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Hey, it's me. Destana. Ever had a life-changing experience that basically told you to keep doing what you're doing but gave you a purpose? I had that last time. I would go find a way to contact Sanguine again in the future, but for now, it was time to return to the guild. I walked through the gates and to the Bee and Barb. Maven accepted the papers, but it didn't give us a lead as to who was trying to buy the meadery. My reward: an Orcish Dagger of Freezing. I grinned. This would pair well with Dragon's Oath on my main hand. Fire and Ice. I went through the front entrance to the sewers to the flagon. "You! Stop right there!" A man shouted. "Uh what?" "Pay us a toll or get gutted!" Another man brandished an axe. "I'm with the guild," I said, realizing I'd been going through the grave or the grate by the stables every time I came through here except for the first time. The bridge was now raised and these men were threatening me, "You guys were so nice a couple months ago when I came through here." "Oh, it's you," they put their weapons away, "Want us to lower the bridge?" "It's okay. I'll go through the graveyard," I backtracked up to the city again, and immediately got plugged by an arrow. "What the..." I reflexively crouched behind the railing. I looked over to who had been shooting me. Dawnguard? "I'm not a vampire!" I shouted, but the man said nothing, reloading what I realized was a crossbow. I peered over to the guards, who seemed to be either not paying attention or waiting to see how this played out. I dashed for the graveyard and slammed the gate behind me. I narrowed my eyes, "No, I'm not going to take this." I turned and opened the gate, shot at him with an Elven Bow and arrow combination. When he fired back, I'd swung the gate closed again. "You're a bitch!" I shouted, "Shouldn't have attacked me!" I swung the gate open again and let loose another arrow, then shut it as he fired back. Finally, he went around the other side and shot at me from behind. I used terrain to my advantage to get close to him, took out my fire and ice combo while he took out his waraxe. I used a death by a thousand cuts strategy as he tired himself out only doing power attacks until he showed signs that his poise was running out, then I moved in and double-slashed him across the chest. I searched his person. "I wonder why this is a thing...?" I found no note on him, or anything strange. Maybe he thought I was a vamp or something? Well, anyway, free crossbow, and some steel bolts. Having never seen anyone carrying either of these, I knew I'd have to save them. Anyway... I went down the graveyard entrance and took a much needed nap (accommodating as he was, Sanguine's realm wasn't all that comfortable). When I walked out to the bar in the flagon, it was after midnight. I fenced some things with Tonilia (who was up unusually late) and then decided I would poke around. I went into the large bunkroom, thinking I might find Brynjolf in here, though when I got there I realized he was probably sleeping in the Cistern - if he was sleeping. Only one person was actually asleep here. Vex. I walked over to her. I bit my lip. I was thinking about the cockamamie job she and Delvin put me through. I scratched my chin as I looked on her. What would Sanguine do(WWSD)? Spread debauchery. I gently pulled her pants off and went down, trying to pleasure her into not wanting to resist before she fully woke up. By the time her eyes were open, she was moaning, it was dark, and she didn't seem to mind it. Once we got into it we both pulled our clothes off and I flipped over and rubbed mine against hers. When we both finished, she said, "I was going to teach you this one anyway. Seducing women and stealing from them while they're occupied." She laid back down and passed out. Had she realized I'd stolen her Guild Master Boots off the floor when I sped out of there? She never mentioned it again, so, I guess not? I'm the one getting my feet wet and my hands dirty all the time. I went over to the cistern then. Mercer accepted the news with a bit of anger, and then told me next I would be going to Solitude to shake down the guy who he thinks is responsible. Ugh... Solitude. I headed over to the bar in the flagon to accept all Vex and Delvin's quests again, this time it seemed free from funny business. "Oi," Delvin said, pointing to the seat across from him, "Want to practice your seduction skills?" I sat, "What do you mean?" "When you're sucking a man's cock, he'll be hard-pressed to notice you're taking his coinpurse. If you handle the coinpurse correctly that is." I smirked, "Been talking to Vex?" "Always," he sneered back, "You had a go with her, how about me?" "Alright," I said. I led him to the bunkroom and gave him a blowjob. He complimented me on my skills. When we came back to the bar, though, I blinked. Half the people had paired off and were having sex now. Vekel and Vex, Ethelinda (the barmaid) and Dirge, Tonilia and Arius. Sanguine, was this your doing? I smiled. When Vex came up from fucking she said to me, "So, how about it?" "How... about what?" I asked, puzzled. "I heard you wanted to be the guild's cumdump." I nearly immediately said no. Then I opened my mouth and said, "Yes, I want to be the cumdump for the guild. Let all the members or associates fuck me." "Well, I guess that's possible. If you know what you're getting into," she smiled, "You just go on your next mission and when you get back, I'll have let everyone know." I blinked. I... didn't mean to say that. But I felt almost like it was the only thing I *could've* said. Strangely, I didn't correct her. I just turned around, bought