#Jasmine Companion Mod

[simmie-stories]

"Jasmine. It's time to talk about marriage. Prince Amir will be coming to meet you."

"Why do I have to get married to some stranger?" "Just give him a chance, please." "Can't I just go outside and meet people, see the world, and fall in love on my own?!"

He decided to take this time to talk to her about the dangers of strange men (lol... I don't know if this is from a mod or the game).

Jasmine couldn't believe her life. She hated being a princess.

She looked up Prince Amir on the new computer Father Winter had given Adam. Then, quickly getting bored, she decided to troll some forums and send off chain letters to her great-uncle (Alana's husband).

Resigned, Jasmine went up to her balcony to stargaze, but ended up spying on the citizens of Oasis Springs. She desperately longed to mingle with them.

At least Rajah was there to comfort her. She could definitely Feel the Love from Rajah.

I can't seem to get above Good Friend with Rajah. but at least they're Companions! 🎉

<< < - >

[technomaestro]

jasmine tea, caramel frappe, and iced coffee

Cafe Asks ☕️

Jasmine Tea : If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Had you asked me two weeks ago I would have said back to Portsea, Australia, where my grandparents used to live and where I spent many winters/summers. The holidays make me introspective and I often crave being able to tread old haunts and think about the mark I've left in the world, if any. Now though, looking into a new year and into the future? Even though it's frigid beyond belief, I'd love to travel to Reykjavik or Iceland in general, to see the Auroras. I want *so badly* to lay under the night sky away from all civilization and see that majestic sight.

Caramel Frappe : Favorite video game?

This is literally an impossible question for me. I've grown up playing games, I work on games for my living. I live and breath the things, and have *so many opinions* about them. To ask me to pick one? Nigh impossible. There are games I've been playing for years, games I play specifically to play with friends, games that hold cherished memories from my past, and games that I think are absolute wonders of design and artistic merit. To quantify a favorite is genuinely impossible.

But if I had to *try*, which I do because you deserve an answer to the question, I would have to say Civilization 4. It was a game that I grew up with, that started me on the journey into actually doing game development by doing modding stuff with it. I have had it installed on every computer I've ever owned, I've played countless hours of it, and it's one game I always return to to play the mod I used to contribute to, Rise from Erebus, which was a Dark Fantasy Total Conversion mod that stripped out all the historical civs and replaced them with a myriad of fantasy civilizations coming out of an Ice Age. Whether it was playing its scenarios, or playing with the mods to create something new, or playing a 12 person hot seat game by myself with a dozen other AI so I could have a sandbox world to make stories in, that game holds a near and dear place to my heart. Do I still play it? Yes, but not often these days as I get more enjoyment out of others or want to explore new things, but this one is *a* favorite for sure.

Iced Coffee : Do you like reading? If so, what’s your favorite book?

I adore reading. Books are a constant companion for me. But like above, asking me to pick just one is near impossible. But The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett I think is probably one of the ones that *consistently* sits in my top five. From the bumbling hero Rincewind to the clever world of Ankh-Morpork, I fell in love with that book and by extension the rest of the works when I was younger and absolutely adore the story. I still have my original copy I got from a second hand store *two decades* ago on my bookshelf.

[mazurah]

Fear and Loneliness in Seyda Neen

Seyda Neen reminded Ma’zurah a little bit of home. The tall trees, the smell of water and vegetation, the guar--gods, Ma’zurah had not seen guar since she left Elsweyr--it all conspired to be both painful and comforting.

Her first few steps of freedom after completing the paperwork they made her sign for her release revealed that there was not actually all that much to the town. She could easily see from one end to the other. There were the docks, bordered by the Census and Excise office and a few small warehouses, with a handful of other houses and buildings beyond that. They looked new. Beyond the docks and warehouses on the shore, nestled into the edge of town stood a cluster of older wooden shacks that looked out of place next to the stone and thatch of the new Imperial buildings, like a fishing village that had gotten lost.

Scanning the surrounding area, Ma'zurah saw trees and swamp in one direction, and the sea in the other. She spotted a lighthouse perched at the end of a small peninsula past the last wooden shack; not exactly part of town, but not far enough away to be isolated either. Across a stretch of water, down the uneven coast, Ma'zurah thought she could see something floating like a small moon on the horizon, with buildings standing beneath, but they were much too far to make out any detail.

A cursory search for someplace resembling a shop or an inn revealed the tradehouse, located halfway between the new and old parts of town. Her attempts at conversation resulted in an informative exchange with a Redguard scout who was happy to give her an overview of the local geography.

It was approaching evening by the time Ma'zurah reluctantly turned her mind to what to do next. The tradehouse had no rooms available, and she had her orders: go to Balmora, deliver a package, and receive her next set of instructions. She had been given enough money to afford a fare on the strange, tall insect whose echoing call reverberated like something that should by all rights have been underwater. The ride was exciting, like riding a walking tree while the sun set in fabulous shades of pink and red around her. It was long past dark by the time the insect brought her to her destination.

Balmora did not remind Ma’zurah of home, and she was not sure if she should be disappointed or relieved that not all of this new strange land plucked at her emotions the same way the swamp did. Though the hour was late, there were still people about, mostly Dark Elves who gave her sidelong looks that she did not know how to interpret. She moved past them quickly, too aware of how visible her white fur was in the dark.

Finding Caius Cosades proved more difficult than she had anticipated, and sent her through parts of town she would otherwise have avoided, especially at night. She found him in what had to be the smallest house in the dirtiest alleyway in Balmora. He opened the door bleary-eyed and shirtless, and Ma’zurah immediately smelled moon sugar. It would have been a welcome scent if she had been in Elsweyr, if he had not been Imperial. Instead, it irked her. She had seen what happened to non-Khajiit who used the stuff in the Imperial City, and she did not like it. There was a good reason it was sacred to the Khajiit but denied to all else.

Tight-lipped, she proffered the package. Cosades read the label. His gaze sharpened and he waved her inside, all hint of the effects of the sugar gone from his stance as soon as the door was shut. He bolted it behind him, and Ma'zurah's heart sped up. Her fingers felt the familiar, comforting gestures of an invisibility spell, but she did not put any magicka into it. This man was supposed to be her "superior and patron" in Morrowind? The tip of her tail twitched in nervousness as Cosades read in silence.

Her waiting was rewarded with something that might have resembled an explanation if it had not been so absurd. The Emperor wanted her to become a Blade.

She dismissed the "Emperor" part immediately. She could safely assume he did not mean the literal Emperor. That was how these official types liked to talk; any action taken on behalf of the Empire was always the work of the Emperor. She knew about the Blades of course; they were supposed to be the Emperor's spies and personal guard. She was not exactly sure how she was expected to go directly from imprisonment to becoming a Blade entrusted with state secrets and the Emperor's life, but it seemed suspect at best.

"There must be some mistake," she told him.

He gave her a piercing stare, looked pointedly at the document he was holding, and asked, "You are Ma'zurah, correct? No surname, formerly of the state of Pellitine?"

Ma'zurah nodded mutely.

"No mistake. You are to become a Novice in the Blades, and that means you'll be following my orders. Are you prepared to follow my orders, Ma'zurah?"

Her fingers itched for the invisibility spell, but he was standing between her and the door, which was locked. "What happens if Ma'zurah says no?" she asked weakly.

"Then I will have to put you back on a boat for the mainland and return you to prison." His tone was dismissive, but Ma'zurah could tell he was watching her closely.

There was a long pause as Ma'zurah digested this information.

"Indefinitely," he added as the silence stretched.

The fur on the back of her neck stood up, and she felt a flash of anger for a brief moment before her anxiety subsumed it. She could not afford to lash out. She had to consider her options rationally.

She could probably get past him if she really tried, but if he really was a high ranking member of the Blades, and she could not see any way that he was not, then he would probably just put out a warrant for her arrest. In a strange province with no friends, or clan, or even allies, no real knowledge of the land, and with her distinctive appearance, it was doubtful she would be able to hide for long.

No friends or clan; she had not realized how vulnerable that made her. She was all alone. Her anxiety curdled suddenly into an icy spike of true fear. This had to be illegal, right? This was coercion. But there was no authority she could appeal to that would be willing to stand up to the Blades. Would anyone even believe her?

No running then. Maybe it would not be so bad. It was not her ideal job, and she had no loyalty to the Empire, but maybe she could get something out of it--some money and a place to sleep at the very least--even if the whole thing still rubbed her fur the wrong way.

"May Ma'zurah ask why she has been chosen for this honor?" she finally asked, her tone careful.

The man raised one brow at her. "No, Ma'zurah may not. Now will you take the oath, or am I going to have to send you back to Cyrodiil?"

Ma'zurah took the oath.

The next few days were a whirl of instructions and introductions. She did indeed get some money, and was told to get her bearings in Balmora, and get some equipment and training. To that end, Cosades sent her to three Blades agents in Balmora who would be able to provide the necessary training--for a fee, of course--and assistance in an emergency. When she had returned from introducing herself to them, three small gifts and much advice richer, Cosades gave her the names and locations of four more around Vvardenfell she should introduce herself to at some point. He suggested she start with the Redguard scout in Seyda Neen. Elone would be able to help her get the lay of the land, he said. Ma'zurah did not know how to feel when she realized she had probably met the woman already.

Finally, Cosades told her to establish a cover identity, and instructed her to check in with him next month to discuss its progress. "I don't care what it is, so long as it doesn't point back to us," he told her. "Go back to prostitution for all I care. The point is to establish a history for yourself here."

Ma'zurah scowled and went to sign up with the local Mages Guild instead. When she asked for work, she received an assignment from a distracted, but friendly Suthay alchemist to gather mushrooms from the swamp.

Happy to have such a solid excuse to return to the swamp that reminded her even a little of the jungles of her homeland, Ma'zurah procured a herbalist's bag and a book of local plants in a language she could actually read, and set off the next day, walking instead of riding, taking in the landscape at her own pace. It was beautiful, but lonely. She wished she had someone to share it with.

At least she had direction. She was not sure what she would have done with herself without direction. She had a task, and it distracted her minutely from the horrible anxiety of being so completely alone in a foreign land full of strangers who did not care about her. She wished she had a friend. Just one person who cared would be enough. Maybe then she would not feel as though she was climbing a narrow tree branch over the head of a hungry tiger. She had no one to steady her if she started to lose her balance. The utter lack of social connection was a new experience for her, and not one she liked. She felt vulnerable.

She missed her friends back in the Imperial City. She had not felt so alone since she had found out she would never be allowed to return to Elsweyr, and even then she had still had Dra'nassa. She had gone from a tribe of many to a tribe of two in a single day--a day she had previously considered to be the worst in her life. It had been hard building up connections after that, to replace the support of the tribe she had grown up in with one of her own making, but she had done it. When Dra'nassa had died, she had made enough friends to see her through her grief without despair.

This was worse. Now she had no one. Cosades had made it clear she could not go back to her old life. She would have to start over from nothing again, this time without Dra'nassa's help.

It was enough to make her want to cry. She saw a mushroom and distracted herself with the task at hand. If the fur of her cheeks was wet, the mushrooms certainly did not care.

She had already filled the bag halfway by the time she got back to Seyda Neen. She presented herself to the scout Elone--again--and tried not to feel horrible and ridiculous when she introduced herself as the Blades' newest novice.

The woman seemed friendly enough, and gave her a copy of "Guide to Vvardenfell" with accompanying maps. Ma'zurah was grateful. Maps were expensive. Ma'zurah asked if there was anything she could do to help her in return. Elone pursed her lips and sent her to check on a friend of hers who lived a short way outside of town.

"She was supposed to come see me after she got back from her scouting," Elone told her. "She's late. I'd check on her myself, but I have work I have to finish. It's probably nothing, Jasmine can take care of herself, but it's not like her to stay out for so long. Just check at her house and tell me if she's there. She might just be sick or something."

Ma'zurah agreed and went to check.

The house was locked and appeared empty. There was no answer to her knock, so Ma’zurah peeked through the window, and saw no lights lit. Frowning, she checked the muddy path for tracks, trying to determine if Elone's friend had been home recently enough to leave evidence. Ma'zurah was not the greatest tracker, but she knew enough to hunt animals in deep jungle, and enough to discover a faint set of prints leading up to the house, and another of the same size heading down the path in the direction of the town. Perhaps she had just missed the woman? But no, neither set seemed fresh enough.

