An Argonian's Account, Haa-Rei's adventures in Cyrodiil Options

[ghastley]

I have to share Grits' concern over the potential choice of house. The real estate market in Anvil is rather limited.

Although, in my games, it was always the CoC who cleaned that place up. Perhaps he's been through already?

[hazmick]

Acadian - I'm glad you like Marie. I was conscious of trying to make her seem like a child, but not in a 'childish' way...if that makes sense As for your hopeful foreshadowing, you will have to wait and see

Grits - I'm not usually a fan of children myself, but writing Marie has proven to be quite fun. Whether or not the house will be as fun remains to be seen.

Darkness Eternal - Yep, this isn't a story about champions, just a simple Argonian's Account

ghastley - Your housing concerns may prove to be true. As for the CoC, having them complete all the quests before Haa-Rei gets there would certainly make it easier to write, though slightly less interesting I'd imagine.


EVERYONE - Apologies for the lack of chapters recently. I've been away from home and haven't had much time for writing. I'll be away for several weeks after this, but I'll get to writing more as soon as I can.



Previously - Haa-Rei accompanied Marie and Lynette on the last leg of their journey to Anvil. Fortunately the road was safe, but can the same be said of the town?

Chapter 30

The mood in Anvil was, in a word, bad. I’d expected a bustling port town, but what people I saw on the street were tense and silent. News of the Emperor’s death and the attack on Kvatch had arrived almost simultaneously and had an immediate effect on the people.

We had arrived in Anvil shortly before midday. The sun was warm and bright overhead but did little to lighten the mood of the town. Fortunately it was not all doom and gloom. I was standing near the city gates, Marie still on my shoulders, watching Lynette’s reunion with her wife, Ailinwe. The Altmer woman had been waiting for us all morning from the looks of things, and Marie had instructed me to hang back a bit.

“That’s Ali.” Marie helpfully pointed out.

“I see. Don’t you want to go over there?”

“Not yet. Oh, we can go over there.” I found my head being turned slightly to the right, to another Altmer woman who was likewise watching the reunion from a respectful distance. She bore a remarkable resemblance to Ailinwe.

“Who’s this?” I whispered, already starting to walk towards her.

“This is Auntie Ciri. She’s Ali’s sister. She’s really nice.” Marie whispered back.

To describe an Altmer as ‘beautiful’ is like saying that fire is hot or water is wet, but Cirinwe (Auntie Ciri’s actual name) was truly beautiful in every sense of the word. She was a couple of inches taller than me, with golden skin which made the midday sun seem dull in comparison. Her hair was a very light blonde, almost white, and had been fashioned into a long braid which reached down to her waist.

The first thing that I noticed, however, was her injury. The ear on her right side was missing the pointed tip, and she had some light scarring on that side of her face. It looked like she had been burned quite severely, but someone had done a very good job of healing it. As we approached she turned her face slightly in an attempt to hide her injury, and I felt like a colossal fool for staring so much.

“Good afternoon, Marie, I see you’ve made a friend since we last saw each other.” Cirinwe smiled brightly as she addressed my current employer, still seated on my shoulders, and nodded a greeting to me as well.

“Hello Auntie. This is Haa-Rei, he's an adventurer.” Marie introduced me and I nodded my head, or rather Marie nodded my head for me, to return the greeting.

“A pleasure to meet you, Haa-Rei the Adventurer.” Cirinwe said, trying not to laugh too much at my situation. Her eyes were the colour of oak leaves in Hearthfire, and were full of light.

Before I had a chance to speak for myself, Lynette’s voice called us all over to her. She and Ailinwe had both been crying, and their faces were a swirl of emotions (primarily joy).

After more introductions were had I was asked to speak with Lynette and Ailinwe alone, while Cirinwe and Marie went to get some lunch. The Breton child seemed disappointed at the idea of walking anywhere, but the prospect of food was a good distraction. I stretched by back and shoulders after she'd dismounted, and wondered if I should purchase a saddle for myself.

“Lynette tells me that you’re an adventuring sellsword...” Ailinwe began.

“That’s right.” I confirmed warily. It was obvious that I was about to be offered a job.

“Well I was wondering if you have any experience with…ghosts.” The Altmer had grown quieter.

“Ghosts? What kind of ghosts?” Having travelled around Morrowind, a land where people revere their ancestors with elaborate tombs, I was more than familiar with a wide range of undead.

“We’ve purchased a house here in Anvil, you see, but we think it might be haunted. We don’t have enough money to hire the guilds to investigate, so we were hoping to find a…private contractor to look into it. I know you’ve already helped Lynette and Marie, and you need to be paid for that, but…” The Altmer trailed off, unsure of what to say next.

I paused to think for a moment. I wasn’t sure if a haunted house was the same as just killing a ghost in a tomb, but I had grown quite fond of these people even after knowing them for only a day or so, and I would like to help them if I could.

“I’ll help if I can, though I’m not an expert…and I can’t guarantee success.” It was the best I could do, but even so it was enough for them.

“Thank you! We’ll find a way to pay you back, I promise.” Ailinwe grabbed one of my hands a shook it until I thought it was about to fall off. Lynette simply smiled and thanked me in her reserved manner.

The house in question was a large manor near the town’s gates. It looked quite rundown from the outside, with missing roof slates and an large covering of ivy on the walls. Inside was much the same, with a thick layer of dust covering every surface. The spines on my head began to tingle as soon as I entered the building, but I could find nothing of note in any of the rooms.

