Blood on the Moon, A Journey of Discovery Options

[Black Hand]

With fond familiarity, I raised the flap on the satchel ‘Thyna had given me at the site of the airship crash. The interior was divided into numerous pockets, each of a size to hold a single vial. The center row held restoratives and was raised slightly- which meant that a groping hand would encounter those potions first.

Excellent update all around, but, I chose this quote as the one being what I love about your story. The small attention to details like this that really bring the story to life.

[D.Foxy]

AT LAST I'M BACK!!!

Trey - you and Mrs. Trey are a tag-team combination that's hard to beat!!!

Now go get that Draugr!!!!

[Athynae]

Excuse me Foxy but I need to clarify something for you. THE Ms Trey resides at Indary's Manor and is the mother of my Athlain. I am the child of Athyn and Serene and was raised at Serethi Manor. Ms Trey, Aunt Baria, is like a second mother to me BUT she is by no means ME!

[Grits]

I absolutely loved this whole section.

An idea began to take shape, as slowly as the falling snow.

Wow, I felt like I was right there in Athlain’s mind. I thought this was a perfect paragraph. Athlain’s solid reasoning, wry mental asides, some justified grumbling, and the sense that he would jump into the icy water anyway.

The weight of my armor carried me downward until I landed on the bed of the lake. A sense of peace crept over me, and I shook it off with an effort. That feeling was one of the dangers of the spell that allowed me to breathe underwater- the idea that I had all the time in the world.

Even reading this gave a peaceful feeling. Right up until the wheezing howls. The description of the ice tunnels was just right. Squeezing through an ice fissure sounds like something one would do only after exhausting other possibilities. Yikes. Well, whatever awaits at the end, I guess it won’t be wide.

Oh my. Something seems to have stirred Athynae’s blood. Lack of sleep might be making her cross. Perhaps Athlain could give her a break by looking at something pleasant after this adventure. Let her have one dream about fluffy bunnies.

[SubRosa]

Hmm, This is what happened the last time I was entangled at Raven Rock. Thankfully Athlain's difficulties were not quite as toothy.

There were stories of people who “heard voices”- and they usually did not end well.
Not just in fiction either...

Those thoughts, along with the amusing image of my father seated at the table with four redheads
Is this a kind thought toward his father? Gods forbid, Athlain is indeed learning not to resent his old man.

And of course there would be monsters in every one of the caves- otherwise, why even bother to have a cave?
It's like that in Cyrodiil too. I have never found an empty cave there. I think the Union of Cave Makers have a partnership with the Monsters Guild.

A hilarious seque into Athynae' section, with her thinking about the servants bringing her tea before she woke! Her entire scene was so pure Athynae, it had me laughing and shaking my head the entire time!

And finally we are back with our intrepid Athlain. Very clever to put the Lich's lair under the lake. Now we shall see just who this bag of bones is, to be causing such a ruckus.

[Athynae]

SubRosa I am glad you enjoyed Thyna's thoughts especially regarding her tea. That is merely art imitating life in this case. No one wants to talk to me until I have had the first sip of my second cup of coffee, a lesson my children learned at a young age. The invention of a coffee maker with a timer has saved many lives...

Grits visions of fluffy bunnies would be a nice reprieve.

This post has been edited by Athynae: Jul 26 2011, 12:18 AM

[mALX]

I was being given the opportunity to be roasted, frozen, and drowned- all at the same time. And my reward for surviving that ordeal would be a chance to meet with what amounted to an ancient, flesh-eating lich lord.

Lol, that sums it all up in one concise sentence, lol.

The weight of my armor carried me downward until I landed on the bed of the lake. A sense of peace crept over me, and I shook it off with an effort. That feeling was one of the dangers of the spell that allowed me to breathe underwater- the idea that I had all the time in the world.

Oooh, great detail !!

I'll admit I couldn't stand the suspense and looked up this quest in the WIKI several chapters ago, lol. Just...had to know what was going to happen, lol. Great Write !!!

