Following the frightened crowd helped quite a bit – for a time.

Darnand to the rescue! That he intended to fight Ruma solo and likely lose in order to buy time is unacceptable to Lil. Just as Lil’s order to Jeelius to run was found unacceptable to the priest. Good thing, as it took all three to handle Ruma, her minions and heal them up after. What a nailbiter of a fight!

Woohoo! A conjured bow!

Escape at last! No amulet, but all three of them survived and they have the Mysterium Xarxes.

More chaos ensues as Lilius flees along with the pack of cultists. Danger ahead as well? That can only mean Darnit is doing his damnedest to cause damage to the devilish dolts of the Dawn. Unless I am deceived.

I was wondering why Jeelius was visible as well. I am not surprised that the Daedra are fickle with their gifts.

That was a close fight with Ruma. Good thing for that Bound Bow spell, every Wood Elf's best friend.

It looks like the sun has set upon the Mythic Dawn's headquarters. Or at least their recruitment center. With the Necronomicon Mysterium Xarxes in their possession, they are one step closer to defeating Mankar Camoran.

More rollicking romping through the roses Mythic Dawn outpost!

Dammit Darnit sounds like quite the loose cannon with his fire.

Chuckled at Lil's admonition that no, we are not in your friend's library!

And chuckled again at Jeelius's glee at finding his own robe. Though I do know the comfort of finding one's own belongings intact after having had to leave them behind all too well - high school gym anyone?

Now what?

Yesss, Darnand's here to rescue! Go, go go!

Phew, Ruma is down. Dremora is gone, "like water down a drain". What a chaotic scene, but at least it seems things are going right.

....I am convinced that you work on behalf of all that is light."

Now is not the time to tell him that you are not a necromancer, Lildereth thought.

Love that part. I barely remember any of this, by the way. Really intense to read these events.

Previously: The Dagon Shrine at Lake Arrius Caverns. Darnand and his angry summoned daedra joined the fight against the cultists. Lildereth killed Ruma Camoran. Jeelius, carrying the Mysterium Xarxes, has suggested they leave.

ghastley: Baurus expects Darnand and Lildereth to meet him at Cloud Ruler Temple, assuming they all survive the journey. I’m sure the gore pattern from Darnand’s daedroth is way, way higher on the walls than from anything else he can summon. How many times has she seen it? 100% times too many! Thank you, ghastley!

Acadian: The decision to stay with Darnand was a big deal for Lil, thank you for mentioning it. It’s a milestone in her quiet journey. Jeelius surprised me with plans of his own. I do love Argonians! Thank you, Acadian!

SubRosa: I thought you might catch that Jeelius was not Chameleon-ed last episode, and the reason was unfortunately not given until this episode. The downside of splitting scenes. Thank you for bearing with me!

Rider: It didn’t strike me until Jeelius was in the storeroom that his clothing would be on the top of the piles. Lil was thinking the same about Darnand’s fire and remembering when he almost roasted Aravi back in their Hope Valley vampire adventure. Thank you, Rider!

Renee: In the game this part can be absolute bonkers. There are a ton of different ways to do it, and I’m sure an equal number of glitches you can cause. I’m glad you enjoyed Lil’s not-a-necromancer thought. Lighthearted is her natural state, but she has a lot on her mind with the world ending. Thank you, Renee!

Chapter 18: The Path of Dawn, Part Fourteen

In the woods Lildereth lagged behind Darnand and Jeelius, concealing the signs of their passage. The camp had not been disturbed. Lildereth pointed out their supplies. "Jeelius, you will find trail rations and water there. Help yourself. Do not start a fire." She took a swallow of Jerric's Juice potion.

Darnand knelt by his pack, one arm around a wiggling Ulfe. "Tell me the plan," he said when Lildereth looked at him.

"Get the horses ready. Jeelius can ride with me. For now we take the road. They won't be able to find where we leave it."

"I concur. We will go faster on the road, and anyone who fled will still be hiding. For once, time is with us." Tension made his face rigid.

Lildereth knelt beside him and placed a hand on his knee. "Put everything aside for now," she murmured. "Think only of your next task. Whatever occurs, we will handle it."

"If we fail…"

"Don't try to solve all of it yet. Ready the horses. Then we'll get some distance behind us. Tonight we'll have clearer heads. We can plan the rest."

Darnand leaned down until his forehead touched hers. Then he got to work.

Lildereth spoke as she dressed in her own clothing. "Jeelius, what do you need the most?"

"A bask and a good soak. Until then I can heal these injuries. I expect that my appetite will return with health. For now I need to rest." He shook the empty waterskin. "I am sorry, but I have consumed all of your water."

"I'll fill our skins. I can't make the sun come up, but I can heat some stones for you."

"Ah, the gentle magic of the tree folk." Jeelius's eyes closed to orange slits. "That would help."

Lildereth fastened her boot and then moved to the Argonian's side. "Here, lie down by these rocks. I chose this spot so we wouldn't have to move anything." A moment's concentration had heat flowing up from below. She draped her costume cloak over him.

"Yes," Jeelius's sigh ended in a hiss.

"I can give you ten minutes. Then we must ride."



Lildereth bent forward in the saddle to brush snow from her hood. At her back, Jeelius leaned heavily against her. She had pushed them for days with little rest and limited food. They had stayed out of sight on narrow paths and game trails through the wilds the whole way to County Bruma. Now they were on a road in plain sight, hoping to catch the attention of whoever stood watch on the hidden walls of Cloud Ruler Temple.

Darnand brought Banner up to walk beside Rose. "Are we close?"

"Yes. They should be able to see us by now, even in this weather." Lildereth signaled Rose to stop. Darnand and Banner followed suit. They stood for a moment listening to the snow crunch under Banner's shifting hooves. Ulfe's tail began to wag. "Someone is coming."

A tall figure appeared walking straight down the middle of the road. He stopped a few paces away from them. "Darnand. Lildereth. Welcome back."

"Thank you, Captain Steffan," said Darnand. "We bear important news. Will you admit us? We are weary."

Jeelius was shivering so hard, Lildereth doubted he could speak. "This Saxhleel is a priest," she said. "We encountered him at the lake. You'll —"

The captain stepped aside with a come-along gesture. "Let's get you lot in by the fire."

Lildereth glanced over the guard positions and smooth stone walls as they passed through the gates, more out of habit than expectation she would need to escape. Within a few moments they had settled the horses. Captain Steffan led them into the temple proper, a stable hand trailing behind with their packs.

Katanas glittered along the walls and pillars. This must be the Hall of Blades. Lildereth was most interested in the giant fireplace, but she gave her attention to the men at a nearby table. The one wearing a gray woolen robe stood up from his clutter of books and alchemy apparatus as they approached. Behind him, wearing the armor of the Emperor's Dragonguard, stood Baurus.

The robed man spoke quietly, but his voice easily carried. "Ah, you're back. I told Jauffre not to worry."

Darnand bowed as he spoke. "Your Grace. May I present Lildereth of the Mages Guild, and Jeelius, Priest of the Temple of the One. My friends, here is Lord Martin Septim, last son of Emperor Uriel."

Jeelius made a bow. Lildereth slid one foot back and dipped at the knees in a curtsy. "Your Grace," she said. "And hello, Sir Baurus."

They gathered around the table closest to the fire. A teenager disappeared through a side door. Lildereth hoped that it led to their kitchens.

When they were seated, Martin spoke. "I can see you have bad news. You didn't recover the Amulet, did you?"

"No," Lildereth said. "Mankar Camoran himself was at the shrine. He took it with him to his Paradise realm. But we killed Ruma Camoran and some of their followers. Jeelius was meant to be sacrificed in the initiation ritual. He carries the Mysterium Xarxes."

"By the Nine!" Martin exclaimed. "Such a thing is dangerous even to handle! Forgive me, Brother Jeelius. You were right to bring it. But you'd better give it to me. I know some ways to protect myself from its evil power."

Jeelius slid the book toward Martin.

"Can the Xarxes lead us to Camoran?" asked Darnand.

"I don't know," Martin said, tentatively touching the book's cover with his fingertips. "Maybe. I suspect that the secret of how to open a portal to Camoran's Paradise lies within these pages. But I will need time. Tampering with dark secrets, even just reading them, can be very dangerous. I'll have to proceed carefully."

"You need not proceed alone," rasped Jeelius. "My duties at the Temple of the One will wait. I place myself in your service, Your Grace. As you have said, we priests have ways to protect ourselves."

Darnand cleared his throat. "Your Grace, I offer my assistance as well. Though I know myself to be perhaps more vulnerable to its suggestion than most, I believe that you will find ways to use my knowledge."

Martin nodded. "Yes, I accept. You both will stay here at Cloud Ruler Temple. Darnand, we are eager to hear of Jerric's return to this realm. When he contacts you, please report immediately."

A trio of youths entered through the side door, steaming bowls and mugs in their hands. Lildereth, Darnand, and Jeelius were soon sipping apple-blackberry tea and spooning up beef soup with carrots and onions. Ulfe was given a bowl of food and a basin of water. She emptied both and stretched out with her paws toward the fire.

Martin addressed Lildereth. "Your friends speak highly of you, Lildereth. I am pleased that my guardians have at last agreed that you are worthy of our trust. I hope you will find us worthy of yours."

"Your Grace, even I cannot think of a way that I could have orchestrated events to bring me before you for some ill purpose." She flicked a glance at Baurus. "But their concern has become my concern. I am at your service."

A Breton in a simple monk's robe entered the great hall. He gave Lildereth a piercing look as he approached. With a nod to Martin, he sat down.

"Grandmaster Jauffre," said Lildereth. She tilted her head to the side, smiling at him. "Finally we meet."

"Lildereth of Athay," said Jauffre. His eyes twinkled but his features remained stern. "Or is it Doriel of Arenthia?"

"It's Lildereth." She glanced at Darnand. "I've told you the truth from the start. How did you make the connection?" she asked Jauffre.

Jauffre pointed a finger at her, the smile breaking over his weathered face. "Property transfer! Why would a deceased Bosmeri lass inherit a manor house? She must have some life left in her. You had lived there as Doriel."

"And I recently paid my taxes, under my own name," said Lildereth. She pointed her spoon right back at him. "Because I'm not hiding anything."

"She is quite alive," said Darnand. "You should have asked the Mages Guild."

"Doriel was a great asset to the Legion," said Jauffre.

Darnand looked utterly confused but ready to jump to her defense.

"The Imperial couple I told you about," Lildereth said to him. "They were Legion. I trained with one and worked for the other, as Doriel. On a contract basis. But 'Doriel' is retired." She turned back to Jauffre. "I'm impressed. Not many have access to the records you must have found."

"You told me you were a market hunter," Darnand said.

Lildereth nodded at him through her tea steam. "Mmm hmm. I've always been a hunter. Different markets."

Jauffre said, "You should consider straightening out your paperwork."

"I'd have to know who made the mistake in the first place. Even I didn't know that I'm supposed to be dead. I guess no one else has disbelieved me enough to look back that far." She tipped her mug to Jauffre. "Perhaps you could fix it for me."

Martin cleared his throat. "I expect you will want to rest and refresh yourselves from your journey."

Jeelius was practically asleep at the table.

Jauffre pushed himself to his feet. "As Cloud Ruler Temple has no guest quarters, for now we will house the three of you in the Emperor's Wing. We have room for an entire royal family and their personal servants, though only a few chambers are ready for immediate use. When you have recovered from your journey, I will hear a report from each of you. Lildereth, Captain Steffan has a job that is suited to your talents."

"Of course, Grandmaster." Lildereth gave him a wink.

"Any questions? Rest well. Tomorrow there is much to do." He directed a slight bow at Martin. "Your Grace."

Darnand's eyes were still round as an owl's as Jauffre strode out the side door. "He did not reference our loss of the Amulet," he said.

Martin gave the Xarxes a little shove and leaned back in his chair. "We have not lost the Amulet of Kings," he said. "Our enemy has taken it out of reach, but only until we find means to recover it. Here we have Warrior, Mage, and — Lildereth, I will not say Thief, but Hunter — on our side. We work under the blessings of the Divines, and one in whom I place much faith, Jerric Lionheart, even now has the gaze of a Daedric Prince upon him. A Prince who is very much the enemy of our enemy." He leaned forward, meeting eyes with each of them as he spoke. "We will learn the secrets of this Mysterium Xarxes. We will take back the Amulet of Kings. The Dragonfires will burn again. Right shall prevail."

Ulfe broke the silence that followed with a yawn and bone-cracking stretch. She padded over to Martin and shoved her great head under his hand.

"The humblest of your subjects agrees," said Lildereth. She gave Captain Steffan a lifted brow.

As Martin filled his hands with dog ears, Captain Steffan rose to his feet. "With Your Grace's permission, I will get these folk settled in their accommodations." The group began to shuffle around, shifting plates and packs. Darnand bent his head to speak with Martin.

Lildereth paused beside Baurus.

The grim Redguard had a gleam in his eye, but he kept his gaze on Martin. "Nearly pissed my greaves when you went at it with the Grandmaster," he murmured to Lildereth. "Any chance that's going to happen again? I'd like to prepare myself."

"Unlikely," said Lildereth. "Any chance someone's going to murder me in my sleep?"

"Emperor's Wing. They'll have to come through me to do it."

One of the teenagers led the way, with Jeelius leaning on his arm. Lildereth fell in behind Darnand next to Captain Steffan. "Is this a today job, or can it wait? I just want to know so I wear the right shoes."

Steffan snorted. "You'll want to be near the Hestra Rune Stone at dusk. Know where that is?"

Lildereth nodded. "I saw a couple of folks in that area when I was looking for your front door. They thought they were being sneaky, but they were not."

"Ha! I'm glad you're on our side. We think they're spies for the Mythic Dawn."

"Let me guess," said Lildereth. "Find out who they are, where they're from, and what they're up to. Kill them or bring them somewhere for questioning?"

Steffan stopped so that the others got a little ahead. "Can you do the questioning?"

Lildereth looked up and up so she could see his eyes. He seemed simply curious. "Not like your Brother Venco would. I have some persuasive spells, that's all. I prefer never to have contact with my targets."

"At your discretion, then. See what you can find out." Steffan tipped his head back toward the Hall of Blades. "You know they'll devour any documents that you can get your hands on. See Captain Burd of the Bruma Guard if you need their cooperation. He may have some information for you. Grandmaster Jauffre asked the Countess to have the guard keep an eye out for strangers."

"Do they know about…" Lildereth lifted her chin toward the Hall.

"They know we have a bird in the nest, and they know better than to ask questions."

"Tomorrow, then," said Lildereth.

