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

[Thomas Kaira]

It never ceases to amaze me how you can stick so true to what's in the game and yet make EVERYTHING in it so believable and natural. Incredible job on the Bravil Fighters Guild!

[Acadian]

I heard a rumor the other day that the FG was looking for new members. Good work I suppose - if you have the stones for it. I hope they don’t ask Teresa about her stones.

Lots of rich development and background of your Fighters Guild. I applaud your decision to have a FG branch in the IC - it makes perfect sense. I also like how Teresa is asking and learning how it may interface with her questing for Umbaccano. So far, her interest in the FG makes perfect sense for her.

Nice touch to show the devastation that the Oblivion Crisis had on the FG.

I'm curious. Is Pappy's customer Aleron Loche? Husband of Ursanne? From the hints, it would seem so. I can see a time where he might really need that blade training.

Nit?
"Why, do you plan on making a many of your own contracts?"
I think the a was a leftover/oversight?

[SubRosa]

hazmick: Well, Teresa would like to see herself and Tadrose becoming... close as well!


Grits: I almost used one of the in-game screenshots I made for Pappy. But I have never been able to make men in the face generator. So I went hunting for some Robert Conrad pics, and turned up some new ones.


Thomas Kaira: I did add a few embellishments, but I am glad the Fighters Guild in the TF is feeling real.


Acadian: I heard that rumor too! Pappy might not ask about her stones, but he certainly will ask about a lot of other things! I was always disappointed that there is no FG branch in the IC. It ought to be where there headquarters is. Pappy's customer is indeed Aleron Loche. Or is that Tone Loche?

Thank you for wrangling up my errant "a", it did indeed slip through the editing cracks.


Next: Teresa learned much more about the Fighters Guild in our previous episode. Next she meets the commander of the Bravil Chapter.


Chapter 26.6 – The Fighter

The door beside them opened, and both women looked up to see the middle-aged Breton walk out. He was covered in sweat and gasping for breath. Behind him strode the guild commander, who was not even breathing hard.

"Come back tomorrow and we will keep working at it," the Colovian smiled.

The Breton shook his head and muttered something Teresa could not hear. As he staggered down the hallway the commander looked at Teresa.

"You're Teresa then?" he asked. "Tadrose says you are looking to join the guild?"

"Yes," Teresa rose to her feet to face him. "We've been talking about it."

"And she hasn't talked you out of it yet!" he laughed, extending his open hand. "I'm Gaius Vitellus, but most people just call me Pappy."

Teresa took his grip and watched as her hand disappeared within his own. His clasp was hard as iron, and the wood elf had to resist the urge to wince as his fingers closed in on hers like a vise. Looking back up, she saw that his blue eyes were locked upon her own. She wondered if this was some kind of test, and stared back at him while squeezing his hand as hard as she could in return.

"I will go get cleaned up," Tadrose murmured, wiping her grimy fingers on her leather apron. She made her way past the two of them and disappeared down the hallway.

"Let's go for a walk while we talk," Pappy suggested. He released his grip and immediately made his way down to the opposite end of the corridor. Teresa had to hurry to gather up her pack and bow stave in order to keep up.

"The first thing I need to know is whether you are currently wanted for any criminal offenses, and if you have ever been convicted of a capital crime," the middle-aged Colovian said as he walked.

"No," Teresa replied, "I already told Tadrose that."

"I know," he said. "She told me that you are not on our wall of shame either. But I still have to ask anyway."

He stopped at a door and turned to look her in the face. "I also have to run a background check on you. You need to tell me right now if that is going to come up with something or not. Because believe me, I will find out if you have been incarcerated."

Teresa bit her lower lip, wondering if she should tell him about the prison.

"All right, out with it." he said, crossing his arms in front of his chest as she stared at her.

"Well, I did kind of go to prison a few months ago…" Teresa looked down at her feet, then raised her eyes back up to his. "But I was never charged with anything."

"What?" The commander's eyes opened wide. "How do you go to prison without being charged?"

"Well, it was on the account of the Emperor, and the Amulet of Kings," Teresa said, looking down again. "Then Jauffre of course, erm, I mean the Grandmaster of the Blades. Well, before Baurus, but I met him too…."

"What on Nirn are you babbling about?" the Colovian stared down at her with an incredulous look.

Teresa felt her heart sink as she went back to the beginning and explained everything that had happened to her after meeting the dying Blade in the alley. How the legionary had mistaken her for his killer and thrown her in prison. Then how she met the Emperor, watched him die, and delivered the Amulet of Kings to Jauffre for him.

