Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

20 Pages V  1 2 3 > »   
Reply to this topicStart new topic
> The Gweden report, A story of the story of the stories.
ghastley
post Sep 2 2011, 01:28 AM
Post #1


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 13-December 10



Until I complete the other mods, there's not a lot to add to their stories, so I thought I'd tell the tales associated with Gweden while I work on them.

That mod's anything but linear, as you can do the individual quests for most of the girls in any order. That meant I'd have to come up with a narrative that links them all together and creates a sequence. Rather than take the easy way out and describe it all from the Player-character's viewpoint, I thought I'd try a different approach entirely.

So I'm going to write a story, about a reporter writing a story, about the stories of the girls who work at Gweden. They'll tell them to him one at a time, and there will be a bit of extra narrative added beyond what actually happens when you play through each of the quests they're describing.

The Champion is arbitrarily male as before, and of no specific race. Because of the requirements of the mod for some of the quests, he's also the Madgod, Master of the Fighter's Guild, Listener of the Dark Brotherhood, Arena Champion, and Archmage, although I'll try to play those down as much as possible. All of those things are less important to his employees anyway. He's the boss, and he did something special for each of them, or they wouldn't be there.

----

Prologue


"Listen up girls," Tsarrina began. "This one expects you've all heard the news by now. The Oblivion Crisis is over, and the Gates are all closed. Martin Septim is no more, and the Elder Council is running things ."

"Our boss is now the Champion of Cyrodill, and so everything he does is front-page news in the Black Horse Courier. They're sending a reporter down here to do a story about this establishment of his, in the next few days."

"This one doesn't want it to be just another story about the boss. He's getting a bit tired of that himself. This one wants it to be our story. Your story."

"We probably won't make the front page, as it appears they're sending a junior down to do the interviews. But that should work in our favor. He'll be young, and you'll all appreciate that. Especially Juliana. This one wants you to be ready if he's really inexperienced. The rest of you are to make the best impression you can. We can get some really good publicity from this."

"Should we start shopping for new clothes?" asked one of them, hopefully.

"No, you won't be needing those much," Tsarrina chuckled, "but make sure anything you do wear is is the best you have. And by that, this one means the most effective, not the most expensive. Unless it's both. Dark-eyes, get your uniform starched up and crisp. Cybeline, that red velvet number with the plunging neckline that you keep for special occasions. This is a special occasion."

Everyone looked at Prizna. She just laughed, and Tsarrina had to grin, too. "This one does not expect you to start wearing clothes now."

"This one wants you all to be ready to tell him how you came to be here, and what part the boss played in that. It will keep the stories relevant to his assignment, but they'll be about you as much as they are about the Champion."

"We'll make use of the old farmhouse as the interview room. It's nice and cozy in front of the fire there, and we'll put some comfortable chairs either side. We should keep the main rooms in the Lodge open for business. There's no point losing any trade while he's here, after all."

"Will he be staying at the Count's Arms while he's here?", asked Maeva. "I can walk up with him in the mornings if he does."

"No, we'll keep him here at the farm," Tsarrina decided. "He'll use the main bed in the farmhouse, and this one doesn't want him sleeping in it alone! You'll each get a turn to tell him your story. Make sure you also get a turn to show him what you can do."

----

Future pieces will have each of the women telling her story of how she came to be at the Gweden Brothel, or the reporter putting the report together. I'll add a postscript article from the Black Horse Courier about Cousin Miranu's miraculous potion at the end, which should take a post or two to cover it. I have most of the stories drafted, as they come straight from the mod itself, but I'm still working on the wrapper narrative, and haven't finalized the sequence of the individual tales yet.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Oct 7 2016, 04:47 PM


--------------------
Mods for The Elder Scrolls single-player games, and I play ESO.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Acadian
post Sep 2 2011, 02:03 AM
Post #2


Paladin
Group Icon
Joined: 14-March 10
From: Las Vegas



This is a fun idea and off to a grand start! You efficiently get across much here without seeming to do a data dump – especially your opening two short paragraphs. A stellar example is that via name and dialect only, we infer Tsarinna is Khajiit.

What a fun way to introduce folks to your mods!


--------------------
Screenshot: Buffy in Artaeum
Stop by our sub forum!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Grits
post Sep 2 2011, 09:29 PM
Post #3


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 6-November 10
From: The Gold Coast



I imagine the reporter will need some of Cousin Miranu's miraculous potion before he's finished with his research. Great idea to keep the boss out of it as much as possible, so that it still fits just about anyone. There may be an issue with the link. Looking forward to the stories!


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ghastley
post Sep 2 2011, 10:23 PM
Post #4


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 13-December 10



Link fixed. Something defaulted my "org" to a "com".


--------------------
Mods for The Elder Scrolls single-player games, and I play ESO.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ghastley
post Sep 8 2011, 11:55 PM
Post #5


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 13-December 10



Still just introducing things, I'll get into the mod proper next time.

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



Skingrad to Gweden

The junior reporter from the Black Horse Courier sat on the bed in his room at the West Weald Inn. He was reviewing the notes he'd made in preparation for this assignment.

He'd not been the contributer for the original "Anvil Tarts Thwarted!" issue, so he'd read that before he set out, to get some of the background. All he knew was that Gweden Farm had been the scene of that incident, although that hadn't been mentioned in the printed edition. "Why not?" he wondered. He'd ask the Madam, what was her name? Ah, yes, Tsarrina. He'd ask her what she knew about it. Maybe she'd known that Faustina Cartia woman that ran the gang. That would add a bit of spice to his report!

Skingrad seemed to be a dull town compared with Anvil, and he couldn't find any past editions with a story of the Champion that took place here. He knew the Oblivion gate just outside the walls had been closed by him, but nobody knew any details. He'd gone out to look at the site, but there was nothing there but the blackened remnants of a wayshrine, and a few burnt trees.