According to Ailinwe the problems only occur at night, and consist of anything from furniture moving on its own to a full on attack from ghosts. She also said that Cirinwe would be assisting me, and although she was a mage she had few offensive capabilities so the fighting would be up to me. Regardless, I was quite relieved that I would have someone else with me, for fear of failure rather than a fear of the undead.

For the moment though I had been left alone in the house, the two women having gone to join Cirinwe and Marie for some food. I wasn’t hungry, and needed to prepare. If I was going to be fighting ghosts I would need some silver or enchanted weapons.

With that in mind I headed for the Anvil Mages Guild. I had a plan.

This post has been edited by hazmick: Jul 9 2016, 01:20 AM

[Acadian]

Wherever the next couple weeks takes you, I hope you return to us happily and safely.

*

News of the crisis spreads, I see, darkening the mood in Anvil.

Two new characters and, like Lynette and little Marie, you bring both Altmer to life quickly via their words, description and mannerisms.

Ahah! The Anvil Manor! I love how Haa-Rei’s head spikes, after being used by Marie to steer him around, now come into play helping to divine for ghosts.

I wonder what Haa-Rei’s plan is?

I’m also curious about Cirinwe – whether her scar and dearth of offensive magicks are related.

[Grits]

What a lovely description of Cirinwe! She sounds breathtaking. I like Haa-Rei’s opinion that Altmer = beautiful. That’s definitely the case in ESO, each high elf is more gorgeous than the last.

Haa-Rei’s interactions with people are so charming. Ooo, an Anvil ghost adventure! I’m looking forward to this.

I hope the next couple of weeks go well for you.

This post has been edited by Grits: May 12 2016, 07:23 PM

[hazmick]

Acadian - Thank you It's nothing too exciting, just squaring away some stuff at uni. There's limited internet access in the house where I live down there, and the environment is not conducive to writing.

Grits - ESO's Altmer are actually the main reason for Cirinwe's existence. I love the way they and the Dunmer look.



Previously - After reuniting Lynette with her wife, Ailinwe, Haa-Rei agreed to help them with a haunting in their home. Ailinwe's sister, Cirinwe, will be lending him a hand...

Chapter 31

Do I fear ghosts? No. Was I absolutely terrified that night in the Anvil mansion? Yes.

If I was asked about my fears, ghosts would not be among them. Indeed there isn’t anything that I would say that I fear. This isn’t because I consider myself to be brave and fearless, but rather because I like to act on a case-by-case basis. If I was scared of all ghosts, or all Daedra, then I would never set foot in another ruin, crypt, or abandoned mansion ever again, and would have missed out on dozens of fascinating conversations that I’ve had over the years with friendly spirits and Daedra. Not that there isn't good reason to fear ghosts of course, but I stand by my point.

My business at the Mages Guild had gone reasonably well. After reading a book about ghosts I purchased a quiver of silver arrows from a local merchant, and spent a small fortune at the guild to have them enchanted with fire damage. Usually one would either go for silver OR enchantment, but I wasn’t taking any chances.

After that I found Cirinwe and we formulated a plan. We would wait in the mansion all night, and hope that the ghost would be so kind as to show itself and let me shoot it. It was simple, but that just meant there was less that could go wrong. Ailinwe, Lynette, and Marie would spend the night at an inn, and I hoped that I would be able to give them some good news in the morning.

“You don’t talk much, do you?” Asked Cirinwe. We had been in the house for 2 hours or so by this point, and neither of us had said a word. The spines on my head had not stopped tingling since we’d arrived.

“No…sorry.”

“No need to apologise. I like it.” She spoke without looking up from her book.

I opened my mouth to reply, but when no witticism was forthcoming I simply opted to remain silent. For the briefest of moments I thought I saw a smile appear on her face, but it was gone in an instant like the sun peeking through clouds.

We were sitting on the bed in the master bedroom, which was the only room with any intact furnishings. Even with several dozen candles dotted around the room, the darkness pressed in. Cirinwe sat to my left, her unscarred side towards me, and was reading a large tome about restoration magic. I was going back through the book about ghosts which I had…borrowed from the Mages Guild. We were sitting in complete silence, but it was a very comfortable one.

Hours passed without any incident, and I was about to suggest that Cirinwe should get some sleep when I heard a crash from downstairs.

We both shot to our feet. I had an arrow knocked and ready in one swift movement, and I could see the distinct golden glow of restoration magic from the corner of my eye. She might not be a destruction mage, but Cirinwe’s book had clearly given her some combat tips.

All was silent again, though this was anything but comfortable. One by one the candles sputtered out, and we were left with only a faint glow of moonlight through the windows. This meant that when a blue light began to approach the door, it was clearly visible.

A faint noise also approached, just at the edge of my hearing but getting louder and louder.

“Can you hear that?” I asked, but my companion shook her head. It sounded as if someone was letting out a very long breath, but turned into a moan as the volume increased.

“Wait,” Cirinwe whispered “I can hear it now.” She’d turned her head so that her left ear (presumably her better one) was facing the door. The moonlight cast deep shadows on her scarred cheek.

The door handle began to rattle, then turn, before the door swung open with a dramatic creak.

