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Jacelyn Michel: Tales of a Freelance Larcenist
Topic Started: Jun 26 2016, 12:47 PM (4,066 Views)
Grits
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Thane
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Jace: page 26

Jacelyn stepped carefully all the way through the steep streets of Markarth, feeling terribly conscious of her Breton features. Even the carriage driver in Solitude had warned her about getting in trouble with the Nords here. No one escaped prison in the Reach, they said. She had best watch herself or plan to die in the mines.

In the Hag’s Cure she found Bothela and Muiri engaged in a discussion.

“You should be more careful with the men you pick, dear,” Bothela advised Muiri.

“He said he loved me...”

Jace guessed that they must be discussing the man Muiri had written her about, someone that Vorstag had apparently killed.

“Real men prove their love,” Bothela replied. “Words are as empty as the air they run through.”

Jace smiled to herself. Vorstag’s solid bulk at her back was all the proof she needed.

“Pardon me,” Jacelyn said once the women noticed them, “Muiri, we received your letter.” She handed the document over.

Vorstag moved forward in case this was a trap.

Muiri gave them a pouch of gold and an explanation that made little sense to either of them, but it seemed she was sincere in her gratitude. Still, Jace reminded herself that Muiri was skilled at making poisons. She decided to check the bag carefully before opening it and to spend all of the gold in town, just in case.

Jace spent the afternoon working at the shop’s alchemy bench and trading with Bothela. Vorstag stayed with Jacelyn rather than retiring to the Silver-Blood Inn. She guessed that he was also reluctant to trust Muiri. Or perhaps he noticed that Muiri was prettier and filled out her blouse in a way that Jacelyn envied. Either way, Jace enjoyed his company.

They ran an errand for Bothela and then headed straight to the inn. Jacelyn eyed their rented chamber with some trepidation. The walls, dresser, desk, shelf, even the bed was made of stone. Every surface promised a bruise or a rug burn.

“You can’t just toss me around like a sack of beans in here, Nord,” she told Vorstag. “This isn’t our tent. I’ll break.”

Vorstag opened the wine and spit out the cork. He passed the bottle to Jacelyn without comment.

Jace took a swig and considered her options. Her bag contained a number of restorative potions. Perhaps a draught that heals over time.

Vorstag’s grin cracked his face paint.

Sanguine help me if he sampled Bothela’s Stallion Potions.

By the next afternoon they had tired of Frabbi’s distant hectoring, but hadn’t decided on their next adventure.

“Let’s not take a job here,” Jacelyn said. “It would probably be killing Forsworn. I don’t want to die and end up as one of their decorations.”

Vorstag’s reply was a rumble under her ear.

“How about Whiterun Hold?” she countered. “It’s not so cold there.”

“Umf,” said Vorstag.

“The Rift?” Jace propped her head on her hand so she could see over his chin. “That’s a great idea! I’ve never been there. Hm? Oh right, tomorrow is soon enough. I forgot we bought all of this wine.”
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Areial
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To bad Markarth has never heard of Memory Foam...it would go over Oh so well there!!! Nice one!!
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Kane
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Oof, stone beds....that could not have been comfy.
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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Stone beds, stallion potions, and Vorstag....what could possibly go wrong? :rofl:

(I would worry about poisons too!)
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Acadian
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What I liked in the Winking Skeever scene was how elegantly you imagineered the threesome back to a twosome. As welcome as Belrand was to have around when Jace really needed that mature stability, three can be a bit . . . awkward. Jace's light coinpurse further served to highlight the difference between Vorstag and Belrand. Belrand is a great mercenary but he is, after all, a mercenary. Vorstag has moved well beyond that when it comes to Jace. He's not with her for the gold. Again, he really shines here.

Markarth - where even the beds are made of stone and you can't toss Breton lasses around like bags of beans! A fun interlude in a rather unwelcoming city.
Edited by Acadian, Aug 11 2016, 07:39 PM.
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Serethil
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Heh. I'm sure Vors was the mattress! GREAT read, really enjoying them being a pair again!
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Grits
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Thanks you guys! Every time I see those beds in Markarth, my shins hurt. Lol.

Acadian, I’ve enjoyed giving Vorstag some depth in Jace’s story. The game (including his mod-added comments) presents him as kind of a soft-spoken berserker, which is a lot of fun to work with. Thank you for your kind words about the Winking Skeever scene. As you pointed out, that was an important transition for them.


Jace: page 27

Vorstag and Jacelyn slept in until the shops opened, then stopped at Arnleif and Sons on the way out of town to unload the rest of their junk. After they finished their transaction, Jace lingered for a friendly chat with the proprietor.

