#aicantar 3

[thana-topsy]

I’m infinitely fascinated by the falmer in Halfway to the Sky, I really want to know more about your ideas for their culture etc

Thank you so much anon! I kind of had to sit with this one, since I don't really have a lot of my Falmer headcanons written out or in one place as it stands. Before writing their introduction in Halfway to the Sky, I began by researching modern isolated tribes and what first contact with those tribes looked like and, surprise surprise, humans are pretty universal in a lot of ways. I try to apply the same to the Falmer. In true form, I started writing my thoughts down and it got a little long, so I went ahead and turned it into a scholarly pamphlet written (with the help of a sighted-person) by none other than the budding expert on the subject of Falmeri cultural exchange: Sarel of Winterhold. (No real spoilers for HttS, just hints and nods). Sorry, again, this got LONG.

[PAMPHLET ONE] An Introduction to the Modern Falmer: Social Structure, Family, and Trade By Sarel of Winterhold, transcribed by co-researcher and Dwemer scholar Aicantar

Quite possibly the most misunderstood nation of our modern era is that of the Falmer, living quietly beneath the surface of Skyrim and no doubt beneath the other provinces of Tamriel. The Falmeri diaspora after the disappearance of the Dwemer is still very much a mystery with little written documentation following the dubiously researched and far-too-often quoted ‘War of the Crag’. (My thoughts on that to come). However, through my years of close contact with several of the Skyrim tribes, and with the aid of my research partner (who is currently assisting in my transcription of this document), we have managed to construct a rough timeline of events based on the Falmer’s oral history provided to us, as well as a basic understanding of their culture and practice.   

SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND FAMILY

As it stands, I would classify Skyrim Falmer as a nation of loosely associated tribes. There is no centralized ruling body, but there is a clear social structure found repeated among the independent tribes. The structure is as follows:

There is a Matriarch, usually the eldest member of the tribe, almost always female (with some exceptions), whose duties are similar to that of a Jarl, though she acts as more of a spiritual/religious leader as well. She is a magic user first and foremost, and has received the “Gifts of the Old Masters” (see: Tonal Architecture; pamphlet 3) as part of her necessary requirements for the role. 

Beneath the Matriarch, there are the Time-Keepers. Time-Keepers are strictly biologically female and count the passing of the months based on their menstruation cycles. There is usually one assigned Time-Keeper with several young females under her tutelage, who are prepared to take over her role when she enters menopause. Time-Keepers may take lovers, but they do not bear children, and to bear a child as a Time-Keeper is seen as breaking a very serious vow. Typically, the Time-Keeper and her charges live together and operate as a small familial unit. The Time-Keeper may have duties outside of this role, often falling again into the realm of magic-users (alchemy, healing, enchanting, etc.). 

Beneath the Time-Keeper is the Lead Warrior (Aicantar note: the title of this role is pending, but we really can’t come up with a better description). He is almost always male (with some exceptions) and rules the warrior class. This domain includes tribal protection, boundary claims, territorial acquisition, and conflict resolution.    

The Matriarch, the Time-Keeper, and the Lead Warrior are the typical ruling tribunal of the Falmeri tribe. They often hold council with one another, though the Time-Keeper and Lead Warrior act as advisors to the Matriarch, who will usually have the final say in any decision.

The other tribal roles include those who raise and farm the chaurus; craftsmen who construct the weapons, tools, and armor from the harvested chaurus; those who roam in order to gather resources; those who raise children; and those who attend to the infrastructure of the settlement. The Falmer tend not to designate these roles based on sex or gender, though there is a noticeable skew that tends to occur in terms of female members rearing children with male members preferring to roam or hunt, but there is no discernable taboo if a male member wishes to raise a child or a female prefers the life of a warrior. (Gender and sexuality among the Falmer is a topic for another time).

The Falmer do not have traditional family structures, but tend towards communal child-rearing. There is an unfortunately high infant mortality rate due to the hostile environment and the increased chance of infection due to chaurus farming, and because of this fact most Falmer children are not given a name until after their first birthday has passed. Mothers keep their children bound to their chests, and many will often cycle newborns between one another to prevent breastfeeding fatigue. Once children have safely passed the stages of infancy, they are reared in groups, taught basic social and crafting skills, and generally kept safely in the confines of the settlement until they are of age to begin contributing to the function of the tribe. 

TRADE

Most Dwemer scholars know well that nearly all Dwarven settlements are connected via long tunnels, running like arteries to the “heart” of Skyrim: Blackreach. Blackreach is the closest approximation to a cultural hub for the Falmer tribes, acting as a centralized marketplace for trade and commerce. Goods from the overworld make their way down to Blackreach usually through scavenging bandit camps or any scholars brave enough to make their way deeper into the Dwarven ruins. I will not deny that many have met their untimely demise at the hands of the Falmer. They are fiercely protective of their tribes, and scouts will not hesitate to kill intruders without a second thought. I hope to work with some of the tribes to change this deeply ingrained instinct of isolation and mistrust, but the denizens of the overworld must also play their own part in seeking peace over violence. A “two-way street”, as my father used to say.  

The Falmer of Blackreach have been known to deal in the slave trade, both of other Falmer and any poor outsiders who do not manage to properly defend themselves. This has presented a unique circumstance in which overworld culture and language have been adapted into the Falmer’s culture. It is not as unlikely as many might think to find a Falmer with a rudimentary grasp of the Cyrodilic or Norse languages. I’ve even met one who spoke with the most peculiar Daggerfall accent after taking a former slave as his wife.

I understand that it is not my place to interfere with the nature of the Blackreach slave trade, (Aicantar note: I have had to remind Sarel on multiple occasions that I would prefer not to die over the matter), though I do not condone it and feel very uncomfortable with its continued practice. Abolitionist movements exist within individual settlements, and there are certain Matriarchs who disavow the practice altogether. So I’m relegated to the position of scholar and observer, though I do what I can to preach the philosophy of self-governance. But, as with the cultures of the surface, opinions vary and wars rage between tribes over such debates. Thus is the nature of man and mer, I suppose, as much as it pains me.

