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

[Linara]

Finally caught up, and man did I miss a lot. I like Teresa's description of Bravil, instead of the shambling, addict populated ruin I see when I go there. Makes it seem more hopeful.

So Teresa is giving the FG a try, is she? Well this is slightly unusual...It seems Pappy will be a hard taskmaster, if the last couple of chapters are any indication.

Poor Ancondil! If orcs blushed - maybe they do- he would have been beet-red.

[SubRosa]

All: I have always kept track of the passage of months and days in my notes. I try to work the current date into my writing where it would feel natural, but often that is not possible. So I went back and started posting the dates each chapter takes place in, in the first post of the chapter.


Olen: The Hollow Men has always been my favorite of Eliots. The Waste Land never did anything for me.

The description of alchemy is part of a larger overall view of the inner-workings of magic that I am espousing. That will be explained fully in chapter 30, when one of the characters gets a magic lesson.


mALX: Acadian's naked Redguard is the one Teresa was thinking of. It goes pretty far back. Teresa is indeed lucky that Ancondil was willing to take no for an answer. Many men would not.


Grits: It has indeed been a huge day for Teresa. The next day (starting with this post) will be even bigger!


hazmick: Ancondil was one of my more original creations. I wanted the members of the new Bravil FG to really stand out and be memorable. Of them all, he probably stands out the most.


Jacki Dice: Poor Ancondil indeed. It is not easy being a man around Teresa!


Acadian: A 'cheeky' Redguard indeed!

One hot bath definitely coming up! Teresa has her priorities straight!

I did indeed mean a Khajiit. Thank you for wrangling it back into the herd of other cats for me.


D.Foxy: Life is indeed full of those awkward moments of crossed attractions when you are in the sexual minority. Rest assured, Teresa will find out how it feels on the other side soon enough!


Linara: Good to see you back again Lin. My vision of Bravil is indeed a bit different from the slant the game puts on it. But hopefully the frontier town that is a bit down on its luck works better than the simple slum town. It is a strange thing for Teresa to be joining the FG, especially considering her past. But it is her past that has driven her to join. In the coming chapters we will see just how she will benefit from the association.


Next: Teresa's dinner with Ancondil did not turn out how she had expected, but luckily she avoided misfortune because of it. Next we find her waking up bright and early the next morning, and paying a visit to the other guild in the city.

Chapter 27.4 –The Lucky Lady

Teresa was awake and out the door of her room shortly after dawn. It felt strange being up and about at such an early hour. Usually she was just going to bed as the sun came up, not rising with it! But as she walked down the stairs to the first floor of the inn, she felt strangely invigorated. Well, she had probably slept for ten hours straight, she imagined that she ought to feel refreshed!

The smell of frying eggs and bacon assaulted her nostrils as she entered the common room, destroying whatever appetite she might have had. A few of the other patrons were there ahead of her and already eating breakfast. When the waitress asked if she would like some she could only shake her head as she made her way to the door. The idea of eating anything so soon after waking made her feel queasy, that it was meat only made it all the worse.

Carrying a bag of potions in one hand and another sack full of ingredients in the other, she stepped out onto Silver Avenue. She passed the brooding edifice of the Fighters Guild, and once more wondered what she should think about her experience there the other day. Did their commander really want her after all? Even if he had, would he still want her after she had stormed out with her eyes filled with tears?

She sighed and looked away. She had other things to think about. She had potions to sell, more bottles to buy, and far more to mix up with the ingredients she had left in her room. Then she needed to buy some real clothing, so she would not have to walk around the city wearing armor all the time. Maybe something velvet this time, she thought, or something with lace…

The main street ended at the branch of the river that she had seen running into the city the previous day. It split into two directly in front of her like a sideways "Y", creating three separate islands upon which Bravil stood. One branch of the river continued to her left, toward the rising sun, and disappeared through a submerged portcullis in the city walls. The other, wider leg of the river turned at a right angle and flowed straight away from her. It ran though a break in the city wall that was wide enough for a galleon to easy pass through, and emptied out into the bay south of the city.

On the wedge of land between the two branches of the river to Teresa's left rose several rows of stone manors. Each was easily three stories high, and many bore towers that extended their height. Looming up behind them was a castle, draped with rust-colored banners of the same back-facing deer that the city guard wore on their surcoats. A sturdy wooden bridge spanned the water to her left, connecting the castle island to that upon which she stood. Like the bridge at the main gate, it was wide enough for a pair of wagons to ride abreast, and clearly built to last.

The third island lay across the river to her right, and was filled with more stone and wood houses. She could see the high walls of the city rising in the distance behind them. One shop along the far riverbank caught her eye. Its wooden sign sported a pair of crossed arrows and had The Archer's Paradox written across it. Teresa made a mental note to go and investigate that later in the day.

The ground dove steeply in front of her to meet the water. Several sets of stairs cut along its length, leading to a long row of docks stretching the entire length of the inner river. She saw a few small fishing boats tied up to shore, but most of the slips were empty.

Screenshot

There was one large ship however, one of the big sea-faring craft that she had often seen on the docks of the Imperial City. As she gazed down she could see the Redguards of its crew unloading crates onto the dock, while locals carried them up the stairs and began loading them onto wagons and carts on the street where Teresa walked.

Remembering the directions the guardsman had given her the day before, Teresa made her way west along Riverwalk. The street here was still paved in stone, but she could see that it turned to hard-packed dirt as soon as it moved away from the water's edge. Among the warehouses that dotted the shore she passed a shop called The Warlock's Luck. She was tempted to stop and go in. Yet it looked more like a spellcaster's store than an alchemist's, so she continued down the thoroughfare.

