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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 (1,212 Views) | |
| Areial | Jun 28 2017, 12:51 AM Post #121 |
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Et'Ada
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Nice... and yeah, we all need a day... to be as normal as possible.. |
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| Serethil | Jun 28 2017, 09:08 AM Post #122 |
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Et'Ada
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Thanks sis! It does tend to crack me up though - because Tier had 20 years or so of "normal" while being a mom and Jarl.... |
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| Serethil | Jun 30 2017, 08:05 PM Post #123 |
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Et'Ada
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Sixteen: I’m snickering - quietly - for a couple of reasons, and trying very hard not to be astounded. First, Var’s having evening court here because the Blue Palace is for some unknown reason, infested with vermin. Mostly skeever, but also some rather inconvenient flea-like insects - which seem to have a preference for a person’s private parts! Not honestly funny if you’re one of the affected, but since we aren’t.... and I do keep my countenance in public.... Second - g’ma seems to be a bit.... impatient with Serana for whyever. And for the Divines only know what reason, Var decided to make sure g’ma and Serana are at court tonight as well. In fact, he introduced Serana as “Verinne Ravenwing the Last Dragonborn’s friend, Serana.” He went on: “For those who aren’t aware, Serana and her mother Valerica, while being perhaps the last Volkihar vampires in Tamriel, were also instrumental in helping Verinne keep the clan’s leader Harkon from putting out the sun permanently so that vampires didn’t have to worry about it.” Which was a huge simplification of course, but quite enough to stir the pot among the Jarls and courtiers in attendance! He sent me an amused glance without his lips quirking at all. G’ma rolled her eyes, and Serana began looking around for potential threats. I murmured “Not to worry Serana. Var knows what he’s doing. No one’s going to go for your throat here.” Not least because they might get the same in return of course! She muttered, “Well, I don’t know your High King mate. And - all these people can’t possibly want me here....” “No. Likely they don’t. But you and Valerica did a very great service for Skyrim those decades back. And it’s high time the province learned it, and accorded you two the common courtesy of admitting it - and believing that you won’t use them like cattle.” “We - don’t do that. One of the things mother has done over the centuries is develop a way to conjure blood - it doesn’t require cattle, or feeding on the living. It’s synthesized from components mostly, with a magical twist through conjuration.” Interesting. Apparently Valerica was not only a five-thousand year old vampire, she was also an extraordinary alchemist and mage. Though - I suppose - five millennia of study.... you’d have to do something to keep boredom at bay! “Well, we’ll have to make sure people begin to realize that.” Var appeared at Serana’s elbow. Apparently my ever-resourceful husband has been taking lessons in moving silently.... Finally, the court took its leave of us, and Var tossed back a glass of brandy as if it was water. That was a bit out of the ordinary, and I narrowed my eyes at him. “Nah, then. I just had enough and to spare of Skyrim provincials. They WILL come into the real world - even if kicking and screaming every inch - or they’ll become persona non grata at court. I’ve had more than enough of inbred idiots. It’s high time they learn that Skyrim is nothing but one more country with a lot of serious stupidities rampant amongst it’s ‘higher classes’. I was goggling at him, g’ma was laughing inwardly from the twinkle in her eyes, and Serana’s mouth was flopped open. “Ah. Well, then, Vartain. You’ve definitely set loose a fox among the pigeons.” G’ma looked him over meditatively. “One supposes you’ll explain eventually?” “Aye. Eventually. But just for right now, I want you and Tier to be comfortable with Serana here, and that wasn’t likely to happen unless I made an issue of it. I hope it’s enough.” Hmm. I repeat.... this is the man who thought himself not clever enough to be High King. |
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| Areial | Jun 30 2017, 09:44 PM Post #124 |
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Et'Ada
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Awesome.. sometimes.. men get it right... sometimes.. :poke: |
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| Andra Hawksdaughter | Jun 30 2017, 09:53 PM Post #125 |
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Jarl
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That they do Are, LOL What's going on in his head, I wonder? Love it Sis!! :D |
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| Serethil | Jun 30 2017, 09:53 PM Post #126 |
