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R.I.P. neildarkstar. Haven will miss you dearly.
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Siara N'Gola: Siara's Song
Topic Started: Jun 27 2016, 09:43 PM (4,195 Views)
Serethil
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Et'Ada
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The Alf'agar Family 57:

I was aching as I crawled from bed - yes, my body hurt, but it was more the whole entire overwhelming THING we were dealing with. And that it was all my fault. But of course, the fault couldn’t have been helped - since I had been trying to not have to take my more devout family members into situations that while likely lucrative would also cause them discomfort.

I stopped a moment and simply asked ‘Leki, Ruptga. Please. Help us. You both know I’m not.... devout. And likely you know why.... I ask not for me, but for my companion, Andur. And for the family remained behind. Please.’ I’m not devout - but I do believe. I hope they heard me, and understood.

The trip back was long of course - as long as the trip out the previous day. We finally found the area referred to in the scrap of note - a building called “Mortal Layer”. It was.... almost like a cake of many layers - and who knew wherein the lever we needed lay. After climbing a few of the floors, and having to kill many Gilded - who knew there could be so many? - I finally called a halt.

We ate a bit. And then I pulled out the scrap note again. And this time, I read it with more concentration. “Ah. The lever is not in this huge place at all, Andur. It’s in another building, a storage area. This is good, because.... I think this place goes clear to the surface.... I don’t want to climb it, killing as we go....”

“Nor do I Lady. This - slaughter of metal monsters, none of them with two thoughts to rub together in any sort of sense.... it disturbs me.”

So we returned through the layers we’d already cleared, and turned toward the back of the area. There was a small almost hidden building.... and in it, we found a lever. I could only hope it would be the correct apparatus.

Then we had to fight our way back to the building where Amalgam was protected by that “gate” of spear-like metal pieces. I was so distressed about killing these Gilded. They seemed to - pop up again almost as we put them down. I wanted to be done with this. And by the time we got to the weapon and saw that the lever fit and activated the five spear-like projectiles, I was sobbing in sheer frantic anguish over all of this.

This weapon did what we needed. Thankfully. The spear-gate was blown open. We descended to the area, and entered the resting place of Amalgam. He was still.... moving. And laughing....

In terror, I ripped open his chest plate. There were so many soul gems.... but only one was dark. Empty. I think. I took that one. And then we ran. We were exhausted by the time we got out of the mausoleum and into the Castle again. But should we sleep before seeing to Lamashtu?

Lahar said we should. So we did. This night, I could not sleep, alone in the bed. I crept into the bedroll with Andur, and feeling the warmth within, I finally slept deeply.

*****

Ankeddi knew that killing the Jarl was going to cause much trouble for all of them. But how could she not? That worm-slime.... and on top of the rest, she’d seen the way he’d looked at Deni. NO man thinks to take a child.... but the Jarl of this Hold.... he did. She shuddered.

No. He had to die. And soon, before things got worse. That was a problem of course - once things were THIS bad.... they always got worse. And sometimes.... you couldn’t fix it after....

If Siara was here.... but she wasn’t. So. ‘It is up to me to deal with this. For both me and Denira....’ Besides, Siara might be adept with the swords. But Ankeddi had something else - something more - something better.

Something no one knew of. Not even Selalla. And how hard it had been to keep from her mother, she didn’t want to consider. What would Selalla think when she’d used it to deal with this.... horrible piece of manflesh?

Anki could only hope she’d be forgiven. “Ruptga. Leki. Keep me safe, and my secrets....”
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Rick
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Oh....practically a double cliffhanger.

"IS..THE..GEM..EMPTY?
WILL IT FIT...LEMASHTU?
CAN THE TRANSPORT REALLY BE MADE TO WORK?
WHAT IS...ANKEDDI'S...SPECIAL SECRET?
CAN SHE REALLY..KILL A JARL?
WILL BATMAN....HAVE THE LAST LAUGH...ON THE JOKER?"
.......
Edited by Rick, Aug 30 2016, 03:22 PM.
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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Sere!! :hugs: So wonderful, but I'll cry if anything happens to Ankeddi or Deni! Again, I'm so glad Siara has Andur!!
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Serethil
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Thanks guys! Well, you'll all find out eventually.... heh.