Captain Steffan bent forward and spoke quietly through a tight jaw. "We all want to spill blood in the name of our Lord Uriel. We crave it. We Blades will keep the Emperor safe here. You have been given the freedom to attack our enemy. Good hunting."

Aaahhh, warm stones! Lil is a rock star! I'm sure Jeelius much appreciated her consideration. It's obvious Lil had a lizard as a pet growing up - that's a little touch that never occured to Julian!

Hmm, so both Jeelius and Darnit will be assisting Martin with the Xarxes? I smell a hint of Daedric shrines and Ayleid ruins in their futures . . .

And we have a Warrior, Mage, and . . . Hunter? If my memory serves, in the Reach in 2E, they did not have Thief, but Hunter as one of the three main constellations, so this works for me.

Spies! Will Lil be bringing back heads for Jauffre to stick on the walls of CRT?

So we have a brief respite at Cathode Ray Tube Cloud Ruler Temple, as we take stock of recent events and plan the next moves.

Jauffre lives up to this role as master of spies, as he untangles the web of paperwork around Lil's previous lives.

"We have not lost the Amulet of Kings," he said. "Our enemy has taken it out of reach, but only until we find means to recover it. Here we have Warrior, Mage, and — Lildereth, I will not say Thief, but Hunter — on our side. We work under the blessings of the Divines, and one in whom I place much faith, Jerric Lionheart, even now has the gaze of a Daedric Prince upon him. A Prince who is very much the enemy of our enemy." He leaned forward, meeting eyes with each of them as he spoke. "We will learn the secrets of this Mysterium Xarxes. We will take back the Amulet of Kings. The Dragonfires will burn again. Right shall prevail."

Spoken like a true Emperor.

Back at the campsite, Lil is clearly in charge. Nice to warm some rocks for the poor Argonian – not his clime I’m sure.

Cloud Ruler Temple. And they let Lil in this time! Sounds like a fabulous hot meal – thanks!

I really enjoyed Martin and you’ve done him justice here. So he, Jeelius and Darnand will try to ferret out the amulet’s location while Lil hunts for spies between CRT and Bruma.

Previously: Jerric, Bruma Fighters Guild members Kjestrid and Shamir-do, and Nereli the Dunmer scout they picked up in the Deadlands entered Moonshadow escorted by the priestess Ma’sani, acolyte Renlys, and winged twilight Dozara. They intend to take a shortcut through Moonshadow to County Cheydinhal. How did they even get into this predicament? Back in County Bruma the Fighters Guild crew was providing cover for Jerric’s trip to report at Cloud Ruler Temple. On the way they found a Gate to Oblivion. When it closed while they were in the Deadlands, they took another Gate out into Morrowind.

Rider: Ha! I have distant memories of some fan art with Jauffre’s heads on stakes. Was that Rachel’s story? It was an absolute riot!

SubRosa: Thank you, SubRosa! Martin may still be wearing his priest robe, but he is starting to think like an Emperor.

Acadian: Yep, Darnand was happy to lean on Lil for guidance after the bloodbath he caused in the shrine. His mage training did not extend to dealing with the aftermath of actual violence. I have really enjoyed spending this time in Lil’s POV. Thank you, Acadian!

Chapter 19: Moonshadow, Part One

Jerric found his feet back on solid ground, Azura's voice still echoing in his mind. "Welcome to Moonshadow, Jerric of Kvatch."

The others seemed to be coming out of a daze, apart from Renlys and Dozara.

Ma'sani visibly gathered herself. "We shall pick up our supplies here in Rosehaven," she informed them. "We will not need much. Our next sleep will be in Valparai. There we will find the Gate to County Cheydinhal."

"Valparai is said to be among the most beautiful cities in Moonshadow," Shamir-do told them. "This one is pleased that he will see it."

Jerric wondered if they would reach the city before dark, then shook the notion away. There was no dark. Besides, he was not in charge of this walk.

"Dozara will take you to The Smiling Pigeon," said Ma'sani. "This one will join you there when she has concluded her business."

Jerric, Kjestrid, Shamir-do, Nereli, and Renlys followed Dozara past facing rows of cottages. Colorful fungi stood among the flowers planted in pots and garden beds. The streets were quiet, though some folk were moving about at what appeared to be the same mundane tasks that would have occupied them in Tamriel.

"We need to kill five vampires in Gutted Mine to pay for our passage," Jerric said to Kjestrid. "Is that what she told you?"

"Yes. We'll have time to plan on our walk."

The Smiling Pigeon was a two-story thatched building with wings like welcoming arms and balconies that appeared to have been stuck on at random by some giant's blindfolded toddler. The front door was wide and tall even by Nord standards. Dozara strode forward and grasped the lever-shaped handle with one clawed foot. She pulled the door open with her leg, holding it until Renlys took it from her. Then with a shrug of her folded wings, she led them inside.

The front hall contained a reception desk at the base of a set of stairs. A Dunmer man walked in from the left and took a position beside it. "Dozara!" he said. "It is good to see you, my friend." As Dozara nodded to him, he smiled expectantly at the rest of them.

"I'm Jerric."

"Welcome to The Smiling Pigeon, Jerric. I'm Alvis. Owner and proprietor."

"Pleased to meet you. This is Kjestrid, Shamir-do, Nereli, and Renlys."

"What brings you to our hamlet this fine day?"

"Just passing through." Jerric looked to Dozara, at a loss to explain their business.

"We would take refreshment, Alvis," said Dozara. "We will stay perhaps an hour."

"Ah, good! Good!" Alvis gestured toward the right-hand doorway. "Won't you go through? I'll serve you on the patio."

Dozara led them through the public rooms and out to an enclosed garden. Stone walls sheltered two sides, but the rear had a low wattle fence with a gate in it. Bantam guar strolled in and out through the open door at their whim. Several perched on the back of a bench. An awning stood folded against a side wall. With no sun to require shade, it must be for rain.

A vine rambled up one of the inn walls. Its white flowers scented the air.

"My moon flowers," Alvis said from behind them. "I see you have noticed them."

"Yeah," said Jerric. "My Ma would have loved them. She grew night-scented jasmine on the wall in her garden, but it didn't bloom very well."

"Not enough light?" Alvis nodded knowingly. "Are you a gardener yourself? There is much to admire in Our Lady's realm."

"Not any more, but yeah. I can see that already. I guess you have a lot of things called moon and stars."

Dozara stepped onto a wooden rail that stood knee height near a table. She arranged herself into a perched position. Alvis dragged chairs around so that they could sit with her.

"A pitcher of star dew, Alvis," Dozara said. "Ma'sani will soon join us."

"Splendid. And shall I bring a meal, or..?"

"We have two Nords in our party. A meal will always be welcome."

Alvis left as the group found seats around the table. Renlys placed a chair for Ma'sani. By the time they had settled, a human woman arrived with a tray. She had dark hair and pale skin, but her race wasn't readily evident. She wasn't tall enough to be a Nord, but her features weren't Cyrodilic or Breton.

The woman placed a pottery jug and seven cups on the table. "Shall I pour?"

Dozara responded by picking the pitcher up in one clawed foot, rising slightly off the perch, and neatly filling six of the cups. Then she put the pitcher down and hooked a wrist claw through a cup ring. She lifted her drink in a toast. "May Moonshadow find a home in your hearts, and may your hearts find their home here."

Jerric didn't have a reply other than clunking his cup against the others.

Star dew tasted like nothing he had ever had before. The closest thing he could think of was honeyed mead with winter spices added. It was so sweet he almost spit it back into the cup.

Shamir-do raised his cup. "To the good health and long life of our gracious hosts."

Jerric drank again. This time he was ready for the sweetness.

Shamir-do's ears had swiveled to the side, and his eyes half-closed. His tail slowly swept the paving stones.

Nereli leaned toward Jerric. "Moon sugar," she murmured.

Jerric looked into his cup. "Are those… sparkles?"

"Star dew." Shamir-do spoke the words in a sigh.

Jerric lifted his cup. "May the stars and moons smile upon us, and may we, uh, leave smiles wherever the road may take us." Now he could feel the star dew's effects, like a welcome hand lightly stroking his groin.

"Gods blood," muttered Kjestrid.

Jerric addressed the winged twilight. "Are you coming the whole way with us, Dozara?"

"Indeed. I am charged with Ma'sani's protection in the event of trouble."

Jerric flexed an arm, careful not to spill his star dew. "We're from the Bruma Fighters Guild. We can handle trouble."

Dozara tilted her head to the side in a bird-like gesture. She laughed.

"Ha!" said Kjestrid. "In case we are the trouble."

Jerric and Shamir-do clunked cups with Kjestrid.

"There have been reports along the road to Valparai," said Dozara. "I-- Oh."

Alvis had returned with a tray and the odd-looking woman. The two placed plates and platters around the table, including in front of Ma'sani's empty seat.

"Help yourselves," said Alvis. "Ma'sani would wish for you to start without her."

The mortals did not needed to be coaxed. Jerric loaded his plate with greens, then piled the grilled limbs of some small creature on top. He filled the other side of his plate with cubes of a starchy pink substance that had been heated until the outside was crisp. He noted that while the mortals had been given forks and napkins, Dozara was using a spoon-like scoop in one of her foot talons. She lifted and bent to take a bite, not dropping a morsel. Renlys fell on his food like a Nord teenager.

"Is this chicken?" asked Kjestrid.

"Bantam guar, I'd wager," said Nereli. She gestured at one with part of a grilled wing. "They look just like the ones in Morrowind."

"Are they?" Jerric asked. "They're not some kind of daedric yard bird?" He pulled the meat from the bone with his teeth. The seasoning was both sweet and spicy.

Dozara's laugh was breathy and musical. "Daedric yard bird? I see that the notion does not bother you. They are not. You will find that many of the creatures inhabiting this realm are mortals from yours."

"You brought them here for what, so you could eat them?"

Shamir-do explained. "Mortal folk who move to Moonshadow often bring pets and livestock to their new home. Even some plants that can survive in Moonshadow's light. No one eats daedra."

Dozara addressed Jerric. "When we 'die' as you would put it, our animus returns to the void. What is left behind is merely a husk. Over time it will return to the state that it was before. Your mortal forms are similar. Without life, you return to dust."

"Yeah, but we're not made of dust. We're made of meat, and we come out of our mothers. If you're not born from a mother, where do you come from? Do you even need to eat?"

Dozara rattled her wings. "Our bodies do not require the same care that your mortal shells do. However we can eat, drink, sleep, and couple just as you do. We simply please ourselves. And others." She drained her cup and placed it on the table.

Too many questions came to mind, and none of them seemed appropriate. Jerric opened his mouth to ask anyway.

Kjestrid spoke first. "What about the people who come here after they die?"

"I will attempt to explain it fully," Dozara said. "The folk who in life dedicated themselves to Our Lady and then died in the Mundus now dwell physically here in Moonshadow, inhabiting new forms. Others, such as the refugees with whom we passed through the portal, have traveled here in the course of their mortal lives. They remain in the bodies they were born into. Only in death will they return in a form of their or Our Lady's choosing."

Ma'sani bustled in and settled in a flutter of fragrant robes. The others spent a moment passing trays and filling her cup. The priestess bowed her head and closed her eyes.

Renlys made a grimace then swiftly schooled his features. It had never been the habit in Jerric's family home to pause for prayer before a meal, and he hadn't started the practice after losing them. He supposed that he never would. Renlys, however, had clearly forgotten his duty. Jerric shook his head at the lad in mock disapproval.

"So what's the plan?" Kjestrid asked Ma'sani.

"We will travel across the Silver Plain to the portal outside Valparai," Ma'sani said. "We will rest along the way, but we will not sleep until we reach the city."

Dozara stepped off her perch. "I will meet you outside when you have finished." She leaped over the low wall and took a few running steps along the street. Then with a mighty sweep of wing and certainly some sort of levitation spell, she was aloft.

Jerric forked up the rest of his greens, drained his cup, and stood. "I'm going to stretch my legs before, uh, we go for our walk. Ma'sani, thanks for the meal."

Outside, Dozara was perched on the inn's roof. He supposed the rail had been installed for that purpose. Jerric gave her a wave and walked around behind the building. Whether mortal or daedra, everything that drank eventually had to piss. The privy was right where he expected to find it.

That business finished, Jerric felt restless but uncertain what to do. Since this village seemed as familiar as any in Cyrodiil, he let his feet carry him where they would. It was no surprise when he found himself at the stables.

Or the guar barn, he decided after a moment of squinting into the interior. The animals stood as high as he did when they straightened up, but they seemed to prefer walking with their massive heads lowered and their tails out for balance. An adult Bosmer could probably curl up inside one of their jaws. From the hay in their bale feeders, he guessed they weren't hunters.

The action was in the paddock at the rear of the barn. Jerric walked through to find an Orsimer shifting cargo near two guar who were tethered to a post. He recognized his own bags among the parcels.

"Good, uh, twilight," said Jerric. "I'm Jerric."

The mer straightened up. "Name's Llurvush."

"Pleased to meet you."

"You're an outsider," said Llurvush. His tone was neutral.

"Yeah. Can I give you a hand with that?"

"You know guar?"

"No," said Jerric, "but I know about balancing a load."

"Might as well. This lot is for your group." Llurvush put Jerric to work. He relaxed into the familiar tasks.

By the time Ma'sani led the others out of The Smiling Pigeon, Jerric had learned how to saddle the pack guar, oil their hides, check their teeth, and tend to their feet. "This one's called Freckles," he called as his friends approached. "And this one's Neelo. Freckles is Neelo's calf."

"Cute," said Kjestrid, scratching under Neelo's neck fold. "She resembles you."

"It's the smell," said Nereli.

"Don't insult this fine animal," said Jerric, rubbing a hand along Neelo's lip.

The guar leaned in hard enough to make him stagger.

"Watch out for Freckles," Llurvush said to Renlys. "She stomps like an echatere."

Renlys executed a quick lateral shuffle, earning side-eye from the lizard.

"Be good to my ladies, Sister," Llurvush said to Ma'sani.

"This one will always do so." The two exchanged a folded hand and bowed head gesture.

"We're walking?" Renlys piped up.

"Be grateful our packs are on a guar's back and not your own," Ma'sani told him.

"Let's fill up our water skins," said Jerric.

"Done," said Kjestrid.

Shamir-do handed Jerric his day pack. Renlys took Neelo's lead, and Jerric led Freckles. At Ma'sani's nod, the group headed down the village street.

Now we are out of this world. Some nice, subtle observations on the unique, twilit nature of Moonshadow. With no days, no one can measure time by how many days it will take to travel somewhere. Awnings are not for sun. Flowers grow in moonlight, etc...

