturally! I´ll do anything for you...

Here: In training:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/Serene%20in%20action/ScreenShot85.jpg


en face:

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/Serene%20in%20action/FacingSereneage30.jpg[/img]


pretty good looking huh?

Posted by: burntsierra May 16 2005, 12:39 AM

Hm, I could do a Jona here.

" :goodjob: " (tm jonajosa)

Understatement though, it's an excellent job. Where's the Emoticon for that? This should be going onto a required reading list for Morrowind stories really. Well wriiten, fully rounded and sympathetic characters, a living, breathing world..... Everything I look for in a story.

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 May 16 2005, 02:38 AM

hot. [img]http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/otn/wink/wink2.gif[/img]

Posted by: Ze Milanio May 16 2005, 03:10 PM

Finaly ! Our hero winds up in the good ol' Ald-Ruhn (and finaly, I get to spell it right )... although I'm a bit dissapointed to see her fall for the first sad eyed Dunmer boy-scout

Posted by: jonajosa May 16 2005, 10:44 PM

Hmm so thats a jonajosa.... Well then whats to say when everybody else says what you wanted to say. I find myself devoid of words if i get to the story to late to post somthing before you others vultures do. By the way Burntsierra you havent posted in my story yet. I find it really annoying when i post my heart out in others storys telling them how goo they are just so i could be ignored(Thats why i don't comment in Treys or overrides story anymore.)

Ok... You spelled "Armor" in that typical euro. way again... Please fix it so i can continue with the story.

:goodjob:

Posted by: minque May 16 2005, 10:51 PM

[quote=jonajosa]Hmm so thats a jonajosa.... Well then whats to say when everybody else says what you wanted to say. I find myself devoid of words if i get to the story to late to post somthing before you others vultures do.

Ok... You spelled "Armor" in that typical euro. way again... Please fix it so i can continue with the story.

:goodjob:[/quote]

:lmao: Then be the first then! You know what? I AM a euro.....and my american editor left it as is...just because.....

but if it bothers you....ok i´ll change it then....

Posted by: jonajosa May 16 2005, 11:06 PM

Ill have to talk to him about his recent lazy natures. Hes so not american anymore...

Posted by: minque May 16 2005, 11:09 PM

well please do.....i don´t mind... i just write.....

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 May 17 2005, 12:35 AM

HOLY, nice avatar Minque!!

Posted by: NEO256 May 18 2005, 08:14 PM

Wow this is indeed some amazing stuf, but about the triple X part connected to my question on my own storry. It was very very short. I indeed made clear they where doing and I'm not going to attack you on this style, but it was like they started there love making and that she fell asleep in the middle of it. A short sentence like, "we had a long night" or "We went on for....., before I fell asleep" will make it look it actualy... hmmm how do you put this... ment something and that it was not just a quiky.

My opinion on this story, it's clear. Not to long and keeps you interested to read, enough emotion and that peas about the healing was realy realy good. Interaction with other character is also very good.

One thing about the scene at Caius Cosades. She cry's alot doesn't she, maybe it's her nature but I would like to know why she is so hit on by the things that happen to her. Did anything happen in her past that made her this censitive.

Posted by: minque May 19 2005, 03:19 PM

Neminda looked at me. ”Yes” she said,” please tell me”

I hesitated a bit; how I would tell her this in a good way. Her sister obviously wanted to get things sorted out, and I knew Elone a little bit, but I didn’t know this woman and I had the feeling I would need her, so the last thing I wished was to annoy her in any way.

I handed Neminda the ring Elone had given me and told her that her sister did not have any hard feelings and that she was sorry for the past....

When I said that, Neminda turned her head down and I saw tears emerge from her eyes. I didn’t really know what to do so I just stretched my hand out and the young Redguard grasped it and held tight. Then all of a sudden she raised her head again, wiped the tears away and looked me sternly in the eyes;

“You have brought me much joy, Serene Catraso, and I will forever be grateful to you for doing this, so if there is ever anything I can do for you in return, just let me know...”

I felt good doing this mission, and after taking a hearty farewell of Neminda, I made my way towards the Strider-port in order to finally go to Gnisis. As I rode north, I pondered on what events in the past had parted those two lovable sisters.

Gnisis turned out to be a miserable little village, a few odd-shaped buildings scattered along the shoreline, an Imperial Fortress rising beyond them......and not much more. I took a walk through the village in order to stretch my legs a bit after the tedious Silt-strider-journey. The villagers greeted me politely, but as in Ald´ruhn not very warmly. I asked about where to find General Darius and was told to seek him in the Madach Trade house.

Upon entering the Trade house I was received with suspicion; it was probably not appropriate for a single woman to even be here, but I shrugged my shoulders and asked where to find the General. He dwelt in the lower level of the establishment, I was told.....

“Ayyee, they just can’t be serious!” the General exclaimed as I told him who I was. “This is no task for a woman, these are serious matters, what in the name of Stendarr was he thinking, the old bugger?”

Even though I by now should have been used to being looked down on just for being female, I became furious;

“Look here Ser General! I did not come here voluntarily, I was ordered by the Emperor himself, to enroll in the Legion, so here I am whether you like it or not, you just have to accept it!”

I was shivering, my shirt was soaked with sweat, tears burning behind my eyelids, but I succeeded in staying composed. There would be no sign of weakness from me anymore, from now on I had to be strong, calm and very focused, otherwise I wouldn’t survive. That realization had grown strong during my stay on this godforsaken continent, where I seemed to be a puppet-on-a-string for someone.....yet unknown.

The General was stunned after my outbreak; apparently no woman had ever dared to talk to him the way I just did, but I had no regrets, being utterly tired of the male-chauvinism I had met in the last months.

“Hrrrmpfff, ok so what may be your name Recruit?” he said in a remarkably friendlier tone.

“Serene Catraso, Ser....originally from Cyrodiil,” my voice was clear and very calm despite the rage that still dwelt within me.

“Okay,” he looked at me, then his lips narrowed and he continued; “We’ll have to send you to a training-camp, let’s see......” he scratched himself on his genitals. I shrugged, knowing it must have been deliberate, just to make me feel uncomfortable... “ Ahh now I have it, you’ll go to Fort Buckmoth, that’s the Fortress near Ald´ruhn and report to Imsin –the-Whor....ehh Dreamer it is yes,” he laughed rather unpleasantly, undressing me with his gaze.

By then I really was sick and tired of his behaviour and wished I could tell him who my father was, but instead I took a deep breath to stay calm and said in a razor-sharp voice;

“Aye, ser General”

He then gave me an imperial chain cuirass, and told me to wear it anytime I addressed an officer in the Legion, and 100 septims for expenses.

When I came out from the Madach Trade house, I couldn’t stop the tears from running, I felt so humiliated and lonely, and had no one to turn to. Those very few who at least cared for me I had no more; Thavere I had to leave in Seyda Neen and Sedrane....oh when I thought of him I cried even more....

The man by the Strider gave me a piece of cloth to dry my face with as I embarked....he didn’t ask any questions, just showed me that small kindness. Grateful and deadly tired I fell asleep during the short trip to Ald´ruhn.

It was quite nasty weather in Ald´ruhn on my arrival, the ash-storm whirled the reddish ashes up in the air and I coughed heavily when trudging along the road to Fort Buckmoth. I tried to cover my nose and mouth with a corner of my robe but the ashes made my eyes run, and I could hardly see where I was going. Suddenly I heard a sound like someone in need, but I didn’t pay that much attention to it since no sensible human being would be outside in weather like this.

The whining sound grew louder as I arrived at the slope of the hill west from the Strider-port, and there, walking, or rather swaying in the storm I spotted a woman, far too poorly clad in just a skirt and a torn shirt. She was crying heavily and could be hurt, so I hurried to her side asking her what was the matter.

“Oh where’s my husband?” the woman cried, “We were attacked by nix-hounds, and..and....ohhhhh, where is he? Help me please!” The poor woman, a young Dunmeri with short spiky hair that should have been black, but was now covered with the reddish ashes, was crying so heavily she couldn’t speak.

I looked around; it was impossible to see more than a few inches ahead due to the whirling storm but I could hear some strange roaring and it filled me with fear. I had no idea what a nix-hound was but it sure didn’t sound good.

I decided to place the hysterical woman in a shelter beside a low boulder in order to protect her from the storm. Then I would try to find out what really happened before rushing into something unknown.

When we were sitting together in shelter of the boulder she told me what had happened:

“Aye, my name is Falanu Indaren and me and my husband was heading for Maar Gan to visit my mother who is old and poor, we can’t afford to take the Strider though, so we thought it would be a nice walk.......now we didn’t make it longer than here outside the town then the nix-hounds just attacked us....” Falanu started crying again and I put my arm around her shoulders.

“There now,” I tried to calm her down, but she just clung to me, wetting my robe with her tears. I held her until her crying diminished so she could continue her story.

“I´m used to nix-hounds,” she said, “the trick is to be still, to play dead if needed, then they lose interest and just ignore you, but if you try to fight back, or run away they attack immediately.” Falanu turned her face towards me; the tears had made clean lines in the dust on her cheeks, “He was scared, Drerel,” she said, “ He started to run away, shouting at me to follow, he didn’t hear me, I shouted at him not to run......” Falanu became silent. I rose to my feet, promising her to try and find Drerel.

“He ran away westwards from here,“she said, “He’s probably dead by now.”

I left Falanu Indaren in her shelter and headed west to try find her husband; the reason was obvious, at least to me ~Love! ~

Posted by: Fuzzy Knight May 19 2005, 03:46 PM

Hehe :hearts:

Nice written Minque, please post more today... :goodjob:

Posted by: treydog May 19 2005, 04:49 PM

It is hard for me to say more than I did at the "other forum," but I feel compelled to do so, because W4O has created such a wonderful home for all of us writers.

Minque, the depth and "reality" you bring to Serene's experiences makes this story stand on its own. We see her as a 3-dimensional person, still young enough to believe in love and justice, despite her own experiences. Yet she also feels that she must respect authority, even when it interferes with her desires.

Or to put it in East Tennessean, "You done good!"

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 May 19 2005, 09:33 PM

Great job Minque the General was a, errmm, very interesting character. don't forget to bring back Telemachos from the first Chapter at the training-camp.

Posted by: jonajosa May 19 2005, 10:04 PM

[quote=treydog]
Or to put it in East Tennessean, "You done good!"[/quote]

Or in the Western North Carolinian, "You keep it up now ya hear!"

:goodjob:

Posted by: minque May 19 2005, 10:10 PM

[quote=Soulseeker3.0]Great job Minque the General was a, errmm, very interesting character. don't forget to bring back Telemachos from the first Chapter at the training-camp.[/quote]

Oh..you liked General Darius? Well well, even generals have their bad habits..

Telemachos.....well you see he will come back, but not right yet, he´s a bit more cruisal to this story than just being at a training camp, you wait and see, wait and see

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 May 19 2005, 10:19 PM

fine i'll wait. lol no I didn't realy like him.

Posted by: burntsierra May 21 2005, 11:14 AM

Three days without coming online. Torture I tell you, especially as I suspected this would have been updated. But now all is right with the world. An update, comments in usual place and if you add the story to the other place then comments will go there too, my virus is finally gone, and I'm happy. Can there be a greater compliment to an author? An update makes me happy. Cheers Minque

Posted by: Wolfie May 21 2005, 03:36 PM

I finally caught up with this story lol
Great work Minque, keep it up :goodjob:

Posted by: Elongar May 25 2005, 06:22 PM

One day, I will take this all, plonk it into a Word document and read it through a gazillion times!

Posted by: burntsierra May 25 2005, 06:45 PM

[quote=Elongar]One day, I will take this all, plonk it into a Word document and read it through a gazillion times![/quote]

hehe, some of us have already done that except of course I don't have word, openoffice will have to suffice for now. We're very lucky on these forums, to have so many stories that I want to read over and over again. A good thing indeed.

Posted by: Dantrag May 25 2005, 08:14 PM

[quote=jonajosa][quote=treydog]
Or to put it in East Tennessean, "You done good!"[/quote]

Or in the Western North Carolinian, "You keep it up now ya hear!"

:goodjob:[/quote]

Or the EASTERN North Carolinian. "Reading's fer sissies."

lol. good story, even though I haven't read it all yet. im looking forward to doing so.

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 May 25 2005, 09:49 PM

hey Minque why isn't there a new addition?

Posted by: jonajosa May 25 2005, 09:51 PM

Because Im working on it.

Posted by: JJPro612 May 26 2005, 12:55 AM

Very Nice story, i like it alot, keep it up. awesome

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 May 26 2005, 01:43 AM

[quote=jonajosa]Because Im working on it. [/quote]

WHAT!?!?!?! So Jona why don't you have Minque's section done?

or better yet why do you have Minque's work??



[size=7]errmm just kidding

Posted by: jonajosa May 26 2005, 07:00 PM

you can spit out topics as soon as your done with them. They need more going over before they appear here.

Besides im working on a part that is probirbly far ahead of the next part of this story. i don't know yet.

just be paitent.

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 May 26 2005, 09:24 PM

oh ok thats good.

Posted by: minque May 28 2005, 01:01 PM

Covering my mouth and nose with a part of my cloak I trudged westwards in the whirling ash-storm. I heard some distant roaring but couldn’t decide from what quarter it came. I nearly regretted that I had promised Falanu to find her disappeared husband; it seemed impossible in this gruesome weather.

Then all of a sudden I found out what a Nix-hound really was; a hard blow to my back threw me flat on the ground and deprived me of my breath, at the same time something breathed hard on my neck. Its breath was hot and foul and it made me slightly nauseous. I remembered Falanu´s words and lay completely still. The beast clumped about for a while, sniffing at me, poking at me with his wet smelly nose. I slowly moved my hand down to my belt, unsheathing my dagger.....As the Hound was at my left side I turned around as fast as I could and buried the dagger in its throat. Warm sticky blood gushed over my hand as the beast gruntled and heavily fell to the ground beside me, twisting and tossing its legs in its death throes. Panting, I stood beside it until it was completely motionless.

As I was sure the Nix-Hound’s friends and family would come to its funeral I quickly moved along westwards. The storm diminished and the visibility improved. So when I heard a faint cry riding with the wind I suspected that it had to be Drerel Indaren. I stood still and listened in order to decide from what direction the cry came, and when I heard it again I started running as fast as I could towards it.

Drerel Indaren was lying among some upright boulders in a group; he had squeezed himself tight in amongst them in order to avoid the attacks from the Nix-Hounds. He was severely, but not life-threateningly injured, he had some nasty bites on his right leg and his hands were badly injured from trying to defend himself. The worst thing was his mind though, he was in a deep shock, couldn’t speak, he just stared terrified at me, lips silently moving, as I kneeled beside him.

“Drerel,” I said, “Don’t be afraid, I’ll help you to get back to your wife, she’s safe a short distance from here.”

“Uhu...uuh...” his lips moved but only guttural sounds came out of his mouth, so this was a bad case of shock and I wasn’t sure I could heal that..... And additionally I could hear the angry roaring from the rest of the Nix-Hound-gang who apparently had found their dead comrade.

I closed my eyes and concentrated, putting my hands around Drerel´s head and held tight, praying that the healing-energy would emerge quickly this time.......It did, I felt the warmth that went through my hands into his head, but I didn’t exactly know what it really healed inside it. It drained my fatigue, but after a couple of minutes I noticed his eyes lose some of that mad terrified gaze and then he tried to talk to me:

“ Errhh, hmmm, who are you?” he asked, his voice still a bit guttural, “where is my wife, where is she??”

“Shhhh,” I replied, I found your wife, she’s safe, I also killed one of the beasts that attacked you, but there still are some left, so we have to be careful.”

I then put my hands on the injuries on his right leg and with a rather minor effort succeeded in healing them; my skills must have risen, because I didn’t feel as exhausted as I used to, even though my shirt was soaked with sweat, I still could breathe without strain and also concentrate on the wounds on his hands. I needed him fit for fighting because I was aware of the furious Nix-Hounds approaching.

Drerel Indaren stood up, healed in body and soul, looking at me with as it seemed mixed feelings;

“Who are you, sera,” he asked, “What powers do you possess....are you a witch or something?”

“I´m Serene Catraso,” I replied, “Not a witch, but I do have some healing-skills; shall we go back to your wife now, she’ll be waiting for you.”

