And now I'm with the Nerevarine and Neloth in Nchardak. 

I'm not going to bore you with the details.  It is, after all, a puzzle that involved raising a lowering water levels.  The WORST kind of puzzle imaginable.  I somehow think it could've been a lot worse though, if I didn't know how to swim, or even if I couldn't go underwater.  We collected several cubes, used them to open paths, move water, lower bridges and destroy a few Dwemer contraptions.  Reminds me of Fenrir.  Sometimes I wonder why that boy likes tech so much.  He might not have the magic knowledge of his brother but damn Fenrir is clever when it comes to machines.

Finally, finally, the book that'd been under glass the whole time but unreachable gave way and opened.  Of course, Neloth looked at me like he expected me to take the Black Book first.  I shrugged.  All the more power for me, I guess.  I need to get even stronger to fight Miraak.

As I grabbed it, Neloth said, "Oh good, be sure to say hello to Hermaeus Mora for me."

And of course, I was back in Apocrypha.  Not really wanting to experience anything related to tentacles, I immediately threw up invisibility with the Nerevarine's Bow and shot anything that moved.  You know, I bet there's a lot of secret stuff in here.  And that made me start thinking about Damien.  I may be pretty good with magic, but I just memorize the runes.  I never bothered to learn what any of them mean.  Damien, though, he learned a lot in his years in Oblivion.  He's one of the smartest spellcasters I know, routinely inventing his own spells.

It was a series of small challenges, squamous moving bridges and passages that made way when I pushed fleshy buttons.  Spluh.

I finally reached the end and approached the 'large print' version of the book I'd touched to get in here.  I felt my skin crawl.  Eddies of black swirled in the air, tentacles wriggling out of the cracks in space.  Staring back at me - Hermaeus Mora's alien eye.  As much as he looked like the leftovers from when Anu and Padomay created the Aedra and Daedra (and he was) his presence still gave me pause.  

His ponderously slow echoing drone rang out in my ears, "All seekers of knowledge come to me, sooner or later."

"Don't worry.  I was just leaving.  I'll take my forbidden knowledge and be on my way," I said.  Could I teleport here if I was in a pinch?  Probably, though my teleport had a maximum range and I was in friggin outer space.  Daedric realms are just pocket planets in the great dark, just like Nirn.

"No.  Not yet," he said demandingly, "I've watched your progress through my realm with... growing interest."  

Skeeved me out the way he said that.

"You are following in the footsteps of my servant Miraak.  Like him, you're Dragonborn, and seek the knowledge that is your birthright," Herma Said.

"I don't need help learning secrets.  I'll find them on my own," I replied snidely.

"No.  Look around you.  You've done nothing here on your own," he said, pleased with himself, "You could spend a hundred lifetimes searching my library and never find what you seek.  I know what you want:  to use your power as a Dragonborn to bend the world to your will.  Here then is the knowledge you seek, although you did not know you needed it."

He flexed his tentacles, and knowledge flowed into me much as it had with Paarthurnax and the Greybeards.  Nothing that I'd had any desire to take anything from this writhing mass.

"Use it to bend the wills of mortals to your purpose.  But it is not enough.  Miraak knows the third word.  Without that, you cannot hope to surpass him.  I can grant you the same knowledge he wields, but all knowledge comes at a price."

I folded my arms, "So what's your price?

"Knowledge for knowledge.  The Skaal have withheld their secrets from me for many years.  Send the skaal shaman to me."

Then he faded, and the book activated, granting me a little more of that forbidden knowledge and sending me through blinding lights, back to Solstheim.

I could feel it.  Unrelenting Force was stronger, blasting opponents with actual harm.

Neloth smirked at me as I emerged, "Did you learn what you needed to?"

I nodded, "Spoke to old Herma Mora."

"And you're still surprisingly sane."

"He wants the secrets of the Skaal," I explained.

"Sounds like a bargain.  HM learns some new ways to skin a horker and you get to be the second most powerful Dragonborn ever to have lived."

"I mean I'd count Tiber Septim in there, but alright," I replied, but Neloth was already headed outside to return to Tel Mithryn.

A dragon swooped out of the sky as the three of us walked out.

I smirked a bit.  One of Miraak's pals?  

"Hey dragon.  You don't know who you're messing with," I said.  By no means did I yell it loud enough for him to hear.

"JOOR!" I blasted him with Dragonrend.

"No dovah would stoop to such vile speech!" He yelled at me.

"Yeah, 'cause you can't use it!" I taunted.

He landed a stone's throw away, the Nerevarine blasting him with poison, Neloth with fire and me peppering him with arrows.  As he turned to Neloth, I drew my daggers, surged forward and slid under him, stabbing him in his lower belly.  He collapsed.  Might've been a record for me.

At once, Miraak's voice echoed, "This dragon's soul belongs to me."

I shouted back, "Keep it, I have plenty!"

Got like 60.  Go ahead, jackass.

He vanished, and the Nerevarine's ball lightning exploded on the wall where he'd been.

"Damn," he said.

"We're gonna get him.  It'll be as epic as your fight with Dagoth-Ur."

"What do you know of that fight, Dragonborn?" He asked.

"Well, mostly what I've read about.  There was a poem written about ten years ago that retells it in song," I said.

"Ugh, by Azura that sounds terrible," he grimaced.

"He's all like, 'Sweet Nerevar, come and look upon the heart... upon the heart," I said.  Half-singing and half just saying the words rhythmically.

"Please stop," he pleaded, "Though he did always call me Sweet Nerevar.  You know, I may be a reincarnation of him, but I don't understand why his friends called him Sweet Nerevar."

I shrugged, smiling, "Maybe in a past life you were just such a sweet guy."

I laughed, and he groaned.

Neloth went back to Tel Mithryn and we returned to Raven Rock.  I figured I should check on Kintyra.  And this, of course, made me think of Runa.  She was headstrong like Runa, though so much more of a fangirl.  Runa'd always been kinda quiet, brooding.  But blunt and strong when you can get her to talk.  The Nerevarine continued to the Inn while Captain Veleth accosted me.  

"Second Councilor Arano asked me to find you.  It's urgent.  Even more than wiping out Ash Spawn."

Part 1: Ulfric Wants Him to Sow Oats

Part 2: Tragic Waifu Simulator

Part 3: Becoming a Trade Prince

Part 4: A Little Dungeon Play

Hey, it's been a while.  It's me, Destana.  I've been busy in Solstheim.  I don't think I've slept in... well, since I got here.  What day is it?  It's the 17th of Morning Star, and it's been a wild ride.  

As you know, I was looking around for clues and found a note in the temple that led me to a small Dwemer ruin to the north.  I arrowed my way through the place and found a man named Kenro with a lot of data about a cult of the Tribunal here in Solstheim.  Not really what I was looking for, but I filed it in the old log for later.  I returned to Raven Rock to join back up with the Nerevarine  (my guide) and found Kintyra sitting in the Inn.  And then I gave her a bit of a tongue-lashing.  

"I don't have time to escort you back to Skyrim right now.  If I just leave you in the Inn, you're going to just go off on your own, aren't you?"

"Well... probably."

Destana sighed, "You might not share my blood, technically, but you share my spirit.  Listen.  Follow us.  We'll keep you from being killed.  You might even learn something along the way."

She shook with visible excitement, but all she said was, "That'd be neat."

"Really?  Neat?"

"Sorry, I'm trying to be polite," Kintyra replied.

"Other reason I'm here, I've been having these dreams about a guy named Miraak.  Your mom, your uncles, and me, all got attacked by his cultists."

"So you're here to show him who's boss?" Kintyra smiled.

I smiled back, "Well, yeah, I guess.  He's got thousands of years of experience on me, so it'll be a fight to remember."

We set out on the road, hoping to find some clue of cult activity.  A couple minutes out we found a lone man fighting some of the Ash zomboys and I pitched in to save him.

"Thanks," he said, "I wasn't sure I'd make it off this farm alive.  Wish I could've said the same for my man here."

He went on to introduce himself as Captain Veleth.  The 'Ash Spawn' as he called them were causing trouble for Raven Rock and he was looking for clues to their origin.

I picked up a note half-buried in the dirt and he seemed aghast that it was a note from General Falx Carius, penned recently from Fort Frostmoth.

"That's impossible.  He was a garrison commander from over 200 years ago," he explained.

Naturally, I offered to check it out.  When we got there, I was spotted immediately and we fought off Ash Spawn as the General (undead? he looked fine) slipped into the safety of the structure.  We gave chase and stealthily knocked out the waves of Ash Spawn occupying the place.  We finally found him and I broke stealth.  I was curious how he was still alive.  But he immediately started blasting poison spells at us, Spawn rising from the ashes around us.  The other two fought the spawn while I took on the captain.  The Nerevarine threw stray ice shards at Falx to slow him, and I finally finished him off with a Slow Time.  I grabbed the general's hammer for one of the boys.

Kintyra giggled, "Those guys were tough!  Do you do this every day?"
"Pretty much," I replied.

We kept on toward the temple in the north, which I'd heard had a lot of weirdness going on, finding some Brigands, Burnt Spriggans, and a man trying his hand at a flight spell but ultimately splatting on the ground.

We finally reached this temple and found scores of people working like zombified drones, unresponsive.  Some of their number stepped out and attacked us, though.  When they were dispatched, I said, "These guys are just normal bandits.  Just random people from all walks of life.  Strange."

We met a woman named Frea, one of the only Skaal here not affected by this mindlessness.  We fought our way in, talking as we advanced.

"What do you know of Miraak?" I asked.

"He served the dragons before their fall from power.  A priest.  But he turned against them.  He made his own past and tried to claim Solstheim for himself.  And the dragons destroyed him," she replied.

We fought through draugr and cultists.  

"We must be careful in this temple.  Traps are everywhere," Frea said.

"Step lightly, don't set them off," I replied, "Remember what I taught you, Kintyra?"

She smiled back at me.

After a dozen rooms of draugr and traps, Kintyra'd managed to evade and avoid, keeping behind us.  But eventually she got clawed, going down in one hit.

"Everything's dead behind us," I said after the fighting was over, healing her up, "Told you it's dangerous.  Nerevar, mind protecting our girl here while Frea and I sally forth?" 

He nodded, "Of course."

A couple chambers later (and about 50 more draugr) we came to a LONG swinging axe room.

"No way I'm going down there," Frea said.

I chuckled, "Not my first time."

I turned and shouted, "WULD - NA.." then realized I'd mistimed it and slammed my face against an axe halfway down.  Chuckling, rolling the rest of the way, healing myself, I opened up the door and threw the lever to deactivate.

A couple more rooms of the two ladies out front, Nerevarine in the back shooting spells and playing bodyguard with Kintyra.  A draugr hopped out behind us and Kin stabbed him with her Rapier.  I finished him off.  I smiled at her and nodded.

More dungeon, more dungeon... we found a room of draugr with swinging log puzzles and they set off their own traps, killing themselves.  Finally, finally, we reached a treasure room, and...

"Whoa!  A word wall!" I said, "Been a long time since I've seen one of these."

I absorbed the knowledge and spent a dragon soul. 

"Wonder what this does.  I think it means strength," I said, "MUL!" 

Draconic energy flowed around my arms.  

"Neat," I said.  We ventured just a bit further, fought more Draugr, found an eerie stretch of empty rooms, then a book on a pedestal.

"Huh..." I said.

"There's some kind of dark magic here," Frea said.

I picked up the book and all at once, the book swallowed me up in a mass of tentacles.

A voice boomed before me, "Who are you to dare set foot here?"

He threw his hands up, and I fell to my knees.  I was surrounded by floating tentacle creatures.

"It's you!" I growled.

"Ahh... I know you.  You are Dragonborn.  You have slain Alduin.  Well done.  I could've slain himself back when I walked the earth, but I chose a different path."

"Armchair quarterback," I spat.

"You have no idea the true power a Dragonborn can wield," he said.

"I dunno, I'm pretty powerful," I fought against the crushing weight on top of me.

"MUL - QAH - DIIV!" He shouted, and the same draconic energy that'd surrounded my arms moments ago and faded, surrounded his whole body.

"This realm is beyond you," he said, "You have no power here.  It is only a matter of time before I can return home and control Solstheim.  Send her back where she came from.  She can await my arrival like the rest of Tamriel."  He turned and petted the dragon pet behind him.

The tentacle boys floated up and started blasting me with some form of energy.  Then they blasted.  They kept blasting.

"If... you're not going to send me back to where I came from... I can teleport out myself," I smirked.

The creatures stopped blasting.

"Hey Miraak, think your boys got tired," I smiled. 

Then I grinned, feeling his concentration begin to wane.  They'd stopped, he wasn't watching, he probably assumed they were done.  But maybe the tentacle boys had more than they could handle in my god-like ass.  A perfect storm of a screw-up.  I exerted my will, breaking out of the bonds.  My daggers slid into my hands instantly and I sliced through both the creatures beside me.

A third fell under my blades, and grinning, I charged at Miraak, "Guess who has power here now!"

I slashed at his dragon energy and he barely flinched.  He turned, grabbing my forearm as I made another slash.

I wiggled, trying to get out of his grasp.

From behind the mask his expression was inscrutable, but I felt like he was scowling.

I slashed him with my offhand again.  He raised his other hand and blasted me with a spell.  When I came to, I was back in the temple, panting.

"What happened?  You read the book... and you were here, but not here.  I could see through you," Frea said.

"Uhh... grandma, why are you smiling?" Kintyra asked.

"Well I fought Miraak.  If you could call that a fight.  He's strong.  Stronger than Rehman, or Jura," I paused, "Or me."

I sighed, "But maybe if I could separate him from his bullshit magic I could beat him."

"You saw Miraak?  Can we reach him?  Can we kill him?" Frea asked.

"Probably.  But I dunno how to get back there," I said.

She suggested we go visit her father, the shaman of the Skaal.  We got out of there and traveled overland and met Storn Crag-Strider.  We explained the situation.  He told me that Miraak was the First Dragonborn, and to beat him, I'd need to first learn the same word of power that Miraak uses to control people, to break his control.

So we headed even further north, for Saering's Watch.  I took the high road, shooting arrows and then hopping down from the mountain above the word wall.  I'd taken down most the draugr by the time my companions got there.   

I waited, absorbing the knowledge.

"Gol, earth," I said as Kintyra walked up the stairs. 

"So is that all you have to do?" Kintyra asked.

I took out my bow, shooting at the one or two stragglers in the distance, "Yeah.  And a dragon soul."

"So how did mom learn how to do it?" She asked.

"Lots and lots of practice, or so I'm told," I replied, using a dragon soul, "Where it would've taken years to master this shout for most people, I've already learned it."

"GOL!" I shouted into the air, though it didn't really do anything.

"You think I could learn one, if I practiced?" She asked.

I smiled at her, "Definitely.  You've got some Nord in there.  For other people it's nearly impossible.  For Nords it's just difficult.  My advice is to try out Unrelenting Force first.  It's a good starter shout, and always useful.  I blew one of the draugr off the mountain with it a minute ago."

She beamed with the encouragement.  We made our way down the mountain, to the Wind Stone.  I took a deep breath.

"GOL!" I shouted at the rock, and immediately the people stopped working.  

I smiled at my followers, "Dang, works like a charm!"

"Where am I?" One of them said.

"Don't worry, just return to your home.  The nightmare is over," I replied.  Before they could clear the area, the structure around the stone started to shake, then it violently exploded. 

I shouted, "LEAVE!"

The people scattered as a creature emerged from the dust.

I took out my bow, firing at the thing.  This time more humanoid, but with a facefull of tentacles, "Hey ugly!  Over here!"

I sank an arrow in it's side, then another in it's neck.  It turned and shot a green fleshy bulb and I narrowly dodged.

I used the stone between us to unsheathe my daggers and block more squicky tentacles.  The Nerevarine shot him with firebolts as I engaged in melee.  

It only took a few strokes after being set on fire.  Then I stabbed the thing again.  Just making sure.

Kintyra stood next to the Nerevarine, blinking.

"Yeah, THIS is what you heard about when you heard my stories.  Are you sure you want to be an adventurer?  You're a princess," I said.

She looked down, unsure.  Without further words, we returned to Skaal Village.

"Your people are free," I told Storn.

"The Skall shall forever be your allies.  Perhaps you can do the same for all of Solstheim.  I doubt it will stop whatever Miraak is doing, but it may slow him."

"It's not enough.  I need to stop Miraak now," I said back.

"I cannot help with that.  To stop Miraak, you will need more knowledge about the Black Book you told me of."

I showed him.

"This is the book?  This thing is dark, unnatural.  I will have nothing to do with it.  I hear the dark elf wizard Neloth knows a great deal about them.  Seek him out to the south.  Be cautious. There is something else at work here," Storn replied.

I rolled my eyes, "More tentacles, I assume."

I figured it was time to return to Raven Rock before setting off for Tel Mithryn.

We strolled into the Retching Netch on the 3rd, in evening.  I told Captain Veleth about Fort Frostmoth and he gave us a handsome bit of pay.  We sat down and ate a meal in the Inn, and I happened to find a fork stabbed into one of the casks.  A note was stabbed into the cask, written by good ol' Sheogorath.  It was for me, no doubt.  He'd shown a liking to messing with me (when he could remember what was going on).  He wanted me to kill things with the fork.  I filed it for later, smirking.  We slept in the inn and the next morning I decided I would check out the town.

I found a man named Crescius at the entrance to the mine, squabbling with his dark elf wife, Aphia.  Apparently he'd spent the better part of his life trying to uncover something in the mine that'd killed his great-grandfather, and was causing the mine to dry up.  I shrugged, "I can spare a few hours.  I'll search the mine.  Even the secret, dangerous parts.  There're always dangerous deep parts to mines where people 'dug too deep.'"

He raised an eyebrow, "Thanks."

I went to the deepest pit and just jumped down.  This time, Kintyra stayed at the top and the Nerevarine followed.  I broke down a boarded up doorway and found myself in an old Nord ruin.

"Well that took literally two minutes," I said.

The scores of draugr and traps weren't even the interesting part.  It was the hordes of people following us down there.  Not even just Miners, either.  Aphia and a bunch of random laborers from the town followed.

I peered over to Nerevar, "What are these people doing?"

He shrugged, "I guess they want to help you take back the deep portions of the mine."

"Well, I guess this is an attack party now," I said.

Our only recourse was to outpace them.  We stepped up our killing speed and plowed through the draugr, throwing stealth out the window.  

Whenever I thought we'd gotten past the random villagers, they reached us again.

"Seriously!  GO BACK TO YOUR HOMES!" I yelled.  We finished off the group we'd been fighting and while I was looting treasure, Tilisu Severin started using the alchemy station.

I threw up my hands, "If you guys get killed, it's not on me."

Finally I found a bridge, and I consciously decided not to raise the bridge and we continued forward without the randos.  After a couple more rooms, we came upon a door, the grandfather's journal, and a red greatsword.

I skimmed it, "I guess, if you attack with this thing a beam will shoot out, and that's how you activate the arch around the door.  Runa's old Moonlight Greatsword had that ability.  It was actually better than this sword though.  Well, I'm not a greatsword person."

Made me miss Runa a little, wonder how her travels were going.

I slashed the sword a few times and cut the arch until it opened.  I was met with another cutting axe puzzle.  

"Aha, I have an idea!" I said, "TIID!" 

I ran through the hallway, avoiding all the them with a great deal of speed, then deactivated the trap.

The Nerevarine nodded.

We passed into the final chamber, fought a dragon priest (by himself?  noob), ransacked a chest, and found a word wall.  QAH, the second word of Dragon Aspect.

And in the last room, another big chest with some great swords in it, and another black book.

"I just keep stumbling upon these things," I said, "I guess, get ready to wait a while."

The Nerevarine shrugged, sitting down.  I opened the book and was flung into the alternate world again.

This time, I was on a path in an infinite ocean of black ooze, books strewn about chaotic and squamous structures before me. 

A voice boomed, "So, another seeker after knowledge enters my realm."

"I didn't touch the beacon, I swear!" I shouted back.

"I am Hermaeus Mora, Prince of Fate and Lord of Secrets.  This is Apocrypha, where all knowledge is hoarded.  Perhaps you will prove clever enough to uncover the secrets hidden here. If so, welcome."

I started to walk forward.

"Perhaps you are a fool or a coward.  If so, you are in peril.  Read you book again and escape before Apocrypha claims you forever."

"Fool?  Perhaps.  Coward?  Not a chance," I said, slicing through the first of the Seekers I found.

With maximum snark, I continued, "Bring it on, tentacle boy.  I've seen more tentacles than you can imagine."

And now, truly alone, I fought my way further.  I found books, soul gems, and lots of tentacled enemies as I did.  Every hallway shifted as I strode upon it.  I had to navigate through a series of buttons and shifting pathways.  It was a short jaunt before I came to a huge version of the book I'd read to get here.  The Winds of Change.  I touched the book, and received a boon - the ability to ignore my companions in my area effect spells and shouts - Companion's Insight.

And with that, I was thrust back to Solstheim.

"Grandma," Kintyra said, "Where'd you go just now?"

"A place you're not going to follow, given the opportunity.  Place gives me the creeps.  How'd you make it down here?"

"The draugr are all dead.  I followed the villagers," she replied.

"Yeah, until they reform in 10 days or so," I said, "Stick with the Nerevarine if I go to Apocrypha while you're around."

"Yes, Ma'am," she replied.

We walked out the back secret entrance and I went to Crescius' house.  I told him about what happened.  An edited version, of course.  Just told him about the draugr and he thanked me.  It was evening now, and I figured I'd just cleanse the stone right outside of Raven Rock and let the others sleep.

I approached the Earth Stone and blasted it with GOL, the same thing happening.  This time, though, several of the creatures appeared.  Kintyra was caught in the immediate blast and was knocked unconscious.  I should feel bad, but I've told her to be careful and stay back.  Probably my own fault.

Old Moon and Star threw her over his shoulder when we were done and we put her in the Inn.  We rested and set off to Tel Mithryn in the morning, without the kid.  Maybe this'd teach her a little lesson.  We fought a couple Ash Spawn, and a group of warlocks right outside Tel Mithryn, then found the dark elf wizard, Neloth.

"I don't recall inviting you into my tower," he said flatly.

"I hear you know where to find black books," I stated.

"You refer to the tomes of esoteric knowledge that old Hermaeus Mora has scattered throughout the world?  What could you know of them."
"Well, here's one," I pulled it out, "Just found a second."

"Ahhh... you read it too, didn't you?" He sneered, "You've got the look."

"I have to know what Miraak wants if I want to stop him."

"Miraak?  The one all the townsfolk are talking about?"

"Yes.  He's trying to return to Solstheim."

"I KNEW something was going on here.  Something connected to Hermaeus Mora is spreading its influence across the land.  I had no idea it was connected with Miraak."

"Can you help me find more black books?" I asked.

"Oh yes.  They're not hard to find once you know where to look.  I have one here I've been using to locate more," he replied.

I chuckled under my breath.  His statement had the energy of, 'And I've been using this one to keep the coffee table level.'

"You have a Black Book?"

"Yes.  But my book isn't what you're looking for, I'm quite sure.  I do know where to find another though.  I haven't been able to get to it.  Maybe together we can unlock the secrets the dwemer left behind."

"Ahh, the dwemer are involved.  That makes sense," I smirked.

"Yes, forbidden knowledge.  Somewhat of a specialty of the dwarves.  I found their reading room in the ruins of Nchardak.  It's sealed in a protective case I wasn't able to open.  If you're ready, follow me."

We made our way to Nchardak, stopping at the Sun Stone (conveniently on the way) and cleansing it.  It started to pour rain, and we faced a large group of bandits who'd made a home on the platforms leading up to Nchardak.  I was happy to get in, out of the cold.  

https://discord.gg/uYSCmZbf

I am starting to think I do need to write about this, even if they are shorter entries like my old ones.  Feels kinda disconnected without the words to bind it together.

So I've progressed Runa through Pyandonea, Destana through a lot of Solstheim and Damien through just a bit of Summerset.  

And I can't really show some of the things they've been getting up to there.  For example, in Pyandonea Runa met a Maormer who was very helpful.  They traveled together for a few days and she decided she was going to act on her carnal feelings, but ultimately they went their separate ways.

Also, some uncut video of Runa swimming naked with an Amulet of Water Breathing to get into the Sea Vipers.

It's been a while, and I figured I could at least give you something if you're not actively following my videos on youtube.

I do feel like I've spent a lot of time on this blog, and going forward I'd like something that has the possibility of being for money.

I do appreciate everybody who's stayed with me thus far.

Kagrenfahlz Summary:  Damien, Valiana and Fenrir find their way through Kagrenfahlz into an area in the Velothi Mountains called Samaria.  A group of dunmer made their way there long ago and made a small civilization, hidden in the mountains.  Of course, they say the group is trapped there.  Not taking that as fact, Fenrir and group figure out there are accessible ruins, figure out a way to get into a lower Kagrenfahlz and solve a set of COMPLEX puzzles.  Once solved, they open the way to Skyrim.  Fenrir then tells Michael and Duns Scotus about Kagrenfahlz and Samaria.  In the mean time (5 days pass) an army of drifters take up residence in the newly opened Kagren's Pass.  Of course, Maven Black-Brier (not mentioned by name, but mentioned) sends soldiers to secure the pass and begin building infrastructure.  Fenrir and group make their way into Samaria again and find the ghost they let out on the way out has now taken possession of lower Kagrenfahlz and kidnapped a large group of the soldiers.  They receive a plea from the Dunmer High Priestess (being a mouthpiece for Azura) to stop the ghost, since he's a chosen of Molag Bal.  The group fights their way through the low level daedra guarding him and then he offers Fenrir a choice:  free him from his torture or deny him and doom him forever.  Fenrir decides to go against the wishes of Azura and free him, seeing him a being driven to dire action via dire situation.  He fades away, and we're left with new settlements:  Kagren's Pass and Samaria (So I guess it's going to stay in my load order, at least until I have to reset Fenrir).

Fen returned to his patrolling with Val, and Damien returned to creating life waters.  A little while later:

----------------Fenrir--------------------

"Look who it is!" Galmar shouted.

High King Ulfric (Dad) looked up from things he'd been signing.  His expression was... hard to discern.  As I got closer, it didn't get easier.  
"Where have you been?" He asked.
"Long story short, I raided an Aetherium mine.  You should've received the proceeds for equipment.  Then I found an ancient ruin called Kagrenfahlz.  The stuff I found - you can add it to the pile I got from the dungeon crawls I did last year."
He smirked at me, like he was trying to hide his amusement and remain stern, "You're definitely your mother's son."
"I do love dungeons, and I'm just as good as her with locks.  Maybe a little better," I smirked.
"I'm trying my best to be mad about this, but I know you can take care of yourself.  And you had Valiana by your side, so you were well protected," Ulfric said.
"Thank you, sir," Val nodded, knowing my dad didn't generally care for people treating him like a king.
I shrugged, "But why would you be mad?  Here I am furthering the fortunes of the kingdom.  It was a vacation from protecting the northern coast from pirates.  Also with Val's help."
Ulfric took a deep breath, and exhaled.  He stood, slowly walking down his throne's dais, "You do know you're my only heir, don't you?"
I folded my arms, "Your point?"

He reached the bottom, looking me in the eye.  I'm tall, but he's one of the few that's taller than me, by about an inch.  He said, "The point is - dear boy - a royal shouldn't be putting himself in mortal danger every day."
"What about mom?" I asked.
"She's different.  She's an immortal vampire dragonborn.  Fought gods, traveled to other worlds.  Pretty much unstoppable.  Also, I doubt I could convince her to do otherwise.  She's going to outlive us all," Ulfric put his hand on my shoulder, "You have a lot to learn about ruling."

I raised an eyebrow, "Well, don't forget the moot will decide if I'm fit to be King or not.  Skyrim's come along way in the past 15 years.  But since I'm half Redguard, I seriously doubt that's going to happen."
"At the very least," he put his hand on my shoulder, "You will be Jarl of Eastmarch."
I shrugged, "What are you getting at?"
"I want to show you how to do the job before you have it thrust upon you," he slapped me on the back, "There's nothing wrong with what you're doing.  I had a few adventures in my time.  I just need you to scale it back and concentrate on your future."

"I am willing to work with you," I sighed, "There are a lot of dwemer ruins though, and it's good for the royal coffers."
"Let Valiana handle the north sea."

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

Three years pass, Fenrir learning how to become a Jarl and dealing with the day-to-day ins and outs of Windhelm.  Ulfric continues being High King.  In the winter of 219, Valiana visits Fenrir and he gives her a suit of armor he forgot to give her from Kagrenfahlz.  (She's been visiting regularly and giving him updates).  He informs her that Queen Mynisera reached out to Ulfric and Jura for help.  The Western Reach is embroiled in one of the biggest conflicts in a generation.  

Cyrodiil sent General Tusselle, and Valiana is happy to go help.  She ventures to Markarth to meet at the Silver-Blood Inn.

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

You already know the story of the kids, striking out on their own, going on an adventure against their parents wishes.  Destana ventured to Solstheim (with the Nerevarine as a guide) by regular boat and ventured north, pursuing her only thread so far - a note she found about a cult.  When she returned to Raven Rock, she found Kintyra hanging out at the Inn.

"What the hell are you doing?" Destana asked angrily.

"Uh oh..." Kintyra froze.

"Out with it."

"I'm... trying to have an adventure, like you."

"Gods, you're going to get yourself killed out here.  Solstheim is dangerous."

Kintyra had nothing to say to that.

"I don't have time to escort you back to Skyrim right now.  If I just leave you in the Inn, you're going to just go off on your own, aren't you?"

"Well... probably."

Destana sighed, "You might not share my blood, technically, but you share my spirit.  Listen.  Follow us.  We'll keep you from being killed.  You might even learn something along the way."

Her eyes brightened in great excitement, but all she said was, "That'd be neat."

"Really?  Neat?"

"Sorry, I'm trying to be polite," Kintyra replied.

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

Damien went back to the college and told Archmage Mirabelle about his son, and his need to go back to Summerset to look for him.

"Hmm.." She thought, "Actually, you going back to Summerset would be a huge blessing.  Recently the Mage's Guild there reached out to me.  They're expecting the Archmage.  But I have neither the time nor the inclination to help the damn elves with their problems."

"Hey!  I'm a damn elf!" Carahil exclaimed from across the room.

"Yes, indeed, you are," Mirabelle replied, "Anyway, you'd be a perfect stand-in for me.  But let me make this clear:  you are not the Archmage.  But everybody's going to call you Archmage because you're going in my place.  Play along.  Again, I cannot stress this enough.  You are not the Archmage.  And please, please take Carahil with you."

"Way to make me feel unwelcome," Carahil commented.

"Indeed.  Have a safe journey, both of you.  Preferably one way for you, Carahil," Mirabelle said as she walked away.

"Are conversations always like that with her?" Carahil asked once she was out of earshot.

"More or less," Damien replied, "Want to get on the road?  They said our contact was in the Winterhold Inn."

"Of course, 'Archmage," Carahil replied.

"Oh, I am NOT the Archmage.  Very clear," Damien chuckled.

Amidst relentless ribbing about his new (and dashing!) cape, they were transported to Summerset Isle.

So here we are.  Treva's Watch.  Today, it's Kintyra.  Thought I'd give Fortuna a rest.  But also, maybe she can fill in some gaps in my knowledge as we go along.  I am literally four years old with the brain and body of a fourteen-year-old.  So by the grace of not being on this planet for very long, a lot of things are new to me.

As we passed near Largashbur, a group of goblins passed us.  Oddvar and I put our hands on our weapons, but Fortuna stopped us.

"Look, they're not hostile," she said.

The lead goblin nodded to us absentmindedly like he was passing us in a city street.  I noticed they had the Largashbur symbols on their armor.  

"Huh," I shrugged.

We could see Treva's Watch from the road - though it was set back quite a distance.  We were attacked by a small pack of wolves, though we didn't think they had anything to do with the bandits.  Between the four of us (especially the fireball staff Sinidar unveiled, and Fortuna and I with Bound Bows) they didn't even get close.  Well, one did, but I slapped him with a Bound Whip and kicked him in the head.

I smirked at Fortuna, "Thanks for teaching me these couple spells."

She nodded, "You three seem to have been taught how to handle yourselves."

"My dad taught me a little, I'm not great at magic yet, but staves are useful," Sinidar nodded.

"Mom and dad weren't going to let us grow up without being able to defend ourselves," Oddvar commented.

"Though," I added, "The timetable really moved forward when we got the big splash."

Sinidar laughed, "Perhaps that's what we should call the defining event that robbed us of our childhoods, the Big Splash."

We all laughed, but the way he said that... I could tell it struck a nerve.  Thank the gods we'd stopped accelerating.  One little bit of Life Waters will only do so much, I guess.

We crept closer.  I looked at Fortuna, "So, fellow thief, how should we approach this?"

She stared back for a second, then shrugged, "I dunno.  I figured you would lead.  You seem the strongest personality here."

"You kidding?  You have knowledge of the future.  What better person to make the decisions?" I asked.

We looked at Sinidar and Oddvar.

"Don't look at me," Sinidar said, "I'm along for the ride."

"I'd rather be a hammer.  Point where to hit and I'll hit," Oddvar replied.

"Well, there's probably a sewer," Fortuna replied.

"That sounds smart..." I started.

But then a flurry of movement at the fort.  We peered up to men going for their bows, then they started taking shots at us.

"Okay, guess we don't have this stealth thing down yet," I said, "Let's keep our distance, draw them out of the walls.  They'll probably come out and try to end it because we're a bunch of kids.  Then we'll show them what we can do."

"See?  You'd make an excellent leader, Princess," Fortuna smiled at me.

I scoffed, "Momma always told me being a princess doesn't make you special.  You need to prove yourself, just like anybody else."

We got behind a small copse of trees and high grass and watched them.  After a minute, a small group came out the left side.  Fortuna drew a regular arrow and I summoned a Bound Bow.  We both got a shot and down the first man in the line.  The second one in the group saw us and charged, yelling at the top of his lungs.  As he reached the trees, a shirtless man with wolf skin on his back, I got him with a bound arrow in the shoulder - then Oddvar popped out and clobbered him in the back of the head, sending him unconscious into the grass.  

Arrows were flying in our direction now.

"Stealth definitely would've been preferable!" I shouted.

Fortuna tapped Sinidar on the shoulder, making a hand sign and pointing to the archers, grouped up on the wall.

He didn't get the signal, but he did recognize his cue.  Sinidar pointed his staff and blasted them, causing them to fall off in flames.

They shared a wordless smile.

Perched behind the tree, I was aiming for more archers on the walls to return fire.

"Gods, how many are there?" Sinidar asked.

"Ten to fifteen?  This is going to take some strategy," I replied.

I was snapped back to attention by a sound - Oddvar shouting.  He was moving toward the wall!

I looked at Sin and Fort, "What the..."

"He's your brother!" Sinidar said back.

I sighed, running out into the open field and trading arrows with the guards on the wall.  But also drawing their attention.  Oddvar passed under the ruined gates where the archers were standing, and then all their sights were on me.

"Damn," I said.  He made it and he was now concealed from most the archers.  Evidently he actually had a plan.  But now what was my plan?
I could see Oddvar clobbering the archer who'd been standing just inside the gate.  Fortuna did the same as I - coming out and giving them more targets, trading arrows with them as well.  

"Oh shit!" One of the wall archers shouted as Oddvar slammed his battleaxe into the back of the man's head.  He was truly a demon when he got started.  

"I'm surprised we're doing so well," Sinidar said from next to me.  The arrows we expertly dodged a moment ago thinned out as Oddvar took on four lightly armored, lightly equipped men.

And he was in well-made Riften Guard Armor with a Battleaxe.

One last arrow shot out to us, scraping across Fortuna's side.  She drew in a shrill breath.

"C'mon, let's support Odd!" I grabbed her hand, looked her in the eye, and cast a healing spell through the touch.

My other hand summoned a Bound Whip.  The two of us climbed up the right side while Sinidar walked in the front gate.

We charged and supported Oddvar, sounds of fireball blasts in the back of my mind.

I looked over the wall to find Sinidar peppering the forts warriors with fireballs.  I guess they'd just called up their reinforcements from below?  And were now charging out into the courtyard.

Oddvar, grinning beside me after finishing off the last archer shouted, "Huzzah!!!" And jumped down just as one of the warriors reached Sinidar, landing on and flattening him with his axe.

The three of us others supported Oddvar with heals and ranged attacks and focus-fired down the rest of the warriors.

The four of us met up.  Fortuna'd gotten a few scratches from arrows, Sinidar getting his fair share of scrapes and Oddvar got the brunt of the damage in melee.  But he was loving it.  I was the only unscathed one.  Fortuna and I doled out heals and we went inside.

I turned to Oddvar, "This time, let Fort and I go first.  You wait in the back if we get into any trouble."

He shrugged, assenting.

I met eyes with Fortuna and she smiled.

She made a hand signal - two crossed fingers.  Coordinate?  Timed shot?  I didn't want to seem like a fool so I nodded.