"Do you expect me to believe that load of imp chips?" Pappy exclaimed. "Damn kid, if you are going to lie, at least make it something believable!"

"I am not lying!" Teresa felt heat rising in her ears and cheeks as she stared back at him. "You ask Baurus, he will tell you! Check with the prison too. They say I was never even there!"

"Are you crazy, is that it?" the Colovian said, now standing with his hands on his hips.

"No!" Teresa resisted the urge to poke him in the ribs. She remembered what had happened when she had lost her temper with Volsinius. Even though the guild commander was not wearing armor, she still did not want a repeat of that occasion. "I am not crazy, and I am not lying damn it! That is how it happened!"

"Well telling people a story like that, what do you expect them to believe?" the Colovian said in a quieter voice.

It took every ounce of Teresa's will to avoid curling her hands into fists. She felt her heart beating as if she was in combat. The wood elf tried to slow its wild pounding and steady her breathing. She had to keep control of her temper. What would the Emperor think if he could see her now? Would he be proud of her, or disappointed?

"Look, you have met the Emperor right? I mean Uriel, not his son Martin." Teresa forced her voice into a lower tone, focusing on the image of the Emperor in her head. When the Colovian nodded, she went on. "Well, he believed in me. He knew that I was in the prison because I was supposed to be there to help him. When he talked to me, it was like he and I were the only two people in the world. He showed me that I could be a better person than I was, that I didn't have to be a street urchin all my life. He showed me that I can make a difference in people's lives. I can still see him in my head, and hear his words. There is nothing I would not have done for him."

"I'm sorry that I don't have statues of me like Julian of Anvil does, or bard's singing about me, or a grass crown like you." Teresa went on. "I'm not a hero. I'm just an ordinary woman. But that doesn't mean I cannot do my part to make the world a better place to live in. The Emperor believed in me, and if he did, then you should too."

The Colovian stared at her for what felt like an eternity. Yet Teresa knew it was probably only a few moments. Then he relaxed his stance and his eyes took on a sparkle.

"Okay kid, let's see what you can do." He turned and opened the door in front of him, then stepped through and motioned for Teresa to follow.

"I am not a kid!" The growl escaped Teresa's throat before she was even aware she was going to speak. "My name is Teresa, get used to it gramps."

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jun 2 2011, 11:18 PM

[Olen]

Well there's a fair few parts of this gone up, and good ones too. I hadn't expected you to show Bravil as such a nice place (on the surface at least) but that works. I suspect Teresa might find it somewhat less desirable once she gets to know the place, but then she is used to the waterfront...

Aleron Loche was a nice touch, I hadn't expected to see him and it will add something more when (if) his quest comes up (and I suspect it will). Clever bit of planning there.

It was in such a decrepit state that the wood elf wondered if people had been cannibalizing its stones for other buildings.

I liked this, it shows a little more depth and reality in the world by mirroring reality. Good stuff

You have no idea how much male posturing goes on around here…

Another fantastic observation, I have no doubt it would. In fact it's almost miraculous that no one's told her their magic way to gaining weight and becoming less stringy.

I liked all of the guild part, it makes more sense that they take a general cut and then offer training and equipment. Another part which takes the game and adds to it for a richer setting. I see what you meant when you said there were various people to whom 'The Fighter' could refer to as well, they already seem well rounded characters though you've only revealed the beginging of them. Teresa showed more self confidance in standing up to Pappy too which is further development.

One nit:
"We have to be," Tadrose replied, "our ...done."

"Well ... good," Tadrose observed. "Now ... commander."

"So... guild?" the Dunmer asked ..., "fortune, glory?"
I found the paragraphing here a bit jarring, the middle one felt that it should have been Teresa speaking, especially as there is a closing inverted comma at the end of the one above. Could just be the way I read it though.

This post has been edited by Olen: Dec 29 2010, 06:54 PM

[hazmick]

Haha, Pappy better not mess with this Bosmer. (Evenif she does sound like one of Sheogorath's followers ) But I am glad that Pappy is willing to believe her story for now.

Mr. Loche better keep training as well, he'll really need it.

Excellent chapter, Rosa. Can't wait to see Teresa show Pappy "what she's got" (and Tadrose too )

[Acadian]

I liked it! Plenty of sparks here! The interactions between Teresa and Pappy delivered loads of show vs tell. Well done!

