Hey, it's Runa.  My mom is asking me about what I've been doing.  We're in the hall of the Companions, feasting, and they all want to hear what I have to say too.  So I'm going to talk as I write it down.  I'm the Listener, and I did a lot before I went to Cyrodiil.  Last time I told my story, I'd just recruited Vala Amatius after she murdered a couple guys with no escape plan. 

 

I appointed Babette and Nazir to be the new Speakers.  I spoke with the Night Mother and she told me my next contract, just a random Corrupt Penitus Oculatus agent.  I decided I could easily do it by myself and went and killed the Laborer he wanted dead (waiting until dark to do so). 

 

I came back to the Sanctuary and got another contract from NM, and decided it was time to help Averna out with her job.  I took Cicero along because she looked pretty bored of cleaning the Night Mother's folds.  We followed Averna's lead to an ice cave, where we killed a few randos and picked up a book in daedric.  

"I recognize the first few words.  Seven souls, seven virgins.  Guess that's what we need," she said, "Here, I have black soul gems."

"You're pretty nonchalant about killing people who aren't contracted or don't deserve it," I said, "I'm a virgin, would you kill me?"

"Well, no.  You're the Listener.  Just... take the soul gems," Averna said.

"I'll take them, but, no promises.  You might be following me for a while to get these," I said, "I don't think the kind of people that need killing are usually virgins.  And I don't get what sets that apart as a different type of soul.  But ok."

We fought a band of goblins on the way out, which Cicero grabbed a goblin staff (giggling the whole time).

 

Then I grabbed another mission from NM and took Undil.  Averna and Cicero came too.

"Where we going?" Undil asked, probably humoring me.

"Windhelm."

"We going to kill the Emperor?" He chuckled.

When we got to Candlehearth Hall, we talked to an Argonian named Dreekius, "Took you long enough."

"Not a perfect process," I replied.

"I need you to save my brother, Dreynos."

"Not our usual kind of job."

"I realize it's a strange request for you people.  But you're my last hope," Dreekius said, "He's been captured by the Thalmor.  They have a secret prison west of here, near the border to Morrowind."

 

And, just a break in my story, at this point in the Hall of the Companions, my mother was yelling, "FIVE THALMOR PRISONS!  DO I HEAR SIX?!"

 

"How long have the two of you been in the Skooma business?" Undil asked.  I forgot, he has some kind of annoying mind-reading ability.  But now it was proving useful.

"How did you... Nearly 20 years.  Since we were twelve," Dreekius replied.

"Your brother... is a Dunmer?" Undil asked.

"How do you know this?  You're right.  He's a dunmer.  We were adopted by a kind Imperial woman after we lost our parents many years ago."

"I have been known to be able to acquire information... whether I like it or not," Undil replied, "Speaking of which, I can see a secret entrance to the prison."

 

"Alright, lets go," I said to the group.  

We made our way to the site, and Undil uncovered an ice cave, complete with trolls, that lead into a back entry to the prison.

"I just realized I left my pet sabercat in Markarth," Undil muttered.

"We're not alone, Listener," Cicero whispered.

Averna went invisible as he approached.

"Four guards, three prisoners," Undil said.

I was starting to feel like I wasn't adding much to this crew.  They were all deadly and skilled.

When a guard patrolled this way, Averna jumped out and split his head open with her dagger, "There.  We should be good for a little bit."  

I snagged a key off the guard.  Then we strolled over to Dreynos' cell.

Undil nodded to him, "Afternoon."

"Thank the gods, you're not a Thalmor," Draynos said, "It's been a long time since I've seen a friendly mer."

"Dreekius sent us," I said.

"I can't leave just yet," Draynos said, "What my brother didn't tell you, probably because he didn't know, is the reason I got caught.  The woman I love is here."

 

Cicero was dancing at the moment, but I paid no attention.

 

"I found out which prison she was in and got caught," Draynos continued.

 

My mom was yelling, "BUT THERE ARE SO MANY, IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIGURE OUT!"

Stop interrupting!

 

"We cannot save her," Undil said, back in the story, "We cannot allow her to live.  Your brother requested we leave no witnesses to your whereabouts."

"You can't!  Not if I kill you first!" He put up his fists.

"Wait wait wait," I said, "Nobody needs to kill anybody.  We don't need to kill your lady.  I'm making an executive decision here."

"I never would've expected such mercy from the Brotherhood," Dreynos said.

"Yeah, we're full of surprises," I said.

"Thank you, all of you."

I opened the cell, then we walked over to her, and opened the other cell, letting the Dunmer woman out.

