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

[ghastley]

" collected more of Umbacano's statues. " - is this a clue to what's about to happen? She'll probably need help again, those ruins never seem to be empty, do they?

[SubRosa]

haute ecole rider: I think the glass armor is ugly as well. If it is supposed to be fragments from Aetherius, why is it green? The stars are not. That is why I used a mod to change its color.


Ceidwad: Nope, no mountain lions. Not yet at least. But a one indeed.


hazmick: Not exactly how Teresa had always hoped Tadrose would take her clothes off, but it is a start I suppose!


Acadian: Excited, distracted, frustrated. Sounds all too typical for our wood elves! The indeed, thank you for lacing that up for me.


Olen: I had fun working on the miran-talurn armor. I even made an oblique reference to it in the previous chapter, when Parwen was talking about Valenwood.


Jacki Dice: Poor Teresa. It is not easy keeping your composure around that special someone, especially if you do not know if the feelings are returned.


Grits: I am glad someone noticed Tadrose's slip of the tongue about Teresa being able to get into and out of the armor, because it is indeed for Henantier's customer.


ghastley: Some are empty, but I never go into much detail on those. Thankfully Teresa has a way of getting help in the most unexpected places.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In the last episode, Teresa found that Sir Valerius Nasica had joined the Bravil FG. She was also disappointed to learn that Tadrose would not accompany her to Bawn, but did get the opportunity to try on a new suit of armor for the smith.


Chapter 35.2 - Bawn

Teresa emerged from the gloom of the North Gate and held up a hand to shade her eyes from the glare of the mid-morning sun. Then the wooden planks of the North Bridge were under her feet, and she turned her eyes downward to study the waters of the Larsius meandering past on their lazy journey to the bay.

As always, part of her wanted to shrug off her leather armor and leap into the waves below. Yet she still remembered the fuss that had caused the last time she had done so, with her clothing on no less! The idea of the soldiers running around in a tizzy did bring a faint smile to her lips. But there was no point in shocking people for no good reason. Granted, the City Guardsmen probably all knew her as the crazy wood elf by now anyway.

"Greet the sun Teresa."

The voice of one of those City Guardsmen lifted Teresa's eyes from the waves. With the olive skin and dark eyes of a Nibenean, he stood at the far end of the bridge that spanned the river which bordered Bravil's northern wall. Like all of the city's soldiers, he wore mail armor that was covered by a cream surcoat emblazoned with the brown and green stag of the county's regalia. A kite-shaped shield was gripped in one of his hands, painted with the same stag, and an arming sword was slung at his left hip

"Well met Marius," Teresa let her faint smile continue to grace her features as she took in the Imperial. Almost every time she entered or left the city, he was in the same place standing guard. More importantly, he had helped her take Aia onto the tournament grounds, in spite of it being against his Count's orders.

"Off to Silverbridge again?" the Nibenean asked as Teresa stepped up to him.

"Not this time." The wood elf shook her head. "I am headed for Bawn. I expect I'll be gone at least a week. What is that they are doing over there?"

Marius turned his head to follow Teresa's gaze, which now lay upon the half-mile long field that stretched away from the east of the bridge to the waters of Niben Bay. The wattle fence that had blocked it off during the tournament was now gone. So was the city of merchant's tents and the great wooden amphitheater that had once filled the expanse. Now raggedly-dressed figures shambled to and fro across the grass, occasionally bending to lift things from the ground and put them into small buckets which they carried.

"I thought they cleaned up the garbage after the tourney?"

"They did." Marius answered. "But they did not dismantle the amphitheater and ship off the wood until afterward. The carpenters left old nails from it all over the place. People and horses have been stepping on them for days."

"So the Count is actually paying someone to pick it all up?" Teresa allowed a single eyebrow to lift in surprise. The Count of Bravil parting with a single drake unnecessarily seemed more unlikely than him transforming into Mara herself!

"Oblivion no!" the City Guardsman chuckled. "Lady Scaurus is paying the beggars a septim for every pound of nails they bring her. I hear she's going to melt it all down and sell it to the smithies. Some of it'll probably end up in your vice-commander's armory."

Teresa allowed a real smile to escape her features for an instant. A septim! she thought, that was a fortune for street folk like Aia or Cosmus. Yet not only was Lady Scaurus helping them, but also cleaning up the fair grounds at the same time. "That sounds like the Great Lady alright. I wonder how much money she is going to lose in her enterprise?"

"Probably not too much," the soldier said. "But it's for a good cause, and I'm sure she can afford it, with that gold mine of hers up the road."

