*** SubRosa has graciously agreed to a cameo appearance of her character Teresa in this chapter, in a scene which SubRosa co-wrote. If you follow this link you can refresh your memory of SubRosa's depiction of this same incident in her story, http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1047284&st=120 :


*** There is also special mention of D.Foxy's character "Foxy" in this chapter



Chapter 38: The Golden Armor


I remembered every rule Foxy taught me. Somehow for the jail mission, (and maybe it is because it didn't mean anything to me personally), I couldn't remember a thing. But this was for me, and I remembered his lessons as if he had burned them into me.

I wore the disguise of a street urchin to gather information, hanging in alleys and watching the shop. I noted every movement Maro and Varnado made and when they made it. I even pretended to be a beggar when I saw someone notice me. I found that people turn away from beggars, they do not like to look into their faces.

I guess that is why it was so surprising to hear a voice speak from behind me in the early morning hours as I was staking out the Best Defense.

I heard her approaching and was watching out of the corner of my eye as she neared, never expecting she would speak.

"I did not think Khajiit came with white fur? It looks lovely." I turned to do my begging routine but was surprised into a spontaneous response instead.

It was a young Wood Elf girl whose skin was as white as my fur, her hair was red as well! Had it not been for my tail we could have been twins!

"I did not think Bosmer did either," I smiled, "I like it. People might think we are twins!"

I looked well into her face, she had a beauty that was striking, and it was increased by the tiny smile that flitted for just a second. The ghost of a smile never reached her eyes, yet I felt she was kind. Her eyes reflected a life that had not been as happy as it should for one of her age. I guessed my own eyes probably reflected the same.

For reasons unknown, I felt she could be trusted, and so allowed her assessment of me. It was only fair, as I had done the same to her.

It was so odd, almost like a reflection of one's self staring back. There had been some pain she had endured, it could be easily read through her eyes. I found myself wondering?here we were in the same spot at this unholy hour, both as white as snow with red hair; both of us in the time of our youth that we should have no cares, yet our eyes reflected we had?

I felt the poignancy of it should have some conclusion. It was such a strange occurrence that I expected something more to happen, like a lightning bolt to descend from the sky and strike me down or something.

She walked on, and I watched her go till she was well out of sight. It was a moment to remember, and I wanted to be sure I had every detail of it for when I thought back on it. Had I kept a personal journal I would have made a notation of it. Her face I would never forget.

I called it a day on my stake out, my mind would not be as alert as needed. I returned that night ready to continue.

I already knew from my sewer training with Foxy that there was a basemant entrance into the Best Defense, but Maro slept in the basemant. That meant I would have to time my 'visit' for when they were out of the shop rather than just asleep.

When the shop closed at eight in the evenings they both left and usually did not return till midnight. Maro was a heavy drinker, but I would take no chance of coming while he was there.

On the weekends their schedules differed, so I would have to come on a weekday. I chose Wednesday as the best day of the week, they would be well into their weekly routine by then. I felt it best to do it earlier in the evening before the neighboring shopkeepers would have gone to bed, lest they hear a sound.

Watching all the neighborhood traffic, the closing of the nearby shops and which left at what times, I determined it must be done between 8:30 and 9:30 in the evening.

I practiced the route through the sewers using chameleon so there would be no dead mud crabs or rats to show someone had been there. I even caught a mouse to use as a distraction if needed. I had my timing down to the seconds.

Wednesday afternoon I began preparing for my mission. My spells were lined up and memorized. I donned Foxy's chameleon outfit and my thigh sheath and dagger. I removed my pack and my sword and hid them behind the large rock on the waterfront, and just carried with me a couple healing scrolls and lock picks.

The mouse I had been feeding well, and it had become quite friendly to me. It let me tickle its neck and belly. I found myself hoping I would not have to use it as a distraction, but I brought it, putting it in an upper pocket instead of the big inner pockets like I had on the Prison Mission. Every now and then it would peek its head out and look around, its whiskers tickling my face when I looked down at it. I named the mouse Alix, but had no idea if it be male or female.

I counted out my lock picks - I counted! I may send Foxy a letter and tell him about that!

Foxy would have been proud of me. I pulled it off with no hitch, no mess ups. Everything went smooth as silk. I chose a good night, there was a terrible storm, the continual howl of the wind and rumbling of thunder would cover up any noise I made, but I was silent as the grave. I was in and out in no time, and I stole nothing but the golden armor. I was no thief, but this belonged to me, and I would have it back again.

Picking my pack and sword up, I headed up to Bruma, the golden armor in the pockets of my chameleon robe. When Onger and I completed our transaction, I was nearly broke, but I once again owned my golden armor. I gave him a kiss on his grubby cheek I was so happy. He kind of reminded me of Manheim, and I knew we would get along with our business relationship right away.

***

Simplicia the Slow was trying to make it to her mat through the storm, but the wind and lightning made her stay cowering in the alley. She could barely see through the rain that pelted so hard it distorted even inches in front of her face. She couldn't run to get to a safer place from the storm, helljoint had slowed her movements and made her clumsy as well. She huddled down by some crates trying to block the rain from blowing through her soaked dress that was so thin from wear that it gave no more protection than had she been naked.