We went out the way we came, and back to Dreekius.

"There you are!  My brother's saviors!  What of the other matter?"

"We killed the only guard we saw.  But another prisoner, your brother requested we not kill her.  I'm not in the business of killing for no reason," I explained.

"I understand.  I'm thankful you were able to get my brother out."

 

I disbanded my little group and did another couple dead drops (the anonymous jobs that paid quite well).  The last of which brought me into the Riften Sewers.  I went a little bit deeper, not into the ghost part my mom had already cleared out, but a tunnel I'd never heard of, and I found myself face to face with Chaurus and Snow Elves!  Not like the statue, not like the Falmer.  Mutated, but beautiful.  I backed out of there after killing only a couple of them.  

 

My next contact from the Night Mother: Isobel Richton.  I took a group to see her, this time with the Khajit twins, Averna and Cicero.

"What do you need?" I asked.

"Oh, thank the gods.  I'd almost lost hope that you would come."

"The brotherhood will always answer a contract," I replied.

"Anyway, it's my husband, Camos.  He kidnapped my children. Please!  They must be so scared.  I need you to rescue them and kill Camos' guards and convince him to come home.  If you don't, I'm afraid he will try again.  Only kill him if you have to," she explained.

"It will be done," I replied.

 

We traveled to a camp at the very northern tip of Skyrim, west of Dawnstar.  I strolled up, trying to avoid bloodshed, but the guards attacked me without so much as a warning.  My retinue made short work of them without me even having to unsheathe my sword.  

"Who are you?" Camos asked.

"Your wife is worried about your children."

"She's not my wife.  These aren't her kids.  These are my kids.  About six years ago she kidnapped them from me. I'm taking them back," he said, "Wait, are you with the Brotherhood?"

"How did you-"

"I've been praying for you for a while now," he said. 

I took a look at his shabby clothes and said, "I was told you were a noble."

"I am a noble.  I'm dressed like this as to not attract attention," he explained, "But if you are from the brotherhood I can pay you to fulfill my contract, and kill that crazy woman."

About this time, Isobel showed up.

"Please, honey.  Come home," she said.

"You're crazy.  I don't know you," Camos said back.

 

"Mommy!" One of the boys ran to her.

M'jarra (one of the Khajit twins with me) said, "They call her mommy, why would they run to her if she wasn't their mom?"

J'zakar said, "Weren't you listening?  The only thing that matches up between them is these small children haven't seen the man for six years.  They would know her as mom.  J'zakar thinks something smells funny here."

M'jarra said, "Camos, tell us the truth."

Isobel said, "Yes, Camos.  Tell us the truth about your injury."

"What injury?  I'm not lying!  Lady, I have no idea who you are!" Camos said.

"Camos, dear.  The truth is my husband was injured during the Great War.  His injury has gone deep, and it makes him forget.  Sometimes he's back in the war, and sometimes he's here," Isobel said, "I got my children out of that house a long time ago, with your permission."

"By Ruptga, you lie.  I didn't fight in the war.  My wife did, but she died giving birth to Kotaro here.  You stole them.  I spent my entire fortune tracking you down."

"You know what?  I don't think we should be getting mixed up in people's family business.  I don't know who's telling the truth.  So, nobody dies," I said, "C'mon guys.  You two work it out amongst yourselves." 

Then I started walking away.

 

When I got back to the Sanctuary, I slept for the night.  I got up and Vala was milling about in the common bunkroom next to my master suite.

"Everything alright?" I asked.

"I was hoping to be gone before you got back last night," Vala replied.

"Why would you want to leave?  It's such a nice place to live.  Plenty of nice old nordic stone.  It's not much, but if you like dank..."

"You're not funny," Vala said.

"You could've been gone if you wanted to, easily.  But you stayed."

"I don't know why.  There is something here.  So am I prisoner here, because I can't show my face anywhere?" 

Again, I realized she didn't know how bounties worked in the holds.  Then again, Solitude may send bounty hunters after her.  

"You're not a prisoner.  A guest.  A permanent guest," I said, "I'm willing to bet the guards weren't your first kill.  Your eyes were cold after that kill, your face stone.  You were alright with doing it.  The NM says you have a killer instinct."

"How did you...?"

"I'm the Listener.  I pay attention reeeeal good," I smirked.

She sighed, "It was a long time ago.  My dad died in the war.  My mom's mental state was shattered.  My uncle stepped in and took on my father's role, but his experiences in the war changed him.  He drank.  He... did things to my mother.  I ran away, stupidly.  When I came back, weeks later, my mom was dead.  In that moment, something came over me.  I snapped his neck."

