A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Adventures, The Truth Behind The Oblivion Crisis Options

[King Coin]

They made it through the night. Are they ‘safe’ now that the sun’s out?

What? Maxical was foolish for turning to Malan for comfort, but this ended up being a promise of some sort? Crazy damn vampires! Also, what the heck is with Maxical losing her clothing all the time? Just about everyone in the story’s seen her naked I think!

“Did Uriel really order you to mate me?”
NO! She listened to Foxy-Malan!! Wait, does she not know?

He can’t enter without my permission, no vampire can.
Ha! He’s got a signed invitation!

Well, we know what Malan was intending, reliving his own honeymoon at the mansion. Holy crap Maxical’s almost put it together herself. Janus finally told her. Why the heck did Uriel not tell her again? She would have been trapped if Janus wasn’t around.

[Darkness Eternal]

That was Malan’s big breakout scene. He is pulling out all stops now, and will no longer be impersonating Sir Damien - and his plots are def going to start unfolding.

Let the games begin! This is going to be good. I am so ready!

Janus is really slow to emerge - but his time in the Imperial City is already making big changes in him, lol. He’s beginning to get in touch with his vampy side, lol.

By playing Oblivion a lot, I saw that Janus was in touch with his vampire side. Did you know that he knew the Pale Lady lived in his Castle? Mina(the Pale Lady), collected blood from the prisoners to not only feed herself, but also the "mistress" or "the lady", as she says it. Which means Janus deliberately has criminals in his dungeons fed on to help his wife! She refused, so I guess he himself nibbles on them from time to time as he "embraced the changes" within himself. ! I love Janus!

Onto the chapter:

It is a race through danger with Janus helping out Maxical! Reading through, this part stood out to me:

I met Malan when I was seven years old at the orphanage. He was nice to me, held me in his arms and sang to me. Beast species in orphanages aren’t shown love, Janus. I thought he was a god, one that loved me.

He didn't enthrall her using his hypnotic vampiro powers? . This was interesting because it shows how sneaky Malan is. He took advantage of societies' prejudice against Betmeri people to get closer to Maxical. A true vampire, right there!

“Geez, you vampires really lock down your victims, I was a seven year old child!“

Children are a rare delicacy! Free from the sourness of life!
So, we get to see Malan's Vampire Lair? I think I've seen it before! I remember! Woo, Playboy Malan's Mansion. That has a ring to it, too! The plan to bring back Amiela is on! Let us see if he can succeed, poor loverboy!

There was a lot of romantic dialogue in this chapter, and once again you surprise me with good ol lore. Generally, vampires of Tamriel are ugly, gnarled creatures who run around as the boogeymen of the provinces. Except of course, Cyrodiil!

This is a little quote from Morrowind itself, which hinted at the vampires we would be seeing in Oblivion.

Imperial culture regards blood vampires as destructive monsters to be hunted and destroyed. However, romantic notions of noble, virtuous vampires persist in Imperial traditions, and vampires are thought to pass unrecognized in the Mages Guild and the Imperial aristocracy.

King Coin: Khajiit don't need clothes! Fur is enough!

This post has been edited by Darkness Eternal: Sep 26 2012, 04:36 AM

[Acadian]

“Geez, you vampires really lock down your victims, I was a seven year old child!“
I should say so!

“He won’t see it that way.”
“Well I do. Listen Janus, ..."
Stupid vampires. Stupid pedantic fine print promissory nonsense! Stuffing yer dead wife into a poor little seven year old white furball! You tell ‘em, Maxical!

Poor Janus, darting between patches of shade to avoid the sun.

Yay! Janus finally clued our kit in to the FoxMalan mystery! I see he underestimates Uriel in assuming our Emperor did not know of the deception.

That vamp barrier at Castle Skingrad just might be enough to justify the trip. Otherwise getting rid of Maxical’s. . . problem is likely to be fatal to her and her choice of mate. Hmm, have to see what Uriel says about all this. Maxical is right: she is his Champion.

This was wonderful, mALX!

[Grits]

Warning: quotefest imminent. I couldn't help myself.

Janus hovered over me, his dark cape obscuring any part of me that may have been exposed to Malan’s spells. That entire night we stayed just like that, never changing positions and the dagger pressed to my throat throughout.

They may not have spoken the whole night, but surviving that kind of ordeal together has to make a bond that’s truer than Malan’s tricks and cuddling. It felt like Janus and Maxical became a pair that night, even if not in one of the many technical or accidental ways that Maxical gets herself hitched to men.

Janus ducked under the alcove of the gate and then put me down. My legs were buckling beneath me, I clung to Janus and allowed the tears I’d fought all night to come.

Janus was a hero here! He showed the kind of commanding presence that Maxical can respect while he questioned her, and didn’t even tease about her terminal nakedness.

Listen Janus, Malan is stuffed with so many souls that he’s more immortal than you are.

Even in the middle of the drama I had to smile at this very Maxical way of saying it!

Janus seemed to be picking his words carefully.

I love how he took care with his words rather than getting drawn into another squabble when Maxical poked him. Janus was awesome throughout this chapter!

Gils…you could swing from the ceiling like an ape and Gils wouldn’t care as long as you landed right. He had an abundance of charm that made you feel romantic about him, but he never talked gooey at all.”

Quoted for being beautiful and heartbreaking, and also funny.

“No, Sir Damien did. He’s an ancient, Maxical. I’m positive he is Malan.“

At last!!! I loved this chapeter!!

[mALX]

*

@ King Coin - ROFL !!! Your comment had me rolling! I am in awe that you remembered the signed invitation! Yeah, “Jak” can get in the castle and now we can assume Malan can just enter at will when he isn’t impersonating Jak. Malan gave himself a back-up plan just in case.