[treydog]

@Olen- Yes, I could not help myself. And we will leave cliff hanging for a bit longer…. Fishing requires a level of patience Athlain has never demonstrated. I think he would be more of a mind to “Cast a fireball in the water so as to catch AND cook the fish in one go.” I always thought that there should be the possibility of odd and variable side-effects from guzzling too many potions. You are correct that this next encounter will test him in unexpected ways. Nit noted and fixed.

@haute- And then there are the cars that go through the ice- and the floes that break away from the main pack and go drifting- complete with fishermen and ice shacks. Athynae is quite pleased with your approval- she thinks rather highly of Julian- who actually got Athlain to SIT STILL for several days. It is possible that knowing ‘Thyna is on the way might just propel Athlain into even greater flights of stupidity- he must know she will NOT be happy.

@Black Hand- Thank you so much. I have tried to take more time to make the world come to life in this story. And that bit of business was inspired by a passing remark in Athynae’s earlier installment.

@D. Foxy- Welcome! And thank you. Um (whispers)- my co-author is not Mrs. Treydog… But we appreciate the compliment all the same.

@Grits- Thank you so very much. Your descriptions- of the world- and of the people in it- are an inspiration. I am afraid the visions that will come to ‘Thyna will be more “furry” than “fluffy.”

@SubRosa- No velociraptors on Solstheim- thankfully. Teeth are in the offing, however. And yes- experience is teaching our intrepid soldier that dear old Dad actually knows a thing or two… I believe you are correct about the Cave Builders and the International Brotherhood of Monsters… My only regret about letting Athynae write her own scenes is that I did not think of it years ago. One draugr- coming up. But not yet.

@mALX- Thank you so much! I am laughing my way through Maxical’s meeting with the Immortal even now, and saving quotes with which to spam your thread. And- even though you will not be hanging from a cliff over the Draugr Lord, ‘Thyna has a nail-biter of her own coming up…

@Everyone- The story picks up with Athynae, following her departure from Fort Frostmoth. Words cannot express my appreciation for my co-author, whose words and ideas have given this story new life. Also- for those who are interested, check out the Character Interviews thread in the General Discussion section. Someone managed to get Athynae and Athlain together in the same room- at least for a little while.

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I rounded a slight bend and felt a rush of familiarity. I was near the cabin, the cabin where I had found Athlain as close to death as I had ever seen anyone that wasn’t actually dead; in the delirium brought on by addiction to skooma and then moon sugar. The light was slowly fading and I decided it was better to rest in the safety of the small dwelling. Although I knew it wasn’t the best of plans, I also knew that I needed the security it offered. Solstheim, darkness and lone traveler made a recipe that I had no desire to be an ingredient for. I veered slightly more east than north, hoping I would arrive before darkness engulfed me. I was not normally afraid of the darkness, nor of anything that walked in it, but that did not mean I should take foolish risks.

I quickened my steps, praying to Azura that my memory of the location was accurate. The shadows were growing longer and I began to feel as if I was being watched by every creature I had ever seen in my nightmares. Although I had often experienced the feeling that someone was watching me, I had never before been frightened by it; this was very different. By the time the cottage came into view I was at a full run, trying to stay upright, even when my foot caught on a root that I didn’t see. I vaulted onto the small porch and almost dove for the door. My hands scrabbled at the latch and I pushed inside and slammed the door behind me.

I’m in!!! Breathe, just breathe.

I held my eyes closed tight for a moment or two as my heart rate slowed to a more natural rhythm and my breathing followed suit.

I opened my eyes and saw that the room was exactly as we had left it. When? It seemed like a lifetime ago. I dropped my gear and struck fire to the lantern, releasing a contented sigh at the blessed light. I placed kindling in the fireplace and proceeded to build a fire to drive the bone-chilling cold back outside. I needed food. I dug through my pack for bread and kwama eggs. I remembered the honey on the shelf as I cooked the eggs and so I sat down at the table and ate what had to be one of the best meals I’d ever had…. Or maybe it was because I hadn’t eaten since before I left the ship…. I could hear Mother…

“ ‘Thyna! You have to eat! I know you get caught up in what you are doing, but you cannot just NOT EAT. I know only too well how easy it is at times to be so driven by your determination to see something finished, but in order to maintain your strength of body AND mind you must sustain the nutritional needs. Else one day your epitaph will read ‘Here lies Athynae Sarethi, she was at work on an incredible invention, but alas she was so focused she forgot to eat and so she starved to death before she saw it completed.’ “

I laughed out loud.

