Apologies. For personal reasons, I'm choosing to remove this story. I may repost it in the future. This is absolutely not the fault of anyone here; you've all been gracious readers, and I'm so honored that you gave me your time. I only ask that you accept this and respect my privacy.

Neat, a spinoff series where Jeval becomes a drug dealer in order to pay for his medical bills. Well, something at least.

Jeval is sporting a new Patrick Swayze look, with the errant forelock of hair, and showing off some buff chestage.

Actually I am getting a lot of Saturday Night Fever/Staying Alive vibes from this, as we meet Jeval's family, and their criticism of his investing so much effort into his fit.

Between your stories and Renee's Joan Before Arkay story, I think once I am done with my current run through of Baldur's Gate 3 I might go back to Morroblivion again, with Silverlight this time.

So Jeval might be the guy I see in Skyrim, delivering a new letter to my toons, without wearing any clothes?

Thanks for giving us your perspective on, and estimated length of, this novella right up front in your comments.

I had thought of Jeval as not much more than a cluelessly hot-for-Quinn J boy, but here you very quickly add a great deal of depth to him. By the end of this episode, I want to learn more of his story and already feel ‘invested’ in him. This promises to be an enjoyable read.

Good to learn that there’s more to his life than Quinn – though I was pleased to see how much he has learned from her. Outward presentation is important, especially for an elf seeking a mate. I like his dad and agree that being a courier could be a pretty interesting career choice.

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If you want to change the title it is not too late. Just let Acadian or I know, and we can rename the thread. Just tell us what you want to call it.

A dashing new look for Jeval! Bosmer-maids can try to use their diminutive height to try and lay claim to ‘petite’ or ‘cute’ but I’d imagine Bosmer-boyz have a tougher challenge trying to fit in among the tall folk (that would be everyone except fellow Bosmer). Buffy’s heard and been the brunt of every short joke on Nirn we think. And Jeval’s doing his dashing on a budget as well. He’s right – Quinn is uncanny when it comes to tailoring fashion advice to her target, regardless of their situation/limitations.

I find myself once again hoping that Satheri is matched to a worthy mate who appreciates the beauty of her naïve/childlike nature.

Wow, Treads’ dad is a pretty cool dude! I instantly liked him.

An interesting possibility that Jeval raises about Tiphannia. I’d tend to thing that’s ‘just the way she is’, but won’t hurt (hopefully) to check it out.

And SubRosa is right. No problem for either of us to change the title of your thread if you like.

Hey, its the Fashion Club! Jeval is right, in that Quinn does use her powers for good, and makes an effort to make everyone else feel seen and appreciated. It is a stark contrast to Sydna (from your writing and the TV show), who only keeps others around as objects she can use, or as an audience to bask in her glory.

Any girl would be lucky to have you
Just not you. Ouch Jeval. I felt that one too. Unrequited love is a most unpleasant experience. But I don't think it is because he's a shrimpy Bosmer.

I think time dilates around Tiphanna, so that it moves more slowly for... her... than... everyone... else.

So Satheri is getting hitched? I wonder if she had had the chance to meet her betrothed yet?

I kind of doubt that Tiphanna is cursed. But, I am looking forward to the hijinks that Jeval gets up to trying to un-curse her!

And a nice walk home with Treads that reminds us of the not so nice fact that not everyone in Morrowind or the Empire is equal, and that some people have a lot more to fear than others.

There definitely is a difference between a man and a guy, at least in American society for sure. Guys are just males, like a common word for males, while men actually stand up and make some sort of a difference. "BE a MAN", we've heard so many times. Same could be said for blokes and dudes and all the other slang-words used for males in English-speaking areas. "Be a MAN, not some bloke from Southhampton!"

There is no equivalent for us women though, is there? 💁 Perhaps here and there someone might say "BE a WOMAN", meaning whatever "be a man" is supposed to mean, but it's never become as much of an actual catchphrase as "be a man!"

How old is Jeval by now? And why would Quinn be able to 'work some kind of magic" at getting him dressed? All of this implies they've had some history, Jeval and the Mall Princess.

Locks of hair falling are hot (imo). As long as it's just that: a lock.

Ha ha this is funny. He's spending all his time on clothes and appearance. Sounds like Jeval is Metrosexual!

Heh, I like dad. Dad's on his son's side. The conversation between them while they jog is awkward and hilarious. Dad also wants to build his son's Endurance. Because son's probably putting all his points into Personality (maybe Luck, maybe a bit of Agility), right?



Exactly, Miss Rosa. SNF is definitely a great movie to check out at some point, Clav, if you haven't seen it yet. Full of guys who aren't afraid to strut their stuff. But beyond that (and beyond the fanstastic dancing scenes) it's just a really good story. It actually has a plot and some themes underlying, and stuff.

And here's a thought. A male friend of mine who used to parade around in colorful clothes, even as he'd occasionally be called "f4gg0t" and such, once told me his reason: in the Animal Kingdom, males are often more colorful than females. I'd actually never considered that at the time. Being an urban hippy in my 20s, this guy often dressed more outlandish than I ever would!

I admit Breaking Bad did cross my mind, which is fine with me. If you want to change the title though, you can always contact the admins! Acadian transferred the entire Joan of Arkay story from the common Morrowind thread to Fan Fiction, for instance. Because I used to be reluctant to post in FF.

Yeah, see, Quinn's got it. Fallen locks of hair are HAWT.



As the (male) writer of this story Clav, you've definitely got a pulse on some great fashion tips.

