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For some reason I felt like writing out a post detailing the story I had originally intended to write before Aeronwen convinced me to not put her through the main quest again. Of course it's always possible that I might decide to go down this road in my game, and if I do, please forgive me for spoiling it.
Now for the cut because this post will be lengthy.
Neldor was originally written as someone who was adopted by the people who raised him and that there is no way of knowing who his real parents really were. Why did I do that? To give him an uncertain parentage. Why? Because he was supposed to be the Nerevarine. And I don't mean just mantling Nerevar. I mean that back in the First Era Neldor was Nerevar. This is why he has an aversion to politics and power and just wants to live a quite life. Somewhere in his spirit, Neldor remembers being betrayed and slain by the Tribunal.
This is also why his story begins with him having been in the Imperial prison. While he was there, the Emperor saw that Neldor met the requirements for the prophesy, so he had him pulled from the prison and sent to Vvardenfell. Unfortunately for the Emperor, all Neldor did was drop the package on Caius' doorstep, knocked on the door, and went away. A little while later, Princess Aeronwen was brought to the Emperor's attention, so he had "Potential Nerevarine #2" sent to Vvardenfell. Little did he know that #1 and #2 would meet, become involved with each other and want to live quietly in the wilderness.
The Emperor isn't having much luck with his potential Nerevarines' in this universe, is he?
Anyway, the original story; after a number of side adventures, Neldor and Aeronwen do get caught up in the main quest with Constance, and possibly Julan, tagging along. Dagoth Ur has unfortunately been pestering the banished princess in her dreams;
Voryn: "You should be the Queen, a Queen who will cast down the false gods of the Tribunal and free her people from the Imperial yoke. It's your duty. You cannot turn your back on what you were born to do."
Eventually they all go to Ilunibi, where both Neldor and Aeronwen are infected with corprus. With Aeronwen having Dagoth blood in her veins, she's able to stand up to its effects longer than Neldor, who is delirious and unable to do anything for himself when the group goes to Tel Fyr in search of a cure.
Tel Fyr can only cure one of them. So Aeronwen makes the frightening walk through the corprusarium, retrieves the Dwemer boots that Fyr wants, then tells him to give the cure to Neldor. The cure is successful. Neldor is now immune to all diseases and aging. Aeronwen unfortunately is still infected with corprus and there is no cure at Tel Fyr for her. Not wanting to be locked in the corprusarium, but also not wanting to become a danger to anyone, she slips away and heads for Ghostgate.
Neldor catches up with her right before she goes through the gate and they have a tearful goodbye. It's too painful for Aeronwen to be touched, so Neldor cannot hug her. Wracked with grief, he sinks to his knees and weeps while grasping the hem of her travel robe.
[Cue The Flame by Cheap Trick for the background music]
Neldor remains there on the ground while Aeronwen goes through the Ghostgate and heads up the mountain to Dagoth Ur. Eventually he drags himself back to their home and the Great House Dagoth questline begins.
Eventually Aeronwen and Neldor see each other again, but they can't just pick up where they left off because of what she has become. The main quest continues, leading up to the them (and Constance and Julan) going to the Cave of the Incarnate.
I have not worked out the details, but somehow the Moon-and-Star ring ends up in Neldor's hands and Azura appears, confirming that he is indeed the Nerevarine. Julan has his moment of shock before teleporting away.
After more drama and dealing with the Great Houses, Neldor is deeply conflicted about fulfilling the prophesy. He knows that Dagoth Ur and the blight must be stopped, but Aeronwen (and the other Heartwights) will die when the Heart is freed. Eventually Aeronwen convinces Neldor that he must free the Heart. She will not allow all of Morrowind, and possibly all of Tamriel, to be blighted just for her sake. That would make her an unworthy Queen indeed.
Neldor frees the Heart, killing Dagoth Ur and the Heartwights.
What happens next? I never really determined that. Aeronwen is either dead, and that's that...or...I blatantly rip off the end scene of the Dark Crystal, where Jen is holding the recently killed Kira and she is revived by the urSkeks. In my ripped off scene, Azura revives Aeronwen (so she is no longer a Heartwight, but is immune to aging and diseases like Neldor), which seems like a much better reward than just giving Neldor a stupid ring.
The couple then go on to have further adventures, including dealing with Neldor's previous wife Almalexia.
Neldor: "Damn! What was I thinking when I married that?"