But as the laughter died, the memories began to roll in like water over a broken dam. Mother and Father at the dining table, both glowing as Mother’s pregnancy was becoming obvious. Mae and Cai in their normal mode of planning for their next victim –and Athlain warning me,

Do not ever get on their bad side.

Too late for that advice. I had left without telling them I was going; they were probably at that moment planning my unfortunate demise. My only solace was that least everyone else would quite likely be highly amused by whatever vengeance they exacted. Of course, I would be in dire need of a hidey hole where I could die of embarrassment without an audience.

And the memories continued, a flickering stream of images and incidents. Aunt Baria and Uncle Trey, almost as much parents to me as my own. Aunt Baria NEVER hesitated to scold me if she saw the need and had even taken my bow for “safe keeping” until I had learned a lesson after my careless actions one day. I had inadvertently pinned the gardener to the tree under which he was planting flowers. I had intended to remove the ridiculously tall hat he insisted on wearing, but he stood up just as the arrow shaft departed my fingers. So it had instead pierced the side of his tunic and then embedded itself in the trunk of the tree in such a way that he couldn’t free himself. The humor of the memory was tempered by the image of Aunt Baria’s face as she responded to his screams and realized that one of my arrows was responsible.

Athlain…Athlain. Watching him through the window as he searched frantically for the moon sugar I had just returned from throwing in the sea. Knowing if I had been delayed, even just a couple of days, I would have found his lifeless body. I didn’t know still if he had any idea how very close to death he had come. The truth had come to me in a flood when I performed the healing to ease the cramps that had racked his body. My healing senses found that his vital organs were struggling to even function from lack of sustenance.

Athlain I need you. I need to find you. I have to know that you are well.

I closed my eyes and imagined his face the last time I had seen him, the stunned expression when I kissed him and the way it changed from thrilled to dumbstruck when I told him I loved him. Just before I disappeared holding the amulet of Almsivi Intervention. That thought brought another; again I heard Mother’s voice:

‘Thyna, you know not what lies ahead; prepare now for the all the possibilities.

I needed to be ready when I found Athlain; feeding him dried twigs and leaves to heal him wouldn’t be quite as effective as a prepared potion. This cottage was as safe a place as any for me to put my alchemy skills to good use and reconcile my ingredients into a more useful state. That meant I would be there another day, but I had no idea what I would find when I caught up to Athlain. Nor did I know what I would need in the way of potions… either to get to him or to treat him once I did. With that resolution established, I decided I could rest. I removed the least flexible pieces of the white fur armor but kept the greaves as well as my bracer from Athlain. Then I stoked the fire and fell onto the cot, suddenly realizing how thoroughly exhausted I was.

Sleep found me quickly but so did the dreams…bodies and body parts strewn hither and yon, blood rivulets running across the stones on which the bodies lay and spatter painting the walls. I still didn’t understand why it was so quiet; was I merely deaf to the sound or was there no sound to be heard? I searched for a face I recognized, though none in my vision could be discerned….. The dream changed, and I felt frigid cold, burning heat -fire and ice were all I could see.

[haute ecole rider]

Well, another great post from 'Thyna! I have to say that Julian and I share a growing respect for this young woman - would that more young women were as brave, courageous and far-sighted as Athynae. The writing is immediate and emotional, while keeping us grounded in our overall place in the story. And we both agree that it's good that Athlain has a healthy respect (fear?) of 'Thyna. Does a baldness spell have anything to do with that?

I think I know the source of the vision 'Thyna is experiencing, but only because I share Athlain's POV, so it's recognizable to me. I wonder if 'Thyna will come upon Thirsk and discover the truth of the silence and the bloodied body parts. And what will she prepare potion-wise? I look forward to finding out!

