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Athynae

Jul 10 2011, 01:21 PM

OMG what a memory Trey!!!! I remember that fiasco, but in the end to the victor went the spoils as I recall.

AND although you may not be contagious with that particular scurvy, you are still quite contagious with one and from the looks of this forum you have infected an entire small population. But correct me if I am wrong, i don't think anyone minds that there isn't a cure for this one. hehe

mALX

Jul 17 2011, 03:36 PM

@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian - and for the encouragement that wrought that chapter out of me!! You ROCK !!!

***
@ Jacki Dice - Lol, Thank you so much Jacki !!! Technically, (or actually) - Alix the Mouse was a regular sized mouse when Maxical gets him - she has a tendency to fatten up pets when she gets them, lol. He'll get big soon enough, lol. Thank you again, Jacki !!!

***
@ King Coin - Thank you so much KC !!! And especially for all the help making the "Alix the Mouse" for my game !!

***
@ Foxy - Now THAT is what I love to hear !!! You are very missed when you are AWOL, Foxy !! Thank you so much for stopping by to see Maxical, she misses you too !!

***
@ Grits - Oh, you have made my day, week, month !!!! GAAAAH !!! Thank you so very much Grits !!! Your kind words mean so much to hear, Thank You !!!

***
@ Treydog - As long as the story still makes you snort at your desk I'll be happy !!! Thank you so much Treydoggie !!! (liked getting the inside line on your theater days too, lol)

***
@ Naughty Haute - Oh, I loved that vid !!! How cool was that !!! Thank you so much Haute, and yeah - I've missed Maxical's slapstick too, lol. Thank you again for reading !!!

***
@ Doommeister - Now THAT's what I love to hear, Thank You so very much Doommeister !!!!

***
@ Ghastley - ROFL !!! Thank you so very much Ghastley !! I happened to catch sight of a YouTube vid just before writing that chapter where she "lit" the fire - URG!!! GAAAAK !!! Lol !!! Thanks again !!!

***
@ Hazmick - ROFL !!! Thank you so very much Hazmick !!! And welcome back, you are always missed when I don't see you for a while !!!

***
@ Athynae - WOO HOO !!! I love that, Thank You so very much, your kind words mean a lot - and by the way - WELCOME to the Forums !!! I loved your chapters !!!

***
@ Master Chef TK - Lol, maybe Jim Carrey after he has trans-gender surgery !!! ROFL !!! Thank You so much TK !!!

***

mALX

Jul 22 2011, 06:34 AM

Screenshots :

Athynae

Jul 22 2011, 12:09 PM

I love the pics

BUT.......

I got all happy thinking there was more story to read which would have been a great way to start my day only to find NO MORE STORY YET.....

Considering a special spell for you similar to the one I hold on Trey!!!!!

King Coin

Jul 22 2011, 04:49 PM

I'm glad you were able to put the screens to use! It's nice to know that there is 1 member of the Order that know what they are doing right?

Acadian

Jul 23 2011, 12:28 AM

Thanks for providing those wonderful screenies, mALX!

D.Foxy

Jul 24 2011, 06:13 PM

I'm back!!!

Ah, what joy to read the adventures of my favourite female farter femme fatale!!!

And those screenies were priceless, too....

Keep it up, my girl, but don't spring too many hilarious episodes on us at once ... some of us have reputations to uphold, and gigglesnortguffawing in the middle of the day at the office does little to uphold those reputations....

mALX

Jul 27 2011, 07:54 AM

*

@ Athynae - GAAAAAH !!! Not my hair !!! Urg !!!! Thank you so much for your support Athynae, it is greatly appreciated !!!

***
@ King Coin - Thank you so very much for those screens, you ROCK !!!!

***
@ Acadian - Thank KC & Aravi !!! They went out and slaughtered the town, took the screens, then interviewed all the vampires and took their screens too, lol. Awesome job he did too !!! Thanks Acadian !!!

***
@ Foxy - WOOOOOOT !!!!! So glad you are back, Foxy - and thank you so much for stopping in here too !!! WOO HOO !!!!

******************************************************************

As most of you know, (and have already watched this vid) - this is a vid of my very first real mod I ever made - "Alix the Mouse!"

As everyone knows, I am as dumb as a brick when it comes to computers, lol. So this was HUGE for me.

Alix had some glitches that needed fixed since the first vid I made of him, well they are all fixed now and everything is working perfectly !!!

1. Alix is instantly summoned when I equip his ring.

2. Alix has a voice! Alix is the rodential version of Vilja, he squeaks as much as Vilja talks! (and his temper is just as bad as hers too, lol). He has different squeaks for diverse situations, including ones that sound like he is laughing, crying, and cursing. (right now his squeaking is kind of quiet, I am trying to figure out how to turn up the volume a bit).

3. Alix loves sweetrolls! He is programmed to follow Maxical, but will only follow closely if Maxical is carrying sweetrolls. If she doesn't have one on her ... and someone else walks by with one on them, Alix will get as far as 50 (game feet) from Maxical - following the one with the sweetroll. He'll return to his following duties before getting any further away than that, but will have a bad attitude about it, lol.

3. Which brings us to Alix's personality. Alix has a temper, and is not beyond throwing a tantrum (as seen in the vid below). If he is asked to wait, he will make his crying squeak. If you take it back and ask him to follow, he will accept your "apology" (not with a very good grace) - but if you don't take it back pretty quickly, Alix gets MAD and throws a temper tantrum! (It is very funny to watch him do it too, lol).

4. Alix is a magic mouse, he can heal himself! Watch him closely after his fight in Greyland, you will see him do it! Alix can also breathe under water!

5. Alix will not pick a fight, but if any enemy makes an advance he will kick some butt pretty quickly - and a little too well, I need to tone down his combat skills, lol. Right now his combat package is way too hefty. (see the vid, lol).

6. Alix might be a sore winner. He got up on his hind legs and appeared to be pointing at the dead enemies after his battle in Greyland - was that the sound of laughter I heard coming from him?

Anyway, Alix is finished other than those two tweaks (volume and combat) - and it is the first real mod I ever made !!!

OK, here is the finished product, (drum roll) ... "Alix the Mouse!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TKive-f8pk

*

Athynae

Jul 27 2011, 10:05 PM

Silly Feliness, of course I support you...but I also know there are many here that would like to see more of your story, it isn't just me.

Loved the vid by the way, and if you are as dumb as a brick when it comes to computers I would sure hate to know what that makes me...

Acadian

Jul 28 2011, 12:21 AM

mALX, that is fantastic! What a wonderful job you have done. As hard as you have worked on it, I'm so glad has come out so well.

Alix is just cute as a button! His AI as well as his physical abilities seem to allow him to follow Maxical about anywhere. It is so nice that it seems he won't get stuck by rocks and such while tagging along. His squeaks are great and I love the little stand up on his hind legs animation! He was so proud of himself for slaying those two marauders threatening his mistress.

hazmick

Jul 28 2011, 12:34 AM

Alix the mouse is brilliant! You have done a wonderful job. I see what you mean about the need to tone down the combat, he could take down the whole of the Imperial legion!

King Coin

Jul 29 2011, 12:07 AM

Alix is fantastic and I'm so impressed with the results of your long hard work on it!

Grits

Jul 29 2011, 12:34 AM

I love Alix!! It only makes sense that he would mock his fallen enemies, after all he throws such a fit when his beloved kitty simply asks him to wait!

If you don’t tone down his combat, he could be Bruma’s guard mouse all by himself. Just put a pile of sweetrolls out in the field and everyone haul tail behind the walls until the battle’s over. Then there would be an Alix statue!!

Or perhaps Grits has had too much caffeine.

Anyway he is so cute, and I love his squeaks. Congratulations, mALX!!!

mALX

Jul 29 2011, 04:54 AM

@ Athynae - Thank you so much, that really means a lot for me to hear, you have no idea !!! I finally got a free minute and forced myself to not read anything till I got a chapter out. I have really struggled lately with writing each chapter, and that isn't like my usual self. Thank you again, Athynae !!!

***
@ Acadian - You know you didn't have to comment the vid both here and on my vid page, lol. But it means a lot to me that you did, thank you so very much Acadian !!!!

PS: Alix may not have been defending Maxical in there, he may have just thought they were holding back on the sweetrolls, ROFL !!!!

