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

[Olen]

I like the idea of where her flare and heal spells came from, definatly useful thing to know and it shows good thought on Raminus's part. The value of the bracelet also was effective in showing how much Methredhel will do for her and is a good gauge of how close they will become.

There were some nice touches, putting in younger versions of characters from Oblivion was great for linking the flashback to the story and stopping it from floating apart. And now I can see how Dreth got such a long sentence, and the debt explains the db quest which says he felt safe there...

Cornelia was a brilliant creation too, your description of her enjoyment of Raminus sparking Dreth was excellent.

[SubRosa]

I have found the man to play Chance (For those of you who did not read Teresa 1.0 on the Beth forums, he appears in the future). Charles Ingram: stuntman, actor, and former Marine Force Recon diver.

A pic from Tears of the Sun

Aother from Tears of the Sun

A beefcake shot from Great White Appetite

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Aug 29 2010, 04:56 PM

[hazmick]

Tears of the Sun is such a great film...anyway, he would be a great addition.

[SubRosa]

D.Foxy: Slicker than snot on a marble?


hazmick: Thank you hazmick. I had a lot of fun bringing all these characters in for appearances in the past. Raminus Polus being the origin of Teresa's spells was never my intention when I wrote this. When I got to the end it just came out as being the natural thing to happen. So I went with it.


treydog: My Aedric editor once again saves me from the machinations of the foul Daedra!

Thank you trey. You cited all the main points I was looking to make in this segment, especially Teresa's understanding of just what lengths Methredhel was willing to go to for her.


haute ecole rider: I am going to keep alright as it is since it is part of dialogue, and it is often used that way there.

I am glad you liked Teresa's childish *eeeewwww* over seeing two people kissing. That was one of the more fun parts for me to write as well. Another one that was not planned on, but just came out when I was writing. Perhaps Nerussa will indeed change Teresa's mind...


Acadian: Thank you Acadian. The plot did indeed nearly go way too far. With the Arena guard nearly being killed and Dreth almost escaping. If Raminus had not been an accomplished magician things probably would have gone much worse.


Olen: Thank you Olen. I bet Raminus had the best sex of his life that night!


Next: We go back to the future for the conclusion of the chapter.

* * *

Chapter 15.8 - Old Friends, Not Forgotten

"To think that patrician taught you your Heal and Flare spells," Methredhel chuckled. "And all because we robbed him!"

Teresa bit her lip and turned her head to look at the other woman. Methredhel strode across the fields of heather, sun-bronzed skin shining and hair flowing out behind her. The forester was struck by how much she had changed since they were children, and how much she had not changed at all.

"I always did feel kind of bad about that," Teresa admitted. She looked ahead to the rocky hills before them. The air felt moist, and she wondered if she heard a gull screeching. They were near the lake, she sensed, perhaps only a mile or two away. "I was just glad to get rid of that madman, and that the guard he stabbed got healed."

"That's our Teresa," the forester could practically hear the other woman's head shake in amazement, "you always were an idealist, even in the gutter."

Now Teresa snorted. "Hardly. I just don't like the idea of other people suffering because of me," she said. "Life is hard enough for people, without someone making it worse for them."

"I always admired you Teresa." Now the thief stopped and met the forester's gaze. "When I think back, I can't believe how ridiculous Adanrel and I were, what kids we were. I mean, the Tamriel Terrors for Nocturnal's sake! But not you. You never were a kid. You were always so serious, like you knew something we didn't. Still you always humored us anyway. I've always looked up to you."

"What?" Teresa sputtered, feeling her eyes widen. The idea of anyone admiring her was just plain ludicrous.

"I'm serious," Methredhel said, and her features betrayed nothing but sincerity. "I had no idea how hard life could really be until my father left my mom and I, and we ended up in the Waterfront. But you, you always knew. I could see it in your eyes from the moment we met. When Adanrel and I were playing with dolls in our insula, you were on the street enduring the worst life had to offer. You showed me how strong, and how tough, someone can really be. You taught me how to survive."

