Neat that she joined the Imperial Cult, Haryon (my Nerevarine) was also their member. A lot of memories came back as you mentioned that there are tasks waiting for her in Ebonheart. It's an interesting questline, harm-warming at times.

I think SubRosa has the right of it - the Legion's loss and the Imperial Cult's gain.

Rosa & Paladin Acadian: Mmm hmm that is true about the Legion, they sure are stingy about letting us join. I mean, don't get me wrong, I am always up for a road trip. I love traveling in all these Elder Scrolls games on foot. But Joan is sort of irked.

Lopov: I am looking forward to Imperial Cult quests. Sir Galarad (one of my Xbox characters) did a few Cult quests but Galarad wasn't really a devotee of The Nine like Joan is. He was more of a knight than a Lawful Goodie Paladin. But Joan of Arkay? Joan will have lots to do.

Rosa: That follower mod can break the game if one isn't careful! Army of Light ... I LOVE that!

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

25 Last Seed (Day 10)

Location: Balmora




Last Seed 25 is a busy day for Joan, who suddenly has many options. Options to join many factions here in town, that is.

"Dee prey... approaches...."

An Argonian named Hul greets Joan with his harshened voice. All Argonians have raspy voices, but his is particularly chalk-like. It's as though he once lived Bravil, and spent too much time in front of a hookah pipe in some skooma den. Hul tells Joan all about the town's guilds and services. She can try joining one of the guilds, or Balmora's Temple. She can even try joining House Hlaalu, one of Morrowind's Great Houses, if she wants to. Hlaalu is more open to outlanders (like Joan) than the province's other Great Houses, he explains.

... She does not join Hlaalu, but she does join the Fighters Guild and Mages Guild, attaining the rank of Associate in each guild. Due to the training she received during her upbringing, she meets requirements for both. She immediately picks up a quest to kill some cave rats, which have infested the home of Drarayne Thelas, one of Balmora's residents.

Cave ... Rats?

Joan is unsure if she'll do any questing for the Mages Guild, since her past magical training had not been as extensive. But using their facilities to buy potions, scrolls, items, and spell-making could prove invaluable as she delved further into the mainland Vvardenfell's inner portions. Especially nearer to its Red Volcano, which is rumored to be much more dangerous than the places Joan has been so far.

She feels more comfortable around fighters, so here with the Fighters Guild is where she decides to stay in town.

Joan spends several hours getting to know her new guildmates. Before long, it is late in the evening, and she must rest. Tomorrow, she'll see about delivering the package given to her back in Seyda Neen. The package which is supposed to go to a man named Caius.

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

Talking to Silt Strider Captain

De Prey approaches. For a moment I thought Joan was fighting bandits again.

Joan is guilding up. Rats? Why is it always rats?

Package, Caius? What was that? Oh nevermind, there is plenty of shiny stuff to catch my eyes right now. How about those rats?

You are getting me in the mood to fire up my last save of January in Morrowblivion again.

My advice to Joan would be that she should buy some shirt and bring it to Caius along with the package.

’She immediately picks up a quest to kill some cave rats,’
- - I chuckled with the same observation that SubRosa made. What is it about the FG and rats?

That Joan is more comfortable with the FG than the MG makes sense and seems to suit Joan. Buffy feels exactly the same but in reverse; though she may belong to the FG, she feels at home in the MG.

Cave rats, that's the one with the Pillow Lady isn't it? Balmorans will do anything the defend the purity of their pillows.

It's because no other guild will take on a job to clear the rats. And they do need clearing, I think we all agree on that.

But they got the cutest little pink noses.

Seems appropriate. Please let us know what she gets into if you do.



Ha, funny you should mention the shirt. Joan's already been flummoxed by that as we'll see.


Yes, yes, this is true. Buffy is definitely much more comfortable around mages. Has she ever been to Vvardenfell?

Sometimes I feel bad that you keep up with Vicious, Acadian. Because I know Fallout and the pseudo-urban theme in Miss Vicious's tale are not your first choice of reading material. You like Medieval Fantasy! So at least you might be getting more of a MF story fix here with Joanie.



YES, that's right! She's got dozens of pillows in her tiny home. Heck, I may have even forgotten to mention this.

[quote name='Lena Wolf' post='339072' date='Sep 27 2021, 08:08 AM']
It's because no other guild will take on a job to clear the rats. And they do need clearing, I think we all agree on that.
[/quote[

I imagine the Mages Guild might burn up all of that lady's pillows with their spells as they try to aim for rats!

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

26 Last Seed (Day 11), 3rd Era Year 427

Location: Balmora

Joan spends the morning killing ... rats. Rat killing is Joan of Cheydinhal's first official duty as an Associate of the Fighters Guild. She's become the town's exterminator, apparently. Though such a task might appear to be beneath someone who has just joined one of the most prestigious guilds in Tamriel, this is the very first contract of her career, as an aspiring Knight of Holiness.

Many might complain about this, but not Joan. Whatever and whoever she might become in this strange land full of mushroom trees and gigantic flying creatures which resemble jellyfish, she merely accepts the contract. "We must all commence upon lowly turf from the onset," says she, as she makes her way toward the home of Drarayne Thelas.

Joan enters Drarayne's home and has a chat about the lady's problem: Rats! ... Rats have taken over her bedroom, and her storeroom! Drarayne complains about them nervously, fearing for her life, yet Joan stands vigilant. She enters the Dunmer's bedroom first, deals with the pests in there, then goes upstairs to take care of the ones which have invaded the storage area.

The rats are surprisingly tough! Joan must leave Drarayne's abode once just to heal up, the furry plague she's dealing with are quite vicious. But within an hour, the infestation has been eradicated. Miss Thelas is now free to clean and care for her massive collection of pillows, and Joan can now collect her first legitimate income outside of Cyrodiil.

After this, she begins her quest to find Caius Cosades.

She had been told to head to Balmora's South Wall Cornerclub, located on the east side of town. So she does so, and asks the first person she meets about this fellow named Cosades.

"That old sugar tooth?" asks Sortilde, a Nord lady who seems as though she might dabble in the sugar herself. "I'm not sure where he's living now. But ask Bacola Closetus, the owner... he'll know."

So Joan spends a few minutes looking for this Bacola fellow. Eventually, she finds him upstairs. "Old Caius rents a little bed-and-a-basket just up the hill on the north edge of town," Bacola says. "Go out the front door -- NOT the upper door to the terrace -- then right up the stairs, then left at the top of the stairs, and down to the end of the street." *

Joan wonders if she should be writing this down. Though she is unclear exactly which direction she should start heading for this 'bed-and-basket', she finally finds the hovel owned by Caius, which is all the way up the north side of the avenue. She knocks on the man's door, before walking right in.





"You want something friend?" he asks with his Colovian accent. Caius Cosades stands before Joan ... shirtless. Here's a man who seems to care little for modesty, especially considering the fact that Joan is an exact stranger. Then again, it was she who had just barged into his home.

