Renee, you've outdone yourself in this story! Very well written, thank you, much enjoyed reading!

I recently met another Priest of Lord Dagoth, but that one didn't feel like talking at all. It was a hell of a fight though.

Haha, so Dagaoth Gares studied under DiMartani at Drenlyn Academy!

He was one wordy opponent! But finally Joan’s suspicions that she’d have to fight came to fruition. To bad she could not summon her Legionnaire for some needed help, but she did ultimately prevail. Not knowing anything about the game’s questline, I’m glad Joan stuck to her roots as a crusader from Cheydinhal. Now to get uncursed. . . .

What? Dagoth accuses Lord Neravar of betrayal! Did Lord Nerevar really strike down Dagoth Ur? Does this justify Dagoth’s foul retribution?
The thin threads of doubt begin to worm their way in, cracking the foundations of what once was thought to be truth.

Yes, this is true. Lord Nerevar sacrificed Dagoth Ur on the altar of his own greatness. There are books to be had in the Imperial Library that tell that story. Dagoth Ur actually did nothing wrong back than, he was betrayed. Which explains a lot.

I really liked your portrayal of Dagoth Gares here. He is the lion that the many hopeful Nerevarines have been fed to over the years. At least until the real one comes along, and Gares is the one being eaten. And by "real" I don't mean as in the Chosen One, but simply the one good enough to win and continue on to the next challenge.

I think Morrowind did the whole Chosen One trope very well. The protagonist is not shielded by fate and thusly cannot fail in their task. Many others have been chosen before, and they have all died. Your path is not guaranteed because you have the favor of the gods. Rather it is made more tortuous because of it.

I love how you wove in Drenlyn Academy here. Daria and Jeval may have once rubbed shoulders with this fearsome monster. Before he became a Dreamer, and before he had Awoken.

Most of Morrowind's dungeons are very small and simple. Usually only one to four rooms. This one and the Urishikalu crypt one stand out as being huge. As befits their status as important events in the main quest.

And after a long descent into the Underworld, the Hero of a Thousand Faces meets their foe, and suffers a grievous injury. Classic Joseph Campbell Hero Cycle stuff.

The fight was Fast and Furious: Dagoth Drift!

Sortilege, wow, I had to look that up. Now I know.

Oh good, Clav hasn't shown up yet. I made an amendment to the Drenlyn Academy part, with WTC's permission, of course.

Nice little new bit you added in there, Renee. Glasses, indeed!

Okay, finally here and ready to catch up!

Interesting aside with Igodah. It is funny how sometimes our in-game characters can end up taking lives of their own that span multiple games.

Also, it's cool that you used one of the bandit NPCs. I did like how Morrowind gave nearly each human/Mer/Beastfolk NPC a unique name. Suppose that might be difficult in later games and their respawning enemies.

Looks like Lurius is following standard bandit operating procedure by charging in with an insult. Also weird that he calls her an n'wah, but I guess he's been living here a while.

Ooh, and Igodah's not afraid to make her own spells. For all the flash of fireballs and lightning bolts, status effects can be so much nastier, and I like the way you show this.

And now we're getting Dagoth Gares's perspective! Quite a day for the baddies.

"Inscrutably fabulous" actually describes Dagoth Ur pretty well. He's fab, and he's very hard to know.

Oh wow! So this ascended sleeper is someone Daria knew. Maybe not as well as he'd have liked, but still someone she saw in Drenlyn every day, admiring her from afar. Adds a tragic element to this. Dagoth Gares can't be very old if he'd gone to Drenlyn at the same time. And is a reminder of just how dangerous Dagoth Ur is. Especially with how he attacks people through dreams. One day you're a normal Dunmer. Some nightmares and some weeks later... you're changed. And not for the better.

Now back to Joan. Looks like she's learned from the past attempts, in classic Morrowind fashion.

Wait, isn't there something in real life similar to the Gibbeous Method? It sounds vaguely familiar but I can't quite put my finger on it.

Ah, too bad Joan can't use the auto-map.

