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> The Gweden report, A story of the story of the stories.
ghastley
post May 16 2012, 02:52 AM
Post #101


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So Acadian's got Enilwen wanting new shoes. I offer her some nice upper-class green velvet slippers, and she likes the material, but it's the wrong color to go with her uniform. "I want ones just like that, but in red - with the gold trim, of course."

I point out that you can't get those in the stores, they'll have to be hand-made specially for her. That makes her want a pair even more.

So I make her a pair, and she wears them to work.

Enilwen's new shoes

"Ooh! I like those. Can I have a pair?"

"Me too!"

"Me three, or is that four?"

"Eight, since they come in pairs"

It didn't help that I'd already drafted a few more episodes, and there wera couple more women expecting a uniform (with the new shoes included). At least they didn't expect me to build a whole town for them, like Kintyra.

This post has been edited by ghastley: May 16 2012, 02:53 AM


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Acadian
post May 16 2012, 03:17 AM
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"Ooooh!" squeals Buffy, "I neeeeeed a pair of those! Can I get child's discount for little feet? Puleeez!?!" laugh.gif

This post has been edited by Acadian: May 16 2012, 03:19 AM


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mALX
post May 16 2012, 03:42 AM
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Nice shoes !!!


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ghastley
post May 21 2012, 04:38 PM
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@Acadian: Going over the borders again with this one, but now the reporter gets to do the travel in person, instead of just collecting the traveler's tale. And Enilwen thanks you for getting her some new shoes. Any time you're near the Club, just drop in....

@mALX: A lot of this next one results from your pointing me at the Septim lineage on the wiki. Lore overload coming up! I reasoned that Cephorus II had to be a descendent of Jolethe, or he wouldn't be "a closer relative" than Uriel IV, so she must have married when she went to Solitude (or at least enjoyed her stay!) That should give me the chance for a few more relatives in the area, so it became worth while having a Falkreath town to set it all in.


This is a bit of a departure from the previous episodes, in that the reporter takes part in the quest himself. (I almost wrote "takes part in the action", but he's been getting enough of that! And it doesn't stop.) In the mod, of course, it's the player that would do it, so there are quite a few differences to make it work, not the least being that the player doesn't get as well rewarded. biggrin.gif

I'm building the whole Falkreath thing as a bridge between the Bear Riders mod and the Gweden one, that will require both as masters. I consider it more part of the Gweden story, but the lines will get very blurred as it progresses. The reporter hasn't read my reports on the Champion's involvement with the Mountain Riders, so Claudia has to fill in the background in this piece.

---------

Kintyra - part 1

The reporter from the Black Horse Courier had been given an assignment to go to Falkreath, just over the border in Skyrim. He was to investigate a distant cousin of the late Emperor, who might just be the nearest relative left. She was a descendent of the same branch of the Septim line that Cephorus II came from, several generations back, but via a sister of his forebear, so she didn't have the Septim name..

The trails in that area of the border were treacherous, and often obscured by snow and ice, so they would have one of the Mountain Riders act as his guide. He'd meet up with her at the Lodge outside Bruma. Claudia would be there for her regular break from her patrol, and she'd take him the rest of the way.

He'd heard of the Mountain Riders, but had never met one. He knew that they were all women, and rode bears rather than horses, but not much else.

When he had to travel, he would try to accompany the Legion patrol along as much of the road as he could. They weren't the most inspiring company, but they'd sometimes have news of events along their route, and of course it was much safer travelling with them. He'd appreciate having a Mountain rider escort up in the mountains, and hoped she'd be a better travelling companion than the usual Legionaries.

When he entered the Lodge, the only person he saw was the barman. His name was Magnus, and he'd seen Claudia go downstairs with Timo just before the reporter arrived. He suggested that the reporter have an ale while he waited, as she wouldn't want to be interrupted. "Or you could go up to the office and see Captain Gudrun. She might have some further instructions for you."

There wasn't any good reason not to do both, so he downed a quick small ale, and then headed up the stairs. He knocked on the office door, and was commanded to enter.

Captain Gudrun was a leggy blonde Nord in her late twenties or early thirties with an apparent aversion to being too covered up. Her uniform consisted of a plate metal bikini with some decorative shoulder plates, and a pair of (high-heeled) plated riding boots, but mostly smooth, tanned skin. A broad smile revealed perfect white teeth, and her hair was carefully coiled into a bun to make her look even taller. She bent over the map she'd placed on her desk, to make sure he caught her good side.

Gudrun had been expecting him, and already knew who he was, and where he was going. She pointed out a mark, up by the borders of Hammerfell and Skyrim. "That's Sky's Edge Cave," she told him. "Claudia knows where that is, because her bear was delivered there. You'll most likely use it as a place to meet up again after you've been across the border to Falkreath, so I suggested to her that you stop on the way there. Did you meet Claudia yet?"

"Magnus told me she was down in the basement with Timo. He mentioned something about recharging."

Gudrun gave him a mischievous smile, and reached behind her back to where her armor fastened. "Then she won't mind if I welcome you to the Lodge myself,"

...

"Well, that was a warm welcome!" he thought as he walked down to the bar in the morning to look for Claudia. He saw a young Redguard sitting at a table with a mug of ale and caught her eye. She beckoned him over to join her. He got himself a bottle and tankard from Magnus and did so.

When he got closer, he saw that she shared her taste in outfits with Gudrun, except that her top was plain iron, and didn't flaunt her cleavage the way the Captain's did. It was still cropped short, and between it and her boots was the minimum amount of cloth to stop her getting arrested. She noticed that he'd noticed. "Standard Bear Rider uniform", she explained. "Everything's strongly enchanted with Frost Shield to keep me warm, and safe."

She told him how the bears they rode had issues with armor trapping their fur, so they needed something that would protect them, and keep them warm, but not irritate the bear. They'd tried wearing thick woolen dresses, but they couldn't fight well in those, and they didn't provide much protection. Eventually the Legion had paid the extra for magical defense instead. Why so much skin on show? The bears liked it better that way.

Gudrun wore plate armor that the bears wouldn't tolerate, but she didn't ride. Her job in public relations, which mainly consisted of looking good, called for a ceremonial outfit, rather than an operational one. It still had the Frost Shield, in case she had to stand out in the cold wearing it. "And don't underestimate her fighting ability. I've seen how she handles a Claymore, and she's quite impressive." He'd been quite impressed by Gudrun, too.

They'd finished their ales, so it was time to head out along the trail. Claudia took the lead, and her bear brought up the rear. He couldn't ride a bear himself, and he'd never keep up if she rode*, so they'd have to do the journey on foot. It would be a bit slower that way, but that just meant she'd have some company for a longer time.

After watching her derriere swaying along the path for a while, he decided it would be better for his sanity if he walked at her side, at least while there was a clear trail to follow. That made conversation easier, too.

A reporter likes to ask questions, and there's no better subject than the pretty girl you're walking with, so he soon found himself listening to her life story. She was half-Nord, with two Nord grandfathers, and she'd always dreamt of being a Mountain Rider..

