Greenie

Roleplayer Guild's First Pet Pageant!

Still waaaaaaiting for some Greenie cat!

@Stormflyx

Sent! XD sorry for the delay!

The Elder Scrolls : Voice of the Sky

Nimriell Briarwood better known as Green
Bosmer ~ Female ~ 42 ~ The Warrior
Reaper’s March/Malabal Tor, Valenwood

Appearance: Despite being smaller than most people in a room, Nimriell carries herself with confidence and authority, often with a smile on her lips and a determined spark in her eyes. A little shorter than the average female Bosmer, she stands at a proud 5 feet, with a toned and wiry body though still soft and curved where it matters. Her skin is naturally tanned, and living the wanderer's lifestyle has accounted for the sprinkle of freckles on her nose and cheeks. Those are often overlooked due the face marking she paints under her eyes and the sides of her face, a habit from when she was younger and wished to look more like her khajiit family.

Another poignant feature that stands out are the small antlers that protrude from her temples and gracefully curl back into two points, resting just above her head. As with all bosmer, her ears are long and pointed, with a slight curve forward at the tip. Her hair, once a dark brown, now has an auburn tinge, once more due to constant exposure to the sun. Reaching her chin, it is shorter on the left side and pushed to the right. It ranges from messy on most days to combed back and to the side when she actually puts an effort into looking proper.

Up close, her face is rather interesting, losing what at a distance would seem childlike. Dark lashes frame her almond shaped silver eyes, beneath which the hint of lack of sleep has begun to show in light shadows. Like most Bosmer she has high defining cheekbones and a narrow jaw ending in a softly pointed chin. A small button nose set upon full, dark lips complete her features.

Nimriell enjoys living up to her nickname Green, which is clear for all to see with the green and brown forest tones she prefers to don, whether they be casual wear, her armour, or even clothes that must be worn to an event. Sometimes she does allow herself a dash of added blue here and there, and she has a red scarf that she keeps for colder days, gifted to her a long time ago by her mother. All in all, she prefers to dress for practicality and comfort. Often times her outfits consist of both khajiiti and bosmer mix of clothing, this being more as an homage to where she came from than being easier to purchase or make.

Equipment: -Bow and quiver of arrows
-One hand iron sword
-Medium leather armour

Misc. Possessions:
-Rucksack which contains:
Mortar and pestle with various alchemical ingredients stored in pouches in a pack
-A thin brown blanket
-Dried fruits, nuts, meat and other non perishables
-A couple of changes of clothes
-A small wooden carving given to her by her elder adoptive brother

Family and Associations:
Ri’Jasha - Adoptive father (deceased)
Ko’Rani - Adoptive mother (deceased)
Do’Harir - Adoptive elder brother

Favoured Skills:

Highly Proficient:
Athletics - Growing up with a Baandari peddlar family that spent days on end travelling through different landscapes has fortified Nimriell's body.

Moderately Proficient:
Acrobatics - Nimriell was always rather active growing up, and climbing trees while jumping from heights was nothing new to her. There was no denying she was a Bosmer during these times, though sometimes her father would jokingly say she's actually a Dagi-raht
Archery - Nimriell picked up archery first as a hobby, though it quickly evolved into something that was necessary for provisioning. These skills only further improved when she joined the Shields of Senchal and would be sent out as a scout on recon missions, among other tasks.
Stealth - This was something that came naturally to her, especially when she spent time around those who were larger more often than not. This helped her as well in her recon missions or in ambush situations.

Somewhat Proficient:
One Hand Melee - Using a sword wasn't something Nimriell picked up until she joined the Shields of Senchal. While being a ranged fighter was something she preferred, learning and practicing using a one handed weapon was something she put some effort into so that she wasn't completely defenseless if someone ambushed her.
Alchemy - Though still mostly a hobby and not a proficient in the art as she wants to be, Nimriell has learned quite a few properties of alchemical ingredients and can concoct a few health potions or poisons.

History:
Nimriell (better known as Green by friends and family) was born in Reaper's March, though she had not stayed there long enough to personally consider that her homeland. Her parents had been travelling away from the arid land with a family of Baandari peddlars, and with the same goal of Malabal Tor in mind the two families became allies in the treacherous journey as well as friends, sharing food, stories and campfires at night. It was unfortunate that a couple of days before crossing the border to what they hoped were greener pastures, the group was preyed upon by highway bandits at night. Attacks like these were a common occurrence, yet for those affected by the unnecessary bloodshed, it was rather tragic. Nimriell lost both her parents, and the Baandari suffered losses as well, the family of five now whittled down to three- Ri’Jasha the Ohmes-raht, his wife Ko’Rani, a Cathay, and their eleven year old son Harir, a Senche-raht who was already taller and heftier than both his parents. Their two youngest, a six year old alfiq and an infant who was barely the size of a kitten, were trampled in the ambush and died instantly.

Naturally Ri’Jasha and Ko’Rani were devastated. They had eventually bested the bandits with the help of Harir, but at what cost? The two khajiit didn’t wish to stay there longer than they had to, but they also refused the bodies of their children and friends for the wildlife to pull apart. When the sun rose, they had dug a shallow grave and constructed a cairn from whatever stones they found nearby. It was then that they realized there was another survivor wriggling under one of the nearly collapsed tents the Bosmer family had been sleeping in. When Ri’Jasha pulled the cloth away, he found the tiny infant still laying on the fur blanket she had been put on earlier the previous night. Somehow, it seemed she had survived. Praising Baan Dar, he picked her up and brought her to his wife. A silent look between the two was enough to tell that they were not going to leave the helpless child behind. With heavy hearts but the small promise of light in the future, the new family of four once more commenced their journey to Malabal Tor, thankfully reaching without any further incidents.

And so Nimriell grew up with her khajiiti family, mimicking their ways and customs as if they were their own. Even as a small child it was clear to her that there was something different about her, and it wasn’t like Ri’Jasha or Ko’Rani kept her origins hidden from her, feeling that would be disrespectful to their friends and travel companions. They always made sure to tell the girl that it did not matter what race she was, she was as much their child as Harir, their Senche-raht son. Unfortunately, this did not sit well with him. He was prone to jealousy when he found his parents doting on the little Bosmer, and when they would be busy with their trading with their clientele, he would find opportunities to use his size and strength to scare her and chase her away from stalls. The end result would normally have her hiding under some bushes or high up in a tree, the acrobatic skills of her race already proving himself with how quick and nimbly she could make her way up there.

The end would usually result in rather harsh scoldings for Harir and then a search for Nimriell, though after the tenth or twentieth time it was rather obvious to her parents where she would be hidden. “Come out, little green one, this one won’t let anyone hurt you.” And so it continued onward, until ‘little green one’ was simply to ‘Lil Green’ or simply ‘Green’.

The two siblings continued to grow, as did Harir’s resentment for the way Nimriell was treated like a part of the family. As she could no longer be scared into hiding and she was smart enough to stay in view of their parents, he would choose his moments to try and hurt her, using not just his size and strength, but more often than not his words. Now age fifteen, Nimriell was quite adept at ignoring this, but one day his words stung a little too much.

“You will never be part of this family. This one’s siblings are dead!”

Without a word Nimriell left her brother’s company and headed out for the banks near the trading stalls. Silently she mixed dirt and water to make a paste before drawing patterns on her face to mimic those that were on her brother’s. Once she was done, she washed her hands and returned to the stall, confusing both her parents as well as Harir with how different her face looked. Ri’Jasha was quick to figure out that Harir must have prompted this sudden change in her appearance. Before he could say anything, however, Nimriell spoke up.

“Nimriell knows she is not a Khajiit, but she is still part of this family. This one has lived here, grown up here, and has worked as hard as the rest. But if it’s just this one’s looks that makes her an outsider, then this one will keep painting these marks on her face, as the Ohmes do.”

