Today in Cyrodiil, spoilers version, TES: 4 Oblivion character accounts & stories Options

[Acadian]

Yay for Raven, saving the Sisters from pumpkin/tato thieving marauders then finding that little missing mage. How funny to get kicked from the MG right before becoming Arch Mage!

[ghastley]

I like that conversation with Erthor, where he tells of not learning from his earlier mistakes. "Oh, yes, I get trapped by zombies all the time. I wonder why?"

Personally, I blame developers. And having bad AI as a chld.

[Renee]

No writing about Kahreem??

Sorry man, I couldn't last night. I've been really bummed. Lopov may not be back, and he's like one of my best internet friends. It'd be like if you told me you're having some family problems, and then disappear for weeks.

Anyway, I really like that story because Lopov's peculiar sense of humor really shines in that one.

This post has been edited by Renee: Mar 12 2017, 04:28 PM

[Renee]

8:09 am, Second Seed 28, 3rd Era 434

Days Passed: 275
Active Quests: 21
Quests Cmpt'd: 14

Bounty: 1,600
Fame: 0
Infamy: 40

Days Jailed: 96
Items Stolen: 1914
Trespasses: 0 (what???)
Assaults: 12
Murders: 1

Horses Stolen: 19



The guards and Watch Captains smile, knowing that the most notorious thief in all Cyrodiil rests right in their cell. They smile smugly, and have plenty of comments and conversations about their captor. The list of crimes the man has committed is long, involving horse-theft most of all, but also petty thievery of food, random items, and (oddly) several complaints about the theft of the very cheapest of wines. Several assaults upon innocent, law-abiding citizens. And a very long list of things they thought the Redguard was responsible of, but could not prove. This unproven list stretched back well into the previous year.

Had their Redguard been the one to steal some tax records from the Waterfront district?

... Unproven. Not enough evidence, nor any witnesses. Only a few rumors.

Had he been the one to remove Llathasa Indarys's bust from the Temple of Arkay's undercroft area?

... Unproven. Not enough evidence. A female witness (a guard) had seen a Redguard down in the undercroft, on the day the bust was stolen, but had this Redguard been the one who actually stole the bust on this day? If so, he was never caught red-handed. Mysteriously, this bust had later appeared in the cupboard of a Waterfront dark elf. She was the one who had been charged. But had she been the actual perpetrator of the actual crime? Who cares. The Dunmer gotten caught, not any Redguard. Case closed.

Had this Redguard been responsible for breaking into Leyawiin's non-public areas, where he'd subsequently stolen a ring from Countess Caro?

... Very likely, yet never officially proven. Again, he'd never been caught red-handed. There were several witnesses who'd complained about a Redguard (maybe even several of them) who'd been seen in various places: loitering about town, lurking around the castle's public areas, rushing though some secret rooms throughout the castle, and (worst of all) seen sneaking in the Count's bedchamber several times. When Countess Caro's ring had been reported stolen, there had been a Redguard who'd fled the scene.

But that Redguard, whoever he was, had spoken in a high, foppish voice. The one currently in Bruma's dungeon is more of a baritone. There's always the possibility that he'd somehow changed his voice, and had also been wearing several disguises during his long stay in this southern town. But again, there was also the possibility that there'd been several Redguards working together. Who was to say?

The list of these larger, unsolved crimes went on and on. If indeed the man they had in custody was the same man who'd committed all those larger acts of crime, two things were for sure: he was very good at his job (in a creative sort of way), yet he was terrible at all of those smaller crimes. His frequent horse-thefts, for instance. At times, it almost seemed like he'd wanted to be seen and pursued, stealing some horse. Maybe these pettier crimes were even a further form of trickery and evasion. Like, how could such a terrible thiever of horses be the same man responsible for those more covert and daring attempts?

Considering all of this, it was odd how the decision had come down from one of Bruma's superiors, allowing the Redguard scum to be freed from his jail cell. Freed, but allowed to walk the mere perimeter of Castle Bruma's dungeon.

"Hey, what are you doing?" the Redguard asked, as one of Bruma's dungeon-guards unlocked the cell the Redguard shared with Jorundr.

"No talking!" replies this guard. "And by the way, we execute escaping prisoners. Just a friendly reminder."

"You mean I can just walk around? Out of this cell? Hey, thank you sir. I really appreciate this. Okay Jorundr, here you go. You can have your cell back. Seems you are always in this cell, every time I've been locked up here. Well no more. You have your cell, and I suppose I will have mine. What do you have to say about that?"

Jorundr glares, says nothing, while Kahreem walks out of the cell they shared, grateful to have more space to roam.




This post has been edited by Renee: Oct 20 2023, 05:09 PM

[mirocu]

Too bad Lothran wasn't there anymore and on guard duty Then again, he is someone who takes his job seriously. And also someone who has a Life Detection spell...


Nice update, Renee! Glad you got your gaming and writing urge back

[Renee]

Can you imagine if Lothran was there? Hee hee I wonder if Lothran would annoyed by Kahreem, or would he get fooled by Kahreem's charm and wit? Ha ha...

Fredas, late afternoon, Sun's Dusk 9, 4th Era Year 5

Days Passed: 75
Necks Bitten: 29

Bounty: 70


"An honor to be sure."

