Knights of the Nine - New Kvatch, Attempt at fan-fic Options

[Grits]

“No, your mother. She sends her love.” Eremnor answered with a raised eyebrow.

“Yo mama,” Altmer style.

I can’t even discuss my favorite parts of this section, because once again the whole thing is my favorite part. There is such depth and richness to your writing and the pace still keeps moving. I look up from reading feeling like I’ve been there and know these characters personally, and although it seemed like five minutes went by I actually read it twice, went back and read it with the last part again, and now I need to hurry up and make the lunch! Still in my pajamas at noon? I can explain. First, this is loungewear. And I was in a McB-induced time warp!! Sigh. I love this story!

[jack cloudy]

I'm still not sure if the whole time-jumping thing works. It makes it hard to find the connecting thread between them. So far I think the thread consists of the whole death of the Divines (and the plan to stop it), and a few characters such as the McWyldes.

That said, I absolutely love the universe you're building. Its roots are based on Tes but you managed to give it an exotic flavor that makes it all its own. I also adore the many characters you keep bringing in. All of them seem unique and fun to read about. So hats off to ya.


Finally, something about the latest timeperiod. I like how you've given shape to the Thalmor Dominion. More specifically, I enjoy how you show the buildup to it instead of just pulling a sudden world-dominating army out of the void. I also like how not all the Altmer are happy about it and how the Thalmor seem to be a reign of terror thing with secret police and stuff.

Off-topic, I'm not much of a fan of the Thalmor really. Yeah, you've written them well but I just don't like their presence in Tes lore in general. Same thing with Morrowind's destruction. Wiping out the provinces of the last game by means of exploding mountains, assassinations and sudden rampaging, looting, raping, pillaging armies is a pretty good way to wipe the slate clean. But I don't like it. It just makes all the hard work the player-character put in seem useless. Besides, said pc is conveniently not present to stop said armies and natural disasters. At least this time around it looks like the Knights of the Nine and their friends will preserve Tamriel.

[Colonel Mustard]

Right, here now, commenting. Sorry.

Must say, I liked this part a lot out of the latest batch that have come out. You've managed to flesh out the Thalmor extremely well, and added a great deal of detail to them and, more importantly, you're making them seem more competent; I was beginning to worry from earlier bits that you might end up making them buffoonish comedy villains, but provided you keep this up then my fears will prove unfounded.

Looking forward to more.

[Amifae27xx]

My friend, how do you do it? You know what, I'm jealous. How do you write like that? I can't write, even if someone waved a big bar of chocolate in front of me and said "Write a really good story off the top of your head!" I'll have a go though! I might post a story on this, I can't decide...

I love the characters, by the way. They're realy cool.

This post has been edited by Amifae27xx: Mar 26 2012, 05:15 PM

[McBadgere]

Amifae!!... ...Well, what can I say?...Except, you won't be eating it all in one go, stop picking on yer brother and get to bed earlier...Oh yes...MWAH!!...

Mustard - No MWAHs for you, but thank you very much m'friend. I hadn't originally meant to flesh them out as much as I have...But then you start, and then it's all there so...*Shrug*... ...Thank you...

Grits - As ever your comments make me smile and shake my head in amazement...I hope I can continue to give (apparently) good story for you...

DE - Thanks for reading!!...Glad you're enjoying our soujourn into other lands...

Athynae - The Tcheet Creek line is one of them, *think*...*snort*...*Type*...*Try to figure out where to put it*...ones ...Glad it made you laugh, you furnish us with so many it's time to give some back I think... ...

mALX - My habit of killing off characters you really like seems to be continuing...Sorry about that... ...But thank you so much for the compliments as ever... ...

Acadian - The Darth Vader thing is entirely Bethesda's fault... ...Thank you muchly...

Jack - Cheers matey!!...Glad you're still with us...The time thing...*Shrug*...Can't help it...I'd find it impossible to cover this much history without it...But thank you so much for the compliment on the characters...I appreciate it... ...

Treydog - Maaaaate... ...As ever...A massive thank you...So appreciated..




NEW PARTS ALERT!!!...




Currently it is 3E 604 and the Thalmor invasion of Cyrodiil, North Valenwood and Eastern Hammerfell is underway. This is basically some of the history of the Thalmor told by one of those caught up in it.

Note...The 10 years ago is from 3E 604...






1.12 – Empire (pt.4, Know Thine Enemy - ii)








10 Years Ago. 50 miles south of Sunhold, Summerset Isles.







The island wasn’t found on any map. If anyone had thought it worth a note, it would barely have been a speck on the page. The only part of a giant mountain not hidden by the water, the island was all rock and earth above the sand which had accumulated over time to form picturesque beaches. Palm trees and wicked, sharp grasses clung to the slopes up to the summit of the mountain. Miitr Farrada had had the sheerest side of the island worked – as a favour by Altmer naval engineers – into a walled, almost enclosed harbour.

The Maxarishii Hunt glided to a stop next to the wall. A second small ship – a fleet outrunner – was there, the name The Looking Elsweyr was visible on its side.

Two men left the Maxarishii Hunt and walked along the man-made path further up the slope into the mountain.