But she'd had to put that idea on hold for a while, as her family all moved to the Imperial City. Claudia much preferred the mountains, and revived her idea of joining the Legion as a Mountain Rider as soon as she was old enough. Her father thought it was a good idea for her to get the military training, so she could look after herself. Her mother agreed, but for other reasons. Riders were the most sought-after as wives when they retired, and so mothers encouraged their daughters to aspire to the service.

Now she'd been a Rider for a time, she'd begun to understand why. The bears had a reputation for preferring riders who were pretty, as well as strong and athletic. The uniform didn't hurt their attractiveness either. But what really made the women desirable was they'd be away from men on their patrols for months on end, and would practically throw themselves at anything male.

"Gudrun's doing a good job as our Captain," Claudia allowed. "She recruiited Timo to do our recharging, when we take our break at the Lodge. He's made it a lot less of a strain."

"It's a bit ironic that I went from trying to keep the Watch Captains out of my bed, to the opposite extreme overnight, but that's the way it was. The Lodge didn't get built until months after I started my patrol." She told him how the Champion of Cyrodill had played a part in both.

That reminded her of another story about how Timo thought he was becoming a dog. The Champion had found him a cure, but he'd learned a few new tricks in the meantime. The reporter got the impression that, in Claudia's opinion, Timo needed a few more.

They were climbing higher into the mountains now, and he stopped to put on another layer of furs. Even though Claudia had been setting a brisk pace, which helped to keep him warm, he still needed a bit more insulation from the bitter cold air. And if he was being honest, he'd admit that he also needed to stop and catch his breath. He was starting to understand how the magical armor she wore made perfect sense up here, and the high heeled boots that seemed impractical before, were giving her better grip on the ice than his ordinary leather ones.

Dusk was falling and she lit a torch, as they walked up to the Hermaeus Mora shrine. The worshippers there appeared to be oblivious to the cold, although a small pile of empty bottles suggested a reason why. They continued down the other side of the ridge into a snow-filled valley.

There didn't appear to be a trail here, so he was following her again. At least it was dark now, and he was following the torch rather than the girl. He could hear wolves howling not too far away, but it appeared that they didn't want to come near the bear, and nothing crossed their path.

Soon another trail could be seen through the snow, and she picked up her pace a little. "We're nearly at the cave."

Sky's Edge Cave was small and cozy, You could light a fire and the smoke would escape through a hole at the top of the rock, and there were a lot of crates you could stack up to block the cold breeze blowing under the door. Someone had already done that, and there was a comfortable-looking bedroll nestled among them.

Claudia told him that the cave was used as a impromptu warehouse by the traders who moved goods across the borders. They'd pack and unpack crates here, separating the wares that were headed for Hammerfell from those going to Skyrim, or coming the other way. She didn't normally come here as part of her patrol.. That stopped at the entrance to the shrine, but she'd add the extra stretch on until he returned.

There was a pile of firewood and kindling already waiting to be lit in a hearth near the bedroll. Claudia advised him to do the same for the next traveller who came through. She used a minor fire spell to start it, and sat down to take off her boots as soon as its warmth began to fill the cave. Her bear got up and moved a bit further away from the fire. "Hey, I don't have smelly feet, do I?"

She didn't; the bear just preferred to be a bit cooler, but he was reminded that bears have an excellent sense of smell. Gudrun had told him that was one of the reasons they preferred women riders. They just smelled better than men.

He watched as the bear piled up some hay and made itself a pillow, and settled down to sleep. When he looked back at Claudia, she had taken off her cuirass and was waxing the leather of the straps. She hadn't been wearing anything under it, and if her backside was a distraction, the front view was even more so.

He wondered why she wasn't shivering, as he still needed a layer of fur to keep out the cold air, but she still had the one tiny item of her uniform in place. He could see that the Frost Shield would need to be strongest on that, for it didn't offer much defense.

She stood up, picked up a big pile of wolf and bear pelts and made a couple of layers on top of the bedroll. Then she slid between the layers, and called him to join her. "Once I get these off, I'll need you to keep me warm," she said.

He didn't have the advantage of using her method, so he was quite aware of the chill in the cave by the time he'd taken off his furs and snuggled in with her. Her hands were warm, and soon undid the effects of the cold air.

---

When they woke in the morning, she reached out and re-kindled the fire before squirming back into her frost-proof panties. She held his clothes close to the flames, one piece at a time, so they'd be warm enough to put on without too much of a shock. Once he was wearing enough to stand beside her, she turned her attention to breakfast. She put on her boots, and walked over to a barrel by the cave wall and looked inside.

She pulled out a sweetroll, and a loaf of bread. Turning back to him, she held out one in each hand and asked which he preferred. Since she hadn't yet put on her cuirass, he had plenty of opportunity to misunderstand her question, and spend a few moments admiring both of them.

She gave him the bread, and looked back in the barrel for something for the bear. Perfect, berries!

When they had all finished eating she put her top on and picked up her claymore. Time to head for the border.

They walked a little way further along the trail they'd followed the night before. Claudia pointed to a gap between the rocks up ahead. "Once you go between those rocks, you'll be able to see Falkreath," she told him. "The rocks are right on the border, and I'm not allowed to go into Skyrim without a pass. You have yours, don't you?" Gudrun had given him that before he left Bruma.

"I'll see you back at the cave in a week," he promised. "Keep safe!".

She stood and watched as he trudged through the snow towards the border. One part of her mind was thinking "What's wrong with me? I haven't retired yet, and I'm throwing myself at men already." Another part was telling her that it proved she was normal, and she should only get worried when they started throwing her back.


-----------

* The reason he'd never keep up is that the bears run all the time when their rider is mounted. And that's all because the mounted walk animation is broken, and I don't know how to fix it!

Claudia's tale was told here

This post has been edited by ghastley: May 22 2012, 12:11 AM


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mALX
post May 21 2012, 08:13 PM
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Falkreath is a bridge between the Bear Riders mod and the Gweden one? And the Red Dragon Club is also connected? How much space do these mods take up, and is Falkreath going to be just an "out of borders" mod?

Great Write on the chapter, I liked being reminded of some of the great background stories from the Bear Riders that we haven't heard in a LONG time! (like Timo) !!


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ghastley
post May 21 2012, 10:14 PM
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The Red Dragon Club is part of the Gweden Brothel mod, not a separate piece. When I started on the quest this episode leads to, it was also just going to be added on, but I wanted to use parts of the Riders one, too. After fiddling around with the CS for a while I figured out that the only way I can get it to work is as a separate plug-in that has two masters. That way Gweden Brothel and the Mountain Riders can be independent, but share this expansion. I'll include it with Gweden as an option that you can install if the other mod is also there. BAIN archives make that an easy process in Wrye Bash. The downside is one more .esp file, if you're close to the 254 limit. I already have optional installation of the SI parts of each, along the same lines.

Without giving too much away, I've been wanting to create an Orc Bear Rider for some time, but couldn't figure out a way to do so. Adding a trainer in Falkreath means that she can have visitors from all over Tamriel, including the Wrothgarians, where they'd need patrols, wouldn't they?


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Acadian
post May 22 2012, 12:06 AM
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It was nice to see our bare bear riders again. Quite the welcome from Gudrun!

‘Gudrun had told him that was one of the reasons they preferred women riders. They just smelled better than men.’
I agree.

