It's been a tough day trying to get back to the Imperial city. I was attacked by a bear, a mountain lion, and a wild boar. And those where just the animals. While on my way back, I stopped and made camp to rest up a bit and decided that I'd write down some of the things I'd forgotten to tell you about my adventures.
The first is that i'm actually a fairly skilled alchemist. Once Eilonwy told me what the ingredients in the invisibility potion were I was able to find them rather quickly. Now I have a patch of wormwood growing nicely in my home. Which brings me to my next bit.
I bought a house in the Imperial city. It's a cruddy little shack in the waterfront district, but it's home. I've put some of the things I've found while traveling on the shelves, and it's beginning to look rather respectable. The books are all currently kept in a chest in the bedroom. Well, it's all one room really, so I guess it's not specifically the bedroom. Regardless, they're safe and sound and to be entirely sure of that, Hassiri asked the arch-Mage to place a lock spell on it that only the three of us could open. The Arch-Mage is really a very nice guy.
While I was in Cheydinhal, I asked at the local mages guild if there were any openings, as I wanted to learn some more magic than just the basic and I knew that some of the books were located in the mages guild library, which can only be accessed by members. I joined the fighters guild for roughly the same reason while I was in town.
Hassiri asked me what was taking me so long with the next review. I told him, as patiently as I could, that finding these books was not something you do in a weekend for fun, it's a serious challenge. He snickered at that and I nearly hit him in the jaw. I smuggly reminded him of what happened when he met me. That shut him up.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sneaky things
My level of nervousness increased ever more as I walked into the castle and towards the large wooden door to the part of the castle I wasn't supposed to be in. It was guarded by two hulking armored men with very large steel swords, who I assumed would probably eviscerate first and ask questions later. My only option was to find a way to distract them so I could sneak through the door. After some deliberation, I decided that my best course of action would be to set a remote explosive rune that would allow me to... you're not going to buy that, are you? Fine, actually I hired a local beggar to come in and harass that count just long enough that he called the guards down and I could sneak in. Less interesting, just as efective.
I chugged down my first invisibility potion (which had an interesting flavor, almost that of tarragon) and headed toward the castle's private quarters where the book was supposed to be. Down the hallway were five doors. I had no idea which one the book was behind, and for every door I opened I'd have to drink another invisibility potion. So I could get lucky and find it in the first room, or I could be very unlucky and find it in the fifth.
I tried opening the door at the end of the hall. It led me to another hallway.
I downed a potion.
I opened the one to my right. There were no books inside.
I drank another potion.
I tried the one directly across the hall. Jackpot. Inside was a bookshelf with my book sitting there, waiting for me to come and take it, so I graciously complied. I went to check it off of my list and noticed that there was another book within the castle Cheydinhal that was on my list; might as well get it while i'm already breaking the law.
I snuck my way to the lord's private quarters where, luckily, there was only one door this time. Inside I found the usual assortment of uselessly ornate jewelry, quills, papers, and yarn. Oh yes, and the Wolf Queen Volume 7, the book I happened to be looking for. So I would call it a pretty productive day.
I chugged down my first invisibility potion (which had an interesting flavor, almost that of tarragon) and headed toward the castle's private quarters where the book was supposed to be. Down the hallway were five doors. I had no idea which one the book was behind, and for every door I opened I'd have to drink another invisibility potion. So I could get lucky and find it in the first room, or I could be very unlucky and find it in the fifth.
I tried opening the door at the end of the hall. It led me to another hallway.
I downed a potion.
I opened the one to my right. There were no books inside.
I drank another potion.
I tried the one directly across the hall. Jackpot. Inside was a bookshelf with my book sitting there, waiting for me to come and take it, so I graciously complied. I went to check it off of my list and noticed that there was another book within the castle Cheydinhal that was on my list; might as well get it while i'm already breaking the law.
I snuck my way to the lord's private quarters where, luckily, there was only one door this time. Inside I found the usual assortment of uselessly ornate jewelry, quills, papers, and yarn. Oh yes, and the Wolf Queen Volume 7, the book I happened to be looking for. So I would call it a pretty productive day.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
2920, The Last Year of the First Era
Hassiri liked my idea of reviewing the books that I found and started putting them into the paper immediately. A few days after the first book he asked me to come into his office, saying he had something to show me. As I stepped through the door for the first time the powerful scent of antiquity hit my nostrils, staggering me slightly. The place was filled floor to ceiling with old notes, books, and previous editions of the paper, and it was apparent that he did not clean the place out often, if at all. After adjusting to the smell as best I could, I asked what he needed from me.