They passed a small but solidly built, one story building. Miitr Farrada had thought of everything when he’d planned his personal island’s facilities. The old man had known that there would be no way for any of his invitees or, like Nol Areldur, Siar Eremnor or Jeck Harramaund, those who’s permission to use the island was a given, would be able to get there without even a minimal crew. So, the old man had seen to it that those crews also had some comforts, without needing to invite them all into his home away from home.

The two men walked past the building and followed the path to its end, which came at a large white marble-esque door and frame. A line had been carved all the way down the stone of the door, broken in the middle by a ball shape. One of the two pushed this inwards, and with a grinding, the door opened.

They walked several steps into a wide, well lit corridor, one of the men pushed another ball on the wall, and the door ground shut behind them.

The corridor was wide enough that several men could walk next to each other and still not be troubled by the walls. They walked a short distance from the entrance and followed a curving set of stairs down to a foyer of sorts.

A large room, containing several soft chairs, sofas and low tables greeted the men upon opening a large metal gate. Dried flowers of many types and colours were in vases upon the table, meant to give some semblance of decor to the white-walled room.

The pair passed through the room and stood before another door like the one at the entrance. Instead of simply pushing the central ball shape in, one of the pair walked to the side of the door, pushed in a concealed panel and pressed several stone switches in a particular order. There was a clunk sound and then the other of the two pushed in the ball.

The door ground open.



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Nol never got tired of being in wonder at the place Miitr Farrada had found to be his “Island Getaway”. An old Ayelid ruin that – according to writings discovered inside – was called Morhavan. It contained the one large room outside the door he and Siar Eremnor had just passed through, this second huge room, and several others which all branched off from this one. Just to his left, a set of stairs ascended to an open-plan corridor that ran around three of the walls, off which were four bedrooms. At the back of the room from where Nol stood, he could see three passageways which were blocked off by the far later addition of new-style doors, so as to make this area warmer. All three passages led to exits. One led straight to a door on the opposite side of the island, which could only be opened from the inside; the second up – via a long and torturous ascending square of stairs – to another door, outside of which was an observation balcony, where many a drink had been consumed in much younger days. The third passage led down to yet another door, but no amount of trying could get it to open.

Nol stared about him, around the walls were mottled glass covered Knimidium lights, which gave the room a warmer glow than the usual whiteout that Ayelid buildings tend to have. In the centre of the room was a Knimidium heater, with boxed-in pipes leading up and off to the other rooms for heating. Several other devices around the room that Nol noted meant that, from his guesswork after what Farrada had said the...Last time Nol had spoken to him...This may be the last place in the Altmer nation that had any of the conveniences that the Knights of The Nine had brought to the world some years ago.

“In here.” Came the sound of a female voice from a room on the right.

Nol and Siar walked into what had obviously been Farrada’s study. A truly huge set of bookcases filled three walls, and a gap in one of them for a door to another room – Nol knew – led to a second roomful of books like this one.

A black-haired woman sat in a chair at a large oak desk, reading. Without looking up she passed an envelope to Nol.

“He left this for you.” She said, still absorbed by the book. “There’s one for you too uncle Siar.”

Nol took the package and asked. “Where did you find this then?”

“In here,” She pointed to the drawers in the desk, “along with this note.” She passed it to Nol.



Koyree,

That snooping is going to get you in trouble
one of these days.

Give these packages to your dad and the boys
when you see them.

Love you.

M.

PS. Give your mother a kiss for me? She
deserved better than that good for nothing
wastrel.

HAH! Got you again Nol!




Koyree Areldur finally looked up at Nol and her big brown eyes melted his heart, as it ever did.

She stood, walked over to her father and hugged him.

He kissed the top of her head. “You well?” he asked.

Koyree looked up, paused and then nodded.

“How did you get into the desk?” asked Siar, who’d been passed the note and picked his envelope up.

The youngest ever female Commodore broke away from the Fleet Admiral and walked to the other Commodore and said with a mock admonishing voice, “Uncle Siar, what a stupid question.” She hugged Siar then looked up at him with a smile and a raised eyebrow, “I picked the lock of course.”

Siar grinned.

“Good reading?” Nol asked of the book Koyree had been reading.

“Yes actually,” she replied, then walked back to the desk, “it does explain why the Thalmor have gone mad for destroying the Knimidium.”

“Oh?”

“It says, ‘The Knimidium seam was, of course, found in the Colovian Mountains by the Knights of The Nine when they were excavating more stone for one of their building projects.

Recognizing it as being magical, they quickly learned of its properties and practical use – a replacement for soul gems.

The name Knimidium comes from the obvious combination of Knights and a tribute to Tiber Septim’s giant Dwemer Numidium golem.

Although King Maloryn of Morrowind has – so it is believed – refused to allow testing of the giant jewel called ‘The Heart of Lorkhan’, it is believed to be the same type of magical rock that powered the ancient Dwemer giant construction.

It was, of course, the Numidium golem that tore much out of the Aldmeri Dominion at the end of the Second Era and paved the way for Tiber Septim’s eventual complete conquering of Tamriel.’”

“So the Thalmor are breaking up the Knimidium because it kind of represents their earlier defeat?” asked Siar, while reading the note he’d found in his envelope.

“Maybe. It could also be that they’re terrified of something as huge as the Numidium coming along again, so they feel that if there’s less Knimidium then there won’t be enough to power it.” said Koyree.