***
@ Hazmick - ROFL !!! Yes, he could, lol. I def have to tone it down. He was getting flung about by mudcrabs before, I just went a little too far with "fixing" him, ROFL !!! Thank you so very much Hazmick !!!

***
@ King Coin - YOU ARE MISSED !!! COME HOME !!! Lol. Thank you so much KC, you didn't have to comment it twice either, but it really does mean a lot that you did, especially when I know you're away from home !!! You ROCK !!!

***
@ Grits - SPEW !!! A statue in Bruma of Alix the Mouse - standing on his hind legs pointing down at the Seige Machine - ROFL !!! I fell out of my chair when I read that !!!! You had also commented this on my vid thread and didn't have to do it again on here - but I am so glad you did, (especially with too much caffiene in your system). It means so much to me that you did, Grits !!! Thank you so much !!!

********************************************************************

Chapter 113: The Prisoners

“GUARDS! Get this cat off me! She’s committed unspeakable atrocities on me!” Falanu shrieked.

“I did NOT! I saved your life!” I pulled myself up off her quickly and then reached my arm down to help her up.

Falanu slapped the hand away as it neared her and heaved herself to a stand with a grunt that somehow managed to sound ladylike. “Saved me from the fire you started, you…arsonist!”

Whoever said there was never a Legion around when you needed them was dead wrong…or maybe just wasn‘t Falanu and naked. With widened eyes and leering faces the Legion poured out of the crowd of refuges like cockroaches whose nest had been disturbed.

Several of the guards gave my small bare breasts a cursory glance before honing in on Falanu, their eyes running appreciatively over the flawless charcoal of her body and resting far longer than necessary at almost every curve.

“I didn’t…not on purpose. It was an accident! Your cooking gave me gas…”

“Don’t blame your bodily functions on me, cat. You were a fur-covered gasbag when you were brought in, don’t think I couldn’t smell you…”

“That was the sewers! I didn’t get gas till I ate that disgusting meal!”

“Disgusting! What right does a prisoner have to complain when they are fed a hot meal!” Falanu’s eyes were boiling lava pools in her glaring face, but as she turned them from me to the guards they miraculously changed to a simpering expression.

Her voice was amazingly altered as well, the rich tones no longer filled with venom…she sounded helpless suddenly, and uncharacteristically…cute.

“Please Guards…she robbed me as well. There is evidence, that pillowcase tied to her waist is filled sweetrolls I had imported from Morrowind. I paid 100 gold each for them. This cat was a prisoner brought to my shop to work out her sentence…only the gods know what unspeakable crimes she committed before now.”

Falanu turned and pointed dramatically to the blazing remains of her shop on the opposite shore, but her voice reflected genuine pain. “My shop is destroyed, she set the fire to escape.”

***

The guilt was overwhelming knowing I had brought that pain, even if inadvertently. “I’m really sorry, Falanu. It truly was an accident.” I stretched my damp arms around her shoulders and tried to give comfort with a hug.

“GAAAAAH! Get your paws off me you filthy pervert!” Falanu spun around and faced the guards, her eyes blazing again. “You see? She can’t keep her hands off me! LOOK! Look what she did to me!” Falanu pointed to the scratches on her butt.

The guards were more than happy to carefully inspect the scratches, I was surprised Falanu didn’t object to the overt ogling taking place. Instead she threw me a glance over the bent heads of the guards that told me exactly what she thought of me…and in what would have been censorable words if spoken.

After a minute bit of arguing over who outranked whom, two of the lesser ranking guards were assigned to escort me and another young girl Khajiit to a refuge camp set up for female prisoners. The rest were making spectacles of themselves fawning over Falanu as I was led away.

“Hey, I know who you are! You’re that Ape Woman! What’r you in for?” The Khajiit turned a startled set of brown eyes fringed in thick lashes towards me.

Her rough, uneducated speech matched her ragged clothing; but was at odds with everything else about her. She was beautiful, dainty. I’d never seen any Khajiit with such perfect bone structure and features and felt a flicker of envy instantly. It died just as quickly as it came. She was my age, couldn’t be much older if any…but her eyes were hardened and world weary like those of someone older than Fathis. What could have caused that in someone so young?

Her cheeks flushed red under the fur at my staring. When I dropped my gaze in embarrassment they fell on a parchment tied around her neck with yarn. In large malformed letters it spelled out “Bandit.”

I got the feeling she had written it herself, and was sure of it when the guard stopped at a make-shift barricade set up at the entrance to a cave. The guard pointed to a small folding table set up in the perimeter of the barricade that held similar parchments, yarn, and several quills and inkwells.

“Ye can write your name or yer crime, Ape Woman, an don‘t take yer time doin‘ it.”

“Dear gods, I hate that name,” I mumbled, struggling to think what to write. Should I write arson? It really was my fault Falanu’s shop had burned down, even if by accident. Robbery? I fingered the pillowsack tied to my waist. I was not writing rape, that was the one thing I really hadn’t done.

***

The Khajiit girl was watching closely, obviously curious about what I had done to be arrested.

“Er…I don’t know what I’m here for, I didn’t do what I’m accused of…well, except for spitting on Ocato…” I held the blank parchment up to the guard.

The guard snorted, then pointed me back to the table. “I don’t have all day, git to it!”

I wrote out, “Spit on Ocato” and threaded yarn in a loop through the parchment like the girl Khajiit had done.

The guard pushed us through the entrance to the cave where another guard gave us a shove down the darkened tunnel. Being Khajiit, we could easily see in the dark, yet still found ourselves stumbling over tree roots and rocks as we made our way down the long corridor.

“What is that horrible smell? … GAAAAH!” I clutched her arm tightly to keep from falling.

“You’ll get used to it. Hey…er…Ape Woman? I know you said you hate that name, but I don’t know what else to call you.”

“You speak Khajiit?” I asked her in Khajiit. When she nodded, I told her my name. “My name is Ma'Thjizzrini Qa.”

“Dear gods! No wonder then…er…never mind.” She turned her face away and gave a low whistle.

“It’s okay, I know what it means. I don’t use it much, believe me. Everyone usually just calls me Maxical.”

She stopped walking and turned to face me in the dark, still speaking in Khajiit. “That’s something you don’t tell most, I’ll wager. You’ve seen my eyes, I read your thoughts on what you saw there. You know what kind of life I’ve had…and now I know what kind you have.“ She hesitated overly long, her eyes glittering in the dark…waiting for me to respond to a question she hadn’t asked.

“Friends then?” I held my hand across from my mouth, ready to spit on it.

“If you say so.” Her voice reflected nonchalance, but she spat on her hand and held it out to me. I did the same and we clasped our hands in a slimy embrace and kissed each other’s cheeks on either side. She drew back first, speaking in Cyrodiilic again. “Don’t expect no gift from me, I got nothing to give.”

***

“All I’ve got is these sweetrolls…er…but they’re stolen, and there’s been a mouse on them.”

“You got sweetrolls? Mice don’t bother me none, I’ve had worse. Let me have one to seal the friendship. If anyone I know is here, I’ll see they gives you a shirt…if you want.”

“Sure.” I hoped my voice sounded suitably enthusiastic, but truthfully I was not really excited about wearing someone else’s clothes I didn’t know. The pants from Captain Renault were bad enough, but at least I knew she wasn’t scurvy from listening to Owyn’s rants about her. I untied the sack at my waist and held it open.

“GAAAAH! The mouse is still in there!”

“Well, yeah. I thought it was Falanu’s pet and tried to save him from the fire. He wouldn‘t leave without these sweetrolls. I’ve kind of been accused of stealing them.” I watched her reach down into the sack and then draw her hand back quickly when the mouse started squeaking loudly.

“Get the mouse out first, I think he’s going to bite me.” She took a step back. “Better yet, you just get me one out.”

The mouse made several angry sounding squeaks as I pulled one of the fat rolls out and handed it to her.

She shook it before biting into it. “Make sure he didn’t leave any extra raisins on it,” she laughed.

“Urg! That’s really gross!” I gacked.

“You’d be surprised what you’ll eat when you’re hungry enough…oh, this is really good!” A loud purring rumbled from her stomach area.

“I know, I had one before the mouse got in there. I never tasted anything like it.” I tied up the sack and started walking again.