Joan's reaction to the Sixth House cultists is understandable. But each of them was once a regular kid like Dagoth Gares, pulled into this by a force beyond their understanding.

Okay, back again. Now she's thinking about her own dreams. Wonder when she'll put two and two together...

Probably best for her companion to stay behind. He's not likely to survive what comes ahead (NPCs can be pretty difficult to keep alive in this game).

Looks like Dagoth Gares is trying to be friendly. "Come Nerevar, be you friend or traitor, come."

Heh, and he's another Dunmer thrown by an outlander Nerevarine.

It is fitting to have a confrontation of words here. Plus, combat in Morrowind can sometimes feel weirdly anticlimactic.

For all the words and lore, Joan is who she is. She doesn't really believe in this Nerevarine stuff. She only knows that her Empire faces a problem here, and that it's her job to solve it. But peace is tempting. She'd like that more than war.

Oops, the submission thing completely wrecked negotiations.

Okay, quite a fight here, but Joan wins. And now she has corpus, which is going to change things for her... just not in the way Dagoth Ur intended.

Great update! And I hope you're feeling better.

Really kind of you to say Lena, thanks!




Ha ha yeah he was, Acadian. And Joanie got annoyed by this!



Oh gosh, no. She wanted to take down the Big Boss herself, and (from my perspective) so did I. Followers mostly come in handy for taking on all the enemies Joan doesn't want to deal with. You know, it gets tedious dealing with a bunch of lesser opponents and then you gotta face the boss, so she delegates some of the work. Another plus: by the time she faces the boss her gear's not as beat up.




Apparently so! But yeah, all of this makes little sense to me, so far. Like, why is the story written to assume the player-character is the one who's gonna figure all of this out? It's bizarre.


Much thanks, SubRosa, I worked a little harder on this one, creatively-wise.

Yeah I began thinking Gares is from Balmora, and what if he'd gone to school, and OH, how old is the guy? ... UESP has NO INFO on Dagoth Gares, other than he was once an ordinary Dunmer. If there's anything else added to him thru lore, I'm afraid I couldn't find it! -- Which means I have Full Creative License on the guy, woo hoo!

Me too. Sortilege came up as I was editing; one of those terms on Thesaurus.com.


Why is it weird that he called Igodah n'wah? Uh oh. Maybe I made a mistake! Well, he made a mistake.



Have you ever rolled a magic-user in this game? We pretty much have to use the Spellmaker, not just to make OP spells but also to make more-efficient spells! ... Especially as a starter mage, some of those starter spells draw too much magicka, or they fizzle too easily, and so on.



This crossed my mind! But in a way it makes sense. Young guy, a loner heading into priesthood with a somewhat malleable mind. On the other hand, it's also me having fun as a writer. I allude to Dimartani and Daria Morgendorffer without actually using their names.

There probably is a name for that caving technique, ha!



YES, glad you clued into this. Because Joanie's next chapter in Spring is going to have her feeling guilty about some of her actions.



Fortunately I've read one too many Jack Reacher novels in my adulthood.

See you all next Spring. 🍾

Oh gosh, Joan joins the Legion at last and is immediately given a shady-sounding quest. Yikes. I like that she keeps her own moral compass, even though it could cost her new job.

She learns to swim! Indomitable spirit! Go Joan! That was an excellent outcome.



Nar could not take another minute of conversation!

Ah, I like Joan’s new mace the Snowy Crown. I like to imagine her with a golden weapon.

Oh wow, the characters are shielding their eyes in the Ash Storm screenshot! That is so cool.

Must stop reading for now, puck drop in 10 minutes. Caps vs Canes, heh. (I’m on post 239)

Gah!! Bonelord?! What the heck!! I have never seen one of those before. Holy cow. They are hideous.

Season 3 opens in Daris Adram’s point-of-view, love it! How satisfying that he couldn’t reanimate Ulyne Henim’s remains. Joanie shows her Lawful Good-ness and does not dance upon his corpse. Nice.

