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skyrimkinkmeme) wrote2011-10-29 12:36 pm
skyrimkinkmeme) wrote2011-10-29 12:36 pm
Meme Announcements!
ANNOUNCEMENTS: UPDATED 12/16/2017
Happy Holidays, fellow Kinkmemers! I have returned and have no reasonable excuse for my absence except LIFE. I will be working on updating the archives. If anyone sees anything amiss, please let me know.
I am also hoping to find another Mod and an Archivist.
The more dedicated people we have in this Meme the less chance of it dying. I admit that being the sole keeper of the Meme is not great for the fandom. If something were to happen to me, for good, this place would go the way of the Fallout Kink Meme. Let's not let that happen! If anyone would be interested in Modding/Archiving, please drop me a line. Thanks! <3
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 20.5
(Anonymous) 2014-01-02 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)No, Elisif never had. She'd never really been a philosopher, but she was going to be a queen and she was definitely sure she wasn't going to have the world end on her watch.
“Never mind the next world!” she cried. “I'm not letting my people die as long as I'm queen. Also I made a promise to the King of the Forsworn I'd get him his land back, and he is not a man you break promises to! So yes, I need to save the world, because this world isn't done yet! It's still got a story to tell. I want to know how it ends. Maybe I'll save it, maybe I won't, but the gods wouldn't have made me Dragonborn if they didn't want to give us a chance!”
“You are more afraid of this King of the Forsworn than you are my brother,” Paarthurnax said, amused. Afraid? Hah, Madanach should be so lucky. She had many feelings towards said King in Rags but she wasn't scared of him. He'd just looked so hopeful and optimistic over possibly actually getting his land back. She didn't want to disappoint him.
“No,” Elisif snapped. “He's my friend, that's all. I'd like him to have a chance to be happy.”
“A fair answer,” Paarthurnax said, nodding. “All right, Dragonborn. I will answer your question. This Shout you want, Dragonrend. Alas, I cannot teach it to you. Its words of power are not known to me – they cannot be known to me. It is a Shout created by joor, lashing out at the very essence of our souls. Our minds cannot even grasp the concepts. I cannot teach it to you... but I may know how you can find out.”
Elisif certainly hoped so. For all she'd been here for what seemed like hours, she'd not learned a lot. Erandur looked frozen, poor thing.
“How do I find out?” Elisif asked.
“All in good time,” Paarthurnax said. “Do you know why I made my home here on the Monahven, that you call the Throat of the World?”
“No,” said Elisif, rubbing her arms. “So no one else knows you're here and tries to hunt you?”
Paarthurnax did laugh at that. “No, Yolaazov. This is where Alduin was banished from, all those centuries ago. My friends, three of the Tongues of old, Gormlaith, Hakon, Felldir. The Nords had had many heroes since, but none greater.”
Hakon One-Eye, Gormlaith Golden-Hilt, Felldir the Old. Elisif knew the names, her father had told her the story. Three ancient heroes who'd defeated Alduin centuries ago – they'd lured him to battle and banished him forever using the power of the Voice, the dragons' own weapon. Except the stories hadn't said how. Now it looked like she was going to follow in their footsteps.
“They knew Dragonrend. Where from?” Maybe she could learn it from the same source.
“They invented it, Yolaazov. But that is not how they defeated him. If you can call the outcome a true defeat. Had it been, you would not be here seeking to... defeat him.”
“So how did they do it?” Elisif asked. If not using Dragonrend, how?
So Paarthurnax told her. A tale of Elder Scrolls, and how they'd used one to banish Alduin from time, creating a wound in time in the process, a wound which Elisif might be able to use to see through to the moment of its creation, and learn Dragonrend that way. Possibly. Perhaps. Assuming all went according to plan. First though she'd need an Elder Scroll.
“Where am I going to find one of those?” Elisif sighed as she made her way back down the mountain. “The only place I know is the Imperial Library in Cyrodiil, where the Moth Priests study them. But that's weeks away! Months maybe, and the passes will be closing for winter soon, if they're not already! Erandur, what do I do?”