He got half a story concerning a paranoid Bosmer by the name of Glarthir, but no-one wanted to talk about that. Everybody wanted to just forget about it, and they suggested that he should, too. Glarthir was dead now, anyway. There were hints that the Champion had been involved, but nothing he could use.

The wine and food here was anything but dull, however. Tamika and the Surilie Brothers seemed to be constantly trying to out-do each other with the quality of their wines, and Salmo's sweetrolls were the best he'd ever tasted. Here in their home town, they weren't so expensive, and even a junior like himself could eat and drink well. He made a note to suggest a "fine dining" edition, but ruefully admitted to himself that his chances of getting to write it were slim.

He visited the other tavern in the city, the Two Sisters Lodge, as inns are always a good source of gossip. Mog gra-Mogak, who ran the place, didn't have any stories for him either. There had been a band of Vampire hunters there a few months back, around the time she'd last seen the Champion. She'd thought they might generate a bit of excitement, but they'd all disappeared without bringing back any tales to tell in the bar. Mog suspected they were just passing through, as she'd never heard of any Vampires in the area.

One of the other guests at the West Weald Inn, a big Nord fellow called Bjarne Long-arm, had just come back from Gweden. He wouldn't tell him anything about it, though. Didn't wan't to spoil the fun of finding out for himself. Bjarne slapped him on the back and nearly knocked him over. "You'll have fun there," he said. "You can count on that."

Bjarne warned him to watch out for bandits on the Gold Road. There were several camps close to the road that they used, so he'd be well advised to travel with the Legion Patrols if he could. If he reached the Gottshaw Inn safely, there was one Patrol that went into Anvil, and another from there to the farm. He marked the camps on the reporter's map so he'd know when he was getting close.

"If you get past Fat Ramp Camp without meeting any bandits, then the next one is Ra'sava. There's another Legion horseman that turns around just there, so if your timing's good, you can follow him to where the road to Kvatch turns off. Then you're almost at the Gottshaw Inn, and past them all."

He got the impression that the Nord did that trip fairly often. He didn't pry any further though. He could always ask about Bjarne at the farm when he got there.

If there were bandits on the road, he'd better make sure he was prepared for them. He dropped in to Hammer and Tongs before he left, to have Agnete the Pickled make sure his travel armor and shortsword were in good condition. Although he'd been a customer, she didn't have any stories about the Champion. She apologized for having such a poor memory. Some evenings especially seemed to be completely missing from it.

Falanu Hlaalu, the Alchemist next door, sold him some healing potions, just in case. She also suggested he take some Mandrake root. It would be just the thing if he got bitten by any diseased creatures along the road. Then there was that comment about necrophilia, as if she expected him to be dead the next time they met. He was beginning to reconsider this trip!

The actual journey turned out to be completely uneventful. The patrolman from Anvil to the farm wasn't there when he left the city gates, but the road was deserted. He found the man's horse waiting patiently outside when he got to Gweden.

He was quite astonished to find a large Lodge had been built next to the farm he'd been expecting. The farmhouse was the usual low thatched block common in this region, but the Lodge was a big two-storey stone structure in the Anvil style, with a tiled roof and a collonaded porch. The red light hung next to a big metal door. He checked his notes. The report of the Sirens affair had only mentioned the farm, and said nothing about this other building.

Just then, the patrolman emerged from the farmhouse and walked over to him. He hadn't seen him here before and wanted to know who he was. He showed the legionary his press card, and asked about the extra building. It hadn't been built all that long ago, just after he'd taken over this patrol route. The previous man had retired, and he'd pulled rank to get the assignment. He remembered that the old farmhouse was getting rather full at the time, so he wasn't surprised when Tsarrina had the Lodge put up.

"So how many women are working here?" asked the reporter.

"Must be at least a dozen," the legionary replied. "Of every race, including a few you've probably never met before. But go on inside and count for yourself. They're expecting you." He opened the farmhouse door and ushered him in.

Tsarrina and some of the women were indeed waiting for him. They took his bag and put it by the chest at the end of a big comfortable-looking bed. Tsarrina led him over to an armchair by the fire and put a glass of wine in his hand. "Make yourself at home," she said. "We've got a lot to tell you."

One sip told him it was Tamika's. He liked these people already.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Feb 28 2012, 04:14 AM


--------------------
Mods for The Elder Scrolls single-player games, and I play ESO.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Acadian
post Sep 9 2011, 02:08 AM
Post #6


Paladin
Group Icon
Joined: 14-March 10
From: Las Vegas



What a fun little tour of Skingrad and the road to Anvil! Many great touches, sure to bring a smile to those who know the game.

Well, we saw the preparations that Tsarrina and her crew were making during the last episode in anticiapation of the reporter’s arrival. Here we get the reporter there. I’m looking forward to the stories that follow.


--------------------
Screenshot: Buffy in Artaeum
Stop by our sub forum!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Grits
post Sep 10 2011, 12:46 AM
Post #7


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 6-November 10
From: The Gold Coast



As Acadian said, plenty of smiles here.

That would add a bit of spice to his report!

biggrin.gif He has no idea. This is going to be fun.


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ghastley
post Sep 15 2011, 11:36 PM
Post #8


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 13-December 10



Tsarrina

"So, Madam Tsarrina, is it true that the Champion of Cyrodiil owns a piece of this brothel?" asked the reporter from the Black Horse Courier.

"No, this one must correct you" she replied. "Firstly, this is a Gentleman's Lodge, and this one requests you not to use that other term. Secondly, he doesn't own a piece of it. It's all his property. This one is but the steward of this part of his estate."

"This one can see that she'll have to explain the whole story, to set the record straight," she continued. "She hopes you brought a large notebook"

----

It all starts with Ma'iq. This one was working the streets of Leyawiin, and let's say she knew Ma'iq well He told her one day that he'd come across a farm for sale in Anvil County. The soil was poor, and the property abandoned, but the farmhouse itself was sound. The Countess was eager to sell it off, so that it didn't become a haven for bandits or marauders, so the price was very low, something even this one might afford.

