Why do I get the feeling our crimson-haired maiden is in for a rude awakening in that city?

I really like where you placed this chapter, just after a very hefty set of events, ending in an unfortunate bloodbath and a touch of blackmail (remind me never to stiff that woman again). Right here we get to let our hair down, sit back, relax, feel the serenity of the Nibenay Basin, free of the oppressive lifestyle of Heartland Cyrodiil. Overall, this was a wonderful, and dare I say, needed, time for a tension-reliever.

Unfortunately, knowing Bravil, I don't know if it will last. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted, and the story has to go somewhere, right? Journey on, Teresa, you may not know it, but Chorrol is always here for you.

I’m with TK, placing this chapter after the events of the last few is a much needed calm after the storm. I enjoyed Teresa’s walk through the forest and her harvesting of her favored nightshade. The image of the fox that she sees caused me to look around to see if there was a uniquely forest-challenged wood elf attached to it, carrying a bow!

Now we finally get to see if Teresa will take the legionary’s advice and join the Bravil Fighter’s Guild.

hazmick: I am glad you liked Silverbridge. Expect to see more of it in the future.


Olen: A particular statue will be featured soon. In fact, chapter 26 takes its name from it. I do not plan on doing anything with its association with the dark brotherhood however.


Acadian: I thought you might like that last piece. Back when I was writing The Temple I saw The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams for the first time in decades. In addition to my own love of animals and the wilderness, it has really helped me define Teresa's identity as a forester, and exactly what it means to her.


Thomas Kaira: At the risk of plagiarizing, I can honestly say that Teresa's time in Bravil will be the best of times, and the worst of times for her.


Destri Melarg: It was nice to just stop and smell the nightshade for a moment. The previous segment was a good, gentle reminder of where Teresa is happiest. Where she is most at home really. After the last big chapter with other characters in the city, I thought it would be good if when I showed Teresa again, she was fully in her element.


Next: In our previous segment Teresa discovered the little farming village of Silverbridge west of Bravil. Next she continues on toward the city itself, but makes a little detour along the way.


Chapter 26.2 – The Fighter

Teresa made her way east through the village to its main gate, which sat facing Bravil across the road headed south. Casting her gaze in that direction, Teresa could see that the forest had been cleared for a quarter mile beyond the village and was now filled with high stalks of corn and other crops.

She found that the river branched off to the south after the bridge as well, bordered by the stone walls of the city on the east, and the road on the west. A third course broke off from it halfway downstream. This leg of the river turned directly to the east once more, running through a grate in the city wall and vanishing within. Beyond the city to the south, Teresa could see that the water opened up into a wide bay that stretched out of sight, except for the western shore that she now stood upon.

Turning to her left, Teresa followed the road north and crossed the stone bridge spanning the Larsius. Then she was back on the northern bank of the original river course and following it east once more. Bravil loomed up over her right shoulder, and Teresa realized that it was actually set within the river delta, with forks of the watercourse going past it to the north, west, and directly through it. It must be on several islands then, she imagined, rather than part of the coast itself.

Then a familiar sight loomed over her left shoulder. White stones lay scattered along the hillside to the north. A familiar upraised well of stone and metal was still intact, with silvery energy lazily floating up from within it like steam. A Varla Mae, Teresa thought - a star well - just like the one she had found at Vilverin.

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Beyond the well rose a still intact stone archway. Behind it was a building whose far end was buried in the hillside. Set within its southern face was a typical Ayleid double-door: two portals with semi-circular handles in the center, which would form a circle when they were shut.

Now they yawned open however, and as Teresa walked up the slope to the ruin, she found that a paint horse was tied to a nearby tree. Somebody's visiting, she thought. That prompted her to draw the bowstave from her back and string it. She knew that there wasn't likely to be any trouble right next to the city. Besides, Herminia had told her that the ruin was empty and completely explored long ago. But it did not hurt to be careful, she thought.

So with strung bow in hand, Teresa plunged into the depths of Anutwyll. She found that she did not need her Night Eye goggles, as the way was lit by regularly spaced glowstones set in small metal lanterns. Following a stair that wound its way deep into Nirn, she finally came to a gallery that looked upon a large open chamber. Its ceiling was held up by massive columns, and a great metal chandelier hung in the center of the room, its roughly cut glowstones filling the chamber with light.

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Near one wall Teresa saw several tables set up in a long row, flanked by more of the same glowstone lanterns she had seen before. As best the wood elf could see, the tables seemed to be scattered with junk and pieces of parchment. Sitting at one was an Altmer in brown and green flax. His red hair rose up from his head in an elaborate, twisting cone, a hairstyle that Teresa found common enough among Altmer men. It made them look even taller than they already were, she thought, as if they needed the help!

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"Hail friend," she called out in a clear voice, which she hoped sounded friendly. "My name is Teresa. I'm looking for Carandial."

"Oh my!" the Altmer nearly fell from his chair, dropping the piece of graphite he was sketching with and clutching at his chest for a moment. He took a moment to compose himself, then rose to his feet and looked up to the gallery where Teresa stood.

"You gave me quite a start there!" he said. "For a moment I thought one of the original residents had come back! I am Carandial by the way. I am surprised to see anyone else here."

"I'm sorry." Teresa bit her lower lip. "Herminia Cinna told me to look you up when I came to Bravil. She said you were studying the ruin, so when I saw it I came in to look."

"You know Herminia?" the Altmer's voice brightened, and he stepped closer to the gallery. "Well come down then, there's a corridor that goes-"

His words trailed off as Teresa slipped over the stone handrails and lowered herself down the wall. Hanging from the lip of the gallery floor, she let go, dropping the rest of the way. Landing on light feet, she rose and dusted her armor off.

"I see you have found your own way," the high elf commented dryly.

"It wasn't that far," Teresa breathed. "I'm really sorry to startle you. I know how unnerving these places can be."

"Oh that's all right," the Altmer said, "I get so engrossed in my work, that I'm afraid it even happens back in the guildhall. How is it that you know Herminia, if I might ask?"

"She tutored me on the Ay-Arimer," Teresa said. "I'm an explorer, and I plan to look for some of their ruins in County Bravil. Perhaps some in Leyawiin County too. She mentioned that you were here doing research, and suggested I come see you."

"Well, if you're looking for treasure here in Anutwyll, I am afraid you are a few thousand years too late!" the high elf proclaimed. "This place was picked clean of everything valuable long before either of us were born. That is why I am here though, it's safe, so I can do my work without danger."

"So what is it that you are doing?" Teresa asked, and the other elf led her over to the tables.

"I am studying the architecture," the Altmer explained, pointing to the book he was drawing in when Teresa had arrived. The page it was open to was filled with a sketch of the top of one of the chamber's columns, detailing how it joined with the ceiling above. It was quite good work, Teresa noted. Carandial was obviously skilled as an artist, as well as being a mage.

"Did you know that the Arimer treated their stone to make it stronger? We are still not sure exactly how, except that it was at least a partly magical process. That is why the stone is white. It was just ordinary grey granite beforehand. That is why their sites have lasted for so many thousands of years relatively intact. They used no mortar either. But the stones do not rest freely. Somehow they are bound together with magic. It really is quite amazing."

"So what is this other stuff?" Teresa asked, her hand waving out over the carefully arranged junk on the tables. Now she noted that each piece sat upon or beside a piece of parchment. Each page had a drawing of the object, and some writing that appeared to describe it. "It just looks like broken pottery and bits of metal."

"That is because it is!" the Altmer laughed and clapped a gentle hand on Teresa's back. Stepping closer to the table, he picked up one piece of green metal and handed it to the forester.

"Here, what do you think this was?"

"It just looks like a glob of old bronze?" Teresa thought aloud.

"It was a metal eyelet," the high elf explained. "Possibly to hold the lace on someone's shoe, or perhaps a lady's corset. I am recording and cataloguing every artifact I find here in the ruins. Like I said before, everything with monetary value is long gone, but there are still plenty of pieces like this, which can help us put together the puzzle of what the day-to-day lives of the Arimer were like. What they wore, how they worked, what they ate, and so on."

"That is a wonderful goal," Teresa breathed, looking over the tables filled with junk. No, she thought, artifacts. Keys to the past. "You must be a very patient man. I don't think I could sit here for hours writing about all of this."

"Oh, I love it!" the Altmer replied enthusiastically. "Every day is a new adventure down here in Anutwyll!" If anyone else had said it, Teresa would have sworn it was meant sarcastically. Yet when she looked in the other elf's eyes, she could see he meant every word of it. He was obviously just as passionate about history as Herminia. If not more so.

"But you are not here looking for eyelets," the Altmer went on. "You are looking for other Arimer sites I take it?"

"Yes, Teresa admitted. "I was wondering if you knew where I might start looking for places like Bawn, Culotte, Nenalata, Mackamentain, and a few others. I have them all written down on a list."

"Well most of those are right on the coast of Niben Bay," Carandial explained. "Bawn is just across the bay to the south, hug the coast and you can't miss it. Nenalata is across the bay at the mouth of the Silverfish River, and Culotte is on the Upper Niben."

Teresa pulled off her pack, and rummaged around within it until she found her map. Spreading it over an empty spot on one table, she turned back to the scholar.

"Do you think you could point those out to me?"

Well a ruin with a friendly inhabitant, that's new

I like how you showed Carandial, he fits the part very well as a history obsessive collecting things which no one else finds interesting. An archaeologist no less, makes sense you might find one in a safe (assuming all those gas traps are defunct) ruin near a city. And he seems happy enough to point Teresa towards some rther less safe ruins elsewhere.

The hardened stone was a nice worldbuilding touch too.

I'm still waiting to see who 'The Fighter' is though.

Uh...uh...has the moratorium been lifted? I ... saw a loincloth ... now a corset ... WOO HOO! Underwear !!!!

I loved how he reacted when she spoke - so realistic to how most anyone would - and I have, running across that live adventurer a few times - GAAAAH! And clutching his heart to catch his breath - perfect !!! Great Chapter !!!

What a nice fellow Carandial is! You've done a good job building Carandial's friendly personality, he fills the part of the crazy Archeologist perfectly. Lot's of lovely screenies kept me happy whilst reading this equally fantastic chapter. I can't wait to see which ruin Teresa visits first, Haa-Rei and I recently discovered Mackamentain and it was a lot of fun clearing it out!

I am still trying to catch up. Damn you for writing such an awesome story.

It was so cool to see that you are giving Methredhel such range and scope in your story. She is the perfect pea in the pod to Teresa. Sure, they have their problems, but that is because they are so similar.

I loved the way she saved Vols. Running away and letting him think that is was Teresa was so cool.

Then the soft feathers of her arrow tickled Methredhel's cheek.
Delightful description!! You are the master of show vs tell.

"Hail friend," she called out in a clear voice, which she hoped sounded friendly. "My name is Teresa. I'm looking for Carandial."
Well done, Teresa! The perfect way to declare yourself. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it leads to a fight for your life.

I'm so pleased you actually put some meat on the bare bones of Carandial's Ayleid Arimer research. Nicely done. I liked the detail of both daily life as well as Arimeri construction techniques. Our girl is getting to be quite the scholar on Arimer!

Devoting almost an entire episode to meeting Carandial and discussing Arimer was a wonderful choice that I'm glad you made. Of course you know I'm always pleased when you allow Teresa to linger. In this case, liberal reference to Herminia enrichened things even more. Buffy the busybody couldn't help but sigh and picture Carandial and Herminia. . . .

Just a pleasure to read!

Olen: There are several people in this chapter to whom 'the Fighter' can be seen to refer to. The one most people would probably think of will not appear for a few more segments.


mALX: Imagine being the poor fellow working in a ruin when someone yells out at you from out of nowhere! Yikes!


hazmick: Carandial is rather bland in the game, so I decided to liven him up a bit. In the process he sort of ran away with my keyboard, which was nice. Mackamentain is a fun ruin, with a ton of varla stones if I recall.