some food and drink from still naked Vekel, fenced the rest of my goods with Tonilia (I often have to split this up because I am kindof a kleptomanic packrat), shelled out more than a thousand gold to Arius (Ugh, just take the money) to clear my bounty from Solitude, then climbed out the grate by the stables. I tried not to think about what I had just done. When I arrived in Solitude, I decided not to waste time and went right to my target. He was sitting in an alcove, away from prying eyes. "Let me guess, by your smell you're from the guild," Gulum-Ei said. "I'm here about Goldenglow," I said. "Don't know what you're talking about," he said. "You can drop the act, Gulum Ei," I said. "Oh, wait... did you say Goldenglow Estate? My apologies. I'm sorry to say I know very little about that... bee farm, was it?" He asked. "You acted as a broker for its new owner." "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. I can't be expected to remember every deal I handle." "Identify the buyer and we'll forget what we know," I said. "No way. I'm keeping my hands clean," he replied. Dammit. "Give me the buyer's name or I'll kill you," I gritted my teeth. "Hasn't Mercer Frey taught you people anything? You kill me and your only contact with the East Empire Company vanishes. That's not smart for business." Talos' bones! Either I need more training in persuasion or this guy isn't going to budge. I sighed. My jaw is getting tired. I leaned forward, letting my breasts dangle even in the Thieves' Guild armor and rubbed the front of his trousers with my hand, "Nobody needs to know what you told me." "I'm not telling you..." He groaned a little as I took the dick out of his trousers and started to lick it. I was quick, and we weren't seen. When I was done he said, "Well now that I'm satisfied, I bid you good day." He stood and started to walk off. I swallowed the load, my face contorting with rage. I put my hands on my weapons, but a little voice in my head said, 'If you kill him, you won't get anywhere.' I nodded to the voice, realizing I could just follow him. I took a deep breath and crept out at a safe distance. I followed to the East Empire Warehouse, which I expected. I wasn't sure if he knew he was being followed, but this just got a lot harder. As he went deeper into the Warehouse, I noted they seemed to have a lot of guards. I climbed up onto a platform as I watched Gulum-Ei, and when he passed by a guard passed by the other way. I waited a minute, then dropped and slit that one's throat. Hey, danger in the line of duty. If you're put off by random murder, then there's plenty more where that came from. I crept forward, walking up stairs to the side (to check if there were guards watching from up above) and I found a sleeping loft. One guy asleep. Well, it had taken me all day and half the night to get here so it was night-time again. I crept past him to find a man sitting at a table, counting money with his back to me. I walked forward to knock him out and he got up, drawing a sword. Damn. Well, I slashed him a couple times and like a noble he went down, but I hadn't killed him. So I bound and gagged him. I reached into the chest next to him to find... 8000 gold!! One wonders where I would put all this. And on his person was another 2000 gold. Infact, the chest seemed to be holding much more than I could carry so I looked for the most valuable and/or useful things and swiped them. And... I guess I would call this a consolation prize, I got on top of him and fucked him. Then I tied him so tight he'd need help to escape. I crept past the sleeping man again and shot another guard with my bow and one of my best arrows. He closed the distance and I jumped out from behind a small ship and daggered him in the back. I got the last guard in a similar way to the first one, then followed the trail into Deepwater Grotto. As I entered, two men were talking - Bandits, rather than the guards I'd encountered before. Was I even going the right way? Why would the East Empire Company employ bandits? Maybe not as wholesome as they might seem. And I like that in my mind, I was justified in what I was doing. I drew an arrow and shot the little guy, an Archer. A second arrow to his head sent him dead in the water. But the other guy was nearly at me now. Some kind of bandit champion, he bowled me over with a greatsword. I got up, found myself fighting and losing against this brute Orc. After only a few swipes he knocked me off my feet again, stripping the weapons from my hands and then stripping my trousers. I fought the urge to yell as he got on top of me and thrust into me. But knew if there was a chance of me moving forward I'd need to let him get what he wanted. "You're a fool and I'm going to kill you," I whispered as he fucked me from behind. When he was done several minutes later, he sheathed his sword and put back on his armor, going to pick his companion out of the water. Delvin and Vex, you have taught me well, though this tactic is my own. I snuck over to him, still naked with my dagger in hand, and jumped on his shoulders, digging dagger into his throat. He collapsed into the water. If he was alive before, now he was also drowned. Gritting my teeth, I redressed and pressed on. I found two paths: a bridge and a path of spider webs. I used Flames to burn my way through, and got the giant spider inside with an arrow. On the other side, I ripped through the web with my sword and stabbed a bandit woman in the back. Her partner, a man, came at me with a sword, but found himself wanting against my superior skill (hah, right. If only they could all go that way.) and went down easy. Next segment. Somehow I slipped up because