During Episode 103, Buffy discussed her concerns about the drain marksman scroll with Nordinor. The two elves agreed that monitoring betting on the tournament would offer their best chance to identify who intended to use the scroll. Nordinor instructed Buffy to return late the following evening after qualifications were complete and the field of ten finalists was set.

And so ends a very long day for the bowgirl. We are also just over halfway through the Tournament of Archers storyline. The following day will be the last of the three day qualification period, and precedes a single day of final competition that will decide the champion archer of Cyrodiil. Regarding the scroll caper, all suspects have been named. The final evidence will be presented and the culprit identified during Episode 108. Buffy still expects to be recalled to the University within a week or so to learn if the Council of Mages has approved her plea for assistance to Kvatch. The tournament storyline will end a few days after the final competition, as Buffy leaves Bravil.

ureniashtram- So wonderful to have you back with us! Oh, I hope Buffy finds out who the scroll culprit is in time! It'll be fun to see if you are right!

mALX- What a delightfully poignant song from the man in black. Buffy will have to ask Aradroth if he can sing; the bowgirl actually sings quite well. Thank you so much for enjoying Buffy as she naively stumbles along with her heart on her sleeve trying to 'fix' things.

King Coin- There is nothing honorable about Nordinor of course. Buffy tends to judge men and mer based on whether they are kind to her though, so she cannot bring herself to dislike the shady Bosmer. Fortunate in this case because I think you're right - he may be just the one to help solve the mystery.

SubRosa- Thank you! Buffy's nature and her history in Bravil allow her to move in many incompatible circles. Seems like it just might pay off here. You are so right about Buffy often wearing her heart on her sleeve; sometimes the words just pop right out! What a night! From amorous friendly orcs to amorous deadly ones, to a professional lesson on men from Luciana, to learning so much from dear Cosmus, to dealing with a skooma dealer/bookmaker in the middle of the night in a dark alley.

Grits- Thank you for agreeing with Buffy's treatment of Cosmus. Knowing that you are a blonde, it warms Buffy's heart to receive your endorsement that she tried to hide her cluelessness about the confusing mechanics of Nordinor's betting operation. Yes, Buffy is finally making a little progress with those eyelashes. I'm so pleased you are enjoying the tournament as we present it from the perspectives of both Buffy and Teresa. Working with the creative genius of SubRosa over the last year on this has been a pure joy.

Captain Hammer- Welcome back! Although Buffy has no hope of ever rivaling Jessica Fletcher, she is surely trying hard to solve that pesky mystery. Thanks also for the endorsement of Buffy recognizing that the non-violent approach is sometimes in her best interest. I also appreciate you catching that nit so I could fix it.

Zalphon- I know! Those sneaky little wood elves skulking around in the shadows. Just can't trust 'em.

Wolf- Thank you so much. From chirping about how great it would be for Daenlin and her to finish first and second, to trying to emulate Luciana's eyelash skills, to struggling to solve the scroll mystery out of love for Daenlin, to being clueless about betting, to getting so easily distracted. . . . Yup, that's Buffy! Aradroth gets to show his stuff on the range as he attempts qualification in a couple episodes. I expect Nordinor will consult with the mer in black about that vexing scroll as well.

Foxy- Thanks for the endorsement of Buffy's novice detective skills as she flounders about.



Cheerful streaks of sunshine began to pour over the eastern walls as I made my way across town. The streets were already filled with people and the tantalizing smells of vendors preparing their savory wares for the day.

I had already exercised Superian in the quiet predawn, been home and changed into a russet felt dress. I had hoped for more sleep, but a couple restore fatigue potions would have to suffice this morning - again. So much for a restful break.

My thoughts turned to the reason for my layover in Bravil. I hoped the wait would yield some help from the Council of Mages for the beleaguered force defending Kvatch. Counting off days on my fingers, I figured it should be less than a week before I got recalled to the University.

Soon enough, I arrived at my guildhall. The mages periodically got together for morning tea, and I tried to attend when I was in Bravil.

*

"So Henantier, it's good of you join us this morning." Delphine Jend topped off her tea cup. A sharply arched eyebrow betrayed her deceptively bubbly manner as she pointedly added, "Where have you been?"

From my seat at the dining table between Kud-Ei and Ardaline, I could see Henantier glance at Kud-Ei before he responded, "Well, let's just say I had a touch of trouble with a very delicate experiment. Our wonderful leader, with some help from the Fighters Guild, came to my rescue however."

"Fighters Guild?" chirped Aradline. She grinned then continued, "Henantier, did you conjure some rats that needed to be put to the blade?" Chuckles erupted around the table.

Before Henantier could respond, the soothing, but firm voice of Kud-Ei replied, "All right, girls, leave poor Henantier alone. Let us just say we needed help from someone unknown to our chapter, and the Fighters Guild commander was kind enough to offer one of his recruits to assist."

"Yes," resumed Henantier, "Teresa was a great help in finding everything that I had, er, misplaced."

"Teresa?" asked Ardaline. "The same Bosmer with fiery red hair that was in here selling potions?"

"The very one," said Kud-Ei over her the rim of her cup.

"Did she have a bow?" My question resulted in nods from Ardaline, Kud-Ei and Henantier. Reaching for a strawberry, I continued, "I saw her trying out for the tournament. Daenlin says she's quite a naturally skilled archer."

Delphine bounced to her feet. "More tea?" Her elegant blue gown swept around the table as she refilled cups. "Speaking of archers, it's wonderful to see you in town, Buffy, at least for a little while before you no doubt go flitting off again. How did your trip to Leyawiin go?"

"Thank you for asking," I replied. "Agata was a great help putting me together for that dinner party. She actually got my hair up into a stick twist, if you can believe it."

"Oh, I bet you looked beautiful," said Ardaline.

"Yes," added Delphine, "so how was that fancy dinne-" Delphine's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh, wait! That's not the one we read about in the Courier, is it?"

"The very one." After a giggle, I added, "Someone snuck in, cast a spell and 'poof'! All our clothes were gone. It was great fun actually."

"I would like to have seen that." Henantier's comment caused tinkles of laughter to dance around the table.

"Delphine," I said seriously, "I haven't forgotten about your friend, Maxical. I searched a Khajiiti village called Borderwatch to no avail. And none of the cat people I saw in Leyawiin had white fur. I'm sorry. I know you were concerned. Have you heard from her?"

The Breton's normally effervescent expression clouded, and she placed a finger aside her cheek pensively. "No, and I'm still quite worried about her." As if willing her somber thoughts away, she smiled and continued, "Knowing Maxical, I suppose it's a good thing she's not here. I'm sure she would try to enter your archery tournament."

"Oh? Is she skilled with a bow?" I said before popping a strawberry into my mouth.

Delphine almost sputtered her tea, and had a brief fit of both coughing and laughing before replying, "Oh my, no! She would have to stand with her tail downrange and aim for the city gate to accidently hit one of those archery targets. We'd all get rich charging to heal the spectators!" More laughter filled the room before Delphine added, "She's a little better at aiming spells, but not much."

"You're very quiet this morning, Aryarie," Kud-Ei blinked her orange eyes at the Altmer.

Aryarie licked her fingers. "While you all have been talking, I've been devouring these wonderful sweet rolls. Where did they come from?"

"Ah, I'm glad you noticed," replied Henantier with a sly grin. "I'll have you know I ran all the way to Skingrad before sunrise this morning to fetch these from Salmo the Baker!"

Aryarie winked at Henantier before she said, "Quite remarkable how they're still warm, my speedy friend."

Ardaline and I exchanged befuddled glances as we scratched our heads in unison. She then asked what I'm sure both of us were thinking, "Can I ask a dumb question?"

"Better than anyone I know, except perhaps Buffy," replied Delphine. In response to glares from Ardaline and I, the Breton's serious face erupted into a grin. She then protested, "It's a joke!"

Kud-Ei shook her head and calmly admonished, "Delphine, stop picking on your blond sisters." The Argonian then directed her gaze at Ardaline and I. "Girls, don't let Henantier tease you. The sweet rolls are indeed Salmo's, but come from the small vendor stand he has set up near the tournament grounds."

"Well, they're wonderful, regardless," said Aryarie with a sparkle in her eye as she reached for another of the pastries. Pausing between bites, she asked, "I know Carandial is off at Anutwyll doing more Ayleid research, but has anyone seen Ita this morning?"

"I saw her earlier in the basement recharging some weapons," chimed in Ardaline. After briefly sticking her tongue out at the Breton in blue velvet, she added, "Ita said she's not coming anywhere near Delphine's tea."

"Hmmph!" retored the bubbly Breton. "If she'd drink it instead of spill it on herself, it wouldn't eat holes in her blouse."

It was my turn to almost sputter tea.

Kud-Ei placed a hand on mine and said quietly, "Buffy, in my routine correspondence from the University, I got a note for you. Here."

"Thank you, Magister." I took the parchment and unsealed it.

Buffy,

The Council of Mages remains distracted by the same problem you uncovered at Wellspring. Be assured, Apprentice, the support you require will receive our attention shortly. Boderi tells me you can be reached in Bravil. I recommend you stay there, that I may contact you. I will send for you as the Council goes into session.

Warmest regards,
Raminus Polus
Headmaster, Arcane University
Steward, Council of Mages

Although distracted by thoughts ranging from the Council of Mages to that flaming gate at Kvatch, I managed to enjoy some more pleasant time with my guild mates. After morning tea, we moved to the next room, where Delphine gave us an excellent lecture on cooking with destruction magic.

The Bravil Mages in your Mundus is so . . . alive! No words can be put to how much I enjoyed that chapter! The banter they shared on that morning's tea time was, well. I'm embarrased to say this, but my mind kinda conjured a picture of a family, with the children picking on each other.

Whew! Nice chapter!

I especially liked this line "If she'd drink it instead of spill it on herself, it wouldn't eat holes in her blouse." - it reminded me of England, and the "industrial" version of tea in so many workplaces there.

Nice to see Maxical get a mention, although I'm not sure she'd agree with that.

Oh my goodness, a late night and an early morning! Maybe anti-fatigue potions come in a latte cup.