We were heading back towards Ald´ruhn and almost reached it when they attacked, four huge Nix-Hounds were over us in a second; I barely had the chance to toss my sword to Drerel and tell him to fight for his life, before I was slammed to the ground by a vicious blow of a claw-equipped paw. I lost my breath for a moment, and then I quickly rolled over just in time to avoid another vicious blow that certainly would have caused great damage if it had hit me. I jumped to my feet grabbing the dagger, swinging it at the attacking beast without really hitting it; I was far too unfocused and terrified to really fight.

Drerel was quite good with my sword; in a couple of minutes he’d killed one nix-hound and severely injured another. The man was terrified, his eyes wide open, sweat streaming down his face, yelling and thrusting the deadly weapon at the beasts, actually hitting them most of the time. Then I saw the third nix-hound crouching behind Drerel, ready to jump at him, so I flung myself at its back and buried the dagger deep in its neck. The thick warm blood emerged from the wound and was sucked up in the grey ashes of the ground. I felt sick; killing is always a nasty thing no matter if it is man or beast.

After that fight Drerel and I just sat down on the ground for a while, too exhausted to talk. Somehow I managed to take out a bottle with plain water from my backpack and we shared it equally.

Naturally, Falanu was overwhelmed with joy to see her husband again and the couple fell in each other’s arms, kissing and laughing. I felt good about this, yet also a bit sad; I wished there would have been someone for me as well, someone who would have been that joyous to see me alive and sound.

The reunited couple was very grateful for my troubles, but had little to offer me in the way of payment for my services. They did, however, give me one of their favourite books, “A Dance in the Fire,” which pleased me a lot, because it was a gift from their hearts.

I decided not to continue to Fort Buckmoth this day due to the state of my clothes and weapons; also I yearned for a hot bath to soothe my aching muscles. The Mage’s guild and its services seemed to be the ultimate solution at the moment.

Edwinna Elbert did not ask any questions as she encountered the dirty blood-stained wreck of a human being that was me entering the Guild. She just took me to a small room in the basement where there was a pot hanging in a fireplace, filled with steamy hot water, and a huge wooden barrel beside it. She mixed hot and cold water in the barrel, added some Heather and Gold Kanet petals and so bade me step into it.

The scent of the herbs in hot water was wonderful and when the water surrounded me I felt very relaxed and like I was in heaven.

After sharing the mage’s evening-meal, consisting of some dark bread, saltrice and comberry-juice sweeted with stone flower-nectar, I was very happy to get to the little guest room and lie down. Almost immediately I fell into a deep dreamless sleep.

Posted by: Fuzzy Knight May 28 2005, 01:10 PM

Great Minque... :goodjob: Nix-Hounds give us dogs a bad reputation

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 May 28 2005, 06:55 PM

[quote=minque]hen all of a sudden I found out what a Nix-hound really was; a hard blow to my back threw me flat on the ground and deprived me of my breath, at the same time something breathed hard on my neck. Its breath was hot and foul and it made me slightly nauseous. I remembered Falanu´s words and lay completely still. The beast clumped about for a while, sniffing at me, poking at me with his wet smelly nose. I slowly moved my hand down to my belt, unsheathing my dagger.....As the Hound was at my left side I turned around as fast as I could and buried the dagger in its throat. Warm sticky blood gushed over my hand as the beast gruntled and heavily fell to the ground beside me, twisting and tossing its legs in its death throes. Panting, I stood beside it until it was completely motionless.[/quote]

wow discriptive, great job Minque!

Posted by: Stargazey May 28 2005, 07:13 PM

Very nice. You've inspired me to write more .

Posted by: Elongar May 28 2005, 07:15 PM

Very nice. You've inspired me to read more Hehe!

Posted by: jonajosa May 28 2005, 07:50 PM

[quote=Soulseeker3.0][quote=minque]hen all of a sudden I found out what a Nix-hound really was; a hard blow to my back threw me flat on the ground and deprived me of my breath, at the same time something breathed hard on my neck. Its breath was hot and foul and it made me slightly nauseous. I remembered Falanu´s words and lay completely still. The beast clumped about for a while, sniffing at me, poking at me with his wet smelly nose. I slowly moved my hand down to my belt, unsheathing my dagger.....As the Hound was at my left side I turned around as fast as I could and buried the dagger in its throat. Warm sticky blood gushed over my hand as the beast gruntled and heavily fell to the ground beside me, twisting and tossing its legs in its death throes. Panting, I stood beside it until it was completely motionless.[/quote]

wow discriptive, great job Minque![/quote]

Exactly my thoughts. :goodjob:

Posted by: burntsierra May 28 2005, 07:51 PM

[quote=minque]
Edwinna Elbert did not ask any questions as she encountered the dirty blood-stained wreck of a human being that was me entering the Guild. She just took me to a small room in the basement where there was a pot hanging in a fireplace, filled with steamy hot water, and a huge wooden barrel beside it. She mixed hot and cold water in the barrel, added some Heather and Gold Kanet petals and so bade me step into it.
[/quote]

hehe. Two forums, two chances to comment, and two excusues to read the story. Oh, life is good. :lickinglips: That just sounds so relaxing. Just soak, get rid of the grime, and wash the day away. Hm, giving me an idea that. Back soon, just going to get the hot water going..... :paperbag2: Now, do I have any bath salts that sound as nice as heather and Golden Kanet petals.....

Posted by: Aki May 28 2005, 08:10 PM

[quote=Fuzzy Knight]Great Minque... :goodjob: Nix-Hounds give us dogs a bad reputation [/quote]

Techincally, a Nix-Hound is a insect/Athropod. They are just called Hounds because they vaguely resemble dogs.

Good installment nonetheless.

Posted by: Wolfie May 30 2005, 02:01 AM

Great work again Minque

Posted by: treydog May 31 2005, 01:37 PM

As always, your vivid descriptions make the story come alive. Serene reacts in a realistic way to the things that happen- rather than simply going from quest to quest, she takes time to recover and consider.

This story is an absolute gem.

Posted by: minque Jun 7 2005, 12:04 AM

The plan was to update now but there has been so much fuzz this week so the next part is not ready yet..so bear with me I´m working on an update!

Posted by: Wolfie Jun 7 2005, 12:07 AM

I suppose we can forgive you lol

Posted by: minque Jun 20 2005, 11:48 PM

Might as well post this part once again, it was on the crashed forums..

introducing [b]jonajosa as guestwriter...........enjoy!



I woke up the following morning almost fully refreshed, though my muscles were still quite sore due to yesterday’s fights with the nix-hounds. I have found that a hearty breakfast always makes the day more bearable so I looked up Edwinna again; she seemed to have a soft spot for me because she greeted me warmly this somewhat chilly morning and offered me to sit down at the breakfast-table. Now Mages are really sensible people, because the breakfast I was offered to share with them indeed was a most sturdy one; Kwama-egg-omelette, boiled saltrice, fried ash-yam and a huge basket filled with the most delicate freshly made bread. A large pitcher with comberry-juice and one with hackle-lo-tea concluded the menu.

I sat for almost an hour eating and drinking and also socializing with the Mages of Ald´ruhn, who indeed were very nice and friendly. They also supplied me with food for my travels to Fort Buckmoth, because even though it wasn’t a long trip they told me the canteen at the Fort wasn’t a very good one, so it was best to have some supplies for rainy days.

It took me approximately half an hour before I saw the stone-walls of Fort Buckmoth. On the road I met a young Imperial soldier on leave, heading for Ald´ruhn to take the Silt-strider to Balmora in order to visit his parents. I asked him the whereabouts of the Training-Camp that General Darius wanted to send me to and he showed me the right direction, just over the hills behind the actual Fort.

As I came over the hill I had just climbed I paused and looked out into the distance, seeking any sign of the encampment that I was searching for. Sure enough there was the training camp right where the man I’d met travelling here told me where it would be. There were several rows of tents going over the next hill and out of my sight. To the left of the camp there seemed to be a bunch of blacksmiths with some more advanced housing. Not tents, housing. Large Redoran style houses jutted out of the tents like giant towers.

“I wonder which one of those belongs to the General in command?” I said quietly to myself. I walked forward towards the camp and within minutes I was close enough to hear the sound of someone smacking metal against metal. The blacksmith seemed hard at work today. But as I got closer the sounds grew into other sounds. Yelps of pain and surprise echoed across the plains. I frowned and sped up my pace to see what was causing the noise.

As I came through the rocks that surrounded the camp I saw something that frightened me to death. The imperial soldiers were fighting amongst each other! What could have caused this terrible battle that was going on in front of my very eyes? I looked for a place of safety from this madness but before I could even begin to move my feet in response to my mind a man ran up behind me and grabbed at my shoulder.

“Whaa?” I shouted as I turned around to see what had grabbed me. In the same motion I carried my hand up and swung it around to collide with the face behind me. I smacked the man with such a force he stumbled backwards and almost fell.

“My lady, why do you strike me?” He said when he recovered from the blow. I looked at him and saw he was but a harmless imperial guard.

“Sorry, I thought you were going trying to harm me.” I looked at my red handprint across his face and smiled. “Would you like for me to heal that for you?” I asked in my most soothing voice. The man started to take a step back but stopped when he realized what he was doing.
“No thank you. But General Jonus Artorius requests your presence at the tower.” The man seemed afraid that I was going to hit him again. He turned and began to walk towards a small wooden tower at the end of the field that the men were fighting on.

“Why are those men fighting each other?” I asked, trying to get the answer the question that I had been pondering since I got here.

“We are practicing for a battle that the general says might happen soon. He says we need all the experience we can get before we go into battle. So right now he ordered some war games between his captains and their troops.”

“Ahhh. I see.”

As we approached the “Tower” I saw some men standing up at the top of it shouting orders. One saw us coming and shouted down to my escort, “Is that the woman?”

“Yes it is!” My escort shouted back. The man in the tower turned around and disappeared for a few seconds before returning.

“Send her up!” He said and then turned back around to deal with whatever he was occupied with in the first place.

My escort turned back to me, “Go up those steps and make a right at the first door and you’ll be in the command room.” He bowed, “I bid thee farewell.” He backed away and trotted off into the battle that raged a few yards away. I followed his words to the letter and walked up the stairs, where I soon found myself standing face to face with the man I had been searching for.

“Hello Serene,” he said in a deep rumble. His eyes showed years of wisdom and his face bore the scars of many battles. I was sure this was a man I would not want to be fighting against at anytime. “Glad to see you could finally make it. We’ll get straight to business right after I finish this battle I seem to have on my hands.” He laughed and with that he turned and began giving orders to the men around him.

I walked to the window and looked out over the battle field to watch the carnage below. Arrows flew back and forth and men were constantly running into the thick of battle in the middle of the field. I looked closer and saw that in the middle of the field that there was a group of four wrecked buildings. Each building had a flag pole on it and there were flags on each one. Three flags bore the symbol of a bird with sword in its grasp and one had a yellow cross with a shield in the background.

It seemed to me that they were fighting for control of all four buildings. The first army to capture all four would win. I watched as the few men who guarded the last building fought as hard as hard as a whole army. They quickly dispatched of the first few rows of swordsmen that charged them but their numbers started to dwindle when the pike men rushed in. As the pike men kept their opponents at a distance, other swordsmen would rush up and dispatch of them before the defenders could switch their attention to the new men.

Only three defenders were left when a large group of swordsmen from their own army broke through the line that was keeping them from supporting the men defending the last building. They rushed across the rubble and collided with the main force of the attacking army. The shock that they caused rippled across the entire front and the attackers began to waver as the swordsmen cut holes into their ranks.

The men in the other three buildings tried a counter attack but it was quickly engulfed in the mad rush of the swordsmen. Soon the entire army that bore the bird banner was in full flight toward the end of the field.

The battle was over.

”Impressive, General,” I addressed the man by my side, taking a deep breath; I almost had forgot to breathe as I watched the battle. General Artorius wiped sweat and dust from his face and grinned at me;

“Not everyday we get a gallant lady as new recruit, “he said in a voice hoarse from many years of shouting orders at soldiers. “We will start by registering you in the Fort´s army-ledger; follow me to my office and I’ll provide you with the proper documents for the Registry.”

I was still taken by the battle I’d just witnessed and followed the General into his office. It was a rather small room with a gigantic wooden desk that completely dominated it. Bookshelves along the walls and a dark locked cupboard that was squeezed in made it extremely overloaded and there was hardly enough space for the two of us left. He bade me sit down on an uncomfortable wooden chair as he ordered the guard on duty to get the documents needed.

After filling them in I was offered a cup of tea; I didn’t recognize the taste, but found it inappropriate to ask the General, because he had a look in his face that revealed he had better things to do than conversating with a new recruit.

“Now then, milady you take them papers to Imsin The Dreamer down at the Fort and get your registration done with, then get yourself some decent armour and come back here and we’ll get you some quarters,” he grinned at me and continued: “Probably have to post some guards outside for ya ma´m, them young officers haven’t put eyes on a woman for a long time by now....”

I thanked the General for his hospitality and headed down from the tower in order to get to Fort Buckmoth to see this Imsin the Dreamer.

It was a short walk from the Camp to Fort Buckmoth; the weather was fairly good for this region, clear sky, no ash-storm, and just a faint breeze that sent my hair whirling in my face. I decided to tie it back before seeing the Registry Officer in order to make a good first impression- such matters are important I’ve learned.

Fort Buckmoth was a huge stone-construction, built in a square-fashion with a big courtyard in the middle. Nobody approached me as I wandered in through the main gate; everybody was occupied with their own business. I spotted a tall dark woman in a corner, obviously training blocking because there were at least 3 sturdy knights slashing ferociously at her with glistening long swords, but she blocked every hit.

“See that guys?” she shouted at the three after blocking a particularly savage blow from one of them, “It’s mostly technique, no force, to block a thrust like that.”

“Okay, Shardie!” The tallest of the combatants laughed and patted the dark woman rather heavily on her back.

I smiled at them and nodded before I entered the main Hall of the Fort. When inside I asked my way to Imsin the Dreamer’s whereabouts. I was shown the right direction and soon found myself outside a sturdy wooden door. I opened it and entered a rather spacious room, dominated by the huge desk made from a very dark wood that I didn’t recognise.

A tall broad-shouldered woman with a long blonde braid sat behind the desk as I entered reading some papers, but then she raised her head.....and I felt the ground beneath my feet disappear and everything went dark.......

Posted by: Mazuk Jun 21 2005, 12:21 AM

Wow. That is a very detailed and well laid out story. Very Very Nice Minque.

Posted by: treydog Jun 22 2005, 04:08 PM

I am impressed by the way you were able to maintain the style of your story, even with a guest-writer. As always, you breathe life into your characters, even those who are only incidental to the story.

This calls for a celebration!

:cake: :cake: :cake: :cake:

Posted by: Fuzzy Knight Jun 22 2005, 04:09 PM

:goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob:

:goodjob:

Great writing Minque, can only agree with what Trey is saying... Its simply... beautiful..

Posted by: Dantrag Jun 22 2005, 04:38 PM

I swear to god, I'm gonna catch up on thisstory someday!

:determined:

Posted by: minque Jun 22 2005, 04:40 PM

Thank you guys! Your comments are heart-warming!

I´ll post an update as soon as I come home tonight!

Posted by: MerGirl Jun 22 2005, 04:55 PM

[quote=minque]Thank you guys! Your comments are heart-warming!

I´ll post an update as soon as I come home tonight![/quote]

Yay! *dances happily* I'll be waiting!

Posted by: Wolfie Jun 22 2005, 04:57 PM

Sweet, an update

Posted by: minque Jun 22 2005, 10:57 PM

I promised an update...here it is..Enjoy!


”Wake ye up lassie” The so familiar voice made me open my eyes, which then flooded with tears, I took a deep breath;

“Son.....”

“So nice te see ya,” the woman interrupted, “ Ye must be all worn out, ´ave ye eaten properly, lassie?, Le´ss go te me private quarters, and we’ll fix ye´up.”

I rose to my feet, aided by Sonya, for that’s who it was, my old friend from the Imperial Prison back in Cyrodiil, now apparently under cover as “Imsin the Dreamer”. Now what she was doing here and why she had to be disguised I did not yet know, but I wouldn’t be the one who revealed her, so I just followed her, wiping my face with my shirt.

