Corpus Tamrielicum - The Imperial Library

68 2. THE ELDER SCROLLS CHAPTER 2: DAGGERFALL
CONTESSA: If you want - just for a bit -
ADVENTURER: Here, have some wine ...
Enter Prologue
PROLOGUE: Here our worthy playwrite's speech has been heavily edited by the Guild of
Playwrites, Actors, and Dramatists. I will endeavor to fill in those removed passages. I should
first mention that the Contessa is not meant to be a relative of any noble currently in Castle
Daggerfall. The Contessa Aveet regales the Adventurer with tales of the peculiar and hearty
members of her royal family. She has many brothers and sisters. They are all very -- close.
CONTESSA: I think I must have been a bastard. I was the only one with red hair, and an
affinity for magicka. Everyone else tried to hide this skill of mine. I remember one spanking
very well ...
PROLOGUE: The Contessa relates further differences between her siblings.
CONTESSA: While my sisters were learning to curtsey in ten different modes, and my
brothers were learning flower-arranging, I used to sneak off into the woods or town. I soon
learnt how to get what I wanted, from just about anyone. Just for example, there was this
merchant who had three sons ...
PROLOGUE: The Contessa goes into detail about her training.
CONTESSA: I became quite good at the school of illusion. You never noticed me,
downstairs, did you?. I also learned how to use some weapons. Let me tell you how I learned
hand-to-hand ...
PROLOGUE: The Contessa relates an amusing anecdote, and then continues.
CONTESSA: And on bad days, I used to dig in my father's library. He had a marvelous
collection of old texts. I was fascinated by Old Dwarvish, managed to learn it quite well, I
think. Of course, no one has seen or spoken to one in years and years. So its probably
perfectly useless knowledge. But I've always had an interest in collecting new knowledge. At
the Mages Guild, they taught me an old High Elven tradition. You spread this potion all over
your body...
PROLOGUE: The Contessa relates her current state of boredom.
CONTESSA: The life up at the Palace bores me so. My sisters ...
PROLOGUE: The Contessa's sisters are entertaining some visitors.
CONTESSA: And my brothers are now studying Advanced Floral Theory, so I come down
here, do a little ... er ... business. I keep all my relations supplied with their favorite vices -- so
I can blackmail the whole rotten lot.
ADVENTURER: But isn't it dangerous, down here? Did I not hear that some young Contessa
got killed, recently?