Performance Anxiety

[gate_crasher]

A white-scaled lizard in bright-polished armor sits on a wrought-iron bench in the Forum, his helmet on the seat beside him. In his hands, he cradles a large, irregular spike of some strange, purple crystal. After contemplating its depths for some time, he looks up to address the passerby.

"I am no stranger to unexpected duty," he begins, "but how does one rise to meet an unexpected trust?"

To explain, he gestures to the crystal he holds. "This stone holds the soul of the Archmage. He placed it there, that I might be protected in facing its master. We spoke but briefly, before he put himself into it. He wished me to take his place, stand as Archmage and lead the Guild. It is scant months since I even joined, how can I do what is needed, know what is needed, to lead? The guild is already rent by conflict, how do I prevent worse arising from resentment?"

Comments

[gate_crasher]

It seems unlikely even Hermaeus Mora could foresee that little wrinkle in fate. "Apart from the odd noisome guest, you have been well? And the lady-friend, of whom you spoke, your Serana?"

[drehnifusbahi]

It's an open question whether Mora foresees as much as he claims to in general, even without dimensional nexuses and should've-been-dead heroes factored in.

"I certainly can't complain. And Serana is still putting up with Erandur and I, so we must be doing something right on that score."

He suspects there are days she does so more for Erandur's sake than his, to be honest.

[gate_crasher]

Hermaeus Mora, daedric lord of pretending to be in the know. His D&D game is terrible, he's such a smug bastard DM. Every dungeon is chock full of illusions, and he'll never let you figure out if anything is real or not, the jerk. (Also, the non-Euclidean dice are a problem.)

"That is good to hear."

[drehnifusbahi]

Hermaeus Mora's dice would be far, far worse than any hundred-sided die could ever hope to be. And I bet the only pre-written modules the bastard ever runs are Tomb of Horrors and Dungeonland, too!

"And you? Troubles with the guild aside, how are things?" He can probably guess, as well-documented as Shade-Seeker's adventures are, but he'd rather hear it directly from Shade-Seeker.

[gate_crasher]

He probably uses his own critical failure tables that are extra-gruesome, too. Fail your roll to stand up bad enough, and you'll decapitate yourself with your own toenail.

"They proceed. I would not quite say they go well, for I have yet to recover the Amulet of Kings, but once Mannimarco is dealt with, I hope the chance for proper focus will hasten its recovery. But people are bearing up well, for the most part--pulling together in this time of crisis, more often than not."

[drehnifusbahi]

And woe betide the player who tries to derail one of his campaigns with shenanigans.

And though he knows there are things he most certainly shouldn't share, he can't resist offering one small detail. "Would it be spoiling too much, to assure you that the Amulet doesn't remain in the hands of the Mythic Dawn for very long at all?"

Mentioning the Mythic Dawn actually might be; but if Silus Vesuius' crowing about their deeds was any indication, they never felt the need to hide their involvement in the theft of the Amulet, or the deaths of Emperor Uriel VII and his legitimate heirs.

[gate_crasher]

Now I kind of want to see Hermaeus Mora vs. Old Man Henderson.

"That is a comforting thought," Shade-Seeker allows, making mental note of that name, "so long as the hands into which it passes are friendly ones, eh?"

[drehnifusbahi]

Unstoppable force meets immovable object?

"And they are. The Amulet of Kings finds its way to Emperor Uriel VII's heir, as it was always intended to." He can tell Shade-Seeker that much without causing a Dragon Break, surely.

[gate_crasher]

"Ah, then someone will get it back to Martin, even if it is not I." He smiles. "That is a relief. Thank you, my friend."

[drehnifusbahi]

"It's no trouble," but he's smiling back even as he demurs. He's happy to share what he can, even if that doesn't amount to terribly much.

[gate_crasher]

To someone in need of it, a word of comfort is very much indeed. "Because you are kind."

[drehnifusbahi]

And yet, he can't help wishing he could do more; if he shared all he knows, how much might change for the better? "If you say so."

Then again, perhaps it's kinder that he doesn't; The Oblivion Crisis doesn't have the happiest of endings. Victory against Mehrunes Dagon comes at the cost of Martin Septim's life, and the end of the Septim dynasty.

[gate_crasher]

Ah, the moral dilemmas of time travel. "I do. You have been kind to me, and you have been kind to others here, and I take from your stories that you are kind at home, as well."

[drehnifusbahi]

He ducks his head. "I do what I can, that's all." And, well. Son of a priestess (of Dibella, but a priestess all the same). Not helping out where and when he can simply wouldn't sit right with him.

[gate_crasher]

Shade-Seeker smiles, giving Vanyel's shoulder a pat. "As do I. We stand together, so we need not stand alone."

[drehnifusbahi]

He is usually better about taking compliments, he swears. But it changes things, when it's one of your childhood heroes handing them out. "I'm glad to hear that; thank you."

[gate_crasher]

"Ah, but I should let you on to the dancing, or the feast, eh? The latter smells quite intriguing from here."

And then suddenly they were at the Halloween party? XD

[drehnifusbahi]

"It does," he agrees. "But I'm a bit more interested in the maze, at the moment." Which is, perhaps, not so surprising.

...aw, dammit, I got mixed up about which thread I was replying in. *facepalm*

[gate_crasher]

"The maze does intrigue the senses," Shade-Seeker agrees.

kinda figured, but I don't mind if you don't?

[drehnifusbahi]

"And it seems to be fairly challenging; from what I hear, two people have tried their hand so far with no success." As if the maze's very existence wasn't enough of a draw.

Very gracious, thank you.

[gate_crasher]

"Oho?" He strokes his chin, intrigued. "Perhaps two may succeed, where one falls short?" he suggests.

You're welcome~ And I guess from here we can dump them into the maze thread?

[drehnifusbahi]

"Perhaps so. It certainly can't hurt." Two heads are better than one, or so the saying goes.

Sounds good, but I'm just about to sign off for the night.

[gate_crasher]

"Then, O Dragonborn Hero," Shade-Seeker teases, with a mischievous glint in his eye and a sweeping bow, "I shall follow your lead."

In the manana, then (just pretend I was able to put the tilde over that first n)

[drehnifusbahi]

He can't help but grin, even as he shakes his head. "Let's get going, then."

[ooc: aaaand link!]