Jerric's Story, A Nord's Adventures in Cyrodiil Options

[Renee]

Nice, you posted the next story on April Fool's Day.

All of them were fiction characters long before they were game characters.

Fictional in Elder Scrolls? Or are any of them from tablegaming days? I've brought a couple (Gunter and Gray Wizard) from the table (high school/'80s) into ES. Which is fun to see how their original strategies and approaches evolve in a modern game.

I swear. You really are bringing a whole new level to the Main Quest with this story, Grits. Especially with the creeps. I enjoyed the MQ, for instance, but I have no recollection of it being so creepy and hair-raising. "Drop your robes..." F**K.

Eesh.

Her hand brushed against the book. Instantly her eyes darkened, and her mind filled with a thousand jagged scream

Wicked. Ah, seems like Lildereth just hit the guy with a Control or maybe a Frenzy... Cool, looks like they're halfway to escape...

This post has been edited by Renee: Apr 3 2025, 05:37 PM

[haute ecole rider]

What a delightful romp through the Dawn's secret lair! The bear was a nice touch - wonder if their name is Thunderpaws? A very different approach to getting out from what I've done, but just as effective.

And Jeelius knows shock! Yay! Always good to have an Argonian at your side in a fight.

Smart to have him hold the Xarxes - not only does it distract them from Lil, but it also makes them more reluctant to attack the priest.

[Grits]

Previously: Lildereth and Jeelius stole the Mysterium Xarxes. Chaos ensued.

Acadian: You got it, Lil takes strange magic very seriously. A daedric blood ritual is about the strangest she has encountered. She’d rather run than risk it. Thank you, Acadian!

ghastley: Exactly, she has gotten them on their way, but they’re not out yet! They’re about to meet some complications. Thank you, ghastley!

SubRosa: I had fun deciding which of Baurus’s scrolls Lil would choose to smuggle in, since she could only have one. Your comment made me think, I wonder if it would count as a sacrifice if Lil kills someone but not with the dagger? Hmm. Thank you, SubRosa!

Renee: All four of the main crew originated after my first Oblivion game, and were created to live in the Elder Scrolls Oblivion game times. As I was playing the Main Quest with another character I had a thought. I wonder how this would go with someone who is from Kvatch? That could be fun to write about. Thank you, Renee!

haute ecole rider: Lildereth laid down some strong boundaries while I was writing this. One was that she was not going to pick up that book! Good thing Jeelius stood up and made a role for himself. Thank you, Rider!

.

Chapter 18: The Path of Dawn, Part Thirteen

Lildereth followed the fleeing cultists at a run, adding her screams to the cacophony. Jeelius stayed at her heels, his wheezing breath telling her of his position. They ran through a winding passageway and past a corridor that branched off to the left. Lildereth stayed with the group both for the camouflage they provided and because they knew where they were going. They must be attempting to reach an exit.

A large, roughly rectangular chamber held rows of pallets on the floor and platform beds stacked three high along the walls. They had reached the living quarters. Lildereth slowed to look for a weapon. One cultist turned back at the far doorway. His face betrayed recognition. Lildereth flicked a spell at him. He shrieked and ran after his comrades.

Through the doorway was another corridor. The cultists had already rounded a corner out of sight. Lildereth grabbed Jeelius by the sleeve to make him stop. The noise ahead had changed. Their screams held a new note.

"Something is killing them," Jeelius hissed.

Darnand. He must have followed me almost immediately. Maybe someone opened that door in the rock wall to escape. "It's my partner. He's a fire mage, and he will have summoned something. Can you dispel it if it attacks us?"

Jeelius shook his head, eyes widened until they were completely round.

"Everything in here can burn. Back this way. We need to hide until I can get his attention." Lildereth ran back to the branch in the corridor. It was only a short hallway to an unlit room. From the smell it was a storeroom, and from the sound it was small. "Here. Pray to your gods I can get his attention before he accidentally kills the both of us."

"I shall fall back to the corner," said Jeelius.

Lildereth didn't turn to see if he did so. She crouched at the doorway, watching down the corridor.

The screams intensified until a figure stumbled out of the living quarters, its robe and hair on fire. She didn't have time to react before Darnand stalked through behind it, orange light flickering at his back. He carried the lich's staff in one hand. A bolt of shock from the staff flung the cultist past her and down the corridor. The body lay still. Flames began to nibble at a banner hanging above it on the wall.

"It's me!" Lildereth squeaked. "No fire!"

They met in the junction. Blood streaked his face. Smoke trailed around the hand that reached for hers. "What has occurred?"

"Ruma Camoran is here and hunting us," Lildereth said. "Mankar Camoran took the Amulet through some portal. He said he was going to Paradise."

"No," Darnand whispered. He clenched her hand so hard the bones ached. "Then it is over."

"We stole their evil book, and she knows we have it. I think it's the Mysterium Xarxes."

"What? Where is it?"

"Jeelius!" Lildereth called. The Argonian stepped into the corridor behind Lildereth. "They were going to sacrifice him. He's a priest of the Nine. I don't think I can carry it."

"Nor should I." Darnand looked over her head. "I am Darnand. Are you able to bear this burden?"

"Yes," hissed Jeelius.

"You must remove yourselves from this cave," said Darnand. "I will buy you as much time as I am able."

"I'm not leaving you. Jeelius, that book may be the last chance to find a way to defend our world. Take it to Brother Venco at Weynon Priory. Tell him the Amulet of Kings is in Paradise. Speak to no one else about it."

Jeelius held the Xarxes out in front of him. "I will find the right hands."

Darnand spoke. "Lildereth, I do not expect to defeat Ruma Camoran. Please. Go with Jeelius."

"She will find us in the woods," said Lildereth. "If that's what we think it is, it's a piece of her Prince. She'll be able to scry it or something. I don't want to stay and fight her, but I am. We have to kill her so Jeelius can escape."

They spent a moment wide-eyed while Darnand accepted it.

Lildereth turned to the priest. "Jeelius, get out of that cult robe as soon as you can. The ring will help hide you while you find different clothing."

Jeelius looked at his hand, then back at Lildereth. "Er…"

Lildereth realized the Argonian was clearly visible. "The ring! Where is the ring I gave you?"

"What ring?" Darnand asked, dread in his voice.

"I put the Ring of Khajiiti on his finger," Lildereth said. "At the beginning of this." She looked at both of his clawed hands again. "It's gone. Did you drop it somewhere?"

"It is unlikely that the artifact of a Daedric Prince would let itself slide off a finger," Darnand said. "Far more so that when a supposed Champion of Meridia places her ring on the hand of a priest of the Nine—"

Jeelius brandished the Xarxes.

"—who is carrying the artifact of another Daedric Prince, the Lady of Light took the ring back into her own realm."

Lildereth felt the loss in the pit of her stomach. "Our plan to give it to Jerric would not have worked then."

"Perhaps only long enough to get him concealed into a situation that once removed he would not survive," Darnand said. "Though I regret its loss…" He rubbed fingers across his eyes. "I regret its loss. There is nothing more to it."

Lildereth tilted her head, listening. "Someone is coming."

Ruma's voice echoed down the corridor. "Worm, you have what's mine! Bring it to me!"

"Camoran!" Darnand bellowed, making Lildereth jump. "I killed your brother. Your turn has come. Face me!" He started toward her.

