Smiled at Star Trek reference. Heating of the rocks, that is. Good friend of mine is a Trekkie; I'll ask him to elaborate, so as not drag off-topic here.

Alright, they're going into the fortress. Nice, seems like Buffy took them all out, bam bam crash, just as she predicted. See, being an experienced adventurer helps at times like these. She sized those foes with ease. But does this mean Drodda knows some adversaries, the adversaries she's perhaps been expecting for quite some time, are here to take her down?

Mirri calls the next foe "snowman", oh goodness, what a taunt!

Cool, another foe is down. I like that Mirri's eyes are the color of rubies. "Red" sometimes has a bit of connotation, imo.

I liked the verbal taunt, too. The game should let you do that.

And the introduction of boss skills that didn't exist back when Direfrost came out. The game should do that, too.

Having your non-combat pet warn you about traps wouldn't be a bad addition, either. If companions can point out heavy sacks, why not?

Buffy and Mirri have their work cut out for them after that battle! I dread to see what obstacles will stand in their path next.

A great scene, thoroughly enjoyed the clash between mages. Poor Snowman should have agreed to help the Ladies.

Looks like the members of the Direfrost clan suffered a fate worse than death. But maybe some of them can still be rescued? Maybe the ledger will provide some information.

I enjoyed the showdown with the scythe-wielding frost mage. He was quite dangerous, it seems. Despite their best sneaking attempts, the mage noticed them and his cold, threatening greeting is my favorite part of this story.

Yay for Willow. She's a natural-born trap seeker.

Previously- Making their way deeper into Direfrost Keep, Buffy and Mirri discovered several hostile undead ice soldiers wearing the crest of the Direfrost Clan. After they defeated a powerful mage, Mirri found a nearby journal that the pair of elves hope might contain clues about the fate of the Direfrost Clan.

*

Rider- Thanks for your endorsement of using Drodda and Direfrost Keep more for inspiration than nuts and bolts. Thanks also for your kind words about having been on the receiving end of Buffy’s buff/heal skills in ESO. I think the ledger will shed quite a bit of light on what Drodda’s been up to since running away from the guild.

Grits- I really wanted Willow to add some value and have been pleased with the idea of her being a tracker, lock picker, trap detector as well as the utility she can provide via her size and ability to fly. I’m so glad you enjoyed Mirri’s sassy comment to that boss. Thanks for your kind words about Buffy’s obsession about trying to plan out and control fights – Boderi Farano back at the Arcane University wisely drilled that into her to help keep her dragon spirit from getting her butterfly butt hammered.

SubRosa- Yes, it's looking more and more like Drodda's quite gone to the dark side. Buffy’s seen hints and evidence but the journal she and Mirri are about to read will add a layer of depth I think. Neither Mirri nor Buffy could ever hope to perform the other’s role – and I think that’s what leaves them rather in awe of each other.

Renee- Buffy can sense that Drodda is siphoning Phantom’s corpse of its residual magicka – she can feel it in the dragon-mare’s spirit. She suspects that Drodda wants to ensure no one interrupts her and the witch has apparently somehow frozen and enslaved the Direfrost Clan to guard her new lair. Hopefully, Drodda is overfocused on her task and overconfident in her minions. Heh, I couldn’t resist the snowman taunt.

ghastley- As you can tell, we’ve taken quite a few liberties with ‘non-combat pets’ and Direfrost Keep overall. It would be nice if you could choose from a list of simple utility skills that you could assign to your non-combat pet like our fiction has done with Willow.

Kane- I think you're right; the ladies will have several more challenges ahead before they finally reach Drodda.

macole- Your comment that ‘snowman’ made an unwise choice reminds me of a line Mirri will often say in game after a successful fight: "Would it kill them to run away? Well, no, I guess it wouldn't. Maybe they should try that." It’s a real hoot when she sometimes says that after killing a strangler - a carnivorous plant that can magically pull you to it but cannot move or ‘run away’.

Lopov- I think the ledger will provide some answers, but I fear they won’t be good. I’m glad you mentioned that mage’s greeting – meant to be a frightening surprise to the sneaking pair of elves. Was Mirri’s quick response pure moxie, or an intentional tactic to divert interest from her fragile healer? I’d like to think both.