She followed the path and the footprints back in the direction of Seyda Neen, resolving to tell Elone of her discovery. She was most of the way back to town when she came across several more sets of footprints--at least three, all overlapping--intercepting the first set of footprints. The trail became smudged and some of the prints scattered and came back, and the next trail Ma’zurah could find led into the underbrush at an angle, away from town. Whoever they were, they had taken Elone's friend with them for reasons inscrutable to Ma'zurah. Kidnapping was not typical behavior for bandits, and surely if the woman had come across friends on the path, they would not have trampled the ground quite so much. Each subsequent scenario Ma'zurah thought of was more worrying than the last.

She followed the tracks to a cave, thanking Azurah for the wet ground. Trampled plants stuck to the mud, making the trail easy to follow all the way to the stone of the cave mouth. It was hidden against a hillside at the edge of the swamp, behind a set of boulders that blocked line of sight from the path. Ma’zurah cautiously poked her head inside, allowing her eyes to adjust to the dimness, and saw the glow of a fire.

She followed the cave a few paces deeper into the hillside until she found the source of the light: a campfire, with a Dark Elf woman tending it. An overturned rowboat had been pulled into the shelter of the cave as well, and the back wall was blocked off by a fence. There was something wrong here, something obvious Ma'zurah was missing, but she could not pinpoint what.

And she would not find out what was going on by standing here like a lump.

"Hello?" Ma'zurah called.

The woman by the fire whirled, knife drawn. Ma'zurah gasped and cast invisibility on herself and dove for the shadows.

"Ku’or havag?" the woman called, stalking toward the cave entrance.

Ma'zurah could have kicked herself. Why would a woman sitting in a cave at the edge of a swamp respond positively to an unexpected stranger, no matter what reason she had for being there? She should have predicted this kind of a reaction instead of calling out and making it that much harder to sneak past an alert person. And of course a Dark Elf would be speaking the Dark Elven language in Morrowind. Somehow, Ma'zurah had not yet run into the language barrier in any significant way. She was going to have to learn the language.

"Ku’or edur diru?" The woman passed Ma'zurah's hidden form and stared out into the swamp, frowning.

There was a moment's pause, and Ma'zurah huddled against the wall of the cave, wondering what she had gotten herself into.

The woman turned abruptly on her heel and approached the wooden fence set into the back of the cave, muttering something incomprehensible under her breath.

Ma'zurah followed as closely behind her as she dared, practically holding her breath. Her heart was pounding. There was definitely something wrong here. She was sure of it now, even if she could not say why. It was a subtle thing, told in the set of the woman's jaw, or the hardness of her expression. It made the fur on the back of Ma'zurah's neck stand up.

If she could only figure out what was going on, or even just confirm that Elone's friend was here, she would not have to report back to Elone with so little news. She wished she had asked Elone for a description of her friend Jasmine.

The Dark Elf opened the gate and Ma'zurah slipped in behind her. Beyond the gate, the cave split into two paths, the leftmost branch leading up to another fence with a gate in it, and the rightmost branch leading down a slope and out of sight. Ma'zurah thought she could hear running water somewhere below.

The Dark Elf woman took the rickety wooden ramp down the uneven stone slope to the right. Ma'zurah started to follow when the woman called something ahead of herself. Two more Dark Elves appeared at the bottom of the ramp, and the woman spoke urgently to them. Their faces turned grim, and both stalked toward Ma'zurah's position.

Ma'zurah nearly panicked, trying to scramble out of their way without making any noise. She darted up the ramp to the left until she was almost backed up against the fence at the top. Oblivious to Ma'zurah's presence, the two Elves exited toward the mouth of the cave, leaving the woman at the bottom to retreat further down and out of Ma'zurah's sight.

Heart racing, Ma'zurah slumped against the fence, and the invisibility spell broke.

"Hey," a low feminine voice hissed urgently through the fence behind her, making Ma'zurah jump. "Do you have the key?"

Ma'zurah's fingers froze in the process of reapplying her invisibility spell as she registered the words. She peered between the slats of the fence and discovered a brown oval face with wide dark eyes and long black hair.

"Are you Jasmine?" Ma'zurah whispered back.

The face hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Please, you have to get us out of here." There was the faintest edge of desperation in her whispered tones. Ma'zurah's hackles rose again.

"Us?" Ma'zurah asked numbly.

Jasmine stepped back, allowing Ma'zurah to see through the narrow gaps in the fence. Huddled at the back of the small enclosure were two Argonians and a Suthay-raht, all wearing only the barest scraps of clothing. The Argonians both had a greenish tint to their scales, but one of them was shorter with a long row of spikes protruding from forehead to back of the neck, while the other had a pair of spikes on either side of the head. The Khajiit was orange-furred, with black markings around his eyes and nose, and had long mustaches which hung down on either side of his mouth. He was also topless, Ma'zurah observed, feeling faintly scandalized by the display of torso fur. And she could see his ribs beneath his fur, she realized with a different kind of shock. She did not know much about Argonian anatomy, but they did not look too good either.

The pieces slotted into place suddenly, along with the memory of half-heard rumors from Cyrodiil. This was slavery. Those Dark Elves out there meant to sell these people. She had heard the Dark Elves kept slaves, but she had not realized what that meant before. Sudden tears of horror and sympathy pricked at her eyes.

"What should Ma’zurah do?" she asked Jasmine urgently. Jasmine was, she noticed, by far the healthiest looking of the group. "She can… She can run and get help?"

"There's no time,” Jasmine whispered back. “I overheard them say they were going to move us. We have to get out of here before that happens or you'll never be able to find us again. You've got to get the key to the gate, and maybe the keys to our shackles. If I had a weapon, I could fight, but I don't think the others could."

Ma'zurah nodded firmly. "Ma'zurah will be back."

She stalked invisibly down into the depths of the cave, past a branch of tunnel filled with water, and up a wooden deck covered with crates. Fury had eclipsed her fear. Her hands shook with how angry she felt. It was not right. How could anyone hold people captive like this and disregard their suffering? How could they use people's suffering for profit? How could they live with themselves?

The Dark Elf woman was not in sight, so Ma'zurah began searching crates. She had searched two, finding nothing but alcohol and cheap imported clothing before her head caught up to her and she cast a spell, willing her magicka to show her keys.

She saw the glow of something small atop a crate when her time ran out, and the Dark Elf woman walked into view.

Ma'zurah panicked, but instead of fleeing again, she dove for the woman, claws extended, spurred on by the anger that mixed oddly with her fear. The woman only had time to shriek "N'wah!" before Ma'zurah's hands wrapped around her throat, claws tearing.

The next thing she knew, the woman was motionless on the ground, and Ma'zurah's hands were slick with blood. She felt like she could not breathe properly, like someone had punched her in the gut. She had never hurt anyone before in her life, and now…

She scooped up the key and the woman's dagger and retreated up the ramp to free the others before her thoughts could catch up with her and render her useless. Her hands shook as she fitted the key in the lock, and the key nearly slipped between her blood-slick fingers.

The door came open, and Ma'zurah thrust the dagger into Jasmine's hands. "Here. Ma'zurah did not find the shackle keys. Can we leave without them?"

"Keep looking," one of the Argonians advised in a half-cracked voice. "We will not find many willing to remove slave bracers. We will draw too much attention wearing them."

"There are at least two more people around here," Ma'zurah warned, mentally beating her emotions into submission. Her hands were still shaking. "We will have to hurry before they come back."

They filed down into the lower recesses of the cave, Ma’zurah at the front, Jasmine bringing up the rear with the knife. The Suthay-raht looked sidelong at the body of the fallen Dark Elf as they passed, eyes flicking from the claw gouges on her neck to Ma’zurah’s bloody hands. There was something like approval in his eyes.

Ma’zurah cast the spell of finding again, looking for something that might unlock the magic suppressing bracers on the wrists of her companions. The spell revealed another key on the body of the Elf, but it was too big to fit into any of the shackles.

They proceeded further into the cave, uncovering more crates, more clothing, more alcohol, a small stack of coins, and a pile of pillows with what Ma'zurah's nose told her was moon sugar smuggled inside. She dumped one out, frowning at the little purple vials that fell along with the paper envelopes of white crystals. Confused, she sniffed one of the vials and got the overpowering scent of moon sugar and alchemy for her trouble.

"Skooma," the Suthay-raht rasped behind her in explanation.

Ma'zurah dropped the thing hastily. The Clan Mothers always taught that moon sugar was a blessing from Azurah, but skooma was a perversion created by Imperials.

It was also not a key. She searched the crates again for the telltale glow of the spell, but found nothing.

"There are no keys here," she told the group. They would have to keep moving.

They twisted around a narrow gap at the back of the cavern, only to find another wooden fence, and beyond it, a flooded tunnel descending down even further.

"We could dive for it," one of the Argonians offered, and distractedly Ma’zurah realized from her voice that the Argonian was probably female, though Ma'zurah was hardly in a position to judge someone's gender based on their physical attributes.

"I doubt they hid the keys underwater though," the second Argonian concluded.

There was a sudden shout from back the way they had come and Ma’zurah’s breath caught in her throat. The overwhelming emotions she had been suppressing threatened to overtake her again. In her peripheral vision, she saw Jasmine raise her knife and start back toward the noise, and Ma'zurah realized she had also committed herself to protecting these people. She frantically tried to remember everything she had learned about Destruction magic at the Arcane University and ran past Jasmine, readying a blast of frost.

She had just enough time to register that the two Dark Elves who had left had returned with three others in tow, and that they had just stumbled on the dead body of their compatriot, before she loosed the spell in her hands with as much force as she could muster.

There was a reverberating crack and a hair-raising rumble as the telekinetic blast propelling her spell forward connected not just with her foes, but with the far wall of the cave and a low hanging portion of the ceiling. Stone cracked, the ground shook, and before anyone had time to do anything more than scream, the roof caved in, burying the group of Dark Elves and the exit.

A deafening silence followed. Nobody moved.

“Well,” Jasmine began, lowering her dagger.

The mountainous pile of rock and gravel that covered the exit shifted slightly, and a scattering of scree clattered down the heap. One of the torches illuminating the cave flickered and died.

Ma’zurah sat down on the ground and promptly burst into tears.

“Oh no…” moaned the Suthay-raht. “Oh nooo…”

“Let’s not panic,” Jasmine said, with a kind of calm Ma’zurah could not imagine she actually felt. They were stuck here, and it was all Ma’zurah’s fault. She felt herself begin to hyperventilate.

“Be right back,” one of the Argonians said in a matter-of-fact tone. There was the sound of retreating footsteps, then a ripple of water and a splash.

A flicker of hope cut through Ma'zurah's panic at the sound. There might be another way out! She scrubbed at her face with her hands, trying to quiet her emotions. The scent of blood assaulted her nose like a warhammer and she recoiled, trying not to begin hyperventilating again for a different reason.

“Alright,” a deep reptilian voice said from just behind Ma’zurah, and Ma’zurah felt hands under her armpits, lifting her to her feet. “Come on, get up.”

The remaining Argonian clasped his hand around her upper arm and led her through the back of the cave to the flooded tunnel. He stopped at the water’s edge. “Clean yourself up a bit. You'll feel better.”

Ma’zurah nodded gratefully and knelt to wash her hands and face.

“Sorry,” she said guiltily once she had finished scrubbing. The cold water had grounded her flying emotions into a hard but manageable lump, and her newly regained clear-headedness brought with it an awful awareness. These people had been literal slaves, and here she was the only one crying like a newborn kitten.

The Argonian looked at her with an indecipherable expression. Heat blossomed in her face despite the chilly dampness of her fur. Her emotions still felt like a tangle, and she could not find the words to adequately explain why she was apologizing. “Thanks,” she finally said instead.

The Argonian turned his head away. “Don’t mention it.”

Jasmine appeared behind her with the Suthay-raht just as the water rippled and the other Argonian surfaced.

“It’s a bit of a climb,” she told them in her odd rasping accent, “but it looks like there is a way out.