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Et'Ada
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I do have to say that Var gets it right far more often than one would expect! Thanks Sisters! |
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| Serethil | Jul 1 2017, 09:15 PM Post #127 |
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Et'Ada
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Seventeen: So - this one’s a facer. Serana caught up to me at the broodmare stable. I wondered why she sought me out so early, and with such a strange look on her face. “Serana. What can I help you with?” She slanted me an odd glance. “I... uh... well....” Somehow, Serana being inarticulate seemed extremely unusual to me, though I had to admit I didn’t know her well, only what g’ma had told of her interactions with Serana while trying to kill her father. Drawing a deep breath - how, if they’re undead, do they breathe? Is it just cosmetic, to keep the rest of us from knowing? Well, I wasn’t going to ask her.... - she finally forced out the words. “I - want - to be rid of these shackles, of vampirism.” I kept countenance by sheer force of will, as it just would NOT do to say the wrong thing here. I watched her for a bit, while I meditated on this, and all the possible repercussions - and they were LEGION. Finally.... “I suppose your mother doesn’t know.” “I - no. I couldn’t say it to her, she’d never understand.” “Tell me how you got to this point, please. I DO want to understand.” She glanced at me. “Because if I can’t make it understandable to you, you won’t help me.” “No. It doesn’t matter if I don’t get it, I’ll help you anyway. But - I WANT to understand what would cause you to.... repudiate your mother and her choices.” If a vampire could actually cry (and I don’t know if they can), I think Serana was on the verge of it. She swallowed hard a few times. “Could we - go out into the marsh? I like it - and I won’t have to feel the town.... all around.” “Sure. How about you start learning to ride?” She sent me a startled look. “A horse.... would let me mount it?” “If I’m there, yes.” “All right then. It’s a useful skill to know.” So she got first a lesson in how to work with a horse, and what to do with brushes and tack. She was a pretty quick study - then again, she was.... ages old.... She might have known how to ride once - and have forgotten in the intervening millennia. Once Serana seemed reasonably comfortable on the back of an older gelding, we set off into the marsh away from Morthal. “How is it you don’t worry about going off alone with me?” Serana was genuinely puzzled as far as I could tell. “Serana, I’m a favored daughter of Meridia, Azura, and Talos. I’m pretty sure you could intend harm to me - and not be allowed to accomplish it. Besides, from everything g’ma’s ever said, you were an innocent pawn - more or less - between both your parents. So in essence, I’m not surprised that five thousand years old or not, you’re having a tween’age rebellion, and you’ve decided to be your own person finally. I’m sure your mother is going to cause us problems over this.... but then again, I’ve got friends in the high places of the world.” She just stared at me for very long moments. “I - wish - my mother had been like you. Well. She wasn’t. You need to know though - she went along with my father’s bargain with Molag Bal full-knowing, and determined to survive. She wanted power of her own to match his, and took Bal to gain it.” “And you, Serana?” She shook her head, and paled (if that was possible for a vampire). “I survived only because I was determined to not become a pawn in my parents’ war. And then - I was that pawn anyway. I - find - that at this point.... I just want to live as normal a life as I can, and then....” Her voice faltered. “And then - I want to die, like everyone else does. Perhaps you do not know yet.... I have given up necromancy. It was - never my choice. It was my mother’s rede.” Hmm. I now understood why g’ma had always felt sorry for Serana. I personally thought that Valerica had just as much to answer for as Harkon had. Well. That wasn’t the point, now, was it? No, the point was to find out if there was any way on the Divines’ green Nirn to “un-vampire” a Daughter of Coldharbour. Boy - that one was a doozy. |
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| Areial | Jul 1 2017, 11:48 PM Post #128 |
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Et'Ada
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good read.. compassion and the will to help go a long way.. and it seems she want's the help.. another adventure! |
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| Serethil | Jul 1 2017, 11:51 PM Post #129 |
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Et'Ada
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Yep. But of course.... there's a "you scratch my back I'll scratch yours" thing.... And also, this isn't really "non-canon".... there is always the option to convince Serana to cure her vampirism. Though.... again.... a Daughter of Coldharbour isn't exactly your normal vampire.... And I really think that a simple quest to cure it isn't something that works on a Daughter. But - that's just me. |
