#book quest

Back in high school when I was devouring the sci-fi/fantasy shelves from top to bottom, I remember checking out a book of short stories. They were all based on the premise of regulars at the bar telling shaggy-dog-type stories to each other that all ended in absolute GROANWORTHY puns, but there was also enough interaction between the various recurring characters that you started to learn about their backstories, like why they all hung out at this bar in the first place. The main guy was there because he'd changed the brakes on his family car and a little while later, the breaks had failed, killing everyone except him - but at some point he gets told that it absolutely wasn't his fault, that it was something else that failed, by a character who would have been able to know that.

I don't remember any specifically overt sci-fi elements of it (in my mind it was just a regular bar with regular people) but I think there might have been a reveal at some point that one of the patrons was an alien?

I'm not certain of when the stories were published, but if I had to guess I'd say around 70s-80s? Definitely can't be quoted on that though.

But if you have any ideas for where I might figure out how to find this book and/or author, I'd love to hear it

Oooh. This sounds like something I might have read, but no titles or authors pop up in memory. I would have enjoyed such a series, I'm sure!

the doors swung open. Quill-Finder stepped back, letting them clear, watching the inside for any movement and staring at the wizard that now stood in front of her, taken aback that she was not who the mage thought she'd be. "what the-" the hooded wizard exclaimed. "Who are you? What have you done with Gavros?" he held fire in both hands, flames crackled between his anxious fingers, the dancing light illuminating the hall. his eyes darted between the argonian, a blood soaked Lydia, a singed J'Zargo, and Illia

Quill-FInder immediately put a hand up "Nothing, nothing!" she reassured. "We only came her to find the Synod!"

The mage's eyes narrowed, "And just why would you be doing that?"

There was a pause, and finally a sigh. the wizard dropped the fire from his hands. "It doesn't matter now... Gavros was supposed to have the crsytal. And if you're here, I can only assume he's not coming back. without that crystal, we're lost."

Quill-Finder was silent.

"So congratulations. you found the Synod." he gave a strained smile. "It's just me, alone. surrounded by angry machines, and even angrier falmer..." "Excuse me," Illia spoke up. "What's this about a crystal?"

The mage shook his head. "It didn't work the first time. I tried to tell Gavros, but he wouldn't listen!" he gritted his teeth in frustration "No it won't be too cold, he said."

He continued, "Well turns out, I was right. Focus completely wrong by the time we got here! the cold had warped it! He had to cart it all the way back to Cyrodiil, left us to fend off the damnable Falmer." Illia nodded, "But what was it for?"

"It was a brilliant idea!" the mage gave the first grin that the party had seen, "Mostly mine, though Gavros took the credit. Secret, though! Official Synod business."

Lydia cursed, pushing past. "We're looking for something called the Staff of Magnus. can you help or not?" there was a frustration in her face that made even Quill take a step back.

the wizard stammered, "I need the crystal to do anything useful, I'm sorry!"

"Aha!" there was a call behind Quill as the wizard talked. she hadn't even notice that J'zargo disappeared from behind her.

J'zargo hoisted something into the air. a geode of sorts with lenses bored into the sides of the object and a fastening apparatus looping around the device. J'zargo grinned. "I found it!"

the wizard pushed past the party, looking down to the Khajiit. there was a silence before he finally turned back to Quill-Finder. "Who are you people?" Quill-Finder shrugged. "Members of the college."

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I'm not going to stop taking pictures just because I'm playing catch-up!

So it's a war romance book set in World War 2 Normandy, the MC is this girl whose name starts withan L, something short and snappy, like Liesl or sth similar. Her house, which is pretty well off, is appropriated by a German officer named Dieter, who is sent there to supervise the construction and manning of the Atlantic Wall. They slowly warm up to each other, and eventually fall in love and have sex. The MC gets pregnant, and finally manages to convince her father to allow them to marry. Before the news comes out though Normandy happens and Dieter is killed. The MC panics and buries him in an unmarked grave in her garden and then quickly woos, dates and marries an American soldier who fancies her in a shotgun wedding. This guy's name is pretty unremarkable but it might be Paul or sth. Anyways, she marries quickly, has sex, and continues to carry Dieter's son while the American soldier goes on to fight. The son is born 9 months after conception and 7 months after the marriage, and the MC names him Dominic. The war ends and she goes to America with the American soldier, who turns out to be pretty rich. She enjoys her new socialite life in America but is wracked by guilt over the American doting on Dominic like his own son. So she keeps trying to have another baby, a child of the American proper. She succeeds and has a daughter, I can't remember her name. Anyways Dominic grows up into a very handsome, very German/French young man and some time later the American guy finds out about Dieter and gets into an accident of some sort that leaves him maybe in a coma, maybe paraplegic, but he slowly recovers throughout the rest of the book while the MC takes care of him, and then they go back to France where he stands up and walks around again, and the MC and the husband shares a romantic dance in the garden where they buried Dieter.

