The Wobbly Goblet Playground Options

[mALX]

*

Eyja gave an involuntary giggle at Seth's joke about Scamps. Her eyebrows raised when he mentioned his Alchemy score though.

“A Master in Alchemy!” She breathed it aloud without meaning to, but flushed in pleasure when he offered to help.

“Your help making the potion for her would be greatly appreciated. I doubt she can handle eating the ingredients raw as I did, she is...delicate.” Eyja didn't know how else to phrase it, not knowing if Dunmer would understand the comparison between a Nord's stomach workings and a Breton's.

Eyja put the list away and gathered the ingredients into a clean sack in her travel pack. She slid the Cure Disease potions in with her own vials of potions in the pack and then tied it shut.

Seth hadn’t stated a price, but his demeanor and voice showed he was exhausted. Eyja didn’t press him for a price now, let him determine the value when he was well rested and she would pay it out of her own funds. She felt responsible for Abiene having received the poison, as it was most likely meant for herself or Maxical.

“Thank you very much, Seth. I will return with the rest of the ingredients on the list.”

Seth turned his back to her as he smoked, so Eyja quickly dispelled her armor and pulled her short skirt and low cut top back on. With a grimace she realized the Gate Guard would be below stairs by now, expecting his date with her. She hefted her pack and cast chameleon so the guard wouldn’t see her leaving the inn.

Eyja turned the latch before closing the door so it locked; an exhausted man might not remember to lock it, and no telling who else saw him coming up the road.




***


In the corridor across from Seth’s room was a bloodstain left by the assassin, one large enough to draw notice.

Eyja moved silently down the steps and skimmed along the bar till she found a full bottle of wine. It was all the way in the back, with narrow aisles on either side that could trap someone trying to escape. The bar was lined with patrons, their stools shoved back so they could rest their elbows. One of them was the Gate Guard she was supposed to be meeting, he kept leaning back and scanning the crowds nearest the door.

Eyja decided to try the kitchen. At this time of night the food orders would have stopped, though there may be dishwashing going on. She gripped the swinging door and carefully wedged it open so it wouldn’t bang or draw attention to her entrance by continuing to swing after she’d passed through, barely sliding through before raised voices stopped her.

“I didn’t bother you with it when Stefania disappeared, but now Lleris is missing too!” No doubt that was the Orc woman who had welcomed her this morning.

“Good Daedric Lords, you’re not going to cry are you?” Eyja guessed the voice to be the Redguard man she’d seen earlier. “Stefania was lazy...”

“I’m not crying! Yetta must have left onion peels out, these are not tears...sniff. I don’t care about Stefania if she left of her own will, but Lleris wouldn’t leave me...us on his own! What if he's caught this terrible illness going around? He’s just a boy, alone...sniff...and don‘t tell me he’s fifteen! Just look at his face, that’s not the face of a fifteen year old!“

“I can’t look at him if he’s missing, now can I?”

“Rrrrraaaaaah...sniff sniff sniff.”

“Aw, damn it. Now don’t cry! I can’t tolerate a crying woman...stop it! Aw for the gods sake. Send for Dar’muktah. See what he can find out.”

Eyja grabbed a clean glass off the kitchen counter and cupped it in her hand, then slid back into the tavern quickly. She lined herself up with the full bottle of wine on the bar and then flung the glass in her hand onto the far wall. It hit with a loud crack and shattered into tinkling glass, drawing the attention of the room to that wall. Even the bard stopped playing and swung around to look.

Eyja slid the bottle of wine under her shirt and scooted back up the steps. She yanked the cork with a hard twist and poured it over the bloodstain, then lay the bottle on its side next to it. Unless there were vampires at the inn, no one would know the stain was anything but spilled wine.

As she tiptoed quietly down the steps to the door she heard the Breton man behind the bar bellow.

“Who took that wine that was sitting here? You, Guard! Someone here just stole a bottle of wine off the bar!”

Eyja slid out the door and headed for Chorrol.


