Hey, I think this is it, folks. Not the last Kahreem story ever, but the last one dealing with the Thieves Guild quest. Chances are he will see what Thieves Den is all about, but it's weird to think his story has been going since (gulp) September of 2012!

I took a few more pictures than appear in this chapter, but I don't know where they all went.

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

Sun's Height 24, 3rd Era 434, 3:04 pm

Location: Outside Brina Cross Inn

Level: 14

Current Gold: 2552

Days Passed: 332
Days Jailed: 121
Bounty: 750

Items Stolen: 2054
Horses Stolen: 24
Assaults: 13
Murders: 1

Fame: 0
Infamy: 100 (with Cowl of Nocturnal on. 54 without).

Hours Slept: 4118
Hours Waited: 435

Playtime: 301:06:36




"You're the Grey Fox! You/re under arrest for... for... for all kinds of stuff! You're wanted dead or alive. I'm choosing dead!"

"Wait. You can see me?" Kahreem fiddles with the magical ring on his finger. "Damn thing doesn't work anymore. But hey, if you can see me, that must mean that I am actually not the Gray Fox. For the Gray Fox is nothing but a myth. A legend for three-hundred years. I think you want me, not some myth or legend."

The guard waits patiently for this lame explanation to be told. Because in his mind, the blurry man he'd seen stealing a horse isn't getting any sort of choice or trial. In his mind, the blurry horse-theif is apparently just guilty. "THEN PAY WITH YOUR BLOOD!"

No time for rest! As Kahreem gallops his new white horse away, he thinks back to the events of the last few hours, and how he'd come to be now known as the most notorious thief in all Cyrodiil.






Mid-afternoon, earlier that day
Soothing music greets 'Cicerus's' ears as he enters Castle Anvil's court area. With the groundwork now laid for his newest disguise, he approaches Lady Umbranox swiftly, and is glad he chose not to down that last bottle of wine before speaking to her. Cicerus feels confident, and this confidence grew over the past hour or so, especially after he passed by several Anvil guards. None of these guards came after him for horse-theft; his new disguise must be working.

"Go away!" the countess greets, after he makes his way into her echoing chamber.

"Go away? Well that's not very nice. My name's Cicerus, and I am Anvil's new Black Horse Courier crier, how do you do?"

"Make it quick."

"Ah, that's a little better. Good as it can possibly get, anyway. [AHEM] Well not only am I a BHC agent, but I'll also be handling all deliveries between Anvil and the Imperial City, as I am quite the traveler. Here, I've got something for you."

Countess Millona Umbranox initially looks at him with malice, but then softens, once she sees the ring the Gray Fox had sent. "This ring belonged to my husband!" she cries out. "He has been missing for over 10 years."

"Uh ... uh oh. Hey, I didn't have anything to do with that. I'm just the deliveryman."

"For some reason," Umbranox ignores, "his name and face escape me at the moment. How did you get it?" Slight suspicion in her voice. "Do you know his whereabouts? Why are you showing it to me?"

Cicerus the courier, a.k.a. Kahreem of Weet, suddenly puts two and two together, and thinks he's just made four. "I uh... like I said, I am only part of the new Anvil / Imperial City delivery service. And uh ... I also will be distributing the Black Horse Courier in these parts. Here, would you like a copy?"

He begins to hand her one, and is suddenly glad he hasn't got any Gray Fox editions left. Because he doesn't want her to read any of those, and then suddenly put two and two together herself. Not that it matters anyway. Clearly, she's not interested in reading any of the fokkinge news articles he'd penned a couple nights before up in Brina Cross Inn.

"My husband's wedding ring!" she says with sad glee. "I never thought to see it again. What I wouldn't give to see him once more."

"Hey, uh .. like I said, I had nothing to do--"

Just then, Millona Umbranox gets off her throne, and walks a few feet to Kahreem's left. Kahreem turns to look, and is surprised to see a man standing there beside them both. The man kneels down, kisses the ring Umbranox put upon her hand, and then ... the Gray Fox is right there.* Standing before them both in his silly grey mask.

"By the power of the Elder Scrolls name .... Emer Daerloth, I now renounce my past."

"You're the Gray Fox?" Umbranox cries. "I've been betrayed!"

"I am the Gray Fox, but you have not been betrayed. Because .... I am also Corvus, your long missing husband."

"Corvus! Why, I've waited ten years for you! Why did you hide from me?" she asks with emotion.

"Hey, you finally took off your mask!" Kahreem exclaims. "Uh ... I mean ..."

"Ten years ago I inherited this cowl from the former guildmaster of the Thieves Guild. I became the new guildmaster. But I also received its curse."

"Hey uh..... sir," Kahreem tries to interrupt, wondering if the place is about to get rushed by the entire city watch. "You might want to watch what you say around here. I mean....if you are who you say you are."

But they both ignore him. "'Whoever wears Nocturnal's Cowl shall have his name stricken from history.' Once I donned the cowl, no-one in all of Tamriel could recognize me. With the cowl on, I became the Gray Fox. Without it, I was a stranger, even to you."

"You mean you were unable to return?" the countess asks.

