JoS/Kanna/17th Journal - An Epic Quest to Slay a Dragon and Save a Princess

Sun's Dawn, 10th, 3E 428

(By Kanna)

Accompanied by Assamma-Idan on his boat, we navigated the Dreugh-infested shallow waters toward our destination, the ancient ruins of Ald Daedroth. Approaching the island, however, we realized we weren't the only visitors present and spotted a medium-sized warship donning the banner of the Tribunal Temple on the far-southern rocky shores of the island. Assamma-Idan steered his boat starboard towards the eastern shores to safely hide it, but we couldn't agree on how to proceed next.

Surveying the situation from a safe vantage point, we couldn't really make sense of it all. Although we saw no corpses, there were signs of a battle already fought near the shrine, but what was gonna happen next? Like, were they going to assault the shrine again, or were they retreating? The only clear thing was that they hadn't made much progress.

Aliya and Staada were mostly arguing over whether or not we should attack - which, might I add, manages to make me giggle even though they get so damn annoyed with each other sometimes - but I had a better and more open plan. I wanted to attempt diplomacy, but I had to do it alone. Couldn't afford to have Aliya be recognized by them, as unlikely as it may have been.

So, I approached the ship in plain view with my hands in the air to signal I wasn't a threat, a move that seemed to work as far as not being attacked on sight goes. For a moment, it almost looked like I would be, with two Ordinators moving toward me with their weapons drawn, but luckily, an old Dunmeri man standing on the ship's deck in a lavish robe reeled his subordinates back. "Stop immediately, and let her pass", he ordered with a booming voice, and after putting their weapons away, the Ordinators let me approach the old Templar, who now walked the ramp down from the ship.

"I didn't expect diplomacy from a bunch of madmen", the old man commented. He must've thought I was one of the worshippers. I mean, I wouldn't strictly consider myself HIS worshipper, but HE seems to think highly of me, or else he wouldn't even converse with me. Or maybe he's just amused by me, which kinda sounds troubling too. I'm not a crazy person, am I? Okay, I am, but come on, I'm not THAT crazy!

Anyway, my gut told me to just be honest and to mention why we were there in the first place. I explained how we - yes, WE - were on the island on behalf of Ahemmusa, looking for a safe place for them to stay in. Based on all the questions this old man had for me regarding our motivations, he didn't like what he was hearing. The following is a recollection of our little discussion.

"Do you seriously want me to believe that you just happened to stop here on this remote island while helping those Ashlanders?"

"I… we didn't just "happen" here, as they actually sent us here in specific", I replied. "This is supposedly a sacred ground to them or something, but they can't come here while Sheogorath's worshippers are here…"

The old man's eyebrows rose with surprise, and his face softened, suggesting my explanation was adequate, but he still wasn't completely sold. "And who is this "we" you talk of?" he asked, eyeing me down from head to toe, and turning his head around to see if anyone else was nearby. "I find it difficult to believe those vagabonds would hire an outlander to work for them, especially someone as young as yourself."

"I-it's just a couple of my friends and me", I said, wondering how many details I should even reveal. "We're freelance adventurers, and they're really desperate for help, you know…"

"I'm not sure if I like the sound of those Daedra-worshipping heretics coming here either", he said, with an apparent disgust in his voice. "Who knows what they're up to", he then muttered under his breath.

"They're simply looking for a safe refuge", I explained, trying to sound more sympathetic. "Their tribe is really suffering."

"And who in their right mind would even let their daughter become an adventurer at such a young age", he then commented, sounding almost as if the comment wasn't directed at me, but rather at someone else. At the same time, it was like he was looking me down his nose, which rubbed me the wrong way, especially since he was making such bold assumptions without knowing anything about me.

"As an orphan, I don't really have much choice but to look out for myself", I said, smiling to hide my annoyance toward him.

He frowned, and although he carried a hint of sympathy in his voice, he didn't miss the opportunity to lecture me anyway. "Perhaps becoming a "freelance adventurer", as you said it, wasn't the brightest idea", he said. "These wild lands aren't kind to people like you."

"I thank you for your advice", I replied, feeling increasingly annoyed by the second, "but I'm more capable than I may look."

"I… see…"

"I hate to ask", I said, deciding to switch the topic, "but why are you here in this remote place then?"

He huffed in an almost comically exaggerated manner. "Why else, but to impose the Tribunal's rule and rid this island of heretical scum."

"Is that really all?" I pressed.

That question shut him up, and his brow wrinkled. "That's all you need to know", he said. "This matter only concerns the Tribunal Temple."

"I mean, what's the harm?" I asked as I continued to wear my bright smile. "Our interests align, as we both want the worshippers gone. Maybe we could help each other?"

"I'm not sure if we strictly speaking need help in killing them…" he mumbled, which made me a little anxious. After all, assisting them in "killing" the worshippers was the last thing on my mind when I mentioned help, but I decided to keep my mouth shut. Good thing I did. "Archcanon Saryoni has tasked us with honoring Lord Vivec's age-old pact with Sheogorath and restoring this shrine's rightful status as a holy site of pilgrimage, but his worshippers are interfering with our work. There's this… ugh, let's just call it a "ceremonial artifact" meant to be used as an offering for Sheogorath to lessen his influence over the Dunmeri people, but these damn lunatics are keeping it from us, thus preventing us from renewing the pact as agreed upon by the terms laid in Coldharbour Compact."

I'm paraphrasing, but it went something like that. Regardless, smelling an opportunity to resolve this all peacefully and without bloodshed, I made a suggestion to the robed old man. "Maybe I could deal with them? I mean, I was meant to come here to have a talk with the worshippers on Ahemmusa's behalf to begin with, and kinda come to some sort of agreement, and didn't even expect to see you gentlemen here, so…"

He scoffed to interrupt me, obviously not expecting me to succeed in coming to any kind of agreement with those so-called lunatics. "You're free to try, but our business isn't done here", he said, instructing the Ordinators to come with him as he walked the ramp back on the ship. I guess they were retreating, huh? "Be on your merry way then, little one", he continued. "Whether you fail or succeed, we'll be back to finish our job here posthaste. Keep that in mind before you get yourself killed for nothing, outlander."

This left me a little confused. "Ummm, how about the Ahemmusa? Can they come here?"

For a second, it seemed like he was about to say "no" right away, but he actually hesitated. Smirking at me from the ship, he then replied: "We'll see about that after you do your part in ridding this shrine of scum. That is, IF you manage." Then, proceeding to ignore me, he began instructing his subordinates. "We've seen enough here. Set sail for Vivec."

It really doesn't seem like the Temple is willing to solve this "problem" by peaceful means, but for what it's worth, I felt like they could be reasoned with! Like, I have no idea what kind of beef the Temple and the Ashlanders have with each other - probably religious differences - but the situation isn't hopeless as far as convincing the Temple to let them stay here goes.

So, I returned to Aliya and Staada and explained the situation. Neither of them liked what they were hearing, but sadly, this is what we have to deal with. Besides, even with the Temple in the mix, our mission hadn't changed. We still had the unenviable task of convincing these guys to leave, and that's what we got on with immediately.

