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

[Olen]

That didn't seem too awkward. Summoning Aedra, there's a novel concept. Certainly Aela knows how to make use of magic an she seems fairly reasonable about Teresa being more interested in Tadrose.

I suspect she won't be in her best mood after going to the castle though, I wonder if that will help with Tadrose or not...

I haven't really got many specific comments on that part, as ever it was polished and a joy to read. It all flows so seamlessly too. And leaves me wanting the next part *HINT*.

[Grits]

Because there was nothing to lose with Aela, Teresa thought. While she had everything to lose with Tadrose.

Oh, that is so true.

Aela could never fill the place of Tadrose in her heart, Teresa knew. But the Breton could still have a place all her own, even as just a friend.

A sigh for Aela. Let’s see if she can become friends with Tadrose without sleeping with her first.

I hope the dinner and show works out, I think Tadrose and Teresa would enjoy a circle of friends outside the FG. Though Alcondil might also enjoy some culture. Yikes, but if he hits on Aela, he’ll get turned down again.

I enjoyed every word of Aela’s University talk. She continues to fascinate.

[haute ecole rider]

First I want to comment on the link you included in your comment to TK: most of the guitar music I typically enjoy listening to are later - Prince, the Police, etc, every once in a while I hear something that makes me go 'yeah, now that's wonderful guitar work!' This song did it for me - I couldn't let go of it until it was done playing. I don't get to hear that kind of atmospheric guitar playing all that often (I'm more piano and saxophone, really).

Now on to the chapter. This one was even more delightful than the previous segment, just when I didn't think it was possible! What a clever use of a summons - much easier than rowing, that's for sure! And it's interesting that here the two women talked out the implications of their act in such a open manner. If one of them had been a man, he would have slunk off before the woman woke up, and hid his face from her every time he saw her in town! Now, not every man is like that IRL, but that's the way it goes in the stories. This is quite the refreshing change, to be honest.

I think our vulpine friend said it quite well.

[Acadian]

"No one can stop a thunderstorm," Nerussa had once told her. "You can either run for shelter, or dance in the rain."
What a delightfully welcome surprise to see this! Although I wonder if our stringy Bosmer could simply run between the raindrops?

I enjoyed hearing Teresa's internal dialogue regarding Aela and Tadrose as the two women prepared to, and then left the beach for Bravil.

'Every half-hour the Breton Witch was obliged to renew the summoning, lest the spirit fade away with the spell. There seemed to be little difference between doing that and simply summoning the undine again. Aela went through all of the same motions, and appeared to expend the same amount of energy. Still, the undine never vanished between castings, and Teresa supposed that was the point.'
Some lovely world/magic building here. Half an hour or so is a reasonable amount of time to work with and consistent with what Morcant showed Teresa. Refreshing the same summon is a great idea instead of replacing them with a new one. I liked not only these aspects of Aela's summoning, but the interesting things she can summon!

I somehow suspect that Teresa trying to relay her smuggling concerns to the guard will not go as well as she hopes. I wonder also if she will share with us how that dinner and play goes for the maybe foursome. Each of the four is fascinating, but I must admit I look forward to seeing that loveable scoundrel Ungarion again.

[SubRosa]

D.Foxy: Beautifully done my foxy friend.


hazmick: Tadrose certainly looks forward to Tadrose wearing those dresses! But alas, our stringy wood elf still has much to do before then.


Olen: Summoning Aedra is one of those changes I thought about a long while back, and now have finally had the opportunity to put into direct action. It never made sense to me that the "good guys" would want to be summoning the very same monsters that are trying to destroy their world in the game. So I am leaving Daedra summoning to the cultists like the Mythic Dawn, and undead summoning to the necromancers.


Grits: Perhaps Ancondil could get lucky with Ungarion though!


haute ecole rider: Layla is one of the all time best rock songs ever recorded. If you ever saw Goodfellas, it is the song playing in the closing credits. My favorite guitar instrumental is C-Note, by Ernie C of Body Count.

When it comes to piano, the soundtrack to Voices of a Distant Star is just marvelous. Here is track 4, which gives you a good idea, and this is track 2, a slower, more introspective piece. If you have never seen it, I highly recommend you Netflix Voices. It is only a half hour long, but it makes me cry every time. What is truly amazing is that the director did the entire thing on his laptop. The only things he did not do are the final voiceacting, and the soundtrack (by Tenmon).

And of course I cannot talk about piano music without mentioning Ayumi Hamasaki, and Love, another marvelous piece.

Back to the story though, one of the delightful things about writing that exchange between Teresa and Aela is that they are both very mature people, moreso than usual for their ages. It lets them be honest and direct, (at least where Tadrose is not concerned!)

Acadian: I put a lot of work into that thunderstorm line, I am glad it resonated with someone. I wanted something that sounded Nerussa-like about the nature of passion. Hmmm, how come everyone thinks Teresa will be disappointed by the Bravil city guard though...


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: Our last segment saw Aela take Teresa back to Bravil via boat, summoning an undine in lieu of sails or oars. There the two women parted as friends, rather than lovers. Next, Teresa is off to report her Bawn adventure to the city guard.


Chapter 36.5 – The Witch of Bawnwatch Island

Teresa made her way east down Riverwalk to where the street ended at a Y-shaped intersection. To her left Silver Avenue stretched on to the North Gate, passing the Fighters Guild, Silverhome on the Water, The Globe, and numerous other taverns and shops. To her right a wide wooden bridge spanned one fork of the river that cut through the center of Bravil, leading to Castle Isle. The other prong of the river curled south around the other side of the castle, completely separating it from the other two islands in the city.

Teresa set her booted feet to the bridge and stared up at the wall of stone that ringed Castle Isle. It was the smallest of Bravil's three islands, but was certainly the best defended. The bulwarks here were as tall and thick as those that ringed the outside of the city. The gatehouse at the far end of the bridge was likewise no less forbidding than that at the North Bridge into the city proper.

The bronze doors at the front of the gatehouse stood open, allowing Teresa and other pedestrians to enter the tunnel that cut through the miniature fortress. A glance to either side revealed numerous arrow-slits cut within the walls, and a look above found that the ceiling was lined with murder holes. The final line of defense was a portcullis, which was now raised. Even if the rest of the city fell to an invader, the Count and other nobles would still be safe and sound behind this fortification.

