>>738326
>Go to the Markets
Welcome back

>>738357
On second thought,
>Stay in the guild and pray/meditate
Sorry for being finicky.

You set your pouch inside your chest, deciding on remaining here. It's been a long while since you've sat down with your gods and spoke to them. You walk the halls of the guild as if they were familiar but you must admit, they are completely foreign to you. The walls are silken and made of strange materials, the decorations are elegant and plentiful, the students are youthful and well mannered; the Guild in Orsinium was much different. The Orsinium Mage's Guild was clad in enchanted iron walls and floors; the whole estate looked like a small bulwark. The students were old and wise, the decorations ranged from swords to anatomical displays of beasts and mortals.

You found a small room with shrines to the Divines along a large platform in the center. Several praying mats were scattered around the circular platform. Against your Orcish judgement, you neatly ordered the mats so as to display them symmetrically. You looked and surveyed each shrine: Mara, Dibella, Akatosh, Talos, Kynareth, Stendarr, Zenithar, Julianos, and Arkay. Being born under the ritual stars, you always had the boon of a Divine upon praying to them. Which Divine should you pray upon?

>Mara

>Dibella

>Akatosh

>Talos

>Arkay

>Julianos

>Zenithar

>Stendarr

>Kynareth

>>738457
>Dibella
Good if we go to the markets later on.

>>738457
>Kynareth
For horses swift enough to outrun the dark brotherhood.

I'll wait for 10 or so minutes for a tie breaker, if there is none then I'll roll for the two options we've chosen.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

1 for Dibs
2 for Kyne

You kneel before a small shrine made of stone. The shrine depicts several pillars of stone with various types of fauna surrounding them. You place your hands at the base of the shrine and begin to pray to Kyne. You ask for her blessings and boons and promising to serve her. You feel a power welling within you; your feet and legs feel invigorated and strong, you feel as if though you could run for eternity.

>Kynareth's Ritual Spells gained:
>Run Like Winds - increases your speed.
>Call of the Wild - allows animals to aid you.

You stand feeling energized and calm. The shrine has left a serene air around the shrine room and around you. You leave the shrine room and head to the courtyard of the Guild. Several students are blasting targets with crackling bolts of thunder and whizzing orbs of fire. You observe and take seat on the ground. Being attuned to Kyne for now; you can feel the earth beneath you moving, beating, breathing. The winds call to you and the animals of the land speak to you. You are one with Nirn. You spend a few hours standing still, meditating on your new powers. When you open your eyes you see a small gathering of students and apprentices surrounding you. They've been observing it seems.

"Apologies for any interruptions. I'll be going now." you say as you stand and stretch your arms.

Several of the students look on at you as you leave, most of them awed at your patience and concentration. You feel a hand grab your shoulder; it isn't tall, doesn't seem strong either... You ease your suddenly tense body and turn.

"Excuse me, are you a new recruit?" you turned to see a nervous yet eager looking Dunmer boy questioning you.
"Nay, I'm a traveller." you say turning back around to walk away.
"Please, I only ask for a portion of your time." said the boy, his face now etched with slight frustration. "I am Selas Vardeyrn, Evoker of the Mage's Guild. I merely want to ask of the origin of your tabbard. You see it's a very important symbol and I believe the cloth to be of rare origin. Do you perhaps know of its significance?"

Your tabbard? What could this boy possibly want with your tabbard? It was an old cloth your father gave you when you were just a whelp.

"Personal gift. My father gave it to me, said it was from some ruins here in Cyrodiil. Didn't say which ruin. Is that all?" Your tone began to leak with suspicion.
"If that is truly all you know, then that is all yes." Selas said with a face full of disappointment.
"What's it to you anyway? Some old tabbard from a dusty crypt; what's so important?" you narrowed your eyes at the boy.

Selas stopped for a moment as he looked down in deep thought. He paced around you for a second before stopping to look you in the eye, filled with confidence he said, "If you are curious, follow me and I will show you."

>Follow him
>Don't Follow him

>>738896
> Follow him
But keep an eye on him and a hand near a blade.

>>738896
>Follow him

You didn't like this, not one bit, but you had to admit that you were curious. You placed your hand on the pommel of your blade and motioned for him to lead on. The boy smiled and began to pace forwards quickly. He led you through some of Bruma's much less radiant areas until you found yourself in a decrepit house.

"This is, for lack of a better term, my sanctum. I study all things arcane here and specifically, I study that!" he pointed at your tabbard erratically. You never once let your guard down, boy or not he was an Evoker. Mage's Guild Evokers are aspirant mages who are not yet experienced enough to be high ranking officials but aren't low enough to be under constant tutelage. Evokers are allowed to study and learn on their own, making their own experiments and discoveries without the need of supervision.