Uriel didn’t tell her because she can’t blank her mind and Malan has been hanging around her. He didn’t want Malan finding out they were onto his impersonation of Foxy. And you are right, Maxical would have absolutely been kidnapped if Janus wasn’t there, that was Malan/Sir Damien’s intention.

Thank you so very much KC!

*
@ Darkness Eternal - If I’m not mistaken, I have found a wine bottle filled with blood in Janus’s chambers. I have seen him in combat calling for the blood of his opponents and saying he needs their blood - both in the vanilla game. Freaked me out! Lol.

Malan has an abundance of natural charm that helps him con people, and you are right - he did not use charm on Maxical as a child. He used his Vampire Charm on Janus earlier in the story, and probably used it on Maxical that night at the Bloodworks. He used it quite a bit in his impersonation as Sir Damien, but Maxical wore that ring that blocked it from effecting her.

I have some tremendous screenshots of the inside of Malan’s lair, some with Maxical inside it - it is a gorgeous place!

Thank you so very much Darkness!

*
@ Acadian - I love that you caught that about the vampires seeing every normal interaction between themselves and mortals as “promises.” I guess if you don’t come at them with sword drawn they take it as a “come on” and consider that a legally binding contract to mate with them - all without the person’s knowledge and even when the vampire is impersonating mortals. ROFL!

Janus’s castle is no good as a protection against Malan - Janus just learned he could enter Malan’s lair. (It follows that Malan can enter Janus’s too). They are split-aparts, Malan planned this out a lot longer ago than anyone is looking.

Thank you so very much Acadian!

*
@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits! I agree, sharing a life threatening situation does develop a bond of trust between them. Still, Janus has a lot to overcome with Maxical since his putting Fathis under spells seems to have caused everything that is happening.

I’m glad you caught that line about Gils. Maxical more or less admits she felt romantic about him without his doing anything overt to cause it - she thinks he dumped her for another woman, and that is leaving her doubting what they had between them was real on his part. She is heartbroken, you said it right. It always tickles me that you pick up on these nuances that are undercurrents in what Maxical says and does! Thank you so very much again, Grits!


*

[mALX]

** This chapter has a cameo screenshot of Crassius Curio with one of his lifelike statues - screenshot and modded characters by the famous AlienSlof - we love you Slof!



Chapter 175: Discerning Malan’s Motives



“Sir Damien attacked me once, and actually did suck hard on my neck. It hurt like crazy, but when I checked my neck in the looking glass he hadn’t even broke the skin or left a love mark.”

“He drank your blood and healed the wound. Jak said once they’ve tasted any virgin they become obsessed by her scent till they get it all, they‘ll guard that blood as theirs. It’s Malan, Maxical. But after what he did tonight, he won’t remove his wife.“

“Malan knows I fight Dagon next year, no way he’d endanger her. His plan can’t be to use me permanently, I‘ve got to be just a diversionary tactic. He‘s famous for those, Janus.”

“His actions sent signals to our kind. Breaking in when I was with you was challenging me for you. His full army guarded all night, armies won’t guard a blood hunt. They only stand guard if he’s claiming a chosen. He’s warned all other ancients that he’s claimed you, they can’t approach you now without challenging and besting him in combat. No one dares challenge Malan, not even Jak. But Malan can‘t back down once he‘s put those signals out. He‘ll have to keep you, meaning he‘ll keep her inside you since she is really the chosen he’s claiming.”

“But then he let me leave with you! What’s the deal, vampires don’t think people can mate during daylight hours?”

“He was supposed to kill me for you, but being immortal he can‘t. We are creatures of the night, that’s when signals are given to our kind.”

“Immortal or not, Malan could have killed you if he wanted to. His army could shred you into pieces. He needs you alive, you’re his only hope for that immortal army he wants. There’s some other reason he’s picked me for this, Uriel says he does nothing without a reason.”

“An immortal wife, that‘s the reason! Didn’t you say he vowed to keep her alive forever this time? The only way he can keep that promise is for me to share my Dark Gift with you! Any other ancient left alive after a challenge like that would have kidnapped you to their lair, take and make you immediately before Malan could get there to stop it. I fought my nature, it was driving me to do it! Usually no vampire will take another‘s leavings, but if Malan and I share the same nature…and I’ll bet he can enter my lair to kidnap you back, since I was able to go into his!”






***


“But he was enraged at the thought of you touching me while she’s inside me! He couldn‘t want that! And what about him being obsessed with my blood?”

“He wants her immortal, and I’m the only way he’ll get that. But you’re right, I think he’d want her removed from you first. Maybe we caught him by surprise, forced his hand before he was ready.“

“Why me, Janus? Aren’t chosen selected by your nature specifically to be perfect for you? Why poach?”

“It actually happens quite often. Poaching outside one’s ancient line is usually for someone very desirable or to revenge an enemy. Jak said that Malan’s wife was actually poached from Greywyn Blenwyth for revenge. She was Blenwyth’s chosen by his nature, and still a virgin. Blenwyth hunted them for decades, but she and Malan seemed to have disappeared off the face of Nirn. The next time Malan was seen was when he attacked me, fifty years after her death. No one knows where either of them were in that interim.”

“The one inside me was Blenwyth‘s?”

“She was. Jak said that Malan’s wife was the equal of Malan himself in ambition and hunger for power, and ruthless with anyone or anything that stood in her way.”

“Dear gods, I hope she has weaknesses! I’ve got to be stronger than her or she and Malan will take over my body for their use. But why me, Janus?”

“If he put her in you recently, he poached within his line. Only upline ancients can do it, and there is a strict protocol for it so wars don’t erupt within the line.”

“Poached me from who, Fathis?”