Side by side, we opened the leather-bound journal and both read as I turned the pages for us. . . .



- 2E 582, Sun’s Dawn the 4th. An unusual visitor arrived at Direfrost Keep. A young Nord named Dreanna. The poor thing was a half-starved refugee from her pursuers – apparently an evil coven of witches anxious to claim her as their own due to her skill with ice magic. I confess my heart went out to her as, with tearful eyes, she informed us that the witches had killed her family. It was only her own skill with ice magic that enabled her to escape to Windhelm where she was forced to live in hiding as a beggar. Eventually, the coven learned her whereabouts, and she was again forced to flee. We assured her that she had come to the right place and would be safe within our keep of witch hunters. We fed then cleaned her up and found a dress to replace the rags she wore.

- 2E 582, Sun’s Dawn the 18th. Though skittish and fearful at first, Dreanna has begun to reveal quite a charming nature and captivating smile. In fact, cleaned up and fed well, she is quite a beautiful young woman.

- 2E 582, Sun’s Dawn the 27th. I am amazed how Dreanna passes by the younger lads of our clan, preferring to spend time with me. At first, I thought her interest was purely in learning about necromancy – and I happily indulged her. Yet. . . dare I imagine there is more to the interest in her eyes and occasional brush of her hand against mine? Don’t be foolish, Vladgeir. What interest could such a lovely young woman possibly have in a man of twice her years who uses necromancy to hunt witches?

- 2E 582, First Seed the 6th. While I was guiding Dreanna’s hands to reanimate a dead rat, she turned her face up to me. I could not resist her mesmerizing gaze and lowered my face until our lips met. Rather than recoil in disgust or slap me, she responded to my kiss. Tentatively at first, then fully and with passion.

- 2E 582, Midyear the 12th. Dreanna and I have become inseparable. Not only does this beautiful woman return my affections and possess an affinity for necromancy, but she is truly gifted with ice magic. I am the luckiest man in Skyrim.

- 2E 582 Midyear the 19th. When Dreanna came to me today, her blond hair had turned the color of newly fallen snow. I told her it looks quite becoming.

- 2E 582, Hearthfire the 19th. My love told me that she can sense an immense source of energy frozen beneath this very keep. She believes that absorbing this power could enable her to ward the entire keep with ice should our clan come under attack, perhaps from the evil witches pursuing her. I assured her the concept is brilliant, for the clan has never suffered a shortage of enemies. All she asks is some strong backs to clear the ice and expose the way below. I shall talk with my clansmen.

- 2E 582, Frostfall the 28th. Digging progresses well. Dreanna continues to impress with her necromantic aptitude and how she can blend it with ice magic. I’ve noticed that her skin has become paler and cooler to the touch. . . . Today, she used ice to kill a rat, then reanimated the frozen creature. The result was a surprisingly powerful rat that she claimed could live perpetually in undeath and never deteriorate like zombies or most other undead do. Her results are exciting. . . and somewhat disturbing.

- 2E 582, Sun’s Dusk the 12th. Our workers have reached an area in the lower reaches of the keep that is intensely cold. Upon examination, Dreanna informed us that the source of power she seeks rests beneath only a few more layers of ice. Compassionate soul that she is, she has asked for a pause in the digging for now. Tomorrow she will cast a massive spell, warding everyone in the keep from the dangerously lower temperatures she expects we will encounter when we break through to the lowest cavern. I believe in her growing mastery of the cold to protect us, for even her eyes have become the color of ice.

- Dates have surrendered their relevancy. My clan is not only warded from cold, but the passage and ravages of time as well. My Mistress is more brilliant than I could have comprehended. Only with Her gift of icy undeath can I now fully appreciate that we shall endure forever in Her service. Some of my clansmen foolishly did not trust the spell she planned to cast upon us and tried to flee. They are now statues of ice, serving as reminders to other fools who might resist or challenge Her wisdom.



We closed the book. Mirri let out her breath with a low whistle. “Poor fetchers. By the time some of them began to realize. . . it was too late.”