“I'm not sure,” Erandur said thoughtfully. “But we might not have to go all the way to Cyrodiil. There might be one in Skyrim. The College of Winterhold might have one, or know where to look. And if they don't... Elisif, this is a little unorthodox but I used to know this woman. She helped me when I first left Nightcaller Temple, looked after me, pointed me in the direction of the Benevolence of Mara. Only... she's... well... not exactly an Aedra worshipper. She's a Dunmer, like me.”
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 20.4
(Anonymous) 2014-01-02 09:26 pm (UTC)(link)“She's a Daedra worshipper?” Elisif gasped. Erandur looked rather awkward, but nodded.
“She's a priestess of Azura,” he admitted. “But she's a good woman – mostly a good woman anyway. Azura sends her visions. She might have seen an Elder Scroll in them. It's worth asking.”
Seeking the help of a Daedric priestess. Elisif hadn't seen that one coming. Still, she was carrying a Daedra's sword, they weren't all bad. Azura, Lady of Twilight and all things that were neither one thing nor the other, was one of the better Daedra.
“All right,” Elisif sighed. “We'll try this woman, and if she can't help, we'll ask at the College. If there's a Scroll to be had in Skyrim, we'll find it.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Shrine of Azura proved to be in the wilds of Winterhold, looming up in the midst of the Anthors, a great statue of the Lady of Twilight with the sun in one hand and the moon in the other.
“There it is,” Erandur said proudly. “The Shrine of Azura. Hasn't changed a bit. The Mother of the Dunmer people, looking out over to Morrowind, watching for a day it'll be safe to return. Come on, let's get up there. Aranea always used to have a tent up near the top.”
There was a tent up there, and there was a robed Dunmer priestess watching over the altar... along with three other figures in heavy armour that Elisif recognised at once.
“Vilkas? Farkas? RIA???” Elisif couldn't believe her eyes. Last time she'd seen Ria, she'd been alongside Jordis, fighting off a troop of Stormcloaks. Then Aela had said she'd been taken prisoner and Elisif had been scared she'd never see her again. Yet here she was, safe if a little pale and thin compared to when Elisif had last seen her.
“El – Maia!” Ria cried, running over and embracing Elisif. “What are you doing here?”
“I should be asking you that!” Elisif gasped. “Shouldn't you be in a cell in Windhelm?”
“I should,” Ria grinned. “But I escaped. Not on my own obviously, I had help. From some friends of yours. A certain thief called Brynjolf?”
“Brynjolf??” Now Elisif was really confused. “But... he said he was going to Riften...”
“Well, he turned up in the Nightgate Inn the same night me and Vilkas stopped there,” Farkas said. “We told him we'd been poking round Windhelm trying to rescue Ria but not getting anywhere, and he offered to jailbreak her. And he and his two friends did.” He patted Ria, looking very proud.
“And what was his asking price?” Elisif asked. She knew Brynjolf well enough to know by now that he did nothing for free – Delphine had paid him for the Embassy job, and as far as rescuing Esbern and helping get them to the Temple went, he was mostly doing that to win Delphine over. Helping two strangers, even to free a friend of Elisif's, wasn't something she could see Brynjolf doing free of charge and these two colleagues of his would be even less inclined to do so.
“They needed this guild of Altmer thieves taking care of,” Farkas said with a shrug. “Vilkas and me were happy to help.”
Elisif had a feeling that particular job was less about helping make Skyrim safer than about wiping out the competition, but she couldn't really argue about getting rid of thieves.
“Where is Vilkas?” she asked and Farkas pointed at the altar. Vilkas was standing over it, hands resting on the altar and Elisif realised with a shock that she could see right through him to the large glowing star between his hands.
“What's he doing?” she gasped.
“He's in Azura's Star,” Ria said, sounding rather proud of him. “He's cleansing it for Azura, getting rid of some necromancer type who'd managed to store his soul in there. Aranea says we can keep the Star if he manages it.”
That was if he wasn't killed. Vilkas was grunting and swearing, and Elisif was horrified to see a burn appear on his arm.
“Will he be all right?” Elisif whispered. Ria nodded, still looking quite cheerful.
