#elder scrolls fics

[a-morningstar-120]

I just read this comment on the fanfiction community on Reddit and it blew me away, which is a hard feat so.

They were talking about how they write hurt/comfort and they’re extra heavy on the comfort, which, apparently, isn’t big in their fandom. They were telling the story to encourage fic authors who don’t get many comments because even if you don’t get a comment, you never know just how your fic impacted them.

Someone for years read their fics, especially the ones from that certain fandom. One day this person commented telling how they loved the fics and they always brightened their day and after class they would get the print outs and read them. They had read the fics for years before commenting and telling the author how they were a source of joy for them. Now, the reader is a doctor and they still have the fic print outs and read the author’s work. Incredible.

Even if someone doesn’t tell you, or me, we can never know just how much an oneshot, to a short story effects the reader’s life, it might be their only source of comfort and motivation and positivity. You can never be sure, even if they never say. I know of fics that have changed my life and never said. When I was 16 my life was hard, coming home and reading a comfort story was sometimes my only source for comfort and peace.

You brighten someone’s day, whether you know it or not.

🦋✨💞

[theribbajack]

"You were born a slave," said Konahrik. "Do you not wish for freedom?" The sightless eyes of the Falmer gazed straight ahead. "My people learned long ago," said she, "that to wish for the impossible would be too much to bear."

Tried a bit of a fancier style for an upcoming scene from my fic Death and the Maiden.

[thana-topsy]

Sarel, crouching on your dash.

[dirty-bosmer]

“You are a true daughter of Sithis. Everything you touch dies."

His Silencer just killed the entirety of the Black Hand and he doesn't know whether to be mad or 🥵 about it

[drawnecromancy]

I've thought about it some more, and I don't think removing that mask would be that easy.

I think it might hurt, even.

[bonestrewncrest]

meredil cant really engage with altmeri traditions and holidays anymore because of a deep seated trauma and because hes considered a societal outcast, so he lives vicariously through arvintaro who very happily introduces him to breton traditions. here i am imagining they are attending a waking day party and getting to dress nicely for once in their lives

[elderscrollsconfessions]

Confession: I once read a Dragonborn x Alduin fanfic. I thought I was going to laugh thinking how ridiculous it would be to read it, but I admit I was wrong, it was so well written that I can't look at Alduin the same way as I used to. But I did. more incredible is that I do not regret

[gloomwitchwrites]

GloomWitch 3.5k 3.7k 3.8k Follower Event: Spooky Bingo

Yeah, yeah. I know it says 3.5k. But that has come and gone. There's almost 4k of you now. Wild. Absolutely insane. I told myself that after the 1k event, the next milestone would be 3.5k. We're here folks! In fact, we're past it! Thank you so much for all your support. I hope you enjoy the lovely little event I’ve put together.

For quick navigation and filtering, "#gloomyevent" is the event tag.

Event Status: Closed

Requests will start posting on 10/1 (full schedule is below the break as requests come in).

Event Details, Rules, Examples, and the Masterlist can be found below!

Rules:

Non-anon asks only. Taken prompts cannot be repeated. Available slots will be updated below. You can also double check before submitting.

Submit your request via the ask box.

Please choose from one of the following fandoms: Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Star Wars, Skyrim, Call of Duty (age appropriate characters only).

I have the right to deny any request.

Make sure to clarify that the request is for this event. My ask box is always open and you don’t want to be lost in the mess.

Be as vague or specific as you want. Be clear on spice level (if you want any). Vague requests will get writer's creative choice.

Prompts can be interpreted as straight horror, dark comedy, spooky, spicy, or multigenre.

Example Request:

Can I request [insert prompt & info here] for the 3.5k follow event?

For Spooky Bingo, could I request [insert prompt & info here]?