In the next pamphlet, we will cover the etymology of the modern Falmer language, the various dialects used between tribes, and the “trade language” of Blackreach. Future pamphlets will include religious practices, funerary rites, the re-appropriation of Tonal Architecture, and the unique properties of Falmeri alchemy.

#topsy writes #falmer #falmer headcanons #skyrim fanfiction #sarel the falmer #tes lore #apocrypha #falmer lore #skyrim #elder scrolls

[gilgamish]

WIP Wednesday - Tides

(shhhh its still wednesday somewhere)

thank you @thana-topsy for the tag i have something for once

i tag: @tallmatcha , @dirty-bosmer , and @kookaburra1701 <3

Tides to Carry Us Home - Chapter ??

--

Aicantar’s tower was perhaps the one and only place in Markarth that Felix felt completely safe. The Dwemer spider clanked by, crawling along the bookshelves as it re-shelved them — a simple task that he and Aicantar had spent the better of part the winter programming into the spider. Felix watched it work, letting his mind idle for a moment. Aicantar hadn’t needed the help in the laboratory.

Sure, he had been interested in having a Julianite work out the programming logic for him, despite the fact that Felix hadn’t written out a proof since he was thirteen. And at thirty-three, Felix had not felt equipped to help at all and admitted as much. But as he had soon learned, it wasn’t so much the logic or the deduction. Mostly ignored by the court and his own uncle, Aicantar just needed someone to keep him company, even if under the guise of needing help programming the automaton. He was stubborn that way. 

Harboring similar feelings, so was Felix, and their friendship had sprouted like a weed through the cracks. He watched the spider now, as it reached in with its tiny bronze pincers and pried another book from the stacks, then tossed it onto the floor. “It’s still a work in progress,” Aicantar said, sitting down with his slate and Felix’s notes.

“What’s the prognosis?”

“Now, I’m quite certain I can decipher your handwriting now, but…” Between them on the table, Felix’s scrawled calculations were strewn about. Aicantar had gone through each one, narrowing his gaze, occasionally taking a hit from his smoking pipe— another habit he had gotten from his uncle Calcelmo. “This seems like it should be wrong.” He passed the writing slate over to Felix, and on it, there was a far neater, cleaner rendition of his own math, replicated by Aicantar.

Felix picked up where he left off, “It just looks like it should be wrong.”

At which, Aicantar slid the promptuary machine over to him, and along its porcelain frame, there were the Dwemer runes that represented the figure, matching the one circled on the writing slate, and the Dwemer machine had yet to be proven wrong. “This is much more than I think would be efficient for your purposes. For the calcination process, anyway.”

“The fire salts,” Felix explained. “I’m planning on using them for that part. Slow and steady. Reliable.”

“You’d get the same results if you used bifocalized soul gems for much less. But I know you have some compunctions against it.”

“I do. Soul-magic and all that.” Felix attempted to wave it off, but Aicantar wouldn’t be so easily deterred.

“It might be worth it, giving yourself enough time to finish your… other projects.” Aicantar’s eyes were a deep shade of gold the like most Altmeri, but they were far more understanding that Felix felt like he could stand at times. Aicantar wasn’t old by Altmeri standards. In moments like these, it was hard to forget he had three times the life experiences that Felix did, which made it all the more difficult to disregard his advice.

Cursing his stubborn nature, Felix asked anyway, “Do you think it’s doable without it? With the miasma and everything else?”

Aicantar didn’t respond right away, taking another long pull from the smoking pipe. “Yes, however, that’s not really taking into the account the expense of resources, time, or sheer effort, for that matter.” He then offered Felix the pipe.

The lacquered black wood of the pipe was pleasant and smooth to his hand, cold and brittle with nerves; an incense-like mix of smoke coated the back of his throat and his lungs as he breathed it in and released the rest with a sigh. “Yeah, I had this feeling it’d be a tight ship to run.” What remained on the back of his throat and tongue was tarry and bitter the way he liked. Ravyn smoked something like this, didn’t he? They sat in silence, silver smoke curling into the study’s frigid air, occasionally broken by the skitter of the Dwemer spider as it carried out its tasks. The smoke had tugged a coil loose in him, and he almost felt incomplete without tension binding him together. “Doesn’t feel like I have much of a choice though, with what he wants to pay me.” And along the convenient fact he had threatened blackmail. Openly.

“How much is that?” When Felix stated the price, Aicantar whistled. “Most people in this city would be set with that arrangement.”

“I should’ve said I couldn’t make it. I wanted to, but…”

“At least you didn’t accept then and there. Perhaps, you may be able to negotiate the terms differently?” Aicantar’s words gave Felix pause.

On the day of that meeting, Felix had asked to examine Thonar, and when he cursorily took his pulse, the knock of the older man’s irregular heartbeat answered back with blood struggling to flow in his veins. A fury of Forsworn storm-magic during the uprising had left Thonar Silver-Blood with a weakened heart, worsening with age.

Now in Aicantar’s office, Felix wondered if fluid had already begun pooling in the man’s lower extremities. How much it would hurt to walk and conduct himself as if the valves of his heart weren’t being corroded by calcium creeping in like mildew. Calcium had been the main culprit, was the main statement in the other alchemist’s, writings; healers brought in from the rest of Skyrim only corroborated this, and it was this calcium would keep growing until it formed a dam in the valves of the heart, and then...

Aicantar stopped wiping down his writing slate. “You haven’t, right? Agreed to work for him?” Felix stopped his pencil. Smudging under his hand was a sketch of the heart and the aorta, now left a bulging smear.

“No,” said Felix wiping the charcoal smudge onto his pant-leg. The sketch of the aorta snaked down the margins of the page. Aicantar’s gaze landed on it. Though he had never been much for the arts, the image intrigued him, golden eyes glittering with curiosity. Felix hadn’t told him the exact reasons why Thonar needed this elixir, but it seemed he found his answer in the art.

--

#wip wednesday #tes fic #tcuh #oc: felix #aicantar #i'm trying to figure out which of them i'm going to shove into a locker

[whitegoldtower]

My Skyrim Hot Takes (aka; I’d smash, please don’t judge me.)