Jasmine nodded firmly. “Alright, gather what you want to take from here, and let’s go.”

Ma’zurah simply sat at the water’s edge and waited for the others. The roiling tangle of emotion in her gut made the prospect of looting the remaining crates totally unappealing, and besides, the others probably needed the things more. They could get new clothes at least.

The Argonian was right. It was a bit of a climb. Once they surfaced on the other side of the flooded tunnel, they had to climb a tall bank to get out of the water, and then up a steep tunnel that opened suddenly behind a cluster of stalactites into the cavern wall above and to the right of the fence that led to the freed slaves’ erstwhile cell. Once they made the drop down, they had only to walk over and open the gate that led to the cave entrance.

“Wait,” Ma’zurah said suddenly, remembering. “Your shackles--”

“We know,” said Jasmine quietly.

“The keys were probably buried,” one of the Argonians explained. Guilt shot through Ma'zurah. No one had cast any blame, but she still felt it.

“We’ll figure something out once we get out of here.” Jasmine gestured them through the gate. “We can go to my house. It’s not far.”

They went to Jasmine’s house. She retrieved a key from a flower pot and let them inside, and the five of them collapsed onto the plush rug in the middle of Jasmine’s floor, relieved and emotionally drained after their ordeal. There was a long moment of silence.

Jasmine got up abruptly and rummaged through her cupboards. She returned with half a loaf of bread and a knife, and served each of them slices.

Ma’zurah chewed hers in silence. As soon as Jasmine’s door had closed between her and the outside world, she had felt her grasp on her emotions slipping. She could feel the tears coming. She could not let the others see her cry again. She did not know what would be worse, having them ignore her or try to comfort her.

She stood up. “Ma’zurah needs to-- Ma’zurah has got to-- Be back.” She fled out the front door and into the little outhouse at the side of Jasmine’s house. She closed the door behind her and took one shaky breath before the tears came in full force and she was sobbing and shuddering. She sat down on the wooden outhouse seat, still in her damp clothing, and rode the wave of her emotions.

She felt bad. And once she felt bad about one thing, more reasons to feel bad flooded her. She could have died! She had not cast invisibility, and instead she had fought, and she could have died. She had never hurt anyone before, but this time she had fought and killed someone. Several someones, actually, but the rest were not nearly as personal as the first someone. They could have killed her, but instead she had their blood on her hands, figuratively and literally, though she did not think she felt nearly as bad about them being dead as she did about having to be the one to commit the act. That also made her feel bad. What was wrong with her that she was more upset about having clawed a woman’s throat out than about the woman being dead? She was no stranger to blood, but killing animals was nothing like killing people. And still, she felt less upset about having dropped a cave on top of a group of people than she did about the memory of warm blood beneath her claws. She should not feel like this!

And then there was the slavery. She had not thought about what slavery was really like before. It had always been an abstract concept that was far away and never affected her personally. To be confronted by the reality of it so suddenly was a shock, though she probably should have seen it coming. She just had not connected the Morrowind of Imperial rumor and speculation with the Morrowind she had been sent to. Was she in danger of being captured and sold? She supposed she was, especially since that seemed to be what had happened to Jasmine, and Jasmine was not even Khajiit! This province was dangerous. She did not feel safe!

Why had they sent her here? She did not want to be here! She did not know anything about this place. She did not even speak the language! She wanted to be back in the Imperial City studying magic and laughing with her friends. She was alone here. She did not have any friends in this strange land--no clan, not even the self-made clan she had gathered around herself after she had been exiled from Elsweyr, and after Dra’nassa had died. She had never been so alone in her life. It was terrifying.

The tears came harder. She felt so bad! The mental refrain felt like a wail.

And she could not leave! She could not leave after swearing an oath to the Blades, or she would be branded a traitor and hunted down and imprisoned for the rest of her life! It was a kind of slavery itself, whether she stayed or tried to leave. She had not done anything to deserve this kind of treatment! Whoever had picked her to join the Blades obviously did not know anything about her. She was the worst pick for that kind of job. They should have asked instead of forcing her to join. She did not want it! She just wanted to leave. But she could not, because they were coercing her, and she was scared. She was scared of being branded a traitor and hunted, she was scared of the Blades, and she was scared of Caius Cosades. Caius Cosades was not a nice man. She wished she never had to speak to him again. She wished she never had to speak to any of the Blades again, even Elone, who seemed nice, but could not be trusted because she was a Blade, and the Blades were not nice people.

She felt so bad. She felt so bad! She was alone in this province, no friends, no clan, no one who cared if she felt bad, and she could not leave, and she was angry and scared, and she felt so bad!

There was a knock on the outhouse door. “Ma’zurah?” Jasmine’s voice was muffled, but recognizable.

Ma’zurah sniffled and scrubbed at her face with the heel of her hand. The fur of her cheeks, already damp from the swim through the flooded tunnel, was soaked again. “Sorry, Ma’zurah will be out soon,” she managed to croak out. Her nose was stuffed up, and her eyes were sore and puffy.

“I brought you a change of clothes. I thought you might want something dry.”

Ma’zurah opened the door. Jasmine’s face fell at the sight of her. “Oh dear…”

Ma’zurah shook her head violently. “No no, Ma’zurah does not want to hear it. Jasmine has been through much worse.”

Jasmine drew her brows together. “It’s not a competition. What's wrong?"

Ma'zurah shook her head mutely. There was no way she was going to lay her troubles on someone who still wore the shackles of slavery. The Clan Mothers had not raised her to be a burden.

Jasmine clicked her tongue. "Well, it looks like a change of clothes isn't going to be enough. Come inside and I'll get you a towel. Baadargo is using my washtub right now, but you're welcome to bathe after him."

With guilt, Ma'zurah realized she had not asked for the names of any of the others. How self absorbed was she? Her emotions felt like they had been scraped raw, and tears welled in her eyes again.

Jasmine's eyes went wide. "Whoa, hey, it's alright! You're alright, okay?" Her hands fluttered around Ma'zurah's shoulders, but did not quite touch her.

Ma'zurah nodded agreement, but the tears would not go away. She contemplated retreating into the outhouse again, but she had already alarmed Jasmine enough. She needed a distraction.

"Tell Ma'zurah--" Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat and tried again. "Tell Ma'zurah how Jasmine got in that cave?"

Jasmine's shoulders slumped and she let out a long sigh. Alarmed at her suddenly morose expression, Ma'zurah made a placating gesture. "You do not have to--"

"No, it's-- You deserve to hear it after everything you did for me. Actually, I was meaning to thank you. If you hadn't come along…" Jasmine paused, eyes distant. "I was just trying not to think about it yet."

"Ma'zurah is sorry--"

Jasmine shook her head. "You have nothing to be sorry about." Her shoulders straightened again. "In any case, there's no point standing around out here when we could be sitting inside. I'll find you a towel, and then I'll tell you the whole thing if you want."

Ma'zurah followed Jasmine inside, reluctant to show her face to the others, but unwilling to be rude to the woman who was trying to be nice to her.

As soon as they got inside, the pair of Argonians approached them. Ma'zurah tried to hide behind Jasmine without looking like she was doing so.

"You have been a most generous to host us," the deeper-voiced of the Argonians told Jasmine, making a complicated hand gesture.

“And a kind rescuer,” the second interjected, pointedly looking at Ma’zurah and making the same gesture. Ma'zurah's face felt too warm.

“And we wish to show our gratitude."

The pair of them exchanged glances, and the second one took up where the first had left off. "We have nothing we could offer as thanks, so we were thinking--"

The first one made eye contact with Jasmine. "If you are willing to lend us the use of your cooking fire--"

"And you are willing to wait for us to catch the fish before we cook them…" The second Argonian shoved an admonishing hand against the first's shoulder with a look that might have contained amusement, though Ma'zurah was no expert at reading Argonian expressions.

Jasmine blinked at the pair. "By all means, feel free," she told them, sounding surprised.

"Then we will be back with a feast!" the first Argonian declared, and the pair of them exited the house.

"At least they're happy," Jasmine said with a shake of her head. She crossed the room and searched her cabinets for a towel.

Ma’zurah stood in the doorway and took in the room for the first time. The house was small, probably only two rooms large; modest by Imperial standards, but clean. The room she was in held a kitchen in the Imperial style, a table, a fireplace, a writing desk, and a large bookshelf, but no bed, and no washtub. Ma’zurah could hear the sounds of splashing from the next room. She could even hear the Suthay-raht, Baadargo singing muffled snatches of song in what must have been the Dark Elf language, because it certainly was not Ta'agra. With a pang of loneliness, Ma’zurah realized she had not heard anyone speak Ta’agra since she got to Morrowind. She hugged her arms around her chest.

Jasmine returned with a fluffy towel, which she draped gently across Ma'zurah's shoulders, and led her out of the doorway. Ma’zurah followed her with a painful hope in her chest. Jasmine was being nice, friendly even, and Ma’zurah had been so alone. She desperately needed a friend. She felt like they had the spark of connection; maybe Jasmine could be the friend she needed.

Once Ma’zurah was dry and clothed in Jasmine's loaned dress, she found herself sitting next to Jasmine at the table as the woman began the story of how she had gotten caught.

"I've been working with my friend Elone to track the activity of smugglers along this section of the Bitter Coast--"

Ma'zurah had to interrupt. "Is Jasmine a Blade too?" she blurted out, dreading the answer. Blades could not be trusted, no matter how nice they were. She cringed, realizing what she had just said.

Jasmine gave her a puzzled and vaguely alarmed look. "No, I'm technically an independent contractor. Elone commissions me to help her when she gets assignments too big for one person or she's too busy to go out herself. But now I'd like to know how you know Elone is a Blade. Not many people know that."

Ma'zurah bit her lip. She had probably given away too much already. She had been raised by the Clan Mothers; she was supposed to know the value of keeping secrets. She knew it was expected of her as a Blade, but she just was not cut out for weaving the kind of elaborate subterfuge required of a spy. They should have asked her before dragging her into this mess. She felt bitter about the whole thing, and not a little rebellious. She was tired and lonely. She wanted to tell Jasmine. Besides, if Jasmine knew the truth about Elone, Cosades probably would not punish her for telling the truth about herself as well. Especially if he never found out.

"Ma'zurah is a Blade too now," she mumbled. She felt absurdly like she was telling a dirty secret, though she was not sure she could articulate why.

Jasmine opened her mouth, stopped, and closed it again. "I see," she said finally. Something in her expression became ever so slightly more closed off, as though she was watching her words in a way she had not been before. Maybe she was worried about getting Elone in trouble, or maybe she did not trust the Blades either. Maybe she thought Ma'zurah was like Cosades. The thought made Ma'zurah feel as though she could not breathe. She was filled with the sudden, desperate need to tell Jasmine the whole story; to distance herself from the Blades and prove she was not one of them, not really. She wanted to regain that small measure of trust that she had just lost. She was already so isolated, she did not want to lose this connection. She needed a friend so badly.

"You asked why Ma'zurah was upset," she began urgently, leaning closer to Jasmine.

"Yes?" Jasmine looked surprised at the change of subject.

"It is related."

The story came torrenting out: the illegal prostitution charges, the prison sentence, the inexplicable deportation, the package for Caius Cosades, the extortion. She told her about how she did not want to be a Blade, how she did not feel safe in Morrowind, and how she could not leave. She started crying again in the middle of it, and Jasmine put a hand on her knee. Ma'zurah hid her face in her damp towel, but kept talking until she got it all out.

"I'm sorry, that sounds awful," was Jasmine's quietly horrified response. Ma'zurah's gaze flicked to the magic suppressing slave bracer still locked around Jasmine's wrist and remembered her resolution not to be a burden. She could not bring herself to regret telling Jasmine though, because there was genuine sympathy in her eyes now instead of that quiet wariness. And Ma’zurah would not be a burden if this was a mutual exchange.

"Your turn," she said, sniffling. "You just got captured by slavers. Do you want to talk about it?"

Jasmine closed her eyes. "No, but I should."

