[Story] Yuma's Journal (updated 2013-07-28)

[rynak777]

WHAT'S THIS:
============

- Some oblivion mods allow you to write your own journal. Like a captains log. So i started one.
- chronologically based on real oblivion stuff, but with lots of "invented" additions (like: dialogue)
- starts out very dark/serious, then becomes more "entertaining" (though, sporadical dark entries still happen later). This has to do with the characters originally pretty much being wrecks, then rising
- frequent NSFW content, but its not the point of the plot
- So far (40 entries, many not yet released), no outright explicit sexual content. Some of it might however be considered "near-explcit"
- frequent topics: Self-sustainance, honesty, dreams, disparity of poor vs. elite, moral grey zones (incl. dark abysses), psychology, sexuality, philosphy


FAQ:

Q01: Uh, this just looks like a lot of emo stuff - what does this have to do on loverspk?
A01: Psychology, suffering, and overcoming it, are a fundamental background of the protagonists. Unlike "emo" however, which just has this sort of stuff for the sake of it, in this story characters overcome it. The protagonists actually rise rather high, to the point where one could call them quite arrogant - but they start out as wrecked trash.

Q02: How often will new journal be posted?
Q02: As a rough rule of thumb, approximately once per week. I'll try to keep the 'average' in this timespan, but entries might be posted a few days ahead of time, or a few days late.

Q03: Shouldn't you move this out of just LPK, and give it an own website?
A03: Maybe. For now, i'm not sure if the interest is there. In any case, i WILL keep posting entries here on LPK, even if perhaps with a few days of delay.

Q04: You should turn this into a webcomic.
A04: I know. But i cannot draw. If you can, and you think your style matches, please contact me.

Q05: How long will this run? Will there ever be a conclusion?
A05: I can't see into the longterm future, but i'm quite sure, that i will write at least 100 entries, and i'll polish them, if the interest is there. As for everything else: Availability on this forum, possible bans of my account (i'm not unfamiliar with being banned on forums). Or various other technical issues (the intanet likes to forget fast, and serve you deadlinks. Remember, if it's not on your harddrive, it will vanish), is out of my control. I have no current plans, for a conclusion/end.

LAW-FU:
======
Redistribution:
I grant anyone (including the LPK forums) usage and distribution rights of this textual content, as long as:
- my username (rynak777) is credited as the author
- it isn't used for profit (advertising IS fine. Any kind of fees/purchase price to read it, is NOT)
- the content isn't modified
- if you wish to do something that doesn't fit the above, ASK ME (i'll usually agree, if it's reasonable)
- you may not modify the licensing terms when redistributing/republishing it

Personal usage:
- you are permitted to DL it
- you are permitted to do whatever the fuck you want to it, for personal usage
- if what you do with it doesn't fit personal usage, the terms of the above "i grant anyone" apply instead

Authorship:
All authorship rights remain with me (this isn't PD)

[rynak777]

ENTRY 1 - Nothing ever works out:

I took a job to escort a caravan from near skingrad, to IC. When i got there, there was no caravan left. Only burned out wagons, and bandits ready to jump on me. I fought my way out, killing four of them.

When i got back to IC, to report, i was arrested for desertion. I abandonned my escort mission in cowardice, and left the caravan to the attackers, they claimed. Now i'm sitting in jail, sentenced to rot there.

I hate my life - why does everything go wrong, no matter what i do? If anyone ever reads this, this may not make much sense. So here's some backstore about how this came to be.

My father was a blade. He teached me extensively on the art of using a sword and bow. I admired him, wanted to be like him. Well, until he was sent to what could only be described as a suicide mission. Then i never wanted to follow in his footsteps again. Heck, i was more sympathetic to killing his former masters.

For a while, i just tried to made ends meet on the streets, by taking odd jobs, acting as cheap bodyguard, sometimes being tasked to steal something from the upper parts of society. I didn't mind.

Though, given how people treated me, i couldn't help but notice, that it wasn't just the nobles, who just don't care. Finally, i got to learn that my supposed 'friends' do not care either, when they took the coins to deliver me to the guards, and used the opportunity, to frame me for some of their exploits.

That's when i was offered a new kind of task. They had noticed my skills in combat, and offered me to wash clean my records, by doing escort jobs.

It worked well for a while, until the above incident, when once again, they sentenced me just for being at the wrong place, at the wrong time.

That brings me to now, and the most recent events. Out of nowhere, the goddamn king appeared in my cell, apparently fleeing from assassins, and forgave me for 'whatever' (yes, whatever actually?). The assassins chasing him ultimately got him, but he gave me an amulet, which i should deliver to some person.

Excuse me? No thanks. I'll just get out of here, and make sure to never get entangled in this crap again.

There is a cave in front of me, that supposedly leads into the sewers, which should have a way out.

ENTRY 2 - Nightmares for amusement:

I got out of the sewers, and even found enough loot, to buy some basic things.

The problem now however is, that i got no place to sleep and store things. And i don't really want to pay the price for Inns forever, just to have the privillege of sleeping. So, i need a house. Of course, i can't afford one remotely right now.

So, once again i could go begging on the streets, but that would just be deja vu. I could leave the town, and prey on merchants and bandits, but i don't want to live that kind of life. And as for integrating back into a stupid society job - i'd rather kill my employer. So what else? Well, there is another way.

There are those arena matches, where people gruesomely kill each other, for the 'entertainment' of the audience. Normally, i would just puke from thinking about this, but given my skills, i think i could win few matches easily, and the rewards are plenty in coin.

Going down into what they call the arena 'bloodworks', i talked with the team trainer there. It was hate on first sight. Not hard, given how he was a life-hating pig, that enjoys people suffering in cruel ways. I managed to obscure my disgust however, and cut through seven opponents like a knife through butter, winning six matches in one day. Poor morons. Hopefully, i'll have enough coins tomorrow, to leave this goddamn place.

I'll get some sleep now.

ENTRY 3 - Wynna:

Arena day two. I've stopped counting the number of people i've killed. They call me 'hero' now in the arena. Hero, for what? They don't know, that i'd rather kill the audience and that pig-trainer. In any case, there won't be day three. I've got the money for the house. Also, i feel horrible about what i just did.

Thinking that i could use something a bit uplifting, i decided to book a room in the tiber septim hotel for this night. Prices are two times of what's usual, but they have wonderful rooms, and nice service. Having earned around 2500 coins from the bloodbaths, i figured my mental sanity surely would be worth forty-something.

I ordered something to eat, then sat down at the table. I thought about the recent events. The blood - how i just wanted to get away from this. As i was poking absentmidly at my food, a voice asked: "I'm sorry, would you mind some company?"

I looked up. A robed elf was standing there smiling. Though, there seemed to be trail of bitterness in her expression. She also seemed a bit unsure about her offer.

Nodding towards her, i said: "Please, feel welcome."

She thanked me, then took place at the opposing chair. "I thought you could use it. You don't look well." After a moment of hesistation, she added: "And maybe i could use it too."

Okay, this was a bit much exposition in just one minute for me. How did she know? Was it that obvious? And what did she mean with her later remark? Since when does anyone care?

"From what i know, no one usually cares about this", i said. Then i noticed, that she probably won't even understand what i meant. Oh well, i currently wasn't really in the shape, for thinking too much.

"I know", she said, with a sad subtone.

Wait, what?

"You seem surprised?", she asked. "Well, okay, that was a stupid question. Of course it's surprising. I'd be surprised as well, if someone said this to me."

I raised my eyebrows: "Who are you?"

She shrugged: "Apparently, someone feeling not too different. That's why i asked for your company. You seemed... familiar."

"Was it that obvious how i feel?", i asked.

"Sitting in a luxurious hotel, poking at luxurios food, clothed as someone obviously not used to such pleasures. Her mind having lost the appetite, even for such unusual things. Yes."

I looked up at her: "Okay, maybe it was."

She shrugged: "It's not like i enjoyed slowly drinking myself into oblivion at the bar. I just was in the mood to.... forget. Who cares about the taste, when it happens in the middle of...", she hesistated to continue.

I thought for a while how to finish her sentence. Then i just shrugged, and let my thoughts flow out of my lips: "I don't know, i'm not in a good shape to think right now. Something disgusting... everywhere. A pointless world not worth supporting. A pointless life not worth fighting for. Just... pointless."

"Yes", she nodded.

After a moment of silence, she asked: "What happened?"

"I slaughtered a bunch of nobodies for people's amusement. Got to hear the encouragement of disgusting pigs i want to kill. All i want is, some shelter, food and a life away from this... society. They always betray me, for trying to... actually, just for trying to survive. I want nothing to do with them anymore. Just be able to live on my own. No more lies and betrayal."

She looked at me: "I could hug you right now, but i don't want to scare you."

"Why so?", i asked. "What about you?"

"Things work and are called a bit different where i come from, but basically: I ran away from my tribe because they considered me a witch."

"Why so?", i asked.

"I think imperials call it conjuration. I'm quite talented at it. Very talented actually. In short, during a fight i can summon some slightly scary creatures. They fight for me and those fighting on my side. Right after the battle, or a bit earlier, they vanish again without doing harm. I also experimented with alteration magicks in ways i wasn't supposed to. Again, nothing harmful, but some of what i summon, i'm not supposed to."

She took a nip from her wine, then continued: "In all those years, i never harmed anyone of my kind. I just wanted to explore... understand things they don't want to know. I found useful new techniques. Yet they treated me like someone who needs to be 'cleaned' of her confused mind. I'm sick of this. I want nothing to do with them anymore. I don't know what to do next, but i'm not going back."

"You just arrived?", i asked. "I mean, the hotel isn't far from the gates."

She nodded.

For about a minute, we sat there in silence, but it didn't feel akward. None of us seemed to mind. Eventually, she asked: "What are you going to do?"

"I've got enough coins to buy a small shack. Not pretty, but i can sleep there and store things. During the day, i'm just going to hunt, adventure and collect plants. I learned a bit about alchemy and bought a set. So, i could make some potions - for me, as well as for selling. This way, i think i could live mostly away from people, and depend on myself for most things."

Again, we sat in silence for a short while. She seemed to be contemplating something.

