Heart's Day Celebration

natashaboorb16_ESO

A (very long, true) story of love in two worlds:

I first met 'Sarin' (his ingame moniker) many years ago back on World of Warcraft where we roleplayed together for a time within the community, although interactions were kept at a minimum 'Out of Character' at the time. We were reunited after several years apart (his writing style impressed me so much I was able to recall who he was) when we started playing Elder Scrolls Online from release. Again, interactions were kept to the minimum at the time. Little was I aware, that several months later we would - for the third time after a long time - reunite. It started with a small message over Enjin, like this:



We exchanged Skype contacts and I convinced him to give ESO another go (commission please Zenimax!) and we started roleplaying together again. For the tale in Tamriel, my character Kaetlyn Faer'veren was a traitor to the Aldmeri Dominion throne, part of the Veiled Heritance movement, and his character Sarinteal Ralleidril a Thalmor 'Lord Archon'. They had a long and rich history before this however, with several stories written as background: Larelleis (semi NSFW). They spent a long time apart during Kaetlyn's years as a traitor, and she infact had a child with another Altmer (a fellow traitor) shortly before Sarinteal's return to Summerset.


Morwinyon, Kaetlyn's child

As a Thalmor agent, he had been instructed to uncover the plots of the Veiled Heritance, and upon reunion he was beguiled by Kaetlyn's newfound maturity (there is about a 100 year age difference!) and her professionalism, and so he employed her as his personal assistant.



Back in the real world, throughout all of this we had both gone through relationship breakups and found solace and comfort in eachothers company. We had met for a long weekend when I travelled back to London (I was living in Austria where I had moved to be with my then-boyfriend and roleplay partner) for a short visit to see some family.

Months of roleplay went on and our characters Kaetlyn and Sarinteal form a serious relationship to last (now that he is uh, not married...), keep going down the line and he eventually uncovers her secrets! Cliche as it may be (let's be fair, she is part of the villains storyline!) she announced she carried his child, a reason for him to not have her executed as the traitor she is. Instead she is put under an interrogation and reformation system in place by his own Thalmor unit. This can be read in a story here: The Eagle and the Veil both of these stories were published in the Tamriel Chronicle, as well!

During the interrogation period we took a long break from ESO - because I was moving country again - to go and live with the real life version of Sarinteal! I've been so happy here, life has been absolutely perfect! I have lived back in the UK for just over a year now and it has been amazing. Kaetlyn also has had a great time, she was pardoned for her crimes for the fact she had been 'manipulated and indoctrinated' by the Veiled Heritance. Sarinteal, Kaetlyn (pregnant), Morwinyon (her child) began to live peacefully and make amends. Here they can be seen as a family unit:



The birth of their son arrived in the late autumn under the sign of the Warrior, and here is his 'birth certificate'


Text version beneath:

"I, Sarinteal Ralleidril, scion to Relleis; Ald Malatar; Balfiera; and Kinlord of Solstice, declare the auspicious birth of my son to Lady Kaetlyn Ralleidril of the Faerveren line, and the Jewel of Auridon.

On the 31st of Last Seed in the year --- of the Second Era, Aicalion, Magister of Ceremoniarchy, ordained Varlaisamir true of the Ralleidril - as the praxis dictates.

The hour of his birth portended the changing of the stars; where the Warrior set down his varlasil weapon - that which had hewn clear the skies over Cyrodiil, Pyandonea and Thras - and made free a path the fair Lady to tread and lay her grace.

Varlaisamir, as his forebearers before him, will bloom into a shield of righteousness for the Summerset Isles. Not only this, but his generation will bask hence in Tamriel born anew beneath a Merethic Dawn and within an Aldmeri Dominion.

By my mark and seal,
Sarinteal Ralleidril, Kinlord of Solstice"

Sarinteal, Kaetlyn, Morwinyon and Varlaisamir have now moved back to their (player made) home, Solstice, nestled atop the mountains of Summerset. They are living peacefully and in harmony together, as we are. We are less active in the game and the community now because we have been starting up our own business and I am working full time. And thus, their story has been put on hold, to play on in our minds until a time comes where we may return.

