Happy Saturalia!

I see even Balmora is celebrating, at least some of Balmora is. If nothing else the fresh snow brings with it the promise of building snowmer and starting snowball fights.

Trent is all the way up in Geonosis? Is she helping the Jedi Order and the Grand Army of the Republic fight off the evil hordes of the Separatist army? What am I saying. He is doing an USO tour for the Old Republic. I hear the clone army are big fans of the Spiral.

Daria has a thick green robe? That reminds me of the Mages Guild introductory robes from Oblivion. Or the Green Bags as I am used to thinking of them. I hope Daria's is a bit more stylish.

I like all your Morrowindlia, such as the guar hide boots, kresh fibers, and roobrush. They are nice subtle reminders of what world we are in.

Just like those stuffy Imperials, taking out the debauchery out of a holiday!

If I have learned anything about Jane, it is that you can never go wrong buying her art supplies... But hey, cold hard cash is always accepted! Especially when your arrogant friends are being total jerks...

Mega-lo-Mart is Idiocracy, right? Been a while since I've seen that movie, so I'm thinking of the cartoons, excuse me, animated works. Even on King of the Hill, I never saw all those episodes but there's never a moment when a propane tank explodes, and kills someone. Surely something exploded on that show, I mean, that's a given. But that's probably as far as that went.

Yes, okay, so if Jane's gotten assistance from the Tribunal I can see that. She feels obligated to follow with the Temple then, and moving in the direction of the Imperials' faith wouldn't make sense. I tend to get worked up as I'm commenting sometimes, (right SubRosa?)

I remember Saturalia from TES 1: Arena. Some merchants (and the Temples, I think) would give discounts on holidays. Like we needed them in that game. It was all too easy to become ridiculously rich for those who were brave enough to go into dungeons in that game. Alright, let me shush. This portion of the story is incredibly bleak, but that's a compliment. Because it's supposed to be bleak.

She doesn't have to share commissions with Gallus, but wasn't he was going to take almost half her damn take!

Nice, they're exchanging gifts. The entire story's feel has shifted to good times. I'm actully tearing up again over here. Oh wow. She's giving a LOT of coin over. Nice. "She could have spent it on books"... meanwhile, does Daria really need more books? 📚



You really got me today, Clavier. What a good cry!

What a wonderfully warm and winter holidayesque episode! The perfect way to close this chapter. Jane has increased her wisdom stat and she and Daria remain friends.

“Saturalia was originally a Breton holiday associated with debauchery and gift-giving.”
- - This sounds like a perfect holiday. Why is the original always better before folks start mucking around with it?

Like SubRosa, my first thought at the mention of a green robe was the 'green bag' they issued to new mages at the University in Oblivion. Buffy's, of course, was too big and she tripped over the hem whenever she tried to wear it.

It was nice to see Daria not giving Jane the ‘I told you so’ routine. And a pouchful of septims was just icing on the cake! Even Quinn selected a perfect gift for Jane.

Episode 16: Arena

Chapter 1

Daria hated to admit it, but she kind of liked Drenlyn Academy's library. Considering that Drenlyn existed only to help rich outlanders and rich natives exploit one another, it was remarkable that someone had taken great care in choosing the 64 books that rested on the library's shelves. In addition to Morrowind mainstays like The Book of Dawn and Dusk and The Consolations of Prayer, it also held a wealth of well-researched regional histories, intriguing philosophical texts, and a few novels.

It was around noon, and the late winter rains were busy turning Balmora into an enormous puddle. Done with classes and not quite ready to face the inclement weather, Daria instead sheltered in the library. As she read about distant Cathnoquey province in A Pearl Betwixt Empires, an errant drop of water splattered on the open page.

She pulled the book away and surveyed the damage. Not too severe, but the page was paper, not parchment, and that stuff didn't last long with water. Taking the candlestick, the flame at the end bright and steady, she raised it to the ceiling and squinted. Hard to make out in the darkness, but there was no denying the damp spot spreading across the adobe. The rain kept up its assault, a steady drumming that filled her ears. This would get worse before it got better.

"If only this could've happened to Director Lli's office instead," she said. Most likely, Lli had reinforced her office to withstand a full-on student siege. She'd never expend that much effort on a mere library.

Daria grabbed the book and placed it within the safety of her pack. But a half-dozen other books lay on the table. The leak turned into a steady drip-drip-drip, the puddle getting wider by the moment.

The ceiling could collapse.

In a classroom, she'd have gotten out right away. It wasn't as if major head injuries would have seriously affected most of her peers. But she cared about books. Books were quiet. They offered sanctuary from people. And, if they got too annoying, she could shut them.

The drops fell faster. No way to save all the volumes. Working quickly, Daria took books from the table and shoved them into her pack. When that got too full, she stashed them onto the nearest shelf. The library groaned and shook. The leak quickened into a steady stream. Water snuffed the candle with a subtle hiss, and the room plunged into darkness, but she still heard water spilling down the edges of the table and turning the earthen floor into mud.

"Dammit," she whispered.

Nothing more she could do. Daria relied on memory to get to the door and groped in darkness for a few panicked seconds before finding the handle. She turned and pulled it open.

A roaring sound filled her ears as the library ceiling collapsed, and she darted through the doorway and into the frigid rain.

*********

"Dammit! Do you have any idea how much a new roof for the library will cost?" Director Lli slammed her hands on her desk and leaned over it, glaring at Daria.

Daria sat on the wooden chair before Lli's desk, cold and soaked with bits of adobe clinging to her hair. She'd immediately alerted Lli about the collapse. Lli then ordered Drenlyn's custodian (along with Sera Dimartani, for some reason) to salvage the situation as best they could. The lowest shelves were lost but they'd managed to save the books above, which, along with Daria grabbing the ones from the table, left the school with 50 intact volumes.

The same could not be said for the library itself, now flooded and gutted. They'd moved the books to crates in Lli's office, where she, Sera Benniet, and Daria now sat.

Meeting Lli's baleful gaze without a tremor of doubt, Daria spoke. "I wasn't aware that keeping track of maintenance costs was my job."

"It's, uh, my job, actually," Benniet said, her eyes roving up and down a paper she held in her hands. "We'd have to find a contractor first, but it'll be at least two-thousand."

"Two-thousand!?" Lli cursed, and took her hands off the desk and folded her arms, her face like a round gray storm cloud.

"It's within our means to pay, though we might have to reduce instructor salaries." Benniet gulped. "I would point out that, as your main administrator, I do considerably more work than any of the other instructors, and—"

Lli made a cutting motion with her right hand and shook her head. "I need to think!"

"Is there a reason I'm still here?" Daria asked. "Frankly, I'd just as soon get home and forget this day happened."

And finish reading A Pearl Betwixt Empires, which was still in her bag. She'd return it when she was done.

"Young lady, you should show some respect," Lli fumed.

"It sounds like you're blaming me. All I did was alert you—"

"Oh, stop being so self-righteous and show some goddam respect!"

Daria narrowed her eyes. "Look, Muthsera Lli, I don't have any interest in, or knowledge of, Drenlyn's finances. I say, get some bids out there and let the contractors fight over it—"

Lli snapped her fingers. "That's it!"

"What?" Daria asked.

"I know how to raise money!"

"Whatever it is, I'm happy to let you take full credit for it."

Lli was already tearing through some papers. Tired and eager to go home, Daria stood up, bowed, and thanked 'Muthsera Lli,' and then opened the door to march out into the rain. She'd lost her bug-shell hat in the collapse, but given she was already drenched, she supposed it wouldn't have helped her much on the walk back home.

*********

A cold drizzle fell from gray skies the next morning as Daria walked to Drenlyn. She hadn't wanted to tell Mom and Dad about the whole near-miss with the collapsing ceiling, but of course Quinn did (since she'd heard it from Satheri, who'd heard it from Agrippina, and so forth). The initial bout of concern was almost touching but felt a bit much.

Daria stepped aside to make room for an Orc porter carrying a big box full of squirming molecrabs, the creatures poking their shelled heads over the rim while he tried to shoo them back in with his massive green hands. Yesterday's incident might have rattled her back in Charach, but didn't seem so unusual in Balmora. She'd already been beaten by Camonna Tong thugs, encountered Mages Guild corruption, run into a Telvanni agent, fought a rat and a nix hound (not at the same time), and explored a still-dangerous Dwemer ruin.

Not that she wanted to get too casual about the danger. But she was tougher than she used to be. Maybe that had been Morrowind's doing. Or maybe it was part of growing up.

She reached campus and walked past the forlorn library ruins. Once inside the warmth of Ondryn's class, she sat down next to Jane.

"If it isn't Death-defying Daria!" Jane said, scooting aside on the bench to make a bit more room.

"Oh, please. It's not like I'm the first person to nearly get brained by poorly maintained structures in this town."

"Hey, you're better off than the ones who did get brained. Seriously, though, you okay? Last time I had something like that happen, I went on a pilgrimage, but I know that's not really your speed."

"I'm just disappointed that it happened to the one building on campus I actually liked."

"Think Lli will fix it? Or will she spend that money on a full-time security complement?"

"I was in her office after the incident yesterday," Daria said. "It sounds like she has some bizarre plan to raise money for repairs."

Jane rubbed her hands together. "Do tell!"

Daria shook her head. "She didn't say, and I didn't want to stick around. I'm sure we'll find out sooner or later. Whatever it is, it's almost certainly stupid."

Sera Ondryn cleared his throat to begin the day's lecture, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door. It opened a moment later, revealing the short and stocky form of Sera Benniet.

"Hello! I wanted to inform you that our honored Director Lli is about to make an announcement in the courtyard, and you are all required to attend. See you there!"

She darted back out.

"And it looks like we're about to find out how stupid," Daria said.

Musical Closer - Sunday, by Sonic Youth

A rainy day in Blamora. . . .

When some of Daria’s best friends are in danger of melting, she unhesitatingly leaps into harms way, shepherding them to the dry safety of her pack and onto upper shelves. And many indeed did she save. No appreciation from the cadre of course but I’m sure she can appreciate how long it would take to refill the library with such literarily gifted friends to curl up with by candlelight, given how much Lli whined about replacing the roof.

I’m quite curious about what the ‘money for a new roof plan’ is but I suspect student labor will be involved.

Aggh, so Mega-lo Mart is KOTH. Yes, Chuck Mangonie is a horn player if I'm not mistaken, although don't trust my word 100%. I thought MLM was Idiocracy.

Funny how money almost never matters in these games after a certain point. If only the real world were so easy.

Phew, ain't that the truth? Maybe that's why RPGs get made like this. We get to struggle early on but after a point we're so rich, and there's nothing to spend our money on (without mods, of course).

Daria's saved all the books. 📚 Too bad she can't find a job at the library, or can she? Hmm, maybe not. She's not a native of Vvardenfell. Wow, why is Lli scolding Daria??? Without the outlander, ALL of their books would be nothing but paste and garbage!

No more bug-shell hat.



Hee hee this made me laugh. Always with the deadpan one-liner, this girl is.

Nice, you know L7 too? Love them. Every song they do has that one-note guitar riff going bee-bee-bop-bop-bee-bee-bop-bop... That's their signature sound. 🎸

I think I recognize this episode. Daria, is Daria through and through. Classmates? Bah! Books? Save them at all costs! Not that I am casting blame. I would make the same calculus in my head.

Oh boy, Muthsera Lli needs to raise money. I smell a fund-raiser coming up! Maybe Quinn can go door to door selling pre-paid phone cards...

I had to look up molecrabs. I see they are a Tamriel Rebuilt thing. Interesting.

Daria has indeed leveled up a few times she first arrived in Vvardenfell on that prison ship with Jiub with her parents.

The relatively near but non-Tamrielic places like Cathnoquey have always interested me. I'm a sucker for mysterious islands. Neat, I'll have to read the books that you wrote on Tamriel Rebuilt sometime.

Too bad books like The Progress of Truth won't be found in that library, but perhaps it is for the best. Lli is already bad enough—we don't need the Tribunal Temple to get involved, too.

The rain just made me think about the weather-related soundtracks in Daggerfall. I love Daggerfall's soundtrack. Maybe you'll find some neat tracks to use from there if you want more music to set certain scenes.

Ah, yes. Blame somebody else for an issue that you directly or indirectly caused. Totally haven't seen that countless times in real life. Can the Nerevarine come in with Sunder and bash Lli's face in already?

2,000 gold? Pfft. Daria just needs to find a daedric weapon, sell it to Creeper in Caldera or the Mudcrab Merchant in the Azura's Coast region, and you have all the funds you need. Caldera is probably going to be much easier to get to.

Chapter 2

Drenlyn's students soon gathered in the wet courtyard. The drizzle had stopped, though water still dripped from the gutters of classrooms and the cap of the old emperor parasol. Director Lli stood before her office, sheltered by an umbrella held aloft by a shivering Sera Benniet.

"Want to take bets on what this is?" Jane asked. "I'll put down a septim that she's going to offer us a fantastic educational opportunity doing grunt work in a sponsor-owned egg mine."

"Hm, that doesn't seem quite off-kilter enough for her. I bet she's going to try and arrange for us to be married off to some creepy Hlaalu nobles."

"Attention, Drenlyn students!" Lli announced. "I have an exciting announcement to make!"

"Then make it already and save us some time," Daria muttered.

"The thrill of arena combat is known across Tamriel, from Sentinel to our very own Vivec City. That's why I'm excited to inform you that this Loredas, the arena will be coming here to Drenlyn Academy!"

Daria and Jane looked at each other, neither quite believing what they heard.

"We will be holding an arena tournament in which all students are invited to participate. Combat is strictly non-lethal, of course, but this is a fantastic opportunity for all you young people to show your martial courage!"

The crowd murmured. Daria heard a lot of "whoas" and "cools".

"I strongly encourage you all to invite your families to this event. Those who fail to bring their families will be penalized. We need money for that damn roof—" she cleared her throat. "Excuse me. I've already sent notices throughout the city so that other interested parties might attend and buy tickets."

Jonus, near the front, raised his hand.

"Yes?"

"Do we have to know how to use weapons and stuff? Because I totally do, but I, uh, am asking for a friend."

Julien stepped forward. "But that friend he's asking for isn't me! I know how to fight, like really good!"

"I'm not that friend, either, I know all about swords and stuff," Jeval added.

"Prior experience is not required, though obviously those who have it will do the best," Lli said. "Anyone here is invited to test their mettle in the arena, and in so doing, bring honor, and glory—and funding—to Drenlyn Academy!"

With that, Lli turned around and strutted back into her office.

"I never thought I'd say this, but it looks like I overestimated Lli's good sense," Daria said.

"You ask me, this is a good thing," Jane said. "A good arena bout will clear out the slower and stupider students."

"You're forgetting it's non-lethal."

"Darn my optimism. But at least we get to watch people beat each other with padded sticks."

"You can watch the boys play with their swords if you want. I'm going to use this as an excuse to get Mom, Dad, and Quinn out of the house so that I can finally get some peace and quiet."

Jane smirked. "Now, who's being optimistic?"

*********

Quinn had an eye for opportunity, and this whole arena thing was loaded with it! She got the Fashion Club together as soon as Lli finished her speech.

"Guys, I have an idea!" Quinn said. "What if we picked like, a fighter to be our champion? It'd be a great way to make us more visible and stuff."

Satheri tensed up. "You mean, one of us has to fight?"

"No, of course not! I mean one of the guys. Like we'd ever do something that'd get us muddy."

"Speak for yourself," Treads-on-Ferns said. "Mud's nice after a dry day."