"Do you want to do this alone, or would you like the company of someone likeminded?", she asked.

I looked at her.

"Look, i know how to live outside. I know how to use a bow. If you need some fireballs or quick healing, i can help with this. I can use my summons to distract others, so that they have three targets, instead of just you. I learned a lot of theory about where to find certain plants - thought it'd be useless. Maybe it isn't after all. I also know how defend myself with a dagger or a short blade, though you seem to be much more talented at this. But most importantly: I want the same thing as you."

I contemplated her offer, and couldn't really find anything wrong with it. The only thing i had to overcome, was me working on my own. I was about to finally no longer need others, and now she was offering to join me. On the other hand, the skills she had, were very useful, and we complemented each other well.

But did i trust her? All trust gave me in the past, was betrayal. I wanted none of this anymore. On the other hand, those all were people who didn't understand me. She seemed to be the first one who did a bit.

I took a long breath, then said: "I don't want to promise anything in the long run. I don't know you much yet. Heck, you don't know me much, as well. But, i'd like to give this a try. We seem to fit together well..."

"Wynna", she said.

I looked at her: "Yuma"

She smiled: "Thanks Yuma. You won't regret it."

ENTRY 4 - Equal difference:

Wynna and me talked about which things to do next. Eventually, it was time to learn a bit more, about each other's combat abilities, and how we could coordinate.

"Bow and arrow", Wynna said.

"Mediocre i'd guess. I'll do okay at range, but if i have the option, i'll do better with a blade."

Wynna nodded: "Given my past, i of course got plenty of training. Though, saying that i'm an expert, would be an overstatement."

"Blade and shield", i said.

"I'll stab the caster. I'm quick and halfway silent with the dagger. I wouldn't throw myself at a fighter though."

I nodded. "Don't worry, i like to do that." Both of us chuckled.

"Okay, so we can both open up ranged if we have initiative. After this, i'd go melee, while you prefer ranged. If you get engaged in melee, try to hold him off - i'll be there as soon as i can."

Wynna nodded, "I can also keep him occupied by calling a summon", then she asked: "Magick?"

"I'd throw some minor fireballs, and can heal myself a bit. Can't heal others - well, at least not via magick. And of course then, there's good old sense life. Beginner stuff."

"Well, you know already that i've got a lot of experience in conjuring and alteration. So that means distraction and buffing. I know a bit from every other school, but only extensively trained a few spells. Mainly healing and telekinesis, plus fire and shock attacks. Yes, i know - i'm weird."

I shook my head: "It may be quite unusual, but to me, it sounds like a very useful setup. Balanced too. And it being unusual might surprise others."

"Thank you. But... it's not balanced. I need to learn more about one or two illusion spells. You know, invisibility, paralyze and the like. Then, i really should make mysticism my third focus. But all of this is expensive."

"So, you're not perfect yet. Neither am i. Ambushes and locks?"

Wynna looked sidewards: "I'll do fine in ambushes. You know, we like to do a lot of hunting. If you want to send me through a building full of guards though, i'd alert them by my heart pumping a bit too loud. As for locks - sure, i'll unlock anything - just give me the key", she laughed. "I really should have learned an open lock spell."

I chuckled: "Don't worry. I wouldn't call myself a thief by trade, but i had to do quite a few... odd jobs a while ago. All that matters is, that we can both sneak up on others, before striking. So yeah, basically hunting stuff."

"Sounds like we'll complement each other well", she remarked, smiling. I agreed.

By now, it had gotten quite late, so i went over to the bar, to buy a room. Wynna pulled me aside, and said that she had already booked one.

I must have looked in a really silly way, because she added: "Look, since we're now working together, it felt natural to me that i'd share. You don't seem to have much excess coins, because you need most of it for the shack. And then, we might need what's left, to buy small things."

After a moment of hesistation, she added: "Also, you don't look too well. On the other hand, if you need some alone-time, that's fine too. We'll just meet down here in the morning."

I shook my head: "No, it's fine. Thank you. I'm just not used to it."

We walked up the stairs to her room and dropped our packs. She went to check through our equipment. It wasn't a lot, but what she had... this must be expensive, some of it probably enchanted.

There is only one bed here...

While i slept, an agent of the dark brotherhood approached me. Apparently, he liked how i killed those arena combatants, and offered me to join their ranks. Well great, another pig encouraging me for this?

On the other hand, i wasn't really keen on pissing off the brotherhood. So, i just said nothing, pretended to listen. I didn't turn to check on my partner, but someway i could feel that she was awake, faking to still be asleep. Finally, the uninvited guest left.

I turned around, and said: "Thanks."

She didn't bother to open her eyes, but replied: "What for?"

Getting into the bed again, i asked: "How would you have reacted, if this guy got a little more... threatening?"

"My hands. On fire. Unfortunatelly, i put my dagger elsewhere than under my pillow, because i didn't want to... Umm, how did you know?"

"Just a feeling."

I lied on the bed for a while, staring at the ceiling.

"Why are you doing this?", i asked.

"Well, if he were to get hostile, it's not as if he would have kept me out of it, right? So, it was in our both interest?"

After a while, she asked: "Say Yuma, have you ever had a friend?"

"None who would deserve this word."

"See, neither did i. And i wouldn't call you a friend, yet. But..."

"Hmm?", i inquired.

"Do you trust me?"

"A bit. Well, more than i usually do"

"Why is that so? You barely know me."

"You are... someway different."

"See, you too are."

We didn't talk more after this. For the remaining hours of the night, i slept more sound than in quite a while.

When i woke up, she wasn't there. I quickly checked my stuff for anything missing, but it was all there. Grabbing my pack, i left the room. She was waiting for me at the stairs to the lobby, busy reading a book.

Entry 5 - Mutual interest:

I bought the shack and some basic neccessities. Chests, Drawers... and to make it at least little comfy, some wall decorations.

While storing things we wouldn't currently need, i again noticed Wynna's equipment. Nothing really giving her any protection, except of magick itself. Sure, there's not much to wear if you have a robe, but given that we'll do a lot of travelling, her feet would feel better with some robust boots instead of shoes. I made a mental note to keep an eye out for this.

I asked her about the rather special things she has.

"Well, in short, i stole them", she said bluntly.

What? I looked at her, inquiring.

"See, normally when people with the role which i had, get properly expelled, they have to return those things. Given how they made my life worse for all those years, i figured that they owe me at least some compensation. They can stick their proper procedures and rules elsewhere. I just left, and that's it."

I looked around. "We should get some chairs too", i remarked. Wynna chuckled.

"Okay, what does this mean?", i asked. "Are there people searching for you, or what?"

Wynna shook her head: "Quite unlikely. First, those things are expensive, yes - but none of this is unique. Those aren't artifacts. It's more like the expensive armor and sword, an imperial guard would get. Secondly, i lived far away from Cyrodiil. Sending people from there, to other provinces, just isn't worth what i did. I mean, if a random imperial guard were to desert, and leave cyrodiil, do you think they'd search for him all over tamriel?"

"Makes sense. Plus they'd have to deal with varying laws across provinces, just for a single damn guard. They have trouble keeping things legally connected, just here in cyrodiil itself", i said.

She nodded.

"You made all the long way to over here, alone?", i asked.

"I basically went from inn to inn, because i had no tent and bedroll. Sure, i could have bought it, but... i wouldn't be able to defend myself alone if surprised", she explained.

Looking down, i asked: "In those shoes?"

She turned her view slightly away: "Look, i went through two pairs of boots. When i reached cyrodiil, my bag of coins had become quite light, and i wanted to keep some in reserve. So, i bought this. Yeah, by now i wish i hadn't."

"We'll find some boots for you. Noticed this already, but didn't mention it."

She smiled and teased me: "And you wonder, why someone else would care about you?"

Blushing slightly, i said: "Look, you hurting with every step, and slowing me down - it would be in our both interest, right?"

Wynna grinned: "You're starting to get the hang of it."

Entry 6 - Aren't we supposed to kill him?:

We had about half a day of light left, so we decided to collect some ingredients, and perhaps find some wild around IC. One interesting thing we first stumbled upon, was some kind of monolith northwest of IC, covered in runes.

"I've seen one of those before, on my way here", Wynna remarked.

"What is this?", i asked her.

She shrugged: "I don't know yet. We better don't touch it, for now." Looking down she added: "But all those exotic plants and flowers growing here - it would be a waste to ignore them."

We went to harvest them, then continued east. Reaching the area north of IC, Wynna grabbed me by the arm, and pulled me behind a nearby rock formation.

"What did you see?", i asked, unsheathing my sword.

"I couldn't see much. A moving arm of someone behind a rock ahead. Robe i think."

"Did he see us?"

"I don't think so", Wynna said. "The movement looked relaxed. What kind of people usually wander around here?"

"Some hunt and collect here - like us right now. Bandits and marauders sometimes cross the lake, to prey on them."

I glanced left around the rock: "Back turned at us. Blue robe. Staff. Seems to be sitting."

Looking more closely, i added: "Doesn't look well to do. No hair care for a while. I think that's a bandit."

"Or someone rather poor", Wynna remarked.

I shrugged: "Well, i haven't ever seen a poor caster in IC waterfront. They're beggars, thieves, hunters, fighters, scavengers - often a mix of those."

I wasn't looking at her, but someway noticed, that she wasn't comfortable with this explanation.

"Fine, let's think this through. From here, we could easily take him out right now. If we approach him openly, to find out his intentions, he will have plenty of distance and good cover. He could get off many spells, before i'd have a chance to close in, or before you'd manage to hit with an arrow."

Wynna nodded: "I like none of those options." Looking around, she said: "I say we sneak in behind all those rocks, until we're closer. Then we reveal ourselves and walk up to him, but stay close to nearby cover."

I mulled this over for a moment, then nodded: "Okay, some tweaks though: If he attacks, i'll rush him straight away, while you flank left and go with the bow. You could cast frost and shock shield on me, before we reveal us. Don't bother with fire, i'll dodge this."

Wynna chuckled. "I'll dodge this", she mumbled. "At least you don't have any confidence problems, when it comes to going melee."

I rolled my eyes.