She told Ma’zurah about how she had been scouting, and been caught snooping too close to the smugglers' cave. She had made a hasty retreat, and thought she had avoided being pursued, so she had gone home. She was on her way into town to report to Elone when she had been ambushed. She could have fought them off if one of them had not snuck up on her from behind.

"I was so scared…" Jasmine's voice was so small it was nearly a whisper. “They were going to sell me. Who knows what would have happened to me after that. They said I would be… valuable. Because of my looks. I don’t think I’ve ever been more scared in my life. Not even when--not ever.” She closed her eyes, and the tears that had been slowly welling in them finally spilled over. She swiped at them with her fingertips. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to--”

“It is fine." Ma'zurah put a hand on Jasmine's knee. "It seems like a reasonable reaction.”

Jasmine shook her head and covered her face with her hands.

Baadargo chose that moment to open the door to the next room. He looked much better. His orange fur had been combed, and he was dressed in more than just rags. He took in the scene and his eyes gained a quality similar to those of a frozen deer. Ma’zurah tried to offer him a tremulous smile, but he retreated, closing the door behind him quietly.

“Sorry,” Jasmine repeated once her shoulders stopped shaking. She tried to wipe her face with her hands, and Ma’zurah offered a corner of her towel. Jasmine looked at it skeptically, and went to retrieve a washcloth instead.

“In the cave,” Jasmine continued after she had wiped her face and steadied her breath, “you asked me if I was Jasmine. How did you know who I was, and where to find me?”

“Elone asked Ma’zurah to check at Jasmine’s house to see if she was there. Ma’zurah found footprints leading from Jasmine’s house, and she followed them.”

“I see. Thank you. I can’t imagine what would have happened to me if you hadn’t done that.”

Ma’zurah nodded and opened her mouth to reply, but Jasmine had closed her eyes and was sitting very still. She looked like she was waiting, Ma’zurah thought, or listening.

“It doesn’t feel like it’s over.”

“It is,” Ma’zurah assured her. “They cannot sell you, or anyone now.”

Jasmine just shook her head. "The thought of going back out, scouting the Bitter Coast like before…" Jasmine took a shuddering breath. "I don't think I can do it. Not--not yet. Not for a while, maybe, and not by myself."

Ma'zurah nodded sympathetically.

"What are you doing after this?" Jasmine asked, turning her focus back to Ma'zurah with a suddenness that startled her.

"Er, Ma'zurah is doing jobs for the Balmora Mages Guild, she thinks. Why?"

"Do you think--" She stopped and tried a new tack. "You seem like you can take care of yourself."

Ma'zurah nodded slowly. She usually took care of herself by turning invisible when things became dangerous, but she supposed today's events proved she could take care of herself in other ways too. She was not sure where Jasmine was going with this.

"Do you think I could… travel with you for a while? Help you with jobs?" Jasmine's voice sounded hopeful, and her words tumbled out in a rush. "Only if you want the company. I wouldn't be a burden. I have a strong sword arm, and I'm good with a bow. I couldn't ask Elone for something like this, she can't leave the Bitter Coast right now, and I don't know anyone else well enough to be able to ask--"

"Yes!" Ma'zurah felt like she would burst. She would not be alone anymore! She threw her arms around Jasmine's shoulders. "Yes, of course! Ma'zurah would be glad to have your company."

Jasmine stiffened in surprise, then released a breath and returned Ma'zurah's embrace, smiling ruefully. "It will be good to get back on the road again."

Ma'zurah sat back and beamed at her.

"First things first. We have to take care of these." Jasmine tapped the bracer on her wrist. "I don't think it would be safe to ask a blacksmith or a locksmith for help, but I was thinking maybe we could get some scrolls. They might be expensive, but maybe Elone knows someone who--"

"Hold on." Ma'zurah's brow furrowed. The idea of scrolls pinged something in her recollection. "Ma'zurah has a thought. In theory, Ma'zurah knows a spell. She has never used it, but before Jasmine speaks of buying expensive scrolls, perhaps she would like Ma'zurah to try."

"Is it dangerous?"

Ma'zurah pursed her lips. "Not really. Definitely not if it is cast correctly."

Jasmine gave her a searching look and hesitantly proffered her arm.

It took two tries. The first time it failed outright, and Ma'zurah wished she had access to her notes far away at the Arcane University. The second time the lock came open with a muffled click.

“Thank you,” Jasmine breathed, rubbing her wrist and sounding supremely relieved. “I should--we should let the others know.” She rose and knocked on the door to the next room. “Baadargo?”

There was no answer.

Frowning, Jasmine opened the door.

The orange Khajiit was asleep on the floor, curled into a tight ball in the corner of the room.

He peeked an eye open at their approach. “This one can come out now?”

"Why are you on the floor?" Jasmine asked, bemused.

"Where else should this one be?"

"The bed?"

Baadargo looked over at the bed and Ma'zurah followed his gaze. It was a nice bed, with soft, clean blankets smoothed over the top, and not a wrinkle in sight.

"That is the bed of muthsera Jasmine, not Baadargo." The Khajiit's voice was plaintive. "This one did not want to mess it up."

Jasmine tisked, but let it drop.

“Show Ma’zurah Baadargo’s bracer please?” Ma'zurah asked, helping the Suthay-raht to his feet.

He held out his wrist and Ma’zurah opened the lock.

“Fantastic! Can this one learn to do such things?” Baadargo’s tone was wondering, as though Ma'zurah had handed him a precious gift and he could hardly believe it.

Jasmine laughed along with the joy on the Suthay-raht's face, but Ma’zurah gave his question serious consideration. “Does Baadargo have a talent for magic?”

Baadargo’s face fell slightly, though the joy remained. “This one does not know. This one has never had the bracer off long enough to find out before.”

“Never?” Jasmine asked, horrified.

“This one was born with it.”

Ma’zurah gaped at the Suthay-raht. Her mind boggled at the thought of being born into slavery. She could not imagine a life like that.

A look of concern had affixed itself to Jasmine’s face. “If you've never been free, do you have anywhere to go? Or anywhere you want to go?”

Baadargo nodded. “This one has heard rumors. They say the scaled ones in Ebonheart will help those who want to leave. Baadargo was going there.”

“Alright.” Jasmine glanced at Ma’zurah. “I guess that will be our first stop.”

Ma’zurah nodded.

Jasmine spent the next hour packing and preparing her house for her imminent absence. Ma’zurah laid the things in her bag out to dry, lamenting the water damage to her new maps, and then proceeded to sit at the kitchen table and attempt to teach Baadargo how to access his own well of magicka.

At some point the pair of Argonians returned with three large fish and a mudcrab, which they gleefully cooked. Ma’zurah demonstrated again the spell of opening, which prompted the Argonians to speak animatedly of their plans to return to the marshes of their homeland. Jasmine suggested they travel with Baadargo to look for assistance first, and to that end, the five of them hired two fishing boats from the outskirts of Seyda Neen to take them to Ebonheart directly, avoiding the main roads. Jasmine and Ma’zurah stopped to assure Elone that Jasmine was fine before they departed.

When they arrived at the fort, Jasmine had only to ask for “the Argonians” to be directed to the Argonian Embassy. They had barely taken two steps inside before they encountered a tall Argonian in an elegant robe, who quickly divined the situation and whisked the three former slaves away to a safe place.

Then it was just Ma’zurah and Jasmine. Ma’zurah gave Jasmine the details of her job for the Balmora Mages Guild, and the pair of them set off in the direction of Balmora. There was a lightness to Ma’zurah’s step that she had not felt since before she had been imprisoned in Cyrodiil.

Ma’zurah looked over at the Redguard walking beside her. She still missed the life she had lost, the life she could not go back to, but at least now she was not completely alone. Now she had a friend.

[danaeplays]

I’ve been having way too much fun editing my journal, more pages to follow!

Disclaimer: I write poorly, typos are my way of life.

Main mods featured so far:

- MWSE Journal Search and Edit

- Way of the Talons

- Jasmine, a companion

You’ll find this modlist here I called this one unlore: some quests, items, etc are either not very lore-friendly or balanced.

[icaxrus-moved]

25 DA questions !

Tagged via @lelibela !! Danke !!

I tag @lethalins @cosunter @sisternightingayle and any DA fan because I forgot dnsjsjfns

01) Favourite game of the series?

DA2/DAE, this game always makes me cry and go like an emotional bastard.

02) How did you discover Dragon Age?

Mainly I wanted something LGBT-related so I discovered the ME series and stuff, then when it was kinda lackluster I heard that DA in comparison had better stuff so I DIRECTLY installed DAI with cosunter in the house, created the first Inky aka Tanaka Treveylan and ever since I fell in love with its lore and stuff <3.

03) How many times you’ve played the games?

A lot to the point I forgot, I think more then 200+ hours on DAI alone and like 7 different playthroughs in DA2/DAE.

04) Favourite race to play as?

Qunari !! I mean I love elves but horns hnnnnng.

05) Favourite class?

Mages (Plus points if Mage Warrior with the arcana sword) but double dueling rouge comes REALLY close to it, I would say Warrior with shield is a third.

06) Do you play through the games differently or do you make the same decisions each time?

I try my best to play differently even if it hurt at times, but there’s some stuff I would never do (Rival anyone in DA2/DAE, turn down anyone in DAI)

07) Go-to adventuring group?

DAO: Alistair, Morrigan and Leliana or Leliana, Shale and Zevran.

DA2/DAE: Aveline (I need TANK) Anders and Merrill or Aveline, Fenris and Isabela.

DAI: Blackwall, Dorian and Sera or Iron Bull, Cole and Varric.

08) Which of your characters did you put the most thought into?

I would say my Cousland aka Deltev Cousland, He has a completelt different face morph, his personality is rather off-canon (Romance Nate and has children by DAI) So there’s a lot of thought put into thay bastard.

09) Favourite romance?

Leliana and Zevran (also Morrigan dnnsdn), Isabela and Anders, Josephine and Dorian.

10) Have you read any of the comics/books?

I think I’m up to date with modt things, want to go one though.

11) If you read them, which was your favourite book?

The Stolen Throne.

12) Favourite DLCs?

DAO: The Stone Prisoner.

DA2/DAE: Legacy

DAI: The Descent.

13) Things that annoy you.

Ah Shit, Here we go again.

I would say the racism from the writers themselves whether whitewashing or the treatment of elves...

14) Orlais or Ferelden?

Ferelden.

15) Templars or mages?

Mages.

16) If you have multiple characters, are they in different/parallel universes or in the same one?

Yes they all co-exist ! (Although in DAO my Cousland and Sabrae would die if my Surana was chosen :() but in DAI the two Treveylans are cousins, the three Lavallens come from the same family and they all like siblings to each other and my Adaar also exists !!

17) What did you name your pets? (mabari, summoned animals, mounts, etc)

I will not say anything further then Maki Surana’s dog was named Pepproni, she was a good mabari.

18) Have you installed any mods?

Too much like 4 GB of mods per game.

19) Did your Warden want to become a Grey Warden?

Maki Surana: Yup, She always wanted a way out as well she heard the stories of them and wanted to go out and fight, she loved Duncan and always wears the warden outfit.

Deletev Cousland: NOPE, he refused first and Duncan pulling him away from his parents made it worse, he always distaned himself from the wardens and had a big hate for Duncan.

Theron Sabrae. It’s sort of Bittersweet, they don’t mind the wardens but it would have been better if left with a choice, as well as the whole Tamleen fucked them up, but they are chill.

20) Hawke’s personality?

Aside from the default ones which are often Purple.

Jasmine: Purple with a mix of Blue.

Blond Hawke that I totally didn’t forget his name: Blue.

21) Did you make matching armor for your companions in Inquisition?

Nah.

22) If your character(s) could go back in time to change one thing, what would they change?

Deletev: Definitely kill Howe before anything happens.

Theron: you know.

Jasmine: Saving Bethany or sacrificing herself for her at least.

Lin: Never date that egg because the next time he sees him, he will kick ASS.

23) Do you have any headcanons about your character(s) that go against canon?

Deltev: Romancing Nathaniel and adopting children because fuck the system.

Maki: Coming instead of Stroud into the Fade along Hawke. (She would never see the wardens fall like that)

Senaca Adaar: Being a healer who deals with the healing spirits really closely.

24) Who did you leave in the Fade?