As we entered her private rooms, located in one of the corner-towers of Fort Buckmoth, she closed and locked the door behind us, turned to me and embraced me.

“Serene,” she said, “I knew ye were te come, and I’ve been waitin´so long......” She put her hands on each side of my face and just looked at me, eyes filled with love and care. Naturally I started crying again; I never thought I’d see Sonya again, and particularly not here in Vvardenfell. For all I knew she had been brought back to Skyrim during my last year in prison.

“Sonya,” I sobbed, “I do think it’s time for an explanation here.” She nodded and told me her story of what had happened since we parted about three years ago.

“As ye may remember, I was said te be transferred te this labour-camp, some months after the plague where thee, Serene, actually was the saviour of the entire prison, using those great healing-skills of yers.....”

At first she was allowed to go back to Falcreath, to visit her mother. Shortly after her homecoming there was a message delivered to her with stamps and seals, from no less than the Emperor Uriel Septim VII, saying that she was requested in Vvardenfell, to join the Imperial Legion there as an agent for the Emperor. She was supposed to train her fighting-skills, her inborn ability of good leadership and then serve as commander of the secret Base that was to be formed in order to stop corruption and dishonesty within the Legion. She was to gather a group of loyal people to help her in this task. There was also another thing she should tend to, maybe the most important and delicate of it all, namely the preparations for the “Return of Lord Nerevar Reborn”. Her real superior was a man called Caius Cosades in the city of Balmora.....

Upon hearing this piece of information, I jumped to my feet and cried out: “What? I was told to look this man up as well, what IS this? Some kind of pre-decided setup?”

“Shhhh, calm yerself down, Renie, let me finish,” Sonya squeezed my hand and I sat down again, my mind all upset and scared.

Caius Cosades sent her to a man called Hrundi at Sadrith Mora; this man was a sturdy Nord who was known to be loyal to the Emperor and a skilled fighter as well as leader. Hrundi and Sonya got on very well, and it was he who told her to make up a cover-identity out of security reasons.

“Ye see, I couldn’t be Sonya, a former prisoner, so I had te get me self a cover-up.” She was silent for a while, but I sat still, waiting for her to continue. As she did a couple of tears started running down her face, and I knew she was to tell something that affected her deeply.

“I once had a lil´sister,” Sonya continued, “A sweet lass she was, cud neva say nay, so naturally she was abused, jus´ like I was, that brute te dad we had molested her, I cudn´t let that ´appen cud I?”

“ Oh Sonya”, I cried as well now, “ You never told me of all this back in prison.”

“He murdered ´er, Serene!” Sonya rose and started walking back and forth, “He beat her with a pole, fer not bein´cheerful enough, then he forced himself on her fer more then two hours, she bled te death, that she did!”

“That’s when I tuk he’s life! And right I was te do it; our mom didn’t dare te protest, not when he slayed me sister, not when them guards came te put me in prison!”

Sonya took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders and turned to me , face completely empty of all feelings.

“Renie, you cry-baby!” she smiled and handed me a piece of cloth to dry my face, “Nae use te cry for ´er now, she’s in heaven, livin´a guud life!”

“Anyway me sister’s name was Imsin, and she always wandered along dreamin´of a better life, so I tuk ´er name, Imsin the Dreamer.......” Sonya gave me a faint smile and took out a bottle of Cyrodiilic Brandy from a cupboard.

“We need a lil´fortification, don’t ya think?” Sipping the golden liquid, Sonya continued her story:

Sonya, or Imsin as she called herself now, stayed with Hrundi for almost two years. He trained her well and they became very close, in fact they became as close as can be, they even married in secret. But because of the situation they couldn’t live together, and that was one of Imsin´s great sorrows.

After concluding training Imsin was ordered to go to Fort Buckmoth, where she for almost a year now had slowly built up a network of agents, all faithful to the Emperor and to Caius Cosades.

“I can’t tell ya their names, Serene, ye wouldn’t be safe if I did, but I’ll tell ya what you are supposed te do!”

“Ye have te stay at that training-camp for a year, te improve them fightin´skills of yers, and ye do it alright, ye hear!” Imsin smiled at me when saying that. “ General Artorius expects nothin´but the best of ye!”

“After that, I have a mission for ye, and I just know yer gonna like it! So make sure ye report back to me after the training.” Imsin took me by the hand and put a light kiss on my cheek.
“Nah, we aint gonna meet until yer a trained fighter, Serene, there shud be no suspicion of former connections between us.”

I nodded; it made sense to me. I finished my brandy and was heading for the door when Imsin stopped me;

“Ye may eventually come upon a man, Serene, a man that is believed to be Lord Nerevar Reborn....maybe I’ll give ye some snippets of information about him, sae ye know what te expect.”

I was totally confused; I never heard of Lord Nerevar Reborn, who he was or even what he was, then again I had just spent a couple of months in Vvardenfell, and hadn’t met so many people yet.

Imsin then opened another cupboard, filled with books of various styles, and took out two small books that looked ancient to me.

“Here y´are,” she said and handed me the books, “ Ye might wanna study those, so ye see what I´m talkin´about.”

The two books; “The War of The First Council” and “Nerevar Moon-and-Star”, really were of considerable age according to their looks so I tucked them into my backpack, to study them later.

“That man I was telling ya about,” Imsin looked at me thoughtfully, “He’s by far the nicest man I ever met!, They say ´e was a stable-boy from far out in High Rock, then did time, ´e did, just like us, then was shipped ´ere and now is walkin´around doin´ good things just te prove he’s Nerevar Reborn....”

“So ye´d recognize him, he’s tall and fair-haired, and ´e has the brightest an´ friendliest blue eyes I’ve ever seen on a man,” Imsin gazed into the air, probably thinking of this wonder of a man who apparently was walking about in Vvardenfell doing good deeds.

I then happened to look out the window and saw the sun was already setting, so apparently I had spent most of the day in the company of my former friend, but now I needed to get things in order, so I asked Imsin about the registration-business, that I originally was here to accomplish.

The registration in The Imperial Legion was a fairly simple matter, I had to tell my name and birth date as well as my origin and that was it. Imsin glared at me with a queer smile when I told her my full name.

“Catraso huh?”

After completing registration I said goodbye to Imsin and headed back to the training-camp, where a new part of my life was to begin.

Posted by: Mazuk Jun 22 2005, 11:38 PM

Wow another great update. Awesome job minque.

Posted by: Chumbaniya Jun 23 2005, 12:01 AM

I really like the story minque (I don't normally read a lot of the fan fiction but I want to see where this one goes ) but there's a little thing I have to point out - in the second part of the story written in this thread, you use the terms "greener pastries", which should read "greener pastures".

In fact, actually, leave it in. I have this cool vision of a green pie

Posted by: Wolfie Jun 23 2005, 12:18 AM

Cool
And would The Lord Nerevar Reborn happen to be a young Breton called Trey? lol

Posted by: Dantrag Jun 23 2005, 02:06 AM

[quote=LoneWolf]Cool
And would The Lord Nerevar Reborn happen to be a young Breton called Trey? lol [/quote]

That would be most interesting... (Not to mention awesome!)

Posted by: minque Jun 23 2005, 08:55 AM

[quote=Chumbaniya]I really like the story minque (I don't normally read a lot of the fan fiction but I want to see where this one goes ) but there's a little thing I have to point out - in the second part of the story written in this thread, you use the terms "greener pastries", which should read "greener pastures".

In fact, actually, leave it in. I have this cool vision of a green pie [/quote]


:rofl: Now that was funny! That´s the way things can go if you´re not native english....This is the second really funny remark found in this story!

Oh I´ll leave it in.....maybe someone else can have a big laugh! It´s on me then!

EDIT: Oh and Lord Nerevar Reborn.....hmmm stay tuned you guys and you will be enlightened!

Posted by: jonajosa Jun 23 2005, 11:05 PM

Shame treydog... shame. How could you miss that? Leaning on that spellchecker to much eh?

Good next part. Now.... I have to catch up on all these other dozens of stories... :eek:

Posted by: Ze Milanio Jun 23 2005, 11:38 PM

Owwwww :shocked: this is beginning to look like Orson Wels's "The Third Man" :eek: Spies and counter-spies ewerywhere ! Ruuuun ! *runs*

p.s.: Ah... before I run - in the original MW skin-set I found Eldris, Imsin and Ygfa to be the three most lovely females on the entire island and that comes from a man who prefers brunettes... gotta love that good old Skyrim gene pool !

Posted by: Lucidarius Jul 6 2005, 01:27 PM

I've read your story so far, minque, and I immensely enjoy the way you depict even the minor characters and show us their personality. The main character, Serene, is a very warm and emotional person with compassion for almost all the persons she meet. She is in no way a stereotype, and I feel that I get to know her and her particular way of embracing life. Very, very well done.

Right from the start it was a pleasant surprise to be let in on Morrowind NPCs that the PC didn't actually get to meet in the game. To meet Tarhiel and Processus Vitellius was a real treat and you managed to make them stay in character with the way the other NPCs spoke about them in the game. And a funny scene, too, when Serene is tricked into trying out the Icarian Flight scroll.

Your detailed description of the years in prison and Serene's friendship with two of the other inmates was very realistic in the sense that you didn't just skip over that part, but dug deep into the routines and the training that Serene did, which would account for the skills that she acquired (apart from healing that she had a huge talent for already).

As some of the others have speculated, I can't help but guess about who the Lord Nerevar Reborn is, especially after reading Treydog's story.

I'll just have to be patient and wait to learn more about the undercover mission, whether the Ashlander love interest will return?, etc. etc.

Posted by: minque Jul 6 2005, 06:08 PM

First of all I´ll thank you all for your nice feedback, and for being patient with me for not posting very regularly.....sorry to say real life is intruding on my writing...

But here´s an update anyway.....nothing very fancy but it takes her a bit further on her destined path....

enjoy!

The first thing I had to do was to look up General Artorius again and show him the registration-forms I got from Imsin. Whether he was pleased to see me again or not was hard to judge; his scarred face revealed no particular emotions.

First thing on the agenda was to provide me with some armour and weaponry. The deal was I would get more fancy utensils each time I raised in rank, a fair thing I reckoned.

I started out as a Trooper because of my already proven skills; apparently The Legion had gotten some records of mine already. I never stopped wondering how the information-flow on this continent actually worked; it seemed as there was some pre-destined path that I was supposed to follow; each time I was ordered to do something or to meet someone, it was already known by the people involved!

The appropriate armour for a Trooper in The Legion was a steel Imperial style, and fairly heavy. I tried to wear the cuirass and almost panicked, because I just could not make a move wearing it and even less handle a sword or shield. General Artorius looked at me and shook his head; of course this armour would not be suitable for a woman, with that much less strength, and so he sighed and told the officer at the Armoury to find me something else.

“Now Trooper Catraso, report back to me after you’ve got your uniform and we’ll get you your quarters,” General Artorius saluted his subordinate and went back to his office.

The Armoury-officer gave me a somewhat queer smile, looked at me very thoroughly and then presented me with a Studded Leather Cuirass, Imperial style,

“Try this one on, miss,” he said, still undressing me with his looks. I shrugged and put the cuirass on, and almost panicked again....The leather was thick and absolutely motionless, I couldn’t even get my arms in front of me and it was so tight , my breathing was affected. I tore it off with a groan;

“I can’t breathe in this one,” I stated, panting, “Please find me something else.”

“Now there lassie,” he said in a superior tone, “It’s not for you to state the rules here, and demanding some special treatment.” He then turned away from me, and began poking among the different types of cuirasses lying on a shelf behind him.

I was getting slightly angry now; this was no voluntarily action from me; I was ordered to go here and that for a certain purpose, yet unknown to me. So I found it very unfair of the officer to treat me in such a humiliating manner.

At last he presented me with an Imperial Newtscale cuirass; it looked hard but was lined and seamed with soft netch-leather and seemed both lighter and smoother than the other one. I tried it on and it fit perfectly; also I had very good mobility in it. Apart from the cuirass I got a pair of Netch-leather boots, a helmet also made from Netch-leather and some soft leather gloves to protect my hands from being hurt when handling the sword, and a steel longsword, newly sharpened and cleaned.

I thanked him and hurried out of the Armoury. I definitely didn’t like the man back there; his staring eyes and superior manners didn’t appeal to me at all.

Back with General Artorius I felt better. The aged officer had a friendly attitude towards me; he maybe didn’t exactly like the fact that I was a woman but never rubbed it in my face; in fact he treated me like any recruit, at least that’s what I thought before I went into his office all armoured up and with the longsword hanging by my side.

Getting sleeping quarters for me was not that easy; the General was worried about how his men would react having a woman living amongst them, especially as most of them had been without female acquaintances for quite some time. He therefore put me up in the storage-building, a rather spacious Redoran-style house, not far from the big main-building where the dining-rooms, the kitchen and the leisure-rooms were situated.

I didn’t mind sleeping next to the foodstuffs and the other army-gear that was stored in that building; I got a small room of my own with a lockable door, inside there was a bed with a fairly new dark-red blanket and at least four big pillows. Beside the bed there was a small cupboard with a jug and a pitcher on top of it, and covering one of the walls there was a bookshelf, almost filled with various specimens of literature. Now that surprised me, until the General said:

“This is the room I normally use when I need to get away from the daily life, when I need to contemplate and think about other things than warfare and other military matters. I have always been a huge friend of books,” he smiled at me, “Not so common amongst military officers, really.”

I found this very appealing though, and it raised my disposition toward the General quite a bit. I asked if I could read some of the books in my spare time and he nodded, with a kind of odd smile on his face.

“It’s rather late now, Trooper Catraso,” he said, “The supper will be all finished, so why don’t you go into the kitchen on your way back to your quarters, tell the people there I sent you and ask them for something to eat...Now reveille is tomorrow at 0600 sharp, breakfast will be served at 0630! ..Dismissed!”

I walked down to the kitchen and asked politely for some supper. A lady worked down there, a Dunmeri woman in her late fifties, tall, dark with a sad look in her face. She provided me with some bread and an omelette from Kwama-eggs. A cup of hot hackle-lo tea accomplished the meal, and I thanked her heartily for her trouble.

“No trouble at all, little lady,” she said, “I´m only happy to meet another woman; it has been a long time since I’ve met one here at the fort.”

I realized that she wanted to have a chat with me, since she poured herself a cup of tea and sat down at the table opposite to me.

She told me her name was Lalatia Vabdas and she originally lived in Gnisis, but after she became a widow half a year ago she started to work as a cook and kitchen maid at the training camp at Fort Buckmoth. For the time being she stayed at her daughter’s house in Ald´ruhn. Her late husband had worked at the Gnisis Egg-mine, but after its closure the couple was near starvation so the poor man once went into the mine in order to collect some fresh eggs; unfortunately he was caught by a notorious legionnaire and foully slain.

“I reckon it was their bad conscience that made them give me this job,” she grumbled, sipping her tea.

I felt uneasy about this killing of a starving man just trying to support his family, I regarded it as cold-blooded murder, and the feeling that there was something more to this wouldn’t leave my mind.

It was quite late as I unlocked the door to my quarters and flung myself on the bed after putting all my armour-gear in a corner.....So I fell into sleep, not even undressing...

“Serene, Serene of Cyrodiil! The first part of your mission has now begun, be a good soldier and improve your skills. Talk with the golden-haired lady in the castle, follow her orders. Before this year has ended you will be elsewhere, in a place of despair and agony, but you are to be the pathfinder, the guiding star, the prophesied saviour......Serene, I will watch over you, I will guide you.....trust me!”

Azura! It had been a long time since she’d visited me in my dreams, so I sat up in bed, shivering from a strange coldness, yet I could feel sweat running down my back and between my breasts. Trembling from the experience, I wrapped the blanket tight around me, lay down and let the tears run until I at last fell into a dreamless sleep.

Posted by: Fuzzy Knight Jul 6 2005, 06:18 PM

Nice Minque... Great writing... as always Its nice to see how it is to be woman in the Imperial Legion, very nice.. :lickinglips:

Please feed us more!

:goodjob:

Posted by: jonajosa Jul 6 2005, 10:24 PM

:goodjob:

Posted by: MerGirl Jul 6 2005, 11:11 PM

*cries (in happiness, mind you!)* I'm so happy that you updated! I love Serene so much!