Claudia wears frost-enchanted panties, but she certainly is not frigid! tongue.gif

Nit – just a tiny typo:
'Claudia much preferred the mountains, and revived her idea of joing the Legion as a Mountain Rider'


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Grits
post May 22 2012, 02:59 AM
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Somehow I missed the Enilwen part! Figuring out the master’s race was fun. How funny, I have been thinking a lot about invisibility and archers today. I love the new velvet shoes. Now Abiene wants a pair in brown. tongue.gif

Oh, big fun with the bear riders, and a good reason for their high-heeled boots. I suspect that many Champions will not mind walking behind Claudia for as long as necessary. Neat that this connects the bear riders with Gweden.



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ghastley
post May 28 2012, 08:36 PM
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@Acadian: Claudia hasn't finished with him yet!

@Grits: Enilwen's better seen than not. Especially when she's armed and dangerous.

@mALX: I connected the bears to Falkreath when I decided, way back, that Jokull the trader lived there. He was the one waiting in the cave with Claudia's bear back in her story. I've added a house for him, but I'm still trying to work out how to give him an AI setup that has him out of town most of the time, without traveling into Cyrodiil. The game doesn't like people to go past the ends of the map!

---

Kintyra - part 2

Behind one of the rocks was a small hut, and a guard emerged from it. The tabard over his mail bore the Stag's head insignia of Falkreath. He looked briefly at the papers the reporter showed him, and pointed down the valley. The small town of Falkreath was just beyond the ridge.

Most of the houses looked relatively new, as if the town had had to be rebuilt not too long ago. That wasn't too surprising, as it stood next to two disputed borders, and must have seen more than its share of sieges. That impression was augmented by the large graveyard he passed, presumably the resting place of the armies that had fought here.

He'd been told to ask at the Jarl's house for directions, as it was always politic to let the authorities know why you were there. Unless, of course, you didn't want them to know. This time, any help from the Jarl would be useful. They knew where to find Kintyra, and wished him the best of luck with her.

The building at the other end of the street, that he'd been directed to, turned out to be a tavern. Behind the bar was a young Nord woman who was selling ale, and advertising milk. But when he looked up from her ample cleavage, her face made him wish he hadn't.

It would have been a very pretty face if it didn't have a sour expression that let you know the answer was an emphatic "No", whatever the question was. He wondered if she ever did any business. He asked for an ale anyway, and was pleasantly surprised by the reasonable price she charged him, if not by the tone of her voice. He took the bottle and tankard and walked over to a table in the corner, where an old man sat drinking alone.

When he asked about Kintyra, the old man indicated the woman behind the bar. "That's her. Used to be the friendliest barmaid in town, until she met that Redguard. Broke her heart, he did, running off with another woman, just when she thought he was going to marry her. I reckon she'd have chased after him and killed him, if she didn't have to stay here and care for her mother."

"Oh, her mother's still alive, is she?" asked the reporter. "I'd heard that Anya died on the road from Whiterun. Wasn't there an attack by trolls on their caravan, or something?"

"Aye, she nearly died in that, and was missing for a while. When they found her, they thought she was dead, but the dog that they used to track her wouldn't let them bury her. He knew she was still alive,.but she seemed to be totally paralyzed. She can swallow liquids and move her eyes, but she can't move her limbs, or talk. Kintyra or a servant has to attend to her constantly."

That changed his mission a bit. The older woman would be ahead of her daughter in succession to the throne, if they indeed had any claim. In her current condition, Kintyra would have to act for her, so you could argue that she'd still hold the power. But the Elder Council wouldn't want a Regency at a time when the throne was weak anyway.

Still, if the lineage wasn't right, it would all be moot. He still had to make the same inquiries, and find out more about their family tree. It would just be more complicated than he'd expected. The first thing he had to do now was to try and find a cure for Anya, so he could get her story.

He asked around the town, and found that the local healer had tried the usual Cure Disease and Cure Paralysis spells on her, but they'd had no effect. She'd even tried Dispel, in case it was a spell with a long duration, not that anyone knew of one that lasted that long. There had been a brief flicker of movement, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

They'd even carried her to the local shrine, in case that could cast a more powerful cure than the healer could manage. That had just got Anya more worried - you could tell it from her eyes - as the shrine was in the graveyard!

He was getting nowhere. He'd have to do what he'd been putting off, and try to talk with Kintyra.

She was snappy and unpleasant at first, but once she realized he was trying to help her mother, she softened considerably. Not enough to remove the permanent scowl, but sufficient to sustain a conversation, and get him permission to visit the older woman.

Anya was propped up in her bed, so she could see what was going on around her. They had dressed her in one of her favorite blue mage robes, with matching suede slippers. Her expression was an unchanging one of surprise, as if she hadn't been expecting whatever had afflicted her.

When he entered the room, her eyes met his, but then fell to her hands as if she'd not seen who she'd hoped. He noticed that she wore several rings, as most mages did. Often they'd provide defense, or increased magicka or health, without diminishing the caster's ability to use spells the way armor would.

He turned to ask Kintyra some details about the prior attempts to cure her, and when he turned back, she again looked him in the eyes, and then down at her hands. She was trying to tell him something, he was sure.

He moved to the bed and took Anya's hands in his own. She looked back at him, and he began to understand. She looked down at her left hand, in particular. She wore two rings on that hand, a gold one with an emerald set in it, and a plain ebony band. He held the hand up closer to her face, so she could look at the rings. Her eyes seemed to indicate the gold one. Her slipped it off her finger, and felt her other hand grasp his shoulder.

It was a few seconds before she could speak, as she'd been severely weakened by the the long period of paralysis. Her first words were "My own fault".

Then she wanted a loaf of crusty bread, so she could chew on something. They'd had to feed her liquids while she was held immobile by the spell, and what she wanted most was something solid. That kept her from telling the story for a while longer.

When the trolls had attacked, she had of course hit back with fireballs, with considerable success. However, her magicka reserves were soon running low. She'd drunk all the restore magicka and sorcery potions she carried, and needed more. She decided to swap her defensive ring of aegis with one that fortified magicka, and rummaged in her jewelry bag for it. Unfortunately, she had another ring that looked just like it, and in her haste, pulled out the wrong one.

The Ring of Imprisonment he'd just removed from her finger was like a portable jail. You could just sit a captive down in a chair, preferably one with arms, so he couldn't fall off sideways, and make him put on the ring. He'd be unable to move, or call out, until you took the ring off again.

Perhaps it had saved her life, as the trolls thought she was dead, and ignored her as she rolled off the trail. Perhaps not, as she could no longer participate in the battle. She didn't think that would go well without her firepower. It did leave her stuck in the ravine, until the dog found her.

She wanted to reward that dog, as she was sure they'd have buried her alive, if he hadn't stopped them. Kintyra told her mother that Ingvar, the dog's owner, had already decided that Troll-biter was worth breeding after all, and she doubted he'd get a better reward than that. Kintyra actually smiled when she said that, proving that her face could compete with her other charms. It didn't last.

Anya hadn't really known anyone in the caravan that was attacked, they were all just strangers travelling together for safety. But she still wanted to know if anyone else had survived. Kintyra wasn't sure. Something had made the patrol go looking for them, but she didn't know if a survivor had reached town, or if someone had an expected visitor overdue.