"Do you expect me to believe that load of imp chips?" Pappy exclaimed. "Damn kid, if you are going to lie, at least make it something believable!"
Yay! Imp chips!!! Get over it, Pappy! Teresa wasn't exactly wetting herself to tell you about her time in prison, but YOU are the one who asked - so she told you. I also don't recall our stringy wood elf telling you that she expected you to believe anything. Now, for SubRosa: I know Teresa is young and understandably a touch intimidated, so I was not surprised to see her almost stammer a touch here. But I was so proud of her for standing up for herself!

Fabulous that you reminded us heroes like Julian of Anvil, Uriel, Martin and even the grass crown holder, Pappy. I suspect that I'm not alone in thinking of Vols when you mention grass crown.

"I am not a kid!" The growl escaped Teresa's throat before she was even aware she was going to speak. "My name is Teresa, get used to it gramps."
You go, girl!

[Grits]

"What on Nirn are you babbling about?" the Colovian stared down at her with an incredulous look.
I love that Pappy speaks his mind. An inscrutable “Hmm” might suit other chapter heads, but the Bravil leader is much more engaging!

I like the way you specify Nibenese and Colovian. It adds a lot of depth in just one word, and it reminds me that Theresa’s Cyrodiil is huge and populated by a lot of different Imperials.

Her potential new boss makes her furious, and her possible new vice-commander tells her that Theresa is exactly what she needs. Bravil may be an under populated frontier town, but it seems that Theresa could find plenty of excitement. I hope we get to meet Vincent and the “blasted kid” Tavian.

This post has been edited by Grits: Dec 30 2010, 03:12 PM

[mALX]

This was one of my fave chapters before, and still is, I love the re-write! Teresa's first impression of Pappy - and his of her !!! There is so much personality going on in this chapter it is tangible! Awesome Write !!!!

"I'm sorry that I don't have statues of me like Julian of Anvil does, or bard's singing about me, or a grass crown like you." Teresa went on. "I'm not a hero. I'm just an ordinary woman. But that doesn't mean I cannot do my part to make the world a better place to live in. The Emperor believed in me, and if he did, then you should too."

SPEW !!! I love this line, and it is exactly that I love so much about Teresa - she may never be a 'Hero', but she kind of is heroic in some ways - regular/average, imperfect, everyday Teresa - that is what makes her so lovable - but the way she has survived her rough childhood, still tender inside but fierce when life calls for it - her deep loyalty to the Emperor that is evidenced in the changes within herself since his death - she is heroic where it counts.

[SubRosa]

Olen: I have always liked Bravil, although I would prefer it have the same style of buildings as Cheydinhal or Chorrol. Teresa on the other hand, is not very picky. As you say, she spent the last three years living in a shantytown. Anything is an improvement over that. Besides that however, Bravil's selling points are its rustic atmosphere, and its relatively small population. That gives the city an open, airy feeling that a forest elf can feel comfortable in. As opposed to the cold stone wall looming everywhere of the Imperial City.

We will definitely be seeing more of Aleron Loche in the future. In fact, he appears in the chapter I am currently writing (and it is not Caught in the Hunt).

Would that secret of destringiness be a protein shake? Or perhaps a hot-beef injection?

You were right about those three paragraphs in a row with Tadrose speaking. I went back and edited that part, and now hopefully it flows better.


hazmick: Teresa gets the chance to show what she has next. Not to Tadrose though.


Acadian: I knew you would like the return of the imp chips. I put them in just for you in fact.

Teresa does indeed let out that spark inside her, and stand up to Pappy. Quite a change from the alleycat who said "eep!" and fell on her rear when caught sneaking up behind the Emperor's party! Of course now she has to keep her temper while she is at it...


Grits: If you had not guessed, Gaius "Pappy" Vitellus is inspired by the old t.v. show Baa Baa Blacksheep's commanding officer, himself inspired by the IRL Pappy Boyington (I say inspired because in Boyington's own words, that show was more Hollywood hokum then reality). Now that we are going to be seeing more of Pappy, I started rewatching the first season again to help me recapature his attitude. In one scene General Moore tells him: "You run your mouth with your brain in neutral!" Exactly as you noted yourself!

Breaking down Imperials by Nibeneans and Colovians was actually inspired by a mod I created over the summer. It did it because the vanilla Imperials do not thrill me. So I decided to carry it over into the TF as well, in order to add more flavor. Unlike the game, I actually try to show distinct physical characteristics for each race. For example Nords are always either blond-haired and blue-eyed, or red-haired and green-eyed. Nibeneans are from the original Cyrodiilic stock, and are olive-skinned, with black hair and dark eyes. Being interbred with Nords, Colovians are fair-skinned, and can have a mix of light or dark hair and eyes.