Please write more, I want more! :goodjob:

You've probably heard this a million times, but you have a way with emotions and character in this story... I mean, you write the characters (all of them, even minor ones) with such emotion, and you give them life! This is what makes your story unique! And I admire that very much.

So, please don't ever, ever, ever give up writing! Your writing inspires me very much and I just love Serene too much, so please continue when you can.

Posted by: Wolfie Jul 7 2005, 12:05 AM

Yay! Update!
Great as always Minque

Posted by: treydog Jul 7 2005, 12:19 AM

Even after a long wait, your story immediately draws me back in. Serene's humanity, her kindness, her spirit...all come through in your wonderful prose. Even something as "mechanical" as choosing armor reveals more about the characters. Beautiful, as always.

Posted by: minque Jul 7 2005, 12:27 AM

Thank you all for your wonderful comments, it´s really heart-warming.... and your patience with me as well...

Hmm I must admit I stole the idea of trying on armour from Jonajosa´s lovely story of Johannis, it just got right to me as a really feminine thing to do.... :embarrassed:

Posted by: jonajosa Jul 7 2005, 12:37 AM

Um. I hate to do this but.....

I state this rule that was in the contract with my agent for protecting my story.

"Rule number 123,456: I can sue Minque for a total of 3 cakes if she uses the fictional name Johannes. Which is under the copyright protection of
Jonajosastories.inc"

You need to pay me now... In the coffee shop... I'll take a coffee too.

:goodjob:

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Jul 7 2005, 10:39 PM

Nice Minque I just caought up and is Lord Nerevar Reborn Sedrane Mirpal?? (that is the ashlander Serene fell in love with, right?)

Posted by: Wolfie Jul 7 2005, 10:43 PM

No, The Lord Nerevar Reborn is a young Breton who goes by the name of Trey (well, the name is a guess but the Breton part is true)

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Jul 9 2005, 11:51 PM

ya, I figured that out......

Posted by: minque Jul 10 2005, 12:08 AM

mmmm yup , clever minxes.....Lord Nerevar is Trey! and you´ll meet him now and then in my story......

Posted by: Dantrag Jul 10 2005, 12:08 AM

it is trey...read trey's last entry///

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Jul 10 2005, 12:17 AM

yes also lonewolf I ,er, made that statment before I read Trey's story.

Posted by: Kiln Jul 10 2005, 08:55 PM

This story is completely awesome. I read a few chapters and got hooked. Can't wait for the next chapter.

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Jul 10 2005, 09:55 PM

sssooooo Minque..... when ya going to update it? The story I mean.

Posted by: minque Jul 10 2005, 09:59 PM

ahhhhh...well, I´ll have to tear myself away from the RP.....it´s taken over my life......noo but i´ll try to do it rather soon....

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Jul 10 2005, 10:00 PM

oooh ok, which Rp? the Serene one or the rpg thread one?

Posted by: minque Jul 10 2005, 10:08 PM

A Mystery unleashed..and yes Serene appears there too.....

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Jul 10 2005, 10:52 PM

oooh I see. the one I was in all of a suddeen stopped.

but I will wait, reluctantly

Posted by: Lucidarius Jul 11 2005, 08:11 PM

Really nice update, mingue. The armor scene was very vivid in my mind, and it is very realistic that most women (even a tall one like Serene - according to Trey's story) won't have quite the same breadth or strength as a man.

As I wrote to Trey, it's fun to read about two different protagonists get into the same fiction.

Don't feel sorry about not updating, because real life is after all the most true RP of all, and if that fails because we've spent too much time with a game, it would be really awful and sad.

I do hope that you'll get around to updating, it's just that naturally real life must take precedence.

Posted by: Dantrag Jul 12 2005, 04:40 PM

minque, prepared to be proud of me!

I caught up on your story in 3 days !

I like it a lot. (more than peach cobbler.)

Posted by: minque Jul 12 2005, 09:40 PM

minque, prepared to be proud of me!

I caught up on your story in 3 days !

I like it a lot. (more than peach cobbler.)

Posted by: Kiln Jul 13 2005, 12:33 AM

WoW...I´m not only proud I´m honoured as well...and very glad you like it....now then I have to make sure there´ll be an update soon then...

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Jul 13 2005, 03:25 AM

I'll join the crowd.

"update! update!"

Posted by: Dantrag Jul 13 2005, 04:41 AM

I heard update!!

*sits down, smiling at minque, ready for her to begin storytelling*

Posted by: minque Jul 18 2005, 10:00 AM

ok....sit down and get amazed....here comes..an update..at last...
.......................................................................................................................
I woke up to a day that was very much like all the other days I spent at this camp; first breakfast, a really sturdy one, it took me about a week to get used to the meals in general and the breakfasts in particular. The breakfasts were meant to provide a good start of the day; the other meals to maintain strength and agility during the various exercises and trials that were due to come.

I usually tried to get a chance to talk to Lalatia Vabdas if it was possible; I liked the woman but I also had a feeling she was to have some influence on my future. I was not yet to find that out though.

It was clearly a different experience to be a woman at this camp, mostly because I was the only one at that time if you don’t count Shardie, the Block-training superior. To start with I spent a full month to refine my already rather good Long-blade skills. I tried to remember all that Telemachos taught me at the Prison back in Cyrodiil, and I think I did rather well. I trained in slashing and thrusting until my arms were numb and I cried in pure exhaustion.

During that first month I did almost nothing but train, eat enormous amounts of food, and sleep. My muscles grew, I achieved a better posture, and my mind was getting more alert and focused. Lalatia Vabdas noticed the changes in me and was very supportive; also she didn’t let me forget that I was and still am.....a woman.

The training-program then continued with how to use a short blade, a spear and a bow; it was crucial to know how to handle various types of weaponry, they told me. And who was I to object? I did what I was told and worked very hard, and so I got my promotions in the Legion, first to Agent then to Champion.

I must admit I was very proud of myself as I got the rank of Champion presented to me by General Artorius himself at a small ceremony at the grand chambers at Fort Buckmoth. I even got a glimpse of Imsin among the group of people attending the ceremony.

I was now required to wear Imperial steel armour, and by this time I had no difficulty wearing such heavy, sturdy armour. My growing muscles had made me both bigger and a lot stronger so I felt rather comfortable wearing it. If only my father could see me now, he would have been so proud. Thinking of my past didn’t make me weep anymore; it just burned behind my eyelids, nothing more. I had apparently grown both mentally and physically.

When I’d been at the camp for 6 months I had the right to take 3 days off, to visit my family, if I’d had one but I took the opportunity to get away from the camp, being a bit tired of all the more or less nasty suggestions given to me on a nearly daily basis. Nothing foul had happened but I was very satisfied with the strong door with the sturdy lock on my private quarters.

I spent the evening before my so-called vacation with Lalatia Vabdas. She advised me to join one of the Great Houses in Vvardenfell; by doing that I should get some sort of a family and also support and shelter. Maybe even a home....That sounded good I reckoned and as she also told me that Neminda in the Redoran Council at Ald´ruhn was the one to contact if I chose The Great House Redoran, my choice was made. I’d go to Ald´Ruhn first thing next morning and talk to Neminda. It might be an advantage for my further advancement in The Legion if I belonged to a Great House, and also, and that was the main reason for me to even consider such an arrangement, I would get a family again!

That night I wept myself to sleep; shook off the mental shield and became “little Renie” again, outcast from the Vantinius-family, deprived of name and honour, ex-convict, with no one to turn to.

Next morning after breakfast, I set off for Ald´ruhn. It was a beautiful morning, some clouds in the sky but with a rather warm sunshine. I had to put on my robe; the steel-armour I was wearing got blazing hot in the bright sun, so I felt as if I was to be cooked inside it. Sweat streamed all over me and soaked my shirt and trousers completely.

Suddenly I was shoved to the ground by a vicious blow from behind, followed by an agonizing scream....I dived to the ground right on my face, the grey ashes filled my mouth and nostrils, but I managed somehow to roll over before something came swishing from above and just barely missed me. Now this was my first but not last encounter with a cliff-racer, one of the most annoying creatures in Vvardenfell. It looks like a bird, but has a long tail with a sharp claw at the end. The creature swings this tail at you with an utmost precision exactly where it will do the most harm. And they are fast! I just barely had the time to once more roll over before the huge tail came at me again. At the same time it attacks you, it screams...a terrible high scream that really hurts your ears.

Since I had no intention staying on the ground rolling back and forth to avoid the attacking cliff-racer, I prepared myself the next time the tail was heading at me, and grabbed it with both hands. My intention was to drag it to the ground and then ...kill it somehow, but I overestimated my acquired strength or rather my bodyweight, because I was rapidly pulled off the ground and up in the air, before my hands, slippery with sweat, slid off the tail sending me in a perfect arc right among some upright boulders, where I fell heavily and was knocked out for a while.

The beast screamed in anger and agony of the lost prey and started hovering over the area. I was unconscious for a minute or two before I composed myself and managed to get hold of my longbow that luckily enough had landed not far from my hideout after the involuntarily flight. Also there was only one arrow left in the quiver, so it was clear that I had one chance..Not more. I aimed thoroughly, the best I could in my situation, lying among some rocks, beaten and bruised, shivering from fear.

I waited for the beast to come closer; something warm was running down my left leg, I didn’t dare to look, since every single move made the pain shoot right up my spine, the leg was probably broken, but I had no time to deal with that at the moment. The Racer was closing in, it must have caught the smell of blood and sweat emerging from me; I aimed, waited until I could actually sense the putrid odour of the beast, then I let go of the arrow. It hit the cliff-racer in its throat and must have pierced its windpipe because the creature gave up a horrible sound and fell heavily to the ground less than three feet away from me.

I sat still, panting , the relief of getting out of this was immense. Then the pain from my injured leg caught my attention. On examining it I found that it was broken, and in addition I was stuck between those boulders due to my steel armour. I had not the strength left to perform a healing-procedure, so I just leaned back.....and eventually fell asleep.

"Serene, Serene, wake up, you must heal yourself immediately, I will support you. Take off that armour of yours, let your powers heal your leg...I shall guide you"..

The voice in my dream was coming from the woman clad in a blue-white robe, the woman who I knew was a personification of Azura. I naturally woke up, quite calm, knowing what to do. So she was always following me, it must mean something, I just didn’t see it yet.

I managed to take off my steel boots and greaves so the wound was visible. The leg was totally broken just where the boot ended. The trousers were soaked with blood and the bones were visible. I felt sick, and cold sweat ran down my face; I just couldn’t do it this time. I managed to defeat a cliff-racer only to be defeated by a broken leg.

“Serene, put the bones in place, I will guide you”

I gasped; this was the first time Azura had come to me when I was awake, and I heard her voice in my head loud and clear, just as if she stood beside me. Then I noticed my hands moving without my will and gently putting the broken bones in place. I sobbed, for the pain was immense but.....then it began to diminish as the heat from my hands was flowing into the wound. The healing-process was slow but steady, and I felt the leg getting stronger. Then I passed out, the exhaustion was too much.

When I opened my eyes again the sun was setting....the sky was wonderfully coloured in red, orange and purple. My leg was sore but healed, and I made an effort to get loose from the boulders. Standing up I tried to use my legs successfully. The steel-armour was battered and would need some fixing up before I got back to the Camp again or else the General would be annoyed.

But first of all I needed some fix-me-up, before I could even go near Neminda, smelling like a dead guar as I did. I decided to ask the friendly mages for help when I arrived in the town of Ald`ruhn.

Edwinna Elbert smiled at me when I entered the Mage’s Guild;

“So Serene, you are visiting us again I see, and you look as if you could do with a bath and some clean clothing again I reckon?” Edwinna said. I was embarrassed, this was the second time I took advantage of the friendly hospitable mages of Ald`ruhn, but as with the first time, I did not have much choice this time either.

Edwinna examined the healed leg and was then very thoughtful. “Did you heal this yourself, Serene?” she asked, “Because if you did you really have amazing healing-skills, healing one-self is by far the hardest things to perform.”

I said I did but also mentioned the help from Azura. And the encounter with the cliff-racer that caused the whole thing. Edwinna laughed when I told her about my “flight”;

“Now how could you even consider taking down a cliff-racer with your bare hands, girl?” she smiled,”You have not improved your humbleness have you?”

After a hot bath and dressed up in some very nice clothes that originated from Edwinna´s own wardrobe, I was ready to visit Neminda. Just before I left The Mage’s Guild I got a glimpse of a tall man talking to one of the mages, he was blond, tall and quite muscular, but what caught my attention was the aura of strength and power that surrounded him....I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
Edwinna noticed my hesitation and smiled at me;

“That is a man called Trey of High Rock,” she whispered, “He’s a very good man, always polite and nice. I think he just brought some books for our scholars....”

"We here in the guild have heard rumours from the Imperial City, that the Emperor thinks he might be the one. The Reincarnation of Lord Neverar reborn. That is of course just a rumour, but imagine...

I tried to remember what I had read about this phenomenon in those books Imsin gave me when I arrived, and I hoped I was to meet with this man...one day.

As I arrived at the Great Hall in the Redoran Council, Neminda immediately spotted me and waved cheerfully at me. I felt warm at heart and hurried to approach her.

“Serene! It’s good to see you.” Neminda shook my hand and smiled happily at me. “What brings you here?”

“I...I would like to join .....”

“Ahh, you would like to be one of us? You want to join The Great House Redoran?” Neminda sounded very happy as I nodded..

We went inside Neminda´s small office and she presented me with the proper papers to fill in. As she noticed I was a healer she stared very strangely at me. I got the feeing that this fact was the most interesting about me.

“Now then Serene,” she said after the paperwork was done, “I am sure you will be comfortable amongst us and I can see your skills and personality will fit in very well in House Redoran”.

“You will have to perform one minor quest for the House before you will be given a sponsor or mentor if you like,” she continued. “There is a lady who lives in the countryside outside the town on a farm. She is a guar-herder and has lately had some problems with ...oh believe it or not..Mudcrabs attacking her guars!”

I looked at Neminda with surprise, I thought mudcrabs would live by the sea....but this was an exception I supposed.

I promised Neminda to have a look at this first thing in the morning; right now I just needed some food and a good night’s sleep, so I headed back to The Mage’s Guild and humbly asked if I could use one of their guest-rooms.

Of course I could, and even more, Edwinna had arranged for my armour to be mended and polished. So after a simple supper I tucked myself in, and immediately fell asleep.

Posted by: Wolfie Jul 18 2005, 10:54 AM

hehe cool

Posted by: Lucidarius Jul 18 2005, 01:09 PM

Great update. And this is the first time she sees Trey..oops, I mean Lord Nerevar Reborn... in person, too.

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Jul 18 2005, 02:47 PM

Good job Minque. The long awaited update was worth the wait

Posted by: Kiln Jul 18 2005, 07:22 PM

Great update! Been waiting but it was well worth it. The best parts were the cliff racer battle and the broken leg part, they sound familiar somehow...
Serene got clothes for free! Kiln got arrested for the same thing in my FF(Trying to get clothes for free.)...women always get the better deals...so unfair.
This has been a long awaited update for me...couldn't ask for more...well, I could...

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Jul 18 2005, 07:42 PM

Serene got clothes for free!  Kiln got arrested for the same thing in my FF(Trying to get clothes for free.)...women always get the better deals...so unfair.

Posted by: Fuzzy Knight Jul 19 2005, 07:42 PM

Good as always Minque... Nice writing and its just getting better and better, and that u update with such long stories is also good, cant really get the eyes of the story for a while Very good!

Please come with another update

Posted by: Ze Milanio Jul 21 2005, 12:48 PM

After a hot bath and dressed up in some very nice clothes that originated from Edwinna´s own wardrobe, I was ready to visit Neminda. Just before I left The Mage’s Guild I got a glimpse of a tall man talking to one of the mages, he was blond, tall and quite muscular, but what caught my attention was the aura of strength and power that surrounded him....I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
Edwinna noticed my hesitation and smiled at me;

“That is a man called Trey of High Rock,” she whispered, “He’s a very good man, always polite and nice. I think he just brought some books for our scholars....”

"We here in the guild have heard rumours from the Imperial City, that the Emperor thinks he might be the one. The Reincarnation of Lord Neverar reborn. That is of course just a rumour, but imagine...