What is fun throughout this are the small similarities between our characters and our own lives and their interactions. My character Kaetlyn had a child from a previous relationship, and I had to go through the arduous process of moving my cat back to the UK, who I had got over in Austria in a different relationship! Morwinyon's character himself was even inspired partly by my then-kitten! Here he is looking very happy (Burmese pedigree, red colour):



And, when we moved in together we got another kitten, named Bagheera:



I am nearing the end of our tale so far, but the story is set to continue so far in the 'real' world, for just as Kaetlyn and Sarinteal were blessed by Mara's love, so were we also blessed!

We got engaged on Christmas day in 2015 and are intending to get married in two or three years!! We also intend to pay a small homage to our 'roots' as to how we properly met, as I will be overcoming my fear of needles and getting my ears pierced so I can wear earrings in the shape of Elves-ears! Similar to this.



So Elder Scrolls Online, you have our love and our thanks for reuniting us and fulfilling both of our lives by bringing us back together! And if you got to the end of this very long-winded story and recollection, you also have my thanks.

Happy Hearts Day (when it arrives!)

Faerveren and Sarinteal.

P.S, Zenimax/Lawrence & co, you'd all totally be invited to our wedding if we could ever afford to ship you all to the UK and have that many guests! I'd get married tomorrow if we could, really!

tinythinker

Great story @natashaboorb16_ESO. Tagged you retroactively into a prior comment in this thread. Congrats on the engagement.

natashaboorb16_ESO

tinythinker wrote: »

Great story @natashaboorb16_ESO. Tagged you retroactively into a prior comment in this thread. Congrats on the engagement.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read it! xxx

tinythinker

natashaboorb16_ESO wrote: »

tinythinker wrote: »

Great story @natashaboorb16_ESO. Tagged you retroactively into a prior comment in this thread. Congrats on the engagement.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read it! xxx

It was well told

Gidorick

Hiero_Glyph wrote: »

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

ChuckyPayne wrote: »

Is it an in game event or just a forum talk?

It's more of a community/social media effort - we love hearing stories about people who met in ESO and became a couple outside of the game, or couples who play ESO together, or even family members who bond over ESO. There are so many great stories. It doesn't end with stories, though. It could be a piece of fan art, a song, a video...be creative! If we get some good entries, we'll highlight them in a blog on 2/16. We are looking into the possibility of doing something fun on the PTS, but we're still digging into the logistics. We are working on in-game holiday events, they won't be in the game until late this year at the earliest.

The problem is that you could have vendors sell a Ring of Mara or just give them to players in honor of the festival and instead I'm just guessing that you are doing absolutely nothing other than posting the stories that will be sent to you. Why not reward players for taking part in this festival in-game? You do realize that almost all MMOs have in-game events, right?

Would it really be that hard to mail every acccount a Pledge of Mara? Besides, it's already been 2 years and you have done nothing to support the community in-game. This might be an easy and fun way to start.

free Rings of Mara would be a bit much... a sale on them would be better.

MrDerrikk

tinythinker wrote: »

Weberda wrote: »

Considering the game is based almost entirely on constant combat and utter destruction I have a feeling that Jessica is seriously trolling all of us.

Naw, there was someone who met a possibly future spouse through ESO (won't say who or where I saw this as not to spoil any, um, surprises). Plus on the platonic side lots of people have made good friends.

It was obviously @Alucardo wasn't it ;P what with all his stories of this kind of thing going horribly wrong, he must have lucked out at one point

Pheefs

I play ESO with my RL husband & its the dream come true we've wanted for years!

In the past we would play "shared characters" in Oblivion & Skyrim, with the game up on the TV and we take turns...

BUT NOW!

Gidorick

Pheefs wrote: »

I play ESO with my RL husband & its the dream come true we've wanted for years!

