Chapters 14-18 -

I loved how Athragar refered Talendor to Henantier or Dagail for dream interpretations! How very appropriate.

As soon as Honditar induced his fingers into the mountain, I assessed his motivation for obtaining the book to be that he would use it as leverage to get into Erana's skirt. Oh well.

'I deliberately held my breath even longer, and then started to feel dizzy. I exhaled and sat down heavily on the bench next to the table.'
This is pure and delightfully Talendor!

The walk down to Hackdirt through the Great Forest once again reminds us that Talendor really is a wood elf.

And the rescue of a damsel in distress! What a sharp contrast the lovely Dar-Ma makes compared to the sullen hissing Teekeus. One makes you want to rescue her while the other makes you want to nail his tail to the floor.

Chipmunks scurried busily along the forest floor, running their little chipmunk errands.

It’s lovely to go on a walk through the Great Forest with Talendor and his animal friends.

“Well…um…I guess I’ll do as he said and leave you folks to…whatever. Have a nice…um…meeting,” I said as I headed for the door.

You have perfectly captured my impression of Hackdirt. What the heck is going on there?!

The half naked assailant had a monstrous club that he did not intend to tickle me with.

Happily, Talendor already pointed out that the man was shirtless.

Bouncing on that trap door was starting to remind me of my coach ride to Chorrol.

The whole escape was a delightful blend of exciting and hilarious. Then the skeleton’s axe through the skull brings back the very real danger. I can’t help but think Honditar won’t be upset that Talendor dropped his sword.

I love these two little details !! Who would think of searching the burned corpse first? And the (GAAAAK) description as well - both Awesome additions I have never seen in another fic !!


The whole scene when Talendor storms into Honditar's house mad is as perfect as it gets !! The dialogue, actions, every bit of it - just perfect, and so easily visualized !! My fave part:





The whole Hackdirt chapter was great!! This was hilarious:




Great Chapters !!! It's really surprising to me that this is your first write - you have found a hidden talent, then!! You have a knack for slipping in these little detais that elude so many (including myself) - a lot of real "face/palm" moments that make so much sense and I wonder why it wasn't thought of before. Your humor is subtle, and can slip by for a second. Then I'll think, "What did that say?" and go back to reread - several times since the story began you have had me rolling, most especially with your portrayal of Teekius and the chapter when he stole the book and brought it to Honditar. Really Great Write !!!!

@ SubRosa - By Zenitor, Talendor WILL learn that guy's name...one day.

Thank Zenitor it was not a naked assailant with a monstrous club...
tsk...tsk...tsk

@ Acadian - Good to see you again.

I loved how Athragar refered Talendor to Henantier or Dagail for dream interpretations! How very appropriate.
Glad you liked that. It seemed like a no brainer.

...he would use it as leverage to get into Erana's skirt. Oh well.
As much as he chats her up, you would think so! LOL

@ Grits - An equal "tsk...tsk...tsk" to you as well re: the monstrous club.

You have perfectly captured my impression of Hackdirt. What the heck is going on there?!
What is going on there? It's like Children of the Corn with shirtless club wielders instead of children.

@ mALX - Great to see you again as well.

It's those pesky imps I tell ya...

Thank you for the wonderful compliment too.

@ Everyone - Equal thanks to all of you for your comments and support.





“You’re out awfully late tonight,” the guard at the gate said with a raised eyebrow.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I replied with a fatigued sigh. Then I asked him if he had seen Dar-Ma come through the gates.

“The Argonian girl? Yes, she came in not too long ago.”

“Great! Thank you sir,” I said, and passed through the gate.

I went straight to Northern Goods. I was surprised to find the door unlocked at this late hour. When I entered, Dar-Ma was there and immediately gave me a crushing hug. She called me ‘her hero’ and thanked me profusely. Then she practically dragged me up the stairs. Her mother was waiting there.

“I can never repay you for saving my daughter’s life. You will have our friendship and gratitude until the end of our days,” Seed-Neeus said and gave me a kiss on the cheek. Being kissed by an Argonian is somewhat like being kissed by a cheese grater with teeth. The scales are a tad rough.

“I am just glad it all worked out,” I replied humbly.

She told me to come back at a more convenient time and she would gladly teach me something about bartering to improve my mercantile skills. I said that I would and after bidding them both a good night, I left for the inn. It felt genuinely good to help someone else after so many had helped me. When I entered The Oak & Crosier, Talasma was nowhere to be seen in the common room. This was disappointing because I was hesitant to return to the Guild hall. Another confrontation with Teekeeus was the last thing I needed after tonight’s harrowing experiences.

Outside the inn once again, I weighed my options. I looked eastward across the plaza and remembered that The Grey Mare was located on that side of town. Shrugging to myself, I headed that way. Unfortunately, I was greeted with the same disappointment that was offered at The Oak & Crosier. There was not a publican in sight.

With a sense of dread, I decided to head for the Guild hall instead of sleeping outdoors. I crept silently through the front door and went straight to the basement. I knew there was another bedroom down there and hoped it was unoccupied. Fortunately, it was not taken. I shed my armor and climbed in bed, not even bothering to make use of the nearby basin, soap, and pitcher.



I awoke wishing I could stay in bed for a few more hours, but I wanted to avoid Teekeeus. I dressed hastily and went upstairs, trying to ignore my body odor. The Chapter Steward was standing in the lobby and noticed me before I could exit.

“Associate, come here!” he demanded.

Here we go again…

“I seldom make mistakes,” Teekeeus said, then made a sniffing sound and what appeared to be a sour face. It was hard to tell, but he continued, “So I loathe admitting it when I do. You seem to have earned an advocate in Athragar. He says you have no motive to steal from me. That, coupled with the fact that Earana is still hovering outside the Guild hall, has forced me to realize that I may have passed judgment too hastily. For this, I apologize.”

He doesn't seem to be very sincere, but play along...

“I understand sir. I accept your apology in the spirit with which it was given. No hard feelings,” I replied, extending my hand.

He just glanced at my hand and said he needed to be looking for his book. As he walked away, he rubbed his nose and shook his head, still making the sniffing sound. That was the straw that broke the old mare’s back. I was going to clean up before I did anything else. I went up to my old room and dropped off my wares. From there it was straight to the lavatory and a hot bath. After dressing, I went to look for Athragar. He was in the library and waved as I entered.

“I wanted to thank you Athragar. Whatever you said to Teekeeus helped. He even apologized to me,” I told him.

“That old iguana actually apologized? Amazing! Well, I’m glad I could help. The last thing you need right now is a Chapter Steward accusing you of theft. So, where will you go now?”

“I am going to take your advice and go to Bravil. I’ll get my next recommendation there and look up that Henantier fellow you mentioned,” I replied.

“A sound plan indeed. How will you be traveling?” he asked.

“Well, my last experience on a coach was rather bruising, so I thought I would just walk. I do enjoy being in the wilderness, and it will give me a chance to see Cyrodiil first hand,” I told him.

“Have you considered the Guild Guide?”

“What is it?” I inquired.

“Oh my, it is a most amazing device! Every Guild hall has one. Each one is operated by a Mage that is an expert in telekinesis –“

“Tele-kuh-who?” escaped my lips before I could stop myself.

Athragar chuckled, “Telekinesis. Normally telekinesis is use to move objects without lifting them. But in this case, it has been taken one step further. Come to the basement and I will show you.”

When we got downstairs, Athragar led us through a door to the right. There was a strikingly attractive Breton woman dressed in azure velvet. Near the back wall was a circular dais that glowed with power. Small sparks of light swirled above it. The dais was fronted with steps and was adorned with the same eight-pointed star design that decorated the lobby floor.

“Good morning Josie!” Athragar said to the Breton with a smile, “I wanted to show Talendor here how the Guild Guide works. He is new to the Guild and hasn’t seen it yet.”