"I've stood next to you, and you didn't even know it. I've cried to you 'Here I am, it's me, Corvus!' and you didn't even know it. You just looked at me, confused."

"Ummmm...." Kahreem tries again. "Don't you two have any more uh.... private chambers to discuss all of this?"

"You have broken my heart for a second time," Umbranox plows on, speaking directly to her husband. "I cannot let the infamous mastermind criminal the Gray Fox become Count of Anvil." And then, her voice suddenly goes from cordially-understanding, to vicious. "If you try to announce yourself as Corvus I will instantly deny you! I will DENY you before the Emperor if I have to."

"Uh. Just .... you know there is no Emperor, right? Oh never mind. You two just keep ignoring me."

"I guessed you'd say these terrible things to me," Corvus the Gray Fox continues. "That is why I brought my friend along."

"Friend? Wait, do I know you?"

"From this moment forward," the Fox continues, "I renounce my life of crime forever. I am passing the Gray Cowl of the Thieves Guild to its new Guildmaster."

"Whoa ... hey .... hey....Guildmaster?"

"The Gray Cowl is now yours," the Fox announces directly to Kahreem.

"Sir, are you feeling alright? Because you see, I'm just a lowly courier," Kahreem gestures at his clothes. "You know, a Black Horse Courier."

"No. You are the new guildmaster of the Thieves Guild."

"I am? Well okay. If you say so," Kahreem says, winking at Milona and circling his finger around his ear. "Are you sure you don't need medical attention sir? Would you like a copy of the Black Horse Courier, by the way?"

"You will find that history has been altered tonight," the Fox continues. "Such is the power of Nocturnal's curse that lifting it can alter time itself."

"CAPITAL! Uh... I mean, that's interesting."

"If Emer Dareloth had not stolen Nocutnal's Cowl, the Thieves Guild would never have fallen on such hard times. Because of the curse, he was unable to operate in the normal world of business and society. He could only be the guild's figurehead. That has been undone," the Fox says with a smile, apparently completely unfazed by the fact that his voice has been carrying across the court all this time, with several guards in earshot. "If you go to the Imperial City, you will find that the Thieves Guild has a guild hall on the side of the ruins of Dareloth."

After saying all this, Corvus the Gray Fox hands Kahreem his infamous cowl, and also a key.

"Well hey sir," Kahreem says, winking. "If it makes you feel better, I suppose I can deliver these items for you, to these ruins of Dareloth, wherever the fokke they are. Uh, are you sure you wouldn't want some other guy, you know, one of your actual Thieves Guild members, to deliver these items instead?"

But the Gray Fox smiles. Says nothing, while Umbranox herself has a seat, back on her throne.

"Well okay then. I guess I can handle this new ... uh ... delivery assignment. Too bad I'm not getting paid to do so, sir. You know.... a little compensation for my trouble?" Kahreem asks with another wink, this one much more glaring.

"Shadow hide you."

Kahreem is now done with the Thieves Guild questline? No more meetings, no more tasks to complete? No more CAPITAL?


*sniff*


Well, I guess he has one more delivery to do...

Aww, I so enjoyed the TG in Oblivion - because at its heart it was a love story.

Of course, Kahreem puts his own fokkinge spin on it. . . .

I'm late to the party but better late than never...



Of all Kahreem's remarks this was the funniest one. I chuckled at Kahreem trying to interrupt the reunited romantic couple.

Nice job, Renee, and congratulations on finishing the questline. Do you plan more Kahreem stories?

It's hard to say. I think the answer is ultimately "yes, but probably not for awhile." For now though, here is a moment in Joan's game.

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

Turdas, high noon, Rain's Hand 18, 3rd Era 435

Play Time: 169:38:40
Days Passed: 235

Bounty: 0
Fame: 1
Infamy: 0



"Who goeth there?"

Joan of Arkay calls out to two figures below. She'd just emerged from the underground ruins of Malada, where she had spent roughly the past twenty-four hours exploring its hallways, chambers, and alcoves, until finally she discovered that Umbacano was right. The place had harbored an intricate Carved Panel, a priceless item, indeed. Umbacano the Altmer collector would be delighted. He would pay her handsomely.

But not yet. Joan hefts the magical mace from her belt. She had found this mace earlier, in one of Malada's many chests. She readies the next spell in her mind; one which will cause any charging undead beings to turn about from their attacks.

"I ask again: Who goeth there?"

No answer. And Joan is not happy about this. She is tired and hungry. Ready to ride her paint back to civilization, back to the Imperial Bridge Inn, located just a few hours away. Twenty-four hours, and she had not rested. Barely paused to eat. Even after she'd found the panel, she decided to continue onward, so she could plunder the entire place. And this decision had been worth it. A magical mace, which burdened its foes. A Base Ring of Feather, which she'd never use, and therefore would make a good, easy sale up in the city. A small assortment of useless jewelry, gems, soul gems and potions. Two Varla stones. And most of all, the elegant Caved Panel. Yes, her decision had been worth it, and now all she wants to do is ride her horse back home.

She stiffens her shoulders for the next few moments to come. Two figures can be seen standing below, only because of her magical life-detecting gauntlets. They stand on each side of Malada's entrance (or exit, as the case may be). Joan doesn't hear any sounds from the figures below. No creaks, no moaning. They cannot be undead, then.