“It seems more than Drodda’s ice magic has blossomed,” I said as I briefly summoned my magic chest and stored the journal within. “She’s clearly mastered feminine wile and developed a taste for necromancy as well.”

“Interesting,” commented Mirri, “that she gave them the name Dreanna instead of Drodda.”

I replied, “Drodda is known as a dangerous ice witch – a name I should hardly think she’d use to introduce herself to a clan of witch hunters as she sought their sympathy and support until she could enslave them.”

“You’re starting to shake, Buffy. I’m feeling colder too. Let’s drink another of those resist frost potions. They seem to work quite well.”

Mirri pulled a potion from her thief satchel as Willow disappeared into my mage pouch long enough to retrieve one for she and I to share. “Four left for each of us,” I noted to Mirri. Once we were again fortified against the cold, I added, “Let’s continue.”

“Through that narrow passage or up the wide staircase?” asked Mirri.

I shrugged. “I’d imagine that staircase leads somewhere important. Let’s try that?”

Dreanna shows up telling lies, it seems in the journal. Uh oh, she's getting flirty. Yup. Vladgeir Direfrost succumbs to her wiles. And over a dead rat, of all moments! Love blooms in the weirdest of moments, sometimes...

Yikes, this is fascinating. So in just under a year, she's taking over the place, and Direfrost doesn't see it coming, even after finding some of her actions "disturbing".

Some of my clansmen foolishly did not trust the spell she planned to cast upon us and tried to flee.

"foolishly"... It's not mentioned, but I can only imagine some of these workers complaining to Direfrost when his beau isn't around. Him scoffing at their concerns. "Get back to breaking the ice, or I'll [fill in punishment here]!" -- So now, after reading that entire process, I now believe the original Dreanna is gone. She's completely within the Dark Side.

"Let's drink another frost potion," Mirri says. And see, that could be the trick. Drodda isn't really doing anything so far but waiting. Like a spider who's in the middle of a very frosty net.

As I read the diary (ledger?) I was reminded of Nabokov's Lolita . . . the young girl seducing the older gentleman. Classic. Dreanna/Drodda is clearly cunning beyond her years. Now I wonder if Drodda was the survivor of that attack on that farming family - the last Witch left standing? I'd have to reread the earlier posts to confirm the details in my hazy memory.

The conclusions drawn from the book are certainly spine chilling - and flesh chilling as well! Brrr! Poor ladies - the only warm blooded creatures in this icy fortress!

I could say I'm looking forward to the next post, but I'm also dreading what lies in wait for our intrepid trio.

Reading the journal is quite a journey. It starts with Dreanna using whatever tools she can to insure herself a safe and secure place in the fortress, namely by manipulating the emotions of others, especially the man in charge.

Then it takes quite the left turn at Albuquerque with the immense store of energy beneath the keep. We know what that is. From there on out it lines up really well with what we have seen in the keep, and explains how its occupants became Drodda/Dreanna's undead henchmen.

Oh no, any hope of redemption for Dreanna is gone. She showed up ready to manipulate from the beginning. What a creeping sense of dread as I read the slow seduction of Vladgeir.

The need for another potion gives a handy sense of time passing. I wonder how close they will have to get to that intensely cold source of power.

I’m on the edge of my seat!!

Well, that certainly does make it seem like Dreanna has become irredeemable. I wonder if the love interest yet lives, or is another victim of the ice!

Poor Vladgeir. He fell for Dreanna's charms and not even the wisest witchmen of his clan could bring him back on the right path. At the beginning of his journal she still addresses her as Dreanna, later on she'll be referred to as "my Mistress".

It's time to bring down the ice siren!

Since the 'immense source of power' has its connections to Buffy,, I am starting to wonder how that will factor in. Can't wait to find out!

Previously- The journal of a defeated Direfrost Clan mage revealed how Drodda had presented herself as Dreanna - a refuge being pursued by a coven of witches - and worked her way into the sympathies of the Direfrost Clan. Using her growing ability to manipulate others, she worked her charms on the journal’s author to learn his skill with necromancy which she was able to combine with her powerful ice magic. It is clear that Drodda managed to first manipulate, then enslave or kill the entire Clan to help her access the source of power she detected beneath the keep.