Event Status: Closed

Masterlist / Prompts:

Summon a Demon: Darth Maul (Star Wars) Hansel & Gretel: Gaz and/or Soap (CoD) - 10/15 Zombie AU: Task Force 141 (CoD) - 10/21 Haunted House: Thorin Oakenshield (The Hobbit) - 10/13 Stalker AU: Thorin Oakenshield (The Hobbit) - 10/4 Witch AU: Simon "Ghost" Riley (CoD) - 10/12 Chased Through a Corn Maze: John Price (CoD) Targeted by a Serial Killer: Aragorn (LotR) - 10/22 Body Horror: Captain Rex (Star Wars) Cult Sacrifice: Thranduil (The Hobbit) - 10/11 Picked Up a Hitchhiker: Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars) - 10/16 Eldritch Horror: Ahsoka (Star Wars) Free Space [Any Spooky Idea]: Simon “Ghost” Riley (CoD) Vampire AU: Thranduil (The Hobbit) Trick or Treating: John "Soap" MacTavish (CoD) - 10/9 Liminal Spaces: Kylo Ren (Star Wars) - 10/7 Graveyard Keeper AU: Simon "Ghost" Riley (CoD) - 10/1 Imaginary Friend: Kyle "Gaz" Garrick (CoD) - 10/5 Haunted Carnival: Simon "Ghost" Riley (CoD) Halloween Prank Gone Wrong: Merry & Pippin (LotR) - 10/23 80’s Summer Camp Slasher: Simon "Ghost" Riley (CoD) - 10/3 Haunted Hayride: Lord of the Rings Abducted by Aliens: Task Force 141 Werewolf AU: John Price (CoD) - 10/8 “Because You Were Home”: Star Wars

taglist:

@foxxy-126 @km-ffluv @sweetbutpsychobutsweet @singleteapot @firelightinferno

@glitterypirateduck @tiredmetalenthusiast @protosslady @miaraei @cherryofdeath

@saoirse06 @ferns-fics @unhinged-reader-36 @miss-mistinguett @ravenpoe67

@tulipsun-flower @sageyxbabey @mudisgranapat @ninman82 @lulurubberduckie

@leed-bbg @yawning-grave81 @azkza @thetaekwondofeline @nishim

@voids-universe @iloveslasher @talooolaaloolla @eternallyvenus @sadlonelybagel

@haven-1307 @itsberrydreemurstuff @spicyspicyliving @keiva1000 @littlemisscriesherselftosleep

@blackhawkfanatic @sammysinger04 @dakotakazansky @suhmie @kadeeesworld

@umno-yeah @padawancat97 @garfunklevibes2012 @thepetitemandalorian @mrsdurin

@kylies-love-letter @daemondoll @jackrabbitem @lovely-ateez @arrozyfrijoles23

bingo board made using Canva

[nerevar-quote-and-star]

I see people ship their characters with Daedric Princes, or at least simp and/or thirst very hard for them coughNocturnalcough but like what about the Aedra? The Divines? Yeah, no one wants to ship their character with Talos. I understand. But there are other options! Dibella-shaped options! And Stendarr, okay? I like Stendarr. And Arkay. And I know you all love Kyne/Kynareth, don't lie!

[greyborn2]

Elisif headcanons now! (friendly tone ofc <3) Why do you think she would be a good marriage candidate? I'm curious :)

Yesssss!!! Okay - so this boils down to two categories. Personal interest in it, and underrated narrative JUICE. Starting with the former because its easier to begin with. So Elisif is just... she's neat. She's simultaneously one of the most politically important people in skyrim while also being COMPLETELY overshadowed by the men around her (Nobody talks about her, really, they talk of Torygg. The civil war isnt her vs ulfric, its TULLIUS vs ulfric. Her own decisions in court the first time we even see her are seemingly overruled on a dime by her own court, by Falk.). Its like she's this big thing of incredible importance and is constantly hidden away both in narrative and in game. But despite that, if you actually sneak in a bit, ignore all the big figures standing in front of her and propping themselves up on top of her, she has a surprising amount of meat to her.

Most of the Jarls are like... a few word summary at best. Greedy idiot boy, honourable honorman, paranoid bigot, old seer, etc etc etc. You get an initial impression of them and thats kinda it. Ulfric has a lot more, obviously, because he's a major character but it would *SEEM* that Elisif should be on the lower end of content. It takes so much to seek her out in her overshadowed little corner after all, but she has so so so much surprising stuff around her. The necromancer potema plot revolves around her, a whole big dialogue tree that isnt super common to see for a jarl, some touching personal quests that go into detail about how she saw her late husband. Its just all super compelling to me to have a character that, despite being so important, is *soooo* hidden away actually have some meat to her. Plus she's just a nice person!!! ANYWAYS!! PART 2!! The JUICE!!