I tried to remember what I had read about this phenomenon in those books Imsin gave me when I arrived, and I hoped I was to meet with this man...one day.

Posted by: burntsierra Jul 24 2005, 10:25 AM

So a few new plot strands start to open. Oh, and I have to say this, for the person who can't write action sequences..... that was a pretty damn good one. I'm not going to let you say that from now on

So, we have our first glimpse of Trey through another character's eyes, Azura taking a more direct involvement, the beginning of a career in Great House Redoran and free clothes. Quite a packed update really. It goes without saying thats its well written and exciting, and my particular pleasure of qouting little parts has plenty to work with as well. This might well go into Darkwings quote thread.

"But first of all I needed some fix-me-up, before I could even go near Neminda, smelling like a dead guar as I did."

hehe, I liked that.

Posted by: Dantrag Jul 25 2005, 03:56 PM

Super update!

So we finally see Trey, huh?

Posted by: jonajosa Jul 28 2005, 07:38 AM

ok....sit down and get amazed....here comes..an update..at last...

Posted by: Neck' Thall Aug 5 2005, 05:15 AM

Hey Ummm This is My First Post But Minque PLEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSEEEEEEE make an update soon. school will start soon and then my PC time will be halved.....

HURRY!!!!!!

Posted by: Kiln Aug 5 2005, 05:29 AM

Minque's on some sort of trip right now...she should return within the next few days though...

Posted by: Dantrag Aug 5 2005, 05:40 AM

She comes back the fifth....which is tomorrow, or today here.

Posted by: Mazuk Aug 5 2005, 06:37 PM

Well the last update was good and since I am behind in times I think its time for a new one...HEHE.. GJ Minque

Posted by: treydog Aug 11 2005, 02:58 PM

Can't believe I haven't commented on this addition- (bad dog- no cake for you!)

The fight with the cliff-racer was wonderfully written- we mostly just despise them/take them for granted, but I have had more than one starting character killed by the spotted owl cliffies.

And now she will be part of Redoran- the only choice for our honorable Serene, of course. And she sees a "mysterious stranger," who for once isn't tripping over his own sword....

Great writing, as ever.

Posted by: minque Aug 11 2005, 08:33 PM

Long time, no update.....but here it is..at last!!

.................................................................................................


I made an early start next morning, according to the map Neminda gave me yesterday, it would be quite a walk to get to Drulene Falen´s Farm. The morning was bright and clear, no ash storms, no rain; a chilly wind blew over the dry and grey landscape as I headed for my first task for The Great House Redoran. I felt content and happy; I was going to get a family, a home, something to belong to, a thing I had been missing for a very long time.

I was watchful as I strode the path leading to Maar Gaan; I had my encounter with the Cliff Racers well in mind and did not want another one. The map was very well done so I really had minor problems finding the little opening in the lower vegetation where the Guar Farm was located. A couple of Guars were slowly patrolling outside a small house with a nice little garden in front.

Drulene Falen, a tall Dunmeri lady in her fifties, greeted me rather warmly, despite my obvious Cyrodiilic features.

“Ahh, you are the one Neminda sent?” Drulene was apparently not expecting a woman to help her out, “Why this can be a heavy duty, are you sure you are strong enough? I’d reckon Neminda would have thought of sending a man instead, it’s not a woman’s job, it ain’t”

I reassured Drulene I was strong enough, and after trying to help me off with my heavy steel cuirass, she was convinced I could handle the situation.

She offered me some hackle-lo tea as a small fortification and so we sat down on a narrow bench just outside the house, where she told me her story;

Drulene Falen was a widow since five years ago, and made her living breeding Guars, mostly for training them into pack-animals but also for their very tender meat. Her late husband, Tralayn Falen, was killed scouting the Red Mountain Area. This was the first time I heard about Red Mountain, but it would not be the last.....

The Farm had been rather prosperous for quite some time but during the last year prices on Pack-Guars had lowered so she had to struggle quite hard for her living. Therefore the sudden attack of the hostile mudcrabs was a severe blow to her entire living. They had captured a Guar and dragged it along westwards. The loss of a presumptive Pack-Guar meant a major economic drawback for her. Why mudcrabs would come all this way into the country she could not explain; their normal habitat was close to the sea.

Nevertheless I got the picture and set off to try to exterminate the crabs and maybe recover her lost animal. The more to the west I went,the the more the landscape changed towards the kind of environment you find near water; obviously the mudcrabs were heading home with their prey......

I found them in a grassy opening quite near the coast. The sun was bright and the heat was devastating. Sweat ran down my back, and I had to sit down for a while behind some huge Gold Kanet bushes before performing my task. The mudcrabs had dragged the Guar with them all the way from Drulene´s farm, then killed the poor animal, and filled their stomachs with its flesh. The odour from the half-eaten cadaver reached my nose, and I understood that there was nothing to do to save some for Drulene.

Still I had to deal with the mudcrabs. They looked rather big to me, bigger than the one I had a meeting with outside Seyda Neen last year. I took off my cuirass; mudcrabs don’t jump on you, they pinch your legs, so it would only hinder me.

I wiped my sweaty hands on my shirt, unsheathed my sword and started walking towards the beasts. Mudcrabs do not have very good eyesight so I was quite near them before they even noticed me, but when they did, they attacked immediately; squeaking and clipping with their pincers they came at me, both of them...at the same time but from different directions. One of them grabbed my left boot, and I could feel the steel slowly bend.....the other one I managed to turn upside-down with a slash of my sword. A mudcrab upside-down looks rather ridiculous, making squeaking angry sounds and waving its claws ferociously in the air without achieving anything. I laughed as I watched it struggle to turn around.

The one that had caught my left boot was about to perforate it so I realised I’d have to do something about that immediately. A hard thrust of my sword hitting just between the claws made the crab loosen its grip, and I quickly drew my foot back and kicked the astonished mudcrab from below so it also ended upside-down.

So now I had two angry mudcrabs lying on their shells waving claws at me, but I was aware that they would succeed in turning around in a short while so the best thing was to end their misery as soon as possible. A couple of deep cuts with my dagger into the soft parts of the crabs took care of it all.

A thought entered my mind, seeing the two huge dead crabs. I might be able to somewhat compensate Drulene for her loss if I could bring home the meat to her. Crabmeat was delicious and it could be dried to lastthroughout the coming winter. I immediately started to recover the nice white meat from the two crabs, neatly putting it on some cork bulb-leaves that I’d first put on the ground. Then the next problem occurred; how could I get all that meat back to the farm? It was far too much to just carry and I had nothing to carry it in. So there I was standing, a huge heap of fresh crab-meat on the ground.....and two empty crab-shells......crab-shells?

Then I knew what to do. I carved two small holes in one of the shells just along the edge where it was laying upside-down. There were lianas hanging from some nearby trees, so I went to get one, about 3 metres long. This liana I threaded through the holes, and then had a kind of sleigh, to put the meat in, now all I had to do was drag it behind me.

So I headed back to Drulene´s farm, slowly walking, dragging an upside-down mudcrabshell behind me filled with crabmeat. The other crab shell I used as cover, in case any Cliff racers should feel like an extra treat.

It was late afternoon when I arrived at Drulene´s farm again.....No need to mention how happy she was about all that meat. She embraced me, tears running down her cheeks;

“Oh you lovely girl“she said, “Come let me offer you something to eat and drink, before you must go back to Neminda.”

I was offered some bread and tea; it tasted wonderful, mostly because it was a gift from heart; Drulene barely had food to survive herself and yet she offered me some of it. Sitting in her cosy house sipping my tea I felt really satisfied with myself. Drulene was a woman who loved books from the looks of her place. The room in which we sat was covered with bookshelves from floor to ceiling. There was a book lying on the table where we sat, it was called “The Hope of the Redoran,” and since I had just joined that particular house I naturally was interested in that book.

Drulene showed it to me, it was a history of one of the leading Families in House Redoran, the Sarethi-family.

“My late husband, Tralayn, used to work for Serjo Athyn Sarethi,” she said, “A noble man he is, always honest and righteous, a great leader .....”

I thought about that when I later headed back to Ald´ruhn to report to Neminda, who indeed was pleased to hear how I had helped Drulene out. Especially she was pleased that I had arranged some winter-supplies for the poor widow.

I was to be back at the training-camp early next morning so I decided to take a walk back this evening and arrive early.

Neminda said goodbye to me and told me that when I was finished with my training I should get back to her and she then would have organised a mentor for me, including a family with whom I could stay while in Ald’ruhn.

Pleased with that information I walked back to Fort Buckmoth, to accomplish the second half of my training.

Posted by: Kiln Aug 11 2005, 08:36 PM

YEAH! Update! The long awaited update...time to read now.

Posted by: Neck' Thall Aug 11 2005, 09:26 PM

Awsome Minque....

have some cake and jonjosas.

Posted by: Dantrag Aug 11 2005, 09:30 PM

I was wondering when you would gift us with your wonderful writing yet again!

Good job minque!

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Aug 11 2005, 10:40 PM

great addition Minque

Posted by: Florodine of Hlaalu Aug 12 2005, 12:00 AM

wow great job, this new chapter was very good, i like how you describe the anger of the mud crabs as tehy get flipped over

Posted by: treydog Aug 12 2005, 08:05 PM

Each installment is a wonderful immersion in the personality of this character. We learn more about her each time. Excellent imagination and story-telling. No surprise.

Posted by: Lucidarius Aug 13 2005, 12:07 PM

Great update. I like your attention to the characters and how they interact with each other. Like you always do.

Posted by: burntsierra Aug 14 2005, 08:10 AM

Analogy time. What is this story to me? Well, it's like my first cup of coffee and a cigarette in a morning. You know before hand just how pleasurable it's going to be, and the process doesn't disappoint. Its satisfying, tasty and just a teeny bit addictive.

I could go on about the complexities of the plot, the delight in the characterization or even how well written it is. But, really, what would be the point? It would be like going to see someone who'd just won the lottery only to find out they're happy. It kind of goes without saying

Posted by: minque Aug 15 2005, 12:00 AM

I arrived at the Training camp after the sun had set and first paid a visit to the kitchen to see Lalatia Vabdas and possibly get something to eat. The last three days had rather put an appetite in me so I hoped for the best.

“Serene, you are back!” Lalatia greeted me warmly and immediately started preparing some hot tea. Also she got some bread and a pot containing a golden syrup-like liquid. She presented the pot to me with glittering eyes and asked me to taste it. I did and it was just wonderful, sweet and smooth. When I asked what it was she smiled secretly at me and chuckled:

“Guess, child, guess! It is something I used to make back home....when my husband was alive, and when I could get hold of Gold Kanet flowers!”

I tasted it again, closed my eyes letting the smooth sweetness fill my mouth and even then I could not even imagine what it could be; I had never encountered something like it before.

“It is honey!” Lalatia was all smiles, “Made of nectar from Gold Kanet flowers.”

I was astonished, such sweetness coming from flowers? I wonder how she had made it, the amount of nectar per flower was rather minor, and there she had an entire pot of it! I suspected there was a secret here.....

I enjoyed the meal Lalatia prepared for me and told her while eating of my adventures during the leave. She laughed when she heard of my encounter with the mudcrabs, a bit concerned though that mudcrabs did get that far into the land. She told me that was a bad sign.

When I asked her how to make honey, she smiled at me and said it was her well hidden secret, but when I left in six months I would get the recipe......

The following morning as I reported to General Artorius he had a surprise for me. He was not alone in his office; General Darius was also there, and bade me welcome. The generals looked at each other and General Artorius said:

“Ok, so you tell her about our plans, after all you are the one she shall report back to in this matter.”

“Ok, Serene...ehum Catraso was it?” General Darius cleared his throat, looking at me very sternly. “You have really improved yourself these last six months, so we...that is I, have decided to send you on a very important, yet delicate task for the Legion.”

General Artorius bade us sit down and a rang a small bell. A butler entered with some flin and dried ash-yam...not very tasty but it was ok to have it together with flin.

“So Serene,” General Darius began, “Maybe you have heard of the Talos Cult?” I said I had heard some rumours from my fellow legionnaires about it, but just very vaguely, and nothing more than that such a cult really existed.

“Well the cult itself is not a problem, the cultists just worship the former Emperor Tiber Septim, and as long as they just do that.....well then we can leave them to it....BUT, my dear Serene, some rumours have come to my ear that they are involved in a plot against our current Emperor Uriel Septim!”

I looked at General Darius; I started to slightly understand that the task he talked about was not only important and delicate. It was probably dangerous as well! I had a strong feeling these two generals were about to send me right into the bear’s nest, a fact that worried me quite a lot, since I had no wish to get involved in politics at all.

“So, Serene, “ General Darius continued, “What we...ehum I want you to do is very simple, you are to go to Gnisis in three days, under cover, and join this Talos-cult, keep your eyes and ears open.....and report to me their plans and actions.”

“You are to act very secretly, under thorough cover; you have three days to prepare a fool-proof disguise. If you are caught, I will not under any circumstances recognise you, so then you are on your own.”

I was stunned.....I had to join a cult that probably was planning to murder the Emperor, go under cover to actually spy on them! And without any protection from the Legion.......I found it outrageous; why couldn’t the Legion stand behind me? Were they afraid or.....was it something else? But who was I to object or even question their decisions. One thing I did ask though;

“Sir General...why me??

“First you are a woman; nobody suspects a woman being a legionnaire, since not many women are!...Second you have proved yourself to be very intelligent.....Third, Imsin the Dreamer said.......” General Darius´face went all red...he shut his mouth looking very embarrassed, apparently he realised he said too much. “Never mind”.

I nodded, trying to keep my face as emotionless as possible. Then General Darius bade me good-bye and wished me luck in performing the task. I surely needed that.

General Artorius told me to think of a suitable disguise, and then prepare to leave for Gnisis the day after tomorrow so I’d be there on time. I agreed and left the room.

First thing would be to go and see Imsin, I knew I wasn’t allowed to, but I was convinced there was something bigger behind this, so I just had to take the risk. After the morning exercises, sword-training on a dummy, I sneaked out of the camp and went to Fort Buckmoth. Imsin was happy to see me; she dragged me into her office where she embraced me warmly. Naturally I could not stop the tears from running, so handing me a piece of cloth she laughed at me and said;

“Ok Renie, cry-baby, what brings you here?”

I wiped my face and told her about my meetings with General Darius, I told her everything, including the general’s statement about her. Imsin looked at me with a stern face.

“Yes Serene, I told General Darius he had to pick you for this mission. It’s direct orders from Caius Cosades in Balmora. The Emperor specifically stated that you, Serene, should do this.

Now you are not to get involved in any fighting or killing, you just have to keep eyes and ears
open.”

“But Son..Ehh Imsin, what is the hook really?” I looked my old friend sternly in the eyes, “Please tell me the truth, and don’t hide it from me.”

“Ok”, Imsin sighed, “We need names, and places...any information you can dig up is very interesting. The actions against the eventual plot will be taken by others; you don’t have to worry.”

I was happy I did not have to take action against the presumptive traitors; spying on them was bed enough as I told Imsin. She agreed but stated that you do not act against the Emperor’s direct orders. I on my behalf was curious about why His Royal Highness absolutely craved ME to perform this. Imsin looked at me with a peculiar gaze;

“The Emperor had a dream.....in which a young woman from Cyrodiil played an important role; in fact this woman saved his life ....more than once. That’s all I know.”

Now I did not really believe her but she probably had a very good reason for not telling me more. Now it was time to find something that could explain my presence there......Imsin sat for a while thinking hard when she suddenly smiled at me;

“Serene, you should go there as a pilgrim,” she said, “No fancy clothing, just plain and simple, and you should go to the market and pay a visit to Shulki!” I must have made a funny face, because she laughed at me, tapping my cheek and continued;

“Shulki Ashunbabi is a young Dunmeri woman who owns a stand at the small Market just outside the Temple in Gnisis, she is one of ours, I think she can provide you with a very good disguise; besides she may have some snippets of information you may find very useful.”

I hugged Imsin goodbye and returned to the Camp, totally unnoticed. It was way beyond lunch and I was terribly hungry. As usual I had to rely on Lalatia Vabdas’ kind friendship to redeem my raging hunger.

That night after dinner I invented my wardrobe. No fancy clothing Imsin had said...well I did not even own anything fancy anymore. All I had were the clothes I got from Edwinna Elbert, but they were old and worn and would suit perfectly for this task.