She grabbed my arm and turned me around to face her, forcing herself to swallow before speaking. “My name is Nisaba. I’ll get you that shirt if I have to steal one.” She pounded her fist against her chest twice and grabbed my hand, raising it up in a tight clasp and leaving a wet gooey spot on the fur of my cheek when she kissed it this time.

***

“Nisaba! What an unusual name!” I was surprised into blurting. That name was not Cyrodiilic, but she definitely hailed from Cyrodiil by her accent.

“Aye, I know what you be thinking. I’m from here, but the name isn’t. It was my Ma’s name, she died birthin’ me. The only thing my Da give me was the name, afore he dropped me off at the orphanage.”

I watched Nisaba closely as she spoke, the shadows flickering across her eyes at certain memories she didn‘t want to recall. Khajiit is such a beautifully flowing and formal language, she spoke it with no lapses or taints. Her Cyrodiilic however…it varied from street tough to what I would only privately refer to as “gutter.” I’d heard it before at the Bloodworks when we got in Pit Dogs from the prison or orphanage.

“I was in the orphanage too, the one at the Imperial Legion Compound before it closed. We’re about the same age, you had to be in there at the same time I was…I don’t remember you, though.” I strained my mind to picture faces or names from my time at the orphanage, but the only ones that came to mind were Alix, Pilus, Fathis, and Phillida. Why couldn’t I remember my friends there? “Er…it’s just me, Nisaba. Don’t take it personally, I can’t seem to remember any of my friends from that time.”

“I wasn’t in there long, I’ll bet you were though, ‘Vaba’” Nisaba pointed to the white fur of my arm and then up at my red hair. “And a bad tempered one. I was cute…a baby.”

I winced slightly at being called a jinx in Khajiit, it had been a long time since I‘d heard that.

“Then what? What…er…happened?” I indicated her “Bandit” sign.

Nisaba stared hard at me, what seemed like a thousand retorts rippling her jaw and twisting her lips with anger as each flashed across those beautiful eyes glowing now in the darkness. Her tail didn’t signal a fight though; instead it hung almost straight down, nearly brushing the filthy floor of the cave…I must have brought up a painful memory.

“I’m not judging, just…wondered. I’m sorry, Nisaba. I won‘t ask any more questions, you just tell me what you want to…or not. Remember we‘ve sworn friendship, I stand by my oaths.” I held up my hand, showing the gooey mass of mashed spit still clinging to the fur.

Nisaba held hers up facing mine, but didn’t speak. It occurred to me she may be near tears, and suddenly I didn’t feel that far off myself.

Too much had happened in the last day…too many things that could never be taken back, my life felt shattered into millions of pieces and no one I cared about was there to help me find the shards.

I ached to know where Fathis was, was he even alive? Itius said Gils was fine and working with Uriel Septim’s Army…but I needed him too, and he wasn’t here with me. My tongue had felt seared in two most of the day, Azura’s mark felt like it burned a hole through me without Gils or the vampires near. The only thing that made me forget it for any time at all was the painful gas I got from Falanu’s cooking. I guessed exhaustion stilled its pain now.

A vision of Alix and S’Jirra cradling me in their arms came forcibly to mind, bringing an overwhelming feeling that all the forces in Nirn were flooding into my throat to form the huge lump that now filled it.

“I want…home…“ I heard the sob escape my lips and echo off the rock arch of the tunnel, heard Nisaba’s answering crying.

She was facing me, her hand still raised showing the glistening spit in her furry palm. Tears hung like dew off her thick eyelashes and soaked the fur of her cheeks.

Something about that moment tugged at a long buried memory, a glimpse so fragile it was gone in a trice, and trying to bring it back was like trying to catch a feather in a windstorm.

*

Athynae

Jul 29 2011, 01:08 PM

GREAT STUFF!!!! Thanks Max.

You do a wonderful job of taking us straight to Max's heart, feeling what she feels. Good job.

MORE PLEASE!!!!!!

Grits

Jul 29 2011, 02:00 PM

Oh my goodness, the guards swarming over the naked and furious Falanu! I could quote everything she said for hilarity. But this line nearly caused me injury:

“Don’t blame your bodily functions on me, cat. You were a fur-covered gasbag when you were brought in, don’t think I couldn’t smell you…”

Poor Maxical, everything Falanu said was based on something that did happen – even Maxical was doubting herself when she had to fill out her card of shame!!

Nisaba is wonderful, I love that Maxical has a Khajiit friend! Extra raisins!

I love her loyalty, she is already looking out for Maxical by promising her a shirt. And there is an enticing mystery, their history at the orphanage forgotten by Maxical.

The emotions that came out when they realized they had a common past as well as a shared present dilemma felt powerful and real. My heart ached for Maxical when she cried for her home!

Something about that moment tugged at a long buried memory, a glimpse so fragile it was gone in a trice, and trying to bring it back was like trying to catch a feather in a windstorm.

I love this line, so vivid and true, and it adds a mystery to the chaos that is overwhelming the Imperial City! Layers upon layers, I love it!!

King Coin

Jul 29 2011, 03:51 PM

The beginning was hilarious!

The lesser ranked guards had to escort Maxical while the higher ranked ones “took care of” Falanu.

The guards sure responded to Falanu

Poor Maxical! Ape Woman??

I have to say I liked the end the best. Very touching. I hope Maxical’s new friend is around more in future chapters!

Fantastic chapter mALX!!!!

Acadian

Jul 30 2011, 12:11 AM

This was roll on the floor funny as only mALX can deliver - until you so delicately changed the weave and displayed your equal mastery of poignancy. This was surely Maxical at her best. Despite the venom from Falanu, our kit managed to blame herself instead of unsheathe her claws.

I loved meeting Nisaba. You did a fabulous job of working in Khajiit things here in a very natural manner while making sure your readers who are not fluent were never confused regarding kitty customs and language.

As both Grits and KC have suggested, the ending you left us with was both bittersweet and teased of what might be ahead.

Gosh, I really enjoyed this!

ureniashtram

Aug 3 2011, 05:04 PM

mALX! I caught up! Long time no see, eh? Or is it just my imagination? It feels like an aeon has passed since I last posted here. The secret to my speed of catching, you might wonder? The deals I make with the Daedra should not be discussed with the innocent.

But then again Maxical isn't so innocent. After all, her FARTS just made her life turn for the worse. You weren't kidding when you named the earlier chapter 'From Bad To Worse We Go' etc...

And Alix the Mouse!! Grrrrr. Must ... Resist... Buying a Computer.. Just to ... Download Oblivion's ... Mickey Mouse. Or is he now? His temper suggests otherwise.

mALX, you simply casts a spell of hunger on your readers. So what can we say other than 'More please'?

Zalphon

Aug 5 2011, 01:53 AM

I like the unusual name

Destri Melarg

Aug 7 2011, 09:44 AM

Beginning with 106:

Stains seemed to tell all in this chapter. First it was the part with Carsten holding the bloody sword. That single drop that landed on his shoe had me in stitches! Then it was Seridur with pee stained trousers (is it just me or is there an inordinate amount of pee in this thread?

). Vicente shows a level of astuteness that I didn't know he possessed when he is able to deduce Seridur’s preferences based on his choice of thrall. Nicely done.

It also seems that Vicente is able to deduce that Imbel is not quite what he seems. It truly is amazing the amount of drama you are able to play out while the IC literally burns to the ground!

QUOTE

“It seems the young chub is unhappy with the fur.”

Let’s hope for Mara’s sake that Maxical didn’t hear that!

It never ceases to amaze me that, after hundreds of years spent amassing great fortunes, all of Cyrodiil’s vampires are such notorious misers. I guess it’s true what they say about how the rich keep their money.

QUOTE

What he felt for Vicente…it went well beyond the pettiness of desire, beyond even admiration and respect. Trust. Vicente would not harm or betray him, he would stake his life on that.

I really have to compliment you on this wonderful passage mALX. Insight into character, foreshadowing, and even a touch of delicious irony! I love it!

And now Seridur joins the long list of characters that I can no longer look at without laughing thanks to you! I think I literally saw stars in his eyes, and I heard his heart make a distinct BOING sound when he started ruminating on Vicente’s nobility. I guess love can join the smoke, soot, and intoxicating smell of virgin Khajiit blood already hanging in the air.

