Today in Cyrodiil, spoilers version, TES: 4 Oblivion character accounts & stories Options

[Lopov]

That's another potential disguise - a Dremora.

[Renee]

Yeah, if I ever make Kahreem show up on PC he can have all sorts of disguises! Can you imagine?

I wrote this following update ages ago, probably a year ago. Time to finally spew post it. It takes place in one of the modded versions of Kvatch (Kvatch Rising by Giskard's team).


Middas, 10:25 am, Evening Star 19, 4th Era 20

Renee Gade III

Race: Imperial
Birthsign: The Lady
Class: Warrior Princess
Level: 6

Days Passed: 115

Skill Increases: 224
Training Sessions: 5
Novice Skils: 9
Apprentice Skills: 11
Journeymn Skils: 1
Expert Skills: 0
Master Skils: 0

Bounty: 0
Fame: 14
Infamy: 3

Days Jailed: 0
Assaults: 10
Murders: 2
Horses Stolen: 0
Largest Bounty: 1,000
Places Found: 200
Ingredients Eaten; 656
Hours Slept: 1,274
Hours Waited: 232



"I am Lucitia, Luci for short. I am from Skyrim."

"A pleasure to speak with you".

The man before her, an Imperial, seems kind and clean-cut, with an easy smile. Luci, also known as Renee Gade III, feels no need for putting her guard up. This guy is not even close to being as insulting as Owyn back in the Imperial City. "I am here to inquire about participating in an arena match. I know things must be different here than they are in the Imperial City."

"The heros that fight in the Arena get 500 gold per fight," the Imperial man answers. "And any loot they can carry out of the Arena. So the pay is good, but the risks are high. Some of the traitors are farmers, and sheep herders--easy picking. But others are heros in their own right. You will not know who you face in the arena until you get in the arena, so it's wise to prepare yourself before each fight. If you come up against one of these traitorious heros, you will at least be ready for them."

She looks doubtfully at the weapon she's been carrying lately, a spear. Not her first choice. Spears had been in fashion long ago, in the days when greater armies had gathered and scoured. Now, it was said that such weapons were mainly still used in Morowind and Solstheim. Why had she brought in a spear instead of one of her many swords? To be different, perhaps. To make more of an impression.

"I'm all for this. As you can see, I have several others with me, and don't worry, they will not be joining in the match. I travel with them, though. They will merely watch."

"We have a Mythic Dawn agent protesting his innocense. You are to uphold his conviction by executing him in the arena. I'll open the door to the arena for you. Go and give him a taste of Colovian Justice."

Feeling confidence slip can be a bad thing, and Renee feels hers has fallen a notch. So to right this, she decides she'll borrow her friend Felrika's sheild, just in case. The Arena's prosecutor had just explained the person she would be fighting would be from the Mythic Dawn, so chances are he'd use lots of magic, backed up by some flimsy daggar, but one could never be too careful. Not all Mythic Dawn agents were the same; one must never assume. For all she knows, she could be up against a guy who can summon daedroth.

"Okay, I am ready for my fight."

"Go ... hurt someone."

---



10:58 am
As she walks up a stone, curved path, which has been covered with the dried blood of many, she can hear the cheering of the crowds before her.

"Mythic Dawn scum, we reject your pleas of innocense," says an unseen announcer's voice. "You have the desperate ravings of a proven traitor. Before you stands one of Cyrodiil's greatest heroes, here to judge you on behalf of the people of Colovia. Let the fight begin."

She begins with a usual toss of her chakram*, which is always a gamble. Those who were deft with their feet would simply dodge this attack, but this time Renee is lucky. The chakram connects, causing her oppnent to stumble and fall. Her opponent is a Redguard, wearing strange armor Renee has never seen before. But he wears armor clearly, not robes. And he wields a large 2-handed hammer, not a daggar, as Renee had assumed. His hammer is enchanted with some sort of destructing magic too, making her glad she borrowed Felrika's shield.

The two trade blows, and before long, both of them are wanting for health. Renee fumbles for the pack of potions she's brought with her, but it's simply easier to cast spells, so she heals herself quickly, while the Redguard does the same. At several times, she falters! Unlike the enemies she had faced back in the Imperial City, this guy is good! He does not bother to try taunting or insulting Renee Gade III, he puts all his energy into attack ... to ensure his survival.

It is only when Renee's luck really begins to fall, her health just a sliver, that the fight is amazingly over. The Redguard had landed a good blow on her, causing her to stagger, and the crowd to cheer! But the advantage of her spear is its length, and its speed. She can get a good slash or stab at the Mythic Dawn man, causing him pain more accurately, while he can only swing his heavy, unwieldly hammer, hoping for connection. The problem with his hammer, of course, is once it is swinging and in motion, it is near-impossible to influence the arc of this swing further.