The storm appeared to break slightly, enough that she wanted to take the chance at getting to her mat. Her stomach burned with hunger, and she did have some bread in the satchel by her mat. If she didn't hurry though, this rain would soak the bread and then there would be nothing left to eat.

Weakened and clumsy from disease and hunger, she had to pull herself up, grabbing the crates to stand. The wind was starting to pick up again, she must hurry. Stumbling out into the street with her head down she felt something kick away from her foot and the sound of metal tinkling across the rock of the road.

"A coin!" she cried, scrambling down on her hands and knees and trying to find it. Unable to see for the rain driving at an angle now, she began feeling with her fingers around on the hard road for the coin.

The storm broke into a deluge again with a lightning bolt cutting a jagged path down the main walkway of the market district. As Simplicia's hands closed around the coin and she started to struggle up from her knees the bolt of lightning cut straight down, hitting her. She was flung forcibly across the alcove and against the wall of the shops. She landed on her back, wedged against the wall of the Best Defense, the sign above her swinging wildly in the wind threatening to come off its hinges.

Stunned, she lay face turned up to the sky. The lightning shimmered through her in waves of searing heat, the pulsing continuing even after the bolt had zigzagged on down the street, finally embedding itself in a tree that split down the middle from the impact of it. The rain was beating into her face, filling her open mouth when she gasped for air, and stinging her eyes that she was unable to shut.

As she lay there struggling to keep from drowning she saw a blue glowing light coming from the sky. It was moving ever closer, till she was sure she could reach out and touch it. There was a soft singing in her ears, and then a high pitched hum. The blue image seemed to reach down to her. She realized she must have died, and this must be her escort to the beyond. Simplicia put out her hand, and watched as the blue light enveloped it, as if it were a large hand holding her own. As soon as her hand touched the blue a bright light burst from it, surrounding her, blinding in its intensity. Then it felt like time was standing still, as if each second took an eternity to pass.

The clap of thunder that followed the lightning exploded with such a loud impact that the windows in all the stores shook and tinkled, as if they may break. The crash of it was so powerful and intense that people indoors screamed when it cracked.

Just as the sudden clap broke, Simplicia's heart gave a jump in her chest and started beating again. The blue image and blinding light receded. She watched it fade away before closing her eyelids and seeking relief from the blinding rain.

Simplicia awoke choking, someone was pouring liquid down her throat. Fearing it was the rain drowning her, she struggled against it at first, but then felt the soothing healing it brought and gratefully swallowed the rest.

Her eyes fluttered open. No rain pounded them. Looking up in surprise she found she was surrounded by people, all holding their jackets above her and blocking the rain from her with their own bodies.

"Are you okay miss?" Everyone was asking. Those that knew her name called to her. "Simplicia, will you be okay?" The healing potion seeped through her, giving her the strength to sit up and let them help her to the protection of the covered alley.

"'Twas the blue Orc! I seen it wi' me own eyes! 'Twas the Gray Prince, he come down from the skies to bring me up to him. An when I teched his hand, a golden light shined from him, he 'twere wearin' the Golden Armor! I seen it, I did!"

Everyone assumed it was the delirium of being struck by lightning, or a near death vision talking, that is before Maro and Varnado came running up to see what was about on the doorstep of their store.

Upon opening the door they ran to the stand that had held the Golden Armor. The armor was gone. The guards were called and they investigated. The locks were all still intact, as Maro and Varnado had to use their key to get in, and the basemant door was locked as well. There was no sign of a forced entry, nor was any merchandise other than the Golden Armor missing, even though Varnado's enchanted sword lay very near to the empty armor stand.

The mystery of the Golden Armor was never solved, the investigation turned up not a single clue or discrepancy in the shop to suggest anything but a celestial being had swooped in on a bolt of lightning and removed the armor. Coming as it had in the days following Fathis and the Khajiit arguing over it, it seemed that the Gray Prince had made a special trip down from the sky to finally put to rest the argument over who it belonged to. Many people recalled the unusually loud thunder clap and were sure they had heard the actual moment the Gray Prince had taken the armor.

Simplicia the Slow became a celebrity of sorts in the Market District after that. The Merchants, (with the exception of Maro and Varnado) made sure she had plenty of food and coins, even giving her a disease cure for her helljoint. The guards treated her with kindness as well, and everywhere she went people would call her over to hear once again the story of the Gray Prince coming down from the sky for his Golden Armor.

The mystery of the Golden Armor and the Gray Prince became a legend in the Market District.

:read: My goodness, two incredible writers producing such synergy! Magnificent! I was struck by the beauty of the plot here. Tightly woven and brilliantly presented.

It is of course your choice, but I assume using the word Wednesday instead of Middas was intentional.

'Every now and then it would peek it's head out and look around, it's whiskers tickling my face when I looked down at it. I named the mouse Alix, but I have no idea if it is a boy or girl.'
Tape this to your computer screen: Its = possessive / It's = it is (you want its in both uses above)
The last clause seems a tense break. Perhaps: 'had no idea if it was a boy or girl.'

'She landed on her back, wedged against the wall of the Best Defense, the sign above her swinging wildly in the wind threatening to come off it's hinges.'
Again, its is correct.

This was just plain beautiful to read. Such a change-of-pace stealthy smoothness from Maxical (I so hope her bumbling days are not over of course). Such an incredible depiction of Simplicia's near death experience.

