VII - A Test of Wisdom

Fen lived two full days among the Skaal after the death of Rigmor Halfhand, most of her time spent sitting across from Korst Wind-Eye and listening to him speak. He told her that the small blue men she had encountered were called Rieklings, and that they were thought to have descended from Falmer, ancient snow-elves that used to inhabit Solstheim and Skyrim.

VI - The Water Stone

Sorry again about the delay ;_; I had a very busy past couple of weeks, but things should be quieting down now. Thanks for your patience!

The following morning was grey and silent as Fen packed the tent away and started northwest along the Iggnir River, following her map toward the Tree Stone. It had snowed lightly during the night, and the powdered grass crunched under Fen’s boots as she walked.

V - The Warmth of the Sun

So sorry about the delay! I was planning on being home earlier last night. Enjoy today's chapter!

PS - happy birthday to Skyrim!

2 years, wow!

Hey everybody! You may have missed it (I certainly did), but Out of Mournhold's second birthday was on October 17th! It is really strange to think that this story I started working on three years ago because I was bored has turned into something like this.

I just wanted to thank you guys again for reading - it really means a lot to me that so many people look forward to updates on Fen's journey, even though they've probably played the game many times and know how it will play out. I love sharing my character and her story with you, and I am so grateful to have such lovely people following it.

OoM is definitely drawing toward a close, as we are in the final expansion pack for Morrowind. Fen's story will be done after Solstheim, but I have a few more projects in the works that you may be interested in. I will update with more info when we get closer to the end of OoM, which will most likely be in the spring of next year.

Anyway, hope you guys had a great weekend and enjoyed Saturday's chapter. As always, thanks for reading and sticking around with Fen and me for two whole years!!

Celestina

PS - stay safe this week if you're on the east coast!

IV - The Wind Stone

By the following morning, the blizzard had subsided into a dim, grey morning. Fen left the hunting lodge and found that, while the snow on the ground was deep, the Skaal had risen early to go about their business. Now she could see the intricate wooden carvings on the sides of the houses, the well where tightly-bundled children collected water for their families, the curls of smoke that rose from chimneys and up into the grim sky. People were not lingering outside long save for the guards, men that wore Nordic armour and patrolled the village borders with one hand always on the pommel of their blades. They glanced up at Fen as she passed, but remained silent, though she could feel their gazes on her back as she descended the hill atop which the village was perched.

III - Pale World

It was the screaming that awoke her.

Fen’s eyes opened suddenly, and she heard them filling the night air, high and shrieking. There was a sound like stone crumbling, and the canvas of Fen’s tent whispered as something raced past it, toward the forest.

II - Jewel of Absolutely Nowhere

“Many would argue that her madness lessened any greatness she had,” Queen Barenziah said, taking a serene sip of wine and setting the cup down with a small clink upon the tiled table. Fen absentmindedly swilled the dark drink in her own goblet. Almalexia was mad, she thought to herself.

I - Pointless

 A couple things:

1) I'm sorry this chapter is a day late! I was pretty sick yesterday and wasn't able to post it.

2) This chapter is where my vision of Morrowind and Mournhold especially begin to deviate slightly from the game. Nothing major, but just keep it in mind as you read. Thanks!

A young Dunmer woman reading a dirty broadsheet lowered it slowly, grim-faced. She leaned back, rubbing her eyes and letting her head rest on the back of the couch she was curled upon. She heard the door open, and she looked up.

Prologue

The signs were troubling.

An aging man pored over the cracked plate of shredded leaves and crushed berries, mixed with bonemeal in a mortar and spread out over the surface of the clay. He had read the signs for years as they showed him coming storms, a successful hunt, a rot that would take many trees from the forests around the village. He listened to the words the wind carried to him, whispers of Imperial sails in the south and soft-handed men striding ashore, mutterings of the strife that wracked the great continent far below. But those things were far from them, and he paid them little mind.

Guys!

Part Three starts on Saturday!

Are you excited?

I'm excited!

See you soon!

this is not related to anything

but a reader just sent me this:

(slight Skyrim TG spoiler)

I hadn't realised Karliah was Barenziah's granddaughter too, haha. I suppose that means they're cousins? Maybe if Fen's still around in 200+ years they can hang out.

Thanks Steven! :)

Update: Bloodmoon expansion

Update below :)

XXII - Grim Advice

There was still much to do. Fen spent the next few weeks at the Guildhall in Vivec, taking care of all the business she had neglected during her time in Mournhold, finishing by tendering her resignation as Arch-Mage to Skink-In-Tree’s-Shade.

XXI - Return to Mournhold

White light enveloped the centre of the platform. The Hands of Almalexia standing around it suddenly straightened, lowered their eyes in the position of attention and respect. When the light cleared, none of them looked up to see that it was not their goddess that had returned, but rather a young woman, standing silently in the middle of Almalexia’s platform, her robe charred and torn and covered in muck and blood. Her skin was scratched and bleeding, her hair tangled and matted with sweat, every inch of her body aching. Upon her belt hung Trueflame and Hopesfire, the twin blades. The Mazed Band rested on her finger beside Moon-and-Star. And in her arms she carried a clay jar, sealed at the top. Silently, Fen passed the silent Hands and walked through the reception chamber, ignoring the stares of the priests and Ordinators there.

XX - The Mad God

Fen lowered Trueflame slowly, unable to look at Sotha Sil’s mangled face any longer. Julan was standing just behind her, his mouth open and his face twisted in horror. Fen seized his arm.

