Old Habits Die Hard Part Three, The old dog practices new habits Options

[mALX]

I see another pair of wet pants in Jenseric's future with all that water and his problem holding it !!!! I love this quest, and what you are doing with it in your story is AWESOME !!!!!

We both know who he is, and I for one enjoy keeping everyone guessing.

GAAAAAAAAAAAAH !!!!!!!!! ARGH !!!!!!!!!!


Now I'll be eaten up inside till I figure it out !!!!! If someone was to PM you and guess correctly, would you tell them they guessed it? ???????? ARGH !!!!

[Acadian]

Very enjoyable. Grand circuit of Cyrodiil is right! I, for one, am delighted that it seems you will take your time with her grand tour. There is just so much wonderful stuff to see and do!

The interaction between Julian and Roland was great, and I enjoy how you smoothly weave dialogue with mundane actions and evocative speech tags. Very natural. Again, I am enjoying the pace, and love that Julian is not franctically racing through Cyrodiil.

This post has been edited by Acadian: Sep 29 2010, 04:32 PM

[treydog]

Your conversations are so smooth and natural that I lose myself in the scene... When I reached the end of this episode, I was surprised- it seemed as if no time had passed.

Julian's careful deliberation is a treat to watch- as is her willingness to help Jenseric. It would be easy to feel contempt for him- running away rather than confronting his nemesis, losing himself in drink and drugs. But- he has cause. This is a place Bethesda got it right- and you do as well. Vampires are scary and strong and crafty. What proof does Jenseric have to take to the Guard? What resources does he possess to fight a dangerous undead creature? So he reacts as many normal citizens would.

And Julian no doubt recalls when she was herself perhaps worthy of contempt, running from her problems- and someone looked deep into her soul and saw there the strength that simply needed a purpose and a direction.

For a chapter where nothing much seems to happen, Julian covers a lot of ground.

[Destri Melarg]

I am glad to see that Julian recognized her own fall from grace in Jenseric, and that you allowed it to color her interaction with him. Even when the pilus was barking orders one could sense the empathy she felt for the man.

Maybe I'm wrong, but it doesn’t seem likely that Seridur would have reported Jenseric to the authorities. Habeas Corpus holds no sway in Cyrodiil (that I know of), but I imagine the Watch would still need a body in order to accuse a suspect of murder. If they brought Jenseric in for questioning, his story would be easy to confirm during daylight hours (“Please step outside for a moment, Seridur”).

I think you may have inadvertently (or advertently, who knows) created a brand new subplot for your story. With Julian gone for what may be weeks, the now sober Jenseric has ample time to ruminate on his circumstance. Soon grief and fear will give way to anger and thoughts of vengeance. Given so much time alone, I can see him deciding to take matters into his own hands.

[SubRosa]

As the others said, the conversation between Julian and Roland comes out very well, conveying Roland's story in a smooth, well-paced way. It makes the entire episode fly by, as we are caught up in the words.

@Destri: Seridur did tell the Watch that Relfina was murdered by Roland. It was back in Chapter 14.7. However, the Watch seemed unconvinced, and only wanted Roland for questioning. They apparently did have the body, because the watchman, Claudio, reacted to being asked about it. Later, the Claudio made a point of not noticing when Julian broke into Roland's house to look for clues.

One thing I learned in Oblivion, is that if anyone accuses someone of being a vampire, it means that they are definitely one themselves. It is exactly the same with Bruma vampire quest.

[Destri Melarg]

@Destri: Seridur did tell the Watch that Relfina was murdered by Roland. It was back in Chapter 14.7. However, the Watch seemed unconvinced, and only wanted Roland for questioning. They apparently did have the body, because the watchman, Claudio, reacted to being asked about it. Later, the Claudio made a point of not noticing when Julian broke into Roland's house to look for clues.

Whoops. I forgot all about the Claudio.

[haute ecole rider]

@mALX: I’m greatly tempted to leave everyone hanging until it comes out in the story!

@Acadian: I thought I would race through this Grand Tour, but Julian has other ideas. So I’ve decided to just kick back and relax and let her tell her tale.

@ treydoggie: Again you offer an uncanny insight into Julian’s character and her essential nature. On the one hand I’m awed by your perception, on the other hand I’m pleased that I’m writing well enough for you to pick up on all my feelings and impressions about this grizzled character of mine.