We walked up the hill and into the outer ruins searching for an entrance, and that's when two male Orcs and two adult women - a Breton and a Dark Elf - ambushed us, but recognizing Staada for an Aureal, they immediately halted their attack. One of the Orcs then spoke, profusely apologizing for having mistaken me for a "gold-hat", having seen me talk to them, and after a bit of friendly chatter, we introduced ourselves to each other. His name was Fore Paw, and he introduced himself as the bouncer for the "Mad God's Masque and Bellicose Ball". In other words, they were having a party.

Most of the "festivities" were held in the Antechamber, as became apparent to us when Fore Paw escorted us upstairs to the "Ball Room", saying there was lots of fun to be had. To paraphrase, they had free drinks and lots of cheese, fantastic tunes to dance to, and plenty of guests to mingle and make love with. I'm not gonna lie, this all reminded us of that time we met Staada, when she had been sent to have an orgy in that hermit's backyard. Sheogorath seems to love messing with mortals and polite society by ordering his followers to just be merry and have fun!

Even though most of the guests were already drunk, we didn't come across a lot of music or love-making, as the "party" was only starting to recommence after being so rudely interrupted by the "gold-hats". We did come across other strange sights and people though. Firstly, there was a talking Scamp there. Yeah, seriously, the bugger could speak! I think his name was Lustidrike, and he seemed super friendly, giving everyone free drinks. I got a taste of his Sujamma, which was so strong I couldn't help but look a little disgusted. It was like I was drinking fire! It burned so much! Aliya and Staada laughed at me when I tried it, calling me a baby for being unable to handle it, which kinda made me giggle too. Besides, it's always refreshing to see those two actually agree with something and laugh together.

The other strange person I want to mention was an Orc who thought he was actually a Khajiit. He must've just been joking around because he was literally fucking "meowing", but then again, who even knows when you're dealing with Sheogorath's worshippers? They're all fucked-up in the head.

I personally would've loved to stay and meet even more people, but Aliya and I both knew that time was of the essence. Not only do we need these guys gone to appease the Ahemmusa, but we also need to convince them to leave so they won't get hurt in the Tribunal's next raid. This time, Aliya wanted to do the talking.

"Look, I'd love to mingle", she said, appearing visibly nervous and uncomfortable with the situation, especially with that crazy, tall Orc purring at her while clearly staring at her ass. "But I'm looking for someone. Is there anyone called Hlireni here?"

"Who's asking?" Fore Paw shot back.

"Name's Aliya, sir, and I… ummm, I'm here on behalf of Ahemmusa because they're looking for a safe refuge, and - "

"Well, they're welcome to join the party too", Fore Paw happily said.

Aliya grew even more restless with her nervousness but tried to at least act cool and even laughed a little. "Yeah, I mean… hahaha, I think they're a little shy... because they want you gone for whatever reason, or something…"

"Sounds to me like they're prude, not shy!" Fore Paw shouted and let out a boisterous bit of laughter. "Oh, but we can't leave. Oh, no, no, not until the princess returns."

Aliya tilted her head in confusion. "Princess?"

"What? You just asked to meet her a second ago, didn't you?"

"I... guess?" Aliya said, and based on how she looked, I guess the teeny little Altmer cogs were beginning to turn in her head as she realized - just like I realized - that the princess Fore Paw talks about is, in fact, Hlireni. "So, when is she going to return?"

Fore Paw shook his head. "I don't know. She was sent on a quest by Uncle Sheo to retrieve the Gambolpuddy from the dragon's lair, but she hasn't returned. I think something might've happened to her."

"So, where is this, ermmm... dragon's lair?"

"She didn't tell us."

"…And nobody has gone looking for her?"

"Oh no, princess told us that we need to wait. Uncle Sheo says we can't leave either, not before the princess returns with the offering."

That's when I had to speak up. "Wait, what offering?"

Fore Paw turned towards me, staring at me like I had three heads. "Have you not been paying attention?" he asked, sounding offended. "Gam-bol-puddy. Uncle Sheo wants us to give it to the gold-hats, so they'll leave us alone."

Now, this was starting to sound familiar, and I realized that this is the so-called ceremonial artifact that Templar spoke of, but at the same time, this left me confused. "I thought you guys were trying to keep it from them…?"

Fore Paw let out a loud and rowdy guffaw. "Oh, no, no! They just think we're keeping it from them on purpose since princess hasn't recovered it yet!"

Figures. Still, this simplifies the task at hand, and I think I know what we must do. After a warm giggle, I told him: "Sounds like I'll have to go find Hlir- …I mean, your princess then!"

And that was that. We decided to leave and get to work, but since neither Aliya nor Staada had figured out what my plan was, I had to explain my line of thinking to them. See, all of this sounded familiar to me from my own encounter with Sheogorath. Princess, a dragon's lair… this has something to do with the quest he gave me! She's on that island Big Head lives on, and since I have that place marked on my map, I know exactly where we're headed! Still, I was given this mission like, what, a little over three weeks ago? Has this stalemate been going on here for that long, or was this all foresight on the Mad God's part? I guess it doesn't matter. All I know is that we must succeed in bringing Gambolpuddy back so that the Temple will leave these worshippers alone! That should also ensure that Ahemmusa can come to take refuge here! And since Fore Paw says the Ashlanders are welcome to join the party, we can accomplish this all without any bloodshed! Win-win-win!

Assamma-Idan, being the whiny teenage boy he is, doesn't sound too happy about having to chauffer us across the northern seas for free, but after Aliya and I started teasing him about maybe paying him later with our bodies, he quieted down. Not sure if it's because he's now too embarrassed to even speak with us or because he's actually expecting to get laid, but whatever. I was just teasing him, but if he holds me to that promise, I can just make Staada do it instead!

Anyway, time to set up a tent and catch some fish so we'll have something to eat before we go to sleep. It's been a long day, and tomorrow will likely be equally long!

Sun's Dawn, 11th, 3E 428

(By Kanna)

It took us half a day to travel across the Sheogorad Isles, but we reached our destination. I'm not sure if this island has any actual name, so for the lack of a better one, let's just call it Big Head's island! There's a lot of vegetation here I haven't seen anywhere else in the whole of Morrowind, and the fact that most islands nearby are largely barren makes it stand out amongst the others in this region. Staada explained that it's due to Sheogorath's influence on this island, and that this whole place is meant to resemble the Shivering Isles, the realm of Oblivion he governs.

Big Head's shack was located on top of a hill, surrounded by marshlands, giant mushroom trees, and wild mucksponge plants. The man himself was working on the front lawn, and despite what his name could suggest, this Argonian's head seemed perfectly normal-sized, although I must say, his ears were on the larger side! He welcomed me in warmly, inviting me into his home and saying how he knew I'd be coming, speaking of a vision of a little black girl appearing on his front lawn. The vision spoke nothing of a pale elf, though, so unfortunately, this was as far as Aliya was allowed to accompany me. She just shrugged and said she'd be waiting with Assamma-Idan by the shore, and wished me good luck before leaving.

Once inside with Staada - who was allowed to enter - I immediately asked Big Head about the dragon and the princess, mentioning how he was supposed to be some kind of squire meant to provide me with a weapon, and he confirmed it all to me. However, it got a little confusing.

"Yes, Big Head has the singing fork. Can you hear it?"

My eyes scanned across his messy table, on top of which laid a large assortment of dinnerware, among which were many forks, in fact. "What's this about a fork?" I asked.

"The Fork of Horripilation", he said. "It sings to me. Songs of weeping, songs of leaping. Do you weep, stranger?"