"Hey, i'm not complaining", she said. "I like you this way. Anyways, sounds like a good plan."

We approached silently behind rocks, until he was about twenty metres away. Wynna put her bow and an arrow into her left hand, then held it in a relaxed grip. "Ready?", i asked. She cast frost and shock shield on me. "Let's go."

We rose and approached him, me holding my sword downwards in a relaxed way, Wynna likewise her bow.

He turned around, then raised his hand towards us, to cast a spell. I sprinted ahead. "Told you so!", i thought.

When he was about to cast, i changed direction rightwards. Lightning hit my armor weakly from left, but the main attack front missed. Ten metres.

The bandit began to step backwards and casted again. A creature materialized directly in front of me. I tackled it rightwards, pushing it aside. First arrow, then sword, pierced the caster's chest from both sides.

Wynna walked over. I looked down at the fallen caster: "Okay, so this was a conjurer. Each of our hits by themselves were fatal. How do we ensure, that this doesn't happen to you?"

"He was dumb", Wynna stated bluntly. The bandit groaned in pain. "Hey, don't take this personally. Most casters are dumb. Well okay, most fighters too", she explained.

"So, what would you have done?", i asked.

"For starters, he first casted shock, then summoned. The beam went off at plenty distance, to let you react - good dodge indeed. The summon barely managed to materialize, before you reached it. That was just dumb."

"So, you'd have summoned first. What kind of summon? Ranged, melee, mixed?", i asked.

The conjurer gurgled obscenely.

"Excuse me? This is kinda distracting, and we're busy talking about something important", i complained.

"Melee", Wynna said. "He had bolts just as i do, so i could play the ranged role. I want distance anyways."

I smiled: "I raise my shield and bash beyond the summon, then stab the caster. The summon won't be in melee range for a short moment, i'd have elemental shield against the caster, and once the caster is gone, the summon is too. Even if i were forced to engage the summon in melee, you as the second attacker still would be flanking him, and get clear shot. The summon can't melee both of us."

Wynna sighed: "Fine, okay, so i summon ranged and instantly retreat behind the rocks."

The downed caster coughed up blood.

"Who asked about *your* opinion? Shut up!", Wynna barfed.

"Okay, let's see", i said. "With the caster retreating behind the rocks, he no longer has line of sight to cast at either of us two, if we move smartly. You gave me elemental shield. I ignore the summon and take the abuse, rushing right around the rocks. At the same time, you will have moved forwards enough to have clear shot from the left side. What does the summon do? Follow me? Attack you? Heck, you could summon as well and send it to keep the other summon busy."

Wynna rolled her eyes. "Fine. But he didn't even have a goddamn shield! That's another thing stupid about casters. They don't like using shields. Why? It doesn't need to be metal. With a light leather shield, you could at least hold off a fighter for a short while, until support arrives."

I smiled: "He was alone. Also, i don't see you wielding one?"

She threw her hands up in frustration: "I don't know, maybe it's because, i needed all the coins to get here, and now am almost broke? But fine, you win: No single conjurer, including me, could have a chance against both of us. Is that what you wanted to hear? That i depend on you? Fine: I do."

That mentally blew me back a few steps. I started to think, searching for the right words.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to say it like this", Wynna started. "Crap. Sorry, i know you don't..."

"No", i interrupted her. "This is actually a good point. Look, i didn't want to hear anything specific from you. I just was concerned, about keeping you alive when cut off. But now it seems, that one could ask the same question about me."

Wynna looked at me, confused.

I shrugged: "We could replace him, with a fighter with my skills, then play this game again. What do you think would the outcome be?"

She smiled, then spontaneusly hugged me.

The conjurer gurgled and groaned. Two small puddles of blood were forming below his chest and mouth.

"Aren't we supposed to kill him?", Wynna asked.

"Umm... yes."

ENTRY 7 - Target practice:

We explored further clockwise around the isle of IC. Passing the northeast region, Wynna noticed an entrance with a grate.

"That's one of the sewer exits", i said. "I left through this one a few days ago. It leads directly to the IC prison complex, southwest of here."

"You were imprisonned?", Wynna asked surprised.

I nodded.

"Why'd they do it?"

I shrugged: "Don't know. Maybe they just like kicking me around. I was tasked to guard a caravan from near skingrad. When i arrived to meet it en-route, all that was left, were burning wagons and bandits waiting for me. I fought my way out, and made it back to IC. Then they decided that i deserted, because i supposedly ran away, and let the bandits plunder the caravan."

Wynna rolled her eyes: "Okay, this makes no sense, but i guess it's just one more reason, to never depend on what they call 'civilization'."

"Exactly"

"So, you escaped? Why didn't they arrest you, walking around in IC?"

"I didn't escape illegally. It's one more, of the many stories in my life, that make no sense."

I told her about what happened down there a few days ago.

"Ookay...", she responded, then asked: "How long were you there?"

"About a year, but it felt more like ten years. Sentence would have been six years. However, given that i was forced to do those escort jobs, as a way to erase the other sentences i had, for more things i didn't do, or got exaggerated sentences for - i'd basically stay there until i rot."

She stopped walking and looked at me.

"Come here. Now", she ordered, and hugged me.

After about a minute, we continued southwards.

While climbing a hill southeast of IC, i barely heard the sound of wings. I touched Wynna's shoulders and cued her into crouch stance, while grabbing my bow. She did so likewise.

"Imps", i whispered.

We quietly continued upwards, until we could see over the hill. I in my mind quickly noted down the details, then we retreated back out of view. Two imps alive, two dead. A corpse. All of this in front of a cave entrance.

"There are quite a lot of such caves in cyrodiil", i explained. "Some also here on the isle. There are just imps, rats and the like around. Easy opponents for the likes of us, but sometimes less experienced adventurers try their luck at them, blindly rush ahead, and get swarmed - like that one down there."

"So, how to not get swarmed?", she asked.

"In the open like here: Shoot them quickly from the distance, have cover or be dodgy to avoid their fireballs. If they get closer, keep moving and spread them out. In your case, a summon can also spread them, if they get closer."

"How much do they take?"

"An arrow will do. I'd need two fireballs. You can probably do it with one ball or bolt."

"Target practice", Wynna commented.

I chuckled. "Two is nothing. Question is: Is it even worth the walk to go down there?"

We quietly moved a few steps up again. The corpse seemed to already be in a state one wouldn't want to look at, much less wear its armor. On the other hand, that shield lying in the grass a few metres away, was that a...

"Leather shield", Wynna whispered, smiling.

"Up for a little game?", i asked. "Let's try to shoot at the same time. I take the right, you take the left. We pull, aim and shoot on 'now'."

Wynna smiled: "Okay."

We readied our bows: "Now"

Pull - aim - Wynna's shot went off about a second before mine. Both imps went down.

"Ah damn", she said. "I tried to wait for you, but my aim was becoming unstable, and he was about to move. Should have pulled slower and later."

I shrugged: "To me that was more than okay for a first try, and our skill being so different. You know, there are plenty of imps left on this island." She grinned.

We walked down the hill, and Wynna proudly picked up her shield, adjusting it on her left arm. Then she looked into the cave entrance.

"What's in there?", she asked.

"Probably just more imps, rats and the like. See, how could they produce anything interesting or valuable in there? It's like going into a bat cave, expecting to find armor or treasure: Yeah, its a bit creepy, but that's it. Boring. So, no one bothers."

"Hmm...", she contemplated. "Want to find out?"

I raised my eyebrows, and looked at her dumbfounded.

"What?", she asked. "You mean, elves don't go into dark, scary, claustrophobic caves?"

I raised my hands: "Okay, everything i might say now, *will* someway be used against me."

She smiled amused, then turned towards the cave. "Stop thinking of me, as some kind of people. Come on, let's go."

ENTRY 8 - Scary on / Scary off:

As we entered the cave, i grabbed a torch from my back, then cast a fireball on it to ignite it. We still could barely see five metres ahead, into the pitch-black caverns.

"Okay, maybe i boasted a bit prematurally. This is slightly scary", i said.

"Give me this", Wynna said and took the torch out of my hand. "Some of the things i came up with, when experimenting with alteration, seemed immediatelly useful. Others, i thought just were good for showing off."

She reached her elven bow to me. "I won't be able to shoot while holding this, so you'd make better use of it."

I stared at the bow, perplexed by her offer. "Oh, come on", she said, "It may look fancy, but that doesn't mean it's made of clay. It won't break if you touch it. Well, unless you try really hard."

Next, she reached her quiver to me, while i handed mine to her. She adjusted her shield a bit, so that it wouldn't be in the torch's way, then said: "Okay, now, please don't get a heart attack." She moved her right hand towards the torch, redundantly declared "Scary be gone!", and casted...

*WHOOOOOOOOOOM!!!*

I backstepped in panic. My eyes were trying to adjust to the sudden blinding light. The caverns were now lit brighter, than even broad daylight could do.

"See, no more scary.", she concluded. "I call this one brightlight."

Having recovered from the shock, i remarked: "Quite impressive. But, isn't this a little bit overkill?"

Wynna shrugged: "The fire and wood is doing most of the work. I'm just using a small amount of magicka to start a process, that normally doesn't occur. As for others seeing us: I thought there were just imps and rats here? Plus, them living here, they should be much better adapted to darkness, than we are. Heck, perhaps we'll blind them, by just being around."

I chuckled.

So, we went ahead. What we found in the first 'room'... were, guess what, imps and rats. I first shot down the imps, which apparently had difficulty navigating and aiming, thanks to Wynna's wacky research. Getting rid of the rats then, was just a nuisance. Nothing interesting here, so we continued through the next passage. Arriving at a T-crossing, Wynna was about to take a closer look at a small opening on the left.

"Step back!", i called.

She did so with haste, then stared at me, wondering what's the urgency. I picked up a stone from the ground, then threw it at the opening. The ceiling collapsed, burrying the small passage with rocks.

Wynna looked at me: "... oops. Umm, i think you better take the lead."

Continueing right, we arrived at another 'room', five imps were trying to make sense of the blinding light. Readying my bow, everything suddenly was swallowed by darkness again. Fireballs lit up.

