I am Lena Wolf, Lena's life as it happens Options

[Lena Wolf]

Pinevale, nice. I'm getting Pinevale. Wow. So we have to remove border restrictions to get there, that's great. They're talking about changing the borders line of code in Oblivion.ini, correct?

Yes. It can also be done with a mod, but Oblivion.ini is better.

How're you able to get it so that Lena's vision is blurry? I'm guessing that's part of the Red Hall. This is a freaky scene! All these NPCs passed out on their beds.

It's Red Hall doing it. Geralt was having a great time apparently, didn't want to leave.

[Renee]

Yes. It can also be done with a mod, but Oblivion.ini is better.

Graci. Asked because Pinewatch's mod author stated he or she used 'a mod' to disable borders but it didn't work. But then he/she never said which method eventually works.

but another question: after disabling borders and then reaching Pinewatch in the game, will the place be surrounded by all of those 'lower-texture'-looking trees & surroundings? Know what I mean? Like, first time I had a character go past a former border the actual landscape isn't as detailed.

[Lena Wolf]

Yes. It can also be done with a mod, but Oblivion.ini is better.

Graci. Asked because Pinewatch's mod author stated he or she used 'a mod' to disable borders but it didn't work. But then he/she never said which method eventually works.

The "mod" method is very simple, really. It sets the same game setting, that is all. However, there have been reports that this method is not always working. If you want to disable borders permanently, editing Oblivion.ini is best.

but another question: after disabling borders and then reaching Pinewatch in the game, will the place be surrounded by all of those 'lower-texture'-looking trees & surroundings? Know what I mean? Like, first time I had a character go past a former border the actual landscape isn't as detailed.

Actually, no, I don't know what you mean. The trees and textures over the border are exactly the same for me as elsewhere. And anyway, Pinevale is only just over the border, so everything should be the same regardless.

[Lena Wolf]

Morning Star, 4E204 - A new year, a new perspective

"A new day, a new perspective" was what Scorpio used to say rounding up their party ready to set off again after a night's rest. It was the duty of the Main Pawn to keep an eye on the other pawns in the group and make sure they didn't try to idle, shirk combat or avoid carrying items. He didn't really have much to do in that respect, because Lena would immediately get rid of such pawns, sometimes within half an hour of hiring them, as tendencies usually became evident pretty quickly. She would also get rid of anyone who talked too much, who always wanted to lead, who tried to advise her when advice wasn't asked for, who was being over-protective, who walked too close to her, who ran too far ahead, who kept repeating how devoted they were to her, who constantly needed help in battle, who... in a word, she would quickly get rid of anyone annoying, and for the most part those were women. "All pawns in this party are once again men, I notice," one of the pawns would remark every now and again. "I would not at all mind if that were to change." But when asked who would be willing to leave to make that happen, invariably there were no volunteers.

"A new year, a new perspective," Lena told herself on the morning of the new year. She'd been dreaming of past adventures, of the pawns she walked with, of the friends she made and the worlds she visited, of Lucien, of Scorpio, of Geralt and Hauk... Where were they, she wondered, how did they fare? She looked around the the Royal Chamber and it seemed like a prison to her. Her friends had been replaced by the lords and ladies of the court, there was no more room in her life for adventure or freedom. She felt bound, restrained, mired in her royal life, a life without end, for without her heart she was nigh immortal... "Scorpio needs to be found," she told herself sternly, shaking her head. "I've been going about it the wrong way around. I am no queen." She sat in front of the mirror brushing her golden blond hair, her amber eyes glinting in the sun, jewels around her neck filling the room with reflections centered around her person. "Scorpio did not just run off," she told herself firmly. "Someone must know something."

She tried carefully talking to Lord Chancellor about Scorpio's disappearance, but he simply shrugged and declared that Regentkin Sven was a much better companion for Her Majesty anyway, and why worry about a runaway pawn. "Pawns are like people in many ways," he suddenly added. "Wasn't Ser Scorpio enjoying the favour of this court just before he... left?" He looked at Lena as an older parent might look at a child - with regret that the child was about to make an unpleasant discovery. "Perhaps he found someone to his liking? The ladies were very fond of him, from what I have seen, and with Your Majesty no longer engaged with the dragon... his duty by Your Majesty was thus fulfilled."

"You know of the ways of the Legion," Lena said in a hoarse voice. Even though she did not believe that Scorpio simply left with one of the ladies, hearing it like that still hurt.

"Pawns are welcomed in our Kingdom, as Your Majesty knows," Lord Chancellor replied with a little bow. "The ways of the Legion and the pawns' duties are well known to us. A pawn is only bound to remain with the Arisen for as long as the Arisen is engaged with the dragon, and after that it is that pawn's choice. The Arisen no longer holds sway over them once the dragon has been defeated. So Ser Scropio's disappearance is nothing but his own choice..."

...

"You seem distraught today," Sven touched Lena's arm, startling her. They were taking a walk in the Castle Gardens, Sven was telling her something... she could not recall. Lord Chancellor's words kept ringing in her ears: "Ser Scorpio's disappearance is nothing but his own choice".

"No, I don't believe it," she said aloud and Sven looked at her with incomprehension. "I am sorry, yes, I am distraught today," she pulled herself into reality. "My... pawn is missing," she brought herself to call Scorpio that. "He's been missing for a few weeks already, and it's not like him at all. I am worried."

"Your... pawn?" Sven was even more perplexed. "Don't they just leave after you've defeated the dragon? Why do you worry about a pawn? When the dragon returns, you'll have new pawns to help you fight it again... Father did, that's how it works."

"How many times did your father face the dragon?" Lena suddenly realised that if anyone could tell her anything about the previous sovran, the previous ruling Arisen, that it would be Sven.