"Wait!" called Lildereth. She pulled him back to the living quarters. "She's not alone. Let's hit them while they're in the doorway."

"I will summon my dremora. If things go wrong we may have a chance to evade it."

There was nothing to hide behind that wasn't on fire. As Jeelius disappeared through the far doorway, Lildereth turned to fight. But it was not Ruma Cameron who appeared. Two cultists rushed forward, both wearing the Mythic Dawn's conjured armor. Each carried a mace in one hand. Behind them was the guard she had met in the upper chamber, his hands filled with arcane frost.

Darnand hit the leading cultist with a long blast of lightning from his lich staff. She fell, but her armor didn't dissolve. Shock energy jumped from her to the other armored cultist as he charged Darnand, mace raised.

As the guard cast his spell at Lildereth, she issued her Command to him. Frost boomed against her neck and shoulder when she ducked too late.

The cultist's mace slid down the staff and struck Darnand's arm. The staff clattered to the floor. As Lildereth's guard caught his fellow cultist, a wave of ice crystals raced over his body. Screams drowned out the merry snap and crackle of burning furniture.

The other mace-wielder had regained her feet. Lildereth's magicka was frighteningly low, so she lunged for Darnand's staff. The frost burns made her cry out as she wrenched it into position. A long blast of lightning from the staff pushed the cultist away from them.

"Down!" called Darnand.

Lildereth hit the floor. A sheet of flame roared over her head, engulfing their three opponents and the bunk beds behind them.

"I used up your staff," Lildereth said. "I'm sorry, it would have lasted longer in your hands."

"It is I who must apologize," said Darnand. "I spent much of my magicka getting this far." As he fumbled with a potion, Ruma Cameron strode through the doorway.

"Return what is mine, and I will give you a swift end," Ruma said. A smirk twisted her elegant features.

She won't want to damage the book, Lildereth reminded herself. And she isn't sure who has it.

Darnand opened a portal between himself and Ruma. As the dremora stepped through, Darnand dropped the potion bottle. Blood ran freely from his fingertips.

"On your belly, nikyn!" the dremora howled. To whom was unclear.

Lildereth couldn't count on her Illusion spells against Ruma. She could still disappear and leave Darnand. Ruma would chase Jeelius, if he held on to the book. Lildereth could live, and track Ruma. The thought slid like a cool knife through her panic. She clenched her teeth against it. There was another option.

Taking in a deep breath, she focused on the center of her chest where she imagined her very life's energy resided. On the exhale she pushed that energy down her arms and out through her hands. A translucent bow staff formed between them. The grip felt warm.

The dremora took a wide stance as the mages battled for control of him. When Ruma turned to Darnand with a triumphant smile on her face, Darnand lifted his arm. Instead of the expected wall of fire, a narrow jet of flame erupted from his outstretched hand toward her. The dremora raised his sword.

Lildereth reached forward with the bow in her left hand, and with her right drew an arrow into existence from tip to feathers, aetherial blue like the bow but as solid as wood and sinew in her hands. Tension told her that the bow string was ready. As Ruma whirled away from Darnand's fire, Lildereth shot the arrow through the center of her chest. She felt it pass through Ruma's body, the Altmer's blighted soul connected for an instant to her own.

She closed her eyes against the feeling, though it didn't help. When she opened them the bow had faded into a glow around her palms. Ruma lay on the floor. Darnand was upright beside an open portal. The raging dremora dissolved in a swirl as he was sucked backward into it, like water down a drain.

Awe replaced Darnand's customary tone of scholarly inquiry. "What was that?"

It took two attempts to force sound from her throat. "Make sure she's dead."

Jeelius appeared in the far doorway. "My friends. Allow me to assist you."

Lildereth stayed on the floor. "The way you follow directions, priest, are you sure you're not a Nord?"

"I accept," said Darnand. He staggered as he stood up from checking Ruma.

As Jeelius tended Darnand, Lildereth stripped off the hateful robe. "There will be clothes somewhere in here for you," she told Jeelius. "Probably right in that little storage chamber. They take everything away from their initiates."

"Let us make haste," Darnand said. "Even now Ruma may stand in her father's realm, telling him of our deeds."

"And this whole room is on fire," said Lildereth.

Jeelius spoke from inside the robe as he pulled it over his head. "Where you lead, I follow. I am convinced that you work on behalf of all that is light."

Now is not the time to tell him that you are not a necromancer, Lildereth thought. She stifled a deranged giggle.

Jeelius turned to Lildereth, healing light in his hands. Her deep cuts, scrapes, frost burns, and bruises faded away, but the hollow ache in her chest remained. "I cannot help you further," he rasped.

"It will pass," Lildereth told him, swiping at her blood-smeared hip and leg. "Thank you."

"I shall collect documents," said Darnand. "I entered past some offices. There are none there left alive."

"Be quick," said Lildereth. "This isn't your friend's library."

The store room held piles of personal items sorted by type. Her pack and clothing would eventually have made their way to this eerie chamber. She supposed any valuable items had been removed and used for the benefit of the cult. Or had been diverted into some cultist's pocket, like her borrowed silver ring. "Jeelius," she called from the doorway. "It's getting very warm out here, but it's cold where we're going. Get a cloak."

"I have found my own robe!" called Jeelius. "Right at the top of this pile!" He returned to the smoky chamber and bent to buckle sandals onto his feet.

"It's a shame you weren't wearing boots when they captured you," said Lildereth. "Let's move."

They picked their way through the shrine's living quarters, past torn and smoking bodies. A few of the cultists must have escaped the caverns, alerting Darnand to the change in plan. Without leadership they should not be a problem in the woods. Lildereth moved carefully in case any had decided to return.

The concealed door stood open. Here gore splashed the walls in the patterns she recognized as the daedroth's rampaging. They stepped over scattered body parts and dark puddles.

In the antechamber Lildereth dressed herself in the clothing that she had worn to the shrine. "Here's a pack for you, Jeelius." She handed him the four volumes of the Commentaries that she had brought. Jeelius placed them in the pack along with the Mysterium Xarxes.

Darnand called from the corridor, "It is I." He emerged carrying both his lich staff and Ruma's. A satchel hung over one shoulder.

"Let us leave this cursed place," said Jeelius.

[ghastley]

The plan was just for Darnand and Lildereth to report back to Baurus, but now Jeelius and the Mysterium Xarxes have been added to the mix. I also don't recall where Baurus expects to meet up with them.

I'll just have to wait and find out.

How many times has she seen the results of Darnand's daedroth summonings to be familar with its gore pattern? Do left-handed daedroth spatter differently from righties? Flame before or after rending slash? The true connoiseur knows the signs.

[Acadian]

Following the frightened crowd helped quite a bit – for a time.

Darnand to the rescue! That he intended to fight Ruma solo and likely lose in order to buy time is unacceptable to Lil. Just as Lil’s order to Jeelius to run was found unacceptable to the priest. Good thing, as it took all three to handle Ruma, her minions and heal them up after. What a nailbiter of a fight!

Woohoo! A conjured bow!

Escape at last! No amulet, but all three of them survived and they have the Mysterium Xarxes.

This post has been edited by Acadian: Apr 8 2025, 08:16 PM

[SubRosa]

More chaos ensues as Lilius flees along with the pack of cultists. Danger ahead as well? That can only mean Darnit is doing his damnedest to cause damage to the devilish dolts of the Dawn. Unless I am deceived.