I hooked Wynna's legs and pulled them away, forcing both of us to drop to the ground. The fireballs passed over us. "Light!", i called.

*WHOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

"And light, there was. But none of the scary", Wynna commented, a bit out of breath.

I was standing again, casting minor fireballs, given that reloading with a bow, would be slow at this point. Wynna rose and joined in, with a series of lightning bolts.

When nothing was moving anymore. We paused for a moment to recover, then entered the room.

I saw - a chest? Walking over, i pointed at it, asking: "Does this make any sense? What do imps want with a chest?"

She shrugged: "Are we to complain? Also, you know, they need to eat too. Maybe they just store food in there."

I opened it - it wasn't even locked. Both of us were facing an impressive - 5 gold coins.

"And they go to the imperial city market, and buy it there, am i right?", i asked.

Wynna rolled her eyes.

I continued: "And since only five coins remain, this obviously means, that a group of them is currently away, shopping for dinner."

"Okay okay, you win! This makes no fucking sense at all."

We continued through the next passage, over something a bit like a bridge, then into another room. A swarm of rats charged at us. A few blood splatters and roasted meat later, we were faced with another... chest.

"Do we really want to know?", i asked.

Wynna threw her arms up: "Let's get out of here!"

Then everything went pitch-black again. This time, no flame remained.

"Umm... You do have a spare torch, right?"

ENTRY 9 - This can only be benefical to our relationship:

"No more brightlight, unless we actually need it!", i commented, as we left the cave, exchanging equipment again.

"I'm sorry, i didn't know it would run through the wood this fast. Trees around here seem to be different."

She lowered her head: "You have to admit though, that it's cool, and you haven't ever seen anything like it."

"Sure, it is great and impressive, but do you want to carry a bag of torches with you?"

"Hmm", she contemplated. "Maybe i can find a way to reduce the speed of the process, without making it stop. That would make it last longer, but burn less bright."

"At it's current power, a torch barely lasts an hour. If you could make this four hours - that's not too bad, especially since you could selectively cast it only when needed."

She smiled, then nodded. Looking around, something caught her interest. She took a few steps towards the nearby shore, as the sun was beginning to set, bathing most of the lake in a red hue.

"The shore on the other side is really close around here. I think there's a road over there", she commented.

I nodded: "We're at one of the two spots closest to the mainland. The other one is near that sewer entrance. That road, it's the southern part of the red ring road. You know, that road that loops all around IC at the other side of the shore."

"Anything interesting over there?", she asked.

"Just some ruins, if i remember right, and bandit land nearby. It would be a bit late to enter the ruins now, and it's probably as boring as this damn cave. Then again, if you just want to to take a look, at the remains on the surface..." I looked over her robe, then added: "Okay, given your clothes, not such a good idea. I don't want you to cough your lungs out tomorrow."

Wynna looked at me very seriously, then with a dry voice explained: "Yuma, we'd get to see each other dripping wet. This can only be benefical to our relationship."

I chuckled. Seemed i picked up a slightly kinky 'friend' right there.

Looking over her robe, i mused: "I'm sure you'd look sharp with a more tight fit. But as i said, when tomorrow you look horrible - that doesn't really help any of us two, right? And before you get funny ideas: bandit land."

She rolled hear eyes: "Bleh, what a downer", but then immediatelly switched to a diabolical grin: "But you know what? You're still not off the hook. Messing with alteration magick, solves every material problem eventually."

I raised my eyebrows: "If this means, that your obviously enchanted robe, will disintegrate in one hour, that's not good either."

"Pffft!", she punched me softly in the chest. "Disbeliever! No, all it'll do is, modify the texture temporarily, then back to it's original state. In short, i'll be dripping *really* fast for a short while."

Rolling my eyes, i asked: "Are you sure this is safe? Your things seem to be really expensive, and the only thing giving you some magical protection. You couldn't afford replacing this currently, right?"

"Where i lived, there were plenty of small lakes. More often than not, i was too lazy to walk around them. Does that answer your question?"

"Okay, seems i need to adjust my impression of your research a bit."

She grinned, then launched towards the shore and called: "Hey fighter, wanna be last?"

Dammit! Always pushing the right buttons. After some initial effort, i caught up easily. I made a mental note, that we should do some sprint training together. Having a short flashback about our 'game' with the conjurer, i thought that maybe we also should cross-train melee and magic.

We arrived at the other shore. Wynna pulled her hood back, since it now was more annoying than useful. She looked over me and smiled, then apparently found interest in something about my hair.

"Do you by any chance... have some small rope or cord?", she asked. "I can fix this robe, but the hair is a bit... annoying." She began to cast a spell.

I looked through my pack. The bag with the breadloaf didn't really need the cord, given that it was just one item. I handed it over: "It might be a bit short..." "Thanks!", she interrupted.

As Wynna's robe was dripping in streams, i scanned the surroundings in more detail. Nothing interesting to see, but given the location, we wouldn't want to stay on the road as sitting ducks, so i gestured her to cross it and walk ahead. After we got some distance, it would be safer to turn towards the ruins.

"Keep an eye out", i said, while turning around and checking on her. "For other things than me", i clarified.

"Hey, not my fault you're not enjoying this as well. You might be all serious and reclusive. But damn, you've got..."

"Prone."

ENTRY 10 - I'll stab the caster:

I dropped into the grass, shortly followed by Wynna doing likewise.

She crawled up to meet me, whispering: "What?"

"Tents, campfire. Ahead-right", i replied.

"This close to the ring road?"

"Unusual, yes", i said.

Then i contemplated this. If they set up camp this close, they'd have guards looking into this direction. I told Wynna and suggested circling them clockwise to the left (the ruins were on the right, and might have more surprises), until they'd be right from us. She nodded.

After some tedious crawling work, and me being certain that we'd have safe distance from possibly walking patrols, we carefully closed in, until we had view on the camp.

We spend almost ten minutes observing, and recovering at the same time, until we were sure to have seen everything, except of persons refusing to leave the tents.

"Okay, so this is one caster, one ranger, two fighters, and perhaps unknown people sleeping in one of the three tents. The camp is set up lazily and disorganized. All of their clothes are worn. Their discipline is quite... flexible. Haircuts? What's that? The patrols have obvious weak angles. What the heck are the caster and archer doing? They just sit there, chatting. Do you really want to play the 'they might just be poor'-game again?", i asked.

Wynna sighed: "I wouldn't have thought i'd say this but: I agree."

"Good, because four is a bit of a step up, from that lone caster. I don't think we could just approach them, and keep the upper hand. Heck, how to keep the upper hand is an interesting question right now."

Wynna chuckled: "We'll shoot the caster and the ranger. Then they'll be sitting ducks."

I looked at her, raising my eyebrows.

"Look, we've seen what we can do. What i can do in support and ranged. What you can do in melee and ranged. If only the two fighers remain, we'll handle this."

"You know, this is a side of you, i haven't seen yet."

She smiled: "Yuma, when we discussed our abillities, i suspected. After that conjurer, i was sure. This camp is just the last straw. I can believe a lone suspicious person just being unfortunate. Perhaps even two. But an entire camp? You know, a bunch of poor but creative adventurers working together, there is synergy... not just in how they behave, but also in equipment. An entire camp cannot afford some damn scissors? So tell me: How do we take the fighters out, and what about the tents?"

I couldn't help but keep looking at her, surprised about the attitude.

Wynna rolled her eyes: "Yuma, stop thinking about me as a stereotype, would you? How do we beat them, without anyone of us two, being surprised"

"Give me a minute to think."

"We've got plenty of time it seems. Given how they just repeat. Take whatever time you need", she said.

I didn't respond. At this point, it seemed anything i could say, would just make her respond in more ways surprising me.

After about half a minute, i had some preliminary thoughts: "We open up ranged. The fighters scramble for cover behind the tents. The tents themselves do not really matter for visibility. We'll just cast sense life, and if they can, they will do this too."

Wynna raised her eyebrows: "The tents don't give much cover. I could just set them on fire. Why would they use them as cover? And aren't fighters more probable to charge?", she asked, grinning.

"Instinctive reaction", i said. "They have no cover at all, except of those tents. It's the only visible thing that *looks* like cover. As for why they wouldn't charge: At this distance, we would just mow them down. When out of nowhere, arrows are fired at you from long range, your reaction isn't to run into them, but to hide."

After a moment of hesistation, she nodded.

"Now, the problem is", i continued. "I don't know 'what then'. I mean, what *could* they do, besides of charging or fleeing? I don't see any bows with the fighters. Then again, maybe it is as simple as this: They'll flee."

Wynna looked at the camp, then shook her head: "We're missing something."

"Hmm?", i inquired. She gestured me to give her a moment. She looked at the camp, the bandits, their behavior.

"There is a caster in the tents, proficient in destruction and illusion magick - a mage", she said, with a tone so confident, that it made me raise my eyebrows.

"He will cast invisibility or chameleon on himself", she continued. "Then all three will charge at us. Fighters ahead with shields raised. The hidden mage will trail slightly behind, casting bolts and trying to drain us."

I looked at her, dumbfounded: "How do you know?"

She gestured at them: "Two fighters and a ranger. Look at the caster - how he moves and his passive attitude. That's a healer and buffer. Not only do they lack magick - those four over there have no offensive magick at all, save perhaps some minor fireballs. Remember what you noticed about their roles: Two fighters on guard. The ranger and healer are just sitting around. Those two are supposed to be asleep right now, along with the mage. Three tents. But they're not in the mood for sleeping. We're lucky to have them outside."

After staring at her for a few seconds, i hugged her: "You're awesome!"

"Thank you", she said, blushing.

"Okay, so how do we deal with this?", i said. "If we face them head on, it's just a competition of force, and they've got more of it. That's not good. We need to break their focus and cause disorder."

Wynna nodded, looking at me with expectation.

It took me a minute to come up with the right timing and trickery: "Okay, this is going to be funny. I need your hood." Wynna looked at me, half confused, half amused: "Ookay."

