I've been writing shortfic for Mirri & Varanis prior to playing with her, and figured I'd continue. Spoilers ahoy for Blackwood, Companion interactions, and past content. Updates will be quite sporadic.
Brigadine Andricus folded his arms and scowled at Mirri, and the stranger riding up behind her on a flaming panther.
"I'm not helping you mount a suicidal rescue mission," he declared.
"Then you can watch me kick the arse of every cultist standing between me and my little brother," Mirri snapped back.
"Sucidal rescue missions from evil cults are sort of my thing," Varanis Arano said, dismounting in a plume of ash and fire. "Where do I sign up?"
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On the outside, the Doomvault Vulpinaz was a typical daedric shrine. Black, red, and everything set at slightly unsettling angles. On the inside, more black, more red, unsettling angles, glowing letters in daedric script, the works. Oh, and the assorted cultists and daedric beasties.
"You're taking this all in stride." Mirri observed, as Varanis burned two cultists to ashes and then promptly turned to rifle through the bookshelves for new books.
"It's just another Daedric ruin. I've been in dozens."
Mirri pointed to a break in the wall, through which a fiery sky and large spiked towers could be seen. "That's not our sky."
"Er, no. It's not Coldharbor either."
"Coldharbor?"
"That's a long story we don't have time for right now."
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Asking far too casually for someone grappling over a lava chasm to break a soul gem array and stop a nasty ritual, Mirri said, "Did I mention I'm a Daedrologist?"
"No."
"It's my main field of study. I don't worship the Daedra, I promise, but I'm fascinated by the Anticipations, the Princes, and their cults. You've really been to Coldharbor?"
"Yes."
Mirri took a deep breath. "Are you Varanis Arano the Vestige who defeated Molag Bal, Nocturnal, Clavicle Vile and who's been to half a dozen daedric realms and come out alive?"
"Aren't we supposed to be rescuing Eolaf and your brother from a ritual that's probably killing them right now?"
"Er, right. We should do that."
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"The real Xigira?" Mirri repeated after Ardia. "She's a fetching Daedra? No wonder this cult is nuts. I think they're trying to turn this place into the Deadlands."
"If it makes you feel any better," Varanis said, "the Planemeld didn't end too well for the Worm Cult. And we usually managed to rescue the Mages Guild members they kidnap to summon their dolmens."
"Usually? Xigira keeps threatening my little brother!"
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From above, Xigira taunted them, "You can listen to your brother Liam's screams as you stand helpless in front of my sealed gate!"
"I'll fetching kill you!" Mirri screamed back.
A grinding noise came from behind her, and she spun around. Varanis hauled a long black lever into position. "One down, two to go. Xigira, you gotta work on your puzzles, this is easy adventurer stuff."
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Safely back in camp, Mirri fussed over her brother, alternating between bandaging him up and berating the Brigandine for his lack of help.
"Oh, get a real job." The Brigandine said, exasperated.
"I'll have you know I'm a member of the Fighters Guild in good standing."
"Uh, huh." He eyed Varanis. "And I suppose you're going to tell me you're the Vestige."
"Yes, she is," Mirri said, before she could answer. "And I'm going to accompany her as part of my Daedrologist duties for the Fighters Guild!"
"You are?" Varanis asked.
"Of course! You can't turn down a fellow comrade, right?"
"I..." Under her breath, Varanis muttered, "I turned down Bera so many times she's taken to shouting at me in the street when I walk by. But if the rumors about the Four Ambitions are true?"
To Mirri, she said, "Sure. I could use the help of a Daedrologist."
"Great!"
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Outakes:
1. Varanis hauled a long black lever into position. "One down, two to go. I'll take the one on the right. Mirri, you go get the one on the left." She headed down the right path toward the grapple point.
Mirri didn't move. "Er, I can't pull levers."
"Your little brother's soul is at stake and you can't pull a lever to save him?"
2. "You can't turn down a fellow comrade, right?" Mirri asked, confident she had Varanis dead to rights.
"Do you know how many times I've turned down Stuga's quest?"