Renee takes advantage of this. She dances around the Redguard, getting several good slashes every time, while he struggles clumsily. Within two minutes (or three? ... five?) it is finally over.

"Paradise awaited this one at the end of a Colovian sword," says the unseen voice, clearly mistaking Renee's cutting spear for a blade. "All hail today's champion! May she live to cut down many, many more."

Lucitia, aka Renee Gade III, takes a bow, and goes back to find the ones she loves and who love her.



This post has been edited by Renee: Jul 10 2016, 06:55 PM

[Acadian]

What a great episode in the life of Lucy Lawless Xena Renegade III Warrior Princess as she cheats death another day while delivering Colovian justice!

Not only was it fun to read, but Lucy’s tactics were sound and well-described.

Loved the chakram! Sir Mazoga carries an enchanted (returns to thrower) one in Buffy’s fanfic world.

[mirocu]

I sometimes miss the Arena. Good to know it´s not devoid of challenges

[Lopov]

Yay, she's wielding a spear! It's my favorite type of weapon.

Good story too, I also expected the Mythic Dawn agent to be some sort of mage, instead he was a pure warrior. Nicely done, Lucitia Gade!

[Renee]

Thank you Lopov & Acadian. Why do you miss the Arena, mirocu?

Sundas, 11:52 am, Rain's Hand 7, 3rd Era 434

I am having a thrilling game with Kahreem today, while a warm summer's rain drenches things outside. Kahreem found the door Fathis Aren's hidden lair, but just after opening this door (4 tumblers) one of the dremora apparently noticed Kahreem, and this guy began chasing him. Dang, it took awhile to find that lair, which means he'll have to go all the way back.

But it got pretty exciting because the dremora followed Kahreem as he left the secret passage back into Aren's room. Kahreem ran back into the castle's main court area, and luckily the guards there don't like dremora. They beat the thing down! Phew.

Now Kahreem wears some robes with a steel helmet. The guards did not seem to notice that he'd been trespassing. Time for a little TLC back at Silverhome on the Water.

[Acadian]

A rainy day in Renee land means happy gaming! Glad Kahreem made it out of Fathis' lair - thanks to the help of his *cough* fellow guards.

[Renee]

Sorry that wasn't much of an update. It happens. Honestly, we are rather stumped right now. Kahreem found three keys on Fathis Aren, but so far haven't found what these keys open. So we spent a lot of time last night walking in circles, going places we'd already been several times, just to see if we missed anything.

[Grits]

Renee, I have had the best time catching up on the adventures of Kahreem, Sarah, and Renee Gade the 3! Kahreem’s antics are hilarious. He has a line for every situation. Sarah’s mysterious quest has me wondering what’s going to happen and what she will do. I love that you made it just for her! Gade’s last line made me smile: to find the ones she loves and who love her. It’s always the personal lives of characters that are the most interesting to me, even when they are involved in great adventures.

Good luck with Kahreem’s search!

[Lopov]

“You’re not supposed to be in here!”

“Is that so? And you are? How do I know that you’re not some kind of thief? Bald head, white robes, fine mage shoes – yes, you look like a thief to me. I see lots of your kind in Waterfront.”

And then he was gone.

Irlav Jarol was perplexed – some Wood Elf came to the Arch-Mage’s Tower at 1 AM, and when Irlav warned him of trespassing, the Wood Elf told HIM that he wasn’t supposed to be here? And that he looks like a thief? He quickly checked his fine white robes and the matching shoes – does he really look like a thief? Nobody ever said this to him in his long career at the Arcane University. And where has the Wood Elf gone now? Surely he hadn’t used the portal to reach private quarters of the Arch-Mage? No, that would be too bold!

But in the next second he was once again standing next to Irlav and it seemed like he came from the Arch-Mage’s quarters indeed.

“This is your last warning!” threateningly said Irlav. Besides, there was something on the Wood Elf that shouldn’t be on him but Irlav didn’t immediately notice what it was.

“I’m leaving, don’t worry. And the first thing I’ll do outside, will be to call guards and tell them there’s some thief in white robes trespassing in the Arcane University!” The Wood Elf called Manuin waged his finger at Irlav before stepping in the portal, leading to the lower hall. But just before he disappeared, encircled in blue magic, he winked at Irlav. In that moment Irlav also noticed what was on the Wood Elf’s back that wasn’t supposed to be there – Hrormir’s Icestaff, one of the most prized artifacts of the Arch-Mage!

Methredhel’s plan worked as intended – as soon as the Arch-Mage found out about the theft, he demanded for Legion troops to be called back to the Arcane University instead of chasing for ghosts in the Waterfront. Hieronymus Lex was furious – he lost another battle against the Thieves Guild.

[Acadian]

Loved how Manuin had Irlav so confused the old wizard was even second guessing his robes!

