Subject: [Dagger] [PORC]The trip into Wayrest Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 22:21:35 -0400 From: "Jim Davis" To: Feeling somewhat odd, I looked to Alex to see if she wanted to go into Wayrest with us. She nodded. I made a prompt exit from the room to allow her and Mea the privacy women so need when preparing themselves for a formal meeting. Personally, I never understood it. I myself have been known to find a dark corner in a pub-room to rid myself of sodden garments. I went to my cabin and started polishing my swords, a token activity, more out of respect than necessity, as Scorcher and Ghalleva were so powerfully enchanted that they could never deteriorate or dull. I wiped the thick grease I had used on my weapons off my hands when I heard a slight knock at the door. I opened the door and saw that Mea's impeccable taste transfers well on others. Alex was wearing a dress made seemingly of spider-silk, the weave so fine and material so soft it seemed that a violent movement would tear it. I moved out of the room and joined my entourage on deck. Finding Midnight, we started the trip to Wayrest City. As we galloped inland, Midnight and I leading the way, we came to a chasm with no apparent bridge. Midnight, whose nature allowed him to walk on air as sure as it was pavement, was not bothered. Looking back across the chasm, I realized that this was a problem. Magicka, though useful and powerful in its ways, is not strong enough to carry a horse and its rider through use of levitation. Thinking quickly, I reached into the extradimensional bag at my waste and pulled forth five medallions of the Nightmare. I rode Midnight back across and placed a medallion around the neck of each of my companions' mounts. Their coloring immediately darkened to pitch black. Their eyes became milky, then lit up with reddish-orange light. A corona of crimson fire appeared around their hooves. Zarth expressed some concern, but I assured him that as soon as the medallion was removed, the horse would change back. I also told them to keep the amulets, as they are re-usable. Midnight took me back across the chasm. I turned to see my companions trying to adjust to the different feeling of riding on air instead of earth. Quite amusing, though I saw Mea and Catris use some minor levitation to keep themselves on their mounts. The trip was quiet and uneventful, save a brief rain that drenched me to the bone before I could get under the tent Zarth hastily put up. We came to the city gates of Wayrest. The guards reined their mounts aside, unsure of our enhanced mounts, especially when they snorted fire. We rode to the center of town, to the palace. Double-checking the peace-knots on my swords, I climbed the flight of steps, this time with myself in the lead. I threw open the doors and strode in, forgetting myself. Realizing I was drawing quite a bit of attention, I lessened my swagger and waited for my companions. Zarth strode in, Adeline on one arm, her face concealed in her customary veil, and Mea on the other, looking absolutely dashing, I might add. Zarth himself looked good, his mask freshly polished, his swords glinting in the light. Alex took my left arm and Catris on my right. Although Alex was not Sidhe, she was quite beautiful, but my eye belonged to Catris. We moved quietly across the room, making but a whisper on the plush carpet. I mounted up the steps alone, kneeled before Queen Barenziah and said, "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, might I have a few words with your daughter, the illustrious Princess Morgiah?" She replied with a question. "What manner of man are you? You are by no means an elf, as your build is too strong. Nor are you human, as your grace and quiet movement shows." Still on one knee, I answered, "I am Lord Jemalas Tamislane, my Queen, a High Sidhe, an off-worlder placed in your ethereal presence by the fickle hand of Ditrabella. If you will pardon my ignorance, of what providence are... what is the term.... dark elves?" She smiled, "My dear Lord Tamislane, is thy head full of manure? Dark elves are from the province of Morrowind." Biting my tongue at the urge to lash back at her insult, I said "Truly, my head is full of the freshest manure available. The only reason that I ask is that on my world, Sovere, the elves are a bastardized race spawned from the merging of a Sidhe and any other race." I noticed Princess Morgiah perk at the mention of Sovere. She strode over, the fabric of her dress rasping like a whisper on the stone. "Mother, I summoned the good Lord. May I speak to him now?" she interrupted. Barenziah shooed me off with a brush of the hand. Princess Morgiah took us to a quiet sitting room, where an assortment of sweet cakes and other things were arrayed before us. Morgiah was a fine chatter, asking me of Sovere, of magic there, of my alien nature, etc. Finally, she asked everyone to leave. My companions left the room. Morgiah rose from the couch she was seated upon and sat down next to me. "Jemalas, if I may call you that, would you be interested in some sordid little group known as the Seekers of Life Eternal?" I nodded with great enthusiasm. She handed me a small leather map showing the location of their hideout, deep in the sewers of Wayrest City. We concluded our conversation and left the palace. Back in the street, I showed the map to Mea. She..... ~Lord Jemalas Tamislane, Ruler of Kalisis, High Lord of Thornwood jrdavis@penn.com