Cearbhail:
Yup, another chapter done. And it will be the last one for a while. Need to catch up on the other stories, you know? Don't worry, maybe a week, maybe less. Anyway, I had fun with this chapter. Another new character...well, a few actually. Ok, a lot of new characters. Some will stay, some will...well...be in Raven Rock. Oh, you'll understand.
Oh...and enjoy. ^^
Dear diary of shadows,
It's like midnight. The sun has already set and we've just arrived back to Raven Rock. We managed to escape the mine alive. After Talvas took care of me and treated my poison, we ran into a doorway we needed to get past. He managed to open the doorway up and we found a trap hallway. Talvas got me drunk and I found out that when I drink alcohol I'm basically a badass martial artist…I mean more than I already am of course. I pretty much danced around the room filled with traps and I don't really remembered what happened, but next thing I knew we were fighting this ghost thing with a weird mask and a powerful staff which is now my staff. I got myself drunk again and beat the crap out of it, I think. I don't know, it's really fuzzy. But I woke up and Talvas was already up on his feet ready to go. We collected this really weird book that I want Master to look it. It seems to vibrate with dark magicka and I don't like it. I think he'd be better looking at such a thing.
Well, we found a staircase that led up. It led us right to some reaver lair. Talvas really wanted inside so he took the fight right to them when they tried to tie us up and do stuff to us, mostly me. Talvas tore them up and I kicked several of them in the balls. All in all, it was a pretty quick defeat. And I got to test my new staff out on a Reaver Lord. That was fun. Melted his head right off his shoulders. We ran from the camp and found ourselves on the shoreline. We swam for a bit to get away from some distant archers shooting at us. Once we got away, we could see Raven Rock. And now…we're finally back. I can't wait to go home and get this over with.
Veselle.
…
Raven Rock was all in a buzz by the time we entered the bulwark. Redoran guards ran up to greet up, hands armed with swords and shields. There were easily more than we could handle. The Redoran guards rushed up to us, their shields raised. I backed up, bumping into Talvas's back. "Talvas?"
He grabbed me by my shoulder and gave me a reassuring squeeze. "I don't think they're here to hurt us, Vess." He said. "They would have just shot us with arrows."
The guards surrounded us, and the ones behind us but their backs to ours. One of the guards pulled out a crystal ball and waved his hand over it. "Sir, we've got them. They're safe."
"Great. Bring them to the mine." I heard Captain Veleth's voice through the ball.
"What's going on?" I asked the guards surrounding us.
One of the guards looked down at me. "We're on full alert. We've been attacked the past three days by ash spawn and ash guardians. We were told to give you a full escort to the mine when you got here." The guards rushed as they led us straight to the mine. Several other guards rushed up to the bulwark, pulling out their weapons. "And if you think we're worse off…Tel Mithryn was attacked last night."
"It was?" Talvas asked. "Was anyone hurt?"
The guard nodded. "The steward was out collecting some canis root for Master Neloth…she was killed before the attack started. Then something happened, and Lord Neloth came out to investigate. He took the fight to them. He can tell you more."
I felt the book in my backpack hiss with enjoyment. It wanted war…something to confuse us and make us run around in circles. I couldn't explain it but…I felt like this book was a piece of whatever was going on around here. I looked over at Talvas. "This book…it seems pleased by what happened at our town."
Talvas glanced at me skeptically. "A book? Veselle…it's a book."
"It's an evil book." I said to him as I looked back at the guards. "Is Master Neloth here?"
The guard nodded. "He came here to find you. He tried to call you but there was some interference on your crystal ball. He came to collect you and bring you back for battle."
Battle? But…if he was here, who was guarding Tel Mithryn? The guards led us right up the staircase leading to the mine. The lead guard nodded to us and opened the mine door behind us, ushering us inside. He closed the door behind us. I saw Crescius standing over a table with Master Neloth. They were both looking over some map of the tunnels underneath the mine. "This is where I heard the girl scream." Crescius pointed to somewhere on the map.