Teresa knew she should say something, but as usual, her tongue had become a stone in her mouth. All of her life she had wished for Methredhel's confidence, her way with people, and her just plain brilliance. To think that all this time, she had been looking up to her? Teresa looked down at her feet, intensely aware of how Methredhel was staring at her. A familiar warmth was spreading through her cheeks when she felt the other woman's soft hand on her shoulder.

"Still can't take a compliment either I see," the other woman said, her voice now light. Teresa was thankful when the thief quickly changed the subject. "I wonder what ever happened to that crazy Dummer? At first I thought that mage killed him. But he was squirming when they dragged him off, so I guess he lived."

"I think they threw him in prison," Teresa offered, feeling more herself again now that the conversation was not about her. "After all, he had the bracelet on him, and he stabbed that orc."

That brought Teresa to a stop. Prison. The Dunmer taunting her from across the hall… Could that have been him? No, that was impossible, she thought with a shake of her head. After all these years, what was the chance of her ending up in a cell across from the same man who had tormented her as a child?

Looking back up, she found that Methredhel was staring ahead with a strange look on her face. Out of reflex Teresa drew the bowstave from her back and set a string to the weapon. Yet turning her head this way and that, the forester saw nothing untoward. The stony hills went on quietly all around. Nothing moved but for a few wild boar grazing in the distance.

"What is it?" she asked.

"You'd just think I'm crazy," Methredhel murmured, shading her eyes with the palm of her hand as she gazed ahead.

"You've been acting like this ever since we came out here," Teresa said. "Come on, spill it."

"Well, I keep thinking I see something," Methredhel explained, turning back to look at the forester. "Promise me you won't laugh?"

"I promise," Teresa insisted.

"Well, it's a fox. I keep seeing her in the distance. She looks at me, and then walks out of sight. Like she wants me to follow her. Last night I had the weirdest dream too…"

"Oh Methredhel that's your spirit guide!" Teresa wrapped her arms around the other woman and held her tightly. Perhaps they did not live in such different worlds after all…

* * *

"Legionary Macrinus, I've got a job for you."

The optio's bark brought the Imperial's gaze up from the copy of the Black Horse Courier that he had been reading. Leaping to his feet with a clatter of armor, the legionary stepped away from the bench he was sitting on and marched to the duty officer's desk.

The optio - an orc barely older than his own twenty five years - stared back up at him. The orc's expression was as sour as week-old milk, and once again Macrinus wished that Pierrick had not been transferred to Daggerfall. The old Breton had been easy to work under. But he had deserved his promotion to centurion, the legionary thought, and an assignment in his home city back in High Rock.

"We've got a release," the optio grumbled, shuffling through the heaps of parchment on the giant, upraised desk. "The paperwork just came down. It should have been this morning, but it looks like those idiot librarii lost it until now."

"Which one?" Macrinus asked, hoping it was not in the lower levels. The rats down there made his skin crawl. Especially after that one had tried to bite though his greave the other month.

"Sub-level two," the optio smiled, revealing the sharp incisors of a predator, "the pit."

Macrinus felt his heart sink. The pit, he thought, the lowest, filthiest, most revolting level of the prison. The gods must hate me, the legionary thought. The new optio certainly did. Taking the release form that the orc handed him, he stared down at the name written across it.

Valen Dreth, the legionary thought, this must be your lucky day. It certainly was not his.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jul 30 2020, 02:30 AM

[D.Foxy]

Well, it's a fox. I keep seeing her in the distance.






*checks pants*

[haute ecole rider]

I thought the same thing as foxy, too! Though I didn't check HIS pants! Honest!

[hazmick]

oh no! Dreth is gonna be on the streets again

on a lighter note, Methredhel has a fox as a spirit guide and she looks up to Teresa. You have done a great job of not only building up the character of Teresa but also the character of Methredhel.

[Olen]

And back to the present. You wove it in well, they were sort of where they left off but I think at a change of direction. Teresa gets another revelation about her low self worth and Methy gets a spirit guide (or soon will I suspect). I can't help but wonder what it's leading her to though.

