During Episode 127, Buffy received a letter from Sir Mazoga indicating that both she and Sir Agronak would be visiting The Imperial City. Knowing she would be leaving for Kvatch before the knightly orcs arrived, Buffy left a reply to Mazoga’s letter with Owyn at the Arena. There, she briefly met Agronak’s adoring fan who was pining away for the Grand Champion. Finally, she finished the episode in the Arboretum District by chatting with three of the Nine Divines and her paladin.
KC- Thank you for those kind words. I’m betting we’ll see little Fanador again.
Rider- Considering how dramatically different Mazoga is from Buffy, I’m delighted every time we try to write for the orc that she seems to cooperate and come across well.
Thank you!
Destri- Thank you for pointing out the limitations of potions vs invisibility. Drinking a potion does indeed dispel invisibility so I deleted that portion of Boderi’s remarks. It goes to show that Buffy doesn't try to combine disappearing and drinking enough to know any better – but Boderi certainly should have. Poisoning her bow while invisible however, does not dispel the invisibility so we kept that reference. Buffy's also learned that she can even change clothes while standing invisibly in the middle of the street! Handy for a little clothes horse.
I’m so glad that ‘Zoga’s letter met Sir Rugrat’s approval. I can’t help but channel Klingons when thinking of orcs in all their noble savagery - even down to their. . . vigorous mating rites.
Grits- Thank you for highlighting (as did Destri and SubRosa) that Buffy is getting a little better at working her feminine wiles. It was enlightening to me to visit garden of the Nine in the Arboretum with Buffy and a great chance to draw out some of her spirituality. Before heading off for the challenge of her life seemed the right time to do so.
SubRosa- Yes! Agronak did fare better in BF than TF.
Naked tusk locking with the most beautiful orc in Cyrodiil certainly trumps getting killed in the Arena! I’m so glad Buffy talked him out of that place. Of course, there still is that concern about Fanador. . . .
When we walked the Arboretum long before writing the episode Kyne just demanded to take a roll – for exactly the reasons you mentioned. Thank you.
ghastley- After traveling a long dark tunnel called death, you see brightness at the end backlighting an awaiting figure. As you draw closer you can hear a repeating chant consisting of two words: “By Azura!”. A white aura surrounds the grinning blonde Bosmeri boy. You hear your own words now, “Oh dear Mazoga. I don’t think we’re in Cyrodiil anymore.”
mALX- Thank you! I can’t even think of Owyn without the wonderfully gruff character you have portrayed in Maxical’s story coming to mind.
Zalphon- I like the letters from Sir Mazoga too. They provide us a delightful little break from thngs like spelling and grammar for a time.
Thank you!
The Lost King- Thank you so much for joining us and your kind words! We are currently posting an episode each Friday and hope you will stay with us! Regarding our mods, beyond a short list of utilities, they include a BAB compilation, Cosmetic Compilation Revised, Slofs Oblivion Horses, Slofs Summonable Epona (dramatically tweaked by me in the CS), Love Your Horse, Babarized Brash Leather Armor & Bows, BAB Fancy Shirt 07, Luchaires Neck Seam Consealer, Voice Set (Innocent), Spells Be Effective, Denock Arrows, Chase Camera Mod, Actors In Charge, OSR 1-3 (poses), See You Sleep, Portable Campsite, Bag of Holding, Short Grass, DarN’s dark interface. She also uses a couple of mods made by friends that provide a black version of her buckskin greaves and waterbags.
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128 Let Sleeping Mares Lie
I opened one of the tall double doors just enough to slip into the main stable building of Equestria, then quietly pulled it almost closed behind me. Taking a moment, I let my eyes adjust from predawn darkness to the soft bluish glow inside. Like the stable at Bravil, Equestria eschewed the hazards posed by flame and used Ayleid glow stones for illumination.
I stepped closer to the Dwemer heater and rubbed my hands together. The cylindrical device that took the chill out of the cool morning air rose to the level of my waist and measured about half the length of an arrow across. Intricate designs were etched into the mysterious dark gold metal of its surfaces. Like the Orrery or other Dwemer contraptions, I had no idea what magic powered it. Nevertheless, with the manipulation of a single lever, it could provide flame-free gentle heat.
Feeling a subtle pressure on the buckskin of my boot, I knelt and whispered, "Good morning, Welkynd. How's my favorite mouser?" The cat, whose coat displayed perhaps every shade of brown and yellow known to mer, stretched, then circled against my leg as I stood.
I inhaled the intoxicating smells of leather and horses while reveling in what a wonderful facility Equestria was. The loft above was neatly stacked with feed bags, bales of hay and other supplies. There were paintings of majestic steeds and arcane riders adorning the walls above the long line of wooden pegs and racks that held beautifully cared for tack.
My eyes fell upon Thernd, who paused his grooming of a chestnut mare that was heavy in foal. The stable master placed a finger over his lips, then pointed to one of the large box stalls.
I silently mouthed a ‘good morning' to him then moved to where I could see through the open door of the stall he indicated. Superian was lying on her side in the straw that covered the floor, eyes closed and breathing gently. It wasn't often that I saw the mare off her feet.
The Bosmer smiled and stepped over to join me. He then quietly said, "She's happy here sure enough, and feels safe. Horses be herd and prey animals, so they normally sleep standin' for a quick escape from danger. As ye know, they're well equipped ta do so. Here though, between Bandit, the imp guardians and the other horses, she be feelin' protectively surrounded by a herd. Does ye need her up early this mornin’?"
I quite loved watching Superian sleeping so peacefully. After a moment I whispered, "We'll leave for Kvatch soon, but let her sleep some more." I then winced a bit as I added, "I-I don't know when she'll get the chance to feel this safe again."
