Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

32 Pages V « < 30 31 32  
Reply to this topicStart new topic
> I am Lena Wolf, Lena's life as it happens
Lena Wolf
post Feb 15 2024, 05:56 PM
Post #621


Mouth
Group Icon
Joined: 18-May 21
From: Bravil



17 Hearthfire, 4E203 - Everyone knows the White Wolf

Yennefer's ship finally docked. They'd been at sea for many months, but it felt like years.

"Next time I'm building a portal." Yennefer stepped out of her cabin, somewhat weak and unstable, infinitely preferring a brief pull of magic teleportation to months of sea sickness.

"Don't you worry about a thing, Mistress," the captain addressed her as she stepped onto the main deck. "We'll deliver your belongings to your final destination. Where will you be staying?"

"I have no idea," Yennefer looked at him with a blank face. The many brochures and leaflets about Skyrim that she read and re-read cover to cover during their long trip, could not tell her where to find Geralt. Although she was confident she was in the right country, it was still a very large country to cover.

"We'll leave them with the port warehouse then," the captain decided. "Here's your receipt. Three trunks and... one unicorn?" He looked up, only now realising what the huge crate in the hold had been.

"A stuffed unicorn, yes," Yennefer smiled. "A memento of sorts..."

"If you say so," the captain shrugged his shoulders. Sorceresses were known for their eccentricities. "Just contact the port authorities when you know where you'll be staying."

Windhelm greeted Yennefer with an icy wind and light snow, with the white disk of the sun barely visible through the clouds. She stepped onto the quay. Solid soil at last! She looked at the carvings decorating the houses, at the longboats in the dock, noticed a galleon at another jetty and an elven galley at sea... "Elves," she shivered. "Let's hope they are nothing like those of the Wild Hunt." The port workers were rushing back and forth past her, unloading the new arrival from the Northern Realms. Crates, barrels, trunks and chests were being carried from the ship to the warehouse, loaded onto carts, or carefully stashed away into side alleys. "People are the same everywhere," Yennefer smiled. Her trunks were too large to disappear in a side alley, she made sure of that. "Well, the first thing to do is to find an inn," she said aloud, not talking to anyone in particular.

"You'll be wanting the Candlehearth Hall," a dock worker heavily dropped the barrel he was carrying. "A fine lady like yourself will not want the Cloudfog Inn," he shook his head, looking her over. "Unless the lady would like some entertainment, that is..." He licked his lips, but then quickly straightened up and picked up his barrel under Yennefer's cold stare. "Right, of course not," he coughed. "Just follow the quay that way, then up the stairs, to the plaza on the top, and there it is, right by the gallows. We've just had a hanging yesterday, so the corpse doesn't stink yet."

Slightly bewildered, Yennefer followed the directions. She liked the city. It was a busy port, and she'd seen more strange faces in half an hour than in her whole life before that. The majority were humans, tall and broad shouldered - the Nords, she gathered. It was, of course, their native land. But she also saw humans of other races, as well as elves and "beastfolk" - she'd read about them in the brochures. "No dwarves though," she noted. "Oh right, their dwarves had vanished," she remembered a footnote from somewhere. There was certainly no lack of new material to study. She wouldn't get bored here, once she found Geralt and settled down in some house some place... Geralt... where would she even begin looking? Skyrim was a very large country, where would she find one man among everyone else?

...

"If it's a mercenary you want, the strongest one is right here," a Nord in heavy armour addressed Yennefer at the inn when she sat down at the neighbouring table. "I am Stenvar. Will you be traveling somewhere, lady? You will want an escort then. Against wild beasts and bandits alike," he added with a nod.

"I might do..." Yennefer sized him up, wondering whether a mercenary like himself would have heard about Geralt. "I am looking for someone... He is new in this land... Arrived a year or two ago..."

"We get folks arriving every day," Stenvar wrinkled his forehead. "Is he famous? What does he do?"