Wow!

Yippie! :dance:

Even after having read it a dozen times already, Maxical's thoughts upon meeting Teresa are still very poignant. You provide us not only a very clear, but also moving window into her heart. Bravo!

However, I think what I loved most from the first part was this:

I found that people turn away from beggars, they do not like to look into their faces.

An excellent reminder of the fact that regular people try very hard to pretend that people like beggars to do not exist, making them practically invisible. Maxical choosing to disguise herself as one shows her professionalism.


The section on Simplicia was again very well done. Once more you show us the world from the point of view from someone other than Maxical, reminding us that she is not the only person affected by the events in her life. You give us a long look at the hardships of life for someone like Simplicia, how something as simple as a thunderstorm, which others shrug off while safe and sound in their homes, can be a life or death struggle for them. Excellent description of the lightning bolt that hit her, and of the near-death experience she had when her heart had stopped in the moments afterward.


One nitpick:

but the wind and lightning made her stay cowered in the alley.

I think you meant to say:

but the wind and lightning made her stay cowering in the alley.

Wow, fantastic chapter. Maxical and Teresa.
It is amazing to read these forum stories that seemlessly overlap, I feel like some huge jigsaw is about to come crashing down on my house and obliterate everything.
And the ghost of a smile. Don't we all understand that!!!

I loved the part about Simplicia, very well written from her point of view. I felt like I was experiencing it too.
The thought did impinge, 'Why is she struggling through the rain?' and bang, you explain the need to get back to her sack before the rain soaked her bread. Beautiful.
It is always good to find a writer that smacks you between the ears as you read. :blink:

My heart goes out to Simplicia. With 34,166 adventurers wandering around the Market district in metal armor, it is a poor, old lady in rags who gets the near death experience.

As mentioned above, one of your great strengths is the way you make all the characters 3-dimensional and give them lives and histories that make them far more than decoration. The cameo by Teresa was a delight, and the focus on Simplicia was a most excellent window into the reality of life for those who are not blessed by birth or fortune, but must live as best they can. Lovely descriptions throughout.

Foxy would have been proud of me.


BOTH Foxies are, my dear. :clap: :thumbsup:

Hey mALX, it's great that the story is still going after two topics. I just love how Maxical has evolved from the first post, to where she is right now. It's been a pleasure reading this and watching Maxical grow up. Some of the chapters are really funny! Some of the chapters almost made me cry, one of them did make me cry!

Keep writing mALX because this is one of the best fan fictions out there!!!

@ Acadian - Thank you very much!! I fixed the errors, Treydog beat you to it, lol. I appreciate both your help tremendously!

@ SubRosa - fixed, and I hope you are taking some bows for your co-write, don't be like Foxy and not take credit where credit is due!

Thank you so much for your comments - they mean a lot to me! You notice little details and aspects - one of the reasons I love reading your story, because you write them into yours!

@ Winter Wolf - Thank you so very much! A guard may have gotten a cheer being struck and flung, lol. - just kidding. I knew I wanted it to be a beggar, and studied each one in the WIKI till I finally chose Simplicia

@ Treydog, you are Awesome! You made the story better with your edits, and I appreciate you so much, and thank you for the kind words!!

@ Foxy - Thank you for your kind words, they mean a lot, but espcecially thank you for adding a new dimension to the story with your character 'Foxy.'

@ Iain Mc - You ROCK !!! Thank you so much!!!







*** There is also special mention of D.Foxy's character "Foxy" in this chapter




Chapter 39: Life In The Thieves Guild

Even though Armand said I could wear the golden armor right away, and I have a bill of sale for it, I find I am still afraid for anyone to see it. I tucked it into the bottom of my pack and covered it up.

I guess I shouldn't have been shocked to find out the Gray Fox is real, but I was. Maybe I am na?ve, but shouldn't childhood fairy tales remain stories? But no, all the myths are real; the Dark Brotherhood, the Uderfryke, The Black Fox, and now the Gray Fox.

Foxy taught me it is all a matter of illusion. Make people think it is their imagination to cover what is real.

Also the myth that secrets can be kept, when it turns out that the Gods spy on you and tell the Emperor. And then Alix investigates till he finds out your deepest secrets and shares them with the men that hold your interest.

I feel as if my life has been laid bare, that all the world can see my mistakes and jeer. I don't blame the Emperor, for he did not wish to know, that was obvious. It pained him to see, and how humiliating for me to know he had.

Yes, all the lies turned out to be truths, and in the alternate the greatest truth I believed in, Fathis, turned out to be the lie. How do I recover from that? For I have lived for Fathis, learned for him, pushed my family away for him, wanted to die for him - all, just to have him stand in public and call me...what he did.

I will always love Fathis, but since that day in the Best Defense an anger that goes deep and cold has taken root as well. Not rage, which burns hot but then cools; this is a slow anger that starts off cold and lingers, festering into thoughts of revenge.

I know it makes no sense, but since Fathis thinks that I would sell my body to earn Septims?at least I don't want him to think I am doing this poorly at it, that I must sleep in abandoned houses, and wear ragged armor.