The home was old and decorated with strange Dunmeri trinkets. Paper lanterns crawled the ceilings and ashen pottery dotted the many surfaces of the house. The whole place reeked of alcohol and you were caught peeking a piece of pottery by the Dunmer. "It's Sujamma, I know the smell is strange or at the most, horrendous, but I assure you that it stiffens the backs of Nords and Orcs alike." the boy said with a tired smile.
"I'll be the judge of that..." you said as you took hold of the jug and began to down what you could. The drink was bitter and hot, but strangely refreshing. It wasn't enough to stiffen your back but it did give you a slight shiver.

You followed the Dunmer as he went on and on about his brewing experience and how he could have opened his own brewery here in Bruma were it not for the Thieve's Guild plotting against him to keep the local brewing plants running smoothly. You weren't paying much attention honestly, you just wanted to find out why that Tabbard was important. Perhaps it was worth a nice sum of gold? Or was it a long lost enchanted artifact? Perhaps it is an heirloom of a noble family?

The boy led you to a small room in his house where mountains of books were scattered about. Paintings, drawings, notes, and journals lay about in what the Dunmer called his 'study'.

"So, as you can see it is a bit of a mess... But with good reason." the boy paused to look at his mess then turned and sighed, "Do you know ANYTHING at all about the tabbard besides what you've already told me?" He said with suspicion in his eyes.
"Nay, if I would I wouldn't have followed." your hand gripped the hilt of the blade; Dunmer folk weren't known to have the greatest temperaments so when one began to heat up, you had to be ready.
"Of course, of course... Well then; what do you know of the Hero of Bruma?" he said while scrounging one of his many piles of books.
"Besides what the statue said? Not much. Why? Did this belong to him?" You said staring at the red diamond in the center of your cloth.

[1/2]

>>739166
> You don't like this, not one bit
> goes to his house, starts chugging random liquid
Orcs.

"Well, not exactly. You see, it may have belonged to a ranking officer of that order. Perhaps even the original founder if we're lucky." the boy said holding a tome and inspecting your tabbard. "Whatever the case may be, I suggest you become acquainted with this..," the boy handed you a tome with a red diamond of the same style as the one on your tabbard, emblazoned on the cover. The tome read out, The History and Life of the Divine Knights.

"The tome is a collection of my notes and studies of an ancient order known as the Knights of the Nine. I have spent many decades studying them and their original founder. A man named the Divine Crusader. They were active back in the Third Era but dissolved nearly 2 decades after being founded. They reformed again in the Third Era around fourth century during the Oblivion Crisis but they once again disbanded 2 decades after its formation. It has now been nearly 3 centuries since its destruction. Do you know where I'm getting at?" he said with excitement in his eyes.
"No." your words hit the boy like a warhammer to the face, his smile was quickly replaced with a stern grim.
"It means that the cycle is repeating! They must be coming back! Seeing you wear that tabbard only reinforces my theory. Tell me, do you pray and worship the Divines?" the boy said creeping closer to you.
"Aye, I'm a Crusader. I heal and I kill. Sometimes in the name of the Divines and sometimes in the name of my land. It's simple, there is no ulterior motive and none of this Ancient Order nonsense." you said pushing back the boy's hungry stare.
"That may be so but legend has it that the man who became Lord Crusader of the Knights was also a simple man with actions similar to yours. I reckon you wont be here in Bruma for long, so I must ask, where are you going next?" The boy said while easing himself down on a nearby chair.
"Skingrad. Why do you ask?" your eyes once more narrowed in suspicion.
"Allow me to accompany you. You aren't from Cyrodiil, strangely enough, and you may need a guide..." the boy said smirking.

Truth be told, you could use an ally to help you out in this foreign land. You've been doing good so far by yourself though, did you really need him? He is an Evoker, but you have a blade, a mace, and a large pool of magicka. You're not sure if you believe this Knight nonsense but it may prove to be useful in gaining favors with the Divines or making quick coin. Dammit all, what should you do with this boy?

>Allow him to travel with you.
>Not a chance, you made a promise to your people, you can't slow yourself down.

[1/2]

>>739295
**[2/2]

>>739295
>Allow him to travel with you.
Often good to have someone watch your back.

>>739295
> Okay
Seems like a shit choice for a companion. Maybe we can ditch him when we find someone prettier.

>>739295
>>739295
>Allow him to travel with you.

