Tamriel Rebuilt:Astius Claenia

Astius Claenia (TR_m1_Astius_Claenia)
Added by	Tamriel Rebuilt
Location	Astius Claenia's Hideout
Race	Imperial	Gender	Male
Level	5	Class	Warrior
Other Information
Health	84	Magicka	86
Alarm	100	Fight	30

Astius Claenia

Astius Claenia is an Imperial warrior who can be found in his cave hideout in the hills of Sunad Mora, northeast of Llothanis. He has been driven mad by the cascades of voices he hears in his head, and has a lot to say on a broad range of topics. Despite the implications of his dialogue, he does not offer training.

For protection, he wears an Imperial dragonscale helm, a steel cuirass, a pair of steel pauldrons, a set of iron greaves, a pair of iron boots, a pair of iron bracers, and a wooden tower shield. For clothing, he wears a pair of common pants. He wields a silver saber.

Aside from his natural charm and ability to absorb fatigue from others, he knows no spells.

Dialogue

• Greeting:

If Disposition is at least 40:

"Welcome, traveler, to my humble domain! Have you come to seek my wisdom? To find a little secret? Or to know what I have to say about the latest rumors? Maybe you need my training to help you overcome the challenges that stand in your path? The whispering voices will speak through my mouth and tell you everything you need to know!"

• ancestors:

"The Dunmer believe the spirits of the dead live on in our world. That's very possible. They still live, of course. Well, except for being dead. But they live. And they all have things to tell me. That's really annoying, sometimes. I just want them to shut up."

• Arena:

"Yes, the Arena. It's like war, but smaller. And with people who pay to see it. So it's not like war. But there's still men trying to bash each other's head in. It hurts a lot."

• Ashlander customs:

"A little-known Ashlander custom consists of sneaking into one's home at night and whispering nonsense into the ears of the sleeping. Really, the Ashlanders have strange superstitions."

• atrocities of war:

"Yes. War always results in atrocities. It's normal. That's the purpose. I should know. I've been in many, you know? Got that wound on the ear to prove it, too."

• Background:

"I'm just an old hermit. People chat behind my back, say I'm insane. Don't they know that I hear them? I hear them, I tell you! And they never shut up."

These lines have a random chance of appearing:

"While my name is Astius Claenia, most people know me only as the Unseen Shadow. Many jewels have I slain, many ladies have I stolen, and many foes have I ravished. I can hear from here the countless murmurs of envy, jealousy, and frustration that my adventurous life provokes. The tales and rumors about me never shut up."

"I am Captain Astius Claenia. No, I'm not a captain anymore. I am General %Name of Cavemoth Fort. And here you see my loyal legions. I would like them to shut up, however. SHUT UP!"

"I am Astia Claenius. No, Astius Claenia. I'm a well-respected scholar, and this is my palace. Do not mind the servants; they are a bit chatty, but if you ignore them they'll go back to their menial tasks."

• Black Marsh:

"A terrible place. I was there. Swamps, swamps everywhere. And the mosquitoes constantly buzzing. They would always drone in my ears, and whisper dark secrets and profanities. And everyone was being eaten by monsters. I still hear the cries."

• Boethiah's Spine:

"Yes, Boethiah's Spine. People here call the mountain range that. It annoys me, because its real name is the Claenian Mountains. Ask anybody here!"

• Census and Excise:

"A far as I know, I have been excised from the census."

• Daedra Lords:

"Daedra Lords... Yes, I have heard them called like that. But their real name is the Ramblers. Because that's what they do. Every night, they gather in my dreams and ramble. The worst is the barechested one. What drivel she spouts! Cute, though."

• destination:

"Destination? That's a strange concept. Like destiny. The idea you'll end up somewhere. I'll tell you something the ancestors told me, there is no destination. We all end up nowhere. Life is a journey without any destination."

• disturbing dreams:

"Dreams are never any more disturbing than the waking world. At least in my dreams I can pretend the voices do not exist for real. Will they ever shut up?"

