Teresa of the Faint Smile, Adventures of a Stringy Bosmer Options

[Ceidwad]

Two excellent episodes; entertaining and revealing. Vincent of the Quick Step sure got what he had coming! Pappy, meanwhile, showed why he has made it to the top in the FG with such frank discussion of the gory details of one-to-one combat. Look how he coolly and systematically explains te best way of turning someone into a bloody, crippled pulp.

Teresa's naivete really comes through in the second episode. Alas, real justice often depends on how powerful you or your interest group is. And it's fair to say beggars do not rank highly on this list.

Some nice details in that second episode about how working class folk saw meat as a rare, protein-packed treat. This reflects how real life was for many peasants in medieval and early modern Europe; not only meat but cheese and protein in general was pretty rare, most days they just ate bread. I like how you weave these real-life references into your storytelling; they are always interesting.

[Acadian]

Teresa really shines here! From her anger over Aia being shunted out of view, to dragging the old beggar along to a wonderful lunch. Those fingers curling into fists are getting to be another wonderfully endearing Teresa trademark. And the lunch sounded divine. Redguard wraps and Tamika's!

More mystery that complements Buffy's wondering about what may have happened in Aia's past that would cause the old beggar to refuse to wear shoes or enter buildings.

And Aia proves that the beggars really do know what is going on, right down to Teresa's score during quals. Such wonderful depth on the history of Buffy, her parents, Kud-Ei and of course Daenlin. Yup -
'Her godfather was Daenlin, so while Nilawen took her into her store to live, he's the one who taught Buffy right from wrong. Like the old saying: to ride, to shoot straight, and speak the truth.'

And more wonderful hints that Teresa may try to get Daenlin to make her a marvelous new bow!

[King Coin]

17.1

Teresa is eating a crab? I thought she didn't eat animals.
Now I remember the statues! I totally forgot about those somehow! That explains why she is so eager to explore the ruins.

17.2

I'm keeping tabs on Teresa's progress on a giant map of Cyrodiil I have on my computer. How is it that the skeletons scare Teresa more than the zombies? Zombies are much more horrible. I like the screen shots. I was missing them in the past few chapters.

17.3

Oh no! She doesn't have any silver weapons! Holy crap that was intense, she was almost killed by that ghost. She's a novice dungeon diver and mistakes are bound to happen. Good that she was able to recover from hers. Learning the hard way indeed.

17.4

Oh good, for a second there I thought the bow was out of commission.
So Teresa gets to see her crush again eh?

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

18.1

That is absolutely delightful! I am so happy that Simplicia is doing so well. I was expecting her to be back on the streets to be honest.

Bah! Quit fretting, you look fine Teresa!

18.2

Opened with a familiar line for anyone who has played Oblivion. “Stop right there!”
Yippee its Vols! Brought a smile to my face pulling that joke on Teresa!
It seems his injuries didn't kill his humor at least.

Oh and I have to say this: Damn necromancers.

18.3

This isn't going to be pretty. Vols just grabbed a little thief making off with an apple.

I wonder what made him change from smacking Teresa around as a child to buying this one food?
What ever it was, I'm very pleased! My heart was sinking and now it's soaring!

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

19.1

"Oh, it was not that bad, only a few skeletons and a ghost," Teresa did smile then, albeit only faintly. Not that bad at all, she thought to herself, aside from nearly being killed...

This had me grinning.

Teresa's having a very good day! I can only hope her night will be as good.

19.2

After hearing Nerussa's story it really sounds like having her career destroyed was the best thing that happened to her. Nerussa really sounds like she is enjoying herself running the small inn rather than being a courtesan.

Teresa is having a good night after all!

19.3

I always enjoy seeing the main character of any story briefly though the eyes of another character. I'm so happy for Teresa!

This post has been edited by King Coin: May 13 2011, 06:48 AM

[Thomas Kaira]

Speak like Yoda, Aia does. Interested to know why she fears buildings, I also am.

When it comes to the Speaker for the Beggars, Teresa is the only one I can think of. She grew up as one herself, and now here she is, all growed up and turned into a respectable woman with a respectable job for respectable people and respectable meals and respectable clothes. Oh, and did I mention respectable shoes for Aia (if she will ever wear them)?

And I fully support her decision to rage a guard's face off if Aia is to be kept from the tourney. You show em, Lass of the Fiery Locks!