You hesitated for a moment. Sure mages were fragile, but powerful and well trained mages were incredibly useful. You knew Dunmer were naturally adept at casting so the boy could be useful. Your had slid down your face as you let out a long and heavy sigh.

"Fine. Under one condition, you do what you're told and we finish the task I am set with before we pursue any of this Knights nonsense." you said.
"A reasonable request. Very well, I will follow you in this quest of yours. May I ask what it is?" the boy said gathering a few things off the shelves and tables.
"Find out what to do with a Daedric Artifact that is threatening Orsinium." you said feeling the Horn in your satchel.
"Why would you want to save Orsinium? Nothing but savages there." the boy said arrogantly.

Rage welled up inside of you, you knew the Orcs better than most and words like this from weak whelps brought anger never ending to you. You grabbed the boy by his neck and lifted him off the ground.

"Those savages have fought tooth and nail to have a small plot of land to call home. While the rest of you hunted us like animals we had to survive and prove our worth. Even now when our people have a chance and sit at some of the highest positions in the Elder Council, you still call us savages. You want to see a savage boy? I will rip you to shreds where you stand, so Stendarr have mercy on you for mine is running thin." your mouth was curled into a snarl, your eyes a bloody fire, your voice a low growl. You dropped the boy and towered over him with a menacing look. He was shocked to say the least but you were surprised at how quick he was to compose himself.
"Right, my apologies. I've never met a half breed between an Imperial and an Orc." he said dusting his robes.
"I'm no half breed. I was simply born in Orsinium." you said sternly.
"Most interesting, now once again I apologize, but should we not get going?" he said with a nervous smile.

You left the boy in his house and ordered him to meet you by the city gates early morning, threatening to leave without him. You would see where his determination lies tomorrow. For the moment you headed back to your dorm, surprised to see how quickly the day went by praying, meditating, and yelling at Dunmer. You laid down and slipped into sleep.

[1/2]

The next morning was uneventful. Selas was waiting for you at the Southern gates. The two of you boarded the carriage and set off to Skingrad.

"We should just make a short stop in Skingrad, only for a few hours before setting off again to Kvatch." you said to Selas, pointing at your map. "When we get to Kvatch, we are going straight to our contact and we figure out what to do with the Horn. After that, we return to Orsinium and then we pursue this Divine Crusader business. Understand?" You said looking up at Selas.
"I understand, although, would it not be easier to perhaps sell the artifact to the highest bidder? I'm sure that destroying a Daedric artifact is quite the challenge." Selas was stroking his chin in deep thought.
"I carry out the orders of the Warchief, nothing more. He says this is what must be done, then it shall be so." you began to roll up your map and tuck it away.
"And if he's wrong?" Selas said uncorking a bottle of wine.
"Then he is deemed unworthy of being Warchief." you said snatching the bottle out of Selas's hands and taking a large gulp of it.

The climate changed for the better throughout the trip. You found no more need for your cloak so you stuffed it in your pack. The landscape was verdant and vivid. It reminded you of a less cold and rainy Falkreath.

"Shame we'll only be here for a few hours, I've always liked Skingrad. They have the best wine here you know?" Selas said looking at the distant city.
"Wine is weak, it has no kick and no substance. It is merely juice for whelps." your tone was annoyed, afterall, you were trying to take a long deserved nap.
"That's just how an uncultured person would speak. Wine isn't meant for getting drunk or proving your worth, it is meant for displaying taste and culture."
"I'd rather let things like art do that instead of a drink. Alcohol is meant for getting drunk. You haven't lived till you've wrestled a troll while vomiting all over the two of you."
"That sounds grotesque..."
"It's a cultural thing."

A few hours later you arrived in Skingrad. You only had around 4 hours before departure so you would have to be quick with whatever it was you were going to do.

>Stay in the carriage
>Head to the markets
>Wander around the city
>Write-In

[2/2]

>>739611
>Head to the markets
Get some stuff.

"I'm heading to the Markets, are you coming?" you asked Selas.
"No, I'll be at the Mage's Guild for the time being. I'll meet you back here at the cart when we're to depart." Selas said while climbing off of the wagon.
"Suit yourself" you said as you groped your pouch full of gold.

The markets were busy and strange. Instead of an open bazaar like the one you saw in Markarth, this market was more of a district. Most shops were all indoors and the streets were filled with people walking to and from shop to shop, not vendors yelling out how cheaper their prices were. It's kind of an overwhelming sight to be quite honest, so many tall buildings all with hundreds of items inside. There were shops for amor, weapons, food, alcohol, alchemical reagents, magickal supplies, clothing, a pet shop, and a stable house. There were more but you decided that much like last time with the notice board, narrowing down your choices to a category was quite useful. Which shop should you visit?

