" collected more of Umbacano's statues. " - is this a clue to what's about to happen? She'll probably need help again, those ruins never seem to be empty, do they?

haute ecole rider: I think the glass armor is ugly as well. If it is supposed to be fragments from Aetherius, why is it green? The stars are not. That is why I used a mod to change its color.


Ceidwad: Nope, no mountain lions. Not yet at least. But a one indeed.


hazmick: Not exactly how Teresa had always hoped Tadrose would take her clothes off, but it is a start I suppose!


Acadian: Excited, distracted, frustrated. Sounds all too typical for our wood elves! The indeed, thank you for lacing that up for me.


Olen: I had fun working on the miran-talurn armor. I even made an oblique reference to it in the previous chapter, when Parwen was talking about Valenwood.


Jacki Dice: Poor Teresa. It is not easy keeping your composure around that special someone, especially if you do not know if the feelings are returned.


Grits: I am glad someone noticed Tadrose's slip of the tongue about Teresa being able to get into and out of the armor, because it is indeed for Henantier's customer.


ghastley: Some are empty, but I never go into much detail on those. Thankfully Teresa has a way of getting help in the most unexpected places.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In the last episode, Teresa found that Sir Valerius Nasica had joined the Bravil FG. She was also disappointed to learn that Tadrose would not accompany her to Bawn, but did get the opportunity to try on a new suit of armor for the smith.


Chapter 35.2 - Bawn

Teresa emerged from the gloom of the North Gate and held up a hand to shade her eyes from the glare of the mid-morning sun. Then the wooden planks of the North Bridge were under her feet, and she turned her eyes downward to study the waters of the Larsius meandering past on their lazy journey to the bay.

As always, part of her wanted to shrug off her leather armor and leap into the waves below. Yet she still remembered the fuss that had caused the last time she had done so, with her clothing on no less! The idea of the soldiers running around in a tizzy did bring a faint smile to her lips. But there was no point in shocking people for no good reason. Granted, the City Guardsmen probably all knew her as the crazy wood elf by now anyway.

"Greet the sun Teresa."

The voice of one of those City Guardsmen lifted Teresa's eyes from the waves. With the olive skin and dark eyes of a Nibenean, he stood at the far end of the bridge that spanned the river which bordered Bravil's northern wall. Like all of the city's soldiers, he wore mail armor that was covered by a cream surcoat emblazoned with the brown and green stag of the county's regalia. A kite-shaped shield was gripped in one of his hands, painted with the same stag, and an arming sword was slung at his left hip

"Well met Marius," Teresa let her faint smile continue to grace her features as she took in the Imperial. Almost every time she entered or left the city, he was in the same place standing guard. More importantly, he had helped her take Aia onto the tournament grounds, in spite of it being against his Count's orders.

"Off to Silverbridge again?" the Nibenean asked as Teresa stepped up to him.

"Not this time." The wood elf shook her head. "I am headed for Bawn. I expect I'll be gone at least a week. What is that they are doing over there?"

Marius turned his head to follow Teresa's gaze, which now lay upon the half-mile long field that stretched away from the east of the bridge to the waters of Niben Bay. The wattle fence that had blocked it off during the tournament was now gone. So was the city of merchant's tents and the great wooden amphitheater that had once filled the expanse. Now raggedly-dressed figures shambled to and fro across the grass, occasionally bending to lift things from the ground and put them into small buckets which they carried.

"I thought they cleaned up the garbage after the tourney?"

"They did." Marius answered. "But they did not dismantle the amphitheater and ship off the wood until afterward. The carpenters left old nails from it all over the place. People and horses have been stepping on them for days."

"So the Count is actually paying someone to pick it all up?" Teresa allowed a single eyebrow to lift in surprise. The Count of Bravil parting with a single drake unnecessarily seemed more unlikely than him transforming into Mara herself!

"Oblivion no!" the City Guardsman chuckled. "Lady Scaurus is paying the beggars a septim for every pound of nails they bring her. I hear she's going to melt it all down and sell it to the smithies. Some of it'll probably end up in your vice-commander's armory."

Teresa allowed a real smile to escape her features for an instant. A septim! she thought, that was a fortune for street folk like Aia or Cosmus. Yet not only was Lady Scaurus helping them, but also cleaning up the fair grounds at the same time. "That sounds like the Great Lady alright. I wonder how much money she is going to lose in her enterprise?"

"Probably not too much," the soldier said. "But it's for a good cause, and I'm sure she can afford it, with that gold mine of hers up the road."

"Well I have a long walk ahead of me," Teresa said, looking back to the Nibenean. "I hope you have a good and boring shift."

"The same to you!" the Imperial laughed as the forester walked off to the west. Having served as a bodyguard herself on more than one contract, Teresa knew just how precious a day of nothing happening was. It was what every guard hoped for, because when things were exciting, it usually ended badly for someone.

As she passed the barns and corrals of Bay Roan Stables, her thoughts drifted away to the previous night. She had faced her Shadow again, and had not been sure what to make of it. Even now she wondered if she understood what she had seen?

"I'll do it Simp-" the Bosmer child's words were abruptly squelched as she collided with a velvet skirt. Looking up, the youngster found the fearsome visage of an Imperial woman glowering back down at her. Her white hair framed her face in a Breton Braid, and her eyes were dark as Oblivion. Before Teresa knew it, one of the Imperial's hands licked out to slap her across the face.

"Gutter tramp!" the woman - who was clearly a patrician - spat. "Try to steal from Lady Appelia Caesennius will you!"

"I didn't!" Teresa recoiled, feeling pain flare hot and bright within her cheek. "I never tried to steal nothing!"

A shadow loomed over Teresa. Looking even farther up, she found it was attached to the largest Colovian she had ever seen. He wore mail armor, and a mithril mace was tucked into his wide, leather belt. With one gauntleted hand he reached out for Teresa. By reflex, she tried to spring away. But the Imperial was too quick, and his armored paw locked onto one of her arms with a vise-like grip.

"You will address the Lady by her title, you tree-hugging thief!" The Colovian growled like a hungry dog that had found its next meal.

"Please! Please! My Lady!" Simplicia's thin voice quailed in Teresa's ears. A moment later the old and worn-out Imperial appeared before the patrician. "She didn't mean no harm! Teresa is a good girl!"

"What is this?" the white-haired lady said, "another thief? Is this twig your accomplice then? She distracts me, while you cut my purse?"

"No, no, no, it ain't like that at all!" Simplicia cried. "Just an accident it is. Teresa's little, she doesn't always look where she's going. She didn't meant nothing by it my lady. I swear!"

"Of course." The smile that lit upon the patrician's features was that of a serpent which had cornered its prey. "An accident. The bald-faced lies you proles spout are beyond me. Is falsehood so ingrained within you, that you cling to your deceit no matter how obvious the sham?"

"No, no!" Teresa cried. "She's not lying. We didn't try to rob you. You're the liar, accusing us falsely!"

"Keep your lying mouth shut, you white-skinned freak!" To punctuate his words, the Colovian buried a mailed fist into Teresa's stomach. She doubled over his arm like a wet sack, while agony tore through her midsection. She was only vaguely aware of the hand on her arm slipping away, and fell hard onto the pavestones of Market Way.

Gasping for air, she tried to pull herself to her feet, yet found herself collapsing to the stones a moment later. A forest of linen-clad feet moved to and fro around her, and a glance up showed the usual crowds of plebeians making their rounds in the busy Market District street. Naturally, every one carefully avoided noticing her, as if she was invisible.

"Don't harm her great lady!" Simplicia's voice came to her pointed ears. "Please, do whatever you want to me, just don't hurt my little girl!"

The sound of something hard impacting flesh came to Teresa's ears a moment later, and she heard a sudden ooof! of air being expelled from someone's lungs. Clawing to her knees, she saw Smplicia lying in the street a few feet away, clutching her midsection. A moment later the leather boot of the Colovian found its mark in her ribs, and she doubled over even more.

"That will teach you scum to mind your betters." The patrician swept off with her nose higher in the air than White Gold Tower. The Colovian took a moment to glower at Teresa. Again, he reminded her of nothing so much as a dog eager to bite. Then he strode off to catch up with his mistress, and both vanished in the crowds.

"Why Simplicia?" Teresa felt hot tears spilling across her cheeks as she stumbled to the old woman. A pair of thin arms wrapped around her a moment later, but the comfort they provided was little recompense for the pain that flared in her cheek and belly. "Why? We didn't do nothing!"

"I know, I know," the old woman gasped, and pulled herself to her feet. Drawing Teresa from the street, she collapsed against the chipped white-wash of an insula a moment later. "It doesn't matter. Not when it comes to patricians. They can do as they please, and got the law behind them."

"But it's not fair!" Teresa railed. "What gives them the right?"

"They were born noble, that's what," Simplicia said with a grimace. "Life is all about how you were born. We're proles, and that's all we'll ever be. Best to stay away from rich folk, and never let them notice you. Keep your head down, and you'll stay out of trouble."

At first, Teresa had thought this was the reason for her unease around all wealthy folk, patricians especially. But she was still not sure. Since then she had met enough equites and patricians alike to understand that not all of them were monsters, like that white-haired noblewoman on Market Way. Lady Scaurus was proof of that, as was Valerius.

But even a decade later, Simplicia's words still rang in her ears. "Keep your head down, and you'll stay out of trouble." That had always been Simplicia's mantra, that the old Imperial had told her over and over again throughout life. Yet where had it gotten Simplicia?

If not for the Emperor, she would have never learned to raise her head. Never would have clawed her way from the gutter. Never would have learned that she had value. What would her life have been like, if she had been born different? What if she had been born to someone like Emperor Uriel? or Decimus Rabirius? or Daenlin? How much better would her life have been?

Teresa shook her head and stared down at the stone bridge that gracefully arched over the Larsius at Silverbridge. What was she thinking? Simplicia had never done anything but her best to take care of her. Even when that patrician's thug had beaten her up, Simplicia had put herself in the path of his bootsoles. All for her.

Shame filled her, hot and wilting as the Midyear sun. She stared down at her own leather boots. She owed so much to Simplicia. Her very life. What kind of daughter was she, to think that way?

Teresa sighed. She stepped onto the cobbles of the bridge, shoulders slumped in defeat. Facing her Shadow was harder - and more painful - than she had ever imagined.

