VERY well done, sis! Tension, the reason for same, escalation.... and release. LOVE it!

So I finally had the issue where, after becoming a Vampire Lord, the Vampires in the Keep attack regardless of that. Oddly enough, it started with Salonia, and no one else. But once she saw me, she attacks instantly, and then the rest follow suit. Though I have solved the issue, which I think is related to the player possibly not being put into the appropriate faction(one that has the factions the Keep's Vampires are in, as allies). Why it would be only her that attacks in that case, and it takes her doing so for the rest to do the same I am not sure. Possibly a passive effect from Imperious - Races of Skyrim that damages enemies(though I don't think that mod gives the Redguard race such an effect), and that being seen as an attack by the rest, they do so as well. I checked my mods, and nothing I have changes anything about Salonia other than USLEEP, so I do not know.

But I've gotten past the issue, and should not have to deal with it again. Anyway, beyond this one, it should only be, maybe half a chapter...err Entry rather, before it gets into the actual in-game material. Though I'm sure that isn't really an issue, since this still is about the character.

Akasha

Entry 2

There were those who did question my, change. Mostly those who were close to me, even if soon enough, they would perhaps wish for the same as well. Not all did. Some where content with mortality, and I never forced anyone. Much as they questioned me, they were not suggesting that it made me an unfit ruler. Far from it, in fact. Mostly since, within a year, I had raised a larger army, one that was more for show, in a sense. It placated the nation, made them feel safer. In truth, these men were indeed trained for combat, but not with my rival Kingdom. As guards in my city, as soldiers to defend it, but not more than that. No, for that, I had another idea.

I choose thirteen of my soldiers, the best. They had proved themselves, and they would be all I needed. When I told them, most were not exactly surprised. That being, that I was a Vampire. But when I made it clear that I wished them to destroy the city of my rival, they questioned how it would be done with them alone. I smiled. “With your agreement, I will give you power. Immortality. You shall not fear death, you shall bring it to those who oppose you. Should you with to accept, I shall reward your fealty with this gift. If not, then you may leave, with no shame – and no one of my Kingdom will show you such a thing.”

Weeks later, at dusk, I watched the sunset, knowing that by morning, I shall have my victory. Jouri worried, even though she knew it was unlikely that I'd be slain in battle. I was not a ruler to send armies in my stead. I would fight with them, I would bleed with them. But in my case, I would not have to die with them. I kissed her before I left, making it clear that it wold not be the last.

“WHAT ARE YOU?”

The fool said this, as I had my had around his neck, his feet unable to find purchase on the ground. His men backed away, as mine tore them to shreds. I smiled. “You need me to say it?” I snarled, and with a single motion, broke his neck. His gasping for air was pleasing, since I found his persistence irritating. That messenger I killed, was not the first. Once, he had sent a thousand of his men, with the promise that more would be coming. That was a month ago. Not one of those men, crossed my gates. For they had to contend with me. They all failed. This was something I was worried about. But none of my people turned against me. They saw their Queen defend their city, from a force which spared my soldiers from death. It wasn't about what I was. But about, what I did. Even if not many watched, those that did, knew to show respect. Not distrust, not hatred.

But this man, this, King. He threw away his soldiers, trying to keep me and my men from him. He had most of his army, guarding his palace, NOT his city gates. For him, it was about him, and not his people. If he sent his men after my Kingdom? He would not fight with them. He would stay in his palace, among his riches, feasting. Where as I was with the men I tasked to raze his city, feasting on his soldiers. NOT his people. The ones that shied away, those who did not fight, even those that did, just out of fear, and not devotion to a fool, they were spared. Given a place in my Kingdom. A chance to live on, with no shame for their place of origin.

I returned, to a celebration, open to all. The riches taken from that fool were enough to bring my city to a level of prosperity it had never seen. But really, the sight of Jouri was enough for me, and for her, the same was true. Even in a crowed square, even without warmth, I felt it still. Many were celebrating because we had averted a crisis that would have seen my city destroyed. My only celebration was a night free of worry, able to concentrate on her – something she was grateful for. As was I.

After this, things settled to a point where the focus was not on an impending crisis, but on things more mundane. Perhaps boring, but still interesting enough to keep going. But somehow, I knew that, even if it was centuries away, something was going to change this. Perhaps in a way I could not fight.

The mistake I made was not thinking this. It was doing something for someone, who would succumb to her sickness otherwise. Who I, as before, made things clear. Allowed the girl to choose. She agreed. But someone else, did not.

In the years after this victory, one of the larger families in my city became rather well known. It's patriarch was a personal acquaintance, one that was wary of me, but never exactly distrustful. This was a man whose opinions are not kept, but spread to everyone around. His thinking was that, while he never exactly mentioned anything specific, whatever I was, was not a good thing for the Kingdom. Still, he was not exactly hostile, since he still realized that it was something isolated. It had become rather rare for me, or anyone like myself, to see reason to give another this power, and as always, the question was asked when it happened.

But something was to occur that would change this. Not the making of more Vampires, but only one.