"This one, a home-owner?" she asked, disbelieving.

"Would I lie?" he countered. "To you, I mean."

It certainly sounded like a good idea, the way he described the place. Not too far from town, a price this one really could afford, as long as she didn't need to spend any gold repairing the place. She'd traded for services before, so she imagined that fixing it up shouldn't be a problem. It certainly would be nice to have a permanent roof over her head instead of using bedrolls and dark doorways. The poor land wasn't an issue, as this one wasn't going to become a farmer.

You may think her foolish, but this one gave Ma'iq all the gold she had to go ahead to Anvil and buy the farm for her. This one found out later that he had to add some gold of his own, but he didn't tell her that. She arrived a few days after and found that the previous owners had a left a small amount of furniture behind, including a real bed! That helped her thank Ma'iq properly.

The first customer was the Legion Patrolman, a fortunate circumstance, as it always helps to have the law on your side. This one set up an arrangement with him, where he'd bring supplies from town, in return for a discount for the Legion. He passed the word to some of the guard in Anvil, who are always helpful in giving strangers directions. Pretty soon there was a steady stream of visitors, all without this one setting foot in town.

Getting the place fixed up went much as expected. There was lot of labour given in lieu of gold, as well as not having to buy the materials. The men were making the place comfortable for themselves as much as for this one, after all.

Of course, one reason things were going well was that Khajiiti are rare in this business, and that made this one special. Most female Khajiiti are so ruled by the moons that they aren't interested for most of the month., When they are, it's so intense they'd never think to ask for gold, or to sheath their claws! This one doesn't know why she's different. There must be a bit of human or elf in her ancestry, she supposes.

But then Faustina and Signy turned up. They'd been working at the Flowing Bowl in Anvil, they told her, and heard about her activities at Gweden from the customers there. Faustina proposed a "merger". as she put it. They'd join her at the farm and in return, not report her to the Countess .

"Report this one? For what?"

"Running an unlicenced brothel, of course. Don't you know the Castle has to approve any business operating here?"

She didn't know any such thing. This one was a full paid-up member of the Guild, and had never heard of any county needing licences before. But then again, she'd not owned her own property before, either. Were the rules different if you weren't on the streets?

To make a long story short, Faustina convinced this one that she should let her and Signy stay at the farm and "help". That was a bad idea. Pretty soon this one found out that they were robbing the men, instead of giving them what they'd paid for. You don't get repeat customers that way, even if you do get a bit more gold than they were prepared to give you. This one was going to throw the two of them out, but Faustina pulled out a wicked-looking dagger and threatened her with it.

"You're part of this gang, just as much as we are," she said. "If you go to the watch they'll just throw you in jail. They'll think you're the ringleader, since you own the place."

This one didn't know the Anvil watch well enough to contradict that. She never went into town, and only knew the few who were customers before Faustina and Signy arrived. Decent sorts, but a bit literal-minded and unbending when it came to the law. This one could imagine Faustina was right.


The reporter though of Captian Dion from Skingrad when she said this. He was inclined to agree with her if the watch were the same here.

This one became a prisoner in her own home. Faustina and Signy would go into town and look for men to lure back to the farm. She'd have to stay behind, and they locked the door when they left. She went to the basement when the men came. She didn't want any part of their scheme.

Then one night, the man who turned up was a bit less gullible than the others. Apparently, he didn't put down his weapon and undress like the others, but confronted the women. The stupid pair attacked him! This one ran up from the basement to try and stop the fight, but it was all over and Faustina and Signy were dead. A couple of guards from Anvil came in and took their bodies away, and paid the man for his help.

That man is now the Champion of Cyrodiil.

After the guards left, we talked. He told this one the story of how Maelona and Gogan had recruited him to act as the Sirens' next victim. They were supposed to follow him in and arrest the gang, but all the hard work was over before they turned up. He'd also had to convince them that this one wasn't involved, as she'd been assumed part of the gang. She had a bounty that was more than she'd paid for the farm!

Realising just how much she owed this man, this one told him the farm was his, and proposed that she re-open the original business and work for him. If he could recruit a few more girls to help, honest ones this time, he could have a good source of income here. This one is good at persuading, but it didn't take much .

He already knew a likely candidate, just down the road at the next farm. Her husband had run off and left her, taking a family heirloom with him. He'd just retrieved that for her, and she was now a widow. Maeva the Buxom, he called her, and it fits her well. Maeva not only comes to work part-time at Gweden, she brings us fresh produce from her own farm.

At that time, the Champion was travelling around Cyrodiil closing Oblivion gates and collecting items for Martin's attempt to recover the Amulet of Kings, so it wan't hard for him to check in each city for likely girls to work here. Each of them has a tale to tell of the Champion. Would you like to hear them?


The reporter looked up from his notebook, which was filling fast. "I'd like that, of course, if they're willing to tell."

This post has been edited by ghastley: Sep 16 2011, 01:47 AM


--------------------
Mods for The Elder Scrolls single-player games, and I play ESO.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Acadian
post Sep 16 2011, 01:28 AM
Post #9


Paladin
Group Icon
Joined: 14-March 10
From: Las Vegas



What fabulously creative twisting you have going on here to support your wonderful mod! I love how you tied it to the girl gang quest as well as Maeva’s quest and came up with the story behind Tsarrina and why the Champion of Cyrodiil owns the place. smile.gif

Writing a first person narrative for one who speaks in the third person is a challenge I would not want to undertake - certainly not for more than an episode or two. Especially when some of the characters she refers to (also in the third person) are of the same sex and competing for the same pronouns! You did an admirable job however.

Nit:
’Faustina convinced this one that she should let her and SIgny stay at the farm and "help".’
That capital I in Signy needs to be reduced to an i.