Stepping out into the light of day once more, Teresa made her way along the short main road that cut through the center of Castle Isle. Castle Road was its official name, but like most of Bravil, she knew it as Snob Alley. For to either side rose the tall stone manors of Bravil's wealthiest - and most patrician - of residents. Each was separated by stone walls and wrought iron gates, and decorated with statues of deities, heroes, or fantastic beasts. Here was Reman the First, there a dragon, and at another abode Talos Stormcrown himself. It was a long display of power and prestige, and Teresa wondered if the inhabitants adorned their homes in such a way in the hopes of it rubbing off on them?

A glance at Scaurus Manor softened the cynicism in Teresa's heart. There was one manor that needed no gilding to display to the glory of its owner. The Great Lady of Bravil shone with her own light, and unlike most of the other residents, truly deserved the title 'noble'. If only there could be more like her, Teresa sighed.

The wood elf walked on in silence, until finally the grey walls of the castle itself rose before her. Its massive bronze gates had long since turned green with age, and were flanked by a pair of armed men clad in mail and the deer-emblazoned surcoats of the Bravil City Guard. She paused to draw her guild amulet from her Thieves Bag and drape it over her head. Then she strode through the gateway with only a glance at the guards.

She found herself in a wide courtyard. Directly before her rose the looming bulk of the keep, and all about the bailey she found smaller stone buildings and entrances to the towers. There was a stable, a smithy, a chapel, and many other structures whose functions she could not guess at. Teresa bit her lower lip and stared. She had never been to the castle before, and now she realized that she had no idea where to find the captain of the guard. Would she be in the keep? Or somewhere else?

As she stared about, she noticed that most of the guardsmen came and went from one of the towers near the keep. So she squared her shoulders and set her boots in that direction. Again, she met more men standing guard at the door, but one glance at her Fighters Guild medallion dispelled the questions Teresa could see momentarily form in their eyes. As the men had at the other gates, they simply nodded as she passed.

The interior of guard tower was not what Teresa had been expecting. Rather than something akin to the marble and gold elegance of Scaurus Manor, it was simply dank and cold stone. An iron chandelier hung from the ceiling, and held candles rather than glowstones. These cast a fitful light about the interior, which was just as well, for there was little to see. A tapestries of a hunting scene hung from one wall, giving it a modicum of decoration. But most of the walls were simply bare stone blocks, and only a few carpets adorned the otherwise plain flagstones of the floor.

Again Teresa followed the armored men down a flight of stairs, and soon found herself in large chamber filled with chattering guards and civilians. Numerous tables were stretched out through the room, where many of the guardsmen sat putting quills to parchment. Often they had dejected folk sitting next to them with shackles on their wrists. Near the back of the room three armored men were hustling a tattooed Nord to another door, while the larger man loudly sang something about swimming with bow-legged women.

Along one wall near the entrance Teresa found a dais upon which sat a tall desk. Behind it lurked a grey-haired and mustached guardsman, who was flanked by a pair of youths clad in linen. Teresa wondered if the latter were guards in training, or simply civilian employees of the county? In any case the older man seemed like a someone with authority, so Teresa strode to his desk. When he somehow failed to notice her standing before him, she made a point of loudly clearing her throat.

"Ehm, what is it Fighters Guild?" The man grumbled, as if Teresa had interrupted something important. "The latest wanted posters are down the hall, by the dungeons."

"I need to speak with the captain of the guard." Teresa declared, looking the grey-haired Imperial directly in the eye.

"Captain Lerus does not just make appointments with anyone who walks in the door." The Imperial looked more and more disagreeable by the moment. "Talk to a patrolman."

"She will want to hear this," Teresa insisted. "It's about the skooma trade."

"Oh really?" The guardsman leaned closer, and a look of amusement now blossomed upon his craggy features. "Don't tell me, you think your neighbor is selling?"

"No. I just killed a dozen fetchers trying to smuggle it into the province." Teresa felt her fingers curling together into fists. He was clearly not taking her seriously. Little wonder, she thought, with a skooma den openly in business just off Riverwalk. The city guard might ignore that, and the Count's son, but surely they could not ignore what had happened at Bawn?

"You what?" Teresa took comfort from the way the way the older man's eyes widened into saucers. He rose to his feet a moment later, towering over the wood elf from his lofty perch.

"You heard me," Teresa said. "I killed the fetchers. Every one of them that was in Bawn. Now if you people get a move on, you can get their partners."

"You… did… what?" the guardsman sputtered. His face turned red, and when his voice finally returned, he pointed a chubby finger to one of the tables in the room. "Talk to Inspector Hordeonius. He'll take care of this."

Teresa nodded. Her heart had doubled its pace in her chest, and she did her best to force herself to remain calm. He had seemed more upset that she had killed the skooma-runners, than surprised to learn of their existence. She knew that could mean only one thing. Just as everyone said: the Bravil City Guard was in the pocket of the skooma dealers.

Still, they might not all be in the liquid coinpurse, Teresa thought. Or perhaps she hoped they were all not. Could every one of them truly be no good?

She made her way past the guards, criminals, and other folk to the table the first guardsman had indicated. There she found a man with the dark hair and olive skin of a Nibenean sitting amidst a pile of parchments. He half-heartedly scribbled away at one sheet, and leaned back in his chair as Teresa stepped up him. "Inspector Hordeonius?" she asked.

"Now what?" he grumbled. "Can't you people see I'm busy?"

"The man at the front desk sent me here." As much as Teresa tried, she could not contain the sharp tone in her words.

"Alright, what is it? It better not be about the bounty sheets. Those are late coming from the Imperial City, and there's nothing I can do about it."

"No," Teresa said. Why did every member of the Bravil City Guard think that whatever she had to say was trivial? She paused to take a deep breath and exhale slowly, hoping it would abate her rising annoyance.

"Yesterday I killed a band of skooma smugglers in Bawn," she said plainly. "None of them escaped. They were bringing it in with a wagon, so if-"

"Wait, you did what?" Hordeonius practically jumped out of his chair, as if he had been struck by lightning. His eyes competed with those of the first guardsman to see which could grow wider.

"I killed the fetchers!" Now Teresa could not prevent herself from raising her voice. The low buzz of conversations that had surrounded her abruptly stopped, as everyone turned to stare. "A dozen drecking skooma runners! Are all of you deaf? Do I have to paint a portrait for you?"

"That's Teresa of the Faint Smile," the forester heard someone say in a hushed tone.

"One of the best archers in Cyrodiil," came another whisper.

"Put an arrow through your heart at three hundred paces," murmured a third.

"Is this some kind of joke?" Now the other man stood on his feet, and his dark eyes narrowed as they took Teresa in. "You think I believe you killed an entire pack of smugglers by yourself?"