A daughter within the family was known to be beautiful. A jewel that many would be kept from, for fear of tarnish. But this would not always be the case. As the disease she caught, while the origin was unknown, meant that death would come to her. At first, I had little to no involvement with the girl, save for knowing enough about her condition to tell how little time she would have. Other than that, it was left up to healers and such, to possibly find a cure for her. I hated the thinking, but I doubted it would happen.

It was strange to me, to think that her father, the family's patriarch, did not seem to care. He never seemed against the idea of his daughter being cured, but everything seemed to suggest that, should she perish, it would be something that he might not like, but understands that nor he or anyone else, could do anything. As much as this annoyed me, I did not choose to act just yet. For that was not something I had to choose entirely for myself.

The girl's mother approached me. Even with her lack of knowledge, her intent was simple. Noble, really. For her, it wasn't about things being “as they should be”, but rather, how unfair this seemed. Her husband was seemingly content with letting their daughter die, and she did not feel the same way. She was at the point of begging, on her knees, for me to do something. Anything, as she put it.

She honestly did not need to beg. I am not made from sculpted stone on a pedestal, I never sought to make myself unapproachable. In this case, I would act. With some haste, perhaps, but this was only an effort to be sure, that the girl knew. Understood what such a change would mean. I spent some time telling the girl everything. Even saying that I would personally see that she acclimate to the change as I and many others had.

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?”

Three days. That was all it took, for me to see that man enter my palace, shouting. He knew everything. But to him, the specifics were not important. It was about what I had done, nothing more. Not how, not why. For him, the fact that my choice was made without consent that he would have likely never given, was abhorrent to him. To him, I had made a grievous mistake. Even if the choice was not entirely mine.

“Tell me honestly. I saved a girl from death, and that man took steps to condemn all in my city to it. What does that say?”

Wow, Max. You do a VERY good job of posing hard questions. And sometimes, handing over the hard answers.

Serethil... Veri is doing well to keep up with all the demand's on her time... and know when to say...No!

Andra...Very exciting... in a scary sort of way!

Maxus... very powerful story! Hard questions...hard answers!

Repeating myself.... but how POWERFUL is this game for this many years, that each of us keep it a living entity by the stories we live within it? This amazes me. And - gods forbid that this game ever dies.

I've never really felt that way about any game before....

Wow is right...and the hard decision, followed by an action that she knew would bring trouble. We'll have to wait to see the size and shape of that trouble.

That was great Max!!

Thanks. This next one may be a bit short, but still have a similar impact.

Might have posted this in another thread, but for reference, this is http://i.imgur.com/ye0ObTB.png.

Akasha

Entry 3

“You are suggesting far too much. Believing that I have made a terrible mistake. Perhaps I have? But it is not one I bear alone. Your wife, asked. She cared nothing for what happened, only that her child, though she is of age, survives her affliction. She may have been apprehensive, but what was her alternative? To let her daughter die? Also, I took the time to explain. To tell your daughter everything I knew. Not once in those five hours did she complain. Not once did she voice discontent. Understand that, if she did, I would not have done it. I would have understood, what she wanted. If being as I to survive was not what she would accept, then I would accept her wishes. But you know what she chose.” I laughed. “In spite of that, you tell me that I am completely at fault? How so?”

It seemed that he could barely speak. For he understood that I spoke nothing but the truth. However, this changed nothing. He believed something had went wrong, and no amount of truth, details, would change that. But he would endeavor to change everything. In a way I absolutely hated. Even if he had no ability to raise soldiers, to take me down, it still did not matter.

For he broke everything for me. Every logical and rational sense I had. The day I had to enter my own court, and see that man with a blade to Jouri's neck. The hand of my guards only stayed because of that, and I snarled. “This is what it comes to? This is how you believe you will set things right?”

He did not say a thing. I could see the anger in him, the feelings too much for him to muster speech. I hated the situation. I could move, but if he even saw it, it was over. But I did not have to choose. Jouri choose for me. The look of sorrow on her face haunts me. She knew. She knew that she had, even with the victories, still failed to truly protect me, to protect this beautiful city. She knocked his hands away, only for him to shove the blade through her stomach, and then in a quick flourish, which from my sight took years to happen. For I saw their eyes. Hers filled with sorrow, with tears, knowing that this was the end. For him, it was nothing but anger. Nothing but a vitriolic hated that would not be settled.

The sound of the blade hitting the floor was like that of thunder. I felt a splatter of blood on my face, and even with my eyes welling up with tears, the rest of my body would not respond to that. The sadness felt, did not compare to the extreme anger. The utter hated for him, since he took something from me that I could not get back. When I gave his daughter a chance at life again, even if it was different.

I barely registered it when I moved. It was only when my hand was impaled through his stomach, and my blade was drawn, that I knew it. Thinking now was pointless. He could barely speak, but he did not have to. Did his crime far outstrip mine? Did we both surrender to folly, to not think about our actions? Or is it more that, my actions were a mix of emotion and logic, while his were nothing but emotion. A perceived necessity in light of his daughter's change. Was it? Since it did nothing but drive the city into chaos.