She readies her magical mace, and finds the Gods have elicited one heck of a surprise.

"Well done," says a familiar voice. A Breton male. Where had Joan heard this particular voice before? "You have much to learn about this business, my friend. But you show definite promise."

Joan relaxes. "On the contrary, I feel my efforts have been quite rewarded. And might you be Umbacano's chummy cohort? Come to follow me across the glades and boughs?"

"But first, of course; you must hand over the carving," says the voice, ignoring her question.

"Well. That I shall answer in the definite negatory, Breton. The acts of a plunderer such as I take patience and trying to accomplish. Dedicatings you might learn yourself, one day, were it not for your ways of banditry, eh? One must never relegate one's efforts to those grasping fools you might call upon from the afterlife. Who calleth thee? Nocturnal, or some other such trickster? .. 'Tis no matter. My answer is no."

"Are you sure? I truly have no wish to harm you. It is the carving I want. Just business."

"No. Just trickery. Just banditry. Were it business on your mind, you'd offer up some sum of gold, which my castle steward in Battlehorn might gladly accept. But no, I have done the work. I shall see the glory of payment from Umbacano, himself."

"Hand it over," demands Claude Maric. Yes, it is certainly Claude, the man Joan had met some weeks before. "And some day we will both laugh about this over drinks at the Tiber Septim. I will give you one last chance."

Joan does not answer. Instead she rushes back into Malada, already knowing its many tricks, ready to navigate its many hallways, chambers, and alcoves. Two against one? Not with the current bashed-up state of her armor. No, better to let the inner inhabitants, the gigantic Ayleid cube-trap, and other such unknowables of Malada take care of these layabouts, instead.

Ha! Brilliant leading them back inside!

Clever to lure them back inside.

I think that two of them spawn quite far from the entrance to Malada because they're archers. As goes for Claude, he doesn't participate in the fight but runs away as soon as he sends his goons on your character, that is if I recall correctly.

I've been playing videogames on and off since 1981, and tabletop RPGs since 1984. So yeah, Bethesda can't get that one over me, without some sort of creative solution!

20200107 Gweden Brothel-MaevaBuxom, Valenwood Islands-A 3-hour Tour

The voyage from Stirk back to Anvil was uneventful. Everyone at Benirus Manor was eager to see us but I think the Ladies were more interested in trunks of loot we had brought with us. The rest of the day was spent distributing everyone’s share. Some of the more unique items, the Duneweller Dagger and the Coral Mace we packed away and the rest we trucked over to Morvayn’s Peacemakers to sell.

Curious as to how Maeva the Buxom was getting along we paid a visit to Whitmond Farm. Ignoring my ladies, Maeva the Buxom greets me happily.

"Ah, my savior. Back again for a visit are we? Now that Bjalfi's gone, looks like I'm available again. Back to the old dating game."

Mmmm, yes. I can see the change in the way she dresses.

My Ladies didn’t stay long but Maeva the Buxom convinced me to hang around a bit longer just to talk over old times
.
Late that night a thought occurred to me. Maeva the Buxom would be a nice fit at Gweden Farm. I haven’t been too active with recruiting girls to work at Gweden Farm Brothel and Tsarrina is probably exhausted from working the place on her own. When asked, Maeva the Buxom thought for a moment before replying, yes but only part time as she still has her farm to run.

Next morning when My Ladies; Kaleah, Pym, and Maeva the Cute Elf returned to fetch me we escorted Maeva the Buxom to Gweden Farm and introduced her to Tsarrina. Leaving Maeva the Buxom in Tsarrina’s capable hands My Ladies and I decided to take an afternoon swim in the Strid.

Passing through a small settlement named Tathra we noticed boat docks down by the river.

Remembering hearing of a ship bound for Southpoint we make our way down to the dock. With our trip to Stirk not being the relaxing holiday vacation we had hoped for, the thought of a nice quiet cruise was just what we needed.

Arriving at docks Olurion announces, “Take the “Voyage of a lifetime!”

We paid our fee and Olurion rowed us out to the ship Dragonseye where we met the captain, the crew, and the other passengers. One of the passengers, Boldur has an issue with something locked up in the storeroom next to his bunk. He can’t sleep it stinks so bad. I snatch a key that unlocks the door. It’s a sheep. It bolts past me through the door and is now loose, running up and down the gangway, and won’t go back into the storeroom.
Sad to say I had to kill the sheep to stop its hopped-up running around. Anyway Boldur is happy and offers to teach me the ‘Art of Seduction’.

“You, a master of seduction?” Kaleah laughs.

Leaning close Kaleah whispers in my ear, “Feayche, I can teach you everything he knows and more. Plus my lessons would be much more fun.”

Well, I took Boldur up on his offer and I’d have to say Kaleah was right on both counts.

Renee – SubRosa and Lopov are right – wise to lead them back into the dangers she just passed through and let the dungeon eat those cowards.

macole –Recruiting Maeva the Buxom into Gweden – likely a good fit. So it seems off to Valenwood just the other side of the Strid River.

