Ma'dran's Tales and Adventures

Using his last money, Ma’dran has bought himself a cheap set of hide armour and an iron sword. It is time to go check on that bounty, if the offer is still up.

The Jarl’s hall is large and dominated by a big log fire and tables set for a feast. Curiously, all the chairs are empty save for two: one occupied by a young man who loudly introduces himself as the Jarl’s son, and another by a large man in heavy armour with a bright red cock’s bill for hair. The Jarl herself is a woman of middle age, red-headed too, who slouches in her seat. Her posture does her no favours when compared with the Altmer woman standing next to her, who is a giantess in comparison. 

“Speak, traveller. Clearly you’ve come to my court for a reason, now out with it.”

Ma’dran stretches and decides to linger in the warmth and comfort of the bed for just a little before he gets up. He’s slept in the Bee and Barb inn again, in Riften. The worn bed is familiar, the wooden floor is familiar, the voices of the Argonian inkeepers downstairs are familiar now to him. He wishes he knew what to do. The money he got when the house was sold was enough to buy him a carriage ride to Skyrim, and then a little extra to last him after that. He’d had no plan beyond “get to Skyrim and see the land”, and now wishes he had. The grief that was once a large screaming void inside him has now become more of a dull ache. 

Downstairs, he orders his breakfast and eats sitting near the fireplace. Keerava and Talen-Jei are arguing amicably, and it’s clear they’ve been together a long time. Ma’dran hopes he won’t see that unsavoury-looking man at the market again, the red-haired one who made insinuations about his wealth and where to earn more money. Riften is supposed to have a Thieves’ Guild, and that man seemed like he belonged there. Ma’dran finishes his breakfast by drinking the local mead slowly, enjoying the sweet flavour, and then steps out to meet the day.

LAYER ONE : THE OUTSIDE

Name: Ma’dran.

Eye Color: Golden yellow.

Hair Style/Colour: Thick dark red “sideburns” to match his reddish fur. Ear tufts like a lynx.

Height: 180 cm/5'9", an average height for a Cathay Khajiit, though he tends to slouch.

Clothing Style: Ma’dran dresses like an average commoner. He would love to wear traditional clothes of the Khajiit, although he’s not quite sure what those are exactly or what they’d look like. He enjoys bright colours, and his favourite would be a strong woad or indigo-dyed blue. He likes his many earrings and wishes he had more; he enjoys the feeling of weight in his ears and that they jingle slightly if he walks fast.

Best Physical Feature: He likes his ear tufts and think they make him look dashing.

LAYER TWO: THE INSIDE

Fears: Of always feeling different and like an outsider, that the feeling will simply never cease. Dying alone. Spiders.

Guilty Pleasure: Sweetrolls, chasing butterflies.

Biggest Pet Peeve[s]:  Racism, being looked down upon, being patronized.

Ambition for the Future: To be a badass, to know more of Elsweyr culture, and to live up to his own ideas of what a Real Khajiit should be like.

LAYER THREE: THOUGHTS

First Thoughts Waking Up: “It’s a bit chilly today, I wonder what breakfast will be.”

What They Think About the Most: Ma’dran thinks mostly of various fanciful daydreams, what he’ll do during the day, what things to cook and eat.

What They Think About Before Bed:  Rehashing various events of the day, the occasional daydream about his biological parents and living in Elsweyr, occasionally he’s plagued by nightmares of unknown origin and vague content. 

What They Think Their Best Quality Is: His capability to fend for himself, his cooking skills, that he hasn’t gotten killed or into serious trouble yet.

LAYER FOUR: WHAT’S BETTER?

Single or Group Dates: No experience with either, so no real preference.

To be Loved or Respected: This one is tough. He loves feeling respected and like he’s worth something, yet deep in his heart he wishes to feel loved and cared for.

Beauty or Brains: Brains.

Dogs or Cats: Cats, definitely. 

LAYER FIVE: DO YOU?

Lie: “I mean, I try to be honest, but... I suppose I lie, sometimes, just little lies though that don’t hurt anyone.”

Believe in Yourself: “I don’t see anyone else doing it for me, do you? You have to believe in yourself to survive in this world.”

Believe in Love: “Love. It’s a thing. It’s powerful. Can be good for you, can be horrible. Depends, really.”

Want Someone: “I mean, I... I don’t know, honestly. I miss my parents, of course, but I don’t want anyone in, um, that way, if that’s what you’re asking.”

LAYER SIX: EVER?

Been on Stage: “Sorry, stranger, I’ve seen a couple plays and thought them quite good, but I’d never get on stage myself, no.”

Done Drugs: “No! And I’d never try, either. I stick to a good drink after a hearty meal, if you must know. Over-indulgence is bad for you, and I’m not one of those skooma cats like the stereotype!“

Changed Who You Were to Fit In: "When I was younger, I tried to act like I was just an ordinary Imperial. It didn’t work. Everyone saw a Khajiit still. These days I have accepted that I am Khajiit and proud of it!”

LAYER SEVEN: AGE

DOB: 4E 177.

How Old Will You Be:  “Twenty-four next year. Who wants to know?”

Age You Lost Your Virginity: “I, um, ah... Why’d you ask such a thing anyway?!”

Does Age Matter. “I suppose it does. I wouldn’t be able to be with someone much older than myself, or much younger. I suppose everyone sees it differently...”

LAYER EIGHT: IN A BOY OR GIRL PERSON

Best Personality: “Um… Kind, loving, talkative like me, curious about the world, likes cooking or at least eating.”

Best Eye Colour: “How can I pick? Any colour can look fetching on a beauty, and yet be ugly in the face of an ugly man.”

Best Hair Colour: “I don’t know, it’s the same as the eyes, anyone can look good or bad with any hair colour.”

Best thing to do With a Partner: “Hold, kiss, walk together in the sun, go to sleep next to and wake up next to...”

LAYER NINE: FINISH THE SENTENCE

I love: "warmth, my heritage, the sunshine, good food, a nice drink by a warm fire, fireflies at night.”

I feel: “a bit tired, intrigued by this land of Skyrim, curious as to why you’re so inquisitive”

I hide: “I hide sometimes, nothing to be ashamed of, hiding when you have to. But the real virtue is stepping forth when you must!”

I miss: “Well, I miss my parents, I miss our old house, I miss... No, I think that’s it.”

1. Hey, I'm feeling tired.

2. My time, is gone today.

3. You flirt with suicide.

4. Sometimes, that's ok.

5. Do what others say.

6. I'm here, standing hollow.

7. I flirt with suicide.

8. Sometimes, kill the pain.

9. I can always say, 'It's gonna be better tomorrow'.

10. It's gonna be better tomorrow.

11. It's beating me down.

12. It's beating me into the ground.

13. It's spinning round and round.

14. It's lost and can't be found.

15. Slow it down.

16. It's twisting me.

17. They won't go away.

18. So I pray.

19. Go away.

20. Life's falling away from me.

21. It's falling away from me.