In the past we would play "shared characters" in Oblivion & Skyrim, with the game up on the TV and we take turns...

BUT NOW!

That's so awesome.

deleted008293

One Skooma for all the lonely adventurers out there.

Feynn

The Daggerfall calendar for the 16th of Sun's Dawn reads as follows:

Today is the 16th of Sun's Dawn, a holiday celebrated all over Tamriel as Heart's Day. It seems that in every house, the Legend of the Lovers is being sung for the younger generation. In honor of these Lovers, Polydor and Eloisa, the inns of the city offer a free room for visitors. If such kindness had been given the Lovers, it is said, it would always be springtime in the world.

Last year my roleplay guild, Stormhaven RP, organized a celebration for Heart's Day. Because the Legend of the Lovers is never actually told anywhere in any TES games, apart from that short description in the calendar, I decided to go ahead and write one version of it for the occasion. Here it is, I hope you will enjoy it:

The Legend of the Lovers

The Legend of the Lovers is old and ancient and love itself. And just as love, it is varied and diverse. This is but one version of the tale. The tale that I heard from my mother, and the one that I tell you now, my children.

When the gods first made the world, before record and memory, Nirn was blessed by an eternal spring. Just like a young maiden in the springtime of her life, so Nirn was youthful too. The winds were mild and warm, rain fell from the heavens as gentle drops to feed the earth, and the sun shone with the warmth of a mother’s smile. The earth was plentiful, and her children prospered.

It was in this time that Polydor and Eloisa lived, and loved. And their love was so pure that no other love was ever pure in comparison. Polydor was the youngest son of an elven lord who ruled over this very region of High Rock. He was brave, gentle, and kind. Eloisa was the youngest daughter of a poor family of human peasants. She was beautiful, warm-hearted, and bright. One day the elven lord – may his name be stricken from history – came upon Eloisa’s village with all his sons, while visiting his holdings. Polydor’s eyes met Eloisa’s, and although he was a noble elf and she was but a low-born human, the gods ignited their hearts with love. He could have taken her if he so wished – it was after all his noble right. But it was her heart he wanted, and no noble privilege could grant him that. So every day he would find an excuse to keep his lord father and his retinue one day longer in the village. And every day Polydor and Eloisa would meet, and their love grew warmer and stronger.

Until finally Polydor’s father grew suspicious. He followed his son, and learned of his love for a lowly human. In his anger he confronted the Lovers, and the Lovers fled. Day and night they ran away from the elven lord and his hunters, until they chanced upon an inn. ‘We shall find refuge here for the night’ they thought ‘here our love shall be hidden from those who wish us harm.’ But they had no gold to pay for the room, and the inn-keeper would not grant refuge to the strange couple of young lovers. So it was that Polydor’s father found them. ‘You are a noble mer’ he told his son ‘and this is but a lowly human woman. I shall teach you how to deal with her kind, because such is the nature of the world. As your lord and master, woman, I invoke the Perquisite of Coition.’ But Polydor would not allow it. He unsheathed his sword, and stood between Eloisa and his own family. He slashed his sword left and right with the strength of his love. But he was no warrior, and it was a short fight. Eloisa cried tears of pain as he saw Polydor falling, each wound on his body as a wound of her own. And as he fell he saw his father’s knights approach her, and with his dying breath he prayed the gods that Eloisa be spared from all suffering.

The gods looked down with benevolence on the Lovers, and in their grace they granted Polydor his prayer. They took Eloisa and brought her up to the heavens, turning her tears into stars and making her into the constellation that brightens up the sky tonight. And the gods looked down with anger upon the elven lord, upon his retinue, upon the inn-keeper, upon the entire world that in its cruelty had destroyed this love. ‘Your hearts are cruel and cold. And just as your hearts are cold, so your world shall be.’ And the winds turned icy and strong, and the rains turned into hailstorms and snow, and the sun’s warm rays became feeble and cold, and the earth barren and without fruit. But Eloisa took pity on the world that had been so cruel, because even in that cruelty love could be born, and in every couple of lovers, the Lovers could live again. So she prayed the gods for mercy, and the gods granted her prayer. Only for half a year the world would grow cold and cruel to its people, while in the other half the earth would bloom and be plentiful. And this is why every year, when we see the stars of the Lover up in the night sky, we know that the cold winter months are at an end, and that springtime is near.