She passed a small chapel of Kynareth next. The stained glass window at the front of the stone building showed the goddess with a fish leaping from one of her hands, and a gust of wind emanating from the other. Clearly, the Bravilians were less interested in her role of goddess of all wild animals in general, and more with that of fish in particular. Not to mention her dominion over the weather. She was not surprised, as she had seen the same in the chapel on the Waterfront of the Imperial City. People seemed to see the gods in whatever way was most convenient for them.

Coming to another bridge that spanned the river to the third island, she found the city wall rose in its circuit not far beyond. Sitting on the bank of the river beside the wall was a high manor house. A great stained glass window colored to look like an eight-petaled flower was perched in the center of the second floor, and she knew that she had found the Mages Guild.

Screenshot

She found the door was unlocked as she tried the handle, and let herself in. A short hallway led to a wide open foyer, surrounded by other chambers in all directions. The great eye symbol of the guild was painted on the hardwood floor beneath her feet, this time decorated with magical runes. The walls were hung with soft hangings of velvet and silk, and the room was populated with bookcases, cushioned benches, plants, and several decorative urns. The light of the morning sun spilled through the open windows behind her, augmented by a chandelier lit not by candles, but rather by glowing crystals of the like she had often seen in Ayleid ruins.

"Good morning!" came the perky voice of a Breton. Turning to her left, Teresa saw a woman with brown hair tied back in a single braid walking down a stairway to the ground floor. She was dressed in blue velvet, and her eyes sparkled as they set upon Teresa. "I am Delphine Jend, Master of Destruction. How can the Guild of Mages help you today?"

"Umm, good morning, I'm Teresa" the wood elf said. She guessed that the Breton was in her late thirties, given the lines just beginning to form on her features. Yet she could not take her eyes off the dress that she wore. Its velvet shimmered in the light, looking delightfully soft and warm. She had to resist the urge to reach out and run her fingers across its smooth surface.

Screenshot

"What a lovely dress that is," Teresa found herself saying, suddenly feeling self-conscious in her leather cuirass. "Wherever did you get it?"

"Oh you like it?" the Breton fairly pranced in front of Teresa, and now the wood elf noticed the delicate lace patterns set within the velvet, and the stitching of cloth of gold that encircled its sleeves and waist. Then her eyes lit upon the sapphires that glittered in the Breton's ears, and the shining gold of her necklace. "It is something I picked up at Palonirya's the last time I was in the Imperial City."

"It's beautiful, you're beautiful," Teresa breathed, feeling a pang of envy rising within her. By Dibella, this was what a woman was supposed to look like, she thought. All soft and curvy, decked out in brilliant jewels and shimmering velvet. On the other hand she was all stringy whipcord and bone, and dressed head to toe in leather.

"Oh my, you are quite the flatterer aren't you, what did you say your name was, Teresa?" The Breton grinned and took the wood elf gently by the arm and lead her toward one of the side chambers. "You must be new here in Bravil. I am sure I would have recognized you if I had seen you before, what with that lovely hair and skin-tight leather. You must have to beat the men off with a stick!"

"Umm, that's not usually a problem…" She thought about Ancondil the night before as soon as the words slipped from her mouth. He had certainly liked something! she thought. Teresa felt her cheeks begin to warm as the other woman led her into what looked like a dining room and motioned her to sit while she busied herself with a silver tea service.

"I will just make us a cup of tea to get the morning started, and we can sit and talk," the Breton said over her shoulder as she lifted the top of the teapot. Pointing her finger within, a wisp of flame short forth, and a moment later steam was rising from the innards of the container. The mage turned to Teresa and smiled. "Heating water is one of the many advantages of being a battlemage."

"You don't have to do that," Teresa offered as the other woman brought over the tea and poured them a pair of cups. "I only came here to sell some potions, and buy some bottles…"

"Then you will need to speak with Ardaline," the Breton explained, pushing a delicate cup filled with brown fluid toward the Bosmer. "She runs the alchemical storefront."

Teresa lifted the porcelain cup to her lips and took a sip. She had to stifle the urge to wince at the bitterness of the tea, let alone its heat. Yet the Breton woman looked so expectantly at her that she had to nod and force a smile to her lips. "Oh, that is good." Teresa lied, "but maybe a little hot."

"Good tea is supposed to be hot," the Breton proclaimed as she lifted her cup to her lips and drank nearly half its contents in one gulp. How she could manage that without screaming was beyond Teresa, but the magician looked content as she went on. "Nothing like a good spot of tea to get the blood flowing I always say!"

Teresa risked another sip of the sharp liquid, and once again fought the urge to make a face. She had never tasted anything so harsh. How could anyone like this? she wondered. She would rather have goat's milk any day!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Feb 13 2011, 05:29 AM

[Olen]

Hmm I can only agree on black tea, now put the milk into it and it's a different story

I enjoyed that though, it's a nice touch of realism having a character make horribly strong tea which might have been a bit out of place in other stories but fit's beutifully with the character realism of this one. It also gives some idea of what sort of woman Delphine Jend is, anyone who calls a spell Enemies Explode almost has to drink stong tea.

"It's beautiful, you're beautiful," Teresa breathed ...
...I would have recognized you if I had seen you before, what with that lovely hair and skin-tight leather.

I liekd each of them envying the other. More realism and it shows a side to Teresa which has been increasingly hidden. She is still quite insecure and self-critical for all the improvments she's made and fails to see her own strengths as they improve.

[Cardboard Box]

Hmm I can only agree on black tea, now put the milk into it and it's a different story

I enjoyed that though, it's a nice touch of realism having a character make horribly strong tea which might have been a bit out of place in other stories but fit's beutifully with the character realism of this one. It also gives some idea of what sort of woman Delphine Jend is, anyone who calls a spell Enemies Explode almost has to drink stong tea.