Sorry it took so long to get over here and read, this month has been unbearably hectic so far.

These armors are beautiful, did you make these mods yourself? I half agree with Grits on this one, "Nice to see Tadrose practicing getting Teresa out of her bodice and chemise, even if it was only business." - only half agree, because the feeling that comes across is that Tadrose knows how she is affecting Teresa.

Another shadow tackled. I can see Simplicia giving that advice, it is so like what one sees in her until they speak to her and she brightens up and raises her head - that you caught that action of hers is Awesome !!!

In Teresa remembering the Emperor and the changes he wrought in her at the end of this last chapter - it is raised to a new level, comes around full circle - Awesome effect! Wonderful Write !!

And we have another wonderful snippet of Teresa's past. Man, that Colovian makes Volsinius seem like a puppy dog! Ugh, another patrician to hate. Every story has to have one of those, it seems, but making her an old woman really adds to the story.

And Teresa is right, it doesn't quite explain why she is so uncomfortable around patricians. Oh, I'm sure it's a part of it, but not the whole story. Wonder if we'll get to see what else?

And that Lady Scaurus is a canny one, that. Hiring the poor to pick up nails, and melting them down to sell to the smiths. My kind of entrepreneur!

'Granted, the City Guardsmen probably all knew her as the crazy wood elf by now anyway.'

"Oblivion no!" the City Guardsman chuckled. "Lady Scaurus is paying the beggars a septim for every pound of nails they bring her. I hear she's going to melt it all down and sell it to the smithies. Some of it'll probably end up in your vice-commander's armory."
Talk about an efficient passage! Here you confirmed (much to my delight) that Teresa has made friends with at least one guard in Bravil, confirming that they are not all bad apples there. Secondly you remind us who the grand lady of Teresa's Bravil is and why. Thirdly, you confirm what an unpleasant tightwad His Pompousness is. Fourthly, you let us know that Teresa and Marius really do know each other as Marius references Teresa's guild membership. And finally, it suggests something that you have built into TF - that is, that there is likely a touch of camaraderie (and perhaps friendly rivalry) between soldiers and fighters guildsters.

'Having served as a bodyguard herself on more than one contract, Teresa knew just how precious a day of nothing happening was. It was what every guard hoped for, because when things were exciting, it usually ended badly for someone.'
And more evidence of a bit of a professional relationship/understanding between the soldiers and the guild. The main reason I quoted this passage however is for its simple truth.

Your flashback was wonderfully done. Powerful, poignant and relevant. And leave it to an insecure wood elf to somehow guiltily condemn herself of betraying her mother for even considering the possibilities of having been born into different circumstances.

Nit: 'But the Imperial as too quick, and his armored paw locked onto one of her arms with a vise-like grip.'
Of course you meant 'was' here, but the 'w' got dropped somehow.

I haven't had a chance to really sit down and read Teresa in a while. Glad I got to today.

29.1

What a wonderful way to open the chapter. She's been in the Guild for a few days and has settled into a routine. We follow her through the city on her morning jog and take in the sights.

29.2

Worried about not looking good Teresa? Tadrose should ease those fears. She's been in the guild a long time and you can't help but check her out whenever you can

She's really fitting in well in the guild hall.

29.3

You worked in the little apprentice perk for archery in this episode I see. She no longer gets tired from shooting. I like how flawlessly you worked that in.

The training and talk afterword is very enjoyable. Glad to see Teresa finally getting along with Pappy. When's that temper going to strike again?

29.4

More relationship building. Not much to say other than it was just as fun to read as the training.

I wonder as well, does Tadrose remember those little things for everyone? Or has she taken a special liking to Teresa?

A brilliant chapter! Teresa battling with one of her inner Daedra and showing us more of her past was brilliant. I am also plaesed to see that Teresa has made another friend! She's becoming quite popular.

Appelia Caesennius. I'll remember that name in case she pops up in future chapters. For her sake, I hope she doesn't bump into Teresa.

Realizing that she is better off for not following Simplicia’s advice would be painful, especially if Teresa is not sure that’s what her vision is showing her. It’s painful enough to relive these memories, but she also has to struggle to interpret them. Too bad they don’t come with an explanation. Teresa facing her shadow is a fascinating inner journey.

Finished 29
29.5

Shock would have been better but fire is just as good for most enemies. It will be handy if Teresa ever encounters trolls or vampires.

This meal should be great. Teresa can enjoy everything that Pappy has brought out.

The spot at the table set for the fallen is wonderful. A touching tradition.

29.6

I sympathize with Teresa. I hate being the center of attention.

This line gave me a good laugh!

Like all of the city's soldiers, he wore mail armor that was covered by a cream surcoat emblazoned with the brown and green stag of the county's regalia. A kite-shaped shield was gripped in one of his hands, painted with the same stag, and an arming sword was slung at his left hip.

Nice description of the armoured guard here. I can picture him now!

The flashback was really outstandingly done though, as was Teresa's thoughts. Life is tough at the bottom - in the TF anyway - so how could Simplicia have taught Teresa differently? She recognises this, after initially telling herself differently. Simplicia's advice kept Teresa safe, that is the main thing.

Like Acadian said for the words with Marius I found that the flashback also contained a lot of different points. Certainly there is some of the root (though as she realises far from all) of her dislike of nobility, but there's more too. I suspect it might be her first realisation of how justice fails and planted the seed of some of her rage but that rage is made worse by her lack of realisation that the memory is also one of Simplicia giving frankly bad advice. Safe advice certainly, but perhaps not the best.

That she owes so much to Simplicia makes her feel guilty about thinking she's wrong, even if it's the truth but it also links to her station and birth which in turn links to her biological parents, as with the previous section. It's certainly a tangled web you've created and quite plausible that she doesn't see through it, I suspect both becasue it's difficult and she doesn't want to.

This facing the shadow is very well done. Using the flashbacks to fill journey time is a nice idea too.

mALX: I did not make either of those armor mods. The first is a simple retexture, I cannot remember which one. The second is the miran talurn armor from Shdw Armor Pack 2.


haute ecole rider: I have a lot of Facing the Shadow scenes worked out. I thought this one where she meets the mysterious white-haired patrician was perfect to feature, as it creates a wonderful juxtaposition to Lady Scaurus' philanthropic efforts. The Great Lady is one of my favorite supporting characters.


Acadian: Was indeed. Lousy spellchecker, ought to know what I want, rather than what I wrote... That whole first half was indeed meant to portray the growing relationship between Teresa and Marius of the Gate. He features highly in a future episode, so I want to establish him beforehand.


King Coin: I wanted to say Teresa was a pain in a lower body part, but the forum wouldn't let me! That gives me a good laugh too, because it is so true!


hazmick: I really don't have any future plans for that white-haired patrician. But you never know...


Grits: Teresa could really use a shrink to help her with this, someone who does not have an emotional involvement with Teresa, or the people in her life.


Ceidwad: I worked hard on getting that description of the guard right. It has been a while since I described them, and I wanted to refresh everyone's memories with how they looked.


Olen: You have pretty much hit all the things I was looking to accomplish with that flashback. Not just why poor people dislike and distrust the aristocracy, but more importantly, Teresa's own deep-seated feelings of resentment for the person who raised her to be safe, but also to not have respect for herself.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last episode, Teresa set out from Bravil, headed for the Arimer ruin of Bawn. On the way she mused about her latest bout of facing her Shadow, which was deeply troubling, as it brought to light her resentment over the mistakes Simplicia made in raising her, as well as her own feelings of shame and self-recrimination over having those feelings toward the woman who raised her.


Chapter 35.3 - Bawn

Teresa leaned down to gather up a handful of hazelnuts before continuing on her journey. She had collected quite a bit of nightshade, mandrake, bergamot, and arrowroot in her three day journey around the southern end of Niben Bay. But where the latter were meant for potions, this would be dinner, along with the sedge, sheep sorrel, and hen plant seeds she had been finding ever since turning east along the shore of the lake.

Teresa continued on her way, and soon the oaks, cottonwoods, and striped maples around her gave way to tilled fields. Now empty of their produce, the mounds that had once hosted the Three Sisters lay covered in discarded squash leaves. The wood elf made her way through the empty fields, remembering how Olava had told her that those leaves would provide a mulch to enrich the soil.

The sweet scent of woodsmoke came to Teresa's nostrils as she neared the sturdy walls of a village. Unlike Silverbridge, this settlement was well-fortified. Its first line of defense was a ditch, and behind it a palisade doubtlessly created from the leftover dirt. Atop the mound of soil rose a wall of thick oak that ringed the settlement. She could see a square tower crowning each corner of the walls, occupied by at least one guardian apiece. Making her way to the main entrance of the settlement, she found a pair of great wooden gates bound in iron. While one stood closed, the other was open for people to pass through.

Pausing a moment to make sure her red Fighters Guild medallion was in plain view and had its sword-emblazoned logo showing, Teresa strode to the entry. She found a trio of men clad in worn flax waiting for her there. Each clutched a round shield in one hand, and a steel-tipped spear in the other.

"Halt stranger! Who are ye, and what's yer business in Maplemill?"

Teresa blinked, and turned to the man who had spoken. By his olive skin and raven-black hair, she took him for a Nibenean. Even this far from a major city, she was not used to such a curt greeting. It made her wonder if they had been having more than the usual problems with bandits, or other dangers in the wilderness?

"I am Ter-"

"Teresa of the Faint Smile!" another human exclaimed, cutting the wood elf off in mid-sentence. He also had the dark hair of an Imperial, yet from his fair skin and blue eyes, Teresa imagined he was Colovian by birth. "I saw you in the tournament! I could not believe that last round you shot, all rapid fire!"

Teresa tried not to sigh. There was that name again. It seemed that there was someone in every village she stopped at who knew her by it. It had even been in the most recent copy of the Black Horse courier, that had covered the Tournament of Archers.

Still, it was really not so bad, she thought. At least it made winning the trust of strangers a little easier. Mustering up one of the faint smiles she was now famous for, she did her best to be amiable.

"Yes, that is I," she said. "Well met friends. I was hoping to fill my waterskin from your well, and perhaps ask for some directions?"