"Many times, but it was all before I was born," Sven rubbed his chin. "The dragon only comes every fifty years or so. Father married mother some time after the previous dragon's demise. I remember him saying he'd had enough of being a ruler, and mother... well, you know how she is. She ruled the land in his stead until you appeared..." Sven stopped talking and blushed a deep shade of purple.

"There was an intrigue, I know," Lena tried to put him at ease. "Quite understandable, really. The law demands that the ruler be an Arisen..."

"The most recent Arisen, to be precise," Sven corrected her, regaining his composure. "There are plenty of old Arisen in this land, the ones that failed to kill the dragon and father had to deal with it himself in their stead."

"Wait - what?!" Lena turned to him sharply. "Say that again," a recollection of how things worked in Gransys suddenly clicked into place. "An Arisen who kills the dragon becomes the Sovran of Vermund, replacing the previous sovran, you say? What happens to the previous sovran then?"

"Nothing," Sven shrugged. "I have no idea. They retire, perhaps? They aren't killed, if that's what you're asking. With every new dragon and every new Arisen, father could have been replaced. But when the newest Arisen fails to kill the dragon, then the last successful Arisen - that is, the Sovran - has to deal with the dragon instead. As father always had done... never failed... he was a true Arisen..." Sven's voice trailed off.

"You miss him, don't you," Lena said softly. "You miss your father."

"I do," Sven nodded. "For him to die just as the signs of a new dragon appeared... He was murdered, you know. I just hope it wasn't so that I could be king..."

Lena watched Sven taking control of his emotions and thought that he was no longer a child. Far from it. Grown up in the castle amid courtly intrigue, he could say things by saying the opposite, he saw more than he let on, and he used his boyish appearance to make people forget he was the royal prince.

"Well, enough of this serious stuff," Lena said cheerfully. "It's the first day of the New Year! We should be celebrating! I feel completely cooped up in my Royal Chambers amid our most pious gentry," she winked at Sven. "I hear you know a place or two where one might have fun... Perhaps you'd let me in on a secret? With all that dragon slaying business I never had the chance..."

"But of course!" Sven grinned ear to ear. "Say no more and follow me..!"

And with that he leaped out of the window with the ease and assuredness of someone who'd done it many a time before. The narrow balcony outside opened onto a ledge wrapping around the building, and a few minutes later they stood in a sparingly lit corridor covered in carpets and tapestries that muffled sounds and gave the impression of luxury and comfort.

"Welcome to The Rose," Sven smiled. "Madam Wilhemina should be here somewhere. I shall need to introduce you... even though you're quite well known in the land," he winked. "But you haven't got one of these," he pulled an elegant card out of an inner pocket. "Officially you've got to have it. So come along."

They walked along the corridor, Sven knocked on a few doors, and eventually Madam Wilhemina stood before them. She welcomed Lena with an unexpected cordiality, vowed to personally see to her every need, then she sent Sven on his way (and it looked like he knew where he was going), and ushered Lena into a luxurious bedroom that far outstripped the Royal Chamber in taste and comfort.

"Coffee?" Wilhemina brought a silver set. "Or do you prefer champagne for breakfast?"

"Coffee would be fine," Lena smiled, wondering whether Wilhemina understood the reason for her visit. "This is a lovely room."

"Indeed," Wilhemina was sizing her up with a glance. "And so very secure. So, speak freely, Your Majesty - what is your desire?"

"Scorpio," Lena said without thinking, then regretted it the moment she said it, but it was too late.

"He is not on our books, I am sorry," Wilhemina replied after a short pause. She did not seem surprised. "We do have other pawns though, both male and female... Perhaps Your Majesty would care to choose..?"

Lena was leafing through a thick ledger with pictures of some of the most attractive men and women presented with taste and care.

"This is quite a selection," she looked up at Wilhemina. "Why, this is... Lady Nel, surely? I remember her from some of the soirees..."

"Nel is one of our agents, yes," Wilhemina smiled. "Very sophisticated. She is mostly in charge of recruitement. But even she could not get Ser Scorpio to join us... So I don't know where he is. Because this is what you wanted to know, was it not, Your Majesty?"

...

The conversation with Wilhemina proved most fruitful indeed. While The Rose was eyeing Scorpio as a potential recruit, there were other forces at play as well. The Rose never insisted on anyone joining, for a good service could only be rendered if the person was willing to do it. With the wages that The Rose was paying, they never had a shortage of personnel. So when Scorpio refused their offer, they left him alone.

"It is not uncommon however for people to change their mind," Wilhemina smiled slyly. "Our offers do not expire that quickly. He'll be still welcome to join when he returns..." Lena looked up at her and blushed - she did not like the idea. "It isn't the first time we've arranged things this way. The Sovran is not permitted a consort of their choosing."

"That... is interesting," Lena said slowly. It dawned on her that The Rose might well have been offering other types of private services too. Such as spying. However, she felt that Wilhemina's good will had all but run out, and some contribution to the establishment's prosperity was expected. She briefly considered to simply offer money for the information that she received, but then thought better of it. She was in a brothel. A brothel that was very keen to be regarded as such. A brothel that definitely did NOT want to be seen as a place to buy information. And so Lena smiled pleasantly and asked for another cup of coffee. "And if I may look through that wonderful book of yours," she smiled radiantly. "I think I spotted someone I would be glad to get to know..."

She took her time leafing through the pages. She recognised a few "lords" and "ladies" from the social gatherings, but for the most part the faces were all unknown to her. And then suddenly...

"What about this fellow?" She pointed at a picture of a skinny mage looking at her from the page. "He seems nice."

"I see Your Majesty prefers the gentle type," Wilhemina smiled. "His name is Rook and he will be summonned for you presently. Please help yourself to the refreshments while you wait..."