Thernd continued to kept his voice as low as mine. "Inta harm's way, is it, for the speedy mare and her elven mistress?"
Before I could reply, I heard scratching at the stable doors. A black nose worked its way in, then coaxed one of the doors open a bit more. The silver gray furry body of Bandit followed. He ran straight to me, briefly buried his muzzle in my crotch, then just as quickly charged into Superian's stall to investigate the sleeping mare.
In response to the tail-wagging dog's loud sniffs, Superian's eyes opened. In a brief flurry of thrashing hooves that Bandit was wise enough to jump clear of, the mare rose to her feet. As the straw-covered horse eyed her audience, an indignant snort could not disguise what I clearly sensed as sheepishness on her part as if to say, ‘You caught me’.
"Your hair’s a mess this morning, precious girl," I teased while retrieving grooming supplies from our saddlebags that hung on a nearby rack. "Let's get you all silky, shiny and free of straw." I then began to inspect each of her hooves.
Thernd chuckled. "I see Bandit's back from his mornin’ check of the valley and happily nosin' the ladies." After fishing into a pocket, he slipped the stem of his unlit pipe into one corner of his mouth. "'Tis fear I saw on yer face when ye mentioned Kvatch." His words did not carry a question, but one bushy raised eyebrow did.
I nodded as I traded Superian’s hoof pick for her curry.
"What be troublin’ ye, lass? Is Kvatch so different from the dangers ye've faced afore?"
I looked at Thernd for a moment, then blurted, "I'm afraid of three things at Kvatch: Getting my heart broken, dying, and leaving Superian as an orphan."
No surprise registered on Thernd's face. "Well, I can't help ye in the broken heart arena; had me own broke a few decades ago and still ain't exactly figured out what I woulda done different. Far as gettin' killed, ye be but a small target and, ta hear Boderi Farano tell it, well trained. I can indeed be helpin' ye with that last concern though."
I finished with the curry and handed Thernd a stiff brush. "You mean what would happen to Superian if I am killed?" I began to untangle the mare’s long mane with my fingertips, removing straw as I worked.
"Aye.” He expertly started flicking the brush over Superian’s coat. “Do ye know Galerion?"
I thought of the large paint stallion that normally stayed on the eastern end of the valley, and nodded my reply.
"Then ye know he be the horse of Morandor - the Kvatch guild magister who was killed when Daedra invaded the city. Since ye be a Bravilian, I figure ye know Carandial and his bay gelding, Aetherius?"
"Of course," I replied. My fingers were now working on the straw and tangles in Superian’s tail.
"Anything happens ta Carandial, old Aetherius'll retire here as well. Ye see, Buffy, Equestria is like a lifetime guild for the horses of mages. If ye say the word, yer mare will always have a home.” Thernd finished with the stiff brush and switched to a soft one. As he began smoothing Superian’s coat, an approving nicker confirmed how the mare felt about this part of her grooming. “Now, nothin'll happen ta Superian's elf in Kvatch of course, but if ye mention yer intent ta Sigrid or Bolden up there, ye can forget about worryin’ over this fine mare and concentrate on what ye need ta be doin’ up there."
The doors opened wider and one of Thernd's stable hands poked his head in. "Mornin' boss, the barge is early and that wagon full of manure still ain't dry. You know them Waterfront types; if it ain't dry enough, we won't get as much gold for it."
"I'll be right out ta dry it, Gaenor", replied Thernd. "Go ahead and hitch Belle up ta the wagon while I help Buffy saddle her mare."
"You sell horse manure?" I asked as I positioned Superian's saddle pad.
"Well, it only takes a wee nibble out of our feed costs but it gets the stuff out of the valley. Between the crumbly texture and smell, the Waterfront folks are about the only ones ta use it as fuel." Thernd deftly placed Superian's saddle, checked under it for smooth positioning of her pad then began tightening the girth. "They sell the rest - not for much mind ye - ta some of the outlyin' farms as fertilizer."
"How do you dry it? Doesn't it take days in the sun?" I asked, adjusting the mare's bridle.
"Yer the mage.” He winked slyly. “Ye tell me."
As Thernd placed our saddlebags behind the cantle and strapped them in place, Superian’s ears perked. She now knew that these preparations did not foreshadow a normal local ride for exercise. Pawing the floor with a hoof, she clearly expressed her eagerness to be on the road again.
I tied on my bedroll and securely attached the last of our traveling gear to the saddle while pondering Thernd’s challenge. "Well," I said tentatively, "I understand there was a rather gifted young mage a few years ago who was trying to develop magic that would purge or dissipate water. The trouble, it seems, was limiting the effect to just undesired moisture. I understand the closest he got was turning a live wet rat into a dried little . . . brick. It seems the schools of mysticism and alteration never could agree on-"
"Buffy, we're not tryin' ta dry yer dainty little self off after a bath," interrupted Thernd as he rolled his eyes. "Who cares if ye kill horse manure?"
"I don't understand." I said, turning to face Thernd. "That mage discontinued his research some time ago I believe, without perfecting the purge water effect." In response to a gentle nudge at my back, I reached up behind me with one hand to rub the mare’s long nose and said over my shoulder, “We’re almost ready, girl.”
"Bah. Don't they teach ye anything useful up in that parchment palace these days?” The Bosmer opened the stable doors wide for Superian and I. “Ye simply freeze the stuff. Then, since the ice be magical, ye dispel it and yer left with dry manure.”
By now, Superian was fairly prancing as I led her out of the building into the brightening promise of a beautiful day. "That's brilliant, Thernd!" I grinned at the implications of applying the idea to wet clothes and buckskins.
The Bosmer shook his head. "University graduates - ye know everything but common sense." His eyes sparkled. "Safe trip, lass."