Author's note: During her analysis of a papyrus log - see notes below - @VirginMarie noticed unexpected behavior that is likely to cause long term problems with this save; specifically, on-load update functions for Toys and SLaVE were not appearing in the log when expected. We're still analyzing, but to ensure that we are generating accurate test data, it's likely that will soon export my characters and start a new game using version 8.0.1 (or whatever the latest release is at the time). Hopefully Project Proteus will live up to the hype and allow for minimal disruption in the case of characters. However, when this process starts you should expect to see several days go by before there's another story update. Sorry, but it's an occupational hazard of beta testing!

 

Monilee was tempted to press on straight to the temple, but she remembered her plan to give Shayna a present, and so stopped over first at the blacksmith's forge. With some help from she smith, a gruff Orcish woman, they repaired and adjusted her fine leather armor. Giving it a quick test fit, Monilee found it comfortable and perfectly balanced, to say nothing of gorgeous. Under other circumstances, she might have kept it for herself. But her armor was a gift from Dibella, and so Monilee offered the leathers to Shayna. 

 

 

"Oh," Edippa purred, "what a finely dressed pair of daughters I have. Oho, Shayna, did you copy Monilee's body paint? You could have asked me, you know, and I would have done it for you."

 

Shayna smiled tolerantly, "No, mother, that's fine. I just couldn't help myself when I saw that Monilee had changed her look." 

 

If Edippa understood what was really going on, she didn't let on. They shared a little laugh, then started to ascend the stone steps into the central district of the city. Once upon a time, its lower levels had held a chapel dedicated to Talos, now abandoned. The arsenal tower, home to the Markarth Guard's barracks, rose up in the east, an erect counterpoint to the more feminine architecture of Dibella's temple which crowned the highest levels of the district. In an earlier life, the flights of stairs might have taken the wind out of Monilee, but now she bestrode them with confidence until the gates of the temple itself lay before the party. 

 

 

Monilee expected to find a bustling hive of activity behind the door. Pilgrims coming and going, priestesses conducting services, temple dancers and magical amusements of all sorts. But instead, the temple was quiet and still. Even more so than the very staid temple of the divines in Solitude, really. Entering into the temple's antechamber, Monilee quickly spotted one of the women who had accompanied Mother Hamal when they met before the city gates.

 

 

"I'm sorry, but the temple is closed," she said, worry written on her face, "you may pray at the shrine, but the other sisters are in seclusion."

 

"Seclusion?" Monilee asked, "what happened? Mother Hamal told me to meet her here."

 

"I'm so sorry, Dragonborn, but I truly cannot say more. These ae sacred... and secret matters that only the members of the temple can know of. Please, come in and offer your prayers. I know your fate is important to Dibella. Tarry as long as you need to if you require rest. But do not ask me to tell you more." 

 

Monilee noticed Edippa's concerned look, but before she could say anything the older woman made a quick, almost imperceptible flick of her head as if to say 'not here.'

 

She was about to make her excuses and depart when something tugged her back to the present. Did she see a flicker of motion out of the corner of her eye? When she turned to look she found herself looking directly at the shrine against the south wall. Was she meant to commune with Dibella as well? Monilee undressed and genuflected before the shrine, opening her heart to Dibella's love.

 

 

Powerful sensations flooded through her. Chill mountain winds. The deep thromb of orcish drums. The taste of blood - or iron - on her tongue. A sense of foreboding, of dark power only barely contained. And a word. 

 

Valthume. 

 

And then she was back in the temple, flushed and sweating slightly, trying to grab hold of the memories of her vision before they vanished like an untended dream.

 

"Shayna," she said breathlessly, "Do you know the way to Valthume?"

 

Monilee's doppelganger considered that for a moment. 

 

"Valthume... now why would you want to go there?"

 

"I sensed... power. Dark power, a threat to the temple. I have to go there."

 

"Now hold on justa minute," Barbas interjected, "If you start chasing after old Hev- well, nevva mind that, but it's the wrong way from the axe. The axe, remember? The one you promised to get for my master?"

 

Monilee ruffled the fur on the dog's head. "I haven't forgotten, Barbas. It'll just be a little detour."

 

"Oh, sure," the dog shot back, "That what all you heroes say. Trust me, you're not the first."

 

"So," Monilee veered the conversation back on track, "Shayna, do you know the way?"

 

"Oh, sure. I used to go to Dushnik Yal all the time. Trust me, you've never sampled true humilation until you experience what the orcs can dish out."

 

"Right. True humiliation... wearing some innocent hero's face?"

 

Shayna returned a beaming grin, "Of course!"

 

Edippa just slowly shook her head. "I'm not sure I want to know." 

 

"Oh, mother, of course you want to know. There are things you can do with wet rawhide that will..."

 

Monilee gave her a light punch on the shoulder about a second before Lydia tried something more drastic to end this conversation. "Enough of that! Show us the way, Shayna."

 

Reluctantly ending her lecture on orcish hospitality, Shayna led the party east, back over the bridge by which they'd arrived the night before, and then south along a rough trail. Alert for bandits and Forsworn, they proceeded south through rolling hills and gradually up into the mountains. With each mile they traveled, Monilee could feel the power resonating deep inside her, warming her and roiling her humors. By the time the gates of the orcish fortress loomed up before her, she was practically seeing double with arousal.

 

 

Shayna whispered in her ear. "I feel how hot you are," she said, "Go in there, and you'll experience things you can't imagine. When, if, they let you out, you'll be a changed person."

 

Monilee would have been lying if she said she wasn't curious, but she cut off the notion and refocused on her task. 

 

"How do we get to Valthume from here?"

 

Shayna groaned in disgust and disappointment. "Where's your sense of adventure? Fine. There's a trail east from the stronghold. It'll take you right to the entrance. Spoilsport."

 

The continued on for the better part of the afternoon, as Monilee increasingly panted and drooled and stumbled. At last, the massive stone blocks of Valthume's entrance were before them, but before Monilee could move a step forward she gasped and collapsed in an orgasmic seizure. When she recovered, she panted, "The place is drawing power from all around and concentrating it. I don't know what is going on, but it has something to do with why the sisters have gone into seclusion. We have to stop what's happening here. We have to stop it now!"

 

Her libido drained for the moment, Monilee recovered her footing and her composure, and the party entered Valthume's dark halls. 

 

 

 

Test Results

• Attempted to replicate "save during spontaneous orgasm" fault reported in forums. Save functions (both normal and quicksave) were locked out.
• While monitoring for "long animation syndrome" observed an unusual spontaneous orgasm event with several unexpected elements to it. Papyrus log provided to the author for analysis.

 

Compatibility Notes

• Sisterhood of Dibella: Sisterhood static xx00C6CF is interposed with SLaVE static xx0A1C4B. C4B is a vanilla Dibella statues (base ID 0008F96B), 6CF is a Sisterhood custom Dibella statue. The worship interact on C4B was not obstructed by 6CF. Experienced users should choose one record or the other, merge the characteristics of the two, and disable the other record (probably whichever is the later-loading since I believe they both have scripted behavior associated with them).