The Family 58:

“So. We will try it this way and see what goes. If that piece of offal won’t bite then we’ll have to think of something else. I will leave for Falkreath shortly, and you should plan to be well hid near the old tower before dark.” Anki’s stomach was in knots, and she hoped no one noticed.

Tacking Benica, she used the ordinary maneuvers to unstring her nerves. She swung up on the mare and headed out the gate. Falkreath was a couple of hours away, if she didn’t run into necromancers, or bandits, or wolves....

Ankeddi dismounted by the Jarl’s Longhouse. Steeling her nerves, she walked in and gave Siddgeir a short bow.

“Ah. You’re here without the brat today. So, that means....” He sent the housecarl away with a look, and the guards also.

“Not really. I won’t - lie with you here, openly. If you want me, you’ll have to meet me at the old watchtower. I can’t have anyone knowing.... and certainly not my family or your people here in the city! I - agree to this so that you will.... leave us alone, after...” Of course, she knew there was no truth in him. But she had to make it sound good anyway.

A frown settled over his face. She wondered what he was thinking behind it - something nasty, evil, no doubt.

Finally he looked straight at her. “Do not think to betray me. I will have my guards - but I will set them to watch away some distance from the tower. I wouldn’t have thought you so.... squeamish....”

Anki almost killed him where he sat, again stopping herself only because that would make things so much worse. She gave him some words she hoped would make him ignore everything else in his heat for her: “Well.... I’m - virgin.... so I’ve no experience....”

His eyes widened, his skin flushed, and his nostrils flared. “Almost unbelievable. I will know if it’s a lie of course....”

“T’is truth. I’ve never been bedded. There was never a man - or woman - I cared for in that way.”

His smile was pure evil. “Well, then. I will meet you at the tower at midnight. It’s a full moon - this should be perfect, no torches or fire needed.”

She bowed again, and took herself off. She needed time to get things set up - because now the warriors would have to make sure the guards didn’t see them. She wondered - it might be better to leave the rest of the family out of it entirely. But they wouldn’t understand.... unless she told them....

She sighed. There was no way around it. She rode hard for the Ridge. They had to be told, so they wouldn’t be endangered.

*****
In the morning, we ascended to the roof to see about Lamashtu. Lahar was there already, with a strange box.

“I was able to construct the apparatus necessary for the transfer of the old heart to the new stone. So. Open her chest plate.” I did so, and Lahar nodded. “Now remove the heart gem.” Once it was in my hand, he motioned me to the box nearby. “Place the old heart on that pedestal. And the new one there. Good. Now, push the button.”

There were sudden strange lights, and small explosions, and then the formerly empty gem lit from within - apparently now “full” - and the old heart stone disintegrated into a pile of dust or ash.

“Very good! The transfer is done. Now, take the new heart gem and place it back into Lamashtu’s chest cavity, and then close the plate.”

She “woke” immediately, and looked at us. “What did you do to me?” Lahar explained it to her, and she seemed - uncomfortable. “Well. I did not know that this could happen to me.”

I said softly, “When it happened.... you were going to tell us about the travel machine, and why Lahar can use it but we cannot.”

“Yes. I was. It’s not a short tale. I must explain first what we are - the Gilded I mean.” She stared off into the distance.

Andur muttered something about being hungry. Oh. We hadn’t eaten, just rushing up here as soon as we woke.

“Well, then, let us eat something before we hear your tale, Lamashtu.”

“I forget that others must eat,” Lahar said.

“Yes. Eat and then return here. I will explain, and be more forthcoming this time.” So we left them there, and went to fill our stomachs. I must say that Lahar was a good if not inspired cook.

And as we ate, I remembered that under Lamashtu’s metal chest plate.... there had been the bones of a ribcage.... and also in Amalgam’s chest with all the gems.
Edited by Serethil, Aug 30 2016, 09:22 PM.
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Grits
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Eee,I'm on the edge of my seat!!! Loving this, Sere!
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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Things are getting crazy and scary too. Love it Sis!! Crap, real ribs? Oh man....