[Grits]

Teresa felt her ears burn hot at the comment, and her fingers curled into fists. "They are the ones who embarrass the city," she fumed. "What with that cursed skooma den doing business right under their noses, and a crimelord running the south island like it was his kingdom."

I’ve tended to see mostly the idyllic side of Bravil throughout the TOA, it was good to get a reminder of how the rest of it is.

I thought that looked a lot like Buffy’s outfit! How nice to see Teresa in a dress.

They live down there in this big fancy lodge by the river they do, and keep the countryside safe for them folk that live down there or travel through."

And here’s a good reason not to expect to see Buffy all of the time in Teresa’s Bravil after the Tournament is over.

I enjoyed Teresa’s lunch with Aia tremendously. Sharing food, wine, and information in the alley instead of Nilawen’s, they could both be comfortable.

[King Coin]

20.1

I knew after how good things were that something was going to go wrong. I just didn't think that it would be her friends hating her.

Oh my gosh, was she really going to use the arrow? She must have been very scary if even the thugs scattered. This is not the Teresa I'm used to. Her temper is running out of control.

20.2
Wow these past few chapters have been very powerful.

I'm happy Methredhel came for Teresa.

She has been shunned from the people she has been with her entire life. At least she still has Methredhel.

[SubRosa]

haute ecole rider: I went back and edited Vincent's walk of shame a bit to say that he was clutching his churning navel than his privates. That should make things more clear. It will be a few more chapters before Teresa gets her mitts on a Valenwood bow however, and it will not come from where most people probably expect...


Olen: Daenlin and Tadrose together! That would break Teresa's heart! (and probably surprise Buffy as well...) I do know the reason for Aia refusing to go indoors, but it will be a while before Teresa learns it. Eventually she will though. Like you, I have a hard time imagining Teresa in the Imperial City anymore either. Bravil is definitely her home.


Ceidwad: Yep, just as bread and porridge were the mainstays of the peasant diet for thousands of years IRL, they are in the TF as well. It is a sad irony that the people who produce nearly all of the food tend to be the ones to eat the least of it.


Acadian: Well, hopefully Teresa will start doing something about those fists before they do become ingrained! I remembered you liked the line about "to ride, shoot straight, and speak the truth." from BF 1.0. Is that from a song? I know it from the Persian Immortals, who were said to have been taught the same since birth.


King Coin: Everyone defines vegetarianism differently. You have never heard of them eating seafood? For example, in the U.S. Catholics are required to abstain from eating meat on Fridays. So they eat fish instead. It is only Vegans who will not eat anything remotely connected to animals. At the other end of the scale, there are even people who call themselves vegetarians who eat chicken. Go figure. Teresa has her reasons for eating crabs and other seafood, and not deer and cows. They will be further explored after she reaches Bravil.

Skeleton's scare Teresa simply because of how they look. The whole grinning skull freaks her out more than rotting flesh does (although she does prefer the smell of skeletons over that of zombies! ) Just one of her idiosyncrasies.

Vol's change of heart in that chapter was hinted at at the end. You will see more of that in future chapters as well, from his point of view no less. Suffice to say, Teresa's change of character has had a big impact on him, and has caused him to reexamine his own choices in life.

And you have seen Teresa's temper reach its most explosive point. That chapter shows just how much she has become accustomed to violence, and how little control she sometimes has over herself at times. Hopefully she will learn to reign that temper in...


Thomas Kaira: If only Aia had Yoda's powers! She could throw down against Darth Terentius and free Bravil from the oppression of the Sith. All without shoes!


Grits: Many people have commented that Bravil in the TF seems very quaint and charming. So I did want to acknowledge its darker underbelly as well. We will be seeing more of the shady side of Bravil in future chapters as well.

When Acadian told me what outfit Buffy was going to be wearing on the 3rd day of the tourney, I could not resist having Teresa wear the same thing to reinforce the synergy between the two Fs. Besides, the russet felt outfit is just the kind of thing Teresa would wear on a regular basis.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last episode, Teresa had lunch with Aia, and learned a bit more about Dame Buffy and Daenlin. Next she and the beggar head to the tourney grounds.


Chapter 34.15 - The Tournament Of Archers

"How about I buy you a pair of shoes?" Teresa said, looking down at the old woman's bare feet.

"Oh, not for me," Aia held up one hand to wave off the idea. "Never stand the things could I. Make my toes feel like they're strangling do they."