“Our laws forbid us from disclosing any information on chosen, or even if you are one.”

“But you just did! If it’s about me, I should know it!”

“I can’t.”

“Never mind, I’ll find out somehow on my own.”






***


“By the way, just for the record I think you kiss good, Janus. I can‘t imagine what Eyja‘s complaint is.”

“What?” Janus’s cowl gaped at me.

“Nothing, I can’t repeat what was said in confidence.”

“Maxical! Is this a ploy to get even with me for not telling you?”

I shrugged and strove for an innocent look.

“My nature was out with you, I’ve never let my nature out with Eyja or anyone before.”

“I know.” ,

“What?” The cowl gaped again.

“That’s what she said. She said some ancients keep them out all the time, and that they are better than even Dunmer to mate.”

“HMPH!”

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s just…my friend Jak said the same thing.“

“If you’re thinking of clearing up your last impression with her, you can’t for a while. Eyja is at the Palace, the last place you can be letting your nature out. She and I share a room.”

“I know, I saw you and her…what I mean is, I knew she was…er…”

“It was you, wasn’t it! The fainting bird that ogled us as we bathed?”

“No! I had a touch of sunstroke and fell from the sky…”

I interrupted. “While watching Eyja washing her breasts. You may as well say it, I saw the look on your beak.”






***


“It was just…quite a shocking sight to fly over and witness women bathing together. Like the drawings in magazines one orders from Skyrim, nothing you’d ever imagine seeing in the flesh.”

“’The Bathing Beauties of Skyrim‘ magazines? Gils has a stack of those. I wondered if I went to Skyrim would anyone be clothed.”

“Had either of you been soaping the other it may have put test to my immortality.”

“I would have thought your crash landing did that. But that’s an exploitable weakness, if we ever swear enemies I could have you in little immortal pieces in no time if I just get two women to soap each other on the sidelines.”

“If they kissed while they soaped, I may fall into pieces without the blade touching me.”

“Gils saw a statue like that once in Balmora, he said it looked so real he almost talked to them. Some famous sculpture by an artist called Curio.”

“Crassius Curio? I’ve heard his art is very lifelike, he’s said to be the best in his field. You’ve just given me an inspiration! I’m going to commission him to sculpt a fountain for my courtyard!”


Crassius Curio with one of his lifelike statues:

http://www.slofslair.co.uk/content/art/lookdonttouch.jpg



Janus turned to me and took my hand. “I really can‘t tell you anything about being chosen, Maxical.”

“Okay, I guess.”






***


“Janus, you owe me no special consideration, I know you and Eyja have a longstanding arrangement. Once we’re finished you’re free to do as you please. Also, if Malan can enter your lair, Uriel may order me to be with another instead of you. I have to obey him.”

“He won’t when he hears what I have to say. You’re safest bet is at my castle, where I have the home advantage. I know every inch of that place like the hairs on my head, my staff around me…”

I interrupted. “Is Hal-Liurz going to bounce Malan out with her breasts? We have the Imperial Army here. You might better listen to what Uriel has to say, Janus.”

“We‘ll see. That day you escaped Malan, how did you do it?”

“I don’t know, you vampires are always squirting juices into women’s mouths when you are attacking us. I did something with his juices to escape, the same thing I used on Vicente to stop him from attacking me. I don’t know how it works, but it does.”

“What do you do, spit the juices in his eyes or something? What does it do?”

“Something like that. It does the same thing that kiss did to you, only quicker.”

“Quicker? Holy Psijic [censored]! How did you learn these things?”

“That one I learned just trying to live when Vicente was attacking me. It worked on Malan too. The kiss…if you must know, the truth is that was a Dunmer mystery. I’m married to two Dunmer, remember?”

“That‘s what a Dunmer mystery is? My friend Jak told me about them, I never knew what they were. He said he’d never marry again without some certain ones.”

“Jak is Dunmer?”

“No, Breton. His wife had some mysteries, but none he liked. She was Breton too. He had a long running affair with Llathasa Indarys, who had the ones he wanted. Gifts, he called them.”

“That’s what Gils has, the Gifts. Didn’t Llathasa die just over a year ago?”






***


“Almost a year and a half ago, and under really mysterious circumstances. The Count caught her and Jak together, and very shortly thereafter she supposedly broke her neck from a fall down the steps. Jak thinks the Count murdered Llathasa for the infidelity. Indarys is a hypocrite if he did, he has a reputation for laying everything that moves.”

“This is the best gossip I‘ve ever heard! Do you know any more?”

“I know things about Cyrodiil’s Nobility that would curl your hair.”

“You’re better than a Casta Scribonia novel! I can’t wait to tell Evangeline, she loves gossip! Tell me another, please?”

Janus laughed. “Another time, that way I‘ll ensure you‘re happy to see me again. That kiss, was that one of those Gifts that Jak was talking about?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I didn’t think about them being too strong for Imperials. They’re made specifically for Dunmer, who are never pleased without them.”

“That’s what Jak said, that since Llathasa died nothing has been the same. He seeks that sensation and is dissatisfied with anything less.“

“That’s the point of them. Dunmer live exceptionally long lives and can only teach the secrets to their first wife. Azura gave the mysteries to keep divorce out of their culture. Jak’s wife must have been married previously to a Dunmer.”

“No, Jak was her only husband.”

“Well, that’s a mystery in itself! How do two Bretons get Dunmer mysteries when the wife wasn’t previously married?”

“Jak must have bought the secrets. He tried to buy Gils‘ mysteries a little over a year ago, not long after Llathasa died. Somehow Jak found out Gils had the ones he wanted. Jak is extremely wealthy and the offer went quite high, but Gils wouldn‘t sell for any amount. Then Jak tried to use mind control and steal the secrets. He couldn’t get them, said they were protected somehow.”