Winter Wolf: Methredhel is a fun character to write. In many ways the opposite of Teresa, yet as you noted, she and our stringy forester are peas in a pod.


Acadian: Thankfully this time Teresa's introduction of herself went better than at Belda! I used that segment as a chance to explain why Ayleid ruins are white, yet no other stone buildings in Cyrodiil are (if the Ayleids had simply used white limestone, then we should also see Imperial buildings of the same). I also wanted to show why there still are any ruins left after 4,000 years of wind, rain, and vegetation.

I never really thought of a connection like that between Herminia and Carandial. Should we start calling Buffy Emma instead?


Next: Teresa met Carandial in the ruins of Anytywll last segment, and the Altmer was kind enough to point out the locations of several ruins for her. Coming up, Teresa finally enters Bravil proper, and meets some of its residents.


Chapter 26.3 – The Fighter

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Teresa shaded her eyes against the sudden glare of the noon sun as she stepped from the ruin. Carandial had been very helpful, and had even taken the time to show her through the remaining passages of the ruin. Even though he had no desire to go exploring with her, he was able to point out where he knew several ruins were, and the general area he suspected others might be in. The forester had the distinct impression that even though he was a mage, like Herminia he was no fighter. She shrugged at the thought, not everyone was cut out for it. That was something she knew better than anyone else. If not for the Emperor, she would still be a mouse sneaking through the back alleys of the Imperial City.

Thinking of the old man raised a lump in Teresa's throat, and once again she wished that he had survived the Crisis. If only she had been quicker when the assassin appeared, and had more nerve. If only Baurus had gotten back sooner. If only Jauffre had found out that Piner was spy earlier. If only so many things had happened differently.

But happen they had, Teresa sighed, and there was no changing any of it. All that was left was to go on.

Looking up, she found that her feet had taken her to the city gates. To her right rose a sprawling livery, filled with stables and corrals in which horses and their keepers roamed. Just beyond it was a massive wooden bridge that spanned the Larsius, with a wide sign over the beams at its near end saying Welcome to Bravil. At its far end were the massive gates of the settlement. Made of wood that was bound in iron, the doors looked as formidable as the interior gates that separated the many districts of the Imperial City. Yet they were no comparison to the mighty bronze portals that guarded the capital's outer walls.

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Turning to her left, Teresa saw that the road stretched away to the north, and realized that it must be the Green Road. To the west it was bordered by deep forest. But to the east fields of corn rolled on as far as the eye could see. Between the farms and the city was the ruin of an old castle, little more than a small pile of stones now. It was in such a decrepit state that the wood elf wondered if people had been cannibalizing its stones for other buildings. A wide field stretched out south of the ruin, running to the edge of the river. Perhaps a half mile beyond it all to the east lay the vast blue expanse of Niben Bay, vanishing into the horizon.

Teresa turned back to the bridge, and found a lone guardsman standing at the near end. A Nibenean from his dark features, he wore mail armor draped in a cream-colored surcoat. Emblazoned upon it in brown and green was the image of a stag with its head turned backward. The same image decorated the kite-shaped shield at his left hand, and the hilt of an arming sword jutted from his hip.

"Good afternoon stranger," he said with a smile, "welcome to the city of Mara!"

"Greetings," the wood elf said as she walked up to him. "My name is Teresa, this is my first time here. Could you tell me where the Fighters Guild is, and the Guild of Mages?"

"Well met Teresa. I am Marius Helvius. The Fighters Guild is right down Silver Avenue there." The guardsman pointed across the bridge and through the open gates of the city. "The mages are past that, down to the docks, and then to the right on Riverwalk."

Teresa thanked him and headed across the bridge. Glancing at the gently flowing river under her feet she was suddenly struck with the impulse to leap over the edge and dive into its inviting waves. Even though she had just swam across the Larsius to Silverbridge an hour before, her body longed to feel its cool embrace as she stared down upon water once more.

With an effort she compelled her feet to remain on the wooden boards and crossed to the stone cobbles of the gatehouse on the far side of the river. Stepping through the shadowy tunnel that ran through the city wall, she noted the arrow-slits in the walls, murder-holes in the ceiling above, and the raised portcullis at the far end. The same defenses that she had seen in Cheydinhal and Chorrol, not to mention the Imperial City.

Then she was through the gatehouse and into the city proper. The cobbles of the road led straight ahead into the city, yet the many smaller roads and alleys that branched out to either side were of hard-packed dirt, and some even of grass. Trees and small gardens bloomed everywhere she looked, giving the wood elf the impression of the city being half wild.

Teresa found that the main street was lined with shops, taverns, several outdoor food stands, a bathhouse, and even a round theater named The Globe. Most of the buildings rose at least two stories. A few, like the theater, rose to three. Some of their lower stories were made of stone, but most were purely of wood. She made a mental note of the small temple of Zenithar that she passed on her right. She would want to stop by there in the future to add more to her account. Hopefully many times in the coming months.

On the other hand, the side-streets appeared to be where all the homes were. Stairways crisscrossed the outsides of nearly all of the houses, giving Teresa the impression that they were actually multiple domiciles stacked one upon the other rather than single homes.

This was so different from the oppressive, crowding stones of the Imperial City, Teresa thought. Even with the high buildings all around, Bravil seemed so open, so much more alive than the capital. Perhaps because the stone of the Imperial City was so hard and cold, where the soft wood and grass of Bravil seemed to invite one to sit and relax while the rest of the world went by outside.

And people call this the sewer drain of Cyrodiil! she thought. What a bunch of idiots!

Down a dirt road to her right Teresa caught sight of a curious statue that rose in the middle of the street. Made of bronze turned green from age, it depicted an old woman wearing a dress whose skirt seemed to flow like water around her legs. Surrounding her were several children, whom she looked down upon with warm, caring eyes.

"The Lucky Old Lady that is." A thin, cracking voice came to Teresa's ear. "They say it's good fortune she'll bring if you kiss her." The wood elf turned to see a silver-haired Imperial woman standing beside her. Her face was a roadmap of wrinkles, and she wore a patched dress of worn flax that fell to a pair of bare feet.

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Teresa felt her heart leap into her throat. That could be Simplicia! she thought. She wanted to say something, but could not find the words. Instead she dug her fingers into a pouch at her belt and produced a handful of coins. She did not bother to even look at what kind they were. She simply passed the money to the much older woman, whose eyes blossomed at the sight of the currency.

"Mara bless you fine lady!" the old woman cackled with glee, revealing a mouth filled with yellow and broken teeth. "Never even asked you for anything did I, and handing over your lifesavings you are."

"I know what it's like," Teresa looked down as she felt her cheeks turning red from the old woman's praise. "I grew up on the streets. I know how hard it is, how cruel people can be when you are down and out."

"Oh, a kind soul is what you are my lady!" the old woman proclaimed. "Aia is I, Wretched Aia is what they all call me. You're new I can see. So if you're wantin' to know anything about the city, you just be askin' Aia, anytime."

"I will," the forester said with a faint smile, "thank you Aia, my name is Teresa." One thing she had learned as a street rat was that it was the beggars who knew everything that went on in a city. They saw everyone day and night, and no one ever noticed them because of what they were. For being poor rendered one invisible far more potently than any potion or spell ever could, Teresa thought.

This chapter touches the heart of the reader, Teresa's reaction at the sight of Aia; Simplicia and the memories of the years of struggling never far from her mind - and the opening paragraphs, how the Emperor changed her life so profoundly. Very deep emotions in Teresa that are tangible to the reader. Awesome Write (as always); Huge !!!

A most warm welcome from the city of Bravil! Say hi to Buffy for us!

I'm glad you touched on the fact that in the normal game, although Bravil was supposed to feel like a slum town, it really didn't. Personally, I've modded the city to make it look the part it was meant to play a little better, but to each his (or her) own tastes, of course, and I can see you've decided to keep the slums reserved to the Waterfront. IMHO, a wise decision, considering the character of Teresa, she must feel right at home here. If only she could travel to Vvardenfell someday... she would LOVE Sadrith Mora.

Wonderful, I like what you've done with Bravil. Clean streets and a theatre are easy to imagine with your deep and detailed descriptive skills. Aia was brilliant, Teresa's emotions when the beggar came into view were very touching. More wonderful screenshots as well!

P.S Mackamentain did have a few Varla stones, Haa-Rei had no use for them so they remained in the ruin. I'm sure a certain Bosmer can think of some uses for ancient magic stones though.

This was lovely!

Opening scene: Ah, coulda, woulda, shoulda. . . don't beat yourself up Teresa. I'm glad your feet wisely carried you to the city gates.

It's a good thing Teresa didn't shuck her duds and dive into the river as she was naturally tempted to do. The guards are quite used to that from the local wood nymphs and I'm sure they were watching Teresa like a hawk raven. Not to arrest her, mind you - simply for amusement.

I'm delighted that Teresa sees the beauty that is the City of Mara! As you well know, not everyone is so gifted to see that.

There was no doubt that Aia would remind Teresa of Simplicia. I am so glad it seems the two ladies will be friends.

'For being poor rendered one invisible far more potently than any potion or spell ever could, Teresa thought.'
Wise and true, young Teresa!

mALX: It has been so many words and chapters since I started, that I often have to remind myself that it has only been a few months for Teresa. So scenes like the last where she remembers the Emperor and still feels the rawness of his death, or where she is brought face to face with the realities of life on the street, can actually be hard to write. Because I have to remember!


Thomas Kaira: Sadly, it will be a while before Teresa meets everyone's favorite blond, Bosmer bowgirl. But rest assured, it will happen one day.

One of the things that bothers me about writing Bravil is that its architecture is so different from the rest of Cyrodiil. Everywhere else that is Cyrodiilic you see stone buildings, like in Chorrol and Cheydinhal and Skingrad, and the massive stone blocks of the Imp City. Bruma is said to be built on the Nordic style, and one imagines Leyawiin from the Khajiit, while finally Anvil is Gold Coast style, so it gets its flavor from Hammerfell. So why is everything in Bravil made of wood shacks? Especially when the city has been around for thousands of years? It may have been wooden to begin with back in the First Age, but it would have been built and rebuilt hundreds of times over since then, and it is silly to believe people would use different construction techniques than the rest of Cyrodiil, when they are in the heart of Cyrodiil.

So I am going to portray Bravil as a frontier town, only (relatively) recently built. I am thinking it sprang up overnight as a boom town when silver was discovered along the Larsius. Then the silver played out, most people moved on, and Bravil hit the skids with only farming and fishing to support it. So the original wooden buildings were never replaced with "modern" ones of stone, and it retains that rough feel to it. I hope to convey most of this through Teresa's interactions with the Rabirius family in Silverbridge, whose three generations have seen the entire rise and fall of Bravil.

Okay, /rant off.


hazmick: Aia has always been a lot of fun to write, with her very distinctive diction. She comes right off the page for me.


Acadian: I hear most of those guards would rather sleep with a horse than a wood elf though, so Teresa probably doesn't have anything to fear...

Bravil the frontier town is probably the one city in Cyrodiil where Teresa would feel the most comfortable, given the trees within the walls, the wooden buildings, and just general rustic atmosphere. It is almost as good as being in the forest.


Next: In our last segment Teresa finally entered Bravil, and made an acquaintance with one of the local beggars. Next she visits one of the guilds, and meets a woman who will change her life forever.

Note: After much hemming and hawing and frustration, I have decided to change the appearance of Tadrose Helas. It all comes down to two things. One is that I noticed that her face is assymetrical, with one of her eyes actually higher than the other. Now that I have noticed it, it is all I can see when I look at her. The only way to fix that is in the construction set, but for some reason I cannot export her face to a save. It works, but does not come out looking like her. It works fine for all the other characters, but not her. So I decided to just remake her, using what did export over as a base.