Nice working in of the vampires in Gutted Mine to events in Jerric's Story.

And a moon sugar tipple to whet their thirst.

In a way Moonshadow reminds me of Mankar Camoran's Paradise, just on a much grander scale. The souls of dead believers travel there, presumably for eternity. Though in Moonshadow it looks like they get new forms, to match their natures I expect. At the same time the living can also travel to there from Mundus and back again. Historians would love this, homicide detectives, and estate lawyers too. You could could meet long or recently dead people and pick their brains.

Bantam guar! Yes, they do resemble nude chickens, and probably taste like 'em too.

Moonshadow sounds lovely - almost like Fargrave in ESO. Not sure I would have liked star dew, though . . . especially if it's sweeter than mead!

Neelo and Freckles! They sound adorable, even though those teeth look more carnivore rather than herbivore. ;P

Now for a walk - accompanied by a pair of pack guar, of course.

What a nice intro to Azura’s realm. Time for some provisioning in Rosehaven before setting out for Valparia and, hopefully, access to Cheydinhal.

Wonderful descriptions of Dozara’s actions as a Twilight and how she managed mundane tasks. Same with the nice touches of life in Moonshadow with some of its flora and fauna.

I’m sure Jerric was happy to find himself in a tavern as he enjoyed some bantam guar and star dew. So Jerric is now pack guar qualified and it’s off to Valparai!

Two Nords = two meals each, minimum.

And recalling Treydog's description of getting guar-certified: does Jerric now have to wear a striped shirt?

I'm only up to chapter 5 so far, but Jerric is the best kind of helpful rogue-ish type, Grits. You've been working on this for 15 years?! The output seems so high at first that it doesn't compute in my brain, lol.


Looking forward to getting caught up!

Previously: Jerric is in Moonshadow attempting a shortcut back to Tamriel. He set out on the road across the Silver Plain accompanied by Kjestrid, Shamir-do, Nereli, Sister Ma’sani, Renlys, winged twilight Dozara, and the pack guars Freckles and Neelo. Ma’sani says they won’t need to sleep until they reach the city of Valparai, where the stable Gate to County Cheydinhal is located.

SubRosa: Exactly, I think the mechanics are similar regardless of the realm. And I think it would slow linguistic drift in Mundus to have not only centuries-old elves at the grocery store but also people who lived thousands of years ago walking around and talking in daedric realms. It was fun to think about Moonshadow culture. Thank you, SubRosa!

Rider: I suspect guar chomp down the occasional unwary critter while they’re grazing with those big shovel mouths. I bet they could strip a short tree of its leaves in seconds. Thank you, Rider!

Acadian: I now realize that Jerric started his Moonshadow journey with a plate of wings, fries, and magical Sprite. I must have been hungry. The winged twilights of ESO contributed quite a bit to Dozara's personality. Previously I had only thought of them as foes. Thank you, Acadian!

ghastley: Jerric’s baptism by guar is just beginning. He will need a new shirt by the end! Thank you, ghastley!

Kane: Welcome to the story, Kane! I’m glad you’re here! It’s funny to think that when I started this, Skyrim hadn’t even been announced yet. And now we have a Remaster of Oblivion. I didn’t write at all for several years while I was having some health issues, so there aren’t 15 solid years of updates to get through. I hope you enjoy the story!

Chapter 19: Moonshadow, Part Two

Ma'sani led them out of the village and onto the vast, grassy plain. As they walked Jerric noticed small flowering vines growing up some of the grass stalks. Some areas had tall mushrooms peeking out from between the tufts. Insects buzzed between them on iridescent wings. The road took them across several streams that were so shallow at the fords, they were in no danger of even soaking their socks.

The light slowly faded from rose to gray but no darker. Ma'sani directed them off the road to a broad path beaten through the tall grass.

"This one will walk at the rear for a time," she told Kjestrid. "Do you see the far mountain?"

"I see it."

"Take us in that direction. We will turn when we reach the river."

"All right." Kjestrid gestured for Nereli to take the place at her side. Jerric followed beside Shamir-do who was now leading Neelo, while Renlys and Ma'sani took up the rear. Dozara was visible in the air overhead, but not always.

They walked peacefully for a time, listening to the creak of leather, the thump of guar feet, and insects singing in the grasses. Jerric could see how Ma'sani might meditate on her feet. With the dim light and lack of cover, he found himself lulled out of his habitual guard vigilance and simply walked along in the twilight.

Dozara swooped down and landed at a distance, keeping her wings outstretched. "Cloudskimmers," she called to Ma'sani. After a short running start, she was in the air again.

Renlys appeared at Jerric's side, between him and the broad Khajiit. "They're big birds." He made a flapping gesture, eyes as round as a human's. "I read about them in a book."

"They eat elves, I take it?"

Renlys replied with a squeak. Now Jerric could see them, pale spots against the purple sky. Streaks of white lightning flashed from Dozara into the flock. The grass began to rustle.

Shamir-do made a surprised yelp. As Jerric laughed, something smacked into one of his shins. Another something ran up his leg.

"Hump a goose!" He shook his leg. The something clung for an instant, then flew into Neelo's hip. A wave of creatures about as long as his arm approached, leaping knee-height through the grass. Several more bounced off of him and off of Freckles.

The guar reared back onto her tail and left leg, bellowing. She brought her right foot down in a stomp that shook Jerric's teeth.

"Scuttlers!" Ma'sani cried out. "They are harmless! Keep your eyes skyward!"

The cloudskimmers had drawn close enough to see them swooping down, picking scuttlers out of the grass. Jerric gripped Freckles's lead in his shield hand and drew his sword. The guar dug her toes in and jerked away from Jerric, yanking him to his knees. Renlys let out a shriek as Jerric's blade sliced through his robe. Jerric froze in horror. He hadn't felt resistance. Was the kid..?

Renlys pushed at Jerric with both hands, looking more terrified than hurt. Shamir-do shouted as Neelo pulled away from him. Jerric got up to run after Freckles, but Kjestrid had her sword in hand with the other on Ma'sani, pushing her to the middle of the group. Nereli had her bow out with an arrow on the string. In a blink the four fighters had made a defensive circle.

"Don't move," Kjestrid barked at Ma'sani and Renlys.

The flock of cloudskimmers had split into three, harried from above by Dozara. One of those went in pursuit of Freckles. One headed in a direction presumably after Neelo. The others arrowed down at Jerric's group.

"I can fight," piped Renlys.

Kjestrid still had her eyes on the birds. Jerric doubted that anything hunting scuttlers was going to pick up an elf.

"All right," he said, moving aside. "I'll watch your back. Let's see it."

Renlys dropped to a knee, the tall grass still rippling at his chin level with scuttler activity. He placed the heels of his palms together, stretched out his arms, and let loose a gout of fire that first ignited the grass tops and then streamed skyward in a glorious plume.

"Finally I can see something," said Kjestrid.

Some of the birds veered off, their cries mingling with Dozara's battle warble. Several plummeted blazing to the ground like New Life Festival sparklers. Jerric started laughing as he and Shamir-do put out the grass fire. It smelled like autumn on the Kvatch plateau with gardeners burning leaves in the alleys.

Jerric squinted at the sky, moisture in his eyes. "Are they gone?" he asked Shamir-do.

"This one cannot see them any more."

"What a rutting spectacle," said Kjestrid. "I beg your pardon, Sister Ma'sani."

"This one agrees," said Ma'sani.

Dozara landed lightly on the path. The draft from her wings sent dust and smoke into their eyes.

"Freckles ran off toward… whatever is that way," said Jerric. "Is it trees?" There was a smudge against the horizon, but it could have been anything.

Shamir-do pointed in a different direction. "Neelo went that way."

"Those are not trees," said Ma'sani. "Those are house-banyans. Where once stood a cluster of mushroom towers, parasitic vines took over. Those who dwell there call it Droathra."

"I'll go after her," said Jerric. "It's my fault she got away."

"If you imagine yourself to be stronger than a pack guar, then you are prouder than you look," said Dozara.

Jerric took a moment to puzzle that out. "So you're saying…" He scratched under his beard, still uncertain.

"It is your fault," Nereli told him. "You should have held onto her."

Jerric started off at a trot. He was not going to outrun a stampeding guar, but with a trampled path that wide he should be able to follow until he caught up. The cloudskimmers still didn't concern him. No doubt they followed the guar to catch anything they startled out of cover as they ran.

He soon realized that Kjestrid, Nereli, and Shamir-do had followed him.

"Thought you'd chase your own guar, cat," Jerric said.

"This one would rather."

"Sister Ma'sani said to go with you," said Nereli.

Kjestrid gave Jerric a sideways look but said nothing. Nereli was the only one who would have listened to Ma'sani. Regardless of what the priestess had told them, Kjestrid and Shamir-do still thought they were escorting Jerric.

The breeze had picked up. The trail that Freckles had trampled through the grass was getting difficult to see.

"Can you track in this light?" Jerric asked Shamir-do.

"This one we tell you if you go in the wrong direction."

"How much of my stuff is on this guar?" Nereli asked.

"None," said Jerric. "You should have followed Neelo." Nereli sounded like she had plenty of wind to talk, so Jerric picked up the pace.

It took two water breaks worth of running to get close enough to see the individual vine towers. They rose abruptly up from the plain without any lesser growth to soften the transition. Firelight glowed at the base of the structures while a cooler light shone from within the lattice-like trunks. Something fatty was grilling.

"Do you suppose they eat guar?" said Jerric.

A figure rose out of the grass. It called out in a language that Jerric didn't recognize. The voice could have been male or female.

"Tamrielic?" called Kjestrid.

"State your business," they said.

"I'm Jerric. We don't mean any trouble. Some, uh, skimmers spooked our guar. Have you seen her?"

There was a soft popping sound, and a ball of light floated from the figure's hands toward them. It stopped in the air above their heads.

"I am Aman-enle," they said. "You approach Droathra village."

"All right," said Jerric. "Pleased to meet you."

"You are newcomers?"

"Not really." Jerric hooked a thumb at Nereli and Shamir-do. "These two will be yours some day, but we're just passing through."

"We had a guide," Kjestrid explained.

"You are outsiders, then." Aman-enle crossed their arms over their chest. "And you've had a complication."

"Yeah," said Jerric. "Smells like dinner time over there. You're not cooking my guar, are you?"

"No. Come with me into the village. When the guar-herders return we will ask about yours. Perhaps you have goods to trade. We will be pleased to hear news of your world and speak some Tamrielic."

Jerric shouldered his way past Shamir-do and Kjestrid to fall into step beside Aman-enle. The mer had indigo patterns painted across their face. Jerric wondered if they were permanent, or just cosmetics.

"Are you the night watch?" Jerric asked. "I mean, if it's night?"

"No. I was out for a walk. But you are in luck, our rest period approaches."

As they drew closer to the village, more scents drifted to them on the breeze. The sweet scent must be from the tree-vines. A rich, earthy smell came from somewhere to their left. From ahead Jerric detected the already familiar odor of guar dung.

"I'm taking you to the guar paddock," said Aman-enle. "Your pack animal may have… Yes. See there?"

"No."

"Ah," said Shamir-do. "This one sees our Freckles."

Jerric squinted but still couldn't see anything moving, much less anything that looked like a guar. "Does she still have her packs?"

"Yes. She appears uninjured."

Kjestrid spoke up. "Aman-enle, may we camp at the base of your village? We'd like to rest. We'll be on our way in the morning. Er, after your rest period."

"With shadowcats and figments on the prowl, you will be welcome to shelter with us above. Join us for a meal. There will be many who want to meet you."

They had reached the paddock. Jerric whistled for Freckles. She raised her head and snorted back at him.

"Hey girl." Jerric ran his hands over the guar's head, then checked her feet. "I'll get her settled. We don't have goods to trade unless you'd want camp pots and laundry. Could we chop some wood for you or something?"

Aman-enle looked startled. "Oh! Did you mean firewood? There is no need, we twist dried grass into sticks for burning." They glanced up at the looming vine-trees.

"Right," said Jerric. "I didn't mean to upset your house." He looked up too, but the vines didn't seem to be doing anything.

"Some of these folk might have been Bosmer," Nereli reminded him.

"Yes," said Aman-enle. "Though there is no Green Pact here, we do thank the banyans for our shelter." He gestured above. "You can see that some are newcomers, with eyes as useless as the rest of you mortals." He bowed his head toward Shamir-do. "Apart from our night-sighted Khajiiti friend, of course. They use glowstones when they need them. We do not require flame for heat. Only for cooking springhares and antelope, and for drying the mushrooms."

Jerric's stomach rumbled. "Mushrooms? Is that what I smell? What kind of mushrooms do you grow here?"

"Many kinds. The soil that supported the fungus towers long ago proved ideal for mushroom farming. That is why we settled here." He gestured around at whatever Shamir-do was the only one who could see. "Our guar herd is made up of pack animals. That is how we take our products to market."

"In Valparai?" asked Kjestrid. "That's where we were headed."

"Yes, among other destinations. Ah, here comes the herd now."

There was a babble of excitement as the herders greeted the visitors, examined Freckles, observed Jerric's handling, and made comments from the helpful to the ridiculous. Shortly most began climbing up the outside of the vine towers.

"We keep watch at all hours," one of the herders assured Jerric. "Your Freckles will be safe with us. Go enjoy your meal and some rest. I'll be up later."

"He has to milk his guar first," someone piped up from the group of scruffy elves.

"Want a hand with that?" asked Jerric. It didn't seem right to show up from another realm and just be so helpless.

Raucous laughter greeted his remark. "Yeah," someone else called out. "Course he does. And you can milk mine when you're through."

Jerric got the idea that they were not talking about guar. Or milk.

Kjestrid clapped him on the shoulder. "Enjoy yourself. I don't plan to wait around for all that." She followed Aman-enle up the vines.

Oh, it's not hard to milk a guar! *whistles while Jerric gropes for nonexistent nipples*

Those cloud-skimmers sound amazing, wonderful and terrifying all at the same time. I'm sure the scuttlers feel they're only terrifying.

Ha! Trailing a runaway guar across a grassy plain isn't all that difficult. Just followed the flattened grass!

Boy, Freckles sure ran a loooong way off!

Guar herders among fungus towers! Sounds like a certain part of Tamriel . . . .

How many levels of detour are we on now? Every time they get on a path to somewhere, something comes up to deflect them. I'm going to need reminders of where they're ultimately trying to go.

At least Jerric can tell one guar from another. Otherwise they'd be back-tracking to swap guars, on top of the detours.

A nice walk in the twilight otherworld turns nasty when Cliff Racers appear! I really wish someone would do something about those things. I would say that would be worth making them a saint...