And then Dreth's release. You've ceertainly laid a few hooks and foreshadowings here. I want to know more

[treydog]

This was a brilliant wrap-up to a brilliant chapter. That Teresa and Methredhel closed the circle, realizing that they were still friends despite having grown apart in many ways- was heartwarming. And the fact that Meth has a spirit guide- which Teresa recognizes as such- here their bond will be strengthened, even as it evolves. And isn't that the thing about relationships (of any kind?) They have to evolve or they die.

The opposite of heartwarming is the revelation that as certain Dunmer dungeon-dweller is about to return to the light of day. And I have a bad feeling that he will remember a face (or faces) even if the hair has changed.

But all of that is a worry for another day. For now, I will think of that sun-splashed field, where two friends have discovered that old friendships can become new again.

[Acadian]

What a wonderful conclusion! I love how smoothly you snuck us right back to where we started - only so much wiser now. Such depth now btween Teresa and Methredhel. I too, love the idea of Methie having her own spirit guide, and what a wonderful choice a fox is for her! So much better than a dragon or a slaughterfish or a boar or a cave lion.

This was a wonderful episode on its own merit; however, it was made even more impressive by the larger context in which it fits.

I quite simply loved this whole storyline!


Ok. . . I can't resist:

"Well, it's a fox. I keep seeing her in the distance.

Of course it's a her, silly! We all know that Haute Ecole Rider is a HER (and I'm sure our Veteranary Vixen is a fox as well).
Seriously, for those not blessed with their own Bosmer: Of course wood elves can sense the sex of their own spirit guides!

This post has been edited by Acadian: Aug 30 2010, 04:02 AM

[Remko]

I really enjoyed that little peek into Teresa's past. I have been toying with the idea adressing Rales' youth too and after having read your excellent way of capturing it, the idea became even stronger.

[SubRosa]

D.Foxy: I did not think you were insecure about your masculinity. Perhaps you should change you screen name to something more manly then, such as D.Boar, or D.Bull?


hazmick: Thank you haz. One of my goals for this chapter was to bring Methredhel more to life, as well as better define her relationship with Teresa.


Olen: Thank you Olen. Dreth will indeed be rearing his ugly head again in the future, although that is quite a few chapters away.


treydog: Thank you trey. Teresa and Methredhel do indeed have their problems with growing apart in their relationship, but as you noted, both have too much invested in it to let it fall by the wayside.


Acadian: Thank you paladin. I suspect Methredhel will find her Fox spirit quite helpful in her quest to join a guild led by another notable Fox...


Remko: Thank you Remko. The sneak peek into Zerina's past certainly did a lot for her. I think doing the same for Rales would be a wonderful idea!


All: No update this time. I am still working on the next chapter, and have been rethinking some of the plot. I also just got Fallout 3 in the mail, and would like to see what that is like. So it will probably be a little while before we see more Teresa.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Sep 2 2010, 06:03 PM

[treydog]

All: No update this time. I am still working on the next chapter, and have been rethinking some of the plot. I also just got Fallout 3 in the mail, and would like to see what that is like. So it will probably be a little while before we see more Teresa.

Oh Noes! Not FO3! It will swallow your time and melt your mind-- and leave us without our (necessary) allotment of a stringy Bosmer! Actually, I think you will find it is quite interesting and enjoyable. And playing other games often helps with developing ideas for stories that seem completely unrelated.

ETA- Which reminds me- we ought to try to hijack- um, persuade Old_Andy to come over here.

This post has been edited by treydog: Sep 3 2010, 02:16 AM

[D.Foxy]

So, Rosa got FO3 in the male, and wants to see what it's like???

I think you will like the male, Rosa...

*reads Rosa's post again*

GAAAH! Not only do I need to check my pants, I need to check my eyes as well!!

Strangely there's nothing wrong with my eyes when a sweet sixteen comes into view...

[Destri Melarg]

I finally get a block of time to become current with the TF. I am going to enjoy this!

Chapter 15.4 - Old Friends, Not Forgotten

Even at this early age their roles within this gang of theirs are well-defined. Teresa seems like the most thoughtful and mature of the three, with a smart child’s wisdom in dealing with adults. That wisdom must have been gained through the course of painful experience. I am so glad that you have decided to go back and present Teresa’s early years on the waterfront.

