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Thread: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (23/6/13)

  1. #141

    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (18/5/13)

    Quote Originally Posted by Chirurgeon View Post
    I always write mine in word and then cut and paste. Its just too risky to trust typing in this box. I am sorry that sucks
    Me too saves with all the grammar and spelling errors!

  2. #142
    Swaeft's Avatar Drama King
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    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (18/5/13)

    Quote Originally Posted by Merchant of Venice View Post
    Me too saves with all the grammar and spelling errors!
    Quote Originally Posted by Chirurgeon View Post
    I always write mine in word and then cut and paste. Its just too risky to trust typing in this box. I am sorry that sucks
    Lesson learnt...lesson learnt...

    Sorry to make you guys wait some more. I guess I'll have to retype it from scratch. I didn't convert to Word last time because of the format errors but I guess I'm not going to risk it anymore.

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  3. #143
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    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (18/5/13)

    Chapter Twenty Six: Last Man Out, Get The Lights

    The plan was simple. Vaela would sneak in, deal with any threat quickly, scavenge the office for information and get out. Nikolai would watch the only exit out, the tunnels below the offices, which also housed the prisons.

    Vaela's footsteps were light on the metallic stairs, and she was almost on edge as she neared the large double doors that marked the entrance to the High Councilor's office. Vaela quickly tiptoed to the large double doors and listened at the keyhole for any signs of activity.

    Naturally expecting a lot of movement and chatter among the Councilor' s bodyguards, Vaela was befuddled to hear silence coming from the room. She tried to peek into the keyhole, but it was too small to see through, and she could barely hear through anyway. Could she be mistaken about the silence? She took a deep breath and held it there, listening intently.

    "No, I'm sure it's quiet inside." Vaela confirmed. "Even Nikolai's breathing is louder than anything I can hear from inside." She waited for a few seconds more, during which she could hear Nikolai descend the stairs to the lower prison. She refocused on her task after silently wishing that he would not meet any enemies. Somewhat taken aback by the stark silence, she wondered if the High Councilor was even inside his office at all.

    Just to be sure, she conjured up a flame atronach to provide additional support in case of any attack. Then, releasing her pent up breath, she kicked the door open and flung her palms up, ready to burn any Thalmor she saw.

    Instead, it seemed that this was a day full of surprises. A single corpse of a bloodied High Guard was slumped against some empty display cases.


    Right beside that corpse, another laid in silent death. "A Thalmor mage, judging by his garb." Other than that, the entire room was deserted. If Vaela wasn't suspicious about the circumstances, she would have been gaping at the enormous amount of wealth on the shelves and walls of the office. Even a single shelf housed some of the most thick and valuable books that Vaela had ever set her eyes upon, not to mention the fascinating mixtures, potions and brews.


    Once Vaela had combed the office entirely, she was satisfied that no one was inside. Just in case, she grabbed a mace from a table, feeling that it was better to be prepared than to walk around weaponless. Only then was she able to adequately appreciate the treasures in the room. The office itself was divided into three sections. The rightmost section housed the study area, where entire rows of books, quills, and other stationery were housed. The chair behind the well-furnished desk appeared at first glance to be very comfortable, being made up of various high quality animal pelts and leather. The study area also consisted of another safe and many carved lightings. It was there Vaela decided to start conducting her search.

    The Main room was the second section, and was most probably the area in which guests were received. A large, rectangular table dominated this section, surrounded by six high backed chairs, so high that they almost looked like thrones. The lighting was also soft, pleasant and overall, suited to the atmosphere. The candles gently flickered in the stale air, almost lulling Vaela into a false sense of security. Besides the corpse of the High Guard and the blood on the leather carpet, the office was very presentable.

    However, there were simply too many documents to sift through in any form of precise detail. Numerous piles of books towered down on Vaela from up high, occupying bookshelves and the edges of tables. It would be impossible to The only plausible option available to Vaela was to quickly skim through the title and perhaps the first few pages, then decide whether or not to take the book along with her on her way out.
    So Vaela hurried. 'Important Details', 'Notes and Reminders', 'Movement Protocol', and 'Prisoner List' were some of the books quickly snapped up by Vaela. She stuffed them hastily into her pouches, messing up entire stacks of books in the office along the way. The tension in the air was high, and when Nikolai implored Vaela to hurry up, she grimaced irritably. Vaela spent at least five minutes combing the office for the book referenced to in the note within the safe in the lower office. At long last, she found a thick, heavy book with a title: 'Political Prisoners'. She had located it within a drawer underneath the High Councilor's table. Certain that this was the book she was looking for, she tucked it into one of her pouches and started to make her way towards the double doors.

    The double doors opened and Nikolai appeared, carrying what appeared to be a rod. His arrival startled Vaela for a brief moment, and she very nearly attacked him on instinct. "Sorry." Nikolai appeared chastened. "I simply had to find a source of light. It was, and is still very dark. Here." Nikolai handed Vaela a rod. Or at least, it appeared to Vaela to be a rod, before she carried it and realized that it was a staff, and a very lightweight staff at that. "It's a staff of magelight." Nikolai informed. "I found it on a bench in the prison. Instead of producing flames or whatever, it projects a small bulb of light that sticks somewhere, according to a note. Do to it whatever it is you do with staffs, alright? Just light the way."

    But then Vaela noticed something on the desk in the main section of the High Councilor's office. It was a large map of Skyrim, but the arrows drawn onto it depicted something more grim. Vaela caught Nikolai's attention and both of them took a good look at it.


    "Something's happening at the East. Look how these arrows all point to a mountain west of Windhelm." Nikolai pointed. Nikolai told her to remember the information, then ran down the spiral staircase. Vaela stared intently onto the map, as a marker pointing towards a small village somewhere in the East of Whiterun. There was also another prominent marker stating: Important Prisoners. Vaela made a snap decision, deciding that this information was undoubtedly important and decided to take the map with her. However, it was nailed tight to the table and would be very difficult to remove without tearing it. Vaela cursed and hurriedly retrieved a quill and some parchment from one of the office desks and began to draw a very rough copy of what was being represented on the big map. Just then, Vaela heard some voices from below. A moment passed, and she began to doubt the accuracy of her hearing, but then a voice cracked, "Get this rubble cleared! I want access to my office!"

    "It's the High Councilor and probably his retinue! I need to get out of here now!" Vaela whispered to herself. Finishing her own tiny map hastily, she stuffed it into her pouches and ran to the exit. She clambered down the first flight of stairs somewhat awkwardly, struggling under the weight of the heavy books she was carrying. The entrance to the lower offices was still blocked by rubble for the moment, but sounds of people shifting the debris could already be heard. Troubled by a general lack of the Thalmor 'presence' in their own base, Vaela hurried down the second flight of steps.