Edit: I should say MORE scary!
Edited by Andra Hawksdaughter, Aug 30 2016, 09:36 PM.
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Areial
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Suspense... Oh the Suspense of it all....
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Serethil
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Thanks guys! And no, I haven't forgotten about Dagon.... but that's still a ways down the road....
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Rick
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I'm right arn't I....people encased in metal suits until they die then the suit carries on with their soul inside.....cybermen! oooooh! I have to know!

Ooh that Siddgeir.....deflowering a girl in a "can't say no" situation is practically rape....what a b'stard.

However, as his actor Sere...thats a brilliant job of making him suitably really loathsome...well done (he's bad enough vanilla).....if you said he f'd small animals too....I would not be one bit surprised....ha!
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Serethil
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Thanks Rick. A fair amount of my own life experiences have gone into his portrayal....

The Family's Song 59:


"I believe I know what keeps you here so listen closely. I must first explain what we are - what I am. You won't understand otherwise. We are the Gilded. I have a crystalline heart in a metal chest - a sort of soul gem.

"In the gem resides the soul of a Dwemer woman once living. A woman named Lamashtu. My bones are my own, but gilt in metal, fused with armor, pinion and gear to hold me together.

"I died long ago. Soul trap magic was cast on me - on all of us, and we were lowered into molten metal.

“But something - perhaps what Kagrenac did at Red Mountain which I think must have been at the same instant I was being gilded, caused only half my soul to enter the heart gem. The other half of my soul still exists. This is Shadow, you met her in the tunnels. It seems she is somehow keeping you from using the travel machine.

“I - think - I must need to absorb her half of my soul, take her back into me so that we are a whole again. I would need your help to find her, and to defeat our siblings to get to her.”

I was in shock. Andur’s forehead was furrowed. “I.... I must think about this, Lamashtu. I will let you know when - if - we are ready....”

We went downstairs to talk. But we simply sat staring into the distance. Finally, Andur said “Lady.... my soul is sad. These metal monsters we have been killing used to be real people. But so long ago.... no one remembers them, their names, their families. My heart hurts for them.”

I knew tears were streaking my cheeks. “I - don’t want to do this for her. But - we NEED to get home, and the only way is through the travel room. And then, I don’t want to NOT do it for her either.... This is horrible, this whole thing. I never thought....” I couldn’t continue, dropping my head into my hands.

Andur’s arm came around my shoulders. “Lady. We have been safe here for the most part. For that alone, we should help Lamashtu. And.... well, I - want to be home.” His voice sounded odd on those words, and I looked up out of my own dismay to see a very strange look on his face. But he made no further comment.

I shook off my malaise, and wiping away tears, I said, “You are right. We do owe her this one more thing. On the morrow, we will see if we can find this Shadow in Nurndural.”

*****
Anki had called all together. It was better done all at once. “Know you all, I am not - exactly - what you think me.... I would rather not have ever had to make this known, since our people are - less than tolerant of difference (and that for good and sufficient reason).

“When I had twelve years, I was wandering the wilds, as we all do. There I was set upon by a wolf. I killed it, but took many wounds.” Selalla nodded. She remembered the incident. “It - was more than a wolf. It was a were. And its bites infected me. Had we lived elsewhere, I think there would have been - ways - to mitigate this disease. But for me.... the only possibility was to count the nights and manage the moons so that no one knew. Not even my mother.” She dropped her eyes to her fingers clasping themselves in anguished writhing.

She went on. “So, the Jarl will be having a few guards about tonight. And I can’t have the family involved at all. Because this is the night of the full moon - so I will change. And they will all die, with no one the wiser. Once they are dead, I will - use a bit of destruction magery to burn the bodies. It will be long and long before any find the smears. And we must hope that the next Jarl will be less - importunate.

“No, please. Do not argue. It must be done thus - we can’t chance outlawry while Siara and my brother are missing....”

She sat in cold fear while mutters ran around the circle. Then Deni skipped over to her and sat in her lap. Ankeddi nearly fell over in shock. “See you all. She is our sister and friend. She has kept her secret close, so none needed to feel - afrighted - around her. I think she’d like nothing so much as to be normal again”, at which Anki nodded vigorously, “and there may be a way to do that someday. But now.... you need to know that not only is this Jarl intent on Anki in his bed, he was eyeing me with that same intent. So that means that NONE of us are safe from him.”