"Well I have a long walk ahead of me," Teresa said, looking back to the Nibenean. "I hope you have a good and boring shift."

"The same to you!" the Imperial laughed as the forester walked off to the west. Having served as a bodyguard herself on more than one contract, Teresa knew just how precious a day of nothing happening was. It was what every guard hoped for, because when things were exciting, it usually ended badly for someone.

As she passed the barns and corrals of Bay Roan Stables, her thoughts drifted away to the previous night. She had faced her Shadow again, and had not been sure what to make of it. Even now she wondered if she understood what she had seen?

"I'll do it Simp-" the Bosmer child's words were abruptly squelched as she collided with a velvet skirt. Looking up, the youngster found the fearsome visage of an Imperial woman glowering back down at her. Her white hair framed her face in a Breton Braid, and her eyes were dark as Oblivion. Before Teresa knew it, one of the Imperial's hands licked out to slap her across the face.

"Gutter tramp!" the woman - who was clearly a patrician - spat. "Try to steal from Lady Appelia Caesennius will you!"

"I didn't!" Teresa recoiled, feeling pain flare hot and bright within her cheek. "I never tried to steal nothing!"

A shadow loomed over Teresa. Looking even farther up, she found it was attached to the largest Colovian she had ever seen. He wore mail armor, and a mithril mace was tucked into his wide, leather belt. With one gauntleted hand he reached out for Teresa. By reflex, she tried to spring away. But the Imperial was too quick, and his armored paw locked onto one of her arms with a vise-like grip.

"You will address the Lady by her title, you tree-hugging thief!" The Colovian growled like a hungry dog that had found its next meal.

"Please! Please! My Lady!" Simplicia's thin voice quailed in Teresa's ears. A moment later the old and worn-out Imperial appeared before the patrician. "She didn't mean no harm! Teresa is a good girl!"

"What is this?" the white-haired lady said, "another thief? Is this twig your accomplice then? She distracts me, while you cut my purse?"

"No, no, no, it ain't like that at all!" Simplicia cried. "Just an accident it is. Teresa's little, she doesn't always look where she's going. She didn't meant nothing by it my lady. I swear!"

"Of course." The smile that lit upon the patrician's features was that of a serpent which had cornered its prey. "An accident. The bald-faced lies you proles spout are beyond me. Is falsehood so ingrained within you, that you cling to your deceit no matter how obvious the sham?"

"No, no!" Teresa cried. "She's not lying. We didn't try to rob you. You're the liar, accusing us falsely!"

"Keep your lying mouth shut, you white-skinned freak!" To punctuate his words, the Colovian buried a mailed fist into Teresa's stomach. She doubled over his arm like a wet sack, while agony tore through her midsection. She was only vaguely aware of the hand on her arm slipping away, and fell hard onto the pavestones of Market Way.

Gasping for air, she tried to pull herself to her feet, yet found herself collapsing to the stones a moment later. A forest of linen-clad feet moved to and fro around her, and a glance up showed the usual crowds of plebeians making their rounds in the busy Market District street. Naturally, every one carefully avoided noticing her, as if she was invisible.

"Don't harm her great lady!" Simplicia's voice came to her pointed ears. "Please, do whatever you want to me, just don't hurt my little girl!"

The sound of something hard impacting flesh came to Teresa's ears a moment later, and she heard a sudden ooof! of air being expelled from someone's lungs. Clawing to her knees, she saw Smplicia lying in the street a few feet away, clutching her midsection. A moment later the leather boot of the Colovian found its mark in her ribs, and she doubled over even more.

"That will teach you scum to mind your betters." The patrician swept off with her nose higher in the air than White Gold Tower. The Colovian took a moment to glower at Teresa. Again, he reminded her of nothing so much as a dog eager to bite. Then he strode off to catch up with his mistress, and both vanished in the crowds.

"Why Simplicia?" Teresa felt hot tears spilling across her cheeks as she stumbled to the old woman. A pair of thin arms wrapped around her a moment later, but the comfort they provided was little recompense for the pain that flared in her cheek and belly. "Why? We didn't do nothing!"

"I know, I know," the old woman gasped, and pulled herself to her feet. Drawing Teresa from the street, she collapsed against the chipped white-wash of an insula a moment later. "It doesn't matter. Not when it comes to patricians. They can do as they please, and got the law behind them."

"But it's not fair!" Teresa railed. "What gives them the right?"