And so there it is, the story my characters didn't want me to write. Of course, I still have the option of changing my mind down the road. *evil laugh*
Now for the cut because this post will be lengthy.
Neldor was originally written as someone who was adopted by the people who raised him and that there is no way of knowing who his real parents really were. Why did I do that? To give him an uncertain parentage. Why? Because he was supposed to be the Nerevarine. And I don't mean just mantling Nerevar. I mean that back in the First Era Neldor was Nerevar. This is why he has an aversion to politics and power and just wants to live a quite life. Somewhere in his spirit, Neldor remembers being betrayed and slain by the Tribunal.
This is also why his story begins with him having been in the Imperial prison. While he was there, the Emperor saw that Neldor met the requirements for the prophesy, so he had him pulled from the prison and sent to Vvardenfell. Unfortunately for the Emperor, all Neldor did was drop the package on Caius' doorstep, knocked on the door, and went away. A little while later, Princess Aeronwen was brought to the Emperor's attention, so he had "Potential Nerevarine #2" sent to Vvardenfell. Little did he know that #1 and #2 would meet, become involved with each other and want to live quietly in the wilderness.
The Emperor isn't having much luck with his potential Nerevarines' in this universe, is he?
Anyway, the original story; after a number of side adventures, Neldor and Aeronwen do get caught up in the main quest with Constance, and possibly Julan, tagging along. Dagoth Ur has unfortunately been pestering the banished princess in her dreams;
Voryn: "You should be the Queen, a Queen who will cast down the false gods of the Tribunal and free her people from the Imperial yoke. It's your duty. You cannot turn your back on what you were born to do."
Eventually they all go to Ilunibi, where both Neldor and Aeronwen are infected with corprus. With Aeronwen having Dagoth blood in her veins, she's able to stand up to its effects longer than Neldor, who is delirious and unable to do anything for himself when the group goes to Tel Fyr in search of a cure.
Tel Fyr can only cure one of them. So Aeronwen makes the frightening walk through the corprusarium, retrieves the Dwemer boots that Fyr wants, then tells him to give the cure to Neldor. The cure is successful. Neldor is now immune to all diseases and aging. Aeronwen unfortunately is still infected with corprus and there is no cure at Tel Fyr for her. Not wanting to be locked in the corprusarium, but also not wanting to become a danger to anyone, she slips away and heads for Ghostgate.
Neldor catches up with her right before she goes through the gate and they have a tearful goodbye. It's too painful for Aeronwen to be touched, so Neldor cannot hug her. Wracked with grief, he sinks to his knees and weeps while grasping the hem of her travel robe.
[Cue The Flame by Cheap Trick for the background music]
Neldor remains there on the ground while Aeronwen goes through the Ghostgate and heads up the mountain to Dagoth Ur. Eventually he drags himself back to their home and the Great House Dagoth questline begins.
Eventually Aeronwen and Neldor see each other again, but they can't just pick up where they left off because of what she has become. The main quest continues, leading up to the them (and Constance and Julan) going to the Cave of the Incarnate.
I have not worked out the details, but somehow the Moon-and-Star ring ends up in Neldor's hands and Azura appears, confirming that he is indeed the Nerevarine. Julan has his moment of shock before teleporting away.
After more drama and dealing with the Great Houses, Neldor is deeply conflicted about fulfilling the prophesy. He knows that Dagoth Ur and the blight must be stopped, but Aeronwen (and the other Heartwights) will die when the Heart is freed. Eventually Aeronwen convinces Neldor that he must free the Heart. She will not allow all of Morrowind, and possibly all of Tamriel, to be blighted just for her sake. That would make her an unworthy Queen indeed.
Neldor frees the Heart, killing Dagoth Ur and the Heartwights.
What happens next? I never really determined that. Aeronwen is either dead, and that's that...or...I blatantly rip off the end scene of the Dark Crystal, where Jen is holding the recently killed Kira and she is revived by the urSkeks. In my ripped off scene, Azura revives Aeronwen (so she is no longer a Heartwight, but is immune to aging and diseases like Neldor), which seems like a much better reward than just giving Neldor a stupid ring.
The couple then go on to have further adventures, including dealing with Neldor's previous wife Almalexia.
Neldor: "Damn! What was I thinking when I married that?"
And so there it is, the story my characters didn't want me to write. Of course, I still have the option of changing my mind down the road. *evil laugh*