I enjoyed the banter around the tea table at the mages guild. Delphine better think twice about teasing blonde alchemists, unless she keeps her shampoo under lock and key.

Delphine is now as firmly associated in my mind with caustic tea as Nerussa is with wine. And now Buffy has a name to put with the fiery red hair. This is more fun than a Leyawiin dinner party!!

Poor Buffy, her restful vacation has her staying up so late that she has to chug restore fatigue potions to stay awake! Good thing she is taking it easy and relaxing!

"Fighters Guild?" chirped Aradline. She grinned then continued, "Henantier, did you conjure some rats that needed to be put to the blade?"
What is it with the Fighters Guild and rats? Is it some sort of initiation or something?

So that girl with the fiery red hair has a name now! I wonder if we will be seeing more of her in the future...

And a white-furred Khajiit too! Thank goodness that she is not in the tournament, else half of Bravil would be pulling arrows out of their backsides!

A very wonderful little moment at the Mages Guild. You have noted the sense of camaraderie I have given the FG, here you give us the same with the MG. I love how you have used this little scene to show us Buffy's relationships with her fellow magisters. Even if she and Ardaline had a blond moment!

It seems I'm a little remiss in commenting.

Anyway, I just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed the last two chapters.

This one is a standout and strongly appeals to my sense of humor!


Be careful Aryarie, or you'll end up like Vigge the Cautious! Maybe it's a good thing Salmo's only there for the tourney and will soon be heading back to Skingrad!

Well, Buffy's time in Bravil isn't all work, she had a lovely time with her guild mates!

ROFL !!! I loved this reference to Buffy's doing the Sanguine quest !!





This was kind of a "Catch-up" chapter, reminders of where Buffy's tale had taken us in the past, reminding us where it will be headed in the future, and a brief reminder that the Tourney is still ongoing !!! I loved the looks back best of all, because each sentence brought the full chapters to memory.

And somehow Maxical and Teresa squeezed into the comaraderie around that breakfast table that you wove so well !! Awesome Write !!!

I just started reading the BF sometime last week, and I immediately became addicted. When I went to click the "next" button just now, I was surprised to find that I'd actually caught up. I haven't read 1.0 so this whole story has been fresh and exciting. Buffy is a joy to read and I eagerly await your future installments.

The Basic Flare Spell. Capable of warming tea. Useful for starting a Legionary's cook fire. Functional as a signal flare. Great for dealing with "Eyes Only" material after having been read. Perfect for turning a frigid bath into luxuriant hot tub. And, with only a little investment in malice and/or willingness to send a message, capable of reminding folks why you don't F*ck with magic users stronger than you!

Now available from your Local Mages Guild with great introductory rates!

Sorry, but I had to comment on that. Every time somebody talks about the unrecognized mundane utility of various magical effects, I smile a little on the inside.

Great to see that the Mages Guild is trying to do something, even if the Council is taking its sweet time. Ah well, bureaucracy for you.

And now Henantier is back in the world of the alert and conscious. At least his experiments never seemed to get an entire town dragged into a jam. Not the worst that can be said for a rogue Altmer mage in Oblivion, by any measure.

Episode 104 found Buffy enjoying morning tea with her guild on the final day of tournament qualification.

ureniashtram- Thank you for those kind words! The unspoken and presumptive familiarity of a family was absolutely what I was hoping to portray. In this case I envisioned the matriarch, Kud-Ei, presiding over her charges.

ghastley- Delphine's 'industrial tea'. Well, the Diva of Destruction knows our Maxical well, so I'm sure she speaks the truth.

Grits- Oooh! Are you sure you're a blonde? The idea about sabotaging Delphine's shampoo sounds almost Maxicalishly clever. . . . Thank you so much for enjoying the banter over tea.

SubRosa- Yes, another morning requiring restore fatigue potions. It was great fun to open the rumor mill around the table, from Fighters Guild rat problems to the mysterious assistance provided by Teresa to tales of Maxical's aiming prowess. The camaraderie was indeed assisted by the example set by your own delightful meals around the guild table. Although comfortable portraying a two way conversation, I confess to being intimidated by dialogue involving multiple speakers such as was required here. I'm glad I dove into it though, because I think it came out well and helped me improve that ability.

Rider- Thank you for enjoying Buffy's recollection about Countess Leyawiin's dinner party. I know! Too many sweet rolls leads to chubby mages! I wish you luck and inspiration as you and Julian continue to compose OHDH Ch 27 that will show us the challenges of Sancre Tor.

King Coin- Thank you. It was nice for her to change gears and spend part of the morning with her guild mates.

mALX- Yes, we reviewed lots of ground via recollection and rumor in this episode. As you say, a catch up that included reminders of Buffy's past, the ongoing tourney and even why she was in Bravil. I'm so glad you enjoyed it and humbly thank you for your kind words about how we presented it.

RainbowVeins- I'm delighted to have you with us! I assure you that we simply relish hearing from readers. Not only is 2.0 much bigger than 1.0, but I believe that Buffy and I have refined and improved our ability to tell her tale thanks to reading so many fine examples here and the kind support of friends.

Captain Hammer- Because Buffy is an archer/illusionist/healer, her ability with destruction magic is limited. Her focus toward that school is on the aspects that help her as a mystic archer - namely drain speed and weakness to poison. Unlike Delphine, Buffy's skill with the elements is limited to the helpful but mundane tasks you so eloquently listed. And yes, thanks to the mysterious efforts of Teresa, we finally have Henantier back!



After morning tea, I stepped from my guild to greet what had blossomed into a warm and beautiful day.

Screenshot

I had agreed to meet Daenlin at the tourney grounds to observe the last of the qualifications. As I wandered toward the city gate, the bustle of Bravil's temporary transformation was exciting, but I was quite missing my quiet town.

I frowned as Nilawen's shop came into view, reminding me of the troubling drain marksman scroll. At least for the moment, the mystery was in the hands of the bookmaker, Nordinor.

Glancing down one of the alleys between buildings, I noticed two women seated together on the ground. I knew one to be Aia the Wretched, a beggar. The other, with henna red hair and alabaster skin, now had a name - Teresa. I paused to watch, as they shared what appeared to be a simple lunch.

Aia did not have the addiction problems to wine or thievery that Cosmus did. Rather, something had apparently happened in her past - likely before I was born. She refused to wear shoes and, even more tragically, would not enter any building. Not surprisingly, she couldn't find a job and suffered from chronic illness. As she chatted with Teresa, I was pleased to see Aia clearly enjoying the wood elf's company.

It surprised me, however, to see a joyful sparkle in Teresa's emerald eyes and the warm smile that danced across the angular features of her face. She had impressed me as quite businesslike, almost somber, when I had seen her shoot for qualification. As our eyes met, I realized I was staring. I averted my gaze and, with a faint smile, continued to the city gate.

Once across the Larsius River, I greeted Gaius Prentus on duty at the bridge post. Staring at the tournament grounds arrayed before me, I marveled at the sights, sounds and smells. The sunshine highlighted an explosion of color from the sea of brightly striped tents, their flaps drawn back to display glittering treasures. Lute-strumming wandering minstrels sang unknown songs, the words drowned out by vendors hawking their wares.

Of the countless smells - most of them good - I detected cinnamon and allowed my nose to lead me through the maze of tents and vendors to Salmo the Baker's busy stand.

I noticed the elf in front of me, also waiting for pastries, carried a small unusual bow on her back. She had flaming red hair and wore a silver-gray dress that exposed the pale blue skin of her shoulders. It was gathered at her narrow waist by a black sash, then fell to mid-calf and was met by a pair of fine quality black leather boots. Curious, I touched her arm. "Excuse me, but I have never seen such a bow before."

She turned, revealing an attractive face and ruby eyes. "It's a called a chitin short bow, and is common in my homeland of Morrowind." With a smile, she extended her hand. "My name is Zerina Sarethi."

"I'm Buffy." As our hands met, I noted her fingers did not have the heavy bowstring calluses shared by Daenlin, Alawen and I. "Are you shooting in the tournament?"

"Yes, I'll be trying to qualify today, although I confess I'm much more comfortable with spells than bows." She tilted her head. "With a name as unusual as Buffy, I presume you're the archer that currently holds the number two position among the contestants?"

I could feel a flush of warmth rise above the neckline of my dress. "Yes, my archery master and I are both competing. Do you like Morrowind?"

"Yes, and I miss it," she replied. "My home is in a town called Gnisis in northwest Vvardenfell. Have you traveled there?"

"No, I'm afraid I've never left Cyrodiil."

Our conversation was interrupted as we found ourselves finally at the head of the queue for Salmo's. With a bag of fresh sweet rolls each, I said to Zerina, "It was nice talking with you, and I wish you luck in the tournament."

"I enjoyed meeting you as well," she said with a smile while looking at me pensively. As I began to turn away, she touched my wrist and added, "Were you serious about wishing to see Morrowind?"

"Oh yes!" I breathed. "I would love to visit there someday."

"Buffy, I know magic that could allow you a glimpse of my homeland. It would require me to place my hands upon your face and for you to clear your mind. Would you like to try?"

What Zerina proposed sounded much like the way Acadian projected images into my mind. I nodded. "I'd like that, Zerina."

She stood facing me and said, "Close your eyes and open your thoughts." After I did so, her warm hands touched my face. I could feel an unusual form of magicka begin to flow into my mind. Hauntingly beautiful sounds and images formed.

Video Clip - Two Minute Morrowind Tribute

As the experience faded, I opened my eyes to find myself back at the bustling tournament grounds. There were tears on Zerina's cheeks. I had felt how powerful the memories were for her during the short time our minds had touched.

Profoundly affected, I managed to stammer, "Your homeland is beautiful, Zerina. Thank you for letting me briefly share it through your eyes and ears."

Her bittersweet smile brightened a bit as she said, "Shoot well."

"You too," I replied as she walked away.

With a small bag of sweet rolls in my hand, and thoughts of Morrowind in my head, I made my way toward the reviewing stands. I forced myself to pass by numerous merchants selling beautiful things I was sure I needed, like jewelry and shoes.