--------------------
Screenshot: Buffy in Artaeum
Stop by our sub forum!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Grits
post Sep 17 2011, 03:01 PM
Post #10


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 6-November 10
From: The Gold Coast



I like the licensing issue that causes so much trouble for Tsarina. Now the CoC can handle the bureaucratic concerns, and she can focus on her areas of expertise.

Nice touch recruiting Maeva the Buxom. As I recall, she is pretty open about being ready to date again as soon as she hears that Bjalfi won’t be coming home. And I know she must be happy with her new job, if she’s bringing fresh produce to share at work. smile.gif


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
MyCat
post Sep 18 2011, 05:05 AM
Post #11


Evoker

Joined: 20-May 10



QUOTE
She arrived a few days after and found that the previous owners had a left a small amount of furniture behind, including a real bed! That helped her thank Ma'iq properly.

Heh heh. I've played the mod but it's nice to see some background.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ghastley
post Sep 22 2011, 02:15 PM
Post #12


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 13-December 10



@Acadian Thanks for the encouragement on the Khajiiti dialog. I have another Khajiit in the story later, and I've already decided that she's not going speak like that (having been born in Cyrodiil). SIgny's nit has been picked.

@Grits You hit the nail on the head with that piece of Maeva's standard dialog. It made her a perfect first recruit. In fact, the combination of having Gweden farm locked and wasted as a usable home, and Maeva being just down the road was the thing that got me started on the mod. The two stories needed to be finished, and connecting the two just made sense.

@My Cat I hope you'll try the others, if you haven't already.

-----------

First impressions


"The first this one wants you to meet is quite unique," Tsarrina said. "There aren't many Dremora around in Cyrodiil. The conjurers may summon a few, but they're all male, and they don't stay for long."

Prizna came into the room and and the reporter for the Black Horse Courier didn't know where to look. The woman was completely naked!

He kept his eyes focused on his notebook, but she wasn't going to be ignored. She walked over and sat in his lap. He was saved by Tsarrina remarking that he wouldn't be able to write her story if she sat there. Prizna got up again and took the other chair, but not before rubbing herself against him a few times.

He was left with the impression that she was hot! Not just that way, but her skin felt like she had a fever. He asked about that, and a voice like dark velvet replied that it was true. She came from Dagon's realm, where lava flowed and fires burned everywhere. Her body temperature wasn't all that different from Humans or Elves, and Khajiiti were somewhere in between. Argonians were a bit cooler, she thought, but maybe theirs wasn't constant anyway.

"Tell him how you came to join us at Gweden" Tsarrina prompted, and Prizna began her tale.

First I need to tell you about my childhood. Yes, we Daedra are immortal, as we can return from the waters of oblivion and resume our lives, but everything has a beginning, even if it has no end. I do not remember if I was born, or created, but I remember being a child.

Nor can I tell you anything about returning from death, as I have never done so myself. Most male Dremora return because they are called back by Dagon, to fight his endless wars. There may be other ways to return, but I have no knowledge of them. But back to my growing up.

Females live to serve the males. If a young girl shows competence at any trade, she may be set to doing that for the rest of her existence. If she's good at smithing, she may be set to making armor and weapons. Or with other skills, she could be a cook, or a healer, or a fletcher. I was a bit more intelligent than the rest of my class, and conspired to hide my abilities until I could choose my own vocation. I learned a little of every skill I could, in case it could help me later, but I was careful not to shine in anything.

It almost worked. When I was grown enough, they made me a "reward for valor". Well, I was good at that, and I might have chosen it anyway.

I think it was because I wasn't as submissive as the others. I could take the initiative, and be a partner instead of a chattel. True heros appreciate that, and I was serving the best. Kothet was a hero when he was presented me as a permanent reward for the victory at Ganoneh. I was happy to belong to him, at first.

But Kvatch was retaken and Kothet fell from Dagon's favor. He started to mistreat me, and I started to hate him. I learned spells and weapon skills in secret, hoping for the day I could free myself from Kothet.

The chance came when a Gate was opened outside Bravil. Kothet was chosen to defend the Tower island, and I managed to travel there too. When he took up his post near the flaming arch, I killed him and stepped through it into Tamriel.

I needed someone's help to close the Gate, so I could stay in this world and leave Kothet behind. I was sure that Dagon wouldn't restore him in any haste, especially as he'd been killed by a mere woman. However, I needed the Gate closed so he couldn't reach me later.

The man who helped me is the owner of this Lodge. I was being chased by Scamps near the Gate when he came to my assistance, and healed my wounds. He has such cool, gentle hands!

He asked me what my name was. I didn't understand what he meant. A Dremora woman doesn't have a name of her own. She's "Rynaz' daughter" or "Kothet's woman" or just "the cook". He decided I needed a name and called me "Prizna". Wow! I was just like the Kyn themselves now, with a Name of my own!

I put away my fears and followed him back into the Gate. I needed to confirm that Kothet was still dead. I also was determined to help close the Gate, or die trying. I wanted to deserve having a Name!

We found Kothet's body inside near the Gate, and he was as dead as I'd left him. We could see the Sigil Tower from there, but there was a locked war gate between us and the entrance, so we couldn't go that way.

There was also a Daedroth charging towards us. I dropped back and cast a shock spell, while my hero stepped forward with his sword and shield. He must have had an enchantment on that sword, as the creature didn't last long, and I heard a soul gem fill as it died.

We set off to the East past a small tower, where we ran into a couple of Dremora. I cast my shock spell again and one of them was hit. So he charged after me while his colleague engaged my partner. I backed up, casting my spell again, but he was getting very close. He swung his sword at me and opened a huge gash in my arm. I went down on my knees, and was sure I was going to die, when he fell dead on top of me. The Hero pulled his sword from the Churl's back and put it back in its scabbard.

He took a look at my arm and laid his hands on my breasts to cast his healing spell again. I asked why he hadn't put his hands on my arm instead.