@Destri: I had no intention of introducing a new subplot into this story, but you do raise some interesting questions. How will Julian ensure that Jenseric will know all is well and it is now safe for him to return to the Imperial City? That is something I will have to address in the future (less than a week from her POV).

@SubRosa: Thanks for the comments about the conversation.

Now we skip ahead to the most frustrating Gate to close of all, thanks to a certain privileged Dunmer. Huzzah! This has turned out to be one of my favorite chapters to write, simply because the NPC's are so - well - colorful.

******************
Chapter 18.1 Huzzah!

Back in the familiar blood and fire of the exterior Deadlands after the hot and dark caves, I paused to get my bearings. A narrow path twisted to my right, towards a pair of tall gate posts that marked the beginning of the long bridge I had noted earlier on my arrival at the top of the hill. That was all the time I had to see, for two armored figures appeared around a cluster of rocks.

One of them, a slightly built young Dunmer beneath the bulky steel plate, put his fists on his hips. “Well, it’s about time!” he exclaimed haughtily. “What took you so damned long?”

Farwil Indarys. Gregori did warn me about him. “Here I am, serjo,” I said, snapping the katana smartly before my face in the salute usually accorded only to Legion officers.

“Where are the others?” Indarys demanded. “Didn’t you bring more reinforcements?”

“What reinforcements, serjo?” I responded. “There is only me, but that should be all you need.” I slid my gaze from the Dunmer to the almost equally young Imperial standing just behind Farwil. “Please fill me in on what happened, serjo,” I turned back to Indarys.

He puffed his chest out. “I set out with the rest of the Knights to dispatch this blemish on the face of Cyrodiil. We struck as fast and true as lightning. We numbered only seven but attacked like a century! Huzzah!” His light tenor voice barely hid the pain and fatigue I could see in his face.

My brows wanted to rise, but I kept my gaze level. I had seen the other five Knights, dead and stripped of their weapons, scattered along the path down from the Gate at the peak of this island. I doubted it had happened as Indarys claimed.

“I see,” I commented blandly. About to say more, I saw that Indarys wasn’t finished.

“We swept all before us. We fought our way nearly to the keep,” he pointed at the sigil tower barely visible at the other end of the long bridge. “Then daedra reinforcements arrived, and we had to fall back to this redoubt.”

I looked around. Redoubt? “Very well, serjo,” I looked closer at Indarys. “How badly are you injured?”

“Just a couple of scratches,” he answered bravely. The gash on his face was more than a scratch, and blood seeped from beneath the pauldron on his left arm. I handed him a vial of healing potion I had purchased from the Mages Guild chapter house in Cheydinhal.

“Sit down here, serjo,” I said to him. “Rest for a couple of minutes. I’m just going to look around for a bit.”

Indarys seemed all too happy to take my advice. Turning away from him, I caught the Imperial’s eye and jerked my head to step away. The young man had struck me as being a little less, well, confident than the Dunmer. “Who are you, sir?” I asked him.

“Brennan Senyan,” he answered. “Please don’t judge Farwil too harshly. Most of what he says is - fabricated,” he shrugged. “But he’s young -” Now I let my brows climb my forehead. You’re not that much older, Senyan, I thought, but kept silent. Senyan pressed on, “- quite brash and inexperienced. All he wants to do is please his father,” Senyan glanced at the Dunmer.

I nodded my understanding. Akatosh knows I’ve seen that often enough in the Legion. Officers’ sons are the worst. “I’ve known him since we were lads, and fighting to protect Cheydinhal is in his heart. I just wish -” Senyan looked away, his voice dropping so I had to lean forward to hear him, “I just wish his heart was bigger than his hubris.”

“All right, sir,” I said, silently thanking Martin for explaining hubris to me so long ago. “I’ve heard what Indarys has to say. What happened here?”

“I suppose you want to hear the real story rather than Farwil’s version,” Senyan admitted. I nodded to encourage him. “As soon as we entered the gate, Farwil decided a direct assault was called for. We lost three in the first wave, then two more in the second skirmish,” he pointed at the foot of bridge, at the end of the path. “Farwil and I made it to the sigil keep, only to find our way blocked. We tried to retreat -” Senyan stopped, struggling to keep control. I looked down at the ground between us to give him a moment. His story sounded authentic so far - consistent with what I had noticed on my way down the hill.