And on the subject of The Magnificent Seven (the TV series): Every once in a while Starz Westerns has a marathon of eight to ten episodes from the series, and I watch them every time.

Chapter 15.5 – Old Friends, Not Forgotten

Again Teresa encounters in her past a character with whom she will have dealings in the present. The encounter with Pappy (though his nickname may well have been something else then) was so brief that one can forgive Teresa for not recognizing him when they meet in Bravil.

I like the way you changed the ‘mohawk’ to the ‘cliff racer’ in the TF. What a perfect name for that particular hair cut. Am I safe in assuming that the wearer of it was a younger Modryn Oreyn?

The chase through the Arena district was a harrowing experience for both Teresa and this reader. I am so glad the Teresa’s spirit guide showed when it did, though she was understandably too busy to notice. The one good thing about reading several chapters in a row like this is that I don’t have to be left hanging from that cliff.

Onward!

Chapter 15.6 – Old Friends, Not Forgotten

Tens of thousands of people of all races jammed into the seats and walked to and fro. The farther down her eyes looked, the better dressed Teresa found they were.

Some things appear to be universal. Would that the reverse were true!

Now they were gone however, and the entire area was slowly filling with water.

Borrowing from history again, I see. I have always been of two minds on the naval battles staged within the confines of the Colosseum. On the one hand they must have been quite dangerous, given the enclosed space, and therefore more entertaining for the crowd. On the other hand they must have been brief, for given the enclosed space there aren’t many options for engagement that don’t endanger the crowd that they are there to entertain. I don’t even think that the ships could attain a decent enough ramming speed.

Methredhel’s plan was brilliant. Why do I get hints of The Artful Dodger in the make-up of her character? The fact that the man stolen from turns out to be a future Master Wizard explains the lack of a conventional weapon.

Dreth certainly picked the wrong Bosmer to terrorize!

Chapter 15.7 – Old Friends, Not Forgotten

Another cameo, this one by the Grey Prince himself! Given the setting of these last few chapters, I suppose I should have seen his appearance coming. What a happy coincidence that this marks his first match. You will have to pardon me if it takes a moment to remove the stain placed upon his name from reading Maxical’s story.

Okay, stain removed.

Now we see the extent of the crime that caused Dreth to waste away in the Imperial dungeon. He probably could have talked his way into a fine and a fortnight in a cell for stealing from a noble. Stabbing an Arena Guard, I expect, is frowned upon.

The description of Cornelia’s emotional state during the fray is telling as well. I wonder if her predatory excitement in the face of danger eventually scared Raminus off.

This really was a wonderful way to seal the friendship between Teresa and The Artful Methredhel. And the ending where Raminus teaches her Flare and Heal.

Fantastic!!

Chapter 15.8 – Old Friends, Not Forgotten

Wow. All this time Teresa was looking up to Methredhel and she was looking up to Teresa. I can’t think of a more effective description of the nature of friendship. Now it is Teresa’s turn to be a mentor as she guides Methredhel through communion with her spirit guide.

Unlike our friends, hazmick and trey, I had the exact opposite reaction to the news of Dreth’s release. He has spent a decade (or more) wasting away in a cell. The little Bosmer girl he remembers is a forester now who has faced down wild animals, necromancers and the hordes of Oblivion itself with her bow. Not to mention the fact that she is better than most apprentice mages and has a true talent for alchemy and the brewing of poisons.

The poor man doesn’t stand a chance!

[SubRosa]

treydog: No fear of leaving Teresa behind for the Wasteland. I have not played her as a character in a year anyway, and about 99% of what you see in the fiction never happened in the game. My writing really has nothing to do with what I might be playing.


D.Foxy: I tried the male. That is why I'm a lesbian!


Destri Melarg: I guess it is a little late to say welcome back. That was indeed Oreyn. I was originally going to call his haircut a mohawk, but since there were never any mohawks (Native Americans that is) in ES, I did not see how I could use the name. Since I only see Dunmer with that hair, I scrambled for something Morrowind-specific.

