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

[Athynae]

My apologies McB(shakes head at the silly badger) I got a little behind while I was playing a couple of RL games, "Let's prepare for mid-term exams" (with the middle school wild animal) and "Let's take care of the bully" with the elementary one. The first is always interesting once you get past 5th or 6th grade, the second however is never any fun especially if your wild animal is one of those that is either loved absolutely or disliked in the same manner by the teacher. I do not know why this is particularly other than he challenges them to do something besides sit on their butt and assign busy work.

The second game, first play through, proved to be a small challenge, but we started a second play through just before school got out for Christmas with a different character and setting for said bully. It looks as though this play through is going to prove a bit more serious as it involves not bullies of the peer realm but a teacher making an attempt to blame said wild animal for situations he had no part in and sharing those thoughts with other teachers (Oh and this teacher is not even one of my youngest sons instructors, he just thought a little gossip with his teacher friends would be the "thing" and it just so happened his whispers were overheard in the hall by my youngest son as he walked behind them). Can you say "Getting ready to turn the entire school system on it's ear?" I thought you could. Yes, I have almost 3 weeks to create a strategy for this game and I promise you they ain't seen nothin' yet.....

Sorry just venting a bit, looking forward to more story though, keep it coming there McB.....

[jack cloudy]

Oh, and the joking...It’s escapist fiction...And I can’t help it... ...

Hey, I'm all for the jokes. You have to deal with stressful situations somehow and this is more entertaining than giving everyone an angst overdose.

[McBadgere]

My apologies McB(shakes head at the silly badger) I got a little behind while I was playing a couple of RL games...Yes, I have almost 3 weeks to create a strategy for this game and I promise you they ain't seen nothin' yet.....

Sorry just venting a bit, looking forward to more story though, keep it coming there McB.....

...OH hell...

I really was only joking...I do know what you're going through...We've had similar problems with my daughter...And to a degree with the son...

Suffice to say, several of th'wife's chums joke about the two schools having her picture as enemy #1... ...

Hey, I'm all for the jokes. You have to deal with stressful situations somehow and this is more entertaining than giving everyone an angst overdose.

Oh, my Gohhhddd...*Holds head*...

Cheers... ...

[Athynae]

And it was taken as a joke McB, I apologize for getting all serious on you! I just get that way at times.

I am enjoying your story very much so just keep it up and I will do my best to keep up....famous last words, lol.

And now we know where Athynae gets her weirdness from....

[McBadgere]

NEW PARTS!!!... ...

Merry Christmas!!...

Right, I'm trying to crack on with it...But then this happened...One chapter, in three parts...And they're all long-ish...

Sorry... ...


Previously on KOTNNK...Aeirawen was part of the force attacking Fort Freedom, but then she and the other wood-elf Galasafon were attempting to bring the evil boo-hiss baddie Marrick Gellert back to New Kvatch...


1.10 – Aeirawen...(pt. 1)



The last woman and the last man on Nirn pulled their cloacks tighter against the fierce wind. After a time, they looked at the last of the Old Gods and waved farewell. The woman opened a portal, then she and the man walked out of the world.

The world was unmade.

The world was made.

The portal opened again and the first woman and first man on Nirn walked through into a verdant forest. They looked at each other, shrugged and disrobed. Then they made love, as they had many times down the ages.

As he woke later, the man stood up, picked a fruit and said simply to the now awake woman, “Apple?”. Then he looked behind her and paled. There stood the first of the New Gods, attended by his ever present two Angels.



- Taken from The Book of The World. Author unknown.





Aeirawen burst into the clearing with three horsemen bearing down on her. She pulled up sharply, which caused one of the horses to rear and throw her rider. Unfortunately not the Khajiit that had been tracking her this whole time. Aeira crossed the distance to the downed man and planted the head of the Dragon Hammer she was still carrying into his. Turning and flitting into the centre of the clearing, she waited for the two others to gather themselves. She grinned briefly at them, even as she panted her fatigue away. Damn, she was tired. How long had she been running? She had no idea, but it was a damned long time. Speed augmentation was all well and good for a short while, but over long distances? It was still down to your own fitness levels - you still had to run dammit! Aeirawen laughed the thought of the portly Keern Ralman trying this.

The two bandits looked briefly at each other, as if wondering that the idea of a lone Bosmer knight in the centre of a clearing being quite so confident was actually occurring to them both.

They charged.

Aeira waited till they were fully committed, then she narrowed her white glowing eyes, smiled her most feral grin and launched herself into the speed augment. Raising her arms as time appeared slowed down, she swung the hammer with one hand into the chest of one, killing him instantly. Her left arm grabbed the other bandit’s sword arm as it fell. The rider twisted around in the saddle, his shoulder broke and almost sheared off, his ankle didn’t fare so well as it became twisted in his stirrup. His neck snapped the instant he hit the ground, so any pain was truly short lived. The horses carried on out of the clearing, as if they wanted nothing more to do with anything bar grazing.

Aeirawen fell to her knees with fatigue. This was getting too much now. How many more were there? She couldn’t keep this up all the way to Kvatch. If she was even headed towards Kvatch by now. The Bosmer pushed herself up to stand, brushed her blonde hair back out of her face, and went to the nearest tree. She leant against it and looked up at the sun, then at the nearby trees.

“Right, that’s north.” Aeira figured that she’d been headed generally northeast all this time. If I head north at least I’ll get to the Colovian Highway, she thought to herself and prepared to run again. Just then she heard another set of hoof-beats. Sighing but casting - for yet another time – her ease fatigue spell, she ran once more to the centre of the clearing, but kept the hammer’s head resting on the floor.

A huge white Anvillian destrier burst into the sunlit circle of the bloodied woodland glade.