“We were cut off and stuck here until you arrived.” Senyan continued after a moment. Hearing the weariness in his voice, I nodded. “It’s just like Farwil to leap before looking. Had we brought a Guard contingent, we might have taken the sigil stone with minimal losses.” He shook his head. “But Farwil wanted to prove a point. The City Guard doesn’t think we have what it takes, and Farwil wanted to show them.” He met my gaze pleadingly. “That doesn’t matter now. Help us get that sigil stone, please, ma’am.”

The young man, so serious compared to Indarys's braggadocio, looked paler than I liked. “Give me your hands, Senyan,” I ordered. He looked at me warily, but obeyed the pilus in my voice.

Ever since my desperate healing of Soren, I had been practicing my convalescence spell. I had found it made more effective use of my magicka if I could touch the other, rather than casting it from a distance. While discussing it with Cirroc, I had learned that the physical contact allowed me to borrow a little bit of energy from my patient.

Now, I concentrated on finding Senyan’s pain and taking some of it into my own hands. I used it to drive the formation of my spell, then sent it back into Senyan’s hands. His breath deepened as the pain released, and his bruises and injuries healed.

“Thank you, ma’am,” he said, relief clear in his voice. With a smile at him, I returned to Indarys, pausing to drink down a vial that restored my magicka.

“Serjo, how are you feeling?” I asked the Dunmer. He stood up eagerly.

“Now that you are here, we’ll proceed to the keep and take the sigil stone,” he declared. “I suggest we use the Reman Sweep formation. You lead the way, and we’ll cover your back. Huzzah!”

Again I fought to keep my face, and voice bland. What war manuals has this boy been reading? ‘Reman Sweep Formation?’ “Very well, serjo, that works for me.” Let’s see if he’ll really cover my back.

As I led them down to the bridge, I moved into a crouch. Wincing at the sound of their clattering armor behind me, I wondered if I could pull off my usual sneak attacks. Fortunately, the lava we crossed provided plenty of noise as cover. The air was typically heavy with soot, heat, and sparks, making it hard to see any considerable distance.

One knee grounded, I peered into the dense atmosphere. There! I could just barely see two shadows moving from side to side, just at the limits of visibility in this gods-forsaken place. My katana returned to its sheath, and I reached for my plain steel bow and strung it easily. With a steel bodkin tip from my quiver, I sighted on one bulky figure. By the way it walked, I recognized the heavy stride of a Dremora Kynval. When he stood at the edge of bridge, with his partner across the full width of the structure, I released the arrow.

The bulky form staggered back as the arrow impacted him, somewhere high on the left side, judging by the way he spun in that direction. As I had hoped, he disappeared over the edge of the bridge. With another arrow nocked, I swung in the other direction and looked for the other Dremora. When he turned around to continue his patrol, he hesitated, whipping out his weapon and scanning the area. Lose something?

The bodkin point flew from the twanging string as I pulled another arrow and aimed without waiting to see the effect of the first. Unlike the first Dremora, this one kept his balance and started running toward us. Waiting until I could see the red glow of the helm’s eye slits, I aimed at the left hand one and released the bowstring.

The clatter of passing armor startled me as Indarys ran past, waving his steel longsword and shouting. But my backup arrow had done its job, and the Dremora keeled over backwards. Indarys slowed, Senyan catching up to him, and they stopped beside the Dremora. Idiots! If he’s still alive, he can skewer them like pheasants on a spit!

On my feet again, I advanced forward, angling to the right to approach the Dremora from the other side. The two young men looked up as I came near, my katana in my right hand, the bow still in my left. I stabbed downwards with the slender blade, aiming it just beneath the chin-line of the helm into the Kynval’s throat. Without stopping my forward movement, I let the sword slide out behind me before sheathing it. No skewering anyone now.

At the spot on the bridge where the two Kynvals had been patrolling, I dropped to my knee again. The doors of the sigil keep were barely visible ahead, with two more shadows pacing back and forth between them. With the same tactics, I managed to drop both Dremora before the two young bravos behind me noticed them.

After another moment of watching and waiting, I decided the bridge was clear and unstrung my bow. If this keep turned out to be like the others, I wouldn’t need the bow again until we reached the sigil chamber at the top. We? Let’s see if I can keep these two numbnuts alive that long.

****************
In the winding passage, I moved to the wall and started up the long ramp that led to the first of the side halls. Again that damned clattering behind me destroyed all hope of ambushing the daedra that infested the place. Heavy footfalls sounded above us, and Indarys started past me. I barely managed to grab the edge of his pauldron with my left hand and found myself nearly pulled off my feet.