Damn. Quinn can't see what's going on right in front of her, can she? Or maybe can can see Jeval's attraction toward her, but chooses not to acknowledge.

Tiphannia is not slow, just eternally stoned! Anyway, what an entertaining tale this is, Clav. My desire for some Outlanders has been sated.

He is right about males often being very colorful, and competing to get the attention of females in order to mate. Very often the males a species are the bright and colorful ones, and the females are dull, drab colored in comparison. Take ducks for example.

Jeval is a peacock spider. Though at least Quinn is not going to eat him if his dance is not entertaining enough.

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It occurred to me during the break between your episodes that Tiphannia’s problem might be more mundane that a curse. . . skooma?

So Jolda believes it could be an attribute damaging spell. That could make sense. First gotta deal with them mages in the guild. As a rather accomplished mage, Buffy ascribes to Arch-Mage Shalidor’s thoughts on the matter of mages: ‘Mages are envied their power, and reviled for using it.’

Looks like the book Jolda borrows may be quite useful for Jeval to hopefully coax Tiphannia’s loaded parents into paying to have their daughter checked out.

I like Jeval’s thinking. He recognizes that he has a sharp eye. I also like his logic about the benefits of working as a courier. I see he still harbors dreams of both the Fashion Guild and Quinn.

Name changed.

It is always nice to catch up with Jolda again. She was always one of the most mature and level-headed members of the show. And had her own seriously heavy crosses to bear.

Two years in the Mages Guild? We have moved ahead in time. Administrative duties? So she was rolling scrolls alongside Daria then. Well, it beats licking stamps all day.

I don't think it's Tiphanna's Intelligence, but rather Speed that might be damaged. If that is the case. Acadian does bring up an interesting possibility though.

As ever, I see Jolda is doing four full-time jobs at once. *sigh* She's going to burn out if she cannot find a way to slow down.

So it looks like Drenlyn was even less than it was cracked up to be. A zillion drakes in student loans, and it has gotten Jeval a dishwashing job and likely the same career path as his Dad. Thankfully that has never happened to anyone IRL...

And Jolda comes through with the goods. Somehow I doubt it will be as simple as how this looks however.

'Rosa: Yes, exactly! There's some bird with a really hilarious dance as well. Several birds.


Clavier: That's a good word to use for SNF: DARK. It's got a dark side for sure. It basically is more than just dancing. The NY drug scene is portrayed, a bit of light-hearted family life and goofing around, there's a suicide (sort of). John Travolta was HOT! He was also in Grease, another great movie, an onscreen musical in fact, which had nothing to do with disco, but also had some great dancing in it.

And then the 1980s began and all the sudden Disco was DEAD. It was literally out-of-fashion, just like that it was uncool. New Wave and rap and later electronic music (what became known as House music, Trance, dub-step, etc.) took over. I was 10/11 years old and really kind of bummed, as I'd just taken after-school disco lessons with my friend Lia. 💃

Off-topic already, sigh. Let's dig into LDotFC.


Hmm, Jeval. Now Jorda. He's thinking about Jorda graduating (or dropping out?) from the academy. Is this leading where I think it is?

Attribute damage. Interesting how the story tiptoes across to the Player's side of the game. The metagaming side. However, Jolda's speaking in such a way that it doesn't come across like that. It's just something a H4rdc0r3 g4m3r like myself notices. Anyway, so wow. So Tiphannia really has some problems, and this is why she's sort of slow.



Mm hmm. Mm 'kay.

Mages Guild as portrayed in LDOTFC == medical practices here on Earth. They're supposed to help people (at least the Restoration side of the guild). It's like that lady in the College of Winterhold, the Restorationist. She's always complaining how everyone looks down on her school of magic. Because that side of the guild is probably getting put aside, as so many folks show up wanting to learn about conjuring dead things and blowing stuff up instead.

Dang, what was my point? Right, so it's like here on Earth, sometimes it seems like the money's all that matters, right?



Ahh.. MM hmm. I see.

And yet he's still obssessed with Quinny.

Well anyway, this chapter's got that classic sitcom "what could go wrong?" feel to it now. Like something's gonna happen with that book in clumsy Jeval's hands!

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’Skinny stunted jungle-elves like him were the lowest you could get before hitting beastfolk, right?’
- - Ouch! Tiphannia’s dad’s accusatory question to Jevel had to smart. Buffy’s heard it all: ‘Scrawny bark-biting acorn elves.’ ‘I’d rather sleep with my horse than a Bosmer.’ Sigh. Jeval’s right though that our tailed friends have it worse.

’Tiphannia wasn’t smart, but she wasn’t the stupidest one in her family, that was for sure.’
- - Yeah, Jeval has the right of it here. What are Tiphannia’s true friends supposed to do?

Sure enough, Treads and Jeval come up with ‘mod one’ to their plans – an intervention, using Quinn’s finesse to help pull it off. What could go wrong?

Treads' new friends seem a little sus. Has she joined a resistance movement? The Twin Lamps?

Treads has some self-awareness here, in realizing that they have not always been charitable to Tiphanna. Jeval of course, completely ignores her valid concerns...

Okay, Treads has decided to do something about the prejudice and violence that people like herself face. She must have joined the Scale Panthers.

Hmmm, maybe they should have just talked to Tiphanna about it directly, instead of bringing her parent's into it?