"No." The orc librarian, Urag gro-Shub, said bluntly. "I don't have anything for your research project. Not anymore, anyway."

"Anymore?"

"That is what I said, yes." Urag explained that they had a student by the name of Orthorn who ran off with a number of books from the college when he ran off to Fellglow keep. If Quill-Finder had any hope of finding what she needed, She would have to talk to Orthorn.

With a curse under her breath, she thanked the old orc for his time all the same, and taking her leave

"Any luck?" Lydia asked as Quill-Finder met up with her and Illia.

the argonian shook her head. "The books were stolen and taken to Fellglow Keep. this just turned into a fetch quest..."

"Great..." Illia grumbled. "Shall we get going then?"

"You there." a voice echoed from behind "I have questions for you."

Quill-Finder turned to face the advisor, Ancano. her brow furrowed.

Ancano continued. "You were in Saarthal, yes? It has come to my attention something was found there."

Quill-Finder was silent.

"Please do not insult my intelligence." the high elf said with a wry chuckle. "I know full "I know full well that your little party uncovered something. I shall expect a full report when Tolfdir returns."

"Why do you care?"

"Something was discovered in Saarthal that was significant enough that Tolfdir sent a new member of the College, alone, to deliver word." Ancano sneered, as if the very question was offensive. "That sounds precisely like the sort of thing that should matter to everyone. Especially me."

The Thalmor advisor turned away "That is all, thank you for your time."

Quill-Finder, Lydia, and Illa were all quiet. they exchanged a look.

Lydia was the first to break the silence. "Should we...?" she asked, pointing to a wolven form, hand placed on the pages of a book.

the Argonian silently nodded, approaching the Vicar. the moment the houscarl tried to accompany, Quill-Finder raised a hand, shaking her head. there was a silence, and although unsure, Lydia ushered Illia away, waiting towards the exit.

"We need to talk." Quill-Finder said to the wolf.

"I'm not sure we do, Dragonborn." Amelia responded, her fingers tracing along the pages, each appearing blank to the average person, but Amelia followed along all the same. "It's become apparent to me that my priorities don't align with the group, and that's fine. But I can't simply allow myself to enable you to keep running away."

"I know." Quill-Finder muttered. they were hard words to hear, but she could feel the reason within them.

Amelia nodded. "Lydia is afraid to drive you to do something stupid again, and Illia is new. Neither have seen what I've seen." she closed her book and turned to face the argonian. "You have so much potential, and I'm terrified that you're the only one that doesn't see it."

Quill-Finder was silent.

Amelia continued, "You're capable of so much, helping so many people. Hells, you saved Illia, her own capabilities notwithstanding. not because you're the Dragonborn, but because of your willingness to do so." she gestured to the college around them. "I don't begrudge you wanting to help these people, but you're doing it for the wrong reason. Truly, why are we here?"

the argonian pursed her lips tighter.

"I think you know the answer, and it's not to get stronger. that's simply an excuse."

"But--"

Amelia put up a hand. "I told you, I'm with you to the end, and that has not changed. but if we're going to help people, I want to make sure we're doing it because it's the right thing to do. not as an excuse to avoid your duties."

Quill-Finder nodded solemnly. "Can I ask for something in return?"

the Vicar cocked an eyebrow.

"I know I'm Dragonborn. By the eight, no one will let me forget. but if we're going to do this, and believe me we're going to do this, I need to know that I can do it my way."

Amelia was silent, offering a little more than a "hmm" in response.

"Not yours, or Lydias, or even the greybeards. I came to Skyrim for books. and Dragonborn or not, at the the end of the day, that's why I'm here."