The mutters grew into growls. Selalla finally stood and held up her hands. “It’s none of your fault, my daughter. And I do understand why you say it must be this way. So. Go you, and do as you must.

“Denira, attend me if you please. I have questions.”

Deni followed her willingly. She’d heard things about werewolves, and how not to be one. And she wanted to assure the matriarch that she had not been joking at ALL about the Jarl....

The circle of family stood and bowed to Ankeddi, tacitly acknowledging the situation, and Anki’s heart overflowed with love that they would not turn her out. But now, she would have to hurry to meet the Jarl by midnight. “Arnem, Benica is worn. I need another horse.”

He grinned and threw an arm around her shoulder. “You shall have Terrek. I hope you can handle a stallion....”

“Oh you.” She punched him in the shoulder. It made her soul sing that her brother was on the same footing as always with her. Perhaps this was not such a bad thing.... especially if this Jarl was dead and burned....
Edited by Serethil, Aug 31 2016, 10:08 PM.
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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SO sad for Siara and Andur...and Lamashtu and all her ilk. :(

But....whoo hoo, Siddgeir will pay!! At least , I hope. You have me worrying!

Sere, :hugs: perfectly done!
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Serethil
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Thanks sis. I waffled about Anki. I almost went with just a "hidden mage" sort of thing - with the family all being warriors and horse-breeders, it would have made sense.

But - well, when it writes itself, you just do it.
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Areial
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Oh that was perfectly beautiful!! Emotionally heart wrenching.
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Kane
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Oh boy. Next chapter ought to be action packed!
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Grits
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Whoa, I was thinking maybe secret mage given the culture, which makes werewolf so much better! That was an awesome update, tears and cheers for both Siara and Andur gutting through their situation and for Anki and the family dealing with theirs. That Deni, what a woman she will grow up to be!
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Serethil
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Thanks!

Siara and Ankeddi 60:

Ankeddi spurred Terrek - night had fallen an hour before, and the moons would be up soon. As this was one of the few nights when Masser and Secunda would be full in the sky together, she knew her change would not only be swift, it would be more powerful....

She reined in the horse as she felt the beginnings of the change. Throwing herself to the ground, she slapped him on the rump to send him home - or at least out of the way for a time. Then fully in the grip of the rising moons, she stealthed toward the tower, black against Masser’s red light.

Ah. The first guard. She moved silently behind him, and broke his neck as silently. She heard voices near - two others. She could take them both, but it would be noisy, and she needed to finish them before midnight - and quietly. She approached them from the rear, picked up a broken branch, and tossed it to their right. The one closest to where it landed headed to see what it was, and she grabbed the other’s mouth so he couldn’t cry out, and killed him quickly.

Following the third guard, she wondered if it was Helvard. It was not. She killed that one, and ran silently to the tower’s entrance. Voices. So, Siddgeir lied.... Well, she’d known he would, hadn’t she?

Luck was with her. “Get you down to the ground. She’ll be along soon. There must be a semblance to make her believe....”

“Aye, m’lord. I’ll wait in the deep shadow until she comes.”

Ankeddi ran quickly to the side, finding her own deep shadow. With the preternatural vision granted a were, she saw every move Helvard made. Approaching him from his unguarded rear, she stopped his mouth against a cry, and tore out his throat. ‘No blood, girl. Just kill them.’

Then she headed into the tower, pulling a bit of illusion magic of shadows over her so that Siddgeir would not immediately see what she was. As it happened, it wasn’t needed - he was standing with his back to the stairs, looking out over the edge. Good enough. She didn’t want him to take the knowledge to whatever afterlife he was granted.

He started to turn just as her jaws closed on his throat. He was dead before he hit the ground. In fury and hatred she rent him into tiny shreds. A howl started from her throat, but she tamped it down. No. Now was not the time.... She pulled enough of her soul out of the change - something she’d learned to do over the years - to enable her to use fire to cleanse the tower. When she finished, there was little left to show that a man had died - and nothing to show who he was.