The young Dunmer spun to me, his red eyes blazing at me. “We have a mission to complete!” he said angrily. “Why do you keep holding me back?”

A screech from above warned us of the oncoming clannfear. As the reptilian creature beelined for Indarys, I spotted the hulking form of a Dremora standing at the top of the passage. He seemed to be watching the clannfear, not me. By sidling along the wall, I managed to get close before he spotted me. With a challenging growl, he ran at me, great sword lifted high for an overhanded blow. I slid to the center of the passage and kept my eyes on that big blade. Since it would be vain to try and block that sword, even with Matius’s enchanted cuirass, I resisted the automatic impulse to lift my shieldless left arm.

Instead, I visualized lightning, and flung a bolt of white light at the Dremora as he swung his weapon down. A skip to my left allowed me to avoid the descending blade, and I tapped his shoulder with my new Daedra Slayer. A katana, it had been enchanted with one of the fire damage sigil stones recovered from one of the earlier gates. Flames engulfed his cuirass for a brief, yet endless moment. A nearly soundless shriek ripped through the sounds of battle, and the daedric metal turned a sooty black. Before the Dremora could raise his heavy sword again, I stabbed the katana through his now brittle covering, deep into his side. The smell of burning flesh and blood hit my nostrils as the fire from my weapon ate away at his lungs and heart.

Behind me, the two knights - no, boys playing warrior - managed to finish off the clannfear in rather sloppy fashion. In the side hall, I determined that there were no more enemies present. Back to my full height, I turned and stalked towards the young Dunmer as he entered the hall, bloodied sword ready for the next assault.

“Serjo,” I went toe to toe with Farwil while lowering the tip of Daedra Slayer to the floor. “Your mission is to close this Gate and save Cheydinhal. My mission,” I jerked my left thumb at the Wolf on my breast, keeping my voice even, “is to keep you alive long enough to do it!” The frustration crept into my voice at the end, and I hoped he didn’t hear it as disrespect. Though it’s near impossible to respect this fool!

I saw the pain beneath the furious look in Indarys's eye. “Do you have any of those healing potions I gave you?” I asked him. He shook his head, still angry with me. “You drank them all?” I can’t believe this! One little scratch and he’s guzzling the stuff!

“Farwil,” Senyan laid his gauntleted hand on the Dunmer’s armored shoulder with a soft clank. “Julian is an experienced soldier, and knows what she is doing here. We should do well to let her lead the way. After all, she needs to have her back covered.” He looked past Indarys at me. “Right, Julian?”

I took a deep breath. “Yes, I do,” I responded. By real soldiers who know how to cover each others’ backs. Indarys is no different from the tironii I used to lead. And it was a damned tiro that ended my career. I turned away and moved to the opposite side of the hall, where another passageway wound further up the side of the sigil keep. If I have to look at that idiot another second I’m going to throttle him!

This post has been edited by haute ecole rider: Oct 2 2010, 01:27 AM

[mALX]

WOO HOO !!!

We? Let’s see if I can keep these two numbnuts alive that long.

If I have to look at that idiot another second I’m going to throttle him!

QFT !!!

I hate this quest, but I love reading Julian doing it !!! Finally we found something that tries her patience !!!! Wonderful job you are doing with this, I am loving reading what you have done with the most hated quest in the game (to me) !!!!!!

This post has been edited by mALX: Oct 1 2010, 03:51 PM

[treydog]

Your use of the word “colorful” puts me in mind of the scene in Butch Cassidy where a tobacco-chewing Strother Martin explains to the boys: “I’m not crazy. I’m just colorful. When you run a gold mine in Bolivia for 10 years, you become colorful.”

We? Let’s see if I can keep these two numbnuts alive that long.

And haute officially enters the “No Beverages While Reading” Club.

Indarys is no different from the tironii I used to lead. And it was a damned tiro that ended my career.I turned away and moved to the opposite side of the hall, where another passageway wound further\up the side of the sigil keep. If I have to look at that idiot another second I’m going to throttle him!

And we get a little more information about what happened to Julian. Plus a perfect summation of the feelings of most anyone who has had to deal with these more-idiotic-than-usual "followers." Whenever I had to close that Gate, I was tempted to kill them myself, just to get it over with.