@macole - You have a recruit! Great, only 14 more to go! That's assuming you have SI, otherwise it's only a dozen.

Before my game crashed couple of years ago I had recruited Dawn in Bruma, the Orc gal near Kvatch, and Rosentia's niece Virgilia. After patching the game back together I got involved with vampire hunting to the point where I neglected returning Rockshatter. Also I need to look into where I am with the Bear Riders.

Acadian – We boldly go were we’ve never gone before.

20200109 Valenwood Islands, Marooned
The Dragonseye set sail and for the rest of the day it was a delightful excursion. Later that night we‘re awakened when we were violently thrown from our bunks. The ship is listing badly to one side and soon we were knee deep in water. Something is terribly wrong.

Sammanul is shouting instructions to abandon ship. Hurriedly we grabbed what we could and head for the top deck.

Once outside the captain attacks us. Here we are in the middle of a storm, on a sinking ship, trying to get to a lifeboat, and the fool captain wants to fight over a dumb sheep. My Ladies quickly teach him some manners, permanently.

Jumping into the shark infested water wasn’t my idea of a night of fun. A chest fell overboard and sank to the bottom of the shallow sea. Diving straight down, we found it stuck in the sandy sea floor. One of the keys we snatched from the ship opened it. Inside we found a strange book about a Bosmer and Molag Bal titled Epic Fail.

It’s a race to the lifeboat. First one to the boat doesn't have to row
Apparently I misunderstood the rules and lost by a 3-1 vote. I’d like to meet the sailor who outfitted the lifeboat with only one set of oars.

I don’t know how we did it but the next morning we found ourselves marooned on a deserted Abecean island. Question is where’s Mary Ann and Ginger?

“No, no, no!” Kaleah admonishes me as Pym palms me on the forehead. “It’s, ‘How do we get back to Cyrodiil?’”

Five others also made it to the island; Vuldon gro-Murlock, Craelius Marcus, Baldur, Olurian, and Sammanul. We speak to each. Vuldon gro-Murlock and Craelius don’t have much to say. Craelius seems to be a little addled going on and on about how blue the water is.

Sammanul just wants to find food and water. It’s like he’s ok with the situation and wants to stay here awhile.

Baldur plans to chop down trees to build a raft so we can sail back to the mainland. This would take some time but working toward a goal would be a good thing.

Olurion wants to steal the ship he sees docked at an island nearby. He’s willing to kill any islanders that get in his way. That seems to be a bit over the top and very dangerous. Somebody might get seriously hurt.

I’m not sure which of the ideas would be best to pursue. It’s late and we’re exhausted, after a crab feast we’ll get some rest and explore the islands tomorrow. Then we’ll decide on a plan.

Ha! Mary Ann was one of the first female television role models I had as a child, much more than Ginger, surely. Back in the days when there were only 4 or 5 channels on TV.

What an idiot that captain is, or was. What quest line is this from? I know it's modded, but is this Gweden Brothel as well? In any event, that island looks really small. Maybe there aren't any enemies!

The mod is Valenwood Islands on the Nexus. So far I've found that it has a rather complex quest line with 3 or 4 faction options. What you do and say does make a difference.

Mary Ann was a sweetheart, Ginger was, um, I was too young.

macole, what fun! I'll be fun to watch your gang figure out their plan of action from the available choices.

20200112 Valenwood Islands, Archen and the Heart Coral

Waking early in the morning the Ladies and I began our exploration of the islands. Maybe afterwards we’ll have an idea on which plan to enact. The island we were marooned on didn’t offer any clue. There was a small cave at one end but a brief exploration led nowhere.

Crossing over to the next isle, we were approaching a small village when we were stopped by a Bosmer Hunter. At his insistence we followed him to the third island where we were introduced to Archen, his leader.

“Careful Feayche,” Kaleah urged. ”This one has been too long away from the forest. He follows all the tenets of the elder Boiche but his mind is clouded. He has forgotten the bond between ‘che and Fey.”

“What Bosmer hasn’t? Eons of Altmer, Dunmer, and Nord self-grandiose lies drown out the truth,” I fumed.

Maeva the Cute Elf warns against asking to join Archen’s tribe. There’s something about him that makes her uneasy.

Archen took exception when he learned we wanted to cut down trees to build rafts. The harming of the plant life on the islands is a criminal offense punishable by death. That included cutting trees to build a raft.

Just great, another faction to deal with. In our defense I argued that we hadn’t done anything yet. Besides, how were we to know since we had just arrived and not by choice to boot.

Archen relented somewhat and charged us with plucking the fronds of the Heart Coral to feed the trees. We need to return and speak with the other survivors about this.

The sun was setting when we arrived at the Dragonseye survivors’ camp so we bed down for the night. Thank the goddess, we didn’t see what went on later after we fell asleep.

In the morning we explain the situation to the group. Baldur wished us luck in finding the heart coral. Olurion wants us to kill the Bosmer and cut his heart out to use for something. Again with the necromancy.

When Sammanul, Vuldon gro-Murlock and Craelius couldn’t be found to get their opinions, my Ladies and I began exploring the coral reefs between the islands for the heart coral. Hours go by with no luck. Then seemingly from out of nowhere The Shrike shows up (how long had she been standing there laughing at us) and offers to show us where it is. We follow The Shrike to a location near the Boiche’s boat.