Raminus is still married to Cornelia. Remember he mentioned her at the Battle of Bruma when talking to Morning-Star. Besides, like other noble marriages, it had nothing to do with love. It is all about politics and breeding.

And you are probably quite right about Dreth. A decade in prison will certainly have taken its toll on him physically. On the other hand, who said it would be Teresa he becomes mixed with?


Next: Teresa returns at last with a new chapter. When we last saw her she was renewing her friendship with Methredhel and reminiscing on the past. Next we see her journeying east from the City Isle to a place she has visited before.

* * *

Chapter 16.1 - The Temple

19th -26th Sun's Height, 3E433

Teresa paused at the edge of the trees and strung her bow. With the weapon ready, she peered into the sunlit clearing before her. The ground rose steadily, covered with heather and short, wild grass. Scattered about the rise were tumbled down blocks of white stone, as if thoughtlessly cast aside by giants. Beyond the forest closed in once more, and steadily rose into the snow-capped peaks of the Jerall Mountains.

Bringing her gaze back to the hill, she saw that in many places only a single wall remained to tell the tale of what had been a building. To Teresa's left, the trail of broken flagstones of a road climbed the western slope of the hill, ending at its peak. Halfway up the hill a stone archway whose peak was shattered spread across it, and the forester wondered if it had been part of an inner wall dividing upper and lower levels of the city

At the crest of the rise what appeared to be a single building remained, at least its ground level. For Teresa could see broken stones rising like jagged teeth from its lower reaches. Near it was a once-great statue of an armored mer being carried aloft by an eagle. Only the mighty bird's wings had been snapped off, along with the upraised arms of the elf, and moss and ivy draped over the remaining white stone like a funeral shroud.

The minutes crawled by as Teresa stared up the hilltop at the ruins of Belda. Finally her patience was rewarded when her emerald eyes picked out something moving among the rubble. In the distance, it looked like grey cloth, perhaps from a cloak or robe. The forester stood motionless among the oak trees and waited, and after a few minutes a dark figure stepped into view.

She could not tell much, but given that it did not seem to have a tail, she imagined it must be an elf or human. A grey, hooded robe covered the individual's body, completely obscuring their features. She did not see any obvious weapons, but Teresa knew that the folds of that robe could hide an assortment of daggers, or even a short sword.

The figure was still for a moment, appearing to be gazing off in the distance. Teresa wondered who it might be? Bandits seemed to prefer armor. Usually only magicians or priests wore robes. She could not imagine what a priest would be doing in the ruins of Belda though. That left a magician. The members of the Mages Guild typically wore blue robes, though she had seen a few in white and some in green. So it was probably not a guild mage. So who could it be?

Then the grey-robe turned and stepped out of view. Not wasting a second, Teresa leaped into action, sprinting up the hillside. She found that the heather and grass contained numerous rocks under foot, and she had to watch her step to avoid tripping. Still, she moved as quickly as she could up the slope, hoping to reach the crest before the figure returned.

She found there was more rubble the higher she went. Near the top she found a low row of stones which she crouched behind, pausing to catch her breath. Listening carefully, she thought she heard footsteps further up the hill. They grew louder, and Teresa waited, taking care to not make a sound. Soon the footsteps stopped, only to begin again after long moments, only this time fading away. Reasoning that the figure was moving away, the forester peeked her head out from around the end of the stones.

The hill was empty above her. Once more she rose, and this time moved slowly and silently up the slope. Her eyes remained on the crest of the hill, scanning for any sign of movement. As she drew near the single remaining structure, she thought she heard the rustle of cloth. Stepping behind the remnant of a high wall, she pondered her next course of action.

Could it be a necromancer? she wondered. The last one had worn a black robe though. Still, that did not mean they all dressed alike. Was the figure alone, or part of a group? Were they dangerous? Or were they friendly? How could she tell? Were they here to explore the ruin as she was? Would they see her as competition if they were, or could she join them? Should she draw an arrow and set it to her string in case they were dangerous? Yet might that not make them think she was attacking, and prompt them to strike at her first?