"I think I understand. I will go on and bring them back." He looked up from the map. He turned for the mine, but once the door clicked shut, he turned to look at us. He sighed with relief. I could see six staffs all strapped to his back. I could see the scarring on his cloak. He looked like he hadn't slept in well…ever. Which he doesn't so he didn't really look all that different. "Veselle, Talvas? You are unharmed?" I smiled as I ran up to Master Neloth, wrapping him up in a hug. He begrudgingly hugged me back, tapping me on the back awkwardly. "There, there. You're still alive."
"Master!" I started crying into his chest. "It was so horrible. Can I please make Talvas forget the whole thing?"
He looked down at me, eyes wide. "You want to…erase Talvas's memory, not your own?"
I nodded. "We did things I'm not proud of."
Master sighed. He stuck out his hands, warm magic glowing in them. He placed his hand on my head and I felt him scanning my memories. I started reliving all the things I did when I was drunk. I didn't know I did even half of that. He pulled his hand off me and stuck his hand at Talvas. Before he could do anything, Master shot a green orb at him. It smacked Talvas right in the head and he took a step back. He reached for his head. "Ow…" He shook the green mist away. "Why do I feel like I've forgotten something?"
Master looked down at me and then over to Talvas. "I have hidden some of Veselle's more…embarrassing acts from your memory of the quest." He said and turned to face Crescius. "It would seem that my students have successfully cleaned out the mines."
I nodded. "We killed all the bad things." I pulled my backpack down and pulled out Gratian's journal. "Here is your ancestor's journal." I tossed it to him and he caught it. He opened it up and started reading.
"It would seem that the Company hid Gratian's death and blamed it on the mine's collapse. I guess this means the mine is safe to use again. Great…I'll start getting some miners ready to mine the ebony from inside it." Crescius smiled and bowed slightly to me. "Thank you, little girl. Because of you, Raven Rock is not dead yet."
I turned to Master and reached into my backpack. "Oh, Master. There is something I want to show you."
"Not more memories, I hope." He mumbled as I pulled out the blackish book. His eyes showed some surprise as he reached down to take the book. Once he grabbed onto it, I felt a shift in the book's evil energy. It was screaming in both pain and in joy. Master smirked. "Where…oh where…did you find this?" His voice was faint, like he was lost in his own world. "This…I've never felt any tomes like this before." He looked up at me. "This is very dangerous magic you've discovered. Did you open it?"
I shook my head. "No…It felt wrong."
He nodded. "Wrong indeed. But wrong can still mean powerful and resourceful." He held it in his hands and ran his hand over the leather cover. "Such power and knowledge behind this cover." He fuddled with the book, obviously considering opening it up. He finally sighed and stuffed it back in my bag. "Get that home and put that on my desk. I need to do some research before I commit myself to reading that thing. Actually…" He scratched his chin. "I've seen a book just like that one. In Nchardak." He looked at me. "Veselle, hand me the book. I will go home and prepare for our trip to Nchardak."
"Our trip?" I asked as I pulled out the black book and handed it to him.
Master nodded, taking the book from me. "Yes. It will be a great test of our newest resident, as well as the two farmer kids that want to be students. This new boy is a prodigy like yourself. He's studied magicka in Summerset Isles at the Resonance Institute and heard that I was looking for Telvanni mages. He asked his parents to come train under me. They accepted and I welcomed the boy with open arms. He truly is an interesting one to talk to. I put him in your room until I get done with his room."
"My room?"
Master nodded. "Is there an echo in this place? Yes, your room."
"But…you saw my memories. And you want to put some boy in my room?"
He nodded. "Are you planning on getting drunk and having your way with him? Are you really that susceptible to your base urges? I have no doubt he won't bother you. You'll see. He's…well…he's special."
"Special?" What the heck did that mean?
Master sighed. "Well, Veselle. I need to get back to Tel Mithryn and study this book. I will see you at home. But…before you come back, I do have an assignment. I need a new steward. Go find me one. Don't return home until you do. Oh…and make sure they can make a great cup of canis root tea. Oh…and there is one more thing. Tel Mithryn and Raven Rock have been warred upon by the ash spawn. The attacks have increased and I fear that it will only get worse. I may have to put more of my time, my daughter's, and Talvas's on finding out where they are coming from and how to get rid of them. Until such time is passed…you will be on independent study. Do be careful coming home. If you feel the last ash guardian was hard to defeat…wait until you face three at once as I have just coming down here." He didn't wait as he turned to the doorway. He looked back at me and then over to Talvas. "Good work you two. Talvas, you've had a long day. You are on official break. Please use your time repairing your damaged liver with Restoration magic. Take a look at Veselle's whole body if you can. Her liver and brain may have suffered a great defeat…as well as her stomach."