After such a terrifying entrance, the ghost itself looked positively mundane. The ash wraiths and guardian spirits of Morrowind were skeletal in appearance, dressed in rags or old armour, but this was just a vaguely person-shaped mist.

The ghost stretched out a pale hand and rushed towards us, straight into one of my arrows. It shrieked as the dual attack of silver and fire dissolved it into a puddle on the floor.

When no more ghosts were forthcoming I carefully stepped over the puddle and slowly headed downstairs, Cirinwe following closely behind. We met another ghoulish guest on the stairs, and another in the dining room, and both fell to my arrows without much fuss. I was feeling much better about the whole situation now, but my spines were still telling me to be careful. If the ghosts aren’t the danger, then what is?

“Here.” Cirinwe motioned me over to where she was crouched. An old vase lay smashed on the ground, with the skeletal remains of a hand lying amongst the pieces.

“This must have been the first noise we heard. Where’s the hand’s owner?” I peered around the room for any clues, but my companion already had the answer.

She pulled a scrap of paper from the skeleton hand, and cast a spell of illumination. A small orb of light appeared above her head, and her eyes quickly scanned the page.

“It is as the Guild thought,” The Altmer said, frowning slightly, “there’s necromancy at work here.”

Do I fear ghosts? No. Was I absolutely terrified that night in the Anvil mansion? Yes.

This post has been edited by hazmick: Jul 9 2016, 01:20 AM

[Acadian]

Well done, Haa-Rei! Silver arrows enchanted with fire was a great choice. I liked the comfortable silence you described between lizard and scarred elf. It does seem that simply waiting without motion or sound would come very naturally to the reptilian Haa-Rei.

Methinks that both Haa-Rei’s tingling head spines and Cirinwe’s ominous words foretell that the worst of the mansion's secrets is yet ahead of them.

[ghastley]

Presumably ghosts are a known, and it's the unknown that's to be feared. That house is definitely full of unknown.

Nit: your creek should have been a creak, unless you have a paddle available.

[hazmick]

Acadian - Yep. As always, nothing is as simple as it first seems.

ghastley - When it comes to undead I'd say that it's both the known and unknown that should be feared, just to be safe.


Previously - Haa-Rei and Cirinwe began their vigil of the manor. After being attacked by some ghosts, the duo explored the house and found a clue which hints at a bigger danger...

Chapter 32

Benirus Manor, the true name of this house, was once owned by a gentleman named Lorgren Benirus. Around 98 years prior to my visit, Lorgren had been dabbling in necromancy, much to the distaste of the local populace. Even before the Mages Guild outlawed the practice, many people found it distasteful. All too often a Necromancer finds himself delving too deep into the darker side of the school. Such was the case here.

Lorgren had begun to use corpses to fuel his growing power, snatching them from the Anvil graveyard. This lead to a raid on the manor by the Mages Guild, who defeated Lorgren. Unfortunately his body vanished at the time, though the presence of a skeletal hand in a jar suggested to Cirinwe and I that he may still be on the premises.

Once Cirinwe had told me this story, we wasted no time in searching the house for anything suspicious. I wasn’t sure what to look for, maybe he’d just be hiding in a cupboard somewhere and this would all be finished with soon.

As it turned out, he was hiding in a secret underground room which was sealed behind a magical blood door. So just a fancy cupboard.
“What is that” I asked as Cirinwe lead me to the door.

“Well it’s a door that needs blood to open.” She replied with a slight smile, making me feel like a fool for asking such a ridiculous question.

“I assume it needs a specific person’s blood.”

“Yes, usually. Though…” She trailed off and began inspecting the door more closely, casting some spells and occasionally prodding the dusty bricks which were covered in bright red runes. I sat myself down on a nearby barrel and kept quiet while she worked.

After several minutes of casting and prodding, the Altmer stopped and turned to me.

“I’ll need a hand,” She said, only to realise the vagueness of her instruction. “The hand. From the vase.”

“Oh right…here” I handed her the skeletal appendage, which I’d wrapped in a scrap of dusty curtain for safekeeping.

I readied my bow as Cirinwe pressed the hand to the door and cast a spell. For a few moments nothing seemed to be happening, and I was about to sit back down. Suddenly the runes on the wall lit up as if they were on fire, and several bricks shuddered before swinging back, revealing a dark passageway.

Just as before, I led the way, followed by Cirinwe who was looking a little tired from the door experiments. I knew better than to ask if she was alright, so I focused my attention on the passageway. There was no light in the passage itself, but a warm glow from the far end led our way.

We emerged into a large stone chamber. It was very open, the ceiling held up by four thick stone pillars. Candles were spread all over the room, illuminating every corner and crevice. There was a desk by the entrance which was empty but for a single tome which positively oozed darkness. In the centre of the chamber was a raised altar, upon which lay a skeleton. A skeleton that was missing one hand. I think the presence of a few ghosts would have lightened the mood considerably. As we approached the altar a red circle of runes appeared on the floor.

“That’s odd. I’ve seen these before, in Dunmer tombs.” I said, thinking back to my time in Morrowind. For someone who dislikes undead I spend an awful lot of time in burial sites.

“It’s a speaking circle. It allows people to speak to the dead, or to Daedra. Basically any transplanar...” Cirinwe stopped herself after using the word ‘transplanar’ and cleared her throat before continuing. “Anyway, we can use it to talk to Lorgren.”