***


“Azura guards the mysteries from theft, and keeps them locked till the man marries. Then they’re sealed to the couple’s souls, if one dies the other owns the mysteries. They can use them on another, but not share the sacred secrets. It’s punishable by death to share those with anyone. Gils wasn’t married a year ago, Jak couldn’t have gotten them then regardless.”

“Hmmm.”

“What?”

“Just wondering if Jak knows you’re married to Gils. It would explain his sudden interest in you. After Llathasa died, Jak said he’d do anything to get hold of those Gifts. And if Malan knows about them, it may be why he chose you to implant his wife in…”

Janus stopped dead in his tracks, regardless of the sun burning him.

“His wife…implanted in you. [Censored]! If split-aparts share a chosen, is it…could the chosen I‘m following be Malan‘s dead wife?”

“That’s a good question, Janus. If you look at it scientifically, the nature you share isn’t actually yours. It has to be Malan’s since he didn’t create you till centuries later. Come into the shade, Janus.”

I had to pull Janus under the nearest tree. He leaned against it, healing himself.

“A month ago you said you were here following your chosen, who have you been following all this time? If it suddenly changed to me the night before last, then you are most definitely following his dead wife. And whether Malan just put her in me recently or when I was a child, where was she before then? She‘s been dead a century now.”

“I can’t tell you. I have to talk to Traven about this.”

“What will you do if it is?“

Janus shrugged. “I don’t know. I need time to think. There has to be a reason Malan chose you for this, Maxical. I need to know when he did, and why you.“

“It can’t be for the mysteries. Malan is the Vvardenfell Arbiter. Arbiters are given all the mysteries, he’d not need mine.“


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Oct 2 2012, 05:43 PM

[King Coin]

Interesting plan Malan has, get Maxical immortal via Janus and then have his wife take over Maxical’s body. I wonder what Akatosh thinks of that? Maxical’s already reserved for kicking Dagon off of the Nirn!

HA! Maxical trying to drag the info out of Janus by telling him about Eyja.

“It was you, wasn’t it! …
…While watching Eyja washing her breasts. You may as well say it, I saw the look on your beak.”
So funny! And then they talk all about bathing, soaping and kissing, and all things Skyrim. I wonder what kind of statue Janus has in mind? A Khajiit and a Nord soaping and kissing? I hope we are treated to another bath.

If split-aparts share a chosen, is it…could the chosen I‘m following be Malan‘s dead wife
Weird. But I think that is not the case. Wasn’t Maxical his chosen before the wife was ‘planted?’ I thought Malan did it inside of the Bloodworks when Maxical woke and couldn’t move. Maybe I’m wrong about the time.

[hazmick]

the plot thickens once again! so now pretty much everyone knows that foxy isn't foxy, correct? and now we sort of know what Malan is up to, although this whole vampire lore thing you've created is so deep and rich I keep having to re-read chapters for it to sink in, not that it's a bad thing of course

[Darkness Eternal]

Okay, well, damn. I hate this laptop for freezing up on me when I gave a review of the episode, and all my words were deleted! AH!

I will be back later on today with a fresh one, as I have to get ready to go somewhere. But rest assured, I shall return!

[Acadian]

‘I shrugged and strove for an innocent look.’
I could picture this perfectly and was rolling as Maxical’s manipulative intent became apparent. Although the effort failed, it was a magnificent attempt to push Janus’ buttons!

Mysteries and motives indeed!

[Darkness Eternal]

Huh, really? I never found any blood. Better recheck once I get the chance.

Wow, what a crazy, "convoluted" plot Malan has going on.

She was Blenwyth’s chosen by his nature, and still a virgin. Blenwyth hunted them for decades, but she and Malan seemed to have disappeared off the face of Nirn.

Ah, Mr.Blenwyth of the Scars! I didn't know the latter part of him chasing Malan and his lover.

“’The Bathing Beauties of Skyrim‘ magazines? Gils has a stack of those. I wondered if I went to Skyrim would anyone be clothed.”

“I don’t know, you vampires are always squirting juices into women’s mouths when you are attacking us.

You know, mALX, you never cease to amaze me and make me laugh with these lines.

Haha, what? P0rn? Morrowind has naked male Nords, I wonder what Skyrim has . . .

Eyja and her plumpy bewbs has returned!! Though mentioned, it still brought back good memories! Janus truly remembered it, too. Ahahaha. Malan's plan is further revealed somewhat. He wants his woman back, and through Maxical, he can get her! This is pretty awesome, I will admit. I will love to see what he is up to next.

[Grits]

“If he put her in you recently, he poached within his line. Only upline ancients can do it, and there is a strict protocol for it so wars don’t erupt within the line.”

“Poached me from who, Fathis?”

Oops! Janus almost told!

“By the way, just for the record I think you kiss good, Janus. I can‘t imagine what Eyja‘s complaint is.”

Oh my gosh, this was hilarious. The soaping discussion might not have been what Maxical was trying to pry out of Janus, but I was rolling over it! Bathing Beauties of Skyrim, ROFL!

Crassius Curio and his statues, I love it! I’m sure that Janus will want to see life-like drawings of the fountain plans right away!

I’m curious to learn what Janus makes of the whole Dunmer Mysteries mystery, with Gils having the Gifts that Malan wants, and Maxical already having some of his (Gils’). Also I guess she owns all of them now, but doesn’t know it because she doesn’t know of his death? If Janus figures out the Arbiter business, that should make things easier for Maxical.

[mALX]

*

@ EVERYONE: Last chapter dumped a lot of info on Malan’s plots, (sorry about that). I thought it might help to post a review of what it revealed just in case anyone had questions - mainly because a lot of the info is based on things brought out in previous chapters that were well long enough ago to be forgotten. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask!