"I didn't say I did it alone," Teresa growled back. "I had help from the spriggans. Here, want proof?"

Teresa reached into the Thieves Bag at her hip, and drew forth the long, two-handed axe of the Nordic smuggler. Now stained with the Nord's own dried blood, she threw the weapon upon the cluttered table beside the Nibenean. She followed it with a shredded tunic of mail rings, then a mace, a smaller hand axe, a sword, and more weapons and pieces of armor. All were stained, notched, or battered. Mute testament that their former owners did not meet their ends gently.

Now the entire hall went silent as a graveyard at midnight.

"What are you? a Witch?" The inspector, and more than a few others, stared at her with mixtures of shock and horror.

"Yes I'm a Witch damnit!" Teresa shouted. "I killed the smugglers in Bawn. But someone else was bringing it in to them with a wagon, and they were delivering it to another group. They were just one link in the chain. If you people act now, you can set a trap for the others. Now what are you going to do?"

The Nibenean put one hand to his head, as if he had a fever, and stared at the weapons scattered across his workspace. "You killed them all," he mumbled. "You really did it. You crazy bark-biter."

"Of course I killed them!" Teresa felt as if she would burst. "That's my job! That's your job!"

"How do you know they were skooma runners?" The inspector found his voice again. "You probably murdered a dozen innocent people."

"Innocent people don't attack a member of the Fighters Guild after she's clearly identified herself." Teresa shot back. "They don't chase her through the forest trying to kill her, and they don't have twenty casks of skooma in their camp!"

"You found the skooma then?" Teresa could see that caught Hordeonius' attention very quickly, and now he stared at her intently. "Where is it? Did you bring it with you?"

"I destroyed it."

"You did what!" It was not so much a question, as a cry of fury. The Nibenean's fist slammed against the table, causing the weapons on it to clatter in a cacophony of metal. "Do you know how much that…"

"How much it's worth?" Now Teresa regarded the inspector through the narrow eyes of a stalking lioness. "Yes I know exactly how much it's worth. Is that all you care about? What you can sell it for?"

"You watch your tongue tree-hugger!" The Nibenean thrust a finger in Teresa's face. "I'm one second from putting you up on charges of murder."

"Murder!" Teresa barked. "They attacked me you oily fetcher!"

"According to who, you?" the guardsman said. "With no skooma to back up your story, there's no proof they were doing anything illegal."

"There's nothing to back up the imp chips you're slinging either round-ear." Teresa hissed. "How much are they paying you to sell out that uniform?"

"That's it!" Hordeonius spat. "I won't listen to another word of your forked tongue you filthy tree-hugger."

"You lying Daedra!" Teresa cursed, "I'll…"

Before she could finish, a mailed form stepped between Teresa and the inspector. Iron hands locked onto her shoulders, and pushed her toward the entrance of the chamber. Teresa resisted, but it was to no avail against the strength and weight of the larger, armored man.

"Walk away Teresa." The newcomer's words were soft in her ears. "Just walk away, this is not helping."

"I'm not going to…" Teresa fumed. Yet as much as she struggled, the guardsman had her out the door and into the hall beyond within moments. There he stopped and took a step back, but kept one hand on her arm. Now that she had the time to really look at him, Teresa saw that he was tall, even for a Nibenean, but bore the classic jet hair and olive skin of his race. His face was one Methredhel might call handsome, if not for the crooked line of a once-broken nose. His dark eyes held no rancor as he looked back at her. If anything, Teresa imagined they held sympathy.

"How do you know who I am anyway?" Teresa breathed, trying to still her pounding heart. Damnit! she silently cursed. She had lost her temper again, and with the city guard no less. Yet when she thought about the inspector's reaction once more, she imagined what Vols would do in the same circumstance. The centurion would flatten the treacherous guardsman, and that would be just for starters!

"Are you kidding? How many crazy, red-headed, wood elves do you think there are in the Bravil Fighters Guild?" The tall Nibenean laughed. "Every guardsman in the city knows you. You're the one who keeps jumping off the North Bridge and into the river! I was there the first time you did it. I thought you were trying to kill yourself. Would have been a better idea than what you just did in there."

"That bounder's taking gold from the skooma dealers!" Teresa hissed, pointing a finger at the chamber beyond.

"I know," the guardsman said quietly. "Half the guard is, and the rest know better than to cross them."

"How can you just ignore it?" Teresa sighed. "Don't you know what it does to people?"

"I know, I see it every day." The Nibenean's eyes looked sad. "But you have to pick and choose your battles in this world. The last man who tried to fight it ended up in Kvatch. After the Crisis thank the gods. But you would not believe how quickly he was run out of here. And the others, well, one man just disappeared. They said he went to High Rock, but everyone wonders…"

"So you just let them bully you?"

"There is nothing we can do right now," the Nibenean spread his hands. "The Count knows about it, and doesn't care. Probably because his son's their best customer. Maybe he's a bigger part of it too, I don't know. The captain's definitely in the smuggler's pay chest, as well as Kurdan gro-Dragol's. Until the Elder Council steps in, our hands are tied."

"I thought Kurdan was the one selling the skooma?" Teresa blinked.

"No, it's that shifty tree-hugger Nordinor," the guardsman spat. Then he paused and held up a hand in apology. "No disrespect intended. He's got the Count's personal seal of immunity. Kurdan runs everything else: gambling, loan-sharking, extortion, robbery… Anything violent that happens, you can bet his fingers are behind it, and his gold is in the Captain's pocket."

"So how do you do it?" Teresa asked, barely even noticing the accidental racial slur. "How can you be a good guardsman in a bad city?"

"Those of us who are still honest, well, we all have our reasons," the Nibenean explained. "Marius Helvius, he's got something to prove. He never talks about it, but I think he fetched up something but good back in the Imperial City. Now he needs to make it right, for his own sake if nothing else. Gladius Maro - that one who got shipped off to Kvatch - well he was always the straightest arrow in the quiver. We used to joke that he had a steel rod up his back instead of a spine."

"What about you?" Teresa said softly, "I'm sorry, I don't even know your name."

"Prentus," the Nibenean declared, "Gaius Prentus. Well my father was in the guard, and his father, and his father before him. So there was never really any question about what I was going to do when I grew up."

"That doesn't explain why you're not with your captain, and that fetcher in there," Teresa observed.

"This is my city," Gaius said plainly. "It's my home, always has been, and I can't imagine it ever not being so. My people have been here since Bravil was just a bunch of huts by the bay. I hate seeing it run down like this. So I do what I can, when I can, and bide my time until the Count is out of here. He's only got another year and a half before his term is up and the Council puts someone else here. When that happens - gods willing that the next one isn't just as bad - we can take our city back. Until then we just have to be patient, and do our best for the good and decent people that are still here in Bravil."

