Clark in Skyrim, A continued report from across the border. Options

[mALX]

I am so missing being able to read Clark's adventures! I still haven't been able to finish his fun in Cyrodiil, but I hope to one day be able to finish the stories I miss so much, and Clark is most def one of my faves.

[ghastley]

Acadian: The Champion of Cyrodiil taught Clark that brothels and "toys" would always make money when wars took people away from their homes. He's done well from remembering that.

Grits: I always thought that headscarf was too big for its purpose, and a lot of hair was the only explanation. I wonder if anyone has made a mod that puts an Ikea store in Skyrim? (Requires Hearthfires and a lack of taste).

mALX: Hope I don't get too far ahead of you!

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

Previously: Clark returned to Markarth to find out what effect the change of Jarl had brought. Gilda found a couple more Stones of Barenziah. Now he has a lot of loose ends to tie up (or tangle).

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

Part 35 - Leaving Markarth

As they left Markarth, a courier came up to Clark with a letter. It was from Diablita, in Raven Rock, letting Clark know that the ebony mine was back open. The East Empire Company had closed it as too dangerous to work, rather than because it was exhausted, and she'd cleared up the draugr infestation. She found herself a nice blade in the process, too.

It went on to say that she'd done a couple of other things for the folk of Raven Rock, including foiling an attempt on the life of the First Councilor. They'd given her the house that the plotters had owned, so she was now an official resident. There wasn't a lot of bed space, though, so Clark should come alone, or with at most one companion.

She was currently going around the island, restoring the standing stones for the Skaal. This was all tied up somehow with another Dragonborn from long ago called Miraak. He was trying to get back to Mundus from Hermaeus Mora's Apocrypha, and his attempt was disrupting the lives of everyone on the island. She'd got some help from an old Dunmer wizard called Neloth, who lived in a giant mushroom that he'd grown from spores from one in Morrowind.

"Vicuña said something about her parents growing a new tower near Blacklight. That's a House Telvanni thing; none of the other Dunmer houses do that." Clark told Gilda. "Let's go back and let her know about Neloth. She might know him, and want to visit."

'You do that, I want to get back to Riften. I'm supposed to be inducted as Guildmaster, and I want to see who turns up for the ceremony."

"Maven and her brood, you mean? Does she still think she owns the Guild?"

"That's what I'd like to find out. She presumably owned Mercer Frey, but does she see his replacement as just part of business as usual, or what?"

"Be careful, then. She'll have the city guard backing her if it gets ugly."

---

"Well, of course I know of Master Neloth, but I've never met him myself. My father replaced Mistress Therana on the Council, when the Vivec Guild of Mages tried to have them all assassinated, and in a few cases, succeeded. Neloth, of course, survived, as did Master Aryon, but Mistress Dratha went missing. Master Gothren, the chairman, was at Ald'ruhn when the Daedra hordes sacked it. Nobody survived that."

"Does the Council still operate, now that Vvardenfell is uninhabitable?"

"No, which is probably why Master Neloth has moved to Solstheim. There's no need to be in any contact with the others. And there may also be something there to further his research. His special skill is enchanting, like my father's is teleportation, and my mother's is levitation. It's possible that he may have gone there for the Stalhrim, or some other material that takes enchantment well. Since Solstheim is Dunmer territory now, it would be much easier for him to set up house, even with House Redoran nominally in charge."

"So what's your field? All I know about your use of magic is that you throw a mean fireball, and you enchant amulets with a levitation effect that women love."

"I'm still dabbling in whatever I find useful at the time. It will take me years to decide. Perhaps talking to Master Neloth will give me some ideas."

"Does that mean you'd like to come to Solstheim with me?"

"If I may. I've never been there before, although I've gone to most parts of Skyrim."

"I need to do a few other things before I go there. Why don't I meet you in Windhelm, a month from now. Take a room at the Candlehearth Hall if I'm not there when you arrive."

---

Clark needed to talk to Madesi about the mechanical dildo. Full power on the prototype was probably a bit excessive, and if he was going to manufacture and sell them, it needed to be reduced. If the Argonian could manage that, he knew someone who might like the next one.

"Limiting the power range is a simple change," Madesi assured him. "In fact, I've already incorporated that feature into the latest one. Mind you, I wasn't actually thinking about the person using it, so much as not overloading the dynamo core. All I needed to do was restrict the movement of the control with a limit screw, ...."

Clark hadn't really been listening past the point where Madesi told him it was already done. He told the Argonian to start making them in quantity.

"I'll need additional workers for that. I can't produce more than one a week on my own."

"Then hire some. I suggest you have each worker produce a piece of the assembly, rather than make the whole thing. That way, they'll all end up the same quality, and you won't have to teach each person everything. And if it's fiddly work, hire women. They're better at that sort of thing, probably from sewing, and similar domestic work. Plus, they can test them for you!"

"Not if they're trying to work at the same time. You need all your concentration for that. And I don't know if Iona would let anyone else do her job."

"Oh, she's been helpful, has she? I'll talk to her about that, and make sure she's properly compensated."

---

"Madesi tells me you've been working on quality assurance for his latest product."

"Yes, well he brought it round to Honeyside to see if you were home. Of course, you weren't, but I was. So he told me what it was all about, and I'm sworn to carry your burdens, so of course I volunteered. After all, I'd imagine I'd be doing that if you were home."

Clark had to admit that it was a job only a woman could do properly.

"He left a number of them here, and asked me to let him know which one I preferred. They're all different colours, with the red one being the strongest, and the blue one the weakest. The red one's a bit too much. I like the orange one, the next one down."

Clark gathered up the others, and put them in his backpack. He'd be leaving for Solitude the next day, and he'd see if Madesi had another orange to restore the set.

---

Elisif surprised Clark by preferring the green one. "I need to be able to keep quiet," she reminded him. "The yellow makes me moan, whether I want to or not, and the red one would have me screaming!"

She was intelligent enough to know without asking that Clark wouldn't be around the court much in the next few weeks. "Where are you heading for?" she wanted to know.

Clark told her about Diablita's letter from Solstheim.

"She's the Dragonborn? I'm glad to hear she's left the mainland. The Thalmor are still stinging from the visit she paid to their Embassy a short time back. It seems that Elenwen was tricked into inviting her to one of her parties, and she slipped out through the torture chambers with some stolen dossiers. I believe a few prisoners got loose at the same time. Anyway, they're still hunting for her. That could be why you haven't been invited there yet. They're a lot more careful with their background checks these days."

[Acadian]

Nice summary of things on Solstheim, and we can see that Dragonborn Diablita’s been busy.

I like how Clark made arrangements to meet Vicuña in Windhelm. The ability to tell a follower to meet you somewhere should be a mandatory part of follower training.

[ghastley]

Acadian: Diablita had done just about all the Dragonborn quest-line by the time she wrote to Clark. It's one that deliberately has the player character solo in Apocrypha much of the time, so it doesn't suit having him help. He'll get to do some side-quest things while he's there, though, especially where there's a mainland connection.

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

Previously: Clark received a letter from Diablita in Solstheim, and agreed to take Vicuña with him to visit her. But he has a number of tasks to accomplish first. This time he's starting to finish Lakeview.

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

Part 36 - Lakeview becomes a Manor

Rayya had furnished the main hall at Lakeview by the time Clark returned. "I put in the Alchemy and Enchanting stations, like you said. And everything else, in here and the entrance hall, except for the animal trophies. I'm not a hunter, so they're not my style, and I wanted to ask you before I did that."