Review of Last Chapter - Malan’s Plots

On the question of whether Malan implanted Amiela at the Bloodworks two nights ago (or when Maxical was a child):


Maxical thinks Malan planted Amiela in her when she couldn’t move that night at the Bloodworks, because right after that is the first time she felt her.

Uriel thinks Malan planted Amiela in her when she was a child, and just awakened the soul that night at the Bloodworks.

Why he thinks that:

1. Malan programmed Maxical to seek him out when she reached age 20 (the age of sexual maturity for Khajiit)

2. Maxical said she matured 3 years early - BUT Akatosh’s predictions were also coming 3 years early. Uriel just realized Maxical’s age is 3 years off. Maxical is 20 years old now, but doesn’t know it. She still thinks she’s seventeen. Malan learned she was 20 that night Nissy was Dream-Catching Uriel.

3. Uriel just learned Hassildor and Malan share one nature/one chosen + Janus has been following Maxical as his chosen.

Although there is no proof either way, Uriel was right. It was when she was a child. Uriel used deductive reasoning and made an educated guess - that’s the closest they’ll come to knowing unless Malan tells someone. (which he won’t).

Janus is also right. Janus has been following the dead wife all this time, not Maxical. (and Malan’s only interest in Maxical is that soul inside her + Maxical’s blood).


Jak and his interest in Gils’ mysteries:

We know Malan has been impersonating Jak a long time.

If Malan/Jak hadn’t had that affair with Llathasa, he wouldn’t have had any interest in Gils. Llathasa made him aware of the Gift mysteries. When she died he added getting those mysteries into his plans for using Maxical.

It would be way too much coincidence that Malan was interested in both Maxical and Gils and they just happened to get married.

Malan couldn’t steal the mysteries with mind control, but he could use mind control to make Gils marry Maxical.

Back then Gils was an easy mark, remember the Gray Prince was manipulating Gils with ease till that day at Crowhaven when Gils realized he was doing it. Gils and Maxical were already married when Gils started fighting the mind control.

We also know Malan killed Gils, and Maxical just told Janus that the mysteries attach to the souls of the couple - if one dies, the other owns the mysteries. Now we know why Malan killed Gils.


Maxical’s age:

None of us know the actual day of Maxical’s birthday because all her documentation was destroyed in the attack that killed her mother. But three things happened on the day she turned 20 years old:

1. Janus put the spells on Fathis and started following Maxical as his chosen
2. That same day Maxical ran away from home to the Bloodworks
3. That same day Maxical met Gils.

* Malan programmed Maxical to seek him out when she was 20 years old.

Malan’s planning was for everything to happen when Maxical turned 20.


Malan’s issues:

1. Malan has been planning all this a very long time. Everything was set to happen when Maxical turned twenty - but she turned twenty three years before he expected her to. It threw him off.

2. Then he got into that Palace - that was his lifelong dream culminating. So now he’s been scrambling his plans around to include taking over the Palace three years earlier than he planned.

3. Then there’s the smell of Maxical’s blood driving him to distraction, making it hard to concentrate on what he needs to in order to pull this off. That day he tasted it made him obsessed over it. That threw him off.

4. Then there is his wife, who all these plans have centered around. He is so close to her being by his side again, couldn't wait till they could be together again. He got impatient and awakened her too soon - alerting everyone to what he was up to.

These are the four things causing all Malan’s troubles so far - Maxical’s temper may be the fifth. The sixth: Janus Hassildor.


Janus Hassildor:

That day Amiela revealed herself - Malan promised her he’d keep her safe forever this time. Forever = immortal. There is only one immortal vampire, Janus Hassildor. He’ll have to share his Dark Gift with Maxical for Malan to keep that promise to Amiela.

Janus isn’t falling into Malan’s plans. First he didn’t want Maxical, (not to mention they squabble like schoolchildren every time they get together). Then he tried to save her husbands - Malan needed them dead.

Malan spent the last almost two months trying to prod Janus into doing vampy things, but Janus refuses to act on his vampire nature, doesn’t give it free rein at all - that keeps hindering Malan‘s plans.

Malan will def have a Maxical/Janus headache before it’s over, lol.

*
@ King Coin - Thank you so very much KC! You had me rolling with your comment, lol! Bath = next chapter after the one below, lol. You made my day with this one, I love hearing about the things that get you laughing!

On your question: I’ve quoted the answer above, since last chapter dumped a lot of info on Malan’s plots and there may be others who wondered , lol. Thank you so much again KC!


*
@ Hazmick - Thank you so much Hazmick! You are right, Malan will no longer be impersonating Foxy. I know I info-dumped that last chapter, so tried to cover what I was hoping to get across in the (large) quote above, lol. Thank you so much for your kind words about the vampire lore, and if you ever have any questions - please feel free to ask anytime!!!!

*
@ Acadian - Thank you so very much Acadian! ROFL !!! Maxical’s “subtle” manipulation? Thanks again, Acadian!

*
@ Darkness Eternal - Thank you so very much Darkness! I’ve had that happen to me so many times, usually when posting something on an internet contact slot for a company - lost long descriptions of why/how X is broken and not working properly, lol. Stuff I worked hard on and wanted to scream when it disappeared! I so appreciate you coming back and letting me know what you thought!!!!!

On the bottle of blood: Go into Janus Hassildor’s bedroom. Turn Right. On the right side at the end of the room is a small round table with a bottle of what looks like wine on it. Mouse over it and see if it is blood. If it isn’t blood, then I probably stuck that blood on the table in my mod of his quarters and don’t remember doing it.

On the naked male Nords in Morrowind - go to the Inn of Ill Omen and step behind the counter - get a good look at Manheim’s backside. Under that apron he is a nude Nord, (loincloth in the vanilla game), ROFL !!!