Sidling up against Daenlin where I found him seated, I planted a brief kiss on his cheek.

"Well, look at you, in a dress! And no doubt with matching shoes." He lifted the hem of my skirt to reveal russet felt slippers.

"Of course, silly." Proudly holding up the still warm and fragrant bag of cinnamon pastries, I added, "Look what I got you, Master."

"Mmm, I can smell what's in there." Producing a similar bag, Daenlin proclaimed, "It seems we shall become a pair of chubby elves, my apprentice. I bought Salmo's sweet rolls for you as well."

"Oh, look," I pointed toward the firing line, "Aradroth is shooting." Although we had missed his first flight, a glance up at the scoreboard attested he was doing fine. As he reached for the first arrow of his rapid-fire flight, the judge turned her hourglass to commence the timing.

Half a minute later, Daenlin shook his head. "I wonder if that black cloak and unruly mop of hair in his eyes are what slowed him down. By the time he got each arrow nocked, he had to rush his shots. I hope he can compensate some during the final flight."

I looked around, wondering if Alawen had yet arrived. I couldn't see her, but the crowd was too large to know for sure. A nudge from Daenlin returned my focus to the targets in time to watch the assassin's final flight. Taking plenty of time to aim, he smoothly placed three arrows in a tight group near the center of his target. I nodded to the Bosmer beside me. "Clearly, long range shots with plenty of time are his forte." I didn't add that I recognized a fellow sniper when I saw one.

"Well, he did come back rather strongly," said Daenlin. "I imagine he'll qualify."

"Oh, I hope so," I replied, "especially after we pestered him to compete."

After watching several more shooters attempt qualification, Daenlin let us take a break to wander among the merchant tents.

We grew hungry, but decided to save our sweet rolls for later. Instead, we found ourselves standing beneath a sign that said 'South of the Border'. Judging from the pair of Khajiit that were cooking, I presumed the name referred to their homeland of Elsweyr. We bought a pair of very thin discs of corn and watched in amusement as one of the Khajiit piled on a grilled mixture of slaughterfish, mushrooms, capsicum and onion. This was then garnished with freshly shredded cabbage and cheese, diced tomato, then a liberal sprinkling of thick red sauce. The Khajiit then folded each in half for convenient eating, and presented them to us.

We walked down by the bay as we ate our messy but tasty meals. "That was delicious," said Daenlin as he licked his fingers.

"Hold still," I instructed. Slipping a linen handkerchief from the sleeve of my dress, I wiped the remains of Daenlin's meal from his face. "It was good, but my mouth's burning a little bit."

As we made our way back toward the reviewing stands, Daenlin bought a bottle of beer and handed it to me. I chilled it with a magical blue glow. The cold beer we then passed between us eased the burning in my mouth and made for the perfect finish to our exotic meal.

We found a spot near the firing line and sat down in time to see the Dunmer I had met at Salmo's arrive. She approached the judges to receive her briefing for qualification.

Daenlin remarked, "Don't see many chitin short bows in Cyrodiil. I expect she's from Morrowind."

"Indeed she is," I said with a nod. "Her name's Zerina and I met her in the queue at Salmo's."

As she stepped up to the firing line, Zerina raised a glowing fist and gracefully opened her fingers. From the lavender cloud that resulted, a skeleton appeared beside her. The summon willingly accepted a pair of small bags from the mage. I imagined they contained the fruits of her morning shopping.

I nudged Daenlin with an elbow. "I must see if I can teach my conjured helpers to do that."

Zerina's first three arrows blossomed near the center of her target. Like many of the contestants however, she then lost quite a few points during the rapid-fire portion of her attempt. Her final long range untimed flight, while not as accurate as Aradroth's, was quite respectable.

"She's more of a mage than an archer," I said to Daenlin. Holding up my bowstring fingers, I added, "I shook hands with her earlier, and she lacks the calluses of hard daily practice. I suspect her considerable marksman skill comes from decades of practical use that belie her youthful appearance."

ZERINA !!!! Where is Rales? GAAAAH !!! Loved this chapter, you did a round-up of all the tourney characters in one chapter !!! AWESOME !!! Great Chapter !!

That is a great screenshot!
Teresa! Aia must have been reminded her of Simplica.




I liked this chapter quite a bit. I love meeting new characters!

Wait, what's the Vulcan Mind Meld doing in the BF? Pointy ears is NOT sufficient justification!

We'll forgive the unobtainable chitin bow, though. Morrowind is at least just over the border.

From that first screenshot, I see that Buffy has been taking sultry lessons from the other women in the guild!

a joyful sparkle in Teresa's emerald eyes and the warm smile that danced across the angular features of her face.
Sparkling eyes and dancing smiles? Oh my!

I averted my gaze and, with a faint smile, continued to the city gate.
Now there is that faint smile!

Yay for Zerina! What is that, the fourth guest star in the BF TOA? I better add a few to the TF TOA to keep up! And of course everyone's favorite Mer in Black makes another appearance as well.

and for you to clear your mind.
Some might say that this is a natural state for certain blond women...

Plus a wonderful bit of visual storytelling! Both that, and Zerina's later skeletal manservant were excellent ways to show us that she is more magician than archer. Not to mention Buffy's notice of her lack of finger calluses from shooting.

I wouldn't be surprised if she uses that small bow more as a poison delivery device than a primary weapon.
Little does Buffy know that once you venture past the border into Morrowind, poison cannot be applied to weapons. So the gods have decreed it.

And I have been meaning to mention your new screenshot of the month. As lovely as it is, I must say that Teresa preferred the April Showers...

ahhhhhh noooooooo ive reached the current end of the story

ive just reread the story, and it is, as always riveting. keep up the good work acadian

Like SubRosa, I found that missing faint smile as well. It made me smile faintly as well.

And Zerina! This TOA is becoming quite the Academy Awards Show! It was wonderful to see this lovely lady who has been MIA from this forum for far too long. (Are you reading this Rales? Yes, that was a hint for you!)

And it was interesting to see Aradroth's shooting style was much like many others'. It seems only Buffy and Teresa are used to shooting rapid fire under pressure. Nothing like experience to polish one's skills, especially when survival is at stake!

Just a teeny nit: Didn't you mean willingly?

A Teresa sighting, how delightful. And a faint smile to go with it. Loved the tacos and beer! And how nice that Buffy and Daenlin can share one, instead of downing half of it in one gulp.

I nudged Daenlin with an elbow. "I must see if I can teach my conjured helpers to do that."

I have a vision of Buffy out shopping with a Daedroth trailing behind her, carrying a jeweler’s bag in two claws.

I’m certainly enjoying this warm and beautiful day in Bravil.

Hmm, two bags of sweetrolls? I highly doubt that even that could turn Buffy into a chubby Bosmer. I'd rather wager that the sugar would cause her to immediately run off and do something noteworthy, like, say, clear out a haunted manor in Anvil. Or possibly clear out an Ayleid ruin, looking for a bloody helmet.

Seeing our favorite cold-eyed, darkly fraternal sniper qualify was a treat. Aradroth reminds me of the type of guy that could spend his whole life waiting for that one perfect shot, and think it worth the time.

I gotta ask, do gloves/gauntlets offer sufficient protection to mitigate calluses on fingers without drastically reducing ability? I ask since I know they were widely used by companies of archers, but shooting into a mass of enemies and taking out a single target are vastly different activities.

Chapter 103:

An interesting take on affairs from Nordinor. He sounds honest, and he does have every reason to be. Let's hope what he says is true.

Nit:

You shoot well when the time comes, and let me to do what I do best. Check back with me tomorrow evening, once I've had a few hours to monitor the betting. I may know something then.

The highlighted section seems kinda like it is trying to merge two phrases together into one, and it doesn't really work. Might work better as "and leave me to do what I do best" or "and let me do what I do best."

Chapter 104:

You just wait until Delphine gives up her recipe for Hot Tamales! Not even the legendary Ghost pepper can compare in terms of heat!

Glad Teresa is keeping herself busy. Nothing like a little trip through a nightmare to help one find their bearings, eh?

Oh, and don't worry about Maxical, just train your eyes and aim your feet towards the next massive explosion you see, and you are sure to find her.

Nit:

From my seat at the dining table between Kud-Ei and Ardaline, I could see Henantier glance at Kud-E before he responded,

I believe your "I" at the end of Kud-Ei here has pulled a J'Skar on you!

Chapter 105:

We grew hungry, but decided to save our sweet rolls for later. Instead, we found ourselves standing beneath a sign that said 'South of the Border'. Judging from the pair of Khajiit that were cooking, I presumed the name referred to their homeland of Elsweyr. We bought a pair of very thin discs of corn and watched in amusement as one of the Khajiit piled on a grilled mixture of slaughterfish, mushrooms, capsicum and onion. This was then garnished with freshly shredded cabbage and cheese, diced tomato, then a liberal sprinkling of thick red sauce. The Khajiit then folded each in half for convenient eating, and presented them to us.

¡Arriba!

By the way, Buffy, don't soothe chili-burn with liquid, that actually makes it worse before it makes it better. Attack it with bland, like plain rice or unseasoned bread. That way, the bland food absorbs the heat and removes it from the mouth a lot faster.

During Episode 105, Buffy and Daenlin watched some more competitors, including Aradroth, try their hand during the final day of tournament qualifications. After a brief lunch break, the two Bosmer returned to the reviewing stands to see a mage from Morrowind named Zerina attempt qualification.

mALX- Thank you, mALX! As many here know, Zerina is a character from the fanfic of Remko. The tournament takes place well into the future of Remko's fanfic, and Rales (Zerina's mate) did not make this trip. We do deliver the spoiler (via her last name) that in their future Zerina and Rales are married.

King Coin- We would have to ask Teresa to know for sure but, like you, I see some similarities between Aia and Simplicia. Thanks for the kind words, and I'm glad you liked Buffy's 'Now, what have I forgotten?' screenshot.

ghastley- Thank you. Anything is possible in TES! It was great fun to touch lightly on Morrowind.

SubRosa- It was such fun to reverse things and show the big smile on Teresa and the faint one on Buffy for a change! Hmm, let's see: Aradroth, Angel, Sarrah, Teresa, Maxical, Zerina. . . yes, lots of guest stars/mentions!