    "Nikolai?" Vaela's whisper was so silent it came out as a breath. The tunnels were dark and gloomy, with most of the candles unlit due to a lack of maintenance. It was almost impossible to see, and yet Vaela knew that Nikolai had to be down here. Before any thoughts of his abduction could firmly implant itself in her mind, Nikolai appeared out of the shadows, startling Vaela. "Sorry." He mouthed. "I was just scouting ahead."

    Vaela dropped her mace and twirled her staff around. Even though she felt drained, she knew from her training that staffs did not drain the user's magical power pool as much as if it was cast from the hand, and this knowledge gave Vaela some satisfaction. She focused on drawing the power within her, and the staff did the rest. Vaela directed it at the nearest jail cell and the awaited the release of magic. The ball of light did not come out with any fanciful fanfare, instead it appeared with a small puff of smoke, something that Vaela did not appreciate in these tunnels.


    The prison was small and barely managed to contain seven cells, of which all were empty, dusty, and full of cobwebs and other undesirable insects. Vaela's heart sank yet again. She had been chasing shadows all this while. A wild goose chase. "A waste of time." Vaela cursed. Despondent misery was etched all over her face, hidden by her black mask and hood. "What have information have we gained from this trip?"

    "Some important information." Nikolai stated, lifting Vaela's head up by the chin. "We know your Master isn't here. And we've supposedly got his location." He stated, pointing at Vaela's bulging pouches. "Now let's get out of here and find out where he is, alright?"

    Her spirits lifted by Nikolai's encouragement, Vaela continued onwards through the tunnels. It was stuffy, but bearable, and soon Vaela and Nikolai reached the end. They emerged somewhere to the left of the path from which they had originally entered, a few ways from the entrance to the Manor. The sounds of fighting had all but died down, and Vaela had to assume the worst -- that the innocent Imperials had been killed in their uprising. Delphine and Esbern were nowhere to be found, surprising Nikolai and Vaela.

    "Where are they? Could they have..."

    "No. It's not possible. They probably escaped. Let's check the bodies." Nikolai asserted.

    "Nikolai! It's too dangerous! What if we get spotted?" Vaela hissed at him as he ran out from the cover of the undergrowth. She had no choice but to follow, for she knew in her heart that she would never abandon him. They scouted the area and inspected the numerous corpses lying around. Vaela herself turned over the corpses of many Imperial soldiers, which made her sick and want to vomit. Only when Vaela and Nikolai were reasonably satisfied that the bodies of Delphine and Esbern were not in the area, they made their way out of there with as much haste as possible. "Let's go back to the Sleeping Giant Inn at Riverwood." Nikolai decided. "They probably headed back there. After all, we did take quite a while to navigate through that manor."

    Vaela agreed and they quickened their pace. The duo found the nearest horse carriage and rented it immediately, riding it to Riverwood.

    Vaela laughed when the carriage rider commented on how they looked as if they had come straight from a fight with the Thalmor themselves.

    ~~~~





    Sorry for the short length of this chapter but I wanted this parchment to end this way, as the next parchment will have a new theme for it.
    Last edited by Swaeft; May 22, 2013 at 08:28 AM.

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  4. #144

    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (22/5/13)

    short but sweet. I must have missed it if you said it but all these Thalmor encounters and plundering through their offices is part of a mod or something? it does not look familiar. If it is I love how you have seamlessly integrated it into your story! Good job and I am off to post Chapter 1 in book two!!

  5. #145
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    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (22/5/13)

    Quote Originally Posted by Chirurgeon View Post
    short but sweet. I must have missed it if you said it but all these Thalmor encounters and plundering through their offices is part of a mod or something? it does not look familiar. If it is I love how you have seamlessly integrated it into your story! Good job and I am off to post Chapter 1 in book two!!
    Yes it was part of a mod. Thanks for your many compliments and I really look forward to reading your chapter!

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  6. #146
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    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (22/5/13)

    Another interesting chapter! Love seeing the high-level office, and all the special secret items. The game looks beautiful on your machine. Can't wait to see what happens to these two. The story is certainly getting more wild as it goes! Keep up the good work.

  7. #147
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    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (22/5/13)

    Quote Originally Posted by G-Ballz View Post
    Another interesting chapter! Love seeing the high-level office, and all the special secret items. The game looks beautiful on your machine. Can't wait to see what happens to these two. The story is certainly getting more wild as it goes! Keep up the good work.
    Thank you. I am working on the next chapter right now, but I keep getting 500 Internal Server Error when attempting to post something, so if this comes out as a double post, please forgive me. Things are going to get tough soon though...for Vaela

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    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (1/6/13)

    Chapter Twenty Seven: Relocation

    Vaela and Nikolai got off the carriage and paid the rider, then hurried towards the Sleeping Giant Inn. They were relieved to find the front door undamaged, since that meant that Delphine and Esbern would have made it back here in relative safety. Vaela in particular was very pleased when she saw Starstruck leashed to a wooden post outside the inn. Starstruck whinnied at the sight of Vaela, who patted him affectionately on the nose and stroked his head before going in with Nikolai.

    The Inn was deserted as usual, with the only sign of life being a man behind the counter, scrubbing it with a wet cloth of some sort. Vaela recognized the man as Orgnar, Nikolai's brother, whom she had been told by Nikolai to be a brusque, direct man who hated beating about the bush. True to those words, Orgnar greeted the both of them curtly and told them that Esbern and Delphine were waiting for them in the room with the false back panel.


    Nikolai thanked his brother and proceeded into the aforementioned room with Vaela. "Tsk, tsk." Nikolai muttered, upon seeing the false back panel open. "How could they be so careless? What if someone saw this open and ventured in?" Vaela resisted her urge to tease him about how no one was here anyway. She followed him down the stairs into the secret room. Perhaps now she could get some answers to what actually happened at the Aldmeri Domain.

    "Ah, you're back." Delphine stated. Vaela inclined her head slightly to acknowledge her greeting. Nikolai sighed and rubbed his eyebrows as Vaela assessed Esbern and Delphine visually. On the surface, they both appeared unhurt, but both were flushed and sweaty. However, upon closer inspection, a collection of welts and small cuts were visible on Delphine's arms, and some dried caked blood rested upon Esbern's left leg. "Are either of you hurt?" Vaela asked.

    "Just a scratch. Nothing that won't heal in a day." Delphine replied. Esbern inclined his head to indicate likewise. A few tense moments passed before Nikolai finally asked his burning question. "So what exactly happened back there while we were inside the manor?"

    Delphine pushed herself off her chair in one fluid motion, then spoke in between clearing her throat. "So, it's time for us to swap stories, isn't it? Very well. Here's what happened."

    Delphine spoke of Esbern and herself hiding in the clumps of bushes outside the manor for the first few minutes. "Nothing much happened at first. Only a few stray animals trotted by. We were expecting more of a presence." Delphine remarked. She went on to explain how those first few minutes were anxious, uncertain and unsettling moments as she and her father had no idea what was going on inside the manor.

