A shadow passed under the drifting birch canopy. Moriane looked up from her garden: black and gold robes, golden skin. Between two justiciars, a Nord man strode, his back straight, his hair the color of russet autumn leaves, his ragged tunic and trousers fading into the dusty road.
Moriane’s stomach knotted and burned. Her vision blurred.
"We will let them live..."
Moriane steadied her shaking hands, and reached for her bow without taking her eyes from her unwelcome guests.
“Your life…and that of your family is in your hands, Nord.”
Almost twenty years had passed since justiciars last visited Waterview. Her proud, auburn-haired father, his Amulet of Talos flashing in the sun, had made an easy target.
But, they’d given him a choice.
“Repudiate the man, Tiber Septim, and we will let your wife and…daughter,” the Altmer said, nodding toward the tiny girl cowering at the foot of a pear tree, “we will let them live.”
Her mother’s green eyes swam with tears, but her father’s chin rose. The justiciar’s eyes flared under a warm spray of spittle. Golden lips curved in a smirk, and the sharp scent of ozone floated on a lazy summer breeze.
Moriane blinked and pulled an arrow. She watched the Nord stumble, and pictured the family he might have left behind. A wife? A daughter? She wondered, her heart beating faster, if he’d chosen his dead god over those who needed him most.
As her own father had done.
Moriane rose to a crouch. Her boots slipped in soft soil. She nocked the arrow and squinted over a blackberry bramble, the justiciar’s golden, graceful neck in her sight.
Her body shook beneath a wave of rage.
No.
Moriane blinked again, and her arrow sailed over brambles and hedges, striking its target with a squelching thud.
Dust rose and swirled around the once-proud Nord, now facedown and lifeless in the dirt.
Both justiciars slowly turned her way, lightning wreathing their fingers in blue and silver sparks.
Moriane dropped her bow, and ran.
The Dark Mirror tells the tale of Moriane – or Freya Brandy-Wood, as she was known during her childhood at Waterview. And for years after that childhood ended, after her father’s careless pride left her alone, abandoned to the mercy of Grelod the Kind.
Grelod’s abuse and unconcealed hatred – and repeated assurance Freya would amount to nothing – failed to accomplish its goal. Freya remained unbroken, roaming Riften’s streets, observing thieves and extortionists play under the guise of reputable businessmen.
Observing…and learning.
When Freya first arrived in Riften, she’d been sure no one knew what Grelod did behind closed doors – if they knew, they’d do something.
Anything.
But no. Watching Riften’s citizens – mostly Nords like her parents – turn blind eyes to Honorhall’s most vulnerable residents, she realized two things above all: first, she mattered to no one but herself, and no one mattered to her. And second, only those with power and wealth escaped the misery and bondage of life in Skyrim.
Or, rose above it.
For someone like her to acquire either – well…she’d have to take it. But to do so, she needed knowledge.
Luckily, the library of Mistveil Keep slept, quiet and deserted in the early morning hours. So she sneaked inside while Grelod believed her to be begging, and read everything she could. She took Grelod’s beatings, when she came back empty-handed, with as much pride as her father had, as he’d spat into the justiciar’s face and sealed his fate.
And hers.
For Freya’s heart beat with a silent, solemn promise: I will return. When I have power, I will return.
And you will tremble.
Freya took her first step toward fulfilling that promise, one rainy afternoon just before her sixteenth birthday. She happened across a strange little book. The Doors of Oblivion it was titled, an unfinished tale of forbidden and arcane magic, of a mage called Morian Zenas and his quest for infinite knowledge. And a mysterious journey to Apocrypha - the realm of Hermaeus Mora.
The mage’s very name tugged at her soul, and she took it for her own. For she knew, then, his quest would be hers. She, too, would catch the eye of Hermaeus Mora, the Daedric Prince of Knowledge and Fate.
And power would be hers for the taking. She would be, as she’d desired all her life to be...
Untouchable.
Race: Nord. Imperious Races allows frost resistance and boosts combat damage as health decreases (Warrior’s Heart). After completing the quest “Avatar,” Magicka/Stamina Regen may power up once per day. Choose an enemy race (The Purge) for bonus damage at Levels 10/20/30. Moriane chose Altmer, Orc, and Breton.
Gender: Female
Stat Spread: 2/2/1 until Level 20. Then, 1/1/2. Reason? I didn’t use SpellScribe or Bloodskal Blade until after Level 20, so I didn’t use many power attacks until then. If you plan to use more, adjust your distribution accordingly.
Morality: “Summon the daedra! I’ll trade the soul of every last subject of mine for a little comfort!”
Neutral Evil: Queen Potema she’s not – Moriane has no interest in ruling. Power is leverage. She’ll use it to be left alone. But she has nothing against killing, raising the dead, or using black soul gems, for whatever reason, as long as it suits her ends. And comfort is an end.
Standing Stone: all of them. I settled on the Shadow Stone at Level 36. See Quests and Gameplay.
Difficulty: Expert. I felt challenged. But if you choose to take some of this build and play with it and feel like you need more, knock yourself out. Literally, game-wise, at least.
Waterview: a player home. Along with entertaining aspects like soap and clothmaking, and a working shower and bathroom (you don’t know joy until you’ve walked in on your follower on the toilet), there's space for a ginormous garden and plantables from Beyond Skyrim: Bruma.
Andromeda: changes blessings and burdens of Skyrim’s Standing Stones.
Thunderchild: adds new Shouts and new miniquests “Acolyte of the Voice” and “Champion of Kyne." Pay homage to Kyne and oomph up your Shouts a bit. Or a lot, depending on how devout you are.
Imperious Races: this build can be played without it. But I like the new bonuses.
Ordinator: revamps perk trees, adds new perks. Some are fantastic, some not so much, but I do use SpellScribe, so it’s worth installing for that.
Perk Points at 50/75/100: adds one extra perk point when skills hit milestone levels.
Apocalypse: new spells!
Alternate Start: I opted to start as an outlaw in the wild, to go with Moriane’s backstory. But the main reason I like this mod is the obvious: you control when dragons appear. So many things this character does, she would never do if dragons were flying about. For my roleplay, a start with no dragons is much more realistic.