"If I touched the wound, that would hurt you, wouldn't it? Until the healing is complete, the pain won't go away. I need to cast the spell as close to your heart as I can, so it works as quickly as possible. ... And it also helps remind me why you're worth saving."

That got a laugh that made me feel better. Taking the Churl's longsword made me feel better too, as I now had something to block with.

We made our way further and crossed a bridge over to another island in the lava. We appeared to be circling the Sigil Tower amd not getting any closer. A doorway in the rocks ahead of us looked as if it might lead into a cave or tunnel. If the tunnel was in the same direction as the door, it might take us closer to the Tower, so we went in.

By the time we emerged at the other end, I had a shield to go with the sword. Our tactics remained the same. I'd stay back and use spells, while the Hero got in close with his sword. If anyone attacked me I would block until help arrived. and continue to cast shock when I could. Then we'd stop, repair our equipment, and heal. I was enjoying the way he healed me, even if I didn't like it being needed.

We'd come out into a tower, from which a bridge led across to the central island where the Sigil Tower stood. An archer stood on the bridge and fired as soon as we came through the door. I blocked the arrow with my shield and fired a bolt of shock back. But then I had to turn my attention to a Clannfear who'd run over the bridge toward us. I knew that Clannfear reflect damage, so I didn't use the longsword, just blocking with the shield and casting shock when he recoiled. I didn't notice that I had my back to the archer until an arrow caught me in ... a certain large muscle involved in sitting down.

I looked back, to see the archer nock another arrow. As he let fly, I stepped sideways and the arrow flew past me into the Clannfear, finishing him off. That let me hurl another bolt of shock at the archer, and end his career, too.

My partner had also been busy. A Daedroth and a Markynaz lay on the edge of the bridge. He pushed them off into the lava with his foot, and came over to me.

"That arrow's got to come out before I can heal the wound" he told me. "You know they use barbed arrows, so this is going to hurt"

He made me lie face-down on the ground, so the muscle would be relaxed. I heard him cast a spell, but I couldn't see what type of spell it was. It can't have been healing, my breasts were beneath me.

When he started to pull out the arrow, I knew what spell it was - Paralysis! I couldn't scream, even though I wanted to. But it must have made removing the arrow easier, as the pain soon ended. I felt the healing spell flowing through me again, and I hadn't even noticed where he put his hands this time.

A few seconds later, the paralysis went away and I could stand up. I saw the huge door to the Sigil Tower ahead and I knew that's where we were going next. I didn't know what to expect inside, but I knew that whatever was in there kept the Gate open.

That's when I started to get worried. I wanted Kothet to be trapped here, but I wanted to escape. I knew that the mortals that closed Gates were transported back to Tamriel when the Gate closed. Kothet had mentioned that when he told me about the Gate at Kvatch.

But would I go with him? I had to take the risk. And by that point, I'd have followed my hero anywhere.

The forces guarding the interior of the Tower were much the same as outside. The good news was there weren't any archers, the bad news was more of everything else. By the time we reached the Sigil Chamber, I'd needed a lot of healing, and my hero had had to replenish his magicka from the wells several times to do that.

I'd had the opportunity to take a suit of armor from one of the dead, but it was too uncomfortable, and hampered my spell-casting too much. I just can't do anything properly if I'm covered up. I think I was also concerned it might hold me back in Dagon's realm if I wore it.

We climbed up the ramp to the platform at the top of the Tower. I saw the Sigil Stone balanced on top of the pillar of fire. That was apparently the key to closing the Gate.

"You take it" he said. "The stone always leaves with me when a Gate closes, and it should take you with it"

"But what if that's how you get out?" I asked. "I wouldn't want you left behind."

"I don't belong here," he reassured me. "And you don't either. So take the Stone and let's go back to Tamriel" I noticed that he put his arm around me, just in case. At least I think that's why he did it.

As soon as we re-appeared outside Bravil I gave him the Stone. I didn't want anything to do with Dagon or his realm any more.

However, I knew nothing about the world I'd chosen. Was there a need for someone like me in Tamriel? What would I do here? How would I survive? Who did I belong to?

He answered the last question first. I had my own Name now, so I didn't have to belong to anybody else. Not even him, even though I knew he deserved it more than Kothet ever had.

And he also knew just what I should do in Tamriel. What I did best, of course. And Tsarrina would help me learn the customs of this land, and how to make the most of my skills.

She never did get me to wear clothes, though. I still don't understand why anyone thinks they're a good idea. They tickle and chafe, which makes me too aware of my own body, and then I can't concentrate on my customers.

And it's not like I have anything special to hide. Every Dremora woman has a body just like this one. If you can't see our faces, you can't tell us apart. And you can only tell me from a Mazken or an Aureal by color. We're all the same size and shape. Well, maybe my skin's warmer, too, but that's all.

The reporter assured her that she appeared very special to him, not that he'd looked. He still wasn't looking. He tried to get his concentration back on the story by asking her about the others. "You're quite a different build than some of the humans and elves, though. You may not stand out from the crowd where you come from, but it's not like that here. Everybody's different, and that's good."

"Well, if different is good, why can't I be different by not wearing clothes?" she asked.

Again Tsarrina saved him by asking to see what he'd written so far. Or had she? Now he had nothing to look at but the floor, or Prizna.

Prizna went over to Tsarrina to take a look at his notes too. "This is very good. I think he deserves a reward, don't you, Tsarrina?"

He involuntarily looked up when she said that. Prizna had her back to him, and she was bending over the notebook...

---------

Note the "heal other on touch" spell always seemed to target her chest, so I added that into the story.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Sep 22 2011, 05:49 PM


--------------------
Mods for The Elder Scrolls single-player games, and I play ESO.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Acadian
post Sep 23 2011, 12:29 AM
Post #13


Paladin
Group Icon
Joined: 14-March 10
From: Las Vegas



What a clever and even cute story! Tsarrina certainly has an interesting crew! Your hero is giving a whole new meaning to the paladin/cleric skill of laying on of hands.