“Oh yes. He said he'd be fine. He's dealt with mages loads of times.”
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 20.5
(Anonymous) 2014-01-02 09:28 pm (UTC)(link)She looked around to see where this Aranea woman was. She was standing near the altar, talking with Erandur.
“Casimir!” Elisif heard her say. The Dunmer woman looked delighted to see him again, reaching out her arms to him. Erandur stepped back, going rigid as he frowned at her, which was odd. Weren't they supposed to have been friends?
“I no longer use that name. I go by Erandur now,” he said stiffly. Erandur had never looked so uncomfortable to Elisif.
“Erandur,” Aranea said, smile fading a little but still looking pleased to see him. She lowered her arms, clearly giving up on the hug. “It's good to see you again, Erandur. You're looking well.”
“I joined the Benevolence of Mara, Aranea,” Erandur said, his voice softening. “We're sworn to chastity.”
“To engage in sex only in the context of marriage or a relationship leading to it,” Aranea said, still looking amused. “I know the vow, Erandur. So tell me, what brings you here? Why are you seeking Lady Azura's help? I'm getting more visitors in the last month than in the last five years, I swear.”
Elisif approached, wondering what to make of this old friend of Erandur's, and honestly Elisif was starting to think less old friend and more old lover given the earlier conversation. Which wasn't a problem for Elisif, but clearly Erandur wasn't quite so happy. She'd have to keep an eye on him.
“Hello,” she said, holding her hand out. “Are you Aranea? I'm Maia. Erandur's a friend of mine, he said you saw visions. We're looking for -”
“An Elder Scroll,” Aranea finished, taking her hand and shaking it. “Yes, I know, High Queen. Azura told me you were coming. She's shown me several visions of your future, some of which you're happier in than others. I hope for your sake the happy ones actually happen. Aranea Ienith, at your service.”
Aranea seemed calm and friendly, but Elisif was a little unsettled to find out this woman already knew who she was.
“What else does Azura tell you?” Elisif said sharply. “Do you know who wins the war?”
“It's not that simple, Elisif,” Aranea sighed. “I've seen visions of Ulfric as High King and you as his unhappy consort. I've seen visions of you as the victorious High Queen but still unhappy because you're not really ruling. And I've seen you ruling as High Queen in truth, consort at your side and while some question your choice, you're happy. Then there are the ones where you end up dead, but let's not talk about those, hmm?”
Elisif didn't want to think about those either, even if dying would reunite her with Torygg in Sovngarde. So she changed the subject back to what she wanted to know.
“So this Elder Scroll,” she pressed. “Did Azura show you where it was?”
Aranea nodded, but she still looked dubious. “In a way. I saw some images. A Dwemer ruin. An old wizard in a cave of ice. An underground city with strange plants. A giant Dwemer machine containing the Scroll. And the College of Winterhold. That's all, I'm afraid. I'm sorry I can't be more specific. But the College is a good place to start, no?”
It wasn't a lot more than Elisif had already had to go on, but a Dwemer ruin and an old wizard... Elisif had never been in a Dwemer ruin before. Probably looked like Markarth except deserted. Not a great omen but she'd have Erandur at her back. Maybe even the three Companions might like to come. She suspected Ria would say yes.
Aranea had gone still, eyes glazing over, clearly communing with Azura again, and then Vilkas collapsed to the floor, fully there now but smoke rising from him. Ria had cried his name, kneeling by him as she tried to rouse the unconscious Companion, Farkas likewise looking on, worried.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 20.8
(Anonymous) 2014-01-02 09:29 pm (UTC)(link)On the other side of the altar, Aranea seemed to come back to herself, shaking herself down and then joining Erandur, her own healing spells flaring. With two of them at work, Vilkas' wounds closed and the burns faded and to everyone's relief he opened his eyes, in possession of a few new scars but otherwise fine.
“Vil, you OK?” Farkas asked, patting his shoulder, nonchalant tone belying the worry in his eyes.
“I think so,” Vilkas said, rubbing his eyes. “That Dunmer warlock was tougher than he looked and he was summoning Dremora... Ria?”