Arcane Accessories: Creation Club. Adds new spells and robes. Actually, not really new spells. Some are old ones I remember from Oblivion. But they’re fun.
Arcane Archer: Creation Club. Adds elemental arrows (fire, ice, and lightning). Note: you’re not the only one who has cool arrows. Your enemies do, too.
Archery: combined with poison, used as an opening salvo for most combat situations. Especially useful against Seekers, Dragons, Briarhearts and other enemies I don’t want to fight in close quarters.
Favorite Perk: Clean Kill (bonus damage to targets with full health).
Bows: Ebony with shock enchantment.
One-Handed: she likes the way the sword feels in her hand, the ease with which it sits at her hip. It’s powerful, yet fast enough to use while sneaking. Plenty of enemies get past ranged attacks; good swordsmanship is essential.
Favorite Perk:Furious Strength (bonus damage for power attacks. Combines well with SpellScribe).
Swords: Dawnbreaker.
Dagger: Mehrunes’ Razor.
Light Armor: yes, she’s a Nord, but she’s also sneaky and fast. It’s easier to be both in light armor.
Favorite Perk: Initiative (bonus Stamina regen).
Fur and Leather; Thieves Guild and Shrouded Armors; Deathbrand.
Alchemy: multi-effect potions and poisons are more useful than standard versions. Plus, paralysis and invisibility potions are profitable.
Favorite Perk: so many. Experimenter reveals all effects with one bite. Bottomless Cup allows multiple hits off one poison. Alkahest decreases target’s armor rating for the duration of a poison’s effect.
Hail Mary: fortify health + restore health + fortify conjuration (Wheat, Blue Mt. Flower, Frost Salts). For that last ditch effort at the end of a hard fight.
Firewall: resist fire + restore health (Ash Grass Pod, Motherwort (Waterview), Blisterwort).
Hasty Retreat: invisibility + regenerate health + restore magicka (Luna Moth Wing, Vampire Dust, Mora Tapinella). When the fight’s not over, but you might be if you don’t run.
Nothing Personal: fortify sneak + fortify marksman (Juniper Berries, Ash Grass Pod, Green Stain Cup (Waterview)). Business as usual.
Bloodfeud: fortify sneak + fortify one-handed (Bear Claw, Ash Grass Pod, Hawk Feather). You need to feel the life drain from your prey.
Steady Target: slow + damage health (Deathbell, River Betty). Great for speedy enemies. Like Forsworn.
Die Hard: paralysis + damage health (Imp Stool, Canis Root, Deathbell). Finish the enemy off or just leave him to die.
Buzzkill: damage magicka regen + damage health (Nightshade, Spriggan Sap, Deathbell). Great for mages. Use right after Shouting Arcane Helix (Thunderchild, reduces resistance to magic) and most mages should be easy work with dual cast Elemental Blast or a SpellScribe attack.
Sneak: especially with Shadow Stone bonuses and Shadow Step power unlocked, speedy sneaking is nice. And the bonus for staying close to walls feels realistic.
Destruction: Elemental Blast (Arcane Accessories). Fire and shock damage.
Favorite Perk: Dual Casting (empowers spells cast with both hands). Depending on which enemy you’re fighting, weaknesses, etc., dual casted spells with the Demolition Job (Sneak) perk may be more effective than opening with the bow.
Conjuration: Send minions into the fight after you put away your bow, but before picking up your sword.
Favorite Perk: Planemeld (summon minions farther away).
Pride of Hirstaang (Arcane Accessories spell): conjures a bear, plus frost resistance and faster health regen.
It’s Raining Bears: stand on a barrow overwalk and conjure these guys below while you shoot enemies with fire and lightning. Great for clearing rooms.
Conjure Seeker: useful against other Seekers and Miraak himself.
Conjure Dremora Pit Fighter (Apocalypse): when I need someone to inflict physical damage who’s more nimble than a bear.
Illusion: Ghostwalk (Apocalypse). It’s an invisibility spell combined with teleport. Sneak up behind an unsuspecting enemy and then get whisked back to where you cast the spell for safety. And Fenrik’s Welcome (Arcane Accessories) cracks all locks up to Expert level.
Enchanting: the perks Soul Siphon and SpellScribe are essential. Soul Siphon steals part of a creature’s soul and recharges enchanted weapons. I had to carry maybe one or two soul gems after acquiring. And SpellScribe allows you to store and release a dual-cast spell with a power attack, free of charge. It even works on unarmed attacks.
Two-Handed: Bloodskal Blade.
Speech: perked to make Shouts more effective.
Alteration: Ocato’s Recital: store 3 spells that release automatically when combat begins, free of charge.
I know, it’s a build, not an article, but I accidentally discovered something cool about this sword (I panicked while Ethereal and swung. I missed, but the red energy blast knocked back an enemy, and didn’t break the Ethereal-ness. Also, I didn’t lose stamina). I know you all know about that already, but it was news to me, and I wondered why. Why would that work, and what’s the deal with the sword opening the door in the first place?
The Bloodskal Blade also deals bonus damage to Zahkriisos, but to no other dragon priest. I didn’t catch that during the fight; I was too busy trying to stay alive. Anyway, that got me thinking. His name can be translated two ways. Zahkrii-Sos (sword-blood) or Zah-Krii-Sos (finite-kill-blood). And I know there’s not much mention of blood magic in TES, but here we have an old Nord clan called Bloodskal. In some Scandinavian languages, “skal” means bowl or basin or container. And there’s the red energy blasts that connect the sword to the door and to Zahkriisos. Could it be, the clan used blood magic? And whoever enchanted the blade imbued it with the blood of Zahkriisos himself. Remember Jayred Ice-Veins from the Shivering Isles? He said “the best way to kill something is with the bones of its own.”
Yes, he was under influence of the Madgod, but it works here. Only with blood, instead of bones. Make the dragon priest finite. Limit him. Kill him with his own blood.
Suit Up: Ocato’s Recital loaded with Alarm (Apocalypse), Stoneflesh, and Muffle. Alarm lets you know when enemies get close, and there's one notification for each enemy. I'm not sure why Alarm casts first, given the conditions of Ocato's Recital, but it does - as soon as the enemy crosses the perimeter of the spell. The latter two cast when you’re detected by an enemy, which is great because Muffle kicks in and sometimes helps the enemy lose you again, especially with Shadow Stone equipped, if sneaking near a wall. I tried equipping cloak spells, but they just injured my allies, making them less effective in the fight.