1. Ancano (my one true love)

2. Vingalmo (I’d absolutely rock his shit)

3. Ondolemar (please let me kiss those lips)

4. Elenwen (p l e a s e)

5. Rulindil (would flip-fuck him in the torture chamber and use some of his techniques against him)

6. Estormo (electroplay with some of that lightning? Yes please.)

7. Ancarion (cute. Smash.)

8. Aicantar (a sweetheart. Would fuck him gently.)

9. Cicero (nobody puts baby in the corner)

10. Aerin (why does he have to be so gorgeous)

11. Valerica (On my knees, mouth open.)

12. Harkon (not as cute… smash.)

13. Sybille Stentor (absofuckinglutely)

14. Bjorlam (the fucking carriage driver I know, but seriously look at his face)

15. Venarus Vulpin (I got sad that I killed him, so revived him, fucked him, then killed him again with a clearer mind)

16. Vyrthur (yummy snow elf vampire, hot stuff)

[sarahtunn]

OC asks that reveal more than you think

Something I was tagged in aaaages ago. Was supposed to be an ask game thing but I did them all because why not lol

1. Do they sleep with a stuffed animal? If they have multiple, who’s the favourite?

No; not anymore. She had to leave all her toys behind when she and her family fled Balmora.

2. Can they take care of a plant? What about a pet? What about a child?

Despite having access to safe places to call home she never stays long enough to really settle into any of them. The garden at the College is cared for by Urag, in exchange for her retrieving overdue books from absent faculty.

3. Ask them to describe their love interest.

Lethandhrel is single by choice.

4. Do they look good in red?

She certainly thinks so, and hasn’t any proof otherwise.

5. Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! Will they give one, and what about?

She’s not one for a big hoo-hah, though it would be nice to have a little recognition for saving the world from Alduin now and then… or for defeating the vampires… or Aicantar…

6. Who will they take advice from, no matter what it is? Who won’t they take advice from, no matter what it is?

Lethandhrel will take advice from all who wish to give it. Unless they’re Thalmor, in which case she’s too busy actively holding herself back from beating their pompous asses to listen.

7. Describe them in three words. Now let them describe themself in three words.

Agile, skilful and clever. “Greedy, deft, repentant.”

8. Do complex puzzles intrigue or frustrate them?

She doesn’t let up until the puzzle is solved. But if you give her a sliding block puzzle, she’ll just pry out the pieces instead.

9. Do they empathize with non-sentient things (dolls, plants, books…)?

Not easily. They’re just objects. However, books are in no way to be harmed, be it pages torn out for later study or merely dog-eared for later reference, you’d wish it were Urag who had caught your transgression!

10. What age do they most want to be right now?

Lethandhrel is quite happy to be the age that she is, thank you very much. There’s no use wishing to be younger or older. You can only be the age you are.

11. They’ve won the lottery. Spend, or save?

Save. As much as she can. After getting that new bow, of course. And maybe that enchanted amulet…

12. Do they like romance in the books they read (or in the book they’re in)?

She will deny it to anyone who asks, but yes

13. Name one thing their parents taught them.

To isolate oneself is to stagnate.

14. Would they agree with the term ‘guilty pleasure’? Do they have any?

See above! Also, a gift of a honey nut treat is a good way into her good graces.

15. What would they consider a waste of time– other than school or work?

Aging wine or cheese. Why wait all that time in the hope it will taste better? Most of the time it doesn’t make any difference to the flavour.

16. If money wasn’t a limit, what would they wear?

She’d spend a lot more time at Radiant Raiment, that’s for sure.

17. Do they like children?

Depends on the child.

18. Kissing: tongue or no tongue?

This is one she refuses to answer.

19. Do they study before tests? Practice before job interviews?

She’s never had a need to.

20. What do they like that nobody else does?

She’s always liked when a cat licks her. Something about the affection in the sandpaper sensation.

21. What would it take for them to break up with someone? What would be the last straw?

Lethandhrel has never truly dated anyone, so she’s currently unsure of this one. Though she concedes climbing into a bed in bloodied armour would lead to trouble.

22. Do they like being called pet names? Do they call other people pet names? What’s their go-to?

There was a young man once, who she ‘worked’ with from time to time, who’d call her ‘Than’. She thinks she probably would have asked him to see her outside of ‘work’ if certain things hadn’t happened before she had the chance. She won’t tell me what those things were but I can hazard a guess at them being ‘work’ related.

23. Stability or novelty?

She’s always game for a new experience. It’s a major reason for being the mercenary hero that she is.

24. Honesty or charity?

“Why do these have to be separate things?”

25. Safety or possibility?

Lethandhrel has never been one for direct conflict, but as has been stated before, she’ll try ‘most anything once.

26. Talent or effort?

In Lethandhrel’s opinion, talent is born from effort.

27. Forgiveness or vengeance (or…)?

Her Dunmer heart says forgiveness, her Dovah soul vengeance. Some days the soul is louder than others.

28. Would they date a fixer-upper?

“Umm… no?”

29. What recurring dreams do they have?

More memories than dreams. Scenes of Brotherhood jobs mingled with the terror of the Red Year; further conglomerated with Alduin and Lord Volkihar… It’s a wonder she gets any rest at all some nights.

30. What would they do if they knew it would be forgiven?

She would send to Alinor a Thalmor head for every Blades’ one they sent to the Imperial City. She may not wish to associate much with the Blades, due to their ‘all dragons are evil full stop’ stance, but she hates the Thalmor worse. “Damned Veiled Heritance again! That’s all they are!” (She found an ancient journal a short while back, that mentioned stuff like this. It’s strange; it seems to fade in and out of existence… It also has stuff in it about Molag Bal trying to absorb Tamriel into Coldharbour, Nocturnal invading the Summerset Isles, Dragons in Elsweyr. She won’t even tell me much about where she found it other than ‘some vague ruins of a manor in Hjaalmarch’…)

#lethandhrel #oc tag game #oc ask game #kinda shoehorned in some eso stuff there at the end lol #elder scrolls v skyrim

[clavicuss-vile]

QUICK KIN'ARU MINIFIC TIME

In which Kin'aru spends approximately 1k words mocking Lokir's hair

@ffrogey i remember you liked mr man.... pls enjoy the kin'aru content i have not forgotten The Boy

Kin’aru paced the tiny circumference of his dorm, claws fidgeting and tail flicking in apprehension. Enthir had asked they meet there, instead of their usual spot, and instructed the apprentice to collect up all of his research on the Falmer from his and Marrow’s recent expedition. Odder even still, the sleezy bosmer had refused to elaborate on exactly why he was suddenly so interested in his apprentice’s work, nor why they had to move locations to exchange the newest shipment - still, the khajiit did as he was asked, and laid out various tomes and scribbled notes across his desk.

