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Charine; Sent to end the world... or save it?
Topic Started: Apr 4 2018, 03:02 PM (114 Views)
neildarkstar
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Early morning sunlight reflected in dazzling brilliance from the water surrounding her brought Charine back to consciousness. Stiffly, as though she had slept overlong, she rose to a sitting position and took in her situation through bleary eyes.

"What a party that must have been... too bad I passed out and missed it... Nebethor has outdone himself!"

It did not take long for her to realize that she was on a tiny island that lay a fair distance offshore. The entirety of the island was some ten or fifteen feet across, sporting but a single tree and a tuft of some rough yellowish grass.

Scores of yards to the east lay a rocky shore bordered by high snow-covered mountains... but nothing of that shoreline looked familiar to Charine's eyes.

So... On this island was Charine, a tree, some grass, and a book... Not much to work with!

WAIT! A book? She hadn't noticed it a moment ago, so...

"Where did you come from?" Stubbornly, the book refused to answer. Charine took up the book carefully. "Hmm wouldn't want to get sand stuck in your binder... That would no doubt be uncomfortable.

On closer examination, the book was bound in some sort of leather, and was intricately engraved with a stylized version of the Tree of Life. For a moment, she wondered if it was actually bound with human skin.

It bore no words or title and, as she opened it, she could see that it apparently had only one page inside. The words formed some form of elder prose, the letters burning like an eldritch fire. They were branded upon her mind with a terrific burning chill. Instinctively, she knew this was a part of The Book of Helheim - the word of Hel.

For moments, the letters and words made no sense, but then magically sorted themselves out into something she could read.

"Arise Charine!
It is Hel who bids you rise!

Dead Charine walk!
Walk once more in life, Dead Charine!

Hel grants you life once more!
Your life is born in the love of Hel!

Daughter of Hel, here is your wand!
Take up your wand and change the World O daughter of Hel!

Magical fire of Hel dispels the darkness you knew in death!
Alduin rules the skies of Skyrim with magical fire!

Hel bids you Walk in her service with Alduin who is your kin!
Walk in Skyrim with Alduin your kin in service to Hel!

Look in the ashes of Sovengarde to find Hel, Charine!
Hel may be found in the ashes of Sovengarde!

The ashes of Sovengarde!
Sovengarde will lie in ashes!"

As the book turned to a fine black ash that was blown away on the morning breeze, Charine was sorely puzzled.

"Dead Charine? Since when? How could that happen without her knowing about it?" ...and (looking madly about but seeing nothing)... "Magic wand? Where?"

All her life she'd lived in High Rock under the bullying words of other more talented Bretons because she showed no aptitude for magic whatsoever...

"Time to think of all that later! I've gotta get off of this damned island! When I get hold of that bastard Nebethor, he's going to wish he was stuck on an island somewhere!"

So saying, she twisted her honey-colored hair into a bun, and began swimming for an island that lay to the south. It seemed to be closer to a more hospitable section of shore, and Charine thought maybe she could see some sort of structures.

Edited by neildarkstar, Apr 4 2018, 03:05 PM.
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Serethil
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Great start! Love the mysterious words of the book from Hel....
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neildarkstar
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Thanks... and things are getting stranger by the minute! I'll explain in more detail a little later, eh?
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Serethil
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Can't wait!
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Areial
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<sigh> My earlier post is gone... Great Start... she seem's like she's going to have a strong personality!
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Serethil
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Hmm. Did Charine look in her inventory for the wand? Not always a given, or logical....
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neildarkstar
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The "wand" is symbolic in this case and generally means to learn the uses of magic with a new point of view....

Her magic seems to be a good deal stornger than it was in High Rock. The island she was swimming to turned out to be larger by a good bit than the first one. Bigger in terms of both diameter and height, and it seemed to have a banner flying from the very top.

As she waded onto that shore, she was startled when two large things tht appeared to be insects scuttled down toward her from the top. They were golden in color, and looked a good deal like a locust, but these were the size of large dogs!

Charine knew she was in trouble, because she had no weapon other than her very feeble flame spell. Usually it was not even sufficient to light a cigar at best...