Stroud, Alistair REALLY actsike my brother and my emotional ass is emotional, even if he’s white I gotta overlook that.

25) Favourite mount?

I don’t remember it’s name yet the Skelton was the coolest shit.

Thank you <3.

[flowershopspirits]

Hey, how about number 9? Btw, in the list you posted about what species 1-19 are, you forgot Obsidian Guardians.

Alrighty. Let's try this again. Tumblr, please don't make me cry.So! Jasmine Wonders! They are a gorgeous fish with snow white scales and just a hint of a golden pearlescent sheen. They are one of the most graceful and elegant species I have ever seen, swimming through the air as if it were water. They are particularly rare as they tend to wander all over the astral in solitary journies, but I managed to stumble across a place where their elders go when they are nearing the end of their lives and their young stay when they are not prepared for the outside world's dangers (read: DO NOT SEARCH FOR THIS PLACE). Through a long period of trying to gain their trust, they have decided to let me adopt those who still have yet to go to earth and who want a human companion. They want to help their companions with finding and moving with, not againsg, the natural flows and ebbs of time and nature in the way that they have found. They do want me to caution, however, that their lifespans far exceed ours and any companion they find they would want for the rest of their companion's life. Please keep that in mind when requesting or applying for them.~Mod Peony

[irohzine]

FAQ

What is a zine? 

A zine is a fan-made magazine filled with art and writing focusing on a character, ship, or other theme! Zines can be digital or physical and are often sold with merch such as buttons, prints, stickers, and charms. However, merchandise differs from zine to zine. Some have some very creative and unique merch!

What will this zine include? 

This depends on the results of the interest check! If there is enough interest, we plan to produce the following:

A physical zine containing art and stories depicting Iroh’s progression as a character, from a young warlord to a wandering spirit, and everything in between!

A companion cookbook with approximately 20 recipes, showcasing Iroh’s favorites from across the four nations.

Assorted merchandise, including a Limited Edition Bundle.

How do I apply to be in this zine?

Mod Muse is working on a guide to zine applications! The link will be posted here and in our navigation bar once it is completed, which will be before applications open.

What is the difference between orders and pre-orders? 

‘Orders’ mean that a product is already produced and just needs to be shipped. ‘Pre-orders’ mean that the items will be produced after orders are closed, then shipped after the production period. People do pre-orders when items are going to be produced in a limited quantity and pre-orders will determine how many are made, as is the case with The Jasmine Dragon!

Where will this zine's proceeds go? 

All proceeds will be donated to charity! The exact charity we will be donating to will be determined during out interest check.

 Who's running this zine? 

Check out our mod introduction post, coming soon!

Can you explain the zine's theme a little more? 

The theme of the zine is ‘Iroh’s Journey’. It will focus on Iroh’s growth as an individual over the course of his lifetime. This means that we will include content taking place pre-canon, during the series, and after the conclusion of the 100 year war.

How many contributors will be accepted into this zine? 

The number of contributors we accept will be determined by the results of the interest check. 

Will contributors be compensated for their work?

This is a charity zine. All contributors will receive a digital copy of the final product. However, we would like to provide contributors with a copy of the full bundle they helped to create if funds allow, while still allocating money for charity. Therefore, 50% of profits will be set aside to cover the cost of contributor bundles and shipping. If we reach a point where we can completely cover the cost of contributor bundles, all remaining profit will be given to charity. If we do not reach a point where we can cover the cost of contributor bundles, contributors may purchase any product they are interested in at production price.

Are other characters allowed in this zine?

Other characters can absolutely appear in the zine! One of the things that made Iroh such an important character is the impact he had on the people around him. However, the main focus should remain on Iroh.

Is shipping allowed in this zine?

No. You may include two characters who you ship in a piece of art or fic, and you may have them interact (as long as the focus of the piece does not veer too heavily from Iroh), but we will not be allowing any explicit shipping.

[jemmasmithinterior]

16 Desk Decor Ideas for Your Cubicle or Home Office

In need of new desk decor ideas for your home office? You’ve come to the right place. While many have recently made the transition to working from home, even if you aren’t used to it, there are some simple ways you can make your space simultaneously more productive and comfortable.

Not only are these home office desk ideas budget-friendly, they’re also stress-free and easy to implement in large and small spaces – all it takes is a little creativity and self expression. You’d be surprised how little touches like picture frames or plants can add new life to your work space and give you a much-needed boost to get through the day. Plus, taking the time to map out your space the way you want is a great way to stay productive through days of endless meetings and projects.

We’ve rounded up 16 of our favorite desk ideas for the home office that’s sure to give you some inspiration as you decorate and organize:

1. Use Unique Accents to Define Your Space

The first thing you’ll want to keep in mind when thinking of ideas for your desk decor is that even the small accessories can dictate your work space vibe. To create a sense of much-needed tranquility, a decorative sculpture can remind you to stay calm when you feel overwhelmed with tasks and everyday stressors. Or, if you want that ultra mod Silicon Valley office vibe, minimalist-style home accents are the perfect choice. Just remember, keeping it to just one or two items is key for honing in on a look while keeping your desk free of distracting clutter.

2. Build a Trendy DIY Terrarium With Succulents

Give your eyes a break from the computer screen with a pop of vibrant greenery. It’s a refreshing sight for tired eyes, and plants have been shown to boost your mood Since succulents are easy to care for and don’t require a lot of sunlight, they make the perfect work space companion. With some extra time around the house, be sure to give this fun DIY Terrarium a try.

3. Keep Yourself on Track with a Stylish Wall Clock

Wall clocks are a practical choice that might not seem exciting, but practical doesn’t have to mean boring. There’s a variety of wall clocks out there and, chances are, there’s one that fits your style perfectly – whether you’re a fan of sleek modern lines, traditional rich hues or beachy-chic flair. It’ll also help you stay on track with your deadlines and team check-in meetings.

4. Make it Personal with Your Favorite Memories

A smile can really make all the difference. Personalize your work space with photographs of your friends, family, pets or memorable moments. Good desk decor isn’t only about aesthetics, but about what makes you feel happy – so surround yourself with good memories to make work more enjoyable, and give those memories a worthy home tucked inside picture frames.

5. Create a Chic DIY Mousepad

If you like getting crafty, then you’ll love this desk decor project. Give your plain old mousepad a totally new look with fabric and spray adhesive in a few easy steps:

First, find a fun fabric that resonates with your style.

Trace the diameter of your mousepad onto the back of the fabric.

Cut carefully and use the spray adhesive to attach atop your old mousepad.

How easy is that? If you love the look of gold metallic polka dots, follow Lovely Indeed’s tutorial here.

6. Decorate With Motivational Messages

Hang up decor with motivational messaging for that little extra push on days you may be feeling unproductive. Whether it’s a simple “be happy” mantra or a quote that brings you joy, there’s plenty of ways you can display an uplifting message or two by your desk.

To recreate this clipboard art gallery look, you can use gorgeous free printables by Craft-o-matic. She took plain clipboards and painted the silver hardware in gold – so you can customize the look with your favorite colors.

Also keep in mind that motivational messaging isn’t restricted to just quotes or phrases – a picture says a thousand words, after all. Hang up a scenic landscape to whisk you away into your creative sweet spot, or consider a piece with artistic expression that reminds you of your dreams and aspirations.

7. Increase Focus With Inspirational Colors

White walls are fresh and clean, but too much white can actually inhibit creativity. Scientific studies have shown that colors can impact our productivity, and that bland gray, beige and white offices can create feelings of sadness and depression. Ick.

You don’t have to worry about going all out with the paint though – a couple pieces of wall art can do wonders for your desk space. Keep the creative ideas flowing at your desk with colors that help improve efficiency and focus and your overall well-being, such as blue, green or purple.

8. Add Dimension With Wallpaper

It’s not your mother’s wallpaper. The quality, styles and ease of use have really improved over time, and nowadays you have a sizable selection to choose from. Going for an urban-chic look? There’s faux brick wallpaper for that. Want to show off your worldly bohemian flair? There are so many vibrant patterns to browse. It’s the perfect solution for a hassle-free accent wall.

9. Organize in Style with Unique Bookends

If you’re a bibliophile, this is sure to rank as one of your favorite desk decor ideas. Keep your favorites and the books on your “to-read” list proudly displayed and within reach. A pair of bookends keeps your literary treasures neatly at bay, all while showing off your personality.

10. Keep Pens and Pencils at Hand

Have you ever been prepared to start working, only to get distracted by a mess? It’s easy to let things get out of control when you don’t have proper desk organization and you’re now home more than ever. Luckily, these trendy boxes neatly conceal all of your small trinkets so your desk area doesn’t become chaotic. Keep them close by for added style and functionality to your desk. Or, you can use small decorative baskets without lids to easily locate and grab what you need.

11. Keep Yourself Calm with Candles

Creative desk ideas don’t have to be purely visual. In fact, scent in your work environment can also have a big impact on your productivity. Keep your mind in the zone with scented candles housed in stylish holders. Lemon, jasmine, cinnamon, peppermint and rosemary are popular scents for boosting both mood and productivity. If you want to personalize candle holders with your own unique spin, consider glass holders. You can easily decorate the exterior or even fill the bottom with interesting textures, like natural rocks for a zen feel.

12. Bring Life to Your Desk with Plants and a Classy Vase

There’s a reason why indoor plants are so popular: they not only improve air quality, but they’re also shown to reduce stress, boost your mood and are nice to look at – of course it had to make our list of best home office desk ideas.

Once you’ve found your ideal plant or plants (be sure to check whether they’re pet safe or not if you’ve got furry friends), pair it with a stylish vase that can hold freshly cut flowers or stand out as an accessory of its own. You can just as easily fake a green thumb with pretty faux flowers in a set of small vases for the same effect.

13. Increase Storage Space With a Monitor Stand

Give your neck, and your desk space, a break with a monitor stand. This frees up your desk’s surface area, allowing you to slide papers, note pads or desk organizer tools underneath your computer monitor.

14. Illuminate Your Space With a Luminous Lamp

It’s desk decor that’s just as bright as you are. Whether you’re blessed with plentiful natural light or have an office space tucked away without windows, you could always benefit from better lighting – especially for extra light. Little pops of gold are always trendy, and integrate beautifully with all kinds of decor styles.

15. Arrange the Essentials on a Stylish Tray

One of the best things about working from home is that you don’t have to stay in one place all day. On a whim, you can take your work with you to your cozy sofa, your patio space or the kitchen bar. Make movement easy by arranging all your essentials, such as pens, notepads and a laptop charger, on a decorative tray. It looks great and makes transferring rooms a simple affair.

16. Elevate Your Decor Accents With Floating Shelves

Desk space is precious, especially if your home office is smaller. A great way to maximize the square footage you have is by installing floating shelves. They’re easy to DIY, and they make it easy to organize your essentials. Display your favorite books and home accents, and add hooks to hang small jars from – what an innovative way to store pens, paper clips and more.

If you’re not the type to whip out the hammer and measuring tape, then this ready-to-hang golden metallic wall shelf just might strike your fancy. With four slots to display your favorite home accents and store your office necessities, this fabulous find will help clear off desk space and inject cool style, all in one.

Did any of our desk decor ideas speak out to you? We’d love to see photos of your new home office. Since working from home for many of us might become the norm for the foreseeable future, make it your own productivity hub that works best for you. The important thing is to remain productive and focused wherever you find your work space.

Make sure to share the inspiration on Instagram with the hashtag #MyAshleyHome – it might just be our next featured post.

The post 16 Desk Decor Ideas for Your Cubicle or Home Office appeared first on XO Ashley.

fromhttps://blog.ashleyfurniture.com/16-creative-home-office-desk-decor-ideas/

[mazurah]

“What's a girl gotta do to get some attention around here?”

This particular line is inextricably linked to the Jasmine mod for Morrowind for me because Jasmine would not stop saying this at the most inappropriate moments, like, uh... right before trying to fight Dagoth Ur.

[mazurah]

I don't believe it! *huff*

Jasmine is just a skeptical person apparently. She can’t believe a lot of things. Like the fact that Caius wants me to be the Nerevarine and she has to go along with it. What was she thinking getting into this mess anyway?