*BTW the choice of song was perfect!!!

Now we get a clear and concise summation of the depths of Hieronymus Lex’s devotion to duty. It would take either a fanatic or a crazy man to go down into the sewers to collect two coins from Raven Camoran. I wonder which Lex is? Oh, and was that really Raven Camoran in a singed robe drinking wine on Seridur’s couch???

And is he really going to curse Seridur with his mouth while holding out his hand for Seridur’s check???

Only you could write something like that!

I also see that you maintain that Ocato is not the Empire’s benevolent benefactor. I wonder if some insight into his nefarious intent will come to light within this thread?

Ask and ye shall receive!

Turns out that the very next chapter opens with Ocato. Be back in a sec, have to go read . . . Wow, Ocato sure is ruthless in this story. I can see how he acquired such a lofty position. I will say that I’m not sure about the logic in telling his battlemages to ignore everything that the vampire(s) say. Now they are bound to listen with open ears!

Knowing you, that’s probably how you want it.

Phintias stomping Seridur into a bloody pulp is an image that I just want to take a moment to savor . . .

okay, done.

Here is something about your writing that I have always enjoyed, but I don’t think I have ever commented on it before:

You have presented both Seridur and Vicente as two characters with whom we should feel no reader empathy. None! They are both completely reprehensible, yet I find myself rooting for Vicente to arrive in time to save Seridur. That is pure magic!

After spitting on Ocato we get this:

QUOTE

“BRAAAAAAP…BOOOM!”

then

QUOTE

KA…BOOOM!”

You’ve done it to me again!

I was wondering how you were going to introduce Alix the Mouse. This was definitely worth the wait! And now we can add Falanu’s name to that ever expanding list. Good thing Skyrim drops in Nov. At the rate you’re going, I’ll never be able to play Oblivion again!

Finally, given everything that she’s done, writing down ‘Spit on Ocato’ as her crime is so very, very Maxical!

Okay, I’m all caught up!

treydog

Aug 13 2011, 03:57 PM

Still reading- but wanted to get some comments up so you will know how much I am loving this new take on A New Sun. This will be a bit of a quote-fest- but that is because so many of your lines stand on their own...

Loved Hannibal’s description of the problems inherent in trying to take on all of the Ancients- especially in the midst of “tourist season.” Hmm- wonder if we could entice any of them to move to Sevier County?

[quote]She’s a sweet thing…too full of life for you, Hassildor. You’ll bore her to a coma before you feed on her, blathering on and on about the blasphemies and crop rotation…wait, maybe it’s rat breeding you put people to sleep with at this time of year…”
“It isn’t about the rats breeding…in itself. It’s a discussion of a scientific experiment based on rat libido…”[/quote]

The portrait of Janus as preoccupied scientist is brilliant!

[quote]How did the Orc stand that reek? His nostrils were big enough to shove a whole carrot up inside, could he not smell that?[/quote]

Was that a “sideways carrot”?

[quote]Not as powerful as you, er…did I tell you that one I fought said you were a nobody and couldn‘t fight your way out of bed in the morning?”[/quote]

Hey now! That sounds like me….

[quote]“I’m under strict orders, no one is to enter the Palace until further notice…“ The guard broke off mid-sentence and deftly pocketed the bribe from Fathis. “I‘m not supposed to tell, but they found some tourists murdered. That‘s all I know.”[/quote]

Perfectly cinematic bit of byplay there.

The taste of moon sugar was sweet on my tongue watching his lips moving, the expressions in his eyes, his [quote]hair brushing the side of his cheek…his breath filled my nostrils…I inhaled deeply to fill my lungs with the scent of it…Gils.[/quote]

And then- you write passages like that one. Simply wonderful.

[quote]“Gils…don‘t get me wrong, I‘m sure it was great and everything…but I don‘t remember…er…I mean …well…I don‘t feel different or anything…er…I mean…”[/quote]

Just what every man wants to hear!

[quote]“Not anymore, you are now the wife of Fathis Aren.”
A huge lump that made swallowing impossible seemed to have formed in my throat at his words. “Er…but how do you feel about it? This is your box.”
“Like watching a play.”[/quote]

Yep.

[quote]Drat! It speaks of the Queen and King, but not which ones. Oh no! Now that song will be stuck in my head… [/quote]

All of Maxical’s interior monologue is hilarious of course- but this got things rolling- so to speak.

[quote]Is my hair sticking up? Has a bird left its droppings on me? Dear gods, could I be unbuckled? Maybe I should find a looking glass and return after an inspection.
Trying to be inconspicuous, I looked down and felt around to make sure my greaves and cuirass were buckled properly; then reached up and felt of my hair and face. The cowled man turned away from me with a choking sound.[/quote]

[quote]I leaned close to Fathis‘s ear and whispered low enough that his companion couldn‘t hear. “Er…you mean about the large protrusion under Irlav Jerol‘s robe being found not to be an oversized endowment, but a scroll of my ill deeds?”[/quote]

[quote]Good gods, my toes are curling and it feels like my hair just drew up tight like a Redguard’s afro… [/quote]

[quote]“And the horse in the bedroom?”
“Er…well…that was a scientific experiment to find out if they could ride the transporters. I had no idea it would frighten the beast into evacuating.”[/quote]

One of my uncles stole the college president's milk cow and tied it to the bell rope at the top of the bell tower. Supposedly, cows will walk up stairs- but not down...

[quote]I lowered my voice conspiratorially “Because the greed for forbidden knowledge is in all of us, even my mother. She had to know what else she would find…and for a while the fear was very real that she would never leave my room.”[/quote]

[quote]“You choose this time.” He turned sideways in his seat to face me.
“Azura, the Rim of All Holes; the Tonguemaster.”
“Better choose another, I see that conversation going downhill fast.”[/quote]

[quote]You are the one that gave me your hand to examine! By the way, what was that trick with your hand you did just now? That was intriguing!”
“Examinations don’t entail rubbing. And that is known as the Khajiit Proctologist, but it can be known as the Khajiit Castrator if someone gets fresh.”[/quote]

[quote]“Bring rat ‘A‘ back again, learn how to trick his libido into returning with her.” I had reached the end of what I remembered of Hannibal’s tirade on the subject and hoped he wouldn’t question further.
“How would they do that?”
“Huh? Oh…er…uh…dye her fur a different color…maybe put make-up on her…a little dab of perfume…”[/quote]

[quote]I’d never seen a bird rolling on its back like that, pressing his wings against his stomach…and that odd cackling squawk; the bird was obviously in terrible pain, anyone could see that.[/quote]

[quote]“For my part I wish Fathis the best in his choice. I certainly hope the bride I came here to select for myself has a more even temperament and the only shrews in our castle will be burrowing in the garden.”[/quote]

Oh dear. I see terrible consequences from that remark!

[quote]The sound of my own scream echoed back to me from above as the large bird Jak swooped overhead emitting a terrible shrieking cry that split through the sound of the chanters, chilling my bones…a sound from another realm where gods were watching each act unfold…tumblers of time clicking into place and locking as if destinies were being changed in the void while here a mob scene was unfolding.[/quote]

[quote]When time and space meet it leaves a pocket of nothing where they touch…for the second time today I felt wedged in that fold where even the blackness of the void doesn’t reach and the gods make wagers on the outcome of lives caught in the ‘tween.[/quote]

If you EVER wonder about your ability as a writer (which you should NOT)- just look at those two passages above. WOW!

[quote]It didn‘t. When I pinched the skin, he didn’t react, but when I bent his finger backward he said “OW” …and his hand felt warm.[/quote]

Hehe. Yes- that sounds like the Maxical Method for determing whether someone is real or a ghost...

Thank you for the lovely description of Mrs. Treydog’s talent as a painter.

mALX

Aug 24 2011, 10:09 PM

I GRADUATED !!! WOO HOO !!!!!

Grits

Aug 24 2011, 10:16 PM

Hooray, mALX!!!!!!!

Congratulations!!

Destri Melarg

Aug 24 2011, 10:33 PM

QUOTE(Grits @ Aug 24 2011, 02:16 PM)

Hooray, mALX!!!!!!!

Congratulations!!

DITTO!!!

treydog

Aug 25 2011, 01:28 AM

YAY YOU!

(Was obedience school as tough as they say?)