Hoping against hope that the tiny flame might deter the hoppers even slightly, she raised both hads and cast her spell. Instantly, a huge gout of flame burst from her hands, engulfing the Ash Hoppers in a fiery inferno. The nearest one died quickly, while the second hopper retreated behind the rock that ringed the uppermost part of the island.

Charine jaw was hanging loosely as she tried to take in the magnitude of what she had just done. FIRE! Actual FLAMES had sprung forth from her hands and taken the life of the attacking hopper, while sending the other in flight for it's life! How could this be?

In moments, the second insect chose to abandon it's safe haven, and charged the mage with a fury. Again flames burst from her hands, and the second hopper was soon as dead as the first.

Shaking her head, Charine examined the bodies and took anything that seemed like it might be useful. At this point Charine had only her skin, so anything she could salvage seemed like a treasure.

Climbing to the top of the island, she found the bodies of two Reavers who had apparently been asleep when the hoppers attacked them. The gear was poor, and mostly useless to the girl, but she hoped she could find a place to sell it.

"Necessities of life are not cheap, so thanks for the gifts, friends."


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neildarkstar
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As to the strange... Was it Lapuaboy who claimed that his summons attacked him without provocation recently? I seem to recall him saying something like that about his "twins"...

Anyway, Charine was heading toward Valtheim Towers from Whiterun, and encountered four Bandit Chieftains. She hit them wtih some flames and leaped over the nearby cliffs, and down toward the river below.

Arriving on a narrow ledge, she turned shot flames back up at them, causing one to run (Mr Please Don't Kill me), while the other three moved away and ran twards the bridge to Whiterun side of the river. Charine killed on while he was still on the bridge, and the other two ran forward to engae the Whiterun guard patrolling nearby.

Charine cast "Raise Zombie" on the one who died on the bridge, then headed toward the nearest hostile bandit chief. She was very close to that chief when she heard a sound behind her, and turned to see that her raised bandit was trying to attack her!

She dodged the attack, and moved to the side thinking perhaps the zombie was aiming at something that had been in front of her, but he turned and attacked her again! There is no way there was a "friendly fire" incident either physical or magical that would have involved this bandit, and there was no mage or other perpetrator present who could have possibly turned the zombie.

Testing it out later, she cast "raise zombie" on a skeever, and the damned thing immediately attacked her. There was nobody else around anywhere at all...

A little later she raise some Stormcloaks, and they responded as they should... immediately attacking Charine's enemy.

It seems to me that perhaps the difference is that she hadn't killed the Stormcloaks, and had never been their enemy...

What do you think? I could present a video of the first attack if you wanted to see it.
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Serethil
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I - don't have an opinion, since I never use that sort of magicka. None of my characters use any magick at all. Seems logical, but, honestly, I don't have a clue.
Edited by Serethil, Apr 4 2018, 11:33 PM.
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Areial
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I haven't used any necromancy spells since playing on the 360...


Look to see if they are still listed as an enemy. after death... and perhaps the ID will give a clue as to which mod isn't changing them over. OR it could be an intentional thing with one of the mods..
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neildarkstar
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Charine 2

Author's note: Did you ever have a story in your head that simply refused to be told? It sits there in your mind like a lump of lead, but when you try to get it out, it squirms and wriggles with dozens of tentacles that reach and grab for anything available in order to remain untold in your mind.

Untold parts of the story may be visualized, but can never quite be placed into words that really form any sort of coherence...

Well, so it is with Charine. Among other things, she simply cannot tell her own tale. The truth is that she does not know enough of her story to do so, and even if she did, she's no bard.

So, the tale from here on out will be told by one who has no part in the story, but sees all. His name is Neilius, and being a bard, he will occasionally do random bard-type things. Eh... Like what?? Well I don't know, I'm just writing this tale, he's the one telling it...

On with the show!

*****
On that first morning, Charine became involved in a combat that happened to occur just across from her island. Not being exceptionally bright, she managed to involve herself in a battle with three of the ash spawn who once plagued Raven Rock.

To her credit, Charine gave her magic every opportunity to misfire and kill her as a result, but she managed to save Captain Modyn Veleth, Captain of the guard in Raven Rock.

As a reward, the good captain gave Charine a mission for the good of Raven Rock...

Cherine couldn't believe what she was hearing... "Let me get this straight... You want me to either storm or infiltrate a fortress filled with these ash spawn, and kill a general who has been dead for some two HUNDRED years?" The look on her face growing ever more incredulous, she continued.