"You are Caius Cosades? I am Joan of Cheydinhal. I was told to find you."

"Whaaat? Yes I'm Caius Cosades. But, what do you mean, you were 'told to find me?'" he asks, exasperated. "What are you talking about?"

Joan takes a moment to light the candle she had bought across town, for it is rather dim inside of the man's one-room home. "I have this .. erm.. package for you, sir. Was received by my person from a soldier within the quaint village of Seyda Neen, one week and one half ago."

"So. You say your name is Joan of Cheydinhal?" he seems to challenge. "And you've been told to report to me and deliver a package. Perhaps you'll let me look at it?"

"By all means," Joan said, gladly handing it over.

"Yes, very interesting," says Caius as he examines its contents. Which appear to be a series of pages. He reads a couple of these pages. "So. It says here the Emperor wants me to make you a Novice in the Blades."

Joan's jaw drops involuntarily. "A novi--- I--- But I..."

"And that means you'll be following my orders." Cauis's tongue is rough, but his manner of speaking is sharp. Very direct. Which seems rather out-of-place for someone who has no qualms about standing before a stranger, a female stranger, shoeless and half-naked. "Are you ready to follow my orders, Joan of Arkay?"

... And he hasn't taken the time to don a top!

This is what catches Joan off-guard the most. The man before her is odd, boasting a mixture of stern command and reposed nonchalance. Does any of this have anywhich to do with my choice of coming to Morrowind to exact within holy works? Joan wonders. "Ehm... but what are these orders?"

"Good. Welcome to the service," Caius says. "Novice, Joan of Cyrodiil. Now you belong to the Blades."

"I ... belong to the Blades?"

Though she does not say so, Joan's immediate reaction to the unabashed man before her is that he does not seem so grand. He does not seem to come from any position of power. Yet he claims to be a Blade? If so, this means he has to have attained some sort of rank. For Caius was known to the final Imperial guard who'd inducted her into Vvardenfell, back in Seyda Neen. It was not like this guard had told Joan to seek someone else. No, that guard specifically sent her here.

"We're the Emperor's eyes and ears in the provinces," he informs her, before making one of the most ridiculous offers a man can make to a virtual female stranger. "You can use my bed if you need to rest, but leave my personal belongings alone, unless I say otherwise."

Joan is taken aback, and actually hopes she's not blushing. "Not of any concern, sir. But ehm... your bed is your bed. I do have my own to lie upon by now, as across town, and within the Fighters Guild's lower confines do I currently rest mine head."

Caius nods, then continues. "If you like, you can improve your modest skills with our trainers. Or if you're in a hurry, I can give you orders right away."

"Orders?" Was this man sure he wanted her? "Well. What sort of orders have you in mind?"

Right then and there, Caius Cosades tells her she is 'new', and gives her 200 drakes. Two-hundred. "Go get yourself a decent weapon. Or spell..." Caius also informs Joan that she'll need some sort of 'cover identity', immediately making her a little nervous. But it's nothing to get nervous about. He suggests that she should join one of the town's guilds, Imperial Cult, or Imperial Legion. Joan nods dutifully, not bothering to tell him she's already part of a couple of those on his list.

But... a cover identity, hmm? The man seems to imply that perhaps it'd not be wise for her to go around telling people she is one with the Blades.

Finally, he gives her her first Bladely order. She is to talk to Hasphat Antabolis of the Fighters Guild. She should ask him what he knows about the Nerevarine secret cult, as well as the Sixth House secret cult. Information, and lots of it for Joan the new Blade. So this time, she makes sure to write all of this down in her travel journal. "You'll have to do Hasphalt a favor first," Caius says. "Probably an ugly favor."

"Oh my..."

"But do it. Then get the information from him and report back to me."

Joan is unsure whether she'll do so, unsure if the Imperial before her is really a Blade, and unsure if she'll even speak to Hasphalt Antabolis about any of this. It's all happening so fast. Too fast, perhaps. For the first time since coming to Vvarndenfell, she feels a little sad, finally missing home. Her sadness compels her to leave. She prepares to do so, packing away her journal, her quill, she blows out her candle.

As she takes one last look around the home of Caius Cosades, Joan spots a pile of moon sugar on the nearby nightstand. A skooma pipe lies under his bed.


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

Joan lights her candle

Caius Cosades

A moment with the Aedra

Joan of Cheydinhal, now a member of the Blades

====================

Notes: * Note the directions given by the Cornerclub owner to Joan. For those who haven't played Morrowind yet, THIS is what it's like to follow quests in a game without Quest Markers!

I also wish I had gotten a pic or two of the rat extermination process. Sometimes I get too caught up in the moment when action occurs, and I forget about PrintScreen.

Town rat catcher to Knight of Holiness. We all have to start somewhere...

I love the 'bed-and-basket' description.

It is interesting how the Blades are a throughline through the ES games. The Agent of Daggerfall was a Blade, you are one in Morrowind. You become one in Oblivion, and in Skyrim. I cannot remember if you were in the Blades in Arena.

Well Joan is now on a secret mission to find out what this Hat Fat guy knows.

"We must all commence upon lowly turf from the onset," says she,'
- - Well spoken, Joan. Humility better suits a holy knight than hubris.

Given Joan's attitudes, I'd be concerned about whatever 'ugly' favor Asphalt might ask of her as his price for info.

Lena has never been to Daggerfall or Morrowind, but neither in Cyrodiil or Skyrim did she choose to join the Blades. They might try, but if she wanted to be surrounded by people who think themselves infinitely better than she, she could have just stayed in Mankar's Paradise. Of course there was no avoiding helping the Blades... and she didn't have to expect any gratitude, that much was clear... Now Joan's experience with the Blades just seconds Lena's as well as that of the other guy from Lena's world who's been to Morrowind but didn't get very far - Sarek or something... But it was when Lena was just born, so doesn't count.

Cosades, a glance at the nightstand tells all one needs to know about how a once a highly respected Blade officer found himself assigned to the island of Vvardenfell.

I never thought of the Character as being a member of the Blades. Not even when he joined the Blades, which usually he didn’t. The Character was always thought of as someone independent, someone so shrouded in the myst and shadows that the Blades don’t even know who he is.

*under construction*

Working with Renee, we've moved Joan's saga from the Morrowind Mischiefs thread in the Older Games forum to its own fanfic thread here.

Congratulations on getting your own fanfic thread, Renee! Looking forward to more adventures of Joan of Arkay!!

Lol Cosades never knew how right he was about the favor being “ugly”. It’s probably one of the most god awful tasks in the game! Bethesda knew what they were doing.

It is great to see Joanie come adventuring in the Fan Fic forum. I hope you will bring your other character's tales over here as well.

I really enjoyed the first official FF-story, it made me laugh more than just once. The whole scene with shirtless Caius giving firm orders to surprised Joan, even allowing her to use his bed, and mentioning "ugly" favor that she'll need to perform, was just hilarious!