"Leave them out," Clark concurred. "I always find it a bit creepy to have something dead watching me, especially in the bedroom."

"That reminds me," she responded. "Did you decide on what wings to add? You were thinking of bedrooms, kitchen and a tower, if I recall."

"Yes, that's the plan, and it's why I'm back here now. I want to get the structures up, so you can furnish while I'm away in Solstheim."

"Can do. I assume the same plan applies, everything but the mounted trophies?"

"And we won't need a second alchemy lab. The storage in the tower will still be useful, though. And weapon racks and armour mannequins everywhere but the basement."

"Yes, what about the cellar?" Rayya asked. "I haven't done anything with that. I wasn't sure if you wanted a forge, or if the anvil outside was enough. And you already built the smelter, grindstone and workbench out there. All that's downstairs right now is an archery target, and I can easily move that."

"Just put the lights down there for now," Clark decided. "I'm not sure if I'll use it for storage, or as a place to throw parties. A big open space can be useful."

"Maybe the mead barrels, then. They'd be useful to have, whichever way you decide."

"Good point. The little one up here won't hold enough for a proper party."

---

Clark noticed that Rayya wasn't wearing her armour. In fact, her outfit was much the same as she'd changed into on their first night here. She'd added a couple of pieces to cover any embarrassment if she went outside and met strangers, and she was wearing her scimitars, too.

He asked her about it. She replied that she was in and out of the house all time, so this was the comfortable compromise. "I don't need the steel armour much anyway. I can fight off wolves or bandits without it, just with a fast attack. I never did decide on a light armour that I like, and I notice you don't use any either."

"That's because I can cast a spell for defense," Clark replied. "Do you think you'd want to learn one?"

"I'm still not sure," she replied. "If I did that, wouldn't I need more magicka?"

"Not if you're only using it for the one spell. You'll have it all back before you need to cast again, and it will need less as you get more experience. I've never needed more."

"You've just about convinced me. It's at least worth learning the spell, so I can try it."

"I may have a spell tome for Oakflesh on the wagon," Clark told her. "Let me check."

---

"Here you go. You'll find that after you've used this for a while, it will take less magicka to cast it. By the time you need a stronger spell, you should be able to cast that for about the same amount of magicka this one takes now. Just don't go chasing giants, until you've learned Ebonyflesh!"

"If we get any giants round here, I'll be up to the top of the tower with my bow!"

"Not until we've built it," Clark reminded her. "We'd better get to work."

"Let me use the anvil this time," Rayya asked. "I could use the experience with my smithing. I've been making all the nails, hinges, locks and fittings for the furniture, and I'm getting close to where I can improve enchanted gear!"

"Have you got anything that needs it?" Clark wanted to know.

"Not yet. I've been holding off on enchanting my Scimitars until I could do that. Otherwise, I'd have to do it the other way round, and temper them before enchanting, and then I'd have to find new ones before I could do it again. Nobody makes these in Skyrim, so that would be a real problem."

Clark had seen a few other Alik'r carrying Scimitars, but nobody else. And you certainly didn't find them in any smith's inventory.

"What did you want to enchant them with, anyway?"

"I'd hoped to persuade you to put fiery soul trap on one of them, but I'm not sure what would go with it on the other."

"I'll look out for ideas," Clark replied. "Master Neloth on Solstheim may know enchantments I've not heard of."

---

Rayya was disappointed that Clark was leaving again. They hadn't had time to try all the beds, and she had a new recipe for vegetable soup he hadn't tasted. "It's spicier than your other housecarls would make. You've been to Hammerfell, so you know how different the cuisine is there."

"If you think Hammerfell food is spicy, then you haven't tasted food from Elsweyr," he replied. "The hotter the country, the hotter the food, and the deserts there are hot even at night."

Rayya hadn't actually been to the Alik'r desert herself. Her parents had come from there before she was born and she'd been brought up in Elinhir, just over the border. But she had heard that it could be as cold at night as it was in Skyrim. Dry sand didn't hold the heat the way water did, even when it was ice. She knew that Clark had been there, as he'd told her that some of his merchandise came from the area.

"Have you been to Elsweyr, or just had food from the caravan people?" she asked. "I think they make their food extra-hot as a joke on anyone who's not a Khajiit."

"Yes, I've been there. Before the Mane was assassinated, and the tribes went back to fighting each other, you could travel freely around the whole province."

"But that was nearly two hundred years ago!" Rayya protested.

Clark hadn't told her about his immortality. He'd been too busy house-building, and it had slipped his mind that she'd need to know. It was a long story. Maybe he could stay one more night.

This post has been edited by ghastley: May 20 2015, 06:47 PM

[Acadian]

Nice banter between Rayya and Clark as we get brought up to speed on Lakeview progress and plans.

Enchanting a set of dual scimitars? Fiery soul trap is indeed a great choice for one. Absorb health comes to mind for the other?

Oops. Clark let slip his age. . . . Yeah, he’d better stay another night just to prove he still possesses his youthful vigor.


Nit: ’She'd added a couple of pieces to cover any embarassment if she went outside and met strangers,...’ – - Spelling of embarrassment. I don’t think using a single r is a British variant, but please correct me if I’m wrong.

[Grits]

I applaud Rayya and Clark’s taste leaving out the animal heads. I think the horker looks particularly appalling. A cellar party room is a great idea! The entire back room is empty in most of my games until I think of a good way to use it. Besides for sparring, of course.

Hmm, I wonder what Rayya will choose for her second enchantment. I’m looking forward to Clark and Vicuña’s journey to Solstheim.

[mALX]

Even though I can't read this at this time, I want to make sure to continue supporting Clark's story for all the fun and laughter Clark has brought me over the years in his stories. This is one of my favorite stories, and I really miss it!

[ghastley]

Acadian: The correct spelling is embare-assment, I think.

Grits: There's just a possibility that Clark will find a couple of scimitars on Solstheim that are already enchanted. Soulrender and Bloodscythe seem to be made for her.

mALX: Clark will be waiting!

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

Previously: Clark finished the external construction at Lakeview and left Rayya to furnish it. He promised to look for enchantments for her scimitars while he was on Solstheim.

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

Part 37 - Mzinchaleft

Before he set off for Solstheim, Clark had a few other visits to make. Gilda and Karliah were busy putting the Thieves Guild back together, so he wanted to go to Riften and see how they were getting on. He'd never got round to upgrading Iona's armour, either. It seemed to him wrong to pair Chillrend with plain steel, and she needed something better. It probably wouldn't be long before Riften saw some action, and he didn't want her at a disadvantage.

It turned out that she'd had the same idea herself. She'd been training with Balimund, and could already craft Dwarven equipment. The problem was that the smith didn't have a large supply of the metal, as most of his customers needed iron and steel.

"You get that from Dwemer ruins," Clark recalled. "But apart from Markarth, at the other end of the province, I don't know where any of them are. We should ask Mjoll, if she doesn't object to being reminded of the subject."

"Oh, I've met her," Iona replied. "She's the one who lost her sword in one of the ruins, isn't she? So she should know the way to that one, at least. Let's go over to the Bee and Barb, and see if she's there. She and Aerin go there most evenings."

Mjoll and Aerin weren't the only familiar faces. "Brelyna, what are you doing in Riften?"

"Looking for a Dwemer ruin," she replied. "I don't expect to find it here in town, but I know it's not too far from here, and someone might know exactly where it is."

"So you're looking for one in particular, not just any Dwemer ruin?"

"Yes, I need to find Mzulft. There's a party of mages from Cyrodiil that I need to talk to, and they were last known to be headed there."