Early next morning, after breakfast, I asked for audience with General Artorius. I told him about my plans; he agreed to let me go as Pilgrim, and wished me good luck.

“Now Serene,” he said, “You remember the words of General Darius, The Legion will not recognise you if you fail or get caught.”

I nodded, that was all clear to me, and The Legion did not always look after their folks, a fact that I in no way supported. All I could wish for was that I, one day, would achieve the power to change certain things in The Mighty Imperial Legion.....

Posted by: BobV Aug 15 2005, 12:05 AM

Exxxcelent update.

Posted by: Kiln Aug 15 2005, 12:59 AM

Very nice Minque...I can't wait till the next update.

Posted by: Neck' Thall Aug 15 2005, 01:01 AM

Nice Minque...you can have a cake and eat it too

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Aug 15 2005, 01:25 AM

Good job Minque! have a jonajosa

Posted by: Wolfie Aug 15 2005, 11:31 AM

Cool update Minque

Posted by: treydog Aug 15 2005, 04:57 PM

I just love your skillful touch with human interactions, the way you include details that make us feel as if we are not simply reading, but living the events in your story. There is a depth of humanity to Serene that speaks highly of her creator.

Posted by: Lucidarius Aug 16 2005, 10:13 PM

I nodded, that was all clear to me, and The Legion did not always look after their folks, a fact that I in no way supported. All I could wish for was that I, one day, would achieve the power to change certain things in The Mighty Imperial Legion.....

Posted by: minque Aug 16 2005, 10:44 PM

Thank you all for your very nice comments..it´s really heartwarming to read...

Now then I´m currently working on the next part....I was hoping to be able to conclude chapter 3 with this coming one but i´m afraid I´ll fail at that.....

Thank you again......

Posted by: Dantrag Aug 17 2005, 12:59 AM

Minque! Don't do that to me!

I see "Serene of Cyrodiil" with the last post by minque, and I'm like

"YAY!! UPDATE!!! WEEEE!" And start running around the room with excitement, and then I see this and start crying...



good story still, even if you made me cry.

Posted by: Konradude Aug 17 2005, 01:05 AM

Awww Danny. Great story minquey. I can't wait for the next update.....y.

Posted by: Kiln Aug 17 2005, 02:38 AM

Yeah...earlier I saw Minque had posted last so I went to check it out...too bad it was just the announcement of the coming update...
It is very good...you already know I like it so what's the point of saying how much again?

Posted by: Fuzzy Knight Aug 17 2005, 05:38 PM

I have some catching up to do I see...

Posted by: minque Aug 17 2005, 08:50 PM

Ok Dantrag!! This time it´s really an update.......enjoy!

”Serene, Serene of Cyrodiil, wake up child, you have an important day ahead of you, you must leave soon to fulfil your task. Fear not I will be with you as I always am.”

I sat up in my bed; drenched in cold sweat, Azura.....again the Dunmer goddess visited me as so many times before. I understood that this mission for the Legion in some way was prophesised; otherwise I would not have had this...dream?

Then I remembered Imsin´s words about the Emperor; “........a dream.....in which a young woman from Cyrodiil played an important role; in fact this woman saved his life ....more than once.”

I shrugged and went to the washing area, with fear in my heart. It was always an ordeal this washing business; the washing-area consisted of a room with several large buckets filled with warm water, beside each a small piece of soap, towels in a heap in the left corner of the room. No problems for the men, they just entered, washed themselves and then went for a towel, and that was it. But for me it was a bit awkward, there were no shelters between the buckets, so normally I washed myself late at night when my male comrades were asleep.

This particular morning however I had no choice, I had to wash myself, whether there were others present or not. Three men were washing themselves as I entered, they were chatting happily amongst them but when they noticed me they became dead-silent. I walked to a bucket trembling with cold and fear and started washing myself, without looking at the three men. I could feel them staring at me, and for a second I almost felt sorry for them; they had probably not seen a woman in her nude for a very long time.

I heard some rambling behind me and a voice hissing:

“For Stendarr´s sake Larrius, do NOT even think of it...what if she reports it!!”

The next moment I was grabbed by strong arms, a big hand was put over my moth to prevent me from screaming; I struggled to get loose but I only managed to bang my head against the wall with an unpleasant smack, the last thing I heard before all went dark was;..........”No, don’t do it.”

I woke up with a terrible headache, and when I tried to raise my head from the cold floor I immediately vomited. I was cold, wet and sore, and realised that history just repeated itself. Once more I was molested by Imperial soldiers. Tears streamed down my face as I carefully rose to my knees and crawled to the nearest bucket. With trembling hands I tried to wash off the dirt and humiliation, with little success. I was shocked and I just couldn’t get the tears to stop.

After washing myself until my skin was red and glowing I finally composed myself and got dressed in a plain brown skirt, a shirt which was worn but spotlessly clean and a hooded cloak. I also wound a long narrow piece of cloth around my waist and put on my oldest, most comfortable shoes. I did not have breakfast that morning; somehow I could not bear the sight of Imperial soldiers........

I did not report the men that molested me, there was no point in that; as there had been no witnesses and I had other options in mind. I was determined to get my revenge somehow.

I walked the short distance from the Camp to Ald´ruhn where I took the Silt-strider to Gnisis; as usual the driver was very kind to me, he offered me a blanket to pull over me since it was a really chilly morning, and a Silt-strider is kind of an open vehicle.

Gnisis was still one of the most miserable places in Vvardenfell, and the grey dull weather did not make it any better. It even started to rain as I headed for the Market.

I spotted a beautiful red-headed Dunmeri woman, in fact the only woman at this Market, at a stand selling all kinds of different stuff; clothes, pottery, herbs and some really nice bottles and vials. I guessed this must be Shulki Ashunbabi and approached her slowly.

“Heeey, Pilgrim,” she said to me in a hoarse but friendly voice, “Ya need some holy oils, if ye gunna visit the Temple, I’ve got´em all.”

I approached her, taking the hood off my cloak to reveal my face, then bent forward to have a closer look at the beautiful vials she had, at the same time I whispered to her;

“Shulki, Imsin the Dreamer said you’d help me.”

The young Dunmer looked at me for a second then said in a rather loud voice;

“Yes m´am, I have those in my hut, follow me and we’ll see.”

I was astonished that she didn’t question my appearance at all, but she gave me an explanation as we sat in her hut, cosily in front of the fireplace sipping hot tea.

“Ahh, I got a message from Imsin about three weeks ago that she would send a dark haired Cyrodiilic woman with strange-coloured eyes,” she said with a laugh.

“I’ve been thinking about this matter you see,” Shulki continued, “I know some of the cultists, but they act quite normal and their comrades know very little or even nothing about their plans.”

“We need some sort of evidence that there actually is a plot,” I answered.

Shulki told me that there was a shrine inside the Barracks-building, and she also told me how she knew that. In fact Shulki had another job besides selling stuff at the Market. She happened to be a very skilled dancer and so she used to dance for the soldiers at the barracks on Loredas´ nights. That was much appreciated by the soldiers but gave me an uneasy feeling, due to my experiences lately.

“I have a tryst with one of them,” she told me, “His name is Oritius Maro and he’s rather nice, but of course it’s just for fun, not as if I´m going to marry him,” she laughed when she saw my astonished face. “That’s how I know there is a shrine in there and I have the feeling that it would pay off to get a chance of visiting it.”

I started to get the hang of what Shulki was coming to when she asked me if I could dance, and also mentioned the name of another cultist who might be yearning for a woman.

We decided that Shulki should bring me with her next Loredas and introduce me as her fellow-dancer. I knew the basics of normal dancing but I suspected this was not going to be that kind of dance at all.

Posted by: BobV Aug 17 2005, 09:51 PM

A good update. The ruling update. The one update... TO RULE THEM ALL!

Posted by: Florodine of Hlaalu Aug 17 2005, 10:53 PM

i can't wait to see what kind of revenge serene is going to get on those stupid soldiers, haha once again good job minque

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Aug 17 2005, 11:01 PM

I agree with Florodine I wonder what kind of revenge Serene will have....

may I suggest a poisonous potion?

Posted by: Neck' Thall Aug 18 2005, 12:15 AM

I think those soldiers are going to be missing a few things very precious to them...very soon...and if she doesn't do it, then Ryan will...when he gets to that time...

Posted by: Dantrag Aug 18 2005, 02:28 AM

good update, but I feel really sorry for Serene.

Posted by: BobV Aug 18 2005, 12:18 PM

May I suggest casting Evan's Spiked Tentacles of Forced Intrusion on them?

Posted by: treydog Aug 18 2005, 02:37 PM

As ever, the grace and beauty of your writing enchant me, even when you write of terrible events. Your ability to draw 3-dimensional supporting characters is incredible. Here's another who hopes that Serene's "reform" of the Legion includes some rather direct (and painful) retaliation against certain individuals.

Posted by: Fuzzy Knight Aug 18 2005, 05:30 PM

As ever, the grace and beauty of your writing enchant me, even when you write of terrible events. Your ability to draw 3-dimensional supporting characters is incredible. Here's another who hopes that Serene's "reform" of the Legion includes some rather direct (and painful) retaliation against certain individuals.

Posted by: Kiln Aug 18 2005, 06:57 PM

I just logged on and saw you had updated....very nice as always Minque...very nice.

Poor Serene...I wanna see her revenge.

Posted by: Konradude Aug 18 2005, 07:31 PM

Awesome update. Really enjoyed the flow.

Posted by: minque Aug 19 2005, 10:49 PM

Though I´d post some pictures......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/Serene%20of%20Cyrodiil%20kap%203/ScreenShot87.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/Serene%20of%20Cyrodiil%20kap%203/ScreenShot86.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/Serene%20of%20Cyrodiil%20kap%203/ScreenShot83.jpg


Yes yes.....an update will come...son

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Aug 19 2005, 11:25 PM

ooooh pretty nice robe were'd ya get it?

Posted by: minque Aug 19 2005, 11:41 PM

ooooh pretty nice robe were'd ya get it?

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Aug 20 2005, 02:26 AM

oh I see, now i think I will have a female theif next....

Posted by: Lucidarius Aug 20 2005, 03:42 PM

Though I´d post some pictures......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/Serene%20of%20Cyrodiil%20kap%203/ScreenShot87.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/Serene%20of%20Cyrodiil%20kap%203/ScreenShot86.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/Serene%20of%20Cyrodiil%20kap%203/ScreenShot83.jpg
Yes yes.....an update will come...son

Posted by: minque Aug 20 2005, 04:04 PM

Ah Lucidarius! I assure you she will get her revenge....but in a female way....

Ah and of course she has changed her face! She has grown older and wiser since she arrived in Morrowind...

Here see this series:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/Serene%20chapter%201/SereneathomeVantiniusManor.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/Serene%20of%20Cyrodiil%20kap%203/Serene4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/Serene%20of%20Cyrodiil%20kap%203/ScreenShot83.jpg

And you know women? They like to change hairstyles sometimes....so be prepared she will change appearance again.....as the time goes by..

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Aug 20 2005, 06:03 PM

nice I like the hair style in the last pic better

Posted by: Lucidarius Aug 20 2005, 06:49 PM

Great to hear that - about the female way of getting even. Glad I'm not Larrius. He sure picked the wrong woman to victimize.

Regarding the three pics: They show a nice progression in Serene. She's starting out as a girl with freeflowing hair, then as she gets older and more seasoned her face changes. Finally, in the last pic, she's a woman now (young), but is able to hold her own and do what needs to be done.

Posted by: OverrideB1 Aug 21 2005, 09:35 AM

I realise, to my horror, that it's been far too long since I complimented you on your excellent writing ~ this is a powerful and intriguing story and I, for one, can't wait to see future updates.

Posted by: minque Aug 21 2005, 05:17 PM

So here it is......the latest update...Enjoy!

Shulki Ashunbabi turned out to be very good company during those days we spent together; she was amusing, cheerful, and generous. I stayed in her hut, a cave dwelling in the outskirts of Gnisis. Well in fact it actually was her sister’s cave. Her sister Assumanu Mantiti was an egg miner and worked in Gnisis Egg mine, as her late husband had done before his unfortunate death. Bralyn Mantiti died from pneumonia due to the unhealthy environment in the cave combined with weak lungs. He caught a severe cold the previous winter and did not treat it properly, so it developed into pneumonia in both lungs and that ended his life in three short days. After that Assumanu asked her sister to come and live with her, to make the loss easier to bear.

Before moving in with her sister Shulki lived at a very small house outside Gnisis where she had her workshop- making pottery, straw-baskets and different potions out of local herbs and plants. She was a skilled alchemist as well as a pottery maker, no doubt; her teacher turned out to be the famous Baladas Demnevanni, the eccentric Telvanni-Wizard and mage, well known throughout Tamriel.

Shulki´s idea about how we should fulfil the task about finding evidence that the Talos Cult really was planning some plot against the Emperor began with.....Baladas Demnevanni! Since he was her teacher she was convinced that he would help us or at least give us some good advice.

It turned out that he did a lot more than that.......at least for me that was!

Shulki and I went to Arvs Drelen, the Velothi tower in the north-west part of the town, where Baladas had his residence. We found our way through the narrow corridors until we reached the large room in the middle of the building. On entering that room I nearly fainted with fear; a huge beast stood there yawning at us showing off a neat collection of razor-sharp teeth. It was a Daedroth, Shulki told me and it was complete tame, it just attacked on request from Baladas. Now I did not know that from the start so naturally I yelped and nearly passed out.

“Come, come, Tulsie,” Shulki called to the creature, “You know Shulki, don’t you, now this is my friend, Serene, and we’re here to see The Master, so everything is all right, you go and eat your fodder huh?”

The Daedroth hissed a couple of times, waved its big head, still displaying the teeth and then shambled away to its bowl.

“There, Serene,” she smiled at me, “Let’s go up to uncle Baladas now, shall we?”

We went up a curved stair to the upper level of the room and thus met the man who was feared and respected by mages throughout a whole continent. He was rather tall, and his iron-grey hair was drawn back from a high brow in a low set ponytail. His red Dunmerii eyes showed that he’d seen perhaps more than he wanted to see of this world. He was wearing an expensive-looking robe in blue and turquoise and smiled at Shulki as she approached him with outstretched hands.

“Shulki, my child,” he said in a dark but low voice, “What brings a lovely girl like you to visit an old bugger? And who may your Cyrodiilic companion be then?” Baladas Demnevanni looked straight into my eyes, and I felt a bit shaky, first the encounter with the Daedroth, and then with this old Dunmer whose appearance merged power and a great wisdom.
“Ah uncle, this is my friend Serene Catraso, she is one of us and......” Shulki was silenced by a gesture of Master Demnevanni´s hand.

“Shush child, you always talk before you think.” Master Demnevanni still looked at me with a thoughtful gaze.

“Extraordinary eyes,” he muttered and gave me his hand, “Welcome, Serene,“ he then continued, “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.....I assume you have some magical skills, am I right?”

I swallowed and nodded, cleared my throat and said;

“Thank you Master Demnevanni, and yes I do have some minor healing-skills.”

Baladas Demnevanni smiled at me and commented that humbleness was a virtue. Then he bade us sit down and snapped his finger twice, which resulted in the appearance of a young dark-haired Dunmer clad in a pale green robe whirling around his ankles. He bowed to Master Demnevanni;

“You called for me, Master?”

“Yes Fervas, could you please bring us some tea, if you would be so kind,” Master Demnevanni said to the young man, who immediately bowed deeply and went off.

I was astonished yet very pleased to hear the wizard treat his staff in such a nice and polite manner. It proved to me that Baladas Demnevanni was a great man in spirit and I felt better than I had for a long time. My experiences of men had not been that good lately....

“So ladies,” he leaned back and crossed his arms to his chest, ”what exactly is your errand?”

Shulki told him of our task with the Talos Cult, in a vivid speech seasoned with extensive gestures. Baladas listened carefully, and inserted some leading questions now and then. After she finished he just sat quiet for a while looking out in the air thinking.

“What is your plan to solve this quest?” he finally said.

“I am going to bring Serene with me at the regular dancing-show that I perform every Loredas evening at The Barracks in Gnisis, in that way she has the opportunity of getting acquainted with Arius Rulician, the guardian of the Talos shrine.....and then....”