“Two?!” She almost wept with joy. “I thought I’d told you all to head for Kvatch.” She reached the horse and hugged his neck. The horse replied by putting his head down on her shoulder as if hugging her back. “Still, being with J’Drell for so long I suppose you would pick up a stubborn streak.” She grinned.

It wasn’t her beloved Dail, but if anything, J’Drell’s horse, Two, was probably better when it came down to it. The Anvillian horse’s endurance was legendary, and she had no idea how long was still to go. She grabbed the saddle’s horn with one hand and hauled herself on Two’s back.

Aeira silently thanked Brellin for the strength augments in her white Elven Plate heavy-armour. She put her hand to the red diamond on her chest-piece and prayed her thanks to Kynareth for delivering her this fortunate rescue.

She looked back the way she’d run. Finding Galas would be next to impossible with all the Bandits, Marauders and what have you in there. That goes for the Fort too really. Her only course then would be to head back to New Kvatch with the Dragon Hammer and tell the Commander what had happened.

She sighed deeply with frustration.

She securely tied the Dragon Hammer to the saddle, so as it wouldn’t bang against Two’s side as he ran.

Then she rode.

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


Earlier...



“Damn.” Said Galasafon.

“What?” Aeirawen asked.

“Umm...Ewythr. He’s...Umm...Tall...”

She sighed, stopped tying all the other horses’ reins up to their saddles and came over to Kelleryn’s black horse. Bending down, Aeira cupped her hands and boosted Galas onto the saddle. She moved aside as he levitated the still prone form of Marrick Gellert onto the horse in front of him.

“This isn’t going to be comfortable for any of us old boy.” Galas patted the horse on his shoulder.

Aeirawen knew that Galas wasn’t a natural horseman. He could do when needed, but he preferred running.

“You going to be alright?” she looked up to him.

He looked about, smirked then shrugged, “I have a choice?” Then he grinned genuinely. “When has it ever been easy in this job?”

She laughed.

There was the slightest hint of wrong feeling and she ducked, just as an arrow passed in the space where her head had been. She screamed in Elvish, using her Command Beast spell, “Two, Jasper get them to Kvatch. NOW!”

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

J’Drell and Thedret’s horses being the most experienced of them, and possessed of truly amazing amount of intelligence whinnied and stamped their feet as the other horses started fleeing the incoming horde. The pair of Anvillians chased them down, herded them up into a line then headed dead northeast. A couple of the knights’ horses had crossbow bolts in their hinds, but nothing that would slow them unduly.

By way of horse signal, Two left them to Jasper’s care and stopped.

He turned and headed back the way he’d run.

The space the horses had recently left was deserted. Several men were on the floor, dead or dying. Two twisted his ears this way and that and located separate chases. He looked at the ground, sighed and followed that one.

It was not long before he caught up with the back of the pack. He nudged the nearest one towards a tree, it reared and fell backwards onto its rider. As sorry as he felt for doing it, several more horses went into trees headfirst.

Just then a scent caught him. He turned and ran a new direction, following some horses that had peeled off.

The chase. Nothing like it. He ran.

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Much earlier...



Aeirawen mopped the blood from the corner of her mouth and followed the Imperial outside, “I’m from Anvil you inbred son of a mule lover.”

“That’s Captain inbred son of a mule lover.” Said the man picking himself up off the floor and brushing from his armour, the wooden debris of the door he’d so recently destroyed with his passing through it.

“Well, Captain,” she said through clenched teeth, “the nearest I’ve ever been to Valenwood is being shown Falinesti in a ‘scope from a hill above Anvil.

Just because your Emperor decided to open up your Legion to every native born Cyrodiillian, don’t be surprised when you wind up with any kriffing native of Cyrodiil.”

“Mind your language soldier, I am your superior.” Said the Captain.

“Hah! Oh, I’m sorry sir,” she said snarling the word out, “I have yet to hit the Hold. It’s sometimes difficult to restrain myself. Besides, I’m amazed you could be superior to anything that doesn’t live in the ground.”

She heard the distinctive scrape of metal on scabbard behind her, and turned sideways where she could, if needed, defend both sides. Just then she heard a voice.

“Ah, ah...It’s not polite to stab young ladies in the back.”

Aeirawen watched as the would-be assassin came out of the Hammered Ogre Inn with the point of an ebony sword at the base of his skull. Following him was a pretty young woman with copper-blonde hair.

“Ah, Captain Olford,” said the original Captain, the one that had been making a nuisance of himself towards Aeira all afternoon, and in the end, accused her of being a Bosmeri spy.

As if. Tall, blonde, blue-eyed, not exactly graceful and with little talent for Illusion, she doubted that invisibility would be in her repertoire any time soon. So no, spy was not high on her list of things to do. Hitting people and things very hard with axes and maybe setting them on fire, yes. Spy, no.

“Go pick on someone your own size Derment,” the soldier called Olford said, “but that would mean finding a scamp to bully wouldn’t it?”

Derment shot Olford a murderous look, but drew himself up imperiously, turned on his heel and marched towards the Legion quarter of Bruma, followed by his three armsmen.

Olford crossed to Aeirawen and asked, “You okay?”

Aeira wiped her mouth again, “Yes Captain, Ma’am, thank you.”

Olford tilted her head, smiled and held out her hand. “We’re off-duty soldier. Caroline Olford.”

Aeira shook the hand and then suddenly remembered, “Olford?! As in...”

“Yes,” Caroline rolled her green eyes, then affected a mock-aristocratic voice, “General Kenth Olford, hero of blah blah et-cetera.”

Aeira smiled. “You don’t think much of his reputation?”

“I have all the love in the world for my Daddy...But...” She shook her head, “Ach, we’ve only just met. There’ll be time enough for all that...Hopefully.”

