JoS/Henriette/21st Journal - The Eye

Evening Star, 17th, 4E 202

Just when we were about to take off on an adventure without destination, Sissel asked me something about what she called "a weird cube" that has been sitting on the bookshelf gathering dust for a good while now. A realization hit me, and I uttered a soft and audible "damn it"… That's the runed Lexicon given to me by Septimus Signus, the guy who helped me locate one of the Elder Scrolls. I was supposed to return it to him ages ago because apparently it should contain readings from the Scroll now, but I have no idea how to read it… How could I forget it for such a long time?

Well, that's basically why we're currently in Windhelm, on route to Winterhold. Winter is almost at its coldest, so the journey is going to be very, very chilly. My friends here are both Nords, and Vampires don't feel that much cold either, and I've got my magic ring to keep me warm, but even still, none of us are looking forward to the cold.

I've also been looking for an excuse to visit the College. I'm not that interested in being a member of them anymore, not after I learned I had been evicted from there for horseshit reasons on my last visit, but I can't help but to feel curious about that strange floating orb. Who knows, maybe my visit may lead to something! Serana, a mage as she is, has also wanted to visit there for a long while too. Maybe she could join them too? Well, that's for her to decide, not me.

Evening Star, 18th, 4E 202

We arrived at the Frozen Heart at the break of dawn and slept like a bunch of babies in the oh so warm sheets of the inn. The bed was a little small, but it's not like we have a problem sleeping together or anything. After I woke up, we decided to pay a visit to the College, and let's just say… Things have been happening while I've been away, and things continued to unfold dramatically when I arrived.

I haven't been evicted this time, but I felt quite unwelcome at the College regardless. Tolfdir wasn't happy to see me… In fact, I don't think anyone was. I have very few friends, and pretty much only Enthir was interested in talking to me in the first place. He was asking something about Thieves Guild, about how Karliah is doing, but I admitted that I haven't been dealing with them a lot ever since we defeated Mercer. Although the money and the connections are good, I never felt like it was my kind of guild… I'm more suited for assassination, and the only thing I truly enjoy stealing is hearts and blood… Blood literally, hearts both literally and figuratively. Snatching purses, candlesticks and such just doesn't feel exciting to me. Anyway, a lot of people were gathered in Hall of the Elements when I entered, looking at the orb, which was brought to the college soon after being discovered. They've taken into calling it the Eye of Magnus, but they're still not sure what it actually is, or what it does. Basically, it's just been sitting idle here while they've tried to study it without much success.

Oh, and let me briefly return to the topic of people who weren't happy to see me… Let's talk about Ancano. He's with the Thalmor, been assigned to watch over this guild or something… I've never had to deal with him, fortunately, and considering how much the Thalmor hate me… Well, his distaste of me is to be expected. I don't like him back. He's shady and secretive, and a pompous douche to top it off. Anyway, he informed me that there's some monk from the Psijic Order at the college who has specifically requested to see me in person, waiting for me in the Arch Mage's quarters. So, I went and talked to him.

His name is Quaranir, a High Elf as well, although by no means connected to any Aldmeri political factions. He was using some kind of weird magic to talk to me, let's just say, privately. I think he froze time or something, maybe it was a barrier, I'm not sure… He recognizes me as the one who set everything in motion here, and as someone who must deal with the problem I've created. What problem, exactly? I'm not sure, but this orb is apparently too dangerous to stay here or something. I suspect this guy can see into the future too or something… Yeah, he's a bit of a mystery… All I'm sure of is that as a mage he's more capable than anyone in this college.

That Ancano bastard is distrusting of him, he is distrusting of that Thalmor tosser and the college, nobody here at the college even knows what to think of Quaranir, my reputation with both Ancano and the College are dodgy, but this Psijic monk pretty much trusts me and only me in unraveling this mess. I feel like it was a mistake to even step inside the college, I don't really want to deal with any of this…

Still, at the same time, we've been looking for an adventure and I think we got it now. I hope at least Sofia or Serana will be pleased to help the College.

No matter, Quaranir gave me a task to go talk to someone named Augur of Dunlain, who used to be a member of the college. Tolfdir might apparently know something about him. After that, Quaranir just left, leaving both Savos and Ancano mighty confused, since neither of them had any idea of the discussions we were having "in private". Ancano especially was pissed, asking what stupid games are we playing around with him, demanding that I explain myself immediately. He wasn't so much demanding anything from Quaranir… He was scared probably. I just told him to mind his own business and "fuck off", to which responded by being very offended and very outraged… I don't care if I offend him, that stupid knife-eared prick.

Then, I went to meet Tolfdir, but he was busy and wished to not be disturbed. Bummer, I have to return tomorrow. It was time for some other business, and let's just say, something unexpected happened later too.