"Well any member of the Fighters Guild is welcome here," the last man said. Unlike the others, who were clearly in their prime, this man's hair had gone to grey, including that of the short beard which covered his face. "I'm Spurius, that is Tertius who saw you at the tournament, and Cincius who gave you the warm greeting."

The first man turned a little red at the other man's words. Then made a point of looking away and striding past Teresa to stand in the open gateway. Spurius waved her to follow, and led her deeper into the settlement. In the meantime Tertius vanished from sight so quickly that Teresa wondered if he had used an invisibility potion.

There was not much to the main street of the village. It was really just a simple dirt path wider than most of the others between the wattle and daub homes that made up the settlement. Chickens and goats ran to and fro underfoot, along with children playing a game of tag. Teresa saw women putting up laundry, men adding new thatch to the roofs of their homes, and other folk simply going about the daily life of a farmer.

"I have to say, it's good to be seeing someone from the Fighters Guild out here again," the old man said as they walked. "The Bravil Guard never comes down here, and we haven't seen the legion since the Fourth Cohort went marching by back in Midyear. On their way to Bruma I suppose they were."

Teresa nodded. It was the same everywhere. Ever since the Oblivion Crisis, there were just not enough legionaries to go around. She wondered how much longer it would take for Volsinius to train their new recruits, so the patrols could go back to normal again?

"It must be hard, this far into the wilderness," Teresa said. "Have you had any problems lately? With trolls, or anything else?"

"No, not yet at least," Spurius said as they came to the well. Teresa lowered the bucket down into its depths, and began the slow process of cranking it back up once she felt it grow heavy with water. "We keep to ourselves here in Maplemill. 'Don't go looking for trouble, and trouble won't find you' I always say. I hear a few months ago some kids from Thistledown went into the Haunted Forest. Don't know if they ever came back. Damned idiots, ought to know better."

"The Haunted Forest?" Teresa asked as she lifted the bucket - now heavy with water - to the stone lip of the well. Dunking her waterskin within, she filled it with the clear liquid. "Where is that?"

"Up north and east o' here, just before the coast." The old man pointed toward the back of the village for reference. "Right outside of Bawn. Cursed both are I say, by that damn Witch from the island. Smart folk will stay clear of all three."

"You're not telling that Witch story again are you?"

Teresa turned to see the Colovian from the gate - Tertius - standing with a woman she imagined might be his wife, and a boy who was the spitting image of both. Like Tertius, they were clad in simple flax, but Teresa could not fail to notice the small self bow clutched in the child's hands.

"Put a spell on me that freak did," Spurius spat. "Gave me the look he, or she, whatever the blazes it is, did. Since then I…" the other man's word trailed away as he looked at the woman and child. Teresa wondered what it was he was going to say, that he did not want to bring up in front of them? Something very personal, and male, no doubt!

She could not contain another faint smile at the thought, and wondered who this Witch might be?

"That Witch never hurt no one," the woman with Tertius spoke up now. "She's a right kind one she is. Without that potion she made for little Marcus here, he'd still have blood lung."

Spurius grumbled something about the gate, and stomped off back the same way he and Teresa had come from. Teresa could not keep from thinking of Morcant as his back receded. Half the villagers who lived near her seemed to be just as fearful, yet also just as willing to use her services when they needed them. Why on Nirn were people so afraid of Witches?

"The Mages Guild tells them to be," Morcant's words floated up in her memory. "Not to mention the temples. Because every time someone comes to us, they are not making money."

"This is my wife Baebiana, and our son Marcus," Tertius declared, gesturing to the pair of Imperials beside him. "Marcus here is going to be an archer when he grows up. I was sort of wondering if you might be able to give him a few pointers? What, with you being such a champion archer yourself."

Now Teresa understood why he had vanished earlier. She wanted him to teach his son archery! Her of all people! How on Nirn could she explain to them that even after ten years, she was still learning herself?

Yet when she looked down into the dark brown eyes of young Marcus, and the shy hope that glowed there, she found that she could not say no. "Well, Alawen is the champion archer," Teresa said, "but I suppose I can do what I can."

"Capital, just capital!" Tertius beamed enthusiastically.

"We cannot afford to pay you, being simple farming folk as we are," Baebiana said. "I can offer you a good meal of fresh cornbread and fried squash though, and a place to stay the night."

"Well I won't be staying the night," Teresa said as she gazed at the noon-day sun overhead. "But a hot meal does sound good."

"Where is it you are traveling to?" the other woman asked as Tertius led them from the well.

"Bawn," Teresa said.

"Bawn!" Tertius nearly sputtered. "You don't want to go there! If Spurius was ever right about anything, it's that place. Haunted it is. Folk say they see strange lights in that old ruin, and none that goes there come back again!"

"Has anyone been there recently?" Teresa asked as they rounded a farmhouse and stepped up to a straw-filled archery target behind it.

"No one goes there," Baebiana said. "But sometimes the fishermen from Thistledown see it in the distance. They say it's dangerous. And out here, there's no legion to come to the rescue if you get in trouble."

Was all that just superstition? Teresa wondered, or was there really something in Bawn? She remembered Culotte, and the small army of skeletons waiting inside. Or Vilverin, with its bandits and the necromancer who had slain them. Could Bawn be like one of those ruins? Then again, Fanacasecul and Sedor had been empty of all but dust, and Anutwyll hosted nothing more dangerous than a scholar from the Arcane University!

One way or the other, she would find out. But first, she had a young man to teach.

Teresa's school of archery. How wonderful! Young Marcus is learning from one of the best.

Some lovely descriptions of Maplemill and it's residents, and of their fear of Bawn, it's very mysterious. I can't wait to see what Teresa finds!

I love the fortifications around the Maplemill community. To me the town has a frontier flavor, which fits so well with the isolation from Imperial and county guards that we later hear about from the locals.

The Bawn trip keeps getting more intriguing. A Witch on her island, a Haunted Forest, strange lights and disappearing folk! Sounds dangerous. Let’s go!

Nice bit of worldbuilding there, and without even a hint of infodumping, it just flowed. The set up of the community makes sense and gives a real feeling of isolation with the Imperial law being a distant thing and the local militia holding power. It worked well to foreshadow the next stuff too.

I wonder if the missing kids will make an appearence, and what state of life/death/undeath they will be in. I suspect there might be residents of this ruin, though I could be wrong. Certainly it sounds dangerous and out the way - what could be more tempting


His name made me smile, I'm not sure if you meant it to be pronounced 'spurious' but given he's the old guard given to telling stories and possibly in need of some Ginseng...

Her fame is a nice touch too, your world is reacting to her and developing. Now people want lessons!

What a lovely interlude. I could feel and almost taste Teresa's comfort at being alone again in the forest. You provided a lush and easy to visualize description of Maplemill.

In the short interactions Teresa had here, you treated us to whole host of wonderful memories and cross references - You reminded us it is after fall harvest by describing the state of the fields and a welcome reminder of Olava. How the battle of Bruma had depleted the Legion and that Vols no doubt had his hands full training new soldiers. Teresa of the Faint Smile, one of the very top ranked archers in all Cyrodiil! And pressed into instructor duty she is! A nice mention of dear Alawen from our modest forester. Teresa's confidence that her Fighters Guild medallion might provide her some credibility - and it did. A wonderful reference to Morcant. A tiny review of the other ruins she has cleared.

Then you tantalized us with plenty of mysterious rumors, be they legends or superstitions. I can only imagine the trouble adventure Teresa will find in the episodes ahead.

What a lovely walk from Bravil! That is one of my favorite parts of the Green Road.

Teresa's thoughts as she walks toward the ruin that is Bawn is a great way to remind us of several events in Teresa's story - Morcant, Volsinius and the cost of the Oblivion Crisis on legion resources, the job with Olava.

I really enjoyed the vignette of village life and the three guards. I do not wonder why Spurius got the curse, nor do I wonder at the nature of it. Fitting punishment, if he attempted what I think he did.

I remember the first time someone asked me to teach them something. I was shocked - I didn't consider myself proficient enough to teach someone else, but obviously this person thought otherwise! I've been a professional student far too long to think of myself as otherwise, let alone a teacher! So I totally relate to Teresa's disorientation at being asked to teach the young boy a few archery tricks. I'm glad she agreed to do her best. I'm sure it will be more than enough!

On the teaching question. It's often good to be taught by someone who's just a little more proficient than yourself, because the teacher remembers the problems you're having. The real experts forgot those, or never had them in the first place. Perhaps that's what makes Parwen a good teacher?

hazmick: Hopefully what Teresa finds will be a surprise, but not unexpected in hindsight.


Grits: A Witch, a Haunted Forest, and a mysterious ruin? I guess its time for the Scooby Gang to crank up the Mystery Machine and head on out!


Olen: I have a long list of Latin names from Rome Total War that I use for my Imperial characters. Spurius is just one I picked out of the list at random.


Acadian: Next up ahead, more foresty goodness.


haute ecole rider: I love that little peninsula south of Bravil.


ghastley: I never thought about it, but you may have hit the nail on the head with Parwen.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last episode Teresa stopped in the village of Maplemill. She learned from the locals that Bawn was not too far off, there was a Haunted Forest nearby, and a Witch. Finally, she was pressed into service to give archery lessons to a youngster. Next up, she makes her way through the woods to Bawn.


Chapter 35.4 - Bawn

Teresa set out from Maplemill a few hours later. Her stomach was filled by cornbread biscuits, fried squash, and goat's milk. With more biscuits packed away in her Thieves Bag, she knew that she would be eating well for the rest of her journey to Bawn and the return to Bravil.

Just a few miles from the farming village, the ground began to gently slope down underfoot. The forest became thicker as it did, until she could barely see the sky between the canopy of leaves overhead. The maples and oaks gave way to cedar trees of colossal size. Their boughs were covered in green moss, and their tangled roots rose from the ground in a wooden web.

Teresa pressed on, and the forest closed in around her like a warm blanket on a winter day. The trees and undergrowth were so thick that she could not see more than ten feet in any direction. Deep pools of shadow formed on the forest floor, lurking under every arching branch and twisting root. Yet the sun still shone through here and there in golden bands of light. Birds sang from the trees, and squirrels darted to and fro as they hid away acorns for the winter.