But- so far at least- Julian is able to rise above her justified anger and stay focused on the mission. Of course, I wouldn't exactly mind if she grabbed Farwil by the scruff of his neck and indicated the Kvatch wolf while explaining: "I may not fancy myself a knight, but I earned this. And not by bopping bunnies in the woods!"

[Acadian]

Poor Julian. Often, it seems so much better to do these things alone. Unfortunately, the game doesn't always allow it.

“All right, sir,” I said, silently thanking Martin for explaining hubris to me so long ago. “I’ve heard what Indarys has to say. What happened here?”

I found this delightfully humorous!

Ever since my desperate healing of Soren, I had been practicing my convalescence spell. I had found it made more effective use of my magicka if I could touch the other, rather than casting it from a distance. While discussing it with Cirroc, I had learned that the physical contact allowed me to borrow a little bit of energy from my patient.

Very nicely explained!

One knee grounded, I peered into the dense atmosphere.

I really liked the simple, but effective image this evoked!

Nit?

The clatter of armor passing me startled me as Indarys ran past me, waving his steel longsword and shouting.

You might want to bypass some of the duplication of 'me' with something like: 'The clatter of passing armor startled me as Indarys ran by, waving his steel long sword and shouting.'

For brother treydog:

... And not by bopping bunnies in the woods!"

[SubRosa]

Poor Julian, surviving Oblivion is one thing, but surviving her "helpers" is quite another!

I liked the part about Julian borrowing Senyan's pain and using it to fuel her healing spell. That was a good touch.

And it was a damned tiro that ended my career.
Ahh, yet another glimpse into the mystery of Julian's past!


nits:
We numbered only seven but attacked like a regiment
It is purely a matter of flavor, but since you have already been very dedicated to portraying the Roman Legionary system, perhaps a term like Cohort might be better here?

[Cardboard Box]

We numbered only seven but attacked like a regiment
It is purely a matter of flavor, but since you have already been very dedicated to portraying the Roman Legionary system, perhaps a term like Cohort might be better here?

Talking to the worng person. You need to explain it to Farwil Numbnuts Pimpleeyes PleasebyallthegodsgivemeonereasonwhyIshouldn'tletyouremoveyourselffromthegenepool Indarys.

Ra'jirra is willing to offer you his favourite mace as a teaching aid.

[Destri Melarg]

A narrow path twisted to my right, towards a pair of tall gate posts that marked the beginning of a long bridge I had noted earlier on my arrival at the top of the hill.

Whew! I see I’m not the only one with a weakness for long, elaborate sentences. One could sprain a synapse reading this one!

Once again your clinical explanation of the inner workings of magic demystifies it for us mouth breathers. What I enjoy the most is the complicated methodology of restoration vs. the ‘think of lightning’ simplicity of destruction.

Does the reward for keeping Farwil alive justify the aggravation? I hope so for Julian’s sake. Given everyone’s reaction to this quest, I am glad that I have never done it.

“I just wish his heart was bigger than his hubris.”

*Must . . . resist . . . Dhertee Inuu-Endo!!!*

[haute ecole rider]

@mALX: Actually I had a lot more fun writing this than I did playing it! Something about this quest really brings out the tongue-in-cheek side of Julian.

@treydog: Julian’s thoughts during this quest caught me off guard and had me laughing. And so did your comments - I learned a long time ago to put my drinks down before reading anything you write - whether it’s Athlain or a comment. I never know what’s going to nab me!

@Acadian: I found Julian’s recognition of the term hubris quite funny too. Your nit has been fixed.

@SubRosa: regiment is what was used in the in-game dialog, but you make a good point. I went back and changed it to be more Roman-flavored, though I think cohort is a bit excessive, even considering the speaker.

@Boxee: Julian said to tell Ra’jirra thanks for the offer. She’s got her own methods, but truly appreciates the thought.

@Destri: Have you ever read Faulkner? Talk about long sentences! Dhertee Inuu-Endo is always welcome! Thanks!

Julian manages not to throttle Farwil Indarys - yet. Huzzah!

*****************
Chapter 18.2 Indarys Comes Through

It took all my patience and skill to get the two bravos to the top of the keep. When we finally entered the sigil chamber, I turned to them. The noise of the sigil fire drowned my voice enough that I could talk to them, our heads together, without being overheard.