You also made my day with your comment, (especially since you had to do it twice) and had me rolling laughing! Eyja and her plumpy bewbs will return next chapter in another bath scene. (not the chapter below).

Your kind words meant a LOT to hear, Thank you so very much again Darkness!

*
@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits! You haven’t seen the last of Crassius Curio, that was just his first intro into the story. He is def coming to the Palace. I’m so glad you “suggested” him, because I have been looking for a TES artist to fill this role for a month! I had settled on a smithy finally, but “Uncle Crassius” is SO much better for this! What a character !!! I’ve been studying him for the role, he will be AWESOME in it !!!

You really tickled me with your comment - yes, a closeness and trust may have developed between them, but they still can’t be together any amount of time without squabbling, lol.

On your question - Janus doesn’t know Jak is Malan yet. Jak is his best friend, when he finds out Jak is Malan the S will hit the F.

You are absolutely right, Maxical owns those mysteries now because Gils is dead - but she doesn’t know he’s dead.

Maxical is still missing the 7 marital mysteries (since she’s still a virgin), she may own them but doesn‘t know them.

Also - any Dunmer Arbiter can take those Gift mysteries away from her by declaring her marriage to Gils invalid. (which would mean Maxical could be killed for having them, unless the Arbiter takes her himself like Fathis did and Malan is trying to do).

** The only higher authority than the Arbiters is Divayth Fyr.

Janus won’t be able to figure out the Arbiter thing, the Dunmer keep these as sacred secrets. The Arbiter is never supposed to be known except by those under their jurisdiction. Because they know all the secrets, it would place them in danger. Maxical made a big mistake telling Malan that Fathis was the Arbiter.

Thank you so very much again, Grits! You ROCK!


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This post has been edited by mALX: Oct 3 2012, 07:52 AM

[mALX]

*


Chapter 176: Discerning Malan’s Plans


“If Malan really is into that depth of necromancy, Fathis is worse than dead. Malan tried to get your blood, if he gets access to it he’ll make Fathis drink it.”

“Fathis wouldn’t do it!”

“He’s a fledgling vampire now, Maxical. The strongest will in the world can’t fight the power that scent and taste has over an ancient, the bloodlust is utterly uncontrollable for the first century. That’s why I’ve stayed isolated. If Malan gets any virgin’s blood under Fathis’s nose the man you know and love won’t be there anymore. Malan will make sure Fathis knows it‘s yours too, to shame him when he can’t stop himself. Psychological warfare, it‘s Malan’s way to do the most harm he can with any act.”

“Why doesn’t the scent bother you?”

“Finding my chosen completely removed the bloodlust.”

“Didn’t you say Malan was obsessed with drinking my blood since he’s tasted it?“

“He can do both, blood replenishes. Once he had Fathis under his thumb Malan would heal you, then take you himself. Whatever Fathis is refusing to do, tasting your blood will break him. Men like Fathis can’t live with what the vampire is, what it does. They’d kill themselves if they could, but the nature protects itself and stops them.”

“Sir Damien said that Malan felt that way early on! But…what are you saying?”

“They’ll give up their souls rather than face what they are, what they’ve done. Fathis is an extraordinary mage, his soul would hold tremendous power. He has access to the Palace, and Uriel trusts him. Malan probably plans to send Fathis in as his minion.“

“Take Fathis’s soul? Make him a thrall?” I felt a sickening knot in my stomach and didn’t know if my legs would hold me up. Any elation I’d felt that Fathis might be alive was soured in the acid filling my stomach.

“I need your help, Janus. I can’t be the weapon Malan uses against Fathis! Please help me rescue him, and take this virgin blood from me now so it can never be used against him! He can’t take Fathis’s soul, I can‘t let that happen! Uriel needs to be told this right away!” I ran, cutting directly from the District Gate to the Palace regardless of Janus burning in the sunlight as he followed.






***


The Palace entrance looked odd…empty. It took a full second to realize there was no guard on it.

“Where’s the guard? There’s always a guard at the Palace entrance!” My voice broke on a squeak.

“Arm a fire spell. Malan is probably making his move on the Palace right now.”

“Uriel! I have to get to him!” I loaded my ‘Enemies Explode’ spell, then cast chameleon instinctively as I ran up the steps.

“If they engage us, divert them from me so I can keep moving to Uriel.”

Janus went completely invisible. “Just go, I’ll follow. My line has thermal imagery, I see you clearly.”

As soon as we entered the lobby area, Janus yanked me to a stop. “There are ancients here, a lot of them. Most coming from the floor below us, he must have a nest there. But there are a lot upstairs too.” His voice was so deep that without looking I knew he’d changed to giant form.

“If they’re around us in vapor form even your thermal imagery won‘t detect them. My seal detects them, but can’t with you beside me.”

Janus grabbed my arm. “Just in case blast ahead of us to clear our route. Aim toward the stairwell.”

“I can’t aim, Janus, just blow up places.”

“Just do it!”

BOOOOOOOM! ... KAAAAAPPPPOOOOOOOWWWWW! ... RUMBLE RUMBLE …BOOOOOOOOM!






***


“What in the living hell was that [censored] [censored]? You‘ll knock the whole Palace off its foundation with that [censored] thing!”

“I told you it would blow up! And anyway, I killed a bunch! See the bodies?”

“You probably hit Uriel on the top floor, or flung him out a window.”

“I can’t very well kill Malan’s army with a little fireball!”

“You’ll kill us all wielding that thing!”

“When you can’t aim, you compensate by using area spells! That one covers twenty feet in circumference!“

“Don’t get in a snit…”

“I’m not in a snit!”