Renee- It seems the Dreanna we learned about from the Windhelm guild has come a long way – and none of it good. Buffy and Mirri will continue to hope that Drodda is too overconfident and distracted by her task of siphoning magic from the corpse of Acadian’s dragon to realize that her keep is being infiltrated.

Rider- Fascinating consideration that perhaps Drodda actually is part of a coven of witches who deliberately took down the family’s farm instead of the tragic accident that precipitated Dreanna's downward spiral. Though that is not the case here, it certainly could have provided some wild twists and turns!

SubRosa- It seems Vladgeir’s journal shed quite a bit of light on what Drodda’s been up to. Her interest in Direfrost Keep is finally revealed, for Buffy knows exactly what that cold source of power is.

Grits- ‘Creeping sense of dread’ is exactly what I was hoping to achieve in showing how skillfully Drodda manipulated an entire clan of witch hunters. Thanks for noting those potions as a means of showing the passage of time.

Kane- I think you are right about Drodda – as was Hreinhilde when she said, “Even if you find her, she won’t cooperate, you know,” Hreinhilde said to both of us. “In fact if you anger her, she’ll try to kill you. The Dreanna I once knew is gone.”

Lopov- Thank you. My hope for the journal included showing the gradual descent of Vladgeir into the web of Drodda’s wiles.

ghastley- Very astute about that the ‘immense source of power’ and its connection to Buffy. When the combined spirit of Phantom and Superian that Buffy carries within gets close enough to its frozen corpse, might the dragon be able to exert some beneficial influence?



Up the wide stone steps we crept. As we got to the top, we found ourselves at the junction of a large ‘L’ shaped area. Mirri pointed to a door ahead and slightly to our right. As we crept toward it, we could now see down both wings of the chamber.

To the left, at some distance, we could see another door and numerous patrolling Direfrost undead ice soldiers.

To our right, sections of the roof had caved in and much of the floor was covered with resultant debris and drifts of snow that were eerily illuminated by shafts of sunshine. That wing appeared to be a dead end with no doors.

Mirri quietly asked, “What could have caused this much fetching damage?”

I shrugged. “Perhaps even the keep itself objects to the nature of Drodda’s activities and magicks.”

We decided to focus on the door ahead of us for the moment. As we crept up to it, Mirri turned to watch our backs. I examined the door to find it slightly ajar. I pushed against it to no avail. Mirri added her strength to my effort, but we were only able to coax it open enough to see stone debris blocking the other side. Willow slipped through the narrow opening to investigate but returned after a few moments shaking her head.

Mirri pointed to our left. The other – and guarded – door. She frowned and whispered, “Those ice soldiers are well-dispersed and I count fully a dozen of them. I can see a pair of mages and at least one archer among them. I could taunt one and thereby draw all the melee defenders to me, but the ranged ones will keep their distance. And all of them except the one I taunt will be just as likely to attack you as me.”

I scratched my head for a moment. “How about if we open the fight from the top of the steps and retreat back down? That should channel all of them onto the stairway. If we back up all the way to the bottom, even the ranged ones will have to come at least part way down the steps.”

Mirri rubbed her chin. “That might work. You’ll have to stay close to me so I can protect you.”

“When the ranged attackers get close enough to engage us,” I said, “that means I’ll be able to attack them as well. But you may end up with quite a few melee fighters in your face depending on how quickly I can kill some of them before I have to shift fire to the ranged ones.” I then added, “I can certainly keep the healing and shielding of my spells in effect while we make our stand.”

We crept back to the top of the stairs. I smiled. The archer was within range and would be my first target. Damage from mages was unpredictable, but archers could generally attack faster so they were my priority. I spiked my staff to cast Regeneration – it’s healing would activate Spell Power Cure and thereby boost my damage. I then launched a Blazing Spear at the ground close to the archer and, even before it landed, cast Radiant Glory. The Blazing Spear exploded almost the same time my beam of Holy Light hit the archer. She instantly fell dead.

I cast another Blazing Spear where I estimated our foes would very soon be. Mirri grabbed me by the back of my robe and ordered, “Down the stairs!”