"The local expert on Dwemer ruins is probably Mjoll, and Iona and I came to see her, too. Let me introduce you."

---

Mjoll didn't remember where Mzulft was. She had been there, but her mind was too full of Mzinchaleft. "I won't be able to think straight until I get Grimsever back, I'm afraid."

"You at least remember where that is, don't you?"

"Not really, but I'm sure Aerin does. That's where he found me, after all."

Aerin was able to mark Mzinchaleft on the map for them. "I do hope you can get Mjoll's sword back."

---

Brelyna didn't mind the prospect of visiting two Dwemer ruins, as long as one of them was Mzulft. She wouldn't explain why that was important, but "College business" would have to do for now.

"We'll ride in my wagon," Clark decided. "It's a bit slow, but Iona needs to collect as much Dwarven metal as she can, and that stuff is heavy. The wagon can carry all we find, as well as the three of us."

"Three?" Brelyna queried.

"You, me and Iona. Mjoll's not up to going back without Grimsever in her hands. We'll come back here if we find it, and see if that helps her remember about Mzulft."

---

It took a couple of days to get there, and the welcome they got wasn't exactly friendly. A party of bandits had occupied the buildings above ground, and didn't take kindly to visitors. Fortunately, there weren't many of them, and they had the usual lack of coordination that untrained warriors often exhibit. No more than a couple of them attacked at any time, which meant they were outnumbered in each skirmish.

They also seemed to be particularly intimidated by the Frost Atronachs that Brelyna summoned. They're large, impressive-looking brutes, even if they're slow and don't really do as much damage as you'd think.

"Their size can be a problem in caves," Brelyna admitted. "Although they'll happily fight for you, they also tend to get stuck in the narrow parts, and you can't make them understand that you want to pass. And don't even think about sneaking when one of them is with you!"

They encountered a few more bandits just inside, who weren't expecting them, and were easily picked off as the advancing party met them. They'd apparently dealt with a few of the Dwarven automata in this section of the ruins, as the remains of a couple of Dwarven spiders were lying around. Iona searched them, but found little to salvage.

The wreck of a Dwarven sphere a bit further in provided a small plate that could be melted down, and they could hear sounds of fighting from the bottom of the next ramp. Through the gate at the bottom, they could just about make out a couple more of the spheres fighting some more bandits. They let it play out before opening the gate to finish off the surviving sphere.

Only one of the spheres yielded any useful scrap, but there were a couple of pieces of plate in a corner.

---

Those appeared to be the last of the bandits, and only some more of the automata were roaming the next few corridors. They appeared one at a time, which put them at a major disadvantage against the team.

"I'm surprised we haven't come across any traps yet. The Dwemer seemed to be as fond of those as the Ayleids were in Cyrodiil," Clark remarked.

"Like that?" Iona asked.

"I don't think that's a trap," Brelyna said. "But they were just as fond of puzzles. We're going to have to figure out what order to pull those levers in order to get through."

"I'm betting that the valve in the last chamber will release all the doors, so we don't all have to go together," Clark replied. "Brelyna, follow me. Iona, stay with the first lever, in case we need it pulled again."

"Sounds like a plan," she agreed.

It didn't prove too complicated a puzzle, and Clark's assumption about the valve proved correct. All the remaining gates opened at once, and the path was clear.

In the next room was another lever, operating a lift.

[Acadian]

Nice job of tying Mjoll’s wonderful quest to Aspiring Arch Mage Brelyna’s ‘College business’.

Aerin is sweet to offer the location of Grimsever and extend his wishes for success. I’m sure he realizes that Mjoll might begin adventuring again if she regains that weapon, yet he cares about her more than himself.

I’m sure that Darnand (from Jerric’s world) would agree with Bre’s assessment of frost atronachs and their merit/utility.

Clark is handy to have along when it comes to solving puzzles it seems.

[Grits]

Mzulft and Mzinchaleft, I can never keep those two straight. No wonder Mjoll sounds confused.

Acadian is right, I know some folks who would agree with Brelyna’s assessment of her frost atronach, especially getting stuck in the narrow parts!

Good plan to leave someone at the first lever. That puzzle causes some concern when the bars go back up behind you. How fun to have Brelyna along for this adventure.

[ghastley]

Acadian: Brelyna's going to need someone like Mjoll to help with the rest of the quests. The CoW quests are hardest for a pure mage, and I don't know whether that was intended as a reason for using a follower, or just bad design. Still, it suits the story, so I won;t complain.

Grits: Don't forget Mzark! It's Bthalft and Bthardamz that confuse me.
I wrote the bit about the frostie after my character found herself stuck between Brelyna blocking behind her, and the summons blocking ahead. Nobody could move until the spell expired.

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

Previously Clark, Iona and Brelyna have gone to Mzinchaleft to look for Mjoll's Grimsever, in the hope that she'll then remember how to find Mzulft for Brelyna.

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

Part 38 - Mzinchaleft Depths

"How far down do you think we are?" Iona asked.

"As long as there's another lift to take us back up, it doesn't make a lot of difference," Clark replied. "I'm more worried about the Falmer, than the depth." He pointed forward, at a body lying on the stone floor.

They also found a broken Dwarven Spider. "No usable scrap on this one, just a soul gem."

"I'll take that, if it's filled," Brelyna told her. "I can always use those to top up my staves. Using those for destruction spells leaves my own magicka for conjurations and armour."

"And if it's not filled, give it to me, and I'll see about filling it. My sword does that," Clark reminded her.

---

When he opened the next door, Clark could see a Falmer scout on the bridge up ahead. "How well do you sneak?" he asked Iona. "Can you put couple of arrows in that one before he spots us?"

"I think he might notice the first arrow," she replied, but crept forward with her bow at the ready. The Falmer staggered, as her first arrow hit, and Brelyna added a blast of shock before he could recover.

The sound of the lightning brought a second Falmer to investigate, but again he was hit before he found them.

"Keep it quiet, and it may stay this easy," Clark reminded them. "Falmer are blind, so if they can't hear you, they won't know you're there."

"Chaurus aren't, though," Brelyna interrupted, and used her other staff to send a fireball at the advancing beast. Clark raised a ward just in time to block a spray of poison, and Iona sent an arrow in its direction. It still managed to just reach them before falling to a thrust from Chillrend.

That was the only Chaurus in the area, although they did encounter two more Falmer before entering the building at the end of the bridge. Staying as quiet as possible gave them all the advantage they needed.

---

There were a few more Falmer in the building, but no Chaurus. Stealth proved to be a winning approach, but the tunnel ahead looked ominous.

"There will be Chaurus down here," Iona said, pointing at the egg mound by the wall.

"And not enough room to summon a Frost Atronach. I hate these narrow tunnels," Brelyna agreed.

Clark said nothing. He found that the restricted space made a ward more effective, as you couldn't get around it.

---

After a number of encounters with both Falmer and Chaurus, they eventually emerged at a plaza where the Falmer had set up an encampment. A row of iron spikes barred a gateway on the other side, but there was no sign of a lever or anything that would lower them. "I bet it's up that ramp, in the tower overlooking us," Clark whispered. "We'll have to go past the huts and hope there's nobody home."

Of course there was, but only Falmer, and none of their pets. There was an archer in the tower, and he heard them open the gate to his perch. Iona was in the lead, with her shield up, so he didn't get much of a target to aim at.

Behind him was a button that lowered the barrier. It came down noisily, probably alerting any Falmer on the other side. Indeed, a shaman with a staff of frost was waiting to attack them as soon as they passed through. Clark's ward was already up, and the frost did little. Iona returned fire with her bow, but it took a few arrows to bring the shaman down.