Though her actions that day did not quite end the resentment Harir would feel for her, it did give him food for thought, which led him to stop his misbehaviour. Perhaps the distraction of warriors visiting from Elsweyr also helped shift his focus from tormenting his little sister to how he could use his size and strength to be productive. This left Nimriell at peace for the first time in years, though truth be told when he told his family he would be leaving for Elsweyr, she was saddened. She gave him a hug, pressed her forehead against his and told him she’d miss him. After all he had done to her, he was surprised to hear these words, and the seed of regret for his previous actions were sewn into him. Before leaving, he gave her a small wooden carving that he had found as a child and picked up, naming it after Baan Dar.

Life continued as it normally did, though with Nimriell growing older, so were her parents. She found herself helping more than her share with their trading and peddling. It was a nice routine, and since most of what she did was manual work, it was easy to find some free time to pursue new hobbies. A traveling alchemist ignited her interest in learning how to make potions and poisons. Peddling books off merchants, she was able to further her knowledge in the field. At the same time, she also found that she had prowess with a bow and would often head out in her free time to hunt small game for her family’s dinner. It was a good life, steady and calming.

And perhaps a little stagnant, because it wasn’t long before the family decided the stationary life was no longer what they wished- they were Baandari after all, and the call for the vagabond life was calling Ri’Jasha once more. Nimriell was happy to follow along with her parents, enjoying the fact that she would be able to travel and see more than just the small area of Malabal Tor where she had spent most of her life. The family decided to delve further into Valenwood, passing through the forests of Grahtwood, where she could now meet other Bosmer like herself as well as those who followed the Green Pact. While Nimriell herself was a little familiar with the tenets, she considered herself more khajiit than anything else and did not really see the need to follow the Green Pact.

During her travels, she would continue writing letters to Harir, now known as Do’Harir, and whenever she found a courier to send them, it would be the first thing she would do. With new meetings and experiences and the communication now flowing better than it had when they were young, the two adoptive siblings became close. It became a pleasant habit to reread letters whilst waiting for new ones, even if at times it would take over a month to receive missives.

As age would have it, Ri’Jasha and Ko’Rani were now quite elderly, and though Nimriell was still young for a Bosmer, her parents were feeling the years crawling up on them once more, and once more the family retreated to Malabal Tor. It wasn’t long after her twenty-seventh birthday that her parents passed away relatively peacefully, her mother first and her father a couple of months later. Do’Harir had returned when he had learned of his mother’s passing away, and he was there to see his father one last time before Ri’Jasha left for the Sands Behind the Stars. The two siblings spent a couple of days together, sharing stories and drinks, until at last Do’Harir decided it was time for him to return to Elsweyr.

With nothing keeping her in Valenwood anymore, Nimriell decided to join her brother and head to Elsweyr as well. The troubles facing the homeland of the Khajiit was no secret, what with the Imperial Usurper Queen and the dragons reemergence. Her brother had found his place in Anequina and was doing well as a warrior in service of new Queen Khamira. However, Nimriell decided to venture further south as news of troubles began to emerge from Pellitine. Reaching Senchal, it wasn’t long before she enlisted with the Shields of Senchal. It was a very different life than the one she was used to, no longer travelling on a whim or for making gold, but actually heading to places where she didn’t expect pay in return. There was a certain gratification to be felt in helping not just herself and her family, but others in need.

It was during this time that Nimriell came to know love and its bittersweet taste for the first time. Remaining stationary allows friendships to bloom, and even more if given the chance. A tall, dark and handsome Khajiit by the name of Renziir was the focus of her affections, having met him in a joint mission to help out some villagers who had been left homeless and without any amnesties after a dragon attack. It had taken more than a few of the Shield of Senchal soldiers to take down the dragon, and by the time they finished, Nimriell found the injured Khajiit nearly dying in a pool of his own blood, gashes and burns to his body. She managed to drag him back to the Shields camp and helped the healer in whatever capacity she could. It took a couple of days but Renziir finally came to, no longer at death's door. Having been told about the strange Bosmer who saved him, he asked to meet Nimriell.

Renziir had seemed quite interested in her tales, and Nimriell found that she could get used to having a little attention on her. It wasn't long after they returned to Senchal that the two began to live together. Afterwards she would realize she had been a fool to rush into such arrangements, but at the time, Nimriell was pleased to have someone she could share the more intimate feelings of herself. The rose-tinged days lasted for a few months, and Nimriell had been content in dismissing her brother's notions that there was something not quite right about her lover, even when he brought up days he would be gone travelling without mentioning even where.

That is, until one lonely evening when the Bosmer stumbled out of a tavern, only to see a familiar figure in the distance. Her inebriation pushing caution away for curiousity, she snuck after him, following him at a distance- even in such a state her feet were light and she was able to keep herself hidden as she trailed him to the shores. Her piqued curiosity turned into disgust; from what she could hear, he had been consorting with slavers, selling his own people to slavers for gold. She took no action then, but once the meeting dismissed, an arrow flew in his direction, missing him only by a hair's breadth. Renziir immediately drew his swords to attack, though he came to a still when he saw who it was. Something flashed over his face, perhaps it was regret, but Nimriell didn't know or care. The Khajiit let out an upset growl before rushing away, leaving behind the Bosmer who was too heartbroken to follow after.

Time passed, and with it the wounds in Nimriell's heart, though the lesson she had learned caused her to become a little more cautious and perhaps colder. There was the comfort at least that there was some sort of peace now in Elsweyr. The same however couldn’t be said for the rest of the Tamriel. The Three Banners War still raged on; it was hard to remember a time when the three factions hadn’t been at war. Nimriell often thought of heading North to Cyrodiil to help the Dominion, but save for a couple of missions, her life was now in Elsweyr; it felt more like home to her than the forests of Valenwood. Her interest however was piqued when someone by the name of Raxus had seemingly taken over the throne. It wouldn’t be long after that the fighting would come to a standstill, and peace would finally cleanse the land of all the blood that had stained Tamriel.

Something did not sit well with Nimriell, however. Perhaps it was how everyone, including her own brother, seemed to be enthralled by the new emperor? Or perhaps it was the auroras in the sky? Something smelled like rotmeth, and Nimriell wanted to see for herself what was going on. The concerns she had aired with her brother as well as other acquaintances had them looking at her narrow eyed and suspiciously. Unwilling to raise anyone else’s ire with her uneasiness about the new Emperor, she left without a word and her few belongings. Unfortunately for her, her words weren’t forgotten, and it wasn’t long before she found herself being pursued by mysterious warriors dressed in strange mixtures of armour.

That was the last thing she remembered before waking up to surrounding darkness and blood chilling screams.

Personality: Nimriell at first glance is a friendly, hard working and kind individual. Having grown up in an environment where new encounters were on a daily basis, she had to make sure she was approachable and open as often business would rely on this. Dealing with both good and rotten patrons has taught her the value of patience and forbearance, and it takes a lot to rile her up. Even then, she will try to keep control over her emotions and attempt to reason with calm and cool words. Nimriell had never been one to shy away from people who mistreated others, however, and if necessary will use force to stop those who in her opinion are doing wrong. Those she loves and cares for are not exempted from this treatment.

Despite being surrounded by people more often than not, Nimriell is something of an introvert when it comes to her spare time where she need not be in an actively interactive mode. Given the chance, she would be happy to slip away and perhaps read a book, or simply take a nap up in a tree where no one can find her. If that isn't possible and she must interact, she prefers to let others talk while she listens to them, unless it's a topic she knows a lot about or perhaps simply to break awkward silences. She will give them the floor to speak about whatever is on their mind, unless asked for her opinion, giving her complete attention to whoever may be conversing with her. She is used to paying close attention to whatever is being talked about, and if someone is dealing with a problem, she will try to find viable solutions or at least try to help them see a bright side.