I we both recasted Bound Bow and crept into the first room, a canteen.  Two guards were walking our way - on high alert now.  They saw us as we both nocked arrows.  The first one was dead with a shot to the heart and head before he could react. 

As the second one came around the bar I got him in the shoulder and Fortuna got him in the thigh.  Then Oddvar popped in and slammed him in the head.

I pursed my lips, "We're trying to practice!"

Oddvar shrugged again, "Looked like he needed the extra oomph."

I popped back out into the hallway we'd come from and an arrow whizzed by my head.  I ducked for cover behind the doorframe.  I nocked an arrow in my bound bow, strafed back into the hall and got him right between the eyes.

"Where'd you learn to shoot like that?" Fortuna asked.

"My grandmother," I replied.

"Yeah, she visits the palace a lot," Oddvar smiled.

"Last year, when we were about two feet shorter, she took us out into a field outside Anvil and hit a bunch of targets inside the city," I explained.

"Was it before or after that you decided you wanted to be just like her?" Oddvar smiled again.

I elbowed the boy, "S'hup!"

We were about to continue on, but Sinidar pointed out a man locked one of the cells on the other side of the room.  He was quietly sitting and eating a loaf of bread.

"Don't worry guy, I'll get you out of there," I said, taking out a lockpick.

Now by no means am I yet good at lockpicking (infact, I broke a couple picks in the process) but I'm learning!  I had it open in a couple minutes.

The man slowly stood.

"You're welcome.  Exit's that way," I pointed.  

"Kintyra!" One of the group shouted.

When I turned back, the man was swinging a greatsword.

"Shit!" I shouted, hopping back.  His sword cleaved into a wood pillar, narrowly protecting my head.

"Time to die!" He shouted, wildly swinging for me as he chased me across the room.  I pulled out my rapier, not having time to summon a bound weapon.

Oddvar joined the melee, though the man was wily.  But Odd did his part - keeping the man occupied while I sliced him up in degrees with tiny cuts.  I exhaled.

"What the heck just happened?!"

"I dunno," Oddvar shrugged.

"Maybe he was in trouble with his fellows?" Sinidar suggested.

"I mean, he was definitely a bandit," I mentioned.

"Maybe he just liked the solitude," Fortuna said.

We walked back out into the hallway, and I spied another bandit in the next room.

I recasted Bound Bow.  He immediately rushed for me.

I sighed, "Does this thing make a lot of noise when I summon it?"

I nocked an arrow and when he walked into the hall I got him in the chest, while Fortuna got him in the neck.  The next one went down much the same way.  We were young a quick on the draw.

I looked at Sinidar, "Planning on using that staff anytime soon?"

"It's got finite charges, you know," he replied, "You guys seem to have it handled."

We ransacked a couple rooms in true grandma fashion, then came upon a large set of circular stone steps, up and down.  I could hear bandits angrily discussing Skyrim's prison system in the nearby.  I shot up a hand signal that meant, 'Hang back.'

I walked downstairs and found a long empty hall with a door to the right, and a large, obvious, crude trap across from it.  I smirked, filing that information away.  I stealthily approached the door and cracked it open.  The man inside immediately saw the movement and threw the door open.  

"Who the hell are you?!" He demanded.  I rolled out of his reach, then ran back the way I came.  The man gave chase, stepping on the huge trap plate.

The huge wall of spikes swung out and slammed him into the opposite wall.

I chuckled.  A female bandit rushed out to join the battle as the spike trap reset.  I grinned, dodging around her.  I drew rapier and dagger, this time playing an intricate game of swordplay in parries and thrusts.

As she started to get annoyed, she lunged for me and I dodged again to reposition myself.  She gave chase, stepping on the spike plate the same as her companion had.  It swung out and flattened her too.

This time I laughed much louder.  The peanut gallery from the stars clapped for me.

"What a show!  Encore!" Sinidar shouted.

They continued back up the stairs while I ransacked the room that the pair'd come out of.  When I started up the stairs, a stronger-looking bandit (who hadn't seen the others) caught sight of me and charged in my direction.  

I grinned.  Do I dare to try it a third time?

I ran back into the spike trap room and summoned a Bound Bow.  I took a shot at the man as he entered and he bellowed, charging with sword and shield.  I didn't even get a shot off before he reached me.  I dodged, ran under his high sword slash and ran back for the stairs.  Then he chased me and stepped on the plate, triggering it like the rest.

I laughed loud this time, though nobody was around to see.  This guy was definitely a leader.  You'd think they would train them better.  I picked up a hefty sack of gold from his side and caught up to the others.  I saw Sinidar first, crouched behind a barrier.

He whispered to me, "Wanna take that guy out?" 

I summoned a Bound Bow and shot him from cover, taking him down.

"Does it seem to you like these bandits aren't that strong?"
"What do you mean?" Sinidar asked.

"I mean these guys are going down in one or two hits," I replied while we continued forward.

"Well, bound bows are very strong.  You have a higher Magicka pool than is normal for most people our age and level of experience.  Higher than mine, actually," Sinidar replied.

"Oh wow, really?" I asked.

"I'm a mediocre mage at this point.  It's why I'm relying on this staff as a crutch," he said.

I put my hand on his shoulder, "Sini, we're all going to get better.  We're going to be as strong as our parents someday.  Maybe even -"

"Destana, Jura, Rehman, the Nerevarine..."

"Maybe!" I said.

"Don't count on it.  They're all on a higher tier than even most adventurers, who are already powerful," Sini replied.  We caught up to the other two.

"You know why else we're rolling over them?" Fortuna commented, "These guys are mostly 'trainee' level.  New recruits.  Only the two captains you just beat were any threat, and you were having a lot of trouble until you got them with the spike trap."

"Why are there so many new bandits?" I asked.

Sinidar scratched his chin, thinking deeply.

"I feel like you have something to say," I said.

Sinidar shot a glance at Fortuna, who was having spurts of foretelling currently, then thanked her for not speaking for him, "Well, we fought a war three years ago.  A lot of people died, but a lot of people came back.  We reduced the size of the standing army.  Where do those people go if there's no work?"

"They become bandits, probably," Oddvar commented.

"Precisely," Sinidar said, "We're all princes and princesses...."

Then he glanced at Fortuna and said, "Well, most of us."

She folded her arms but said nothing.

"Sorry Fortuna.  Hey, maybe I should propose, marry you, and then you'll be royalty too," Sinidar smirked.

Fortuna smirked a little, but then she pushed him, still saying nothing.

Sinidar chuckled, "Point being, grandma figured out the Giants, the Forsworn and the Dragons.  Maybe between us we can take a crack at Skyrim's banditry problem."

We looted the last guy and moved toward the bandit leader's room.

He was pacing, paying no attention to our entry.  Fortuna and I peered at each other, each summoning Bound Bows.

Sinidar charged up a fireball from his staff, and the two of us loosed Bound Arrows.

The bandit leader drew his weapons - two swords.  Then we both plugged him with two more arrows.  He charged at us, and Oddvar cleaved his axe through the man's face, finishing him off.

"Huh. That wasn't too bad," I said.

But Sinidar was still holding his fireball charge.  Why?

I jumped as I heard a distant blast.  Turning my head, I saw another figure on the opposite end of the chamber, cloak of fire swirling about him.  His fireball traveled toward us as breakneck speed, but Sinidar was next to me.  He raised his left hand, absorbing the fireball in his ward.

Sinidar blasted a fireball from his staff, blasting the man.  He was already charging another fireball.

"Somebody didn't get a very balanced education," Sini said.

He shot another fireball and again Sinidar absorbed it as he walked forward.  Sini loosed another from his staff, exploding at the man's feet.

The bandit shot a third fireball, this time breaking Sinidar's ward.

"Shi..." he started, but I let an arrow loose that I'd been holding, charging, just like grandma taught me, and sunk it into the man's skull.

I exhaled.

"See?  Ran out of magicka," Sinidar said.  His smile masked his feelings of inadequacy. 

I jabbed him in the shoulder, "Remember what I said."

"And you are an excellent leader, like Fortuna said," Oddvar put away his hammer.

I smiled, maybe blushing... I dunno.

So we'd cleared Treva's Watch of bandits.  The big chest was pretty meager, except for the several hundred gold there.  And!

"Whoa," I said, picking up a very ornate bow sitting on a nearby table.  Treva's Bow.  We scooted down to the basement and found another few chests.  Nothing major, though Oddvar snagged an Iron Boomerang he seemed impressed by.

The job for the bandits was posted from Riften, so we'd need to travel back there eventually.  But it was time to settle down.

Some among us had no problem camping out, but Sinidar suggested we continue on to Ivarstead.  It was evening, maybe 8:30, but we figured we could make it if we traveled quickly.  Looting the last of the bandits, we climbed down the side of the fort and took to the road.  Right outside the fort we found a small camp.  Curious, I approached and found a small group of refugees.  

"Are you here to help?" Their leader asked.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Finally!  Reinforcements!" One of the other ones shouted, relieved.  But at what?  No idea.

"I was expecting more.  And how old are you kids?" The leader asked.

"Don't worry about it," Oddvar said, "We're the best new adventuring group."

"Yeah, everybody's talking about us.  Ever heard of the...."

"Oh you must be the Crimson Spiders," one of the others said.

"Yeah!  Exactly," Sinidar said, sharing a secret smile with Oddvar.

I was giggling under my breath.

"I was expecting more people.  Name's Stalleo," the leader said.

"We're the best," I said, portraying confidence.

"Good.  Well, the place is crawling with bandits.  We lost good men trying to take it earlier.  Gave as much as we got though.  I suspect Brurid planned this.  To invade my home, kidnap my family...." Stalleo growled.  Makes a lot of sense that the fort had a lot of their stronger bandits already dead and thus, we were able to muscle in and claim it.

"Oh you're talking about the bandits?  It's done," I said.

"Done?  What do you mean?" One of the other men asked.

Oddvar shouldered his hammer, "We killed all the bandits."

The leader blinked, "By the gods, is this true?  And my family?"

"Safe," Fortuna said, "They're locked in the cellar."

We looked at her, not having known how she knew, but immediately figuring out she'd just received the information from her abilities.

"Thank you!" He shouted, stood, and hugged me, elated.  I locked up, not expecting this.

The group smiled at me.

"What did you say your guys' name was?" Stalleo's other guard asked.

"Cr~" Oddvar started, but Sinidar interrupted him, "Actually, we're thinking about a name change."

"Oh really?" She said back.

Sinidar rubbed his chin for a few seconds, "WOLD.  Simply... Wold."

"Wold.  It's simple.  I like it," Stalleo said, "Well you always have a place in Treva's Watch.  Once we rebuild, that is."

Their demeanor instantly changed, my people putting their hands on their weapons.

"What's happening?" I whispered.

"Booted feet," Oddvar replied.  I cast Bound Bow.

A group of armed combattants stormed into the camps and Stalleo, his warriors and my group all drew their weapons.

The two forces clashed but we had them outnumbered.  Fortuna and I handed out heals to Stalleo and his guys.

Stalleo picked up a note off the lead man, "Huh, looks like they were bounty hunters.  Looking for a small group of princes and princesses.  Kintyra, Oddvar, Sinidar, and Fortuna."

Fortuna's head tilted a little, like a cat being curious.  Why would her name be included?  Unless she was implicated in their disappearance.

Oddvar chuckled, "Then why run in with weapons drawn?  Were their orders to kill us? Frickin idiots."

"Just detain and return," Stalleo said.  Then he threw the page into the fire, "Wold helped free Treva's Watch.  Their names?  They never gave us their names."

He smiled and we nodded to them.

"Well, too late to travel to Iverstead now," Sinidar said, "Care if we camp with you guys?"

"Be my guest," Stalleo said.  We set up our own tents and slept the night, then continued to Iverstead in the morning.  

During the walk, somebody asked, "What does Wold mean?"

Sinidar was quick with a response, "Water of Life Destined."

We all smiled.  Fortuna because she knew there was indeed a destiny in front of us.  Sinidar at his cleverness.  And us - the half-twins, because we were enamored with the idea of being well-known adventurers.  We were put to bed with grandma's stories.

When we got to Iverstead, Fortuna was quick to mail a letter to Anuriel in Riften about Treva's Watch.  Skyrim's courier system is insanely good because of our god-tier couriers.  We would surely hear back in a day or two.

We enjoyed a breakfast at Vilemyr Inn, then as I was peering toward the mountains, I spied the huge barrow nearby.  

One of the laborers said, "You guys adventurers?"

"Yeah," Oddvar replied.

"That there's Shroud Hearth Barrow," he replied, "Think we got something on the boards about it.  Be careful.  Draugr inside."

"Thank you, sir," Fortuna smiled meekly.

He smiled back as he moved to leave, "Good manners.  Be careful, kids."

"What a nice man," I said.  Then I stood, putting my hands on my hips and trying to look majestic and inspiring, "How about it?  Is the Company of Wold ready to tackle another menace to the people of this fair land?"

"Yeah!" Oddvar shouted.

Sinidar took his feet from the table, "Told you already, just Wold.  Simply, 'Wold."

I chuckled at him, "Of course.  I dub thee, loremaster of Wold."

We went and grabbed the job sheet and headed straight into Shroud Hearth.  I took point, being the rogue scout.

On the first bend I was greeted not by hostility, but by a ghost behind a portcullis.

"Leave this place...." He said.

"Yeah okey," I said as I continued on.

Oddvar seemed spooked, and Fortuna stood next to him.  Sinidar approached the ghost silently and eyed him as he continued to say, "Leave... leave...leave..."

I just walked into the adjoining room with many levers.  I threw them until the portcullis at the ghost went up and the one at me also stayed up.

"You okay?" Fortuna asked Oddvar.

He shivered a bit, "Undead kinda give me the creeps."

"Well, don't look now," Sinidar murmured, as a draugr was slowly sliding from one of the burial slots.

I summoned a Bound Bow and plugged him in the chest, going down easy.

"These things are powerful," I commented.

Another ran around the corner and Oddvar clobbered him in the head.

"You know, killing these guys is actually therapeutic," Oddvar said, "As long as I don't have to touch them."

We moved on to another room with more portcullises, but I immediately found a pullchain to bring the first one down.  Then when I stepped onto the stairs, the second started to open.  I heard something like a switch click and spikes-like-spears stabbed out of the wall to my right. 

Thinking on my feet, I flattened against the opposite wall, forming my body around them.  Still, one slashed me on the side.  I hopped to the next room and threw the switch to disarm the trap. I winced in pain, but Fortuna was quick to soothe my wounds with a healing spell.

"Be more careful," she said.

I nodded.

Now we had the choice of two doors.  The door on the right had a small rope connected to a mechanism.  So, being an aspiring thief, I cut the rope and took a rapid step back.  The door swung open, two gouts of flame criss-crossing the chamber beyond.

"Easy, right?" I shrugged.

We waited about twenty seconds for the fuel to run out, then entered the antechamber, passing through to the larger chamber beyond.  

"Ah, gods.  You know what this is right?" Oddvar asked.

My eyes sparkling, I said, "Why yes I do, brother dear."

We were in a claw puzzle room.

The four of us looked at the murals for a few minutes, but there was no claw.  So we went into the other door choice from the previous chamber.  As soon as I did, a draugr was waiting for me.  I dodged backward, Oddvar taking his cue to jump in front of me.  He hit the draugr once, then blocked a return attack from the creature.  Sinidar lifted up his staff, blasting a fireball over our heads and burning the thing to ash.

"You're right.  Therapeutic," Sinidar chuckled.

I walked into the chamber, and another draugr was there.  He fired a basic Frostbite in Sinidar and Oddvar's direction.  I slipped behind him, drawing my rapier and dagger and stabbed him in his side with a rapid chain of strikes while Oddvar was wildly swinging for the thing's head. 

He fell limp to the ground as I buried my blades.

"Two," I said.

"Are you counting your kills?" Oddvar asked, mortified.

"You better up your game, brother," I smirked.

"Ahaha!" Oddvar laughed, but it was almost like a triumphant shout at the same time.  He charged toward the next room.

Only a treasure room.  We ransacked it and doubled back.  We found a locked door and I picked the lock (with Fortuna's help).  Only broke a couple picks this time.

Again, draugr waiting for me.  He slashed out with his ancient handaxe.  My reflexes did the work, my offhand dagger striking the pommel and knocking the axe's attack wide.

"Ooh!" I reacted.  I'd parried the beast without even a thought.  I went to slash him with my rapier - but I realized I should've thrust like rapiers were meant for.  My blade clipped the wall on my right and entirely wasted my advantage.  

"Oop!" I said as I took a quick backstep.  Sinidar raised his staff as I did and blasted the thing to oblivion.

We looked at each other and he said, "Meh, I can always use the next staff we pick up.  We're bound to find one eventually."

As the smoke cleared, the draugr charged at us, to our surprise.  Oddvar came from the left and cleaved into the draugr's skull.

I walked into the room, stepping on an onbvious trap plate from a bit back and watching as spears passed in front of me.  I carefully walked around it, then disarmed the trap on the chest within.  Fortuna clapped for me, "You're a natural at this."

"Thanks," I said, but we were nearing the end of what we could do.  Still no claw.  We looked over the treasure and found a journal. 

"We should head back to the inn," Sinidar suggested.  We did.  It was dreary and raining outside. 

"How dare you talk to me that way?!" A man said to another man as we passed by.  As we approached the Innkeeper, we ignored the brawl happening in the background.  And so did he, I guess.

"Welcome friend!  Care to have another meal with us?" Wilhelm asked, "You headed up to High Hrothgar?"

"Um, no.  Not at all.  Sounds horrible," Sinidar folded his arms.

I smiled, "Yes on the meal through.  But also, we were wondering if you know anything about the barrow nearby."

"I'd stay away from the barrow if I were you," Wilhelm said, "It's haunted.  Seen one of the spirits with my own eyes!  Certainly isn't helping business here.  Who wants to rent a room near a haunted barrow?"

Seemed like we were making a habit of doing the work before accepting the jobs.

"Well, too late on the whole 'not venturing too far in thing," Sinidar replied

I handed him the journal.  He flipped through for a minute and said, "I can't believe this.  Just a hoax by this Wyndelius character?  Well, I can't thank you enough for dealing with this.  Take this piece of artwork as a reward."

He handed me the sapphire dragon claw.

Oddvar started, "Oh there's still~"

"Cool it," Sinidar cut him off.

"What was that?"

"Oh nothing," I said.  We joined Fortuna at a table in the corner.  I slapped the claw on the table.  We all knew what it was for.  Well, Odd, Sini and I anyway.  It was a nice meal of soup, bread and mead.  Then back to the old grind.

Just after noon now, we sprinted down to the claw puzzle room.

"Ready to see what's inside?" I asked.

I read the signs on the claw, aligned the rings and boom, it opened.

The next room had a set of stairs and a portcullis.  Draugr were already waking up.

We looked around the dark room for a minute, not finding a pull chain.

"What the heck?" I said.  

In the meantime Sinidar put the end of his staff through the bars and was melting the draugr as they awoke.

"Curious," Fortuna said, "I think this portcullis is supposed to be open."

"Oh shi~" Sinidar said as it drew upward, pulling his staff out of his hands.

"Speak of the devil," Fortuna commented, "They're inviting us in."

"Look alive guys," Oddvar said, drawing his battleaxe,"Lot of dead ones in here."

I rushed in, and the portcullis slammed shut behind me.  I got a sinking feeling when I turned back to find my healer, my mage and my protector, trapped behind an iron wall of bars.

"Shit!  Kintyra!" Oddvar put his hands on the bars and tried to lift, "Too... damn... heavy!"

"Look out!" Sinidar shouted, then blasted a draugr that'd been creeping up on me.  I drew sword and dagger, but Fortuna's arrow finished the thing off.  

"Thanks!" I shouted.  Another two draugr closed in on me.  One, I parried his blow.  The other got alternatively blasted and arrowed by my compatriots.  

"There should be a fulcrum release lever!" Sinidar shouted.

"What?" I shouted back, trading swords with the draugr.

"A handle that opens the door, over there!" Fortuna pointed.  I rushed over and threw the lever.  Oddvar charged in and dropped a skeleton harrowing me with cold spells.

"More are coming down the stairs!" Fortuna shouted.  We responded with arrows and fireballs, mowing them down as they entered.

Oddvar silently gripped his boomerang.  

When they stopped, I walked to the stairs, a spiral, and the floor dropped out under me.  But it was into water.

I raised an eyebrow, grabbed a dropped sack of coins in the pool, then climbed out.  We ventured up the stairs and we found another group of draugr.  I traded blows with the front one - axe and shield guy - with Oddvar backing me up.  I would set them up and Oddvar would take advantage of the openings and knock them down.

The third one didn't immediately charge us, but I took the opportunity to swap my offhand to a Bound Whip.  I dodged behind him and annoyed from a slight distance, then Oddvar took the killing blow. 

"Just like training!" I shouted and we high-fived.

Next room had a large open area with seven skeletons already aiming bows as we entered.  Oddvar drew his boomerang and tossed it, but it only hit one and did minimal damage.

"C'mon, buddy, do better!" He said as he caught it.  Must've been magical to always return.

"My cue," Sinidar stepped in from behind us and blasted the floor with a fireball.  I hadn't noticed, but it was coated in oil and they all blasted to pieces.  Sinidar grinned.

We found another set of stairs beyond, one of which led to a very well-locked door.

"This looks pretty complex," I said, "Take five, everybody.  I'm not that great at picking locks."

I broke about ten lockpicks and it took five minutes, but I did it.  The door sung open, I ducked under a barrier, then I looked at the big juicy chest before it.

"Aarrrrggh!" I groaned, "Almost as hard."

I finally got that one open, then I threw it open.  

First thing, identified as 'Dragon Lord Armor.'  Some amazing heavy armor.  I tossed it to Oddvar, "Happy Birthday, brother."

Then a Staff of Frostbite for Sinidar.

There was a lot of other decent stuff in there too, but nothing that really catered to any of us.

We backtracked to the oil room and found another hidden treasure room, more drauger that Sinidar blasted with his fireball staff, "Now that I have a spare."

Then the path forward.  I cut the tripwire and swinging blades started at the opposite door.  And draugr walked into the blades, like idiots. 

"Hang back," I said, crawling under the swinging blades, then I turned them off.

Next room, draugr woke up as we entered but between Oddvar and Sinidar they were re-dead quick.

We next found a rotating stone plate that revealed the answer to a pillar puzzle.  I put it in and we continued.

Starting to feel like the ancient nords put all their puzzles in the ruins around High Hrothgar and started to get tired further out.

Anyway, we kept going.  We were in a long hallway now, and it seemed like the boss should be soon.

I smiled, going for yet another big chest, "I guess we're pretty far into the dungeon.  Lots of loot."

I moved my hand toward the chest.

"Wait," Fortuna whispered.

I stopped, eyeing the locking mechanism.  This wasn't locked.  That's... suspicious.  Infact...

I drew my weapons, "Hey, think this boy's a mimic."

"It does seem out of place in this hallway," Oddvar drew his battleaxe.

We were in equal amounts fear and excited.  Would this be the couple mimics we'd heard about in Skyrim?  Horrible monsters but more pests than anything.  Or would it be like Solaire described Mimics from his homeworld?  Devious demons that could kill you with a single grab attack.  Let's find out!

On second thought... I summoned dual Bound Whips and whacked the thing a couple times from a bit more of a distance.

I squinted.  No response.  

"This thing is fucking breathing.  That's definitely a mimic," I said.  With that, it sprouted arms and legs and clawed for me.

Oddvar and I engaged it in melee while Sinidar and Fortuna attacked from range.  We down it in a moment, but it'd gotten a couple good hits on us.  We took a break to heal.

And then the final room.  A large barrow path over water with tons of draugr.  I crept in so even if the portcullis drops my friends can back me up.  And I was right.  But Sinidar grinned, staying behind the portcullis as it fell.

"What, is this your heel turn?" I asked.

"No, no.  I'm completely invincible back here," he threw a fireball at the row of draugr emerging from their graves, then Odd and I engaged them in melee. 

One of the new ones blasted me with a flame shout, and I took out my bow and commenced to shoot guys.  When we fought them back a little bit, Fortuna and I perched on the nearby pillar and Oddvar drew the boss down to the lower level.  We breathed a sigh of relief and continued to the treasure room above.

"You picked a bad time to get lost friend!" A man shouted.  Bandits?  Here?  Maybe they climbed in the back entrance?  We backed into the hallway between the boss and treasure room and used it as a choke point.  Oddvar played bait, Fortuna healing him as Sinidar and I used ranged attacks as they poked their heads into the tunnel.  We caught our breaths for a minute then walked out, finding the big chest. 

Those bandits were smart, bypassing the entire dungeon.  But a lot of the fun and experience is the challenges you face during the dungeon.  Anyway, the chest itself was trapped but I disarmed it (getting better)!  It had a Dwarven Warhammer, which Oddvar took.  And then he put on his Dragonlord Armor.  Lookin pretty dang good.

We, exhausted, went out the back exit and rested at Vilemyr Inn in Iverstead, collecting our reward for defeating the rest of the undead in the barrow.  The next day we received a letter back from Riften with our reward for Treva's Watch.

"So, where you guys wanna go next?" I asked.

Fortuna immediately replied, "Windhelm.  We need to be in Windhelm."

"Why's that?" Sinidar asked.

"You did say we're destined.  It's true," she paused, "I've got to admit I haven't really told you guys everything."

"Well, what do you have to say, then?" I asked.  None of us were really annoyed.  We were still on a high from the last few experiences, and we just wanted to know what might be coming for us next.

"Akatosh called us.  That much you know.  To get where we're going we need to get to Windhelm," Fortuna replied.

We all stared.  She'd obviously left out our final destination intentionally.  At this point, only knowing the girl maybe a week, we already trusted her.

We assented.  It would only take a couple days to get to Windhelm, and whatever horizons that awaited us could be pursued from a thriving northern port town.

A couple days later, we walked onto the Windhelm docks in midday. 

"I can take front this time.  Trying to work on my communication skills," Oddvar popped his neck like he was preparing for battle.  Doing stretches for talking?  Unconventional.

Oddvar approached the dockmaster.

"Excuse me, when's the~"

"Hey!  Are you the new dockhand?!"  The man was shouting over Oddvar trying to ask him questions, and continued doing so, "Go over to the Berserker!  They need a hand!"

Oddvar paused, then tried to ask again.

The man shouted again, "Don't worry about your lack of experience!  Now get goin!  We have a schedule to keep!"

"But~" Oddvar started.

"Go on now, Get!" The dockmaster shouted.

Rather than save him from this fate, the rest of us chuckled and made our way to the Candlehearth Hall to have lunch.  I wrapped him up some bread for later.

When there was a lull in the conversation, Sinidar just had to ask, "So, Fortuna."

"Yes?"

"Sorry to just come out and ask, but what... are you anyway?"

"What do you mean?  I'm khajiit," she replied.

Sinidar pursed his lips, "But... most khajiit have heads similar to cats and lions and such."

She peered up at him for a few seconds, gauging his opinion of her, "But, what?  I look like a chimera with the head of an elf?"

Sini shook his head, "Well I was going to say, 'pretty girl,' not something so base as a chimera.  Besides, I think you pull off the fur and claws really well."

I looked at her hands, and she definitely had khajiit-level claws.

Fortuna tilted her head, "I don't get you, Sinidar Guivenne.  You're like a black spot in my predictions.  Even without Alkosh's help I can usually get a good read on a situation, but I can't figure out what you're going to do next."

"I count that as a compliment," Sini smiled back.

"Ok, I'm an Ohmes-Raht.  We're born when Masser is new and Secunda is waxing.  The Ohmes and Ohmes-Raht I'm told are rare outside Elswyer.  You called me pretty.  That information's worth atleast that much," Fortuna replied.  They shared a smile.

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

At about the same time, two figures floated over the docks.

"Sorry, I don't even know what they look like," Serana said.

"A bunch of dumb kids in over their heads," Destana chuckled. 

They set down across from each other on some crates.

"This really how you want to spend your day with me?" Serana fluttered her eyelashes.

"No... not really.  But I'm very responsible for this situation," Destana replied.

"How do you figure?" Serana asked, "If you hadn't spilled the water on those kids (an honest mistake mind you), they'd still do this I'm sure, in about ten years."

Destana shrugged, "You have a point."

They sat for a minute, both taking a long drink of blood potion, then Destana grinned, "Maybe we can just fly around Windhelm for a little while.  Been too long since I demonstrated to you how well I've mastered the power you taught me."

Serana smiled back, "Alright, alright.  I swear, everything's a competition with you."

"How about this - if you catch me, you can do whatever you want.  You pick.  Anything," Destana smirked, then got into a racing stance.

"Ready..." She blinked, "Actually..."

She dropped her backpack on one of the high ledges and came back, "I don't need a handicap.  You're still pretty fast."

"Ready - set - go!"

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

A while later we found Oddvar on the docks, stretching his shoulders.

"Break time!  Make sure you don't go far!" One of the men shouted.  He nodded sheepishly.

"Get a real workout?" Kintyra asked.

He sighed, "Yep.  So which of these boats is supposed to take us to... wherever we're going, anyway?"

We all looked at Fortuna.  She shrugged.

"WHAT?!  You don't even know where we're going?" Oddvar asked, "What are we even doing here?"

Fortuna sighed, "I thought it might come to this.  At a certain point, Akatosh's information just runs out.  And I knew this was coming - I predict the incoming predictions before they happen."

Sinidar smiled, "Well that's impressive."

"Hold on," Fortuna said.

"What is it?" Sinidar asked.

She climbed up a huge stack of crates and grabbed something.

"A distraction from the conversation, maybe?" I chuckled.

"No, look at this," Fortuna dumped out a pile of loot from a backpack, much bigger than the container.

"Dimensional bag.  They're pretty common in the adventuring game," I said, "This stuff is very powerful."

Fortuna smirked, I think the first time I'd ever seen her do that, "Should we steal a little from this?  Maybe something they wouldn't notice.  Ooooh, look at this Dragonbone Claw.  I'm taking that."

"Any heavy armor or two-handers?" Oddvar asked.

"Not really.  Mostly stuff for the two of us, I think.  There are some spell tomes and staves though," Fortuna said.

"Toss em," Sinidar said.

He threw the goods in his bag.

"Hey, I think we might want to put the pack back," Oddvar said.

"You're just saying that because this person is a lightly armored stealth archer who dabbles in magic," I said it.  Then like a pane of glass breaking, I immediately knew who this belonged to.  I forcefully snatched the bag from Fortuna (grabbing an unenchanted Stalhrim Whip from the bag) and put it back where we got it.

"Guys, we need to go," I said.

"Who does that belong to?" Sinidar asked.

"Grandma."

"No fucking way," Oddvar said.

"You mean the Dragonborn?  She's here?" Fortuna asked.  She looked confused, like it hadn't been part of her predictions.  

"Come.  We can hide in the sewer," Fortuna said.

"You serious?" Sinidar asked angrily.

"Sorry, not everybody here is royalty.  Please, follow me so we don't get caught... your highness," Fortuna snapped.

I sighed, "Guys.  Stop.  Let's do what Fortuna says."

We ducked into an alley, on our way to a manhole. 

Oddvar and Sinidar struggled with the cover.

"So what do once we get away?  Where are we going?  What do we do now?" I asked Fortuna.

"You stop where you are," a voice called from above us.

I looked up, but I had an inkling who it was before I did.

Serana said, "Haven't seen you since you grew up.  But I do know a lot of people are looking for you."

She lowered herself to dock level, standing before us.

"What are the chances you'd just forget you ever saw us?" Sinidar smiled coyly.

"Next to none," Serana folded her arms.

"What say... before she takes us back to our parents we talk about that pact?  That WOLD pact I was mentioning earlier?" Sinidar said, then whispered, "Hint hint I'm stalling."

"Pact?" Serana asked.

Fortuna chimed in, "Yes, we were defining why we came together.  We were called by Akatosh.  The one term is - no matter what, we get to Akavir.  As long as it takes."

We all looked at Fortuna and exclaimed, "Akavir?!"

Serana furrowed her brow, "Akavir..."

"Are you okay?" Oddvar asked.

Serana paused for several seconds, then she said, "Huh."

She looked at the group like she was getting an urge, or an inkling or a feeling.  

Serana nodded again, as if speaking to someone, "My wife's gonna be pissed, you know.  This had better be worth it."

"What are you on about?" I asked.

Serana looked at us, "You can go, I guess.  But do me a favor and don't tell anyone I was here."

"But... why?" Fortuna asked.

"I'm getting a feeling.  Images.  A vision.  I think, from a divine?  You know, little old cursed-by-the-Daedra me.  Some grand plan."

"Could this guy, perhaps, furnish us with a ship?" Sinidar asked.

"No.  This is all incredibly vague," Serana replied.

"As gods usually are," Fortuna commented.

She shrugged, held out a sack of coins and I took it.  For passage, I guess.  Serana bowed her head, then flew away.

"That was... weird," I said.

"Odd," Oddvar said.  Everyone else laughed, but he failed to see the humor.

"I do have a little more," Fortuna said, "No roads lead to Akavir.  One of us needs to travel to High Rock and get more information from the Akavir warriors who've tried to invade."

"We're splitting up?" I asked.

"It is as Akatosh wishes," Fortuna explained.

"We'd better figure out who's going where quickly.  I imagine if grandma's here she's going to come back for her pack," Oddvar replied.  

About that time Sinidar'd gotten the manhole open with a crowbar, "I suggest we go to places the adults don't have teleports to."

Oddvar continued, "So the boat I was working on is continuing to High Rock.  I don't mind going there."

"Do we really need to split up?" I asked, "Back in Riften you said yourself I couldn't make it alone."

"I was joking with you," Oddvar said.

I raised an eyebrow, "Didn't know you knew the meaning of the word."

Fortuna changed the subject, "We should split up.  And the last thing I got from Alkosh is we're supposed to be collecting... something.  Of course, he didn't say what."
"OF course!" Sinidar laughed out loud.

"Wherever I go should be whatever artifact is most important," Fortuna said.

"Why's that?" I asked.

"Sad as it sounds, nobody will be looking for me," Fortuna replied.

I turned to her, eyes full of sadness, "Oh, Fortuna...  How about this as part of the pact?  If any of us don't return, the others will seek them out to the ends of Nirn."

We all nodded.  It made her feel a little better about never knowing my parents... or why she was in that gods-forsaken chest.

"What's that ship for?" Kintyra asked.

Oddvar replied, "Solstheim.  I got to see the ship's bills when I was talking to the dockmaster earlier."

I shrugged, "Seems to be calling my name."

"That one?" Sinidar asked, "The Berserker."

"That was a warship used in the Assault on Summerset.  They use it to transport troops and supplies to Summerset now," Oddvar replied, "You could probably pose as a cabin boy or something."

Fortuna looked over to a rather large ship and saw, "That one's for me."

"That one goes to Hammerfell," Oddvar replied.

"Alright.  Let's get out there before she gets back," I said, "To the pact of WOLD!"

We all joined hands and cheered.

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

Alright, I'm going to give an update.  It's Destana.  

Myself, Fenrir, Runa and Damien had all gathered in Windhelm's Castle, Palace of Kings.  Jarl Fenrir waved for everyone to get out while they talked business.  

"Thanks for agreeing to help.  So, we know they were in Riften," Runa said.

"This is crazy!  Now Sinidar is with them!" Damien shook his head, "What is this charismatic power your kids have?"

Runa shook her head, "Not charisma.  Dumb luck." 

She was pacing.

"I'm sure we have something that can find them," I said.

"Godsdammit!  Why'd you have to spill a small amount of liquid!" Runa took out her sword.  She swung for the table nobody was sitting at, cleaving it in half.

As the table collapsed, I said, "Oh, a missive," as it appeared in my hand.

I wrote back.  A minute later, Serana walked in.

"What the fuck are you thinking?" I asked, calmly.

"Hold on.  Hold on!" Serana said, "This is going to sound crazy, but they were called by Akatosh."

"Mother fucking Akatosh.  Why do the gods always meddle in our business?" Runa growled, "These are our kids."

"This is a proving quest for the four," Serana said.

"Four?" Damien asked.

"Yeah, there was a girl with them, dunno who she was," Serana replied.

I sighed, "Do we have any idea where they went?"

"Well... yes," Serana said, "I got the feeling we're forbidden from helping them.  But since when do I actually care about the divines?"

She proceeded to tell them the path they all took, watching from the shadows.

"Fuck this," Runa said, "I'm fucking going after..."

She paused.  If Oddvar and Kintyra are in different places, which one should she go save?

I put her hand on my daughter's shoulder, "I have a solution.  I'll go to Solstheim.  This is as much my fault as anybody's.  Maybe moreso."

Runa nodded, "Thanks."

"I've been needing to go there for a while anyway," I said.

"Why's that?" Damien asked.

"How many of you have been attacked by men in dragon masks?" I asked.

Everyone raised their hands.

"Okay, yep.  Guess the rumors are true then.  I got attacked in 210, back before I was willing to accept I was the Last Dragonborn.  Seems somebody is building up a cult, claiming to be another Dragonborn.  But, I mean, with killing and mind controlling and not with the defeating Alduin," I replied.