[mazurah]

“What was that?!”

Jasmine would not stop saying this. It was great for roleplaying, but also kinda hilarious if she said it at the wrong time.

Julan: *coughs* Jasmine: What was that?! Me: *facepalm*

[mazurah]

Ma’zurah and friends. Julan, Constance, and Jasmine.

[mazurah]

Betrayal and Reconciliation: A Morrowind Fanfic - Chapter 1

Ma'zurah the Khajiiti Mage and reluctant Imperial Blade has just received orders to fulfill the Nerevarine prophecies. Worse, she now has to tell Julan, her new Ashlander boyfriend, and risk damaging her relationship with him before he finds out on his own and ruins her chances with him forever.

Or: Ma’zurah finally starts to get into the serious parts of the main questline.

Please note: this is not a heterosexual pairing! Ma’zurah is intersex and non-binary, even though she does use she/her pronouns. I have attempted to treat this respectfully, even when the character makes dubious decisions.

Cross posted from my Ao3. Chapter Rating: T for language.

Next Chapter - All Fanfics

Betrayal and Reconciliation - Chapter 1

Ma'zurah slammed the door to Caius Cosades’ apartment and trudged miserably through the rain. She worked her way through the trash strewn streets of southern Balmora, across the Odai river to the nicer side of the city, and up the hill to the Eight Plates and let herself inside. Removing her dripping oilskin, she hung it to dry on a peg in the hallway and went in search of Jasmine. She discovered the Redguard woman deep in conversation with Deandre at the bar, apparently discussing the details of the latest book Deandre had asked them to find.

“See, that’s what’s so fascinating about the Ra’gada mythos when compared to--” The animated Breton bard spotted Ma’zurah and waved her over with a grin. “Ah, Ma’zurah! Always a pleasure to see you! Is… everything alright?”

Ma'zurah gave him a nod of greeting and a tight smile and turned to Jasmine. “Ma’zurah needs to talk to Jasmine somewhere private.” she said in a low voice.

“Of course.” Jasmine looked worried. It was highly unusual for the normally chipper Khajiit to be so tense. “Please excuse us Deandre.” She led Ma'zurah to her rented room and closed the door behind them.

When Jasmine turned to face Mazurah, the Khajiit was wearing an expression of intense anxiety. “Ma'zurah apologizes for interrupting Jasmine, but Ma'zurah has just come from Caius…”

Jasmine immediately assumed a guarded expression. “Go on…”

“He… he…” Ma'zurah appeared on the verge of hyperventilation.

“Breathe. Did he have new orders for you?”

“Yes!” Ma'zurah burst out, “And finally explained why he has been having Ma'zurah look for all the Nerevarine information! He wants Ma'zurah to… to…” she choked and hurriedly rummaged through her bag to produce a crumpled piece of paper.

Jasmine took it and smoothed it. “I have the honor to acquaint you with his Majesty's wishes concerning Ma’zurah…” Jasmine’s brow furrowed and she continued reading in silence.

Ma'zurah closed her eyes and calmed herself, taking slow, even breaths.

Jasmine lowered the paper and stared. “I… can't believe what I just read.”

“Neither can Ma'zurah, but Caius made it clear that if Ma'zurah does not do this thing, that he will put her right back in prison…”

“So what do you have to do first?”

Ma'zurah swallowed. “Speak to the Urshilaku and ask them to test Ma'zurah to see if she fulfills the Nerevarine prophecies.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” Jasmine’s expression was gentle.

“Ma'zurah does not know… probably, no. It will probably be tedious, and the Urshilaku will likely have enough trouble accepting one outlander. But Ma'zurah knows she cannot possibly be the Nerevarine, and she does not want to do this! If anyone is the Nerevarine, it is Julan! His mother speaks to Azurah! But Ma'zurah has no idea what to tell Julan… She cannot keep hiding like this, especially not now that…” Mazurah paused and closed her eyes. “She wants to tell him the truth, but Julan will explode when he finds out…”

Jasmine nodded slowly. “You’re worried he won't listen and he’ll just leave?”

Ma'zurah nodded miserably. “He makes Ma'zurah happy… she doesn't want to hurt him, but there’s no way he won't find out once we get to the Urshilaku… and if Ma'zurah tells him before that…” She halted, unable to finish the sentence.

Jasmine sighed. “You had to get involved with an Ashlander…”

“Velothi.” Ma'zurah corrected automatically in a monotone.

“Well whatever he is, he’s more intelligent than most I've seen. If you can figure out a way to get him to hear you out, maybe you can calm him enough to--” She snapped her fingers. “A letter!”

“What?” Ma'zurah stared at her in confusion.

“Write him a letter. That way hopefully he’ll read what you have to say all the way through before he tries to confront you about any of it.”

“Or he will burn it and leave…” Ma'zurah muttered darkly.

Jasmine shot her a look. “Do you have a better plan?”

There was a long pause.

“No…” Ma'zurah sighed. “...may Ma'zurah borrow your paper and ink?”

Julan was pacing the small apartment in agitation. He half wished he’d gone to the South Wall cornerclub to get drunk out of his mind, but no. He had to stay and confront her. Sheogorath! Was he ever angry though!

It had been nearly an hour, he estimated. He bent and picked up his telepathy ring from where he had thrown it against the wall, and put it on. Concentrating, he didn't hear anything. What in Oblivion was that n’wah doing?

He flung himself down onto the bed face first and screamed into a pillow. He needed an outlet. His head was becoming overwhelming again. He decided he was well past the point of wishing for a drink, he needed one now to handle living in his own head! He stood and vainly searched the shelves again for any alcohol.

The door to the apartment opened and shut. “Julan? Are you still here?” In four strides he was at the foot of the stairs. “Oh! Julan, Ma’zurah needs to talk--”

He didn't let her finish. “YOU N’WAH!” he exploded.

Ma'zurah's eyes widened in shock.

“You… faithless, traitorous N’WAH! How could you DO this to me?” Julan could barely speak; just the sight of her made him furious.

“What… Julan…?”

“You SCUM! You LIAR!! I thought I could trust you!! I had even, IDIOT that I am, started to think I might…” Julan choked, and for one second he looked like he was about to cry, but the expression became clouded by anger as quickly as it had appeared. “Gah! Forget that now! NOW you have betrayed me in the WORST possible way!!”

Ma’zurah’s expression was panicked. “Julan, wait--”

“And don't even TRY to play innocent with me! I KNEW something wasn't right about that Cosades man! So I used our telepathy rings to listen in to your conversation!”

Ma’zurah’s expression transformed to one of outrage. She balled both hands into fists, crushing a folded piece of paper in one. “You SPIED on Ma’zurah?!” She was down the steps before Julan had a chance to blink. She held up a finger in his face, claw unsheathed. Some detached, clinical portion of Julan’s brain observed that the tip of her claw was stained with ink for some reason, and noted that he had never realized just how sharp her claws looked before. “Jer khrassozay qojiit! How dare you! How fucking DARE you!!”

The hypocrisy was too much for Julan. “WHAT!? YOU accuse ME of spying? YOU'RE the spy, Ma’zurah! I know that now! You're an IMPERIAL spy! Of all people, I never thought YOU would be a spy for my most hated enemies. And that's not even the WORST of it!!”

“Go on then! ZISS! What could Ma'zurah have POSSIBLY done to make to make this worse?!”

“You're trying to pass yourself off as the NEREVARINE! YOU?!! An OUTLANDER?! How DARE you mock me like that!! And not just me, my PEOPLE, my RELIGION and my entire CULTURE!!”

She bared her teeth and hissed at him, an action Julan had only ever seen in the heat of battle. “Because that’s what all this is about, ISN’T it! It is all about YOU! You and your PETTY HATRED!! You and YOUR RELIGION!” Ma'zurah looked absolutely incensed, her teeth we're bared in threat, and her lashing tail had puffed to twice its usual size. “Or has Julan forgotten already that Ma’zurah calls Azurah Mother as well?!”

“I don't CARE!! You're still prepared to go the Urshilaku and attempt to con them into accepting you as the fulfillment of the prophecies!! That is the most offensive and ridiculous thing I have ever heard!!”

“Ma'zurah is not CONNING them! Ma'zurah is being forced to have them TEST her! Ma’zurah would get out of it if she could!”

“How can I possibly believe anything you say anymore!? I just... I can't believe you could do this to me.”

“And how do you think MA’ZURAH feels about this?!” She snarled and shoved a palm against his chest, forcing him to take a step back. “How do you think MA’ZURAH feels being forced to choose between you and herself?! Ma'zurah never HAD a choice!”

“YOU?! How YOU feel?... Wha... Stop changing the subject!! You LIED to me! Of course you had a choice! I told you my secrets, didn't I? Gods, you must've been laughing at me all along... How could you lie to me about something so important to me?!”

“Ma'zurah wonders if Julan quite understands the concept of BEING A BLADE!” Ma’zurah’s voice was beginning to sound hoarse. “Ma'zurah CANNOT just go around telling LITTLE BOYS she just MET all her secrets! She would be killed in an instant! But by the time Ma'zurah TRUSTED Julan enough to share her secrets, it was TOO LATE!” Ma'zurah’s eyes shone with unshed tears as she screamed at Julan. “Ma'zurah KNEW Julan would only react like THIS!”

“Like this?! Are you saying you think I'm OVERREACTING?! You betrayed me, and I will NEVER forgive you!!”

Ma'zurah stared at him with a stunned expression for a second before her brow clouded over again. “Then get out of Ma'zurah's apartment.” Her voice was quiet and despairing. She pointed up the stairs to the door behind her.

“Oh no. You're not getting rid of me that easily. Do you really think I'm going to sit back and let you try to mislead my people?” He crossed his arms in front of her.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Your people? You mean the people that outcast you?” Ma'zurah sounded bitter. “Ma'zurah wonders, who is more trustworthy? An outlander Khajiit who has never done them wrong, or one of their own outcasts, who they have already judged untrustworthy merely by virtue of being outcast?”

“Go on, twist the knife! Yes, I'm an outcast from my people, same as you, and probably no one would listen to a word I said. But I have to try something! I can't let you do this! You'll have to kill me first!”

Ma'zurah closed her eyes and made a strangled noise in the back of her throat with an expression that was half angry, half pained. She threw a crumpled piece of paper at him and shoved past him into the apartment. He caught the wad of paper out of reflex and stalked after her.

Ma'zurah started shoving clothing and camping items into her pack, and Julan realized she meant to leave immediately. He quickly gathered his own pack and armor, and managed to finish putting everything into his pack just in time to hear Ma'zurah slam the door behind her. He raced after her, and managed to catch up to her at the other end of the Manor District plaza. She didn't even glance at him.

She walked directly to the Mages Guild, and nearly collided with Constance who was exiting the building.

“Ma'zurah! I'm back from Vivec! Crazy Legs sends his regards and Gentleman Jim has a new assignment! Oh! And he wanted me to give you this!” Constance shoved a small handful of silvery lockpicks into Ma'zurah’s hands and grinned. Her smile faltered when she finally registered Ma'zurah's stormy expression. “Did… something happen…?”

Ma'zurah's expression softened slightly, and she tried to give Constance a wan smile. “Ma'zurah and Julan had a fight.” She pulled Constance into a hug. “Would you mind telling Jasmine that Ma'zurah is leaving for the Urshilaku camp now, and that she will be in contact if she needs any help?” She untucked a simple citrine pendant necklace from below her tunic collar as explanation--Constance's telepathy amulet.

“Oh! But if you just give me a few minutes, I can be ready to come wi--”

“Ma'zurah thinks it might be a bad idea to bring anyone else on this assignment.” Ma'zurah cut Constance off.

“What? No! You think I’m just going to leave you to handle… whatever this is without me?” Constance crossed her arms and glanced at Julan standing silent and stoic behind Ma’zurah.

“Look, Ma’zurah does not need to press the limits of the Urshilaku hospitality by bringing more outlanders…” Ma’zurah chewed her lip. “Ma’zurah is sorry, but Constance would be more of a hinder than a help in this case… But… here.” Ma'zurah swung her pack off her shoulder and retrieved a small coin purse, which she tossed to Constance. “Thank you so much for all the help today. Go buy something nice for yourself.” She tried again to offer Constance a weak smile.

