A Conjuror's journey

[PieceThruWar]

You don't really feel like talking about Skyrim at the moment. "Maybe I am from Germania, but not ancestrally linked to the natives? I might tell you about my homeland if you manage to hurt me in a spar."

"What?! You only taught me one spell! How am I supposed to fight someone with the title of Grand Sorcerer with a blast of cold air?!" The girl raves, seemingly forgetting that she almost lost an arm to the same spell.

Mockingly, you toss your stolen dagger into the dirt before her. "I never said you could only use magic, only a fool ignores their options in a fight. Now..." Your words trail off as she picks the dagger up and the strange runes on her hand begin to shine brightly. The shock on her face transforms into glee as the light settles into a dim glow.

With an unsettling grin, Louise shifts into an unfamiliar stance and you draw your longsword. You don't have nearly as much training with the weapon as the child appears to posses, but keeping your staff in your off hand should give you higher mobility than her.

"Are you ready, little one?" You ask, smiling at the glare she gives you for the pet name.

Rushing toward you, she shouts out, "Stop calling me that! I'm almost an adult you idiot!"

Your attempt to deflect her attack is easily countered as she spins your blade around and thrusts toward your chest, forcing you to levitate backward to land on a tree branch. Hiding your surprise, you taunt her. "So easily angered, I guess I shall have to beat that out of you as well. You had better be grateful."

Somehow, she easily outclasses you in skill when it comes to weapons, that much is obvious. Sheathing your sword, you toss a Fireball toward her, forcing her behind a tree for cover. A quick casting of Invisibility has you creeping toward her from the side, striking the girl in the gut with your staff before picking her up by the leg and tossing her into the middle of the clearing. Retching into the dirt, Louise is defenseless, but you go easy on her this time and only kick the dagger out of her reach.

Walking in circles around her, you taunt some more. "What will you do now, child?" A pause as you turn to walk the other direction in case she strikes out. "You. Cannot. Fight. What. You. Cannot. Find." Each pause last for a different length than the others and is punctuated by a jab with your staff. "Just give up. Surrender. We can stop."

Instead of responding, she rolls onto her side and freezes the ground all around the two of you. It would have been a great plan for finding you, tracking your footsteps in the frost, but she hadn't completely gotten over her accidental explosions and you were forced to pick her up and levitate away. You still took some damage though, getting thrown into a tree and landing on Louise. At least you got most of your Magicka back from the blast.

-------

The two of you, bruised and battered, end up back at the inn somehow. Louise can't keep the smug look off her face when she sees the cut on your forehead, but you didn't want to waste energy fixing such minor wounds. Refusing to eat anything, the girl heads up to the room and goes to sleep. You eat your soup and think about needing more money, this diet is monotonous. Walking toward the stairs, you just know that she's going to claim that explosion as a win.

Status: Cut and bruised
Magicka: (600/650)

Choose 1:
[] A deal is a deal, she did hurt you... in a suicidal move.

[] Stupid child should know better, no enemy would fall for that.

[] Leave in the night, you won't waste your time on someone willing to throw their life away.

[] Write in

After the upcoming confrontation, you:

Choose 1:
[] Continue teaching her spellcasting.

[] Destruction
[] Restoration​

[] Alchemy, a minor potion would have healed these irritating bruises

[] Optional: Shop around for some alchemy equipment.​

[] Enchanting, the girl should learn to harvest souls and enchant her clothing.

[] Stealth training... forcing her to crouchwalk for hours isn't revenge, it's training!

[] Write in.

 

[PieceThruWar]

Morning greets you with stiff muscles and a throbbing headache, reminding you of how a prepubescent child caused you more harm than a group of infiltrating soldiers. Thinking of the child, you look to her bed and find her to be missing. Getting up and donning your robes, you head downstairs.

You find Louise at the table, receiving looks of disgust and fear from many of the inn's other patrons. The reason for this is the fact that her zombie had apparently followed the two of you here and the trip does not appear to have been good to it. Three days by horse is what you judged the distance between Tarbes and the academy and judging by its bare and sole-less feet, the corpse must have sprinted nonstop. Still headless, missing an arm, sporting several slashes and puncture wounds... no wonder everybody is on edge. Somehow the thing has managed to get it's hand on a pike, making it's runes glow like Louise's did.

Huh... you'd forgotten about the thing and now it's sitting on the floor beside your apprentice as if it were a dog... Well, Louise appears to be happy to have it back, though she really shouldn't be trying to feed it bits of bread through it's open neck wound. "Stop wasting food, it cannot digest anything you give it."

With a startled chirp, Louise swivels to look at you and set down the semi-stale food. Attempting to hide her obvious embarrassment, she clears her throat and announces in an overly loud voice, "Good morning Master Cynric, are you sure a man your age should be out of bed with your injuries?"

"I will have you know, I once climbed a mountain with two broken shinbones. These mere flesh-wounds are nothing but the result of a child's foolishness." You say remembering that time you learned to never drink and ride a horse again... All of your worst injuries come from those damnable beasts...

Crossing her arms, your apprentice declares, "Foolish? I won our wager!"

"You won by forcing me to save you from your attempt at killing yourself, you idiot child!" You say, slapping a hand down in front of the girl when she tries to argue. Her momentary shock allows you to continue uninterrupted. "Did you not see what you did to the clearing? If I had not carried you away from there, the blast would have shredded you to pieces. I will not have you waste my time by killing yourself... If you ever do something so foolish again, you will no longer be my apprentice."

You leave Louise to think on your words as you wave over the innkeeper's niece. The young woman shuffles over with a tray held like a shield. "Y-yes m-m-m'lord?" she says, eyeing the corpse fearfully.

"I'll have the potato leek soup." You tell her, ignoring the needless fear of the ignorant. The woman trips in her attempt to flee now that she has your order. Ten minutes later, you are eating your meal when Louise speaks up.

"I'm sorry." She says with her face downcast. "I... You're right. I was panicked and desperate and... and stupid. It's just... You act like the strangest mix of commoner and Noble, eating cheap food and hunting down random bandits while looking down on everyone and casting powerful magics... You say these things that go against everything I was raised to believe... and... I-I can't argue against them because it works! For the first time in my life, I can use magic without blowing myself up!" You smother the need to correct her on that. "Private tutors, years of studying into the early morning, countless hours of prayer... none of it worked... and then you come along with all this talk of stars and celestial gods... and it takes less than an hour for you to teach me a spell!"