I could tell Runa was trembling with trepidation.  She took a deep breath, then calmed herself, "You should definitely go to the most dangerous target, which this sounds like.  Guess I'll head for High Rock."

Not wasting any time, she threw on her sword and dashed out the doors.

"Wait..." Fenrir started, but she was already gone.

"What is it, Fen?" Damien asked.

"Oh, well I wouldn't wager on Solstheim being the most dangerous," Fenrir commented, "A lot's been going on in High Rock lately.  Civil war.  Turmoil.  Wild reachmen.  Dad and I actually had a meeting with Queen Mynisera and Emperor Jura and she asked us if we could help out."

"Did we?" I raised an eyebrow.

"We sent Valiana and Cyrodiil sent Tusselle," Fenrir replied, "We can have a missive sent to let them know Runa's on her way."

"Oh wow, things must be pretty bad," Damien said, "Needless to say, I'll go to Summerset.  I've still got contacts there."

We all geared up and headed out.

I snagged my pack from the docks, flying to Highreach before I left Skyrim.

I explained everything to Ulfric, who'd taken up residence in Highreach now.  Then I found the Nerevarine in the courtyard, training a new group of rangers.

"Hey, going to Solstheim.  Figure I could use a guide.  I know you're been there.  Wanna come?" I asked.

"Sure, Dragonborn," he replied.

I intimidated a ride at the Windhelm docks to Solstheim.  Sadly, the airship was with Valiana (and I didn't want to fly all the way there).  

Slow ship travel is a little boring.  I went to pull out my melee weapons as I checked my things.

"What the fuck?  Where's my claw??"

Kintyra

FNV Veronica [I think I like this one more than what I used already]

Dragon Age Leliana [What I used before.  I'm trying to keep the british accents to High Rock Natives, but it's not 1:1]

Oddvar

Oblivion Martin [British sounding]

FNV MaleAdult4 [Sounds pretty average, which could work for him]

Fortuna

The Wolf Among Us Snow White

The Last of Us Ellie

Persona5 Kasumi

Sinidar

FNV Arcade

Think I might have too many female voices and not enough male.  Of course, all Skyrim voices are off-limits.  They're far too used already.

For fun

Hello there.  You probably don't know me.  And infact, you may never get to.  I want to say that I know you, but there are so many out there probably reading this, and those yet to come.  See, my name is Fortuna.  I am known as many things.  Time, it seems, is a shifting river.  I look at most people, especially the personages of great power, like Oddvar and Kintyra.  Sinidar.  They seem to swim with time's current with the ease that comes from being a 'normal' being.  I only just met them, but I feel like we're old friends.  I've seen their pasts.  And their futures.  At least, possible ones.  As I sit here and meditate, I can look cleanly into the past of why they came here.  Why?  Maybe mighty Alkosh wants me to see.  Sorry, you may know him as Akatosh or Auri-El.  Names mean very little to gods.

The day this all started... It was a day like any other in Riften.  I believe, it was just last month.  The last month of 419.

A thief, running from the guards.  She sticks out like a sore thumb.  She's a rookie, bad at this.  But she wasn't trying to prevent being noticed by the guards when she started.  She was trying to escape her mother and father.

She bumped into a man on the street.  An annoyed look from her and a rogue smile and a wave from him, then she was caught by the guards.

"Stop right there, criminal scum!  Hand over your stolen goods and serve your sentence!" The guard shouted.

Eyes full of despair, the girl reached for her purse to find...

"But... where's my..." 

"Where's the gold?" The guard looked her over.

The other one met eyes with the first guard, then looked her up and down, "You know how these vagrant types always have a hidden arsenal.  Probably a secret hidden dimensional pocket she's hiding all that gold in."

"Boys, boys," a voice called from the corner they'd just passed by.

One of the Riften guards put his hand on his sword, "Don't need any of your type around here.  Not looking for trouble."

The other one whispered harshly, "Is that the guildmaster?  Thought he was abroad or something."

"Gentlemen, the rumors of my travel were exaggerated.  As you can see, I'm right here, in the flesh," Brynjolf shrugged.

"This doesn't concern you, sir.  Not guild business.  Jarl Black-Brier gave us explicit instructions."

Brynjolf casually stepped over to her, "Well you'd better check again, lads.  Look at these shoulderpads.  This is a Shadowsign.  It means, 'Protected." 

He winked at her as he walked back over to the guards, "Besides, she doesn't have any of those special bags.  Look at her.  She's the greenest newbie ever.  Couldn't pilfer a pepper from a blind khajiit."

The guards seemed to accept this, shrugged at each other and turned to walk away.  One of them said to the other, "Might want to get your eyes checked before we start chasing a random citizen."

Brynjolf waited for them to vacate, then his face melted from charming to slightly annoyed, "Pretty ballsy stunt you pulled back there, lass.  And what's more, you're all thumbs."

"What d'you know about it?" She grumbled.

The huge sack of coins fell on the ground at her feet and she looked up at him.  It was only about half full.  He said, "Might know a thing or two about thievin, lass."

Then one of the guard's daggers clanked at her feet.  

"Go on.  Ye don't even got a decent weapon.  This one's on me.  If you want to learn more, figure out where the Guild Headquarters are.  What's your name, lass?" He asked.

"Kin... uh," she thought for a second.  Giving away her real name would certainly draw attention to her.

"Nice to meet ye, Kinna," he shook her hand, then he bowed, "I'm Brynjolf, guildmaster of the most illustrious and infamous band of robbers this side of the Velothi Mountains."

Taken aback, charmed, elated, confused at his words, she didn't see him vanish into the shadows.  But also, she noticed, "He STOLE my necklace!!!"

Somewhere in the sewers, Brynjolf laughed.  Kintyra wasn't out of this game though.  She'd been put to sleep as a little kid by grandma's stories - Destana - and those stories included the hidden grate by the stables that put you right in the Ragged Flagon.  As Brynjolf walked into the Flagon, cock of the walk, Kintyra was sitting at the bar, waiting for him.

He blinked, "Girl.  You have quite the pair, don't you?"

"This one said she knew you.  Called you out by name," Vekel the Man said, "You're getting careless in your old age."

They laughed.

Delvin kicked his feet onto the table, "Better I didn't spill this one's guts when she walked in.  One dagger'd rip right through that paper-thin leather."

Brynjolf, all smiles, commented, "Sorry, lass.  That skimpy armor is reserved for superhumans who can take a punch.  Our old one-time guildmaster, for example."

"You mean gr~... I mean, Destana?  The dragonborn?" Kintyra asked.

"Quite the astute thief pupil, this bird is, ain't she?" Delvin chuckled, "I wager you got all our trading cards too, love."

Partially true... she could name every one of them from her grandmother's stories.  She shrugged, silently.

The men laughed, and Vekel commented from behind the bar, "Little thing's blushing."

A female voice, [finally, a voice of reason!] said from behind the divider, "Don't let these boys mess with you.  They're all bark."

"Tonnie!" Brynjolf said, pouring a pile of gold, jewels and equipment from his 'dimensional pack' onto the table, "I got quite the haul to fence today."

"Beats me why the guildmaster still pickpockets so frequently, but who am I to question your methods?" Tonilia shrugged.

"Gotta keep sharp.  Always said I didn't want this job," Brynjolf shrugged.

"Hey!" Kintyra snatched back her necklace from the loot.

"Oi, lass," Delvin tossed a dagger into the table, sticking it next to the pile, "Finder's keepers."

"S'alright," Brynjolf said.  He looked at the girl, then snatched the necklace back right out of her hand, "This's precious to you?  Relax lass, I'll give it back.  Just wanted to have a look-see.  Looks like an Imperial symbol.  Old, of excellent make."

He eyed her, judging her reaction.  Clearly wanting to conceal something but still finding things from her past valuable and worth remembering.

He handed it back, "Never seen the like.  Custom."

I hadn't even met the girl at this point, and I was only about 100 yards away.  Some months before, her mother gave her that necklace.  It was an heirloom.  The last time Valiana Direnni visited Medora Direnni in Bravil before she left for Direnni Tower, she'd given her some of Calaxes' old things.  This was just one of those Valiana'd immediately given to Runa (not having any sense of sentimentality herself).  And Runa'd thought it would look good on her daughter, who was growing up so fast. 

Unnaturally fast.  To all you out there who've been following along, we four, we youths, had only been doused with the Life Waters three years ago.  For the rest of them, who had parents, it was quite the ride.  You see, the life waters seem to extend life and capture youth.  But infact, each dose brings the individual closer to the perfect, divine form instilled in us by our forebears - the Aedra.  You could say the Elves were closest to the essence of the divine and they stayed in their adult form the longest.  I'm getting off track.  What I'm saying here is that the Life Waters and the Tear of Auriel brings us closer to our perfect form, if even for a period of time, but not lasting forever.  And so, taken by children, yes, it will extend their lifespan, but it actually brings them to adulthood much, much faster.  Three years have passed, we all grew as if 12 had.  I've often wondered if we were robbed of our chance to develop and grow through exposure to our elders in that short span.  I believe as they say, 'time will tell.'  While I am the youngest, at 13 and a half, the others... Sinidar at 15, and the Half-Twins Kintyra and Oddvar at 14, we all share the same experience.  

We're merely a few years old each but our chronological age means nothing now.  And in the case of Princess Runa, it seems she wasn't prepared for two teenagers.  They discussed it at the Imperial Palace.

"All I'm saying is, it's unnatural," Runa said.

"You've seen your fair share of time distortion," Damien said.

"Can't the college do anything about it?  I mean, Sinidar must be driving you crazy.

"Look," Jura folded his arms, "What's done is done.  We have no idea what reversing it would do."

"Could cause more damage than help..." Destana said sleepishly.

Runa shot her an angry glance, as if wanting to say, 'You've done enough here.'

But her shaking, unyielding rage... yielded.

"I'm sorry, mom.  I'm scared," Runa said, tears in her eyes.

"I know, honey," Destana replied.

"Our kids are the only ones who've been doused with Life Waters.  We're going to extend the warnings to cover this," Damien scratched his chin, "But then... if people knew this would happen..."

Jura and Calleius looked at each other.  Tyroni said, "I can imagine an unhinged warlord in an orphanage trying to form an army quickly could do some crimes against humanity really quickly."

"For now," Damien sighed, "Keep an eye on them.  Monitor their growth.  It seems like the worst of the 'growth spurt' is over.  They may continue to develop naturally from here on out."

"Gods, let's hope, or they're going to be older than us soon!" Rigmor said from the corner, Runa finally cracking a smile.

Oddvar sighed, looking at his sister.  

Kintyra looked back, "Why're you staring at me, Oddvar?"

"No reason," he said stoically.  That was mainly how they talked - she thought she understood him, but he never let anyone truly know him.  It was hard growing like this in the blink of an eye.

He didn't entirely disagree with the thoughts she shared with him.  Their parents didn't get them - nobody did.  But she was chosen of two lines of Cyrodillic Emperors, and he was, well, not.  So while they could just view her as a larger than life figure like Tiber Septim, doing a couple miracles before breakfast every day, most people looked at him and saw a silent freak.  Not that he couldn't talk, he just didn't want to.  People never shut up.  Oddvar could listen to the silence.  And Oddvar was only descended from one legendary figure, not two.  Also, odd to boot.

"I think we should do it," he said after the vast gulf of silence since Kintyra's last meaningful statement.

"Do... what?" She asked.

"You said we should hop a boat.  Let's do it," Oddvar said.

Kintyra raised an eyebrow, "You're... serious?"

She smiled, but his face was like a statue, cold and strong as ever.

Her smile melted, and his stern magnanimity won out, as it often did.

"Where would we go?" She asked finally.

"Grandma went from a simple boatwoman to a queen in Skyrim.  Let's start there.  Which stories were your favorite?" Oddvar asked.

Kintyra instantly said, "Thieves' Guild.  Gotta be the Thieves Guild."

"I figured."

"You?" She asked.

"Not sure.  I think I'm more of an explorer than anything.  I want to go where none of them has been," Oddvar pointed to the next room, where their parents were meeting.

"Think we should tell Sini?" Kintyra asked.

"No," Oddvar said flatly, "He'd just rat us out to his dad."

Kintyra tilted her head, long blond hair falling over her face before she swept it out of the way, "I think he'd want to come."

"Bah, he's been to Riften.  Skyrim is old hat for him.  He'd tell us we're fools, which, we probably are," Oddvar replied.

"No, I don't think you're fools," a voice crept out of the shadows.

Oddvar slapped his forehead audibly, "Gods."

"Yeah, I was listening," Sinidar smirked.

"But you'll need to be smart about it.  Wait until they've all gone home and aren't really keeping an eye out for you," Sini said.

Kintyra nodded, "We leave the city at night, go book travel on one of the cargo boats.  Might need to pass through Anvil, but we can get to Riften."

It took four months for things to line up.  The kids kept growing, hitting their main teenage growth spurt to nearly their adult height.  And they seemed to develop mentally too.

Runa could remember just a couple years ago she was breastfeeding, and now Oddvar was learning to cook from the palace chef (he enjoyed cooking).

Runa'd gotten the cabin fever.  Now that her kids were a bit more self sufficient, she went out adventuring in Cyrodiil again.  

They waited for Princess Rigmor to be visiting her mother in Bruma, Princess Runa to be on a cave crawl, and General Calleius to be on a campaign tour.  

They hopped on a boat with a young captain, paid a mint in Septims, and were off.  He looked reputable.  Not like some of the rough men around - looked like pirates.

They were able to get to Riften in only about two days, Kintyra getting in with the Thieves' Guild the next day.

Only a couple minor hiccups - a young warlock attacked a one of the guards at the gate when Kintyra'd just walked in but Oddvar was still outside. 

They had to talk over the wall for an hour before the lockdown ended.  But finally, he was allowed inside.  Maul gave them the standard 'I'm watching you,' speech like he does with everybody.

"It feels pretty freeing to be traveling with only the clothes on your back and what's in your pack," Kintyra said.

"I think I'm going to buy some cheap iron armor," Oddvar said flatly.

"With what money?" She smiled.

"At the very least, lodgings," he said back.

The Bee and Barb was easy to find.  They sat down and sampled the extremely cheap water, it being late afternoon now.

"I thought when Sinidar gave us this plan, he was also saying he would join us, for atleast one meeting at the Bee and Barb," Oddvar commented.

"Be patient.  He said he'd show, but it would take a couple days to get here," Kintyra replied.  She looked at her coinpurse.  It felt like a lot in her hands, but Brynjolf hadn't actually left her a lot.  She'd taken his advice and upgraded their equipment, but now they barely had enough for a night at the Inn.  But it was pouring outside.  They had to stay somewhere.  And the Thieves' Guild wasn't an option for her yet, or Oddvar probably ever.

As she sat down to a table, a missive appeared in her hand.

She rolled it out.  

"Where are you?" It read.

Taking out a quill she started to scribble, but Oddvar slapped his hand on the table.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

He unrolled it the rest of the way, "This doesn't have a name on it."

"I assumed it was Sinidar," Kintyra replied.

"You know what they say about making yourself an ass," Oddvar replied stoically, "Bet it's mom."

"Damn, you're probably right," Kintyra said.

"You know you'd never make it out here without me," Oddvar said, face still like a statue.  As far as she knew, he wasn't afraid of anything.  But then, they'd heard the stories from grandma and greatgrandpap about what was out there.  Giants, dragons, goblins, bandits, and all manner of things not even they had seen before.  The dimensional walls were as thin as ever.

Anyway, they scraped together their coin and had a meager meal, then scooted off to bed.  

In the morning, it was still raining.  

"Want to go do some oddjobs, Oddvar?" Kintyra asked.

"We could find a bandit camp or something.  I'm sure the Jarl needs something done.  Damn, I'm hungry," Oddvar replied.

They picked themselves up and walked into the South Riften Extension.  And as luck would have it - the guards were tusseling with some goblins and a couple bandits.  Oddvar rushed in with Battleaxe swinging.  Kintyra was left behind with a few of the littler guys and a couple guards.  They were taken care of soundly.

When they were done, Kintyra caught up with Oddvar, who'd fought off a few of the buggers and taken a few scrapes.

She looked down, "Oh."

"What - oh wow they actually managed to kill one of the guards.  Think his friends are gonna come back for him when they finish chasing the bigger gobbos down?" Oddvar asked.

Kintyra looked up, looked at Oddvar, then back at the body, then started to rifle through his pockets, saying nothing.

"What are you-" He started.

"Shhh!" Kin shushed.  She slipped his armor off him.

"What... what are you doing?  We're going to get thrown in jail!" Oddvar was yelling in whispers.

"Waste not want not," Kintyra replied.

"You can't do that though!" Oddvar said back.

She tossed the armor to him, "Here.  Now you're an accomplice."

Oddvar sighed, "Fine."

They ran into the nearby Workhouse, her wiping the blood off herself, "Aren't you gonna put it on?" 

"Maybe not yet," he said, "But check this out.  I found it on one of the bandits."

He slipped an iron horned helmet onto his head to match the iron armor he'd already slipped on.

"Gods you are such a nerd," Kin said, "You wanna be the next dragonborn?"

"Dovahkiin Dovahkiiiiin~" He sang, "Well, maybe I could learn to shout.  Mom can."

They laughed.  It was starting to rain again and they decided they'd head back to the safety inside the city walls for lunch with their spoils.

The sounds of rain intensified as the door swung open.  A young, petite and attractive young thing stepped through the door under a cloak.  Most likely... what am I saying, I know what happened.  Most definitely nobody present knew what she was.  A khajiit?  I look somewhat human or elven... but with khajiit features.

And this, dear reader, is where I enter the tale.

I walked over to them, my cloak dripping.  They couldn't keep their eyes from staring - they'd never seen my like.  And I sat across from them.

"Can we... help you?" Kintyra said, politely.  At least being an Imperial Princess had taught her some things.

"I think it is I who can help you," I replied.

"Who are you, strange one?" Oddvar asked, bluntly.  He had no compunctions against saying what he thought of me.

"Do we know you?" Kintyra asked, leaning over the table.

"I am called Fortuna," I said, "We share a common experience."

Kintyra tilted her head, "What.. do you mean?"

Oddvar unaggressively put his hand on the axe at his side, "We don't want any trouble, Fortuna.  But I suggest you leave us alone."

"No fighting please," Keerava said from behind the bar.

"I think you're going to want to hear what I have to say," I said.

"Well, go ahead then," Oddvar said.

"I know your mother and uncle are in Whiterun right now.  I know they're walking through each city to try and find you," I replied.

Kintyra blinked, "So, Fortuna... however you learned this, do you know how long we have until they get to Riften?"

"It was the farthest, so, probably about a week.  I dunno.  Soothsaying is not an exact science.  Except when it is," I replied.

Oddvar's brow furrowed, "You're joking.  How do you know so much about us?  What do you want from us, anyway?"

"I told you, we share a common bond.  I have a set of skills that could benefit you greatly.  And I have a vested interest in you continuing on the next leg of your journey," I said.

"So, how are you going to help us?" Oddvar pressed his lips together, "At no benefit to yourself, I take it?"

"Well," I said, "I see that we take a journey beyond this, but we are four."

"Four?" 

"You know - the other one - with the red hair," I replied.  I'd never met the boy, fuzzy on the details.

"Do you mean Darryl?" Oddvar asked.

I raised an eyebrow, "I'm almost certain it started with an 'S'."

Kintyra shook her head, "Sinidar."

"I was just testing you," Oddvar folded his arms as the wench laid down their cheap soups, "I don't actually know or trust you.  Or your intuition, yet."

We sat in silence and ate for a few minutes.  We looked up, Keerava standing at our table, "I haven't seen you kids around."

"Well, uh.." Oddvar started.

But then Fortuna said, "These are my friends from Cyrodiil, Keerava.  Penpals.  Their parents are merchants from Anvil visiting on business."

Keerava smiled, "Oh, well I'm glad you're making friends, dear.  It can be hard for orphans.  But better now that that old witch Grelka is gone."

She stacked up the bowls, just an excuse to talk with the kids, then returned behind the bar.

Fortuna smirked and whispered to Oddvar, "You should really work on your cover story."

Oddvar rolled his eyes, "Still don't trust you."

Kintyra smiled, "If you can put Oddvar in his place like that, I think I, for one, would welcome you as a traveling companion."

The girls laughed.  

When they were done, Fortuna and Kintyra walked down to the Ragged Flagon, Oddvar saying he was going to check the Notice Board for any easy jobs to get their feet wet.

"So you're welcome down here?" Kintyra asked.

"Of course.  Orphans and beggars are the eyes and ears of the guild.  And, I hear, the Dark Brotherhood near their sanctuaries."

Kintyra's lip curled in thought at that.  She hadn't thought that maybe her mother's spies might be closing in on the group.

"Ah, lass," Brynjolf turned, "Color me impressed.  Wasn't certain if I'd ever see you again."

"I can take any job you've got," Kintyra said, like a mouse playing the part of a wolf.

"Reliable and headstrong.  You're looking to be quite the prize," Brynjolf smirked, then nodded to me, "Fortuna."

"Sir," I bowed slightly.

"Think you're gonna join the guild soon too?  Could always use a thief of your caliber."

"Perhaps, sir," I replied, then pointed at Kintyra, "I do believe I am destined to help this one."

"So be it," Brynjolf said, "How'd you like to handle a deadbeat for me?"

"What'd they do?" Kintyra asked.

"Just taking out loans and not paying," Bryn replied, "Ever heard of Haelga's Bunkhouse?  I want you to explain to her the error of her ways."

"Any guidelines on how to handle it?" Kintyra asked.

"Honestly, the debt is secondary here.  What's more important is that you get the message across that we aren't to be ignored.  Word of warning:  I don't want her killed.  Bad for business.  We're not the brotherhood."

I nodded, "I'll show her the way.  We'll get it done."

"Excellent," Brynjolf said.

As we walked around the docks, looking at all the many different rogues and cutthroats, an Altmer called out to Kintyra.

As we stepped up, she said, "I suppose I can work with your face.  After all, the sculptor cannot always choose the finest clay."

Kintyra blinked, looked at me and said, "I think that woman just called me ugly."

I giggled.

"No, no, I apologize.  My name's Galathil.  I am a face sculptor.  As such, I'm excellent at reading people," she said, "You don't seem to be a transient or orphan.  You have excellent bone structure.  Perhaps nobility or royalty."

Kintyra blinked and looked at me, flustered.

"You're only confirming it," I sighed.

"Don't worry," Galathil continued, "Your secret's safe with me.  Of course, someone of your stature is probably running from something.  If I were to wager a guess - courtly intrigue of some kind meant you needed to hide out here.  Perhaps a count's daughter or something, got assassinated, and you're the only heir that's going to come back someday and take revenge?  No?  Doesn't matter the details.  But, I could be of service to one who wanted never to be found."

Kintyra blinked again, "I uh... I don't think I'm willing to part with my looks."

"Suit yourself," Galathil replied, "Perhaps a simple haircut?"

Kintyra pursed her lips, "Now, I will think about that."

We walked out of the Flagon and back into the city for now.

"So where's Haelga's Bunkhouse?" She asked.

I pointed it out and we walked inside.

We milled about, finding the woman behind the counter but playing it cool for now.  She bellowed orders to her niece like she was an invalid and the girl took it, because she'd been orphaned by some cruel happenstance.  I could tell Kin was starting to get angry and I put my hand on her shoulder, "You know, there's a lot of injustice in this world.  I see it every day.  You should keep your cool."

The girl smirked, "Since when has telling someone to stay calm actually worked?"

She walked over to Svana and casually said, "That woman is just the worst.  Are you related to her?"

With a pained look in her eyes, she nodded, quietly explaining that her parents had died.  

"You know what?  I'd help you if you wanted me to take her down a notch," Kintyra said.

"Hmm," the woman twirled her hair, "I think I have an idea.  The way the woman sleeps with every man in town is shameful.  She gives them Marks of Dibella.  If you could collect three, then you could embarrass her.  That'd show her."

Kintyra shrugged slowly, "Sure."

Sleeping with a lot of men?  I don't have access to a person's deep past, but I do know Destana is widely known as a womanizer-man-izer(?) and I bet that'd pass onto her descendants.

As I was thinking on this, Kintyra walked over to the counter.

"Hey," she said kurtly.

"Uhh... hey.  Do you need something, little girl?" Haelga asked, "Maybe a sweetroll?"

Her brow furrowed, "Brynjolf says you'd better pay up."

"Ha!" Haelga chuckled, "So he sends a little baby whore like you to shake me down?  I thought the guild was doing really well!  Obviously I was wrong!" 

On instinct, Kintyra reached over the counter and slapped Haelga across the face.  

She turned her head, popped her neck.

"I'm going to enjoy this," Haelga said.

She leapt over the bar and put her hands up, as did Kintyra.  

About this time, Oddvar stepped into the bunkhouse, axe draped over his shoulder.  He'd been following our trail (since we'd been gone for a while).

I immediately slipped from the shadows and grabbed the back of his collar to stop him from reacting, "Let her handle this."

Right off the bat, Haelga threw a quick, feinting jab, then clocked Kintyra in the face.  But the girl wasn't out yet.  She weaved and struck the lady with three body blows.  

"Oof!" Haelga said, "You thought I was just a pretty face, eh?"

She threw her weight into a haymaker, but Kintyra dodged, throwing the woman off balance.  

Kin kicked her in the shin and clobbered her in the back of the head.  

Haelga was tough and quick enough that she recovered.  They got back into their neutral fighting poses, staring each other down.

But this time, as they both went for a blow to their opponent's face with their right hand, Haelga's connected first (longer arms), throwing the girl's neck back with the impact. 

She crashed to the ground on her face as her body caught up with her neck.

"Not done!" Kintyra got up and pummeled Haelga with body blows until the woman reared back and snap kicked Kintyra in the chin, sending her on her back.

As the woman started to walk away, Kintyra's dizzyness faded quickly.  She stood, gritting her teeth, and clobbered Haelga in the back of the head, knocking her out like a light.

She stood, triumphantly over the woman, "That'll show ya... don't mess with... the Thieves..."

As she wobbled, Oddvar caught her.

"C'mon," he said, throwing her over his shoulder.

We walked back to the Flagon, Oddvar demanding I show him the way.

He laid Kintyra on a bench next to Brynjolf.

"Geez, lad, what the hell happened to her?" He asked.

"Haelga picked a fight with her when she asked her to pay," Oddvar replied, scowling.

"Did I win?" Kintyra asked, in and out of consciousness.

Oddvar cracked a small smile, "Yeah, you did.  Haelga's on the floor.  Did it all by herself."
I hoisted a sack of coins, "I collected."

Brynjolf nodded, "Good work.  I'd say we have room in our organization for you too, but..."

Oddvar scowled harder, "I don't think she's ready for this."

"Fair enough, lad."

"Wait a blessed moment," Delvin said, "I know what you're thinkin'.  But this is risky work.  Most my days I come out clean.  But on the bad days you need to know how to throw hands.  But livin in a city, collecting cash from rubes - beats going out and fighting bandits.  And you three seem like you're not the type to settle down and go into farming.  You'll be back when you realize what we're offering ya."

"We'll see about that," Oddvar growled, then he held up a scrap of paper, "We're going to Treva's Watch.  We're going to clear it of bandits.  We're going to be rich."

All ears were on them at this point, and most of them laughed.

"Treva's Watch?  You're serious?" Vekel the Man chimed in from behind the bar, "What do you want your tombstone to say?"

I stayed silent.

"You'll see!  We're going to take care of those guys and protect the hold from people like you," Oddvar said.

Tonilia chuckled, "Notice Brynjolf specifically told your friend not to kill anybody.  Bandits are nothing like the guild."

She stepped closer, "It doesn't matter that you're children.  They will not hesitate to kill you.  I'm saying this because I'd rather a few headstrong idiots not get themselves killed doing something hopeless."

Oddvar sneered, "Whatever.  We don't need your charity."

The three of us left to the Bee and Barb again.  I healed Kintyra, but it took a couple hours for her to recover from the dizziness.  A slow drizzle turned into a full-blown storm.

"Where'd you learn to heal?" She asked me, sipping a strong coffee.

"From Dinya Balu at the church," I replied, "I can teach you a few spells."

I could feel my body twitch.

"What is it?" Kintyra asked.

"Your mother is going to walk into this bar in a matter of minutes.  She's wearing a green raincloak, walking down the docks right now.  Beside her is your Uncle, Damien."

Kintyra slapped the tabletop, "What??"

"Follow me," I stood and ran up the stairs.  They followed.  I pulled open the door to the room with a window - the one Maven used to use for... no, no time for postcognitions.

"Well hello there," a voice spoke from the bed.

I blinked, "Wha..."

"Sinidar?" Kintyra asked.

I stammered, looking at the red-haired youth.

Oddvar commented, "I think you broke our stalker."

"Interesting," Sinidar said, "What's wrong?"

I replied, "I did not see you coming.  That's kind of a big deal for me."

"Anyway, I bought you some time," Sinidar said, locking the door.

"What's going on?" Kintyra asked, "I just wanted to go out on my own for a while.  Now this girl's saying we're destined to go... somewhere... do something."

"Destined?" Sini asked, "Not sure about that.  My dad brought me along for the ride, and I feigned disinterest, going to the Inn to have a little snack.  Using my brain I figured you'd be here.  Of course, they're  going to figure it out in a minute too."

"So what's the plan?" Oddvar asked, "You gonna teleport us... or something?"

Sinidar blinked, "Teleport?  Who do you think I am?  I can barely cast Flames and Healing.  Maybe a couple others.  No, I figured you guys would just go out the window, jump into the canal, then get away on a ship?"

"We can slip into the Ragged Flagon until we can find a ship," Kintyra said.  Then she turned to the other two, "You coming with?"

"Of course," I said.

"Why not," Sinidar replied, "I was bored anyway."

Oddvar insisted on going first, opening the window.  It was a torrential downpour at this point.  Good.  No visibility at all.  Odd jumped to the next roof, and we all followed.  I knew I'd make it, Sinidar was in high spirits, Oddvar was stoic as always, but Kintyra seemed genuinely afraid.  Whether of being caught or going splat on the stone below, I wasn't sure.  Either way, I grabbed her hand and squeezed. 

I met eyes with her, "We're going to make it.  We'll be fine."

She smiled back at me and we made our last hop - into the canal and slipped, drenched, into the sewer tunnels.  The two highwayman who used to frequent these parts had already moved up to bigger and better things now, and we were free to plan our next move.  We sat there, dripping wet and cold for a few minutes, and Kin started to shake.  We all huddled together for warmth, until she finally broke the silence, "Why are we even doing this?" 

Oddvar looked at her puzzled, nothing to say.  Sinidar shrugged, "I honestly have no reason.  I'm just tagging along for fun."

Finally I looked at her and said, "Akatosh speaks to me.  He told me we would make this journey."

"To.... where?" Oddvar asked.

"Looks like there aren't any boats leaving anytime soon," Sinidar peered out over the docks, "Get your cloaks.  We can travel overland.  Lots of towns between here and the next major city.  We can fade away."

"Wait," Kintyra said, "There's one more thing I think I want to do before we go."

She walked over to Galathil, "Hey, mind giving me that haircut?"

"No problem.  Really, I mean, face changing is hard.  This is easy."

"Do you do color changes?" Kin asked.

"Like, all of your skin color?  Because I can do that."

"Just the hair please."

"What color?" Galathil asked.

"I'm thinking... a Lavender."

Oddvar raised an eyebrow, "Won't that make you stand out more?" 

"Not anymore than the bright red guy here," Kintyra said.

Sinidar just smirked, not responding otherwise.

After a few minutes, she asked, "How do I look?"

I pulled out a hat and put it on her head, "Perfect."

Oddvar grimaced.  He finally said, "What if..."

"I know what you're going to say, Odd," Kin said.

Oddvar shook his head slowly, "I should go tell mom.  We should definitely go home."

"You're probably right," Kintyra sighed.

Odd looked at the entrance, then looked at her, "But you'd be gone before I got back, wouldn't you?"

Kintyra's lip curled into a half-smile, "Probably."

She paused for a minute, then stood up too, "This might sound crazy.  I don't know if I'm trembling from fear or excitement, but I think I need to go.  I feel the call to adventure and I need to answer."

Oddvar folded his arms, "Godsdammit.  I guess I'm in too."

"In what, though?" Sinidar threw up his arms, smiling just a little, "Are we making a pact?"

Brynjolf, who'd been watching us, folded his arms, "You kids take care of yourselves.  Take my advice and if you get in over your heads, run away.  Live to fight another day."

Kintyra, still smirking said, "I think I'm going to have to take a rain-check on that invitation to the thieves guild.  Need to get out of Riften."

"Seems like whoever you were running from found you, huh?" He asked.

Kintyra nodded.

"Take a set of guild armor from Ton.  You might need it," he said.

Tonilia already had a set ready and tossed one to Kin, one to me.  She swapped gloves and boots, but the rest (and my whole suit) went into our packs.  I'm petite.  It'll be a while before that stuff fits me.  Oddvar took the opportunity, now that we were leaving Riften, to put on the guard armor.  

With that we slipped out the canal under cover of rain and darkness and slipped out the gate.  

We traveled that evening and all night through wilderness (staying off the roads).  By morning, the rain had stopped.  I started teaching Kintyra a little bit about magic (and Sinidar too!) and she really took a liking to Bound Weapons.  Really saves on arrows.

When we stumbled upon a cougar cave and the animal immediately became hostile at our presence, Kintyra reacted quickly with a bound bowshot, and Sinidar with a fireball.  He couldn't cast fireball, mind you, he had a staff from his father's extensive collection.

Another night and we were near Iverstead.

"Why'd you lead us here, Odd?" Kintyra asked, but I already knew.

"There's a massive bandit camp here," Sinidar cut in, then he turned to Oddvar, "I saw the quest sheet.  Do you seriously think we can take these guys?"

Uncharacteristically, Oddvar said, "Well, it's going to be a struggle.  And this is going to be a stealth mission."

Sinidar said, "You guys were training to be professional thieves, right?  I guess here's your chance to prove yourselves."

And two bonus pictures because I don't think Kin and Fortuna got enough pictures of their faces:

Hey, this is Fenrir.  I've been on a real Dwemer knowledge kick recently.  Val and I stormed through a recently-uncovered Aetherium mine and I got new armor. 

Then I got wind of an ancient dwemer university called Kagrenfahlz, built by Kagrenac's buddy Ludz.  Damien and I have been doggedly searching through ancient tomes, playing fetch for various people, and getting into lots of scrapes along the way.  Speaking of scrapes, I stopped by a town on the way back from the Bandit Tower, I slept in an Inn in one of the new small towns, Ebonheart.  This one wasn't an old town rebuilt, but a completely new one!  I sampled the local goods (hired myself a prostitute) and the innkeeper charged me an exorbitant amount for it.

And a couple of thugs ambushed me as I came out in the morning.  Of course, I'm no legendary badass, but they still didn't know who they were dealing with.

After that I recalled to Winterhold, and went into the Inn to look for some elf.  The priestess of Azura hadn't been very specific.  But, I found Nelacar.  He seemed to be an expert on stars and soulgems.  

"Gods!  Did the Jarl send you?"

"No, a priestess of Azura."

He went on to explain that Azura's Star, a daedric artifact, was essentially a neverending soulgem.  Which I already knew.  It turns up in history every so often.  Malyn Veren, his old master, tried to alter the star to make himself immortal.  They exiled him when students started dying.  

"He took a few loyal disciples to Illinalta's Deep and vanished."

I jotted the into down in my journal for later.  For now, I collected Damien and gave Hannah back her necklace.  

Then I used my intuition to lead me to Ludz's academy in the Sea of Ghosts. 

It was really just one big circle.  With the key we'd gotten from High Hrothgar we were able to get into the recesses of it, and recover more information about Kagrenfahlz.  I circumvented a puzzle with my amazing jumping skills and hookshot.

"Dude, you are such a cheater," Damien said.

"You know you'd be flying over this junk," I smirked.

"Yeah, you're probably right," he smiled back, floating over them.

I'm going to gloss over a bit of the story here, since there's already been quite a lot of me traveling back and forth across Skyrim.

We talked to Michael Sebastian again, since everybody was sending us there, who pointed us to Duns Scotus, who pointed us to a small nordic ruin named Hypokeimenon.   He said we needed four keys, which should be there.

We took a side trek to Illinalta's Deep to secure Azura's Star.  Pretty much blasted our way through.  Then we saw the airship overhead.

"Valiana's here!" Damien yelled.

"Hey boys!" She yelled down, hopping down with us, "Need a ride?"

"You're a sight for sore eyes.  How'd you find us?" I asked.

"I asked at the college.  They knew where Damien was going," she replied.  Very practical.

We cleared the bandits above in the Silent Moons Camp, then entered Hypokeimenon.  After a weird conversation with a man claiming I had met him infinite times before, we found a room with a ghost standing on a platform with three thrones.

"You're a ghost.  Crazy," I said.

"You could say that.  What brings you here in my house?" He responded.

"I'm looking for the four keys of Kagrenfahlz."

"You might be heading towards a disappointment."

"What do you mean?"