Once again Shulki was silenced by a gesture from Baladas, “I do understand child,” he answered, “but I doubt Serene will be very happy to serve as decoy, considering...” He stopped talking and looked me sternly in the eyes. I started shiver.....I had a feeling that somehow this man could see right through me, read my mind.....somehow he actually knew what I’d been through. That was a stunning experience and I didn’t know how to handle it.

“Now then, if I may advise you ladies, this can be done as follows,” He put his fingertips together and outlined the plan;

“First we have to make sure this man Rulician really is charmed by Serene; to ensure that I think a special potion will make a great contribution.” He smiled at us and continued;

“Naturally I have just the potion you need in my cupboard.” He winked outrageously and again I felt better; here was a man of power who did not take himself too seriously. “Then we also must ensure that all the officers are deeply asleep when you ladies perform the delicate task of searching the Talos shrine for any evidence that may please your employer.”

Baladas Demnevanni rose from the chair and went to his cupboard. From it he took out three vials of different colours and sizes.

“This one,” he showed the red one,” Is a potion that enhances your natural pheromones, so you become irresistible to the male of the species; now that doesn’t only work for human males but also for all kinds of males, so take care, Serene,” he noted with a faint smile.

“Now this one,” now he showed the large blue one,” Will render a very deep sleep to anyone who drinks it, so take care whose drink you put it in.”

“The last one, Serene,” he continued, “ Is a potion that makes the user very scared because it makes the urine clear-blue, and besides that, the user has to stay very near a toilet, due to the pain in his stomach. I think you may have use for it.”

With those words he handed me the vials and looked straight into my eyes.

“Amethyst colour they are .......those eyes of yours, extraordinary, and very rare. You must be the woman in my dreams, who shall .....”

I shrugged, how come this man knew so much?

“Does he really know who I am and why I´m here?” I thought, looking back at him, concentrating on his wise eyes and impressive features.

“Yes Serene, I do know,” he said in a low voice, “But we will not talk about that now.”

I jumped, gasping for breath; this was unbelievable, he could actually read my thoughts; now I’d never be on my own again, I thought.

After receiving the potions we made our way back to Shulki´s place and started planning the details for this mission.

I reckoned I at first had to have suitable clothes........which were easily found in Shulki´s own wardrobe.

My outfit for Loredas was indeed very fancy, it consisted of a pair of black-dyed short leather trousers, a black leather bra and a thin ice-blue see-through veil to wrap around me or just let swirl as I was dancing. I felt awfully naked wearing this outfit and then to wear it in front of Imperial soldiers nearly paralysed me with fear....... Oddly enough, what comforted me was the memory of a pair of deep red eyes, the eyes of Baladas Demnevanni, looking deeply into my own.

Posted by: Neck' Thall Aug 21 2005, 05:35 PM

Sweet!!! I bet you the potion is for Larrius...and do we get a picture of serene in her dancer costume?

Posted by: BobV Aug 21 2005, 05:59 PM

You'd like that wouldn't ya...

Very nioce update.

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Aug 21 2005, 07:13 PM

nice update Minque

Posted by: Florodine of Hlaalu Aug 21 2005, 09:21 PM

as always very good minque, it was a very interesting chapter, but in a good way, baladas, seems to show up in a lot of fics

Posted by: Lucidarius Aug 21 2005, 10:30 PM

I liked the scene with Baladas and his mind-reading. It's good to see him helping Serene and hinting that he's in on the bigger plot, too. Great detail about the Daedroth and Shulki's handling of it.

Posted by: minque Aug 21 2005, 10:41 PM

...and do we get a picture of serene in her dancer costume?

Posted by: Kiln Aug 22 2005, 12:18 AM

Very nice update, surprised I hadn't caught it sooner...interesting what will happen next...looking forward to the next update.

Posted by: treydog Aug 22 2005, 03:15 PM

Love your portrayal of Baladas. As always, you add the little details that make the story stand out- the Daedroth, Baladas' commanding manner, etc. Wonderful update.

Posted by: minque Aug 28 2005, 10:50 PM

Besides appropriate clothing I also had to learn how to dance the way Shulki danced for the soldiers. It turned out to be rather simple as the legionnaires were not very familiar with the more formal dances common to banquets or divine ceremonies, where dancing normally takes place.

The thing was to fulfil their dreams, in such a way that they should imagine they could conquer us, take us as trophies, surrogates for their wives and fiancées, all in a subtle imaginary way of course.......They were strongly forbidden to even touch us, unless they were willing to suffer a major punishment. All theses rules were set by General Darius himself, even though I strongly doubted he followed them by the book, remembering his dirty looks at me the first time we met, about 6 months ago.

Anyway we just had to act seductive and move our bodies in accordance to suggestive music, played on a fat Lute by a crippled young Redguard.

I must admit I did not feel very comfortable after Shulki had told me all that, but I was deeply involved by now and determined to go along with what was asked from me. Although I did not fully realize it at the time, I see now that following orders and being the best was a form of penance and redemption. I wanted to prove that I deserved the name and family I had been forced to leave behind.

The first Loredas evening as we made our way to the Barracks, the rain was pouring down just to add to my bad feelings. We were greeted at the doorway by a young legionnaire on duty, who also took care of our cloaks, hopefully to hang them somewhere they would dry up a bit.

The upper level of the Barracks was rather small, just a hall, with some tables and chairs, but the lower level contained, besides the beds of the legionnaires, 2 large rooms, one for the Camp Prefect, Optio Bologra, a harsh but righteous Orc, and one big combined dining- and living room. It was in this room our performance was to be held. Every Loredas evening they set up a small bar and one of the employees at Madach Trade house brought the drinks which he sold to the legionnaires at very reasonable prices. Extra income for the Trade house and a benefit for the garrison so to say, since the bar at the Trade house also was open to the public. Sadly, it was often necessary to restrict the legionnaires’ contact with civilians, particularly when the soldiers had been drinking. Some ugly incidents had taken place in the past, so Darius set up these Loredas banquets as an alternative.

Even though it was rather warm inside the Barracks I was shivering, though I hoped my nervousness would not be that obvious to the soldiers; otherwise they might be suspicious.

We were showed downstairs into the dining room where we were offered some Cyrodiilic Brandy. I was somewhat astonished; I didn’t think the garrison could afford such quality beverages, but then I realised it must have ended up here as a result of some business in the dark. Apparently Caius Cosades back in Balmora was right when he spoke about corruption in The Legion. But I had not the time to worry about the origin of the beverages of the garrison in Gnisis; there were other issues at hand right at the moment that would require my entire concentration.

As we sat sipping our Brandy at a small table in a corner, the legionnaires were swarming the room, filling it with harsh laughter and rough comments on what they’d expect from our performance.

A chill went down my spine along with a trickle of cold sweat; I found it somewhat hard to breathe and had to go inside my mind and recall Baladas Demnevanni´s looks at me when he told me he knew why I was in Vvardenfell in the first place. That calmed me down a bit.

Too soon the time came when Shulki and I was supposed to entertain the legionnaires. I saw her cheer up as a rather good-looking Cyrodiilic man entered the room and understood that he had to be Oritius Maro.....her “boyfriend”. He brought another young Cyrodiil with him, a fairly young man in his early twenties I’d say, who at first seemed very shy but when he spotted me his eyes brightened and he just stared at me. That made me feel a bit uneasy at first, but the way he looked at me was more the way a young man away from home admires a pretty girl, so I almost blushed. After my terrible experiences at the hands of legionnaires, it was refreshing to have a young man look at me in such a sweet, innocent way. At the same time, it made me sad, as I wondered how long that innocence would last with such corrupt influences all around. As it turned out, I was right to wonder…

Oritius Maro hugged Shulki warmly and asked her who her companion was.

“This is Serene,” Shulki announced loudly, “She’s to accompany me in the dancing...just to entertain you guys more!”

A loud murmur of approval came from the men sitting at the tables, and they started to clap their hands.

“So gals, get yerselves up on them tables will ya`, and start dancin.´”

Two minor tables were at our disposal, right in the middle of the room they were put, so that everybody could watch us. We were supposed to dance upon those. I checked the tables briefly to ensure they would not break or turn over; I didn’t want to fall down on the floor whilst dancing.

In the other corner the young redguard was sitting with his Lute, tentatively trying out some chords. He had no legs, just short stumps where they were supposed to be and I wondered what had happened to him but chose not to ask.....not now anyway.

The next hour was an orgy of sweat, heat, smoky atmosphere and noise....I moved my body like I never had done before, without thinking of what I really was doing. A quick glance at Shulki revealed a very attractive woman, sweat streaming down her body making her skin glow like raw ebony, hair red and wild whirling around her face, dancing with seductive moves on the small table.....Then I noticed the lustful looks of the men watching us, which caught me right in my stomach.

I did not dare to look at the men, but concentrated on my own moves. It must have been obvious that I had not done a thing like this before, but still the audience shouted with excitement. I wondered what would happen when we finished dancing though........

After one and a half hours of dancing we were allowed to take a break. My legs trembled with exhaustion as I climbed off the table; my entire body was wet from sweat, and I was panting heavily. We got some cold comberry-juice and more brandy. I was not sure I wanted more alcohol; I needed to be alert and not end up in some kind of trouble, considering my previous encounters with imperial soldiers....

Now rules are rules, so we were not to be abused, hopefully, but we had to do a second performance, and also change outfits!

Shulki knew that and thus she had brought some extra clothing with her. I was almost terrified when I saw what she had in mind for me to wear;, never would I show myself in an outfit like that, not in front of unknown men that was, I’d rather give the whole thing up........

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Aug 28 2005, 11:24 PM

YAY!!! nie update Minque keep yup the good work!

Posted by: Neck' Thall Aug 29 2005, 01:24 AM

Nice update...exactly what soul said.

Posted by: Lucidarius Aug 29 2005, 08:42 AM

The fear and hesitation are portrayed really well. The reader gets a clear picture of how frightening it is for Serene to dance in front of the leering men.

Posted by: treydog Aug 29 2005, 02:59 PM

You know, one of the things that makes your writing stand out is the fact that every character has a story- and you make us wonder what those stories are. As always, a wonderful update.

Posted by: Dantrag Aug 30 2005, 03:34 AM

I missed an update!?!?!

I will get you back, school, for all those years of my life you stole, and continue to steal! *shakes fist*

Good job, as always minque.

Posted by: Kiln Aug 30 2005, 02:46 PM

Very nice Minque, the fear and lack of confidence in doing this sort of thing is well described and understandable. It's easy to imagine the frustration Serene is going through in all of this. Wonder what will happen next...update soon.

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Aug 30 2005, 11:59 PM

I will get you back, school, for all those years of my life you stole, and continue to steal!

Posted by: Fuzzy Knight Aug 31 2005, 01:49 PM

Have missed a few FF updates on this forum so decided to.. try to catch up (its so many) so I'll start here Minque!

Well, its been some time since I've read your story, did some fast read over right now and it looks very good as always. Always something new and exiting without filling it fights, and you always write wonderful with descriptions and everything else as I most have said several times now in my replies..

Keep it up!

Posted by: minque Sep 5 2005, 08:21 PM

Of course I couldn’t give it up; I repressed my fears and changed clothes. This second outfit really was something quite special, it looked like armour on the upper part but below the waist it really was just two pieces of thin transparent cloth, one in the front and one at the back, hanging from an embroidered belt. Underneath, I had nothing....

As I sat in the small room waiting for Shulki to get ready, Azura paid a visit to me....

“Serene, Serene, fear not, no harm will be done to you. You must fulfil this task, it is prophesied......I shall watch over you”

“Serene...heey, wake up, are you OK?”

Shulki shook my shoulder and I opened my eyes looking up finding myself flat on the floor; I had no idea how I ended up there, I just remembered the swirling fog just before I heard Azura´s voice.

“Yes, I´m OK,” I answered Shulki, rising to my feet. I had to wipe my face and armpits from sweat and sit down for a while to compose myself.

“Now what was all that about?” Shulki asked, “Are you ill or something? You just turned your eyes in-and-out, then you just fell off the chair....I hope you didn’t hurt yourself!”

I told her I was OK and then I had to tell her a bit about my relationship with the divine Azura. Shulki looked at me and shook her head.

“There is something about you Serene, I don’t know what, but Master Demnevanni noticed, he surely did.....”

Anyway it was now about time we made our last performance for the evening; we could hear the rumbling of the soldiers eagerly waiting for their entertainment.

This session I performed with no fear, due to Azura´s reassurance and also to the image in my head; two calm wise eyes of an old wizard......”I know why you are here.”

After a couple of minutes I felt as if I were out of my body, swaying above the scene, watching two women, one dark and one fair, dancing in intricate patterns, their dresses swirling around them, the light of the torches reflecting on their sweat-glistening bodies....And the music.....it filled the room with seductive temptatious tones....

Then it stopped......the room was silent for about 2 seconds before the men started applauding and shouting for more...

Shulki and I stood panting on the “stage” ....holding each other’s hands; we both knew it had been a good performance, and all we could wish for now was that the rest would be as successful.

A tall sturdy legionnaire approached us; I recognized him as Oritius Maro, Shulki´s “friend”, and together with him was that other young man who watched me during our first dancing session. Oritius introduced him as Arius Rulician, and then asked if we would like to take a drink with him and Arius.

“We’d like to change clothes first,” Shulki stated, but Oritius shook his head,

“I´m afraid there is no time for that, the bar will close in half an hour so please follow me, ladies.”

Oritius walked to the bar followed by Shulki, Arius and me. Arius couldn’t take his eyes off me and I was beginning to think the attraction-perfume that Master Demnevanni gave me was not going to be needed, which was fortunate, because I had not put it on before our performance and now there would probably be no chance to do it.

We sat down at a table and Oritius brought the drinks, the best brandy the Madach Trade house could get hold of. Arius looked at me, blushing, and then he said:

“Oh...well...if I may ask....Miss Serene maybe you wish for something cold to drink after a performance like this”...he blushed again, then went to the bar and got a glass cold comberry-juice as well as a towel which he offered me to wipe the sweat off my face and chest.

I found that gesture very sweet and felt bad that I was to take advantage of him in order to complete my investigation. Anyway I thanked Arius for his kindness and downed the refreshment immediately. We had quite a nice evening and Arius asked if he could see me again, maybe as early as Morndas; he had the afternoon off and suggested a picnic in the mountains outside Gnisis. I agreed to meet him, and after that it was time to get going so Shulki and I bade the legionnaires good night and went to change clothes before going back home. Accepting his invitation was difficult- he seemed like a nice young man and all, but I was here on a mission, not for fun. Still, if there really was a plot against the Emperor, that was more important than some hurt feelings…. Remembering my purpose didn’t really make me feel any better, but it did give me the determination to continue.

I slept like a log that night; a lot of exercise, drinks and tension made me literally collapse in bed. The next day we got up late, had breakfast and just spent the day relaxing. We made a trip to the shore; I was kind of eager to take a swim......that could have ended badly if Shulki hadn’t been so skilled with her dagger.....

I really enjoyed slipping into the chilly water, and let myself float away, when suddenly a sharp pain in my back made me scream out loud. I quickly turned around just to face a large slaughterfish headed right towards me, mouth wide open displaying a set of really big teeth. I started swimming, screaming in agony; I knew about those monsters, how could I be that stupid not to make sure there weren’t any where I planned to take my bath.

The fish caught me once more before I caught a glimpse of something swooshing just beside my head......the water then went red with blood and I just hoped it wasn’t mine. I threw myself up on the rocky shore, bleeding from a wound on my lower back and one on my left calf. Shulki came rushing up, asking me if I was OK...

“By Nirn, Serene,” she gasped, “That was a close one, but I think I got him, let’s see.”

Shulki went to the shoreline looking out on the water. Then she waded out and grasped for something under the surface, which turned out to be the huge fish....with her silver dagger deeply buried in its neck. She lifted the monster above her head and laughed;

“Hey, Serene, we’ve got our lunch organised! Slaughterfish is delicious!”

I laughed with her, but my laugh turned into a grimace when I examined my wounds; a deep cut in my calf and another one in the back, both bleeding rather severely. I felt dizzy and had to lie down for a bit......