"They were born noble, that's what," Simplicia said with a grimace. "Life is all about how you were born. We're proles, and that's all we'll ever be. Best to stay away from rich folk, and never let them notice you. Keep your head down, and you'll stay out of trouble."

At first, Teresa had thought this was the reason for her unease around all wealthy folk, patricians especially. But she was still not sure. Since then she had met enough equites and patricians alike to understand that not all of them were monsters, like that white-haired noblewoman on Market Way. Lady Scaurus was proof of that, as was Valerius.

But even a decade later, Simplicia's words still rang in her ears. "Keep your head down, and you'll stay out of trouble." That had always been Simplicia's mantra, that the old Imperial had told her over and over again throughout life. Yet where had it gotten Simplicia?

If not for the Emperor, she would have never learned to raise her head. Never would have clawed her way from the gutter. Never would have learned that she had value. What would her life have been like, if she had been born different? What if she had been born to someone like Emperor Uriel? or Decimus Rabirius? or Daenlin? How much better would her life have been?

Teresa shook her head and stared down at the stone bridge that gracefully arched over the Larsius at Silverbridge. What was she thinking? Simplicia had never done anything but her best to take care of her. Even when that patrician's thug had beaten her up, Simplicia had put herself in the path of his bootsoles. All for her.

Shame filled her, hot and wilting as the Midyear sun. She stared down at her own leather boots. She owed so much to Simplicia. Her very life. What kind of daughter was she, to think that way?

Teresa sighed. She stepped onto the cobbles of the bridge, shoulders slumped in defeat. Facing her Shadow was harder - and more painful - than she had ever imagined.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jun 24 2011, 01:44 AM

[mALX]

Sorry it took so long to get over here and read, this month has been unbearably hectic so far.

These armors are beautiful, did you make these mods yourself? I half agree with Grits on this one, "Nice to see Tadrose practicing getting Teresa out of her bodice and chemise, even if it was only business." - only half agree, because the feeling that comes across is that Tadrose knows how she is affecting Teresa.

Another shadow tackled. I can see Simplicia giving that advice, it is so like what one sees in her until they speak to her and she brightens up and raises her head - that you caught that action of hers is Awesome !!!

In Teresa remembering the Emperor and the changes he wrought in her at the end of this last chapter - it is raised to a new level, comes around full circle - Awesome effect! Wonderful Write !!

[haute ecole rider]

And we have another wonderful snippet of Teresa's past. Man, that Colovian makes Volsinius seem like a puppy dog! Ugh, another patrician to hate. Every story has to have one of those, it seems, but making her an old woman really adds to the story.

And Teresa is right, it doesn't quite explain why she is so uncomfortable around patricians. Oh, I'm sure it's a part of it, but not the whole story. Wonder if we'll get to see what else?

And that Lady Scaurus is a canny one, that. Hiring the poor to pick up nails, and melting them down to sell to the smiths. My kind of entrepreneur!

[Acadian]

'Granted, the City Guardsmen probably all knew her as the crazy wood elf by now anyway.'

"Oblivion no!" the City Guardsman chuckled. "Lady Scaurus is paying the beggars a septim for every pound of nails they bring her. I hear she's going to melt it all down and sell it to the smithies. Some of it'll probably end up in your vice-commander's armory."
Talk about an efficient passage! Here you confirmed (much to my delight) that Teresa has made friends with at least one guard in Bravil, confirming that they are not all bad apples there. Secondly you remind us who the grand lady of Teresa's Bravil is and why. Thirdly, you confirm what an unpleasant tightwad His Pompousness is. Fourthly, you let us know that Teresa and Marius really do know each other as Marius references Teresa's guild membership. And finally, it suggests something that you have built into TF - that is, that there is likely a touch of camaraderie (and perhaps friendly rivalry) between soldiers and fighters guildsters.

'Having served as a bodyguard herself on more than one contract, Teresa knew just how precious a day of nothing happening was. It was what every guard hoped for, because when things were exciting, it usually ended badly for someone.'
And more evidence of a bit of a professional relationship/understanding between the soldiers and the guild. The main reason I quoted this passage however is for its simple truth.

Your flashback was wonderfully done. Powerful, poignant and relevant. And leave it to an insecure wood elf to somehow guiltily condemn herself of betraying her mother for even considering the possibilities of having been born into different circumstances.

Nit: 'But the Imperial as too quick, and his armored paw locked onto one of her arms with a vise-like grip.'
Of course you meant 'was' here, but the 'w' got dropped somehow.

[King Coin]

I haven't had a chance to really sit down and read Teresa in a while. Glad I got to today.