Talvas nodded. "Yes, sir." Master closed the door behind him, leaving me alone with Talvas and Crescius. Talvas looked at me, arching an eyebrow. "What happened down in the mines that you had to have my memories removed?"
I stuck my tongue out. "You'll never know. And you're lucky; if Master didn't do it…I would have done it with my fists. I would have beaten your head in until you forgot."
He sighed. "Was I so drunk that I started making out with you?" My face blushed so quickly that he nodded and turned to leave. "Ok…well, sorry I did that. It's hard when you're so cute." He pinched my cheek and I punched him in the side. He grunted and started walking for the door. "Good luck replacing Verona." He turned and left through the door behind him. "I'll see you back at Tel Mithryn." He said to me as he closed the door behind him.
I looked at the old man and crossed my arms. "You almost killed me with that key."
He shrugged. "Sorry?"
I nodded. "Accepted." I snapped around and walked through the door, slamming it behind me. The guards stood by the door, their swords out and ready for whatever may come. I saluted the guards, saying, "Good job, soldiers. Mission: Protect cute little girl accomplished. Return to your bunks and take a nap."
One of the guards looked at the others, snickering. "Maybe we should recruit her as our squad leader."
Another guard looked down at me. "You are still on alert watch, Veselle. Those reavers know what you look like…and if there is a Telvanni witch out there collecting bodies…she may want yours next. We're here to protect you." I guess that made sense, but I didn't want them following me all day.
"Well…just walk around town and keep suspicious people from causing trouble." I sighed as I walked down into the market square. It was in the middle of the night so…everyone was asleep. I looked back at the guards, sighing. "Ok…I'll admit, it's creepy out here. Um…go ahead and keep watch over me. Are you guys going to escort me home too?"
They nodded. "We are your assigned body squad. We're team Alchemy. Team Battle will replace us at 0600." The guard with the red painted band around his shoulder said as he pounded his chest. That red ring on his right shoulder plate probably meant that he was the squad leader or something. I really didn't know.
I nodded to the leader. "Ok…thanks. Any of you guys know someone who would like to become Master Neloth's steward?"
They shared a look for a second before they busted up laughing. "See, we should recruit her! She'd just make our lives so much easier." I puffed my cheeks in fake anger and I tapped my foot in the ash of the ground. The same guard looked at me, putting his hand up. "Sorry, Veselle. It's just…there is no one in town crazy enough to put up with him."
"Well…I can't return home until I find someone. And that means I'll have to buy a home here and put everyone in constant trouble since I can't control my flames yet. I could get emotional and blow up half the town." I said in fake horrified pout.
The leader sighed. "Try in the Retching Netch. Bet someone there is drunk enough to say 'yes'."
And so I did just that. I sighed as I stepped into the Retching Netch. It was an inn…as well as a cornerclub. People were sitting in the tables, all drinking something with alcohol in it. Probably sujamma…or flin. I didn't really care to be honest. I looked around. There was some guy dressed in full chitin armor. He just sat there, staring at me through his traveling turban chitin mask, complete with an ash filter. There was a screen so tiny weaved that it kept all the ash from entering his breathing tube. And there was a hole underneath it where all the ash fell when he exhaled. It was one of our better ideas throughout our time living in ash storms.
Sitting at another table was this richly dressed Orc with a brute-looking Dunmer standing near him. I didn't know much about him, but I got a certain look in his eyes that told me I should stay away from him. I decided to take my chances with the masked chitin merc. I waved to him and walked up to him. I bowed to him, gesturing to the chair. "Mind if I sit?" He waved me to join him and dipped his head in respect to me. I pulled a stool out and jumped up. He waited there, still looking at me. I waited for him to say something, but he never did. "I have a question." He didn't move anything, but he did start tapping his finger on the table, like he was starting to get impatient. "Um…my name is Veselle Tenvanni. I'm an apprentice to Lord Neloth, over at Tel Mithryn. It would seem that his steward was killed by ash spawn. Master Neloth wanted me to find a replacement for her. Would you…um…be willing to…you know…take her spot?"