I was wondering why Jeelius was visible as well. I am not surprised that the Daedra are fickle with their gifts.

That was a close fight with Ruma. Good thing for that Bound Bow spell, every Wood Elf's best friend.

It looks like the sun has set upon the Mythic Dawn's headquarters. Or at least their recruitment center. With the Necronomicon Mysterium Xarxes in their possession, they are one step closer to defeating Mankar Camoran.

[haute ecole rider]

More rollicking romping through the roses Mythic Dawn outpost!

Dammit Darnit sounds like quite the loose cannon with his fire.

Chuckled at Lil's admonition that no, we are not in your friend's library!

And chuckled again at Jeelius's glee at finding his own robe. Though I do know the comfort of finding one's own belongings intact after having had to leave them behind all too well - high school gym anyone?

Now what?

[Renee]

Yesss, Darnand's here to rescue! Go, go go!

Phew, Ruma is down. Dremora is gone, "like water down a drain". What a chaotic scene, but at least it seems things are going right.

....I am convinced that you work on behalf of all that is light."

Now is not the time to tell him that you are not a necromancer, Lildereth thought.

Love that part. I barely remember any of this, by the way. Really intense to read these events.

[Grits]

Previously: The Dagon Shrine at Lake Arrius Caverns. Darnand and his angry summoned daedra joined the fight against the cultists. Lildereth killed Ruma Camoran. Jeelius, carrying the Mysterium Xarxes, has suggested they leave.

ghastley: Baurus expects Darnand and Lildereth to meet him at Cloud Ruler Temple, assuming they all survive the journey. I’m sure the gore pattern from Darnand’s daedroth is way, way higher on the walls than from anything else he can summon. How many times has she seen it? 100% times too many! Thank you, ghastley!

Acadian: The decision to stay with Darnand was a big deal for Lil, thank you for mentioning it. It’s a milestone in her quiet journey. Jeelius surprised me with plans of his own. I do love Argonians! Thank you, Acadian!

SubRosa: I thought you might catch that Jeelius was not Chameleon-ed last episode, and the reason was unfortunately not given until this episode. The downside of splitting scenes. Thank you for bearing with me!

Rider: It didn’t strike me until Jeelius was in the storeroom that his clothing would be on the top of the piles. Lil was thinking the same about Darnand’s fire and remembering when he almost roasted Aravi back in their Hope Valley vampire adventure. Thank you, Rider!

Renee: In the game this part can be absolute bonkers. There are a ton of different ways to do it, and I’m sure an equal number of glitches you can cause. I’m glad you enjoyed Lil’s not-a-necromancer thought. Lighthearted is her natural state, but she has a lot on her mind with the world ending. Thank you, Renee!

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Chapter 18: The Path of Dawn, Part Fourteen

In the woods Lildereth lagged behind Darnand and Jeelius, concealing the signs of their passage. The camp had not been disturbed. Lildereth pointed out their supplies. "Jeelius, you will find trail rations and water there. Help yourself. Do not start a fire." She took a swallow of Jerric's Juice potion.

Darnand knelt by his pack, one arm around a wiggling Ulfe. "Tell me the plan," he said when Lildereth looked at him.

"Get the horses ready. Jeelius can ride with me. For now we take the road. They won't be able to find where we leave it."

"I concur. We will go faster on the road, and anyone who fled will still be hiding. For once, time is with us." Tension made his face rigid.

Lildereth knelt beside him and placed a hand on his knee. "Put everything aside for now," she murmured. "Think only of your next task. Whatever occurs, we will handle it."

"If we fail…"

"Don't try to solve all of it yet. Ready the horses. Then we'll get some distance behind us. Tonight we'll have clearer heads. We can plan the rest."

Darnand leaned down until his forehead touched hers. Then he got to work.

Lildereth spoke as she dressed in her own clothing. "Jeelius, what do you need the most?"

"A bask and a good soak. Until then I can heal these injuries. I expect that my appetite will return with health. For now I need to rest." He shook the empty waterskin. "I am sorry, but I have consumed all of your water."

"I'll fill our skins. I can't make the sun come up, but I can heat some stones for you."

"Ah, the gentle magic of the tree folk." Jeelius's eyes closed to orange slits. "That would help."

Lildereth fastened her boot and then moved to the Argonian's side. "Here, lie down by these rocks. I chose this spot so we wouldn't have to move anything." A moment's concentration had heat flowing up from below. She draped her costume cloak over him.

"Yes," Jeelius's sigh ended in a hiss.

"I can give you ten minutes. Then we must ride."

***

Lildereth bent forward in the saddle to brush snow from her hood. At her back, Jeelius leaned heavily against her. She had pushed them for days with little rest and limited food. They had stayed out of sight on narrow paths and game trails through the wilds the whole way to County Bruma. Now they were on a road in plain sight, hoping to catch the attention of whoever stood watch on the hidden walls of Cloud Ruler Temple.

Darnand brought Banner up to walk beside Rose. "Are we close?"

"Yes. They should be able to see us by now, even in this weather." Lildereth signaled Rose to stop. Darnand and Banner followed suit. They stood for a moment listening to the snow crunch under Banner's shifting hooves. Ulfe's tail began to wag. "Someone is coming."

A tall figure appeared walking straight down the middle of the road. He stopped a few paces away from them. "Darnand. Lildereth. Welcome back."

"Thank you, Captain Steffan," said Darnand. "We bear important news. Will you admit us? We are weary."

Jeelius was shivering so hard, Lildereth doubted he could speak. "This Saxhleel is a priest," she said. "We encountered him at the lake. You'll —"

The captain stepped aside with a come-along gesture. "Let's get you lot in by the fire."

Lildereth glanced over the guard positions and smooth stone walls as they passed through the gates, more out of habit than expectation she would need to escape. Within a few moments they had settled the horses. Captain Steffan led them into the temple proper, a stable hand trailing behind with their packs.

Katanas glittered along the walls and pillars. This must be the Hall of Blades. Lildereth was most interested in the giant fireplace, but she gave her attention to the men at a nearby table. The one wearing a gray woolen robe stood up from his clutter of books and alchemy apparatus as they approached. Behind him, wearing the armor of the Emperor's Dragonguard, stood Baurus.

The robed man spoke quietly, but his voice easily carried. "Ah, you're back. I told Jauffre not to worry."

Darnand bowed as he spoke. "Your Grace. May I present Lildereth of the Mages Guild, and Jeelius, Priest of the Temple of the One. My friends, here is Lord Martin Septim, last son of Emperor Uriel."

Jeelius made a bow. Lildereth slid one foot back and dipped at the knees in a curtsy. "Your Grace," she said. "And hello, Sir Baurus."

They gathered around the table closest to the fire. A teenager disappeared through a side door. Lildereth hoped that it led to their kitchens.

When they were seated, Martin spoke. "I can see you have bad news. You didn't recover the Amulet, did you?"

"No," Lildereth said. "Mankar Camoran himself was at the shrine. He took it with him to his Paradise realm. But we killed Ruma Camoran and some of their followers. Jeelius was meant to be sacrificed in the initiation ritual. He carries the Mysterium Xarxes."

"By the Nine!" Martin exclaimed. "Such a thing is dangerous even to handle! Forgive me, Brother Jeelius. You were right to bring it. But you'd better give it to me. I know some ways to protect myself from its evil power."