Just keep her away from coffee and the guild should be safe...

[Acadian]

Thank you for bringing our little Bravil guildhall to life. I smiled the whole way through!

"Oh you like it?" the Breton fairly pranced in front of Teresa,
Yup, that's our Delphine!

'the Breton said over her shoulder as she lifted the top of the teapot. Pointing her finger within, a wisp of flame short forth, and a moment later steam was rising from the innards of the container…. "Heating water is one of the many advantages of being a battlemage."
And now we know where Buffy learned her cooking skills!

Not to sound like a broken record, but I continue to enjoy how you allow Teresa to linger and share the smaller details of her life with us.

Oh I so hope our red-headed elf gets some nice new clothes. At least she surely recognizes proper fashion when she sees it!

[Grits]

“Several sets of stairs cut along its length, leading to a long row of docks stretching the entire length of the inner river. She saw a few small fishing boats tied up to shore, but most of the slips were empty.”
I enjoyed the walk to the Mages Guild very much. I got a real sense of Bravil’s size.

“She had to stifle the urge to wince at the bitterness of the tea, let alone its heat.”
Delphine makes my kind of tea, strong enough to hold up a spoon and hot enough to maim you.

[Jacki Dice]

Teresa risked another sip of the sharp liquid, and once again fought the urge to make a face. She had never tasted anything so harsh. How could anyone like this? she wondered. She would rather have goat's milk any day!

Gag! Once again, I'm on Teresa's side! I hate anything too bitter or strong... Some drinks have made me spit them up without realizing it first

[SubRosa]

Olen: Yes indeed, for all of the strides our stringy bosmer has made, she is still quite the bundle of insecurities.


Cardboard Box: Can you imagine what she would do to coffee? Yikes!


Acadian: Delphine was an easy character to write, thanks to how well you have defined her in the BF. Not to mention how she stands out in the game.


Grits: One of the reasons for that segment was to show off a bit more of Bravil. I am glad it was appreciated.

I bet you use your tea as paint thinner too!


Jacki Dice: Doh! I am the same way too!


Next: In our previous episode Teresa made her way to the Mages Guild and met one of its battlemages. Next, she makes her escape from Delphine's tea and meets the local alchemist.


Chapter 27.5 –The Lucky Lady

"I really need to see this Ardaline then," Teresa bit her lower lip as she rose to her feet. At this point she would do anything to avoid drinking more of the horrible brew. "I do not want to take up any more of your time."

"Young people, always in a hurry…" the Breton muttered as she stood and led Teresa back through the lobby and into another of the side chambers. This one was lined with shelves containing potions of all colors. A small bookcase rose against one wall, and a long counter ran down nearly half the room. Behind it were more shelves containing mortars, pestles, alembics, retorts, and other alchemical gear.

Standing next to the counter was a young Altmer woman with blond hair that was styled similar to that of Tadrose and Methredhel, with two thin braids running down her cheeks in front of her ears, and the rest bundled together behind her head. Her eyes were wide, azure pools, that gave her an innocent, almost child-like quality. She wore a linen outfit that consisted of a blue top whose sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, while a green dress with plunging neckline and thin shoulder straps was layered over it. Even though it was far more ordinary than the extravagant velvet that Delphine wore, the layering of different-colored apparel created a subtle, yet attractive effect. Teresa made a mental note to herself to try to look for similar tops and dresses when she went shopping later.

Screenshot

"Good morning Ardaline," the Breton said cheerfully, "I brought you a customer."

"Well met," the young Altmer said, fixing the deep blue pools of her eyes first upon Teresa, then on the bags which the wood elf carried. "My name is Ardaline, how can I help you?"

"Greetings Ardaline," Teresa said, feeling an instant liking for the other woman, whom she guessed might be near her own age. She carefully set down her bags on the counter with a clinking of glass, and extended her hand to the Altmer. The alchemist took her fingers gently within her own, her skin feeling soft and warm to the touch. Teresa could not help but to notice the difference between it and the handshake that Pappy had offered her the day before. "I'm Teresa. I just got in town yesterday. I walked down from the Imperial City and gathered up some ingredients that I was hoping to sell. I have some potions I made too."

"Certainly," the Altmer woman smiled. "Let us see what you have."

Teresa first opened the sack of her potions, and began to carefully arrange the tiny bottles across the counter top. They were not labeled, but she could tell each by the subtle variations in color of the liquids within. "These are Healing Potions, these few here Invisibility, these are Feather, this is a Night Eye, and here are some Shields." she said, proudly, pointing to each group of potions in turn.

"Oh my, you have been busy." Ardaline breathed as she looked over the sea of bottles across her counter. Lifting one before her face, she passed a hand over it. Tiny sparkles of purple light illuminated her eyes. Setting down the bottle, she looked back at Teresa with those glowing purple orbs. "You do good work. Most of the alchemists here cannot create potions with this potency."

"What is that spell?" Teresa could not help but to ask, even as she felt the blush warming her cheeks at the other woman's compliment. "It tells you what the potions are?"

"Oh yes," the other woman explained, looking surprised. "It is a simple mysticism spell: Analyze Alchemy. It was one of the first spells I learned at University. Given all the potions we handle here it is a must."

"That is incredible!" Teresa breathed, "I had no idea there was such a thing."

"Really?" the other woman said, the purple light fading from her eyes as her spell expired. "You did not go to the Arcane University? Given the quality of your work here, I assumed you were a graduate?"

"Oh no," Teresa said, feeling her cheeks continue to flush with warmth. "I could never have afforded that. I only picked up a few things is all."

"Indeed?" the other woman asked. "Who was your teacher? They must have been rather skilled."