Once an optimist, Nimriell would now probably call herself a realist. Life doesn't always go the way a person wants it to. Her rose tinted relationship with Renziir caused her to reevaluate the way she looked at life. Though she hasn't turned into a cynic or a pessimist, a lot of what she now deems as naive positivity has left her. While she tries to keep an open mind when meeting new people, it is hard not to be skeptical of whether they truly are who they claim to be, and what are their true intentions. Having been burnt once was enough for her to take a step back and make sure that sort of thing will not happen again.

She retains hope, however. In a world continuously meddled with new problem upon problems, it seems too bleak not to believe that better things are bound to come with patience and perseverance. Nimriell wants to be one of those people who pull those better things forward for everyone else.

Roleplayer Guild's First Pet Pageant!

You're also not safe if I know you have pets. Isn't that right..... @Greenie?!

@Stormflyx

XD I'll be entering my boy for sure XD

(now which of the bajillion pics should I pick......)

The Elder Scrolls : Voice of the Sky

TBA

The Elder Scrolls : Voice of the Sky

I have exhausted all other options.
Tamriel has bled for decades, and what prize is worth the cost of the countless lives thrown into maelstrom of battle? Kings, queens, warlords, all vying for the Ruby Throne. At least some have the decency to not pretend their reasons are altruistic. None want the throne to put an end to all these wars and to spare Tamriel from tyranny.

I do, and I will.

They say that history is written by the victor, and when I’m through, history will be whatever I decree it to be. Some might consider what I set out to do monstrous, but in the end, they will thank me for it. They simply will not know any better.

---

By Invitation Only

Welcome to The Elder Scrolls: Voice of the Sky, a story taking place roughly three decades after the events of Elder Scrolls Online and the beginning of the Three Banners War. This is the interregnum, a period with no Emperor and no stability, and before Tiber Septim rose to take the reigns of power and create the Septim Empire, an unlikely conqueror took the throne; the Witch-Emperor Raxus, a son of a Nibanese noblewoman who was shaped by Reachman culture. Having assembled a coalition of unlikely allies from disenfranchised corners of the world, Raxus has achieved stunning victory after stunning victory and has done what would have been unthinkable even a few short years ago; he has seized Imperial City and taken the Ruby Throne, outwitting and out-fighting the war-weary armies of Tamriel.

Before the world could come to terms with these events, mysterious auroras begin to form in the sky, seen across the breadth of Tamriel, from Solstheim to Summerset, with the most intense displays over Cyrodiil. Soon the fighting begins to die down across the battlefields and word begins to spread about this new Empire, and for the first time in a generation, enemies are beginning to find seats at the table to discuss peace terms. Raxus becomes a name that is spoken of in almost reverent tones, and peace seems to be just over the horizon… although no one can exactly explain why.

You are one of the characters who has witnessed these events unfold as either a soldier in one of the factions, a citizen trying to survive these dark times, or something in between and you are unaffected by whatever seems to have gripped the population of Tamriel. Your convictions are still your own, and Raxus is just another enemy or warlord to fight or be wary of, and although initially beautiful, the auroras have brought out something sinister. Voicing concern or protest has painted a target on your back and soon warriors garbed in a mixture of dragonbone and Akaviri armour apprehend you and your comrades in arms do nothing to stop this, some in fact cheering these warriors on.

You fall unconscious and when you wake up once more, you are somewhere dark and hidden from the light, terrible screams are heard in the next room with blinding flashes of violet light, chained up alongside those you considered enemies. And now, they are your only hope of survival.

---

- The year is 2E600
- It has been eighteen years since the Planemeld was stopped, ending Molag Bal's plans to merge Nirn with Coldharbour. This was due to the efforts of the reforged Five Companions, along with the combined aid of the Mages Guild and the Fighters Guild.
-The Gray Host, a First Era army comprising of vampires, werewolves and witches, has been defeated after their invasion of Western Skyrim and the Reach.
- The Dark Brotherhood is still finding its footing for all intents and purposes, mainly operating out of the Gold Coast and sanctuaries found as far as Black Marsh, but they have filled the void left by the Morag Tong’s fall from grace with ruthless efficiency and have achieved a presence across Tamriel to such a degree that many cannot remember a time before their rise to power.
- The Fighters Guild and Mages Guild are still flourishing across Tamriel
- Morag Tong is enjoying a resurgence of power after their initial fall from grace following the collapse of the Akaviri Potentate and the fallout that ensued. It has in recent years reintegrated into Dunmeri society and has proven to be a professional association that is seen as a necessary evil among the Great Houses. However, it still operates almost exclusively in Morrowind with the very seldom involvement outside of that province’s borders.
- The Thieves Guild is alive and well in all parts of Tamriel, some chapters are doing better than others.

Codex

Nirn: The name of the planet

Tamriel: The continent which the provinces of Cyrodiil, Skyrim, High Rock, Hammerfall, Valenwood, the Summerset Isles, Elswyer, The Black Marsh, and Morrowind are located.

Provinces:

Cyrodiil: Heart of the Empire and homeland of the Imperials, it is a large province with a largely temperate climate that was ruled by the Alessian and Reman empires, as well as the Akaviri Potentates. Now, the Raxus Empire has conquered Imperial City and is currently expanding his influence. Cyrodiil is covered with ancient ruins of the Ayleids, the heartland elvish empire that had at first oppressed or enslaved man but was ultimately overthrown and annihilated.

Skyrim: The homeland of the Nords, and is a cold Northern climate of ice, mountains, and evergreen forests where the first men settled in Tamriel in the 1st age. Covered in Ancient human and Dwemer ruins, it is a harsh, old country where tradition is everything and the people are hard. It is divided into three distinct kingdoms; Western Skyrim, governed from Solitude, Eastern Skyrim, governed from Windhelm and a member of the Ebonheart Pact, and the Reach, which is independently ruled by Reachmen and is currently in fairly warm relations with the rest of Skyrim following the Grey Host invasion, provided their independence is not infringed.

Black Marsh (Argonia): The swamp and jungle-filled homeland of the Argonians, the Black Marsh is a land inhospitable to most other races due to the virulent diseases that flourish in its humid and moist climate of almost entirely uncharted and vegetation rich geography. It is a member of the Ebonheart Pact and is governed from Shadowfen.

High Rock: Home of the Bretons, High Rock is a land of mountains, plains, and mostly agreeable weather. The land is home to the oldest structure in Tamriel, rumoured to have been constructed by the aedra (Gods). The Bretons are a “mongrel” race that descended from Direnni elves and Nedic men and as such are a race of men with an affinity for magicka that almost rivals the Altmer. Having endured invasions by the Redguard, Aleids, Nords, and most notably the Orcs, High Rock had endured and become a highly unified province of well-regarded nobility, a trades based middle class, and peasantry. It is ruled by King Emeric and is the principle kingdom of the Daggerfall Covenant. The Easternmost region of Wrothgar has been ceded to the Orsimer and Orsinium is a stalwart member of the Covenant.

Hammerfell: The arid, mostly desert region with mountains and few grasslands is inhabited by the Redguard, a renown warrior culture that has thrived in this harsh climate. Caught between the conflicting ideas of the Crowns and Forebearers over the direction their kingdom should go, Hammerfell is nevertheless a member of the Daggerfall Covenant, having married into the alliance with High Rock with Queen Maraja having married King Emeric, and Hammerfell is ruled by King Fahara'jad. As members of the Covenant, they have set aside their ancient feud with the Orsimer.

Summerset Isles: A nation comprising of two major islands of Summerset and Auridon, it is the home of the Altmer and the principal member of the Aldmeri Dominion. It is a highly traditional and ancient culture that places a high emphasis on magicka and successful warlocks, sorcerers and other mages hold high stations of power, and their shores have produced some of the most powerful mages in all of Tamriel. It is a wondrous place unlike anywhere else in Tamriel, although traditionalist elements have fought against opening the borders to other races against the decree of Queen Ayrenn.