He wasn't making any sense! …Or so I initially thought. As strange as it sounds, one of these forks indeed sang to me. It wasn't like a song or anything, but I could hear the music of magic, and this fork indeed held incredible power.

"Will you take the fork", he asked, "or will the fork take you? Then will you weep?"

As instructed, I took the Fork of Horripilation, the holy dragon-slaying relic, and something unbelievable happened. In a flash of an eye, I felt a spell more powerful than anything I had ever experienced sweep through my body and pulse in my veins. It took all my magicka away from me and even severed my bond with Staada, causing her to disappear into thin air! I instinctively dropped the fork on the floor when I realized this, and fortunately, the damage to my magicka wasn't permanent, but being wholly drained of my powers left me in a state of shock. It was by far the most debilitating and crippling spell that had ever been laid upon me, and I didn't even know what to make of it.

That being said, while its enchantment sure is powerful, let's not kid ourselves into thinking that this is any kind of weapon to be taken seriously. I mean, it's a fork. It's a fucking fork. It's meant to pierce through boiled and steamed vegetables and maybe a fat hunk of meat every now and then, but when I picked it up again, I couldn't even hurt myself with it when I pressed it against my skin lightly. No matter how you look at it, it's literally just a normal fork on the outside.

I pointed this out to Big Head, and asked, "how am I supposed to slay a dragon with this?"

"Point it out, never in. Fork is out, poke poke poke!"

"…Will I even come out of this alive?" I sheepishly asked.

"It's a greedy dragon, but not a hungry dragon. It might feed you and make you sing. Maybe even weep. But it won't eat you."

I wasn't sure what to make of his rambling, but decided it was time to see what I was working with. Sighing, I told him to just take me to the dragon's lair, following him outside with the dumb fork in my hand.

He led me to a little cave at the end of his swampy backyard, and urged caution as he told me to brave the dark depths below. Kinda made me nervous, as this moss and mushroom-covered natural crevice with creepy and slimy tentacle-like roots was rather narrow and barely tall enough for me to walk through without having to bow my head down. No way in Oblivion was it large enough to fit a dragon! Or, maybe it could've been if dragons are actually tiny? I've always imagined them as giant flying fire-breathing lizards, but what do I know? All I know is that the thing in front of me damn sure wasn't a dragon. In fact, even as I'm writing this entry down, I still have no idea what that thing was.

"…What is it?" I asked as I stared down the creepy cluster of tentacles blocking the way deeper into the tunnel, similar to those growing elsewhere in this cave as well.

"Grandpa swamp dragon… lovely fish!"

"It doesn't look like a dragon at all", I pointed out. "Or a fish, for that matter. Maybe an octopus?"

"Yes, songs of feeding, songs of binding", Big Head said, going on another mad tangent. "He has no eyes, but he sees you. He has no nose, but he smells you. He has no tongue, but he tastes you. So go about your business now! The master waits! Fork fork fork. Stabbing meat, lovely meat."

At this point, I thought that maybe this quest wouldn't be so challenging after all. Honestly, it sounded like a boring and tiresome task rather than a difficult one. As I said, it looked like those other tentacle plants I saw growing in the cave, with the only notable difference being that it was growing from the ground, not off the walls. Still, I thought that destroying a plant with a piece of enchanted cutlery should be child's play!

Just to make sure, I asked Big Head to confirm the rules once again: I can't damage the dragon using any weapon other than the fork. That means no blades, fists, claws, or teeth, and certainly no elemental magic. So, with that said, I decided to get on with it! I gave Big Head my daggers for safekeeping and watched as he left the cave, leaving me alone with my quest. I steeled myself for the task at hand, smiling from ear to ear as I supposed I should at least try to have some fun while stabbing away at the tentacles!

With nothing but the magic fork in my hand, I approached the enemy carefully, humming a funny-sounding tune I remember my mother singing to me from time to time. Then, I took aim at the so-called dragon… and just as I was about to strike the first tentacle, it dodged. In fact, all of the tentacles were suddenly moving, and before I could even process what was going on, they were attacking ME! They caught my wrists and neck, slapped the stupid fork off my hand, and as I was trying to pull away with all my might, they dragged me into their midst, with over a dozen tentacles suddenly coiling around my limbs like a bucket full of snakes!

I was honestly panicking. Like, I didn't expect that at all! They were so strong too! I'm not sure if I could've broken free from their grasp even if I had used Restoration magic to enhance my strength! Still, I wasn't afraid for my life - at least not after the initial two to three seconds of panic wore off - as they weren't trying to hurt me. As forceful as they were, they only held me in place, twisting and turning me around while submitting me to an increasingly tight and firm package.

Then, those things suddenly reached right underneath my armor, rubbing against my bare chest and even getting right between my buttocks! I gasped audibly, immediately raising my voice to call out to Big Head, saying this wasn't part of the deal, that I didn't sign up to get molested by a damn tentacle creature, but the man was nowhere to be seen. I tried to squirm and wiggle myself out of their clutches, but not only were my attempts futile, it only helped them have an easier time stripping me. They exposed my chest and pulled down my shorts, completely ripping my panties to shreds and ruining my leather armor by going after the threads and the seams.

I smiled uncomfortably as a pair of tentacles went after my privates, and I almost laughed, even though there was nothing funny about what was going on. I was just so utterly stunned by the situation, and I even said so out loud, saying it must've been a joke and it couldn't seriously be happening, but no matter what, those slimy, squirmy tentacles wouldn't let go of my holes. I gritted my teeth and closed my eyes, sniveling as they forcefully filled me up, going as deep as they could.

I guess that crazy, nasty Argonian was right about at least one thing: that the "dragon" was going to make me weep, and even sing songs of moaning.

Jokes aside, what the fuck was that thing!? A swamp tentacle plant come alive? A mutated Kwama creature, or even a Dreugh? Some kind of lesser Daedra I've never even heard of? Doesn't matter what it was, but it pounded me so hard! Fucked both my ass and pussy at the same time, going at it hard from the get-go! I was the one getting my meat stabbed and poked by its tentacles, and I couldn't believe how hard they were roughing my insides up! I shouted harder, even calling out to Hlireni, but I didn't hear so much as a peep in return! Nobody was going to save me!

Even though they didn't need my own fluids, with all their slime and mucus lubricating me well enough, the pounding also got my body going. I just couldn't help it! It felt so humiliating, but also so stimulating! After just a few minutes, my pussy was already dripping wet - literally - and with all the slime in my intestines, the tentacle in my ass was fucking me faster than any man ever had! I felt overwhelmed, my moans got so loud I practically screamed, and I came. I can't believe I came that hard. I lost all reason and control, both over my willpower and my body. It was honestly incredible.

Despite feeling exhausted, they just kept going at it. I don't know for how long, but it must've been at least an hour, and fuck if I know how many times those tentacles made me cum throughout it all. I didn't have the wherewithal to even bother counting. All I know is that those tentacles never came themselves. All they did was eventually give up, falter, and let go of me. Yet, I couldn't even run away. I just crawled out of their reach, lying still, trying to catch my breath and calm my racing heart down.

A few minutes later, I finally dragged myself out of the cave, covered in sweat and mucus, still trying to rationalize what in Oblivion just happened, or more importantly, HOW that could've happened. Oh, but this is fine! Absolutely fine! It only fucked me a while, that's all! Nothing I can't handle! I'm honestly more upset about my armor getting ruined! That was some expensive, top-of-a-shelf leather, you know!