His ears flicked at the sound of not-quite silent boots on stone, and he ceased his pacing. This was not his mentor - the steps far too heavy, yet with far more attention to being stealthy than Enthir had ever given. Kin’aru readied a poison charm at his fingertips.

Just as he suspected, a man he didn’t recognise walked in. He looked to be in his thirties, with rough stubble lining his face and a head of windswept hair in desperate need of a brush; perhaps, if Kin’aru had more than a drop of self-preservation instinct, he might have studied the intruder further before voicing this opinion.

“This one has plenty of combs he is very willing to share, provided you explain exactly what in Azurah’s name you are doing in this one’s house. Maybe Kin’aru will even teach the kind stranger how to use it, if he is feeling particularly charitable.” He hissed from the darkened corner of his dorm.

“Oh shittin’ hell-“ The stranger swore under his breath, jumping back into the wall, double taking at least three times. “What in Dibella’s name-“ He began, quietly, before the fifth double-take seemed to finally cement into his brain what exactly he was looking at. “Oh. Kin’aru, right? My apologies lad, not many ohmes-raht’s around here. What’re you doing skulking around in the dark like that?”

Kin’aru was becoming more confused with every passing second.

“This one would very much like to know why exactly a strange scruff-bag is standing in his doorway. And how he knows this one’s name. And why it looks like your hair has not seen a brush in months. You do know what a brush is, yes?”

“Gotta admit kid, when I was scaling the walls of the college in the dead of night, a nice, chilly death crashing loudly below me, my first thoughts weren’t: hmm, how exactly should I style my hair to meet Enthir’s apprentice?” He laughed kindly, making Kin relax slightly, despite the more pressing questions yet to be answered. “Besides all that,” the stranger began, straightening himself out and brushing snow off of his armour, “The name’s Lokir, I’m here on behalf of the Guild.”

That explains the breaking and entering, Kin’aru thought. He sighed loudly, his dusty-brown tail flicking in annoyance.

“That’s all this is about? Politely remind that Black-Briar girl that toxic luminescent axolotls found only in the darkest depths of the most disgusting caves this one has set foot in are, surprisingly, not easy to get a hold of, and this one wants them for his own potions! She will just have to wait.” He scoffed, puffing out the little fur he had.

“That’s… not what I’m here for. Nothing to do with the Black-Briars, in fact. Enthir tells me you study the falmer?” Lokir stepped further into the room, hovering over Kin’aru’s desk. Kin briefly wondered what exactly his mentor was doing at this point in time when they were supposed to be meeting, but snapped back to reality when Lokir reached for one of his notebooks.

"Tst tst tst tst tst!" Kin'aru spat, lunging forward and swatting rapidly at the nord's calloused fingers. He scooped his books tightly into his arms and peered as menacingly over them as a barely 5’5” ohmes-raht could. He was broken out of the staring contest by Enthir’s loud approach.

"Ah, Lokir my skeeverish friend!" Enthir grinned sleezily, extending his arms wide in a rhetorical hug neither of them particularly wished to bring to fruition. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

“Ever heard of somethin’ called stealth?” Lokir said, gritting his teeth.

“Ever heard of something called a hairbrush?” Kin’aru muttered, hastily shoving his notes back onto his shelves.

“I see you’re entertaining our guest swimmingly, Kin’aru.”

“In his defence, it seems you forgot to fill him in on quite frankly everything, Enthir. Poor kid thought I was here to rob him.” Lokir added, stepping further into the room to accommodate space for the newly arrived bosmer.

“The funnyman is lucky that it was not J’zargo he was tasked to meet. No need for a brush when his hair has been singed off. But Kin’aru appreciates his input nonetheless; perhaps he will become mister Lokir’s apprentice in the thieves guild instead.” Kin’aru half-joked.

“The way you’re going I’m shocked you haven’t already.” Enthir strolled into the tiny, cold room and closed the door behind him, lighting a small candlelight spell as he did. He held out his hands expectantly, and Lokir passed him a battered leather journal. “Karliah was correct, that’s definitely falmeri. Typical of Gallus, a dear friend, but always too clever for his own good. You don’t happen to have any studies on falmeri, do you Kin? Perhaps Marrow has some you could… borrow? Persay?”

Kin’aru shook his head. “Nothing on language. Marrow is currently fixated on the ancient dessert menu she found, and this one is studying the similarities between the circulatory system of the glowing axolotls we found and the oil cycles of the dwemer animunculi.” He grinned, a quiet purr emerging from his throat. Lokir and Enthir only blinked.

“In other words…?” Enthir prompted. The khajiit’s ears drooped a little.

“In other words, no. This one knows no falmer language. Perhaps you could try with Aicantar in Markarth? This one and he are pen-pals, I am sure he could convince his uncle to let you have a look at their research?”

“I do warn you, Calcelmo is a fierce guardian of his research. Getting the information won't be easy.” Lokir only chuckled.

“Not as fierce as our friend here, I’m sure.” The nord smiled warmly. “You say you’re pen-pals with his nephew? Anythin’ you want me to deliver while I’m there?” Kin’aru shot up and bounded to his drawers, pulling out a brooch of altmeri design that Enthir immediately recognised as Ancano’s.

“He said a while back that he missed home, so this one pocketed a little trinket from that pompous thalmor.” He grinned with pride, “but he checks all our mail before it’s sent out. Could you give it to Aicantar for me?”

Lokir and Enthir both laughed quietly, a glint of pride in their eyes as Lokir spoke up again. “The Thalmor, eh? Aye, I can do that. We’ll make a pickpocket out of you yet, kid.”