Good idea to paralyze the patient to remove an arrow. We have found 'disintegrate weapon' helps as well. tongue.gif


--------------------
Screenshot: Buffy in Artaeum
Stop by our sub forum!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Grits
post Sep 24 2011, 01:59 PM
Post #14


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 6-November 10
From: The Gold Coast



Prizna came into the room and and the reporter for the Black Horse Courier didn't know where to look.

I’m glad he figured it out by the end of the interview.

I like Prizna’s dark velvet voice. Instead of being harsh metal similar to the Dremora males, their females are completely opposite. Makes sense, and likely more soothing to her mortal customers.

Nice use of the Heal Other spell. smile.gif


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ghastley
post Sep 29 2011, 03:29 PM
Post #15


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 13-December 10



@Acadian I didn't know that "disintegrate weapon" would work on arrows. Is that any use in the game, or is it just useful in FF?

@Grits He's trying to maintain a professional detachment. The interviewees would prefer a professional attachment, so there will be a bit of friction until this is reconciled. (No, wait, hold the friction, that will only make things worse.) He's going to lose anyway, there's too many of them, and only one of him.

I wanted the female Dremora to be as opposite to the males as possible, so voice was another opportunity for contrast.

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

Virgilia

The next girl who came into the room next was naked, too.

"Virgilia," asked Tsarrina "did Prizna put you up to this?"

Virgilia giggled and nodded her head vigorously, which set most of the distracting parts of her body jiggling. And he thought them particularly distracting. She was an Imperial like him, and quite the prettiest he'd ever seen. Certainly the most naked one he'd seen, and perhaps that might have been biasing his opinion. As a reporter, he wanted to be unbiased, but he was finding it hard not to look.

Which was exactly what she wanted. Virgilia leaned back in the chair and uncrossed her legs. With all the willpower he could muster. he looked her in the eyes, and asked "Shall we begin the interview?"

She held his gaze for long enough to know he wasn't going to look where she wanted him to, and nodded agreement. More jiggling resulted, but he was already concentrating on his notebook.

My story really only starts when my father died. He was a member of the Imperial Watch, and he was killed trying to arrest a thief who turned out to be a Vampire. My mother mourned for the required period, and started dating again. After a while she found another man she liked and re-married. That was Viator Accius, the proprietor of Stonewall Shields. We moved into his shop and I started to attend the Arcane University.

My stepfather wasn't too happy about that. He knew what my mother was like, and he assumed I'd be like her, and chasing after men if I got the chance. But my mother assured him that I'd be kept too busy with my studies. I was only there during the day, and I wasn't allowed out in the evenings, so that was all too true.

But I did get to meet a lot of intelligent young men.They were eager to help with my virginity problem, but we were watched too closely at the University. The closest I got to success was when one of them learned a nice long-lasting invisibility spell. I took him home with me to the Market District, and he cast the spell just outside the shop. We entered, and I led him up to my room. I opened all the doors and closed them behind us, so he wouldn't have to do anything to make him visible.

I think it was closing the doors that made my stepfather suspicious. He was always shouting at me to come back and close doors, and that evening he didn't have to. Anyway, he must have followed us.

I took off my dress and lay down on my bed, ready for my lover-to-be. But just as he touched me, he became visible again, and the door burst open. I screamed and covered myself up, as my stepfather chased him out of the window. He had the presense of mind to cast his invisibility again when he landed, so nobody could see which way he ran off. Or that he was naked.

Well I wasn't going to be allowed to go back to the University after that fiasco. Mother suggested sending me away to stay with her sister down in Leyawiin. That would keep me away from the mage students I'd been plotting with, and Aunt Rosentia could teach me a few things, too. She was quite an expert on Daedric artifacts and knew a number of conjuration spells that I could learn.

We all traveled down to Leyawiin and Mother explained to her sister what had happened back in the city. Aunt Rosentia promised she'd take proper care of me and my virginity, and my stepfather appeared to be content with that. They returned to the city the same day.

Aunt Rosentia took me shopping. She thought I needed a new dress, as I couldn't keep wearing my University robe if I wasn't going there any more. She bought me a nice suit of armor too, in case I needed some adventure. It didn't look like it would protect me much, but it did look pretty.

At that time, she was a bit preoccupied with cleaning her house. Apparently, she'd had Scamps living in her home and they had left a nasty smell behind. She was still trying to get rid of it. I told her I couldn't smell anything, but she kept scrubbing the floors, and bringing in fresh lavender.

She told me that she'd bought a staff from a spellsword that had passed through the town. He'd asked for a suspiciously low price, but she she couldn't resist the bargain, and bought it. Then she noticed an inscription on it in runes. It wasn't a real word, but she could read it phonetically and pronounce it. When she did, the Scamps appeared!

After she realized they weren't going to harm her, she tried to drive them out of the house, but they just followed her everywhere. They were following the staff, but she couldn't put it down. Eventually she got word to her friend Alves at the mages guild, who researched the item for her.

The Staff of the Everscamp was created by Sheogorath to drive its owner insane, and it was working. She could only let go of the staff if someone else would willingly take it from her, or if it was returned to his shrine in Darkfathom Cave.

Fortunately, before long a hero had arrived to do that for her. He'd taken the staff to the cave and the scamps with it. She was so grateful, and gave him a ring she'd bought for an ex-lover who hadn't worked out so well. She was expecting him to visit again, and I got the impression that she had another reward to give him.

When he arrived, Aunt Rosentia introduced us. "This is my niece Virgilia, who's staying with me until she grows up a bit. I hope that won't take her too long".

It was the Hero of Kvatch! No wonder he'd had no problem sorting out Auntie's scamps for her. I was a bit eager and asked him if I could go along with him on his next adventure. Auntie thought that wasn't a bad idea and sent me upstairs to change into my new armor. "Take your time," she told me, "We have a lot to discuss while you're changing, and you need to make sure all the straps are done up properly."

