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Posted by: Lopov May 13 2020, 10:59 PM

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

It'll be sort of a horror story and will revolve around https://i.imgur.com/s7kDtNr.jpg, the mage and the former necromancer, who returns to his home - Thaldorn Manor.

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

---

I

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

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

*five years later*

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

The only heir returned home.

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https://imgur.com/uWipXeZ

https://imgur.com/huQAErV

https://imgur.com/alXE1ZY

https://imgur.com/XLDdpop

https://imgur.com/CB112Hc

---

Extras:

https://i.imgur.com/CK9YdaF.jpg in my hometown, that served as an inspiration for the Thaldorn Manor. The manor as such is https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/27692 from another author, but I edited a lot of stuff to my own liking, both outside and inside.

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

---

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

Posted by: Acadian May 13 2020, 11:05 PM

I'm so pleased you're graduating Rieltar into a full thread devoted to his dark tale! This thread would be a welcome addition to the fan fiction section of the forum. Let me know if you'd like it moved there.

Posted by: Renee May 14 2020, 05:14 PM

I concur with the man from New Las Vegas. I always get to that point with some more detailed stories. "Should this get its own thread, or will the Today thread suffice? Should this actually be in the Fan Fiction section?" For me, I feel like I'm not ever going to be ready for FF.

It's also good that you put pictures & stories in the same thread. This makes it MUCH easier when you're going back in time, years after you've written. It sucks having to find all the pictures which go with the story, if they're in separate threads.

Posted by: macole May 14 2020, 07:47 PM

Hoarding maidens in the basement can mean only one thing; unicorn poaching.

Posted by: Lopov May 17 2020, 09:15 AM

@Acadian - thanks, for now I'll let the thread here, if I change my mind in the future, I'll let you know.

A new adventure begins indeed! Since I need to take into account that my time for gaming and writing varies, from a lot to almost zero, I'm estimating around ten chapters for this adventures. It's better that I don't plan too many things ahead and for a too long time, besides having a short story in mind lets me keep more focused.

@SubRosa - I may have written it in a confusing way, the last pic, with the shackles, is from the basement. In the one pic above that Rieltar is casting an Unlock spell on the door.

@Renee - Rieltar's parents were up to no good. As for his pants, they're a very rare item, he found his at Cadlew Chapel.

@macole - you might be on to something here.

---

II

“I am weak, mother.

I tried…but I failed…I didn’t know what to do once we were close to the manor…how to overpower her.

I wanted to make you both proud but I failed. I am weak, mother.

I went to the camp, the Crestbridge camp, I was a priest to them, Brother Brunos, I helped them deal with goblins, then I hired Her – Mirisa – I hired her and told her that I need her help with bandits that overtook my, our house. But as we were walking to the manor, I felt fear. Fear! I didn’t know how to gain control. I let her go. She found me mad, but I don’t care. I can’t do it…”

“Hush, my son.”

“I can’t…what?”

“Mommy’s here, Rieltar Brunos. Everything will be alright, mmm?”

“Mother….is that…is that you?”

“It is I, sweet son. Come now…embrace your mother.”
.
.
.
*two days later*
.
.
.

When young Branwen woke up, the Sun was already high in the sky. How odd, she thought, why didn’t Saliith wake me up?

She turned around in her bedroll, but the bedroll next to her was empty.

“Saliith?” Branwen stood up. Where was her sparring buddy? He was nowhere to be seen. An Imperial legionnaire was loudly marching down the main pathway leading around the Arena, while another one was firmly standing by the door to the Arboretum. Except them, there was no one else to be seen.

“Saliith?” No answer. Most odd. It’s never happened before that her beast buddy wasn’t around. He was the one that got up before her, usually by the dawn, and would always wake her up. But not this morning.

This morning Saliith was gone.

And he was never coming back.

---

https://imgur.com/JwWJnIT

https://imgur.com/VXnx1lg

https://imgur.com/QaSIEAE

https://imgur.com/DSvBaRJ

https://imgur.com/yWUcmPb

...

https://imgur.com/ex7anag

Posted by: Renee May 17 2020, 05:08 PM

Uh oh. Maybe that ain't his mother. Whoa. Yikes Lopov. I am intrigued. What the heck did you write over the past week?

Those pictures ... wow. They're all disturbing. Even the Crestbridge Camp one. What is happening in Letting Her Go? Or is that not been revealed yet?

Posted by: SubRosa May 17 2020, 06:15 PM

Uh oh, Rieltar is taking over from Jason Vorhees. Now I can hear that theme music in my head when he stalks his next victim...

Great final pic of the Argonian taking a tumble!

Posted by: Acadian May 17 2020, 06:49 PM

Lots of mystery here. Disturbing exchange with Rieltar’s mother. Then neat to ‘show’ us the missing Argonian form Branwen’s perspective. If I have the right of it (which I may not), it seems Rieltar’s objective may be to refill his home’s basement with maidens for necromantic purposes. But he is perhaps struggling with a. . . a. . . conscience?

Posted by: Lopov May 24 2020, 09:00 AM

@Renee - in Letting her go Rieltar is "letting Mirisa go", he probably lacked power or willpower to overpower her.

@SubRosa - I use a mod that adds torches to NPCs in dark places and Saliith was firmly holding his one even while falling.

@Acadian - "If I have the right of it (which I may not), it seems Rieltar’s objective may be to refill his home’s basement with maidens for necromantic purposes" - you might be on to something here.

I'm glad you all liked the mystery, so today is the time for the next chapter, which I assume will bring even more mysteries but also an explanation behind certain events.

---

III

“Drunk? Saliith is drunk? Are you sure?” Branwen could barely believe words of the Imperial stranger, who introduced himself as Terliar, the sewer cleaner.

“Yes, I saw him earlier today while exterminating rats close to the southeast tunnel entrance. He could barely walk. He kept repeating one name – Branwen. When I asked the guards, they told me that there’s only one Branwen in town – you.”

“Unbelievable. Something serious must have happened for him to get drunk. I’ve never seen him even trying a drop of alcohol.”

“I felt obliged to tell you…” humbly said Terliar,” but now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll take my leave…”

“Wait! I’d get lost in the sewers. Can you lead me to Saliith?” plead Branwen.

“I’m afraid I’ve got work to do, young one. But you won’t have difficulties finding him…down the stairs, turn right in the winding hallway, rotate the wooden handle in the room, in case the second door on the left is closed, walk through…”

“Please, please, please,…” Branwen interrupted him. „I’m already lost by now. Can you please lead me to Saliith? I must help him. I’ll pay you.”

“Hmm…” Terliar shook his head, as if pondering whether to help her or not. In truth, he already knew the answer.

“I’ll lead you but you’ll need to pay me because I've got work to do...elsewhere.”

“Thanks.” If necessary, Branwen was prepared to give him the valuable bands of Kwang Lao. Terliar reminded her of someone, but couldn’t remember of who. Not that it mattered in this moment.

.
.
.

“Saliith! My friend, what have you done?” Branwen rushed to her friend, lying on the cold floor among the crates in the sewers beneath the Arboretum. As she touched his head, it felt to the side with the tongue falling out.

“By the Nine!” she shrieked and jumped back. “He’s dead!"

Having said that, red aura encircled Branwen and she felt like someone was slowly sucking her entire energy out of her. She fell to her knees, feeling completely powerless.

“What…is...going...on?” Red aura became denser. She tried to stand up but couldn't.

She felt chills. Cold chills.

“No, this can’t be happening! No! No! No! Help me! Help me!”

She knew this spell.

She knew it all too well.

Branwen passed out.

Behind her, Rieltar Brunos Thaldorn put off the shabby clothes which he took from some crate in the Market District, and put his fine clothes on – a quilted doublet, rugged pants and blue suede shoes.

“We’re coming, mother”, he whispered. "You will be proud. This time I did it right."

.
.
.

The pain woke her up.

The pain around her neck.

She could barely swallow.

She could barely breathe.

She wanted to yell, but couldn’t, the pain was too strong. There was a collar tightened around her neck. Her arms and legs were in chains, she couldn’t move an inch.

Branwen couldn’t believe that it is happening again.

The frightful basement didn’t change much from before the five years. The only difference was that the Daedric altar, that served some unknown vile purpose, was destroyed. Apart from it everything was as it had been. The minotaurus' head on the wall left from the stairs, the upper class dresser right of the stairs, some tossed crates here and there. Cobwebs in corners and barely lit candles.

And chains.

Damned chains.

Five years ago she was working as a cleaning lady at the Arcane University. One night, when returning home, she felt the spell of utter powerlessness. Red aura encircled her and she lost consciousness. As she woke up, she was chained in this basement. She spent in this very basement three months. The three most horrible months of her life.

As she found out, the spell of powerlessness was cast upon her by Deurexia Thaldorn, the trainer of Mysticism at the Arcane University. Apparently the only reason for her capture, had been because she was a virgin at that time. She had no clue how Deurexia knew this, but her magical powers seemed immense. It was never revealed what her intentions with Branwen and others were, but it was obvious that Deurexia was attempting to perform something vile, and it involved the now destroyed Daedric altar and virgins. Marie, another captured virgin, claimed that Deurexia was trying to summon some powerful lord from the depths of Oblivion.

Sounds of the creaking door above the stairs shifted Branwen's thoughts back to the present day.

He came down the stairs, carrying the jug in one hand.

The man who led her to Saliith.

The man who reminded her of his mother, if she had only realized this in the Imperial City. Like her, he knew, how to cast the spell of utter powerlessness.

Without a word, he slightly released the neck collar and tilted the jug to pour the water out. Branwen shook her head forcefully, knocking the jug out of his hand, so it fell to the floor and shattered to pieces. She expected to get a slap like Deurexia would do if they disobeyed, but the man did nothing…. he actually looked as if not knowing what to do. After a few seconds he leaned down and began to pick up pieces.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked. With her collar slightly released, Branwen could at least talk.

“Don’t…do this again!” He tried to sound strict but his voice was weak, she noticed.

“You…you’re Rieltar, right?”

The man stepped back and stared at her.

“Yes, you are.” Despite the graveness of the situation, Branwen managed to smile.

