#mareenavee

[crimsonsairina]

Click image above for friend's amazing and cathartic Elder Scrolls fanfiction, The World on Our Shoulders.

Much thanks to @mareenavee for writing this amazing story and sharing her insights. It's a joy and a privilege to be given these insights into your thought process.

Screenshot by @paraparadigm

[oblivions-dawn]

SENU! :D 🫂 Some Skyrim Favorites asks?

How about 1, 3, 9, 14 and 15?

Hi!!!! And of course I am always happy to answer asks heheheheh [which anyone else can find here if they wish to ask!!]

✑ Favorite character build?

I'm a stealth archer through and through. Sometimes I change it up and have a sword in one hand and healing/explosions in the other, but for the most part? Stealth archer. I just can't go back dfklgjldgkf

✑ Favorite Daedric artifact?

OOOOOO!! Mehrunes' Razor! . . . First because it's super cool looking, and second because I always give it to Serana as a token of my affection, and third because it ends up in my fic, teehee.

✑ Favorite school of magicka?

Conjuration, I think! Bound weapons are just . . . so so cool. Uagh. They're all awesome in their own ways, though. I like Illusion as well! And Destruction, of course. And Restoration. Wait a minute . . .

✑ Favorite Daedric prince?

It's Sheogorath all the way. I love that guy. But I also love Nocturnal. I blame the Shivering Isles DLC for my sway to Sheogorath, although I do love meeting the guy in Skyrim as well. I like someone that can make me laugh, what can I say.

✑ Favorite Divine?

Ooooooo. This one's a little more tricky! I'm definitely more of a Daedra than a Divine person . . . buuuut. I think Arkay is my favourite. After all, what's not to like about the God of Death?

[crimsonsairina]

I received this beautiful, squee-worthy birthmas (my birthmas was the 15th, for those wondering)/jul art present from the amazing and wonderful @changelingsandothernonsense Here be beautiful art of not-vanilla Brynjolf, currently under the magic of the replacer made by Han Shot First. (Mad props to those who prefer him as his vanilla self, I just really like this replacer myself.)

Some videos from Han featuring this version of Bryn:

SPOILERS - Immersive Features - Kaidan and Brynjolf

This is what you get for never making time for me Brynjolf

The Fratpack Doesn't Like Brynjolf

I also recieved a birthmas present, some time ago, from @mareenavee, but I'm re-sharing it because sharing is caring:

You're Never in the Dark (Brynjolf/female original character)

More Brynjolf goodness, by @rainpebble3:

When Brynjolf Got Stuck in the Chimney (exactly what the title says it is, not a birthmas present but a Secret Santa)

More Secret Santas (not for me), because 'tis the season to read TES fanfic:

The Spirit of Saint Saturio by @rhiannon1199

The Very Spirit of This Place by @mareenavee

Light Under Water by @archangelsunited

Lastly, as the "raisin in the sausage" as we say in Norway, a music video tribute to King Baldwin IV from Kingdom of Heaven, made by my dear friend, @aurianavaloria:

Kingdom of Heaven: Baldwin IV Tribute - Legendary

[oblivions-dawn]

HI! Skyrim Ask Game, but answer in character for Vigdis and/or Serana! Eldergleam + Ruin!

HEEHEEHOOHOO this is where the fun begins

✑ Describe your favorite obscure location in Skyrim.

Serana folded her arms, a thoughtful look painted on her pale features. "Is the Vale obscure enough? Does that count?" she asked with a slight smile. "Specifically that first step out of the cave and onto the cliff that overlooks the misty valley. Or the snowy mountain pass that opens to a river just below the glacial wall." She paused for a moment. "There was also the patch of gleamblossoms just outside of the portal. I can't explain just how gorgeous something looks after being lost in Darkfall Cave forever. I think I appreciated the Vale a little more because of that."

✑ Is there anywhere in Skyrim you refuse to enter? Why?

