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R.I.P. neildarkstar. Haven will miss you dearly.
| Siara N'Gola: Siara's Song | |
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| Topic Started: Jun 27 2016, 09:43 PM (4,211 Views) | |
| Serethil | Jul 8 2016, 10:25 PM Post #61 |
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Et'Ada
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Sixteen: I headed for Riverwood the next morning. The night at the inn had been fine - the food was decent if not inspired (and very different from the food at home of course), the bed comfortable. The bard was noisy, and the rest of the inn-goers equally so, but I did finally get to sleep. There was a light fog hanging over the river valley. Sunlight through it was diffuse, and the combination softened the colors, making it seem like one of those abstract paintings Evaldor was always trying to sell back home. I kind of wished I'd bought one now - but of course, if I had it would have been drowned in the flood like everything else. Bat swung down the road in a smooth long-walk, and I enjoyed the morning - the birds sang and flitted, the butterflies covered every bush. I turned toward Riverwood at the bridge, and meandered along the river road. I was hoping that Hilde wouldn't mind returning to Whiterun to talk to the Jarl - and that she could be persuaded to ride pillion. It didn't seem that people here rode very much. Suddenly I was set upon by a pair of wolves. I rolled out of the saddle, grabbed for my daggers, and managed to kill the first one without getting more than a little nip. Turning to the other, I laughed. Bat had taken care of him quite handily. "What a good horse you are!" Of course, it made sense that a guard's horse would be able to fight. I hauled the carcasses into the brush off the road, cleaned the daggers on fur, and remounted. Shortly I was entering Riverwood. Nice little town, I thought again. I rode down to the house where I'd seen the old woman. She was there again, at the tanning rack, scraping a hide. Dismounting, I walked up onto the boardwalk and settled to my haunches near her. She didn't look at me, but grumbled, "By Shor! What is it you want?" I refused to be offended. "Hilde, I am Siara - from Hammerfell. I rode by Helgen, all burned and ruined, and when I got here I heard you talking about seeing a dragon in the sky." She nodded shortly, but didn't reply. "I've spoken to Jarl Balgruuf about the town, and told him of you seeing the dragon. He'd like to talk to you about what you saw - rather than taking it as hearsay from me. I could take you to Whiterun with me this morning, and then bring you back when you've spoken to the Jarl...." She stopped scraping and turned her head in my direction. "The likes of me to talk to the Jarl? What have you been drinking, girl?" "Really - he sent me here to bring you to him. It's obvious he values his folk of the hold; he's sending a few guards to help defend the town - in case the dragon comes back, you know." I could see the wheels turning in her old head. "And I'd get there on the back of yon great beast you rode in on?" "Not if you'd prefer not. It's not far, we could walk, and lead the horse. I told the Jarl it would likely be better for you to have me fetch you than the guards...." Spots of color flew into her cheeks. "He.... wouldn't send the guards for me.... would he?" "Well, if you come with me that wouldn't ever happen." "Aye. Then I'll go with you. Mind you, I don't ride. And you'd be likely to let me fall anyway, I know it!" Irascible old lady.... but well, probably her life wasn't easy. "We will walk then. It won't be more than an hour on foot, not going too fast." It was more than that, because she didn't hurry. But it didn't matter, I had the time. She repeated the full tale of her dragon-sighting a few times, and then nattered on about her son the bard and his wish to marry Camilla Valerius whose brother owned the general goods shop and had been robbed. I could have fallen asleep if I hadn't had to walk! When we entered the city, I decided it was likely she'd never seen Whiterun even from afar; her eyes were as big as saucers as we climbed through the city. She was very quiet as we entered Dragonsreach. Her lips began to quiver a bit, and she walked even slower, and kept very close to me. "Now, Hilde - don't worry. The Jarl just wants you to tell him exactly what you saw. And once you've done that, I'll get you home." Irileth met us just below the dais. She saluted both of us, which should have made Hilde happy - but all she did was mutter under her breath, "Cats, lizards and elves.... everywhere they are...." I looked anywhere but at the Dunmer. She narrowed her eyes but said nothing, nodding and moving back to her post near the Jarl. I moved to salute him, and taking Hilde's arm, made the introduction. "My Jarl, this good woman is Hilde of Riverwood. She has come to tell you what she saw." I gave her a nudge, but she seemed unable to talk all of a sudden, after chattering the whole way to Whiterun. Jarl Balgruuf sat a bit straighter, and said calmly "Hilde is it? Is it your son who is the bard in Riverwood?" Well that helped - set her off talking again - but I didn't know if she'd actually go on about the dragon. Eventually though he prodded her a bit to talk about the dragon. She said shakily, "Y-yes.... it were huge, it flew over the town and then off over the barrow, I could hear it's wings, and it made a lot of noise. It were black as night, and it was like it were all covered in ice. It will come back and kill us all...." Her hands were shaking as she clasped them in front of her. Balgruuf glanced at me. I nodded. I believed her. She was too upset now to be lying. Where before she'd just told it as if it was a story, having to talk to the Jarl made her realize it was real, and frightening. "Thank you Hilde. It is always best to hear things from the person who saw them. Now Siara N'Gola of Hammerfell will take you home again." Balgruuf pressed her hand, and I saw a flash of gold. Too bad my own ruler hadn't been this sort of upright! "Come along, Hilde. You have a real story to tell now when you get home!" Her eyes lit up - she surely did! Edited by Serethil, Jul 9 2016, 07:30 PM.