Teresa will be having plenty of excitement in Bravil, that is for sure! That 'blasted kid' is coming up next. Vincent will not appear for a few more chapters though (although if you look back to The Battle of Bruma, he has a small part there.


mALX: It is funny, because while I was not planning it that way, when I wrote this chapter Teresa came off with a very negative impression of Pappy. Everything he did and said grated on her. I went with it since that is what came naturally. It makes a good example of how first impressions can be very wrong.


Next: In our previous segment Teresa met with guild commander and fessed up about meeting the Emperor. Next she has the chance to show what she can do.


Chapter 26.7 – The Fighter

That brought a laugh from the much older man, who turned back to look at Teresa as she stepped through the door. She found herself in a huge field that stretched out behind the guild hall. It ran all the way to the city wall, and was bordered by low stone walls to either side. The grass of the field was trampled down under her feet, giving Teresa the impression that people must walk on it a great deal. At its far end, against the blocks of the city wall, she saw several archery butts. Only these were not the round targets she had always seen before. Instead these were each shaped in the silhouette of a person, with several colored regions fanning out from the center of the chest.

Pappy stepped over to a well near the back door and drew a bucket from its depths. Teresa jumped back as he upended the contents over his head and gasped.

"Achh! that's cold!" he exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear as he wiped the water from his eyes.

"And you say I'm mad?" Teresa said, now it was her turn to lift an eyebrow.

"If you spent all day holding workouts and training sessions, you'd be happy for a bath too," he remarked as he picked up a small hourglass. Then he stepped away from the building and out into the field.

"My idea of a bath comes with a tub, or at least a lake or a river." Teresa remarked as she followed.

"A good soldier improvises," Pappy said with a smile. "Alright Teresa, you got balls the size of an ogre's. I like that in a fighter. Now let's see if you can back it up. So string your bow tub-girl."

He waited for Teresa to ready her bow, and then pointed at the targets down the field. "I want you to start on the left, and put one arrow in each target, as fast as you can without missing. You have one minute, now go!"

Pappy turned the hourglass over, and with that Teresa knew she had to move. Without looking down, she drew an arrow from the quiver at her right hip and set it to the nock. Her eye was on the left-most target down range as she drew the string halfway back. Letting half the air from her lungs, she pulled the feathers of the arrow to her cheek and loosed.

"Come on, pick up the pace!" Pappy shouted in her ear. "My grandmother can shoot faster than that!"

Teresa felt her heart double its pace in an instant at his scathing words. Yet she did not look away from the second target as she drew another arrow and set it to her bowstave. Once more drawing it halfway back, she breathed out and took aim. Then a moment later she pulled the arrow to her cheek and loosed.

"Time is running out while you play with yourself kid! Speed it up!" Pappy continued to yell at her.

Teresa felt the familiar warmth of anger spreading through her cheeks as he continued to shout at her. She did her best to ignore her feelings, and him, and concentrated on her shooting instead. There was nothing but her, the arrows, and the targets. All she had to do was put them together. With that in mind she continued to fire until finally Pappy finally waved a hand in front of her face.

"That's it Teresa!" he exclaimed, holding the empty hourglass up with his other hand. He was grinning now. "You got six shots, all center mass, with me screaming in your face. That's good. That's damn good! The legion couldn't do better."

Teresa realized that her chest was heaving up and down for air, and forced herself to slow her breathing. Likewise her heart was once more racing like a thoroughbred. She thought about the Emperor again, fixing her mind on his face, remembering the soft tones of his voice. With that she felt herself slowly begin to relax once more.

"You were trying to rattle me, weren't you?" Teresa said, turning to look at the Colovian.

"The last man I had here only got two shots off before he stopped and got into an argument with me." Pappy smiled. "I like someone who's got sand, but not when they haven't any sense to go with it. He didn't make the cut. You just did."

Teresa nodded, continuing to picture the Emperor in her mind while the excitement of the last few minutes slowly eased from her frame.

"What else can you do?" Pappy asked. "That bow is the only weapon I see you have. You any good with a sword? Or hand to hand?"

"No." Teresa shook her head. "I don't know a thing about fighting close up. I can use some magic though."

"Let's see." The Colovian's eyes flashed at the mention of magic, and Teresa wondered if that was a good thing or a bad one.