Putting down your spoon, you scoff. "And I find it hard to believe that a culture with six thousand years of history could be so ignorant of how their own abilities work, but here we are."

Jumping up and pointing her finger in your face, she says, "That! Right there, what you said! It's obvious that you aren't from around here... I just want to know more about the only person that truly helped me."

Making a show of looking around, you reply, "Maybe this is not the best venue for this discussion?" At her glare, you raise your hands in false surrender. "Now, I do intend to tell you, just not here."

-------

Back in the destroyed clearing, you sit on a fallen tree. "You still remember my diagram of Aetherious, Mundus, and Oblivion?" Seeing her nod, you continue. "Well, to correct your most likely assumption, Halkeginia is not on Nirn. As I told you back at the academy, I come from a land called Skyrim... no, Skyrim is not a place in Albion. Skyrim is the northernmost country on the continent of Tamriel, a continent on Nirn."

"So you're from another world? That's how you know all these things? If you're from Nirn, does that mean we are in that Oblivion place?" Louise asks with surprising calm.

"Er... yes... I created a ritual to locate and travel to a habitable realm... my apologies, but... Why you do not sound surprised."

Shaking her head, she explains. "If it was anyone else, I doubt I'd believe them, but you already explained the infinite realms thing. Since you obviously know what you're talking about, I can't just declare you crazy and ignore you." She grins as you laugh at that. "Sooo... why did you decide to leave your home?"

"Dragons." You respond, what more needs to be said?

Tilting her head in confusion, the girl asks, "Dragons? The wagon sized reptiles that cavalry ride around on? You crossed between worlds to buy a dragon?"

"Gods, no! We must be talking about two entirely different creatures. Dragons on Nirn are an ancient race of immortal, soul devouring beings that are descended from the god of time himself, Akatosh. Their very language commands the world around them, their debates have leveled mountains, towns have been slaughtered by accident in their passing and the only way for them to die permanently is for one dragon's soul to absorb the other's." Her confusion melts away into horror as you describe the beasts.

"Y-y-you... they won't f-follow you here... right?"

You rest a hand on the girl's shoulder to calm her down. "No, I decided not to make a gateway for that specific reason. If they even knew I left and wanted to follow, they would have to search every realm of Oblivion to find me and if they do show up here, we can always go to a new realm... but enough of that, you aren't going to become a powerful sorceress by listening to an old man reminisce about home."

Lifting her arm in your hand, you instruct her on her next task. "After yesterday's... incident, I have decided to teach you how to shape your Frost into an Ice Spike. Hopefully, this will allow you to learn to control your magicka better. Now, instead of an open hand, I want you to curl your fingers together as if holding something round."

She holds her hand as if holding an invisible ball. "No, not like that, round like a cylinder. Like holding a cup." She corrects herself. "Good! Now, slowly pool your magicka into the center of the imaginary cup and form a needle. I want you to take your time with this, an imperfect needle may seem fine, but the imperfections become exaggerated as you make the spike bigger. This needs to be as even and smooth as you can make it or you will end up as one of those mages that can't hit their target. Once you have this part down, you simply add more layers and a strong push of magicka to propel it."

--------

A few hours past noon, you declare her ability to quickly form a passable needle to be adequate and her throwing force... excessive... you decide to-

Choose 1 for Louise:
[] Have her meditate on the feeling of her magical ice.

[] Have her hunt moles. It's practical application and profitable.

[] Have her stay with you.

[] Write in

Choose 1 for yourself:
[] Shop for Alchemy equipment.

[] Perform some preventative maintenance on the zombie, it's not looking too good.

[] Hunt down that manticore

[] Teach Louise (can only be chosen if she stays with you)

[] Stealth
[] Enchanting
[] Alchemy​

[] Summon an unbound Frost Atronach and unleash it on the town. Cost 50 Magicka

[] Write in

-------
A/N: Is 'sould' a word? Because my auto-corrupt keeps replacing soul with it.

 

[PieceThruWar]

"Well done Louise, you have mastered the necessary steps to move on to some practical application." You wave for her to follow as you head back to town.

Taking her place beside you, the child is bouncing with energy as she asks, "What am I going to be doing? Oh, it's a obviously a combat spell... are we sparring again? I won't blow us up this time, I swear!"

Ruffling her hair, you shake your head. "No, I will be making sure your... familiar does not fall apart at the seams, so you will be on your own for this."

"Then...what am I doing?" She asks as you pull her wand out of your bag and hand it back to her. With another shake of your head, you continue walking. After ten minutes of relentless pestering, you arrive at the southern fields.

You gesture grandly at the surrounding lands. "We have arrived!" A blank stare prompts you to continue. "While I am performing the necessary maintenance on your corpse friend, you shall be hunting down the moles that are damaging these fields and snuffing out their miserable little lives!"

She continues to stare blankly at you. "So... you want me to do pest control?" You nod your head. "With two foot long magical spikes of ice?" Another nod. "Ok... Why go through all this secrecy instead of saying that earlier?" She asks, exasperated.

"Well, my apprentice, you just seemed so excited about the mystery. Like my grandmother told me, 'When dealing with children, one must be sure to keep them properly entertained, else they'll do foolish things in their boredom'. Of course, this was before her Hagraven days... and she was probably imagining grandchildren when she said it."

Growling and bending her wand between her hands, she complains quite loudly, "I keep telling you, I AM NOT A CHILD! I will be seventeen this year and an adult by law. I shall have all the rights and responsibilities therein, so will you PLEASE stop?!"

"But... Really? Your head barely reaches my chest..." You blurt out in surprise, causing Louise to sigh.

"So I'm a bit short for my age, my mother was as well. I'll get taller someday... hopefully."

Before you can filter your mouth, you ask, "Was she also as undeveloped everywhere else?" You blame the shock of her revelation for your slow reaction, but you wake up an hour later... covered in soot and... is that a shoe-print on your chest? Well, the whole situation was a bit crazy, so you'll ignore that. Still, you had assumed that she was around ten or eleven and just really advanced for her age... instead, she is woefully behind her peers due to this world's ignorance of proper magical theory. They seriously use a bit of unenchanted wood as a focus because they think it's necessary, the lunatics.