I departed for the northern seas and found my way into Septimus' stupid little frozen cave with that Dwemer box he's still trying to figure how to open. He didn't care too much about it taking months for me to return the box; I feel like he has no concept of time flowing, or maybe he's really just that insane. Well, to open up the box, he apparently needs blood, a lot of it from all kinds of different elves. Or, I could just use Dwemer blood, but I don't think that's going to work out unless I figure out a way to travel some three to four thousand years into the past… So, I have a new task from him. I doubt it'll take a year to see it to the end this time though.

And now, the strangest of the strange happenings… A Daedric prince appeared in front of me. This time, it was Hermaeus Mora in form of a black mass of eyes and tentacles. Never mind the fact that he's about the most disturbing looking god I've ever laid my eyes on… Why am I talking to so many of the gods in the first place? I know I'm very, very special, and I'm very proud of all my talents, but I don't think it's normal for anyone to meet with so many gods!

He didn't have a whole lot for me to say, except that he's been watching me with great interest, and that he wants me to carry out the work Septimus is doing. He called him useless, called me way more useful. I feel like he sees me as his puppet or something… Regardless, he seems to want this Dwemer box to be opened too. Makes me wonder, why? It's not like he's demanding me to do anything I haven't already been tasked with doing, so I will help him, or help Septimus I guess, help them both, I don't know… For some reason, I have a bad feeling about this.

It's time for me to rest for a while. I hope I can actually meet up with and talk to Tolfdir tomorrow.

Evening Star, 19th, 4E 202

Today sure was a busy day at the college. I met with a lot of people, learned a thing or two, had a little fun and even know my next move.

Tolfdir was claiming to be busy again, but I could tell it was horseshit. He clearly was just avoiding me for whatever reason. I persuaded him to spare me few minutes of his time by dropping the name of the person I'm looking for, Augur of Dunlain, and it luckily captured his curiosity.

He didn't ask why I'm looking for him, but he seemed very delighted to hear that name, saying that it's been years since they're talked, and then told me that he's hiding somewhere in Midden, which is an area underneath the College. I have a feeling he just wanted me to fuck off while acting nice… Well, whatever, I got my answer out of him, so I don't need to bother him again.

As for me, the girls and the Midden? Well, it was time for some old-fashioned ruin exploring!

The college members are usually advised not to go there. Some do though, probably most actually, as evident by all manners of rituals that have been conducted here, some successful, some failing. Tolfdir himself called the place unpleasant, and I can sort of see why. That place was a little dangerous, I guess. There were some hostile creatures down there, including some undead, presumably products of necromancy being practiced in secret because it's against the law… There's also some more interesting experiments being carried out along with some carnal sin, but let's not get ahead of ourselves yet.

Augur didn't end up being a kind of "person" we expected. The best way to describe him would be to call him "a ball of light". He wasn't really talkative, but we got at least something out of him. He told me that I need the Staff of Magnus, which can be used to, well… Use the Eye of Magnus. He also talked about Ancano going down there to speak with him too… He's definitely starting to seem more suspicious by the day.

No matter, I started looking for information on the staff I'm looking for and decided to start by heading to the Hall of Attainment, which is one of the two living quarters in the college, mostly used by apprentices and lower ranking members of the college. I apparently have my own designated study-space here too, but I've never even visited it.

I had to be pretty careful about who I talked to. My first bet was Enthir, but he knew nothing. He suggested talking to Mirabelle, who's essentially the second in command in this college. I've never really had to deal with her before. She was supposed to give me some tour when I joined, but I just told her point-blank that I'm not interested. I have a feeling she haven't liked me too much since then…

Unfortunately, I couldn't find her. I could find her journal though. So, she keeps one too, huh? I decided to take a good read through it because why not, I've always liked snooping around and learning secrets that I probably shouldn't know about, and my oh my, does this woman have secrets… It's a little careless of her to leave such scandalous texts lying around on her table where anyone can just walk in an pick up the book. She talked about secret illicit relationships, several actually. From what I've gathered, she's had sex with Arniel, an old scholar, Onmund, a promising new student, Savos Aren the Arch-Mage himself as well as Urag the librarian. Hah, I knew there was a reason he had all those lewd books about bondage and sado-masochism. He and Mirabelle have done some naughty, naughty secrets… And it seems that it's actually her who's the dominant one in this relationship. I find it kind of hard to believe that she would've tied up and dominated the likes of Savos and Urag… That's simultaneously pretty kinky and also funny. I can just imagine seeing Urag tied up and gagged while being whipped by his mistress.