#what did kin'aru assume they were gonna be recieiving? who knows #moon sugar. it was moon sugar. marrow needs it for his baking <3 #did i decide that Kin'aru and Aicantar are penpals on the spot? absolutely. is it cute as hell? yes #also all of that 'lad' and 'aye' from Lokir is ENTIRELY Brynjolf's fault. he's rubbing off on him #as rushed and impulsive this was it was acc quite fun- the elsweyr accent is interesting and im still learning how to do it #fun fact #you cant see it rn cause marrow isnt here but Kin'aru tends to use 'this one (says such and such)' more often #and marrow tends to use their name (so like 'marrow thinks such and such') #but yea thanks for reading ily #my writing #tes #writing #tes writing #my ocs #oc: lokir #oc: kin'aru #oc: marrow #(mentioned) #enthir #tesblr #skyrim #the elder scrolls #college of winterhold #thieves guild

[theskyrimlibrary]

Table of Contents

Here is a full list of the books I’ve collected so far and will be adding to this blog. If there’s one you’d like to see before the others, let me know because right now, I’m just choosing at random.

✲•······················▃🖋️······················•✲

2920, morning star, v1

2920, sun's dawn, v2

2920, first seed, v3

2920, rain’s hand, v4

2920, second seed, v5

2920, sun's height, v7

2920, last seed, v8

2920, hearth fire, v9 

2920, sun’s dusk, v11

2920, evening star, v12

a children's anuad

a dance in fire, v1

a dance in fire, v3 

a dance in fire, v4

a dance in fire, v5

a dance in fire, v6

a dance in fire, v7

a dream of sovngarde

a game at dinner

a gentleman's guide to whiterun

a hypothetical treachery

a kiss, sweet mother

a minor maze

a tragedy in black

advances in lockpicking

aedra and daedra 

ahzirr traajijazeri

aicantar’s lab journal

alduin is real

alva’s journal 

an explorer's guide to skyrim 

ancestors and the dunmer

annals of the dragonguard

antecedants of dwemer law

arcana restored 

argonian account, book 1

argonian account, book 2

argonian account, book 3

argonian account, book 4

arvel's journal

azura and the box

battle of red mountain

battle of sancre tar

before the ages of man 

beggar

beggar prince

biography of barenziah v1

biography of barenziah v2

biography of barenziah v3

brief history of the empire v1 

brief history of the empire v2

brief history of the empire v3

brief history of the empire v4

butcher journal 

butcher journal #1 

butcher journal #2  

catalogue of armor enchantments

cats of skyrim 

chance's folly

charwich-koniinge letters, v1

charwich-koniinge, v2

children of the sky

chimarvamidium

chronicles of nchuleft 

cook’s journal

darkest darkness

daynas valen’s notes 

death blow of abernanit

death of a wanderer

dunmer of skyrim

dwarves, v1

dwarves, v2

dwarves, v3

dwemer history and culture

dwemer inquiries vol.i

dwemer inquiries vol.ii

dwemer inquiries vol.iii

effects of the elder scrolls

enchanter’s primer

fall from glory

fall of the snow prince 

father of the niben 

feyfolken i

feyfolken ii

feyfolken iii

fisherman’s journal

forge, hammer and anvil

frontier, conquest

galerion the mystic

gallus’s encoded journal

ghosts in the storm

gods and worship

great harbringers [✓]

guide to better thieving

hamelyn’s journal

hargar’s journal

harvesting frostbite spider venom

have need of cynric

herbalist's guide to skyrim

herbane's bestiary: hagravens

herbane’s bestiary: ice wraiths

holdings of jarl gjalund

horker attacks

ice and chitin

immortal blood

imperial report on saarthal

incident at necrom

invocation of azura

journal of wyndelius gatharian

killing - before you're killed

king

king olaf’s verse 

kodlak’s journal [✓]

kolb & the dragon

last scabbard of akrash

legend of krately house

life of uriel septim vii

light armor forging

liminal bridges

lost legends

lycanthropic legends of skyrim

mace etiquette

magic from the sky

margret’s journal 

mixed unit tactics

mysterious akavir

mystery of talara v1

mystery of talara v2

mystery of talara v3

mystery of talard v5

mythic dawn commentaries 1 

mythic dawn commentaries 2 

mythic dawn commentaries 3 

myths of sheogorath

n’gasta! kvata! kvakis!

night falls on sentinel 

nightingales: fact or fiction?

nords arise!

nords of skyrim [✓]

notes on the lunar forge

ode to the tundrastriders

of crossed daggers

of fjori and holgeir

olaf and the dragon

on oblivion

on the great collapse

orsinium and the orcs

palla, volume 1

palla, volume 2

pension of the ancestor moth

physicalities of werewolves

pirate king of the abecean

proper lock design

purloined shadows

racial phylogeny

red eagle’s rite

remanada

report: disaster at lonith

riften home decorating guide

rising threat vol.i

rising threat vol.ii

rising threat vol.iii

rising threat vol.iv

rislav the righteous

ruins of kemel-ze

ruminations of the elder scrolls

scourge of the gray quarter

shadowmarks 

shalidor’s insights 

shezarr and the divines

short history of morrowind

skorm snow-strider’s journal 

song of hrormir

song of the askelde men

songs of skyrim: revised

songs of the return vol.2

songs of the return vol.7

songs of the return vol.19

songs of the return vol.24

songs of the return vol.56

souls, black and white

sovngarde: a reexamination

spirit of nirn 

surfeit of thieves

thalmor dossier: delphine

thalmor dossier: esbern

thalmor dossier: ulfric stormcloak

the adabal-a

the aetherium wars

the alduin/akatosh dichotomy

the amulet of kings 

the arcturian heresy

the armorer's challenge

the bear of markarth

the beginner’s guide to homesteading

the black arrow, v1

the black arrow, v2

the black arts on trial

the book of daedra 

the book of the dragonborn [✓]