“Well hello there, Talendor, and welcome to the guild. I am Josie Maran, Guild Guide operator for the Chorrol Guild. I would be happy to explain how the transport operates. You step up onto the dais and tell me where you would like to travel. Then, after you pay the fee of course, I transport you there instantly. You may journey to any Guild hall, or to the Arcane University. We Mages are not as road hardy as fighters or other adventurers, so it is a much safer way to travel,” Josie explained.

I was flabbergasted.

They could move things this way?

“So…let me get this straight. I get on the pad, pay you, tell you where to send me, and…poof…I am there?” I asked.

“Yes,” she replied matter-of-factly.

“Is it safe? I mean…has anyone ever…ended up where they shouldn’t have? Or…um…died from it?”

“Well…not in a very long time. We have perfected it now, and you never hear stories of Mages materializing in…shall we say…unfortunate positions,” she assured me.

Unfortunate positions? Do you even want to ask?

“I will show you it is safe,” Athragar said, then turned to Josie and asked, “Will you waive the fee for a demonstration?”

Josie frowned for a second, and then conceded that she would just this once. Athragar stepped up onto the dais.

“I doubt the Guide operator on the other end will be as generous as I. Do you have payment for the return trip?” she asked.

“I do. To Bravil please,” Athragar replied.

With that, Josie closed her eyes and made a flourishing gesture with her arms. There was a blinding flash of light. After blinking away purple and green after-image flashes, I saw that Athragar was gone.

“Shut the front door!” I exclaimed, and then blushed furiously at my outburst as Josie giggled.

A moment later there was another flash that brought more purple-green temporary blindness, and Athragar was standing on the dais again.

“Get OUT of here!” I blurted. Athragar looked at me quizzically and asked why I wanted him to leave again when he had just returned. I just flushed again and apologized while Josie giggled some more.

“So…what do you think? Pretty amazing, eh?” Athragar said, stating more than asking.

“I’ll say, but if it’s all the same to you, I think I’ll still walk. I want to see Cyrodiil,” I replied. Not to mention that I didn’t want to be the first person in years to wind up in an ‘unfortunate position’.

“Suit yourself, but that is quite a long walk. There will be perils to avoid if you can, or to confront if you must. Allow me to teach you a couple of spells that might be useful while you are traveling,” Athragar said.

We both thanked Josie for the demonstration and left the Guide room for the basement proper. Athragar said he would teach me two new spells. The first one he called ‘Turn Undead’. He explained that the spell would repel undead creatures that I might encounter while exploring any ruins or caves. He cautioned me that these monsters tend to populate dark places. He also advised me that weapons with silver plating were the only type useful against the ethereal undead.

He started to teach me a second spell. It was a conjuration spell that he called ‘Summon Skeleton'. He stopped when he saw me staring at him with my mouth agape.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“I cast this spell just last night. It hadn’t occurred to me until now. I have no idea how I could have known the spell. It just came to me when I needed it. Very effectively too, I might add,” I told him, as I remembered a shirtless assailant getting a splitting headache.

“It is indeed a good thing that you are going to see Henantier. Hopefully he and Dagail will be able to help you sort out these dreams and the inexplicable knowledge that you seem to have,” he said with genuine concern written on his face.

I nodded, and then said, “By the way, you never did fully explain the ‘Scout’ ability to me.”

“It is also very handy in caves and ruins. When you use ‘Scout’, there is no duration. It will remain active until you decide that you no longer need it. Basically, you recant the spell, for lack of a better word, to null the effects. That is the danger. It is easy to forget that you are using it when it has been in effect for a prolonged period. It has two aspects. As I told you before, the first is ‘Night Eye’, which allows you to see clearly in total darkness. The effect is monochromatic, so you do not notice details of color, only light and dark. The other aspect is ‘Detect Life’, and works exactly like the life detection spell I have already taught you,” he finished.

After teaching me how to use it, he locked the basement door and doused all but one small candle. Then he told me to give it a try. The effect was incredible. I could see perfectly, except for details of color as Athragar had explained. Everything appeared to be bathed in periwinkle light. My Bosmer tutor was awash in a shimmering glow. I chuckled with amazement.

“If you walk out of a cave into daylight with ‘Scout’ active, you will be blinded. I can’t emphasize this enough,” he warned again, then taught me how to recant the spell and instructed me to do so.

“I will be mindful of it, and thanks for the lessons, Athragar,” I said as he relit the candles and lamps. Then he turned to me with a serious countenance.

“What caused you to cast the summoning spell last night?” he asked me.

I conveyed the events of the previous day and night. His look grew more concerned. When I finished, he spoke.

“This does not bode well. The only reference I have ever heard regarding ‘deep ones’ pertained to the Dwemer, or Dwarves. I can’t imagine why they would be trying to raise a race that has long since vanished from Tamriel. This leads me to believe that ‘deep ones’ refers to something more sinister. Talendor, would you be willing to postpone your trip to Bravil a little longer?”

“I suppose I could. Why?” I asked.

“Hackdirt is very close to Chorrol, as you know. Whatever the residents are up to could very well be a danger to our town. Honditar may not look it, but he is one of the most intelligent people in these parts. Go tell him this story that you have related to me. If he sees no danger, then by all means, proceed to Bravil. But I would sleep better tonight if I knew that I am just being paranoid right now,” Athragar explained.

“No problem Athragar. I need to apologize to Honditar anyway. I was rather rude the last time we spoke. I have some errands to run, and I really need more sleep. I wasn’t planning to leave for Bravil until tomorrow anyway.”

ROFL !!!! My Fave lines:




Oh, now that was a perfect description !!




This had me rolling !!!




ROFL - that one almost made me spew, lol !!!!

I am getting a kick out of Talendor's introductions to the realm of magic - not sure why, but I thought they were messing with Talendor about the transporter, trying to trick him, lol.

Another great chapter !!! Great Write !!!

I just read the prologue and Chapter 1 and I really like what I've read so far. The fact that your protagonist finds himself in the body of a Bosmer (which I knew from your terrific description, even before Dreth spoke) gives a nice sort of ironic detachment to what is, in essence, a game character. I don't think I have ever read an Elder Scrolls story in which the main character was not born on Nirn. Bravo for an interesting and original take on familiar events.

The description of the Guild Guide had me looking for Scotty! I'm with Talendor, though. I'll walk, thankyouverymuch!

I was chuckling over Teekeeus's obvious discomfort at being wrong (well, we know he isn't, but let's not enlighten him, k?) and smelling Talendor's momentary lapse in personal hygiene.

Do Argonians kiss? Kissing implies that one has pliable lips, and I never imagined reptiles with pliable lips. Hmm. Okay, I'm not trying to start a discussion similar to the one over on the other forum about do Argonians sweat?

Being kissed by an Argonian is somewhat like being kissed by a cheese grater with teeth. The scales are a tad rough.
Eeep!

Outside {of the} inn once again,
I think Seed-Neeus swindled Talendor out of his of the, or just the

That old iguana actually apologized?
Yay for Athragar! That must have taken some doing!

I see you are incorporating Morrowind's Guild Guides into Oblivion (although they sort of have them with the Arch Mage's lobby teleporters, not to mention the wizard's tower plugin.)

I accept your apology in the spirit with which it was given.
That sure covers a lot of ground!! Very clever.

I cast this spell just last night. It hadn’t occurred to me until now. I have no idea how I could have known the spell.
D’oh! I can’t believe I didn’t notice he wasn’t supposed to know that one!!

'You step up onto the dais and tell me where you would like to travel. Then, after you pay the fee of course, I transport you there instantly. You may journey to any Guild hall, or to the Arcane University. We Mages are not as road hardy as fighters or other adventurers, so it is a much safer way to travel,” Josie explained.'
This is indeed a great concept, and for exactly the reasons Josie explained! Something tells me our Bosmer is going to prefer making his path through the forests though!

Oh good, it sounds like we may get Honditar's take on Hackdirt.

Ok, I'm back. Your take on the Chorrol recommendation was very unique, and highly entertaining! It was particularly funny having Talendor being accosted in exactly the same way twice in a row.