“Vilkas!” Ria cried, clinging on to him. “I thought you'd been killed!”
Vilkas reached up and put an arm around her, holding on to her, closing his eyes and smiling a little.
“It will take more than some warlock and his friends to kill me, Ria,” Vilkas said, slowly sitting up but still leaning on her. “Aranea, you'll be pleased to know he is at least dead.”
Aranea nodded, smiling but she looked like she was going to cry and not from happiness either. Elisif wondered what on earth was wrong with her.
“Vilkas, are you all right?” Elisif asked, and Vilkas's eyes widened as they fell on her.
“El – Maia! What are you doing here?”
“Same reason as you from the look of it, we were here seeking help from Azura. And Vilkas, you can use my real name, Erandur here is a friend of mine who I told ages ago, and Aranea knew anyway.”
“I see,” Vilkas said, letting Ria and Farkas help him up. “Well, it's good to finally see you out here, Dragonborn. Farkas and I have been travelling around eastern Skyrim when we weren't trying to rescue Ria. The war's been hard on the eastern Holds – and without a Dragonborn, the dragons have been ravaging the place. Shor's Stone is only just standing, and the miners have had to retreat into the mine. Darkwater Crossing likewise. And there's nothing left of Kynesgrove. A dragon emerged from the old dragon mound behind the town and completely destroyed it. Take care, Elisif, Ulfric's using it to blame you for not being there to stop it.”
“He's blaming me??” Elisif cried, feeling her cheeks flame at the man's audacity. “He's the reason I can't come east of the Throat in safety, and he's saying it's my fault for not saving Kynesgrove? I can't be everywhere!”
“I know,” Vilkas said sombrely. “Farkas and I did what we could, fighting dragons when we found them. But it only buys a day's respite before they come back.”
“A day's peace is better than none,” Erandur told him. “Don't blame yourself.”
Vilkas nodded but it was clear he still felt guilty. So did Elisif, but really what could she have done? Very little. All she could do was try and stop the problem at source.
“I'm working on a way to stop them permanently, give us a fighting chance,” she told him. “But I'm going to need help. Do the three of you want to give us a hand? I could do with extra blades.” And indeed Blades but all in good time. She could hardly recruit all of Jorrvaskr into the Blades, could she?
“I'm in,” Ria said instantly. “Whatever you need, Elisif.”
“Then I'm definitely coming,” Vilkas growled. “You aren't getting captured again.”
“Just tell me who needs bludgeoning,” Farkas said, reaching for his sword. Elisif smiled, finally feeling a bit more confident about this. She could use all the assistance she could get, and her, Erandur and three Companions could take care of most opponents.
“I'm glad to hear it, although you might not like our next stop. I need to find an Elder Scroll, and Aranea tells me it's in a Dwarven ruin somewhere. I'm thinking the College of Winterhold might know which one.”
Ria just nodded, but Vilkas and Farkas both looked worried, exchanging nervous glances.
“The College?” Farkas said. “They only let you in if you can do magic. Vilkas and me tried to get in to find out about Azura's Star – that Altmer on the gate didn't agree.”
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 20.9
(Anonymous) 2014-01-02 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)Not encouraging, but Elisif knew a few spells that Eola had taught her, and if need be, she could get Erandur to pose as a student while she acted the part of bodyguard... but Erandur was a bit old to be an apprentice.
“Forgive me, but you're taking these three to the College of Winterhold?” Aranea interrupted. “I assumed you'd take Erandur and get him to take the entry test.”
“Is that going to be a problem?” Elisif asked warily. Aranea just shook her head, leaning back against the altar.
“You take that lot anywhere near Winterhold, people will know something's up. Four heavily armed warriors who definitely aren't mages go to the College? That will attract attention.”
“Well, do you have a better idea?” Elisif asked, feeling a little harassed. Aranea seemed friendly enough, but Elisif had only just met her. She didn't entirely trust her yet.
“Yes, actually. Azura sent me another vision to give to you. You have a more important task ahead of you. A small squad of Ulfric's people are making a move on a Nord ruin called Korvanjund. They're looking for something you'll find of interest. Never mind your Elder Scroll, you need to leave and go there now, make sure you get to it first. Otherwise your chances of winning the war just got smaller.”