For starters, I think, there should just be more opportunities for the dragonborn to play the political game if they want. Beyond just choosing a side in a war or ticking off their 'thane of everywhere' list, actually getting in on climbing the ladder and enmeshing oneself with the politics of the land they're in. BUT BUT... same can be said for Ulfric. Absolutely true. I do think he should also be a marriage candidate. BUT...

I think Elisif PARTICULARLY makes sense as a marriage opportunity that isn't one you seek out, but one that is put forward to the player. Specifically with an Imperial victory in the civil war.

The war is won. Alduin MAY or MAY NOT be slain. But either way, no matter what, at this point the dragonborn is a war hero, a champion of the people, and decorated imperial legate. And this would be fucking FRIGHTNING, I think, to the politicians back in Cyrodiil. There's a *history* of war hero dragonborns, popular with the people, turning on their commanders and declaring themselves emperor afterall. Oh boy is there a precedent. Suddenly they're the big figure in a war that was supposed to be Tullius' duty and they might start sweating in their boots a little.

SO... after the war is won... the legion starts... pushing. Just a little. A few letters, a few comments, that the dragonborn should maybe marry Elisif. Become High King by marriage. Lock them in and satisfy the war hero with a political title off in the ass end of the empire before they turn their gaze toward a ruby throne. Don't give them time to think on it. Ooooh look tasty treat right here shhhh dont think yes you did very good dragonborn yes yes be high king.

I think from there it could go one of three ways;

1) Last Dragonborn marries Elisif but with her actually agreeing to the union (after completing her personal quests) and she FINALLY steps out of the shadows. Rather than the expected you using her for power, she uses YOU for power. You allow yourself to be the thing she props herself up on and finally really starts coming into public view. Maybe to the nervousness of the Empire as she's a less eager puppet then they might have thought, now.

2) Last Dragonborn falls right into the trap the empire placed. You didnt do the quests for Elisif, she remains in the shadows, there's a loveless marriage and you get to be satisfied with a big title that hopefully keeps you occupied.

3) Last Dragonborn refuses all of this. Things seem to proceed as they do in canon but... well... maybe you notice a few more non-DB assassins using imperial weapons attacking you on the road then you did before. Curious.

[erika-xero]

REPOSTOBER, DAY 27: Moon and Star

A collection of drawings with my Nerevarine, Raelin. TW! this post has some TES-headcanons which might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but please, don’t judge a woman by her headcanons

After her mother died, Raelin became a street performer in the Imperial City. She was a young girl when she got captured by the imperial guards and thrown into the dungeon alongside with another dunmer, for a thing she didn't do. A day after she found herself on a ship sailing to Morrowind, even though she was born and raised in Cyrodiill and has never been to Vvardenfell.

She arrived to Seyda Neen and then the Morrowind storyline begins.

During the Morrowind storyline, she got infected by corprus. She was barely herself by the time she reached Tel Fyr. Divayth Fyr saved her life, and she got so fascinated with him, that it became an obsession. The girl was madly in love and at the same time she was repulsed by the fact that he cloned himself four times and married the clones, so she never approached him. Not only he had four clones of himself, he also managed to clone Raelin while she was recovering from corprus, using her cells. He kept that fact a secret, knowing that she would never forgive him.

Raelin receiving the Moon and Star from Azura in the Cavern of the Incarnate:

Raelin by the Red Mountain:

Raelin in Balmora:

During the Morrowind storyline, Raelin became a part of house Telvanni, though she still preferred using staff as a pole weapon and the theory of magic fascinated her a lot more than the spells she could use in battle. She planned going on an expedition to Akavir, but the Oblivion Crisis prolonged her stay in Morrowind for a few years. She finally managed to leave during the Red Year. Her ship was sailing in the sea when the catastrophe happened. She knew what happened from a vision she got: she helplessly watched the destruction of Vivec, Ald'ruhn and Balmora crumble into dust. Her ship got into a terrible storm and wrecked apart: none of the crewmembers and the expeditioners survived, but her. Corprus changed her body forever: she became a lot stronger, more agile than regular dunmer, immune to any decease, being able to recover a lot faster and survive such damage that would kill a regular person. She survived on an Island and it took her forever to get to Akavir, but eventually, she did. She lived in a tiny shack in the middle of nowhere, the years flew by. In horror, she realised that she never aged. Her body remained young, the terrible injuries she got during the shipwreck didn't leave a single scar on her body. She most likely coundn't have children anymore. She was scared and devastated, she lost everything she loved, she lost her land, her people, and she also felt like she've lost herself.

