redchillismoke replied to your post “redchillismoke replied to your post “redchillismoke replied to your...”
She was re-marked as Nordic, because she was not specifically given a birth date.
To be fair... Nedic isn't a possible marker for the game data, as it's not one of the possible races. Doesn't stop Nordic being canon, though. But Serana the Nede is fine by me! I doubt there's much difference between that and a Nord anyway - just a few generations and a home further south.
Ysgramor's blood is supposedly in every High King, after all, which surely means every Jarl claims that.
redchillismoke replied to your post “redchillismoke replied to your post “Arcadia, the alchemist in...”
...they became vampires. Lastly, originally, she was classed as Nedic, not Nordic. So, again, if she's from between 1E 200-1E 450, then why must she be Nordic?
Serana's game data has her as a Nord Vampire. That's what I'm working from, and what makes it canon.
As for the time period she's from, by that time Skyrim was settled by people who called themselves Nords, as by then there were future Nordic ruins and ancient Nord weapons. There's also Hakon, Gormlaith and Felldir, who are ancient Nord heroes and currently reside in the Nord afterlife otherwise known as Sovngarde, and from what I can tell they definitely predate Serana.
Don't get me wrong, I'm fine with interpreting her as Nedic, but officially, canonically... she's a Nord. That's why she's a Nord in Doom Driven. It may be contradictory, but there's plenty of contradictions about Serana and Skyrim in general. Bethesda were either lazy or they're deliberately and maliciously messing with us, but what's canon is canon. We can only try to make sense of what they give us. This is getting long, so I'm sticking the rest under a read more cut.
Researching TES lore tends to give me a headache, which is why I don't dig any deeper than I absolutely have to into it, and interpret it to something that makes sense to me, and that I feel comfortable with.
That means I've never looked into what the developers have to say for themselves, and have no inclination to do so. What they say doesn't override what's in the game, quite the opposite. It's a bit like author interviews about books.
For example, JK Rowling says all sorts of things that aren't in the Harry Potter books, which means it's there if you want to use it in HP fic, but by no means do you have to. Your average Skyrim fic writer only knows what's in the game, and even then they might not know everything in the game.
Heck, there's no obligation to stick to canon at all. To me, the whole point of fanfic is exploring the sandboxes fandoms give us, and asking ourselves 'what if?'. Those what ifs may involve taking alternate paths untrod in canon, and maybe even untrod by canon.
Canon can be a cage. That's not to say that making things lore accurate is boring, or that the sheer amount of research you've done is pointless or wrong or whatever - don't get me wrong there either, it impresses me and it's part of why you and Dark Affliction are awesome.
I guess what I'm saying is that fic writing in my experience involves thinking outside the box, and canon can be that box. It's not necessarily the case that it is, but... It's all a matter of opinion, really. Your interpretation of TES lore with Dark Affliction is equally valid as mine with Doom Driven. Technically maybe even more so, due to being more lore accurate.
Ugh. I'm operating on two and a half hours sleep here, and it might well show. It makes me a grumpy monster, and potentially brutally honest.
redchillismoke replied to your post “redchillismoke replied to your post “Arcadia, the alchemist in...”
Nah... Think about it. Serana and Lamae are practically only a couple of centruies apart. Nedic peoples like Ysgrmor came from Atmora. She's not from Skyrim, because her father and she tell you they moved to the castle from the North after...
Officially, we don't know when Molag Bal happened across Lamae, or when Serana's ritual was. The lore is frustratingly sparse there, which at least leaves it open to interpretation.
I know they said they moved to the castle, and Serana mentions the original inhabitants a couple of times in Chasing Echoes, but I've never actually heard them say where they moved from. Not even so much as just the North. I've checked the game data for any of their dialogue mentioning it, where they originally came from is conspicuous by its absence.
redchillismoke replied to your post “Arcadia, the alchemist in Whiterun, just called Sithia a hardy Nord. I...”
Would Serana be nedic?
In game, she's classified as a Nord Vampire, so that's canon, or as close to it as it gets with Skyrim.
In terms of her possible background, her family were either in Skyrim already as Nords, or came from Atmora, which is pretty much the same thing as far as I can tell - Talos apparently came from Atmora, yet he's called a Nord. So maybe Nedic, as that's the same thing as proto-Nord and Atmoran. According to UESP, anyway.
TES lore can be so confusing and contradictory sometimes. The Nedes apparently became Nords and Imperials, depending on where they settled, and interbred with elves to became Bretons. That would imply that Nords and Imperials only differ by where they come from, but it's clearly not so simple going by how they're definitely different races. Hmm... there are Cyro-Nords/Colovians, and Nibenese within the range of Imperials.
Oh, my... It has been so long since I had - visitors. Would you care for a cup of tea? *looks in hat for cup finds woman's severed hand instead* And a Daughter of Coldharbour... *chuckles madly* It's definitely been awhile. Or has it? You don't want to shout again, little dragon or I will help you find your wings.