Just then the owner of The Hammered Ogre came out and started complaining about his door and the cold and a million other things.

Caroline sighed and shook her head. “He’s an old friend of my Dad’s. Time to be the General’s daughter again. I’ll take care of this, you go clean yourself up and don’t worry, I’ll go see your commander and square all this too.”

“Umm...Why would you do all this? Like you said, we’ve only just met.”

Caroline tilted her head again and drew her eyebrows together in an almost frown, “I think...Mara told me to.” She gestured vaguely up, “either that or it’s just the right thing to do.” She shrugged, “When you’re off-duty tomorrow, come find me here, we’ll go to my house and talk some more. You good with that?”

Aeira smiled, nodded and shook Caroline’s hand again. “Thank you.”

Caroline shrugged, smiled and indicated the still remonstrating innkeeper.

Aeira watched her go and was surprised at her own feeling of joy at the sudden turn in events. It felt like finding another sister in the unlikeliest of places. She shrugged and made her way back to the barracks.

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Now...



Aeirawen was riding north, or as best as. She’s passed out of the thickest of the forest and was headed out into the farming communities that ran alongside one of the many rivers that started in the distant Colovian Highlands and made their meandering way down through County Kvatch to the estuary at Anvil.

Several riders burst out of the trees behind her. The Khajiit being the one in front.

“Well, naturally.” She sighed.

Aeira urged Two on faster, and he responded with a surprising burst of extra pace. At least they’re not gaining she thought.

Minutes passed without incident, but always, the pursuit was there.

Looking ahead she could see a road, and in the distance she could see a block-train, coming from one of the mountains at the end of the Colovian chain that was being dismantled for the rebuilding of Kvatch.

Thanking Kynareth that she was going to be off the farmland soon, Aeirawen realised she’d have to tell the Commander about the damage. The Knights of The Nine may own these farms in order to feed the soldiery and, indeed, many of the workers, but that doesn’t mean they can ignore any damage wrought on them by a Knight.

She reached the road and raced along it. Two seemed to be pleased at the firmer footing and responded to it. With joy it seemed. Aeira felt as if she was about to cry and indeed her eyes had watered, but she let one hand off the reins, wiped her eyes, then used the free hand to pour Respite into Two as best as she could.

“Not far, Two. Not far now.”

Two offered no opinion, but put his head down and charged.


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This post has been edited by McBadgere: Dec 24 2011, 11:08 PM

[Athynae]

I like Aeira, she's got spirit! I enjoyed the exchange between Caroline and Aeira...seems to me they would be admirable friends to have.

Keep it up McB, sure am enjoying the ride. hehe

And although I am the ultimate Scrooge MERRY CHRISTMAS I do hope you have a wonderful holiday with family and friends.

[Acadian]

Gosh, from the opening to the end, this episode was magnificently written. It was exciting, easy to follow and full of evocative imagery.

Aeirawen is a fascinating knight and her starring role here was well-supported by the horses and Caroline soon-to-be-McWylde. These flashbacks to Caroline are fabulous.

What a nice Christmas eve present to find this gem today!

Wood elves and horses – it just doesn’t get any better than that!

[mALX]

Ditto what Acadian said !! My favorite part was the "Much Earlier" flashback itself. Caroline is shaping up to be a very interesting character !! Great Write !!

[jack cloudy]

Well, it looks like the horses are as badass as the knights that ride them. It's been a while since I read a story where the horses were more than fleshy motorcycles with no mind of their own.

[Grits]

What breathless fun throughout!! I am especially delighted by the section in Earlier that puts us inside the mind of J'Drell's horse.

Aeira has exploded into her chapter, I am delighted that we're getting more of her parts after this one. Er...

Fantastic! I loved it.

[McBadgere]

Athynae, Acadian, mALX, Jack and Grits...

Thank you soo much...

Acadian - Thank you so much...*Blushes and mumbles apology for anything he said way back when, and promises to listen better in future*...

Athynae and mALX - Cheers!!...I'm glad everyone seems to like Caroline and Aeira...I love writing them all, and I'm just glad I'm not letting the feminine quarter down... ...

Jack - Much thankings!!...I too think that more attention should be given to the horses...Greg Keyes had a horse called Ogre in his Kindoms of Thorn and Bone which was much like Two, and I loved him a lot...So I had to make the horses characters themselves... ...

Grits - The original scene with Two was far too complicated...Cool, but complicated...Glad it still came across as cool though... ...

*Nods*...Aeirawen's further parts...*Continues nodding*...

More?...Oh, if you insist... ...

NEW PARTS!!!...

Previously on KOTNNK...A lot of Aeirawen things...Fighting, running and horseriding...Oh-ho-ho yes...

We continue....


1.10 – Aeirawen. (pt.2)



Aeirawen raced along the Highway - or Blockway as people mostly called it, as it was built specifically for the purpose of bringing stone to Kvatch – and her pursuers did so too. She was grateful that there seemed to be so few carriages on the road. Not that there was ever any let-up on the blocks coming down the road, but the random vagaries of horses meant that Aeira was able to maintain speed and still avoid the carts. More than the width of three of them the Blockway may have been, but the pursuit had had to go from a spread out bunch to a more ordered line to cope with the narrowing. Which helped Aeira a lot. The fastest horse may not be the one in front.

She passed by several of the newer not-quite-villages that had sprang up just off the Blockway during the construction of Kvatch. As she’d always been keen to do her share of patrols along the road, she knew them all. Aeirawen counted them off as Two passed them, Northwatch, Pilgrimage End, Builderstop. She passed the newly created private road that the Guild of Prostitutes had had constructed up to their newest pleasure palace, The Halfway Inn. Then she passed the old road down to a pre-rebuild village called Oldgate, now renamed (by the villagers themselves at least) Drell’s gate, in honour of J’Drell’s single-handed closing of an Oblivion gate that had opened just outside the village.