Pappy's Rule Number Ten came to Teresa's mind. "Never fight a battle you cannot win. You retreat, and trade space for the time you need to gather your strength, until you can win. Then you fight." It was exactly what she had done at Bawn, when faced with the horde of smugglers. Obviously it was what Gaius Prentus, and the other honest guardsmen, had to do in Bravil. What she would have to do as well.

"Thank you Gaius," Teresa said, laying a hand on the Nibenean's shoulder. "You're right. It's good to know that there are still people like you left here in Bravil."

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Mar 29 2013, 11:43 PM

[haute ecole rider]

You know, that's pretty darn close to what I had pictured for the Guard in Bravil, except that Lerus is the straight-arrow outsider and a lot of the local guards (the ones born in Bravil, anyway) are crooked.

So the Count has a term limit? That makes Cyrodiilan politics mighty interresting!

Somehow I'm not surprised by the outcome of Teresa's visit to the guard barracks.

[Glargg]

That went well, didn't it?

Good confrontation. We feel Teresa's frustration. (Fortunate she was that Gaius Prentus was there.)

[Acadian]

Wow! I don't know as I've ever seen our Teresa so angry - and justifiably so. Clearly the henna dye is having a 'red head' effect.

Nice nod to Lady Scaurus as Teresa walked along Snob Alley.

"That's Teresa of the Faint Smile," the forester heard someone say in a hushed tone.
"One of the best archers in Cyrodiil," came another whisper.
"Put an arrow through your heart at three hundred paces," murmured a third.'
I'm so glad you inserted these comments. Teresa will not toot her own horn, but it is refreshing to see her awesome talent recognized here!

"You killed them all," he mumbled. "You really did it. You crazy bark-biter."
That guy was slinging the insults, and I was delighted to see Teresa give it right back to him:
"There's nothing to back up the imp chips you're slinging either round-ear."

My heart swelled as you portrayed Gaius Prentus as one of the good guys; even more so at the wonderful mention of dear Gladius Maro - sent off to Kvatch. How delicately you work with the massive differences in timeline between our stories to make them seem to temporarily not even exist - thank you! And I see you have added a little more depth and insight into the mysteries of Bravilian politics.

Nit? 'The final line of defense was portcullis, which was now raised.'
I found myself wondering if you perhaps might want to insert an 'a' before the word portcullis?

[Grits]

Near the back of the room three armored men were hustling a tattooed Nord to another door, while the larger man loudly sang something about swimming with bow-legged women.

Follow the singing Nord, that’s how you find the drunk tank.

Hooray for Gaius Prentus. That was not going well. I could understand his point about trying to be someone good in a corrupt system.

So I do what I can, when I can, and bide my time until the Count is out of here. He's only got another year and a half before his term is up and the Council puts someone else here.

That’s interesting, for Bravil and for the other counties if it’s that way throughout Cyrodiil. It also gives me hope for Teresa’s long term prospects there. I wonder if Pappy will have any insight into the situation.

[Olen]

Most of what I might say has been said, but I did pick up on this line:

Then she strode through the gateway with only a glance at the guards.

It was rather overshadowed by later events but it made me think back to the old Teresa before the fighter's guild, and the before then even. When she could barely pass a guard in the street I could hardly have imagined her ignoring those on duty at a castle. It highlights how far you've taken her character, and how smooth it's been give that the closest thing to a tipping point I can find it 'the fighters guild' which is a fair portion of the story now.

The meeting with the guard went about as I'd have expected. But we have some honest ones. Could the next section of the story be a political intregue?

I wonder what Pappy will have to say about this...

[SubRosa]

haute ecole rider: The Counts being appointed for set terms was something I came up with a long time back, in those pages where I was asking people for opinions on Cyrodiil's government, nobility, etc... In the end I went with something similar to the Roman Republic/Empire, where governors were senators appointed to their provinces for a set term, usually one year. That keeps any one faction or person from accumulating too much power and influence in one place. It also gives the Elder Council a way to throw a bone to one of its members, or simply to get them out of their hair for a while.


Glargg: As well as it could have gone! Well, Teresa did not have to lose her temper and get in a name-calling match with the city guard I suppose...


Acadian: Good thing Buffy has never been tempted to dye her hair red! Thank you again for the loan of Gaius Prentus and Gladius Maro. We might have the chance to see more of them in the future. The comments about Teresa were because of just what you observed. Teresa does not see her real stature in the community, or understand how people look at her. But since arriving in Bravil, she has been making a name for herself. Now that the tourney is over, that name has become well-known.


Grits: Yes, I was indeed thinking of Jerric when I wrote the part about the drunken Nord being hauled off by the city guard!


Olen: Indeed, quite a seismic shift in Teresa's attitudes toward the law! She has gained a great deal of confidence since the beginning of this tale, and without a doubt Pappy is a big reason for that. The next episode will center on political intrigue, but not in the way anyone expects, I am sure.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last episode Teresa tried to warn the Bravil City Guard about the smugglers in Bawn. Yet her news fell on deaf ears, and she came to the inescapable realization that most of the guard was indeed corrupt. After a screaming match with an inspector, she was quickly hustled out by one of the few honest guards left in Bravil (courtesy of Acadian), who explained to her that it started with the count and the guard captain, and flowed down to most of the rest of the guard. Next Teresa returns to the FG hall, where a surprise awaits in the final episode of this chapter.


Chapter 36.6 – The Witch of Bawnwatch Island

Magnus was slipping from his perch high above when Teresa returned to the Fighters Guild. The moment she stepped in the door, she heard the sound of agitated voices emanating from the sitting room. Making her way through the foyer, she stood in the open doorway of the guild's parlor. She found most of her guildmates within. As the morning drills were over, they were clad in ordinary linens, except of course for Ancondil, who wore velvet as always.

"This means war then?" Chance asked.

"Damn right it does!" Vincent said loudly, smacking a fist in his opened palm.

"That would be sheer folly!" Ancondil contested. "The Elder Council is wiser than to let that happen."

"What is going on?" Teresa asked. Most of her companions were so caught up in the discussion that they did not even notice her. But a moment later a familiar dusky shape stepped through the others. Even as a faint smile lit upon the wood elf's features, she could not deny the twinge of guilt that stabbed through her heart. Just the other night she had lain with Aela, as well as in the morning. Now here she stood before Tadrose. How could she face the dark elf after what she had done?