If he thinks that of me anyway, I would rather he think I am at least good at it. I plan to purchase a dress of thick velvet and of the deepest shade of blue to bring out the blue show on my nose; (since Fathis thought to mock it). And after what he said of being scented up, I plan to get myself scented bathwaters and soaps as well. I may even get a jeweled necklace and rings with diamonds. I will get a decent armor and weapon as well. Since he always thinks the worst of me, I will show him worse than he ever imagined. He will regret misjudging me then! But I am going to buy them with my own Septims I earn through hard thieving.

I plan to get some blue eye powders as well and dust them on my nose to accentuate the blue show. That will teach him to point out as accusations the markings which I cannot possibly control. He has made me self-conscious over it, afraid others may think as he does about it. That blue flag is something that should be a point of pride, a rite of passage. He has left me feeling it an embarrassment instead.

I hope it will make him as angry as I am, because the next time he rages at me I plan to laugh in his face and walk away with my head held high. I will never again grovel and plead in the face of his rages.

I think I may ask Foxy if he can help me, he has all kinds of things in his disguise kits. Foxy is probably the most deadly assassin in the world, but his heart is solid gold.

***

What I found surprising in the Thieves Guild was the particular items I was sent to steal, like helping the poor of the Waterfront district by stealing back their taxes.

I had to break into the private quarters of Hieronymus Lex at the guard tower. Stupidly I chose the middle of the night to perform this contract, surprising Lex and his male companion; a young guard of the watch. I hated to leave without the taxes, as I was only feet from the desk which held them. Using every trick of silencing my feet I had learned from Foxy I inched past their enamored lovemaking and was out before they finished.

On another contract I was to hide a bust I had stolen in the home of a traitor to the guild, then alert Lex to search her. Lex insisted I accompany him to the mole's home, so I was made privy to their personal conversation within the home. It turns out Lex had been sleeping with her as well. Lex has more jobs than he gets paid for, it seems.

***

Armand promoted me to a higher rank. He would no longer be my Doyen, instead it would be S'Krivva in Bravil.

I knocked discreetly on her door, and she bid me enter. My first impression of S'Krivva was that she must have spent the night carousing. Her hair was mussed, her clothing rumpled, and her eyes were puffy. She was Khajiit, and looked to be about Fathis age.

I gave her a formal greeting of respect in Khajiit and she laughed at me, and then proceeded to scream like a banshee, pointing at me!

I turned around to leave quickly, and felt something tickle my chin. Looking down I found my distracting mouse Alix had crawled out of his pocket at the smell of coffee.

"Is this what you are screaming at? This is my distracting mouse, his name is Alix. I use him to scare guards away from their posts. He likes coffee, I guess he came out when he smelled yours. I am very sorry if he frightened you."

"Are you trying to grow it into a dog? That thing is huge! How can you carry that disgusting creature around with you?" S'Krivva gave an involuntary shiver.

"Alix is not disgusting, he is clean. I give him regular baths. See?" I held my hand out with Alix in it so she could see his clean shiny coat.

"That is the fattest mouse I have ever seen! It is morbidly obese! It won't be able to run from a guard, unless they couldn't walk from laughing. Why I'll bet it can't even walk!"

"Alix can so walk, watch!" I pulled a sweet roll out of my pocket and set it and Alix on the floor.

Alix waddled and rolled, but could not reach the sweet roll. I gave him a few pushes and he finally made it.

"You need to put 'Alix' on a diet. Let me see what I have." S'Krivva dug in her pantry and came back with carrots and lettuce. "Now you stop feeding him those sweet rolls, you are killing him!"

Alix turned his nose up at the healthy food.

"He doesn't like that, should I rub them in this sweet icing so he will eat it?" I did not want to give Alix something he hated to eat.

S'Krivva reached out and popped me in the forehead.

"OW, what was that for?"

"You ninny, you need to stop feeding him sugar. And he needs exercise too. Does he live in your pocket all the time?"

"No, when I am sleeping he has a little bed I made for him. I have it here, see?"

S'Krivva looked at the bed I had made for Alix and roared with laughter till she began choking from it.

I was getting angry, I do not like to be mocked, but could not watch her choke. I whacked her with force on her back. Maybe a little too much force because I was angry. She flew off the chair.

"What did you do that for?" She looked more surprised than angry.

"Uh, you were choking?" I hung my head.

"That is how I laugh, I was not choking. I do not want to be smacked off my chair every time I laugh!"

"Oh. I'm sorry. I was just trying to save your life." I said meekly, keeping my head down. I peeped up to see if she was mad. I should have known better, she being a Khajiit could read me

"Don't you try to play me, not with those eyes, missy. I've seen demons with less mischief in their eyes. Now get yourself some coffee and let's talk business. And pick Alix up off my floor before he gets stepped on!"

I scooped up Alix and put him into his bed, then poured myself some coffee, dousing it heavily with sugar and cream. S'Krivva was counting the sugars I added to my cup aloud.

"What do demons look like S'Krivva? OW!" I had tried to make my voice sound innocent and failed. She popped me on the forehead again.

I reached in my pack and pulled out a tiny cup and sloshed some of my coffee into it.

"What in the world are you doing now?"

"Oh, Alix and I like it with cream and sugar." S'Krivva just shook her head, rolling her eyes.

"All right, let's just discuss your contract." S'Krivva drawled out her words in sarcastic tones.