"We either need to go up that ramp, or through the door opposite. Which should we try first?" Brelyna asked.

"The door's on our level, so we'll take a look there first," Clark decided.

It turned out to be just a storeroom, but there was a fair amount of metal scrap, and a broken Dwarven Centurion lying on a bench. That yielded a bit more metal, and a grand soul gem for Brelyna.

---

The ramp lead to a large room with a lot of hissing pipes. At the far end, a functional Centurion stood in its recharging frame, which appeared to block a doorway to something beyond. And on a table next to it, a blade gleamed.

"I wonder if that's Grimsever." Iona mused. "If it is, then that's probably the Centurion that beat up on Mjoll."

Iona moved forward to see if she could get a better look without alerting the Centurion. A port opened in the wall ahead of her, and a Dwarven Sphere emerged. She dropped back hurriedly, and they all fired at the advancing Sphere.

A rush of steam told them the Centurion was activated, too. They hurried to finish off the sphere, before its reinforcements arrived. As it fell apart, Brelyna summoned a Frost Atronach to distract the Centurion. If there was room for the metal giant, there was room for hers, too.

"Quickly, up those stairs over there," Clark called out. "We can drop behind it and grab the sword. I just hope the door isn't locked."

Brelyna continued to use her staves to send a barrage of spells at the Dwarven creature they assumed had been Mjoll's nemesis. Her Frost Atronach was shattered by a mighty blow from the colossus, but it staggered itself as it did so.

"It's weakening," shouted Iona, and she rushed in with her sword before Clark could stop her. Brelyna had to hold her fire, for fear of hitting the housecarl.

If it hadn't been Chillrend in Iona's hand, she might not have inflicted enough damage, but the added frost made all the difference. The great metal legs gave way, and Iona had to dodge quickly out of the way as it fell untidily to the ground.

It rewarded her extra effort with a good haul of scrap metal, and another grand soul gem. There were a couple of gemstones, and weapons that it must have taken from other adventurers who hadn't been so lucky.

"And we do have Grimsever," Clark affirmed. "This sword has just the enchantment Mjoll described."

"It's looking a bit the worse for wear," Brelyna observed. "We ought to clean it up a bit before we give it back."

"I can get Balimund to help me sharpen it up," Iona agreed.

"And we can do better than that," Clark announced. "I have some Malachite on the wagon, so we can improve it for her, if you or Balimund has the skill."

---

"You found it! But wait, there's something different about it. I mean, it's Grimsever all right, but something's changed." Mjoll put down the axe she was carrying and took the great sword* from Iona. "You've had it tempered up a notch, haven't you? I could never manage that myself. Never had the skill, or the material."

"Let me give it a swing," she continued.

Everyone stood back and gave her room. It was a large and heavy blade, but she whirled it around as if it were light as a feather. "It doesn't just look better, it feels better, too. I can't thank you enough!"

"Actually, perhaps you can," Clark began. "Brelyna needs a guide to take her to Mzulft, and Iona and I want to go there too, and look for Dwarven Metal. It will give you the chance to use Grimsever again, I'm sure."

"Back to a Dwarven ruin? Are you sure that's a good idea?" Aerin asked.

"I doubt there are any Centurions there," Brelyna explained. "I'm following a group of mages from Cyrodiil, and I'm sure they would not be going there if that was what they expected to find. A few lesser automata, no doubt, and maybe some Falmer, that's all."

"And I think going back to a Dwarven ruin is exactly what Mjoll needs, to put her right. Slay the ghosts, and all that," Clark added. "Remember, she's not going to be alone, this time."

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

*Note: USKP changes Grimsever to a two-hander to match Mjoll's skills.

This post has been edited by ghastley: Jun 3 2015, 02:33 PM

[Acadian]

Oh, Mintzelchuffsalot is a great dungeon with the wonderful bonus of helping out dear Mjoll. Buffy went through there recently and it was fun to read how Team Clark did so. And how nice to clean up and improve the blade for Mjoll. She will doubtless make a great escort for Brelyna.

‘And I think going back to a Dwarven ruin is exactly what Mjoll needs, to put her right.’ - - Yup, I agree with Clark!

[ghastley]

Acadian: Brelyna takes Mjoll to Mzulft (but not Mzark) in this one, and they'll report back in a later piece.

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

Previously: Clark, Iona and Brelyna had gone to Mzinchaleft to look for Mjoll's sword, Grimsever, in the hope that she'd remember more about Dwarven ruins once she had it back. They'd encountered the same Centurion that had given Mjoll so much trouble, but their greater numbers had made the difference.

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

Part 39 - Mzulft

Mjoll now remembered the way to Mzulft. It was about two-thirds of the way to Windhelm, and not too far off the road. You couldn't quite see it as you passed, but there were arches marking the path, so it was hard to miss the turning.

"If I remember, there's a good quantity of metal in that storeroom over there," Mjoll told them, pointing. "I don't like the Dwemer style of armour, too clunky and heavy-looking for my tastes, so I never bothered collecting it. The usual mixture of loot in the main ruin, but there were parts where the doors were locked and I couldn't pick them, so it's worth a second visit."

"You and Iona go and load up at the storeroom, and Mjoll and I will go look for the Imperials, then," Brelyna decided. "We should be all right on our own."

Mjoll wasn't sure. Brelyna was small and unarmoured. She could look after herself, now she had Grimsever, but what about the Dunmer? Clark pointed out that Brelyna was just as resistant to fire as Mjoll was to frost. She could use spells instead of armour, and "Show her the reinforcements," he concluded.

"He's bigger than I am," Mjoll conceded, as the Frost Atronach loomed over her. "Almost as big as the Centurion I fought in Mzinchaleft."

Clark noted that Mjoll didn't have any problems talking about that incident now. It was probably a good sign.

"Whatever happened to him, anyway? Was he still there when you fetched Grimsever?"

"Oh yes," Iona told her, "but not any more."

---

Clark and Iona wished they'd taken the wagon to Mzulft. There was a lot more metal than they'd expected, and it was about as much as they could carry. On the other hand, Iona had more than enough to advance her smithing skill.

"I should be able to make my own steel plate by the time I've used all this up. Balimund tells me he can train me until I can make ebony armour, and that's what I'd really like."

"Check out Narzulbur when you're ready for that. The Orcs there mine ebony, and if you're helpful to them, they should be prepared to trade with you. Maybe they'll let you mine some for yourself."

"Where's that?"

"Up in the hills between here and Kynesgrove. I think that trail over there would lead you there if you follow it far enough."

They didn't take that turn this time. It was the opposite direction from Riften, and they didn't want to carry the metal any further than they had to.

---

Brelyna and Mjoll joined them in the Bee and Barb that evening. "How did it go? Did you find your mages?" Clark asked Brelyna.

"Yes, but most of them were dead. The Falmer got them, but we found one of them alive, locked in the Oculory."

"What's an Oculory?" Iona asked.

"A big room with a Dwemer contraption in it," Mjoll answered. "And not much in the way of treasure."

"It did provide what I was looking for, though," Brelyna cut in. "The location of the Staff of Magnus. I now know it's in Labyrinthian, so we're going there next."

"We?" asked Aerin. "Do you mean Clark and Iona, or is Mjoll going again?"

"I'm going," Mjoll told him firmly. "Brelyna and I make a better team than I imagined. She does everything I don't, and vice-versa. Together, we're more then twice what we are individually. She needs a sword-wielder, and I need a mage."