“It doesn’t look big enough for two people to stand in. You can talk to him.” I said, taking a couple of steps back. I wasn’t too bothered about speaking to an undead, grave-robbing necromancer, but the thought of standing so uncomfortably close to someone made my scales itch.

“Oh don’t be silly, we’re both quite skinny I’m sure we can squeeze in.” Cirinwe looked utterly serious, and grabbed my arm before I could protest.

Before I knew what was happening, I was standing in the circle. Cirinwe was correct when she said we were both skinny enough, and also about having to squeeze in. We were pressed together like fish in a barrel, and I had to hold my tail in my hands to stop it from breaking the circle. As soon as we were in position the runes lit up, forming a circular wall of light around us. A voice began to whisper, though I was hearing it in my head rather than with my ears.

“I am Lorgren Benirus, and I desire the chance to atone for my sins.” The voice rattled through my skull. “The things I've done to the people of Anvil; the horrible, unspeakable acts I've committed demand repentance. Carahil was justified in her actions. Slaying me was the only way to stop the madness. I have accepted that fate. Now, so I may make my final peace with the Nine, please rejoin my hand to my body. Only then, when I am complete, will this eternal nightmare end." As the voice faded, so too did the circle, allowing me the chance to take a couple of steps back.

“It’s quite clearly a trap.” Said Cirinwe, her face slightly flushed.

“Yes. Though I suppose a trap isn’t a trap if you know it’s a trap.”

“That’s…true.” The Altmer agreed, almost smiling. “He’ll most likely attack us as soon as we give his hand back, so be ready.”
I nodded and raised my hand, causing Thiazzi to rumble into existence.

The storm atronach turned towards Cirinwe and let out a low growl, unsure of this new presence. The Altmer glanced at him, nodded in greeting, and then returned to her spell preparation. Thiazzi stopped growling immediately, almost shrinking away from her. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Once we were ready, Cirinwe placed the skeletal hand on the altar and quickly moved away.

A long, crackling laugh filled the room as the skeleton began to shift and change under a veil of green light.

Lorgren Benirus was here.

This post has been edited by hazmick: Jul 9 2016, 01:20 AM

[Acadian]

So they found Lorgren hiding in the cupboard indeed!

I loved how Haa-Rei had to hold his tail to keep from breaking the small circle.

Based on the laugh at the end, it seems Cirinwe was wise to suspect a trap and Haa-Rei prudent to ask Thiazzi to join them.


Oh, and I love your new screenshot of the month showing Haa-Rei’s armored guar mount. Very neat!

[hazmick]

Acadian - If in doubt, summon an atronach



Previously - After learning more about Benirus Manor, our ghostbusters found the final resting place of Lorgren Benirus. Suspecting a trap, they prepared for a fight...

Chapter 33


The sickly green light that had enveloped the skeleton suddenly vanished, sending a foul smelling wave of energy through the air. The candles around the chamber went out, plunging it into darkness.

My night-vision, although nothing compared to that of a Khajiit, was sufficient to make out Lorgren’s new form as it slowly rose to its feet. The skeleton was now clothed, or as close to being clothed as a lich ever is. A red, moth-eaten robe hung from his bony shoulders, and the rotten remains of a doublet clung to his ribs. His hands were heavy with gold rings, and a golden crown adorned his head.

He raised a gnarled wooden staff into the air and slammed it to the ground, causing the candles to re-light with magical blue flames. His body now began to glow, so that he resembled the ghosts I’d fought earlier. His mouth worked soundlessly for a few seconds before his voice filled the chamber once more.

"It never fails to amuse me how easy mortal man is to manipulate. You've assisted me in completing the very thing Carahil and her cabal sought to prevent all those years ago...my ascension to immortality.” He slammed his staff on the ground again, and two skeletons rose in front of him. “Last time I clashed with mortals, I underestimated their power. I shall not repeat that mistake twice. I live...again!” The skeletons jumped into action, their eerie hisses being drowned out by Lorgren’s maddening laughter.

Cirinwe wasted no time in attacking, knocking one of the skeletons off its feet with a ball of silver light. The undead’s bones were aflame with a ‘destroy undead’ spell, a particularly powerful restoration skill.

The second skeleton was dispatched by me. My arrow struck its sternum with enough force to become embedded in the old, dry bone. The arrow’s fire enchantment surged into the creature, causing it to collapse in a pile of smouldering bonemeal.

Thiazzi engaged Lorgren himself, sending a huge bolt of lightning crackling across the room. The lich seemed unimpressed, and simply absorbed the elemental magic with a powerful shield spell. Another wave of his hand summoned more skeletons, as well as resurrecting the one that I had ‘killed’. Cirinwe’s stayed down, even a lich can’t beat a master of restoration.

The battle continued to rage for several minutes. No magic could harm Lorgren, and his growing army of skeletons prevented me from getting a clear shot. Thiazzi had been backed into a corner, skeletons crawling all over his massive frame. It was Cirinwe who came up with the plan.
“I need 30 seconds.” She shouted over the din, retreating to the entrance of the room.

I nodded in reply, dropping another enemy with my second-to-last arrow and shouldering my bow. The skeletons were equipped with crude, rusted iron weapons. Perfect for bashing bonewalkers. I hefted a one-handed axe into a rough fighting stance and kept Cirinwe safe while she prepared.
There was no finesse to this fight. No fancy tricks or skill, just swinging an axe around and trying my best to stay on my feet. I could feel Thiazzi weakening, and hoped that my Elven companion was almost ready.

