Seras little snippet thread

I closed the cover of the basic restoration spell Healing. It was an interesting read. The actual spell was simple enough, but a lot of the book was information on actually using the spell. Closing a cut was nice, but if you only closed the skin over the wound and it was deep enough internal bleeding could be a quick death regardless.

So it had covered how to use the spell to heal wounds, how to actually heal.

I checked the door. Although I was sharing the cabin with Uncle Aurene, he was on the deck helping out. So I’d been left alone. I opened my hands, and the burst of golden light appeared, but not just that, a gentle tinkling noise, like bells sounded out from the glowing light.

I closed my fist, and the spell seed disappeared.

Okay, between the Restoration knowledge I had, and the spell now, I was fairly confident in protecting myself against most things.

I still needed a cure disease spell, potions were nice, but not entirely reliable considering. That and well… Cure Poison. I still remembered what it looks like to die from the Strangler, and I wasn’t about to walk into Kings Landing without as many protections as I could get.

Unfortunately I didn’t have the spell. I’d have to talk to Farengar and get a potion for it for now.

I decided to take a break before I read through Healing Hands, and instead headed out of my little room. We were already well on our way so I could step out on the deck.

The moment I stepped out of the ship the air blew hard, whipping my silver hair all around, and ruining even the minor fixes I’d made to Sarella’s work, but honestly it was nice, the cabin was stuffy and the open ocean air cooled and whirled around me.

My wings rose up, life! No more quiet bones stuck in the dirt! I flapped and arched myself into the air! I was Mirmulnir! Mighty and proud! The freezing wind under my wings brought back memories long lost and forgotten! My place in the-

I blinked as the memory faded. I walked to the edge of the ship and just rested against the railing. The waves below weren’t that bad, gentle but firm. Good waves. The breeze I knew instinctively was at our backs. Racing us towards Kings Landing.

There was a part of me that wanted to look at the sails and yell out Thu’um to speed us along even faster. To demand from reality with nothing but my will and see it done.

A dragon was a tyrant after all. I’d have to go and see Paarthurnax soon. The Greybeards might have called me, but it was him that had truly wanted to see me.

That was an interesting situation. Paarthurnax who had turned from his nature… Or had he?

He worked with humans while Alduin was a threat, but after?

I shook it off, Paarthurnax was dangerous, but he was no Alduin. Even without a Dragonborn he was not an existential threat. Something the Blades hadn’t understood.

Considering the true high end of Nirn was so far beyond even Paarthurnax, to consider him a true threat was a joke.

My fists clenched. Magicka roiled underneath my skin. There were spells greater than anything Skyrim the game had allowed us to see. I was Dovahkiin. I was in a dragonbreak. There were no heights I couldn’t overcome no power I couldn’t grasp.

Delphine feared the actual dragons when it was the Dovahkiin that caused much grander changes to Nirn than any dragon during their cycles.

Tiber Septim didn’t become Emperor because he had saved the world. He did it by becoming so powerful that most of the world kneeled to him out of fear.

To be a Dovah was to be a tyrant.

I exhaled, letting out the frustration of my position. Bastard daughter. Soon to be married off. Dovahkiin, the last Dragonborn, fated to duel Alduin.

These were things thrust upon me by my situation, but they weren’t me.

I was Victoria, and my path hadn’t been truly charted. Not even the Elder Scrolls knew the fate of my future.

If I could defeat Alduin, there was nothing I could not do. Whether I wanted to go conquer the Empire, or cast down Robert. That would be up to me, and me alone.

But first I had to figure out what I was going to do about this marriage thing. I really didn’t want to marry some little lord. I liked Driftmark. I liked my little island with Papa, and Monterys. I didn’t want to end up in the Reach which was on the other side of Westeros.

Eh whatever. If it really came down to it. I’d just interrupt the wedding by calling a Dragon and flying away… Heh, would it be funnier to rip off my wedding dress at the ‘altar’ to show armor, or just be half naked underneath?

Either would send the entire continent into a freakout.

“Well well, decided to get some fresh air?”

“Uncle.” I greeted back as I looked away from the waves to see Aurane approach and settle on the railing beside me.

“You shouldn’t worry, niece. This little marriage idea will either work, or it won’t. You’ll be fine either way.”

“I’m not worried. Not truly… I was thinking about whether it would be better if I decide to run from the wedding to strip my wedding dress to show armor as I draw a sword, or better to wear nothing. Both would cause a stir I think.” I told him truthfully, and my Uncle snorted through his nose, and then looked away as his shoulder shook.

I think I’d surprised him.

“Truly you’re as odd as ever my niece. Perhaps, we’ll just deny the wedding if you feel that confidently against it.” He managed to wheeze out and I smiled.

Aurane, unlike father, didn't actually mean that. He’d happily see me married and gone, but I accepted his words for their kindness anyways.