Then they were at the North Gate. As they passed through the stone gatehouse, the sound of armor clanking at a jog made Teresa turn her head. Through the people on the avenue behind her, she saw a pair of armor-clad men coming up at a trot. One was a Redguard wearing steel plate. A Dwemer mace hung from his hip, and a small kite shield was in his left hand. The other was an Orisimer clad in gleaming Dwemer armor, with a great elven war hammer slung over his back.

"Ancondil! Chance!" Teresa exclaimed. "What are the two of you doing in your armor? Do you have a contract?"

Screenshot

Screenshot

"Sort of," Chance breathed as the pair came to a stop next to Teresa and Aia.

"We shall be offering our services at the wagering booths," Ancondil explained, "providing the winners with escorts to the Temple of Zenithar."

"But the tournament hasn't even really started yet," Teresa said under beetling eyebrows. "What is there to bet on?"

"People will gamble on anything." Chance grinned. "There are standard wagers on every qualifier. Will they get a perfect shot, perfect flight, or perfect round? Will they miss completely? Will they shoot over eighty? Or seventy? There's a lot of money to be made."

"And with it, plenty of opportunity for pickpockets," Ancondil said. "That is where we come in."

"That is brilliant of you two!" Teresa thought aloud. The mass of people crowding both the fairgrounds and the city was a succulent target for thieves. Teresa imagined that the smartest were watching the gamblers to see who won, and arranging a rendezvous with them afterward. It was just the kind of thing Methredhel would do. A smart winner would hire one of her guild mates to walk them to the temple, where they could deposit their money into the safety of the church vaults.

"And how about the two of you?" Chance looked from Teresa to the old woman beside her.

"This is Aia," Teresa said, turning to the beggar. "She's a friend of mine. We're going to the fairgrounds to watch some of the qualifications. Aia, these are my guild mates, Chance and Ancondil."

"Oh, knowing them I am," Aia said as she first looked to Chance. "Real popular with the womenfolk this one is. Out to dinner he took two of them on the same night, without either of them knowing!"

Then she turned to Ancondil. "Plays the lute and writes poetry this one does. Got connections in Cheydinhal too, in the Mages Guild. Invited to Lady Scaurus' ball you are tonight, along with our dear Teresa."

"Well, you certainly are well-informed!" Ancondil exclaimed as the group resumed their walk to the fairgrounds. "I only received the invitation a few minutes ago."

"Talk servants do," Aia said with a twinkle in her eye. "Just like water, flows downhill it all does."

"I never got invited to a ball," Teresa said under scrunched eyebrows. "Why would a patrician want anything to do with me?"

"Oh, waitin' for you it will be when you get back," Aia said, patting one of Teresa's hands with her own. "Count on that you can. Liking you the lady is they say, what with you guiding her out in the forest the other day, and healing that bear in the woods durin' the harvest."

"Besides, you're the best shooter in the guild!" Chance declared. "I saw your score on the board. People are betting on you to win the whole thing you know."

"What!" Teresa's eyes threatened to leap from their sockets. "That's crazy! I'm not that good. Did you see how Daenlin scored? or Dame Buffy? I don't stand a chance."

"Hey, when it comes to having a chance, no one knows better than me," the Redguard laughed. "You are going to do good."

Then they reached the line waiting to get into the fairgrounds. As before, City Guardsmen stood at every entrance, while others wandered in and out of the crowds that entered and left. Teresa reached into her Thieves Bag and withdrew her guild medallion. A moment later she hoisted it over Aia's head and lowered the shield-shaped pendant and its heavy chain down around the old woman's neck.

The two men raised their eyebrows, but said nothing as they came up to the entrance. Instead they both took off their gauntlets to show blue ink stamps on the backs of their hands. Proof that they had already paid for the day's entry into the grounds. When Teresa and Aia reached the grounds, one of the guardsmen stared at the beggar.

"Her kind's not allowed here," the mail-clad warrior proclaimed, stepping to block the entrance.

Teresa opened her mouth to speak, but before she could Chance stepped between her and the guard.

"Her kind?" the Redguard growled. "Let's just talk about her kind."

Then Ancondil stepped to his shoulder. Saying nothing, he merely glowered down at the Bravil soldier.

"No beggars allowed on the fairgrounds," the guard muttered, looking from one armored man to the other. "No exceptions, by order of the Count."

"There aren't any beggars here," Chance said, now turning to Ancondil. "Do you see any beggars? I don't see any beggars."

"I see none at all," Ancondil answered. "We are all members of the Fighters Guild. Your Count never said anything about the Fighters Guild being barred from the fairgrounds did he?"