29.1

What a wonderful way to open the chapter. She's been in the Guild for a few days and has settled into a routine. We follow her through the city on her morning jog and take in the sights.

29.2

Worried about not looking good Teresa? Tadrose should ease those fears. She's been in the guild a long time and you can't help but check her out whenever you can

She's really fitting in well in the guild hall.

29.3

You worked in the little apprentice perk for archery in this episode I see. She no longer gets tired from shooting. I like how flawlessly you worked that in.

The training and talk afterword is very enjoyable. Glad to see Teresa finally getting along with Pappy. When's that temper going to strike again?

29.4

More relationship building. Not much to say other than it was just as fun to read as the training.

I wonder as well, does Tadrose remember those little things for everyone? Or has she taken a special liking to Teresa?

[hazmick]

A brilliant chapter! Teresa battling with one of her inner Daedra and showing us more of her past was brilliant. I am also plaesed to see that Teresa has made another friend! She's becoming quite popular.

Appelia Caesennius. I'll remember that name in case she pops up in future chapters. For her sake, I hope she doesn't bump into Teresa.

[Grits]

Realizing that she is better off for not following Simplicia’s advice would be painful, especially if Teresa is not sure that’s what her vision is showing her. It’s painful enough to relive these memories, but she also has to struggle to interpret them. Too bad they don’t come with an explanation. Teresa facing her shadow is a fascinating inner journey.

[King Coin]

Finished 29
29.5

Shock would have been better but fire is just as good for most enemies. It will be handy if Teresa ever encounters trolls or vampires.

This meal should be great. Teresa can enjoy everything that Pappy has brought out.

The spot at the table set for the fallen is wonderful. A touching tradition.

29.6

I sympathize with Teresa. I hate being the center of attention.

As soon as he said pain the neck, I knew it was definitely our Teresa he was talking about!"

This line gave me a good laugh!

[Ceidwad]

Like all of the city's soldiers, he wore mail armor that was covered by a cream surcoat emblazoned with the brown and green stag of the county's regalia. A kite-shaped shield was gripped in one of his hands, painted with the same stag, and an arming sword was slung at his left hip.

Nice description of the armoured guard here. I can picture him now!

The flashback was really outstandingly done though, as was Teresa's thoughts. Life is tough at the bottom - in the TF anyway - so how could Simplicia have taught Teresa differently? She recognises this, after initially telling herself differently. Simplicia's advice kept Teresa safe, that is the main thing.

[Olen]

Like Acadian said for the words with Marius I found that the flashback also contained a lot of different points. Certainly there is some of the root (though as she realises far from all) of her dislike of nobility, but there's more too. I suspect it might be her first realisation of how justice fails and planted the seed of some of her rage but that rage is made worse by her lack of realisation that the memory is also one of Simplicia giving frankly bad advice. Safe advice certainly, but perhaps not the best.

That she owes so much to Simplicia makes her feel guilty about thinking she's wrong, even if it's the truth but it also links to her station and birth which in turn links to her biological parents, as with the previous section. It's certainly a tangled web you've created and quite plausible that she doesn't see through it, I suspect both becasue it's difficult and she doesn't want to.

This facing the shadow is very well done. Using the flashbacks to fill journey time is a nice idea too.

[SubRosa]

mALX: I did not make either of those armor mods. The first is a simple retexture, I cannot remember which one. The second is the miran talurn armor from Shdw Armor Pack 2.


haute ecole rider: I have a lot of Facing the Shadow scenes worked out. I thought this one where she meets the mysterious white-haired patrician was perfect to feature, as it creates a wonderful juxtaposition to Lady Scaurus' philanthropic efforts. The Great Lady is one of my favorite supporting characters.


Acadian: Was indeed. Lousy spellchecker, ought to know what I want, rather than what I wrote... That whole first half was indeed meant to portray the growing relationship between Teresa and Marius of the Gate. He features highly in a future episode, so I want to establish him beforehand.


King Coin: I wanted to say Teresa was a pain in a lower body part, but the forum wouldn't let me! That gives me a good laugh too, because it is so true!


hazmick: I really don't have any future plans for that white-haired patrician. But you never know...


Grits: Teresa could really use a shrink to help her with this, someone who does not have an emotional involvement with Teresa, or the people in her life.


Ceidwad: I worked hard on getting that description of the guard right. It has been a while since I described them, and I wanted to refresh everyone's memories with how they looked.