"Your family has a long history of violence.  The Dark Brotherhood has been searching for you for a long time," I said.

"What are you getting at?"

"20 years before the Oblivion crisis, a man named Lucien Lachance was Listener for the Brotherhood in Solitude.  He collapsed after a job.  A women healed him, and he spent the night with her.  Amatius was her family line.  Your ancestor."

"So my great-great and so on grandmother was-"

"A legendary assassin," I finished, "You're capable of great things."

"I don't buy it.  You're a great organization.  Feared throughout Tamriel.  By the eight you killed the Emperor."

"Nine." 

"What's a rich girl from Solitude going to do?  Unless... there are so few of you in this Sanctuary.  You're a dying organization, aren't you?"

"We're as effective as we need to be.  Didn't need an army to kill the Emperor," I said.

"Maybe not.  But maybe now you need more.  Okay.  I want to help.  I want to learn," Vala said.

 

We went to the Night Mother.  She did some show with summoning Alisanna Dupre, an old Listener, to give the initiates a ghostly lecture on the Five Tenets.  

Nazir muttered to me as we were watching, "Listener, please, I can accept Cicero being back here, but could you do something about the dancing?  God, I do hate jesters."

I chuckled, "Nazir, take the twins on their second mission."

We went back to the NM, and she sent Vala (now in DB armor) and I to contact a corrupt priest in Markarth.  I gave Nazir and Babette instructions from the Night Mother on yet more contracts to distribute.

 

To Markarth, I brought along Cicero (after she was done cleaning up the night mother) and Stabby this time.  It was about time to continue going down his list of contracts.

"There's so much stabbing potential!" He exclaimed.  We went to the mine first, and I immediately knew it was a good idea to have this retinue.  When I took down the guard (acting alone) a posse of bounty hunters charged in behind us.

 

"We're here for Vala Amatius, for crimes against Solitude, and the Listener!  Surrender and submit to trial!" The boss shouted. 

"Sorry, not going to happen," I said.

It was a rather epic battle, as they used the same paralyze spells the Jail Master had.  I'd only met the man once, but I knew it well. 

But we had enough that we took them out.  When they fell, their armor unbound and they were naked.  Curiously, all of them carried a lot of gold and a LOT of delicious cooked food. 

We took a break and ate a bit, then we worked our way in, killing bandits.  I freed slaves as I went.  When we reached the boss, I sneak attacked him with my greatsword, and the rest took care of him.  Just like the last of Stabby's targets, his death summoned a Dragon Priest.  We had another hard battle, but piling on an enemy just works.

 

"This can't be a coincidence.  Let me look at the contracts again," Stabby rubbed his chin, "By the nine!  These are all from the came client!  Name... eesbarn?  Esbern?  Do you know anybody by that name?"

"Esbern, having us kill dragon priests?  Yeah, that sounds like somebody I know," I replied.  Obviously, the blade in the kimono.

"We have three more.  I know who they are, but I don't know where they are.  I need to talk to Nazir.  He knows a lot about these sorts of things," Stabby said.

 

We traveled to Markarth again.  It was, unsurprisingly, under attack again.  It was at that time I was thinking the Forsworn (or at least the splinter group that is continuously attacking Markarth) has some kind of huge mammoth farm hidden in the mountains.  A guard asked us if we wanted to join, and no, I do not.  We went to the contract: Hroldar Farseer.  

"You must be the Dark Brother... Sister.... the assassins?"

"You must be the priest.  What do you need?" I asked.

"Right... nearly every day for the past six months, along my walks out of the city, I come across Reachmen.  Always beaten within an inch of their lives.  I take time and heal them."

"Odd, for a priest of Talos," I said.

"Perhaps, but they are fellow men.  Even if we do not share a religion and culture, it is my duty to help those in need.  Anyway, the violence is escalating," Hroldar explained.

"That must be why they keep throwing raid parties against the gates here.  Hatreds that cover many generations," I mused.  I may have contributed a little by doing that job and planting that forsworn axe a while back.  But it was honestly embers on a raging inferno.  It was still wrong, though.

"First it was one or two men a week.  Now, six.  Last week, I found two dead.  In one of their hands I found a piece of cloth from a Markarth guards' uniform.  I believe the city guards are targeting Reachmen.  And of course, no one is willing to do anything.  So the job is this:  take these guard uniforms.  INfiltrate the guard and kill two of their number.  Do it outside the city, and make it look like it was other guards."

