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R.I.P. neildarkstar. Haven will miss you dearly.
| Man and Dragon, Dragon and Man; ....with a side-excursion into vampires and so on | |
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| Topic Started: Jun 15 2017, 08:41 PM (1,209 Views) | |
| Serethil | Jul 7 2017, 10:21 PM Post #181 |
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Et'Ada
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Our lives - inform our writing.... |
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| Areial | Jul 7 2017, 10:27 PM Post #182 |
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Et'Ada
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You do, but.. I'm from the "other" side of the family.. gene's are telling and the two side's have a "look".. My Mom actually had that Look, but cancer trump's all ( also bad life choices)... I take after my Grama and that side.. short, plump.. live healthy til their mid 70's..sometimes 80's.. Grama was 72. Grampa's side were all tall and lean.. My Mom got the lean, but was shorter than me.. edit, yes.. they do.. I have a few stories on the burner.. which is why i've been short to write Skyrim stuff.. I'll share them both here, but I want a bit more.. finesse on them first.. the more modern one, will be shorter, the other is based off of "The Gift" and I'm still doing a lot of historical research for it... so that will take a while. Edited by Areial, Jul 7 2017, 10:31 PM.
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| Serethil | Jul 7 2017, 10:34 PM Post #183 |
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Et'Ada
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Ooo - looking forward to them! |
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| neildarkstar | Jul 8 2017, 01:03 AM Post #184 |
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Overlord
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Good story there Sere! The conversation after ward was interesting too... I love stories of the oldsters who walk/walked among us often bearing gifts that none recognized. I'd a grandfather who used to tell me stories of being a small boy during and just after the Civil war. I listened to his tales fr hours. funny, none of the other of my generation could tolerate him... He was old, and time had warped his face and body into something that required a different kind of looking or sight to see the brightness within striving to get out. To me he was everything a grandfather should be. With my family, we either live long or not very old at all... My mother died a month before her 100th birthday, my grandmother died at 28, my great-grandmother was around when Dinosaurs ruled Scotland, and of course I met my natural death at 43, even though I survived. Most of the men of my family have died either in wars or mines at young ages for the most part. Except for my hero, Uncle Johnny... I guess he was 70 or more, though I don't really know. |
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| Lapuaboy | Jul 8 2017, 02:30 AM Post #185 |
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Thane
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Sere, I got the shivers and goosebumps too reading that, as I always do when the gods speak to her. I don't just picture it, I feel it! Great stuff :thumb: |
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| Serethil | Jul 8 2017, 09:09 AM Post #186 |
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Et'Ada
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Thanks neil - at least your grandfather had you.... I bet his stories were definitely worth the listen! And thank you Lappy - I have the same thing happen the whole time I'm trying to write it.... |
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| Serethil | Jul 8 2017, 07:53 PM Post #187 |
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Et'Ada
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Twenty-three: Nice to be home for a bit - though Serana seems impatient as who can blame her? She’s got herself to this point - and now nothing’s happening. I wonder - what will she do once we figure out how to “un-vampire” her? Perhaps she has something she plans to do. Or.... perhaps.... once cured, will she simply die of old age? I - don’t know. And I’m not about to ask her. Not now, probably not ever! I was eating an early meal, waiting for sunsrise out by the ship. I like to take a sandwich, some fruit, and a Honningbrew Mead, and just get out somewhere. That much of my youth I still retain - and I hope it never leaves me! And sunsrise over the marsh was certainly beautiful! It lifted my heart and gave me something to think about besides a vampire and a dragon, at least for a few minutes. As I finished my little meal, a woman walked up to me. Which was odd enough to get my attention - this dock isn’t on the way to much of anywhere after all! After a moment looking down at me, she asked “May I sit with you?” Surprise no doubt crossed my face, but finally I nodded. She settled near me with her legs over the edge of the dock. I waited, but she didn’t volunteer anything, so.... “Do you live near here?” “Aye. I housekeep at the Manor.” Hmm. I didn’t remember knowing about a housekeeper, but I let that go until I could talk to g’ma. “May I know your name then?” “You may call me Agni Felldaughter.” I glanced at her from the corners of my eyes. She seemed to be somewhat younger than g’ma, perhaps fifteen years or so. Her eyes held sadness as well as intellect. Her body language was odd - as if she were keeping her real self hidden somehow. “How did you come to be the housekeeper at the Manor? Not only is Morthal - rather off the beaten path, but the Manor even moreso....” “I - grew up here. I went away eventually, to the College to study with the mages there. But - I found their way of learning.... too tedious. I went many places after - but as I got older, I missed the marshes. So I came home, and found that a housekeeper was needed. “It is a good place to spend my remaining years.” I was being terribly nosy.... but... “Who are your parents then?” “Oh, they died when I was just a girl. A mage of the town took me as ward.” Light thickens! “Ah. You were old Falion’s ward then! Well, it’s good that there was a place for you once you returned home - because no one’s seen Falion in decades.” “He is dead. He.... communed.... with - well, he.... chose wrongly.” What an odd way to put it. But I let it go. “Well, I’m by way of being the Jarl here now - Idgrod was my grandmother’s great-aunt. And the family owned the Manor for a time. If there’s anything you need, just come into town and let us know!” “Aye. And you’re the High Queen as well. I should get back, there’s always enough and more to do. Good day, my Jarl.” What - a - very strange meeting. But I put it out of my mind, and headed back to town. Melki met me at the gate with a stallion issue, and I forgot about Agni for a while - there’s always a sufficiency of goings-on with breeding.... Edited by Serethil, Jul 8 2017, 09:34 PM.