You also appear to be delving a bit deeper into the tribulations of Hackdirt than the game does, which I think is a great idea. We will have no Cthuloid monstrosities roaming these woods, not with our Bosmer with severe head trauma on the case!

I'm curious to see where this goes.

@ mALX - That cheese grater was first sandstone, then a grinding wheel, then a sharpening stone...I couldn't find the right rough, scaly object...

Likewise, "unfortunate positions" started as a rather graphic description of ending up in a cow's posterior, but I wasn't sure that would fly in the forum.

@ Destri - Welcome aboard and thank you for joining in! My apologies for the epic length of the first few posts...

@ Dr. Rider - Talendor does seem to have a touch of Dr. McCoy in him...unsure of transporters.

You know, the whole lip thing never even occurred to me. I guess Argonian mates just rub noses?

@ SubRosa - LOL @ Eeep! Nit picked and thank you.

The Guild Guides come from a mod. It is on the Nexus here. I have always disliked the fast travel in Oblivion. The Morrowind style of fast travel seemed much more immersive...well, a more realistic means anyway.

@ Grits - This is one of the drawbacks to pre-writing. Talendor had learned that in the next post. I had to rewrite a bit of the next one to cover my butt!

@ Acadian - Josie's reasoning of the Guild Guides is a mirror of why I thought they were included in TES-3. It made perfect sense.

Um...You may find Honditar's take on Hackdirt a little underwhelming...

@ Chef K - Cthu-what? I'm glad you like my twist to "Fingers on the Mountain".

I'm actually curious to see where the Hackdirt thing goes too...

@ Everyone - As always, heeps of thanks for the comments and support.





The first order of business was to hit some shops. Who knows how long I might be wrapped up with Honditar? I was pleased to see that Earana was not loitering outside the Guild hall at the moment. I practically sprinted to Fire & Steel so that I would not run into her. I looked over Rasheda’s wares and picked out a nice steel shortsword and restocked my quiver to its usual complement of thirty arrows. When we finished our business, I poked my head out the door to check for Earana again. She was nowhere to be seen. I ran quickly to Northern Goods & Trade. Here I purchased some provisions and took Seed-Neeus up on her offer of some training in the fine art of monetary transactions. When we finished, she offered some tea. I had to decline, explaining that I didn’t want to be rude, but that I had a busy day. I opened the door and glanced around the area as I said goodbye to the Argonian. The coast was clear. That changed as soon as I rounded the corner of The Oak & Crosier and collided in full stride with Earana. The Altmer was considerably taller than I, so my nose split her cleavage perfectly and the impact to my face was well cushioned. But the end result was that both of us sat down hard on the sidewalk pavers.

“Ouch!” we both exclaimed simultaneously. Then she realized who had knocked her down and her eyes grew wide.

“Oh my, you have returned with my book!” Earana said with noticeable excitement.

ugh…

“Um…about that –“

“What in the name of Auriel is that smell?” she said with a pinched face.

I didn’t think it could be me. I had just bathed earlier, but I caught myself reflexively sniffing my armpits.

“Oh God’s blood!” she yelled as she jumped to her feet, “That damnable Rena Bruiant and her mangy mutts!”

She was staring at the stone pavers and I looked at the part of the sidewalk that she was studying. There was a brownish smear that didn’t belong with the stone and mortar. I could smell what she had inquired about now that she had gotten up off of it. I could also notice a corresponding sienna shape on her skirt. I had to bite hard on my lip to keep from bursting out in raucous laughter. Earana seemed to suddenly realize that the dog poo wasn’t in its natural shape. She started trying to look at her butt, walking in tight little circles.

She looks like one of Rena’s dogs chasing its tail…

That thought caused a loss of control on my part. My fatigued state had made me punchy, and I began laughing hysterically. She whirled and looked at me with daggers in her eyes. I just laughed harder, with tears beginning to wet my eyes. A guard had walked up and noticed the brown smudge on Earana’s skirt. It looked as if she had fouled herself, and he began laughing as well. He even pointed at it and called to another nearby guard. Tears were now streaming down my cheeks and my stomach was beginning to cramp. Rage colored Earana’s cheeks and she stomped off toward The Grey Mare. The guard and I doubled over when his buddy caught the view of Earana storming away with smeared canine crap on her butt. Now the three of us were in stitches. I finally got up and dusted myself off, still chuckling. The three of us bid each other a good day and went our separate ways.

I started walking toward the Guild hall, and then stopped in my tracks.

I’m forgetting something…oh yeah…Honditar!

I really was tired. I had walked the wrong way when I left the store. If I had gone to Honditar’s, I never would have run into Earana. This made me laugh out loud again. I was still chuckling when Honditar answered his door and let me in.

“Well you seem to be in a better mood,” Honditar observed with an arched eyebrow.

“You don’t know the half of it, Honditar,” I said.

Then I related the recent events pertaining to Earana’s poop-cushioned landing on the sidewalk. By the time I finished, we were both laughing heartily.

“The only way you could have done that better would be if you had said, ‘Have a seat, madam,’ and she just sat right in it,” he said and we both burst out laughing again, and then he said, “But I am sure you didn’t come by just to tell me that story.”

“No, you are right,” I said, wiping tears from my face.

Honditar grabbed a couple of ales and sat back down at the table. I told him the story of what had happened the night before in Hackdirt, and that Athragar had sent me to him to ask about ‘the deep ones’. He sat in silence for a minute, soaking up what I had said while he soaked his gullet with some ale.

“The way I see it, there are two explanations. The first is that they really are trying to raise the Dwemeri. There has been only one Dwemer seen in recent time, but that was on Vvardenfell. However, the fact that one has been seen recently means that there may indeed be others. I cannot fathom why they would want to raise the Dwarves. Perhaps they want access to Dwemer technology in order to exact vengeance on those that burned their village,” Honditar explained.

“Technology?” I asked.

“Yes. The Dwemeri were dependent on machinery to light and heat their underground dwellings. They were very deft at building steam powered mechanisms to accomplish this. With that same technology, they were also able to create steam powered soldiers to defend their subterranean keeps. They were called Centurions. This knowledge could be used by the citizens of Hackdirt to build an army of automatons.”

“What is the second possibility?”

“That they are not trying to raise the Dwarves,” he stated matter-of-factly. My jaw dropped.

Well duh…Even I could figure that much out…

I was expecting to hear some more fascinating lore about something other than the Dwemeri.

“Then what would it be, if not the Dwemeri?” I asked.

“I have no idea. The fact that you were attacked and that Dar-Ma was going to be sacrificed does point to one thing though. Whatever they want to raise cannot be good for those outside Hackdirt. This needs to be investigated further. How soon can you go?”

I just stared at him, mouth agape once again.

“Do you swallow many flies with your mouth popping open like that all the time?” Honditar asked sardonically.

I closed my mouth with a snap and then said, “I’m tired of being everyone’s errand boy. You go if it’s that important. I have to get to Bravil.”

“I told you, Talendor, I am no good with confined spaces. Besides, don’t you feel you owe a little debt to Chorrol? You were like a lost puppy when you arrived. And now look at you. You have a full coin purse and you’re a member of the Mages Guild. Do you think you could have achieved this without the help of the local population?”

I hate it when he is right…

“Okay, okay. I’ll do it. I’ll see if I can find out what they are up to. But this is it! I have got to get to Bravil so I can get my brains unscrambled,” I told him.

“Certainly,” was all he said in that smug tone that grates my last nerve.

“I have to get some rest first. Besides, I have to time my arrival for midnight so that I can get down to the caverns unnoticed. I can’t believe I’m going back to that place after barely getting out alive,” I said with a sigh.

Honditar looked at me for a moment, and then rose and went over to his chest. After pulling something from it, he returned and handed me a scroll.

“With your inexplicable knowledge, you will be able to read this. Do not do so until the need is dire. When you do, you will be rendered invisible for a short time. Use this to escape if you must. While we do need to know what is going on in Hackdirt, we prefer you alive even more, my friend,” he said with great sincerity.