Olen: You have pretty much hit all the things I was looking to accomplish with that flashback. Not just why poor people dislike and distrust the aristocracy, but more importantly, Teresa's own deep-seated feelings of resentment for the person who raised her to be safe, but also to not have respect for herself.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last episode, Teresa set out from Bravil, headed for the Arimer ruin of Bawn. On the way she mused about her latest bout of facing her Shadow, which was deeply troubling, as it brought to light her resentment over the mistakes Simplicia made in raising her, as well as her own feelings of shame and self-recrimination over having those feelings toward the woman who raised her.


Chapter 35.3 - Bawn

Teresa leaned down to gather up a handful of hazelnuts before continuing on her journey. She had collected quite a bit of nightshade, mandrake, bergamot, and arrowroot in her three day journey around the southern end of Niben Bay. But where the latter were meant for potions, this would be dinner, along with the sedge, sheep sorrel, and hen plant seeds she had been finding ever since turning east along the shore of the lake.

Teresa continued on her way, and soon the oaks, cottonwoods, and striped maples around her gave way to tilled fields. Now empty of their produce, the mounds that had once hosted the Three Sisters lay covered in discarded squash leaves. The wood elf made her way through the empty fields, remembering how Olava had told her that those leaves would provide a mulch to enrich the soil.

The sweet scent of woodsmoke came to Teresa's nostrils as she neared the sturdy walls of a village. Unlike Silverbridge, this settlement was well-fortified. Its first line of defense was a ditch, and behind it a palisade doubtlessly created from the leftover dirt. Atop the mound of soil rose a wall of thick oak that ringed the settlement. She could see a square tower crowning each corner of the walls, occupied by at least one guardian apiece. Making her way to the main entrance of the settlement, she found a pair of great wooden gates bound in iron. While one stood closed, the other was open for people to pass through.

Pausing a moment to make sure her red Fighters Guild medallion was in plain view and had its sword-emblazoned logo showing, Teresa strode to the entry. She found a trio of men clad in worn flax waiting for her there. Each clutched a round shield in one hand, and a steel-tipped spear in the other.

"Halt stranger! Who are ye, and what's yer business in Maplemill?"

Teresa blinked, and turned to the man who had spoken. By his olive skin and raven-black hair, she took him for a Nibenean. Even this far from a major city, she was not used to such a curt greeting. It made her wonder if they had been having more than the usual problems with bandits, or other dangers in the wilderness?

"I am Ter-"

"Teresa of the Faint Smile!" another human exclaimed, cutting the wood elf off in mid-sentence. He also had the dark hair of an Imperial, yet from his fair skin and blue eyes, Teresa imagined he was Colovian by birth. "I saw you in the tournament! I could not believe that last round you shot, all rapid fire!"

Teresa tried not to sigh. There was that name again. It seemed that there was someone in every village she stopped at who knew her by it. It had even been in the most recent copy of the Black Horse courier, that had covered the Tournament of Archers.

Still, it was really not so bad, she thought. At least it made winning the trust of strangers a little easier. Mustering up one of the faint smiles she was now famous for, she did her best to be amiable.

"Yes, that is I," she said. "Well met friends. I was hoping to fill my waterskin from your well, and perhaps ask for some directions?"

"Well any member of the Fighters Guild is welcome here," the last man said. Unlike the others, who were clearly in their prime, this man's hair had gone to grey, including that of the short beard which covered his face. "I'm Spurius, that is Tertius who saw you at the tournament, and Cincius who gave you the warm greeting."

The first man turned a little red at the other man's words. Then made a point of looking away and striding past Teresa to stand in the open gateway. Spurius waved her to follow, and led her deeper into the settlement. In the meantime Tertius vanished from sight so quickly that Teresa wondered if he had used an invisibility potion.

There was not much to the main street of the village. It was really just a simple dirt path wider than most of the others between the wattle and daub homes that made up the settlement. Chickens and goats ran to and fro underfoot, along with children playing a game of tag. Teresa saw women putting up laundry, men adding new thatch to the roofs of their homes, and other folk simply going about the daily life of a farmer.

"I have to say, it's good to be seeing someone from the Fighters Guild out here again," the old man said as they walked. "The Bravil Guard never comes down here, and we haven't seen the legion since the Fourth Cohort went marching by back in Midyear. On their way to Bruma I suppose they were."

Teresa nodded. It was the same everywhere. Ever since the Oblivion Crisis, there were just not enough legionaries to go around. She wondered how much longer it would take for Volsinius to train their new recruits, so the patrols could go back to normal again?

"It must be hard, this far into the wilderness," Teresa said. "Have you had any problems lately? With trolls, or anything else?"

