I want to thank everyone that has been reading Maxical's Journey, ( and A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Journey II & III). The help you have given me to improve it, I could never thank you all enough for that. For every one of you that has encouraged me or lit a fire under my tail to make me go back and fix things - You ROCK !!!!




* My inspiration for Maxical's Journey came from three special people.

Acadian, who I almost forced onto the FF forum with his "Buffy The Bowgirl" - for downright pushing me into writing and posting it.

Bobg and his "Angel" who brought to life a story that never existed before and set it in a world I knew - he showed me what could be, not what was. Bobg taught me more than I could say or he could ever realize, he is and always will be my Master Po.

Arwen, who wrote Arwen's Journal against all odds, inspiring so many with her sheer determination and awing us all with her personality.




*


This story is being written off a game on the 360. I started the game off with the Age slider as young as it would go. I didn't want to start the story off with her in the jail cell because she was so young when I started the game, so even though I already played those parts in game, I held off writing about them to give her time to grow up. The game began to glitch not long after she left the prison.

I could have restarted the game then and re-did the whole, but kind of liked the idea of writing it off a glitched game - I never knew what was going to happen to her this way. The game is on my 360 that I am writing about, but I have set up a PC game to take screenshots of her to add to the story. (All her screenshots can be seen on her Myspace page linked below and in my signature).

One of the glitches in my 360 game is that she keeps dying shortly after a battle, but when her health (etc.) is not down enough for her to die - then she somehow miraculously pops back up - no loading screens, and no reasons for her death. Every place she dies (or has a near death) in the story - it has happened in the game. If she has it happen at the battle scene I can say it was caused by that.

This latest time the glitch happened well after the battle, so I had a hard time tying it in to the story. Even worse, she went down and stayed down, but the game did not stop. She kept laying there while everything continued around her. It is weird, and has put a kink in my story, lol. I had to re-load a save to get her up, and as soon as I got her into Castle Skingrad she went down again, staying down while the game kept going. I keep having to re-load saves to play right now.

Because I couldn't get her back up, she has technically died in the story - but because I can still get her back up by loading previous saves she will be brought back to life. It has pressed me to delve into Lore trying to find a way to do it. I am playing with the game and trying to get her to stay up more than a few minutes at a time (and cleaning my cache, etc.) - meanwhile I think it added an interesting twist to the story, even if it is a bit dark.

Some of the other glitches the game caused - self defense killings of named NPC's were marked as murders. - She was too young to be a murderer, so I sent her to the Arcane for 6 years as a student to age her, then went ahead and did the Gray Prince quest (which I hate) so her being a murderer would make more sense.

Another glitch the game has caused: Stalkers.

Fathis Aren has been seen outside of his normal AI routes, including on the roads outside Leyawiin! He tilts his head to one side and flirts heavily with her, telling her how bored he is, how he would do anything (and then repeats "ANYTHING") to relieve the tedium of court life. He invites her to come with him, walks beside her for long stretches, etc.

Vicente follows her around staring at her, and is creepier than a Fighter's Guild Porter!

Manheim definitely likes her a lot, but does not stalk her, he just makes his feelings well known.

Janus Hassildor - Stares at her with the most intense look in his eyes, smiling - never asks her to leave his suite even though she is clearly a trespasser - just follows her around smiling like he is glad she is there. His body guard also let her stay once she was talking to Janus, and just stood there smiling the whole time. She was allowed to stay as long as she wanted and leave without arrest.

Just odd things, but they have made the story much more interesting!

I really hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have writing it!




**** Update !!






For those who have not read the earlier chapters and would like to, or want to continue reading the story on the new thread; I have the links posted below for your convenience:



Maxical's entire journey has been captured in the picture albums of her Myspace page, if you would like to visit it:

http://www.myspace.com/oblivion_khajiit





For convenience the whole story is posted on FanFiction, here is a link to the story there:

http://www.fanfiction.net/~malx





If you prefer to stay on the forum, here are the links to all previous chapters:



Maxical's Journey - A New Sun Rises - (Chapters 1 - 23)

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1038084-maxicals-journey/




A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Journey II - (Chapters 24 - 36)

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1050778-a-new-sun-rises-maxicals-journey-ii/




A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Journey III - (Chapters 37 - 50)

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1056626-a-new-sun-rises-maxicals-journey-iii/




A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Journey IV - (Chapters 51 - 65)

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1065146-a-new-sun-rises-maxicals-journey-iv/




A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Journey V - (Chapters 66 - 85)

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1071522-a-new-sun-rises-maxicals-journey-v/




A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Journey VI - (Chapters 86 - ??)


http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1080421-a-new-sun-rises-maxicals-journey-vi/






*

I have been showing serious withdrawal symptoms over the last few days. Shaking hands, red eyes and blurred vision.
No, not too much red wine or internet use......