Skinny stunted jungle-elves like him were the lowest you could get before hitting beastfolk, right?
Ouch, some real internalized bigotry poor Jeval has. Unless that was meant in an acidic, sardonic fashion. But it did not feel like the latter. It is not hard to see why he would feel that way. The games themselves make male Bosmer out to be the objects of ridicule. And they clearly show that beastfolk are outright oppressed.

I am not surprised that Mr. Tiphanna put up a roadblock to doing anything. At least he did not take their theory as a personal insult. He seemed to have some of his own when it came to Mrs. Tiphanna's ethnic heritage.

So, Plan B. Maybe they can convince Tiphanna that the Temple is having a sale on the new ecclesiastical fashions?

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Satheri’s parents willfully joining in and lending their support certainly helped. A lot, as it turns out. Especially given the semi-hostile crowds at the temple. It must be the local ‘hate everyone but Dunmer’ day.

Wow, even Quinn’s getting flustered as they all wonder if Fort Moonmoth might have indeed been a better idea.

Well, whatever Priestess ‘Shut up, outlander’ did, something happened for sure. I’ll hope Tiphannia recovers for the better.

Uh oh, it looks like one of the Sleepers has Awoken in the square. Joan of Cheydinhal will set that right...

I love the description of Satheri as a walking pile of silks!

Wow, sounds like Satheri's parents are pretty dope.

Well, we would not want to go to that dusty and boring fort.

At first I was wondering if it was a holiday that everyone forgot about. But it looks like more of Dagoth Ur's cult is stirring up trouble at the Temple. That dusty and boring fort is starting to look pretty good right now.

Oh my that was certainly quite the show that the Temple healer and Tiphanna put on. It sure looks like something was going on with her after all. But what remains to be seen.

Ha ha yeah, sometimes friends mess with each other, sometimes!

Everyone is concerned about Tiphannia. But what does Tiphannia think? Does she think she has a problem?

The red-faced Imperial with a combover sounds like a Mike Judge sidekick! Like the gym teacher/sergeant guy on B&B. WOW he immediately assumes Jeval's a suitor. Hello.

Blumius doesn't freak out when they present him with their spiel. I thought maybe he'd kick them out or something. Fortunately, not so.

Okay, father's not mad, but he is clueless. 🙄

Don't worry about the dad, just do what you have to so you can see if the slow-one is cursed or not! (sorry, talking to my monitor screen). OKay yeah, Treads got it. Sometimes you gotta take care of things yourself. So assuming they go through with this and the Tiphannia actually IS cursed, and this curse gets reversed, wow. We could see a whole different person during the next few chapters.

Lemme finish the next chapter in the morning. I'm wasted right now.

Edit, I'm back. Went out to Baltimore last night to see a friend's band. Two drinks, that's my new mid-life limit, Clav! 🍷 Wasn't actually wasted, but yeah, good thing I switched to water during the second act. "Tipsy typing" I used to call it, back in the early days of the Internet when chatting was all the rage.

Anyway, Where was I? Uh ... somebody is bellowing. Sounds like you've got Sleepers in your Balmora too! Presumably, all the events of the Nerevar have already occurred though, right? ... Yeah, sounds like it. The bellow-er is talking in past-tense.

OH my gosh, look at Satheri! All decked in purple.



This sounds so much like my aunt. My family (mom's side) were involved with a fashion studio, mostly for black women in B'more. I never participated much, I was forced to walk a runway when I was like 6 or 7, and didn't like it. Kinda wish I had gotten into it more, now that I'm older. But this is sooo true... about the divas not wanting to get upstaged! 👩🏾‍🤝‍👩🏻 you really have the pulse on how that all works, Clavier.

Whoa, Ulnar and Satheri are trying to get married on this day? Sheesh, what a mess. Dunmer practices, man. Guess this is the way they do things. This sounds sort of like Vegas marriages though, right? Like, in LV, it's possible to get married with groups of strangers (from what I've heard, maybe Acadian can clear this up), married by Elvis, even! I'd rather have THAT than getting married in this stuffy, steamy dark elf temple.

Anyway, now I kind of feel a little bad for laughing at Tiphannia earlier in this story. She's got an actual, legitimate disorder or curse. Guess we'll find out.

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Your description of the scene with the girls clustered around Tiphanna suddenly has me thinking of a classic coterie of antebellum Southern belles all fanning themselves furiously because Mr. Darcy walked by soaking wet from swimming through the pond. I know I am mixing sources, but so what?

So Tiphanna is back. Sort of? She is speaking in quicker sentences at least. I hope the real problem is not that she picked up a magical flail from the Hyena Folk...

I can relate to Jeval's feeling of unease in the loudly wealthy Roweni home, especially when it comes to worrying about breaking something priceless. It is a nice subtle nod to their differences in class. You are keenly aware of these things when you are poor.

Ok, so those were the Dissident Priests making such a fuss at the temple, not Dagoth Ur's minions. That is a nice inclusion into the story. We hear about the dissidents in the game of course, but in the game we only see them as people who have been imprisoned, or otherwise in hiding. The game itself would not have been capable of depicting anything like the scene you described at the temple, or any sort of protest or march. It was just beyond their technology at the time. So you filling in that gap was some solid world-building.

The Nerevarine is around and has gained the backing of the Great Houses? Way to go Joan! Well, whoever is the Nerevarine in this universe. Maybe it is January of Detroit, or Blood Raven - Queen of Witches. It sounds like the main quest to Morrowind is very near its conclusion, and things are going to change dramatically, and rapidly, in Morrowind. Especially for the Tribunal Temple.