As we rapidly backed up, I was pleased to see that my Blazing Spear damaged and briefly stopped the advance of several foes. I cast another, trying again to estimate where our foes would be as it impacted. I repeated this all the way down the stairs, grateful that Mirri still held the back of my robe to control how fast we retreated and make sure I didn’t trip on the stone steps while moving backwards and casting. Our efforts resulted in death or damage to several enemies as they charged after us.

Once the stairs ended, we continued retreating for another couple of horse lengths before Mirri commanded, “Make our stand here.”

I claimed the ground around us with my Cleansing Ritual and continued casting Blazing Spear closer and closer to our position. Among the chaos of my bursting Spears and number of enemies – some of them now engaged with Mirri - it was the appearance of a globe of frost slowly headed our way that alerted me the mages had closed to engagement range. I quickly cast Healing Ward on Mirri as I stepped behind her and launched a Blazing Spear at the ground between the two mages.

The frost spell impacted the ward I had placed on Mirri and fanned out harmlessly. My two target mages, however, were not warded and a second Blazing Spear killed them both.

I wasted no time dropping another Blazing Spear on the ground at our feet, damaging the remaining three ice soldiers. Though two were engaged with Mirri, the third turned toward me and raised his battle axe. I lifted Carsomyr to block, but Mirri turned toward me and interrupted his attack with a shield bash. I cast Healing Ward on her again as the other two fighters raised their weapons to exploit Mirri’s exposed back. Their blows fell harmlessly against the brief ward. I then cast Blazing Spear on the ground at Mirri’s feet again as I backed away. It kept all three weakened foes close to Mirri, allowing me to safely recast the spell.

As the last one fell something struck my left shoulder with a searing pain, violently spinning me around and slamming me into a nearby pillar. My legs collapsed and I ended up on my rump with my back against the pillar, still facing the battle. There was an arrow protruding from my shoulder, my hand had come open - dispelling Carsomyr - and the contingency casting of my Cleansing Ritual spell had been activated.

Mirri had located the hidden archer and, after sprinting behind her shield part way up the steps, used her gap closer spell to smash into our foe. The archer was no match for my partner’s skill in close combat.

Mirri raced back and fell to her knees beside me. “Buffy! How do I heal my healer? Tell me what to do!”

“M-my Cleansing Ritual is helping, and keeping me conscious,” I managed to say, “but. . . spell won’t last long. . . .”

The next thing I remember was the somewhat fruity and unmistakable taste of healing potion as bare fingers rubbed the stuff inside my mouth. When I opened my eyes, Mirri said, “As soon as you passed out, Willow dove into your mage pouch and came out with this red potion. I didn’t want you to choke but I tried to get some into you. Now that you’re awake, try to drink some.”

Mirri brought the vial to my lips. As I sipped, I noticed she had removed her gauntlets and somehow managed to find some pieces of broken furniture and start a small fire nearby while I was unconscious.

Shortly, I felt able to control and channel my magicka. “Kynareth, I need your help.” I placed both hands on my shoulder around the protruding arrow shaft and was able to call enough magic to dissipate the arrow then mend most of the internal damage. “I need to rest a few minutes,” I said weakly.

Mirri helped me lie back, cradling my head in her lap. “It’s safe here for now, partner.”

I closed my eyes. I felt Willow gently land on my uninjured shoulder and rub her little hands on my cheek. Before long, I was able to lay hands upon myself again and finish healing the wound. I slowly got to my feet. Mirri handed me her waterskin and Willow hopped from my shoulder into a hover.

The water helped. “Thank you, my friends – Kynareth, Mirri, Willow – all three of you.”

We then started back up the steps.

No, sneaky archers was (will be?) a Skyrim thing.

I suppose they are in that part of Tamriel, and the meme has to start somewhere. Just tell Buffy to mind her knees.

First, a couple of nits:



I admit I had to scratch my own head Buffy style and re read it a few times because that one word hit me wrong. Then I realized, did you mean well-dispersed?



This one resulted in a bit more Buffy style head scratching too. Did you mean damage as a noun, MMO style? In which case the 'and' would be unnecessary. However, if you meant it as a verb, then it's fine as it stands. I must get my head out of that gaming space and read it as a verb, yes?