How funny, Joan bought the books and then read them right there in the shop. I confess I have done the same (after ordering a coffee, of course). Sounds like Caius likes poetry as much as he likes shirts.

The Tarot episodes were fascinating. I’m glad Joan gave Aradirr a huge tip.


Yay, a pack guar! Tetra sounds much better trained than Freckles or Neelo. Great screenie of Joan and Tetra traveling.

Joan is eating a lot of eggs and saltrice breakfasts. It makes me want to make scrambled eggs with rice on the side and a little soy sauce. Yep, I’m going to have that for breakfast tomorrow. Chicken eggs, though. Not giant bug eggs.

Levitation sounds fun. I love the little purple swirls. She left the bow with the family! Very Joan of her.




A new blue outfit and a new fiery weapon, it was a good day in Balmora. My favorite part was the book shop.

And now the Crusader from Cyrodiil has vanquished Dagoth Gares, but he had the last laugh. Corprus! Yikes. The sunset screenie is the perfect end to an excellent season.

Okay, firstly, I think it's time to return to Joan. I'm about six chapters ahead of the game at the moment. Dying to get back into the story.

Second, ignore this post. It's just me returning Grits's comments and setting up the preamble. I just bumped A Wood Elf in Windhelm, that's this weekend's real story.

Third, glad you have caught up, Grits.

And now, it's been a year and a half since this story has been addressed, so here's a bit of recall.




Joanie's doing Morrowind's Main Quest, with occasional Fighters Guild, Imperial Legion, and Imperial Cult quests as well, so there's a lot to this topic. I'll try to make this simple. But this is Morrowind, so that's like saying "I'll try to explain what it's like to plan a leveraged buyout using a 13% derivative once the market's down..." Kidding.

Joan of Cyrodiil found herself upon the wrong boat at the start of this story. She was supposed to arrive to Vvardenfell upon a schooner with several others, all of them members of Cheydinhal's Chapel of Arkay. Idea was, she'd be entering the province of Morrowind with others to perform "holy works", perhaps to study the religious ways of the Dunmer, which are rather complicated in comparison to Cyrodiil's Nine. This journey would be similar to religious missions which go into foreign countries on our planet, perhaps. Except the goal was not to convert Tribunal Temple or Ashlanders to some other religion.

Yet Joan began her Morrowind story alone, on a ship for criminals. She somehow arrived in Seyda Neen dressed in the rags of a prisoner, without the rest of her group. How had this happened? How had she wound up on the wrong boat when her last memory was boarding the right one? Surely she'd been drugged, or put under a spell.

Truth is, even I don't fully have a clue what the entire answer is. But it seems someone (or an entire group of others) got her involved in some sort of ruse.. perhaps delineated by Emperor Septim himself.

Things went awry from the beginning, yet it seems there's a reason for her dilemma; an overall picture, if you will. At least, this is how Joan has been rationalizing the situation. "The Nine wish for me to be here for {fill in the blank}" goes her usual thinking, and I must make the best of it.

She eventually made her way inland, from Seyda Neen to Balmora. In Balmora she met with Caius Cosades, a supposed member of Emperor Uriel Septim VII's Blades, an "elite espionage, military, and diplomacy service," as UESP.net puts it. Over time, Caius has given a series of "orders" to Joan. He does so always in a casual manner, rather than in a demanding way. The story started with a simple request for info from one of the Mages Guild members, which turned into the rather complex recovery of the infamous Puzzle Box from a nearby Dwemer ruin.

There have been about a dozen of orders from Caius since then. With the accomplishment of each one, Joan has somehow gained rank within the Blades. Or so it seems.

And how could this be? How could it be she's 1). a member of the Blades, an exclusive organization involving utmost secrecy? And 2). rising in rank amongst this covert regiment, at the behest of a skooma-using, shirtless man who claims to be living in Morrowind undercover?

-- An answer eventually came. According to Caius, the orders she's been given so far are coming directly from the Emperor himself!

-- Joan does not entirely believe this, however. Practical and stubborn, she's constantly doubting the words of Caius Cosades.