I thought about the news that poison doesn't work on weapons in Morrowind. Since my purpose here was a tribute to both Zerina and Morrowind, I decided to eliminate reference to Zerina buying poison ingredients and speculation that she might poison her bow. It was an effort to reinforce her 'mage' credentials, but I believe her Vulcan Dunmer mind meld and summoning a skeleton to hold her shopping will do the trick. Thanks for pointing it out!

Doommeister- So wonderful to hear from you again! I appreciate your kind words!

Rider- I'm so glad that Buffy briefly borrowing Teresa's trademark brought your own faint smile! Yes, let's hope Remko will bring Rales and Zerina back to us. Thanks for the nit so I could fix it.

I think Buffy and Teresa's skill with rapid fire is a product of their tendency to over rely on their bows instead of reaching for a blade like Aradroth might do. Buffy has been shooting longer and had a great teacher, but Teresa is amazing. Both elves have learned to shoot quickly under pressure to survive, but Teresa has more natural talent when it comes to rapid fire. The way Teresa's mind works simply allows a mystical connection between arrow and target that comes naturally to her. Buffy, like Aradroth, is more of a sniper who has to think her actions through. In this next episode, we will see an archer who possesses astonishing speed, refined through decades of experience.

Grits- Thank you so much for enjoying Buffy and Daenlin's fish tacos and beer! I'm so glad you are enjoying this lovely final day of qualifications.

Captain Hammer- Thank you, and I'm glad you enjoyed seeing Aradroth again. Yes, it seems he is likely the patient sniper type. Regarding gloves/gauntlets, I don't know. Buffy wears either no gloves or fingerless ones so that her bare fingers can feel the subtle differences at the tails between her broadhead and armor-piercing arrows when reaching into her quiver. She tells me further that her silk bowstrings, which resist moisture and stretching, are also harder on her fingers than linen or flax strings. So. . . she has quite the calluses.

TK- Thanks for the nits - fixed. Despite his unsavory profession, Buffy finds herself having to rely on Nordinor and hoping he can come through. It was fun touching on Teresa's nightmare with Henantier from a 'rumor' perspective and to gossip about Maxical's aiming challenges. Fortunately for Buffy, the chili-burn was extremely mild, so sharing a cold beer with Daenlin did the trick. Had it been more severe, she probably would have filled her hand with white magic and touched a finger to her tongue. Ain't TES wonderful!



"I wonder who that is?" said Daenlin as he extended a finger toward the leather-clad Bosmer who had approached, but stopped short of, the judging station.

"That's Alawen," I replied, "the ranger for County Anvil. I met her a couple days ago and we've become friends." Daenlin and I were seated perhaps twenty paces from the judges, but I could clearly see Alawen's discomfort among so many humans, mer and tailed folk. I patted Daenlin on the knee. "She's frightened. I'll be right back."

As Alawen noted my approach, I could see that the ranger's normally calm and competent manner was gone. It had yielded to the uncertain little girl that I knew emerged when she felt out of place or self-conscious.

"I have never seen such crowds in my life." Her eyes darted, almost wildly, around the sea of faces as if seeking escape. "This was a bad idea. I do not know what I was thinking to even come here. Buffy, I-I cannot do this. I hope Countess Millona will understand." She started to turn in the direction of the stables.

I grabbed her arm. "Ranger, you belong here. I'll be right here with you, just like when I followed you aboard the Emma May to free Grantham Blakely and you saved my life. Remember how I backed you up as you bravely cleared Black Dog Camp? We did those things together and we can do this too."

"It's getting late in the day, Bosmer," said Sinia, one of the judges. "Do you wish to attempt qualification?"

As Alawen stared at me, I could see uncertainty swirling in her eyes. "We can do this," I repeated, nodding for emphasis.

I was relieved to see the transformation that I had come to know occur once again. The ranger replaced the little girl in Alawen's eyes, then she turned to the judge. "My name is Alawen, Ranger of Anvil. I wish to enter your tournament."

"Best of luck to you then, Alawen," replied the Redguard with a smile. "Let's get you signed in and your entry fee collected, then I'll brief you on the rules for qualification." Sinia then turned to me. "Sorry, no coaching in the shooting area. Please return to the stands."

I nodded at the judge then said to Alawen, "Once I get back to my seat, I won't take my eyes off you, ranger. Shoot well." I quickly returned to my spot beside Daenlin. Only when I smiled and waved at Alawen did she shift her eyes from me to the judge.

"Your friend has cold feet?" asked Daenlin.

"Yes, Master. She's used to living and hunting alone. I think she'll do fine now."

With the formalities behind her, Alawen stepped up to the firing line. After a glance back at me, she nocked an arrow and drew her bowstring.

"THIEF!" As the shout erupted from behind me, Alawen flinched. The pickpocket trying to escape was quickly subdued by a nearby guard, but the damage was done. Alawen's first arrow was lodged at the very outer edge of her target, costing five points from an easy shot. Worse, as she sought my eyes with hers, I could see the nervous bewilderment and confusion that had infiltrated her confidence. I was on my feet. After pointing my finger rapidly between myself and her several times, I mimicked the action of shooting a bow.

Relieved to see her give me a tentative smile, I mouthed the words, "You and me!" then sat down again.

After nocking her second arrow, she smoothly and quickly pierced the target's center. Her third arrow sprouted closely enough to her second that they were touching.

"She needed those bull's eyes," said Daenlin. "Is your friend normally that skittish?"

"Not at all, Daenlin. She's steady as an oak in the forest. Like I said, she just has trouble being around crowds."

I remembered being amazed, aboard the Emma May, at the rate of fire Alawen was capable of. I eagerly watched as her hand went for the first arrow of her rapid-fire flight and Sinia turned the hourglass.

The crowd went almost silent when, before half her time limit was up, the ranger had placed three arrows side-by-side in the center of her target.

I elbowed Daenlin. "See? I told you she was good."

"She's beautiful to watch," he replied. "She shoots like I taught you to, my apprentice."

"Only a lot faster," I said, beginning to feel more than a little nervous.

The crowd remained eerily quiet as Alawen studied her long range target. I could see the Bosmer's gaze travel across the treetops to assess the wind, then finally come to rest upon me.

I smiled and nodded proudly at her. I knew that after dropping five points on her first shot she couldn't beat my master's qualification score.

During the seconds that Daenlin or I would have required to carefully aim and calculate offsets, Alawen's first long-range arrow was nocked, drawn, released and buried in the dead center of her target. The crowd erupted in appreciative applause, as did Daenlin and I.

The Ranger's second shot of this final flight was solidly in the nine ring. Her final arrow for qualification blossomed beside her first in the bull's eye.

As the crowd again erupted, I surveyed the sea of faces. I noticed a fiery red mane in the reviewing stands and my eyes fell upon Teresa, who was seated next to Aia. When the wood elf's eyes met mine, I smiled and raised a hand to her. She looked around for a moment, then I was rewarded by a shy smile as she returned my wave. I could see now why her guild had entered her in the tourney as 'Teresa, of the Faint Smile'.

A gentle elbow in my ribs accompanied Daenlin's words, "Come on, I must meet this ranger of yours."

Daenlin and I intercepted Alawen halfway between our seats and the firing line. I expected her to be beaming with pride but, with the shooting done, she was once again nervously eyeing the crowd. "You did wonderfully!" I said. "Alawen, this is my archery master, Daenlin."

The two Bosmer shook hands as I cautioned myself to respect Alawen's wishes. That she was possibly Daenlin's daughter was a bittersweet secret shared only by the ghost of Diana and I.

"That was some incredible shooting," said Daenlin. "I take it this is your first tourney?"

"I have never shot for competition before," replied Alawen. "I am humbled to meet the current champion."

"Well, you were magnificent!" Daenlin said. "With no distracting pickpockets to spoil your first shot tomorrow, you will be formidable competition and a joy to watch shoot. We may get a couple more archers attempting to qualify today, but I think the field of finalists is almost set. Excuse me, I want to thank the officials for the great job they're doing."

As Daenlin approached the judges, I heard one of them cheerfully say, "Hail, champion."

With a moist-eyed smile, my eyes moved from Daenlin back to Alawen. "I knew you could do it, my ranger."

"I could not have shot so well without you, my scout," she replied. "Your heart is as true as your bow. I am very sorry to be so much trouble. I told you what a problem I have being around large numbers of others."

I took her hand. "It takes a lot of courage to face your fears and I'm proud of you. We'll both shoot well in the final competition tomorrow and I'll be right here for you again."

"Thank you, Buffy. Tomorrow then." She turned toward the stables then disappeared into the crowd.

I joined Daenlin and, as he finished chatting with the judges, pulled the badly needed comfort of his arm around my shoulders. We returned to the seating area where I continued to lean against him.

"You're particularly clingy all of a sudden, Buffy," he said gently. "Is something the matter?"

"I'm just feeling very lucky that you treat me as if I were your daughter. I love you, Daenlin."

The old elf looked at me curiously, then tenderly tapped a finger to my nose. "You are indeed the daughter I never had, and I am the lucky one."

This was such a beautiful chapter; the friendship between Buffy and Alawen is truly amazing.

I felt just as tense as Buffy during Alawen's go at the board, and that guard distracting poor Alawen with his shouting! disgraceful ;P

I loved this:

Relieved to see her give me a tentative smile, I mouthed the words, "You and me!" then sat down again.
Again, shows the beauty in their relationship.

The old elf looked at me curiously, then tenderly tapped a finger to my nose. "You are indeed the daughter I never had, and I am the lucky one."
:')

Also it was nice to see Teresa again!

Love it!

Interesting developments. We now have enough contenders that a single Drain Marksman scroll can't guarantee a winner, so it would only be useful to someone who wants a specific loser.

Buffy's making Daenlin think too much, especially in an Alawen context. He'll start adding things up soon, if she's not more careful.

I'm going to steal this line:

I agree 100% They've only just met and Buffy knows all the right things to do and say to pull her together.

I can only imagine how Alawen felt while shooting. She normally is alone and suddenly she has the attention of hundreds of people focused solely on her!