Aeirawen risked a look backwards. Impasse. No gains, no lost ground. Dammit...

Round this corner we can see Kvatch, she thought, maybe that’ll put them off.

She rounded the corner and started. A pair of Knights of The Nine sat astride their horses in the middle of the road, obviously on patrol. Their eyes shot forward as Aeira raced towards them.

“SPLIT!!” she yelled at the horses.

The two horses bolted left and right, which probably saved the Knights’ lives. No sooner had Aeirawen passed where they had been but the hiss of crossbow bolts started. Aeira was too far in front for them to hit her, but she looked back to see one knight taking an arrow to the shoulder. He toppled off his horse, but then stood up and launched a fireball at the retreating horsemen. It exploded in the back of the pack. Horses and men flew sideways in all directions from the centre of the blast. Well, that thins the problem, Aeira thought.

Two was urged on by his own knowledge of the land and increased his pace again.

She knew she was scant miles from home when she passed the appropriately named village of Ogre-pen. So named as this was where the enchanted-bandolier-wearing docile construction ogres were kept between shifts. Their shifts lasting up to 18 hours, keeping them this far away from Kvatch itself was not as bad an idea as it might at first seem. However the village was developing into a much larger concern itself, housing several industries whose odorous side effects were less desirable in the more affluent industrial section of what was becoming a larger urbane concern, several minutes down the road.

What had started out as small camps had grown into two villages called West Wall Masons and Block. These two had quickly grown further and merged over the few years, until the whole area was effectively a town and renamed West Masons. It was here that the merchants, guilds, blacksmiths and Innkeepers had put down roots. With the town’s roots being with the masons, the houses and buildings were brilliantly constructed from the leftovers of the city’s construction stone dressing, and several of the knights had bought houses there as an escape from the quarters at Kvatch. Not that anyone had a complaint as such about the bastion at Kvatch, but many of the Knights hadn’t experienced the apparent crush of a militaric life, and therefore had found themselves needing their own space still. Not that the Commander minded, he still owned houses in Chorrol, Cheydinhal and indeed owned the village of Aleswell itself as a retreat.

It was past this sprawl that Aeira now raced. Knowing that the nearest building to the road was the Knight’s guardhouse and gaol, she wasn’t surprised when a sentry shouted and ran inside to raise the alert. A couple of minutes later she looked back. Sure enough, coming up fast behind her pursuers were a small company of Knights, Legionnaires and even a couple of City guards.

She laughed with exhaustion filled joy. Two miles. That’s all. Two miles. She could hear the whizzing of arrows and heard and felt the effects of nearing fire spells. They’re getting desperate, she thought. She was tired. She could feel that Two was tired. Presumably the dogged pursuers were tired.

Aeirawen sighed. It’s never easy.

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

Someone else...Elsewhere...

Sub-Commander Brellin enjoyed his morning walks. Before the weight of his duties properly rested on his shoulders for the day, he took a walk in the park outside New Kvatch’s north facing main gate.

He loved this city, he’d designed it with Gukimir, spent every spare waking hour watching it being constructed and even more than the home in Valenwood where he’d spent the previous 200-odd years, this was home.

And yet, these minutes stood or walking outside the city, in all weathers, simply looking out at the valley below, were bliss itself.

He felt the presence of the Orchard Keeper, Gael nearby. The silent keeper of the park usually stayed away, content to exchange nods with Brellin as he passed.

Brellin felt a grip on his arm. He turned to look up at Gael. The silent Nord gestured with his head towards the valley and then pointed at a patch of ground down to the left of them. A train of rider-less horses were heading for the end of the Gateway, the roadway ramp up to the city. Brellin frowned. Oh no. He nodded his thanks to the Nord, turned, took two steps and was about to rush off to get help when Gael suddenly gripped his other arm tightly, Brellin turned to see the Orchard Keeper frowning, and pointing to the Blockway near West Masons.

Brellin augmented his eyesight and looked closer. He swore in Elvish. And sped into the city to get help.

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

Gael felt the Wood-Elf leave. He stared at the pursuit for a while, then he made a decision. He gripped his Oaken staff tightly and started running down the road.

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

Here and Now...

Aeirawen was almost home when the crossbow bolt went into her arm. Somehow they had gotten close enough for it. She stifled a cry and blinked the tears from her eyes. Her allies had thinned the ranks further, from the rear, as the race came towards its conclusion, but not all were done. There were still enough. Whoever was in charge of this lot had obviously said at the fort, no survivors, and that was what they were going to damned well do. Whatever the cost.

She was dismayed when she saw Gael the Orchard Keeper standing in the middle of the road.

“Oh no,” she said to herself and made to slow down. Maybe to protect him.

Even at some distance, she locked her eyes with the Nord’s piercing blue eyes. In that instant, into her mind, came the command “Keep going you fool.”

Confused, she did as she’d been told. She passed him just as he raised his staff. It came down and there was what can only be described as a Whumph. Two stumbled, but recovered. She looked back and shouted in surprise. There was a wall of earthen debris swirling for some distance either side of the Nord. And then, standing either side of the road appeared two giant forms. One side of Gael stood a Rock-Form, less crude than the Atronachs, a more defined shape to its limbs and head. But on the other side...

Aeira had to stop and stare at what she was seeing. She could feel Two shaking with fatigue, but she put it all out of her mind as she tried to comprehend what was in front of her.

A giant, made entirely of wood. As defined as the Rock-Form but somehow more beautiful. The leaves on the top of its head serving to give it a definite crown. It appeared both lithe and powerful. Barely contained power emanated from it. Aeirawen felt it from where she sat. She felt a calling to it, deep within her. She felt the need to bow down to it.