You are shaken from your musings by the sounds of explosions, shattering ice, squeals of pain, and Louise's screams of rage. Right, you still have work to do today. After grabbing some rope from the farmer's shed, you begin searching the immediate area. You find the zombie standing between two rows of some type of melon, repeatedly stabbing a small brown creature with it's pike. Pushing it down, you use the rope to bind it's limbs.

Missing an arm and head is fine for now, but too much more damage and you might want to get some more parts to make a Flesh atronach... you could always go the low maintenance, removing the meat and enchant the bones a bit to make an artificial Bone Lord... You could give it four swords and... Well, the required number of arms is an issue. Obviously You'll need a replacement arm and getting two more after that shouldn't be too difficult... Decision, decisions... Best work on preservation for now, Louise might like a say in how you upgrade her servant.

Pulling on the minor necromantic energy being release by Louise's painful slaughtering of the moles, you set to work mending corpseflesh. wounds close and the stump of an arm is shifted into a spike of bone. You dry the meat and organs, giving the body a desiccated look... not optimal unless you find a covering to disguise it's nature as a former human... for now, you remove the remains of it's neck with your sword and seal the flesh to create a smooth surface from shoulder to shoulder. Not your finest work, but you had none of the proper preparation and this should last without natural decay. As the day goes on and Louise explosions continue to echo across the fields, you focus the sacrificial energy into giving the corpse extra strength beyond what a human body can produce... it isn't too much due to the energy available without tapping your own, but he should be as strong as an adult now... not a Nord or an Orc though.

The girl's been at this for a while, making you wonder how much Magicka she possesses. From what you can tell, her output is at least twelve times what you could produce and she doesn't appear to be slowing down. At least she stopped screaming in rage a while ago. Once you teach her more magic, she might just be unstoppable in a fair fight... You decide not to teach her conjuration, that being your one advantage over her if she ever betrays you.

Cutting the zombie free once you notice Louise approaching, you stand to greet her. She looks at her repaired servant before meeting your gaze. She winces at you soot-stained appearance and looks away, mumbling an apology. You wave her off and amble over to the farm house to receive your payment before heading back to the inn in silence.

Choose 1:
[] More spellcasting lessons.

[] Destruction
[] Restoration​

[] Enchanting lessons, you promised to teach her to fly and a cape of levitation is just the thing she needs.

[] Alchemy lessons, you currently have the opposite of too many potions.

[] Shop around for equipment.​

[] Write in.

-------

Optional additional choice:
[] Talk to Louise about-

[] Her family
[] modifying her zombie
[] Write in.​

 

[PieceThruWar]

The following morning found the two of you wandering the streets of Tarbes in search of an alchemist's shop. Louise had informed you that the locals do in fact know of alchemy, however... they seem to have confused the word 'alchemy' for transmutation and simply refer to actual alchemy as simply potion making. Backwards fool, the lot of them... whatever their reasoning, you now must set about correcting another of this world's transgressions upon your poor apprentice's learning.

Heading down another street, Louise attempts to defend her mentally deficient teachers. "Yes, the nomenclature is different, of course it's going to be a different use of the word on a different world. Besides, I'm not the best person to tell you about the subject... all my potions exploded when I got to the magic infusing step."

You groan in annoyance at that. "Of course they exploded, a proper potion should not have any magic except from the ingredients! How do you people even function?"

"I... what? Then how do explain all the potions I've seen other people make?" She asks.

With a shrug, you peer inside another shop, this one selling personally blown glassware. Seeing as this is the best you've stumbled across, you head inside while explaining. "My best guess is that six thousand years of trial and error have produced a few standard potions that do not react violently toward being saturated with raw Magicka. Even a Reikling can make a decent poultice on occasion."

You browse the shelves near the unmanned desk in silence. Spotting two bottles that you could combine to make an alembic, you grab them from the shelf. "Chi- er... Louise, go search for a rounded glass vessel with a beaked cap, I must speak with the shopkeeper for a moment." Once she leaves, you pocket the bottles and go back to browsing.

After half an hour and another fake conversation with the shop-keep, the two of you head back to your room at the inn. With a... decent set of equipment, minus stands and calcinator, you set about laying your ingredients on the table. After listing off what each item is, you send the girl to fetch some water and metal sauce pans from the kitchen.

Upon her return, you begin the lesson. "The basic requirements to know for alchemy are as follows: Pure water from a natural source is the best solvent, all ingredients have four defining traits, proper use and cleaning of equipment produces the best results, always combine ingredients with like traits, and two of the same ingredient combined produces nothing. You would be surprised how many novices try the last one."

Pointing out the mortar and pestle, you say, "As you know, a mortar and pestle is used for grinding ingredients into powders or pastes. This is the most first step in preparing reagents for potions. At this stage, combining two or more pastes and powders can create a weak salve or poultice respectively." You pick up your newly combined bottles. "An alembic is used with one end holding liquids or wet reagents over a flame to evaporate out the magical properties. The vapor travels up the neck and into the smaller bottle to condense into a refined liquid." Pointing out the last bottle, you tell her, "A retort is used for the same purpose with solids, converting solid ingredients into gas. After condensing, liquid can be used as is or refined further using an alembic. Lastly, a calcinator would be used to reduce metals and other substances ill fit for the retort into ash, you must then seperate the useless ash from the useful. Proper use of a calcinator can see your finished potion's effects increased by several magnitude... unfortunately, I did not see one during our shopping today... I will probably need to speak with a blacksmith about ordering one."

Handing the girl a few mountain flowers, you set her to grinding.

------

"So... this is supposed to heal my bruises?" Your apprentice asks, holding up a cup of potion that she had spent the last half hour brewing. You simply nod. "But why? All it is is a blue flower and some wheat from the kitchen... and why is it red?!"

"Well my apprentice, I could wax poetic about the different properties of the two plants and their familial histories and their interactions with the grater whole of reality, but it think I shall merely quote my least favorite colleague and say... 'it's magic'."