BloodWind: Conjure Seeker + Become Ethereal + Bloodskal Blade. The blade’s energy blasts inflict damage without breaking the Shout, while the Seeker inflicts physical damage, and you expend no stamina while power-attacking. Used in situations like Gyldenhul Barrow where there's no place to run for a cooldown.
StormSword: Curse or Marked for Death + SpellScribe (Elemental Blast) + sword of your choice – effect can vary based on the sword’s base enchantment. If you’re fighting two or more enemies, you can angle the blast so you earn physical damage for melee and ranged damage for enemies further back.
Variation using Bloodskal Blade – Mola Ram’s Special: using my headcanon (Bloodskal Blade is imbued with Zahkriisos’s blood), you’re using fire and blood to kill your enemies. The goddess Kali would be proud.
Variation using Dawnbreaker: use this in rooms full of undead.
Eidolon's Fury: Ghostwalk + StormSword (excluding the Shout). I used Mehrunes’ Razor or an ebony sword for the most part. Bloodskal won’t work. Sneak up behind someone and attack with crazy fury and then teleport back to a safe distance. For barrow bosses, it’s easy to do this multiple times until they’re dead. This can also be accomplished with the power Shadow Step, but there’s less control since it’s a dash or blink rather than a walk, and you don’t get the teleport.
Variation: SpellScribe doesn’t break invisibility, either using spells or potions, as long as your sword doesn’t hit a target. So if you can’t get to melee range and you don’t have the magicka to cast blast spells, swing your sword and get the same effect.
Adding homemade poisons may be useful, depending on your landscape, your enemy, and the enemy’s weakness. Especially with the Bottomless Cup perk. And if you’re in a tight spot, drink a Hail Mary potion and conjure your best minion to distract the enemy.
Moriane’s combat tactics are formulaic: Shoot (arrows or spells) – Conjure – Shout – Slash. Repeat. But a few situations call for specialized attention.
Dragons: hell, this applies to all opponents, if possible. The first thing Moriane would do is try to lure the enemy to a more populated place. Especially a town with armed guards. Yes, people will die, but there’s a better chance she won’t with others attracting attention and shooting. That’s what matters to her. And while the dragon is distracted, use Marked for Death or Curse, appropriate elemental arrows, and when it’s finally down, Stormsword. If you have the Magicka, Conjure Seeker.
Seekers: Fire arrows and a bow with Weakness to Fire poison applied.
Lurkers: any arrows, and a bow with Die Hard applied. If possible, trap them in doorways they’re too big to go through, or make them fall off walkways.
Heavily-Armored Warriors: frost spells, for Stamina damage as well as Health.
Briarhearts: gods, if I knew what to do about these assholes, this game would be much more fun. I die at least three times every time I come across one, and that’s with great armor, weapons, poisons, followers, and conjured minions. And that one time I live? I can admit that’s pretty much all down to luck.
You might have noticed from her skills and perk spreads, Moriane's not a specialist. She’s a dabbler, an experimenter. She wants to try everything interesting. Or profitable.
At the beginning of the game, stay off main roads. You're an outlaw, after all, and don't want to be caught by patrols. Once you've reached Riften and join the Thieves Guild, relax the rule.
Don't fast travel. Use the journey for experience. Pick flowers to stuff your apothecary satchel. Use wildlife for target practice and sell or craft the pelts. This gameplay is especially valuable in the beginning, while you're staying off main roads and while you have the Lady's lunar familiar to assist you with any tougher enemies you might encounter off the beaten path.
Keep an Amulet of Talos in your pack as a reminder: your own father didn’t care if you lived or died, so why should you care for anyone else? It also serves as a private little fuck you to him and the Thalmor.
As a less-private fuck you, feel free to take care of any Thalmor patrols you're confident fighting. Eidolon's Fury works, as long as there aren’t too many justiciars. Be sure to take out the Nord prisoner as well. Nords let you down just as much as Thalmor – more, even, as they’re kin.
Entanglements aren’t for you. Ignore petitioners for assistance. And you’re not one to get married, especially not in Mara's Temple. Hire help or conjure it, and keep it businesslike. Even though Stenvar’s starting to grow on you, since he gives you random bottles of wine. It’s nice. You might keep him around.
Speaking of Temples, steer clear. You have no interest in the divines, as they’ve shown no interest in you.
Same for the Civil War. Both sides can burn in Oblivion for all you care.
My mother told me stories of people in Tamriel born under a sign, who must live with its assets and liabilities. Not so in Skyrim - we’re free to choose our fate. And I need to know what it’s like to hunt with the Lady’s familiar at my side, or scale a mountain with the Lord’s burden weighing me down. Or race a saber cat across the tundra, courtesy of the Steed, without breaking a sweat.
But, if I’m being honest, I know after I try them all, I’ll return to the Shadow. And there I’ll stay.
I know it in my heart.
Perhaps we’re not so free, here in Skyrim, as we imagine.
Molag Bal doesn’t play, I’ll give him that. Or maybe having me kill two people to gain his favor is his idea of fun. He’s a Daedra,after all, and can do as he pleases. I killed for Hircine as well, although no one’s going to call Sinding’s killer to justice, after what he did in Falkreath.
If that dusty old Colovian journal I found is correct, if I truly have to complete quests for every Daedric Prince before Hermaeus Mora will give me a second look, I hope they’ll keep their targets out of public view. Getting caught and thrown in prison isn’t part of the plan. Not even the Oghma Infinium is worth life in a cage.
I kept my promise and killed Grelod. I felt nothing. It went too quickly, I think. I should have found some way to make an evening of it, but in the end I value freedom over revenge. The next evening, the Dark Brotherhood paid me a visit - someone else had decided to get rid of that monster, after all. She’d been their kill, so I owed them one. Fair enough. The mouthy Khajiit made it easy; still, I felt nothing.
Seemed a match made in the Void, the Brotherhood and I.
And Sithis. If the Brotherhood speaks to Sithis, I thought it might be worth my while to join.
But they don’t.