“She’d often mention you. Why are you doing this? What have I done to you? Why…”

“Shut up!” Rieltar put both hands to his ears. “Just shut up! I don't want to hear this! I'm not hearing! I'm not hearing! I'm not hearing! I'll be quiet, mother. I won't talk back, mother!”

Before she could say more, he tightened the neck collar back but not as strong as it had been before.

“Behave, Branwen. I….I have nothing against you. I really don't. But I can’t disappoint my mother. I disappointed her many times but this time…this time I will do something right. Behave or she’ll come down and punish you herself. You don’t want to be punished by her, believe me. I know how it is...being punished.”

Branwen’s eyes almost fell out. Not because of the collar, but because of what Rieltar said.

Deurexia will come down? But she was dead. Ves said that she had drank a deadly poison in front of his eyes, just like her husband, as soon as their deeds had been revealed.

“Just behave! And you...might live.”

Rieltar picked more pieces of the broken jug, then went up the stairs, his head bowed down, as if ashamed.

The door creaked as he had closed them.

It can’t be…thought Branwen. This must be a nightmare and I’ll wake up soon enough, I know I will. But she knew this isn't going to happen.

There was, however, another difference from before the five years. Back then she was the third captive but now she was the first. Jolie and Marie were chained before her. But she was the one who escaped, and that’s why Rieltar got her first, she assumed.

But how did he know about them? Ves told Branwen that Deurexia's only son was in Skyrim at the time of their captivity. How could he know of them? Did his mother send him letters of her deeds? Did she write a diary? Now this sounds possible...

Creaking sound again. Door is opening. Creaking again. Closing.

Branwen waits, her eyes turned to the stairs but nobody is coming down.

Deurexia couldn’t be alive. Ves assured her that she’s dead.

Rattling noise from behind the ruined altar.

Branwen can’t move her head but she moves her eyes in that direction. It is very dark there, darker than in other part of the basement. No candle light in that corner. And there's fog. How odd. There hasn't been any fog before. But now the fog seems to be emanating from the floor. As the fog becomes denser, Branwen sees someone standing in the fog. The mysterious figure makes one step forward. She’s still very far away but Branwen feels…

…chills.

.

And more chills.

.

Cold sweat.

.

It can’t be.

It can’t be.

Her slim figure.

Her long elegant robe.

Her shining blue amulet.

Branwen closes her eyes. It must be a dream… an illusion! Yes, it must be an illusion.

She opens her eyes.

Darkness swarms the room.

The fog is now even closer.

And so is she....Deurexia! With her hands raised she's stepping towards her...

Branwen passes out.

---

https://imgur.com/i1smesd

https://imgur.com/G3Qlzaa

https://imgur.com/ex7anag

https://imgur.com/AIMTbSB

https://imgur.com/tMFFhhY

https://imgur.com/4XuBQ7i

https://imgur.com/IeeFpt5

Posted by: SubRosa May 24 2020, 07:52 PM

Well that was deeply disturbing.

Posted by: Acadian May 24 2020, 09:02 PM

Wow, this is turning out to be quite the tale of horror. You did a great job with Branwen of describing her fear and revealing her history with Thaldorn Manor. It will be interesting to see what becomes of Rieltar's reluctance to fully embrace his role in these evil plans.

Posted by: macole May 25 2020, 04:51 AM

Oh, that was tense. I had to turn the lights on.

Posted by: Renee May 26 2020, 01:18 PM

Good lord, scoundrel! This is creepy. It's supposed to be, I get that, but wow.

I feel bad for her. I hope she somehow makes it through this. The one thing about Rieltar though is that he was right about his self-assessment. He IS weak. He is dangerous, but he is also insane. I think Branwen might know this already, and take advantage of this somehow.

At least I hope so.

Posted by: Lopov May 31 2020, 11:37 AM

@SubRosa - the sun always shines after the storm, or in this case, a disturbance.

@Acadian - thanks! I figured that it'd be more interesting to include actual NPCs in the game, instead of just modded ones, and also to include the same people that've already been captured in the Thaldorn manor.

@macole - turn them back off. Maybe the mother will come then...

@Renee - Rieltar insane? What if he's doing it all for the benefit of Cyrodiil? Maybe Branwen is Lord Dagon?

Today's story was at first longer, about twice as much as it is now, but then I decided it to split it into two parts, so instead of posting the next part on Sunday, I'm going to post it on Wednesday on Thursday.

---

IV

His head ached and a constant sound of metallic footsteps in the hallway certainly wasn't alleviating the pain.

Careful not to make it worse, he slowly opened his eyes, staring directly in the jail door. With his head slightly raised from the dirty pillow, he checked his surroundings. Some prisoner was sleeping in the other bed.
Cheydinhal. Cheydinhal jail, to be precise. Vesuvius Lex sat upright in the bed, his head throbbing like it would burst anytime.

"Damned hangover."

Vesuvius vaguely remembered what had led to his imprisonment. He stopped at Roxey's to have a beer. As usually, one beer wasn't enough and so one beer led to another and so on and so forth...

"You shouldn't drink so much, Ves" his beautiful former girlfriend told him a few years ago. "You're a good man, but when you're drunk, you're worse than a savage troll."

This girlfriend was right of course, and when he was sober, Vesuvius realized where his problem lies. But once he started drinking, his problems seemed to vanish. That is, until he woke up in some cell. Not appropriate for someone as young, and even less appropriate for a former legionnaire. Lex was only 29 years old and he was already dishonorably discharged from the Legion.

He remembered that some patron in Roxey's called him "a drunkie". This patron was no one else but rogue Claude Maric, the arrogant and shady adventurer from the Imperial City. Thinking back, Vesuvius didn't really regret punching Claude Maric, because he had deserved it. Nonetheless, a whole ruckus ensued in the small roadside inn after Claude got hit in his nose. Some traveler summoned a bound Daedric mask, maybe he was afraid that Vesuvius would hit him in the nose too. Another traveler summoned a scamp, but it was all in vain, because the legionnaire that had been before the event calmly drinking at the bar, stepped in front and arrested Vesuvius.

At least he spared him the usual "rot in prison" and "criminal scum", maybe out of respect because Vesuvius used to be a guard captain or because out of respect to his older brother Hieronymus.

.
.
.

“Awake at last, har har, har.” Vesuvius turned left and saw an old long-haired Nord on the other bed, laughing at him with only a few teeth in place.

“So why you here, Imp?” continued the Nord. “I’m here for horse theft, har har har. I like ‘em black so I went for black. Got caught. I’m Khetto, and you, Imp? What’s your name?”

“Just shut up.” Vesuvius wasn’t in a mood for Khetto’s jokes.

“Sure, sure, as you wish, Imp. Just tell me what you here for and I give you peace.”

“I got drunk and hit someone, alright? Satisfied?”

“Har har har, that’s good, that’s good. I’m here for horse theft, you know. But just between you and me, Imp…”Khetto leaned forward and whispered…”I’m here for horse theft but they don’t actually know that I’m a wine smuggler. I smuggled liters and liters and liters of wine. From Tamika’s to Surilie’s! Har har har! Stupid soldiers! Har har har har! There once lived a battlemage…”

“Just shut up!” Vesuvius laid down, his head ached even more after being forced to hear annoying Khetto’s laughter.

.
.
.

After sobering up, Vesuvius was released from the prison. The jail keeper returned him his rusty iron armor, the family sabre, a few healing potions, a magical hourglass and around four hundred septims. Most importantly, he was at the stables reunited with Odysseus, his faithful black horse, purchased right here in Cheydinhal. For the past two years he and Odysseus have been inseparable. If he recalled correctly, the guard that had arrested him, put Vesuvius on Odysseus’ back, before leading him to the jail.

"Good to see you, old beast." He patted his horse and swiftly jumped on his back. After every imprisonment Vesuvius told himself that now it would be high time to change his behavior, to get back on the right track, ...but he didn't really believe himself anymore. Nonetheless, it was time to get back in shape, and he decided to explore some of Cheydinhal’s outskirts. It's been a while since he was in that area, and he was sure, that there were some lairs in need of cleaning.

As he was calmly riding Odyseeus past the Lodge of the Knights of the Thorn, Vesuvius thought of his days in the Legion and his dishonorable discharge. Truth be told, he was never popular among Legion commanders. He had too many critiques regarding the purpose of the Legion, like that soldiers shouldn't be stationed only in cities and on a few marked roads, but at other, more remote places as well. Every damned fort around Lake Rumare was besieged by bandits, goblins, undead or necromancers. If it weren't for brave adventurers, those forts would remain occupied by enemies, because the Legion wasn't doing anything to liberate them.

The sewer system beneath the capital of Cyrodiil was so dangerous that workers avoided going down. Creatures, goblins, mysterious red-robed cultists, even vampires and some maniacal lizardman lurked down there. Was the Legion doing anything to ease the situation? Not at all.

Vesuvius was also the outspoken opponent of "By the Nine Divines, if you need to travel, stay on the roads..." statement, because it felt, like they were intentionally trying to get residents of Cyrodiil killed by saying this. The roads could be far more dangerous than wilderness. Bandits, wild beast, trolls, even will'o'wisps were "patrolling" the roads more frequently than legionnaires.

He didn't have problems just because of being critical, he also had troubles because of his unusual haircut.
"You really should consider visiting a hairdresser," his older brother Hieronymus often told him. "Or at least wear a full-faced helmet at all times."

"It's not my problem, if you're all so damn conservative. My haircut is ahead of time, Hieronymus. In the future, when you and I will long be gone, Men and Mer will proudly carry this particular haircut." However, neither critiques nor the haircut, were the reason for his dishonorable discharge, but they both contributed to it for sure.

An old witch has lived by the shores of Lake Rumare, Leiunomei is her name, however one pronounces it. People say that she came to Cyrodiil through the Mysterious Door that appeared out of nowhere in the Niben Bay. She moved into an abandoned shack directly across Vilverin. The entire Legion knew that this witch has been performing forbidden experiments in her shack and from time to time her "creations" like flesh atronachs escaped, wandering off to the Imperial City. Hostile, aggressive creatures, flesh atronachs would cause troubles and though most of the time legionnaires or brave adventurers defeated them, it wasn't always like that. One day one of Leiunomei's atronachs killed Barnacle Bertha, the popular Waterfront beggar.