Renlys might not be a saint, but at least some fire magic did the trick with those Cliff Racers.

The unexpected side quest to recover the lost guar brings us to a welcome interlude. It is nice to meet some of the people who live here in Moonshadow, and see how they live in this otherworld. It is nice to meet someone in a Daedric Realm that is not trying to kill you. That is assuming they really are friendly, and are not lulling Jerric and company into a false sense of security before attempting to murder them all.

The opening of this episode felt quite epic as the travelers began their trek across the grassy plains bathed in perpetual twilight.

Cloudskimmers! Good thing someone knows a fire spell and someone else knows how to put out grass fires.

Uh-oh, the pack guars took off. I figure Jerric is probably right that the cliffracers followed the guar to grab whatever the guar flushed out of the grass.

What an exotic and charming place you created here with this banyon tree vine village! SubRosa is right – nice to meet a friendly village instead of strangers who want to kill them.

As far as diversions from their path, I'm all about the journey over the destination. Divert away!

I do wonder how the other (Neelo chasing) half of the little band is fairing. They have the elegant grace of that winged twilight and her lightning while this Freckles group has the power and majesty of big Nord who knows how to hit hard and break stuff.

I feel that. Not for the same reason (hope you're doing better!) but after Call of the Wind in 2018 I couldn't write anything for almost 7 years. Everything I tried fizzled out, and it was on my fourth attempt at Seeking Solace that it all finally clicked again!

Chapter six, pt3. Annette was my grandmother's name. It was nice to see it again, and in such a nice tale of celebration.

Previously: After a cloudskimmer-fueled scuttler stampede startled their guar, Jerric, Kjestrid, Shamir-do, and Nereli tracked Freckles to the house-banyan village Droathra. They have been invited up for a sleepover.

Rider: I’m sure Freckles would title this part “Freckles Has Adventure All By Herself.” We’ll see this update why she kept going. It has been fun to imagine how Moonshadow might be. Thank you, Rider!

ghastley: No kidding, they started off in Bruma on a walk toward Cloud Ruler Temple. Then there was a Gate, then they came back through another Gate. This shortcut started in Blacklight, but they had to walk to get there and then walk again to get to the portal. Gjaever was onto something when he decided to just traipse across Skyrim instead. He may beat them back to Bruma.

SubRosa: I think it would be hard to relax in any daedric realm, even one of the “good” ones. Unless you’d already given them your soul. Saint Renlys! Our young acolyte definitely wanted to impress with his fire show. Thank you, SubRosa!

Acadian: Thank you, Acadian! It has been fun to dream up some Moonshadow landscapes. That village of friendly Argonians in ESO’s Coldharbour made me think about hospitality in Moonshadow. I’m glad you’re enjoying the journey. More Moonshadow adventures ahead!

Kane: Annette, the lovely teenager from Weye! I almost forgot that Jerric has the Jewel of the Rumare. I’m glad that your writing has clicked for you. I’m looking forward to catching up with your Children of Kyne series. Thank you, Kane!

Chapter 19: Moonshadow, Part Three

Declining the guar-milking opportunity, Jerric followed Kjestrid up the vines. After about twenty feet they were able to slip inside the cylindrical lattice of the banyan tower. Within, a ramp spiraled upward. Platforms had been constructed across the open middle to create large, round dwellings. The rooms held every type of object one would find in a Cyrodilic cottage. As they climbed past, a few people greeted them with nods or waves. The ramp passed in and out of the lattice tower walls at intervals, depending on the type of dwelling that had been constructed. There were few partitions and even fewer hanging tapestries to screen the spaces. Though the barracks method of simply not looking would have supplied privacy, Jerric couldn't resist.

By the time they reached a height that made Jerric debate sending a stream through the vines rather than jogging back down to the privy, Aman-enle stepped onto one of the platforms, beckoning for them to follow.

"Here I dwell with my mate," they said, smiling at a slim, Bosmer-height elf with markings like Aman-enle's on their face. "Dearest, I bring outsiders! Please meet Nereli, Shamir-do, Kjestrid, and Jerric." Aman-enle turned back to them. "My beloved, Joman-enle."

"Pleased to meet you," said Jerric. He quit trying to figure out gender, race, and Moonshadow naming conventions and focused on the important. Joman-enle had laid a meal out on a low table.

"Welcome!" said Joman-enle. Their voice was low-pitched and pleasant. "Come, take your ease with us! Aman..?"

"Yes, yes, I will invite them. The glowstones, my love." Aman-enle turned at the doorway and beamed a smile at the group. "I shall return in a moment."

By the time they had shed and stowed their armor, more folk had arrived bearing food and drink. Joman-enle supplied them with pottery plates and tall drinking vessels made of shell or horn. The babble of voices made it difficult to tell who was talking to whom. Or perhaps that was the effect of whatever dried thing Joman-enle had smoldering in a small brazier.

Jerric looked into his cup. What was this drink? He took another sip. It tasted like beef broth and ale.

Kjestrid was talking to a Bosmer woman on Jerric's left. "We make it from the silvergrass seeds," the Bosmer was saying. She pointed to something else on Kjestrid's plate. "And that's a type of shelf mushroom, and this here is made from elder-cep stems. These are wild onions we gather out on the plain. And of course this is just sliced steak."

Jerric forked up another bite of the chewy blue stuff. He checked under the flatbread and moved the scoop of mushy green goop. No steak. But the blue stuff was excellent.

When he looked up from his second plate of food, he saw that Nereli was deeply engaged in a conversation with some not-quite-Dunmer. Shamir-do was talking to a human with an Altmer's golden complexion. Those who seemed to have finished their meals were passing a pipe around.

"Fill your cup?" It was the Bosmer who had been talking to Kjestrid.

Jerric held it out. "Thanks. I'm Jerric."

"I know. My name is Raywen." She had blue eyes, dark hair, and dimples.

"Pleased to meet you."

Raywen sat on the floor across from him and placed her pitcher on the low table. She tilted her head in an expectant manner.

"Uh, everyone's asking for news from, uh, home," said Jerric. "Anything you want to know?"

"I don't live there anymore, and we have our own concerns. It's nice just to speak some Tamrielic." She slid a bare foot along Jerric's calf. "And get to know some new people."

A burst of laughter came from Shamir-do's direction. The big cat rose without bracing himself for balance. Two of his companions stood up with him.

"Go ahead," Kjestrid told Shamir-do, grinning. "I'll watch him tonight."

"Watch me do what?" Jerric said to Kjestrid. "I won't be milking any guars, if that's what you're hoping."

"Well you don't need my permission if you do," said Kjestrid. "But let's at least stay in the same tower."

Some time after Shamir-do's departure, folk began saying their farewells.

Nereli came over and sat down on the floor, leaning against Kjestrid. "I told them how our homeland fares," she said. "They like me now."

"Did you meet any of your ancestors?" asked Jerric. He was a little serious.

"Not that I know of, but some of them did complain to me about their descendants. I think I'm starting to figure things out here."

Raywen drew Jerric's attention back to her. "Is there anything you'd like to ask me?"

He looked at her for a long moment. There were a lot of things he'd like to ask, starting with if she would please take off her dress. But if he was ever going to sleep with a Bosmer, it wasn't going to be tonight.

"Where are all the kids?" he said. "If it's not rude to ask, you're still a mortal, right? And so are some of these others. This is our second village, and we've not seen any youngsters."

"It is rude, but you're an outsider so I'm not bothered." She pushed herself to her feet. "Actually I'm not in the mood to explain it. But if you'd like to not talk any more, come find me." She waved to Joman-enle, picked up her cup and pitcher, and strolled out the doorway.

Their plates were gone along with the dining clutter. Aman-enle moved about, tidying up. "The necessary is on the ground level," they said. "You'll find a wash house near the well. If you don't mind, bring up a bucket of water on your way back. There's a stack by the door."

"Will do," said Jerric.

"You could be humping Raywen right now," Nereli told him. "She sure wanted to get her legs around you."

"Not me in particular, just somebody she hasn't taken for a ride before."

Kjestrid tilted her head, listening. "She won't be disappointed. Sounds like she found Shamir-do. Can you two hold your piss for a while? I don't want us to go down to the ground without him. We've had enough trouble on this shortcut. Let's not split up any more than we already are."

"We have another set of buckets," Aman-enle volunteered. "The night buckets. Just don't get them confused with the water ones."

"Ha!" said Jerric. "See, there is a night." Rather than unpack his bedroll, Jerric folded up his cloak for a pillow. He placed weapons at hand in his usual manner, though he did not feel any kind of threat from these bunny-hunting mushroom farmers. A breeze trickled in through the openings in the walls, carrying that sweet scent that was almost like honeysuckle.

"What do you do when it rains?" he called to Aman-enle. Their hosts had retired behind a tapestry.

"Usually nothing. Never before have the rains bothered us, but lately we must hang our rugs to dry."

Joman-enle spoke. "Never before have we seen shadowcats on the plain, either, but we have now. And the winged twilights report figment sightings. The unrest from Mundus affects even Our Lady's realm."

"Does anyone else feel like their brain is baked?" said Nereli. Her head was near Jerric's shoulder.

"Yeah," said Kjestrid. "Between the smoke and the drink, I'll have plenty of dreams tonight."

"If we're lucky, I won't dream," said Jerric. He turned to Nereli. "Are you going to charge them for their cat ride?"

Nereli snorted. "I don't even know what they use for currency."

"What about you, Nereli?" said Jerric. "Still time to find some local and knock the dust off your kitten."

"Not interested."

"You may meet some of these folk when you come back after, you know. Dead."

"I know, I mean I just don't feel that way about people. I'll do it if I have to. To get along. But it's just…" she shrugged. "Messy. Awkward. I don't see the point."

"I think you've been doing it wrong," Jerric said.

Kjestrid kicked the side of his leg. "It is messy. And you shouldn't have to if you don't want to."

"You don't want to have little elflets?" asked Jerric.

"No," said Nereli. She held up a hand. "And before you start, I don't want your advice and I don't need you to fix me. I'm fine."

"I will never try to convince someone to have children," Jerric said. "They change everything. Your heart leaves your body and walks around outside for the rest of your life. You should want it more than anything, or forget about it and do something else."

"You have children?" Kjestrid asked.

"No. I thought I did once, but it wasn't mine after all. I've seen all that up close, though. Maybe I'll get lucky someday."

Kjestrid had been watching him with a neutral expression. "You mean with your little Breton boss?"

"He's not my boss. And it's not like you've been told." Jerric rubbed the bridge of his nose. "And he's the right size for a Breton. I'm the one who gets to call him little."

Kjestrid said, "For a man with your principles, you do a lot of lying."

"I know, and it doesn't sit well with me. But there are truths that are not mine to tell. And the lie you're thinking of was not my idea, I can assure you."

Kjestrid looked skeptical.

"You don't believe me? You know Carla who works at the brothel next door?"

"Sure," said Kjestrid, then threw her head back laughing. "Of course I don't know Carla who works next door. And I'll wager her name is any other thing than Carla."

"Pretty Breton with dark hair, and she's," Jerric held his hands out to indicate pregnancy, "about out to here when we left."

"Are you jesting?" said Nereli.

"No! How can you not know the people who work in the same block? You must walk past each other a dozen times every week."

"Do you know the people who work on your block?" said Kjestrid.

He could see right away that she regretted asking. "Yeah, I did. But when you misbehave like I do, you learn to gather grace from the neighbors long before you need it."

"That I can believe," said Nereli. She leaned in for gossip. "So, who do you want to get lucky with that's not Raywen?"

"Dozara," Jerric said, grinning. "Do you think I have a chance with her?"

"I wonder how they fly," said Kjestrid. She gave him a speculative look. "I wonder how much they could carry."

"I wonder if they have man twilights," said Jerric, wiggling his brows at her.

Nereli said, "Well she was nice to you, so I'll wager they don't. You know, there are tales of winged twilights who fall in love with mortals and carry them away."

"There are tales about everything that falls in love with mortals and carries them away," said Jerric. "I used to think a sea siren would get me."

"Wishful thinking," said Kjestrid. She was looking at him strangely.

Jerric checked behind him, but no one else was there. "What's on your mind, Kjestrid?"

"Have you ever met a Woad-singer?" she asked.

"No. I thought that was a legend."

"It's not," she said.

They spent a moment looking at each other.

"I'm not great at guessing, but I think I got this one right," said Jerric. "Are you a Woad-singer?"

"Yeah," said Kjestrid. "And it's been bothering me since Bruma. Now I know what to do about it." She gestured around her head. "I think it's whatever was in that pipe."

"Kjestrid, I smoked some too. You're going to have to explain what the hells you mean."

"Do you want me to sing your Woad for you? It will always be there if I do. You won't have to call it any more." She gave herself a little shake. "We'll have to start another time. Tonight I can't feel my hands."

"What's the catch?"

"I have to give you a tattoo, and I'll have to think about you more than I'd like. But I've already done the thinking. Also it takes some time, and it's tiring. And you don't get to pick it."

"That sounds like the stories," Jerric said.

"You might not like it," said Kjestrid. "Some people don't."

"I'll take that chance."

"Good," she said, leaning back. "I already got what I need from Aman-enle."

Shamir-do spoke from the doorway. "Get up, lazy ones. Shamir heard we are to stay together. And this one needs to piss."

Shades of Stibbons!

I rather enjoyed this 'evening' among the shroom folk of Moonshadow. Their home reminds me so much of the graht-oaks of Valenwood that I feel like Lili would be at home here. Also magic shrooms! All this talk about shrooms and blue meat is making my mouth water, and I just had breakfast!

And Raywen sort of kind of reminds me of Lili - certainly has a very similar perspective on a certain type of interaction!

I'm still waiting on Freckles, but I trust the little one will make her way back to our intrepid four. Eventually. After she has been There and Back, like the hobbit that started it all. (You can tell I just re-watched Peter Jackson's Tolkien movies [I]again[/I)

What a mysterious and mystical place and people you have created here! I love the banyon tree house (of course) and its inhabitants are fascinating. Oh, and such tantalizing exotic food and drink!

Buffy’s heard, “I’d rather sleep with my horse than a Bosmer,” but I don’t think she’s heard, “I’d rather sleep with a winged twilight than a Bosmer” before.

Whatever a woad is, looks like Jerric’s going to get his sung, along with a tat not of his choosing. Maybe a pink butterfly on his cheek?

Dinner in the tree house is quite the exotic and alien affair that one would expect in a Daedric Realm. At least the kind that does not immediately try to kill you, as we are most familiar with.