>Smith
>Alchemist
>Enchanter
>Cook
>Pet Master
>Stable Master
>Tailor

>>739611
>>Head to the markets
Put that new gold to use

>>739611
> Head to the markets
Grab the strongest spirit you can find so you can educate this nigger. Also he can't pawn off our horn of pain and suffering if he is in a coma.

>>739710
Damn, too slow.
> Alcohol
Do we have basic potions like health, mana, cure disease? If not
> Alchemist

>>739710
>Alchemist

>>739724
We currently have, 3 health potions, 3 stamina potions, and 3 magicka potions. We obtained them when first leaving for Markarth. I have updated the Character Sheet to include this.

>>739745
If that's the case, I switch to
>smith

I'll be waiting around 20 minutes this time for a tie breaker, after that I'll roll dice once again on the options we've chosen.

>>739710
>>smith

You walked the streets looking at all the forges and smith shops. The scent of steel and burning coal drew you in closer to the one you wanted. A humble store named Brundwen's Armory. The store was neat and organized with all manner of simple armors and weapons lined against the walls.

"If ye need weapons, I've got the sharpest blades that rival even the Dragonslayers of Skyrim themselves! I've also got quite a lot of armors that can deflect the same blades like a weak spell to a wizard's ward!" said a Nordic man behind a counter.

The store seemed to specialize in steel and corondum based equipment. It was a slight upgrade from your Orcish Iron gear, but you felt as if you could do better. Perhaps you could persuade the owner to let you use his forge? It was worth a try.

>Buy your items, no need to spend time crafting.
>Craft your items, why spend money on something you can do yourself.
>Simply Improve your items, no need to upgrade just yet.
>Write-In

>>739851
Can we see what he has? If not,
>Buy your items, no need to spend time crafting.

>>739877
He has weapons at the ready at prices set between 200-600 gold depending on the material. Corundum based equipment costs around 200 while steel would cost 600. You can haggle if you like. Armors are a little more complicated since you have to be fitted into one, this makes it so you have to wait until you get your set made. This process can take a few hours or a few days depending on the armor and how close the initial fit is.

>>740053
Proceed to buy then

>>739851
I'm up for getting better weapons, since we are here anyway. Assuming orcish iron is the same as normal iron just grab some steel ones. Whether bought our crafted depends on how good our smithing is, if we can do better than the local guy go for it, otherwise just buy then. Then we can get the fuck out of here, go to the tavern and arm wrestle some wenches.

"I'd like to purchase your wares." you say to the man, still looking around at the various weapons and armors mounted on the walls.
"Right then, we have a wide selection steel and corundum weapons for instant purchase, you can try out the items on the straw dummy out in the back of the store. You can also purchase an armor set but judging by your size and musculature, I reckon we'll have to spend some time getting measurements for a set. Care to lend me your weapons so I can take a look at them?" The Nord asks.
"Don't try anything funny with them, Nord." you say to the man as he smiles.
"I assure you I will respect these weapons, especially now that I see they're of Orcish fashion. What a damn good sight! I assume these were made from Orcish Iron so they are somewhat superior to regular iron. Orcish Iron is heavy and dense, makes it easy to bash, break, and slash bone and most materials. Tell you what, you sell me these weapons and I'll take 300 Septims off of your purchase. A straight upgrade from Orcish Iron to Nordic Steel. Not many here in Cyrodiil can sport such weapons of fine craft!" said the man displaying a broadsword with carvings along the blade and a small tuft of fur along the hilt.

>Try out the weapon first
>Sell your weapons for a discount
>Keep your weapons but get an upgrade
>Write-In

>>740175
>Try out the weapon first

>>740175
> try them out first

>>740175
>>Sell your weapons for a discount

"I'd like to try out a mace and a sword." You said, holding the two in each hand.
"Step into the back, we've got a dummy for ya." said the Nordic man leading you behind the store.

The back was adorned with a large forge and several more stations for crafting. It seems like the man took his craft seriously. The temperature was what you'd expect in a realm of Oblivion, scorching hot. You saw the dummy in corner of the room. It was freshly made since it lacked any sort of damage. You grabbed the sword with two hands and swung. The dummy's entire top half was sliced clean off with one powerful swing. The sword was light yet effective, having been trained in using unnecessarily heavy weapons, a light sword that struck just as true as your old blade was a welcome change. You tried the mace next after the Nord replaced the destroyed dummy. You brought the mace over your head as you bashed it down into the dummy. The mace went through the entire damn thing right down to the wooden pole supporting it. The mace was also quite powerful and light to your surprise.