"I haven't time for fools!"

Tilmo the stablehand greets one of the guards of Skingrad. Though Tilmo had never been regarded very highly by most guards (nor by a percentage of ordinary citizens), he was hoping the tale he had to tell would now be heard and listened to, without question.

"Did you see it? The other night? A phantom shadow rose into the air, and dashed across the sky. Some say it was a member of the Dark Brotherhood, a dark witch in fact. Or perhaps it was Mephala herself, come in disguise. Whoever she was, rumor has it that she flies .. by riding a magic broom!"

"A-ha-ha-ha-ha!" the guard laughed. "You're full of it!"

And there it was. Disbelieved again. His word not trusted. Tilmo the Stablehand, a man with a respectable job some would say, yet most of the time he'd barely garner any more respect than a common beggar.

"It was true, I tell you. True! She flies, she flies! She flies across the sky at night! I saw her with my own eyes! ... Look to the skies! ... Look to the skies!"

"Stop talking!"

And Tilmo did stop talking. But he knew what he had seen...

-----

..."A lady wearing brassy clothes, landed right outside the city walls!" said Jorck the Outcast to Istrius Brolus.

"Really?"

"Without question. Saw her with my very own eyes, though she did not see me," Jorck informed the Breton. In reality, Jorck had greeted Istrius coyly, hoping to gain a coin or two from him, but without asking for a Septim outright. And the perfect way to do this would be to greet the man with a diffent subject, one which any man would find interesting. "Flew across the sky from the south she did, and landed just outside the city wall, where the Oblivion gate once stood."

"Well that's fantastic!" Istrius replied, while wondering just how many drinks the beggar had quaffed so far this day.

"You think so? It is true, you know."

And it was. Every word. He knew what he saw, and he'd tell every one in Bruma if he had to. "Erm. Can ye spare a coin, by the way?"

"See you!"

Drats. Foibled again, thought the beggar. Maybe it's my mind, playing tricks on me. I know what I saw, and what I saw was real, but WAS it real?

"Be seeing you," Jorck the Outcast said, as the Breton began to walk away.

Before forgetting about what he had seen entirely, Jorck did one last thing, he walked to Jerall View Inn, and had a look inside. The lady who'd landed just outside of town had red hair, and had been riding a broom (as though a child might play, while pretending to ride a horse) which vanished moments after she'd landed. Jorck had followed her to the Jerall View Inn, and had watched as she'd rented a room. But all of this had happened the night before.

And today, after getting cold-shouldered by Istrius Brolus, Jorck had waited for hours, hoping to see the lady with the red hair. He'd waited just outside the inn's door, begging for change all the while, but really determined to see her again.

She had never showed. As day turned into night, the long process of forgetting what he'd seen (compartmentalizing this memory into that 'did that really occur?' area of his mind) slowly began.

This post has been edited by Renee: Oct 20 2023, 05:13 PM

[Renee]

Loredas, Mid-Year 22, Year 434

Days Passed: 300

Thief Quest Stage: Independent Thievery

"What do you want?"

The Imperial City seems mostly deserted on this muggy mid-afternoon. Kahreem of Weet walks the streets, from the Market District back to the Waterfront, seeing only a few guards, a few beggars, but hardly anyone else. People do live here, he thinks, but mostly they're locked inside their homes today. A soft rain begins to fall, then abruptly abates. Kahreem pictures all the people in their houses, as he walks by their homes.

"Come to bother me with a war story, Redguard?"

"Really? You want to hear one of my war stories? Well yes. There was this one time, back in Hammerfell, back before I was recruited here in Cyrodiil for the Legion, as the only Redguard guard. And you see--"

But the Nord who'd demanded Kahreem 'bother' him with a war story doesn't want to hear it. In fact, he's already walking away.

"Um, you there. You, the one who requested one of my war stories? ... Come back, you're about to miss the best part!"

The Nord misses the best part.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sundas, MidYear 23, early morning

"Get yer Black Horse Courier here," cries a crier the next morning, right into Kahreem's face. **

"I would like to have one, please," says the Redguard.

"Vampire nest, right here in the city. Here, have a copy."

The day is pleasant, and not so muggy. Blue sky, puffy clouds. Ships rocking in water, here on the Waterfront.

"You have my ear, citizen," greets a guard, one of the few who doesn't know who Kahreem is. Kahreem's outfit today is rather foppish. With a scarlet-colored hood, fancy dark shirt, crimson-colored pantaloons, and green velvet shoes, he definitely looks more like a dandy than a notorious thief.

"You wear the shadows well, fellow thief," says an elf female, even though Kahreem stands in full sunlight.

"Hey. Carwen. Not so loud. Because finally, see that guard over there? He doesn't seem to know who I am. So ... a little discretion?"

"How are you?"

"I am fine. Listen though, I am waiting for some contact to show up here in the Imperial City. Somebody sent from the Grey Fox himself."

Carwen does not know anything about this however. "Shadow hide you," she announces.

[SIGH]

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This post has been edited by Renee: Apr 9 2017, 09:01 AM

[Lopov]

I always found that reading about your character's deeds from the BHC fliers was a great touch. The same goes for your deeds if you do the DB questline.