[Renee]

There you go. A little bit of reverse-psychology from Manuin there. Irlav is the thief, not the actual thief who stole something!

[Lopov]

I wrote this story about five months ago, a month before I took a pause from Manuin. Earlier today as I was cleaning my gaming folders, I came upon Manuin's word file where I keep all stories and checked whether there's something waiting to be published - turns out it was, and there's another one ready, but that one is more a recollection of events in Skingrad than a proper story.

[Grits]

Ha, poor Irlav! I love the wink as Manuin disappears.

[Renee]

Morndas, Heartfire 24

A ghost dwells within the grave-yard. A ghost, amongst Skingrad's graves, and across from its chapel. She stands and stares; all hours of her stint devoted to nothing-ness.

I have broached upon these conclusions after many walking-bys, for I have, myself, my very own fascination with the yard and its tomb stones. She stands and stares, and SEES me, but abstains from conveying her thoughts. And not one other citizen within Skingrad, nor the waifs from Kvatch, seem to heed any sort of concern for her presence. Thus, she has my attentions, but never thri captures theirs. A peering of fortitude. Perhaps 'tis the way she prefers it.

Well, back to toiling. Apple cabbage soup, to-day.

@-}----

~ Late evening

And now I must recount, with harrolw * harrowing trepidation, the menace which dwelt within my cellar. And I say "dwelt", not "dwells", for the menace is no more. She... or perhaps "it", has been deceased, and eradicated.

My hand it shsal trembles. I must calm my-self.

Yes, I did gather my wits, and readied my nerves stead-fastedly, and made some preparations for descending down those stairs. I bore a torch, a-lit with flame, and sharpened my blade. And tried not to shudder and quake as the ra stairs below me creaked, and the house itself seemed to breathe and moan.

And lo ... some THING was indeed down there, some-wheres before me. when I make usage of the word 'menace', I make this usage without pretension.

utter dark-ness, and gloom all about. Without my torch, the darkness was blacker than the pitch of night. I made quick notice of the place's cleanliness, for I expected natty old boxes, and crates all about. And rats, perhpas. perhaps. Rats, with steely eyes and fright-ful countenances. But such was not of any concern. For the place was not immaculate, but also not unkempt, and not packed full of old, torn clothings, or disheveled furnishing. Aye, though there were some crates, some rotted food.

But then I made notice of the bones. And a sort of "shuffling" sound?

Bones, all about, and by 'bones', I mean not a stray, abandoned feast for a feline, I mean to say there are skeletons down there. Entire skeletons. Several of them, replete of enough sinew to keep one bone adhered to the next. Skeletons. Who were they? I counted four of them, in all, before the menace, the ghoulish apparition, what-ever she was, made her appearnce.

Blime. A few moments of fright! For my previous trepidations were not without warrant. A horror did inhabit my cellar. A ghoulish, pale-skinned lady? Ghoulish and ghastley. Well, perhaps at once time long in the past, she was a lady. A tea-sipper, perhaps. A quaint and tempered socialite, perhaps. A formerly wretched concubine? Who is to say? What-eer she was, she was no more.

My trainings! My trainings in the destruction of flames, they recurred, and within a moment I had my brandished my daggar as well, and was imparting a volley of fires upon her bared skin. Bared, for she bore no clothings. We scuttered and scuffed about the floor, exchanging blows. She made a dash, and gathered her-self a fallen axe, gratingly massive, so thaht tI I had only to handle just one of its blows before I'd find myself fallen.

So 'twas of imoo importance, my dashing about ` upon my feet, feinting left then feinting right, all the while casting my flames upon her. Within perhaps just one minute, maybe two, who is to say? she had befallen, then withdrew, ascending the cellar stairs, so that she was now running amok within Summitmist. How long a had she been trapped within this cellar? ..

I advanced, then spotted her, yielding amongst one of Summitmist's top-most staircases, standing in fright, knowing her un-life was now to be cessasted, for who-ever she is, she is to not be welcomed within this house. My heart beating madly, my brow beading perspiration, I cast just once more my ball of fire, and the menace, she was no more. Blime. Never such a scare have I had.

Upon her person, I did make discovery of 11 gold pieces, sorely needed by myself of course, and one magical ring cast of jade and gold, bearing the name of ... Matilde Petit? Yes, Matilde. I have her ring. I bear it upon my finger as this account is being scribed. Though it is her ring, it has been sa engraved as such, I can-not acknowledge what I fear to be true, that the shambling woman ... more dead than lively, was of actuality Matilde, herself?

This can-not be. Though the four sets of bones testify to the set of four whom once caroused within Summitmist, as the legend goes, I can-not accept what I fear.

Should I go and notify the guards? No, I shall not. For fear of arrest, I shall not. For how are they to know?...