Screenshot

Could this be the Haunted Forest? Teresa wondered. No, it could not be, she decided. It was far too beautiful! She could not repress a faint smile as she reached out to caress the trunks of the ancient cedars. They rose like kindly grandparents, offering cool shade and comfort to their children's children tarrying underneath.

The forester could not resist the urge to sit down and nestle her back comfortably against the towering bough of one such colossus. Laying her unstrung bow beside her, she took hold of one of the cedar's many twining roots with one hand, and dug her fingers into the soil with the other. Closing her eyes, she let herself drift away, calling out to the spirits of the wood.

She saw the forest as it was, thousands of years ago. The cedars were far smaller then, an ordinary forest. She saw the pale elves come, and settle on the shore of the lake. She saw them build a great city there, made of stone that was dragged from miles down the coast by tailed slaves. Then the elves vanished in a night of fire, and their city slowly crumbled to dust.

Yet through it all the cedars rose higher and higher into the sky, measuring their lifespans not in mere centuries, but in millennia. They grew thick and strong, tended by the daughters of the forest. Sometimes the olive-skinned folk came to the wood. But where they cut down the trees in other places to make their farms and villages, the cedars were protected by their blessing. None would pass, who did not love the forest.

Teresa's eyes opened in a flash. Had she heard a twig snap? Turning her head this way and that, she scanned the walls of branches and leaves that surrounded her. Yet nothing but vegetation stared back at her. Was she imagining things? Or was there something else with her in the forest?

Thinking that this might be the Haunted Forest that the villagers had spoken of after all, Teresa rose to her feet and strung her bow. Carefully scanning the ground lest she trip in the spiderweb of exposed roots, she slowly made her way down the gentle slope. That would take her to Niben Bay, she knew, and Bawn.

Teresa stopped. Something had moved to her left. She as certain of it. Standing completely still, she stared into the jumble of undergrowth for long minutes. Then she saw it again. A branch moved, even though there was no wind. Holding her breath, Teresa realized a moment later that it was no branch at all.

It had the form of a woman, and stepped into open view now, a scant four paces away. Its hands were larger than those of a human or elf, and its fingers even more so, each being nearly the length of Teresa's forearm. Her skin, if it could be called that, looked like soft brown bark. It appeared be grown over with dark green moss in many places, and even sprouted small flowers here and there. Her head turned to look directly at a Teresa, and the wood elf saw that her eyes were of brilliant gold.

Screenshot

A spriggan! Teresa's heart thumped in her chest. "Gentle daughters of the forest my rear," she heard Pappy's voice in her memory, "they'll curse your luck, then summon up a bear to rip you apart. Unless they feel like doing it with their own two hands of course."

Teresa swallowed hard, and continued to stare the spriggan in the eye. If she moved quickly, she might draw and fire a single arrow before the tree-creature was upon her. Yet the spriggan made no move to attack. Instead she simply stood there for long moments. Then Teresa heard a curious sound rise from her wooden throat. A giggle. Not sinister, but filled with mirth and good will. If she had not known better, the wood elf would have imagined the sound was made by a little girl at play.

Making an effort to slow her racing heart, Teresa eased her arrow back into the bag at her hip, then slung her bow across her back. Now the spriggan began to move as well, stepping forward toward Teresa. Reaching out with one pale hand, the wood elf gently stroked the moss that covered one of the arboreal creature's arms.

"Well met, sister of the forest." Teresa found the words tumbling from her lips as if of their own accord. As if likewise summoned by its own will, a smile broadened her features. "My name is Teresa."

The spriggan paused as Teresa's fingers touched her. She giggled once more, and then continued on her way. A moment later, she vanished into the wall of undergrowth, leaving Teresa to wonder if she had ever really seen her in the first place.

For once, a pleasant encounter with one of those giggling fiends!

I always felt cheated that they always wanted to attack me, no matter that I never hunted or did any harm to their forests. Something else I hated about Beth - but I understand that the game has no way of determining your attitude toward the environment other than hunting deer (it can't penalize you for killing boars and wolves when those want to eat you first!). It would be nice to have a game that allows for that.

Loved the screenie of the forest. I enjoy the woods, though the ones around here are more old woodlots than true forests. Still I adore trees and feel safer when I'm among them. It must have something to do with the fact that I grew up in a house that was surrounded by 24 mature oak trees (and a couple of big maples and two shagbark hickories next door).

What an enchanting encounter among the trees. After Teresa has been upset by her childhood memories of the stone Imperial City, it is a relief to see her being embraced by the forest and its creatures. And it makes sense that a Nibenean with an axe on his shoulder would get a different reception from the spriggans, and thus have a different view of the Haunted Forest.

*cough* Fangorn *cough*

I loved this chapter. Your descriptions of the forest were brilliant, as was the Spriggan! (although when Haa-Rei meets one it usually turns into a bear summoning competition)

So the forest is not haunted, merely alive. Only a Bosmer could really see that I suppose.

And the whole story has been as enchanting as the forest. I've been lurking and reading, loving it. This story is as polished and engaging as many a published novel.

A short part but a good one. Now we know why they call the wood haunted, for all their natural right to be there I owuldn't be overly keen on sharing my space with spriggans. Still it appears to realise Teresa is not a threat.

I wonder if that was to do with her meditating and communicating with the spirits. I suspect spriggans would treat anyone as a likely threat and kill them to be certain, but Teresa could have pacified them, or more likely the spirits did on her behalf.

That first photo is amazing!

It makes me wonder more what she'll find in Bawn, and by extension what relationship the forest had with it's original builders. Perhaps it wasn't as strong back then but would it get on with the Arimer? Maybe, or maybe they left eachother well enough alone (they did meet with a sticky end, could the forest have aided that?). It's current occupants though I suspect it may be less well inclined towards, depending on what they turn out to be...

Firstly, thanks for the hearty meal, courtesy of Maplemill. Nothing like reading on a full stomach!

I'm going to retitle this episode: "Well met, sister of the forest."

What a magnificent job you did here. I could feel that while most would be spooked by the dark forest, Teresa drew comfort from it. Just as she could sense the nature of the forest, so could the spriggan sense the nature of her visitor.

The 'vision' of the Arimer city rising and falling fit perfectly in here. I know of no character that moves as naturally through the forest as Teresa.

30.1

Read the first word and was excited! Another chapter about our favorite guard.

I was suspecting that Brekke would have been hated for the attention Vols gave her. I'm happy that she took him up on his offer.

It was so nice that Vols found someone to fill the void in his life. Just the opening of him surveying his bare room... I'm glad he has a purpose now, other than just existing and doing his job.

30.2


In my mind I saw Calindil tap a finger on her nose while talking before I even reached that part of the sentence

The whole chapter was very heart warming. Brekke will have a very capable tutor in Calindil I think.

Her stomach was filled by cornbread biscuits, fried squash, and goat's milk.

If Teresa would be lucky enough to pass by a maple tree, maybe she would like some syrup on the cornbread? I personally don't like it but everyone else in my family says it makes a wonderful breakfast.

Teresa pressed on, and the forest closed in around her like a warm blanket on a winter day.

What a lovely description

And such a nice encounter with the Spriggan! I've always loved them. They're so beautiful, even though they are a pain to fight.

31.1

Who is Teresa with now? Is she back in that village outside of Bravil? Must be. Yes it is.

Sounds to me like Teresa will be a land owner soon.

31.2




Storm-Tail eh? I seriously doubt Pappy is going to want to accept the child of one of the deceased soldiers from Bruma. Pappy's going to be shouting at him to get out. Then he'll do what he can to drive Storm Tail out. Then he'll grudgingly accept him.

Oh, s---! Chance's dad was the necromancer?
He was a Redguard...
Oh ok he was just one of the outlaws there.
Thank goodness Ancondil was there to keep everything under control.

31.3

Why couldn't they wait for the morning? I wonder what Chance expects to find? A skeleton if anything.

Hey it's been a while since we went with Teresa to her temple.

I'm glad Chance shared that tidbit about his father. I resent him pulling Teresa on this crazy journey a little less now.

I got goosebumps from the meeting with the spriggan, HUGE Write!!! Awesome meeting of two that are each a part of the nature that surrounds them !!! Loved this chapter !!!

haute ecole rider: The best thing about playing on the PC is being able to fix things like all the animals attacking you. If you are tried of it, try out my Forest Friend or Witchcraft mods.


Grits: One of the nice things about that last segment was indeed that I was able to use it to dramatically show the difference between Teresa and most other people.


hazmick: Fangorn was indeed one inspiration for the Haunted Forest. I fell in love with it the first time I saw it in the LOTR films. That is not where the pic is from though. I wanted a place in the wilderness that was sacred, more woodsy then even the rest of the woods.


Glargg: Thank you G. Glad you stopped lurking in the forest and came out to say hi!


Olen: That first pic is of the Shiratani Forest on the Japanese island of Yakushima. The trees there live for 2,000 years, and was the inspiration for the setting of Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke.


Acadian: This is where Teresa's actions in the past are starting to bear fruit. As you said, the spriggan knew that Teresa was not a threat to her forest, and for very good reason.


King Coin: You saw exactly what I was hoping for. The emptiness of Vol's room was an outward sign of the emptiness in his life. A void now filled by Brekke, who does not know it, but is helping the scarred veteran as much as he is helping her. I am glad you like the doilie line in the following chapter. I worked hard to find something that would fit for Vincent to say.


Jacki Dice: I have always wanted to play as a spriggan!


mALX: That was indeed meant to be creepy, at least the beginning of the encounter with the spriggan. I am glad it worked.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last episode Teresa left Maplemill and journeyed to the Haunted Forest. There she met a spriggan, and found it was not hostile to her. Next, Bawn itself.


Chapter 35.5 - Bawn

In time the dense cedar forest thinned out and gave way to scattered maple and willow trees. Before Teresa knew it, she was standing on a pair of wagon ruts worn though the soil, which had now turned rocky. Turning to her right, she saw the path lead uphill and vanished into a copse of cottonwoods. The Green Road was somewhere back there, she thought. So was Maplemill and a dozen other villages spread out along the length of the peninsula that framed the southern edge of Niben Bay.

Turning to her left, Teresa followed the path downhill, thinking that it might lead to Thistledown. Tertius had said that the fishing village lay on the coast north of Maplemill. From there Teresa knew that she could simply follow the edge of the bay to Bawn.