“When we arrive at Kings Landing, will we have time to look around? I’ve honestly wanted to visit the Dragonpit.”

“The Dragonpit? Dreaming of finding a dragon egg are we?”

“No… At least I wasn’t. I’m fairly certain there aren’t any eggs in the pit.” I admitted, as I thought about it. No, I'd wanted to look for something else if I was honest, but a dragon egg… I’d have to check Clairvoyance a few times while in Kings landing. It was entirely possible a dragon egg could have been smuggled around and hidden or lost.

The Dance of Dragons was bad enough, but it wasn’t the only time the Targaryen family had enemies.

I’d cast it right now, if the spell seed wouldn’t cause an alarm.

Hmm. I’d have to raise my Illusion levels. I bet there was a sleight of hand way to cast spells without revealing you were casting.

“Hah! Well, you won’t be the last to try it… Alright, we’ll likely have a few days indeed. I’ll make sure you get your chance for adventure, my niece.”

“Thank you Uncle.” I replied with a happy smile.

Now I just needed to finish the spell books I’d collected so far, and maybe jump back to Skyrim for some poison potions, or a spell if I could get one.

I sighed and stretched so much to do, and even with a Dragon break it felt like so little time.

—---

Over the next few days whenever I was hiding away in my little room I read my magic books. Getting proficient enough to cast them all.

Although I’d had to hide for a bit under my blankets when I cast Oakflesh, and hadn’t quite gotten down how to turn off the spell.

My spell repertoire had improved.

Shock, and Flaming Hands for Destruction.

Clairvoyance, for Illusion.

Oakflesh and Candle Light for Alteration.

It was a humble array of spells, but it covered the basics, now if only I could get Water Breathing and Levitation.

The latter might be hard to find. Might have to search some ancient tombs for an enchantment or something, since it had been outlawed in the empire for a while.

But I didn’t end up going back to Skyrim. Instead I let myself sort of settle into what I’d done. Killing, exploring, adventure, magic, and all wrapped together into something I was able to actually consider.

I’d done some things wrong. Rushed things when I shouldn’t have, but I’d survived. Plus I now had a companion. I’d be safer in the future even if I faced more dangerous things.

Yet finally we drew close to Kings Landing, and hiding away in my room it wasn’t a call or shout that told me we were close.

It was the smell.

I winced as something rancid crossed my nose as I looked through the Shock spell book I’d brought back out. I’d been bored and hadn’t wanted to cross back over since it was in the middle of the night in Skyrim, and I didn’t have the money to buy more books anyways.

So I was thinking about trying to figure out how to improve a spell the more normal way. Considering I had mastered Destruction.

But flipping the book closed and throwing it into my bags to hide it I rushed out of the room and to the deck, which made the smell worse.

It came and went, and it really was quite foul.

“The smell get to you huh?” My Uncle asked as he called out from above me and I turned and nodded.

“It always does.” I whispered as I looked back over the railing. This wasn’t my first visit after all, but it was my first one in years. I’d forgotten how bad it smelled.

There just ahead of the ship, was a castle overlooking the water, as we were slowly pulling in towards the docks.

Jeeze, I think even the water coming out of the city looked more brown than the ocean around us.

Note to self. Don’t go in the water… Or at least don’t go in the water without drinking a Cure Disease potion after.

“We’ve got another hour or so before we’re docked up. Go below and get everything in order.” Uncle Aurane ordered and I nodded. Turning. I’d have to get some perfume and a rag or something, ugh. The smell was truly terrible.

—--

We stepped off the ship, with a few family guards gathering our stuff and following after, as Uncle Aurane led us towards an inn.

After all, while nobles of a sort, we were just bastards. We weren’t the Starks or something. Our plan was to avoid the Red Keep as much as possible.

Both Uncle Aurane and myself looked far too much like Targaryens for us to want to be anywhere near Robert.

But that was good for me, because I didn’t want to see Joffrey again. The little shit.

Despite being a bastard Uncle Aurane was well respected in a way by our family guards, so they carried our bags without complaint as we all headed into the city and up towards more expensive inns.

We ended up at an Inn I never bothered to catch the name of just off the Hook. Right from the outside of the Inn you could see the road leading to Aegon's high hill, which was the road to the Red Keep.

“Enough gawking girl.” Aurane called and I turned from the road into the Inn and then past the clean entrance way and well maintained tables up into the rooms which while not fit for Nobles were fit for bastards just fine it seems.

“We’ll be sharing one, but I’ll be busy most nights.” Uncle Aurane told me as we both entered the room. There were two beds, and I claimed one without issue.

I also knew that the business my Uncle would be getting up to would likely be on the Street of Silk.

“The guards’ll be settled next door. Don’t leave the Inn without guards. This isn’t Driftmark.”