Don't hold back Blumius, tell us how you really feel about Jeval and Treads...

Yep, there it is. Tiphanna was easy to manage. He liked having her cursed. For the same reason lobotomies were so common in asylums, and then thorazine. They are so much easier to warehouse when they can't think. Now I wonder if he did it to her in the first place? Like how the Kennedy's had Rosemary lobotomized and put in an asylum.

I too, wonder how Tiphanna feels about all of this?

Wow, it looks like there was something to Jeval’s theory that Tiphannia was indeed somehow cursed. Hopefully the Fashion Club is right that a bit of time is all Tiphannia really needs now to adjust to her new upgraded brain.

Tiphannia’s dad continues to be quite the piece of work, spewing invectives at everyone in sight. Little jungle elf (Buffy’s heard that one before), pet lizard, ash-creeper priests, savage lackeys, superstitious ingrates, damned provincials . . . did we leave out anyone?

And the dirtbag wanted his daughter to remain cursed so she was ‘easy to control’?!? Looks like Tiphannia’s parents rival Synda’s at being unfit to raise children.

Satheri's father is a righteous dude and this episode really highlighted the good hearts that reside in Quinn's Fashion Club.

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Hey, quick question: what is your writing/editing process? I'm just curious because is Last Days all new material? Because I seem to remember Outlanders was written and posted on that other forum in the past, but then when you posted here, you made some changes here and there. Hope I got that right.

Here's the novella I wrote this year as a companion piece to Outlanders.

Are you still writing portions of it now, though? Or is the entire novella already written? Just curious. If you're still writing, how far are you into the future with the story?

An example. Acadian and Rosa write their stories months in advance. From what I understand, they're not even publishing until many months have passed. And there are drafts, edits, re-edits, long-term comparisons, and so on. From what I understand, Mrs. Acadian would oversee all the Buffy stories before they ever got posted here. 📚

In contrast, I've always been more of a 'deadline' writer. My mom wrote and later edited for a local newspaper before she retired, and I think I picked up those genetics. With newspapers, you're always publishing the latest stories, you're always pushing for what's happening now, and that is my process. My storywriting is rarely more than a month ahead the written word here in the forum, if that! I've got three or four Laprimas written roughly, and with Joan I'm maybe two weeks behind the actual story.

The upside from my perspective is I always feel "close" to the story, I always feel the excitement of the chase, I guess. The downside is plot holes, stuff which contradicts in the long run, character development which is supremely focussed towards the end, but a little lost early on, and so on. It's harder to make long-term adjustments to a story which is being written week-to-week, you follow?

Just curious what your approach is, because I delight in the fact we've got different methods. Hmm, maybe that wasn't such a quick Q!





Eeesh. I'd rather make my own mistakes. Anyway, where were we?

Is somebody noticing Jeval as he twists up that fabric? Seems like Quinn might be thinking you're not supposed to do that! Or is that from WellTemperedClavier's perspective? .. Or maybe just from the general perspective overall, the opinions of many in regards to how tunics should be treated?

Whoa, this is intense. Tiphannia really has been a different person all this time... lost underneath layers of *whatever* was holding her back. Yet she's still also the same, in a way. Huh. Sort of slow. But she doesn't seem like she's stoned anymore.

They're talking about the Nerevar now, yet even at this pleasant dinner discussion there are divergences. It's all so much like religious beliefs here on Earth, right? Most of us can't agree on any one thing, even within our own doctrines, sects, creeds, and so on!



Ha ha I Love that line! Anyway, I wonder who this Nerevarine-who's-gaining-acceptance could be? Do you have your own canon Nerevarine, Clav? Hmm. If so, maybe this could be who Ulnar's talking about: somebody with "staying power" in his words.

Uh oh, Blumius is here and he's MAD!!! Wow... jungle elf??? Hey, how can Jeval be from the jungle if he spends an hour a day primping before a mirror?

Wow, it sounds like Blumius was happy the daughter was cursed, right? He had 'control' over her. Whatever that means.

Oh gosh NO don't pee on the bridge... what the? Ugh. This isn't gonna end well...

I love how BIG Jeval's thinking is. He's trying to decide his future with the lizard. That's awesome. Seems a lot of us make BIG plans like this while we're young.

who’s worse? The fool, or the fool who follows the fool?
Thank you Obi-Wan.

“Uh, I could pee on it, or something,” Jeval said.
I laughed at this unsolicited response from Jeval. But now that he mentions it...

It reminds me of the Lions Led By Donkeys podcast, which once inspired an African man to piss on a Rhodesian Nazi's grave

I just hope an Ordinator does not see him, and arrest him, or worse.

This was a nice bonding experience for Jev and Tred. Maybe they will have an excellent adventure in the future?

Aaaand so much for the nice John Hughes movie interlude, and back to the ugliness of reality as Treads and Dad have it out over Dunmeri bigotry and Imperial greed. I know you are not big on podcasts. But you might want to check out Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff, it is all about people who did the kind of things that I feel Treads is about to.

Be careful, Jeval. Only Nords are allowed to pee on bridges with impunity. In fact, it’s expected of them I think.

Very nice how you manage the flirting as they are on the bridge. Dreaming together of future plans. It does seem Treads is letting her hatred of slavery sabotage her future. . . or perhaps, dictate her future.