"Right, but that's like spa mud, not gross arena mud. Totally different. Anyway, we should pick a cuter guy and then give him a makeover so that he'll look better than all the other fighters."

"Then… everyone will see like… how great we are..." Tiphannia said.

"That's such a good idea!" Satheri agreed.

"I like it," Treads-on-Ferns said, "but would most guys be interested in a—"

Quinn scanned the crowd for the right guy. Too risky to announce it to everyone. Better to get someone who was kind of cute and, more importantly, was sure to do what she wanted.

Jonus, Julien, and Jeval were standing like, right there.

"Brave young sirs!" she called out. "The Fashion Club needs a champion for the arena!"

"Pick me!" Jonus proclaimed, dropping to one knee. "I'll be your knight, fair lady! I'll quest to the ends of the earth for you!"

"No, pick me!" Julien begged, falling to one knee. "I'll conquer Akavir in your name! Plus, I'm a Breton. We basically invented this whole knighthood thing."

Jonus glared at his friend. "Nuh uh!"

Jeval shrugged. "I was going to do this arena thing anyway because it sounded fun. But why do you want a champion?"

"Because as the Fashion Club champion, you'll get our wardrobe advice."

Jonus and Julien froze up and looked at each other. "Wardrobe advice?" they both said.

They sounded scared, like guys usually did with that kind of thing. She could fix it. "Yeah, you'll be better dressed than any guy in Drenlyn!" Then they could get girls. Other girls. Not that she'd say that, of course. But Jonus, Julien, and Jeval didn't look too sure.

"That fashion stuff is lame, though!" Jonus protested.

"Yeah, us guys don't care about that," Julien insisted.

"It's not really my thing," Jeval said. "But like I said, I'll fight anyway."

Quinn thought about the options. The goal was to show off the Fashion Club's fashion know-how, so that wasn't negotiable. But maybe she could motivate them by saying she'd go out on like a one-time date (no guarantees of holding hands, hugs, kisses, or anything beyond acknowledgement of the guy's presence) with the champion so long as he won.

"Jeval, you said you'd fight?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Jeval, I dub thee Fashion Club champion—"

"Wait!" Jonus cried. He threw himself on the wet ground before Quinn's feet and raised a tear-streaked face at her. "Please forgive me! You can make me wear anything you want! Please let me fight for you!"

Julien groveled, too. "I take back what I said, Lady Morgendorffer! I'll gladly be your champion, and I'll wear whatever you want. Even a dress!"

"Sorry!" Quinn announced. "Jeval gets the job."

"Man, this sucks," Jonus muttered as he stalked off, Julien right behind him.

Quinn ignored the losers. "Well, ladies! It looks like the Fashion Club has a champion! And a most fashionable champion he will be—"

"Hold on." Jeval said, holding out his hand. "Look, I'm not always that big on dressing up. I want some veto power."

Quinn put her hands on her hips. Why did things always get complicated? "Jeval, the Fashion Club knows what's best for you."

He crossed his arms. "No way. You can pick an outfit, but I won't wear it if I hate it. If you have a problem with that, find a different champion."

"Ooh!" Quinn stamped her feet. It'd be super easy to get Jonus or Julien. But she wanted someone who wasn't all cringey and pathetic.

"Okay, fine," she said. "You'll get veto power, but you have to promise to at least try what we recommend before using it."

"Deal," Jeval said.

"Now it's time for me to announce it!"

*********

Synda Grilvayn observed and calculated as Quinn proclaimed her champion before the student body.

Unforgivable. How dare Quinn—and that traitorous foreign-loving bitch, Satheri—seek to lift themselves up? Picking a scrawny Bosmer like Jeval for their champion only proved their foolishness.

"Nedrasa," Synda said to one of her supporters, the second daughter of the eminent (though less so than it once was) Leldro family. "If the Fashion Club is going to sully this arena with their sartorial abominations, the Haute Society ought to find a champion of its own to show Drenlyn an example of proper Dunmer style."

"Of course, Muthsera Grilvayn," Nedrasa said, with murmurs of assent from Ferara Andrana and Dralora Sethro.

"We need a handsome Dunmer of esteemed pedigree," Synda said. "No one from a disreputable family. And, of course, he needs to be a capable fighter."

"Perhaps Rovern?" Ferara suggested.

"Hm, yes. The Draalo family is respectable. Rovern is a giant, trained in the art of combat. No one will stand a chance against him."

Synda smiled as she watched Quinn raise Jeval's skinny arm. "We've beaten the Fashion Club before. It won't be hard to do it again."

Musical Closer - Can I Kick It?, by A Tribe Called Quest

The Arena? Ok, I did not see that coming! And the students are welcome to join in the fighting! Wonderful.

I wonder if the staff will compete as well? I am remembering the episode with the hockey match between the teachers the DJs, where everyone was betting on whether Mr. DiMartino's eye would pop out again.

Oh boy, the Fashion Club is going to sponsor a fighter. Who would be dumb enough to do that?

What am I saying. We all know who is that dumb!

Uh oh, the evil Synda is scheming once more. I don't give Larry, Moe, or Curly good odds against the ringer they are likely to put in the arena.

What a hoot this episode was! From Lli’s outlandish (but clever) plan, to Quinn and Fern’s discussion about the benefits of mud, to the J-boys clamoring to be Quinn’s best-dressed champion. I look forward to hearing about the Fashion Club Arena Raiment!

Uh oh, the Wicked Witch of Balmora has plans of her own to undermine the Fashion Club. I have to admit that Synda is pretty good at plotting things out – especially devious mean things.

Chapter 3

Briltasi hated having to wear a big, ugly robe and hood every time she snuck out to see Kavon. But it had to be done because Kavon's family wasn't respectable and Briltasi's was. It'd make Dad mad to find out she'd been seeing a lowborn guy, even one as cute as Kavon. But it'd make her mad to stop doing it. So obviously, she just had to make sure no one found out.

The skies had cleared, and the view from Kavon's guard tower let them see all of Balmora. Sometimes she'd look out and imagine the spires of the Imperial City or someplace more romantic, but one thing she knew was that, wherever you were, it always felt good to be above it all.

"Hey, Kavvy?" she said, looking out the window.

Kavon, shirtless, took a draught from the mazte bottle she'd brought for him. "Yeah, babe?"

"So, you know that school I go to?"

"Uh… school?"

Briltasi pouted. Kavon was sweet, but he was so dumb. "Yeah, Drenlyn Academy! They're holding an arena to get more funds. The students are going to fight each other, and people are going to bet on them."

"Cool!"

"I found out some of the girls are picking champions." Briltasi turned to look at Kavon, and her heart skipped. Oh, he was so cute.

"Cool."

"I could use a handsome champion. I wonder where I'd find one?" She pouted at him.

Kavon scowled. "Huh? Hey, you can't pick someone else! I'm your guy!"

Briltasi sighed. Why did she have to explain everything to him? "I'm talking about you, dummy!"

"Oh! Okay, cool. But I'm not a student."

"Wear your helmet. That way, no one will know. It'll be like a big mystery, and everyone will wonder who my mystery knight is. And you're a big, tough guard, so you'll definitely win."

"Yeah!" He reached under his bunk, took out a steel longsword, and held it aloft. "Man, I've been waiting to use this on someone!"

"Wait, Kavvy! Not a real weapon, this is for a school arena!"

He blinked, and tilted his head like a confused baby guar. "Huh?"

Briltasi sighed. This was going to take a while.

*********

Synda kept her face perfectly still as Rovern Draalo stepped up for inspection. He was the middle son of the Draalos, a respectable family with investments in mainland corkbulb farms.

"I am honored by your request, Sera Grilvayn," he said.

Rovern had the build of a mighty warrior and a brain like a brick. In other words, ideal for Synda's needs.

"Grilvayn has long respected Draalo," Synda said. "My mother extends congratulations to your father for investing in corkbulbs. This will surely be of benefit to him, the company, and Great House Hlaalu."

"Uh," Rovern trailed off for a second, his eyes searching. The fool probably hadn't the faintest idea about investments. "Yes." He straightened up. "It is to the honor of Great House Hlaalu."

"Very good. As you know, Drenlyn Academy will be holding an arena competition. As the head of the Haute Society, a society dedicated to ensuring that Dunmer present themselves in a manner appropriate for our era, I would like to choose you as, like, our champion."

Rovern swallowed. "Uh, yes. Thank you, Sera Grilvayn. What do you want me to do?"

Synda hid her annoyance. "I want you to fight for me in the arena. Your wardrobe will be important, so dress well. Pick something you might wear to the retirement ceremony for a reputable administrator. As for the battle itself, your physique renders you a formidable combatant, so I doubt you will face much serious opposition. Specifically, I want you to defeat the Bosmer, Jeval Whitethorn."

"Why him? With respect, Sera Grilvayn, I'm not sure that'd be a fair match. I'm a lot bigger than he is."

"Arenas are about victory. Not fairness."

Rovern gulped. "If you say so, sera."

"The Leldros," she said, pointing to Nedrasa, who bowed her head at the acknowledgement, "have long been friends with the Ardrel family. Should you defeat Jeval, I will direct Nedrasa to ask the Ardrels to invite your family to Muthsera Rovone Ardrel's birthday celebration in a few months' time. Given your father's business, this could be a lucrative opportunity for him."

"Understood, Sera Grilvayn." He scowled. "I'll defeat Jeval."

"I certainly wouldn't complain if you hurt that upstart outlander as much as the rules allow."

He frowned. "Well, my father says that outlanders can be our friends, and—"

Synda rolled her eyes and made a dismissive gesture. "Like, whatever! Just win!"

*********

Loredas morning dawned bright, cold, and clear. Hours after a breakfast of saltrice porridge and scrib jerky, Daria found herself in the place she least wanted to be: Drenlyn Academy.

"It's important for you to put your best foot forward," Mom had said the last night. "Besides, your sister has a champion, and that means the entire family has one."

Daria had rolled her eyes. "If by champion you mean a living dress-up doll."

"I applaud Quinn's ambition. It's something you could stand to show more of."

The arena covered most of the courtyard and looked as cheap as she'd expected. Small black stones marked the boundary, and two sets of crude bleachers had been set up with stacked crates. Merchant stalls and showmen crowded up whatever space was left over.

"Truly a rival to the great arena of the Imperial City," Daria remarked.

Jane sat in the shade of the emperor parasol, a sketchpad and a piece of charcoal in her blackened hands. Daria hurried over to find refuge from her family.

"Any takers?" she asked.

"Not yet. I have the feeling this might not be the best crowd for fine art."

Nearby, a shirtless Nord spread his arms wide and burp-sang an epic's opening lines to the cheers of a bunch of young Drenlyn men.

"On the other hand, if you wanted someone to belch out the Lays of Ysgramor, this is the place," Daria said.

"Well, I know when I'm beat. But hey, it'll be fun to watch them fight each other. What brought you here, anyway?" Jane asked.

"My sister picked a champion, so all us Morgendorffers have to go out in a show of support."

Jane pressed her charcoal against the paper, her brow furrowing. "She started quite the trend with that."

"Maybe her next trend could be vows of silence. If that gets popular enough, I won't even need a new library."

"This champion thing is popular, though. Synda picked one too, for that creepy Haute Society of hers."

Synda. Hearing the name felt like a blow to the face. "Wait, what?"

Jane looked up from her pad. "They got Rovern as their champion. You know him, right? Big for a Dunmer, polite but dumb?"

I'm going to faint, Daria thought. No, not here. She had to stay calm. She was okay, she was safe. Synda didn't dare hurt her here.

"Daria?"

"I'm fine."

Except she wasn't. She was shaking and sweating and using every ounce of her diminishing willpower to keep from fleeing. Because if Synda lost, she might well take it out on Quinn, just the way she'd hired those Camonna Tong thugs to brutalize Daria a year ago.

"Uh, I think my mom's calling me," Daria said, her tongue as dry as the Alik'r, and she hurried back to her family.

*********

Jane watched her friend hurry back to the crowd.

"Since when does Daria ever listen to her mom?" she said to no one in particular.

Musical Closer - Geek Stink Breath, by Green Day

The ladies of Drenlyn are lining up their champions. Looks like we have Kavon, Rovern and Jeval.

’He blinked, and tilted his head like a confused baby guar. “Huh?”
- - Sounds like this ^ pretty well describes Kavon.

The presence of Synda has quite a profound impact on Daria. I was touched to realize that a notable measure of her apprehension is for Quinn should Synda’s champion fail to emerge victorious.

"Student disinterest!" Pretty soon it'll be like the Fallout universe, in which most books are burned-up trash!

So I can see some of the boys in this story getting involved in this arena. I can see the Three Js, for instance. Ha. Speaking of...

Still though, the 'non-lethal' element makes me think of this gigantic real-life DnD-like "campaign" me and my friends did a couple times in high school. We'd show up wearing foam "amor", wielding weapons made of PVC tubes, styrofoam and duct tape. I forget the name of the event. It had a specific name. ⚔

But the idea wasn't that we'd beat each other with these makeshift weapons, in fact it was encouraged to merely "tap" each other, just to keep any possible injuries to a mimimum. If you had a black weapon, this was 1-touch lethal. And because of this I have this memory of some swordsman with a duct-tape sword painted black running up to me, touching my shoulder with his weapon, and then him yelling at me "I TOUCHED YOU!! I TOUCHED YOU! YOU'RE DEAD!!!: Now you can see why we only went to two of these campaigns.

Uh oh, Quinn is scheming. What's she up to now? Probably going to put a selected combatant in color-coordinated gear.



YEah, take that, Quinny!

Oh my gosh, this is too funny. She's actually trying to recuit somebody already. OH my gosh, Jonus is crying! ... They're all grovelling for her attention. What has this Quinn got that's so damn special? 🙋

Okay so Bril is picking somebody who goes to a different school, right? And so is Sydna. Crazy. I love how these ladies are weaseling their way into stuff that has nothing to do with combat, nothing to do with Magistrate Lli's idea to further funds for the broken library. Difference with Sydna is, she's not picking the stuff her subject will wear. But she'll maybe approve of what he'll wear.

Yikes, so what exactly did Sydna do to Daria? Maybe this was mentioned in a past chapter, but I don't remember.

Chapter 4

Briltasi never liked seeing Kavon in his helmet. It was big and yellow, and made him look like an enormous bug. The only nice part was when he took it off and she'd see his face, and then the wind ruffled his hair…

She shook her head. Time to focus!

"Now remember, Kavvy," she said as she walked with him to Jolda's sign-up desk. "You aren't Kavon today."

"Uh, I'm not?" He asked, his voice muffled by the bonemold.

"You're my mystery knight!"

"Okay, but what if someone asks my name?"

"Say that you've sworn yourself to secrecy for your lady love. Try to make it sound like you're a noble knight."

"Sworn myself to secrecy for my babe," he said. "Got it."

"For my lady love! You have to be romantic for this because knights are romantic."

"But I'm not a knight!" he protested. "I'm a guard."

"Right, but you're a knight for today."

"Does this mean I get a pay raise?"

Briltasi took Kavon's hand and pulled him forward. Jolda sat at the desk, the sign-up parchment weighed down by a couple of stones. Maiko, that soldier she pretended she wasn't dating, stood next to her in his uniform.

"Hi, Briltasi," Jolda said.

"Hi! Can we still sign people up for the arena?"

"Sure. We're actually kind of low on contestants. Some of the people who said they were going to show up didn't." Her eyes narrowed. "Who's the guy in the helmet?"