Then Anya was quizzing Kintyra about all the things that had happened while she was paralyzed. That touched a raw nerve when the Redguard's name came up. The black clouds came back across the sun in the daughter's face. As the two women talked, it became clear to him that Kintyra had turned her full attention to her stricken mother, as soon as she had been brought back to Falkreath. Her lover had probably felt cut off and unwanted, so it wasn't surprising that he'd looked elsewhere. But how was he going to explain that to her? She was in no mood to hear that sort of thing from a stranger.

But now that Anya had her faculties back, she was the one he needed to talk to. She sent her daughter back to tend the bar, telling her to lighten up, or she'd drive away the customers.

Eventually he managed to steer the conversation round to ancestry. Anya could trace back through her mother, and her grandmother, to Jorgard of Solitude, whose brother Jargrim had married Jolethe Septim, daughter of Magnus Septim, and sister of Pelagius III. That wasn't as close as he'd thought when he was sent here. They'd believed she was descended from the other brother, and Jolethe. Cephorus II had come from that line, and he'd had aunts and uncles and cousins whose descendents would be closer to the late Uriel VII than were Anya and Kintyra.

So now he could turn his attention to Kintyra's problem. He told Anya about his earlier conclusions, and she agreed with his reasoning. "She's a stubborn one, and doesn't like to ask anyone else for help. Probably comes from being an only child, and from her father."

Anya's late husband Darci had been very similar, in many ways. He was a Redguard, and they don't like to use magic, so he'd resisted her offers to enchant his armor, or teach him any useful spells. He had no problem with her using all the magical ways she wanted. That was her choice, not his, and he wouldn't interfere.

And it was part of why he loved her. They were complementary, rather than alike. Each had aspects that the other admired, but would never take for themselves. He could never persuade her to wear armor, or use a weapon. But he'd be there to protect her, and vice-versa.Together, there was nothing they couldn't achieve, but separated, they were incomplete. He would never ask for her help, but he wouldn't reject it either. And when they fought side by side, they covered each other's weaknesses.

He'd died in a fight with a will-o-the-wisp, that she could have easily killed with a couple of fireballs, if only she'd been there with him. But she was pregnant with Kintyra at the time, and stuck at home resting.

Her daughter had grown up without a father, because Anya had never found anyone who could replace Darci. She'd had a few lovers over the years, but none had quite measured up.

Kintyra had matured with an attitude of independence, and self-sufficiency, that let her have fun with the boys without getting too emotionally involved. She was attractive enough to have her pick of boyfriends, but didn't stay with any of them long enough to get bored with them. She didn't expect any kind of fidelity from them either. So why was this Redguard getting under her skin?

Anya suspected that Kintyra was getting broody. She wasn't pregnant yet; Anya could use detect life in more ways than the reporter knew about. But she'd probably decided that he was going to be the one, and he'd messed up her plans by leaving her. Kintyra wouldn't have told him of her intentions, it wasn't her way of doing things. And she'd most likely have dumped him if she didn't get what she wanted. "I probably taught her that" Anya admitted. "Kintyra never saw Darci and me together, so she has no idea what that was like."

"So it's my job to undo it. Let me work on her for a while. I can be quite needy, and take my time recovering, so that she won't go running after him, and trying to kill him."

The reporter was wondering why he still felt involved. He'd found out the information he'd been sent for, and Anya and Kintyra could be crossed off the Elder Council's list. But he still had a few days before Claudia was expecting him back at the cave, so it wouldn't hurt to spend them helping Kintyra and her mother. He rather suspected that Anya was hoping to kill two birds with one stone, and have Kintyra reward him for her cure, at the same time as he filled the void left by the Redguard.

That wasn't an unpleasant prospect. He'd seen what Kintyra could be when she smiled, and he wouldn't mind helping that happen again. He just had to make sure she didn't think "husband".

After talking to her mother, Kintyra's mood had changed from angry to sad, so he still had some work to do, but that was a much easier place to start from. He'd much rather have her cry on his shoulder than pound her fists on it.

And by the time he waved farewell to a laughing Kintyra and her mother, he felt well compensated for his time. Kintyra had insisted that her mother provide her own reward, and she'd been persuaded to enchant a couple of silver rings with Frost resistance. Now he wouldn't have to struggle to keep the furs in place when he met back up with Claudia.

---

Of course, slipping a ring on her finger, and sliding her panties off, had Claudia almost thinking "husband" for a while. "It's only my dedication to duty that saved you" she told him. Her bear snorted, as if it understood what she'd said. Maybe it did.

Claudia was naturally familiar with the sensation of Frost protection magic, so she'd realized what he was giving her. The rings did provide a freedom they hadn't had the last time. It no longer mattered when the furs fell off the bedroll, and they could see what they doing, instead of hiding inder the covers all the time. So it wasn't long before she remarked "Timo never does that."

"Then teach him," he replied. "The other Riders will thank you for it." It was time for him to tell her more about his own past, in particular his stay at Gweden, and all the things he'd learned there. And of course, show her a few of them.

"You did it with Daedra?" she exclaimed. Claudia had only encountered Scamps, Clannfear and Flame Atronachs, so her ideas were a bit far from reality. He had to explain that Dremora, Mazken and Aureals were just immortal people, not scary monsters. She was almost as big as they were, where it mattered. Silanu, on the other hand...

Now Claudia was feeling very ordinary and unexciting, and he had to convince her that she wasn't. She was a Mountain Rider, and her bear knew she was special, or she wouldn't be one. And she was unique, as the only Redguard Rider he knew of. Which reminded him, she had a duty to be different from the other Riders when she was with Timo. "Put some variety into his routine, and he'll respond in kind."

"We'll be returning to the Lodge tomorrow," he mused. "Will any of the other Riders be there?"

"Why, did you want to sample something different from the menu? I thought Gudrun had already shown you how Nords do it."

"No, I was just wondering if Timo had ever had two of you there at once. I presume Legion rules wouldn't let you share him with Gudrun, her being your commanding officer."

"And what if I was the one wanting two partners? Would you share me with Timo?"

"Why not? If you could keep the entire city watch happy...."

"Hey, it was just the Captains, and I never said it was more than one at a time."

"And here I was, thinking you were really special." he laughed.


-----

It doesn't play quite the same in the game. I put the trolls in a mine beneath the town, instead of out on the road to Whiterun, and the player has to go finish them off to get his reward. Not quite as much fun as cheering up Kintyra, but easier to script! You only get the one Ring of Frost Resistance, as Claudia's not being so cooperative either, and isn't waiting in the cave.


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Acadian
post May 29 2012, 01:11 AM
Post #110


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A cross-border tale of cleavage and lineage!

Ring of Imprisonment. ohmy.gif Almost as bad as hungrily grabbing a poisoned apple from your pack by mistake!

’She wanted to reward that dog, as she was sure they'd have buried her alive, if he hadn't stopped them. Kintyra told her mother that Ingvar, the dog's owner, had already decided that Troll-biter was worth breeding after all, and she doubted he'd get a better reward than that. Kintyra actually smiled when she said that, proving that her face could compete with her other charms. It didn't last.’
This was sweet. happy.gif


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Grits
post May 29 2012, 01:13 AM
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They'd even carried her to the local shrine, in case that could cast a more powerful cure than the healer could manage. That had just got Anya more worried - you could tell it from her eyes - as the shrine was in the graveyard!