“Late again. It’s past midnight. What do I have to do to get basic self-preservation through your skull, Treads-on-Ferns?”
- - I knew this was coming after Treads and Jeval spent so much time peeing and moondreaming. Ya know Dad’s pissed when he calls you by your full name. You bring out quite a conundrum with the Treads/Dad debate. The Dunmer keep slaves and the Empire somewhat looks the other way. On the other hand, Dad is right that it would likely be much more dangerous for the beastfolk without the Empire.

My gut tells me that Treads may be heading for involvement with a smuggle slaves to freedom group. If so, I look forward to Jeval’s reaction to that. After all, the two claim to have each others back. . . .

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Ahh, we get a good glimpse inside the retired Legionnaire. And my opinion of him continues to grow. He did the right things for the right reasons. His frustrations over some of the futility of his profession and his fervent wish that warriors could somehow fight their way into obsolescence strikes close to home. But that’s the nature of the business – to see and do messy things so others (hopefully) don’t have to.

I cannot help but compare Jeval here and his thoughts about the Empire to similar thoughts a young farm boy from Tatooine had about another Empire. It's all so far away from here...

Mr. Flowers had a good look at what happens when good people stand by and do nothing, which is all evil needs to win. I see he eventually did stop standing by, and wears the scars for it. He has some good reasons for wanting the Empire to endure. I expect he can foresee the same happening again in the near future, and Treads being a part of it, as her revolutionary zeal is taking her in that direction.

I really do like how this has moved from the Daria story to the Jeval and Treads tale. The first was obviously a witty, biting, sarcastic comedy inspired by the TV show. But this story has a life of its own, and takes itself much more seriously, given the harsh realities it dives headfirst into.

Sorry for questions, I just get curious. That is incredible though, Last Days was already completed before being posted here.

I can see Jeval's perspective. The Lucky Lockup seems like it's be a fun place to work, sometimes. But also kind of dangerous. And some customers are rude and annoying.

Ah, so the book they 'borrowed' DID get returned! Phew. I was worried it'd get damaged or waterlogged or something. My prediction for a Leave it to Beaver awkward outcome did not fulfill.

They have differents cups for reptilians! How clever. I wonder if "not from the kinds of drinks you get here" he's talking about hist.

Wow, he's talking about Jagar Tharn. Tapping into some early lore, there. Mister Flowers has seen the devastation which can occur if stability's not a factor. But he's also aware that there's an opposite side, as well.

I think I'd have a hard time not paying attention in Dimartini's history class. Firstly, I always got As in history, secondly, the TEACHER talks like THIS!!! 🧑‍🎓

Can't help but wonder where all of this is going, in regards to the Argonian's lecture. How does this fit into the Last Days Of The Fashion Club? Was that lecture just a distraction, a sidebar to the rest of the story? Will Jeval become a courier as he was pondering? or join the military? Guess we'll find out.

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Jeval is starting to sound like Anakin Skywalker. Not the one from the movies, but the actually well-portrayed one we got from the Clone Wars TV show. Just take out the bad people. How many other people do you have to kill in the process? Who decides how many of them justifies it? Shouldn't someone just do it unilaterally, because it is the right thing to do, and let democracy and ethics sort themselves out afterward? Doesn't the galaxy need someone to just do what is right to restore order?

I was going to say something last time, but decided against it because I felt like I was being too soap-boxy. So I might as well get my Thomas Paine out now then. As much as I can empathize with Mr. Flowers and his admittedly horrific experience in the Simulacrum War, I cannot find much empathy for the Empire itself, or in the justification for its existence.

Now granted the reason is because of real world empires, and how they behave, which I am admittedly projecting onto the game world here. In reality empires exist for one reason. For the conquering state to extract wealth from the conquered. That can be natural resources, or it can even be people, either in the form of slaves, or even in the form of soldiers.

For example, the British built railroads in their colonies. But those were not made for the convenience of the people living there. They were made to take the wealth extracted from the interior and send it to the coast, where it could be loaded on ships and sent to Britain. At the beginning of WW2 the British Empire was the largest single state in the world, with a bit over half a billion people. Her military was filled with colonial troops from places like India, Nepal, Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, etc... Especially India. That wealth, and that manpower, made Great Britain the most powerful nation on the planet in 1939.

I think Bethesda wants us to believe that the Cyrodiilic Empire, especially that of the last of the Septims, was a kinder, gentler entity that any real world empires. But then again, they have the East Empire Trading Company in Morrowind. It has a monopoly on just about every resource unique or notable to the province, like ebony, glass, etc... Clearly it is at least inspired by the RL British and Dutch East India Companies. These again, existed solely to extract wealth from far flung places and bring it back to the centers of their empires.

But back to Mr. Flowers in particular, I am reminded that Tamriel was not always ruled by an Empire. The reason it is now is because Tiber Septim conquered all the other provinces. He did those same sorts of war crimes that Mr. Flowers witnessed in the War of the Simulacrum. The Empire would not exist without it. Nor could Tiber Septim have done it without foot soldiers like Mr. Flowers himself, or at least his analogues from that period. If I recall correctly after the Battle of Sancre Tor Tiber Septim sold all the Breton and Nord prisoners he had taken into slavery. Then when he got the Numidium he was going to use it to murder the royal families of all the neutral states in Tamriel. That was why Zurin Arctus betrayed him, in order to stop it.

So the Empire's hands are definitely not clean, and never have been. Even barring how they turn a blind eye to slavery in Morrowind because leaving that power structure in place is something they ultimately benefit from as well.