My problem is no Maxical!!!

Ahh, now life has been restored to me. Thanks.

A new chapter, perhaps???

@ Winter Wolf - your wish is my command:




Chapter 51: Life And Death In The Crypt


Janus tumbled down the steps to the wine cellar; the effects of gulping down a full bottle of wine in such a short space of time having limited his ability to maneuver the stairs with ease. His long cloak catching his legs had been the culprit that brought the fall, but he welcomed the pain with almost a feeling of relief.

He steeled himself before pulling down the candelabra lever and entering the secret crypt, yet still his stomach churned up into his throat as he approached the table where Maxical lay in that horrible stiff pose of fear.

Janus shivered and pulled his cloak tighter around him, not just from the extreme chill in the sepulcher, but from the memories of that day, it would haunt his sanity for the rest of eternity if he could not find a way to reverse his deed.

How could he have done this to her? Janus retched onto the floor beside the slab for what seemed the hundredth time since he had brought back her body that night. The crypt reeked from the smell of his wine-soaked vomit.

Nightmares haunted him whether he slept or not, that day replayed in his mind over and over as each hour passed; he could not escape the memory of it. Could he have taken his own life he surely would have that afternoon when he realized what he had done. There had to be a way to fix this; had to be a way to bring her back.

Janus reached down to once again feel her soft fur against his skin, but it no longer felt soft as it had in life. Instead it had become stiff and dry, cold as the walls of the crypt itself. If he could just close her eyes and mouth, that she may look like she reposed peacefully, rather than the terror of her last minutes being etched on her features eternally as an accusation of his deed. He was not able to fool Traven with the lie of having found her thus. Hannibal knew instantly.

A lifetime of isolation to keep his nature from ever coming to the fore; and the only time he lost control was with the one person who had meant anything to him in all those decades. Dear Gods why could he not die and be relieved of this pain and guilt? For he would choose death in a heartbeat rather than ever have to see her face like this again, nor allow others to know he had been so vicious to one who was the epitome of innocence and sweetness itself.

"You can't keep us here forever Janus. Polus knows I was brought here, you know. He will come looking for me." Arch Mage Traven stood at the bars to the cell, his aged skin shaded blue from the cold inside the crypt.

"You think Polus will look for you? He can't wait to get into that tower loft, and is probably moving his things into it as we speak. Polus prays for your death, you know that as well as I do. You aren't leaving here Traven, not until you bring her back!" Janus shouted as if to drown out the voice of reason that Traven had tried to reach within him.

Janus read the Arch Mage's thoughts and saw a split second vision of Raminus Polus parading around in the tower in the Arch Mages robes. Traven knew Janus had spoken the truth. It was just the kind of image Maxical would have pictured for him to read her thoughts and see, and the memory of her doing it caused him to let out a horrible roar that echoed against the stone walls, reverberating back to him the pain in his own voice as it dwindled down to a wail.

"You do something Traven! You think of something! If I have to drain every bit of blood out of me, out of Rona - I don't care, but you find a way to get it into her and bring her back!"

"Janus, you may have hit on something there! If we could get your blood in her, you are immortal. It may be the only hope we have. I can't promise it will work, but it is worth the trouble if it does. If we knew if Rona was an Immortal we could use hers, but there is no way of knowing."

"She is not immortal. Maxical was able to kill Mina, whom Rona made. I want you to use my blood, what do you need to do this? I will do anything necessary to procure it!"

"If it works, this may turn Maxical into a vampire, and there is no way of knowing if that will be permanent or temporary."

With surprising speed for his inebriated condition Janus flew to the front of the cell shouting, "What does it matter if she is a vampire or not, as long as she lives? You know I cannot die, I have to live with what I have done the rest of eternity unless we can bring her back. I care not if it be as a vampire, at least then she could never die again!"

Hannibal stepped back quickly, even though the bars protected him from any harm. "You don't understand Janus. Bringing back someone from the dead, it may have some residual problems if it can be done. There is the matter of her soul. Bringing one back to life under these circumstances could be very unwise. If it is just the body but lacks the soul, then you will not be saving her, but creating a monster to be turned loose on Cyrodiil. I would not assist you to do that, even under threat. Janus, you remember what that attack was like on you. You remember how Rona was when she attacked Mina. Could you stand bringing Maxical back if that is how she will be? This is not a simple thing of placing the blood inside her and then casting a reanimation spell. Let us find out up front what we will be facing as much as possible."