Chapter 26.4 – The Fighter

Continuing down Silver Avenue, Teresa had little trouble making her way through the traffic of animals and people. The thoroughfare was narrower than those of the Imperial City, but there was hardly anyone on it. At least not compared to what she was used to in the capital. She wondered if there were as many people in all of Bravil as there were in just half the Market District?

Teresa had no difficulty finding the Fighters Guild. It was a huge, sprawling building of stone and wood rising a full three stories from the pavement. Long red banners adorned with white swords hung from its upper floors, swaying in the gentle breeze off the bay. A wooden sign in the shape of a shield hung from its porch, with what looked like a pair of swords crossing behind it. The words Fighters Guild were painted in bright red letters across the front of the sign, leaving no doubt to the building's owner.

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Teresa stood in the street and stared at the edifice that brooded high above her. Was she really going to do this? What would they expect of her? Would they even want her? Would it be worth the effort? How much of her freedom would she have to sacrifice? All of these thoughts raced through her head as she stood there, biting her lower lip and feeling a sudden queasiness in the pit of her stomach.

Well, there was nothing to do but find out, she thought. Taking a deep breath, she stepped up to the front door and walked inside.

Teresa found herself in a large foyer whose walls were decorated with red banners emblazoned with the sword and shield insignia that she had seen outside. A stairway curled up along the right wall of the room, leading to the second floor. Wooden benches fanned out along the left side of the room, with low tables between them holding a few books and plants. A glass display case stood near the door, and from where she stood she could see an ebony sword within it.

There was not a soul in sight. Several corridors led off from the entrance hall, and Teresa walked by each to peer down their lengths. Yet they revealed nothing but more doors. It would not make a good impression to wander around their guild hall uninvited, the wood elf thought. So she shucked off her pack and laid it and her bow stave onto one of the benches. Sitting down next to her gear, she dug out her copy of Patvir's Field Guide to Cyrodiilic Plants and began to read.

She was not sure how much time had passed while she studied the text and illustrations of flowers, shrubs, and other plants that possessed alchemical properties. She had thought of herself as being skilled at alchemy until she had purchased the book in the Imperial City three weeks before. Yet after merely thumbing through its pages she had found what a rank amateur she really was. She only knew the tiniest portion of the plants described in the tome's voluminous pages. It made her wonder how real alchemists like Claudette Perrick at The Gilded Carafe could remember it all?

The sound of footsteps jarred her from her thoughts. Setting down the book on the bench beside her pack, she rose and walked to the inner doorways. Down the length of one hall she saw a Dunmer woman wearing a simple flax tunic, worn leather pants, and a blacksmith's heavy apron. Her hair was dark and tied back from her face by slender braids draped in front of her long, pointed ears. The same elf braids that Methredhel wore, Teresa thought. Sweat beaded the dark elf's brow, and her pale blue skin was stained with soot.

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"Greetings!" Teresa said loudly down the hall. "Are you with the Fighters Guild?"

The Dunmer woman looked up with a start and laid a pair of molten red eyes upon Teresa.

"Yes," she said, turning to walk down the corridor to the foyer where the wood elf stood. "Has Tavian seen you yet?"

"Who?" Teresa asked, "you're the first person I have seen since I came in here."

"Blasted kid is supposed to be watching the lobby…" the dark elf muttered as she cast her eyes around the room. Then she turned her fiery stare back to Teresa. "I am sorry you had to wait. I was downstairs in the forge. I am Tadrose Helas, the vice-commander and armorer here. What can the guild do for you?"

The Dunmer's voice was very soothing, having a slow, measured pace and a husky, almost melodic quality to it. It was something the forester could happily listen to all day.

"I'm Teresa," the wood elf said with a faint smile and offered her hand. "I have been hearing that the Fighters Guild is looking for new members, so…"

"You do not want to do that." Tadrose held her own grimy palm up to ward away Teresa's proffered handshake. "Here to join then? We could use an archer, if you can handle yourself in a fight."

"I can handle myself." Teresa looked the other woman straight in the eye as she drew her hand back.

"Hmmm…" the dark elf hummed, staring at Teresa. "You will have to talk to the commander, only he can commission new members. Come, I think I know where he is."

The wood elf quickly stuffed her book back into her pack and hefted the rucksack over her shoulder. Then she caught up her bow and followed the Dunmer down the hallway from which she had entered. Teresa could not help but to notice the way the dark elf's hips swayed within the tight confines of her leather pants. She reminded herself not to stare, and forced her eyes up to meet Tadrose's gaze as the Dunmer glanced back.

"Are you wanted for any offenses?" the dark elf asked. If she had noticed Teresa's lingering gaze, she gave no sign of it to the wood elf. "If you are, we cannot take you. Nor if you have ever been convicted of a capital crime. Do not try to lie either, because we will find out. Just walk back out the door right now instead."

"I'm not a criminal," Teresa said. Well, not really she thought. The whole thing with the prison did not count after all…

"I am not saying you are," Tadrose said. "But we have had more than one try to get in. That is why we have this."

The Dunmer woman turned a corner and gestured in front of her. Teresa stepped beside her and saw that both walls of the corridor ahead were covered with wanted posters. The Dunmer woman stepped forward again, and Teresa noticed that the hand-drawn parchments were organized by race and gender as she followed. Finally they stopped at the section reserved for female Bosmer. There Tadrose's eyes carefully sifted through the images, pausing to stop and look back at Teresa from time to time.

"Wow," Teresa breathed, looking over the sea of posters, "you people really are serious about this."

"We have to be," Tadrose replied, "our charter with the Empire requires it. If not we would just be an army of thugs roaming the countryside. Besides, people hire us not only because we can do the job, but also because they know they can trust us not to slit their throats when it's done."

"Oh," Teresa said, "I never really thought of it that way." She had never really thought of who would want to hire the Fighters Guild. But it certainly made sense. The more she thought it over, the more it came as a relief to her. That meant that she would not be surrounded by a bunch of ruthless cutthroats when she joined the guild. If she joined…

"Well Teresa, I do not see you here, so that is good. Now let's go meet the commander." The Dunmer led Teresa from the hallway, and looked back over her shoulder. "So what makes you want to join the guild? Fortune, fame, excitement?"

"Actually, I have heard that I can learn more here," Teresa shook her head, "not that I'm exactly sure I want to join yet."

"Well that is not something I ever hear!" The Dunmer stopped and looked in Teresa's eyes. "Most of the people who come through these doors brag about how tough they are, and how many men they have killed. The last thing anyone says is they need to learn!"

"Well, money would be good too," Teresa shrugged. "I know I am a good shot, but it seems like after every fight I am in, I find myself thinking of something I could have done better, or should have thought of beforehand."

That brought a real smile to Tadrose's lips, one whose delight softened the inferno of her eyes. "You sound like exactly what we need Teresa. Or at least what I need. You have no idea how much male posturing goes on around here…"

With that the Dunmer whirled and was off down the hall again. Teresa wondered if she was just imagining the extra spring to the other woman's step as she followed. Or maybe Tadrose really was that glad to meet her?

How old was the dark elf? Teresa found herself wondering. It was always so easy to tell the age of humans, she mused. But with other elves it could be so difficult sometimes. If Tadrose had been an Imperial Teresa would have said that she was no older than twenty. Yet the way she spoke, and the hardness in her eyes, gave Teresa the impression that she was much older.

I loved every moment of this! Let me say again how much I enjoy that you don't mind lingering and lavishing us with detail. I quite like hearing Teresa's thoughts and observations.

Lots going on here, as Teresa and Tadrose evaluate each other. I think our wood elf is wise to be up front with her cautious approach. After all, she is every bit as justified in evaluating the guild as they are in evaluating her.

I was pleased to see you keep the FG 'rogues gallery' of wanted posters in 2.0. It was a wonderful idea in 1.0, and still is.

There is little doubt about Teresa's interest in Tadrose, and we can see why! I certainly hope the two become friends, and perhaps more - Woohoo! Romance! I can see from the hints of Tadrose's maturity that she likely carries some fascinating baggage.

Tadrose is smoking in that screenie !!!!! WOO HOO !!! Is that your remake of her you were talking about? Awesome job !!! She is positively ... sultry !!! I love their beginnings, tangible sparks are there, whether they act on them or not. Teresa is matured so much since her awkward meeting with Nerussa. Great Write !!!

Eyes front Lassie.

I'm liking Tadrose already! You've done a great job with her and the fighters guild. The poster room is a brilliant idea, it really brings the guild to life.

I'm hoping to see much more of Tadrose and the fighters guild in the future.

Acadian: Evaluating is right, and plenty of that going on in this entire chapter. The rogues gallery was something I liked in the TF 1.0 as well, as it is an attempt to convey that the FG is not just a gang of hired guns (or swords in this case). Rest assured, when it comes to baggage, the mysterious Tadrose Helas has more than just a carry-on!


mALX: That sounds like two votes of approval for the new Tadrose. I liked how she came out as well. The original looked too old for how I worked out her age as well. She should only be about 30 in the TF, which for a race that lives centuries is nothing.

And I see that the lessons Nerussa imparted to Teresa have not been lost to the readers. Not the least of which being some simple self-confidence. That was really the whole reason for Nerussa in the TF. I wanted Teresa to have some sexual experience by the time she met Tadrose.


hazmick: But Teresa likes her eyes where they were! If Tadrose did not want women staring at her rear, then she shouldn't wear such tight leather pants! We will see a lot more 'under the hood' of the Fighters Guild in this and following chapters.


Next: Teresa has worked up the nerve to enter the Bravil Fighters Guild hall and speak to its vice-commander. Next she learns more about the guild, and has a glimpse of its commander.


Chapter 26.5 – The Fighter

Then Tadrose was opening a door, and Teresa immediately recognized the clacking sound of wooden practice swords issuing from within. She followed the Dunmer into the room beyond to find that it was a wide chamber with a high, vaulted ceiling. The walls were lined with racks of both real and wooden practice weapons, as well as shields and armor. The rest of the room was completely bare however, and in that great open space she saw two men facing one another with wooden swords.

Both seemed to be middle-aged. However, there the similarities between the two ended. One was dressed in a fisherman's garb of dark pants and a plain, flaxen shirt. He had the brown hair of a Breton, now tousled around his head in a wild mess. His stomach protruded from his waist in a paunch, and his skin sagged loosely on his frame. Sweat beaded a face that was lined and worn, like leather that had soaked in water then dried out in the sun and cracked. His eyes had a slack, hollow look within them, and he gulped for breath as he moved his sword from one position to the next.

The other man was a Colovian if his fair skin was anything to judge by, with dark, closely-cropped hair going to grey at the temples. He wore nothing but a simple pair of cotton breeches, revealing a chest of finely-chiseled muscles that fairly gleamed with sweat. His face was as strongly featured as his body, in a way that Teresa knew most women thought was attractive. Methredhel would say he was 'easy on the eyes', she thought. His gaze was bright, like the blue waves of the Niben, and quickly settled upon the pair of women in the doorway.

Screenshot

He paused in the workout, raising both hands and stepping far enough back from the other man to be out of reach of his sword. Tadrose held up her hand for Teresa to wait by the door, and then walked over to the Colovian. The two of them spoke in low tones, too quietly for Teresa to hear them. Yet they both looked over at her several times. Finally Tadrose returned to the doorway while the Colovian resumed the workout.

"Gaius still has some time to go in the session," Tadrose said quietly and led the wood elf back into the hallway, closing the door behind them. "Aleron's a paying customer, so he cannot cut it short. Although what that fisherman is paying with I have no idea…"

"Do you do a lot of that?" Teresa asked. "Give training sessions I mean?"

"Yes, it is one of our best sources of income in fact," Tadrose replied. The dark elf took a seat on a wooden bench along one wall and motioned for Teresa to join her. "We can do half a dozen or more training sessions in a single day, either one-on-one or in groups. On the other hand a single bodyguard contract can last for weeks. Vincent - he's our other member - is on a job taking someone to Skingrad right now, and will probably not be back for at least another week."