"He is a witcher," Yennefer answered automatically, then recalled that witchers were not common in Tamriel. "He hunts monsters," she clarified. "White hair, two swords, tall but not heavily built, with a scar across his left eye..."

"...and cat-like orange eyes, fights like a demon," Stenvar finished her sentence. "Everyone knows the White Wolf."

...

It didn't take long, and the whole inn was rushing to tell stories of the White Wolf. Yennefer listened, smiling to herself - while some stories seemed mostly true, others were exaggerated to the point of being bizarre.

"He does not have two dicks!" One storyteller interrupted another. "He's a man, a Nord, your Khajiit is lying!"

"I have it on good authority!" The first storyteller puffed up his cheeks. "Heard it from that pussy in Snowhawk - she had to charge him double!"

"Well, it's nice that he's been having fun!" Yennefer laughed out loud to that. "But no, that... Khajiit, you said? She is mistaken. Although a double charge was probably in order."

"Oh yes? And who would you be..?" The first storyteller squinted at Yennefer. "I don't remember seeing you before, Imperial. And I have an eye for Imperials." He squinted again, his grin shifting into a menace.

"Imperial?" Yennefer was taken aback. She did wonder what race people would ascribe her to. Imperial was probably as good as any. At least it was human. "Well, I happen to know some of his anatomy," she smiled. "But I have nothing to prove to you, Nord." She squinted back. She was getting into the swing of things.

"If there's going to be a brawl, go outside!" The innkeeper shouted over the voices. "Out! I'm still paying for the last refurbishment!"

Several people got up and started to cheer - everyone wanted to see a brawl between a chunky Nord and a slim black-haired Imperial. Wagers were placed - the onlookers thought she didn't stand a chance.

"Alright then, stand ready!" The Nord put up his fists menacingly, facing Yennefer on the plaza outside. "Show us what you're made of, Imperial!"

"You've got to be joking!" Yennefer laughed.

Zap! The Nord went down with his arm still moving in a punch.

"Unfair!" Someone shouted. "She's using magic!"

"Fair!" Someone else contradicted. "No one said magic was forbidden!"

"Unfair!" "Fair!" "Fair!!" "Unfair!!!" The real brawl finally began.

When the dust settled and everyone had a black eye or a split lip, the bookie announced that the original fight was fair because no one had stipulated that magic was forbidden, and the lady being Imperial and a newcomer to Windhelm, could not have known such rules in advance.

"Well, there's your fee all paid up," Stenvar grinned, collecting a hefty purse from the bookie. "Ready to escort you wherever you please."

"You bet on me?" Yennefer looked at him with amusement. "How did you know I was a sorceress?"

"I didn't," Stenvar shrugged. "But I made the same mistake as they did the first time I saw the White Wolf. And his sister. And her... The point being," he cut himself off, "that they are made of tough stuff, and you must be too, if you are who I think you are," he winked. "Black and white, and that scent - lilac I recognise, but what's the other? Seems sweet, like berries."

"Gooseberries," Yennefer smiled. "Quite common, where I'm from."

"If you say so," he nodded. "I heard he's got a house in Morthal. That's a town West from here, perhaps a day's ride. Longer if we run into trouble. It will be my pleasure to accompany you there. I didn't lie about wild beasts and bandits - the forests are teaming with them."

With the business thus concluded, they decided to leave in the morning.

...

The trip to Morthal was largely uneventful, barring some wild beasts and bandits, as Stenvar had predicted. It took them two days all in all, mostly because Yennefer was still a bit unsteady after her long sailing and didn't want to rush. They spent the night at the Nightgate Inn about half way, and arrived in Morthal when the sun was setting on the following day.

"Geralt isn't around," the innkeeper shook her head with regret when Yennefer asked about him. "Haven't seen him in weeks... He must be on a trip somewhere. But yes, he's got a house - the Windstad Manor, right on the shore. But since he isn't in town himself, I don't see how..."