"No, not yet at least," Spurius said as they came to the well. Teresa lowered the bucket down into its depths, and began the slow process of cranking it back up once she felt it grow heavy with water. "We keep to ourselves here in Maplemill. 'Don't go looking for trouble, and trouble won't find you' I always say. I hear a few months ago some kids from Thistledown went into the Haunted Forest. Don't know if they ever came back. Damned idiots, ought to know better."

"The Haunted Forest?" Teresa asked as she lifted the bucket - now heavy with water - to the stone lip of the well. Dunking her waterskin within, she filled it with the clear liquid. "Where is that?"

"Up north and east o' here, just before the coast." The old man pointed toward the back of the village for reference. "Right outside of Bawn. Cursed both are I say, by that damn Witch from the island. Smart folk will stay clear of all three."

"You're not telling that Witch story again are you?"

Teresa turned to see the Colovian from the gate - Tertius - standing with a woman she imagined might be his wife, and a boy who was the spitting image of both. Like Tertius, they were clad in simple flax, but Teresa could not fail to notice the small self bow clutched in the child's hands.

"Put a spell on me that freak did," Spurius spat. "Gave me the look he, or she, whatever the blazes it is, did. Since then I…" the other man's word trailed away as he looked at the woman and child. Teresa wondered what it was he was going to say, that he did not want to bring up in front of them? Something very personal, and male, no doubt!

She could not contain another faint smile at the thought, and wondered who this Witch might be?

"That Witch never hurt no one," the woman with Tertius spoke up now. "She's a right kind one she is. Without that potion she made for little Marcus here, he'd still have blood lung."

Spurius grumbled something about the gate, and stomped off back the same way he and Teresa had come from. Teresa could not keep from thinking of Morcant as his back receded. Half the villagers who lived near her seemed to be just as fearful, yet also just as willing to use her services when they needed them. Why on Nirn were people so afraid of Witches?

"The Mages Guild tells them to be," Morcant's words floated up in her memory. "Not to mention the temples. Because every time someone comes to us, they are not making money."

"This is my wife Baebiana, and our son Marcus," Tertius declared, gesturing to the pair of Imperials beside him. "Marcus here is going to be an archer when he grows up. I was sort of wondering if you might be able to give him a few pointers? What, with you being such a champion archer yourself."

Now Teresa understood why he had vanished earlier. She wanted him to teach his son archery! Her of all people! How on Nirn could she explain to them that even after ten years, she was still learning herself?

Yet when she looked down into the dark brown eyes of young Marcus, and the shy hope that glowed there, she found that she could not say no. "Well, Alawen is the champion archer," Teresa said, "but I suppose I can do what I can."

"Capital, just capital!" Tertius beamed enthusiastically.

"We cannot afford to pay you, being simple farming folk as we are," Baebiana said. "I can offer you a good meal of fresh cornbread and fried squash though, and a place to stay the night."

"Well I won't be staying the night," Teresa said as she gazed at the noon-day sun overhead. "But a hot meal does sound good."

"Where is it you are traveling to?" the other woman asked as Tertius led them from the well.

"Bawn," Teresa said.

"Bawn!" Tertius nearly sputtered. "You don't want to go there! If Spurius was ever right about anything, it's that place. Haunted it is. Folk say they see strange lights in that old ruin, and none that goes there come back again!"

"Has anyone been there recently?" Teresa asked as they rounded a farmhouse and stepped up to a straw-filled archery target behind it.

"No one goes there," Baebiana said. "But sometimes the fishermen from Thistledown see it in the distance. They say it's dangerous. And out here, there's no legion to come to the rescue if you get in trouble."

Was all that just superstition? Teresa wondered, or was there really something in Bawn? She remembered Culotte, and the small army of skeletons waiting inside. Or Vilverin, with its bandits and the necromancer who had slain them. Could Bawn be like one of those ruins? Then again, Fanacasecul and Sedor had been empty of all but dust, and Anutwyll hosted nothing more dangerous than a scholar from the Arcane University!

One way or the other, she would find out. But first, she had a young man to teach.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jun 27 2011, 06:53 PM

[hazmick]

Teresa's school of archery. How wonderful! Young Marcus is learning from one of the best.

Some lovely descriptions of Maplemill and it's residents, and of their fear of Bawn, it's very mysterious. I can't wait to see what Teresa finds!

[Grits]

I love the fortifications around the Maplemill community. To me the town has a frontier flavor, which fits so well with the isolation from Imperial and county guards that we later hear about from the locals.