Concentrating on the image of an erupting flame, Teresa drew the magicka up from within her. She felt the energy tingle in the tips of her fingers. Then she pointed her hand across the field and unleashed a ball of flame into one of the targets, setting it alight.

"I know another spell to heal myself as well," Teresa continued. "I do not have a lot of magicka though, so I can only cast either a few times before I have to wait and let it build back up."

"A healing spell too you say? That's even better." Pappy nodded. He then turned his head toward the building and shouted in a voice that fairly split Teresa's ears. "Tavian!"

As if summoned by magic, a teen with long brown hair appeared from the guild hall. He wore a simple green flax shirt, and equally plain tan leggings. In spite of his lighter hair, his features looked more like those of an Imperial than a Breton, and Teresa guessed that he was probably just a few years younger than herself.

Screenshot

"What is it Pappy?" he asked, his glance bouncing from Teresa to the older man.

"Say hello to Teresa," the guild commander said. Then he jerked a thumb at the archery target that Teresa's spell had set afire. "And put that out please, before the City Guard complains again."

The young man nodded to Teresa and grabbed the bucket from the ground where Pappy had carelessly discarded it. Then he rushed over to the well and hurried to lower it into the water once more. In the meantime Pappy motioned Teresa to follow him back into the guild hall.

"Greetings Tavian," Teresa called out to the boy, who was furiously cranking on the windlass. Before he could respond she turned to follow the older Colovian back into the building.

"How good are you at scouting?" Pappy asked, glancing back at her over his shoulder as he led the way down the hallway past the training room. "Sneaking around, being quiet, that sort of thing?"

"I grew up on the streets of the Imperial City," Teresa said with a faint smile. "I've spent most of my life sneaking around, especially when I was living on the Waterfront. Now I have a pair of goggles that let me see in the dark as well."

"Good, I need a scout as well as an archer," Pappy explained. "Akatosh's wings! I need an entire guild again…"

"I know some alchemy too," Teresa offered up as they continued into the bowels of the hall. "I used to make potions for the Thieves Guild back in the city. And no I wasn't in the Guild myself. A few months ago I stopped and started selling them to the Mages Guild and local alchemists instead."

"So you're a connected girl then too." Pappy stopped and turned to look at her once more. "You are just full of surprises. C'mon, I want to see about this alchemy of yours."

"Most people laugh at the mention of the Thieves Guild," Teresa said as he led her through another door and down another hallway. "Not you?"

"I was born at night, but not last night kid," Pappy said as they came to the kitchen.

"That's Teresa, old man," the wood elf reflexively corrected him.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jun 2 2011, 11:19 PM

[Thomas Kaira]

"That's Teresa, old man," the wood elf reflexively corrected him.

This is going to be an interesting relationship.

Nice to see Teresa doesn't let a drill sergeant's gaff get in the way of her accuracy. Remember, putting a lot of arrows downrange is nice. Hitting your targets is even better. This is my style, as well, I prefer to take my time to ensure a hit rather than try to get a high volume of arrows downrange.

Nit? This is style-based so feel free to ignore it.

My idea of a bath comes with a tub, or at least a lake or a river.

This sentence structuring doesn't make much sense to me. Perhaps it would be better reversed?

My idea of a bath comes with a lake or a river, or at least a tub.

This post has been edited by Thomas Kaira: Jan 1 2011, 01:54 AM

[hazmick]

Aaaw, no Tadrose.

But there was Pappy, archery, fire and quick tongues. Good job! I hope Teresa gets to show Tadrose her stuff at some point...her archery skills that is

[Acadian]

I smiled all the way through this. Simply delightful. Teresa acquitted herself well and I was proud of her coolness 'under fire'.

Her 'interview' with Pappy gave us a good run down/summary/review of her capabilities, and how she views them.

"Alright Teresa, you got balls the size of an ogre's. I like that in a fighter."
Ahah! So Teresa does have the stones for this kind of work! Perhaps this Guild of Fighters gig will work out!

"Good, I need a scout as well as an archer," Pappy explained. "Akatosh's wings! I need an entire guild again…"
Another very well-phrased reminder of the devastation the guild has suffered as a result of the Oblivion Crisis.

"So string your bow tub-girl."
I laughed at this! Wonderful. Then, at the end, Teresa returned the barb:
"That's Teresa, old man," the wood elf reflexively corrected him.