"No." Vigdis' bushy red brows dipped further towards her icy eyes, thoroughly annoyed by the question. "I'll go wherever I fucking please."

[oblivions-dawn]

Ask game time!

❣️ Share a single sentence from each of your WIPs that you think best describes your emotional state at this current point in time.

Well I only have the one WIP so . . .

[...] Like a phantom limb, her father’s fingers crushed her throat; his claws pierced her skin; the arrow in her hand sunk into his chest. [...]

Ah wait. I lied. I have a slightly spicier sentence to share from a different non-canon WIP [that's in limbo indefinitely because I'm trying TO FOCUS]

[...] Serana brushed her own soft mouth against the back of her pale hand—and her mind unravelled.

You can always count on Senu to be caught somewhere between heart-wrenching angst and suggestively spicy at all times

[elfinismsarts]

HELLO :D

Fanfic questions!

What would have happened if Firien hadn't found out she was the LDB? What sort of character arc might she have gone through without that sort of huge destiny weighing on her? Do you think she'd be the person she is now where you're currently writing with that sort of supernatural push to be other than she was before?

tysm for the thought-provoking ask, beloved!! Sorry it's taken me a min to respond- I have had no energy for tumblr lately (am literally only here to answer this and one other ask I've been neglecting) and the server keeps me going as far as TES consumption 😂

I think that her character arc would have progressed the same way due to the reasons behind her progression, but much much more slowly. Her development was widely contributed to by the power of her Thu'um and the devastation she realizes can be wrought by Shouting.

"I wouldn't expect anything else," said Vilkas heavily. The sadness in her voice had him casting around for another topic. "But let's not worry about that for the moment. How are you? Did you find all the Shouts?"

"Not quite." She looked at him then, and he was pleased to see she was smiling slightly. Just a barely noticeable uplift of the corner of her mouth, but a smile nonetheless. "But enough for me to decide to come home."

Vilkas nodded, and Firien turned her gaze away again, watching as the white raven she had befriended swooped down before them, reminding him of a ghost in the darkness. A gentle breeze picked up, cold, but not enough to make him want to stray away from this moment. He decided he would let her steer the conversation. He also watched as the raven banked on the wind, allowing it to carry him higher in the sky, toward the thick, fluffy clouds that were just barely visible in the moonslight.

Sure enough, it only took a few moments of silence for her to speak again.

"It is likely I am more powerful than anyone should ever be," she said quietly, her gaze still on the raven. "My ambitions may have been too much. I feel... wrong for knowing as much as I do now. These Shouts... many of them are not to be trifled with, Vilkas."

"Care to explain?"

She shrugged, a brief lift of her shoulders and nothing more. "One of them allows me to tear the souls from lesser beings, even those human who have 'weaker' souls than others. Paarthurnax explained that if I have a soul gem on my person when using it, the soul will be trapped within, otherwise I am not sure what happens with it. I learned what it did the hard way, however. I have never used it since. Nor will I ever carry a soul gem. My place in this world is not to keep the souls of others, least of all when I can barely manage my own."

—Chapter Seven (Plight of the Harbinger) of Blood of the Wolf

The understanding that no one should ever hold as much power as she does is what heavily contributes to her character arc. The fear of consequence of what her Thu'um can do is enough to keep her hesitating and to keep her wondering how much of her is actually her, and how much is being influenced by her dragon blood (even though her emotions often get the best of her). Without it, despite her love for Tahir, Vilkas, and Farkas, she likely would have progressed a lot more slowly.

Not only that, but facing Alduin was spurred by her love for them and the realization of just how deep for them runs is what gave her the courage to face him. The two very much influenced each other and grew from each other, so without Alduin, I think it would have taken her a lot longer to realize just how much she cares for them, delaying her desire to be better for them as well.

I hope this answered your questions a bit! I'm struggling to articulate exactly what I want to say here, so I hope this makes sense 😅 and thank you for asking! I love thinking about stuff like this!