“Let me try it, maybe having aim will keep it from being so destructive.”

“Fine! Let’s just see if you can do better!”

BOOOM! “Hey, this is a handy spell! Damn, your destruction must be off the charts!”

“Hmph! It is, remember? That’s part of my disorder.“

Janus fired volleys of my spell in front of us as we climbed the inner loop corridors to the upper floors. My ring detected nothing, but repeatedly the air burst in an explosion of flames that hissed as they dissipated into bodies.

“Maxical, there’s a large nest of ancients in that room.” He pointed toward a barred door.

“That room is sealed off because Malan broke the glass in it and with the war on we couldn’t get it repaired.”

“But Malan can unbar the door and let them into the Palace.”

“Seal it with that tamperproof spell.”

“Done.” Janus cast and the door glowed with an orange aura.

“Don’t you have to search through your spells?”

“No, my nature loads whatever is needed instantly with no more than a thought.”

“That’s handy!”






***


“Through that door is the Battlemages quarters, they’ll attack us if we come through blasting. Don’t cast unless you know it‘s a vampire.”

“Let me go through first. Stand clear so I can shoot if needed.”

I eased the door open and held it as Janus moved through. In spite of his giant size he actually was much quieter than me.

“All I detect are humans and...an extremely large rodent?”

“I’ll explain later.”

When we got to the Royal Quarters Janus put his head through the door, then drew it back surprised. “Unless I can’t detect the vapor form it’s clean too, just humans.”

I slid the bolt, sealing the upper floor so no one could follow even with a key. Uriel’s door was locked. We both dispelled the chameleon and I pounded, screaming. “SIRE! SIRE, ARE YOU SAFE?

I heard the bolt slide back and pushed it open, calling loudly, “SIRE! It’s me and Janus Hassildor.”

Three people shouted in my face. “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!” It was a command from Uriel, a demand from Eyja and Hannibal. Eyja bolted the door behind me.

“The Palace is filled with vampires. We got what we could, but there is a lot more…nests of them everywhere.”

Relief of finding Uriel safe was followed immediately by a feeling of helplessness to keep him that way. I was in way over my head. How could I protect Uriel when Malan had as much as taken over the Palace?

“Malan cornered us in a standoff at the Temple of the One till daybreak. Drawing a sword would have been suicide, his entire army surrounded us in giant form. I held a dagger to my throat all night threatening to kill his wife. You can look at the stains on my greaves to see how terrorized I’ve been, I wet my pants. Sir Damien gave me directions and a key to Malan‘s lair, said you’d ordered me to meet a man in the Temple and go there to mate him.”

Uriel glanced at Eyja with eyebrows raised, then took the directions and key from Janus. “We believe Malan holds Foxy there, he’s just provided the means to rescue him!“

“Fathis is there too, but he‘s a vampire. Janus, can you…?”

Uriel looked devastated and enraged simultaneously as Janus unfolded Malan’s possible plans for Fathis. I felt his commiseration as Uriel gripped my shoulder.

“We must begin a rescue mission immediately, but Fathis can no longer hold his position of trust in the Palace.”






***


“Sire, Malan promised his wife he’d keep her safe forever this time. The only way she’ll be immortal is for Janus to share his Dark Gift with me, that has to be Malan’s plan. Janus was able to enter Malan’s lair, proving they share one nature. Now Janus thinks the chosen he’s been following might be Malan’s dead wife.”

Uriel answered. “It is, Malan planned that he would. Hassildor’s attack was fifty years after she died. We think during the interim Malan learned the secrets of transferring souls. Malan wouldn’t tolerate another vampire’s nature near her, and he’d need to access the lair to retrieve her afterward. It was no accident Hassildor was made his split-apart, Malan wanted an immortal version of himself.”

“But the original blood cocktail was made over three centuries ago! Even kept in cold storage, wouldn’t the blood be horribly degraded?” I glanced at Janus in apology.

“It would! As a scientist Malan knew that! The fact that he used the same mixture alerted me instantly to a plot in Hassildor’s attack, I predicted it!” Hannibal waved his notes. “If an immortal army was his only goal he’d never have used compromised blood.”

“Shouldn’t I have been forewarned?” Janus demanded.

“Until two days ago we had no idea what his plot for you was, just that in using the degraded blood he had ensured your immortality would never outmatch him in combat. It could have merely been a security measure.” Uriel answered.

“I always wondered why he didn’t use fresh blood.” I whispered it, giving Janus another apologetic look and touching his hand. It couldn’t be comfortable for him to be discussed like this.

“Janus said Malan is acting precipitously on his plans.”

Eyja nodded. “He’s right. Malan alerted everyone she was inside you, really stupid when he was so close to finally achieving his dream of the Palace.”

“I’m positive the scent of Maxical’s blood was driving him to madness, obsession. He’d need to get rid of that distraction before it cost him everything.” Janus interjected.

“I think he was too close to having his wife back again, got impatient and couldn’t wait to be with her. I could feel the love in both of them.”

“I don’t believe he planned to awaken her till everything was in place. Malan’s folly is his impatience. In his haste he made crucial errors, he is off balance now.” Uriel nodded.

“Malan obviously planned I’d never return when he gave me the key to his lair, or thought his wife would be controlling me when I did. He tried to call her forth, my rage smothered her back.”

“How many vampires did you kill coming up?”

Janus answered. “Probably thirty coming up, all below the Battlemage floors. There‘s more in the lobby I didn‘t count.”

“We must burn the corpses right away, Malan could bring them to life to fight us. Hassildor and I can do that now, I can answer his questions.” Hannibal volunteered.






***


When they left, Uriel patted my shoulder. “You did well, Maxical. I want to hear everything that was said with Malan.”