the buying game

the cabin in the woods

the cake and the diamond

the city of stone

the code of malacath

the doors of oblivion

the dowry

the dragon break

the dragon war

the exodus

the falmer: a study

the firmament

the firsthold revolt

the gold ribbon of merit

the great war

the holds of skyrim

the hope of the redoran

the importance of where

the legend of red eagle

the legendary sancre tor

the lunar larkhan

the lusty argonian maid, v1

the lusty argonian maid, v2

the “madmen” of the reach

the madness of pelagius

the marksmanship lesson

the mirror

the monomyth

the oblivion crisis

the pig children

the ransom of zarek

the real barenziah, v1

the real barenziah, v2

the real barenziah, v3

the real barenziah, v4

the real barenziah, v5

the rear guard

the red kitchen reader

the rise and fall of the blades

the seed

the song of pelinal, v1

the song of pelinal, v2

the song of pelinal, v3

the song of pelinal, v4

the song of pelinal, v5

the song of pelinal, v6

the song of pelinal, v7

the song of pelinal, v8

the tale of dro'zira

the talos mistake

the third era timeline

the wild elves

the windhelm letters

the wispmother

the wolf queen, v2

the wolf queen, v3

the wolf queen, v4

the wolf queen, v5

the wolf queen, v6

the wolf queen, v7

the woodcutter’s wife 

thief

thief of virtue

three thieves

treasure map iv

trials of st. alessia

troll slaying

twin secrets

uncommon taste

venarus vulpin’s journal

venarus vulpin’s research

vernaccus and bourlor

wabbajack

walking the world, vol xi

warrior

watcher of stones

whiterun home decorating guide

withershins

words and philosophy

words of clan mother ahnissi

wraith’s wedding dowry

yellow book of riddles

yngol and the sea-ghosts

✲•······················▃🖋️······················•✲

#table of contents #masterlist

[leahazel]

First lines meme!

Writing meme via @faejilly​! It’s been a million years since I worked on anything but BFS. Most of the non-BFS I’m working on now is for exchanges, and therefore top secret.

Rules: Post the (title) and “first line” of all the files in your WIP  folder. Let people send you an ask with the # that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet of it or tell them something about it!

1. (The Veiled Lady of Hise)

She knew Hamin would be waiting for her when she disembarked, and that knowledge alone was enough to make the last day of her voyage more interminably long than the three weeks that preceded it. 

2. (Liquid Courage)

When the smoke had cleared, Verity went up to the battlements to draw. 

3. (The Shepherdess in Green)

On the night of the masquerade ball, Verity was wearing her great, frothy green confection of a dress, and leaning most reluctantly on her husband's arm. 

4. (The Island at the Center of the Lake)

Traveling in a carriage with all the windows shuttered was unpleasant enough, stifling and hot, with no air to breathe, and the jolt and jostle of every pebble in the road shuddering through the axle and right through her bones. 

5. (The Kingfisher Seal)

Dion was baffled to be pulled away from his fencing practice by a grim-faced footman, and even more baffled when the man insisted that there was no time for him to wash or change.

6. (Happy Circumstances)

Other than the lavish ballrooms and extensive gardens, one of the new palace's most attractive features was its many guest bedrooms. 

7. (Yesterday Morning Seems So Long Ago)

Alek had been charged with getting her out of the city immediately, and he took his duties to heart.

8. (Swan Mother)

"She will be around in short order," he had been told, and nothing more, until eventually a passing footman took pity on him and escorted him to an arbor within sight of the palace stables.

9. (Cloudburst)

On the day after their return to Starfall City, Verity climbed the tallest tower in the Old Palace.

10. (Clean Little Secret)

Falling in love with Breden Reaper was a study in disappointment.

11. (Loose Ends)

"I don't know why I'm always in Windhelm during Frostfall," declared Corinne as she strode into the New Gnisis Cornerclub, "but I am.”

12. (Snowfall, chapter 6)

When they'd ended the previous evening and turned in, Allegra had promised Clarmont she would return to the subject of, as she had termed it, the last summer of her childhood.

13. (Cameo)

Whatever trick it was that gave time on Vail Isle its curiously elastic qualify, Allegra found, was as fully in play as ever, as she was nearing the end of her sixth week on the island.

14. (untitled 7KPP/Killjoys crossover)

From the very first there were rumors about the Wellin princess.

15. (A Dance in Seven Steps)

In the first: they met for tea.

16. (Persephone's Handmaiden)

No one expected kuria Hekate to appear at the fourth Harrowing.

17. (Living in the Red)

Allegra was dressing for dinner when Otto came into the room, sitting at her vanity with a brush in one hand and a mouth full of hair pins.

18. (The Lighthouse)

The lighthouse at Wend Harbor was almost two hundred years old when it ceased to be used for its original function, at least a decade before Verity's arrival in Revaire.

19. (Bad Influence)

Ophaesia's capital of Pytensia was a city of riches, luxury, and countless diversions.

20. (”BFS [redacted] scene”, chapter 70-something)

One night, in early Morning Star, Corinne woke in the dead of night to find her bedroom dark as pitch, and a ghost hovering over her bed.

21. (”BFS - Barenziah”, chapter 70-something)

"By the way," said Corinne conversationally, as she reached into the wardrobe to pull out a pair of boots, "when Aicantar was leading me through Calcelmo's lab, I saw a strange magenta gem in a little box.”

22. (other ”BFS [redacted] scene”, chapter Lord-only-knows)

When Thongvor had announced that he was riding to Windhelm, Thonar decided to invite himself along.

...

...

I’m... almost sure that’s all of them. Well. I do have a few multi-chapter works that are officially abandoned and thus not in the WIP folder(s). I included none of those. But there are quite a few stories here that aren’t likely ever to be finished.

I have a problem, yes, but it’s actually under much better control than it used to be.

Except for the fact that between starting this post and finishing it, I started another WIP.

#memes #first lines meme #works in progress #wips #not wip wednesday anymore but let's pretend #fanfiction #hazel's snippets #ask me anything but you might not love the answer #long post for ts #i used a readmore but they don't always work

[abrigmorewitch]

Starlight, Torchbugs and the Hand of Glory: Research

Studying the works of other enchanters and spellcrafters might be useful and give you valuable insights into how other practitioners of the craft have dealt with a certain problem. However, when I named Research as the first step to a successful enchantment, researching other enchantments was not, what I had in mind. Instead, I would advice you to take eyes and mind off enchanting for a moment and turn them to the world around you or, more to the point, to the subject matter you are dealing with and - equally important - the customer you are trying to please. In my case those would be the topic of “light“ and the whims of an Imperial dressmaker.