The Bawn trip keeps getting more intriguing. A Witch on her island, a Haunted Forest, strange lights and disappearing folk! Sounds dangerous. Let’s go!

[Olen]

Nice bit of worldbuilding there, and without even a hint of infodumping, it just flowed. The set up of the community makes sense and gives a real feeling of isolation with the Imperial law being a distant thing and the local militia holding power. It worked well to foreshadow the next stuff too.

I wonder if the missing kids will make an appearence, and what state of life/death/undeath they will be in. I suspect there might be residents of this ruin, though I could be wrong. Certainly it sounds dangerous and out the way - what could be more tempting

Spurius

His name made me smile, I'm not sure if you meant it to be pronounced 'spurious' but given he's the old guard given to telling stories and possibly in need of some Ginseng...

Her fame is a nice touch too, your world is reacting to her and developing. Now people want lessons!

[Acadian]

What a lovely interlude. I could feel and almost taste Teresa's comfort at being alone again in the forest. You provided a lush and easy to visualize description of Maplemill.

In the short interactions Teresa had here, you treated us to whole host of wonderful memories and cross references - You reminded us it is after fall harvest by describing the state of the fields and a welcome reminder of Olava. How the battle of Bruma had depleted the Legion and that Vols no doubt had his hands full training new soldiers. Teresa of the Faint Smile, one of the very top ranked archers in all Cyrodiil! And pressed into instructor duty she is! A nice mention of dear Alawen from our modest forester. Teresa's confidence that her Fighters Guild medallion might provide her some credibility - and it did. A wonderful reference to Morcant. A tiny review of the other ruins she has cleared.

Then you tantalized us with plenty of mysterious rumors, be they legends or superstitions. I can only imagine the trouble adventure Teresa will find in the episodes ahead.

[haute ecole rider]

What a lovely walk from Bravil! That is one of my favorite parts of the Green Road.

Teresa's thoughts as she walks toward the ruin that is Bawn is a great way to remind us of several events in Teresa's story - Morcant, Volsinius and the cost of the Oblivion Crisis on legion resources, the job with Olava.

I really enjoyed the vignette of village life and the three guards. I do not wonder why Spurius got the curse, nor do I wonder at the nature of it. Fitting punishment, if he attempted what I think he did.

I remember the first time someone asked me to teach them something. I was shocked - I didn't consider myself proficient enough to teach someone else, but obviously this person thought otherwise! I've been a professional student far too long to think of myself as otherwise, let alone a teacher! So I totally relate to Teresa's disorientation at being asked to teach the young boy a few archery tricks. I'm glad she agreed to do her best. I'm sure it will be more than enough!

[ghastley]

On the teaching question. It's often good to be taught by someone who's just a little more proficient than yourself, because the teacher remembers the problems you're having. The real experts forgot those, or never had them in the first place. Perhaps that's what makes Parwen a good teacher?

[SubRosa]

hazmick: Hopefully what Teresa finds will be a surprise, but not unexpected in hindsight.


Grits: A Witch, a Haunted Forest, and a mysterious ruin? I guess its time for the Scooby Gang to crank up the Mystery Machine and head on out!


Olen: I have a long list of Latin names from Rome Total War that I use for my Imperial characters. Spurius is just one I picked out of the list at random.


Acadian: Next up ahead, more foresty goodness.


haute ecole rider: I love that little peninsula south of Bravil.


ghastley: I never thought about it, but you may have hit the nail on the head with Parwen.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last episode Teresa stopped in the village of Maplemill. She learned from the locals that Bawn was not too far off, there was a Haunted Forest nearby, and a Witch. Finally, she was pressed into service to give archery lessons to a youngster. Next up, she makes her way through the woods to Bawn.


Chapter 35.4 - Bawn

Teresa set out from Maplemill a few hours later. Her stomach was filled by cornbread biscuits, fried squash, and goat's milk. With more biscuits packed away in her Thieves Bag, she knew that she would be eating well for the rest of her journey to Bawn and the return to Bravil.

Just a few miles from the farming village, the ground began to gently slope down underfoot. The forest became thicker as it did, until she could barely see the sky between the canopy of leaves overhead. The maples and oaks gave way to cedar trees of colossal size. Their boughs were covered in green moss, and their tangled roots rose from the ground in a wooden web.

Teresa pressed on, and the forest closed in around her like a warm blanket on a winter day. The trees and undergrowth were so thick that she could not see more than ten feet in any direction. Deep pools of shadow formed on the forest floor, lurking under every arching branch and twisting root. Yet the sun still shone through here and there in golden bands of light. Birds sang from the trees, and squirrels darted to and fro as they hid away acorns for the winter.