And it wasn’t.
My first kill was some crazed beggar in Ivarstead. Inconsequential. And after spending a day in their “sanctuary,” I’m out. I’m not about to waste my time killing beggars and standing around nattering all day with a group of psychopaths when I could be searching for Princes. Or finding Standing Stones. Or stealing skill books. Or…anything. Literally anything would be more useful and entertaining than settling scores for people who don’t have the stones to get their own hands dirty.
From petty assassin to petty thief, and errand girl for Maven Black-Briar…
But I’ve good reason for joining: I’m not sure if Brynjolf knows and is just keeping it secret, but something about that old book keeps calling my name. I think the Nightingales are real. And to speak with Nocturnal…
Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to train for a while, off the roadways. Too many patrols these days, and I don’t want to run into more justiciars without the skills to either evade or destroy. So down to the sewers I go.
Maven sent me to Whiterun on a job. Turns out, being her errand girl put me right where I need to be. I visited Jorrvaskr for some archery training. Aela’s eyes, and those of the older warriors seemed a little too wild, a little too…familiar.
Yes, Hircine’s favor, Hircine’s blessing, what that idiot Sinding was too stupid to understand. All that power is mine now, and although Aela and Farkas and Vilkas are interesting enough, I’m not in this to make friends or join a family. I took what I needed, and took my leave.
Dragons. Dragons have invaded Skyrim, and I’m of their lineage. Their blood runs in my veins.
Legendary, matchless power.
I may not yet have gained the knowledge of Apocrypha, but maybe that doesn't matter. Who’d be stupid enough to bother me, now?
Apparently, Balgruuf of Whiterun, for one. He sought to make me his Thane, and wouldn’t take no for an answer. But responsibility isn’t for me, and I’m not leaving Waterview. So I gave his axe to the woman he’d assigned as my housecarl, and ran. Hopefully he got the message.
And the Blades want to infiltrate the Thalmor embassy, to see if they have something to do with the dragons returning. I already know the answer - the Dominion doesn’t share power. Not even with dragons.
Not worth my time.
And lately, someone called Miraak is sending assassins my way. But I can kill them easily enough, and eventually they have to stop coming.
Don’t they?
I’m free. Finally, free.
Perhaps the only thing I had to do to find Hermaeus Mora was give up, and embrace a rival power. That's what I did, and that's just when he found me.
But Mora’s favor isn’t infinite knowledge - it’s a cage. At least it was for Miraak, after he’d seized it for his own agenda, and wound up trapped for millennia, desperate to escape.
Would that be my fate, I'd wondered. To seek the means to gain my own freedom, only to lose it in the end?
But I had no choice. I’d run from Solstheim, all the way back to Waterview, but it wasn’t far enough. Hermaeus Mora had me in his sight, and I could run nowhere he couldn’t see.
I had to fight. To kill Miraak. To prove I could be trusted outside Apocrypha - I had no intention of using my power to rule. Or to supplant.
And there at the Summit of Apocrypha, as Miraak so vainly described it, Hermaeus Mora made his choice: I would remain his servant, but free.
It’s an arrangement I’m fortunate to accept, and may still work in my favor.
Dragonborn. Wielder of shadows. Master of the arcane. Hircine’s favored.
Hermaeus Mora’s Champion.
If freedom can’t be mine for that price, well then...there's no such thing. Anywhere.
Moriane lay on her belly under her favorite pear tree. Her quill scratched across a worn leather journal, held open between crooked elbows.
I’ve finally shaken the dust of Solstheim from my boots. And as for those boots, they’re locked in a wardrobe along with the rest of my gear, save the Razor, and I always keep that close. Some Frostbites ventured too close to the garden yesterday, and I have to admit it felt good – just a little – to send those hairy bastards flying.
Stenvar should be back from Riften soon. The garden’s run wild in our absence, and although we can hunt for most of what we need, I’ve developed a craving for taffy, and I’ve never been good at making it myself.
She brushed the quill’s feather against her jaw and frowned before dipping her head to continue.
As well, I expect news. Before leaving for Solstheim, the only dragons to bother me were ones I called down by venturing too close to their lairs, but last week I thought I saw a shadow in the clouds. A dark, winged shadow, flying too fast for a flock.
Is it too much to ask that I might have a little peace?
A little comfort?
Moriane tossed her quill over her shoulder and rolled onto her back, staring up through webs of gold-leafed branches into shocking blue skies.
Nothing’s so beautiful as Autumn in the Rift.
What was it her mother used to call it?
She sighed and threw an arm over her face. “Frostfall’s bright blue weather,” she whispered. Her throat swelled and burned, and she sat up, clutching a hand to her chest. Could she be sick?
Her eyes burned as well, and she choked out a ragged breath and blinked, spilling hot tears down her cheeks and onto her tunic, dark blotches marring the caramel-colored linen.
“Fuck,” she muttered under her breath, and tried wiping them away. But more fell, faster and hotter, until her vision blurred behind the deluge.
Her dark little corner in Honorhall swam behind her eyes, and she shoved the memory away. The last time she’d cried, she’d been alone in that rickety little bed, scrubbing at her face with her scratchy blanket until her skin bled.
She’d use something softer this time.
Purple rings and smoke swirled in her palm. A grizzly bear appeared under a nearby apple tree, his red eyes boring into hers.
Moriane leaned back, stifling a loud hiccup, and patted the ground. The bear lumbered over and let out a rumbling growl before lowering itself at her side.
“You’re mine for three minutes, bear,” she rasped, her throat opening just enough to form the words. But it hurt, so much. She’d forgotten... how had she forgotten?
The tightness in her throat relaxed, and she let go, sobbing into the bear’s warm back, one hand twining into his fur. The bear whined and snuggled closer, nuzzling its cold nose into her leg.
Three minutes came and went, and again, purple swirls heralded a bear’s low growl. And again. And again.
Until blue skies gave way to pink and violet and indigo.
Until she had no tears left.
If you’re interested in more of what makes Moriane tick, click the link below for her Roleplay Profile or accompanying short story.
Thanks to everyone who helped with this, either through encouragement or inspiration or as a sounding board. You know who you are, and to say you're appreciated doesn't even come close. And thank you, everyone, for reading!
