Traveling through The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

I have met both of those old witches. Although in the game, the crow hags all look similar, they can still be distinguished in the other world. Esmerelda is younger than her old rival Moira, about thirty-five years old. It is said that she is a relatively open-minded person, and her disciples are not limited to the Reach people. Over the years, she has gathered a group of good seedlings and sent two to serve under her father.

I haven't had much communication with her, so I'm not sure what her temperament is like. But I'm quite familiar with Moira. According to my observation and the information provided by Lund, the current female chief is incompetent. She lacks the ability to govern and the strength to lead troops, but she is stubborn and arrogant. The current mess of the Snake Cliff Ridge tribe is closely related to the incompetence of the leader.

Judging from the fact that both sides are fighting for control of the tribe, Esmerelda is also an ambitious person. If we can make good use of this matter and support a new chief who is capable and not conservative, it doesn't seem to be a completely bad thing, right?

I knocked off the foam from the ribs while they were being blanched, and whispered my plan. The old fox was silent for half a minute before he sighed.

"This Moira was originally just a stopgap measure. I was planning to promote Helgi in the future. Unfortunately, the girl was captured and her life or death is uncertain. Although I dare not say it for sure, I still have to remind you that we have signed a contract with the current patriarch. If the person is replaced, I am afraid that the conditions agreed upon before will have to be reconsidered. Besides, the most taboo for people in charge of a place is to break their promises. Before you make any decision, you must consider all aspects of the impact."

I scooped up a piece of lard and threw it into the pot, then cut two pieces of onion and garlic and stir-fried them with the ribs.

"I understand. Thank you for your advice, sir."

The old fox waved his front paws.

"When you get there, you can no longer consult with me at any time. You can handle things as appropriate. But any decision you make is on behalf of the Council of Falkreath. No matter what your decision is, we will do our best to support it. I just hope that you don't make things too difficult for everyone."

Do you really think of me as a provincial governor? The hard days of being harassed and constrained by Nanya are finally over! Cut the potatoes into small pieces, rush into the boiling soup pot with laughter, and embrace the ribs that have been waiting for a long time.

Danger came to visit at dinner time, so naturally he had to have a meal.

Irina's eyelashes trembled when she heard that they had to take a boat. Lei Mei immediately comforted her and said that since we occupied the Howling Wind Bastion and opened up the Guanhu Farm, several ports have been set up on the south bank of the lake. The ships do not cross the lake, but sail along the shore, so safety is not a problem. They stayed at home to pack their luggage, and then waited at the port north of the Howling Wind Bastion, which could save two days.

Lydia and I had a quarrel a while ago, and she sneaked back to Whiterun under the pretext of investigating Satia. Of course I know that she just took the opportunity to take a break, and I'm afraid she would inevitably complain about me in front of her girlfriends. As for the whereabouts of the Red Guard woman, an outsider who worked in an inn and part-time as a prostitute was just an ant among the countless people in Skyrim. It's been so long, where can I start to investigate?

If Lai Mei didn't mention it, I wouldn't ask. Anyway, it was Masinisa who was looking for someone. At present, she seemed to be in a good mood and got along well with Irina. The two of them often chatted together. Most of the time, Lai Mei was dancing and talking, while Irina smiled quietly and occasionally said a word or two.

After lunch with the old fox, I took Stein and Lucia to Guanhu Farm. When Lund was away, Lucia was the housekeeper and the only person around me who was proficient in calculations. This girl was only twelve years old on her birthday this year, but she was much more stable than the older Helgi. The experience of being betrayed by her relatives in her childhood caused an incurable trauma, causing her to often worry about gains and losses. She tried every day to prove her value, but she didn't dare to ask for rewards.

Before leaving, Donna carried Irina on her back and held my hand to give me some instructions.

"My dear child, I am so happy that you have made it. The only thing I am worried about is the discord between you and your wife. These days, I have also noticed that your father-in-law has cheated you of your property, and you are angry. But this property is not taken by Irina, what's the point of bullying her? I think she is also a sensible child, and she knows what you have paid. If you lose this property, you can buy it again, but if your heart is broken, no amount of money can heal it. Treat her well, and she will be sincere to you in return. Isn't it good to have someone who understands you and is with you?"