“This store would finally be on its feet if I hadn’t lost my last shipment to Forsworn attacks,” Lisbet told them. “A specially-made Dibella statuette.” She looked over Jace’s head at Vorstag. “Say, you aren’t for hire, are you? A sellsword or something?”

It was all Jace could do not to smack her forehead on the sales counter. Vorstag stepped up and got the details from Lisbet.

Outside Jacelyn stomped most of the way to the city gate before turning on Vorstag. “Killing Forsworn, just like I said I want to avoid,” she fumed. “Great! I thought we were going to Riften.”

“We’re still going to Riften, but this is a job. And relax, you don’t do much of the killing.” Vorstag muscled the huge metal door open for her.

“Dammit,” said Jacelyn, “they’re going to shoot my new robe full of holes. Let’s go ask that orc about some armor.”

That orc didn’t have anything suitable, but she wanted a book fetched for her. That orc’s brother didn’t have anything suitable either, but he asked them to bring him a daedra heart. Neither of them offered any payment up front.

“Godsdammit!” Jacelyn stormed back to the city gate, Vorstag and Vigilance trailing behind her.

Outside, the warm sun and clean air instantly cheered her. The unusual sight of her horse actually waiting at the stables instead of wandering off to Sam knows where made her skip for a few steps. Jace decided to put away her worries and just enjoy the day, as long as they were able. After all, they might end up dead long before these thieving Forsworn had their chance to kill them.

At the Karthwasten junction they got an unpleasant surprise. A dragon had attacked a wagon, killing its two drivers. While Vorstag ran up and down the road yelling curses at the retreating dragon, Jace checked over the dead couple’s still smoldering cargo. It was a loss, but their dog had survived and decided to come along.

Vorstag gave the signal to dismount as they approached the Forsworn encampment. “We can do this your way,” he offered as they secured the horses. “With your Muffle spell I’d wager you can sneak right into their pockets.”

“They don’t even have proper pockets,” Jace grumbled. “Savages.” But she cast her almost-forgotten spell, readied her bow just in case, and crept up the ridge to take a look.

One man in an antlered headdress paced near a door cut into the hillside. Another—

“Skyrim is for the Nords!” Vorstag roared, charging into the camp.

“You iced-brained troll-humper!” Jacelyn hissed at Vorstag’s back, before realizing that she had just insulted herself.

The two dogs nearly bowled her over as they dashed howling into the fray.

Events inside the cave unfolded in a similar fashion. When Jace became trapped in a narrow corridor between an angry and ill-dressed woman and Jace’s two slavering dogs and Nord, she cast the dremora from Sanguine’s staff into the space behind the woman and hit the floor.

“At least my new robe didn’t get ruined,” she muttered after her allies had trampled over her and into battle. Then she saw two arrow holes in the skirt. “Son of a biscuit!”

The cave was small as Vorstag had predicted. The fight lasted barely a minute. Jace found Lisbet’s stolen statue and checked the dead for valuables.

“Pockets,” Vorstag remarked.

“Smug! You’ll pay for that,” Jace laughed. “I’m glad we’re all alive. Our daedric friend hasn’t even dispelled yet. Let’s give him something to tell his master.”

By the time they left the cave the sun had passed its zenith.

“About three bells of the afternoon watch,” Vorstag said. “We should make camp.”

“I saw a flat place by the falls with some Dwemer stonework,” Jacelyn offered. “Kill something tasty on the way. I didn’t pack us any dinner.”

Vorstag collected slaughterfish and mudcrabs as they crossed the river. Jace declared it would take her mere moments to prepare them for the cook fire. She viewed their campsite with satisfaction. Plenty of water, dry wood, and a nice grassy spot for the tent. Those stones make a good landmark. May even be some treasure stashed away nearby.

“Perfect spot!” she called to Vorstag. “Nice and quiet. I wonder why there aren’t any bears?”

WHOOSH. Vorstag’s reply was lost in the sound of leathery wings.
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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I love Jace's temper, and even more how quickly she sheds it, lol. Doesn't seem to intimidate Vorstag though, good thing! Sorry their evening has been so rudely interrupted! Yikes!!
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Serethil
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Oh deary me! The dragon heard Vors cussing him out earlier and returned for retribution.... Ouchies! My that girl has a hair-trigger temper, but at least she doesn't hold a grudge long! Great update!
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Areial
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To bad Jace can't really breath fire... cause Dragon's would be flying away from her... Two dog's and a Nord, what's a girl to do... glad she got her horse back!
Edited by Areial, Aug 13 2016, 12:07 AM.
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Acadian
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What a fun episode as Jace unhappily let's Vorstag happily sign up for a handful of 'save the kitten' quests.

“You iced-brained troll-humper!” Jacelyn hissed at Vorstag’s back, before realizing that she had just insulted herself.'
- - Although Vorstag well deserved this, the irony of Jace calling herself a troll hit me even before she admitted to it.

