General:Loranna's RP/Trail of Frozen Tears

This archival work is dedicated to Loranna Pyrel, who passed away in early 2023. Rest in peace, friend. — Rock

Book Information
Source:	Elder Scrolls Forum
Book Date:	3E 428
Writer(s):	Ted Peterson
Publication Date:	November 2004
Up	Loranna's RP
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Loranna's RP Campaign 5:
Trail of Frozen Tears

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Trail of Frozen Tears was the fifth campaign of the Loranna's RP series.

This page exists only to record the posts of Tedders, who was the only developer to participate in the roleplay. Not all concepts presented are original to Tedders' posts, as replies are built off of replies, and the original concepts of other roleplayers are frequently referenced in his content. For proper citation context, consult the archived forum threads.

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Sheogorath

Thunder rumbles in the heavens.

Sheogorath

The sky turns white with a blast of lightning, and the rain begins. Gentle rain.

Sheogorath

The wind picks up to almost a human cry, whipping the rain around in a dance.

Sheogorath

The trees bend. The rain feels like spears. The cry of the wind has turned into a roar. Shutters are being tied tight. Prayers being said in hovel and palace. This is no mere storm, it smells of calamity.

Sheogorath

sjvan0: Yasur felt the wind tear at him. If the rain were any colder, it would have been hail. He pulled his cloak in tighter around him, and took shelter in a nearby inn, briefly reading the sign (it read "The Highwater Inn"). Excellent, I'm where we agreed to meet. It looks like I'm going to have to wait for this storm to end before I can pick up my rings, though. An unfortunate setback. Yasur headed to the bar and ordered some flin, grateful that they actually served Morrowind drinks here.

"I'm heading down to the cellar," the barkeep says. "Help yourself. Be honorable and leave the money you owe on the counter."

With that, he hurries off.

Sheogorath

To all who are experiencing the storm, there are words that are irresistible that ride in on the rain and thunder, and they say, very kindly, "Do it. Let it hatch."

Throughout the region, each denizen hears it, and interprets it differently. But each person acts.

Sheogorath

Lightning strike after lightning stike lights up the sky. Old rivals are settling scores they thought were behind them; people who had resisted are now finding love in one another's arms, huddled in their storm cellars; and, ominous cyclonical clouds, black as death, circle still overhead, as if looking for a target to strike.

Sheogorath

A shrill, piercing sound rattles the foundation, and for an instant, all are blinded within. A bolt of lightning has actually struck the building. A sheet of flames spills through the masonry and the woodwork where the lightning touched ...

Let it hatch.

Sheogorath

The rain might fight the fire, but the storm's wind only fuels it. It leaps from joist to joist, until blue flames are licking the roof beams.

Hatch.

Sheogorath

An explosion down below. Screams. A cask of brandy has caught fire in the cellar. Flames are encircling the building from without and within.

Sheogorath

Almost as an answered prayer, the storm begins to die, drifting to visit the next region south-eastward ... but the building is still on fire.

Sheogorath

Any minds pushed to extremes by the storms are now released ... Unless, of course, your mind has been pushed past the point where it can ... comfortably call home. In which case, though the storm has ended, the chaos within you rages on.

Sheogorath

Allerleirauh: Well... that was... not what I expected. Thank you, Lord.

"Of course not," chuckles Sheogorath, turning his attention elsewhere for the time being.

Sheogorath

An elderly scribe runs in from the book stacks in the back; 'Oh dear, they're at it again ...'

He sees the two women. 'Oh, sorry, are you the libromancers?'

Sheogorath

Allerleirauh: "We are vistors, sir. I hope we are not in the wrong place?"

"Wrong place, the story of my life," the old man says with a cough. 'Sorry to interrupt your conversation. I was expecting someone else who could interpret this Elder -- thing that we've had for some time. A libromancer, you know, a book mage. One of the moth priests.'

Sheogorath

Allerleirauh: "A... do they leave the Capitol?" Allerleirauh asked. "Expected here?"