I rose, finishing my ale and said, “I will aim true,” then I shook the scroll at him and finished, “and I won’t be seen.” With that I left Honditar and headed to the Guild hall for some sleep.

To think I went to apologize to the Altmer... Now I am going back to that shirtless freak show…

The encounter with Earana had me laughing, from the nasal collision with her cleavage to the cushioning of her fall and the strategic placement of - ermm - a certain stain had me laughing! My mouth was empty at the time, so I can't say - what a certain forummer is known to say - SPEW!

I did catch a nit that slipped past the spell check (simply because it wasn't misspelled, just inappropriate for the context).

Compliment is what you say to a lovely lady when you want to get inside her skirt. "Ma'am, your eyes are like limpid pools of -" What you want is complement - a quota, a total number of an object, as in "The usual complement of the Usual Suspects."

Dependant isn't a proper word, though it sounds like it. Actually you want dependent.

Overall an enjoyable interlude with what has become Talendor's trademark understated sarcasm. Loved it!

In case you are uninitiated into the esoteric manuscripts of H.P. Lovecraft et al., Cthuluoid is a slang term referring to any critter associated with the beloved Mythos of HPL's creation (and many others since). Hackdirt is based upon a story of Lovecraft's called The Shadow Over Innsmouth, which also features Deep Ones (only the originals are aquatic).

so my nose split her cleavage perfectly and the impact to my face was well cushioned.
Hah! Uh uhoes, time for Talendor to face the music!

“What in the name of Auriel is that smell?”
Nice use of the elven form of the god's name here.

Poor Earana, everyone picks on her! At least you did not kill her though, as every other writer seems to...

How soon can you go?”
How soon can you go Honidatar?



nits:
While we do need to know what is going on in Hackdirt, we prefer you alive even more, my friend,” he said with great sincerity.
I am not sure if this is a nit or not. But Honditar's use of the word "we" rather than "I" implies that he is either so stuck up he is talking like a king (and he's an Altmer, so yeah), or that he is speaking for a group of people. Perhaps Chorrol in general? The latter is not really clear though.

GAAAAH!!! He's going back to take on those guys - they can see you even when you are in chameleon - they circle around you saying, "Where, where..."

Loved Earana's incident, ROFL !!!! Now that's what I call paybacks !!! Great Chapter !!!

This was a continuous chuckle to read! Yes, an Altmeri cleavage can be a daunting thing from the perspective of a small Bosmer .

Oh, poo! Don't you hate it when that happens?

I loved Talendor's reaction to Honditar of basically 'You do it!!!' Unfortunately, that darn clever high elf is pretty smooth and convincing.

What a very fitting putting-in-her-place Earana has received. That'll teach her not to blunder around our Bosmer!

Welcome to the world of The Elder Scrolls, Talendor. Your are the Player Character, and that makes you everyone's errand boy by default. Better learn to live with it, this isn't going to end soon.

Nit:

I think there's a word missing where I have indicated here.

Oh my goodness. Talendor had me smiling from the look-both-ways and scurry into Fire & Steel all the way to bouncing off of Altmer cleavage, then I had to laugh. Thanks to that pile of poo, he can postpone the Earana conversation. Which leads to more scurrying…

I am interested to hear what Honditar makes of the shirtless freak show. He’s certainly smart enough not to go there himself!!

@ Dr. Rider - ...the nasal collision with her cleavage... Thank goodness for empty mouths. No SPEW to clean up.
Thanks for catching the nits, they have been picked.

@ SubRosa - Earana has indeed been given a rough time by several authors. I was satisfied with dog poop between her butt cheeks instead of an arrow between her facial cheeks.
RE: the nit - Honditar was speaking as part of a group, the citizens of Chorrol. I would be grateful for an alternative phrasing that might make it clearer.

@ mALX - Yep...back to dance with the shirtless. He might look forward to it more if the dancers were female.

@ Acadian - You posted a perfect illustration of the potential for mammary/facial collisions between Bosmer and Altmer.

@ Chef Thomas - When Talendor reaches Bravil, I am certain he will begin to realize that "errand boy" could be an understatement.
Thanks for catching the nit - it be picked.

@ Grits - I am so glad that you and the others got a kick out of "The Crappy Collision". (Sounds like a title for a miscellaneous quest.)

@ Everyone - Talendor and I thank you all once again for your interest and support.

As I am sure you all know, the conclusion of the quest "A Shadow Over Hackdirt" is simply rescuing Dar-Ma. There is no 'secret' to be discovered. Originally, I had thought this would prove to be a fertile area for non-game story telling. But when I tried, my mind turned to mush. So I hope that this installment won't be too underwhelming. On to the post...





I opened my eyes to the ceiling of my room in the Guild hall. The sleep did me worlds of good. I felt completely refreshed and rested. A growl from my stomach announced the need for a meal. I rose and donned my armored coverings, attaching my bladed weapons to the harness belt. I shouldered my quiver and bow, and then stored the rest of my wares in the chest near the window. Thus prepared for the trip to Hackdirt, I grabbed my satchel and headed downstairs.

No matter what, I am soooo out of here when this is done…

It wasn’t that I didn’t like Chorrol. Any town that had such a grand tree for its insignia was okay in my book. I had deeper concerns though. I was considering them as I walked to the table in the dining area.

You are getting acclimated to your surroundings…Don’t stray from your true path…

The food on the table was making my mouth water. A good meal was going to hit the spot. No one else was around, and that gave me even more time to ponder the facts, or the lack of them, that nagged me.

Why are you here? Who are you? How do you know the things that you do?

So much had happened in such a relatively short time. It occurred to me that I had indeed strayed from my path. I needed the answers to these questions and I still wasn’t sure who could provide them!

The person in Bravil that Athragar had suggested…Henantier…he just had to be able to help me.

But what if he couldn’t? Are things so bad?

Don’t lose perspective, knot-head!

Whoever cooked this mutton deserves a medal!

One thing was for sure, I hadn’t lacked for good eating since joining the guild. Nothing can ease the mind like a good meal. Washing down the last bites of potato with some wine, I got up and set out for Hackdirt.



I could see the buildings now, lying in the shadow that had fallen over Hackdirt. It was just as I knew it would be, completely quiet and not a soul to be seen. None of the windows were lit; only the stillness and the shadows greeted my arrival. I crept stealthily toward the inn. The entry I had previously used seemed the most logical destination. Hopefully they hadn’t changed the lock. Since it was so dark, I seized my ability to scout. With an outstretched arm and clenched fist, I called on the spell. Opening my hand bathed me in ethereal violet light. Almost instantly, everything became vividly monochromatic. I gazed at the walls of the inn, searching for signs of life. All was clear, and I slowly opened the door to the common room.

At the trapdoor, I gave my key a try in the lock and was rewarded when it disengaged. Taking a deep breath, I lifted the hatch and peered down into the caverns. There were still no glimmers of life. It seemed that the shirtless brutes knew some basic carpentry. The ladder displayed new rungs where it had been bludgeoned. I climbed down and surveyed the surroundings. It was only a moment before a glowing man-shape appeared in the stone walls. I crouched and nocked an arrow. These maniacs had already attacked me once without provocation, so I had no problem at all with returning the favor.

Was it really without provocation? You stole their sacrifice…

Remembering what they had planned for Dar-Ma whetted my anger. The glowing orb took on a more recognizable shape. A shirtless man with a club at his waist strolled into the chamber. I did not hesitate, and an arrow was through his sternum in a matter of seconds. I marveled at how coldly efficient the shot was. With no other glowing tell-tales about, I examined the body. He was an Imperial, or perhaps a Breton. Either way, he was very dead and wouldn’t need his jeweled ring anymore. With the ‘Night Eye’ effect, I couldn’t tell what the metal and gem were. The ring ended up in my satchel just the same. Realizing that he also wouldn’t need the arrow that was protruding from his chest, I relieved him of that as well.