"No one," Teresa looked down at her feet, feeling herself beginning to squirm under the other woman's attention. Stop it! she told herself, she had every right to be proud of what she could do. "I just learned a few things over the years. There are really only a few potions I know how to make."

"That is amazing," the Altmer said with a smile and began looking over the rest of Teresa's potions. Picking up each in turn, a yellow point of light sparked from her fingertips as she traced designs upon them. The glass underneath rose to meet her hand, creating a raised impression of the symbols she drew. Teresa instantly recognized the two serpents coiled around a central staff that Ardaline inscribed on her Healing potions and the shield for her Shield potions. They were the standard symbols she saw on all Mages Guild potions.

"So that's a spell too," Teresa breathed as she watched the Altmer magician marking each bottle. "I thought you had the bottles all made with those symbols?"

"Oh goodness no," Ardaline declared. "Imagine if someone put something poisonous in a health bottle by accident. That would be embarrassing! Besides, it is probably cheaper for the guild to buy plain vials and have us mark them. I don't know how you manage to keep track of them."

"Oh, I can tell by the colors," Teresa explained, pointing to the bottles. "Even with potions of the same school, like Restoration, there are little differences in the shade."

"You can see that?" the Altmer looked surprised. "I could never tell by just looking. You really have some talent I think. Have you thought of going to the University? You could learn quite a bit."

"Oh I don't have the money for something like that," Teresa explained, trying to imagine the small fortune that an Arcane University education would cost. She remembered her promise to Simplicia. She was going to buy the old woman a home, somewhere quiet and beautiful, with a garden. "Besides, I have other more important things than me to spend my money on."

"I know it can be expensive, I will be paying back my loan for years," the guild alchemist said as she continued to go through the bottles. "But it is well worth it. The University has a special Alchemy program too. It is only three years, not the six for full mages, plus a year internship of course. If it's only money, you can join the guild and they will sponsor you and loan you the tuition. So long as you have talent of course. Given what I see here that is not a problem for you."

"I just can't see me doing that." Teresa looked down at her feet again, trying to imagine herself in the Arcane University. As if they would allow a prole from the streets as a student in a fancy place like that! They would probably laugh her straight out the door. Starting with stiff-necked patrician Irlav Jarol no doubt.

"I am sorry," the Altmer woman's voice caused Teresa to lift her gaze. Now she saw that the golden cheeks of the high elf had turned a bright crimson. "I did not mean to sound presumptuous. I am just not good with people is all. That is why Kud-Ei has me working the Alchemy counter. She says I need to meet more people."

"I know exactly what you mean," Teresa breathed, her hand instinctively reaching out to brush against the soft skin of other woman's fingers. She thought about what a fool she had been with Ancondil the other night, and how she had lost her temper with Pappy before that, and ran crying from his guild hall. "Sometimes I think I must be the biggest idiot in the world."

"Oh no, you are brilliant!" Ardaline exclaimed with a smile. "Look at all these potions. This is journeyman quality work, some nearly master. Take these Healing potions. I can see you used lavender to make them. That is one of the most difficult plants to extract healing properties from. The apprentices here could never hope to use it for healing."

"It is?" Teresa thought aloud. She had no idea. Once again she remembered what Ancondil had said about some people being natural alchemists. Could that be what she was? "You can tell what I made them with?"

"Oh yes, you can see that with Analyze Alchemy," Ardaline explained. "Although it takes some practice first. Like you said before about the colors, there are subtle variations you see in the symbols that form a potion's enchantments. After a while you learn to pick up on them all."

"Do you think you could teach me those spells?" Teresa's mind whirled at the possibilities. Both would make her work so much easier!

"Well, I am no instructor," Ardaline's brow furrowed as she spoke, then her features lightened into a smile once more. "I am sure Kud-Ei or Aryarie could though. We can take it in trade for some of your potions. You should still have a good bit of drakes left over, you have some quality brews here."

"That would be wonderful!" Teresa managed a faint smile at the thought of her eyes sparkling with that same purple light as she examined the potions she found in the old forts and Ayleid ruins. She could not wait to show Simplicia!

[hazmick]

How could anyone like this? she wondered. She would rather have goat's milk any day!

Or a mix of the two, like me!

Both of the chapters in the mages guild were brilliant, can I see a friendship with Ardaline brewing? Teresa should be proud of her work, journeyman quality alchemy is nothing to be ashamed of! You have done a wonderful job of bringing the mages guild and the city of Bravil to life.

I hope to see more tea Teresa soon!

This post has been edited by hazmick: Jan 13 2011, 12:02 AM

[Acadian]

Another lovely and rich epsisode! *contented sigh*

Ardaline's dress is one of our faves. As you say, simple but beautiful. You continue to beautifully portray the Bubbling Bretonic Diva of Destruction. And now you are wonderfully capturing our shy Altmeri Angel of Alchemy. Well done!

Teresa could not help but to notice the difference between it and the handshake that Pappy had offered her the day before.
Not only does this draw a sharp contrast, it links the impact of recent events into the moment at hand (no pun intended).

Your spells to analyze alchemy and mark vials are wonderfully clever examples of realizing the less flashy but magnificent utility of magic. As are heating tea water, Nerussa's 'bloom' spell, and the 'photocopy' spell Teresa saw at the University.

Stop it! she told herself, she had every right to be proud of what she could do.
Full of youthful self-doubts, but spunky enough to realize it and catch herself.

"I know exactly what you mean," Teresa breathed, her hand instinctively reaching out to brush against the soft skin of other woman's fingers. She thought about what a fool she had been with Ancondil the other night, and how she had lost her temper with Pappy before that, and ran crying from his guild hall. "Sometimes I think I must be the biggest idiot in the world."
A beautiful example of Teresa-think. Tossing in various ingredients that are perfectly related (to her) and coming to her unique conclusions. It makes no sense to me of course, but Buffy assures me that it makes 100% perfect sense to her.