-- Yet she also cannot just leave the province to return to Cyrodiil. She feels she's here in Morrowind for a purpose. Probably a holy one, of course. Her daily life has become fraught with rumors and suspicions, yet she cannot just turn around and go back. Eventually, my plight shall become revealed, goes her usual thinking.

The last order she performed was to speak to Dagoth Gares, a high-ranking minister of a little-known organization called the "Sixth House". Dagoth, clearly insane, did not make much sense during their conversation. He rambled nonsense about the Red Volcano, spoke of an entity called "Lord Dagoth Ur" (who has something to do with the volcano), and finally tried to convince Joan that she'd soon become "friends" with Ur. Joan had no recourse but to eventually attack Dagoth, who'd made some threats toward the end of his diatribe.

Dagoth Gares, upon his demise, was able to curse Joan of Arkay. Which is where this story picks up.



And here are Joan's current stats...

Back to Joanie in Morrowind. It has been a while.

That whole puzzle box quest always has me thinking of Hellraiser, whenever someone mentions wanting the box.

Not sure if I can Finishq JOA YHIS weekend, AM IN A HOSPITAL can barely type. Had a stroke 3 days ago! Idon't know when it happened but tried to get out of bed Friday and fell to the flooor. 3x in a row! My housemate found me and called 911.They flew me in a helikcopter to John Hopkins in Baltmore...

I am really bored rhough so will try my darndest; thanks to my brother for bringing my laptop...

This is horrible news, Renee, but after suffering a stroke, the last thing that you should be concerned about, is to post stories in the forums. Take your time to rest and recover.

All the best wishes to you. I wrote more in the PM.

Yikes! So sorry to hear that, Renee! Best wishes as you recover - listen to Lopov.

That sounds terrible! I hope you get better! In the meantime definitely game your ass off. It actually helps with recovery because video games require you to both think and use your hands and eyes to act and react. But don't worry about posting the story. Just get better.

I'm so sorry to hear it, Renee! Don't worry about posting, just do what you need to recover. All the best to you!

Renee, I am so, so sorry to hear that you are in the hospital. I along with the Field Hippies pray for your speedy recovery and that you'll be home soon. Take care my friend.

Very true Rosa.Hey I am back online finally, Can still barely type. Got out of hospittal a week ago but only now am able to get online. Haven't done any gaming but just the fact that both hands are needed; left and right, should help with PT.


uNfortunately my left side is really weak. Am typing like a chicken rite now. Can't do a final edit on today's story so whatever I wrote last month will get posted...

Whew! Several of us were getting quite concerned about you! So glad to see you back with us. I hope you are able to - in time - work through the stroke residuals and mostly recover.

Play as you can, and certainly plink away to us about how you are doing but don't worry about your story right now.

Thanks Paladin. Been out so long I wonder if Drodda has been dealt with... Alrite here's what I got. Keep in mind it's rough. Imagination is maxed as well.... 100% This story is NOT IN-game.




------------------------------------------------------------


Standing upon the top of a platform, standing before what looks to be an entire dominion of individuals, Joan Marie finds herself with the omniscient knowledge we often possess in dreams. Though we are only allowed glimpses of our sudden realities as we sleep, mere seconds or minutes most often, there's often a sense of backstory to draw upon. Which means, Joan Marie knows why she stands before them: she's the one who led them here. She is upon the raised platform so everyone can see her. And the dominion of individuals happens to be an entire army of soldiers.

Despite her apparent position in leadership, she realizes she is also very young. Merely in her mid-teens, nowhere near her current real age of nineteen. And she is in some other land; other than anywhere she's ever been in Tamriel. Her life up 'til now (in this otherworldly place) has been the life of a peasant. She has a family: a father, a mother, three brothers, one sister. Unlike in Tamriel, where she was raised an orphan.