"How do you propose we find that out? I don't care, don't you see that? Do you think I would not have lived with Rona knowing she was thus? If you ever want to see the light of day again you will do it Traven. This is no idle threat. Let's just move on this as quickly as possible. "

"I must consult that witch Melisande from over there at Drakelowe and find out what she knows. I need her input into the ramifications of what we are discussing here, there may be some ritual that could be performed to ensure what we bring back would be our Maxical. She would be invaluable, and may know more than I would about how to proceed. I am sure the Glenmorial, or as it is known nowadays the Glenmoril Coven from which she retired has been involved in things of this nature. Well over a century ago they obtained the only copy of a tome known as 'A History of the Daedric Sects' from some dungeon. That tome contains the secrets of curing vampirism, lycanthropy, and the ability to raise the dead. Some of it's pages had been torn out though, and much of what we know could be just legend or anecdotal. She has been experimenting with a cure for vampirism and has made progress well beyond what the Arcane has. We aren't sure of her methods of research, but her results have been amazing. Many times these covens practice things most people have never even considered, as they worship the Daedric Gods. The Glenmoril is said to actually summon Hircine in the performing of these healing rituals."

"Melisande? Doesn't that mean animal strength? A fitting name for one who calls on Hircine I imagine. Give me her direction and I will send for her. What else do you require?"

"I need a staff of assistants to even attempt something like this. Timing will be crucial. I will need a spell caster handy, as you will be unable to perform this and give your blood at the same time. And I must have several of my tomes to perform something of this magnitude. If this works, I know of some pastes and beverages I can make that will help Maxical build up her own blood supply once more. I will need supplies handy to make these. You can trust me to return if I am allowed to get them."

"No! As a spell caster you have Marie right there. No 'staff of assistants' will be brought in on this, Traven. Whatever you need I will send for. But you will not leave here. Write down what you need, and I want you to write a missive to that witch, that she may bring her supplies when she comes. These delays are intolerable!"

"You need to stop imbibing so freely, it thins your blood, you will need to have a rich supply of healthy blood, or we will have to use Rona's."

"Do you think I can stand to face a single minute without drowning myself in alcohol?" Janus roared, but then relented. "I will do whatever it takes, I want only my blood used for this."

When the barrel front was latched once more behind Janus, Arch Mage Traven returned to the one tiny flat mat in the cell. Maria moved to the edge of it to give him room.

"Hurry Hannibal, I was frozen without you. Do you think it will work? More importantly, will he really let us go free if it does?"

"It is our only hope, Maxical's only hope as well. Come closer now, I will keep you warm." Hannibal Traven opened his robe and wrapped it around Marie, sealing the two of them inside what little warmth it would provide. "Don't feel guilty child, one does what one must to survive, we would freeze to death if not for this."

"It just feels so awful with a body in the same room. I treated her a couple years ago."

"Tsh, we mustn't think about that now. We can only think about what we must do to survive this blasted cold."

***

Hannibal Traven had been devastated to see Maxical dead, he was in shock at first. The little imp that tore his University down in such a short time and kept them all in a turmoil. To see her in that shape, the horror on her face, it had caused him to weep and be sick, just as Janus was doing - without the guilt of course. Maxical had always reminded him of himself in his youth, the trouble she stirred was similar to his own errant behavior as a lad. He liked her spirit that would not bow to authority, even if he was that authority. The thought of her suffering was too much to bear.

When Janus had made them enter the cell and locked them in together, Hannibal had tried to talk some sense into him, but there was no reaching the man. He could reanimate Maxical, but she would just die again without blood. Janus had been right to keep Maxical in this freezing crypt, if there was to be any hope whatsoever of her revival; but to have held he and Marie here was purely the act of a madman. The silence Janus bound the crypt with kept them from escaping, but also kept them from warming themselves. It was obvious Janus had lost his mind.

Within a short time Hannibal realized that they must pool their body heat or succumb. Even as young and healthy as Marie was, she was quickly becoming blue when the cask entrance was sealed. He was enjoying keeping Marie warm tremendously, but would give it up in a heartbeat for a clean bed and warmth. He was too old not to put the need of comfort over that of pleasure.

It was obvious Janus had lost all sanity to keep them in this place where they may not survive themselves. The alcohol he was drowning himself in was not helping either, but instead created a vicious cycle; bringing on the sleep that fed the nightmares, that in turn fed the next bought of drinking.

Hannibal turned Marie around so her warm back rather than her cold briasts were against his chest. Dear Gods he needed to get out of this cold. He knew Janus would not keep his word and release them even if they were able to bring Maxical back. Even inebriated Janus would know sanctions would be brought against him for this. There was no sense frightening Marie into hysterics by letting her know that though. Hannibal carried the weight of that fear to himself; just continued doing his part to keep them warm and to keep Marie from dwelling too much on the horror of what was taking place.