"What's holding things up?" the voice of another man came from the back of the line. The author came into view with a jingling of mail. Another City Guardsman, Teresa saw, who looked familiar for some reason.

"Marius!" the first guard exclaimed, "this bunch is trying to sneak in a beggar!"

Now Teresa knew the man. He stood guard alone at the entrance to the city nearly every day, on the north side of the river. He had been there the day she had arrived in Bravil, and she could not count the number of times she had passed him while coming and going from the city since then.

"Do I look like a beggar?" Teresa faced Marius with her hands on her hips.

"No," the new guardsman admitted, looking from her to Aia. "Not one bit."

"Then what is wrong with our money?" Teresa grumbled, holding up a pair of quarter-cut drakes. "It isn't good enough for your Count?"

"It's just fine," the guard said. He stepped forward to take cut coins from Teresa and dropped them through the slit atop a locked box at the gate. Reaching for an ink stamp on the table next it, he tattooed the wood elf's hand with it, and then Aia's. "Enjoy the tournament citizens."

Teresa could not restrain a faint smile as she looked Marius in the eye. She would never forget his name - or face - again.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: May 16 2011, 03:29 AM

[haute ecole rider]

Yaaay, Marius! There has to be at least one guardsman with a heart in Bravil!

I loved how Teresa solved the problem of Aia's entry into the tourney, and even more so, how Chance and Ancondil backed her up without discussion. "I don't see a beggar, do you see a beggar? No, I don't - just us Fighters Guild!" Way to go, guys! I'm liking them more and more as you keep writin' 'em!

One not-really-a-nit as it isn't part of the story: it's the use of reign. I'm noticing people are using the wrong reign versus rein. Rein refers to the straps on the bridle that riders hold to restrain their horses from going forward. Reining them in slows them down or stops them, in the context that is being used, rein would be the appropriate choice as it restrains forward momentum, energy or recklessness. Reign refers to the rule of the king, and is more appropriate when referring to a period of time, such as the reign of the sun in the daytime sky, or the reign of Masser came to an end as it dropped below the western horizon.

One easy way to remember (though it's so ingrained in me it's automatic which to use, but for those unfamiliar with equestrian terms, here ya go) would be that reign is associated with the king. If you are not talking about the king's rule, you don't need the gee.

[mALX]

After Teresa's prank she'll need to be careful of eating or drinking anything in that guild for a while (unless she wins the tourney, lol) Vincent may retaliate with his own version of the "Electric Kool-aid Acid Test."

Like Haute, I assumed it had to be pee because of the placement of his hands as he ran (but wanted to cover all bases just in case). Her description of the actions of someone with the scoot's was quite accurate (and funny). It is probably better you didn't post any actual ingredients that cause it though, in case someone tries it out and gets arrested for poisoning a fellow employee, lol. "I learned it from SubRosa's story ... "

The above was written when you first posted 34:14, I had to stop reading due to the trip. Now I finally have time to finish reading this episode! (Yeah !!)

How like Teresa to become inflamed at Aia's treatment, ready to take up arms and dare anyone say it in her hearing - Awesome example of what we all know and love in Teresa !!

The old Imperial bit into the sandwich with a look of surprise and delight.

"Beef this is!" she declared. "Are you knowing how long it's been since meat I've eaten?"

"Probably months," Teresa imagined aloud. Meat was rare enough for working class people, but even they could usually afford it once a week. Beggars were not nearly so lucky. Teresa could remember what it a treat it was, back when she had still been able to stomach meat.

"Years," Aia mumbled through a mouth full of spicy Redguard food.

Teresa's inner thoughts and worries over Aia - clearly the woman reminds her of Simplicia, but it goes deeper than that. Teresa's identity is strongly entwined with the homeless, which is proven as the memories of her own hunger and how much it meant to get the occasional scrap of meat back then.

As it was she did her best not to think about the poor animal that died to make the wrap, and instead she simply focused on the happiness of the old woman.

How touching this was, setting aside her own strong feelings about meat consumption to give Aia something that Teresa knew from her own experience would be a rare treat for the woman.

I am really enjoying Aia's dialect as well, an awesome touch to aid in envisioning the scenes with her!

A great episode - ooh, and a Buffy sighting !! Now to read 34:15 !!!

[mALX]

Chapter 34.15 :

Teresa said under beetling eyebrows.