“We have to get out of here,” she said frantically, her voice hoarse. Before Julan could respond, there was a sudden roar of flames from the door. Fen and Julan turned, and the gold flames died away, leaving a familiar figure standing in their midst. Fen’s eyes widened.

XIX - The Clockwork City

Almalexia’s eyes seemed to flash as Fen drew Trueflame from her belt. The fire reflected in the goddess’s golden eyes and her face was lit by a sort of manic joy.

XVIII - Trueflame

Fen wasn’t sure how to spend the next two days. There wasn’t much to do in the city itself, seeing as nearly everyone had deserted the outdoors while the ashstorm raged. She ended up spending most of her time in her room at the Winged Guar, replacing potions she’d used up recently in between reading The Real Barenziah.

About The Elder Scrolls: Online...

Just wanted to offer a quick post to clarify a few things:

• I won't be writing any kind of post like I did for Skyrim analyzing information about TESO
• I don't really like MMOs
• I probably won't play TESO

I don't want to rifle a lot of feathers, but I am very disappointed in Todd and the decision he's made by going in this direction. It's very sad that a series as groundbreaking as TES has to go this way. The series started to die after Morrowind, imo. So main focus will pretty much be Morrowind from here on out.

Sorry about the interruption in the usual broadcast, just wanted to clear that up. I have a very busy weekend ahead so please do not be confused if this week's chapter is a bit late.

If you want full details on my stance against the Elder Scrolls MMO just shoot me an email, I'd be happy to chat about it.

Celestina

Happy birthday again!

First of all, I somehow manged to miss Fen's birthday on April 14th! Happy belated birthday, Fen, you're great.

Second of all, I would like to wish an on-time happy birthday to Morrowind itself. Morrowind has provided me with over seven years of entertainment, and I can't even begin to describe how much the game means to me. When things in my life were very uncertain, Morrowind was always the place I could go to lose myself for a few hours and focus on this beautiful fantasy world where I could be anything I wanted. Through Morrowind I've grown tremendously as a person and the closest I will ever be to putting my gratitude into words is this story. Thank you all again so much for reading and I hope you will continue to do so. Morrowind means the world to me, and I hope I've been able to make you fall in love with it as much as I have.

Thanks for everything.

Celestina

XVII - The Blade of Nerevar

I sincerely apologise for the lack of an update last week. Real life got in the way again. We should be back to normal from here up until the end of Tribunal. Enjoy!

* * *

Silence pressed against Fen’s ears as she climbed the stairs to Almalexia’s platform. The goddess watched her serenely, a faint, knowing smile on her face, her hands held out with her palms pointed skyward. “It is time we talked of greater things,” she said when Fen had told her of Valor’s death. Without even a thought for him, Fen thought angrily. Almalexia went on, “I have watched you since your arrival in Vvardenfell, dear Fen, and you have been a strong and faithful servant to me. None but the Nerevarine could have succeeded as you have.” Her eyes fluttered open and Fen gazed steadily back at her. “How long I have waited for this!” she cried suddenly, a gentle smile breaking across her face. “My Nerevar, returned to me at last! I have watched from my Temple as others have made the claim, and I have seen them fall. I believe now that you are the one who was prophesied!”

XVI - A Missing Hand

“I am well-pleased, good and faithful servant,” Almalexia said, lightly pressing the flats of her hands together and smiling serenely at Fen from beneath her long, dark lashes. “My people look upon the elements, and see there written a divine testament to my lordship. Did ever any other god display such dominion over the earth and sky? But now...with a heavy heart, I must lay a sad burden upon you. I bid you bring the peace of understanding to my Missing Hand.

XV - The Weather Witch

Almalexia was nothing short of livid when Fen relayed Romari’s explanation to her. The goddess’s brow furrowed and her muscles tensed, and the moment Fen had finished Almalexia closed her long-lashed eyes as if she were about to scream.

XIV - The End of Times

“You will let me fight this one alone, won’t you?” Fen said to Julan early the next morning as they departed the Winged Guar. “It’s just like the duel with Venim, they won’t take me seriously if you help.”

“How hard is this Karrod going to be for you to fight?”

XIII - The Plot

Fen did not look down, but neither did she look directly at her father. She had seen enough petition days to know that no average citizen of Mournhold was brave enough to stare the king straight on, regardless of how faithful they were to Almalexia. Instead, she kept her eyes carefully trained at the hem of his robe, her breath warm inside the scarf.

XII - The Day of Lights

She emerged out of the Temple into dazzling afternoon sun, and for a moment Fen had to stand and admire the sheer beauty of the city. Trees covered with pink flowers lined the courtyard, and the sweeping green marble walls shone with resplendent light as the sun struck them. The air was sweet and pleasantly cool, gently rustling the flowers in the trees and making the banners that hung around the Temple’s doorway flutter halfheartedly. Fen slowly descended the sweeping marble stairs to where Julan waited.

XI - Almalexia

The sun had just risen when Fen and Julan set off into the sewers for what she hoped was the last time. Hler had told them that the Mazed Band could be found in a passage underneath the Temple that had just been cleared, so they traversed through the familiar dark tunnels until they found the passage he had indicated. They met little in the way of opposition – two or three liches and several oversized rats, but nothing overly threatening.

X - The Shrine of the Dead

Fedris Hler greeted them with the same curiously unsettling grin when they delivered the news of the goblin army.