So she is not in Tamriel. Not in Cyrodiil, or Morrowind. She's in some other country or province altogether, which has nothing to do with Nirn or Mundus. -- The soldiers before her are fashioned in a variety of armors similar to those found in Cyrodiil: metallic-type plates and mails mixed and mashed with boiled leathers and hides, but the styles of their dress is unfamiliar. Flags and banners and crests which are definitely not Tamriellic. The men (mostly men, she deduces) wield a variety of spears, pikes, swords, shields, bows, maces, morningstars, and so on. They rely on their weapons entirely during combat, because magic does not exist as freely in this world.

This being a dream, she knows these things intuitively. Yet their dress and weapon choices, and whether or not this army is able to perform wizardry seems not as pertinent as gender. It's gender, she realizes in her omniscient state, which apparently is highly considered. -- Mostly men stand before her because in this world, women are usually expected to stay home during times of war.

Indeed, a war. That's the situation they're in for sure. Invaders from across a body of water (the word "channel" comes to mind) are heading into her country of birth. Joan, who is a crusader of sorts in this world just as she is in Tamriel, must soon comprehend whatever plan of action she receives from God. "God", not gods. Singular, not plural. Capitalized, not lower-case. From God she expects to gain a vision. Once she has received this vision, she will then share it with the soldiers.

(At this point she feels a spat of disorientation, realizing that the usual inspirations she gains from the multiple Aedra of Nirn on a daily basis: Talos, Stendarr, and even Arkay, cannot be called upon here.)

But still, Joan is a Holy Knight in this land, similar to her role in Tamriel. She receives inspiration from above in both worlds, yet context of plight is quite different between here and Tamriel. For one thing, it's Holy Knight here, capitalized, like a title. And she has gained this title despite the fact she is a "she". Gender, once again, is highly considered for some reason.

How peculiar.

She is also not just an average crusading marauder on a blind cause to pillage and rampage in the name of some deity; her visions are considered genuine by all. There's a difference between what she's seen and gathered from the otherworld compared to the cause of most of this land's crusaders, who merely twist words they've read from a book. -- They use this book, which is over a thousand years old at this point (and grossly misunderstood), to fit their own creed.

Gone is the sun! The sky darkens suddenly, just like that, in the morphlike way of dreams. Joan Marie realizes it is time to address the warriors. She's gotten to this point by garnering respect from this land's masses, because the visions she's shared have caused them victory in the recent past; victory against the invaders from across the channel. And now the soldiers, hundreds if not thousands of soldiers, seek her perceptions once again.

"Notre victoire n’aura d’importance que si nous restons unis!" she bellows to them in a non-Tamriellic language (Our victory shall pertain only if we stand united!) -- Which is strange in itself, of course. But what's even stranger is Joan Marie, in this world, possesses a greater amount of confidence and charisma than in her waking life, even at such a young age. She's facing this enormous crowd without any fear. Very unlike her shy, verbally clumsy self in Tamriel. She may be gifted with might and magic while dealing with the bandits, sorcerers, landbound monsters, and the flighted cliff racers of Vvardenfell, but she's had to work hard at improving her vocal skills day-to-day amongst the various factions, guilds, and especially the Ashlanders! ... But here, these grim-faced soldiers respond to her every word, partially due to the fact she's so self-assured.

The sky erupts with a volley of spears and arrows; the invaders have arrived! Somehow it all seems so real. "Le combat lui-même a lieu mes frères!" she roars!

Despite being literally just a kid in this land, she roars. She has become The Face at The Helm of whatever shall come to be. She shall be remembered for all time, years, decades, and centuries to come in this world. This she knows for sure.

She raises her hands above her head ..... starts to command the masses in this strange language she speaks, and ...

Woomph!

... finds herself awakening with a lurch in her rented bedroom. Half-tangled in the hammock where she'd laid her head.

"What the--?"

Just a dream! It's just a dream.

"N'wah!" she curses aloud. Finally and fully awake, she recalls her location: the town of Maar Gan, in a rented room of Maar Gan's Outpost.

Blunt skillup

Wow, Joan’s dreams are as unusual and interesting as Renee’s!

Wonderfully clever.