“Idiots.” Said Nol.

“Really? You want to put money on the Knights not building something like that? Just to see whether they could?..I wouldn’t.” Said Koyree.

“And the banning of Talos worship is punishing Septim the God-”

“Because Septim the man kicked their ar$es all those years ago.”

Nol sighed and opened his envelope. It contained a short note and a journal. He flicked through the book and noted the list of Thalmor crimes, constructions, plans. In short as near to a complete picture that Farrada had put together of the Thalmor, up until the point where he decided to put this all away. As if he knew his death would be soon.

How did he feel when Farrada knew he’d not be back here?

“Well, l’k what th’cat dragg’d ‘n’” said a voice. “If it in’t good old Nol!..Come t’ pull one last save out ‘f yer ar$e? For old t’mes’ sake?”

“Uncle Jeck! Go and sit down before you fall over. Come on.”

“Tha’s Fleet Admir’l Uncle Jeck to you missy.”

“Yeah well, Miitr put that ‘Keep all ranks outside the door’ sign for a reason.”

“You,” Jeck Harramaund poked Koyree in the chest, “are not Miitr Farrada.” He raised himself higher, turned and pointed at Nol, “and neither, are you.” He stared Nol in the eye.

Which is probably why he didn’t think about Siar Eremnor, who walked up to Jeck, put his hands to the other’s shoulders, smiled, and then said, good naturedly, “Jeck.” and head-butted him.



-------------------------------------------------------------



“How long has he been like this?” asked Nol.

“A few days.” Koyree gestured to the pile of bottles lying on the floor of the kitchen. “Poison resistance can be a b*tch.”

Nol agreed with a nod.

Jeck Harramaund was lying on a sofa with an ice block wrapped in linen on his forehead.

Koyree continued “We’d been waiting a few days, and figured you may have been delayed-”

“We dropped a few friends off near Anvil.”

“Ah. Anyway, we decided to go to the mainland.” Koyree sighed, looked down to the floor and shook her head.”

“I couldn’t find them.” Said Jeck, from the sofa.

“Who?” asked Nol after a pause, having waited for Jeck to continue.

“Any of them. My sister, his sister, your sons. Friends. Noone. People I’ve known for a couple of hundred years walked past me as if I was a stranger, or slammed doors as soon as they saw who it was.”

“You didn’t think to mention this?” Nol looked angrily at Koyree.

Her eyes misted over and she said quietly, “I haven’t seen you for twenty years daddy, I wanted a few minutes where we weren’t rushing off on a save, is that so wrong?”

A lump formed in Nol’s throat. “No.” He said. Nol then grabbed Koyree, then held her to him for some time.

“What now then?” asked Siar after a while.

“Now,” said Nol, “we go and see if we can pull one last save out of our ar$es.”



------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Dusk was unrecognisable as the same city of twenty years earlier. It was quiet, dark. People walked with their heads down, shops were closed, boarded up. The few lamps that dotted the streets occasionally were oil fuelled, casting flickering shadows about the place. Making some places appear sinister. The Thalmor seemed as omnipresent as before.

And this was only the harbour district.

The four hooded figures walked stealthily along, keeping watch behind and about them. They’d decided to head for ‘The Sailor’s Cape’ as a starting point, to see if they could find any of their old allies there.

When they reached the Inn they were horrified. The once beautiful sanctuary had been burned out. The roof gone, the front wall collapsed inwards, the side walls almost complete but the top of one leaned dangerously.

The four looked at each other.

“Now what?” asked Siar.

“Now,” said a voice, “you come with us.”

As several figures appeared out of thin air, one, in the Justicar uniform declared, “Fleet Admiral Areldur and his famous cohorts! Well, I am Justicar Ondolemar, and we have been expecting you. Please resist.” He smiled a particularly vicious smile.

Nol looked at Koyree, her eyes wide. Nol shook his head. Koyree looked pained and vanished.

“NO!” shouted the Justicar.

One of the guards squealed as his innards started spilling on the ground, but then, as nothing more happened, the Thalmor shouted “We’ll find you! You can’t go far!...Damn.”

With what Nol had decided must be a trained and practiced, signature move for the Thalmor, Ondolemar wheeled around and stalked up to the Fleet Admiral. From just an inch from Nol's face, the Justicar said with bared teeth, “The Overlord has been waiting such a long time to meet you Admiral.”

“Fleet Admiral.” Nol replied companionably.

Ondolemar wrinkled his nose with rage and disgust. Then he said. “Bring them.” And stalked off.



-----------------------------------------------------------------

This post has been edited by McBadgere: Mar 31 2012, 05:19 PM

[Athynae]

Boy what I wouldn't do for a getaway like that, peace and quiet-aahh.

Just to let you know I was paying attention...

Currently it is 3E 604 and the Thalmor invaion of Cyrodiil,

Where'd yer ess slither off ta?

I liked the note to Koyree, haha, I've got a youngster that I have left a note like that for....looking for where I hid his xbox controller...

Well D***, da** and dam* again....leave me hanging like that off the cliff, not nice mean ole badger...not nice at all.

More please, hurry please....fingers get tired hanging like this....