"Do you see me? I am but a young woman, and although incredibly beautiful, one not gifted with any particular skills with arms or combat. On top of that, I tend to be slight of build... but perhaps I could strangle them with my honey-blonde hair or set their toes on fire with my incredibly useless magic?"

The silence was almost palpable, but after a moment, a thoughtful look crossed her face. "All right then, you silver tongued devil! I'll do it! The very first chance I get those ash spawn and their general are even more history than they already are!. Why I'll MURDER the bums, just let me at 'em!" (with that she raised her fists and threw some very impressive but frail blows at the air)

For his part, Captain Veleth actually was impressed. It seems that irony, sarcasm, and humor were all equally foreign notions to him.

He gave Charine a hearty clap on the back that nearly killed her, and started back for Raven Rock. "That's the spirit, Soldier! I knew we could count on you! Report back to me when you're done!"

She spent a couple of minutes watching until the Captain was out of sight, then stripped the body of one of Veleth's guards for loot. The armor looked expensive, and she was smiling as she hefted her load and headed into town.

A quick trip to the blacksmith and some local merchants, and an hour or so later Cherine was aboard ship bound for Windhelm. Whatever or wherever that was...
Edited by neildarkstar, Apr 7 2018, 01:02 PM.
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Serethil
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That gave me a chuckle - I could just see Veleth's face.... Great stuff neil!
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neildarkstar
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Thanks Sere! This one really has been giving me problems though.
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Serethil
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It's - extremely awkward - when they won't or can't talk to you.... been there done that one!
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neildarkstar
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Charine 3 The Old Acquaintance

Arriving in Windhelm, Charine debarked with very little idea of where to go or what to do. After paying for her passage on the ship, she had very little coin left for food or lodging, and soon she would be a poor beggar unless she found a way to make some coin.

So it was that she walked slowly and more or less aimlessly toward a flight of stone steps that led (or so she presumed) up to the city from the docks.

Deep in thought, she was only peripherally aware when a youngish man emerged from the entrance of the East Empire Company offices. He stepped from the door while immediately turning away from her, and she only had a glimpse of his face before she was presented with a view of his back as he walked away.

Something was so familiar about the way curly blonde hair hung above his narrow shoulders, and the tightly precise nature of his walk...

Charine called out to him. "Relus!" Without immediate response, she called again. "Relus Motian! Is that you?"

Hearing his name called by a sweet-sounding female voice, Relus turned to see who owned that voice. His smile was half-formed and his turn was only half complete when he froze in his tracks.

He paled visibly, and his jaw hung loosely opening and closing his mouth as he tried to come to terms with what (or rather who) he saw sanding behind him.

Charine rushed closer to him, but was taken aback as the foppish young man recoiled. He'd moved away as though she might have been a venomous snake!

For the moment the tableau was frozen save for the sigh of the chill breeze and the cries of the Argonian laborers who worked the docks.

Finally and with great effort Relus found his voice. "Charine! How can this be? I saw you die! You are just as dead as Uriel Septim!" He turned and ran away up the steps nearly to the top before he regained his courage enough to turn back to face her.

"At Nebethor's party, you were poisoned by someone, and you died horribly right there on his fine marble floor... It was real, I say! Nobody could fake a death like that. I was at your funeral, and I saw you placed on a pyre!"

Though the air was chill, his brow was covered with perspiration as he continued. "They nearly executed Nebethor for your murder, but there was no proof that he was the assassin. Nor any proof against anyone else either."

His lip began to twitch, and his tone changed to something that might have resembled a snarl. "Look you! Whether you are dead or alive, you are naught but trouble! Stay away from me, do you hear? I'll have no part of it!"

With that he turned away and fled up the stairs to disappear through the wide gate. Charine stared after him, unable to easily process what she had just been told.

Only one thing was she certain about... he had not been lying. Or at least not about her death...
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Serethil
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Hoo BOY! That's a facer and no mistake.... I'm really wanting to find out just what happened to her!
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neildarkstar
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Charinne 4 Answers

The old woman looked closely at Charine through rheumy eyes before speaking. "Mirrors, Sweetie. It's all mirrors."