This chapter was absolutely great!

I was struck by the similarities between Alawen and Teresa. Both are self-conscious when they are the center of attention. Both have the capability to overcome it.

But they were also different. Teresa is more at ease in crowds - she knows she can melt into the throng and disappear (though not so easily anymore with that dyed hair!). And Alawen doesn't have that skill, but once she's out in the open, I've no doubt she'll disappear like a Marine sniper into the tall grass and rocks.

Yet again Buffy shows her true kindness towards her friends. This scene made me smile more than faintly: I could just see Buffy's emphatic gestures that fortified Alawen's courage in utter silence.

That is our Alawen, as sweet and shy as ever! She is lucky to have found a companion like Buffy, whom she can draw inspiration from. Just her luck that a zealous Guardsman would shout as he pursued his quarry in the stands. That would have spoiled anyone's shot.

"Your friend has cold feet?" asked Daenlin.
"Yes, Master. She will join us or Die!"
Oh wait, this is not Star Wars...

I smiled and nodded proudly at her. I knew that after dropping five points on her first shot she couldn't beat my master's qualification score.
I hightlight this because it puts the spotlight on two disparate emotions in Bravilian Bowgirl. One one hand she is proud of her friend's ability and wants her to do well. But on the other hand, she wants her mentor to win. With Alawen's skill, those two desires may prove to be very incompatible.

I could see now why her guild had entered her in the tourney as 'Teresa, of the Faint Smile'.
And perhaps the red head will see why soon enough as well.

I expected her to be beaming with pride but, with the shooting done, she was once again nervously eyeing the crowd.
It is a good thing Fathis Aren is busy with another Wood Nymph. Can you imagine Alawen trying to fend of the amorous advances of a persistent Court Mage?

And finally, a little amour of a more platonic nature between Buffy and her foster father. One of the things I love most about the BF TOA is that it is allowing you to dive deeper into Buffy's relationship with Daenlin. Alawen has a made a wonderful catalyst for this, as the circumstances of her birth cause Buffy to examine her own relationship with Daenlin, and draw strength from it.

You have discovered a great character in Alawen. I really do feel sorry for her that that bothersome pickpocket chose to ruin her shoot. Make sure he gets a double sentence for that, guard!

"You are indeed the daughter I never had, and I am the lucky one."

It is incredibly saddening that he can never know that the young ranger he just conversed with is the actual daughter he almost never had. I would want to tell him so badly, but at the same time, know that to do so would be utterly destructive to everyone involved... I don't know how Buffy can cope. Nothing should ever force the separation of father from daughter, but the world is a cruel, cruel place sometimes.

This tournament continues to serve you well as a way of developing some obscure characters from Oblivion, as Alawen's stage fright gets the better of her initially. Also, how interesting to see Buffy take on the pastoral role, guiding her friend Alawen in this unfamiliar arena.

With a moist-eyed smile, my eyes moved from Daenlin back to Alawen. "I knew you could do it, my ranger."

"I could not have shot so well without you, my scout," she replied. "Your heart is as true as your bow. I am very sorry to be so much trouble. I told you what a problem I have being around large numbers of others."

I took her hand. "It takes a lot of courage to face your fears and I'm proud of you. We'll both shoot well in the final competition tomorrow and I'll be right here for you again."

In this exchange I feel the sisterly bond really comes across well. In the words of mALX, AWESOME WRITE !!!!

"That's Alawen," I replied, "the ranger for County Anvil. I met her a couple days ago and we've become friends." Daenlin and I were seated perhaps twenty paces from the judges, but I could clearly see Alawen's discomfort among so many humans, mer and tailed folk. I patted Daenlin on the knee. "She's frightened. I'll be right back."

You set the scene seamlessly in the middle of dialog complete with a little gesture that brings it all to life. There is much to admire here.

After the guard startles Alawen, I could just see Buffy leaping to her feet in front of thousands of people concerned only about Alawen, while Alawen gave her small, mortified looks completely aware of the crowd. So fitting for what we’ve learned of both of them!

"She's beautiful to watch," he replied. "She shoots like I taught you to, my apprentice."

Uh oh.

The smile and wave between Teresa and Buffy warmed my heart! What a beautiful display of Buffy with friends.

"She has cold feet." That line is great, because it's realistic and simple.

Have to agree with King Coin, I absolutely love this chapter. It is so sad to see the love Daenlin has to give a daughter and know that his own stands so near and won't ever know that love. I find myself rooting for Alawen to win this tourney - not just because with her skill she should, but for the bloodlines of the Champion Daenlin running in her to show through. Kind of a perfect way to honor her, and her father at the same time (which only Buffy would realize).

Your portrayal of Teresa's shyness was perfectly described, I could picture her doing just as you described.




I have to agree with SubRosa here, the ending scene with Buffy and Daenlin was touching, and displays Buffy's inner turmoil over the knowledge she has to keep to herself.

Great Chapter, great addition to the TOA !! Awesome Write !!!!

In Episode 106, Alawen shot for qualification. It became clear that Buffy was the key that helped the ranger manage her fear of crowds and shoot effectively - very effectively.

Rihanae- Thank you very much! I think because their friendship was forged under fire, Buffy and Alawen have quickly grown close. For having a dark and vengeful side, Buffy can be stunningly nurturing to those she holds dear.

ghastley- I think you're right in that the outcome of the tournament just got quite a bit more complex. Hopefully, Nordinor can help Buffy solve that vexing scroll mystery before the end of this last day of qualifications.

King Coin- Thank you. Although Buffy does not share Alawen's fear of civilization, she seems to understand it and how the confident ranger can melt into an uncertain child. And yes, somehow she does seem to know the right words and actions to soothe her friend.

Rider- Thank you for pointing out some similarities between Alawen and Teresa. It seems they both also share an impressive ability to shoot quickly and are both very much 'foresters'. I'm so glad Buffy's empathy toward Alawen came through so clearly, even as we see hints of concern by Buffy regarding Alawen's skill.

SubRosa- Thank you for drawing attention to the emotional conflict Buffy is setting herself up for as she now fully realizes the degree of skill that Alawen possesses and the threat her friend poses to her master's title. You can see, in her uncertainty, how clingy Buffy became with Daenlin which, as you say, draws out more of the relationship between the elf and her godfather.

TK- Thank you for enjoying Alawen and the bittersweetness of the secret Buffy is holding. She would like to think that Daenlin is Alawen's father, but she does realize that the ranger's father could also be Reman Broder (an Imperial) or even possibly some other unknown man or mer in Diana's life. The way half-breeding works in BF, the race of Alawen's father is inconclusive without more evaluation. Buffy sees some 'Imperial-like' charismatic leadership in Alawen, at least away from civilization. She is uncertain whether the ranger's ability with animals comes from pure Bosmeri breeding or her 'mark of the lion'. Buffy does not know if Alawen is naturally skilled as a merchant, has resistance to disease or other things that could perhaps provide paternal clues.

Ceidwad - Thank you for noting the bond between Buffy and Alawen. From what I have seen, Buffy seems to have a strong sisterly bond with Ardaline, Mazoga and now Alawen. Alawen is older, but the 'little girl' is strong in her. The other important women in Buffy's life seem to fill more of a motherly role.

Grits- Thank you for those kind words on how we used dialogue and supporting gestures. Judging from your own skill in this area, that is high praise indeed. I'm so grateful that SubRosa has allowed me to present glimpses of Teresa; she adds much to the tournament with her archery skill, wealth of TF lore, kindness and faint smile.

Zalphon- Thanks for highlighting Alawen's nervousness among crowds.

mALX- Yes, Buffy will resist her nurturing/meddling instincts and respect Alawen's wishes to not pursue the ranger's paternity. Thank you for enjoying the poignancy of the odd quadrangle that is Diana, Alawen, Daenlin and Buffy. It was at this point in crafting the tournament that I realized who actually wins the match is not the big story here. I am confident that the best Bosmer will win, but I expect Buffy will learn much as things unfold.




The westering sun was flirting with treetops as several judges began loudly announcing last call for tournament qualification. Honditar stepped up with his entry fee. Recalling the insight Luciana Galena had shared with me about the self-proclaimed mountain man, I said to Daenlin, "This should be fun."

The old Bosmer seated beside me chuckled. "I know his game."

The high and mighty elf did indeed turn out to be more talk than action. Although Honditar placed all nine of his arrows into the targets, his score was not even close to matching what would be required to earn a spot among the top ten qualifiers.

"He's had his fun," said Daenlin, "along with plenty of boasting, some laughs and probably a few gullible ladies. Tonight, I'm sure he'll change the targets of his tall stories to those who don't follow the actual tourney standings at all." After another chuckle, he added, "Caution the young women over at your guild to pay him no mind."

"He must have known he couldn't deliver after all that bragging," I said, scratching my head. "Why do you suppose he even made the attempt?"

Daenlin replied with a wink, "I'm sure by the time he gets home to Chorrol, the tale will start with, "Did I tell you I shot in the archery tournament?"

A trumpet sounded the end of qualifications for the tournament.

"You're still in first place, Master," I said proudly.

Daenlin pointed to a flurry of activity around the scoreboard. It was being stripped of the qualification scores and prepared for the following day's final competition. "The judges were telling me about the scoreboard," he said. "Those clever little pegs and plaques allow for quickly updating the finalists' scores tomorrow. It will be at least an hour before they get it all set up though. If I know Nordinor, he already has the qualification standings displayed and is open for betting." He then stood and offered me his arm. "Let's go."

The city gate stood open at the end of the bridge to facilitate an almost continuous flow of foot traffic in and out of the city. Daenlin and I soon joined a crowd of men, most of them with heavy-looking coin purses, as they gathered around a parchment posted outside The Fair Deal. Sure enough, the ten contestants that would advance to the final day of competition were listed. In addition to Daenlin, myself and Alawen, I noted that Riveus the Imperial Forester and Teresa from the Fighters Guild rounded out the top five positions. I was not surprised to see that Lum gro-Baroth was among the finalists, but his brother Kurz was not. The remaining names included Parwen the busty goblin hunter, Aradroth my heroic assassin, Zerina the mage with a bow, and Schlera the fashion disaster of Pells Gate.