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| neildarkstar | Jul 8 2017, 09:20 PM Post #188 |
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Overlord
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I got it figured out! No, not the story, but... you see I realized that there are three Serethils, each holding a strand of thread and weaving the tapestry of her stories like the fates weave our lives, and each thread is a new plot twist, eh? Well, I love all three of you and the things you create! :D |
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| Areial | Jul 8 2017, 09:21 PM Post #189 |
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Et'Ada
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hmmmm mystery... love those! |
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| Serethil | Jul 8 2017, 09:38 PM Post #190 |
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Et'Ada
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Hoo boy - you found me out! *laughing* Well, I suppose I might come across as fate x 3 - but really.... it's all my own convoluted thought processes! Thank you neil and sis! Truthfully - I don't know how I come up with stuff. It.... just.... happens. I mean that literally. I'll start a chapter with a common-garden-variety paragraph (like the latest one above) - and all of a sudden, the rest of it winds up on the page.... It IS a mystery - to me as much as to anyone! And - it's a DAMN good thing I type 120 wpm.... |
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| Andra Hawksdaughter | Jul 8 2017, 11:50 PM Post #191 |
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Jarl
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The plot thickens and twists, and I love it! :D |
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| Serethil | Jul 9 2017, 09:12 AM Post #192 |
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Et'Ada
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Thanks sis! Apparently I do too! |
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| Serethil | Jul 9 2017, 08:08 PM Post #193 |
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Et'Ada
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Twenty-four: If you wait long enough, and don’t fret yourself to splinters - eventually you see the light. Or you get sense. Maybe both. I broke fast with g’ma as Var was still in Solitude (and I find the older I am, the less I want to do with that city), telling her about my yesterday’s meeting with the woman who had been Falion’s ward. And as well, repeating the odd comment Agni Felldaughter had made about Falion's death. Her attention turned inward for some long moments. Finally she lifted her eyes to mine and said soberly, “It’s a strange tale. And.... has some very - nasty side issues.” She thought a few more minutes and then stated “I sent Agni out to the Manor when she came back to Morthal. She had been a vampire, and was newly cured. Your ex-Companion Baldorn was fine with it; yes, I explained fully. “She’s been there some years now. She almost never comes into Morthal, and perhaps that’s as well. She - told me some of it, about Falion before he.... did something truly horrible. And.... Bal was in it too.” Oh. Well now. “So. I wonder. First, will she talk to me about this? And - if she will.... perhaps she would be willing to help another vampire? A Daughter of Coldharbour.... at that....” “I think that’s on you to ask her. And you’re going to have to tell her most of the whole story.... You have my permission to share it - or if she’d rather hear it from me, I’ll be happy to oblige.” So I put that in my pipe to smoke for a bit while I did some checking in the stud book, because the stallion problem of the day before could quite likely be something that didn’t get bred out fully - it was a breathing issue, where the horse couldn’t get enough air into its lungs; and in Skyrim, that could be deadly. And in that case, we’d have to cut the stud before he had any more get. AND we’d have to find the get already sold, explain the issue, offer an exchange for a filly or colt without the lung problem. That occupied me for several days. Fortunately, that stud’s foals had sold mostly locally - with only a couple farther afield - one in Windhelm and one in Whiterun. Melki set off to deal with those while I handled the ones near home. And then, that done, I rode out to the Manor. First I talked to Baldorn, now so much older than when he’d taken hold here. He’d never wed, but seemed content. I explained enough to him to get his consent to talk to his housekeeper, and perhaps take her into Morthal to talk to g’ma. He went to the kitchen and shortly returned with Agni Felldaughter. She sent a glance to me, and then turned to Baldorn. “It is your wish I talk to the Raven about my past, lord?” He hmphed impatiently. “Aye. It is. She’s a situation that needs mended soonest, it’s to do with vampirism, and since Verinne Ravenwing is her grandmother, of course you’ll talk to her!” He stomped off - and I said with amusement “Probably just as well he never wed! So then - g’ma told me a bit, and said if it pleases you better she’ll tell you the entire story herself as she was the one involved in all of it - and that’s why I’ve got a Daughter of Coldharbour who wants to cure herself of vampirism.” Her eyes widened in shock. And then she said simply, “Yes. If you would take me into Morthal, I will hear what the Ravensdaughter has to say. It’s not that I wouldn’t believe you - but it’s always best if the one whose story it is actually tells it.” I had her get some extra clothing, as this was likely to take a day or so, and then I wandered around the property until I found Baldorn. “I’m taking her in to talk to g’ma. I’ll try to have her back in a couple of days. If you haven’t the wish to cook, come in to town and we’ll feed you!” He grinned, and said he’d have to think about it. I mounted, gave Agni a hand up behind, and we set off to Morthal. |