"Okay, more killing to try and stop the rivalry between the factions.  I guess I'll play to what few skills I have and do this.  Stabby and Cicero," I said.

They looked at me.

"Why don't you guys wait at the SIlver-Blood Inn," I said, "I'll take Vala.  She needs the training."

"SIlly Forsworn, think they're scary.  I'll show them scary," Cicero muttered.

"No prob, Listener," Stabby said, "So, Cicero, want to get a drink with me?  I heard you like stabbin!"

"Oh, yes yes!  Cicero loves the stabbing!  It's my favorite!" She giggled, and they took off.  I'm sure my eyes had this broken, 'What have I started now?' look.  

Vala and I slipped in the uniforms and headed to the guard tower.  It was just about muster time for a group of patrols, conveniently.  

 

As we walked in, they were lined up and we got in the back.

The captain said, "All right.  Security needs to be tight today.  Keep your eyes peeled.  Dismissed."

Most of them were picking up their shields and whatnot, in no hurry to get to their posts and relieve the watches, when one of them said to the two of us, "Hey, you two still haven't upgraded your old guard uniforms?"

I looked down, not having thought about the fact the guards now had a gold-and-green upgraded uniform.  Though, here and there a guard would have a coat or helmet from the old style.  The priest had given Vala and I an entire set of old guard armor.  I growled.

"Nostalgia, I guess," I said.

"Hey, aren't you a little short to be a Markarth guard?" The man said as he strapped his shield to his arm.

I thought fast, "I mean, I'm a new recruit.  My dad was a guard back in the day.  He wore this armor.  Sentimental value."

As the rest of the guards had already walked out, I smiled at him, "Hey, want to show me where the new armor issue is?  I'm probably due for an upgrade."

"It's all the way across the city," he smiled back, "C'mon newbie, I've got an extra set."

He walked over to his bunk and tossed me a neatly kept set of armor and a helm that covered my face with a coif.  I changed into it behind a divider.  Before he could say anything else, I grabbed Vala and walked out of there.

"Well, he was nice," she said.  I was blushing under the helmet.  He was nice.  I decided I would not kill him.  I would follow guards for a while and pick one out who was somewhere between disgusting and corrupt.

The attack was over, and we walked past a few giant mammoth corpses.  We slipped into an overhang and waited for a while.  Two guards stopped by the river.  I watched them for a while, but when one of them started talking about his kids, I decided I didn't have the heart for that one.

 

"What are we waiting for?" Vala asked.

"The right moment," I replied.

We waited there for a while I think my bleeding heart was getting more apparent the longer we waited.  

She pursed her lips, "Out of curiosity, Listener, how old are you?"

"How old are you?" I asked back.

"I asked first.  I'm 24."

"Fifteen," I said flatly.

"Really?"

"Don't be so surprised.  How old were you when you killed the first time?"

"I think... eleven," Vala replied, "It's just, you're so young."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, "You think I'm not doing a good job?  That I'm not capable because I'm still technically a child?"

I paused, then I said, "Do you think that my mother shouldn't have let me be swallowed up by this organization in which I have no idea what I'm doing?  I mean... honestly, if the Night Mother thinks I'm fit to be her Listener... I wonder if this organization deserves to die out."

"Well, no.  I was thinking you seem like you really know where you're going in life.  If you've made it this far by fifteen, just think where you'll be when you're thirty."

"I dunno," I smiled a little, "Probably dead."

"Well that's not a very positive way to look at it," Vala said.

"I used to be positive.  But I realized when I got into this, I have an impossible standard to live up to - my mother is the Dragonborn.  I'm just stumbling around in the dark," I sighed.

"I'm sure it's not all that bad.  I've heard a lot of stories about the Dragonborn, but you know what - she's not a member of the best organization in Skyrim.  The Dark Brotherhood!"

"Actually, she is," I said flatly, "She just has the whole 'saving the world' to take care of right now.  Call it a sabbatical."

"Well, she may have helped, but you're the one who rebuilt this organization."

"Still rebuilding.  Also, she was the one who killed the Emperor," I said, then I noted two guards across the river.

"What are those two doing?" I asked.

"Uhh... looks like they're dragging around a Forsworn woman.  She looks like one of the captives from the raid earlier," Vala replied.

"Okay.  Our moment," I took out my greatsword and dove into the river, using stealth like my mom taught me.  When I surfaced, the guards - one on each side - were wrestling with her.  One held her body, the other her legs as she swung and kicked at them.  