Oh, and I'm seriously supposed to kill it? Using just an enchanted, cursed fork? There's just no way that's ever going to happen! It's just going to rape me again if I try! …Or is it?

Sheogorath didn't send me here on a glorious quest only because I need to "slay" some "dragon". No, there was also something about tapping into debaucherous magic. With everything that's been going on in the past few weeks or so, I kind of forgot about it, but something tells me that the clue to defeating that thing lies there.

Thinking logically, and according to the most literal interpretation of rules, magic IS allowed on the technicality; I'm just not allowed to damage it using magic. Doesn't leave me with many options, to be honest. Could Illusion work on it? Maybe Alteration? I'm sadly not particularly good at either school, and even if I were, there's the issue of my inability to cast these so-called "debaucherous" spells. All Sheogorath said was that I should be able to use these tricks, but I really don't know any such spells. Staada said this stuff is "self-taught during sex", and that I need to learn these spells my own way, so…

I can't believe I'm even thinking about this, but maybe that's the whole point here? Let myself get fucked by it on purpose, and then use it as means of teaching myself kinky magic? Not sure how because it absolutely dominated me, and casting pretty spells was the last thing on my mind while getting fucked by it. Besides, my lack of concentration isn't even the biggest problem. No, the fact that the dumb fork will drain my magicka and make me unable to cast spells is.

Anyway, this will probably take time, and I'm not expecting to succeed even on my second try, even if I end up trying a completely different approach. Maybe I can figure something out overnight, like find more clues? Big Head seems to have quite a lot of books on his shelves, so maybe there could be some planted there?

Finally, after cleaning myself up and putting on a comfy white one-piece, I notified Assamma-Idan and Aliya that the quest ended up being a lot harder than I thought and that it'd probably take at least a couple of days for me to figure out how to "slay the dragon". Aliya said they'll continue to the port of Khuul thirty nautical miles to the south, from where she'll travel to Gnisis on Telvanni business, while Assamma-Idan just clicked his tongue in frustration. He surprisingly didn't bitch or moan, but it was quite clear that he wasn't too happy about our field trip extending. At least he can sleep on a comfortable bed now, which Khuul's local tradehouse can offer him.

Now, better get some sleep and hope all my magicka will return while I rest. I'm going to need myself at full power to see if I can come up with new kinds of spells or not.

Sun's Dawn, 12th, 3E 428

(By Kanna)

Hitting the books was a really good idea! Big Head's shelves had the inspiration I was looking for!

I found a curious little book in the "Kinky Daedrologist" series written by "Cosette Bouchard of Wayrest" dedicated to Sheogorath, and decided to give it a read. In case you haven't heard of the author… well, neither had I prior to today, but she became infamous for her book series during the reign of Katariah Septim some two hundred years ago, with her works banned by the Mages Guild for their scandalous contents at the time. At least, that's what the book's preface said. The point is, we're talking about a very rare book indeed, and an even rarer collection of books. Big Head only had installments three and nine, with the other book being about Malacath and the significance of polyamory and polysexuality in the Orsimer culture.

Anyway, I decided to copy some of the texts here as notes for further reading:

"For as long as our ancestors have kept written records, sex has been associated with the worship of certain gods and spirits. Be it practitioners of Dibellan Arts, the servants of Molag Bal, the devotees of Mephala, or the followers of Sanguine, examples are plenty, but very few take their intimate acts of worship and adoration as far as the Mazken of Pinnacle Rock and the Aureals of Brellach, Sheogorath's most faithful do."

"Known as the guardians of the Shivering Isles and famed for their combat prowess, these Daedra take care of the Madhouse's denizens in the time of peace, all while competing for the Mad God's affection. Not all of this is sexually explicit, of course, but with the high number of sex-crazed maniacs the Isles house inside of them, both amongst the mortals and the ranks of these competing rival societies, sex and nudity are commonplace. Sexual acts performed in the Mad God's name are considered perfectly normal, with nudity being encouraged in some parts of the Isles, even out in the open."

"In contrast to the ritualistic and performative Dibellan Arts, or Sanguine's drug-fueled orgies of plenty, Sheogorath's servants use magic to push their partners - especially victims - over the edge, sometimes into mere exhaustion, sometimes into madness, and in rare cases, even deaths. There isn't one school of magic that can be considered to be above one other as far as enhancing a sexual experience goes, but for what it's worth, Restoration, Mysticism, and Destruction spells are most commonly used to manipulate the energies that flow through all sentient and living creatures. Meanwhile, Illusion spells are considered taboo, as they're seen as disruptive to the purity of mind."

The book didn't go into detail about any specific spells, but that sure gives me some ideas! Won't go into detail here, though!

Still, it's a little funny that the book doesn't mention Conjuration when Staada specifically cited it as her main inspiration for lewd magic. Maybe that's simply because it's what she's good at? I mean, she's technically naked all the time, with her weapons and bikini armor being all bound to her by magic, and she can control lesser daedra to an extent too, so it shouldn't be too surprising, but it was meant as a recommendation for me. She could've at least mentioned Restoration too! After all, I'm arguably just as good at it as I am with Conjuration!

Anyway, time to train! No touching the Forky today! No matter how kindly it sings to me to pick it up, I won't so much as pinch it!

I hope my plan will work…

Sun's Dawn, 11th, 3E 428

(By Aliya)

We initially planned on waiting on the shores for Kanna to return from her little quest with Hlireni, but since we had to leave Kanna behind for reasons she didn't get too much into, we decided to sail straight to Khuul. Or, at least, try to. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't on our side, and we were blown off course almost as soon as we departed from Big Head's island. The south wind was heavy that evening, and since we had no way of making it to the port before sunset, we took refuge on the first island we came across. These waters are NOT safe to travel in the dark.

Assamma-Idan - or Assam, for short - wasn't all too happy about having to spend yet another night in the wilds. Like, going to Khuul wasn't even part of the deal as far as he was concerned, and truth be told, I was looking forward to renting a more comfortable bed too! I'm not a big fan of camping, even less so than Assam is! It led to a little war of words on our part, which I won't get too much into. Ultimately, all that matters is that we agreed we're doing each other a favor here; he's helping Kanna and me, and we're helping his entire tribe. Still, I promised I'd make these detours, distractions, and delays up to him monetarily as a sign of goodwill and a token of my gratitude. I'm not exactly strapped for cash at the moment, you know. His response to being offered money surprised me.

"Not sure if that's better or worse than what you were offering yesterday", he said.

I instantly knew what he meant, which put me on the defensive since that was just banter and teasing on my part. I tried to make this clear, saying it was supposed to be just a joke, to which he replied by saying I shouldn't get his hopes up for nothing.

I don't know what it was, but something about the whole situation lit a fire underneath me. It was like he was trying to be pushy and say he would've taken sex as a payment for his services without actually having the heart to say it, only bringing it up in that manner because he was too shy to say it or afraid of me turning it to another joke, or something. All that honestly made me kinda want it, and since I was in a prime position to take the initiative, I took the opportunity.