[Acadian]

As the men progressed into the island structure, your descriptions reminded me of Ayleid ruinage. How neat to see that confirmed – Morhaven it is!

Interesting history and lessons about Knimidium. It fell nicely into place as the group returned to Dusk and noted the streets lit by oil lamps.

“Fleet Admiral Areldur and his famous cohorts! Well, I am Justicar Ondolemar, and we have been expecting you. Please resist.” He smiled a particularly vicious smile.’
This Justicar has truly mastered the art of villainy!

And captured they be, it seems.

[Grits]

That does it, now I want an island fortress! I love the way Farrada made an Ayleid ruin into an inviting home.

Koyree Areldur finally looked up at Nol and her big brown eyes melted his heart, as it ever did.

That was so sweet. The note was great. I love that Miitr knew it would be Koyree who found the packages.

Ondolemar wrinkled his nose with rage and disgust. Then he said. “Bring them.” And stalked off.

Yikes! As Acadian said, Justiciar Ondolemar oozes villainy. At least Koyree is free, and she seems extremely capable. To the Overlord!! I can’t wait to find out what happens next!!

[Darkness Eternal]

Ondolemar=Darth Vader. Nuff said.

[mALX]

Awesome description of Farrada's “Island Getaway” - easily visualized by your detail in it !!!

Really enjoyed the note, lol.

Loved the interplay between Nol and Koyree, so well done !!!

What an ending to this chapter !! You never cease to surprise in your chapters !! Awesome Write !!!

[McBadgere]

No new stuff yet...I have been busy...Sorry...Just a quick note here...


Athynae - Thank you...I appreciate it every time...And sorry about the cliff-hanging...Sadly you may be there...A little while longer... ...

Acadian - The Welsh word (and therefore Elven...Cause a lot of my "elvish" words are Welsh.) for sea is Mor, and the idea of a haven was cool...But, being me I changed it to Havan, like Havanna...Thanks for the thumbsup about it though... ...Cheers for your continued support... ...

Grits - Cheers so much... ...I think we'd all like an island getaway now...I hate my brain... ...Thank you, as ever... ...

DE - Ta!...'Nuff Said!!... ...

mALX - Many many thanks...I'm really enjoying writing these chapters with Areldur...And I'm sure it'll surprise you to know that it's got away from me again... ...So much for planning!...Cheers!!...



Aaamywho, the whole point of posting is to tell you that the Dramatis Personae and Timeline have been updated...

If there's anything I've missed by accident, as opposed to design...Which you won't know...Hmmm...Um...Aaamywho, if I've missed anyone off, please let me know...Ta...

I'm so sorry...I really hadn't realised what I've been putting you all through... ...

[Colonel Mustard]

Hooray, an update!

Once again, good stuff, with some excellent dialogue, but this part ehre kind of stuck out for me here as being somewhat strange:

Nol looked at Koyree, her eyes wide. Nol shook his head. Koyree looked pained and vanished.

“NO!” shouted the Justicar.

One of the guards squealed as his innards started spilling on the ground, but then, as nothing more happened, the Thalmor shouted “We’ll find you! You can’t go far!...Damn.”

Would they really just let her go like that? Seeing as they're determined and she's an enemy of the Thalmor, that's rather strange, surely?

Aside from that, though, it's good, and I'm looking forward to more.

[jack cloudy]

Well, I don't think they plan on letting her leave. The point is that she vanished. And I'm betting she used some knightly trick instead of the detectable sort of invisibility. With the Knidium and the big library, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the good guys have ties with the KOTN or a KOTN associate.

And no! Not Nol and friends! You meanie Thalmor.

[McBadgere]

Mustard and Jack...Many thanks m'friends...Mustard, hope this next bit clears that a bit...Jack, cheers, that's pretty much right... ...Sorry, I appear to have become predictable... ...Either that or you've got a camera looking over me shoulder...*Looks back*... ...Many thanks both of you...

Reet...NEW PARTS ALERT!!...

In typical Robert fashion, this part interrupts the flow of the plot...But Story Fairy insisted...*Shrug*...sorry...So, for this weekend...One part per day, 'cause it's a longie...And hopefully back to Nol next weekend...

Where we were...

Nol Areldur et al had been captured on their return to the Summerset Isles, now controlled by the Thalmor...His daugher Koyree had escaped by Shrouding herself...Which is nice...

This...Is what happened next...

Oh yes it is...Oh, the Empire storyline is set in the year 3E 604...So the 10 years thing is back from that...Just so you know... ...






1.12 - Empire. (Interlude, Koyree – i)







Dusk, Summerset Isles. 10 years earlier.






Despair threatened Koyree Areldur as she ran through the dark streets of the harbour district towards the sea, and possible freedom. She wept quietly at the thought of leaving her father and friends behind. But even Shrouded, she doubted her chances of taking all of the Thalmor party on. Ondolemar would have cast the life detect as soon as Koyree’s spell had been cast, but being unable to find her that way, the swine would have no choice but to send his guards off to search for her in the city. Maybe that would leave less guards for Dad, she thought, he’d think of some way out.

They’ll be alright, she thought, they’re always alright.