Fantastic plot line. The realm between the shadowy world of dreams and what is really happening is very dim. I like.

I love where you have put Traven. That old coot deserves his place for all the pain he gave us up and coming mages. Nothing but help we gave him, running errands across the land and look what happened at the end of the Mages's Guild quest. I hope Janus keeps him there.

And make sure Arthur, Van Helsing, a sharp stake and a heavy mallet is also brought to the crypt.

I am a little confused. I thought Janus killing Maxical by drinking her blood had just been a dream. This chapter makes it seem like it really happened, given the description of Maxical not only being dead, but her features frozen in horror. I would think it was another dream, but there is a scene from Traven's pov, which indicates that is not the case.

It also seems kind of odd that Traven is a prisoner. Unless he wants to be one. If he wants to save Maxical, then I can definitely see him playing along. He is the archmage, I would think a magician of that caliber would have little difficulty in escaping. One would expect that he knows every spell in the book, so to speak.

Traven is a level 100 in Alteration which means he can pick any lock except one that requires a key. That cell in the wine cellar has a key and can be made to require a key. I would say Janus would have done that, although I did not write it in. Also added this, they are bound in silence now, however should they somehow dispel it, Traven still could not pick the lock, as it requires a key.

Janus's dream was him re-living the horror of what happened. That 'dream' in chapter 50 could have been taken two different ways, which I hinted at in my comment to Leydenne after that chapter, so there wouldn't be too large a surprise when this came out.

I am sorry SubRosa, I have struggled with this for about two weeks now. I had just about not added that it was a dream on the last thread, so no one would be upset when they saw this next chapter; but with the holidays did not think that would be nice to do, especially since it was the last chapter on the thread. Thank you for pointing out that I needed to silence Traven and Marie, I appreciate you a lot <3


@ Winter Wolf - Thank you so much, I appreciate that! Except Traven is lucking out having Marie in the cell with him, lol.


*

Well, thanks Winter Wolf...and Malx1 for clearing that up. I, too, was confused.

In the movies we call this sort of thing a 'continuity error'.

NOW do you know, Malx, why I didn't comment on Maxical's death? Since it was all a dream (I thought) I just assumed it was one of your usual clever bits of writing. How was I to know that she REALLY died of blood draining...and wait a minute...

If I remember correctly the Maxical in the dream was perfectly healthy. The last time I met Maxical, she was half-dead from blood loss after the fight...

...

....


.....

...another continuity error???

*reaches for tylenol*

No way, she was bleeding and begging for healing through the whole last chapter. - Nevermind. Don't reach for a tylenol, SubRosa told me Nerussa has magic fingers and can massage your scalp to get rid of headaches, lol.


Ok, I just went and checked just to make sure I didn't accidentally post the scene where he has wild six with her at the pond - no, I posted the right one, she was def injured, that was why he was "healing" her (although, healing may not be the key word).

Foxy, I know how busy you are. Just the fact that you took the time to stop in means a lot to me. <3

I can see the part about the door needing a key to open, since you are already using game mechanics things like the duplicate items glitch. But if Hannibal and Marie are silenced, then how can they be talking? And would not Janus have to keep recasting it every x seconds to keep it going? I think 120 seconds is the longest you can do any duration?

Silence would be on the spell casting, not speaking words - but like in Henantier's Dream World you are silenced for spell casting the whole time you are there, (yet can still talk to Henantier). It is a bound silence on the place itself, not on the individuals.

The door thing is not a glitch, that cell has a key lock, you get the key from Mina when you kill her (vanilla). The construction set gives you the ability to make it require a key so it can't be picked. Also, the crypt is sealed from the outside, with no way to open it from inside if you are sealed in (vanilla). The jailor was letting Mina out. The crypt Rona is in is also sealed, you cannot enter or leave it without someone with you that has the magic password or key - these are also vanilla game limitations.


Should I re-write this chapter? Let me know what you feel like I need to do. I appreciate your taking the time to read the chapter and help me edit it so it is clearer to the reader, that helps me tremendously, and you are greatly appreciated!

mALX- Firstly congratulations on your new thread, and a fine story to start it off with! I thank you for the kind words about me and assure you the feeling is mutual, my inspirational friend. ^_^

I read the story before you edited it, and again after your edits. Frankly I think the story is just great now.