That’s horrifying and hilarious at the same time. I love it! What a fun story. smile.gif


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mALX
post May 29 2012, 06:26 PM
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QUOTE

Of course, slipping a ring on her finger, and sliding her panties off, had Claudia almost thinking "husband" for a while. "It's only my dedication to duty that saved you" she told him. Her bear snorted, as if it understood what she'd said. Maybe it did.


This had me in hysterics!

The ring of imprisonment sounds like something I need IRL, ROFL !!

Love how the reporter has become the tutor to Claudia, ROFL !!

Awesome Write !!



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ghastley
post Jun 5 2012, 12:36 AM
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@Acadian: I made a Ring of Imprisonment for the mod, (i.e enchanted one with Paralysis) and had the player put it on. It has no effect at all. Apparently paralyze "on Self" is ignored. So I have Anya take it back immediately she's back to normal. Her paralysis is totally scripted, and the ring doesn't actually do anything to her either. Poison apples do have an effect!

@Grits It's a pity I coulndn't include that detail in the mod. Although there are quite a few gravestones in between the tavern and the chapel.

@mALX: The shoe's going to be back on the other foot soon. And this one sets some of the scene....

This installment has the usual problem of having to be told second-hand to the reporter, and this case, by someone who's only partly involved. The Champion actually does make an appearance for the first time, but after most of the quest's events have already happened!


----

The Orcish Ambassador

On his next visit to the Red Dragon Club, the reporter was surprised to see yet another new woman in the uniform, but this time one he already knew. What was Sugar gra-Mazog doing here? Shurgak hadn't given any special greeting, so he took her down the corridor to find out.

When they found a vacant room, Sugar revealed that the Champion had sent her up from Gweden specifically to entertain the Orcish Ambassador. He'd already been in once, and she was expecting him to come back for more later that night. But not to worry, there was plenty of time for their session before he was due.

Somehow he'd never got round to sharing his bed with Sugar at Gweden, although all the others had visited, some more than once. She was nearly as big as the Daedra women, and more of it was muscle. The dress she wore at Gweden just exposed her ample cleavage, but the uniform she was wearing here didn't cover much at all, and he could see the strength in her arms and thighs. He'd heard stories about her clients needing endurance potions to keep up with her, so he was wondering what he'd let himself in for.

Perhaps she was saving her energy for the Ambassador, but she was taking it easy with him. "I don't often get clients who aren't Orcs," she explained "and they always seem to treat it as a contest. It's a nice change to do it slow and gentle, not fast and furious all the time."

And she had a special request. Prizna had told her about her first encounter with him. "Orcs don't do that," she told him, "and I'm not sure I'd want one to try." That made him curious. Did she...? "Oh yeah, I know it makes 'em real nervous, but no Orc would ever admit that! And then they find they like it, and let me do it again".

He wasn't feeling that adventurous, but while he indulged her, she told him more about the Ambassador. He'd come to Cyrodiil by ship, with his wife, who had a Breton name. Sugar was sure that was misleading, because all the Breton women she knew were really small, like Juliana and Meena. She just didn't see one being a wife to Gorthag. He was big, even for an Orc.

Milady had been kidnapped by bandits on the way here from Anvil, which is where their ship had docked. She didn't know much about the circumstances, but the Champion was out looking for her while the Ambassador was negotiating with the Council.

The strange thing about it was that Gorthag didn't seem to be worried about her at all. Sugar had her theories. "So maybe it's a marriage of convenience and he really doesn't like her, but you'd think he'd at least want to be certain she's not coming back. It was like he already knew what happened to her. And of course, he's not acting married when he comes in here."

When they emerged, they found Taminwe waiting to talk to Sugar. Gorthag wouldn't be coming to the club tonight. He was already on his way back to Orsinium. Lady Brienne, however, had been found, and would coming instead. Sugar looked puzzled. "You'll understand when she gets here," Tanimwe told her.

Lady Brienne was even smaller than most Breton women. Shorter, anyway. She sat quietly in a corner while the Champion spoke to Taminwe and Sugar. Then the Champion turned back to Lady Brienne. The reporter could hear her confess tearfully to being a prostitute at the Wayrest court, and not really the wife of the Ambassador. Queen Elysana had sent her with Gorthag and set up the fake kidnapping incident. They were trying to embarass the Elder Council into granting Orsinium official status as a full Province. Wayrest's existing treaties with Orsinium would be much more valuable if that happened. They wouldn't have been able to put that one past Uriel, but the Elder Council was a different matter.

Brienne had been expecting to get shipped back to Wayrest by the men she'd run off with, but they'd tied her up and imprisoned her in a cave. At first she thought they were just taking their kidnapping act seriously, in case anyone investigated. But they weren't following the same script she'd been given. There was no hint of a ransom being demanded from Wayrest or Orsinium. The men were treating her like the prostitute they knew she was, rather than pretending she was a valuable hostage. Or more like a slave, as they weren't giving her anything but food, in return for what they demanded from her.

The Champion showed her a note he'd taken from their leader. That made it clear she was disposable, and Elysana didn't want to see her again. She'd only received a small advance on what she'd been promised for this caper, and wasn't likely to ever see the rest. And she'd had to spend all that on her outfit, as she had to look the part of an Ambassador's wife. Queen Elysana had a reputation for being a devious back-stabber, but Brienne hadn't seen this coming.

Sugar wanted to know if she'd been sharing Gorthag's bed on the way down to Cyrodiil. Brienne nodded. "Then she gets my vote," said Sugar. Taminwe indicated that she had hers too. The Champion turned back to Brienne and offered her a job at the club, telling her that if Ocato concurred, she'd be doing a few extra things. She'd followed Elysana's orders well enough, and the Champion himself had been fooled by her act. They could use those skills here, if she was willing to join the right side.

She appeared to understand, and thanked them all for their generosity, smiling at last.

Sugar came over to the reporter. "Looks like I can go back to Gweden and my regulars now. Brienne can do Orc duty if the need arises. If she can handle Gorthag, she can cope with any of them."

"But before I do, I've got some spare time I wasn't expecting, and I haven't been in the city since the Champion got my axe back. I'd like to go visit a few of the places I knew when I was here last. Drink an ale or two in the old bars. Want to join me? We can come back here afterwards and finish what we started."








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Acadian
post Jun 5 2012, 02:17 AM
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Courtly intrigue, plotting and doublecrossing - What fun!

The Red Dragon Club certainly opens new possible vistas into the assorted undercover goings on and political perversions within the courts of Tamriel! I hope the reporter will be able to walk and stand after his upcoming night. They say getting too much Sugar can be harmful to your health.

This post has been edited by Acadian: Jun 5 2012, 02:18 AM


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Grits
post Jun 8 2012, 12:24 AM
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Somehow he'd never got round to sharing his bed with Sugar at Gweden, although all the others had visited, some more than once.

Hmm, perhaps he heard that sugar would rot his teeth? tongue.gif

How fun that the young reporter gets to go out on the town with Sugar. And it sounds like a date rather than an assignment! biggrin.gif


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ghastley
post Jun 11 2012, 10:50 PM
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@Acadian and Grits: Sugar only comes in the "too much" size. In this installment the reporter at least manages to share the burden.