Shouldn't the agent show up as soon as you reach the required amount to fence?

[mirocu]

I also liked those fliers talking about the character's doings. And yeah, Carwen could keep it down a bit and not rat on Kahreem like that...


-Hello, Lopov!

This post has been edited by mirocu: May 9 2017, 09:30 PM

[Renee]

Lopov: Hmm, I don't know. It's been over a month since I've gamed with Kahreem. I think he may have met his contact already, and I just didn't write about it yet.

mirocu: Has Lothran been the feature of any of those fliers before?

I am going to now include the next Sarah chapter. It is rather dense with conversation, but the story shall soon build. And once again, you folks won't believe what eventually happens (if everything goes right. ha ha).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Morndas, Sun's Dusk 12, 4th Era 5



The night is calm and cool outside, as Sarah Phimm rises from one of Summitmist's many beds. She changes out of the clothes she'd worn the night before, and after pondering for a moment, decides she'll go for a brilliant red blouse + skirt combination, with a pair of pink-colored shoes. These clothes and shoes match and compliment her reddish hair, and pink-hued skin. Since she'd fed less than 24 hours ago (on a poor sailor in Anvil), her pallor is especially human tonight.

"Oh blime. What's this?"

It's a note, placed right upon the hallway rug.

"'Dearest Sarah. Come see me when you awake. I will be waiting for you in the downstairs parlor.' Well okay Farnacas. What is it now?"

She huffs downstairs, where her superior is indeed waiting. Sarah tries her best to appear nonchalant as she approaches him. "Good evening," she greets. She notices that Farnacas has a giant weapon strapped across his back, something he'd not been carrying until recently.

"Good evening," says her aged housemate. "And how are you tonight?"

"Rested. And complacent. You penned me a note, yes?"

"Ah yes, I did. And it was my way of cautioning you, that I'd like another discussion with you."

"Very well," she says.

"Well, tonight shall be an important night here in Summitmist Manor, and Skingrad in general," Farnacas's face glows with enthusiasm. "Because tonight, I want you to meet someone special; I want you to meet Count Janus Hassildor, leader of Skingrad County."

As usual, Sarah begins to feel stunned, and shies away from saying anything.

"He's been waiting to meet you for weeks, Sarah."

"He has?"

"Yes. And so, would you please accompany an old gentleman up toward the castle?"

"Why, I'd be delighted!" Sarah feigns some enthusiasm of her own. In reality, she's actually rather bashful of the idea.

"Splendid. And uhm... but before we go, there is something I think you should know."

"Yes, surely."

"Count Hassildor ... happens to be one of us, Sarah."

"He is ....... he is a vampire?"

"Yes he is. A vampire. The count of all Skingrad is a vampire, Sarah. The leader of this county for years now, is one of us. And he would like to meet you, which is saying something. Hassildor is very reclusive, as you can imagine. He does not just reach out to most."

Again, Sarah stands stunned. Unsure. But before she can make any sort of protest or excuse, Farnacas has opened the door for her, and expects an escort for his journey.

Well, it was not as if I had had anything arranged for the evening...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

...around midnight
By the time the pair reach Castle Skingrad, Farnacas has handed Sarah a key, just in case she managed to get separated from him, and lost. Castle Skingrad is a grand affair for sure, Sarah notes. Once inside its great hall area, she immediately thinks the place is a lot warmer, and more colorful, than the Blue Palace up in Solitude, where she'd worked long ago as a maid. Soft music plays from somewhere unseen, and the place is carefully decorated with rugs and fire sconces. It takes roughly an hour for Sarah and Farnacas to find their way to what looks to be the place's main dining hall. A man dressed in similarly fancy (royal) clothes stands in the middle of the room, smiling slightly.

"Gracious, here she is," Count Hassildor greets.

"You .. you are a vampire too?" Sarah replies, unable to contain her words, for once. "Yes, I can see this now."

"Oh, you'd better believe what you hear. Yes indeed, I am just like you in this way. And don't you repeat it."

"I would not. For my own sake, and that of Farnacas, your secret is safe with me."

Janus explains to Sarah that he and Farnacas both partake in certain 'activities' whenever they meet. And then he begins to explain more exactly why she'd been invited up the hill. "I have somewhat of a proposition for you, Sarah. Somewhat of a job, and it involves your peculiar ability for fire resistance."

"It does?" she asks, not entirely surprised.

Count Hassildor then explains that for years now, decades in fact, he has been missing a couple of very rare items. One of these items (an amulet of silver and gold) possesses a very high resistance to fire, something any vampire would wish to have. This item had been crafted by a friend of Hassildor's, a high wizard of the Arcane University had given it to him as a present.

"And the other magical piece?"

"The other item is very unique indeed," Janus frowns, weighing some sort of decision. "Fact of matter, it is very old, and its ancestry has been lost to the ravages of time."

"I see. What pray-tell might this item be about?"

Janus hesitates. "The second item ... has the ability to change the weather, from sun to fog."

"From sun to fog???"

"Or sun to rain, it depends. Yes, and as I said, it is very unique. In all my years, I have never been able to discover another like it. And all the subject must do is don this item. He, or she, merely puts it on, and any sunny weather in the immediate area, shall change to drabness. As you can imagine, this item would also be quite of value, to someone like us."