"It looks like a fine group of archers," said Daenlin. "I'm going home to open The Archer's Paradox for a few hours this evening. Some of the contestants may need new bowstrings or other last minute supplies before the big day."

"Is Jean-Pierre Lemonds coming over to open and run the shop tomorrow?" I asked.

"Yes," replied Daenlin, "aside from you and I, he's the only one I'm comfortable with managing the shop when I can't be there. I had the store closed part of today, but I want it open all day tomorrow."

"I hope you gets lots of business," I said. "I'm going to pop in here and say hi to Nilawen."

"I'll collect you around dawn, then?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I'll ride Superian early, then meet you at the firing line shortly after sunrise."

Daenlin wagged a finger. "No Tamika's for you tonight and get plenty of rest."

"Yes, Master," I replied as the old elf turned and headed off along the crowded street.

I was too small to shoulder my way among the gathered men outside Nilawen's shop, but as long as I didn't mind getting jostled, brushed against and even fondled a little, I was pretty good at worming my through crowds. Managing to keep most of my dignity intact, I made my way into The Fair Deal.

It was almost as crowded inside the general store. Nilawen was quickly serving customers - mostly beer and ale it seemed. She spared me but a glance and the trace of a harried smile, as bottles and coins quickly slid across her counter.

The walls of her shop were covered with bits of parchment bearing numbers and charts that I couldn't begin to understand. At the center of activity was Nordinor, seated behind a small table. He was talking nonstop and rapidly exchanging small pieces of parchment for gold.

Most of the loud proclamations I heard from the men gathered around Nordinor made little sense to me:

"Gimme the Bosmer field for a hundred."

"Pshaw, that's a lady's bet! Put my fifty across the Fighters Guild."

"I want forty on that skinny red head with the Fighter's Guild to show."

"Well, I ain't bettin' on no damn elves. Here's twenty on Riveus."

"Hey, watch the elf talk! Buffy's right here. Put my forty on her to place. She's gettin' almost as good as Daenlin."

"Who's that jumpy elf in leather that shot near the end? She was good once she settled down. I want fifty on her."

"Yer all stupid. My gold's on Daenlin. Stick with a winner, I say. Here's two hundred."

Slouched in a chair propped against the wall was Aradroth, calmly nursing an ale and looking bored.

I could see that trying to talk with Nordinor would be futile, so I squeezed my way around the edge of the shop until I could whisper to Aradroth, "Did Nordinor tell you about my scroll problem?"

The assassin barely nodded and quietly replied, "Too early, the betting has just started. Go have a walkabout and come back later."

I frowned then retreated through the gauntlet of men toward the door. Calm down, Buffy. It's only a silly tournament and you're doing the best you can to find that scroll.

Once outside, my feet slowly carried me along the street and deeper into the city toward the river that split Bravil. I had been jostled and fondled by sweating men while trying to get into and out of The Fair Deal. Here it was, the evening before final competition and there was still a drain marksman scroll loose, probably poised to sabotage the tourney. After seeing Alawen qualify, however, did any of that even matter?

Why had I encouraged her? I could have sat on my hands and let her leave the tournament grounds, or simply allowed the ranger's nervousness to spray her arrows all around the target. My master had dedicated himself to training me for almost my entire life. Is this how I repaid him? I could see now that Alawen was every bit the archer that Daenlin was, perhaps. . . no. I dared not even think it. No one could beat my master.

The ranger had saved my life though. I knew she didn't have very many friends, yet she counted me among them. If I treated her coolly tomorrow, I knew her child would emerge and she would be unable to beat Daenlin. The dark thoughts I harbored spawned waves of guilt and shame. Oh, why was everything so complicated?

I heaved a sigh. What else could possibly go wrong today?

Suddenly, I was overtaken by a Bravil guard commanding those around me, "Stand aside, citizens."

I stepped to the edge of the road, near the bridge leading to the castle, and looked back toward the city gate. The reason for clearing the way soon became apparent as an official-looking entourage came into view. I could see the green silks of Countess Alessia Caro as she approached with her towering Altmeri advisor. She was escorted by a pair of Bravil guards and two of her own swordsmen who wore the white stallion surcoats of Leyawiin.

As she approached the castle bridge, Countess Caro's eyes met mine. "Dame Buffy?"

Grasping the sides of my simple russet skirt between thumbs and forefingers, I curtsied and replied, "What a delightful surprise to see her Ladyship in Bravil."

The Countess' raised hand, which had halted the small party, motioned me closer. "I arranged the timing of my return trip from visiting Mother in Chorrol, to avail myself of Count Terentius' hospitality and enjoy the archery tournament. I am led to believe that you forest elves are rather good at that sort of thing."

"Thank you, Milady."

"Tell me, dear, how goes your quest to help Kvatch?"

"Slower than I would like, but things are progressing." I cursed the flush of embarrassment that I felt rising above my neckline. This foul woman had struck a nerve. I knew I should be using my skills to slay Daedra for Savlian Matius, not shooting in a tournament for the entertainment of others. "I am currently awaiting a decision regarding assistance for Kvatch from the Council of Mages."

"That sounds just fine, dear." She took a moment to look around. "Despite the laziness and poverty here, at least Count Terentius seems to have only a few tail draggers and tuskers littering his streets. If only we were so fortunate in my own husband's darling little city in a swamp." She rolled her eyes and sighed. "Well, I hope at least the sheets are of silk and the bath water is hot here. Buffy, you have no idea the hardships I must endure." She wagged a hand limply at her bodyguards to move on.

I stepped back and curtsied again. "Enjoy your stay in our fair city, Milady."

Alessia Cara had already turned her attention to her advisor as the group proceeded onto the bridge and toward the castle. "Now Hlidara, once my bath is prepared, I want you to ensure that Regulus has Surilie three ninety nine in his cellar; if not, I expect you to send someone out to that tent we saw on our way into the city to buy some. And for dinner, you may instruct the Count's staff that. . . ." Thankfully, distance faded her words as the group continued across the bridge.

I'm with Buffy. All that betting talk's mostly over my head.

But I enjoyed the scene in Nilawen's coming on the heels of Honditar's - umm - humiliation on the shooting range. Somehow I get the impression it's not going to keep him down long.

And Aradroth's a canny one. "Too early to tell. Go on walkabout. We'll talk later." Sound advice from a mer with nerves of titanium.

Now Buffy's full of quandaries! Who to support? It's all right to support someone as long as they don't threaten her master's/godfather's chance at securing yet another championship? Obviously it has not occurred to her that Daenlin might be getting tired of winning all the time. I know I would be! If you're the best that's out there, what's left to do?

And the encounter with Countess Caro at the end! What a wonderful way to highlight her condescending manner! Wonder if she'll be as condescending toward the Champion of Cyrodiil? Hmm --

Lots of goodies here!

First up, Honditar. Seems that he can add womanising to lying, bragging and boasting on his list of petty vices. I enjoyed Daenlin's command to

"Caution the young women over at your guild to pay him no mind."

In particular, I could imagine Hondi-baby trying out his roguish charms on the sweet, innocent Ardaline.

Daenlin comes across as ever-vigilant in his fatherly duties towards Buffy again here:

Daenlin wagged a finger. "No Tamika's for you tonight and get plenty of rest."

I also loved the gambler-talk near the end, especially this one:

"Well,I ain't bettin' on no damn elves. Here's twenty on Riveus."

Damn right, I say. Long live the Empire! Though I suspect this fellow's patriotism might make him worse off by tomorrow!

And then of course, we have the cameo of everyone's least favourite snob, Her Ignorance Lady Leyawiin. Two nice touches in particular here:

"I am led to believe that you forest elves are rather good at that sort of thing (archery)."

Well, as if the crude stereotype weren't enough, she can't even get the name right! It's Wood Elves or 'Bosmer', Your Haughtiness! Nice touch.

Alessia Caro had already turned her attention to her advisor as the group proceeded onto the bridge and toward the castle. "Now Hlidara, once my bath is prepared, I want you to ensure that Regulus has Surilie three ninety nine in his cellar; if not, I expect you to send someone out to that tent we saw on our way into the city to buy some. And for dinner, you may instruct the Count's staff that. . . ." Thankfully, distance faded her words as the group continued across the bridge.

Such demands! I think she and Gwen should face off to decide the title of Cyrodiil's most entitled resident!

Also some other things I liked:

If I treated her coolly tomorrow, I knew her child would emerge and she would be unable to beat Daenlin.

Stay away from the Dark Side, Buffy!

Schlera the fashion disaster of Pells Gate

Too true. The fur cuirass didn't look too bad with pants I suppose, but by the time she gets to Elven? Oh, my.

And we see why Nilawen puts up with Nordinor. There's a lot of extra business coming in for the betting.

No clues yet in the bets being placed, as Aradroth rightly points out. Given the close field, we need to watch for someone betting against a specific participant.

I was mildly surprised that Aradroth qualified. I'd half-expected him to do like Buffy and drop a point or two, to place eleventh so he could have more freedom at the time of the finals. I wasn't suprised at all by Honditar!

... tail draggers and tuskers - so perfectly Allesia Caro.

the tale will start with, "Did I tell you I shot in the archery tournament?"
and it will end with "but some fetcher used a drain marksman scroll on me!"

The remaining names included Parwen the busty goblin hunter, Aradroth my heroic assassin, Zerina the mage with a bow, and Schlera the fashion disaster of Pells Gate.
I just love how you not only give out the names of the finalists here, but also add a brief description. Not only are some of them very amusing, but they also help jog our memories as to who is who.

"Well,I ain't bettin' on no damn elves. Here's twenty on Riveus."
That must be the Count! I loved your description of the betting.While I understand odds, I have never been able to make sense of all the other weird things like win, place, show, etc... It seems people can never find enough ways to lose their money!

I see poor Buffy has now run face to face with the moral quandry of which friend to help in the finals. Does she support Alawen, and risk seeing her godfather fall? Or does she do whatever she can to see him win, and betray her new Bosmer sister? No matter which one of them wins, it seems she loses.