This isn't part of the mod, just a variant re-telling of a standard quest the way it might have happened if Sugar got involved. It's also setup for the next ones.

-----

An Unexpected Orgy

The reporter for the Black Horse Courier was a bit apprehensive about taking Sugar for a night's drinking. Or rather, about what would happen afterward. She'd clearly been holding back earlier, and saving herself for Gorthag. She might not be so considerate after a few drinks. But he agreed anyway, and they set off for the Waterfront, taking in quite a few taverns along the way.

By the time they reached the Bloated Float, they were both walking carefully and leaning on each for support. Ormil, the patron of the place, was delighted to see Sugar again, and found them a table where everyone could see them. He asked the reporter if he was planning any drinking contests with her.

"Ormil won't ever let me forget about that Nord," Sugar told him. "He was trying to get me drunk, so he wouldn't have to pay me. He almost succeeded, but after we'd both had a few, and I mean a lot, I was finding it hard to stay in my low-cut blouse."

The reporter nodded, he'd first seen her threatening to burst out of it at Gweden, and wondered how she ever managed.

"Anyhow, when it did happen, it got the guy's full attention, and I was able to pour most of my tankard into his without him noticing. So I started doing it deliberately, and pretty soon he was doing all the drinking. When he passed out, Ormil helped me carry him down to a bunk."

Ormil carried on for her. "In the morning, I complained to him about how noisy his activities had been. We completely convinced him he'd had the night of his life, and just couldn't remember any of it. I threatened to charge him extra for his room because of disturbing the other guests!"

Ormil and Sugar both chuckled at the memory of the poor Nord's face when he heard that.

"What I didn't tell Sugar at the time is that the rest of us were all watching and laying bets. On how many drinks he could take, how many times she'd pop out, and whether she'd show us both at once."

"Oh, I could see that everyone was watching," replied Sugar. "I was too drunk to care, and anyhow it never hurts to show potential customers what's on offer. I don't remember if I did flash the pair, though."

Methredhel remembered. "When he fell off his chair, you leaned over the table to see where he'd gone. That's when it happened."

"Oh, right!" exclaimed Sugar, as it came back to her . "And when everyone cheered, I thought at first that you were just applauding my victory in the drinking contest."

Methredhel sighed "If only we'd all been in one of the taverns in the City. We all could have had a lot more fun."

The man she was with asked her what she meant. Methredhel told him that breasts are a great distraction for what she liked to do. She unbuttoned her tunic, took the man's hand and slipped it inside. Then she dangled his coin-purse in front of his face, having just picked his pocket while his attention was elsewhere. He grabbed for it (with his other hand), but she tossed to Ormil and told him to buy everyone a drink. "In the City, I could have kept it," she told him "but there's no thieving allowed on the Waterfront."

"So what did you just do?"

"Encourage you to be generous. There's a difference."

He looked a bit annoyed, but his hand stayed inside her tunic. He decided he liked the way things were going, and he wasn't getting a bad deal. When the drinks arrived, they came with with the remainder of his money, too. But now he wanted that hand back to hold his tankard. Methredhel let him swap. If she couldn't indulge in a bit of thievery, this had its appeal, too

She'd apparently struck the right mood for the crowd, for when their tankards were nearly empty, Adanrel unlaced her shirt, and asked who wanted to buy the next round. Much to her delight, she got two volunteers, and their hands were warm! They'd almost agreed to split paying for the drinks, when the other women objected. They all wanted to be the benefactor. That looked like fun!

Before it turned into a cat fight, Methredhel called for order. They'd make a proper contest of it. The women all lined up at the bar and took their tops off, so the men could bid on who'd be next. Methredhel and Sugar weren't really eligible for the contest, but they joined the line, too.

Methredhel announced the rules. "No illusion spells. No Feather. No...no spells at all. Hold your hands behind your backs, and breathe normally. The men will vote by show of hands. No not like that, just raise them in the air, cheeky!"

Sugar's were the largest, and her well-developed pectoral muscles pushed them out even further. But on her large frame, they just looked well-proportioned, and the others all had that. The more slender Bosmers' were the smallest, but they were all high and firm. The men's personal preferences were just as diverse, and that showed in the voting. And of course, some of the men knew in advance who they'd have to support, or face the consequences!

There wasn't a clear winner, so they had to think of something else.

Jair had a proposal. Since they were all equally wonderful, if the women would keep their tops off, the men would keep paying for the drinks. "We'll just pass the hat, and share it out equally."

Praxedes saw a problem with that. She was wearing a dress, and couldn't just take off the top half. She had it peeled down to her waist, but she needed to hold it up all the time. "And if I take it all off, I expect you to buy me dinner as well!" Armand was going to do that anyway, so he extended Jair's idea to paying for the food.

Ormil saw his opportunity, and quoted a reasonable price for all they could eat and drink for the rest of the evening. The men went into a quick huddle to count coins before agreeing.

Praxedes dropped her dress to great applause. Methredhel let her man take the rest of her things off, and the others were soon naked, too. Sugar, who could strip faster than any of them, being a professional, decided to take it further. She lifted the reporter out of his chair and began taking off his clothes, too.

- - -

The established couples, like Armand and Praxedes, left first. They'd just go back to their cabins and continue in private. A few newly-formed ones did the same thing, and Sugar and he were soon left among those who couldn't, or wouldn't, choose. Adanrel seemed to making up for lost time, and wanted everybody. Besides, she didn't want to interrupt Methredhel and her guy by going home too soon.

Minx was a Dunmer, and nobody expected her to limit herself to one. Selene, the Imperial, was more of a mystery. She seemed to be enjoying all the attention she was getting, but her mind was clearly on other things. He fulfilled her needs and went to round up Sugar.

A groan from the corner told him her partner was done, too. He paid Ormil for a cabin and took Sugar below deck to sleep it all off.

- - -

They were wakened by the gentle rocking of the ship, as if it were out at sea. When they tried the cabin door they found it locked, but Sugar had learned to pick a lock while she was living on the Waterfront, and soon had it opened.

The man outside the cabin drew a sword as they emerged. The reporter tried to persuade him not to use it, but it was Sugar's fist to the side of his head that did the trick. They tied the unconscious man up in the cabin and crept up to the tavern deck to find out what was going on. Minx, the Dunmer he'd "met" the night before, was there in a suit of leather armor, with lots of extra straps. She recognized him immediately, and as she'd rather liked their time together, she was reluctant to use the sword she'd drawn.

She made a half-hearted swing at him anyway. He easily blocked her attack with the sword he'd taken from the bandit below deck, and Sugar grabbed her from behind. They took her down and tied her up, too. Strangely, she seemed to enjoy that.

The bandit up at the wheel saw the two coming at him, armed with the weapons they'd taken, and just dived overboard to avoid a fight. He didn't like the odds. Sugar and the reporter went across the deck to the captain's cabin.

They were about to burst in, when moans of ecstasy, in what sounded like Selene's voice, stopped them. Unlike last night, she seemed to be fully engaged with her partner, whoever it was. They decided to let them finish.