"Isn't there someone here who can tell the lady more?" Stenvar interrupted. "Someone looking after his house while he's away?" If looks could kill, the innkeeper would have already been incinerated.

"Felion," the innkeeper shrugged. "They seem quite close for some reason." She pouted her lips. "Don't see what he sees in that elf myself..."

"Thanks," Stenvar nodded and turned to leave, gesturing Yennefer to follow. "Felion is a mage here," he explained when they were outside. "Helps folk with... well... curses and such. Some say he's a Necromancer, but I don't believe it myself. I'll stick around until you're settled. Find me at the inn."

He took his leave and Yennefer knocked on Felion's door.

"Ye-es? Can I help you with something?" Felion answered the door, looking at Yennefer with curiosity. Then suddenly he took a step back, opening the door wide and inviting her in. "Oh! You've finally arrived! But please, come in! He isn't around, but I've been expecting you!"

...

"...and so you see, he's quite settled down here with us," Felion finished his recount of Geralt's adventures on the moors of Morthal. "Here's the key to the house - your house. He asked me to says so when you arrived."

"But where is he?" Yennefer was starting to worry. Geralt was there, yet he wasn't there! Felion knew more than he was saying.

"He's on a trip," Felion answered evasively. "You need to understand a few things first..." he coughed. "About his condition."

"Condition?" Yennefer was becoming irritated. "I've been told he's got two dicks. Did he catch something that I should know of?"

"Oh, nothing of the sort," Felion laughed. "What do you know about lycanthropy?"

"Geralt is not a werewolf," Yennefer said firmly. "And cannot become one, either. That I know."

"Geralt is not a common werewolf, no," Felion confirmed. "And it isn't exactly a curse... nothing that can be cured, anyway." Felion paused, searching for words. Geralt had warned him about Yennefer's volatile temper, and Felion was trying to avoid provoking it. "Do you know that his sister is Dragonborn?"

"She what..?" Yennefer sat up. "No."

"Ah. Well, it's another condition." Felion got up and pulled a few books off the shelf. "I believe you will find copies of these books in the library in your house, but if not, please take these. Your husband will return when the Great Hunt is over..."

"My WHAT?!"

"Is he not?" Felion kept his cool, smiling at Yennefer, his deep sanguine eyes looking straight into her soul. "What is he to you, then? Why are you here?"

"I... thank you for the books," Yennefer said after a pause. "I have a lot of reading to do, it seems."

"Come if you need anything, or when you have questions," Felion smiled. "As I'm sure you will. My door is always open."

...

The Windstad Manor came into view all of a sudden, as Yennefer followed a path around a large rock. The house was looking out to sea, and the turret on the front was getting light from every direction. "Perfect for a megascope," Yennefer smiled. She entered, finding dust and cobwebs here and there, but also blankets and furs, firewood, candles and books laid out waiting for her arrival. Geralt wasn't there, yet at the same time he was...

It didn't take long to get the fire going, and Yennefer started relaxing, suddenly realising just how tired she was. Her whole body was aching with all that traveling. She went into the bedroom and dropped onto the bed made up with furs as was Skyrim's tradition. Her hand touched something out of place... a piece of paper... a note. She opened it. "I love you. No more tests."

She breathed in the scent of cured leather and dried monster blood, noticed an old chainmail in the corner and a few silver swords on the rack, vials on the table, jars on the shelf, and herbs, nightshade and wolfsbane, mandrake root and... "I'll wait for you, witcher... no more tests..."


--------------------
"What is life's greatest illusion?"
"Innocence, my brother."

User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Renee
post Feb 24 2024, 02:11 PM
Post #622


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 19-March 13
From: Ellicott City, Maryland



QUOTE(Lena Wolf @ Feb 9 2024, 03:46 PM) *

I remember when I was playing it for the first time - I was really unsure about those blood fountains. Was I supposed to drink from them? ohmy.gif I mean, Lena was a vampire, but still she didn't want to drink that! I don't know how it's worse... but it was worse somehow. However, there was no other way to stay alive... she ran out of all her potions and stuff... so...