It looks like Raywen is looking forward to brush up on an old tongue, and getting to know a new person. Well, looks like Jerric won't be breaking his Bosmer dry spell tonight however.

Definitely don't mix up the night bucket for the water bucket! No one wants to find out they have been drinking Nord lemonade...

Well, the mind-alerting substances have certainly opened up the floodgates of conversation. From kids, to being Ace, to woad singers (whatever that is, but I think we might find out). It sounds intriguing. In the Crowverse fiction I decided that tattooing can be used as a form of rune magic. It allows a rune mage to place a permanent rune on someone in the form of a tattoo, such as to make them invulnerable, or breathe water, or see in the dark, etc... Or place a reusable spell, like to summon an elemental from the tattoo (with the elemental being depicted within the tat of course). I envisioned a Maori superhero who was a rune mage, whose tats were all magical runes like that from which his powers stemmed.

I'm up to chapter 11 but a part of me doesn't want to find out how things go between Jerric and Abiene. You've got me too invested in them being together!

"Jerric wondered if they would reach the city before dark, then shook the notion away. There was no dark."

Was confused about this, but now I get it! I want to drink some star dew, too. Maybe I'd water it down a bit to dull the extreme sweetness! - - Mmm, wait. Moon sugar drink? Mm, maybe not.

Jerric has a pack guar. Joan does too, eventually.

I like how Dozara is visible in the air as they walk, "but not always". This suggests she gets high enough above them, perhaps.

Parasitic vines taking over mushroom trees, yikes. Ah no, Freckles ran away. Not very well disciplined, however maybe the guar remembers there's that lovely patch of vegetation to munch upon, right? Nope. Dang, is Freckles just gone???

No she's not, that's a relief. Up to C19, part 3, I am.

Previously: Moonshadow’s Silver Plain. Jerric, Kjestrid, Shamir-do, and Nereli found Freckles at the banyan-vine village Droathra. They dined with the locals and spent the rest period up in a vine-house. Kjestrid decided to give Jerric a magical tattoo.

Rider: Have no fear for young Freckles – she’s the one who found the vine village with their guar herd. Mama Neelo is still out there somewhere, but so are Ma’sani, Dozara, and Renlys. Thank you, Rider!

Acadian: Jerric could win a lot of bets with a pink butterfly tattoo on his cheek! He may want one regardless of what Kjestrid marks him with. Thank you, Acadian!

SubRosa: Nord lemonade! Kjestrid’s Woad-song tattooing sounds similar to the Crowverse’s rune tattoos. She will use her own magic along with Jerric’s Nordic Woad. Much better than the game’s once-per-day-forget-you-have-them abilities, even if he (maybe) doesn’t like how it looks. Thank you, Rosa!

Kane: Thank you, Kane! That means a lot!

Renee: Yep, Freckles is fine and hanging out with the village’s guar herd. I suspect that she ran that way because she smelled them. It’s just now occurred to me that she might have been there before, since she is local pack guar for hire. I’m thinking about making a Star Dew cocktail out of prosecco and white grape juice. It would be very sweet, but I’ll leave out the moon sugar. You’re caught up! Thank you, Renee!

Chapter 19: Moonshadow, Part Four

Morning brought sights that were indistinguishable from the night before. Jerric grabbed an empty water bucket and a full night bucket and made his way down to the facilities. The ladder part would have been tricky but for a pulley system he hadn't noticed before.

Before he climbed back up, he went to check on Freckles at the guar paddock.

"Look who showed up!" one of the guar herders called. "I take it she's yours? Found her outside the fence. Here she is, safe and sound."

It was Neelo, looking unrepentant and drowsy with her head propped on Freckles's back.

"Guars," said Jerric. "How can a walking mouth be so endearing?"

A few trips up and down the vines saw their gear packed and ready. The guar handlers had breakfast skewers on their fire, while Aman-enle and Joman-enle gave them rice-flour pastries filled with chopped nuts and flowers. Both hosts served a cloudy, sour drink with the food. Two breakfasts was a decent start. Jerric felt slightly queasy but very awake.

They had been shown how to keep the banyan village over one shoulder as they looked for the road to Valparai. The trail through the grass was easy enough even for human eyes to follow.

"We're not the first to cut across to the Valparai road," Jerric said. Insects and frogs still sang in the tall grass. It sounded like it had the day before, and all night, or what passed for night. Jerric could not adjust to calling it the rest period.

Nereli walked beside him, leading Freckles. "They said the guar trains follow their road to Strawberry Fields first, but I suppose there are many who go straight to Valparai."

Despite the peaceful walk, Jerric couldn't quiet his mind. What were Lildereth and Darnand doing? Was Abiene safe in Chorrol? Where had new gates opened, and who had gone in to close them? How did Savlian fare in his unofficial rule of Kvatch? What about Ulfe, Flash, and Kip? "This shortcut is taking too long," he said. "Those I care about, back in Cyrodiil. I wonder how they fare."

Kjestrid spoke over her shoulder. "So do we. And I wonder what would have happened if I had just knocked you over the head, dragged you through the snow, and delivered you like a side of beef to those who were expecting you. But I didn't, and here we all are."

They walked for a few moments in silence. "Well I don't blame you for it, Kjestrid," Jerric finally said.

Shamir-do snorted behind them. Kjestrid gave her belly laugh.

Jerric chuckled, glancing over at Nereli.

"No one wonders how I fare," she said. "And I don't wonder about anyone, now that Neelo showed up with my packs." Her tone was matter-of-fact.

"You'll find many who want your help in Cyrodiil," Jerric told her. "If you can stand their company."

"I'm getting used to standing yours."

"You warm my heart, Nereli."

The elf gave an exaggerated shiver. "I'd prefer to warm my bones. Is it just me, or is there a chill this morning?"

"You're asking two Nords and a furball," said Jerric.

It was getting harder to see the path through the waving grass. A look to the rear showed darkening skies, and no line on the horizon. The silver plain simply melted into gray sky. Stars were still visible directly above them.

Shamir-do had wandered off to the side, hunting for springhares with Kjestrid's sling.

"Hey dagger-eyes," Jerric called to him. "Are we on track?"

A gust of wind obscured the Khajiit's reply. He jogged back to them, wrapping the sling around a wrist. Two springhares bounced against his thigh from where they hung at his belt. He took a moment tucking them into a pack.

"This one can see the trail. He would have corrected the Nords if they had strayed." He looked back toward where Droathra must be. "However Khajiit does not like the look of that sky."

"Speed up," said Kjestrid. "No more fooling around with rabbits. Shamir-do, you lead. Nereli, I'll take Freckles."

The big Khajiit set a pace that had the guars loping easily along, wide feet taking their weight with a thump and bounce at each step. It felt good to stretch his legs again, especially with only a day pack to burden him.

As the gray twilight above darkened to a fully overcast sky, the grasslands gave way to sandy soil and rocks interspersed with scrubby pink bushes. If there was a trail here, Jerric couldn't see it.

Nereli was running with a hitch in her stride, but Jerric was not inclined to coddle her. If she needed a rest, she would call for one.

At almost the same moment that Jerric decided it smelled like rain, large cold drops began to fall. The wind picked up, lashing rain into his eyes. Shamir-do slowed and then stopped. He began to pace, looking at the ground.

Kjestrid yelled something The Khajiit yelled back.

"What?" shouted Kjestrid.

"This one said he cannot hear you!"

They formed a huddle, including the guars.

"This one has lost the trail," Shamir-do confessed. "There are too many rocks."

"Can you see the banyans?" Kjestrid asked him. "Are we headed in the right direction?"

Shamir-do shook his head, rain dripping off his whiskers. "Shamir cannot tell."

"We need to find shelter!" said Nereli.

Jerric knew nothing about desert weather, but he knew enough to listen to an Ashlander. "Yeah," he said.

"That way!" Shamir-do pointed. "We will walk."

They trudged through the rocks and brush after Shamir-do, splashing through growing rivulets. As they moved toward lower ground, Jerric saw that what had appeared to be more bushes were actually spiky trees, similar to the magenta ones they had seen in Morrowind.

"We must have reached the Smoketree Desert," Kjestrid called. "They told me about it last night."

"If this is the desert, I'd hate to see their stormlands," said Jerric.

Shamir-do walked bent over, picking out a path through the rocks. "Watch out for springhare burrows!"

Nereli did not comment. Jerric looked over to find her chin down and eyes nearly closed against the wind.

Neelo plodded forward, completely unbothered. She lifted her great head to the sky. Rain poured into her cavernous mouth. Then she clapped her jaws shut, sending ropes of spitty water out between her teeth. Her nostrils were clamped shut, and her eyes protected by a nictitating membrane.

"Guar weather," muttered Jerric. It began to hail.

Shamir-do halted them with a shout. He stood upright, arms stretched out to the sides in warning.

"A drop!" he called over his shoulder.

"We can take shelter under the edge!" said Kjestrid. "We have to get out of this hail!"

The stream bed was Nord-deep and ten guar strides wide. Water flowed down the middle, with rocks poking through the surface.

"Bad idea," said Nereli. "There could be a flash flood."

Jerric regretted leaving his Blades helm in Bruma. He sheltered his face with an arm, keeping a firm grip on Neelo's lead with the other hand. "Shamir-do! Where are we going?"

The big cat shrugged.

"Well, pick a direction! What does your gut say?"

"We cross."

Jerric had no time to wonder how the guars would handle the bank. Nereli grabbed Neelo's halter for support and her lip to get her attention. They clambered down into the stream bed.

The water was half-way to his knees and rising fast. Jerric held on to Neelo's lead and balanced himself against her shoulder. Hail bounced off of her and into his face. A new sound made him look upstream.

"Nereli!" he howled.

The elf leaped at Jerric's outstretched arm. When he pulled her in she gripped him with her knees.

The water hit in a wall, thigh high and muddy. Sticks and unidentifiable things swirled in the roiling current. Rocks rolled over his feet and banged his shins.

Nereli scrambled over his back and onto Neelo, clinging to the packs. "Go!" she yelled.

Kjestrid and Shamir-do were downstream, holding on to Freckles. When Jerric lifted a foot, the water shoved him hard against Neelo. One step at a time they made it past the half-way point.

Nereli made a panicked shout.

Something big was floating down the stream. Jerric didn't look again, he just smacked Neelo's flank and lunged for the far bank. The thing clipped his leg as Neelo hauled him up. He found himself at the top face-down in the mud, having been dragged over the edge on his belly.

Kjestrid stood over him, yelling. Bright light flashed across the sky, followed by a bone-shaking rumble.

Thunder? What was next? A Gate to the Deadlands?

Nereli was at his side now, pulling on an arm.

"Need a minute," Jerric hollered. Pain claimed his full attention. His knee buckled when he tried to stand. "Got to sort this damned leg out!"

The boot wasn't damaged and there were no bones poking out. That must just be water soaking his sock. He took his time healing it, mindful of the walk ahead. A poorly healed joint could be as bad as the original injury.

Shamir-do appeared, gesturing wildly. He had found a place to shelter.

It wasn't a cave, but some boulders overhung enough to keep most of the rain and hail off. They coaxed Freckles and Neelo to stand with their heads under the ledge.

Nereli's hair stuck to her face like ribbons going straight across. She peeled them off with a spitting noise. "I'll never say guar-hugger as an insult again."

"I'm thirsty," said Jerric. "Do you think we'll find any water?"

Shamir-do raised an arm and bumped it against Jerric's.

"In all seriousness," said Kjestrid, "Now I really need to pee."

Despite the hail, it never got cold enough to be more than mildly uncomfortable. The storm passed as suddenly as it had begun. As they stood to shake out their cloaks, stars appeared in the pinkening sky.

"We need to dry off and there's no sun," Kjestrid said. "Everything here is too wet to burn."

Jerric was already unloading Neelo's packs. "Rain won't hurt a guar's hide, but I want to check the harnesses. Might be grit or some such pushed under there. Ha! We didn't lose a thing! This Nord knows how to secure a load."

"Khajiit will scout."

By the time they were ready to move on, Shamir-do had returned.

"A village," he said. "This one did not approach."

"Let's assume they won't try to kill us," said Nereli.

"You're sounding downright cheerful," Jerric told her. "I guess it's because you finally got your legs around me."

"If they do kill us," she said, "at least my soul won't have to go far."

Jerric ruffled her wet hair. She actually smiled back at him.

"How long?" Kjestrid asked.

"Thirty minutes. There is a bridge over every gorge, and a road that way. Had we not crossed, we would have missed it."

"Lucky," said Jerric.

"We're in a daedric realm," Kjestrid reminded him. "There's no such thing as luck."

They walked to the road and then on across the bridges, a light breeze barely stirring their soaked hair. The desert plants here grew almost in thickets, as if cultivated. Low walls of stacked stone appeared around individual gardens of the size that would support a household.

A larger wall greeted them as they entered the village. It looked merely decorative, with the stones arranged in pleasing patterns. They passed half-dome structures that must be houses. Colorful murals adorned them, and bits of bright glass had been pressed into the adobe walls to make swirling patterns.

A handful of folk were visible, hurrying toward what must be the middle of town. Voices were raised there, but not quite shouting.

Jerric looked between Nereli and Shamir-do. "Let's go meet your new neighbors."

Jerric asks the age old question. How can a mouth with feet look so cute and adorable?

Strawberry Fields? I believe some fellas named John, Paul, George, and Ringo had something to say about that place.

A sudden rainstorm? A need to take shelter? Oh boy, so many horror (and comedy) stories start this way. Will they find an undying cannibal? A trapdoor that drops them down to Goblin-Town? A transsexual from Transylvania? A Satanic mechanic? I can't wait to see.

I second the warning about a flash flood. One odd bit of trivia I still remember is that the leading cause of death in the Sahara is drowning. It is because people take shelter from the sun in wadis (dried up riverbeds). But when it does occasionally rain, the water swells the wadis and turns them into regular rivers. It happens very quickly, in the form of flash floods. If you are caught in a wadi when it happens, there is no escape.

And Kjestrid reminds us that when you gotta go, you gotta go...

Well, nothing untoward happened in the shelter. But we do have a new village with unknown dangers (or perhaps musical numbers) to navigate.

Welp, this caught my eye:

A certain Redguard will wholedheartedly agree!

Whoo, flash flood in the desert! My first thought upon encountering that wadi was "DO NOT CROSS!" for the exact same reason SubRosa just quoted, and as our intrepid team just found out. Thank the Daedra for the walking mouths - they were exactly what the others needed to get out of that flash flood!

And now another village, and the age old question - friendly? hostile? neutral?

’Morning brought sights that were indistinguishable from the night before.’
- - Nice nod to the nature of Azura’s Moonshadow.