[mALX]

You have modded Bravil !!! Do I remember right that you modded Weye too? Are these your own mods that you made yourself? I noticed the sails and covered bows on the boats right away, then began looking closer at the buildings - great screenies !!!

[Grits]

Teresa made a mental note to herself to try to look for similar tops and dresses when she went shopping later.
With Teresa’s vivid coloring, I can’t wait to see what she chooses. Although it seems there are already several votes in favor of the tight leather.

They were not labeled, but she could tell each by the subtle variations in color of the liquids within.
This and Ardaline’s useful alchemy spells give magic such a rich and natural feel. It makes me brew a cup of rocket fuel Delphine's tea and read again.

[SubRosa]

hazmick: The rest of this chapter is all about what is brewing between Teresa and Ardaline.


Acadian: You just like seeing the Bravil Mages Guild given so much space! Funny thing about the handshake. When you compare Teresa's experiences with both guilds, she seems to be enjoying her time with the mages much more! Then again, she is not trying to join them either.

The little, everyday spells are part of the world-building I like doing. I wonder if there would be a shaving spell too? It makes sense that someone might have invented one by now (especially seeing how no one in Tamriel has a beard).


mALX: I have only added a simple little mod that improves Bravil's interior docks, and adds a few small fishing boats. The rest of Bravil is vanilla.


Next: In our previous episode Teresa met the alchemist of the Bravil Mages Guild. Next she finishes her business there.


Chapter 27.6 –The Lucky Lady

Then she remembered her other bag, and she opened it as Ardaline busied herself setting aside the potions. "I have some things in here that I did not know how to make potions for," the wood elf explained as she began to draw various leaves, roots, mushrooms, and other plants from her bag. "I know they are good though, because they are in Patvir's Guide."

"Oh you are using that old thing!" Ardaline exclaimed, and Teresa instantly felt her cheeks warm with embarrassment. "Not that it's bad mind you," the high elf quickly said as Teresa's eyes fell to the counter. "We used it for reference at University. But it is horribly organized. Everything is arranged by school, but that does not help you when you are in the field and trying to figure out what the plant in front of you is. What you need are Grognak's Regional Guides. They are arranged by plant and animal type, to easily identify what you are looking at. The illustrations are better as well, since they are all in color. He has separate volumes for the ingredients you will find in each part of Cyrodiil, plus one master edition with everything together."

The high elf walked over to the bookcase, and drew forth a book with green binding. Stepping next to Teresa, she opened its pages and showed it to the wood elf. The forester marveled at the brilliant colors of the illustration of a somnalius frond, and quickly noticed how the text explained several key features of the plant that made identifying it easier. Even better, she saw a list of its magical effects listed under that, and symbols that could be used to create the enchantments.

"This is amazing," Teresa marveled as her eyes feasted upon the book. "You know, I think I have some of these in my bag here!"

"Why don't you keep that," Ardaline walked back behind the counter and began going through the ingredients. "That is the Bravil County guide. We can put that toward your payment along with the spells."

"Thank you Ardaline," Teresa said with honest gratitude, clutching the book to her breast. The alchemist at Chorrol had not been nearly as helpful, she thought, let alone as pleasant to look at! She began to wonder what it would feel like to put her arm around the high elf, or to lay her head on her shoulder. But Ardaline was probably not like that, Teresa thought with a sigh. Not many women seemed to be. Remembering Ancondil's mistake the previous night, she was determined not to repeat it. "You really are such a kind person."

The high elf blushed once more. Combined with her wide eyes, it made her look seductively innocent. Suddenly Teresa wondered if that was how she looked to Nerussa; awkward, shy, and irresistibly beautiful?

"I have some silphium there too," Teresa said as the high elf drew forth a small jar of powder. "I already ground it down."

"Oh excellent!" the high elf smiled now. "We always need more of this! Some of the human women here in the guild are irregular, so they use it to even out their courses to once every four weeks, not to mention make them lighter."'

"Every four weeks!" Teresa's eyes widened. "So human women really do have it once a month?"

"They do," Ardaline nodded. "Poor things. That is why they have so many children! Well, the ones who do not take silphium at least."

"I had heard they were like that, but never really thought it was true," Teresa mused aloud. She only had her periods twice a year. Every equinox they would start. She could set a calendar by it.

"Of course there are some elves around here who have to take it too." Ardaline's gaze traveled to the doorway. "Or they would likely have as many children as a human"

Teresa looked over her shoulder and saw the object of the alchemist's statement. Standing in the foyer was a young Dunmer woman, with blue skin as soft as the twilight sky. The long hair that spilled along her shoulders was milky white, and her eyes were pools of fire given an even deeper, more smoldering look by the heavy black makeup that lined them. Her lips and nails were also ebony in color, and she wore a dress of velvet and lace that was the same dark shade with ivory highlights. Girding her torso was a corset of black leather and brocade, stitched with delicate silver patterns that looked like vines twisting around one another.

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Teresa felt her heart skip a beat as she gazed upon the other woman. Where Adraline had a certain innocent charm, this woman was a virtual promise of dark and sensual desire. By Dibella, would she like to do more than just put an arm around her!

"Who is that?" Teresa breathed, unable to take her eyes off the dark elf as she sauntered across the lobby. Her hips rolled from side to side like a ringing bell, and the wood elf noticed that she stepped with her feet heel to toe, rather than side to side as most women did. It reminded the wood elf of Nerussa, whose every motion glided into the next as if she were dancing.