In answer to my hopes the skeletons in front of me suddenly exploded, their bones alight with silver flames. A whistling orb of light flew over my head, towards Thiazzi. The beleaguered atronach was enveloped in a veil of silver, and when it subsided he was standing unharmed and ankle deep in bones.

“Now, Haa-Rei, shoot Lorgren!” Cirinwe’s voice sounded weak, but I didn’t dare look back.

The iron axe clattered heavily to the ground as I drew my bow. I’d avoided using my last silver arrow until it was absolutely necessary, and now that time had come.

Even as I fired, the silver arrow wreathed in flame, more skeletons began to rise. Nothing interrupts a summoning spell quite like an arrow punching you in the ribs though, and the skeletons vanished before they’d even arrived. The flame enchantment set Lorgren’s dry robes alight, and the silver arrowhead broke his protective spell. Now it was Thiazzi’s turn.

The stone giant walked up to the burning lich as one would stroll through the woods on a sunny day. His massive stony hand wrapped around Lorgren in a grip that was literally bone crushing. Lightning magic coursed through Thiazzi’s body, and the Lich could do nothing to protect himself this time.

After another second or two, the charred remains of the lich were dropped back on the altar. I nodded my thanks to Thiazzi and dispelled him while Cirinwe approached the altar. I left my curiosity unsaid and simply watched as she began casting spells. Golden light leapt from her hands and enveloped the bones, so bright that I had to look away. The sound of Lorgren’s voice filled the chamber once more, but this time it was a wail of despair instead of mocking laughter. I’d later learn that this was a spell which destroyed the essence of an undead, thus preventing them from resurrecting.

Once it was over, the room darkened briefly before the candles relit themselves with a healthy orange glow. Even the darker corners of the room seemed lighter than before, and I noticed that my spines had finally stopped tingling. It felt almost…comfortable.

My brief respite was interrupted by Cirinwe. She’d begun to walk towards me, but her steps faltered and she collapsed onto the stone floor. I dashed over and saw that she had fainted from exhaustion, but was otherwise unharmed.

I remembered the spells she’d used during the fight and wondered just how much magicka she’d expended. Even a High Elf has her limits, and this one had surpassed hers.

Even though she was slightly taller than me, she was just as skinny and weighed very little. All the same, the muscles in my arms were burning by the time I carried her upstairs. She needed rest, and the only room that wasn’t full of dust and broken furniture was the bedroom in which we’d begun the evening.

I laid her on the bed and loosened her bodice slightly, relieved to see that her breathing had returned to normal. The room was pleasantly warm, no doubt thanks to Anvil’s climate, so I decided that she would be fine without any covers. I moved around the room, relighting candles with my terribly weak but incredibly handy flame spell.

With nothing left to do I simply sat on the floor and waited, book in hand.

What a night.

This post has been edited by hazmick: Jul 9 2016, 01:21 AM

[Acadian]

Dumb ol' Lorgran - underestimating those pesky mortals once again!

Nice team work of silver arrows, axe and magikelf. Oh, and Thiazzi!

Haa-Rei's spines deserve a nice rest from tingling and it looks like his job here is done.

[ghastley]

I lay her on the bed a loosened her bodice slightly, relieved to see that her breathing had returned to normal.

Should be "I laid her on the bed, and ..."

Was Haa-Rei too excited to type properly?

[hazmick]

Acadian - Indeed, some folks just don't have the good sense to stay dead. At least now someone can turn that crypt into a wine cellar or something.

ghastley - He had just assisted in the defeat of an undead abomination, so I think we can forgive a lay/lie/laid/lain mix up.




Previously - After an intense battle with Lorgren Benirus and his undead minions, Haa-Rei and Cirinwe emerged victorious but exhausted...

Chapter 34


The earthy scent of the potion filled my nostrils as I transferred the mixture from my makeshift alchemy station to the three small bottles that had been cleaned and prepared. Each bottle was made of thick, smooth glass which had been coloured black to avoid mistaking it for any other potions. A wolf’s head motif had then been engraved on the body of the bottle, and felt rough to the touch for easy identification in a hurry.

My alchemy station consisted of a pestle & mortar and an alembic, sitting atop a small oil burner. The pestle & mortar were my own, but the rest of the equipment was from a cupboard in the corner of the room. It was old, but usable.

I had also lit a small fire in the fireplace, and my iron kettle was hanging over it to keep warm. I was still in the bedroom of Benirus Manor, and had decided to restock my potions after finishing my book.

“Good morning” A quiet voice spoke up from behind me. Cirinwe was finally awake.

“Good afternoon.” I corrected her. “You’ve been asleep for thirteen hours.” I stood up slowly, my legs aching a little after kneeling down for so long, and made my way over to the fireplace.

The Altmer was quiet for a moment, then spied my alchemy set up and sniffed the air inquisitively.

“Smells like…wolfsbane and nightshade? An odd combination.” Even with my back to her I could almost see a raised eyebrow.

“Just…experimenting. It’s medicine.” I was hardly convincing, but she chose not to pursue it. “Anyway, I’ve brewed something else for you. Here.” I poured the dark red liquid into two cups, and took one over to Cirinwe.

“Thank you. What is it?” She sipped it experimentally, and winced as she scolded her tongue.