"And I'm off to Solstheim," Clark told him. "Iona's staying in Riften, if you need some company."

He turned back to Brelyna. "Mind filling in the rest of the story? What is this Staff of Magnus, and why do you need it? I assume there's some connection to that Eye of Magnus you found in Saarthal?"

"Yes. You remember I mentioned seeing a vision of a Psijic monk in Saarthal? Well he turned up in person at the College, and told me to find someone called the Augur of Dunlain. That turned out to be a wraith of some kind, down in the Midden below the College. He told me I need to find the Staff, and when I asked Mirabelle about it, she remembered the Imperials were looking for it, too. So that's why I went to Mzulft, following them. The Oculory showed us where the staff was, but not how to get it."

"I had another vision of the Psijic monk as I was coming out of Mzulft. He told me I need to go back and ask the Arch-mage about Labyrinthian, and that I was on the right path."

"Do you trust these Psijics?" Clark asked.

"I know Ancano hates them, so that makes them all right by me," she replied. "That man gives me the creeps."

Clark must have looked blank, because she explained. "He's a Thalmor, resident at the the College for some reason, probably as a spy. He's always been particularly unpleasant to me, because I'm of House Telvanni. He treats me like I'm a mere hedge wizard, but extremely dangerous at the same time. The Augur of Dunlain had told me that Ancano had visited him, too, to ask about the Eye of Magnus, and that he was about to do something potentially disastrous."

"The Psijics were warning me about catastrophic events being set in motion, too. At least they held out hope that I could do something to stop them. It didn't seem to matter to them that I wasn't an Altmer. To Ancano, that makes all the difference."

That fit Clark's impression of the typical Thalmor. He wasn't at all surprised. "If he's still alive, I assume he didn't meet Diablita, when she visited."

Brelyna chuckled. "I wish he had, but unfortunately, no.'

---

Brelyna and Mjoll accepted a ride in Clark's wagon as far as Windhelm, from where they continued on toward Winterhold, as Clark headed into the city.

[Acadian]

So nice to see Mjoll the Motormouth Lioness leave Aerin the Worrywart Milkdrinker back in Riften and get out for some adventurin’! Brelyna’s quite capable, but she really shines as part of a team – and Mjoll makes the perfect escort for her! As she said, they complement each other very well.

I heartily endorse Bre’s impression of Ancano – including the concept that if Ancano hates the Psijics, then they must be okay.

Oooh! Ancano meeting Diablita! I’d like to see that also.

I’m very much enjoying the adventures of two of my favorite Skyladies –Brelyna and Mjoll.

[ghastley]

Acadian: Brelyna and Mjoll will be back, but other questlines have to unfold. Most of them won't be as quick as the next one!

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

Previously: Brelyna and Mjoll went into Mzulft, while Clark and Iona collected Dwarven metal from the storeroom nearby. Brelyna is now about half-way through the College of Winterhold questline, and Clark has only had reports of what's going one when he meets her. In this part, the entire Dawnguard story will happen to someone else!

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

Part 40 - Meeting Serana

Clark had let Gilda know by courier of his plans to visit Solstheim with Vicuña, so she knew he'd be at Candlehearth Hall. He was half-expecting her to visit them there, if only to tell him how things were with the Thieves Guild, and Maven Black-briar. He wasn't expecting the young woman who turned up in her place.

Except that she wasn't young, she just looked that way. Serana was several times older than him. "I'm not sure how long ago I was locked away in Dimhollow Crypt," she told him, "but there wasn't an Emperor in Cyrodiil back then."

She'd found out about Clark from Gilda, whom she'd met in Riften. Serana had joined the Thieves Guild as an appropriate vocation for someone of a nocturnal disposition. Clark could see from her eyes that she was a vampire, and like Sibylle Stentor in Solitude, or Hert and Hern at Half-moon Mill, she clearly had it under control. She'd lost her father recently. or rather, helped kill him, and she wanted Clark's help in getting her mother back.

"What makes you think I can help?" he asked.

"First, the fact that you just asked that question, rather than why you'd want to. There aren't that many people that would be prepared to help a vampire with anything. Second, Gilda told me you were an immortal, too, and that could be the key to reaching my mother, Valerica."

"What else did Gilda tell you?"

"She said that you'd been made immortal directly by a Daedric Prince, like I was. So I thought you'd be understanding, and willing to assist. I can see you're not a vampire, so I assume it wasn't Molag Bal in your case."

Clark suspected that Molag Bal might not have been as considerate as Nocturnal and Azura. "You'd better tell me the whole story first. Take your time."

Of course, there was a gap of centuries in the middle of her tale where she had no idea what was going on in the world. She knew that Harkon, her father, had had the same plan to acquire and corrupt Auriel's bow all that time. He wanted to turn off the sun, so that vampires could roam at all times. Clark could see a large number of problems with that idea, so he wasn't surprised it had opposition even from other vampires.

It wasn't clear to her why it had all come to a head just now. Perhaps that had been connected with Isran reforming the Dawnguard, and recruiting the young Nord who'd been the catalyst. She'd been entombed, and her mother in hiding, all that time, until he'd awakened her and set the whole thing in motion.

The Hunter, as Serana referred to him, had taken her back to Volkihar Castle, but refused Harkon's offer to make him a vampire. Her father had made it clear that he wouldn't get the same offer twice. Serana's intent was to try and stop Harkon's scheme, and she thought at first that she'd stand a better chance of doing so from within the family. It hadn't taken her long to reject that idea, and she'd gone looking for the Hunter back at Fort Dawnguard.

Together, they'd found two more Elder Scrolls to go with the one she'd had with her in Dimhollow Crypt. The lack of the scrolls had apparently been what was stopping Harkon from proceeding with his plans, and he'd let her leave the castle again, in the hope that Serana would find them for him.

One of the scrolls had been taken by the Dwemer, and was hidden in a ruin in Skyrim. The other was in the possession of her mother, Valerica, who'd taken it to the Soul Cairn and got trapped there by the Ideal Masters. Serana wasn't sure who they were, but she thought they had something to do with Molag Bal. They'd brought the scroll back, but Valerica had stayed in the Soul Cairn, refusing to leave until Harkon was dead.

Once they had the scrolls, it had been a question of staying one step ahead of the other vampires while they used them to track down Auriel's Bow, which was just as important to the Dawnguard's side as it was to Harkon's. It was the only way to put an end to Harkon and his plans. Serana and the Hunter had finally confronted Harkon in the Cathedral at his own castle, and the Hunter had used Auriel's Bow to slay the vampire lord.

"It wasn't until afterward that I discovered what the Hunter's motivations were," Serana continued. "He asked me, or rather demanded, that I get cured of my vampirism. I got the impression that he thought I was to be his reward for the whole effort, and my being a vampire didn't fit with his plans. Since I'd just eliminated my father for trying to plan my existence for his own benefit, I wasn't about to let a mortal take over. Besides, after what I went through to get my immortality, I wasn't too pleased with the idea of losing it. I sent him back to Fort Dawnguard, and I've erased his name from my memory."

"So where do I fit in?" Clark asked. "That all sounds very complete. Harkon's dead, the Hunter is out of your life, and your mother's free to return."

"Free to return, yes. But she won't believe me when I tell her that my father's been slain. She knows better than anyone how powerful a vampire he was. She thinks he's using me to trick her, and so I need someone else to confirm my story. Someone who's not a vampire, and therefore not one of Harkon's minions."

"There has to be something more than that involved. Or else anyone could help."