the whole group heard me coming and drew weapons. I noted that the archer was going out to the bridge adjacent to get a better shot at me and not approach. Smart. I hid around an outcropping and waited for the warrior, a barely clothed woman to turn the corner. When she did, I slashed her up with a combo from two weapons. She turned and ran, and I fired an arrow in her back. I turned to find a Dog swimming to shore next to me (obviously the archer's pet) and plugged him as well. Then I turned to the archer, who'd already hit me once. We played the strafe game as he walked back across the bridge, we trading bowshots back and forth. We each got a good shot or two in and as he rounded a stone pillar, eyes still on me he set off a log trap and it swung into his chest, pulverizing him and he fell into the water, dead. "My gods," I said. As I looted, I realized it wasn't just me that'd killed the dog. He'd also hit a bear trap as he came onto shore. I laughed out loud. Somebody is looking out for me. And the final bit I found a stone plateau on the right with a small boat in the water. There was a stone pillar and deep behind the pillar was a set of cages, supplies, and Gulum-Ei. Three guards. I hid behind the face of the plateau for the first guard to come out, then stabbed him in the back, dumping him in the water. The second guard was far enough away he didn't hear, but when he came towards me I broke my stealth because he was a friggin ghost. We fought, but the went down in seconds. Not a very good ghost. Now he's double dead, I guess? What do you pay a ghost in, ghost money? The third one was an archer. I jumped up onto the plateau and snuck behind the huge shelves full of loot and plugged him with arrows. When he finally was able to figure out where I was, I already had three arrows in him and the fourth took him down. This was a good day (well, except that one, but I don't think about that). I strode up to Gulum-Ei, "Give me the deed. I'll decide if I'm going to kill you in a minute." "No need to be hasty!" He forked it over, "It's Karliah who's doing all this. I didn't even know it was her until after she'd already set the plan in motion." "Who?" "He really hasn't told you anything, has he?" Gulum-Ei said, "She's the one who got the former guildmaster killed." "Alright," I silently wondered why they weren't giving me the full story. "So you gonna let me live?" He asked. "Sure. But next time a lady sucks your dick, be more forthcoming," I said through gritted teeth. I looted everything of value, then walked out and traveled back to Riften. Too many of these trips across the whole of Skyrim were leaving me dog tired. I slept again, this time it seemed like for a day and a half. When I got up, I felt terrible. It was about sunset again. I figured maybe I would take a stroll around Riften, like a normal person rather than the murderhobo I was. I thought maybe I would go to the shrine and get a blessing and it might cure my ailment, but I found myself at the entrance to the Honorhall Orphanage. And I couldn't remember I was asked to do something here. I figured I'd go inside. Children could be fun. It might ease my feelings. As I stepped in and stood in the doorway, I could hear an old woman talking to the children. "None of you will be adopted, you worthless wretches. You'll always be here. Get used to it. Now go to bed!" She said. I peered around the corner. Grelod the Kind, she was named. And now I remembered. That kid in Windhelm wanted me to kill this woman. Gods, she kept talking. She was horrible, berating them. Telling them they were worthless. But she took care of them. Why? Maybe... funded by the Jarl? Oh my gods, the idea was already in my head. I was already thinking about how to kill her. As I looked upon them, I noticed a younger woman who seemed to be consoling them and helping them as they went to bed. She was the *real* kind one here. Maybe I didn't need to kill the old woman. Maybe I could use some magic and scare her into being a better person. I... didn't really know a lot of magic, and that seemed like it would backfire. Maybe I could give her a savage beating. But, still, brittle bones. I sighed. Okay. I would wait until she went to bed. Then I would feed her poison. Something to keep her from suffering. Gods, I put my hands on my face, I was really going to do this. I waited a few minutes for all the little eyes to shut, then I quietly crept to the backroom, like a Saturnalia elf bringing presents in the form of murder. I shut the door behind me and went through my pack. Aversion to Frost, Aversion to Shock, Weak Stamina. Dammit. I pulled out my sword. In for a silver, in for a septim. This was going to get messy. I stabbed her cleanly and swiftly and she let out a groan. I darted to the cubby with her desk. Just as I expected, the children hadn't been asleep after all. They rushed in. Dammit. Fuck. I don't know why I did this. I looked at my pack again. Limited Invisibility. That would work. I drank it and snuck past them, closing the door behind me, and sprinted out the front door. Aventus, it is your lucky day my friend. I couldn't tell you what on that day compelled me to do that, but I was still feeling sick, so I walked to the temple of Mara. I got the blessing, and I still felt like garbage. I sat down at a pew for a few minutes. "Oh, congratulations!" A dunmer woman said. Dinya Balu. She was the wife of the head priest, and a priestess of mara. "Excuse me?" I asked, "Are you mocking me? I feel like shit." "No, no. Are you telling me you don't know? And you came here just by coincidence?" Dinya asked. "What are you talking about?" "Oh, praise Mara! A miracle! You're pregnant!" ".... what?" I