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Jul 22 2013, 05:46 AM

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Stefan gave Aravi a charming smile. Though she was not shapely like a human, Stefan found her pleasing to the eye. He wasn't attracted to beast-folk in that manner, but it never hurt to appreciate something beautiful. Her fur had in interesting pattern that he had never seen before. Perhaps, when we've become better acquainted, I can question her about it.


"I am Stefan LeRoi. Author, adventurer, and self-proclaimed scholar. Slayer of fictional beasts and tamer of actual wild women."

He leaned back slightly, straightening up as he spoke. "I come for respite and inspiration. Tell me, Aravi, how does one as small as you slay a vampire?"

He meant no disrespect. He'd met women and men her size, mostly Bosmer, who slew larger enemies than themselves. Most just weren't as friendly as Stefan had liked. Were he to finally find a friendly being not only cordial enough to tell him of their skills, but also able to use speech properly, he wold snatch the opportunity up like a hawk snatching a field mouse.

[King Coin]

A quiet smile broke through Aravi’s fatigue and the dull pain emanating from her ear. That’s quite an introduction, she thought. I wonder who these ‘wild women’ are. She enjoyed the man’s boasts even though she didn’t quite believe them. She didn’t recognize his name, but then she didn’t get to read as much as she would have liked.

“Tell me, Aravi, how does one as small as you slay a vampire?”

“Just like anyone else. With a sword or a bow.” She yawned and covered her mouth. “Sorry, excuse me. It’s true most of them are physically larger and stronger than I am, but technique is more important than raw strength.” She paused to sip her water again and added, “I prefer to not fight them fairly either.”

“You said you were an author, is there anything I would recognize?”

[Grits]

Auguste

A noisy group of farm hands made their way to the door, bunching up as they all tried to stagger through it. Shouts and shoving ensued, but it was either good-natured or the prelude to a brawl outdoors. Auguste was not concerned with what happened out in the road. That was Nora’s problem.

“Auguste!” one of them called back as he left. The barman raised his hand to return the man’s farewell.

Tooth-in-the-Grass slouched in from the tea room, utterly wilted. “They’ve all gone.” He made a pile of gold coins on the bar. “I hope you were keeping track,” he rasped.

Auguste counted the coins at a glance and pushed some back to Tooth. They may not always see eye to eye, but neither of them would cheat the other. “It’s too late for table service,” he told Tooth. “You look done in. Sweep up and call it a night.”

“Hethilion kept up with the spills,” said Tooth. “Where’s that little wench Stefania?”

Auguste lifted a shoulder. He was not inclined to discuss one employee with another. “Get some rest, lizard.”

Yetta brought Aravi’s meal as Tooth headed back through the kitchen. The Khajiit was talking to the writer about vampires. Auguste suppressed a shudder.

“Chicken pie with carrots and peas, and here’s a bowl of strawberries,” Yetta announced. She stepped back and wiped her already clean hands on the cloth ever tucked through her apron strings. “I’m warming a berry cobbler now. On the house. Thank you for making County Chorrol a safer place.”

Auguste glanced from the big Nord woman to the slim little Khajiit. A warrior’s heart can beat in any breast, he mused. Thank Zenithar a barman’s beats in mine.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla let out several loud, audible groans of pleasure and relief as the hot water relaxed her sore and stiff muscles. She quickly scrubbed her scalp as she ducked underwater, then saw the various soaps on the lip of the tub.

"Jasmine and vanilla, Rose and White Lotus? Bird of Paradise?" She sighed in disappointment as she saw there was no plain scent of vanilla. She tentatively sniffed each one, then decided that the jasmine and vanilla mix smelled wonderful. She carefully washed herself, applying the oil to the bathwater. She dried herself off and brushed her shoulder-length auburn hair.

She caught sight of the three long scars across her breasts in the mirror and collarbone and sighed in dismay. She gently touched the raised flesh, startlingly pink against her golden elven skin. She inspected the rest of her large scars. A claw mark from a vampire down the right side of her neck, several stab wound scars, then the long pink scar running from her elbow to her wrist where she blocked a blow from an overly-eager bandit.