Love this description !!! In fact, your sentence tags in this chapter are Awesome!! Each moves the story along while giving a delightful description and impression of Teresa's (or another's) expression as they speak - loved that touch !!!

Chance and Ancondil coming to Aia's (and Teresa's) rescue was huge! Really shows the closeness of Teresa's guildmates to her that they would step up whether their own inclination was there or not.

Teresa could not restrain a faint smile as she looked Marius in the eye. She would never forget his name - or face - again.

Wonderful wrap-up to a chapter that has to be added to my favorite Teresa (not a hero) lists !!! AWESOME WRITE !!! (As always !!)

*

[Ceidwad]

Aia's dialect is interesting - reminds me of Thorn, the court jester from Final Fantasy IX. Any particular reason behind this? It's a nice touch at any rate.

Yet again, Teresa's righteous fury leads her to defend the weak and helpless. She is clearly a generous soul, as are her companions. (Quite the opposite from my mage, who barely acknowledges the poor's existence, let alone condescends to talk to them.) As others have said, this side of Teresa's character builds nicely on her past life experience and her empathy with the poor makes real sense.

[Acadian]

Lots of smiles to be had here!

Having the FG involved in contracts to support winning betters is a great idea and makes perfect sense. And how handy your church sponsored banks are!

Aia knows everyone/everything, she does! Certainly about Chance, Ancondil, Dame Buffy, Daenlin and formal ball invitations!

I see that like Buffy, Teresa has ferreted out a Bravil guard who is worth his salt. Buffy knows three of them like that. The rest. . . well, not so much.

Oh, I so hope that Aia enjoys her time watching some shooting on this last day of tourney quals. And perhaps looking at some of the wonderful shops and merchant tents/stands (even if she can't afford to buy). It's pretty much all outdoors, so Aia should be comfortable! As we noted, Buffy also commented on Aia's mysterious fear of wearing shoes and entering buildings. Here's hoping that Teresa can figure out the reason and possibly even help Aia.

So, it seems Ancondil and Teresa may be going to a fancy ball! How neat!

[ghastley]

The thieves' guild are right: the beggars know everything that goes on. Most people have trained themselves to ignore them, so they can be right there is plain sight watching, and they won't be seen. They'll get all the juiciest gossip from the servants to the nobility, too.

The Fighters cohesion is definitely showing; they instictively know how to support each other in any situation. I suspect they're collectively just as aware of the beggars as an intelligence source as the Thieves are, just less reliant on it as they work alone less often.

And now Teresa needs to go shopping. She's got a formal ball to attend!

[Grits]

Chance and Ancondil, I sure like to see those two together!

"What!" Teresa's eyes threatened to leap from their sockets. "That's crazy! I'm not that good. Did you see how Daenlin scored? or Dame Buffy? I don't stand a chance."

I love Teresa’s natural and spontaneous reaction here. She is clearly among friends, with no need to hide or minimize her feelings.

"Her kind?" the Redguard growled. "Let's just talk about her kind."

Then Ancondil stepped to his shoulder. Saying nothing, he merely glowered down at the Bravil soldier.

And this is why I like to see Chance and Ancondil together!

Teresa at a ball, who would have predicted it! With the foul Countess from Leyawiin most likely in attendance, I hope Teresa can control her flaming fist of death.

[Thomas Kaira]

Stickin' it to the Man, Teresa is. Most proud of her, I am!

Sometimes, despite how Teresa would want none of the fame she is gaining, it really does pay off to be noticed. This is one of those chapters where she is finally coming to grips with being a woman of some status, and fairly good status too. Being a member of a reputable band of mercenaries who are known to get the job done in as honorable a manner as possible is quite a tie to her name, after all.

She is certainly come far as a character. I remember back when she was nothing more than a street urchin with not a Drake to her name and no confidence in herself whatsoever. What a turnaround! This really cannot be stressed enough, you have shaped one of the greatest characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading about.

[Olen]

Took me a couple of days to catch up this time... but it was worth it. When I said see Daenlin with Tadrose I meant Teresa with Tadrose going to his shop (I can't really see the other way being likely), but I was monsterously unclear.

"People will gamble on anything." Chance grinned. "There are standard wagers on every qualifier. Will they get a perfect shot, perfect flight, or perfect round? Will they miss completely? Will they shoot over eighty? Or seventy? There's a lot of money to be made."

The first thing which sprung to my mind was spot fixing. 'I bet she misses the second arrow in the untimed short range', with good odds I suspect. A couple of thousand on that, miss and split the profit - one house for Simplicia...