"Pfft, what's one dead beggar to you?" was his older brother's reaction. "She worked for the Thieves Guild, no doubt."

After getting sloshed on the day of Barnacle Bertha's death, Vesuvius just couldn't agree with his brother's perspective. So that's when he decided to take justice in his own hands. He rode to the witch's shack and knocked the door off its hinges. He came just in time to see her summoning another flesh atronach!

Not completely sober, Vesuvius lunged at Leiunomei but underestimated the witch's agility, not to mention that his insobriety contributed to his slower reflexes. The witch cast a stunning spell at him, and left him to deal with her flesh atronach, while she escaped to the Imperial City, screaming for help like mad. Leiunomei's yells got attention of the soldiers and they hurried back to her shack, where they found raving Vesuvius in battle with Leiunomei’s abomination. Because he didn't calm down even after the atronach was disposed of, legionnaires were forced to arrest their own member.

"Unbelievable," said Hieronymus as they brought Vesuvius in shackles in front of him. "You're a disgrace to your own family! You're a disgrace to the entire Legion! And to your own race of course!"

Taking justice in their own hands was strictly prohibited in the Legion, and Vesuvius was dishonorably discharged. Nothing happened to the witch of course, except a reminder that she should be more careful with her creations. The life of the beggar wasn't important enough for the Legion to take any precautions against her, it seemed to Vesuvius. As far as he knows, Leiunomei still lives in her shack across Vilverin, but she's more careful with her experiments now.

What followed the discharge, was a life full of adventuring and unfortunately, also full of alcohol. Even his girlfriend Branwen, the same one who told him that he should drink less, couldn't bear with him anymore and thus left him.

Branwen.

Vesuvius wondered what was going on with her. Did she already fulfill her wish and make it to the Arena? He sincerely hoped that she hadn’t, because the Arena wasn’t a place for her.

Loud roar interrupted his pleasant thoughts, as he and Odysseus were nearing the Ayleid run known as Kemen. The wild brown bear came from behind the large rock, eyeing the potential prey.

Vesuvius quickly dismounted Odysseus and readied his sword and shield. “Time to get back in shape.”

---

https://imgur.com/L8LSUrS

https://imgur.com/3nmuN0O

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https://imgur.com/cAtiZ77

https://imgur.com/3EMLYFP

https://imgur.com/hw5UeWQ

https://imgur.com/fV66xqZ

https://imgur.com/MAsrX6M

https://imgur.com/z7cZ7Lx

Posted by: Renee May 31 2020, 03:06 PM

Yes, I was wondering if Vesuvius is related to Hieronymus Lex.

"My haircut is ahead of its time!"

Ah, I see how this is coming together now. So hopefully Vesuvius somehow picks up the trail to Thaldorn Manor, where his former lady is being kept. I feel bad for Barnacle Bertha, but maybe she was not killed by Leiunomei. Hence, that was Vesuvius taking things into his own hands.

As I read today's chapter, those two sova began hooting to each other. But it sounds like they're pretty far away this time. I could barely hear them. Thing is, I never have noticed them hooting so early in the day before. So it added just a little bit of spook into this spooky story.

Posted by: Acadian May 31 2020, 06:55 PM

Khetto seems just the thing for a hangover - not!

Nicely done. I hope Ves can get beyond drink for he actually seems like a good sort - better than his brother.

I hope Renee's right and that Ves somehow stumbles onto a clue that leads him to Branwen.

Posted by: SubRosa Jun 1 2020, 06:48 PM

Looks like Vesuvius got all the passion in his family, while his brother Lex got all the order and discipline.

Khetto sounds like a friend of the Wheet Bandit!

Loved the reference to Renee's maniacal lizardman living in the sewers of the Imperial City!

His haircut is better than his brother's.

Barnacle Bertha is a great name!

Branwen, so that is how Ves fits into things. Hopefully he can find her before it is too late!

Posted by: Renee Jun 2 2020, 01:09 PM

I'm just able to view the pictures. Wow, his haircut is ahead of its time! He looks like a member of https://fanart.tv/fanart/music/aaa436da-b331-4e58-a0fd-3d64d090c120/artistbackground/flock-of-seagulls-a-52bfc5be5c645.jpg.

Were you able to get alcohol to work? Now I know why you were curious about Basic Primary Needs.

Posted by: Lopov Jun 3 2020, 05:37 PM

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

---

V

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

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

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

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

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

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

Branwen.

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

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

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

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

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

"Quick, Deurexia! The little flasks!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

His hope, alas, was not fulfilled.

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https://imgur.com/NBLFtAd

https://imgur.com/zjX4w7V - Renee's mod

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Posted by: Acadian Jun 3 2020, 07:27 PM

This is some superb writing. The joke is both clever and ties in to the end of this episode as Ves describes the bridge to Thaldorn manor. Your description of the stranger’s facial expression was easy to imagine and well-crafted.

You’re doing a wonderful job of revealing the history here of how all the players and pieces fit together.

A nice collection of screenshots at the end.

Posted by: Renee Jun 3 2020, 08:13 PM

Oh no! Vesuvius actually met his former girlfriend's captor.

Cripes, there's a countdown. 9 days.... 8 days. It's like in Thinner, when the fat lawyer steadily loses weight with each new sub-chapter.

He's dealing with minotaurs very early. Sounds like Brasher's Oblivion Overhaul at work.

That's so awesome. I'm surprised the Thaldorns gave up so easily! They downed those poisons with absolutely no hesitation. As if they knew, and expected their fate would come some day.



Awww.



This is the part of the movie when Renee would start yelling at the screen. "Go in the house! Look at the house!!"

All the pics are great.

Posted by: SubRosa Jun 3 2020, 11:17 PM

Wait, I know that scowl! It's Rieltar!

Wow, so Ves was there when Rieltar's parents died. This is a tightly wound tale you are weaving.

Posted by: Lopov Jun 7 2020, 10:57 AM

@Acadian - thanks! I'm glad that there was no doubt that the stranger in Cheydinhal was indeed Rieltar.

@Renee - even if Ves'd try to enter the house, he'd find it locked. Only Rieltar has the key.

@SubRosa - with Ves being a witness of the apparent suicide, more or less all 'connections' between characters have been explained, I'd say.

Five chapters down, five more to go.

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VI

Having chanted these words, sister Marie Palielle lit a small purple candle and placed it at the foot of the altar of Julianos in the Great Chapel of Skingrad, devoted to this very deity. She went on her knees, her hands clasped together and looked up to the mosaic glass portrait of her Patron.

“I will know the truth. I will observe the law. When I’ll be in doubt, I’ll seek wisdom from the wise.”

“Does Julianos permit you to greet an old friend?” the voice behind her said.

Marie Palielle hastily turned around. The blonde Imperial with the unusual haircut was sitting on the pew. She recognized him immediately.

“Vesuvius! Ermm…sir Lex, I mean! What an honor! I…am speechless.” She almost hugged him but restrained herself, she was a nun after all. Besides, her superior Valandrus Abor, the Primate of Julianos, was disapprovingly as always observing her from the other end of the Chapel. So instead of hugging, she humbly bowed.

“The honor is all mine, Marie,” Vesuvius bowed in return.

“Please be more quiet, for the sssake of Julianos,” hissed Valandrus Abor.

Vesuvius almost said something not too kind, then changed his mind for the sake of Marie.

“Can we step out for a few minutes or will your Primate send Daedric minions after you?”

“By Julianos, refrain from using such harsh words in this holy place”, whispered Marie. “Follow me.”

From all the poor souls in the Thaldorn Manor, Marie was in eyes of Vesuvius the most unusual. She was very pretty, far too pretty to be sentenced to the life of a nun, and extremely religious. As he and Sula entered the forsaken basement, Jolie was screaming for help, while Marie was praying to Julianos, eyes closed. She was very kind, almost too kind perhaps. It seemed that she hasn’t changed in all these years.

“It’s been a while since you’ve been here, sir Lex…”

“Ves, please, Marie. Your Primate won’t hear us here.” They were standing on the front porch of the Great Chapel. The paranoid looking Wood Elf passed them, eyeing Ves. If he had been hoping before that the stranger will come to the midnight meeting behind the chapel, he now realized that he’s one of them – the conspirators.

“Ves, yes. That’s right. So…Ves, how do you do?”

“I’m fine, Marie, thanks for asking. How about you? Still devoted to Julianos, I see.”

“Oh, I’m fine too, thanks for asking, sir…Ves. Julianos guides my path, he will do so for the rest of my life. He alone is responsible for my liberation. Oh…and you of course.”

“I’m sure Julianos guided me to the manor.” Vesuvius smiled but of course Marie didn’t sense sarcasm in his statement.

“Yes, I’m convinced about this as well. My prayers were heard. So…when did you arrive? Are you staying here for long?”

“I arrived yesterday late in the evening. I’ll be around for a few days, yes. But not here in Skingrad, I plan to explore some of the wilderness. I’ll return to the town to rest and resupply in between.”

“Oh…sounds like a…great plan. That is, for an adventurer. You were always such a brave man. Yes. Hm. Hm.”

“Hm?”

“Yes, hm. I have an offer for you, if you’re interested.”

“I bet it involves Julianos.”

Marie chuckled. “It all involves Julianos. But I was meaning to teach you some of restorative magic, if you’re interested. I figure it might be handy for someone…like you, an adventurer, I mean. This way you don’t need to rely on healing potions all the time.”

“This would be great, Marie. Very helpful indeed. I know my way with basic healing spells, but that’s about it. When do you propose we do it?”

“MARIE!” Valandrus Abor’s booming voice stormed from inside the Chapel.

“PLEASE BE MORE QUIET FOR THE SAKE OF JULIANOS!” Vesuvius returned the yell.

“By the Divines, don’t provoke the Primate!” But Vesuvius noticed that Marie was barely holding her laughter back. “I must go…come any time, but not too late. Between 6 and 8 PM would be the best, if it’s alright with you. I’m always here, at the chapel. It’s not like I’m going anywhere.” She smiled.