I really like the pic with the lit-on candle.

Things might have been happening too fast but I do hope that she'll follow Caius' orders.

Yah I decided to move Joan of Arkay's tale here, just because her story was supposed to be simple updates (my character is in X doing X) like I've been writing in Oblivion > General lately. But Joan's tales started with some imagination and fiction right from the getgo.

Have some cake, everyone. Maybe if everybody's munching I won't feel so nervous.

And thank you Acadian for moving all these tales here. Now that the Morrowind Mischiefs thread is bare, maybe I'll start posting my other two characters in MM. Their tales equate to simple updates, you see. My character is in X doing X. At least that's what I tell myself.



Hey, I never thought of it this way! That's right. We are part of the Blades, or assist them, in every game so far except Arena. Assuming your character does the Main Quest, of course. I don't remember what their role is in Arena, but there are Blades in that game, too.




Yea, I love when she said that "We must commence upon lowly turf from the onset."

The favor has already been done, since my gaming is several weeks ahead of my storytelling. The favor isn't so bad. But it is quite a good Bethesda trick.




Ha, so you're saying Caius was once in a higher position, eh? Wow. Wonder what he did to get demoted. (Uh, don't answer if there's spoilers!)

I know what you mean about a character joining some guild or faction but not feeling entirely a part of it. In fact this is how Joan feels now.



Thank you Lena! In fact you encouraged me a month or so back, when we were messaging. Miss Rosa also took a shot, and so did Acadian.


It's not really THAT bad, but it IS one heck of a trick. Some Bethesda devs definitely got their fill of nerdgasms laughing at all of us trying to figure it out.

We looked all over the place for that damn ... item. It's so easy to find, too.


Well I will be writing Laprima Donaugh's tale here, too. That'll be a Skyrim story.

Laprima will be interesting for me to game with because she's a noble. She's lived a posh life, and so she's not so combat-oriented because she's used to being surrounded by guards all her life. But over time, she'll be forced to learn how to fight, and defend herself. She basically comes to Skyrim to give her hand in marriage, and Queen Elisif is her aunt.

Stay tuned. <_<



Thanks Doctor Lopov. I knew you in particular would like that one, since you have fond memories of this game.

She is going to follow Caius Cosades's orders because she thinks she's being guided to do so.

Ciao.

This chapter's not so exciting, so you all don't have to comment much if you lack words. Next week is where things start getting more interesting.


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

29 Last Seed (Day 14)

Location: Balmora



Last Seed 29 is a day of tethering lines, throwing lures out into the pond, to see if anything snatches them up. Joan busies herself all over town. By the day's end, she has several directions to go.

Eydis Fire-Eye, the Fighters Guild's Guardian and leader, wants Joan to head south toward an eggmine. There, she is to find a couple of egg-poachers, and kill them. Joan accepts the contract, but disagrees silently about the killing part. She wonders if she can -instead- find these poachers, and then discuss their wrongdoings in a peaceful manner. Maybe she can convince them to see the errors of their ways.

"From where do you hail?"

Joan then heads to the Mages Guild. Here she buys a Frostbite spell, which will become more practical against any enemies who are also dark elves. She already has a fire-based spell in her book, but dark elves are resistant to fire. Frostbite costs 60 drakes, leaving her with enough to buy a second spell. Frostbite is also a touch spell, meaning that she'll need to directly contact any enemy she needs to affect. Since there will be times she's going to also try avoiding such direct contact, Joan elicits the help of Estirdalin, the guild's spell-maker, to create a targeted version of her new spell. This new targeted spell costs just 42 gold. It takes a few hours for the elf to create it, and Joan to learn.

It may seem contradictory, an aspiring Knight of Holiness buying up Destruction spells. But here is where her past training lies. Here is where she must continue her magical horizons, if she is to succeed at whatever career she's got forthcoming. To succeed, she must first survive. She puts her faith in The Nine, but those aedra in the sky aren't always able to lend their assistance to mortals. Especially in an immediate sense.

"Adventure lies beyond the cities, friend."

Joan of Cheydinhal is not as good with Destruction spells as she is with Restoration, she knows this. Ultimately she hopes it is Restoration which will become the more developed of these two magical schools, with Mysticism supplementing on occasion.

"I thought I heard something."

By now it is mid-afternoon. Joan has a meal of bread and hackle-lo leaf before heading to the Fighters Guild. Finally, she finds and speaks to Hasphat Antabolis.

"Yes?" asks Hasphat, an Imperial wearing ordinary town clothes. His voice is cultured, his attire is clean.

"I am Joan, of Cheydinhal. I have been tasked with conversing you on the matter of..." she stops, suddenly unsure of what to say. "Ehm, Caius sent me."

"Good day, Joan," Hasphat answers. "So you're with Caius, eh? And Caius wants information? ... Of course, there is a this-and-that involved."

"A 'this-and-that'?"

"I require a favor first," he says, "and then I'll tell you what you want to know."

Joan fidgets a little. Caius had told her this 'favor' might be unpleasant. "Go on."

"There are Dwemer ruins nearby called Arkngthand," he says. "I need you to run over there and find me a little cube with a circular design and some symbols on one side. It's called a Dwemer puzzle box. Bring me back the Dwemer puzzle box and I'll tell you what you want to know."

Joan relaxes. Well this does not have the aura of things vulgar, nor the aura of menace. "You wish for me to locate this box," she says. "And where might these ruins be found?"

...At least he did not ask her anything too punishing. She was thinking she'd have to infiltrate a coven, or perhaps impersonate a spriggan to scare off some unsophisticated villagers!

... But it is nothing so horrid, or so she thinks. She agrees to head off to Arkngthand. She learns the place is located just up the hill from Fort Moonmoth, Not too far of a walk, and not too dangerous either.

By now it is late afternoon. Joan has dinner at Eight Plates before heading to Moonmoth. Since the journey is short and safe, she travels without her Imperial guard companion. Once inside of the fort she rests her hands upon the Imperial Cult's altar. She accepts her blessing for the night. Tomorrow will be another challenging day, thinks she.

Oh, the Puzzle Box. I thought so. Could swear that I passed it by a dozen times before I saw it for what it was

Somehow I doubt those egg-poachers (poached eggs?) are going to be a cooperative as Joan hopes...

Joan is getting frosty in response to local conditions. Looks like she will be prepared for further Dunmer-entanglements.

Ah yes, the puzzle box. I remember this. It takes you to that neat dwarven ruin. Hopefully it is not this kind of box

Same here!

So keep your eyes open, Joan. Now that favor doesn't sound so bad, right? And she will even explore a Dwarven ruin, probably for the first time in her life since there aren't any in Cyrodiil.

A quiet, but productive day in Balmora. Nice that Joan will use her own judgment regarding the egg poachers. Both a touch and ranged frost spell sound prudent. A Dwemer puzzle box! Buffy recently helped a friend find one of those in ESO.

macole-- the Puzzle Box is really easy to miss. I got lucky because I found it almost right away, it was getting to where the box is which confused me.