I chose to continue along the passage that the dead thug had entered from. It wasn’t long before a fair sized group of life signs appeared in front of me. As silently as I could, I approached the next chamber. When I reached the end of the tunnel, I dropped to my stomach and crawled into the cavern. Six or seven people were surrounding a fire pit. The brightness of the fire made it difficult to determine exactly how many there might be. I considered recanting my ‘Scout’ ability, but I wasn’t sure if the purple glow would be seen. Better to play it safe.

There was one man holding a book. He was also chanting in some unintelligible string of sounds. At points during his discourse, the others would chant in low tones along with him. There was a vague familiarity about the book he was holding. I needed a closer look. For what seemed like hours, I slithered forward on my belly. As soon as I reached a small outcropping of rock, I raised my head. I had to squint against the impossible brightness of the fire. I could see everything clearly now. The man was still chanting, and I recognized the book as the one I had seen on the altar in Hackdirt Chapel.

You might get out of this alive yet, knot-head.

I retraced my steps back to the hatch below the inn.

All you have to do is steal the book from the chapel after they put it back. It has to be the key to what they are up to.

I left Hackdirt while it was still dark and headed north toward an old fortress that I had noticed during the trip in. By the time I reached it, dawn’s false twilight had started lighting the sky. There were no life signs visible, so I recanted my ‘Scout’ ability. I found a defensible location to spread my bedroll and sat down for a snack. I would spend the day here, waiting for true twilight to return to Hackdirt. Then I would procure the book from the chapel and be on my way.

Just get through this and you can be on your way to Bravil…

I lay back and watched the clouds saunter past the openings in the trees above. The woodland noises might as well have been a lullaby. Sleep took me almost instantly.



I jolted awake in a panic, feeling as if I had overslept. I was relieved as soon as it was apparent that dusk was approaching. Gathering my bedroll, I set my bearings straight and left my temporary camp. I was very careful to remain unnoticed by anything living. As a result, I crept right up on a huge stag that was magnificent to behold. My heart begged me to nock an arrow. Instead, I shook a bush to startle him out of my view and eliminate the distraction.

I could see the chapel up ahead. It was so close, and yet so out of reach. I had no illusions that anyone from Hackdirt would be happy to see me, and I didn’t intend to find out the hard way. The skulking seemed to go on forever, but I finally reached the chapel walls. A quick cast of the life detection spell revealed that there were no potential enemies about. I pulled the scroll that Honditar had given to me from my satchel. Unfurling it, I uttered the words in a whisper and light traveled from the parchment to my hands, then up my arms and through my body. It took all of my control not to chuckle at the fact that I couldn’t see my arms anymore. I sprinted in a half duck-walk to the chapel door. Entering silently, I made my way down the center aisle. The book was waiting for me on the altar. With a grin, I helped it into my satchel and hurried back to the door. Once I was outside, I didn’t slow down at all. As a matter of fact, I bolted outright for the cover of the woods. Just as I entered the cover of the undergrowth, I realized that I could see my arms again. I dropped to my knees and cast the detection spell for good measure. No pursuit at all! Laughing to myself, I turned and made my way back to Chorrol.

YES! I did it! Bravil, here I come!



The sun had set yet again by the time I reached Honditar’s house. A day ago, I didn’t know if I would be alive to see this moment. Now I was about to give Honditar the secret of Hackdirt and be on my way. I was absolutely ecstatic when I knocked on Honditar’s door. His eyes opened to their limits when he saw me, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Come in, come in,” he beckoned, “I’ll bet you could use a drink. Sit, please.”

I sat where I always did, on the bench that flanked the table. Honditar wasted no time getting a bottle of wine and a couple of goblets. Soon he was seated next to me, pouring some Tamika’s West Weald and ready to hear all about Hackdirt.

“I had to kill one of those shirtless madmen, but I didn’t dare try to attack the group. At any rate, I think I have what you need,” I told him as I reached in my satchel and pulled out the book from the chapel.

“They were all chanting while someone read passages from this. I couldn’t understand a word,” I continued while handing the book to him.

His eyes opened wide as he thumbed through the pages. He snapped the book shut and looked straight at me.

“Well done, my friend,” he said as he stood and walked toward his chest. This book joined ‘Fingers of the Mountain’ and then Honditar returned to the bench and sat back down.

“Well? What was it?” I asked, and then I cut off his reply, “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”

“I was going to tell you that you needn’t concern yourself with this anyway,” he replied in his usual cool manner. “The book will need to be studied by wiser eyes than mine, and I will see to that.”

Get out of here now, while you can…

“So, I have your leave then?” I said with biting sarcasm.

Honditar cast a look at me that I truly deserved. The Altmer had helped me more often than not, and I had no true reason to speak to him that way.

“I’m sorry,” I said, “I am just so frayed. I really need to find out what and who I am supposed to be. I am still walking around with a name that I made up! I have realized that there is a side of me that is a cold and calculating killer. It scares me. I need answers Honditar! I can’t stay in Chorrol and hope to find them!” My voice was raised by the time I finished my diatribe.

“Talendor, don’t ever lose that passion. You have had it ever since I met you. But yet, you have delayed searching for your answers to help the people of this town. That is the ultimate statement of character. Regardless of what you may go through, my friend, do not ever lose that quality. Now get yourself to Bravil. Try to avoid fouling Earana’s clothing this time,” he finished with a grin.

Then Honditar did something I hadn’t ever expected. As we stood, he gave me an embrace and wished me the best of fortune.

--------------------

EDIT - Nits picked.

You know, it never occurred to me to steal the book! That's actually good reasoning - if they're planning something, they need the book to finish it. Depriving them of the book puts a good sized monkey wrench into their future. Whether or not they have the brains to figure out an alternative solution remains to be seen, but at least they won't be an immediate threat to anyone.

I liked that he scared the stag out of his sight. I do the same. I just can't bring myself to shoot the stupid creatures.

This was a delightfully 'Talendor' adaptive add on to the quest. Well done. It was fun, well and thoughtfully carried out and made perfect sense.

You have given us a wonderfully interesting Honditar!

So, finally it seems as though Talendor just might make it southward now!

Any town that had such a grand tree for its insignia was okay in my book
Spoken like a true wood elf!

lying in the shadow that had fallen over Hackdirt.
Not only a clever turn of phrase in its own right, but also a wonderful ode to the name of the quest associated with Hackdirt!

Talendor shows his hard-earned experience at sneaking, not to mention a rather level head in choosing the path of stealth over just barging in and trying to kill everyone at the ceremony.

Now finally off to Bravil, the jewel of the Niben. I wonder if Talendor will find it to be a city of rustic charms as Buffy and Teresa have, or a festering cesspit as Derelas!



nits:
The ladder was displaying new rungs where it had been bludgeoned.
You have a mix of present and past tenses in this sentence. You might try:
The ladder displayed new rungs where it had been bludgeoned.

I was very careful at remaining noticed by anything living.
I think you meant unnoticed? You might also consider your tenses again, and say something like:
I was very careful to remain unnoticed by anything living.

Great paragraph !!




Why was that? Something didn't feel right about his surprise to see his friend return, had he sent Talendor back deliberately thinking he would be killed there? ** mALX's earlier suspicions about Honditar's motives rise to the surface once again **

Wonder what Honditar plans to do with all those books ??? - Great Write !!!

I've caught up again. As ever Telandor is a great character and fun to read. I like the Hackdirt quest and you did it well, it was nice to see a little more follow-up, makes me wonder if therre might be even mmore in the future. You've certainly left that option open.


I loved these lines, so Telandor. The humor makes this piece what it is.

I liked your description of the 'Scout' ability too - it goes further than the simple in game system which adds realism and life.

Nit:
shadow that had fallen over Hackdirt. It was just as I knew it would be, completely quiet and not a soul to be seen. None of the windows were lit; only the stillness and the shadows greeted - the repetition of shadow jarred me, though the first one was great as SubRosa mentioned.

Author's Note - I have a mixed tidings notification to make. Work has picked up (good for bills, bad for fan-fic time) and I won't be able to be on the site as often as I have been. I will still faithfully read and write as often as possible, but it will be at a slower pace.