For other readers, I’d urge that you read Renee’s story before my spoiler-tagged comments.


And like so many dreams, this one ends prematurely as Joan wakes up in Morrowind.

Very fun dream as Joan gets a glimpse of the life and deeds of her namesake. The Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff podcast had a multi-episode series on her a while back which I highly recommend.

Really happy to see you back, Renee.

I'd say don't get concerned too much with writing or posting but in a way staying online and typing might work as a therapy of sort. Both for your mind and for your fingers.

Interesting and peculiar dreams. It must have felt quite a shock, being suddenly called N'wah!

I am so glad to hear from you, Renee.

Joan has had a powerful dream of inspiration and determination. Use it to work hard at getting your strength and dexterity back.

Interesting that Joan of Arkay should have a dream of such a faraway place. intriguing and very well done. Thank you.

Don't fret over typing too much. I started out using computer operator two-finger typing. After 60-years I still do, at times it's faster.

I’m so happy to see you back! I’m hoping that with time and therapy you will see improvements. Gosh I’m glad to hear you’re out of the hospital.

What a cool dream. Joan meets Joan across the worlds. What a shock to go from commanding an army to entangled in her hammock! N’wah, indeed!

asdfghjl; asdfghjkl;---Gaah, time for comments, typing partially 1-handed. wHO'S first?

Acadian: "Wow, Joan’s dreams are as unusual and interesting as Renee’s!

Wonderfully clever."

Maybe jumped the shark a little. There were all sorts of doubts back in April + May before the hospital. But I agree it's an interesting "pilot" chapter.

I like to think Joan of Arkay =/= Joan of Arc, that my gal has merely gathered an aspect of our famous heroine from France. An interesting diversion from this next chapter, which was probably written before the pilot. Next?

Subrosa: :"Very fun dream as Joan gets a glimpse of the life and deeds of her namesake. The Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff podcast had a multi-episode series on her a while back which I highly recommend."

Very cool. I'll see if I can find this podcast. 📼

Been anticipating some Blood Raven or Stormcrow by the way. Hope we'll seee some chapters soon.

Lopov:"Interesting and peculiar dreams. It must have felt quite a shock, being suddenly called N'wah!"

Sure. I shared part of her dream in PM a while back if you'll recall, but you weren't able to guess back then my story intentions. Now you see, da? -- but yea, Joanie finally speaks some local language.

macole: "I am so glad to hear from you, Renee. smile.gif

Joan has had a powerful dream of inspiration and determination. Use it to work hard at getting your strength and dexterity back."
Graci. Still haven't gamed at all yet, but otherwise been trying hard. mALX has been helpful with suggestions behind the scenes, as well as RL friends, family, and meds.

"Interesting that Joan of Arkay should have a dream of such a faraway place. intriguing and very well done. Thank you. "

like lots of story ideas, the thought of blending the two women probably began at work, daydreaming and such.

"Don't fret over typing too much. I started out using computer operator two-finger typing. After 60-years I still do, at times it's faster."

No way! Amazing! I'm definitely faster with all digits + alternating thumbs on the space bar. Ever since high school, if the final letter I type is left-handed, I use my left thumb for the space bar, if it's right, my right thumb gets the job. It was all subconscious before the stroke; most of the time if I had a thought it'd already be typed before I realized

Grits:: "What a cool dream. Joan meets Joan across the worlds. What a shock to go from commanding an army to entangled in her hammock! N’wah, indeed!"

Haa ha thanks! Yes it is good to be back. Wonder where Jerric + friends are after weeks of hospital time.

Chapter LVII -- Corprus Disease

31 Second Seed (Day 290)


"Please! I don't wish to catch whatever you have," the Grand Spymaster warned.

Over several previous days and ever since getting infected with corprus, Joan of Arkay has heard the fears of those she's conversed with over and over. And she doesn't blame them for worrying. Though she was not entirely sick, she still had most her health and faculties for instance, her skin had taken a hideous hue. Gone were her tanned-but-also-rosy cheeks, her face had gained a pallor!