“I’m going to put a few arrows in one of these guys first,” I told them, pointing out the locations where I suspected daedra patrolled. “Then I’ll need you to finish him off while I take care of the next one.” I locked eyes with Indarys. “Watch your step, if you fall into that fire, I can’t help you. No one can.”

Stringing my bow again, I pulled out three bodkin-tipped arrows. I handed two to Senyan with an admonition to hold them ready, and drew out the vial of poison I kept tucked with my bowstrings. Carefully, I dribbled just enough of the vile stuff to coat the arrowhead.

Senyan reached for the vial. “I’ll treat the other two, Julian,” he offered.

“Be careful, then,” I told him. “Don’t spill any of it, and don’t get it on yourself.” He nodded and mimicked my actions with the two missiles he held, corking the vial and handing it back to me. Then he held the arrows so their points aimed at the wall, at a slightly downward angle to avoid the poison running down the shafts onto his hand. I nodded at him in approval. Senyan may be a little yes-man, but at least he has sense.

We crept up the familiar taloned ramp, with myself in the lead. Here, the racket of the sigil fire drowned out the noise their plate armor made.

On the long ride from Bruma, I had thought long and hard about how close I had come to losing Soren to a Dremora spell. Yes, he was young, and inexperienced, and scared the whole time we were in there. But he never hesitated to meet battle when battle came for him. Somehow he found courage in his shaking knees, and that’s the best kind of recruit an old pilus like me can ask for. He learned fast. But how can I keep young tironii like him alive long enough to kill spellcasting Dremora?

A conversation with Eilonwy, the Altmer alchemist at the Cheydinhal Mages Guild, had resulted in this poison. It would drain the target’s magicka to such a low level that he or she would be unable to cast powerful spells such as the one that had nearly killed Soren. Let’s hope this works.

At the top of the ramp, I paused to scan the circular balcony that formed the second level of the top chamber. The roar of the sigil fire was underscored by the screaming of tortured souls within the enchanted stone suspended at the peak of the pillar. Above my head, the leathered platform sagged under the weight of a Dremora. From the shape of his shadow, I knew he was a mage.

Two Dremora stood in the usual positions across the immense chamber, and I motioned to Indarys and Senyan to hold their positions before I sighted on the left hand Dremora. As I had on the bridge, I waited until the other was facing away, then loosed the poisoned arrow at the first.

As I stepped onto the balcony and slid left, I nodded for the two bravos to come charging up, which they did. As he passed me, Senyan handed me the arrows he held. I placed the shaft of one between my teeth and nocked the other. With my head tilted slightly to the left to avoid the poison dripping onto the ironwood and into my mouth, I sighted on the other Kynval as he spun around. The first Dremora was already running for the two bravos, but his magic fizzled in his hands. Before the other could raise his hand to cast a spell, my second arrow had buried itself in the flesh of his thigh, just behind the edge of the greave.

The last poisoned arrow nocked on my string, I glanced up in time to see the shadow of the Dremora mage move to my left toward the clash between the two inexperienced bravos and the hulking Kynvals. I ran to my right and rounded the balcony in time to see the mage reach the bottom of the ramp and turn towards the combat.

My feet braced, I sighted on a point just above his head, took my routine half breath, and loosed the arrow. The broadhead dropped slightly across the distance to hammer into the mage’s unprotected ribs, and I saw his unarmored head turn a faint green tinge before he collapsed.

My bow back on my shoulder, I drew Daedra Slayer and continued my pell mell run around the balcony. The Dremora mage may be dead, or close to it, but the silenced Kynvals were still more than a match for the two bravos.

Still at speed, I spiked my hand and visualized my flame atronach. Need to equalize this fight somehow. As the creature braced herself to start casting her fireballs, I dodged to the right to stay out of her line of fire.

As I passed the mage’s body, I stabbed the enchanted blade into his rib cage, then raised it to strike at the nearer of the two Kynval warriors. Catching the red glimmer of my sword out of the corner of his eye, he turned in time to catch a fireball from Domina Incendia full in his face. His screech momentarily drowned out the screaming of the sigil fire, and his hands came up to wrench the helm off.

Daedra Slayer struck the front of his cuirass, weakening the armor enough for me to punch the tip through the brittle metal. With the handle lowered, I shoved the sword upwards into the Dremora’s rib cage. He threw the helm at me, the heavy object striking my right shoulder and dropping me to my knees.