Teresa nodded and laid her pack down before sitting beside the other elf. "This place seems awfully big. So is it just you, the commander, and that Vincent here?"

"It is now." Tadrose looked down at the floor, the bright expression on her face vanishing like the sun behind a storm cloud. "There is Tavian too, but he is just the porter, not a fighter."

Teresa wondered what happened to the rest of them, but did not want to open up what were clearly fresh wounds by asking. Then she remembered what Valfreya had said on the road south to Bravil. "The way I hear it, they lost most of the guild at Bruma." Now that she thought about it, she recalled Volsinius once saying something like that as well.

"If you have things to do I can just wait here by myself," Teresa finally said, breaking the awkward silence that was growing between them. She gestured at the thick leather apron that Tadrose wore, and the grime on her features. "I can see you're in the middle of working."

"That is alright, I am all finished in the forge for today," the dark elf said, glancing back to the closed door to the training room. "Besides, I doubt Aleron can last much longer."

"So is the other one Pappy then?" Teresa asked. "A soldier told me that was the name of the head of the guild down here."

"Yes, that is what most people call Gaius," Tadrose smiled ever so slightly then. "He is not quite forty, but that is older than most guild members."

It was more than twice as old as she was herself. He was old enough to be her father, Teresa thought, probably as old as Volsinius. She wondered what would keep him fighting after so long? Perhaps like Vols, it was all he really had in life?

"So what is it like in the guild?" Teresa asked. "I mean, what are the rules? How does it all work?"

"Well, the rules are pretty simple," Tadrose said. "You have to obey and uphold the laws of the Empire, render assistance to the local authorities when it is needed, and take direction from the guild commander. Not that Gaius is a tyrant mind you. You do not have to take every contract that comes up, but if it looks like you are just taking advantage of the Guild for free room and board you will be sacked."

"Render assistance to the authorities?" Teresa asked. "What does that mean?"

"When the guild was founded during the Akaviri Potentate," Tadrose began, "the standing armies of all the provinces had been dissolved after a protracted civil war. While this brought peace to the land, it also soon brought even more chaos, as lawlessness and monsters descended on the unprotected countryside. The Fighters Guild was created to restore order. Although it was called Syffim then, after the Tsaesci word for 'soldiers'. In time the regular armies were reinstated, but the guild remained as a means for individuals and organizations to hire mercenaries for lawful ends. In fact it was the success of the Fighters Guild that prompted the Potentate to grant Imperial sanction to a host of other guilds as well, including the Mages Guild."

"The Fighters Guild still remains the servant of the Ruby Throne," the Dunmer continued. "We can be called to service during emergencies to assist the Imperial Legion or City Guards. It doesn't happen too often, as they have to pay us for every day in Imperial service. But it does happen."

That explained why the Fighters and Mages Guilds were at the Battle of Bruma, Teresa mused. The Elder Council must have called them up. Or Martin Septim.

"So how do you get contracts?" Teresa asked, willing her throat not to tighten at the thought of the Emperor's heir.

"Gaius will assign them to you," the dark elf explained. "The way it usually works is that people who need the Guild go to him. I thought you might be here to take out a contract in fact. He makes all the negotiations. Then he decides how many people the mission needs and assigns them. You go out and do the job, then when you come back you receive your portion of the payment."

"What if someone comes directly to you and wants to hire you for something?" Teresa asked, thinking of Umbacano.

"You can either direct them to Gaius if you do not want to do the hondling," Tadrose said, "or you can make the arrangements on your own. But if you do it yourself, afterward you have to give one fifth of the payment to the guild. That is the standard allotment the guild takes for all contracts. Why, do you plan on making many of your own contracts?"

"A high elf in the Imperial City hired me to find some Ayleid artifacts for him," Teresa said, thinking of how much money one fifth was. "That's why I came down here in the first place. Most of them should be in this area. That is a lot of money to give up though…"

"Well, these guild halls do not pay for themselves," Tadrose said, gesturing at the corridor around them. "While you are in the guild you will have free room and board at every guild hall in Tamriel. We will also perform upkeep on your armor and weapons free of charge. Here in Bravil we provide potions for your contracts too. If you do not have any gear, we will supply it, but the cost will be taken from your pay. We also have arrangements with some Mages Guild chapters for discounts on spell instruction and enchantments, the same with the best armorers and weapon-trainers in Cyrodiil. Not that we are unskilled at doing the last two of those ourselves."

Teresa nodded. It did seem like quite a bit, she thought. If she could get contracts that took her back to the Imperial City, then she could stay at the guild hall there for free and visit Simplicia at the same time. "What if I decide I don't like it, and I want to quit?"

"Then you say so and that is all there is to it." Tadrose replied. "You have to turn over any guild property in your possession of course."

"So what about training, how does that work?" Teresa said.

"Believe me, you will be getting more of that than you bargained for!" Tadrose smiled once again. "It is something Gaius and I have been discussing. All in-house training is free. Anything going outside the guild you will have to pay for, but like I said, we have arrangements with the best teachers in the province."

"Like Alix Lencolia?" Teresa found herself asking.

"Yes." One of the dark elf's eyebrows arched at the name. "You have heard of him?"

"I met him on the way here, at The Faregyl," Teresa explained with a faint smile.

I like it, you have done a great job describing the almost-empty guild hall. You have fleshed out the fighters guild quite a bit, very well done. Tadrose continues to be a wonderful character and I can see her and Teresa being...close .

I hope for more chapters soon!

First Tadrose and now Gaius screenies, zing! *Grits runs around the block barefoot in the snow*

I love this look into the Bravil Fighters Guild, I can really feel the emptiness and the sadness there. Tadrose is fascinating, I am so glad that Theresa plans to linger.

It never ceases to amaze me how you can stick so true to what's in the game and yet make EVERYTHING in it so believable and natural. Incredible job on the Bravil Fighters Guild!

I heard a rumor the other day that the FG was looking for new members. Good work I suppose - if you have the stones for it. I hope they don’t ask Teresa about her stones.

Lots of rich development and background of your Fighters Guild. I applaud your decision to have a FG branch in the IC - it makes perfect sense. I also like how Teresa is asking and learning how it may interface with her questing for Umbaccano. So far, her interest in the FG makes perfect sense for her.

Nice touch to show the devastation that the Oblivion Crisis had on the FG.

I'm curious. Is Pappy's customer Aleron Loche? Husband of Ursanne? From the hints, it would seem so. I can see a time where he might really need that blade training.

Nit?
"Why, do you plan on making a many of your own contracts?"
I think the a was a leftover/oversight?

hazmick: Well, Teresa would like to see herself and Tadrose becoming... close as well!


Grits: I almost used one of the in-game screenshots I made for Pappy. But I have never been able to make men in the face generator. So I went hunting for some Robert Conrad pics, and turned up some new ones.


Thomas Kaira: I did add a few embellishments, but I am glad the Fighters Guild in the TF is feeling real.


Acadian: I heard that rumor too! Pappy might not ask about her stones, but he certainly will ask about a lot of other things! I was always disappointed that there is no FG branch in the IC. It ought to be where there headquarters is. Pappy's customer is indeed Aleron Loche. Or is that Tone Loche?

Thank you for wrangling up my errant "a", it did indeed slip through the editing cracks.


Next: Teresa learned much more about the Fighters Guild in our previous episode. Next she meets the commander of the Bravil Chapter.


Chapter 26.6 – The Fighter

The door beside them opened, and both women looked up to see the middle-aged Breton walk out. He was covered in sweat and gasping for breath. Behind him strode the guild commander, who was not even breathing hard.

"Come back tomorrow and we will keep working at it," the Colovian smiled.

The Breton shook his head and muttered something Teresa could not hear. As he staggered down the hallway the commander looked at Teresa.

"You're Teresa then?" he asked. "Tadrose says you are looking to join the guild?"

"Yes," Teresa rose to her feet to face him. "We've been talking about it."

"And she hasn't talked you out of it yet!" he laughed, extending his open hand. "I'm Gaius Vitellus, but most people just call me Pappy."

Teresa took his grip and watched as her hand disappeared within his own. His clasp was hard as iron, and the wood elf had to resist the urge to wince as his fingers closed in on hers like a vise. Looking back up, she saw that his blue eyes were locked upon her own. She wondered if this was some kind of test, and stared back at him while squeezing his hand as hard as she could in return.

"I will go get cleaned up," Tadrose murmured, wiping her grimy fingers on her leather apron. She made her way past the two of them and disappeared down the hallway.

"Let's go for a walk while we talk," Pappy suggested. He released his grip and immediately made his way down to the opposite end of the corridor. Teresa had to hurry to gather up her pack and bow stave in order to keep up.

"The first thing I need to know is whether you are currently wanted for any criminal offenses, and if you have ever been convicted of a capital crime," the middle-aged Colovian said as he walked.

"No," Teresa replied, "I already told Tadrose that."

"I know," he said. "She told me that you are not on our wall of shame either. But I still have to ask anyway."

He stopped at a door and turned to look her in the face. "I also have to run a background check on you. You need to tell me right now if that is going to come up with something or not. Because believe me, I will find out if you have been incarcerated."

Teresa bit her lower lip, wondering if she should tell him about the prison.

"All right, out with it." he said, crossing his arms in front of his chest as she stared at her.

"Well, I did kind of go to prison a few months ago…" Teresa looked down at her feet, then raised her eyes back up to his. "But I was never charged with anything."

"What?" The commander's eyes opened wide. "How do you go to prison without being charged?"

"Well, it was on the account of the Emperor, and the Amulet of Kings," Teresa said, looking down again. "Then Jauffre of course, erm, I mean the Grandmaster of the Blades. Well, before Baurus, but I met him too…."

"What on Nirn are you babbling about?" the Colovian stared down at her with an incredulous look.

Teresa felt her heart sink as she went back to the beginning and explained everything that had happened to her after meeting the dying Blade in the alley. How the legionary had mistaken her for his killer and thrown her in prison. Then how she met the Emperor, watched him die, and delivered the Amulet of Kings to Jauffre for him.

"Do you expect me to believe that load of imp chips?" Pappy exclaimed. "Damn kid, if you are going to lie, at least make it something believable!"

"I am not lying!" Teresa felt heat rising in her ears and cheeks as she stared back at him. "You ask Baurus, he will tell you! Check with the prison too. They say I was never even there!"

"Are you crazy, is that it?" the Colovian said, now standing with his hands on his hips.

"No!" Teresa resisted the urge to poke him in the ribs. She remembered what had happened when she had lost her temper with Volsinius. Even though the guild commander was not wearing armor, she still did not want a repeat of that occasion. "I am not crazy, and I am not lying damn it! That is how it happened!"

"Well telling people a story like that, what do you expect them to believe?" the Colovian said in a quieter voice.

It took every ounce of Teresa's will to avoid curling her hands into fists. She felt her heart beating as if she was in combat. The wood elf tried to slow its wild pounding and steady her breathing. She had to keep control of her temper. What would the Emperor think if he could see her now? Would he be proud of her, or disappointed?

"Look, you have met the Emperor right? I mean Uriel, not his son Martin." Teresa forced her voice into a lower tone, focusing on the image of the Emperor in her head. When the Colovian nodded, she went on. "Well, he believed in me. He knew that I was in the prison because I was supposed to be there to help him. When he talked to me, it was like he and I were the only two people in the world. He showed me that I could be a better person than I was, that I didn't have to be a street urchin all my life. He showed me that I can make a difference in people's lives. I can still see him in my head, and hear his words. There is nothing I would not have done for him."

"I'm sorry that I don't have statues of me like Julian of Anvil does, or bard's singing about me, or a grass crown like you." Teresa went on. "I'm not a hero. I'm just an ordinary woman. But that doesn't mean I cannot do my part to make the world a better place to live in. The Emperor believed in me, and if he did, then you should too."

