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Fall from High Rock	By : mistressarachnia Category: +A through F > Elder Scrolls - Morrowind Views: 4940 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The Elder Scrolls universe belongs to Bethesda. Alyssa Elbert belongs to me. I make no money from writing about her adventures.

Chapter List
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Chapter
27: A Little Advice
�Hmm. So, you are looking to
increase your rank in both the Mage�s Guild and Great House Telvanni.
Interesting,� mused Tiram, pouring another drink for the young mage sitting
before him. Alyssa was becoming more accustomed to their secret meetings
in the room underneath the Black Shalk Cornerclub. Yet, something about
them always made her just a little nervous.
�You do realize that you will be
under more scrutiny from both factions if your rank increases
sufficiently? Something to keep in mind when navigating the political
landscape,� he continued. Alyssa took another sip of her sujamma, waiting
for the bite to dissipate and the pleasant aftertaste to take over. She
smiled politely.
�What rank do you currently hold in
the House?� asked Tiram.
�Retainer� soon to be Oathman,� she
replied.
�How soon?� he asked.
�I�m not sure. After I return
these books to Baladas Demnevanni in Gnisis, I was planning on returning to Sadrith
Mora and asking for additional chores,� she confessed.
�Baladas?� asked Tiram, his eyes
widening as he leaned forward inquisitively.
�Oh yes. My sister and he are
involved in some research collaboration or another, and when I tried to check
up on Edwinna, Baladas sent me out looking for some rare books. I had to
visit several different booksellers before I located two of them, and I�m quite
fortunate that my sister already had the third in her guildhall in Ald�ruhn or
else I might have been forced to trek through more Dwemer ruins,� she replied,
trying another sip of her drink. It was actually rather good, once you
got used to the initial bite.
�Edwinna Elbert is involved with
Baladas Demnevanni in a research collaboration?� asked Tiram again.
Alyssa blinked. The beverage was already starting to go to her head.
�Yes. Yes, that�s what I
said. Edwinna doesn�t even seem to really care that Baladas is
Telvanni. Although in all fairness, he doesn�t seem particularly
interested in her guild affiliations either,� answered Alyssa, �And neither of
them appears bothered by my duel allegiances.� Tiram smiled.
�How interesting,� he said finally,
a thoughtful look in his eyes.
�You do realize that Baladas
Demnevanni is a former Telvanni council member and to this day holds a very
high rank in the Great House?� he asked her.
�Yes, I think he mentioned that,�
answered Alyssa, swirling her drink in her cup as she smiled politely.
Tiram paused for a moment, looking contemplative.
�This could be� most convenient��
he mused, running one hand through his long black hair thoughtfully.
Alyssa looked surprised.
�Hmm? How so?� she asked,
clearly confused. Tiram smiled his odd little half smile, as though he
knew something she did not.
�Ah, there are deeper things at
work than you understand, my little one,� he told her finally, leaning closer
to his well-dressed young guest. She could almost feel his breath on her
skin.
�For you, it means that your little
errands for your sister and Baladas will likely earn you a glowing reputation
in the House. You have likely already earned the rank you seek. But
for others� hmm� let us only say for now that it will not go unnoticed,� he
said, fixing his glowing red eyes on her features, �I suggest you do your best
to keep Baladas happy� if your sister is not already doing so herself.� Alyssa
blushed, taking another gulp of her drink.
�If you mean�� she started, her
cheeks burning red, �Well, what I mean is� um� Well, I think Edwinna is
already� how do I put this�� Tiram laughed.
�Oh don�t worry, my dear. I
only meant that you should return his books and do whatever other� chores� he
might ask of you. But as for the rest� it is best not to forget what
resources one has available to use at their disposal,� he said, �For if you
want to rise to the top it is imperative that you use them all. And you,
little one� are young, beautiful, exotic, and� delicious.� Alyssa
blinked, feeling a little dizzy. She brought her hand to her head,
feeling her pulse quicken. The room suddenly felt far too hot, and she
struggled to loosen the ties of her blue velvet gown.
�Would you like me to pour you
another drink, my dear?� Tiram asked, taking her cup in his hand. Before
she could reply he had filled it, setting the goblet gracefully before
her. She smiled gratefully, her head spinning as she took another small
sip. It was good, but she would have to make it last longer this
time. But the sweet aftertaste made it hard to resist.
�I�m� I�m just wondering what sorts
of things I should be looking out for in the House. I mean, oh� But
you�re a high ranking Mages Guild member. You must know the differences
better than I. Is it just like here where we keep doing chores and
increasing our skills until someone notices us for a promotion?� she
asked. Tiram laughed softly under his breath.