YES, good point! Even though she's a vamp, it's not really expected, drinking blood from a fountain. Over time she's gotten used to the idea of going for warm bodies.

Anyway, she's in an Oblivion gate,,, in Skyrim. Do you (or did you) enjoy closing closing gates? I dreaded them at first, years ago when I did the main quest on PS3. But over time I began looking forward to them; the guaranteed adventure they posed. When my Champion finally finished the MQ I actually began missing the gates. devilsmile.gif

Whoa... Ice Worms! huh.gif What adds those into the gameworld??

Yikes, werewolves. "Lena Wolf is unconscious". Really awesome you were adding so much into Skyrim Improved, while gaming[/i], annd while writing this story.

http://chorrol.com/forums/index.php?s=&...st&p=339440



--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Lena Wolf
post Feb 24 2024, 03:12 PM
Post #623


Mouth
Group Icon
Joined: 18-May 21
From: Bravil



QUOTE(Renee @ Feb 24 2024, 01:11 PM) *

Anyway, she's in an Oblivion gate,,, in Skyrim. Do you (or did you) enjoy closing closing gates? I dreaded them at first, years ago when I did the main quest on PS3. But over time I began looking forward to them; the guaranteed adventure they posed. When my Champion finally finished the MQ I actually began missing the gates. devilsmile.gif

I don't particularly like or dislike them... they are a part of the world, like any other dungeon.

QUOTE
Whoa... Ice Worms! huh.gif What adds those into the gameworld??

Yikes, werewolves. "Lena Wolf is unconscious". Really awesome you were adding so much into Skyrim Improved, while gaming, annd while writing this story.

This is all from TWMP Skyrim Improved. I wasn't adding anything to it yet, when that part of the story was written, I just went exploring. But admittedly, I very quickly wanted to add things to that wondrous world of Skyrim... wink.gif


--------------------
"What is life's greatest illusion?"
"Innocence, my brother."

User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Lena Wolf
post Feb 26 2024, 12:07 PM
Post #624


Mouth
Group Icon
Joined: 18-May 21
From: Bravil



Sorry, this is not a new episode... This is a note to those wondering what's the hold-up. Well, in order to tell you about Geralt's trip to Solstheim, I have to actually get him to Solstheim first, wherein lies the problem. To do so, I am using several new and untested mods, and the witcher is currently very busy testing and debugging them for me. Monster bug hunting, you know. He's very good at this. "You don't need a hero, you need a professional." Quite.

The story will continue as soon as Geralt is done with this particular monster bug contract. smile.gif

IPB Image


This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Feb 26 2024, 12:17 PM


--------------------
"What is life's greatest illusion?"
"Innocence, my brother."

User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Renee
post Mar 13 2024, 03:33 PM
Post #625


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 19-March 13
From: Ellicott City, Maryland



Very intense and visual, the scene when she follows Geralt's advice: drinks a potion so she can "die", then confronts the afterlife (if that's indeed where she is).

http://chorrol.com/forums/index.php?s=&...st&p=339586



--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Lena Wolf
post Mar 19 2024, 01:03 AM
Post #626


Mouth
Group Icon
Joined: 18-May 21
From: Bravil



11 Last Seed, 4E203 - Solstheim

"I've just returned from Solstheim, I am not about to sail there any time soon," the captain of a barge in Windhelm shook his head at Geralt. "I've had enough of plagued bears and naked Nords, thanks," he spit into the water, emphasizing his sentiment. "I plan to enjoy naked Nords back here for a while, preferably in my bed. See ya, witcher!" He grinned and disappeared into the Cloudfog Inn.

Geralt looked up and down the quay in Windhelm, not seeing any ships or barges that looked like they could be bound for Solstheim.

"Hey, white one," someone spoke softly behind him. "I can take you to Solstheim, if you've got the coin..."

...