She shook herself and brushed her hair, waves already forming. She thought about wearing her green dress, one she had picked up back in Anvil and kept in her pack. She instead put on a pair of loose-fitting black pants with several pockets. She drank a cure disease potion and put a few septims in one pocket to pay for her mean. She donned a white, also loose-fitting shirt. She was dressing for comfort tonight. The dress would restrict her movement and after being in her armor for so long, she wanted as much freedom as she could get.

She dabbed a bit of the oil on her wrists and neck and again thought of the bard.

Forget about him. she thought. If he approached me tonight, I'd most likely fall asleep during the foreplay.

All she wanted was some company tonight. Not sex, not passion, just someone to talk to. She went downstairs to see Aravi talking with a handsome Imperial man. She smiled and ordered her meal, "Anything with ham and wine, please. And potatoes. Just food." and turned to see the girl from the other night by the fire. She ran her fingers through her hair and stood next to her, smiling.

"Hi there, Irvana. Feeling better?"

- - -

"Swords and bows, eh?" Stefan mused. "And you fight dirty. Interesting. I suppose when one has an advantage over another, the playing field must be leveled in unexpected ways. You don't use magick?"

This post has been edited by Elisabeth Hollow: Jul 23 2013, 05:01 AM

[Darkness Eternal]

"Hi there, Irvana. Feeling better?"

The raven-haired woman turned to the source of the voice heavy with a northern accent. The speaker was Kayla herself sans the blood stains, the sweat, the dirt and grime but still wearing those dreadful scars.

After seeing her in armor, Kayla was more or less a different person in her white shirt and black pants. Despite her scars, Irvana didn't see too much of a killer in Kayla. Though looks can be very deceiving and those scars and that blade she had earlier sent a message to Irvana that she was every bit of tough.

Irvana smiled and on what seemed to be impulse, she reached out to grab Kayla in a tight embrace that was somewhat weak. She leaned in closer to her neck where her soft auburn hair brushed against her nose. It had a strong smell of jasmine and vanilla. She turned and gave Kayla a quick kiss on the cheek.

"I am ecstastic to see you here alive and well."

A good part of her knew Kayla would survive the encounter. The undead in the cavern weren't as powerful as they could've have been. She would have a much more difficult time killing an ancient . . . or perhaps not. Not with Dawnbreaker at her side. Truly, the weapon is fascinating and mysterious. But to say that the Daedra and magic works in mysterious ways is to admit one’s nescience, for any mystery can be solved through the use of knowledge and unrelenting effort.

"I owe you my gratitude, Kayla. You have my deepest and sincere thanks for dispatching those vampires. The thought of them stalking these areas would be most unbearable."

Irvana let out a sigh of relief as she studied Kayla from head to toe. She looked much better than before, and even healthier in appearance. Surely a woman in her line of work would've have drank a potion to ward off the diseases such as vampirism. Seeing Kayla turn into one would be very problamatic, and Irvana shuddered at the thought. She would have to be put down . . .

Instead of entertaining dark thoughts, she adopted a smile and took her seat. "Please, sit down. You must be famished."

[King Coin]

A chicken pie and a bowl of strawberries were placed before Aravi. The hearty meal and the promise of cobbler decided one dilemma for her. There’s no way I’m going to be able to get to Chorrol after all this food.

She thanked Yetta for the delicious meal and picked up her fork. Steam rose from the pie. Eager in her hunger, the first bite burned her mouth. She sipped her water to help quell the pain.

Stefan made use of the distraction to ask another question instead of answering hers.

"Swords and bows, eh? And you fight dirty. Interesting. I suppose when one has an advantage over another, the playing field must be leveled in unexpected ways. You don't use magick?"

Aravi used her fork to stab holes into the pie while she listened. She wanted this food to cool off quickly so she could safely eat it.

“Fighting dirty, as you say, is a lot safer than fighting fair. And I do know a little magick.” She took another forkful and blew on it. “I have some skill in restoration and alteration.” She ate the bite quickly. “Neither of those are very useful in a fight though. Why are you so interested?”

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla's eyebrow involuntarily raised when Irvana kissed her cheek. She kept a close-mouthed smile on her face as she returned the embrace.

What is it with these Cyrodiliic women and kissing?!

She remembered Maxical greeting her in the same way the other day. I wonder where she went. I bet she went into town.