"By the gods!" Sarah exclaims. "Its wearer can... escape the direct ravages of the sun!"

"Precisely that," Janus smiles. "Not much value to a mortal. Come to think of it, what mortal would want to don an item which causes rain or fog, and not sun?"

"I see!"

"Just imagine. You've been caught in some sort of early morning scuffle, miles away from shelter. The sun shall soon rise, and you haven't the time to return home," he says with a wink. "What to do? ... Where to run?"

While Sarah stands truly astonished, Count Hassildor then explains: if Sarah were to locate and retrieve the two items he had lost, she would be able to keep the weather-changing one, as a sort of reward.

"But why me?"

"We know of your abilities, Sarah. Your ability to withstand fire, for instance. It so happens that those who stole my amulets are, in fact, a group of fire priests, and these priests are known for surrounding their lair with flame atronachs. Most would sully their pantaloons at the thought of entering such a place, but we imagine you will be right at home."

"I see." Sarah looks to the ground, pondering.

"And it is not just your fire-resistance that is key, here. You have some sort of ability to travel great distances at night. Some say you can fly, matter of fact."

"No... but..." Sarah tries to laugh. "You cannot possibly--"

"Sarah. We know. Okay?" Farnacas chimes in. "We know because we have eyes all over Cyrodiil. Other vampiric types, as well as certain mortals, who know and assist us when we need it. You have been spotted in Anvil. In Sutch. In the Imperial City. In Bruma. And Bravil. And many a few places here and there, and in between. You cannot deny this, you see? We know."

At this, Sarah begins to fidget. Her secret is out! But it does not matter in the end. Before long, Hassildor begins to explain the steps Sarah Phimm would need to take in order to accomplish this set of feats. And her eyes grow wide with curiosity, responsibility, and anticipation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leaving Summitmist

Crossing the bridge

Janus explains

Farnacas exclaims

This post has been edited by Renee: May 13 2017, 03:17 AM

[Lopov]

I like the opening pic, there's a lot of "red" in it - Sarah's dress, the rug and the inscriptions above the pic - all of it befits a vampire.

Nice reference to the Blue Palace.

Once again, you're creating interesting quests for Sarah. Looks like this time she'll 'hide' the Sun from Cyrodiil.

-Hello, Lopov!

Hello 'rocu!

[Acadian]

Pretty in Red is Sarah! Lovely dress.

Oh, brilliantly handy artifacts for vampires that Janus seeks. Sarah seems like a great choice to wade through flame atronachs without soiling her pantaloons.

[Renee]

Did you guys notice when Farnacas leaves Summitmist, he takes the long way up to the castle? All he had to do was turn left, walk through the gate, and the hill starts just across the bridge!

Kahreem up next weekend, I promise.

[Renee]

Sundas, late afternoon, Mid-Year 23, 4th Era 434

Days Passed: 301



"You won!"

"Yes. I sure did."

"Congratulations. Here are your winnings, my friend -- 200 gold pieces. Come back and bet on the matches as often as you like!"

Kahreem's eyes glaze over as the sound of clink clink clink can be heard as Hundolin, the Arena's gatekeeper, adds up the gold. And like a true gambler, Kahreem doesn't just go for the bit or the parcel; no, he bets it all. He bets BIG. 100 gold all the way, so that now he has 200 more than he had ten minutes ago. ...and just over 2,800 gold in total.

"Well you know what this means," he replies, really into the moment now.

"Ah, another happy spectator!"

"Yes, you could say I am happy. And what else?"

"You of course want to bet on a match!"

Kahreem smiles in an aww shucks sort of way.
"
"Who will it be this time, the Blue Team or the Yellow Team?"

The Redguard ponders a moment. He'd just bet yellow, but now (for some reason) he's feeling blue. "Blue team, Bosmer."

"All right then. How much would you like to bet?"

"I will bet the palace. The castle. Your maximum."

"All right, my friend. You've got 100 gold down on the Blue Team. Oh, and if you win, come see me for you payout."

"Yes. I mean, why would I not?"

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

7:01 pm
And it's another win. The fourth one in a row, matter of fact. Two-hundred more gold in his coffers, just like that, meaning that by now, he's got three-thousand and twenty to play with. Three .... thousand Septims.

"You won!"

"Yes. I sure did."

"Congratulations. Here are your winnings, my friend -- 200 gold pieces. Come back and bet on the matches as often as you like!"

Kahreem's eyes glaze over as the sound of clink clink clink can be heard as Hundolin, the Arena's gatekeeper, adds up the gold. And like a true gambler, Kahreem doesn't just go for the bit or the parcel; no, he bets it all. He bets BIG. 100 gold all the way, so that now he has 200 more than he had ten minutes ago. ...and just over 3,000 gold in total.

"Well you know what this means," he replies, really into the moment now.

"Ah, another happy spectator!"

The Redguard thinks for a moment though, and decides to pass. "Nah. I think I am done for the day," he says. "Luck only runs for awhile."

The rush of the moment contradicts this discourse, and for a moment Kahreem realizes that he could wind up betting again and again, at least three more times before the places closes down for the night. Could he go for four-thousand? ... Not tonight. The thought of losing even a Septim from his recent run of luck causes him to back away.