“Forest Guardian...” she breathed. Then she frowned, “But that would mean...Derwydd.”

Druid.

Kynelord.

The Druids were presumed wiped out hundreds of years ago. Well, there was one at least, Aeira thought.

Then she fainted.

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

Gael grinned as the pursuing horses reared up as they reached the earth barrier. Most of the riders were unseated, and either pitched forward or were thrown off backwards. The soldiery that had followed the small force were instantly upon them.

Two of the Bandits stood and produced giant Frost Atronachs. Ahh, thought Gael with a smile, a minor challenge. One of the wizards sent his Atronach bearing down on the Nord. He despatched the Rock-Form to meet it.

The ground shook as the Rock-Form ran at the nearest Atronach and kicked it flying. The Frost Atronach dug a furrow along the ground as it landed. It made to get up but the Rock-Form landed on its chest and began to punch at the prone Atronach’s head. Eventually the icy head was smashed to nothing and the Frost-Form disappeared. As much as rock was able to, the Rock-Form seemed to be disappointed by this, and stood up. Suddenly it found itself rising into the air. It ventured no opinion on the matter. It was sure there was a good reason for it. Just as long as it got to hit something soon.

The Forest Guardian stood in front of Gael as the two wizards took turns to blast at the Nord with shocks and fire spells. Gael was pretty sure that as he was the earth and the sky, the rivers and the fires in the mountains, he was actually the magic they were shooting at him. But as it was some time since he’d needed to do this, it was probably best to have a shield of some sort. Besides, being hit by magic always made his teeth itch.

He stretched out his awareness. The girl and the fine horse had failed to make much progress, and indeed she was now on the ground. Gael shook his head. Brellin - who he liked - was racing down the Gateway...Good man that Brellin...The soldiery had most of the enemy in hand or dead, all that remained were these two irritants.

Releasing the Forest Guardian, he concentrated on the first of the two wizards. He held up his staff to catch the shock and channelled it into the ground. Then he grinned at the poor man. The wizard stopped shooting in confusion. Gael gestured up with his head. The wizard looked up and screamed, briefly. The Rock-Form dropped on him from a height, landing heavily.

The Forest Guardian crossed the space between it and the Atronach in three paces. The remaining wizard screamed and concentrated his fire on the wooden giant. The Frost Atronach tried to clap its massive hands to crate the Avalanche Blast effect, but the Guardian grabbed an arm in each hand, placed its foot in the middle of its chest, and pulled. The arms sheared off. Before the apparition could disappear, the Guardian span and hit the wizard full on with one of the icy limbs. The instantly dead wizard flew through the air for some distance and the Frost Atronach disappeared. The Guardian, satisfied, walked back to the Druid.

The Rock-Form and the Forest Guardian stood before Gael. He bowed deeply to the Rock-Form, then once more to the Guardian. Both then bowed in return. They raised their arms and described a half circle. A shimmering, eye-watering long window appeared behind each of them. The Forms stepped back into them and vanished. There was a flash and a rumble as both windows vanished. Gael turned, looked at the damage he’d done to the road, placed his staff in the wound and walked from one side of the road to the other. When he was done, there was no sign that anything had ever been amiss. He smiled briefly and walked back towards the hill that led to his home.

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This post has been edited by McBadgere: Dec 25 2011, 09:37 PM

[Grits]

Oh my gosh, that was tremendous! Gael, the Rock-Form, and the Forest Guardian had my jaw hanging open.

I love the settlements that have sprung up around Kvatch. Touring them at a running pace with Aeirawen and Two filled in a lot for me. Drell's Gate made me smile. Now I have a real sense of scale for New Kvatch, as well an improved sense of time.

Wow, amazing!!

[Acadian]

Like Grits, I thoroughly enjoyed the high speed tour!

The pursuit of Aeirawen controlled the urgent pacing, but allowed her passing thoughts to linger at selected moments to paint beautiful snips of the area around New Kvatch. The way you used this was brilliant.

Loved the docile ogre construction workers!

[mALX]

Aeirawen's extended use of command on the horses is an interesting touch, I couldn't be sure if this was how the spell works for all or was her Mer ability giving her a greater rapport with beasts. If it is the latter I'm in awe of that touch added to your story !!



I've been trying to figure out if there is a purpose in Aeirawen being referred to alternately as Aeira.

I assumed at first Aeira was an affectionate nickname that Caroline (or only those close to her would use) - that pattern would be easy for the reader to pick up on (and be a clue to the reader whom Aeirawen's closest friends were), a very nice detail in your story.

The problem (for me) is that I can see no discernable pattern being established that would explain and give purpose to the use of the alternate name, and that creates confusion (for me at least).

It is especially noticable when used in the narrative descriptions of Aeirawen's actions (which causes confusion as to whether you are describing one person or two - especially when switching between names in the same paragraph as in the example below).

(Example:

Aeirawen raced along the Highway - or Blockway as people mostly called it, as it was built specifically for the purpose of bringing stone to Kvatch – and her pursuers did so too. She was grateful that there seemed to be so few carriages on the road. Not that there was ever any let-up on the blocks coming down the road, but the random vagaries of horses meant that Aeira was able to maintain speed and still avoid the carts.

It would help a lot (at least for me it would) if you could stick to one name or the other in the narrative/descriptions of action.


The scene with the Forest Guardian, the Rock-Form and Gael was fascinating - but a cliffhanger! What happened to Aeirawen? ARGH !!!

Awesome Write !!