A shadow passed under the drifting birch canopy. Moriane looked up from her garden: black and gold robes, golden skin. Between two justiciars, a Nord man strode, his back straight, his hair the color of russet autumn leaves, his ragged tunic and trousers fading into the dusty road.
Moriane’s stomach knotted and burned. Her vision blurred.
"We will let them live..."
Moriane steadied her shaking hands, and reached for her bow without taking her eyes from her unwelcome guests.
“Your life…and that of your family is in your hands, Nord.”
Almost twenty years had passed since justiciars last visited Waterview. Her proud, auburn-haired father, his Amulet of Talos flashing in the sun, had made an easy target.
But, they’d given him a choice.
“Repudiate the man, Tiber Septim, and we will let your wife and…daughter,” the Altmer said, nodding toward the tiny girl cowering at the foot of a pear tree, “we will let them live.”
Her mother’s green eyes swam with tears, but her father’s chin rose. The justiciar’s eyes flared under a warm spray of spittle. Golden lips curved in a smirk, and the sharp scent of ozone floated on a lazy summer breeze.
Moriane blinked and pulled an arrow. She watched the Nord stumble, and pictured the family he might have left behind. A wife? A daughter? She wondered, her heart beating faster, if he’d chosen his dead god over those who needed him most.
As her own father had done.
Moriane rose to a crouch. Her boots slipped in soft soil. She nocked the arrow and squinted over a blackberry bramble, the justiciar’s golden, graceful neck in her sight.
Her body shook beneath a wave of rage.
No.
Moriane blinked again, and her arrow sailed over brambles and hedges, striking its target with a squelching thud.
Dust rose and swirled around the once-proud Nord, now facedown and lifeless in the dirt.
Both justiciars slowly turned her way, lightning wreathing their fingers in blue and silver sparks.
Moriane dropped her bow, and ran.
The Dark Mirror tells the tale of Moriane – or Freya Brandy-Wood, as she was known during her childhood at Waterview. And for years after that childhood ended, after her father’s careless pride left her alone, abandoned to the mercy of Grelod the Kind.
Grelod’s abuse and unconcealed hatred – and repeated assurance Freya would amount to nothing – failed to accomplish its goal. Freya remained unbroken, roaming Riften’s streets, observing thieves and extortionists play under the guise of reputable businessmen.
Observing…and learning.
When Freya first arrived in Riften, she’d been sure no one knew what Grelod did behind closed doors – if they knew, they’d do something.
Anything.
But no. Watching Riften’s citizens – mostly Nords like her parents – turn blind eyes to Honorhall’s most vulnerable residents, she realized two things above all: first, she mattered to no one but herself, and no one mattered to her. And second, only those with power and wealth escaped the misery and bondage of life in Skyrim.
Or, rose above it.
For someone like her to acquire either – well…she’d have to take it. But to do so, she needed knowledge.
Luckily, the library of Mistveil Keep slept, quiet and deserted in the early morning hours. So she sneaked inside while Grelod believed her to be begging, and read everything she could. She took Grelod’s beatings, when she came back empty-handed, with as much pride as her father had, as he’d spat into the justiciar’s face and sealed his fate.
And hers.
For Freya’s heart beat with a silent, solemn promise: I will return. When I have power, I will return.
And you will tremble.
Freya took her first step toward fulfilling that promise, one rainy afternoon just before her sixteenth birthday. She happened across a strange little book. The Doors of Oblivion it was titled, an unfinished tale of forbidden and arcane magic, of a mage called Morian Zenas and his quest for infinite knowledge. And a mysterious journey to Apocrypha - the realm of Hermaeus Mora.
The mage’s very name tugged at her soul, and she took it for her own. For she knew, then, his quest would be hers. She, too, would catch the eye of Hermaeus Mora, the Daedric Prince of Knowledge and Fate.
And power would be hers for the taking. She would be, as she’d desired all her life to be...
Untouchable.
Race: Nord. Imperious Races allows frost resistance and boosts combat damage as health decreases (Warrior’s Heart). After completing the quest “Avatar,” Magicka/Stamina Regen may power up once per day. Choose an enemy race (The Purge) for bonus damage at Levels 10/20/30. Moriane chose Altmer, Orc, and Breton.
Gender: Female
Stat Spread: 2/2/1 until Level 20. Then, 1/1/2. Reason? I didn’t use SpellScribe or Bloodskal Blade until after Level 20, so I didn’t use many power attacks until then. If you plan to use more, adjust your distribution accordingly.
Morality: “Summon the daedra! I’ll trade the soul of every last subject of mine for a little comfort!”
Neutral Evil: Queen Potema she’s not – Moriane has no interest in ruling. Power is leverage. She’ll use it to be left alone. But she has nothing against killing, raising the dead, or using black soul gems, for whatever reason, as long as it suits her ends. And comfort is an end.
Standing Stone: all of them. I settled on the Shadow Stone at Level 36. See Quests and Gameplay.
Difficulty: Expert. I felt challenged. But if you choose to take some of this build and play with it and feel like you need more, knock yourself out. Literally, game-wise, at least.
Waterview: a player home. Along with entertaining aspects like soap and clothmaking, and a working shower and bathroom (you don’t know joy until you’ve walked in on your follower on the toilet), there's space for a ginormous garden and plantables from Beyond Skyrim: Bruma.
Andromeda: changes blessings and burdens of Skyrim’s Standing Stones.
Thunderchild: adds new Shouts and new miniquests “Acolyte of the Voice” and “Champion of Kyne." Pay homage to Kyne and oomph up your Shouts a bit. Or a lot, depending on how devout you are.
Imperious Races: this build can be played without it. But I like the new bonuses.
Ordinator: revamps perk trees, adds new perks. Some are fantastic, some not so much, but I do use SpellScribe, so it’s worth installing for that.
Perk Points at 50/75/100: adds one extra perk point when skills hit milestone levels.
Apocalypse: new spells!
Alternate Start: I opted to start as an outlaw in the wild, to go with Moriane’s backstory. But the main reason I like this mod is the obvious: you control when dragons appear. So many things this character does, she would never do if dragons were flying about. For my roleplay, a start with no dragons is much more realistic.
