Ch.2

[Turdas, 8th of Sun’s Height, 4E: 221]

Soulrest wasn’t what I was expecting from an Argonian city. It was built out of stone as well as wood, atop waterlogged marshy islets like Venice back on Earth by driving a staggeringly massive number of timber piles into the submerged little islands. It was still on the ‘shore’ technically, but then again the coasts of Black Marsh were apparently overtaken by mangrove trees that helped keep the Southern Sea from eroding the land further inland.

At least that was what I read in the tattered old copy of A Guide to Soulrest that Mellow had in his modest little book corner. Honestly, the author was clearly a racist, focusing on the sorts of people that tended to prefer what districts rather than any really pertinent information. It was also a few hundred years out-of-date, proven by it mentioning a district that Mellow told me was lost over a century ago to a hurricane and made no mention of the several sections of the city that had appeared since the book’s publishing in the Third Era.

Either way, Soulrest was actually quite charming. Like Venice, it had a lot of tightly-clustered stone buildings with ‘alleyway’ footpaths between some sections and canals with boats in constant traffic ferrying people and goods. I noted that none of the riders in the boats were Argonians however. Instead, my adopted species swam in the canals themselves, casually climbing in and out without so much as a how-do-you-do.

Then again, that crystal clear tropical water did look very inviting, but I don’t want to dive in without knowing where I’m going. Wet clothes cling and my roughspun outfit wasn’t made to be worn wet, although I might not care what with my hydrophobic scales. Either way, my goal is to buy a weapon and then leave the city for the swamp, but I’m not exactly sure if the canals are the best way or not. Nobody gave me a map.

“Hm, what should I do?” I muttered to myself as I looked towards the walls that ringed the width of the city where it met the shore proper. The closer to the walls you were, the more rundown the city and the people became. Which was a bit odd to me. Wouldn’t being isolated further out in the water make you further from support normally? Then again, I guess Black Marsh-. “Hey!”

I slapped the hand of a street urchin that had yanked my tail and tried to snatch my coin purse from my belt. The little brat quickly fled before I could accost him and I huffed indignantly. I was not going to think anything racist about Khajiits, but damn it, why did the first attempt at thievery have to be from a little fluff ball? I should stop getting distracted.

I was only a few streets over from Mellow’s humble home/clinic, heading for the nearest market to buy a weapon with the money Mellow had paid me for my sap. Speaking of which, are my boobs bigger than yesterday? Am I making sap that quickly? I valiantly avoided inspecting my seemingly E-cup bosom in public to reach a humble market square that had clearly seen better days.

There were no kiosks, rather the small homes along the street boasted signs indicating they were also shops. I walked through the busy path, hand guarding my coin purse as I sought out what might be the right place. Hm, most of the items on sale almost look like Roman pre-industrial production, mostly the flour.

Ah, there’s a smithy! I approached the door of the humble building with an active chimney, idly noting the sign naming it as the Chargin Targe. “Ah, welcome to the Chargin Targe. How may I help you?” Greeted the first Orc I’ve met. Huh orcs aren’t nearly as hideous as the games portray them or this guy was just particularly handsome. He just looked like a green elf with small tusks coming from his lower jaw. He did have a fantastic beard though.

“Hi, I’m looking for a weapon. I need to head into the swamp to forage for alchemy ingredients. I need something affordable that won’t break in one hit, but I don’t know what to look for.” I admitted to the orc, hoping he wouldn’t try to swindle me. I’m not a weapons buff and I’m no warrior. I may have some untapped potential with archery since I used to be Maid Marian, but I’m not going to hope that bows or crossbows were in any way within my price range.

“Ah, not to try and turn away a customer, but shouldn’t you just leave a request like that with the Pathfinder’s Guild? Black Marsh is a deadly place, deadlier than most places.” The Orc suggested and I blinked in surprise. I get that it’s dangerous out there, but someone tried to turn away a sale in concern for my well-being? Yikes.

“If I could afford it, I would. I can’t though, so I’m left with arming myself and getting the job done personally.” I insisted to the smock-wearing buff hulking-whoa he’s swole. Like, he’s twice my weight in muscle and a good head taller than me too.