Rosa-- Poached eggs! Yeah, she is getting a rather frosty response in this town it would seem. Good thing is, she does get some kind words and respect here and there, as people try to be nice and help her acclimate. This sort of stuff doesn't really get written about as much, but it's there.

Lopov-- Arnkngthand will indeed her first Dwemer ruin. In her backstory, she has been to some Ayleid ruins near CHeydinhal such as Belden (edit: Belda), and also a couple forts. But she went with a group of others who were much more experienced. Her focus was to go to places housing undead, conjurers, or foul EVIL necromancers. She would have been young: somewhere between 14 and 17 when all that occurred. Just like the real Joan of Arc.

Acadian -- That sounds fun. So there's a Puzzle Box in the online game as well! I wonder what the significance is. Anyway, yes, Joan is going to try to handle these poachers in her own way. Let's see if she's successful.

30 Last Seed (Day 15) early afternoon

Location: Skulk Egg Mine


"I don't know if I can help, but I'll try!"

Joan arrives to Skulk Egg Mine, located a few miles south of Balmora, with her Imperial guard comrade. The journey goes smoothly and without incident on this pleasantly warm day. Outside the mine, Joan introduces herself to a couple of egg farmers who stand just outside of the mine. They inform her that indeed, a couple of former farmers reside somewhere within: one a male, the other a female. They have proved to be no good, and have caused nothing but trouble as of late.

"Sevilo Othan and Daynila Valus used to work here," says one of the farmers. "Not good people. Could be hiding anywhere within the mine."

Leave it to Stendarr, and leave it to Talos, thinks Joan in so many thoughts. These two Aedra shall guide her path as she calls upon some of their specific qualities: Stendarr for resilience, and Talos for courage. Once inside, she is pleased to see her guard companion lights a torch, so both of them can see better. The mine itself isn't so dark, but the presence of extra illumination makes her feel just a little more confident. Today's contract might not be as easy as fighting rats!

As they walk deeper into the mine, a giant creature lumbers toward them in the darkness! The creature makes a gurgling sound. Its exoskeleton is dark, and it walks on four legs. Joan readies her sword ... but her companion informs her that this creature is nothing to fear. Before them is a kwama worker, which would not attack unless provoked. "Only the foragers attack. And you've already seen a couple of those out in the wilds. Little worm-like menaces, easy to kill!"

Joan puts her sword away.

The pair search the entire first section of the cave, going deep underground. They encounter a dozen workers, several harmless scribs, and finally, a couple hostile foragers. The foragers down here are no tougher than those which crawl upon land, and are easy kills.

They search and they search, but Joan and her guard encounter no poachers. No humanoids at all, in fact.


Hours later
Joan and her guard continue their delve. Eventually they find the Queen's Chamber, which is the mine's deepest portion. In any eggmine, a queen a must thrive. It is the queen who breeds and bears and keeps the eggmine populated. Though she is limited in movement, she can be deadly aggressive, according to the two miners Joan had met several hours before.

Suddenly, something shifts before them in the dark. Shifts, and begins running toward them.

"You n'wah! Now you die!"

The intruders are immediately attacked by Davnila Valas, one of Skulk Mine's two poachers. Davnila (being not much more than a commoner, a former worker of the mine) is unarmored. Lacking any sort of proper weapon, she grabs, then swings her miner's pick at Joan, but the Fighters Guild's newest Associate easily sidesteps the affront. Joan's spirit is abruptly torn. She struggles with her thoughts, and struggles to unsheathe her sword. This is not how she wanted this to go!

"Please. Take one moment to stand down Daynila," she commands, "for we must..."

But before Joan can say much more, her guard steps in. Joan barely has time to attempt to stop him before he's going against their opponent. "Nooo!!!" With just a few swings of his poleaxe, the poacher is fallen.

This is not the way Joan had wanted things to go. Had this woman really needed to fall to her death just now? Perhaps it was my initial calling upon Stendarr and Talos which had apparently caused an aberration of process, thinks she in so many thoughts. Perhaps I shall call upon the personal fortifying aspects of Dibella as I arrive to meet Sevilo.

Sevilo Othan, the second eggpoacher. Joan looks around, checking to see if Sevilo is anywhere near. He is not. So she sheathes her sword, and puts a hand upon the shoulder of her guard. "Sir, might I ask. That you stay within that former section of mine, the one through which we just made passage? For it was my wish to forge an attempt at diplomacy, and pacify each poacher as I may with words."

"As you wish," her guard says, without complaint. He does as he's told, and moves back into the former area of the mine where all the workers and foragers reside.

"Many thanks!" she calls after him, before starting the search for Sevilo.

Earthen walls surround, with occasional flaming sconces to supplement her vision. There are more workers in here. Joan reminds herself that if she does encounter Skulk Mine's queen, she is not to bother her, even if the queen becomes aggressive and attacks. Fighting and killing a queen at Joan's level of proficiency might be darn-well impossible. Plus, it would cause all the mine's friendly workers to turn hostile as well. At least, this is what the outdoor egg farmers had told her.

Here in the Queen's Chamber she finds two initial ways she can go, once she has left the area where Daynila fell to her quick death: left or right. Joan chooses left. It does not take long before she meets Skulk Mine's second egg poacher. Like Daynila, he is Dunmer, and not very happy to see an intruder in his lair. He rushes toward her on sight!

"Sevilo! I am Joan, of the Fighters Guild. Might you and I broach upon the subject of--"

But the former eggminer hasn't got time for words. He brandishes his pick, starts swinging it from side to side, and begins a virtual onslaught upon her! He swings and he swings, cutting Joan's armor several times in a matter of seconds, for she cannot effectively block the man's weapon.

Fortunately, the exit to Skulk's entry passages is a wooden door, and it's just nearby. Joan rushes through this door, slamming it behind her. Joan's guard still stands here, and though she could call upon him for help, she chooses to heal herself instead. She then staggers back through the door, fully healed and confident.

Sevilo the poacher seemed satisfied that he'd scared her off, and hadn't bother to follow her through the door. But within a few seconds, she returns. "Give up thine wicked ways!" Joan calls to him, not bothering to pretty up her language with any attempt at negotiation.

Nevertheless, the poacher does not heed her newly-spoken, more aggressive tone of voice. It seems as though he's quite comfortable with his 'wicked ways', and is not of a mind to give them up.

The fight is brutal. Several times, Joan must dodge away from the miner's flailing pick, quaff down a potion or cast her healing spell, before going back at it. Block, swing! Bash! Parry! Several times as the battle commences, Sevilo seems as though he's going to win the fight.

She opens and slams the door one last time. Drinks down a potion which restores her mana, and then readies her Frostbite spell.