Screenshot

Could this be the Haunted Forest? Teresa wondered. No, it could not be, she decided. It was far too beautiful! She could not repress a faint smile as she reached out to caress the trunks of the ancient cedars. They rose like kindly grandparents, offering cool shade and comfort to their children's children tarrying underneath.

The forester could not resist the urge to sit down and nestle her back comfortably against the towering bough of one such colossus. Laying her unstrung bow beside her, she took hold of one of the cedar's many twining roots with one hand, and dug her fingers into the soil with the other. Closing her eyes, she let herself drift away, calling out to the spirits of the wood.

She saw the forest as it was, thousands of years ago. The cedars were far smaller then, an ordinary forest. She saw the pale elves come, and settle on the shore of the lake. She saw them build a great city there, made of stone that was dragged from miles down the coast by tailed slaves. Then the elves vanished in a night of fire, and their city slowly crumbled to dust.

Yet through it all the cedars rose higher and higher into the sky, measuring their lifespans not in mere centuries, but in millennia. They grew thick and strong, tended by the daughters of the forest. Sometimes the olive-skinned folk came to the wood. But where they cut down the trees in other places to make their farms and villages, the cedars were protected by their blessing. None would pass, who did not love the forest.

Teresa's eyes opened in a flash. Had she heard a twig snap? Turning her head this way and that, she scanned the walls of branches and leaves that surrounded her. Yet nothing but vegetation stared back at her. Was she imagining things? Or was there something else with her in the forest?

Thinking that this might be the Haunted Forest that the villagers had spoken of after all, Teresa rose to her feet and strung her bow. Carefully scanning the ground lest she trip in the spiderweb of exposed roots, she slowly made her way down the gentle slope. That would take her to Niben Bay, she knew, and Bawn.

Teresa stopped. Something had moved to her left. She as certain of it. Standing completely still, she stared into the jumble of undergrowth for long minutes. Then she saw it again. A branch moved, even though there was no wind. Holding her breath, Teresa realized a moment later that it was no branch at all.

It had the form of a woman, and stepped into open view now, a scant four paces away. Its hands were larger than those of a human or elf, and its fingers even more so, each being nearly the length of Teresa's forearm. Her skin, if it could be called that, looked like soft brown bark. It appeared be grown over with dark green moss in many places, and even sprouted small flowers here and there. Her head turned to look directly at a Teresa, and the wood elf saw that her eyes were of brilliant gold.

Screenshot

A spriggan! Teresa's heart thumped in her chest. "Gentle daughters of the forest my rear," she heard Pappy's voice in her memory, "they'll curse your luck, then summon up a bear to rip you apart. Unless they feel like doing it with their own two hands of course."

Teresa swallowed hard, and continued to stare the spriggan in the eye. If she moved quickly, she might draw and fire a single arrow before the tree-creature was upon her. Yet the spriggan made no move to attack. Instead she simply stood there for long moments. Then Teresa heard a curious sound rise from her wooden throat. A giggle. Not sinister, but filled with mirth and good will. If she had not known better, the wood elf would have imagined the sound was made by a little girl at play.

Making an effort to slow her racing heart, Teresa eased her arrow back into the bag at her hip, then slung her bow across her back. Now the spriggan began to move as well, stepping forward toward Teresa. Reaching out with one pale hand, the wood elf gently stroked the moss that covered one of the arboreal creature's arms.

"Well met, sister of the forest." Teresa found the words tumbling from her lips as if of their own accord. As if likewise summoned by its own will, a smile broadened her features. "My name is Teresa."

The spriggan paused as Teresa's fingers touched her. She giggled once more, and then continued on her way. A moment later, she vanished into the wall of undergrowth, leaving Teresa to wonder if she had ever really seen her in the first place.

[haute ecole rider]

For once, a pleasant encounter with one of those giggling fiends!

I always felt cheated that they always wanted to attack me, no matter that I never hunted or did any harm to their forests. Something else I hated about Beth - but I understand that the game has no way of determining your attitude toward the environment other than hunting deer (it can't penalize you for killing boars and wolves when those want to eat you first!). It would be nice to have a game that allows for that.

Loved the screenie of the forest. I enjoy the woods, though the ones around here are more old woodlots than true forests. Still I adore trees and feel safer when I'm among them. It must have something to do with the fact that I grew up in a house that was surrounded by 24 mature oak trees (and a couple of big maples and two shagbark hickories next door).