Arcane Accessories: Creation Club. Adds new spells and robes. Actually, not really new spells. Some are old ones I remember from Oblivion. But they’re fun.
Arcane Archer: Creation Club. Adds elemental arrows (fire, ice, and lightning). Note: you’re not the only one who has cool arrows. Your enemies do, too.
Archery: combined with poison, used as an opening salvo for most combat situations. Especially useful against Seekers, Dragons, Briarhearts and other enemies I don’t want to fight in close quarters.
Favorite Perk: Clean Kill (bonus damage to targets with full health).
Bows: Ebony with shock enchantment.
One-Handed: she likes the way the sword feels in her hand, the ease with which it sits at her hip. It’s powerful, yet fast enough to use while sneaking. Plenty of enemies get past ranged attacks; good swordsmanship is essential.
Favorite Perk:Furious Strength (bonus damage for power attacks. Combines well with SpellScribe).
Swords: Dawnbreaker.
Dagger: Mehrunes’ Razor.
Light Armor: yes, she’s a Nord, but she’s also sneaky and fast. It’s easier to be both in light armor.
Favorite Perk: Initiative (bonus Stamina regen).
Fur and Leather; Thieves Guild and Shrouded Armors; Deathbrand.
Alchemy: multi-effect potions and poisons are more useful than standard versions. Plus, paralysis and invisibility potions are profitable.
Favorite Perk: so many. Experimenter reveals all effects with one bite. Bottomless Cup allows multiple hits off one poison. Alkahest decreases target’s armor rating for the duration of a poison’s effect.
Hail Mary: fortify health + restore health + fortify conjuration (Wheat, Blue Mt. Flower, Frost Salts). For that last ditch effort at the end of a hard fight.
Firewall: resist fire + restore health (Ash Grass Pod, Motherwort (Waterview), Blisterwort).
Hasty Retreat: invisibility + regenerate health + restore magicka (Luna Moth Wing, Vampire Dust, Mora Tapinella). When the fight’s not over, but you might be if you don’t run.
Nothing Personal: fortify sneak + fortify marksman (Juniper Berries, Ash Grass Pod, Green Stain Cup (Waterview)). Business as usual.
Bloodfeud: fortify sneak + fortify one-handed (Bear Claw, Ash Grass Pod, Hawk Feather). You need to feel the life drain from your prey.
Steady Target: slow + damage health (Deathbell, River Betty). Great for speedy enemies. Like Forsworn.
Die Hard: paralysis + damage health (Imp Stool, Canis Root, Deathbell). Finish the enemy off or just leave him to die.
Buzzkill: damage magicka regen + damage health (Nightshade, Spriggan Sap, Deathbell). Great for mages. Use right after Shouting Arcane Helix (Thunderchild, reduces resistance to magic) and most mages should be easy work with dual cast Elemental Blast or a SpellScribe attack.
Sneak: especially with Shadow Stone bonuses and Shadow Step power unlocked, speedy sneaking is nice. And the bonus for staying close to walls feels realistic.
Destruction: Elemental Blast (Arcane Accessories). Fire and shock damage.
Favorite Perk: Dual Casting (empowers spells cast with both hands). Depending on which enemy you’re fighting, weaknesses, etc., dual casted spells with the Demolition Job (Sneak) perk may be more effective than opening with the bow.
Conjuration: Send minions into the fight after you put away your bow, but before picking up your sword.
Favorite Perk: Planemeld (summon minions farther away).
Pride of Hirstaang (Arcane Accessories spell): conjures a bear, plus frost resistance and faster health regen.
It’s Raining Bears: stand on a barrow overwalk and conjure these guys below while you shoot enemies with fire and lightning. Great for clearing rooms.
Conjure Seeker: useful against other Seekers and Miraak himself.
Conjure Dremora Pit Fighter (Apocalypse): when I need someone to inflict physical damage who’s more nimble than a bear.
Illusion: Ghostwalk (Apocalypse). It’s an invisibility spell combined with teleport. Sneak up behind an unsuspecting enemy and then get whisked back to where you cast the spell for safety. And Fenrik’s Welcome (Arcane Accessories) cracks all locks up to Expert level.
Enchanting: the perks Soul Siphon and SpellScribe are essential. Soul Siphon steals part of a creature’s soul and recharges enchanted weapons. I had to carry maybe one or two soul gems after acquiring. And SpellScribe allows you to store and release a dual-cast spell with a power attack, free of charge. It even works on unarmed attacks.
Two-Handed: Bloodskal Blade.
Speech: perked to make Shouts more effective.
Alteration: Ocato’s Recital: store 3 spells that release automatically when combat begins, free of charge.
I know, it’s a build, not an article, but I accidentally discovered something cool about this sword (I panicked while Ethereal and swung. I missed, but the red energy blast knocked back an enemy, and didn’t break the Ethereal-ness. Also, I didn’t lose stamina). I know you all know about that already, but it was news to me, and I wondered why. Why would that work, and what’s the deal with the sword opening the door in the first place?
The Bloodskal Blade also deals bonus damage to Zahkriisos, but to no other dragon priest. I didn’t catch that during the fight; I was too busy trying to stay alive. Anyway, that got me thinking. His name can be translated two ways. Zahkrii-Sos (sword-blood) or Zah-Krii-Sos (finite-kill-blood). And I know there’s not much mention of blood magic in TES, but here we have an old Nord clan called Bloodskal. In some Scandinavian languages, “skal” means bowl or basin or container. And there’s the red energy blasts that connect the sword to the door and to Zahkriisos. Could it be, the clan used blood magic? And whoever enchanted the blade imbued it with the blood of Zahkriisos himself. Remember Jayred Ice-Veins from the Shivering Isles? He said “the best way to kill something is with the bones of its own.”
Yes, he was under influence of the Madgod, but it works here. Only with blood, instead of bones. Make the dragon priest finite. Limit him. Kill him with his own blood.
Suit Up: Ocato’s Recital loaded with Alarm (Apocalypse), Stoneflesh, and Muffle. Alarm lets you know when enemies get close, and there's one notification for each enemy. I'm not sure why Alarm casts first, given the conditions of Ocato's Recital, but it does - as soon as the enemy crosses the perimeter of the spell. The latter two cast when you’re detected by an enemy, which is great because Muffle kicks in and sometimes helps the enemy lose you again, especially with Shadow Stone equipped, if sneaking near a wall. I tried equipping cloak spells, but they just injured my allies, making them less effective in the fight.