asked. I imagine I didn't have an ounce of happiness about my face. "I mean, if it's unwanted, we have things to take care of that," Dinya said, "Discreetly." I shook my head, "No." I sat there for a moment. Puzzled that I'd messed up mentally tracking my cycle, and not sure what to do. "Tell me," I turned to her again, "Are you able to tell who the father is?" Dinya blinked. Then she smiled again, not trying to judge, I'd wager, "Simple." She concentrated a few seconds, then she tilted her head, "I'm not sure how to tell you this..." "Tell me what?" "No, really, I mean, I don't know what to tell you," Dinya replied, "It's as if the father... doesn't want me to know. What kind of man possesses that kind of oddly specific power?" For the first time in this conversation, I smiled, "I know who." It made sense. He fucked me probably twenty times while I was there for only a couple days. And maybe supernatural sperm does whatever the fuck it wants. Maybe it can wait around until I'm fertile. Maybe it can just get things started without my body even being at the right phase. Who knows. I stood, hungry grin on my face. "Where are you off to?" Dinya asked. "To find the father and tell him the good news," I said, then I turned, "Hey. I need a Necklace of Mara." "Amulet of Mara, and of course," Maramal said, trading the septims for the necklace, "Should we expect you back here within a few days?" "...Maybe," I said back, smiling as I walked out. Dinya blinked again, waving, maybe realizing that this was not your garden-variety happiness. As I suited back up in my traveling clothes I racked my brain about something that'd long laid dormant in my quest log that seemed to be screaming at me now. I flipped through the tome to find, 'A Night to Remember.' To explain myself, I had a quirky way of logging each event that happened with a memorable title until I saw something through to completion. A Night to Remember was the time when I just joined the Thieves Guild and I woke up in the Temple of Dibella after a night of drinking. And at once, I experienced a brain blast. Sam Guivenne! He had the same damned face as Sanguine and the name sounded the goddamn same! I got on a carriage to Markarth, to travel by horse to Rorikstead (I was stacked enough now I could buy 20 horses), the place I'd been blabbing about when I woke up from my night of revelry with Sam. I'm going to show my cleverness now and sweep that bastard off his feet.

Hey, it's Destana again. Despite having a generally bad time in Solitude, I decided to go back. You know those times when something goes really right (even against very bad odds) for somebody who's completely mad and they judge it to be the will of the gods that they performed the action that led them down that path? This could've been that moment for me. In a sense. This is a stealth mission. When I woke up (it was before the farmer and his wife awoke) I threw on my gauntlets and boots. My body armor was somewhere in one of the ruins. And most of my odds and ends were in Solitude Prison. My reason for going back wasn't just to get my gear though. It wasn't just a test of my stealth skills now (though I viewed it that way). I wanted the damned Jailer dead. I grabbed a set of basic clothes, some gold and some food from the farmer (sorry farmer). Then I headed back to Solitude. It took another day or so to travel there, but I knew the landmarks so it seemed quicker this time. By the time I got there it was early in the morning. Which, as a thief, was a great time to be doing what I was going to be doing. I scoped out the city itself - on a great arch. I thought to myself it might be possible to scale the side and get in via the wall. I would just need rope to make rope arrows. I walked along the path between the city and the East Empire docks until I saw a small opening, which... led to a door. This had promise. I grinned, swallowing and steeling myself. It was locked, with a fairly difficult lock, taking me about an hour and at least 20 lockpicks breaking in the lock before I got in (good practice). I climbed up to find I was inside a tower on the wall. I walked up the stairs and I was on a small bridge between the wall and the castle. Really? This is the security in this place? Anyway, I jumped down onto the wall, nearly losing my balance, then slinked over to the back of Radiant Raiment. The roof was butted up against the wall, so it was easy. "Hey, how's it going?" One guard said to another, and I darted to the back of Radiant Raiment's roof. "Oh, you know. The waiting. It's sooo boring," the other guard said. I weighed my options. I opened up my journal and remembered what had brought me here in the first place. 1. Retrieve the Copper and Moonstone Circlet from Radiant Raiment. Okay. That would be easy. I would wait for the guards to patrol away and I'd pick the lock and do the deed. The door was barely locked. The first thing I noted when I entered was voices coming from upstairs. Okay, not so easy. I searched downstairs, grabbing some fine clothing and finding a challenging lockbox to pick with 400 gold inside. Then I found the circlet. About this time the denizens had gone to sleep and I figured I shouldn't press my luck any further. As I exited, a guard stood maybe a dozen feet away with his back to me. So I reentered the house and looked at my next quest target. 