This was the moment. Briltasi looked worshipfully up at the ugly helmet because there was a handsome face behind it that she knew about, but no one else did.

"This is my mystery knight! A gallant warrior so enraptured by my beauty that he's pledged to fight and win in this arena so that he might one day have my hand in marriage."

"Wait, you want to get married—" Kavon began.

"That's very romantic," Jolda said. "But the rules say we need to have a name on the sheet."

"But it's a mystery! If I tell everyone who it is that'll spoil the drama," Briltasi protested.

Jolda shook her head. "Sorry, I don't make the rules, but I have to follow them. Plus, only students are allowed to participate."

Stupid rules! They always ruined the fun. Bad enough that she wasn't allowed to see Kavon just because he was lowborn. What was the point of being highborn if you couldn't have fun?

"He is a student! He's uh…"

What student looked like Kavon? Then it hit her: Rovern Draalo. He was huge.

"Rovern Draalo. Yeah, that's right," she said.

"You mean that Rovern over there?" Jolda said, pointing over to where Rovern talked to Synda.

"Eep! No, this is, uh, a different Rovern. Rovern!" she said to Kavon. "Why don't we go somewhere else so you can tell me your real last name in private."

Kavon stood and stared straight ahead, like he hadn't heard anything.

"Rovern!"

"Huh? Babe, she said Rovern is that guy over there." Kavon pointed back to Rovern. "I'm Kav—"

Fuming, Briltasi grabbed Kavon's hand and stormed off.

Kavon was lucky he was cute.

*********

Daria found Quinn with the rest of the Fashion Club in one of the pavilions, where they added the finishing touches to Jeval's outfit. Jeval did look sharp. Instead of his usual baggy tunic and pants, he wore a tight dark blue netch leather jerkin over a long-sleeved black tunic, with sturdy hide boots over fitted gray trousers. Stylish but also pragmatic. Not that Daria would ever admit this out loud.

She took Quinn by the arm and pulled her outside.

"Huh? What's going on, Daria?" she demanded. "I'm busy right now!"

"Remember that conversation we had about Synda a while back? How she's dangerous?"

"Yeah, sort of."

Daria tightened her grip on her sister's arm. "Maybe now's a good time to think back on that. She has a champion, too. And she might not take well to losing."

Quinn jerked her arm free. "You are so paranoid, Daria! You know, our ancestors didn't create an empire by running away every time they met a bully."

"Largely because we usually were the bully," Daria said.

"Whatever. I don't know why you're so scared."

Because Synda's thugs beat me bloody into the ground. The words sizzled in her mouth, ready to be released, to finally let someone know what happened, to have them hold her and tell her she'd be safe and that she didn't have anything to worry about, that it was okay she wanted to hide because she'd been hurt so badly, because she'd carried the secret for so long.

Synda stood nearby, her eyes on Daria. The threat echoed in her memory.

"Synda might have Camonna Tong connections," Daria warned.

Quinn sighed. "We already went over this. Her family's important, but they're a boring business family like ours. Even if she was, it's not like you can sic the Camonna Tong on someone just because they beat you in a contest. If it was like that, outlanders like us would never win anything. Daria, I hang out with Dunmer who actually know what's going on here, so maybe I'm smarter than you in this. Now leave me alone because Jeval's cufflink is missing a button, and I need to fix that!"

She turned around and stormed back to her champion, her body language changing mid-stride so that she went from angry and pent-up to busy and attentive, as if nothing at all had happened. Which, as far as Quinn was concerned, was true.

Daria cursed under her breath. Was she crazy? Half the time, it was like the attack had never happened, like it was all a violent delusion exclusive to her and Synda. Quinn had a point, too. Would the Camonna Tong truly spend that much effort on someone like her? Or for someone like Synda?

The memory of pain was proof enough.

There had to be some way to disrupt the competition. Maybe she could sign someone up herself? But it looked like most of the viable Drenlyn attendees were already on the roster.

Not far off, Briltasi argued with a helmeted Dunmer in bonemold armor that left his belly button exposed. That had to be Kavon.

Maybe she could work with this.

Musical Closer - Debaser, by The Pixies

Yep, imbalance, what an appropriate word. And how do we correct imbalances in Elder Scrolls games? With a mod, of course! All I needed was to install a mod back in 1986 to correct this! Maybe I should've shown up to the field we ran around in with my "mod-added" Black Armor of Vigilance, which is impervious to black weapon attacks. And when the LARP captains began explaing the rules, I'd just say "But I installed my Black Armor of Vigilance mod, which is impervious to Black Weapon attacks!!! What... you guys don't know about mods, yet?"

Nyah nyah.

Whoa, so Kavon is a guard. Yikesy. Probably there aren't any rules against non-students yet, eh? Edit: yes there are. So this is why she wants "Kavvy" to stay under his helmet.

Kavvy the Mystery Knight! She wants him to be romantic. Jeez, this is funny again. Either I'm laughing my 4$$ off during this story, or sobbing, right? Love this. Kavon is so dumb!

Jeval's outfit sounds appropriate, nothing too wild like I was imagining. I thought he was about to show up wearing pink armor accented with magenta, or something totally girly.



This right here is an important detail. Like a lot of mall princesses, Quinn's a mental chameleon. She can manipulate her mood the way some of us change dresses. Which begs the question: are the moods she's portraying deceptive in a way, and if so, how often are they deceptive?

Heh. I'm probably overthinking this. Still, that is a common thing I've seen amongst manipulative people, especially princesses who need to get their way. 🧑‍🎤

Uh oh, what's Daria up to next? By the way, thanks for explaining about Sydna and Daria. I'll go back and read that again.

Yes, too bad Kavon is so lowborn lowbrained. To the point that I’m really questioning Britalsi’s judgment now. He is a hoot to read though.

It will be interesting to see how prophetic Daria’s warning to Quinn is. That is assuming that Synda’s champion doesn’t win. . . and right now, Rovern is looking pretty good for this contest. Wonder what Daria’s planning with Kavon? Maybe she could donate just a sliver of her ample brain to him?

I quoted this because now that I know the characters really well, this is great to see middle-aged versions of them.

Oh boy, Kavon will be the mystery knight. Given that he's a football player fighters guild member, I would put good odds on him winning. Unless Jodi gets Mack to enter as well. He seems tougher, if not more focused (not to mention he has brain cells).

Rovern sounds like a bigger, thicker version of Kavon! Maybe a little nicer though. He at least did not pull out a real sword right off the bat. Sydna however, continues to be the low down dirty kwama forager that she always is.

Maybe Daria could get Trent to be her champion! Now that would be a sight. He would oversleep and show up six hours after the competition was over with.

Oh boy, Daria is having another panic attack from her PTSD. So great when that goes untreated...

Ok, I remember Robert now. Good pick. He was always nice, and as boring as watching paint dry.


***

I love how you wove in Kavon's helmet being yellow, to fit in with his football helmet from the TV show. Even his flat abs are exposed! Perfect!

Oh boy, hijinks over the Mystery Knight's name! Clearly, Brittany did not think this out very far. What am I saying? *facepalm*

Well, at least the Fashion Club got the chance to do what they do best when they dressed up Jeval. Hopefully that snazzy outfit won't get ruined by all the blood that is sure to follow...

For once, Quinn actually does know better than Daria. That is scary. But then, that is what trauma does to people.

Chapter 5

"Your attention please!" Director Lli announced. Her thin, sharp voice barely broke over the noise of the crowd, so she banged her ceremonial staff on a nearby crate to draw their attention.

"Thank you! I'm pleased to announce the commencement of the first Drenlyn Arena Competition! On this bright morning, Drenlyn students will conduct simulated battle on academy grounds for your entertainment. Given that our Empire was founded on martial prowess, it's only fitting that our young people practice the ways of blade and shield so that they will be ready to someday bring war to our enemies across the sea.

"The rules are simple: two students at a time will take to the field with helmets and padded swords. Each match is best two out of three rounds. A round lasts a maximum of three minutes and goes until a combatant surrenders or can no longer stand up under their own power. Don't fret, we have some temple healers on standby.

"We have a standard single-elimination tourney bracket. The winner will be declared Champion of Drenlyn. This is a purely decorative title, but the winner can stand tall knowing that they've brought honor, and glory, to Drenlyn Academy. And to Great House Hlaalu, our beloved Emperor, and the gods we worship. With that said…"

She breathed in. "Let the games begin!"

Director Lli stepped back and gestured with her hand. Karl the Unctuous, dressed in a bright yellow long coat with silver thread running through the lapels and cuffs, stepped up to the announcement dais.

"Are you ready for the thrill of combat?" he called out, raising a clenched fist. "To see blood spilled on the virgin sand of the Drenlyn Arena?"

Murmurs of assent from the crowd.

Karl cupped his right hand around his ear and tilted his head. "I can't hear you!"

Louder that time.

"That was better, but still quiet." He took on a disappointed mien. "Could it be that we've got some squeamish types here? Those who think that the arena is too violent for young minds? Oh, whatever will our Empire do if the hearts of its citizens flutter so timidly?" He raised a hand to his brow for emphasis.

"No!" the crowd roared.

He stood at attention. "In that case, are you ready for combat? And tell me like you mean it!"

"We're ready!" they screamed as one.

"That's more like it! Now, let's give a round of applause to our first two contestants!"

Karl paused to let the new meat march into the pit as the audience clapped and cheered.

"On my right, we have Marcus Antabolis, of proud Cyrodiilic stock! His father's a big name in the Fighters Guild, so we'll see if he carries on the family tradition. On my left, Novryna Llerso, a native daughter of Balmora who's ready to make her city proud…"

*********

This sucked!

Briltasi pouted at the edge of the arena as the fighting started. This was supposed to be her and Kavvy's moment. But all those stupid rules kept getting in the way. Sometimes she wished she lived in High Rock. None of the gallant knights in her stepmom's novels ever had to deal with that kind of junk when they were off rescuing fair maidens or slaying dragons.

"Uh, are you mad at me, babe?" Kavon asked.

"I'm mad at them. I wanted you to win, and I know you could have. And then you could carry me away from Drenlyn, and everyone would wonder who my masked mystery knight was, and then we'd make out somewhere, and I'd be like one of the princesses I read about!"

"Aw," Kavon sighed.

The loud thwack of a wooden sword slamming into someone's head caught her attention. Marcus staggered back and fell into the arena dust.

"Novryna Llerso wins Round One! Now that's what I call feisty! Next up…"

Briltasi watched as the next two fighters, both humans, took to the field. She sighed. That could have been Kavon getting wounded for her. Then she'd nurse him back to health, like in that one book she read!

"What are you two doing here?"

It was Daria, her whole body kind of twitchy, like she was nervous or waiting for something bad to happen. Even weirder, she was carrying one of the practice swords. Had she signed up? She didn't seem like the arena type.

"Hi," Briltasi said sadly. "I brought Kavon to fight for me in the arena. But I guess you have to be a student or something."

Kavon turned to Daria. "It sucks that I can't fight for my babe."

"Hm, funny you should mention that." Daria paused and straightened her dress. "Since, uh, Director Lli just told me she wants to make good with the Hlaalu security forces and give them a chance to shine. You, Kavon, are a member of those security forces."

Briltasi frowned. Daria didn't usually sound nervous, but she sounded nervous that time.

"Huh?" Kavon tried to scratch his head through his helmet.

"You're a guard, aren't you? Lli wants to impress the guards. But you have to jump into the fight now!"

"That's great! Uh, I need one of those wooden sword thingies—"

Daria handed him hers. "Here you go. She wanted me to give this to you."

Kavon gasped as he took the hilt. "Thanks, Daria!" He turned to Briltasi. "Babe, this is great! Now I can fight for you!"

Briltasi squeaked as Kavon took her by the waist and pushed his helmeted face right into her nose!

"Kavon, you're still wearing your helmet!" she protested.

But he'd already let her go and run off to battle. Briltasi glared at Daria.

"I don't believe you! I think you tricked Kavvy into fighting—"

A mighty war cry rang out across the arena as Kavon made his debut.

"I'm the Mystery Knight!" he cried. "I fight because I love my babe!"

He crashed into one of the fighters and knocked the guy down. Oh, he was so enthusiastic! Briltasi imagined herself at the top of a castle parapet, with Kavvy singing to her below and then killing a big monster, and then they'd have a big feast and get married and her dad wouldn't care that he was lowborn, since he'd been so very brave!

She clasped her hands and sighed in bliss.

"You can thank me later," Daria said.

*********

Jonus sat on the bench, adjusting the straps that kept his padded helmet attached. He watched as Round 2 started, between Hjaring and Latif.

"Man, what does Quinn see in Jeval?" Julien complained, sitting next to him on the bench.

"Beats me." He looked to Julien. "Hey, we gotta kick his ass. That way, one of us is sure to impress Quinn."

"Right. But what if someone else beats him?"

Jonus shrugged. "Look, we have to try our hardest, okay? Even if we never fight Jeval, Quinn's sure to go out with whoever wins the tournament, and that can still be one of us."

"I guess—"

Suddenly this huge Dunmer dude in bonemold armor charged screaming onto the arena and bowled Hjaring over. Right after, the new guy wailed on Latif with his sword. Latif tried to ward off the blows. But then Hjaring got up and started hitting the big guy, turning it into a crazy three-way fight.

"Hey, I thought it was supposed to be one-on-one!" Julien said.

"I thought so, too."

Karl's voice barely broke over the shouts: "I don't believe what I'm seeing here, folks! It looks like a new warrior has jumped into the battle. Against regulations, but it does make for a helluva show!"

Then that chick with the glasses—Quinn's sister, Daria—jogged up to them, out of breath.

"Jonus, Julien," she said. "You guys like my sister, right?"

"More than anything!" Jonus said.

"And I like her even more than more than anything!" Julien boasted.

"Lucky for you, verbal eloquence isn't high on her list of turn-ons. Look, she told me she picked Jeval as a test. But that means you have to prove yourselves."

She pointed to the arena, where three guys still beat on each other as the crowd cheered.

"I bet anyone who could take out those three would be off to a good start," Daria said.

"She'll date whoever wins?"

"Not necessarily. But you'll at least get her attention."

Julien sprang to his feet. "That's enough for me! Come on, man."

"Finally!" Jonus grabbed his sword, ready to wreck the competition.

"Don't forget: you two are competing with each other as well," Daria said.

She had a point. Jonus glared at Julien. He studied his friend's movement. Was Julien going to try some sneak attack?

He'd try to play it peaceful, first. "Let's team up to get rid of the big guy. Then we go after each other," Jonus said.

"Yeah? Or maybe you're just saying that to get me to turn my back!" Julien retorted.

Whatever, he'd tried. Jonus bellowed and charged Julien with his sword upraised. Julien jumped out of the way, and Jonus skidded in the dust.

"Oh no! And it looks like another fight has broken out!" Karl announced. "Chaos rules the day at Drenlyn Academy!"

Jonus spun around as Julien ran for another strike. He swung his sword and drove the flattened edge into Julien's ribcage. His friend grunted but kept up the attack. Pain exploded in Jonus's head as the sword bounced off his crown.

"Ow, that hurt!"

Jonus swung wild and grinned when his sword hit something. Then he realized he hadn't hit Julien. Instead, he'd hit Agrippina, who'd been watching from the bench.

"What the hell was that?" she demanded. Taking her own weapon, she screamed and attacked Jonus.

Musical Closer - Can't Stop, by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Karl is the hype man. Perfect casting.

Britalsi is hilarious to read. Like all the other characters, you portray her exactly as she was in the TV show.