"Open the chest and you'll find out yourself," he said.

"Are you the soul of a nordic philosopher?"

"Parmenides.  I might be his soul.  Maybe I'm his consciousness or maybe I'm just a bundle of some lost memories. But, why should i care?  All that matters is devoting one's life in understanding it."

"Did you come to a closer understanding of life?" I asked.

"To be honest, no.  That's why i refuse to pass over to the afterlife.  Sovngarde can wait.  Maybe it is an exchange that can freshen my ideas.  So i ask you, curious one:  what do you think?  What is nothing?" Parmenides asked.

"Nothing is just nothing the lack of anything," I shrugged.

"But if it is a lack of any substance, property or state how could we talk about it?"

"I don't know everything's something man," I shrugged, "Maybe... we really can't talk about it and we're just uttering nonsense."

"Then the philosopher is not so different from the common man.  But it does seem that we use it often to describe states of affairs.  Men of courage tend to exclaim that nothing can put them down.  That sentence clearly has meaning."

I'm reminded of a story about a giant being blinded and the man telling him his name was 'nobody.'

"Maybe it just begs the question where meaning comes from," I said.

"Aaahhh.  That is a question worthy of quiet reflection. Thank you for the brief exchange," he nodded.

I grabbed the key from the chest, and there was only one.  I sighed.  

"I guess let's return to Duns Scotus," I said to my companions, "You in for now, Val?"

"Sure.  The seas are clear," she replied.

We flew back to Riverwood through rain now, and I found Duns on the road leading into town, just talking a walk.

"I found the key of justice but that's all."

"That is both wonderful and regrettable news!" He exclaimed, "Wonderful since it clearly proves the existence of Kagrenfahlz.  Regrettable because I've no idea where the other keys are."  

"So what do we do now?" I asked

"My former students Hannah and Martina were both deeply interested in the matter of Kagrenfahlz.  During their study they investigated the matter excessively.  At a certain point they even started to correct me!  When we talked about they believed they had found the actual names of the archdeacons.  I never took that seriously but maybe I should."

"Guess I'll go back and talk to Hannah," I said.

"That sounds like the wise thing to do.  Good fortune on your travels.  We will meet again," Duns said.

We three paused, then Val said, "Well, c'mon, let's go see this Hannah person."

I shook my head, "Sorry, this is just getting tiresome.  You're right, of course."

We ported back to the College... again.  And we approached Hannah.  She's changed clothes to a similar set of robes, but less revealing.  She pretty much just laid out the information we needed - Martina and her had done a lot of research on the other deans complete with the locations of their labs.  She handed me her papers with a smile.

"Thanks," I said.

"No worries.  I am more than willing to help you," she replied, "Agrippa lived in Solstheim.  Posidonius had a residence in Nchuand-Zel.  You might have to talk with Cancelmo."

"Calcelmo?" Damien and I asked simultaneously.

"Yeah... that," she looked up, only stopping her writing for a second.

"Aristorch lived in the Sea of Ghosts.  It might be difficult."

Damien and I smirked for different reasons.  I had an old Dwemer Helm of Waterbreathing.  He had both his necklace from Daggerfall, and a spell to do the same.

"Duns Scotus believed the entrance to Kagrenfahlz is in Mzulft," I said.

"Close.  Martina went to great lengths to discover the actual entrance.  I know it's in the Velothi Mountains.  It's connected to Kagrenzel, ruins north of Mzulft."

I pretty much just jumped off the back of Winterhold tower and sailed over to the location marked on my map.  I put on the helmet, went down and got it.  EASY.

I'm guessing Hannah and friend had actually pinpointed the locations but weren't really combatants or adventurers like us, so they didn't have the grit to actually go get the keys.

I recalled back to the library (still soaking wet) and Damien ported us to Markarth.  We walked into Nchuand-Zel.  I did not need to talk to Calcelmo - I can pick locks VERY well.

Anyway, it was in a chest behind a locked door.

"Anybody here ever been to Solstheim?" I asked.

"Yep.  Been there.  If we take the airship it won't be that bad a trip.  Probably a couple hours," Valiana said.

"Perfect," I replied.  We got in and went.  It was late afternoon when I finished crossing over Solstheim and the others were sleeping, so I figured I'd just pop down (jump down with cusioned boots) and grab the key.  I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was.  Another locked vault, another easy grab.  I'd left the airship a couple thousand feet up (out of grapple or ladder range).  I Levitated back up.

I found Val and Damien standing on the deck.  

"Look at the plume from Red Mountain," Damien said, staring into the distance.

"Yeah man, that is insane.  Should come back here sometime and sightsee," I said back.

"Really makes you wonder how bad Morrowind is doing nowadays," Valiana commented.

"Pretty bad from what mom said.  She went there for her arena tour," I said, stepping back up the wheel.

With a, "Let's go, bitches!" We were off.

When we got back to Skyrim and found Kagrenzel, it was dark with both beautiful moons out.  This time I'd slept on the deck while Valiana drove.  As I woke up, catching a glimpse of the moons glinting off Val's eyes, I smiled at her.

"Beautiful," I said.

She smiled back, "Thinking of Valenwood?"

"Yeah, a little," I said.  She kissed me just as Damien arrived on deck.  

"Let's go," Damien rolled his eyes, "The whole reason we slept in shifts was so we could get down in there right away."

I smiled at Valiana and we slid down the rope ladder.

We ran past the obvious glowing orb trap leading into Kagrenzel to a side door and through a lock doors (openable with any of the keys we'd gotten recently).

Then rode an elevator down.

I smiled, "Well, we did it!  We're in Kagrenfahlz!"

It was a wide, open area (though not as open as the Aetherium mine) with several sitting areas.  There was a large inactive dwemer construct on a pedestal.  A display.

We walked around the plaza for a while before we found an orc with a dog - Verulam.

"Ah, hello stranger.  Forgive me for not noticing you later.  Just like the Falmer, I lost my sight."

"Sorry to hear," I said back.

"It's okay.  I'll die here anyway," he said.

I blinked, "Wow.  Why?"

"Oh, you'll probably die here too.  This place is locked like the Dwemer puzzle box it is."

"I'm sure there's a way out of here.  There's always a way out," I said.

"You're definitely your mother's son," Val whispered in my ear.

"Not to mention we can just teleport or recall out of here if we need to," Damien whispered in my other ear.

I chuckled, "Let's play along and figure this out though.  I like a good challenge."

The orc continued, "You came through the door in the cave of reflection.  That door locks from the outside when you enter.  The only way out is the opposite door, also locked by mechanism.  I think the secret to opening these two doors lies in the faculty areas.  But they're also locked.  I thought the university key opened them.  I was wrong.  You need the special keys for each faculty to get in."

"You mean..." I pulled out the four keys, "These?!"

"By Malacath!" He exclaimed, "At last!  Hope!  Listen.  Use the keys to enter the faculties and find a way to open the gate.  If you need information or insight, I'm at your disposal.  Good luck, my friend!"

"For now, I'm going to try it on my own.  We're in our element, guy!" I shouted.  Then we headed to the Ethics Faculty.  A straight upward path with side rooms, all locked, with a snow elf statue beckoning us to venture upward.  I could hear the sounds of Falmer growling and chittering in the depths of the section.  Seemed like the Dwemer may be straining the limits of the ethical here.  

I read the inscription, "Every Dwemer must ask him or herself whether our answer to the Snow Elf Problem was justified."

I paused for a second, looking at my companions, then said, "What the fuck?"

The snow elf problem?  The problem was they needed help and the dwemer destroyed them.  Worse than killing them.  Mom had met real Snow Elves.

We continued on and came to a room lined with dwemer-forged bars.  On the right were constructs, on the left, falmer.  But they hadn't seen us.  I pulled out my single-shot.  I'd replaced my semi-auto dwemer crossbow with an enhanced daedric crossbow recently.  It had slow reload, but the single shot was for long distances.  I'd still use the autofire for midrange.

Seriously though, falmer were beyond saving.  I plugged one in the throat and he went down.  His friends were unsure where the clicking of my crossbow came from before I loaded a fire bolt and blasted a second one in the side.  

"We doing this?" Damien smirked.  He loaded up Elemental Bolt.

"Try to keep hidden.  They are still blind," I replied, shooting another.  By this point they'd pinpointed me and were firing arrows.  Damien and I retorted with actual fire.  Me - my hand cannon and Damien with Elemental Bolts.  Valiana charged down the ramp to the right to meet the constructs headed for us.  I jumped down to file in behind her with my sword and shield.  The falmer, still trapped behind the bars, attempted to blast Damien with lightning bolts, but he was ready with Shalidor's Mirror.  He followed us.

By the time I got there, Valiana'd already flattened a couple constructs.  I ducked behind one and flicked out my locksmith's tools.

"What're you going?" Val asked.

"Trust me," I said, and with a quick click, the sphere shut down.  I thumbed my nose, chuckling.

More constructs filed in the open door, and I blasted their ranks with a firebomb.  Val dropped down to engage, and the one who'd slipped by to me got an Elemental Bolt to the face courtesy of Damien.

I swapped back to my sword and jumped down to aid Val.

"Lotta these boys!" I yelled.

"No kidding!" She yelled back.

Then Damien said from above, "Good thing the door's locked, or we'd have the Falmer to fight too!"

He blasted one between us, while Val finished her third off, and I bashed then finished off the last sphere.

"EASY!" I shouted.

Val chuckled.

The three of us got in front of the door, Damien throwing down a heal as I worked on the lock.

"Alright, everybody ready?" I asked.

"Born ready," Val gripped her greatspear, licking her lips.

The Falmer were clawing at the doors, trying to get at us.  I took half a step back and stabbed the one in front of me through the bars, then I kicked the gates open.

The few remaining Falmer, ravenous no doubt after being trapped in here so long, surged forward.  Or atleast, they tried.  Valiana charged past me, barreling into them, knocking half of them over.  I blinked.  Their hunger knew no bounds, and they soon piled onto her.  Even Val's immense strength wasn't enough and they knocked her unconscious.  Strong Falmer!  I took out my cannon, standing shoulder to shoulder with Damien.

He backed into the previous room and I backed off to the right, like we'd practiced this or something.

I grinned devilishly, throwing down my new and IMPROVED Autocannon.  As Damien unloaded a storm of fire, my cannon split off into two cannons, both spinning up and dealing enough damage to melt flesh from bone. 

WIthin seconds they were decimated.  I fed Valiana a potion and she snapped back to consciousness.

"Wha..?"

"Looks like I finally have a chance to rescue you for once," I smirked, holding her steady. 

She patted me on the head, "You've come a long way, kid."

I shut my eyes, smiling and shaking my head, "Been a while since you called me that."

Damien laughed out loud.

We continued through the area, finding the path back (through several door bars) to the entrance.  Eventually we came to a room with many levers and spinning blades.  I played with them for a little while, but found no use in them.  The next room had more falmer locked behind bars, and I noted the lever by my feet and the spinning blade traps in their cage.  I pulled the lever and removed the problem.

"Geez, they call this an Ethics facility?" Damien threw his arms up.

"I know, right?  Sheesh," I shook my head.

We kept going and found another switchback, with a basement-type area.  Falmer heard us coming and swarmed us en force.  Val and I held them off for a few seconds before I heard Damien say, "Fuck this."

I looked at him to find frost swirling around his form, and I knew what was coming. 

He took a step in front of us into melee and blasted the Falmer with Black Winter, turning them into frozen body parts strewn about the floor.

He dusted his hands off, signifying he was done with the exercise.

I laughed, "Why didn't you do that earlier?"

"I have a lot of spells, you know.  Options paralysis.  Also Magicka is a limited resource.  And Elemental Bolt is free."

I shrugged.

We cleared out the rest of the area, got some treasure, and found a small sleeping area.  Seeing as it was now about midnight, we decided we'd get some actual sleep.

On stone beds, which were murder on the back.

Valiana slept first while Damien took the first watch and I took the second.  We only really got four hours, seeing as how we'd already slept a few hours each on the airship trip.

Hey, this is one more from your boy, Fenrir.  

...Sorry, I figured all the best quest journals' hosts were saying it, thought I'd give it a try.  It's 216, the 14th of Sun's Height (7th Month).

Damien and I are looking for Ancient Dwemer tomes.  Why?  Well, originally I was looking for Dwemer ruins to raid and learn more about their amazing technology and history.  But I'm also now fully invested in finding these philosophy books.  Maybe the real Dwemer ruins were the ones we found along the way.  Or something.

Anyway, we headed to the Moorside Inn in Morthal.  I spoke with the Innkeeper, Jonna, and Ange the Song-Bearer (whose voice bore a resemblance to Sofia's, curiously, but she wasn't telling dick jokes).  Then again, I did ask her for a song and she just walked away without playing it.  Glad I didn't pay.

A couple strange things happened before we found Gottfried: I was challenged to single combat by a random guy.  I beat him handily.  Then I got attacked by two guys in weird dragon priest-esque masks.  Sadly for them, Morthal is now fairly populated (despite it being in a swamp), and I think at least some of the people here recognized me or Damien and swarmed on the guys.  We barely even got a shot off.  One of the random teens got wounded, but Damien patched him up.  Then I found him wandering amongst the crowds.

"Sticks-and-Stones sent me.  She wants the Lusty Argonian Maid with the misprint," I said.

Gottfried sighed, "By the nines, is that lizard completely insane?  I knew this would happen."

"What do you mean?"

"Look, if she refuses to come here, how can I give her the book?"

"That's why she sent me," I said.

Yes, I understand.  But she sent me the gold months ago."

"That's a good point," I said.

"I don't have the book anymore," he said.

"What happened?"

"It got stolen."

I raised an eyebrow.  Not a lot of people would know the value of the book.  I bet he sold it.

"The book got stolen," I paused, "C'mon, tell me the truth, she's going on here?"

"Alright, alright.  I sold it to someone else.  I never thought Sticks would send someone.  She made me wait for four months!"

"Where is it now?"

"I sold it to a man named Sam Shelling.  I honestly don't know anything else."

I turned to Damien as Gottfried disappeared into the crowd.

"Dude, wanna work on your next teleport lesson?" Damien asked.

"No.  No thanks.  Not yet," I said.

"Back to Solitude?" He asked, but he grabbed my arm and just casted it.

We walked into the Winking Skeever (much less crowded, as it was midday) and I found Sticks at a table enjoying breakfast.

"Gottfried sold your book to someone else," I said.

"That backstabbing liar.  I should've known.  Do you know whom he sold it to?"

"Sam Shelling."

"Ha!  The most pretentious man in Tamriel.  He's the founder of a philosophicl collective, the Real Idealists.  Here to enrich Tamriel's soul with literature and philosophy.  Pompous swines.  Their gathering place is notoriously difficult to find, but I know that their steward, the idiot Carl Purehart, hands around the Nightgate Inn.  Go talk to him, if he can talk.  Ha!"

I folded my arms, silently.

Sticks stared at me for a moment, then said, "What?"

"Make any progress finding a book about how to talk to people?  Have you read the chapter on how to ask nicely for things?"

She groaned, "......please?"

I smirked, "Thank you."

Damian and I were off to Nightgate which was.... 

"Where's Nightgate Inn?"

"Heljarchen, which I know the teleport for," Damien said, charging his spell.

"Thanks bro," I said.

"No prob, dude.  Not like I have a lot going on right now," Damien chuckled.  

I approached him in the Inn.  

"What do you want?" He asked, nearly spilling his beer.

"Are you Carl Pureheart?"

"Yes I am, Carl Ptolemeus Pureheart, honored steward of the Ideal Realists."

"Aren't they the Real Idealists?" I asked.

"Um... yeah, I um...  What can I do for you?" He asked.

"I would love to join!"

"Really?  That s so... you know... that is.  Sam, I mean, the enlightened philosopher Sam Shelling has told me I should test your creative mind.  SO um... demonstrate your creative mind."

"Right now?" I asked.

I thought of something that sounded like it belonged in a fortune cookie, "The beginning is also the end, since the end is also the beginning."

Which, with Talpas, may be true?
 

"Wow.  Deep.  You sound as clever as Sam.  I mean the enlightened philosopher Sam Shelling.  The hidden whimsey is underground.  That's irony, I think.  You'll need this key," he said.

We teleported to Falkreath and hoofed it towards the Hidden Whimsey.

Down the road a bit, there was a stray door in a cliffside.

"Fight cave?" I asked.

"Oh, hey, that's the underground arena from when mom restored Helgen," Damien commented.

"I think the Falkreath Brotherhood Sanctuary is around here too," I said.

"It's kinda weird all the stuff that goes on without you or I being involved."

"How do you mean?" I asked as we continued down the path.

"You know, in all the old fantasy stories, like Tiber Septim.  HE was the thing.  Everything is centered around him in his story," Damien scratched his chin.

"Yeah well, history is centered around the biggest personalities.  I'm sure there was other stuff going on when the Champion of Cyrodiil was doing his thing, or the Nerevarine.  I mean, c'mon, do you really think mom could be the Archmage, and the Guildmaster, and the Harbinger, and the Queen, etc etc all at the same time?" I asked.

"Not really realistic," Damien shrugged, then he pointed into the woods at a figure hefting an axe.

"Huh, I thought minotaurs were extinct," I shrugged back at him.  I drew my sword and shield, as the thing had nearly closed the distance.

He brought his greataxe down but I deflected the blow with my shield and sidestepped, giving him a slash across the chest.

This went on a couple more times before the Minotaur was on his back.

I sheathed my sword, "Aren't they intelligent?"

"What do you mean?" Damien folded his arms.

"I mean he kept trying the same thing and I kept sidestepping him.  Also, why didn't you help?" I squinted at him.

"I knew you could handle it," Damien replied, "As to your earlier question, yes, minotaurs went extinct on Nirn.  That one was from another world.  Mom told me she saw one at Echo Deep Mine.  From what I can tell, that's where they're coming from."

After a little while we found the entrance, and I was attacked by a group of bears.  I shrugged, taking them down from a distance, except the last one, who I finished off with my sword.

Then a Spriggan attacked, but Damien (still far away) blasted him down with Elemental Blasts and I used my launcher, then we continued inside a small manhole, concealed by the dense brush of the forest.

Inside was a hewn cave complex.  The first man to see us greeted us with, "Reason is but subjected by the automated grips of a subversive reality that drowns the dreams of the intuition."

"So I guess we're in the right place, then," I said.

"Yes, this is the Hidden Whimsey, a place where we partake in mental battles."

"You seem quite excited to be here," I said.

"And you should be as well!  This is the vortex, the ultimate place of philosophy!"

I picked another man to talk to, and he started reading his poetry to me, to which I slowly backed away and picked a third person to talk to.  The woman sitting at the table.  She looked like a normal person, maybe.

"My, my.  It seems we're letting anyone and everyone in these days."

"You remind me of someone.  Sticks-and-Stones."

"I'm bored.  Provoke my mind," she said.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Provoke my mind."

"Okay, if a tree falls down in the forest, but no one hears it, did it make a sound?" I asked.

"I heard that one before.  It can be found in Odd Dwemer Riddles written by Aurelius of Kvatch."

"Well it's still a good riddle," I said, "What is this place?"

"Isn't that amusing?  A new member who doesn't realize what this place is.  This, new blood, is the Hidden Whimsey.  The final resort for those who dare question the unquestionable.  Who dare criticize the uncriticizable," she said, "Blah... blah... blah..."

Obviously getting bored of even hearing herself talk.  I responded, "You don't seem overly fond of this place."

"Don't you worry, I love it here.  I'm just tired of the façade."

"Façade?  What do you mean?"

"Nothing.  Just that some here are a bit too pretentious."

"Oh really?" Damien said under his breath.

"Now allow me to finish a thought," she said, waving us away.

I approached another guy, but he seemed like he was just here to provide music, not to ruminate.

Then I approached the last man in the room.

"What has become of Tamriel?  All these cultures are flowing through each other like different wines."

I blew out a breath.  Always gotta be one of these guys.  I am half Redguard, half Nord.  Raised by a daedra.  And now I'm listening to a guy talking about how racial and cultural mixing is bad.  

He continued, "And what happens when different wines flow through each other?  What remains is a watery mess!"

I put on the most-false smile I could muster and said, "Are you enjoying yourself this evening?"

"Joy?  Life is no joy.  I was in Windhelm recently.  The cold, white WIndhelm, like my mother's love.  It was there where I saw - no - where the problem dawned upon me.  Like a young bird emerging from lush grass."

"So what's the problem?" I asked.

"Those Dunmer refugees, you fool!  Slowly they merge with the Nords, diminishing their cultural awareness.  Next is Cyrodiil, then High Rock!"

"I think... you're paranoid."

"What happened to the ideal of a nation?  Tamriel is only strong as long as she is divided into clear bordered nations.  We need strong pure nations!"
"Ugh," I stepped back.

I grabbed a red bottle of wine from the table and walked around the divider to the back room (marked Carnal room?).  Think I'll be needing this if there are any more guys like these.

The door was locked, but that was no problem.  I may not be a thief, but I'm great with locks.

There was a scantily-armored Redguard woman there, talking about the Psijics and the Gates of Oblivion.

"The Eye of Magnus is with the Psijics," Damien said from the corner.

"Dude, this woman is clearly on something.  I don't think she cares that you did the Mages' Guild Questline years ago," I replied.  I peered down at her as she sat on a bench.  And part of me considered 'getting to know her' a little better.  But no, that'd be uncool.  She was drugged out of her mind.  And if anybody's wondering, Valiana and I have mentioned having sex with others if the want arises, but I mostly don't want to.  At this point it's more 'well, Val's not here, and this could be slightly better than masturbation.'  So in that case, I guess I would.

We searched the room and found a few interesting treasures, including a copy of the Lusty Argonian Maid.  But it seemed like that was not the right copy, so we decided to continue on through the next door.

As I've said before - I'm not the best at stealth.  So as soon as I picked the lock and we ventured to the next area, I'd made enough of a clatter that I heard voices saying, "What was that?!"

It was down the hall.  We quickly bustled back through the door, Damien re-locking it with a lock spell (instant) and then we walked back into the common room with the philosophers, but behind the barrier.

"Guess they get mad if we go back here without permission," I shrugged.

"Well, they didn't see us," Damien said back.  

"Guess we need to get in there legitimately," I said as we walked toward Sam Shelling, on a pedestal.

"You must be the enlightened philosopher himself," I said to him.

"Indeed I am.  I see you've passed my loyal steward's test.  So you want to join the Real Idealists?"

"Yes please."

"It is always a pleasure to welcome a new eager sophisticated mind," he said, "But you are not a member yet.  My mind craves new exciting knowledge.  Give it to me and I just might consider your application."

"So what do you need exactly?" I asked.

"Well a simple gossip might do.  Why don't you talk with my minions... I mean.. partners."

Am I going to exploit their deepest, darkest secrets?  Yes I am.  I hopped down and talked to Nouveau first, the poet from before.  

"So you're a poet, right?"

"True, my little curious foxhound, but I never wanted to become a poet.  It was forced upon me by the demands of my audience.  My poor wretched life."

"What did you want to become?" I asked.

"To be honest, little foxhound, I wanted to become a confectioner.  In search of creating the best sweetroll possible," he explained.

"Maybe one day."

"Maybe, but until then, my life remains simply..." he started. 

"...horrible," I said.

"We share a soul bond!" He smiled.

Next I approached Tristan Baudet, the one who hates the mixing of cultures.

"Something wrong?" I asked.  He looked distressed.

"Yes there is, to be honest.  I feel like a horse in water trying to get out.  Struggling, failing," he replied.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't tell you, I must stay silent," he replied.

"Your secret is safe with me."

"Alright, you convinced me.  And it would be a weight off my shoulders.  I am deeply in love with Brandy.  I know she's old, I know she's married.  But my heart aches for her.  She's my tender flower.  Please me silent about this."

"Your secret is safe," I said.

Alright.  Next, I approached Brandy, the woman at the table.

"I'm curious about that façade you mentioned," I said to her.

"It is nothing, new blood.  Sometimes asking too many questions can be dangerous.  Especially with Camille.  Now hush, off you go!"

"Well, how are you doing though?"

"My mind is entertaining deep memories.  Aren't you hunted by your past?" She asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"A dark secret... a very dark secret."

"Tell me."

"My secrets are my own.  You little nosy badger," she replied.

Then I approached Camille.  We discussed the reason he was wearing Mythic Dawn robes - it was meant to be ironic, but a lot of people died to men in those robes.  Then taking a shot in the dark, I said, "Can I be frank with you?  I believe you're just pretending to be a deep thinker."

He blinked, then a look of anguish crossed his face, "It's true.  Please, please don't tell Sam."

"Your secret's safe," I replied.  Was it?  Yeah, I was thinking the love thing would be my go-to.  Nothing wrong with love.

I returned to Sam Shelling and said quietly, "Tristan is in love with Brandy."

"That brings joy to my mind.  Here's a little something for you," he said, "Go check out the room behind the fence and have your joy.  In the end, the best joy is carnal."

I squinted, was the barely-dressed woman in the carnal room meant to be a kind of village bicycle for these guys?  I thought on it for a moment.  

I was able to unlock a new door by the entrance that also led into the deeper Hidden Whimsey, but there was another door, still locked.  So we made our way in.  

And as soon as we were in, I turned the corner and a female guard met eyes with us.  Damien turned and blasted her with Elemental Blast - as a reflex.

"Dang bro, I was trying to avoid killing everybody," I said.

Out of the haze over her dead body, another guard emerged with a polearm.  That explosion could've waked the dead.  I blocked him with my shield, but he went for Damien.  Damien was caught off guard, but I grabbed the guard from behind and slit his throat with my sword.

"Yeah well, they saw us.  What are ya gonna do?" Damien shrugged.  He was already burning a third guard alive with Flames.

"Guess that plan's down the drain," I commented.

We walked around a corner to find another guard, looking away this time.  I loaded a bolt in my crossbow.

"Is someone there?" He drew his weapon, but I put the bolt in his back before he turned.

"Man, you are lousy at stealth," Damien chuckled.

"True," I admitted.

We walked into the next chamber, that had stacks of books and a bigger statue.  We stuffed everything of value into our dimensional bags before Damien held up another copy of the L.A.M.  Our target.

"Hey, are we the bad guys in this situation?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" Damien asked, handing me the book.

"We're just breaking in and stealing all their things.  And we've killed a few people," I said back.

"Good, evil.  Whatever floats your boat," Damien smirked.

I shook my head, "No comment."

We found another room off the circle with a single guard left, sleeping.  And apparently I was so loud I woke him up, but I put him back down with a bolt.  We got everything of value again.  As we traveled the circle, we found the last room, with two vampires there.  Damien blasted the first with an explosion, and I a second with my launcher.  

"Vampires.  Strange.  I wonder if the philosophers had a deal going with these guys," Damien said.

We came out the final door, and found Ariadne there, in the carnal room.  We shrugged at each other, ready to leave inconspicuously.  They all drew weapons as we walked out from behind the divider.

"You're not leaving here alive," one of them said.  I sighed, pulling out my crossbow again.

Damien was quicker on the uptake this time, blasting Brandy and Camille immediately.  I used the divider as cover, taking out the bard, then Tristan.  Still running at us even though we'd wiped clean his entire order for attacking, Sam Shelling was laid low by Damien.

We looked at their bodies, then I said, "How sad.  They didn't need to die."

"True, but half them had a death wish anyway," Damien replied. 

Nouveau peeked into the room and in a rage he drew his dagger.

"C'mon, guy.  You don't need to die," I sighed again.

"I'm going to kill you!" 

I pincushioned him with my autocrossbow.

"Let's get the hell outta here, after we pick up all their books and goods," I growled.

We teleported back to Solitude to give Sticks the book, and had a few drinks to finish off our day.

Sticks-and-Stones was actually nicer this time.  She gave us four rare books from her collection.  Then told us about Michael Sebastian.  Third person who'd told me about M.S.

The next morning we headed to the college instead.  I wanted to set down all these books and skim through them.  M.S had said there would be clues in books related to Ludz.  The library was packed as ever.  Damien went off to catch up on his work.

I took stock of the books I'd collected -

Mortal Questions by Michael Sebastian

Novum Organum

Lessons of Heraclitus I

Bibliographica Philosophae

Sam Shelling's Journal

Odd Dwemer Riddles

An Ancient Dwemer Tome

I looked through the college's supply of books one more time, just to make sure they didn't have what I was looking for, and I actually found some stuff this time!  They had been buried under the scroll-making table.

Lessons of Heraclitus II and III, On Solipsism, Tamrielic Philosophy and The Way of Truth.  I eagerly snatched them up to take them to the table I'd picked.

"Hey, that isn't yours!" Hannah said to me angrily.

I raised an eyebrow, "Yeah, this is a library.  Where people typically go to check out books.  Or atleast carry them to a table to read."

I squinted at the crowd, now looking at me.  I reached down and picked up a second one of the books.

"Hey!  Hands off!" Colette yelled.

"Dude, don't worry about my hands being clean.  I washed them before this," I said.  Then I picked up a third book.

"What do you think you're doing?" Colette demanded.

"Research.  What's it look like?" I responded, picking up another book.

"By order of the Jarl, stop right there!" A College guard put his hand on my shoulder, whipping me around.

I raised an eyebrow, "So you're saying even picking up these books to read is a crime here?"

"Stealing is a crime everywhere, friend," he replied.  

I still had the big stack of books in my hands.  

"You guys sure are strict.  Do you even know how libraries work?  I'm not stealing them.  I'm going to read them and put them back.  Or give them to Eleanor or Urag," I said.  While I talked I'd been backing away slowly. 

"I said stop," the guard said again.

I slid the stack of books into my pack, quickly whipped out the knowledge I'd just learned a couple days before and cast Recall.

I appeared in the Hall of Elements.

"Well I'm glad you figured out at least one of the spells I tried to teach you," Damien said from the class he was teaching.

"Hey, um, do you know a place where I can study that's quiet?" I asked.

"Archmage's quarters," he replied, "Oh, actually, here."

He handed me a key, "This goes to the restricted section in the library.  I've been meaning to look there also.  Meet you there in half an hour."

So I casually walked up the stairs, not arousing attention and let myself in to the restricted section, shutting the gate behind me.  I peered off the balcony to find nobody seemed to be looking for me.  Good.  I set down to read.  

Several hours later, after Damien'd come and lent a hand, I got to the last book: the Ancient Dwemer Tome.  But it was all in dwemer.  

"I wonder if Hannah or somebody knows how to read this," I said.

I found her in the courtyard.  Everybody seemed to busy too care about the heinous crime of me picking up books to return them later.  

"Any interest in an ancient Dwemer Tome?" I asked.

"Absolutely," Hannah replied, "If i wasn't so busy studying and writing I would be hunting those books myself."

"What are you willing to pay for it?"

"Well, considering no one else in Skyrim would buy something they couldn't possibly read I'd say you don't have much of a choice," she smiled at me, "I'll pay you a thousand septims.  I'll even throw in a translated edition I have for free.  What do you say?"

"Deal."

She handed me the translation and a sack of coins, saying, "There's a strange passage at the end of the book."

Seeing the vein running through all these book people, I asked, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Actually there is!" She replied, "Before i came here, I visited the shrine of Azura.  When i finally arrived here in the college I realized I lost my necklace.  Normally, I don't really care for material belongings.  They only burden the mind.  But this necklace was given to me by my mother just before she died.  It would mean a lot to me if you could find it for me."

I asked, "How do you know for sure it's at the shrine of Azura?"

"I believe it is... for I... well... you know," she was nearly blushing.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Promise not to tell this to anyone?"

"I promise."

She eyed me warily, but revealed her secrets anyway, as people seem want to do, "As a student I learned that there were Dunmer who would please Azura in a certain way.  They would take off their clothes, their jewelry, anything they were carrying, and they would dance for their lady of twilight."

I smiled at her conspiratorially, "You danced naked in front of the statue of Azura?"

She smiled back at me a little angrily, a little embarrased, "Quiet!  I believe there are Argonians in the Black Marsh who couldn't hear you.  And don't judge me all i wanted was an authentic experience and I got it.  Anyway... will you find my necklace?"

"Sure," I replied. 

"Great.  And when you arrive at the shrine, don't forget to marvel at the sight of the statue.  It is magnificent."

Damien still had some work to catch up on, so I traveled south on foot.  I passed through Amol City, one of the newer towns rebuilt from the Great War.  

Just a trek up the path, killing an attacking bear along the way, and I was at the Shrine.

There were a few people around:  the priestess at the top, a khajiit monk milling about on the right side, and a strange man off to the left.  I figured I'd talk to the weird guy first.

"Sorry to disturb you.  I'm looking for a necklace.  Someone lost it here."

"Necklace you say?  Hedgedecker knows nothing about no necklace.  Now leave me alone," he said.

Hedgedecker?  I had him pegged right.  Weird.

"What are you hiding?" I asked.

"Nothing.  Leave me be.

"I am just curious you don't want me to become angry, do you?" I asked.

"All right, all right.  Don't be pushy with Hedgedecker.  Hedgedecker is just a bit angry sometimes.  Hedgedecker found a necklace but Hedgedecker sold it," he replied.

"Sold it, to who?" I asked.

"Sold it to to a merchant.  Eckart Silvanor was his name.  An elf by blood.  Now leave Hedgedacker be."

Alright, I shrugged.  Maybe go back to Sticks and tell her the situation.  I figured I might see who else was hanging out, since I made the trek.

I approached the Khajiit.

"Greetings, traveler.  I am Qa'dojo, a monk making the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Azura."
"Not everyday I meet a daedric monk."

"Then today will be no different than any other.  I'm the regular kind," he replied.  He started explaining his doctrine, but I decided I didn't have time for a long-winded explanation.  I approached the priestess.  

"Azura has seen your coming, traveler.  I am Aranea, I keep the statue," she said.  The silver-eyed Dunmer was beautiful, and now had my attention.

"Seen my coming?  What do you mean?" I asked.

"Azura has given me the gift of foresight.  I had a vision of you walking up the steps to this altar long before you were born."

Oh, right.  Elves.  She's probably waaaaay older than me, even through she looks like a hot twenty-something.

"You've been chosen to be her champion.  I know it's unexpected, but do not worry.  It will all unfold as she has predicted."

I think what she meant to say is I'm the first rube that came up here.  But i might as well.  Azura is one of the more agreeable Daedric princes (princesses?)

"Very well what does Azura need?" I asked.

"You must go to a fortress endangered by water yet untouched by it.  Inside you will find an elven mage who can turn the brightest star as black as night.  It is cryptic, I know but Azura's signs are never wrong."

Hard to be wrong when you're so cryptic.

"I believe the fortress may refer to Winterhold ask if they know this elven enchanter," Aranea continued, "This has all been foreseen and we must play our parts."

I used Recall to get back to the college, then walked up to the library.  Fearing they'd try and take me to jail again (the books were still piled in the private room) nobody paid me any mind.

I approached Hannah, "I'm afraid your necklace is no longer at the Shrine."

"What do you mean?"

"A strange man named Hedgedecker found it and sold it to a man named Eckart Silvanor."

She thought for a minute, then she said, "Wait i know that man.  He trades books with Sticks-and-Stones, a former fellow student of mine.  She is a cynical Argonian who has perfected the art of giving insults.  Don't take it too personally if she insults you.  It's just her style."

I smirked, "Met her.  May have taken her insults too personally."

"Anyway, Eckert might just be in the Winking Skeever."

"Alright," I replied.

I found Damien still up at the stacks and he agreed port me to Solitude, but headed back to the College.

I found the man, sitting across from Sticks.  He got up as I entered and I crossed paths with him near the stairs.

"Yes?" He turned, realizing I was here for him.

"Excuse me, did you buy a necklace from a man named Hedgedecker at the Shrine of Azura?" I asked.

"Yes."

"I would love to have that necklace back.  It belongs to a friend of mine."

"Well, I'm sorry then.  I don't have that necklace anymore.  I was robbed a couple of days ago while travelling to Solitude."

"That sucks," I said.

"They left me my books but took all my septims and that necklace. 

"You know where these bandits might be?" I asked.

"I was robbed near the old Kilkreath Ruins, near Dragon Bridge.  I managed to put up a fight but they were simply stronger."

"Lucky to be alive, how Skyrim bandits usually are," I commented.

"I did however manage to track them down.  If you're thinking on going after them, I can mark their hideout on your map," he said.

"I'll get your money back too."

"That would be very nice of you, but don't get yourself killed because of me."

I checked where he marked on the map.  Dragon Bridge was relatively close, but their hideout was in the Rift!  And Damien was back at the college.

Not yet having enough courage to try teleportation again, I decided I would take the carriage to Shor's Stone and take a nap.

Right off my nap at the outskirts of Shor's Stone I found two gray wolves attacking a man and his horse.  I took them down with my crossbow.  He thanked me and I ventured into the wilderness.  An old ruined tower.  I traveled up the hills a bit, fighting a tiger, a boar, a bear, a bobcat, a panda (not hostile... but... why?) and an Ancient Spriggan Patriarch.  I didn't have a lot of trouble, per se, but the spriggan did launch me up into the air.  Thank the gods for my cushioned boots.  I fell to the ground harmlessly.  But it still hurt my pride!