"I said Solstheim, I didn't say Fort Frostmoth," the owner of a small cog gave Geralt a big smile approaching the Northern shore of Solstheim. "I've got folks living furhter up, but I'll let you get off here," he said encouragingly. "There's no one around, you'll be safe. Fort Frostmoth is not too far away, it ain't that big of an island. I have no clue why you had to bring your horse as well," he shook his head watching Roach gingerly getting off his boat. "Horses hate snow." Roach seemed to understand that and gave an approving snort.

"See you," Geralt cut short the conversation as the seaman raised the sail and vanished from view.

Everything around them was white. If Skyrim was wintry, Solstheim was icy. Geralt raised his collar and smiled - it felt like home. Winters at Kaer Morhen could get pretty cold too.

"Come on, Roach, let's get going before we get snowed under," he patted his horse, mounted and steered South East.



...

Fort Frostmoth towered on the Southern shore of Solstheim, its grey walls stood out against the icy blue water. At least this part of the island wasn't all frozen, and Roach was soon engrossed in sampling local vegetation. Geralt walked into the courtyard and found himself waist high in thick grass.

"Doesn't anyone cut the grass here?" He wondered aloud, trying to figure out which of the heavy wooden doors led to an inn. "Surely, there must be a public area in this fort," he mused. "It's the only building for miles around, and with two ships moored by the shore, where are those people supposed to sleep?" Then it dawned on him: "Perhaps I should go ask them." Travellers were bound to know the way to an inn.

...

"Would you like to go back?" An Argonian hissed through his clattering teeth. "I would gladly take you back to Vvardenfell right away! It's so cold here!"

"I just got here, so I don't want to go back..." Geralt looked him over but couldn't spare any of his own clothes for the poor fellow.

"Well, if you insist on staying, then go see Captain Falx Carius at th-the f-fort," the Argonian looked in serious danger of frostbite. "I wish there was an inn, but no..."

Geralt was going to ask why he would need to see the commander of the local regiment if all he wanted was just a mug of ale, but thought he'd probably find out later anyway. Perhaps they had a job for a witcher.

"Would you like to come with me?" An attractive Dunmer woman was all smiles as she touched Geralt's arm.

"Well, I..."

"I can take you to a place of splendour and wonder!" She continued cheerfully. "Just step on board of this ship and we'll be off!" She took a step towards the ship moored behind her.

"Erm... I'd love to, Miss..." Geralt gave her a broad grin but stood his ground. "But I just arrived here, and I would like to see what's going on first... and find an inn..."

"Are you our escort?" Someone came up behind him interrupting the conversation. "We are waiting for our escort! We've been promised escort!"

"Do I look like escort to you?" Geralt spun around to face three nervous strangers.

"You do! You've got two swords!" They answered almost in unison. "Carnius Magius promised us escort!"

"Sorry, fellows," Geralt shook his head. "I'm just looking for an inn."

Everyone looked at him as if he was crazy.

"There are no inns on Solstheim, outlander," a Dunmer woman looked him over with a sigh. "This isn't Vvardenfell, you know. Civilisation is over there. Here there are just Nords and plague bears." She wrinkled her nose and walked off.

Geralt looked around him, shook his head and went to the fort.

...

"Can I help you, citizen?" An Imperial soldier enquired politely but not cordially. "This is Fort Frostmoth."

"I figured as much," Geralt nodded. "I was actually looking for an inn..."

"There are no inns on Solstheim," the soldier sighed with regret. "The nearest public house is Thirsk Meadhall on the other side of the island. That's too far to walk on an empty stomach," he added firmly. "Your best bet is to talk to the priest at the Imperial Cult shrine in the other building and hope that he can spare you some shein and a kwama egg and let you curl up behind the crates for the night." The soldier smiled and Geralt got a distinct impression that his speech had been prepared and rehearsed.

"Lay off him, Zeno," a familiar voice sounded from a side corridor with surefooted steps of Legion boots following. "He's not your average smuggler," an Imperial officer in full regalia entered the hall. "He's with me."