"Oh don't you get all moon-eyed over her too. It's bad enough how the men are," the Altmer woman grumbled. "That is Saya Aren, our new battlemage, and the biggest harpy on Nirn. From what I have heard she spends more time on her back than her feet…"

"Meeoow!" Teresa found herself giggling as she turned back to face the other woman, whose face lit up with mirth. Before she knew it the two of them were laughing.

"What's going on in here?" the voice of another woman cut through the air of the alchemy chamber. Teresa looked up to see a golden-haired high elf sweeping into the room. She wore an elegant dress of crimson and purple velvet, and her hair was tied behind her head in a ponytail. She carried herself with the air of dignity that Teresa was used to seeing in Altmer and patricians. Yet what surprised the wood elf was the twinkle of glee in the other woman's eye.

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"This is the Mages Guild, we cannot have any merriment here!" the Altmer grumbled in a low tone, and Teresa had the distinct feeling that she was emulating the voice of someone that the mages must know. "We are part of a long line of distinguished true seekers. We must look to their example as we go about our duties. We are all dour and dedicated mages."

"Aryarie!" Ardaline exclaimed with a grin. The young high elf contained her laughter, but could not repress the glint in her eyes. "Have you seen Kud-Ei? This is Teresa, she has brought us some wonderful treasures. Could you or Kud-Ei teach her Analyze Alchemy and Mark Potion? We are going to deduct it from what we owe her."

"I have not seen our guild magister at all this morning," the older high elf said in a normal tone. "Or Henantier. If I did not know better I would think those two were up to something, if you know what I mean…"

"Henantier?" the younger Altmer nearly laughed again. "Are you kidding? He makes me look like a courtesan in comparison."

The older woman smiled as she looked from Ardaline to Teresa. The wood elf wondered who this Henantier was that they were talking about. She gathered that Kud-Ei was the leader of their chapter, and that Aryarie must be someone important herself from the way that Ardaline deferred to the older woman.

"Henantier is one of the best enchanters in the entire guild." the older high elf said in a somewhat scolding tone, which then lightened with that same glint in her eye that Teresa had seen when she had entered. "But he cannot help it if he is a bit… challenged in other areas."

Then she took Teresa's hand with a warm but soft touch. "I am Aryarie, the assistant magister here in the Bravil Chapter. My morning is free, so I would be glad to help you. Let us leave Ardaline to take care of things here, and we can go teach you those spells."

Teresa allowed the older high elf to lead her through the lobby to a quiet study room. There the magician produced a pair of pamphlets that described both of the spells she was going to learn. "You can keep these for afterward," the high elf explained, "in case you have any trouble remembering."

Then the other woman walked Teresa through the process of forming the symbols needed to cast each spell. The forester already had a basic understanding of how magic worked thanks to Raminus Polus. So she at least understood how to draw upon her magicka and channel it into a spell.

Yet how to focus it was the issue, Teresa thought as the other woman coached her. One lapse in the creation of the symbol in her mind would cause the spell to fail, or worse, go off with unexpected results. She had many of these false starts and miscues as she fumbled her way through learning the spells.

Aryarie said that both were novice level spells, and Teresa certainly felt that title was appropriate to her crude attempts at learning. Yet even as the hours dragged by, Aryarie remained patient and supportive, even taking a break for a moment to bring them both some cool juice and cinnamon rolls.

As the chapel bell tolled the midday hour however, Teresa had finally mastered both. With the Mark spell, she found herself etching any symbol she desired upon the glass potion bottles. Aryarie even taught her how to use the spell to remove existing symbols. All of which were listed on the pamphlet that she had given Teresa, giving her a reference for what each was for.

Casting the Analyze Alchemy spell, the wood elf could see the symbols that channeled the magical power within the potions that Aryarie had brought with her. Once more by referencing the spell's pamphlet, Teresa could see what each symbol stood for. She could even judge how powerful a potion's effect was from seeing the intensity of the magicka stored within it.

Teresa could not contain a real smile as she emerged from the study room and crossed the lobby to see Ardaline again. The youthful high elf had not only her new book set aside, but a healthy-looking bag of coins along with it.

"How did it go?" she asked, smiling in return as the wood elf collected her things.

"Wonderful!" Teresa bubbled. She felt practically giddy at her successes. Before she even knew what she was saying, more words spilled from her mouth. Instantly she regretted her recklessness, remembering Ancondil the previous night. "Would you like to go and have lunch with me? I am new here and do not know anyone, or even know where anything is. Oh, and I need to buy some clothes, I cannot wait to get out of this leather!"

"I would be glad to," Ardaline said after a long pause, and Teresa breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe the other elf did like her, at least enough to be friends. "We can go by Nilawen's, she has wonderful sandwiches at lunch time, and we can get you something new to wear at the same time."

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jan 14 2011, 05:13 PM

[haute ecole rider]

I really loved reading how Teresa learned new spells (btw, why aren't they in the game??).

Your depiction of Aryarie is one of the best I've ever read, and much better than the vague impression I get from the game.

So your Kud-Ei is a bit more strict and pedantic than mine? It's always cool to see how others see the same NPC's so differently from me.

[mALX]

I agree, you created an atmosphere of personality in that chapter of the Mages Guild, and a glimpse into how they comport themselves when the management isn't there to view - I loved this chapter before and still do!

[Acadian]

Much to like here, again!

Elven vs human fertility. I see we share the same views. Glad to see that our wood elves are on the same cycle. As we have discussed, it just makes sense. Otherwise those long lived elves would overrun Nirn!

And we meet Saya. She sure looks dangerous! The walking heel to toe was an excellent touch and very helpful in giving the appearance of gliding or floating instead of bobbing along walking. A harpy! Remember that word, for there is one in Leyawiin as well!

Very nice job with Aryarie. I must confess that her personality in the game does not sing to me like most of the other Bravil mages. I will remember your portrayal of her and bet that it will help bring her to life better for Buffy and I.