***

My first contract for S'Krivva was to retrieve a ring that had been stolen, and once again I found myself in a couple's bedroom while they mated, or should I say he tried. It was the Count and Countess Leyawiin, he was pleading with her for a taste of her love, but she would have none of him, and was not nice in her rejections. He obviously had a deep love for her to tolerate her coldness and cruelty.

Watching them I was reminded of Uriel Septim. It is said that Empress Caula Voria was the same, all that was goodness in public, but privately cold and cruel. Uriel's love of her beauty sustained for a time, but it eventually was beaten down by her nastiness to him in front of the children and her voracious appetite for power. It is a wonder Uriel did not resurrect his invisible childhood woman friend Justin to keep him company once again.

This was only my third mission, and so far I had found out every mark's most secret moments, things the world knew naught of. There was no denying that I found it intriguing, seeing the sides of people that usually remain hidden. And I won't deny my curiosity about the sixual behavior between the couples. I had no idea what was supposed to take place in a bedroom before joining the Thieves Guild. The few times I asked S'Jirra she went into choking fits. The Arcane had some lecture on it, but I understood none of it, and Delphine was saying dirty words and laughing in my ear the whole time. I have learned more in three missions with the Thieves Guild than I have in a lifetime.

I silently waited, measuring my breaths that they not be heard. Finally Count Marius Caro seemed to give up. I would have cheered had I not been an intruder. I was getting irritated by her rudeness to him, and had to force myself not to throw one of the books beside me and bean her in the head with it. Someone really needed to pull the Count aside as well, and drop a clue in his ear that whining will not endear your woman to you. I was heartily sick of those two by the time I got the ring and made my exit.

I accessed their bedroom through a secret tunnel that contained a torture chamber. There were shackles and implements, dried and fresh blood was everywhere, and the smell of rotting flesh filled the air. I saw chunks of dried remains dotting the floor and slabs. What kind of barbarians were these?

My contact for this mission was Amusei, the boy who stole the ring and was arrested for it. He was terrified, saying that Countess Alessia had a hatred of beast species and tortured the prisoners in her dungeon. After seeing that secret room I was really glad that I had helped him escape the cell. When I met with him, I gave Amusei a lock pick, and also picked his lock for him. He was a lot like me before Foxy's training, inept. He was struggling to try and fit in somewhere, belong. I felt for him, and was really glad I got there before he got tortured in that room?or worse.

S'Krivva paid me a bonus when I gave her the ring. She was pleased I had released Amusei, and confirmed what he said about the torture.

"That woman has ice in her veins. The Count is weak in allowing her to abuse his own subjects under his own roof." S'Krivva almost growled, her lip turning up in a snarl as she spoke.

"You don't know the half!" I said, grabbing some cheese and plunking myself down in front of her so she could re-do my braids. I told her what I had witnessed in their bedroom, and about the torture chamber.

***

S'Krivva and I became fast friends after our rocky start. I hung out with her when I wasn't working. She would let me take a bath at her house rather than see me bathe in the Niben Bay, and fussed over me and Alix. We would talk for hours about anything that came to our minds.

She was pleased with my work, and I was given the hardest contracts, ones she did not dare give others.

I wanted badly to see Delphine, being in Bravil all the time, but I was naught but a thief. I may be proud of how well I did my job, but I was ashamed to be doing this type of work.

Delphine was the picture of what I was supposed to on leaving the Arcane. Instead I was a bum thief sleeping in abandoned houses in my armor and bathing in the Rumare or Topal Bay. How different the paths our lives had taken since school.

No, I would not see Delphine till I could come on equal terms, but I missed her greatly.




http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/6/m_3c0c21e13bfc43a48c5990b7262a6e32.jpg

:read: At first, I was intimidated by the length of this chapter. It was however, a brisk read. You used *** well to help break things up. I struggled a tiny bit with the first segment because it started in the past tense, then changed to present. On balance, the story was GREAT. Loads of quirky little details and observations that lend rich detail. This story was truly Maxical at her best. Everything we love about her was brilliantly on display. When you listen to her, it is amazing what she can show and tell you, no?

Well done mALX!

I did NOT expect two things... :blink:

Two completely unexpected 'hooks' that draw the reader deeper into the entrancement that is Maxical's writing!!

FIRST - I LOVE how you've taken the idea of a mouse I've given you, and made him into a ... a PERSONALITY of its own! I suspect I am not the only one guffawing at the so-called 'expendable distraction' that you have now grown into an extravagant butterball. Grow that mouse, ( in character I mean - in adipose tissue, he needs to UN grow! ) give him some comedy roles and write him into the story! I love 'Alix' (get him a nickname or readers will get confused!)

SECOND - the fact that thieving...reveals the innermost sixual secrets of people was...a twist that I did not expect, and yet when you consider it, so natural that I am kicking myself for not discovering that myself. I shall do a small rewrite of 'The Way of the Assassin' to exploit that! KUDOS to you for being the FIRST to discover, and use, this fascinating and absoutely plausible fact!!!!

Your genius came up with the mouse thing, so when I had her find a mouse to steal the golden armor, well, it took off from there. I could not think of a name to save my life, lol - so the mouse became Alix. - Alix will def be a part of the story, I mean how many cats have a pet mouse? - as far as the confusion goes, my fix for that is that Alix will have to be a girl I guess. Maybe she can name it Justin after Uriel Septim's imaginary friend, lol.