I chuckled over an elf asking two Nords and a furball if it was cold.

It has been a long trip and I’m not surprised Jerric finds his mind wandering to how those he cares about are faring.

'The stream bed was Nord-deep and ten guar strides wide.'
- - A perfect description of the stream bed’s size!

Yikes, a storm! Replete with thunder and hail. And flash flooding! Whew, survived that one and even found a somewhat safe place to shelter under a rock overhang.

Another village. Let’s hope this one is as friendly as the banyon clan.

Prosecco, what's prosecco? A ha, white wine + white grape juice = Star Dew cocktail. I'm down for that.

A "walking mouth!" True.

Okay, so he's concerned about the gates, Jerric is. So there are three different directions right now: Jerric in the realm of Moonshadow, Darnand and Lildereth probably in the midst of travel, and Abiene in Chorrol. That's a moment -- "This shortcut is taking too long." Jerric getting anxious.

"Nereli, I'll take Freckles." Yes, good idea. Won't want the walking mouth running off into these tall grasses as the storm commences.

Nictitating, whoa. New word for me. nictitating: Adjective winking, blinking
--- Yeesh, no. Not a good time to cross a body of water! Alright, it's over, phew!

What I liked about this chapter most was the way they all stuck together as one. Didn't get too distracted from each other, even as they mildly disagreed at times. But yeah, let's see if Jerric can get back to Cyrodiil with haste.

Have we just found the road they were looking for? I suppose they aren't sure yet, either.

I like the "hold on while I heal my broken leg. Just a moment" that means that we still are in TES.

Hopefully, if it is the right road, they joined in the right direction.

Previously: Moonshadow. Jerric, Kjestrid, Shamir-do, Nereli, Freckles, and Neelo set off to find the road to Valparai and the open Gate to County Cheydinhal. After losing their way in a storm, Shamir-do found a village.

SubRosa: Interesting fact about deaths in the Sahara, I would not have guessed that. I’m guilty of once sheltering under the edge of a stream bed during a hailstorm, but there was no flash flood. It was a meltwater stream bed and we were there in August. Still, bad idea!

Rider: I thought of Julian often last week when my knees were acting up. Especially when she walked up that one big staircase. The guars in ESO have been inspiring me. They look so sturdy.

Acadian: Thank you for mentioning Jerric’s growing concern. Worrying about people is a fairly new experience for him. He doesn’t know what to do about it, other than walk faster and take extra good care of the guars.

Renee: We’ll see another nictitating membrane in the next chapter. I think they are neat. I was delighted to read about Joan of Arkay’s pack guar when I got to that part! Thank you for mentioning that the group is sticking together. I think their training helps a lot with that. No one wants to be the first to complain.

ghastley: They also wonder if they found the right road and which way to go on it. In Cyrodiil Jerric has an excellent sense of direction, Darnand has a magical map, and Lildereth seems to know every path and game trail. It took a daedric realm to get him lost!

Chapter 19: Moonshadow, Part Five

The streets were wide enough to lead the guars side by side toward the commotion. Jerric glanced around as they walked. The adobe huts looked big enough for multiple families, but with their domed roofs seemed unlikely to have upper floors. Bantam guar scratched for bugs in the gardens. Some dwellings had hand carts and wagons pulled up beside them. He saw no obvious defensive structures.

A woman walked down a side street leading what looked like a big crab on spider legs. Another woman jogged past on the way to the argument, a cricket-looking creature scampering at her heels. Jerric watched it hop away, missing his dog.

They reached an open area that had to be the village gathering place. Two figures stood toe-to-toe in the center of the space. One looked like a Dunmer with gray skin and hair dressed in a high braid. The other was a medium sized Khajiit with brown fur and dark stripes. More Dunmer and Khajiit were arrayed behind them. All were dressed in similarly styled working clothes. None seemed to be carrying weapons.

Jerric looked around for a moment before he caught someone's attention. It was a tall man with short, silver hair and light eyes.

"Good day. I'm Jerric."

"Filip," said the man.

"Pleased to meet you. What's going on here?"

Filip lifted his chin at the two who were arguing. "Different day, same story. You folk look the worse for wear."

"We got caught in a storm. Did it rain here?"

Kjestrid gave Jerric a look, but he ignored her. Small talk sometimes led to large talk, and they needed to know some things.

The Dunmer in the middle was speaking in a voice that was meant to carry. "We have been more than patient with you. It has been too long with too little progress--"

"We exhaust ourselves in your cane fields!" the Khajjit interrupted. "Growing moonsugar is not like growing saltrice. You have made a mess of the fields, and we are left to improve them! We have no time to build new houses, and the ones you have given us are beyond repair."

"We have grown crops in those fields since the founding of this village," the Dunmer declared.

"Probably moon rice," said Nereli.

"Nereli!" said Jerric. "You made a joke!"

Filip snorted. "They grew akka zizania. That means moon rice. What brings you folks to New Ascadia?"

"We got turned around in the storm," said Jerric.

"We got lost," Nereli amended.

"This one was not lost," Shamir-do put in. "It is as the Nord says. 'Turned around.'"

"Lost," Kjestrid mouthed at Shamir-do.

"You look like you could use a rest," Filip said. "We have a corner club, but the whole staff is over there."

"We could stand a meal," said Jerric. "After we dry out our gear and tend to the guars."

"We're looking for a Dunmeri lad and a Khajiiti woman," said Nereli. "Have you seen them?"

"Are you jesting?" said Filip. "You just described most of the village."

"They might be with a winged twilight," said Kjestrid.

"Ah," said Filip.

"Her name is Dozara," said Jerric. "Do you know her?"

Filip opened his mouth and then closed it again. "As it happens, I do know Dozara. I haven't seen her in some time, though."

The Khajiit had been speaking, and now the Dunmer raised his voice again. "The fields you work belong to all of us, your people included. You are equals in this realm, despite your complaints to the contrary. It is time you learned the grace to show gratitude, not this childish resentment over what you once were."

Now everyone in the center was talking, some attempting to shout over the others.

Shamir-do's ears had gone flat.

"Well, that ends any chance of a productive discussion," said Filip.

"What's their story?" Jerric asked.

Filip nodded toward the Khajiit. "Most of that lot are new. They were killed in an uprising back in Morrowind. To be fair, they haven't had an easy time here. But it can be difficult to assimilate when you've so many reminders of your old life." He addressed Shamir-do. "There won't be violence. It would displease Our Lady."

Shamir-do acknowledged him with a slight nod, eyes still on the center of town.

The Khajiiti speaker had been pulled into the group by his friends. The Dunmer turned his back as if to walk away.

"Hold," Kjestrid called out, striding into the middle of them. She stopped and turned in a circle until all eyes were on her. "We are outsiders and have no side to take in your quarrel. Here we have two neutral parties." She gave Shamir-do and Nereli a come-here gesture. "This is Nereli, beloved of your Mother of the Rose. She will go with your Khajiiti New Ascadians and learn of their plight. Here is Shamir-do, favored by the Queen of Twilight. He will go with you who dwelt here before and hear your complaints. When you each are satisfied that your representative understands and can speak for you, the two will come together and formulate a plan for your village so that you may go forward in harmony and prosperity to the glory of your Mother of the Twilight Sky."

There was widespread muttering, but Kjestrid continued. "In this way we will fulfill our obligation to you for the hospitality you provide us. We ask only what food you can spare for our rest and to start us back on our journey."

"They should arm-wrestle," Jerric muttered to Filip.

Filip lifted the corner of his mouth in appreciation.

Kjestrid walked back toward Jerric and the guars.

"I don't suppose it's a meal time?" Jerric asked Filip.

"They keep the ovens hot at The Jumping Perch."

"Will I find a guar barn there?"

"There's a stable next door." Filip nodded to Kjestrid and began to walk off.

"Where?" Kjestrid asked, taking Freckles's lead.

Filip turned as he walked and hooked a thumb across the town circle.

As they walked to The Jumping Perch, Jerric's mind turned to Cyrodiil. He had allowed himself to get distracted by the Oblivion Gate, and now he had been away from Martin and his friends for so long he couldn't guess how much time had passed in Tamriel. Lildereth and Darnand would have gone to the Dagon Shrine by now. Darnand was a formidable mage and Lildereth was the best scout he had ever known, but they were taking risks that he should be taking with them. It could cost them their lives or worse. He hadn't been there with his family in their most desperate hour. Now he was not there for the friends he had come to hold in his heart as closely as kin. And this was his own doing.

He would tend to Freckles and Neelo, get some dry socks on and a meal in his belly, then strike out for Valparai. He could leave the pack animals and Ma'sani's parcels here in New Ascadia for her to collect along with the extra gear they had picked up in Morrowind. He had promised Azura that he would go kill her vampires, not that he would lead a pack train across the plains and a desert and then who knew how far still lay ahead.

He looked over at Kjestrid. She was a muddy, soaked mess, but she had still commanded the attention of an entire village. He would have to be careful when he told her the plan. Otherwise he might find himself trotting at her heels over some more hills and mountains.

"There it is," Kjestrid said, a sigh in her voice. "My thighs are chafed to sixteen hells. Or I suppose to fifteen. May the Moon Mother bless this corner club."

Jerric hustled through his chores and made his way clean into The Jumping Perch. Kjestrid sat at a table with an array of platters and bowls around her. Their packs were arranged on another table. Kjestrid's wet things hung on racks next to the fire pit.

Jerric added his linens to the display and pulled a chair up across from Kjestrid. He would lay out his plan after they ate. Hopefully Shamir-do and Nereli would hurry up.

Kjestrid filled a tankard while Jerric scooped food onto a plate. He was gnawing grilled meat off a bone before he took a better look at his meal. Flat bread brushed with oil and dressed with herbs and pepper sat in a stack ready to hand. Wild rice spiked with nuts and small, yellow fruit that looked like cherries made a fragrant pile next to a braised mushroom the size of his palm. Cubes of some pink and orange thing mashed easily under his fork. He poked what looked like a snail still in its shell.

"It's a snail," Kjestrid said. She picked one up, sucked the meat out, and tossed the shell into a bowl without breaking eye contact. Either she was very hungry or she had decided to expand her dining horizons. "There's a paste to put on the bread."

By the time Jerric and Kjestrid had filled the bowl with snail shells, Shamir-do strolled in. He looked perfectly groomed and wore a linen robe that barely made it around him.

"This one knows the way to Valparai," he announced.

Jerric poured his ale while the Khajiit hung his clothes to dry.

"Good," said Kjestrid. "We can finish here and get going. Where's Nereli?"

"She is coming." Shamir-do began filling a plate. "The elders agreed to our plan."

Jerric gave him a go-ahead gesture, mouth full of mushroom and rice.

"This one wants to eat," Shamir-do objected.

Nereli breezed in with a spring in her stride. She was wearing clean clothes and had beads braided into her hair.

"Nereli will tell you our idea," said Shamir-do. He took a big bite of flatbread.

Nereli stood so her back was to the fire pit. "They had the Khajiit separated in some huts on the field side of town. I won't go over the details, but it wasn't a good situation."

"The Dunmer gave them work that they thought would be familiar," Shamir-do put in. "They are snobs, but they did put themselves out to welcome the new villagers."

"Most of the Khajiit knew each other in life," Nereli continued. "They died violently, and it was a shock to be treated in a way they saw as unfair once they reached Moonshadow."

"How did they get here if they were dead?" Jerric asked. "Did they all grow new bodies at the same time?"

Nereli nodded. "New Ascadia is a good place for them. The folk here just did a poor job getting them settled in."

Jerric looked around to see if there were platters on any of the other tables. These yellow cherry things would make a good pie.

"So how did you get them to agree on anything?" Kjestrid asked.

"We made it fair," said Nereli. "Every dwelling will house both Khajiit and Dunmer, and of course the few others who are already considered neutral. They will work together in the fields and also rebuilding the houses. The newcomers don't have all of the skills they need yet, but they will learn. Everyone has one week to organize themselves into houses."

"Then they should have a party," Jerric suggested.

"They will," said Nereli. "And competitions and celebrations for all kinds of things. That was my idea. I asked myself what you would do."

Jerric had to check and make sure it was him that she was talking about.

"After you had boned half of the village, of course," she continued.

"Not this time," said Jerric. "I'm in a drought." He tossed a snail shell at her.

"Are those apple snails?" Nereli gasped. She reached for the bowl.

Jerric put down his fork. His plan to leave everyone behind and make a run for the city seemed less appealing now that they were all seated around the table. Those he loved were strong, skilled, and highly motivated to survive. And they were out of his reach. Still, his chest felt tight at the thought of them.

"Oh!" said Nereli. "I know where Dozara probably is."

"Is it the opposite direction from Valparai?" asked Kjestrid.

"It's sort of in the same direction. There's a canyon, so we have to go close to it anyway. We should see it from a fair distance. Or that is you will, Shamir-do."

"Unless we get another storm," said Kjestrid.

"Can we get there before we'll have to rest?" asked Jerric.

"Yes," said Nereli. "And with Dozara leading us, we won't get lost again."

Jerric and Shamir-do exchanged a glance.

"Back to guar wrangling," said Jerric. "Let's use the rest of this bread to make some sandwiches. In case Dozara's folk have run out of snails."

Is Jerric eating again?

This isn't a story any more, it's a menu!

Good to see the rest of the party is getting on with business.

New Ascadia. Dunmer and Khajiit thrust together and trying to get along. What could possibly go wrong? Turns out that Kjestrid had a sound plan that worked better and quicker than probably Jerric had expected.

No matter how many snails he eats, Jerric will still be torn between his task at hand and his friends in Cyrodiil. I’m glad he’s staying with his plan however, as that will probably lead him to Cyodiil with better results. It looks like New Ascadia won’t slow them down much at all and if Nereli is right, their path to Valparai should take them close to the rest of their group.

Well fed, they should be able to continue their trek soon! As long as Jerric doesn’t delay to bone half the village of course.

It looks like the Khajiit newcomers are not happy with paradise. It seems even the afterlife runs on the principle that there must an underclass to exploit. Perhaps I am being too pessimistic. But to be honest, as exotic as Moonshadow appears to be, it also seems as mundane as Mundus. People still have to work the fields and tend to their livestock and eat and drink and do all the things they did in life. I don't see the point in wanting this over reincarnation back on Tamriel. At least being reborn there as another person in another place brings a change in scenery and circumstances. Imagine tilling the same field for eternity in Moonshadow?

There talk of being lost reminds me of a quote by Brian Keith in The Mountain Men: "Hmm... been fearsome confused for a month or two, but I ain't never been lost!”