Once back inside the Queen's Chamber, she attempts to freeze the poacher with her spell. Fails to cast it, tries again (while Sevilo bangs her shoulder). Finally, the spell works. "Oogh!" the poacher bellies, bending toward the ground as most of his health falters at once. From this point on, Joan feels the battle-call of Talos. Diplomacy is gone, anger overtakes. Her silver blade moves in a flurry of swings, parries, and thrusts. -- This man, he had his chance! -- Finally, Sevilo the egg poacher is done for.

It takes a few hours to return to surface. Back outside, Joan and her guard are surprised to find the sky above starting to lighten. Soon, it will be daylight. Joan of Cheydinhal takes some time to eat and rest with the two farmers they'd initially met. Then, they head back to Balmora. Back in the Fighters Guild, Joan earns 100 gold for her efforts.

"Perhaps my choice of words to pacify Sevilo upon being assaulted were unwise," Joan mutters to herself before rolling into bed. She makes an aside, a promise to herself, and to the Gods, not to give in so firmly to violence. She'll need to try harder with words next time.

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

Encounter with some kwama workers

"Might I ask that you stay within that former section of mine?"

"You n'wah!"

Joan's attempts at negotiation don't go so well...

That's the typical set-in-their-ways Dunmer for you.

Don't tell me that someone might be skulking inside the Skulk Egg Mine?

Leave it to Stendarr, and leave it to Talos

This is a great phrase!

"You n'wah! Now you die!"

That will be the skulkers then...

Poor Joan is learning that the skulkers are not so easily reasoned with. Methinks that this will only be solved with the might of Talos, rather than the mercy of Stendarr.

No more poached eggs for those two. More like scrambled...

Those two poachers seemed very determined to commit suicide by Holy Knight. That Joan wrestles with being forced to kill them shows the spirit of a noble soul. One that is still learning when to wield words and when to wield steel. Nicely done!

I think Dibella might have helped! But I don't see Joan as a Dibbellan though... perhaps she needs some inspiration first. I hear the House of Earthly Delights is not too far away.


Think: Dibella! A little dance might have helped as well.

Hey everyone, good to see you. I had a death in my family this week and it's been tough. Today I got back into some gaming just because I'm a gaming addict, and after over a week of not gaming I was starting to suffer... my mind was beginning to feel a little too neurotic. I think I saw an imp today as I went to Safeway to buy groceries. Wait, was it an imp? Maybe it was a scamp. Whatever it was, I made sure to steer clear of it.

I miss you father. My father was never a videogame addict like I am, but it's mostly because he did not grow up with gaming. I think if he had, he definitely would have adored the Elder Scrolls.




True, very true. Unfortunately, the Nords of Skyrim also have a lot of typical set-in-their-ways ways, and so do the multi-racial humanoids of Cyrodiil. All them never, they never learn.



1). Thanks. It's just silly paladinesque language.

2). Yes, she does focus upon Talos toward the end. I am wondering how she comes to identify most with Arkay. How does she become Joan of Arkay? Even though she is my character, I actually don't know the answer. But it happens some time during her stay in Morrowind so we'll find out eventually .

3). Pass the salt.




Thanks Acadian. Yes, some characters go in for the loot, the glory, the fame, whatever. Joan is trying to go for the altruism, it seems. Probably won't work very often! She'll learn, though.



Ha yeah, wait'll she gets to the Earthly Delights bar, that'll be a hoot! She'll be fuming at all the decadence going on there, I expect.



Yes, she just might call upon Dibella in the future, but I don't think Joanie's a very good dancer. Right now she's too busy trying to increase her Blunt Weapons skill, as well as build her Strength. She'll make time for beauty tips and ballet some time when all of this is over, perhaps.

Have some cake, y'all.

1 Heartfire (Day 17), 5 a.m.




Joan Marie of Cheydinhal rises early. She pays a young maiden to assist as she dons her suit of armor. She and her guard then leave the Fighters Guild. Outside, it's a warm and rainy morning.

Today shall be a big day for both of them. Today, they head to Arkngthand, to find the mysterious puzzle box described by Hasphat Antabolis. Joan has heard Arkngthand is a rather large Dwemer ruin, and she has no idea what to expect. Neither does her guard. Will the place be filled with working traps and contraptions as the rumors and legends suggest? Joan's guard guesses the answer is "yes", coming to this conclusion only because others have said the rumors, the legends, are true. But he has never actually been inside such a place.

Back in Cyrodiil, Joan had explored just a couple Ayleid ruins: Belda, and Kemen, but she'd done so with a group of others. Both of these ruins were within a day's walk from Cheydinhal, and since they were located on Cyrodiil's Heartland plains, both were easy to approach, while keeping wary of enemies. Most other ruins near to Cheydinhal were simply too dangerous for young Joan to explore on her own. Caves located deep within forest, or Imperial forts inhabited by actual daedra, and so on. She'd only gone to Belda and Kemen for training purposes, learning from others much more experienced.

But now, she's by herself. Sure, she travels in the company of an Imperial soldier, but Joan has decided it shall be her who'll be spearheading the actual exploration into Arkngthand. It shall be her who risks whatever lurks within this supposedly formidable Dwemer lair.

Joan and her guard walk past the Balmora's gigantic silt strider, leaving the town behind. Next, they turn east. The sky above is a dark gray blanket overhead. Joan feels the rain driving down her face, despite the chain helmet she's been wearing lately.

They walk toward Fort Moonmoth. There's a fork in the road here, and they take the left tine of this fork, heading past this location.

"At any time," Joan tells her guard, pointing toward the fort where she had convinced him to follow her a few days ago, "you may proceed and return to your post."

The guard says nothing. So they continue walking, while the sky continues drizzling.

"Very well. But do not let me assist with any possible neglections of thy duties, sir. I know others of your faction might very well and eventually step up to position within your garrison," Joan says as the road they walk upon begins to climb upwards. "I must inform you however that to follow me is to follow into a path of uncertainty. For I do have my beliefs. But my beliefs are my callings. And my callings are to possibly right the wrongs of malignity. Of heinousness, of malice, and of menace. Have you seen fit to follow? Or not follow? These decisions are to be yours at any time, forthcoming."

"By all means," the guard finally says, leaving Joan to wonder which facet of her sermon he refers to.


Mid Morning
After an hour of walking, the pair of travelers come to a bridge. Joan consults her journal, trying to see if she's headed in the right direction. Sure enough, she is. The bridge before them is apparently Dwemer technology. It is large, sturdy, and dully-golden in color. Amazingly, it has suffered hardly any signs of aging over the years and decades. As they walk across it, their footfalls echo softly and metallically. Across the bridge and off to the right the hill continues to climb steeply. Joan thinks she can see the outline of Arkngthand up there. One of its towers looms in the gloom, thinks she. A cliff racer, large and predatory, flies in the distance.

As they continue to cross the bridge, Joan and her guard are attacked by a man, a bandit, who rushes toward them! The bandit had apparently been schooled in magic, for he casts some sort of spell right away. He then brandishes some sort of weapon. He seems confident that he's in the right. Like this is his bridge, and nobody is to ever cross it alive.