Go Daria, Kavon is in the fight! He should have brought a folding chair to the ring, that would have made it the perfect pro wrestling moment!

Daria has cast a chaos rune on the arena. And I bet the crowd is going to love it!

They're really going to do this battle thing. Students battling, mostly. This is intense.

I like how Karl comes out, all confident. Like somebody in WWE! I think that's the wrestling organization.

This sucks? Oh my gosh Kavon's really dumb. And Bril seems out of touch with reality, or something. She wants him to get hurt so she can nurse him back?



This is funny! "I'M THE MYSTERY MAN, AND I'M HERE TO FIGHT FOR MY BABE!" ... Goodness! Isn't this sort of stuff what they do in those silly wrestling organizations, though?

Two of the Js are still moaning about Quinn. I don't get it! Now that I've seen her picture, sure she's cute. Not really stunning, though. It's like the Three Js are delusional. Or maybe Quinn's got a secret amulet which attracts them or something. Oh wow.

Looks like things are getting out of hand!

Karl did a good job at warming up the crowd.

Kavon gives his BritalsiBabe a quick kiss for luck – through his closed face helm.

Daria! You conniving, rule-thwarting, sabotaging miscreant! You go, girl!

Can’t wait to see how Synda responds to this mayhem.

Chapter 6

Jeval watched, dumbfounded, as riot reigned over the tournament. It had all happened so fast: first, Latif and Hjaring were fighting. Then the big guy jumped in. Then Jonus and Julien started their own fight, with most everyone else following shortly after.

"Uh, Quinn?" he asked. "What do you want me to do?"

"I don't know; this is terrible! The whole point was to show off how we dressed you, but no one's going to pay attention now!"

The brawl kept getting bigger. And closer. Jeval stepped back with his arm outstretched, not wanting an errant blow to hit Quinn or her friends.

Instead, an errant blow hit him on the side of the head.

"Agh!" he cried out, vision flashing.

"Hey, Jeval!"

It was Julien, blood streaming from his nose and his teeth locked in a mad grin. "Come on! Let's do this!"

"Julien, I don't think the tournament's happening any—"

"Yaaargh!" Julien screamed as he charged, his sword raised high.

Jeval brought up his own blade—or stick, actually—with both hands to block the strike. The impact rattled through his arms. Gritting his teeth, he pushed back hard enough to knock Julien off-balance and followed it up with a strike to his side.

It seemed he was going to be the Fashion Club champion regardless. But hey, he looked damn good doing it!

*********

Briltasi watched in delight as Kavon trashed the competition. Oh, he was like a mighty mountain rising above the waves of a storm-tossed coast, strong against the fury of sea and sky! She sighed. Again.

It was getting hard to see him in all the chaos, but his heroic figure stood out from the dust and flying bodies, his movements elegant like a dancer's and so very strong. Then, one of the students wrapped an arm around Kavon's neck, trying to get him into some kind of hold. Two more started pummeling him.

That wasn't fair! Those little dweebs teamed up on him because they couldn't fight him one-on-one like men. Briltasi closed her hands into fists and glared.

"Oooohh…"

He'd throw them off. Except he still hadn't. Oh, they were beating him up!

Not on her watch.

Raising her voice in a shrill battle cry, Briltasi charged into the fray to save her beautiful, clueless knight.

*********

Jolda had retreated to the edge of the arena as chaos erupted around her. Maiko stood next to her, looking like he was trying not to laugh.

"Go ahead, laugh," she said.

"No, no! But these guys aren't very good fighters."

"What do you expect? They're a bunch of kids. Think maybe you could rein them in?"

He shook his head. "I'd need a bigger team for that. Don't worry, Jolda; I won't let them get too close."

"I'm not worried about that," she said. "More about Lli blaming me for this. She's not too big on being embarrassed. And if Lli complains, my dad will be on my case."

"You didn't do anything wrong, Jolda. I'll vouch for you. And you know how impressed Lli is with a uniform."

She leaned on him, reassured by his presence. "Thanks."

Sweat plastered Jeval's clothes to his skin. Probably not the most fashionable look, but it couldn't be helped. He'd beaten Julien, and after that, Jonus (by the looks of it, a few people had already beaten Jonus before him). It's not like Jeval knew much about sparring, but he was nimbler than his human peers, and that gave him an edge.

He was almost out of energy, though.

"Hey! Jeval!"

A blow from a nearby fight whistled through the air and missed Jeval by inches. He didn't flinch. The guy talking to him was Rovern. Jeval knew him a bit, but not well.

"Yeah?"

"So, I gotta fight you." Rovern pointed at himself with his left thumb.

Jeval's brow furrowed. "Why? Dude, the tournament's not a thing anymore—"

"Not about that; I promised someone I would. It's not personal or nothing. Just wanted you to know."

Rovern was big. Jeval was tired.

"Can't you say we fought and not do it?" Jeval asked. "I'm pretty beat."

Rovern looked back over his shoulder. Jeval couldn't see to whom. "Sorry, no can do. I'll make it quick."

Jeval shrugged and raised his weapon. "Bring it on, then. I already took out—"

Rovern swung, hitting Jeval's sword hard enough to tear it out of his hands and send it hurtling through the air.

"Aw, crap," Jeval uttered.

*********

Briltasi sat in the dirt and rested her back against the bleachers. Kavon slumped next to her with a black eye and a split lip. The battle had ended, the combatants either standing around confused or lying exhausted in the shade. She could barely hear Director Lli shouting "All tickets are non-refundable!" somewhere in the distance.

Her entire body ached. But she'd done it! Taken out two of the goons bothering Kavon all on her own! They hadn't expected her to move so quickly or strike so hard!

"Ugh," Kavon groaned.

"Oh, Kavvy!" she said. "You fought so bravely!"

"But you had to come help me."

True. But Kavvy would get sulky if he thought he was a bad fighter. "I got mad seeing them gang up on you. That was like, unchivalrous! I know you'd have beaten them in the end."

"Aw! Thanks babe!"

They embraced each other fiercely, like in one of those novels.

"Ow, my ribs!" Kavon shrieked.

"Ooh! My back!" Briltasi cried at the same time.

They disengaged and rolled back to the sides.

"I guess knights and princesses can't make out after battles like they do in the books," she said.

"Yeah," Kavon agreed. "Battles kinda suck."

*********

An angel with hair like molten copper hovered over Jeval.

Then his vision came to. The angel was Quinn, her eyes wide and lips tight with worry as she pressed a damp cloth against his brow.

"Stay still! That guy hit you hard," she said.

He winced at the pounding pain in his skull. The rest of the Fashion Club stood around him. The battle seemed to be over.

"Are you hurt bad?" Satheri asked.

"I'll be okay."

"Guys," Quinn said, "Jeval did a lot for us. I vote we let him into the club!"

"Wait!" Jeval protested. "I liked the way you made me look. I felt like, cool and stuff. But people will look at me weird if I join you guys. It's just…"

He felt his cheeks grow hot. "It's not something guys are supposed to do."

"What if you joined as an unofficial male consultant?" Treads-on-Ferns suggested. "We'll be discreet about this, of course."

"That's such a great idea, Treads!" Quinn cheered.

Jeval thought it over. "Unofficial? Yeah, okay, I can do that. Besides, after today, I'm probably going to need some new friends."

Quinn leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. His heart stopped for a moment, taking in all the impressions: her red hair, still shining amidst the dust; her sweet summery scent; her lips, soft and tender, pressed against his cheek. No woman in the entire world could be more beautiful than her. He knew she'd only meant the kiss as a friendly gesture, but it brought back so much.

"Aw, crap," he whispered.

"What was that?" she asked, drawing back.

He blushed again. "Nothing!"

Maybe if he waited long enough, it'd go away. But he wasn't sure he wanted it to.

*********

The Morgendorffers had begun the walk home.

"Wow, that got pretty wild back there! Kinda short, but it was a great show," Dad exclaimed.

"That was an utter travesty," Mom said, shaking her head.

"They didn't even see the outfit we put together for Jeval!" Quinn complained. "But I guess Synda didn't get to show off her champion, either."

Daria said nothing. She'd negated the tournament. But from what she'd heard, it didn't sound like Quinn's champion had had any chance of beating Synda's, rendering her actions largely moot. And actually, she admitted, rather dangerous. No one had been seriously hurt, but it could've gone the wrong way. She'd technically instigated a riot, which counted as a crime. All for what? To protect Quinn from someone who might not be that much of a danger?

She couldn't keep doing things like this. With Quinn the head of the Fashion Club, and Synda in charge of the Haute Society, confrontation was inevitable. Someday soon, she'd have to tell Quinn what had happened.

At the same time, Daria wondered if it had really happened the way Synda had described it. Since the more she thought about it, the less sense it made for the Camonna Tong to do Synda's bidding.

But she had to be sure before she did anything.

Musical Closer - [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88sbbIX07Qg]The Sporting Life, by The Decemberists
[/url]
The End

Oh no, no one is going to pay attention to how Jeval is dressed!

You go Briltasi! Get in there and save your man! I wish I could see this happening in real life. It is priceless!

Looks like Daria is finally going to do some detective digging into the case of the Mysterious Sydna and the Cammona Tong. Hopefully she will regain some of her self-confidence along the way.

Daria’s engineered mayhem was a hoot! She did indeed undo the arena. I’ve reconsidered my opinions of Kavon and Britalsi. I actually think they go together well. Between the two of them they probably can muster most of an entire brain and, well, they are kinda cute together.

Jeval earned himself the Holy Grail – a kiss from Quinn!

I’m betting Daria should be able to ferret out that, although Synda is a formidable foe on her own, I don’t think she has any Tong influence.

What a mess this turned out to be! Quinn is upset because her Fashion Club probably won't get its free advertizement! Wow. Go Kavvy, go! Oh no. Bril's going up there, too???

All three Js are down! Sounds like the fight has come to an end. Well hey, at least Bril's got her wish now. The babe can nurse her man back to health (assuming that was not an empty promise). "Battles kinda suck!"

Wow, Jeval got a kiss. Alright, dude, high five! ... Wait... if waited long enough what would go away? (ha ha, kidding).

Hey, at least Daria's okay. She didn't get kidnapped by Camonna Tong. Well good job writing this up, Clavier. Quite entertaining, I must say.




Oh yeah, you definitely got the vibe. I've never watched it either, but I've seen plenty of TV commercials for some pro wrestling events peripherally while not paying full attention. I also worked with a guy who wrestled on an amateur level. That's when I worked at Chili's! Anyway, one night after work we all went to watch the guys beat each other up in some local VFW hall, it was both funny and pathetic at the same time!

I can tell you this, though. The main thing a lot of folks say about pro wrestling is "but it's all fake. It's all scripted." And yes, this is true to some extent. When Hulk Hogan went up against Iron Sheik (or whomever) and one of these two won, that would be a scripted outcome. But what I've learned from the Chili's wrestler/waiter was that there are moments when things go too far. Anger overcomes one guy, and things happen which don't seem fake, anymore. This is why that question still comes up after all these decades: "is wrestling fake?"

A great movie is The Wrestler, starring Micky Rourke and Marisa Tomei. Micky fights on an amateur level, and it captures those moments. For instance, there's a scene where he goes up against 'The Stapler', whose schtick is that he uses a stapler as he fights. Micky does not know this beforehand. You'll see what happens there if you ever watch.

Episode 17: The Horn Identity

Dad hadn't shaved his horns in a while.

The two bony protuberances stuck up from his forehead, strands of limp blond hair hanging like curtains off the sides. Dad didn't used to wear his hair long but had started ever since they'd moved to Balmora. Come to think of it, that was when he'd stopped shaving his horns as regularly.

For his part, Jeval was glad that he hadn't inherited horns. It was already tough enough to make your way as a Bosmer in Morrowind. Horns made it harder.

It was late on Fredas night. Mom and his little sister were already asleep. Jeval had been headed to his room when his dad pulled him into the kitchen to ask the usual junk about his day. Jeval gave the short version, hoping Dad would take the hint and let him go. Dad never got the hint.

"If you like this girl, just tell her. That's how I did it with your mom back in the village." Dad flashed his sharpened teeth in a grin. "And some girls before her, too."

Jeval sighed. He wished he hadn't told Dad about Quinn. Now Dad was going to give all this advice that might have worked great if Jeval was after a Bosmer girl in Valenwood. Not so great when he was after an Imperial girl in Morrowind.

"I kinda did earlier," Jeval admitted, thinking back to the dumb things he used to do with Jonus and Julien to get Quinn's attention. Amazing she put up with him at all. Any minute, he expected her to bring that up and push him to the side, and this time for good.

"It didn't work?" Dad pressed on.

"Uh, hard to say. Didn't get a clear answer."

"Then move on. Life's short, even for Mer." Dad leaned in. "You know, I remember a guy from the village, Gochal. Everyone liked him. Then one day, a senche-tiger jumped out of the bush and dragged him away."

Jeval didn't roll his eyes, but he wanted to. "Senche-tigers don't live in Balmora, Dad."

Dad made a dismissive gesture. "Don't waste time over this girl. Go for someone else. You're as sentimental as an Imperial."

Jeval had gone after others. For a while. Then Quinn had kissed him. Just on the cheek, so not like she was interested. But by all the gods, he wanted to freeze that moment forever: her soft lips pressed against his flesh, his cuts and bruises forgotten.

"Yeah, well," Jeval said, wondering how far he wanted to go, "you did raise me in an Imperial town. If you wanted me to be like a proper Bosmer, you should've stayed in Valenwood."

He'd gone too far. He saw it in the way the crinkles around Dad's eyes furrowed, the tension that crept up his arms. Jeval braced himself. Whatever, bring it on.

Instead, Dad relaxed. "Ah, but you still got that Bosmer survival sense," he said, reaching out and poking Jeval's chest with a bony index finger. "Use it! That's how we survived the jungle, and that's how we'll survive here."

Jeval's cheeks burned at the gesture. "Right, survival skills are what you need in the jungle. But you want to get anywhere here, you need social skills. Anyway, I'm beat; I need sleep," he said, cutting off the conversation before it got any more awkward.

*********

He woke up at dawn to fetch the day's water, like always. A light drizzle misted the streets as he stepped out of the house, wrapped up in a warm but ugly wool cloak that he'd never let Quinn catch him wearing. Bucket in hand and his breath coming out in puffs of mist, he made his way to the fountain in Llethri Plaza. A silt strider crooned in the distance.

Women already lined up at the fountain, most of them Imperials and other humans. News and gossip jumped from mouth to mouth, and in minutes, Jeval learned that Otulus's son had abandoned the family business to join the legion and that Rylata really was going to sell her mother's jewelry (the shame of it all!) so that her daughter could invest in some crazy scheme.

No one talked to Jeval. As the only guy in the line, he stood out. Dad said that in Valenwood, the youngest and strongest people gathered water since they'd best be able to avoid crocodiles. Balmora didn't have crocodiles, but Jeval was young and strong, so it was his job anyway. He'd always hidden this chore from Jonus and Julien. They'd give him a hard time for doing what most people thought was women's work. He hadn't told the Fashion Club either. Felt weird enough that he hung out with girls to talk about fashion.

Maybe the Fashion Club saw him as one of the girls. Which was okay, except he didn't want Quinn to see him that way.

The line inched forward beneath the murky skies. Jeval tapped his foot. He hated how long it always took. Maybe they should do it like in Valenwood and gather water from the river. Not that he'd ever drink from the Odai. His turn finally came, and he put his bucket under the stream and let it fill up. Once done, he sidled past a pair of middle-aged Nord women talking about how Hjufra Tawny-braid had rejected another suitor, and could you believe she'd be so picky at her age?