Maybe that was his intention. He felt the city was tainted by the presence of Vampires, and sending it to ruins? What else would be a better idea?

His actions are a form of cruelty beyond measure. An entire city dies, for his selfish hatred. As does, my heart. For in the end, when I lay in that darkened chamber, I did not care that I could perhaps dig myself out. That I could simply leave. That I was still alive. Everything that I loved in this world was dead, and it was only my body, and perhaps my mind that had failed to follow. Nothing was left for me. Pity I had no will to kill myself. Only the will to languish in the darkness of my begotten happiness.

“It means you are not a monster. But I have a question for you. If given the chance, if nothing is left for you here, where will you go?”

Wow, I really need to start coming by here once a day. The pages fly right past! Excellent reads, everyone!

Maxus, just a beautifully written!

Oboy, Max. I've never been interested at all in vampires (in any medium, but especially in games) and my one foray through DG - well, I'm not going there again. But I like Akasha - because she has honor.

Of course, I wonder if she's going to forever take all that on her shoulders.... even though the fault lay between a man, his wife, and their daughter.

Kurdan Gro-Olar http://kurdangro-olar.blogspot.com/2016/05/more-bounties-and-letter-home-page-6.html pg 6

Very nicely set up, Areial! I like what you're doing with Kurdan, very much! And - I like Navitas, too. She is strong in herself, no matter what.

Maxus - A fascinating read!

Areial - interesting and thought-provoking material, and I'm curious to see where that's going to go.

lol Yeah, pretty much.

I have a thing where music just tends to pop up in my head for certain situations and I thought, why not include it here? Fun fact, though! LoZ: Twilight Princess's Temple of Time theme is what I played while exploring Labyrinthian in Arena to relieve the tedium of the soundtrack.

Still catching up between other stuff.

Maxus...The grief, sacrifice, and hatred (on both sides) was wrenching. Very well done. I do like Akasha, and feel for her!

Areial...Kurdan is going to be a force to be reckoned with! Wonderful!! No doubt, the Skyrim Orc chieftains are not going to be happy! Stuff 'em!

The Ravensdaughter:

Well.... I can't say the dreams let me be - but at least I didn't remember them (beyond a vague disquiet - and I thrust that aside as non-germane for the time being). The damned Elder Scroll was almost impossible to manage - it was huge; long and heavy - and extremly visible since the only way I seemed able to tote it at all was to loop some leather over its ends and sling it over and across my back. I sighed. This - country, province.... It was taxing my patience, never long on a GOOD day... The interesting thing is that no one I met asked me about the Scroll. Which meant.... what? Probably that no one but me could see it. And really, while that might have been a good thing.... I just glared askance at the Scroll and wished it gone.

Of course.... it's still here.... If wishes were horses.... I wanted Black in the worst way - but no. He was best out of this - whatever it was. He was safe. I wished I was. I was having to fend off bandits in larger and larger groups. I finally backtracked to Solitude to get a carriage to Whiterun. I was.... not of a mind to kill hundreds of bandits, wolves, bears, skeever - the damned scroll must be drawing them, even though they didn't really "see" it. Of course, that meant that Thaer was at risk too - so I still had to kill more than a fair share of those who felt it for whatever reason. Thaer, equable as always, just muttered about "starving hordes". Thank the Divines for phlegmatic Nords!

I climbed the last few feet to Paarthurnax's eyrie. He reared up to his full height, and stared down at me almost sadly. "You have it. The Kel - the Elder Scroll. Tiid kreh... qalos. Time shudders at its touch. There is no question. You are doom-driven. Kogaan Akatosh. The very bones of the earth are at your disposal. Go then. Fulfill your destiny. Take the Scroll to the Time-Wound. Do not delay. Alduin will be coming. He cannot miss the signs."

Ugh. Why me? Well.... why not I suppose.... SOMEONE has to do this....

Except I wasn't sure what "this" really was. But I couldn't miss the - oddity - a few feet away, could I? Of course not. So I took the scroll inside the anomalous area.... Something - Paar? - prompted me to read the Scroll. I did. It was - painful. But informative. When the anomaly spat me out as indigestible, I knew something I hadn't known before - a Shout called Dragonrend. And before I could talk to Paar again, Alduin was there - taunting me, telling me I was dead already.

I opened my mouth....

Sere...I can only say, for Veri's sake...Oh crap!

Heh. Well, what I actually SAID (IRL) isn't postable. This is all going back to the very first time I played this part of the game - so.... it's brand new to Veri, if not to "me" (that would be me the overgoddess player - not the character).

I have very vivid memories of innumerable "oh *SH*T" moments in this game - most of them have cropped up in Veri's RP. And AIN'T that the best thing about this game? Yep. It is for me.

Yeah, there have been a lot of those moments for me...LOL And you're right about the beauty of it too!

Not quite to the post limit, but getting this ready because we're close. (and I'll be snoozing soon!)

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1602340-character-stories-10/