Even the mere mention of dear Kud-Ei makes me smile, and your references to her were no exception!

Teresa's hormones seem to be working pretty well. It says really good things about her that she was quite struck by the misunderstanding between her and Ancondil. She doesn't want to place herself in Ancondil's position and just as importantly, doesn't want to place another woman in the awkward position she found herself in due to that misunderstanding. She really is a considerate elf.

And finally, your use and description of everyday magic is great.

[Jacki Dice]

"This is the Mages Guild, we cannot have any merriment here!" the Altmer grumbled in a low tone, and Teresa had the distinct feeling that she was emulating the voice of someone that the mages must know. "We are part of a long line of distinguished true seekers. We must look to their example as we go about our duties. We are all dour and dedicated mages."

I love this! It develops the characters so well, even though their minor roles.

Standing in the foyer was a young Dunmer woman, with blue skin as soft as the twilight sky. <snip> Girding her torso was a corset of black leather and brocade, stitched with delicate silver patterns that looked like vines twisting around one another.

Oh my.... Lilitu just might have to go to the Bravil Mages Guild...for business, of course.

[hazmick]

Haa-Rei also needs to visit the mages guild in Bravil, he needs some...plant...things...

Great chapter 'Rosa, spell casting is no easy task and you have done a brilliant job of describing the process. Teresa and Ardaline are very compatible, that saucy Dunmer temptress seems...nice as well, will Teresa be seeing moer of her?

[Olen]

Good part, I like how you've developed the Bravil mages. They were always some of the better characters in game and you've really taken them further into a cast of entertaining characters. Teresa also shows more of herself, she seems distinctly uncomfortable in meeting new people but seems to alarm some of them without really realising it.

The spells make good sense too, another bit of realism in how magic might be used.

An enjoyable part, but I want more

[SubRosa]

haute ecole rider: Maybe those spells are in the game, and Bethesda never bothered telling us. That would explain how we somehow know what every potion is that we find.

That was not Kud-Ei that Arayarie was parodying. I am thinking it was the Arch-Mage. I imagine he would come off like a strict, serious, by the book type to many people. Perhaps I should go back and add some more dialogue in to make that more clear, since I think you were not the only one to think it was Kud-Ei. Although Kud-Ei herself tends to be a rather straight arrow as well. But as we will see in the next chapter, she can be very flexible.


mALX: Isn't it funny that now I have probably spent more time showing the Mages Guild and the people in it rather than the Fighters Guild? Teresa has met almost everyone in the MG now, except the last two, who she will encounter next chapter. Weird how that has worked out.


Acadian: I did decide to go with your idea for the longer period between periods. Once I realized that they could coincide with astronomical events like the solstices and equinoxes, I really warmed up to the idea. It would also mean that if an elven woman is regular, then her children would always be born under one of the same two birthsigns. Well three I suppose, as the Serpent seems to pop up at random.

In the game Aryarie is pissed off because the Fighters Guild didn't fulfill their contract with her (that pesky Maglir again), so she does not come off very positive. I have to confess, I like her in the TF much better than the game as well! I basically re-imagined her as a regular guild member (she is a visiting scholar in the game), and tried to picture how she would fit into the guild. Her very candid remarks about Bravil in the game are what prompted me to give her such an unpretentious, down-to-nirn attitude in the TF.

Well, don't go and count Teresa as being too considerate until after you read this episode!


Jacki Dice: Liltu just gets hotter and hotter! Don't expect to find Saya in the game though. She is another character of mine that I worked into the TF. She was my first magician in fact.


hazmick: We will definitely be seeing more of Saya in the future. She features very prominently in a chapter I have in mind. But that is a long way off.


Olen: Teresa is indeed still hampered by her feelings of insecurity when she meets new people. However, she is working on overcoming those, which only makes her seem more direct! Ardaline is of course just as big a bundle of insecurities as Teresa. If not worse!


Next: Teresa has sold her newly made potions to the Mages Guild, and learned two new spells that will help her future alchemy. Next, Teresa goes out to lunch with Ardaline, and we have a special guest-appearance from a character in another Fic, in the final episode of this chapter.


Chapter 27.7 –The Lucky Lady

Teresa discovered that Nilawen's was actually a general store known as A Fair Deal, sitting on Silver Avenue right beside the inn she had rented a room at. Inside she found the owner - Nilawen - a middle-aged wood elf dressed in simple linen clothing. The two floors of her shop were a confusing affair of tables, shelves, and racks containing all manner of goods. From dresses to pick-axes, she seemed to have everything under the sun.

Several small tables were arranged to either side of the front door, before wide windows that looked out to the street. Teresa saw that two other wood elves were sitting at one when they arrived. One appeared to be a similar age to Nilawen, and sat with his back to the door as he munched on a sandwich of pita bread wrapped around what appeared to be meat.

The other Bosmer sat across the table from the first and faced the door. He was definitely younger than his companion, yet still clearly older than Teresa and Ardaline. His brown hair was somewhat unkempt, and he wore a black cloak with dark clothing underneath. Riding his hip was a curved short sword whose hilt bore elaborate, leaf-shaped carvings that spoke of elven manufacture.

What Teresa really noticed were his slate grey eyes however. They had a cold, hard look that she knew all too well. He was a killer, she thought, and did little to conceal it. His body lacked that stiff uprightness that most military men bore however, something she guessed must come from hundreds of hours of standing at attention. Instead he slouched in his chair like a lazy serpent, relaxed now, but able to strike at any moment.

Ardaline paused a moment to greet him before they sat at a table on the other side of the door, and Teresa felt distinctly nervous with the other Bosmer sitting behind her. But she forced herself to put on a carefree demeanor as Nilawen brought them a pair of the Redguard-style wraps like those the two men were eating. Except that Teresa's was filled with tomatoes, cheese, and greens rather than meat.