• dreugh:

"Do not speak ill of the dreughs. They're good buddies. They're silent. My best friend was a dreugh, that is, until the voices told him to attack me. I had to kill him. Still, I mourn him, in the name of the friendship we had until that fateful day when I swam in the waterfall's lake. Before, every day I would go to the lake to look at the fall, and there he was, talking to me by snapping his pincers and waving his tentacles. I did not understand what he said, but he seemed so passionate!"

• duty:

"Ah, duties. A good subject. They're the worst enemies a man can face. Against them, there's no victory possible. Vanquish one, and another takes its place. The only way to win is to flee and hide."

• echo of souls:

"Oh yes I do hear them. Countless souls screaming their thoughts. It is tiresome. I wish they would shut up."

• Empire:

"Are you sure there is an Empire? I hear the tumultuous echo of souls from this world, and let me tell you, there's no way to make something harmonious out of that cacophonous discordance."

• Imperial Legion:

"Would the Empire need a legion if the whole continent was united? The Empire will fall because it needs a legion. Legions are never there when you need them."

• Khajiit:

"Of this I am sure: I am not a Khajiit. Definitely not. I've never heard sugar telling me anything. Probably the only thing that doesn't aggress my ears."

• latest rumors:

These lines have a random chance of appearing:

"Colovian helms are a silly stereotype the Dunmer have of Colovians. If you ever go to the Colovian West, you'll see nobody there wears such a hat."

"Most people think the book N'Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis! is about Sloadic necromancy. In reality, it's about hopeful frogs."

"King Lothun of Hammerfell wants his scholars to find a document establishing the real identity of his eldest brother."

"They claim King Helseth is a cunning and ruthless politician. If he were, wouldn't he have become King of Wayrest?"

"The island of Vvardenfell is under a blockade. Some sort of restrictions on travel by the East Empire Company, or sombody [sic]... because of the Blight, I think. As a result, there are smugglers everywhere."

"The Telvanni live in mushroom pods and think they are insects. Their government is called the Parliament of Bugs."

"Do you think the child of Tiber Septim and Barenziah was ever born? If so, where is he now?"

"Have you read the Lessons of Vivec? I think you should. I've heard they were written for you."

"The Dunmer think Cyrodiil is a jungle. Hah! They've never been to the Imperial Province! Black Marsh, now, that is a jungle."

"The Altmer pretend they are the best wizards, however many of them are unable to keep their clothes on when they give the sign of Recall. It's not that exciting, is it?"

"Animals are not allowed in temples and chapels. Because of that, they can't use healing altars. Therefore, animals are often diseased."

"There once was a race of elves living in Skyrim. They were called Falmer. Now they've blended in with the Dunmer of Morrowind. That's why the Dunmer sometimes have a blueish face."

"There once was a race of elves living in Skyrim. They were called Falmer. Now they have hidden themselves away in caves in High Rock."

"There once was a race of elves living in Skyrim. They were called Falmer. Now they are all shriveled and nasty, and they reek!"

"There once was a race of elves living in Skyrim. They were called Falmer. Now they are all dead."

"Many people have remarked brown plates are more durable than blue plates. It seems the color blue makes things more brittle. That is why the Falmer disappeared, they were blue, and thus brittle."

"The Mages Guild is evil. They say they're teaching spells and training people, but they're actually trying to keep all magic for themselves. Every year, a few more spells strangely disappear from spellbooks -- and nobody seems to notice. If it continues, even staples such as levitation will be no more."

"One day, a former convict will be hailed as a saint and savior of Vvardenfell. The voices told me that. They also told me he'll be tragically killed by the will of Daedra Lords, though. Pity."

"I've heard whispers coming from the depths of the earth, as if there were an underground village, inhabited by Orcs lost in Oblivion. Hah! What an idea!"

"Everything dies one day. Even gods are not safe from that law."

• little secret:

"House Telvanni is not a unified front. The power-hungry among their lot pine for greater standing in the heartlands, close to Port Telvannis. But others, those too ambitious to even pretend to respect Temple decrees, had no qualms about settling on the Blighted Island centuries ago."

These lines have a random chance of appearing:

"House Telvanni's capital is Port Telvannis."

"Imperial presence is very weak in that area of Morrowind. There's Firewatch and Bal Oyra. Every other city is controlled by House Telvanni."