A little while later, Selene's head appeared around the door, looking for Minx. She was obviously startled to see the two of them instead, but quickly figured out what had happened when she recognized the swords in their hands. "OK, I give up," she said. "Take me away."

She confessed to having planned to rob the ship, tavern, whatever it was. She was sure it must be making a good pot of gold with all the customers she saw frequenting it. But she'd changed her mind when she met Ormil. She liked him immediately, and she'd really hoped that he'd join his customers in last night's orgy. She wanted to get to know him better, but he'd been too busy serving everyone food and drink. So she'd cornered him in his cabin today, while the gang were searching the rest of the ship for valuables.

She apologized to Ormil for forcing herself on him, but he told her that she'd done him a great service. Sugar cracked up at that. It had certain sounded like "great service".

Ormil saw the joke, too, but he meant it. He'd been too focused on running his business, and wasn't making any time to enjoy himself. Or anyone else. She'd made him realize what he was missing.

And he admired anyone with her determination to get what she wanted. That was a good trait in a businesswoman. Clearly that wasn't all he liked about her. He'd completely forgive everything, including her part in the attempted robbery, if she'd just be prepared to negotiate next time. That should be soon, please.

"Where's Graman?" he asked. Graman gro-Marad was the Bloated Float's only crew-member. He was the bouncer, and cook's assistant, or whatever Ormil needed at the time. They went looking for him and found him locked in the storage room below deck. Ormil was relieved, as Graman was the only one who knew how to steer the ship back to the dock.

That reminded them about the bandit that had jumped overboard. Selene said that he was called Wrath, and named the first one they'd encountered as Lynch. They couldn't just leave Wrath in the bay to drown, so they went up on deck to see if he was still near the ship. He was, clinging to the rudder. Graman put down a rowboat so they could tow him back to the dock. They debated putting Lynch and Minx in the rowboat too, but decided to leave them where they were.

Back at the Waterfront, with the Bloated Float tied up at her moorings again, the Watch took Wrath, Lynch and Minx away for a few days in jail. They'd only pressed a charge of stealing, as that's all they'd actually managed, so they'd all be out pretty soon. Minx whispered to the reporter before they took her away that she'd like him to tie her up again, when she got out.

Ormil and Selene had a reward for them. Selene's sword, the Blackwater Blade, was a nicely enchanted longsword that the reporter might find useful. She didn't see herself using it any more. Ormil had a decent amount of cash for Sugar, too. Last night's fun had brought in a good profit, and it was all her "fault".

With Selene's help in the tavern, Ormil would have more time to spend on the important things in life. Like Selene. So if the Bloated Float wasn't open at all hours in future, they'd understand, wouldn't they?

Sugar and the reporter set off back towards the Red Dragon Club, bypassing the bars this time.




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Acadian
post Jun 12 2012, 01:47 AM
Post #117


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From: Las Vegas



A no tee shirt contest! It seems like there was no need for the tavern’s bouncer at all since there was plenty of that without him. I’m glad to see the crooks were fully exposed, tied up and delivered justice.

Ode to the breast:
Orsimer Sugar is mighty fine,
while Dunmer are divine.
Imperials delight once undressed,
but Bosmer are best!

What a fun rendition of the Bloated Float quest! tongue.gif

This post has been edited by Acadian: Jun 12 2012, 01:48 AM


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Grits
post Jun 12 2012, 10:19 PM
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biggrin.gif My favorite title so far!

What a fun night at the Float! Lots of new friends. And maybe we’ll see more of that Minx in the future. smile.gif


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mALX
post Jun 13 2012, 05:28 PM
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Loved this rendition of the Bloated Float quest !! Now when I do that quest I'll be listening for the moans and groans, ROFL !! Great Write !!


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ghastley
post Jun 18 2012, 09:58 PM
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@All The gang that hi-jacked the Bloated Float never really struck me as the violent bandit types, or they wouldn't have bothered sailing the ship away to rob it. This revision lets me keep them alive, and maybe use Minx later in the story. And it sets up the following episode better that way, I needed the pair out of the Club for a while, but I also needed a distraction for Sugar.

---

Once again, there's not a lot of the mod in here, except that Uzgash is added to act as a quest-giver for the new Helm of Tiber Septim quest. She'll provide some build-up to the forthcoming sack of Orsinium, which I've estimated at around 4E10. There will also be pointers to the plotting of the Thalmor, who were probably behind the attempt to have Enilwen assassinate the Mane. Uzgash can report developments in High Rock, as well as anywhere else the Orc Adventurers have travelled.

---

Uzgash

When Sugar and the reporter arrived back at the Red Dragon Club, Taminwe was looking for both of them, with an important bit of news. Apparently Gortwog hadn't completely trusted Queen Elysana with her "wife" gambit, and had sent his own spy to keep an eye on what happened. "We got a note just after you went out last night, asking us to arrange a private channel with Orsinium."

"I suspect Gortwog had this planned for some time, and was just waiting for the right moment," she continued. "Your recent trip to Falkreath makes it possible for us to capitalize on this opportunity and get a direct line to Gortwog established."

She explained that now he had contacts in Falkreath, they could use that as a rendezvous point with an Orc agent. There was a bear trainer in the town that already traded with Orsinium, providing bears for patrols in the Wrothgarians. Gortwog could send couriers to her without raising any suspicion. If the couriers made other contacts while they were there, nobody would know.

"Will this become a regular trip?" he asked, thinking of Claudia, and Kintyra, and the possible complications of seeing them too often.

Taminwe was ahead of him there. "Yes, and I've already sent word to Gudrun about putting a rotation on the route to Sky's Edge, so you won't have a problem. Not until you have four or five problems, that is."

"And you'll be too busy in Falkreath. The courier will be an Orc Bear Rider, naturally. That's why I need Sugar to stay here a while, and give you some extra training." Sugar gave him a wicked grin. She was obviously anticipating having way more fun than he would.

- - -

He was fortunate that he liked the taste of blackberries and apples, with the number of Restore Fatigue / Fortify Endurance potions he had to drink over the next few days. The aftertaste of Monkshood wasn't quite as pleasant.

But before long, Sugar wasn't holding anything back and she found herself reaching for the potion bottle. She reluctantly pronounced him ready for duty, to his great relief.

- - -

When the reporter opened the door to the Riders' Lodge at Bruma, he was surprised to see the five Riders all there at once. He wasn't so surprised to see a contented smile on Timo's face.

Gudrun introduced them to him. "You already know Claudia, of course. This is Pala, the redhead is Svana, and Ystrel is the Dunmer. You'll be going with Unna on this trip, as her route is adjacent to Claudia's and she already knows the way to get there."

Unna had long blonde hair, and a patch over one eye that promised a story to break the ice. "When Claudia found out I was taking the first duty, she lent me this ring," she told him. "Did you remember to bring yours?"

OK, forget the need for ice-breaking. Claudia had told them already.

Gudrun sent them all back out to their patrols, right after the briefing. Unna and Claudia both had to travel to the Hermaeus Mora shrine, so he had one on either side of him all the way there. At the foot of the slope up to the shrine, Claudia turned back and mounted her bear, and left him to Unna to take the rest of the way.