The Colovian stared at her for what felt like an eternity. Yet Teresa knew it was probably only a few moments. Then he relaxed his stance and his eyes took on a sparkle.

"Okay kid, let's see what you can do." He turned and opened the door in front of him, then stepped through and motioned for Teresa to follow.

"I am not a kid!" The growl escaped Teresa's throat before she was even aware she was going to speak. "My name is Teresa, get used to it gramps."

Well there's a fair few parts of this gone up, and good ones too. I hadn't expected you to show Bravil as such a nice place (on the surface at least) but that works. I suspect Teresa might find it somewhat less desirable once she gets to know the place, but then she is used to the waterfront...

Aleron Loche was a nice touch, I hadn't expected to see him and it will add something more when (if) his quest comes up (and I suspect it will). Clever bit of planning there.


I liked this, it shows a little more depth and reality in the world by mirroring reality. Good stuff


Another fantastic observation, I have no doubt it would. In fact it's almost miraculous that no one's told her their magic way to gaining weight and becoming less stringy.

I liked all of the guild part, it makes more sense that they take a general cut and then offer training and equipment. Another part which takes the game and adds to it for a richer setting. I see what you meant when you said there were various people to whom 'The Fighter' could refer to as well, they already seem well rounded characters though you've only revealed the beginging of them. Teresa showed more self confidance in standing up to Pappy too which is further development.

One nit:
"We have to be," Tadrose replied, "our ...done."

"Well ... good," Tadrose observed. "Now ... commander."

"So... guild?" the Dunmer asked ..., "fortune, glory?"
I found the paragraphing here a bit jarring, the middle one felt that it should have been Teresa speaking, especially as there is a closing inverted comma at the end of the one above. Could just be the way I read it though.

Haha, Pappy better not mess with this Bosmer. (Evenif she does sound like one of Sheogorath's followers ) But I am glad that Pappy is willing to believe her story for now.

Mr. Loche better keep training as well, he'll really need it.

Excellent chapter, Rosa. Can't wait to see Teresa show Pappy "what she's got" (and Tadrose too )

I liked it! Plenty of sparks here! The interactions between Teresa and Pappy delivered loads of show vs tell. Well done!

"Do you expect me to believe that load of imp chips?" Pappy exclaimed. "Damn kid, if you are going to lie, at least make it something believable!"
Yay! Imp chips!!! Get over it, Pappy! Teresa wasn't exactly wetting herself to tell you about her time in prison, but YOU are the one who asked - so she told you. I also don't recall our stringy wood elf telling you that she expected you to believe anything. Now, for SubRosa: I know Teresa is young and understandably a touch intimidated, so I was not surprised to see her almost stammer a touch here. But I was so proud of her for standing up for herself!

Fabulous that you reminded us heroes like Julian of Anvil, Uriel, Martin and even the grass crown holder, Pappy. I suspect that I'm not alone in thinking of Vols when you mention grass crown.

"I am not a kid!" The growl escaped Teresa's throat before she was even aware she was going to speak. "My name is Teresa, get used to it gramps."
You go, girl!

"What on Nirn are you babbling about?" the Colovian stared down at her with an incredulous look.
I love that Pappy speaks his mind. An inscrutable “Hmm” might suit other chapter heads, but the Bravil leader is much more engaging!

I like the way you specify Nibenese and Colovian. It adds a lot of depth in just one word, and it reminds me that Theresa’s Cyrodiil is huge and populated by a lot of different Imperials.

Her potential new boss makes her furious, and her possible new vice-commander tells her that Theresa is exactly what she needs. Bravil may be an under populated frontier town, but it seems that Theresa could find plenty of excitement. I hope we get to meet Vincent and the “blasted kid” Tavian.

This was one of my fave chapters before, and still is, I love the re-write! Teresa's first impression of Pappy - and his of her !!! There is so much personality going on in this chapter it is tangible! Awesome Write !!!!



SPEW !!! I love this line, and it is exactly that I love so much about Teresa - she may never be a 'Hero', but she kind of is heroic in some ways - regular/average, imperfect, everyday Teresa - that is what makes her so lovable - but the way she has survived her rough childhood, still tender inside but fierce when life calls for it - her deep loyalty to the Emperor that is evidenced in the changes within herself since his death - she is heroic where it counts.

Olen: I have always liked Bravil, although I would prefer it have the same style of buildings as Cheydinhal or Chorrol. Teresa on the other hand, is not very picky. As you say, she spent the last three years living in a shantytown. Anything is an improvement over that. Besides that however, Bravil's selling points are its rustic atmosphere, and its relatively small population. That gives the city an open, airy feeling that a forest elf can feel comfortable in. As opposed to the cold stone wall looming everywhere of the Imperial City.

We will definitely be seeing more of Aleron Loche in the future. In fact, he appears in the chapter I am currently writing (and it is not Caught in the Hunt).

Would that secret of destringiness be a protein shake? Or perhaps a hot-beef injection?

You were right about those three paragraphs in a row with Tadrose speaking. I went back and edited that part, and now hopefully it flows better.


hazmick: Teresa gets the chance to show what she has next. Not to Tadrose though.


Acadian: I knew you would like the return of the imp chips. I put them in just for you in fact.

Teresa does indeed let out that spark inside her, and stand up to Pappy. Quite a change from the alleycat who said "eep!" and fell on her rear when caught sneaking up behind the Emperor's party! Of course now she has to keep her temper while she is at it...


Grits: If you had not guessed, Gaius "Pappy" Vitellus is inspired by the old t.v. show Baa Baa Blacksheep's commanding officer, himself inspired by the IRL Pappy Boyington (I say inspired because in Boyington's own words, that show was more Hollywood hokum then reality). Now that we are going to be seeing more of Pappy, I started rewatching the first season again to help me recapature his attitude. In one scene General Moore tells him: "You run your mouth with your brain in neutral!" Exactly as you noted yourself!

Breaking down Imperials by Nibeneans and Colovians was actually inspired by a mod I created over the summer. It did it because the vanilla Imperials do not thrill me. So I decided to carry it over into the TF as well, in order to add more flavor. Unlike the game, I actually try to show distinct physical characteristics for each race. For example Nords are always either blond-haired and blue-eyed, or red-haired and green-eyed. Nibeneans are from the original Cyrodiilic stock, and are olive-skinned, with black hair and dark eyes. Being interbred with Nords, Colovians are fair-skinned, and can have a mix of light or dark hair and eyes.

Teresa will be having plenty of excitement in Bravil, that is for sure! That 'blasted kid' is coming up next. Vincent will not appear for a few more chapters though (although if you look back to The Battle of Bruma, he has a small part there.


mALX: It is funny, because while I was not planning it that way, when I wrote this chapter Teresa came off with a very negative impression of Pappy. Everything he did and said grated on her. I went with it since that is what came naturally. It makes a good example of how first impressions can be very wrong.


Next: In our previous segment Teresa met with guild commander and fessed up about meeting the Emperor. Next she has the chance to show what she can do.


Chapter 26.7 – The Fighter

That brought a laugh from the much older man, who turned back to look at Teresa as she stepped through the door. She found herself in a huge field that stretched out behind the guild hall. It ran all the way to the city wall, and was bordered by low stone walls to either side. The grass of the field was trampled down under her feet, giving Teresa the impression that people must walk on it a great deal. At its far end, against the blocks of the city wall, she saw several archery butts. Only these were not the round targets she had always seen before. Instead these were each shaped in the silhouette of a person, with several colored regions fanning out from the center of the chest.

Pappy stepped over to a well near the back door and drew a bucket from its depths. Teresa jumped back as he upended the contents over his head and gasped.

"Achh! that's cold!" he exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear as he wiped the water from his eyes.

"And you say I'm mad?" Teresa said, now it was her turn to lift an eyebrow.

"If you spent all day holding workouts and training sessions, you'd be happy for a bath too," he remarked as he picked up a small hourglass. Then he stepped away from the building and out into the field.

"My idea of a bath comes with a tub, or at least a lake or a river." Teresa remarked as she followed.

"A good soldier improvises," Pappy said with a smile. "Alright Teresa, you got balls the size of an ogre's. I like that in a fighter. Now let's see if you can back it up. So string your bow tub-girl."

He waited for Teresa to ready her bow, and then pointed at the targets down the field. "I want you to start on the left, and put one arrow in each target, as fast as you can without missing. You have one minute, now go!"

Pappy turned the hourglass over, and with that Teresa knew she had to move. Without looking down, she drew an arrow from the quiver at her right hip and set it to the nock. Her eye was on the left-most target down range as she drew the string halfway back. Letting half the air from her lungs, she pulled the feathers of the arrow to her cheek and loosed.

"Come on, pick up the pace!" Pappy shouted in her ear. "My grandmother can shoot faster than that!"

Teresa felt her heart double its pace in an instant at his scathing words. Yet she did not look away from the second target as she drew another arrow and set it to her bowstave. Once more drawing it halfway back, she breathed out and took aim. Then a moment later she pulled the arrow to her cheek and loosed.

"Time is running out while you play with yourself kid! Speed it up!" Pappy continued to yell at her.

Teresa felt the familiar warmth of anger spreading through her cheeks as he continued to shout at her. She did her best to ignore her feelings, and him, and concentrated on her shooting instead. There was nothing but her, the arrows, and the targets. All she had to do was put them together. With that in mind she continued to fire until finally Pappy finally waved a hand in front of her face.

"That's it Teresa!" he exclaimed, holding the empty hourglass up with his other hand. He was grinning now. "You got six shots, all center mass, with me screaming in your face. That's good. That's damn good! The legion couldn't do better."

Teresa realized that her chest was heaving up and down for air, and forced herself to slow her breathing. Likewise her heart was once more racing like a thoroughbred. She thought about the Emperor again, fixing her mind on his face, remembering the soft tones of his voice. With that she felt herself slowly begin to relax once more.

"You were trying to rattle me, weren't you?" Teresa said, turning to look at the Colovian.

"The last man I had here only got two shots off before he stopped and got into an argument with me." Pappy smiled. "I like someone who's got sand, but not when they haven't any sense to go with it. He didn't make the cut. You just did."

Teresa nodded, continuing to picture the Emperor in her mind while the excitement of the last few minutes slowly eased from her frame.

"What else can you do?" Pappy asked. "That bow is the only weapon I see you have. You any good with a sword? Or hand to hand?"

"No." Teresa shook her head. "I don't know a thing about fighting close up. I can use some magic though."

"Let's see." The Colovian's eyes flashed at the mention of magic, and Teresa wondered if that was a good thing or a bad one.

Concentrating on the image of an erupting flame, Teresa drew the magicka up from within her. She felt the energy tingle in the tips of her fingers. Then she pointed her hand across the field and unleashed a ball of flame into one of the targets, setting it alight.

"I know another spell to heal myself as well," Teresa continued. "I do not have a lot of magicka though, so I can only cast either a few times before I have to wait and let it build back up."

"A healing spell too you say? That's even better." Pappy nodded. He then turned his head toward the building and shouted in a voice that fairly split Teresa's ears. "Tavian!"

As if summoned by magic, a teen with long brown hair appeared from the guild hall. He wore a simple green flax shirt, and equally plain tan leggings. In spite of his lighter hair, his features looked more like those of an Imperial than a Breton, and Teresa guessed that he was probably just a few years younger than herself.

Screenshot

"What is it Pappy?" he asked, his glance bouncing from Teresa to the older man.

"Say hello to Teresa," the guild commander said. Then he jerked a thumb at the archery target that Teresa's spell had set afire. "And put that out please, before the City Guard complains again."

The young man nodded to Teresa and grabbed the bucket from the ground where Pappy had carelessly discarded it. Then he rushed over to the well and hurried to lower it into the water once more. In the meantime Pappy motioned Teresa to follow him back into the guild hall.