When I came back down, the Hero looked at my armor and raised an eyebrow. He walked around me slowly, appraising it carefully. "Alright, let's go!" he said "Did you have anywhere in mind?"

The only place I knew to explore was somewhere called Barren Mine a short way north of towm. I'd heard someone say that there were Goblins there, and I'd never seen one of those before.

We left town through the North-East gate and headed up the road, with the Hero following me. After a while, he decided it would be better if he lead the way, so he could concentrate on watching out for wild animals.

That was all right with me, as it wasn't easy to stride along looking confident in those high heels, and the back of my armor does show a lot of skin! Well the front does too, but he'd need eyes in the back of his head - like my stepfather had!

Virgilia strides along

We reached the mine and slipped inside the door into the dark tunnel. I was quite excited at being alone in the dark with a man, but that was all ruined by a screeching, smelly creature who ran at me with an axe! I pulled my claymore off my back and defended myself as best I could, but there were too many of them. Something hit me on the back of the head and it all went black.

When I woke up my head hurt and the smell wasn't making it feel any better. There were several of the foul creatures lying dead, one of them on top of me. My armor wasn't covering everything it should, and I had to wriggle it all back into place. The Hero was watching with considerable amusement, and I was totally embarassed.

I wanted to go back to town, right away. We abandoned our exploration and headed back. It was just as well, my sword was bent, my armor dented, and I had a headache. And my boots may have looked good, but they weren't meant for comfort.

When we got back to town, he asked if I'd learned anything from our trip. I told him I never wanted to see a Goblin again. He asked about my impractical armor, and what I thought it was good for.

"Aunt Rosentia said it would be perfect for the type of adventure I needed" I replied. "But it was useless for fighting Goblins".

"That's because she was thinking of a completely different sort of adventure" he told me. "The kind that happens when men notice how pretty you are. And that armor was intended to make them notice. Does it unfasten easily too?"

I felt so stupid! I'd assumed that Aunt Rosentia was supposed to be holding me back, but she was really on my side! I was about to run back to her house and apologize for misjudging her, but the Hero said she might be busy.

I didn't understand that either, at the time.

We talked a bit more, and he asked me if it was my mother who'd sent me down to Leyawiin. I replied that it had been her idea, and he nodded. "I'd better go have a word with her," he said. "First though, we should go get some breakfast at the tavern."

I got back to Aunt Rosentia's just in time to see a stranger leaving the house. A rather good-looking man, with a smile on his face. When I went inside, Auntie was sitting at the breakfast table, wearing a thin night-dress.and an even bigger smile than the man's.

By the time the Hero returned from the city, I wasn't the same girl he'd left. I could call myself a woman now, Auntie reminded me. Once we'd cleared up the misunderstanding, she'd been able to help me to ... achieve my goals. Maybe she'd been too successful, as Leyawiin wasn't a large town, and there really weren't enough men to go round.

Our mutual hero had a solution for that problem. He'd talked to my mother, who had no objection at all to what he suggested. When he told me about Gweden, it sounded like the perfect answer.

"Bring your armor" he told me "you might get to use it again."

I did bring it, but it just reminds me of Goblins. I hate Goblins.

She shuddered when she said it, and that distracting jiggle happened again. She could tell that he'd noticed her this time. He was finding it diffficult to conceal his interest. She ran off to let the others know, and he permitted himself to watch her leave.







--------------------
Mods for The Elder Scrolls single-player games, and I play ESO.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Acadian
post Sep 30 2011, 12:17 AM
Post #16


Paladin
Group Icon
Joined: 14-March 10
From: Las Vegas



Ha! What a clever weave in of the everscamp quest. Nicely done with plenty of fun, humor and jiggling. It seems the Hero has touched plenty of . . . lives. tongue.gif


--------------------
Screenshot: Buffy in Artaeum
Stop by our sub forum!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Grits
post Sep 30 2011, 06:30 PM
Post #17


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 6-November 10
From: The Gold Coast



Well, Virgilia’s boots aren’t made for walking, and her greaves are definitely not for sitting down. I’m glad she found a way to put her gear to good use.


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ghastley
post Jan 10 2012, 06:44 PM
Post #18


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 13-December 10



A mention of Ancondil's warhammer, Persuader, reminded me of Sugar's negotiating axe. About time I had her tell her story.

---

Sugar gra-Mazog

"Sugar, this reporter from the Black Horse Courier would like to know all about how you came to work at Gweden" said Tsarrina.

The Orc looked down at him with a scowl, or was that supposed to be a smile? She began.

You may have noticed that there aren't many Orcs in this business. That's because we're not the best salespeople in Tamriel. We need a good pimp to handle the negotiating part of the transaction, or we just don't get the price we deserve. Once I take over, I give good value, and I don't get any complaints. Oh I know what you're thinking, but they come back for more, so it's not that.

So anyway, I thought I had found a pimp I could work with. A scrawny llittle weasel that I didn't really trust, but he had the usual Imperial way with words and he got the job done. Trouble was, he got greedy. He wanted a bigger cut of the gold, and I told him he wasn't getting it.

At first, he tried persuasion, including that Charm spell they all seem to be able to cast. Didn't do anything to me, so he got mad and pulled out his sword. Now that's the sort of negotiation I can handle, so I replied with my axe, until he saw things my way.

So now I'm without a pimp again. He's off getting his face healed, and I figure he's not likely to work with me when that's done. I move to the Imperial city, where I hoped there might be more potential customers, maybe even a few Orcs that know true beauty when they see it. Turned out that most of my customers were Bosmers, whose eyes never got up to my face.