With the Shroud spell cast, there was no chance of detection, so down the middle of the road she ran, until she reached the entrance to the docks. There were Thalmor in abundance here, and as she watched the scene unfold before her, she recognised some of the crew of both ships that been brought to Dusk being taken away, either in chains, or on stretchers. A fight had taken place at least. Maybe some of the $hits had been lost too. She sighed.

She had no choice but to wait for the mass of Thalmor to dissipate, so she looked about herself, exploring options. She chose the most appealing, smiled to herself, and then headed for the eatery nearby.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------



To the Altmer behind the counter of ‘The Harbour Bites’, it must have seemed like the door had blown open and then shut itself.

“I don’t care who you are, I don’t want trouble, but no Shrouds in here. Not, you understand, that I can do much about it, it’s just more polite yes?” said an elderly gentleman from a seat to one side of the room.

The Altmer behind the counter frowned at him.

“Go on Falrast, take a break.” Said the old man. The younger Altmer took of his apron and the grey-haired man watched him walk out of the back. “Now then. It’s just you and me.”

Koyree appeared.

“See, that wasn’t so hard was it? Now, what would you like?” the softly Skyrim accented, elderly owner stood and walked behind the counter.

Koyree frowned and walked forward.

“Oh, don’t worry missy, whatever it is, you pay me money, I give you food. I don’t care. Whatever it is, I don’t care. Now what do you want?”

The young Areldur pointed to something simple and gave the man some money.

“Excellent!” he gave the food and said, “Go sit in the booth over there, no one can see when they come in, and, should things go awry, the back door is straight opposite. Just so you know.”

“Why are you doing this? You have no idea what I, or from what you just said anyone, could have done.” Koyree asked.

“Ah! She speaks at last!” then the old man shrugged, “Because I can; Because it’s more coin; And more importantly, even if you wished to do me harm, I may be old, but you’d stand no chance against me, Shroud or not. Time was when these b@stard Thalmor would have trembled before me.”

“How do you know I’m not one of them, here to fool you into heresy?”

“Because you look like both of your parents, that’s why, and if I thought for a moment that any child of theirs was mixed up with that rabble then I’d think the world coming to an end. Go. Sit. Eat. No one will disturb you here. Well, except me and my inane chatter.” He smiled with a glint in his bright green eyes, and pushed the money back.

Koyree found the booth, then she sat and ate.



------------------------------------------------



“This is the first place they’d look for you, you know?”

Koyree nodded and shrugged. “I figured they’d already been in here, left again.”

The Imperial smiled, “Hah!..Trained you well didn’t they? Your mum and dad.”

“You know them both? It’s been a while since anyone could say that.”

“Well, I am very old.”

Koyree raised her eyebrow at the idea of what the Imperial thought of old. “I’m one hundred and fifty years old. It’s been at least half that since they’ve been together.”

The Imperial smiled and nodded. “About fifty years ago, you were away for a goodly while with the Navy, Nol came back unexpectedly; Attempted to patch it up with your mother again. She was as shocked as anyone. But she was happy for a time. Her being the head of the Mage’s Guild in the Isles, I was working with her a lot, so I met yer Dad many times and we became friends. So when the inevitable happened, although after ten years or so, I stayed friends with them both.”

Koyree sat open mouthed. “They never said, any of it...I’m so sorry, I’ve never heard of you before. Wait, you were Mage’s Guild?”

“Yeah, amongst other things.”

“And now you make pies?”

“What’s wrong with that?!” the Imperial said mock-affronted while smiling. “Everyone needs food!”

“Ach.” Said the old man. He laced his fingers, pushed outwards with his arms, clicking his knuckles. He then stood and went to the door of the eatery. He briefly opened the door and looked out. He nodded, satisfied and the closed the door again.

Then turned the key in the lock.

Koyree, stopped eating and put down her fork. She put one hand under the table and called a shock spell to it.

The old man walked past her table, caught her eye, frowned and shook his head a tiny amount. He walked to the corner of the eatery and turned quickly.

Koyree saw that his fingers were splayed out wide with his thumbs meeting, a bright green wave shot out of his fingers, moving through the room. Koyree saw her hand and her front glowing green, then she looked startled as in one swift movement, the Imperial reached out, as if grabbing something. With his left arm straight out, hand raised upwards, fingers wide, the old man cast a shield, a diamond shield. Koyree had time for her jaw to drop when the first of the firebolts hit the shield.

“Watch my shop you idiot!” The old man shook his head, flattened out the previously raised hand. The shield shot forward and Koyree poked her head around the edge of the seating and saw a glowing green shape lying on the floor.

“Damn you!” came a shout from that direction, and another firebolt launched outward.

The old man with the brightly glowing eyes, sighed as the firebolt simply dissipated on the shield that was once more at his hand. “Piss.” He simply said, and then twisted his still clasped right hand. There was a snap, and the old man dropped his hands.

Koyree stood up and followed him to the body that had appeared.

“Ye just cannae get the staff.” He shook his head as they looked down at the Altmer Falrast. “Spying on little old me?” he tutted and smiled.

“Spying on you?” Koyree asked, shocked. “Who are you?”

The old Imperial pushed his long grey hair out of his face and turned to Koyree, “Michael Feere, Knight of The Lamp, pleased tae meet ya.”

“Knight of The Lamp?”

“Aye lass, Mages Guild and all that, remember? Why the surprise?”