Amelia nodded, taking in the words. she mulled them over in her head, thinking on what Quill-Finder said. finally, she spoke. "No more detours for the sake of detours. we have a job, and we do it." she pushed herself up from her chair. "And I'll try to keep an open mind. You have a good heart, Quill-Finder. never lose sight of it."

Quill-Finder smiled weakly. "I'll try not to."

"Ysmir's beard!" Jorleif exclaimed "The man was always a bit odd, but I would never expected--" his words trailed off. taking a moment to recompose himself, he gave the argonian a warm smile. "You've done this city a mighty service, friend. I believe you'll find the guards to be a bit more cordial with you in the future."

Quill-Finder simply nodded, before turning to the doors and walking away.

As they walked through the town, the tone was different. People looked towards the three, not as outsiders, but as heroes. Slayers of The Butcher. whispers were replaced by smiles, "thank yous" and pleasantries. it was almost... nice.

It had been decided that they would stay one more night, and head out on the road in the morning.

The Inn, more lively than usual, bustled with a joy and energy that wasn't there the last time that Quill-Finder was there. People looked to them and cheered, thanking them.

A number of people, including the woman they had saved, offered to buy the three drinks with smiles on their faces.

As Lydia and Illia celebrated their victory, Quill-Finder was quiet.

the night rolled on until Quill-Finder finally stood, saying that she was going to retire for the night.

She lay on her bed, trying her best to sleep the night away. everyone who hated her because she was an outsider suddenly loved her. she hated it. all she could do is play the events over the past few days on repeat ad nauseam. until finally, she drifted to sleep.

Departure was quick. for once, Lydia was the second person to wake. Quill-Finder was already dressed, packed, and ready to go. She couldn't wait to leave. with well wishes being handed by the innkeeper, Quill-Finder, Lydia, and Illia set off for the road once more.

Quill-Finder walked briskly down the bridge back to the stables to collect their horses.

"Slow down!" Lydia called. "What's gotten into you?"

Quill-Finder simply responded, "The sooner we're away from this town the better..."

"I don't understand..." Illia said with confusion. "you weren't comfortable here because the people hated us, and now that they adore us, you can't wait to leave?"

Quill-Finder stopped. the wind blowed, carrying the cold winter air. Quill-finder shivered. "When you walk into a town, what is the first thing they see?"

Lydia and Illia exchanged a look, unable to answer the question.

"People." Quill-Finder turned to face her two friends. "When you walk into a brand new town, people may have questions, but they don't immediately judge you, because you look like them."

She continued. "you're not elves, you're not beastfolk. you're human. and that's fine. But when I walk into a new town, they see nothing more than an argonian."

"Quill..." Lydia tried her best to console her friend only to be rebuffed as Quill-Finder pushed away.

Quill-Finder pointed towards the city. "When I walked into that town, I was judged. Not because I was new, but because I was a lizard. I was worse than an outsider, I was subhuman."

"Now, almost overnight," she continued, "They adore me. they can't get enough of me. Because I did something they never expected me to do. be useful."

Illia stood back, silent. listening. she went to say something, but no words came out.

"I did something that they couldn't ignore, and now I'm not just an argonian, I'm an argonian that slayed the butcher. I'm one of the 'good' ones."

no one said a word for more than a minute. no one moved. Quill-Finder shook with anger, frustration, sadness. a mix of emotions that not even she knew how to fully describe while Lydia and Illia stood there, stunned.

Finally, Lydia broke the silence. "You know you're worth more than what people think, Quill..."

"You don't get it!" Quill-Finder cried, "had either one of you walked into town by yourself, you wouldn't have had to worry! You wouldn't have needed someone to guard your door all because you were different. Had I walked in on my own, I very well might have walked out!"

another moment of silence.

Quill-Finder continued, "It's not just Windhelm or Skyrim. It's Cyrodiil. It's Hammerfell. it's Morrowind. It has been an uphill battle to get where I am all my life!" Quill-Finder stared down Lydia. there was a burning anger in the argonian's eyes. not directed at anyone in particular, but it was clear that Qill-Finder was upset. "They treat me with respect, not because I'm a person, but because of what I can do for them."

Eventually, Quill-Finder broke away. "We have a long ways to go. the sooner we leave, the sooner we get there..."

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