“Okay…” Despite the temptation of money and shopping, Constance looked unconvinced. She glanced down at the small coin purse in her hands, then back up at Ma'zurah with knitted brow. “If I don't hear from you by tonight, I'll contact you.”

Ma'zurah nodded and entered the Mage’s Guild before she had to face any more questioning from her friend. She walked quickly to the back of the building to a room occupied by two people. Julan followed as quickly as he could.

Ma'zurah gave Ajira a nod and a wave and approached the guild guide. “Ma’zurah needs to get to Ald-Ruhn, thanks.” She fished in her pocket and held out ten gold.

Julan started searching his pack for the coinpurse he rarely ever used, and had ten gold ready by the time Ma'zurah had disappeared in a flash of magicka.

Ta’agra Translations: Jer khrassozay qojiit = you clawless coward Ziss = untranslatable swear word Ta’agra Source

Mods Directly Referenced: Julan Ashlander Companion Mod by Kateri. Constance Thief Companion by Grumpy and Emma. Jasmine Companion Mod by Jac. White Senches Race Mod by Kieve. Hlaalu Council Quarters by Princess Stomper.

Notes: This story does contain mild, non-physical sexual harassment in chapter two. Rating will be M at most. All chapters containing NSFW material will be tagged as such.

Some of the lines are paraphrases or direct quotations from the Julan Ashlander mod. I’m a fan of people taking game quotes and giving them new or more detailed context.

Lore and characterization for Ma'zurah significantly inspired by the White Senches race mod. 

The letter that Ma'zurah hands Jasmine near the beginning of the chapter can be read in full here.

I’ve only recently started writing, so constructive criticism is welcome. I also really like it if you leave me comments on my Ao3.

Next Chapter - All Fanfics

[mazurah]

Morrowind Fanfic Series “Child of Azurah” Main Cast Dossiers

Contains minor spoilers for some of my future plot ideas and the Julan Ashlander mod, Thief Companion Constance mod, and Jasmine Companion mod, and contains information included in the White Senches Race Mod. This is mostly for my own reference, but I’m not averse to sharing.

Read the Fanfics?

Ma’zurah (Indoril Hlaalu Ma’zurah Nerevar Mora)

Race, Class, Occupation: Khajiiti mage or mystic, breed: moon cursed (should have been Alfiq), Imperial Blade, House Hlaalu, Mages Guild, and Thieves Guild member

Sex and Gender: Intersex and Non-binary, uses she/her pronouns

Sexual Orientation: Pansexual

Age, Date of Birth and Starsign: Age 22, Born 14th Sun’s Height 3E 405, The Apprentice

Known Relatives: blood relatives unknown; raised by tribe Clan Mothers, and mentored by Clan Mother Dra’nassa (an elderly trans woman who objected to Ma’zurah’s exile from Elsweyr)

Place of Origin: Elsweyr, Central Tenmar Forest

Languages Known: Ta’agra, Cyrodiilic, Some Dunmeris

Religion: Khajiiti Pantheon and The True Tribunal

Special Attributes and/or skills: Nerevarine and Dragonborn, but doesn’t know that yet

Personality: friendly, chipper, compassionate, devout, optimistic, intelligent, curious, outspoken, mischievous, playful, fearless, shameless, sensual, hedonistic, unscrupulous, impulsive, insensitive, selfish, vindictive, arrogant, proud, vain, ambitious (as in strong “will to power”), greedy (draconically so), holds a traditional Khajiiti communistic worldview

Additional Comments: Ma’zurah was adopted by a small tribe in central Tenmar Forest after being abandoned at birth; she was dedicated to Azurah and given her name which means “Child of Azurah”. She was outcast from Elsweyr at age 16 by regional leaders because of her moon cursed status despite the tribe Clan Mothers’ protests, and moved to the Imperial City with Clan Mother Dra’nassa, where she stayed for six years. Clan Mother Dra’nassa mentored her in the ways of the Clan Mothers until her death four years later, and Ma’zurah began attended the Arcane University to study Mysticism and a respectable mix of all the other magickal schools until her imprisonment and deportation to Vvardenfell two years later. She was imprisoned on mistaken charges of illegal prostitution because of her friendship with the workers at a local brothel.

Likes: sweet foods, dancing, learning, books, stories, mysticism magic, esoteric lore, Khajiiti and Velothi culture, Azurah and the True Tribunal

Dislikes: slavery, insults to physical appearance, bitter foods, electricity, thunderstorms, being asked to sing, Sixth House bells

Physical Description: 5’10” thin athletic build, whole body covered in short white fur with black tiger striping; intersex with a combination of both usual sets of genitalia; small breasts (A-B cup); blue eyes; very fine, straight, light cream colored hair, cut to chin length; merlike or Ohmes-raht facial structure and ears; always wears mismatched red and blue crystal earrings (red on right, blue on left) hung from near the point of the ear; whiskered cheeks and eyebrows; retractable claws on hands; digitigrade feet with cat hind paws

Julan Kaushibael

Race, Class, Occupation: Dunmeri warrior, Velothi Ashlander, outcast

Sex: Cis Male

Sexual Orientation: Bisexual, but really hasn’t figured it out all that well

Age, Date of Birth and Starsign: Age 22, Born 7th of First Seed 3E 405 (actual date unknown, celebrates on First Planting), Sign: The Lord

Known Relatives: Mother is Mashti Kaushibael, a mabrigash in the Grazelands

Place of Origin: Morrowind, Vvardenfell, Grazelands

Languages Known: Velothi, Dunmeris, Cyrodiilic

Religion: The True Tribunal, but mostly Azura

Personality: Personality: fun loving, compassionate, honorable, dutiful, snarky, quick tempered, paranoid, judgmental, idealistic, immature, whiny, inexperienced, possessive, loyal, devout, a romantic

Additional Comments: Thinks he’s the Nerevarine; delusional False Incarnate

Likes: books, poetry, Queen Barenziah, drinking at taverns, Ashlander traditions, learning about foreign cultures (NOT Imperials)

Dislikes: decadence, slavery, bureaucracy, The Empire, House Hlaalu, the Tribunal and Tribunal Temple

Physical Description: 5’11” athletic build, mid-tone ash grey skin, bright red eyes with red sclera, shoulder length dark brown (almost black) hair, no piercings, tattoos, or tribal scarification

Constance

Race, Class, Occupation: Bosmeri Thief

Sex: Cis Female

Sexual and Romantic Orientation: Asexual, Aromantic; Not sex-repulsed

Age, Date of Birth and Starsign: Age 21, Born 28th of Rain’s Hand 3E 406, The Mage

Known Relatives: Uncle is Balgoth, a thief in Seyda Neen

Place of Origin: Wayrest, Daggerfall, High Rock

Languages Known: Cyrodiilic, Some Dunmeris

Religion: Nonreligious

Special Attributes and/or skills: Knows how to enchant some scrolls

Personality: energetic, playful, silly, friendly, attention seeking, fun loving, outspoken, impulsive, irreverent, immature, whiny, mischievous, insensitive, unscrupulous, compulsive thief, possessive of her stuff,

Likes: expensive things, her bow, dancing, drinking and taverns

Dislikes: rules, large male strangers, the dark, people sexualizing her

Physical Description: 5’5” mid dark tan skin, blue eyes, shoulder length curly yellow-blonde hair, no piercings or tattoos

Jasmine

Race, Class, Occupation: Redguard scout, Ex-Imperial Legionary, retired to become a writer

Sex: Cis Female

Sexual Orientation: Straight

Age, Date of Birth and Starsign: Age 26, Born 17th Midyear 3E 401, The Steed

Known Relatives: father, mother, and younger brother live in cottage outside Ebonheart

Known Friends: Seyda Neen’s resident Blade scout, Deandre the Breton bard, who can usually found in the Eight Plates, Balmora

Place of Origin: Hammerfell

Languages Known: Cyrodiilic, Some Dunmeris, Some Yoku

Religion: The Imperial Nine Divines

Personality: contemplative, compassionate, reserved, detached, quiet, mature, serious, skeptical, private, polite, caring, gentle, sensitive to others, meticulous, careful, hesitant, sarcastic, derisive

Additional Comments: Has a creepy stalker ex-husband; had an affair with Deandre the Bard; owns a house outside of Seyda Neen; knows Ma'zurah is a Blade from the beginning

Likes: books, poetry, Yokudan lore, cleanliness, simple comfort, family

Dislikes: stalkers, slavery, wasting time, nonsense, disrespectfulness

Physical Description: 5’8” muscular build, mid dark brown skin, significantly lighter natural lip color, slightly coarse straight black hair down to her hips which is usually worn loose, brown eyes, wears kohl on eyes on a regular basis, no tattoos or piercings

Shani (Shanishilabi Zainsubani)

Race, Class, Occupation: Dunmeri archer. Velothi Ashlander of the Ahemmusa Tribe

Sex: Cis Female

Sexual Orientation: Pansexual

Age, Date of Birth and Starsign: Age 20, Born 8th Evening Star 3E 407, The Thief

Known Relatives: Father is Adibael Zainsubani in Location Unknown, Uncle is Hassour Zainsubani in Ald-ruhn, Aunt is Gunta in the Ahemmusa camp with her girlfriend Lanabi, Cousin is Hannat Zainsubani in Location Unknown

Place of Origin: Morrowind, Vvardenfell, Grazelands

Languages Known: Velothi, Dunmeris, Cyrodiilic, only partially literate

Religion: The True Tribunal

Personality: cheerful, energetic, dutiful, fun loving, snarky, shameless, mischievous, proud, defensive, selfish, vain, hedonistic, insensitive, greedy

Additional Comments: Shani is Julan’s ex-girlfriend and childhood sweetheart

Likes: scrib jelly, exotic flowers, Almalexia, painting, causing hijinks

Dislikes: Red Mountain, guards, thunderstorms, getting yelled at, sitting around, not getting her way

Physical Description: 5’1” unusually pale ash blue skin, bright red eyes with red sclera, bright red hair which is usually worn in two braids tied high on her head that hang down to her waist, likes wearing red lip stain made from fire petals, wears two long thin red crystals hung from her ears, ritual Ahemmusa scarification, no tattoos

Dossiers are subject to change. I just thought they might be interesting to somebody.

[mazurah]

Two Moons, Eight Plates: A Morrowind Fanfic

Summary: After Ma’zurah and Julan are accidentally interrupted by Constance during an intimate moment, Ma’zurah finds her friends in the Eight Plates Cornerclub, and opens up to them about her intersexuality and the curse she was born with.

A mostly plotless conversational exploration of character and lore. Takes place immediately after The Telepathy Ring.

Cross posted from my Ao3. Content rating: T for non-explicit discussion of sexual themes.

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Two Moons, Eight Plates

Balmora was a city of odd extremes. It contained both incredible wealth and shocking poverty; great diversity and vicious prejudice. Its polarity was magnified by its bisection by the wide, lazy Odai river, which itself was subdivided by a series of bridged lochs to control its flow and traffic. A visitor to the southern side of the Odai would likely describe it as anything between unimpressive and downright seedy, but northern Balmora--ah northern Balmora--that was the crowning glory of all of House Hlaalu territory.

But if northern Balmora was Hlaalu’s crown, then the manor district was its jewel. Lying roughly between the Temple, the market, and the farthest foothills of Red Mountain, it consisted of two concentric rings of buildings with architecture and decoration that screamed of wealth. The outermost ring hosted the most lavish and exclusive merchants of the city, and the innermost held the manors of the upper elite of Balmoran society. At the center lay a moderate sized open square. A wide set of stairs descended downhill from the southern end, leading to the main thoroughfare that connected the three northern districts to the causeways over the Odai. An imposing, ostentatious building dominated the northern edge of the square, and served as the official council hall for House Hlaalu, as well as host to a handful of modest apartments for its members.

It is from this building that a young Dunmer and Khajiit couple emerged after crossing the lobby from a rented room. They walked in companionable silence across the uncrowded square, hand in hand, still basking in the lingering glow of shared intimacy.