Of course one of the most poignant - and at the same time amusing - things about her predicament is the fact that she still has no intention of trying to win the tournament herself. It shows us a great deal about our Bosmer Bowgirl, that she places her friends above distinguishing herself.

And after all that jostling and groping, the scroll still on the loose, what could indeed go wrong? Countess Leyawiin! I was half expecting her to demand a bowl of green-only M&Ms as well!



nits:
I noted that Reveus
Looks like some dastardly thief stole the priceless "i" from Riveus' name and replaced it with a cheap old "e".

"Well,I ain't bettin' on no damn elves
That thief made off with the space after your comma as well.

Poor Buffy can hardly get through the crowds.
I enjoyed the active betting in The Fair Deal. That was delightful.
Buffy wouldn't betray her friendship would she? Daenlin would not be pleased if he knew what she was thinking.

Good Chapter!

ROFL !!! What a great chapter !!! I have to say, this was my fave line though:




Our wolfy friend Aradroth telling Buffy to have a "walkabout" was another perfect touch. Loved his quiet mastery, and Buffy obeys without question - even after her groping trip to his table she turns right back for another go-through, ROFL !!!! VERY Buffy moment !!

I have to agree with King Coin, Daenlin would not be pleased if he knew what she was thinking. Have to add this chapter to my faves, not just for Buffy's hilarious plotting sabotage on any of Daenlin's competition (while trying to ensure no one else "fixes" the competition - really funny plot Acadian, I love it !!!

Daenlin replied with a wink, "I'm sure by the time he gets home to Chorrol, the tale will start with, "Did I tell you I shot in the archery tournament?"

Oh, this is brilliant. I’m sure I’ve met my share of Honditars!!


Schlera the fashion disaster of Pells Gate.

How funny!


I was too small to shoulder my way among the gathered men outside Nilawen's shop, but as long as I didn't mind getting jostled, brushed against and even fondled a little, I was pretty good at worming my through crowds.

I guess a Buffy’s-eye view of the crowd would not be pleasant. Her nose would also be at uncomfortable level. Sir Mazoga would come in handy right now, but Buffy gets the job done herself without undue fussing. Then to get told to take a walk as her reward, argh!


The dark thoughts I harbored spawned waves of guilt and shame. Oh, why was everything so complicated?

Buffy’s turmoil tugs the heart, since it is all self-inflicted! But these are the lessons she has to live through to learn. I wonder if that is why Acadian has been so quiet? Her embarrassment at being reminded of the events in Kvatch shows her sense of responsibility, even as she can’t decide which misguided scheme to enact in Bravil. It’s a dark day in Buffy’s mind.


"Despite the laziness and poverty here, at least Count Terentius seems to have only a few tail draggers and tuskers littering his streets.

What a foul woman, indeed! And another bit of nastiness piled onto Buffy’s day. I hope the air clears for her soon.

I would place a wager on this, but I have a feeling any bet I place is going to end up wrong.

So...

1,000 Septims that a dragon DOESN'T show up at the tournament, with a side bet of 50 Septims that Count Terentius and Countess Caro both remain uneaten through such an event.

This way, I can't lose. If it occurs, I get my money, and an extra Drake based on the odds. If it does occur, I lose my money, but consider it well worth the investment.

Episode 107 saw the end of tournament qualifications. With the field of ten that will advance to the final day of competition set, Buffy's attention was drawn back to the missing scroll mystery. When she sought clues from the tournament betting, she was admonished by Aradroth that it was too early, and to come back later. Wandering to pass the time, she pondered the threat posed by Alawen to her master's title. She then had an encounter with Countess Alessia Caro that made her feel guilty for shooting in a tournament at all instead of slaying Daedra for Savlian Matius.

Rider- Thank you for liking the mixture of scenes in this episode. Yes, Buffy's quandary of who to support - she's thinking wrongly and waaay to much about it of course. She is so focused on what she perceives as loyalty to Daenlin that she doesn't pause to consider what he might want for her. Oh, it would be so fun to see Julian sort out that nasty Countess Leyawiin!

Ceidwad- Gosh, thank you for your detailed and delightful assessment! Living near Las Vegas, I was able to briefly fortify my meager gambling knowledge via some local consultation. Hee! Buffy just can't get her head around Schlera wearing a cuirass and a skirt; what good is shooting if you can't look good doing it?

ghastley- Thank you. That is a great thought about having Aradroth not quite qualify to help preserve his shadowy persona. Alas, Winter Wolf and I worked out the details long ago; hopefully, as long as he doesn't finish in the top few spots, it should not bring him much notice. We're gonna solve that pesky scroll mystery in this very next episode!

SubRosa- I'm so glad you enjoyed Buffy's three or four word summaries of each of the contestants to round them up while reminding us of what stuck out in Buffy's mind about each. Thanks also for enjoying our attempt at the betting banter. Thanks for the pair of nits so I could fix 'em. And finally, I so appreciate your focus on her misguided but well-intentioned moral quandary that will likely continue to cause her problems into the final competition.

King Coin- Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed Buffy worming her way among the crowd and the betting scene. You are so right in assessing how displeased Daenlin would be to realize some of what Buffy is thinking!

mALX- Yes! Buffy gets dismissed by Aradroth and obediently retraces her steps right back through the gauntlet. And you're right about how displeased Daenlin would be regarding her self-appointed sense of responsibility about who wins the tournament. For professing to not care about a 'silly tournament', Buffy the busybody seems quite intent on meddling and fussing over it a great deal!

Grits- Oh you are so right! Buffy would have loved a ride above the crowd on dear Mazoga's mighty shoulders! Thank you for highlighting the poignancy of Buffy's dilemma, even if it is self-inflicted. I suspect she will ask both Superian and Acadian for advice as her quandary deepens. Boy, that foul Countess can loose some zingers, can't she? The woman simply dribbles insult!

Captain Hammer- Lol. If 'dragon' includes the spirit of one, your bet could be in jeopardy! If only we could get Buffy to quit worrying and simply unfurl her wings on the firing line. . . . We don't have more planned really for Alessia in the tournament, but we'll get to see quite a bit of His Pompousness (Count Bravil) on the big day and at the awards presentation that follows.

Ceidwad- Heh. Thanks for reading!



I raised a mug of warm cider to my lips.

"I'm sorry we didn't have much of a proper fare for dinner this evening, Buffy." Delphine Jend lifted a napkin from her lap and dabbed at the corner of her mouth. "I think the rest of our mages are out doing some night shopping."

"Oh, I love bread and cheese. I could fill up on it every day," I said truthfully. "The town certainly is bursting with merchants. I spent some time wandering among their tents before dinner."

"It's refreshing to have some decent selection here, if only for a few days," said Delphine. "I love our guild chapter, but I must confess that I miss the big city." Her wistful look faded to be replaced by the more familiar aura of confidence that normally animated the woman who could destroy buildings with a wave of her hand. "Someday, I'm going to be a destruction instructor at the University. You mark my words."

I nodded. "You'd be wonderful at it, Delphine. And you could go shopping in the Market District whenever you wanted. I know everyone here would miss you terribly though."

The Breton smiled, then tilted her head to look at the bags under my chair. "So, what did you buy?"

"I found some trinkets that will make nice gifts and picked up a couple bottles of wine from the tent that Tamika's winery has set up. Oh, I don't think I told you, I noticed a merchant the other day that sells nothing but shoes. Well, I finally got back there this evening."

Delphine perked up as she repeated the word, "Shoes?"

Soon, my skirt was hiked up and I was parading around the dining room to show off the three pairs of silk slippers I had bought in as many colors. "What do you think?"

"Oh, they're adorable, Buffy. So much better than those disgusting animal skins that come up to your knees you so often wear." Her eyes sparkled. "Did you get a child's discount for those little feet?"

"No," I pouted. "Most of those merchants are much more clever with their septims than I, and you know that batting my eyes has never gotten me anywhere." After a sly giggle, I continued, "A couple days ago though, I saw this gorgeous black cuirass I just had to have. But by Mara, what a price tag!"

"And?" prompted Delphine with an arched eyebrow.

"Well, I must confess that I did employ one of Kud-Ei's tricks." I winked. "You know, the illusionist's discount."

"Kud-Ei's charm magic has always been too subtle for me to grasp," Delphine said, "but I must admit it seems so much more appropriate than my 'Merchants Explode' spell."

Ardaline's smiling face suddenly poked around the corner. "I'm back!" She then stepped fully into the dining room, displaying both arms full of treasures.

"Did you buy out all the merchants?" asked Delpine.

"Oh no," Ardaline replied. "I think that would take a week! Most of them have closed for the night however."

I gathered my own shopping and said, "Well, that's my cue. I wanted to see Nilawen after closing time. Have a wonderful evening, sisters."

There were indeed less people now as I made my way along the streets. Except for a few vendors selling beer, ale and mead, the shops and temporary merchant stands were closed for the night.

It seemed most of the wares that had been displayed during the day were now safely locked away in stout chests. Some of the higher end merchants had hired strong-looking armed men to guard their merchandise overnight. Less affluent vendors were hovering nearby the chests containing their own wares or, in some cases, seated on them enjoying a late meal. I noted extra city guards patrolling as well.

Approaching The Fair Deal, I stepped up onto the porch.

"A fine evening to you, Buffy."

I turned to see the smiling face of Caccian Apinia. With a bag in each hand, I gave the Imperial a brief hug. "How wonderful to see you, Caccian," I said. He was one of three Bravil guards that I called friend. "Can you hold these for me, please?"

After he accepted my treasures, I unlocked the general store's door with a spell.

"Business with your friend Nilawen tonight?" Caccian asked as he returned my bags.

"Yes," I replied, "the poor thing has just been so busy all day, I'm sure."

"Would you thank her for the sliced ham wrapped in bread that she brought out to me earlier?" After I nodded, the guard continued, "With Nordinor running official bets for the tournament, I'm sure there's a lot of gold inside Nilawen's store. Make sure you lock up as soon as you're inside. We don't want anyone breaking in." After a chuckle, he added, "Well, besides you of course."

"Thank you, I will."