I sprinted back up the hill, not encountering the Spriggan again.  Instead, I found a couple ogres at the base of the tower, that I misidentified as giant Goblins.

After I dispatched the ogres, I used my hookshot to ascend to the top of the tower.  What I found was... a lady giving a man a massage.  The man was a dark-skinned daedra.  And an orc bandit was trying to slash him up, but the daedra was paying absolutely no attention to his assailant.

"You... ok?" I asked, confused.

"Meh.  Sensation is good.  I can barely feel it though," he shrugged.

I tilted my head.  In any case, it seemed this man was all that remained of the bandit group that'd robbed Eckhart Silvanor.  I quickly downed him and grabbed the necklace.

"There's liquor if you want to pull up a chair, traveler," he said.  He sat down, and I shrugged, figuring I could do the same.

I sat and he said, "Batheru usually sends Nords up here so I can maim them and feed the to the wolves.  I'm Dravos.  For the time being, anyhow.  That crabby dunmer below thought I should have one.  Thankfully a really smart fellow invented lies, or else this charade would be impossible."

"You don't serve Mehrunes Dagon or whoever?" I asked.

"Well, I did.  I was Kynval.  It all changed when I was summoned to the mortal plane by a man carrying a large staff shaped like a rose."

I scratched my chin.  Damien had it when he was time-displaced.  It passed through a few hands since then.  I think mom currently still has it from when she got into a drinking contest with Sanguine.  So Dravos had been on Nirn for 20 years or more.

"This old man wanted me to crush bandits.  Something about his son being beaten to death by them.  Real boring stuff.  These guys didn't fight like bandits.  Didn't look like bandits.  And they all had a lot of wine," Dravos explained.

"What happened?"

"I started getting weird tingly feelings.  Mortals call it free will.  I was tired, and I wanted to rest.  Turns out the old man was Sanguine," he chuckled, "He offered me a beer."

I chuckled loudly, "That sounds like him.  Damien's father."

I didn't say much to the dunmer downstairs.  He talked my ear off about killing Nords to pay them back for treating them badly.  I'm half nord, so I just kinda left.

I Recalled again, returning to the college library.

"I found your necklace," I said to Hannah as she stood on a table in front of me.

She smiled at me brightly, "You're amazing!  Thanks!  When i was a little girl I used to collect small shiny objects.  I thought they were so beautiful.  Here, have one.  I also throw in a book from my personal collection.  It is quite provocative.  It's from an old friend of mine.   By the way I heard Michael Sebastian of Bruma is meditating in the Biosas Late."

I nodded.  

I found Damien in the restricted books area, "Find anything?"

"Not really," Damien replied.

"It's all right.  I think we need to go back to Michael Sebastian.  Three separate people told us to go there.

He groaned, "That blowhard that refused to tell us where the university was though he clearly knew it."

"That's the one," I replied.

We traveled back there quickly and found him enjoying a drink at the downstairs bar.

"I'm having a lot of trouble finding the key and the academy," I said.

"I had a feeling the task might be a bit difficult, you know.  I'm willing to help you.  A little nudge you in the right direction, so to say.  It will be clear to you where the key and academy are but you still have to find them yourself.  It does take away the fun and satisfaction of solving this yourself, however.  Do you want me to nudge you in the right direction?"

"Wasn't it you wanted me to find it?  If you knew where it was the whole time...." I sighed, accepting the help, "Yes please.  Help me however you can."

"Just follow your intuition you will find them," he said, seeming to offer very little actual help.

I blinked, "The key is in High Hrothgar."

Damien furrowed his brow, "I have no idea how you came to that conclusion."

"Intuition!" Sebastian said.

"By the way, we've been inside the hidden whimsy," I said.

"When people share a set of beliefs, I have nothing against it when they group together.  But this group is mostly motivated by a fear for the loss of cultural integrity by refugees and persons from other cultural backgrounds.  In order to resist this threat they group together and continuously confirm each other's convictions.  Without criticism, a thought becomes still but why should one care anyway?"

"That was the impression I got as well.  Besides, I'm not into cultural purity, myself," I replied, "What do you have for sale?  Anything new?"

He showed me his stock of books, and he'd really been moving product.  Most his old stock was gone, and he had more books I needed now.  Including the ever popular Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus!

We teleported to Whiterun and Damien flew me up to High Hrothgar (gods, he makes this stuff so easy).  The key was hidden behind a small stone, but also beside another relic chest.

We returned to Winterhold.  Damien, going into the college, and me looking to find this mystery elf for Azura.  

I want to add that on my way to find Azura's Star later, I stopped by Ebonvale.

Hey, Fenrir again.  Last time I tackled a new dwemer ruin and started to double down on my search for ancient dwemer lore.  Now that there's not a war to fight I figured it's time to double-down on finding all of Skyrim's ancient mysteries.  Unfortunately for you, that involves reading skimming a lot of books, if I can actually find them. 

Last time I'd just enlisted Damien to help my Dwemer book search.  We teleported back to Riverwood and walked into the Sleeping Dragon Inn.

Duns was sitting on a bench across the room.  I tapped him on the shoulder, "I brought the deed to Hannah.  Here's the proof of payment."

"Marvelous!  It is good to know that the future of Frodnar and Dorthe has been secured.  Here is something for your trouble.  It is a rare work of philosophy I gladly share with you.  By the way if you are interested in learning more about philosophy I heard that Michael Sebastian of Bruma is in Skyrim," Duns replied,  "It seems he is residing in the Biosas Late, a cave inside Moss Mother Cavern."

He handed us books and payment and we headed outside onto the porch.  

Damien leaned on the arch while I traced my finger along my map.  Just feet from us was a torrential downpour, mist churning the scant few feet of safety.

"Really coming down out here," I said, following the roads with my thumb.

"Yeah, but do you want to stay here?  You see Delphine is here?" Damien asked.

"Eh, I wasn't really paying attention," I continued.

"I think the Blades and Companions went on sort of a joint expedition the border of Orsinium.  Some unusual dragon attacking travelers.  Anyway probably shouldn't concern ourselves with it.  That's what Bris said anyway."

"Oh yeah?" I asked, not exactly feigning interest, but trusting that the now stronger-than-ever Blades could take care of it, "Moss Mother..."

"I don't get why they would leave their leader out of it though," Damien commented.

"She probably has her reasons," I said, then turned my attention back to the task at hand, "You don't have a teleport for Northkeep or Little Vivec, do you?"

"Nope, sorry.  Only well traveled places have teleports usually and I've never been to either place," Damien replied.

"I bet we can make it to the Inn of Lost Souls by nightfall," I said.

Damien smirked a little, "I figured you'd say that.  I can fly us that far, at least."

We traveled down the old road toward Falkreath just above the ground and reached the Inn of Lost Souls.  Seeing it was getting a little late, we walked in the door.

Before we took off I'd been trying to talk about the new towns, but the rain was just too damn loud.  With it behind us, I continued, "Did you know they just recently restored Northkeep?  Used to be a town a couple hundred years ago.  Think it got destroyed in the Great War maybe."

"Oh really? that's mostly interesting," Damien said.

We looked to each other, looking around the Inn and seeing nobody.  No patrons, no Innkeeper.

I continued the conversation, trying to act nonchalant, "Only mildly?  There are like ten towns starting to rebuild since the Summerset invasion."

Breaking the aire of nonchalant, Damien asked, "Where is everybody?

"That's what I'm starting to wonder," I said back.

"I say we get the hell out of here and keep going," Damien said as I started to walk through adjacent rooms.

"Are you that freaked out by weirdness? I say we leave gold on the counter and rest up.  I'm bushed and my skivvies are soaked," I replied.

After a thorough search, I settled on a bed and laid on it, keeping my gold until I actually saw somebody to pay for the room.

"Suit yourself. I'm going to keep watching for ghosts," Damien said, then he took a seat in the chair across from the bed.

I was bushed, because I was out like a light in only moments.  It seemed like I'd just gotten to sleep when Damien shook me awake, "All right your turn."

"Never thought I'd be standing watch inside an Inn," I said.  I got up, put my armor on and walked out to the common room, intent on finding something to snack on and drink behind the bar.

As I turned to the bar I found a man casually walking there, "Hey you!"

He turned to face me, "Yeah?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Uhh...I'd like to rent a room."

At once the man's surly neutral attitude turned to a warm smile, "Sure thing.  It's yours for a day."

"Strange," I said, handing him the gold, but then I shrugged and said, "Well now I guess I can go back to sleep."

I immediately heard from the next room, "You son of a bitch."

I laughed out loud, knowing it was Damien.

"Hey wait, we're brothers you dipshit," I poked my head in the room.

"Well, you're an ass," Damien put a pillow over his head.

"I'm gonna go ahead, I think," I said, "Looks like the storm cleared."

"I can fly and catch up with you," Damien responded, muffled.  

I didn't need him for the moment.  I continued on down the road, taking in the sunrise over Lake Ilinalta.  I made it to Northkeep around 5 am.  It wasn't anything special, except that it'd been recently attacked by strange mollusk creatures. 

The Thane of the town (some small towns are watched over by Thanes by order of the Jarl) didn't have much to say about it.  They seemed to have it well in hand, so I use my Dwarven Hookshot to get onto the watchtower and looked out over the fields beyond.  I found Moss Mother and ventured the final stretch by my lonesome.

I found a man crouched in the overgrown brush by the cave's entrance, "Hello?  You!  Over here!  Please, I need help!"

As I approached, he continued, "Thank Kynareth for you stranger.  I'd almost given up hope of walking away from here."

"What's your name?"

"Valdr."

"What are you doing out here?" I asked.

He replied, "We tracked a bear to this den.  Good coin for those pelts.  We had the big sow cornered when they showed up.  Three of them out of nowhere.  Spriggans.  Niels went down before we even knew to run.  Ari died just inside.  I never even thought that things were real.  I may have lost a drop or two of blood.  Truth is I'm not going anywhere like this.   

He inhaled sharply, "Ah hurts to breathe."

"I may have a potion to spare," I replied, fishing through my equipment.

"I just need a little to get going," he said, and I handed him a weak healing potion.  He actually didn't look too bad.

"Much better thanks friend I wouldn't have lasted much longer without that."

I rolled my eyes.

"But now what I can't just walk away.  Not with my friends bodies in there being torn apart by those beasts," he said.

"Don't be foolish.  I'll do it," I replied.

"You'd really risk your life for a stranger's honor?"

I nodded, "I was passing through here for something deeper in the cave anyhow.  Going to need to clear out the spriggans and bears."

"I don't even know what to say thank you my friend i'll wait here," Valdr replied.

I set up a small fire and cooked breakfast, offering Valdr a little.  He seemed to get confused when he saw I was waiting, until I explained my brother was on his way.

Damien soared into view and set down.  I offered him a strip of bacon and he ate it hungrily.  While he chowed down I explained the situation.

"Finally caught up let's go bro," he said.

We stepped into the brush of the interior and it was so thick we couldn't see anything.  I perched up on a cliff nearby, and it was clear the beasts further in could already sense our presence.  I cast a cloud of bolts into the brush, clipping a Spriggan.  A deathly silence fell over the cave.  But I could hear movement.  

I swapped to my hand cannon and firebombs, knowing it'd probably prove useful against plant creatures.  The spriggan leapt out of the brush at me, but I blashed him right in the face with a bomb, finishing him off.  I exhaled, taking a look at Damien.

"You gonna help, right?" I asked.

"You had it well in hand.  I was watching what was coming next," Damien said, immediately shooting off an Elemental Blast that exploded about ten feet in front of me.  The brush was concealing a charging bear who'd almost eaten my face off!  The bear shook off the damage and reared up, but I was ready with a blast of my own to the bear's torso, nearly flattening the beast right there.  

Damien took another shot and finished him off.

"Good show," I said.

"Don't celebrate yet," Damien said, and we traded a couple shots with another bear.  

About this time I noticed birds flying past us.  As we finished off the second bear so many birds had gathered it was a veritable cloud of crows.  

"Since when are there a million birds in here?" I asked, "Seems unnatural!"

"Look!" Damien pointed to the opening into the larger cavern ahead of us and something like a massive tree creature with moose antlers, even bigger than an Ancient Spriggan was harrowing us, controlling the birds.

"What the hell is that thing?" I asked.

"I've been cataloguing otherworldly creatures, but I haven't seen this one yet," Damien replied.  While the birds were pecking at my head, the thing was blasting me with razor sharp leaves.  Between this and the brush that made it impossible to see, we silently agreed to beat a hasty retreat.  

"Everything alright?" Valdr asked.

"You never told me an even bigger creature than a Spriggan was in there!" I said.

"Well, uh, guess we never made it that far, friend," Valdr replied, "Going back in?"

I stroked my beard, "Yeah.  Got any ideas, D?"

"It seems to be affecting the overgrowth of the plants here.  Maybe if we go in there, burning a path in, we can weaken the thing, take it down with fire.  You got enough firebombs?" He asked.

"You kidding?  I still have a ton of supplies from the Aetherium dungeon, and I restocked bolts myself," I replied, loading a firebomb into my launcher.

"Alright, let's go!" Damien shouted as we rushed in.  I drew the thing's attention with firebombs while Damien channeled Flames, melting every square inch of greenery he could find.  He swept back and forth like a flamethrower.  I managed to slip into the bigger cave, still blasting and kiting the thing.  And suddenly, realizing he wasn't reaching me, he winked out.

"Where'd he go?" Damien asked as he caught up.

"Ah shit!" I shouted, the thing's massive vines exploding from the ground under us. 

I rolled to dodge out of the way, whipping around.  I started blasting, avoiding him but keeping his attention.  Damien definitely did more damage, alternating between Forbidden Sun and Elemental Blast, but I was doing my fair share.  I felt like I was escaping the razor leaves by the skin of my teeth as I dodged and weaved.  After several moments, one of my blasts knocked him to one knee and Damien charged a massive spell.  

Flamestrike blasted the thing with a line of exploding fireballs, and I got the final hit with another firebomb.  It toppled, and Damien ran forward to get a sample before it was all lost to flame.

"Got it!" He exclaimed, "Maybe Solaire can figure this one out."
"Oh, he's back?"

"He's been visiting often, reporting his findings.  His world's nearly collapsed so the College has kinda become his home away from home," Damien replied.

I looked around and found a small trapdoor that led to a deeper cave, and what we'd been here for in the first place - the Biosas Late.  An Inn for the reclusive.  Which, is a weird concept when you think about it.

The first floor seemed to be the guest rooms area, and the common room, while the basement had the tavern.  Also a weird concept.

We found Sebastian sitting in his room with his door open, just to the right of the front door.

"Hey uh..." I started, but before I could say anything, he cut me off.

"I knew this day would come.  I came here to find peace and now you bring me... trouble," he spoke to me over his shoulder, not even turning to look, "My name is Michael Sebastian.  I am a philosopher.  If it helps you, I'm willing to sell some books.  But that is where my help ends.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Spoken like a true philosopher," he said back, but added nothing to his statement.

After a moment of silence, I said, "I need help locating a book."

In a ponderously slow cadence, he replied, "The best help I can give you is not to help you at all.  Autonomy can never be forced it can merely be facilitated.  Although we are born, we can rise up claim our freedom and become masters..."

Was he trying to get me to leave by boring me out of the conversation?

I interjected, "But you could point me in the right direction?"

"I could.  There are many things I could do.  There are endless possibilities.  Endless possible worlds.  In some of them I have pointed you in the right direction.  And in this I do not point at all..."

Sensing this was getting me nowhere, I said, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Hmmm...my mind is burdened," he replied, scratching his chin.

People are often apt to help you when you help them.

He continued, "Have you ever heard of a dwemer named Ludz?"

I shook my head.

"His name has faded away, but then it was more than three millennia ago that he lived."

"How can I help you?" I folded my arms.

"According to legend, Ludz was a close friend of Kagrenac, the dwemer engineer who defied the will of the gods themselves.  Their friendship, however, fell apart and the enmity between them grew.  In time they would despise each other.  I want to understand what lied at the root of their conflict.  They both believed in building an institution to educate young dwemer minds. Although Kagrenac was the architect and engineer, it was Ludz who worked out the philosophy behind it.  Rumors speak of a workshop in which Ludz worked meticulously on his ideas.  An academy made by Ludz himself as a contrast to Kagrenac's university.  I believe that the original plans for this university must lie in the mysterious academy of Ludz.  If you can find them for me, I would be very grateful."

He looked back at his book, perhaps hoping I would finally leave.

But I said, "Sure I will find those plans for you.  Do you have any idea where this academy is?"

"I have only heard rumors.  Some say it is in the coldest regions of Skyrim.  Some say the Throat of the World.  Some - Elswyer.  Some - Black Marsh.  There's this rumor Ludz was actually an Argonian.  But whatever the truth, all we know is that Ludz left hints in dwemer works of philosophy.  If you can find them you might find clues about where the academy is.  Other philosophers might know where these dwemer tomes reside."

I sighed.  What a vague and unhelpful statement.  The man probably knew I seemed like an adventurer type and gave me such an open-ended quest that I'd go away.  Truly, an unparalleled mind.

Sebastian added, "So you know if you do not find them, I can understand.  Some say those plans never went into fruition or they were never written.  All I have for you are these notes and this mysterious dwemer key.  I advise you to look for one of the ancient dwemer tomes.  Good luck."

I took the key and walked down to the bar, where Damien was already enjoying a drink.  I stood across the table from him.

"So what's the situation?" He asked.

"Essentially this guy likes to talk slowly but gives almost no actual information," I shook my head.

"He is a philosopher," Damien chuckled.

I laughed with him, sitting down, "What do you have against philosophers?"

"Same thing as you, I think.  You're a historian and engineer.  I'm into research and applied magic.  Both of them are practical applications for knowledge," Damien took a big drink.

"Well, I do see the reason for asking questions - why are we making the things we're making?  Sometimes, that's important," I replied.

"Yeah, but!  Some of these guys go way too far and never apply their tools of questioning to anything important," Damien added.

The man at the bar said, "Hey traveler, what's your name, what'll you have?"

"Fenrir.  I'll have what my brother is having, I guess.  Could use a break about now," I replied.

He came to the table quickly with a smooth draught of ale, "This's good.  I do have a lot of questions about a bar, in a secret cave.  How do you do business?"

"This here is the last resort.  A place where people who are wary of life come to relax.  We get a surprising amount of customers willing to pay top Septim for privacy.  I'm the Fat Joe.  Happy to serve you drinks, my friend," he replied.

Damien said, "I'll have another," as he finished his off.

When he walked away, I whispered, "THE Fat Joe, not just any old fat joe."

Damien and I chuckled to each other.  After we had a little break, we departed, looking around Moss Mother Cavern proper and finding a couple chests.  One - a massive one half-submersed in the dirt that held a lot of pricy knick-knacks but nothing particularly useful for us.  There were three priceless bows laying next to the chest as well.  Might even be able to display one of them in a museum. 

The other was another relic chest pointed out to us by a fairy.  I'd found another on the way to meet Duns Scotus the first time. 

We walked out of the cave and found Valdr waiting for us there with bated breath.

"It's done," I said.

He smiled big, "You had me worried when there were sounds of battle and it got quiet."

"There's a tavern down there," Damien blurted out.

Valdr blinked like we were crazy, "Well, either way, you've done my friends justice.  I want you to have this.  I know it isn't much, but it's important to me."

He handed me a dagger, "It was Ari's.  Said it brought her luck.  Come find me if you're ever in Falkreath.  You'll always be welcome at my door."

"Thanks friend.  It was no problem," I nodded.

As Valdr walked into the cave to gather their remains, Damien elbowed me, "Ya big damn hero."

I gently punched him in the shoulder as he laughed.

"Oh noes my only weakness, tiny punches," Damien chuckled again.

I smiled back.

"So I definitely need to go back to the college to see if there's any work for me, and get back on schedule with creating the Life waters.  Believe it or not, Auriel's Tear requires a lot of soaking and waiting.  Not a lot of actual stuff to do.  But I do need to change out the water every now and then.  Who am I kidding... I need to make sure the apprentices are doing it and catalogue the volume."

"I was going to check to see if Hannah had any more info yet," I replied.

"Grab on then," Damien said, and he used Recall to bring him to his room at the College.  

I walked down to Hannah, still in the library, and she had nothing new for me.  I browsed the books and found a few philosophy texts, but nothing to propel me forward.

Damien saw me about five minutes later.

"Hey, I should teach you how to teleport," Damien said.

I raised an eyebrow, "You think I can learn that?"

"Maybe.  I'm going to tell you about it and you can decide," Damien said, leading me to the Hall of Elements as he talked, something about needing room, "Teleportation is something they don't teach here anymore.  That's because at some point it was outlawed in the Empire, along with flight, spells that open locks, and a few other things like necromancy.  Of course, most of this was under one of the more crazed Emperors (not necromancy).  Jura struck down all those old decrees nobody remembers.  And of course, we're not part of the Empire anymore. All that aside, that just means it's not common knowledge anymore."

"Okay, why are you telling me this?" I asked as we opened the doors to the Hall of Elements.

"None of these things are all that difficult to do," Damien said, "Teleporting is like doing long division.  It's not high-level calculus.  It just takes a long time to work it out."

"For you it's like a five to ten second cast?" I asked.

He looked over the hall and said, "Perfect," when he saw the training area was free.

Damien turned back to me and walked backwards as he talked, "Yeah, but I've been teleporting for a while now.  Especially if you're very familiar with the space.  Oh, and you..."

He looked me up and down for a few seconds, "You're going to barely have enough magicka, looks like.  So if you mess it up a few times, here."

He dumped out a dozen magicka potions from his pack.

Then he went into lecture mode, "The typical teleportation spell is Apprentice level Conjuration.  You have to learn a separate spell for each location you want to move to, but they're pretty commonly mix-and-match with only the last step.  The biggest step."

The scant few students in the Hall of Elements had looked up from their books and were starting to gather behind me.

I smirked at my brother, "Impromptu class?"

He smiled back, "Sure.  The basic premise is the same as summoning any creature.  Fen, do you know any summon spells?"

"I did learn to summon those Aetherium spiders after the Aetherium mine.  Too cool to pass up," I replied.

"Alright," he took out a different scroll, Summon Wolf, "It is very possible to cast spells without the faintest idea of the inner workings of magic at all."

"What I do with my three or four spells I know," I chuckled.

"But if you approach it like a machine, it gets easy."

I scratched my beard, "Hmm... now you're speaking my language."

"A spell is like a program.  You tell it what to do, give it your magicka, and you get the result.  Most people don't know how to make new spells.  They just take the formula and hit the 'GO' button without understanding how it works," Damien continued.  Then he took out another scroll of 'Teleport: Solitude.'

Setting them side-by-side he pointed, "These runes mean to move a thing.  The one on the wolf is 'to me,' but on the Solitude one it has a set of coordinates."

"Does that one mean, 'me?" I asked.

"Yes.  You can see the Solitude one is {move a thing} {me} to {long list of coordinates}.  Whereas Summon wolf is {move a thing} {wolf} to {me} and it has some protection parts at the end so the wolf doesn't immediately attack you."

One of the students raised their hands, "But that is such a long list of runes for the coordinates."

I broke in, "I remember how you taught me the basics.  Whenever you cast a spell, you're letting the runes flow through your mind and expending magicka to make the effect work.  So whenever I want to move to Solitude I have to remember these -what is that?- thirty runes?"

"Yeah, well.  It's why full casters keep spellbooks," Damien said, "Scrolls are cheating.  You don't have to remember, but they're expended when you use them."

"I mean, couldn't I make a staff that just teleports me?"

"You wanna carry around twenty staves?" Damien chuckled.

"I want to try one!" One of the students said.

"Not this one," Damien smiled, "I'm going to show you the easiest Teleport spell.  Recall."

He traced out a list of four runes, then a sequence of six, "This is Mark.  This is Recall."

"It's that easy?"

"It's that easy," Damien said, "The set of four places a specific marker on a physical space."

He casted Mark, then he walked about twenty feet away.

He shouted, "Recall takes all the memorization out of Teleporting.  Do you see the sequence?"

I said back, "Looks like {move a thing} {me} to ... and then there's the sequence that is used in Mark."

"Boom," he casted Recall and appeared next to us again, "Easy."

The group clapped, "You guys give it a shot.  Just be careful not to Mark the same place as somebody else.  Or next to an object.  That's why we never ever rearrange in the College."

I placed my Mark and casted Recall.  It was easy.

"C'mon," he said, "You're going to try Solitude."

"What?  Now?" I asked.

"Unless you're too chicken to try it out," Damien smirked.  He knew how to push my buttons.

"You're on, devil-boy," I smirked back.

"I'm gonna make this real easy.  I'll hold up the scroll so you can have the sequence, but you cast with your own mind," Damien said, "And this."

He wound a rope around my right leg and his left.

"What's this?" He asked.

"For safety.  I'm holding the scroll, but I'm also going to be there if you send us to a bottomless void so I can just yank us out of the mouth of whatever," Damien explained.

Then he turned to the students, "Oh, and do not experiment with teleports.  And don't try it without supervision.  That's a good way to wind up dead.  Or up the creek without a paddle."

He turned to me, "Ready?"

I popped my neck, "As I'll ever be."

Damien held up the scroll on his chest so I could see it.  I charged magicka, went through the long sequence and BAMF we were gone.

Then we reappeared.

Damien handed me a potion, "Nice try."

"What happened?"

"We went to Apocrypha.  I snapped us back," Damien replied.

"WHAT?!" I exclaimed.

"S'ok.  It happened to me the first time too," he said.

The rest of the students, who'd already been considering trying teleportation on their own, were now immediately and fully against that idea.

Damien handed me a magicka potion, "It's alarming how similar the sequence of Apocrypha is to Solitude.  Only about seven differences."

"Oof.  All these squiggles look the same," I said, chugging the potion.

"Yeah, I know.  But you can do it."

And we went on like that... for a while.  By the time I'd gone through all his potions, the closest I'd gotten was teleporting us high into the air above Solitude...

"Why'd you snap us back?  We both have Cushioned!" I said.

"Knee-jerk reaction.  Just because we're immune doesn't mean it isn't scary."

"But you can fly!" I exclaimed.

Damen shrugged, "You keep the scroll.  I'll teleport us.  Need to get on the road."

I hung my head dejectedly as he unwrapped our legs.  I put my hand on his shoulder and we appeared in Solitude.  

It was late, and pouring.

We stepped into the Winking Skeever, and it was packed.

"Geez," I said, pushing my way through the crowd, "I can barely walk in here!"

We searched for a few minutes, but couldn't find Sticks-and-Stones, so I sat at a bench, "Hey bro come have a drink."

"Maybe later."

"Okay suit yourself," I said.

Damien yawned, "Where is a barmaid or innkeeper.  I am tired."

Emerging from the sea of bodies, the barmaid, Rina, asked, "You want a drink?"

I smirked at her tiredly.  She looked just as beat as the two of us, but here she was, grinding to make ends meet, "Hmm...maybe.  I'll have something top shelf.  Surprise me."

A wench in glasses appeared next to us with a tray full of drinks.  I smiled at the two of them, "I know it's busy right now.  They paying you alright?"

"Psh, nope!" Rina said, then laughed.  The wench went to get me something from the bar.

"I bet your legs are tired," I said.

"Why, because I've been running through your dreams?" She sneered slightly.

"No, I wasn't going to use a line.  I was just going to say there's room here for you if you want to sit down.  I won't tell anybody," I grinned.

She stared at me for a few seconds, looked me over, then finally said, "Okay, you've talked me into it."

She put her hand on my shoulder, then sat in my lap.

I blinked, "Not exactly what I had in mind..."

I looked to her low-cut dress, right in front of my face and said, "But not unwelcome."

She giggled.

Damien, who'd been standing by the hallway and scanning the crowd, said, "I think I can hear an Argonian upstairs.  We should maybe get what we came here for."

I threw up my hands, "Okay, okay.  You're right."

"I usually am," Damien smiled smugly over his shoulder.

I nodded to Rina, "Sorry hon, gotta get up.  How about setting us up a room for the night?"

She nodded and headed to a room as I handed her the coin, and some for the bottle coming my way, then I followed Damien upstairs and took the lead.

An Argonian woman looked over to us as we approached.

"You Sticks-and-Stones?" I asked.

"Aaah.  Another feeble-minded creature comes to Sticks-and-Stones to drink from her well of wisdom.  My books cost money.  Do you understand?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Of course.  Maybe you should read a book on how to talk to people."

"I doubt you understand," she said back.

My lip curled a bit.  What an asshole.

"I need help locating a book," I said, trying to be neutral.

"You need help with a lot don't you?  Finding your sweetroll, washing yourself, wiping your arse?" Sticks asked condescendingly.

"You..." I started angrily, but was cut off by the sound of Damien chuckling under his breath.

"What?" I turned to him.

"Don't worry about it.  Continue," Damien replied.

"I bet you have excellent sales numbers," I said flatly, "I am looking for Tractatus Logico Philosophicus."

"What would a savage such as yourself do with that book? Smack someone in the face with it?" She asked. 

"You do realize there is more in life than trying to bash each other's brains in?  With that attitude you will be dead and forgotten soon.  Dead and forgotten as the workers of Mzulft.

I sighed long, coming out more like a growl than anything. 

Not sure if she wasn't able to speak like a normal person or she really had no idea how dumb this looked...

"Only an idiot would make such grand generalizations about someone they don't know," I folded my arms.

Damien laughed again, "She's messing with you.  What intelligent person would just assume everyone around them is a dullard without any information?  That's the definition of stupid."

I turned to her and the look on her face told me she might not have been playing this game and really was a smug asshole.  But what Damien'd said made her change her expression, like she was now playing along and didn't want to look like an idiot.

I smirked at my brother.  Both smart, coming to different conclusions.

"I am looking for Forbidden Thoughts," I continued.

"You realize that the adjective 'forbidden' means that it should not be read by the feeble-minded.  Who am I kidding, you don't realize anything at all, do you?  Else you would understand that book is what we scholars call a basement book, meant to be read underground and in darkness.  But that makes no difference to the likes of you who live in a continuous flow of mental delusion."

Getting tired of this act, or demeanor, I said, "Yeah, okay whatever.  Is there anything I can help you with?

"To be honest I could use the help of a simple-minded creature.  Especially if the task at hand is detrimental to my intellect.  But for you, it might just offer an actual challenge have you ever heard of a book named the Lusty Argonian Maid?"

"Yes," I replied.

"You might be more erudite than I thought," she said.

"Really?  That was the thing that did it for you?  What do you want me to do?" I sighed.

"Now, I do not care for that book at all.  Written for the amusement of the common oaf, if you ask me.  But there is a unique version which has a misprint.  That version is quite valuable and I have acquired it recently.  However, the book is not in my possession yet.  The merchant who sold it to me requires me to come meet him in that revolting swamp they call a city, Morthal.  He won't go to Solitude, he said, too posh for him.  Disgusting figure.  Since you have offered your services, why don't you go to Morthal and fetch that book for me?"

"Sure, I'll be on my way.  I guess it takes someone of a lesser mind to cast Teleport spells to effortlessly move to a different place," I sneered.

Sticks actually smirked a little bit, and I wondered if she was looking for more of a back-and-forth in the future.  She said, "You might actually be of use to me.  Go find a merchant named Gottfried of Chorrol.  An old dimwitted simpleton.  He is in the Moorside Inn in Morthal.  Good luck."

Before I left, I took a look at her stock and bought a couple books that I'm sure were philosophical tomes that could lead me closer to reaching Ludz's college.

Hey, this is just me thinking about things. In my last video I randomly gave a name to the concepts behind my views on mods. The reason why I load a bunch of quest and building mods and Don't immediately do them: 

Mod Salad -

It's when you start playing Skyrim and you find a bunch of mods have melded together to interact in ways you didn't expect. 

Examples: 

1. I just did Moss Mother Cavern (Vanilla) quest, but found a Relics of Hyrule chest led by a fairy on the way in, was attacked by a Lechen from Mihail's Mods while I was inside.  I fulfilled the quest objective, but I also found the trapdoor for a hidden Inn added by Kagrenfalz and talked to the quest guy there.  I also harvested the meat from the bear inside (Hunterborn).  On my way to Moss Mother, I traveled to the Inn of Lost Souls (Brotherhood of Old) and Northkeep (a small city added by TES Arena Towns) and passed by Little Vivec (lake town added by Moon and Star).  On my way back to the College on the Airship (Dev Aveza/Moonpath to Elswyer) I passed through the Mead and Magic Inn (Inns and Taverns).

2. A while back I was trying to buy a mine for Real Estate and stumbled onto Echo Deep Mine (Falskaar), got attacked by a party of bandits way too powerful for me (OBIS) and a minotaur (Mihail's Mods) and got 'taken advantage of' (Defeat).

3. When I was doing Second Great War and Blood of the Nord in tandem, I ventured north to docks by Dawnstar, and found a new town, Innsmouth (Things in the Dark).  When I returned from my Sea mission, I found a camp of Frost Giants (I have no idea?) and I already know further to the west there's Seapoint (Seapoint) and the gates added by Haafstad, right next to each other like they were designed that way.

4. When it pours outside, the Solitude Inn has about 200 people inside from five different mods.  (Interesting NPCs, Random NPCs, Teen Dolls, Kahgrenfalz, Breakable Equipment... yeah okay there's more but I don't even remember all the mods I have installed).

Tangential term I was thinking of:

Modwich -

When you intentionally load two or more mods with the intention of playing them to see how they interact. 

Examples:

1. Way back when I did the Dark Brotherhood questline with Runa I was playing Better Dark Brotherhood and Brotherhood of Old together. Because they both built on the same foundation, the original DB questline, they worked together pretty well.

2. Blood of the Nord and Second Great War together.  BoTN is a good precursor to SGW.  It has the mindset of 'trying to prevent the war,' but inevitably the group failed in all their diplomatic efforts.

Mod Salads are more of a happy accident, modwiches are intentional.  I often do this by design in my blog entries.  I'm thinking of doing videos in the future that is like, 'Modplay but I smashed two mods together.'  And also, possibly a list video of 'Most Appetizing Modwiches.'  That was just off the top of my head.  I can probably come up with a better name.

Here're some I'm thinking of that might work:

Vigilant + Agent of Righteous Might

Shezzarine Chapter 1 + Isle of Artaeum

Alpha + Amorous Adventures (Not on YT, mind you)

Kagrenfalz + Scholarship of Skyrim (New release, going to add it on probably Part 3 since I've already played a significant amount of the mod)

Other news

In other news, I've been doing the YT videos first because it's kinda easier to let YT autogenerate all the dialogue.  I have to fix it anyway, but it takes much less time that typing it all out twice.  Then I just copy/paste the fixed dialogue and use that as the baseline for the blog entries here.  Sometimes I'll encompass two entries in one (2 YT to 1 Blog or 1 YT to 2 Blog) depending on the amount of description or dialogue that is included.  It's not a 1:1 fit.

In other other news -

- Been playing Cyberpunk 2077.  It's a very well made game, but not really a medium to tell stories like Skyrim is.  And actually, it's a fantastic game.  With just a baseline level of modding that smooths out the rough edges (as did Patch 1.5).  But the story, gunplay, quickhacking and the setting, are just phenomenal.  I might post short things from Cyberpunk from time to time (until I lose interest).

- Been messing around with Midjourney, an AI that can generate images based on what you type.  I decided I'd make a new book cover for my first book.  Here, take a look. (I blanked out the name, not because I don't think youall can easily find out my real name, but to prevent there from being an eternal log of my presence here).  I will gladly admit I go on both sides of the line of Erotica and Regular Vanilla Fantasy.  It just helps with conflation of my different styles of work.

Actually, here are some more -

Dahlia

Roy but I'll have to fix the weird eyes

Beatrix, would have to fix the weird eye issue.

Splash for Part 3, would recolor the distant moon to black and change the building-thing to a tree shape.  The AI isn't perfect.

And another one of Nesari looking at a city, perhaps a splash for Part 4.

Youtube Videos:

Hey, it's Fenrir.  It's Sun's Height (7th Month) 4E 216.  Only a few months since the Invasion of Summerset and Valenwood and already patrolling the Sea of Ghosts is getting boring.  I've heard rumors of some new old dwemer ruins that were uncovered by miners.  And of course, I have a huge backlog anyway.  Mom definitely focuses on bandits and Nordic ruins, so I figure I could focus on Dwemer ones.  One of the mission notes floating around the Bannered Mare in Whiterun detailed this location.  So Valiana and I took a break from our duties and rode south to the cave.

We encountered a group of bandits on the way fighting with Riften Guards right outside the extension.  We helped, and took their loot as a reward.  No guard deaths.  Anyway, the mine itself had nothing in the way of personnel.  We found an Aetherium vein, but try as I might, I couldn't mine it with a regular iron pickaxe.  After a few tries it just ended up chipping the pickaxe, so we ventured further in.

There was a straightforward carved tunnel at the back which opened up into a massive cave housing an old dwemer ruin.  