“I...Um...Just thought you were a Knight of The Nine for a moment.”

“Hah! Oh, I am that too...Of a sort...And a member of several other associations with names that may contain the words Knight, Mage or Order...And one that also contains the words ‘Tea Rooms’, but we won’t mention that one...” Feere winked.

Koyree laughed.

“Anyhow, I’ve spent more time on these islands in the past sixty years than you have. And I volunteered to stay and watch when the Thalmor idiocy started. How do you think the outside world is getting their information? An eatery on the docks? Best place in the world! Happily, I get to indulge my cooking thing too, which is a bonus.” He smiled. “They’ve been watching me for years, never been able to catch me though.”

Feere looked down at the corpse, then frowned. A sad look came to his face. “Damn...” The Imperial pointed down at Falrast, “He appeared right after...They must have followed Farrada down all those years ago. It’s the only time he came here. Drowned? Drowned my wrinkly ar$e. That $hit Ondolemar probably. Here...” the old man stood and walked behind the eatery counter. He knelt down and pulled out a loose brick from the wall. Feere pulled out an envelope and passed it to Koyree.

Inside were two things, an amulet of Talos and a note, it read –




I’m in trouble. I’m not getting out of this one.
Take care of each other.

Get the bastards for me.

M.




A tear fell onto the note.

“How did you see him?” Koyree turned and indicated the dead Altmer with her head.

“The Wave? Just something your mother and I worked on years ago. Nice to see it worked though.”

“Can you teach me?”

“Probably, but I need to take care of that,” said Feere pointing at the body, “and it’s going to take more effort than it used to. Getting old be damned!”

“I’ll help you. Just teach it me quickly...Please?”

Feere looked at her, sighed and nodded quickly. “Come on.”



---------------------------------------------



A couple of hours later they stood near to the door. “Watch yourself Areldur.” Feere said and he held out his hand for her to shake.

“You need to do that more than me, now you’ve...” she looked out towards the back of the eatery and smiled weakly.

He laughed once and smiled, “Ach, don’t worry about me missy. I’ve completely failed to die so far, I’ve no intention of starting now.”

“That’s what my dad says.”

Feere shrugged, his hand still held out.

Koyree shook the hand, nodded, disappeared into the Shroud and left The Harbour Bites.



----------------



It was still dark, but the horizon was lightening, so Koyree decided it was now or never. The next move was risky anyway, probably impossible during daylight. Skirting around the edges of the docks until she came to The Looking Elsweyr, she stood Shrouded for some minutes watching the boat for signs of life.

The Elsweyr had two keels, held together by the body of the boat. The ship was small enough to be fast, but large enough to hold a crew of ten. This also made it amazingly stable at speed. The Elsweyr could even stay afloat even in the worst roiling seas.

Koyree looked at the deck at the back of the bridge. She walked around the dock, quietly removing the ropes that held the ship to the quay, until she had a better angle to catch all of the length of the ship.

The Shroud consumed much magic to cast initially, but not so much to maintain. So she had no fear of not being able to do what was next.

She held her hands out as the old Knight had shown her, and cast the wave. It travelled the length of the ship and lit up two figures on the deck. They obviously were surprised by being lit up, she could see them looking at themselves. Then she cast two paralyse spells, one in each hand. The two figures toppled over, one fell quietly into the sea, the other onto the deck. Unfortunately these spells took the whole of the remainder of her magic reserves, and she appeared on the dockside. She jumped onto the small ship, ran crouched to where she’d seen the fallen man, found him and pushed him off into the water. There was a splash. Koyree looked about herself. A guard was walking towards the Looking Elsweyr. She dived for the hatch to the bridge and prayed to Mara that there wasn’t anyone waiting in there.

The problem with Impeller engines is that they disliked being turned off, some had been known to never start again. So it was with great joy that when she throttled up the ship, it simply took off. Koyree aimed it south, knowing she would be able to chart a course from any point in the ocean, assuming she could figure out where she was going in the first place.

The door to the rear cabin burst open and an Altmer in armour charged her. She jumped up and met his advance.



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This post has been edited by McBadgere: Apr 13 2012, 08:16 PM

[Andrea]

HEEEEY!

I will try my very best to catch up as quick as possible, but just wanted you to know I am reading (still on the frist page of the thread :/) and I will comment more profoundly when I'm up to date

but what I've read so far? GREEEEAT STUFF!

[mALX]

Hah! Oh, I am that too...Of a sort...And a member of several other associations with names that may contain the words Knight, Mage or Order...And one that also contains the words ‘Tea Rooms’, but we won’t mention that one...” Feere winked.

Koyree laughed.

So did I, Loved the whole interplay here between the two !!! Awesome Write !!

[Acadian]

Wonderful detail and character you build into Feere, even as you add more depth to Koyree. So Feere's a Knight of the Lamp! Woot!

Similarly, you made the Elsweyr jump off the page with its two keels and curious impeller engines. A very special little ship indeed!

And. . . uh oh. . . a cliffhangar at sea!

[McBadgere]

Cheers, mALX, Acadian...Glad Feere made an impression...I really like him... ...

NEW PARTS ALERT!!... ...

A reminder - once more - that the Empire storyline is set in 3E 604...So this is 10 years back from then...