“Swim out there and you’ll find it,” she says. Leaving my Ladies with The Shrike I swim out to find the heart coral.

I found it but as soon as I harvested the fronds three sandbar sharks attacked.

Funny how she didn’t mention anything about sharks.

Turning back to shore, a tin key caught my eye. Find a key, pick it up, the rest of the day you’ll,,, drive yourself crazy wondering what it unlocks.

The Shrike was shocked (yeah, really?) that I was still alive when we told her that the ritual had been completed. Well now at least we have full permission the roam the three islands.

The island adventure continues! Don't let me get started on the silly Green Pact. Lol.

Sharks! Where are Hooper and Chief Brody when you need them!

Sure could have used them but I'd rather have their boat. I have no idea what I'm doing. Would say that the Jaws theme would have been perfect fight music for this part.

Also, I haven't fully got the hang of posting here. Somehow I lost a couple lines just before the last picture.

Well at least those islands aren't totally deserted. If there's a key, there's also shelter somewhere I think.

That pic with the skeletons while they're sleeping.... how did that happen?

the party returned to camp late one night and there they were standing staring out to sea. when the skeletons didn't attack everyone choose a sleeping bag and went to sleep. hasn't happened since.
This mod has 3 or 4 different paths you can take. one is siding with Olurion. I think he is a necromancer and the skeletons may have something to do with him.

20200120 A Dream

Returning to camp, the skeletons were quiet when we bed down for the night. The sand still warm after day in the sun was a comfort to our tired muscles. The scent of the ocean breeze and the rhythmic sound of the waves softly caressing the sandy shore lulled us quickly to sleep.
I dreamed of pack of goblins following a woman through Cracked Wood Cave. She led the goblins to a large room with a throne. Sitting herself on the throne the goblins danced an intricate haka while chanting "Tschoo ... Jayne gahlin ksharra!"

Most amazing.

A pleasant night dreaming of Jayne the Goblin Lady!

Yeah, I was reading Renee's story the other night. In one chapter she included a short YouTube video. Kind of neat I thought.

I should have said that;

As I sat down on my bedroll a dark spot appeared on the horizon. Growing larger by the second the black spot soon became a black horse and rider. Galloping across the sea faster than any corsair a courier streaked straight as an arrow toward me. One of the famous couriers of Tamriel had tracked me down to deliver back issues of the Black Horse Courier.
I complained about the late delivery. The burly courier demanded payment of overdue subscription fees. Rats, they had sent the 'Collector'. Nothing I could do but pay up.
I was in the middle of one feature article when I fell asleep.

Two Dollars!

20200122 Valenwood Islands, the grotto
Feeling good at our success we went to the Water Drake Tavern to celebrate. After several drinks we ask the publican about beds for the night. To our surprise he has none. The second floor sleeping room is being remodeled but due to lack of tourist it’s not needed.

Well, there has to be a story behind that. Another round of drinks and Gvarni the Sea-Drake and his wife Brundeba agree that it’s Archen who’s at fault.

Gvarni claimed Archen has set a magical barrier around the islands to keep strangers and tourists from overrunning the islands.

I’m getting the impression that sinking ships and killing the crews for their cargo is probably more like it.

Brundeba suggested that if we want information on Archen go search the coral reef around the islands.

We left the tavern to investigate what the reef as Brundeba’s advised. We spent the rest of the day and most of the night searching the coral reef. The sea floor around the reef is littered with the remains of sunken ships. Chests holding valuable treasures were scattered everywhere.

An unusual item was discovered in a small grotto on the outer rim of the reef. It was a large intricately engraved sapphire. Thinking that it would fetch a pretty penny back in the Imperial City we stuffed in the sack along with scores of other trinkets.

By the time we got back to camp we were feeling rather dejected over the late night search. It was after midnight, and other than the remains of several sunken ships and their treasure we found nothing that could be tied directly to Archen.

The bright sun woke us way too early. Still tired from searching the coral reef the night before, we awoke to find that someone new had arrived, Captain Volus Mesperides. His ship the Prosperous has been wrecked in the same manner as was the Dragonseye. He and some of his crew are hiding deep in the flooded cave safe from prying Bosmer Hunters.

Volus leads us to his hiding place in the small flooded cave. There he tells us he knows how the ships are being sunk. The Bosmers are using a Wrecking-Stone. As Captain Volus explained it is a Falaithrun Laidrul an Aldmeri device Aldmeri navigators used to control the weather in the shipping lanes. He knows where the device is and once I finish talking to the ‘loons’ he wants us to help him get it.

Yes, we need to find out more about this guy. Something doesn’t sit right about him. We make out excuses and leave the cave.

macole wow, whoever that mod author(s) is or are, they really put a lot of mystery into this situation your party is in. I mean, you're actually exploring underwater and whatnot!

Yeah I wouldn't trust that captain guy either. 30+ years of playing videogames (on and off, but mostly on) have given us some sort of sixth sense when it comes to NPCs like this guy

Good theory that the islands of paradise are really a trap for ships. Looking forward to how this develops.