Sergun

What about millions ? Forgot ? Bug ?

failkiwib16_ESO

-.-'
I run a guild ....the love I feel everyday, such as being teabagged by my officers, even be ganked by them, or sent lvl 1 resto staves with training trait along with message "you deserve it, it will do you good".

babylon

tinythinker wrote: »

So, like, are we talking "Mara" love, "Dibella" love, or full-on "Sanguine"?

The goat is in.

Makkir

Due to the amount of time I have spent with loading screens, we decided to get engaged.

Sheezabeast

My irl gamer buddy, my hubby, and I got married in-game. Our guilds came together and we all went to Mournhold and we had a wedding, i got given away by one of my best guildies, and had bridesmaids, and a minister who conducted the ceremony My Hubby crafted some armor that resembled a tuxedo when dyed black (wasn't much to work with lol, Suit wasn't out yet in Crown store). We took the vow of Mara and became one, and were married Then my guildies (of their own doing) gave us a bit of a shower with some sending gifts or flowers or were just partying and drinking in Mournhold

I will begin the hunt for screenshots of it, I hope I still have them, if not, ah well

MisterBigglesworth

.

orangeman57ub17_ESO

Despite us being turned by different people, my friend and I became inseparable. We would play all day duo'ing dungeons, exploring new places, and we even enjoyed the same food. We decided it was eternal so we got Mara'd and then murdered and feasted on the clergy. It was love at first bite.

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Wobbu

@stealthyevil cant't resist me

Nic727

Dread_Knight_N7 wrote: »

I'd love to participate, but I'm a lonely recluse

Same lol

babylon

Why don't you guys patch in NPCs and give us holiday festivals, instead of making us sit through people's "finding eternal love in a game" stories.

This is quite a big game, not a small indie company...you guys can front the cash by now I'm sure.

Pretty sure we'd all appreciate actual festivals a ton more.

babylon

Nic727 wrote: »

Dread_Knight_N7 wrote: »

I'd love to participate, but I'm a lonely recluse

Same lol

You two sound made for each other...in the spirit of this "celebration" thread *fires cupid's arrow*

toxikh.earth89neb18_ESO

if someone sees this please tell Kekenny i love her, im too shy

ZOS_JessicaFolsom

We've gotten some great submissions so far! Thanks to everyone who has replied to this thread, tweeted us with #LoveInESO, and sent in stories via email. Keep 'em coming!

Snowstrider

Sadly no. I havent had any luck with either making friends or other in eso.

Snowstrider

babylon wrote: »

Why don't you guys patch in NPCs and give us holiday festivals, instead of making us sit through people's "finding eternal love in a game" stories.

This is quite a big game, not a small indie company...you guys can front the cash by now I'm sure.

Pretty sure we'd all appreciate actual festivals a ton more.

I agree. I have begged for festivals and events since pc beta. It makes the world feel less dull and more Alive and Gives us reason to log in. Always loved that about mmos. Was suprised to not see it in eso

MornaBaine

I have to confess that I'm a bit disappointed that this is all ZoS is prepared to do. For the prices they charge for everything you'd THINK they could afford to show a little customer appreciation.

Anders_Howe

Will the in game events also be available on PS4?

babylon

Anders_Howe wrote: »

Will the in game events also be available on PS4?

Would be nice if the "in game events" were also on PC too @ZOS

elven.were_wolf

If only you could allow us to marry npc's instead of real people. At least npc's are always arround when you log in.
Naryu would be the perfect candidate for me

leighdelo

This is RorySkyfall and my announcement for our elopement! Orc love foreverrr