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| Brambleberry | Jul 8 2016, 11:44 PM Post #62 |
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Jarl
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Very, very well done Sere. That was a wonderful read! I very much enjoy a different view on little things that the game never provided a different avenue to take! :) |
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| Andra Hawksdaughter | Jul 9 2016, 10:27 AM Post #63 |
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Jarl
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Sere. That was really, really wonderful. You portrayed Hilde perfectly. The 'irascible' old woman, yes, but one who probably had not left Riverwood ever, confident there, but nervous and fearful about anything outside her little world. Balgruuf's handling of her was lovely too. It was a perfect vignette! |
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| Serethil | Jul 9 2016, 10:30 AM Post #64 |
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Et'Ada
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Thanks! I *think* Siara's winding up to be my "road less traveled" girl.... |
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| Serethil | Jul 9 2016, 07:56 PM Post #65 |
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Et'Ada
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Seventeen: I left Hilde already telling everyone she could get to listen how she had dealt with the Jarl, and that he'd given her TWO WHOLE SEPTIMS! I grinned to myself - she was set for life on this tale.... But as an elder, perhaps she had deserved more than life had given her, so - well.... I hoped the latter end of her life would be better for her somehow. She didn't remind me of the elders in my previous life - but she did remind me that every life has value, and to pretend otherwise is not a thing the gods would be happy with. I swung back up on Bat, and headed out of town. It was nearing late afternoon, the sunlight was a haze over the town and the river, and it was (for Skyrim at least) quite warm. I was looking forward to another night at the inn, and a good meal. I also needed a bath.... surely if Riverwood had a bathing room, Whiterun's inn should have as well? I'd not asked, being worn enough and full enough of good food and ale last night just to head for bed. As I walked into Whiterun, my blood chilled. Two Redguards, dressed for the mercenary trade, were arguing at full voice with a guard. As I listened, it developed that they were hunting a woman - a Redguard woman. The guard sent a glance my way - and the two men turned immediately to me. "No, she's not the one. This is not over. We will be back." The older of the two strode up to me at that point and requested (more or less politely) that I help him find this woman. I asked a few questions, but got no answers that prompted me to trust them. Mercenaries like these had decimated towns within my memory; I wasn't minded to help them. They finally grumbled their way out the gate, saying they could be found in Rorikstead since they weren't welcome in Whiterun. I found that odd, and sent a glance at the guard. He didn't offer any further information, so I just shrugged and went on up to the inn. And as I opened the door, I saw Saadia.... Oh gods. Well, I wasn't going to trust the mercs - but I did think I'd best talk to her. I already felt reasonably comfortable - almost at home - in this city. If there was someone living and working here who might be a threat - well.... I felt a duty to look into it. Tomorrow though. Right now, I was hungry, thirsty, and dirty. "Hulda, have you one of those bathing rooms as they have at the inn in Riverwood?" "Oh, aye, of course I do! That slut of an innkeeper there got the idea from me, after all!" So I bought a bath - and locked the door. And grinned again at Hulda's protestations.... Innkeepers the world over were the same then, weren't they? |
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| Andra Hawksdaughter | Jul 9 2016, 09:12 PM Post #66 |
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Jarl
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:rofl: Gods love Hulda!! Siara is a smart woman, and I like that she has a soft spot for elders, and for Hilde. :D That was great Sere! |
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| Brambleberry | Jul 9 2016, 09:38 PM Post #67 |
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Jarl
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Very well done! I almost sneezed my drink out my nose at Hulda's "that slut" lmao! |
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| Serethil | Jul 9 2016, 09:44 PM Post #68 |
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Et'Ada
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Heh. Well.... You have to think like the natives? |
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| Areial | Jul 9 2016, 10:59 PM Post #69 |
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Et'Ada
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Awesome... Delphine would have a cow at being called a slut.....heifer. |
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| Serethil | Jul 9 2016, 11:04 PM Post #70 |
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Et'Ada
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*snerk* You have to make wounds where you can....! |
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| glargg | Jul 10 2016, 12:34 PM Post #71 |
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Jarl
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I'm loving this story, Serethil. Very well written. :) |
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| monkeyemoness | Jul 10 2016, 06:54 PM Post #72 |
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Thane
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Finally got the chance to catch up. I like how Siara is so patient when dealing with otherwise difficult NPC's. She does make some decent cases for them (and I also like Hilde's characterization). |
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| Serethil | Jul 10 2016, 07:06 PM Post #73 |