"And besides," he mutters to himself, heading to The Feed Bag to celebrate. "I must go see Amusei, that scaly liazard, to see what the Grey Bastard wants from me this time."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

near midnight
The city is dark with a slight fog in the air as he leaves The Feed Bag. He'd spent several more hours 'celebrating' than he thought he would, downing two bottles of Cheap Wine while 'putting on the Feed Bag.' By the time he gets to Othrelo's house in the Elven Gardens district, he is drunk, but not disorderly. And this is a good thing, since Elven Gardens is swarming with bored guards. As Kahreem nears the Fox's latest location of hiding, a soft rain begins to fall. He notes a dark elf standing outside the place, holding a torch.

"Get inside! The Grey Fox is not a patient man," Othrelos demands impatiently, despite the fact he's in earshot of at least one of the guards. Kahreem does not reply, but wonders if the elf can be any more obvious.

"You again," he says, once inside.

"Are you ready for one last great heist?"

"I sure am, Grey Fox."

"This is the big one. This is the heist that will be written about, and talked about for decades to come."

"Do I get to remove your mask, revealing your true identity? Come on... just this once."

The Fox ignores the Redguard though, as always. "We are going to steal one of the Elder Scrolls from the Imperial Palace. Are you ready for this challenge?"

"WE, huh? We... as in me and you? Or did you really use the word "we" facetiously. Which means I am the one who does all the work, while you sit here and hide, even though your Dunmer host outside somehow is able to virtually announce that you are in here, and to every passing guard and legionnaire in the vicinity?"

Again, the fox ignores. "There is no buyer."

"No buyer?"

"This is for glory, not for money."

"Oh. No money. At all?"

"Our names will become legend," says the Fox. "I also have a personal need for this particular scroll."

"Uh-huh." Suddenly the idea of a career as an Arena gambler does not seem so outside the bounds.

"As for your compensation..."

"Yessss...."

"I ask you to trust me. If my plan works, you will get a reward worth far more than mere money."

The Redguard puts on a little show, rolling his eyes and such, shrugging his shoulders. "Can't help but notice you just went from "we" to "you", sir. In that, it's not 'we' who will be pulling this little heist, it is now just me. And you want me to do this for what? Some kind of legendary status, or something?"

"Will you do it?"

"Oh I suppose I will. What else am I good at, right? ... and I suppose this is the moment when you say..."

"CAPITAL! I have worked for eleven years planning this heist. Savilla's Stone provided the last bit of information I needed. The Elder Scrolls are kept in the Imperial Palace, behind a door that cannot be breached. Savilla's Stone has revealed a path around this door."

"Oh. Intriguing," Kahreem says, meaning it. "How the fokke am I supposed to "breach" this door then?"

"You will have to travel the Old Way. Once used as an escape route for the Imperial emperors, it has been forgotten for centuries. To unseal the entrance, you must sneak into the basement of the palace, and activate the Glass of Time, whatever that is."

Kahreem laughs. "Whatever that is," he says, realizing that he's still drunk, but not too drunk to take some sort of notes. For the information the Fox is dispensing does sound rather complicated, and mysterious. "Let me grab a quill and some paper. Need to write this all down. Ah, there we are. Go on."

"Go in the Imperial Sewers. Here is the key for the gate to that section of the sewers. I picked the pocket of Ocato himself to get it."

"You did? .... You did some actual pickpocketing? Nice."

"My scrying with Savilla's Stone has provided clues, but not the details. I know the tools you will need, but not the obstacles themselves."

"I see. Well, may I make a suggestion then. How about one of these ... uh ... 'tools' includes a small bagfull of gold. How about it? What do you say?"

Honestly, the patience I must have with this rambunctious Redguard... . "The boots of Springheel Jak will allow you to leap to an unreachable place. They will also protect you from a long fall. The Arrow of Extrication is the only way to unlick the final door. Take them both. Once you are inside the palace itself, you need to find the reading room. The blind priests will deliver a scroll to you there."

"Hey, I like all this. Blind priests. Leaping to unreachable ledges. Using a magical arrow to unlock a door. All this sounds so ... covert."

"I arranged for the notable Celia Cameron to want to read a particular Elder Scroll. Don't ask how. However, she will be .. unavoidably detained."

"By the Nine!"

"You will take her place. Do not speak to the priests. They are blindfolded and will not realize it isn't her unless you speak. As the guildmaster, I am demanding bloodprice for anyone you kill during this heist. However, I can't stop the Watch from putting a price on your head."

"Well hey, what fun is it, if there is no price on the Redguard-who-changed history's head?"

"I have written it down for you in this book."

"Ha! Now you tell me, after I've scribed up all these sloppy notes."

"I've chosen you because you are the best."

"I am? Capital!"

"Good luck."

"Absolutely! Capital!"

------------
Note: Kahreem actually did win three times in a row at the Arena, it was pretty fun!

This post has been edited by Renee: May 21 2017, 12:41 AM

[Lopov]

I love such conversations! I laughed at the part where the GF mentions the non-breachable door and Kahreem wonders how will he breach it then.

Capital! Looks like the great heist will take place soon.

[Renee]

Yeah, that one is pretty funny! I enjoyed writing it, can't wait to see where the Thieves Guild quest will go.