It is certainly a solid example of your excellent, and captivating writing. Just one of many examples of what I mean:




I must confess that I initially had questions about Traven's magic, that you have ably edited answers for into the story now. As you know, silence prevents spellcasting, but does not prevent speech so it is perfectly consistent with your purpose and story - Traven and Marie can speak, but not cast. I also can readily accept that a vampire as old and powerful as Janus could figure out how to silence a pair of mages, even the Arch Mage himself. I think clarifying that in your edits was a wise choice. :goodjob:

Here is my take on Maxical being dead or not dead or dreamland or not or. . . . It seems to me that Maxical is dead and needs to be brought back to life. As you know, I am not the best 'plot follower' around. You are, however, one of the best plotweavers I know, as I have told you many times. I have therefore learned to be patient and trust in the brilliance of your plot.

Indeed, I am quite on the edge of my seat to find out what happens next!

Ahh, I see the thing about the silence now. It does not make sense to me that you can make noise when you are silent, but you are right in that is the way the game works. I think Bethesda should have just called it something like an Anti-Magic spell, since that is what it really does.

What I meant about the lock and the duplicate item glitch is that they are both things established in the game's mechanics. Not that it is a glitch that it needs a key. You have stayed very true to the way the game works in your writing so it is keeping continuity in the story.

Given the added mention of the silence in the jail cell, I think it all hangs together.

@ Acadian - You ROCK !!! Thank you so much, this was a hard thing to go through, and I tried hard to write it differently, but this is the way it wanted to be written. I appreciate you so much!!!


@ SubRosa - Whew!! I really did not want to write it again, I am so glad it helped to do that, and I appreciate it so much that you pointed out the flaws to me. The last four chapters were not storyline I wanted to follow, but they kind of took on a life of their own. You know what was supposed to go here because I sent it to you a long time ago. Bleeah. My PC game crashed tonight, but not before I got plenty of pics of her recovery. I have to photo shop them in a couple days and will have them up by the weekend. Thank you again for all your help, I appreciate your reading and critiquing my story more than you can imagine!

I think it's a very brave turn you took in your story. I initially thought it was Janus' dream where he killed Maxi.. I would have never thought he was re-living the horror of his deed. The factual murder of Maxical. WOW!

I was lost, wandering in a world without Maxical- looking for substitutes to feed my addiction. They were all colorless, flavorless, dull. And then, I saw with joy that she was back! I rushed to my keyboard and my greedy eyes began to read....

No! It could not be! Had I dreamed that it was all a dream? Had Bobbie Ewing not just stepped out of the shower to tell Pam?

I had believed myself to be a master of suspense and twists, until I read this. I see I am but a poor apprentice.

Your edits fixed the confusion I felt- at least the confusion that was not essential to the story. And yes, the plot and the characters DO take us to places we had not planned, places we would rather not go....

A brilliant, terrifying, heart-breaking chapter... And my addiction is not satisfied- it has been heightened.

I see this chapter has sparked a lot of controversy with this latest twist in the tale. Thumbs up there mALX. :thumbsup: You have beautifully hit upon a key factor in writing - get your audience up off their seat and screaming, crying, complaining and yet at the same time begging for more. Yes, this story has now reached stratosphere level and shows no signs of coming down any time soon.
Several weeks ago I learnt to be very patient with the Maxical stories, for there is no other writer here who can throw up 20 curve balls of plot twists and somehow manage to catch each one of them before they come back down.

The line from the bodyguard about the dream threw us all, me included, and going back and re-reading the end of the 3rd thread, I now see that everything is beautifully consistent.

And that is your most revered talent as a writer - the ability to tie all those loose ends together. :bowdown:

I like it mALX. You're writing skill is leaving little room for improvement. I felt right there with Maxical Very nice

@ EVERYONE - One of the glitches in my 360 game is that she keeps dying shortly after a battle, but when her health (etc.) is not down enough for her to die - then she somehow miraculously pops back up - no loading screens, and no reasons for her death. Every place she dies (or has a near death) in the story - it has happened in the game. If she has it happen at the battle scene I can say it was caused by that.

This latest time the glitch happened well after the battle, so I had a hard time tying it in to the story. Even worse, she went down and stayed down, but the game did not stop. She kept laying there while everything continued around her. It is weird, and has put a kink in my story, lol. I had to re-load a save to get her up, and as soon as I got her into Castle Skingrad she went down again, staying down while the game kept going. I keep having to re-load saves to play right now.

Because I couldn't get her to stay back up more than a few minutes, she has technically died in the story - but because I can still get her back up by loading previous saves she will be brought back to life. It has pressed me to delve into Lore trying to find a way to do it. I am playing with the game and trying to get her to stay up more than a few minutes at a time (and cleaning my cache, etc.) - meanwhile I think it added an interesting twist to the story, even if it is a bit dark.