Jeelius slid the book toward Martin.

"Can the Xarxes lead us to Camoran?" asked Darnand.

"I don't know," Martin said, tentatively touching the book's cover with his fingertips. "Maybe. I suspect that the secret of how to open a portal to Camoran's Paradise lies within these pages. But I will need time. Tampering with dark secrets, even just reading them, can be very dangerous. I'll have to proceed carefully."

"You need not proceed alone," rasped Jeelius. "My duties at the Temple of the One will wait. I place myself in your service, Your Grace. As you have said, we priests have ways to protect ourselves."

Darnand cleared his throat. "Your Grace, I offer my assistance as well. Though I know myself to be perhaps more vulnerable to its suggestion than most, I believe that you will find ways to use my knowledge."

Martin nodded. "Yes, I accept. You both will stay here at Cloud Ruler Temple. Darnand, we are eager to hear of Jerric's return to this realm. When he contacts you, please report immediately."

A trio of youths entered through the side door, steaming bowls and mugs in their hands. Lildereth, Darnand, and Jeelius were soon sipping apple-blackberry tea and spooning up beef soup with carrots and onions. Ulfe was given a bowl of food and a basin of water. She emptied both and stretched out with her paws toward the fire.

Martin addressed Lildereth. "Your friends speak highly of you, Lildereth. I am pleased that my guardians have at last agreed that you are worthy of our trust. I hope you will find us worthy of yours."

"Your Grace, even I cannot think of a way that I could have orchestrated events to bring me before you for some ill purpose." She flicked a glance at Baurus. "But their concern has become my concern. I am at your service."

A Breton in a simple monk's robe entered the great hall. He gave Lildereth a piercing look as he approached. With a nod to Martin, he sat down.

"Grandmaster Jauffre," said Lildereth. She tilted her head to the side, smiling at him. "Finally we meet."

"Lildereth of Athay," said Jauffre. His eyes twinkled but his features remained stern. "Or is it Doriel of Arenthia?"

"It's Lildereth." She glanced at Darnand. "I've told you the truth from the start. How did you make the connection?" she asked Jauffre.

Jauffre pointed a finger at her, the smile breaking over his weathered face. "Property transfer! Why would a deceased Bosmeri lass inherit a manor house? She must have some life left in her. You had lived there as Doriel."

"And I recently paid my taxes, under my own name," said Lildereth. She pointed her spoon right back at him. "Because I'm not hiding anything."

"She is quite alive," said Darnand. "You should have asked the Mages Guild."

"Doriel was a great asset to the Legion," said Jauffre.

Darnand looked utterly confused but ready to jump to her defense.

"The Imperial couple I told you about," Lildereth said to him. "They were Legion. I trained with one and worked for the other, as Doriel. On a contract basis. But 'Doriel' is retired." She turned back to Jauffre. "I'm impressed. Not many have access to the records you must have found."

"You told me you were a market hunter," Darnand said.

Lildereth nodded at him through her tea steam. "Mmm hmm. I've always been a hunter. Different markets."

Jauffre said, "You should consider straightening out your paperwork."

"I'd have to know who made the mistake in the first place. Even I didn't know that I'm supposed to be dead. I guess no one else has disbelieved me enough to look back that far." She tipped her mug to Jauffre. "Perhaps you could fix it for me."

Martin cleared his throat. "I expect you will want to rest and refresh yourselves from your journey."

Jeelius was practically asleep at the table.

Jauffre pushed himself to his feet. "As Cloud Ruler Temple has no guest quarters, for now we will house the three of you in the Emperor's Wing. We have room for an entire royal family and their personal servants, though only a few chambers are ready for immediate use. When you have recovered from your journey, I will hear a report from each of you. Lildereth, Captain Steffan has a job that is suited to your talents."

"Of course, Grandmaster." Lildereth gave him a wink.

"Any questions? Rest well. Tomorrow there is much to do." He directed a slight bow at Martin. "Your Grace."

Darnand's eyes were still round as an owl's as Jauffre strode out the side door. "He did not reference our loss of the Amulet," he said.

Martin gave the Xarxes a little shove and leaned back in his chair. "We have not lost the Amulet of Kings," he said. "Our enemy has taken it out of reach, but only until we find means to recover it. Here we have Warrior, Mage, and — Lildereth, I will not say Thief, but Hunter — on our side. We work under the blessings of the Divines, and one in whom I place much faith, Jerric Lionheart, even now has the gaze of a Daedric Prince upon him. A Prince who is very much the enemy of our enemy." He leaned forward, meeting eyes with each of them as he spoke. "We will learn the secrets of this Mysterium Xarxes. We will take back the Amulet of Kings. The Dragonfires will burn again. Right shall prevail."

Ulfe broke the silence that followed with a yawn and bone-cracking stretch. She padded over to Martin and shoved her great head under his hand.

"The humblest of your subjects agrees," said Lildereth. She gave Captain Steffan a lifted brow.

As Martin filled his hands with dog ears, Captain Steffan rose to his feet. "With Your Grace's permission, I will get these folk settled in their accommodations." The group began to shuffle around, shifting plates and packs. Darnand bent his head to speak with Martin.

Lildereth paused beside Baurus.

The grim Redguard had a gleam in his eye, but he kept his gaze on Martin. "Nearly pissed my greaves when you went at it with the Grandmaster," he murmured to Lildereth. "Any chance that's going to happen again? I'd like to prepare myself."

"Unlikely," said Lildereth. "Any chance someone's going to murder me in my sleep?"

"Emperor's Wing. They'll have to come through me to do it."

One of the teenagers led the way, with Jeelius leaning on his arm. Lildereth fell in behind Darnand next to Captain Steffan. "Is this a today job, or can it wait? I just want to know so I wear the right shoes."

Steffan snorted. "You'll want to be near the Hestra Rune Stone at dusk. Know where that is?"

Lildereth nodded. "I saw a couple of folks in that area when I was looking for your front door. They thought they were being sneaky, but they were not."

"Ha! I'm glad you're on our side. We think they're spies for the Mythic Dawn."

"Let me guess," said Lildereth. "Find out who they are, where they're from, and what they're up to. Kill them or bring them somewhere for questioning?"

Steffan stopped so that the others got a little ahead. "Can you do the questioning?"

Lildereth looked up and up so she could see his eyes. He seemed simply curious. "Not like your Brother Venco would. I have some persuasive spells, that's all. I prefer never to have contact with my targets."

"At your discretion, then. See what you can find out." Steffan tipped his head back toward the Hall of Blades. "You know they'll devour any documents that you can get your hands on. See Captain Burd of the Bruma Guard if you need their cooperation. He may have some information for you. Grandmaster Jauffre asked the Countess to have the guard keep an eye out for strangers."

"Do they know about…" Lildereth lifted her chin toward the Hall.

"They know we have a bird in the nest, and they know better than to ask questions."

"Tomorrow, then," said Lildereth.

Captain Steffan bent forward and spoke quietly through a tight jaw. "We all want to spill blood in the name of our Lord Uriel. We crave it. We Blades will keep the Emperor safe here. You have been given the freedom to attack our enemy. Good hunting."

.

This post has been edited by Grits: Apr 15 2025, 01:56 PM

[haute ecole rider]

Aaahhh, warm stones! Lil is a rock star! I'm sure Jeelius much appreciated her consideration. It's obvious Lil had a lizard as a pet growing up - that's a little touch that never occured to Julian!