“Ah, well, I can’t in good conscience give you any bottom-barrel bargain blade. The Land Dreughs and Tree Terrors would laugh at you before eating you.” The orc insisted and began looking through his wares behind the counter.

“Fantastic.” I huffed and looked at my hands, wondering if I still had the Nightstalker power from being Displaced with that Destiny bow. I had a distinct notion that no, I didn’t. Instead… “Do you have any affordable bows or other forms of archery then? I know that’s likely a silly question.”

“Hah! Affordable? Bows? I’m a smith, not a fletcher. Those snooty poachers would sooner skin you to make a belt than sell something for a reasonable price. No, I don’t. I can however offer you one of my Orcish daggers.” The smith said as he pulled up a sheathed-that’s a dagger?! It’s the length of my forearm and the blade is as thick as my wrist!

“Uh, hold on.” I looked at his forge, which he had behind him with someone else doing some smithing work. I had practice with a forge. It might not be the best idea, but I’m seeing a lot of items I could use to make basic guns here. There may not be any of the chemical reagents for gunpowder, but he had fine tools for making jewelry that could be repurposed. “Well, how much?” I’ll see about getting my hands on a setup like this at some point in the future. If I last that long.

“Sixty Septims.” The smith answered and I felt he was underselling it.

“That seems really cheap for a weapon with that much heft for a dagger.” I mean, seriously.

“Ah, it’s one of my experiments. It’s firm and strong, but lacks the brutish elegance of my people’s craft. While it won’t make them bleed out just from a cut, it’ll still part a Terror’s scales like butter. Cold butter mind you, those hides are worth money for a reason.” He warned and I nodded, counting out my Septims, which I was surprised was the standard currency here and exchanged 60 of the stamped gold coins with the Imperial insignia on them for the surprisingly hefty blade. “Thank you for your business, I hope to see you again.”

“Same to you, ah, sorry. I’m Meen-Rei.” I sheepishly realized we had not exchanged names.

“Garnag Skaakh, owner. Be safe.” He told me as he moved to help a man that came in after me. I turned to leave the shop with a smile or I tried to. It feels like smiling, but I don’t know if Argonian faces can-.

“Oof!” I bounced off of someone and landed on my ass, clutching my newly-bought dagger to my chest.

“Ah, apologies.” I glared up at the perpetrator, only for my jaw to drop at the white scaled adonis in ragged traveling robes and a bulging travel pack when he bent down to reach out to me framed by the sun. “Here, allow me to help you up.” His piercing slit red eyes were like windows into my soul rather than his with how they penetrated me with a searching gaze. He had a few scars running over his face, but that didn’t detract from how...handsome I found him.

Holy shit. How much about me was changed by whoever stole my babies and abducted me? “Hi.” I dumbly said, sure that I sounded like an idiot while I took his offered hand and he bodily hoisted me to my feet with an ease that made my heart flutter. “Uh...hi?” Say something besides hi you idiot!!

“Yes, hello. Sorry for bumping into you like that.” The towering hunk apologized again. Dear gosh, he’s easily 2 feet taller than me, putting him over even Garnag back inside his shop, who was about a foot over me. “You’re not hurt are you?”

“No.” Please tell me my tail wriggling isn’t a social faux-pas. I will die of embarrassment for how stupid this guy makes me feel with his stupid hotness.

“...You are hurt.” He gently replied and I blinked in confusion. “Something has been taken from you. Something you cannot replace. Someone has done something horrible to you and yet you do not know who they are. You are in a new place, with new people and have no idea where to go from here. Hm. I’ve been there before.”

“H-huh?” How does he know this?

“So this is where the Dream leads me. What is your name?” The albino argonian adonis asked as he looked me over, not in a perverse way, but as if simply looking at me could give him answers I’d never even consider.

“I’m Meen-Rei.” I offered and he shook his head.

“No...that is not your name, but I supposed that is the best you are able to provide.” How does he know that?! “I am Neethsi Nagnaresh. I will accompany you.” What?!

“Uh, um, that’s not necessary?” My heart was pounding, I was fighting the urge to squeal in excitement mixed with worry. I could just tell that he meant me no harm, that he would guide me. What the hell is with these weird-?

