Yay for Darian and clean socks! I still wonder what those three are doing at the mine with no weapons.

Here's one I am currently working on:
"
Moisture glistened on the slime-smeared walls of the tunnel, all around her was the constant drip, drip, drip of water, beneath her armoured boots the ancient flagstones were slippery, worn smooth centuries past by uncountable feet.
She had grown used to the smell of her surroundings by now, the rank odour of mould and decay, amplified by the still air and enclosed space. She smiled wryly to herself as she crept along keeping just touching the right hand wall of the tunnel with her arm, at least that idiot Argonian "Sleeps-In_The_[censored]" or whatever the hell he called himself wouldn't be able to scent her, in all this fustiness.
It had been something close to a week now since she had been able to bathe properly and some parts of her were pretty fragrant and that was not including her armour which light as it was felt pretty much bound to her body; The only good points being that it left plenty of room for her skin, it's usual paleness partially hidden beneath a gray film of sweat and dirt, to breathe and the fact that it was well-worn which at least meant that it didn't chafe, although she had a nasty feeling that her nethers were likely to end up looking more like those of a cheap Bravil Skooma-[censored] if she didn't get out of this damp and mildew soon.

One more reason to fix the lizard...

Making a face, she pushed onwards into the reek and gloom. The tunnel was very faintly lit by a source from ahead of her as well as irregular patches of luminescent fungi that grew from the walls and the ceiling. Presently a change in the air told her that she was approaching at least an opening in the tunnel, and sure enough after a couple more minutes of feeling her way along the wall resistance under her hand ceased and she felt fresher air against the exposed parts of her body.
Backing up a little she she flattened herself against the wall and peered round the corner, she still couldn't see anything much but she had the definite sense that the space beyond the opening was larger for sure than the tunnel, albeit after a short passageway, she could hear louder echoes of water dripping and other sounds as the dwellers in that dark place went about their business. She stood still and listened, straining against the ambient sounds of the ruins for any sense of her quarry. She knew that he woud be difficult to hear, she had been tracking him for the last few days since getting the nod from that Bosmer, Maenlorn, in Anvil that the Argonian had made landfall there.

Maenlorn had been a good source of information for her over the past few months, largely because he appeared to think that the more he helped her the more likely he was to get something in return. Niamh knew exactly what that something was and also knew very well that it was not in any way something that he was going to get. She did not find Bosmers remotely attractive as a rule and she particularly didn't like anyone regardless of their race or species who was so desperate that he practically panted and dribbled like a dockside cur whenever she so much as looked at him.
Didn't mean she wasn't going to use him though, the fact that he would never get the payoff was something she intended to keep to herself, all the while he was providing her with what she needed. Occasionally, just to wind him up further she would rent a bed in inn all the while making it quite clear that the elven dagger she slept with under her pillow was more than capable of removing his cods almost without him noticing and that she herself was very willing to do so, should he try anything on without her say-so - (which he would never get).

The Argonian was a wily one certainly, and whilst she was reasonably sure he didn't know she was there she was also by now well aquainted with the fact that he was obviously naturally cautious, suspicious, and possessed of a stealth which more than likely matched hers, and that being the case a degree of circumspection was very difinitely called for, particularly in the turgid gloom of this ruined fort.
"

Nice!! “Sleeps-In_The_[censored],” too funny. I remember Niamh’s armor, now we can see how important those open expanses of skin are for her stealthy safety!

Well that's pretty raw at the moment.
I haven't really proof-read it too much thus far...

When I was young I used to write all the time. If I love Bethesda for nothing else, it's the fact that they have reinvigorated my imagination...

Phon, you paint a good picture of the atmosphere in the dungeon and Niamh's internal concerns ranging from survival to hygiene.

Three days ago, Baa realized that her 205 Nirnroots were nowhere near the max, so she went searching. To her surprise, she found 16 more up one river that she had totally missed on her initial search a couple of years ago. Then she took a couple of days off while a new character came through the tutorial into the light of day.

Well, Yuma, the redheaded wonder, is set up as a stealth archer like all the rest and she is now up to level 16. She has been living in the pirate ship on the IC waterfront, but today she bought the Chorrol house. It is still barren inside as the purchase left her goldless. Joining the Mages Guild at Chorrol right after emerging from the sewers, she has now advanced to Apprentice with access to the Arcane U.

She’s only been into two caves to generate some gold, but when she went to Blueblood, that gave her enough cash to buy the house. Her fame was one point shy to satisfy the Countess, so she went to the Arena to fight one round for one point. Tomorrow, Yuma’s going to a cave north of Leyawiin to pick up some good loot…if she survives…she only has 96 iron arrows left. Then, if she gets the money, she will either buy the stuff for the Chorrol house or try to buy the Skingrad house before the green man falls of the bridge and gets killed. She will have to raise her fame some more for the Shingrad house - probably do the Arena again.

