bakerstreet | Love on an Adventure

Love on an Adventure

LOVE ON AN ADVENTURE meme

Lucky you. For a while, you get to eschew a normal life and see life past your door; you're going on a quest! It could be for personal reasons, for fun, for profit, or to save the world as you know it. In all likelihood, it's the latter, given the natural order of things, but hopefully it's not. Whatever the case may be, you won't be going it alone, however. Whether it's just you and a partner or a true fellowship, you've got people to back you up. You may not all start out as the best of friends, that's true - still, the fires of potential life or death scenarios or the threat of losing your booty draw you closer together, and a friendship forms.

With one member of your party, more than friendship grows between you.

But wait, you have to defeat the dark lord, find the oldest wand, fight evil by moonlight, create a giant robot, or any other number of tasks. There's no time for this sort of nonsense! Actually, you may push them away because of the mission or due to past wounds that tie into said mission. Maybe, though, you can steal moments to get closer, let a romance blossom...or more.

HOW to PLAY

Comment with your character, preferences, and any other info - ie, keep it PG, etc.
Even though I used a fantasy picture, don't feel constrained! In Harry Potter, they have to find a wand, in Supernatural, the Colt, in Avatar, they have to fight the Fire Lord, etc.
Feel free to AU your character or include information about them.
Reply to others.

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The tall Dunmer bounds at the creature's outstretched neck, plunging his sword into it. Desperately it tries to thrash away as the flames continue to scorch the wound, but the elf grabs on with unnatural strength.

There are potions that can increase strength and stamina; in the corner of his mind not focused on the dragon, he presumes the unnatural strength is a result of such a brew.

He plunges his own sword into a point further along the dragon's neck, lightning crackling along the wound - and perhaps there's a second enchantment on the sword that effects only dragons, because it seems the blows from the Akaviri blade hurt it far more than any flames.

The dragon's strength is rapidly ebbing - its struggle is subsiding, as its efforts to throw him from his neck grow too feeble to threaten him. It's practically dead already - no sense in delaying the inevitable. He digs in deeper, levering the blade across the dragon's spine.

He expected the loud SNAP. But he certainly isn't expecting that swirling vortex of flame emerging from its disintegrating corpse. He tumbles off the beast's neck.

The young man who's been fighting the dragon alongside him doesn't seem surprised by the light show; he is surprised when it's drawn off away from either of them, apparently absorbed by a tall figure in dark robes and a face-covering mask horribly suggestive of writhing tentacles.

The figure speaks in a faintly echoing voice, apparently addressing the young Imperial. "It takes a strong will to command a dragon's soul. Perhaps you aren't as powerful as you think." Once the storm of swirling light subsides, the dark figure chuckles mockingly. "Thank you for your help. We will meet again soon."

The young man rushes toward the masked man - who vanishes as abruptly as he appeared.

The Dunmer slowly lifts himself to a crawl. He'd seen - or at least heard - enough of this stranger's encounter for his interest to be piqued. He had known of the coming of dragons - even of the visit to Sovngarde to defeat Alduin, as the Aetheronauts had detected it. But this masked man is an anomaly. Perhaps this was the source of the disturbances.

For now, though, his helmet has jostled loose. More to the point, he seems to have had the wind knocked out of him.

He won't admit it, but he probably wouldn't mind a hand.

Edited 2015-10-14 04:28 (UTC)

The Imperial gives the spot where the masked stranger was standing one last, dubious look before turning his attention back to his erstwhile ally.

He quickly casts Healing Hands -while it wasn't a far drop from the dragon's neck to the ground, it's entirely possible for the Dunmer to have landed badly and been more injured than he looks- and once the spell's done its work he offers a hand getting up.

"I'm sorry you had to get caught up in that," he says, though it's an open question whether 'that' is referring to the battle or the strange encounter with the masked man.

"Mmmf, I've fought bigger," he mutters. He runs a hand through his long red hair, staring at the ground as he secures his helmet once again before his gaze finally rises to meet...well, now. Now that's...well. Eyes, and...

Gods, has it been so long? He supposes it has. And it's not like he's off in his assessment.

He banishes the thought. A moment of weakness, brought about by dizziness. A few centuries of experience have certainly granted him enough maturity to be an adult and move on to the true matter at hand.

"Who was that? And what does he want with you?"

Edited 2015-10-14 05:00 (UTC)

Whatever the mer recognizes in him, it doesn't seem to be mutual. The mortal's expression remains one of faint concern until the redhead is standing under his own power. At which point he too is willing to move on to the matter at hand.

"I... don't know," he admits, looking troubled. "I've never seen him before in my life. If I had to guess, I'd say he's connected somehow to this business with the cultists and Miraak. I just don't know how yet."

He might be as unconnected as Harkon was to Alduin, but Vanyel doubts it. The masked stranger was clearly Dragonborn; perhaps he was even the one those cultists considered the true Dragonborn...

"Cultists?" he repeats. "What sort of cultists? And what sort of business?"

His brow furrows. Coincidences happen all the time, of course. And he's never heard of anyone, Thalmor or otherwise, by the name of Miraak. (Which puts him one down on everyone else on this island - or one up, depending on your perspective).