�Some of this is similar. But
if you want to advance further you should stop looking to the mouths for chores
and start looking to the Telvanni masters themselves. It is customary in
Great House Telvanni to choose a patron � someone to sponsor you on your journey
through the ranks� if that is your ultimate goal, at least. But you will
have to choose wisely. Do not take this decision lightly. I cannot
emphasize this enough. Each potential patron is very different, and each
offers you a different lifestyle and skill set to learn from,� Tiram advised,
leaning back causally to watch her reaction.
�Each of the Mouths� they are in
the employ of a patron? Would I then have to stay at the Sadrith Mora
Council Hall all of the time?� she asked. Tiram laughed softly.
�Oh, my dear Alyssa, you are not so
near the rank of Mouth that you need concern yourself with these things.
Not yet. But it is never too early to align yourself with a patron,� he
added, a pleased smirk crossing his lips.
�Alright. Whom do you
recommend then?� she asked, pulling at the plunging neckline of her dress to
let more air through. Why was it so hot in here? Tiram laughed.
�I can tell you better who I do not
recommend. Mistress Therana of Tel Branora was driven insane a great many
years ago. I am unsure as to the circumstances. But I can tell you
that she is a complete madwoman. No one will replace her only because she
is also a master of destruction. She can be very deadly, and many in her
employ have been driven nearly as mad as she is. Others have not
survived,� Tiram answered her smugly.
�Well, that sounds like a definite
no. Fascinating, though. Who else is there to choose from, if you
don�t mind my asking?� she asked politely. Tiram smiled.
�Master Neloth of Tel Naga in Sadrith
Mora is convenient to access, but this is virtually all that is �convenient�
about him. He was always arrogant, rude, and bitter, but has grown even
more so in his old age. He collects trinkets and treasures, and conducts
his research in solitude. I am not sure what he researches � he is quite
secretive about it and you are unlikely to be used as anything other than a
footstool in his employ,� Tiram continued, �Likewise our Archmagister Gothren
of Tel Aruhn is also famous for being difficult to work with. He isn�t as
bluntly rude as Neloth though� he�s simply� nonpresent. It is difficult
to describe. I assume he researches the daedra � he keeps two Dremora
bodyguards. He was the student of the former Archmagister, and his deadra
research eventually destroyed him. Gothren is distant and
unfocused. He is famous for his indecision and procrastination. He
is likely to ignore you entirely. Furthermore, since he is unpopular, it
is generally unwise to align yourself with such a man.�
�Oh I agree,� said Alyssa, taking
another sip of sujamma, �I do hope that there are some better options in the
Great House.�
�Indeed. There is also
Mistress Dratha of Tel Mora � an island completely populated by women.
She does not allow men to set foot on her island and hates the male sex with a
fiery passion. I cannot tell you much more about her as a result.
Although this fact in itself would not affect you personally, I also happen to
know that her research involves the practice of necromancy. Necromancy is
abhorred in much of Morrowind, yet many of the Telvanni practice it openly,�
Tiram added. Alyssa smiled.
�Yes, I always found that a bit
hypocritical. I mean, for all their talk of hating necromancy, the Dunmer
seem to have no problem resurrecting their own dead to guard their tombs or
summoning the spirits of their ancestors to fuel the ghost fence,� she
said. Tiram stared at her, looking a bit surprised.
�In High Rock, necromancy was
practiced openly. It was considered a perfectly legitimate
profession. Of course, I never practiced it myself, but I�ve known
several necromancers in my day. Some of them were great mages,� she
continued, savoring the taste of the liquor on her tongue, �But I
digress. Are there any more potential patrons in House Telvanni?�
�Most interesting. Yes, in
fact. There is the youngest of the Telvanni councilors, Master Aryon of
Tel Vos, just across from Tel Mora. He�s by far the most open-minded of
the councilors and has a fondness for certain aspects of Imperial
culture. A pretty Breton woman may have a certain advantage. Aryon
is the former student of Divayth Fyr, and is the most politically minded of the
councilors. He desires to improve the standing of all of Great House
Telvanni.�
�But might that� hmm, it suddenly
seems so warm in here� hmm, yes� might that come into conflict with the
interests of the Mages Guild?� asked Alyssa innocently. Her vision was
starting to play tricks on her. For a moment she thought she could see
Malcus, standing in a mushroom tower. But the image was soon gone.
She blinked.
�That depends on how well you
manage the two factions, as I have told you previously. But I can help
you with that,� he told her, watching her carefully as she ran her hand across
her brow, her face flushed. Every rapid breath she took caused her chest
to rise and fall gracefully, highlighting her exposed d�colletage.
�Yes, oh, you are too wonderful to
be true! I don�t know how I could ever manage without you,� she said,
leaning forward to rest both arms on the table. Tiram smiled, bringing
one hand up to rest his chin on his hand.
�Hmm. Don�t worry my dear� I
feel this relationship is likely to become� mutually beneficial,� he said with
a smug smile.
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Fall from High Rock