    "It was only when the first Thalmor patrol came by when we snapped into the right frame of mind." Esbern noted, to which Delphine agreed. He mentioned that taking care of the first patrol, which comprised of a mage and two soldier escorts, was a piece of cake, but hiding the bodies without being spotted was a pain in the neck. "It took some time to clean away the bloodstains from the snowy floor. We tried covering them up with snow but the wind kept blowing our efforts away." Delphine remarked with a sigh. "The harder part was stuffing the bodies somewhere high up out of the reach of animals. The pesky snow foxes would cluster around the bodies we were lugging, attracting so much unwanted attention. Thankfully there wasn't any other patrol around to see the abnormal activity of the wolves and foxes."

    At this point, Esbern took over from Delphine, who went to grab a drink from Orgnar. Esbern told Vaela and Nikolai that what happened next surprised both Delphine and himself. "The sounds of steel of steel reached our ears from the front courtyard, which the four of us had cleared together before the both of you infiltrated the manor. The two of us," Esbern indicated himself and the returning Delphine, "rushed over with weapons drawn. We thought that you both were in some kind of trouble and needed help. We never expected to see some Imperial soldiers butchering their Thalmor commanders."

    "They just attacked without provocation? I thought you had incited them to rebel, Senior." Vaela spoke up.

    Esbern chortled. "No, my dear apprentice. As much as I would like to think that I could have incited that rebellion, it had totally nothing to do with me." He coughed once before continuing. "Delphine and I couldn't just turn tail and run, seeing as both the Imperial soldiers and the Thalmor guards had spotted us. So, we threw our lot in with the Imperials and helped them fight against their Thalmor overlords. Our combined strength was too much for the Thalmor to take, and we finished them off in an intense, bloody fight."

    Esbern retired to his chair, letting his daughter take over. Delphine recounted how the Imperial soldiers were grateful for their help, and told us of the painful, sometimes traumatizing suffering they had to endure under their Thalmor masters. "Masters?" Vaela spat with disgust. "They don't deserve to be called that."

    Delphine winked at her in agreement, and Nikolai patted her on the shoulder. Delphine then continued with her tale. She spoke of how more Imperial soldiers poured out of the front doors of the manor, with their comrades helping one another out and displaying camaraderie of the highest grade. Delphine remarked proudly about the Imperials' bravery and comradeship, wistfully saying, "I wish Nords and Imperials could stop all the squabbling between us. We have so much in common, and so much goodness to share."

    "The tragedy of war." Esbern remarked dispiritedly. A few seconds of silence passed before Delphine continued somewhat contritely after setting her drink down. The slight smile on her face had vanished.

    "The second wave of the Thalmor came as the Imperials were deciding on whether to escape or wait for more of their comrades breaking out of the manor. Their honor and selflessness made this dilemma a hard one, but unfortunately they chose the honorable but foolish choice. I thought that our superior numbers would be able to hold out against them, but we barely managed to kill them all. Although most of the Imperials were armed, they had been ill-treated by the Thalmor, and suffered from malnutrition, hunger, lack of energy and other ailments that impaired their ability to fight properly." Delphine stated, almost pitifully. "We defeated the second wave of Thalmor soldiers, but the Imperials lost over half of their strength."

    At this point Delphine looked as if she would start to cry. "We tried to convince the remaining Imperials to leave, but they refused to budge until every last one of their friends were out. Some even made the suicidal mission to plunge back into the manor to extricate them. Esbern and I knew that we would all perish if we stayed, and since we could not sway the Imperials to leave with us, I informed one of their number that we would leave to secure the path at the entrance in order to slow down any reinforcements or returning patrols. He expressed his sincere gratitude and bade us farewell. He was a true Imperial. My father and I retreated to our starting positions, and waited to ambush more patrols. When the screams died down a few minutes later I knew that the Imperials had lost. We contemplated staying, but the whole exterior was now swarming with Thalmor soldiers, and it would have been suicide to stay. We fled right back here, and have been waiting anxiously for your arrival ever since. Thankfully you didn't take long to ease our anxiety."

    "All those poor Imperials." Vaela muttered. Nikolai patted her gently on the shoulder to ease her worries, but he could only do so much to help her. Then, suddenly, something out of place registered itself in her mind. "You said the area was swarming with Thalmor? But when Nikolai and I got out, we saw only three of four!" Vaela recounted. Delphine shrugged. "Maybe they went back in to secure the perimeter, or maybe they went to search the surrounding forest for stragglers."

    "Maybe we just got lucky." Nikolai said. He too was still absorbing the incredible story that his family had just narrated to him. "To think that we could have faced hundreds of Thalmor soldiers at once. Scary, eh?" Nikolai patted Vaela on her back. Vaela didn't know what to think about it, and so she stood up to get a drink, but as she did, the weight of the books in her pouches weighed her down significantly, and in a flash she remembered that she was carrying important documents. Her thirstiness suddenly gone and with a sudden sense of urgency, she emptied the contents of her pouches onto the only, but thankfully large table in the center of the room. She counted seven books in total, some looted gold, a few potions, and the hastily scribbled map.

    "Sensitive documents related to the search for your Master, I suppose?" Esbern expressed his interest immediately. Vaela nodded, staring blankly at the map for a few moments. Curiosity was still getting the better of her, and she yearned to find out what the map depicted.




    Realizing that it could take some time to decipher what the map was implying, Vaela set the map and the looted potions aside first. She collected all the gold, more than five hundred, and tossed it to Delphine in a sack. "Thanks for your help. You gave us the time needed to make this mission a success."

    However, Delphine tossed the sack back to Vaela. "It's not a success yet. Check the books." Vaela nodded and put the sack of coins down. Nikolai, Delphine and Esbern gathered around Vaela, staring at the books she had procured. Each one of them took a book at random and flipped it open, starting to read its contents. The scene reminded Vaela of when Nikolai and Delphine were reading books before Delphine discovered Esbern's dossier. Unwilling to let her thoughts drift away at this moment, Vaela refocused on scanning the contents of her looted book. She removed her hood and mask after finding it a little stuffy, and besides, it was better to read with the hood off, she reasoned. The book she picked seemed to focus on logistical movements of the prisoner's escorts instead of the prisoners themselves. Sighing, Vaela returned it to the stack and selected another book.

    As luck would have it, the book contained detailed information about 'high priority prisoners'. Vaela excitedly scanned the list enclosed, her weariness forgotten. However, the words were dulled and a little faded. Grabbing a torch from a nearby torch scone, Vaela held it over the book. She was now able to see better, and after a few minutes of reading, she finally hit upon a description that seemed to fit her Master. She eagerly called the others over, interrupting Esbern, who was in the process of selecting another book to flip through, and Nikolai, who was somewhat certain that he had found Vaela's Master. Vaela and Nikolai crossed checked their sources, Nikolai read his own source out loud. "Name: Benedict. Being held at: Embassy Dungeon. Description: strong in the arcane arts and highly dangerous from afar. Weak in close combat and...what's this?" Vaela's eyes squinted at the text, then burst out laughing.