[mALX]

the room was exactly as we had left it. When? It seemed like a lifetime ago.

This is universal, and readily understood by many - great detail!

Athynae has a touch of "ken" - something I always wondered about before because of her always timely interventions in Athlain's life - Great Write !!!

[Grits]

The interview was great fun. I love Athynae’s red tea cup.

Although I had often experienced the feeling that someone was watching me, I had never before been frightened by it; this was very different.

This made me chuckle. Now I wonder who that could have been?

Athynae’s return to the cabin is something I’m sure many can relate to. Finding a familiar place when you’re not exactly sure where it is feels to me just how Athynae describes it. And racing the last part with unseen creepiness behind her made me think of dashing up the basement stairs at night. *shiver* Although in her case, I’m sure the unseen danger is real.

I’m glad Athynae has gotten close enough to do something tangible, making potions. Perhaps now Athlain can go a day without receiving a phantom ear-flick.

[SubRosa]

More Athynae! I loved the recollection of her inadvertently pinning the gardener to the tree! Lucky for him it was only his tunic that was pierced!

And a wonderfully creepy vision of the mead-hall and the frozen lake at the end. I am sure that once Athynae heads north and sees the pillar of fire, it will all make sense to her. Unless of course Athlain takes care of business before she arrives.

[Olen]

It's all been said really. Athynae's parts have a huge mixture of introspection, memory, thought and events all woven together, but as said they keep a fairly close hold on the overall events (unlike another character at times). It works well both to tell the story but also with her personality.

I wonder who the watchers might be. I have suspicions...

[treydog]

@haute- Thank you so much for your words- they mean a great deal to us both. And yes- fear of premature (and permanent) baldness may be one reason for Athlain’s justified fear… A sudden vision of ‘Thyna and Julian standing together, discussing Athlain rather as two equestriennes might consider the points of a horse just came to me. Now THAT is a nightmare he has not yet had!

@mALX- Oh yes- she is very much Serene’s daughter in her tendency toward visions… If she happens to travel to the Imperial City, an accidental meeting with a certain albino Khajiit might shake the foundations of the Empire!

@Grits- I simply had to steal your red cup for ‘Thyna. She is a wonderful person- but… not without her beverage of choice in the morning. And yes- she has been “watched” by at least a couple of people her entire life- something which will be explored a bit more in the future. What her proximity to Athlain will mean shall be seen- but in the next post.

@SubRosa- I agree completely that the recollection of her past misdeed adds wonderful dimension to Athynae. It is good to see her more as she sees herself, rather than only through Athlain’s eyes.

@Olen- First- I am SO glad to see you writing again! And I will comment soon, I promise! Adding Athynae’s “voice is one of those equations where the whole is more than just the sum of the parts… I will be forever grateful for my co-author’s contributions. And I think your suspicions about the watchers are correct.

@Everyone- And now, we return to Athlain in the lair of the... well, he is about to find out.

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“You are brave or foolish to enter this place, Imperial soldier.”

The voice sounded of spiders and clotted soil and old tombs better left unopened. It was a voice that had long forgotten whatever it might have known of sunlight and blue skies. I wanted to bring my shield to the ready, but feared to make any sudden movement. And I could still not see the speaker, though he seemed to be in front of me. He continued in a musing tone:

“Brave or foolish… But I sense that you carry just a bit of wisdom with you. Or perhaps it originates with the one who walks by your side….”

I turned involuntarily to look- but there was no one there. The cryptic remarks and the mocking tone angered me, so I raised my mace threateningly and growled,

“You apparently wished to bring someone here, else why light that great signal fire? Which fire led to the deaths of many of my friends, by the way. And I do not appreciate your attempt to distract me with this talk of ‘one who walks by my side’. Well do I know that I am alone- as do you.”