The flip side of this coin however, is that the current Empire does provide stability. IRL, the decolonization that took place after WW2 provides a clear example of that, especially in India. Most of the time the old empires like Britain deliberately kept the native population out of any form of self-rulership during their periods of empire. Then when they withdrew they just dropped it all in the laps of people who had absolutely no preparation for taking over and running a modern, industrial society. That is not because those people were infantile, or stupid. They were deliberately prevented from learning these skills by their colonial masters. Then they were just abandoned. The end result is almost always chaos and civil war, like with the Partition of India, which the British thoroughly cocked up.

But the flip side of the flip side, is that the alternative is maintaining the status quo. That just retains the same corrupt, one-sided, predatory systems of power that have always been oppressing people. Real change does not take place nicely and neatly. It's messy, and ugly, and often people completely undeserving pay terrible prices. It is why the United States exist. Why the 40 hour work week exists. Why slavery was ended (well, mostly). Etc...

We have the advantage of being able to see somewhat into Tamriel's future. So we know the cataclysm coming to Morrowind in the near future, and across the rest of the continent to one extent or another. This Empire is not going to transition slowly and methodically to de-colonization. It is going to be here one day, gone the next. In some regards it can indeed make one pine for the good old days of the Empire. OTOH, those days were really not all that good.

So what I am I saying? I don't know. I think that reality is messy and ugly. There aren't any shining knights and perfect heroes. Stability often comes at a price that is just a formalized form of brutality and oppression. While change is a democratized form of the same, since then everyone can do war crimes, not just the ancien regime that used to be in power. None of it is wonderful. I suppose the best we can try to do is make that change meaningful, so that it was somehow worth the suffering it required to come about.

For example, World War 1 and 2 did eventually lead to the European Union, which I do think is a vast improvement over the warring states period that existed in Europe for centuries before it. Now it is inconceivable for France to go to war with Germany. It is just heart-breaking that it took so much horror to get there.

Ok, off my soap-box now, I promise.

So Jevvie is out on the streets, and all the priests are saying "Totally go on worshiping the traditional way" and "Nothing to see here." We are clearly in the final days of the Tribunal Temple.

Tiphanna is dressed in.. brown? beige? An old cloak? Whoa. Things have changed a lot!

So Tiphanna is going back to Cathnoquey. I can certainly see why she would want to get away from her father. While she seems better, she does not seem entirely right as well. She still has these... pauses where she seems to have to stop to gather her thoughts. Maybe she is just choosing her words with care, because she does not want to say the wrong thing. Or maybe she is still recovering from the curse, and having to search to find the words at all. But it is still an improvement.

Well that could have gone better. But then again, as I said when I was back on my soapbox, change can be really ugly and messy. I can certainly see why Tiphanna would feel hurt about everything and lash out. Treads even warned about this. One can only hope that she can make a better future for herself in Cathnoquey.

Nothing like a hot bath to help one think and try to sort out the world’s problems. A far cry from Jeval’s concerns back in the heyday of the Fashion Club where his biggest concerns were would that new hat look as great on him as Quinn promised and how to pay for it.

Probably a good idea to find out directly if Tiphannia is mad at him.

Well. . . that could have gone better. Though I sort of understand Tiphannia being upset, Jeval has the right of it, said the right things and it is too bad Tippie’s not listening. Kind of a mess all right, but not your fault Jeval. And sadly, it does seem the Fashion Club is in its last days. . . .

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We now have a pretty good idea where Treads is getting her militant activism from. So it seems Damp wants to destroy the empire and replace it with equally cruel Argonian rule. I’m sure that’ll work out well. It’s clear that Jeval is the wisest of the bunch.

Buffy adventures in the Second Era where the Ebonhart Pact, Daggerfall Covenant and Aldmeri Dominion are all trying to slaughter each other and destroy the Empire at the same time. It is not pretty. ‘Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them.’

Your remark reminds me that the Tribunal is passing from being news to being history...

So Jevvie is dashing without being too dashing. That sounds good. Time for some Scrib.

So Damp can get under your skin? That sounds ominous.

I like the contrast here of Jeval and most others finding that the rain makes it a bleak day to keep outdoor excursions to a minimum. While for Treads, the rain makes for it being a great day to be out and about!

I have keenly noticed that Quinn is fading fast into the periphery now, along with Satheri and Tiphanna. This is clearly the Jev and Tred show.

Oh boy, another Sleeper has awoken I see. He has a real Invasion of the Body Snatchers feel with that parting howl.

I appreciated Acclesia and Jeval bonding over the desire of immigrants to fit in where they go. That was one of the things I really liked about the Supergirl TV show. They emphasized the fact that she was an immigrant, and had that same need to fit in and be accepted, even though she knew she would always be an alien in more than one way (metaphorically and literally). Given that she is a superhero with uber powers, it was really good storytelling, because it showed that she still had vulnerabilities, aside from kryptonite of course.

Nice world-building with the usage of Argonian names.

So Damp-With-Dew stands as the flip side of Mr. Fern's military experience. He's not only seen, but been part of the Empire's dark side.

And it looks like Damp is looking forward to that democratization of violence that's on the horizon. Oh boy. I expect that Treads is going to go full on with him, at least at first. Given what I recall from the future Treads episode in the previous story, she won't stay all in with them. At least not after the Argonian invasion of Morrowind. It looks like Jeval is having no part of it. Which is probably for the best.

Ah, hist sap, thought so. That's an interesting conclusion as well: alcohol is a poison, and technically Argonians are immune to poisons.

Yeah, we were both good at History.