Once she got some breakfast, she'd head into town and see if she couldn't find her.

And Abiene. Gods, where did everyone go? How long were we gone for?

To Kayla, it felt like days, even weeks since she'd seen something other than Aravi's (understandably) irritated tail twitches and heard Vera's snide comments. In any case, she was glad to be out of that stinking armor and inot something loose. She nodded at Irvana as she thanked her for killing the vampires.

She sat with her and let out an embarrassed laugh.

"Honestly, I was too injured to kill the last one. You should've seen Aravi and Vera, though! Vera's fantastic with that crossbow, and Aravi is really talented with disarming traps." She ran her fingers through her hair absently. "Aravi'a so little that the vamps underestimated her, but she's really quick. And Vera shows no hesitation, which is good...in some cases."

She briefly remembered the thrall, a flicker of regret crossing her face. She composed herself and shot Aravi a smile, then turned back when she noticed her friend was eating. she put a hand to her stomach and laughed as growled audibly.

"Yeah, I'm a bit hungry. That's part of being on the road, though. Eat just enough to get you by."

- - -

"Just simple curiosity, Aravi." Stefan said, shooting her another smile. "So, the three of you went on a vampire hunt, eh?"

I can picture it now... Three beautiful women moving gracefully through the shadows as a snarling vampire patriarch sniffs them out, craving their blood.

[Grits]

Auguste

Kayla settled by the fire with Irvana. Auguste glanced at the stairs. Vera was up with her partner, but no doubt she would want a meal afterward. Yetta wouldn’t go to bed until she’d fed all of the returning warriors.

Yetta came through with her arms full, trailing a mouth-watering aroma. Auguste picked up the wine and followed her to the fireside table.

“Baked ham, home-fried potatoes and onions, summer squash, buttered corn off the cob, rolls with honey, and here,” Yetta placed a small plate beside the platters, “I heard you were from Skyrim so I made snowberry muffins.” The Nord stepped back with her customary flourish. “Plus I’ll bring a berry cobbler when you’re ready, compliments of the house. We’re all grateful for what you did out there.”

Auguste spoke up. “Yetta doesn’t make those muffins for just anyone,” he confided. “It’s not easy to get snowberries, and there’s never enough to put on the menu.”

Yetta flicked him with her towel, possibly blushing. It was hard to tell with her ruddy cheeks and smudges of flour.

“This is from Laegon.” Auguste presented the bottle of Tamika’s. “He’s also eager to express his… appreciation.”

The bard struck a dramatic chord. Auguste watched for Kayla’s reaction so he could turn it to his advantage back at the bar. This situation called for a wager.

[King Coin]

Aravi nodded at Stefan’s question and took the small pause in the conversation to make some progress on her food. She heard Kayla laugh somewhere and glanced back. Ah. There’s Irvana too. She wondered if the woman was feeling better now that she’s had some time to recover from the attack.

She looked back to Stefan. She somehow doubted he was done with his questions. “What more do you want to know?” Then a thought struck her. “Are you from around here?” If he is, he may have known one of the victims… or even the thrall.

[Grits]

Bograk

Yetta walked away from the fireside group and approached the bar. She headed for Aravi, carrying a plate piled high with her special snowberry muffins.

“Might want to save those for her breakfast,” Bograk told her. “That cobbler you made is as big as her head. Can’t have you killing the guests through their bellies.”

Yetta’s brow furrowed as she considered. Then she gave a nod and moved back into the kitchen.

The front door opened, and Bograk’s missing waitress sauntered in.

“Stefania!” Bograk grabbed the girl’s arm and steered her into the hallway. “Where have you been all day?”

“Easy!” Stefania wiggled around in the orc’s grip. “I brought that item you told me to get from that… person! Didn’t Lleris tell you? He was supposed to say the message had come!”

Bograk let go of the arm and took the package. “Where’s Lleris? When did you talk to him?”

“This morning!” Stefania straightened her cloak and sleeve with exaggerated affront. Bograk rolled her eyes. “I don’t know where he went. I saw him up in the corridor. After breakfast.”