Jerric of course finds this entire side quest through Azura's realm to be frustrating. I don't blame him. He signed on the save the world, not tramp across a Daedric Princess' back yard, and see all of its banal, dirty laundry on display.

I think Steve Martin described the snails best...

Jerric has a dog? What's his or her name?

He had allowed himself to get distracted by the Oblivion Gate, and now he had been away from Martin and his friends for so long he couldn't guess how much time had passed in Tamriel.

Good thing time passes at what seems to be the same rate in both realms, eh? Oblivion gates aren't any real huge time warp, like near a black hole or something. Still, this "short cut" is really quite the long cut!

Snails, blecch! My family went to France when I was a kid, I still remember the huge snails all over the town we were in. Then I learned what could be on the menu that night.

Hope they find Drozara soon.




Agreed with Rosa! Was surprised about the arguments over tending the moon sugar fields too. Then again, do any of us really know what happens in these afterlives? Could be just like wherever we begin.

Bantam guar! Love those little adorables!

There will always be class conflicts wherever people gather, alive or dead, it seems. It's that "Them vs Us" mentality that social psychologists are always fond of talking about.

And we're on our second breakfast! Or is it third lunch?

So this village wasn't as foreboding as I thought it would be. Or is it? I see we haven't left town yet.

Previously: Moonshadow. Jerric, Kjestrid, Shamir-do, Nereli, Freckles, and Neelo entered the village of New Ascadia. Kjestrid directed Shamir-do and Nereli to resolve a local dispute in exchange for provisions. Shamir-do and Nereli learned where they might find Dozara. It’s on the way.

ghastley: No kidding, this trip has been mostly walk, run, and eat! Jerric has been telling time by his meals, and left to his own schedule he is probably getting some extra ones in.

Acadian: You’re right, Jerric is still very much torn between what he said he would do and what he feels he should be doing. Plus he’s developed loyalty to his current group that doesn’t lessen his loyalty to his friends in Cyrodiil. Thank you for mentioning that. He prefers the kind of conflict that he can punch or stab.

SubRosa: Thank you SubRosa, you have nailed what I was hoping to show in this part of Moonshadow. People are still people despite the beautiful surroundings. Maybe in time they will learn to grow and change as Aman- and Joman-enle did, but the ones who have chosen to cling to who they were have created a same-stuff-different-sky situation. Still, if Jerric found his family here he would hand over his soul to Azura in a heartbeat. Then probably spend the rest of time wondering what they all gave up to stay together.

Renee: Jerric, Darnand, and Lildereth liberated a dog outside Fort Strand when they did the When the Vow Breaks quest. Here’s where it is in the story: link. Jerric named her Ulfe. There is some debate over whose dog it is, since all three of them found her. Jerric thinks of her as his dog. One change I made from the game is giving the Deadlands a roughly 1/3 timescale to Tamriel. So approximately 3 days pass outside for every day he’s in a Gate. He’s not sure how that works in Moonshadow, only that Akatosh’s time rules probably don’t apply. I’ve had escargot once and it was delicious, but thank goodness they were served out of their shells on a little plate. That way I didn’t have to think too much about it!

Rider: Yep, and in New Ascadia the two groups couldn’t even agree that they were both doing it. Elsweyr native Shamir-do was the right Khajiit for those Dunmer to meet, and Nereli the Ashlander was the right Dunmer to negotiate for those Khajiit. Who knows which breakfast that was? Or which lunch? The hours pass quickly when you count them by a Nord’s stomach!

Chapter 19: Moonshadow, Part Six

"Well, that's not something you see every day. Even in Moonshadow." Jerric scratched under Neelo's jaw as the guar leaned into him.

"This one will be pleased to return here some day," said Shamir-do.

The aerie's great tower looked like a giant silver blade against the purple sky. He guessed it would take them another hour to walk to it.

"They don't use any lights," Kjestrid said. "That's why we couldn't see it."

"We couldn't see it because it's dark," Jerric pointed out.

They had walked long enough to get eat two rounds of sandwiches before Shamir-do's cat eyes pierced the pale light and spotted the winged twilights' aerie. It had taken another hour before the other mortals could see it. By then they had reached the edge of a canyon so deep Jerric could not see the bottom, and so wide the other side was barely visible to him. Whether it was the light or a mist that obscured his eyes, he couldn't tell.

"Half-blind," Jerric muttered, peering over the edge.

Vines hung from cracks between the rocks. Many of the pink and magenta trees sent their spikes up from the same. Water trickled somewhere nearby, and there was the sound of a waterfall toward the aerie. Something small and winged buzzed under the edge. When Jerric dislodged a rock, its descent provoked widespread skittering.

He held out a palm, filling it with frost. Its blue light might show him something.

"Don't," Kjestrid said at his side. "Look. They might think you're planning an attack."

Now he could see the shapes of something gliding over the gorge. Winged twilights. He watched for a moment. It looked like they were patrolling.

"Can you see the water?" Kjestrid asked.

"No," said Jerric. "Sounds like a river going over the edge. And I'll wager folk with wings don't bother building bridges."

Jerric was correct. Soon they stood at the edge of a broad, slow-moving river. There was no bridge in sight, and no obvious ford.

Shamir-do examined the ground. "The antelope must cross somewhere," he said. "This one will find it."

"Hold," Kjestrid told him. "We're going to want your Rose-Mother talk for this."

Two winged twilights approached from the rear on silent wings. They landed on the riverbank, one on each side of the group. The purple one spoke in a language they didn't understand.

"Hello," called Nereli. "Do you speak Tamrielic?"

"Yes," said the blue one.

"I'm Jerric." He made the rest of the introductions, including Freckles and Neelo by name. He still wasn't sure if guar was on the winged twilights's menu.

"I am Rosilla," the purple one said, "and this is Murrai. What is your business at the Dawning Tower?"

"We're looking for Dozara," said Nereli.

Jerric appreciated that she didn't mention getting lost and their other misadventures.

"We got lost after some cloudskimmers chased us," she finished.

"But you knew that, didn't you?" said Kjestrid. "You know who we are."

Rosilla and Murrai both laughed. "Of course," they chorused. "We have been watching you."

"Have you seen Ma'sani and Renlys?" Jerric asked.

Rosilla flew toward the other side of the river. Murrai leaped into the air and hovered, buffeting them with air from her great wings. "Meet us on the other side," she trilled. "We will take you before our Matriarch."

"Troll's blood," said Kjestrid. "Now we're playing games with bird people."

"There will be a way across," said Jerric. "We'll find it."

"Let's stay together," said Kjestrid. "If we don't find one in this direction, we'll look toward the gorge."

It was Nereli who discovered a wide place where rocks were visible at the bottom. They looked to Shamir-do for confirmation.

"This one thinks we will make it," he said.

With Shamir-do in the lead and Kjestrid at the rear, the party made its careful way across the river. This time they carried their clothes high and dry.

"Soaked again," said Kjestrid. "At least this water's clean."

"If there's another flash flood, I'm just going to relax and enjoy the view," said Jerric. "I mean as we go over the falls."

"Sure," said Nereli from behind him. "And I'll drown myself in this river so I don't have to see it."

"Two moons is enough," laughed Kjestrid from behind her.

Neelo leaned down, scooped a great mouthful of water, then threw her head back, expelling it over her back like a fountain.

"Steady," Jerric said to her. "I don't want to have to dry everything out again!"

Rosilla and Murrai landed to supervise as the mortals got themselves situated. Their giggles sounded like little bells ringing.

Kjestrid produced a comb and smoothed her hair. She gave Jerric an up-and-down look.

He scratched under his beard. "What?"

"We're meeting the Twilight Matriarch."

Shamir-do said, "Khajiit only becomes more fragrant on long journeys, but the Nord should change his shirt."

Jerric pointed at the river. "I have taken two baths today." He dug through his pack for the other shirt.

As they covered the last distance to the base of the Dawning Tower, their escorts made slow circles in the sky. Jerric wondered if they were catching updrafts, like the great sea eagles when they came to the Kvatch plateau. Every bird that he had ever watched hunting looked back over its shoulder before it struck, as predation is a double-edged sword. Except the sea eagles. They never looked back.

He doubted that the winged twilights looked back, either.

The tower stood on pillars with open ground underneath. It looked as if it had been grown out of the ground rather than constructed. A road stretched away into the distance. They must get their supplies that way. Jerric couldn't imagine an aerial pack train of winged twilights.

Rosilla and Murrai landed and walked over to them, stretching their wings before folding them toward their bodies, but still held slightly out for balance.

"I don't see any stairs," said Nereli.

"When you are ready, we will fly you up," said Murrai.

Jerric looked around. "The guars--" he started.

"I'll stay down with them!" said Nereli. She raised her hand like a schoolgirl. "Me!" Her face looked a paler shade of gray than usual.

"What about the shadowcats?" asked Jerric.

Rosilla dragged a lazy furrow into the ground with one of her taloned feet. "No shadowcats will approach our aerie. Leave your bows with Nereli."

Jerric didn't have a bow. Kjestrid and Shamir-do handed theirs over without complaint. He supposed that flying creatures must hate to be shot as much as he did, but they had little to fear from swords.

Murrai had brought a sort of net with her. She laid it out on the ground with brisk efficiency.

"This one will go first," said Shamir-do. He lay down on the net, arms and legs spread. His feet went into pockets, and there were grips for his hands. It looked terrifying.

Kjestrid caught Jerric's eye. She seemed to share his opinion.

Jerric went next. He debated simply closing his eyes, but his panic at the first lurch and swing quickly abated. Both fists wrapped in the net, he looked around in wonder. The aerie must be as tall as the White-Gold Tower, the only other thing he could compare it to. He still couldn't see the bottom of the canyon. And what he had taken for abbreviated clothing on these winged twilights were just areas of darker scales.

The lowest level was an open platform big enough to hold a thousand folk with plenty of wing room. There were no furnishings, but flowering vines cascaded from planters set into the pearlescent walls. The tower was hollow as far up as Jerric could see. Winged twilights took off and landed from upper levels, and some were gliding down. Now he knew why most of the ones outside were flying up.

Kjestrid landed with a thump and clatter accompanied by giggles from her bearers. Jerric put out an arm and hauled her up. Shamir-do stood with serene dignity, but his tail was bushed out like a bottle brush.

"All right," Kjestrid said in an intense mutter, "Let's go represent the Bruma Fighters Guild!"

But there was more distance to cover. Rosilla took off from the outer ledge and flew upward, while Murrai coaxed a small scamp-like creature forward. She spoke to it in what Jerric assumed was their daedric language.

The scamp jumped up and down several times. Jerric's fingers relaxed their grip on his sword hilt.

"Follow Onka," Murrai told them. She took off without further explanation.

The scamp trotted to a wide staircase that curved up to the next level. It turned as if to see if they were following. Then without waiting, it scampered up the steps until it disappeared around the bend.

"Twenty Septims says we're going all the way up," said Kjestrid.

"At least it's not a ladder," said Jerric. "Gods help us."

At the top they paused to compose themselves. Onka waited without comment. Occasionally he executed a series of little hops, slapping his palms against the floor. As they walked into an open area that spanned the entire width of the tower, Rosilla and Murrai swooped in and landed. They took positions on either side of the group. Kjestrid nudged Jerric into the middle.

A winged twilight about the size of an Altmer perched in the center of the space. Round planters overflowing with flowers stepped up to her roosting place. Roseate light turned the shimmering walls shades of pink. If there was a way for creatures who merely walked to reach the Twilight Matriarch, Jerric couldn’t see it.

"Wait here," Murrai hissed. The two twilights took a few more steps and then bowed, spreading their wings out to the side.

"Here are Shamir-do, Kjestrid, and Jerric," said Rosilla.

With a rattle of pinions, the Matriarch both acknowledged and dismissed Murrai and Rosilla. The two moved back toward the stairs.

In addition to their escorts, five winged twilights stood or perched around the aerie’s great hall. At least a dozen scamps scurried about on unknown business. There was none of the clutter of entertaining or administration that Jerric had seen on his rare visits to Castle Kvatch’s throne room. It seemed there was nothing to do up here but look around.

"You may approach and state your business," said the Twilight Matriarch. Her voice sounded deeper than Dozara's, but just as musical.

Kjestrid spoke up. "My lady, we are traveling under the blessing of your Prince. Dozara was leading us to Valparai. We became separated and came to look for her here."

The Matriarch tilted her head sharply one way, then back in the other direction. "Dozara has returned. She is occupied with a task for me."

Jerric bit his cheek to keep from cursing out loud. "When will she be free? Uh, my lady?"

"Who could know? Shall I send someone to assist her?"

"Yeah. That would be great."

"I send the three of you," said the Matriarch. A wave of giggles flowed around the chamber. "Figments have infiltrated the tunnels nearby. Cowardly, cursed creatures! Their presence annoys me. Dozara and two of her sisters have gone to find their nest. And destroy it."

"What are figments?" asked Kjestrid.

The court echoed their Matriarch's hiss. "Vipers! Interlopers! They do not belong in our Twilight Queen's realm. I will speak no more of them." The Matriarch bobbed her head several times, rising up and back down on her perch. "Murrai and Rosilla will show you. Athnix, assist them. Mortals, you are dismissed."

Jerric: "I'm sorry, but I can't take another quest. I'm only allowed to have 25 in my journal."

Twilight grabs his journal and abandons one for him.

Two sandwiches worth of walking. That is of course how Jerric measures distances!

I really enjoyed your descriptions of how both the twilights and, later, the scamps act, their mannerisms and such.

’He doubted that the winged twilights looked back, either.’
- - Good point. Unless there be dragons in Moonshadow, winged twilights are probably the top aerial predator.

“I send the three of you,” said the Matriarch.’
- - But of course you will! Jerric just signed the team up to be Figment hunters. . . whatever Figments are. And another delay I'd wager.

“Mortals, you are dismissed."
- - Talking daedra surely surpass even Altmer when it comes to being convinced of their own superiority – and wanting you to know it. Honestly, after dealing with quite a few dremora, Buffy wondered if she should change her name to ‘Little Mortal’ since that is the name they all seem to use for her.


Nit: ’It look{ed?} as if it had been grown out of the ground rather than constructed.’

Given my absence from the forums for some time, it'll take me quite some time to get acclimated to what is happening in these stories. My apologies, but I'll do my best.

I must say, though, that it is quite impressive how dedicated you all are to keeping up on updating your stories. Many props to all of you.

Anyway, I wish we could see Moonshadow in the games, so nice to see that it at least happens in this story.

An impossibly tall tower surrounded by a steep river ravine. The perfect roost for those with wings.

Well, at least the Twilights might know where their comrades are. Though I am sure they will want something in return for that information. That is how these things go.