Valenwood: The densely forested, subtropical province that serves as the home of the Bosmer and as a show of unity, the capital of Grahtwood was made the capital of the Aldmeri Dominion. It is diverse, with geography ranging from beautiful coastal land to thick rainforests to swampland. The Bosmer live in harmony with the natural environment due to their strict adherence to the Green Pact, and their cities exist on giant migratory trees called Falinesti. They have established embassies for their Altmer and Khajiit allies, and despite the widely different cultures and perspectives, it has remained a stable and devoted alliance between people that largely celebrate their differences.

Elsweyr: A diverse homeland that is home to the Khajiit, split into a confederacy of Pellitine (Southern half) and Anequina (Northern half). It holds some of the most ancient cities in Tamriel, and ranges from desert badlands and dry plains to the North, to subtropical forests in the South. The Khajiit follow the Mane, their spiritual leader, of which only one can be born at a time under how the lunar lattice works. Their government is ruled over by Queen Khamira, a descendant of Anequina herself, and Khajiit often serve proudly as warriors, thieves, and spies for the Aldmeri Dominion. The kingdom was ravaged by a rage of dragons that have largely been dealt with and pandemics such as the Khenatian flu, but they have emerged as a stronger people who have a diverse population that includes a significant demographic of loyal Imperials and the resettled ancestors of the Akaviri who had ruled not so long ago.

Morrowind: The homeland of the Dunmer, it is a land dominated by a large main island with a massive active volcano called the Red Mountain, producing flora and fauna that is shaped and twisted by the ash of the Red Mountain, and the landscape can appear alien at times to visitors. Morrowind is ruled over by the Tribunal of Almalexia, Vivec, and Sotha Sil and house the political capital of the Ebonheart Pact. Morrowind is politically divided into the Great Houses of Indoril, Redoran, Hlaalu, Dres, and Telvanni. House Telvanni is distinct as it is the only Great House that is not a member of the Pact and has adopted fairly isolationist policies to preserve their traditions and decrees.

Races:

Imperials: The olive skinned, cosmopolitan people that make up the natives of Cyrodiil and are the race of which each Emperor has descended from. They have an incredible talent for diplomacy and have proven to be exceptionally professional soldiers and merchants, carving empires from the ruins of oppression. They are an impressive race whose members can be found in just about any walk of life, profession, and discipline.

Altmer: The golden skinned high-elves are the tallest race in Tamriel. They aren’t as physically powerful as other races and aren’t nearly as agile or fast as their bosmer cousins, but they command magicka unlike any other race, and are capable of regenerating it very quickly. They are often the most powerful spell casters to be found, and are very formidable mages. They are oftentimes elitist and xenophobic, and look down on other races believing in elven superiority.

Nord: The fair skinned and haired people of Skyrim, they are strong, powerful people who have a love for fighting, drinking, and song. They are unmatched navigators of the seas, and are generally very devout people. Life is harsh for a nord, and they have a strong belief in doing things without waiting, as you may die tomorrow. They are physically the strongest race, matched only by the orcs, and have a legendary tolerance against the cold. Their battle cry is terrifying to behold, and their blood lust in combat is legendary.

Reachmen: A wild and free folk who call the Reach their home and have no ambitions beyond that, the Reach is a beautiful and untamed place that is covered in Dwarven ruins and is only loosely governed by ard Caddach in Markarth. They are people who embrace the Old Spirits, which other cultures know as Daedra, and have a life defined by their relationship with nature and the land and the hardships they endure. They are comprised of many different tribes with different ambitions, goals, and ways of life, with some being more open to outsiders than others, they have had a long animosity with the Nords and Orsimer, but with the world having endured years of war and the Planemeld, as well as their own invasion by an army of werewolves and vampires, the Reach is finally settling down as a place that seeks peace with its neighbours, provided outsiders leave them be.

Argonians: The lizard people of Black Marsh are curious as they are nearly immune to disease due to their nearly inhospitable homeland, are able to breathe underwater, and can recover from physical wounds quickly. They are quick, stealthy people and often find themselves caught up in the wars of others, such as when the Alyeids invaded and their ancestral struggles against the Dunmeri slavers. Now independent and members of the Ebonheart Pact, the Argonians have been enjoying a period of stability where their culture is thriving and their enemies are faced down with allies.

Bosmer: The wood-elves of Valenwood are unsurpassed archers and hunters, and while they are smaller in frame than other races, they make up for it in speed and dexterity. They are very in tune with their environment, and are able to speak to animals. This is often used to help with labour, defence, or in many cases, to get wildlife to attack an enemy.

Khajiit: The cat people of Elswyer, the form a khajiit assumes depends on the positioning and phase of the two moons of Nirn, Masser and Secunda. Many of the khajiit that are encountered outside of Elswyer are Suthay-Raht variety (See:
http://www.imperial-library.info/con...ases-and-forms). Khajiit are all able to see in the dark and have sharp, vicious claws that they often use for fighting, even in place of weapons and are a very stealthy race. They often find themselves marginalized by society outside of Elswyer, and as such find themselves as thieves, assassins, and other criminals.

Dunmer: The Dark elves of Morrowind have dark grey to green coloured skin and red eyes, and much more severe appearances than their altmer and bosmer cousins. They are ferocious fighters and have an aptitude for destruction magic. They believe they came into being from a curse from Azura, and they have a strong connection to their ancestors, which may come to their aid as a spirit. They are very versatile and while they are rumoured to be ill favoured by luck and are often discriminated against, they are a resilient and severe people.

Breton: Bretons are the fair-skinned, average magicka adept people of High Rock. They have an aptitude towards spell casting and are very intelligent people, capable of grasping new concepts quickly and mastering even the most complicated spells with relative ease. Only an altmer can put up an argument for being a better spell caster, but Bretons aren’t nearly as frail as the altmer and are capable of withstanding spells cast against them much easier.

Redguard: The dark-skinned desert people of Hammerfell, they are conditioned by a harsh climate and a warrior’s culture. Redguard are among the best swordsmen in Tamriel and are capable of incredible feats of endurance, favouring bladed weapons that are quick and light. They are fierce and independent, and usually aren’t suited for life as a rank and file soldier. They can take a great deal of punishment, but are sure to deal it back much worse. There are no better naturally talented people in Tamriel when it comes to weapons mastery.

Orsimer (Orcs): The sophisticated barbarian peoples of the mountains, orcs are prized for their skills as armourers as well as heavy soldiers in the Imperial ranks. Interestingly, the Orcs are actually relatives to the elves. They have a strict tribal nature and often stick to their clans, although many leave to see the world and employ their skills where they feel they can make the most of them, although they are not always welcome back by their tribes once they leave. They rival the Nords in size, have green shades of skin, corse black hair, and carry heavy weapons and armour with ease. They are unshakably brave and are famous for enduring hardships, and while they were initially feared and hated across Tamriel, they had earned acceptance amongst the Empire and are considered some of the finest soldiers and warriors in the continent.

Other:

Dragons: Once thought to be mythical creatures, dragons returned to Elsweyr after Imperial Grand Chancellor Abnur Tharn unwittingly released them from their confinement. While their leaders have been slain by the reemergent Dragonguard and other factions, a few still roam Tamriel’s wilds, an exceedingly rare but exceptionally dangerous encounter, to be sure.

Nightmother: The long dead spiritual leader of the Dark Brotherhood, the Night Mother is now nothing more than a well preserved corpse that is capable of communicating to the ‘Listener’ of the Dark Brotherhood, the only person alive that can hear her speak. She hears the ‘Prayers’ of those who perform the Black Sacrament to enlist the services of the Brotherhood, and relays this information to the Listener, who is the de facto leader of the Brotherhood.