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| Areial | Jul 2 2017, 12:13 AM Post #130 |
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Et'Ada
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yep... |
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| Andra Hawksdaughter | Jul 2 2017, 12:19 AM Post #131 |
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Jarl
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Good for Serana! I can't stand her in-game, but here in Tier's story? She has every right to do with her life, and glad to see Tier will face off with whatever she has to to help. :D I like the portrayal of the 'tween'. |
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| Serethil | Jul 2 2017, 12:23 AM Post #132 |
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Et'Ada
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Thanks Sis! I can't stand her in game either - but that's more on the devs, y'know? So.... she gets her day in court in my story.... Serana might be 5000 + years old, but she's still mentally and emotionally in her late teens. That's - on her parents. I resent having to mess with her as a tag along in game, but damn.... she needs an advocate. |
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| neildarkstar | Jul 2 2017, 10:42 AM Post #133 |
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Overlord
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Interesting... :) |
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| Serethil | Jul 2 2017, 10:57 AM Post #134 |
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Et'Ada
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Yeah, neil. I'm not sure how this is all entwined yet - but eventually they'll get around to telling me. I hope! |
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| Serethil | Jul 2 2017, 10:20 PM Post #135 |
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Et'Ada
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Interlude: Tier “Serana, do you think you can get back to Morthal on your own? I - need - to think. Alone.” She sent me an odd glance, but nodded, and turned the old gelding back - heading in the right direction, and seemingly comfortable enough. Sighing, I turned away. I kicked dirt. My mind screamed imprecations I didn’t voice. I just knew this was going to - go so wrong.... so abysmally wrong.... A light calming presence entered my mind. “Child, why do you fret?” Huh. Since when had Talos been someone to calm? “Hah. You only know what you’ve been told after all. I couldn’t have forged an empire if I hadn’t moments of calm you know!’ Eh. True. “So, father-of-all - what am I to do about this? I’m - at bottom - trying to help this poor cursed dragon get to Sovngarde. And now -“ I huffed and rolled my eyes - “this Daughter of Coldharbour wants to quit being same, and eventually die - and probably will expect me to get HER to Sovngarde!” Grumbling under my breath, I flopped down onto a patch of soft moss. I buried my head on my knees and just - stopped being - for a bit. Finally, I raised my head to see Talos still waiting on me. He seemed so human.... I rose to my feet, stepped up to him and embraced him. “Long-father, I will find a way. I hope you have not given up on me! Each of us has moments when.... things.... seem beyond us.” He laughed, and held me close for a bit. “Ah daughter-mine! I know it well. You will find the way. And it will give us all great honor - and to some it will give.... a release greater than you know. And that’s a good thing - in various directions. Hold faith, and love - and fear not that you will fail.” He kissed my forehead and dissipated into a golden light-burst that I couldn’t look at directly. Well. That was definitely - interesting. I hope I figure out what it means.... |
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| Areial | Jul 2 2017, 10:41 PM Post #136 |
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Et'Ada
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:clap: awesome... sometimes serenity does not come in the most serene of countenaces... |
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| Serethil | Jul 2 2017, 10:49 PM Post #137 |
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Et'Ada
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Thank you sister! Yeah.... this stuff is - just sort of happening.... I repeat - I'm just the scribe. As for Talos Stormcrown.... well, he did say true. You can't be nothing but a raging warrior if you want to form an empire.... |
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| Areial | Jul 2 2017, 11:03 PM Post #138 |
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Et'Ada
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true that.. |
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| Serethil | Jul 3 2017, 07:19 PM Post #139 |
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Et'Ada