The Twilight Tower does not disappoint. As one would expect, there is no stairway up. They will have to go Telvanni style. Well, I guess none of them know a levitate spell. So it is Twilight express!

So there is a staircase inside. Thank Moonshadow for small wonders. I am guessing that is because the Twilights have servants like Onka who lack wings.

Figments? But not of the Matriarch's imaginations. Though clearly they do vex her so. Well, here is the other shoe, dropped and all. One more side quest for the list.

She cast a spell to keep the dog quiet! Hey, wish I could cast this spell on my yappy mom's dog sometimes yap yap yip yip yip!!! Anyway, a lot of dogs can be considered as guard dogs in this way, but it sounds like Lil is trying to reign Ulfe's desire to do so a bit. Dogs alerting can also cause the wrong sort of attention.

Is funny that none of the three who found Ulfe can be considered "owner".

Whoa: a day in Deadlands = 3 days in Tamriel, wow. I stand corrected.

All these winged twilights make me nervous. Part when Jerric hopes nobody will mention getting lost (and then Nereli just blurts that's exactly what happened) ha ha!

Really hope they're able to ... I mean, this Twilight Queen sounds ominous. What have they gotten themselves into?

Figment? Somehow that takes me back to my college days and my "first" cat - a stray black cat who would visit my dorm and go from room to room mooching food and beds. He was always welcome on my bed! We called him Figment because we all collaborated to hide him from our RAs - they would ask us if we saw a cat and we would say no, must be a figment of your imagination . . .

Ah, yes, a favor must be paid in advance with another favor in the opposite direction.

I didn't think I'd ever catch up, but here we are. First things first:

Hot damn, Grits. As a father with a four year old, this is so real. Life is about him now.

Anyhoo, what a tale this has been, and the visit to Moonshadow has been especially fun. You paint a vivid picture of a realm so non-Tamrielic and everything about it feels alien. Nereli is also another fun addition and it will be interesting to see where she ends up. I also have suspicions that Kjestrid might catch some unexpected feelings the more she parses out who and what Jerric really is.

The bond that has formed Jerric, Darnand, and Lildereth has been wonderful to unravel from their somewhat frosty beginnings. Lil's warmup has been especially cathartic after her start as a reluctant tag-along whose business was strictly her own. Now I just need more Abiene!

Previously: Moonshadow. Jerric, Kjestrid, Shamir-do, Nereli, Freckles, and Neelo reached the Dawning Tower, the home of Dozara. She is hunting for a figment nest, whatever that is. The Twilight Matriarch sent Jerric, Kjestrid, and Shamir-do to find her. Nereli volunteered to hold the guars.

ghastley: Jerric would like to throw his quest log into the fire!

Acadian: Thank you, Acadian! The humming purple winged twilights of ESO inspired the somewhat whimsical behavior of the lower status twilights in the story. The Matriarch is of course full of her own importance. It has been fun to write daedra who aren’t immediately trying to kill them.

Rader: Hi Rader! It’s great to see you! There’s a Story So Far summary here: link. Let me know if you have any questions. I’m always happy to explain things. I have gone years without posting, so we could all probably use the refresher! Moonshadow has been fun since I can just make things up. I was worried that I wouldn’t get this section posted before one of the games put out a DLC and I had to change everything.

SubRosa: Twilight express! Yep, the stairs are for wingless servants to get around, including the occasional mortals. They need their masters’ help to get on and off the tower, of course. I can’t blame Nereli for staying on the ground!

Renee: I would love to have a Calm spell to use on my dog. Explaining that she doesn’t need to bark every time a neighbor slams their car door has not worked so far. She is excellent at keeping me informed of what’s happening outside that we can both hear, since she’s sitting right next to me. But really she is a Very Good Girl. Next up: what they have gotten themselves into!

Rider: Neat! I’m sure your Figment was far nicer than the ones Jerric will encounter. And hopefully less bitey.

Kane: You caught up, yay! Thank you, Kane! Even though this is a story about fictional characters in a video game world, as much as possible I try to make them true. Abiene has been tapping her foot waiting for her turn. She gets a chapter from her POV that we should reach by the end of this summer.


All: A quick reminder, Jerric has acquired the Atronach Stone’s Arcane Well greater power. This grants Spell Absorption 30 pts and Fortify Intelligence 10 pts for 120 seconds game time, which in vanilla timescale is an hour in real/story time. He has also acquired the Jone Stone’s greater power Jone’s Shadow, which grants Invisibility, Fortify Sneak 30 pts, Fortify Acrobatics 30 pts, and Fortify Athletics 30 pts for an hour. His Birthsign is Atronach. And since we're chatting, a Nord-sized thank you to everyone who is following this story! Your support means so much.

Chapter 19: Moonshadow, Part Seven

Jerric watched the three winged twilights fly back toward the Dawning Tower. They had dropped the mortals in a rocky area not far from the canyon. Dozara and her team had supposedly entered tunnels near here. They were counting on Shamir-do to find where.

"This looks like old lava," said Kjestrid. She poked at the rough surface of a boulder. "I wonder if this happened when the tower went up. Like an upheaval."

"How in sixteen hells is he going to find tracks if they flew here?" said Jerric. "Ogre-humping, imp-livered swine's sons!"

"Daughters. Swine's daughters."

Jerric kicked a rock. "We should fill our water skins at the river and walk all the way to County Cheydinhal," he said, pointing in a random direction. "We have vampires to kill and folk who are waiting for us."

"Is that what you want to do?" Kjestrid asked. She didn't look up from buckling her scabbard.

"Yeah. But I'm going into some twice-damned tunnels to get snake bit and find Dozara."

"Me too."

"This one has found tracks!" Shamir-do called.

"Twilight tracks?" asked Kjestrid.

"Serpent tracks."

Jerric and Kjestrid exchanged a look. "Let's go," said Kjestrid.

The opening in the ground was no more than a dark gap under some boulders. The dirt had been disturbed, but Jerric couldn't make sense of it.

"That's going to be tight," said Kjestrid.

Jerric crawled into the hole after Shamir-do, shoving his day pack and shield ahead. Kjestrid followed, her glowstone giving him slivers of light around his shadow. Scraping and banging his way down through the tunnel, Jerric had plenty of time to regret the supply of Prowler's Potions left back in Bruma. That gave him an idea. "When we get to Valparai, let's look for an alchemist."

"This one sees light ahead."

The three emerged into a cross-tunnel high enough for them to stand.

Kjestrid lifted her glowstone.

"Watch it," Shamir-do objected.

"Which way?" said Kjestrid. She held up a hand to shield Shamir-do's eyes from her light.

Jerric looked into darkness in both directions. The dim light came from above. He noticed a mark scratched onto the rough wall. "Up," he said.

As they climbed, rustling noises began in the tunnel they had just left. The shaft opened into another cross-tunnel. Again a scratched mark showed the way.

"This must have been awkward for Dozara," said Kjestrid. "I wonder why they didn't send their monkey creatures in here."

"Maybe they did," said Jerric.

They found another near-vertical shaft. This time they descended, still followed by unsettling noises.

"Shamir suspects we are being herded."

"Yeah," said Kjestrid. "I don't know what we should do but keep going."

Jerric said, "Let's try the next cross-shaft that's not marked and see what happens."

The unmarked tunnel had them crawling again. Kjestrid let out a yelp from behind Jerric. "Gods' blood! Something bit me!"

A shadow slithered along Jerric's leg and up the wall by his shoulder. He felt a breeze as it passed.

"Shamir-do!" he called at the same time the Khajiit cursed in Ta'agra.

"This one has been bitten!"

Something moved near Jerric's head. He got an arm up in time, but it latched onto the leather over his wrist. He felt pin pricks followed by a cooling sensation. "Dammit!" He tried to shake it off. When he scraped it against the rock wall, there was no resistance. "Rutting snakes!"

"Khajiit's tail is going numb," Shamir-do said.

"Reverse!" said Kjestrid. "We'll see where they want us to go."

Back on their feet they descended again, crossing rock falls and large gaps in the floor. The tunnel turned and twisted until they saw more dim light ahead.

The marks indicated they should climb another vertical shaft. Where they stood at the bottom lay a grayish-pink winged twilight. Many small wounds covered her scaly skin. Some dark matter oozed from them. Her open eyes stared at nothing.

The three mortals spent a moment in silence.

"I don't know how they care for their dead," said Jerric, "but this doesn't look good." Dry, slithering sounds followed his words.

"She probably fell," said Kjestrid. "No room to spread her wings in this shaft."

"Perhaps paralyzed from snake venom," Shamir-do said, rubbing his tail.

"Rutting hells," said Jerric, "I have two Cure Poison potions in my cupboard back in Bruma. If they would even work on this. I thought winged twilights were immune to poison. Maybe daedric venom is something different." He shook his shield arm experimentally. The tiny wounds burned, but he still had full range of motion.

"This one thanks you for the lesson," said Shamir-do. "If Nord is finished, let us climb."

Before they reached the top, another opening appeared in a side wall. As they heaved themselves into the rough corridor, a chittering noise joined the hisses and rustling.

"This must be the way," said Kjestrid.

Here they could stand. Jerric slid the shield onto his arm and checked Blade of the Medic.

"Good idea," said Kjestrid. "Be ready."

This passage ended in a cavernous space whose walls and ceiling were too high for Kjestrid's glowstone to illuminate.

"This one sees… movement," Shamir-do whispered.

Jerric took a swallow of Jerric's Juice, calling on his Arcane Well to make the most of it.

"I don't want to hear about your seventeen torches in the cupboard back in Bruma," murmured Kjestrid.

"I have something better." A glowing orb of arcane frost formed in the air over Jerric's palm. He tossed it up at an angle.

The cavern walls were alive with fluttering. As the frost reached the wall, Kjestrid made a disgusted noise. "Snakes with wings."

"They don't mind the frost," said Jerric.

"They are holding on by their tails," said Shamir-do. "This one cannot count how many. And there are more on the floor."

With magicka still rising from the potion, Jerric spared some for another frost light. This time he saw squirming serpent bodies between the fluttering wings.

"I think we found the nest," said Jerric. Just before his light went out, he spotted Dozara. She was on the floor, partially covered in a shifting blanket of figments. "Oh, skitt." Jerric strode into the chamber, shield up.

"Watch out," cried Dozara, her voice a thin wheeze. "There is a pit."

Kjestrid stayed at his side, glowstone held high. "What the hells are we supposed to do? Start stepping on these things?"

"They didn't mind frost. Let's see how they like fire." Jerric heaved a flare toward Dozara. The figments holding her fluttered and hissed as it passed over them, but maintained their position. When it hit the far wall, the winged snakes slithered and flew away from the impact. Rose-colored light filtered in from cracks they had been covering in the cavern walls. We've been moving toward the outside this whole time. Down and out, like the tunnels under the Imperial City.

"Hold," said Shamir-do. "Why have they not killed Dozara?" His ears were flattened back, but his tail was uncharacteristically still.

"What do you want to do, reason with them?" Jerric took a few steps forward, another flare in his hand. The walls were alive with dark wings, and hissing raced around the chamber. "Do they speak Tamrielic? Or even use words?" The pit was an uneven crevasse that split the cavern's floor. He could not see the bottom.

A deep, raspy voice filled the chamber. "Foolish mortal. We ruled the skies over Cyrodiil while you humans were still chattel for the elves."

A large rock across the crevasse began to move. It unfurled into serpent coils as thick as Jerric's waist. The head lifted and faced them. Instead of a snake's snout, it bore a woman's face and shoulders, skin shining silver in the pale light. The creature rose until she towered over Jerric, spreading large, black-feathered wings. With a lurching motion, she tilted to the side. One bare leg unfolded, the knee bent backward like a bird's. A clawed foot gripped the crevasse edge. As a second leg unfolded, Kjestrid made a gagging noise.

"You have our friend," Jerric said. "Release her and we will leave." The Twilight Matriarch could go hump herself if she didn't like it.

"You have interrupted our amusements," said the Figment Queen. "What do you have to offer us?"

Shamir-do stepped forward. "You have killed one of ours. We will take one of yours in return. Then we will speak of your departure from this realm."

"You are mistaken," said the Figment Queen. "We have killed two." Her tail lashed around, pushing loose rocks into the crevasse. After a long moment, they hit the bottom with a splash. "Choose your champion, worm. If they best mine, we will release your… friend."

"What if we lose?" said Kjestrid.

"Then your champion will be ours. The other two may go in peace."

"I'll do it," Kjestrid said softly. "Their puny fangs couldn't get through my Woad."

"Don't agree to anything," said Jerric. "Otherwise we could end up losing our souls over some daedric property dispute." He turned to address the Queen. "What hell pit spawned you? You want us to fight in here knowing we can't see in the dark. Do you have any honor?"

"You will be the next to die," hissed the Figment Queen.

Jerric stepped away from the chasm, drawing his sword. "Let's see what happens."

"Dark fissure under some boulders"... yeesh, just got a bit of claustrophobia. Okay, they can stand. Probably not so bad, then.

Heh, never a Cure Poison potion when we need one, right? My crusader in Morrowind carries a litany of potions, really clogs up the inventory, because you never know when some monster or creature will drain something like Speed or Endurance, and now we literally cannot move, or HP falls to some abysmal number. Even so, it's rare to get outright poisoned in that game.

What does Arcane Well do? Ah, I see. "Gives you a 20% chance when you kill an enemy of opening an Arcane Well, which restores [x] Magicka up to three allies within 2.5 meters of the enemy," says UESP. Very useful.

Okay, sounds like they've been bitten by some form of bats. Or "figments" seems the proper term. Jeez this is creepy!

Ah, here's the queen. Creepy [censored]. How are Jerric + friends getting out of this one???

I love the banter among Jerric and his fellow dungeon delvers. And what a spooky cave! So, figments are like flying snakes. No wonder the winged twilights in their tower are concerned. At least Dozara is still alive – for the moment at least.

Very creative TES-friendly swearing by Jerric!

Using frost spells to provide some lingering light on surfaces is a great idea.

Yikes, the Figment Queen announcing and showing her presence was bone-chilling!

I’m hoping Jerric’s ability to hit real hard and break stuff will serve him well. Time to make some Figgy Pudding!

This is about the time that Indy asks: "Why'd it have to be snakes?"

At least the previous delvers left marks to show their route to lead them back out, or to lead others after them.

Uh oh, the snakes found them. It looks like this might be the death of a thousand little bites. A flamethrower might be handy now...

Not just snakes, snakes with wings. That's not fair.

It looks like Jerric just volunteered to be their champion. Time to lay the smack down.