"Besides, you're the best shooter in the guild!" Chance declared. "I saw your score on the board. People are betting on you to win the whole thing you know."

I wonder if he's thought the same... not that I can see Teresa going through with it at the end of the day.

You showed some more of the guild comeraderie with Chance and Ancondil's unquestioning acceptance of Aia. Them getting her into the event was great, fun stuff with the bewildered guard.

And a ball in the near future... I wonder if the invitation will be for two, and whether Teresa will work up the courage to ask a certain smith, if she hasn't got one. Doubtless Aia knows all, and hopefully I will soon

[SubRosa]

haute ecole rider: And now we know why Marius has the crap job of standing guard alone at the front gate nearly every day...


mALX: Yes indeed, after spending nearly all of her life as a beggar and street urchin, Teresa cannot help but to identify with those same people. Not to mention feel more comfortable around them then "respectable" folk.


Ceidwad: I gave Aia that way of speaking because - as others have noticed - she is very similar to Simplicia. Both are old, Imperial women who are beggars. And both have a motherly relationship with Teresa. So I wanted something that would make Aia stand out and be unique. Yoda to the rescue!


Acadian: I have been looking for ways that the FG could earn money thanks to the tourney. Hence the Breton diamond merchant from earlier, Teresa's picnic expedition, and now Ancondil and Chance's idea to bodyguard winners.


ghastley: One of the things I like about Oblivion is how they use the beggars as more than just window dressing, but actually put them to work as intelligence-gatherers. Such an excellent role for people whom as you say, have a way of being invisible to everyone around them.


Grits: The encounter with Chance and Ancondil gave me an opportunity to show the kind of loyalty inspired by Pappy. All for one, and one for all, as the old saying goes. We have seen how they hang out together, now we finally got to see how they will not hesitate to throw down for one another.


Thomas Kaira: Teresa is a rebel! Next she'll have a Che Guevera poster in her room. She has indeed come a long way from that street urchin who was practically afraid of her own shadow, to standing up to guardsmen on a principle.


Olen: You are a nefarious one! Luckily Teresa is not so devious to throw the tourney to win a bet. But I doubt they would let the contestants bet, just because of that.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last episode, Teresa and Aia made their way into the tourney grounds, with a little help from Chance and Ancondil. In the process Teresa met a city guardsman who appears to be an ally. Next, Teresa and Aia enjoy the 3rd day of qualifications.


Chapter 34.16 - The Tournament Of Archers

"Now shooting, Aradroth of Bravil!"

Even as high as she and Aia sat in the stands, the announcer's voice still boomed in Teresa's ears. She looked down to see the mer in black lurking at the firing line. Like the first time she had seen him at Nilawen's store, the indigo linen he wore was rumpled, and his hair was a tousled mess. He raised a recurve bow like that of Parwen's, and skillfully put his arrows into the target.

She watched with rapt attention as the other wood elf went through the rapid-fire round next, and then finally the long range shots. He did not do as well as she had in the quick-fire, she noted with a tinge of pride. But was far superior in the final flight of arrows.

Teresa frowned. She was never going to do well with a long distance score like the one she had in the qualifications. She knew that she could do better. She had in the past - such as at Belda - when it really counted. So why was it so much harder during the tournament?

"At it again, there you are," Aia teased from beside her. "Calling you 'of the Faint Smile' they are, 'cause of you always looking like that."

Teresa fumed. "They call me that because that fetcher Vincent played a practical joke on me! Now all of Cyrodiil is going to be calling me that."

"Oh dearie," Aia shook her head, "calling you that people have been since you first came here. If wantin' to know why you are, then look right there." Aia pointed to Teresa's face, and nodded sagely.

"So what if I don't grin like a fool all the time!" Teresa huffed. "Maybe I don't have a reason to?"

"Not carin' if you do or don't is I," the beggar said quietly. "But why is it that you do?"

Teresa opened her mouth to reply, then shut it again a moment later. Why did she care? So what if people called her that? Of all the nicknames to have, it was hardly bad. Not like 'Teresa who can't hit the broad side of a barn' would be, or 'Teresa of the corpse-white skin', or 'Teresa of the dyed hair'.

"I'm sorry Aia," Teresa breathed. "I didn't mean to snap at you."

The next archer came up to begin her first round, a Dunmer with red hair. Teresa mused over what Ancondil had said about the Shadow Self. What was lurking in her Shadow, that was making her so angry? What would she find if she began turning over the stones in her Lower Self? Would she like what she saw? Probably not. Yet could she afford not to?