Hmm, so both Jeelius and Darnit will be assisting Martin with the Xarxes? I smell a hint of Daedric shrines and Ayleid ruins in their futures . . .

And we have a Warrior, Mage, and . . . Hunter? If my memory serves, in the Reach in 2E, they did not have Thief, but Hunter as one of the three main constellations, so this works for me.

Spies! Will Lil be bringing back heads for Jauffre to stick on the walls of CRT?

[SubRosa]

So we have a brief respite at Cathode Ray Tube Cloud Ruler Temple, as we take stock of recent events and plan the next moves.

Jauffre lives up to this role as master of spies, as he untangles the web of paperwork around Lil's previous lives.

"We have not lost the Amulet of Kings," he said. "Our enemy has taken it out of reach, but only until we find means to recover it. Here we have Warrior, Mage, and — Lildereth, I will not say Thief, but Hunter — on our side. We work under the blessings of the Divines, and one in whom I place much faith, Jerric Lionheart, even now has the gaze of a Daedric Prince upon him. A Prince who is very much the enemy of our enemy." He leaned forward, meeting eyes with each of them as he spoke. "We will learn the secrets of this Mysterium Xarxes. We will take back the Amulet of Kings. The Dragonfires will burn again. Right shall prevail."

Spoken like a true Emperor.

[Acadian]

Back at the campsite, Lil is clearly in charge. Nice to warm some rocks for the poor Argonian – not his clime I’m sure.

Cloud Ruler Temple. And they let Lil in this time! Sounds like a fabulous hot meal – thanks!

I really enjoyed Martin and you’ve done him justice here. So he, Jeelius and Darnand will try to ferret out the amulet’s location while Lil hunts for spies between CRT and Bruma.

[Grits]

Previously: Jerric, Bruma Fighters Guild members Kjestrid and Shamir-do, and Nereli the Dunmer scout they picked up in the Deadlands entered Moonshadow escorted by the priestess Ma’sani, acolyte Renlys, and winged twilight Dozara. They intend to take a shortcut through Moonshadow to County Cheydinhal. How did they even get into this predicament? Back in County Bruma the Fighters Guild crew was providing cover for Jerric’s trip to report at Cloud Ruler Temple. On the way they found a Gate to Oblivion. When it closed while they were in the Deadlands, they took another Gate out into Morrowind.

Rider: Ha! I have distant memories of some fan art with Jauffre’s heads on stakes. Was that Rachel’s story? It was an absolute riot!

SubRosa: Thank you, SubRosa! Martin may still be wearing his priest robe, but he is starting to think like an Emperor.

Acadian: Yep, Darnand was happy to lean on Lil for guidance after the bloodbath he caused in the shrine. His mage training did not extend to dealing with the aftermath of actual violence. I have really enjoyed spending this time in Lil’s POV. Thank you, Acadian!

.

Chapter 19: Moonshadow, Part One

Jerric found his feet back on solid ground, Azura's voice still echoing in his mind. "Welcome to Moonshadow, Jerric of Kvatch."

The others seemed to be coming out of a daze, apart from Renlys and Dozara.

Ma'sani visibly gathered herself. "We shall pick up our supplies here in Rosehaven," she informed them. "We will not need much. Our next sleep will be in Valparai. There we will find the Gate to County Cheydinhal."

"Valparai is said to be among the most beautiful cities in Moonshadow," Shamir-do told them. "This one is pleased that he will see it."

Jerric wondered if they would reach the city before dark, then shook the notion away. There was no dark. Besides, he was not in charge of this walk.

"Dozara will take you to The Smiling Pigeon," said Ma'sani. "This one will join you there when she has concluded her business."

Jerric, Kjestrid, Shamir-do, Nereli, and Renlys followed Dozara past facing rows of cottages. Colorful fungi stood among the flowers planted in pots and garden beds. The streets were quiet, though some folk were moving about at what appeared to be the same mundane tasks that would have occupied them in Tamriel.

"We need to kill five vampires in Gutted Mine to pay for our passage," Jerric said to Kjestrid. "Is that what she told you?"

"Yes. We'll have time to plan on our walk."

The Smiling Pigeon was a two-story thatched building with wings like welcoming arms and balconies that appeared to have been stuck on at random by some giant's blindfolded toddler. The front door was wide and tall even by Nord standards. Dozara strode forward and grasped the lever-shaped handle with one clawed foot. She pulled the door open with her leg, holding it until Renlys took it from her. Then with a shrug of her folded wings, she led them inside.

The front hall contained a reception desk at the base of a set of stairs. A Dunmer man walked in from the left and took a position beside it. "Dozara!" he said. "It is good to see you, my friend." As Dozara nodded to him, he smiled expectantly at the rest of them.

"I'm Jerric."

"Welcome to The Smiling Pigeon, Jerric. I'm Alvis. Owner and proprietor."

"Pleased to meet you. This is Kjestrid, Shamir-do, Nereli, and Renlys."

"What brings you to our hamlet this fine day?"

"Just passing through." Jerric looked to Dozara, at a loss to explain their business.

"We would take refreshment, Alvis," said Dozara. "We will stay perhaps an hour."

"Ah, good! Good!" Alvis gestured toward the right-hand doorway. "Won't you go through? I'll serve you on the patio."

Dozara led them through the public rooms and out to an enclosed garden. Stone walls sheltered two sides, but the rear had a low wattle fence with a gate in it. Bantam guar strolled in and out through the open door at their whim. Several perched on the back of a bench. An awning stood folded against a side wall. With no sun to require shade, it must be for rain.

A vine rambled up one of the inn walls. Its white flowers scented the air.

"My moon flowers," Alvis said from behind them. "I see you have noticed them."

"Yeah," said Jerric. "My Ma would have loved them. She grew night-scented jasmine on the wall in her garden, but it didn't bloom very well."

"Not enough light?" Alvis nodded knowingly. "Are you a gardener yourself? There is much to admire in Our Lady's realm."

"Not any more, but yeah. I can see that already. I guess you have a lot of things called moon and stars."

Dozara stepped onto a wooden rail that stood knee height near a table. She arranged herself into a perched position. Alvis dragged chairs around so that they could sit with her.

"A pitcher of star dew, Alvis," Dozara said. "Ma'sani will soon join us."

"Splendid. And shall I bring a meal, or..?"

"We have two Nords in our party. A meal will always be welcome."

Alvis left as the group found seats around the table. Renlys placed a chair for Ma'sani. By the time they had settled, a human woman arrived with a tray. She had dark hair and pale skin, but her race wasn't readily evident. She wasn't tall enough to be a Nord, but her features weren't Cyrodilic or Breton.

The woman placed a pottery jug and seven cups on the table. "Shall I pour?"

Dozara responded by picking the pitcher up in one clawed foot, rising slightly off the perch, and neatly filling six of the cups. Then she put the pitcher down and hooked a wrist claw through a cup ring. She lifted her drink in a toast. "May Moonshadow find a home in your hearts, and may your hearts find their home here."

Jerric didn't have a reply other than clunking his cup against the others.

Star dew tasted like nothing he had ever had before. The closest thing he could think of was honeyed mead with winter spices added. It was so sweet he almost spit it back into the cup.