He was in the middle of pitching his own tent when I surprised him from behind with a hug, resting my head on his shoulder and pushing my whole body down on his back. I whispered that I could honestly do both money and sex, one as a payment for his services and one for putting up with my demands. He looked at me like he thought I was still kidding, but a little kiss on his cheek managed to convince him I was for real. I offered to give him head for starters, a suggestion he seemed happy with.

I sat him down with his legs spread, and I got to work, down on my knees, with my hands stroking and rubbing his growing erection, while occasionally teasing him by kissing and licking it. Despite being only a few years older than me, his gray cock was already as big as it's ever going to grow, and I couldn't get enough of his cute red eyes staring me down in disbelief. I was content on teasing him like that until he would've begged for me to suck it, but surprisingly, he threw a curveball at me, saying that instead of giving him a blowjob, I should give him a "boob job"! I was initially taken aback and even stared at him with a raised eyebrow, asking him, "Seriously?" After he awkwardly nodded, I was amused enough to give him what he wanted!

Truth be told, taking his dick between my breasts was pretty easy, considering I have some meat on my chest. Like, I could just grab them and squeeze them together to barely envelop his cock, but when it came to actually moving around and pleasing him with them, the difficulty became apparent. Instead of being able to jerk him off with my tits, I had to rub my chest against it and actually put my legs and hips to work. The whole thing made me wish I was a little bit older and had bigger breasts - even B-cup would be better than these tiny bug bites I have! - but he didn't seem bothered. In fact, he was over the moon, saying he didn't think I'd ever agree, and was so happy I did.

So there we were, out in the open on this random island in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but the wide blanket of stars painted above us, seemingly alone… and that's when I caught something in the corner of my eye, behind my date's back. We were being watched.

They were a couple of Dunmeri youngsters around Assam's age, that much I could tell right off the bat, but I didn't say anything or even hint at the fact that we were being spied on, and just grinned at Assam, asking if my boobs felt good. Feeling particularly mischievous, I started going on and on about how his cock was making me so wet and horny, and truth be told, I wasn't even lying! I made sure those two buggers could hear my every word spoken with lustful ardor, and practically begged Assam to stick his cock into me as fast as possible.

Those two let themselves be accidentally discovered by making noise, and as I feigned shock, still hiding my tits conveniently placed underneath my palms, Assam got so outraged and embarrassed it was honestly adorable! They claimed to only have heard some voices and come to check what was going on, claiming to not have spied on us, and while Assam bought the explanation, I knew better! Still, I kept quiet about this, deciding to see where these three boys would take this from here.

After brief introductions and an explanation about what we were doing here in the middle of nowhere, they explained their own story. Their names were Dalin and Daris, and I could tell they were brothers just by looking at them. They were on a quest to avenge their father's death and to recover some ancient Adamantium helmet that belongs to the Norvayne family, their family. Supposedly, they're kind of a big deal in the city of Almalexia, where they're from. Lastly, they admitted to maybe needing a bit of help. "The cultists who murdered our father are still holed up in Onnissiralis", Dalin said, referring to the nearby Daedric shrine located on this small island. "Honor dictates we must do this alone", he continued, glancing at his brother, "but we'd just be rushing to our deaths ourselves. We need help."

I was a little bummed out because the pervert in me was hoping to have them join Assam in fucking me and gang up on me straight away. Like I said, I wasn't kidding about starting to get wet, but I decided to suck it up for now and offered help on their little quest.

Those two must've not expected much from me since I wasn't involved in discussing the tactics prior to us storming the shrine's inner chamber, which I don't blame them for, given my child-like appearance, but when I proved my proficiency with my mastery over the elements, they had no choice but to recognize my talents. There were six evil cultists holed up inside, out of which I single-handedly killed three, so not to sound too arrogant or anything, but it was quite clear who the prodigy in our group was! Those three were all fantastic fighters too, with Assam and Dalin being great swordsmen and Daris being one of the best sharpshooters I've ever seen, so needless to say, we didn't have any trouble. Even while outnumbered, we easily defeated them all without breaking a sweat!

As we returned to the shore, the two brothers showered me with numerous words of gratitude, but admitted to not having anything of great value to offer me in return. Still, they promised me, should I ever visit Almalexia, the doors to their estate in Godsreach would always be open for me. Yet, my mind was on something much more immediate, and let's be honest, there was no putting that cat back in the bag. They had seen what I was doing with Assam, and all it took was a mere hint at the possibility of a foursome on my part to make them pounce on the opportunity.

Assam took charge due to having waited to do me for the longest, and being more than happy to follow up on any of his demands, I sat on his cock buck-naked, leaning my back against his chest while the brothers took their dicks out in front of me, eager to join the fun. Sitting down, the position didn't allow much movement for my Ashlander friend, but then again, I was also happy to do the moving, and had all the energy in the world to move my hips while I took him from behind. I like it more when men dictate the pace, but at that point, having already been interrupted once and even fighting while horny, I was so ready for it, and I was just happy to finally have a cock inside of me.

Not wanting to leave either of the brothers unfulfilled and waiting, I grabbed both of their cock, giggling as I jerked and squeezed them, licking and sucking both of them and trading my mouth between them, trying my best to please keep them satisfied. Both of them would've loved to have me focus solely on them, but I can only fit one cock in my mouth at once! Regardless, I told them not to worry, hurry, or fret even a little bit; I was gonna make them all cum eventually… and preferably more than once!

Although Assam already had the best seat in the house, the situation vexed him, and being the greedy and needy, horny little teen he was, he demanded focus from me and pulled me closer, grabbing me by my chest. I was already quite aware of his infatuation with my little tits, but never in my wildest dreams could I anticipate him being that good at massaging them! He was so good with his fingers, ramping up the intensity as his dick drew me closer toward the big O, and pinching me with just the right amount of pressure, he finally drove me over the edge. I swear, having my nipples played with only made my climax better! I've read that some girls can come only from nipple stimulation, and considering how he handled me, it honestly made me curious about letting him try that on me!

Even though it felt so good I lost focus and control over my senses, I didn't let go of the brothers. Still, they were getting rowdier and hungrier by the second, and seeing how I was too distracted to suck them anymore, being pulled closer to Assam's embrace, Dalin plunged forward, sticking his dick into my mouth while gently grabbing the back of my head. Daris surprisingly didn't protest his brother cutting him in line, but urged both of the boys to hurry up because he wanted a piece of me as well.

I guess Assam couldn't bear waiting much longer either, and I could tell he was eager to cum sooner rather than later. He adjusted his position a little just so he could move his hips, and oh boy, was I happy to give up the reins and let him take control! Grabbing me by my waist, he could go so much harder than I could in the awkward position I was given, and with Dalis pleading at me to suck him as hard as I could, they seriously made me feel like the luckiest girl in all of the northern territories that night! I swear, I felt like a kid in a candy store!

Didn't take long for Assam to cum inside me. Didn't even ask for permission, not that I cared or could've ever replied to him. There's just something so, so incredibly fulfilling about sitting back, letting a man go wild with desire, leaving you feeling hot and tingly, and then feeling the fruits of his labor flowing into you. And speaking of sitting back, I just sat my full weight on him, and jerked my body back and forth on top of him a little, forcing a couple of soft moans out of his lips.

Dalis wasn't too far behind to give me a taste of his cum. He gave me so much of it, but instead of letting me suck all of it straight from the source, he pulled out one-third of the way and made a mess on my face, drawing a pearly-white line from my bangs to my jaw with his sticky seed. Although it covered my left eye, so I couldn't even keep it open, I smiled and giggled, complimenting him on the volume.