Hmm, it seems your two above posts are duplicates of each other? Let me know if you'd like me to delete one of them.

Edit/Update: Post above deleted as requested.

Yes, please delete post #1177 dated Jan 22 2020, 09:56 PM. Thank you for spotting the error.

20200125 Valenwood Islands What’s going on

I originally did not find the Coral Grotto with the engraved sapphire. Instead by the time I found the Grotto the sapphire was gone (either Boldur or Olurion has it).

So at this point of the quest after talking to everyone, weighing all their comments, trying to analyze their motives; I decided to side with Boldur when he said he had a non-violent solution. Being a non-violent person (9 out of 10 times it’s the Ladies that start it) this sounded good to me so I went with it.

Boldur led me into the cave and once inside he told me to go one way while he went the other direction. Of course my path was a maze of tunnels and by the time I got to the Wrecking-Stone room Boldur had already arrived, killed Olurion and destroyed the stone. As the Headmaster of the Archeology Guild I would have liked to have had a chance to study artifact, say lobby (old joke).

We run into Sammanul near the exit of the cave. Sammanul is glad that Olurion is dead and the Wrecking-Stone destroyed. He can’t wait to get back to mainland.

Stepping outside a girl approaches wanting to know where her sheep is (remember the sheep on the ship?). When I told her I killed the skooma addled sheep she called me a monster and left.

The Shrike approached me with a nice little speech declaring her surrender. Her defeat has shown her the errors of her ways and to atone for her behavior she assured me that two ardent cannibals; Archen and Uldib have been taken care of. She then presented me with the key to the catamaran so now I can come and go as I please. That fine little ship will sleep five comfortably.

This ending seemed to be lacking something. Surely more could be done? So what’s it going to be skooma smugglers, pirates, necromancers, or cannibals?

Trying to do an end-around I backed up to the point where I can steal the sapphire first and proceed from there. That is what past few posts have been.

Here comes the problem. No one has anything to new say other than Archen. Archen’s ‘Join the Tribe’ dialog topic is the only topic open and the requirement for that is to kill all six of the pirates and original Dragonseye survivors.

Well ok if I have to I have to. After taking the quest to eliminate the pirates I find other than the 2 Prosperous survivors and Boldur (who’s swimming in the sea just off the big island) the rest of the Dragonseye survivors are nowhere to be found.

Using player.moveto I found them way out in the ocean. See the tiny little bumps on the horizon that’s the Valenwood Islands. They’re so far out to sea that it takes nearly nine minutes to run/waterwalk back to the islands. I think they’re trying to swim to Southpoint in Valenwood. If so I should tell them they’re heading toward Akavir.

Looking at this with TES4edit shows lots of interesting options. Might take a little while to straighten this one out.

My initial feelings when I was marooned on the islands was that I don’t like new land mods where you’re stuck there until you go through the main quest line. I am not a linear type player. This one has proven different though. It’s become a challenge in its self just getting through the many paths to get to a satisfactory story ending. I hope it works out in the end.

Good luck with the Valenwood mod. I tried it long ago for a time. It was beautiful but, ultimately I didn't get along with it or keep it. My biggest problem was that it did not play well (land melding near the borders) with the magnificent Deserts of Anequina mod.

If conflict with Deserts of Anequina show up sad to say this little island beauty will have to go. I've been through the eastern portion of Deserts of Anequina seeing no problem there, I'll have to check some more.

Second Seed 22, 3rd Era 435: Joan of Arkay arrived to Cheydinhal, then rented a room in its posher inn. But surprise. Herminia Cinna was found ... dead ... right on the bed Joanie had rented. This caused a mad search of Herminia's person. Joan, as a righteous sort, went ahead and looted Herminia's body and grabbed the poor lady's house key. Because Joan needs to know what happened, maybe the killer might be found, and chances are the guards won't do a damn thing to investigate. Joan also queried everyone in Cheydinhal Bridge Inn, then broadened her questioning to the town of Cheydinhal itself. As expected, nobody had any useful information.

After a few moments of reading on UESP (Joan asking questions in my imagination) it was learned that Herminia lives in the Imperial City. So odd. We can see how the lady's demise might have occurred somewhere out on the road, but how could this have happened in a posh, insulated inn?

Better news evolved though, as Joan also managed to find Fanacas, and plundered her fourth Ayleid statue from its ruins. Good thing she has the Water Breathing spell... she had to use it for one particular area.

How curious about poor Herminia. 'Grats to Joan on her fourth statue though.

Hmmm, curiouser and curiouser. Been a long time since I did this one. Anxious to see what happens next.

Herminia travels to Cheydinhal occasionally and stays at the inn.

It'd make "sense" if her corpse would be found on the road, because she's a traveling NPC, so some beast killed her, but inside an inn...?

20200130 Valenwood Islands, finding a reset button of sorts
Curiosity brought us back to the abandoned house next door to Uldib’s house. There we are drawn to a strange hourglass sitting on a chest of drawers. After reading the pages of scribblings found next to the hourglass I hesitate.

What could go wrong? Just about everything is my answer.

“There’s always a way out,” says Kaleah sensing my troubled mind.

