Writing Portfolio: Non-Standard Speech

Selection #1: Meeting Aithvena, a very cursed, eyeless elf, who is slowly re-learning to communicate.

  • Aithvena: You want… Free?
    • P: Stay back, foul creature!
      • Aithvena: Hiss! Try help. Bad human/elf/kitty/dragon!
        • P: I don’t want your help, fiend! You bastards put me in here!
          • Aithvena: No that was others. They catch. I free.
        • P (Argonian): Uh. I’m not a dragon.
          • Aithvena: Oh. Did think too small for cage. Smell like dragon still.
            • P: Have you seriously never seen an Argonian before?
              • Aithvena: Cannot see.
    • P: What’s the catch?
      • Aithvena: You catch. In cell. I help. No more cell catch.
    • P: You can talk?
      • Aithvena: Try to, yes. Listen. Learn. Good?
        • P: Not bad.
          • Aithvena: Thankings! Have key. Want?
        • P: You’ve got a long way to go.
          • Aithvena: Hiss! Trying! Hard! Speaking. Thinking. They do not want it!
            • P: Who doesn’t want you to think?
              • Aithvena: Growl. Deep ones.
            • P (Riekling Chief): I’ve met better-spoken goblins than you.
              • Aithvena: Not met goblin. Could be so. New to speaking to your kind.
            • P: What do you want with me?
              • Aithvena: Want help.
        • P: Why?
          • Aithvena: Falmer great once. Now no. Deep ones and cold ones stole from us. Want back. Auriel not abandon. Still there. Waiting.
            • P: You worship Auriel?
              • Aithvena: Yes. Found old knowledge. Old ways. Want back.
        • P: Who are you?
          • Aithvena: Falmer. Fool asking.
            • P: Yeah, I know that…
              • Aithvena: Why asking known answer?
            • P: Do you have a name?
              • Aithvena: Name? Yes. Not used. But like. Aithvena.
            • P: Wow. I never would have guessed.
              • Aithvena: Truth? Have seen falmer. Others catch. Why me different?
        • P (Met Gelebor): Knight-Paladin Gelebor said there was hope for your people… That maybe you can find peace.
          • Aithvena: Yes! Yes! Peace good! You speak to a Knight-Paladin? One lives?
            • P: What do you know about Knight-Paladins?
              • Aithvena: Good. Powerful. Serve Auriel. Guard Chantry. Hope symbolic for my people. How should be. How was.
    • P: Uh. Yes please?
      • Aithvena: Moment pleasings. (She unlocks cell.) Follow. Others want flesh.
        • P: Thank you.
          • Aithvena: Many welcomes. Follow.
        • P: So… Where are we going?
          • Aithvena: Home. You have it?
            • P: Uh. Ok. Just drop me off at the surface. I’ll find my way.
              • Aithvena: You want hold like baby? Hm. Strong, but not too many strong. Can try. Much climbing though.
            • P: The guards will shoot you on sight.
              • Aithvena: Growl. They try. We kill.
            • P: I don’t have a home.
              • Aithvena: We find one. Not here. Not safe.
            • P (Dark Brotherhood): Yes, my Sanctuary.
              • Aithvena: Hiding from what?
            • P (Thieves’ Guild): Yes, the Guild.
              • Aithvena (Thieves’ Guild questline not complete): Guild? New word. What is it?
              • Aithvena (Thieves’ Guild questline complete): Growl. You destroy temple. Bad people. Should not free.
            • P (Companions): Yes, Jorrvaskr.
              • Aithvena: Growl. You! You with cold ones! Betrayers! Killers! How dare!
                • P: Cold ones? What are you talking about?
                  • Aithvena: The Betrayers from the Sea. Hundreds come. Kill tens of thousands. Force rest to be slaves of deep ones. Bad.
                • P: I do like a good ale.
                  • Aithvena: Ale? Is it weapon?
                • P: You mean the 500 Companions? They’ve been dead for eras.
                  • Aithvena: Yes. And more come. More kill. Why?
            • P (College): Yes, the College of Winterhold.
              • Aithvena: Winterhold… Growl. That is not its name. Cold ones kill many there.
            • P (Married): Yes, my spouse will be worried.
              • Aithvena: Spouse? New word. What is it? Pet? Guard? Master?
        • P: You’re not going to eat me?
          • Aithvena: Not hungry.
            • P: So you do eat people…
              • Aithvena: Used to. Then listen. They fear. Sadness. Not want that. Eat fish. Not people. Not mushrooms. Bad. Bad. Bad.
            • P: Uh. Don’t get hungry, then.
              • Aithvena: Will try. Waste of time and sanctuary to free if eat you.
            • P: Very funny.
              • Aithvena: Thankings! Humor not go to your tongue easy! Tried to be so! Happy in victory!
        • P: Why would you betray your people?
          • Aithvena: No! Not betray. Help. Help you. Help falmer. Both. Eating you not help any.