"Greetings Tavian," Teresa called out to the boy, who was furiously cranking on the windlass. Before he could respond she turned to follow the older Colovian back into the building.

"How good are you at scouting?" Pappy asked, glancing back at her over his shoulder as he led the way down the hallway past the training room. "Sneaking around, being quiet, that sort of thing?"

"I grew up on the streets of the Imperial City," Teresa said with a faint smile. "I've spent most of my life sneaking around, especially when I was living on the Waterfront. Now I have a pair of goggles that let me see in the dark as well."

"Good, I need a scout as well as an archer," Pappy explained. "Akatosh's wings! I need an entire guild again…"

"I know some alchemy too," Teresa offered up as they continued into the bowels of the hall. "I used to make potions for the Thieves Guild back in the city. And no I wasn't in the Guild myself. A few months ago I stopped and started selling them to the Mages Guild and local alchemists instead."

"So you're a connected girl then too." Pappy stopped and turned to look at her once more. "You are just full of surprises. C'mon, I want to see about this alchemy of yours."

"Most people laugh at the mention of the Thieves Guild," Teresa said as he led her through another door and down another hallway. "Not you?"

"I was born at night, but not last night kid," Pappy said as they came to the kitchen.

"That's Teresa, old man," the wood elf reflexively corrected him.

This is going to be an interesting relationship.

Nice to see Teresa doesn't let a drill sergeant's gaff get in the way of her accuracy. Remember, putting a lot of arrows downrange is nice. Hitting your targets is even better. This is my style, as well, I prefer to take my time to ensure a hit rather than try to get a high volume of arrows downrange.

Nit? This is style-based so feel free to ignore it.



This sentence structuring doesn't make much sense to me. Perhaps it would be better reversed?

My idea of a bath comes with a lake or a river, or at least a tub.

Aaaw, no Tadrose.

But there was Pappy, archery, fire and quick tongues. Good job! I hope Teresa gets to show Tadrose her stuff at some point...her archery skills that is

I smiled all the way through this. Simply delightful. Teresa acquitted herself well and I was proud of her coolness 'under fire'.

Her 'interview' with Pappy gave us a good run down/summary/review of her capabilities, and how she views them.

"Alright Teresa, you got balls the size of an ogre's. I like that in a fighter."
Ahah! So Teresa does have the stones for this kind of work! Perhaps this Guild of Fighters gig will work out!

"Good, I need a scout as well as an archer," Pappy explained. "Akatosh's wings! I need an entire guild again…"
Another very well-phrased reminder of the devastation the guild has suffered as a result of the Oblivion Crisis.

"So string your bow tub-girl."
I laughed at this! Wonderful. Then, at the end, Teresa returned the barb:
"That's Teresa, old man," the wood elf reflexively corrected him.

Not a nit, but a style observation:
'That brought a laugh from the much older man, who turned back to look at Teresa as she stepped through the door.'
Opening the episode with this sentence requires a clear recollection of the previous paragraph - which is in your preceding episode. To remember that Pappy was about to take Teresa out to the 'wood shed' to check her stones is reasonable. Perhaps it is too much to expect a precise recollection of the joke that brought the laugh here. Were the two episodes to be run back to back, there would be no concern. When I break an episode into two, I usually end up tweaking the tail of one and the beginning of the other with the idea that there may be a few days between their reading. Again, just a thought/observation, not a nit. I'm such an avid fan, that I remembered what caused the laugh perfectly.

Teresa's first inklings of temper, she handled it well. The chemistry between Teresa and Pappy is starting off like a DI with a recruit, but I'm sure Pappy didn't get his nickname idly. Hopefully a mutual respect will grow out of these beginnings. Did I say I loved these chapters where she joins the Bravil Fighters Guild? I did originally, and they are just as great on the re-read. You can develop a tangible character in paragraphs, and in the Fighters Guild you excelled even your own self in proving that !!! Awesome Write !!!

I like Pappy, the fact that he isn't coming across as particularly nice makes perfect sense given his position. He's not there to be nice, at least not to raw recruits who he's got no reason to trust to watch his back. I can see them ending up with a mutual respect once Teresa proves she knows what she's at.


Brilliant line.

Tavian didn't appear in game I think, so I'm wondering what part he will get to play, doubtless all will be revealed.


Pappy would be for more old-school surely? He'd be recommending the gallon of milk a day...

Thomas Kaira: Teresa's six aimed shots a minute was actually the standard rate of fire of professional archers, whether in the Middle Ages or earlier. That she does take the time to aim and fire coolly with Pappy yelling in her face is indeed a mark of her seasoning since she began. Teresa is now used to firing under pressure.

I looked at your nit, and it seems the same either way around to me. Except that perhaps by putting that lakes and rivers first it might show that Teresa puts more emphasis on those things as bath worthy, rather than a tub. But on the other hand tubs also mean hot water, which rates higher with her. So she as much as she is a forest elf, she would rather bathe in a tub than a river. Given that I am going to leave the tub first.


hazmick: No Tadrose for a while now. I know, Teresa is disappointed too. She likes her much better than Pappy!


Acadian: Quite a difference between Teresa and Methredhel's shooting is there not? Here the experience Teresa has had in the past shows with her ability to stay focused on her shooting.

I understand your nit. It is something I consider every time I break up a chapter into individual posts. I tend to write my character interactions very tightly, so when a scene is too long for one post it is difficult to find a place in the middle where I can break without it interrupting something. I really do not want to add anything from the old post, as the TF is really meant to be read just as you would a novel. As it is on the website, or in my Word docs. The repetition would be glaring in that format, and I do not want the forum version to be different from the originals (to avoid confusion on my part). I suppose my other real option is just to make 3,000+ word posts when the need arises. I have done it a few times in the past already.


mALX: Well, at least Pappy does not have an overabundance of pride getting in his way, or Teresa a prejudice against him because of his wealth and social standing. We all know how that would turn out in the end!


Olen: Pappy can indeed be a hard taskmaster when he has to be. He has learned his own lessons at Bruma, and is determined to never let that happen again. This coming segment ought to show that very well (I hope!).

Tavian is sort of there in the game. He is the porter. It is just that in the TF, a porter is someone who actually does janitorial work. Instead of walking around in armor and following people everywhere they go. Given that I am made him a teenager.


Next: In our previous episode Teresa proved her abilities as an archer. In our next - and final segment of this chapter - she must prove her alchemical skills as well.


Chapter 26.8 – The Fighter

The kitchen contained a massive frost box, a large stove, an oven, and numerous cupboards along the walls. A large rectangular table dominated the center of the room. Hanging over it from hooks in the ceiling was all manner of knives, spoons, ladles, pots, and pans.

"Make me a Potion of Healing," Pappy said, gesturing at the wooden table.

"Okay, I can do that," Teresa breathed. Setting down her pack beside the table, she then unstrung her bow and laid the stave beside it. She rummaged through her pack for her mortar and pestle and set them on the table. Finally she dug through her bag of ingredients until she produced a sprig of lavender.

Putting the plant in the mortar, she spent several minutes grinding it into an indistinguishable paste. Adding water from a pitcher near the stove, she mixed it all together until it formed a pink liquid. All the while she pictured in her mind how the potion would mend broken flesh and make it whole once more.

"The last time I hired someone who said he was an alchemist, it turned out he didn't know dreck," Pappy explained. "It wasn't until we were at Bruma that the truth came out."

"Well I don't even buy my ingredients anymore. I pick them all in the forest myself." Teresa held the mortar up to Pappy. "Here you go, one Potion of Healing."

"Okay, show me it works," the Colovian folded his arms across his chest and stared at her.

"Well, go ahead and drink it." Teresa said, offering it to him again.

"Oh no," Pappy shook his head, "for all I know that might be poison."

Teresa sighed and lifted the mortar to her lips. Was this man ever going to trust her, she wondered?

"Hold on there," Pappy stopped her with an upraised hand. Bending down, he produced a knife from a sheath that Teresa had not even noticed at his ankle. With deft fingers he spun it around in his hand so the blade faced him, and he proffered the hilt to the wood elf.

"Anyone can make pink water," he said. "I want to see that it really works too."

Teresa shook her head and set the mortar on the table beside her. She took the knife from his grip, staring at her reflection in its long, triangular blade. She could not believe how paranoid the Colovian was. But if she was going to get into the guild, she knew she would have to show what she was capable of. That made her wonder if this was not just a test of her alchemical abilities…

Gritting her teeth, she drew the knife across the palm of her hand, tracing a long red line through her flesh. Pain flared bright and hot in her skin, and she held it up so that Pappy could plainly see the wound. Setting down the bloody knife, she picked up the mortar and chugged the potion as quickly as she could. Just as suddenly as the pain had erupted, it faded away to a memory. She lowered her hand as the last of her flesh knitted closed across it. A moment later there was not even a scar.

"Happy now, you fetcher?" Teresa said in a low voice, slamming down the mortar on the table with a loud crash and handing the knife back to Pappy. "Or do you want to me to go out and kill a daedroth next?"

"Nah, I'll save that for the next one," Pappy smiled as he took the knife and wiped it clean before placing it back in its sheath. "I'm impressed kid, you got what it takes alright, and then some. Come back in about two weeks and I'll sign you up."

"Two weeks!" Teresa's eyes widened. "What in Oblivion for?"

"That's how long it will take me to check with the prison," Pappy said, his hands falling to his hips again. "Once they tell me you're clean, you are in. I don't even care about the rest of it, but I cannot take you if you have a record."

"What? I just told you…" Teresa fumed. She took her mortar and pestle in hand, gripping them so hard that she could see her knuckles turning white. It took every ounce of her will to stop herself from throwing them at the Colovian.

"Kid, I have heard every story there is, but never one like that," Pappy said. "I like you Teresa. I really do. But I'd be a damn idiot if I didn't check you out first."

"Then why were you wasting my damn time with all this bull!" Teresa could not contain the shout that tore from her throat. "If you didn't want me you could have just said so! You didn't have to lie to me you fetcher!"

"I didn't lie. I want you!" Pappy raised his own voice as Teresa stuffed the mortar and pestle into her pack. "But I'm not gonna stand here and blow sunshine up your rear either!"

"You are so full of it!" Teresa yelled back. Her heart was pounding in her chest again and her skin felt as hot as Oblivion. She lifted her pack over her shoulders and grabbed her bow stave. "Getting me to chop my hand up and waste one of my potions wasn't enough for you? What, you want to jerk me around more?"

"Damnit kid slow down." Pappy said as he stepped in front of her. "I'll give you another Healing potion. I'm not trying to screw with you, I just need to know what you can really do."

Teresa looked at him and felt her fingers curl into a fist. They wanted desperately to find a new home in the Colovian's face. But some part of the forester remembered what had happened the last time she was at Methredhel's shack. She refused to lose control of herself like that again. Gritting her teeth, Teresa felt herself start to tremble as she pushed by him and into the hallway.

His hand caught her arm, tugging her to a stop. She turned to face him. He was saying something that she could not hear over the pounding of blood in her ears. As if by its own accord, Teresa felt her arm pull back to launch her fist into his face.

"No!" she cried, lowering her arm with an effort. He just stood there staring at her with those steely eyes, and Teresa realized that he had seen the blow coming and was just waiting for her to land it.

"Go on slug me if it makes you feel better," he said earnestly. "Get it out of your system."

Teresa shook off the hand that gripped her arm. Closing her eyes, she tried to think of the Emperor, like she had before. She pictured his face in her head, and remembered the sound of his voice. Breathing deeply, she tried to will the anger out of her and into the wooden floor underneath her feet. Yet this time it just would not wash away so easily. Instead she could feel her blood boiling just as intensely as before.

"You sure got the temper to go with that hair Teresa," she heard Pappy say. "Come back tomorrow at midday, I've got some time open then. We'll start training in anything you want, hand-to-hand, sword, knife, mace, you name it. Same thing every day until I hear back from the Imperial City. No charge, same as if you were a member already."