Well, why shouldn't she be picky? he wondered. Jeval guessed he was pretty picky, too.

Thunder boomed somewhere in the distance. Great. Dad hadn't thought it was going to actually rain that day. Otherwise, they'd have left the bucket on the roof. Oh well, what was one more pointless task? Grimacing, he hurried back to his house as the drizzle turned to rain. He'd almost reached the front door when he saw Treads-on-Ferns on the other side of the street, her snout pointed at the sky. She cradled a box in her scaly arms.

"Treads?" he called out.

Her yellow eyes opened. "Oh, hi, Jeval. Didn't know you lived here."

"Uh, what are you doing out in the rain? Actually, I need to get this inside so my mom can make breakfast. Hold on."

Jeval opened the door and went to the kitchen, where his sister was already stoking the coals in the stove while Mom poured saltrice into a big mixing bowl for the morning's porridge.

"Here's the water," he said. Then he grabbed a battered guar-hide parasol and walked back out, taking a minute to finagle the parasol through the door.

Treads-on-Ferns was looking up at the sky again when he joined her. He stood close and raised the parasol over their heads. She made a sound that was kind of like a purr, except not quite. Jeval was pretty sure that was a good sound. "Thanks, but no need," she said. "Rainwater's good for my scales. Makes them vibrant."

"Oh, uh, okay," he said, stepping to the side so that the parasol only covered him. "So what are you doing out this early?"

Treads gestured to the box in her hand, which had a little slot at the top. "Donations for the Argonian Mission. My parents have me do this every Loredas morning."

"Argonian Mission?" Jeval asked.

"Yeah. They do what they can to help Argonians in Morrowind."

"Oh, cool. Is there a Bosmer Mission?"

"There is, but I think it's on the mainland."

"Cool, I didn't know we had one." A gust cut through the street, and Jeval shivered. "So you raise a lot of cash?"

She shook her head. "Nah."

Feeling a bit guilty, Jeval reached into his pocket and took out a few tarnished septims, which he put into the box. "Sorry," he said. "Don't have a lot on me."

"Thank you. Every bit helps."

"Why don't you ask Quinn and the others? They have more than I do."

"Quinn contributed some when I asked her. But bugging friends to do that is a good way to lose friends." She hissed. "I'm not in a position where I can afford to do that, you know?"

"Yeah. Quinn's something else," Jeval said.

She was. He'd seen plenty of hot babes in Drenlyn, but Quinn had something more. Like when she talked to you, she made you feel like you mattered.

Even if you didn't.

"You're still in love with her, aren't you," Treads said.

Jeval gulped.

"Don't worry, I won't say anything," Treads continued. "But I'll tell you right now, she doesn't feel the same way about you."

Jeval hung his head. "Yeah, I get that. I mean, I'm not going to make a lot of drama over this or anything. Sucks though. Is there a guy she likes?" Which, he realized, was a dumb thing to ask. "Not like you have to tell me—" he started.

"I can decide on my own what to tell you. To answer your question, if she does, she hasn't told me. Honestly, I'm not sure Quinn actually cares about romance that much. She loves the idea of it, but so far as I can tell, she's never been interested in anyone in that way."

"Huh," Jeval said, nodding. "That's kinda cool, I guess. Beats having crushes, right?"

That wouldn't hurt so bad. Quinn, always beautiful, always chaste. And him at her side, friends to the very end. But that was a dumb thing to think. Plus, since he was a Bosmer, he'd live way longer than her. It was okay to date humans, Dad always said, but you should only marry Mer. Which ticked Jeval off whenever he heard it, but yeah, the age thing (and a million other things) made Man-Mer romances complicated.

"Do you have anyone, Treads?" he asked.

Treads fluttered her eyelids and inched closer. "Why?" she whispered. "You trying to tell me you're interested?"

"Oh…" Jeval trailed off. He had screwed up big-time. "You're really, uh, cool and—"

A bunch of short hisses escaped her mouth, whistling past her sharp teeth. Laughter, he was pretty sure. She'd pranked him.

"I'm giving you a hard time. No offense, but I don't find Men or Mer attractive. Which I'm fine with because they don't usually find Argonians attractive."

"Right," he said. He scratched the back of his neck with his free hand. Was he offending her? Dammit, he didn't know what to say. "Most people don't find Bosmer attractive, either. Not Bosmer guys, anyway. We're too short, skinny, and weird-looking."

Though plenty of humans liked to get it on with Bosmer girls. He left it unsaid, though.

The scales above Treads-on-Ferns's eyes sank slightly as she looked him over. Maybe her version of raising her eyebrows? "You look pretty normal to me. I'll admit I might not pick up on some of the differences. But hey, Bosmer girls like Bosmer guys, right?"

"Yeah. But there aren't a lot my age here in Balmora. And Quinn's the one I want."

"You're going to have to get over her sooner or later, Jeval."

He let out a breath and looked down at the ground. "I know. It's just… it's hard. Like, I can't imagine finding anyone better."

"She is pretty impressive. Have you noticed she seems to attract a lot of broken people? Tiphannia's got that brain fog, Satheri's always in a panic, I'm an Argonian in a province that hates my people. But we're all with her."

"Yeah! It's like she fixes us."

Treads-on-Ferns shook her head. "No, she doesn't. She can't. But for a while, she makes it seem like being broken is okay."

Jeval thought about it a bit. Was he broken? He felt lost, at least. "I guess I'll take that," he said.

They stood in silence for a while, listening to the rain spatter against the flagstones. A thought came to Jeval.

"Hey, Treads, uh, sorry if I'm getting too into your business, but why do you live in Morrowind? Are you from here? Or did you move here, like I did?"

Treads didn't say anything right away. For a second, Jeval thought he'd made her mad. Then she spoke.

"I moved here. I grew up in Cyrodiil, in Leyawiin. My dad's an ex-soldier and is a contractor with the Legion. They wanted him here, so here we are. Believe me, I'd rather be in any other province."

"Okay. Yeah, I grew up in Cyrodiil too, over in Kvatch. My dad's a courier, usually works for outlander merchants or the government. Him and my mom are from Valenwood but they had to get out 'cause of the war in the '90s."

"Oh, sorry! That's hard."

Jeval shrugged. "He doesn't talk about it much. That's why I got the last name Whitethorn, by the way. Bosmer don't do last names, but he wanted to fit in when he moved, so that's what we got."

"My folks never went that far. They're still pretty Cyrodiilic in a lot of ways though. I don't know much about Argonians."

"I don't know that much about my people, either. You ever see my dad? He's got horns and filed teeth!" Jeval laughed, wanting to show he thought it was ridiculous, and raised his index and little fingers to his forehead in mockery.

"Wait, really?" Treads' throat bulged out for a second. Jeval had no idea what, if anything, that meant. "I didn't know Bosmer had horns."

"Most don't. I don't! But some of the guys do. I guess it's a pretty big deal in Valenwood, like they think you're cool if you have them. Here, it makes you look weird. Glad I didn't inherit those."

"Huh. I kinda get that, though," Treads said. "Like it's him, right? So why shouldn't he look the part?"

"'Cause it looks weird! Aren't we like the Fashion Club, or something?"

"Sure, but think how Quinn does it. When I asked her for advice, she tailored it to how I look, with my scales, and tail, and everything. And my crest, which is kind of like a set of horns. Do you have any idea how few people get that?"

Jeval gulped and shoved his hands into his pockets. Stupid of him to open his big mouth like that. And yeah, her spiky crest wasn't that different from horns; they just looked more normal on her than dad's horns did on him. Whatever the hell "normal" meant.

"I get what you mean. Sorry."

"It's cool."

"Do you ever think you'd go to Black Marsh?" Jeval asked.

Treads made a guttural noise. "Maybe. I used to want to. But I don't think I'd fit in. I don't even have any Argonian friends."

"I don't have any Bosmer ones, either. But hey, maybe weirdos like us make friends with each other."

Jeval wasn't sure if that helped. But it was better than saying they'd be alone and adrift all the time. Wasn't it?

Treads's scaly mouth lifted to reveal her sharp teeth. "Yeah. I guess that works. We're tougher than most, so we make homes wherever we go."

"Hell yeah!"

The door to Jeval's house opened up, and his sister stepped out. "Jeval! Breakfast's ready!"

"Okay!" He looked at Treads. "Guess I better go. You going to be okay out here?"

"Trust me. A rainy day for me is like a sunny day for anyone else. It's colder than I'd like, but I can deal with that."

"Heh, okay. Later."

Inside, Jeval joined his family as they sat on thick antelope hides and ate the porridge Mom had prepared. Dad grumbled about eating vegetables.

"That's why Dunmer and Imperials are so uptight," he said. "Not enough meat!"

When he finished, Jeval took a ladle and scooped out some trama root tea from the big bone kettle on the floor and poured it into his clay cup.

"Actually, Mom?"

"Yes?" she asked.

"Is it okay if I bring some tea to my friend outside?"

Her eyes widened. "Of course! In fact, bring him the whole pot. The poor dear must be frigid!"

Jeval chuckled. "She's Argonian, so I think she likes the rain. But she'll like the tea, too. Thanks."

Taking the kettle and a few cups, he headed back out into the rain.

*********

Jeval woke up early the next day. He got out of his hammock and got dressed before stepping out into the main room. Dad was already there, using light from the window to study his reflection in an old brass mirror. In his other hand, he held a whetstone, which he sometimes used to sharpen his horns.

"Hey, Dad," Jeval said.

Dad pulled himself away from the mirror. "Yeah?"

"The horns are a good look."

He blinked, looking a bit doubtful. "You think so?"

"Yeah, I do. They make you stand out. So you don't look like everyone else. People will, uh, remember you."

Dad didn't say anything at first. Then he smiled. "I suppose they do."

Not wanting to say anything more, Jeval picked up the bucket and headed out to gather the day's water.

Musical Closer - Die Anywhere Else, from the Night in the Woods OST, covered by Penny Parker and PryinBrian

The End

Some Bosmer have horns? Wild. Well literally so. That prompted me to look, and I see it is an ESO thing. Interesting.

Wow, Dad is actually giving some good parenting advice. Move on Jeffie, or Joey, or Jamie, whichever J you are. Even if you somehow got that girl, you probably would not like what you ended up with. (though maybe, I do believe in one of the episodes they had a look into the future, I think of what Daria hoped life would look like in 20 years. And Quinn was not so vapid and self-centered there.)

Hello Treads. I wonder if she might be looking for a boyfriend? I hear young Bosmer men are quite the catch...

Treads has a lot of insights into Quinn, and how she attracts people to her who are less advantaged.

Awww, what a nice little interlude between Jevvie/Joey/Jeffie and Treads. It looks like he might have even grown a bit from it.

A very fun look at the ‘outlander’ perspective in Morrowind by Bosmer Jeval with the horny dad and Treads on Ash the Argonian. As SubRosa said, neat insights by Treads and it looks like Jeval may have expanded his thinking - in a good way - a bit.

Yes, Buffy does sometimes encounter Bosmer with horns in ESO – of both sexes. It seems to work. And she also appreciates the challenges of trying to love someone who measures their life in decades when she measures hers in centuries.

Yes, The Wrestler is hard to watch, very true. Poor guy's not in shape anymore. Getting all beat up as he relives his glory days. Glad you have also seen this.

Hey, I recently learned that Mike Judge was not involved with Daria? Some other writer or writers were. Was this a cordial arrangement? Doesn't sound like it.



Sounds like that came from Daggerfall lore (Hammerfell's a part of TES II) which was made into a mod for Morrowind? What is TR/PT?

Ha ha "Horn Identity"! Whaat? Dad has horns??? Dad is also having 'the talk' with son.

I agree with Jeval's father. It's comical from our point of view how much the three Js trip over their own feet trying to get Quinn to even notice them! But he's right. Jeval should move on. It's funny when he tripping over his own feet though!

Wow! I probably kissed some boy back in grade school who went through what Jeval's going through, who knows? I guess boys never admit this sort of thing. To do so would be embarrassing as heck.

Okay, I see. Jeval is Bosmer, eh? It's mentioned dad came from Valenwood, hence the survival/jungle references. Poor kid. he'll never measure up to father's glory days, perhaps.



All of this is awesome. Highlights the differences between Tamriel's 'races' (I prefer species, but race is the official term). Wow.... even while talking to Ferns, Jeval's thoughts divert to Quinn!



Aw. That's touching.

The part when she says "a rainy day for us is like a sunny day for everyone else..." Very true. I imagine for Khajiit rain is awful (if we consider real-life cats hate water on their fur). I happen to believe that Argonians are warm-blooded, as the palenthologists have been saying about dinosaurs over the past decade, otherwise Treads-on-Ferns would want the sun to warm her up. When I was a kid the scientists were saying dinos were cold-blooded, but recently they've changed their mind. 🦖 It'd take way too much time for a T-rex to get moving if it had to deal with colder weather every morning, even if it dipped into the 60s Fahrenheit. Anyway, same with Tamriel's lizard-people. You never see them acting sluggish like a typical cold-blooded reptile on a colder day.

I think Bethesda's lore contradicts this though. Pretty sure I've read Argonians are ssupposed to be cold-blooded. Still though. Beth's behind real-life findings on dinosaurs if they're sticking to this.

Anyway, the end between father and son's really touching, as well.

Episode 18: Balmora Confidential

Chapter 1

Daria had finally decided it was time to tell Jane about what Synda had done to her.

She mulled over it again as she walked to Jane's apartment on a cool Fredas afternoon. Spring hadn't quite driven off the winter murk, but it was getting closer, the day damp but mostly clear with bright clouds scudding through the blue sky. Yet the oily black plume above Red Mountain's jagged crown hinted at worse weather to come.

She'd wanted to tell Quinn. Except Quinn couldn't keep a secret to save her life. Her telling Mom and Dad would only make this spiral further out of control. Jane, on the other hand, wouldn't tell anyone. That made her safe. Plus, Jane was largely beneath Synda's notice. The Morgendorffers were not.

J'dash sat outside his junk shop when Daria arrived, sunning himself as he whittled a piece of wood. She could make out the leonine features taking form beneath the knife's swiftly moving blade. Jane, as usual, worked on the balcony, where she added the finishing touches to a portrait of a middle-aged man whose face looked lost in its own beard.

"Hey!" Jane greeted.

"Hey. Do you need some more time to work?"

"Nah, this commission's not due until the end of next week. So what did you want to talk about? Or is this just another excuse to see Trent perform? Think he discovered a new chord, so tonight's show should be a good one."

"First, let's take this inside. I don't want any stray ears to hear."

"Ooh, this should be good. Follow me."

Jane led Daria into the cluttered apartment interior. Strange how a place where Daria didn't even have room to stretch out lengthwise proved so darn comfortable. Motes of dust danced in the single beam of sunlight shining through the window slot. She took a seat on the small wooden bench while Jane sat cross-legged on her lumpy mattress, eyes expectant.

Okay, you can do this, Daria told herself. She took a deep breath.

Jane pointed to a jug on the floor between them. "You, uh, want any booze? I have a little bit of mazte from a few nights ago, but it's probably stale."

Daria shivered. Again, the memory of pain, the blows on her back and head, the crack of her lenses. Balmora was a Dunmer city despite all the outlanders, with the Camonna Tong lurking in every alley and every shadowed cornerclub, knives drawn and teeth bared, eager for foreign blood...

"And I don't recommend telling anyone about this, because that will most certainly escalate things," Synda's voice echoed.