"What's that?" The one holding her body asked, and I plunged my greatsword through the other's back, lifting him up off the ground.  Damn, I am getting strong.  About time to upgrade to a heavier sword.

"What are you~" The guard continued, but Vala grabbed his face from behind and slit his throat, and the woman dropped to the ground.  He sputtered, gurgling loudly.  I pulled out my greatsword from the first guard and beheaded the second guard.  Can't make noise if you're decapitated.

They both collapsed, rolling into the river.  The forsworn woman, covered in blood, terrified, ran off into the wilderness.

 

"Okay!" I shouted, "You're welcome!"

"Nobody saw us, did they?" Vala asked.

"Nah.  I was looking around.  We're safe.  Now back to the guard station," I said.

We went back to the tower and I put on my best distraught face.

"Sir!  There was a fight between two guards by the river!  They're killing each other!" 

"Fighting?" The captain asked, "Why?"

"They mentioned something about a woman coming between them!" I said, acting distraught.

"No!  Unacceptable!  You two!" He pointed to a couple men off duty, "Go check by the river!"

"You two," he pointed at us, "Wash up, get out of that bloody armor."

"Yes, sir," I replied.  I walked back over to the bunk of the man who'd lent me the armor and wiped it off as best I could, then I switched back into the old guard armor and we went back to the temple.  For some reason, I kept the helmet.  Carved into the back of the noseguard were the letters, 'H.K.'  Curious.

 

Hroldar was tending to the Talos statue, "I've already heard the news.  They're going to have a full investigation of guard activities of corruption.  Here's your payment, plus a bonus.  Expertly done.  Maybe this will make a difference in stopping the feuding for a while."

We collected Cicero and Stabby, and I didn't ask questions about what they'd been doing.  When we got back to the Sanctuary it was night again, and about time to sleep.  We came in through the secret entrance, and BAM!  The sounds of summoning and teleportation.

 

"We're under attack!" Nazir drew his scimitars.  Babette, Averna and the twins rushed down the stairs to aid us, Undil shooting magic from the next chamber.  

We took them down, but not without some wounds.  I imagine they were expecting a much smaller retinue, since there were only four and we had nearly a dozen including all the anonymous Initiates.  

"What the hell was that?" Stabby exclaimed.

"It was the godsdamned Morag Tong!" Nazir stabbed a scimitar into one of their necks.

"But we're not in Morrowind.  The Morag Tong have no jurisdiction here," Averna said back.  

"One would need a lot of money to convince these assassins to come all the way out here," Stabby said.

"I bet it's those damned Bruma contracts!  You killed someone really wealthy and powerful, and now their friends are coming after us," Averna growled.

"I thought these contracts were for various individuals.  But it seems they're all part of the same cult," Stabby scratched his chin, finally sheathing his daggers, but then pulling them out.  Probably his 'thinking stabbers.'

"Stabby, you better get your shit together," Averna poked him in the chest, "Find out who these people are before there's another attack!  I went over to Dawnstar today to get some food and the guards are interrogating everyone, trying to find Brotherhood members.  They know who we are because of this.  We need to teach these pompous skeevers not to mess with the Dark Brotherhood!"

"You're absolutely right," Stabby said.

"Don't you tell me I'm right!" Averna yelled, "Oh wait, you think I'm right?"

"Listener, I'm going to stab some information out of people.  Meet me under the arch of Solitude, tomorrow night," Stabby said, then he walked out the back entrance, daggers still out.

Cicero may have looked a little dejected, but she walked upstairs and was working on the Night Mother as I approached.

 

"Good work on all fronts, Listener," her voice boomed in my head, "The blood of Lachance has passion.  Do you believe that passion can be controlled?"

"Definitely," I said back.

"I have another mission to help train her.  Talk to the Lonely Shopkeeper in Whiterun.  So begins another contract," she said.

I immediately hit the hay.  In the morning, Vala, Averna, Cicero and I headed to Whiterun.  It was definitely dangerous to go alone now.

And when we crossed the bridge going into Whiterun, a Bounty Hunter group called out to us.

"Halt.  Vala Amatius, Averna, Runa Fair-Shield - you are under arrest for crimes against Skyrim.  Technically, also, crimes against the Empire.  But we're not here for that."

"So Cicero can go free?" She chuckled, dancing a little, "Perhaps Cicero will go to Jorrvaskr and dance for the Companions!"

I ignored it and said, "So how much is the bounty now?"

"Ten thousand septims, to be paid by Solitude," he replied.

"I can pay that... but," I took out my greatsword.