I of course am not interested in revealing any of this knowledge to Savos or Urag because I actually like them and don't want to put them in any kinds of uncomfortable situations… Onmund is pretty handsome, but he's clearly not interested in children… I might be able to hold some of this against him in return for some fun… And Arniel… I had never ever even talked to him before today or even knew what he looked like. Yes, I actually did talk to him, and Mirabelle too… Because I found them together.

It would've been fun catching them on the act, but they were actually discussing business related to some Synod mages from Cyrodiil. They have not only come to see the Eye of Magnus while I've been away, but they've also asked a lot of questions, apparently. Just days before I came here, they had been asking about the Staff of Magnus too… Bingo…

I stepped into the conversation, and they were a little upset with me when I told them that I want to know about the staff too, something about how it's rude to eavesdrop or something, and that they weren't interested in telling me anything, because they can't trust me. Me telling them "You tell me or everyone in the college will know about your dirty little secrets" was able to change their mind pretty quickly.

They don't know anything about the Staff itself, but the Synod, who were looking for it too, were going on about some ancient Dwemer city called Mzulft near the border of Morrowind, and that if I want to learn something, I should probably seek out the Synod and go to this ruin. It's literally the best clue they have regarding this staff… Well, rather, the only clue. I might as well follow along with it. I thanked them, and was already ready to go, but little did I know, me snooping in with Mirabelle's little secret and revealing it to her led down a path I'm not sure how I should feel about.

Mirabelle, a talented wizard as she is, paralyzed me in one instant with a spell, bringing me to my knees. I still remember the words she said so clearly too… "You naughty little girl, you didn't actually think you would be getting away with snooping into my private business?"

Yeah, I should've known better.

She took me down to Midden together with Arniel. They have their own hidden little room tucked away in here, and what a room it is. Filled with toys and torture devices and even some Dwemer machines, the room looks like a Deviant's dream. Still bound by her magic, she tied me up in black leather, gagged my mouth with one of those open holes to keep your mouth open to be used freely, and blindfolded me too. She mounted me on a wooden horse and proceeded to whip my back and my butt, all while badmouthing me, calling me a stupid little brat, telling me that I should learn how to respect elders, that I should've known better than to cross her. She even called me "cowardly, sneaky whore" and "an embarrassment of a Breton", essentially making fun of how I can't even cast simple magic spells despite my blood. Like sheesh, that's harsh… I know she's a proud Breton herself, but there's no reason for her to make fun of me for my lack of talent in the schools of magic.

Moreover, I knew she was strict and stern, but I had no idea she was like this! I couldn't even respond to her in anyway, all I could do was writhe in pain and scream with every single crack of the whip. Oh, but although it was painful, it was also so good. I'm a sucker for a little pain after all, and I don't even mind being badmouthed a little, as long as it's part of the play.

Until this point, Arneil had done nothing but watch, but then, Mirabelle ordered him to "give her a taste of your cock". He gave it to me from the front, while Mirabelle herself did me from behind with a strap-on… And did me she did. With no pressure or restrictions of cumming and going limp afterwards, she just kept on and on and on and on… Slapping me around, still badmouthing me. It was only after about an hour of continuously doing me that Arniel finally ripped the mouth-gag from my face and let me respond to Mirabelle. All I could utter to her was, "I'm so sorry, my mistress".

The punishment wasn't over, but she did accept my apology and claimed victory over me. Well, it's kind of hard to argue with that… She made me her bitch, at least for this one night. She warned me to never cross her again, or that there would be more of where this came from. Well, duly noted…

I thought that was the end of my eventful day, but there was still one more discussion to be had at the college. Arniel came to speak with me privately. First and foremost, he called me a fool, but even though I was a fool to cross "his mistress", I could also be of use to him. He's been researching everything related to Dwemer for years, you see, and since I'm going to be visiting Mzulft, there's something I could do for him. All he needs is some old cogs. Ten of them in fact.

Why would he need cogs? Well, apparently he's very fascinated by how the Dwemer even used to create machines as sex toys… I know they exist too. I was once struck by an ancient Dwemer trap that put bondage gear on me, but I've never been captured by or been raped by one. That also explained one of the machines Mirabelle had lying around in that room. It was one of those things. When I asked him, why can't he just use replacement cogs? Well, for starters, there's no blacksmith in Winterhold, and secondly, he went on an on about the importance of using authentic pieces of Dwemer metal. I told him sure, I'll bring him some stupid cogs… Then, I left the college for today.

Sofia and Serana both were waiting for me at the Frozen Heart and seemed very excited about me telling them that we're going to some Dwemer ruin, saying something like, "finally, something exciting to do". Yeah, I've been a disappointment for my precious girlfriends recently… I'm also very glad it's about to change! Who knows, maybe I can get that Falmer blood that Septimus needs amongst other samples. Two birds with one stone, as they say! Or three, actually, if you count Arniel's request.