She cleansed the guards’ bodies and Helvard’s the same way. And then she killed an elk to slake the blood-thirst, the way she always did. She stayed outside the Ridge by some distance until the setting of the moons began to release her from the change. Once fully human again, she realized that she’d not made any provision for her nakedness. ‘Too much haste, girl....’

And then she laughed, for Deni slipped out the gate with the clothing she’d worn when she left the day before. She nodded her thanks as she quickly dressed, and they ran back into the Ridge together.

“I took care of Terrek when he came back a bit ago. Found your gear, and figured I’d better meet you so you wouldn’t be giving a show for everyone.”

“Thank you, little sister. And - thank you for accepting....”

“Eh, I knew you’d never do anything to hurt any of us. Everyone else does too, now. So all we have to do is figure out how to cure you - if you want that done.”

“I do. But maybe not until we know what’s happened with Siara and my brother....”

“Aye. I try not to worry....” But Anki saw the frown on Deni’s brow - of course she was worried.... they all were.


*****


We collected Lamashtu from the roof early next morning. We’d eaten, and hoped it wouldn’t take us too long to find the other half of Lamashtu’s soul - the apparition, Shadow.

“I will help to fight my siblings; so that you do not mistake me for them, I will wear this red scarf. It would take much to kill me, but this will be better I think.”

Andur laughed grimly. “Aye. We know how hard it is to kill the Gilded. We’d prefer not to target you accidentally.” I nodded agreement.

Soon we were entering the huge Hall of Elements again. Lamashtu informed us that Shadow could be found in the Animonculotory, past the forges near the basal lava lakes. So we headed to that area, having to battle many Gilded along the way. As always, killing these people made me so upset I could hardly breathe. Eventually Lamashtu said “Please do not fret. They are not permanently dead. They will return to their quasi-life in a day, or perhaps less.”

I wasn’t sure that made me feel any better. Andur turned me to him and held me a moment. I wondered at the feel of him....

We reached the door to the area where Lamashtu thought Shadow would be. “I will have to unlock the interior door. And then we will have to find and defeat Shadow - not kill her, that cannot be done. But once she is defeated, I will be able to reabsorb her part of my soul, and we will both have found ourselves again.”

She unlocked the door and then we entered the area. It was filled with.... coffins.... And somewhere in here was Shadow - Lamashtu’s other half. I shuddered. I didn’t want to do this....
Edited by Serethil, Sep 1 2016, 08:12 PM.
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Rick
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:clap:

Just loved the whole Siddgeir scenes....a clever mechinism, but of course Anki told you how to handle it didn't she. Worked very well....logical...neat!

The gilded....yes.....original Dwemer....I knew it had to be, as soon as bones were apparant inside Dwemer built facsimiles.

This aspect intrigues me....ok its mod world...not canon, but the question is were the Dwemer trying to save themselves....or maybe this breakaway faction trying to avoid the great Dwemer vanishing act....which perhaps they knew (or suspected) would happen.....

Anyhow....now they got to find scary bird....I knew when L was talking in the mausoleum that she was related to this spectre. The look of the shadow is probably what L looked like in life...kinda.

But the guy who built the "castle"......what of him.....did he discover the gilded....use them as servants....slaves...to build his dream? Perhaps what he did to them twisted them insane....leaving L and her brother/mate as properly sentient to act as his personal servants/valets.

Will we find out idc? Will it be a cliff hanger? Will Antistar "do a Bethesda" on us and leave it unexplained?

Oooooooh :)
Edited by Rick, Sep 1 2016, 08:04 PM.
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Serethil
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Thank you, kind Sir Rick!

Well, Ludwig explained stuff in his journals (his father built the Castle) but I haven't gone into that because: first, it's very spoilerish; and second, it's not germane to the story I'm telling here.

But yes, in this mod, the original Dwemer became the Gilded through the mechanisms described in the mod. It's as good a theory as any!
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Grits
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Yay, a satisfying end to a very slimy Jarl! Great update, I loved both parts!
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Serethil
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Thanks Grits!
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