“MARIE! MARIE PALIELLE!”

“I’ll come, it’s a promise. Now return, else someone will jump out of his skin.” Vesuvius nodded in goodbye and headed back to Two-Sisters Lodge.

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***5 days before Branwen’s capture***

Adventuring around Skingrad went better than expected and after selling a bunch of Welkynd stones and even a rare Varla stone to Agnete the Pickled, Vesuvius was richer for almost 2,5000 septims. Why would anyone even consider being in the Legion, when so much gold can be made by simple adventuring?

Decided to celebrate little, he uncorked the bottle of the special wine, which he found in Fort Vlastarus.

Just a sip.

Mmm, this wine is delicious. Truly special. I almost feel guilty drinking it…

…one more sip…

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“By the Nine Divines!” yelled Captain Dion, the watch captain. “Drinking on public places isn’t allowed. Go and find yourself a room at one of our inns and sober up!”

Vesuvius could barely walk. The bottle was almost empty and he heard captain’s words in the far distance.

“I’m off to the…” he didn’t finish the sentence, because he tripped over the stairs leading to the chapel.

Dion rolled his eyes, then continued his patrol. For the time being, the stranger wasn’t doing anything that’d be against the law, but he decided to stay close, in case something bad would happen.

The door to the Great Chapel opened with a slight creak as Vesuvius stumbled inside. “I’m here for the leshons…” he yelled, “Marie’s not going anywhere, right, Primate? So…why not…now?”

Valandrus Abor, the Primate of Julianos, hurried to the drunk stranger. It was the same man who talked with Marie the other day. A disgrace! “By Julianos, get out, get out!”

“Back off, cultist! I’m here to shee Marie, not you!”

“CULTIST?” Valandrus couldn’t believe these words. “I'm Valandrus Abor, Primate of Julianos. You may address me as 'Your Eminence'. And now…leave!”

“I’m not going anywhere, I’m here for the leshons…restoration…healing, you know? Restoration means healing… did you know this, Primate?”

“A Primate has better things to do than to spend time chatting with drunks. Beggars have plenty of time on their hands. I'm sure you'll have much in common. Now leave!"

What happened afterwards, happened so fast, that Vesuvius Lex couldn’t piece all the events together while sobering up in the Skingrad prison. He remembered that Valandrus was suddenly shouting like mad, casting spells here and there, and that some other priest jumped in, trying to calm him – Vesuvius – down.

Then there was one guard, who wanted to arrest him, and soon after there were two guards.

Then he woke up wearing only dirty prison trousers lying on a hay pile in the cell.

His head ached like mad, but it ached even more, when the jail keeper told him, that he’s going to be imprisoned for ten days.

TEN DAYS?

“You have plenty of time to sober up and think about your actions, Imperial brother. Plenty of time. Spend it well. And be grateful that you’re not alone in a cell.”

“What do you mean…?” Before Vesuvius turned around, the familiar voice greeted him from the other bed.

“Hey, Imp, no worries, you no alone here! Har har har! Khetto is here too! Stole a bay horse but got caught! Har har har! Remember me? Cheydinhal jail? You and me together! Har har har!”

Vesuvius couldn’t believe his bad fortune – the annoying Har har horse thief Khetto that already shared the cell with him in Cheydinhal, was with him again!

“It can’t be,” he muttered.

“Har har. We plenty of time together now. Can Khetto tell a story?”

“NO!”

“Once there lived a family…”

“I SAID NO! I don’t want to hear any story! I don’t want to hear you talking at all! My head is aching like mad and your words are only making the pain worse.”

“But ‘tis a good story. It involves lots of wine and a secret passage.”

“I don’t care. Shut up.”

Ves laid back down and closed his eyes. Fortunately, Khetto was quiet and even more fortunately, they released the old Nord the following day.

“You sure you don’t want to hear my story?” Khetto asked as he was about to leave the cell. Ves felt sadness in his voice and it made him feel bad for being rude to Khetto the day before. It was obvious that the Nord was nutty, but he was obviously harmless.

“Sorry, Khetto, I didn’t mean to yell at you. But you’ll tell me the story the next time we meet, alright?”

“Promise, Imp? Promise?” Khetto was jumping around like a happy kid.

“Promise. Now be careful out there.”

“Khetto careful. Har har. Always. Until gets caught. Next time I tell you the story. You’ll see how Khetto killed goblins, smuggled wine and walked the secret passage.”

“Sure, sure…” and with a quieter tone Ves added…” whatever.”

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***2 days AFTER Branwen’s capture***

“Oh, really?” Marie Palielle could barely believe the Primate’s words.

“Do you think I’d have any reason for not telling the truth?” Valandrus disapprovingly snorted.

“Of course not, Primate.”

“So! One more time, MARIE PALIELLE…in this letter which you received today, it is written that services of a healer are required in the Imperial City and you’re to go there. Quite astonishing that they decided for YOU…and not for ME but I assume that they know that my role in watching over the Great Chapel is more IMPORTANT of course. Enough words, Marie Palielle. Pack your belongings and make Julianos proud.”

“But Primate, I…I won’t be able to travel to the Imperial City on my own. I’m not a warrior, I’m a mere healer.”

“Right, I forgot to mention that it says here that the fellow priest of Julianos will come and accompany you to the Imperial City. He is to come in the days ahead. Brother Elritar. He could be here any time, you must be ready! We don’t want to disappoint him!”

“I understand, Primate.”

Such a shame. She was really looking forward to spending some lessons with Vesuvius, but now because of the incident which he had caused at the Chapel, she won’t even be able to say goodbye to him.

Such was the will of Julianos.

If she had known that the man asked to deliver the letter, was lying dead behind the Great Chapel, Marie Palielle might doubt, that her supposed mission was truly the will of her deity.

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Posted by: Acadian Jun 7 2020, 07:36 PM

Heh, nice nod to the paranoid little Glarthir, near the Skingrad Chapel.

My heart broke for Ves once he got into that wine. He is a good man except for that big problem that cost him both his job and Branwen. Sure enough, he ends up in jail – and with Khetto again no less!

Uh oh. A not so sharp Primate and a cleverly done anagram could not hide my immediate suspicion when I read ‘Brother Elritar’.

Posted by: SubRosa Jun 7 2020, 07:59 PM

Whenever someone is introduced as the Primate of a church, I keep thinking they are a monkey...

I also appreciated the nod to the paranoid wood elf eternally waiting behind the chapel at midnight.

PLEASE BE MORE QUIET FOR THE SAKE OF JULIANOS!”
Ves is a lot of fun!

Aaand he's back to sharing a cell with Khareem of Wheet!

Uh oh, the Rieltar tightens the noose around the next victim...

Posted by: Renee Jun 8 2020, 01:02 PM

Lopov, I love how it's sort of obvious Marie is an NPC. "Come back between 6 and 8...." for instance. But that starting monologue she speaks is quite touching. That seems less NPC-like. Everything she says revolves around Julianos. Hmm. Actually, this is true of real nuns too.

Oh my gosh he's drunk! Let me finish this later...

Posted by: Lopov Jun 14 2020, 10:30 AM

@Acadian - in the future Ves will regret getting drunk in Skingrad. Events would have played out in a different way, if he had remained sober.

@SubRosa - the arrogant Primate fits perfectly into the story. Before I had no idea that he's so rude, probably none of mine even talked to him.

@Renee - some of Marie's quotes are genuine, but most of them are fiction.

VII

Branwen didn’t know whether seeing the woman stepping towards her in the darkness was a dream or not, but she didn’t dare to ask Rieltar, when he came in the next morning. He brought her some food, quite a lot of it actually and put it on a small chair in front of her, so she could reach it. He even released the collar around her neck, so she could move her neck forward and eat. With an apologizing tone he said, that he’ll be gone for a few days and that she should remain quiet, because the mother doesn’t want to be disturbed. “She’s unpredictable, you see,” were his last words, before he left.

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Brother Elritar was an odd one.

Marie Palielle was hoping to palaver about Julianos with the priest while walking to the Imperial City, but he barely opened his mouth. She was looking forward to spending time with someone else than with the Primate in Skingrad, but now she was even missing her mentor, because although he was constantly nagging and scolding her, he did at least talk! Whereas Brother Elritar hardly said a word since they left Skingrad. Having no other choice, Marie was quiet as well. Such is the will of Julianos, she thought.

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“Do you wish to pray?” Elritar’s words scared Marie so much that she almost jumped back. She was enjoying listening to chirruping birds and considering that the priest has been completely silent up until now, his words came as a complete surprise.

“Ermm… pray? Yes, but of course…”

“There’s a shrine. You can go there and pray.” Elritar pointed to the shrine by Lake Rumare.

“Oh, this is a shrine of Dibella, not of our patron, … “ Elritar was staring at her and Marie felt fear for the first time “…but it can’t hurt, right? Praying to Dibella, that is.”

What’s wrong with him? Marie thought while going on her knees at the shrine. As she clasped her hands together and wanted to pray, a malevolent thick red aura encircled her. Marie Palielle recognized the spell immediately and now real fear overcame her! But she managed enough strength to extend her left hand in the air and cast a healing spell, restoring some of her quickly draining fatigue.

“HELP!” She managed to stand up and recast the spell, regaining more of her lost fatigue. “HELP!”

Rieltar didn’t expect this! He should have taken into account that Marie was a priest and compared to Branwen, knew how to reject some of the spell effects. Stupid, stupid Rieltar! Get a whip, Myraan. We have a stupid son here!

He ran after Marie, hoping that no legionnaires or travelers were close. Marie was a slow runner and Rieltar was about to cast the fatigue-sucking spell again when Marie turned around and almost hit his head with an axe! An axe! Where was she hiding it until now??

“Stay away, you fetcher! Away, away! HELP, somebody HELP me!” Where are soldiers when you need them? Vesuvius help me!

Ever since her liberation five years ago, Marie Palielle was always carrying an ornate enchanted axe by her side. There was special magic inscribed on that weapon, so it was invisible until being used. Afterward, it became invisible again, if not being in use for a minute. She never needed to use it until today, but she lacked proper skills in using it. If she aimed better, she could have hit his head and even killed him. A grave thought, Julianos forgive me, but it’d be justified!