“It took you all day to pick this up?” Bograk demanded, covering her worry over Lleris. “Spent some time hanging around at the Priory, I’d wager. He’s a monk, Stefania. He lives in a monastery. You’ll not get much attention from him.”

Stefania sniffed and put her chin in the air. “What, someone who lives with just a bunch of men, devoting every hour to serving his Brothers? Ha! He must be desperate for company. We’ll see what I can get from him!”

The Imperial flounced away. Bograk shook her head. That kid has a lot to learn.

The package in her hands felt heavy for its size. Best to get this taken care of. She made her way up through the inn to her private quarters.

Bograk’s suite occupied the center part of the building’s attic, adjacent to Riad’s equally comfortable quarters. She walked to her desk and started to secure the package.

A noise from her bedchamber made her pause. Someone was curled in a quilt at the foot of her bed. Lleris. Bograk covered the distance in a blink.

The lad’s hair was stiff with sweat, his cheeks flushed purple with fever.

Lleris opened his eyes a crack. “Bograk,” he croaked. “I don’t feel very good.”

.

This post has been edited by Grits: Jul 23 2013, 03:57 PM

[Darkness Eternal]

"Honestly, I was too injured to kill the last one. You should've seen Aravi and Vera, though! Vera's fantastic with that crossbow, and Aravi is really talented with disarming traps." Kayla explained to Irvana with an embarrased laugh. She wasn't proud to admit it, and with good reason.

So, Irvana mused silently. They were a challenge to Kayla even when she is in possession of the wayward solar daughter's sword. A blade meant to destroy false life.

"Oh surely you were capable of dispatching those savages," Irvana said, and with a whisper she added. "With the Lady of Infinite Energies' sword."

She was content to have learned more about Aravi as well. The khajiit is good with traps, it would seem, and her small stature made opponents underestimate her. It was a remarkble thing, to know of one's true strength when others would mistake it for weakness. Being part of dramas and various plays, Irvana understood this as well as anyone.

Kayla then added that she was hungry and in appropiate timing the cook came toward them with a platter full of food with the Breton bartender giving the woman praise for her efforts. Irvana sat by with a faint smile as Kayla was presented with a bottle of wine from Laegon, the bard. He also explained the man was eager to show his appreciation.

Irvana's eyes focused in on the bottle as it was given to Kayla, her mind already processing the information. She has an admirer . . . the bard. Or perhaps he's just another man seeking to gain access into her skirts.

She looked at the platter of food as it was set on the table. "This looks fabulous." Irvana said.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

How is it that everyone on godsdamned Nirn can figure out that I've got Dawnbreaker?! Kayla fumed. She expected people who had seen it to connect the dots, unless they were slow or just didn't pay attention to the legends of daedric artifacts.

But seriously, she thought, her eyebrows knitted together in displeasure. I had it hidden away. Didn't I? She knew she obsessively checked the flap to make sure the shining jewel in the hilt was hidden. Maybe Irvana glimpsed it.

She'd heard that certain mages can detect powerful magicks just by being near them. She'd never gotten too interested in magick, so her skill was low beside setting things on fire and providing light in dark spaces. She also knew a useful muffle spell, but it only lasted a few moments.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the most tantalizing smell. She turned her head to see the Nord woman, the cook, bring out a large plate of food. Had Kayla been standing up, her knees would have buckled at the sight. she composed herself and looked up at Yette as the Nord spoke.

“I heard you were from Skyrim so I made snowberry muffins.”

Kayla's jaw dropped. "I haven't had snowberry muffins since I left Skyrim! Thank you!"

“Plus I’ll bring a berry cobbler when you’re ready, compliments of the house. We’re all grateful for what you did out there.”

"Oh, it's no problem." She said softly, gingerly picking up a muffin and smelling it, closing her eyes.

“Yetta doesn’t make those muffins for just anyone,” The barman said. Kayla glanced over at him, then at the cook. She gave her a wide, genuine smile.

"Then thank you doubly for this. I'm truly touched by this gesture."

“This is from Laegon.” Auguste presented the bottle of Tamika’s. “He’s also eager to express his… appreciation.”