This Sarah is pretty long. I was thinking of breaking it into two halves, but [censored] it, let's get all the dialog out of the way. Her next episode should be more... well, you'll see.


Sun's Dusk 14, 4th Era Year 5

Days Passed: 80
Days Jailed: 6
Bounty: 80

Ingredients Eaten: 208

Hours Slept: 952
Hours Waited: 81

Necks Bitten: 31

Sun's Dusk 14
Confounded and conflicted I am. Distression on my mind. Are they mad? Have they gone completely mad? Now, I must relate my recent circumstances.

Early evening, Farnacas enlightened me on this matter: Count Hassildor is a vampire. And 'tis true; he is; I have seen his pallor, I have seen ht the fever within his eyes. Am I stupified by this? Yes, I can concur. Quite. For the sake of longevity, how can this be so? ... Well apparently, he must surround him-selt with many who know, and are willing to protect his secret. With wealth, and with power, and with the capacity of for dynamism, one can attain immensely.

Well, that is nto not all, there is more.

Now, prepare thy-self, reader of secrets. For these two elders wish fore for me to arrange my-self toward the township of Cheydinhal, and there I am to meet with some dunmer. And why? So we can suss out some far-off location known as 'Fire Cave.'

Oh, but why?

So me, and this dunmer, can breach within this Cave of Fire, in which reside a passel of 'Fire-Priests,' and their atronachs.

Oh, but for what reasoning?

So I, and this dunmer, can retrieve some misbegotten jewelry from this passel of priests. And this jewelry consists of two apparently rare trinkets: two amulets, I am told. One grants the wearer copius amounts of fire-resistance, while the other grants the ability to (contain thy-self, reader) change the course of local weather, from sun-light to rain, or sun-light to fog.

Surely, I know why I have been called upon, for the priests who live there will pelt me, no-doubt, with flames and arsonages of all kinds. Any vampiric types, not to mention mere mortals, could not withstand such a volley of fiery aggression. Farnacas and the count also know of my secret nightly travels. "You have been spotted all over Cyrodiil," they iterated. They know not, apparently, how I can accomplish such long distances in such short notations of time, however, and this shall continue to be my secret.

But why me? Other than my ability, I am no warrior! I am not even a suffciant mage, or conjurer!

early morning
Sarah Phimm carefully put down her pen, placed her journal page upon a mantel (to dry its ink), and then sat down in her favorite spot, on a bench before Summitmist's fireplace. She reached into the purse she'd been carrying lately, and took out the two bottles of maiden's blood Count Hassildor had given her. Just in case, he had said.

"Well, such an imbibement could come in hand, I must admit."

She delighted at the thought of just drinking one of these bottles, right here by the the fire. Oh, what pleasure that would bring, like skooma to an addict. But then she decided maybe she'd better keep these bottles aside. Instead, she grabbed a slab of dried meat, which had been specially-cooked so that its raw insides had not been seared. She savored this meat instead. Since she would not be flying off tonight in search of victims, occasional portions like this one were often the next best thing.

Sarah finished her meal, and then begun one of her favorite activities; staring into her fire, and dreaming off into what some might think was some sort of trance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At some point, she'd awoken, or had she? She was still sitting on her bench before the fire, but something had changed.

Sa-rah....

Sarah!

............ .... ssssaraahhhh

SARAH!!!!

"Hello? Is anyone here?"

And somebody was. As she'd stared more intensely into her hearth, she began to notice a forming shape.

Sssssarahhhhhh!!!

A face, in fact! "Who ... who are you?" Sarah asked the feminine voice she was hearing, while staring into the flames of her hearth.

I ... am the one ... who invited you here...

"Matilde? Aunt Matilde?" she became ecstatic.

Yessss. Aunt Matilde indeed... the voice called.

"My, I ... I am at a loss for words! Where are you? ... What has happened? Why are you within my fireplace?"

These are things.. for another time....

Sarah sat dumbfounded, could not speak. Another time? Her thoughts were racing, and Sarah could not arrange them fast enough to make them cohesive. "You... so it was not Tayka, nor Farnacas, who invited me here from Skyrim? Those bastards!"

Sarahhh. ... Sarahhhh.....

"Aunt Matilde!?!! NO... where are you going?"

Sarahhh ...... Sarahh..... Sarahhh...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Sarah? ... Sarah? ... Are you alright?"

Sarah Phimm's mind suddenly snapped into the present. "I ... I... Where is..."

"You were asleep, and had a bad dream, by the look of it," replied Khul Peppa with a slight echo to her voice. Khul Peppa, the ghostly lady who had (once again) somehow managed to penetrate the locked doors of Summitmist.

Had I fallen into slumber?

Had she? It was difficult to tell. From her trance-like state, and back to fully being awake, there wasn't much difference. She was still sitting upon her wooden bench, the hearth before her was still crackling, and the journal she'd placed beside the fire was still placed wide open, its ink fully dried. The only difference, really, was the lack of a face, within her fireplace.

"Was there anyone else here? Anyone else I was speaking to?"

The ghost chuckled a moment. "Not that I could see, and if I can't see something, well... it was nothing but a dream, Sarah. And you are safe."

