TESIV: Oblivion REMASTERED recently released (you can play it on Gamepass, btw!) and I very quickly dove head-first into the fiery depths of nostalgia.
In my last post Caelyra finally fulfilled the Emperor's dying wish and had brought his illegitimate heir to the safest place in Cyrodiil. The hall of the Blades' themselves. Cloud Ruler Temple.
Jauffre had asked her to find the stolen Amulet of Kings and return it to the Temple, to Martin, but Caelyra had other ideas. As far as she was concerned, she had done her duty and had done it honourably - now it was time to live a new life of freedom after her incarceration.
She had earned this.
Before she set out though - to wherever her fancy led - she remembered the stone she had taken from the Daedric tower. It had been in her satchel this whole time, thrumming with power.
Curiously, she pressed it against her bow and was stunned to see the weapon transform into a magical amazement right before her very eyes! It buzzed with pure magical lightning, much like the lightning she occasionally summoned from her fingertips.
Eager to test out her newly enchanted weapon, Caelyra searched the mountainside for caves and abandoned mines. Places that goblins and miscreants were known to inhabit.
It didn't take her long to discover a goblin-infested mine and she gleefully set to work zapping the beasts into eternity!
As fun as that was, there was no riches or treasures to be had in these places. If she truly wanted to start a new life, she'd have to return to the Imperial City - this time as a citizen, not a prisoner.
And so Caelyra slowly embarked upon the journey back to the city, gleefully letting loose her lightning arrows at various wolves that dared try to attack her...
Until it happened.
A fiery portal to Oblivion pulsed into life on her path.
She had already destroyed one of these things. And this one, in the middle of no where... there was no one else around to deal with it, and if she didn't... well... the daedra would pour out and consume the land.
She couldn't allow that to happen, could she?
Scamps started crawling out of the portal, cementing her decision.
And besides, she told herself, there would be another of those magical stones in there! Just look at what one of those things had done to her bow - imagine what others could do.
The lure of power egged her on and she soon ascended yet another tower, killed more daedra, then liberated another stone - thus removing the portal's existence.
With the portal gone, rendering the immediate area safe for the time being, Caelyra pressed the stone to her dagger and transformed it into a weapon fit for harvesting souls.
A perfect weapon to accompany her magic bow, after all, she'd need souls to keep the thing enchanted.
There was just one small issue: she didn't have any soul gems to store the souls in. Another issue: her bow had run out of charge already. And yet another issue: her gear needed repairing.
Okay, she had a few issues. All of which would be remedied by high-tailing it to the city!
When she arrived, she braced herself beneath the watchful eye of the Imperial guard stationed all 'round... but they didn't look at her like an escaped prisoner, no; they looked at her like a hero! In fact, one of the guard gasped at her approach and proclaimed her the Hero of Kvatch.
Word got around fast. That was certainly nice and all, but she was no hero - just a thief who had been tasked with the Emperor's dying wish. It was over now.
On several corners of the city was a WANTED poster offering riches and rewards for information or the whereabouts of an illusive character known as The Grey Fox.
He was a thief and he must be apprehended at all costs!
Caelyra took note of this information - if there was such a renowned thief in the city, surely that meant there was plenty of work for one such as herself. And this time, she wouldn't get caught.
For now though, she'd do things by the book. This was a new life after all. She had to become a member of the city, become trusted, cement her place in society... and no one would ever know that their goods had been pilfered by her, this well-respected individual, this... Hero of Kvatch.
She perused the local storefronts, browsed various items, and even spent a little bit of gold repairing her gear and stocking up on soul gems.
At one establishment, however, her eyes brightened with greed.
She had chatted to the shopkeep and gained a higher approval rating with him, being the articulate lady that she was, then finally looked at his wares... only to discover he had an amazing ring for sale, for way out of her price range.
Her lofty aspirations suddenly melted into the void.
Perhaps she could 'acquire' this ring by other means...
It was probably in this display case, she noted. However, despite being a great thief, she was no match for this lock. She would need to become a bit more learned in the art of lockpicking before trying to take this necklace for her very own.
Perhaps... she could partner up with this Grey Fox character. Two thieves running the city during the night! It would be fantastic... if she knew who he even was.
It was time to hit the streets and put her ear to the ground. Someone out there had to know something about this mysterious Grey Fox.
While carefully eavesdropping upon the cityfolk though, she heard something most interesting, something that made her ears tingle. A funny-looking dark elf with hair coiffed higher than an Oblivion tower spoke of a treasure hidden in Anvil.
That was good information to know. She'd have to look into this so-called 'treasure' after she found the Grey Fox. Hell, maybe that could be her opening line for him. How she knew about vast riches he would surely be interested in.
Night soon fell and she hadn't really discovered much in regards to the so-called Grey Fox.
The Imperial guard had no idea who he was or where he could be hiding, and she hadn't yet gained the trust of the beggars of the city who were rumoured to be his eyes and ears.
Defeated, for now, Caelyra waltzed into a nearby inn and prepared to rest well for the night.
Until next time! ⚔️🔥