"Well, my mother's still in the Soul Cairn, and anyone who goes there has to be dead, or undead, or maybe immortal. I'm not quite sure any more. When I took the Hunter with me, we were able to trick the portal by partially soul-trapping him. I don't think that would work a second time. Anyone dead couldn't come back, a vampire wouldn't convince my mother, so the only option that's left is an immortal - like you."

"Are you in a hurry? I was just leaving for Solstheim, so can it wait until I get back?"

"Of course. She's been trapped there for centuries. What's a few more weeks?"

[Acadian]

Ghastley, I love your treatment of Dawnguard! What a fantastic summary, and you connect all the dots with great sense. How mysterious (and appropriate) that it was some unnamed ‘Hunter’ who helped Serana, then could not see clear to let her be. . . well, Serana. That Serana would migrate to the guild of thieves does make some sense, as well as account for her introduction to Gilda.

I see that Clark’s trip to the Soul Cairn goes straight to the back burner as he continues with his Solstheim plans for the moment.

So, can one get vampirism from sleeping with a vampire? If anyone can ferret out the answer, it’ll be Clark!

[ghastley]

Acadian: The choices boiled down to Clark doing the whole Dawnguard quest-line himself, or finding out about it after it's all done. There aren't many points where someone doing the quests could meet him, except maybe when the Moth Priest Dexion is visiting. But I'd been considering how Valerica would be persuaded out of the Soul Cairn if the player didn't go back, and it just made sense that Clark was the only candidate for that.

He'll be experiencing difficulties other than contracting vampirism, but I'll save the details for later. No ferrets will be harmed in the making of this fan-fic.

Meanwhile, other quest lines are playing out, and one of them needs a push from Clark.

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

Previously: Serana came to meet Clark at the Candlehearth Hall, but he had to postpone visiting her mother until he returned from Solstheim.

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

Part 41 - Journey to Solstheim

As Vicuña and Clark left Candlehearth Hall to go down to the docks a couple of days later, a guard spoke to them.

"Can you believe it? The mages have blown up Winterhold again."

He didn't have a lot of detail, just that the Arch-mage had been killed, and several other mages injured. None of the townspeople had been hurt, this time, but they'd been terrorized by some kind of wisp-like creatures that seemed to have been summoned by the explosion.

Clark hoped that Brelyna hadn't been one of those injured. Mjoll was with her, and the guard had only mentioned mages being hurt, so perhaps this happened before the two of them arrived at the College. Their ship was waiting, so there wasn't anything they could do right now, but he'd want to find out as soon as they returned from Solstheim.

---

The Captain of the Northern Maiden, a Nord by the name of Gjalund Salt-sage, was pacing on the dock.

"Climb aboard. It's not a long trip, but I'd like to get there before dark. We've already got all the cargo stowed, so we can leave right away."

---

During the short voyage, Gjalund told them how he'd almost quit making this trip. There never was much traffic, with the mine in Raven Rock being closed, and then there was the incident with the masked cultists. He remembered them coming on board on Solstheim, but the next thing he knew, he was back in Windhelm and they'd disappeared. He'd been really shaken up by that, and vowed never to go back.

"But then that Dragonborn woman, the big red one with the horns and everything, came and persuaded me. The ones in the masks had attacked her, and she told me I owed her for it. I still don't know why I agreed at the time, but I'm glad I did. She's got the mine back open, and trade's picked up again."

"So you're bringing ebony back?" Clark inquired.

"Yes, and the unusual Dunmer foods that they like in the Grey Quarter. They don't grow too well around here, but the soil on Solstheim suits them. Makes sense that Ash Yams would do better in ash, doesn't it? That was about all they had to trade before the mine re-opened. A few gemstones, too, but not often."

"So what goes the other way?" Vicuña asked.

"Just about anything. Cloth, foodstuff, books, other metals, both ores and refined, and the odd passenger or two. Now there's work available, some of the Dark Elf men from Windhelm have been going over to dig the ores."

"I think the Dragonborn has a house in Raven Rock, now. I've seen her in town a few times, in the Retching Netch. That place is busier than it used to be, too, now that everyone has more to spend."

"She does have a house there," Clark confirmed. "We'll be staying with her for a few days, and then visiting a couple of other places on the island. I reckon we'll probably be ready to come back in about a week. Are you still doing this trip on the same schedule?"

"Yes, Morndas to Raven Rock, Tirdas back to Windhelm, Middas To Raven rock, Turdas return, and again on Fredas and Loredas. The only day I don't sail is Sundas. Just find me at the dock, and I'll bring you back."

"I may stay a little longer," Vicuña reminded Clark. "It all depends on Master Neloth. If I decide to study with him for a while, then I won't be in any hurry to return."

---

Diablita was waiting for them at the dock. "Shall we go for a drink first, or do you want to drop your packs at the house? We'll be going past the Retching Netch on the way."

"I'd prefer to go the house, and change first," Vicuña answered. "You're making me feel rather over-dressed."

"I'm not sure anyone else would get away with wearing that little," Clark added. "They'll expect you to act like a Dunmer, not like ... whatever Diablita is."

"But if we're going for a drink, it will be a more relaxed atmosphere. I'm sure I can find something that's comfortable, but still acceptable."

They walked through Raven Rock, and Diablita pointed out the stores. "There's the Retching Netch, then the next building is the Alor House. Fethis Alor sells general goods, and he's always looking for East Empire Company pendants, if you find one. His daughter Dreyla assists, but she'd much rather be back in Morrowind."

"At the Ilenth Farm, Garyn sells food, and his wife Milore is an alchemist, selling ingredients, and potions. Glover Mallory, on the other side, is the local smith."

"Mallory?" Clark asked. "That's not a Dunmer name. Is he any relative of Delvin Mallory, in Riften?" Gilda had mentioned him several times as one of the Thieves Guild.

"Ask him. There he is now."

It turned out that Glover was Delvin's brother. He'd learned to repair bonemold armour from a Dunmer named Vanryth, and there wasn't much call for that particular skill in Riften, so he'd come to Solstheim instead. Work was steady here, repairing the guards' equipment and miner's tools, so he'd stayed. "I'm the only member of the Guild here on Solstheim, not that it means much any more. I'm just a smith these days."

"Did you put that Ancient Nordic Pickaxe to good use, Diablita?", he asked as they left. "You haven't brought me any Stahlrim yet."

"Well, I'm not the armour-wearing type, as you've probably noticed, and the Bloodskal Blade takes Silver, not Stahlrim. If I decide to make something for my friends, I might go find some."

Diablita explained to Clark and Vicuña that Glover had given her the pickaxe after she persuaded Crescius Caerellius to return it. He'd borrowed it from Glover to use in the ebony mine, but Glover felt it was being wasted there. You could mine ebony with a regular pickaxe, but only an Ancient Nordic one could mine Stahlrim. Glover wasn't going anywhere out of Raven Rock, so he'd given it to her. "I think that it's all on the north side of the island, where it's colder. They certainly know about it at the Skaal village."

Clark knew a little about Stahlrim. He'd once seen the Chrysamere, which had been forged using Adamantium and Stahlrim, two very different materials whose properties complemented each other. He suspected that Chillrend had used it also, as it had the same distinctive blue sheen, and the frost enchantment made it even more likely. "But that tempers like glass, and it's shaped that way, too."

Vicuña suspected that Stahlrim had been used to make it hold more enchantment. "It would be Stahlrim that brought Neloth here. Enchanting is his field, and that's always been the material of choice, if you could get it."

"That and heartstones," Diablita added. "They're something new, only since the Red Mountain erupted. Neloth thinks they have some of the power of the Heart of Lorkan. He's experimenting with both, in ways that weren't possible in earlier eras."