Turning towards light first, there basically are three types of light available to us on Nirn: aetherial, mundane and magic.

Aetherial Light ❧ Light from Aetherius is perhaps the most obvious choice for illumination. Simply open your window or step out of your door and bask yourself in the light of Magnus or the stars. It is well known that sun and stars are naught but holes in Oblivion through which the light of Aetherius shines down upon us, thus sun- and starlight are literally magical as they consist of magicka. (1)

Due to their distaste for fire, the ancient Ayleids frequently employed aetherial light in the illumination of their vast subterranean structures, (2) artifacts such as Welkynd Stones or Ayleid Wells bear witness to this practice. Seeing as the art of their creation however is lost to us, illuminating one’s parlour with Welkynd Stones is a fairly expensive and decadent affair. (3)

In a more recent attempt to trap starlight the Altmer of the Summerset Isles conceived the golden Cudala and Manolo Stones, which can frequently be found illuminating their own underground vaults. While the former share the Welkynd Stone’s tendency to crumble upon depletion, the latter may be recharged and are thus occasionally hailed to surpassed the Ayleid’s craftiness. (3, for further reading on the subject please also refer to Mages Guild Journeyman Hunts-for-Wisdom’s essay on Morpholites.)

Mundane Light ❧  Next to light from Aetherius, light from Nirn itself is most familiar to us. Most will heat and ligthen their houses with fire, but deploying luminous flora, fauna or fungi as a light-source is not uncommon either.

While the light of Aetherius is self-replenishing, mundane light is not. Fire - as you are probably well aware - will need some kind of fuel to feed it, some animals (the common torchbug for example) need to be alive to glow while others (for instance most fungi, netch-jelly or the wamasu’s lighting organ) keep their luminous properties for some time after being severed from their larger organism. In the end however, they all become dull when not “being fed”. [ OOC: The latter is pure assumption on my part.]

Magic lights ❧ Finally this leaves us with lights created or modified by means of magic. (4) The most obvious example for the former is of course the Mage Light of the schools of Illusion or Alteration; a glowing ball of light which for a given amount of time will either spend light to the target of the spell or a targeted area respectively. The fabled Hand of Glory, on the other hand, would be an example for the latter.

For those unfamiliar with it, the Hand of Glory refers to a relic with a particularly gruesome production process: Take the hand of a murderer (or thief) hanged by the neck until dead, bleed it and treat it in such a fashion as it will no longer be susceptible to decay. From the same man’s fat, fashion a tallow candle and place it in the mummified hand. The light of such a candle is said to only shine for them who carry it. Despite difficutlies in procuring the required ingredients - as hanging has gone out of fashion in Tamriel ages ago and was never especially popular to begin with - the Hand of Glory is rumored to work beautifully and has enjoyed ongoing popularity amongst thieves and graverobbers alike.

Obviously, if and when these relics work, their effectiveness is not owed to any body parts used in them. That a man or mer’s fat - no matter what his or her profession - should in any form produce a more secretive candle than that of a pig or a cow, is in short guar dung. (Not to mention that chopping off limps for magical purposes - even those of executed criminals - ventures dangerously close to Necromancy.) The special ingredients employed in the candle’s creation are simply means to deceive the deceivers and draw more money out of the truly desperate. All Hands of Glory I have encountered in my career have been effective solely due to illusion enchantments placed on the candles, not due to their less than savory candleholders.

Nevertheless, the Hand of Glory can still offer some useful hints to the budding enchanter. Think - for instance - of a camping fire cloaked by illusion: It will still warm you and cook your dinner, but it will not give away your location to possible enemies. Similarly you could make a mood candle which works a calm spell when lit. So, why tie a magical effect to a natural light source instead of creating a magic light? This is a topic I will breach in the next chapter, as it is crucial to the enchantment’s efficency. Before I venture there, however, allow me a few words on client research.

Clientel ❧ Clients vary and so does their needs and tastes. Both the military officer and the society lady might be satisfied by a simple mage-light creating object - but satisfied does not mean pleased and it most certainly does not mean excited about or - if you excuse the pun - enchanted by your work. Before setting to work, get to know your client, try to determine their moods, their fancies so that you - just like a good tailor - can fashion them an enchantment that not only satisfies their needs but one that suites their style and fancies.

1) For further information on the subject please refer to: The Monomyth ~ unknown author Before the Ages of Men ~ Aicantar of Shimerene [ Cosmology // obscure source, not strictly lore but rather enlightening. ]

4) Notice the distinction between a magical light in which magicka itself is the light source and a magic light in which magic is used as a method to create a light source.

Back to the Introduction

First draft, 26th day of Last Seed 2E 585

#Sadri's Primer

[tis-the-marmot]

Sooooo Varri's Dwemer spider? 0w0

If you're talking about this little superstar, it doesn't actually belong to Varimar. It's Aicantar's dwemer spider, the one you can meet and control in Calcelmo's laboratory during the Thieves Guild questline. Vari finds the spider while looking for something to translate Gallus' Journal with, and she accidentally causes some havoc with it, alerting Aicantar and the guards in the lab. Things happen and long story short, after finding out that the alleged thief who's sneaking in is actually just Vari, Aicantar decides to helps her with the mission. :3

All goes well and she visits him some time later to thank him properly and explain why she had to break in. Aicantar notices that Vari's very nervous and stressed, so he reassures and tries to cheer her up by basically going "Hey it's no big deal all that matters is that now you're fine, your friends in Riften are fine etc. etc. By the way do you want to say hello to your little partner in crime?" He leads Vari back to the lab where the dwarven spider is excited to see her again, and the two of them play together for a bit before she has to leave :'>

The spidey seems to like her a lot, always trying to get her attention, cuddle or jump on her like a heavy, metallic dog who just doesn't realise it could crush her bones in a second HAHAHAHAHA

The funny thing is, the way the spider behaves depends on the person who's controlling it with the rod, and whenever said rod is in Aicantar's hands the little guy becomes super affectionate with Vari, but I'm sure it's just a coincidence,,,,hehe

#ask box #oc: varimar #skyrim #tes

[tis-the-marmot]

So I'm sure Varri has a lot going on rn and romance is the least thing on her mind. BUT, what does Aincantar like so much about her? Other than her being adorable of course -p-

Romance is definitely something that gets more attention later in the story, after all the main threats such as Alduin, Miraak & Harkon are already dealt with.