Teresa bit her lip as she considered her options. She could poison an arrow, wait for the grey-robe to come back into view, and shoot. That would be murder though, and she knew she could not do that. That meant she would have to talk first. But what if she was wrong?

With the latter thought in mind, she drew forth a pair of arrows and thrust them point first into the ground near the end of the wall. They would be in easy reach if she needed them, she knew, quicker to nock than if she drew them from her bag. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out from behind the wall and looked out across the hilltop.

The statue rose up to her left. Now that she was closer to it, she found that it rested upon a circular base of stone that was nearly as tall as she was. To her right was the remnant of the structure she had seen, a building that appeared to be nearly forty feet long. It was pierced by a single opening in its center. It was a stone double-door of the Ayleid type: with a rusted metal handle shaped in a semi-circle at the inner edges of each door, so that when they were shut they would form a circle. Now however, both doors were slid halfway to either side, leaving enough open space between for a single person to walk through.

Broken walls rose to knee and chest height around the structure, and here and there Teresa could see individual blocks of stone scattered about. Wooden poles rose from the ground in a circle around the area. The glowing white crystals tied atop them with simple strips of rawhide were of the same kind Teresa had seen before within Vilverin, and it was obvious that they were used to light up the area at night.

She did not recall seeing any lights atop the hill when she had passed by before. But that had been a month and a half ago, back in Midyear. Plenty of time for someone to move in.

Then someone stepped into view across the hilltop. Clad in what she could now see was soft linen, the grey robe he wore was emblazoned with a black crescent in the center of the breast. While the hood covered his head, Teresa could discern enough of the features underneath to see it was a man from the dark stubble on his chin, perhaps an Imperial from his olive skin.

Before Teresa could speak a word of greeting, he lifted a fist into the air. A blue disc formed before him, only to fall to the ground with a whoosh of magic. Forming in its wake was a dark brown creature. It stood on two legs and had pointed ears like a mer, but was hairless, and bore a serpentine tail that whipped out behind it. It raised its clawed hands, and stared at Teresa with the burning coals of its eyes. Opening its mouth in a hiss, Teresa saw long fangs within that dripped with saliva and glistened in the noon-day sun.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jan 7 2011, 03:58 AM

[hazmick]

Welcome back from the wasteland! Very nice chapter. Teresa facing one of the largest problems an adventurer can have: Friend or Foe? unfortunately this time it was foe I can't wait to see what happens next.

EDIT (AFTER READING FELLOW READERS/WRITERS COMMENTS): Hooray for conjurers! I must admit that conjuration is one of my Argonain friend's favourite past-time. Uh-Oh, I might have summoned a rogue spoiler there.

This post has been edited by hazmick: Sep 14 2010, 09:37 PM

[Destri Melarg]

Welcome back indeed! I see your time in the wasteland has seeped into your writing about Cyrodiil. Or was it your initial plan to spend the bulk of this chapter describing a ruin?

#@%& Conjurers!! I can see how this chapter might go a long way toward pushing Teresa’s personal philosophy into the realm of ‘shoot first, ask questions later’. It is a shame that Methredhel isn't there to back her up. The description of the clanfear was absolutely chilling. I hope she can drop that thing with those two arrows before it reaches her, having to fish into her quiver for more wastes precious time!

A nit (perhaps):

A grey, hooded robe covered the individual’s body, completely obscuring their features.

Forgive me if I am wrong, bit since you are describing a non-gender specific individual, shouldn’t that be ‘its features’?

[haute ecole rider]

You sure know how to ratchet up the tension over that eternal question of friend or foe!

Damn Conjurers! I hate 'em, too!

Wonderful description of the Ayleid ruin. It took me a moment to figure out where she was. Well done!

[treydog]

Beautiful descriptions which show Teresa's environmental awareness as well as your writing skill. Even if I had never seen an Ayleid ruin, I would know what one looks like from your words.

And I appreciate Teresa's quandry- not everything that moves is your enemy- it only seems like it. But if you want to stay somewhere one the "good" side of neutral, you can't just shoot first.

Remember the Legion rulefor fighting Conjurers- "Don’t wear yourself out against the summonings; kill the caster." Although the slippery little scuts tend to run away...