The trees continued to thin as she went, and soon the road became steep. The cries of gulls were loud in her ears when the white spires of Bawn itself came into view below. First was a circular colonnade rising a hundred feet into the sky. Its roof was missing, and the tips of many of its arches were broken off. Behind it Teresa could see the remnants of a statue that was perhaps twenty feet shorter. She imagined it had been of an eagle, perhaps carrying an elf aloft. But the millennia had not been kind, and little remained that was not covered with moss. Farther down the slope were fragments of walls and arches, leading directly into Niben Bay. More pieces of white stone rose from the water, including another statue that was tilted so far to one side that it seemed on the verge of falling over. Teresa could see that was of an elf holding a sword aloft, its blade long since snapped off and sunken beneath the waves.

Screenshot

It was much like Belda, the wood elf thought, or Nagastani. The circular colonnade would be the focal point of the settlement. Even in just a tomb like Culotte, the main burial chambers had been underneath the same kind of structure. Since Bawn had been a city, she imagined it was the royal palace.

Thinking of Belda and the conjurers there, Teresa stopped to dip one of her arrowheads into the jar of poison at her hip. When she was finished, she re-corked the container and set the deadly missile to the string of her bow. Stepping forward slowly, she moved from cover to cover, making sure that she was only visible for the shortest moments possible.

The wagon trail was obviously not something made by the Arimer, Teresa thought, not after four thousand years. Given how the people of Maplemill shunned the place, she could not believe there was an Imperial settlement there. But while not very deep, the wheel tracks looked relatively fresh. Someone had moved in recently, Teresa observed. Someone with a wagon, who made lights that the fishermen could see from the bay.

Teresa stopped when she saw the boat pulled up to the shore. Over twenty feet long, it was larger than many dories, but lacked a sail. She could see numerous oar locks spread along its length to make up for that, and imagined that it might seat more than a dozen mortals. Or less if the space was taken up by cargo. She was not sure what such a boat was called, but she had seen them carried on large ships like galleons often enough. Yet there was no sign of one of those ships in the bay. But for a small island near the coast to the east, the water stretched on empty to the horizon.

Someone was clearly here, Teresa reasoned. But who? Could it be innocent scholars like Carandial? Or ruthless murderers like the Ebon Moon?

There was only one way to find out, she thought. Taking her time, she crept through the ruins as quietly as she could. She still saw no people, but found numerous footprints going directly from the boat to the colonnade that marked the palace. Still she still took the time to scout through the outer sections of the ruin just to make sure there were no sentries there, before making her way back up the hill to the circle of tall stones.

She heard his breathing before she saw him. It was a heavy, rasping sound, not human or elven, but similar. Sidestepping along a row of low stones, Teresa circled the palace, her eyes locked upon the long, slender openings between columns that had once been windows and doorways.

An amber tuft of fur came into view, and then the rest of the Khajiit it belonged to a moment later. He stood within the circle of stones, clad in armor that was a patchwork of animal hides and holding a strung bow in one hand. An axe was tucked into his wide, leather belt, and a bag of arrows hung from one of his hips.

Teresa fell to her stomach in the grass, so that he would not see her behind the line of stones she used for cover. She crawled her way up the slope to a pair of large boulders and rose to crouch in the gap between them. That gave her a position above the colonnade, with a good view between two of the columns.

Drawing two more arrows from her bag, she thrust them point down into the dirt at her feet. Then setting her original missile back to the string of her bow, she rose to her full height. A glance at her chest showed that her Fighters Guild medallion was in plain view. Good, she thought, if the Khajiit was an honest explorer, it would allay his suspicions, just as it had with the farmers of Maplemill. If not, she had her arrows ready.

She waited for him to step into view between the columns. Just as he looked up and opened his eyes in surprise, she lent her voice to the breeze coming off the bay.

"I'm Teresa," she proclaimed, "of the Fighters Guild."

The Khajiit's eyes widened even farther, and fixed upon the red and white medallion upon Teresa's chest. "It's the law!" he bellowed out of the side of his mouth. Then his hand went for an arrow.

Teresa did not wait. She raised her bow and pulled the string halfway to her chest. Releasing half her breath, she took only a second to take aim slightly above the center of the feline's chest. Then she pulled the feathers of her arrow to her cheek, and before the Khajiit could set his own missile to his bowstring, hers was buried in his torso.

The Khajiit dropped to one knee, arrow falling from his furred digits. Teresa did not wait, and pulled one of the arrows staged in the dirt at her feet and set it to her bow. Yet as she drew it back and took aim, the feline either fell or rolled behind a column. Teresa could not be sure which.

Part of the forester wanted to run forward and finish the sentry off. But she knew that the nightshade on her leaf-shaped arrowhead would kill the Khajiit in minutes. Unless he had an antidote potion handy, and the presence of mind to drink it. More importantly, she knew by the size of the boat and his shout of warning, that more of his compatriots were nearby. Most likely within the palace beneath his feet.

So the forester waited, and took the time to poison the arrow she held. A moment after she was finished, a tall man appeared in the colonnade. His staw-colored hair hung down beyond his shoulders, and his nearly naked frame was bound in rolling muscle. Tattoos that glowed with a soft blue light covered every part of his exposed flesh, tracing intricate loops and whorls around his frame. In his hand he held a massive axe. The shaft of the weapon was taller than half of his body, and its single blade trailed down in a long crescent.

"Most Nords these days will wear mail, or even plate if they can afford it," she heard Pappy's voice rise in her memory. "But the traditionalists won't touch armor. In fact they usually fight naked. But don't take them for pushovers. Their tattoos are enchanted with Shield spells, and the Nordic War Axe will stop a warhorse dead in its tracks."

With her guild commander's words lingering in her ears, Teresa let fly. She saw the Nord's body flash yellow from the Shield enchantment on his tattoos a moment later. He swatted her arrow away with one hand, as if it was a mosquito. She could not be sure if it had penetrated his magical defenses or not. But one thing was plain, he now knew exactly where she was.

An eerie howl split his lips as he tore the loincloth from his hips, leaving his body completely bare. Then he rushed up the hill toward her in a flash of pale skin and blue ink. Teresa reached down for the last arrow staged at her feet, put it to her string, and took aim. Now she saw another human rushing from the colonnade behind the Nord. This one wore mail, and carried a round shield in one hand, and a single-handed axe in the other.

Teresa ignored the second man for now, and once again loosed her arrow at the Nord. He made no move to dodge the missile, which hit home in his belly. This time, she could see it pierced his Shield enchantment. Yet he seemed to barely notice, and continued forward in a rush. Farther back at the entrance of the palace, Teresa saw a fourth and fifth man spill forth. Both wore mail as the third man did, and carried shields. However, one held a wickedly-flanged mace, and the other an arming sword.

That was enough for Teresa. Spinning on the balls of her feet, she sprang up the hill with all the speed her legs could muster. The incline slowed her footsteps, yet she knew it would take an even greater toll on the quickness of the armored men. The Nord was another matter however. He had no armor to weigh him down, and his long legs ate the distance between them.

Still, that arrow had to slow him some, Teresa thought. Unless he was so incensed that he could not feel a thing. Fixing the symbol of her Burning Hand clearly in mind, she reached for her magicka just in case he came too near. She did not put much faith in having the opportunity to use her spell however, given the reach of that long axe of his.

The trees grew thick as she raced off the wagon path, and Teresa had to slow herself to avoid tripping on the exposed roots that now snaked above the turf. Then she realized that the willows and oaks had given way to gigantic cedar trees. The sun faded to a memory in the gloom beneath the canopy, and a nearly impenetrable wall of branches and leaves filled her vision to all sides.

She was in the Haunted Forest once more.

Teresa stopped to draw forth another arrow and set it to her bowstring. At one time she would have been winded from the long race uphill. But now her breath came strong and steady in her lungs. She would lose them in the forest, she thought. All she had to do was stop the Nord. Then the armored men would be child's play to evade and pick off one at a time in the dense woods. As if summoned by her thoughts, the snapping of branches heralded the approach of the tattooed warrior. Teresa waited with bow half way to her chest, and pulled it back to her cheek when he came into view.

Then a branch snaked out from the cedar beside the Nord, and wrapped itself around the tall man's neck. Teresa realized that it was not a branch at all when she recognized impossibly long fingers trailing from the end of the appendage. The Nord stopped as if he had hit a stone wall. A moment later he was pulled back into the brush surrounding the base of the tree. A ferocious thrashing ensued in the undergrowth, and Teresa lowered her bow. It lasted several minutes, until a dark fluid stained the leaves in the dim light, and all went silent.

The jingle of steel rings and cracking of branches announced the rest of the men. Teresa raised her bow once more. But a moment later she lowered it again as the whoosh of magicka came to her ears. A purple disc formed in the air before her and fell to the ground. A grizzly bear formed in its wake, and stepped toward the noise of the approaching men.

Teresa turned her head to one side, and saw another spriggan step past her, following the bear to meet the interlopers. Then a third daughter of the forest appeared from the other side, calling forth another grizzly as she strode forth. Teresa took her arrow off its string and slid it back into the bag at her right hip. The bears vanished into the underbrush before her, and were followed by the spriggans moments later. Then a tremendous clamor of screams, snapping branches, and shaking leaves erupted from the greenery.

This would not take long, Teresa thought with a faint smile.

Ouch those spriggans were nasty, but how nice of them to watch over Teresa like that!

Wonderful writing Sage Rosa
Nits?



It looks like the Nord scared away the L in Maplemill there.

This was delicious! I could feel you building the tension as Teresa crept around Bawn - there were enough clues that clearly somethin' was gonna happen. That Nord was scary indeed, and Teresa's flashback to Pappy was the perfect way to naturally provide some detail at the right time and place. Even before Teresa spun and ran, I was yelling at her to do so! Good thinking, Teresa! I also noted, even before Teresa reminded us how wise she had been to practice her running for endurance. It surely came in handy here!

Then. . . then, the spriggan assist was magical, first eliciting a faint smile, then a broad one, then almost a cheer from me. I agree, this shouldn't take long.

Superbly done, my friend! I could really 'feel' every bit of this wonderful episode.

I also noticed the same thing as DM, as well as the second incident, when the 'l' came back in the wrong spot.