No, I must not. Perhaps I can instead, ask Falanuu to accompany me on the morrow, so that she may be of assistance. She may know of Matilde's true countenance.

No, I must not. I must not. I must let this matter rest. A night-full of slumber is what I crave. This matter shall be dealt with on the morrow.

What is down in that cellar? Let's find out.

I need my torch

There, that's better.

Oh my! ... ( I didn't arrange this skeleton to be hanging like that. Cool game glitch right there).

Skeletal Remains

But one comes to life!

Burn!

Falter and Fall

The Corpse Retreats

FIRE!

What? ... Who is this?

Quest Update

Note: Matilde's Ring protects 25% Cold Damage, which will come in handy at some point for Sarah.

This post has been edited by Renee: Jul 24 2016, 05:59 AM

[Lopov]

Whoa, I loved Sarah's descent into the darkness. Those pics are scary, you captured the story mood very well. I'm glad you named her the shambling corpse instead of Matilde. So now we find out that Sarah's late aunt has been in fact haunting the cellar. But did she kill other tenants? Maybe we'll never find out. This story is getting more and more ominous...

This post has been edited by Lopov: Jul 24 2016, 07:49 AM

[SubRosa]

Sarah Phimm's harrowing account reminds me of many of the tales of HP Lovecraft, and the wretched horrors his protagonists unearthed in the dark, forgotten places of the world. I shudder to even think of such ancient monstrosities.

[Acadian]

A gothic tale of horror and mystery! That fact that flame is Sarah’s friend came in handy here. Sarah is a great storyteller. And the pictures were great – what a fun mod you have there!

[Renee]

Awesome, I'm glad you all like it, it'll get more and more interesting, you'll see.

Wow, Lovecraft! I read some Lovecraft a few years ago, so maybe there's some LC in there too.


Turdas, 10:28 am, Rain's Hand 11, 3rd Era 434

Level: 12

Bounty: 0

The Redguard is awoken by a man, early on a spring day in Bravil. This man wore black robes with a black hood. At first the Redguard is shocked and ready for a fight; he's got his dwarven-style mace all ready, for he had recently emerged from dealing with two (or three?) solid days of dungeoneering. And perhaps this man-in-all-black had followed him out of there?

But the man-in-all-black was not interested in a fight. He had informed the Redguard that the Redguard slept soundly "for a murderer". Then he had made some sort of demands and suggestions, and had he mentioned the Dark Brotherhood?

None of this had mattered in the end, most of all the guy's smug attitude had ruined it all. Kahreem had been hungover and not feeling his best at the time, so he hadn't listened much. And he'd gotten confused. He did not like being woken up in his own rented bed. The very reason he had rented a room in Silverhome-on-the-Water had been to stay in a place in which he could become anonymous. By now, half the people knew Kahreem had been squatting in City Swimmer's place; and killing a court wizard had not been something he'd taken lightly.

So he had rented a room; an attempt to hide from any sort of trouble. The door to his room had not been locked, but still, even the Thieves Guild would not bother him in his sleep. He grabbed his mace afterall, and had gone into some sort of rage, nocking miscellaneous stuff all over the place.

He expected that at some point the guard would be called in, for the fight had grown serious. The man-in-black had made himself invisible for instance, and one thing Kahreem had grown to hate after two days dealing with mages, and various magical beings in Fathis Aren's lair, was magic.

Instinct had taken over, and he'd begun bashing and flaying with his mace. The man-in-black had tried to run, but Kahreem (with his newfound, better abilities at combat) had blocked the man's exit, preventing him from just leaving Silverhome-on-the-Water. Although he could not see the man-in-black, this had not stopped Kahreem. He would take a swing. Maybe he'd miss, but often he hit!

Soon it was all over. The man-in-black had fallen, and lost his chameleonic effect.

"Wow, he's dead, and I'm not going to pretend that he is. ISN'T. I mean, that he isn't."

Now, the better part of it all: looting. And what an outfit to loot. Kahreem pulls on the man's robe and hood. Blacker than night, these items are.

"Capital. Look at me. I am slick. SLEEK.... I am the Sleekest of all, in this man's hood and robes. I am now known as Sleek," he says. "I am The Sleek. And The Sleek slicks his way through the night, evading capture. Evading the guards. Stealing precious items from castle wizards."

He removes his new Sleek wardrobe, and puts on some ordinary upper-class clothes he had stolen from Fathis. Better to hide his new disguise until safely out of Bravil.

He turns over, and goes to sleep.





Note: after selling all the soul gems, jewelry, and a rare Resist Poison shirt, Kahreem has "made a good bit of gold", and this is certainly true. He now had 2,088 gp on his person.

This post has been edited by Renee: Jul 31 2016, 11:42 AM

[SubRosa]

Now the Wheet Bandit is going to be impersonating the Dark Brotherhood!