“But the dragons-” Elisif cried, trying not to think of the charred ruins of Kynesgrove. “I need to find that Scroll!”
“Yes you do, but this is more urgent,” said Aranea. “Look, why don't I go and ask at the College for you. Erandur can come with me, two Dunmer mages arriving to do some research at the College's famed library won't raise any eyebrows at all. Meanwhile, you and your warrior friends here can go and explore Korvanjund. I'm sure they've been down plenty of Nord ruins.”
Elisif was dubious about this, but Erandur had vouched for Aranea's trustworthiness, and Ria and the twins all seemed in agreement. It was just Erandur looking worried.
“I'm really not sure this is a good idea...” he began. Aranea sighed and threw up her hands.
“For the love of Azura, Cas- Erandur, I'm not going to molest you. This is just a little research trip, that's all.”
Erandur didn't look convinced, but he did at length agree to it.
“Fine. But only because this is in service to a higher cause,” he grumbled. With that settled, everyone gathered their things and got ready to go, all promising to meet at the Nightgate Inn afterwards with their findings. Elisif stopped to say goodbye to Erandur before they left.
“Are you sure you're going to be all right?” Elisif asked. “What exactly happened with you two? You said you were friends!”
“We were,” Erandur said uncomfortably. “Are. But, well, we spent extended time alone together, and I was very lonely and vulnerable after losing everyone I cared about in Nightcaller Temple. She helped counsel me and I – I took shameful advantage of that generosity. She didn't hold it against me and in fact seemed to enjoy the experience – but she was and still is a lot younger than me by Dunmer standards, and I can't offer her the relationship that she deserves and that Mara would expect of me. So obviously I can't lie with her again, it would be unworthy and unforgivable to lead her on.”
“Only you still fancy her,” Elisif said knowingly, having seen the way he'd been looking at her. Aranea was rather pretty, to Elisif's eyes anyway, who knew what Dunmer standards of beauty were like. Erandur sighed, staring at his feet.
“Is it that obvious,” he said wearily. Elisif nodded.
“I'm afraid so,” she said. Aranea was standing some way away, but even so, perhaps some discretion was advised. “Look, she's a priestess, she's hardly the materialistic type if she's been living up here all this time. She won't care you're not wealthy. You might serve different gods but you have a lot in common. If you really care about her, if there's feelings on both sides, why not go for it?”
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 20.10
(Anonymous) 2014-01-02 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)“There's potions to stop that,” Elisif whispered, reaching up to give him a hug. “And you're not that old, surely. And as far as providing for her goes, once I'm Queen, I'll make sure the two of you are set up properly if that's what you want. Either at Sky Haven Temple, or at my court.”
Erandur didn't say anything, just holding Elisif tightly and she had a horrible feeling those were tears on his cheeks.
“Bless you, Elisif, you're the kindest, most thoughtful young woman...” He stopped talking, letting her go and wiping a tear away from his eye.
“You take care,” he said gruffly. “Here's hoping you find what you're meant to in Korvanjund. As for me, well, I guess I'll just have to restrain myself, won't I?”
Elisif personally thought he was overthinking the situation a bit and that if anyone deserved to be happy, it was him. But it wasn't hers to interfere. Bidding him goodbye, she went to join the Companions. Time to see if this Korvanjund place really did have anything worth taking, or if Azura was just sending her on a wild goose chase. With Daedra, one could never be too sure.
~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: And there goes Elisif, levelling up with a cool Dovah name and breathing fire. Soon she'll have the Jagged Crown, and then my pretty, then you will be ready. Soon. :D
Ahem. But next chapter is back to the Nightingales, whose only option regarding fencing the Eyes turns out to lie Reachwards... and they've not heard the news about the Silver-Bloods yet. Has Nocturnal abandoned them? Perhaps not.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 20.10
(Anonymous) 2014-01-09 02:18 pm (UTC)(link)Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 20.10
(Anonymous) 2014-01-18 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)