AUTHOR NOTE: You have no idea how much I love writing Lissa's stories. it's been so long since I written about her in a literary form and my spark for writing her stories has for sure been reignited.
It's hard to believe that it's almost been SIX YEARS since I created Lissa, and she is and always has been my muse. She grew from a simple idea of a little Redguard with a big hammer, to what she is today; a globe trotting, time travelling, loudmouth.
I plan to write an update once a week. Preferably on Fridays (although this is early). All of your support has done me wonders, and I really hope this series goes on for a long time.
I'm enjoying writing Lissa in segments more than one long beginning-middle-end arc. So I hope you all enjoy!
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STORY ONE - LISSA
THE G.O.C and the Haunted House
Part One
When it comes to finding a new home it’s all about location, location, location… and for me the perfect location was my hometown, Anvil.
Now it wasn’t my intention to find a new home here, but when the opportunity arose, I couldn’t resist.
Jessie, Anyanka and I were in the Counts Arms which was, In my opinion, the finest Inn in Cyrodiil. We sat at a corner table, eating some lunch. The girls were chowing down on some boar ribs, whilst I was eating freshly made pumpkin and apple soup. It was superb.
“Did you hear about the old Benirus place?” I hear a patron, a Dunmer I knew as Arvena, mumble. “Apparently Velwyn is looking to sell.”
“He’ll never manage it.” The other converser, The inns owner, a Redguard called Wilbur, said. “Apparently it’s cursed-”
Before he could finish I piped in, shouting from across the room to the bar. “How much is he selling for?”
Arvena glared at me. ”Excuse me, this is a PRIVATE conversation.”
“I know. I was eavesdropping.” I stated. “So how much?”
The Dunmer sighed, rolling her eyes, “Are you looking to buy?”
“No… I’m just a keen know it all who must know the price of every house for sale. It’s a useless hobby. But it’s more fun than knitting” I replied sarcastically.
“Five thousand septims.” Arvena said. She folded her arms, “You do know about it’s history, I assume?”
“That it’s ‘apparently’ haunted by the ghosts of the Benirus ancestry? Yeah I know.” I said. I’d been inside the manor once when I was younger, on an expedition to uncover Rhano’s mother’s precious dagger. There was nothing in there but dust and the overwhelming stench of rat droppings.
“Lissa, why would you want to buy a house?” Anyanka asked me.
“Duh. Isn't it obvious?” I said, chuckling.
An awkward pause.
“No.” Anyanka said.
“Well we need a base of operations. If we are going to start up the G.O.C.”
The G.O.C, or Girls of Cyrodiil, was a new guild I was hoping to start up with Jessie and Anyanka. We would be, somewhat, private detectives. Solving mysteries and eradication problems all over Cyrodiil; for a price of course. With Anyanka's smarts, Jessie's intuition and my general awesomeness, I had a feeling the G.O.C would be a HUGE success.
“You were serious about the G.O.C idea?” Anyanka said, immediately killing my buzz.
I flared my nostrils in protest. “Well duh. Of course I was.”
I spot Anyanka roll her eyes.
“Heyheyheyhey don’t roll them eyes at me, Miss Lythandas. Tell me why the G.O.C isn’t a good idea?” I ask.
“Because we already have the fighters guild. They do missions like you’re thinking all over TAMRIEL. Who is going to want a couple of girls with little to no experience.”
“It’s no like you to sell yourself short like that, Anyanka.” I said.
“I’m not. I know my strengths, and my abilities, and I know THIS is not going to work.”
“Well then a big thumbs down for you.” I said, providing an action with the phrase. I turned to Jessie. “What do you think?”
Jessie smiled with an eager nod, “Of course! You know me. Always happy to do the right thing.”
I narrow my eyes at Anyanka smugly, “See… JESSIE is, what we call, a TEAM PLAYER.”
Anyanka folded her arms. “Jessie is easily manipulated.”
“Hey…” Jessie said, minorly insulted.
“Unfortunately I am speaking the truth. You would jump of a cliff if somebody asked you politely.”
"Well... you... are MEAN. So there."
"Ouch. If only your words were as sharp as your desire is to please." Anyanka responded.
Jessie remained silent. Although Anyanka’s point was a little extreme, she was right. Jessie
was always too eager to please.
“Cant you just think about it?” I say to Anyanka. “I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? We become rich? Famous? Save the WORLD?”
Before Anyanka could raise a thought another patron entered the bar. Wilbur greeted him instantly, “VELWYN! What can I get for you?”
Velwyn? NOWS MY CHANCE! I attempted to hastily get off my chair, but in all the excitement I ended up falling off and dragging the chair with me.
“Well that was graceful.” Rihanae said.
Why do you only every speak when I do something stupid?I quickly stood up, brushed myself off, and walked toward Velwyn. He was smiling at me.
“That was quite the recovery.” He says.
I bite my cheek and shrug, “Yeah, well, it’s not the worst place I’ve fallen.”
Velwyn laughed, “Cam I buy you a drink.”
“No.” I said. “But you can sell me your house?”
Velwyn spluttered his drink. “Excuse me?”
I flinched, then wiped some excess spit off my face. “Your manor. Can you sell it to me?”
He seemed almost relieved, the kind of relief someone would have when told they’d survived some fatal disease. “My house? Benirus manor?”
I got all cute. “Unless you've got another house you’re selling.”
“No I don’t, but…”
“If moneys an abject, it isn’t. Just found out I got a 10,000 septim inheritance from my dad. I can have the cash quicker than I fell of that chair just now-”
“It’s YOURS! It’s yours. Let me just run up to my room and get the deed.” He said. Her then hugs me and let out a laugh of pure delight. “Thank you… THANK YOU!”
I pushed him off me. “You’re welcome.”
“I’ll be back.” He said.
“Then I’ll just run and get the money.” I replied.
As Velwyn ran up the stairs I headed back toward the girls.
“Phase one of G.O.C begins. The manor is ours?”
Jessie looked in the direction Velwyn had ran, “Is he okay? He seems a bit…”
“Suspicious.” Anyanka interjected.
“I was going to say delightful.”
“He sold it to you THAT fast? With no hesitation or queries?” Anyanka said.
I shrug, “I dunno. Maybe he just really needed my money.” I then smiled. “All I know is once I get that deed the house is OURS. The we can start to build our business.”
“OUR business?” Anyanka said.
“Are you seriously not going to help us? What’s the worst that could happen even trying?” Jessie said.
Anyanka looked at her, then me, then back at Jessie before sighing. “Fine. But only if you can PROVE to me that this won’t be a waste of my time.”
I smiled with glee, “I promise. We will make this work. Now we’ve just gotta get our hands on that mansion. Then we put the plan into action!"