What a wild mage fight that was! Mirri didn't do much until they hit that open space near the foot of the stairs except keep Buffy from losing her balance. Good job, sellshield! But once they made their stand, here is where our intrepid Dunmer truly shone. Shielding Buffy from a battleaxe while fighting two others! It's clear to me where her priorities stand. And here it becomes clear once again Buffy's priorities aren't so different.

And the healing afterward was well done - good for Willow for identifying the right potion to help Buffy, and for Mirri to actually take her gauntlets off to rub some of it on our Bosmer's gums as if she was a teething child.

And a brief rest, and onward we go! Getting closer now!

It looks like Drodda is not much for housekeeping. I wonder if Buffy and Mirri are not the first to come for her, and the damage in the abandoned wing is the result of a battle?

Ah, its the attack, feint a retreat to pull the enemy out after you, followed by a counter-attack once you have them on ground of your choosing. This is one of my preferred tactics in tactical, team-based games like Pillars of Eternity. I typically send the rogue ahead to make a single sneak attack at range. Then they run back around a corner where the rest of the team awaits. The monsters all follow and Bam! Fireball in the face from my wizard.

That went well. At least until the glass cannon received a crack. Thankfully she had that contingency spell prepared. Also, thankfully she had a pouch fairy to fetch out a healing potion when she needs it.

Very handing healing spell, that also removes the need for physically removing things like arrows. That is very economical, and sensible to develop.

In the end Buffy gets by with a little help from her friends. Just like the song.




haute: I did not have trouble with the term "well-disbursed". I am used to seeing "disbursed" or "disbursement" being associated with money, specifically allocating specific amounts to people or projects. But I have also seen it used to refer to other resources as well. In the case of the undead soldiers here it implies a deliberate will behind their placement, rather than a perhaps accidental spreading of them about the castle. It also implies that they are not regarded as people, but rather objects, such as quantities of steel or grain.

Hmm, I don't know. Drodda is supposedly busy with the siphoning, and the Snowman sentries who could've at least informed the Ice Witch she's got company didn't bother to send any signals, magic or otherwise, which could've warned her. Warned her, but also caused any other snowmen to become aware as well. But no. The initial snowmen simply attacked the visitors because they assumed they could just shrug them off.

But I don't know.... Suspicious about Drodda's knowledge here.

Either way, whether she knows the elves are here or not, that's a disadvantage of living in such a huge fortress, while also ridding most of its residents. Drodda hasn't got the communication from lowly assistants she could've had. Place is mostly empty, lots of void areas.

"fetching!"

Well never mind, this room they're in now has a lot of combatants. Maybe they'll also make the same assumptions as the initial snowmen. "Nah, don't bother Drodda, we got this. We can defeat these puny elves!"

I like all the strategy Buffy & Mirri are discussing beforehand. See? Communication.

Mirri's grabbing the rear hem of Buffy's robe! You were in the military, Acadian; I'm guessing this is an infantry strategy. Making sure your buddy doesn't get lost or overwhelmed?

Lots of spell-casting on Buffy's part! Please don't run out --- oh no, she's been hit. Hit, then healed then back at it. Alright. These chapters are super-short!

That is an excellent use of the staircase! The image of Mirri guiding Buffy down backwards makes me grin. These two are great partners!

Once the stairs ended, we continued retreating for another couple of horse lengths before Mirri commanded, “Make our stand here.”

I claimed the ground around us with my Cleansing Ritual and continued casting Blazing Spear closer and closer to our position.

I love this. “Make our stand here” could be the Templar catchphrase. I can picture the two elves defending their field of golden light, Spears blazing under their foes. Whoop!

Yikes! Spinning someone around with an off-center arrow was one of Buffy’s past tricks, now used against her! Hats off to Mirri for finding that archer. It took all of Team Buffy to get her back on her feet. A grim reminder of how fragile she is, despite the power she just displayed.

What a fight!!

Thank goodness an arrow didn't find Buffy sooner or Miri would have had a tough go of it! "How do I heal my Healer?" is indeed quite the conundrum.

I wonder if Drenna already knows that "her" keep has been invaded and is sending her undead ice soldiers on the front line to weaken the invaders.

Even the best healers need healers sometimes. Or at least good friends.