The young Dunmer let his mind wander as he contemplating his striking Khajiit companion. Taller than most Khajiit in Morrowind, she was almost the same height as he. Her silky coat of short, white fur was tiger-striped with black, and her face and ears oddly merlike. She had pale cream colored hair cropped short at chin length, and a pair of mismatched red and blue crystals dangled from the ends of her tufted ears. She danced lightly next to him on decidedly un-merlike feet, which were wrapped in sturdy canvas, but otherwise bare.

He felt something lightly touch his calf and looked down to find his companion’s long tail brushing against his leg. He glanced up at her beside him curiously. “Why do you keep touching me with your tail so much?”

She flashed him a cheerful, sharp-toothed grin. “Awareness. It is how Khajiit keep track of the nearby people we have claimed! Even when not looking at them.”

He raised an amused eyebrow at her as she began bouncing down the stairway to the main thoroughfare, and he trailed a pace to her left. “Claimed, huh? What makes you think it’s not the other way around?”

“Why not both? Such is the way of the Khajiit. ‘Kaaka rabi, raba.’ What is mine is yours. Or ours, it doesn't translate well. It can also mean the other way around too...” She trailed off as he paused on the stairs, giving her a speculative look. “What?”

“Is that why you’re so generous all the time? You keep giving me money, and rarely ask to borrow any. I swear, I must have more money than the whole Ahemmusa tribe put together by now.” He gave her a peeved look, then continued in a somewhat lower voice, “I mean, you broke into the Telvanni vaults, and then proceeded to divide the loot between me, Jasmine, and Constance, and kept hardly any of it for yourself! You’re the most generous greedy person I've ever met!”

She met his gaze with amused eyes and held up both hands, palms facing upward in a helpless, nonchalant gesture. “What can Ma’zurah say? Julan has been helping, and it is not like Ma’zurah ever uses weapons or armor--she has her magick for that. She kept what she needed. Ma’zurah can play at Clan Mother if she feels like it. She certainly plans to keep all three of you.” She skipped ahead, turning back to poke her tongue out at Julan. “Besides, the only true thief is a selfish thief. Thzidariit vaba sarefithno dariit. Obviously Ma’zurah is no thief at all!” She winked at him.

“Uh-huh. So you justify your thievery by giving a lot of it away?” Julan raised a skeptical eyebrow at her. “No wonder you joined the Bal-Molagmer.”

“Something like that!” she laughed. “Just don't go spending all your money on alcohol. If Ma’zurah has to drag Julan’s drunk backside all the way home from South Wall again, she will not hesitate to steal the money right back!” She bared her teeth at him, half grinning, half threatening.

Julan raised his eyebrows at her. “Noted.”

They reached the bottom of the stairs and crossed the thoroughfare to the Eight Plates cornerclub. It was one of the nicer cornerclubs in Balmora, and boasted more rooms, a greater variety of food and drink, and--best of all--a friendly atmosphere for outlanders, all of which qualities were probably owed to its proximity to the Hlaalu council building.

Ma’zurah raced ahead and held open the door for Julan with a ridiculous flourishing bow. Julan snorted a laugh and walked inside. Grinning, she followed.

Turning the corner, they were met with the sight of Jasmine and Constance both seated at a table near the back wall of the crowded bar room. Constance, blonde, tanned, and grinning, was sitting perched on her toes in her seat, leather clad knees drawn up to her chest. Jasmine, the epitome of strong, serene Redguard beauty, sat in a more dignified posture, several sheets of ink-stained parchment spread in front of her, alongside a corked inkpot and a quill. Her long dark hair was pulled back from her face in a tail at the top of her head. Catching sight of the approaching pair making their way through the dinnertime crowd, she stood, gave Julan a slight smile, and greeted Ma’zurah with a hug.

“You’ll never believe the nonsense Constance has been trying to feed me about you.” She drew back, placing her hands on Ma’zurah’s shoulders, and glanced back at Constance with exasperated amusement. Constance waved back at them, unperturbed.

The tip of Ma’zurah’s tail twitched in a subtle expression of nervousness that was lost on all but Julan standing behind her.

“What did Constance say? Ma’zurah suspects it may not be too far from the truth.” Ma’zurah’s voice was calm, and she glanced between her two female companions with an evaluating look.

Constance grinned wider. Jasmine looked back at Ma’zurah, startled. “Uh…” She pulled out two chairs for the newcomers, and sat back down, clearing away her writing materials with eyebrows raised. “She was telling me that she accidentally walked in on you two, uh… together, and that you have, er… the same parts as a man.” she addressed Ma’zurah.

Julan and Ma’zurah seated themselves. The tips of Julan’s ears were faintly purple under his usual ash grey, and he pretended to study something on the ceiling rather than risk meeting the others’ eyes. Ma’zurah appeared to be unaffected, meeting their gazes steadily.

“Well, Constance got it half right. Ma’zurah is double-sexed--” a bar attendant walked over and Ma’zurah cut herself off in favor of putting in a request for guar steak and steamed corkbulb in commberry syrup--the sweetest item on the menu.

When the others had also put in their requests and the attendant moved out of earshot, Jasmine turned back to Ma’zurah with a thoughtful expression. “Do you want us to change how we address you? It sounds like you could be either a man or a woman if you wanted.”

Julan and Constance both looked at Ma’zurah with interest. Ma’zurah looked surprised, and a small smile blossomed on her face for the first time since entering the cornerclub. “Ma’zurah never really thought about it before. Ma’zurah thinks that maybe she is both? Or neither. Something else--not male or female. But Ma’zurah doesn't have a problem with how she is addressed. In Elsweyr, they used a special pronoun for Ma’zurah that had no gender connotations, but as far as Ma’zurah knows, Cyrodiilic has no such pronoun. Ma'zurah just went with what everybody called her. She does not actually care. She thanks Jasmine for asking though.” Ma’zurah’s usual energetic smile was back in place, and she caught Julan’s hand under the table. He smiled back at her.

“Okay! But the really important thing is that you two decided to start banging and didn't tell us!” Constance burst out.

“Really now Constance!” Jasmine gave her a look of censure.

Constance ignored Jasmine and leaned toward Ma’zurah, a massive grin on her face. “C’mon Ma’zurah, we’re best friends right? You gotta tell me! Is he any good?” She lowered her voice slightly. “Does he give good head?”

“I’m right here!” Julan squawked, his entire face tinged faintly purple now. Jasmine lowered her face into both palms.

Ma’zurah threw back her head and laughed long and loud. A Dunmer at a nearby table glared at her, but Ma’zurah was laughing too hard to notice. When she managed to contain her laughter, she looked at Julan, still grinning uncontrollably, and gave him a short nod, answering both of Constance's questions at once. Julan’s blush got brighter, but he looked pleased.

Constance squealed. “You guys are so cute!” She stamped her feet on the floor gleefully.

Jasmine gave the ceiling a longsuffering look. “Well, I'm glad you’re happy. Unlike Constance though, I’d rather not hear the details.” The corners of her mouth twitched slightly.

The bar attendant appeared with four plates of steaming food, causing conversation to cease for the next few minutes.

Constance was the first to speak. “Hey Ma’zurah, you remember when we first met and you were trying to explain why that one Khajiit guy was a jerk to you, and you mentioned you were moon cursed or something?”

Julan looked concerned. “You’ve been cursed? We can try asking my mother if she can help if you like...”

Ma’zurah shook her head. “It’s not that kind of curse.” She turned to Constance. “Ma’zurah remembers. Why does Constance ask about the moon curse?”

“This curse... You don’t mean the double-sexed thing, do you?”

Ma’zurah raised a whiskered eyebrow at Constance. “Of course not. That is just something that happens sometimes. The moon curse is because Ma’zurah was not born the right kind of Khajiit. The Khajiit of Elsweyr do not like her because she does not fit into the ja-Kha’jay--er, the lunar lattice. According to Jone and Jode, Ma’zurah should have been born Alfiq.”

“Al-feek?” Julan interjected.

“Er… they are small, walk on four legs, and everybody who is not Khajiit thinks they are housecats. They do not leave Elsweyr very often. They make the most powerful mages though. Ma’zurah is lucky to have inherited their talent.” She grinned widely and sent a puff of frost and snowflakes into the air with one upturned hand. “Instead, Ma’zurah looks like all moon cursed no matter when they are born--like a tall Suthay-raht with a face like the Ohmes-raht. And white fur. They never let Ma’zurah forget the white fur.” She shrugged.

“Well I think you’re beautiful.” Julan took her hand and pressed his lips to the inside of her wrist where the pulse beat closest to the surface. She gave a low purr that he would have missed amongst the noise of the cornerclub had he not been listening for it.

“Aww!” Constance grinned at the two of them.

Jasmine still looked concerned. “And other Khajiit don't like you because of that?”

“Well, usually only the ones from Elsweyr care so much, because they are the most traditional. They do not want the moon cursed to bear kittens and pass the moon curse on. But Ma’zurah has met quite a few who are friendly to the moon cursed on Vvardenfell. But Ma’zurah grew up in the jungles of the Tenmar forest, and misses her home.” She hesitated, her smile fading momentarily. “Ma’zurah was… exiled from Elsweyr when she came of age. She does not really like to talk of it. Her clan could tolerate a helpless child with no one else to care for her, but a moon cursed adult, even a double-sexed one unable to birth litters had no place in the clan.” Her whiskers drooped.

Julan squeezed her hand with a sympathetic look. “So you're also an outcast… We can be outcasts together then.”

Constance shifted uncomfortably. “Gods, this is getting depressing! I say we get some drinks and plan our next move!”

Ma’zurah brightened immediately. “Ma’zurah has a job with the Mages Guild in Suran, but she also heard some very interesting rumors about that place! And heard they have a market with imported goods and clothing!” She gave Constance a conspiratorial grin.

“Oh boy…” Jasmine muttered.

Constance squealed and clapped excitedly. “Shopping?! Ma’zurah you’re the best!” Half standing from her seat, she threw her arms around Ma’zurah’s neck.

Julan groaned and smacked his head down onto the table beside his empty plate. “Oh Azura… Here we go again…”

Ta’agra Transliterations: 

Kaaka rabi, raba = what I have, you/we have. Thzidariit vaba sarefithno dariit = (a) real-thief is (a) self-rewarding/gifting thief. (There wasn’t a word for selfish.) Ja-Kha’jay = lunar lattice; the combination of moon phases that determine a Khajiit’s “breed” at birth. Jone and Jode = Masser and Secunda, the twin moons. Ta’agra Source

Mods Directly Referenced:

Julan Ashlander Companion Mod by Kateri. Constance Thief Companion by Grumpy and Emma. Jasmine Companion Mod by Jac. White Senches race mod by Kieve. Hlaalu Council Quarters by Princess Stomper. 

End Notes:

Here’s some interesting insight into Ma’zurah’s character: She is totally deluding herself about not being selfish. She just considers her companions to be “hers” so giving them things is just rearranging resources. Her tendency to consider people “hers” is the result of an odd combination of her almost communist Elsweyr upbringing, and the fact that I'm taking the prophecy “Dragon-born and far star marked” quite literally (not that it’ll be relevant for the next two hundred-ish years.) But she does have a dragon’s greed and “will to power” as Paarthurnax put it. (Yay! I get to have fun with Nietzschean philosophy!) No idea if I'll ever end up actually writing the Skyrim part of her story though, so her personality is the only thing it’s relevant to right now. Now to figure out how to actually write an energetic, chipper, and greedy sincere believer in communism, with a strong “will to power.” Hoo boy…

Characterization and lore for Ma'zurah significantly inspired by the White Senches race mod. The moon curse is not actually a thing in vanilla Elder Scrolls.

If you want more information on intersexuality, ask and I’ll gladly provide resource links.

I’ve only recently started writing, so constructive criticism is welcome. I also really like it if you leave me comments on my Ao3.

All Fanfics 

[danaeplays]

I’ve been having way too much fun editing my journal, more pages to follow!

Disclaimer: I write poorly, typos are my way of life.

Main mods featured so far:

- MWSE Journal Search and Edit

- Way of the Talons

- Jasmine, a companion

You’ll find this modlist here I called this one unlore: some quests, items, etc are either not very lore-friendly or balanced.