After taking some time to gather supplies and warm clothing for the mesmerized slave - they couldn't get her to cooperate with putting any of them on - the party took stock of their situation.

 

"It's a long way back to Solitude," Monilee started, "I think we need to stop back in Falkreath to stock up on supplies."

 

The others nodded, but Edippa added, "Why not stop at Markarth instead? It's on the path anyway, and the Temple may be able to help you resist Nocturnal's influence."

 

Barbas barked, "I'm gonna pretend I'm not hearrin anythg of this. But if I was, I'd tellya that defying the Unfathomable issa bad idea." 

 

Shayna chuckled, "If you haven't noticed yet, Barbas, Monilee here is an expert at bad ideas."

 

If her twin had been a little closer, Monilee would have smacked her. But since the daedric impersonator was lingering out of reach, she contented herself with a silent promise of future reprisal.

 

"Why not both?" Monilee countered, "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm getting hungry again. I'd rather not take supper on the trail, so let's return to Falkreath to rest and take on provisions, then proceed to Solitude by the Markarth road. We'll visit the temple and request and audience with Mother Hamal while we visit."

 

"I like this plan," Edippa said, "But if we want anything other than a midnight snack, we'd best set out now. It's already a few hours past noon."

 

As it turned out, they timed their departure just right, with the party entering the Falkreath city limits just as the sky darkened. While Monilee wished she'd had more time to visit the blacksmith about that fine leather armor, she consoled herself with the knowledge that Markarth's smiths were probably more capable anyway. Claiming a table and ordering up a small feast of beef, mudcrab legs, and cabbage soup, they set about putting to rest their hunger from the day's exertions. After the afternoon's harrowing battle in the gloomy cave, it felt truly fine to be able to just sit back, relax, and eat her fill. But then she noticed Lydia's eyes glancing furtively over Monilee's shoulder. 

 

Now Monilee turned to look, just in time to see a young man conspicuously look down to his meal. 

 

Feeling a little too languid to challenge the man agressively, but still in choleric enough to not let it go, she leaned back and rotated her chair on one leg so she was looking at him sidelong.

 

"See something you like, kid?" she asked.

 

Somewhat to her surprise her looked back up and stammered, "Excuse me madam, I... don't normally do this. But do you have a moment to talk?"

 

"Are you trying to flirt with me?" she giggled.

 

"He's trying to flirt with you," Shayna added.

 

 

Lydia growled at that. "A proposition? You're speaking to the Thane of Whiterun. Show some respect!"

 

From the stricken expression on his face, Monilee wondered if the man was going to die right there on the spot.

 

"No, not that kind of proposition. I mean I'd like to do business with you... ah, not like that! Can we just start over please?"

 

His name was Lucien Flavius, self proclaimed wizard and philosopher, and he apparently hoped that Monilee and her group could acquaint him with the less savory side of Skyrim. 

 

"But Skyrim's no place for a 'milk drinker' like me... so, I'm looking for someone to travel with."

 

"Oho, a milk drinker," Edippa cooed, "can we keep him?"

 

"I can assure you I'd compensate you most handsomely for putting up with me." 

 

Agreements were made, coins changed hands, and with that the party had its fifth member (sixth if one were to count Barbas). Lucian joined them at their table, telling news of events in Cyrodiil and sharing their meal, before the group retired to their rooms for the night. 

 

 

Strange dreams, visions of tentacles and formless flesh, plagued Monilee in her sleep. Each time, she woke panting and covered in sweat - and other more intimate fluids. In the end, she gave up and lay awake, waiting for the dawn. As the first light crept over Falkreath, Monilee remembered that she had never opened the two sealed letters from the courier.  

 

The first was a letter from Jarl Siddgeir, right here in Falkreath. It seemed, not to be outdone by Jarl Balgruuf, he now wished to also make Monilee a Thane of his hold. Under other circumstances, she would have made time to call on him, but under the circumstances she decided to defer. The other letter was more mysterious yet.

 

 

Winterhold was far away, but she suspected her journeys would take her there in the fullness of time. She'd have to investigate this... and also exercise caution. 

 

While Monilee read these letters, the rest of the party had roused and prepared for the road. Wasting no time, they pushed north and then west towards Markarth, finally pausing for a break at a large shrine of Dibella well along their course. Monilee asked Shayna if she would help her offer some prayers to the divine, a request to which the doppelganger eagerly complied.

 

 

As they rested afterwards, a thought came to Monilee.

 

"Didn't Auryen say one of his artifacts was at a camp near Markarth?"

 

"In fact," Shayna said, "He did. Are you thinking of taking a detour? I can show you the way." 

 

She led on, soon pausing to point.

 

"Up there, in the direction of that dwarven ruin. That's where you'll find the camp."

 

Lucien piped up, "You know, Shayna, you have a truly remarkable sense of direction."

 

She looked at him with the most innocent smile she could muster. "Yes, so I'm told. Some people even say it's... otherworldly."

 

"A fine gift, indeed. We are very fortunate to have you with us."

 

 

Creeping closer, soon they could see the camp. Reachmen, as expected - though Monilee had since learned that here in Skyrim they were known as Forsworn. Quietly, she reached for her bow, only to curse as her wrists stuck together again, wrenching painfully at her shoulders.

 

"Agh," she groaned, "I'll have to count on the rest of you. Let's get them while we have the benefit of surprise."

 

She might not have been able to wield her sword or bow, but Monilee could wield her voice, and between her thundering shout and the flashing swords of her companions, the Forsworn in the camp faltered and fled. It didn't take long to find the jade carving Auryen had tasked Monilee with retrieving. She'd have to pay him a visit when they next stopped over in Solitude. 

 

 

Test Results

On return to Falkreath, Cassia forcegreeted me but just made a generic comment and didn't offer any unique dialogue. Not sure if she was expected to deliver one of her event dialogues at this point. Initially this was a minor quirk, but on entry to Dead Man's drink she began fairly agressively forcegreeting Monilee, each time offering only generic conversation options. Used console command

Set VirginCassiaEnable to 0

To reset Cassia's actor state; will monitor future interactions to see if problem persists.

 

Continuing to monitor frequency of hardcore armbinder behavior compared to intended levels, but not messing with MCM settings yet until more core gameplay features can be tested at defaults.