That's true. But that woman always looked stern to me, which was really annoying. I was absent-minded and just wanted to rush to Guanhu Farm as soon as possible to receive the supplies.

The materials delivered to Granite Village were personally supervised by Nanya's chief steward to ensure both quality and quantity. Lucia and I spent two days counting and accepting them, while Stein was sent back to inform Irina and Lemei to set off.

Because we were sailing on an inland lake, the transport ships were powered by oars, and each ship had 40 oarsmen, shouting and sweating. I stood at the bow, full of confidence, and in the corner of my eye, Irina sat on the side of the boat with a handkerchief on her knees. It was a rag doll that was burned at the wedding, and now it was mixed with some petals. She solemnly picked up a handful of ashes and sprinkled them on the sparkling lake water.

Is this... Daiyu burying flowers?

"If it's your favorite thing, why burn it? Can't you just find something else to fool around with?"

I'm not giving in! I promised Donna that I would live a good life, so I came to coax her and give her a way out.

"I don't have anything else, and I can't fool around with my own wedding."

This woman is so tactless! I felt so embarrassed and didn't know what to say. Irina wiped her tears and threw away the last bit of ash. She stared at the lake blankly and sighed.

"Your Excellency, do you know that before I was seven years old, my name was Emilia."

"Then why did you..."

"Because my mother was drowned in Lake Irina. That person also changed my name to Irina, the illegitimate daughter, so that I would always remember my identity. The rag doll is a relic left to me by my mother. I had no idea that she would let me burn it with my own hands!"

Irina covered her face and cried bitterly.

I am most afraid of girls crying, and I was at a loss for what to do, so I patted her back gently, and Irina leaned on my shoulder. I could probably guess who the "that person" she was talking about was.

"Who is this sow? I don't think she even gives face to Lord Danger."

Irina was stunned for a moment before she realized who the "sow" I was talking about was.

"Her name is Stuna."

One of the reasons why we don't have a good relationship is that she always says half of the things she wants to say and leaves the other half. Just like now, she said a name and shut up, as if that was the answer. Whose couple needs to think about their private conversations? If you don't want to talk, forget it. Your husband will hug you and talk to you.

"The eldest daughter of each generation of the Stuhn family is called Stuna, and the second daughter is called Stunia."

After an awkward silence, Irina finally revealed the answer herself. For a long time, Falkreath was occupied by the Korovians from Cyrodiil and was deeply influenced by the imperial culture. Adding letters after the surname is also a common naming method for imperial noble women, similar to the Zhang family in ancient China.

According to her, there was only one woman in Danger's life, who was a few years older than the old fox. In this case, it was no wonder that Mrs. Ganglie was so domineering. My father-in-law was not a strong man, so he showed off his power to his own maid. Irina didn't know how much trouble her birth caused. Although she was discriminated against because she had no father when she was young, in general, the pressure was mainly on her mother Sylvia.

When she was seven years old, Silvia became pregnant again. The furious Lady Gangli sent her men to tie the whore to a stone and throw her into Lake Irinata in front of Irina, and used the burial place as the name of her daughter. But the sow kept Irina alive, as if to remind her husband at all times what the price of indulgence would be.

Murder, but also punish!

Irina's life was worse than death. Beating and scolding were commonplace, and the most terrible thing was that she was always called "illegitimate daughter" before her name. The little girl, who was less than ten years old, could not fully understand this word, but she also knew the humiliation it meant. She was too young to resist, and the tragic sight of her mother sinking into the lake tormented her day and night.

Sylvia knew she was doomed, so she left Irina a rag doll she had made herself. This crude doll replaced her mother and barely comforted her daughter who was haunted by nightmares. When she received this doll at the wedding, she still had a glimmer of hope in her heart. And I triumphantly sprayed a chain of fire from my fingertips, burning this hope to ashes.

Irina confessed that in her eyes, my smiling face was hideous and terrifying, as if I was the same person who killed her mother. Coupled with my cold attitude, she hated and feared me and almost wanted to commit suicide. It was only with the guidance of Donna and Lai Mei that she mustered up the courage to live a miserable life.

The short narrative was torn into pieces by sobs. I looked at her pale face, worried that the woman might faint at any time.

"The wind is blowing. Let's go back to the cabin."