Marie rushed down to the lake, her plan was to cast the water walking spell and run all over the lake to the Waterfront. But that’s when she made a mistake – she turned around. And “brother Elritar” was nowhere to be seen.

By Julianos, is he gone? Did I actually manage to scare him away? Or did he cast an invisibility spell?

A red aura encircled her again, this time twice in a row! Marie lift her hand and tried to cast a healing spell, but she was sparked by powerful shock magic. She couldn’t stand anymore and fell down to the thick grass just as she saw “brother Elritar” removing some robe that was barely visible.

“A robe of chameleon, Marie Palielle,” whispered Rieltar as he leaned over her. “Now I’ll cast the familiar spell again and you’ll fall asleep. Don’t be afraid, Marie. Just…behave and you might live. Let’s not anger the mother, mmm?”

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Rieltar was back and not alone. He came to the basement carrying the familiar woman – Marie Palielle, the nun from Skingrad. She was still unconscious. With some leather strips he tied her to the wall, then sat on the throne in front of them.

So he’s after us again, thought Branwen. He got me, now he got Marie, there’s only Jolie left. He’ll keep us here chained like his deranged parents. But maybe…

“Rieltar.” He quickly turned his head to Branwen.

“What if I’m a virgin no longer?” It was worth a try.

Rieltar smiled. “Doesn’t matter, my mother says. The ritual that she wanted to perform years ago, can not be performed anymore. Look at the altar. Destroyed by the Legion. No, it doesn’t matter, if you fooled yourself around or not.”

“Why then? Why are we here?”

Rieltar smiled again. Branwen was carefully observing him – not a trace of the ashamed Rieltar that was picking up pieces of the broken jug in front of her. Not a trace of Rieltar who almost apologized for leaving her alone. The look in his eyes was now focused, determined but most of all…fearsome. Was he such a good “actor”… or was he just deranged? Or was there something else? What if he has a twin brother? What if Thaldorns had not one, but two sons?

“Why are you here, you say? It’s fairly simple, really…but first…we have to get one more, right? One more is missing. Tell me the name of the one that’s missing, Branwen, and I’ll tell you why are we…You here.”

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“Jolie,” whispered Branwen.

“JOLIE!” Rieltar screamed so loud that Marie Palielle woke up.

“GOOD! GOOD! THE NUN IS WITH US TOO! FABULOUS!”

“Come to me, Julianos, for without you, my wit is weak…” chanted Marie Palielle but was immediately interrupted by Rieltar’s deranged shouting.

“SHUT UP! SHUT UP WITH THIS JULIANOS NONSENSE!”

Deranged, that’s what he is, thought Branwen. Insane, out of his mind, diabolical.

Marie Palielle said nothing but was staring first at Rieltar, then at Branwen. She was beginning to grasp the graveness of the situation.

“So…Branwen…I owe you an answer, right?”

She nodded.

Unexpectedly, Rieltar swiftly jumped from his throne straight down to Branwen and stopped so close to Branwen that they could almost kiss. He continued with a quieter tone as if there was someone close that shouldn’t have heard his words.

“We’re bringing someone back to life…someone very dear to me…someone that you know so very good. Someone that was good to me and had to die because of you, you, you!”

He sat back on the throne.

“You saw her…she’s hard to control in this state. But with proper blood, the blood of you…” he pointed at Branwen” and you…” he pointed at Marie “and from that whorrre from Leyawiin,” he pointed at an empty space between Marie and Branwen “she’ll live again. I can’t wait to go for a walk by the lake with my sweet mommy. Have a kiss, mom. Have a kiss, Rieltar.”

Branwen and Marie could barely believe his words. Branwen even more so, because unlike Marie, she saw Rieltar’s mother, obscured in fog and covered with darkness. She didn’t have a clue about magic, but does this mean, that Rieltar’s mother was walking somewhere in the manor in some state of half-life? Was she an undead? Perhaps even a zombie? But didn't Rieltar a minute ago say, that his mother SAID that the ritual can't be performed anymore? Was there any truth to his words?

“You’re quiet now,” Rieltar said, his voice calm again. He was staring at the empty space between his captives.

“Maybe the answer doesn’t satisfy you.

Maybe you don’t believe me.

So I’ll take my leave.

I believe you two have some talking to do. Talk all you want but be careful.” He raised his right index finger like he was a teacher that was just about to say something important. “Loud talking makes my mother nervous. Tomorrow I’ll bring you some food, then I’ll be gone for a day or two, maybe three. No worries, even if you don’t eat for a day, you won’t die. When I return, we'll finally be complete and then it'll be over. I can't wait.”

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Posted by: SubRosa Jun 14 2020, 06:39 PM

Branwen survived the encounter with Ghost Mother. I was not expecting that. Now I wonder if Mommie Dearest is waiting for Norman Bates Rieltar to recapture all of the previous victims before putting her nefarious scheme into motion.

Posted by: Acadian Jun 14 2020, 06:58 PM

‘Marie Palielle was hoping to palaver about Julianos.’
- - I learned a new word here.

'Rieltar didn’t expect this! He should have taken into account that Marie was a priest and compared to Branwen, knew how to reject some of the spell effects. Stupid, stupid Rieltar! Get a whip, Myraan. We have a stupid son here!'
- - It really shows us here how insane Rieltar is that his first reaction to his blunder is to imagine how his parents would chastise him for it.

'Marie turned around and almost hit his head with an axe!'
- - You go, girl! Uh oh, it didn’t prevent her capture. Clever story behind Marie's axe.

Yikes! I’m hoping that Jolie’s abduction goes poorly and that Julianos provides a hero to rescue the damsels that are surely in distress!

Nice supporting screenshots.

Posted by: macole Jun 15 2020, 02:30 AM

We need a hero
Hope she can hold out 'til the morning light
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be sober for the fight

Posted by: Renee Jun 16 2020, 01:12 PM

Gawd what a nutcase. I can't wait to see Rieltar fall to whatever succumbs him. Even Rattler eventually fell to his doom!

Marie put up a good fight against this monster. I was hoping she'd cast that Water Walking spell and be gone! Alas, I don't think NPCs can ;cast that spell, even if they have it in their book.

I often learn a new word in everybody's stories.

Posted by: Lopov Jun 21 2020, 06:12 AM

@SubRosa - indeed, Branwen survived. When she woke up, the mother was gone. But I have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of her...

@Acadian - I learned the word 'palaver' from Stephen King's The Dark Tower Series, the word is there mentioned fairly often. I assume the word must have some roots in Latin / Italian, because on Italian "to talk" is "parlare".

@macole - I agree, it's important that Ves remains sober in the near future.

@Renee - Marie's axe was an unexpected event for me, that's why I included the invisible axe in the story. The story is heavily-based on real-game events, so things might get even more complicated if Marie made it to Pell's Gate, for instance.


VIII

“Marie is gone? Oh…she was supposed to teach me some restorative magic…”

“In that you should visit her in the Imperial City. Brother Elritar escorted her there. You can find her in the Temple of the One, I assume. Now if you’ll excuse me…I have a funeral to attend to.”

“Of course, Primate. And please, accept my apologies. My behavior the other day was…inappropriate.”

Primate Valandrus Abor snorted, then nodded, and Vesuvius assumed that the apology was half-accepted. He felt a bit better now. Regardless of the fact, that the Primate was rude and uppity, he didn’t deserve the ruckus, which Vesuvius caused in the Great Chapel a week ago.

Such a shame that Marie was gone, he was really looking forward to getting better at restoration. Oh well! I’ll visit her the next time I’m in the Imperial City.

As Vesuvius stepped out of the Great Chapel, he saw a pair of guards carrying a wooden stretcher with a corpse upon it. He immediately recognized the dead man– it was the paranoid Bosmer that wanted to meet with him behind the Chapel.

Looks like I’ll never find out what he wanted to talk to me about. Anyway, it’s time to leave Skingrad. I bet that Odysseus is already worried about me.

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.
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“Didn’t you hear what my wife said?” Edouard Retienne was barely holding back not to throw the courier by the name of Lartier out of his abode.

“Get out! Get out now! Look what you have done! She’s crying!” Standing behind them, Jolie Retienne was sobbing by the fireplace.

“Is this…” Lartier made a pause” …your final answer? Are you sure that you want to refuse such a generous offer?” he continued with a calm voice.

“Yes! Now get out, before I carry you out myself!” yelled Edouard.

“Understood. I apologize for the inconvenience. You shall never see me again.”

As the supposed courier left the house of Retiennes in Water’s Edge, Edouard hurried to his wife Jolie. He loved her dearly and the words of the stranger upset her, because they reminisced her of events that took place five years ago.

Outside, Rieltar Brunos Thaldorn jumped on the horse that he bought in Bravil and slowly rode out of Water’s Edge. Such a shame! He had expected that his plan would work and Retiennes would come with him to the Imperial City…he didn’t know much about the third captive, known as Jolie, but he was supposed to find her in Leyawiin. Yesterday while staying at the Five Claws Lodge, he paid a hefty sum of septims to innkeeper Witsedutsei, and she revealed him that there’s only one Jolie in the vicinity – years ago she was known merely as Jolie but then she married and has been since then known as Jolie Retienne, living in Water’s Edge.

The husband of course complicated things, so Rieltar needed to come up with a plan. After some pondering he decided to try the following trick – he visited Retiennes and introduced himself as Lartier, the courier from the Imperial City. He brought Jolie 2,000 septims as a payment for the suffering that she endured during her captivity five years ago. He lied to be a representative of the Legion and claimed that after many years they decided to pay all captives 10,000 septims as a compensation. 2,000 septims was to be paid upfront and 8,000 more at the seat of the Legion in the Imperial City. His plan was to get rid of the husband while on a way to the Imperial City and kidnap Jolie. Alas, Jolie didn’t even want to hear about the gold, and her barbaric husband threw him out the house.

But Rieltar Brunos Thaldorn had another plan. And this one shall work.