Acadian

Aug 25 2011, 03:41 AM

Contratulations, mALX! I'm proud of you. I know the house/quest you modded for your class was lots of work but by Mara, it sure had some clever features!

King Coin

Aug 25 2011, 05:07 AM

I'm late but...
CONGRATS mALX!!! I knew you could do it!!

D.Foxy

Aug 25 2011, 07:31 AM

CONGRATULATIONS to our one and only MaLX!!! YIPPIE YIPPIE YAAAAYYY!!!!!

mALX

Aug 25 2011, 08:17 AM

For anyone interested, here are the two vids of my Final Exam mod, it is two houses in the Black Marsh region(each with a basement), two horse stables, and two gardens. The properties are connected by a bridge. I can't upload the mod because it is in the same spot as the instructor's mod, but at least I graduated, lol. Here is the vids:

First vid = Final Exam House

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg162RWUlvo

Second vid = both houses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-hCweMkC6Y

*

Acadian

Aug 26 2011, 12:37 AM

What a nice pair of houses! The underwater lighting, sliding doors and good stock of Tamika's are wonderful touches. Great job, mALX!

Destri Melarg

Aug 26 2011, 08:37 AM

Are those Ayleid stones lighting the dock, the gazebos, a front stoop, and the cage over the hot tub?

NICE! I also like that you have what appears to be a dry fountain across from a well. The garden is also just wonderful. I am amazed at how far you have come in so brief a time! Now I want my own custom house, but alas I am stuck on the console.

King Coin

Aug 26 2011, 02:13 PM

QUOTE(Destri Melarg @ Aug 26 2011, 02:37 AM)

I also like that you have what appears to be a dry fountain across from a well.

I thought it was a fire pit! Which is it mALX?

mALX

Aug 26 2011, 07:20 PM

Thank you all so much for your kind words and support!

Those are Welkynd Stones, I didn't use any outside lighting except them and it seemed to work perfectly - a little too well at first, I found I either had to place the green ones underwater, under bushes - or hide them in the eaves of rooftops, lol. The white Welkynd Stones were pretty for decoration and didn't add too much light.

That is a well ... sort of, and it is also dry. It is actually a secret entrance that requires a (well hidden) key to open. Below it is one of the many secrets the property holds - NOT the secret treasure, something more interesting, lol.

mALX

Sep 22 2011, 07:25 PM

*

Maxical's mother Shivani, long deceased and residing in Clavicus Vile's realm :

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...creenShot16.jpg

Alix the Mouse arrives in Clavicus Vile's Realm after his demise. There he meets Shivani. Alix asks Shivani for help getting back to his owner, Maxical:

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...creenShot15.jpg

Shivani looks through the portal to Tamriel. She sees Maxical's profound grief over the loss of her beloved pet.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...creenShot14.jpg

Shivani and Alix the Mouse approach Clavicus Vile and ask for his help.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...creenShot11.jpg

Shivani wants to help Alix the Mouse return, but his soul belongs to Clavicus Vile. Unlike other mice, Alix the Mouse has a grand soul. Shivani must promise Clavicus Vile another grand soul to replace Alix the Mouse's...but whose?

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...creenShot10.jpg

Shivani and Alix approach Clavicus Vile again. There is only one soul they had the power to give. The promise is made.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...eenShot12-2.jpg

Shivani and Alix the Mouse leaving Clavicus Vile's realm through the portal.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...creenShot13.jpg

Oops! Must have taken a wrong turn at Sancre Tor!

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...ScreenShot0.jpg

*

King Coin

Sep 22 2011, 10:02 PM

I'm happy you have Alix the mouse back! Woohoo!

Acadian

Sep 23 2011, 01:50 AM

What a neat story you tell here by screenshot! And I agree with KC: I'm so glad you have the real Alix back. Squeak!

Grits

Sep 24 2011, 02:56 PM

Yay, Alix is back! Although it seems his journey to Maxical is just beginning! Shivani in Tamriel? Another grand soul?! This looks like the start of an interesting story!

Uleni Athram

Sep 24 2011, 06:02 PM

*gasp* The pink wizard is never late....

HE IS ALWAYS VERY LATE. I wouldn't regale you lot of how I caught up to our Resident Kitty's story and I wouldn't even "properly" put up comments to our dear Kitty's story. Instead, I'll comment with pictures AND WORDS! A picture is worth a thousand word, yes?

from page err, 31? ~57

http://lolbot.net/index.php?content=viewer&id=19353

"I phaind eet berry haad to konteyn mah phood wen reeding yor stori. Iben mai dog tinks so tu."

http://lolbot.net/index.php?content=viewer&id=19292

"If Maxical ever reverts from being a PROPER LADY to this... this... BEAST, I can totally picture her saying this. Oh, wait. I think I just remembered something."

http://trolledbot.net/index.php?content=viewer&id=1628

"---At how clever I am?"

mALX

Oct 18 2011, 04:50 AM

@ Athynae - thank you so very much Athynae!! It means a lot that you read and liked my story, I love your writing too - just have had so little time I could not get to hardly anything in the last 3 months (hence why it has been that long since the last update, lol). You are very appreciated, and I'll def get over there to catch up on your writing now that I've got a small break in the real-life issues here, lol. Thank you again!

***
@ Grits - you can never imagine how much your wonderful comment means to me, thank you so very much !!! You made my day every time I've re-read this - you got everything that chapter was trying to convey !! Thank you again Grits !!!

***
@ King Coin - Thank you so much KC, that means a lot from someone who is able to convey emotions so thoroughly with no words or facial expressions in their vids !! You ROCK !!!

***
@ Acadian - my friend and staunchest supporter for the last 3 years, thank you so much for your loyalty, support, friendship, and Awesome comments !! (and for always lighting that fire under me to keep going, lol). Woo Hoo !! You are so appreciated !!!

***
@ Yeah Ureniashtram !!! You are okay - you have been very worried about over here, so it is great to see you have made it safely through to come back to us, our prayers have stayed with you to remain safe !!! Thank you so much for coming by to catch up with Maxical !!!

***
@ Destri Melarg - GAAAAH !!! I fainted when I saw your name !!! Your summary is the greatest, thank you so much for taking the time to put your comments down - you had me in stitches !!! Over half the fun in writing is getting comments like yours back, thank you so very much Destri !!!

***
@ Treydog - thank you so much for stopping by and reminding me of some of my own favorite places in the chapters, lol !! I really appreciate that you took the time to read some Maxical, you've been missed.

******

Thank you all for the congratulations on graduating (3 classes so far) and for the cheers on Alix the Mouse's return from the beyond - that to me was the greatest relief, the game lost all fun without his little personality following Maxical around, plus she had to fight for herself again, lol. You all ROCK !!!

mALX

Oct 18 2011, 05:01 AM

*

Chapter 114: The Refuge Camp

If Nisaba and I had cried till all the pain that haunted us was gone we may never have left that crook in the corridor; still been standing, clinging to each other for the comfort of the other’s arms and shared grief.

I may never know the root of Nisaba’s pain, or find the resolution for mine…but for that moment we were no longer two strangers. The sharing of our tears eased that jagged place inside both of us and a bond was formed…for the moment at least.

We walked the rest of the way to the cave’s greatroom with our arms entwined behind each other as if we were kin. Nisaba’s inner strength felt like a tower one could lean against and it never topple…it must be to have carried her thus far, from the aging in her eyes she had been through much in her short lifetime. I hoped she drew the same support from me that she gave.

The slime on the tunnel walls glistened with life and movement, giving the impression of snakes slithering up them. A shiver shot down my spine as my arm brushed against the clammy moistness of it.

Stepping out into the greatroom was like entering a different realm to me, but Nisaba was at ease as if she had spent her life in caves…maybe she had, I remember her saying I’d get used to the smell.

There could be no way to ever get used to it. The stench of the large chamber was overpowering and seemed to come from the walls themselves. Centuries…maybe eons of urine and feces from every species on Nirn, sweat seeping foully from the cave walls blending together…like a festering boil. How could anyone get used to this? I could feel it creeping into my fur and pores, embedding itself in my lungs.

“What’s wrong, you think you’re some kinda princess? Too good for the likes of us?” Nisaba pulled her arm from me when I stiffened at the mouth of the tunnel.

“It’s the smell, Nisaba. What is that?”