Now she did feel the rage begin to slip away from her. Yet replacing it was a lump in her throat, choking back her words when she tried to speak. She forced herself to turn away as her eyes began to water. Damnit, she thought, she was going to cry. Why? She had been absolutely furious just a few moments ago. Now she was a weeping willow!

Doing her best to hold back the tears, she stomped down the hallway to the foyer where she had entered. Pappy was saying something behind her, but she could not make out the words past the thunder of her own beating heart. Through her watery eyes she saw that an orc sat in the lobby, clad in fine blue velvet and reading a book. He looked up as she entered and opened his mouth to speak. But after one look at her face he shut it again. Teresa turned her eyes away from him, shoving her way through the door and out into the street beyond.

Screenshot

Whew! Poor Teresa - and poor Pappy, lol. Did you mod the Orc? He doesn't have tusks !!! I wondered about that the first time I saw that screenie! This chapter left me holding my breath both the first time I read it and this time, I was never sure Teresa wasn't going to blow. I don't know how much of that was frustration, or if her anger came from a deeper place right then - but it was tangible through your excellent writing - Awesome Write (as always !!)

Do I sense... Chemistry?

Teresa, you are just full of surprises! First Nerussa, now Pappy! Someone keep an eye on this girl, else all of Cyrodiil fall in love with her.

Wait...

THEY HAVE!!!



Great interactions!

Ok well I was going to wait until I was all caught up to leave a comment, but 18.3 made me cry.... First Helena, now you -sniff- You're stories are so wonderful. Every time I read them it makes me want to go improve mine a little. ♥

Oh and this from 21.1 made me giggle:



...that's some of the very best things about men! Then again compared to soft, delicate, sweet-scented women, I can see Teresa's point!

You caught the intensity of her emotion well, and the rapid swing from the rage as it cooled was spot on. The believability of the characters and their realistic emotions and responses make this piece what it is, and that is brilliant. It sucked me in and held on until they'd finished arguing, great stuff.

I also see she has become a master of alchemy making potions from one ingredient... she doesn't need those stones, there's a fortune to be made in potions

And now we see the rest of Bravil as she cools off.

Old business: Thank you for sharing your thoughts on how and why you break your chapters. I understand completely!

*

I had more than a faint smile all the way through this. The interaction was delicious, and superbly presented!

'"You sure got the temper to go with that hair Teresa," she heard Pappy say.'
Trust me, Pappy, I was thinkin' exactly the same thing!

'Now she did feel the rage begin to slip away from her. Yet replacing it was a lump in her throat, choking back her words when she tried to speak. She forced herself to turn away as her eyes began to water. Damnit, she thought, she was going to cry. Why? She had been absolutely furious just a few moments ago. Now she was a weeping willow!'
The contradiction that is a young woman is so perfectly presented here! Might I be so bold as to suggest to Teresa that this might have been a fine moment for the 'F' word?
In fact, I think it's high time someone presented Teresa with a poem, before that artistic orc she just saw is able to:

Woah there! Just calm yourself young Bosmer! I reckon that instead of gathering an army at the battle of Bruma, the empire should have made Teresa get into a rage. She would be a match for Dagon himself!

I also like Pappy, he's just trying to do his job and then an angry daedroth Bosmer walks in and nearly socks him in the face--but he's prepared to take it like a man. Bravo!

I recognise that orc from somewhere, he resembles an odd Orsimer nobleman who features in a later fighters guild quest. Am I right? or have I got the wrong end of the bow stave?

mALX: I feel sorry for Pappy too, more than I do for Teresa! My orcs are modded with Cute Orc Head Replacer, which de-pigs them.


Thomas Kaira: Not chemistry. just a woman with anger-management issues, and the poor sap who got in her way.


Jacki Dice: Awww, I am glad Vols and Brekke touched a chord in you. I always enjoy writing them, because she brings out the better parts of Vols.

Quite right about men. Those are the good parts, and its all downhill from there!


Olen: Teresa is not really a master of alchemy. I just dispensed with the needing two ingredients to make a potion a while ago. It is simpler just using one all around.


Acadian: Now that is a great poem! You gave me more than a faint smile with that!

You know I thought about using the "F" word when I was doing my revisions for that piece a little while ago. But Teresa is not as smooth and self-confident as someone like Athynae or Buffy. At least not yet. Give her time, and she will get there however!


hazmick: Teresa's fury is something else indeed. Pappy on the other hand, is using to people being furious at him! So he knows how to deal with it.

That orc is not from anywhere in the game. He is 100% original. We will be seeing more of him in the near future.


Next: Our last chapter saw Teresa arrive at Bravil and meet several new people before trying out for the Fighters Guild. Losing her temper when she learned she had to wait two weeks before she could join, she stormed out of the guild with tears in her eyes. Next, she runs back into one of those people she met before, and gains a little perspective.


Chapter 27.1 –The Lucky Lady

24th - 25th Last Seed, 3E433

Teresa wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up to find that she was standing before the statue of the Lucky Old Lady. Why was she crying? She did not feel sad. She had been so furious just a few minutes before. How could her emotions go from one such extreme to another?

As she looked on, one of the city guardsmen walked past her and stepped right up to the statue. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to the bronze of her skirt in a kiss. Then he smiled up at the statue's face high above and walked away. Teresa forgot all about her tears and the trembling in her limbs as she stared after him.

Screenshot

"See, everyone knows about the Lady!" The thin voice of Aia made Teresa start. Wiping her eyes once more, the wood elf turned to see the beggar was standing behind her.

"Oh goodness, dearie what's wrong?" The old woman's voice dropped to a somber tone as she saw Teresa's eyes, which the wood elf imagined were red and puffy from tears. "What did that man say to you? Run you out did he, like all the others?"

"What?" Teresa stammered, wondering how the beggar knew. "I don't know…"

"That Vitellus, a hard one he is," Aia said with a reproachful sound in her voice. The old woman raised a trembling arm to brush Teresa's fiery locks from her face. "Near a dozen young ones like you gone into that guild of his looking for work, and turned them all away he has. Don't you feel bad 'cause of him young lady, there ain't no pleasing that one."

"Really?" Teresa said, thinking back to the rigors that Pappy had put her through. "What does he tell people he doesn't want? Does he say to come back later?"

"Oh no!" Aia exclaimed. "Tells them right out they ain't good enough for 'em he does. A lot of them was right big fellas too, and turns them away he does."

"Oh," Teresa murmured. Then maybe the guild commander had been telling the truth after all? She could not understand why he would offer to train her for free. Yet when he had said to come back in two weeks she had known deep down in the pit of her stomach that he was lying to her. She was just a prole, the lowest of all plebeians. How could she ever be good enough to be part of a guild? He had just told her that to make her go away, had he not? She had felt so certain of it, how could she have been wrong?

"Is that what he told you did he?" Aia asked, "not good enough for 'em you was?"

"No," Teresa replied, "that's not what he said at all." The tremble in her limbs was gone now, as was the urge to cry. Suddenly she was intensely aware of how bright the sun was overhead, warming her skin with its kind embrace. Now her ears noticed the gentle tones of birds singing and the laughter of children playing. Her eyes saw the green leaves of the trees rustling overhead, and the pale blue of the clear sky beyond. Somehow the world seemed right again.

"Was it the evenin' he was invitin' you out to then?" Aia winked. "One for the ladies, that one is! Got a new one on his arm every week he does."

"No, not that either," Teresa shook her head. "I am sure I am too stringy, that is what everyone says."

"Oh the prettiest little thing ever you are!" Aia exclaimed with a smile, even though she was shorter than the wood elf. "And don't let anyone tell you different. Exotic you is with that pale skin. Men like that you know…"

Teresa had to stifle the urge to laugh. Exotic was the last word she would ever use to describe herself. Looking up at the statue, she suddenly felt the urge to lean forward and kiss it herself.

"Have you ever kissed the Lady?" she asked.

"This morning did I," Aia said, continuing to grin, "and look how my luck's been so far!"

Teresa did smile faintly then. That was enough for her. Stepping forward, she pressed her lips against the cool metal of the Lucky Lady's skirt. She was not sure what she was expecting to feel, but nothing happened when she did, nothing dramatic at least. Not that she knew how it felt to be lucky in the first place.

"Now there you go my Teresa!" Aia said, "about to change, your luck is!"

* * *

Teresa set down her mortar and pestle on the small table by her bed. Rows of potion bottles now covered it, filled with liquids of numerous colors. Looking down at her bag of ingredients, which was still packed tightly with supplies, she realized that she would need more bottles. A lot more. She had used up all that she had, and barely made a dent in the store of alchemical supplies she had gathered on her trip from the Imperial City. She would be making potions for days.

Her stomach growled as she stared at the potions. She wondered how long she had been working as she rose and washed her hands in the basin across the room from the bed. It had been enough time for the light of Magnus grow dim through her window, and as she glanced outside she saw that the fiery orb had begun to slide under the mountains west of the city.

Taking a moment to dry her hands, Teresa stared down at herself. She was still wearing her leather armor, but now at least it was clean of dust and dirt. That had been the first thing she had seen to after paying for her room. The way her first suit of armor had dried and cracked had taught her the importance of properly cleaning the leather with saddle soap and oiling it afterward.

Still, she wished she had something other than armor to wear. She had left her other clothes with Simplicia at Jensine's shop. It had not seemed important enough to carry them along with her all the way to Bravil. Now she longed for the soft feel of fine linen against her skin.

Well, there was nothing to do but buy new clothes tomorrow, she resolved with a faint smile. Just as soon as she sold some of her potions to pay for them. The room had cost nearly the last of her money. She knew that she could always make a withdrawal from the Temple of Zenithar. But that was for saving, she thought, not spending. Likewise, she could have gone to one of the cheaper inns, but she had not liked the look of them. They seemed too seedy, even for her. Silverhome On The Water, on the other hand, was very inviting with its clean furnishings, bright flowers, and the smell of freshly-cooked bread filling the common area.

She stopped to look at herself in the mirror over the washbasin and fussed with her hair. Once more her scarlet-dyed tresses had gotten out of place. She really ought to cut it shorter, but she liked how she looked with it long and swept across her forehead. Patiently working in some of the lavender-scented gel Nerussa had taught her to make to hold it in place, she worked at it with her comb and eventually put most of the locks back where they belonged.

Her stomach growled again, reminding her that some things were more important than her appearance. Wasting not another minute, she was out the door of her room and down the stairs to the common area of the inn. Even though it was a modest-sized chamber, she found it was filled with people. Most were dressed in fine linens, and several wore velvet and silk. No one wore the flax or sack cloth of the poor. Nor did anyone wear armor, except for her of course.

An Orisimer waving his hand in the air caught her eye. Looking at him more closely, she recognized him as the same man she had passed in the lobby of the Fighters Guild when she had stormed out early in the afternoon. He was still dressed in the same blue velvet clothing he had been wearing then, and his face lit up with a smile as he beckoned her to his table.

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"I would be honored if you would join me, my fair lady," he said as she approached, gesturing to the empty chairs at his table. His voice was deep. But rather than the gruff tones she was used to hearing from orcs, his speech was measured and smooth, like the sound of a musical instrument. "I am Ancondil, and as you can see I have plenty of room. I would consider it my privilege to share your company."

Good part. I'd wondered if Teresa might feel something awry when she went to the 'Lucky Old Lady' from her being in touch with thing more than the average Bravil denisen. Apparently it's better hidden than that.

I'm enjoying Bravil very much, I always thought that place was a damp, dingy deadend full of addicts and people hoping to leave before their house falls down around them, but your version is better. It also makes better sense bacuse it's so well situated for trade some people are going to get rich regardless of the count's ineptitude. I'm quickly reforming my imagining of it to match the one here

There's more development of Teresa I notice, she now has a better idea of just how good she is if Pappy has turned down so many, and she doesn't go to the cheapest inns as I'm sure she would have. Next she'll be buying vintage wine It really is impressive that you have so much character development still going after so many parts (any idea how many words? lots anyway), it just keeps happening and is what makes this piece so good to read.