This post has been edited by mALX: Dec 26 2011, 06:28 PM

[McBadgere]

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

I'm putting this last part up today...Probably before many of the others have read part 2 because I want it...Out there...Then I can start on the next bit... ...Huzzah!!...Had a bit of trouble starting the next chapter due to research hold up... ...

Aaamywho...

Grits and Acadian...Thank you very much...Glad you liked this bit of the tour... ...There'll be more new places around New Kvatch cropping up, but West Masons is going to be in it quite a bit...

mALX...The Beast Command spell is on the original Bosmer build for Oblivion isn't it?...I think...Aaamywho, I've given Aeirawen more of a thing with animals than some other Bosmers...Galasafon doesn't have much of it...Maybe it's a girl-thing... ...But I think she only used it once to get the horses going away from the Bandits et-al and once on the road to split the two Knights up...Anything else is either Aeirawen's riding skills or Two's own mind... ...

Ah yes, the Aeira thing...It's meant to just be a contraction...Yes, her friends will most likely call her Aeira...But you're right, I should just stick to Aeirawen...I think I was just being lazy, trying to find another way of saying Aeirawen, other than she said, the Bosmer said, the Knight said, y'know...But yes, I should stop it...It's not like I'm going to suddenly start calling them Rob, Deakso or Caz!!... ...

The scene with the Forest Guardian, the Rock-Form and Gael was fascinating - but a cliffhanger! What happened to Aeirawen? ARGH !!!

Glad you all liked Gael and his buddies...I had loads of fun with that... ...

As for what happened to Aeirawen...



1.10 – Aeirawen (pt.3)




Somewhere Else...



Aeirawen woke up. She could smell grass, the forest, any flower she could think of.

Aeirawen sat, then stood up and looked about her. She was in a room whose dimensions were initially unclear. It gave the impression of being not all that big, but at the same time, she couldn’t focus on the walls and ceiling, which gave it an almost limitless feeling.

There were three figures sitting in high-backed chairs, staring at a mist-form on a table. The lady on Aeirawen’s side of the table had wavy copper-blonde hair, which cascaded down over her shoulders and down onto an exquisite dark dress. The man on the other side looked Nordish. He had fair skin but a jet-black beard. He also wore a slightly dour expression while he was concentrating.

The third figure, the silver-haired older woman looked up and started with shock. “Aeirawen?” The two others looked up from the table and turned to look at the Bosmer.

“Don’t worry my dears, you just keep working, I’ll catch up.” The woman said to them.

The man resumed his task. The copper haired lady stared at Aeirawen for what seemed like an eternity before finally turning and resuming whatever she’d been doing before.

The older lady in the flowing green and brown dress approached the Knight.

Aeirawen collapsed.

“Whoa there dearie.” The woman caught the Bosmer’s arm and helped her stand again.

Aeirawen pointed at the lady sat at the table, “Is that?...That looks like...”

The old woman turned and looked, “Ah, no. It really isn’t dearie.

“We have met a few times before, though you have no known it. Yet you have never been before me here. I wonder, why are you here now?” The old woman raised an eyebrow.

Aeirawen looked into the deep brown eyes and struggled to form an answer.

“Ah, nevermind. I think I know.” The old woman paused, looking deeply at Aeira. “Ah!” she smiled, “So Gael finally woke up again? Excellent! But oh, you poor dear. A poisoned arrow?” she tutted, “Nevermind, if Gael’s remembering himself, you’ll not be long here...Therefore we must be brief. Well, brief enough.

You have always been in service to me Aeirawen of Anvil. I have guided you for many a year, and you fight for me in the service of the Nine.”

The Knight’s eyes widened and she collapsed to her knees. “Kynareth.” She bowed her head. A hand cupped her chin, with a firm invitation to get up. So she stood up again.

Kynareth shook her head. “Not here dearie, there is no time. Gael and the two other Knights of Kynareth on Nirn are now so old you could never believe it was possible.”

“The Nord?” Aeirawen asked.

“Ha!” The old woman smiled, “Is that what he looks like now? No dearie, that’s not what he looks like. It’s just the appearance he’s chosen to be in.

They are the old world Aeirawen, and will never survive. They need help for what is coming.” She paused. “This meeting was always going to happen my dear. But obviously it has been decided...” Kynareth rolled her eyes, “that it should be brought forward, so to speak.” Kynareth sighed. “Give me your hands.”

Aeirawen lifted them and Kynareth took them in hers. “This is not to be taken lightly. But taken it must be. Do you willingly submit to being a Knight of Kynareth, Aeirawen? A Kynelord?”

The Bosmer blinked and then smiled at Kynareth, remembering Galasafon’s words from earlier, “I have a choice?”

Kynareth laughed, “Good girl. This will hurt, and you will have such a headache when you wake up...”

“Wait!”

“What is it now dearie?”

“Does that mean I’m immortal like Gael and the others?”

Kynareth looked to one side, pursed her lips and blew out her breath. “Yes, yes it does.” She shrugged. “Ready?”

“No. Wait!”

Kynareth raised an eyebrow, “Good girl.”

“No, really, wait. I’m twenty-eight years old...Immortality? I have to decide in seconds whether I want to outlive the world? All my loved ones?”

“Yes.”

Aeirawen shook her hands free of the Divine, walked away and then turned around, “So can I be killed at all?”

“Yes,” the Kynareth sighed. “you can be killed. You’re not invulnerable, Aeirawen, or invincible. Just immortal. If someone chops your head off, you’re dead. If someone stabs you in the heart, you’re dead. You can lose a limb and survive, but lose too much blood and...You’re dead. You’re a Knight aren’t you? You’re not invincible now. You have avoided being killed so far. Well, up until today anyway.” She smiled briefly, paused and then said, “After what is to come has passed, if you get bored of being alive, get someone to stab you. Pick a fight and lose. But until then...”