    "What is it?" Nikolai asked, bemused.

    "Age: 18. My Master is way older than me, Nikolai!" Vaela giggled. Delphine joined in the laughter, and a sheepish Nikolai apologized. Vaela told him that no apology was necessary, and the four of them clustered around Vaela's book. This time, her suspicion seemed to have been confirmed. ”Name: Quintus Nomed. Description: A Master from the Mage's Hall, extremely powerful and skilled in the arcane arts, possessing seemingly endless reserves of Magicka. Captured while he was training an Apprentice, who escaped. Age: 43." Vaela narrated, amazed at how powerful her Master was being described, even by his enemies. "Where is he being held?" Nikolai asked.

    Vaela quickly pointed her finger to Location: Ivarstead.

    "That's surprising." Delphine remarked. "Shouldn't he be held in a place with greater security? Where the Thalmor can keep watch on him and control him with relative ease? Why Ivarstead?"

    "Ivarstead? Where's that?" Vaela inquired. Delphine answered almost immediately. "It's a small hamlet on the other side of the gigantic mountain behind this Inn. A day's travel away from here." Vaela's ears pricked at that comment. She wondered if she should set out immediately to reunite with her Master.

    However, Delphine put her hand on Vaela's shoulders. "I know what you are thinking. You can't wait to see your Master after so long. But you're tired. Every part of your body is exhausted, and you are showing it. Your arms are shaking, and your eyelids are droopy, flickering open and closed. Take a break. You can travel to Ivarstead tomorrow, where you can end this hazardous search."

    "But..." Vaela yearned to rescue her Master, and she hated the fact that Delphine was right. She was feeling extremely tired and exhausted. "One more day can't hurt." Delphine asserted. "No offence, but your Master has been waiting for...what? A few months? He can wait another day. You should arrive there in good condition, not with a lack of energy. How are you going to fight if there are guards?"

    Vaela knew that Delphine was right, and so she allowed herself to be accompanied to one of the Inn's rooms by Nikolai. He helped to remove her pouches and bags, and stored them in a chest at the foot of the bed Vaela would be sleeping in. Vaela muttered her thanks and climbed into bed, finally realizing that this was what she needed after an arduous trek and a fierce, fatal battle. The woolen bed sheets and fur mattresses felt so comfortable and relaxing, as if they had been tailored to fit Vaela's needs. She sank into a deep sleep almost instantly.


    ~~~~

    "Don't go."

    Vaela stirred. "Go away." She yawned, semi-awake and very absent minded. "I want...to sleep."

    "Don't go."

    Now Vaela was getting irritated. "I'm not...going anywhere...be quiet." She stretched her hand out listlessly to shove away whoever she felt was getting close. Instead, she felt a mental presence pierce into her mind.

    Vaela sat bolt upright, shocked and confused. She wasn't in her bed anymore. The whole place around her was dark. She stretched a hand out warily, poking the air. "Am I dead?"

    "No, you aren't." A voice replied. Suddenly, Vaela's mind was filled with a single image.


    She exclaimed out in trepidation, flustered. The image in her mind seemed to burn into the entrails of her pupils. Terrified and not understanding what was happening, Vaela threw her arms up as if to ward off an attack, and closed her eyes, seeking to hide in the darkness. "Don't go. It's a lie." The voice resonated. Besides being able to discern that it was a female, Vaela had no other clue to the identity of her...assailant. Then, just as suddenly as the voice and image appeared, it disappeared instantaneously, leaving Vaela sitting shell-shocked in her own bed at the Sleeping Giant Inn.

    Vaela threw off her fur blankets and dashed to the door of the Inn. True enough, she was still in Riverwood, and the area around her was still...same. Dawn was just breaking, and there was no sign of any Thalmor assailants or attackers. Confused and scratching her head, Vaela returned to her room, checking everything. Nothing was amiss.

    A knock on her door preceded Nikolai's entrance into the room. He noticed Vaela looking troubled immediately and asked her if she was fine. I shouldn't tell him about the dream. Vaela reasoned. He has no reason to believe me. I have no reason to believe it myself. Nothing's happened after all.

    "Nothing." Vaela lied. "I'm fine. When are we going?" She inquired, eager to change the subject. Nikolai smiled. "Always the eager one, eh? Don't worry. My father and sister woke up a few minutes ago, and they've been packing supplies for our trip. We'll be leaving within half an hour, if that's fine with you."

    Vaela nodded her affirmation, and Nikolai grinned. He handed her a golden dagger. "I heard that you were missing a suitable weapon. My father enchanted this for you last night after you slept. He told me to give it to you before we left for Ivarstead. It contains a powerful enchantment that will sting enemies with lightning upon contact." Vaela admired its ornate carvings and engravings. It seemed to glow slightly purple under the light. "It's beautiful." Vaela gasped. "It is. It's of dwarven origin." Nikolai stated. "I'll be accompanying you to Ivarstead, Vaela. I'm sorry but my father and sister cannot help you any longer. We had a chat last night, and we feel that they want to settle down and stop all this fighting. Infiltrating the Thalmor manor was a highlight of my sister's adventures, and she certainly won't forget it anytime soon. But now she just wants to be a filial daughter and tend to my father."

    "Of course. I understand perfectly. Your family has been a great help to me already, and believe it or not, I was going to suggest that I head to Ivarstead alone." Vaela replied. Nikolai shook his head. "Not alone. I'll be accompanying you to Ivarstead, Vaela. I can't let you go there alone."

    "Why not?" Vaela asked, although she suspected that she already knew the answer. Nikolai's face turned slightly maroon, and he replied, "Vaela, I made your Senior a promise to look after you. I'm coming with you, whether you like it or not."

    Vaela hugged him gratefully. "I LOVE it. Thanks for staying by my side." Nikolai returned her embrace emphatically, then grinned at her once and exited the room. Vaela hid her blush, then opened her chest and reequipped her items, buckling the dwarven dagger to her belt and securing all her pouches, before carefully slotting in her potions and supplies.

    She walked out of the room with a new spring in her step, bringing the book containing information about her Master with her, and exited the Sleeping Giant Inn into the morning sunlight. She flipped it open and re-read the portion related to her Master, wanting to be sure that she was headed to the right place.



    She confirmed the location and closed the book, walking back to Nikolai who was waiting with Starstruck. Vaela's horse was eager for adventure again after being cooped up for so long in a horse pen behind the Inn, and it was showed by his pawing the ground in excited anticipation of travelling again. The morning breeze was already up and about, tickling Vaela's ears as if it was encouraging her to make her journey. The white fluffy clouds danced a ballet across the sky, letting the bright, radiant rays of light filter through. The weather was perfect for land travel. Vaela told Nikolai to mount Starstruck, and to her surprise, he did so. She had expected him to refuse. Moments later, Nikolai stowed his large battleaxe onto the left of Starstruck, then stretched his steel fist out to Vaela. "I suppose you are comfortable by now?" He asked with a wink.