"We open up ranged. No buffs beforehand. After we made our opening shots, both of us quickly step back and drop out of view. I'll put on the hood, step up, you stack back andcast a summon in front of me, then give me elemental shield. This needs to happen in just a few seconds. Then you run! Speedbuff yourself while running clockwise around the plateu, stay out of view. Meanwhile, i just stay here and wait for them to come to me, weakening them with fireballs. You must have reached a position about a quarter around the plateu, before they reach me, because once they do, i'll be in trouble, and they'll know that you are elsewhere. Make sure that you pop up before that happens. Shoot the mage from behind, then blast the fighters."

Wynna shook her head in disbelief: "Yuma, this is completely crazy. Also, it will probably work." I chuckled.

"What kind of summon would you like?", she asked.

I thought about this for a moment, then asked: "Can you summon something heavy, that throws them to the ground? It doesn't need to hurt them much, just keep them out of the game." She grinned diabolically, then nodded. Umm... Uh oh.

So, we went to work and readied our bows: "Now."

Pull - aim... the healer and ranger fell in quick succession. Probably just half a second. We're getting there.

Both of us stepped back. I put on the hood and stepped up again. The summon was already starting to materialize. Elemental shield. "Run". Wynna sprinted off casting speed.

The bandits were organizing behind the tents. Yep, there was another caster, disappearing from view. They charged, shields raised. I fired another arrow at them, dropped out of view, and took off the hood.

Then i heard the sound, of something similiar to gas escaping from containment. I popped up again, and was presented with a curtain of white mist, about twenty metres in front of me, hiding their positions. Well crap.

I cast sense life - it wouldn't reach far beyond the mistwall, but that's better than nothing. Plus i wanted to see the mage. I blindly threw a fireball at the wall, figuring that they couldn't see it coming either. Sidestepping a few metres, i got return-mail in the form of a fireball impacting at my previous position.

At the edge of my view, i saw Wynna popping up, looking for a second. She sprinted towards the mistwall, apparently again casting speed. What the hell was she doing? Girl, you can't melee two fighters!

Said fighters appeared in sense life range. I cast a fireball at them and readied my sword. The ball hit the right fighter. He slowed down for a moment, then passed through the mist along with the other fighter.

The summon charged, smashing into the left fighter, and throwing him to the ground. An upportunity it didn't let go to waste, as it... what the hell was it doing with him?

The right fighter swung at me top-down. I raised the shield to head-height and went into crouch stance. When the blade smashed into the shield, i stabbed upwards with my shortsword. "Shift over, buddy."

A lightning pierced through the mist and into the summon, dispelling it and allowing the fighter to get up again. The mage stepped through the mist, pointed at me... then the tip of a dagger appeared on his throat. "Prone!", Wynna yelled.

I dropped to the ground, and a chain of lightnings smashed into the now turning guard, sending him flying in an odd angle. He twiched a bit, but then had nothing left to say anymore.

Wynna raised her arms, grinning: "What? You thought i'd let you keep all the fun for yourself?"

I shook my head in disbelief: "Wynna, you are absolutely crazy. Also, this was probably the best move you could have made."

ENTRY 11 - Weapons of mass-belief:

We made sure that no opponents were hiding in the camp anymore, then went towards the ruins. After disposing of another caster, Wynna had a look around. She didn't find anything useful or valueable, but remarked that some of the writings and depictions in the stones were unknown to her. Sometime in the past, people might have lived here, who knew things we currently don't know. On the other hand, she didn't have the neccessary books, knowledge or spells to analyze this further.

So, we returned to the camp and searched for loot. Besides a lot of mediocre armor and weapons, which we could sell, there were a few useful things: A pair of leather boots was stored at a tent and seemed almost new. They were a bit small, so perhaps they didn't fit the bandits. They did however fit Wynna's feet perfectly. The archer had a few silver arrows with him. Uninteresting now, but if we ever were to encounter a vampire or undead, we'd have something effective against it.

Finally, we of course found food, and there was a campfire, worn bedrolls and tents. We decided to stay here for the night, instead of travelling back to IC in the darkness.

As we sharpened our weapons at the campfire, Wynna asked: "So, what do we do tomorrow?"

"Hmm, i guess we sell the uninteresting loot we found. I could complete my alchemy set, with just a small amount of the coins. We harvested all those plants today, so i could make potions from those and sell them as well. We then should have enough coins, to buy the few things we still lack for surviving outside. Maybe we'll even have some coins left to buy better equipment for us."

Wynna nodded: "Sounds good. I'm a bit annoyed, that right now, i can't figure out more about those ruins, but i guess i'll give them another visit in the future, when i have what's needed. May take a while, since those books aren't cheap."

"You know, it's a bit funny - all those casters that research magick - they sit in the arcane university, and talk about all kinds of things. I rarely meet any of them out here. You instead, it's as if you can barely wait to get your hands dirty."

"Yeah, they seriously need to get out more often", she said with mocking tone. "All they have is, their scriptures, arithmetics and formulae. They create whole cities of theories and doctrines - based on things many of them haven't ever seen themselves. If i were forced to do things inside of society, i'd rather become an engineer - those at least get to do something practical, and are faced with real consequences. When an engineer's idea is crap, a building collapses. When a mage talks crap, everyone joins in for a ceremonial circle-jerk, because their scriptures say it should work. Or if it doesn't work, they invent some stupid new and invisible idea, that explains it away, and then call this a 'proof'.

I'm telling you: In one hundred years, they'll only be talking about invisible things, which supposedly have something to do, with the things we can see. Who knows? If our beliefs actually change anything, maybe they'll stop existing in this world. Then if other people believe their crap as well, they too will stop existing here and go to retardo-world. Umm... wait, this doesn't sound too bad after all."

I laughed, yet noticed some similarity: "It's a bit like how those nobles behave. They talk all day, congratulate each other, come up with fancy policy names - yet they never face the consequences of their decisions. If things go wrong, some servants will take up the work and fix it quietly without buzz, because if they don't manage to do so, they'd take the blame."

Wynna shrugged: "Authority makes right by definition."

"Still, we depend on them. You need those books and spells. I need training. Okay, i could do it alone, but it would take ages, and maybe i'd fail to notice some weaknesses, before it's too late."

Wynna shook her head: "Only because they don't let people like me, write and sell books. Only because they don't let people like you, act as guild trainers. Heck, given how they work, we'd rather stab them in the face, than work there, right?"

"Hmm, you've got a point there", i smiled amused. "Then again, we don't need them, to train each other. You could use some melee training, and do with faster sprinting. I on the other hand could use some more understanding about magick basics."

Wynna looked sidewards: "Sprint training. This sounds... exhausting."

I chuckled and rolled my eyes: "Oh, i can see it already. You'll demand, that each time we do this, we previously take a swim."

Wynna looked at me, her eyes widening: "Now *there's* an idea! Yes, sprint training sounds really good, indeed." She nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, you're faster, so my job would be to keep up close. And i'd be really motivated to do so."

"Riiight", i chuckled.

"I'd improve in no time! Hehe. Anyways, so about magick: What do you know so far? I don't mean spells - i know those - i mean general things and basic techniques."

I told her about the few things i learned, along with how i usually cast the few spells i know.

Wynna looked perplexed: "That is all they told you?"

I shrugged: "I wanted to know more, but that's all they wanted to tell me, given the spells i paid for."

Wynna rolled her eyes: "Okay, there are a lot of techniques i can teach you. Nothing specific to any spell. They'll help you, to cast more efficiently in odd situations, help you learn spells quicker because of things common to them. It might not be what you had in mind, but it'll let you..."

"No. This is what i was thinking about. I know i'm missing a lot of the basics. I want to get to the point, where i can learn more spells, without starting out like a newbie. I guess from there, things become easier?"

She nodded: "Indeed, they do - a lot."

"Sounds great."

We relaxed at the campfire. I put a roast beef above it, then sat back, hugging her.

"This is nice.", she smiled. "I like this."

"Mmh?", i asked.

"Just this. I'm not used to it, but... this is nice."

Moving my arms around her shoulder, i asked: "Just this? Really?", teasing at her recent behaviour.

She shrugged and chuckled a bit: "Yes, Just this. See, i like a lot of things. Perhaps i did show some of them too eagerly. But right now: I just like this."

After a while, it started to get quite dark, so our thoughts drifted towards places to sleep. Wynna picked a halfway clean bedroll and made herself comfortable on it.

Thinking about last night, words alien to me someway escaped my lips: "Would you mind to share? You know... umm, like last night."

There were other bedrolls I could have slept on alone easily, even near her tent. Given the size of those tents and the bedrolls, my question basically implied hugging each other while sleeping.

Wynna looked at me, and directly asked: "You don't want to be alone tonight?"

I looked at her for a moment, then sighed and turned away. Why did i even bother to ask?

"No, please don't go. Yuma, come here. We need to talk, please", she said.

Reluctantly i walked over and sat down.

"Yuma, there are some... unpleasant things about our pasts", she said. "You hinted at some. I not so much, so i'll go first: I never really trusted someone. People's behavior seemed... alien to me. So, i mostly lived alone, making sure that no one gets close enough to cause harm. Yeah, i tried once, but quickly bailed out. From what you told me, it seems you tried quite a few times. A lot of the things you don't like about your past, seem to be about betrayal. I understand they hurt you. But, i don't want to be like this to you. And i don't think, you want to be like this to me?"

I nodded and quietly said: "I don't want to be like this, to anyone i like."

She looked at me, softly putting her hands on mine: "I think, over time we got used to being on our own. We don't want to be vulnerable. It's like - you've come to expect, that anytime you leave an opportunity open, they might stab you in your sleep."

"Or anytime you let your guard down. It may be paranoid and stupid, but - you don't want to take chances", i said.

Wynna nodded: "So, we rejected them, but this left some marks on us. There may be things we don't want to talk about, don't want to look at. If we did, we feel we might lose control, and be at the mercy of someone else. We avoid it. But, there is a toll. Yuma, i'm sorry for how i treated you after that conjurer. I don't want to treat you like this. It's just - i've got a bit of a... short fuse. Please understand: This isn't me. It is not something that has to stay. I can change it, but... i need to trust someone a lot to do that. As for you: I think we both know, what your problem is, and what your toll has been."