"Did he enchant your sword?" Vicuña asked Diablita. "I've never seen that enchantment before."

"No, it already had this when I found it. Neloth told me he'd heard of the Bloodskal Blade before, but it hadn't had the same enchantment. He thinks it may have absorbed the power over time, being buried where it was."

[Acadian]

Nice tidbit about Brelyna’s progress at the College.

And a wonderful summary of life in Raven Rock, referencing familiar events and a couple quests.

It seems to me that Diablita would fit right in there.

[ghastley]

Acadian: More summaries of quests already done coming up! Diablita is almost ready to finish the Dragonborn quests, but not quite. She will manage to get Clark involved in a side-quest or two on the way.

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

Previously: Clark took Vicuña with him on a visit to Raven Rock, where Diablita now has a home.

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

Part 42 - Raven Rock

While Vicuña was changing, Diablita showed Clark around Severin Manor. "I suppose I could start calling it Diablita Manor now, but everyone uses the Severin name, so I haven't. The family who owned it before weren't really called Severin either. Probably Hlaalu, or Ulen, in reality."

"It has everything I need, alchemy, enchanting, a full forge and all the crafting stations. And a spare bedroom, with its own door for privacy. It only has a single bed in it at the moment, but there's enough room to put in a larger one later."

"It's much bigger than it looked from the outside," Clark responded. "I assume that's because most of it is underground."

"Yes, pretty well all the buildings here are made that way. The ash is easy to dig, but then you reach solid rock not too far down. There's only one level below ground, but it's a big one. The part above ground is always about the same size, by tradition. I think they were actual shells back in Morrowind, but they make replicas from Bonemold here."

Vicuña was back with them, wearing essentially the same outfit she'd had on at the Markarth brothel, except that she'd added a few small pieces to cover what she had to. "This is all Telvanni style, rather than Redoran, so they'll expect it to be a bit different from what everyone else is wearing. Hopefully that will include it being a bit less. If Diablita can get away with hers, I should be all right."

---

Sadri didn't mind. He asked the two ladies if they'd mind sitting near the bar, so that all the men would come to take in the view. "They drink more than the women, so I want to give them every encouragement I can."

"And would you all like to try my Sujamma? The first one's on the house, as you won't have tasted this recipe before. I call it Sadri's Sujamma; imaginative name, isn't it?"

"Have you had Sujamma before?" Vicuña asked Clark. "It doesn't travel well, so you can only get it in Morrowind, or here on Solstheim."

"And here, only at the Retching Netch," Sadri was quick to point out. "Nobody else is making it."

Clark hadn't. He'd not been to Morrowind, although he'd hoped to go and visit Rinalla in Mournhold. The eruption of the Red Mountain, and the Argonian invasion, had conspired to prevent it. It may have been for the best, as it he might not have been welcome here if he'd been more associated with House Hlaalu.

"So what's Sujamma made from?" he asked.

Vicuña told him that nobody who made it would ever divulge their recipe, but it would be basically a grain-based fermentation, fortified with brandy, and generally flavoured with local herbs or berries. "it's all about the secret herbs and spices, isn't it, Sadri?"

"That it is. What do think of this one?"

"You won't get better anywhere. It's pity it doesn't travel, or you could make a fortune. Perhaps you need to talk to Captain Gjalund about running Sujamma-tasting trips from Windhelm? Bring the people to the drink, instead of the other way round."

Clark was already considering the compromise. You could take this for the short trip to Windhelm, and it would still be good. He didn't know if the New Gnisis Corner Club made any, but he hadn't been offered any when he went there. Perhaps there was a mainland outlet for Sadri, and it would help lure the customers across to the island. He'd have to talk to him about it another time.

---

Diablita wanted Clark's advice. She had got this far on her own, but now she needed someone else's opinion. "What do you think of Hermaeus Mora? Can I trust him?"

"If you know what he wants, you can trust him to try and get it. What does he want from you?"

"He wants the Secrets of the Skaal, whatever they are. Neloth thinks it's just another way to skin a Horker, but I can't see a Daedric Prince concerning himself with that, even if it is knowledge. And I need something from him in return. The final word of the Bend Will shout, without which I can't reach Miraak."

"I think you'd better start by explaining about this Miraak. Assume I know nothing at all, because that's about right."

"Miraak is another Dragonborn, except that he lived in Skyrim a long time ago. He sold out to Hermaeus Mora for more power, and was taken to Apocrypha. He's been trying to get back to Mundus ever since, and he's started to have some success. He managed to corrupt the All-Maker Stones, and he had the people of Solstheim rebuilding his temples around them."

"His temples? He wanted the people to worship him?"

"Yes, that's the sort of person Miraak was, or still is, I suppose. It's just that he's stuck in Apocrypha now, and isn't happy about that. Anyhow, I managed to cleanse the Stones with just the first word of the shout, but Storn tells me I've only slowed Miraak down, not stopped him."

"And Storn is...?"

"Storn Crag-Strider is the shaman of the Skaal village up in the north-east of the island. His daughter, Frea, has been trying to help me, but she can't go to Apocrypha, because she's not Dragonborn."

"But you can."

"Yes, I just have to read one of Hermaeus Mora's Black Books, and it takes me there. It's a weird place, full of old books, and patrolled by hostile creatures, lurkers and seekers mostly."

"So what keeps you going there? I assume you're looking for something, besides Miraak?"

"Knowlege, mostly. Each Black Book I've read has taught me something magical, and I keep hoping to find more words of Bend Will, but it looks like I have to get them from the Daedric Prince himself."

"And how will Bend Will help you?"

"It's the same power Miraak has been using to make the people do his bidding. I need to ride a dragon to get to the summit of Apocrypha, to confront Miraak, and that will make the dragon obey me. "

"Because you can't trap one, like you did at Dragonsreach?"

"Exactly, and I can't summon one to Apocrypha from Mundus. I'll be dealing with an unrestrained and hostile dragon, probably goaded by Miraak. I need all the same powers he has if I'm to defeat him."

"So have you dealt directly with Hermaeus Mora before?"

"A bit. I had to deal with him, through Septimus Signus, to get the Elder Scroll I needed to read at the Time-Wound on the Throat of the World. He spoke directly to me after that, but he wasn't making any bargains then. He didn't start that until I was in his own realm, and he had the upper hand."

"Where does Neloth fit in to all this?" Vicuña asked.

"He helped me find the Black Books. I'd found one myself, in the ruins of Miraak's main temple, That lead me to Miraak, but he left that area. I needed more of them if I was going to search the rest of Mora's realm, and he knew where at least one more was, at Nchardak. Storn suggested I should ask him, and he's quite happy to assist, as the books are just as useful to him."

"And what was it you wanted to ask me?" Clark resumed.

"Whether I should ask Storn to make the trade with Hermaeus Mora. He's kept the Secrets of the Skall his whole life, and if he gives them up, he'll have nothing to live for. He won't be able to pass them on to his daughter, Frea, because they won't be secrets any more."

"But the alternative is leaving Miraak unchecked, isn't it? it seems like that would be just as bad an outcome for everyone else. I think it's Storn's decision to make, not yours. Give him all the facts, and trust his wisdom." Clark felt he was avoiding the decision, too, but it really was in the hands of the Skaal.

"You, however, need to be fully prepared for whatever he decides," he continued. "When you eventually confront Miraak, you'll be up against another Dragonborn, with more experience than you. If he doesn't return, and you meet him in Apocrypha, it will be in a realm that's more familar to him. You need to be as strong as he is, and more so."