The girl gives you a dirty look before downing the potion, making a startled noise as her wounds fade. You clap for her success, minor that it is. "Now, if we can find some hawk feathers or crab chitin, I could make myself some Cure Disease potion for the sicknesses I have no doubt already picked up off of you people." You say, more to yourself than anything, but it appears that she heard you... Though she doesn't appear as offended as you would have assumed she would.

Instead, she seems to have ignored the latter half of your statement. "Cure disease? As in all disease? Not just a specific one?!" As she speaks, she gets closer and closer to you until she is almost touching noses with you.

Picking her up off the table and setting her on the floor, you try to ignore the crazed look in her eyes. "Of course every disease, what use would it be if you needed a new potion for every case of the sniffles? Of course, it is of no use for Vampirism or Lycanthropy, but those are more Daedric curse than disease anyway."

"Teach me how to make it!" She demands, once more invading your personal space.

Enthusiasm is good, you decide. Much better to have an enthusiastic, if slightly unhinged, student than an uninterested and wasteful one... though you didn't take her as being medically inclined... maybe all the times she blew people up was playing on her conscience.

Nodding in agreement, she is your apprentice after all, you point out the flaw in that plan. "Very well, bring me the reagents I asked for." She looks around at your supplies before reality crashes down. Seeing the disappointment on her face, you agree with the sentiment. "Indeed, we seem to be missing some ingredients. It seems as if we must gather them ourselves... or, you could use your servant properly and order it to fetch what we need."

Nodding, she does just that, sending the zombie out to find some crabs. "Now you will explain to me why you want to brew this potion so desperately. Being short is not a disease, you know."

Ignoring your statement, she elaborates. "My sister Cattleya has always believed in me, even when everyone else had given up. She supported me when the rest of my family suggested I give up on magic and focus on marriage. Cattleya is the kindest, most wonderful person in the world, but she has been ill all her life... We've tried everything. Doctors, priests, potions and medicines... Eleanor even sacrificed a dozen different animals in a ritual once when she thought nobody was around! I would give anything to-" You slap a hand over her mouth at that.

"Do NOT say those words! This world is not under Akatosh's protection, do you wish to invite a Daedric invasion?" Wide eyed, she shakes her head. "Good. I understand wanting to help a family member, but some words must never be uttered, lest they attract unwanted attention." Releasing her, you smile comfortingly. "Luckily, we should be able to cure your sister with little effort. It is a simple potion to brew and if it does not work, you could always have her pray to Kyne or Stendarr for healing."

Louise cries a little at your reassurances and you have the good grace to pretend not to notice. You doubt that she is up for talking about necromancy at the moment, so you go downstairs to give her space.

At the bar you notice a young couple arguing over some lost item or other. Seeing this you-

Choose 1:
[] Offer to help... for a price.

[] No helping strangers, you need a drink and no adventure is more important than alcohol.

[] Write in.​

[] All this yelling is annoying.

[] Start a fight.
[] Dose the wife's drink with werewolf blood, that should teach them what a real problem is.​

[] Leave and go hunt that manticore.

[] Write in.

------
A/N: I couldn't see a way to fit corpse surgery in after talking about Cattleya, so that will come up in another conversation later unless you guys vote not to... And yes, I will continue to put the manticore as an optional boss fight. No, loot is not guaranteed.

 

[PieceThruWar]

You left your room to avoid emotional nonsense and these two can't have the decency to keep their drama at home? Very well, you will just have to give them a real reason to be upset... might even stand to make a bit of coin too.

Retrieving the miniature cask of werewolf blood from your pack, you pour a few drops onto a nearby spoon before making your way toward the couple. Spoon hidden in your hand, you cover both of their drinks, discretely dipping the blood into the woman's drink as you interrupt. "My apologies to the both of you, but did I hear somebody mention a missing heirloom?"

"You did." The man says, eyeing you warily.

The woman laugh derisively and points her finger at the man. "My darling husband, Paul, had the wonderful idea to sell my grandmother's emerald necklace." She says sarcastically before taking a swig of the tainted drink when you remove your hand. "He comes in one night shouting 'We'll be living the dream in no time, darling!' The pitiful fool thought he could start a vineyard with the money and buy it back... only to piss it all away on booze! Guess what husband? You're dreams are as worthless as this marriage!"

With a poorly aimed toss of her cup, the woman drunkenly staggers out of the bar, leaving you with the weary husband... who looks awfully familiar. Taking the opportunity for what it is, you speak up. "Now, I know this whole fiasco is none of my business... but it could be, for the right price."

"Oh, what's the point anymore? My employer's dead, my wife will probably leave me, somebody stole the bounty money from my office while I was drunk... No, I believe I'll keep my money, drown my sorrows while I can still afford it." With that, the man who you now recognize as the Guard Captain orders another drink. Well, at least you can count on the werewolf bounty.

Half an hour later, you're stealing drinks off the Captain with a few kind words. Before you know it, you're waking up on the floor outside your room with the zombie banging on the door. It's dark outside the window and the pounding headache you now have is your reward for drinking the day away. You do a quick check of your belongings, sighing with relief that you're only missing a Deathbell. You probably put it in somebodies drink, drunkenly poisoning people is why you're banned from The Bannered Mare. Shaken from your reminiscing by the door opening, you come chest to face with Louise. The girl steps back to smile up at you and whatever she was going to say is interrupted by the corpse brandishing a dirty sack of crustaceans.

You've never seen a woman squeal over mud-soaked crabs before, but there's a first time for everything. "We can make the potion now, right?" Louise demands.

"We will have to check the shells to make sure, but they should work." You respond, scooting the girl into the room. You spend the next hour bashing the creatures to death, peeling off their shells, and boiling half of them in the retort. Sampling the resultant liquid shows that, yes, these crabs will work with only slightly weaker effect than Mudcrab chitin.

Setting all this aside, you prepare for bed. Waving Louise's concerns away with a vague promise of 'In the morning', you fall into blissful sleep... Hopefully the headache will be gone by then.