Ancondil had not gone into details about how he had faced his Shadow, just that a priestess in Cheydinhal had taught him to meditate. She imagined that it was in those meditations that Ancondil met his darker side. He had suggested that she talk to one of the priestesses of Mara at the Benevolence.

She could try talking to Olava about it, but imagined that the priestess would simply laugh in her face. Who wouldn't?

Bear would not, Teresa thought. Nor Raven. Nor any of the other Nirn Spirits. Could they help her face her Shadow? If she journeyed to her Astral Temple to face her Shadow, would either of them come to her? Or even a new spirit?

She would find out.

Teresa looked up to see the Dunmer archer make her long distance shots. Again, far superior to her own. Teresa sighed. She was going to lose for certain. Glancing up at the scoreboard, she saw the dark elf was named Zerina Sarethi of Gnisis, and made a mental note to remember it. She had no doubt the other woman would make the finals.

"Doing good you are," Aia interjected into Teresa's musings. "Look at your score. Not many better than that, there are. In the finals you'll be for certain."

Teresa stopped and looked over the long list of contestants. There had to be at least a hundred, if not more. Yet Aia was right. Only a handful had scored higher than she had. How could that be, when supposedly the best archers in Cyrodiil were attending? Not to mention outside it, as she was certain that Gnisis was nowhere within the Imperial province's borders.

"Shooting next, Alawen, ranger of Anvil County!"

Teresa looked down to see the next archer. She was a wood elf, and carried a composite bow like that Parwen. Her hair was sandy brown - the same color that Teresa's was underneath the henna that dyed it red - and she wore a suit of leather armor nearly identical to the Bravil forester's own as well.

A loud shout erupted from the stands as the ranger took her first shot. It must have surprised the ranger, for Teresa could see her hand jerk as she released. Wincing as the arrow flew downrange, Teresa saw that Alawen at least hit the edge of the target, albeit barely. So it was not a complete disaster for the Bosmer from Anvil.

Alawen took long moments to compose herself after that first, errant shot. Yet when she began firing again Teresa simply stared in amazement. Alawen's form was near flawless. She drove every following arrow into the bullseye except for one. Teresa's jaw nearly dropped at the display, and she was certain she was not alone. Still, her final score was an eighty four. Only slightly behind the reigning champion Daenlin, and his protégé Dame Buffy.

The Bosmer ranger walked from the field to the cheers and applause of the crowd, Teresa included. Alawen was the most amazing archer that the young wood elf had ever seen. Yet even still, she had not matched Bravil's two experts. What would it be like tomorrow, to see all three of them shoot? Teresa had to admit that she was looking forward to that more than competing herself. She was simply not in the same realm as that trio when it came to archery.

As if summoned by her thoughts, the same golden-maned Bosmer that she had seen from the alley fell under her gaze. Dame Buffy herself, Teresa thought, and sitting beside her was her godfather Daenlin. The Bosmer knight appeared to be staring directly into her eyes, and Teresa bit her lip. Then the plainly-dressed woman smiled, and lifted her hand to wave. Teresa wondered if the blond was really looking at her after all, and could not keep herself from glancing to either side. Yet when she saw none other waving back, she found her own hand raising in a shy reply.

Then a line of people stepped in front of her, moving from their seats farther down the row to the aisle next to where Teresa and Aia sat. After they had left, Teresa could not find the two Bosmer archers in the crowd again. It was as if the mass of people had simply swallowed them up. Twenty thousand, Pappy had said, and the stands were nearly full today, being that the finals were tomorrow.

The next archer was a high elf from Chorrol named Honditar. Where Alawen had been simply an Aedra of the bow, he was not even a Daedra. Kurz had shot better, and she had overheard the Orisimer tell Ancondil that he was not really a bowman, but an axe fighter.

Teresa's gaze wandered again, down to the velvet-draped boxes at the lowest level of the amphitheater. Patricians and equites sat on cushioned chairs within, being served what was undoubtedly wine and brandy in silver goblets. Teresa thought she recognized one of them. A middle-aged Imperial who graced her seat like it was the Ruby Throne of the Empire itself.

"Tell me about Lady Scaurus," Teresa asked Aia. "What is she like?"