2. Get a Jeweled Flagon in Addvar's House. By my map it looked like that was halfway across town. I threw together some rope and arrows and made rope arrows (!) to get back up on the roof. I jumped to Bits and Pieces, then back on the wall, over the bridge and across more wall. I looked across the courtyard. It was going to be a hell of a jump to reach the catacombs entrance building, and then to the triplex that included Addvar's house. I looked around, then dropped and rushed across the yard, flattening against the walls. I could see the guards' torches, which gave them away, so it wasn't a difficult prospect to avoid them. Addvar's lock popped open (I was getting good at this now) and I walked in. Greta and Addvar were fast asleep in the upstairs bed, so I took what I needed as well as all the valuables, and stealthily walked out the front door. 3. Next target. Erikur's house is right next to here. I flipped deeper in my quest log and remembered where I saw his name. He was a Sweep job target, and he'd forced himself on me while I was incarcerated in the Blue Palace. I weighed my options. I could steal the things Vex wanted, but if I killed him I wouldn't get anything. And the screaming. It would alert guards. Besides, he wasn't the real problem here. It was the system itself. As I approached his house, I noted he had a backdoor. I decided I would do this in style. Then I noticed he had a balcony with a door to his second floor. REAL style. I jumped up and picked the lock (again, easy) and stepped inside. First I went to the third floor and looted what I could. I spied a couple having sex and didn't disturb. (Not Erikur, who are these people)? I made my way around the house, finally finding Erikur's room on the first floor and shut the door behind me. I waited there for several moments, thinking of the things I could do to him right now. I looted his room. Finally I settled on something. First, I bound and gagged him in his sleep. "Mmmmph?" He struggled, but I brought lots of rope. I got on top of him and did the same thing those men had done to me: used him to give me an orgasm and left him there, tied and naked. He was trying to shout for guards but my gagging technique was pretty good. I had to retie him, but I hoped it would hold at least until I did my non-quest related business in the castle. To be honest, I can't say it was one of my finer moments. I also can't say he didn't enjoy it (unlike most of my experiences with the opposite). It was more of a power thing. I stepped out again, feeling like I was beating the system now. A guard turned a corner, and I rolled forward (I'd just learned how to roll in stealth) and slipped in the (unlocked??) backdoor to the Bards' College. Several people were up and about in the college and I just casually walked around, acting like I belonged. Their leader, Viarmo, accosted me as I passed through the large common room, "Are you here to study the ways of the bard?" I squinted, then I said, "Uh.. yeah. I've always wanted to play music." "Well, all you need to do at this time is get an instrument and play. Feel free to take one of the lutes from the room here. Come back to me when you're a little more experienced and we can talk about your entry," he smirked. I wasn't sure how to take that at the moment, but I had a mission to do, so I just nodded and grabbed a lute, throwing it in my pack. Maybe It'd fetch a good price. From there I used another rope arrow to scale the wall, sneaking all the way. I dropped down to a balcony, door leading adjacent to the courtyard. I waited for the guards' torches to pass again and snuck on the edge of the courtyard to Castle Dour entrance. Not remembering which way the dungeon was, but finding the castle unusually unguarded, I picked right. As I stealthed down the stairs, I found... guards. This was a barracks. But... they were all sleeping. Not even a watch? I wondered at that moment if somebody above was watching over me... or below. I decided I would ride the wave and walked through a gate and to a chest I'd seen from the door. Locked, very difficult? Must be something very good inside. After several minutes of fumbling (honestly, all it takes is time and a vast supply of lockpicks, I'd been looting them as I went)... the chest had Imperial Dragon Armor in it. Heavy armor, not my style. But... on my body was a good a place as any until it was time to sell it. And, a sword! Dragon's Oath. I picked it up and equipped it immediately. This would be my main sword for a while. I went back up the stairs and down the opposite side into the dungeon this time. The pattern of clean stone turned into dingy dungeon and I knew I'd made it. I turned right, dodging an Imperial Soldier around a stone structure. I followed the ring and down the stairs to the holding room where they'd first stripped me and put my gear in a chest. "HEY! I know you!" The guard in the holding room shouted. Scanning the room, the jailer was nowhere to be found. I thought over my options for a split second. Not thinking of intimidating the guard into telling me where the jailer was, I said back, "You're making a mistake." "There is no mistake. you are a wanted man and it's time for you to pay for your crimes." "I'm a woman! And I don't have time for this, do you?" "You have committed crimes against Skyrim and her people. What say you in your defense?" The Guard asked. I stroked my chin for a second, then said, "I'm the Jarl's Thane. I demand you let me go at once?" "Oh, forgive me.... wait a minute!" The guard drew his sword, "You're no thane!" "Damn. Deception failed," I said, "Ah! I'm with the Guild. Is this enough to clear my bounty?" "I can make all your problems with the guards go away. But it'll cost you. 100 gold. What do you say?" "Fine," I handed him some of my ill-gotten gold. He turned back to what he was doing at the long table, going through evidence. Immediately, my face lit up with glee. This was Saturalia in Sun's Height. He turned to the table. I crouched. I