"A damn natural you are, I reckon you'll stick with those for a while, eh?" said the Nord.
"I'm considering it..." you replied giving the mace a few more swings in the air.

>Purchase both weapons
>Purchase only one
>Sell your old weapons
>Don't sell your old weapons.
>Write-In

>>740458
>Purchase only one
The sword
>>740458
>Sell your old weapons
Mace

>>740458
Purchase both and sell your old ones.

"I'll sell the mace, and buy the blade. I'm keeping my old blade." You said to the man as you handed him your mace.
"Works for me, all in all this will cost you a small fee of 200 Septims."

You slid 200 coins to the man after a few minutes of tedious counting. You swung your blade in the air giving it a few more tests and found it to be quite the weapon. You were quite liking it, Nordic Steel was a fine material. You were about to head through the door when the Nordic man stopped you.

"Aye lad, ye aren't going to take your measurements?"

You had almost forgotten about your armor, but did you really need some? It wouldn't hurt and you're quite sure you had the funds to get a full set.


"How much would it cost me?"
"Depends, the corundum set will be around 350 and the steel set will be 750. That is just an estimate based on your size, but once we get your measurements I'll be able to narrow a price down. So what say you? Measurements or no measurements?"

>Get your measurements for custom fitted armor
>No need, I'm fine with what I have now.

>>740563
>Get your measurements for custom fitted armor
Get armor when we can

>>740563
> no need
Why the fuck did we even come to the smithy?

>>740578
After some thinking, the current armor should be fine. Switching
>No need, I'm fine with what I have now.
>>740585
to get better stuff.

>>740585
Better weapons.

"No need, this armor should hold up fine for now."
"It's your skin, Imperial." the man said smirking.

He underestimates you, that much is obvious. You exited the building and found the sun to be quite lower than it was before, perhaps it was time to leave now. You walked back to the outside of the city where you found Selas impatiently waiting for you by the carriage.

"Took you long enough, I thought this was important to you?"
"I got caught up at a smithy. Lets go."

You boarded the carriage and with the familiar sound of reins snapping, you set off to Kvatch.

"You said you were born in Orsinium, no?" Selas began to question.
"Aye. born and raised."
"Ever been outside Orsinium?"
"No. First time outside of the Iron City."
"I assume your parent's were both Imperial, right?" Selas pulled out a journal from inside his robes.
"Correct. They were part of a relief effort to help the Orcs build the Iron City. My parents were made blood-kin and I was born an Orc. I am only imperial by blood and flesh."
"Fascinating. You still haven't told me about why the Horn is such a danger."

Your eyes perked up at that one. Perhaps you shouldn't trust him, but if you didn't tell him, you were sure he wouldn't shut his damn mouth...

"Have you ever seen a dark banner emblazoned with a golden dragon on it?"
"Never. Why?"
"Ever heard of Dushnik-Yal?"
"It's one of the major Orcish cities no? Huge city of stone."
"It was reduced to rubble in a single day. The ones who fly that banner were looking for this." you say as you pull the horn from your satchel.
"Curious, what does it do?"
"Any who sound this horn can curse enemy armies if they so want. It inflicts the listeners with the pain Malacath suffers."
"Wouldn't those people searching for the Horn still go to Orsinium? Surely they wouldn't have heard that someone has taken the Horn to destroy it..."
"Our Warchief has a plan for all of this. I trust him enough to know that perhaps this is the best decision. No doubt he has agents spreading word of the Horn leaving the city. I only hope I can get to Kvatch in time."
"If they attack Kvatch, Bentius, they could trace it back to you and Orsinium. This could prove dire for your people."
"Then let us pray to the Divines that this isn't the case. Now if you'll excuse me, I want to get some damn shuteye and get you to shut up."

Selas smirked as you pulled a hood over your head to cover your eyes. He laid back and admired the landscape as you drifted off into sleep once more.

That's gonna do it for today, thanks for participating! Quest will be back tomorrow a bit earlier perhaps, follow the quest twitter for updates and time frames: https://twitter.com/LorkhanQM

I will be sticking around for any comments or questions.

>>740923
Thank you for running, Lorkhan.

will it continiue?

Apologies for the long absence, TESQuest will continue tomorrow and be back on track. Again, apologies for such a long absence.

Most likely we will have to get a new thread so I'll probably have to archive this one.

>>760769
>>760774
Looking forward to it.