“I won’t Uncle. I know well how dangerous Kings Landing can be. I’ll be very careful.”

“Good. I’ll be checking to see if the Florents arrived yet. I didn’t see a ship, but they might have come over by land… I know you’re headstrong, but rest today. Tomorrow I’ll let you off your leash to explore the city as you like.”

“Yes Uncle.”

He nodded at my acceptance and after placing a few things away he was gone back out the room and out into the city…

I really was tempted to rush back into Skyrim, but I shook that feeling off, instead I started settling all my bags, and once that was done, I headed out of the room. The guards room next door still had the door open, likely to keep an eye on me, or anyone traveling towards my room and I stopped at the door as the men perked up.

“Yes M’lady?”

“I’ll be heading downstairs to test out the Inn’s food.” I explained and got some smiles at that, as most of the men that still remained behind after Uncle Aurane took his portion of the guards left.

The three men and I headed down, and ended up very much enjoying the food after a week of ships rations.

—--

The next morning after dressing up and gathering a few guards I slipped back into my room for a moment and cast a spell

Clairvoyance, was a spell designed to lead you towards your objective. It wasn’t extremely effective in Nirn as there were hundreds of magics designed to keep the spell from working.

But here on another world? Clairvoyance should be fairly effective which is why I activated it looking for Lamentation, the Valyrian Steel Sword.

A hundred and… sixty-seven years ago during the Dance of Dragons there was a riot at the Dragon Pit. The dragons were all murdered, and rumor is one of the killers used a Valyrian Steel Sword to cut off the wing of one of the dragons.

Lamentation was probably the blade, the sword of house Royce. Now all of that was interesting, but I’d put it less than 20% that the sword really was buried and hidden or something.

Far more likely it was squirreled away, reforged and some random house in Westeros found themselves a new sword in the next century after that fateful time.

But… 20% chance was 20% chance.

I cast the spell, and opened my eyes, the blue light only I could see actually did actualize. The sword at least in some shape still existed! I watched as unfortunately the line didn’t lead out the window directly towards my goal, but out the door, which meant I had no way to know if it was within Kings Landing, or a thousand miles away.

Definitely a weakness of the spell, maybe something a master of Illusion would be able to alter, but I was stuck with just the basics.

I walked out of the room, and nodded at the two guards that would escorting me, leaving one behind to watch the rooms.

“Are you ready?” I asked the men, and got simple nods in return.

“Excellent. I’ll be heading for the Dragon Pit first, but I might wander around as well. Ah, if you think I’m being stupid just let me know. I’ll trust in your decisions towards my safety.” I told the two men, and that earned me at least some wiggle room. Hopefully.

I stepped out onto the street not long after and then towards the main road.

The blue line of Clairvoyance picked the fastest route, so it wasn’t really leading me towards the main road, but if I was heading towards the Dragon Pit, I wouldn’t be taking side streets. That would be weird.

Who could I call to complain about this programming? Magnus? Magnus the programming for this spell if broken!

Well… To be fair it was probably the result of whoever designed this spell rather than the god…

Sorry Magnus, I think you’re a cool deity. I love magic, so thank you for making it so free on Nirn.

I hit the main thoroughfare, the road that connected the Kings Road to the Red Keep. The press of bodies was pretty astounding for a medieval like city.

My guards had to help press the crowd back as we moved.

Thankfully, the blue light had lined up with the road so it was in the direction I was heading.

Of course since it connected to the Kings Road so was a huge section of Westeros.

To hide my machinations, I stopped at a few stalls here and there along the road. I grabbed some roasted nuts, and shared them with my guards which earned me even more good will, not that the men disliked me.

My father was well liked by his men, and while I was a bastard, father cared for me, and so the guards always treated me well.

I stuck the bag of nuts into my satchel, so I could stick my hand into my bag as if rummaging around to recast the spell whenever I needed. Thankfully no light escaped from the bag and there was no curiosity when I’d pull out a roasted nut.

We continued through the city and changed roads towards the Dragon Pit, even as I looked out of the corner of my eye as the light from the Clairvoyance ran down the path I was taking, without any more of the odd curving into other directions.

The Dragon Pit. It had to be!

We passed through the Street of Sisters without issue. The long walk was filled with men on horses and carriages, and it was only as I walked closer and closer to the hill the Dragon Pit was placed on that I knew why.

The Street of Silk, where all the brothels were laid out was right next to the Dragon Pit.

I wanted to roll my eyes as my two guards were doing a bit too much gawking down the road. Uncle was probably down there.

I turned away, towards the massive ruins. “It’s almost haunting.”

“M’Lady?”

“Nothing Patrick.” I told the guardsmen and instead popped another roasted nut into my mouth after just recasting the spell. I stepped forward, up the path that led into the almost coliseum like structure.