Dwemer: While technically elves, the dwemer are best known as dwarves. Long extinct, they were centuries ahead of their time and created masterful and advanced machines that still function to this day, including automated robot warriors, spiders, and other contraptions that still roam their ruins as if their masters were still alive. They enslaved the falmer and paid for it with their lives when the falmer uprising happened. The Dwemer mysteriously disappeared at the Battle of Red Mountain in the 1st era against the Chimer, and their disappearance has been a mystery to all ever since.

Falmer: Formerly a race known as Snow Elves who were forced into slavery by the dwemmer for centuries, eventually rebelling against their former masters after being twisted into a twisted, blind, and hateful race. They are found underground, and often around dwemer ruins. They hate surface dwellers and will kill or capture any who dare venture into their domains in the deep.

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1. No Godmodding or power gaming of any kind. We're telling a story, not having a competition. Not to say you can't do awesome things when it comes around time for combat, but know your limitations. This includes self-insert characters, backstories that are designed to give the character access to abilities, skills, and equipment that would be considered an unfair or overpowered advantage, autokilling NPCs during fights with virtually no effort put into it, taking on a room full of people single handedly, meta gaming, trying to have everyone treat your character like they’re something unique and special, your character knowing things they shouldn’t, et cetera. The goal here is believable characters.

2. The writing standard is typical Advanced. Read what you wrote over before you post, and ensure you have acceptable spelling and grammar. That said, I'm not a perfectionist, and mistakes are made by everyone. Just make an honest effort and we'll get along just fine. As long as you are routinely able to write multiple detailed paragraphs and keep pace with the roleplay, everything should be fine. If you are only comfortable with one-liners or short paragraph replies, this is likely going to be overwhelming and outside of your comfort zone. For the sake of preventing friction, the GMs will be looking for players of similar writing skill and experience.

3. No speed posting. This means give other people a chance to post before you do. There won't be a strict posting order, but if I notice the same two people posting back and forward in a short time span without giving others involved in that group or conversation or whatever a chance to reply, I will not be happy. If you have characters involved in a conversation, consider opening up a Gdocs pad and doing collaborations; that will be done quite a lot in this RP so be prepared for that.

4. If you are going to be absent for any length of time, please let me know. I’m not going to kill your character or kick you to the curb because stuff came up. Real life comes first, but that said, do try to be fairly active. Your character will be controlled by a GM until you return. If you vanish without a word for more than 14 days, you will be removed from the game and your characters written off or killed. Consider this your only warning.

5. If you disagree with the contents of someone's posts, don't turn the OOC into some horrible flame fest. We're all hopefully mature enough to settle disagreements through logical discourse. If things start to go into flame war territory, I will warn the players. Failure to STFU will lead to your banishment from this RP. We’re here to have fun, not get in mud-slinging fights.

6. If you want to do something, and you aren't sure, ask in the OOC so it can be discussed. Or, if you want it to be a surprise, PM the GMs. If it's a good idea, we'll work it into the plot. I like to encourage creativity and think that all good RPs involve ideas from all their players. Sometimes this leads to amazing subplots and character development.

7. If you have questions or ideas for events, PM the GMs. Your input will help keep you not only invested, but it’ll give the GMs more fuel to work with for upcoming encounters and plot lines in the RP. Remember, it’s your story too! It’s important that your character is an important part of it, and players feel that they have agency and aren’t just along for the ride.

8. If you feel the need to start a romance between characters, that's cool. This isn't exactly a rated role play, and it’s bound to happen. I personally like to graphically describe violence and swear quite a bit, but if you feel the need to indulge in smut, please take that stuff to PM. 4 pages of graphic sex isn't going to save the world; it'll just cause everyone else to feel really awkward and need a cold shower afterwards. It is known.

9. The GMs may choose to do background checks to find out if you’re reliable and generally write at an acceptable quality, so beware that even if your character sheet is outstanding, if the GMs discover you’re argumentative, write at an unacceptable level, go AWOL frequently, power game, and so on, there’s a good chance you WILL NOT be accepted.

-Common Materials: Crafted and obtained in abundance, the vast majority of equipment won’t need justification to possess, such as iron, steel, leathers, and so on.
-Dwemer, or dwarven: This is relatively common in Skyrim, Morrowind, or Hammerfell if your character has been in the ruins. Most of their machines and defenses are still working, so chances are, your character is brave and tenacious if they got their hands on this stuff. Stores would sell limited stocks at pretty marked up prices considering how hard it is to obtain it.
-Stalhrim: A special, magic ice-crafted set of equipment that can only be forged by the greatest masters using techniques only known by the Skaal. Chances are, your character will have neither access to stalhrim, the equipment to mine it, or the knowledge to do anything with it. It is exceedingly rare and specialized material that holds significant importance for the Skall and as such almost certainly will not be in possession of the player characters.

-Ayleid/Akaviri: The Akaviri Potentate ended only a few decades prior and the last Akaviri invasion that had forged the Ebonheart Pact had only formed 3 decades ago, there are Akaviri bits of gear still fairly readily available, albeit in various condition and quantities. It has been decades of war at this point, and stockpiles of equipment aren’t likely to stay untouched for long.

-Falmer and Reach: Both sets of gear are crude but effective, being formed from the remains of animals and fashioned into weapons and armour. While the vast majority of people wouldn’t even know of the existence of the Falmer, let alone encounter them, the Reach is currently ruled by Reachmen; trade with some tribes is possible.

-Glass and Ebony: Both of these are high-end, expensive, and extremely well made weapons and armour that you'd be lucky to ever find. Ebony gear originates in Morrowind, so it would be found among the rich and powerful there, and likewise, Glass gear comes from the Aldmeri Dominion and is usually only found on their elite soldiers, although the Buoyant Armigers of Vivec also use a variation of volcanic glass in their designs that are similar to the Aldmeri glass craftsmanship. While possible to possess equipment from these kinds of materials, please justify it in your backstory.

-Dragon: The reemergence of Dragons in Elsweyr was brief over 28 years ago, and they have not been seen in Skyrim for thousands of years. The remains of dragons are exceptionally rare, you likely will never come into contact with this material. For the purposes of this roleplay, this is off limits.

-Daedric: As the Amulet of Kings still remains, Daedric incursions are still few and far between. Princes have to work through mortal intermediaries to have access to Mundus. While plenty of Dremora, Xivkyn, and other species of Daedra did come through and were killed in significant numbers during the Planemeld, there is still a massive stigma against these sorts of materials. For the purposes of the roleplay, this is off limits.

Any enchantments: Possible, but you'll need to find the soul gems to charge them. You will need to be or find an enchanter to have your gear enchanted.

-Daedric artifacts: No. Just no.

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1. You can only carry so much on your person at a time. Think of real life, are you going to be carrying a bow, a claymore, 3 daggers, a staff, 400 arrows, steel plate armour, just as many potions and scrolls, and every book out of the public library? Keep it reasonable, keep it realistic. Collecting loot should never be your goal. You should also specify how your character is carrying around most of their inventory.

2. No matter how strong, talented, and experienced your character is, you're still only mortal. If you're running into 15 bandits, your odds don't look good. A troll is going to be the fight of your life. Herd of mammoths? Run like hell. You sustain injuries; you may die if you encounter a situation that is suicidal.

3. Potions take time to work in most cases, so you're not going to get gutted by an axe and then look brand new by chugging Tamriel Energy Drink. It'll help your body mesh the wounds and heal you, and it takes time for it to eliminate poisons and disease. In short, be careful. On that note, chugging potion after potion isn't going to happen unless you happen to be a whale with the body mass to do so.

4. Scrolls take time to read, so if you're reading one in combat to cast something, make sure you have someone watching your back and there isn't a group of Minotaurs looking to rip your arm off ten feet away.

7. Damage is realistic(ish), if you're hit by an ice spike or an arrow; you're going to need some serious medical attention if it hits something vital. But since this is Elder Scrolls, and potions work in impossible ways. People also aren’t going to die of an infection from a blade wound after three days of sickness or something. Point is, your character is mortal and will be taking wounds in combat.