The unseen speaker muttered something about “blindness,” and then spoke more clearly:

“Perhaps you are correct, and we are the only ones here. And yet, you can hardly blame me when your mind brings such a strong- presence into my chamber. But let that go; I am ancient by your reckoning, and have been alone for a vast span of time. So who am I to speak of companions? But perhaps I see less- or more- than you, with your mortal eyes.”

A deeper darkness moved among the shadows of the cavern, and a blackened, awful form emerged.

If I described the- creature- as “skeletal,” it would be correct and also useless. Certainly, his body was gaunt to the point that there was hardly any flesh left. The bits and pieces of fur armor that clung to him emphasized, rather than hid, the lack of mass. It was also true that the skin of his face had dried and shrunk so that his teeth were bared in a permanent rictus. And yet, a fierce vitality lit his red eyes and he moved with manic energy among the crates and benches.

“As to your complaint about a fire- I lit no fire, sent no signal to anyone. And I have no need of fire, beyond the illumination provided by these torches. There is no fire on all of the Mundus that can take the chill from my bones.”

His gaze grew sharper and his voice hardened: “As to the deaths of your friends, I doubt you would believe me if I expressed any regret. Still- I will not take the blame, either. And, I warn you- if you attack me or try to keep me from my task, I will kill you where you stand. Or perhaps I will perish at last in the attempt. But you should know- there are more dangerous things in these caverns than even this poor soul.”

I stared at Aesliip- for it must be him- with revulsion. But a quiet thought insinuated itself into my natural loathing for the undead. Hear him out. There will be time to react if he attempts to cast a spell. For now- listen.

I relaxed my stance slightly, but did not take my eyes off of the spectral creature. “You spoke of a ‘task.’ What task is that? And what is the danger? Why should I not view you as a foul, unnatural thing and act accordingly?”

He lowered his clawed hands in response and his eyes ranged the cramped confines of his “home.”

“I have been in this cave for many centuries. The draugr you met outside of my chamber are not my kin, nor are they my creations. They are mindless creatures, driven only by their desire for living flesh upon which to feed. Though I have been called ‘necromancer’ and worse, I do not raise the dead. No, my story is quite different. Will you at least grant courtesy to my venerable age, before you strike me down?”

The tone was again mocking, but also somehow… lonely. I could not easily reconcile the mind behind those words with the appearance of the speaker. But, it had never been my way to simply attack that which I did not understand, so I replied:

“Very well, I will listen- but I cannot promise more than that.”

“Truthful, as well as wise. Perhaps the world has changed, since I was forced to leave it. Or perhaps you too, are more than you seem….”

He let out a gusty sigh, wafting toward me reeking breath that I wished he had kept inside. But he missed or ignored my disgust, as his eyes were focused far away- in time as well as distance.

“I was once a mage, of those people who call themselves the ‘Skaal’. I was powerful in those days, young Imperial- powerful beyond the reckoning of my simple tribe. But I… strayed. I delved into the black arts and became learned in the ways of necromancy. When I was discovered, I was cast out by my people. Exiled and alone, I came to this place. All that was left to me was the quest for knowledge, the desire to learn and to accumulate more power. I continued my studies, discovering all I could of the ways of the living flesh and the energies that animate it. I became a summoner. I communicated with the Daedra and learned of their plans to destroy my people.”

He paused and I interjected: “Destroy the Skaal? How- and why?”

“At first, I thought it was my doing; that I had summoned the fiends and set them loose. But I soon realized that they were beyond my ability to compel or command. Worse, they sought to destroy all life upon this island, to slaughter the Skaal and all we hold dear. I knew I must act. As to the ‘why,’ who can truly understand the workings of such alien minds? Perhaps they hate humankind, or perhaps they simply revel in destruction for its own sake.”

His voice fell to a hoarse whisper. “I tried to warn my people, but I was an empty voice to them, as one who was already dead. So, I found my own way to protect those who had cast me out. I used my magic to erect a barrier deep in the ice, strong enough to contain those Daedra and prevent them from overrunning Solstheim. The barrier held; for years I maintained it. But I grew old, in the way of all mortals, and knew that my death would mean the end of all life on my beloved island.”