Throwing caution to the wind I give the hourglass a shake. Like Alice I’m falling down the rabbit hole. Faster and faster the room swirls around me. When it stops I find myself standing on the mid-deck aboard the Dragonseye. The door opens and in walks Sammanul to announce we have arrived at Southpoint.

I’m reminded of another voice from a long time ago, “Wake up. We’re here, why are you shaking? Stand up, there you go. You were dreaming. We’ve arrived.”

“I must be dreaming,” I said shaking my head.

Abruptly Sammanul’s voice changes as he aggressively accuses me of invading his world. He attacks and we fight until he is knocked unconscious. Leaving Sammanul lying on the floor I explore the ship looking for a way out. The exits are all locked. Opening the door to the captain’s storeroom I’m half expecting to find a sheep instead there stands Emperor Uriel Septim.

Now I know for sure we’re dreaming. The Emperor has been dead for nearly two years.

Handing me the Hallucination Dagger the image of the emperor instructs me to stab him to end the dream.

I do and find myself back in the abandoned house. A bit woozy my Ladies gather around to steady me as Demis Sentu, an Imperial man approaches. Demis tells me his story of how he created this dream world to escape the islands after Archen put up the barrier preventing anyone from actually leaving the islands.

We talk to Demis about Archen. Demis gives us his notes to help deal with situations should they arise. As he hands us his notes Demis invites us to look him in Silvenar if we’re ever in the area after the barrier is taken down and we can all leave this place.

We’ll be sure to do that do. We take the notebook and leave the no longer abandoned house.

Sounds like that hourglass was full of moon sugar instead of sand!

Moonsugar, hadn't thought of that. A little sprinkle goes a long way.

Let's you fly the astral plane
Take trips around the bay
Brings you back the same day
Hopefully, hopefully.

The Sands of Time, perhaps? Good thing he didn't shake it too hard we might have ended up back in the Privateer's Hold or even worse the near impossible beginning Arena dungeon.

13th Floor Elevators. 1966.

Man, that's deep. He fell into a dreamworld to face the truth. Well at least he's getting off that island. I hope.

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

Second Seed Year 435 -- Joan of Arkay returns to the Imperial City, and grants Umbacano with the fourth Ayleid statue, earning her lots of Septims. Next she needs to scour the city, looking for a house with Hermania's name on it.

That's one more statue than Lothran had time to give Umbaccano!

Way to go Joan of Arkay! My current character has only found 3. He had better stop day dreaming on the tropical islands an get a move on!

20200202 Valenwood Islands, the wild path

Leaving the house of Demis Sentur we walk to the village center where we see Archen sitting in his usual spot. Well might as well go see what he has to say. Archen is all smiles today and is willing to talk about joining the tribe.

Sure we’d like to join the tribe.

“Sweet,” says Archen leering at My Ladies. “To be accepted you must kill all your companions.”

Zing, swords sang as four blades flashed in the sunlight.

With the point of my blade under Archen’s chin I suggested to Archen, “My Ladies don’t care for the initiation fee. I strongly suggest you should rethink your request.”

I’ll say one thing for the Archen his demeanor didn’t change one bit. Calmly Archen said, “As delightful a delicacies as these three may be, they are not whom I was talking about. “

“I was referring to the pirates, murderers, and especially the necromancer that arrived on the Dragonseye and the Prosperity. Kill all of them. What do you think?”

“He mistakes you for a Bosmer, my Jandaga. Consider wisely,” whispered Maeva the Cute Elf.

What do I think?

Everyone we talked to had concerns about the pirates. They’ve been described as murderers, thieves, necromancers, addicts, skooma smugglers and even by their own word prirates. Their actions motivated by evil intent. The worst things we heard about the Archen is that he is rather smug and heavy handed in his dealings with the South Sea Company. We’ve also heard that Archen and the rest of the Bosmer tribe on the islands follow the Green Pact.
Well the pirate Volus did argue that they eat people. Isn't that to be expected from followers of the Green Pact? I'm sure most Bosmers don’t relish the ritualistic eating experiencing or at least the Bosmers we’ve met don’t.
So is this just pirate bias talking? Not ever having been deep into the forest of Valenwood it’s hard to say anything for certain about the supposed ritual meal. I assume it to be a rare occurrence.

That’s what I think.

Accepting Archen’s offer we went looking for pirates.

Well, Pirate Hunting is definitely better than Lady Killing. And probably much easier.

See, that's interesting. Archen wanted Jandaga to destroy his party? I don't think so.

Yes, go and find those blasted pirates.

Hey, look at your last date macole... 20200202. Wow, it's like a paladrome. Palindrome.

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

Joan of Arkay arrived to the Imperial City, rented a room at Tiber Septim Hotel, and wasted no time looking for Hermania Cinna's house. She found it at a far edge of the Elven Gardens. But once inside, Joanie found nothing much in the discovery of why Cinna was found ... dead ... in Cheydinhal Bridge Inn.

Joan strode carefully through Cinna's home, leaving every object undisturbed. She also looked through every unlocked chest, dresser, and barrel, looking for any sort of clue. A note. An article of clothing which seemed out-of-place. Or any oddly-hidden objects. Maybe Hermania was a secret user of skooma, for instance. Maybe she had been secretly praying to Molag Bol.