He looked at me and then reached into his pocket. He pulled out a pad and a quill. He dipped his quill in an ink pot sitting on the table. He started writing on his pad. He tore a page off and handed it to me. I held it up and read it. I'm not steward material. I'm a soldier; a mercenary. If you need a guard, I will be more than willing to assist.
I nodded to him. "Well, I'm sure we could use one now that we've been attacked more. Mind coming back with me to talk to Master Neloth about it?" He nodded and stuck out his hand for a handshake. I shook on it. "Ok, I'm going to go find a steward now. I'll be back once I find him or her." He nodded and I wrote out on his pad again. He pulled it off and passed it to me. My name is Teldryn Sero. It is a pleasure to meet you, Veselle Tenvanni. I bowed to him and stepped away from his table. I looked down the stairs and heard someone laughing down there. So, I went down the stairs, finding a whole other level down here. People were drinking, singing, and dancing. I noticed some of the people from town dancing and drinking sujamma. It seemed like a fun time and I really wanted to join them. The problem was that I really wanted to get home and collapse on my bed.
I walked through the dancers up to the bartender. He eyed me as I sat down. "I need some help."
He blinked while he wiped down a shot glass. "I can't serve you, if that's what you mean. You're just a child."
I chuckled and shook my head. "I've already crossed that bridge last night. I've drank enough to put everyone here under the table twice."
"You probably shouldn't do that." He admitted and handed me a shot glass. "Want some non-alcoholic cider?"
I shrugged. "Sure. But…" He poured me a glass of cider and passed it to me. "I'm really here to find a steward for Mater Neloth."
The bartender nodded. "Everyone comes here with some sort of sob story; I guess you gave up when no one would take you up on the offer?"
I shook my head. "I only just started. Know anyone who would…you know…put up with him?"
"Besides you?" He asked sarcastically. He turned around and looked at some guy stocking the shelves with flin and sujamma. "Hey, Drovas! Didn't you want to serve the Telvanni Lord Neloth?"
He turned and nodded. "Of course, sir! It was always my dream to serve the man that saved my life the night of the Argonian raid."
The bartender pointed to me. "Today's your lucky day. Lord Neloth needs a new steward. Think you can handle that?"
Drovas smiled, jumping up and down…basically fanboying all over the place. "Oh my gods, oh my gods… can I? Can I really?" He asked as he ran up to me, grabbing both my hands and squeezing them. He jumped up and down while clamping down on my hands, squeezing them like…well, I don't have anything to compare it to, sorry. Was he being sarcastic…or was he being serious?
He looked so enthusiastic, that I looked away, squinting at him. "Are you serious?" He nodded, so I looked back at him. "Ok…but before I say 'yes.' Can you make canis root tea?"
He nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, yes, a thousand times YES!" He screamed to the ceiling and I looked back at the bartender. The bartender shrugged and I got the feeling he was saying, 'He's your problem now.' Great…but…I kinda like this energy he has. If he maintains this enthusiasm, life at the Telvanni mushroom town would be so much…well…lively.
I looked back at Drovas and forced a large smile. "Ok…you're in. Come with me; I'll take you back to Tel Mithryn with…um…our new guard." I tried to reach for my glass of cider, but Drovas grabbed my hand and pulled me upstairs. He actually tried to rush me because he wanted to move into the steward's house as soon as possible. I reached out for my glass of cider, wishing it a great journey to find someone worth drinking it. Drovas pulled me to the exit and I looked over at Teldryn and waved him to join us. He stood up from his table, securing his elven blade to his belt and jogging to catch up with us. The Redoran guards outside were still waiting for me. When Drovas pulled me outside, he started pulling me towards Tel Mithryn. I looked back at Teldryn and the guards. "Ok…we're going back to Tel Mithryn now. Hope everyone is ok with that."