Not a nit, but a style observation:
'That brought a laugh from the much older man, who turned back to look at Teresa as she stepped through the door.'
Opening the episode with this sentence requires a clear recollection of the previous paragraph - which is in your preceding episode. To remember that Pappy was about to take Teresa out to the 'wood shed' to check her stones is reasonable. Perhaps it is too much to expect a precise recollection of the joke that brought the laugh here. Were the two episodes to be run back to back, there would be no concern. When I break an episode into two, I usually end up tweaking the tail of one and the beginning of the other with the idea that there may be a few days between their reading. Again, just a thought/observation, not a nit. I'm such an avid fan, that I remembered what caused the laugh perfectly.

[mALX]

Teresa's first inklings of temper, she handled it well. The chemistry between Teresa and Pappy is starting off like a DI with a recruit, but I'm sure Pappy didn't get his nickname idly. Hopefully a mutual respect will grow out of these beginnings. Did I say I loved these chapters where she joins the Bravil Fighters Guild? I did originally, and they are just as great on the re-read. You can develop a tangible character in paragraphs, and in the Fighters Guild you excelled even your own self in proving that !!! Awesome Write !!!

[Olen]

I like Pappy, the fact that he isn't coming across as particularly nice makes perfect sense given his position. He's not there to be nice, at least not to raw recruits who he's got no reason to trust to watch his back. I can see them ending up with a mutual respect once Teresa proves she knows what she's at.

Alright Teresa, you got balls the size of an ogre's

Brilliant line.

Tavian didn't appear in game I think, so I'm wondering what part he will get to play, doubtless all will be revealed.

Would that secret of destringiness be a protein shake? Or perhaps a hot-beef injection?

Pappy would be for more old-school surely? He'd be recommending the gallon of milk a day...

[SubRosa]

Thomas Kaira: Teresa's six aimed shots a minute was actually the standard rate of fire of professional archers, whether in the Middle Ages or earlier. That she does take the time to aim and fire coolly with Pappy yelling in her face is indeed a mark of her seasoning since she began. Teresa is now used to firing under pressure.

I looked at your nit, and it seems the same either way around to me. Except that perhaps by putting that lakes and rivers first it might show that Teresa puts more emphasis on those things as bath worthy, rather than a tub. But on the other hand tubs also mean hot water, which rates higher with her. So she as much as she is a forest elf, she would rather bathe in a tub than a river. Given that I am going to leave the tub first.


hazmick: No Tadrose for a while now. I know, Teresa is disappointed too. She likes her much better than Pappy!


Acadian: Quite a difference between Teresa and Methredhel's shooting is there not? Here the experience Teresa has had in the past shows with her ability to stay focused on her shooting.

I understand your nit. It is something I consider every time I break up a chapter into individual posts. I tend to write my character interactions very tightly, so when a scene is too long for one post it is difficult to find a place in the middle where I can break without it interrupting something. I really do not want to add anything from the old post, as the TF is really meant to be read just as you would a novel. As it is on the website, or in my Word docs. The repetition would be glaring in that format, and I do not want the forum version to be different from the originals (to avoid confusion on my part). I suppose my other real option is just to make 3,000+ word posts when the need arises. I have done it a few times in the past already.


mALX: Well, at least Pappy does not have an overabundance of pride getting in his way, or Teresa a prejudice against him because of his wealth and social standing. We all know how that would turn out in the end!


Olen: Pappy can indeed be a hard taskmaster when he has to be. He has learned his own lessons at Bruma, and is determined to never let that happen again. This coming segment ought to show that very well (I hope!).

Tavian is sort of there in the game. He is the porter. It is just that in the TF, a porter is someone who actually does janitorial work. Instead of walking around in armor and following people everywhere they go. Given that I am made him a teenager.


Next: In our previous episode Teresa proved her abilities as an archer. In our next - and final segment of this chapter - she must prove her alchemical skills as well.


Chapter 26.8 – The Fighter

The kitchen contained a massive frost box, a large stove, an oven, and numerous cupboards along the walls. A large rectangular table dominated the center of the room. Hanging over it from hooks in the ceiling was all manner of knives, spoons, ladles, pots, and pans.

"Make me a Potion of Healing," Pappy said, gesturing at the wooden table.

"Okay, I can do that," Teresa breathed. Setting down her pack beside the table, she then unstrung her bow and laid the stave beside it. She rummaged through her pack for her mortar and pestle and set them on the table. Finally she dug through her bag of ingredients until she produced a sprig of lavender.