“Therefore, my life had to be extended beyond the mortal span. So I used my knowledge of the black arts and turned myself into the creature you see before you. A loathsome thing- a draugr- an Eater of Flesh. But… my life was infinite. I could keep the barrier intact and my people would survive.”

He paused and looked at me and his eyes were neither hostile nor angry… simply resigned.

“And now, you appear. Sent here to kill me perhaps? It is possible that you have the power to do so, but mayhap you have a greater purpose, one even you do not yet know.”

Despite myself, his story had swayed me; if it had been my death he sought, he could have attacked me any number of times, could have prepared a deadly ambush. And if he wanted my soul, he would find that it already belonged to another and would not be easily wrested away. Cautiously, I responded:

“And what ‘greater purpose’ might that be? To serve as a subject of your necromantic arts?”

He shook his head angrily and grumbled, “NO, you fool! I told you before; it was not my doing that brought you here. But, since you have arrived unasked and unheralded, I have a mind to end this contest with the Daedra. Fight by my side, young soldier. Together, we might vanquish the creatures and send them back to their unholy plane. If you agree, I will lower the barrier and we will cleanse the land of this threat. What say you?”

Indeed- what could I say? The easy, mindless answer was that Aesliip was a draugr, an undead, undying corruption and therefore- evil. And yet… there were even worse things afoot than this sad, powerful tatterdemalion whose eyes burned into mine. And, in truth, what trespasses had he committed? Had I witnessed those supposed crimes, or been charged with the task of exacting justice for them? He had denied causing the fire- and Heart-Fang had ordered me to “investigate the disturbance on the lake.” I had done so. And, if the draugr lord sought my death, there were easier ways to accomplish it than this convoluted story.

Resolved, I tapped Athynae’s Gift lightly against my shield and said:

“Very well. I will fight by your side. The Skaal are not my people, yet they are my friends. Lead the way.”

The undead wizard relaxed slightly, but his mocking tone returned as he spoke.

“So impatient! I have maintained the barrier for hundreds of years; I cannot dissolve it with a snap of my fingers! Conserve that youthful energy for when it is needed. For now, find somewhere out of the way and let me work. And don’t pester me with questions- this task will require my concentration.”

Feeling slightly deflated by the dismissal, I seated myself on a crate and let my mind wander. And, as it always did, that wandering took me to thoughts of Athynae. I stared at her mark upon the wax seals of the potions that were meant to keep me alive. I hoped she was still safe at my home; I prayed that she had somehow not heard of my foolish challenge to the Duke…. And it seemed that I almost heard her voice, sharp with anxiety and annoyance:

You were so close, why didn’t you come to the Manor? Why didn’t you come to see your family --AND ME?

[haute ecole rider]

And the mystery of the fire on the lake thickens! So the draugr lord is not responsible for the deaths of Athlain's friends? I'm not sure I believe him, but as it's Athlain and not I who stands there, I'll trust his judgment. For now.

And yes, how dare you pass so close to the Manor without stopping in to see your beloved?

[Captain Hammer]

Okay, it's officially been far, far too long since I've been commenting on other people's stories. Everybody turn and thank Destri for forcing me to get off my a$$ and write.

This was quite nicely put together. Aeslip's initial comments, identifying Athlain and his 'companion' was a great way of establishing his mystic credentials. Since I don't believe that he's been publishing any peer-reviewed articles in Arcane University Press Quarterly, you've gone for the next best thing.

Aeslip is one of my favorite characters from Bloodmoon, and his rather limited time to interact with the player probably plays a part in that. Also, his bada$$ ring, which I gotta say is probably one of the best items in the game.

I've truly enjoyed Athlain's development as he begins to discharge the various obligations he's stumbled into. You've brought a sharp but inexperienced youth out of the protective confines of Bal Isra, aged him (without quite irrevocably pickling him in Skooma) and have started growing the potential that is in him, without suddenly transforming the sapling into the mighty oak that his father seems to be. But he's getting there, and as I've gone back and read through this, I'm struck by how little this story is a tale of high adventure by a young man and his romantic endeavors, but instead it's a true coming of age story as a boy steps out of his father's shadow, and despite early incidents wherein he nearly gets trampled down, he's clearly not going anywhere. The return of a Daedric Prince's ritual hunt is merely a catalyst, and not the true heart of the story.