The walk back to Tel Mithryn was harder than it normally was. Ash spawn would pop out of the ground and shoot balls of ash at us. I got to see the Redoran guards do their jobs. Three of them took out their bows and started shooting arrows at the monsters. The other three drew their swords and charged in. I took off my two staffs and put Drovas behind me. "Stay behind me. You're my ticket home to my bed. So…stay here." I stood by and let the guards do their job.
Teldryn unsheathed his elven blade and walked in front of me. He handed me a slip of paper. My payment for my services to House Telvanni is to become a full member of House Telvanni. Agreed?
I shrugged. "You have to speak to Master Neloth about that." Teldryn nodded and brought his sword up into the air. Magicka started glowing around his body, collecting into his blade. His blade started shooting lightning all around until it covered the whole blade. He pushed off the ground, disappearing into this really fast sprint that I could barely track. A trail of ash flew up right behind him like a giant wall. He reappeared behind a couple ash spawn. He spun his sword and the lightning rolled off his blade like I saw with the red blade Talvas collected earlier. His blade seemed to disrupt the ash in the ash spawn. They started falling apart long enough for him to reach and grab the heart stones. He flashed from one opponent to the next, each one falling underneath his blade like it was nothing. He helped the Redoran guards mop up the remaining heart stones and ash spawn.
When the battle finished, the guards formed up around me, Teldryn standing right next to me with his sword unsheathed. He put it in front of me like he was using it as a shield for me. The rest of the walk was pretty easy, really. We got back to Tel Mithryn, which was surrounded by a massive protection circle, bigger than any I had seen earlier. Master must have thrown it up to keep anyone from attacking the tower. The Redoran guards weren't able to enter so I bowed to them and said goodnight to them. They concluded their duty and returned to Raven Rock. I gave permission to Drovas and Teldryn to enter the circle. They were able to cross and I directed them to the large tower.
"Ok, guys. Master Neloth is up there. Just go talk to him. Well…Teldryn, I guess you'll just have to write to him." I bowed to them both. "I hope to see you first thing in the morning. If Master is unsure of either of you, tell him I gave you my full assurance that you both belong here."
Teldryn nodded and stuck out his hand for a handshake. I shook his hand but he pulled me in for a hug. He patted me on the back and gestured for Drovas to take the lead. The two of them walked to the tower, while Teldryn looked around for any threats that might somehow breach the circle of protection. I doubt it, though. But he kept his hand resting on his sword's pummel. He'd be a great member of our growing family. Speaking of which…I think I had someone waiting for me in my room.
I pulled my leather door cover open and walked inside. There, lying in the corner of the room was someone roughly younger than me. He looked 12ish? It's hard to tell with boys; they don't go through their growth spurts as quickly as girls did. He wasn't sleeping; he was reading a book. He looked at me and then went back to his book. I nodded to him and I stuck out my hand, waving to him. "Hi, I'm Veselle Tenvanni. I'm guessing you're my new roommate?"
The boy sat up, looking at me. He cleared his throat and pulled out a massive pile of paper. "I've taken this opportunity to draft up our first roommate agreement." He stood up and passed it to me. "Since it is your room, I made it favorable to you. Section One affirms that the 'bed'…" He made air quotes. "is your spot and that I will not interfere with your spot. However, this corner of the room…" He gestured to where he was sitting. "is my spot. Do not enter my spot; do not breathe in my spot. If there was one spot on the planet that I said revolved around my entire being…this is that one spot. So, don't go near it. Section 2 covers all forms of personal contact. There will be none. Do not touch me, I don't want your nasty germs on me. Section 3 covers whistling. There will be none. I, in turn, will not practice throat singing. Section 4…"
…
317 sections later, I was finally allowed to sign the fierfeking paper and lie down on my bed. But, by the time I could do so, Master Neloth was already entering my room, screaming, "It's time to wake up, Apprentices. We have quite a journey on our hands. Nchardak awaits." I sighed as I put a pillow on my head.
Cearbhail:
Ok, I tried to make it painfully obvious. The new apprentice is modeled off of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. Yeah, I thought it would be nice to have someone like him in the story. Anyway, Teldryn will be like that superhero mercenary batman, bloodstain personality. He'll start talking soon. Maybe. I haven't decided yet. But he's a pretty badass spellsword nontheless. Enjoy the future readings.