    Vaela took his hand and climbed up onto the saddle with her leg on Starstrucks' stirrups. "More than comfortable." She replied teasingly. Setting herself behind him, she held on to nook in Nikolai's steel armor even as Nikolai shouted, "Gee up, Starstruck!" The horse eagerly burst forward and Vaela struggled momentarily to hold on to Nikolai, laughing as she bounced about on the saddle. After Starstruck's initial enthusiasm petered out into a steady clip, Vaela laid her head on Nikolai's armored shoulder, enjoying the wind whistling past her ears and the animals scuttling out of her way. She had forgotten her peculiar experience just an hour ago.

    "Don't go."
    Last edited by Swaeft; June 01, 2013 at 06:41 AM.

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  9. #149

    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (1/6/13)

    well many cool things there. Sucks that you cant take esbern or Delphine with you. However I know you have to bend events around scripted actions of the game. So cute the relationship between Vaila and Nicholai. I think its adorable. I also think its intriguing that the master is in Ivarstead. Must be a mod or something that adds a dungeon there? I guess I will have to find out And wow if you live in US you were up EARLY hehe :p

  10. #150
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    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (1/6/13)

    Quote Originally Posted by Chirurgeon View Post
    well many cool things there. Sucks that you cant take esbern or Delphine with you. However I know you have to bend events around scripted actions of the game. So cute the relationship between Vaila and Nicholai. I think its adorable. I also think its intriguing that the master is in Ivarstead. Must be a mod or something that adds a dungeon there? I guess I will have to find out And wow if you live in US you were up EARLY hehe :p
    Yeah, no more Delphine and Esbern sadly...but they will still play a minor part in the story. You know, helping Vaela with advice and all that. But the focus of the plot will shift quite soon, and Vaela is about to discover something really bad. This is also my first time trying to create a genuine relationship between the two characters, and I'm horribly inexperienced at it. My only sources of those are from movies, and they don't really help. But it's valuable experience I suppose, so thanks for the encouragement! Ivarstead is...well you know I can't say that

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  11. #151

    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (1/6/13)

    damn fine aar you have here Swaeft, it almost makes me want to go start another new character on Skyrim and play as a mage. Anyways, you can consider me a new fan of your work. haha

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  12. #152
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    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (1/6/13)

    Quote Originally Posted by Templar Knight View Post
    damn fine aar you have here Swaeft, it almost makes me want to go start another new character on Skyrim and play as a mage. Anyways, you can consider me a new fan of your work. haha
    Thank you very much. It's refreshing to have someone new drop by and read your work. I see that you have started a new AAR/FF as well, and all the best to you! I've already read your first chapter and commented there, so hopefully we can trade tips sometime, and be inspired by each other's work! If you haven't yet, you can check out Chirurgeon's The Nascent Ranger. It has a nice plot and is written quite well too! Many thanks again and cheers!

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  13. #153

    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (1/6/13)

    Quote Originally Posted by Swaeft View Post
    Thank you very much. It's refreshing to have someone new drop by and read your work. I see that you have started a new AAR/FF as well, and all the best to you! I've already read your first chapter and commented there, so hopefully we can trade tips sometime, and be inspired by each other's work! If you haven't yet, you can check out Chirurgeon's The Nascent Ranger. It has a nice plot and is written quite well too! Many thanks again and cheers!
    I will check it out and thank you for the advertisement

  14. #154

    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (1/6/13)

    Another great chapter. I enjoyed reading about Esberns and Delphine's adventure. Sad to see them go. That dream but was intriguing indeed

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    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (1/6/13)

    Quote Originally Posted by Merchant of Venice View Post
    Another great chapter. I enjoyed reading about Esberns and Delphine's adventure. Sad to see them go. That dream but was intriguing indeed
    Thank you! Yes I had to purposely add in the part where they stayed out of Vaela's adventures, but in a way it was fitting since they aren't indebted to her forever. That dream/vision was a sign of things to come O_O. Thanks again for staying with me!

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    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (1/6/13)

    Chapter Twenty Eight: Deception

    Vaela and Nikolai traversed the land quicker than they ever had before. Starstruck's vigorous energy enabled them to travel at a faster speed than Vaela had ever experienced on Starstruck's back before. The ground passed by Vaela's dangling feet rapidly, and sometimes she dozed off inadvertently due to the boredom. For the first few minutes outside of Riverwood, the scenery was quite intoxicating, and it was very easy to fall prey to overly admiring it. The lush, green trees, flowers in full bloom, and brilliant sunshine made the experience almost psychedelic. However, once the duo were well on their way to Ivarstead, they had to cross a plain, and the scenery changed into a dull, monotonous landscape of sweeping acres of grass. The large mountain Vaela and Nikolai had to skirt around was bland and almost devoid of any flora or fauna, making it somewhat of an eyesore.

    Sometime later, the landscape evolved. On the horizon, a body of water emerged, a distinction from the repetitive grassland. A few minutes later, trees and shrubbery were visible. Rock structures entered Vaela's field of vision, and the land's contours rose and fell as well, indicating the presence of slopes and hills, of which their sloping gradient slowly increased as time went by and Vaela passed more of those formations. Soon however, the sky darkened gradually. Tiny, almost indiscernible streaks of lightning scoured the sky, and small pellets of raindrops cascaded down gently onto Vaela, Nikolai, and Starstruck. Vaela shivered and pulled her hood down further, covering her eyebrows.

    Then, out of the blue, a bright source of light caught Vaela's attention. "There!" She pointed, her finger outstretched, indicating it to Nikolai, who was more focused on guiding Starstruck. He briefly looked at it, then exclaimed in wonder as the true size of it awed him. Vaela too had just realized the magnitude of it. The source of light appeared to be a big stack of logs, but it was significantly taller and larger than any normal campfire, even from this distance. Nikolai gently steered Starstruck towards the giant campfire, and asked Vaela, "Shall we camp here for a short while? It appears that Starstruck here is tired." He patted Vaela's horse on its sides, and Starstruck whinnied in between his heaving and panting. Vaela nodded, then remembered that they did not bring any camping materials.

    "Thank the heavens that this pile of logs is huge, then." Nikolai replied, smiling at their good fortune. "The fire's roaring, even is this rain." Vaela shrugged as Starstruck drew closer, and pulled her hood down even further. She wondered whether Nikolai was feeling cold, but then remembered that in between his steel armor lay a padding of fine but worn leather that would keep him warm. She held on to Nikolai for a bit while Starstruck pawed the ground carefully to discern the best path up the slope to the plateau. After some tough decision making, for there were many rock outcroppings jutting out of the hill, Starstruck made his way comfortably up the hill, on a visible dirt path.