"I know. I've been combing the island, looking for any more Dragon Shouts that he might know, and I have all three words of Dragon Aspect. I found some others that would only help if we had allies, but I believe Mora is setting us up for one-on-one combat. I can't take my two-handed skill any further, and I can heal myself about as fast as is possible. I'm about as ready as I can be."

"What does this Dragon Aspect do?"

"It's a kind of mage armour power, on top of what I already have. and it increases my attack strength. From what I've been told, Miraak is more of a spell-caster, so it benefits me more than him. I hope it's the edge that I need."

"Did you ask Neloth or Frea what they thought?" Vicuña asked her.

"Neloth is only interested in Neloth. If the situation doesn't affect him, he has no opinion. Frea is overly-concerned about her father, and possibly about her own inheritance of the Skaal Secrets, so she's a bit biased, too. Neither gives me answers that help, which is why I asked Clark."

"I still think you should be asking Storn, not me. But let's all go visit Neloth, and then the Skaal, and see if they change my mind."

[ghastley]

Previously: Clark and Vicuña looked around Raven Rock, and Diablita told Clark about her dilemma with the Skaal and their secrets.

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

Part 43 - Tel Mithryn

"Oh, you're back! What brings you here this time? Did you find another Black Book for me?"

"No, I brought a couple of friends to meet you. They just came over from Skyrim yesterday, and we're on our way to the Skaal village. Tel Mithryn is on the way, so we dropped in."

"I really don't have time just to be social. I have important work I should be doing, and ... "

Neloth broke off in mid-sentence, staring at Vicuña's chest. She'd just taken off her travelling robe, and her breasts had floated out into full view.

"Now that's something you don't see every day," Neloth remarked, and walked over for a closer look. "I've not seen an amulet quite like that before."

"I don't think he ever noticed mine, either," Diablita remarked.

"Master Neloth studies enchanting," his apprentice, Talvas Fathyron, pointed out. "He can be very single-minded when it comes to his chosen subject."

"Clark's a bit like that, too," Diablita agreed, with a wicked grin.

"A fascinating application, but one I wouldn't have any direct use for," Neloth continued. "However, if you made that yourself, then you've obviously got potential as an Enchanter. I take it you've come here to further your studies, hmm? I tell you what, you assist me with my research, and I'll teach you more about enchanting. Agreed?"

"Don't you already have an apprentice?" Vicuña inquired. She was standing next to Talvas as she said it.

"Talvas is a conjurer, not an enchanter. He's studying the business side of things, rather than the magical. I have room for an assistant with the research, as well. I can provide you a bedroll here, and a chest to stow your things. What do you say?"

Diablita was standing behind Neloth trying to sign to Vicuña that it wasn't a good idea. She'd experienced a couple of his experiments, and they didn't always go as planned.

Vicuña pondered a moment, and then went to confer with Clark and Diablita. "I know Neloth's reputation, but it doesn't really concern me. I have enough magical ability of my own to keep me safe from his mistakes, and the man does know his enchanting. I think I'll take him up on his offer, if only until I see how it works out."

"Splendid," Neloth pronounced. "We'd celebrate with a nice cup of Canis Root tea, but my new steward, Drovas, hasn't got the hang of making it yet. You'll have to settle for some of the local brew."

"Just a small one, then we have to be off," Diablita told him. "I want to reach the Skaal village before dark."

---

As Clark and Diablita neared the village, a man dressed in thick fur came up to them. "Thank the All-maker you've returned. Baldor Iron-Shaper has gone missing, and there's no-one we can spare to go hunt for him."

"That's not good, Deor. Did anything strange happen the day he disappeared?" Diablita asked. She remembered that the majority of the villagers had been Miraak's thralls, working on building a shrine at the Wind Stone, when she arrived. Perhaps Miraak had taken control of him again?

"Hm, I do not remember Baldor acting strangely. Although, now that you ask, I did see something in the woods on the day he disappeared. I saw two elves in the far distance, dragging something behind them. Hunters often visit our lands, so I thought little of it."

Diablita asked him to be a bit precise than "in the woods", and got directions that she could use.

"I recall there being an old abandoned lodge in that direction." she said to Clark. "If Baldor was abducted, they've probably got him locked up there. Come on!"

"Just the two of us?" Clark queried.

"Well, most of the villagers are just craftsmen, and wouldn't be any help. If we took Frea with us, then the place would be totally undefended. She won't leave her father now."

"She's the only fighter they have?"

"Just about. The hunters can use their bows, of course, but she's the only one with any armour."

---

There were three men outside the lodge as they approached. The building itself was sound, but the windows were boarded up, and it looked like nobody lived there. It didn't make sense why anyone would be waiting outside, unless they were guarding something, like a prisoner.

"They haven't seen us yet. Shall I introduce us with a fireball?" Clark suggested.

"I can't tell from here if Baldor is one of them, so don't. We'll have to get closer and find out more. Besides, he may have gone with them voluntarily."

"I recall the Skaal said he was being dragged."

"The two standing are tall enough to be Altmer. That's probably why Deor called them elves. And they seem to be wearing some kind of uniform."

"Thalmor? Here on Solstheim? I didn't think they'd reached this far."

"We'll find out soon enough."

An arrow whizzed past Clark's head from an unexpected direction. "They're hostile, and there's four of them. At least four!" That made up his mind about the fireball, too.

This was the first time in nearly a couple of centuries that Clark had seen Diablita in action. Her new blade appeared to have an incredible reach, as the first man fell before she even got close to him. A flash of red light sliced across the man's body and he fell as if the blade itself had cut him.

Clark cast his ebonyflesh spell, raised a ward and followed. His shorter sword wasn't the match of hers, but it was still doing its share. Their opponents appeared to be favoring spells, to the extent of using bound swords instead of metal ones, which fit the Thalmor profile. That made using a ward a better choice than a shield, even if he'd had the option.

He ducked, as a severed head flew in his direction. Diablita was being effective, if a little untidy. A stab from his blade, and his opponent also expired.

"Where did the archer go?" he called out to Diablita.

"Already on it," she replied, running up the slope. A scream of pain from behind a rock soon told him the answer.

One of the dead soldiers had a key, that fit the lock on the lodge door. There appeared to be nobody inside, but when they went down to the basement, they found Baldor slumped in a corner. He'd obviously been beaten, but he was still alive.

"Why did the Thalmor take you?" they asked him.

"I do not know this word Thalmor, but if you mean the elves, they were trying to learn the secrets of forging Stahlrim. Their leader, an elf called Ancarion, has a map. He says that it shows the location of a hidden source of Stahlrim."

Clark healed his bruises, and helped him to his feet.

"You must get the map back," Baldor continued. "It belongs to the Skaal, and the elves should not be trusted with its secrets."

"Where do we find this Ancarion?" Diablita asked. Apparently this would would also need doing before she and Clark returned to the village. Clark suspected she was just putting off talking to Storn, but he said nothing.

"He has a ship moored at Northshore Landing in the north-west of the island. They were going to take me there next. I think the Stahlrim is somewhere in that area."

"How were they going to mine it? Isn't it too hard for normal pickaxes?"

"I wasn't going to tell them that. Let them find out for themselves. And I don't carry an Ancient Nordic pickaxe to do it for them. They didn't make many, and the majority are long lost. The few I have are safe at my forge in the village."

"So they can't mine it, don't know how to forge it, and although they have the map, haven't been there yet? Were they expecting you to do everything for them?"

"I suppose they were. Why else would they take me, and not just try to steal from me?"