She still has visions. She dreamed of the past and of the nearest future, and the Tang Mo, who, at first, were disturbed by her presence on their land, started to see her as a shaman, a wise woman, even though she was significantly different from them. She eventually made friends among them. One night, she had a vision: a daedra appearing out of nowhere somewhere at the bog, in a form of a man. She went out to search from him and found him and saw that he is no daedra, but a white haired mer, covered in blood and mud. Here's a bunch of post-Morrowind concepts:

Champion of Cyrodiil/Hero of Kwatch post: here

And some Nerevarine/Champion stuff under cut:

[the-ace-of-fools]

think about me every day and night remember me come to me i am what you seek

miraak and solinar (beloved asshole altmer oc) from my skyrim fic.

poem credit goes to the authors of "the last trial" - one of my favorite musicals. english translation courtesy of KrynnSub.

the song these lyrics are from was a huge inspiration for the painting itself. it has The Vibe.

[thana-topsy]

I made this short comic for my friend, muldezgron, earlier this year with the intention of coloring it, but I never did! Anyhoo, this is a scene from his AMAZING fanfic “Ingenious Gentlemen and the Persistence of Memory”. If you want a plot heavy, lore rich, absolute banger of a story that will make you absolutely fall in love with Cadwell, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s one of those fics that I know I’ll be re-reading for years to come.

[dr-kbr]

Miraak from the marvellous GOL HAH DOV by wonderful @99corentine

[theribbajack]

Dinok ahrk Vahdin - 'Death and the Maiden'

Posted this already in answer to an ask but I like how it turned out so I decided to make a standalone post for it :) The sequel to this picture featuring Konahrik and the Falmer in an alternate ending for my fic Death and the Maiden.

Progress GIF below the cut!

[falmerbrook]

Snow Elf culture?

*pulls up a chair*

Perhaps...

A wee disclaimer that I'm not particularly good or creative with developing cultures or societies, but my brain has just latched on to the snow elves in a way where I can't stop myself. But anyway

I developed a lot of this because of a big ass draft for a fic I've been writing on and off about Gelebor and Vyrthur, so a lot of my headcanons are religion heavy. I'll start there:

Gelebor seems to place Auri-El and the Chantry of Auri-El as having significant importance to the Snow Elves over the other gods/temples. He's probably got a bit of bias in that regard since he's devoted his life to Auri-El, but in order to differentiate their religion from the other elven ones I like to think that their religion in general worshipped Auri-El as not even just as the figure head of their pantheon, but almost monotheistical, while the other gods (Trinimac, Syrabane, Jephre and Phynaster according to Gelebor) were like minor divine figures or just legendary heroes even more than in Altmer myth, depending on the interpretation. My idea is that if their culture had been allowed to continue on, it would've eventually become monotheistic, but by the arrival of the Nords they were in a bit of an awkward transition period with it.

I also like to lean into the sun motif with Auri-El that they established in Dawnguard and with Auriel's Bow, partially because it's another thing to make their depiction of him more unique, and in part because it makes some very juicy irony for Vyrthur. Some ideas include:

- The more religious folk tend to pray at noon when the sun is at it's highest. - The two biggest snow elf festivals happen on the summer and winter solstices. As far north as they are, the summer solstice is during a time of year where the sun barely sets and the winter one is during a time of year where it barely rises. The summer one is more jovial and celebratory, with a grand feast. With almost 24 hours of daylight, the festivities last up to three days straight, with folks commonly staying awake for over 24 hours. Most of it is spent outside, with the celebration being focused on making the most of the weather and daylight hours to spend as much time in the sun and the light of Auri-El as possible. The winter festival is as large scale but lasts longer and is lower-key. It also involves a feast but features more winter foods and meat and alcohol. It is more pensive. At this point in the year, there is no full daylight, and so this season is seen as a test of one’s faith and mental fortitude. This festival acts as a break from this trying time, taking time to relax, build community (a strong community will allow them to make it through the winter and strengthen their minds), and bond with family and friends. It is about a weeklong break, where leading up to the festival everyone works harder to prepare for it and allow themselves to have the break. There are activities and festivities, but they remain indoors for the most part and are smaller. - I've referenced this before, but with long winters with little sunlight (due to harsh weather and short days), they see that time of year as a reflective test of will and faith.