I liked her waiting in the Caro's bedroom and wanting to hit them and give them advice, lol. - I just made an educated guess on Caro being a whiner. I knew what his wife was like.

Now as far as Lex goes - that was real. I was up there getting the taxes, and he was in bed with a young Watch guard. I just outed him in Maxical's story.


@ Acadian - Thank you very much, and I am trying to work on those fixes, but it may be tomorrow. - I appreciate so much your tips and critiques, don't ever worry about doing that!



************* Don't miss the screenshot of Alix !!!! **************************************

As a lifelong member of Bravil since, well, since Oblivion came out, I was pleased to see our fair city make an appearance. I have been inside S'Krivva's house countless times and your take on the story was great.
Mice, coffee, sugar, braids, beds, forehead taps, wow, a lot was packed into a tight and very interesting little bundle. Magnificient. :goodjob:
Character personalities really do come across in your writing and I am sure that little shack in Bravil will never seem the same way again for me. Lol.

That is a very scary dalliance that you discovered in the Guard tower. I have only ever done that mission during the lunchtime hour when Hieronymus was out on his daily rounds.
I will have to take your word as the truth. Trust me when I say I am NOT going to check...... :bolt:

And I thought the Skingrad mages hall was bad..... :ahhh:

Skingrad Mages Guild? What has happened there? - Now I will begin prowling the halls of it at night!! Thank you so much Winter Wolf!! S'Krivva has always been a favorite of mine. She had to have a good part, lol.

Yeah, pay it a visit during the sleeping hours. On standard format I want to run away quick smart.

It is crazy to think what your bugged 360 version might do!!??!!
Sounds like a new story in the making, lol.

There's a reason why they named it Skingrad. :hubbahubba:

Hilarious. :rofl: Poor "little" mouse, you're spoiling him lass. :rofl:
Wasn't Amusei caught in the skingrad castle by the pale lady? I guess you twisted the Thievesguild quest line to better suit your story?

Yes, she indulges that mouse, lol. Just wait till she gets her horse - ROFL !!

Amusei is in prison in both quests, this one and the Skingrad one. In this quest, Amusei is the one that stole the Ahdarji's ring, but the fence would not touch it (too hot to handle due to the inscription in the ring) - it was Countess Alessia's ring, so Amusei tried to deal with the Countess herself for a reward and ended up in her prison instead. He makes you give him a lockpick before he will tell you the Countess has the ring (unless he likes you real well, then he tells you and you are given an option to give him a lockpick). I did actually do both as I said in the story - picked the lock and gave him a lockpick both because he has a very high disposition toward Maxical in my game.



@ Winter Wolf & Foxy - ROFL !!!! I am going to get a camo outfit and go check this out !!

First- an excellent update. Interesting to see how Maxical's anger at Fathis and her feeling of being adrift leads her to the Thieves Guild. And yet there is a part of her that feels ashamed- and aware that "someone" is always watching. The little details with the mouse- she has to have an outlet for her love- and with S'Kriiva are excellent at providing atmosphere.

As to the sleeping arrangements- the Radiant AI causes some interesting situations. One of my (male) characters was using a bed in the Anvil Fighters Guild when another (male) fighter started to lie down in it.

I felt like giving a Ratso Rizzo- "Hey! I'm sleepin' here!"

Perhaps not the best movie reference, in the circumstances.

Okay, I finally had a chance to read your latest. Better late then never...

Once again you continue to amaze with your comic talent. You really are good at writing humorous situations. Alix the mouse was hilarious, especially the added touches of his bed, and how fat he has gotten from being spoiled on sugar!



Some nitpicks:

Was Amusei being held prisoner in Leyawin? The way his name suddenly popped up seemed confusing. I have not done any of the Thieves Guild quests, so I have no idea if he was or not. Perhaps you could clarify that for others in the same situation? (Edit: I just saw one of your previous posts explaining his situation).


Also some grammar notes:

I received a promotion from Armand as my Doyen to S'Krivva in Bravil.

This sentence confused me the first few times I read it. Maybe you should rephrase it to something like this:

Armand ceased to be my Doyen and instead I was sent to Bravil, where I would report to S'Krivva.


She would let me take a bath rather than see me bath in the Niben

you missed a letter.

She would let me take a bath rather than see me bathe in the Niben


Edit:

I forgot to mention. I was reading this at work and one of my coworkers came up to me and asked me if he could have any of the happy pills I was taking. That was how big the grin was I had on my face while reading.

Thank you so much SubRosa! I love the edit you put in too, thank you for that! - And thank you so much for the help, I fixed those places you mentioned!



@ EVERYONE - did you see Alix in the screenshot? Also, there are MANY new screenshots up on Maxical's Myspace (link in my signature) - some give clues to upcoming storylines - some have funny captions. Just link over to her Myspace and click on "Pics" (underneath her profile pic) and browse at will !!



@ Treydog - Thank you very much!

I have had that jokester in green in the Bruma Mages guild crawl in bed with me before, I was there first, and when I woke up he was beside me, lol.