"Surrender now, and I might let you live!" says the guard as he readies his poleaxe. Without hesitation, Joan's guard bustles straight toward the bandit while the bandit (whoever he is) summons a skeleton. The guard is faster than Joan; he reaches the bandit and his summon before she does. But Joan's guard makes the mistake of attacking the skeleton first, instead of attacking the bandit.

"Arkay! I call upon ye!" Joan shouts as she closes in, hoping Arkay will somehow hear her, and prepare the enemy's soul for its coming retribution. For this time, there shall be no point in negotiating words. The magical bandit before them shall fall, of this she is sure. She unsheathes her sword while preparing her mind for a possible healing spell.

But the battle is over quickly.* The guard chooses his stance, then thrusts and swings his polearm, destroying the man's summon and then skewering the man. Just like that. Within ten seconds it's all over, leaving Joan without much to do, once again. Though his swift tactics and hostile barraging impress her, Joan finds herself (once again) dissatisfied by the encounter. Might there have been some other way to resolve what had just occurred, here upon this bridge of golden metal?

The pair continue to the other side of the bridge, and make a right turn where the second hill starts. All the while, Arkngthand imposes itself before them. Once they reach its exterior avenue it is time to change strategy. Joan consults her journal. She then finds the special crank which opens the door to the ruins, and turns it. This causes a circular orb of metal located a few dozen feet away to begin grinding and rotating. Joan and her guard walk toward the rotating orb, and step inside. Here, they find a door.

"I shall handle whatever may twitch within," Joan informs her guard as they enter. Her voice is true and steady, which is not entirely how she feels. Once they are inside, she says more. "If you do not mind, my preference is that you might stand watch," she says as she points to the ruin's dim golden floor. "That you may stand watch, and protect against any menaces who might invade from up here. That they will not be making any assaults, as I surreptitiously search for this aforementioned puzzle box."

"As you wish."

As stated, Joan has no idea what to expect as she begins her delve. If the place is full of the Dwemer automatons she'd heard about in her studies, the guard could then be fetched for assistance. But if it's merely inhabited by typical humanoid enemies, she thinks perhaps she can persuade any of these to hopefully see things her way. Perhaps persuade them, and guide them toward righteousness.

Arkngthand's interior twists and falls deep into the mountain below. Joan of Cheydinhal, given the name Joan Marie at birth, walks deeper into golden-colored darkness.

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

Arkngthand UESP Page

Looming Ruins

"Arkay, I call upon ye!"

Bridge Runic Detail -- (I love the intricacy)

-----

* Note: Whenever we fight this bandit on the bridge, whose name is Snowy Granius, he literally kicks my characters' asses if they don't come prepared. I've had a couple low-level characters (such as Ana Khannda, my Dunmer archer lady) retreat from the guy. However, Joan's guard is quite a toughie. Though he slew Snowy in a matter of seconds, I promise in the next chapters Joan will be more on her own.

Joan is laying down some tenets to live by. The Joan Doctrine.

Looks like unlike Arnhem, this was not a bridge too far.

Joan plumbs the depths alone now. If I remember Arkinthingergardy, she's not going to find anyone she can talk to at all. But plenty to smite nonetheless!

Joan’s guard is neither communicative nor reassuring in his manner, . . . yet, he seems to swing that polearm pretty effectively.

I’m with SubRosa in suspecting that the optimistic knight’s attempts at verbal negotiation shall not find purchase in this dungeon.

The guard stole the show for me in this episode, I must admit. "Whatever you say, lady, as long as I don't have to man my post!"

Ooh - you left us hanging off a cliff! She goes into the ruin and...

Morrowind guards; stoic pillars of strength, light on conversation, quick with the polearm.

That is almost a haiku!

Oh, Morrowind’s guards:
Stoic pillars of power,
Light banter, quick sword.

Sorry, I'm not a Haiku guy so I hope I got it right. Reguardless it is my last try.

I remember that name - Snowy Granius - now that you mentioned it.

Nice references to some locations from Cyrodiil.

It's good that Joan brought some help to Arkngthand.

Good luck with finding that puzzle box.

Hey thanks you all, I really appreciate it. Have some cake. Do we have any comments or questions tonight? Yes, you in the first row...

SubRosa: Joan plumbs the depths alone now. If I remember Arkinthingergardy, she's not going to find anyone she can talk to at all. But plenty to smite nonetheless!

This is very true. Not a whole lot of talking, but plenty of smiting will carry on. Yes, you, sir over in the second row.

Acadian: Joan’s guard is neither communicative nor reassuring in his manner, . . . yet, he seems to swing that polearm pretty effectively.

I like the 'not communicative' part most of all. See, this is due to Joan being a youngster, on her own. It's not easy for her, trying to learn as she goes. She also is very cheery, very talkative (yet serious) as she talks to a lot of people. I'm always using Admire (Speech option) as she speaks to shopkeepers, guild-mates, random town-goers, and so on.

Despite this, she has problems once she begins to get closer to people. She does not know how to address her guard properly, does not even know his name! So their relationship is pretty odd right now.

Anybody want some water? Yes, miss. You with the blonde hair.

Lena Wolf: The guard stole the show for me in this episode, I must admit. "Whatever you say, lady, as long as I don't have to man my post!"

Ha ha yes there's some humor there, right? He doesn't know what to say about her long-winded lectures, but as long as he gets to play Adventurer, that's a good thing.

macole: Oh, Morrowind’s guards: Stoic pillars of power, Light banter, quick sword. Sorry, I'm not a Haiku guy

No, this is great! *audience applauds* Maybe Joan should befriend an Ordinator so you can write a poem about one of them! *laughter*

Lopov: Good luck with finding that puzzle box.

Yeah... luck. My gosh this quest was hard. Yet also NOT really that hard.

1 Heartfire (Day 17), 9 a.m.

Arkngthand


Deeper down a steep rampart she goes, as the ruin around her occasionally squeaks and groans. Joan feels herself going rigid as she moves slowly downward into Arkngthand. As a supposed Novice for the Blades, she assumes she is to be vigilant. To walk in representation (somehow) for the Emperor himself, and all the Elder Council members.

She tries to call upon her Nine as she walks quietly downward, but cannot quite say the words this time. Truth is, at this point she is no more than a devout, but somewhat confused young woman. ... The fright she feels as she steps deeper into the ruins causes her to slow her pace. But she does not stop altogether. Determined she is, for whatever is to come.

She finally calls quietly upon Stendarr, and calls upon Arkay. Stendarr for resilience, and Arkay for what's likely to come, assuming any humans or elves inhabit the ruin. Assuming if such folks do inhabit the ruins, that they'll choose not to hear what she has to say.

The acolyte takes some time to have a good look at what's below. She then continues to motion down the lage spiral of earth below her. This spiral is just wide enough for one person to walk upon. It hasn't got any rails to guard from falling. One misstep into darkness and she will not be leaving this place. Ever.