I nodded slowly. Both of us just sat there for a short while. "But, we don't really want things to be like this, do we? I mean, not when we have an alternative?", she asked.

I looked at her. After moments of reluctance, we nodded and hugged each other.

ENTRY 12 - Horsies for free:

As the sun began to rise again, we had our meals at the campfire. Packing up, we made our way back to the Imperial City, to sell the loot we picked up. It paid us about three hundred coins. Not much, but we'd get more bling later, when i would sell the potions i created. To that end, i spend some coins to complete my beginner alchemy set.

Returning to my shack, we made ourselves as comfortable as such a place allows. Then i set up my alchemy equipment.

As i distilled ingredients, Wynna asked: "So, after we go shopping later, we have everything to survive on our own?"

"Well, it won't be comfortable, but we'll have the basics. A small tent. Bedrolls that don't hurt as much as those we slept on last night. Waterskins, a small cooking pot, knifes and spoons. Two bowls that can be sealed tight. We can use them for storing food and for eating. We should probably get the bowls and pot in sizes, that let us stack everything when empty: Knifes and spoons into bowls, bowls into pot. So, nothing fancy. But it's functional and lets us survive on our own, as long as we need to."

Wynna smiled happily: "Sounds good. I like this."

I put two vials aside and added ingredients for the next batch.

"What we primarily lack", i continued, "Are horses. Traveling long distances on foot is slow, and we don't really want to carry the tent, bedrolls and pot with us all the time", i explained.

"And if things here are just halfway as i know them", Wynna added: "They'll cost a fortune."

I nodded: "About five hundred or more, each."

The elf shrugged: "I guess i'll get some endurance and strength training, as i go."

"Well, there is another way", i hinted, putting two more vials away.

"Hmm?", Wynna asked.

"We could just take them", i stated bluntly.

She pondered this for a moment, then asked: "How do you steal a horse, without someone noticing? If things around here are similiar, this is a serious crime. Wouldn't we be unable to visit towns?"

"Most probably they will notice. But if we're sneaky and quick enough, we could escape before they can catch up. Yes, we'd be unable to visit towns for a while. Then again, we won't need them to survive, and we can sell things to travelling merchants. Remember how you told me, that you kept your equipment when you left your tribe? How you argued, that they owe it to you? Well, perhaps the people here owe me a bit too."

Wynna looked at me surprised, raising her eyebrows.

Shrugging my shoulders, i added: "Look, i won't force this upon you. If you don't like it, we'll just forget the idea..."

She shook her head: "No, it's just - i'm surprised. This is a side of you, i didn't know yet."

I gave her a serious look: "What do you mean? Fighters don't steal things? What about this 'stop thinking of me as some kind of people'?"

Wynna raised her hands, grinning: "Everything i could say now, will someway be used against me."

Both of us chuckled.

Once i finished the potions, we left and sold them in the market district. Afterwards, it was shopping time. A small, light, yet durable tent, a small cooking pot, kinds of knives and spoons, two sealable bowls, four waterskins and two sets of saddlebags. Wynna suggested that we get two different kinds of sleeping bags: One that opens to the left, and one that opens to the right. At first, i was a bit confused about her proposal, but it took just a smile from her, to let me get the idea.

We had enough coins left, to buy a silver dagger for Wynna, and a silver shortsword for me, as well as some tools to maintain our armor and weapons. Sure, silver weapons need to be maintained more, but it meant that - combined with the silver arrows we found yesterday - we could confront anything, without having to carry additional blades. We also bought a small amount of meat and veggies - just enough for today and tomorrow.

"Should be around fifteen now", i said. "We probably should make our move at the stables after sunset, so we have plenty of time left. We could train a bit, if you want to."

Wynna smiled broadly: "Yes, training sounds good!"

I rolled my eyes: "Not what you're thinking."

"Awww..."

I smiled at her, amused: "Oh, don't worry. We will take a swim. *After* the sprinting and sparring, because we'll need it."

"Hmmm", she mused: "Won't this make me less attentive, because i'd be thinking about the 'afterwards', during the training?"

I shrugged: "If afterwards we don't need a bath, we don't need one, right? See, Wynna: If we go swimming before sprinting, you get all the benefits. If we go swimming before sparring, you'll be distracted."

She grumbled: "What a cruel tease. But fine, i'll play along."

We dropped off the things we bought in the shack, then walked a bit along the shore, until ahead and behind us were plenty of town walls on the one side, and the shore on the other. After some sparring, Wynna trained me in casting basics. Finally, we did some sprints, took a well deserved bath, and walked back towards my shack at sunset.

"So, how exactly are we going to do this?", Wynna asked, while preparing her pack and one of the saddlebags.

"The fence near the stables has two doors. One towards the road and one at the back. The later one is out view, from the road and city gate. We'll wait until it's dark enough, then sneak through the back fence door, mount two horses, ride through the open back door, then make our way to the road and over the IC bridge as fast as we can."

She nodded: "I just hope it doesn't try to throw me off. I can ride, but not well enough to deal with that."

"Pick a paint-horse. They're slower and weaker, but also quite tame."

We triple checked to not having forgotten anything, then secured the saddlebags and tent to our backpacks. Leaving the shack, we made our way trough the city, and left through the main gate. Walking past the stables until we had some distance, we looked for a spot with good cover, to observe the stables. I saw two paint horses, a chestnut horse and a black horse.

The stablemaster was currently moving hay around, and tended to the horses in the stables. When it became quite dark, he walked inside. Patiently, we waited for ten more minutes, then sneaked to the back door of the fence. Careful to minimize noise, i opened it. Wynna swiftly went to the closest paint horse, while i went for the black one. As soon as we had mounted them, we quickly rode back through the open back door, then galopped around the fence to the road and onto the bridge. Looking back, i saw the stablemaster running out of the house and shouting something.

"Can you speed up your horse?", i asked.

She nodded, casting a spell. She pulled ahead, as i commanded my black horse, to get a bit closer to what it really was capable off.

Making it over the long bridge from IC, we turned southwest into the forest, slowing down a bit. About three minutes into the woods, we stopped to give our horses a moment to recover, while we attached the saddlebags to them. Since Wynnas horse was weaker, i secured the tent-bag to my horse.

Wynna jumped at me, throwing her arms around my shoulders: "I haven't been this excited for a long time!", she smiled.

I hugged her, then looked around and said: "Come on, let's go."

We travelled a bit further southeast, now at more sustainable speeds. Even though it was almost night by now, we wanted to get a bit more safe distance from IC and the roads.

"What's this?", Wynna asked, pointing ahead towards something glowing.

As we came closer, we noticed that it was another one of the rune covered stones. But on this one, the runes were glowing.

"Maybe their magick only works during night?", she mused. "I still wouldn't want to touch it, yet."

We continued, looking for a suitable campsite. After a short while of searching, we found a rather nice spot. A small but high rock formation to cover the tent from most angles. Flat grass-covered ground, nearby trees and bushes.

I put a torch into the ground and set it alight, to give us a better view while we set up things: Tent, sleeping bags and campfire. We rolled two large stones next to the fire, for comfortable sitting.

Wynna took the small cooking pot from our mounts. We cut some of the meat we bought into small bits, and put them in the cooking pot. Then an onion, tomato and potato. There wasn't any water source around, but i remembered a stream, about half an hour from here. We could refill there tomorrow, so using our waterskins to prepare meals seemed okay.

"Very well, i wouldn't call this uncomfortabble", Wynna mused. "Sure, we didn't have time to prepare spices, or other fancy things. But if we can camp and eat like this each day, i'd be the last one to complain. And doing this with you, makes it twice as good anyways."

I blushed a bit at her last remark. "How long do we know each other now?"

"A week - at least!" She chuckled. "I mean, think about this: two days? This is unreal."

Nodding, i laid my arm around her back. Wynna smiled and likewise did so. As we waited for our food at the campfire, i felt her head on my shoulder.

ENTRY 13 - Doing things together:

I woke up to the sound of a branches cracking, and hoves moving just a bit more than they ought to. Opening my eyes, i noticed no lights. Wynna was already quietly raising her hand between our sleeping bags, to cast sense life. I likewise did so.

A wolf was sniffing around the no longer burning campfire, about eight metres away. Both of us aimed our hands at it and casted - Wynna a chain of lightnings, me a fireball. Both hit the wolf, and threw it back to the ground, now dead.

"See, no stabbing in our sleep", Wynna mumbled, as she pulled us back into our sleeping bags.

...four hours later...

In the morning, we ate the remaining cooked food and emptied the rest of our second waterskin - two full ones still remaining.

"Looks like we should refill those at the stream you mentioned", Wynna commented.

I nodded: "With a bit of luck, we may also encounter some wild there. We don't want to use up all the meat we have left, in the evening."

"Hunting...", Wynna whispered, smiling.

I chuckled. Seems that some old habbits *do* refuse to go away, right elf?

Once we finished packing everything up, we rode towards said stream, collecting more plants on our way. We dismounted and bound our horses a short distance away, then sneaked onwards, bows ready. As we were about to give up, a deer approached the other side of the stream for a drink. Minutes later, we now had enough meat for three days. Noticing that all we now were lacking, were vegetables, we made a quick trip to a small farm, north from here. I kept watch, while Wynna harvested. We quickly made off again, to get away from the streets.

For the rest of this and the next few days, we spent our time with training, collecting more plants, beating and looting the occassional bandit. Sometimes, we encountered a travelling merchant, and sold the things we didn't need. We also found more of those caves, as well as some abandonned forts. Given our last experience with the imp and rat infested cave near IC, we didn't bother to enter, instead making jokes and noting down the locations on our map. In the evenings, we sat together to eat and chat, then hugged each other through the night.

As those days passed by, we became more close to each other, and most hesistation and anxiety was lost. At the end of the third day, we had accumulated about six hundred coins, shared equally between us. My bags of ingredients were so full, that adding more would possibly damage the already collected plants. Our mounts also were carrying quite a bit of equipment, we weren't able to sell. Clearly, we'd have to make a stop at a town soon.