Now, on to a lighter note!

tatterdemalion
Not going to lie, had to look that one up. For those who want to save themselves the trouble (or just claim that they already knew): as a noun, it means 'tattered, ragged man or bum; dirty and unkempt sot; ragged tramp (my personal favorite).

You were so close, why didn’t you come to the Manor?
His mother was there. And there was no guarantee of seeing his Father, whose accumulated wisdom and status of "Not being your son, but your husband and Athlain's Father" would have allowed him to...mellow out that reunion.

Why didn’t you come to see your family
See above.

--AND ME?
Not going to touch this one. Not even going to mention "Cling Factor." Won't bring up "Such a thing known as Personal Space." Moving right past, without drawing attention to, "A Right to just a Little Privacy." Giving the barest passing acknowledgement of "Unfair Numerical Advantage of Supporters in What I Hope You Won't Turn Into a Fight."

See? Didn't do any of those things!

Not a nit, per se, but a question:

I turned involuntarily to look- but there was no one there. The cryptic remarks and the mocking tone angered me, so I raised my mace threateningly and growled,

“You apparently wished to bring someone here, else why light that great signal fire? Which fire led to the deaths of many of my friends, by the way. And I do not appreciate your attempt to distract me with this talk of ‘one who walks by my side’. Well do I know that I am alone- as do you.”

You end the first line with a comma, not a period. I understand that it's supposed to be an indication of the tone of the subsequent line of dialogue, but is it allowable to end a paragraph like that? I thought the proper way was to eliminate or relocate the paragraph separation, but as I am not a professional of the English Language, your knowledge is likely to exceed my own.

[Olen]

Yay more BotM. Good part, you caught Aeslip exactly as I imagine him and he's one of my favourite characters in the game. Exactly what makes necromancy so bad, and is it still wrong if you use it to save people? And is the unnatural creature good, bad or indifferent. He raises a lot of interesting questions. I'm glad to see Athlain took the time to consider what he had to say, if not the paradox which is the draugr lord (though he's not given to such considerations while on the job).

I lit no fire,

- Interesting, I don't remember this. I wonder who did.

Good stuff as ever. I can fully understand why he didn't visit Bal Isra on the way past. He had work to finish and didn't want to pass through only to have to leave straight away. And of course there's certain inconveniance which can be put off a little longer.

[minque]

Breathe, just breathe.

yay! Got me thinking of Grey's Anatomy, the soundtrack....Anna Nalick did that song, right?

As usual wonderful updates, oh do I like the "memories of Athynae" How she remembers her childhood, also she was an attentive child, remembering Serene being pregnant....with her **** Nope, not to be revealed yet if there's gonna be a brother or a sister...or both!

Very enjoyable to read on the first day of my return to Sweden...

[mALX]

If she happens to travel to the Imperial City, an accidental meeting with a certain albino Khajiit might shake the foundations of the Empire!

Yes, never get two redheads together in the same city if you want it to be standing, lol. Great Write!

[Grits]

The voice sounded of spiders and clotted soil and old tombs better left unopened. It was a voice that had long forgotten whatever it might have known of sunlight and blue skies.

*shiver* I love this!!

The tone was again mocking, but also somehow… lonely. I could not easily reconcile the mind behind those words with the appearance of the speaker.

I’ve been thinking about liches lately, what it would be like to turn to necromancy for some noble purpose and hate it the whole time. Now here’s a draugr who seems to have done that. He even finds himself loathsome. Should be an interesting ally.

And even a lonely, undead wizard finds a reason to scold Athlain. That made me chuckle.

You were so close, why didn’t you come to the Manor? Why didn’t you come to see your family --AND ME?

Gosh, with mystical women riding along in his mind, why should he go and visit in person?