@ Dr. Rider - I wanted to do so much more with the possibilities, but my mind was defeating itself with ideas. I was worried that readers would think that I took the easy way out, because I kind of did. I am so glad that you found it plausible.

@ Acadian - Yes indeed, Talendor is headed south! Unfortunately, since I am so far behind in Buffy's story, he will miss the archery tournament.

@ SubRosa - Thank you again for being an invaluable editor. Dem nits be picked. Stealth seemed the better way to Talendor, lest we give D. Foxy any club waving fodder...

@ mALX - Still seeing imps in Honditar's eyes? Everyone else seems to trust him...but it is good that you wonder what he will do with the books.

@ Olen - The little bugger can't keep his mind on important stuff when food is in front of him. As to the nit, I actually thought of that when I was editing. I decided to leave it because I was calling back to the earlier sentence deliberately.

@ Everyone - Equal thanks to you all for your comments. You all rock!





My heart was racing with excitement as I inventoried my belongings. I was finally going to Bravil! My mind was keeping pace with my pulse. I felt a sense of personal purpose again. I was on an errand for myself now.

That’s it…stay focused…get answers…you’ve done your bit for Chorrol…do some for Talendor now…or whatever your name is…

I would have to make one stop before leaving Chorrol. I had neglected to trade in the old iron shield that I had been toting around ever since I left the sewers. That seemed like ages ago, but truth be told, it had only been a few weeks. Going to see Rasheda again chafed at my urgency, but I was tired of lugging that heavy disc around. All it did was collect dust in my room like some unused paperweight. My switch to a shortsword required a shield for defense, but this thing was too cumbersome. So visiting the smith was necessary.

Since I had to wait for Fire & Steel to open, I decided to use the time for making some poisons. A few minutes later, I was in Angalmo’s corner of the Guild hall. The Altmer was there, reading a list and checking the contents of his shelves.

“Good morning Angalmo,” I greeted him.

“Well, if it isn’t our newest Associate. Is there something I can help you with woodlander?” he replied, glancing from up his list.

“As a matter of fact, there is. I have some time to kill, and I wondered if you might have the ingredients I need to make a few vials of poison?”

“It is likely I do. Will you need the apparatus that you borrowed the other day as well?” he inquired.

“That would be helpful. Here, let me show you what I have,” I said as I pulled the mushrooms from my bag.

“Wisp stalk…ok…I have nightshade, St. John’s Wort, some lotus seeds, and of course, stinkhorn,” he told me. It looked like he was checking the items off on his list as he recited them.

“All of those will work with wisp stalk caps?” I asked.

Angalmo cocked an eyebrow and said, “Do you doubt me?”

“No! Not at all. It’s just that until now, I hadn’t known of lotus seeds and the saint’s warts. By the way, how do you get the warts from Saint John?”

He sighed and said, “Wort, not warts. It’s a plant. St. John’s Wort nectar comes from a yellow flower that is plentiful in these parts.”

“Oh. Well then, I will take enough to use up my wisp stalk then,” I said.



After returning Angalmo’s equipment, I walked out of the Mages Guild with four new vials of poison. I hadn’t realized that the weather had taken a turn for the worse. A steady rain and some distant lightning dampened my spirits. I did not want to walk to Bravil in the rain. Fire & Steel was open now, and just far enough to have water cascading off of my armor by the time I entered. Rasheda asked me to shake the excess off before I fully entered her shop. She chuckled a bit as I did my best wet dog impression to shed the water.

“I would like to trade this iron wagon wheel of a shield for something a little more suitably sized, please,” I said, letting it rest on its edge with a clank against the stone floor.

“Well, all I have in stock right now is that hardened fur shield,” she replied, pointing to a pitiful looking piece of stretched hide on a shelf.

That thing is gonna break if you look at it too hard…

I sighed and thanked her anyway as I refused the transaction. I walked out of the shop and looked at the water pouring out of the clouds.

Well, you’re one for three this morning…got poisons, but it’s pissing rain and you still have to tote this load of a shield...

Hoping to kill a bit more time and allow the rain to let up, I jogged over to Northern Goods. After all, I did have this ring that was formerly owned by a shirtless freak. Seed-Neeus greeted me with a fond salutation as I walked up the stairs of her shop. Dar-Ma came running into the room and gave me one of her bone-cracking hugs, calling me ‘her hero’ again. I blushed as I tensed up enough to prevent broken ribs. The young lizard could hug like a bear!

“What can I do for you Talendor,” Seed-Neeus asked after Dar-Ma released me.

“I have a ring to sell,” I said. I pulled it from my bag and handed it to her. After holding it up to a candle, she said that it was worth eleven Septims. We closed the deal and I placed the coins in my purse, The Argonian peddler’s eyes went wide.

“You aren’t planning on traveling around with that much money, are you?” she asked.

“Actually, yes, I was,” I replied.

“Might I offer you a suggestion, Talendor? We have a bank, here in Cyrodiil. I actually operate the branch office for Chorrol. You would do well to make a deposit and not carry such a thief’s bounty around with you,” she advised.

“Okay. It’s a bit heavy anyway. I’ll be glad to open an account with you,” I replied.

“I’m afraid that I can’t open accounts here. I can only process transactions for existing accounts. You will have to go to the main office in Imperial City to open one,” she informed me.

“Well, I shall do that the very next time I am there. Thanks for the advice,” I said with a smile, and then bid them farewell.

It was still pouring when I stepped outdoors. Lightning flashed brightly, followed quickly by booming thunder that echoed off the buildings.

There is no way you are leaving for Bravil in this mess…

Disappointed, I trotted through sheets of rain back to the Guild hall. I saw the basement door as soon as I entered and stopped in my tracks. I stood there dripping for a moment, contemplating what was beyond it. An unmistakable voice in a tone like grating gravel startled me back to the moment.

“Associate, close that pneumonia hole!” Teekeeus barked.

“Oh, sorry,” I replied as I closed the door. I looked again at the cellar portal.

You know what’s down there. You can get to Bravil dry as a bone…if you have the stones for it…

I walked down into the basement and found Josie in the Guild Guide room.

“It seems that I am more popular when it’s raining,” the Breton woman said with a sardonic smile.

“So…this thing really is…safe?” I asked with uncertainty, pointing to the dais.

“Yes, yes, yes. I told you…we never have…accidents, any more,” she replied.

“Okay,” I sighed nervously, “How much is it to go to Bravil?”

“Twelve Septims will cover it.”

I paid the fee and stepped up onto the dais.

“Don’t make me crawl out of a cow,” I implored, only half joking.

Josie chuckled and said, “At least that is survivable. The last accident involved a mage materializing several hundred feet in mid –“

There was a blinding flash and a sound I can only describe as what you hear when you open a bottle of ale, only much louder. When the after images faded from my sight, I was standing in a completely different room. A Bosmer looked up from his desk, and then rose to greet me.

“Welcome to Bravil. My name is Furgoth, and before you even ask me…no…I don’t know anybody named Fargoth,” he said to me without a smile.

“Well that makes two of us. I’ve never heard of him either,” I replied, wondering who Fargoth might be.

“Thank Jephre! That saves me all of the responses to, ‘Are you sure?’ or, ‘You look like you could be his brother,’ and all that rot,” he grumbled.

“Could you tell me where I might find the Chapter Steward?” I asked.

“Kud-Ei is upstairs somewhere. Through there,” Furgoth said, pointing to a door directly in front of me.

I walked over to the door and almost broke my face on it when it failed to open.

Furgoth scowled at me and said, “If you cannot open that door, you are not supposed to be here.”

I stared at him stupidly, and then it hit me. I reached into my pocket for the Mages Guild key. A second later I was on the other side and closing the door. Furgoth was the first rude Bosmer I had met that wasn’t trying to kill me. Shrugging, I looked around at the basement. The masonry work was not nearly as clean as what I had seen in Chorrol. The joints were ragged and the stones looked like the masons had used whatever they could find. There was a damp, musty odor and the walls held the sheen of moisture. I saw stairs leading upward to my left. I walked up and entered the lobby of the Bravil Mages Guild.