"I can't get those words out of my head", Wynna said amused, as we sat next to each other on the fourth morning. "'Well, it won't be comfortable. Nothing fancy'. Right. During the day, we hunt, scavenge and fight together. We travel and go wherever we want: Mounted, with our horses carrying the heavy things. In the evenings, i sit with you at a campfire, and we romantically chat - cooking and eating food we ourselves collected. Then we cuddle in bedrolls, and sleep close together. You call *this* 'uncomfortable'?"

I smiled and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"And the mornings - don't forget the mornings!", she added, now chewing on a spoonful of food. "Though, the kisses are new. Umm... not that i'm complaining - please go on", she enthusiastically nodded.

I chuckled: "You're kinda funny when you're in *this* mood - but in a cute way."

Wynna raised her arms: "What? Yuma, if this is your definition of uncomfortable, then if things become 'more comfortable', i might faint once in a while."

"You kinda said it yourself back then: Doing it together, makes it different", i mused. "I mean, if right now, i were alone, doing the same things we do - yes, i'd finally feel, that i no longer depend on people. I'd be happy that finally, i've got my life in my own hands. I'd probably feel... satisfied. But: It wouldn't be the same."

She nodded slowly, turning towards me: "You want to do this together with someone."

"Hmm, not just someone. I mean, i could have done that."

"Someone who understands?", Wynna asked.

I shrugged: "Given how different you are, to any person i've ever met - i'm quite sure it would still be different. I mean, it could be really nice too, but i guess also different to..."

Wynna put her finger on my lips to interrupt me, then moved her lips close for a kiss. "Thank you", she said, now a bit surprised and unsure about what just happened.

We sat there for a moment, looking at each other and unsure what to do next. Someway amused about the situation, i said: "Well, in the meantime, we could just try this again." Wynna smiled and pulled me closer again.

After a while, we continued our other 'breakfast'. "Things should have settled down by now, but just to be safe, we could go to Chorrol first, instead of IC. We really need to lighten the packs: Your mount isn't strong enough to carry much more. Mine - perhaps i could burden it a bit more, but i don't really want to try."

She nodded: "We could ride parallel to the road, keeping just enough distance, to quickly vanish back into the forest, if we need to."

Once we finished our meals, we packed up everything again, and made our way north-west. When the road to Chorrol came in sight, we turned westwards and followed the road from a distance.

After about an hour of travel, we saw an unusual scene unfolding on the road: A pack of five wolves was attacking a travelling merchant. Her escort was lying dead next to the road, covered with nasty bites. We jumped in, and managed to kill four of the wolves, while only taking minor injuries ourselves. The last of the wolves fled, before we could hit it.

As Wynna healed everyone, the merchant thanked us for saving her life. She asked us if there was anything she could do, to compensate us for our help. I took Wynna aside, and proposed a bold move:

"Well, she'd be dead now without our help. Want a stronger and slightly faster horse? It's not like her escort has any use for the bay horse anymore", i said.

Wynna pondered this for a moment and said: "Well, we saved her, but she still is a merchant, with merchant-thoughts in her head. Horses are expensive. We could ask her for the horse, in exchange for mine. We don't need three horses after all."

I agreed, so we explained our weight problem to her, as well as our proposal. She seemed a bit surprised, but agreed right away. She also offered, to buy a rather heavy breastplate we looted. We remounted the saddlebags, and continued on our way to Chorrol.

ENTRY 14 - Magic Candy Land:

We arrived in Chorrol at around ten, booking a room until the next day. We went to sell everything we wouldn't need, which earned us another four hundred coins, then returned to the inn and went up to our room.

"So, what will we do with all those coins?", Wynna asked, as i set up my alchemy equipment, to make potions from the piles of ingredients we collected.

"Well, we *could* start right away spending on luxury. On the other hand, both of us in combat still have some weaknesses. Me - well, you've seen me with a shield. You don't want to know what happens, if i were to lose it."

Wynna chuckled: "Oh, come on. I've seen you fighting. It can't be that bad."

"It is - i couldn't parry, if my life depended on it. If you want to randomly beat me during sparring, just ask me to drop my shield. I haven't worked on my parrying skills for years."

She smiled amused.

"Anyways", i continued: "Back then you mentioned, that you lack some spells. Perhaps you could use some training lessons in one of the schools. And as for me, my armor couldn't even pass for mediocre."

I put away three vials, and prepared ingredients for the next batch.

Wynna pondered this for a while and said: "All this together would be quite a lot of coins. Then again, given the rate at which we're currently making money - well..."

I nodded: "Exactly. And if we wanted to, we could earn coins even faster. I think we could get all we need in two days."

She raised her eyebrows, and sat down: "I'm listening."

"Remember the farm we went to? They also had plenty of herbs and flowers. We can load up with ingredients in just an hour, then travel to a city, make potions, buy or train things."

"It sounds a bit boring, but also very useful. Well, if it's just two days - count me in, partner", she smiled.

"With a bit of luck, those two days include today. It's still quite early. Maybe we can make it to the farm, back, and do the batches today."

"Now as for the fun part: Cuddles in the evening?", she asked.

I smiled amused and hugged her: "Sure. No evenings without cuddling."

After finishing the remaining batches, we sold those we wouldn't need, making another three hundred coins. Everything counted together, included the coins we already had when leaving IC, our stash now added up to one-thousand four-hundred coins. We went back to the stables, mounted our saddlebags, and left at around noon.

It took us just a bit more, than half an hour, to arrive at the farm, thanks to our mounts. Both of us quickly filled our packs and saddlebags. Then, we made our way back to Chorrol.

As i set up the alchemy equipment again in our room, i said: "Let's talk about your favorite topic."

Wynna seemed confused for a moment, then looked at me, smiling with expectation.

"Your other favorite topic", i grinned.

Once again, she for a moment looked perplexed, then laughed: "Oh, you mean magick?"

I nodded: "You said you're lacking some things, to balance your setup. You mentioned that it's too expensive. Now you still might not have enough coins, to address everything you want to do, but you could do something about the most urgent things. So, since we fight together, i thought: Let's talk about it."

Wynna smiled broadly: "What about you?"

"Hmm?"

"Well, you too have plenty of coins now, and more soon. You might prefer melee, but you currently only know a few spells, and there are others which could be useful to you", she explained.

"I'm quite sure that training costs and equipment will eat up most of my share. Then again, it would be interesting thinking about what i'd do next. I mean, currently i just know how to heal myself a bit, cast minor fireballs, and of course sense life. I'm now a bit better at those, thanks to you, but i agree it's a bit... limiting. But, i wouldn't even know what to learn. I mean, i don't know all those spells that exist."

Wynna opened her backpack, searched a bit, then pulled out a book and handed it to me.

"Neither i nor this book knows everything, but it does list most known spells and techniques. It's a bit like magic candy land: Everything looks really nice, but i'm sorry you cannot pick everything - that option is already reserved for me."

"Pfft!", i softly punched her into the shoulder. She laughed.

"It's a bit worn, so please be careful. I've spend too many hours browsing through it - thinking about what i could do, if i had the coins and experience. If you feel overwhelmed, i've got some ideas."

"Shoot", i answered, browsing through the summaries.

"Well, you can handle most melee situations well already. Also, you don't need to learn all those utility or buffing spells, since only one of us needs to know those. I think, what mainly would be useful to you, is getting out of situations that put you at a disadvantage, or at least improve your odds."

I nodded: "Agreed" I stopped browsing, as a spell had caught my attention. Wynna noticed this and moved next to me, curious.

She smiled: "Like this one. Exactly."

"Yeah, but mysticism is what i understand least. You know, with fireballs and healing, i can feel and intuitively understand what's going on. With sense life, i just imitate some instructions i learned a while ago."

"It get's worse than blink - the probably most useful spell to you, comes from a school you don't know anything about yet. But let's take this one step at a time: Your first concern is, that you want to be in melee range. For long range, you can switch to the bow, but at midrange, switching is too slow. This means, either you need to get into melee range quickly, or you need to attack ranged, without depending on the bow."

I smiled: "Hence blink. As a bonus, i also quickly could get some distance, if i get mobbed. Ranged: I don't think i can get that much better with fireballs, without learning a lot of things about magick. Perhaps i just need other minor destruction spells, to complement the fireball?"

Wynna nodded: "Shockbolt should be obvious, but maybe you also would like an area-spell, so that you could for example freeze opponents near you - just another way to deal with getting mobbed."

"Hmm, yes this would be nice. But aren't area spells expensive to cast? I don't have as much magicka as you have."

"That's right. Well, i think you could do it with a lot of training, but it would still deplete all your magicka. However, there is another way..." Wynna browsed through the book, until she found what she was looking for. "Icebelt. It affects everyone around you, but no one further away. It isn't a ranged spell. This makes it much cheaper to cast."

I smiled: "Thank you. Yes, this sounds like a really good idea."

"Okay, second obvious problem: Casters. Yes, with blink you could get close to them real quick, but you still can't do anything about them casting. Now, of course there is an obvious spell, to tell them to shut up. God, i hate it."

I laughed.

"The problem is, you have intuitive understanding of destruction and restoration. Because of blink, you already are faced with learning another school. Heck, if you browse through mysticism, you will quickly notice why i'm so hot on making it my third school. Plus, you getting better at sense life - you know how useful it is. Fine, that's three magic schools for you. The problem now however is: You want to learn 'silence'? Well, that's illusion magick. Yes, it's a nasty, annoying and disgusting spell, but do you want to - in addition to mysticism - learn *another school* just for this?"

I agreed: "As funny as it might be, to annoy you with it, that's not really worth it. I'd be better off with some scrolls - against opponents i mean."

"Pffft. You're not really encouraging me, to tell you about the alternative."

I chuckled and gave her a kiss. She looked at me, still undecided. "Mmmh fine, okay. Here's the more sadistic version: What if, instead of preventing them from casting, you could punish them for it?"

My eyes widened, and a diabolical grin formed on my face: "I'm listening."

"Aptly called 'Spellblaze': Any magicka he spends, will harm his own body. He tries to heal in response? I'm sorry, healing costs magicka too - oops. As a minor spell, it doesn't last long, and it won't do a lot of harm. However, just imagine the confusion and panic it will cause. Enough indecision of a brainlocked caster, to let you quickly close in."