[elfinismsarts]

Asks for you as well!

Writerly kinds (:

What are some of the hardest types of scenes to write in your opinion? How do you tackle them -- any kind of strategy or planning involved?

On the other hand, what is your favorite thing to write? What makes that part of the process your favorite?

When you're reading -- be it fic or novels or whatever else -- what tends to catch your attention? Does this translate back into your own writing?

And lastly, how do you feel about your current project? How does writing make you feel in general?

Thank you so much!!! These are some real thought-turners!

What are some of the hardest types of scenes to write in your opinion? How do you tackle them -- any kind of strategy or planning involved?

For me, the hardest types of scenes to write are the ones that contain emotional reactions to things I've never experienced. I pride myself on portrayal of emotion so I try my best to take it seriously when it's something I've never experienced before. Of course, these scenes are plentiful in a fic that takes place in a medieval fantasy war in which there's a war going on.

I don't really plan or strategize when writing these scenes, I kind of just write them out and after I'm done, I will try and look up firsthand accounts of people who have gone through something similar and edit/adjust accordingly. Then, I read them back to myself and try to picture it as though watching a show or a movie and attempt to get a feel for how it will hit that way. If all else fails, I ask for a proofread or second opinion from one of my friends!

On the other hand, what is your favorite thing to write? What makes that part of the process your favorite?

DIALOGUE!!! I love writing dialogue of all kinds, especially banter and romance. It's my favorite part because it's a fun way to let the reader get the know the character and also a fun way to build relationships between characters. I really enjoy using dialogue to explore how characters would react to certain situations and, more importantly, to each other.

When you're reading -- be it fic or novels or whatever else -- what tends to catch your attention? Does this translate back into your own writing?

Similarly to above, dialogue really catches my attention. It's such a key part to getting to know characters and exploring the world and setting. I have cinema brain, so the more I can picture something being said the way it would be viewed in a movie or tv show, the better it hits for me.

I don't usually translate others' dialogue into my writing, but I can't deny that there haven't been influences from things I've read! A lot of the way Firien speaks to Farkas in particular has been inspired by specific lines from Arya from The Inheritance Cycle. I will also absolutely drop references and Easter eggs into my fic as well, just because it's a fun thing to do!

And lastly, how do you feel about your current project? How does writing make you feel in general?

My current project, Blood of the Wolf, is my baby. I'm having a lot of fun exploring so many real life themes through a medieval fantasy medium and putting my characters to the test as a result. It's always just been something I do for fun, but I'm also viewing it as "practice" of sorts for an original novel I'm working on, though it's still in the very early stages of planning and worldbuilding. Writing its predecessor, Blood of the Dragon, really opened my eyes to just how much I love writing. I've never written anything seriously prior to, and I was surprised to learn how naturally it came to me and how much fun I had with it.

Writing is in part a coping mechanism while also being a relaxing hobby that both inspires me and presents problems for me to solve! It makes me feel productive and also accomplished, even when I'm feeling frustrated with it. No matter what, at the end of the day, I'm creating something and putting myself out there and there's really no way to view that negatively.

[elfinismsarts]

For the summer OC ask thing, author's pick! Whichever someone else hadn't asked yet!

aaaaaa tysm!!! I went with 👀 because it pertains to a v important part of Firien's character

👀 - Does your OC believe they are attractive? Do they use that to their advantage?

Yes, Firien both believes and knows she's attractive. She's only ever used it to her advantage once in her life and doesn't intend to do so ever again because she felt so filthy afterward, even if it was just a means to an end. After her battle against Alduin when her face is scarred, she believes she's ruined, which especially adds to her reluctance to try and use her attractiveness to her advantage because she feels like a child playing dress-up when she even considers it.

It takes her a lot of time and a lot of encouragement from Farkas to finally except that she's still attractive and worth feeling beautiful.