“Goblins. This cave musta’ had Goblins afore. The Legion musta’ killed ‘em to house us.

“Dear gods, that smell is making me sick…”

A fairly hefty Orc woman who had been squatting to do her business near the wall stood up and moved quickly when she saw me heaving in her direction. When my retching stopped Nisaba yanked on my arm, pulling me around the upper ledge of the bowled room and into another darkened corridor.

“Where…?” I pulled back.

Nisaba tugged my arm again. “Come on, you won’t find Khajiit in here with Orc. Crap where they sleep and don’t know enough to cover their own dung. And they call us beasts.”

***

Her musical laugh tinkled back to me as she dragged me into a much smaller room that had no fire. I could sense the presence of Khajiit, but the room was empty with the exception of a few battered crates. Nisaba stacked them atop each other and then deftly leaped on the top one. She promptly disappeared.

“Come on!”

Her hiss echoed around me. I looked up to see her head peeking down from a rounded hole in the ceiling of the cave. Trying to balance on the rickety crates and gather my legs to leap seemed impossible. What she had made look so easy and graceful took several tries of me restacking the crates before Nisaba dropped back down through the hole.

“You aren’t much of a cat, are you?” Nisaba followed that jibe with a sound I’d never heard before, but knew instinctively. Within seconds a Khajiit head appeared above us, then another.

“It’s the Apewoman!” The second Khajiit gasped.

“My friend can’t make the jump.” Nisaba grinned at the Khajiit before turning back to me and stretching out her hand.

I was pulled, pushed, then dragged up onto the dusty ledge. Nisaba leaped up behind me, then dangled down and knocked the stacked crates down.

A tunnel angled steeply from the ledged room. There was no stench or slime up here like in the lower caves, just the slight musk of old straw and dried clay. A moonbeam shone down somehow from above, illuminating a mist of dust that our feet were stirring up. I looked up, amazed.

“Look, I can see the sky!“ The faint familiar scent of the Rumare wafted down the shaft above me. “The Rumare! I can smell it!”

One of the Khajiit barked out a laugh. “You haven’t spent much time in caves, have you Apewoman?”

“This is my first time in one.” I wasn’t sure why I sounded apologetic about it.

The tunnel eventually opened up into a bowl shaped room with a few crates burning in the center. Musty straw had been pushed into piles for makeshift beds along the outer rim. Three decent sized shafts stretched up from the ceiling, bathing the room in glimpses of moonlight and drafts of fresh air. A handful of Khajiit women stood up as we entered.

“It’s the Apewomen!” One Khajiit called out.

“She doesn’t like to be called that, her name is Maxical…and she’s my friend.” Nisaba’s voice rang out protectively. “And she spit on Ocato!”

I pointed to the parchment tied around my neck with yarn. Gaped mouths were followed by laughter and cheering welcomes. “Hail!”

***

Nisaba spread out her straw bed some to make room for me. I had gratefully stretched out next to her thinking I may drop from exhaustion…but sleep was impossible. I didn’t know if this end of the tunnel was closer to the Imperial City or if the war was spreading to the ends of the City Isle.

The sounds of the battle raging wafted down the air shafts on gusts of wind. Even distant thundering explosions could be felt in vibrations below us, but the closer ones shook and jolted the rock foundation of the cave till I feared it would crumble around us. The upper platform we were on rocked like the Arcane had the day I blew up the yard, and I wondered if they were using the old unstable version of Delphine Jend’s famous spell.

Occasionally the bit of sky I could see at top of the shaft would be glowing pink from an exploding fireball or the crackle of lightning magic was followed by a flash of white light…the sounds were the worst, though. I could number the vampire deaths by their animal screams that filled the night like they could be heard from all corners of Cyrodiil.

I lay awake staring up that air shaft long after the others were sound asleep, aching to know if Fathis and Gils were safe.

Azura’s seal on my tongue was a burning reminder that Gils was out there in that war…Gils, who knew no magic. I prayed whoever was doing that blasting of spells was the Arcane Mages and not adept vampires. Worse still…Fathis. Gils had the whole Imperial Army at his side…but the vampires already had Fathis.

The stench of singed flesh burned into my nostrils as it vented down the shaft, and my stomach lurched into a knot. The mezzanine had smelled the same. The image of that pool of blood on the mezzanine where I had last seen Fathis standing flooded my vision and a terrible wail echoed around me.

“Wake her up!” Nisaba’s frightened voice broke through, pulling me from the nightmare just as I was straining to see through the sea of vampire legs for a glimpse of Fathis…but it wasn’t Fathis, couldn’t be…no, it was that vampire pretending to be him…

A row of concerned Khajiit faces surrounded me as the vision slowly faded. My stomach felt like a large rock filled it…my tongue on fire, a pain like I’d never known…that horrible wailing sound…me. It was coming from me, and I couldn’t make it stop.

***

“Get the juices.”

An older Khajiit tipped my head back. A dirty brown bottle was clutched in her hand, she was bringing it near my face.

“NO!“ I tried to pull myself up, but many arms were holding me down and the hand under my chin tightened till I couldn’t move.

The bottle was forced into my mouth in spite of my struggles. In a rush burning liquid made a trail down my throat, its fire making what seemed an endless pathway inside me.

The Khajiit holding my head leaned over and blew into my mouth as she pulled the bottle out. Her breath on the liquid seemed to ignite it, exploding it within me with…what can only be described as an overwhelming burst of euphoria.

I lay there like a glassy-eyed bowl of jelly for a long time, the pain in my tongue from Azura’s seal was gone…at least for now.

“Th…thank you. What is that stuff?”

“Didn’t your Ma teach you about this kind of thing?”

Nisaba raised her hand to quiet the woman. “She didn’t have one, she’s an orphan like me.”

The woman that had held my head sat down in front of me and held up the bottle. “This is how Khajiit survive once they’re separated from their bound mate. Liquid gold, it is, and just as expensive.”

“I drank…gold?”

A burst of laughter broke out. Nisaba glared at them. “She doesn’t know, let her be.”

“Is it…illegal? A drug?” I pulled myself up on one elbow and examined the bottle.

“It is in Cyrodiil, damn Uriel’s Law. We have to go to Elsweyr to get this. It’s legal there. We can’t carry much at a time across the border, either. The Legionnaires are everywhere on horseback along the border. It’s jail if you’re caught with one bottle, death if you’re caught trafficking it. We’ll be lucky if our supply outlasts this war.”

“Is it from a plant that only grows down there or something? I didn’t listen much in Alchemy class…”

The women were looking at each other, hesitant to answer. Nisaba leaned close to my ear and whispered, “vampire juices.”

“VAM…” Nisaba’s hand clapped over my mouth to silence me.

“SHHH! You trying to get us in trouble? No one can know we have it!”

“Sorry. Ew, that’s gross! …But the pain is gone…like it never was. How long will that last?”

“Not long, a few hours. We don’t have enough to keep sharing with you, especially with this war on. None of us know when it’ll be safe to get out of here. And this stuff costs a fortune, every minute we’re in here is Septims lost we could be earning to buy more.”

***

“Gee, the town is full of vampires right now, how do you get the juices? Can you extract it from the dead ones? …Urk. I made my own self sick picturing it.“ I gacked. I didn’t know where they got the juices from, and was afraid to ask or keep trying to imagine.

Nisaba laughed. “Yea, too bad we can’t barter with them for their juices without getting killed.”

“And no need robbing anyone right now, the streets are littered with bodies to loot,” an older Khajiit cackled. They all laughed at her witticism that I didn’t quite get.

“I’ll share mine with Maxical.” Nisaba said quietly, but her face looked like the idea scared her.

“I don’t have any Septims to buy a bottle from you, only those sweet rolls...if the mouse left any.”

“I can’t give you that much.” Nisaba shook her head. She looked at the others. “We could give her an empty bottle and each give her a few drops.”

When each had contributed a tiny bit and handed me the brown bottle with a grimy cork plugging the top, I held it up to the firelight. There was under a fourth of the bottle filled. What was I doing? Was this something I would regret later? …But could I live with the pain if I didn’t? With an uneasy feeling I slid the bottle into the pocket of the borrowed leather pants. I’d only use it if it was an emergency, and ask S’Jirra about it the first chance I got. She was from Elsweyr, she’d know.