Annoyingly, nearly everyone she'd come into contact with after the demise of Dagoth Gareth had to make mention of this. "Please! Stay away!" they'd often blurt as she walked into shops, while renting rooms, and so on. "Don't you think it's time to visit a shrine?" asked one of her very own guildmates just last night, as if praying at an altar would even help (she'd already tried). Everyone was taking obvious, wide berths around Joan Marie of Cheydinhal as she walked by as of late. She'd begun to fear she would never get used to their reluctance to engage, assuming her disease is permanent.

And now she'd received the very same complaint from Caius himself. "You stay at that side of the room, please," he requested, eyes bulging a bit.

"Caius," Joan began, reigning her temper. "I cannot say 'twas my desire to be defiled by corprus," she said with a grimace. "However, was it not thy very self, under the supposed authority of our sovereign Empire, who guided me toward this path of infirmity?" -- Filled then with an increasing amount of ire, she did not wait for his response. -- "Aye, this was so! You thereby have not any right to complain about my ... condition, Caius Cosades!"

Caius Cosades sighed. "Are you here to discuss your orders, Joan of Arkay?" he asked with his usual nonchalance, apparently not keen to apologize. "Or is there something else you want?"

...Really? Really.

"Sir, I am unclean!" Joan shouted, throwing her hands above her head (not unlike the gesture she'd made during her army invasion dream). "I have sickness! By which, I mean to say, any further questing on my part must be set aside, until this illness of mine is resolved." It's as though the man doesn't get it! Even though he'd literally just warned her to 'stay on that side of the room'. "Shrines are of no resolve, nor are potions of disease-curing. Should I make my return to Cyrodiil where I'll then have access to precious Altars of the Nine?" she scoffed. "My being has become decimated during every coming moment due to miniscule, but constant, degrades of my condition! These concerns need addressing before I shalt regain that eagerness to forge head-on."

After hearing this fantastic discourse, Caius blandly stated, "You have corprus disease." And Joan fought the urge to pummel the man. The Grand Spymaster's mind has gone entirely insipid on account of all the skooma he uses! she rationalized.

But then, Caius continued. "It's a rare disease that usually drives the victims mad."

"Finally being honest, are we?... And what is it that we should--"

"I don't know much about it," he interrupted. "But I'll check with my informants. Maybe one of them can see how to cure it."

"Caius. An informant of yours might hitherto know of a cure? -- Which is being mentioned only NOW?"

But as always when it came to conversations with her overseer, the subject abruptly changed. "In the meantime, we can discuss your orders."

"My orders. Right. Always my orders."

Joan's superior ignored her scoffing. "With Dagoth Gares dead, the Sixth House shrine is no longer a threat," he seemed to decide. He then moved on to the subject of her rank within the Blades, changing topics yet again. "I'm promoting you to 'Traveler'. Due to the progress you've made, I'd say you're ready." The man actually smiled.

So she'd just gone from Finder to Traveler, information which doesn't exactly wow the Breton at the moment.

"I'm very worried that you have corprus," his rambling brain finally returned to the actual concern on her mind. "But I have some good news in that department."

"Have you, eh? So we're not here to further discuss my rank, or my orders?"

"Sarcasm, hmph. Aren't we a wheelbarrow of jokes today, hmm?"

"Place thyself into my very shoes," Joan stated, trying to be patient. "Receiving warnings by the moment as you amble into shops, from thy guildmates, from strangers passing by. How should it be that I respond to superficial things such as ranks? How should I accept thy orders as my condition, it obviously suffers?"

"You have a point," the man conceded. "Except you're not wearing shoes."

Caius clarified that he had canvassed his informants for possible treatments (information Joan of Arkay definitely would've appreciated ten minutes ago!), and apparently there was a cure. "I learned from Fast Eddie that your best chance of getting cured is Divayth Fyr, a Telvanni wizard who runs what is known as the 'Corprusarium'."

"Fast Eddie? Sounds the name of an underground cornerclub gambler."