8. Keep in mind that whatever weapons and armour you do have does not reflect how well your character is going to do in a fight or survive, so don’t doctor a CS around trying to make sure that they’re the best equipped person in the game so you have a combat advantage. There’s going to be tough-as-nails bandits out there running around in fur armour and iron weapons who’ve killed more people than your character has ever met who will not care if your character is decked out in full ebony armour, a shield, and a longsword. He’s light and fast, you’re low and heavy, and experience trumps expensive weapons and armour almost every time. Try to give your character equipment that makes sense for who they are and what they’ve been through.

9. Weapons do not necessarily have to be what you find in the games, but follow it as a template. As such, things like spears, throwing knives, throwing axes, glaives, halberds, javelins, and flails are fair game, even if most of that didn’t appear in any of the Elder Scrolls games. However, that isn’t free reign to try to put something that is high-fantasy or just ridiculous into the game. Do try to keep things lore appropriate where possible, as well.

10. To keep things simple, we will not be permitting werewolf, necromancer or vampire characters. It’s an extra layer of scrutiny to go through when reviewing character submissions, and there’s always a concern that players just want the conditions for the powers/ badass factor rather than for narrative purposes, as well as it complicates group dynamics because realistically, a character with said conditions would show symptoms sooner or later and likely be attacked before long because of it.

11. If you are trying to omit something in your character sheet saying that it will ‘be revealed later in the RP’ or just generally want to keep it a surprise, GMs need to be notified of the idea for approval and may be able to help incorporate ideas into the game.

12. Don’t have your characters have close personal relationships with canon characters. It’s one thing to say you served under King Emeric, but we don’t want to hear about how you were lovers or poker buddies or something. We aren’t fans of shrinking the world and since people tend to have their own personal ideas of what these characters are like, we’re keeping any canon NPCs firmly under GM lock and key.

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[B]Name:[/B]
[B]Race:[/B]
[B]Sex:[/B]
[B]Age:[/B]
[B]Family Origins:[/B]
[B]Appearance:[/B]
[B]Equipment:[/B]
[B]Misc. Possessions:[/B]
[B]Family and Associations:[/B]
[B]Favoured Skills:[/B]
[Indent][B]Spell List:[/B][/Indent]
[B]History:[/B]
[B]Personality:[/B]

Name: Character's name and any alias they may go by

Race: What race they are (Altmer, Argonian, Bosmer, Breton, Dunmer, Imperial, Khajiit, Nord, Orsimer, or Redguard.)

Age: How old your character is. Age brings wisdom, youth brings strength and energy. Keep in mind elves tend to have longer lifespans than men and beast races but all races mature at a fairly similar rate. Queen Ayrenn, for instance, was 28 years old when the Three Banners War began, and as an Altmer she can expect to live a natural life of many centuries. She is 46 as of 2E600.

Family Origins: Where was your character born and raised? This may affect their cultural outlook. It can be anywhere in Tamriel, just bear in mind that, for example, a Cyrodiillic cosmopolitan orc will have a different culture and mentality than a Skyrim stronghold orc, or a Summerset Islands born and raised Altmer may hold different values than one who was born and raised in Morrowind.

Appearance: A detailed description of what your character looks like and a picture, if possible. The more people have to reference, the better if is for role playing purposes. Please try to find realistic or semi-realistic portraits for your character.

Equipment: Weapons and armour. As you fill this out, ask yourself, if you were your character, would you be able to carry all of this stuff? More stuff= more encumbered. Less stuff= less encumbered, but less resources at your disposal.

Misc. Possessions: Things like lock picks, food, smithing materials, scrolls, potions. The weight thing applies as well. Doesn’t necessarily have to be things from the games.

Favored Skills: This section gets a bit more complicated. Using the main skills of the game (two handed, smithing, destruction, illusion, lock picking, pick pocketing, shield, et cetera) things are rated by proficiency. You may have 1 highly proficient skill, 3 moderately proficient skills, and 3 somewhat proficient skills. You may, however, move up a class at the expense of another skill of the level below it (e.g. you pick 1 highly proficient at the cost of 2 moderately proficient). Likewise, you can gain more skills if you downgrade a skill (1 moderately proficient becomes two somewhat proficient, for example). Explain why your character is good at each skill in a brief sentence.

[SPECIAL NOTE FOR MAGES: For a quick understanding, Highly Proficient skills are equivalent of expert level spells, Moderately Proficient is Adept Level Spells, and Somewhat Proficient is Apprentice level. Keep that in mind when playing your character and picking your proficiencies. Please stick to spells you see in the games, but I’m not against combining some of them if it makes sense, but keep in mind your character would have to be exceptionally talented to do so. Run spell ideas by the GM if you aren’t sure for approval, but if you see it in the games, you should be okay.]

Spell list: Highly Proficient is 4 spells from that school, Moderately Proficient is 3 spells from that skill, Somewhat Proficient is 2 spells from that school.

History: Explain your character's back story, how they came to be who they are, and so on. Please make this fairly detailed as it really fleshes out who your character is supposed to be. This also will help determine if I think your writing quality is satisfactory for Advanced requirements. Be sure to include things like upbringing, important people in their lives, how they came into possession of their skills and equipment, where they’ve been and what they’ve experienced, and how historical events in their lifetime may have affected them, if applicable. Should be several good paragraphs in length, don’t be afraid to go crazy on this. It won’t be what’s expected for your usual posts, but the more information you have here the better you can play your character and the better invested you’ll be in the RP if you spent a good amount of time working on a character sheet instead of crapping one out in half an hour and expecting to care for your character with a two paragraph bio.

Personality: Explain what your character's personality is like, including quirks, faults, and so on. Nuance goes a long way; the goal is to make someone believable and relatable, not a flawless little diamond in the rough.

Greetings! Candy Cane Service!

Thanks to whoever sent me candycane yesterday <3

Current Mood in One Gif

The Elder Scrolls: Eye of the Hurricane

Birds of a Feather

by Greenie and Dervs

Nimriell found that the salted fish she had been snacking on earlier during the day hadn’t quite filled up the hole in her stomach, merely consoling it a little while she was distracted by other more interesting things. If truth be told, she was actually quite missing the food she would cook for herself, or more so, the food her mother would cook, or the other Baandari. Perhaps she was a Bosmer, but her palate was certainly not. Her first taste of rotmeth had not ended well, and it would take a lot of convincing for her to ever taste it again. She was a curious sort and liked trying new things, yes, but she wasn’t stupid and was certainly not going to try anything that involved fermented meat in it.

Rubbing the back of her neck, she let out an almost inaudible sigh before heading out for the makeshift market. Gold was never a problem for her- she didn’t normally spend too much, and having lived with a merchant family, she knew how to save and find good deals. What she wanted right now was something more to eat and perhaps some water, but it was hard not to get distracted with all the different stalls and see what people of different cultures had for sale. From weapons to adornments, from little animals to stones that were most probably fakes that were not imbued with ayleid magic as was claimed by their seller- it was all rather fascinating. The little Bosmer may have had a calm and placid smile on her face, but her eyes were shining with excitement.

A passing wagon suddenly crashed hard to a corner, the wheel coming off on the rough cobblestone wheel. The guar pulling it roared frightfully and tried to run with the dead load behind it, a pitiful sound that caused quite a commotion as wood dragged on stone. The rider was bucked from the wagon, landing roughly on the stone.

Raznog headed the guar off, sprinting from his tent to the scene, throwing his arms around the guar, “Woah, woah! Easy… easy!” he called out to the guar, pressing his boots into the ground against it trying to push and grabbing hold of its reins. It bellowed again, now seemingly more perplexed by the stranger that was holding his own against the beast’s strength than bothered by the wagon. Raznog, sensing the shift in the creature’s disposition, chuckled warmly and stroked the creature’s neck.”That’s a good girl. Don’t like loud noises, do you?” he asked the bipedial reptile, which snorted contentedly to the pats. Raznog took the reins of the guar and quickly tied the lead to a tree before hurrying over to the rider to see if they were okay.

