FSE

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I'm in a tunnel of some kind, in the dark, and walking forward. Suddenly there is a rumble and everything vibrates, heat and light growing ahead of me, and the I am in a giant cave full of machines and fire. It looks like part of what we just explored, and I see ghosts working on metal and gems. If I focus differently I can see it as it is now, dim and dirty and abandoned, but am compelled to focus on the ghosts, and see they are making arcane artifacts.

I wander in shadow and steam, absorbing everything I can, memorizing the spells they used on the astrolabe- of course, the moons are magical themselves, so it takes magic to keep track of them...

Around 5 AM we get up and I spend the short time resting madly making notes and telling the others of my dream. Although it had grown vague after waking, I was sure that when I was at a forge I could duplicate the important parts.

Makari is excited- "It must be a vision from Azura! She knows you can fix it- I had hoped you would be useful, bringing you here, since you like ruins so much. We have forgotten so many things, we didn't even know that was there!"

"I don't want a daedra meddling with me. Nothing good comes of it."

"You are thinking like an Imperial. Azurah is one of our gods, not some demon!"

Krinrah intervenes- "It's all a matter of mythopoeic forces... trust me, I'm a mage. You should be safe, if it's merely indirect contact then you're only indirectly involved. You just happen to be convenient to pass this along... plus you did volunteer when you said you wanted to copy it."

"I'm not sure how to feel about that."

"Well, since you don't have any instructions other than a repair manual of sorts I don't know what to think either. The good news is it's a tool used by clan mothers, so you won't have to run all over Elseweyr to deliver it since we know where the closest one is."

"Right."

We leave as the sun rises, collecting herbs and examining rocks on the way, stopping at Bath to rest and eat for a couple of hours, and reach the village late in the afternoon. Clan Mother is glad to see us, and when the stars come out we go to the edge of the village to look at the astrolabe. She puzzles over it-

"Hmm, it is more complex than ours, which are simple things really, we just keep track of the moon phases... I think it is to track the third moon! You say it was in Azura's star? That is very interesting. Yes, you should make a copy Hrothmund, do you have time to do it here?"

I say "We should have gone back a day ago, actually."

Makari grins "Bah, Khajiit are terrible at doing things on time! She probably expected us to wander off!"

"That one is not though, perhaps she expected him to keep you on schedule, even if her brother requested a detour. You have more supplies at home, so take the astrolabe with you and copy it in Chorrol. This way you will have to come back!"

"Oh, mother, you know I will!"

"Not you, him! We need a good smith in case the clans start fighting again... but don't worry about that, you should go finish your studies in the north."

"Are you sure? I'm- we're in no hurry."

"Yes, we talked about this. Come on, no worries, let's get a snack and talk before you go..."

The next morning Makari makes brief goodbyes to various kin, keeping it short and simple, then we travel with Dar'Shadirr back to Dune. We could have stayed for the wedding, but the house was already crowded and we felt out of place with nobles and city cats.

Our main quest in Elseweyr done we head north, with uneventful stays in Riverhold, Faregyl, and Imperial City, then after three long weeks away we made it back to Chorrol.

I unlock the door, and we dump our bags to open some windows to let the warm spring air in, then toss off boots and stretch out in our chairs.

"I don't know how to feel- I barely had time to get comfortable with it and then it's back to normal."

"I feel the same way, only in reverse! It was nice to be home again, and then we're back here. At least I got you to shave."

I laugh and run my hand over my stubble-

"I hope you aren't homesick again."

"Oh no, it helped... but are you homesick? You never talk about your family or home."

"I've told you about them a few times- they're hillbillies, my dad is a bootlegging farmer, and they're fine without me- I'm not abandoning them, just putting eggs in different baskets..."

"Yeah... it's just odd for me, that's all. Var var var."

I remember the long talks we had about the importance of clan and family, and shrug-

"I'll go back some day. Fusozei var var."

She stretches and starts peeling off dirty clothes- "I know dear, you still have things to do here."

I start to do the same- "Oh, like you hmm?"

"Ha! Can't resist a dirty comment. I'm stinky and meant your great plans of smithing and getting me a job with that alchemist."

"Ah, yeah, she can help with this astrolabe too..." I sniff myself- "Oh, ugh, let's go down to the river and take a dip before we do anything else..."

In the evening we go down to the Oak and Croissant. Bob is in the usual place, so we join him, and after sketching our adventures, he tells us local news-

"You remember Sha-Mei, the Argonian girl I've been courting? Well my family has been pushing me to settling down with her, and we're seriously thinking about it."

I shrug- "Well I settled down..."

He shakes his mug, ale sloshing- "Yes, but they want marriage- everyone is talking about babies already! I could skin animals and loot corpses all day but babies are just gross!"

We laugh, and I joke- "What do you even do with kids? Everything fun is bad for them- sex, drugs, violence..."

Makari adds- "It's worse for me- Khajiit moms lick butts clean!"

After more laughing and refills Bob says- "Enough complaining, the booze is cold and the night is warm- Hrothmund, give us one of your bawdy songs!"

"Alright, here'sa song out of the Reach," and I nudge Makari "-since you were worried about me forgetting Skyrim, dear." and start slowly-

"I met a lass with ebon hair,

and skin so soft and pale and fair-

until it started growing fur,

ears and tail- she became a cur!"

and now faster, as we start beating on the table-

"Oh werewolf, where wolf?

There was one in my room last night!

I thought she was hungry for blood,

I thought I was her steak and spud-

until she threw me on the bed,

and had her way with me instead!

Her teeth were sharp, her claws were long,

and her thighs they gripped me tight!

I bit her ear, she howled a song-

twas an epic fucking fight!

Oh werewolf, where wolf?

There was one in my bed last night!

We fell down and went to town-

I hit like a meteorite!

Oh we diddled and fiddled

away til the morning light!

You can call it sick, call it wrong,

you can call it an unholy sight-

but I'm a manly fucking man,

and I won that fucking fight!"

By then other tables had joined in, and a real bard had shown up to continue. I yawned and leaned back, dropping my free hand on Makari's thigh for a quick squeeze. I can see it's going to be a long, rowdy night...