Putting the plant in the mortar, she spent several minutes grinding it into an indistinguishable paste. Adding water from a pitcher near the stove, she mixed it all together until it formed a pink liquid. All the while she pictured in her mind how the potion would mend broken flesh and make it whole once more.

"The last time I hired someone who said he was an alchemist, it turned out he didn't know dreck," Pappy explained. "It wasn't until we were at Bruma that the truth came out."

"Well I don't even buy my ingredients anymore. I pick them all in the forest myself." Teresa held the mortar up to Pappy. "Here you go, one Potion of Healing."

"Okay, show me it works," the Colovian folded his arms across his chest and stared at her.

"Well, go ahead and drink it." Teresa said, offering it to him again.

"Oh no," Pappy shook his head, "for all I know that might be poison."

Teresa sighed and lifted the mortar to her lips. Was this man ever going to trust her, she wondered?

"Hold on there," Pappy stopped her with an upraised hand. Bending down, he produced a knife from a sheath that Teresa had not even noticed at his ankle. With deft fingers he spun it around in his hand so the blade faced him, and he proffered the hilt to the wood elf.

"Anyone can make pink water," he said. "I want to see that it really works too."

Teresa shook her head and set the mortar on the table beside her. She took the knife from his grip, staring at her reflection in its long, triangular blade. She could not believe how paranoid the Colovian was. But if she was going to get into the guild, she knew she would have to show what she was capable of. That made her wonder if this was not just a test of her alchemical abilities…

Gritting her teeth, she drew the knife across the palm of her hand, tracing a long red line through her flesh. Pain flared bright and hot in her skin, and she held it up so that Pappy could plainly see the wound. Setting down the bloody knife, she picked up the mortar and chugged the potion as quickly as she could. Just as suddenly as the pain had erupted, it faded away to a memory. She lowered her hand as the last of her flesh knitted closed across it. A moment later there was not even a scar.

"Happy now, you fetcher?" Teresa said in a low voice, slamming down the mortar on the table with a loud crash and handing the knife back to Pappy. "Or do you want to me to go out and kill a daedroth next?"

"Nah, I'll save that for the next one," Pappy smiled as he took the knife and wiped it clean before placing it back in its sheath. "I'm impressed kid, you got what it takes alright, and then some. Come back in about two weeks and I'll sign you up."

"Two weeks!" Teresa's eyes widened. "What in Oblivion for?"

"That's how long it will take me to check with the prison," Pappy said, his hands falling to his hips again. "Once they tell me you're clean, you are in. I don't even care about the rest of it, but I cannot take you if you have a record."

"What? I just told you…" Teresa fumed. She took her mortar and pestle in hand, gripping them so hard that she could see her knuckles turning white. It took every ounce of her will to stop herself from throwing them at the Colovian.

"Kid, I have heard every story there is, but never one like that," Pappy said. "I like you Teresa. I really do. But I'd be a damn idiot if I didn't check you out first."

"Then why were you wasting my damn time with all this bull!" Teresa could not contain the shout that tore from her throat. "If you didn't want me you could have just said so! You didn't have to lie to me you fetcher!"

"I didn't lie. I want you!" Pappy raised his own voice as Teresa stuffed the mortar and pestle into her pack. "But I'm not gonna stand here and blow sunshine up your rear either!"

"You are so full of it!" Teresa yelled back. Her heart was pounding in her chest again and her skin felt as hot as Oblivion. She lifted her pack over her shoulders and grabbed her bow stave. "Getting me to chop my hand up and waste one of my potions wasn't enough for you? What, you want to jerk me around more?"

"Damnit kid slow down." Pappy said as he stepped in front of her. "I'll give you another Healing potion. I'm not trying to screw with you, I just need to know what you can really do."

Teresa looked at him and felt her fingers curl into a fist. They wanted desperately to find a new home in the Colovian's face. But some part of the forester remembered what had happened the last time she was at Methredhel's shack. She refused to lose control of herself like that again. Gritting her teeth, Teresa felt herself start to tremble as she pushed by him and into the hallway.

His hand caught her arm, tugging her to a stop. She turned to face him. He was saying something that she could not hear over the pounding of blood in her ears. As if by its own accord, Teresa felt her arm pull back to launch her fist into his face.

"No!" she cried, lowering her arm with an effort. He just stood there staring at her with those steely eyes, and Teresa realized that he had seen the blow coming and was just waiting for her to land it.

"Go on slug me if it makes you feel better," he said earnestly. "Get it out of your system."