I stretched back down on Nisaba’s straw bed listening to the outraged squeals of the mouse as he was dumped from the sack and the remaining sweetrolls divvied up among the bandit women.

All the pain in my tongue was gone, but the worry about Fathis remained. Janus had sworn Fathis still lived. His voice rang with truth, he was not just saying that to calm me. I had to believe that…keep believing that, and that Janus would find him and bring him to safety as he promised.

As the others went back to their own beds Nisaba nestled in by my side breathing out the scent of the sticky sweetrolls, and I could swear I felt the mouse kick me before laying down against my feet.

*

Jacki Dice

Oct 18 2011, 06:56 AM

I think I read "vampire juices" three times to make sure I read that right.

I didn’t know where they got the juices from, and was afraid to ask or keep trying to imagine.

I second that!

Uleni Athram

Oct 18 2011, 09:38 AM

Vampire jui- You... You..

http://emotibot.net/?content=viewer&id=3412

http://emotibot.net/?content=viewer&id=3403

http://emotibot.net/?content=viewer&id=3393

Athynae

Oct 18 2011, 10:35 AM

Now that's the way to start a new day, a nice dose of vampire jui....I mean mALX!!!! I have missed mALX so much, and she returns with that same humor tinged drama. A wonderful rendition of what is proving to be a horrid experience for mALX. I look forward to reading more of her adventures, I SURE HOPE I WON'T HAVE TO WAIT AS LONG!!!!

So glad to see the story continue and thank you for your kind words. I have been a little distracted by RL myself but I am trying to catch up with all the stories here little by little. I did miss mALX so very much.

King Coin

Oct 18 2011, 05:19 PM

I’ve been looking forward to Maxical for a while now! I’m so glad you posted!
I had to go back and reread part of the last update just to get myself situated. Not that I'm complaining or anything, I loved the previous chapter too!

Aww that’s so sad! I’m glad that Maxical and Nisaba are friends.

…And they call us beasts.
Love that line!

The Khajiit definitely have a better living area than the others. I’m happy to see Nisaba stepping up to help Maxical!

I wasn’t expecting that nightmare. Poor Maxical!

Vampire juices! ACK!

That mouse!

QUOTE(Athynae @ Oct 18 2011, 04:35 AM)

I look forward to reading more of her adventures, I SURE HOPE I WON'T HAVE TO WAIT AS LONG!!!!

I second this!

D.Foxy

Oct 18 2011, 05:33 PM

Holy freaking...

VAMPIRE JUICES!!!!

Just when I thought the imagination of MaLX couldn't get any more inventive...

...let me bow down in deep awe of thee, my inventive minx!!!

Acadian

Oct 19 2011, 12:40 AM

By Mara! This was stunningly well-written. I could feel everything our kitty did. Oh, and smell it all too. . . .

Sharing jagged despair with her new friend.

Horrifically vivid descriptions.

Weaving dialogue, description and, most importantly, Maxical’s inner thoughts for us.

I love Orsimer as you know, but in Maxical’s world at least, I must agree that they are perhaps better avoided – particularly when it comes to using the sand box and such.

Speaking of sand boxes, I simply loved the heavy feline influence you so naturally let float through this entire episode. And poor Maxical is not the most gracefully kitty in the cave, is she?

So Maxical is ‘addicted’ to Gils, which may be okay if he was there. Or, she has the choice of keeping Azura’ Seal at bay through continuing use of vampire juices. And still, her heart cries out for Gils and Fathis.

I was so relieved that The Mouse is still alive and (literally) kicking.

I realize as I say this that I have been suffering from Maxical withdrawal symptoms myself, but this episode was as good or better than anything you have ever written, my friend!

Grits

Oct 19 2011, 05:15 PM

“Dear gods, that smell is making me sick…”

And then it did. Poor Maxical. That was a truly revolting cave situation, very vivid. I was relieved when the other Khajiit hauled her up into the cleaner part of the cave.

“You aren’t much of a cat, are you?” Nisaba followed that jibe with a sound I’d never heard before, but knew instinctively. Within seconds a Khajiit head appeared above us, then another.

I thought that Maxical’s culture shock among the Khajiit was just brilliant. She’s so used to apologizing for herself, it’s great to see her being cared for and celebrated. When the Khajiit laughed and cheered her for spitting on Ocato, I wanted to cheer, too!

Azura’s seal on my tongue was a burning reminder that Gils was out there in that war…Gils, who knew no magic. I prayed whoever was doing that blasting of spells was the Arcane Mages and not adept vampires. Worse still…Fathis. Gils had the whole Imperial Army at his side…but the vampires already had Fathis.

Just heartbreaking. Little details like how many men she may or may not be married to mean nothing at all in a situation like this. Maxical’s helplessness and worry are so real in her thoughts here.

It’s been said already, but… VAMPIRE JUICES?! Wow, that’s… I am completely horrified and fascinated.

“I’ll share mine with Maxical.” Nisaba said quietly, but her face looked like the idea scared her.

Now, that is a friend! Nisaba curled up at her side and the mouse kicking her in the foot was the perfect end to this chapter. This is such a great chapter. There are so many Maxical moments that I love, and this whole episode is right there at the top!!

mALX

Oct 21 2011, 01:50 PM

@ Jacki Dice - Yeah Jacki !!! You are back !!! (not just on here, but updating your own story again !!!) WOO HOO !!!! Thank you, Jacki !!

***
@ Uleni Athram (Uremiashtram) - ROFL !!! Those pictures were great, you had me rolling !!! Thank you Uleni !!!

***
@ Athynae -

Athynae, Athynae
It made my day
when you stopped by to say
- and you must know by now you'll never get away
from these rotten 'poems' about you, they're here to stay ...

ROFL !!! Poor Athynae, I hope you don't mind the horrible poetry about you. Thank you so much for reading, it means a lot to me !!!

***
@ King Coin - Thank you so much KC !!! And thank you for pushing me to get back on Maxical's story. That you like the story - that means a whole LOT to me !!!!

***
@ Foxy - Thank you Foxy - and you are the master of creative !!! I always knew that, but am getting a huge refresher on that in your new work !!

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@ Acadian - Thank you, thank you, Thank YOU !!! And I'm really glad you liked the chapter, that made me feel really good. You are right, Maxical will learn more about being Khajiit from these !!!

***
@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits !!! You always catch every undertone !!! Maxical has not been around any "feral" Khajiit before, it means a lot to me that you were able to pick up on that culture differences between them! (And you are right, at this point she is pretty shell shocked from the last few days of her life and couldn't really care about her marital status, only that they are safe). Thank you so much again, Grits!!!

mALX

Oct 21 2011, 01:53 PM

*

Chapter 115: Fowl Revelations

The firelight flickered over Nisaba’s delicate facial bones, illuminating those long lashes brushing her cheek now in sleep. She had remembered me from the orphanage, instinct told me that…instinct and the hurt in her eyes when I denied remembering her.

Nisaba said she’d been a cute baby and adopted right away…that had to be a lie. Only the un-adoptable were sent to the Prison Compound Orphanage, and all beast species were considered un-adoptable…even cute baby ones.

We weren’t even allowed to show our faces on the rare occasions when prospective adoptive parents or philanthropists like Fathis came to visit. Philida was afraid their open purses would snap shut if they saw beasts. It was a miracle of the gods that I was adopted, I have always known that.

Why had she lied about that? Had we been close? Yes, we would have been…both being Khajiit, and around the same age. I tried to imagine how she might have looked with the buffy thick fur of a kit, strained to remember her…or anyone from the orphanage.

Oh, I remember glimpses of my time there…every moment of meeting Alix and Fathis. Sitting on the Compound lawn next to Alix, his expressive eyes revealing every emotion flickering through…especially his soft heart. Meeting Fathis the first time; the flashes of unholy amusement when his eyes smiled into mine, the cold anger as he confronted Philida…the feel of being protected in his arms...the scent he wore. These moments are etched in my memory forever.

Beyond that the memories are mostly of Philida or getting in trouble. Philida with his face beet red and contorted in anger, or that day he got covered in pigeon poop. Hieronymus Lex…his face a raging mask in that split second as he rose from the bed, still peeing from the bowl of warm water I’d dipped his hand in while he slept.