But let's start from the start. Under the cut of course cause this is gonna be longer than expected 😭

So. What is it about Varimar that picks up Aicantar's interest? Good question. I'd love to ask him the same thing cause man.what kind of qualities did he see in that little loser sgjfdhkhfh

All jokes aside, I guess after an initial period of annoyance he finds out how similar they are in a few aspects (for example they're both conjurers, they're interested in dwemer-related stuff etc.) but I think what actually strengthens their relationship is their differences. Their personalities influence and balance each other out, Aicantar's usually the quiet and calm type so Vari brings out his bolder side and helps him come out of his shell. She on the other side is much more daring and adventurous, but when things get too overwhelming he's always there to reassure her and kinda be her safe place :3 Aicantar admires her powers, appreciates her (often questionable😬) sense of morality and humour, he's impressed by the way she often puts herself in danger to protect other people, but at the same time, ya know, he wishes Vari didn't have to risk her life everytime :(

The two of them feel so comfortable in each other's company that they start revealing their own insecurities and secrets to each other without fear of being judged. For example, Aicantar's one of the very few people who knows about Vari's troubled past with the caregiver or about her true origins as a native to the Reach, as well as her fear of failing to defeat Alduin. Just like Varimar's one of the few people who knows how held back and underappreciated he feels in Markarth, stuck in his position as Calcelmo's assistant when all he'd like to do is see more of Skyrim and travel around just like she does.

This shared vulnerability is what causes them to acknowledge their feelings for each other, cause at the end of the day it's all about how they can express their true selves in each other's presence, including all their little imperfections. :D And once Aicantar becomes a regular member of the squad later in the story, going on their little adventures together and becoming part of each other's daily routine brings them closer than ever :D

#ask box #oc: varimar #aicantar #skyrim #tes

[clavicuss-vile]

MAYHAPS if you’re down, 14 and 25 from the ask game for Nephthys, Anaelle, and Kin’aru?? 🦞🦀🦞

hey bestie!! Nephthys my beloved omg <3

14) How well-liked is your oc? What is their reputation, if they’re well-known? Are they simply liked/disliked, or are they respected but feared, or personally liked but not taken seriously, etc? Do major factions consider your oc an important player?

Nephthys: It really depends! Nep enters Skyrim after Kaos & Ime end the dragon crisis, and he joins up with The Black Spider,,, so a big well known reputation ain't great for an assassin! The Thieves Guild have him on a To Be Protected list, partly because Icarus demanded it, and partly because Lokir, Nightingale/Crow and Karliah adore him anyway. He's got a reputation as a fledgling with the Volkihars after Azurah sends him to go and put Harkon in his place. Rosalie (Serana's gf) and Serana absolutely adore him he calls them both auntie :) When he's a little older, armed with a Vampire Lord form, 2 daedric crescents and Azura's Star he will definitely be feared by anyone Azurah deems a problem :)

Anaelle: This varies WILDLY. Within the Reachfolk, she's got a reputation as a major helping hand - whenever the Timberclaws are lending aid to any other clan you can bet she's there first. As like, pretty much the figurehead of the forsworn as well she travels around a lot of the clans to check on them/get support for the siege etc, so she's actually quite famous amongst the reachfolk! a lot of the forsworn respect her as well for being such a determined fighter <3 she mainly does "undercover" stuff in Markarth so she's not actually very recognizable there, which suits her just fine.

Kin'aru: Kin'aru is Enthir's apprentice and that already sets him up to not be taken very seriously bless him JSDHSH. His field of study is souls/life magic so a lot of the tutors feel like he's wasting his time, when he could be learning something useful like summoning scamps or something. Also because its not exactly well hidden that he buys moon sugar a lot of the staff have a "what a waste" attitude towards him :( But!!!! to the alchemists of Skyrim he's got a reputation of being an absolute sweetheart! Arcadia especially likes having him help around the shop, but he runs deliveries to a lot of the others and he's very skilled at alchemy so some of the shopkeeps will even just ask that he takes over the shop for the day so they can get a weekend off!

25) If your oc is part of one of the more morally questionable or outright evil factions, how do they justify it to themselves? Do they still consider themselves as morally good? How well known is their affiliation to these groups? Do they have separate personas (e.g. Dragonborn to some people, Listener to others)? Do their family/friends know? If they have separate personas, how do they keep their less than righteous activities secret?

Nep: Hmm!! So Nephthys is part of Icarus' robin hood esque assassins guild, and temporarily the Volkihars-- honestly he justifies all of that as "Azurah told me to". He would do anything for her, if she told him to slaughter all of Cyrodiil he'd give it his best shot because she's the only real mother figure he's had :( He would justify both though because the Black Spider (generally) only kills like, people like Sissel and Britte's dad, for example. He doesn't feel guilty wiping people like that out, and he only joined the Volkihars to infiltrate them at Azura's command

Anaelle: The only really morally dubious faction Anaelle's in is the forsworn, and she justifies that as "the nords stole our home, we're taking it back. simple as."

Kin'aru: Kin also isn't really in any dubious factions! he's not an actual member of but during his college days he is an associate of the thieves guild (through Enthir) but he just doesnt really see it as that big of a deal. He deals Marrow moon sugar so she can bake cakes and steals trinkets from Ancano because Aicantar misses the summerset isles (and because J'zargo dared him to),,, Being a pawn of Clavicus Vile, though? At first he sees it the same way as with Enthir and the guild; who really cares, all he's doing is stealing a few things or bringing Vile's statue a few things whenever he demands, but he gets a little older and realises more that he's made himself known to a daedric prince, and he's not even valuable enough to be a champion, he's so easily disposable, he does really regret it. let's end this on a fun angsty note; he's absolutely terrified that one day Vile's going to hurt Marrow if he refuses to do something

#i love how much you love Kin'aru #also bestie just gonna say again i nearly sobbed when i saw you'd drawn marrow ilysm literally made my whole entire day #ANYWAY #my ocs #oc: nephthys #oc: anaelle #oc: kin'aru