The secret of Thaldorn Manor Options

[Lopov]

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 Rieltar Brunos Thaldorn, 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.

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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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"You cannot walk on water or move mountains without faith. Or at least without a proper spell. I bought my water-walking spell from Trayvond in Cheydinhal. The bridge was probably intentionally collapsed after...deeds of my parents were revealed."

"South of the Imperial City, between Pell's Gate and Fort Alessia, lies the Thaldorn manor, in old records mentioned also as Thaldorne manor. It's where I spent my youth. I like the surname of my ancestors - Thaldorne - better. "

"Welcome home, Rieltar. Please, make yourself at...home. Your father is upstairs, polishing his armor. Go and greet him, right son? Except that there's no one to greet."

"This door is forbidden to open, Rieltar. It must remain locked at all times. Beasts lurk below. Ugly, abominable beasts! Beasts from all planes of Oblivion. They'll burn you alive and your mother won't be able to help you!"

"Pieces of the past, secrets of my parents."

---

Extras:

The abandoned manor in my hometown, that served as an inspiration for the Thaldorn Manor. The manor as such is the work 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.

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

A new adventure begins in 3rd Era Cyrodiil it seems?

The scowling necromage has returned!

Oh noes!!! Well now we know how he got that spooky manor. Picutres!

Goodness, what were his parents up to? Those poor maidens.

I love his shorts! That's a first for me.

Thaldorn Manor looks extremely appropriate - overgrown, cobwebs, mysterious doors, chains. . . .

Now, that mysterious door he is never supposed to open. I'm sure he never will. Nope. Not a chance. . . .

Thaldorn Manor looks like the kind of place the Scooby Gang would visit. I wonder if there are any ghosts! They would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for that meddling Rieltar...

When do we go through that door!

This post has been edited by Lopov: May 13 2020, 11:00 PM

[Lopov]

@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.

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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.

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Brother Brunos in the Crestbridge Camp

Goblin Cave

Letting her go

"I am weak! Weak, weak, weak!"

"Embrace your mother."

...

Beneath the Arboretum