Finally, as those two youngsters sat back to recuperate, Daris took his chance at me. I didn't even have time to wipe my face clean before he bent me over on top of my bedroll and stuck it in, saying he wasn't gonna wait or even hold back. We fucked like a pair of horny dogs, and all I had to do was take it. I told him to be as rough as he liked, and sure enough, he gave me a couple of well-placed slaps on my ass for good measure. Just like before, I came with intensity, but my hunger for more couldn't be sated so easily. Luckily for me, teenage boys are really resilient and difficult to keep down, if you know what I meant.

Still rock-hard despite just cumming inside me, Assam wanted to see my lips wrapped around his cock, and urged Daris to lift my head up. He actually grabbed a fistful of my hair while fucking me silly, presenting my cum-soiled face for Assam to take advantage of. Resting on my palms and elbows, I opened my mouth wide with my tongue stuck out for him and took him in without a fuss, thirsty for more of that creamy goodness.

They both went at it hard, but Daris wouldn't last for long. He pulled out at the last second, jerking it as he covered my back and ass with his cum, with a fat shot of jizz even getting on my hair. He said something about having to mark his bitches and loving the look of young girls covered head to toe in cum, and as much as I personally love to take it all inside, I wasn't gonna complain. After all, I love being covered in cum from time to time too! Besides, it's fun to go out of your way to do what your partners want and accept it with a smile on your face, and that's exactly what my mood was being toyed with by these boys!

Dalis had his turn with my pussy next, commenting that preteen cunts really are on a whole another level as far as tightness goes. He stabbed his cock as deep as he could go from the very beginning, grabbing me hard and banging me like an animal. Yet another orgasm took me over, and I couldn't get enough of it. I needed more, wanting to have my pussy fucked harder, faster, and rougher and to keep cumming from their cocks harder and harder! I didn't think it was gonna get any better, but I wanted it to continue feeling just as good until the very end! And I didn't want it to end! I wish that night would've gone on forever!

Neither Dalis nor Assam could last for much longer. They came almost at the same time, both of them pulling out to shower me in their cum again, and even though there was much less of it than on the first round, it still felt like a lot. My hair was covered in it now, and Dalis had busted a thick load right on my anus, with his cum dripping down my swollen wet lips. It was already the second time for both of them, and as much vitality as guys their age have, cumming twice in such a short timespan takes a toll on any man… or so I thought. Even I underestimated them, but I'm not complaining!

Daris had a go at me next, taking me alone in the missionary position, and even though that wasn't the end of it, I'd be here forever if I continued writing. Must've taken them at least two hours to tire up and give up on fucking me completely. Besides, it was more of the same anyway, only for a bit longer.

Sheesh, getting this smell out of my skin and hair is gonna take more than just a quick salt-water bath in the sea. Sea salt's probably not good for my skin anyway…

Still, what fun! My only regret is that I couldn't share it with Kanna, but then again, the selfish little bitch in me says that's for the best, given I was able to have their cocks all for myself! But now, it's time to go to sleep. My bedroll kinda smells, but… oh well! It's not an entirely unpleasant smell. Maybe it'll fuel some pleasant dreams for the night.

Hopefully, the weather will be more lenient toward us tomorrow. If not, it's gonna be a long boat ride to Khuul.

Sun's Dawn, 12th, 3E 428

(By Aliya)

Our journey to Khuul was hampered by the storm wind blowing ash from Vvardenfell, and can't say I'm all too happy about it. Seriously, fuck this volcanic climate and its stupid ash storms! Gets in your hair and clothes, and the smell is so unpleasant! Thankfully, Assam is a superb navigator, and the storm didn't stop us from reaching Khuul in about three hours.

A quick one-hour Silt Strider ride to Gnisis later, I wanted to get clean, first and foremost. I seriously smelled like a fireplace; one that a teenage boy had taken a wank in! It had been several days since my last proper bath anyway, so since the weather was nice - albeit a bit chilly - I settled for a quick wash on the shores of Samsi river. I first washed my clothes, and as I left them to hang, I grabbed my trusty bar of honeyed soap and took a dip.

As comfortable and peaceful as my bath was, the aftermath, not so much. When I returned to my clothes, about to dry them off using magic, they were gone! Stolen! All of them! My travel knapsack, weapons, and jewelry hadn't been touched, which was a HUGE relief considering the wealth I carry around, but that didn't stop me from getting seriously pissed!

A hoarse voice of a Dunmer surprised me from behind. "I see it happened to you too", he said, scaring the ever-living fuck out of me as he emerged from the bushes in his birthday suit, covering up his privates as a clear sign of embarrassment. I was all but ready to unleash a thunderstorm on this fetcher, but he managed to calm me down, begging me not to kill him, practically squealing he had been a victim too. "It's Hainab, not me! He stole my clothes too!" I asked him where this thief was and said I wanted to teach him a lesson for stealing from me, and after he gave me his address and a description of his looks, I left toward the town, telling him to guard my stuff. I warned him not to touch anything, "Lest you want to end up like Hainab." An idle threat, as I didn't actually have a plan for how I was about to take revenge, but for what it's worth, he listened and obeyed.

Now, I wasn't just about to walk around the town naked, considering that the Temple has a strong presence here. Public nudity is regarded as a serious threat to the town's public image as a site of pilgrimage, and it's a crime in the Legion's eyes too. Still, since I didn't want to ask anyone for help or handouts either, even though I'm sure someone would've helped me, I resorted to magic. I supposed a strong Illusion spell combined with my sneaking had to be enough.

Somehow, out of all the crimes I've committed, walking around naked in public feels the most heinous, but fortunately, I didn't get caught. I was able to keep to the shadows, and my somewhat imperfect invisibility cloak did the rest. Like, you could still see me if you looked closely enough, but you would've had to focus really hard. I made it through the town to the warrens in the north, where many farmers, paupers, and other low-income residents of this town live.

Before I could enter to see if that perverted thief was home, I heard muffled moaning coming from the bushes near the cliff overlooking the town. Obviously, I had to investigate, and to my surprise, I saw that thief having sex! With a little girl! She was a human with skin as pale as snow, but I couldn't make sense of that little brunette's race. She was also younger-looking than me, and even though Hainab's grey, ashen hand was firmly blocking her mouth as he pinned her back against the wall, the little girl couldn't keep quiet with that huge Dunmer cock grinding in and out of her. I wondered for a minute if I should do something, even save her, but no matter how I looked at the situation, it didn't look like rape. The girl was thoroughly enjoying herself and looked ecstatic. Instead, I decided to go rummage through Hainab's apartment while he was busy banging that kid.

Sure enough, I found all my clothes. Well, almost all of them. My panties were missing for some inexplicable reason, but I could live with that. I can cover myself up with my pants, after all. I dried my clothes up and dressed up as quickly as possible, and to fight fire with fire, I stole all HIS clothes. Then, after returning to the shore with all of them, I piled them up in a pretty little heap of cloth and scrap, and after the naked dude at the riverside picked his own clothes from the pile, I lit the motherfucker on fire. Yeah, come steal my clothes from the beach now, stupid fetcher. That'll teach you to not mess with me.