"You really love this stuff don't you?  Just like your mom," Val smiled at me, and I must've been beaming.  The huge cave had bridges over a large underground lake, waterfalls directing flow from one level to another, and several paths to take.  We were careful as we entered, but there was no danger.  I took the first door I saw, labeled Siphonasium.

We fought our way through improved dwemer spiders and spheres until we came to a room with a series of ramps and levers leading down a spiraling tower.  After finding the right configuration for the levers to get the final door open, we pushed forward through a storeroom, more spheres and spiders, then another downward shaft room.  We were attacked by a small group of Falmer, but I made quick work of them.  I say I...

"You alright?" I asked, "You've been carving up everything easily so far."

"Yeah," she sighed, "Falmer kinda gross me out."

I chuckled, "Never thought I'd hear something like that from you."

In the next room there was a platform, but what it was for I had no idea.  I grabbed the loot and continued on, plowing through spiders left and right.  When I looked back I noticed Val wasn't there.  I backtracked a little bit and found a man at her feet, diced up with her Greatspear.  She handed me a note, "Contract to kill you, I guess."

A letter from a woman named Camilla... I filed it away from later.

"But hey, good on him.  He really went the extra mile following us all the way down here," I chuckled.  We passed into the next chamber, and I leapt over the next set of iron spikes blocking our path.  I fought a large group of spiders, then turned to Val, still trapped behind the spikes.  She'd hit the spikes at least once to try and get through.

"Not doing much good from back there, Val," I smiled.

"Well don't run ahead.  How did you get over there?"

"Just squeeze to the side of them.  You can literally just walk around," I said, sidling past the spikes, then going back, "Even with your huge pauldrons, you're thin enough."

"Hang on," she squeezed through.

From there we faced a gauntlet of small rooms and groups of enemies, throwing a lever between each section to open the next one.  Between the two of us, we blasted through them.  When I threw the lever for the last section, a centurion blasted steam through the bar-spikes.  

"Whoa, big guy!" I said, ducking behind the archway for cover.  I turned, pulling out my hand cannon again, but Valiana was already there, separating the thing into it's component parts.

"To shreds!  I didn't even have a chance to get out my gun!" I exclaimed.

"I'm pretty sure that's why you keep me around," Val said.

"There are... other reasons.

"Really?  Enlighten me," she smirked as we killed the last few spiders.

"You know why," I grinned back, pressing on.

We looted a small treasure room, then found an elevator back to the first big main room.  I pressed on to a large platform on the bridge and found three levers.  One that operated, two that didn't.  Probably from the mini-boss we killed.

"Looks like we gotta go to each wing and get the boss or lever at the end," I said as Valiana caught up.

"Lead the way."

We headed to a second wing: Manufactorium.  Inside, fighting our way past ore spiders and spheres, I found the original author of the note.

We continued on to a room full of steaming pipework and a medium centurion.  

I was shooting at it from the safety of the platform when Val jumped down and started to carve away at the monster.  Before I could get down to help, she had chopped the thing up again.

"Geez, Val.  You are a monster," I chuckled.

"Been doing this a long time," she replied.  I broke into some more storerooms and grabbed anything useful, then we continued through the section.  

We walked around for a while, finding more treasure rooms, having to navigate through lever swapping to get them all.  

It took us an embarrassingly long time to find the button to open bars to the actual next useful section.  We came to another pipe room with water.  

Fighting our way through more spiders and spheres, eventually I found a path to carry on into a room with a large centurion docked and asleep. 

We secured the area, and he awoke at our approach.  I opened up the fight with a handcannon blast from one of the new bombs I'd found in this dungeon: shock bomb.  We started the fight as we often do, her going head-to-head with the centurion on the stairs and he firing from the floor.  We widdled him down a while, but it seemed Val was having trouble fending off the thing's attacks.  I stepped in with sword and shield.

Of course, it immediately turned to me after I took a few slashes on it.  I backed up the stairs behind when it swung.  Then as it came after me I rolled off the ledge, coming to my feet where I'd began. 

The centurion turned to her, but I circled the pipes to my right and gave it a few slashes on the ankles.  As it turned to me to retaliate, the centurion overextended itself, giving Val the opportunity to stab it through the midsection and end the battle.  Once again, we ransacked the treasures beyond and used the path provided to get back to the hub.  At this time it was about time for bed.  We'd been traveling and dungeoncrawling all day, so we threw out a couple bedrolls and slept right there on the lever puzzle platform.

She took first watch and I took second.  I watched her a little while as I cleaned up the fire.  When she finally woke up, I could tell she was weary.

"Stone floors are not great for the back," she stood.

"Oh?  Well I did alright," I smiled.

"Maybe because I'm 42," she laid face down on her bedroll and convinced me to push on her back until it popped just right.

"Ever think about the fact that if your parents had come back with Damien you'd be two years old, like Damien's kid?"

She smirked, saying nothing for a bit as she packed up the bedrolls.  Finally she said, "I don't like to think about things like that.  All the what-ifs in the world won't change who I am, or what I've done.  Best to look forward, not back."

"Well said," I said, "Time for the last wing."

She added as we walked, "Also, if I'd lived out my life naturally I'd be over 200, dead and buried someplace, so I think this is probably one of the better outcomes."

I smiled back, "Why's that?"

"Oh, you know why," she responded. 

We stepped into the Chironasium.  More of the same.  Spiders and spheres.  We fought until we came to another drop-down with a few spheres.  I tried to snipe them, but Val jumped down and broke them in half.  I stepped in to finish off the last one.

I just gave her a smile.  She was making this easy, saving me from crafting bolts (I'd started with about 450 and was down to about 300 at this point).  

Here we found several paths radiating out from the hub.  We went down each and wouldn't you know the last one was the path to the end. 

Side mention, though, when we'd cleared out the hub room with ankle-deep water, I turned to Valiana, who'd gone up the larger ramp in the room and was in the process of taking her clothes off.

"What're you doing?" I asked.

"I got a bunch of water in my boots and I need to wring out the liner in this thing.  Mind if we take a break?  Not like you haven't seen me naked before."

I raised an eyebrow, "Of course I don't mind, but, you got my hopes up."

She smirked back at me, "What, does it make you excited to have 'naked time' in a dungeon where we could both get ambushed at any time?"

"I mean, maybe..." I trailed off. 

She smiled, keeping eye contact while she stripped the rest of her clothes off.  Then she sat down and started to rub her pussy, "Maybe, huh?"

I smiled big and walked over.  First looking around to make sure no dwemer machines were nearby, then putting away my crossbow, I kneeled down.  

"Like what you see?" She asked.

"Oh yes," I said, then I grabbed her hand and pulled it away from herself.

"You're mean," she said, "Just put it in.  We could be attacked, and I'm ready."

I smiled, "As you wish."

I slid on top of her and thrusted for a few minutes, my youth carrying me to being ready at lightning speed.  Then I stood up and lifted her off the ground, thrusting into her with careless abandon. 

We finished quickly, and it was excellent for a quick one, then it was back to the grind, so to speak.  We soon reached the final area of the wing, a set of stairs leading to a courtyard, then another set of stairs up to a platform.  A ghostly mage was slowly walking down the stairs as we approached.  Val and I shared a glance. 

She went left to engage the ghost and I went right to use the platform's high ground.  But as she ran for him, he shot a sickly green poison cloud, then unloaded a barrage of ice bolts like my automatic crossbow.  By the time I was coming up behind him, Val'd already fallen to one knee from the strong magical barrage. 

He turned to me, but obviously this mage wasn't built for melee combat.  He flung spells, which I did my best to block with my shield.  I got a few hits in, but he ran to ranged distance.  This gave me a chance to get Val on her feet.

"You alright?" I asked.

She growled, "I'm gonna flatten that guy! Come on!" 

She charged, but he resorted again to poison cloud and machine-gun ice shots.  As I took out my Autocrossbow I noticed she was getting chewed up by the magic.

I unloaded bolts as she took swings at him, but her spear wasn't dealing the damage I thought it should.  Val dropped to a knee again and the ghost backed up, recasting his armored skin spell.

A bit smarter than the automatons here, I got her up again.  Really, I'd been chewing through his barrier before with my bolts and I resorted to it again.  Before Val could get to him, I'd torn down his barrier again and pincushioned him.  He was double dead.  I took a look at my lady and saw the poison was still hurting her, so I uncorked a potion and poured it down her throat.

"That's some damn strong poison," I said.

"Thanks," she said back, "See, at least one fight in here I got messed up in, and you were the one who steamrolled it."

I gave her a hug and a kiss and we ransacked the treasures beyond, returning to the main hub again through a hole this time.  I threw the third lever and with a satisfying click, the gate opened up to an elevator.  I realize I could've just levitated or hook shotted up here, but half the fun was exploring everything, and all the side items I got along the way.  I haven't been describing specifically, but I already had a full complement of Aetherium-forged dwemer weapons and a ton of Aetherium bars and ore (though I wasn't sure I had the tools to work it).  And of course, thousands of septims worth of other things.

We rode the elevator and approached the 'throne' as it was labeled. 

Another gate stood before us, but it opened of its own accord, inviting us in.  I tread carefully with Val behind, into a chamber flanked by pools of lava.  I turned my head to find an Aetherial Colossus, rearing back to blast me with steam.  I rolled out of the way, straight into the lava, then jumped out again, thanking my quick reflexes and enchanted armor.  

When I came up Valiana was already engaged with him.  This time was different with the ghost.  She was all fury, chewing through the thing.  I unloaded with my autocrossbow, but it was mostly her.  In a fight of pure muscle, Valiana always won.  The thing toppled and I shouted, "Nice work!"

We moved into the next room and I found a treasure trove.  A full set of Aetherium-forged Dwemer armor.

"Here we go," I said excitedly.  I quickly stripped down and put the armor on to check it out.

"Looking good," Valiana clapped, "Would you say the run was a success?"

I tore the helmet back off, finding helmets in general annoying, "Definitely.  I think we need to go back for things we missed though."

We ran back to the Manufactorium first (I knew I left the room behind the ghost unsearched), and I found another big trove.

"Mage armor here.  And Damien will like these spells.  I'm not much of a conjuror," I commented.  There was one to summon an Aetherium sphere and one for a spider.  Although... I had considered dabbling in conjuration for spells such as these.  

Valiana shrugged, "Seems safe here.  I'm going to head back to town."

"Alright.  See you there.  I'm just going to find the pickaxe," I said, searching for a little while then realizing it was on the corpse I found right away!  I grabbed it, had some fun with my trusty hookshot and new pickaxe then headed to Riften (we'd already discussed spending the night at the Bee and Barb after we were done).

"Hey.  Find everything you were looking for?"

"Yeah.  But I have a whole list of Dwemer ruins I want to explore," I responded, "We should do this again soon.  Lot safer having you there."

"Yes.  It is.  It's a date," she smirked.

"Date?  I'd better put my formal armor on," I said back.

She burst out laughing and I contagiously responded with a laugh back.  That night we decided we wouldn't call the airship and would just drink and hang out with the locals until late then spoon in one of their shoddy beds.  Making memories like this is important.

The next morning Val and I were lounging with some coffee and she reminded me that, "Well, the seas aren't going to patrol themselves."

A few days of patrolling, I'd been mixing and matching armor options, and definitely couldn't part with the Cushioned effect on my old boots, but knew it was time for an upgrade.  Luckily, I happened upon my mom from a random dungeon run and she offered me 'junk from her closet in Highreach' as she put it.  For somebody so wealthy she didn't seem to ever keep track of her stuff.

The venture began with her tossing random crap out of her closet until she found a pair of Cushioned Stalhrim Boots for me.  Sidegrade to the Aetherium ones, but big upgrade from my old Cushioned Chitin boots.  

"I don't wear heavy armor, and mostly merchants can't afford to buy all the stuff I find, so I slowly sell it all off," Mom smirked, "Got a backlog of like... over a hundred items."

"Hmm..." I was browsing, "Dwemer helm of Water Breathing.  I'd use it for dives."

She shrugged, "Sure."

"What about this...?" I asked, looking at her collection of Dragon Priest Masks.

"Well... I'm definitely not a collector.  I just can't sell them, and it seems such a waste to throw them away.  Which one do you want?" She asked.

"This one could work.  Otar," I replied.

"Oh hey, have you been to Whiterun lately?" She asked.

"Just the Bannered Mare," she replied.

"You should definitely pay attention to it.  They're rebuilding the walls.  Jorrvaskr has been completely redesigned.  You already know about the outskirts, but there's also an entirely new district," Mom told me.

And a few days later I took a trip there and, "Wow, Jorrvaskr looks amazing."

"First time in Whiterun, stranger?" A new member of the Companions asked.

I started to correct him, but then Aela said to me, "Haven't seen you around, thinking of joining the Companions?"

I didn't correct them.  I'd met Aela maybe a handful of times, always in passing and she didn't know me personally.  But then I remembered I'd been wearing the Dragon Priest Mask the whole time I'd been in Whiterun, and new armor.  And I didn't come to Whiterun all that often, usually electing to stay in Windhelm or on my airship.  Then I remembered the side-eyes the guards had been giving me the whole time.  Nothing threatening, just wary.  The Mask was a symbol of fear amongst Nords, and my mom'd defeated a dragon priest, which was essentially a dragon-made lich to get it.  

I finally responded, "I respect the honor of the Companions.  But I follow my own path.  And up until recently, they had quite a severe restriction to advancement."

Aela turned to me, squinting, "Watch yourself, stranger."

Oh, of course I knew about the werewolf thing, because my mom and sister told me all about it.  But it wasn't exactly common knowledge.

And - I'm dense - they don't know who I am.  How would a stranger know this?

I walked away casually.

Aela and the guy turned back from talking amongst themselves, and I was already gone.

"Did he vanish?" The man asked.

"We do live in a world of magic," Aela responded, "It is entirely possible."

A few days later (the 12th now) in my sifting through the town boards and ancient dwemer tomes in search of more Ruins to plunder, I was directed to a scholar at Riverwood.  Must admit, I'd only been to Riverwood as a kid, when mom and Sam would take us through here.  By my luck, I found a random chest that'd washed up in the river, but concealed by the docks.  I pocketed the contents for later - merely an old sword, a gem and some notes pointing to more treasure.

I walked into the Sleeping Giant Inn and after looking through all the new people (man, Skyrim has gotten really populated), I found the man I was looking for immediately.  

"The name is Duns Scotus.  Pleased to meet you," he said.

"Fenrir," I nodded, "I happen to be searching for ancient Dwemer knowledge, and I heard you were an authority.

"I am a philosopher and if you are interested in some books concerning philosophy, I am at your service."

I pursed my lips.  I knew there was a small but strong philosophical tradition amongst the Dwemer.  I'd never really concerned myself with such things.

I rattled off the name of a tome I'd heard of, "I'm looking for a copy of the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus."

"I'm afraid that book is lost.  Sources indicate the Dwemer used the Tractatus to map the stars.  Curious, isn't it?" He asked.  Fearing he would start to get introspective, I started to ask another question, but he merely said, "I don't know.  There may be an original copy somewhere, maybe in a Dwemer ruin."

I shrugged, "Anything I can help you with?"

"As a matter of fact, there is.  I've prepared a scholarship fund for Dorthe and Frodnar, two kids here in Riverwood.  It'll ensure they can enjoy the knowledge of the college freely when they've come of age.  Though the funding is safe, I'd feel much better if a deed was brought to my former student Hannah in the College of Winterhold."

"Sure, easy," I said.  Often if you help people out they're more inclined to give you information they have.

"Please bring back proof of payment.  And tell Hannah her old mentor hasn't forgotten her.  She was always a bright student.  Maybe she can help you."

I nodded to him, then took my leave, walking to the airship floating just over the river.

I smiled at Valiana.

"You're smiling.  Time for another dungeon?" She asked.

"Not yet.  At the moment, I'm hunting for ancient tomes.  Going to head to the College," I replied.

"Well, if it's all the same to you, I think I'm going to go back on patrol and sit this one out.  Going to the library just sounds awful," she replied.

"Fair enough," I said.  We took a couple hours to get to Winterhold.  As I disembarked, I said, "I'll see you in a few days, maybe?"

She kissed me and pushed me off the deck.  Of course I landed on my feet a couple hundred feet down.  Cushioned is pretty dang nice.

I headed up to the library and found Hannah immediately amidst the dozen or so scholars studying quietly in Winterhold library.

A woman with rough hair, dressed in a very revealing toga didn't even look up from her scribing when I approached.
"It's nice that you want to talk to me, but I am rather busy," Hannah said, "Or maybe you want to buy a book?"

"I'm here to give you a deed from Duns Scotus," I replied, handing it to her.

"Ahh.  How's my old mentor doing?" She smiled in recognition, still not looking up from her work.

"Seems to be aging gracefully in Riverwood," I replied.

"Here's the proof of payment," she produced the document, out of what pocket I am not sure, and thrust it in my general direction, still not even casting her gaze in my direction.

"Maybe you can help me find the," I paused, figuring I'd go with the same one, "Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus."

"Why would you be interested in that book? It's nothing but a collection of tautologies.  Meaningless and useless," Hannah responded, "Probably locked up in a dwemer ruin somewhere."

"Yeah, that's what Duns said," I sighed, nobody seeming like they were going to leap to help me.  I figured I'd try and find Damien.  I walked up to the Archmage's quarters (following the clear signs) and the door was open.  I walked in.

I looked over all the treasures for a minute, then figured I probably shouldn't be here.  The current Archmage didn't know me.

"Just gonna barge right in?" 

I turned and it was Damien.  I smiled, "Well, yeah.  Thought you'd be here."

"You know I don't live up here.  Though I guess I do spend some nights up here with Mirabelle."

"Humble brag, huh?" I asked.

"That's... not what I meant.  Though I guess it's not not what I meant," Damien said.

"Got some armor for you, if you want it," I showed him the Aetherium Mage armor.

"Looks nice.  But as you can see, I recently upgraded," he replied, "Is this a social call or is there something I can do for you?"

"Little of both.  I'm in the market for ancient Dwemer tomes."

"This is a good place to start."

"Nobody downstairs was very helpful."

Frankly, I'm bored.  Mirabelle does most of the job of Master Wizard even as Archmage.  I'm willing to come with.  Got any leads?" Damien asked.

"Just gonna go back to Riverwood and ask Duns Scotus.  Also, got a deed to turn in to him," I said.

"Uhh, alright, well I'll teleport you," Damien said.  He put his hand on my shoulder and we vanished.

Introduction

If you want to know where to begin in this story, if you're a newcomer (I've written a lot in a relatively short amount of time), feel free to read the Story Section below for a catchup and just start with the next entry.  Little details may be missed, but you'll have an overall idea of what's going on if you know TES lore and/or play Skyrim.

Good Break Points

- Entry 75 - 81 is the Invasion of Valenwood and Alinor by Skyrim, Cyrodiil and others.

- Entry 45 - 52 is the Thalmor Invasion of Skyrim.

- Entry 31 is right after Destana beat Alduin and acknowledged her status as the Last Dragonborn.  Also a good place to start.

Arcs:

Or, do it yourself!

Story Summary:

Book 1: "Destana is NOT the Dragonborn"

Video Summary:

Book 2:  "Destana is NOT Invincible"

Video Summary:

Book 3: "Destana is NOT a Conqueror"

Video Summary:

Current Arc 

Destana Does Solstheim (Working Title)

Background Section

In order to know who you're reading about, I'll give you a bit of a background on the characters involved.

Destana

Runa

Damien

Fenrir

Jura

Serana

Valiana

Roheisa

Tusselle

Calleius

Sinidar 

Kintyra

Oddvar

Fortuna

Galahad 

Aventus

Brisienna

Meru

Sanguine

Sofia

Inigo

Shirley

Rigmor

Ulfric

Medora Direnni

Solaire

The Ebony Warrior

New Characters/ Chars That Need Entries:

Auri

Balfhe

Hrolf

Family Tree:

Some Notes:

List of Mods I Want to do

List of Mods I have done

THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO IN SKYRIM WITH ALL THESE MODS!!!

Not at all Current Load Order

Total: 507 609 689 810 (As of the BIG Update) 918 986

Plug Section

La Monde Series

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZHY8S2G?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

Enraged Bard

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZK9v55dce8SjGGpMtk8SYA

Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/enragedbard

This video is about Compacting in xEdit.  Distinct from just flagging an ESP as ESL, this is changing the formIDs so they'll fit into 2048 records and forcing it to be ESL.

Some of the regulars have already looked it over for correctness and watchability.

Also, the raid on the Dawnguard went well.  Their members are gone or on the run.  

So here I am, wondering why my half brother, known as the Ebony Warrior, wants to die so badly. 

"Did you wait long?" I asked.

He shook his head silently.  I could tell he was sizing me up.  Probably wondering why my entire torso is exposed.  Or maybe he did his research.

"Buddy, I gotta tell you, this seems pointless."

"I want to reach Sovngarde.  That is the point.  I thought I told you I didn't want to talk.  Just fight," he said.

"Well, I'll talk then.  You listen," I responded, "I did go talk to Jura, and I found out, you're my half brother.  For a long time I didn't really have anybody.  As I was wandering the world I had to make my own family.  I know how it can be to feel alone.  Family means something.  If you kill me, there'll be a lot of people who miss me.  And if I kill you, I'll feel like I should've pushed harder."

"They never said you were so sentimental," EW replied.

"Sentimental my ass.  I've been to Sovngarde.  It might be fun for a week, banging and drinking and fighting, but that gets old pretty quick."

He turned to me, "You make a valid point."

"Besides, have you ever been to Roscrea?  Elswyer?  Akavir?  Oblivion?"

He folded his arms, "I haven't.  Not all of them anyway."

"There are still more challenges to face, my friend.  EW.  What's your real name anyway?"

"Gods," he sat down on a rock, "I haven't used my real name in twenty years."

I raised an eyebrow, "Well since you're my brother, I can safely rule out the possibility that your name is Rehman Ebonarm and you're the avatar or reincarnation of a Yokudan god."

"Heh," he scoffed, "Is that what they're saying about me?"

I stood in front of him, nearly the same height with him sitting, "Yeah, I mean why are you so tall?"

"I'm... just tall.  I'm an outlier.  Nothing magic about it," he replied, then he laughed, "Why the hell not, though.  Just call me Rehman.  Maybe my legend can grow as large as yours."

"So we're... not going to fight then?" I asked.

"Well," he stood, "I have a couple requests.  First:  do you now how to get back to Sovngarde?  The reason I want to get there is personal."

I tilted my head, "I might be able to figure something out.  No promises.  Tsun shouted me back to Nirn when I was done there.  I might be able to figure out how to do that.  Failing that option, I have some of the greatest mages on Nirn as friends.  May I ask why?"

He sighed, "Godsdamnit.  They told me you were persuasive.  In my youth, my best friend, a warrior named Estrid... we fought a thousand battles together.  In the years after the great war, I fought with Hammerfell."

"Should've called you for our war with the Thalmor, I guess," I said.

"For me it was less ideological.  I was drawn in by friends.  I was only a boy at the time, but I learned fast.  I was a natural at battle.  Later we fought as mercenaries in High Rock against the seldom Akaviri incursions.  Estrid was originally of Morthal, and she died in battle like a good Nord.  I resolved to do everything I could to ensure I got into Sovngarde, thus, I did everything there was to do as a warrior."

"Speaking of which, don't only Nords make it to Sovngarde the normal way?" I asked.

"I'm half Nord.  Jura told me about my mother, but I've never searched for her," he replied

"Okay, well I should be able to make the Sovngarde thing happen," I said, "You mentioned a second request."

The EW drew his ebony sword, "I still want to fight you."

"Not to the death, though?" I asked.  Who was I kidding.  I was grinning already, pulling out my melee weapons.

"We're both professionals.  Don't pull your punches," he said, "Show me you are the hero they say you are."

I licked my lips, "FUS!"

"FUS!" He shouted back, our voices cancelling each other out. 

He quickly summoned a Xivelai Lord and I drew my bow.  I charged an arrow once and fired, but EW slapped it away with his shield.  

In the intervening time, his summon had summoned another combatant (a zombie) and was throwing fireballs at me.  I dodged the first.

The EW lunged for me but I evaded him, charging forward and slicing through the zombie with ease.  I sprinted over to the Xivelai, dodging another fireball and diced him up with a well-placed combo.  While I was busy, the EW had drawn his bow and took a shot at me, sticking me once.

"WULD!" I shouted, closing the distance.  He drew his ebony sword and shield and we clashed.  Every slash of a dagger was met with a sword, a shield, a well-timed dodge.  

I grinned, "You live up to your reputation!"

He went on the offensive and was met with parry, parry, dodge, parry.  He slashed downward and I trapped his sword under my boot.  Then he chuckled, "FUS-RO-DAH!"

I flew backward, sliding across the snow.  

He charged at me, using a hands-free summon of a ghost casting ice shards before he got to me.

I rolled out of his reach, charged past him and immediately bisected the ghost.

When he got to me again, we started our quick-as-lightning standoff again.  Weapons clashed at blinding speed.  An onlooker would likely have trouble following the intricate movements between us.  I finally... finally found an opening.  I left myself open, he did another downward thrust, I clipped his wrist with my off-hand dagger, changed direction and slashed both weapons across his stomach.  He spun around, getting me across the chest with his sword.  Of course, my skin is hard.  Harder than Ebony, I guess.  

I backed up so he couldn't get another blow.  He used this opportunity to do another quick summon spell - Dark Seducer.  Unfortunately, she was right in front of me and I slashed through her in seconds.  

"FUS-RO-DAH!" EW shouted, blowing me back again.  Only got a few tricks huh?  I have a lot of tricks.

"WULD!" I closed the distance again.

"YES!  FIGHT ON!" The EW yelled.

I turned to him and shouted, "FUS-RO-DAH!" 

He lifted off the ground and followed up with, "TIID-KLO-UL!"

His body sailed off at a snail's pace and I closed the distance.  

I slashed him, again and again as he hovered in the air. 

By the time he hit the ground, I could tell he was nearly on death's door.

As time righted itself, the low rumble I'd been hearing became clear: Rehman was laughing.  He was on his back, bleeding, hacked up and exposed.

"What the hell do you call that, Dragonborn?" He kept laughing.

"I dunno," I smiled, "I just thought of it.  You're fast as hell in that armor with a much larger set of weapons."

"We all have our strengths."

"Satisfied?" I asked, offering my hand.

"Not until you take me to Sovngarde," he got up on his own, "No offense, but I weigh like 400 pounds with this armor on."

"400?  Geez," I said.  I sheathed my weapons.

"Yeah, I'm about 300.  Plate mail weighs 50 lbs, ebony is about twice as heavy as steel."

"Anyway, give me a few minutes," I said, pulling out one of my rarer journals labeled, 'Dovazul for Beginners by Queen Destana.' 

"Tsun shouted me back to Nirn when I was done in Sovngarde.  I've winged it before when I summoned the spirit of Skjor from Hircine's Hunting Grounds."

I flipped for a few minutes.

"Okay, I think I can go about it like this," I said finally.  I would shout 'move mortal Sovngarde.'  Dragons don't have their own word for Sovngarde.  

"Hold on to me," I said.  He did, then I shouted, "BO - JOOR - SOVNGARDE!"

Hmm... nothing.

"Well guess they can't all be winners," I said, "But I do have an alternate idea."

"OD - AH - VIING!" I shouted.  Within moments the dragon appeared in the sky.

"Dragon buddy!" I yelled as he landed.

"What can I do for you....?  ...Human buddy..." Odahviing asked, growling to make sure I knew he was annoyed.

The Ebony Warrior stood stoically next to me.

"How you been?" I asked.

Odahviing sighed, "Just tell me what you want, Dovahkiin.  I was enjoying a nice cow."

"Well what I'm going to ask will take you away from your cow," I said, "Might take a while.  I need you take me to Skuldafn again.  Or wait, honestly, I could fly myself.  Could you give me directions?"

Odavviing sounded completely done with this, but amicable to talking for a few minutes rather than being my dragon mount for a couple hours.  

"Well, it's in the Velothi Mountains," he started, and gave me precise directions.  

I smiled, "Thanks." And Odavviing flew off.

"See you at the next Greyscales/Greybeards meeting!" I yelled as he soared away.  I could hear him groan from the ground.

"What's at Skuldafn?  And how am I getting there?" The EW asked.

"Of course I have a plan," I smirked at him, "You may have noticed I'm very good at telekinesis.  Well my TK skills got much better when I learned how to fly.  It involves learning to concentrate on TK for long periods of time without thinking about it, autonomically.  I can tether you to me while I fly."

His face behind the helm was of course, inscrutable, but I imagine he was casually impressed.

"Ready?" I grabbed his shoulder, "I hope you're not afraid of heights."

"I fear nothing," he said stoically.  Then we blasted off into the night sky.  We travelled for a couple hours, (it actually took me most the night to find it) eventually finding it amongst the peaks. 

I looked over the scene below.

"Hmm... well the draugr came back," I groaned, "Up for some violence?"

"Always," he said, "What's at the end of this?"

"There's a portal to Sovngarde.  Alduin was using it to go there and wreak havoc on the hero's souls.  Of course, I killed him, so that mess is cleared up," I explained, then I reconsidered where to set us down, "Wait, I could literally put us at the end.  After the dungeon."

"Well, they are shooting at us," he said. 

"There it is," I pointed, "The altar.  Looks like the Dragon Priest is back.  Guess I need to crush his phylactery this time."

I dropped him down first and he started going to town on the draugr.

I dropped down next and pincered the draugr until they were no more. 

"One last one," I said as I blasted him with a charged bowshot.

Then I turned to Rehman, "I'm going to sneak up on the dragon priest."

He shrugged, "There're some draugr left on the other side.  I'll dispose of them.  Call me when the portal is ready."

I got the drop on him.  He phased in and out of invisibility a few times, but I iced him the same as I did the first time.  I took his staff and jammed it in the hole to reactivate the portal.

"Anyway," I shouted, "You done over there?  Portal's open!"

The EW appeared within a couple minutes.

"Time to trip the rift," I said.

We were sucked into the portal, appearing in the fields of Sovngarde.  

"Nice.  Just as good," I said.  We followed the path for a while until we came to the spine bridge.

I may have had an ulterior motive for making the trip here.

"Tsun!" I shouted.

The Aedra looked up from his vigil, like he'd been thinking about something.  And to my surprise, the stone-faced man's eyes lit up, "If it isn't the queen of Skyrim."

"Oh, have you been watching me?"

"My vigil gets boring at times," he said.

"Well I'll be sure to bathe outside sometimes, then," I snickered.

He laughed loudly, "Who is your friend?"

"This is my brother, who claims the name Rehman," I said.

They stood across from each other, Tsun only slightly taller than the EW.

"I know.  Really, any chance to keep you here a few minutes longer is a win.  I was watching you guys fight.  I know why you're here."

I raised an eyebrow, "I get how you could see us, but how could you hear us talking?"

"I've become very good at reading lips over the millennia I've been stationed here," Tsun said.

"So if I stood toe-to-toe with you a couple years ago, and now I'm quite a bit stronger, and he performed well against me, can he just pass on through?"

Tsun shook his head, "Never has a soul passed through here without facing me in battle."

"I will fight," the EW said.

"Of course, I know fighting's your favorite.  But I wanted to discuss a theory I've been hearing around Nirn with Tsun here.  He's been in these halls longer than anyone."

"What's that, Dragonborn?" He asked.

"Well, it's that I'm the Last Shezarrine," I replied.

"That's quite a claim," Tsun said.

"I've been reading books on the subject for years now, and I'm just not sure how to prove it.  I mean, when did Tiber Septim know he was Talos?  When did any of those guys know?  Say, Shor's throne... what was it you guys said when I was here a couple years ago?"

"Shor's high seat stands empty; his mien is too bright for mortal eyes."

"Can other people sit in his throne?"

"No.  That much is certain," Tsun replied.

"So if I put my big dark ass in that throne and don't get violently disintegrated or whatever, I'm either Shor in mortal form, which is the Nordic aspect of Lorkhan, or I'm some kind of avatar.  Or maybe I'm like Alduin is to Akatosh.  Food for thought.  You boys have your spar, I'm gonna go sit down and have a drink.  We walked a long way," I said, casually walking toward the hall.

The EW and Tsun looked at each other, then look at me as I slowly walked away.

"Do you want to watch this, or?" The EW asked.

"I was ordered to keep watch by Shor himself," Tsun said, "Short bout.  I'm certain you'll do fine."

"Dragonborn!" A few of the men called to me as I entered the hall.

"Been a couple years!" I walked over toward Shor's throne and found Olaf One-Eye, Ysgramor and a couple people I didn't recognize.  Jurgen Windcaller approached from the other side of the platform.  

"You die for real this time?" Olaf asked.

"Of course not.  I don't plan to ever die," I chuckled, "But hey, Ysgramor, I did that thing you asked.  A good man is Harbinger and the Companions are no longer cursed by Lycanthropy, unless they want to be, of course.  Also, nice haircut.  Gotta keep it fresh."

"Of course.  Kodlak told me.  I thank you.  Please, eat and drink.  Enjoy some reveling."

"Oh, I intend to," I smirked.

Olaf smiled back, "What did you have in mind?"

"I imagine some of these men would enjoy my company," I said, "But also, I do wonder, why are there so few people here?  Over ages there should be more, right?  Even if Alduin did devour a lot of them."

"Many warriors move on," Jurgen explained, "When we tire of this place, there's the option to move on to the Dreamsleeve like any other mortal, and be reincarnated."

While we'd been talking, I'd grabbed a tankard of mead and had been moving towards Shor's throne.  I must admit, my heart was pumping a little fast.  Without warning, and to everyone's surprise, I just sat down.

"What the...!" Ysgramor shouted.  The hall grew silent, and all eyes were on me.

"What?" I said loudly, "I just flew in from Skyrim and my arms are tired, or whatever."

Olaf and Ysgramor blinked at each other, then they laughed.

I drained my stein, then I said, "So I guess my theory is right, or there's nothing special about this chair."

People went back to their reveling, taking little notice of me.  

The EW approached.

"So we're in the Hall of Heroes.  Go find your lady-friend," I said.  He didn't need to be told twice.  

I decided I would sit there at least for the amount of time it took me to eat a solid meal and get a little tipsy.  It didn't take much to beckon me from the throne.  Seeing a couple of the men and a woman enjoying each other's company by the throne, I decided I would find a couple men to satisfy other hungers.  

I got up, downing another stein.  I'd had enough of the dudes fawning over my ability to put my ass on a chair.  So I put my ass in the air.  It was easy to find takers, because, I mean, when you're dead you don't really have many inhibitions anymore, I guess.  I swept the food off the table in front of me and just let them fuck me.

Then another pair down by the pit.

Finally I went and found my old buddy Tsun, seeking to scratch an itch.  Honestly, he'd hit me deeper than any other man than I'd been with (except maybe Sanguine).  Without words as I approached him, he stripped off his loincloth.

I exclaimed, "Did you get bigger?!"

"I doubt it.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder, perhaps," the stoic statuesque god smiled, "Is it strange that now I know you're my old commanding officer - or perhaps some embodiment of him somehow, I'm even more interested?"

"Strange?  No, not really.  A lot of people are attracted to me for my power, I think," I replied.  He slid gently but firmly inside me.  And gods, it was fucking huge, just like I remembered.  He managed to hit back with only about half his length.

"Oh... my gods... would you look at that... sky... fuck... do you ever get... tired of... Talos fucking fuck!" 

"Beautiful as the first day I walked into Sovngarde," he said.

That went on for a while.  Don't think I was up for a whole week of this at this point in my life.

When I finally decided I would find Rehman, he was watching two women spar.

He sighed as he watched the women trade blows, "I met with everyone in the halls.  She's not here."

"I guess, they move on to the Dreamsleeve from here and are reincarnated.  Only the truly stubborn stay here forever," I explained.

He shook his head, "Damn.  I waited too long.  If I'd just went and died like a real warrior, I'd have ended up here and I could see her again."

I put my hand on his shoulder, "Sorry."

"No, don't be sorry.  If you'd killed me, I would've ended up here on my own for no reason.  Now I can go back to Nirn.  I owe you, Dragonborn," Rehman replied.

"You can call me Destana, you know.  Also, I'll take you back, but you should relax here for a few hours.  I think I'm going to rest and go another round with Tsun," I smiled wide.

"Oh, you fought him too?  It was definitely a thrilling combat," the EW said.

"Uhh... yeah.  Quite the struggle," I smirked.

After eating and drinking enough to burst several times over, and getting my brains fucked out half a dozen times, I decided it was about time to head home.

"Did you enjoy the local culture at all?" I asked.

He shrugged, "I did find a strong woman.  One of the older ones.  To be honest, it started with us speaking of Estrid.  She was kind to me, showed me attention.  It's been a while.  I followed your lead, though not to the same level as you, and enjoyed myself.  But she'll be moving on soon as well.  I think it's time to go back to Nirn."

I nodded, putting his hand on my shoulder again.  Then I cast Teleport: Imperial City, putting us directly in the Imperial Palace.  Jura was there, sitting on the throne, signing papers again.  Feels like all he ever does anymore.

"You know you could have a little fun with it.  Being Emperor isn't all work you know," I said.