Teresa shook off the hand that gripped her arm. Closing her eyes, she tried to think of the Emperor, like she had before. She pictured his face in her head, and remembered the sound of his voice. Breathing deeply, she tried to will the anger out of her and into the wooden floor underneath her feet. Yet this time it just would not wash away so easily. Instead she could feel her blood boiling just as intensely as before.

"You sure got the temper to go with that hair Teresa," she heard Pappy say. "Come back tomorrow at midday, I've got some time open then. We'll start training in anything you want, hand-to-hand, sword, knife, mace, you name it. Same thing every day until I hear back from the Imperial City. No charge, same as if you were a member already."

Now she did feel the rage begin to slip away from her. Yet replacing it was a lump in her throat, choking back her words when she tried to speak. She forced herself to turn away as her eyes began to water. Damnit, she thought, she was going to cry. Why? She had been absolutely furious just a few moments ago. Now she was a weeping willow!

Doing her best to hold back the tears, she stomped down the hallway to the foyer where she had entered. Pappy was saying something behind her, but she could not make out the words past the thunder of her own beating heart. Through her watery eyes she saw that an orc sat in the lobby, clad in fine blue velvet and reading a book. He looked up as she entered and opened his mouth to speak. But after one look at her face he shut it again. Teresa turned her eyes away from him, shoving her way through the door and out into the street beyond.

Screenshot

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jun 2 2011, 11:19 PM

[mALX]

Whew! Poor Teresa - and poor Pappy, lol. Did you mod the Orc? He doesn't have tusks !!! I wondered about that the first time I saw that screenie! This chapter left me holding my breath both the first time I read it and this time, I was never sure Teresa wasn't going to blow. I don't know how much of that was frustration, or if her anger came from a deeper place right then - but it was tangible through your excellent writing - Awesome Write (as always !!)

[Thomas Kaira]

Do I sense... Chemistry?

Teresa, you are just full of surprises! First Nerussa, now Pappy! Someone keep an eye on this girl, else all of Cyrodiil fall in love with her.

Wait...

THEY HAVE!!!



Great interactions!

[Jacki Dice]

Ok well I was going to wait until I was all caught up to leave a comment, but 18.3 made me cry.... First Helena, now you -sniff- You're stories are so wonderful. Every time I read them it makes me want to go improve mine a little. ♥

Oh and this from 21.1 made me giggle:

"But I don't want a man," Teresa made a face at the very thought of being in the same bed as one. "They're all hairy, and coarse, and smell bad, yuck!

...that's some of the very best things about men! Then again compared to soft, delicate, sweet-scented women, I can see Teresa's point!

This post has been edited by Jacki Dice: Jan 2 2011, 10:57 PM

[Olen]

You caught the intensity of her emotion well, and the rapid swing from the rage as it cooled was spot on. The believability of the characters and their realistic emotions and responses make this piece what it is, and that is brilliant. It sucked me in and held on until they'd finished arguing, great stuff.

I also see she has become a master of alchemy making potions from one ingredient... she doesn't need those stones, there's a fortune to be made in potions

And now we see the rest of Bravil as she cools off.

[Acadian]

Old business: Thank you for sharing your thoughts on how and why you break your chapters. I understand completely!

*

I had more than a faint smile all the way through this. The interaction was delicious, and superbly presented!

'"You sure got the temper to go with that hair Teresa," she heard Pappy say.'
Trust me, Pappy, I was thinkin' exactly the same thing!

'Now she did feel the rage begin to slip away from her. Yet replacing it was a lump in her throat, choking back her words when she tried to speak. She forced herself to turn away as her eyes began to water. Damnit, she thought, she was going to cry. Why? She had been absolutely furious just a few moments ago. Now she was a weeping willow!'
The contradiction that is a young woman is so perfectly presented here! Might I be so bold as to suggest to Teresa that this might have been a fine moment for the 'F' word?
In fact, I think it's high time someone presented Teresa with a poem, before that artistic orc she just saw is able to:

~Ode to the 'F' Word~
When used by a woman, as the last word,
it can make any man feel quite like a turd.
Coming from the love of his life,
such a word can cut like a knife.
More effective than a cry or a pout,
its results can surpass those of a shout.
Here is a hint, known well to old trey,
that comes from our very own dear Athynae.
Some women, when piqued might declare, "By the Nine!"
A proper young lady simply glares and says, "F***!"

This post has been edited by Acadian: Jan 3 2011, 01:39 AM