"Remember that time I got mugged? And lost my glasses?"

Jane nodded. "Yeah."

"There was more to it than that." Daria swallowed again. She grabbed the jug and took a draught, the once-bubbly liquid now flat and metallic. Whatever. Putting it down, she continued.

"The thugs who attacked me weren't after my money. They'd been hired by…" she leaned in to whisper the name, "Synda Grilvayn. She apparently didn't like my comments and decided I had to learn a lesson."

"Oh gods," Jane uttered.

Sitting back up, Daria continued. "She implied that the thugs who attacked me were with the Camonna Tong. I've avoided crossing her ever since. But with Quinn and Synda as the leaders of their respective fashion gangs, I'm starting to think I won't be able to keep doing that."

She paused to breathe in and out for a bit, and realized she was shaking. "I… I can't let Synda hurt my sister. If Synda really is part of the Camonna Tong, then it's probably best for us Morgendorffers to pull up our roots and go to some other city. But I'm not so sure Synda was telling the truth. The more I think about it, the less sense it makes. Why would the Dunmer mafia take the risk of beating me up just to please some teenage brat? Criminals need a motive, and I don't think Synda's condescending praise counts as one. From what I hear, the Grilvayn family isn't the type to associate with the tong, either."

Jane gave a long, low whistle. "That's a lot to take in. How are you dealing with all this?"

"I avoid narrow side streets, hide the occasional raging panic attack, and hold back from giving Synda the mockery she deserves. The last part's the hardest, of course."

Which wasn't remotely true, but it was nice to pretend.

"Have you told anyone else?"

Daria shook her head. "No. You, Synda, and I guess her hired help are the only ones who know."

Jane rested her chin in her hands, brow furrowing in thought. "It is pretty weird that the Camonna Tong would attack you for Synda's sake. But we did see her taking your sister into the Council Club that one time."

"I know. That's one of the reasons it's hard for me to be sure. Do you have to be part of the tong to get into the Council Club?"

"No, but everyone knows it's where they hang out. It's a bad idea to go in unless you're one of them, or at least know people who are."

"Damn." She'd been hoping Jane would shoot down the theory. "What about the Grilvayns? Friends of the Camonna Tong? Or no?"

"No idea," Jane said. "Humble menials like me don't know what the rich and beautiful people get up to. Who told you they weren't with the tong?"

"Quinn, who learned it from Satheri."

Jane raised an eyebrow. "Why in the world would they be talking about that?"

Daria shifted in her seat. "Well, I may have told Quinn it wasn't a good idea to mess with Synda, since we don't know who Synda's friends might be. I guess she took it up with Satheri at some point."

"Hm. The great houses look out for their own. I'm not so sure Satheri would be honest with Quinn about that kind of thing."

"That's what I was afraid of. Satheri doesn't strike me as a Hlaalu insider, either. Even if she is honest, she might not know." Daria hunched over in her chair and took another swig from the jug. "So I'm back at square one. Doubtful that Synda was telling the truth, but with no way to confirm, and a confrontation looming in the near future."

"And armed with only your sunny disposition."

Daria smirked at that. Thank the Divines for Jane, she thought. "Maybe it's time to tell my parents. They'll give me hell for not saying anything earlier. But doing that probably entails moving away. As much as I absolutely hate to say this, I've grown to tolerate Balmora, which is the most praise I'll ever give a city."

"Ah, you're an easy sell. But let me think."

"You can finish the drink if you want," Daria said, passing it to Jane.

"Thanks." Jane quaffed the jug and emptied it. "I do know one way you might be able to get more information. No guarantees, but it's more than what we have."

"And that is?"

Jane leaned up close until her eyes were inches from Daria's own. "The Thieves Guild."

Musical Closer - Sour Times, by Portishead

Wow, so Daria is finally going to talk about the assault on her. Good for you Daria! I sense that aside from the emotional support, Jane will be able to provide some strategic advice on just how powerful and connected Sydna really is.

I liked your description of a face being lost in its beard.

Oooh, the plot does thicken. The Thieves Guild! Dum dum dum!

You nicely capture Daria’s discomfort throughout, and reinforce her wise thankfulness for Jane’s discretion.

Daria is desperate for more info than her middle/upper tier networking has been able to provide. But Jane moves in different circles. . . . I know in Cyrodiil that the beggars are often the best sources of info and most of them are at least familiar the operations of the Thieves Guild. Good thinking, Jane!

Chapter 2

Daria had read about the Thieves Guild: the vast criminal organization that stretched across Tamriel, its footpads slipping into houses and reaching into purses to carry off whatever wealth they grabbed. Factual books on the guild were few and far between. More common to see it featured in adventure stories of varying levels of cheesiness, either as low-level villains or as heroic rebels. The guild existed, but that was the only certain thing about it.

She'd never expected to encounter the Thieves Guild in Balmora.

Jane stressed that she wasn't a member. Only that she knew some people who were members and who might—emphasis on might—help. Also, the best place to ask would be the Thieves Guild HQ at the South Wall Cornerclub.

"The Thieves Guild hasn't been in Balmora very long," Jane had said as they prepared to leave. "They kind of protect poor outlanders from the Camonna Tong, though guild business always comes first."

"I see. Who protects the middle-class outlanders?"

"Government, social norms, money. The tong's not going to harass Imperial shopkeepers in the Commercial District 'cause that'd make the Hlaalu look bad. But no one's watching in Labor Town, so they'd get away with a lot more here if it weren't for the Thieves Guild."

They reached the cornerclub a little while after the sun set, the clear day giving way to smoky night as Red Mountain rumbled in the dark. Once more, Jane led Daria through the twisting and narrow entry passage. Some of Daria's fear had transformed into excitement. Meetings with thieves in dark places felt like something from a novel.

The sour stink of sweat and old mazte hung thick in the air of the South Wall's parlor, the patrons packed elbow to elbow on the rickety tables. Trent, joined by his sometimes bandmate Iesse, played a lute on stage, his lyrics lost in the crowd's growling murmur.

"Okay, let's get some drinks first," Jane shouted. "Make it look like we're just a couple of girls out for a fun night."

"Not sure I can pull off that look," Daria said. "Should I take off my glasses and raise my voice a few octaves?"

"Ditching the glasses might work. Then maybe you won't see the dead rat at your feet."

Daria looked down to where Jane pointed. Sure enough, a rat corpse lay between her boot heels. "Well, I guess the ambience is a selling point," she remarked.

Jane laughed and headed to the bar, coming back with a pot of greef. Daria had brought a clean pewter mug from home in expectation of the South Wall's filth, so Jane poured some drink into Daria's mug and her own clay vessel before huddling in.

"Okay, I'm going to ask around," she said, pausing to take a quick sip. "I have to keep things vague. Suss out what they know, what they're willing to say, all that. The Thieves Guild protects people, but they do it for their own reasons, and they don't usually help strangers unless they also get something in return."

"In other words, they're surprisingly charitable by Morrowind standards."

"They're honest about being dishonest, which is more than I can say about the Hlaalu. But like I said earlier, I can't make any promises."

Daria nodded, the bitterness of disappointment settling into her chest. "It's the only chance we have right now, so I guess I'll take it."

"All right." Jane took another drink. "I'm going to ask around."

Jane got up from the bench and slowly worked her way through the crowd. Trent's voice only intermittently broke above the roar.

"… and this weather kind of sucks!" he sang-shouted.

A Dunmer woman sat down in the space that Jane had just vacated, pulling at her dark hair and squeaking in frustration.

"Briltasi?" Daria was sure it was her, but this was the last place she expected to see the giddy young noble.

The woman looked up. Her vacant crimson eyes and her pigtails, the silvery hair dyed a splotchy black, left no doubt as to her identity.

"Daria?"

Seeing Briltasi almost came as a relief. "Guilty as charged. But what are you doing here? And why did you dye your hair?"

"Uh…" Briltasi trailed off. "What are you doing here?"

"I asked first."

Briltasi pouted. "I got into a fight with Kavvy! He said he could get any girl he wanted and that I was lucky to have him, but he's lowborn and I'm taking a big risk when I see him because my dad will get really mad if he finds out, so I told him he was the lucky one, and it turned into this big thing! And then I met a really cute guy who wanted to meet here, but he turns out to be a total creep, and I don't do that kind of thing on the first date!"

It took Daria a moment to tabulate all of that. "I see." She glanced around the crowded room. "Are you okay?"

"I'm mad! Girls like me aren't supposed to go here, you know. That's why I borrowed my servant's dress and put ink in my hair to dye it, but the ink's gross and sticky and gets everywhere." Briltasi lowered her head. "Don't tell Kavvy about this, okay?"

A loud bang echoed somewhere in the distance.

"My lips are sealed," Daria said, trying to find the source of the noise. She soon heard more: the sound of heavy footsteps running down the hall.

"Now what are—" Briltasi started.

"This is the law!" a shrill voice shouted.

Two goons in bonemold armor burst into the parlor, their bulbous helmets and carapaces making them look like monstrous insects in the bad light. Patrons leapt to their feet, all eyes turning on the intruders.

"… and your black heart's gonna drain my soul!" Trent sang, eyes closed as his fingers strummed out a final chord on his lute.

Then he opened his eyes and looked at the scene. "Whoa," he said.

"This is the law!" the guard shouted again.

"Daria!" The whisper came from below, and Daria looked down to see Briltasi hiding under the table. "They can't find me, okay? My dad's gonna flip out if he finds out I was here!"

Not quite sure what to do, Daria sipped her drink and watched.

"Everyone better listen to me!" the lead guard shouted. The high-pitched voice could only be Kavon's.

"That's Kavvy!" Briltasi whispered in chagrin. "Ooh, he better not be here trying to find me! Though that is kind of romantic…"

Was this a raid? She'd heard of guards sometimes breaking up skooma dens in the middle of the night, but South Wall's clientele didn't seem to include open narcotics use among their crimes. More to the point, the crowd was agitated. And big. Rough hands gripped clubs and heavy clay bottles.

"Maybe you ought to turn around and walk out of here," one of the patrons warned, an enormous Khajiit with pink scars crisscrossing his brown fur.

"No way! We're, uh, looking for someone."

"We don't give people over to the law," the Khajiit said.

Kavon stood his ground, his hand on his sword grip. His partner, perhaps a bit wiser (not that that was saying much), took a cautious step back.

"What's going on?" Briltasi demanded.

Daria didn't believe that the Balmora Guard would send in a measly two patrolmen to clear out a den of thieves. More likely, Kavon had dragooned some dumb friend of his into searching for Briltasi with him. Kavon wouldn't be walking out of the South Wall under his own power if this turned ugly. But a confrontation with idiot guards probably wasn't something the Thieves Guild wanted to deal with.

Daria took another hit from her drink, a big one this time, and stood up.

"Kavon, what are you doing here?"

All eyes swiveled to her, and she wondered what the hell she was doing.

"Oh, hey, Daria? What are you doing here?"

"I asked first."

"Okay, well…" Kavon paused, looking at the furious crowd around him. "We're looking for, uh, a noble! Named Serjo Briltasi Talori! We're worried she's like, wandered off or something. Yeah."

"I wasn't aware that wandering off prompted an official search." Daria crossed her arms.

"Sure, it does. If you're a noble."

"Daria, you can't tell him about me!" Briltasi urged from below, keeping her voice low. "But don't let him get hurt, either! Ew, there's a dead rat down here!"

Daria figured that the narrow view slit in Kavon's helmet, along with the dim lights, made it all but impossible for him to spot Briltasi.

"I see. Think about it for a bit, Kavon. Serjo Talori is a proper young lady with exceedingly expensive tastes. With that in mind, why would she go here?"

Kavon turned to his partner and pointed at him. "'Cause someone said he saw her! Why would she go here, huh?"

"I don't know, dude! She's your—"

"But wait!" Kavon pointed to Daria. "I still need to know why you're here. You're kinda fancy too, you know, so this isn't like where you hang out."

"Yeah, but I'm an outlander. Outlanders are weird," she said, drawing out the last word.

"Oh yeah! You guys are pretty weird, huh."

"Look, Kavon: unless you've gotten a ransom notice or something, you probably shouldn't be tearing into dangerous cornerclubs looking for someone who isn't actually missing."

The spiny shoulder pads made it hard to tell, but Daria was pretty sure his shoulders slumped. "Yeah, I know."

"My advice is to to go back out and not worry about it. I'm sure Serjo Talori will turn up. It's probably best to give her some time, though."

"Huh. I guess you're right. Okay, false alarm, guys!" he shouted. "Keep partying for the Kavster!"

"Yeah!" the other guard bellowed.

Not seeing any reaction from the crowd, the guards looked to each other and hurried back into the hall, their footsteps echoing in the silence and ending with the sound of a door slamming shut.

Daria let out her breath as the crowd cheered.

"This chick's pretty awesome!" someone called out.

"Don't get used to it," Daria said, her voice soon lost in a chorus of rough hurrahs. Briltasi climbed out from under the table, clapping and whistling.

"Oh, that was great, Daria! Thank you so much!" She exclaimed, grabbing Daria in a hug.

"Hey!" Daria tried to extricate herself from Briltasi's enthusiastic embrace. "Look, Jane and I only came here—"

"Daria!" It was Jane. "To think that beneath that cynical exterior, you were a hero to the downtrodden all this time."

"I'm not making a habit of it," Daria said, finally freeing herself.

"You were really cool back there, Daria." That time, it was Trent speaking, a smiling Iesse standing behind him. "Takes a lot of guts to stand up to the man like that."

Grateful that the darkness hid her reddening face, she mumbled a thanks. Someone shoved a none-too-clean clay cup full of booze in front of her, telling her it was on the house.

"Look, Jane, I don't actually want this. Did you find anyone who can help?"

"I did, in fact. Andra says she might be able to do something." Jane pointed to where a short woman with pale skin and ragged black hair stood in a shadowed corner.

"Guess that's a start. Trent?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you and Iesse do me a favor and distract the crowd?"

"Think we got the song for that." The two jogged back to the stage and started playing as loudly as possible.

Jane took Daria's hand and guided her through the multitude to meet Andra.

Musical Closer - Transmission, by Joy Division

I love how Daria's knowledge of the Thieves Guild starts and ends with what she has read in books. It reveals where she lives in the social strata, not to mention her penchant for books. She lives in a different world from the people who are in the Thieves Guild. Unlike Jane.

The Spiral is playing!

Yep, take those glasses off Daria. Better not to see the dead rat decor.

Briltasi? Oh, she's sneaking out to hook up with someone who is not Kavon!

Yep. I saw that once coming. Big argument with Kavvy, and Brit went out to show she's still got it. Too bad her luck with guys is, well, what it is...

Kavvy is out looking for Britalsi with his buds from the city guard? I guess that is just true love in action. I don't think he brought nearly enough friends with him though.

Wow, Daria talked Kavvy down, with her weird logic and all. I suspect that the Thieves Guild might be a little more inclined to help her, given that she got rid of the guards without a riot breaking out.

Daria trying to fit in at a thieves guild bar – you captured this wonderfully.

Britalsi!?! Now that’s a surprise as we learn that all may not be well in BriKavieland. Social class hangups and a guy who believes he’s good looking can do that.

What an episode of surprises as Kavon himself shows up next looking for his wayward noblechick.

Then the biggest surprise of all as Daria rises to her feet and smoothly diffuses quite a potentially dangerous situation – you go, girl! Impressing Trent was probably a welcome byproduct. A better byproduct is that the local guild of thieves might now be more amenable to helping Daria in her quest for info.