    "This campfire is huge!" Vaela exclaimed in wonder, as Starstruck finally reached the apex of the hill and let Vaela dismount. "Thanks buddy." Vaela whispered to Starstruck, and procured a piece of meat from her pouch. Starstruck had started to sniff it even before Vaela had fully removed it from the pouch, and he snapped it up voraciously, tearing it into pieces before Vaela's eyes. She snickered as she watched Starstruck gobble up the meat, then fed him another slice of rich venison.

    "Vaela, over here!" She heard Nikolai call over. She stroked Starstruck's head one last time, then sprinted over to Nikolai, who was at the top of the plateau where the large campfire was at. Before she reached his position, she could start to feel the heat emanating from the campfire. "The warmth...it's so comforting." Nikolai gasped in glee. He knelt down some distance away from the campfire, and waited for Vaela to approach. Nikolai wasn't wrong at all; the heat from the campfire warmed Vaela to her bones, staving off the cold and wetness of the gloomy rain. It also served to light up the place magnificently, and was as good as a lighthouse as it was large enough to act like a beacon, for its illumination could be seen from far, far away.

    "I've never seen anything like this before." Vaela mused, rubbing her chin while thinking.


    The campfire was taller than Vaela, and if not for her Master's fire-protection circlet which she was wearing, she would not have dared to examine it closely. There was nothing out of the ordinary that Vaela could detect, and it certainly didn't seem to serve any purpose other than being...a campfire. "But for who?" Vaela wondered aloud. "Bandits?"

    ”No, not bandits." Nikolai chipped in. "They wouldn't build a campfire so large it could alert all the patrolling guards in the area. It doesn't make sense."

    "Right. But does it matter? I mean, we are safe here, right? The owners of this campfire won't shoot us from behind, right?"

    "I guess not. If they aren't bandits, we can reason with them. Besides, it's not like they can sneak up on us. This whole plateau is flat, and the only way up is from the steep path Starstruck plodded up on. We'll catch anyone attempting to climb back up here. Relax." Nikolai asserted. Vaela saw no reason to disagree with him, for the only other way to get to their position was to fall down a sheer, fatal drop of rocky cliffs behind them. "So, what now?" Vaela asked, sitting down beside Nikolai and removing her hood.

    "I guess we wait for the rain to stop, rest for a while, then carry on."

    Vaela agreed, and the two of them remained silent for a few moments, basking in the warming glow of the large campfire. Starstruck made his way next to them as well, he too wanting to enjoy the warmth. Nikolai stretched his hands forward to better warm himself, and then, in an attempt to strike up some conversation, asked Vaela about her Master. "What's he like?"


    Vaela let the question hang in the air as she debated on how to properly answer it. She shifted her palms on the warm stone floor and enjoyed the feeling of the cool raindrops pattering down on her face. "Well," she began, "I'll admit now that I didn't really know him well. I only learned his name recently from the book that we retrieved!" She jested. Nikolai was amazed. "So what did you two do?"

    Vaela sighed, letting her breath escape her rosy lips. "It's a long story. One that I have yet to fully narrate to myself too." She realized. Nikolai shrugged, indicating the rain, which had started to pour down now. "We've got time." Under the heat of the campfire that never threatened to die out even under the intense rain, Vaela recounted the bits and pieces of her precious memory with her Master.

    ~~~~

    Vaela's Master had raised her from young as far as she could remember. He had taken her in, fed her, and took care of her. He had also, most importantly, discovered her aptitude for the arcane arts, quite by accident. Vaela had accidentally scorched one of his raw chickens in an attempt to cook them, right under his nose. From then on, Vaela was no longer just one of his apprentices. Because she gained knowledge of magic at a very young and unprecedented age, she garnered her Master's special focus and attention. She was trained continuously, from a young age, to be his best apprentice ever.

    Vaela's training was initially guided along by her Master. Her Master, his name then unbeknownst to her, would enter her mind with his mental presence and guide her on how to channel energy properly. However, that was about it for the practical sessions. Vaela had to endure long, dry and dull theory sessions of up to seven hours a day in order for her to get important pointers that would correct her misconceptions of magic. And to prevent her from blowing herself up from within. Thankfully for her sanity, Vaela's training started to become more enjoyable after she sort of mastered the basic rules of magic. She was able to conjure up very, very miniscule flames from her palms. However, due the unpredictability of her abilities, she was soon confined once more to the theory lessons on how to control one's abilities. The irony was that although Vaela hated every moment of theory, she knew that it was also one of, if not, the most important aspect of learning magic. That point alone made her grit her teeth and pull up her socks in her attempt to control her abilities and one day, become a competent magic user like her Master. She would then be able to find her parents.

    Her training was also varied, in accordance with the rules of the Mage's Hall. That was one of the reasons why her Master had brought her to Skyrim, to view and experience a different culture from that in Cryodiil. The environment in Skyrim was also wilder, harsher, and allowed for more freedom than the strict rules in the Imperial Province. Vaela's training was to be continued in the wilds, but it was unfortunately interrupted by the Thalmor. Vaela still vividly remembered that attack, and the startled, panicked look on the Imperial escorts' faces. "Damn them. If not for those Thalmor, you wouldn't be in such trouble, and you wouldn't have to suffer such hardship." Nikolai spat. Vaela sniffed slightly at his words, but then smiled wryly.

    "I wouldn't have been able to meet you either, then." She replied sweetly. Nikolai chuckled gruffly. "And that made this hardship all worthwhile? Well, it's hard for me to say, but what can you do when fate decides your future for you, right? I could also say that it would have been my misfortune to not meet you if your Master hadn't been captured, but that would have been selfish of me. Fate, therefore, is cruel but kind at the same time." Nikolai sighed. Vaela wanted to stay away from a depressing topic such as fate. She herself did not believe in it, but was reluctant to tell Nikolai that. She opened her palms to enjoy more of the rain's cleansing pattering. It was then that she realized that it had stopped raining. The skies had sealed up, and the white fluffy clouds spread themselves across the sky once more, letting the Sun do its job of warming Skyrim. "Well, the rain has stopped." Nikolai spoke as he stood up, stretching. "That's the good news. Shall we go?" He extended a hand to Vaela.

    Vaela was on the verge of taking Nikolai's hand when she saw something that amazed her. Two giant figures seemed to be lumbering towards them from afar. "Are...are those trees?" Vaela questioned, pointing out the oddity to Nikolai. He squinted into the distance for a few moments, before shooting the giant campfire a horrified glance. He dropped onto his haunches immediately, and drew his battleaxe warily, indicating Vaela to do the same. Surprised, Vaela complied and crouched in front of a bed of roses, unsheathing her new enchanted dwarven dagger. Together with Nikolai, she stared into the distance at the two lumbering figures that were getting closer by the second. It was then she realized that they were giants.