I was browsing through Wynna's book for the spell.

"It's in mysticism as well", she said, grinning. I hugged her.

"Don't thank me too early. I haven't mentioned the last thing yet, that could go completely wrong for you. And: I don't have a solution, just a disappointing workaround."

"I'm thankful anyways. But, please explain."

"What if your sword simply turns into dust?"

"..."

"It's a rare and expensive spell. Destruction magick. You probably won't often meet someone using it, but it can happen. On the upside, if your blade is in good shape, it'll take two or three invocations to ruin it. Now, conjuration has a remedy: Us conjurers can create temporary weapons out of thin air. But well, this is another case of: 'Do you want to learn another school, just for this?' So, all i can suggest is: Maybe you should buy a dagger as a backup weapon."

I nodded: "Okay. What about you? Magick i mean."

"Oh, where to begin... give me a minute to order stuff in my head."

I chuckled, then let her think while i tended to the ingredients and vials. We had so many plants, i was sure it would take me until eighteen. Then again, Wynna could use the time, to buy some of the things she wanted and visit trainers.

"Okay, let's first recap what i know already: My primary schools of course are conjuration and alteration. I've got novice knowledge about every other school, restoration a bit more.

First, something that might surprise you: I actually don't know most spells available to conjurers. That's because i focussed on summoning creatures - it's what i'm good at. As i mentioned earlier, conjurers also have spells to summon weapons. They also can summon bound armor. The only thing i trained among those, was how to summon a dagger - i only did so, to understand basics of equipment summoning. You may wonder, why i didn't learn more. See: Conjured equipment is better, yes, but all of this means spending magicka and precious time, on something else than attacking, buffing, summoning, healing, and so on."

I nodded: "Makes sense, yes."

"Okay, alteration next. What i can do so far: I trained elemental shields a lot. If we need to cover a halfway long fall, or need to dive for some time, i've got feather and water-breathing for this. Then, there are the various material modification tricks i've learned. Again, i don't need to pay for anything new here."

Again, i nodded.

"Next, destruction. I want to avoid melee, so i rely on summons and attack-spells to deal damage. Currently, i only know the most basic techniques. So i think i should visit a trainer. As for spells: Fireball and shockbolt are fine for now - i can just train those myself. However, here's something important: I need spells to 'dodge' someone charging me. There are a few ways i've come up with. Destruction has one: I should learn blinding. I can cast it at someone charging me. And of course, i also can use it, to give you some relief, if you get mobbed."

"Good idea. All of this doesn't sound so expensive so far?", i asked.

"Hehe, just you wait! Okay, illusion is next. Once again, i just know the basics, and the only thing i can cast, is goddamn light. I need training lessons. The school has some interesting spells, but for now, the one i want the most is invisibility. Can be a minor spell - i just need a way to, for a few secs pop out of view. Another way to dodge charges. This also shouldn't cost too much."

"Well, you won't need to visit a trainer, to improve your skills in teasing."

"Mysticism! Shopping spree!", she called.

"Who could have seen that one coming?", i joked.

"I need a trainer. I need spellfire and blink too. And extrication!"

"How much would you need for all those things?"

"I guess about two thousand coins in total. So, our stash would need to be at around four thousand coins tomorrow evening, or the day after."

"Wynna goes shopping in magick candy land. What could be the only outcome? Though, you didn't mention a pony."

"Ponies are boring. I want a unicorn!"

"Riiight."

"Come on, please. We can do this. Umm... the magick i mean!"

I chuckled: "Okay, fine, let me see..." I imagined a map of the nearby cities, farms, travel times and so on. It didn't really help my concentration, that Wynna was smiling at me in expectation, all the time.

"Okay, this could work - but we'd be doing nothing else, than making haste from one place to another."

She jumped at me: "Thank you! Do you know, how long i've been waiting for this?"

"By the way: What is extrication?", i asked.

"Well, remember when i messed up in that cave, and we had to find our way out with just my light spell? With extrication, i could have teleported both of us out, just with a fingersnip. It works for other things than caves too. In short, it brings us to the closest location outside of whereever we are."

I smiled broadly: "Very useful indeed."

 

[rynak777]

Space reserved for story, in case of exceeding post-limits

[rynak777]

Space reserved for story, in case of exceeding post-limits

[rynak777]

3rd entry posted. It's very long. Introduction of the 2nd main char. I'm very happy with how this one turned out.

[ChancellorKremlin]

Reserving 5 posts for fear of exceeding character limit is a little excessive. What you could do is just post each episode in its own post, and then use the OP to link to them through a list of episodes. You can also edit the title of the OP to reflect when a new update is posted, like [sTORY] Yuma's Journal | Updated 12/05/2013 and so on.

 

Good luck with it. 

[rynak777]

Entry 4 and 5 added. Things starting to get more upbeat, though given both's pasts, scars still unadressed.

 

I'll rearrange the layout, if i exceed the first 2 reserved posts (because i don't know the post charlimit.... could be 32k, 64k, 128k, i don't know. What i do know, is that this might ultimately need up to 256k, if the interest is there).

[rynak777]

Entry 6: Some of the borderline deranged/black humor appearing. The protagonists behaving in this "slightly-psycho" style will happen quite often in later entries (quote from a future entry: "Yuma, you are absolutely, positively nuts. Tell me more!")

[rynak777]

Entry 7 - Target Practice:

The duo's first attempt at a combat technique, they'll use frequently later on (maximize damage on the opening strike, with bows).

 

Entry 8 - Scary On / Scary Off:

This is about as wacky as it gets. Put a disillusioned fighter, and a caster that did illegal experiments with alteration magicks, into a pitchblack dungeon, that makes no sense at all, and offers practically no rewards - hilarity ensues.

 

---

 

I'll take a bit of a break now. I want to build up a buffer.

[rynak777]

ENTRY 9 - This can only be benefical to our relationship

 

Wynna for the first time showing a bit of a kinky side, more alteration experiments, cliffhanger yay!

[rynak777]

ENTRY 10 - I'll stab the caster

 

A bit of strategy riddles, then the first larger fight.

[rynak777]

STATUS UPDATE ABOUT LACK OF UPDATE:

As (probably no one) noticed, updates recently have been behind my 1-week schedule. Why so? Am i too busy? Out of ideas how to continue? Actually, none of this...

Here's my current situation:

- posted ten (or is it more by now? guess so) entries

- zero feedback (no replies, no PMs, no likes/dislikes, no nothing. The only thing that seems to go up, is views, but that may as well just be search engine crawlers. When i say this, i don't mean this as cricisism towards the community. I just see it as a fact, implying that there is little interest in this, around here, and i possibly annoy people more with bumping this topic up on updates, than i provide something interesting to people. If this were the case (which it seems to be), then posting more entries is disadvantageus to me, as well as the comm her: I'd spend effort for no reason, and the comm would be annoyed by getting a thread bumped into view it doesn't care about.

- I have about half a megabyte of plaintext story written, for further entries, that just needs to be polished/reworked. So, lack of ideas really is my least concern.

- Currently, i'm actually considering to going back to a heavily modded morrowind. At this point (no decision yet), it seems quite possible, that a heavily modded morrowind might fit my tastes, playstyle and roleplaying better, than oblivion or skyrim.

- I'm currently finishing my mw mod setup, and beginning to playtest it. Should i decide to go with MW instead of oblivion/skyrim, then obviously all the current story as it is written, doesn't match anymore as is. However, i do think that if i could get the right mods (have most already - just missing an actually working link for the hall of fame balmora castle - which seemingly vanished from the web), i do think that i with reasonable effort could adapt the existing story, to play in the MW setting instead.
 

[rynak777]

Update:

 

- i've decided to continue the story on an oblivion basis. Not neccessarily primarily for readers, but foremost for me. While this may sound arrogant, what i mean with this is just, that *i* am curious about what happens next, in the story. That is, when i'm writing stuff, i'm writing because i want to know how things play out, in this elder scrolls universe.

 

- Why did i decide to dump the morrowind option? Too many complications. Dev-tools (ability by myself to tweak mods) in even worse shape than oblivion. Most story-bits already being designed for oblivion setting.

 

- What does that mean explcitely in details? Currently, i'm continueing to tweak "battlehorn castle upgraded", whenever i feel in the mood, to risk a shot of improvement-effort, when it might just end up in CTDs, which i might need to undo. Why does battlehorn castle matter so much for this story? Well, the episodes posted so far haven't gotten to the point, but battlehorn castle will be really important and central to later episodes of the story. Entire character development U-turns will be based on it.

 

- What about me evetually releasing the code to all those BU-tweaks? If i get close to feeling it finished, i'll release the mod on nexues, here and otherwise, and just like "battlehorn upgraded" felt like an entirely new mod to the DLC battlehorn, this one would feel like a grand overhaul to BU in turn. And based on what i did so far, i think it deserves it - but i don't want to release, until i'm mostly done. That's because some of the things i'm changing, are more highlevel. I.e., the way how original BU does castle upgrades, feels quite unfinished and lame.... i want to fix that, but that in turn means changing gamelogic, for NPCs across the entire castle, and to release that, i'd have to finish changes all across the castle. So yeah.

 

- So, what about story update schedules? What's the new plan? Answer: Expect me to post a new entry, at least once a month - most probably more often than this.

 

- Why not continue this at some other less-adult portal, given that my story isn't primarily focussed on pornographic content? Answer: While the story's foundation won't be sex, a lot of the jokes, remarks, details and char-development aspects, will be sexual. Sure, it might not be "explicit", but even "implicit" would cause problems to me on other forums/portals. So in short: This story doesn't fit in, so for now i'm just going for "who won't reject me, even if i only rarely need the reassurance"?

[rynak777]

4 new entries added:

 

11 - Weapons of mass-belief:

Ivory-tower academia + beliefs are true = WTF? Oh, and both admitting something to each other.

 

12 - Horsies for free:

Our two protagonists equip for survival, yet decide they still want cars - for real cheap.

 

13 - Doing things together:

Both protagonists growing closer.

 

14 - Magic candy land:

Wynna gets a shop-as-much-as-you-like offer - what could go wrong? Also includes complete planned spell setup for both protagonists.