*

@ RemkoNL - Thank you so much, this has been the hardest to write of any other chapters. My 360 game glitched won't bring her back up for more than a few minutes, and my PC game also crashed when I was trying to get screenshots for that fight sequence. I got it back up and then played around with a new mod till I crashed it again, but not before getting some shots of her healing, so you can rest assured she will live through this - it will just take me digging into Lore to do it!

*

@ Treydog - Thank you so much! I am intrigued, are you getting reruns? Sorry for the confusion that was essential to the story - I hope the above (@ EVERYONE) explains it for everyone. I could not ask my friends in PM's what to do about this, because it would influence the story. I wrote a couple chapters ignoring the glitch, then wrote a couple chapters including the glitch - in the end I had to stay true to the game. It was very traumatic to write this for me, (and to experience it in game).

She is not actually dead in the game, because it never goes to a loading screen, and people keep moving around her as if she was still standing (or not there at all in some instances) - As I promised in the first chapter of Maxical's Journey, if the glitch brings her down somewhere in game, it will be reflected in the story. Meanwhile I have been cleaning out my hard drive cache and game cache, blew out my 360 interior for dust, etc. - and tried other games in it to see if it was the 360 itself causing the problems; tried my other 360 Oblivion game disk, etc. - and set up a separate Gamertag and started a new game there to see if it would glitch - it did not.

So the glitch is in this game itself, regardless of the Oblivion disk I use. It was obviously meant to be a part of the story for some reason. I am not tickled by it, and it threw her off a lot of things she was supposed to be doing. Something happened to her in that fight I let her get into in Anvil, (I think) - just not sure what.

Thank you so much Treydog, your support means a lot to me!

*

@ Winter Wolf - Thank you so much! This one threw me for a curve, but I hope to re-coop from it.

I know I told you this already - I blame my children for being able to follow a lead to the end through all H breaking out around me - they were all banshees and kept me running from the second they arrived, you could never imagine the trouble they managed to get into constantly. If anyone has ever seen "Babies Day Out" and the first two "Problem Child" movies - I used to watch them and dream of how nice it would be to have such a well behaved child, lol. They say the wildest children usually end up being perfect advlts - it is true! They all grew up to be highly respected responsible advlts, I guess they got it all out of their systems.

This is one of the reasons I decided early on to keep following the game in spite of the glitches. The twists it has added have kept me on my toes through-out. I had been avoiding any fights for so long that the game glitch seemed to have smoothed itself out. (This was one of the reasons she went around in chameleon for so long, I was trying to avoid the glitch, lol). When I allowed that fight in Anvil it brought the glitch back up in full force - but because the game continues around her she is not exactly "dead" - she has no reason to be down either, her stats show no reason for this.

Your kind words mean so much to me! You have always caught the underlying paths no matter how subtle - which also keeps me on my toes, to make sure I never let you down because I know you will see it if I drop a ball somewhere - you are Awesome Winter Wolf !!!

*

@ Zalphon - Thank you so much! It tickles me that you are reading Maxical's story, I thought I had lost you for a bit there after your character Zalphon's cameo !! Thank you again Zalphon, you know I think you ROCK!

Happy New Year All, I hope it is a great one for every one of you!!

And a great 2010 to all and especially to my red riter!!!!

Man, that is horrible. Nobody should ever be forced to experience a dual crash at the same time.

The 360 / PS3 is very bad. As soon as you overwrite game saves any problem that might be there is carried over. Very annoying.
My friend plays it on PS3 and the A bomb always crashes the game at 275-325 hours into the game. It breaks his heart.
He had a Dark Elf character with 700K in gold. He was very upset he couldnt reach 1 million septims, ha ha.

Here's hoping for a joyous new year for you- with lots more Maxical for us!

As to "essential confusion"- you do know I meant that in a complimentary fashion? A good story is like a magic trick- or to use the trade term- "an illusion." The performer has to trick the eye and mind of the audience. And we appreciate being tricked, because it gives us a sense of wonder and surprise.

And so, with your willingness to write this story just as it happens, fitting glitches and all to the narrative, where most would simply load an earlier save or start over. For the original Trey, I actually had to create and play a character named "Klone," with all the same stats, because I changed my mind about joining the Fighters' Guild....

Hope the crashes are resolved soon- if not, I have a CompUSA toolkit waiting by the door- and the pickup truck is gassed up and ready to go.

@ Foxy - you made my 2010 with that post! Thank you, and I hope your New Year is the best ever (and that you remember that slavery was abolished and give yourself some time off this year!!!)