Now this Ancondil person has my interest piqued...

On a less related note: Acadian - I loved the poem

So nice to calm down a bit after getting so riled up from having her stones checked!

'The old woman raised a trembling arm to brush Teresa's fiery locks from her face.
This is simply beautiful, and says so very much, so efficiently!

You did a great job of using Aia to provide some meaning to what Pappy was doing. It was great to watch the realization dawn on our wood elf! To see her tears dry, the birds chirp and the sun warm her skin.

"Now there you go my Teresa!" Aia said, "about to change, your luck is!"
I love the manner of speech you have given Aia, and this is only one example. It is so perfect for her, from her 'ain'ts' to flipping her words around like Yoda. Wonderful!

'Well, there was nothing to do but buy new clothes tomorrow, she resolved with a faint smile.'
What else does she need to know? The secret of life, right there! Even better than knowing how to use the 'fine' word!

I recall Ancondil so clearly from 1.0. It is such a delight to see him return. I really look forward to dinner with him.

I second Acadian's thoughts on the way you made Aia speak. I always hear Angela Lansbury in Sweeny Tood when I imagine it

Speaking of imaginations, this made me think of Simplicia and Teresa.

I looked up Baa Baa Black Sheep, and soon the first disc should be on its way, yay. I also went back and read The Battle of Bruma in one sitting, what a powerful chapter! I remembered Pappy, but I had forgotten that Vincent was there. Also I have a much clearer vision of Tadrose now, thanks to the refresher.

I wonder how Theresa will handle her next meeting with Pappy. I expect he is familiar with the sight of an angry female storming away from him. I am warming up to Bravil, and I am curious about this handsome-voiced orc with the melodious name!

Olen: I am just ignoring the whole Night Mother's lair underneath the statue. I never liked the idea of it being there to begin with. Funny you mention that about wine though, because within a day (and probably over a dozen more posts), Teresa will indeed by buying some!


Acadian: Aia is a fun character to write, although her speech patterns are difficult.


Jacki Dice: Ooh that nearly made me cry! Thank you Jacki. It was indeed perfect. I usually think of Ayumi Hamasaki's song Who when it comes to how Teresa thinks of Simplicia (the original from the Loveppears album, not the remake of it). This one is perfect to show the opposite!


Grits: Pappy is indeed accustomed to dealing with angry females! We will be seeing plenty more of Ancondil from here on out. He is one of my favorite characters in the Bravil FG.


Next: In our previous episode Teresa's rage cooled off, and a conversation with Aia made her look at her experience in the Fighters Guild in an entirely new light. Finally she was offered an invitation to dine by a mysterious Orisimer later that afternoon. Next, she learns more about this interesting orc with an elvish name.


Chapter 27.2 –The Lucky Lady

"Oh my, thank you. That is very generous." Teresa allowed the ghost of a smile to cross her lips as she sat across the table from the other mer. Starting at his ears, a mane of raven-black hair grew down from around his head. Above that the green dome of his skull was shaven clean, except for a long ponytail that rose from the back of his scalp and fell past his shoulders. A book and a glass of brandy sat beside the orc's hand. In front of him was a half-eaten plate of roast lamb covered in gravy, with potatoes ladled with sour cream and chives on the side. The sight of the latter made the wood elf's stomach rumble once more. "My name is Teresa."

"It is my honor," Ancondil said, bowing his head to her. Before Teresa could reply he turned and called for the waitress, a plump but otherwise attractive Nibenean who took Teresa's order for dinner and returned a few moments later with a glass of wine.

"Ancondil? that's an interesting name for an orc," Teresa said, lifting the glass to her lips. The wine was sweet and fruity on her tongue, and she closed her eyes to savor the lovely taste before allowing it to slide down her throat. "I thought most Orisimer names had a 'gra' or a 'gro' in them?"

"They do," the orc said. He had stopped eating when Teresa sat, and now wiped his hands on a small cloth. "Unlike most Orisimer however, I was raised by Altmer. Hence my name."

"Really?" Teresa could not prevent her eyebrows from rising in surprise. "How did that happen?"

"I was orphaned at birth," Ancondil said, lifting the snifter of brandy in one hand and gently cupping it in his thick fingers. Taking the time to roll the glass around, he watched as the dark liquid swished around the wide-bottom of the container. "I was found on the steps of the Chapel of Arkay in Cheydinhal by their healer. Shortly afterward I was adopted by a high elf couple in the Mages Guild. They raised me as if I was their own, quite a testament to Altmer willpower I must say!"

"Oh my goodness!" Teresa nearly gasped. "Me too! Well, except for the chapel, the high elves, and everything else. I am an orphan too that is. I was raised on the streets of the Imperial City by an Imperial woman, Simplicia. They call her 'the Slow' because of how she had stonejoint for a long time."

"By the Nine, now this is quite the turn of luck is it not? That the two of us would meet at this time and place, both so far from our homes?" Ancondil declared, raising his glass in a toast. "Here is to us then, siblings in circumstance if not in blood."

Teresa allowed a faint smile to crest her features once more and raised her glass to meet his. His mention of luck made her remember kissing the statue of the old woman in the street outside. Aia had said her luck was going to change after she did so. Now she wondered if indeed it had.

She found herself liking the Orisimer. The way he spoke so well and looked so dapper in his fine velvet said he was money. Yet unlike other wealthy people he did not come across as being full of himself. Rather he seemed very down to nirn with his easy manner and quick humor.

"You stopped eating?" Teresa noticed, looking at the unfinished food on his plate.

"It would be terribly rude of me to eat before you are served," Ancondil said.

"Oh don't be silly!" Teresa exclaimed, "it will get cold! Go and eat!"

"That would be ungentlemanly to say the least," Ancondil declared. "Perhaps if you share the meal with me? The lamb is quite delicious."

"Oh no, I don't eat meat." Teresa shook her head. "You go ahead until my fish comes. I grew up on the streets, you don't have to impress me!"

"Really? you do not eat meat?" Ancondil asked with a lifted eyebrow. Teresa noted that he still made no motion to continue his meal. "When I saw you earlier at the Fighters Guild I had thought you were a huntress, come straight from the wilds of the Great Forest itself."

"I had," Teresa said, looking down at her hands. The last thing she wanted was for him to remember how she had stormed out of the Fighters Guild. She hoped she was not blushing when she forced her gaze back up to his. "But I am a gatherer, not a hunter."

"Indeed? I have never been able to pass up a good steak myself. Well, to each their own I always say." Ancondil raised his glass once more to her before taking a sip of the dark liquid. "Did your business at the Fighters Guild go well? That is if it would not be too indiscreet to inquire?"

"No," Teresa muttered. She thought about what Aia said, how the guild commander told people to their face that he did not want them. "Well, maybe not. I don't really know. How about yourself? Did you need to hire someone?"

"Oh goodness no!" Ancondil laughed. "I was there to join!"

"You were?" Teresa wondered aloud. "You don't look like someone who would need to work for the Fighters Guild?"

"Well, here is to looks being deceiving." Ancondil raised his glass once more and took a small sip. "In spite of my attire, I assure you I am personally quite destitute. It is my parents who are well-off. I came here to Bravil to make my own fortune. I would starve as a poet or a musician. On the other hand I have always been adept at breaking things."

"Did they accept you?" Teresa asked, stifling the urge to smile at his quip. She remembered her own ordeal to prove herself. What might the guild master have put Ancondil through to show his worth? she wondered.

"Yes indeed." Ancondil said with a smile. "Although I am still sore from the trials their leader inflicted upon me! I sit here before you a proud - albeit probationary - member of the Fighters Guild. At least until my background check is complete."

That caused Teresa's eyebrow to lift again. So the guild commander was doing a check on Ancondil as well, even when it was plain he was a straighter arrow than Hieronymus Lex? Then maybe the Colovian had not been lying after all, she thought, perhaps he did want her for real?

Just then Teresa's lake perch arrived, smothered in butter sauce and sprinkled with basil, and flanked by a small pile of chipped potatoes. Her stomach growled again as she breathed the aroma of the fish deep into her lungs. A moment later she was digging into the meal. She had to force herself not to rush like she usually did when she ate. Instead she took her time and tried to savor every delicious bite, as Nerussa had often chided her to do.

"Life is filled with sensual pleasures Teresa," the Altmer woman had told her once as they basked in the warm afterglow of lovemaking. "Whether it is the taste of a fine wine, a good meal, the warmth of the sun, or the soft skin of your lover under your fingers; take the time to glory in every pleasure life brings you. It is often the simplest things that make living the most delightful."

"So you mentioned being a poet and musician?" Teresa asked between bites of food.

"In my own, very modest way," Ancondil said. She was glad to see that he had started eating once more, now that her own food had arrived. "My lute is upstairs in my room. I would not be so cruel as to torture an entire room filled with people with my playing though. I am really more a fan of each really, rather than a player or writer."

"Oh, I would love to hear," Teresa said. She had never met an orc who liked poetry or music, let alone tried to play or write. Come to think of it, she had never met anyone of any race that did, aside from Nerussa and the street corner musicians in the Market District. Then she took a bite of the deep-fried chips. They were still steaming from the fryer, and she had to gulp down a mouthful of wine to cool her tongue. "Raven that is hot!"

"Careful there, that looks hot!" Ancondil exclaimed, then looked sheepish after the glance Teresa could not help but to shoot him. "I suppose you have discovered that already however…"

Agreed on the whole thing about the Night Mother statue, it seemed a bit unlikely. Doing away with it is a good move, it's good to see the setting being changed more fundementally now (certainly deserved given how rich it is).

Interesting back story to Ancondil, a well spoken and mannered orc makes a novel character who is fun to read. I look forwar dto seeing what greater part he plays. Certainly his intelect and demenor go against the norm...


I'm not sure I've mentioned before (though I have noticed), having Teresa swear by 'raven' is a good device. It both reinforces her religous beliefs and provides a way round the filters without seeming contrived.

So as ever good, and some wise words from Nerussa.

What a delighful chapter!!

I would say without question that the concept of Teresa and an Orsimer sitting down together at Bravil and swishing wine and brandy around as the most unlikely that I have ever read on these forums. Yet that is precisely why it works so well and the whole scene works with a clear resonance.

"I would starve as a poet or a musician. On the other hand I have always been adept at breaking things."
This really made me smile.

To everything wise Wolf of the Winter said - ditto!

'So the guild commander was doing a check on Ancondil as well, even when it was plain he was a straighter arrow than Hieronymus Lex?'
Wonderfully put. The mention of Lex is both setting friendly as well as reminds us of Teresa's familiarity with the Waterfront and seamier side of IC. It also enforces the underlying wisdom that Pappy has earned through hard experience.

'Just then Teresa's lake perch arrived, smothered in butter sauce and sprinkled with basil, and flanked by a small pile of chipped potatoes.'
Oh, you know the way to Acadian's heart so very well! Yum! Based on the sweet, fruity taste, may I presume the wine to be Tamika's? If so, even doubly yummier with awesomesauce!

Teresa's flashback featuring Nerussa was wonderfully effective. It reminds us of why Teresa chose the lake perch. It also is a beautiful memory and perfect accompaniment to a discussion of music and poetry with her delightfully large new green friend!

'Then she took a bite of the deep-fried chips. They were still steaming from the fryer, and she had to gulp down a mouthful of wine to cool her tongue. "Raven that is hot!"
"Careful there, that looks hot!" Ancondil exclaimed, then looked sheepish after the glance Teresa could not help but to shoot him. "I suppose you have discovered that already however…"
This little exchange was perfectly played! I too enjoyed Teresa's use of 'Raven'. I could feel Ancondil mentally slapping himself on the forehead, and smiled at the unspoken flash of temper from 'Red'.