"It wouldn't happen to have anything to do with the Earth Stone to the west of here, would it?"

Edited 2015-10-14 06:56 (UTC)

"All I know for certain is that they worship someone called Miraak, who they consider the true Dragonborn. And someone sent them to Skyrim to kill me." He reaches into one of the many compartments of his pack and withdraws the note he took off the leader's corpse, offering it up for the other man's inspection.

The message simply reads: Board the vessel Northern Maiden docked at Raven Rock. Take it to Windhelm, then begin your search. Kill the False Dragonborn known as Vanyel before he reaches Solstheim.

Return with word of your success, and Miraak shall be most pleased.

"The Earth Stone?" He repeats. "I'm beginning to think it may. Councilor Arano mentioned it too, when I was asking around about Miraak."

Edited 2015-10-14 16:25 (UTC)

He reads the message in implacable silence. He glances up at Vanyel, not moving his head.

"And this 'False Dragonborn' is you, I take it."

Not one, but two shards of Aka, appearing at the same time, near the same mundic anchor point he sought to investigate. That much coincidence can't possibly exist in one place. Not in his experience.

"I suppose the Earth Stone is all you have to go on at the moment. I happen to be headed that way myself."

"This is the first I've been called 'false,' but... yes."

He meets that gaze head-on, without flinching. He has nothing to hide.

The news that the other man is also looking for this 'Earth Stone' is met with a curious tilt of the head from him. "Would you mind terribly if I accompanied you, then? You seem to know the lay of the land far better than me."

"Well, you're the first Dragonborn of any kind I've met," Garyn says. "Hasn't been a disappointment so far."

This must be the one responsible for that Alduin business. It's certainly an accomplishment when even people on the moon take notice of you.

"I'll be glad to lead you there. Just follow along the south coast."

He is indeed the one responsible for the Alduin business, much to the chagrin of certain factions who were expecting the hero of Nordic legend to be, well... a Nord.

"Ah... thank you, I suppose," is the only response he can muster to that compliment of sorts.

Then he falls into step behind Garyn as they make their way toward the Earth Stone.

Prophecy seldom turns out quite the way the people expect. He knows that much.

But Solstheim, it seems, he doesn't know as well as he thinks. It's a good thing the stone is as near to the sea as it is. This isn't the frosty island he remembers. This is ashland, swept as far as the eye can see. And the distant column of belching smoke from the southeast reminds him of why this is so.

It was necessary, he thinks. It was worth it. There was nothing I could have done for them here.

Maybe, if he keeps reminding himself, he'll actually believe it. At the very least, the thought of it can keep him until the Earth Stone comes into view. From here, he can hear the faint clinking sound of tools against rock.

He begins to get the feeling something is badly wrong when none of the workers gathered around the stone even seem to realize they're there. There's also that chant, which becomes more audible the closer they get.

"Here in his shrine, that they have forgotten. Here do we toil, that we might remember. By night we reclaim, what by day was stolen. Far from ourselves, he grows ever near to us..." And so on.

"Three guesses who 'he' is," he says to Garyn before he can quite stop himself.

He moves closer, to the stones and the shrine they appear to be building, when a new voice cuts in.

"You there... You don't seem to be in quite the same state as the others here. Very interesting. May I ask what it is you're doing here?" The voice belongs to a Dunmer mage who's walked up to the site from the opposite direction.

[ooc: Couldn't figure a way to namedrop him in the actual tag, but it's Neloth Telvanni. So if he'd recognize Garyn or Garyn would recognize him...]

"No bet," he mutters.

The structure has been built up and around it - as though it means to swallow and subsume it. Clearly its magic has been corrupted by this Miraak, whoever he is. And whatever his purpose is. As for the workers...he's seen this song and dance before.

I am a Sleeper, one amongst thousands...

He's about to say something when he hears the sound of the mer's voice and turns his head. He's not certain where he recalls it - until he sees his face.

S'wit. A godsdamned idiot. That's what he is. He ought to have anticipated that something like this might happen. It's hardly unusual for a Dunmer, particularly a Dunmer wizard, to still be alive after a few centuries. He can only hope Master Neloth doesn't recognize him in return.

Admittedly, Neloth is an apathetic, self-absorbed, antisocial prick even by Telvanni standards, so it's not an unreasonable hope.

"I...would think it's the same thing you're here for, serjo," he says. "We're here to have a look at the Earth Stone. And to see what it might have to do with someone called Miraak."

[OOC: In Morrowind, he's entirely dismissive of the Nerevarine when he wants to be named Hortator, and pretty much only says yes to make him go away. I think he might get a vague sense of deja vu but not much more.

Though I do have a fun little tease I'd like to work in if it arises organically. We can split his dialogue if you like.]

Edited 2015-10-15 07:48 (UTC)

Luckily for him, Neloth has been far more interested in studying the shrine and the workers from the start, only looking over the pair long enough to determine that they aren't hypnotized.

He does glance at Garynn again when he speaks, but his expression quickly grows clouded and thoughtful. "Miraak... Miraak... It sounds familiar, and yet I can't quite place... Oh. Wait, I recall. But that makes very little sense. Miraak's been dead for thousands of years."