Kayla blushed and looked over at the bard, who strummed his loot, looking at her. She bit her lower lip and fluttered her lashes slightly, unconsciously.

"Uh, thank you, Laegon. Tamika's is my favorite wine."

She looked at the food and the wine and realized that was the most appreciation she had ever gotten. Usually she had gold shoved in the palms of her hands with a gruff, "Now go." The stigma attached to vampire hunters was not unlike the stigma attacked to daedra worshipers in some places, though vampire hunters weren't chased out of cities and towns, thankfully. Some assumed them weird, paranoid, even dangerous.

In truth, she was only the last one.

She began eating her food, her stomach protesting loudly at the smell. She popped the cork on the wine, smiling at Laegon and Yetta appreciatively as she poured it into the empty wine glass Auguste had handed her.

"it IS delicious!" She said to Irvana, but moreso to Yette. "And I'll eat every single bit of it."

[ImperialSnob]

Glenius opened the door to the inn,leaving Gareth and Lanius in the stable.

He had his green cloak's hood up,he's cloak protected the back of his brown jacket and white shirt and a bit of his brown linen trousers,he also wore fur boots.

He had a satchel,you could see a book poking out of it,too big a fit for the satchel.

He also had a dagger that was sheated in his holster that went around his waist.

He looked around saw the many patrons,some looked at him,he want over to the barmaid and asked for a bottle of mead.

After he took his mead he took a seat by the fire and began drinking,he didn't put his hood down yet.

Glenius was always warry of people and he kept his dagger close.

Glenius had a scar under his eye,it was quite large and went across his nose stopping just above his upper lip.

"I hope Gareth and Lanius are ok" he whispered to himself.

[Darkness Eternal]

Irvana made her lips a thin line. Kayla indeed deserved the muffins for her exploits back in that cavern, as did Aravi. In fact, Irvana can think of a thousand things these two women deserve for their stand against vampirism.

Kayla seemed visibly irritated. The furrowing of the brows was more than enough to tell Irvana that this might be a touchy subject, or at least one she was confident would never be raised. What she was interested in knowing was why Kayla had went to such lenghts to conceal her weapon? Fear? Fear that someone might steal it? Fear that someone might look upon her with disdain for consorting with Daedric Princes?

I found a nerve . . .

Then as a book, Irvana read Kayla some more. The lashes fluttering like a butterfly in mating season, who bit her lip subconsciously as she blushed in flattery. A small gesture from a man is enough to make this vampire hunter float in her shoes? No. It would appear that she fancies the man. This too, made Irvana all the more curious. Intensely so, but she did not show it. Nor did she decide to comment on it. Most things she just keeps to herself.

Irvana waited for a moment until Kayla swallowed before touching her gently on the leg. "What brings you from the north here to the Imperial Province?"

She locked her beautiful sulfuric radiant eyes with Kayla, and with a smile, she leaned back.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla drained the last bit of her wine from the cup before answering Irvana's question. "I came here to Cyrodiil for an expedition for great treasure. I've been saving up my earnings from adventuring and vampire hunting for years, but all of my money seems to disappear once I get hungry." She looked at the nearly empty plate of food and laughed. She handed Irvana a muffin.

"Snowberries are delicious. My ma used to put them in my oatmeal in the mornings. She'd have my sisters and I go pick some so that by the time da got home, he'd have some bread with the berries baked in. She guarded the recipe from the other women in town like a bear guards her cubs!" She laughed loudly, covering her mouth with one hand. She shot a discreet glance at Laegon, who was strumming his lute to a simple, but pretty tune. She bit her lip again and sighed softly before turning back to Irvana.

"I hope you don't think I'm a giggling schoolgirl, fawning over a bard." She murmured, leaning closer. "It's rare that I get male attention." She smiled. "I don't expect you to understand. You're a very pretty girl, and that man at the bar has been sneaking glances at you."

True to her word, Stefan glanced over at Irvana occasionally as he chatted with Aravi. He answered her question with a nod.

"Yes, I'm from around here. Born, raised, and bred several times." He grinned at her and chuckled at his own joke.