There was just nothing though. So within a couple days Joan was headed back to Battlehorn Castle, riding on her armored horse. :wink: She left Hermania's key on a table formerly used by the poor woman.

---

Note: In non-roleplay terms, I was rather disappointed. No free beds! Can't even wait in her home. Not that Joan would squat there anyway, but still. I always like discovering free houses. This is one of those things I'll change once her game's on PC! I will make it so that Hermania's home can be rented or sold.

One of life in Tamriel's many mysteries. I actually like that Joan will probably never really know what happened to Herminia. Though I hear secretly praying to Molag Bal can be dangerous. . . .

Kaleah laughed that wicked laugh she cries when her prey is cornered.
"Ah hahahahahahaha! Tried to sneak one by, didn't you! Palindrome, indeed. Told you it was too easy."

Truly unintentional but I'll never convince her.

Ten years of playing this game and I have no idea what Hermania is about. Looking forward to the rest.

20200206 Valenwood Islands, The Wild Side cont
My ladies are not negotiable.

Hunting down the pirates was a fairly easy task. Most were found on the small island where they should be this time around. Olurion, Sammanul and Cralius Marcus were roaming around campsite while the two brothers Maius and Volus Mesperides were still holed up inside the flooded cave.

Boldur and Vuldon gro-Murlok were not on the small island. A search of the waters around the island we find Boldur swimming in the coral reef searching for wood and sunken treasure. Vuldon gro-Murlok was the most difficult one to find. Eventually we found him way out to sea trying to swim to the mainland.

Reporting back that the pirates have been taken care of, Archen accepts us into the tribe. Our reward is a house and keys to the catamaran. We can now leave the island if we wish.

It’s late, let’s go checkout the house first. There’s only one small bed. Guess who sleeps on the floor.

Next morning we stopped by to tell Archen good-bye before leaving for the mainland. Archen asks us if we wouldn’t mind doing something first. Move the Wrecking-Stone to a safe place.

The Archen wants us to take the Wrecking-Stone to the Scamp Guardian. We are to inform the scamp to move the Wrecking-Stone to a place of safety.

The Scamp Guardian tells me to go to the chamber behind him, find the Shrike's portal, enter it, and place the Wrecking-Stone on the Ayleid altar.

Have to say I expected more from the Shrike’s portal than a single tiny room. Has that old gal got no imagination?

After placing the Wrecking-Stone on the altar we explored the Ayleid ruin as any archeologist would do. Our curiosity peaked when we notice an Ayleid reliquary. Acting on our first impulse, large reliquary equals much treasure, we broke the reliquary open. All we find is a note addressed to Gildii.

Dear Gildii,
If you are reading this, please let me ensure you that this is for your own good. I can't let your greediness compromise the integrity and culture of the Boiche on the Abecean Isles. I've worked very hard to keep our culture intact. And so what if we have to keep wrecking ships? It's in your best interest to keep this under wraps. Oh, and just in case you betray me, upon reading this note, this ruin will be sealed forever. Now, say with me. Fortunado. Fortunado. Fortunado. Now, isn't that better?
Archen

It’s a trap! That’s when I notice a flier on the floor in front of the reliquary. Written in big bold letters it read;

‘WARNING DO NOT OPEN THE AYLEID CHEST’.

“Yep, did it again,” mumbled Kaleah.

(A pop-up message says, “You’ve become trapped in the ruin, until two centuries later when a woman called Lucy Mesperides finds your body in the chamber.” A forced reload of a previous save is required.)

A Possible Ending and Beginning

Pym begins drawing a series of glyphs on the dusty floor. I fall into a death like sleep.

Two hundred years later.

“Oh, you’re alive!” exclaimed the young woman. “I thought you were a, a, well I don’t know what I thought. A statue maybe?”

Still in a haze, “Who are you? “

“Lucy Mesperides, Archeology Guild associate sent to investigate new leads into the disappearance of guild’s greatest headmaster.”

“Lucy Mesperides, descendent of Volus Mesperides I presume? Where are my Ladies?”

“Yes, how would you know?” questioned a very confused Lucy Mesperides. “Ladies, what ladies? There’s nothing, er, no one here but you. I did find this but I don’t know what it means.”

The note read, “When Tamriel next calls look for us we will be there.”

I realize what had happened. Pym’s spell was meant only for me as they each had their own ways of escaping the trap. They had left knowing the curse place upon me “From your hands shall be done the deeds of Tamriel”. Leaving me to the hands of fate they await my return. A cold shiver went through my body.

“Pretty lady. You have found him.” With a bow I handed her a rose and said, “But I must leave you. The frozen north of Skyrim calls.”

That could be/should be/would be my intro to TESV if there weren’t more to do.

You have actual coral reef in your gameworld?

Ha! You get a free house, but you are also free to leave!

That house looks incredible. Too bad it's not fit for the party. Guess they can just sleep on that beach full of skeletons.

Uh oh. It's the old "read the note and now you're trapped" trick. Well I have the next Joanie update ready, but it'll have to wait until next time. Seeya!