"I see," Sarah said reluctantly. "Well, how can I assist your presence, this morn?"

"How have you been? Enjoying your magic broom, and your raven?"

"Why yes. Oh, of course. Such delightful things to have. I must thank thee," she said, with an almost apologetic tone of her voice. "These things, my broom, my bird, have enriched, and delighted!"

"Swell," said the ghost. "Anything else?"

"Well. Um...Count Hassildor, I met him tonight, with Farnacas. Did you know he is ... he is like me?"

"Oh yes, Count Hassildor, he's a creature of the night. I know this, but had no reason to tell you, I suppose."

"I see."

"And what did he have to say to you, tonight?" asked the ghost.

"Many things," Sarah blushed. "He told me of his vampirism, how he became infected long ago, and how he's been able to live in virtual plain view, at night, anyways, by keeping some sort of rumor-mill about his constant daily absences from the throne."

"I see, Sarah. Anything else?"

"Well. He told me also of some possessions he has lost. A couple of rare and costly amulets. One-of-a-kind pieces, by the sound of it. And that these pieces had been poached by some brigand, and have fallen into the hands of a cave-full of fire priests," Sarah's face gained a rather frightened expression. "And that I am to go into this cave in which they dwell, and that I am to take back these items. Me! ... A vampire, yes, and a seraphim, yes, but not a fighter, not a warrior, not a mage, nor a conjurer!

"Me, who has menial training in only mundane affairs: cooking and cleaning, and anything else someone asks of me. Though my days of servitude are apparently long over. Oh, what am I to do, lady Peppa?"

"Again, I know of these things too."

"You do?" Sarah asked, slightly bewildered. "How could you know?" Suddenly she noticed a shaft of sunlight, which had managed to shove its way past the dark curtains Farnacas had hung a few days ago. Though this sunlight was halfway across the room and not a threat to Sarah at all, just the sight of it was causing her to feel uneasy.

"Yes, I know these things," the ghost answered. "I know he wanted you to retrieve some 'artifacts.' Sorry I never mentioned this before, but I just wanted to see if the information I'd heard matches what you would tell me."

"Oh."

"And this is why I came here, because I suspected you'd need my help, once again. I can see you have doubts about all this, and I don't blame you. But believe me Sarah, you can do this."

"I can?"

"You can go into this place where the fire priests live, and you can deal with them. In fact, you must do so, chances are Hassildor will have you imprisoned if you refuse."

"Imprisoned?" Sarah said in surprise. But he seemed so nice to me.

"Listen. All is not for wont, Sarah. As I said, you can do this, but you will need some help."

"Go on."

"There is a place, about a quarter-mile northwest of Skingrad. This place is also just west of Oranstad Township. and at the border of the Great Forest begins. Here, a small group of creatures live. They will be peaceful with you, as they have been communicated with by the spirit world. They already know and expect you. And though these creatures will not be violent toward you, they can be deadly to anyone who crosses you!"

"Really? So you are telling me that if I go to this place and find it, these beings, these 'creatures', will be there to meet me, and they also will assist me in my attempt to locate Hassildor's treasure? ... What exactly are they?"

"Um.. I'd rather not say. Maybe you've heard of them, and if I tell you now what they are, this would place too many connotations."

"I see," Sarah said, more confused than ever.

"The place to fiind them is called 'Shadeleaf Copse.' It might be tricky to find, but I shall mark its location on your map. If you go in the area just west of Oranstad, you might want to fly low over the trees. Look for a small body of water. A pond, I suppose. When you get there, you'll know from the place's magic that you've found it. Again, Shadeleaf Copse is its name."

"I...alright. I suppose I can have a look, then."

"Take care, and no more bad dreams. Oh, and here is a little note, from someone who cares."

Sarah said nothing as Khul Peppa the ghost then walked away, handing the redhead a short scroll. After the ghost had left Summitmist Manor, Sarah opened this note, and read it. It contained more information about the magical place she was to find.

---------------

Sarah dozes before her fire

And has a fiery vision

Sarrr-ahhhh!

Aunt Matilde, is that you?

But her vision is interrupted by her ghostly friend

The note... and more of it

She flies, looking for Shadeleaf Copse

Oh my....what is this?


This post has been edited by Renee: May 29 2017, 01:09 AM

[Lopov]

Whoa, this one's probably the creepiest Sarah's story until now, beside the one when she entered the Summitmist cellar for the first time.

Love what you did with Matilde's face in the fire, when reading the story I didn't expect to see actual pics of the event.

[Acadian]

I can understand why Sarah is nervous about her task - not for the flames she will surely encounter but for the combat that will accompany it. Looks like she'll have some help though in the form of 'Wispers in the Night'.

[Renee]

Yes Lopov, that one was pretty creepy, and thank you. The fire thing was inspired by a Dark Shadows episode from like 1967 or whatever. I wanted to link up to this on YouTube so I could show you, but they took all the DS stuff down, due to copyright BS.

Acadian, you will love the next episode! I think it's going to be intense. Those fire priests don't know what's about to hit them! ... Dang. mirocu is missing all these tales while he's locked up in his cottage, and the next few from both Kahreem and Sarah are going to be killer! Oh well.