"Weeks ago," the old man sniffed. 'So I was told. It is a most extraordinary thing, I suppose that's what drew them out.'

Sheogorath

Loranna: "Maybe you should try asking your sources again?" she suggests helpfully.

"I will,' says the old man. 'Sorry to disturb.'

He goes back to the back stacks of the library.

On Allie's words, he comes back, 'Yes, very extraordinary. Would you like to know your future?'

Sheogorath

Allerleirauh: Allerleirauh took a quick, shallow breath. She had heard of the Timeless Time; she had heard of a time when six fates were true, all together. "I... would like to hear what you can tell me." She laughed, nervously. "And of course, if it were possible, I'd love to see the thing.

'That's the thing,' the old man laughs. 'I'm no precognicient. The thing told me my future, or perhaps not, but ... Well, if you're intersted, come back to the back stacks and I'll show you.'

The old man goes back into the recesses of the library.

Sheogorath

The old man pulls a scroll off the stacks, and looks around to make sure no one's looking.

'I don't know how long this has been here in this library,' he says. 'But a couple months ago, I was cleaning up, and I cut myself, and ...'

The old man takes a small knife out of his pocket. With a sigh, he drag it across his arm, bringing up a trickle of blood.

He dribbles the blood on a scroll that seems to be blank.

'You have to wait and see.'

Sheogorath

'Hmm,' said the old man, as he looks at the scroll and the words that appear on it. 'My future has changed ... And not in a good way ... Oh, dear ... Perhaps I shouldn't have shown you this.'

Sheogorath

Loranna: She holds out her arm, asking " ... Should I , sir?"

'You're sure, you want to know?' he asks. 'The truth is not always nice.'

Sheogorath

The blood strikes the scroll, and sizzles on impact.

The old man watches as the blood rolls over the blank surface, finding its way into forming word.

'You will slay what you love the most.'

'You will die giving birth to your child.'

'You will die and never die.'

Sheogorath

A strange prophecy ... like mine,' says the old man. 'That is why I called for the libromancer. You aren't by any chance .. expectant, are you?'

Sheogorath

'The scroll needs your blood for the prophecy.'

Sheogorath

Loranna: Loranna's face loses some color and she places her hands over her womb, as though listening ... However, her expression remains relatively calm, and she says " ... I've not been with a man for a while now and would have started feeling sick in the mornings if that were true ... no, good sir; it must refer to something else."

'Well,' the old man says. 'I wouldn't worry. You have years ahead of you before you have to worry about that. Perhaps it isn't even your first child birth, but your last?'

Sheogorath

Allerleirauh: Allerleirauh drew her sword a hand's breadth and ran her finger along it, then flicked the blood at the scroll, as the wound healed. She was quick enough; a spray of blood struck the surface.

'Not very much blood,' the old man says. 'That means not very many words. But let's see.'

Slowly, words form ...

Sheogorath

'bite'

'drown'

'madness'

'war'

Sheogorath

The last drop slowly forms th word: 'Love.'

Sheogorath

Allerleirauh: She looked at the scribe. "Sir, you spoke of your own future. Is there anything we can do to help? And what do you suppose happened to the Moth Priests?"

'You give it more blood, and it tells you more truth.'

The scribe shakes his head. 'But my truth has changed. Since this morning, when last I checked. A daedra has it in mind to kill me now. Within the day.'

Sheogorath

Allerleirauh: "Thank you, my dear," Allie said, out loud, to Loranna. "I fear I can offer little comfort in return." To the scribe she said, "Is that all? That a daedra WISHES to kill you? Does it say you will die?"

'I don't know what the difference is,' says the old man, picking up his scroll. 'If a daedra wants you dead, then you will die. Sorry. I should go. I shouldn't have troubled you.'

He walks further into the library stackjs.

Sheogorath

The old man closes his eyes and drops to the ground, his lips moving, forming words ...