"Not a gambler," Caius corrected. "He's a sorcerer, here in Balmora. His real name is Edd Theman. And he's your best chance to learn how to get the cure from the Corprusarium."

The temptation to sprinkle her response at that point with contrariness was overwhelming. -- "Oh, the cure it is now? Well please, by all means." -- While these words themselves weren't exactly brimming with angst, it's the way she said them, which might catch the ears of an eavesdropper. Joan Marie of Arkay, "pissed the [censored] off" in our terms!

As always, a journey would be involved, well three journeys. First trek would be to Balmora's west side, where she'd later spend hours trying to suss the location of Fast Eddie's home, for his place was not so easy to find. From Edd, she'd eventually learn she would need to travel to Tel Fyr, an island located far to the east of the mainland. Reaching such a remote place would normally require days, maybe over a week. Thankfully, Joan realized she could avoid most physical travel altogether. She could teleport from the Guild of Mages right here in Balmora, straight to the Guild of Mages in Sadrith Mora.

For the third and final journey she could hopefully pay a gondolier, further continuing to Tel Fyr in relaxed style, assuming gondolas or some other water-bound transportation could be commissioned. Travelling by boat would be the most desirable option; the region around Sadirth Mora was surrounded by dozens of islands, Fast Eddie informed. A boat captain or a gondolier could hopefully guide her straight to the proper one.

No boat? Joan could water-walk instead. She could simply walk over the sea's warm waves, thirty seconds per successful cast of the spell in her book, until she managed to find the proper island. The downside of this final option was that most islands in the eastern sea were unmarked. She'd literally need to guess which one, unless somebody in Sadirth Mora could mark the location on her map.

Caius surprised yet her again, giving his star Traveller a thousand drakes for eradicating Dagoth Gares, former high priest of Illunibi Cave. He also handed her a Dwemer artifact. "This should be used as a gift, to placate Divayth Fyr" he suggested, though this suggestion sounded more like an order to Joan. Caius also donated a couple levitation potions to the crusader. "I hear you'll need them in Telvanni towers," he said.

"Need them in Telvanni towers?"

"Aye. Telvanni wizards don't use stairs," he said with a wink.

"Many thanks, sire."

By then of course, Levitation already been inscribed into her book as a castable spell for over a month. (Which means she was already wondering to whom she could sell these redundant potions to!)

"Well get moving," Caius advised, not that Joan had an impetus not to. "Get that corprus cured..."

"I shall."

"...then hurry back. I think I know how to get the lost prophecies Nibani Maesa asked for," he finished.

Though Joan agreed to continue Caius's cause, she was by now less-than-enthused about the whole matter. Sixth House, Nerevarine, Red Volcano, Dagoth Ur, bah! -- Assuming she'd get this diseased cured she was planning on taking a long break from Caius Cosades, and from all the vague orders supposedly being handed down from Emperor Septim himself.

------------------------------
Map detail of eastern sea

Tel Fyr approach (...not easy to find without GPS compass....)

You have arrived at your destination

Water-walking

Robed at sundown

Run! Run! ... Run!

Levitating

notes: "Sarcasm, hmph. Aren't we a wheelbarrow of jokes today, hmm?" -- Pretty sure I got this line from Big Bang Theory, It's got Sheldon written all over, ya know?

Poor Joan. Everyone’s afraid of her cooties, yet Caius still wants to send her off questing. I’m glad she put her bare foot down and insisted on focusing on a cure for what ails her first. Caius actually gave a path forward in that regard so let’s go try to get her cured!

Sounds like her levitation and water walking spells will come in handy.

I am glad to see you back to posting more. I hope that means you are on the mend and feeling better.

Poor Joanie is unclean. I blame Chachi...

Caius is not much help. He seems to be pretty rigid and unable to adapt to changing conditions, such as Joanie's uncleanness.

I was thinking the same as Joan about using the Guild of Mages public transit system. Too bad we don't have that IRL.

Well, at least Joan has a clear path forward now, and maybe at least some way of dealing with her uncleanness.