@ Winter Wolf - Lol, I have only made that much one time, and promptly spent it all buying up houses and furnishings, lol.

Yes, the PC game - not sure what is causing the game to crash, but it took down the whole PC when it did. I had just downloaded some mods, maybe it was one of them. I won't be able to fool with it till this weekend though.

The 360 is okay, it is just that particular game giving me problems. I started another that is having no problems, but I love this game and don't want to stop playing it. I am hooked on the way the NPC's react to her in this game. She is either loved or hated, no one is nuetral - it is wild, no control over it! So I am going to keep messing with it. I now have the cleanest 360 I have ever owned, and the cache cleaned out on both the hard drive and game cartridge.

I have heard about that A bomb, what is the deal with that? I heard it effects all the platforms!

Thank you so much again Winter Wolf! You keep me on my toes and it means the world to me that you keep reading !!! Hope your New Years ROCKS!! (I was facing your direction and sending New Years wishes for my friends at the Pentridge Prison in Melbourne at midnight, so I hope some of my wishes reached you too!)


@ Treydog - My best wishes for both you and Mrs. Treydog for the best New Year ever!

I know if you are unhappy with something I write that I will get a PM on it...lol. Just kidding - No, seriously, I did not worry that you meant anything bad. I appreciate you so much, you cannot imagine how much it means to me that you have stuck by Maxical and continue to read her!

Er, now...on you standing by with a toolkit...is this like me coming to your house with a screwdriver to fix your modem? (The free fix that costs you a new home from the damages I inadvertently caused?) - Lol, just kidding! I know you at least know what you are doing and probably have no history of causing inadvertant damage to other people's homes. (where as I have "The July 4th Bar-B-Q Incident," "The XMas Wrap In The Fireplace Incident," "The Rose By Any Other Name Incident," "The Finding The Fireworks Supply In The Dark Incident," etc., etc., etc.)

Chapter 52: Melisande


Melisande arrived at Castle Skingrad in a horse-drawn cart loaded down with supplies. The staff was sent to help her unload, but she shooed them away, not wanting any hands but her own touching her precious equipment.

Janus's bodyguard met her and escorted her to the wine cellar where the Count waited. If she was surprised by his cowled appearance she gave no indication of it, but did not extend her hand either.

"I thank you for coming so quickly and on such short notice." Janus began, but was cut off by the Breton woman very quickly.

"I had no choice, as you well know. Are you the one that has been seeking to cure vampirism for so long?" Melisande looked directly into Janus's cowl as she asked, her eyes boring into it as if it gave him no protection from her sight.

"Yes, well, for my wife; but that is not why I summoned you. There has been an emergency, Arch Mage Traven should have written you about it in his missive."

"I know what I read, and I can read between the lines as well. The likes of you don't scare me, preying on an innocent child. You summoned me, and if you want my help you will not try to sham me with any claims of accidents, or emergencies. I know what took place here, and if I help anyone here it will be the girl, not you, nor Arch Mage Traven. That has to be understood in advance, or I will climb back in my wagon and leave here. And don't think I will be held prisoner like you have done the others either. I require comfortable lodgings, and the child will be in my care till she is fully recovered once we set her to rights. I'll be there to see it doesn't happen again, not while I am here to protect her."

"Do you mean there is a chance she can be brought back to life? You are right, and I admit my guilt in her death. She had been wounded, and the smell of her virgin blood drove my other nature mad. You must understand, I love her. I would give my life not to ever harm her. But the vampire came out in a way it never has before. I had no control over it. It was the virginity, had she not been a virgin this never would have happened. I would have taken my own life afterward if I could, but I am an Immortal."

"Don't expect me to feel sorry for you, not when that girl lays in there dead. You should have removed yourself, sent someone else to go save her. You put yourself there knowing what you are and knowing her circumstances. You created this situation, and now you think to force everyone to clean up your messes for you. I don't want to hear your pleas or protestations. I don't think highly of you at this moment. You have a wife you want me to cure, and a child you have killed that you say you love. It seems you have a problem with self control."

"No, my wife was made in the same attack I was, I did not do that to her. And she has been in a coma for decades. It has been devastating, lonely. But I have never lost control of my other nature before, this I swear to you."

Melisande eyed the cowl piercingly, her silence more deafening than any shout.

"I will pay you anything you ask. I am extremely wealthy. I can get you any supplies you require." Janus resorted to bribes.

"Yes, you will pay me what I ask, as I won't help you otherwise. I have to unload my wagon, and then I want to see the child. Have a comfortable room made up for me."