Sheogorath

'Not lain with a man,' he murmurs, as breath leaves his body. 'but you are with child. Loranna is pregnant.'

Sheogorath

Allerleirauh: When she looked back, the old man was lying on the ground. She hurried to find a vial and shake it into his mouth. But she suspected it would do no good.

'You will have love,' the old man gasps, looking at Allie. Then, looking at loranna, he dies.

Sheogorath

Ot tup eht eslaf dog no lairt
Si nosaer, dna ton nosaert
Tub rof slatrom ot egduj eht enivid
Neve fi no reH ym noinipo sedivid
Si eht yrev tsehgieh fo ssendam
Hcihw I nac ekamnu sa ti si edam.

Sheogorath

Allerleirauh: Hey, don't look at me, it wasn't MY idea! Besides... as dramatic as throwing rocks at Azura might be... it's really Loranna, Demon Queen, who Ciel arrested.

Did she not say she would answer charges as Azura?

If this travesty happens, there will be drama, and comedy of the very, very blackest kind.

Sheogorath

Loranna: ... And I the person who said that to begin with now remind myself of Rule Number 3 in cooperative RPing: every idea is open to discussion, modification, and if need be creative reapplication of prior events.

ooc: Oh no. I say she said what she said. And there will be no order in the court, and hell to pay.

Sheogorath

Allerleirauh: My Lord Prince, it occurs to me that there are at least two possibilities: the first is that the woman Loranna can be tried for her crime, in admitting Azura into her body to cause havoc. The second... which is madness, and therefore may appeal to you... is that the Prince Azura may be tried... by her peers. I offer the suggestion humbly.

Ooc (I don't really want to speak in rhymes and riddles): Queen Elysana has, over the years, become one of the most powerful rulers in Tamriel. Wayrest has spread its reach, and she is a tyrant of the first order. Still, she cannot command a trial of a Daedra Prince by the Princes of Oblivion. Ciel arrested Loranna, and that is where – in my opinion – we begin.

Now when we get closer to the session, we can discuss the particulars. I am not even certain Elysana wants a trial. Ciel may have outstepped his authority by suggesting that, and she may be in an awkward position herself. I haven’t given it much thought, but what would she gain by finding Loranna guilty or not guilty? Does she think she is really going to try Azura? The Queen is not absolutely insane. Lots of questions to be answered, and I think it will be fun to explore them.

Sheogorath

Ooc; Hold on. You’re talking about holding the trial in Morrowind? One of Wayrest’s guards arrests Loranna in Skyrim and they’ve agreed to hold the trial in Morrowind? How was that agreed to?

edit ... oh, maybe it's craftier than I thought. Morrowind is run by Elysana's despised stepbrother and former rival Helseth. If the trial is held there, she will be killing two birds.

Sheogorath

Allerleirauh: (ooc: holding the trial in Morrowind, letting the baby live to term before executing her, and letting the rest of us go were Loranna's terms. )

ooc -- Well, like I said above, it's so crazy it might just work ... But is crazy. Like a criminal in Arkansas surrendering on the understanding he'll be tried in Rangoon.

Sheogorath

Dagoth Lich: The mad one has done something helpful for once! Amazing.

Sheogorath lazily opens one eye: "The mad one?"

He lazily closes it, and opens the other one, and goes back to sleep, murmuring, "I'll cure that insanity anon ..."

Sheogorath

Celezar: My lord Sheo! Blessed be you, whom I kiss upon many toed feet! *Celezar thrusts his head upward, his eyes brimming with tears of unbridled joy

A bridle appears at Celezar's feet.

Sheogorath

ooc to Loranna: I'm actually signing off for a couple days for TG myself. Have yourself a good one.

ooc to Celezar: Probably need to come up with some peculiar powers for the Bridled Joy Of Sheogorath. Something next to useless, but fun to play with ...

ooc to all: Have yourselves a crazy Thanksgiving if you celebrate it.

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