"Of course, Optio," the soldier named Zeno straightened up and took two steps back in the same movement, almost colliding with a table laden with helmets, gauntlets and broad daggers.

Geralt turned around, noticing a highly polished beastplate and supple pteruges of a high grade suit of armour, well worn but also well cared for. Presentation went a long way in the Legion.

"Hauk!" Geralt grinned. "I've heard you were in Morrowind... but this is unexpected!"

"May be, and may be not," Hauk grinned back and winked. "Come, we have lodgings upstairs."

As strange as it appeared, Geralt decided not to argue. Zeno didn't need to hear any more than what he'd heard already, and a good bed was infinitely preferable to curling up behind some crates with an insect egg in your belly.

...

"What is going on?" Geralt finally asked after a good meal in the guest room upstairs. "This is one of the strangest places I've been to. It feels like everyone is mistaking me for someone else!"

"Nah, they're not," Hauk smirked, finishing his own plate of mutton and moving untouched kwama eggs to the top of a chest of drawers. "This place doesn't exist yet. Well, the Legion fort obviously exists, but it isn't a regular Legion outpost - it's a penal colony. These soldiers are not regular Legion material," he shook his head. "Which doesn't matter normally because there's nothing here apart from wolves and bears. Not yet, anyway." He stood up to refill his mug with mead and Geralt noticed again the gleam of his polished steel and the rich sheen of the leather of his pteruges. This was more than just dressing his rank - Hauk was on a mission. "The East Empire Company decided to open an ebony mine nearby," he returned to the table. "Under the protection of the Legion. THIS Legion." He emphasized the word and paused to let it sink in. "As of now this is no longer a penal colony but a regular Legion outpost."

"Did they tell the soldiers?" Geralt looked bewildered.

"Better ask whether they told the East Empire Company what sort of an outpost this is," Hauk smirked. "But Carnius Magius has connections, and Falx Carius does not deserve to be stripped of his rank because some stupid bureaucrate in the Imperial City could not be bothered to check the designation of this fort. Falx is a good commander, the Legion values people like him. And I am here to see that nothing goes wrong. Which of course it will." He took another swig of his mead. "Plus, you are here."

"How did you know I'd be here?" Geralt looked up.

"The Blood Moon is rising."

For a few minutes they sat staring at each other.

"What do you know of it?" Geralt finally asked.

"The same what everyone knows," Hauk shrrugged. "Hircine calls a Great Hunt once or twice every era, there are signs long in advance and there are plenty of witches around to read them. The Great Hunt has been called once again, and this time it's here on Solstheim. And that's why you've come, is it not? You heard the call of Hircine."

"Yes," Geralt nodded. "I read the books too. I hear his call, and so I am here. But what now? I suppose events will unfold and we'll see."

"Something will occur..." Hauk mused. "The witches of the Glenmoril Wyrd have already arrived as well. They will know more, I expect, sense more. You could go to them, or you could hang around here, get involved with the goings on and watch and wait... The choice is yours."

"I'll stay here," Geralt answered without hesitation. "I need to get a feel for this land. The Dunmer, the Nords, the plague bears... the Nords, in particular. They are different from the Nords of Skyrim. We got ambushed by a pair of them in the wilderness, Roach and me, but before I could even dismount, there was a bear, two wolves, three wargs and gods know what else joining the fight! And the weirdest thing was that the Nords were totally naked, apart from a bear helm..."

"Naked Nords, eh?" Hauk laughed heartily. "Welcome to Morowind, my friend! They've got a thing with naked Nords here... can't see why, myself..." He laughed and winked, kicking off his boots and unbuckling his armour. Masser the colour of blood was rising. It was 3 a.m. and high time to finally go to bed.


--------------------
"What is life's greatest illusion?"
"Innocence, my brother."

User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post

32 Pages V « < 30 31 32
Reply to this topicStart new topic
2 User(s) are reading this topic (2 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 28th March 2024 - 10:06 AM