Yes, I'm a Daughter of Coldharbour. But you? You're no Daedra. Like calls to like, I would be able to tell if any Daedra had touched this paper. Even a lesser one, but a Daedric Prince? I'd have felt that the moment the courier approached.
Whoever you are, even if you are a servant of Sheogorath writing this charming letter for Him: you will not touch her.
I belong to Molag Bal, and Sithia is mine. That means His protection extends to her.
What about... Forget me (not)? (Character of your choosing.) I'm curious to see what you'd come up with.
Leave a “X Me” in my ask, and I will write whatever it is that you wish, specify.
Odahviing shuffled out of the cavernous hall containing Dragonsreach’s dragon trap, and onto the balcony, wings serving as clumsy forelegs. Sithia turned to Serana and pulled her into a tight embrace, clinging to her.
“Fuck,” Sithia whispered against Serana’s shoulder. “Then this is it. I’m sorry, but... I’m doomed.”
Serana’s arms tightened around her Dragonborn. “No. I won’t believe that Sovngarde is the end. If Alduin can return, why not you?”
Odahviing laughed, a bone-deep rumble. “Alduin’s way into his feasting ground lies on top of Skuldafn. He has always taken to the air before his return, soaring up through his portal, out into the skies of Keizaal. You might defeat Alduin, Dovahkiin, but you cannot return through his portal without the wings of a dov!”
“There you have it – he has wings. I don’t. He’ll be stronger too, after guzzling lots of Nordic souls. He almost killed me the first time. If not for you…” Sithia grimaced and shook her head. “Serana, I can’t let—”
Serana kissed her. Anything to shut her up, and that was far more pleasant for both of them than a slap. “I’ll come with you, I won’t let—”
Sithia laid her fingers over Serana’s lips and stepped back. “No. Sovngarde is in Aetherius, it would kill you, don’t you remember what touching a shrine did to you?”
Raw pain etched the harsh lines on Sithia’s face even deeper. She looked worn and tired… older. Serana stifled a sob at the agonising reminder of her Dragonborn’s mortality.
Sithia’s shoulders slumped. Seeing her like that... So defeated... It twisted the knife piercing Serana’s heart.
“Don’t wait for me. You deserve better than that, an eternal wait for an impossible return. Promise me. That you’ll let me go, move on.”
Serana clenched a fist, resisting the dark impulse to slap Sithia. If she misjudged the power behind it, she might really hurt her, maybe even kill her. “You don’t get to tell me what to do. I love you, I’d do anything for you… But not this.”
“I don’t want you to face eternity alone.” Sithia took her hand and prised her fist open. The blessing of the night healed the stinging shallow gouges in her palm left by sharp nails. “Eternity might not last that long if I fail, but I have to believe I can do this. For you.”
“There’s only one thing I want you to do for me: come back to me.”
“You know I will if it’s within my power, but you heard Odahviing.” Sithia nodded towards the red dragon waiting on the balcony. He shifted restlessly and snapped at fluttering moths.
“I have no choice. I wish…” Sithia’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. “I wish I never gave into you. Deep down, I knew I was doomed. I keep dreaming about it – my death. It’s always the same, has been for years now, long before I came to Skyrim."
Sithia glanced back at Odahviing. "A big black dragon burning around me, my body broken and bleeding in his jaws. I’m sorry. I let myself believe it was only a dream, but don’t you see?”
Sithia sniffed hard and swiped at her eyes. “The dream was that I could have you. It’s too late to save you from heartbreak, but I’ll be damned if I let you waste your life waiting for me.”
Sithia reached up and cupped Serana’s face in her hands. Sithia stretched up on tiptoe and kissed her. Deeply. Tenderly. Lingering, yet over far too soon.
Sithia stepped back, but didn’t get far. “Serana, let me go. This is my only chance, Odahviing won't wait for much longer.”
Serana shook her head, arms tightening around Sithia, refusing to let go.
Sithia inhaled deeply. Too late, Serana realised what she was about to do.
“FEIM!”
Like a ghost, Sithia slipped through Serana’s grip. She backed away, towards the watching dragon. Serana followed her, she’d soon leave the cold grasp of the Void and—
She hit the wall, sliding down to sprawl on the flagstones.
Odahviing spread his wings. The big red bastard had thrown her back with a blow from one of them!
“Krosis. I tire of waiting. Come, Dovahkiin, Skuldafn awaits. Fly with me, and envy the dov.”
Dazed, Serana could only watch, helpless, as Sithia solidified and swung herself up to sit behind Odahviing’s head. She swiped at the tears trickling down her cheeks, and met Serana’s accusing gaze. Sithia whispered two last words. They rang in Serana's ears as if she'd shouted.