The Trees are in pain. The swamp burns. The sky weeps fire and-.

“It will pass.” Neethsi held me steady by my shoulder, a knowing look in his eyes. “Prophetic visions are always annoying. Just wait until you get them in your sleep.” Neethsi snidely hissed and waved placatingly at a gray pony guard in scaled armor who was standing next to us. The guard nodded, gave me a concerned glance, then continued on his patrol. “That lasted several minutes. I had to let the good guard know you were simply having a lingering Hist Vision.”

“Who are you? Do you know what’s happening to me?” I fearfully questioned, not fear from him though, fear from what he might know that could send me into a panic.

“I am Neethsi, I will be your guide on your journey.” The handsome man not-answered.

📜

“These are the right flowers?” I asked Neethsi after having spent hours foraging for the ingredients that Mellow requested. Neethsi was a lifesaver. Not quite literally, but he answered any questions I had, he gave advice, he even offered to train me in things! It’s like I loaded a modded version of Skyrim with an NPC that could literally hand you quest items! Though, not literally.

“Yes, see the red hue where the stem meets the bulb? That is the indicator you have a Blue Marsh Bloom instead of a Blue Marsh Bulb. The Bloom has healing properties, while the Bulb has poison. Just one of Black Marsh’s many ways to fool people.” Neethsi warned me from where he sat patiently on a log, smoking a cob pipe of something incredibly spicy-sweet.

“M’aiq sees the dragons of the south holding a great heart of a god.” Randomly said a Khajiit man that had suddenly appeared from a nearby cave that Neethsi said wasn’t dangerous.

“Hello M’aiq. How are your travels?” Neethsi casually responded as I tried not to fangasm.

“M’aiq tires of mud in his boots. Maybe M’aiq will rediscover the long-lost art of water walking.” M’aiq the Liar randomly replied and then began trudging towards the inner swamp instead of towards Soulrest.

“Will he be okay?” I asked worriedly, considering he just took a jaunt deeper into the swamp.

“M’aiq is immortal, don’t worry about him. He’s been around long enough that he’s basically a novelty.” Neethsi assured me as he blew smoke out of his nostrils and looked at the sun. “Do you have everything you need?”

“Um, the Blooms, Blisterwort, Imp Stool and Fungal Pods. He only wanted things that would make potions of health restoration. I have more than enough blooms and pods to suit his needs, so I don’t have to retrieve any Blisterwort or Imp Stool.” I looked at the cave M’aiq left and even with the knowledge The Savant had been inside and Neethsi’s insistence it was safe, I don’t feel comfortable going into a cave in nothing but rags and an admittedly cool dagger.

This thing was sharp. Almost ludicrously so. The fact it was cheap made me wonder just how dangerous supposedly higher-tier materials were. It also was rather plainly designed like a broad steel dagger from Skyrim, only green and scary-sharp. “In that case, I suggest we return to Soulrest before anything comes to ruin this peaceful day.” Neethsi knocked the ember of herbs or whatever from his pipe into the mud and stood before casually walking towards the city.

“I’m all for that. I don’t have much combat experience.” I told my companion, who simply nodded in understanding as I eyed his long, surprisingly thick tail as it shifted in balance with his steps.

“That will change. You strike me as one suited to ranged combat rather than direct melee, but even with great ranged skill, you must still hone martial prowess to ensure a well-rounded skill set. I’d say the same if you were one for magic. There is a reason summoners developed spells to provide them weapons along with their conjured allies.” Neethsi lectured idly and I nodded in agreement.

“What if I was purely for melee combat then?” I countered to hear his answer.

“Then I’d tell you to take up magic or a bow to broaden your horizons. You don’t need to be a master of all things, but aspire to master one thing and become at least competent in other complimentary skills.” Neethsi sagely stated and I couldn’t help but agree. “Continue to question me Rei, because the more you learn, the greater you become.”

“I was planning on it, but in that sense; what do you gain from helping me?” I asked for what may be the tenth time. I mean, he said I was in desperate need of help, which I won’t deny, but I still don’t understand the why of it.