He explained that as he was rummaging through his piles of notes, he happened upon a book he'd received a long time ago that he had all but forgotten. Realizing that it was on the list of rare books, he thought it would be good if he gave it to me to review. I suddenly didn't mind the smell as much.
2920, Sun's Height is the book in question and the seventh in a series of historical books about Vivec, a city in the province of Morrowind, and the Empire, specifically the first. I thought about reviewing it after receiving it, but I decided against it. After all, it is the seventh in the series. I'd want to start with the first one if I was going to review them.
I told Hassiri what I was thinking and after some deliberation he agreed with me. He mentioned that at least now I had a place to start in terms of finding the books. I liked his positive outlook. What I didn't like was the location of the first book.
According to the list, there were actually two copies of this book still around. Sadly, both were held under lock and key in the, well-guarded, castles of Leyawiin and Cheydinhal. So here I am, two books in and I already have to start stealing things. And if you're wondering why I don't just try and explain my quest to the lords of the castles, or offer to buy the book from them, i'll let you know that I tried that and neither would budge. It felt like such a waste of a trip, first to Layawiin far to the south, and now to Cheydinhal in the east.
Discouraged, I went to the local inn and sat down at the bar. It was a strangely busy night, some kind of party was going on, something about Kvatch and a Hero. I wasn't really paying it much attention. I tried to hail the bartender a number of times, but he was understandably engrossed in what was going on. Still, it made me feel pretty invisible.
Invisible!
It surprised me somewhat that I had not thought to try this earlier. I ran to the local Mages guild to see if they had an alchemist and luckily they did. A high elf named Eilonwy was mixing ingredients as I came through the entrance.
I asked her if she sold any potions that could make a person invisible for a short time. She said she did, but they were automatically deactivated if I touched any objects with my hands, as the interaction with objects that are not invisible would break the illusion magic. We agreed upon a price and I bought as many as I could fit into my bag. I went straight to the castle from there. I was getting this book.
He explained that as he was rummaging through his piles of notes, he happened upon a book he'd received a long time ago that he had all but forgotten. Realizing that it was on the list of rare books, he thought it would be good if he gave it to me to review. I suddenly didn't mind the smell as much.
2920, Sun's Height is the book in question and the seventh in a series of historical books about Vivec, a city in the province of Morrowind, and the Empire, specifically the first. I thought about reviewing it after receiving it, but I decided against it. After all, it is the seventh in the series. I'd want to start with the first one if I was going to review them.
I told Hassiri what I was thinking and after some deliberation he agreed with me. He mentioned that at least now I had a place to start in terms of finding the books. I liked his positive outlook. What I didn't like was the location of the first book.
According to the list, there were actually two copies of this book still around. Sadly, both were held under lock and key in the, well-guarded, castles of Leyawiin and Cheydinhal. So here I am, two books in and I already have to start stealing things. And if you're wondering why I don't just try and explain my quest to the lords of the castles, or offer to buy the book from them, i'll let you know that I tried that and neither would budge. It felt like such a waste of a trip, first to Layawiin far to the south, and now to Cheydinhal in the east.
Discouraged, I went to the local inn and sat down at the bar. It was a strangely busy night, some kind of party was going on, something about Kvatch and a Hero. I wasn't really paying it much attention. I tried to hail the bartender a number of times, but he was understandably engrossed in what was going on. Still, it made me feel pretty invisible.
Invisible!
It surprised me somewhat that I had not thought to try this earlier. I ran to the local Mages guild to see if they had an alchemist and luckily they did. A high elf named Eilonwy was mixing ingredients as I came through the entrance.
I asked her if she sold any potions that could make a person invisible for a short time. She said she did, but they were automatically deactivated if I touched any objects with my hands, as the interaction with objects that are not invisible would break the illusion magic. We agreed upon a price and I bought as many as I could fit into my bag. I went straight to the castle from there. I was getting this book.
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