On her outlet for love - Yes, she has been alone mostly for just under two years - I think she is really lonely for companionship (hence glamming onto the mouse). The indulging - she was pretty much indulged herself, and I see this as an example of what Tamriel may face if she ever produces, lol.

S'Krivva will be back.

Yes, my dear, I have seen your baby elephant.

OOOOPS - I meant your mouse..

:rofl:

Chapter 40: The Secrets of Castle Skingrad



The oddest contract I had was to retrieve a book from a man in Skingrad.

When I arrived in Skingrad a beggar told me my contact had been arrested. Breaking into the dungeon was not hard, it was very low security here. The man I was supposed to contact was not here, so I questioned the only other prisoner. He pointed to a trail of blood on the floor that led from one of the cells to a wall. It appeared someone had been dragged, bleeding profusely. The marks did not seem to end naturally at the wall. I had never seen so much blood in one place, it did not bode well for my contact.

There would have to be a secret passage there, the drag marks did not stop. These castles are always filled with secret passages. A remembrance of Leyawiin's torture room came to mind.

"Follow that blood and you will find your man." The prisoner's voice held fear, dread, and a hopelessness. He knew his time was coming next, being the last prisoner there.

In Chameleon, I would not be spotted, but I would leave no one in this place with that going on; I was going to remove any prisoners I found along the way. I picked the lock on the man's cell that gave me the information and thanked him, quickly duplicating my chameleon outfit to ensure he was not caught in his escape.

Skirting the gory trail as much as possible, I made my way to the end of the corridor. I began feeling along the walls for a spring to open the false door. The candelabra gave way when I tugged on it, and with a loud creaking sound the back wall swung open.

I followed the drag marks to a large wine cellar where they just stopped. The sounds of screams and cries for help echoed from somewhere, but were too muted for me to determine where they came from. They seemed to be coming from inside the huge wine barrel in the middle of the room. I knocked on it and found it made a hollow sound. I searched all around the barrel for a latch or lever. There were none, so I widened my search to the outer room. Finally another false candelabra gave way, and the front facing of the barrel opened, revealing a short tunnel.

I entered to find a woman in the midst of a vicious attack on my contact. She was whiter than me, so pale she nearly glowed. At my entrance she spun around, her dagger raised at me. She was a vampire!

Boy the secrets you find out in the Thieves Guild. So Castle Skingrad houses vampires in secret chambers!

I glanced at my contact, if he lived I would have to use a sword to fight her. His face was frozen in the mask of death, the horrors of his last hour reflected there as witness to the torture he had endured.

I lit into the vampire with a fire spell, casting the flaming balls in a rapid fire so that the ones that went astray would not give her the time to attack me. Each ball of fire that hit burned her, filling the room with the stench of her flesh as it sizzled, and filling the air with her horrible screams that echoed against the stone walls of the crypt-like room. Oh how I hated that sound! It brought memories of Crowhaven so overpowering that my knees almost buckled in remembrance.

I looked around the crypt, it looked almost like a lab, bottles filled with blood everywhere. My stomach was lurching, threatening to empty it's contents on the body of the vampire. I searched her quickly before that could happen. She produced a key, but little else. I carefully and gently searched my contact, there was no book.

A crying sound echoed eerily against the stone walls, like a ghost moaning. What now? I readied my fire again and began hunting for where the sound was coming from.

I found a grill gate and a tube shaped cell on the far right of the room, the sound came from within. Casting my night-eye, I peered into the bars and could barely make out a young Argonian lad sunk down in the back crying.

I opened the cell with the key off that vampire and slowly approached him, being as quiet as possible. He appeared to be a boy of about 15 years of age. I didn't know if the vampires screams had frightened him, or if he had been harmed by her.

"It's okay now, I am here to take you somewhere safe. It's okay. There. There. You're okay now." He turned around and clung to me, crying. I was stunned. It was Amusei!

I held him like he was a child, and he told me what he had witnessed, what he had been through. The vampire had tortured him, and he may have her disease. I duplicated some cure and health potion and gave him one of each. He started feeling better after that.

"Now Amusei, I have to get you out of here. I am going to duplicate my chameleon robe for you, I doubt you can wear shoes like these, but let me fix you up so you can't be seen."

I tried every way possible to squeeze his big webbed feet into the shoes but they would not go on. Cutting them and tying them to his feet would not work, they made a lot of noise. This was no prison with stomping guards. We would have to take the chance and try to find another way out, rather than go through the guard quarters like I came in.

I tried to get Amusei to wait while I scouted ahead, but his fear was overwhelming him, and his wails could be well heard. I calmed him down. For some reason I had a lot of patience with him, maybe because he was a child still.

With Amusei nearly stepping on my chameleon robe, threatening to tear it off and expose me, we tiptoed around trying to find an exit.

I found one that met the least number of people who could catch us, through the Royal Quarters. The Count had a private exit, and no one was about at all. I got Amusei to the door and was about to pop my head out to scout for guards outside the door when a voice very near my ear made me freeze.


***

Janus Hassildor was restless in his quarters. His senses were tuned to their sharpest by not feeding for such an extended period, and he knew something was happening at the castle. Due to his not feeding for so long, the effects of the vampirism were clearly etched into his features, his eyes fully pinked from the extended fast. Very few knew of his nature outside of his personal staff and some higher ups in the Mages Guild, he could not take the chance of leaving his private area to find out what was going on. Waiting for someone to bring him news was setting his nerves on edge.

