The Bard lead them down the winding backstreets of Whiterun into the Red Light District. On the edge of which was The Laughing Maid. It was the only true inn and tavern in the Red Light District. Every other such establishment was a brothel or a winesink.
Yew felt a thrill being here. He was fairly sure that in his earth life, he hadn't been to such a place. And sure, it lacked glamor, but it still had an appeal. Less like a real slum, and more of a slightly glamorized fantasy slum, the kind you might find in movies or on tv. Even most of the streetwalkers seemed attractive, though he hadn't seen many, and they were still on the borderland between this district and the rest of the city. Even more, there was a tingle of the forbidden here, and of ready ways to satisfy his everpresent lust.
Looking over the Yew of Tamriel though...he wasn't sure if during his time at court and apprenticed to the Order if he had ever found himself looking for members of the oldest profession and enjoying their service. His memories were still relatively spotty and unclear. But he felt like he was getting closer. He had a fairly good feeling that talking to the Bard was key to advancing, both his objective as a Druid and his objective of himself.
The inn itself was filled with an assortment of interesting characters. The serving maids were quite attractive, and wore dresses that exposed much of their cleavage and legs, while also clinging tightly around their hips and backsides. Among the customers were a few grubby sorts, likely residents of the district and poverty-ridden. It was clear these residents didn't receive much of the benefits of living in a fantasy world. The other portion were the more mysterious collection. These were people who wore better clothing and often carried weapons. These were either adventurers or members of higher classes within Whiterun.
The Bard and Freya headed immedietly for a table near the back. Yew noticed that everyone here kept their weapons strapped, it was usually the case, as far as he had seen, for those with weapons to unstrap them and put them on the floor. People would occasionally keep daggers strapped, and mercenary sorts like Ivan seemed to keep strapped almost always as well. Yew felt tense already. His wolf's fur was standing on end.
Yew felt eyes on him as he walked through the inn. Many of them seemed curious or on edge. He saw a few hands stray towards hilts. Once he sat down though, people started to relax and talk in a more normal voice. Uthgerd and Greta took seats beside him.
"What was that about?" Yew asked to Freya.
"You came here with a wolf. You seem to be a member of the old faith. People have mixed feelings about those folk around here." Freya said.
"Old Faith?" Yew asked.
"The more traditional worship of Kyne by native nords. People associate such folk with strange magic and madness." Freya said.
"Fascinating. I'd like to learn more about how the old faith is practiced here in Skyrim. But that can be saved for another time." Yew said.
A maid who had been discussing things fervently with an older woman and a man with a rather thick beard, made her way over to the table.
"Uh excuse me sir, your...wolf has been causing a bit of a stir." The maid said. The Bard took out a few coins and tossed them on the table.
"Thank you kindly for your patronage. " She said, giving a bit of a curtsy.
"It's fine. A buxom maiden like you shouldn't have to worry about a little extortion to earn her coin. That outfit should be enough." The Bard said.
"I thank you kindly milady thane." The maid said and gave her deeper curtsey.
"Careful now, or everyone will spy your womanhood." Freya said.
"You'll need to pay me more then that madame." The maid said.
"I like you. Now, what would you recommend?" Yew said. They made their order and she swayed off.
"Let's get down to it. What do you want to talk with me about?" The Bard said.
"I wanted to talk to you about your powers, and to get the measure of you. First things first though...what's your name?" Yew asked.
"Measure of me and my powers? What're your intentions?" The Bard asked.
"My intentions are as I've said. To preserve the balance. Of the natural world. Between the civilized and the natural. To ensure that things are kept stable. That's all." Yew said.
"Stable huh? Stable doesn't necessarily mean just." The Bard said.
"Justice isn't my prerogative here. I haven't got any business in deciding Skyrim's justice for Skyrim. I mean only to make sure the world isn't in jeopardy and then return to High Rock." Yew said.
"Huh. So you don't want anything for yourself?" The Bard said.
"I want plenty for myself. However I am not so selfish as to leave the natural world to be destroyed when it's calling out in need. The gods and spirits of nature are calling out in aid, and you might be the one who needs to answer that call." Yew said.
The Bard looked thoughtful and tapped on the table with a finger.
"These gods you worship...who are they?" The Bard asked.
"The teachings of the Druidic order is to be kept only to the Order and those who follow the Old Faith of High Rock." Yew said.
"Even what gods you worship?" Freya asked.
"Yes. We worship all that is apart of natures' harmony. That's all outsiders need to know." Yew said. He didn't need to keep the Gods he worshiped secret. That was hardly one of the closely guarded secrets of the order. However, druids on a misson were allowed a certain degree of clemency with what information they handed out to targets of their missions. He was allowed to play things as close to the chest as he chose and could give out more information then he would normally be allowed to, excluding secret teachings of the Order.
By keeping things a bit mysterious he was testing her, gauging her reactions.