“Telvanni Tea. Made with Lotus, Acai Berry, and honey. As the name suggests, it is the favoured drink of Telvanni mages, and helps to recover magicka and stamina when they stay up all night to practice spells.” Even after drinking half a pot myself during the night, I was exhausted and thus prone to rambling. Fortunately my companion didn’t seem to mind.

“It's very nice. I wouldn’t have thought the Telvanni would be willing to share recipes like this.”

“They aren’t. I received the recipe as payment after helping a slave escape his Telvanni master.” The end of my sentence disappeared into a large yawn, which was in turn cut short as I spluttered out an apology.

“No need to apologise. When was the last time you slept? Or ate? Perhaps we should go to the inn for some breakfast…or lunch.” She’d framed it as a question, but finished her tea and made her way to the door to show that it was more of an order. I was happy to oblige. Even though Argonians don't require as much food as Elves, it had been several days since my last proper meal and I'd used a lot of energy during that time.

Cirinwe decided on lunch at The Count’s Arms, Anvil’s cleanest inn. The owner, an old Redguard by the name of Wilbur, spent several minutes talking to us about wines before he allowed us to order some food. I admired his passion, but I was also quite famished.

The meal itself was delicious. Roast chicken, seasoned liberally with a blend of herbs from the local area, a fresh loaf of bread with a crunchy black pepper crust, and a large bowl of salad drizzled with a traditional spicy Hammerfell dressing that I decided to avoid.

I was initially nervous about eating at such a high class inn, having spent most of my time either in the wilderness or the cheapest taverns I could find. As soon as I smelled the chicken, however, I decided that I was too hungry to care, and was pleased to see Cirinwe had had a similar thought.

After finishing our meal, Cirinwe asked Wilbur if he knew the whereabouts of her sister. As it turned out, Ailinwe had taken Lynette and Marie to the beach for the day. This meant that I had to wait in Anvil a little longer before I could receive my payment and be on my way.

The only issue was where I would stay. I couldn’t impose on my employers any further by sleeping in their house, The Count’s Arms was out of my price range, and the only other place with any spare beds was a dockside brothel. I was about to set off to find a good campsite outside the walls when Cirinwe interrupted my thoughts.

“If you’re looking for a place to stay, then why don’t you try the Guild?”

“The Guild?” I asked, slow to catch on. “The Mages Guild?”

She nodded. “I…might have read your file when Ailinwe hired you…” She looked embarrassed to admit it, but continued. “Even though you’re a low ranking member you can still use any spare beds at a guild hall.”

I decided to save any questions about the content of my ‘file’ for a later time, and we set off for the guild hall. Of course this was my second visit here, but I’d been so busy last time that I hadn’t really looked around.

It resembled any other mage establishment in Tamriel. Lots of blue and purple furnishings, alchemical and enchanting material, and books scattered around the large rooms. Mages were performing various activities, from reading to spell casting, and I felt quite at home but out of place all at once. I’d never really considered myself a mage, despite being a frequent user of conjuration magic, and I despised the idea of wearing a robe.

Regardless, I was a member of the guild, and I was here to rest. Cirinwe led me up stairs and along corridors until we came to one of the many bedrooms. Each room had two beds in, and enough room for two people to live there quite comfortably. This particular room was sparsely decorated, with heavy curtains keeping the room dark and cool. Several large stacks of books and scrolls were dotted around the floor.

“This is my room.” Cirinwe began. “The bed on the left is free, so you can use it whenever you please. I…apologise for the lack of furnishings. I don’t have many belongings.” She moved some books around so there was a clear path from the door to what was now my bed.

“Thank you. It’s perfect.”

Cirinwe left me to my rest, going to conduct some 'guild business'. As soon as she was gone I took off my boots, dumped my pack on the floor, and collapsed onto the bed, allowing the soft sheets to envelop me.

I fell asleep almost immediately.

This post has been edited by hazmick: Jul 9 2016, 01:21 AM

[Acadian]

Telvanni tea? Oh, made by Telvanni’s not from them. Whew.

Haa-Rei seems like quite the capable alchemist. Cirinwe’s discerning nose implies she probably is also.

What a wonderful meal the intrepid pair of ghostbusters shared.

I’m so glad Haa-Rei learned that he can stay free at the mages guildhalls.

[ghastley]

I wanna go pick myself some wolfsbane, now. Are the foreign ingredients from Morrowind (the game and the province)?

Of course, if he's in Anvil, he doesn't need to go to the dockside brothel. The better one is outside town, at least in my games.

[hazmick]

Acadian - I find that tea made from Telvannis is a bit too bitter.

ghastley - Yep, Wolfsbane's from Morrowind (G and P). Heh, I think one Anvil escapade is enough for now.



Previously - Haa-Rei spent a day recovering from the Benirus Manor incident, and discovered that Mages Guild members can stay in guild halls for free. That's an offer he couldn't refuse...

Chapter 35

I awoke the next morning feeling well rested and eager to get underway. Hopefully I could conclude my business in Anvil and be on my way back to Chorrol by the day’s end.

Cirinwe’s room in the guild was cool and dark thanks to the heavy curtains that shielded it from the Gold Coast sun. I sat up in bed and stretched my sore arm muscles as my eyes adjusted to the darkness.

Cirinwe had gone to bed in the early hours of the morning, though she had decided to read rather than going to sleep. Sleep, however, did come for her, and now she was snoozing gently while sitting up in bed, a book on folk medicine resting on her lap.