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Eighteen: I’m heading for Solitude because I’m pretty sure I need to tell Var all this before I forget half of it - or before something even more convoluted happens! So I sneaked into the back of the stable, and had Colvan take me up to Katla’s. “Colvan, when you get back, please let my grandmother know where I am - preferably without other ears around.” “Aye, Tier. I will. Ye don’ know when ye be back, eh?” “No. If it looks like more than a day or so, I’ll - send a courier.” I sighed internally because I KNEW a courier would be there if - eh, WHEN! - I needed one. I walked into the Blue Palace, into a quasi-brawl. There was a man being restrained by two guards, another man trying to calm the first down, and Var sitting in that gods-be-damned throne left over from every Jarl down the ages and which I knew wasn’t large enough for him to be comfortable. Stopping at the top of the stairs, I just waited. Eventually the man under restraint broke down into sobs, and though coherent wasn’t exactly how his words came out, what I understood alarmed me no end. “Vampire witch! She took my wife ta Morthal she did! Gonna bleed ‘er dry, belike. Ye got ta do somethin’ - yer th’ High King!” “Ders, you don’t really know that’s what happened.” The other man was trying to help but that was obviously the wrong thing to say. Var looked at the men, and finally asked “When did this happen?” Ders sobbed, but got out “Abaht midday, yer worship.” I moved to stand next to Var at that point, and murmured, “Did you get a description?” He shook his head, then said softly, “If you have something to help.... do it.” So I looked at the two men. After a moment, I asked “How did you know the vampire went to Morthal?” Ders - the man the guards were hanging onto - snarled “Ev’one knows ye gots one staying there! Where else would it go?” Hmm. “Well. Let me just tell you first that the vampire who’s currently staying with my grandmother was with me out in the marshes at the time you accuse her of taking your wife.” Of course, she’d left me and gone back to Morthal alone - but that was some time later than midday. “And let me further inform you that this particular vampire does not require human blood - her mother has come up with an alchemical and magical formula which provides their sustenance. So if a vampire took your wife, it’s not either Serana or Valerica. And in that case, perhaps it would be best for the guards to go to where you saw this occurrence and see what they can discover from the area - because if there’s a vampire out there, well, we need to bring it to bay.” Both mens’ eyes bugged out. Ders’ friend, relative, or neighbor stated “Well, yes. We do need to see if we can find Felka, no matter....” Var said pleasantly, “Your name? Are you related to Ders?” “Eh, I’m Vels, his cousin. We live just north of Dragon Bridge, other side of the river.” Var nodded. “Well, then. Commander Rolvor, please send a detail - appropriately armed both physically and against vampires! - with these men, to accompany them to where the lady was last seen. Report to me immediately upon their return.” The commander nodded, muttered to the guards to escort the men out, and headed for Castle Dour to get his men in order. Var sighed under his breath; I was likely the only one who heard it. He looked up finally at the rest of the court and said, “Since it’s all but time for night-meal, I suggest we adjourn.” He stood, offering me his arm, and I paced out with him to the rooms we kept here. Once behind closed doors, I told him the whole as we ate whatever was laid by. And drank a LOT of wine over the next hours. “So, it wasn’t Serana - that’s good, I believe you and her. Likely no one else does or will of course - and this is probably only the first of many specious reports based simply on the fact that Serana’s in Morthal. "And Valerica somehow came up with a synthesis that keeps them fed without the need for thralls, cattle, or fresh kills. I know that should make me happier - but.... she’s a loosed arrow bound for the throat of an innocent....” “Aye, love. I admit I’m glad Serana doesn’t need human blood, and has left off the necromancy. But Valerica being able to do something so.... advanced? Is that the word I want? Well.... That’s just as frightening in its own way, isn’t it?” “Yes. Perhaps.... more so. Because - what if she doesn’t stop there? She’s millennia old - and will never die. So much time to meddle.... I think I’m quite pleased that Serana wants a cure - and to simply die when it’s time.” Well. That made two of us. Edited by Serethil, Jul 4 2017, 10:44 AM.
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| Andra Hawksdaughter | Jul 3 2017, 07:28 PM Post #140 |
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Jarl
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Caught up with two updates, and some fine reading!! I think I would have flipped out if Talos just appeared, much less embraced, but Tier is made of sterner stuff! Loved it! Now I'm I'm thinking uh oh...and hoping for no mob scenes at Morthal!! :clap: |
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