“I threatened everything I could think of to feel him out for weaknesses. His eyes showed fear at anything involving harming Amiela; also Daedric Lords and gods, especially Akatosh. He is superstitious, threatening eternal retribution or the marking of souls makes him drop back and regroup. All other threats just brought rage.”

“What other threats?”

“While I held the knife to my throat I threatened to mate everyone from Greywyn Blenwyth to putting her to work at Luther Broads as a hooker. I told him I’d do whatever it took to get even with him if he pushed me to it. I’m known for having a temper, so banked on him not being able to tell how far I’m capable of going.”

Eyja looked stunned. “Weren’t you afraid he’d lose his temper and kill you anyway?”

“I’ve never been more terrified in my life, but Janus and I were alone against him and that giant army. If I’d shown any weakness he would have kidnapped me and I’d be in his lair right now. I had to believe that he went through too much to bring his wife back, he wasn’t going to let anything happen to her.”

Uriel sat down on his desk and exhaled loudly, exchanging glances with Eyja.

“She doesn’t do anything halfway, does she?” Eyja smiled, petting me.

“No she doesn’t. It is why Akatosh chose her.” He gave me an approving glance that didn’t last even a minute. “How did Hassildor get involved?”

“I thought Janus was who you sent for me to mate. I…er…we were stuck in the Temple anyway…“

Uriel‘s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Well? Has that worry been relieved?”

“Well…er…not exactly. I kissed him to get things started, but then suddenly it was all over. Neither of us had even got a stitch of clothes off yet. He was trying again when Malan showed up.”

“You were mating In the Temple of the One?” Uriel’s aghast voice thundered over Eyja‘s shrieking laughter.

“Trying to…”


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This post has been edited by mALX: Oct 3 2012, 04:40 PM

[King Coin]

Ok I’ve started hearing the wicked witch laugh every time you have Eyja laugh in your story. Does not fit what she looks like at all!

With Maxical and Janus storming the palace, I visualized Janus leading Maxical by the arm and pointing it like a gun. Even funnier, why not just have her slung over his shoulder like a rocket launcher?

And the serious stuff: she thinks Gils ran off with some other woman, and that Fathis is a vampire. No wonder she’s eager to just lose her virginity to anyone now. (Well… not a certain high elf or someone that may or may not be related to him.) I can see a bond forming between Maxical and Uriel over the possible loss of Fathis. I am glad Uriel saw his error and didn’t get too upset over Maxical’s departure from the palace. Keeping the information from Maxical about Foxy was a mistake and he’s not placing that on her.

This post has been edited by King Coin: Oct 4 2012, 02:49 AM

[Acadian]

With Maxical and Janus storming the palace, I visualized Janus leading Maxical by the arm and pointing it like a gun. Even funnier, why not just have her slung over his shoulder like a rocket launcher?

The quick-paced argument over Enemies Explode was priceless and I could picture it all! In a snit indeed! I barely recovered from that when you sprang this on me:
‘I eased the door open and held it as Janus moved through. In spite of his giant size he actually was much quieter than me.
“All I detect are humans and...an extremely large rodent?”
“I’ll explain later.”


“She doesn’t do anything halfway, does she?” Eyja smiled, petting me.
Priceless, simply priceless.

This episode was enlightening, moved your story along at a nice clip and was just darn fun to read!

[ghastley]

“She doesn’t do anything halfway, does she?” Well, there is that one thing...

I think they all need a nice soapy bath - something's bound to happen!

[Darkness Eternal]

Thanks for the explanation, Maxical! I appreciate the clearing up of the info! . It must be a mod . . .or maybe I haven't checked his room. When my PS3 is fixed, I will check it out. Yay, future Eyja and twin melons!

The race through the palace is on! I like many of the things given in this chapter. One of them is this:

"Men like Fathis can’t live with what the vampire is, what it does. They’d kill themselves if they could, but the nature protects itself and stops them."

Well, that is unfortunate! Eternally damned is the correct word for it. Some like, most of them don't.

Poor Maxical is eager to lose her V card now! I wonder if Janus will oblige!

[Grits]

Thank you so much for the reminders on Malan’s plots! Tremendous help!!

Men like Fathis can’t live with what the vampire is, what it does. They’d kill themselves if they could, but the nature protects itself and stops them.”

What a chilling vision of Fathis as his own prison, and also an insight into Janus’ own struggle.

Janus fired volleys of my spell in front of us as we climbed the inner loop corridors to the upper floors.

I love this image of the two of them clearing a path to Uriel as a team, bickering and complimenting each other all the way!

Uriel looked devastated and enraged simultaneously as Janus unfolded Malan’s possible plans for Fathis. I felt his commiseration as Uriel gripped my shoulder.

This was the standout moment for me in the whole chapter, even though there was a lot of excitement and hilarity throughout. (Especially Hannibal waving his notes and yelling, “I predicted it!” Love that guy.)

“I always wondered why he didn’t use fresh blood.” I whispered it, giving Janus another apologetic look and touching his hand. It couldn’t be comfortable for him to be discussed like this.

And here is another one. Maxical’s heart has been torn out by what’s happened to Fathis and stomped on by what she thinks Gils did, and she just blew up half of the palace still wearing the pants she peed in mortal terror. Yet she has such tenderness and compassion. What a fun, wonderful chapter!!

[Winter Wolf]

Beautifully written mALX. There is such a sense of wonder in your writing. How I love to read about Maxical, virginity and vampires....they merge like fine wine and a warm fireplace.

Storming the building....thermal imagery.....and Eyja....

Magnificent.

“No! I had a touch of sunstroke and fell from the sky…”



“All I detect are humans and...an extremely large rodent?”



This post has been edited by Winter Wolf: Oct 7 2012, 03:31 AM