Eeesh, public bathing! I remember the Morgendorffers had their own bath in their own house, but even they had to share bathwater. Such things are a luxury all around. I bet the Sloans (and others who are better-off) have their own private facillities.

But I can imagine bathing would be important for Jeval. The kid wants to look good, makes sense he'd want to smell good and not walk around with his skin all sticky from old perspiration, as well.



Ah, there she is. I'm noticing how Quinn really isn't discussed too much in this story so far! Miss her!

And here is Tiphannia. She's motioning him to come closer. Already, that alone seems different in her behavior.

Yes, i can see that. The Fashion Club as some sort of club for weirdos. But yikes. Bad vibes between these two. Dang. Didn't see any of this coming! - But that is also what I was wondering as well, a couple of chapters ago. Everyone was concerned about poor Tiph, but nobody seemed to ask her about it. BUT, maybe this was because they thought they couldn't ask her. Like she was too demented to comprehend any possible queries.

Anyway, that was a downer episode. Let's see what happens in Chapter 10.

Hmm, you know.... DID they make fun of Tiphannia? They actually did? I don't remember this! Maybe this didn't get written up in Outlanders, though. Or maybe my memory's just that bad.



Run!!! Run for your lives! Or throw a Spell of Holy Flames if you're Joan of Arkay!

Whoa my lord. Can't just call her "Treads". Yikes. A lot of racism (speciesism, I guess) in this episode. But all of this stuff actually does happen for sure. This is all the stuff which happens between the end of the Third Era and into the time of Skyrim.

This meeting is pretty awkward for poor Jeval, right? Like these lizards are telling him "get ready" when the Empire falls apart. Meanwhile, all he wants to do is fall in love, have his clubbie friends still band together like in the old days, and figure out his future. Meanwhile, everything in his social life is falling apart. But the conversation they're having certainly does portray many conversations around tea and coffee which have happened all over our world, as revolutions begin to brew.



... and Arena, the first game, was only meant to be a gladitorial combat game at first, not a broader RPG with a gigantic gameworld! Just imagine if the two main early devs (Todd was their eventual tester!) stuck to their original plans!

Off-topic, but I read in some interview that when Vijay Lakshman (pretty sure it was Vijay) coined the term 'Elder Scrolls' he had no idea what the heck this actually meant at the time. Because so much of the lore hadn't been written yet.

Removed

Heh, after previously whining about the way Argonians are maligned, Damp wastes no time insulting Kitten-people and Soft-skins. Even Acclesia called him on his hypocrisy.

I love how the Argonians appreciate the rain and look forward to spending time in it.

Some interesting introspective pondering Jeval does over his rice wine.

Worried about his pal, Jeval trudges out into the weather to find her. And Yikes! He found her alright. Ill-equipped and outmatched, he charges in to save his pal. A saying of Buffy’s is most apropos here, “When it comes to my friends, I don’t count the cost.” I wanted to cheer Jeval for his decision to either save Treads or die in the attempt. Whew, they both survived unscathed. Treads brings up what may be a legit concern however. And, uh-oh, a Dunmer window-witness to the pair’s escape does not bode well.

I like the little world-building nods here. Argonians are only happy when it rains, like the song by Garbage. And only losers and nobles drink alcohol before noon.

And a nice nod to show that Damp is neither altruistic or noble. He's happy denigrating others too.

Jeval sounds like everyone else who has lived through interesting times. You know a normal person. The more I learn about history lately, the more I see the so called "Great Men" of it were just ordinary people muddling through things as best they could. Often at worst they could.

Good thing Jeval got the itch to go looking for Treads. Those disappearances were not just stories I see. All those slavers we find in Vvardenfell's caves had to get their captives from somewhere. Here is one example of where. It reminds me of once the Fugitive Slave Act was passed, Southern slavers could go to any Northern state to ostensibly catch escaped slaves. But in reality they often just kidnapped any black person they could get their hands on.

That was an ugly affair, exactly as Jeval predicted. I wonder if he got lucky and stabbed the Dunmer, or if someone else had?

Just when it looked like they were going to get away, that Dunmer had to finally look out her window. Now things could get ugly with the law. If they are identified, I imagine that Jeval and Treads could get executed. Or sentenced to slavery.

Removed

Caught up in the morass of local law - for doing the right thing! Going to Mrs Morgandorffer was a great first stop. A chance to clean up, eat and get some qualified advice. Distancing himself from Treads for her benefit hurts I’m sure but at least he has a course of action – escape from Morrowind. Which was his plan all along, just not right at the moment and not without Treads. Uh-oh, the tribunal stuff seems to be a spanner thrown into the works. So much for his escape plan.

Jeval and Treads may not have done anything illegal. But that does not mean the law won't come after them anyway. Treads clearly understand this.

Ah, and Helen does as well. Now Jeval is getting a good look at how bigotry is not simply one person calling another a bad word. It is entrenched within systems of power designed to protect those in the in-group, and oppress those in the out-group.

I recall a neo-Nazi fight club - I think it was RAM - that regularly assaulted people in public, often while the police stood by and watched. They would even post videos of it online to brag. When people fought back, they were the ones who got arrested. Not the Nazis. Eventually the FBI got involved and finally arrested a handful of them after Heather Heyer was murdered, but that was only after years.

The guards are lazy. No kidding, Kevin is one of them!

