Cumbrianlad.. very nice story!!

Andra... Ake, Thalmor, nasty business, but great way to add them in.

Ohhhh lordy Andra.... you made that seem as real as the first time my first toon had three Thalmor show up and start beating on her! Wow....

Thanks Areial, Serethil. Boy, I keep having these spooky moments in the game. I had planned on something with the Thalmor, but I knew it could wait, so no big deal. That attack though, happened just as I wrote it, with the sabercat, then Thalmor out of nowhere. She got the lightening bolt that knocked her down, and 2 on Gerdie. Ake did stay behind the rock, darn near died, and got him just like I described. Perfect timing, for me. Wow....

edited typos

Oh, damn spooky, that! Again.... Wow....

Thank you!!

Yep, and her first Thalmor attack too.

Awesome!! it's so nice when game event's just happen to work out in the best way possible even when you aren't looking for that exact outcome.

Verinne Ravenwing continues:

I spent the night at the Sleeping Giant there in Riverwood. After another lesson from Faendal the next morning, I bought something called a “sandwich” from Orgnar to eat as I rode. I watched him put it together from a half loaf of bread, some fish steaks, and some grilled leeks after buttering the bread. It smelled wonderful, and obviously would be perfect for eating in the saddle. Now isn’t that interesting. I’m not rich, by any means - but I’ve quit worrying about the septims for a night in an inn, and for something to eat to carry with me atop Black’s saddle. I’m glad too - worrying about coin is a nasty thing.... I resolved to do my best to not have to go back to that sort of counting over every last bit - rich would be nice, but “comfortable” would do me.

So, in this glorious morning, I'm off away. Not going as far yet as I'd thought though - a chance question to Orgnar got me handed a bounty to fill. I'm not really - happy - with killing to order.... but then again, bandits in an otherwise productive mine can't be good for Whiterun. And since for the most part, Whiterun has been kind to me.... well. I'll go deal with the bandits in Embershard. There might even be veins of ore to mine - I could always use metal....

Ugh. They were really poor bandits. Their weapons and armor weren't anywhere close to the quality of mine. And.... they stank. WHY can't.... eh, never mind, already asked got no answer.... But Divines know, they lived above lovely warmish pools of water.... and ANY git can make soap. I could myself (not being that git) with ash, water, and bear fat.... Though I had no need to mess with it since Alvor Smithwright had so kindly gifted me - and sure, I could buy some now at a shop, at need.

There was some raw ore, and a few ingots. I took all of that, and what little of the weapons and armor that seemed salable. There was a little coin and a few gems. Once I reached the inn, Orgnar handed over 100 septims in payment. So the coin was decent - but I still felt a little.... dirty. I wasn't so far from that sort of life myself.... 'SHUT IT, Veri.' But if I refused to acknowledge it.... did that make me better? No. I thought it made me worse.

Sighing, I pushed all those philosophical maunderings into some dark cupboard in my mind. Just right now, I couldn't decide which was what, or what I should think was better one way or t'other. Too much, too different, too hard, too soon. I began to think myself hard used. And then, I began to think I should stop with thinking myself the be-all and end-all of Tamriel! 'Oh, Veri, you think way too much, and you need to stop thinking you're the center of ANY universe....' Aye, so it was.... I took that to heart. Good thing too, because Black at that moment did his patently coward-at-heart move, dumping me off his rear while he took himself away out of danger.

Swords out as fast as I could get them, I was still too slow for the bear. She was huge. And there was a second, only a little smaller, off to one side - her last-year's cub most likely. Damn. This is what I get for not paying attention. My mind went into slow motion - I started Derda's death-song, and my swords drank their fill of bears' blood. I was not unwounded - but it was scratches only (though bears claws and teeth are nothing to ignore) but at least I hadn't lost a chunk of flesh this time. I drank a potion just to be on the safe side, and rinsed the worst scratches with water from a nearby stream. I took that opportunity to fill my waterskins as well.

Black came strolling up, unharmed, unaffected, unworried. "So. Did the ancients magic you somehow so that you run instead of staying to fight?" My tone was dry - though of course the horse had no care for that.

Sighing again, I grumbled my way into the saddle. Black whickered agreeably under his breath, and set off the way I headed him, without a care in the world.

If I live over this "gift horse" I will be DAMNED lucky.

Serethil... I can relate to Veri's drifting thoughts, I walk when I need to think and often as not, pay no attention to what is around me. Of course I had a good dog that let me know when I needed to .

Akemmi, http://akemmi1.blogspot.com ( short update)

Can't put a price on a good dog. Serious.

I love that last Akemmi bit.... puts some stuff in place. I.... hmmm. I would like Akemmi to actually lay this ouroboros curse to rest ; to be the one who has a future ahead of her, but a future that is bounded by her own lifetime.... which of course would end in her death - actual, REAL death.

I think.... perhaps.... that would be a blessing.

Serethil, Veri had a heckuva day. I wish I could control my wandering thoughts sometimes, and sometimes it seems like they're all that keeps me sane. lol Good update, and she's got more coin too! I like her and Black together too, hehe.

Heh. She's far from rich. And the only thing that keeps it in her purse instead of spent is Gramda's precept: what YOU have is yours; and unless you throw it before the pigs as if you're a Jarl with all the gelt in the world to cast away, well girl.... keep it close until you need it!

[Oh, and Veri's just now teasing the edges of a thing that's been bothering her about her horse....]

http://s1254.photobucket.com/user/Trace9569/media/people%20places%20and%20things/HPIM0895.jpg.html?sort=3&o=358 Searria is the Boxer, Charlie the mini-pain in my backside... Mac... my beloved Mac ( Border-collie/ Husky) , is the black and white fuzz-ball, she is 17 yr's old in that pic, she was my best friend for 16 of those yrs, no you can't put a price on a good dog... she brought me squirrel's , usually alive and unhurt.

Well, Akemmi's I haven't quiet decided how her story will end, I have two written... The curse ends with her in both.... in different ways.

Awww, what sweeties!! I miss my dog...

I miss my Mac, she passed away the yr after that pic was taken. Charlie was a foster, til we could get him to my sister-in-law, who fostered dushounds, I fostered large dogs.

Jeez louise. I only have ONE dog, and I can't get her to sit still for a pic! This one's from a while back.... with my poor old kitty who died not long after:

http://imgur.com/33uL7uU

And last month, just before Christmas, complete with coat (in which she lies right in front of the furnace which is going at full blast....):

http://imgur.com/PJ9Q1rT