“But...Will I have to leave my friends? Go and live in a cave?”

Kynareth frowned, “Why on Nirn would you do that? Do you want to?”

“No.”

“Then don’t. Does Gael live in a cave?”

“I don’t know...”

“No, you don’t have to leave anywhere...Aeirawen, this isn’t a death sentence. It literally is the opposite of a death sentence.” Kynareth paused. “Think of all you can learn over time. Think of the power you will learn to use. Gael will help you. Just as you will help him.”

“What If I forget myself?..Like you say Gael did...”

“Then don’t.” Kynareth shrugged, “it’s all a choice Aeirawen. Do or do not. Your choice.

There is no more time. Now, Aeirawen. Please.”

The Bosmer lowered her head and a tear fell to the ground, then she nodded.

Kynareth took the Knight’s hands again. There was a glow like sunlight in each of Aeirawen’s arms.

Then Aeirawen screamed.

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



Interlude...



As Aeirawen disappeared, Kynareth sighed and walked back to the table where the other Divines were still working.

Putting her hand on her husband’s shoulder, she informed them “After that, I need to take some air.”

Zenithar put one of his large hands onto hers and turned his face up at her. Kynareth noted the naughty glint in his eye. She kissed his lips. “Oh hush you.” She smiled, “you know what I mean.”

“Don’t take too long Kynareth. This is hard enough as it is.” Said the third Divine.

“Mara dearie, I will be back before you know it.”

Mara rolled her eyes and went back to her task.

Kynareth walked from the room. She followed a verdant, grass carpeted corridor for some time. She no longer noted the blooms sprouting wherever her feet stepped. Or marvelled at how the cloudscapes on the walls altered to her passing.

Rising up onto a new section of corridor, this one with a marbled floor, she stepped out onto a balcony. From here she could survey all that they had created - at so much cost - many millennia ago.

Below her, a lone creature walked, his head turning one way and then the other, looking out over the plains far below. One of the oldest and fiercest creatures on Mundus looked for all the world like a lost puppy from here.

“Paarthurnax.” Kynareth said.

The beast whipped his head around and looked up to the balcony where Kynareth stood.

“My lady,” the Dragon bowed his big head down towards the ground, “you do me much...Honour.”

Kynareth smiled, “Good boy.”

The Dragon’s tail swished left and right.

“My lady, it has been much...Time...Since you came to...Visit...To what do I owe this...Joyous audience?”

“You still fly don’t you?”

“Yes, my lady. Not...Often, but yes...It gives me...Contentment, while I await my...Brother.”

“Do you remember how high you can fly?”

The Dragon smiled and his tail swished harder as he craned his long neck upwards to the sky. “Oh yes!..I can look down upon this...Splendour, from the very black itself. I cannot venture...Beyond too much, I cannot hold myself aloft. Nirn’s hold on me is...Too strong.” His head bowed down again. Paarthurnax looked at Kynareth. “But all you have wrought is...Most beautiful from up there my lady.”

“I know Paarthurnax, good boy.”

The great tail swished again.

“I need you to do something for me.”

“Anything, my lady.”

“Do you remember the Yskraich?”

The last dragon’s head and his tail dropped to the snow, and Paarthurnax crouched down as small as he could. “My lady.” The word came out as barely a whisper.

“First, I need you to find the Derwydd, then come back and tell me where they are. And then...One of the Yskraich is back. I need you to find its trail. For that I give you something new to learn.”

The great Dragon stood up again and lifted his head in joy. His tail swishing. “My lady, it has been so long since anything...New, came to me!..”

Kynareth extended her hand and passed knowledge to the Dragon. The Dragon’s eyes closed and his neck slowly passed left and right as he savoured the new thoughts.

“You can follow the Yskraich without being seen now.”

There was a thump and a rustle of pages behind Kynareth. Followed by a “Dammit! Damned books.” And a sigh. “I do wonder why you never gave them that ability in the first place? But then again, you were a lot crueller in them days weren’t you?”

Kynareth closed her eyes and sighed. “We all were Akatosh.”

Akatosh came to the edge of the balcony and leant on the marble railings. “Paarthurnax!” He smiled.

The great dragon looked up emanating joy, “Father! Could my day get any more...Amazing?”

“Good boy Paarthurnax!” Akatosh said, “Now what is it she wants you to do?”

The dragon lowered his head, “My lady has asked me to fly as high as I can, to find her...Derwydd and return, and then,” Paarthurnax lowered his head further, “to find her returned...Yskraich.”

“Good boy Paarthurnax.” Akatosh turned to Kynareth, “And then what? What if you found out there were more? Say, as if there were at least three?”

There was a noise from below. The closest thing a Dragon could get to a whimper.

Kynareth’s eyes widened. “Oh no.” She looked away.

“Don’t worry, the Knights know how to stop them now. It was messy, but they did stop one of them.”

“They killed one?”

Akatosh smiled briefly and shook his head, “I didn’t say that. Two others came through from somewhere and dragged it away before they could finish it off. But given a little more time...”

They looked out at the world, so peaceful from up here.

“Paarthurnax, be careful. Time to go.” Said Akatosh.

The Dragon bowed his head, “I have not seen you for so long father. More joy I have not had for many...Ages.”

Akatosh smiled. “Good boy.”

The Dragon bowed to Kynareth, “My lady.” And then he spread his mighty wings and took off, circling the peak twice and then shot upwards.

“My beautiful boy.” Akatosh whispered. He looked at Kynareth, “If anything happens to him...”

“What?”

“He wasn’t strong enough to take one Yskraich on his own. If they see him...”

Kynareth looked levelly at Akatosh, “What? If anything happens to Paarthurnax, you’ll remove me like you did Lorkhan?”