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A few hours later a group of four Black Bow bandits stormed the house of Retiennes. There was another person with them, covered with the Robe of Chameleon, so Retiennes didn’t see him, at least that's what Rieltar thought. The orders he gave to the Black Bow bandits prior to the attack, were clear.

“Kill the husband and help me kidnap the wife. She must not die!”

He paid them in advance and he’ll pay them even more, he said.

He lied of course.

Rieltar Brunos Thaldorn was not to be trusted.

Black Bow bandits shot a plethora of arrows at Edouard while Rieltar cast a familiar horrific red aura spell on Jolie. Weakened and in shock to see her husband fall in front of her own eyes, Jolie was an easy prey.

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As she slowly opened her eyes, there was a man standing above her, staring at her with a blank expression on his face. Around here were dead bodies of four bandits that had previously attacked their home.

“Hello, young one. My name is Rieltar,” said the man. She immediately recognized him. It was Lartier – the courier.

“I believe we must go,” he said. “My mother is anxious to meet you. Again.”

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In the Retiennes house the muscular arm grabbed the shaft of one of the arrows that were plucked inside his body. He knew that it was inadvisable to remove arrows in such a way but he had no other choice. With a bestial roar the first arrow left its target

“It takes more…. than a mere arrow…to kill Edouard Retienne!”

One by one, all arrows were out. Either bandits were bad archers either Edouard was lucky that he survived. He was bleeding and he was in dire need of healing, but he needed to find his wife! He needed to find Jolie!

Stumbling, dizzy Edouard stepped out of the house. Bright sunlight blinded him and he tripped over the stairs, falling down to the cobbled road. Just in that time the rider on the fine black horse was riding at high speed through Water’s Edge and in the last second managed to jump over Edouard.

“Slow down, Odysseus, slow down!” ordered Vesuvius and swiftly jumped from the black horse. “There’s a man in a need of healing.”

“Don’t move too much, friend. I’m no healer but I have some fine potions with me. Take this…”

Edouard grabbed Vesuvius’ hand so strong, that he dropped the potion to the ground. His face was pale and his clothes were drenched in blood, but his eyes were sane, his view focused.

“My wife! JOLIE! She’s been…kidnapped!”

An imminent lump appeared in Vesuvius’ throat. Was this the same Jolie that he wanted to greet? He came all the way down to the Black Forest, hoping to greet one of the girls, whose lives he had saved five years ago. He heard that she had married to some farmer, but was this wounded man in front of his eyes in fact Jolie’s husband?

“Jolie…is she your wife? Wait...drink this potion first! Then tell me what happened.”

Edouard took the potion, Vesuvius supported his head, and the Breton at first made a few small sips. As his wounds started healing, he made a bigger sip, then nodded as if it were enough for now, so Ves removed the potion.

“The bandits came…and took her. He was with them, covered in some invisibility cloak. He thought that I can’t see him but I did…Lartier. From the Imperial City! That’s where he took her! You must find her! You must find JOLIE!”

---

https://imgur.com/cOFspmL

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https://imgur.com/HjCRS6e

https://imgur.com/PKeO5CD

https://imgur.com/Nsmw1K4

https://imgur.com/F55MovO

https://imgur.com/Z388VLM

https://imgur.com/RNH1HpC

https://imgur.com/N7sOKFN

https://imgur.com/N8sgNZ3

https://imgur.com/xYxmylm

https://imgur.com/UG1M0g0

https://imgur.com/8muLGhI

https://imgur.com/OEGKlWr

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https://imgur.com/jhY6VaN

https://imgur.com/yIxttxL

Posted by: macole Jun 21 2020, 04:56 PM

Ah, the chase is on, me thinks.

Posted by: SubRosa Jun 21 2020, 06:39 PM

Oh Noes! Rieltar has almost kidnapped them all! Thank goodness Ves is on the trail though!

Posted by: Acadian Jun 21 2020, 07:23 PM

Ahah, looks like Lartier is an anagram for Rieltar.

Nice job of filling in Jolie’s history. His plan did indeed seem like a good one, as the offer of some up front gold with the promise of more is usually pretty effective.

Though the offer didn’t work on the Retiennes, it plied the Black Bow Bandits quite effectively. Rieltar would doublecross his hired help? Say it’s not so!

Edouard lives! Those Black Bow Bandits are as incompetent as they are greedy.

And Ves is passing by Water’s Edge! Woot!

Lots of wonderful moving parts here and you’re doing a fabulous job of weaving them all together.

Your screenshots nicely fit and support the tale.

Posted by: Renee Jun 22 2020, 04:22 PM

Ah crap. Now he' Lartier. And he's craft as ever, even hiring a bunch of lowlife black bows to help him this time. Fortunately, Jolie's husband Edouard managed to evade death, and now he's informed the drunkard Vesuvius about his wife's capture! It's all over now for Lartier, let's hope.


Hey it looks like Vesuvius has some sort of markings on his arms! Not tattoos, but some sort of coloring.

Gosh, Lartier looks menacing. You're so good with faces, Lopov.

Wow, how'd you get that shot of the bandits all listening to Rieltar as he stands upon his stool!?

Wow, you even managed to get the bandit brawl! .... Rieltar pwns them all, but he needs help from his zombie.

WOW Ves jumping over Edouard with his horse, even!

Posted by: Lopov Jun 28 2020, 09:31 AM

@macole - the chase is on indeed!

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

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

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

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


IX

Brother Elritar, Lartier the courier…

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

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

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

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

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

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

Did he come back? Did he return home?

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.

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

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

Not a sign of life.

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

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

Not a sign of life.

Time to check on Branwen.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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“Julianos help us all!”

Marie’s scream woke up Branwen and Jolie.

“What is it?” asked Jolie.

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

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

Something blue was shining in the utter darkness.

Something bright blue.

The amulet.

Her amulet.

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

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

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

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

Branwen regretted saying anything.

Jolie had a lump in her throat.

Marie was silently praying to Julianos.

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

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

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

“GHHHHR!”

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

Now all of them were screaming.

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“Rubbish, dear brother. Utter rubbish.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“And Lartier? Ever heard of him?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Because I think he’s returned.”

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

Despair.

Utter hopelessness.

Was there really no way inside the Thaldorn Manor?

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

“JULIANOS! JULIANOS HELP ME!”

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

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

The door creaked as it opened.

And creaked as it closed.

In the basement there now reigned utter silence.

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

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

“I just been released. Stole a horse…”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The door creaked as it opened.

And creaked as it closed.

Normal footsteps.

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

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

He was silent for a few seconds, then continued…

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

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

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

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

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

He covered his face with his hands and sobbed.

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

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

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

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

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

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


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“Khetto, what did you just say?”

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

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

It sounded too good to be true.

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

A spark of hope.

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

“Don’t know, but why not?

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

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

---

https://imgur.com/5gwaMS7

https://imgur.com/dK01bDt

https://imgur.com/CbxkHhK

https://imgur.com/QB7gy4m

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https://imgur.com/yYQVkf7

https://imgur.com/zFDaUy1

https://imgur.com/yWw2XMV

https://imgur.com/VPVbjLf

https://imgur.com/P57BWCb

https://imgur.com/AvwUS9a

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https://imgur.com/hpJhtUH

https://imgur.com/dn6Qdt1

https://imgur.com/XsD57YU

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"https://imgur.com/wmzWvSQ, Khetto! Now lead on! Let's hope we're on the right track! And let's hope we're not too late!"

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The door creaked as it opened.

And creaked as it closed.

Branwen saw https://imgur.com/DfnOkPs first, as she came down the stairs, for the time being walking like a normal human being.

"GHRHRHG!"

Posted by: Acadian Jun 28 2020, 06:38 PM

Edge of our seat this entire episode! What an unexpected twist that Har Har Horse Thief has a role larger than comic relief! Another piece falls cleverly into place. Nicely done and can't wait to see how Nord and Imp fare with the hopeful rescue.

Posted by: Renee Jun 29 2020, 03:36 PM

Hey it's a good thing Vesuvius isn't drinking today. He's starting to put the pieces together.

Another thing: all this time I thought Thaldorn Manor is near Bravil, but it's actually near Pell's Gate. So now I get it. It's not too far away from the I.C. and I thought he had to bring Marie and Branwen much farther than he did.

Yeah, they stand there all day and night, couldn't they have done something?



Marie prays to Julianos.





What the heck is that creature? And who the heck is Khetto, really? See, it's like I told you in my last message, there's some sort of bigger picture here. I am trying to make his supposedly-deceased parents fit into this picture some how. Maybe the mother is the beast who scared Marie, Jolie, and Branwen.

Khetto says "ta ta!"

Posted by: SubRosa Jun 29 2020, 09:31 PM

By Julianos' little teapot!

This is boiling toward a conclusion. I am starting to wonder if Khetto is the Gray Fox? Or one of the Divines? He has a habit of turning up in coincidental places.

Posted by: Lopov Jul 5 2020, 06:48 AM

@Acadian - I'm glad to hear that you were on the edge of the seat during the latest story.

Indeed, Khetto turned out to be more important than it may looked like in the beginning.

@Renee - the Thaldorn Manor is between Pell's Gate and Fort Alessia, the bridge leading to it, is located at the crossing of the two small bridges between the before-mentioned locations.

@SubRosa - Khetto is just a wine smuggler and a horse thief, that fortunately for Vesuvius, managed to be on the right place at the right time. But maybe some Divines are pulling the strings from behind, who knows...

So, dear readers, before you lies the final chapter of the story. I hope that you will enjoy it, and I hope that you have enjoyed the story as such. Happy reading!


X

The door creaked as it opened.

And creaked as it closed.

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

"GHRHRHG!" horrific gurgle sound greeted the captives.

"Julianos help us! Help us all..." Marie's sobbing voice filled the basement of despair, as she began praying to her deity, in what seemed to be the last prayer in her short life. During the time of her captivity she was all the time asking herself about Julianos - why doesn't He help her now, when she's in such a need? She was obediently serving Him since her childhood, she never demanded anything in return, because to be destined to follow his will was the greatest possible honor, but couldn't her deity at least try and somehow interfere? Like now?

The mother jumped from the stairs down on all four like she was some feral beast. She lowered her head and sniffed the floor, as if trying to find some lead to follow.

