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."

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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! 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

***6 days before Branwen’s capture***

"Come to me, Julianos, for without you, my wit is weak to sort the wheat from the chaff, and my eyes should neither know the true from the false, nor sense from folly, nor justice from prejudice and interest."

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.

.
.
.

***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…

.
.
.

“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.

---

Skingrad ahead

Ves and Marie

Sister Marie Palielle

Drinking in public

One step too much

Ruckus in the Great Chapel

Resisting arrest

Overpowered

"Har har!"

...

Brother Elritar on the way

A stranger in town

"Fabulous! The stranger will spy for me while all I need to do, is to put this letter to the letter box for the Great Chapel."

The letter has been delivered...

This post has been edited by Lopov: Jun 7 2020, 06:22 PM