brought up Dragon's Oath and stabbed the man in the back three times and he crumpled. I took back my gold and his as well. I stood and spat on him. It was hard to tell with these guys, but I was 99% sure that was the guy that brought me in and gave me to the Jailer. Even if it wasn't this system was broken and I was enraged by the guards' indifference. I went back and down the stairs to the lower level, where I'd been held. Rather than how packed by guards this prison had been when I was being held here, it seemed nearly empty now. Maybe because it was 4 in the morning? One imperial soldier sat on a chair at the middle of the circle, watching the one prisoner still here from my sentence. The one they'd forced to watch me getting raped. "I stand with Ulfric Stormcloak! You Imperial dogs will never get a word out of me!" She shouted. Fiery. I liked this one. I crept over to her bars. I reached out for the door, but there didn't seem to be any knob? Was it broken off? I blinked. I could not open it. After pondering for a moment, I had another idea. "Hey, I have a gift for you," I said to her through the bars. She looked up at me. I slipped one of my steel daggers silently into the hay on her side, and a lockpick. "Make your own decision. I like your passion," I smiled. I decided I had it with the sneaking and walked over behind the sleeping guard and stabbed him in the throat. My ledger is dripping with blood now. I figured I might as well peer into some of the other cells. All empty of people, but one of them had a curious note, reading: "Fifteen men, a sunken treasure, and a lost ship. That's what I left behind. It took less than a day to sail to Blackbone Isle..." I pocketed it. I sat down for a minute. That Jailer, he hadn't been in the jail. I hadn't seen him in the town. I hadn't seen him in the castle. I wanted to scream. Did he travel around and 'rehabilitate' prisoners in all the holds? I sighed, ready to be out of here. I gathered up my things to make an exit. Stealth stealth stealth... I stepped out into the courtyard. 'Wait what time is it?' I thought. I noticed the sun was rising over Nirn. "You've committed..." Dammit. I drew my weapons. Two imperial soldiers flanked me. And drew their swords. And it wasn't going to be long before they noticed I was wearing EXPENSIVE imperial armor that I'd stole. This was going to be less of a 'thinking fast' than 'running fast' exercise. "I'd rather die than go to prison!" I shouted, rolling out of the way of their attacks. I dropped all pretense at stealth and sprinted to my right, which I knew led toward the gate. Arrows flew as I dodged left and right. Two hold guards were coming up the ramp to my left so I jumped over the low wall and sprinted to the side gate, more soldiers piling on by the moment. I flew past the gate guards, past the wall. I figured I could add another crime here and help my getaway, so I hopped on a light brown horse and spurred it on until I was out of the country. When I was finally far enough away that noone would touch me, I dismounted and fell on my back. "I can't believe I fucking pulled that off!" I screamed. Some Aedra or Daedra out there must be watching over me. I'd been up all night so I decided I would get off the road and make camp. Late that evening I awoke to find the horse had wandered off, but I was rested and ready to face the day. What to do now? Go back to Riften and fence? Or double down? A mixed answer. I didn't care about Morthal. I decided that the Shill and Numbers jobs in Morthal would have to wait. Like a gambler deciding to push her winning streak, I was going to Windhelm to hear about this Ulfric Stormcloak everyone was talking about (and to commit more crimes, of course). As a side note, the last picture in the collage is me now, just chilling in Windstad Manor. Waiting. It's the waiting that drives me nuts. I want to be out there, doing things. But for now I'm stuck. Not going to make the same mistake as my first preg.... Nevermind. Forget I said anything. So you know my bounty in Solutide doesn't last forever. But for the longest time I avoid Solitude like the plague. Yes, I do have a lot of tattoos now. I will get to that.

Hey, it's me, Destana. Over the last few weeks I've been beaten down a lot. That's not about to end, but it is about to get better. So there I was, suspended in the slave auction, people bidding over me like a piece of meat. After quite a few rounds I was purchased by a person named "Owner." Later I would find out her name was Octava. As soon as I was unchained, there was a flash and I awoke in a dungeon. Not a keeping people captive dungeon, but the adventuring kind. Still naked, I opened my eyes to moss-covered stone. I was laying on the floor and my master sat at a wooden table next to a bookcase that seemed out of place. She wore imperial armor, with dark hair pulled in a ponytail. I remember her looking rough but still attractive, like a retired soldier. "Where am I?" I muttered. "Fellglow Keep. C'mon. We're delving," she got up from her seat. What kind of person takes an unequipped slave adventuring? Maybe she just needed friends? I looked down at my naked form and noticed my backpack with my gear was on the table. At least... some of it. Most the odds and ends I'd picked up in my few adventures up to this point were gone. But atleast it held armor and weapons. Now, being the rash young woman I was, I immediately threw the pack on and took off running. I imagine she rolled her eyes and walked after me. It seemed we were right in the middle of the structure and I had no idea which way to go to get out, so I picked a hall and booked it. "Who's that? You will die!" A man in the next