BloodWind: Conjure Seeker + Become Ethereal + Bloodskal Blade. The blade’s energy blasts inflict damage without breaking the Shout, while the Seeker inflicts physical damage, and you expend no stamina while power-attacking. Used in situations like Gyldenhul Barrow where there's no place to run for a cooldown.
StormSword: Curse or Marked for Death + SpellScribe (Elemental Blast) + sword of your choice – effect can vary based on the sword’s base enchantment. If you’re fighting two or more enemies, you can angle the blast so you earn physical damage for melee and ranged damage for enemies further back.
Variation using Bloodskal Blade – Mola Ram’s Special: using my headcanon (Bloodskal Blade is imbued with Zahkriisos’s blood), you’re using fire and blood to kill your enemies. The goddess Kali would be proud.
Variation using Dawnbreaker: use this in rooms full of undead.
Eidolon's Fury: Ghostwalk + StormSword (excluding the Shout). I used Mehrunes’ Razor or an ebony sword for the most part. Bloodskal won’t work. Sneak up behind someone and attack with crazy fury and then teleport back to a safe distance. For barrow bosses, it’s easy to do this multiple times until they’re dead. This can also be accomplished with the power Shadow Step, but there’s less control since it’s a dash or blink rather than a walk, and you don’t get the teleport.
Variation: SpellScribe doesn’t break invisibility, either using spells or potions, as long as your sword doesn’t hit a target. So if you can’t get to melee range and you don’t have the magicka to cast blast spells, swing your sword and get the same effect.
Adding homemade poisons may be useful, depending on your landscape, your enemy, and the enemy’s weakness. Especially with the Bottomless Cup perk. And if you’re in a tight spot, drink a Hail Mary potion and conjure your best minion to distract the enemy.
Moriane’s combat tactics are formulaic: Shoot (arrows or spells) – Conjure – Shout – Slash. Repeat. But a few situations call for specialized attention.
Dragons: hell, this applies to all opponents, if possible. The first thing Moriane would do is try to lure the enemy to a more populated place. Especially a town with armed guards. Yes, people will die, but there’s a better chance she won’t with others attracting attention and shooting. That’s what matters to her. And while the dragon is distracted, use Marked for Death or Curse, appropriate elemental arrows, and when it’s finally down, Stormsword. If you have the Magicka, Conjure Seeker.
Seekers: Fire arrows and a bow with Weakness to Fire poison applied.
Lurkers: any arrows, and a bow with Die Hard applied. If possible, trap them in doorways they’re too big to go through, or make them fall off walkways.
Heavily-Armored Warriors: frost spells, for Stamina damage as well as Health.
Briarhearts: gods, if I knew what to do about these assholes, this game would be much more fun. I die at least three times every time I come across one, and that’s with great armor, weapons, poisons, followers, and conjured minions. And that one time I live? I can admit that’s pretty much all down to luck.
You might have noticed from her skills and perk spreads, Moriane's not a specialist. She’s a dabbler, an experimenter. She wants to try everything interesting. Or profitable.
At the beginning of the game, stay off main roads. You're an outlaw, after all, and don't want to be caught by patrols. Once you've reached Riften and join the Thieves Guild, relax the rule.
Don't fast travel. Use the journey for experience. Pick flowers to stuff your apothecary satchel. Use wildlife for target practice and sell or craft the pelts. This gameplay is especially valuable in the beginning, while you're staying off main roads and while you have the Lady's lunar familiar to assist you with any tougher enemies you might encounter off the beaten path.
Keep an Amulet of Talos in your pack as a reminder: your own father didn’t care if you lived or died, so why should you care for anyone else? It also serves as a private little fuck you to him and the Thalmor.
As a less-private fuck you, feel free to take care of any Thalmor patrols you're confident fighting. Eidolon's Fury works, as long as there aren’t too many justiciars. Be sure to take out the Nord prisoner as well. Nords let you down just as much as Thalmor – more, even, as they’re kin.
Entanglements aren’t for you. Ignore petitioners for assistance. And you’re not one to get married, especially not in Mara's Temple. Hire help or conjure it, and keep it businesslike. Even though Stenvar’s starting to grow on you, since he gives you random bottles of wine. It’s nice. You might keep him around.
Speaking of Temples, steer clear. You have no interest in the divines, as they’ve shown no interest in you.
Same for the Civil War. Both sides can burn in Oblivion for all you care.
My mother told me stories of people in Tamriel born under a sign, who must live with its assets and liabilities. Not so in Skyrim - we’re free to choose our fate. And I need to know what it’s like to hunt with the Lady’s familiar at my side, or scale a mountain with the Lord’s burden weighing me down. Or race a saber cat across the tundra, courtesy of the Steed, without breaking a sweat.
But, if I’m being honest, I know after I try them all, I’ll return to the Shadow. And there I’ll stay.
I know it in my heart.
Perhaps we’re not so free, here in Skyrim, as we imagine.
Molag Bal doesn’t play, I’ll give him that. Or maybe having me kill two people to gain his favor is his idea of fun. He’s a Daedra,after all, and can do as he pleases. I killed for Hircine as well, although no one’s going to call Sinding’s killer to justice, after what he did in Falkreath.
If that dusty old Colovian journal I found is correct, if I truly have to complete quests for every Daedric Prince before Hermaeus Mora will give me a second look, I hope they’ll keep their targets out of public view. Getting caught and thrown in prison isn’t part of the plan. Not even the Oghma Infinium is worth life in a cage.
I kept my promise and killed Grelod. I felt nothing. It went too quickly, I think. I should have found some way to make an evening of it, but in the end I value freedom over revenge. The next evening, the Dark Brotherhood paid me a visit - someone else had decided to get rid of that monster, after all. She’d been their kill, so I owed them one. Fair enough. The mouthy Khajiit made it easy; still, I felt nothing.
Seemed a match made in the Void, the Brotherhood and I.
And Sithis. If the Brotherhood speaks to Sithis, I thought it might be worth my while to join.
But they don’t.