“Fine, I’m fine! I think I’m more startled than bruised…” the young Imperial woman laughed, wiping her brow of sweat. “Bella’s been acting strangely the past day or so, like she’s wound up and ready to run. She’s always been sensitive.” she explained, smiling up at the Orsimer, he returned the smile. “Thank you, sir. It could have been so much worse without your quick reaction!”

“Think nothing of it! A person in need is just a friend you haven’t met yet, my father always told me.” offering a hand, he helped the woman to her feet. “Let me help you get your wagon wheel back on, yeah?”

He looked around for it, finding the wheel nearby a curiously garbed Bosmer woman. “Pardon me, miss! Mind bringing that over?”

"Not at all!" Nimriell had quickly gotten out of the out of control wagon's way as any normal person would, not wishing to get hurt or possibly run over. She wasn't too unfamiliar with rogue vehicles herself, but it was never so common an incident that she would have expected it. Quickly picking up the wheel and standing it on the path, Nimriell then easily rolled it over to the odd looking orc who had helped the lady with her guar.

"Here you go, five-claw," she said, pushing the wheel at the orc, though keeping a grip on it until he took it from her. Her eyes quickly wandered over his appearance. This person was like no other Orsimer she had seen before. The relatively clean and taken care of appearance, the spectacles, the clothes- it was a far cry from what she was used to. Then again, she supposed she too looked a little odd in her mixture of Khajiit and Bosmer attire.

"This one has to admit that was quick thinking on your part," she added, eyeing the guar and its owner before looking back up at the orc. "The rest of us scattered like wasps from a disturbed hive."

“Five-claw?” Raznog repeated with a grin. “You sound like my partner over there. And think nothing of it, miss; big strong guys like me have a responsibility to step in when the situation calls for it. You grow up on a ship yard, you get used to putting yourself in the way of heavy, out of control objects and hoping for the best.” he replied with a hearty laugh.

Picking up the corner of the wagon, he instructed Nimriell, “Alright, if you’re able, just slip the wheel over the peg there. This nice lady and her guar have already drawn enough attention; I’m sure they’d like to carry on their day.”

Nodding, Nimriell carefully lifted the wheel and carefully slipped it over the peg until it was sitting as it should. "There, that should be good," she commented. giving it a pat before straightening up to look at the Orsimer. "Feel free to let it go, it should be fine now, this one believes!"

She was rather curious about his comment on his partner; truth be told she hadn't even realized what she had said until he mentioned it, it was so habitual. But she kept her curiosity in check for the time being. There was still the matter of the wagon being ready to roll.

Raznog set the wagon down gently and slotted in a new pin that the Imperial brought over. After a quick thank you and farewell, Bella the guar and her master carried on down the road. The Orsimer stretched, satisfied at a good deed done. He regarded the Bosmer with polite curiosity, adjusting his spectacles. “Five-claw, this one… are you an Ohmes, by chance? Pardon my ignorance, I’ve tried to learn from my partner about all the different kinds of Khajiit that roam Tamriel, but stories don’t always match up to life experiences, or the lack thereof.” he shook his head, smiling. “But where are my manners; Raznog gro-Malak, at your service. Thank you for your assistance, miss…?”

"Nimriell Briarwood," the Bosmer replied, giving Raznog a friendly smile, "though this one is also known as Green, a childhood nickname that has stuck throughout the years, perhaps due to the green clothes she chooses to wear." She then shook her head, a small chuckle escaping her lips. "There's no ignorance on your part, Nimriell can full well understand your confusion. This one's actually a Bosmer, but since she has grown up with a khajiit family almost since birth, there is not much Bosmer left in her save looks " She pointed to the antlers protruding from her forehead before tapping at the markings adorning her face. "It's true that this one could pass as an Ohmes, but it's more habit now than anything else."

"And yourself? There's much this one hasn't seen or heard of, but perhaps this is the first time Nimriell's met an Orsimer with a Khajiit partner."

“Lots of strange and wonderful things happen when you travel around, miss Nimriell. Pretty name, by the way!” Raznog said warmly. “My partner and I happened to be in different caravans when we chanced by each other and decided to travel together, fresh start and perspectives for both of us. It’s been good so far.”

He looked back at the tent where Shazali had already lost interest in the wagon commotion and was setting up her enchanting supplies for the custom order that had come through. “So what brings you to the festival? Anything in particular you might be after?” the Orsimer asked.

Nimriell had followed Raznog's line of sight but then looked away, not wishing to be impolite. Smiling at his question, she shook her head no. "This one wouldn't say anything in particular," she replied, lightly rubbing her chin in thought. "Coming here was more for seeking knowledge perhaps? This one may look like a Bosmer but has no real idea as to the customs of the wood elves." She paused a moment, eyes lingering over the market stalls. "This one was adopted by a Baandari family, and so she knows to travel with a purpose. Now her brother is far off in Anequina, and her parents, the Sands behind the Stars. So now Nimriell is simply a vagabond, hoping to learn more about the ways of others."

Raznog nodded somberly. “I’m sorry about your loss, lass, but I’d like to think your folks are looking after you even from the Sands Behind the Stars. Shazali’s told me a lot about it, so I’d like to think I know a thing or two.” he said warmly. “Whatever it is you find on your travels, I hope it brings you the answers you need. What have you learned so far?”

She shook her head at his condolences. “Thank you, this one appreciates your sentiments, though her parents lived quite a good life; this one thinks they are living a well deserved rest now. As for what this one has learned…” Nimriell smirked before letting out a small chuckle. “Rotmeth is probably not a drink this one’ll ever learn to love after a life of khajiiti food. But in all seriousness, this one’s been enjoying spending time away from arid lands and amongst the trees, and it’s quite interesting to learn about the different ways people view things. In her recent travels, Nimriell met someone who followed the Green Pact… this one doesn’t think she could even follow those kinds of staunch rules.

“What about yourself?” she continued after a moment’s pause, stepping a little back so that she could see the orc properly. “There has to be much you learned even before you met your partner if it was in a caravan.” She looked around a moment before settling down on a rather large root of an even larger tree. “This one’s originally from Reaper’s March, but lived mostly in Malabal Tor. What about you?”

“A good story always takes time to unravel, I always found. Maybe yours is just starting to get interesting?” Raznog chuckled heartedly. “And don’t feel too bad; I always enjoyed munching on a carrot from time to time, myself. I’d be a terrible wood elf.” he said, leaning up against the tree himself to continue the conversation.

“I hail from Jehanna, grew up working at a shipyard, so I learned from a young age how to work with wood and ropes and all that other nautical goodness on one hand and how to sell those services with the other. Part of why I always favoured a hammer; when you’re dealing with something that’s meant to support the weight of several dozen steers or enough supplies to keep a town happy for a month, it requires a little bit of extra persuasion to make sure things fit nice and snug from time to time.

“My mother is a Breton, she married into the family after I was born, so I suppose that’s where I got my open-mind about people and a sense for dressing presentably. In that way, I suppose we have something in common.” the Orsimer smiled, adjusting his spectacles as he regarded Nimriell warmly. “You meet all sorts of interesting folks from all over when you grow up in a port city, so I guess it never occurred to me that meeting Shazali and agreeing to be her companion was all that strange of a proposition. The world’s a nicer place when we all look after each other, yeah?”

"This one completely agrees with that sentiment," Nimriell replied with a little grin, thinking of her mother and father. "She for one wouldn't even be here if her khajiiti parents didn't pick her up and bring her home with them. We too met quite a few people throughout our journeys- one of the best things about being a family of Baandari merchants. But this one has to agree that living by a port city would have opened your eyes even more to the world than most. Nimriell and her family travelled for the most part through Valenwood and Elsweyr and seldom headed north. She has heard of other khajiit heading to colder places, even Skyrim! Even the thought makes her one shiver."