Choose 4 potions to brew:
[] Cure Disease

[] Fortify and Restore Magicka

[] Restore Health

[] Invisibility

[] Paralysis

[] Weakness to Frost

 

[PieceThruWar]

You're pulled from your slumber by a pair of tiny hands shaking your shoulder. Peering through a single cracked eye, you see bright pink hair glowing painfully in the light. You groan and try to toss the blanket over your head, somehow finding yourself on the floor instead. What sorcery is this? You don't remember being cursed last night... how much did you drink? The last thing you can clearly remember is accepting a dare to drink something green that smelled worse than a troll cave. Probably a bad idea, come to think of it. After that, it's all flashes of vomiting, slandering somebodies mother, poisoning one of the kitchen knives with a Deathbell, wandering toward the stairs as a wolf howled, and testing some crabs.

Drunken alchemy aside, you really should get off the floor now, since Louise appears to be freezing your blanket. "Alright already, I get it." You grumble, climbing to your feet and throwing your robes on. "What has you so impatient?"

Bouncing in place, the girl rambles on about her sister. You aren't really listening, considering your pounding head, but you do recall the reason why you were praising Sanguine in the middle of the day. "Cure Disease, prepare the crab chitin with the retort while I am away." You order, heading out the door and down the stairs.

You make your way into the kitchen and spend the next half hour drinking water, rubbing your head, and swearing off alcohol until the next time you decide to drink. Once the pain has subsided into a tolerable level, you return to your room to find Louise with a pint of distilled Crab essence.

"Very good, my apprentice. This potion is easy to make, but difficult to gather the ingredients for, which is the only real reason why it is uncommon to find it in stock at an apothecary... in Tamriel, here it is because of ignorance. Anyway, the reagents available in my home country are: mudcrab chitin, hawk feathers, charred skeever hide, and vampire dust. Shooting down a hawk can be difficult, skeevers carry enough diseases to require a dose of the potion you are trying to make, and... I doubt I need to explain why hunting down vampires is dangerous. Luckily, I happen to always keep vampire dust with me because of it's usefulness and alchemy friendly nature." You declare, rummaging through your pack. Pulling out your urn of dust, you pass it to the girl. "Simply stir this into what you have already, mixing it in a three to one ratio favoring the liquid crab, and bottle the potion."

With shaking hands, Louise follows your instructions. You start on your own potions, first making a strong dose of Restore Health with some Blisterwort, Blue Mountain Flower, Imp Stool, and Swamp Fungal Pod. Using your longsword, you painfully strip the mean from the outside edge of your hand before taking a sip to heal yourself. That necessary bit of self mutilation done with, you mix your flesh with some Imp Stool and Swamp Fungal Pod to make a paralysis poison that would bring down a bear with ease.

By noon, you finish those potions and explain the process of how you made them to your apprentice. Afterward, you steal a quarter of Louise's creation for yourself, storing the small vial in your robes for when you need it.

Lastly, you spend three hours showing the girl how to brew a potion that has been a major boon in your magical endeavors: Elixir of Magicka. Simply combining some Creep Cluster, Mora Tapinella, and Red Mountain Flower gives you a powerful potion that not only refills your magicka, but also doubles it for almost an entire day. However, this brought up your little problem.

"Why would you need something like that, aren't you already a powerful mage?" She asks.

Nodding, you explain. "While I know many spells and powerful magics, having studied rituals, 'lost' magics, and stories of ancient cultures around Nirn... I had the fortunate misfortune of being born under the celestial sign of the Atronach. You see, as I explained before, the stars are opening through which magicka flows into the world. While the soul generates magicka, which is the reason we use them for enchanting, a single soul cannot generate even a fraction of what comes from the heavens. Most people absorb raw magicka into their bodies and naturally filter it through their soul to make it theirs, those born under the Atronach cannot properly do this. Instead, they have the ability to absorb the already filtered magicka from the spells of other mages."

"So... you need potions because your willp- magicka doesn't refill itself?" She asks, compressing your whole lecture into a single sentence. You nod, ignoring her stumbling to avoid using the local terms. "What if I used my magic to refill yours? I doubt I could make nearly as good a use of it as you."

You shake your head, having thought of this before. "Considering that the rate of absorption is not perfect, we should limit that to when we need it. I am not too fond of being hit with combat spells by allies... maybe once I teach you some Illusion magic."

Her face lights up at the prospect of more spells, but you have another topic in mind for now. "Before we go off on a tangent, I have a question for you. If we were to upgrade your... familiar, what would you want?"

"A familiar is bonded for life, I can't get a new one." She says.

"A mage may summon as many beings as they have the knowledge, power, and strength of will to control... but I was referring to physically and magically upgrading your undead servant itself, not trading it out for a new one." You explain patiently, ignoring your recurring irritation at the local ignorance. Just one more advantage you possess over them.

Surprise overtakes control as her jaw drops open for a moment and she sputters. "As many- physica- You can do that?!" She finally shouts out.

"But of course I can, I am one of the greatest wizards of the modern era after all." You humbly profess, accepting the notion that there might be others equal to yourself... Neloth of House Telvanni was a respectable enough mage, if a bit arrogant and too focused on heart stones for the two of you to enjoy working together. "We can do basic armoring if you like, or we can be more interesting."

With a quizzical look, she asks, "Interesting how?"

"How about more arms? Tentacles? Extra sensory organs? Grafted on armor? Enchanted armor? Enchanted bones? Wings? With the proper materials, we could make a rather formidable construct."

The two of you debate what features are a necessity for your first redesign of the zombie, Louise maintaining that it must not be too much larger than an adult human or else it couldn't serve her indoors. Other than that, she desires speed and does not care how many limbs it has as long as it can funtion with them.

Choose 1:
[] 1 working arm is good enough for now.

[] Replacing the damaged arm should be enough.

[] 4 arms means four potential weapons.

[] Who needs arms when you can have pseudopodia? 3 branching tentacles, eat your heart out Hermaeus Mora. (Gandalfr incompatible)

---------

In the end, you decide that the most important features are-

Choose 2:
[] Regeneration.

[] A human appearance.

[] Magical ability.

[] Stealth.

[] Reach and flexibility.

[] Write in.

 

[PieceThruWar]

Over the next two days, you teach Louise the soultrap spell and send her into the forest to collect animal souls with Azura's star. The Lady of Twilight knows of this realm through her artifact, but you doubt that she will share that knowledge with her rivals, at worst you will have to deal with Namira and Meridia. Hopefully Meridia doesn't decide to send a champion after you for robbing some graves, a single powerful zombie is more tolerable than an undead horde isn't it? Either way, you gathered enough bones for three bodies during Louise's first few trips into the wilderness.