“I never touched Lorkhan!” Akatosh shouted, “Why does everyone think I did? They took Lorkhan, you know that.” Akatosh frowned at Kynraeth confusion. “Why do you not know that?”

“Who are They?”

Akatosh blinked and vanished.

Kynareth gripped the railing and stared up after Paarthurnax.

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

Akatosh stood on a hill above Anvil and called out “Julianos!” then looked out over the bay.

There was the sound of a creaking door and then, “What?” asked a small man wearing a slightly rumpled brown woollen suit and a straw hat. “Oooh, a new book for me?”

“What? Oh...Dammit!!” Akatosh threw the book on the ground, “Do you remember the They?”

The small man went and picked up the book, put it in a pocket and then walked up to Akatosh with his bushy eyebrows knitted together in a frown. He came right up and looked deep into the chief Divine’s eyes.

“Yeeesss...” He looked down again and turned away, he took several paces away and turned his head, “Yes, I remember They...How could I forget?”

“Kyn has.”

The small God’s eyes lit up. “So I was right!” He came back to Akatosh and gripped his arms. “Someone has changed the books! The knowledge is lying.” Julianos looked down again and turned his head, “Things are...Not What Was anymore.”

“Can you fix it?”

The small man looked up and wore a pained expression and softly said, “I don’t know...Maybe...” Julianos put his finger to his lips in thought and looked out over the bay. “Are you sure it needs to be?” He looked at Akatosh and held up the finger to stop any protest. “Wait, even you can’t get at the books if I don’t want you to. How do you know it wasn’t They that changed it.” Julianos patted his body, “I know I haven’t been changed...I’d remember something like that,” he smiled, “There should be a whisper on the books, I just need help to go through them. If we can find what, maybe we can find the why.”

“Let’s go then...”

“Ha-ha-haaa!!”

“What?”

“No, my friend.” Julianos shook his head and smiled at Akatosh, “I need help. Not you setting fire to the place out of boredom.” He looked out at the bay again. “I know just the chaps.

“Akatosh, always a pleasure.” Julianos smiled and extended a hand to the other Divine who shook it warmly. They stood looking at each other for some moments until Julianos raised his eyebrows and motioned with his head.

Akatosh smiled, shook his head and vanished.

Julianos looked at the bay again. He sighed, slumped slightly and simply said, “Damn...” He clicked his fingers and a door opened nearby. He walked through it and closed it to behind him.

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



Here and Now...



Gael walked up to the small group crowded around Two and the prone Aeirawen. He nodded at Brellin and walked up to Two. The horse lowered his head in greeting. Gael smiled and ran a glowing hand along Two’s forehead. The horse stopped shaking. Gael nodded at the horse and smiled even more.

He knelt down beside Aeirawen. Brellin and two Hospitaliers were tending to her. Brellin looked at Gael and said “She’s barely breathing,” he indicated the crossbow bolt, “I think it’s poisoned. Dammit, I can’t...I mean we can’t lose her.”

Gael put his hand to the arrow and then it was simply out of Aeirawen’s arm. The Druid sighed and incinerated the bolt. He put his hand to the wound and closed his eyes. A glowing could be seen under the skin of his hand. Aeirawen moaned, screamed and then opened her eyes.

“Oh hells that hurt...Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Aeirawen,” said Brellin, “What colour are your eyes?”

“Blue.” She said cautiously, “Why?”

Brellin looked at Gael, then down into Aeirawen’s now dark brown eyes.

Gael grinned and then winked at Aeirawen.

He stood, patted Two affectionately and then left Aeirawen to Brellin and the Hospitaliers. Finally, Gael walked up the hill, back to his home.

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

“Brellin, the fort...It was...Too much...We need to tell the Commander.”

“You can have a damned good go. We can’t find him. Gods only know where and when it was he went. I just hope he’s well enough. Let’s get you home. You look, radiant...Considering.”

“A compliment Brellin?”

“Yes. Yes it is.”

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

[mALX]

First let me get this out of the way: Paarthurnax !!!!!

Whew! I thought I would burst holding that in, lol.

This interplay with the gods is fascinating !!! I can't wait to see where this will take us next !!! Awesome Write !!!

[Acadian]

Yes, godly fun indeed! A blue-eyed Bosmer goes in and a brown eyed girl screams out.

Nice healing, Gael.

And a (Skyrim) dragon!

This post has been edited by Acadian: Dec 28 2011, 02:25 AM

[Grits]

Woo hoo, Paarthurnax!

The small God’s eyes lit up. “So I was right!” He came back to Akatosh and gripped his arms. “Someone has changed the books! The knowledge is lying.” Julianos looked down again and turned his head, “Things are...Not What Was anymore.”

I’m not sure if this is meant the way I’m thinking, but yes! Someone has changed the damned books!!!

Kynareth's stroll down the grassy corridor was just magic. Part 3 is my favorite part of Aeirawen's chapter.

[Athynae]

WONDERFUL!!! Like reading your way through a dream....I really like the interaction of the gods but Aeirawins run through the villages was magical.

I must admit I don't know much about Paarthurnax, or Skyrim for that matter (sacrilege I know, but ...) anyway
how can a god ever go wrong by sending a dragon in to clean something up???? I admit to having an affinity for dragons.

I really liked these additions McB. Let's do keep going, shall we? It just keeps getting better.

[Colonel Mustard]

Parthanuux!

Bwess 'im, he's doing Kyraneth's dirty work now, and nice little nod to Alduin there as well.

Also enjoyed Aierawen's flight there, and Gael's use of the elementals (sort of, I suppose) was an exctiing, enjoyable read there. Like it a lot, and it'll be interesting to see what effect Aierawen's being Kynelord will have on the story from now on.