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Et'Ada
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You guys are very kind to me! Thanks! /bows |
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| Grits | Jul 10 2016, 08:05 PM Post #74 |
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Thane
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Wow, I love the way Siara sees Hilde. There is a clarity about her (Siara) that I like very much. Hulda vs Delphine, lol. I never thought about a rivalry, but now that you’ve shown it, it makes perfect sense! |
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| Serethil | Jul 10 2016, 08:59 PM Post #75 |
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Et'Ada
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Siara's Song 18: I slept longer than I usually would have, but it was WARM in my bed.... and I could tell, half-waking before daylight, that the weather had changed. Apparently, fall was running down the heels of summer - and today was like to be the sort of cool that for me would require a cloak and hood. And so it proved when I finally forced myself out of bed. I talked a bit to Hulda as I ate breakfast. Then I went into the kitchen annex where Saadia was scrubbing pots, and said amiably enough, "You're a country-woman obviously. Whereabouts are you from? I'm from Fenbaggan - but it's drowned beneath a mage-flood...." She sent me a look that encompassed so many emotions I couldn't possibly have identified them all - but the overarching one was terror. Hmmm.... "I.... well.... I've lived many places in Hammerfell. But I just wanted to see something besides desert and dry...." Now that didn't ring true - but the terror had. "Ah well. It's always better to go adventuring when one wishes - rather than as I have, which is because home is gone." I saluted her, and went out the back door not one bit the wiser. I really didn't want to interrogate her just because of some mercenary. She seemed harmless - and she did her job at the inn well enough. I decided to let be - until something else cropped up.... which might be never. Being rather at loose ends for the moment, I decided to stop at the blacksmith. Warmaidens it was called.... As I entered a great bear of a man welcomed me to the shop, and then added "Now you my girl have definitely come to the right place!" which surprised a chuckle out of me. We talked a bit, and then he directed me to his wife, Adrianne Avenicci, who was the better blacksmith - and who made most of the wares. So I went outside to the craft area to talk to her. I wanted to repair the damages to my weapons, and see to my leathers. As we chatted, I remembered her confrontation that I'd seen as I'd entered the city.... with a local (apparently) who needed many more arms for the Imperials than she could provide alone. "Tell me, how are you coming along with the swords for the Imperials?" "Pah. I told the git I couldn't do it on my own, but - well, there's no saying no to a Battle-Born, unfortunately. I don't want to do it at all, but I couldn't figure out how to get out of it. My name's against me - and the fact that my father's the Steward up at Dragonsreach...." Ah. That put a different slant on things altogether. "Well, it's a civil war then, isn't it? And that's just plain ugly no matter where you stand on it." "Aye. I'm supposed to be on the side of right and light, otherwise known as the Empire. But.... well.... I'm married to a Nord, and he's not all that happy with EITHER side.... and nor am I. But I don't want the Battle-Borns pressuring Balgruuf to do something to my father.... Ach. We've talked about leaving, Ulf and me.... but I can't get my father to pay attention - he just thinks everything's going to be fine! "Ah, I shouldn't have.... please, don't pay any attention to me!" She looked - frightened - for a moment. "Eh, no worries. I was just thinking I could rough in swords or axes for you - because of the size of the order, and for the practice...." "Oh, that's a kindly offer! Yes.... if you could come in the morning early? I have raw materials arriving today later.... And.... if you could.... not repeat what I said...." I smiled. "Have no fears, sera. I am not one to repeat such to anyone. I will be here at - sunsrise? Will that suit?" "Yes. I will see you then, thank you!" So I had a job. And some interesting information.... though I had told Adrianne the truth: I wouldn't be repeating what she'd said to anyone at all. |
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| Andra Hawksdaughter | Jul 10 2016, 09:11 PM Post #76 |
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Jarl
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Good one Sere! I've always felt that Adrianne didn't want to do that work for the Battleborn jerk. As for Saadia...*shaking my head* |
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| Brambleberry | Jul 10 2016, 09:12 PM Post #77 |
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Jarl
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Oh yes, I like this! The beginnings of intrigue in multiple peoples and nothing as it seems! Very nice Sere! :) |
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| Serethil | Jul 10 2016, 09:13 PM Post #78 |
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Et'Ada
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Heh. Yeah, Saadia's a puzzle-box. So I'm just making this up as Siara goes along.... I too have always felt that Adrianne's caught between a rock and a hard place. |
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| Grits | Jul 10 2016, 09:21 PM Post #79 |
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Thane
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A number of my characters have scratched their heads over Saadia. I like that Siara doesn't feel she must make a judgement. |
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| Areial | Jul 10 2016, 09:47 PM Post #80 |
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Et'Ada
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Beautiful,.. information, intrigue.. and work. |
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