She stops and looks again. There's a large chamber below, and it's got some sort of light source illuminating. Bright and orange. The spiraled path she's on continues to a stone landing. To her left is what appears to be a very structured set of stories, open to the middle, obviously built by the Dwemer. Impressive. Joan takes a moment to take it all in.

But ... something is moving! Not a contraption, and not an automaton. It's an ordinary man, or woman. He or she is quite some distance away. Joan freezes, trying not to alert the person before her. Despite the distance between them, the person below immediately notices somebody is here in Arkngthand. Somebody who does not belong!

It's a man. He brandishes his weapon, says something, and begins running toward the landing. Whatever it was he said, Joan could not hear. He was too far away.

Joan waves her arms about, not raising her shortsword. "Please, do not fear!" she calls as she tries to make her face look friendly. "I come toward you on the condition of neutrality, that we might drop our weapons, and..."

But the man (a Redguard) does not bother to listen. It takes him several seconds to figure out how to get where to Joan is, and then the fight is on! ... Joan swings and blocks, the man slashes and parries. clash! clish! crash! He's got a blade of some sort. Joan wonders if the Gods see any of this, as she hits the bandit twice, swings down low but misses, and her aggressor quickly gains the upper hand. *SMASH* She blocks a thrust across her shield, then another! These bashes and blows begin to wear at her as she cannot get a swing to he man in return. Joan's health seriously wanes. And how long have they been fighting? A half-minute or so?

"I've got you now!" the bandit says smartly.

Fortunately, her magical powers are at their zenith. The Redguard swings, but misses, and then loses his balance. Joan uses the moment to make a hasty retreat, back up the huge spiral walkway, back to a slightly plateaued area where she can stand and focus, and cast a healing spell. Joan knows she can just continue running upward to her guard if she has to. But this does not need to happen. She feels she's now able to finish the battle herself. Back to full strength, she stands her ground.

"Your time has come, Breton!" her opponent says calmly as he closes the gap between them quickly.

Joan Marie says nothing. Instead, she remembers her training, and positions herself so that she's right near the edge of the walkway. Her feet go into a wide stance. She raises her shield. The man swings his weapon and connects...

"Rawr!"

But then he makes one huge mistake, and it's a fatal one. Unlike Joan, he does not keep a good watch of his feet! His stance is narrow, and his right boot is planted literally next to nothingness. He and Joan are warring on a large but narrow pathway, high above the chamber below. It's only a matter of time before he loses track of where his feet are, and falls to his death, twenty feet below.

"NO!"

The Redguard's loses his balance, and falls into the abyss. A second later, she hears his body crash upon stone! ... Joan only has seconds to gather her thoughts and catch her breath, before a second man hears the ruckus above, and comes running for Joan. Again, she attempts to speak some Truth to this second enemy, "Give up thine wicked ways!", who of course ignores her words.

This time, Joan is ready for him. She does not sheathe her weapon. She slashes and cuts, and manages to perform the same progression of events with this second enemy as she did the first. She chooses her stance, then lets the man attack hysterically, all while using her own body to rotate toward the wall. This causes the man to swivel inwards, toward the void. His feet step outward ... toward the edge of the path! But just as he's about to slip and fall, Joan thrusts with her blade, and downs him first.

These moments are the first ones which herald important changes to come. The adrenaline, it moves through her body. Her heart pounds wildly. Her muscles tense with vigor. Joan is sure she feels the vigilance of Stendarr, calling to her now, while Arkay takes his time to commence the circle of life into death. For the two miscreants she'd just fought? They have chosen their path into darkness. Arkay, he transcends this darkness to some degree. How far the souls of the men who fought her shall fall? And it's all for naught.

"For naught, they have chosen their path all for naught," she sputters in wonder.

For the rest of her delve into Arkngthand, Joan feels a mixture of caution and confidence as she encounters more enemies. All of them, thankfully humans or elves. Nords, Dunmer, and so on. Men and women of reason, one would think. Though she tries a few more times to convince with her voice, none of Arkngthand's bandits heed her words. None are persuaded to give up their "wicked ways."

Turns out, Arkngthand is a large place, much larger than Joan had anticipated. There are multiple rooms, multiple corridors, multiple intersections. It's easy to get lost in here. She does so, a few times.

So where is this Dwemer Puzzle Box? Hours go by as she searches. After several encounters, Joan decides it's time for her guard to join her.

After much exploring, they eventually comes to a quandary; an area which seems as though it's the location they seek. In one of the ruins' many directions to go, they find themselves in a chamber with a broken bridge. Molten hot lava bubbles and bursts from the depths of Nirn, and all of this activity lies beneath the broken bridge. The chamber they're in is a virtual furnace of heat.

Joan tries to find a way around the lava by grasping the chamber's walls, but nearly slips into the burning mantle below. It is only through a combination of grasping and scrambling that she is able to make her way back to safety, avoiding the fiery liquid below.

"Let us return to Balmora," Joan tells her guard. After so much time underground, she realizes their supplies are running thin. It also would not hurt to sell a few things she's found, and buy a few assorted sundries and potions.

"As you wish," says the guard.

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

Arkngthand Entryway

An Ornate Door

Maiming a Miscreant!

"Give up thy wicked ways!"

Another mess for Arkay

Molten Hot Magma

Dangit. I thought I had pics of that huge chamber they were in. Grr... Well I'll post 'em if I can find them.

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

Note: Joan ascended to Level 2! I put +2 points in Agility, +4 points in Endurance, and +5 points in Speed. Since she wears a few heavy armor pieces, she walks pretty slow, so Speed is really needed.

Note 2:: It took 6 (SIX) days before we found the Puzzle Box. In fact it's easy to find, but the way to find it is not so obvious. This will be described next chapter.

Joan journeys deep down into the depths. The dwarves delved too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-dum Arkenthingmajig... shadow and flame.

I see that just as in Star Wars, OSHA does not exist in Tamriel. Oh the number of safety violations...

Uh oh, a bandit. I forgot that there were bandits in here. I thought it was all dwarven robots. I am starting to remember it. I think this is the one with half a dozen interconnected levels? It was a bit of a maze if I recall. I have gone in there more than once, and then left after forgetting to get the puzzle box. Because I was in there for so long I eventually forgot why I was there to begin with, aside from just clearing the place.

Looks like that Redguard forgot that no matter where you are, there you are. Too bad Joanie did not have the Fus Ro Dah shout...

How far the souls of the men who fought her shall fall?
This was a truly glorious line!

Looks like Joanie is going to need to buy a Levitate spell to get past that lava. Ironically enough, Morrowind January will probably be venturing into Arknthingygard soon herself. While Literary January has been fighting against a fire/lava elemental in the scene I have been writing for the past week or so. She is getting really sick and tired of magma.

I say kill them all and let Akray sort them out...