    "Those are giants!" She exclaimed apprehensively. "We need to get out of here now!" Nikolai concurred with her assessment. "Well, now we know why this campfire is so huge." He stated. "Where is your horse anyway?" Vaela feared that Starstruck had been attacked by the two lumbering giants, but those fears proved unfounded as Vaela spotted Starstruck hiding behind a cluster of tall trees, whimpering in fear at the sight of the giants approaching. Vaela pointed this out to Nikolai, following which the two of them sheathed their weapons and crabbed-walked to where Starstruck was hiding. "Smart boy." Vaela praised, then mounted Starstruck after Nikolai. "Yah!" She whispered, and Starstruck took off like a frightened rabbit, eager to put as much distance between himself and the two giants, who had fortunately not spotted the trio's escape. Vaela carefully guided Starstruck towards Ivarstead mentally, while Nikolai told her which direction to head to as he consulted his map. Thus, they continued onwards the Vaela's destination. The path which they took this time led to more spectacular sights, including steep drops, shining lakes of water, and most notably, a waterfall set against a breathtaking backdrop.


    ~~~~

    It was morning on the next day by the time Vaela and Nikolai arrived at the humble hamlet of Ivarstead. They had travelled throughout the night without stopping, as they were afraid of being ambushed by bandits and the like. Normally, bandits would have been easy game for Vaela, but only in an open fight where she could see her adversaries clearly. Under the cover of darkness and with the element of surprise, the bandits would be able to knock Vaela and Nikolai out without even fighting. Vaela and Nikolai had managed to stay awake through the use of Vaela's potions. Vaela had made sure to brew some back at the Sleeping Giant Inn in Riverwood before embarking on this trip, and she put it to good use. The duo had arrived at Ivarstead unscathed and unharmed. Vaela left Starstruck at the local farm and stood at the entrance of Ivarstead with Nikolai.

    "Where shall we start looking for your Master?" Nikolai asked. Vaela was about to suggest the local inn when, much to her surprise and contention, a man in rags approached the two of them and introduced himself to them with a bow. "Greetings, apprentice. I am honored to meet you."

    Vaela bowed back, returning the friendly gesture, but asked with some degree of curiosity, "who exactly are you?" The man grinned widely, his yellowish teeth showing. "My name is not important, but you may call me Narfi. You are the mage named Vaela, are you not?" When Vaela inclined her head, the man in rags smiled with glee.

    "Your Master has been waiting for you to come for a long, long time! Please, follow me!" The man raced down the cobblestone road of Ivarstead, hanging a left beside the inn. Vaela was stunned, and stood rooted to the ground. "My Master is really here?" She wondered aloud, then turned to Nikolai. ”Did he say that my Master has been waiting for me?" Nikolai shrugged. "Let's just follow him, then. Only way to find out." The two of them took off after Narfi.

    They followed him through a winding but wide street, and crossed a ford in a river to get to him. Narfi stood panting outside a ruined and dilapidated house, and eagerly addressed Vaela when she arrived.


    "Please wait here just a moment. I will invite your Master to come out of his cave. Meanwhile, do make yourselves at home." He ironically gestured to the run-down shack behind him, which didn't even have a proper roof. "This is where I've been staying for the past year." Narfi explained in response to their puzzled looks.

    Vaela was starting to get suspicious of this ragged man, but she did not show it openly. Nikolai shifted uneasily, then asked, "what is her Master doing in a cave?" Narfi responded immediately, and looked down upon Nikolai with disdain, as if he was asking a very stupid question. "Why, to hide, of course! Her Master had to keep living in seclusion to escape from the clutches of the Thalmor!"

    "But he is a powerful mage, isn't he? Why would he need to hide? Shouldn't he be in prison anyway?" Nikolai pressed. Narfi's expression then changed to one of astonishment. "Prison? Why would he be in prison? I've been taking care of him for the past year! He was...studying something in the caves, and he didn't want to let me in on his secret. However, he was grateful to me for taking care of him, and he protects me from bandits and the like. Just please, hold on while I summon him here. It won't take but three minutes."

    With that Narfi, ran towards a nearby cave and disappeared from sight, leaving a very suspicious Vaela and a very wary Nikolai behind. "Something's wrong with him." Vaela concluded.

    "No doubt about that. But what?" Nikolai murmured. Vaela strode into the dilapidated house that they had been standing next to. It was barren and bleak, with even the tables and chairs missing a leg or some wood. The floor was in shambles, with cobwebs sticking out of the corners, and the fireplace was full of dust. It clearly had not been used for long. "He obviously lied about him living here for the past year. This house has barely been touched." Nikolai deduced, wincing as he accidentally brushed a chair and it creaked. Vaela too had arrived at that conclusion. "Let's follow him." She suggested. "Maybe that will reveal his true intentions." Nikolai agreed, and the two were about to start off in the direction Narfi had headed when a shrill sound drew their attention.

    Vaela and Nikolai rushed to a hole in the house walls, in the direction of where the sound had been projected from. To their immense shock and horror, a group of Thalmor High Guards were approaching the shack on foot, their weapons drawn and their faces grim. Some carried shields and swords, while others wielded the power of magic, evident from the crackling, bristling displays of power from their armored palms. Appalled and surprised, Vaela started to channel energy to her palms, and Nikolai drew his battleaxe. "Defend yourself!" He yelled. A huge fight was heading their way.


    Vaela ducked as a fireball flew past her head and smashed into the beams of the roofing. She returned fire at once, but her assailant had already moved out of the way. Vaela's mind worked frantically. There were six...seven...eight of them? It didn't matter. Two of the High Guard had already converged on Vaela's position, their proximity too close for her to use fireballs. She tried to incinerate them with her flames, but the fire simply curved away from their armor. "Blast." Vaela cursed. "Their armor must be enchanted."

    Just as she was contemplating her next move, both of her adversaries raised their palms, their hands glowing. Knowing that they were about to use magic and that she had no time to run, Vaela did the only thing she could. She reshaped the energy in her palm into one that would project a ward, like her Senior had taught her during their sparring sessions. Thankfully, it worked even though Vaela had had little practice with it, and it stopped the beam of fire her Thalmor opponents were projecting dead in its tracks. She maneuvered such that she was facing both her opponents at once, and thus they were unable to flank her.


    However, Vaela realized that she was now backed against a wall. She had nowhere to turn to, for if she made a break for it she would most likely be burnt to a crisp. She was not willing to gamble her life on the hope that her Master's amulet would protect her from fire of this intensity. The High Guard facing her was obviously much more well trained than the common Thalmor soldiers, and Vaela could feel his burning flames eating away at her strength. She was already tired from the overnight travel, and never suspected that her search would end in an ambush. A myriad of questions rained down on her mind, but the thought of survival took precedence. Vaela's would run out of energy to project into the ward soon, and to make matters worse, her opponent didn't look like stopping his flow of energy at all. Vaela's heart rate increased twofold. Am I going to die here?