Due to their proximity to dragons, it was hard to miss the connection between Auri-El (/Akatosh) and dragons, and so their depiction of Auri-El is either much more influenced by the iconography of dragons, or is a dragon (although their depiction of dragon Auri-El is much more benevolent than the Nord/Atmoran one). I got the idea for this one from this Reddit post (i know I dog on Reddit a lot but this one has got some fun stuff in it, even if it's a bit out there)

^On that note, later in the timeline (post Dragon War (the timeline is very fuzzy on when this and the Night of Tear happens. They are both sometime vaguely in the late Merethic Era I believe, but it's unclear which happens first or how long each conflict is)) some Snow Elves see a sort of unreturned, unofficial comradery with dragons, seeing themselves as both on the receiving end of the Nord's/Atmoran's brutality (disregarding whether it was warranted or not in the context of the Dragon War).

Ok here's some more general cultural ones:

I mentioned my reasoning for this in this post, but I like to think their general settlements were not as permanent, with a larger focus on wood and building into the sides of hills (good for warmth), while their temples tended to be made of stone and much more permanent. This is why there are so few identifiable Snow Elf ruins across Skyrim. Their cities and towns were easy to wipe out, scavenged for resources, or were in good places for Nordic cities (perhaps Bromjunaar was originally the site of a Snow Elf city?), and their temples were either very hidden (e.g. the Chantry of Auri-El) or eventually converted to Nordic temples.

I love this journal in general for gleaning ideas for Snow Elf headcanons for, but one interesting this is the use of "Old Ones" and "Young One". They're treated like established titles. From that I like to think they place a lot of emphasis on the respect of those older than you. The social hierarchy and whose opinions are most valued is heavily influenced by age. Folks call anyone older or more revered “Old Ones” as a term of respect, and anyone younger than them “Young Ones”. Old One is almost never used in a demeaning way, but Young One can be (not always). Typically, “Old Ones” is used in the third person (e.g. you wouldn’t refer to someone directly as “old one”) whole “Young One(s)” can be used as an epithet for someone directly or in third person.

When thinking about death/"burial" customs (needed for some scenes in the fic I'm planning), you have to consider that there probably wasn't a lot of land in a place like Skyrim where someone can be buried. Nords intern their dead in crypts or burn them to get around this, and I like to think Snow Elves participated in something akin to sky burials (at least sometimes). After preparation, the departed's body is left outside on a ledge, cliff, or the temple balcony to be scavenged by birds. This is seen as a metaphorical return to Aetherius, while their soul literally returns to it. They do this even in poor weather or deep winter. If it doesn’t thaw and rot/be scavenged until months later, so be it. The length it takes to rot is considered indicative of how long it takes for the spirit to let go and move on (not in a bad way though. It’s interpreted more in the way of the soul or body grieving). It's seen as if they may wish to wait until spring to finally rot if they want to experience one more warm, sunny day.

Food (I mostly wrote this in my notes in the context of the Forgotten Vale and Chantry of Auri-El, but I think it could work elsewhere as well to an extent): Plant-based food is grown in gardens in the spring and summer, and that that is able to be stored is carefully preserved through the fall and winter. Winter foods include some nuts, dried vegetables, and dried and preserved/fermented grains (like wheat, barely). These foods must be eaten slowly throughout the winter to last, and winter diets are more meat based. Summer foods include apples, cabbage/lettuce, leeks, tomatoes etc. Snowberries can be found in the wild out of season of most other fruits, and provide fruit in very early spring. Occasionally, fungus from caves is harvested, but this is seen as a delicacy (foreshadowing).

Ok, that's it for now. I gotta go to bed. Thanks for the ask!!!! :D