"So...I'm guessing you worship Kynereath?" The Bard said.
"Not as such.' Yew said.
"Kyne then." The Bard said.
"...Correct." Yew said.
"Names are important to you then?" The Bard said.
"Names are important to everyone. And what they stand for. Kyne means the untamed wild, Kynereath is the more...civilized aspects. Agriculture and the like." Yew said.
"So that's the difference." The Bard said.
"Precisely. Speaking of names. You never told me yours." Yew asked.
"I haven't. Now who else do you worship." The Bard said.
"There's no sense in trying to guess. Let's talk about when you learned about your gift. This...voice you use." Yew said.
"Not yet. I don't turn down riddles and you've presented me with a fairly interesting one. The Druids of Galen...that's what your order is called if I remember correctly. You are a renewal of the order that defined the Bretons of High Rock far in the past. They were even closer to the Elves then they are today. Which means they wouldn't be opposed to worshipping the same gods. Now, who was that Bosmeri god...Y'ffre right?" The Bard said.
"Correct again. However I didn't present to you the Gods of my faith as a test to be solved." Yew said.
"Yes you did. Of course you did. Now then...I wonder how your order feels about Daedra?" The Bard said.
"Daedra? I'm afraid I don't know what you mean." Yew said.
"Surely you know what Daedra are?" Greta said.
"I'm aware of the concept. Those spiritual entities arbitrarily split off from the so-called "Aedra" right?" Yew said.
"Huh. So I'm guessing you do worship them don't you...Hircine, I suspect. Considering his association with beasts and the hunt." The Bard said.
"Correct. Knowing this gains you little, you do realize." Yew said.
"It gains me self satisfaction. That's very important. It also gains me your respect." The Bard said.
"As I said. It gains you little. You have self-satisfaction in spades. And I'm not someone whose respect you need to gain, Milady Thane." Yew said.
"I'd rather not be called milady. And a woman like me...I'm a woman of the people. Never know whose respect you might need when your on the road." The Bard said.
"This is very true. Though friends usually call each other by their names." Yew said.
"How many more gods do you worship, druid of Galen." The Bard said.
"That depends on the druid in question. But if you want to know the Order itself prioritizes a limited selection of Gods. Those who best aligned with our principals. Who see the need in balance." Yew said.
"So less than eight huh? Maybe half?" The Bard said.
"What is your game exactly Bard?" Yew said.
"I'm merely participating in the game you started. You can't simply deny telling a bard a story and then not allow them the chance to guess at it. To pick it apart until it unravels." The Bard said.
It was Yew's turn to look thoughtful. This was certainly not what he had thought this conversation would go. However, he was getting the distinct impression that he had been right about her being from another world like he was. It was clear that she knew more then she should. Otherwise, how was she able to so easily solve this.
Then again...bardic lore was a thing in DnD wasn't it? In RPG's wasn't it common for Bards to be highly knowledgeable about the world?
"Alright then. I'll play along. Unraveling riddles is a worthy enough pursuit. What's your last guess." Yew said.
"Namira." The Bard said. With that the table took a much more tense atmosphere. Greta gasped. Uthgerd scowled and even Freya, who had been watching more or less amused, seemed taken off guard. The room went again, suddenly quiet.
"You shouldn't speak her name." Greta hissed.
"You dare accuse Yew of such heinous practices. I ought to slay you where you stand." Uthgerd said, her hand on her hilt. Freya's hand went towards her own sword hilt.
"Hold. The Bard didn't do anything wrong. She is in fact correct. My order does worship Lady Namira in her aspect of mistress of decay and darkness. Everything has it's place in nature. Even those things considered unsettling by most mortals." Yew said.
Greta and Uthgerd looked at Yew with conflicted expressions on their face.
"But...the cult of Namira..." Greta said.
"There's a reason we don't let them worship in the light. They commit horrible acts." Uthgerd said.
"I'm sorry to hear that. But our worship of Namira doesn't involve anything horrible, I assure you. " Yew said.
"It's true, as far as I can know. His order is known more for curing diseases then spreading them. There's reasons they've displaced the old Mage's Guild. Part of them is a certain generosity towards the people." The Bard said.
"So you do know about my order." Yew said.
"Enough. I've been to High Rock before. Good food, interesting people, didn't care for the politics." The Bard said.
"Politics seem complicated here as well though." Yew said.
"Not to my eyes. Fairly simple easy. You wear a red cloak or a blue cloak and bash open the heads of those wearing the opposite cloak. Key is just don't wear cloaks and you'll be fine." The Bard said.
"I see. So you care little for this dispute between the Stormcloaks and the Empire?" Yew said.
"Why would I? Neither Ulfric nor Tullius has done one thing that has kept me fed nor saved my skin. Nor has the Empire or Skyrim for that matter. My loyalty is to myself." The Bard said.