    Somewhere to her right, Vaela heard a heavy grunt and an even heavier thud. She hoped that Nikolai was faring well against the rest of the enemies, but the loud grunts and clanging certainly didn't allay her anxiety. Vaela could not continue projecting energy into her ward and depend on Nikolai to rescue her. If she did expand all of her energy into her ward, she would be powerless against further Thalmor attacks. Therefore, she made a snap decision. Changing the flow of power in her hands, Vaela allowed her ward to absorb the energy from the High Guard's flames, then let it explode harmlessly. The impact of the explosion shoved Vaela back against the wall, and she landed with a loud 'thud'. The two Thalmor High Guards attacking her were thrown back, and Vaela made good use of this valuable opportunity to jump past them and get out of the house. Here in the open at least, she would have a fair opportunity to fight them.

    Unfortunately for Vaela, Nikolai was faring poorly against the Thalmor. It was a cruel twist of fate that elven weaponry did not work well against elven armor, and Nikolai was armed with an elven battleaxe he had looted from the Thalmor manor. He had barely managed to scratch the armor of two of the High Guard. Vaela jumped next to him and began blasting the Thalmor soldiers with the heat of her flames, but to no avail.


    It appeared that the fight was lost. Vaela's heart was laced with intense trepidation. The High Guard were still at full strength, and they had Vaela and Nikolai cornered. Vaela had exhausted her magical pool, and Nikolai's battleaxe was of no good against their opponents. Vaela still had her enchanted dwarven dagger left, but what good would it do against eight fully armed and well trained adversaries? She'd be cut down before she could even get within striking reach of the High Guard. Vaela was extremely terrified as the Thalmor soldiers inched closer to her. "No...it can't end like this." She whispered. This was supposed to be an easy end to all her suffering. "Where is my Master?" Vaela hissed. She could sure use his help now. However, her Master and that damned ragged man was nowhere to be seen, and Vaela finally realized that Narfi had lied. "That traitorous son of a..." With that, she lost all hope, confidence, and self esteem. Dejected, she raised her hands above her head, indicating her surrender. Nikolai too dropped his battleaxe, and lifted his arms above his head.

    "I'm sorry. We don't take prisoners. We've been ordered to kill you." A High Guard sniggered behind his helmet. Vaela looked at Nikolai, her eyes full of remorse and contrition. Nikolai's pained eyes beamed back his own message: It's not your fault.

    Vaela closed her eyes as a High Guard stepped forward and raised his weapon high above his head in preparation to strike. Vaela did not see the morning sunlight glint off the Thalmor soldier's sword, and she didn't hear Nikolai moving in front of Vaela to shield her from the blow.

    But what she did hear was a distinct 'twang', and the pained, flustered gasp of a Thalmor. Vaela opened her eyes and stared with numb joy at the sight in front of her. Her would-be executioner had taken an arrow to the neck, and had collapsed to the ground, very dead. The rest of the Thalmor High Guards were stunned and taken aback, and stood rooted to the ground for the moment. Vaela turned around to see a striking visage she would never have imagined. The very skies seemed to have changed to display a bright, clear day, as a lone figure confidently nocked another arrow to her bow. The figure who was clad in angel-white armor stood behind them, with a black bow and dark, sharp arrows. The armor had a radiant shine, and it was even dotted with sapphires at different spots. A quiver as black as the darkest nights rested at the back of the figure's armor. The person's bow had a majestic, distinct red hue to it, of which every bit screamed its superior quality. Vaela swore she saw the red glow moving throughout the bow.


    Suddenly, Vaela realized in a flash where she had seen that exact bow and poise before. Back during her first adventure, into Bleak Falls Barrow.

    With Erin.
    Last edited by Swaeft; June 06, 2013 at 06:03 PM.

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  17. #157

    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (6/6/13)

    A fantastic update sir! It seems that Vaela and Nikolai have certainly found themselves in a tight spot, but hopefully Erin will be able to save them. Speaking of Erin, that armor she is wearing in that picture is flippen awesome. lol. I think the moral of this update is dont follow a crazy hobo when he asks you to follow him. haha

    +rep when I am able too.
    Last edited by Templar Knight; June 09, 2013 at 12:20 PM.

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  18. #158

    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (6/6/13)

    Wow that chapter was truly magnificient. Vaela should of known a boy called Narfi would be a traitor. Those pictures were also fantastic. Can I use that last one has a desktop wallpaper.By the way the new Critics Quill issue is out. You my want to check out my review. ( I hope I was hard on you!)

  19. #159
    Swaeft's Avatar Drama King
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    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (6/6/13)

    Quote Originally Posted by Templar Knight View Post
    A fantastic update sir! It seems that Vaela and Nikolai have certainly found themselves in a tight spot, but hopefully Erin will be able to save them. Speaking of Erin, that armor she is wearing in that picture is flippen awesome. lol. I think the moral of this update is to not follow a crazy hobo when he asks you to follow him. haha

    +rep when I am able too.
    Thank you, sir. This Erin is more than meets the eye, that I can say. And the moral of this chapter is...well...yours can be part of it

    Quote Originally Posted by Merchant of Venice View Post
    Wow that chapter was truly magnificient. Vaela should of known a boy called Narfi would be a traitor. Those pictures were also fantastic. Can I use that last one has a desktop wallpaper.By the way the new Critics Quill issue is out. You my want to check out my review. ( I hope I was hard on you!)
    You can definitely use it as wallpaper, but I uploaded it as a 800x600 size, so the resolution may be poor on your screen. Might I humbly suggest two alternatives? Both are 1980x1080.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


    Also, your review on my AAR was truly flattering. Now I have to work even harder to meet the expectations of the public. (Hard on me? Bah!) But jokes aside, your review was really well written, and in fact you did enlighten me on some of the things I should have done. I initially wanted to follow a third person storyline throughout the entire AAR, but now I guess giving a scene or two to other characters would be good. I don't know if dreams count, but I will definately work on that. Thank you for your advice. And also, I'm sad to say that the Jarls won't make an appearance in this AAR. They are just too fat and lazy to understand anything out of their realm. But, I promise you more action and twists ahead, and once again thank you for reading and reviewing my AAR!

    Swaeft's Scribblings (Library)| Swaeft's Snaps (Gallery)| My Blog (The Lensation)

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    Swaeft's Avatar Drama King
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    Default Re: The Astray Apprentice -- A Skyrim AAR (6/6/13)

    Just a short update that the next chapter should be here by today or latest tomorrow, I've been forgetting to update you guys on that recently, and for that I apologize. Also, this is the link for the third place MAARC tiebreaker! Do head over there and vote if you haven't already, I'm sad to say that I missed the first round of voting. All the best to all participants and merchants!

    Swaeft's Scribblings (Library)| Swaeft's Snaps (Gallery)| My Blog (The Lensation)

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