Episode 35: FINALLY autonomous again
repeat our answer verbatim
Repeat our answer to "who's side?" verbatim
You continue breathing for a moment. So far as you can tell you just went from disembodied to having a body a moment ago. Responding casually to his question without missing a beat isn't easy. Damn it, what did you even say before the world completely disintegrated in front of you?
:
"...umm..."The dizzyness that led you to nearly falling over before the world vanished is gone, but the disorientation isn't. Another moment passes while you try to settle yourself. You glance over at Caius and he's looking at you curiously.
:
"I'm sorry, what was the question?":
"Are you ok?":
"No, before that.":
"I asked where your loyalties lie.":
"Oh. Right. How about, with common sense? If Dagoth Ur wins, everybody either dies or turns into a corprus monster. Nobody wants that. We should all work together."You take a seat at Darius' table. You said it far more eloquently the last time, but that was more or less the jist of it.
:
"Are you ok? You zoned out there for a moment.":
"Did I...zone out before or after...I'm not even sure how to ask the question. What just happened? What did it look like to you?":
"I asked you where your loyalties lie, with Vivec or the Empire. You suddenly inhaled about halfway through my question as if you'd forgotten to breath. Then your eyes focused as if you were lost in thought, you said 'umm,' you swallowed, steadied your breathing, apologized and asked me what was the question."Hmm. Caius seems especially observant. You remember the swallow now that he's pointed it out, but you didn't really notice it when you did it.
:
"What happened?":
"I...guess I had a vision. Of sorts. Every now and then I get extreme senses of deja vue, as if I've done or seen things before. This time was different. ":
"I've received reports of citizens having strange dreams lately. What was in your vision?":
"No, those dreams are from Dagoth Ur. He's trying to mind control random members of the population, to use as spies. They're called sleepers. There are a bunch all over the island, including two in particular who hang out by the river that runs through Balmora.":
"Do you know their names?":
"...off the top of my head no, but one wears a green robe. I'd probably recognize him if I saw him. Anyway, this wasn't that. This was something else, and I'm not sure what.":
"What did you see?"You shrug.
:
"Everything went black and I couldn't see, hear or feel anything except heat. I looked up to see the sun, then watched as the sky and clouds reformed, then the ocean, and everything faded to brown. Then I saw the world and the buildings reform around me, then suddenly you were asking me a question."The memory of what happened is rather vivid.
:
"That doesn't mean anything to me. Does it to you?":
"...kind of...not, no. I mean, I have some ideas...but, I don't really know."see if any of the information he gave us has changed.
Ask Caius if he has dispatched anyone to Illunibi, and if he has, obtain a description
:
"Hey, actually...there's something you could do that might help. Remember a bit ago I asked about...someone and Ilunibi?":
"Yes?":
"Tell me again what you said before. What's the name of the...person you sent? What did she look like? When did you talk to her?":
"Clover the Clever. Female dunmer, long white hair. She first presented herself to me nearly four weeks ago, and I asked her to investigate Ilunibi just yesterday. Why do you ask?"Hmm. He went into more detail this time, but that answer doesn't disagree with anything he said the first time. Four weeks...that would have been about the time you joined the Legion. So in four weeks she's done, what...about a third of the main quest? There are probably some other implications too. For example...if the quest progression is the same here, that would mean she's probably already retrieved the dwemer cube for Hasphat, and the skull for the necro-oh. Right. The skull quest that the orc offered you before you joined the legion. The one that she said was a limited time offer. That quest probably isn't available anymore.
:
"Hmm, ok. I was kind of hoping the answer would be different this time.":
"Why would it?":
"Well...when the deja vues happen, sometimes..."It occurs to you that you're partially depending on the word of the voices in your head for some of this. Until now you don't remember repeating events or anything like they've said. Just the sense of deja vue. But this time you do remember answering Caius' question, and then him asking it again. So you decide to go with it.
:
"...sometimes it's like I'm repeating certain events. For example, just now you asked me about my loyalties, and I actually answered before the whole vision thing happened. And then you asked again."Caius frowns at this.
:
"You mean, as if you were sent backwards in time?":
"Hmm. Yeah, I suppose you could look at it that way."Caius' gaze becomes very distant. He's clearly very concerned with that answer.
:
"I hope that you're lying to me. Or are merely crazy. I fear that you're not.":
"Why?":
"Are you familiar with the warp in the west?"...oh.
Oh. Yeah, from his point of view that makes a lot of sense.
:
"Yes. You think it happening again?":
"It's possible."The two of you look at each other for a moment.
:
"Michael, you're an intelligence asset. And while I don't know what exactly your role is in all of this, I suspect that you do have one. I want you to work for me. I'd like you to become a Blades operative. I gather that you already understand what I'm proposing."How can we become autonomous again?