"Do not trust the Telvanni. Some of them are insane. And you can't trust insane persons."

"I often speak about the wars I was in, and the wounds I got. But I'm not sure whether I actually went to any war or suffered any wound. It may just be the stories told by the voices."

"The guards in Port Telvannis are very strict about that Hospitality Papers nonsense. Keep that in mind if you go there one day."

"If you need help, you're on your own. The Telvanni are extremely individualistic, and they have nothing but contempt for needy outlanders."

"Avoid paying a visit to my closest neighbors. They are not nice fellows."

"Verana Eindari at Ranyon-ruhn is an unhappy wife."

"I don't know what the Abolitionists really want. If Helseth were to abolish slavery, would they be happy? I doubt it."

"Owning slaves is not just a way to have less menial work to do yourself, for the Telvanni. It's also a question of status. I don't care, I'm an outcast. And if I had slaves, I'm afraid they would never shut up."

"Necromancy is illegal in Morrowind, but that doesn't mean it's not there. Necromancers are easy enough to find, when you know where to search. Of course, since they're outlaws, they're usually not happy about being found."

"Most mole crab armors are made with shells that came from the Sarvanni Mole Crab Farm."

"There are smugglers and undead in Aranyon Pass. Nasty place. Avoid it, if at all possible."

"You can read books at the Firewatch Library for free. When you don't have voices to teach you obscure knowledge, books are a good second choice."

"There's an assassin in Firewatch. Beware of the serpent's poisoned fangs!"

"Sometimes, people claim to see the gods. But nobody else saw the divine apparition. So these people are considered mad. Ah! As if they were!"

"The saints with the golden helms are marvelous partners, for a dance. But why am I telling you this? You don't look like you know how to dance."

• my trade:

"I'm a wizard. No, a thief. No, a king. Wait, I think I'm actually a warrior. At least, I have the training of one."

• my training:

"Yes, the voices taught me a lot of things. I can teach them to you. For a price. I need to buy booze for all these thirsty voices. They never know when to shut up."

• Mystery of the Dwarves:

"The Dwarves, as their name implies, were small. But what people do not know is that they wanted to be even more dwarven than they already were. So they built an idol to which they give all their height, and the idol became gigantic, while the dwarves become so small that you can't see them anymore. And now, they all live in my left ear, where they've built their new city. I can hear them talking, chanting, digging tunnels in my skin..."

• Parliament of Bugs:

"It's the place where the Telvanni chat about politics. Always negotiating things and making pacts that they intend to betray. The atmosphere is so thick with Telvanni bug musk that the scent can make you faint. That's the origin of the name, by the way."

• seek my wisdom:

"My wisdom is great and terrible to behold, as I am wise to the ways of the immaterial. I see beyond mental stress and peer in Oblivion itself. I hear the song of the crystalline bones buried deep in the earth, and I know their longing to be reunited to the stars. I can tell you everything you need to know, but that you know not you need. The question is, will I?"

• shut up:

"There are voices that I always hear. They will never shut up. Never! People think I'm mad, the voices told me. But I think it's those who pretend they don't hear them that are mad. The echo of souls is everywhere."

This line has a small chance of appearing:

"Once I told it to a skeleton, who stood by a porch; and the door he opened wide. A white mare's pearly horn, hidden far behind a torch, was waiting for me inside. The crone foretell the crown who fell, the dagger fainting, the gem and the painting!"

• skeleton:

"Skeletons are nice. I have one and I'm very happy with it. And I think it is very happy with me too, because, thanks to me, it is clothed in flesh and skin."

• specific place:

"'Here' is the most specific place I know of. For now, it's my hideout. But if you leave, for you it'll be outside and for me it'll still be inside! I don't see why you want to go to a specific place. Wherever you go, you'll always only be here. Only here matters."

• taunt the Daedra:

"Taunting the daedra doesn't seem a good idea. Most of them have no sense of humor."

Notes

• Some of his dialogue contains outdated information about released Tamriel Rebuilt content, like Bal Oyra being an Imperial town. Some of his dialogue also makes meta references to more recent Elder Scrolls games, and do not necessarily reflect current Tamriel Rebuilt and Project Tamriel planning.