"So are you two friends?" Teresa asked in a low tone, half glancing over her shoulder toward the black-clad wood elf.

"Aradroth?" the Altmer said between bites of her sandwich. "He has been by the guild a few times to buy ingredients is all, and learn some illusion spells from Kud-Ei."

"So he's not someone special then?" Teresa asked, allowing the ghost of a smile to crest her lips.

"Oh goodness no Teresa!" Ardaline coughed, and had to take a sip of tea to clear her throat before continuing. "What would make you even think that?"

"Well look at you Ardaline," Teresa said, gesturing toward the high elf with a free hand. "You're smart, beautiful, and kind, all rolled up into one. There must be plenty of people who wish you were their girlfriend."

"Not hardly." The youthful high elf rolled her eyes. "I am an alchemophile. I live inside a potion bottle. Not what anyone is looking for."

"Don't be so sure," Teresa said, looking into the high elf's deep blue eyes. Was she really going to press this? How might Ardaline react? Was it worth losing the alchemist as a friend if the high elf was mortified by her feelings?

"I know at least one person in Bravil that feels that way." Teresa finally said, silently praying to the Lucky Lady that her good fortune of the day held out.

"Who then?" Ardaline said. "Not even Fathis Aren looks twice at me, and he has slept with nearly every woman in the county!"

Teresa looked down at her wrap. She knew what she wanted to say, yet her throat choked on the words. Feeling warmth spread through her cheeks at her floundering, she forced her eyes to rise and meet Ardaline's. Biting her lip, she held the young woman's stare. She said nothing, hoping that the high elf would somehow understand.

"Oh Teresa, you mean…" Now it was Ardaline's turn to flush crimson. "You are sapphic?"

"What?" Teresa blinked, that was the last thing she had expected to hear.

"You like other women," Ardaline blurted out, looking guiltily to either side, as if she were afraid someone else might hear. "Like the poet Sappho."

"Well, yes," Teresa said. She could already see in the other woman's eyes that she was not the same way. For some strange reason that brought a sense of relief flooding through the wood elf, as if just knowing how Ardaline felt had lifted a great weight from her shoulders. "But I have never heard of Sappho?"

"Well she lived back in the First Age, in the Summerset Isles," Ardaline explained. "She wrote some really… sensual things about other women. I mean really boiling stuff! Ever since then Altmer women who were exclusively attracted to other women have been called sapphic."

"She sounds like someone I know…" Teresa said with a faint smile, thinking of Nerussa. She would have to ask her about Sappho. The innkeeper would certainly have some of her poems, she thought. For all she knew, Nerussa had could have been reciting them to her during their nights together! "Sapphic, you say, I like that. But I can tell already that you aren't…"

"Oh no!" Ardaline exclaimed, then she stopped herself and covered her mouth, as if she suddenly regretted what she had said. "I mean, there's nothing wrong with it," she stammered. "I tried it when I was younger of course. I am an elf after all. It was pleasant, but just not me."

"I understand," Teresa forced herself to smile, gently laying her fingers on the other woman's hand. Ardaline did not flinch, or draw her hand away, which brought the wood elf another feeling of relief. At least they could still be friends, she thought. Right now she would be overjoyed just to have a few friends in Bravil. Lovers had been something she had spent most of her life without. It was not like she was going to die without one. "So it does not make you feel… funny being around me then?"

"Oh Mara no!" Ardaline declared with a smile. "Imperials all seem to be humorless about it, but like I said, I'm an elf after all. In fact my brother was the same way."

"So your brother was attracted to women too?" Teresa could not resist the wry comment. That was just the thing Ancondil would say, she thought with a sudden feeling of pride. That made her wonder where the Orisimer was, and if she could somehow make things up with him, after she had so ignorantly led him on the other night. Perhaps she could buy him a bottle of brandy with her newfound earnings?

"No silly! He was stratonic of course." Ardaline practically beamed now, then lowered her voice to a conspiratorial tone. "He liked other men! Our parents were so upset! They wanted him to marry and have children you see. Now they never stop haranguing me to make them grandparents!"

Teresa could not restrain a giggle. Ever since she had met her, Ardaline had managed to bring out that lightness in her. The high elf probably had no idea she was even doing it, Teresa thought. Again, she wondered if this was how she made Nerussa feel? What was it the former courtesan had said to her on the first night they had made love? "Nature's first green is gold."

"So where is your brother," Teresa asked. "Is he in Bravil too?"

"Oh no," Ardaline's features darkened like a storm front rolling across the Niben. She looked down at the table between them, and Teresa could see her swallow hard before she spoke again. "He lived in Kvatch. He had met someone there, someone special. Now he's…"

The high elf closed her eyes and did not continue the sentence. Teresa did not need to hear the rest. Everyone knew what had happened to Kvatch. Her heart fell, and she had the sudden urge to wrap her arms around the other woman and hold her tight. Instead she extended her hand further, and slid her fingers around the other woman's hand in a warm, yet soft clasp.

"I am so sorry Ardaline," she breathed, wanting to hit herself for not noticed how the high elf had been referring to her brother in the past tense. "I had no idea…"

"It's not your fault," Ardaline said, raising her liquid blue eyes to meet Teresa's gaze. "I've spent months thinking about it. I don't want to brood over it anymore." Then the high elf managed a crooked smile, as if she were forcing herself to lighten her mood. "Now how about we buy you some clothes before Aryarie starts wondering where I have gotten off to?"


Note - "Nature's first green is gold" is a quote from the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay", by Robert Frost.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Dec 12 2011, 09:27 PM