Maybe I shouldn't have done that? Should've brought them to Fort Darius instead to report the crime to the Legion. After all, the other clothes could've been stolen too.

Next, I visited Baladas on Telvanni business because that's why I came here to begin with.

While Baladas is not interested in leaving his "field laboratory" to move to the east coast, he is VERY interested in Master Aryon's plans. Yes, he has had all the credentials to be a Telvanni Master and a council member for tens, if not hundreds of years, but his hate towards the current Archmagister and his love for Dwemer research has held him back. "Not anymore", he said, as he's interested in taking Gothren's place in the council, and supports Aryon in becoming the new Archmagister. That meant my business in Gnisis was done.

As I was making it to the Silt Strider port to catch a ride back to Khuul, I noticed someone waiting for me by the stairs, leaning against a wooden pillar. It was that little girl from earlier, but this time, she was wearing a modest brown linen dress. "Did you like the show?" she asked, grinning from ear to ear with a rosy blush on her cheeks, and all I could think of was how she figured out I was spying on her! Was my invisibility spell really that bad!? She just laughed when I asked that out loud, saying she actually sensed me through other means. "I'm always aware of my surroundings", she said and tossed me my panties. "Maybe you should be too."

At this point, I was thoroughly confused, and even a little embarrassed. Like, was SHE the thief all along? Were they in it together, or was she genuinely helping me by returning my panties to me? Whatever the case may be, I thanked her regardless, asking if she wanted anything in return for this little favor, but she just said "nah" and left, claiming she was in a hurry. Didn't introduce herself or anything; just said that it'd be "wicked" if we would meet again someday, and left with a wink and a wide open-mouth smile. I caught a glimpse of her teeth, and… she was a vampire? I could also notice a dagger hidden under her belt, and I swear, I've seen a similar one before, but I can't put my finger on where…

Anyway, what a day! It's too late to set sail, so Assam and I will rent the guest room for another night. I'm paying for him too, as thanks, and maybe I'll thank him in another way too. I sure could use another rough shagging from him to unwind!

Sun's Dawn, 13th, 3E 428

(By Kanna)

It was time to re-enter the dragon's lair, and this time, I had nothing to fear. Whatever would happen, I knew I wasn't gonna get hurt, so win or lose, I was determined to have a good time.

I wasn't gonna let the plant destroy any of my clothes, so I left them all behind without hesitation. Somehow, even though nobody was there to witness my naked self, I was incredibly nervous, even a little disturbed, considering I was about to willingly prostrate myself to this tentacle monster. Yet, I couldn't stop smiling and blushing like a fool. I felt like such a huge pervert, and it felt awesome.

Carrying Forky to the cave without suffering its curse was child's play. All I had to do was not touch it directly to ensure I had all my magicka available to me, and let me tell you, I was brimming with power. Clutching both my hands into loose fists, I concentrated the teeniest little amount of magicka to activate the weakest healing spell I could muster, and enveloped myself in a long-lasting restorative cloak to ensure I wasn't gonna be feeling out of breath after just a few minutes of getting pounded silly. Then, I pounced on top of the monster as if to ride it. Down on my knees, with my legs spread open, I taunted the monster without the fork and pulled on its tentacles, trying to make it fuck me.

It was so easy. Just as I was grabbing onto its tentacles and holding them down, they grabbed into my wrists and ankles to hold me down. It must've been a precaution on the monster's part to ensure I couldn't run away, but little did it know, escaping was the last thing on my mind. I was exactly where I wanted to be, in its loving clutches, and clutching my lover back.

My body jerked and shot up when it finally came inside me, filling both my pussy and ass up almost at the same time, and pounded me hard from the get-go, but I wasn't about to be outdone. I rode it like a girl possessed, wanting to wear it off. I was like a little Dark Seducer, ready to squeeze out every little drop of fatigue from my lover and drain it dry.

I cast another healing spell to combat my fatigue, and honestly, everything was going great. Unlike last time around, I knew that by healing myself I could outlast the tentacles without them being able to overwhelm me, but oh boy, did they try. Stronger than me, they wanted to dominate me, render me helpless, and put me in my place. They did something they didn't do the other day and actually lifted me off the ground, bound my hands behind my back, and started fucking me even faster! I came so hard, almost instantly! I was genuinely losing myself to pleasure, and there was no way in Oblivion I could concentrate on casting a single spell like that! I thought I was done for! About to end up just like the other day! A broken, exhausted mess!

Still, I managed to keep hold of its tentacles. Even though they bound me helplessly and made it impossible for me to separate my arms from them, I continued to squeeze them hard, and this allowed me to cast a new spell on them. In addition to keeping my own tiredness at bay with the continuous Restoration spell, I could also steal fatigue directly from the plant. I wasn't sure if it would work, but it did! Mysticism isn't my strongest suit, but I'd be damned if I failed a simple entry-level absorption spell! Best of all, since I wasn't dealing damage or tapping directly into its life force, I was still playing by the rules!

It kept holding me, twisting me, and tirelessly fucking me through multiple climaxes over the course of the next half an hour or so, almost as if telling me to knock it off and stop casting spells, but I didn't let go. Even as my body shook and trembled with every new orgasm, leaving me feeling like I was losing my sanity under overwhelming pleasure, I didn't let myself be dominated so easily. It may have had my body, but it couldn't break my concentration or shatter my willpower. I outlasted the beast, and it had no choice but to let me down as its strength began to wane. It couldn't keep me afloat anymore, and it certainly couldn't push me away. It barely could even keep fucking me, but that was fine. I wouldn't have minded if it continued for a while longer, but for what it's worth, I felt satisfied and sexually fulfilled, so I just wiped the drool off my face as I giggled. Forky was just a simple telekinesis spell away, and at this point, it didn't matter that I was about to be stripped of my magic because there was nothing the tentacles could do to save themselves from me anymore.

After I struck the first blow, they tried to desperately muster whatever strength they could find to push me away, and while they managed to restrain my hand to defend themselves from being struck again, they couldn't overpower me anymore. Never again. So I struck it again. And again and again, countless times. I stabbed it as hard as I could, going directly after the tentacle in my pussy first. The monster couldn't make noise, but it writhed in agony as I stabbed away at it with this dull piece of cutlery, and I know this sounds insane, but I was having a blast! It was so much fun!

Killing the monster took way more time than it needed to take, but eventually, it stopped moving. It didn't react to being stabbed anymore, and judging by the sweet plant nectar oozing from its hundred tiny wounds, it was about to stay unresponsive. There was no reviving that tentacle plant, and I knew my mission was complete. I could finally proceed further down into the tunnel.

The little claustrophobe in me was telling me to turn back, but I pressed on and eventually found a large underground cavern filled with water at the bottom, illuminated by countless bioluminescent mushrooms. It was home to a much larger, much more powerful tentacle plant than the one I slew just a minute ago, and Hlireni was there too. She was a beautiful young Dunmer with voluptuous curves and a mature body, and she barely even registered my presence while the tentacles kept fucking her.

For a second, I wondered, did I have to defeat this one too? I mean, it was huge, absolutely massive, and nothing like the one I killed earlier. It was like comparing a single rose bush to a whole-ass royal garden! But fortunately, it didn't come to it. Not only did the tentacles stop when I stepped into the water pooling at the bottom of the cave, but they actually let Hlireni go when I brandished the Fork of Horripilation. She finally lifted her head, wondering what was happening, and was clearly confused by my presence. I decided that showing concern was probably my best move, so I asked her, "Are you alright?" She just smirked and replied, "Yeah."