So Jeval is going on the lam. Poor kid. But speaking as a writer, I recognize an inciting event when I see one. This just might be the call to action that sends Jeval down his path as the protagonist in a high fantasy tale of adventure! Or not. We will see. Granted, from the sneak peek we have seen of Jeval's future as a member of the Underground Railroad, something like that obviously does happen.

Uh oh, the city is on lockdown, because of the Nerevarine? Oh boy, this throws a wrench in the works.

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Hey, can you remind us what the date is in this story? I assume it's not Third Era.... maybe I'm wrong though.

Ha har I love that. "Hey, it's raining hard outside, let's not waste a good storm!" That sounds like me in a way. And Shirley Manson, as 'Rosa points out. We both are happy when it rains.

Yeah, I'd imagine Jeval wants to sit the storm out! Even the hardiest of adventurer might only want to go out into rain to clean his/her armor off. Not much more. But Jeval prob'ly don't want to get his hair messed up.

"drinking alcohol before dusk is only for losers and nobles!"

Indeed. The background of Vvardenfell does include slavery. Which doesn't get portrayed so well in the base game, but it is something which is certainly there. Interesting how somebody like Jeval could grow up in the province, have friends who are beastfolk, and yet such thoughts are just occurring to the fair-weather chap. These are the sort of thoughts a more aware individual such as Daria has already considered, even if this consideration is not written up in Outlanders.

He still wants Quinn! Or at least, somebody like Quinn!

Whoa, uh oh. A freaking slaver. Holy Crap. What is Jeval supposed to do? DAmn. Didn't see any of this coming. Okay, good job with the tail, lizard. Holy crap. Where is Dimartini when we need him?

Good thing it's still raining. That should wash some of the blood away, I presume. Another thing: he's all covered in mud. Maybe the witness-woman won't recognize him but he has to get OUT of here, NOW!

Hmm. Well just because it's not technically illegal doesn't mean there won't be consequences, or somebody looking for a short wood elf hanging around a female lizard. Plenty of Dunmer in town, but how many Bosmer/Argonian combinations of friends could there be? - But here's something new: for perhaps the only time, Quinn is nearby yet Jeval isn't so obsessed with her presence.

I love the lawyer-speak!

Hmm, another thing. Isn't it technically still legal to capture and own slaves? Or has that Renrija Krin/Haus Dres (spelling, I know) stuff not made a difference yet? ... The Empire is against slavery, but it's still okay here in MW, unless things have changed. Okay, "slavers aren't supposed to operate" anymore, in so many words. Still, I'd be worried.

PHew. Well if I were Jeval, I don't think I'd even try to approach this from a legal standpoint. Maybe he can avoid going to court. Only that one woman saw him, for instance.

Whoa, they shut down the city. Uh oh. Okay, but it's not because of somebody dying in the street. That is good, I'll asssume. Maybe there'll be so much going on with these latest developments that the dead slaver will just get passed over as offcials are too preoccupied with other things.

Ah crap. Young Bosmer, yellow hair, short in stature. Jeval is done. One thing for sure: you're really doing a good job adding that paranoid feeling to the story, Clav.


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OFF-topic stuff begins HERE!!

Sure, about bathhouses. There's this image that everyone was stinky (same as how it was once assumed 4,000 years ago everyone was a stoneage ape). But us humans didn't just become smart; more and more often we're learning how ancients had technology, some of which rivaled our own.

Mm hmm, about hygiene. I also remember reading somewhere how perfumes and colognes became much more popular amongst those who could afford such concoctions, during the Renaissance. Yich.

WHOA! Morrowind's name is from some other storyline, except with the change of one letter???!!! -- Now that, I did not know! I wonder if anyone tried to sue Beth because of that!

I’m not surprised that Jeval couldn’t sleep. What a touching visit from Quinn.

”And mom says that having good style is really important for advocates.”
As ever, Quinn nails it! Like most things, what good is doing something if you can’t look good while doing so?

Even in this difficult predicament, Jeval is thinking of others and how to avoid implicating anyone beyond himself.

Well, so much for not having an eye-witness report. Sounds like that Dunmer lass got a good eyeful and reported every detail.

Not surprisingly, Treads seeks him out to help. Then some hope from an unexpected Tiphannia. If anyone can help him out of Morrowind, the Twin Lamps likely can.

It is like being at the dentist. The waiting is the worst part. Best to just get it over with.

Well, I guess Jeval is at least mostly over Quinn now. Thank Aetherius for small blessings at least.

I wonder if they are going to announce the news of Dagoth's Ur's death, and/or Vivec's?

Oh boy, and the news of the slaver's death is out there, and it's being called a murder. Well that is it, inciting incident here we go. Sounds like the first thing Jeval needs to do is cut and dye his hair. Maybe grow half a foot and change his race while he is at it...

Tiphanna? The Rowenis? The Twin Lamps! Wow, there are more twists here at the end than a bowl of spaghetti!

Removed

So Tip and Treads are off to see if the Rowenis will help. As soon as Jeval crouched behind a barrel the first thought that struck was how being a Bosmer does indeed make for a small target. How neat that a few paragraphs later, Jeval thought the same thing.

Tiphannia aids once again - this time with her newly discovered remarkable memory. A secret code signal of a potted black rose. How cloak and daggerly exciting!

Heh, I understand all this Neverrain stuff no better than Jeval does.

And the sun begins to set. . . Woot! The plant signal is there. Thankfully some passing pilgrim just knocked it over instead of pinching it!

This whole story really highlights the wonderful magic that Quinn wove into her Fashion Club – you’ve really shown us how every single member has the back of every other member.