"The Great Lady of Bravil, Metella Scaurus is," Aia replied, following Teresa's gaze to the private seats below. "Born here in Bravil she was, a year before that fetcher Jagar Tharn betrayed our good Emperor - the gods rest his soul. Her father was Oppius Scaurus. Owned most of the land around here before the silver was found, he did. A gold mine too, up in the Great Forest, a bit off the Green Road. Sold a lot of the land he did, when the city grew up around the silver. Lots of little villages today, like Silverbridge, Strawbottom, and Sunsheight was all his land once upon a time."

"Went off to the Imperial City the lady did when she was a youngin', to get all educated properlike," Aia went on. "Came back she did, when her father passed. Just your age she was then, younger maybe. She's run the family fortune ever since."

"Did she marry?" Teresa asked. It seemed odd that she had never heard of a Lord Scaurus. Imperials always wanted to marry. It seemed the most important thing in their lives. Although why escaped Teresa.

"Almost she did," Aia sighed. "Fell in love with a dashing young knight did she. Sir Horatius Cocles. Died he did in High Rock, yet saved the city of Wayrest he did from marauding orcs from Orsinium. Single-handedly he fought 'em at a bridge, while burned down behind him it did. Some say it was the orcs that killed him, others that he drowned in the river when the bridge collapsed. But either way, died he did, and the orcs couldn't cross."

"Broke the poor Lady's heart it did," Aia went on, "and her just twenty at the time. Poor thing. She never did court another man again, and for that honor plenty have competed, to be certain! Since then, it's the Queen of Bravil she's been though. Come and go the Counts do, whenever the Elder Council appoints 'em, or sends 'em packing. Won't be soon enough when they send this one on his way, let me tell you." The old woman spat on the wooden boards under her feet for emphasis. "But Lady Scaurus, she's the soul of the city. Always lookin' out for us poor folk she is. Gives us places to sleep in the winter, when it gets really cold, and passes out bread so no one starves. Holds the biggest balls too. Not just this one for the tourney, but every Saturalia she throws a grand one. In Rain's Hand she has a costume ball on Jester's Day. Then of course there's the Mid Year festival, and the Emperor's Birthday. You can always tell what time of year it is, by the ball Lady Scaurus gives."

This post has been edited by SubRosa: May 18 2011, 02:29 AM

[haute ecole rider]

The really wonderful thing about this Bravil tourney is the ability it gives us to see the same events and the same cast of characters from two different perspectives. I recognized several moments in this section from the BF, yet they were infused with Teresa's own spin on things.

And a little more of the history of the town and of the mystery of the Lady Scaurus. So she won't settle for anything less? Both Julian and I can relate to that!

How appropriate that the history of Bravil is being highlighted in the TF. Natives of a town tend to be less interested in the history of the place they grew up in, than they are in those of new places. Things a native like Buffy would take for granted are noticeable to an outsider like Teresa. Though she isn't much of an outsider anymore, I would think.

[mALX]

I found Lady Scaurus intriguing on her jaunt to see a bear, and welcome this background on her with hope it means we will see more scenes of her with Teresa. There was a chemistry between the two that made me hope a friendship could develop between the two women.

The idea of a close friendship developing with Lady Scaurus was intriguing because Lady Scaurus doesn't mother or need mothering/doesn't lust or inspire Teresa's lust - the friendship wouldn't have a basis in needs, but in an equality and likeness of spirit and soul between the two.

I have added this chapter to among my favorites, Teresa is just beginning to come into her own, losing some of her skittishness and the beginnings of uncovering the shadows that haunt her - really Awesome write !!

[Captain Hammer]

I am growing amazingly fond of Aia. These past three installments are excellent. There's a fine line that exists between a good character and a good talking head, but you walk the distinction with grace. I can easily see how she knows all that she knows, without thinking that we're meeting some old dusty scholar or hermit that's spent her life collecting information but not truly living.

And getting her into the tournament was just a treat. Easiest way to sneak something is to march it beneath everybody's nose.

'Teresa who can't hit the broad side of a barn' would be, or 'Teresa of the corpse-white skin', or 'Teresa of the dyed hair'.
Must resist urge. Difficult. Extremely. Strong. Temptation.

Sir Horatius Cocles. Single-handedly he fought 'em at a bridge, while burned down behind him it did.

Publius Horatius Cocles, right? Still, I could more believe that the man died in the act as you describe, rather than the arguably conflated legend of Ancient Rome. I remember first reading it and thinking "This can't possibly be an actual event."

Still, stranger things have happened...

This post has been edited by Captain Hammer: May 20 2011, 01:38 AM