The very first thing I saw may be what I remember the most. There was an amazingly beautiful Breton woman in a blue velvet dress. Breton ladies as a rule seemed to be attractive. Perhaps it was because they weren’t soooo…tall. But this one stole my breath. I was staring at her and realized she was talking to me.

“…elp you?” entered my hearing.

My mouth snapped shut and I blinked.

Say something knot-head!

“Chapter steward,” I blurted, “Um…the…I’m looking for the Chapter Steward.”

“Okay,” she giggled, “She’s over there,” she said and pointed.

My gaze followed her arm slowly to the finger tip and saw an Argonian sitting on a bench. I turned just as slowly back to her and beheld that face again.

Wow!

“Thank you,” rolled out of my mouth in what seemed like slow motion.

I stood there a moment longer and she giggled again before saying, “She’ll probably speak to you now,” and turned to walk away.

“What is your name?” I asked.

“Delphine,” she said over her shoulder as she left.

Wow!

I walked over to the Argonian on the bench.

I hope she isn’t a hugger…

As I stepped up, the Argonian looked up from reading. She was wearing almost the exact same outfit that Earana wore.

“Good Morning,” I said, “My name is Talendor. I am a new Associate in the Guild. I was hoping to get a letter of recommendation from you.”

“Welcome to the Bravil Guild, Talendor. I am Kud-Ei. When new Associates come through here, there are certain tasks they are required to perform. However, you arrive at an opportune time. I have a problem that is of a more personal nature than what the Guild would have me ask of you. I must warn you beforehand. It is likely to be more dangerous than what the Guild requires. I have offered a reward to have someone else do this, but I have had no takers yet. Your reward would be my recommendation letter. So, I don’t suppose you could help find my friend Henantier, could you?”

--------------------

EDIT: Nits picked.

Talendor's inner dialogue had me roaring !!! He is hilarious!! A great chapter - I was shocked the transport worked, ROFL !!! Oh, I can't wait to see what Talendor does in Bravil, there are so many interesting things he can do in that place, lol. Great Write !!!

RL is RL, and this is Chorrol.com. We're used to having RL take over around here. So post when you can, as long as it's good stuff!

I enjoyed Talendor's solution to traveling in the rain. And I can assure you, the back end of a cow is quite survivable. The cow herself can survive having you up her back end (though she won't enjoy it). I speak from considerable experience here. Now horses . . . *pow!*

Anyway, so it's off to Henantier, huh? Thanks to the game glitch it's always confusing as to which is the real recommendation quest when you hit Bravil. Is it visiting someone else's dreamland, or listening to bad poetry? I see in your case it appears that a visit to a certain Altmer is in order.

From Chapter 21:
“So, I have your leave then?” I said with biting sarcasm.

Honditar cast a look at me that I truly deserved. The Altmer had helped me more often than not, and I had no true reason to speak to him that way.

“I’m sorry,” I said, “I am just so frayed.

This is so Talendor, and a perfect example of why I find him so endearing. And now I get it, Honditar is a rare book dealer! You have left yourself plenty of room to return to Hackdirt, if you’d like. Or, Honditar is tight-lipped enough to never mention it again.

From Chapter 22:
I had to chuckle at making potions while waiting for Rasheda to open her shop. It seems like I always have to wait for her in the game. Cyrodiil banking is a great addition.

I walked over to the door and almost broke my face on it when it failed to open.

Another perfect Talendor moment. I have a door that sometimes fails to unlatch when the knob is turned. I can’t count the times I have almost broken my face on it! Henceforth I will think of it as the Talen-door.

The encounter with Delphine was priceless. Thankfully Kud-Ei didn’t hug him and further wreck his composure!!

As others have said, the humor you interject into Talendor's view of the world is delightful! Shaking like a wet dog indeed!

no…I don’t know anybody named Fargoth
Excellent poke at Morrowind!

I see Talendor was just as taken in by Delphine's elegance as Teresa was! I do not blame him. She certainly knows how to dress!


nits:
St. Jahn’s Wort
This was a typo by Bethesda, it is really St. John’s Wort

UOP fixes the spelling of the flower, so I haven't seen it that way for a long time.

I was a bit confused as to why Talendor carried the iron shield away from Fire and Steel, instead of just selling it. If he's not going to use it, even a poor price is still some gold and less burden. I saw the My switch to a shortsword required a shield for defense, but this thing was too cumbersome note, but I got the impression that he'd decided the latter part overwhelmed the former. May need a bit more of his thought process added to explain why he decided to keep it anyway.

If Delphine makes her enemies explode, what excesses does she inflict on her friends? Will Talendor find out? Will he survive?

Good part, I like the little changes you're making to the game, they make it make more sense. And the Furgoth/Fargoth jab was brilliant. As is the inclusion of guild-guides - if they had them in Morrowind why not in Cyrodiil?

Having the recommendantion to do with Henantier is also a good move. The actual recommendation is a dull dull quest, while the nightmare is brilliant. And again why wouldn't Kud-ei ask someone for help. I'm certainly looking forward to Telandor doing that quest, should be hilarious. Once you have time of course (RL and bills are irritating beasts).

'The young lizard could hug like a bear!'
Oh, that's our beautiful Dar-Ma!

I applaud your decision to use a bank. Along with your guild guides, it shows your growing comfort in changing our wonderful Cyodiil in very reasonable ways to suit your needs.

“Associate, close that pneumonia hole!” Teekeeus barked.'
Heehee! Didn't Talasma's lessons take?

The position of guild guide allows you to potentially introduce a new guild member at each chapter. Furgoth was a wonderful creation for Bravil! Speaking of whom:
'Furgoth was the first rude Bosmer I had met that wasn’t trying to kill me.'
I know you're new to this Bosmer business, but take it from your Bosmeri sister: You're exactly right. Rude Bosmers (that aren't trying to kill you) are indeed wonderfully rare!

Delphine! What a wonderful choice of a woman for Talendor to be smitten by! She's simply electrifying. She can rock your world and make you see stars, sparks, fire and ice - all at the same time!

Nit:
'Rasheda asked me the shake the excess off before I fully entered her shop.'
Switch the first 'the' to a 'to' and she'll be right!

Author's Note - I am posting a short chapter to keep the thread alive. As you have noticed and heard, work has consumed almost every minute my time. Posting will be sporadic at best, but I will not let the story die. Thanks for the patience.

@ mALX - Talendor was shocked as well...it will not be his prefered mode of travel.

@ Dr. Rider - I'm not sure I want to know the experience you speak from regarding bovine sphincter survivability. Thanks for the "it's cool" regarding my bout with RL.

@ Grits - Talen-door! Now THAT'S funny! Oh, and Honditar is not a rare book dealer, but that's all I will say about that...

@ SubRosa - I wish I could take credit for the Fargoth line. The mod that adds the Guild Guides also adds the operators, and Furgoth actually says that in the game. It was too priceless not to use.

@ ghastley - I also have the UOP, but I hadn't noticed that it corrected the spelling. I assumed that it was spelled that way on purpose. I did go ahead and change it in the text though.

@ Olen - See comment to SubRosa regarding Furgoth. I agree...the mod creator was inspired with that piece of wit. I am glad you agree about the recommendation quest. You are right, the other one is just BORING!

@ Acadian - Nit fixed and thanks for catching it. The bank and the Guild Guides are both excellent mods. I also use a mod that gives coins weight towards encumbrance, making the bank mod even more necessary. The Guild Guide mod also adds coaches and ships for travel. I abhor the in game "fast travel".

@ All of you - Thanks again for your comments, support, and especially now...your patience.





Fortune was with me yet again. I had come to Bravil to get my next recommendation and meet a fellow named Henantier. It turns out that I could kill two deer with the same arrow. Getting settled onto a room first would be better, and I needed some food. I mentioned this to Kud-Ei.