(At this point the words "copious cleavage" are underlined in the reporter's notes)

I was sleeping in an abandoned hut in the Waterfront during the day and working the Arboretum in the evenings. Darkness seemed to help trade in several ways, and it meant I was sleeping while the others who used the hut were working, and vice-versa. I always took my negotiating axe with me, except for the one day I forgot, and that's when it was stolen.

Fortunately, that was also the day the Champion came by the Arboretum. Of course he was just another adventurer then, and I thought he was there on business. My business, I hoped.

So I start to chat with him, and it turns out he knows my old friend Mazoga! She grew up in my family when we took her in as an orphan. Well, not even that. She was born in our cave where we were all sheltering as refugees from the war. Her mother died in childbirth, and we never even got to ask her who the father was. So we named her after my father Mazog, and that's the only name she uses.

He told me Mazoga had become a Knight-Errant of the White Stallion, no less, down in Leyawiin County, and she was busy hunting bandits for the Count. Had her own home just outside town and all. It was good to knows she's on the right side of the law at last.

I told the Champion that it was a good thing she hadn't come to the city, or she'd be hunting down the thief who stole my axe. I just wanted it back, but Mazoga would be after the thief's blood. That's just the way she dealt with things - violently. He nodded with agreement at that.

That's how I came to tell him all about the axe, and the pimp, and everything else. He asked me if I'd consider coming here to Gweden when I got my axe back. Well, of course I would! My own bed, no Imperial pimp to cheat me, what's not to like about it?

When he brought me the axe, he told me all about getting it back. How he'd asked around the Waterfront until one of the beggars sent him to Armand Christophe. I knew the guy slightly, he lived a few huts down from the one I slept in, but I didn't know how much he ran the place. Apparently he has all the beggars in Cyrodiil telling him what's going on!

Someone had seen the thief in Bravil, so the Champion had followed him there. He'd tried to fence the axe down there, but nobody was buying. He'd gone off to some Marauder hideout to try and sell it there. That's where the Champion found him, dead. Still had the axe on him, so it seems the Marauders weren't buying either.

It was always a good axe for me, but I could understand how it wouldn't suit everyone. Heavier than usual, and drains the user's magicka. But it hits hard, especially when I'm using it, and it's durable, too. I still have that axe, though I never need it here at Gweden.

Well, that's not entirely true. I did need it once. After I'd been here a while, the Champ turned up with a bizarre tale about the Dark Brotherhood and a contract to kill me! It was that old pimp of mine behind it, and apparently one of us had to die. I didn't want any killing, but if it was me or Octavius, I knew who deserved it the most.

Champ was going to go off and kill Octavius for me, but I insisted on going along. I found my axe, and put on my armor. That got a few comments from the Champ about a "chainmail bikini", but it does get me noticed, and I'm not going to fight everyone I meet. Got to think about business, too!


What do you mean, skimpy? Look at the size of those pauldrons!

We set off for some Inn on the other side of Cyrodiil. The Drunken Dragon, I think it was called. A bit out of the way for an Inn, but Octavius was still in the pimp business, so a touch of seclusion was what he wanted.

The two sluts he had working the place hadn't seen him in weeks. As soon as they'd pulled in a few coins, he'd gone off to spend them in the city. The legion patrolman seemed to think Octavius had acquired the place a bit shadily, too. Seems the previous owner had been a Dark Brotherhood victim, and Octavius' claim to the property was somewhat doubtful.

We followed my ex-pimp to the city, asked a few beggars, and found him in Luther Broad's. He had an Argonian goon with him as a bodyguard, and they attacked us as soon as we walked in. I'm glad to say I got to finish off Octavius myself, with my trusty axe. Champ had sorted out the Argonian too, before Luther could even get the warhammer off his shoulder and help us.

We gave him the small amount of gold we found on the two as payment for the cleanup. He didn't want to take anything. We'd done him a favor getting rid of them, as they were obnoxious enough to drive his usual customers away. I could see his point.

The Champion and I parted company there in the city and I set off for home here at the farm. Just before I got to Skingrad, I was accosted by a highwayman demanding gold. I told him I didn't have any gold, but I could give him something much better than that. My armor doesn't hide much, and I could tell that he'd noticed.

I pulled him into the bushes and humped him senseless. While he was sleeping it off, I took his weapon, his armor, and everything else he was carrying, and sold it in Skingrad. He probably woke up naked after an hour or so, but I was long gone.I could have just killed him, but that was much more fun! He was lucky it was me and not Mazoga!

So now I keep the axe and armor in the chest at the foot of my bed, and I hope they can stay there. Gweden's a nice safe place. It's far enough from town that the drunks can't make it here without sobering up on the way, and there's the Legion patrolman to keep the peace, too. I like him, and I don't think it's just the discount rate that keeps him spending his spare gold here.

Oh, and my name? It's really pronounced Soo-GAAR, but it's written the same, so everyone gets it wrong. And in this line of work, that doesn't hurt any.



---

She's recounting what are two separate quests in the mod. The second requires the player to be Listener of the DB, and is started by taking to the Lucky Old Lady / Night Mother in Bravil. Since you have to have eliminated the publican of the Drunken Dragon earlier in the DB questline, it makes a perfect location for the new quest.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Aug 4 2016, 09:45 PM


--------------------
Mods for The Elder Scrolls single-player games, and I play ESO.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Acadian
post Jan 11 2012, 02:28 AM
Post #19


Paladin
Group Icon
Joined: 14-March 10
From: Las Vegas



Quite a collection of working lasses you’re building! Very nice how you tie many things to the game, from aspects of Mazoga’s background to the warhammer that Luther Broad does indeed carry on his back. Just a spoon full of Sugar!


--------------------
Screenshot: Buffy in Artaeum
Stop by our sub forum!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Grits
post Jan 11 2012, 02:31 AM
Post #20


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 6-November 10
From: The Gold Coast



She humped him senseless. laugh.gif


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post

20 Pages V  1 2 3 > » 
Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 28th March 2024 - 09:29 AM