So had Harkon, Vanyel thinks but doesn't say. So had any number of the dragons Alduin revived. But he keeps a civil tongue, and simply says. Then I suppose the question becomes whether we're dealing with the original, somehow revived... or whether it's someone else borrowing the name."

The comment wasn't directed at Neloth per se, but Neloth answers almost immediately all the same. "I'm afraid I can't give you any answers. But there are ruins of an ancient temple of Miraak's toward the center of the island. If I were you, I'd look there."

"I suppose that will be our next port of call, then. Thank you."

But Neloth has already turned away from him, back to studying the shrine in progress.

[ooc: Ahhh, got it. And I don't mind at all splitting dialogue, for him or any other NPCs they run across.]

But Garyn has not yet moved. Much as he would rather keep this conversation as short as possible, they do need to know specifics.

"Pardon, serjo," he says. "Where, exactly in the center is this temple? This is a rather large island."

He doesn't remember there being anything of the sort on Solstheim the last time he was here. A ruined temple isn't the sort of detail that any mer is likely to forget, even after hundreds of years.

The old wizard turns with a start. "Ah. What? Oh. You again. As I recall, it's built up around another one of these...primitive obelisks. I believe the natives call it the 'Tree Stone,' or something similarly rustic."

Garyn nods. "I know where that is. Thank you."

Neloth narrows his eyes. "Haven't I seen you somewhere before?"

Garyn shakes his head, keeping a stone-faced facade. "I...think I would remember meeting someone so distinguished, serjo."

The Telvanni harrumphs. "You certainly would. No matter. Hardly worth my attention compared to this. Most interesting thing to happen on this benighted island since...well, since I arrived. But before that...hmmph! Even I can't recall."

Garyn glances away toward the northeastern road. "Well, we wouldn't dream of keeping you from your work. Good bye."

Once more, the wizard seems to have ended the conversation of his own accord before the other person has started talking. This suits Garyn fine. He takes the first steps along the northeastern road.

"Nerevar Redoran."

Garyn's stride, his breath, and his heart stop.

"...Beg your pardon?"

"Nerevar Redoran," Neloth repeats, still not looking at either of them. "The Nerevarine. He paid a visit here a couple of centuries ago, before I arrived. Had an altercation with Hircine, or so the gossiping locals say. That was the last truly interesting thing not to involve myself on this island. You're both too young to remember, of course. Or do anything for me besides leaving."

Edited 2015-10-16 02:34 (UTC)

Given what they know so far, it seems reasonable tp presume that this Tree Stone is in similar shape to the Earth Stone, and though he knows little about the standings stones that's a disquieting thought.

He moves to follow Garyn, and then comes that odd little moment. The name sounds familiar, but only vaguely. The tales of the Nerevarine that survived the chaotic aftermath of the Oblivion Crisis and the Thalmor invasion did so by word of mouth, and he'd be very surprised if those tales were accurate. So he's admittedly curious, but that will keep until after Miraak is dealt with.

"Then we'll leave you to your studies. Thank you again," but he may as well not have said anything; Neloth was either ignoring them, or too lost in his examination of the shrine and the hypnotized workers to pay them any mind.

Garyn manages to avoid running away from the site. But he does walk at a very brisk pace. Once they've put a comfortable amount of distance between themselves and the Earth Stone, he finally slows to pull up beside Vanyel.

"I've visited these stones before," he says. "They're very important to the Skaal people who live on the northern half of the island. If there aren't any answers in the Temple, I can guide you to their village, assuming it's still in the same place."

He turns to look at him directly.

"I'm assuming you don't object my accompanying you until this business is seen through."

He notices, though he doesn't say anything about it for the moment. It's filed away, along with Garyn's reaction to Neloth's presence and the name Nerevar Redoran.

It seems a good, sensible plan, and he nods.

"No, I have no objections." Not least because Garyn's knowledge of the land and the people is already proving invaluable.

He isn't sure, precisely, how long it would take him to even find the standing stones if he had to go it alone.

"Good," he says.

He extends a hand.

"Call me Garyn."

Edited 2015-10-17 00:25 (UTC)

"It's a pleasure, Garyn," he replies, shaking that outstretched hand. "Call me Vanyel."

Then he starts walking again - the sooner they reach Miraak's temple, the better.

[ooc: What do you think? Skip over the hike there and pick up as they approach the temple?]

Edited 2015-10-17 02:57 (UTC)

They pass through Raven Rock - a Redoran town now. He supposes it makes sense. Thankfully no one seems to recognize him there, and their passage through is swift.

The dust and ash have formed dunes and hills that weren't present on Solstheim before. But the sun is still in the same place. So, too, is Brodir Grove, which they skirt carefully around.

There's no mistaking the Temple when they arrive - an enormous edifice that seems less to be built to around it and more like it's swallowed it entirely. The chanting worker drones would be enough to erase any remaining doubt.

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We'll pretend for the sake of this thread that the Earth Stone ISN'T in a slightly different place.

Works for me!

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Let me know if this is too long.

It's all good, as long as I don't have to match it ^.^

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