open room shouted and I stopped in my tracks. He summoned a fire atronach and they both pivoted - aiming spells at me. I whipped around and sprinted the opposite direction. There was Octava, throwing shards of ice at the pair. I blinked. She did well, drawing her sword as they grew close and finishing them off. She stood over me, offered me a hand. I raised an eyebrow. "I told you to come on. Stay low. Stay behind me. Take out your weapons. Back me up. We'll soon be out of here," she said. I took her hand. I wasn't sure what she was expecting here, but I did as she said. I put on the Elven Boots and Gloves, Elven Sword, Steel Dagger and a Hunting Bow. When I went to put on my body armor she stopped me, "It's a rule. Don't wear body armor. Get in the habit because you won't be wearing it in town." I shrugged. Probably not the worst way she could've reacted. "Now let's go!" She shouted as she ran off. I considered getting the drop on her and slitting her throat, but I realized I probably needed her to get out of here. My non-skill having ass was going to build up while she was out in front taking the hits. I was in stealth as we entered the next room and she whispered, "I'm just going to save up the punishments for later." She dealt with another room of rogue spellcasters handily. I got behind one and stabbed him in the back. A few rooms later, there was a chest in the corner. As she fought the bandits here she shouted at me, "Pick that lock. I know you're a thief." I went to work and the lock popped open easily. Of course, all proceeds going to my owner. It was a lot of rinse and repeat over the course of the dungeon. Her tanking and doing the lion's share of the damage, me stealing and backstabbing, occasionally shooting them with my bow. It's really sad, this system that indoctrinates people such as these into its dreadful tendrils. Octava seemed like a not-terrible person, unlike a lot of the people who used their dominion over me to satisfy their own hungers. She was merely a person who'd lived her whole life with slavery adjacent to her and thought nothing was wrong with it. We're a society of a certain level, with a long way to go. I might've even thought the same some times in my life. But not now. Two weeks was all I needed to know the prison system and slavery system in Skyrim wasn't good to its people. Especially people like me - they call us murder hobos in some instances. But that wasn't going to be me forever. Someday I was going to be something. Anyway, when we were at the end of the ruin, looting the treasure room, Octava said, "I wonder if we should camp under the stars or just at the end of this dungeon tonight." I muttered, "I don't know why you're asking me. You have all the power here." "Oh, I know," she reached over from the chest she was ransacking and patted me on my white-haired head, "I was talking to myself, love. I was just thinking. This dungeon is completely cleared out. Outside there are bears and crabs and... more bandits. And dragons." I raised an eyebrow again, "Dragons? Really?" "Well, I've heard stories they started appearing. I haven't actually seen one. There are some spell tomes here. I already know all these, you take them. Take anything of value. I'm running out of space in my pack," Octava said. So now I was her companion. Still, not the worst this could've gone. It could be as bad as Solitude Prison. We slept in the wood beds the bandits had been using. The next day, we travelled overland, fighting a pack of wolves and a small group of bandits. Octava could not be stopped. We approached an unguarded crypt. "Keep your distance, use stealth. I hear something going on inside," Octava said. She snuck ahead, and I wondered to myself what this woman's story was. Raiding tombs and bandit camps one after another. We were already weighed down with loot and she wanted more. Greed, or a death wish? Covenstead Crypt was normally occupied by draugr. Or rather, normally only occupied by draugr. As we entered, it was apparent somebody else was trying to do the same thing as us. Bandits with wizards were fighting a small group of draugr. Maybe, trying to carve out a hideout for themselves. I cringed as we crept closer. I'd never seen the creatures before, but they were gross bags of bones. The bandits were prepared though, mopping up the creatures in this room without much trouble. "You'll die!" A man shouted from behind us, and an invisible assailant layed into Octava. I remember nearly jumping out of my boots at that and generally being useless. She blew him back with magic and slashed him through the chest, finishing the job. The other bandits turned to us. Five of them in all. "What ye doin here, lass?" One of them threatened, "You killed our man. Granted, he was late wakin' up and not the most professional. Got any valuables on ye? Mayhaps we'll consider letting you go." "If you pay the toll!" One of the other men smirked. The two women among them were already walking into the hallway behind, giving this exchange no mind. The wizard amongst them had already drew his hands, "We don't have time for this." Octava gritted her teeth, putting her sword away and double-handing her Ice Spikes spell while she had some distance on them. The two male bandits all drew their weapons, women already fighting draugr in the next room down the hall. The bandit wizard shot a kind-of fireball at Octava, catching her by surprise and by then the other bandits were double-teaming her with their rough swords. I drew two daggers and slashed at the wizard. He turned and blasted me with Frostbite, finding it easy to bottom out my stamina. Then he turned to burn Octava with Flames. She went down completely. The