"That's my kind of leader!" Averna went invisible.  She stabbed one of his men in the back, but he turned and fought back.  These guys were for real.  They tried to use the paralyze strategy on us again, but to no avail.  Amusingly, the guards did not pitch in either way.  I guess they figured this was a little above their paygrade.  When we finished cleaning up, we again found a boatload of cash and food items, and this time a fair bit of equipment I figured I would sift through later.

We cruised over to the shopkeeper's house, and found it was marked 'Olava the Feeble,' the fortune teller.  When I knocked on the door, a Redguard man let us in that I'd never seen before.  I knew Olava was getting old, I guess she died?  And this man bought the house, Coyle Aldwyr.

 

"Are you the contact?" I asked.

"You must be the people I prayed for," he replied, "I'm not sure I can do this... I'm beginning to have second thoughts."

"Please, it's okay," Vala said, "Tell us what we can do to help you."

"Well," he blinked, sitting down, "There's a witch in Whiterun.  She put a curse on my family.  I know... she's been eyeing us since we moved here.  I just wanted to make a new life for us after moving from Hammerfell.  But over the past year, every member of my family has ended up dead.  All... natural causes.  No disease, no poison, no obvious murder.  Just, dead."

"How do you know it was her?" Vala asked.

"The other night, I was visiting my son's grave.  And I saw his spirit.  She was doing something to it.  I'm not a fighter.  I can't do anything to her on my own, especially a powerful witch," he continued, "On occasion, she goes to a tomb outside Whiterun and keeps notes there.  But I know she shows up to the Hall of the Dead here at around 2 am, every night."

"Find the notes, kill her, and free your family?  Easy enough," Vala said.

"If it were easy, I wouldn't have contacted you people," Coyle said, angrily, then he said, "I'm sorry.  I'm just frustrated.  I have one more request after that, if that's okay."

"Go on," I said.

"After you've killed her and freed them.  Kill me too.  I can't go on," he said.

"We will do this," I said.

 

We traveled to the crypt he'd marked on my map, killed a few draugr, and snagged her notes.  Easy.  Then we returned to Whiterun and got a meal at the Bannered Mare, wasting time until nightfall.  When it was almost time, we went over to the Hall of the Dead and lied in wait for a few hours.  

The witched showed, and didn't even try to act like a normal person just hanging out in a crypt in the middle of the night.  She straight-up just started firing spells.  So we slapped her down.  

The actual job wasn't too hard.  When we got back to Coyle, he was sitting at that same table.  He hadn't had any intention of sleeping tonight.  

"Is it done?"
"Yes," I said, and laid the notes on the table, "She hadn't done any harm to them, yet.  We can carry out your request, if you like."

"Thank you, now I can go to Sovngarde, rather than be stuck here in perpetual limbo," Coyle said.  I walked up behind him and stabbed him through the chest.  

We locked up the building, and went back to the Mare, sharing a midnight meal.  

 

"Listener," Vala said, "I have an idea for another recruit."

"Who?"

"A Bosmer that I've been friends with since childhood.  She works at the Solitude docks."

"That doesn't exactly sound like the best fit."

"You'd have to meet her."

"Alright, I'll humor you," I said.

We slept at the Inn.  She went and kidnapped her friend, and I got Nazir to line up one target in the Abandoned Shack (short notice).  I wore the Markarth Guard's helmet and Vala wore her Shrouded Hood and we stepped inside.

 

"What..?  Where am I?"

"Arine Mosshollow, we brought you here to test your killing skills," Vala said as she unhooded and unbound Arine, "The person behind you is a Dark Brotherhood contract.  Kill him."

"Vala, is that you?" Arine asked.

Oh bollocks.

"Dammit," Vala said, "I was trying to scare you.  How'd you know it was me?"

"Like I wouldn't recognize my best friend's eyes and voice," Arine replied.  She stood, "What is going on?  The Solitude guards say you're wanted for murder.  That you killed three of them?"

"Do you remember Dawnstar?"

"That was ten years ago.  That thief was trying to take more than just our money.  That was just self defense," Arine replied.

"Maybe.  But what you did to his body certainly wasn't," Vala replied, "Remember the second thief who got away?  And what else did we do?"

Arine turned to me, "Who is this?"

I pulled off the helm.

"Don't worry.  She's a close friend," Vala said, "What else did we do?"

"We performed the Black Sacrament.  Over and over.  After a week, we stopped," Arine replied, "The Dark Brotherhood is a myth."

"We're no myth," Vala said, "We heard your prayers.  We found the second thief."