Shamir-do raised his cup. "To the good health and long life of our gracious hosts."

Jerric drank again. This time he was ready for the sweetness.

Shamir-do's ears had swiveled to the side, and his eyes half-closed. His tail slowly swept the paving stones.

Nereli leaned toward Jerric. "Moon sugar," she murmured.

Jerric looked into his cup. "Are those… sparkles?"

"Star dew." Shamir-do spoke the words in a sigh.

Jerric lifted his cup. "May the stars and moons smile upon us, and may we, uh, leave smiles wherever the road may take us." Now he could feel the star dew's effects, like a welcome hand lightly stroking his groin.

"Gods blood," muttered Kjestrid.

Jerric addressed the winged twilight. "Are you coming the whole way with us, Dozara?"

"Indeed. I am charged with Ma'sani's protection in the event of trouble."

Jerric flexed an arm, careful not to spill his star dew. "We're from the Bruma Fighters Guild. We can handle trouble."

Dozara tilted her head to the side in a bird-like gesture. She laughed.

"Ha!" said Kjestrid. "In case we are the trouble."

Jerric and Shamir-do clunked cups with Kjestrid.

"There have been reports along the road to Valparai," said Dozara. "I-- Oh."

Alvis had returned with a tray and the odd-looking woman. The two placed plates and platters around the table, including in front of Ma'sani's empty seat.

"Help yourselves," said Alvis. "Ma'sani would wish for you to start without her."

The mortals did not needed to be coaxed. Jerric loaded his plate with greens, then piled the grilled limbs of some small creature on top. He filled the other side of his plate with cubes of a starchy pink substance that had been heated until the outside was crisp. He noted that while the mortals had been given forks and napkins, Dozara was using a spoon-like scoop in one of her foot talons. She lifted and bent to take a bite, not dropping a morsel. Renlys fell on his food like a Nord teenager.

"Is this chicken?" asked Kjestrid.

"Bantam guar, I'd wager," said Nereli. She gestured at one with part of a grilled wing. "They look just like the ones in Morrowind."

"Are they?" Jerric asked. "They're not some kind of daedric yard bird?" He pulled the meat from the bone with his teeth. The seasoning was both sweet and spicy.

Dozara's laugh was breathy and musical. "Daedric yard bird? I see that the notion does not bother you. They are not. You will find that many of the creatures inhabiting this realm are mortals from yours."

"You brought them here for what, so you could eat them?"

Shamir-do explained. "Mortal folk who move to Moonshadow often bring pets and livestock to their new home. Even some plants that can survive in Moonshadow's light. No one eats daedra."

Dozara addressed Jerric. "When we 'die' as you would put it, our animus returns to the void. What is left behind is merely a husk. Over time it will return to the state that it was before. Your mortal forms are similar. Without life, you return to dust."

"Yeah, but we're not made of dust. We're made of meat, and we come out of our mothers. If you're not born from a mother, where do you come from? Do you even need to eat?"

Dozara rattled her wings. "Our bodies do not require the same care that your mortal shells do. However we can eat, drink, sleep, and couple just as you do. We simply please ourselves. And others." She drained her cup and placed it on the table.

Too many questions came to mind, and none of them seemed appropriate. Jerric opened his mouth to ask anyway.

Kjestrid spoke first. "What about the people who come here after they die?"

"I will attempt to explain it fully," Dozara said. "The folk who in life dedicated themselves to Our Lady and then died in the Mundus now dwell physically here in Moonshadow, inhabiting new forms. Others, such as the refugees with whom we passed through the portal, have traveled here in the course of their mortal lives. They remain in the bodies they were born into. Only in death will they return in a form of their or Our Lady's choosing."

Ma'sani bustled in and settled in a flutter of fragrant robes. The others spent a moment passing trays and filling her cup. The priestess bowed her head and closed her eyes.

Renlys made a grimace then swiftly schooled his features. It had never been the habit in Jerric's family home to pause for prayer before a meal, and he hadn't started the practice after losing them. He supposed that he never would. Renlys, however, had clearly forgotten his duty. Jerric shook his head at the lad in mock disapproval.

"So what's the plan?" Kjestrid asked Ma'sani.

"We will travel across the Silver Plain to the portal outside Valparai," Ma'sani said. "We will rest along the way, but we will not sleep until we reach the city."

Dozara stepped off her perch. "I will meet you outside when you have finished." She leaped over the low wall and took a few running steps along the street. Then with a mighty sweep of wing and certainly some sort of levitation spell, she was aloft.

Jerric forked up the rest of his greens, drained his cup, and stood. "I'm going to stretch my legs before, uh, we go for our walk. Ma'sani, thanks for the meal."

Outside, Dozara was perched on the inn's roof. He supposed the rail had been installed for that purpose. Jerric gave her a wave and walked around behind the building. Whether mortal or daedra, everything that drank eventually had to piss. The privy was right where he expected to find it.

That business finished, Jerric felt restless but uncertain what to do. Since this village seemed as familiar as any in Cyrodiil, he let his feet carry him where they would. It was no surprise when he found himself at the stables.

Or the guar barn, he decided after a moment of squinting into the interior. The animals stood as high as he did when they straightened up, but they seemed to prefer walking with their massive heads lowered and their tails out for balance. An adult Bosmer could probably curl up inside one of their jaws. From the hay in their bale feeders, he guessed they weren't hunters.

The action was in the paddock at the rear of the barn. Jerric walked through to find an Orsimer shifting cargo near two guar who were tethered to a post. He recognized his own bags among the parcels.

"Good, uh, twilight," said Jerric. "I'm Jerric."

The mer straightened up. "Name's Llurvush."

"Pleased to meet you."

"You're an outsider," said Llurvush. His tone was neutral.

"Yeah. Can I give you a hand with that?"

"You know guar?"

"No," said Jerric, "but I know about balancing a load."

"Might as well. This lot is for your group." Llurvush put Jerric to work. He relaxed into the familiar tasks.

By the time Ma'sani led the others out of The Smiling Pigeon, Jerric had learned how to saddle the pack guar, oil their hides, check their teeth, and tend to their feet. "This one's called Freckles," he called as his friends approached. "And this one's Neelo. Freckles is Neelo's calf."

"Cute," said Kjestrid, scratching under Neelo's neck fold. "She resembles you."

"It's the smell," said Nereli.

"Don't insult this fine animal," said Jerric, rubbing a hand along Neelo's lip.

The guar leaned in hard enough to make him stagger.

"Watch out for Freckles," Llurvush said to Renlys. "She stomps like an echatere."

Renlys executed a quick lateral shuffle, earning side-eye from the lizard.

"Be good to my ladies, Sister," Llurvush said to Ma'sani.

"This one will always do so." The two exchanged a folded hand and bowed head gesture.

"We're walking?" Renlys piped up.

"Be grateful our packs are on a guar's back and not your own," Ma'sani told him.

"Let's fill up our water skins," said Jerric.

"Done," said Kjestrid.

Shamir-do handed Jerric his day pack. Renlys took Neelo's lead, and Jerric led Freckles. At Ma'sani's nod, the group headed down the village street.

[SubRosa]

Now we are out of this world. Some nice, subtle observations on the unique, twilit nature of Moonshadow. With no days, no one can measure time by how many days it will take to travel somewhere. Awnings are not for sun. Flowers grow in moonlight, etc...