The next time I opened my eyes I was lying in on my bedroll at Shulki´s cavern, feeling rather comfortable, warm and fuzzy. I was in no pain at all, just hungry.....very hungry, especially when I smelled the fish-stew that was cooking on the fire. Shulki had just entered with a basket filled with bread and some brown bottles.

“Hey, sweetie, you OK now?” Shulki kneeled beside me, gently tapping my hand, but there was someone accompanying her.....someone in a blue and turquoise robe.......

Posted by: Dantrag Sep 5 2005, 08:25 PM

yay for updates!

Posted by: Fuzzy Knight Sep 5 2005, 08:34 PM

Wonderful as always Minque - One thing, its not even important in a way.. I learned from my "Norwegian" teacher when it came to writing stories that if we are involving numbers in our story that all numbers from 0 - 20 should be written like, two, four, fifteen etc. and above that you use 21 42 700 000 000 etc. Hehe, thats really all I have to say...

Posted by: Neck' Thall Sep 5 2005, 08:36 PM

Ditto.

Posted by: BobV Sep 5 2005, 08:41 PM

Cliffhanger alert, cliffhanger alert! Nice update.

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Sep 5 2005, 09:30 PM

yay good job Minque

Posted by: minque Sep 6 2005, 09:26 PM

I think I promised you pics of Serene in her second http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/Serene%20of%20Cyrodiil%20kap%203/ScreenShot120.jpg


And http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/Serene%20of%20Cyrodiil%20kap%203/ScreenShot128.jpg

the http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/minque/Serene%20of%20Cyrodiil%20kap%203/ScreenShot119.jpg

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Sep 6 2005, 09:45 PM

wow! Nice pics Minque!

Posted by: Wolfie Sep 6 2005, 09:46 PM

Nice pics Minque

Posted by: BobV Sep 7 2005, 01:08 PM

Shexay!

Posted by: Neck' Thall Sep 11 2005, 04:55 PM

cool! Nice Pics

Posted by: Kiln Sep 11 2005, 05:16 PM

Nice update minque, I'm looking forward to reading more when I can. I like the emotion you put into the characters, it really makes them feel real, they have lives and minds of their own and I like that. I'm looking forward to reading more when I can.

Posted by: minque Sep 11 2005, 06:41 PM

At last, this is the final part of chapter 3, now there will of course be more chapters.....

”Master Demnevanni?” I whispered, my throat was sore and I could hardly speak. The mage kneeled beside my bedroll, smiling warmly at me;

“Yes my child”, he answered,” Shulki was worried about you, so she brought me here. You’ve had a nasty infection Serene, with tremor and very high fever, in fact you nearly left us so...there were need for special measures. But I´m glad you finally woke up, that means you’re going to be ok and that is very fortunate.....for us all as well as for ......” He stopped and sat just watching me.

“But....I don’t understand” I said, what day is it? I was totally confused; surely it was just a few hours ago that the slaughterfish bit me?

“It’s Fredas,” Shulki smiled, “more than two-and-a-half weeks since that monstrous fish got you; we all have been worried to death for you, me, Arius, Oritius- even General Darius was here to see how you were!, And..and I had to bring Uncle Baladas, because I was at my wit’s end.”

I shrugged, two and a half week gone from my life...just like that! I must have looked very astonished because then Baladas Demnevanni took one of the brown bottles from Shulki´s basket and gave it to me;

“Drink this, Serene”, he said, “It will get you strong quicker, and I will try to explain to you what you’ve been through.”

“That wound you got really was not hard to heal, but there was, as I already told you, a nasty infection developing extremely fast, that was why you passed out....None of the common cures remedied it; Shulki tried all she knew of, so she came to me.” Baladas sat himself down more comfortably, and I understood there was far more to this than I had suspected at first.

“It wasn’t a fair sight I spotted when coming here, you were tossing and turning on the bed, sweating massively.....and your leg....was red and very swollen. At first we tried to cool you down with wet blankets, your temperature was dangerously high...” He stopped again, put his hand on my forehead, looking satisfied.

“I didn’t know what to do, so I opened a portal back to Sadrith Mora to consult Master Aryon, one of my oldest friends; he supplied me with some very potent potions that normally cure anything rendered from beast-bites. It did no good on your condition, Serene, in fact you got even worse as time passed. Your tremor was really bad now and I feared you were going to die. “

A sobbing sound interrupted the mage’s speech; Shulki, who had been present during all this time, cried when she remembered.

“So, being at my wit’s end I got a premonition,” Baladas continued, “that somehow provided me with an answer. You must be protected by the Divines, Serene, because some faint voice told me to seek counsel with one of the greatest wizards in the whole Tamriel.....a man of great powers, living in perfect solitude far away from civilisation; Master Divayth Fyr, the Lord of Tel Fyr....So I opened another portal and arrived on the island of Tel Fyr.”

I sat up on the bed now, all ears; this was really getting more and more confusing.....I shivered and wrapped the blanket tighter around me....

“Divayth Fyr is probably, besides me,” Baladas chuckled, “the most skilled magician you can find, and he actually had encountered a similar infection as you were suffering on one of his daughters, so he had made a remedy once, but that was ages ago so he wasn’t sure he remembered exactly the recipe. He thus agreed to try and find it, as he always keeps record of his potions and spells and he was determined to find it. “

“It took time for the old Mer to search through his huge collection of parchment-rolls, and I was getting slightly nervous, remembering in what state you were when I left Gnisis. Anyway he found it and agreed to prepare the potion for me; he too was concerned about you,” Baladas smiled.

“Why?” I asked, “Why would Divayth Fyr be concerned about me? Does he know me?“ I was getting really worried now; it seemed as an awful lot of magicians and wizards knew of me and my mission here, and I was not sure how I really felt about that.

“Why, Serene, I told him about you, the prophecies we all know of, and you being part of them....well...”

“Anyway,” Baladas continued, “I got the potion from Divayth, and opened the portal back here. Just in time as I would say, you were in an extremely bad shape and Shulki was convinced you already were dead, because she could not feel your breath anymore, you were all still and your face was ash-grey. I forced the potion into your mouth and made you swallow it. Then we just had to wait.......and so we have, not seeing any sign of recovery until two days ago when we noticed you were sleeping a good natural sleep. Imagine the joy we felt, when we understood you were going to be ok again.”

I was pondering of this for a while; apparently I was playing a part in some prophecy here in Vvardenfell, how and why I had no idea, but it surely helped keep me alive anyway! Then a weird thing struck me.....I was a Redoran retainer...but those two wizards must surely be of considerable rank in Great House Telvanni. I could not grasp why some Telvanni-nobles would make so much effort to save someone like me......if it hadn’t been for that prophecy....

Needless to say the rest of the day was very pleasant; we all shared the meal that Shulki prepared, together with some Mazte and Cyrodiilic brandy to finish it up with.

When Baladas Demnevanni left he told me to be prepared, because within the following two weeks I had to fulfil the task about finding proof of the plot against the Emperor. And meanwhile, now that I was recovered, Shulki and I were expected to dance for the garrison again.

Our dancing the following evening was not as extensive as it used to be, probably due to me having been ill. I also had severe problems with my outfits; during the last weeks I’d lost several pounds so nothing really fit me; everything hung loose around my body, not very seductive at all. Arius Rulician was very attentive also; he gave me a huge bouquet of Stone flower and Willow Anther, I found this very sweet and touching and it made me feel bad about what I was planning to do to this innocent young man.

I started seeing Arius Rulician on a regular basis the following week. He also succeeded in “persuading me” to join the Talos Cult. It seemed to be a normal Cult worshipping the old Emperor Tiber Septim, the Dragonborne, but after attending some meetings I sensed something foul, it was just very faint at the beginning but it seemed as though some of the Cult-members were a bit apart from the others; I really didn’t know what to think about it.
Arius was the warden of the secret shrine in the cellar of Gnisis Barracks. He took me there to show me. It seemed as he was very proud of this important task of his, even though he apparently did not know what the shrine really was hiding. It consisted of an altar covered in a blue cloth. Upon it was a small chest, locked, and some candelabra beside it. When I asked what was in the chest he merely told me it was some secret holy artefact but that it was not meant for us ordinary members to know that, just the high rank leaders of the cult.

My chance to accomplish the task appeared the following Turdas, when Arius told me there was to be a meeting...or rather a sort of ceremony, in which all Talos-cult members were to wear black hooded cloaks, which hid their faces very well.....

I made some preparations just in case the opportunity to get into the chest in the shrine would appear; in a small leather purse I put the sleeping-potion given to me by Master Demnevanni, some ink, a quill, a piece of parchment and a good lockpick...all ready just in case..

I had no black, hooded cloak but Arius lent me his spare one, and since it was rather big on me it really hid my face very well. Arius met me in the hall the night of the occasion, put the cloak on me and led me down the stairs. We entered the room in which the ceremony was to be held, at a big round table six figures were seated, all in black cloaks; no one was to be recognised. Since I was the newest member it was my duty to prepare the brandy that was to be served. I was given a small package containing some common herbs to put in the liquor to make it more potent it was said. I was feeling rather nervous, a thin trickle of sweat ran down my spine, my hands were not exactly steady when I stood at a minor table in a corner of the room seasoning the brandy.

I stood turned away from the participants of the ceremony, mixing the herbs into the large jug of brandy in front of me.....then I carefully took out the blue vial that Baladas Demnevanni gave me at our first visit to Arvs Drelen, the one that caused deep sleep to anyone who consumed it. I quickly poured the contents into the jug, held it before me and then presented it to the cultists.

Baladas Demnevanni was right when he told me about the effects of that potion- within twenty minutes all the cultists were neatly asleep, heads on the table....except one who had fallen off his chair and snored loudly on the floor.

I was all wet from sweating; my heart beat as a sledgehammer, when I rapidly headed down to the shrine. The lockpick was doing its work nicely and when at last I opened the chest I realised that Shulki was right to suspect that the shrine was worth visiting. Inside the chest were a shimmering soul gem, three diamonds, and.....a piece of parchment! I unfolded the parchment, and my heart nearly stopped as I read the words written on it:

There are rumours that Uriel will be visiting Vvardenfell in person. If so we must act sooner than anticipated. We must watch his actions carefully and strike if the opportunity presents itself. We must also recruit more and swear them to the oath: That we shall die to put a strong man back on the throne of Tamriel.

Burn this note.

Oritus

The words were written in Daedric, I could read them but I was supposed to copy the note to avoid suspicion, and I was not that skilled in this strange language so I just took out my writing equipment and started copying:

There are rumours that Uriel will be visiting Vvardenfell in person. If so we must act sooner than anticipated. We must watch his actions carefully and strike if the opportunity presents itself. We must also recruit more and swear them to the oath: That we shall die to put a strong man back on the throne of Tamriel.

Burn this note.

Oritius

I could hardly hold the quill; my hands were wet from sweating and shaking severely. The knowledge that Oritius Maro was the head of the plot was frightening me terribly. I had to see to it that he didn’t harm Shulki.....I put my copy of the note back in the chest and put the original one in my bag. Unfortunately I could not lock the chest, but I hoped no one would really think about that...

After that I hurried out of the Barracks and headed towards Madach Trade house where I most certainly would find General Darius. No need to say that he was pleased with me, except for one little thing.....he asked me if I’d killed the traitors, by which he meant Oritius and Arius. When I denied this, he looked at me rather annoyed and wanted to know why.

“I´m a mage and healer,” I answered, “I do not kill people, I use cunning and magic instead! you got your proof, now I leave it to you.”

General Darius was a man who was accustomed to having his orders followed, so when he told me to go back and end the traitors´ lives, I said I would do it right away, but in my heart I was thinking of other options.....

I went out of Madach Trade house, tears running down my face. I could not go back to the Barracks and kill Oritius and Arius in cold blood, I had neither the courage nor any wish to do such a thing. The General had gotten his proof; as far as I was concerned he could do his own killing. My steps led me to Arvs Drelen, to the only one who could possibly help me out of this ordeal...

As I entered Baladas’ chambers a very familiar voice spoke, at first I could not see, my sight was blurred with tears but I surely recognised the hearty embrace from.....Imsin the Dreamer, of all persons!

“Renie, sweetie, ye ´ave done well.....don’t ya cry no more, yer gonna be jus´fine....listen te aunt Sonya an´uncle Baladas now.....shush now, love, an´come ´ere an´ have a lil´pick-me-up.”

I followed her to a couch and sat down, drying my face with a corner of Arius´cloak. I was given a golden reddish liquid that tasted wonderful and soon had me all calm and composed again.

“The General wants me to kill them,” I said in a thin voice, “but...but I can’t commit cold-blooded murder even if they are to assassinate the Emperor.”

“I know you can’t do that,” Baladas said calmly, “That’s why Imsin is here; she is superior to General Darius and will take appropriate actions against the traitors....and the General.”

“Aye,” Imsin stated, “I know what te do, be sure of that, but Serene, when ya first arrived I told ya te come te me for a task that would please ya...remember?”

I nodded silently and waited or her reply......and when it came I was really happy for the first time this horrible evening.....

Imsin handed me a parchment with my new orders......a letter from the Emperor’s office saying that I was to go east, to the Grazelands.....to be of aid and support to one of the native tribes of Vvardenfell.....the Ahemmusa Tribe.

I was also given a letter of introduction to the Wise Woman of the Tribe, Sinnamu Mirpal. I hesitated hearing that name.......it was familiar to me and I finally remembered.....my first evening in Balmora...The Eight Plates.....the young Ashlander that I spent that night with. And who really never left my heart....

Baladas Demnevanni offered to let me to stay with him for a couple of days before leaving for the Grazelands...to learn some useful spells and prepare suitable potions....that could be of use out there. I agreed on that but wanted to tell Shulki that I was leaving.....when she suddenly appeared in the chamber...out of nowhere as it seemed.

“Telepathy,” Baladas smiled at me, “I told you I was rather good at it didn’t I?”

Here ends chapter 3

Notes:
The part in red was originally written in Daedric....

The infection Serene caught resembles Tetanus....that´s purely intentional!

Posted by: Fuzzy Knight Sep 11 2005, 06:44 PM

OoOoOoOh.. This is good Minque, this is goooood! (as always) Cant wait for the next chapter...

Gives a "good job" hug

Oh, and BTW Minque - if you have the Daedric font on your PC its just to write this and of course but now it came in Daedric didn't it

So it would be like this;

There are rumours that Uriel will be visiting Vvardenfell in person. If so we must act sooner than anticipated. We must watch his actions carefully and strike if the opportunity presents itself. We must also recruit more and swear them to the oath: That we shall die to put a strong man back on the throne of Tamriel.

Burn this note.

Oritius

Posted by: Neck' Thall Sep 11 2005, 06:51 PM

Nice update! I hope you like Russia and can update from there too.

Posted by: minque Sep 11 2005, 07:31 PM

OoOoOoOh.. This is good Minque, this is goooood! (as always) Cant wait for the next chapter...

Gives a "good job" hug

Oh, and BTW Minque - if you have the Daedric font on your PC its just to write this and of course but now it came in Daedric didn't it

So it would be like this;

There are rumours that Uriel will be visiting Vvardenfell in person. If so we must act sooner than anticipated. We must watch his actions carefully and strike if the opportunity presents itself. We must also recruit more and swear them to the oath: That we shall die to put a strong man back on the throne of Tamriel.

Burn this note.

Oritius

Posted by: Fuzzy Knight Sep 11 2005, 08:07 PM

Yeah..it looks like that on my word document, i have daedric on my pc but how on nirn did you get it on the boards....it´s not an option i reckon?

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Sep 11 2005, 08:28 PM

WOO HOO! Another update, good job Minky!

Posted by: minque Sep 11 2005, 08:42 PM

It should work by writing [*font=YourFont*]YourText[*/font*] just take away the stars..

Fuzzy Knight is Saxay for example

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Sep 11 2005, 08:54 PM

umm what worked, it all looks normal to me...

Posted by: minque Sep 11 2005, 08:58 PM

the daedric fonts ....look the red text in the story is now in daedric runes...

Posted by: Soulseeker3.0 Sep 11 2005, 09:37 PM

uh not for me... I guess my pc doesn't know deadric...

Posted by: Alexander Sep 13 2005, 10:40 PM

200 posts. Time for a lock.

If you wish to continue praising this part of the story, I would suggest doing so in the thread Minque will make reserved for chapter 4