Great job of blending the picture of what Joan is seeing with what she is feeling as she descends into Arkngthand. The result is that we totally share the apprehension of the devout young woman.

Still the optimistic knight, her efforts at a diplomatic negotiation with the Redguard she encounters are for naught. And it seems the additional bandits she encounters are no more receptive.

Aww, a dead end with lava for now. I smiled at her guard’s comment. I’m beginning to like him – he’s very low maintenance and undemanding, yes?

Six days, yeah that sounds about right.

SubRosa-- Yes Arkngthand is a huge place. Very confusing. I am glad it's not packed with robots and traps, honestly we're not ready for anything like that.

I assumed we'd have to search all over to find the Puzzle Box thingie, when in fact it is easy to find. I keep saying that, don't I? Well, it's easy to find, while being hard to find. Me, being a long-time player of these sort of games assumed Beth hid the thing in the most convoluted way possible. Not true. It's nothing but a mind-[censored].

Acadian-- Even though I wrote all this, I wonder how long the 'diplomatic negotiation' stuff lasts. I am six chapters behind her actual story with these finished chapters. There's so much editing and managing behind the scenes, I actually don't remember. Her guard is fun & funny to write. I like the fact that he's low-maintenance. Also, if he gets killed at some point (unlikely right now) I don't have to worry much about a Named NPC being gone from my game forever. Eventually, another guard will quietly show up at Moonmoth.

macole-- I wonder if there's ever been a thread called "How long did it take you to find the blasted Puzzle Box?" and if six days is average. There should be a poll.

2 through 6 Heartfire (Days 18 through 21)

Arkngthand part II



Over the course of several days, Joan of Arkay is uncertain what to do about the final room she'd found in Arkngthand. Full of hot lava it was, with a broken bridge to somehow cross. And the broken bridge? It was supposed to transport folks safely over the floor full of hot lava.

She eventually learns this room (and all the chambers and corridors directly to it) were named Heaven's Gallery. Not such an apt name; it does not seem such a heavenly place to her. But Joan figures it must be the location where the puzzle box is located, it has to be. For it seems she has looked everywhere else.

The box must be there. But how will she get deeper into Heaven's Gallery?

Joan has several pondering sessions between Heartfire 2 and Heartfire 4, as she travels this way and that. After leaving the underground lair on the second day, she spends the rest of Heartfire 2 resting in Fort Moonmoth, and then two more days in Balmora. Here she sells several Dwemer coins and gems which Arkngthand's bandits had stashed away. She uses her newfound earnings to buy several potions which resist fire, a couple more which shall fortify her health, and one which will allow her to walk on water. These potions are quite an expense. Joan has no idea if the water-walking potion will allow her to instead walk across lava. If she chooses to try this, she'll need to do so with much caution.

Finally, she buys a 'Hoptoad' scroll from Galbedir, the Balmora Mages Guild enchanter. The scroll has a spell which will allow her to jump far into the air, and then float like a netch for quite a few seconds. It will also slow her falls, promises the colorfully-robed Galbedir. Buying the scroll is quite a setback at 124 drakes, and it takes Joan some time before she makes this final purchase.

Heartfire 4
Once back inside Heaven's Gallery, she tells her guard to wait behind, and in fact leaves him far away from the room full of lava. This way, he won't get tempted to try helping her if there's any problem, hidden enemies, and so on. Helping her, then slipping and burning quickly to his demise.

She makes her way back to the gallery's final hellish chamber, fiery waters of Nirn boiling below! The broken bridge is before her again, and unfortunately, nobody has bothered to fix it. Joan of Arkay hems and haws a bit as she tries to decide: Jump across via the magic of her expensive scroll, or walk on magma via potions? Scroll? Or potions? ... She finally chooses the scroll.

"O-la ... O-mah mah... Ga-ga O-la-la..." she reads aloud. And it works!

Amazingly, it works. She feels an odd combination of magic envelop her person, clouding her vision briefly purple. She then shudders, before giving a good leap across the end of the broken bridge like a light-footed rogue. Not only is she able to traverse the bridge with ease and competence, but the magic within the scroll does something to her weight as well, allowing her to stay suspended in midair for seconds at a time.


It's an eerie, yet wonder-filled moment for her. She can't help but float around a few seconds, this way and that, the bridge's surface a couple meters below, the heat from the chamber's magma falling almost to nil! Finally, she lands. The full weight of her armor, shortsword, and gear returns. A long, hollowed-out section of cave-rock is before her, which eventually bends to the left. She begins to walk. Occasionally, she passes by one of the Dwemer's odd cylinders of light. These cylinders glow, even without the help of fire or magic! How had the dwarves achieved this? Joan muses.

"You will die where you stand," somebody with a particular northbound accent says calmly.

It's a nord, who has somehow been living here in this section of Heaven's Gallery for however long. How had he managed to get across that bridge? ... The nord hasn't got any armor, but he's carrying a BIG axe. He comes after Joan, who does not bother to try convincing him not to.

"Yarrgh!"

Though she puts up a good fight, his axe deals a lot of damage with just two connects. Joan must quickly backtrack, cast her healing spell, and then return to the safety of the previous chamber.

She rushes back to the broken bridge, and risks a jump across. But by now the scroll's magic has completely worn off, and she's not any sort of an acrobat. So she falls several meters, landing momentarily right into the molten hot magma! There's a moment of pure panic; she must dash across to safety, which amounts to a smidge of bare earth beneath her boots. Just inches from her feet is the lava.

The acolyte is momentarily safe, so she quickly looks into her pack, and downs several potions, including the one which is supposed to allow water-walking.

Suddenly, Joan hears a splash! The nord with the BIG axe had really lost his wits it seems, and had tried to jump across the bridge as well. Like Joan, he's carrying too much weight, and also hasn't got the speed or agility to make it across. Unlike her though, he merely stands in the pool of lava once he lands. His priority is to kill her, not save himself from damage. It is only two or three seconds before he burns to a smelly, boiling crisp.

Joan of Arkay heaves a sigh, before cautions a couple steps over the gallery's hot liquid. Not a good idea. Her boots immediately sink into the mix. Water-walking potions apparently do not work over lava. Time for another potion of healing.

She makes her way carefully back to the chamber's initial causeway, running at full speed across an area where there's no land to step upon. Finally she is safe. But she also hasn't got any more special Hoptoad scrolls, which means there's no current way to get across that collapsed bridge. This necessitates yet another trip to and from Balmora. More Dwemer coins sold, and one more eerie jump across. Joan is hopeful.

Yet after all these trips back and forth, items sold and bought, jumps across the bridge, and hours of exploring, the puzzle box is still nowhere to be found.

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

Back in Balmora

Broken Bridge

Floating in midair

Joan landing

What a frightening adventure, dancing with lava! It occurred to me not until Joan was midair on her first traverse of the lava, how's she gonna get back across? Fortunately the suicide-by-lava Nord encouraged her back across. Hopefully, when she returned, it was with back up scrolls. No puzzle box.