About that time the man in the back started coming to, "What is going on here?  What is this on my head?  Where am I?"

"I don't know if I can do what you asked," Arine said in a small voice.

"Of course you can," Vala encouraged.

Arine pulled off the hood.

"You!  You killed my partner all those years ago.  I swear I'll kill you!" The man said.  Even though his hands were tied, he lunged at her.  Arine drew her dagger and stabbed him in the head.  Gurgling, he fell backwards, dead.

Arine dropped her dagger and ran.

"I'll go after her," Vala sighed.

 

I made my way over to the arch of Solitude alone.  I set up a small camp and took a nap until later that night.  Then, I found a small boat and rowed across the water, finding Stabby standing with a man, just like he said he would do.

"Listener!  How the hell are ya?  I made a friend."

"Friend?" The man said.  He was definitely drunk.

Stabby handed him another bottle of something, "Tell her what you told me."

"Ahh, Argonian Black Rum.  Good stuff, makes everyone happy," the man downed the bottle in only a couple gulps, "Well this guy was asking who put a bounty on the Dark Brotherhood.  I told him what I tell everyone.  If you want to know who's behind something, follow the money.  Who was hurt by your lot killing the Emperor?  The Metal Barons.  The Silver-Bloods and the Gold-Loves.  The Gold-Loves own the East Empire Company and the Cyrodiil Mage's Guild.  The Silver-Bloods control the silver trade and Cidhna Mine.  The Empire wasn't going to renew their deal with these families, so they paid to have him killed!"

"I would buy the Gold-Loves having a member on the Elder Council, who is who really contracted for the death of the Emperor, but the SIlver-Bloods?" I shook my head.

Stabby pulled out his daggers and immediately stabbed the guy, killing him.

I blinked, "You didn't have to kill him!  Tiber Septim's ghost!  He was still giving us information."

Stabby continued to wail on him as he talked, "Honestly, I think the Gold-Loves might have had something to do with it.  I agree on your assessment of the SB clan."

"Yeah, who would you have us kill me kill?  Thongvar?  Try again," I said.  I went back to the Sanctuary.  It was morning when I got there.

 

I approached the NM again.

"Our family grows, every day.  Once this sanctaury is full, we will have to fill the others," she said, "Find the Wayward Alchemist in Winterhold.  So begins a new contract."

"Business is booming," Nazir said as I passed, "Will theer ever be a time when the people of Skyrim don't need our services?  I think not."

"Vala," I said at the bunk room, "We have more contracts."

"So soon?  I feel like this is nothing but go, go go!" She sighed, putting her shrouded uniform on, "I got Arine.  She's here, and seems to be wanting to begin training."

"No time for rest."

"So, new family or contract first?"

"I feel like new member of the family," I said, "Nazir, what do you have for me?"

"An Orc.  Time for kidnapping?" He asked.

"Yep.  Have him at the shack and we'll be there later," I said.

"No problem," he chuckled, "We are resurging and I love it!"

 

Later that day I brought Cicero, Averna and Vala to see the Orc.  Can never have too much protection these days.

Vala walked in without a cowl.

"Guess we just don't care anymore," I said sarcastically.

"Want a family?  People who will accept you for who you are?" She asked him.

"Sure," he said.  His name was Azuk gro-Olpac.

"I can give you that and more.  You just have to do one thing for me.  There are three people behind you.  One of them has a contract out on their life.  Find out who and kill them."

She untied him, and he actually went through the trouble of questioning them.  He killed the one on the right.

"Which one was it?" Azuk asked.

"It doesn't matter.  You're in, if you want in," I said.

"There is a black door in Dawnstar.  When you get there you will be asked a question.  Innocence, my brother is the answer," Vala explained.

"How do you pick your targets?" Azuk asked.

"We don't pick our targets.  They're chosen for us," Vala replied.

"How?  The Black Sacrament?"

"Well, yes."

"How do you do it?" Azuk asked.

"You need a skull, bones, flesh, and a heart," Vala explained.

"Like this?" Azuk dropped all the things she'd mentioned.

"I admire your spirit, but why?" Vala asked.

"Like this?" He asked again, more insistant.

"Yes, Encircle the effigy with candles.  Rub Nightshade petals on a dagger and begin to stab the effigy," she explained.

He set up the ritual there and said, "As I stab, what do I need to say?"

"Sweet mother," Vala started, and Azuk started to repeat after her, stabbing, "Sweet mother, send your child unto me, for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in blood and fear."

"Now what?" Azuk asked.