The will o' wisps get added by a mod called Will o' Wisp Companion, by the way. Sarah walked around the West Weald for a bit after meeting these creatures...it's pretty fun watching them devour any enemies which try to bother her.

----------

Mid-afternoon, Mid-Year 24, 3rd Era 434

Level: 13

Days Passed: 302
Days Jailed: 116

Bounty: 0



"I'm so hungry!" says a beggar, who turns out to be Puny Ancus. At first, Kahreem of Weet does not really pay attention to this protest. He's standing on the causeway right in front of the Marie Elena, and the beggar's words go in one ear, and out his other.

But then, he remembers: beggars are the 'eyes and ears of the underworld,' or some such. After thinking about this, the Redguard rushes over toward the downtrodden Imperial. "You are hungry eh? Well here, let me help."

"I'm savin' up for some med'cine!"

"Mm hmm. 'Med'cine.' Yeah, sure. Well here, have yourself a fokkinge coin, beggar." *CLINK!*

"Thank you kind sir."

The reason for this rocky discussion between beggar and thief? Kahreem realizes that the 'notes' he took during his meeting with the Gray Fox are nothing but a jumbled mess. He'd written these notes while drunk on Cheap Wine, after all. On the other hand, the scroll given to him by the Gray Fox includes more detail. But it is still vague. By speaking to Ancus, Kahreem hopes to glean any sort of information he can, therefore.

"So, how's your day going?"

"Not bad."

"What do you know about some sort of passage in the Imperial Palace called 'the Old Way?' Anything at all? I am supposed to go in there, looking for this passage, and then using these boots I'm wearing to jump up real high, or something. And then use this fokkinge arrow to open some hidden door. The Gray Fox gave me this step-by-step list on what to do, but any information from you could also help."

"If you're looking for books, First Edition is the only place in the city to find them."

"Books. Yeah. Well, that helps. I can't get that coin back from you, can I? Hmm? How about it?"

"Blessings of Julianos upon ye!"

"Mm hmm. Sure. Julianos."

The day is hot and summery, and there's not really much to do until nightfall, so Kahreem heads back into the depths of his pirate boat, and sleeps the rest of the day.

^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n

7:17 pm
The Redguard begins his night by rummaging through his things, looking for that perfect outfit; something which will help him blend in as he enters the Imperial Palace. Though he plans to wear his Lucien Lachance robe and hood once he's deep into the place, his plan is to be wearing something which doesn't look so ... obviously devious. He settles on a full outfit of blue & gold; clothes tailored for a noble.

"This way, later on when people are questioning if they saw some man sneaking half-invisibly through the tower, the Redguard who'd passed through several hours before won't stand out."

Kahreem also gathers as many lockpicks as he can find, and makes a mental note to stop and visit Shady Sam, as well. The sky is rosy pink as he leaves his ship, but this effect quickly begins to fade as he makes his way off the Waterfront, and up the hill toward Sam.

"This had better be good!" taunts a guard as the Redguard walks past.

"I agree. I hope my presentation to the court goes well," the Redguard answers, attempting to get into some sort of role. Later, when the guards are all comparing notes, he thinks, the Redguard wearing fancy clothes, the one who was going to give some sort of presentation in the palace's court, will seem unremarkable. Quickly forgotten.

Um... yeah. Forgotten.

^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n^n

Near Midnight

"Please show your respect for the Imperial Palace by keeping your voice DOWN," says a palace guard.

"Who me? I didn't say anything. You're the one blabbing like an old woman."

Kahreem notes that the guard's armor is incredibly shiny, laced with golden material. Must be nice. He also notices that this guard's demeanor isn't nearly as abrasive as that of the ordinary Waterfront patrols. Maybe it's because this palace guard simply stayed in this area. He had probably never even met Kahreem before, although certainly he'd probably heard of Kahreem's exploits.

"Well, in any event, I am here to make a visitation to the court. Very important business, sir. Now, step aside."

Kahreem gets as far in the place as its inner double doors before another guard warns, "Remember, trespassing in the Imperial Palace is a serious crime! Do not venture beyond the first and second floors."

"Oh but see, I have permission, in the form of this written scroll," he says, flashing the page the Gray Fox had given him. "Chancellor Ocato's orders. Now stand aside!" he says, even though the guard is not in the Redguard's way.

Having no idea where to go, he tries the door immediately in front of him. Locked.

"Uh, been awhile since I've been here."

Decides to turn left, and begins to walk around a gigantic, curved hallway. He notices some music. Fokke, castle music! This music is soothing and welcoming to most citizens, he supposes. After several more warnings from several more guards about sticking to the first and second floors, Kahreem finds a doorway which leads downward. Is this the way to go? Who fokkinge knows. After changing out of the blue noble's clothing he'd worn into the place, Kahreem puts on the robe and hood he'd taken from Lucien Lachance. Dons his Ring of Chameleon, pickpockets a key from the last guard he'd passed by. Then breaks all the warnings he's heard so far.

This post has been edited by Renee: Jun 10 2017, 05:33 AM

[mirocu]

I may be locked up in the cottage, but I did get permission to leave in order to read the last two Kahreem stories. And I sure will read the next!


Btw, as I read your updates, Renee, I always gets an urge to play the game myself. I just love the way you write!