Nice working in of the vampires in Gutted Mine to events in Jerric's Story.

And a moon sugar tipple to whet their thirst.

In a way Moonshadow reminds me of Mankar Camoran's Paradise, just on a much grander scale. The souls of dead believers travel there, presumably for eternity. Though in Moonshadow it looks like they get new forms, to match their natures I expect. At the same time the living can also travel to there from Mundus and back again. Historians would love this, homicide detectives, and estate lawyers too. You could could meet long or recently dead people and pick their brains.

[haute ecole rider]

Bantam guar! Yes, they do resemble nude chickens, and probably taste like 'em too.

Moonshadow sounds lovely - almost like Fargrave in ESO. Not sure I would have liked star dew, though . . . especially if it's sweeter than mead!

Neelo and Freckles! They sound adorable, even though those teeth look more carnivore rather than herbivore. ;P

Now for a walk - accompanied by a pair of pack guar, of course.

[Acadian]

What a nice intro to Azura’s realm. Time for some provisioning in Rosehaven before setting out for Valparia and, hopefully, access to Cheydinhal.

Wonderful descriptions of Dozara’s actions as a Twilight and how she managed mundane tasks. Same with the nice touches of life in Moonshadow with some of its flora and fauna.

I’m sure Jerric was happy to find himself in a tavern as he enjoyed some bantam guar and star dew. So Jerric is now pack guar qualified and it’s off to Valparai!

[ghastley]

We have two Nords in our party. A meal will always be welcome.

Two Nords = two meals each, minimum.

And recalling Treydog's description of getting guar-certified: does Jerric now have to wear a striped shirt?

This post has been edited by ghastley: Apr 22 2025, 08:29 PM

[Kane]

I'm only up to chapter 5 so far, but Jerric is the best kind of helpful rogue-ish type, Grits. You've been working on this for 15 years?! The output seems so high at first that it doesn't compute in my brain, lol.


Looking forward to getting caught up!

[Grits]

Previously: Jerric is in Moonshadow attempting a shortcut back to Tamriel. He set out on the road across the Silver Plain accompanied by Kjestrid, Shamir-do, Nereli, Sister Ma’sani, Renlys, winged twilight Dozara, and the pack guars Freckles and Neelo. Ma’sani says they won’t need to sleep until they reach the city of Valparai, where the stable Gate to County Cheydinhal is located.

SubRosa: Exactly, I think the mechanics are similar regardless of the realm. And I think it would slow linguistic drift in Mundus to have not only centuries-old elves at the grocery store but also people who lived thousands of years ago walking around and talking in daedric realms. It was fun to think about Moonshadow culture. Thank you, SubRosa!

Rider: I suspect guar chomp down the occasional unwary critter while they’re grazing with those big shovel mouths. I bet they could strip a short tree of its leaves in seconds. Thank you, Rider!

Acadian: I now realize that Jerric started his Moonshadow journey with a plate of wings, fries, and magical Sprite. I must have been hungry. The winged twilights of ESO contributed quite a bit to Dozara's personality. Previously I had only thought of them as foes. Thank you, Acadian!

ghastley: Jerric’s baptism by guar is just beginning. He will need a new shirt by the end! Thank you, ghastley!

Kane: Welcome to the story, Kane! I’m glad you’re here! It’s funny to think that when I started this, Skyrim hadn’t even been announced yet. And now we have a Remaster of Oblivion. I didn’t write at all for several years while I was having some health issues, so there aren’t 15 solid years of updates to get through. I hope you enjoy the story!

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Chapter 19: Moonshadow, Part Two

Ma'sani led them out of the village and onto the vast, grassy plain. As they walked Jerric noticed small flowering vines growing up some of the grass stalks. Some areas had tall mushrooms peeking out from between the tufts. Insects buzzed between them on iridescent wings. The road took them across several streams that were so shallow at the fords, they were in no danger of even soaking their socks.

The light slowly faded from rose to gray but no darker. Ma'sani directed them off the road to a broad path beaten through the tall grass.

"This one will walk at the rear for a time," she told Kjestrid. "Do you see the far mountain?"

"I see it."

"Take us in that direction. We will turn when we reach the river."

"All right." Kjestrid gestured for Nereli to take the place at her side. Jerric followed beside Shamir-do who was now leading Neelo, while Renlys and Ma'sani took up the rear. Dozara was visible in the air overhead, but not always.

They walked peacefully for a time, listening to the creak of leather, the thump of guar feet, and insects singing in the grasses. Jerric could see how Ma'sani might meditate on her feet. With the dim light and lack of cover, he found himself lulled out of his habitual guard vigilance and simply walked along in the twilight.

Dozara swooped down and landed at a distance, keeping her wings outstretched. "Cloudskimmers," she called to Ma'sani. After a short running start, she was in the air again.

Renlys appeared at Jerric's side, between him and the broad Khajiit. "They're big birds." He made a flapping gesture, eyes as round as a human's. "I read about them in a book."

"They eat elves, I take it?"

Renlys replied with a squeak. Now Jerric could see them, pale spots against the purple sky. Streaks of white lightning flashed from Dozara into the flock. The grass began to rustle.

Shamir-do made a surprised yelp. As Jerric laughed, something smacked into one of his shins. Another something ran up his leg.

"Hump a goose!" He shook his leg. The something clung for an instant, then flew into Neelo's hip. A wave of creatures about as long as his arm approached, leaping knee-height through the grass. Several more bounced off of him and off of Freckles.

The guar reared back onto her tail and left leg, bellowing. She brought her right foot down in a stomp that shook Jerric's teeth.

"Scuttlers!" Ma'sani cried out. "They are harmless! Keep your eyes skyward!"

The cloudskimmers had drawn close enough to see them swooping down, picking scuttlers out of the grass. Jerric gripped Freckles's lead in his shield hand and drew his sword. The guar dug her toes in and jerked away from Jerric, yanking him to his knees. Renlys let out a shriek as Jerric's blade sliced through his robe. Jerric froze in horror. He hadn't felt resistance. Was the kid..?

Renlys pushed at Jerric with both hands, looking more terrified than hurt. Shamir-do shouted as Neelo pulled away from him. Jerric got up to run after Freckles, but Kjestrid had her sword in hand with the other on Ma'sani, pushing her to the middle of the group. Nereli had her bow out with an arrow on the string. In a blink the four fighters had made a defensive circle.

"Don't move," Kjestrid barked at Ma'sani and Renlys.

The flock of cloudskimmers had split into three, harried from above by Dozara. One of those went in pursuit of Freckles. One headed in a direction presumably after Neelo. The others arrowed down at Jerric's group.

"I can fight," piped Renlys.

Kjestrid still had her eyes on the birds. Jerric doubted that anything hunting scuttlers was going to pick up an elf.

"All right," he said, moving aside. "I'll watch your back. Let's see it."

Renlys dropped to a knee, the tall grass still rippling at his chin level with scuttler activity. He placed the heels of his palms together, stretched out his arms, and let loose a gout of fire that first ignited the grass tops and then streamed skyward in a glorious plume.

"Finally I can see something," said Kjestrid.

Some of the birds veered off, their cries mingling with Dozara's battle warble. Several plummeted blazing to the ground like New Life Festival sparklers. Jerric started laughing as he and Shamir-do put out the grass fire. It smelled like autumn on the Kvatch plateau with gardeners burning leaves in the alleys.