Jane’s not been wasting her time though as she ferrets out a lead.

Cool, glad Daria's going to confide in someone. Sounds like she needs to. And I bet Sydna's bluffing the whole time, anyway. Bluffing about the Tong, that is. She's got nothing to do with them, Sydna's just a fercking bully. That's my official prediction. 🔮



Exactly. Who is Daria to the almighty Tong? Actually can you refresh my memory: why did Sydna get upset about Daria in the first place?

Your description of the Thieves Guild as portrayed in Tamriel sounds like a combination of Morrowind's version (which is mostly fetch & deliver quests) and Oblivion's (which are more Robin Hood-y, according to a lot of gamers). Lowlifes mixed in with heroes.

I like your seedy description of South Wall Cornerclub. Whoa, there's Trent.



Ha ha ha! "Don't tell him I'm down here! Ew! There's a dead rat beside me!" "Keep partying for the Kavvster!" Omg you're killing me today Clav!

Well maybe after all of that, somehow Daria's going to get what she wants, from somebody in the guild. She's practically gained a Fame point after that scene.

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


NICE, you've got some Portishead. When they first showed up (along with the whole trip-hop movement) it was a big thing. Love Joy Division, too. I had no idea JD's singer had seizures until last year when I did some reading on how their singer lost his life.

I'll have to listen to that later. But yeah that's what I thought about Mike Judge; he somehow got the shaft when it came to Daria. It's weird how things were back then. There's also all the stuff with Beavis & Butthead getting in trouble because they'd make fun of some band, who didn't go along with the "joke" side of the show. I'm almost positive Creed or some other band like Winger tried to sue MTV and/or Judge.

Well, as you've noted, a lot of fans thanked Judge for Daria, not knowing he was not in full control of his own creations by then. But at least he gets the credit in their eyes.

You're a quest developer?? Wow. I'll check that video out later. I also make quests, although not for Morrowind. Much more Oblivion and Fallout 3. Been trying to learn Skyrim as well, but even after 5+ years I'm barely making a dent with the way Papyrus works.

Chapter 3

Andra's eyes, dark and suspicious, stared at Daria through loose strands of dirty black hair. A pendant made of tiny bird bones, tied together in a jagged star, hung from the twine necklace she wore.

"Jane said you wanted information," Andra said, her voice light and scratchy.

"That's correct."

"I told Jane no. I don't help people unless they help me. But then you talked those goons into leaving. Real fast, no fuss. That helps us out some. So we'll return the favor. To a point."

"Okay. I'm looking—" Daria started.

Andra shook her head. "Not here. I have an office outside."

Daria was pretty sure that Trent's caterwauling would foil any attempt to listen in, but knew it'd be best to follow Andra's lead.

"Wait," Daria said. "Would I be burning up any favors asking if you could escort my friend back to the Commercial District?" She pointed at Briltasi.

"I guess we can make that one a freebie. Hey, Borgburakh?" Andra called out to an enormous Orc woman sitting at a nearby table. "Could you take that girl home?"

"But I wanted to hear this set!" Borgburakh protested. "Mystik Spiral's my favorite band."

"Wow, Trent has a fan!" Jane whispered to Daria.

"Just take her to the Commercial District," Andra said. "The Spiral's playing all night, so you won't miss much."

Borgburakh made an annoyed grunt. "Fine!"

Daria quickly told Briltasi about the escort, earning another hug.

"You really know how to help a girl out, Daria!" She squeaked by way of farewell.

With that done, Andra took a lantern and led Daria and Jane out the front door and into the night. Briltasi and her escort walked farther ahead on the street, the Dunmer girl's chatter echoing in the nearly deserted space. No stars shone in the blackened sky, and the taste of ash fouled the hot air.

"Nice of you to help your friend," Andra said.

"Labor Town at night is no place for a sweet uptown girl like her."

Andra cackled. "It's no place for you, either. Luckily, you got me. This way."

She ambled up a reeking alley.

Daria hesitated. "Jane? Are you sure this woman is trustworthy?" she whispered.

"I think it's okay, Daria," Jane said, though her voice was taut. "She's with the guild."

"Guild or not, my survival instinct is telling me not to follow her."

"You girls coming, or what?" Andra turned around and spread her arms.

Daria sighed. Answers awaited in that den of filth. Dread, as thick as that night's sooty air, had pressed down on her for a year, and she was sick of it. Sick of flinching whenever Synda walked past in a swirl of dark fabric. Sick of being reduced to instigating riots to prevent a confrontation.

So Daria plunged in. She stepped past piles of refuse and puddles whose origins she feared to guess at, the stink of the place sharp as knives in her nostrils.

Well, she thought, you're doing better than Quinn would in this situation. Though Quinn would probably have the sense to insist on meeting in a lighted area that didn't smell of months-long neglect.

The glow of Andra's lantern revealed a shapeless tent squatting at the end of the alley. Andra ducked inside. Hoping she wouldn't regret this, Daria did the same, Jane right behind her. Inside, the tent turned out to not be so bad. Strands of twine dangled from the sagging roof, holding tied bundles of dried flowers and herbs that gave the place a sweet aroma that almost, but not quite, drove off the outside stench. Neat rows of clay pots and books that might have been ledgers filled up one side of the tent, while Andra sat down on a comfortable-looking bedroll.

"Sorry for the mess outside. The stink keeps the unregistered footpads away."

"Unregistered?" Daria asked.

"As in, footpads who aren't with the guild. This is the Empire. No matter what job you have, you still need to be on the books. Especially if you're a criminal."

Daria nodded. "At least my faith in bureaucracy remains unchallenged."

Jane studied a small rodent skull covered by spidery symbols drawn in charcoal. It looked religious somehow. Daria realized Andra might be a Reachman.

"So, what do you need to know?" Andra asked.

How best to ask this? She supposed keeping it simple would be a good start.

"I'm trying to get some information on a Dunmer girl about my age named Synda Grilvayn," Daria said. "Specifically, is she a member of, or associated with, the Camonna Tong?"

Now for the moment of truth. Daria held her breath. If Synda was with the tong, it meant more trouble ahead. The kind she and her family might not be able to recover from. They'd have to flee Balmora, give up all they'd worked for.

Daria would have to give up Jane.

"Huh," Andra uttered. "That's actually an interesting question."

"Yes or no. Is Synda with the Camonna Tong?" Daria asked, more sharply than she'd intended.

"Well, a few months ago, I'd have said no. But it's not so clear anymore. She might be an associate of an associate, so to speak."

"Was she a member a year ago?"

Andra held up a hand. "Hold on. You're getting into kind of a weird situation. It won't make much sense unless you let me give you more details. Shut up a second so I can talk."

Daria huffed, frustration burning red inside her. She'd wanted a clear answer, but those didn't exist in Balmora. Or anywhere else in Tamriel, probably.

Andra continued. "The Camonna Tong's been a lot more active the past half-year or so. Part of it's because the guild is here, but there might be more to it than that. Hard to say. What we know is that they've been outsourcing a lot of their work to street toughs. Not members, you understand, just kids looking to break some heads and get paid for it. Maybe if they do good enough, they get invited into the tong somewhere down the line."

"What does this have to do with Synda?" Daria asked.

"Work with me now; I'm getting there. There's a couple of young Dunmer toughs: Todis and Shalfar. They work as egg miners but aren't above shaking folks down for spare change. A few months ago, we see them hanging out with some low-ranking tong members. After that, they get more involved: start running skooma, things like that. They seem a little more ambitious than most, so we keep an eye on them. Anyway, that's all pretty typical. What's weird is that we started seeing this rich Dunmer girl meet them every Fredas at midnight."

Daria started at that. It was Fredas night.

"That girl, as you probably guessed, is Synda."

"What's she doing with them?" Daria asked. A prickling sensation ran up and down her spine. She needed to know.

"We're not sure. Synda's definitely not Camonna Tong material. Cases like that, it's usually a proper girl out for some improper kicks. But she's never there long enough for that. So we don't know."

"What else could she be doing?"

Andra shrugged. "Again, we're not sure. Maybe Synda's trying to get in with the tong, but if she is, she's doing it the stupidest way possible."

Jane broke in. "Is her family in cahoots with the tong?"

"Nah. Only a few Hlaalu families actually get in close with the tong, and the Grilvayns aren't one."

"When Synda meets with Todis and this other guy—" Daria started.

"Shalfar," Andra corrected.

"Right. Is it at the Council Club?"

"No. It's at this crummy apartment where Todis lives, on the street connecting the riverfront to Dyer's Square."

Daria had a rough idea of which street that was; a tanna shop occupied the riverfront space, she was pretty sure. "And you say this has only been going on for a little while?"

"A month, maybe a bit more."

It didn't add up. If this had all started recently, then Synda couldn't have been with the tong at the time of the attack. But why was she doing it now?

Maybe she was trying to escalate. She hadn't worked with the tong before, but now she was, as a reaction to Quinn's threat. A coldness settled in Daria's limbs, despite the night's warmth. That assault might've only been the start. A way for Synda to get a taste for blood.

"You okay there?" Andra asked.

"She's had a pretty rough night," Jane said. "Daria?"

"I'm fine," she lied. "Can you give me anything more?"

Andra shook her head. "Sorry. The guild only has so many eyes and ears. Most of us have day jobs, too. Speaking of which…"

Andra reached to the side and pulled out a box full of carved bones, twine knots, and other knickknacks.

"Any interest in a luck charm? 'Cause it looks like you might need one."

Musical Closer - Night Shift, by Siouxsie and the Banshees

I remember that episode with Brittney at the goth-punk club where Mystic Spiral was playing. I was thinking of it when I was reading the previous post. I think Brittney and Kevin had broken up for some reason or another, and both were trying to prove that they could totally date other people. Only to get back together. Because as strange as it may sound, they really were made for each other.

Wow, Trent has a fan! I was saying that to myself even at the same time I was reading it.

I love that even crime has a bureaucracy. That is the Empire. They love their damn lists!

Ahh, there are those street toughs that the Tong has been outsourcing to. Now it is all coming together.

Hmm, more questions. What is Syd doing with these two guys? I sense there might be some detective work coming up in the future.

Maybe Daria should buy one of those lucky charms...

Yeah, I can see Daria not being intimidated by anyone. Goes along with her standoffish demeanor.

Trent is caterwauling! I wonder if he's performing "Ow, my face!" tonight.

This tent Andra's leading them to doesn't seem so safe. I mean, I imagine it's a lot quieter there. If she's worried about somebody overhearing them, seems the loudness of the club might be the better place. So yeah, hope something's not about to go wrong.

So Sydna's motives, and possible associations with the CT remain vague. I have no idea where this is heading, but it sure is intriguing.


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

No kidding. So you found Portishead randomly and decided to add that song as outro music. You've got some good taste in music!

And with Joy Division, their singer suffered from epilepsy; I did not know this until reading about them. Last year I learned they'd actually tell clubs not to use strobe lights, yet I seem to remember reading some a44h0l3 in some club did anyway, which caused Ian to have a seizure. Yeah, bet that lighting tech's real proud of how that turned out.

If you have any questions about scripting you can hit me up, or ask your question publicly in this thread. Scripting and questmaking are what I've been doing a lot of since 2015 or so. Because with quest-making comes story-making.

Papyrus is Skyrim's (and Fallout 4's) new scripting language, which has nothing to do with the old system. For instance, you may notice that often when using console commands for Oblivion that the syntax is often very similar, if not exactly the same. SetStage MQ01 5 will set one of the game's early Main Quest stages to 5, and this is how it's written after pulling up the console, or writing a script in the CS. Skyrim still uses the same syntax for console commands, but if you type SetStage MQ01 5 (or whatever's similar) into the Creation Kit's Papyrus Fragment box you'll get nothing but error messages. Instead, you must type GetOwningQuest().SetStage(5) to make things happen. See, everything's different.

And there's a suprising lack of tutorials to watch and read for Papyrus. I'm in the midst of trying to learn some stuff so I can continue Laprima's story for instance, but I've hit a big wall.

That's awesome you are involved with TR. 👍

Ah, so Daria diffusing the KaviCrisis did indeed earn her enough creds to get a bit of help.

Rather than using up favors, Daria’s request for a Britalsi escort home actually seems to help her in Andra’s eyes.

Ironic and interesting that Daria’s courage to follow Andra despite the red flags, blossoms from her fear of Synda. Okay, looks like she was okay to follow Andra.

And paydirt! Admittedly some mighty confusing paydirt but at least Daria and Jane have more to go on now. As Renee said, intriguing.

Chapter 4

Sleep eluded Daria.

She sat on the bench in Jane's room, knees up to her chin. The smoky night air seemed to steal the breath from her lungs every time her eyelids got heavy. Of course, she'd slept through Red Mountain's rumbles without trouble before. It was fear that kept her awake. What was she going to tell Mom and Dad? They'd be furious that she'd hidden this, but what else could she have done? If Synda truly was gearing up with the Camonna Tong, the authorities probably wouldn't be of much help.

Jane muttered something and turned over on her mattress.

If the Morgendorffers fled, she wondered, could Jane go with them? It's not like much kept Jane in Balmora. Maybe that'd be best for the both of them—all of Tamriel's splendor at their beck and call, free from Lli and Synda. Except things never worked out so easily.

It still didn't make sense. If Synda was trying to accrue favor with the tong, why would she do it through some lowly thugs instead of actual members?

Putting her feet on the ground, Daria crouch-walked to the window and put her eye to the slot. She could barely see Secunda, the moon's cratered face veiled by smog. It hadn't yet reached its zenith. She still had time to spy on Synda's rendezvous.

They'd beaten her up last time. No reason to think they wouldn't go further if they caught her, perhaps with knives. Maybe, instead of crushing her glasses, Synda would gouge out her eyes. Daria shivered in the grimy heat at the thought.

But this might be her best opportunity. She imagined herself as a metaphorical daughter to Tiber Septim, to whom all of Tamriel belonged.

A Tamriel won through ruthless war, treachery, and conquest.

Treading carefully so as not to wake Jane, she grabbed an iron lantern and opened the door. Trent snoozed on the balcony, like he always did when both he and Daria visited. It'd be smart to wake him up. Foolish to go through Labor Town alone. But she didn't want to get either of the Llayns into more trouble for her sake.

Daria crept down to the street and used a tinderbox in her coat pocket to light the tallow candle within the lantern. The weak flame it produced flickered in the smoggy air. She raised the lantern and walked, her footsteps echoing on the desolate street. A swarm of squat black beetles scuttled across the chipped pavement ahead of her.

She walked until she reached the Odai. A sulfurous haze hung over the black waters, bruising the glow of the Commercial District on the other side. Turning right and going north, she watched for the dock-front tanna shop near the street leading to Dyer Square. She'd gotten a lot better at navigating since moving to Morrowind, but the bad weather added a challenge, the familiar sights made strange by ash and darkness.

She hoped she still had time.

The riverside docks just past Duke Vedam Dren Bridge made her realize she was getting close. To her right, a bulky warehouse watched over the empty piers. A lone figure stood before the warehouse door, illuminated by a hand-held torch. Clearly a grown man, not Synda.

"Who GOES there?" A rough voice demanded.

Daria raised the lantern. Impossible to tell by sight, but that voice sure sounded like…

"Sera Dimartani?" she asked.

What was her history teacher doing in front of a warehouse? Curious, she ventured nearer.

"You BETTER not be trying anything funny! I'm a WARRIOR in the employ of the Fighters—Daria?"