As soon as I slipped inside the store, I set my shopping on a nearby table and slid the door's bolt home. Nilawen looked up from sweeping the floor, blew loose strands of hair from her face and said, "What a day!"

"Sit," I commanded as I took the broom from her and continued the task, "you look exhausted."

"The gold's been good," she said, letting herself collapse into a chair, "but honestly, I can't wait for this tournament to finish so things will slow down some."

"You should have hired some help," I said.

Nilawen freed her dark hair, gathered the strays and retied the ribbon behind her head. "I had Ursanne Loche helping me earlier today, and she'll be in again tomorrow. She's hard working, honest and has a good head for figures."

"That's a great idea, Nilawen," I replied. "You need the help during the tourney and I'm sure Ursanne appreciates the extra income."

"She's too good for that irresponsible gambling husband, Aleron," said Nilawen.

"Aleron?" Previously oblivious to my presence, Nordinor had lifted his nose from the journals, ledgers and scraps of parchment that covered the table in front of him. "Good guess, but he's not the culprit."

I looked at the shady bookmaker and said, "Aleron's horrible about gambling, but I don't believe he would betray Daenlin."

"You're right," replied Nordinor. "He was heavily betting his - or rather Ursanne's - coin purse all right, but putting it all on Daenlin. We ruled him out as a suspect in the scroll caper early on. Your friend Ardaline had me going for a moment when she placed a heavy bag of gold on my table and stated your name."

"Ardaline?" My eyes flew open wide, then narrowed in defense of my friend. "Why, she'd nev-"

"You're right again," interrupted Nordinor. "Her bet was for you to show."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"She'll make a small profit if you finish among the top three. Not much reward, but very little risk, given your skill. We call that a lady's bet, and I'm sure her intent was just to show support for a guild mate."

"I don't understand any of that. I just know Ardaline could never be involved in anything that would harm Daenlin or I." Heaving a sigh, I said, "Nordinor, I've had a long day and I'm starting to get cranky - so stop teasing me. Do you know who has the scroll or not?"

The Bosmer nodded. "I believe Reman Broder's our man."

"Reman?" I remembered the Imperial's harsh words to Daenlin. Cosmus had also told me that Reman was one those trying to buy the scroll from Kurdan.

Nordinor continued, "I have a pretty good idea what a wine man working for the Surile Brothers makes, and old Reman was betting like he owned the whole winery."

"On who?" I asked.

The Bosmer pointed a finger. "You. Remember what I told you? We figured our culprit would likely try to use that scroll to prevent Daenlin from winning. We were looking for someone to be betting heavily on the number two finalist.

Suddenly, it made perfect sense that Reman might want to discredit Daenlin while lining his own pocket. I leaned on the broom and scratched my head. "Are you sure?"

"Well, almost." Some of the certainty left Nordinor's face. "Aradroth should be back from having a quiet chat with Reman any moment now."

I leaned the broom against a wall and planted both hands on my hips. "I told you I don't want anyone to get hurt." I recalled the instant death Aradroth had delivered to the highwayman that tried to rob me. "A silly tournament is not worth what I know Aradroth to be capable of."

Nordinor held up one hand disarmingly. "Our dark friend accepted the challenge of your conditions. He -"

Three quiet and precisely cadenced knocks interrupted the Bosmer. Being closest to the door, I unlocked and opened it. Aradroth slipped into the store, his black cloak trailing behind him. I closed and relocked the door.

"Well?" I asked as both hands found their way back to my hips.

"Nordinor was right," said Aradroth as one hand slipped the black hood back to his shoulders, "and I found Reman quite cooperative. It seems I have that effect, especially when allied with darkness and surprise. The human seemed to find my offer of life quite generous in exchange for his scroll."

I closed my eyes for a moment. Thank you, Mara. I then looked into the steel of Aradroth's gray gaze. "It seems that once again I am indebted to you. What payment do you require for the scroll?"

"Do you know any frost magic?" he asked as one eyebrow climbed his forehead to hide under the unruly mop of brown hair.

"Very little, Aradroth." A flush of embarrassment warmed me and probably displayed itself above the neckline of my dress. I was quite poor at elemental destruction magic and not at all qualified to teach Aradroth about it. "My guild mate, Delphine Jend, is a superb instructor though. I would be happy to pay for her to -"

"Can you chill a bottle of ale?" interrupted the small elf.

"Well, sure." I tilted my head, confused. "Even I can do that."

"That is my price then."

I dug a coin from my purse and placed it on Nilawen's counter. She shrugged her shoulders, opened a bottle of ale and handed it to me. After a few moments with a blue glow in my hand, I presented the cold bottle to Aradroth.

Before accepting the ale, he reached inside his cloak and produced a scroll. "I inspected it before Reman and I concluded our business. It is the one you seek." As scroll and ale changed hands, the ghost of a smile played across Aradroth's thin lips. "I told you I wouldn't forget your kindness, Buffy." He lifted the ale briefly, as if in a toast, then took a long pull.

I stared at the dangerous elf for a long moment. "Nor will I forget yours, my heroic and dark friend."

"Well," said Nordinor cheerfully as he rubbed his hands together, "now that we have that nasty business behind us, let the tourney begin! What will you do with the scroll, Buffy? I'll bet Ungarion will pay quite the sweet septim for it."

"You'd lose that bet." I stepped behind Nilawen's counter and slipped the cursed roll of parchment into her fire.

Whew! So after over a year passes I finally find out what happened with that accursed scroll !!! I knew our wolfy friend was the stuff heroes are made from, dark assassin or not! WOO HOO!!! Aradroth to the rescue !! And another favorite chapter added to Buffy's list of Buffiest chapters !! Great Write !!!

What I'm reading here is putting a lot of pressures on our Buffy. She now knows that Aleron needs Daenlin to win, Ardaline needs her to show, and she wants Alawen to do well, too. That doesn't leave her many options for the result!

"... it seems so much more appropriate than my 'Merchants Explode' spell." is just priceless!

I just loved all the banter in this episode! From Delphine's 'Merchants Explode' spell (HAH!) to Caccian's remark about keeping everyone (but Buffy ) from breaking into Nilawen's overflowing shop, and Nordinor's teasing about who has that darned scroll, to Aradroth's dark flirting for a cold ale, it has been an absolutely delightful read.

And I'm with mALX - it's a relief to finally know, after a year, who bought that scroll! Its fate is so appropriate. Now no one can mess with the tourney outcome! Ooops, did I just jinx the shooting?

I was able to briefly fortify my meager gambling knowledge via some local consultation.
So you hired Danny Ocean?

I noticed a merchant the other day that sells nothing but shoes
The infamous shoe merchant strikes again! I loved the chit-chat between Buffy and the other girls about shopping. Hopefully no merchants were exploded! Not only does it reinforce her relationships within the guild, but it also shows us more of how the tournament is not simply about people shooting bows, but is an entire community event.

Lucky Caccian, I know quite a few people who would like to hold Buffy's treasures... Seriously though, her encounter with the guard again shows us more of her relationships with the people of Bravil. Not to mention that being friends with a city guardsman is helpful for breaking into stores!

And another mention of Aleron Loche, and his unfortunate wife Ursanne. Looks like someone's setting the stage for a certain Bravil quest?

"Her bet was for you to show."
Well of course Buffy is going to show up at the tournament. She would not skip it! Seriously, your consultations with Danny Ocean show in Nordinor's descriptions of the betting. Right down to a 'lady's bet'.

And the Mer in Black shows that a soft word and a knife held to someone's throat gets you more than just a soft word. Quite the gallant assassin he proves to be as well, when he asks for payment. Got to love a guy with style, and he shows it there.

Finally, Buffy ends it perfectly with how she handles the scroll.

Let the tournament begin!

So it was Reman! He was my first suspect but then I wasn't sure it was him because he seemed like the obvious choice. I'm so happy that the scroll business is done with help from Aradroth. Now we just have to work out whether Buffy will be a good friend to Alawen or not.

"Oh, I love bread and cheese. I could fill up on it every day," I said truthfully.

I hear a Nord trying to comment, but he can’t stop laughing.

Delphine is a riot in this episode! And Buffy, with her “Illusionist’s Discount”!!

Except for a few vendors selling beer, ale and mead, the shops and temporary merchant stands were closed for the night.

Just the essentials.

"Nordinor was right," said Aradroth as one hand slipped the black hood back to his shoulders, "and I found Reman quite cooperative. It seems I have that effect, especially when allied with darkness and surprise. The human seemed to find my offer of life quite generous in exchange for his scroll."

*shiver* It seems that Aradroth’s persuasion wheel only has one wedge! But then the whole exchange of scroll for ale was charming. In a terrifying, dark assassin way.

Yay, the scroll is dead! Bring on the inner turmoil!

Damn, I wanted to see the chaos that might be caused by the use of the scroll in the tourney! Ah well, at least the best mer will win now! (Unless Riveus wins, that is)

Aradroth certainly seems to be very generous to Buffy. Could it be that there is a soft spot lurking somewhere in that cold, dark heart which longs for a ditzy gal like her?

I'll accept "Dragon in Spirit" only if it's a fully certified Dragonborn (Dovahkiin!) carrying a letter with notarized signatures of the Greybeards saying that 1) This is a Dragonborn (Dovahkiin) with all attendant powers and duties, 2) He/She has killed at least one dragon and that dragon's soul has been taken by said Dovahkiin, and 3) Said Dovahkiin utilizes at least one recognizable Dragon-Shout (Thu'um Power) to demonstrate. That way we can guarantee that a literal dragon's spirit is present, instead of the more metaphorical kind. Metaphors do not satisfy the conditions of the bet.

Now, as for the scroll. I am honestly not surprised that it would be Reman that bought the scroll with the intent to use it on Daenlin, or even to use it on Buffy. It seems like the perfect way for a spurned lover to get revenge on the rival he has blamed for decades.

Oh well, glad the scroll's been destroyed. No telling what it could have done had it not been fed to the fire by our heroic . . . wait, did Buffy read the scroll herself to make sure of what it was that she torched?

*Cap goes back to check. She did not.*
So we have Aradoth's word that the scroll has been destroyed . . .

*Cap runs off into the Bravil night.*