Coda, a Dunmer oral folk tale
recorded by Axalea Whitecrest. Scholar and witch of the Tamarilyn

Long ago in the fetid marshes of the Bitter coast, an Ashkhan settled her worn people between three proud willows on a island near what is now Gnaar Mok, these willows possessed the gifts of Logic and Love and Beauty and eagerly bestowed these gifts upon their potential new protectors when they were needed, as was their custom. They lived peacefully and quietly in their new home, partially free of the hardships they had encountered. The Ashkhan's daughter,an intelligent but vain girl, would speak of the troubles of her world to the trees and they would listen, though never giving a direct answer, leaving the meaning of their philosophies for her too interpret. many times she would vent her frustrations to the willows, leaving trails of tears to feed their roots.
"All of the tribe troubles me with their petty squabbles when my mothers away hunting, i wish i had an answer for all of them so they would just shut their mouths."
the willow of Logic emitted a low creak and replied.
"not every question has an answer, not every answer has a question. the world will cease to function when the last question is asked and the final answer is given."
The Ashkhan's daughter returned to the villagers and told them this to which the villagers to which they praised her intuitiveness . 100 years passed and the Ashkhans daughter returned to the willows and spoke this time to the willow of Love
"there are 7 males my age in my village but i cannot choose which to wed"
The willow shuddered as leaves showered from its branches
"Marriage is the manifestation of love, you will know who is yours when you see what you haven't seen in what you already know."
The Ashkhan's daughter returned to the village and spent a fortnight in her yurt interpreting this. when she came out she announced her choice was obvious and had always been and was promptly married her to her love. 200 years passed and the daughter had become the new Ashkhan as her mother had passed on, to follow her ancestors. she began to notice the slightest of wrinkles and graying hair. she then went and consulted the willow of Beauty
"Age has not been my ally, i miss my young beautiful body, i wish i was a flower, beautiful and elegant"
the willow took a moment and replied, crackling from ages of silence
"beauty in mer fades like dust in the wind, i give you beauty everlasting as it is what you want most"
at this she became a Coda, a beautiful blue colour emitted from her picturesque form and to this day she resides in the dull swamps as a symbol to all that seek perfection.

Hey guys, this was my first attempt at a fan fic. not terribly lore friendly.

I liked it. A lot, actually. Short, simple, but meaningful.

Very cool! I really liked it, be it lore friendly or not. Who really knows how the Coda flower came to be? Besides, there are plenty of meaningful and colorful folk tales like that in the real world. Like the Native American tale of how the Turtle got the cracks in his shell. Read it, very funny.

Anyways, that was very good. As said, its simple, has meaning, and tells a very cool little story that has some serious relevance in the TES world.

Nice little piece Namira - Good work.

I like the following line.

Thanks, this has been more of a rough draft if anything. I'm thinking of changing that line to "Not every question has an answer, not every answer has a question, our existence will cease to have meaning when the last question is asked and the final answer is given."

A coda...


Great stuff. Keep it up!