“Of course, Associate. By all means,” the Argonian mage said, gesturing toward the stairwell, “Head up to the second floor and chose any room that is unoccupied. It is just about midday, so you can join us for some lunch once you are unpacked.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” I said with a slight bow. Kud-Ei sure was a lot nicer than her counterpart in Chorrol.

Maybe it’s only the Argonian males that are cranky…

When I reached the door at the top of the stairs, I repeated the same face bruising door collision that I had performed in the basement. This time I smacked my head hard enough to see stars. “OUCH!” I yelped, rubbing my forehead as I fished out my key. There was a giggle coming from the bottom of the stairs and I turned to see Delphine looking up at me with a huge grin.

“The door opens a lot easier if you unlock it first, Associate,” she said with that angelic voice, then giggled some more as she walked away.

You are really making an impression…Way to go, knot-head!

Once I was beyond the wooden source of further embarrassment, I went to the first closed door that I saw. I tried the knob first to avoid a third goose-egg on my noggin. It was unlocked.

Of course…It would only have been locked if you hadn’t checked first…

The room wasn’t nearly as nice as the one I stayed in at the Chorrol Mages Guild. There was no window, and the musty odor attested to a lack of airflow and sunlight. At least this one had a door. I unpacked my belongings and stored them in the available chest and cupboard. Shedding my armor, I washed and changed into more suitable clothing for a lunch with Kud-Ei.

The dining area was in a corner of the first floor. A knee wall bordered one side and afforded a view of anyone that entered the Guild hall. Kud-Ei, Delphine, and another mage were seated around the table. They suddenly stopped talking when I walked in and I felt my face warm up when Delphine looked at me. Kud-Ei stood and welcomed me.

“Talendor, please join us for some lunch. Allow me to introduce you. This is Delphine Jend, Evoker and advanced trainer in the School of Destruction,” the Argonian said. Delphine smiled and nodded, turning up the heat behind my cheeks. “And this is Ardaline, also an Evoker and our resident Alchemist here at the Bravil Guild.”

“A pleasure to meet you Talendor,” Ardaline said. She was Altmer. Slim figured and golden skinned with shoulder length blond hair.

“Thank you and likewise to you both,” I replied with a shallow bow before I sat.

If the surroundings didn’t equal the comfortable warmth of the Chorrol Guild hall, the food certainly appeared to exceed it. There were two pot pies, both with slices missing, in the center of the table. The aroma had my mouth watering. I reached for the closer one and placed a slice on my plate. I also helped myself to some tomato, cucumber, and onion salad that was drenched in vinegar and olive oil. I took a bite of the pie and closed my eyes as I chewed. It was to die for! My taste buds were dazzled by tender beef with leeks and mushrooms embraced by thick savory gravy. The pie crust was perfect as well. When I opened my eyes, all three women were staring at me.

“What?” I said around a half full mouth of food.

“You might want to heal yourself and bring that knot on your head down a bit,” Ardaline replied, and all three chuckled.

My face heated up again as I felt the bump on my forehead. I cast a healing spell as quickly as I could and reduced the swelling.

“So, how long have you been in the Guild?” Delphine asked me as I took another bite of the pie. I chewed and raised a finger to indicate I would answer in a moment.

I hope my face isn’t as red as it feels…

“Just over a week or so now,” I replied, “I am here to get a letter of recommendation for entrance to the Arcane University. Then I am likely to go to Leyawiin next. From there, I don’t know yet.” I turned to Kud-Ei and continued, “Where should I start looking for Henantier?”

Delphine and Ardaline both suddenly looked down and ate a bite of food. Kud-Ei just stared at me. After a moment, she said, “I would prefer to discuss this matter with you privately. Please enjoy your meal and find me when you have finished.”

With that, Kud-Ei excused herself and left the room. I looked back at the other two women and caught them exchanging knowing glances.

“Did I say something wrong?” I asked. Neither one said anything at first. Finally, Ardaline broke the awkward silence.

“It would not be right for us to speak on this. Best that you wait and let Kud-Ei tell you whatever she feels you might need to know,” she said and Delphine nodded in agreement.

Are you ever going to learn how to censor your tongue?

“I hope I didn’t make her mad. It seems like I have a knack for irritating Chapter Stewards,” I sighed. I downed another bite of the pie and chewed on it, along with my thoughts.

“Don’t worry, Talendor,” Delphine said, “Kud-Ei is not easily angered, unless you mess with one of her girls. That’s what she calls us…’her girls’. She is very much like a mother to us. I’m sure everything will be just fine.” Then she turned to Ardaline and said, “Speaking of ‘messing with the girls’, how goes your issue with Varon?”

“Ugh…don’t get me started,” Ardaline spat with a scowl, “I am sure he took it. I spoke to Kud-Ei about it. She said that she would have someone look into it.”

I started to ask what they were talking about, but stopped myself.

Stow it…None of your business…

I filled my mouth with salad instead. After the last bite of my food was gone, I washed it down with some wine. As I leaned back and rubbed my belly, I opened my mouth to ask who had prepared this wonderful food. But instead of words, a silence shattering belch roared out of my throat. The two women stared at me with their mouths agape. Once again, my face felt like a furnace.

“Excuse me…”

You really know how to turn on the charm…

They stared a second longer and then burst out laughing. It was that contagious kind of laugh that sucks you right into it, and soon all three of us were holding our sides. When it died to just chuckles, Delphine said, “You are just too cute for words, Talendor. I believe that having you around is going to be enjoyable. We’ll get your dishes; you should go and see Kud-Ei now.”

“Thanks. It has been a pleasure. I look forward to seeing you again soon,” I replied with a smile and left to find the Chapter Steward.

Talendor, time you got a big axe to kill those uncooperative doors! I hear Kurdan gro-Dragol has one available.

Talendor's mishaps in charming the ladies of the Bravil Guild are quite fun! And yes, I agree with Delphine, he is just too adorable! I heard that belch all the way over here in Illinois!

And I see you are continuing the Chorrol tradition of feeding your readers.

Rick, I'm going to come back tomorrow and read this - just too tired tonight to focus, and I don't want to miss any of Talendor's great funny lines !!!

Heh, the dangers of a guildhall: doors, food and all those little things all the locals know but which aren't really spoken about. You got the last bit spot on with his arriving at a new place and saying the wrong things. Very Telandor and rather funny.

Nice difference between the guildhalls too, I culd really smell the damp stale air in the room. But the company seems to be better.


Nice everyday use of magic there - it makes sense people would use it like that.

And that pie sounds good.

kill two deer with the same arrow
While Teresa abhors the idea of killing deer, I do enjoy the very Bosmer-centered twist on this old phrase.

I see that Derelas is not the only Bosmer who has trouble with doors! A very amusing encounter between Talendor and the second floor door!

Kud-Ei is indeed a much nicer person to deal with than Teekeus. Come to think of it, the Argonian females usually are much more pleasant than the men. At least the ones who don't leave raw meat outside your house in the hope of coaxing lions inside...

Plus a tasty meal. You are indeed following the Chorrol tradition of feeding your readers well! Quite an excellent opportunity for Talendor to turn on the charm as well! It was quite nice to meet the girls for dinner. I wonder if he will be going to meet Varon Vamori after first paying a visit to Henantier...

This chapter was perfect and charming !!! Talendor's obvious distraction with the meal throughout the chapter was hilarious the way you wrote it, cramming in bites steadily and raising his finger to swallow before answering - you had me rolling with this chapter !!! The Pièce de résistance was the loud belch at the end (to add proof to the fact that he shoveled it in so fast that he sucked in air with each bite, ROFL !!!)

I absolutely loved this chapter !!!! (and your subtle weaving of the humor through it) !!!

Delphine said it, Talendor is too cute for words. The knowing glances around the table spoke volumes. While RL has you occupied, it’s nice to know that Talendor is comfortable in Bravil enjoying pleasant company.

Wow, looks like I'm a little late to the party. Just dropping in to let you know you have another reader, and I've loved every minute of Talendor's journey so far. I have to agree with everyone else here who adores your Bosmer and his antics. Seriously, too cute. I'll check back every so often for new stuff. Great write!