Jerric squinted at the sky, moisture in his eyes. "Are they gone?" he asked Shamir-do.

"This one cannot see them any more."

"What a rutting spectacle," said Kjestrid. "I beg your pardon, Sister Ma'sani."

"This one agrees," said Ma'sani.

Dozara landed lightly on the path. The draft from her wings sent dust and smoke into their eyes.

"Freckles ran off toward… whatever is that way," said Jerric. "Is it trees?" There was a smudge against the horizon, but it could have been anything.

Shamir-do pointed in a different direction. "Neelo went that way."

"Those are not trees," said Ma'sani. "Those are house-banyans. Where once stood a cluster of mushroom towers, parasitic vines took over. Those who dwell there call it Droathra."

"I'll go after her," said Jerric. "It's my fault she got away."

"If you imagine yourself to be stronger than a pack guar, then you are prouder than you look," said Dozara.

Jerric took a moment to puzzle that out. "So you're saying…" He scratched under his beard, still uncertain.

"It is your fault," Nereli told him. "You should have held onto her."

Jerric started off at a trot. He was not going to outrun a stampeding guar, but with a trampled path that wide he should be able to follow until he caught up. The cloudskimmers still didn't concern him. No doubt they followed the guar to catch anything they startled out of cover as they ran.

He soon realized that Kjestrid, Nereli, and Shamir-do had followed him.

"Thought you'd chase your own guar, cat," Jerric said.

"This one would rather."

"Sister Ma'sani said to go with you," said Nereli.

Kjestrid gave Jerric a sideways look but said nothing. Nereli was the only one who would have listened to Ma'sani. Regardless of what the priestess had told them, Kjestrid and Shamir-do still thought they were escorting Jerric.

The breeze had picked up. The trail that Freckles had trampled through the grass was getting difficult to see.

"Can you track in this light?" Jerric asked Shamir-do.

"This one we tell you if you go in the wrong direction."

"How much of my stuff is on this guar?" Nereli asked.

"None," said Jerric. "You should have followed Neelo." Nereli sounded like she had plenty of wind to talk, so Jerric picked up the pace.

It took two water breaks worth of running to get close enough to see the individual vine towers. They rose abruptly up from the plain without any lesser growth to soften the transition. Firelight glowed at the base of the structures while a cooler light shone from within the lattice-like trunks. Something fatty was grilling.

"Do you suppose they eat guar?" said Jerric.

A figure rose out of the grass. It called out in a language that Jerric didn't recognize. The voice could have been male or female.

"Tamrielic?" called Kjestrid.

"State your business," they said.

"I'm Jerric. We don't mean any trouble. Some, uh, skimmers spooked our guar. Have you seen her?"

There was a soft popping sound, and a ball of light floated from the figure's hands toward them. It stopped in the air above their heads.

"I am Aman-enle," they said. "You approach Droathra village."

"All right," said Jerric. "Pleased to meet you."

"You are newcomers?"

"Not really." Jerric hooked a thumb at Nereli and Shamir-do. "These two will be yours some day, but we're just passing through."

"We had a guide," Kjestrid explained.

"You are outsiders, then." Aman-enle crossed their arms over their chest. "And you've had a complication."

"Yeah," said Jerric. "Smells like dinner time over there. You're not cooking my guar, are you?"

"No. Come with me into the village. When the guar-herders return we will ask about yours. Perhaps you have goods to trade. We will be pleased to hear news of your world and speak some Tamrielic."

Jerric shouldered his way past Shamir-do and Kjestrid to fall into step beside Aman-enle. The mer had indigo patterns painted across their face. Jerric wondered if they were permanent, or just cosmetics.

"Are you the night watch?" Jerric asked. "I mean, if it's night?"

"No. I was out for a walk. But you are in luck, our rest period approaches."

As they drew closer to the village, more scents drifted to them on the breeze. The sweet scent must be from the tree-vines. A rich, earthy smell came from somewhere to their left. From ahead Jerric detected the already familiar odor of guar dung.

"I'm taking you to the guar paddock," said Aman-enle. "Your pack animal may have… Yes. See there?"

"No."

"Ah," said Shamir-do. "This one sees our Freckles."

Jerric squinted but still couldn't see anything moving, much less anything that looked like a guar. "Does she still have her packs?"

"Yes. She appears uninjured."

Kjestrid spoke up. "Aman-enle, may we camp at the base of your village? We'd like to rest. We'll be on our way in the morning. Er, after your rest period."

"With shadowcats and figments on the prowl, you will be welcome to shelter with us above. Join us for a meal. There will be many who want to meet you."

They had reached the paddock. Jerric whistled for Freckles. She raised her head and snorted back at him.

"Hey girl." Jerric ran his hands over the guar's head, then checked her feet. "I'll get her settled. We don't have goods to trade unless you'd want camp pots and laundry. Could we chop some wood for you or something?"

Aman-enle looked startled. "Oh! Did you mean firewood? There is no need, we twist dried grass into sticks for burning." They glanced up at the looming vine-trees.

"Right," said Jerric. "I didn't mean to upset your house." He looked up too, but the vines didn't seem to be doing anything.

"Some of these folk might have been Bosmer," Nereli reminded him.

"Yes," said Aman-enle. "Though there is no Green Pact here, we do thank the banyans for our shelter." He gestured above. "You can see that some are newcomers, with eyes as useless as the rest of you mortals." He bowed his head toward Shamir-do. "Apart from our night-sighted Khajiiti friend, of course. They use glowstones when they need them. We do not require flame for heat. Only for cooking springhares and antelope, and for drying the mushrooms."

Jerric's stomach rumbled. "Mushrooms? Is that what I smell? What kind of mushrooms do you grow here?"

"Many kinds. The soil that supported the fungus towers long ago proved ideal for mushroom farming. That is why we settled here." He gestured around at whatever Shamir-do was the only one who could see. "Our guar herd is made up of pack animals. That is how we take our products to market."

"In Valparai?" asked Kjestrid. "That's where we were headed."

"Yes, among other destinations. Ah, here comes the herd now."

There was a babble of excitement as the herders greeted the visitors, examined Freckles, observed Jerric's handling, and made comments from the helpful to the ridiculous. Shortly most began climbing up the outside of the vine towers.

"We keep watch at all hours," one of the herders assured Jerric. "Your Freckles will be safe with us. Go enjoy your meal and some rest. I'll be up later."

"He has to milk his guar first," someone piped up from the group of scruffy elves.

"Want a hand with that?" asked Jerric. It didn't seem right to show up from another realm and just be so helpless.

Raucous laughter greeted his remark. "Yeah," someone else called out. "Course he does. And you can milk mine when you're through."

Jerric got the idea that they were not talking about guar. Or milk.

Kjestrid clapped him on the shoulder. "Enjoy yourself. I don't plan to wait around for all that." She followed Aman-enle up the vines.

[haute ecole rider]

Oh, it's not hard to milk a guar! *whistles while Jerric gropes for nonexistent nipples*

Those cloud-skimmers sound amazing, wonderful and terrifying all at the same time. I'm sure the scuttlers feel they're only terrifying.

Ha! Trailing a runaway guar across a grassy plain isn't all that difficult. Just followed the flattened grass!

Boy, Freckles sure ran a loooong way off!

Guar herders among fungus towers! Sounds like a certain part of Tamriel . . . .