Seeing me stand up, Lai Mei and Stein, who were hiding on the other side of the boat, quickly turned their heads and pretended to appreciate the scenery of the lake and mountains.

With the nourishment of wine, Irina's face gradually regained color, but I didn't intend to let her recall that painful time again.

"Then how did you escape to Markarth?"

Irina spent her childhood in a dark cellar, and it is obvious that her current temperament is acquired.

"How can I, a little girl who is not liked by anyone, escape?"

One day three years later, Irina was led out of the cellar to meet her father and mistress. As usual, she numbly gave her humiliating name, not caring at all that there were strange guests sitting in the room.

"Now that I think about it, Sister Hamar was like the Holy Spirit, so dignified and noble. Compared to her, I am just a bug in the soil..."

The priestess came to inform Baron Sengard that according to the divination results, his daughter would become the new prophet of the Temple of Dibella. The purpose of her trip was to bring the girl to Markarth.

This was a happy event for everyone. The Baron had long disliked Irina as an eyesore. This lowly creature was not only a stain on his morality, but also ironclad evidence that he was controlled by his wife. The 10-year-old girl looked very much like her mother. When Mrs. Ganglie saw this face, she was furious and could not help but throw things around to vent her anger. In addition to Irina, who "deserved it", others were also inevitably implicated.

Since we can send this plague god away, why not do it? Besides, although Dibella is called the goddess of beauty and art, I'm afraid everyone knows what kind of person she is underneath the glamor. In the mythology of the Nords, she is the mistress of the main god Shul. And in the human province of Skyrim, nine out of ten women who work in some kind of service industry are under her banner.

Mrs. Ganglie thought that Irina deserved to be sent to the Temple of Dibella. When she thought about this annoying girl who would only be able to put on makeup and stand by the door in the future, her fat body was so excited that she was about to boil. Of course, Irina didn't know these details at that time. She was scolded again in a daze, and followed Hamar in a daze, leaving the hellish fortress - her former home.

For the next fifteen years, she lived in the Dibella Temple, fulfilling her duties as a prophet: communicating with the gods and presiding over ceremonies. During this period, she received a complete set of temple education, from literacy to calligraphy and painting, and even various divine arts, as well as etiquette training. Life in the temple was not hard, and the priests did not work, but they still had to take care of their own housework, so Irina would do a lot of odd jobs.

When she talked about this time which seemed like a new life, she was in high spirits and her eyes were full of sparkles.

"So you are a wizard too?"

"I used to be. Although most priests serve the Holy Spirit for life, I am not the first one to leave the temple halfway. The scriptures record a complete set of exit procedures that can deprive me of my divine power. Because I haven't actually done it for many years, there was a small mistake in the middle. It hurts a lot, but I can still cast some simple restoration spells now."

Irina lowered her eyes and spoke in a flat tone.

"If you refuse this marriage, no one can do anything to you."

"The temple is unwilling to offend the nobles unless it has to."

The church is a transcendent force. Even though Skyrim is in chaos, the tithes from all territories are collected. These taxes are collected at the Holy Spirit Temple in Solitude, and then distributed to the churches of the Holy Spirit according to a certain ratio. Considering that the church has already lost a large amount of income due to the abolition of the belief in Talos, if the Lord of Falkreath is angered at this time, causing the other party to resist the tax, no one can bear the responsibility.

Even though Irina was already a high-ranking priestess, she was still abandoned by the Temple of Dibella.

For this inexplicable marriage, she was forced to return to the murderer of her mother. In the months of waiting for the wedding, Mrs. Gangli and her two sons took turns to ridicule Irina, saying that she was about to marry a rude and barbaric bandit. At the wedding, I burned her mother's only relic and strangled her severely on the wedding night.

"I'm sorry, I really am. If it were me, I would probably take advantage of my husband's drunkenness and stab him in the heart."

I stroked Irina's hair.

"I thought about that..."

Oh...ah?

"…But I didn't dare. I saw you throw a fish on the chopping board, knock it unconscious with the back of a knife, and then gut it. Your technique was so quick and neat. I thought at the time that you must be a demon who kills without blinking an eye."

According to you, all chefs in the world are evil.

Irina sighed.

"I guess this is my destiny."