Loved this part, how Teresa planned her approach, how she prepared for the possibility of more than just a single Khajiit, and especially how she knew when to retreat. So glad she retreated into the Haunted Forest and got herself some excellent allies there. Yes, it wouldn't take long at all.

Just to pile on that nit.

So were Maplemill and a dozen ...

or

So was Maplemill, and so were a dozen ...

But I would have just got swept along by the story if the others hadn't drawn my attention there.

"I'm Teresa," she proclaimed, "of the Fighters Guild."

Yay! Theresa standing up and saying that, what a triumphant moment! Her FG medallion makes it perfectly clear that she is the law.

Tattooed Nords have been on my mind lately, I found the Nord especially interesting. The whole chase and spriggan battle was fast and exciting, I loved it! And I liked the last line best of all.

An interesting blend of wooo and sinister. I can see how rumours of evil witches get started - at least if there's any survivors. Equally they did have it coming.


I assume you were sort of going for sinister with this line. It's a good one, she's thinking like a witch or at least someone who likes the wilds. But she's a fighter and a lawbringer too, I'm not sure Cyrodiil is ready.


Both this and her running away worked well for me, it shows that she doesn't know everything and isn't ready for anything which makes her seem all the more real.

This psrt does leave me with a massive 'what happens next?' though.

Hooray! Nature-1 Bandits-0. Someone needs to develop a 'Summon Spriggan' spell, they certainly came to the rescue here. Are they going to tag along when Teresa goes into the ruin? (Which I hope she does)

How much fun is that? A battle between Bandits and Spriggans!

Perhaps if those danged Spriggans would stop attacking me the instant they see me, I would be able to talk things out with them, too? One can hope.

I'm all caught up now, too.

31.4

I wonder how Tadrose is going to turn out for Teresa.

Took Chance long enough to notice the huge tower stretching towards the sky. He's no lookout

Hilarious joke about the tower. “They wanted everyone to know that theirs was bigger”

It occurs to me that while Teresa is in the IC, she should go visit her adoptive mother!

She is!

31.5

Chance will take a chance with anyone it would seem.

At least his charm was able to soften Jensine. I thought this was going to be a huge fight over the mace. Thank goodness it was as easy as paying for it. Chance owes Teresa quite a bit for this whole escapade.

31.6

Bag of Holding! That will be very useful to Teresa!

I love how Teresa keeps thinking “why does everyone think I want a man?”

31.7

Chance is properly thankful. The Imperial City guild sounds more like a fraternity than a merc company.

Teresa and Aravi share the same view on the Arena. She won't even step into the Arena district of the city even to just pass through.

Whoa. Took me a paragraph to realize that she was having a vision of Vilverin.

That necromancer is in for a world of hurt when Teresa finds him again. She's been practicing her skills since she's left. The necromancer might have more undead, but I doubt he's worked on his skills nearly as much.
------------------------------------
32.1
Ha ha! Chance is good. Going to the ruin with Teresa. I'm sure she'll appreciate the backup.
I just love how he leaps up no questions asked.

Pretty excited to see what all the activity is inside the ruin.

Doommeister: Thank you finding my missing 'l' there. Teresa does indeed have friends in the most surprising places.


Acadian: I am glad the Nord came across as being scary, with the glowing tattoos and the nakedness, I wanted him to be that way.


haute ecole rider: Another runaway "l"? These consonants are like herding cats... That last episode is one of the places where Teresa's Fighters Guild training really shows.


ghastley: That looks fine to me, the subject is plural - Maplemill and a dozen villages - so were.


Grits: Will Jerric be getting tattoos then? Hopefully not of Abiene's name, because doing that only insures that you will break up with them.


Olen: I wasn't really going for a sinister attitude with Teresa's thoughts on her tactics. Rather a professional one. That is what Pappy told her to do when outnumbered: withdraw, and trade space for the time you need to get stronger.


hazmick: I did make a spriggan summon spell. It is in my Witchcraft mod.


Thomas Kaira: Maybe you should be nicer to the spriggans? They never bother me.


King Coin: Chapter 31 is something I had in mind when I wrote the original Vilverin chapter, and wrote in Destri as the Redguard with the Dwemer mace. I was glad when I finally had the chance to finally write Teresa's return with Chance. He does indeed owe her big, but as you will see, he works to make up for it.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last episode Teresa discovered Bawn, and was attacked by the men she found within. After killing one with an arrow, she lured the others into the Haunted Forest, where the spriggans finished them off. Next, in our final episode of this chapter, she ventures within the ruin, and learns who they were.


Chapter 35.6 - Bawn

Teresa left the rent bodies of nearly a dozen men behind her in the forest. The crows deserved their meal as much as the worms after all. Making her way back to Bawn, she strung an arrow and cautiously made her way to the columns that marked the palace. The Khajiit that she had seen first was still unaccounted for, and there might be others who had not joined in the pursuit into the forest.

She found the feline dead just inside the colonnade, bent over and clutching his stomach. The nightshade got him, she thought. That was the classic mark of its poisoning. She ought to know, having learned the hard way after sampling Geen-Rana's nightshade tea so many years ago! For not the first time, she thanked Raven that her Argonian roommate had not been an alchemist. If Geen-Rana had been, then she would have been able to draw out the magical properties of the poison to make it even more lethal.

The wood elf found a spiral stair cut into the center of the colonnade, and followed it down to a pair of open double doors. Pausing on the threshold, she reached into her Thieves Bag and drew forth her nighteye goggles. Pulling them down around her features, she stepped into the inky darkness below.

As always, the entrance led down a long stair, plunging her deep into the bowels of Nirn. Thanks to her goggles, the halls and chambers of the Arimer ruin were lit up as bright as if Magnus himself was perched over her shoulder. Pieces of raw glowstone could be found littering the hall at random places, and Teresa imagined that her attackers had used them to see by.

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Soon she came to a large chamber that was lit by more chunks of raw glowstone suspended from metal chandeliers. Teresa imagined it had been a chapel of some sort from the altar at one end. Tall, arched niches were cut into the walls at regular intervals, where she knew that welkynd stones had once perched atop their metal holders. Now all stood dark and empty though, if not plundered by her attackers, then by some other explorers.

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The wood elf found a camp within, containing a dozen bedrolls, several wooden stools, and a makeshift table with bread and cheese set out on plain stoneware plates. Several chests were arranged by the bedrolls, and even the cold embers of a cooking fire could be found with an empty iron pot suspended overhead. Numerous wooden casks were stacked up against one wall, and Teresa wondered if they were bandits who had stolen a vintner's shipment on the road.

The forester reined in her curiosity, and continued beyond the chamber to explore the rest of the ruin. As it turned out, there were only a few rooms and halls remaining, and those were empty of all but dust and memories of past glories. If there had ever been an Ancestor Statue there, it had long since been looted, along with any varla or welkynd stones.

Feeling dejected, Teresa returned to the camp of her attackers. On the hopes of finding something to make the journey worthwhile she began looking through their belongings, starting with the chests. All of them were locked, but Teresa's relationship with Methredhel proved its value once more, as she easily picked each. Within the chests she mainly found clothing and other odds and ends. However, she also found several purses of gold septims.

Whoever they were, they certainly made quite a bit of coin from camping out in an empty ruin. Teresa scratched her head. Now how could that be?

Walking to the casks, she turned one end up and pried loose one of its boards with her mithril dagger. Within she found a sweet-smelling liquid, a dark shade of grey in the nearly colorless world of night eye. She pulled the goggles from her eyes, but still saw naught but a glossy black liquid in the subterranean gloom.

Fixing the symbol of her Analyze Alchemy spell within her mind, Teresa called up her magicka and released it through the spell. Gazing down upon the cask with sparkling purple eyes, the symbol that represented the drink erupted into shining light before her. She could see that it was a complex brew, created from several ingredients, all of which had been further refined. It reminded her of sugar, but was far more potent, and far less appealing. For something about the concoction set Teresa's hackles on the rise. It reminded her of poison, yet a subtle one.

Then it came to her. It was something she had seen all of her life on the streets, especially during her three years living in the Chamber Pot with Geen-Rana. Skooma. The poison that had destroyed Simplicia's life.

Teresa recoiled as if she had found a troll within the small barrel. The symbol of her Flare spell instantly jumped into her mind. Drawing up her outrage over Simplicia's destruction by the insidious drug, she loosed it through her hand. The opened cask of skooma burst alight as soon as the flames struck it, and the blaze quickly spread to the other small barrels around it. Teresa fired more and more Flares into the terrible cargo, until her last drop of magicka was depleted, and all were set alight.

Smoke from the inferno filled the air within the subterranean ruin. Teresa was obliged to hold a cloth to her face to keep from breathing in the fumes, and she raced to the surface to greet Magnus once more.

They had not been bandits, but skooma smugglers, she mused. No wonder they had attacked upon seeing her. They probably chose Bawn because of its haunted reputation. That would have kept the prying eyes of the locals away from them. Even the occasional sightings of lights by fishermen would only reinforce the belief that ghosts roamed the halls.

Teresa looked from the wagon ruts leading down the ruin to the large boat pulled up to shore. They did not have a wagon, so obviously someone else must have brought the foul brew here. Their boat did not have a sail, so they probably did not venture too far across the bay. Perhaps to Bravil? Or maybe to a ship that anchored offshore at regular times?

She had to get back to Bravil, and warn someone. If the city guard or legion were quick enough, they could have troops waiting here to ambush the other smugglers when they returned. She looked at the boat. It was far too large for her to row herself. She would need another way back. Perhaps she could find someone in one of the local fishing villages who could take her back to the city?

She considered going along the coast to Thistledown, as Tertius had told her it was only a few miles west of Bawn. Then her eyes turned to the island in the other direction. She could spy out a bridge reaching across the small strait between it and the coast. There must be a village there as well. Otherwise there would be no reason for the span. Since it was definitely closer than Thistledown, she reasoned that would be the best place to go next.

While she was there, she briefly imagined that she could tell the fishermen that it was safe to come and take the boat. One of its size might be valuable to the people who scratched out a living on the bay. But as she thought about it, she knew that if the smuggler's cohorts returned and saw the boat in the village, or upon the bay, they would assume the fishermen had been part of their comrade's deaths.