He smiled, not looking up yet, "Girl, I've been on enough benders for ten lifetimes."

When he looked up he said, "Look who it is.  Finally decided to come see your dad, huh?"

The EW sighed, "This one is very persuasive, and I had no choice in the matter."

"Persuasive?" He asked.  Then I proceeded to tell him the whole story.

"Two Redguards in Sovngarde?  Hoonding's spongy backside," he chuckled as he cursed.  Then he said, "Well, what did you have in mind for fun, anyway?"

"I'm pretty funned out, actually," I said.  Probably be walking with a limp for a while, "I did have a proposition for you, though.  How often do people make attempts on your life?"

"Not as often as you'd think, but it happens," Jura replied.

"Well, you don't have Calleius as a bodyguard anymore either," I added.

"What are you suggesting?" The EW asked.

"Maybe this could be your temporary gig, until we go to war again with... I dunno, whoever.  I'm sure it'll happen eventually.  There's not a lot of foes and bullshit to conquer in these peaceful times."

"That sounds like an idea for now.  Although..." Jura started, "High Rock's pretty dangerous.  I've actually been meaning to send someone to the Western Reach to put Mynisera's mind at ease."

"I've got a rapport with the Forsworn of the Eastern Reach," I commented.

"These dudes are far far more zealous and brutal than their Eastern cousins."

"I might be able to find you someone," I replied.  I turned to the EW, "For now, how about it?"

He shrugged, "Alright.  But if you do go on any adventures that you think are dangerous, call on me.  For now, I'll languish here."

"And maybe you should think about searching out some of your other sons and daughters," I said to Jura.

He looked at me flatly, "You're probably right."

"Hey um, mom..."

I turned to Runa, holding a BIG baby.

"Think I figured out what the life waters do to kids," she said.

"Kintyra grew a lot," I grimaced, then turned to Jura, "Hey, how long ago did I ask you about this guy?"

"It was like, 5 weeks?" He replied.

The EW commented, "We fought like two days ago, right?  Dunno how long you reveled.  No day/night cycle in Sovngarde."

"Well time is weird in Sovngarde.  Sorry if you missed any appointments or whatever," I explained, "But that baby grew to a year old in a few weeks."

Over the past year or so I've been concentrating on bounding the bandits, rogue vampires, pirates (in the sea of ghosts) and the friggin Dawnguard, who've taken to just killing everyone, not just vampires.  Thankfully, my master of shadows, Nazir, has been using his contacts within the now large Dark Brotherhood network to help out.  I heard Runa took a sort of 'soft' retirement from being the Listener.  Actual contracts have really gone down except in Alik'r and so the Night Mother doesn't speak often.  A lot of the new members went back to their old jobs and now just function as sleeper agents.

I also took some of this time to do more dungeons, learn more shouts and get just a little bit stronger.  Oh, and get some more random stuff for the Dragonborn Museum.

With the Tear of Auriel, we have a limited capacity to give humans and beastfolk extended youth and life (and sometimes, enhanced beauty) up to 150 years.  Elves can benefit from it up to 250 years.  So if it seems like some people are just frozen in time and youth 11.5 years after I came to Skyrim (factor in the 5 years we lost with the Dragon Break), this is why.  The other countries have been getting fair shares of the life waters, but the mages at Winterhold can only produce so much.  Damien oversees the operation.  He got a promotion to the official Master Wizard (not just a measure of capability) after Tolfdir passed in the fall.  The New Archmage: Mirabelle Ervine.

We give everyone the same line when they get the water - there is a small chance of unforeseen consequences because of the corrupted end.  So far we haven't seen anything strange.  The people it worked on worked well - Uthgerd, for example, looks like she's about 25 again and beautiful.  A large number of older people refused it, or it just didn't work on them.  Chalk it up to unforeseen consequences.   

Ulfric, as always, does most of the day-to-day ruling.  I sense even though he's firmly against drinking the life waters, he sees his own mortality rearing its head.  I heard him talking to Fenrir a while back.

"It's time you took a more active rule in governing Skyrim.  Scale back on the adventuring.  At the next moot, I'll be passing on the title of Jarl of Eastmarch to you officially.  You'll be acting in the role until then," Ulfric said.

We'd never really talked about succession, but I guess Fenrir is Ulfric's only natural-born child.  I could tell Fenrir was equal parts excited and dreading having to give up adventuring.

Whereas Valiana and Fenrir'd been helping out with patrolling the north sea for pirates with the airship, when Ulfric handed Fenrir more responsibility, he took less of an active role in the exercise.  Valiana started to patrol on her own.  One day, she left the airship in Windhelm and told Fen she needed to travel a little while.  We've had no word from her since then.

From my travels to distribute the life waters, I gather there's a peace in Cyrodiil.  Jura seems to be using all the best facets of Emperors past to be the 'best damn emperor ever.'  Runa, Calleius and Rigmor settled into a throuple, like Serana, Ulfric and I.  Calleius had been made a full general.  Brutus Brutalis went back to the Legion for a short while to train up a new general, but he wanted to retire after all the torture and war.  I actually saw Tusselle in Skyrim, In one of her leave periods she came as far north as Whiterun.  She'd heard there were a lot of unconquered dungeons in Skyrim (unlike Cyrodiil).  I visited Summerset briefly, and from the look of it, everything seems to be alright.  Sialius and his men find a pocket of Thalmor holdovers from time to time (as do we, and Cyrodiil, and Elswyer, honestly) but they put it down.  Sialius seems true to his word - not oppressing the High Elves.

I visited Galahad, Roheisa and Queen Mynisera in High Rock.  Though the kingdoms of High Rock are always looking to find a foothold against each other, Mynisera's renewed youth and Galahad's eternal vigil seemed to keep a lasting peace in Illiac Bay.  Roheisa'd been traveling a lot.  She'd found a taste for adventure to far-off lands.  I told her she could visit Skyrim anytime, but she said it'd be a while before she could get away from her duties again.  She'd also taken leave in Frostfall, meeting up with Tusselle for dungeon runs in Skyrim.

The lights slowly snuffed themselves out that night as I stayed up chronicling the last year's events.  Let me clarify - vampires don't need to sleep.  But we do get tired.  And we have enough of our human nature to instinctually start dozing off when dead tired.  I'd been using my Night Eye to finish up in bed when I fell into a deep sleep.

"Ah!  Gods!  What the fuck!" I jerked awake, the journal flying off my bare chest.

"Another one of those dreams?" Serana asked, "Did you fall asleep writing in your journal again?"

I sighed, smiling, "Yes to both."

I've been having these recurring dreams.  I mean, they're not so bad really.  They're unbelievably mundane.  Serana and I are living in a world that has almost no danger, with lots of gadgets to do our bidding.  Everything is white and gray.  The paved roads are pristine.  Crime is existent, but still, managed.  People have jobs and go to school.  The wilderness is pretty much completely conquered and docile.

...

Life there is utterly boring and I hate it.  I crave danger!  Action!  I CRAVE CHALLENGES!  

Then the dreams often end abruptly.  Usually I get this prickly feeling, with something scaring me, or jumping at me.  I think I'd call it... a scare-jump.  And the next time I dream, the events of the scarejump haven't actually happened and life continues as normal.  Perhaps it is my confused brain creating drama.

"Hey, I'm not complaining.  I only get to sleep next to you once every three nights.  But I get to spend most nights in the dream world with you," Serana smirked.

"It's not really a dream world," I said.

"How do you mean?" 

I started to slide my boots on, "Damien monitored me a couple nights ago.  He said he thought it might be 'more than meets the eye."

"Ugh," Serana rolled her eyes, "He's really leaning into his new job, eh?"

"Administrator of Life Well?  Interdimensional Investigator?  Official Master Wizard of the College? 

"All of the above?" Serana asked.

Yeah, I guess.  I'm headed to the college to see him.  Wanna come with?" I asked, finishing putting on my clothes.

"Sure," Serana replied.

While she put hers on, I looked at my hair in the mirror.  Getting kinda long.  Not sure what to do with it, I crammed it into a ponytail.

I teleported us to Winterhold and we walked up to the Archmage's quarters.

"Morning mom," Damien turned from his work, "...step mom."

Serana smirked, "I guess I am."

As I approached the workshop area, I found Mirabelle and Carahil, "Archmage Mirabelle.  Master Wizard Carahil, Damien.  What'd you figure out?"

"I have a theory," another voice said.  I turned.

"Solaire!  It's been ages!" I shouted.  He gave me a hug.

"You know this strange trash-can knight?" Carahil asked.

"He's a warrior of Sunlight, knight of Gwyn from Lordran," I replied, "Is that the...world's name?"

"Oh, you're still keen on speaking to me, eh?" Solaire asked, "I believe the world is called 'The Lands Between,' though it's fractured, broken, time-displaced... and there are at least seven kingdoms I've been to, one of which is called Lordran.  Dranglaic, Boletaria, Yharnam, Lothric, which is the same kingdom as Lordran, but thousands of years in the future but also existing side by side. And the even more future version of the Ringed City."

"Well, that's confusing.  I can see why you're traveling to other worlds, when yours seems to be collapsing in on itself," I said.  Then I turned to the group, "What you guys got for me?"

"My theory is that it's another world," Solaire said.

"From everything you gave me," Damien stroked his chin, "I agree.  Seems like when you dream, you're visiting another world.  But it's our world."

"Huh?" 

"What I mean is, it's like Solaire's world(s), where there are multiple versions of the same world, slightly different.  Like a parallel universe.  It just so happens that thing that makes the other world different is that it's about 600 years in the future."

I blinked, "That... makes a lot of sense.  When I'm this separate 'me,' I seem to know a lot about their world, like I've lived in it.  When I wake up, I forget almost all the nuances.  It's more... big picture stuff.  Like, I know there's a lot of technology.  I lived through an industrial revolution.  I know computers... are a thing... but I couldn't tell you what they are right now.  I learned to drive a car at some point.  But if you asked me to do it here, I barely even know what the thing is."

Serana smiled, "It's good to know that alt-Destana chose to live out her immortal life with alt-Serana."

I smiled.  Then I folded my arms, "So is this a cause for concern?  Seems like The Worlds Between is imploding.  Should we be worried?"

Carahil shrugged, "This is uncharted territory.  Traveling to parallel worlds is as difficult and dangerous as chronomancy, though we can repurpose a lot of the same knowledge, without the danger of time paradoxes.  Infact!"

She paused when everybody jumped at her Eureka moment.

"This might actually be good.  The drawback to chronomancy is it's prevented by Akatosh because of the inherent danger.  Dimensional travel has no such prevention.  Even our trashcan knight here can travel to different worlds where the boundaries are weak, using the magic soapstones from his world.  But his world has little to no infrastructure.  Here on Nirn we benefit from having a large body of mages who can study it.  We may be able to develop a way to control where we go and... see what's out there," Carahil was beaming.

"So do you need anything from me?" I asked.

"I think I need to monitor you while you sleep," Carahil replied.  She looked at the others.

Mirabelle broke in, playing the Archmage role, "Just make sure you guys play it safe.  Like you said, uncharted territory."

Before he left for the night, Solaire told me to seek him out for a little side adventure.  

"I brought a friend back with me from Lordran," he said.

I'll let you know right now, this part isn't interesting.  Serana went home.  Carahil monitored me while I slept (in one of the Archnages's beds). I had another dream.  She took her data and told me she'd get back to me.

I woke up to a conversation.

"I figured I'd find you here," a woman said.  I rolled over to find Brisienna and Damien, him pouring over Carahil's data.  She smiled pleasantly, okay with being ignored.

"Hey, how've you and Sinidar been doing?" Damien asked. 

"Oh, fine, I guess.  You?"

"The Life Waters keep me busy," he shrugged, "And this job is mostly paperwork."

Brisienna smiled softly again, "I wanted to ask a favor."

Damien smiled back, amicably. There didn't seem to be any bad blood between them.  They were just both wrapped up in their own passions. 

"What can I do for you?" He asked.

"Durak and I, and a few others, are going to raid the Dawnguard's fortress.  Finally put an end to them wantonly killing anything that moves,"  she explained, "Could you watch Sinidar for a while?"

Damien smiled weakly, maybe unsure about her safety, "Of course."

"I have a suggestion," I said, sitting up.

"Oh, didn't know you were here," Bris bowed to me, "Nice to see you."

I walked over, "The Dawnguard are strong.  You and your boys should take Serana, maybe a couple of her guys too."

Bris thought for a second and said, "Okay."

Looking between them, I spied uncertainty on Damien still.

"And take Damien.  He's powerful. And stir crazy," I smiled at him, "He's been cooped up here for weeks."

They looked at each other, then back at me.

"I'll take care of Sinidar," I added and sat down in the Archmage's chair.  

They smiled.  After Bris went on and on about when he takes naps, what he likes to eat, how he loves his little toy lute, she pulled him in front of her from where he'd been hiding, behind her flowing kimono.  Little two-and-a-half-year-old, hair as red as the Alik'r Desert.  Redder.  A cardinal.  I smiled.  He could walk, and could basic conversation.  This was a fun age for Damien and Fenrir.

"Who is this?" I said playfully.  I realized I hadn't seen him in many months and he'd grown - fast!

"Sinidar," the tiny voice said sheepishly.

"Well hello, Sini.  I'm your grandma.  I'm your dad's mom," I said, smiling.  Courageous little guy, he rounded the desk and nearly tripped down the stairs.  Damien flicked his wrist and the boy floated through the air.  He peered over to me as if to say, 'Can we trust you with him?'  Then he noticed I also had my hand raised.

"I got him," I said.  Damien let him go and Sini floated over to me, sitting in my lap.

He giggled, "That's fun!  I can fly!"

"We can fly more later if you want," I smirked.  Then I looked over to the pair, "I can summon Serana."

I did so and she appeared, in a bath towel.

"Shor's bones!" She yelled, and Sini startled in my lap.  Then he started to cry.

"Oh gods," Serana shook her head, rushing over, "I'm sorry."

I gently cradled his shoulder as Serana smiled and made friends.

"Who is this handsome little guy?" She asked.

"This is Sinidar.  First time meeting, yeah?" I asked.  Then I turned to the kid and said, "This is my wife, Serana."

Sini tilted his head and looked at his mom, "Can two girls get married?"

Brisienna chuckled, "Well, not in my day.  But yes."

"A little warning would be nice," Serana murmured as she was introducing herself.

"Hey, you gave me the option.  Also, here's what I got - Bris and her friends want to topple the Dawnguard and I figured you'd want to go with.  I'm going to get to know my grandson."

Serana's face softened a little, "Definitely.  But didn't you have a meeting with Jura this afternoon?"

I pursed my lips, opened my journal, then said, "I should really consider a secretary, y'know?"

Serana laughed.

"It's alright.  I'll just teleport to the Imperial City.  Sini here can meet his new baby cousins!" I smiled, "Wanna fly, little man?"

Sinidar clapped, "Yeah!"

Serana looked at the pair, "Let's meet up in Riften in a few hours."

I picked up Sinidar and charged my spell, than we were in the Imperial City plaza in a few seconds.

We turned to look up at the big Akatosh statue.

"Wow," he said.

"Wow's right.  Never been here before?" I asked.

He shook his head as I let him down.  He looked around, marveling at the tall towers, the old architecture, and that big dragon statue.

"Wanna hear something cool?" I asked.

"Yeah!" 

"I've fought dragons bigger than that," I smiled.

"Wow!"

"And giants, and everything else," somebody said.  I turned to find Runa and Jura, casually walking across the plaza.

"What, you guys are so tough you don't even need bodyguards?" I smirked.

"Pretty much," Jura said, "Same to you though.  Skyrim's a bit more dangerous than Cyrodiil."

"Not for me, of course," I hugged my dad, then turned to Sinidar, "This is your great grandpa, Jura, Emperor of Cyrodiil.  This is your aunt, Runa.  And this is... (which kid is it?)"

"This is Kintyra, actually.  Rigmor and I both have milk, so we just rotate.  Not much different than a wet nurse," Runa replied.

"Is this Sini?" Jura knelt down to get eye-to-eye with the kid.

"Nice to meet you, sir," Sini said.

"You call me grandpap," Jura smiled.  Probably the biggest smile I'd ever seen on the man.

"Look at that red hair!  I love it!" Runa smiled, "And look at his little lute."

"He's like, a quarter daedra, that's probably where it's from," I said.

"How's your lute skills, little man?" Jura smiled.

Sini, as if trained for this, took out his lute and started to strum it melodically.  It wasn't anything like a complex song.  More like a single chord over and over in rhythm.  Still, impressive.

"Sorry to butt in on your meeting," Runa said, "I was really just out for a walk with the girl and saw you both.  What's going on anyway?"

"Strategy meeting.  Updates on Summerset.  You know, standard stuff," Jura said, "But first..."

I rolled my eyes, "I got your life waters for the Generals and Counts.  Please, make sure none of those jackasses on the Council in Exile get their hands on this.  And please distribute some to the people."

"C'mon, let's go inside," Runa said, "No reason to stand out here."

We all filed in the Imperial Palace to find Rigmor breastfeeding the boy and Calleius sitting in the audience chamber, reading over maps and things.

"Hey, you never told me his name," I replied, "I remember you were having trouble picking one."

"Oddvar," Runa replied.

I nodded, "I like it.  Is he an oddball or something?"

Rigmor chuckled, "Dragonborn, you're always so coarse.  But yeah, he's a little odd boy.  It's an old family name."

"They look a lot alike," I commented.  Pale, blond, and beautiful just like their mother.

I set down Sinidar to run around and play, like kids do, while I talked with Jura about updates.

"Hey, Runa," Rigmor smiled deviously, beckoning her over.

When the Emperor and I were done, Rigmor and Runa approached us, eyeing me.

"What can I do for you girls?" I asked.

"Go on, ask her," Rigmor said to Runa.

"It's too much trouble.  She's already got Sinidar," Runa replied.

Rigmor sighed and turned to me, "It's been ages since the two of us had a date night."

"Doesn't Calleius ever take the babies?" I asked.

"Well, yeah.  But he's not very good at it.  And he's got an entire Legion to command now.  Actually pretty busy," Runa replied.

"Servants?" I asked.

"We were thinking you could take them.  Be the good grandma," Rigmor said, "I mean, who would they be safer with?  Then neither of us have to worry the slightest bit."

"I know you're gaslighting me Riggs," I smirked at her, "But, I'll do it."

I pointed at Kintyra in Runa's arms, and Oddvar in Rigmor's, then Sinidar, who'd taken to playing a running game with Jura, and they all floated into the air, hovering around me.  Multi-telekinesis, gotta love it.

"Aww... is it time to go?" Sinidar asked.

"Yeah.  I have one more person to visit today.  Sun's getting low," I replied, "We can come back and visit tomorrow."

Sini sighed, "Okay."

"Grab onto my leg," I said, and then I cast Teleport: Riften.

I appeared in the busy market square.  Dozens of people barely batted an eye at me appearing out of nowhere or with two floating babies.  I threw Kintyra's sling over my body and kept Oddvar in my TK grasp.

"Come along Sini," I said.

A man bumped into me as I crossed the square.

"Watch it!" I said.

"Never done an honest day's work in your life for all that coin you're carrying, eh lass?" 

I turned and a big smile covered my face.

"Talos bones," I laughed out loud, "Brynjolf!  You recruiting again?"

He laughed out loud, "Didn't recognize you.  Been an era since I seen ya.  Somebody's been getting busy I see?"

He looked at the babies.

I laughed, "Believe it or not, these are my grandchildren."

"I simply do not believe it," Brynjolf said, "In reference to your earlier question, no, I don't need to recruit anymore.  People from all across Tamriel come to us.  I was just making a comment."

"I seem to remember you using a similar line on me when I walked into Riften the first time, green as this tree here," I said, "But it was more like, 'you don't have any money, lass, wanna make some?"

Brynjolf chuckled, "True lass.  I'm out here just scoping out all the new blood.  So many people've moved to Riften lately.  Thinking we might get some newcomers."

"Somebody help!  Do something!"  A voice shouted.

"Care to investigate?" I asked, offering my hand.  

"Oh, I know who it is.  Damned unguilded thieves trying to muscle in on our territory.  That or the dang teenagers," Brynjolf said, then he raised an eyebrow, "On second thought, you stay here.  Got your hands full."

Sinidar was sneaking food from Marise's stall.

"Boy's a natural," Brynjolf chuckled, then ran off.

I TK'ed Sinidar again and he floated up next to me.  "What did he mean by teens?  Is he that old now?  Is he going to start saying 'get off my lawn?"

"Aww man," he said.  I put down a few septims for Marise Aravel and poured Sini some milk with honey in it.

About this time, several things were going on in the square at the same time.

Constance Michel was taking her orphans out for a nice little walk through the town.  The new kids looked happy, as far as orphans can be, and healthy.  She even had a little baby in her arms.

Brynjolf had given up the chase of the thief, but the guards were taking up the search.  And, indeed, there were several teenagers clogging up the walkways.  A couple of the boys were yelling at the guards for using excessive force.  But really, I saw no reason to step in.  I walked on.

And finally... a voice called out to me amongst the crowd.  I saw him, but continued on.

But he approached me in front of the orphanage.

"The time has come," he said, his voice echoing out of his ebony helm.

"Who are you?" I asked, making sure the three kids were behind me and safe.

He stepped up, and I found he was about a foot taller than me.  Like, Tsun height.  Of course, I started getting bad ideas.

He continued as if he'd rehearsed this, "I have done all that can be done. There is nothing left. No quests to be undertaken. No villains to be slain. No challenges to face. Except for you. You are my last challenge. Only you can send me to Sovngarde with honor. Make your preparations. When you are ready, come find me at my last vigil."

He handed me a page, a well-drawn map with a big red X on it.  And as suddenly as he'd appeared, he vanished into the crowds.

About that time I felt a hand in my backpack.  Letting my reflexes take hold of me, I whipped around and decked the guy, sending him on his back.  

One of the teens who'd been arguing with the guards yelled out, "Down with the power!"  

The crowd started to panic, and I caught the glint of something.  Fire!

I threw my hand forward, reflecting it with Shalidor's Mirror.  I looked back at the babies.  Safe.  But an overall panic erupted.  The fireball I sent back rebounded into the crowd, singing quite a few clothes and hairs.  A full-on riot broke out.  Taking stock of the babies again, I figured this was a good time to get to safety.

I ran, making sure to keep my TK active while I scrambled up toward the temple.  Two unknown figures appeared on both sides of me as if they'd been waiting and I instinctively took a deep breath.

But one of the men appeared with an orphan, knife to her throat.  I swallowed my shout.

"Don't do anything rash," I said.

"FUS - RO - DAH!" A voice shouted, not my own.  It was a man's voice.  The men were blown off their feet at the Ebony Warrior's wake and I used the opportunity.  

"TIID - KLO - UL!" I shouted, slowing time.  I snaked between the cultists and grabbed the child, appearing back where I was.

"Get to safety!" I told the kid.

The Ebony Warrior casually appeared at my side again, holding the collar of the man who'd thrown the first fireball.  He was wearing some kind of bone mask - not unlike a dragon priest, but different.  

"Can't have my greatest challenge being taken down by scum who'd use the children to get to you," his voice droned, then he stepped forward and slashed the one on the left in two.  In the intervening time I'd drawn my bow and sank an arrow between the other's eyes.  

"Look out!" A voice called from behind me.  It was Constance who'd been shielding her orphans.  I turned, but far too slowly, an arrow lodged itself in my back.

No, my pack.  The contents of a pack with MUCH too much gear swimming in the bottomless space in here began spilling out like a fountain.  Atleast a dozen potion bottles shattered and got all over myself, Constance, and the kids (still floating around me).  Thank you, Back-Shield.

I stood there, coated from head to toe in various magical liquids.  I surveyed the scene.  The riot was under control, people now realizing it was these strange cultists making an attempt on my life that started this mess.  I then surveyed myself for poisons.  But I remembered I don't carry poison.  So my kids, myself and Constance would have amazing Health Regeneration, Blacksmith Skills, Sneaking, Magicka Fortification, One-handed skills, and about a dozen others for the next few minutes.  It does work even if you don't drink it.

Then I looked in my pile of stuff again for my most important carry-on.  The thing I was heading to Mistveil Keep to hand to Maven Black-Brier.  

A bottle of life waters.  It was also shattered.  I imagine the most terrified look washed over my face.  Infact, I could feel the spots where the stuff hit me.  It burned like acid.  I'm a vampire.  This stuff does not work on me.  But I'd be okay.  Just a little burn.  I regenerate fast. 

Constance was looking pretty good.  Obviously, it takes a little bit of time to work, but she was young looking already, so it probably wouldn't do a lot at the moment.  Just make it so she stayed like this about 20-50 more years before aging.  Happy accident for her.  Then I looked at the kids.  All three of my grandkids had been soaked with the stuff, and the baby in the sling Constance was carrying.  I pursed my lips.  We had intentionally never tested it on children.  Nobody knew the side effects.

"Is everybody okay?" Constance said, but I was already grabbing the baby from her.  

"What are you doing?" 

"Washing them off," I said, floating down to the canal.  I hopped into the water and floated back up to her, handing her her soggy baby.

"Sorry about the kid," I said, "Just so you know, your kid might have some weird side effects from all this stuff.  Please, let me know if something bad happens."

She blinked, "Don't you recognize this little lady?" 

I shrugged, "Should I?"

"I mean, she's only about a year old.  A newborn when you brought her to me," Constance replied.

"Oh, that's chest baby?!" I asked.

"Her name is Fortuna.  You know, because you got her from a chest," Constance smiled.  

The Ebony Warrior turned to leave, then said, "I've seen these goons before.  From Solstheim.  They were after you."

"Wait," I said.

He stopped, but didn't turn to look.

"We don't have to fight.  There's a whole world out there for you to fight.  Besides, I'm not the strongest fish in the pond.  What about the boss of these guys?  What about the Nerevarine?  Emperor Jura's even stronger than me," I explained.

He chuckled, "Not by much.  And no, he refuses to fight me."

"Well I don't blame him.  I don't know you.  You could be a powerful ally," I folded my arms.

"Enough talk.  If you want to talk, talk to Jura," he said, and then he disappeared again.

I walked up to Mistveil Keep, finding Maven standing off to the side, keeping court.

"Ah the good Queen.  So glad you could join me today," Maven smirked.

I waved, "Hey Maven.  Nice to see you.  I do have bad news though.  Only one of the containers will be yours today.  Also, I'm going to be needing a new backpack."

"How, unfortunate," Maven said shrewdly.

"Who were you going to give doses to anyway?" I asked.

"Oh, to be honest, I was most likely going to use them to get leverage," she replied.

"Yeah, I know you.  I seriously doubted you were going to use it on yourself.  If you suddenly started looking youthful it'd be really jarring," I said.

She raised an eyebrow, "What, you don't think I look good?"

"I mean, for your age..."

Maven narrowed her eyes, "Well maybe I will have a little taste then.  With the mind of a matron with the body of a vixen, people will be falling all over themselves just to be close to me."

I smirked, "No arguments from me.  Do what you want with it."

With that I checked all the kids were around and queued up Teleport: Imperial City.  I'd have to take a peek at the expanded orphanage next time.

We got back to the palace and I put the kids in their cribs.  Rigmor and Runa wouldn't be back for a few hours, but I figured I'd talk to Jura.

He was there, sitting on the throne, signing decrees.  He stood as I entered, "Hey.  Back so soon?"

"Well, I was attacked by cultists.  Need to figure out what's going on in Solstheim.  Splashed with life waters, including the children.  Time will only tell what effects it has.  By the way, have you ever heard of the Ebony Warrior?" I asked.

He turned to me in recognition, "Why do you ask?"

I smirked, "Well, he found me in Riften and challenged me to a fight, saying I was the strongest gal around."

"Well, you probably are," Jura replied.

"No, what about the Nerevarine?  What about the Champion of Cyrodiil?  Viranir was also stronger than me, I'm just wily and good at winning fights.  And there's you."

"It's all relative.  You're very versatile.  So much so that no matter the situation you usually have something you can pull out of your ass and win," he responded, "Except for sheer numbers."

After a pause, he said, "Besides, he challenged me years ago.  I refused to fight him."

"Why's that?" I asked.

"It's pointless," he said, "Just a man seeking challenges.  There are mythical beasts in Akavir.  If he wants a challenge, he could go there.  Or Oblivion."

"You're not usually one to turn down a challenge," I folded my arms, "What aren't you telling me?"

"Well, you know how I traveled around most my life and planted my seed everywhere?"

"It's how I was born," I smirked, "Probably why I am the way I am."

"Well, he's one of your - many - half-siblings."

I stared at him for a few seconds, then I smirked, "Well, probably good you told me now.  You know how I am."

"Yeah, that's why I told you," Jura cracked a smile, then he laughed loudly.

As far as quest mods I also added:

Relics of Hyrule

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/12244

Agent of Righteous Might

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/29067

Kagrenfalz

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/40776

Vigilant

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/11849/

Unslaad (Updated to newest version)

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/11789

Glenmoril

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/32998

Legends of Aetherium

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/69807

Hestra's Nest

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/70098/

Alpha

(Do a google search!)

Some of them are just radiant 'things' to be done in the world.  The rest are things I'm planning on doing soon.

I spent a couple hours fiddling with 200 MCMs to get them how I wanted them and then I'm going to advance quests to where I want them.

I'm on a character named 'Motherman,' who I'm just going to use to create each of my characters, and have all settings and quests how I want them from the get-go.

Combat Mods

TES Arena Towns

Player Voice

Overall Progress

1.  Backup characters.

2. Run FNIS, turn off auto FNIS, switch to Nemesis keep FNIS data

3. Turn off TK Dodge, Turn on CGO, add Nemesis animations

4. ESLify everything that can be (the looooong step)

5. Add graphical updates

6. Begin recreation (the other long step)

Graphical Updates:

NPCs

New Locations in Skyrim

Improved Old Locations:

The Solstheim Improvements (Going to Solstheim soon...!)

Specific Building Improvements

Sounds

Textures

Lighting & ENB

Environmental

ESMing

Here are all the scripts for reference:

The ESPFE follower will stop you from ESLing if the mod has a new cell.  The follow-on script does it regardless.  I usually use the first script then manually check for new cells and see if the esp is the only thing affecting it.  If so, it's safe to run the Cellfree version.  This is a SSE bug that's never been fixed.

Quest Mods, then I'm ready to start remaking the family.

1.  Backup characters.

2. Run FNIS, turn off auto FNIS, switch to Nemesis keep FNIS data

3. Turn off TK Dodge, Turn on CGO, add Nemesis animations

4. ESLify everything that can be (the looooong step)

5. Add graphical updates

6. Begin recreation (the other long step)

Ongoing project list -

Long List of notes for myself so I don't ever need to do this research again (Ongoing)

ESLifyed, Applied _ESPFE Follower Script (Carries forward references to facedata and voicedata, also applies ESL flag even if it doesn't need to do these, convenient!)

Link (https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/56396)

Personalized Music

Refined Volkihars

Useful Alteration (Test note)

Underwater Treasure

Apocalypse/Ordinator compatibility patch - does not appear to include getformfrom file, unpacked bsa

SL Matchmaker - has scripts no getformfromfile

SlaveTatsMagicManager - I don't actually care about this if it breaks, never used it

Positive Undressed Reactions

Protect your People - has SEQ, generated new

Individual Shout CDs 

Hunterborn/Campfire Patch - Honestly, why was it not already?

Apachii Helmet Wigs

No More Motion Sickness

Realistic Elven Children

Diverse Skyrim - extracted BSA

Expanded Skyrim Weaponry - extracted BSA

Beards

Populated Solstheim

More Vampire Eyes - extracted BSA

Ancient Blood Magic - extracted BSA, removed test cell (which has a note to remove if you want to make esl)

Olga Mjoll's Sister (Just got this, would've done this anyway)

Raven Rock Reborn

Lesser Power Spells

Guards Armor Replacer

Windhelm Bridge Overhaul

Interesting Generic NPCs - Regenerated SEQ

Skyhunks - has new cell, it's ok

Thieves Guild Redone

Prettier Bandits - extracted BSA

Immersive Children - has script source, no GFFF

Water for ENB (New)

Turned off/Removed:

Spectator Crowds - for now.  usually it's only an annoyance.  Me trying to have sex, people just burst in the area I am even if the settings are supposed to prevent them from seeing.  May add back in the future for specific purposes.

Aedra race - Aedra have no dicks.  Honestly, unplayable. ? (Galahad has been changed into a tall Imperial with Wings per animated wings mod)

Blood and Silver/Sky City Markarth - Both included in Ultimate Markarth

Merged Meru, Abigail, Veronica - Dropped the other two, ESLified new version of Meru

Merged Weapon Mods - Automatic Crossbows, Daggercraft, Godswords, WoW Weapons, Nicoroshi Creations, Necro Staff, 3rd Era Weapons, Monster Hunter Weapons and ESLified them

Merged Armor Mods - Book of UUNP, Blades and Stormlord and ESLified them (Except Blades is too big to ESL, so this was a wasted step)

Hearthfire Kids Grow Up - Don't care about the random HF kids, have no control over how they grow up

Prison Overhaul Patched - Canonically in Destana's Skyrim, she'll killed the Prison Master and forcibly removed this.

Path of the Anti-Mage - Dirty ITMs

Assault on Valenwood - I have people from AoS and I'll revisit it later, but AoV, meh.  I can always turn it back on.

Did not ESLify for reasons:

[Low Yield means it would've been a lot of work - multiple of SEQ, script-heavy, BSA or some other high chance of me screwing it up for a single mod, I left it as is]

[As a note, all the getformfromfile (GFFF) isn't a hard stop, but it is much more work than I'm willing to perform.]

SOS and all plugins - I've tried this in the past, it breaks SOS

SL Random Sex - Has a dll, don't want to touch it

Dibella Cult - BSA/SEQ LY

SLACs - has no source files for scripts for a human to read, can't check for 'getformfromfile'

SL Tools - GFFF

Immersive Speechcraft - Lots of scripts, BSA, LY

Massmatchmaker - GFFF

Idle Wheelmenu - has a separate update file, bsa and scripts.  LY.  May get replaced.

Strange Runes - GFFF

MHiYH - LY

Additemmenu - has getformfromfile (GFFF)

A Matter of Time - LY (bsa, scripts)

SL Extra Voices - GFFF

Royal Armory - SEQ/BSA/LY

Hearthfire Multi - LY

Real Estate - Left Alone b/c it's three plugins.  

Solstheim Lost Levels - BSA and many scripts, has new cells but they're ok

BUVARP - scripts, SEQ, BSA

Added:

[I'm aware there's some overlap here, it required a lot of resolution]

[Mostly made ESL if possible]

Ultimate Markarth

Skyrim 2020 (All three parts)

Water for ENB

Nemesis 

CGO

Noble Skyrim

Astral Magic

Lux Via

Immersive Fallen Trees

Dungeons Revisited

Convenient Horses

Blended Roads

aMidianBorn Book of Silence

The Jedi Trees

Obsidian Mountain Fogs

Embers XD

Lightning During Storms

Rudy ENB Cathedral Weathers 

Inns and Taverns

DMT Jorrvaskr Renovation

Bijin All-in-One

Bards Reborn 4.2 (Combines all the Bard College Overhauls)

Teen Dolls (They're protected and unsexy type, just like children.  There's a time skip coming up, so more kids in Skyrim are older).

Pandorable's NPCs (for everything else)

Noble Skyrim w/SMIM Patch

Sounds of Skyrim 

Immersive Sounds

EVG Animated Traversal, Patches, Maleficus' Addon, Dungeons Addon, Flat-Footed

Hey, it's Runa.  I want to say our winning against the Thalmor was sweet, but as I walked the battlefield the night after, I think the term 'bittersweet' would be more apt. 

Our dead, their dead, they all piled up.  Too many to dig graves for.  So they were burned.  Well, until it rained.  I found Galmar talking with Brutus Brutalis about old times.  They were both old timers, though Brutus had aged well.  I had a suspicion they'd fed him life water just so they could torture him for longer.

"I never see you without your helmet," I said to Galmar.

"This has been such a long and arduous road.  But I believe, because of your mother we can finally enjoy peace on Nirn," he replied, letting the rain hit his face.

"You going to take a dose of the waters?" I asked him.

"No.  No, I don't think so.  I may change my mind in a few years if things go really well with Auri, but I think I was given enough time," Galmar replied.

I nodded.  I could respect that.

When we rode back on the airship, I slept a lot.  I'd been very tired lately.  The rocking of the ship and made me a little sick.  I spent a lot of the trip hanging over the railing.

When we finally got back, we pulled into Windhelm in the late hours of the evening.  Everyone was already asleep.  I nudged Roheisa.  She'd agreed to stay in Skyrim, atleast for a tour.

"I'm up," she murmured, rolling out of the hammock.  We got our gear ready and got dressed from night clothes.

"Ready?" She asked.

"Could I get some help?" I said, muffled, the cuirass stuck over my head and shoulders.

She reached up and unbuckled the shoulderpads and the bodypiece and re-fastened them... barely.

"Huh, I swear this fit a few days ago," I said, not really thinking much on it.