She feigned herself shivering, wrapping her arms around herself before letting them fall loosely to her side, chuckling as she stood up. "It would be a shame if Nimriell didn't ask about you and your partner's wares, friend." The Bosmer gave the tall man a friendly wink. "This one knows all about people who come to stalls and walk away without even inquiring about an item or two."
“Ah!” Raznog clasped his hands together, pleased with the sudden shift in topic. “Why don’t you come and take a look yourself? Crafts and enchantments of all kinds! Pretty sure I still have tea in the kettle, and if not, I can brew some more. I’m sure something a Khajiit-at-heart Bosmer lass like yourself will find something to your liking; our enchanter is an Alfiq, after all!”

"Tea sounds like a lovely idea," Nimriell admitted. She was feeling a little parched, and being able to chat some more over tea and wares seemed like a fun idea. "This one's parents would sell spices and clothes, that sort of thing. There was no one quite with magicka in our family- this one is quite certain if she tried to spell something, it would go very awry." She shook her head, hair swaying to and fro as she started towards the tent. "Nimriell would help with setting things up and bringing over potential buyers, though later on she learned to use the bow and hunt, as well as a little alchemy." Raising her hand, she waved it. "Nothing too powerful though- this one has a long way to go for that."

“You and me both!” Raznog explained with a grin. “Just because mother was a Breton doesn’t mean I share her genes; she could do some dazzling things with her talents. Me? I just stubbornly make tangible things take the form I want. Kind of more fun for an Orc like me, you know?” he said, escorting Nimriell to his tent. “Hunting is an important skill, especially for traveling caravans! I’m sure your folks were very proud of you.” Raznog said warmly.

They reached the tent, where Shazali was waving off another pair of customers who were making off with the guar nightlight. Her amber eye locked on the pair with a curious tilt of the head. “It turns out your heroics helped drive a sale; that customer felt inspired by the brave little guar and her eyes turned to our wares. So considerate.” she chuckled, taking notice of the Bosmer accompanying Raznog.

“And this one must commend you stepping in to help, even in such a capacity. Thank you for looking out for others; you probably helped salvage that poor girl’s experience in Woodhearth, yes?” Shazali said to Nimriell.

"Oh," Nimriell replied, waving her hand and shaking her head, "it was nothing much, this one did very little compared to friend Raznog over here, she simply helped set the wheel in place." She smiled at the alfiq khajiit, not at all surprised to see a khajiit who may have simply been thought a normal house cat by unaware and ignorant people. While her immediate adoptive family had no alfiq (and quite the opposite with her senche-raht brother), she had known a few family friends who were talented with magic as this khajiit seemed to be.

"This one was hoping to look through your wares and perhaps enjoy a chat or two," the bosmer added after a moment. "Nimriell is this one's name- you must the be one named Shazali? It's a pleasure to meet you."

Shazali bowed her head slightly. “Raznog talks this one up, but that’s because the novelty of a talking cat has yet to wear off.” she replied, gesturing towards the displays. “Everything here is enchanted by me, and if it is made of wood, carved by Raznog. If there is anything you might be interested in, Shazali will help you find it, five-claw.”

She regarded the Bosmer for a moment. “You speak not unlike this one, a slightly different dialect, Shazali thinks. Are you from the Redfur Trading Post to the Northeast?” the Alfiq asked.

"This one's been to the Redfur Trading Post before many times, but she is from further north, Malabal Tor," Nimriell replied with a small grin. "The Baandari Trading Post is where this one grew up and spent most of her time when not travelling. Nimriell’s family was originally from Reaper's March but moved west very early on in her life." She raised an eyebrow, curiosity apparent in her expression. "Are you from Valenwood as well? Or perhaps from Elsweyr? This one’s brother lives there now."

“Shazali hails from Dune, the Western, arid part of Elsweyr. Where this one is from, there is not so many trees… or bugs that are the size of Shazali.” the Alfiq sighed, shaking her head. “But when one is Baandari, you get used to the road and seeing the good to go with the bad. This one hasn’t really missed it yet; there were reasons for me to leave, and not enough to return. Shazali has never been one to settle for long.” she said warmly. “What has prompted your travels?”

"This one's family was also Baandari," Nimriell replied, enthusiasm in her voice clear even though she had attempted to veil it so as not to look too exuberant. "It's why she is so used to travelling as it seems you are as well. Nimriell did stop for a while when her parents became too old, but resumed once more after they took their journey to the Sands behind the stars." She smiled and feigned a laugh; she didn't wish to make the conversation heavy and morose. "This one's quite sure they're enjoying a nap right now in moonsugar!"

Shazali bowed her head slightly. “This one is sorry for your loss, she did not wish to bring up hard memories, but Shazali is certain you’re right; they’re enjoying paradise right now and keeping an eye out for you.” the Alfiq said kindly. “But since you’re here and experiencing new things, what has caught your eye?” she asked, gesturing towards the displays.

"Hmmm..." Nimriell did want to buy something, especially when she had spent so much time chatting with the two and stealing time that could have been used to call people over. Her eyes looked over the various items displayed before stopping upon one- a beautifully carved wooden box. A soft smile on her lips, she couldn't help but remember the music box that would always accompany her father during their travels; he had always been the merrier of her two parents.

"This one would quite like to take a look at that," she said, nodding towards the box that had caught her eye.

“Here, let me help you with that.” Raznog said, approaching with surprising grace and soft-steps for an Orc of his size. He lifted the lid of the box, snowflakes falling from the lid and with ginger fingers, he turned the handle on the side quietly in a few rotations. A quiet chiming song began to play, two lovers entwined dancing atop of the mechanism. Raznog set it down in front of Nimriell for her to witness it.

Nimriell's eyes widened, following the dancers as they moved to the song. It was hard not to feel a sting or held back tears, thought her smile was wide, beaming one could say. "Jone and Jode, this is more beautiful than Nimriell imagined! So beautiful, magical!" She stared avidly for a good moment before straightening. After a quick sniffle and wipe of her eyes with the back of her hand, she looked at both Raznog and Shazali.

"This one would like to purchase this, it has stirred quite a few fond memories of her father."

Raznog smiled warmly. “I think sometimes fate has a funny way of bringing you the things you need when you least expect it. I can tell this box has a lot of personal warmth for you, and you should have it.” he glanced over to Shazali, who simply nodded in turn.

“Tell you what, Nimriell; just pay what you think is fair, and in exchange, you join us at the fire tonight. What do you say?”

"But that..." She looked at the two and could see the sincerity of their offer. Rather touched by the friendly, thoughtful pair, the Baandari Bosmer put a hand to her heart and bowed her head. "Deal. This one will keep her side of the bargain." Standing up straight once more, she fiddled in her satchel for a moment before pulling out the right amount of septims, placing them in Raznog's hands.

"This one will be happy to join fellow Baandari by the fire tonight."

Raznog pocketed the coin and wrapped an arm around Nimriell’s shoulders with a broad grin. “And we’ll be damned happy to have you! We’re all a long way from home, but there’s no reason any of us should spend the time alone.”

Shazali spoke up, “And you do not need to be on your own, Walker; from one Khajiit to another, we need to stick together, yes?”

Nimriell nodded in agreement, a grin playing on her lips as she looked at Shazali, appreciating the inclusion in not just companionship, but as a Khajiit. "Indeed, this one wholeheartedly agrees with that. The benefit of travelling, yes? A few steps this way or a few steps that. and a new friend to be found, stories to tell and jokes to laugh at!" She sighed, a breath of happiness.

The Elder Scrolls: Eye of the Hurricane

Was gud postie

The Blackwood Chronicles (WIP title)

*peeks*