"Now you would wait.  But I don't understand what you're trying to do-"

And then, I heard her voice, "Listener..."  She fed to me an image of a Khajiit of some kind, and the Silver-Blood Inn in Markarth. You know, the not-safest city in Skyrim, where people get murdered constantly and it keeps getting attacked.

"I won't wait!  What do I have to do to kill someone?" Azuk said angrily.

"If you were a client, that would've alerted the Night Mother, who would've informed the Listener."

"Ahem.  She just did," I said.

"What?  There's no way," Vala said.

"Yep.  I'm as surprised as you are.  Maybe she's curious where this leads," I said.

"Okay, contact, who is the target?" Vala asked.

"A Khajiit in Markarth," Azuk replied.

"Does he have a name?" Vala asked.

"Probably."

"Are you serious?" Vala asked.

"Meet me at the Silver-Blood Inn," Azuk said.

"Can we go now?" One of the other prisoners said.

"Oh, no, all of you that were picked are either scum, or murder targets.  You're going to be cattle for the Volkihars if you're not killed here," I explained.

 

I hopped in the little boat I'd taken from the arch of Solitude and rode with Vala to Markarth.  We got there without incident.

"Why are there so many people here?" Vala asked.

"Party," Azuk said.

"A party?  This is not a good idea," Vala said.

"Sit at the bar.  Listen for Gortwog," Azuk said.  He seemed to be thinking.

I sat down at the bar, and a few seconds later (I'm not even sure if he said the word) Azuk stepped up and snapped a Khajiit's neck.  Off duty guards swarmed him and carted him off.

"Cidhna mine for you!" One of them shouted.

"What the fuck just happened?" I asked.

"I'm not entirely sure," Vala replied, "Should we break him out?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"How do you propose we do that?  Brute force?  Subterfuge?  Waiting for him to serve his sentence?" Vala asked.

"Hroldar owes us," I said.  We went over to the temple and I fond him there, tending to the statue again.

"What in Talos' divine undergarments are you going here?"  He asked.

"I need to break a... misguided Orc out of Cidhna Mine," I replied.

Hroldar sighed, "Okay.  I have a friend who is a high ranking guard.  I can help you.  Give him this note.  But after this, don't take it the wrong way, but I never want to see your pretty face again."

"Aww, you think I'm pretty?" I smiled jokingly.  Then I headed over to the mine.

A rough Orc woman guard rebuffed me at the entrance, but then I showed the note to Irbran.

"The one who murdered a guy, right in the Inn?  Usually I don't support letting murderers out.  But Hroldar's note says you've done great service to the Forsworn.  I have family that are Forsworn.  Wait here."

We got him and got the hell outta there.  Azuk asked us to follow him, leading us to a small hidden cave.  The floors were littered with pouches of gold, and there was a table with armor on it.

 

"I don't get it," Vala said, "This is what we were doing this for?  A full set of Orcish armor and ... remains?"

"Ever heard of Gortwog?"

"He was an Orc king, right?" I asked.

"These are his remains, and his equipment.  The Khajiit plundered them, and was going to sell them.  You can have the armor, as payment."

"No.  You take the armor.  It's very well made.  You can use it to make the Brotherhood stronger," I said, "Besides, I'm more of a light armor girl myself."

"Try out heavy armor sometime.  You might like it," Azuk said, "I'm going to bury him, and go to the sanctuary."

I sent Vala back to the sanctuary and did a quick side contract from the NM in Morthal, killing a Lumberjack.  Luckily, the lumber mill was being attacked by Goblins and Durzog at just that moment.  He joined in the fight, but, sadly, neither he nor the opponents made it.  And I went back to the Sanctuary.  

 

Azuk was already there when I got back.  

"Hey, where you from?" I asked.

"Skyrim," he replied.

"You're a man of few words.  This is like trying to get blood out of a stone," I sighed.

"Why would anyone do that?"

"It's just an expression."

"I'm from the strongholds.  The chief's wife made a pass at me.  When I was honorable and said no, she lied and got me banished.  Actually..." He started.

"Yes?"

"Would you be willing to help me with something?"

"I know where this is going," I said.

"I could do the sacrament again..."

"It's fine.  I'll do this one for free."

"Alright, I would like the Chief's wife dead.  Morzoga ga-Urgash.  If you bring me her heart, there's something extra in it for you," he chuckled.

 

I approached the Night Mother again.  

She gave me two missions:  one from the Corrupt Penitus Oculatus Agent (again, man, this guy really knows how to hold a grudge) and a Frightened Salesman in Solitude.  And she wanted me to bring Vala.  

 

 

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