"Fair enough. I have no real allegiance to either side myself. But please now, this is thrice I've asked it of you. Will you tell me your name?" Yew said.
"Yes of course. My name is Jasmine. It's good to meet you. So let's talk honestly." The Bard said.
"I haven't been speaking falsely." Yew said.
"Yes, but you haven't been telling me the whole truth have you?" Jasmine said.
"That's true enough, but neither have you." Yew said.
Jasmine got up and strolled over to the bar. She slapped some coins down on the table.
"I'll take a room." Jasmine said.
"Ok then. Here's your key. Upstairs, first room on the left." The bartender said.
"Perfect. Follow me then Druid. We'll discuss things alone." Jasmine said.
"Sorry. I'll have to do this. You enjoy your dinner." Yew said and nodded at his companions.
"I understand." Greta said.
"Be careful." Uthgerd said.
Yew followed her to the room. As soon as he entered she closed and locked the door behind them.
"May I ask what's going on?" Yew said. He was trying to keep cool, but quite frankly, he was worried. If she tried to kill him, he wouldn't know how to respond.
To Yew's surprise she began taking off her sword and toeing off her boots.
"Take off your weapons and robes." Jasmine said.
"What exactly is the purpose of this meeting?" Yew said. He felt his lust grow as Jasmine took off her jerkin, exposing her perky breasts held up by a bra.
"I need to know that I can trust you. So disregard your weapons and take off your robes." Jasmine said as she began taking off her pants.
Yew did so, it was the best way to avoid staring too much at Jasmine's curves.
"What exactly was the point of this? Both of us have access to magic." Yew said, as he stood in his own underwear.
"It's the principal of the matter. Symbolism, making ourselves more vulnerable will increase trust. Besides, you can learn a lot of things by asking people to strip." Jasmine said.
"Oh really?" Yew said.
"Yes. Like you for example. You either aren't packing very much or you don't particularly like the ladies. Or maybe I'm just not your type." Jasmine said, pointing to the front of Yew's underwear, noting the...underdevolped bulge.
"Ah. There it is, looks a bit stiffer now. Fascinating." Jasmine said.
"My eyes are up here." Yew said.
"Yeah. Yeah. So what's the deal? You end up here in a different body too?" Jasmine asked.
"...Yes. So I was right about my assumption towards you as well." Yew said.
"Are you from earth?" She asked.
"Yes. Skyrim and the Elder scrolls were just games in my world." Yew said.
"I know. I've played it dozens of times." Jasmine said.
"Really? I had only just started playing it. I'm more familiar with tabletops and CRPGs then the Elder scrolls. But I had finally gotten around to starting it the night before I came here. I didn't get too far." Yew said.
"Ha. Nerd." Jasmine said.
"You just said you've played Skyrim dozens of times." Yew said.
"Skyrim is much less geeky then D&D though." Jasmine said. Yew just shook his head.
"I'm teasing. You look kinda cute when your upset." Jasmine said.
"So...have you told anyone?" Yew asked.
"No. And you shouldn't either. At best it accomplishes nothing. At worst it could mean they think we're insane or worse, the gods of this place might intervene against us." Jasmine said.
"Apparently we are here for a reason. I'm supposed to find a chosen one and help guide them. I think...no I'm pretty sure that person is you." Yew said.
"Ok. Well, that's great and all, but I have no interest in being the chosen one." Jasmine said.
"What do you mean?" Yew asked.
"I quickly got bored of completing Skyrim for the main plot. Mostly I had been playing it for mods and roleplaying characters." Jasmine said.
"So you don't want to save this world because you got bored of playing a video game in your prior life?" Yew said.
"No. I'll still save the world if it means that I get to stay here and remain alive. I just have no interest in being some kind of chosen one. If I need to kill Alduin, I'll do it, but as for all that other stuff, let someone else do it, I'd rather solidify my own destiny." Jasmine said.
"Alduin?" Yew asked.
"He's who's causing all this chaos. The world eater that may put all of our fun to an end. Anyway, I'll end him if I need to. I just don't want to do all the prep work. Besides the training. I quite like developing my skills here." Jasmine said.
"What prepwork?" I asked.
"Alduins going to go to Sovengard, which is basically Nord Valhalla, and I'll need to kill him there. Everything else is just build-up to that. And it's boring. I want to get drunk, get into fights and duels, seduce attractive people, and be a bard. I have no interest in the civil war or the damn Blades or any of that." Jasmine said.
Yew sighed, this was going to be harder then he anticipated.
"Fine then. When will that be happening?" Yew said.
"The game progressed at the pace of the player. So I have no idea. You seem to have all kinds of mystical knowledge. Maybe you can figure that out." Jasmine said.
Yew hoped he could, otherwise, there was a few glaring flaws in this whole "save the world from destruction" plan the gods have cooked up.