I put on my gauntlets, boots, cape and backpack and we disembarked.  

"I like the architecture," Roheisa said.

"Yeah, mostly dead right now though," I replied.  Not really wanting to stay at the Palace of Kings, I looked at the Candlehearth Inn, but it looked pretty full.  

"We definitely should sleep, so you can see the interesting people and things in the daytime.  But I have an idea," I said.  

She followed me through the corridors of the city and we arrived on Aventus' doorstep.

"Whose house is this?" Roheisa asked.

"Just an old friend of mind," I replied.  I knocked on the door, but after several minutes there was no answer.  I bent over, sticking a lockpick in the lock.

"You sure this is alright?" Roheisa asked.

"Sure.  It's fiiiine.  He won't mind.  We're very good friends," I replied as I popped the lock.  I silently opened the door and pulled her in.

I walked in, not sneaking, but not exactly being loud either.  

"Wow, this place is a mess.  Run down.  Looks like he stuck in the everburning candles and just hasn't been back in a while."

I looked around.  Boards needed to be replaced.  Objects strewn about.  

I looked in the loft and the adjacent room.  One of the beds was a collapsed pile of wood, the other one intact.  I raised an eyebrow at what he'd been doing here.  I mean, the sign outside still said 'Aretino.'

I pulled a bedroll out of my pack, "This is not ideal.  But I'm tired.  You take the bed."

"Please, princess..." Roheisa said.

"Don't worry about it.  I brought us here.  You have the good sleeping place," I was already laying down, not even bothering to take my armor off.

Ro shrugged and laid down.  Early in the morning, maybe 4 am, I heard a woman shout, then a man shout.

I hopped down from the loft and ran into the adjacent room.  Roheisa's scythe was up to a man's neck.  She looked like she'd been woken from a dead sleep with a startle.

"Wait.  Everybody stop!" I said, "Put the scythe down."

"Runa?" The man asked.  As Roheisa put her weapon down, he ran over to me and hugged me, hard.

"It's been a few months, but for me it feels like a lifetime," I said.

"Same here.  I've been traveling the seas.  Back and forth between Elswyer, Hammerfell, Skyrim, even a little bit Morrowind.  I think I have my route down."

"But enough about me.  I like your hair.  New armor.  Sword.  And I heard you went to war.  The fleet's not even back in Skyrim yet.  Looks like we won, huh?" Aventus smiled.

"Of course we did.  They had me," I smiled back.

"Of course," Aventus got out his wine and sat at the table, "Care for a drink?  Oh, who is your friend?"

"Ser Roheisa of Wayrest, this is Aventus Aretino," I said.

"Pleased to meet you," she bowed.

"The pleasure's all mine," he kissed her hand, bowing lower.  He poured a couple glasses of wine and said, "Please, tell me all about your adventures."

"Just water for me, thanks," I replied, "I'll give you the short version~" 

I went into detail about everything that'd happened, and he was amazed.  Barely able to believe it.  Before he commented though, he walked over to the safe in the back and pulled out a large sack, then put it on the table.

"What's this?" I asked.

He gestured for me to look inside.

"This is full of rubies," I blinked, "How much?"

"This is about thirty thousand septims worth.  What I owe you, plus interest, plus a little extra.  You were my first investor, and I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart," Aventus said.

I smiled, "I nearly forgot you owed me this."

"Spoken like a true princess," he said, and we all laughed.

Aventus gave us a bit of a tour of the city (though I was fairly familiar, I never really lived in Windhelm).  As we were walking later I asked him, smiling, "So, you have the funds.  Why does your house look like trash?"

He shrugged, "Truth is, I never come home.  I'm only in town a few days then I'm gone again.  I figure it's good enough for a place I stay one or two days a month."

We took in a fight at the arena, shopped a little bit, did some sightseeing.  I knew one day was enough for Windhelm, and I asked if we could stay one more night.

"Of course."

"I will sleep on my bedroll tonight," Roheisa said.  Before Aventus could offer it to her, she waved him off, "You are the owner.  Don't worry about it."

She looked between the two of us, perhaps knowing something had gone on, then she went to sleep early.

Aventus and I stayed up talking that night, him telling me about his journeys over the past few months.

It finally boiled down to us talking about the old times and the orphanage.  

"Oh, have you been to Riften?  I donated a hefty sum.  They expanded it," Aventus said.

I smiled, seeing that boy I liked spending time with when we were little kids.  We were both the weirdos.  I leaned over and kissed him.

He pulled back.

"Sorry," he said.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Well, I know the two of us have quite a history.  I just figured you had a lot going on with Calleius, and Rigmor, and your stories of Casius and others."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, I think I should tell you, I got married."

"Married??" I asked, a little shocked, "It's only been a couple months..."

"Well, we've known each other for a while.  And that's the way of things in this life sometimes.  You just want to grasp at happiness before you die, you know?"

I looked down at my belly, "Yeah, I know.  I understand.  Sorry I made things complicated for you.  Who is she?"

"Not at all.  Runa, I will always love you.  Even if we're not together," Aventus put his arm around me, "She's captain of one of the ships I've been using to trade."

"Right," I said, "Think I'm going to turn in."

I quickly went to sleep on my bedroll.

The next morning Roheisa and I were out of there early, on to tour more of Skyrim before she had to go back.  After a few weeks, we came back to Windhelm to complete the cycle before she got on a boat to Illiac Bay.  At this point I was no longer tooling around in my golden armor.  Not much point.  We'd fought some bandits a time or two on the road, but in the cities, things were relatively safe.  And my armor didn't fit.

I figured it was about time to go to Cyrodiil.  I informed mom and the others, and got on the road.  I decided I would stay in the Imperial City for a few months, really take an adventuring vacation. 

Rigmor was just about as pregnant as me, staying in the adjacent room.  Jura and I would talk between his administrative duties.  Casius visited sometimes.  And I saw Tusselle relatively often.  And Calleius.  For all intents and purposes, this was his baby.

Nobody really visited from Skyrim, but I didn't really need them to.  I think it was always in my mind that I would be leaving to go back when the baby was born - with no plan whatsoever why, or what I would actually be doing.  Or who would be taking care of the baby.

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

So months passed.  Nothing much exciting.  On the 3rd of Frostfall, Sethri came to my door raving about some problem.  I rolled out of bed, wondering if being a princess could possibly mean not losing out on sleep.  

"We have a situation," Sethri said.

"What.... kind of situation?" I yawned.

"A Princess Rigmor kind of situation," he said back.

"What is it this time?" I sighed.  

"Blackwell assigned two personal bodyguards to follow Lady Rigmor around.  She's not too pleased about it, and that's an understatement," he explained, "You're the only one with the authority to deal with it.  And the balls I guess.  They'll wind up with their guts around their ankles if you don't.  And you have a visitor."

"Leave it to me.  I'll deal with it.  Who's the visitor?" I asked.

"Owner of the stables outside Bravil.  That's where the chapel of Mara is, so I imagine he's got a," he pointed to my belly, distended beyond my wildest dreams now, "Bit of related information.  You know, about the other one."

"Where's Rigmor now?" I asked.

"I've no idea.  I've been keeping right out of her warpath," Sethri chuckled, "The visitor, Antonius Maro is in the audience chamber."

We walked together and Sethri took his leave when we reached the audience chamber.  Inside, two members of the Penitus Oculatus were flanking the man.  I casually walked in.  (Also, kinda hard to run around like I normally do).

"Your highness," the man bowed, "Please allow me to introduce myself.  I am Antonius Maro.  I run the Bay Roan stables outside Bravil, but I come as a trusted messenger."

"Not any relation to the Penitus Maro by chance?"

"Yes, how did you guess?" He asked, "But nevermind that.  My family's name gets around.  I haven't had contact with my father and brother for some years."

"I see," I replied, betraying nothing.  Pretty sure we killed those guys.

"Anyway, I was told to let you know the time is soon, and you should know what I mean," Maro said.

"I cannot relay the full message here to avoid word getting out.  If you book yourself into the inn, Silverhome on the Water, I will contact you there and advise you on the next step."

"Couldn't we just stay at Bravil Keep?" I asked.

"It is vitally important you do not draw attention to yourself.  From Mara herself, she wants this absolutely secret.  Trust noone.  Except, of course, myself.  And the innkeeper.  Her name is Rose."

"Rose?" I scratched my chin, wondering if it was the same Rose from years ago.  When Mom and I saved Rigmor, we met a beautiful red-haired woman on the road who helped us.  I was... fifteen or sixteen then.  I replied finally, "Thank you Antonius."

"I am your most humble and loyal servant, m'lady," he said.

Marius of the Penitus cleared his throat, "Permission to speak."

I nodded.

"It would be prudent to let myself and Tara to accompany you to Bravil."

"Given the circumstances," I looked down, "Two pregnant ladies going into potential danger.  Sure.  But Rigmor isn't going to like it.  Just, go ahead of us and scout the area first."

Marius nodded, "As you command."

"RUNA!" 

Speak of the devil.  I could see Rigmor's bloated form darkening the doorway of the audience chamber, her guards barely able to keep up with her.

"Ruuuuna!  We need to talk!"  She approached.

I folded my arms over my belly.

"Who the hell are these guys watchng over me all the time?!  I can't even take a dump without them falling over me!"

She walked past me.

"Majesty, it's me!  Aenas, and Crispus!"  

I smirked.  They were good guys, if not a little bumbling.

"M'lordship wants us to make sure m'lady Rigmor's kept safe.  It's an honor, truly it is."

I peered over to Jura, who was sitting in regular clothes, no crown, a pair of glasses, signing Imperial decrees on the other side of the hall.  Without looking up, he gave me a single wave, "Yo."

I sighed, "I'll take charge of her.  You guys can go have a drink."

"Crispus?" Aenas asked.

"Don't look at me.  We wouldn't be here if the head mage hadn't banged his head."

"So this is punishment, then?" I folded my arms again, chuckling.

"We were in Chorrol after the Battle of Table Mountain.  Aenas got so drunk he urinated in the doorway of the Mage's Guild."

"Sod off Crispus!  That's not true!"

"Three or four of them came out, and began slipping all over Aenas' piss!  The head mage slips, cracks his head on the doorway, an in an instant, we're running and getting fireballs up our arses!"

I covered my mouth, but couldn't help but laugh.

Aenas started to laugh with me, "Guess it was bleeding funny though."

"Don't worry about it.  I'll take care of her.  Go have a drink.  Maybe don't get piss drunk," I smirked.  They laughed and took the order, walking out the back.

I approached Rigmor.

"I don't think I can stand being cooped up here anymore for mY pRoTecTIoN!" She said.

"Well, you got your wish.  The Priest of Mara summoned us to Bravil," I replied.

She smiled, "So what do we do, walk in there, 'hey just here to have a miracle baby, where's the birthing room?"

"We're to keep a low profile, book ourselves into the Inn.  A message will arrive with directions."

"Great!  Let's go!" Rigmor said.

"I sent the Penis guys ahead of us," I snickered.

"Penitus?"

"Yeah, maybe if I weren't the leader of one of their big enemies I'd have a little more respect for them."

"How's that going, by the way?" She asked.

"Eh, actually assassination is way down.  I guess all our wars actually did something good for Tamriel.  I've mostly backed off as a silent leader.  Stabby gives me regular updates but a lot of the full members have second jobs.  I mean we have a lot of members now.  Kinda also turned into a spy network for Skyrim," I explained as we walked toward the stables, "Well, except for the Alik'r chapter.  That one's been blowing up."

We found each other at the stables again, Rigmor in refitted armor and me still in my royal robes.

She got on Ren and I got on Shadowmere and we rode to Bravil, it taking a little more than a day.

We found our way to the Inn, trotting into the main road.

"Valiana is from here," I said as I got off Shadowmere.  Then I remembered Rigmor had never met Valiana.  Then I said, "Nevermind."

We dismounted and walked in.

"Come on in," an argonian said, "Warm drinks, warm beds, warm food.  What can I help you with?"

"We're here to answer Mara's call," I said.

"Ah," he said, walking upstairs, "Rose, you've got visitors!"

"Wait, Rose?" Rigmor asked.

And it was her.  She walked down the stairs.

"Hey girl!  This is a wonderful surprise!" Rose shouted gleefully.  Rigmor and Rose grabbed each other like they were seeing who could hug the hardest.

Then she looked at me and smirked, "And Runa.  You still have the same dorky haircut."

I laughed out loud, "I grew it out, braided it, chopped off the sides, then cut it all and let it start growing from the beginning again."

"Quite a trip.  You grew up," Rose smiled at me.

"That's not all," I smirked, "Lot of difference six years can make."

"By the gods it's been a long time.  If it wasn't for you two, and the Dragonborn, I would not here right now.  Which, it's true then?  Destana is the Dragonborn?"

"Yep," I said.

Rigmor went and sat down, mumbling something about her back aching.

"You guys are like something out of a fairy tale."

I smiled at her.

"Looks like you took good care of her.  Proud of you," Rose said, "Let's sit.  I wanna catch up."

They talked for a minute while I went between looking at Rose and peering at everything else going on - seeing if there were any surprise access points, any traps... etc.  I was thinking about how I would approach this as an assassin.  After all, I am an assassin.

"Ever been back to Skyrim?" Rigmor asked.

"Nope.   Wanted to start fresh.  Try something new.  Even though I'd lost everything, I never gave up."

"I understand that," Rigmor said, "But you can look after yourself, right?"

"If you've got nothing to lose, you can only go up," Rose said.

"I also understand that," Rigmor said.

"I only took the good parts of me along.  Like helping people.  People come here to see me in Bravil all the time.  I even made some balms for the count."

"What's wrong with him?" Rigmor asked.

"Caught some disease.  Not life-threatening, just contagious.  That's why the keep is out of bounds," Rose replied.

"Ah, that makes sense," I commented.

"Hey, why don't I go get a round of drinks?" Rigmor asked.

"Tell Matilda to put it on the tab," Rose said.

"Only water for me, thanks," I said.  Rigmor and I looked at each other.

"Why's that?" Rigmor asked.

"Somebody told me it's not good for baby to drink alcohol.  I don't think it's well known," I replied.

"Oh really?  Well, I mean, my Mead's been very watered down so Kintyra should be fine.  Not like I went on any benders.  I was cooped up in the palace!" Rigmor said, "Though... I think I will stick to water from here on."

Rigmor stepped out of earshot and I realized I hadn't been talking very much.  I looked back at Rose and she was staring with a slight smile, "Hi.  Figured Rigmor and either you or your mom had something to do with Fort Black.  I was in Bruma at the time."

"Oh really?" 

"Yeah, the New Imperial Troops were barely trained.  Easily snuck past them."

"We absorbed them into the Legion so they could be trained properly," I explained.

"I heard about Bravil and what a steaming pile of junk it was, and thought I would fit right in," she laughed.

Rigmor returned, "Here we go.  Here's to absent friends.  So Rose, how did you manage to become the proprietor of Silverhome?"

"It was a little run down and had been empty for about a year before I got here.  I was staying at the chapel.  I helped with gardening, keeping the graveyard with Antonius."

"Are you and Antonius...?" Rigmor asked.

"No, no.  I'm very picky when it comes to that kind of thing," she peered over to me for a few seconds before she continued.

"I got involved when the countess and her child became very sick and they both made it.  One morning a few days later the count arrived at the chapel and without saying a word, handed me the keys to Silverhome on the Water," Rose said, "But enough about me.  I've heard about you guys' adventures.  And I'm glad Cyrodiil has hope, especially after the dark days of the past few years."

"Oh, and the Thalmor are gone," I smiled big.

"For good?" Rose asked.

"Yep.  They didn't take me with them," Rigmor sulked.  Then she got up for more drinks.  Thirsty girl.

Rose turned to me, "You've done an amazing job taking care of her.  How long have you been together?"

"Who even knows, with all the time weirdness?  But I guess I was away for a few years traveling the world while Rigmor stayed in Bruma and the time stuff was only in Skyrim."

"Are you two...?" Rose asked.

"Meh.  Kinda.  It's complicated.  But not exclusive," I winked.

"Did you see yourself being a hero when you were young?" Rose smiled.

"I'm no hero.  Just, generally the people who are assholes to others are also assholes to me, and I have to do something about them," I shrugged.  Feel like my mom would say that too.

Rose laughed, "If the gods will it, so shall it be."

"Like us seeing each other again?" I asked.

"That's an ambiguous statement.  If I didn't know any better I would think it was innocent.  I remember when you were a sweet girl," Rose smiled.

"Please, I am innocent.  Nothing bad or dangerous about me," I smirked.

"Well maybe it's me who's trying to lead you into an unsavory situation, then," Rose grinned.

Antonius suddenly appeared in the front doorway, "M'lady, my mistress will see you now."

"You go.  I'm going to catch up with Rigmor," Rose waved.

The chapel was a short walk and the priestess received me, alone.

"Greetings.  I am Uravasa Mona. It is my honor to receive you under these special circumstances," she said.  She looked down at my belly, "But I'd heard the child had been carried by Lady Rigmor."

"The honor is mine," I said, "She is also pregnant.  That's the miracle baby.  This is just a regular baby."

"Wait... I was told it was by you.  How can you also be pregnant?" Uravasa asked.

I sighed, "I am as baffled as you are."

She stared off into space, like she was thinking about the situation.

"Follow me," she said, and led me to her chambers, down a level.  

Uravasa folded her arms, "This means you must've already been pregnant when you received the blessing."

"Yep.  Sure was.  Got pregnant only a matter of days before Rigmor did," I replied.

"Puzzling.  Have you...reverted?" She asked.

"No, no.  I still have a penis.  Rigmor's going to have a baby within days, and I suspect so am I.  I don't know what the heck to do," 

"We've prepared a special antechamber for the delivery in the undercroft.  I communed with Mara, and Lady Rigmor should be due tomorrow morning.  Bring her here early, we will be prepared," Uravasa said as if she was saying what she'd prepared to say but had no idea how to respond to what I'd said, "Rose will be on hand in case of complications.  The people of Bravil owe her a debt of gratitude."

After a moment, she added, "I will commune with Mara concerning your... issues."

We stood, and she said, "There's something else.  Mara warned me that something lurks.  Watches.  Some other celestial is blocking her vision.  All she could see was a vision of Tang Mo."

"Sounds Akaviri," I replied.

"Do be careful.  No one should know you're here, but Daedra have their ways," Uravasa said.

"I could just call on the Legions.  Or my family, to surround and keep us safe," I shrugged.

"Please, the more people know, the worse our chances are.  This is as you said, a miracle," she said, "A gift from the divines that surpasses any norm, like like my own birthing."

"Your own?"

"I am also a child born of two mothers," Uravasa said.

I shrugged, "Well, alright."

I walked back to the Inn, just after nightfall, to find Rose standing at the bar, house cleared out.  

"Hope everything went well," she said.

"Where's Rigmor?"

"She already went to bed.  I booked you both in the adjacent rooms just up the stairs.  I hope that's alright," Rose replied.

"Not a problem," I said.

"She was lights out as soon as she hit the pillow.  Funny to think that if not for us she wouldn't be here."

"Think I should retire too?" I asked.

"Why don't I show you around the city at night?  Would you like that?" She asked.

"That sounds great."

We walked around for a little bit, her showing me the shops nearby.  We found the statue of Mara.

"Isn't she beautiful in the candlelight?"

"Honestly a little bit more bosom-y than I remember," I chuckled.

"Yeah, well, they're for feeding kids.  Mara's for home and hearth.  Makes sense she'd be stacked," Rose snickered.

"I think when I passed through here a few years ago this was an empty podium, right?" I asked.

"She stands on the site of the "Lucky old lady" statue that was destroyed during the Skooma Wars," she explained, "C'mon, I wanna show you something else."

We crossed the bridge and she said, "Zenithar used to have a following here, but after the whole back wall was destroyed during a fight in those Skooma wars, he and the Mages' Guild were vacant."

"I know Medora Direnni returned the Mages' Guild to its' workable state," I said.

"Hey, yeah, you do know the area a little," Rose said, "Sadly, she's been gone for a while.  And before that it fell back into a state of disrepair, just because no mages wanted to come back here."

We reached Zenithar's old podium, "His downed statue was replaced by this statue of Dibella, bringing hope and love to the city.  One of the reasons I love it here."

"Makes sense she'd be naked," I said.

I slyly picked up a rose from the nearby bushes, then I handed it to her.

"How sweet," she sniffed it, "You've got me blushing."

"Rose..."

"Don't say another word," Rose replied.  She leaned in and kissed me.  Then, smiling, she turned to walk back towards the Inn.  She took off at a jog, giggling.

"Ach!  Come back here!  I'm not good at running right now!" I said.  I quickly lost sight of her.

When we got back to the Inn, she was waiting on the second floor.  I caught my breath.

"Rigmor's is on the left, yours is on the right," she turned to me.

"I guess I'll be going to bed then," I said.

"Don't you want to see where I live?" Rose asked coyly.

"Is it the... top floor?" I asked.

"C'mon, I'll show you my room.  If you like... that is."

"I think you know where this is leading," I said.

"It leads wherever you want to take it," she replied.  She slowly walked up the next flight of stairs, looking over her shoulder to see if I would follow.

I did follow.  But I said as I waddled up the stairs, "Got a thing for pregnant ladies?"

"Just you," she replied.

"Well, you're going to be surprised at what you see," I said.

"Good surprised or bad surprised?"

"Well that depends on what you like," I replied.

When we finished, I fell asleep for a while.  I was woken a few hours later with an image of the red-haired beauty staring at me in the dark.

"Creepy," I whispered.

She smiled, "I know you won't stay.  Rigmor told me all about your many loves.  And I was surprised to see what you have in your pants.  Could I... get another round?"

"Sure," I shrugged.

She stood, "Not here though.  I've always had this fantasy..."

She took me out to the Dibellan statue and we had sex again out there.  Even better than the first time.

We heard the voices of guards from across the courtyard, and she took off again.  I hid in the shadows while I frantically slipped my clothes on.  

She was laughing when we met up again at the Inn.

"You've had your fun, but I'm dead tired," I half-smiled, "I'm going to my own room this time."

She kissed me on the cheek and I was out like a light.

A few hours later I was awoken again... this time by Rigmor.  But it was only for a moment.  She cuddled up behind me.  Laying on my side was not ideal, but I was too tired to argue.  I went back to sleep.

"My ladies!" I was awoken in the morning, my eyes feeling like they'd been dragged across the ground.

Antonius Maro.  He burst into my room.

"It's lady Rigmor!" He said.  I looked beside me and found a vacant spot on the bed.  I stood up as fast as my swollen body would allow me.

"What's happening?" I asked.

"Lady Rigmor was out in the garden and went into labor.  Rose left a few moments ago to help guide her to the chapel.  If you hurry you can catch them," Maro replied.

I blew the little hairs out of my face and started to get dressed.  Unfortunately, Rigmor seemed to be faring much better in the mobility and endurance department than me, so it was not likely I would catch her.

I got to the chapel as fast as I was able, going into stealth mode immediately as I entered.  This is a trap, but I know how to deal with it.

Two assassins heard the doors open, but didn't hear me approach.  Even in my current state, the first one fell instantly as I slashed him from behind.  The second one turned to help his friend and I sprayed him with a, "FUS!" To stagger then finished him off.

"Hmm... Morag Tong by the looks of them," I murmured.

I continued into the undercroft, drinking an invisibility potion.  I needed to avoid getting hit.  Another assassin was running upstairs to see what the commotion was.  Ran right past me, and I stabbed him through the back.

I heard the sounds of teleportation and summoning around me... and I knew I was surrounded.  I quaffed another potion, knowing I needed to not get hit.

Three of them.  Two in standard armor and a monkey man.  I hid around a pillar, waiting for my moment.  Then I heard a door open.

"Runa, is everything okay out there?"

Shit!  Don't open the door you idiot..!

Rigmor emerged from the antechamber and engaged the three of them.  I caught sight of Rigmor as their backs were turned and realized... she was in her normal armor, no longer pregnant.  Oh, their attention is on her!

"FUS - RO - DAH!" I blasted all three of their bodies into the stone pillars and walls.  Before he could recover, I chopped the Tang Mo (monkey man) over the shoulder and he fell to his knees.  Then another chop and his head rolled off.  The others slipped away.

I grabbed my belly, feeling a sharp pain, falling to one knee.

"Runa," Rigmor helped me up as the two other assassins charged at us. 

She said to me, "I see you learned something new.  You ok?"

"Yeah," I murmured.

"Wanna see something I learned?" Rigmor grinned.

"They're charging, better make it good!" I shouted back.

"It is," she replied, "FUS!"

The guy in front staggered and we both cleaved him with our greatswords.

And he went down.  The last one took this opportunity to sneak attack Rigmor, but my shout was ready again and I gave him another full Unrelenting Force.

I charged over and stabbed his prone form, killing him.

By my reckoning, there were three, but two more had joined the fray since we started fighting, so we both went into stealth again.  We split up, each taking one.  I could hear fireblasts hitting Rigmor, and I got the drop on mine yet again.

"You never should've come here," he said, then I cleaved him across the back, then he shouted "I submit!" 

He used an invisibility spell, but I was already slashing where he'd been, and felt my sword cleave through him.  Rigmor took care of hers at the same time.

I found her after grabbing the Tang Mo's katana and circlet, "So I see you had the baby.  You're already recovered?"

"There're spells to bring people back from the dead.  You don't think there's a spell for this?" Rigmor chuckled, "But there's no time to waste."

We rushed to the antechamber to find the priestess, Rose, and the swaddled baby.  A woman lie in the bed, dead.  A spray of daggers had hit the woman, and nearly hit the baby, who was unharmed.

"No!  Alana!" Rigmor rushed over to her.

"She... served her purpose here," Uravasa said, "Sad though it may be, she was your decoy."

"I...I did all I could, but I failed," Rose said.

"It's not your fault," I said.

"She is to be Sainted for shielding this child of destiny," Uravasa said.

"Obviously, this was the Morag Tong.  Bugs just keep coming back after we killed them," I growled.

"They'll keep coming until the writ is fulfilled," Uravasa folded her arms.

Rigmor's face turned to rage, "I'm not planning on living my life looking over my shoulder.  Runa's still pregnant, gods bless her she can still fight.  I'm going to call the ambassador when we get back to the palace.  Let's leave right away."

"Before you go, Mara told me to contact someone called Roheisa about your problem, ask her to help you.  I'll take care of things here.  Go," Uravasa said.

I shrugged.

We rode back to the Imperial City in a hurry, and called for Morrowind's ambassador immediately.  Though he was in the province, it took him two days.

I was still godsdamned pregnant.  Even more late term than Rigmor'd been.

I could tell she was getting impatient waiting in the audience chamber.  I walked in for breakfast and found her tapping her foot.

"Where the hell...?"

"Oh, they'll come.  Or I'm going to send out a counter-hit on them," I growled.

"Oh hey, look who it is," I said.

"The Ambassador of Morrowind," one of my Penitus guys announced.

Jura walked down from the dais to stand by us, Calleius staying in the background of the throne room (he'd been hanging out).

I'd given him crap before for wearing 'regular-people' clothes around the palace, but he said he thought it made him seem approachable.

"Greetings, I came as soon as I could," the ambassador said.

I folded my arms, "Two days ago assassins of the Morag Tong murdered a young woman in Bravil.  They had no writ for her execution.  And they were acting outside Morrowind.  The writ was for our child, Kintyra."

"Well, I'm sorry for your loss.  But that hardly had anything to do with us.  They're a law unto themselves."

"We're not idiots.  The Morag Tong work for the houses of Morrowind," I replied.

"What do you expect me to do about it?"

"Inform the king he's going to annul the writ on the child," I growled, becoming tired of this man's unwillingness to help.

"I'm afraid you're mistaken.  The Morag Tong are acting on their own.  What exactly do you wish me to relay to him?"

"You tell him," I said through my teeth, "If anything happens to Princess Kintyra..."

"Is that a threat?" He folded his arms, unamused.

I clenched my hand, going for my sword.

"No, this is a threat!" Rigmor said, stepping forward, "We're telling you to go back and tell whoever the hell actually runs your bog-filled ash-covered province that I am not going to be looking over my shoulder every waking moment for murdering scum who want to kill a child!"

She started pacing, "You call them a business?  Say it's got nothing to do with you?  Are the people who run Morrowind as poor, inept cowards as they look!?  They cannot control what goes on in their own province?!"

"This is outrageous!" The Ambassador said.

"Not as outrageous as what will happen when we tear your province apart, piece by piece looking for the very scum you're sheltering!" Rigmor shouted.

Jura stepped forward, calmly, firmly, and said, "Go talk to your council.  Did you hear what happened to Summerset?  Skyrim has our back.  The same thing could happen to you."

He shook his head, "You'll hear from me," and started to walk out.

"Good!"  Rigmor yelled.

I said calmly, "If anything happens to that little girl, there's not a resurrection spell on Nirn that will be able to bring you back."

He kept walking.

Rigmor added, "Oh and remind them that acting out a gray writ outside of Morrowind is an act of war!!"

As the door shut behind him, Rigmor smirked at me, "Think he was scared enough?"

"I think he peed himself," I said back.

We all laughed and I clapped.

"With all of us together, we're unstoppable," Rigmor said.

Rigmor tilted her head and reached into her pocket.

"What is it?"

"A letter from Uravasa," she skimmed and summarized, "Rose isn't doing so well.  She's not eating.  She's taken to standing at the Dibella and Mara statues for long periods.  After Alana... she's taking it badly and Ura is worried about her."

She sighed, "I owe her my life.  And I don't want to see her suffering on her own.  

"I can go and see her..." I trailed off, started to head to my room.  But I only made it about halfway, all the damn stairs.  I fell to my knees, feeling that pain in my stomach again.  This time it didn't stop.  I called for somebody... but the palace was so damn big.

I pushed open the guest room door and threw my gear on the floor.  I kneeled down and pulled out my quest journal and ripped out a page.

I've been making a point to learn quality-of-life spells from Damien, and this one... it might save my life.  The pain was so intense.  I took out a quill and cast Missive.

At the College of Winterhold, Damien was just sitting down to breakfast.

A note appeared in his hands.  He blinked.

Damien.  Runa.

Help, bring Roheisa.  In Imperial Palace guest~~~~

The ink trailed off at the end.  Damien scowled, thinking.  

"How do I know where Roheisa would be~" He snapped his fingers, stole a page of parchment from Mirabelle, sitting across from him.

"Hey, that was my..." She started, but he shushed her.  

"Urgent," he said as he turned over the page to the blank side and wrote a Missive to Roheisa.

Where are you?  Need help.  Write back.  -Damien

Roheisa got the message in her hands, and finding it was some form of list...

"What is this...?  Beets, turnips, milk," She puzzled, "Is this a shopping list?  Finally, a new hand touches the list.  Listen, hear me and obey. A foul darkness has seeped into my pantry..."

She turned it over, "Oh!"

Roheisa got out a pen and scribbled back, "I'm in Whiterun, at the Inn."

Seconds later Damien threw open the doors, "Come with me.  Runa needs help!"

Luckily, Damien'd been working on a couple of new teleports with Carahil's tutelage.  One of them was a Teleport to Bruma, one was to the Imperial City.

"What's going on?" Roheisa asked.

"Hell if I know," Damien replied, "Grab my shoulder."

She did and he finished his spell.  They appeared near the Talos statue and sprinted into the palace.  

The guards tried to stop them, but Damien yelled, "No time to argue!  Princess Runa's in danger!"

He followed the sounds of my moans, I think.  It'd only been a good five minutes since I missive'd him.

"Knew I could... count on you," I said on my hands and knees.

"Why'd you want her~ oh~!" Damien backed up a step when he saw I was definitely in labor, "I don't need to see this."

Roheisa cocked her head slightly, "I have a little knowledge of birthing babies.  Why call me and not an actual priest or healer?"

"I don't know," I said, barely able to talk, "Mara said you could save my life."

"Mom gave me a recall scroll that'll recall her to me.  After the giant centurion incident.  I think this qualifies," Damien said.  He cast the spell from the scroll and mom appeared to my right, nearly tripping over the bed.

She blinked, "Wha...?"

She blinked again, "I was in the middle of a dungeon... and now I'm here..."

"We're out of time, somebody figure something out!" I exclaimed.  I pulled the robes over my head and Roheisa knelt down to get a look.

"You... you have a penis!" Roheisa exclaimed.

"No time to... explain... please help..." I said.

"Talos fuck," Mom said, "It's already been nine months?"

Damien and Roheisa looked at each other.  I was wracking with pain and the three of them were paralyzed with indecision.

"Cesarean?" Mom asked, "None of us know what the fuck we're doing, but we have three healers here."

I got the sense that Mara, who was certainly watching, just facepalmed.

"Wait!" Damien shouted, "Brain blast!"
"Brain what?" Mom asked.

"Ro, you know that thing you do with the changing your body?" Damien asked.

"Yes."

"Have you ever tried to do it to somebody else?"

"No."

"Well, try it on Runa!" Damien said.

"I don't know how...?" Roheisa replied.

"Wait, spells can be reduced to a series of runes or circles," Mom said, "Most people who learn spells don't actually know the deeper codes."

"Right," Damien said, "But they teach you the deep lore at the college."

"I have a spell for making others invisible, and one for healing others.  I can figure out what the rune is."

Damien nodded, "That's what I was thinking.  Roheisa just concentrate on the change and Mom and I can change your power to affect Runa."

Roheisa returned a look of confusion, "Okay... well, ready?"

Mom and Damien both extracted the rune and both said, "Ready."

Roheisa concentrated and touched Runa, Damien and Mom using their unbound unspelled power to change her power to affect 'other.'

"I have finished," Roheisa said.

I looked down, "Oh my gods. I am so happy to see you.  My vagina... I've missed you!"

I gasped, feeling the back of my channel stretching out to the dilation it was meant to have. 

"So much to catch up on, you and I," I said.

"She's completely lost it," Mom said, meaning my mind.

"Not yet! She's crowning!" Roheisa shouted as I shouted in pain.  She threw off her gauntlets to prepare to catch.

Mom and Ro knelt under me as I squatted. 

"Maybe get Calleius so I can punch him in the balls!" I shouted. 

Damien hurried out into the hall.

It was all a blur from there.  Maybe an hour passed with me laboring and then he came.  Mom and Roheisa caught him.  Mom cleaned him off while Ro led me to the bed to my right.

Mom looked down at her grandson, wrapping him up, "Little beautiful baby.  Have you decided on a name?"

She bounced him a little as she slowly walked over.

I looked up, finding Calleius at the door.  

"No," I answered, then she handed me the baby.  

"Thanks, grandma," I said.

"I was already a grandma," Mom cackled, "I'm immortal.  I no longer have a problem with this."

"Tyroni," I said, feeding the baby, "Come over and meet your son."

Smiling, he approached.  He touched the little guy's head as he breastfed.  When I was done, I handed him to Calleius.

I smiled at Roheisa, Damien and mom, "Anybody give me a little healing and stamina?  I'd prefer not to be bedridden for days.  Rigmor cheated.  I wanna cheat."

They pulled everything out of their hats they could and within the hour I was feeling like my old self again.  In that time, the child had fallen asleep with Calleius.  I slipped on my Tiber Septim armor.

"Where you off to in such a hurry?" Calleius asked.

"Want to show him off to Rigmor.  Want to go find Rose and bring her here to safety."

"Rose?" Mom asked.  She smirked, remembering the beauty of the woman and knowing I was planning on dipping my hands in yet another pot of honey.

We took him out and showed Rigmor, who was just as excited as I was.  I pumped more boob fluid into skins, leaving the baby with Calleius, and headed back to Bravil to quickly help a friend.

I found her at the statue of Dibella.  I approached slowly, but she heard my footsteps.

Without turning, Rose said, "I thought that the love of Dibella existed in this place... but there is no love, only death, hate, anger and despair."

"There was nothing you could've done for Alana.  But she was sainted.  There is glory waiting for her in aetherius," I said.

"The record will show she was brave, she endured and gave her life gladly for the love of the gods," Rose said.  She paused, then her words cracked as tears formed in her eyes, "But she was scared.  She cried and screamed and died.  And for what?  Why must people die for the will of the gods...?  She was innocent."

"Rose..." 

"I'm sorry, I have to go.  I can't stay here.  Not after this..."

"Where?"

"I don't know... maybe the gold coast..." Rose replied, tears streaming down her face.

"Come with me to the Imperial City," I said.

"And what... be your nursemaid?  I don't think so," she turned around and looked me up in down in my pristine armor.

"There's room for you in the palace.  Imperial Court Physician.  Help us with Kintyra, and... my boy."

She smiled a little bit, despite her tears, "That her name?"

We smiled at each other for a moment.

"You look good," she laughed, which turned into a light sob.

"Thanks."

Finally, she said, "Okay, I'll come.  But only if you promise me a holiday dream home on the Gold Coast."

"Done!" I said, feeling more chipper than I'd been in a while.

We got on our horses.  And actually, I felt happier than I'd been in a long time.  I'd been living in the shadow of death for nearly a year - living my life like it would soon end.  And now I felt like I could go on living.  Both literally, and emotionally.  And now I have a son and a daughter.