Damnit, stop feeling guilty, Teresa told herself. Nerussa would not feel that way. It was not as if she and Tadrose really were lovers after all. How could she betray someone she had never made a commitment to in the first place? She had the right to sleep with whomever she wanted.

But had she not made a commitment to Tadrose just the same, even if the armorer did not know it?

Those thoughts vanished the moment that the Dunmer smith gently set her hands upon Teresa's arms. "It is good that you are back Teresa." A look of relief crested the vice-commander's features. "The news this afternoon has been terrible."

"What?" Teresa furrowed her eyebrows, looking from Tadrose to the others. "What happened?"

"Summerset Isle has seceded from the Empire." Valerius now turned to face Teresa, his face a mask of steely composure. He handed her a copy of the Black Horse Courier. She took the broadsheet in one trembling hand and stared dumbfounded at the words upon it.

Special Edition

Rebellion?

The ruling body of the Summerset Isles - known as the Conclave - today officially declared their independence from the Empire. Made up of the most powerful magicians in the Isles - save for perhaps the mysterious Psijics - the Conclave has ruled the Altmer since the First Age. Along with their declaration, they have demanded the immediate withdrawal of Imperial troops from Summerset Isle, and have warned that even now Altmer warships stand ready to repel any attempt to reinforce the garrison by sea. However, the Conclave has not called for the removal of the Cyrodiilic embassy in Alinor, and have declared a willingness to maintain diplomatic and trade relations with the Empire.

The Elder Council has joined for an emergency session to deliberate the issue. When questioned by this reporter, Chancellor Ocato only said that he hopes a diplomatic solution can be arrived at. However, the Chancellor's ability to lead has been called into question by several members of the Council, citing his Altmer bloodline as possibly being an impediment in this matter, rather than beneficial for the Empire.

Teresa took a deep breath, and willed her hand to still itself as she gave the broadsheet back to the Colovian knight. A few skooma smugglers and corrupt guardsmen seemed insignificant in comparison to this!

Teresa's head swam. How could they do this, when only months before Emperor Martin had sacrificed himself for their sakes? It was him, and the Empire, that had saved the world from destruction at the hands of the Daedra. Now the High Elves were just going to ignore all of that?

"All right you meatheads, settle down!" Pappy's voice rang through the room, and the crowd parted for the bare-chested Colovian to step between them. "You're all clucking like a bunch of hens. Now here is the situation as we know it. The Altmer Conclave has declared independence, but not cut all ties to the Empire. Now they've always had more autonomy than any other province. Obviously they want more, but it doesn't mean they are going to invade Tamriel, or attack the troops stationed in Alinor. If they were going to do that, they would have started out with a sneak attack. This declaration means they don't want war more than anyone else."

"It has to be war!" Vincent cursed. "Our good Emperors died to stop Mehrunes Dagon. It's our blood that saved them all! This is like spitting on Saint Martin's grave!"

"If the Council doesn't do something, who else will be next?" Chance said less vehemently. "I'll tell you one thing, the Crowns back home have just been waiting for something like this."

"But what can the Elder Council do?" Valerius now spoke up. "There is only a token Imperial force stationed in Summerset Isle; a few cohorts and a handful of knights at Alinor. They cannot conquer the entire province. All the Conclave really has to do is cut off their food and water and eventually they will be forced to capitulate. From the sound of it, the Altmer are willing to let them go. In fact, I'd say they want them out without a fight."

"Gaius, who is leading the men in Alinor?" Tadrose now asked.

"I don't know who's actually on the ground there, probably just some snot-nosed tribune long on connections and short of experience. Alinor has always been a toy soldier post." Pappy scratched his ear. "But Titus Mede is in overall command. He's the Legate of the Third Valenica, in Valenwood."

"What manner of man is this Mede?" Ancondil asked. "How he proceeds will probably determine the course of events. If he resists with force, it will likely compel the Empire to war, regardless of what the Elder Council wishes. If not, then diplomacy might well prevail."

"I know Mede," Valerius spat. "He is a slaughterfish waiting in the reeds. A few years ago he tried to have Chancellor Ocato deposed, so that he could take his place. He lost that round of backroom politics. That is how he found himself in Valenwood. He is sly, ambitious, and completely ruthless."

"Will he fight?" the ever-placid Storm-Tail finally added his dry voice to the discussion.

"I doubt it." Valerius shook his head. "If he thought he could win, he would not hesitate. Then he would come home as the conquering hero. But he cannot win, and a confrontation will only make him appear a failure. One thing you can count on though, he will find a way to turn this to his personal advantage, and the rest of Tamriel be damned."

"And if the Council puts together an army from the other provinces, then those places will be the next to rebel once the troops are gone." Teresa thought out loud. "Just like Chance said."

"Aye," Pappy nodded. "They would have to recruit half-a-dozen new legions. With Kvatch still a smoldering pile of ash, that won't be happening anytime soon. The Council needs the money to rebuild. "

"Unless they just give up on rebuilding Kvatch altogether," Vincent said. "Then they could raise an army. Even of mercenaries."

"That would not suffice," Ancondil said. "Summerset was never truly defeated. They only joined the Empire because Tiber Septim had the Numidium and threatened to use it. Now both are long vanished, and the Empire has nothing to replace them. Brute force will not suffice against the Altmer."

"Especially since all they have to do is sit on their islands," Chance remarked. "The Empire would need a fleet to get to them, and the Altmer navy is almost as good as that of we Ra Gada."

"Better," Pappy said. "They may not be as good at sailing, but their magic more than makes up for that. Thanks to their sylphs and undines, they always have the weather gauge. Only the Maormer have ever been able to challenge them at sea."

"So there will probably not be war," Tadrose declared. "It is a stalemate. Besides, war is bad for trade after all. The High Elves might not like Imperials, but they like their gold well enough. Believe me, the feeling is mutual in the Empire. It is the same way in Morrowind. But that does not mean there will not be trouble here. If you have Altmer friends, you had best caution them to be careful until the initial furor dies down. Anything could spark violence. It would not hurt for them to have a visible Fighters Guild presence to deter that."

Teresa thought of Ardaline, Henantier, and Carandial. Could something happen to them? Would some angry Imperial attack them? Tadrose was right, a Fighters Guild escort might make people think twice before starting trouble. But what of Nerussa? Her heart yawned wide as she imagined the delicate high elf falling prey to a mob. Please Mara, she silently prayed, do not let anything happen to her. Nor any of her other friends.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Aug 1 2011, 11:24 PM

[Olen]

Well that is a twist. I suppose it was an obvious thing to have happen, though I suspect it might well lead to war because the Empire would want to be seen to lose one province in case others followed. Of course the real trick is to hire the army of one province to supress another distant one and so prevent either from revolting.