[Darkness Eternal]

Irvana listened to Kayla as she was handed a muffin, and she stared at the freshly baked loaf in her hands and took a small bite out of it.

Kayla explained a bit of her childhood with snowberries, and why she must been having so much fun eating it. Being away from home for so long is bound to bring memories. Kayla sounded like she had a pleasant childhood with her sisters. This brought Irvana's memories to what she had written of her own childhood, but nothing there was remotely close in comparison to Kayla's.

After striking a note in her words, she covered her mouth in embarrasment and shot a discreet look at the bard. Realizing she demonstrated her concern on his possible opinion on her, she turned to her and spoke once more.

Irvana understood she must not have many male suitors with those scars, but in this day and age men seemed to be desperate for anything that didn't have the same organ as them in between their legs.

She turned to the man at the bar. She wasn't flattered, attracted, or impressed. In fact, it has been sometime since she's last had a lover. One could say she's invested in so much that she had little time for mutual attraction and companionship, as odd as that sounds.

"Attraction must be grounded upon a thing beyond looks alone," Irvana said after awhile. "When one grows old, or if they sustain skin-altering or physical damage . . . what becomes of them, then?" She sighed as she turned her head away from the man and toward Kayla and giggled. "I must confess that I am not always like this. There are certain days where I look absolutely terryfing! Having a water basin next to your bed always helps. But I've been dissapointed far too many times to concern myself with the petty squabbles of the day to day minutiae."

She approximated herself toward Kayla, while at the same time gnoring the bard. "Just be careful with men, Kayla. Be wise. Many are worthy, but many seek to manipulate you. Trust me, it is a terrible thing when you cannot trust the people closest to you."

She glanced over at the bard and squinted her eye, and then leaned back. "Please, do not condemn me for a prude. I love the passion and to feel something for another, I just never truly found the time in recent days. I have been rather occupied with a great many things."

Irvana took another bite of the muffin and set it down on the table. She didn't savor the taste of it as Kayla did. It simply wasn't her choice of food. "Forgive me if I may seem a bit intrusive in your buisiness, but I have not met many vampire hunters in these areas. I was always fascinated by the nightmarish stories of vampires and I loved hearing tales about the men and women who hunted them. Are you alone or are you part of a faction that specializes in tracking and hunting them down?'

This post has been edited by Darkness Eternal: Jul 24 2013, 01:43 AM

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Something Irvana said struck a chord in Kayla's chest. She deflated almost visibly.

She's right. What type of man would be interested in a woman that looks like me?

She poured herself another glass of wine and gulped it down while Irvana spoke. The last time she had had a man's affections, though they were strictly physical, was three years ago. They were both drunk, and the deed wasn't memorable, though he claimed she was loud and raucous the entire time. Truthfully, she remembered feeling ill from the alcohol in the middle of it, then waking up the next afternoon in bed with a strange man's hand cupping her breast.

Before that was six years, before she had her facial scarring. She was young and fresh-looking, tall and proud, and willing to bed any man that could beat her in a barfight. Strength is what attracted her. Strength and brains. How low had she sunk that she was getting hot and bothered by a common bard?

Low, indeed.

Kayla was suddenly very glad that she left the dress in her pack upstairs. The neckline was too low for someone with as much scarring as herself. The sleeves were short as well, whereas in her current state of dress, she would only reveal her scar if she leaned too far forward. Even so, someone would have to look directly into her chest, and if they did, she'd most likely knock their head against a table.

She scratched her scalp absently as she answered Irvana's question, leaning forward and keeping her voice low.

"Cult of Meridia. Founded one hundred years ago, before my time. Not very well known, not very active in the spotlight. We mostly moonlight as watchdogs for Meridia, but some of us actively fight vampires." She sighed and glanced at the muffin left partially eaten by Irvana.

Such a waste.

"Ask whatever you like. I'll tell you what I can."

[Darkness Eternal]

Cult of Meridia, mused Irvana. A small group of fanatics that she hasn't heard in years. She's certainly heard of them when they were founded, but more prominant cults rose like the Mythic Dawn. Even though she never seen much of them in the light, which oddly enough is they might operate, she did not understimate their abilities and potential. The Mythic Dawn remained hidden for so long that they were able to cripple an empire with efficiency and cunning. Through contagion rather than subjugation.

