Postcards from Tamriel, Stories and such that fall somewhere between a snippet and a thread Options

[Grits]

If she said her hovercraft was full of eels immediately after the swim, I’d really be worried! Water-walking rings for everyone!

[King Coin]

Love the nonsense dialog.

[Grits]

In an attempt to organize my scribblings I have written up a few things about Jerric's Tamriel. The task of presenting them falls to Darnand. I'll update as we go through the story. As always please feel free to post anything at all in this thread.


Darnandex


Appendix One: The People of Jerric's World

Appendix Two: Terms and Expressions

Appendix Three: A Map of Game Quests Within Jerric's Story

Appendix Four: Geography

Appendix Five: Timeline

.

This post has been edited by Grits: Jul 4 2025, 02:48 PM

[Grits]

.

Appendix Two: Terms and Expressions

In Which Grits Slaughters the Languages of Tamriel

First, a note about languages: Since TEV 4 Oblivion takes place in Cyrodiil which is the seat of the Empire, I’ve made the assumption that everyone is speaking Tamrielic unless otherwise remarked upon in the text. That means that everyone’s English words are meant to be Tamrielic, just translated into English. So words and phrases (made-up and otherwise) in languages other than Tamrielic are written in italics, since they are a different language from the rest of the text.

Where I couldn’t find clues in lore, I have completely guessed about how Tamriel’s languages are supposed to sound. If anything is an actual naughty word in some language, oops. Also, I just added things here as the characters described them, so some weirdness will occur. For example when Lildereth described Valenwood’s silverbark trees, she did not give their name in Bosmeris. So the silverbark tree appears as a Tamrielic term, even though the trees are native to Valenwood. As always, comments and discussion are welcome.



Bosmeris

Duwoh el E: Early spring, the second of five seasons; the time of empty bellies.

Furibari: Evil spirits.

Gin-jiru: Silverbark tree, a gigantic tree native to Valenwood. Capable of some communication with Bosmeri tree-shapers.

Mudin-ta: Insult, one who wastes things.

Nunkadai: Tribal concept, “I am because we are.�

Shen shi nui: Insult, stupid or insensitive person. Literally “an elderly sloth’s anus.�



Dunmeris

Sommehlel: imbeciles.



Moonshadow

Akka zizania: A grain grown in Moonshadow. "Moon rice."

Apple snails: Thumb-sized terrestrial snails often cooked in garlic butter.

Cloudskimmer: Carnivorous white and gray bird bird found in Moonshadow. Hunts in flocks. Eleven foot wingspan.

Elder-cep: Bright blue edible mushroom grown in Moonshadow.

Figment: Winged snake from Evergloam, invasive in Moonshadow. The most dominant female of a nest becomes the queen, growing a humanoid head with a fanged mouth.

House-banyan: Girdling vine that kills the plant it grows on once it can support its own weight. The resulting hollow interiors can be used as dwellings. Sweet smelling white and yellow flowers.

Shadowcat: Slender, elongated cat-like predator native to Evergloam, invasive in Moonshadow. Dark gray to black, nine feet long in the body.

Silvergrass: Grain-bearing plant found in Moonshadow, seeds are ground to make bread flour.

Springhare: Plains-dwelling bunny of Moonshadow, two feet high at the shoulder.

Star dew: Very sweet effervescent alcoholic beverage made in Moonshadow. Contains moon sugar.



Nordic

Akkvit: Winterhold whiskey.

Fikken Orkey: an exclamation meaning one has received unwelcome or uncomfortable attention from Old Knocker, used like “We’re screwed.�

Kak: poop.

Koocha: lady parts.

Salj: Dry, granular snow.



Tamrielic

Diggerbee: Ground-nesting, parasitic wasp. Adult size four inches in length.

Drum-belly spider: ambush predator found in caves and ruins. Bites and spits venom. Can take an adult Bosmer, but not a Nord.

Kahve: A dark, stimulating beverage brewed from ground, roasted beans and served just under the boil. Yep, you guessed it.

Mothwood trees: understory, pink spring flowers.

Northern Sunshine: A dry, hoppy lager brewed in Bruma.

Sawnut trees: understory, white spring flowers.

Silverbark tree: A gigantic tree native to Valenwood. Capable of some communication with Bosmer tree-shapers.

Skitt: Excrement.

Terramancy: The magic of soil, rock, and mineral including its shaping on a large scale. Terramancers range from practitioners of simple miners’ magic to hermits who some say commune with the very Earth Bones.

Treerat: Arboreal, herbivorous rodent native to Cyrodiil. Picture a Kaibab squirrel with a body as long as Jerric’s forearm.



Yoku

Ran alai: small cake of sweetened cheese in a slimy white sauce (Jerric’s description).