There were plenty of people around, which felt weird. Beggars were set up, and there were a few little tents and things. It wasn’t the empty structure just rotting like I expected.

The moment I stepped through the main entrance the massive size of the Dragonpit truly struck me.

It was odd sized, not something made for humans by humans, but something more. Like seeing the Coliseum of Rome, but everything was just so subtly off.

Of course my momentary look around was interrupted by the moans of a woman. I flushed red and hurried on, as it seems some of the girls from the Street of Silk were using the Dragon Pit as a bit of free space.

My guards looked less embarrassed and more interested in hiring a girl but at least they followed me, and didn’t say anything.

Yet… The light of Clairvoyance was still guiding me, and if it was leading into the Dragon Pit, then a Valyrian Steel sword was still here!

I didn’t rush, but I started making my way, first down into the pit itself, which was now full of grass and some trees of all things, along the sandy center field.

That fact I knew why it was so green despite the odd situation only made me more uncomfortable.

The pit had been used during a plague as a mass grave. The whole place had been stacked so high full of dead bodies the king had ordered Wildfire. The dry history book I’d read had one bit of actual descriptive dialogue in the whole chapter.

Reports that even in the middle of the night, you could see the green light given off from the Dragon Pit across all of King's Landing.

So I really didn’t want to walk around in the main pit much. I wasn’t afraid of catching a disease or anything, it had been a century since then, but…

This was still a mass grave.

“M’lady?”

“I just want to see what’s over here.” I assured my guards as I started wandering towards the eastern section of the pit, the jagged spires of the ruined dome set the whole place into shadow, but I followed the light, and my guards followed me.

It quickly grew darker, and dustier. This section was quiet without nearly as many people living or wandering around, and I noticed why pretty quickly.

“Watch your step.” I whispered as I looked down into a hole in the floor, I kicked a small rock over and it slipped in and fell a good while before I heard it clattered below.

“M’Lady, this place is dangerous, we should step away.” Elliot spoke, and I hesitated. Part of me, the greedy adventurer didn’t want to stop. I wanted my damned magic sword!

But… I took a breath and exhaled. It wasn’t going anywhere, I had time, and I didn’t need a few guards that would blab about me finding an extremely valuable magic sword anyways.

I knew it was here.

“Alright.” I agreed and turned away, stepping carefully away from the damaged section of the Pit. If it was down there I’d come back soon, alone, and use my magic to find it.

I confirmed it was here, that was already amazing enough. A Valyrian Steel Sword was… Huge.

I wonder if I could enchant it? No, first I needed to figure out a way to hide it. I could probably take it to Skyrim and talk to a master Blacksmith… Or level Blacksmith myself.

It was tempting, being able to forge iron weapons and armor. That was the best part about a system, the best part of magic and everything else. With a bit of effort, a bit of time I could master an amazing skill, and really enjoy it.

“How about we stop and grab some food. It’s about time for lunch don’t you think?” I offered and the guards looked pleased at the idea of some food.

—--

When we got back, to my surprise Uncle Aurane was back as well, he was obviously enjoying some fine wine, but when we stepped into the Inn he waved for me to join him without hesitation.

“Niece, it seems we have some ill luck. It’ll be more than a week at the least before House Florent, and your future betrothed arrive by horseback. Some bad rains washed out the roads and slowed them down, it seems.”

I glared at him a bit at the way he’d worded that. He’d purposefully used future betrothed to bother me.

Great I was dealing with drunk Uncle. Drunk Uncle was a dick.

“Thank you Uncle. Shall I prepare your bed… Perhaps a bucket if you wish to keep drinking?” I asked pleasantly and he barked out a laugh as he raised his goblet of wine.

“Fear not my niece! I will soon be back on the road and out of your chambers for the night. I fear you will miss me!”

“Not likely Uncle. Be safe.” I told him, the last part no longer playing our teasing game, but being honest. “I’m going to turn in for a time. I’ve been walking all morning. The Dragon Pit was… Not what I expected.”

“The whores, yes, they do tend to ruin the mystique.”

“If you knew you could have warned me!” I hissed at him, and that only earned me another mocking laugh as he tipped his goblet back.

I rolled my eyes at his drunken revelry and instead turned with a huff and headed back up stairs.

At least a week here in Kings Landing huh? That seemed…

Boring.

But it gave me time. I was going back to Skyrim, I needed some more magic, maybe an invisibility spell to get away from the guards? Something that would let me get back to the Dragon Pit and find that damned sword.

I hesitated as I entered the room. If I went right now, it was still night time in Skyrim. I looked out the window, it was only mid afternoon here… I sighed and instead of jumping to Skyrim decided I’d spend the rest of the day here. Head to Skyrim, sleep for a night and then head out in the morning.

So much to do in Skyrim, so much to see, but at least I’d have a companion.