Replacing the missing arm was simple, adding two more onto the middle of it's back in a way that they could be hidden under clothes while remaining useful was a bit more tricky. After the limbs, you attached a neck and skull to the body before using the remaining bones as reinforcement on the torso and legs. When Louise asks where you got the extra material, you say 'donations' and leave it at that, doubting that the girl is ready to accept grave robbing yet.

Each time the star is filled, your apprentice brings it back for you to power the enchantments on the zombie. Hopefully nobody enters your room without permission, since you are peeling away flesh to carve directly onto bone. Each bone is carved with everything you can think of to keep the corpse from being defeated in combat; preservation and healing for obvious reasons, vitality absorption to weaken enemies while increasing regeneration in combat, Soul Trap to strengthen the enchantments with each kill, and even an armor enchantment to protect the bones against breaking under impact. The souls Louise brings you are rather weak overall, being from mundane forest animals such as deer and squirrels, but you layered so many onto each bone that it should compensate by sheer quantity. The extra surface area from the added bone mass was also helpful.

As the muscle and flesh finishes growing over the exposed bones, leaving an unremarkable face and blonde hair, your apprentice speaks up. "What do we call him if somebody asks?"

"Since we do not know what his name once was, we shall call him Tsun, after the Nordic god of trials against adversity. Just as what lay in your past, I do not foresee an easy life ahead of you." You chuckle at the image of a towering Nordic god protecting a Breton mage and a tiny witch.

"You can see the future?" She asks uncertainly.

You shake your head in denial. "While Mysticism is a useful school of magic, most common spells are for diving a purpose or intent through feelings. Say you are walking through an enemy fortress and want to know if you are in immediate danger, you can cast a spell that lets you feel when somebody is near. Divining the future is much more difficult because the future is constantly in motion. Most predictions are either extremely vague or for specific events."

Louise takes in the information eagerly, obviously relishing any knowledge she can get on proper magic. That lasts until she realizes something that had slipped her mind. "What is wrong with me? I made a cure for Cattleya two days ago and we're still here!" With that, she proceeds to pack away what little belongings you possess and heading for the door.

Choose 1:
[] Follow your apprentice

[] Delay the trip, you need to-

[] fight that manticore!
[] Write in.​

[] Let her go on her own, you're not her minder.

[] Remind Louise that flying would be faster than whatever she has planned.

[] Write in.

 

[PieceThruWar]

"Um... Louise, where are you going?" You ask as she throws the door open.

"Going to find a carriage for hire or some horses, every moment wasted is one too many when it comes to my sister's health." Your apprentice says before rushing off down the stairs. Sighing at her youthful impertinence, you hope out the window and float down.

Landing in front of the door, you wait a moment and are rewarded with a mass of pink haired teenager bouncing off of you. "W-what? How did you... never mind."

"Magic. Which is why I must ask why you wish to take a carriage when flight would get us to our destination much sooner." You ask, helping the girl to her feet and dusting her off.

Flushed with embarrassment, Louise turns to face away from you. "It must have slipped my mind... but I refuse to be carried again like some sort of luggage." She declares haughtily, ruined by the glowing blush of her cheeks.

"Of course not, I cannot carry both your servant and yourself while holding my staff, we shall be enchanting one of your items so that you may levitate on your own." You explain, pulling out Azura's star and putting it in the girl's hands.

Looking down at the artifact, she complains, "We can't spend hours enchanting things while Cattleya suffers!"

"You should have more faith in your master. Since I can hardly carve runes into your cape, the enchanting process will be quicker at the cost of enchantment strength. Go fetch me a soul so we can get this over with, preferably something stronger than a deer." You order, sending her off as you snatch her little cloak from her shoulders.

------

The girl sprints up to you an hour later, with slightly damaged clothes and a few bits of foliage tangles in her hair. "Here." She says in between attempts at gasping for air.

"Excellent, what kind of creature was it?" You ask, beginning your preparations.

"B-bear." Louise heaves out, collapsing to her knees and retching... You should probably have her do more physical exercises.

Still, she did apparently kill a bear. Ignoring the noises she makes, you set to work on the cloak. You begin weaving the Levitation spell into the fabric, covering every speck of cloth with the power to defy the world's laws and carry it's wearer through the sky. It takes mere moments to do this, casually making a mockery of the modern 'master enchanters' of the current age. Truly Louise is lucky to have you, one of the only living wizards that is willing to teach this dying skill, as her teacher.

Holding the spell in place, you force the captured soul through the cloak, tearing it's magical potential out and locking said power into the item for eternity... or as long as the cloth survives.

"Here you are, one cloak of Levitation." You say, draping the thing over the girl's shaking shoulders. It is several minutes before she recovers enough to stand on shaky legs. "Well then, let us be off."

While Louise fumples with using an enchanted item for the first time, flipping herself upside down and smashing into building, you loop one arm around the zombie's waist and slowly lift into the air. Eventually the teen figures it out and shoots off toward the horizon, leaving you to follow at half speed to avoid overtaking her.

---------

As the sun is setting, the two of you arrive at a sprawling estate. Well trimmed hedges, decoratively railed balconies, pristine white stone construction, patches of forest, and a lazy river make up the majority of what you can see of the noble family's property. Guards manned the walls, stationing extra men at the gatehouse for the bridge. There's even a small farming town for the peasantry not to far from the walls. All in all, you wouldn't be surprised to see something like this in the Colovian highlands.

Setting down near the drawbridge, you allow Louise to handle the guards and the two of you are soon on your way to the Valliere home.

Choose 1:
[] Stay with Louise.

[] Wander off.

[] The front door is nice, but making your own door is better. Summon Storm atronach 200 magicka.

[] Interlude: Louise POV

[] Go back and fight that manticore!

[] Write in.

------
A/N: You do realize that you left a werewolf in Tarbes, yes? In a world that hasn't had any werebeasts before.

 

[PieceThruWar]

Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, third daughter of the noble Vallière family, was not in the least bit nervous as she approached the door to her family home. Her will is steel, her confidence unshakeable.