Rota chatapay: crispy fried vegetable roll.





.

This post has been edited by Grits: Jun 6 2025, 02:15 PM

[mALX]

That Shen shi nui's Koocha has Treerats!

[Grits]

ROFL! Holy skitt, pass the akkvit!

[mALX]

Is that Treerat Skitt on that Ran alai or are those raisens?

[Acadian]

What a treat! Another guide to Jerric’s world. Your surrounding context in Jerric’s tale has made the meaning of many of these fun words already clear - testimony to your superb storytelling skill.

Buffy's gonna have to start packing a Nord along to keep those Bosmer-eating spiders at bay!

This post has been edited by Acadian: Oct 8 2012, 01:06 AM

[Grits]

For Aravi, a little scene from between the worlds:

___

Darkness had fallen early as it did in Evening Star. Three friends gathered to share the warmth of each other’s company in a fire-lit study. The Breton sat bent over correspondence. The Nord paced the floor with more speed and vigor than a small chamber should allow. The Bosmer perched on the hearth, wine goblet in hand and feet drawn up out of the way. She watched her friend with some amusement. Jerric thought best with his entire body in motion.

“You’re wearing out the carpet,” Lildereth observed.

“Do not attempt to ease his mind,” said Darnand. “The wind from his passing helps my ink to dry.”

Jerric stopped in his tracks. “Say, if it’s more wind you need, I could—”

“No!” cried the elf before he could rearrange his trousers. “I’ve already cracked the window. If we open it any more it might snow in here. You knew we were going to be indoors tonight! Why must you eat the food they put out in taverns? Spicy bean dip and cabbage rolls, for the love of Mara!”

“So, no lentil soup for dinner?”

Lildereth snorted. Jerric resumed his march.

“It’s nearly Saturalia,” he finally said.

Darnand did not reply. Lildereth gave him enquiring eyebrows.

The Nord sounded exasperated. “Well, is someone going to have a party? Will Aravi be able to make it? I’m not sure if I should send her gift, or wait and hope that we see her. I should have thought of this before. I know she likes to swim, and wet fur won’t keep her warm.” He tugged a fistful of hair in agitation. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Well,” said Lildereth, “first you should show me what you got her.”

Jerric produced a small package.

“Oh how lovely!” Lildereth exclaimed. “You chose this yourself?”

Jerric grinned. “Yep. And I enchanted it.”

That got Darnand’s attention. “You enchanted something? Let me see. A Frost Shield charm! This is a strong enchantment. How did you...?”

Jerric flushed. “Uh...”

Darnand’s face turned white. His eyes bugged out. “You used a Sigil Stone?!”

Lildereth plucked the chain from Darnand’s hands and held it against herself. “I’m glad you got her gold instead of silver. Wait a moment, Jerric, this isn’t a necklace.”

The Nord hitched up his trousers. “Belly chain.”

Now Darnand looked flushed.

“That’s hot,” said Lildereth.

“I know. I tried to use two moons, but it looked like a pair of bosoms.”

Darnand found his voice. “Then you could have called it the Belly Chain of I Hope to See You Naked.”

Lildereth snorted. “That part goes without saying.”

Jerric coiled the chain carefully in its box. “I’ll send it to her today. Darnand, you can write the note for me. Elf, you pour us some more wine. I’ll sit down so the dog will come back in here.” Jerric plopped to the floor with a crash. “Ulfe! Come here, girl. It’s safe now.” He looked up after a few moments of lolling with the hound. “Come on you two, get busy. Who’s ready for dinner?”

For Aravi,

Belly Chain of the Icy Dip



From your friends, with great affection.

[King Coin]

OMG I love it Grits! Icy Dip I can see Lildereth holding it and realizing it's not a necklace.

“That’s hot,” said Lildereth.


Thank you very much Grits. You know I've got my eye out on Nexus for it.

[Acadian]

Speaking for an elf who has been similarly gifted by Jerric with a toe ring of resist frost, I can imagine how thrilled Aravi must be! She is definitely a belly chain kitty and Jerric is so thoughtful to realize that not everyone is as frost proof as he. As brief as this written delight was, the terrific trio of friends plus super pooch each benefited from the magic quill of dear Grits to fully display their unique charms.

What a beautiful gift, and congratulations to the lucky Aravi!

[mALX]

*

Hey, how come Buffy and Aravi both got presents for Saturalia and I got squat again? Not just the toe ring, Jerric gave Buffy some kind of Naked Juices potion too! Do I have to sing for a present around here?

*

This post has been edited by mALX: Dec 5 2012, 05:51 AM

[mALX]

*

Who is this Jerric person that brought me no present on the celebration of my birth, and again now during the Saturalia? Where is my present from him? Take him to the dungeons, where he can join the others that need to reconsider their gift list for Saturalia next!