My hand clenched on the hilt, I flung myself back as the Kynval bent over the wound in his belly, then pitched forward to land beside me, shaking the balcony with the force of his collapse. My right shoulder screamed as I tried to raise the blade from the corpse. I grabbed the hilt left-handed and readied the sword for another attack.

As Domina Incendia disappeared in a swirl of purple smoke, Senyan went skidding on his back along the floor, his steel plate throwing off sparks. The remaining Dremora raised his mace at Indarys, who was screaming - what? Insults? Defiance? - at the Kynval, blood pouring down his face from a cut in his scalp. The young Dunmer was flailing his sword against the Dremora’s impenetrable armor.

I struggled to my feet, my right arm dangling uselessly at my side, and lurched toward the taller of the two combatants, aiming the tip of Daedra Slayer at that spot in the other’s right armpit which was exposed by the open joint in the armor. Flames shot out along the blade and from the wound as the sword sank in half its length before hitting something hard.

The Kynval staggered, spinning towards me as his right arm dropped. The mace clattered to the floor and the Dremora’s armored limb crashed into my already injured shoulder. A scream of pain ripped through my throat as both of us fell to the floor. I managed to land on my behind, and kicked at him savagely, recovering my sword from his body. Howling from the burning fire in his chest, the Kynval fell backwards, slipping over the edge of the balcony.

On my back, gasping against the red-rimmed agony that was my right shoulder, I turned my head to look for Indarys. He was on his knees, panting as hard as I, bracing himself on his sword. Beyond him, I could see the steel lump that was Senyan, still prostrate.

All my healing potions were gone, and my magicka was still depleted by casting that atronach, Domina Incendia. Thank you, Volanaro, for teaching me that spell. She had proven to be more durable and effective than Bones.

As I rolled to my left side, I leveraged myself off the floor and sheathed the katana awkwardly. I stumbled to Indarys and put my hand on his shoulder to get his attention. He looked up at me, his eyes barely redder than the blood from the gash in his scalp. Superficial. Bloody more than serious.

As I straightened up with some difficulty, I looked over at Senyan. He hasn’t moved. My heart skipped a beat. His stillness scared me, and I moved quickly to the prone Imperial. Once on my knees next to him, I touched his face. Clammy. Damn! The pulse in his throat was weak and thready.

His bruised eyelids flickered, and breath whistled between his clenched teeth. “Senyan!” I shouted to be heard over the sigil fire. “Senyan!” His brown eyes opened, the left more than the right, which was already swelling shut. His lips barely moved.

As I leaned down to him, I caught a barest whisper. “Farwil?”

“He’s fine!” I spoke into his ear. “Bruises and cuts!” Though my magicka was not yet fully replenished, I could feel the overwhelming pain Senyan must be feeling, worse than the torment in my shoulder.

Indarys staggered over and clanked to his knees at Senyan’s other side. I saw fear in the Dunmer’s face for the first time. He’s afraid of losing his best friend.

“Is he going to die?” Indarys asked me. Shrugging, I shook my head.

“Not if I can help it, serjo.” Meeting the Dunmer’s gaze, I let him see my worry. “I’m going to try a convalescence spell, but it’s going to take all I’ve got. You may be dragging both of us out of here on your own. Understood?”

He nodded, his jaw developing a grim set. “Anything I can do to help?”

I started to shake my head, but peered closer at Indarys. It was the first time I heard him say anything other than his usual self-centeredness. “If I’m useless after this, serjo,” I told him, “you’ll need to get the both of us up there,” I pointed at the dais near the sigil stone. “Somehow, you’ve got to hold both of us while you’re taking the stone. If contact is broken, one or both of us will be left behind in this Godsforsaken place.”

“No one’s staying behind,” Indarys vowed. He looked down at Senyan, brushing the other’s brown hair back from his face. “You hear me, Brennan?” he leaned down to the Imperial. “You’re not staying behind!” Senyan showed no response that I could see, but Indarys leaned back and nodded at me urgently.

As I had with Soren, I put my hands, moving my right one with great difficulty, on either side of Senyan’s head. Hunched forward so our foreheads almost touched, I closed my eyes and focused on the pain. Agony, his and mine, cycled back and forth between us, growing stronger in my hands, until I could bear it no longer. With a gasp, I released all the energy back into Senyan.

Weakened from the effort and the depletion, I collapsed to the floor beside Senyan, curling up against the pain in my right shoulder. My teeth bit back the scream that tore my throat, and I forced myself to open suddenly heavy eyelids to look at Senyan’s profile.