She couldn't believe I had killed the dragon, saying that no matter how many times she tried, she just couldn't do it. It wasn't just a question of inability, but eventually, also a matter of unwillingness. "Its nectar was like a drug, and its pollen so sweet", she said with dreamy eyes, and now that she puts it that way, the smell was quite intoxicating, as it is also down here. Didn't pay much attention to it before, but now that there's a much larger and meaner tentacle plant in front of me, it's kinda hard to ignore. "So I gave myself to it willingly", she continued, "and since I did, it didn't let me go anymore. It separated me from the fork, and blocked my path out of the cave, forcing me to come down here. I thought I had succeeded when I found the offering in the lake, but… it didn't let me take it. It's been keeping me as a slave ever since, keeping me alive and fed. But you! You have the fork! Perhaps you can take the offering?"

She pointed me toward an ornate little lockbox sitting about a meter deep in the puddle, guarded by the tentacles, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't anxious! Sure, they made way for me, but what if they were just waiting to grab me while I was defenseless and turned me into a slave too? Fortunately, it was an empty worry. Recognizing me as the wielder of the magic fork, they let me take the box and walk away free. I also instructed Hlireni to come with me, and weary as she was, she did as instructed, allowed to go with me and walk free all the same.

Now, the quest is done, and I can't wait to tell Aliya about what I had to do! I bet she'll be so shocked! I also can't wait to tell Staada, but I think I'll have to rest a couple of hours before I can summon her, as I'm still completely dry of magicka, all thanks to this stupid fork. Hlireni will also reunite with her friends, and since we have the Gambolpuddy in our hands now, things really couldn't have gone better!

Speaking of which, Gambolpuddy is actually a glove, and just like the Fork of Horripilation, it looks very unassuming on the outside. One wouldn't think it's a Daedric artifact just by looking at it, as it looks like a normal glove. Well, an expensive-looking normal glove, but a normal glove nonetheless. I think it's enchanted - and not cursed like Forky is - but the enchantment is by no means powerful, so it's not a great sacrifice to hand this over to the Tribunal, especially since the payoff is immeasurable in wealth.

Unfortunately, Aliya and Assamma-Idan aren't back from their round trip to Khuul yet, but I can't imagine it taking too long for them to return. Like I said, I can't wait! Big Head has also instructed me to take the Fork of Horripilation to Sheogorath as proof of my deed, but something tells me I won't need it. After all, the Mad God is watching over me. I know it.

Sun's Dawn, 15th, 3E 428

(By Kanna)

We made it back to Ald Daedroth, and not a moment too soon!

A pair of Tribunal's ships arrived only one hour after we made our triumphant return, and this time, they had come prepared to win. The worshippers here wouldn't have won this fight, that's for sure, but thanks to our efforts, it never came to blows. Instead, Hlireni urged me to take the Gambolpuddy and sent me to act as the mediator, for I was perhaps the only person on this island who wouldn't be attacked on sight.

Sure enough, the grumpy old, white-robed Templar recognized me immediately, and oh boy, words cannot describe the surprise he had on his face when I presented him with the glove. He was befuddled, gobsmacked, flabbergasted, astonished, and most importantly of all, speechless. Meanwhile, I just beamed at him and cheerfully handed it over, saying: "You're free to perform the ritual now."

"Master Indrano", one of the Ordinators guarding him said, referring to the old Templar. Funny how I never got to hear his name the other day. "This could be a trap", he continued, turning his gaze toward me.

Hesitation washed over the old man's face upon hearing those words, and his brow wrinkled. "It matters not", he ultimately said. "We outnumber them, but just to make sure… there is no foul play or trickery at work here, is there?"

"No", I said, giving him the most mysterious smile I could muster. "These ladies and gentlemen intend to honor the agreement between the gods so long as we can all avoid unnecessary bloodshed."

"They'd better", the man said as he signaled his men to follow him, "if they know what's best for them."

As the Tribunal's representatives breached the inner sanctum, the air was still, and the mood was tense. Nobody would take their eyes off each other, not even for a second, and everyone was as quiet as mice. The worshippers stood back and kept their weapons sheathed while the Ordinators led Master Indrano to Sheogorath's altar so he could perform the ritual. Then, after one full minute of prayer, the glove was gone. He thanked me for my efforts, and although it clearly pained and annoyed him, seeing how I managed to hold on to my end of the bargain, he said he has every intention of honoring his word as well. Then, without further fanfare, he left with his subordinates and set sail back to Vivec City.

We could all let out a collective sigh of relief.

Although Hlireni thanked me dearly for a job well done, she also expressed grave disappointment in not being able to recover Gambolpuddy by herself. It was always supposed to be her task, Sheogorath's mission to her, but she wasn't strong enough. Her willpower didn't allow her to slay the dragon, but none of that matters anymore. All's well that ends well!

As for the Mad God himself, he was delighted with me, saying he thoroughly enjoyed watching every second of it. He supposedly couldn't decide which entertained him more; the part where my single-digit-aged ass got unexpectedly raped or the part where I finally got to stick the Forky in the dragon's you-know-what. But no matter, the deed was done and performed to perfection nonetheless! He instructed me to present the Fork of Horripilation on the altar beneath his statue, and just as Oblivion had taken the Gambolpuddy, Oblivion took the fork. However, this wasn't the end. "I believe you deserve a reward", he said, presenting me with a weapon with a handle even taller than me. It was a five-pointed spear, and a damn pretty one at that, with several Daedric letters etched into its grey blade. Best of all, as I lifted it up, it felt as light as all of the daggers I've wielded in my life.

"Do not believe madness to be a curse, mortal", he then said in parting. "For some, it is the greatest of blessings! A bitter mercy, perhaps, but mercy nonetheless." That is the last I heard of him.

Now, this spear is obviously incredible, but can I fight with it? I've never put much thought into what kinds of weapons I'm good at. I've only ever used daggers, but considering I'm not that good with close-quarters combat using them, could I maybe try training with this? It would be a waste to let it gather dust in some trophy room, so perhaps I should diversify and expand my area of expertise…

Since Hlireni's job here is done, she will leave this place with her traveling circus. They'll set sail to the west, but whether they'll stop by somewhere or sail straight to Skyrim, even High Rock, she does not know. All she knows is that the party will continue on the high seas and that there's still lots of cheese and Sujamma to be had.

Now, all that's left is to notify Sinnammu and all of the Ahemmusa Tribe of our success, but even though I did most of the work here, that's going to be Aliya's duty. She seems to feel a little guilty about having me do all the heavy lifting this time around, but the way I see it, we are one. What she does for me and what I do for her, it's all the same as what we would do should we do it by ourselves, so for her to feel burdened or as if she has taken shortcuts, it's all misplaced. Friends help friends, and she's my best friend in the whole wide world!

As for what's next for me? Well, I'm dying to meet my dear brother. It's been like, what, a month since we've last seen each other? That's too long! Aliya misses him too, but feels like she can't leave as she still has work to do here on the east coast, and I know that's super important for her. I don't want to leave her behind either…

Whatever I'll decide, for now, I'll close with this: "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

• 18th Journal - Aryon's Plan (By Aliya)