Suddenly a faint aroma caused him to spin his head toward the door to his quarters. His nose began to tingle as an alluring scent danced beneath it, a delicious fragrance he thought never to smell. There was a virgin in the castle, in his section of the castle. He ordered his body guard to wait.

Donning a dark cowl he cast an invisibility spell and slipped down the corridor. The girl was invisible as well, but her scent gave away her location as much as the watery shape of an Argonian that trailed her. The scent was so strong now that it sought to overwhelm his senses.

Silently and with swiftness, Janus caught her before she could exit. He cared nothing for the boy, but this girl would not leave here. He leaned over and spoke into her ear.

***

"Your friend is free to go, but you forfeit your freedom in helping him."

A momentary lightheadedness kept me from action, but when it lifted I spun around. It was the Count Skingrad! I hesitated, there was something familiar about him. I could not see his face, for he wore a dark cowl which covered his features.

"Sir, I would gladly take his place if you can guarantee his freedom to return to his home unmolested by your guards, he is but a child. I sought to rescue him because he was in danger of his life, as all your prisoners have been. I slew a vampire which has been feeding on them, and hiding within a crypt in your wine cellar. I am assuming you knew nothing of the matter and felt you would like to know what has been going on, as your jailor knew well of the matter."

"Your friend will not be molested. He may leave. You must stay in his place, however. Let me see you. Remove your spell."

"I have your word of honor sir? The child will not be harmed?"

"My word has already been given."

I pushed Amusei out the door, whispering in his ear to go to S'Krivva in Bravil. I stood in the doorway and watched as he left the castle grounds undeterred. Then I turned back around to face the Count.

In the act of taking off my robe I fidgeted around and made sure I had an invisibility spell in hand, ready to cast. I removed all, though I had naught underneath the robe. I was going slow, weighing out the time to give Amusei time to make his getaway cleanly. I gathered up my items and rolled them into a ball for easy toting.

The Count reached down to my thigh sheath and pulled the dagger out, slipping it into his own pocket.

"Come with me. Remember that you have voluntarily given up your freedom for that of your friend. You will come to no harm."

I started to put my robe back on and he stopped me.

"No, I will take those. You will have to wear a prison gown." He reached his hand out for the robe and shoes.

"Wait." I said, digging into the robe.

He reached out to grab my wrist thinking I sought a weapon, but stopped before his hand touched mine.

I pulled Alix out of the pocket of the robe.

"What is that, vermin? You can't bring it, let it go out the door."

"No please, he is not vermin, he is my pet. He is clean, and receives regular baths. I doubt I could stand to be without him, nor he survive without me. As you can see, he cannot outrun one that would hunt him."

"You are a cat, and you have a mouse as a pet?"

I nodded.

"Are you fattening it up to eat it? If so, it is ready now."

"EAT?" I squealed. "NO! I would never even think of such a thing!" I punctuated it by kissing Alix.

"Did you just kiss that rodent? If you don't plan to eat him, I would not keep putting him that close to your mouth. You may slip one day."

"I don't even eat rat meat. It is gross. Do you eat rodents?Sir?" I asked, hugging Alix to me. I had not thought of that.

"I exterminate them if I find them. They are filthy creatures and carry disease. I would pray for death before eating vermin. I do not want them in my home."

I hugged Alix closer. "You will not harm Alix, please sir? Alix has no disease because I made him drink cure. And he is very clean. Please sir?"

He made a grumbling noise and took my things from me then, but allowed me to carry Alix.



*** Screenshots:


http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/24/l_02c942c4869d441da255d1ac3ce53b70.jpg



http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/104/l_f4ca37ae09a0427fbbef20e786458f86.jpg



http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/65/l_4a6d0e9db5ad4591ba09aa34f3ceee8d.jpg


http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/4/l_0dc6eb9186bf49dfac179a1a2cdc3d0e.jpg

Well, well, the plot thickens. Apparently virgin blood is irressitable. Why, I remember...

*sees moderator coming with a :stare: *

...er....that it was told that way in the lore... .... yesss??? :angel:

:read: Nice recount of the quest, 'Lost Histories'.

Perhaps your pace was a bit rushed from the beginning of the story up to the point where Maxical found Amusei? Perfect from then on though.
EDIT: I see you have been busy editing adjustments to that!

I found it interesting that you present Amusei as a child - not good or bad, just interesting and different. Once again, how wonderful it is when you pay attention to the unexpected things your character tells you.

I realize it was close range, but it seems perhaps that Maxical's aim is improving? She hit her target after all with those fire spells! Yay Maxical - You go girl! :flamethrower:

The cut scene with the Count was well and smoothly done. A very effective change of perspective.

Now, to serious matters? Why do I have visions of that chubby mouse catching porphyric hemophilia? I mean? I presume young Alix is a virgin as well - otherwise Maxical's pockets would be overflowing with micely distractions, no? :lmao:

Another great story as your web of intrigue builds. I am so looking forward to reading what happens next! :goodjob:

You've portrayed a very different Count Hassildor than I imagined him (and put him into my previous fan-fic; The Assassin). Kudos to you Maxi!