His chestplate moved with his deepening breaths, and Senyan blinked a couple of times. “Oh, damn!” he groaned, just audible beneath the howling of the sigil fire. “That hurts!”

Amen, I answered to myself, letting my eyes fall closed. Senyan’s armor clattered as he sat up, then I felt his touch on my right arm. “How bad are you hurt, Julian?” he spoke into my ear. “Don’t lie to me, I could feel it!” he shouted when I shook my head.

“Damn shoulder’s broken, I think,” I panted. “Too many heavy things falling on me.”

“Help me with her, Brennan,” Indarys’s voice reached me. Hands slid under my arms, grasped the side buckles on my cuirass.

“Be careful with her right shoulder!” Senyan exclaimed as Indarys hefted me to my feet. My eyes opened as I staggered, but the Dunmer steadied me on my feet, taking my left arm across his shoulders.

“Let’s get up there, Brennan,” Indarys said, turning us to head toward the foot of the ramp. In spite of his care avoiding my shoulder, blackness swamped my consciousness for several minutes -

- Then we were standing on the dais before the sigil stone. Indarys turned his head so he could speak into my ear. “Can you reach it, Julian?”

“No, serjo,” I panted. “You’re the protector of Cheydinhal. You should be the one to take it.”

Senyan traded places with Indarys. By the Nine, he isn’t much stronger than me! Both of us leaned against each other as Indarys stepped onto the metal ring that held the sigil stone balanced on top of its fire. He looked back, holding his right hand out to Senyan. We wobbled a bit when Senyan reached forward with his own right hand to grasp Indarys’s wrist, his left still holding my arm across his shoulders.

“Indarys!” I managed to make myself heard. “That stone is going to feel funny - all squirmy and noisy. For the love of Akatosh, do not drop that stone!”

[mALX]

WHEW !!!!!! I have chill bumps from reading this !!! Riveting from beginning to end, powerful !!!! And how you made that Indarys brat pull it together and be the hero !!!! I had tears reading this !!! AWESOME WRITE !!!!! just AWESOME !!!!!!!!!

[SubRosa]

Senyan may be a little yes-man, but at least he has sense.
Sounds like he would do well in the legion then. He does indeed show some common sense, unlike his buffonish leader.

And the old dog has a new trick up her sleeve as well I see. Drain Magicka, very clever. Although she might have gone with a Silence as well. Or was that a silence, and you just described at as reducing their magicka?

Domina Incendia is perfect! With Old Bones for her skeleton, I cannot wait to see what she calls her next summoned creature!

A very exciting conclusion to the gate run. I am glad to see that at least the two bravos pitched in and helped. It looks like Farwil did a lot of growing up as well. Perhaps the spoiled kid he was will remain behind in the gate, and instead a man will return? To be honest, you really did an excellent job portraying both him and Senyan, giving them a lot more depth and life than either has in the game.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Oct 3 2010, 06:27 PM

[Acadian]

I loved Julian's creative use of poison!

We share two wonderful things. We like to name our summons, and our characters are empathic healers. How neat!

Julian truly is a Daedra Slayer!

How very Julian for her to uplift the confidence of her companions, expecially near the end.

Yeah, all squirmy and noisy.

[Destri Melarg]

You absolutely nailed this chapter. The battle was well-described and the development of Farwil’s character made him someone that we hope to see again (imagine that!). Through her actions, Julian imparted her wisdom into the spoiled young dunmer and put him on the path to being the kind of leader Cheydinhal requires. We’ll just see if his new-found humility and courage accompany him outside the gate.

And Domina Incendia? Awesome!

[D.Foxy]

You know what, hautee? If I didn't know you were both a civilian and a female, I would think a warrior - current or retired - was writing this story.

[treydog]

One of the things I like about Julian- besides everything, I mean- is that she learns. She finds new ways of dealing with things based on earlier experiences. You also show her so clearly as someone who would have been a good pilus. Despite her impatience, she does all she can to keep her young charges alive, and to instill in them the knowledge they will need to survive when she is no longer around.

“No one’s staying behind,” Indarys vowed. He looked down at Senyan, brushing the other’s brown hair back from his face. “You hear me, Brennan?” he leaned down to the Imperial. “You’re not staying behind!”

A perfect example of "show, don't tell." In fact that is true of this entire episode. Simply wonderful in all of its gritty, crunching, realism.