And it wasn’t.
My first kill was some crazed beggar in Ivarstead. Inconsequential. And after spending a day in their “sanctuary,” I’m out. I’m not about to waste my time killing beggars and standing around nattering all day with a group of psychopaths when I could be searching for Princes. Or finding Standing Stones. Or stealing skill books. Or…anything. Literally anything would be more useful and entertaining than settling scores for people who don’t have the stones to get their own hands dirty.
From petty assassin to petty thief, and errand girl for Maven Black-Briar…
But I’ve good reason for joining: I’m not sure if Brynjolf knows and is just keeping it secret, but something about that old book keeps calling my name. I think the Nightingales are real. And to speak with Nocturnal…
Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to train for a while, off the roadways. Too many patrols these days, and I don’t want to run into more justiciars without the skills to either evade or destroy. So down to the sewers I go.
Maven sent me to Whiterun on a job. Turns out, being her errand girl put me right where I need to be. I visited Jorrvaskr for some archery training. Aela’s eyes, and those of the older warriors seemed a little too wild, a little too…familiar.
Yes, Hircine’s favor, Hircine’s blessing, what that idiot Sinding was too stupid to understand. All that power is mine now, and although Aela and Farkas and Vilkas are interesting enough, I’m not in this to make friends or join a family. I took what I needed, and took my leave.
Dragons. Dragons have invaded Skyrim, and I’m of their lineage. Their blood runs in my veins.
Legendary, matchless power.
I may not yet have gained the knowledge of Apocrypha, but maybe that doesn't matter. Who’d be stupid enough to bother me, now?
Apparently, Balgruuf of Whiterun, for one. He sought to make me his Thane, and wouldn’t take no for an answer. But responsibility isn’t for me, and I’m not leaving Waterview. So I gave his axe to the woman he’d assigned as my housecarl, and ran. Hopefully he got the message.
And the Blades want to infiltrate the Thalmor embassy, to see if they have something to do with the dragons returning. I already know the answer - the Dominion doesn’t share power. Not even with dragons.
Not worth my time.
And lately, someone called Miraak is sending assassins my way. But I can kill them easily enough, and eventually they have to stop coming.
Don’t they?
I’m free. Finally, free.
Perhaps the only thing I had to do to find Hermaeus Mora was give up, and embrace a rival power. That's what I did, and that's just when he found me.
But Mora’s favor isn’t infinite knowledge - it’s a cage. At least it was for Miraak, after he’d seized it for his own agenda, and wound up trapped for millennia, desperate to escape.
Would that be my fate, I'd wondered. To seek the means to gain my own freedom, only to lose it in the end?
But I had no choice. I’d run from Solstheim, all the way back to Waterview, but it wasn’t far enough. Hermaeus Mora had me in his sight, and I could run nowhere he couldn’t see.
I had to fight. To kill Miraak. To prove I could be trusted outside Apocrypha - I had no intention of using my power to rule. Or to supplant.
And there at the Summit of Apocrypha, as Miraak so vainly described it, Hermaeus Mora made his choice: I would remain his servant, but free.
It’s an arrangement I’m fortunate to accept, and may still work in my favor.
Dragonborn. Wielder of shadows. Master of the arcane. Hircine’s favored.
Hermaeus Mora’s Champion.
If freedom can’t be mine for that price, well then...there's no such thing. Anywhere.
Moriane lay on her belly under her favorite pear tree. Her quill scratched across a worn leather journal, held open between crooked elbows.
I’ve finally shaken the dust of Solstheim from my boots. And as for those boots, they’re locked in a wardrobe along with the rest of my gear, save the Razor, and I always keep that close. Some Frostbites ventured too close to the garden yesterday, and I have to admit it felt good – just a little – to send those hairy bastards flying.
Stenvar should be back from Riften soon. The garden’s run wild in our absence, and although we can hunt for most of what we need, I’ve developed a craving for taffy, and I’ve never been good at making it myself.
She brushed the quill’s feather against her jaw and frowned before dipping her head to continue.
As well, I expect news. Before leaving for Solstheim, the only dragons to bother me were ones I called down by venturing too close to their lairs, but last week I thought I saw a shadow in the clouds. A dark, winged shadow, flying too fast for a flock.
Is it too much to ask that I might have a little peace?
A little comfort?
Moriane tossed her quill over her shoulder and rolled onto her back, staring up through webs of gold-leafed branches into shocking blue skies.
Nothing’s so beautiful as Autumn in the Rift.
What was it her mother used to call it?
She sighed and threw an arm over her face. “Frostfall’s bright blue weather,” she whispered. Her throat swelled and burned, and she sat up, clutching a hand to her chest. Could she be sick?
Her eyes burned as well, and she choked out a ragged breath and blinked, spilling hot tears down her cheeks and onto her tunic, dark blotches marring the caramel-colored linen.
“Fuck,” she muttered under her breath, and tried wiping them away. But more fell, faster and hotter, until her vision blurred behind the deluge.
Her dark little corner in Honorhall swam behind her eyes, and she shoved the memory away. The last time she’d cried, she’d been alone in that rickety little bed, scrubbing at her face with her scratchy blanket until her skin bled.
She’d use something softer this time.
Purple rings and smoke swirled in her palm. A grizzly bear appeared under a nearby apple tree, his red eyes boring into hers.
Moriane leaned back, stifling a loud hiccup, and patted the ground. The bear lumbered over and let out a rumbling growl before lowering itself at her side.
“You’re mine for three minutes, bear,” she rasped, her throat opening just enough to form the words. But it hurt, so much. She’d forgotten... how had she forgotten?
The tightness in her throat relaxed, and she let go, sobbing into the bear’s warm back, one hand twining into his fur. The bear whined and snuggled closer, nuzzling its cold nose into her leg.
Three minutes came and went, and again, purple swirls heralded a bear’s low growl. And again. And again.
Until blue skies gave way to pink and violet and indigo.
Until she had no tears left.
If you’re interested in more of what makes Moriane tick, click the link below for her Roleplay Profile or accompanying short story.
Thanks to everyone who helped with this, either through encouragement or inspiration or as a sounding board. You know who you are, and to say you're appreciated doesn't even come close. And thank you, everyone, for reading!