Anyway excellent teist, I wait eagerly to see where this leads (Valenwood maybe?). I also noticed Tadrose was quick to greet Teresa and seemed rather worried. Perhaps she will be keen to go out to dinner, even given the day's events.

Nicely done with the black horse courier bit.

A nit, maybe.
perhaps the mysterious Psijic's - should there be an apostrophe there? It's an odd word so perhaps it's meant to have one but it's not a possessive.

[haute ecole rider]

So the Summerset Isle is the first to break away, eh? I always thought it would be Morrowind for some reason. Yes, yes, I know about the wizards banning Imperial goods in the Isles, but I had King Helseth pegged as someone with extreme ambition (blame Rumpleteaza's excellent fiction for that). With the Septims gone, what would stop him from breaking with Cyrodiil?

And then there's the return of the Wild Hunt in Valenwood, and the border disputes Skyrim's always involved in --

I suppose it could go any way you want. It does make sense to have Summerset be the first to secede. Wonder how long it will take before the others go their own way? Black Marsh?

[Destri Melarg]

I won’t comment on all the chapters that I have read in order to catch back up because you are like a machine when it comes to regular posting and, given the length of this particular absence of mine, it would take forever to list all of the things that I liked about each chapter. I will confine my comments for now to this latest entry.

Bringing 36 to a close with stirrings of rebellion and rumors of war makes me wonder where the TF will lead us next. It was interesting to see how even Teresa’s assessment of events is shaped by the Oblivion Crisis. I can well imagine that the citizens of the Isles, so far removed from those events, would see things differently. I am eager to see how the two points of view contest each other in the chapters to come. I was also struck by the idea that her first thoughts would be for the safety of her Altmeri friends even as she herself shares the mentality that might lead others to cause them harm. That is so very Teresa to me.

I think at some point in the TF Tadrose is going to have to hit Teresa over the head with the proverbial ton of bricks! She really has done everything except bend Teresa over the forge and plant one on her lips (Please don’t go there!! ). That Teresa remains clueless to the fact is in perfect keeping with her awkwardness in dealing with Nerussa.

Pappy’s insight into the character of Titus Mede was also fascinating. Painting him as a ruthless yet pragmatic opportunist does much to tell us how he eventually comes by the throne. It also hints at conflict that may arise if/when the two are ever put at cross purposes. I have a feeling that Teresa’s story is about to weave itself into events that form the fabric of history once again.

And she will continue to insist that she is not a hero.

[Acadian]

You do a nice job painting Teresa's conflicted emotions around Tadrose - complicated by her recent time with Aela.

And a twist that is both surprising but not surprising! It makes sense, with the Empire weakened, that provinces with uneasy ties to the Empire (about all of them I figure) might be looking to reassert their independence. I can understand the predominant FG feeling - they paid dearly themselves at the battle of Bruma to save all of Tamriel. You seem to be presenting a situation that does not have clear 'good guys' and 'bad guys' but rather significant and very realistic grayness on all sides. I'm very impressed! I think also that using the Courier was an excellent (and well executed) vehicle to paint the first coat of detail on the situation.

Once again, I like that Teresa is witness to big events. Although I doubt she will be central to them, she will no doubt be somehow drawn in on the periphery I expect.

Then you bring things back for the local impact as Teresa wonders about the safety of her Altmeri friends.

[King Coin]

Chapter 33.1
I get the impression that Vincent was being funny and not actually trying to win over the ladies with his… manliness (or lack thereof). I could be wrong though…

Well if Tadrose hasn’t noticed how Teresa watches her before now, I think she certainly will now.

Chapter 33.2
Oh cool! The tournament of archers! First we need to finish this job though. I wonder where the other guild mates are? Did they split up, each going with a different priestess/priest?

Interesting insight on the crops. I’ve never thought of them like that. Did you do research?

Whoa! Not what I was expecting of the rite. Makes sense in a symbolic way I guess.

Some interesting comments spawned of this episode too, putting it mildly


Chapter 33.3
Lol! Button the horse!

Heavy duty stuff. I have to admit, the ceremony felt alien to me.

Too bad very few can see the power involved there.

Chapter 33.4
That Nord priestess is not putting her body guard to good use by having her pick corn! And Teresa is junior enough to neglect her duty and help with the harvest!

What the heck! I knew Teresa wasn’t going to be mauled by the bear, but that was insane!

[Grits]

Teresa took a deep breath, and willed her hand to still itself as she gave the broadsheet back to the Colovian knight. A few skooma smugglers and corrupt guardsmen seemed insignificant in comparison to this!

Not to mention her turmoil over the tumbles with Aela. Nothing like the threat of war to bring things back into perspective.

"It has to be war!" Vincent cursed. "Our good Emperors died to stop Mehrunes Dagon. It's our blood that saved them all! This is like spitting on Saint Martin's grave!"

Hopefully there will be more Pappys than Vincents. Each person’s reaction reinforced what we've learned about their character, especially Teresa’s instant concern for her friends. As I reread this section I felt like I was among people I know, listening to what they have to say about a crisis. I’m in awe!!

[SubRosa]

Olen: I think the only real option the Elder Council would have to attack Summerset would be to enlist the help of the Redguard navy. But they would have to make sure they got the Crowns as well as the Forebears. Otherwise as soon as the Forebears were away, the Crowns would probably attack their cities. Even then though, the Empire would need some way to offset the Altmer advantage at sea. Otherwise just like Napoleon, Hitler, and so many others, they would just be stuck staring out at the cliffs of Dover from across the sea.


haute ecole rider: It is not in the lore anywhere that Summerset Isle broke away at all, let alone first. But it seemed to me that they would be the first to go, since unlike any of the other provinces, they are physically separated from the rest of Tamriel. As with Great Britain in European politics, it makes it very easy for them to stand apart.

I actually do not see Morrowind ever breaking away from the Empire, at least not willingly. Morrowind is weak. Even with 3 demigods they could not stand against the completely mortal armies of Tiber Septim. Instead they surrendered while they could still get terms. They have only gotten weaker, especially thanks to Helseth. By destroying House Redoran and Indoril, he removed the only real army Morrowind ever had. Now the only thing keeping Argonia and the Nords from conquering Morrowind is the Imperial Legion. If they ever leave, Morrowind is doomed.