I gathered my belongings and crept from the room. The rest of the mages guild was similarly sleepy, with many mages still in their pyjamas and night gowns as they headed to breakfast.

I didn’t relish the idea of eating porridge with the intellectuals of Anvil, so I made my way outside and headed for the docks.

As I expected, the docks were a hub of frantic activity. Sailors, fishermen, and merchants all dashed about, eager to conduct their business and be on their way. I watched a young boy cut the purse from a slim Breton’s belt before melting into the crowd. A burly Bosmer chased a small cat away from his fish stall, only for a gull to swoop in and steal a beakfull of eels.

“I didn’t expect to see you down here in the early morning madness.” A cheery voice called out from behind me. I knew it was Ailinwe even before I turned around to greet her.

“Just stretching my legs, looking for something to eat.” I could barely hear myself over the din, but Altmer’s ears are obviously not just for show.

“I know just the place. Come on.” Ailinwe’s voice cut through the noise as she turned and marched towards a small tavern.

“The Flowing Bowl?” I read the sign hanging over the door as we approached.

“Don’t let the name put you off.” The Altmer laughed and headed inside.

As one might expect from a dockside establishment with such a name, the Flowing Bowl was rather plain and smelled like ale. A gathering spot for seamen at night, it was quite quiet during the day. It was owned by a pair of Bosmer twins, one of whom worked the day shift while the other worked the night.

Ailinwe sent me to sit down while she ordered some food. I chose a table near one of the low windows, with a view of the docks and the sea stretching out into the distance. My Altmer companion joined me several minutes later with two steaming bowls.

“Here we are. I ordered a small one for you, since I know that Argonians don’t eat much.” I nodded as I accepted the smaller bowl, grateful for her consideration.

“Thank you. It looks surprisingly good.” I admitted. It seemed to be a leek and potato soup, with some sort of spiced meat added to it. A heel of black bread had been provided on the side.

“I’m glad I caught you,” said Ailinwe, breaking up her bread and dropping it to soak in the soup. “I wanted to thank you for helping us. Ciri told Lynette and I all about what happened at the house.”

“I’m glad I could help. It was certainly an interesting night.” I was trying my hardest to avoid dribbling soup on myself, with limited success.

“What did you think of her? Ciri, I mean.” Ailinwe’s tone was almost identical to the one she used when asking for my help before.

“She’s a very knowledgeable and talented mage, and a nice person.” I replied suspiciously.

“Yes, she is…but she needs to go.” What? Go? Go where? Does she mean...

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“Wait, that sounded terrible. I mean that she can’t stay in Anvil. She needs to get out and see more of the world, rather than wasting away in the Guild Hall all day.” Ailinwe got straight to the point.

I was still confused, but now relieved that I wasn’t being asked to assassinate someone’s sister.

“I’m still not quite sure…” I said, trying to squeeze more of an explanation out of the Altmer.

“Right, I’ll explain. Back home in the Summerset Isles, Ciri was a student at a mage’s academy. Very prestigious, all the students were from great houses and expected to do great things. One day there was an…accident, I’m not sure of the details myself, but Ciri was kicked out of the academy. Our parents were furious, embarrassed that their firstborn child had failed, and disowned her. I went with her, going to High Rock and now to Anvil.” Ailinwe paused for a drink before continuing “She blames herself for my decision to leave home too. I’m happy here, I have a wife and a daughter, but it breaks my heart to see my sister like this. She used to be so cheerful, always making me laugh, but now she seems so…miserable. I just…I don’t know…I just think that if she had some time away, explored the world a bit, she might begin to heal a little.” She had tears in her eyes by the time she finished the story. There were a dozen questions that I wanted to ask, but I settled for asking just one.

“You want me to accompany her, yes?”

“Yes. I know it’s a lot to ask, especially after you’ve already done so much, and I understand if you say no, but please think about it.” She stared at me intently, though I’d already made my decision.

“Very well then, I’ll do it. I can take her as far as the Imperial City, but then I have business of my own to attend to.” I still had a job to do, after all.

“Oh, thank you! I’ll go and talk to her right away. Lynette should be at the house with your payment for the previous task. By the time that’s sorted, Ciri should be ready. Thank you!” Ailinwe ran around to my side of the table and embraced me in a large hug, lifting me off my feet ever so slightly.

I wasn’t sure that I should meddle in what was clearly quite a personal affair, but I wanted to help them as best as I could, and I’d be glad of the company. In any case, things were going to get more interesting from now on.

This post has been edited by hazmick: Jul 9 2016, 01:21 AM

[Acadian]

’As I expected, the docks were a hub of frantic activity. Sailors, fishermen, and merchants all dashed about, eager to conduct their business and be on their way. I watched a young boy cut the purse from a slim Breton’s belt before melting into the crowd. A burly Bosmer chased a small cat away from his fish stall, only for a gull to swoop in and steal a beakfull of eels.’
- - This is a wonderful Haa-Rie style description that, along with adding sounds in the next paragraph, gave us a wonderful feel for the busy morning dock.

I was really pleased to see that you brought Cirinwe to ESO. It matches well to what seems to be a growing role for her in this story.

Wonderful!

[hazmick]

Acadian - The elves of ESO are the reason for Ciri's existence, they look great! Originally Haa-Rei was going to be travelling alone but...well, here we are.