Well, she was certainly not going to leave the boat for other skooma runners to use. Teresa knew that the destruction of the skooma and the boat would hardly put a dent in the armor of their business. Yet she could not deny the satisfaction that destroying even the smallest part of their enterprise gave her. With that in mind, she guzzled down a magicka potion, and then the boat joined the skooma in the blaze of her vengeance.

Delicious!

Teresa makes a great lawperson, she kind of reminds me of a wild west sheriff. Not sure why Good luck to the city guard trying to catch the rest of the smugglers, though I think Teresa could do it by herself (or at least with some Spriggans )

What a wonderful chapter exploring a ruin I am completely unfamiliar with. Bawn happens to be one of the many Ayleid ruins I've never explored in the game. I usually stick to the ten containing the Ancestor statues plus Miscarcand, since I hate those places anyway. Cold, dank, moldy, slimy, stale bad air. Give me a good, dark mine any day. Teresa's reaction to the discovery of the skooma and the reasoning behind her decision to destroy the boat are both purely in character.

It seems not only the 'l's are giving you trouble. It seems your period ran off and hid in the shadows here!

... welkynd stones had on{c}e perched atop their metal holders.

The l's not the only character misbehavin'

It's a different Bawn than the one I remember, but so what? And is she heading for a meeting with that nice Mr Blakely?

Indeed I like how you've changed the setting a bit. It suggests some evolution and lets it fit better with what you need. Her destroying the skooma made sense, though the boat might have been her being hot headed. In the rather unlikely event of the Bravil authorities doing anythingthey'd probably rather not have such a warning.

Still I can't help but wonder if there will be repurcussions for her from those in charge at Bravil. It wouldn't surprise me to find certain people were involved in that... the count or his son seem quite possible.

Nice addition with Gene Rana's nightshade tea. It helps highlight the difference between Argonians and other races. However I'm not convinced it would make you clutch your stomach (unless the arrow did that in which case it being 'the classic mark of its poisoning' is perhaps misplaced), it's a nerve poison isn't it and causes delerium and narcosis?

She ought to know, having learned the hard way after sampling Geen-Rana's nightshade tea so many years ago! For not the first time, she thanked Raven that her Argonian roommate had not been an alchemist. If Geen-Rana had been, then she would have been able to draw out the magical properties of the poison to make it even more lethal.

Yikes! I wonder if it’s the poison that makes it so tasty to an Argonian. I like this discussion of the difference between a natural poison and magical poison, like the difference between a potion and medicine. It makes folk remedies possible, and just makes the world a richer place. Of course a Geen-Rana mention gets a smile from me, even if she slightly poisoned Teresa!

Teresa knew that the destruction of the skooma and the boat would hardly put a dent in the armor of their business.

I love this expression. It’s still the same in our coastal area, you wouldn’t give a smuggler’s boat to a bunch of kids, and folks tend to ignore the lights they might see at night on the water.

It reminded her of sugar, but was far more potent, and far less appealing.

It reminded her of moon sugar, or plain old sugar? I don’t think this is the end of the skooma problem in Bravil, and I want to have it in my head right when the subject comes up again.

This episode makes me think a lot about why Teresa does things, and wonder how she would respond to different events. For example, how much of her action here was driven by civic responsibility, and how much by personal vengeance. If she caught Methredhel stealing in Bravil, what would she do? Did Teresa leave the bodies for the crows because she genuinely feels they deserve to feed on them, or does her anger at the smugglers extend to their corpses. Does she feel more of a connection with the magical forest spriggans than her fellow mortals. I’m not looking for answers, the story will tell me. It’s just to say that Teresa’s character has taken a big jump for me lately. I found her very appealing from the beginning of her story, but now she is also fascinating. She was a girl I wished the best for as she found her way, and now I’m wondering how the woman will make her world better.

Wonderful how you turned this Arimer ruin into a little 'quest' of its own, complete with some mystery. Like Teresa, I was disappointed that she did not find an ancestor statue or other expensive treasure to help finance a place for Simplicia.

I enjoyed your rich review of Teresa's Analyze Alchemy spell - very handy! Her revulsion and response to the skooma was very Teresa, given Simplicia's history.

Her elfinity was very much on display as she considered, then rejected, providing the boat to a nearby fishing village. Unable to argue with her logic and not being one to reject vengeance myself, I also was pleased to see her torch the boat.

Now, I assure you that whatever wagon made those ruts leading to Bawn, it was not drawn by our dear Button. The mighty mare is fully accounted for at the Bay Roan Stables with a solid alibi.

Nit: 'Feeling dejected, Teresa returned the camp of her attackers.'
I suspect you meant 'returned to the camp'.

Teresa's reaction to the skooma - and why ... very poignient scene !! Great Write !!

His staw-colored hair hung down beyond his shoulders, and his nearly naked frame was bound in rolling muscle. Tattoos that glowed with a soft blue light covered every part of his exposed flesh, tracing intricate loops and whorls around his frame.

Oh hello.

Too bad he was a smuggler. That's definitely a deal breaker.

Wonderful chapters. I love her reaction to the skooma. It's very fitting considering what happened to Simplicia. I also love the bit of Spriggan justice

Good riddance to Teresa's decision. I wonder how much of that shipment was bound for young Terentius down the way of that squalid dung-heap I... I mean... woodsy, quaint city on the mouth of the Larsius?

I really don't get why you can now sell Skooma to any merchant you wish in this game. I really wish that you could only sell Skooma to Khajiit merchants or merchants who deal in stolen goods. That would make much better sense. Still, there is the dilemma of morals regarding the Skooma trade. Teresa has chosen her side, and I get the impression she intends to stick with it.

hazmick: I knew you would love the nightshade tea! Thank you again for inventing it.


haute ecole rider: My period ran off? Must be the wrong time of the month!


ghastley: The once and future ghastley. No ghostly seamen are in store for Teresa in the near future. But she will meet a Witch.


Olen: I got the stooping over from a description of belladona poisoning I found when I first researched which poison Teresa would favor. There are other symptoms to be sure, sweating, dilated pupils, etc... But those seem pretty common. I believe the bending over is from the nightshade's effect on the bowels, which is quite pronounced.


Grits: I am imagining that poisons are like spices to Argonians. I got the idea from hazmick, whose character Haa-Rei the Marsh Ranger drank nightshade and milk thistle tea.

Teresa is probably not familiar with raw moonsugar, so I figure it is just sugar that it reminded her of. Though how much different the moon stuff is from the regular sugar they never say. Turning it into skooma seems to be a pretty involved process.


Acadian: Teresa did mean to return to the camp, thank you for helping her get back there. The change of Bawn from the game is in response to what I think was a missed opportunity on Bethesda's part. There is an agent in Bravil's castle to hunt down Renrijra Krin because of the skooma trade. With Elsewyr right on the border, you would think Bravil County would the logical place to smuggle it across. But the only skooma smugglers we find in the game are at Walker Camp, outside of Cheydihnal. They should have put that near Bravil instead, and the Orum gang there too.


mALX: Teresa's reaction was one of those things that took no thinking on my part. It just came right out as I wrote it, thanks to her history with Simplicia.


Jacki Dice: How about this fella?. I loved being able to use the spriggans to kill the smugglers. Such a nice change from the game!


Thomas Kaira: Probably half of it was for the Count's son! Teresa has never had any dilemma regarding skooma. She just never had the opportunity to strike a blow until now.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: Teresa walked to Bawn in our last chapter, stopping off in the village of Maplemill along the way. Continuing on to Bawn, she was attacked by skooma smugglers within. But drawing them into an ancient forest brought the wrath of its guardians - spirggans - down upon the smugglers. After all of them were dead, Teresa found their cargo within Bawn, and destroyed it, along with their boat. Next, Teresa meets the subject of this chapter's title.


Chapter 36.1 – The Witch of Bawnwatch Island

13th-14th Frostfall, 3E433

Teresa stepped from the trees along the water's edge and set her feet upon the wooden bridge before her. The span crossed the strait between the southern edge of Niben Bay and a small island to the north. The rough planks groaned in protest under her leather boots, and the forester stopped to stare down with alarm.

The bridge had looked solid enough when she had viewed it from the ruins of Bawn. But now that she was closer, she had second thoughts. While it was wide enough for a cart to pass down its length, Teresa could see that the bridge could never bear such a conveyance. Many of its planks were broken, and several were completely missing. If that were not enough, the hand rails to either side were warped, and looked like they might break loose if they were leaned upon.

Picking her way across the bridge with care, Teresa was relieved when it did not give way and send her plunging into the bay underneath. She would not have minded the swim, but a fall through jagged wooden planks was another matter entirely. Even with the leather armor she wore, she would hardly be safe. She could just imagine her epitaph. "Here floats Teresa of the Faint smile, survivor of the Oblivion Crisis, Vilverin, Belda, Nagastani, and Bawn. Killed by a board though the neck."

Pausing three quarters of the way across, she lifted her eyes to the coast of the small island ahead of her. She was approaching its south-western corner, and it stretched away to the east in a rough crescent. Between the twin horns of the arc was a placid cove, with a narrow channel of water opening to the rest of Niben Bay in the east. Set back from the shore of the inlet she saw the forms of stone houses roofed with thatch, shielded by a dilapidated wooden wall. Yet now she noticed that no smoke rose from the chimneys, and that there was no sign of movement along the shore. Nor was there a fishing boat anywhere in sight on the water nearby.

So where were all the people? The forester wondered as she started forward once more. Was the village abandoned? It seemed an ideal spot for a fishing settlement, given the shelter of the cove. What could make people leave such a place? The skooma-smugglers?

Teresa looked up again as the whoosh of magicka filled air. Out of reflex, her right hand dropped to the arrow bag at her hip. She knew it would do her little good with her bow hanging unstrung from her shoulder however. With an effort, she lifted her hand from the feathered missiles. Staring at the end of the bridge, she watched as a form took shape behind a disc of magicka that fell through the air there.

It was shaped like an elf, with two arms, legs, and a single head sprouting from its body. Yet that body was not made of flesh, nor of anything substantial at all. Rather it seemed to be comprised of an ever-shifting vapor. It was too clear and soft to be smoke. It was more like a heavy haze, or a shimmer of heat against the horizon.