Where we were...

In part 1...Koyree Areldur had escaped the clutches of the Thalmor and, with the aid of a spell learned from an old friend of her parents', had retaken the ship called The Looking Elsweyr...And then a guard had burst through from the rear cabin area...


And now...Part 2...(only one more to go...Till tomorrow then... ...)...







1.12 – Empire. (Interlude, Koyree – ii)







The Looking Elsweyr. Adrift in the ocean. 10 years earlier.






Koyree grew up in the Guildmaster’s house in the grounds of the Mages Guild’s University of The Isles. Her mother being said Guildmaster.

She was always a curious child. Rather predictably, the first spell Koyree learnt was Open lock. From that point on, she’d sneak out of her room at night, and eventually, she read every book in the house’s library. Whether it be story, reference, history or spell. Every book, she read them. Her favourites though, without a doubt, were the spell-books. Over and over she’d read the spells, memorising every word, sneaking down to the basement of the house to practice what she’d learned. Some spells would always be beyond her abilities, but that didn’t mean she didn’t know what the words were. And that was the most important part of it to the young Koyree.

Being the daughter of the head of the University, her presence in the ancient, massive stone building was always accepted, thusly was she able to sneak in plain sight to the practice rooms, and watch as mages went through their drills. Watching, listening to the cadence of the casting words, reviewing stances.

Slowly, nearly every spell in the Guildmaster’s house was learnt. Koyree was a natural at Alteration, the Ease Burden spell-tree was climbed to the very top, and locks would fall before her as she looked at them. Her frustration with Shield spells though, was that they could never be a replacement for the real thing. She imagined being able to turn blades using her bare hands, with no consequences.

Sadly, it was the deep cut on her arm that finally gave Koyree away.

Her mother was furious at herself for not paying enough attention, and furious at Koyree for showing her up. So then, at great expense, Cestra Areldur had all the locks changed. The magic impervious Nul-Iron, used for prison manacles, locks and other magic prevention areas was employed throughout the house and university. All to stop one curious 12 year old from getting around.

So that was when Koyree learned to pick locks.

But now, she had to use the invisibility she’d learned, to watch everywhere, and get caught by the Mysticism department. It wasn’t until she’d eventually managed to fashion herself an unbreakable lockpick that she finally got into the Forbidden Section of the university library. And so, it was actually Koyree Areldur that was the first person in the Summerset Isles to master the Shroud spell.

Where the spell-book had come from, Koyree couldn’t tell, but if felt strange, not entirely solid somehow, as if it belonged somewhere else; to some other realm. It had the picture of a sinister, bearded man - seemingly with three faces - on the front of it, but other than that, she had no way of knowing.

So when, eventually it was time for her to enrol in the University of The Isles, Koyree grew bored. She did her time, she learned everything there was to learn and – unsurprisingly – graduated practically the highest ever scoring pupil there.

But she was restless.

Her father had been a constant in her life, although his job meant that he could go away at any time, he’d managed to swing his assignments so that he was nearly always at home to see her.

The times Koyree would go to sea on a trip were the happiest she could imagine being. Her mother nearly always complained, but Koyree didn’t care. The sea, Koyree had decided was where her true future lay.

So, after a few good years of toil in the Mages Guild, and as a great disappointment to her mother, Koyree joined the Altmer Navy.

In much the same pattern as her childhood, Koyree learned everything she could, as fast as she could, and so became the youngest Altmer to hold the rank of Commodore. That all the Fleet Admirals within the Fleets were still alive was the only thing that prevented her advancing more.

So, for something new to learn, she had had the Fourth Fleet’s Chief of Fleet Security teach her every fighting style that was known to him.



----------------------------------------------------------------



Three weeks after the fight on the boat, Koyree was a mess.

Some of the instruments on the bridge had been broken by the Thalmor while the battle was joined, one of which was the impeller control. Koyree had killed the man and thrown his body overboard, but had been left with the problem of a boat, headed south and full speed and no way of stopping it. She didn’t want to stop the boat too close to land – even if she figured out how to do it - but neither did she want to head out into the deep ocean.

In the end, Koyree had headed down into the lowest deck and simply turned the engines off. This had caused several unforeseen problems for Koyree. She now had no power to speak of for lights, water purification, cooking.

Koyree had sighed and just thought about all those survival books she’d read.

She realised quickly that the prevailing currents were taking her south-west into the ocean anyway, so Koyree had hoped that a passing ship might see her. Sadly, no ships were ever seen.

Having exhausted the supplies aboard the vessel, she’d started employing the survival techniques. Jury-rigging the right components, she made a condenser, heating it up using magic to separate the water from the salt; Koyree very quickly learned the art of diving for fish, her having learnt Breathe Underwater many years earlier. The young Areldur would then cook the fish with magic, boiling it in some of the fresh water she’d condensed.

She’d searched the boat - again - for anything to take her mind of things. The ship held enough cabins for a crew of ten, but all that she found were a few trinkets, a few books, but nothing of any real help.

Koyree had found an amulet of Julianos amongst one of the crew’s things. She’d decided to wear it, along with her own amulet of Mara and the Talos one that Feere had given her, what felt like a lifetime ago.