"No need to fret, child, I shall wait out here and give you some privacy." The old sorcerer told her reassuringly, as if she needed it... and calling her a child again, too! The nerve of that man! We've talked about this, I am an adult. A grown woman, I can do do anything I want and I don't need encouraging by some perverted old man!

Letting go of the cloak that she was not nervously wringing in her hands, she threw open the door. A maid, looking to see the cause of the commotion, tripped over their own feet and toppled to the floor in a pile of linen. The doors slowly closed on their own, leaving the girl and maid in an awkward silence as they stared at one another. The maid had a look of dawning horror at her unprofessional appearance, but Louise was far too nervous to punish the woman.

Standing, the servant approached. "My apologies my lady, last I had heard, the Duchess was on the hunt for your abductor... May I get you anything?"

Oh no... I forgot to write home! Mother is going to- No, you can explain everything. You are a proper mage now, with magic and a familiar and you even brought a cure for Cattleya! And the maid is watching you in concern...

Clearing her throat, Louise replied, "No thank you, I must speak with Cattleya at once." Heading for the stairs, she paused to reluctantly add, "Master Cynric is out front, he is a guest, see that he is treated as such."

Heading up the stairs and down the halls to her sister's room, Louise sighed to herself in relief that explaining the situation to her mother could be put off for now. Knocking on the door, Louise entered the room to find her sister behind her dressing screen. "I told you, I'm fine. I can dress myself you know... Tell Eleanor that I'll be down for dinner in a few minutes."

Drat, I forgot about Eleanor. "Er... Ok, sis... I just be go-" Her sarcastic remark was cut off as the privacy screen was thrown to the floor and she was scooped into a hug by the supposedly ailing woman.

"Little Louise! Where have you been? I was so worried about you!" The elder pinkette said, crushing the younger to her bosom. Muffled speech reached Cattleya's ears, forcing her to end the hug and look at Louise's embarrassed face. "Oh, I'm sorry... Can you repeat that?"

Turning away to ignore her jealousy, Louise did as requested. "I wasn't kidnapped, I simply left the academy when I acquired a private tutor."

"But the headmaster said he was attacked when he tried to stop your kidnapper... He was covered in bruises and limping!" Cattleya refuted.

Shaking her head, Louise explained. "No, those bruises are from his secretary... there's something wrong with that place if you ask me. I was covered in blood from a summoning accident and they had me sitting in his office for hours... they didn't even let me wash up first. Anyway, master Cynric and I went to Tarbes so that he could train me away from their lunacy." With a fake incantation and a twirl of her wand over her left hand, Louise made an Ice Spike. It's not lying, she's too sick for surprises like wandless magic. Nodding at the rationalization, Louise continued. "I learned this in one day with him! He's the best teacher I've ever had."

Another hug, less bone crushing this time. "Oh Louise, I'm so proud of you! I always said you would be able to do it some day. Oh, you simply must show mother when she comes home." Going back to the wardrobe, Cattleya set about finishing her outfit. "Am I going to meet this instructor of yours? Is he here with you?"

With a nervous laugh, Louise nodded. Rule of Steel or no, she was not looking forward to reuniting with her mother. "Um... Sis... I um... I actually came home for a reason... I made something for you." Pulling the decanter of potion from her pocket, she sat down on the bed.

"Hmm?" Cattleya buttoned the top of her blouse and looked over her shoulder. "What is it, a perfume?"

Of course even someone as wonderful as Cattleya doesn't even consider that you could make something magical. No, that's not fair to her, it could be anything... well, not anything. It's obviously not a bird or a table or... focus!

"It's a potion!" Louise winced at the resentment that had leaked into her voice, but continued. "Master Cynric taught me how to make a potion from his homeland... he says it can cure any disease that isn't caused by magic."

With a soft smile, Cattleya sat beside the younger girl. "That's very kind of you Louise, thank you." Taking the potion, she walked toward the window to look out over the property. After drinking the potion with no sign of hesitance, she asked, "Is that hooded figure with father your new teacher?"

"Cattleya, my dear sister, I think there might be something wrong with you... taking a mysterious potion for a serious illness and the first thing you ask is abou... wait, WHAT?!" Rushing to the window, Louise threw open the balcony doors.

"-or rescuing my youngest, but my other daughter's illness is incurable." Duke Valliere's voice could be heard as the two approached the doors. "If you really think you can cure my daughter, then by all means. Know this however, we have had many make that same claim before you."

Laughing as he walked behind the Duke, Cynric replied, "Of course, of course. Only a fool would pay a stranger at his word. No, I believe your daughters shall be down to prove my claims by meal time." With that, the blonde entered the manor, the old sorcerer looking up at the balcony with a jaunty wave before following.


"Did... did he just attempt to swindle our father?" Louise asks, incredulous at what she witnessed.

Covering her mouth as she giggled, Cattleya turned to leave. "Maybe, but I am starting to feel much better."

"But I was already going to give you the potion! That's the whole reason we came here!" Louise protested as the two headed for the stairs.

Smiling benevolently at her little sister, the elder pinkette replied, "Come now Louise, surely you won't begrudge the man who taught you magic being compensated for his work?" Unable to argue with that logic, Louise shook her head. Clapping with delight, Cattleya skipped down the hall. "Excellent, then let's go help convince father to believe whatever pack of lies he's being fed!"

Watching with unrestrained envy at her sister's bouncing, Louise crossed her arms and hurried after. So many years of unending fatigue and lounging is probably the only reason she's so much more developed. Of course eating and sleeping all day will build up those mounds of fat.

Slipping off the rail at the end of her slide, Cattleya laughed as she shoved her way through the doors of the dinning hall with Louise still working on descending the staircase. "Good evening father, isn't everything wonderful?" She said with far too much cheer as she approached the blonde man at the end of the table.

Looking at her as if she had grown a second head, the duke nodded, by instinct if nothing else. "I... yes, it is." Looking between his daughter and the old wizard who was calmly carving a roast duck, he asked, "Are you feeling alright dear?"

Hardly waiting for him to finish, she twirled as she walked around the table and took a seat. "Never better father! No more lung pains or tiredness... I daresay I feel healthy enough to wrestle mother's familiar, but I wouldn't want to hurt the poor thing."