The creature rose into the air. As Teresa stared in amazement, the leaves that had lain scattered across the end of the bridge were thrown aloft and flew about it in a whirlwind, only to be scattered in all directions moments later. She could feel the wind rustling through her hair, and held up one hand to shield her eyes from the dust being flung about.

Then a woman stepped into view beside the sylph - for what else could such a creature be? The newcomer was tall, and her sandy brown hair spilled down in a waterfall past her small breasts. Teresa imagined that she was a Breton with that hair, not to mention her almond-soft eyes. She wore a short-sleeved dress of brown flax layered over another of blue and green, so the long sleeves of the latter were revealed. The same was true of her neckline, where the plunging design of the brown garment showed off the blue and green gown beneath, as did a slit down the front of her brown skirts as well. Her only adornments were a silver necklace with a spiral pendant, and a copper ring on her right hand.

She clutched a staff in one hand, which Teresa could feel was brimming with energy. Unlike most other mage's staves that the wood elf had seen, this was white in color, and bore a chunk of raw meteoric glass between the twin branches at its peak. A single, thin vine was wrapped around its length, bearing tiny leaves, and as Teresa watched, a tiny flake of snow wafted from its tip.

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"And who is paying me a visit this fine afternoon?" She spoke with a strong voice, and Teresa stared at her. Something seemed strange about the woman, and familiar. Had she seen her before?

"My name is Teresa," the forester said in a clear tone. "I'm with the Fighters Guild. I was hoping to hire a boat to take me back to Bravil."

The woman looked her up and down for long moments, then lowered her staff and beckoned her to approach. At the same time the sylph lowered herself to the ground, and the wind about her grew still once more. Then she seemed to lose what little substance she possessed, and simply faded away into thin air.

"Ahh yes, so it is you," the human murmured thoughtfully. Then she spoke in a louder tone. "My name is Aela, and you are welcome here at Bawnwatch."

"Thank you Aela," Teresa said, allowing herself to relax once more. "Your village is certainly well protected, to have such a powerful magician as yourself standing guard."

"I wasn't standing guard." Aela shook her head, and nodded across the water to the south and west. There Teresa could see a line of smoke rising from the fires she had set within and without Bawn. "I saw that, and came to see what had caused it."

"That was me," Teresa spread her hands sheepishly. "I ran into some trouble in Bawn."

"I'll daresay you did," the woman remarked. "Are you alone?" When Teresa nodded, the magician's eyes widened. "You are lucky to be alive. There are a dozen skooma-runners over there."

"Not anymore," Teresa said softly. She stepped forward once more, crossing what remained of the bridge to stand before the Breton.

"You killed them?" Aela marveled. "By yourself?"

"No," Teresa said, "only one of them. The others chased me into the Haunted Forest. The guardians saw to them."

"They are not the only guardians of the forest it seems," Aela murmured. She looked Teresa up and down, as if appraising her. "You are indeed the one they spoke of."

"Who is that?" Teresa asked, wondering what it was about the Breton that seemed familiar?

"Why the bears of course," Aela said offhandedly, "and the ravens. They all speak of you."

Teresa would have been flabbergasted to hear that a year ago, not to mention more than a little doubtful of the speaker's honesty. Yet after all she had been through since discovering the beauty of the wilderness, it hardly seemed noteworthy at all. Of course the denizens of the forest knew her. How could they not? The woods were her home after all.

Still, something seemed strange about the magician. Something Teresa could not put her finger on. Had they met before? While Aela possessed the typical soft brown hair and eyes of her race, she was much taller than most of their women. In fact she was as tall as any elf, Teresa included. Now that the wood elf looked closer, she found that the other woman was broader in the shoulder than most women as well, and more narrow in the hips. Her hands were large too. Man-hands, some might say. Her voice also had more resonance, and Teresa wondered if that might have something to do with how pronounced her adam's apple was.

Teresa blinked. Why did Aela have an adam's apple?

Aela was not a she at all! Teresa fought to retain control of her features, and not betray the amazement that was blossoming within her. But from the flash she saw in Aela's eyes, she knew that she had failed. The Breton's shoulders drooped slightly, as if in defeat, and she turned away.

"This way." The mage waved for Teresa to follow her along a path through the sparse trees that dotted the narrow island. The forester said nothing as she walked along behind the magician. Her mind whirled with the revelation. Of course she had heard of the Two-Spirit folk before, but she had never imagined that she might meet one. She had thought that they were only elves, and priestesses, not to mention fearsome villains with terrifying powers. At least that was how the bards always portrayed them it in their stories. In any case, she had never heard of Two-Spirit peasants living out in the middle of the wilderness. What was Aela doing on Bawnwatch Island?

As they made their way along the shore, Teresa remembered the words of Spurius from Maplemill: "Gave me the look he, or she, whatever the blazes it is, did…" So Aela was the Witch that he was so consternated by. The same one that had cured the hopeful young archer Marcus of blood lung. Perhaps that also explained why Aela was here in the middle of nowhere, rather than living in a temple? The Breton was a not a priestess, but a Witch, just as Morcant was. As Teresa was herself.

Soon the trees opened up to a sandy beach that was empty of boats except for a single, small dory turned upside down. Nearby was a pile of driftwood, neatly stacked up into a pyramid as tall as any elf. Set back from the shore, atop a small rise that bordered the sand, were the stone homes of the fishing village. A wooden stockade ringed the settlement. Or at least it had. Now it was in a shambles, with nearly every post missing from the beach-side. The landward parts still appeared to be sturdy however, but even those revealed signs of warping and sagging.

Teresa could also see that the thatch roofs of nearly every home bore wide holes, and many of the doors and shutters were little better. As before she saw no lights, no smoke from cooking fires, and heard not a sound except for the lapping of the waves on the shore. In fact, there was not a soul in sight.

"Where is everybody?" Teresa wondered aloud.

"You are looking at everyone." Aela turned around and leaned on her staff. "I am the only one who has lived here for a long time."

"What happened to everyone else?" Teresa looked from the empty shell of the village to the magician. "Was it the smugglers?"

"No, mudcrabs," the Breton said with a shake of her head. "At least so far as I can tell."

"Mudcrabs?" Teresa wondered if she had heard the other woman correctly. "How can crabs run off the entire village?"

"It was abandoned when I came here five years ago, except for an entire colony of crabs." The Breton turned and continued on her way up the beach. Passing the dory, which Teresa noted was in good condition, they continued inland. Climbing the hillside, Aela led her to the nearest house. Teresa could see that the roof on this was still intact, as were all of the doors and windows. "There were thousands of them. They covered nearly half the island. You could walk across the beach without ever setting foot on the sand."

"Where did they all come from?" Teresa asked, looking back to the empty strand. "And where did they go?"

"I am not sure where they came from," Aela said. "But I found them a new home in one of the old castles down the coast. It's mostly submerged now, so it's perfect for them."

The Breton opened the door of the house, but leapt aside an instant later. Teresa jumped as well, as a pair of furred shapes darted from within and raced down one of the empty streets. Teresa's heart slowed as she stared after the speeding forms. Cats, she thought, just a pair of ordinary cats.

"That was Valdemar and Alain." The Breton laughed as she gestured for Teresa to enter. "They keep me company."

"So you said you found the mudcrabs a new home?" Teresa looked around the interior of the house. The late afternoon light slanted through the opened windows, revealing a simple one-room home. A glance up showed a handful of raw glowstones gathered into the latticework of a metal chandelier. It was exactly like Teresa had seen in half-a-dozen Arimer ruins.

"Yes, I led them to the castle," the Breton said behind her. "After we got rid of the vampires lairing there."

A fireplace stood at each end of the rectangular home. Before one was a small, round table and a pair of chairs. In one corner were two narrow beds, their box-shaped frames filled with what Teresa guessed were feather-stuffed mattresses. Against the other wall was a writing desk with a third chair, with a softly glowing welkynd stone perched atop it. At the opposite end of the building stood the kitchen, where an empty iron cooking pot sat on the floor beside the fireplace. To one side was a long counter holding neatly arranged copper pots and pans, as well as finely painted ceramic plates and cups. To the other stretched a rectangular table decorated by a vase of flowers. A large, round carpet took up the center of the room, as did another beneath the dining room table, and a third next to the beds. The walls were draped with colorful tapestries decorated with delicate knotwork designs, and several potted plants added their greenery to the room.

"We?" Teresa looked back to the Witch. "Vampires?"

"Ungarion, he is a friend of mine." Aela leaned her staff against the writing desk. Teresa saw several pieces of parchment sitting loose upon it. On the topmost one was written only two words: Green Man. Teresa could feel magicka lurking within the page, and realized that it was a scroll for summoning the creature. "We found that the ruins of the castle were infested with vampires, so we had to deal with them before the crabs could move in."

"Lucky crabs," Teresa noted dryly.

Aela simply shrugged. "I had a home of my own to gain from it," she said. "Enlightened self-interest is the force that holds the Multiverse together."

"Well, you certainly have a beautiful home," Teresa observed. Truly, it would be the envy of any commoner living in a country village, or within a city. The forester hoped that the home she would one day buy for Simplicia would look the same. She wondered how much work it had taken Aela to get it that way, not to mention keep it up?

"Thank you," the Breton said as she glided past Teresa to the kitchen. Teresa smelled the fragrant aroma of bergamot and lavender in her wake. She smiled faintly as the magician lit the hearth with a Flare spell. It was so welcome to see that she was not the only one to use that spell so! Then Aela took an iron skillet from the counter. Teresa could see that it was filled with succulent fish fillets, and licked her lips as the Breton placed it on an iron grate that sat above the flames.

"You are just in time for dinner," the brown-haired woman glanced back. "I caught some walleye this morning. There should be plenty for both of us."

"That is very generous of you Aela." Teresa stepped up to the counter beside Aela, and reached into the Thieves Bag at her hip. "I have some cornbread that I can add, baked fresh this afternoon by Baebiana from Maplemill. Plus, I have a bottle of this to wash it down." After placing the biscuits on the counter, she produced a long, tapering bottle of wine.

"That is Tamika's." The Breton lifted an eyebrow as she took in the distinctive bottle.

"It is only 430," Teresa frowned slightly. "But it is still good. I always carry a bottle with me, just in case."