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| Areial | Jul 9 2017, 09:47 PM Post #194 |
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Et'Ada
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:clap: pretty awesome! the help or even just advice from someone that has went through a problem is a great thing to have. |
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| Serethil | Jul 9 2017, 09:50 PM Post #195 |
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Et'Ada
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Interlude: Serana I try not to fret. I try to maintain patience. That’s hard. I’ve never known patience, since Valerica taught the opposite. Well, not with research, notes, necromancy. But life - yes, there was impatience implicit in five thousand years of being - though for what? I don’t know - because I spent all of those years shut in a tomb. Oh, no. I don’t feel sorry for myself, and I don’t want anyone feeling sorry FOR me. What I do want though - is to know what might have happened had I simply said “No”. Not what Valerica was thinking would occur - but what really would have transpired. Eh, yes. I know there’s no way to discover that - not short of godhood. The which isn’t likely to materialize for me. I know Tier’s been thinking about what’s going to befall me when I’m no longer a vampire. It’s kind of her not to thrust it in my face - but I’ve thought about it probably more than she has. The kindest thing.... would be that I disintegrate the moment Bal’s “gift” is removed. |
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| Serethil | Jul 9 2017, 09:54 PM Post #196 |
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Et'Ada
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Thanks sis! Andy mentioned
and all of a sudden Agni showed up.... in my mind, with a perfect slot in the proceedings. |
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| neildarkstar | Jul 10 2017, 04:27 AM Post #197 |
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Overlord
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Makes me think of Skingrad, somehow... Also reminds me that I once had a favorite character in Morrowind who contracted vampirism. He never did manage to cure it, and ended as a complete monster. |
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| Andra Hawksdaughter | Jul 10 2017, 08:59 AM Post #198 |
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Jarl
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Tales within tales Sis, I do so love that. Agni's tale has me in anticipation, and what Tier's g/ma will say. For Serana....so sad! Perfect! :) |
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| Serethil | Jul 10 2017, 09:15 AM Post #199 |
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Et'Ada
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Thanks y'all! |
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| Serethil | Jul 11 2017, 07:14 PM Post #200 |
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Et'Ada
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Twenty-five: Agni Felldaughter tells her story “You all know by now that Falion took me in when my parents were killed by the wolf pack that hard winter. What you likely don’t realize is that Falion kept the vampire from taking me the way he did so many others. I never knew really why he gave me a home - perhaps he felt the magicka within me. He dissuaded me from going to Winterhold to the College, teaching me somewhat himself. “He - had much to do with the vampire and his coven or whatever you want to call it. I think that’s why he was able to cure those who hadn’t actually gone into the deeper stages of infection. I know he couldn’t do anything for one of the local women - you surely remember Alva? She came to him one night and begged him for a cure. I heard it all - I was always awake later than I should have been I suppose. “Falion told her there was nothing he could do for her - she’d been a vampire too long (by then I think probably a year) and had taken too much blood. The mechanics of the cure were fairly simple really - the components were a filled black soul gem, and a particular summoning circle either found or perhaps made by Falion, north of Morthal. There was likely also some spell component as well - that he never mentioned, or taught me. “Things got very bad when I was of marriageable age - about fifteen I suppose. Falion began to - suggest that - I let him bed me.” Here she stopped to swallow a bit of ale and compose herself. “I couldn’t. And I began to look for a way to leave, where he couldn’t scry for me. That led me to getting