“For now? A clear conscience and pleasant company.” Neethsi casually replied and I contained a girly hiss or squeal or whatever sound argonians make when pleased. I think I purred a bit. “Halt, be quiet.” Neethsi firmly told me and I stopped where I stood. I was about to ask what was wrong when a Land Dreugh stalked right in front of us.

The quadrupedal crustacean was easily twice the size of a draft horse and covered entirely in mottled pink and aqua chitin. It passed right by us, almost as if we simply weren’t there. A few minutes after it had passed, Neethsi tapped my frozen form with his tail and began walking again, so I followed. “How?” I whispered in bafflement and Neethsi snorted.

“While I do not claim to be a master of Illusion or Mysticism, I am well versed enough in both to be able to fool a sole entity that two people are not there. I am well versed enough to fool all who may see me when I am alone however.” Neethsi informed me as if such a thing wasn’t incredible. Wait.

“Wasn’t Mysticism debunked as a-eep.” I wilted at the harsh glare he sent over his shoulder at me, even if he didn’t stop moving.

“Those idiots from a few centuries ago didn’t bother continuing to discover magic and instead decided to oversimplify the Schools to the point they’re nearly worthless. Mysticism is the practice of teasing effects in reality through suggestion rather than force or assumption. It is why the modern mage of the era considers tossing fireballs or fooling some poor man into thinking they’re his best friend when he’d just stabbed his father in full view of everyone to be the apex of magic’s potential.” Neethsi snarled in frustration that I could feel wasn’t aimed at me.

“Okay then. Could you teach me that?” I asked hopefully, since going unseen or unheard would go a long way in keeping me alive. I need to survive this world if I’m going to discover a way to find my children and get vengeance on the one who wronged me.

“Of course, along with many other things if you wish.” Neethsi replied calmly moments before we reached the road and continued on to Soulrest.

📜

“Thank you. I can’t afford to pay you for this on top of the sap, but I can offer you a hefty discount on future purchases.” Mellow gratefully accepted my delivery of alchemical ingredients as he warily looked at Neethsi who was browsing his books. “Is he endangering you?” Mellow quietly whispered and I blinked at the assumption I was being strong-armed into having the tall argonian around.

“Oh, no. He’s actually been beyond helpful. He helped me avoid an encounter with a Land Dreugh on the way back.” I mentioned and Mellow relaxed. It was only now that I noticed how tense he’d been. Was he willing to try and defend me? Wow, the short and bookish unicorn looked like he could be felled by a stiff breeze, but behind his meek nature he had a surprisingly brave spirit.

“Good. With Nagas you can never be too careful.” Huh? What’s a Naga?

“Have you concluded your business?” Neethsi abruptly questioned and I jumped a bit, but Mellow held his composure.

“Yes. I assume you have lodgings for the evening?” Mellow questioned and Neethsi nodded. “Then please see yourself out. She may be out and about, but she’s still my patient and I get the feeling she’s still having aftershock visions from her Hist Sap overdose, so I’m still letting her stay here for the time being.” H-huh? Mellow? Why are you being so protective?

“I understand. It is good to see healers still have spines these days. I will see you tomorrow Meen-Rei. We’ll need to do some scrounging to have enough coin the day after for the Merchant’s Festival.” Neethsi bowed slightly to us and then left politely.

“Why did you do that? Neethsi has been nothing but a gentleman the whole time.” I leered at Mellow in annoyance and he huffed.

“Right. Not a local. He’s a Naga.” Mellow answered as he went about organizing the ingredients I brought him.

“Okay, what is a Naga?” I asked in frustration. Was this some racist thing?

“Take your average argonian, add two, maybe three feet to their height. You saw his fang-like teeth, his thicker tail, his absolute lack of spines, horns, fins or feathers? All traits of Nagas, specifically from the clans deepest in the heart of Black Marsh, which to this day is still a mystery to non-argonians and many argonians too.” Mellow stated grimly.

“Okay, how is that bad?” I asked in confusion, I was basically a hermit in my other world.

“Wherever the Naga interfere, everything tends to go awry.” Mellow ominously warned.

Next Chapter: Ch.3 Estimated time remaining: 19 Hours, 53 Minutes