***

For the hundredth time Janus wished he could change the expression of terror on Maxical's face to one of a peaceful repose. The witch already knew what he had done, but knowing that and seeing it etched in that frozen scream were two different things. He watched as Melisande made numerous trips in, lining up bottles on the tables and shelves; tins with powders, tomes and parchments that looked centuries old. His offers of assistance were summarily dismissed.

Melisande worked with a spry grace, her age was indiscernible by any lines or wrinkles, yet her silver hair spoke of a greater age than her eyes showed. Rude though she had been to him, he did not blame her. He was wholly ashamed of himself; still, she was his only hope and he knew it.

Traven's tomes had arrived, Melisande glanced over them and took notes on a few of the pages before releasing them over to him. She stood before the bars of the cell holding them just barely out of his reach.

"Well well, Hannibal. Now that you are a captive audience we need to discuss the promises you made to me of payment for my research. It seems your words flowed much more readily than your Septims."

"I told you we would pay you for the cure. You have brought us proof that you are getting close, but still no cure. When we have the cure we will be more than happy to compensate you."

"Research costs Septims, as you of all people should know. But I have your cure here." Melisande produced a small vial of pink liquid from her pack and held it up to the bars. "I was lucky enough to find an assistant willing to gather the ingredients needed from all over Tamriel and Oblivion. A young lad by the name of Stoker who wanted the cure for himself and was willing to work for it. Or should I just hand this over to Hassildor?"

Hannibal waved his hand indicating she give it directly to Janus.

"I thank you greatly for the cure, but it is the least of my concern right now. I could throw the bottle from this delay. You will have whatever Septims Traven promised you and much more if you will just start immediately on Maxical!" Janus roared, throwing a sack of Septims down on the table.

Melisande drew back the bottle to keep it from being knocked from her hand and lay it on the table, snatching up the sack of Septims and lifting it twice in the palm of her hand. Her eyebrows raised.

"The raising of the dead will cost much more than this, you know."

"Yes, yes. You can have whatever you ask. Just please let's begin to think about Maxical."

With a faint smile she tucked the sack of Septims down the front of her dress and nestled it between her briasts. She then stuck Arch Mage Traven's tomes between the bars of his cell so that he could reach them this time.

He took them gently from her, and began glancing through them, marking pages. Eventually he placed them on the floor of the cell and came closer to the bars, staring intently at the ingredients in the jars Melisande had placed on the table. There were things he had never seen in his lifetime, not even in texts at the Arcane.

"I take it these two are here for the blood we will require?" Melisande jerked her head toward the cell door, looking directly into Janus's dark cowl.

"No, I want to use my own blood. I am an Immortal, if my blood is in her she cannot die again once we reanimate her."

Melisande's eyebrows snapped down into a frown, then slowly arched back up again as her eyes darted momentarily towards the cowl.

"Then you think to use the cure on her?"

"No. Traven said he can get her own blood supply to reproduce itself and eventually filter out my blood that we place in her."

"But what will she feed on in the meantime, as we will be closed in with her?"

Both Janus and Hannibal fidgeted, only Hannibal spoke.

"This is what I was trying to get across to Janus. He does not realize that the soul may have already been lost, nor the implications of the vampire blood. He cares only that she lives."

Melisande spun around and looked into the cowl, her eyes reflecting numerous thoughts flitting across her mind rapidly, but when she spoke it seemed more like she thought aloud rather than spoke to anyone in the room. "Well, she will live if he is truly an Immortal. But she will be a full vampire till her own blood supply takes over."

Still staring into the dark cowl she glared till Janus shifted uncomfortably. "What precautions have you taken that she not begin to feed on us? For she will require extreme care in the early recovery. I intend to be with her day and night. Traven is right about her soul, and that is not something I carry around in these jars. She must have her own soul back if it has been lost."

"That is exactly what I have been trying to get across to him?"

"Shut your mouth Traven. Janus is the one who has hired my services. Let him answer." She never turned her head from glaring into the cowl, and although her words sounded harsh her voice remained soft, with almost a soothing quality.

"I want her to have my blood that she cannot die once reanimated." Janus repeated. "I will stay with her that you all may be safe. You can tell me what I must do to care for her. I don't know about her soul, but only that she must live again, with or without it. Had you but known her Melisande, you would understand."

"I understand that we cannot reanimate her without her soul. If this is gone then we must retrieve it. Now you must get me whatever I ask of you. First I will need an item of hers that she cares deeply about. Something she has touched."

Janus turned to the bodyguard. "Bring me Alix."

Janus turned to the body guard. "Bring me Alix."

:jawdrop:

I did NOT expect that!!!

what comes next...OOOOOOH....the SUSPENSE!!!