to the College - I assumed that no mage could scry into that edifice. I didn’t know how I could get there though - he could find me while I was on the way no matter how I chose to go. “But then, on a time, he was going to be closeted with the vampire for more than a day. Now, I thought I knew what was going to happen: he would be doing something for the vampire in exchange for getting help with my unwillingness regarding what he wanted from me. So I waited an hour after he left, and then I ran for Solitude, where I bribed Jolf Ferrymaster to take me all the way to Winterhold. It took all the gold I’d saved from what was left when my parents died, and what I could steal from Falion when all this started. “I explained the situation to Jolf - he wanted to just send me back to Morthal, to tell the Jarl, but I told him a lie. I said I’d already tried that, and that Jarl Idgrod thought I should probably just insist on Falion marrying me.... but I didn’t want that, I wanted to be a mage myself, not a very young wife or lover to a mage three or four times my age. At that point he said he’d take me, and I asked him to hurry.... because I had about a day or a little more before Falion started looking for me. “Well, it took three days, due to storms. I was in a panic by the time Jolf put me ashore. He was kinder than I could believe - he returned me half the gold I’d given him. I hurried up to the College and once admitted, explained to the Arch-Mage and the instructors about my situation so that they would know. I was safe there for some years. “Eventually though, I became - frustrated - with the pedantry and closed-mindedness of the College’s personnel. I thought by that time that I could keep myself safe, so I took myself off to Windhelm, made a trip to Solstheim to talk to a Telvanni wizard about some of the things I still needed to learn, and then started back for home. I chose to return to Falion’s house, to set things out plain to him. “What I didn’t realize - Falion never returned to Morthal from the vampire’s den. He - died - doing something truly horrible. And no, I don’t really know what it is - but one of the vampires who escaped from the scene was there in the house already, and before I dealt with her, I got what information I could from her. “Falion and the vampire Movarth - whose name I first heard from her lips - were communing with Molag Bal. So you may imagine that whatever they were doing was.... horrifying. She had realized just in time what they were calling up, and run for her life. I thought it was rather stupid of her to stay so close - but after all, habit is a hard mistress. “I offered her two choices: be cured if her vampirism was not too entrenched, or die. She ran, and I firebolted her. Then I dug a grave, put her in it, staked her heart, burned her body, and salted the ashes. “That is who I was. After, I removed to Cyrodiil, and studied with various mages in that land for many years. Not long back, I returned to Morthal again, and the Ravensdaughter directed me to the Manor, where Baldorn hired me as housekeeper. I doubt he realizes I’m a mage. Or if he does, he cares not.” She finished her ale, and settled a bit more comfortably in the chair. “Now. To what I am. Well - actually I can’t truly say. I mean, I am a very good mage. But it seems that I also have some - ‘feyness’ - which is slanted toward knowing vampires. I know when they are near, I know which can be cured, and which will take the cure - and which will try to infect or kill me before I even offer a cure. “I studied much in Cyrodiil; I went from one end of that country to the other, talking to vampires, talking to those with cures said to work, talking to those who’d supposedly been cured. I found that Bal has much to answer for, all over Tamriel. And I would say to you, Serana - your family are far from the only Coldharbour vampires in Tamriel. Their numbers are legion. And if you can maintain some patience, I will do my best to dig through my journals, loose notes, letters from those I’ve known, and I will write to others whose knowledge is deeper, and whose veracity I trust - so that eventually I will be able to do one of two things: either offer you a cure if you still want it; or tell you there is no hope of a cure.” Then Agni held out her hand to Serana, and her other hand to me. Both of us took her hands in ours, and some sort of - warmth - circled around the three of us. G’ma had the oddest look on her face. I said “What?” “Well. It’s just strange - not only did Idgrod not know somehow that Movarth was on our doorstep, somehow she also didn’t know that Falion was.... dabbling in things he shouldn’t have been, or that he was wanting to bed Agni. “Now, knowing what I know about Idgrod.... I’d be willing to bet a LOT of septims that she DID know - and was just letting Movarth and Falion get to the point where one of them would do in the other - which made it possible for me to get into the Lair and back out alive. Even though I didn’t do a good job of killing Movarth, at least Falion didn’t have his back - I couldn’t have handled both of them....” What a strange set of circumstances we have here. I wonder if we know yet all the possible ways this can get even stranger.... Edited by Serethil, Jul 11 2017, 07:18 PM.
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