Previously - Haa-Rei was invited to have breakfast with Ailinwe, who told him a little of her and Cirinwe's story. She also asked that he take Ciri with him on his adventures, and he graciously agreed to escort her as far as the Imperial City...

Chapter 36


"Thanks again," Shouted Lynette as I departed their house, reward in hand.

I'd been paid a rather small amount of gold in relation to such a large task, but it was still more than I'd asked for. I felt guilty about being paid by people who'd had such a rough time of things recently, but refusing a reward would likely offend them.

Cirinwe was nowhere to be seen, so I took my chance to resupply for my journey. I restocked my supply of dried meat at a butcher's stand near the marketplace, and bought a leather hood from a nearby tailor. I considered a visit to the smith to purchase a new sword, but decided against it. I'd be able to find better weapons for lower prices elsewhere on my journey.

After my brief shopping spree I took a seat on a bench in the marketplace to sew the hood onto my leather armour. I was wearing a shirt underneath so thankfully I didn't have to go topless while I conducted my rather messy needlework. I was just finishing up when I heard Cirinwe approach.

"You'd be a terrible surgeon." The Altmer remarked after seeing my sewing skills.

I couldn't think of a suitably witty reply, so I stowed my sewing kit in my pack and put my armour back on, testing the new hood. It sat nice and loose on my head, allowing me a good range of vision whilst keeping the sun and rain away. It would also help camouflage me and prevent my horns from getting caught in tree branches or cobwebs.

"Ready to go?" I asked, looking at my companion's equipment.

She had swapped her regular mage robes for the guild's green "travelling" variant, which featured a light armoured over-vest and leather attachments on the arms, as well as a leather hood. I also noticed for the first time that she wore bandages on her wrists and palms, as one would wear gauntlets. She carried her enchanted pack at her waist, and wielded a simple wooden staff in one hand.

"Lead the way" She said, taking one last look at her sister's house. This would be the first time she'd been away from Ailinwe for a considerable amount of time.

I headed out the main city gate, and could hear Cirinwe following behind. Even with my fast walking pace, her long Altmer strides soon caught up with me and we walked side by side. It took a further hour or so before she managed to find the right balance between walking slow enough to avoid overtaking me, and quick enough to avoid being left behind.

We walked in silence for the most part, content to simply enjoy each other's company and the Gold Coast countryside around us. It was a warm day, but not too hot. Rabbits darted through the scrub, avoiding the gaze of hawks that flew overhead. Mountain lions lazed around on a large slab of rock, content to let the world pass them by for now.

We had to stop to rest more frequently than I usually would. Every hour or so I'd hear Cirinwe's breathing getting heavier, and we'd pause long enough for her to catch her breath.

"Sorry," She sighed after we'd stopped for the third or fourth time "I'm not used to walking...anywhere."

"Don't worry about it. It gets easier." I handed her a strip of dried meat and looked around.

We were south of Kvatch, in a sheltered patch of trees just off the road. The sky was awash with pinks and oranges as the sun slowly crawled over the horizon.

"So that's Kvatch." said Cirinwe quietly.

The city could be seen quite clearly from our position. The smoke and fire had all died down, but there still seemed to be a sense of darkness coming from the grey walls. I wondered how long it would take for the people to rebuild.

"In any other circumstances," The Altmer continued, chewing slowly on a tough piece of venison, "I'd be quite excited to see an Oblivion gate." Her eyes had a very subtle glint of scholarly interest as she surveyed the city above.

Having encountered a gate of my own, I could sympathise with her mixed feelings. It was indeed a fascinating experience, but utterly terrifying if you stopped to think about it.

"I'm sure you'll get so see one on your travels." I reassured her.

"After hearing about Kvatch, I'm not sure I'd want to." We both fell silent, so I began to prepare a small fire.

"We'll camp here tonight, I think." After getting the fire going I unpacked my bedroll and teapot.

Cirinwe still hadn't moved. She was staring into the fire, one hand feeling the scarred flesh on her face. When she saw that I was watching she cleared her throat and began to unpack her own gear.

As I've mentioned before, elves need to eat quite regularly. Cirinwe prepared herself a light meal that consisted mainly of leaves and nuts, with some sort of pepper based dressing drizzled over the top. After her meal we shared some tea and spent the evening reading quietly, the silence broken only by the crackle of the campfire and the turning of pages.

I stayed awake long after Cirinwe had gone to sleep, planning our route to the Imperial City. It would be simple enough to follow the road through Skingrad and around Lake Rumare. From the Imperial City I could then travel alone to report back to the Grandmaster at Weynon Priory. I just hoped that he wouldn't mind that I was a couple of days late.

This post has been edited by hazmick: Jul 9 2016, 01:28 AM

[Acadian]

What a delightful day of travel as Haa-Rei and Cirinwe travel east, and Cirinwe figures out her walking pace and begins to develop her hiking lungs.

Kvatch affords a sobering reminder.

And what a wonderful evening, sharing tea around the campfire. I loved how the later part of the evening was marked primarily by ‘the crackle of the campfire and the turning of pages’.

And finally, a reminder of what Haa-Rei considers his bigger task and need to visit Weynon Priory.

[ghastley]

“We’ll camp here tonight, I think.� After getting the fire going I unpacked my bedroll and teapot.

The bedroll is optional, but the teapot is essential!