Jolie stared at her, the expression on her face full of hatred. If she was to die, she won't show her fear. Although she has never been a warrior, she decided to die like one. She thought of her beloved Edouard, of the man, who had saved her life years ago, when she was on a verge of making suicide, because she couldn't get over the events that transpired to her in this very basement. He's dead now, so her life doesn't have any sense anymore. She was ready for death to embrace her, but she was nonetheless hoping that it'll happen quick.

"GUUAAARFGG!" A gurgling scream as the mother erratically stood up and began a slow walk behind the broken throne in the direction of Branwen. The movement reminded Branwen of someone, that was being constantly under the influence of convulsions, and didn't Ves say that he had witnessed Deurexia's suffering severe convulsions after she had drank the poison? Branwen regretted that she fell into the trap, which Rieltar set up for her, so easily. This was the end now, no doubt. Rieltar himself said, that he won't call his bestial mother up, the next time she appears. Branwen thought of Ves, of her love. Only when someone is close to dying, the life becomes precious. She regretted leaving him, regretted not bearing with him in his times of trouble. Now she's here in this forsaken basement, in pain, alone and without Ves. If she could only turn back time!

"GNNGHH!" The mother almost tripped over the throne, but caught balance and made a step towards Branwen. Jolie glanced at the mother and for a single second a thought passed her mind, that this odd walking and odd voices are just a well-thought play, but she didn't have much time to think...

"BHHRHAANWWEEEEN!" yelled the mother and her harsh voice echoed through the basement, making it completely unimportant, whether it was all played-out or not, because the situation seemed desperate.

Branwen closed her eyes and lowered her head as much as the collar allowed. This was the end, no doubt.

Jolie didn't close her eyes, but turned her head in the right, she didn't want to see Branwen getting killed.

Although she tried to remain firm, she cried. Soon I’ll be with you, Edouard…soon.

Marie began what was to be her final chant to her Divine: "Julianos says: K-k-know the truth. Observe t-t-t-he law. When in d-doubt, seek wisdom from t-t-the wise. AND SEND SOMEONE TO HELP US, FOR THE LOVE OF GODS!"

Like the prayer-turned-shouting confused even the mother, she briefly stopped and glanced at Marie.

In the same moment, however, something most unexpected happened.

"Har har we there! That brick!

The voice?

The voice from behind the wall?

"Which brick? This one?"

Familiar voice? Branwen recognized it immediately!

Vesuvius!

Marie recognized it too!

"No, that one, Imp. Let me, let me!"

"VES!" Branwen screamed as much as possible.

"HELP! SHE'LL KILL US!"

Her plea for help was instantly joined by Marie and Jolie, who started screaming for help as well.

The mother startled, seemingly confused. She glanced right to the wall, the voices from behind obviously confused her too. Before she could move, Marie's voice filled the basement.

"VESUVIUS, OVER HERE! JULIANOS, CRUSH THAT WALL!"

Whether it was because of Marie's devotion to Julianos or because strong Khetto slammed against loose bricks, it was never really known, but in the end it didn't even matter. What mattered was that bricks fell out, one of the walls collapsed, bright blue light pierced the dark basement and Vesuvius and Khetto jumped in, like knights being carried on the wings of light.

"NOOOO!" The mother yelled and sprinted up the stairs, her movement not erratic or zombie-like at all. Her movement was clearly human, a movement of someone that deliberately wants to escape.

Her yell briefly startled Vesuvius, because his eyes weren't yet used to the darkness that prevailed in the basement, but after one quick glance at the captives, especially at Branwen, he knew, where his priorities lie.

"Khetto, stay with them! I'm going after her!"

"Ves, be careful," shouted Branwen as the mother already disappeared out of her view. "She's not alone. Rieltar is somewhere with her!"

"Rieltar, damn it! That's the name! Khetto will watch over you, while I deal with her.”

“Julianos watches over you, oh my savior!” A good wish from Marie didn’t go unheard.

“Kill her! And him! For Edouard!” Perhaps Jolie’s late husband will at least be avenged.

The door creaked as it opened but the mother didn't have time to close them. Ves was on her tail.

Who in Oblivion is this creature? It looks like Deurexia Thaldorn but it can't be her...I haven't seen her face in the darkness but it just can't be her.

Ves rushed out of the basement, and saw the supposed mother in red robes running up the stairs, leading to the upper floors. She was very fast, probably enhanced by some speed-increasing spell or wearing and enchanted item with the same effect.

It can't be Deurexia! The corpses of both Thaldorns were burnt in front of my eyes on the night when they were brought to the Imperial City. It must be some cheap trick.

Ves jumped over multiple stairs leading to the middle floor, another set of stairs was on his left, leading to the upper floor, where he witnessed the suicide of both Thaldorns years ago.

What matters is that Branwen,...that all of them are alive. I'll deal with this witch, whoever she is. But I need to be careful, Branwen mentioned Rieltar. That is, if he's even at home. He could jump at me, while I'll be busy fighting the witch. Unless...

Ves didn't have time to think anymore, because he reached the top floor. There was nobody to see, so he stopped, listened and looked around. If this place had been nicely furnished five years ago, it now represented the realm of the light-hating madman. Most windows were closed with wooden boards, some with tapestries. Except one small candle above the dirty bed, and some light making its way through obstacles in front of the windows, there weren't other light sources. There was some huge, square-shaped piece of rock on the other end, and bones seemed to be stuck in it.

The supposed mother could only be hiding in one place. In the alcove on the left.

"Show yourself, witch! I'm coming for you!"

As if ordered, the figure in red robes stepped outside. There was something different on her now. She was wearing a daedric mask.

"I assume you won't simply surrender, right?" asked Vesuvius. "Scumbags like you never do."

The figure said nothing, just stared at him.

"I don't know who you are, witch, but you're not Deurexia. You can dress like her, you can wear her amulet, but she's dead. I enjoyed watching her vile body disappearing in flames. So stop pretending that you're someone else and get ready for battle."

Ves firmly grabbed his sabre, readied his shield and carefully began walking towards the mysterious captor. As he was about halfway against her, the mother lifted her left hand in the air, green light encircled her and she went invisible.

"Your pathetic magic won't impress me. I've dealt with far worse than you!"

A zombie appeared right in front of Vesuvius and immediately got a stab from Vesuvius's sabre.

"Too cowardly to fight yourself, right? You're sending dirty minions to your aid?"

A burst of shock magic sparkled Vesuvius, and the zombie used this to his advantage and scratched Ves’ face before the brave Imperial jumped back and avoided more severe wounds.

The magic was powerful, the zombie was of some rather tough variant, judged Ves, but altogether he shouldn't have too many difficulties bringing his opponent down. What mattered was that he gets close to her as soon as possible and prevent her from casting more spells.

Another spark of shock magic, as the red-robed figure cleverly stepped behind the zombie to protect her.

"I'm quite magic-resistant, as you'll notice!"

Ves powerfully swung his blade, cutting the summoned zombie's head off, it disappeared in a second. His opponent immediately brought another one from the depths of the dark realm, but Ves swiftly jumped closer to her during the time, where there was no obstacle between them. She wanted to immediately cast another spell but Ves swung his blade again, cutting the palms of her right hand. The spell was interrupted and as she tried to cast another spell, it failed.

"Let me see you cast a spell now, witch. I was trained to fight against scumbags like you! My sabre is enchanted with more powerful magic than what comes out of your petty fingers."

Another swing - the witch tried to move her left hand out of reach, but Ves cut her palm, a thin wound appeared, from which blood poured heavily and this was enough to prevent further spell-casting.

"When you attack from behind, and torture women in chains, you're probably quite mighty. But with your magical hands gone, you're no more than a petty rat. I don't even need the blade to bring you down."

Realized that spells can't be hurled at Ves anymore, the mother lost control, rushed at him and began punching him with bare fists, like an angry kid would attack another kid. Ves banged her with his heavy iron shield straight in the chest and the mother went flying backwards, until landing on the dusty floor. She tried to standd up but after another forceful shield bash straight in her face she remained motionless.

"Game over."

Ves quickly stepped over to his unconscious opponent, leaned down, released the buckles and removed the mask.

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"No, you stay here, Khetto watch over you!"

"We must help Ves! Perhaps he's in trouble." Branwen was already running up the stairs.

"We must help the messenger of Julianos," Marie hurried behind her.

"I want to make that bastard pay for the death of my husband," Jolie joined them.

"Women never listen! Always in troubles, that's because they never listen!" Having no other choice, Khetto hurried after the girls, that he just released from shackles.

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https://imgur.com/DfnOkPs

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"VES!" Branwen shouted as they came to the ground floor.

"Up there! It's over!"

What a relief.

Julianos thank you!

They all hurried up the stairs to the upper floor and saw Ves leaning over the body of the red-robed figure.

"Is she dead?" asked Branwen.

"No, no. Just unconscious,” reassuringly said Ves. “A few bruises here and there, and a few bad cuts, but nothing serious. But it's not a she."

"What?"

All of them hurried over to Ves.

"It's a he."

As they looked at the body of the mysterious figure that had been terrorizing them in the basement, behaving like it was a zombie, making gurgling sounds like it was choking, they saw the familiar face, which was completely human, and very familiar.

The face of their captor...

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https://imgur.com/YbjQfbB

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Rieltar, dressed in red robes that belonged to his mother.

Rieltar with his hair combed to both sides, not tied up in a ponytail.

"I don't know what you were through in this damned manor, I’m not sure if I even want to imagine it...but I assume that I no longer need to search for the son, right? There were never two of them.”

"Oh, Ves, my hero!" Branwen hugged him.

"Julianos sent you, I know it!" Marie hugged him too.

Only Jolie wasn't feeling any sort of happiness. Her Edouard was dead, and the beast that had killed him, was lying on the floor, still alive. Alive! While her Edouard was dead!

"Har har everybody!" Khetto came up the stairs as last and passed Jolie.

“Now what have we here? Man woman?”

Jolie’s eyes glanced at the sword tucked at Khetto’s belt. When he raised his hands in the air and wanted to clap at Ves the savior, Jolie saw her opportunity. Now or never! Surprised by her own strength, she grabbed Khetto's longsword and pulled it out of the sheath.