Ahh, what a great campsite. Everything they need and - eeep!
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Rick
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What they said :)

Brilliantly imagined as always Grits. Love How Vorstag charges in while Jace is still creeping up and whispering......Lydia of course does the same. They just kinda can't help themselves...its like a blood frenzy thing with Nords.

At least they'll make some coin on the statuette :)
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Kane
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Hopefully Vorsy keeps his cool against a dragon!
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Grits
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Thanks, everyone! Poor Jace was stressed out and snappish the whole time. Then just as I had to save and quit for a while, the dragon came! So then I was stressed out until I had the chance to play again, lol.


Jace: page 28

Jacelyn rummaged through her pack as the dragon circled over the distant mountains. Its mournful cry thrilled and terrified her. She had time to put on her archery-enhancing ring, poison an arrow, and gulp a potion against fire and frost. When she looked up, the dragon was flying straight toward them.

Vorstag stood calmly picking his teeth. Stray Dog sniffed cautiously at Vorstag’s horse. Vigilance flopped down and scratched an itch behind one of his ears.

“Dragon!” squeaked Jacelyn, pointing with the arrow.

The great beast swooped low. Wind from its wings scattered dry twigs and shook the juniper trees around them. Then with a single mighty flap, it rose back up into the sky and glided away.

“Holy goats,” Jace gasped. “I hate it when they do that!”

“Yeah,” said Vorstag. He flicked something from his finger. “I like to fight ’em.”

That is SO not what I meant, thought Jacelyn. The bow fell from her shaking hands. She started yanking on her laces, heart still racing. “Would you unpack one of the bedrolls first, please? I think we’ll want it right after we go swimming.”

Vorstag got his chance to do some killing on the ride back to Markarth. Forsworn prowled over every ridge and hollow. After the second skirmish Jace dismounted and led Midnight carefully through the mist in the hope of avoiding them. She had heard that they liked to use strong Nord bones to make their weapons. A section of Vorstag’s thick skull would be prized as an axe blade. If they encountered a large force, Jace imagined that they might let her live long enough to see his head split open. Such were her dreams lately.

“Love ruins everything,” she muttered, watching five figures stride up a far hillside. Two wore distinctive antlered headdresses.

“What?” rumbled Vorstag, crouching down beside her. “What are you looking at?”

“Nothing. Butterflies.” Jace pointed in a random direction. “Let’s get this thing back to Lisbet and get the hells out of these mountains.”

But they found a Khajiiti caravan set up outside the city gates. Jacelyn traded their spoils for enough moon sugar to keep them happy for days. Maybe after hours Bothela will let me cook up some skooma.

Vorstag strolled over as Jacelyn tucked the sugar pouch into her tunic. He hooked a thumb at the Salvius farm. “Nothing refreshes the soul like an honest day’s labor in good, tilled earth,” he declared.

Jacelyn laughed so hard she had to brace her hands on her knees. Vorstag’s guffaw scared the birds out of a nearby tree. Even Ri’saad’s whiskers were twitching.

“Yeah,” she said, wiping a tear away. “Let’s get this done and rent a room, plowman. I want to party.”
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Rick
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Love it!
Yeah Forsworn get me nervous too...they do more damage than the equivalent bandits and they are just crazy.
Can't wait for the party....Jace parties are pretty wild and very naughty....this is Haven Grits...go for it :)
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Grits
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Yeah, Jace is still terrified of the archers. She has a negligible AR and they have extra damage perks. Even Vorstag was blushing after that party, so fade to black! :D Thanks, Rick!
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ghastley
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Can't she just look at her compass and notice the red dot's missing, like the others apparently do? Saves a lot of wasted potions.

If Vorstag remembers the party enough to blush, it wasn't that good. :evil:
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Acadian
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Darn dragons. Some of them are just big teases. It was funny how you described the relaxed demeanor of Vorstag and the pooches - in contrast to Jace's: :scared:


Back to Markarth, rent a room and do some plowing. Sounds like a good plan. :hubba:
Edited by Acadian, Aug 15 2016, 05:52 PM.
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Rick
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ghastley
Aug 15 2016, 04:21 PM
Can't she just look at her compass and notice the red dot's missing, like the others apparently do? Saves a lot of wasted potions.

If Vorstag remembers the party enough to blush, it wasn't that good. :evil:
Hee, poor Jace doesn't break the fourth wall.....Grits can see red markers, but I doubt Jace could.

Even the Contessa can't see her own Hud yet (we're workin' on it...My guess is it won't be long, but I been saying that for months).
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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Couldn't have said it better Acadian! LOL

I love Jace and Vorstag...can't help myself! :D
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