Although it was dark, Unna didn't light a torch as they left the shrine. She just flipped up her eyepatch and carried on into the night. When she noticed he wasn't following, she came back for him. "Just put your hand here," she told him, "and try to keep up." He wasn't sure if she was walking slowly after that just to keep in contact, but they reached the cave without any problems.

He'd guessed that she'd been using Night-eye, but hadn't seen her cast a spell, or drink a potion. Unna explained about how she'd got it permanently from a Daedra's shock attack, and a botched attempt to heal her. She amazed him with yet another story about the Champion. He seemed to be involved in everything where these women were concerned.

Right now, Unna wanted him to get involved. He hoped Claudia hadn't been telling fishermen's tales about him, and he could actually meet her expectations. She certainly met his.

- - -

The next morning he took the short walk across the border to Falkreath. He didn't know how long he'd have to wait for the Orc agent to arrive, so he made no promises to Unna. She let him know when she'd be going back to the Lodge. Svana was the next for this duty, so it was possible he'd find her in the cave when he got back.

He went to find the bear-trainer, as she'd know whether the Orc was already in town. Meija was a tanned Nord, who wore even less than the Legion girls. She didn't need armor, she explained, as she was just training the bears, not riding a patrol. She needed sleeves, to protect her arns from being lashed by branches when the bear ran through the forest, and boots, for when she walked, but apart from that she could be naked. "The bears would prefer that, but the watch don't allow it."

Her compromise indicated that she put more weight on the bears' side of the argument. The lower half of her outfit was almost non-existent, and the top was guaranteed to keep her cool. She anticipated his question. "I have an amulet with Frost Resistance that's enough to make me immune from the cold," she told him. "Nords are half-way there from birth, so it doesn't take much."

He began to wonder if the woman was psychic with the next thing she said. "After you left last time, Kintyra took up with that Jokull, the trader. So she'll be glad to see you again, but not as much as you might have hoped." That let him off the hook there, but it also left him wondering if Meija had any motives of her own for telling him.

He asked if anyone had arrived from Orsinium, and Meija nodded. "She's with the bear now, getting to know him." Meija led him down the slope opposite the tavern to a snowy clearing.

Uzgash gra-Marghak dismounted and walked over to them. The pre-arranged handclasp let her know she had the right man, and left him with an appreciation for the strength of her grip.

He knew that Sugar was considered well-featured for an Orc, and this woman had everything she had and more. And yet her face was more to his human tastes than most. Very attractive, if you were the kind of person who liked tusks. She was built, and dressed, like a Bear Rider, too.

She tactfully separated them from Meija and the bear, and him led to where nobody could listen to their conversation.

It was an indication of the importance Gortwog placed on this mission that he'd sent one of his own daughters. He asked if she was using a pseudonym, but gra-Marghak was real. Her mother hadn't married Gortwog, as she already had everything a marriage would bring, and it left him free to make a political alliance if he needed to do so. He'd acknowledged all his children, and they had no less respect under their mother's name. As adults, they were expected to earn their own respect anyway. So she used her real name. One less lie to get caught in.

"I'll be riding real patrols in the Wrothgarians, too. Having a bear of my own will reassure my father of my safety, although he already respects my ability in a fight. I'll only need the one bear, of course. I'll need another reason for visiting Falkreath whenever I have information to pass on. That's where you come in."

She let the implications of that sink in for a moment before she continued. "We have to be known as an item. Which means we'll have to be quite indiscreet about it. You aren't the type who's easily embarrassed, I hope?"

No, but he'd have to explain why they didn't just build a cabin and stay here.

"Duty, of course. I have my patrol to attend to, and my personal wishes are subordinate to that. You have a job to go back to, don't you?"

Her bear had wandered over to them as they talked. It had clearly taken to her in the short time they'd been together, which was a good sign. He already trusted the bears' judgement when it came to women.

The bear turned its head towards the town. He looked in that direction and saw Meija's head appear above the rise. He pulled Uzgash closer to him and put his arms around her. This was as good a time to start putting on the show as any.

When Meija got closer, Uzgash turned so she could see her, repositioning the reporter's hands to make as clear a statement as possible. The expression on Meija's face indicated that she'd got the message. There was just a hint of jealousy showing, too. That was probably why she'd been so quick to tell him about Kintyra.

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

"We might have to do something about that one," Uzgash said when she was gone. "We don't want her on the wrong side. And you can't be unfaithful to me, because then I'd have to kill you. This could be tricky."

"Sorry, but you're going to have to learn to share." he told her. "I can't do my job if you tie my hands that much."

"It's not your hands, it's your..."

"Stop being so literal. Anyway, it's only been my hands so far." He squeezed gently to reinforce the point.

She laughed. "And I'm only going to be faithful to you because I won't have any choice on patrol. It's just that everyone here thinks they know about Orcs and their sense of commitment and honor. They'd be the first to tell me if you slept with Meija. That's what makes them the perfect accomplices for our cover story."

"So you have to become the exception that won't turn homicidal if I wander a bit. Meija knows about Bear Riders, and every one of those that I've met has been practically a nymphomaniac. Won't she expect you to be that way too?" He reminded her that her actions so far had done nothing to contradict that picture.

"But then I'd have to show that by going with someone else. There's nobody here I'd want to do that with."

"Actually there's one other way. You can disarm Meija's threat by sharing me voluntarily."

"Share you with another woman? I haven't had proof yet that you can handle just me." She regretted using the word "handle" as soon as she said it, and squeezed back.

"No, you just need to tell her to keep me warm for you when you leave. Give her permission, whenever you're not around. Most likely I won't be around either, so it's not much of a concession. Let her know you're more Bear Rider in your morality than you are Orc, and everyone else will know before long. Besides, they already know about me and Kintyra."

"That was in the past, before you met me, so it doesn't count. But you're right, I'm going to have to share. The only problem I can see is having to put a damper on the men's expectations." He had to admit she had a lot to offer, and her outfit, like any Bear Rider's, put it all on show.

He told her about Sugar's party tricks, and her eyes widened. "An Orc male that brave is a rare find," she told him. "This Sugar has customers who let her do that?"

He told her how Sugar conned them into it. They often had an audience looking on at the Gweden Brothel, and an Orc can't show fear when other races are watching. The wine would bolster their courage, or recklessness, too. Not to mention that she was good at it, so they didn't just take the first opportunity to stop her. He pointed out that most men and mer weren't anything like brave enough to risk it, and if Uzgash had the right reputation....

He himself wouldn't have been that brave, if he hadn't known that others had survived to want a repeat. Uzgash looked at him with a new respect. "How do I develop this skill?" she asked him. He paled at the thought of trying to teach her. Fortunately he didn't have to, she just had to know how to talk about it as if she did. Even if Uzgash was intending to put on a public show, it didn't have to include that.

"I wasn't considering going that far" she admitted. "You can fondle me in public, but anything more is going to happen where we can be heard, but not seen." That would be a room at the tavern, of course. The walls were thick, but there were enough gaps between the logs to let the noise escape. And anyone on the floor below would have a good idea what was going on.

Uzgash wanted to know more about how she'd get her scary reputation established. That was where Meija was important. As long as she didn't have any hang-ups about doing it, he could let her know Uzgash liked doing it too. "You're devious," she told him. "I like that in a spy."

This post has been edited by ghastley: Jul 29 2019, 10:17 PM


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