So it was that three mournful and agonizing weeks later, Koyree sat in her shirt and knickers on the bridge of the Elsweyr, hallucinating, delirious and sick from having eaten the wrong type of fish.



---------------------------------



“Cure Poison is a thought and deed spell Koyree, you know that. Thought requires focus, deed requires strength. You have neither Koyree? Wake up!” Said a grotesquely caricatured version of her mother from the seat opposite.

Koyree gripped the three amulets tightly, closed her eyes and said between weepings. “Lady Mara...Please spare me, my life...I must...Lord Talos...Grant me the strength to succeed...Gnnnah!!...Great Julianos, please grant me the knowledge of the word...What is the kriffing word dammit?!!...AAAAAHHH!!!...

The apothecary’s supply of Cure Poison potion had been used and had not yet been replaced, as Koyree had found when she’d realised what she’d done - her dire problem - and rushed back through the cabin to find it. By the time she’d tried to call the spell, the poison was already scrambling her focus and Koyree had failed to cast it. She’d only just managed to drag herself back to the bridge, to where she sat now, minutes later.

She opened her eyes and her “mother” had gone.

To be replaced by a small mole-ish man in mages robes, holding a book in fingerless-gloved hands.

“Oh no...”

“Hand waving, Koyree, is for nobles, children and pathetic street conjurers. All spells are either thought, word or deed. Cure poison is a thought and deed spell. But before it becomes thought it must be word. What is that word Koyree? WHAT IS THAT WORD KOYREE?”

Koyree wept and shouted, “I DON’T KNOW!! I DON’T KNOW!! AAAAARGH!!!”

She cried as she felt her body dying. Slowly her eyes closed, she stopped weeping.

Then.

She stopped.



------------------------------------------------------------



The Looking Elsweyr shook to the sound of a giant blaring horn.

“BYARIICH!!!” shouted Koyree as she sat up; Then she screamed as the poison was ripped from her body by the blue magicks that swirled around her.

Still weak from the ravages the fish’s poison had inflicted on her body, Koyree leaned on the bridge console and looked out of the window.

Her jaw dropped.

She squinted at what was outside, then she wailed as the horn sounded again and almost burst her heart with the sheer volume.

Koyree tried to stand, but fell out of her seat. Hand over hand she dragged herself to the ladder that led up to the deck. With strength she hadn’t remembered calling, she pulled herself upwards.

She fell out of the hatchway, her arm stretched out to arrest her fall. She caught sight of the three pendants, their leather laces wrapped around her hand. Frowning, she stood again and walked out to the middle of the deck.

The gentle rocking of the Elsweyr from the swell of the giant monster’s passing was proof that this was no hallucination, but how else to explain what she was seeing?

From where Koyree was she had no clue as to how wide the...Ship was, but it was long. It appeared as though someone had just decided to pick up a city and sail into the sea.

Spaced out along the side, far above the waterline, there were four giant towers of gleaming white, topped with a dome of a green colour. From the side of three of these, she could see what looked to be covered bridges, from one side to the other, rising to a point in the middle, which seemed to make them seem like carved roof apexes.

From the water, the body flared out at a dizzying angle. From the top of this flaring, far above, most of the length of the ship was several stories tall, Koyree could tell from the windows she could see. Variations in the height made it feel like she was looking at a cathedral to Neptirnos, Steward of the sea and her husband Persardion. An idea reinforced by the massive tower that dominated the back third of the massive ship. Whatever the structure was made of, the whole ship sat perfectly on the sea.

Koyree could see intricate decorative carvings over parts of the ship, oddly beautiful and unnerving at the same time. Well, it added to the general air of disquiet.

A gentle hum was, the only sound the engines made as it passed. Almost quieter than the hiss its passage through the water was making.

The colour of the ship was beautiful though, all brasses, coppers, greens, whites and...Koyree’s eyes widened - Dwemer.

The bellowing horn shouted again and Koyree dropped to her knees and wailed with her hands over her ears.

Koyree opened her eyes and looked up at the side of the Dwemer ship. A plaque with letters at least as tall as a Skyrim Giant, proclaimed the ship’s name.

Mriizeleft.

Dwemer Great-ship or City-ship whichever it was, the lost Dwemer ship, doomed to wander the waters for eternity.

Legend or ghost story made real in front of her. Just as it was for her father years earlier.

Oh daddy. The agonized thought came. Koyree dragged herself to the side of the Elsweyr. She reached her hand out as if to try and touch the Dwemer ship.

The horn sounded again. Koyree squealed, fainted and fell forward towards the waiting sea.



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This post has been edited by McBadgere: Apr 14 2012, 02:27 PM

[Colonel Mustard]

Great stuff; the hallucinations were fun and it was good to see one of your characters in a tight, near-death spot there (from a purely academic viewpoint, mind. I didn't actively want her to die, just to clarify). Also, the description of the Mriezeleft was excellent, and a wonderfully evocative read.

Excellent stuff.

[Acadian]

Yikes! From one cliffie in the last episode as she turned to meet a hostile Altmer, to another in this one as the sea rises to meet her!

I really enjoyed the glimpses into Koryee’s past. The Nul-Iron was very clever.

Yes, must exercise care picking fish and mushrooms.

Woot! A Dwemer aircraft carrier!