"You come to me and ask about Hel, but... Hel doesn't exist here as anything but a reflection, so what you are really asking about is the nature of the universe.."

With that, she took a sip of her tea and as far as Charine could tell simply fell asleep.

The small cottage was dimly lit, and watching the shallow rise and fall of the old woman's chest in the firelight was somehow soothing. Charine slowly sipped her cup of tea as her mind drifted back over the last few weeks and months.

After her encounter with Relus Motian, Cherine had been puzzled, but just didn't have time to worry about it. It took everything she had just to gather enough coin to eat and sleep with a roof over her head.

Over time, her situation improved... as did her ability to use magic. Having to defend one's self against predators and outlaws while gathering ingredients seemed to add a sense of urgency to it that she'd never felt before.

Weeks passed, and Charine had begun looking for answers, both to the situation in High Rock that had started it all, and into Hel. Information was scarce on both fronts.

Talking to Bretons managed to add rumor and innuendo to the High Rock situation, but it seemed that nobody knew anything about Hel.

She learned that shortly after her death, her father had also died. With his death her younger brother had inherited control of the family business, titles, and estate so...perhaps he had... NO! Charine did not want to believe that Colbard, the little brother she had cared for so deeply, had murdered her or her father. That was unthinkable! Not to mention unbearable...

Eventually, she had been advised to visit the College of Winterhold and speak with Urag if she needed knowledge. Urag, it seemed, was widely respected for his knowledge of gaining knowledge, and it was certain that if he didn't know anything about Hel, he could tell her where to find such information.

True enough, as it turned out. Urag had referred her to Olava in Whiterun suggesting that Olava could direct her to her sister Ysosla who would certainly have any knowledge of Hel if it were available.

So it was that she found herself in this tiny shack, high in the mountains above the Reach.

Charine was startled when the old woman suddenly spoke with no sign of having woken up.

"Once there was a mage who created a spell that allowed water to stand on edge. It would form a pool three feet or so across and so perfectly still that you could see your own reflection perfectly. I once saw him cast this spell twice, creating pools of reflection a few feet apart... this meant that if you stood between the pools, you could see a seemingly infinite number of reflections of yourself on both sides of you.

If the pools curved slightly (at the whim of their creator) your image would change slightly with each reflection... but it was a trick of the eye that each reflection seemed slightly different.

So now, imagine that the universe is actually shaped like a three-dimensional tetrahedron. The universe sits in a central "room" and every room has a door that leads directly to each and every other of the sixteen different rooms.

Now imagine that each wall of each room holds one of these reflecting pools in such a way that if you stand in a certain place you can see infinite reflections of the universe in which you stand... but each reflection is slightly different from the one that precedes it.

It is unknown which of these reflections is your actual "home" universe into which you were born, but Hel is a part of it without being truly a part of the reflection you stand in now. Somehow, she has sent you here with some task in mind.

She may not be at all concerned with you, or this universe in which we now converse, because any change to any one universe reflects as change either magnified or diminished in all other universes.

The Hel you seek is the daughter of The Trickster. He is known in many universes under many names and many guises... Coyote, Loki, Dionysus, Legba, or simply as "Jack".

Oddly, Hel - while still being the Trickster's daughter - may actually be an incarnation of the Trickster himself. Such is the way of Gods...

Why (or indeed in what manner or to what purpose) Hel has used you specifically is a matter of which I have no knowledge and you would have to ask her.

I tell you this. You have great magickal power that is yet being born and that is no accident. Whether that is natural to you or a gift of Hel is simply another question with no answer.

One more thing... if this machination of Hel involves Alduin, the fate of many universes may be at stake. The Trickster is traditionally neither good nor evil, but a mixture of both in equal parts. Chaos is his nature, Mischief is his Element, and Deception is his tool. Walk with care, sister of Charon...

With that, the old woman once again slept, then after awakening would answer no further questions. She claimed to have no idea what Charine was talking about.




Edited by neildarkstar, Apr 13 2018, 07:27 PM.
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Serethil
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Whoa. What an interesting, totally INTRIGUING conundrum! Excellent read, neil!
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neildarkstar
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Thanks, Sere! :)
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Kane
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I love the mystique around the vision with Ysosla. Sounds like the Mad God is up to no good, though!
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