bandits turned to me, and being staggered they immediately triggered Defeat. I remember one of them reaching behind me and relocking my restraints that'd been hanging from my wrists after I put the elven gloves on. But they just latched them, where were the keys? So I was free from one form of bondage. But now these bandits would have me. We were at the entrance to the hallway... and they had me boxed in from going for the exit. But I knew more draugr awaited me inside. Which was worse, getting killed and eaten, or getting raped (and possibly killed?) "Guess we get to take our toll after all," he grabbed me, pulled out his dick and started to facefuck me, needing little encouragement. Men like to do that to me, I guess. When he was done, I immediately got up and started to run. I went inward, which was a mistake. Just a few steps in there was a crosspath. The two women turned the corner with their leader in tow, which I'd not seen yet. He immediately thwacked me in the chin, sending me to my knees. "Think I'll take my cut as leader now," he said as he got on top of me. Maybe that's why the other ones didn't immediately get on me... they had a leader who wouldn't want sloppy seconds. I struggled, but I was still weak from all the abuse and fighting, and he did what he wanted. Behind me, the dunmer woman, aroused by the display, stripped and invited the two men to take her at the same time, while the other woman and the wizard (who seemed bored, like he wanted no part in all this) watched. Through this exchange I was weighing my options. As soon as the bandit leader got off me, I got to my feet. And a booming voice blew me off my feet again. "FUS..RO...DAHHHhhhh!" A draugr shouted, though it was less a 'dah' and more a snake-like moan of the undead. A huge party of them rounded the corner from deeper within the dungeon. Five or six! Apparently they'd been distracted long enough to draw a crowd. I sprinted for the doorway. I turned to look at Octava's burnt corpse as I passed. They'd stripped the clothes off her, probably to sell. I grabbed the keys to my restraints laying on the ground, not even unlocking them. Then I got the hell out of there. I remember running. Not even bothering to try and remove my chains yet. Getting out of there. Running in the rain. Refusing to respond to anyone doing anything around me. I knew the second I engaged that I would be under somebody else's yoke again. Eventually, maybe after nearly a whole day of walking and running, I came to a farm house. By this time it must've been midnight, still raining. I sat against the outer wall of the house, finally unlocking my chains and throwing them into a nearby ditch. My body was drenched, and I was starving and freezing. I took out one of my few lockpicks and picked the lock to the farm house. Whatever I would do, I needed to get dry. Inside, I was met by a small, quaint dwelling. Man and wife were asleep in a bed next to each other, no doubt exhausted by a day of hard work. I stared at them for a minute, considering all the bad things people had done to me. I could do the same things to these people. But, no. That wasn't my way. I laid out my clothes and my pack by the fire, trying to get everything dry. I grabbed heaps of cheese and bread and water and hungrily ate and drank. Then I sat. So there I was, sitting naked in these people's living room, in the next room from the couple's sleep. In the meantime, I decided I was going to cut my hair. I sawed it off roughly with the Steel Dagger. Hopefully no more hair-pulling for me. "What's this?" The man smiled. Oh no. I drew my daggers from the sheaths on the floor, not having the sword close at hand. The firelight licked against my naked body as I stared daggers at him, ready to kill. "Don't worry. I don't intend to hurt you," the farmer said, "Just thought I was gettin' robbed. I'm not, am I?" "No," I said finally, relaxing my guard. He looked my body up and down, "You look like you've been through a lot." "I have," I replied. "You an escaped slave?" He asked. "I am." "You know they'll be sending bounty hunters after you," the farmer said, "They're pretty good at finding people." "Thanks," I replied. "You're free to warm yourself by the fire, or..." "Or..?" I asked, folding my arms. "The bed in the next room is comfortable. Room enough for three. The wife and I don't get much company," he looked at my body that'd been wrecked by the last few weeks, "I don't suppose you've had any tenderness recently." "I..." I started, ready to tell him I would never touch a human being again. "I..." I tried again, feeling my voice choke off. I could feel desire building within me for actual human contact that wasn't me getting abused, beaten and being helpless. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. "C'mon, lass," the farmer said. His wife looked on as we entered the room. "My love..." The farmer started. "I know," she replied, "It's a small house. I was listening." So I laid between them. The wife took off her simple dress and just touched me, stroked my aching body for a while. She went down on me while the farmer held me from behind. Not in a constrictive way. It was very loving, like they'd done this before. I had my release, and I laid there while the two of them had passionate sex. We all went to sleep. Later that night, the farmer woke me up and gently pushed himself inside me from behind. He was tender and made sure I enjoyed it. As I drifted back to sleep, I remembered that there were good things in this world. Sex could be good, and healthy. And I wanted it again. It was then that I decided that I was going back to Solitude. I knew it might kill me, but I wanted revenge.