Close up, she recognized his skull-like face and bulging red eyes.

"Yeah, it's me. What are you doing here?"

His face softened (or at least tried). "What are YOU doing here?"

"I asked first."

Dimartani flinched. "The MEAGER salary I earn from that skinflint, Lli, has FORCED me to use my martial experience in the service of the Fighters Guild! They pay me PENNIES to guard this warehouse on the weekend night shift!"

He sighed. "I'd APPRECIATE it, Daria, if you did not tell this to any of the students! As an INSTRUCTOR, it's imperative for me to retain the respect of my class! Otherwise, it would be chaos."

"Hmm, yes. I sure wouldn't want to ruin the high esteem in which the student body holds you."

"Now WHAT are you doing here? This isn't the safest place at night!"

"No, it isn't. I have some business that needs doing. But hey, I'll keep your secret if you keep mine."

Dimartani thought about it a bit, then nodded. "A REASONABLE proposition. I never saw you, and YOU never saw me!"

"Agreed."

Caught off-guard by that brief moment of, well, normality was probably too strong a word, but it was the best she could think of, Daria continued going north until she reached the street connecting the riverside to Dyer's Square. The stretch wasn't long, though she had no idea which of the ratty adobe buildings Todis lived in. But maybe the street was small enough that she'd spot Synda. Assuming the meeting hadn't already occurred.

Daria noted a few buildings with light coming from the windows. If Todis and Shalfar expected a meeting, they probably waited in one of those. She ducked into a narrow space between tenements and snuffed out her lantern.

Nothing to do now but wait and hope.

Musical Closer - Sub-culture, by New Order

Way to go Daria, quash those fears and go out and conquer like Tiber Septim!

Mr. DiMartino? Is he moonlighting in the Fighters Guild for more money? (I love how you EMPHASIZE certain of his words at random to mimic his UNIQUE style of speech.)

And now Daria plays the waiting game. It takes a lot of courage to do what she is doing. I hope things will work out in the end. And since you showed us Mr. Dimartino this post, I am wondering if like Chekov's Teacher, he will come down off that warehouse and go off later?

Like SubRosa says, it takes courage to do what Daria’s doing. A noble but perhaps imprudent choice to go alone instead of bringing Jane and Trent. . . and maybe Kavey with a couple of his guard buddies along for support. On the other hand, a party of one may be vulnerable but should be better able to remain undetected.

Dimartani moonlighting as a guard!

Daria arrives at her destination without major incident it seems. As she says, nothing to do now but wait and hope.

That's intense. Yes of course the Red Volcano would be rumbling and roaring on occasion, and they'd be able to feel/hear this somtimes. Well hopefully they won't have to leave Balmora. That would suck, as B&B would say.

The way you've structured the sentences in this chapter is catching my eye, by the way. Instead of broader paragraphs it's more like a sentence or two at a time. Which builds suspense, at least from my perspective.

It's hot again. So some months have passed by. Which month is it, do you reckon? I also assume we're into the next year... 425 or whichever. Because I think Saturalia (when they exchanged gifts) is supposed to be in December. Maybe I'm wrong, though. I don't feel like looking that up.

Whoa, she's going outside. Uh oh.

Ha ha, it's the INSTRUCTOR who SPEAKS as though he's SHOUTING. Although he doesn't ALWAYS do this.

Well that was random! And this is spooky. What's she hoping to accomplish out here? I'm worried.


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

No, you posted a link to Ow, my face!, which made me Lol hard, of course. I haven't been watching episodes, but I do want to eventually work some Daria into my after-gaming TV watching.



YESSSSS, yes yes yes yes. Me too. It's mind-boggling how little there is in regards to Skyrim scripting and quest-making. I'm putting the rest in spoiler tags to save space.

Renee, Mr. DeMartino actually TALKS like THAT in the tv show

Ha ha he sounds way different from what I was picturing. He sounds really pissed off in the show, whereas in my head he's just sort of eccentric.

Is that Bril at 0:18? Yep, must be, hence the vid's called "Funny Brittany". She really sounds like an airhead!

Chapter 5

A bobbing red lantern revealed the presence of a small, slight figure walking up from the riverbank. Daria leaned out to get a better look as the newcomer took quick and furtive steps to one of the buildings on the opposite side, from which ruddy light glowed around the edges of ragged curtains. Hard to see in the murk, with moonlight barely piercing the smoky haze, but the newcomer looked to be about Synda's size.

"I'm here!" came Synda's voice, as petulant and annoyed as ever.

The door swung open.

"Took you long enough. Get in," a rough voice ordered.

Synda entered the house, and the door closed behind her. Daria hurried across the street a moment later, trying to move as quietly as possible.

"Night meetings are stupid," the rough voice said.

"I told you, Todis: a woman of my position cannot afford to be seen associating with the likes of you."

Someone else snickered. Daria held her breath.

"Oh yeah? You're the one who started associating with us."

"I am still of a respectable family," Synda insisted.

"Which is why you have so much farther to fall. What do you think the tong will do if I tell them, huh?"

Daria clenched her teeth. Tell them what?

Silence for a long moment. Then Synda spoke.

"I am sure that the Camonna Tong would be annoyed at my indiscretion. But you went along with me!"

"We did back then when it didn’t matter. Problem is, we really are with the tong now. Got buddies in high places. Means we have a reputation to protect.”

Daria stifled a gasp. She caught the implication. It had to be Synda passing off the toughs as legitimate tong agents. Which they weren't, at least not at the time of the assault.

She'd had lived in terror of a lie.

"Oh, really? Which is why you live in this moldering dump doing the kinds of work actual members would be embarrassed to touch."Daria raised her head closer to the window. She couldn't afford to miss any of it.

Daria raised her head closer to the window. She couldn't afford to miss any of it.

"We're still in—"

"I'm not sure you're as in as you think you are, Todis." She spoke his name with a kind of oily contempt that Daria, on her best day, couldn't dream of mimicking. "The Grilvayn family is highly respected in this city. We may not deal with the tong, but a scandal with a respectable family would embarrass Great House Hlaalu. It's not the sort of thing the tong would care to make worse, and certainly not for the sake of a guttersnipe like yourself."

Another silence. Daria held her breath, her fingers digging into her palms.

"You trying to back out on our deal?"

Synda might not have heard the deadly cruelty in Todis's tone, but Daria did. She wanted a better look more than anything, but getting spotted now was tantamount to suicide. For a moment, Daria hoped Synda would walk away from the crumbling house.

"I will admit," Synda said, "that my better judgment first gave way to your crude intimidation. But, after further reflection, I realized that beggars like you will never have any hold over me. The Camonna Tong respects the status quo more than they respect some expendable and easily replaceable prospect of low pedigree. So go ahead and tell them. I may suffer embarrassment. You will suffer worse. Let it be known that I, Synda Grilvayn, will never again give my father's silver to cutthroats and thieves!"

"You're making a mistake—"

"I give you nothing more than the offal you deserve!"

Something splattered inside, and Todis cried out in disgust. Feet scuffled, like in some maddened dance. The doorlatch clicked, and Daria shrank back.

The door slammed shut. Synda shrieked.

"Don't you dare—" she started.

She shrieked again.

Daria had no idea what to do.

Synda emitted a pained groan. "If you… they'll kill you… I'm the daughter of a powerful—"

Her words trailed off.

"What'd you do, man?" Shalfar exclaimed. "They'll kill us for sure! The tong can't save us from this!"

"They won't find out about it. We'll finish her off. Dump her in the river, and then get out of Balmora. Get out of Morrowind."

Daria could hear Synda's labored breathing.

"You can't… ugghh…"

Synda's voice hovered on the verge of breaking. Daria tried to think rationally. There was no way for her to help Synda without exposing herself. Helping Synda didn't guarantee her friendship. Because at the end of the day, Synda had threatened Daria and her entire family. Even if she wasn't with the Camonna Tong, she'd still hired thugs to do violence on her.

"I'm… I'm…"

And Synda was hurt—possibly dying—mere inches away.

"Unngh… it hurts… I'm sorry, okay? Get my mom… we'll work it out… please?"

"It's going to hurt a lot more—"

Suddenly, Daria keeled over in a coughing fit. A loud, hacking one that echoed down the street. The ash in the air had taken its toll.

"Someone's outside!" Shalfar yelled.

Daria staggered to her feet, still coughing. The door swung open. Daria broke into a lurching run as her lungs tried to expel the volcanic filth.

"Get him! He's running to the river!" Todis yelled, his feet hammering the ground.

Woozy, her head spinning, still coughing, Daria ran as fast as her long and thick black skirt allowed. She wished she'd worn trousers that day.

The footsteps got louder. She imagined their knives raised, ready to finish the job they'd started in a Commercial District alleyway. Would she be begging for her life in a few minutes' time? Daria was a student, and they were seasoned criminals. Confrontation was not an option. Maybe, if she worked quickly, she could at least hurt one of them. But then she remembered how fast they moved. No hope for her.

Unless, warrior that he once and maybe still was, Dimartani could help.

Daria redoubled her efforts. The small street had turned impossibly long, but the river was not far ahead. The foul air dizzied her. She kept running. Air whooshed against her hair. A missed grab, maybe. She reached the riverside and made a hard left. The lone torch ahead, red in the ashen darkness, showed Dimartani keeping vigil at the warehouse.

"Sera Dimartani!" she called, some part of her mind noting the absurdity of still adding his honorific, "help!"

"Huh?"

Adrenaline surged. She couldn't falter now, not when she was so close. Her legs pumped harder.

"They're trying to kill me!" she shouted, as she ran by her teacher.

Like that, the strength left her body. She tripped over something—a loose flagstone or maybe her own skirt—and fell in a heap before the warehouse door. She righted herself as Dimartani stepped out to block the pursuing thugs. One looked ready for a fight, but the other sheathed his knife, his stance relaxed.

"Hey, Fighters Guild, right?" Todis said. "We're cool with you guys. Let me guess, you're guarding this warehouse?"

"That is my DUTY, yes."

"Cool. Uh, so this girl's got it mixed up. We're not trying to kill her. But you know, she was rooting through our stuff," Todis continued. "Now, we get it, life's tough. But we can't let people do that. We're just going to have a talk with her. Set her straight and all that."

Dizzy from her sprint, Daria stared. Surely Dimartani wouldn't be so dumb as to believe them. But Todis sounded like a normal guy. A good neighbor, smiling and concerned.

"Really? Because I KNOW this girl, and she is not the type to be STEALING!"

Todis's expression flattened. "Maybe you don't know her as well as you think," he said, no longer so convincing.

Dimartani stood to his full height, which, Daria realized, was actually pretty tall. He'd always looked so beaten down and contorted in school.

"The BLOOD on your tunic, and the knife so recently in your hand, also make me DOUBT your story! I think you should LEAVE!"

"Look, me and him?" Todis said, pointing at Shalfar and then at himself. "We eat guards like you for breakfast. We need her. We'll just take her and go. I'll give you a little something if you look the other way."

Dimartani barked out a harsh laugh. "I've been wanting a fight for YEARS. Consider this your last warning. A warning I HOPE you won't heed!"

Daria blinked. It'd be best to start running again, in case Dimartani didn't make it.

"All right, old man!"

Todis reached for his knife. Dimartani's sword whistled through the air as it left its scabbard. They stared at each other for a moment. Dark liquid welled from Todis's throat, and he dropped to his knees, a gurgling wheeze escaping his lips.

Shalfar backed away. "Forget this!" he exclaimed and ran off into the darkness.

Dimartani strutted over to where Todis lay in a pool of spreading blood. The thug lived, uttering a choked whimper, but would not for much longer.

"Your MISTAKE, my good Mer, was in assuming I was only a guard! I am still, at heart, a warrior of Great House REDORAN! And in Redoran, we do not take KINDLY to criminals attempting to bribe their betters!"

Struck dumb by the chaos, Daria watched as Todis bled out. Dimartani sheathed his weapon and strode toward her.

"Are you okay?"

"No, not really," Daria said. Then she remembered Synda. "I think there's someone else who might still need your help." She gulped. "Another student."

*********

Synda still breathed when they got to the house. Dimartani knelt over her unconscious form, binding up the wounds on her chest and torso as best he could with some strips of cloth he'd cut from his shirt with a knife. Probably not the cleanest, but cleaner than anything they'd find in Todis's miserable place.

"These WOUNDS aren't as bad as they look. But she does need the attention of a healer," Dimartani said as he worked.

Numb to her surroundings, Daria nodded and moved the torch closer so Dimartani could see better.

"What happened here?" Dimartani asked.

Daria wasn't sure how much she should tell. The thought of more secrets and lies only exhausted her.

"Synda's poor decisions came back to bite her. I thought this had something to do with me, but it didn't."

"That doesn't TELL me very much, Daria!"

Would Dimartani believe her? Great House Redoran openly hated most outlanders, but they respected forthrightness. So she'd heard anyway.

She told the tale. As she did, her eyes explored the dark recesses of Todis's home. Bare and bleak, as she'd suspected. Not much except chipped pots and old baskets full of dried goods and other essentials. He'd probably spent most of his short life in such places. Kitchen refuse splattered on the wall gave testament to Synda's ill-advised act of defiance.

"And that's how I ended up witnessing a blackmail scheme turn into a murder. Or an attempted one, anyway," she finished.

Dimartani grunted.

"It is not always WISE to aid a fallen enemy. Nonetheless, you showed some COURAGE in making the attempt. That is something I respect."

Daria had glossed over the part where Todis's murder attempt had been interrupted by her coughing fit. Would Dimartani still think her brave if he knew she'd saved Synda more by accident than anything else?

"Given that she is an enemy, I'd prefer she didn't know I was here."

"Hm. I've stopped the bleeding. I can TAKE her to the temple."

"Good," Daria said. "This is going to be our secret?"

"It will. You UNDERSTAND, of course, that you were VERY LUCKY I was there tonight?"

"I do. Thank you for saving my life."

He gave a low, growling laugh. "I owe YOU thanks as well, Daria. It's been too long since my blade drank the blood of an opponent! A COWARD'S blood, to be sure, but better than nothing. I have not forgotten how to FIGHT! Perhaps, SOMEDAY, I can again be of use to my house. For now, however, I will take Synda to the temple."

"Thanks. I, uh, hope that leaving your post doesn't ruin your Fighters Guild rep."

"I'm NOT worried. The dead body in front of the warehouse should scare off most thieves."

"Good point. Would you have any trouble with the authorities?"

"No. It was SELF-DEFENSE! I'll explain the situation to the temple, leaving out your involvement, of course. The temple RESPECTS Redoran, and they will listen to me. Nor did that CRIMINAL strike me as someone who will be missed."

As always, it relied on reputation. The thought disturbed her, but she was too tired to make a fuss.

Daria moved aside as Dimartani picked Synda up and carried her out of the house, the girl looking as light as a feather in his arms. The smell of fresh-spilled blood still hovered in the house's stale air. Blood was often the price for doing business in the world. Daria hated that fact, but she wouldn't deceive herself by pretending otherwise.

Musical Closer - War, from Brick OST

Wow, what an intense episode!

Daria’s coughing fit was actually fortuitous, for it saved Synda’s life. Had Daria overcome her caution and bust in the door, I suspect both girls would have died. Had Daria simply did nothing, Synda would die – but more importantly, knowing Daria, she would blame herself in part and live with significant guilt. The hero in this of course is Dimartini. Who knew he was such a noble, courageous badass?

Assuming Daria’s role in this matter stays secret, it will be interesting to see if nearly dying changes Synda at all. I’m not optimistic.