Odd that angry faces and shouting were all that remained uppermost in my memory…that, and I could remember every inanimate detail of the orphanage itself. It was true, I could picture in my mind minute details of the room I spent so many years in; the windows and doors, where each bed was situated…even the pattern of the quilted cover on my bed there. Everything but the girls that had filled those other beds.

How could I remember everything except those I would have cared about most? The important memories were erased as cleanly as any memories of my mother before her death. My friends had become faceless and nameless, their voices muted indistinguishable echoes of sound. It was like chapters in a book whose pages blew free from their binding once the moments were passed.

***

“Nisaba...” The whispered name didn’t feel familiar on my tongue, evoked no memory…or did it?

Once again I struggled to capture that moment in the tunnel with Nisaba. Something about us facing each other that way…it had struck a chord in me. Both of us crying, her hand raised in vow…her palm glistening.

We must have been friends in the orphanage if we swore vows of some sort together. What kind of vows would children make to each other, friendship? No, we wouldn’t have been crying if it was swearing friendship.

I had a sickening feeling that whatever promise I’d made to her, I hadn’t kept it. Maybe when I was leaving the orphanage I vowed never to forget her…obviously I had broken that promise.

Another thing that bothered me; how had Nisaba become used to living in caves? Nisaba was my age. All un-adopted orphans were turned out into the streets on their eighteenth birthday. She should just now be getting released from the orphanage.

She couldn’t have been adopted by parents who lived in caves, either. Alix had to pass rigid standards before he could adopt me, even with Philida pushing hard for the adoption to be approved. One of those standards was a valid and permanent roof over my head.

Fathis had the orphanage at the Compound closed down the year I was adopted, and he donated plenty toward building all new orphanages in every city…but where were they? Not in caves, that much I’m sure of. Fathis wouldn’t have stood for that…if he knew about it.

That thought struck me forcibly. Fathis didn’t know. Whoever he placed over the donations would be someone he trusted to carry out his wishes. They had to have misappropriated the funds and lied to Fathis about the welfare of the orphans, because Fathis would have checked back to learn how the orphans fared.

The rage I felt at the thought of orphan girls…Nisaba…growing accustomed to living in goblin caves; it would be nothing compared to what Fathis would feel, especially since it was done on his donation funds. Whoever Fathis put in charge of those funds will have a very bad day if I find out their name, or if…when…Fathis returns so I can tell him of this.

On top of that rage, I had a sudden clear look at what my life may have been had I not been adopted by Alix when I was…or met Fathis when I did. How sheltered and spoiled I had been, while Nisaba was robbing people to survive and living like an animal in a cave.

The glaring differences in the turns our lives took…it was sickening realizing that…when I should have been giving appreciation, instead I created havoc and expense.

With that sudden clarity came another…my vow to Akatosh. It’s pretty shameful to think I cried like a baby at being called to his service, when for all I know he may have been the one that kept me from living in caves beside Nisaba. I always knew it was a miracle of the gods that a beast like me…albino to boot…got adopted in the first place. It’s not like I earned it by my good behavior, that’s for sure.

***

My dreams were a confused jumble, mostly of the recent events in my life and things I was thinking about before going to sleep. There was a lot of Fathis and Gils, Vicente‘s attack, Hannibal waking me after the attack…even that childhood song I was singing when Hannibal found me in the tent, “Jack be nimble.” But in my dream, Akatosh came out of the sky with a blaze of light behind him. He was hovering ever closer to me and singing the song with me.

When Akatosh was singing, his voice sounded like many voices…all female Khajiit. He came closer and closer till I could feel his fiery breath blowing my whiskers as he sang the song, and the light behind him got brighter till it was burning my eyes.

I blinked awake, my lips still mouthing the words to the song…”Jack be nimble, Jack be quick…” But I couldn’t have been fully awake. I could still hear Akatosh singing, feel his breath in my face and see the blinding light…no, wait. That was light coming down the vent shaft above me.

I sat up. Daylight was streaming down the shaft over me, illuminating the nest of straw I was laying on. The other two shafts in the cave room were doing the same, creating an eerie glowing aura around the faces of the sleeping Khajiit in the straw beds below each shaft.

Even from where I was across the room I could see they were mouthing the words of the song, and hear it being sung from the beds in the darker areas of the room.

A chill shot down my spine and raised goosebumps under the fur on my arm. All the Khajiit women were singing that childhood song “Jack be nimble” in their sleep, even Nisaba. Her breath must have been what was blowing my whiskers.

“You’re one of us.”

The voice so close behind me nearly caused me to jump out of my skin and pee Nisaba’s bed. I spun around to see luminescent eyes glowing out of the dark beside me.

***

With slight relief I realized it was Khajiit eyes, they always glow luminescent in darkness. It was the older Khajiit woman that had forced the potion down my throat last night.

“Uh…uh…huh?” I tried to keep the shiver of fear out of my voice, but even I could hear it.

“You know the song. You’re one of us.”

“What song? Uh…Oh, that childhood song? Uh…doesn’t everyone know it? Er…doesn’t every mother sing it to their children? Er…uh…don’t they?” I tried to act nonchalant and not scramble too fast like a bolting deer to get out of bed and then out of this cave.

Her heavy hand dropped on my shoulder and held tight, keeping me from tearing out of there like a banshee. “The woman that adopted you sang that song too? Then she is also one of us…”

“NO! She…it’s a childhood song, everyone sings it! Oh! You mean…Oh! Does it have something to do with that…er…potion you gave me last night?” I pulled out the brown bottle of vampire juices and waggled it at her. “She may have used it since she wasn’t with the one that started her…“

She slowly shook her head, watching me carefully. I felt like she was expecting something from me, but didn’t know what.

"Er…does it mean something special among…er…bandits?” I pointed to Nisaba’s ‘bandit’ sign even though it had twisted around facing her as she slept and the letters couldn’t be seen.

The older Khajiit’s eyes flickered into a quick glare and her lip drew back. She shook her head.

“What does it mean?” My voice sounded defensive. I knew she wouldn’t respond to that, but suddenly…I had to know.

“Tell me, please…I…“

She waited for me to finish the sentence.

“Can you tell me what it means? I don’t know…I…er…“ I ground to a halt.

The room was filled with glowing eyes now. All the women were sitting up in their beds staring at me. I felt a bump on my arm and turned back around to Nisaba. She was sitting up now too. She nodded her head at me, I guess encouraging me to finish what I was saying.

***

“Er…it only happened to me once before, a few days ago. I…I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but…er…“

“You can tell us, we are sisters…now.” Nisaba’s hand slid into mine.

“It was right after the music festival. I was…er…attacked by…uh…er…someone named Vicente. Uh…well…when I woke up the song was kind of…uh…stuck in my mind. Can you tell me what it means?” I didn't want to tell them Vicente was a vampire, they might think I had gotten that scurvy vampire disease or something.

“It means He is near.” Nisaba is the one that answered, but both she and the older Khajiit pointed up at the ceiling. The rest of the Khajiit’s heads just bobbed up and down in agreement.

“He?” I looked up at the ceiling of the cave where they were pointing. “Akatosh?” It was Akatosh in my dream. I stared up the shaft expecting to see a dragon shape appear.

Was this it then? Was Akatosh coming for me now, before I even turned eighteen? Was it because last night when I was thinking about my vow to him, I felt such shame over how I acted that day? Dear gods Akatosh doesn't even let you think his name before leaping on you like a hungry leopard!

I didn’t really know what Akatosh would sound like, but still I was surprised to hear a cawing sound echoing softly down the shaft. Somehow I thought a dragon would have roared or something.

A shadow began angling across the shaft. I held my breath, biting my lip in combined fear and anticipation at actually seeing Akatosh appear before my very eyes…

A huge bird circled over the top of the shaft. “Jak?” The shocked whisper changed to a shout. “JAK!” Maybe he could find Janus and show him where I was!

The bird tipped its wing and angled back over the shaft. And then suddenly it hit me.

Janus was a vampire. He said the bird belonged to a friend of his. Who else would be a friend of his, but another vampire? The childhood song…I only sang it after Vicente’s attack! The bird Jak must belong to Vicente! Did that mean Vicente was near us or just his pet bird?

Dear gods, I had sent a friend of Vicente’s…a vampire…to find Fathis! And trusted him! Oh dear gods!

*

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