Well versed in history and academics, Irvana has memorized tons of information over the years that one might wonder how a fresh-faced girl can be so intelligent. With coffers stuffed and social graces robust, anything is possible.

Looking at Kayla, Irvana could discern that she's been through a lot and many scars—emotional ones—linger deep inside and with proper words, could be revealed soon enough. She didn't desire to appear too curious or overly invasive of other people's buisiness.

"I am only curious," Irvana said with a bow of the head. "I don't have many friends. The ones I had were partners in dramatic plays in the Imperial City, though they moved on to other things. "A little about myself. I am a bit of a scholar. I spend tremendous amount of time leeching off books and pouring my soul into paper. I like to study everything; social arts, history, culture, schools of magick, and Daedra and everything in between. So believe me that you had my attention when I saw that sword of yours upon your return, for I knew what it was. You strike me as a capable woman and I don't imagine you stole that blade from Meridia . . . what did you to obtain it?'

Her eyes sparkled in the fire, and had a light glow to them. She smiled with a grin of a little girl intent on hearing more about a story.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Godsdamnit.

The question everyone eventually asked her. How did you obtain this sword?

Not through trickery, deceit, no. Skill and potential. She'd shown promise at alchemy, sword fighting, hand to hand, and most importantly, she was very hard to infect. She'd found that out the hard way when she was a child, right after the group took her in.

The potions were part precaution, part paranoia. She kept her skill in alchemy honed by preparing curing potions and brewing deadly poisons, for both the natural and supernatural beings. She'd found a way to completely silence and paralyze a vampire, keeping it from dispelling the effects of the poison and giving her an advantage.

She gave Irvana a half smile and heaved her chest in a small sigh. "In our group, there were about 35 of us, known to each other. There are others, hidden even from other members. Recruitment is tricky, as you have to have something to bring to the table. Some brought information, some brought money, some brought skill. Someone else brought me."

She cleared her throat and took a drink of her third glass of wine. She began to feel the effects of the alcohol slightly, loosening her tongue quite a bit.

"My town was massacred by Movarth Piquine. He had some sort of fascination with children, small girls especially. He turned my sister, and tried to turn me. I resisted the disease, outlasting the other children as they turned quickly. Children can't fight a sickness like vampirism. As soon as they figured out what was going on, the watchdogs in our town tried to cure the children. Once the disease hits a certain point, though, it's too late. But they tried their damndest, even went as far as to try to kill Movarth in his lair nearby.

"They knew our town was doomed, and instead of killing the vampiric children in it, they died at their hands. I awoke in a bed in the alchemist's shop. I remember the man was always kind to me, even when others in town disliked me for being an Altmer in a Nord town. He was a Breton, and not quite as distrusted, as he was human.

"Turns out, he was in the cult, and had sent a courier to some members in the next town. They found me in the bunker, filthy and nearly feral from hunger and terror. A Khajiit man carried me out, Ma'dat. When we arrived at the shrine, he offered me. 'This one brings you bloodied innocence as a gift, my lady.' he said. And she accepted. I was raised from the age of twelve by cultists. They each taught me the skill they had. Some I excelled at, others I failed at. I excel at Destruction magick, hand to hand, swordfighting, and alchemy. I've had Dawnbreaker at my side ever since I stopped whacking myself in the face with practice swords."

She laughed, then let out a little sigh. She shifted in her seat and took another gulp of her wine.

"So, there you have it. Meridia demanded a champion, and she chose me. I'm not a...perfect champion, not by far. But I'm hard to kill. Each one of these scars is their own story, their own battle. This one," She pointed to the one on her cheek. "Vampire, of course. But she was vicious and feral. She'd drained seven children in a small farming villiage outside or Markarth, all under the age of five. This one," she pointed to the one in the shape of a smile on her throat. "A smarter vampire. Not quite feral, but still vicious all the same. He tried to slit my throat, but got a mouthful of fire instead." She barked a quiet laugh.

She frowned. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to babble. Is there anything else you'd like to know?"