*

This post has been edited by mALX: Dec 5 2012, 02:11 AM

[mALX]

*

Jerric promised me a bottle of Shadowbanish Wine long before Saturalia last year, what's taking him so long? I made a special Oxtail stew just for him, it won't keep forever you know! I've got my eye on the sundial and my foot tapping, he'd better show by the start of this years Saturalia festivities!

This post has been edited by mALX: Dec 5 2012, 05:25 AM

[Grits]

Between the worlds, Saturalia preparations continue…

___

Jerric set the pitcher down and reached back into his pocket. “Take a look at this,” he said to Lildereth.

She watched warily until he placed a velvet bag on the table. Then she opened it.

“Is this an anklet? Pretty.” She gave it a shake, and their ears were tickled by the tinkling of tiny bells. “Who is it for?”

“Maxical.” Jerric leaned back with a grin.

Lildereth looked appalled. “You’re giving her cat bells?!”

“Gods, no! At least I hope that’s not how she’ll see it.” He ran a hand through his hair. “She likes Eyja’s laugh so much,” he explained. “Now she can make that sound too.”

“She might not like to make noise when she walks,” Lildereth pointed out. She jingled the bells again. A small smile tugged the corner of her mouth.

“I thought of that,” said Jerric. “You know Maxical likes a prank as much as I do, and there’s a reason they say ‘as curious as a Khajiit.’ So when folk get used to hearing bells when she walks, they won’t even think it could have been her when she doesn’t wear them.”

“An usually devious idea,” Darnand remarked.

Jerric flushed. “All right, someone else thought of that part for me. I just thought it would look nice on her little, uh, foot.”

“How will you enchant it?” Lildereth slipped the anklet back into the pouch.

“A charm to fortify her resistance to diseases.”

Darnand shot Lildereth a look. The elf snorted. “Are you planning to put the moves on her, Nord?”

“What? No! I doubt she’d be interested. I mean, I may have some skills and possibly a slight dose of the pox, but I sure don’t have any Mysteries. Besides, with the— Wait, do you think I would have a chance with her?”

Lildereth shook her head. “The pox? Don’t you know sixteen ways to cure diseases?”

Jerric winked and reached for his belt. “I need a second opinion. Say, Breton…”

“Not in one thousand eras,” Darnand said without looking up. “Get some poor healer to examine it for you.”

Lildereth filled her goblet and passed the bottle to Jerric.

He took a swig. “What are you getting her, elf?”

“Spa weekend. Abiene and I are organizing it. We hope that all of the girls will come.”

Jerric’s jaw went slack and his eyes glazed over. “You just gave me my present.”

Darnand closed his book. “I have written a spell for our Maxical,” he announced.

Jerric was still incapable of speech.

Lildereth asked with a slanted eyebrow.

Darnand reached for his goblet. “Summon Shirt,” he said.

For Dear Maxical

The Anklet of Small Bells Singing



With lots of love from your friends.

[McBadgere]

“Spa weekend. Abiene and I are organizing it. We hope that all of the girls will come.”

Jerric’s jaw went slack and his eyes glazed over. “You just gave me my present.”

Darnand closed his book. “I have written a spell for our Maxical,” he announced.

Jerric was still incapable of speech.

Lildereth asked with a slanted eyebrow.

Darnand reached for his goblet. “Summon Shirt,” he said.

That's just funny right there that is... ...

Love it!!...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

[mALX]

*

WOO HOO! Thank you Jerric! I love the ankle bracelet's tinkling bells, now everyone will ask what that noise is and I can show off my present! And I really appreciate the spell, Darnand, that will save me a lot of embarrassment, I'm sure! Thank you Lildereth! Can't wait for the spa day with all us girls getting together, that will be the best day ever! Er, hope Janus Hassildor doesn't fly over, the sight of all us girls soaking in the hot springwater together may cause him to crash land again!

*

This post has been edited by mALX: Dec 14 2012, 09:14 PM

[King Coin]

Lildereth looked appalled. “You’re giving her cat bells?!”

Well, her present seems appropriate at least. Darnand's spell sounds useful too.

[Acadian]

This was a joy to read! Such wonderful interaction (as always) among your characters as they conspire by the fire to produce a trio of magnificent gifts for Maxical! Each gift was brilliantly appropriate for our delightful little white kitty.

[Grits]

*

Who is this Jerric person that brought me no present on the celebration of my birth, and again now during the Saturalia? Where is my present from him? Take him to the dungeons, where he can join the others that need to reconsider their gift list for Saturalia next!

*

So that's how it really started!!