Your comment did get me thinking about Helseth ruining Redoran and Indoril by freeing the slaves however. It made me realize how backwards that is. Those two houses would be the least affected by it. Rather it would be Hlaalu (the merchants trading the slaves), and Dres (the plantation owners using the slaves) that would face financial peril. So maybe in the TF I might make it the Nerevarine who frees the slaves, destroys Hlaalu and Dres, and deposes Helseth.


Destri Melarg: I am glad you noted that Teresa possesses the qualities of both sides of the dispute. I wanted to use her to convey those feelings.

The Altmer secession will actually lead to Cyrodiil, but probably not in a way most people will expect, and Titus Mede will be at the heart of it all.

As this coming chapter will show, not only Teresa needs that ton of bricks, but Tadrose as well...


Acadian: I can see some provinces not wanting to rebel. High Rock and Skyrim seem more or less satisfied being in the Empire, and as I noted to h.e.r., Morrowind has no choice. The lore says Elsewyr and Argonia were the first to go. Valenwood seems like it is in too much of a state of anarchy to actively break away, but the Empire might abandon it when there are problems in other provinces. The Crowns in Hammerfell are definitely trouble waiting to happen, but the Forebears are also there to counter them.

When it comes to the inevitable breaking of the Empire, I am indeed going for a situation without good guys or bad guys. More like these guys and those guys. Without a Septim on the throne, even Teresa is unwilling to actually oppose any of the rebel states. She would gladly fight for Emperor Uriel's throne, or Martin's. Her loyalty to them is where her initial outrage stems from in fact. But she could really care less to keep an empire for some greedy patricians on the Elder Council. Most of the other members of the FG are the same. Hopefully I will be able to show that in a future chapter.


King Coin: The tournament of archers is indeed just around the corner from where you are. You read it in the BF, now you will get to see it from Teresa's side. I did do some research into the Three Sisters. It was the Native American method of farming. I actually stumbled upon it while looking up climate information for North Carolina, since I am making Bravil's climate similar.


Grits: I am glad people's personalities did show in their statements. I was hoping to use the FG as sort of a microcosm for Cyrodiil, to show how people from all walks of life were reacting to the news.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last chapter Teresa met Aela the Witch of Bawnwatch Island. After celebrating the Witches Festival with Aela, the two became lovers, albeit temporarily. Returning to Bravil, they parted as friends. Afterward Teresa learned the extent of the city guard's corruption when she tried to report the skooma smugglers she had killed in Bawn. Finally, we closed the chapter with the stunning news that Summerset Isle had seceded from the Empire. Next we find Teresa a week later, as she goes out to pick alchemical ingredients.


Chapter 37.1 – Redemption

21st – 22nd Frostfall, 3E433

Teresa stood upon the bridge outside of Bravil's North Gate and stared down. The waves of the Larsius meandered past twenty feet below, inviting her with the promise of their gentle caresses. She was tempted to leap over the handrail and dive into the river blow. She could always swim up it rather than walk after all.

Yet the words of Gaius Prentus rose in her memory: "Every guardsman in the city knows you. You're the one who keeps jumping off the North Bridge and into the river!"

There was no sense adding to her reputation for being mad. With a sigh, Teresa walked along the bridge rather than taking the river's invitation. She was pleased to see Marius Helvius standing guard at the far end of the span. So at least walking was not a total loss.

"How does Magnus greet you this day Marius?" Teresa asked as she drew near.

"Teresa!" the Nibenean exclaimed as he turned from facing the Green Road. "I'm half surprised I didn't hear a splash!"

"I've only jumped off twice," Teresa pouted as she stepped up to the mail-clad guardsman.

"That's twice more than anyone else…" Marius murmured with a wink. "Off to Silverbridge to visit?"

"Not this time." Teresa shook her head. Then she thought of young Quintis and Poppea, who were probably driving their grandfather Decimus crazy by this time of day. "Well maybe I'll stop in for a spell. I have to head up the river though. I need to gather lavender and summer bolete for potions, and more chamomile for my hair."

"Women…" the guardsman shook his head as well. "Has your guild heard anything new about Summerset?"

"Nothing," Teresa shrugged her shoulders. "Although it takes so long for word to get down here, we could have invaded a week ago and we wouldn't know it yet."

"You don't think that will happen do you?" The Nibenean's face was completely serious now. "An invasion?"

"No," Teresa said. "Even Tiber Septim wouldn't try that. Pappy said that the Altmer invaded Valenwood once back in the Second Age, but it didn't work out well for them either. Apparently we wood elves are a troublesome lot. So he thinks it will be up to the Council and the Conclave to work something out. Has there been much trouble in town? A few friends and I were having dinner at Ungarion's shop the night the news came out, and someone threw a stone through the window. I saw Silverhome on the Water got plastered with rotten eggs the next day too."

"That's about the extent of it," Marius said. "Plus a few black eyes and split lips. Pretty much all the Altmer here were born and raised in the county. They're just as Imperial as you or me. Well, you know what I mean."

"I do," Teresa nodded. She knew that Ardaline and Henantier were both born in Bravil, and that their parents lived in the city as well. She was not sure about Carandial, and Ungarion had told her that he was from the Imperial City, just like herself. They knew as much about the Summerset Isles as she did! "At least there is one good thing about all this. It got the Count out of the city."

"Aye," Marius smiled. "That it did. Let's hope he stays in deliberations with the rest of the Elder Council for a long time. Like the next year and a half."

"Aye to that." Teresa nodded, and rapped a friendly hand on his kite-shaped shield. "Well, I had best be off. I'm burning daylight."

"Be careful out in the woods," Marius called after her. "There've been more reports coming in about trolls to the north. Yesterday they attacked a caravan on the road just five miles from here."

"I will!" Teresa waved back. She had never seen a troll. At least not a live one. Her encounter with Barenziah on the Green Road had been as near as she ever hoped to meeting one. Thank Mara those had already been killed by the grizzly bear. Given all of the bears like Barenziah that lived in the forest outside of Bravil, Teresa wondered how there could be trolls there at all? She would have imagined that the grizzlies would keep them out.

After passing by the fenced-off pastures of Bay Roan Stables, Teresa continued down the Green Road. Pappy had told her that the West Weald was troll country, and that they were thick as fleas east of Skingrad. Did they get tired of wine country and decide to head east to County Bravil?

The raucous cry of not one crow, but half-a-dozen of the black birds immediately snapped Teresa to alertness. She stood upon the pavestones of the Green Road, with the Larsius and walls of Bravil to her left, and the forest girdling the hills to her right. Before her lay Anutwyll, its star well sparkling under Magnus' warm rays. In the distance beyond lay a low stone bridge that spanned the river, and the wooden stockade of Silverbridge rose beyond its southern end.