By the time all that gets settled, Baa will be back from holiday to continue her adventures.

Darian climbed the Gold Road in the morning sun, Anvil at his back. His time there had seen a five-fold increase in his reputation and two promotions within the Fighters Guild. Hard work and a humble attitude finally won his guild mates over. His natural charm and noble bearing had certainly left them unimpressed. In fact, the only women in Anvil who had shown any interest had then tried to kill him. Darian decided he should reevaluate his assets.

He would have plenty of time on the road to think. Azzan had sent him back to Chorrol for his next contract. Darian shook his head. Most of his new repair hammers would doubtlessly be used up on his boots.

A foul odor reached him from the bushes. Ugh, could that be the same highwayman who accosted him on the way into town? Surely something should have eaten it by now. Darian hoped he would not have to pass the bodies of all the bandits he had killed. Perhaps their ghosts would follow him. He shook off the chill that touched his spine.

Let them come, he decided. It would give him some practice with his new enchanted dagger. Plus, then he could sell their ectoplasm in Skingrad and buy some decent wine.

Or maybe he could just drink the ectoplasm instead? I hear it leaves you positively glowing.

He may just apply it topically. He’s been complaining about Cyrodiil’s lack of adequate skin and hair care products.

eeeuww...

Maia the Silver Knight, Divine Crusader of the Nine, has just awoken from a dream that seemed to last for months. Full of swirling snows, Nords in civil war, dragons from legend come to life, and a sense that she was seeing the future (or a possible future). It was a dream like no other. However, when she awoke in her humble house on the Imperial Waterfront she realized it had been but a single night's dream. Umaril really had been defeated, the Order restored, and there are still many more people to help. After a frugal breakfast she put on her Crusader armor and resumed her knight errantry, south west of the city, where a certain cave had an ill look and bespoke the presence of lawless bandits...

Welcome back to Cyrodiil, Maia!

Many thanks! That was some dream. It's good to be back.

I hope Maia got all the snow out of her armor!

Speaking of snow, Lothran took Buffy to breakfast at the Jerall View Inn in Bruma. A roaring fire, sweetrolls, strawberries and apple-berry juice. It just doesn’t get any better than that!

So true! My elf does know Buffy has other things to do soon enough and he will definitely miss her company! But if I know him, he′ll pull off some hours performing his duty as a town guard to get his mind off that. The taunts and practical jokes from the other guards will soon cheer him up again

Maia has a vague memory of being taunted by guards in her dream, something to do with sweetrolls and arrows to the knee, but the dream is fading now.

Sounds like Lothran and Buffy are close friends -- that's worth putting up with the amusemant of some guards, no doubt!

Etta is exploring Dementia. The land suits her present state of mind, and things keep appearing that need killing. Killing things keeps Etta sane.

Indeed they are! They have even made spells together like the Identification spell (telekinesis) and the Summon Kyne spell. The latter one purely imaginary to enable them to send letters to each other (PM-wise)

Buffy even made http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k505/mirocu/Snowflake2.jpgas a gift to Lothran. It′s an elven dagger enchanted with frost damage. As elements are not Buffy′s greatest strength, it may not be too powerful. But it most certainly touched Lothran′s dark elf heart when she presented it to him and it actually helped save his life!

With Vilja ensconced in Red Rose Manor, Niamh is taking out the trash in Ragnarok...

Ah yes, Ragnar?k! The end of days for the old world and the old gods! But it really means The Beginning (of something new)

Indeed, although in this context it means a cave just north of the IC...

D′oh!

Rodrigo was headed down to Bravil, and was walking up this small hill, when he found two headstones, overgrown with vegetation. Just south of the "T" in "The Green Road." After finding that, he heard the rush of a waterfall, and found the most beautiful spot, with a pool above the waterfall, and several below. You can even swim underneath the water at the bottom. So, lol, he swam in the pool, frequently running to the top of the waterfall, to jump in again. It was glorious. We bathed, washed clothes and basked in the sun. Until he was rudely interrupted by a brown bear. Not really wanting to deal and leave this spot, Rodrigo summoned his custom Dremora Lord, who proceeded to put the beat down on the bear. All this time, he had been standing at the top of the waterfall in his skivvies, his clothes and weapons laid out on the rocks. After the beat down, my summons proceeded to join me at the top of the waterfall.
Whirling around, at the sound of a sudden shout, Rodrigo realized that there was no new threat, it was his Dremora Lord jumping into the pool below. The shout sounded something like, "Cannon Ball!!!111!!!" Delighted that his summons would join in the fun, Rodrigo jumped in after him. (I will overlook the fact that the Dremora probably slipped.) We spent all day there, then at sunset, headed to Bravil for an ale and some food.

Nice to see that the Dremora can take a break from spreading chaos for a picturesque view and a quick splash in the pool!