-Become an Operative
cut a deal with Caius, information in exchange for freedom.
I can support that. And if there's anyone who can get us out of our obligations
in good standing, actually, it's probably him.
Talk to Caius at the first opportunity
:
"Yes. Yes, I do. And that sounds like a terrific idea. But I'm presently a legion recruit stuck in menial patrol and guard duty. Would you be able to make arrangements to get me out of active duty?":
"Yes, that should be no problem.":
"Very well, I accept.":
"Excellent. Wait here a moment."Caius goes to the door and sends a legionnaire to fetch General Darius. The two of them exchange some private words together, then the general scowls and faces you.
:
"Recruit Michael, I am hereby placing you on detached duty until further notice. Please note that detached duty personnel are not eligible for monthly pay or provisions like regular patrol duty personnel. Thank you for your service. Glory to the Emperor."Something about the droning way he said it with no pauses between sentences leads you to believe that this is a speech he's given before.
:
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to have my office back.":
"Come, let's get your things."You lead Caius to your bunk at the barracks. He instructs you to gather all your things in a pile, and then he recalls the two of you to his room in Balmora where an Argonian is waiting. The Argonian looks at you and instantly draws and aims a crossbow at you.
:
"Hold. Nine-toes, this is Michael. Michael, Nine-toes.":
"Hi.":
"The pleasure is ours."Caius sits at his table and begins writing a letter while making a number of slippery hissing noises. Nine-toes listens closely then hisses a response. Caius hands him a rolled up letter and he leaves.
:
"As for you, here's 200 septims. Get yourself some gear, or training. Or if you need a base of operations, you might consider talking to Nileno Dorvayn at the Hlaalu Council Manor. Give her my name and she'll give you a discounted rental rate here in Balmora. I don't mind if you need to leave some things here for a few days while you get yourself sorted out, but I can't have legion armor sitting around and risk my cover. Stash it under the bed if you need for now, but get it taken care of.":
"Come back in a few days and I might have orders for you."attempt to summon a glass of water from nowhere.
Caius resumes his writing, and with his back turned you hold out your hand and try to conjure a glass of water. Nothing happens.
Level 5
Health 50/50
Armor rating: 1
25.7 Strength (20)
33.1 Speed (30)
35.7 Agility (30)
34.1 Endurance (30)
42.0 Intelligence (40)
42.8 Personality (40)
54.0 Luck (50)
Numbers in parenthesis are starting values
27 Acrobatics (0)
21 Athletics (5)
5 Armorer (0)
5 Block (0)
5 Heavy Armor (0)
5 Medium Armor (0)
5 Unarmored (0)
5 Blunt Weapon
5 Hand to Hand
5 Longblade
5 Shortblade
5 Spear
5 Alchemy (0)
5 Enchanting (0)
18 Speechcraft (10)
6 Mercantile (0)
* Cursed ring of athletics and drain health
* Chitin spear
* Imperial steel Cuirass
* Imperial steel helm
* Imperial steel shield
* Combat belt
* Commoner's shirt
* Commoner's pants
* Tennis shoes
* Interior coinpurse, containing:
* 244 gold
* 1 Standard Restore Health potions
* 1 empty bottle
* 2 soulgems of uncertain size
Blades, Novice
Imperial Legion, Recruit
Stashed under Caius' bed in Balmora
* Steel tanto, with scabbard and carrying straps
* Chitin club
* Steel longsword
* Imperial chain cuirass
Backpack (also currently at Caius Cosades' house in Balmora)
Main compartment:
* A strange note that you don't know where it came from
* Letter of introduction from Ranis Athrys
* Colovian fur "helm"
* Commoner's belt
* Yellow notepad with 55 pages left
* 1 divine intervention scroll, trigger words 'take me home'
* 1 pen
* Apprentice mortar and pestle
* "20% cooler" Rainbow Dash t-shirt,
* Denim pants
* a cellphone and wallet with picture ID and $30 in cash
Small compartment
* 122 gold
* 1 ampoule Pod
* 1 bread
* 7 bungler's bane
* 3 hypha facia
* 1 kwama cuttle
* 11 luminous russula
* 1 rat meat
* 3 saltrice
* 5 spore pod
* 6 violet coprinus
ampoule Pod - [1]Restore speed
Bread - [1]Restore Fatigue
bungler's bane - [1]Drain agility
coda flower - [1]Restore luck
hypha facia - [1]Drain
kwama cuttle [1]Restore health
luminous russula [1]Paralysis
rat meat - [1]Poison
saltrice [1]Restore endurance
spore pod - [1]Paralysis
Small Kwama Egg - [1]Restore Fatigue
violet coprinus - [1]Water Walking
What do you do?