She did not see anything untoward. The road was empty, and only birds and squirrels showed themselves among the trees. Still, she drew her bowstave from her shoulder, and fished a string from one of her belt pouches. If only she had a recurve bow from Valenwood, she mused as she put her body into bending the sturdy yew, then she could keep her bow strung for much longer periods without fear of it warping.

Then the smell came to her. Thick and musty, it made her nostrils curl. It was not the wholesome scent of a bear, dog, or other natural animal. Instead this was vile, like meat left out in the sun for too long. She willed her fingers to move quickly, and looked up the moment she finished hooking the string over the top ear of her bow.

Her eyes scanned the undergrowth, searching for anything out of place. Letting her feet drift back, she gave herself more room, just in case. Her free hand reached into the Thieves Bag at her hip, and drew forth one of Ungarion's scrolls.

With a chorus of bellows that ripped through the air like a knife, a quartet of dark shapes burst from the forest ahead of her. Their muscular forms were covered in yellow-green fur that was flecked with darker brown and black. They ran on not only their legs, but also with the assistance of their over-sized arms. All four of their limbs ended with long curved digits that looked like extra thick claws. Their heads were like the drawings Teresa had seen of Valenwood's apes, except that they bore three black eyes, and their distended jaws were packed with dagger-like fangs.

Trolls!

Screenshot

As Pappy had trained her, she reacted without thinking. Instantly she shook the scroll open in her hand, and glanced down at the single word written across its face.

"Salamander!"

The page crumbled to dust as the magicka within burst forth. A disc of blue energy formed in the air before Teresa, and fell to the stones of the Green Road a second later. In its wake a golden serpent burst to life. It swam through the air like a fish in water, and its long, sinuous body was wreathed in flame. Its draconian head bore a set of gaping jaws, in which gleamed two great fangs, like those of a snake, while rows of smaller, needle-like teeth ran out behind them.

Teresa did not know how to command it. She had never seen Aela or Morcant actually tell their summonings what to do. All she knew was that she wanted it to attack the trolls. As if bidden by her thoughts alone, the magnificent Aedra did exactly that. It propelled itself forward with a great snap of its tail, and arrowed directly into the oncoming beasts.

The Aedra's jaws locked around the nearest troll, and shook its head like a dog with a ragdoll in its mouth. The troll screamed as one of its paws came off in the salamander's mouth. Yet at the same time it clawed wildly at the Aedra with its other hand. The other trolls shrinked away from their blazing attacker for a moment. Then they all dove in upon it.

Teresa did not stand idly by while the Aedra fought for her. Her free hand fell to the arrow bag at her hip and drew forth one rifled shaft. Popping open the stopper of her poison jar with her thumb, she dipped the slender mithril head within. Dripping with nightshade, she drew it forth a moment later and set it to her bow.

Taking in a deep breath and letting half the air out, she drew her string back halfway and took aim at the nearest troll. An instant later she pulled the feathers of her arrow to her cheek, then let fly. Even as the missile spiraled down the road, she was reaching for her next arrow. She heard the troll cry out in anguish as she poisoned the next missile. Then she had the arrow on her string, and aimed once more.

The troll she had shot turned from the salamander and charged at her. She loosed before it could take its second footstep, and turned as well. Sprinting down the road the way she had come, she dug into a belt pouch with her free hand. Pulling forth a small, glass vial, she felt it slip from her fingers as she took a hard footfall. A moment later it shattered on the stones of the road under foot, spraying golden liquid across the pavement.

Damn! the wood elf silently cursed, that was one of her combination shield and magicka restoration potions! Teresa heard the troll's feet clicking on the pavestones behind her. It was fast, and even after two poisoned arrows it was gaining on her. She did not dare glance back - or reach for another potion - for fear of losing the slightest bit of speed.

The fences of Bay Roan Stables blurred past over her right shoulder. She heard the horses within cry out in panic. Then the thunder of their hooves on soft grass told her that they were getting themselves as far from the troll as they could.

A mailed figure holding a shield in one hand and an arming sword in the other appeared before her eyes. It was Marius! Teresa's heart leaped as she closed with the guardsman. He did not rush to meet her. Instead he moved slowly forward, shield up, sword ready to strike. Teresa angled her approach so that she would pass him on his left. That way she would not interfere with his sword swing.

As soon as she drew abreast of him she dug in her heels and skidded along the stones of the road. Teetering, she nearly fell to her knees. By the time she regained her balance Marius was standing in front of her, and the troll was just a heartbeat away. Even as she reached for an arrow, it charged headlong into his shield.

Rather than trying to take the full-force of the beast head on, the guardsman pivoted on his back foot and pushed the creature aside, allowing its own momentum to carry it past him. Yet it hung onto the rim of his shield with its hooked, claw-like fingers. Marius was dragged along with it, stumbling along the pavestones as he fought to retain his shield.

Teresa set her arrow to the nock of her bow, and saw a second troll closing in fast from down the road. There was no longer any sign of her salamander, or the other two monsters. They must have finished one another off, the wood elf imagined. Leaving the first troll to Marius, she took aim at the second and let fly.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Aug 7 2011, 02:32 AM

[haute ecole rider]

Oh, I do hope that Teresa and Marius make it through this okay! I know how fast those darned things can move. Ogres are almost funny in their movements - it's like watching Monday Night Football in Super Slo Mo. But trolls - brrgh! They're fast, agile and vicious! I hate 'em!

Where's a good fire spell when you need one, Or Daedra Slayer? That sword is awesome against trolls! I think Julian wouldn't mind if I were to somehow lend Marius that trusty old katana. Wish I could!

Okay, I really enjoyed the scenery earlier in the piece. It was lovely, and I know about the temptation to dive into the water. I have the same problem further south near Topal Bay. And I chuckled at Marius's comment about the Count. Good riddance! Though I'd love to be a fly on that wall and listen to their bickering. Hmmm . . .

The symmetry between Teresa's thoughts of trolls and the appearance of them was well-done. I especially liked how she alerted to the cawing of crows and started looking for danger.

[Olen]

Exciting stuff, there's nothing like ignoring a warning though. I suspect Marius might have something to say on that front. The trolls are certainly strange looking beasts, though the salamander would be a good choice for finishing them off.

Saying they wer unnatural made me wonder. What are trolls? I'd have classed them as another animal but Teresa clealy doesn't.

The rotten meat smell was spot on, I'll be imagining that every time I see a troll now.