Louise's entrance granted him the perfect opportunity to ignore that his child just suggested wrestling a manticore. Standing, the man walked over and pulled his youngest daughter into a hug. "Thank goodness you're unharmed. When word arrived of your abduction, your mother went into a frenzy. She left before I could reason with her to organize a proper search and now here you are while she gallivants around the countryside."

"I'm sorry father, I should have-" Louise begins, only to be cut off when he tightens his grip.

"No, it isn't your fault. No one can expect a student to fight off an agent of the Reconquista, especially without any skill in magic." Her indignant cries at that slight were muffled by fabric. "You're lucky that the heathen decided to camp out near Tarbes or who knows what would have happened to you."

With a confused look toward her teacher, the girl tried to push her unusually emotional father away. Seeing this, the old wizard set his silverware down and spoke. "Yes, clearly your family is blessed with good fortune. I was already in the area to hunt down a group of poachers, it was only right that I help your daughter."

"Indeed and you shall be rightly rewarded for doing so... If Cattleya remains in good health, I shall arrange compensation for that as well." Looking back down at Louise, he says, "I only want what is best for you. That is why I have decided to send for the Viscount in the morning, you shall be safely married as soon as possible."

No! Not now, not when I finally have proof that I'm a proper mage!

"But father, I'm not ready to be married! I still have my studies to complete!" Louise protested, resisting the urge to stomp petulantly.

Ignoring her complaints, he worries at his mustache. "Your fruitless attempts at magic were embarrassing at first, but as the years went by and you still showed no signs of learning, your mother and I were starting to grow concerned for this family's future. Eleanore's inability to keep a fiance, Cattleya's illness, and your own lack of magical ability... Was our family cursed? We're none of our children going to continue our line?" Pinning his daughter with a stern gaze, the man announced, "Your time for pretending to study have come to an end. We were fortunate enough that the Viscount was willing to wed a magic-less noble and I will not have that endangered because of your inability to protect yourself!"

"Father, you're being unreasonable. Louise is a capab-" Cattleya attempts to argue.

Shouting, the duke interrupts. "This is not up for debate! Do you not care that your sister could have died?" Turning to Cynric, the man declares, "It is time for you to leave. One of the servants will sort out your payment."

Choose 1:
[] Attempt to persuade the duke.

[] Appeal to him as the girl's teacher.
[] Write in.​

[] Accept the payment and leave.

[] You still have a manticore to kill anyway.​

[] Kidnap both pinkettes!

[] Murder the man with some shock magic, nobody orders you around.

[] Write in.

 

[PieceThruWar]

"That will not be necessary." You say, picking the cutlery up again and loading your plate with food. "As Louise is my apprentice, I would be remiss in my duties if I left now."

Gracing you with a huge smile, Louise visibly relaxed at your words. Her father on the other hand, appeared torn between anger at your refusal and confusion. You couldn't care less about the feelings of a man who attempted to interrupt your meal. Ignoring his words, you twirl your fork toward Louise and order, "Frost." Taking a bite, you chew it calmly as she fiddles with her wand nervously. "None of that, you know better."

It takes her a moment, but soon she is creating a layer of ice across the top of the table. "That's wonderful Louise! Splendid spellwork by a successful sorceress!" The elder pink one cheers, causing you to pause and stare. Was that on purpose, or is she just like that? "Why, I didn't even see your wand movements, let alone an incantation!"

Scoffing, you decide to put a swift end to that nonsense. "Of course not, I refuse to allow my student to use such useless methods."

"Heresy! You dare insult traditions passed down from the Founder of magic himself!" The duke roars in anger. You suddenly bursting into laughter at that statement certainly isn't helping the situation.

Rising from your seat, you walk toward the enraged man. The two of you stare each other in the eye for several moments before you jab him in the forehead with your staff. "And you dare spout myths as truth while insulting my apprentice's ability, therefore insulting my ability to teach and staining my honor!" You declare, as though you actually cared about the opinions of fools. Still, the fact that this man stayed behind while his wife went out to hunt for you demonstrates a lack of martial prowess on his part. "As you can see, after a short while in my presence, Louise can now use magic. I have accomplished in days what you people have failed to do in over a decade and you think to know better because of tradition?"

Sneering imperiously at the fallen noble, you turn away dramatically, leaving your back exposed to show what you think of him. Predictably, the Duke casts a green bolt of energy at you from his scepter, but you merely supplement your inborn ability to absorb magicka by activating your Dragonskin. Whatever the spell is, you let it hit you directly in the face, using the energy from the attack to fuel your own sparks as you electrocute the stunned man into unconsciousness.

Taking your seat again, you dig into the meal once more. After your second helping of roast-whatever passes in silence, you look up at the other occupants of the dinning room. "If you are not going to eat or speak, could you at least have one of the servants remove your father? Preferably before his soiled trousers ruin foul the air any more."

Cattleya bursts into laughter, at what you aren't sure, but she does summon a pair of maids to do as you asked. Blaming the odd behavior on her suddenly improved health, look to the younger pinkette. Louise just stares at you in open mouthed shock. You'd thought she would have learned how you operate by now, there was only one way this could have turned out once her father attempted to impose his will on the group. Honestly, if he wasn't the father of your apprentice, you would have simply fried him to death and looted the place.

"H-h-how d-did you... What was THAT?!" Louise finally overcoming her shock enough to speak, but apparently not enough to think... not a good trait to have if she continues on with you in your journeys. Who knows what shocking things you're bound to come across.

Finishing your current mouthful, you ask, "How did I What was what?" At that, you could practically hear the girl's mental gears grind back into motion... or maybe that was her teeth grinding.

"You just let father's spell hit you! I've seen that spell crumble stone and you're perfectly fine! HOW?!" She shrieks, actually snapping her wand in frustration. You watch as she seems to forget about her own question, turning into a tiny pink ball of hysteria over her useless twig's sudden division.

Sighing at your apprentices forgetfulness, you-

Choose 1:
[] Decide you've had enough for one night and search for the master bedroom to sleep in.

[] Remind the girl that her wand was pointless anyway.

[] Ignore the child and finish your meal. Speak with Cattleya when she returns from wherever she went... probably looking after the Duke.

[] Enough drama! Fly through the window and go face that manticore in mortal combat!

[] The meal is ruined. Go to the kitchen and sacrifice the cooking staff to Hircine.

[] Write in.