“What are you…?”

Before Khetto could even react, before anyone could say anything, Jolie lunged at unconscious Rieltar and with a warrior-like yell forcefully stuck Khetto's sword straight through his chest. The pain made their captor open his eyes one last time, he made one more gasp, before a thin stream of thick dark blood slowly poured out of his mouth, and his head lifelessly fell down to the ground.

"This creature killed my husband!" Crying, Jolie was still firmly holding the sword plucked in Rieltar’s chest, from where blood was now pouring heavily.

"Ermm..." Ves made a step closer to Jolie. "Your reaction is justified in my eyes... but I should have mentioned it earlier perhaps. Edouard is alive!"

Jolie looked up, a smile played on her tear-filled face. She dropped the sword, but it remained stuck in Rieltar’s body.

"What?"

"He was the one that directed me after you actually. He was severely wounded but I'm sure that he fully recovered by now. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here now. And for Khetto of course! They’re both real heroes."

"My Edouard alive!" Now Jolie hugged Ves as well.

"If I knew this earlier...I...I"

"Don't feel bad about it," said Branwen. "He deserved it in full. I wish I could do it."

"I'd prefer if we brought him back alive, so my brother could believe that everything that I was trying to tell him, was true. But in the end...maybe it's for the best," said Vesuvius.

"Quite a gruesome act you performed," hushed Marie Palielle, then raised her right index finger and continued," but Julianos forgave you already, in case you were concerned."

"Har my sword bloody now! Khetto wants it no more."

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Branwen was sitting on the stone bench right outside of the Imperial Bastion. It was early in the afternoon and a lot of guards were returning to the barracks, while their replacements marched out on the other side.

"Another day, another septim," one of them told his accompanying guard as they passed Branwen.

"I have your ear, citizen", said another one as he stopped by Branwen.

"Thanks, I don't need anything," smiled Branwen. "I'm waiting for my friend."

The guard marched on, but there was another one behind him.

"How I can help you citizen?"

"Thanks, everything's fine. Perfect even!" Branwen smiled. It was a really lovely day, not just because of the cloudless sky, but because the nightmare has finally been over.

Ves came out of the bastion and waved at her. Branwen stood up and they hugged.

“So how'd it go?" she asked.

"Thank the Divines for Adamus Phillida. Or as Marie would say - thank Julianos. Although my brother knew that I was telling the truth, he was trying to minimize Rieltar's acts. There aren't any evil-doers in Cyrodiil except the Thieves Guild, in his eyes."

"That hypocrite!"

"But fortunately Phillida stepped in and allowed me to tell the entire tale from my viewpoint. I admit that I really enjoyed, when Phillida asked my brother, why he denied helping me, when I came to the Imperial City, searching for you and others. A quick look on the list of Legion couriers would reveal that there was never Lartier among the couriers."

"You’re very unlike your brother. I always knew that. But was anything more about Rieltar revealed?" was curious Branwen and before Ves knew, she took his hand as they were walking over the bridge between the prison and the Market district.

"Unfortunately very little. Since Jolie killed him, we won't get any answers. Then again, it’s hard to say, whether he would be willing to say anything even if captured alive. Maybe it's even better that some things remain unexplained.

We don't know why has he returned home after so many years - where was he in between? Some sources claim that he was a member of the necromancers, but nobody knows why he came home just...now."

They were now walking through the Market District in the direction of the Arena. News of the events in the Thaldorn Manor spread through the town in a matter of days, and everyone recognized Vesuvius Lex the savior.

"There was Deurexia's diary in the manor, quite hidden. In it she explained in details the capture of you and others, and we assume that when Rieltar read this diary, he knew where to find you and Marie and Jolie, because your names and whereabouts were mentioned. It wasn’t that difficult for him, because you remained in the Imperial City, Marie remained in Skingrad, only Jolie moved a distance away from Leyawiin but obviously he tracked her down with ease as well. Quite some pieces of the diary will need to be deciphered, because there are some inscriptions in Daedric, some obscure paintings with runes, but there's a mention of some sacrificial rituals, and of the Deep ones from the village of Hackdirt. There have often been problems with that settlement, so Phillida promised to perform a thorough investigation here. We don’t know at the moment who or what the Deep Ones are, but a quick look in the archives revealed that Deurexia was before her marriage known as Deurexia Moslin, which is a common family name in Hackdirt. But just like it couldn't be explained what exactly Deurexia wanted to perform five years ago, it wasn't explained now, what were Rieltar's intentions. Well, he was insane, that's obvious but I still think that he was mostly interested in revenge. Thanks to the diary he knew where to find you, and he dressed in Deurexia's clothes to scare all of you. As you said, he was always hiding in shadows, so you couldn't see his face. His growls and movement was obviously just an intentional play, as he was trying to make it look like that his mother is still alive."

"That sick idiot! I'm glad that Jolie killed him you know?"

The Arena was now behind them, and Ves and Branwen were soon greeted by lush plants of the most beautiful district of the Imperial City - the Arboretum. It’s where they kissed for the first time five years ago, and although nobody said it aloud, both of them remembered this event, when they stepped in the Arboretum.

"In the end it was maybe the best possible ending,” agreed Ves.

"Jolie and Marie already returned home, didn't they? I said goodbye to both of them yesterday in the evening, because they mentioned that they're returning home today."

"Yes, Edouard came for Jolie, and they're by now already on their way home. I don't want to imagine what would happen if Edouard hadn't survived. Marie returned to Skingrad as well. One can't just keep Julianos waiting for too long," smiled Ves. "We said goodbye to each other as well. Marie promised to thank Julianos and me every day, and Jolie and Edouard said that they'll name their first son after me."

"What an honor! So what are your plans?" asked Branwen.

"Well in the moment I have only plan," smiled Ves.

"Are you taking me for a dinner?"

"Perhaps later. But first..."

"First what..."

"Just be quiet for a second," said Ves and kissed Branwen. A second led to quite a few more seconds as the lovers continued to https://imgur.com/RSuTZZo under the shining Sun in https://imgur.com/9P5vC40.

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The epilogue

With the death of Rieltar Brunos Thaldorn, the Thaldorn family finally ceased to exist. Rieltar’s corpse was burnt, just like the corpses of his parents. The family manor was a few months later bought by Jakben, Earl of Imbel, the mysterious but very rich nobleman of the Imperial City, that everyone knew about, but almost nobody ever saw him. The manor was renovated and returned to its original state, but except his servants marching in and out of the manor, hardly anyone ever sees the mysterious owner.

Jolie continues to live in Water’s Edge with her beloved Edouard, and just like she had promised, they named their first child after Vesuvius. But because she gave birth to a girl instead of a boy, they named her Vesuvia.

Marie Palielle continues to obediently perform her duties in the Great Chapel of Julianos in Skingrad. Every day she thanks her deity and Vesuvius Lex for the timely rescue. If you ever find yourself in Skingrad, Marie Palielle will gladly teach you some restoration.

As Hieronymus Lex was relocated to Anvil, whether because of the serious mistakes performed during the search for the captives, or whether because the Thieves Guild arranged for it, the Lex family house in the Elven Garden District belonged to Vesuvius. He moved in there with Branwen, who decided to put the career at the Arena behind, and instead focused on the family life with her love and their future children. A new chapter was opened in the Imperial Legion, namely The Disappearances Investigation Office, and it’s led by Vesuvius Lex, who returned to the Imperial Legion on the behalf of Adamus Phillida. Among others, Ves stopped drinking alcohol as well.

As for Khetto...as a reward for his precious help in saving the captives at the Thaldorn manor, his previous crimes have been forgotten and erased from the records by Adamus Phillida personally. But Khetto wouldn’t be Khetto, if he wouldn’t steal a horse as soon as he came out of the Imperial City. Having no other choice, he was put in jail like many times before. But Khetto doesn’t care, because “har har” everything is good in the end, and the Sun shines after every rain.

The end

Posted by: Acadian Jul 5 2020, 06:46 PM

A wonderfully full and satisfying end to this well-woven story! You really did a good job of developing numerous characters, giving each their own story and tying them all together at the end.

I’m a fan of both happy endings and love stories so this one’s a winner. I’m so glad that Branwen believed in Ves enough to take him back; I’m sure that played a big part in finally helping Ves achieve an essential victory over his drinking.

Posted by: macole Jul 5 2020, 08:22 PM

Hooray! Rieltar got what he deserved. The epilogue is great.

Posted by: Renee Jul 6 2020, 11:41 AM

Crap, so his parents were burned years ago. Well, there goes that theory. I was thinking the mother somehow survived. Maybe she avoided drinking that poison. OH no.... is the mother actually Rieltar?

Vesuvius is very chatty in battle! Well, he is a drunk. Hopefully he can maintain discipline for the next few minutes.

Marie never wavers in her devotion of Julianos!

Whoa, they actually did burst through that wall. Look at all the light now filling the cellar's darkness. The man with the haircut ahead of its time triumphs over Evil Deurexia. Or whoever is behind that mask.

Marie still prays to Julianos.

Whoa Rieltar has a finely-combed female hairdo all the sudden! But how? Oh.... it was gathered up in ponytail all this time. Well phew.

Aw, they kiss at the end. I wonder how you managed to find a kissing mod before I did? I like the way the camera moves away for that final moment.

Posted by: Lopov Jul 12 2020, 09:17 AM

@Acadian - thanks! I had the events of the story more or less "fixed in my head", but I let some random ones take place from time to time as well. In the first version Rieltar would be captured alive and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Imperial City, where he'd continue to talk in an insane way, switching between his personality and his mother's, until he'd one day commit suicide. But then I decided that his death was a more fitting end. I'm glad that you liked the love story that took place alongside.

@macole - thanks! As I just wrote above, the death of Rieltar is more fitting for me as well.

@Renee - maybe Julianos was behind it all, who knows? Maybe Marie's devotion to her deity was so strong, that he placed Khetto in the same cell as Ves, so the two would meet and prevail over evil. Strange is the will of the Divines. The kissing mod is an upgraded version of the Hugging mod.