Riften

Heading back into Riften, Inigo and I went to the Bee and Barb.

Coming in, we were greeted by an enraged wizard attacking the people in the inn for some reason.

Needless to say he was killed quickly. Inigo comments

"That mage was up to something I would rather not know about. His body smells feathersome."

After that scene was cleared up, I rented a room from the Innkeeper.

"Inigo, I can't thank you enough for all your help. I couldn't have done it without you.

Even though the person we saved was just some Thieve's Guild lowlife I'm glad we managed to beat those bandits and get the job done."

"It is my pleasure. I owe it to you after all I have done."

"I suppose it's time for us to part ways then."

"Ok. If you ever need back up again, I will be in my cell. Repenting."

After that, he left the inn. Probably back to the jail.

And after a long day. I went to sleep.

(DAY OVERVIEW)

Stats:

Level 10

Health: 150

Stamina: 140

Gear:

Banded Steel Plate Armor

Orcish Battleaxe

Skyforge Steel Sword w/ Banded Iron Shield

Crossbow w/ Steel Bolts

Waking up in the morning, I headed downstairs to a man in the corner of the inn beckoning me to him.

"Looking for work? I need someone to deliver a message to Sibbi Black-Briar."

"What sort of message?"

"Ah, well, I recently approached Sibbi Black-Briar about buying Frost, one of the finest breeding horses in Skyrim. He agreed to sell. I paid Sibbi half the cost of Frost up front, but before he could deliver, Maven had him locked up. Sibbi believes this exempts him from our deal. It does not."

"Why is Sibbi in jail?"

"No idea, but whatever he did it must have angered Maven. No guard would lock up a Black-Briar without the old lady's permission.

I want you to talk to Sibbi for me. Then, I want you to bring me Frost and the Lineage Papers that prove the horse's worth."

"Alright, sounds easy enough."

"Excellent. Head to the Riften jail and talk to Sibbi. Get him to tell you where Frost and his Lineage Papers are and bring them to me outside Riften. You'll be well paid for your time."

I then left the inn to head for the jail.

Passing Inigo on my way to Sibbi's cell, I heard him talking to the dragonfly in the jar next to him.

"What's that, Mr Dragonfly? The outside world is a scary place? Well yes I suppose it can be. It can be beautiful too. You should try it."

Getting to Sibbi's... "Cell" (More like a hotel room) I approached and got his attention.

"Huh? Oh. Have you come to gawk at me or is this a social call?"

"I was sent by Louis Letrush."

"Ah, and let me guess.. He wants his horse. Well, that's going to be a bit of a problem. You see, I don't really outright 'own' Frost..."

"You don't own the horse you sold to Letrush?"

"That is correct. You see, Frost belongs to the Black-Briar estate. Technically everything in the estate is owned by my mother, Maven.

My plan was to take the horse from our lodge and deliver it to Letrush at the stables. Obviously, that didn't exactly work out as I'd planned... Still, I don't want to cross Letrush. Tell you what. Steal the horse and deliver it, and you can have the second half of the payment."

"This sounds shady, I didn't sign up to be a thief."

"Shady? Ha, then what in oblivion are you doing in Riften? Come on. I don't wanna burn bridges with Letrush."

"Not interested."

"That's a real shame. You would've fit the bill nicely."

"So what are you in jail for anyway?"

"Look, we all have our flaws. Mine is that women can't get enough of me. So I had this little affair going on while I was betrothed to a beautiful girl named Svidi.

Well, she finds out and she tells her brother, Wulfur. Then her brother attacks me with a knife... I mean, I had to defend myself!"

"And you were arrested for his murder."

"Exactly! And now I have to stare at these bars for eight months. Can you believe it? I was about to let that wench marry into the richest family in Riften, and this is how she repays me. I'd do anything to have that whore's head on a platter. All I need to know is where she is."

"Well, good luck with that from there."

"Amusing."

I then turned to leave.

"Visit me anytime, I'm not going anywhere soon."

As I headed back to the Bee and Barb to settle things with Sapphire, I was stopped by a gruff sounding man.

"I don't know you. You in Riften lookin' for trouble?"

"What's it to you?"

"Don't say something you'll regret. Last thing the Black-Briars need is some loudmouth tryin' to meddle in their affairs."

"What's all the buzz around these Black-Briars about, anyway?"

"The Black-Briars have Riften in their pocket and the Thieves Guild watchin' their back, so keep your nose out of their business. Me? I'm Maul. I watch the streets for 'em. If you need dirt on anythin', I'm your guy... but it'll cost you."

"Sorry. Not interested."

"Suit yourself. I'll be at the docks if you change your mind."

I then noticed two people having a conversation near the entrance.

"I had another run in with the Thieve's Guild."

"Be careful, Mjoll. The Thieves Guild has Maven Black-Briar at it's back. One snap of her fingers, and you could end up in Riften Jail... or worse."

"They represent the reason I'm here. I can't just ignore them, Aerin."

"I know. I just don't want you to leave; you're the only good thing that's happened to this city in a long time."

Hearing that made me relieved to know there was someone else in this city who wasn't succumbing to it's corruption, so I went to speak with them.

She was stunning. I was rather anxious and almost couldn't muster the words to speak to her.

"Hey.. uh.. I heard your conversation by the gate earlier."

"About the "Thieve's Guild"? I swear, to call it a guild is ridiculous. How can people who would betray one another over a gold coin be considered part of an association? They're the worst kind. Even the Dark Brotherhood abides by a strict set of rules and tradition. These thieves are just rabble."

"I agree completely. The guards should just march down there and wipe them out."

"You know, I'm beginning to respect you. Other than Aerin, you seem to be the only other person I've met I might be able to trust. Since we share the same opinion of them, let me warn you that they're recruiting others to join their 'guild' and you should be cautious."

"What about these Black-Briars? Do you know anything about them?"

"Maven Black-Briar, the matriarch of the family, represents everything that's wrong with this city. She's bribed countless officials, has friends back in the Imperial City and freely associates with the Thieves Guild. I've tried everything I can to protect Riften's citizens from her family, but to no avail."

"Who else is in the family?"

"Well, there's Ingun Black-Briar, Maven's daughter. Strange girl. She likes to spend time down in Elgrim's Elixirs working on her alchemy. Then you have Hemming, Maven's son. Spoiled brat and heir to her empire. He follows her word like a loyal dog follows its master. And finally, Sibbi, the worst of all of them. He's in Riften Jail for murder."

"So.. You're not from Riften I take it?"

"I've been adventuring across Tamriel since I was a fresh-faced young woman barely able to swing a blade. My travels have taken me from High Rock to Valenwood, Elsweyr to Morrowind and all points in between."

"So what brought you here?"

"Many years ago I lost my blade, 'Grimsever,' within a Dwemer ruin. I took it as a sign that I was wasting my days in search of wealth.

You and I are alike. We seek challenge and great fortune. But for me, that's where the similarities end. You see, Riften is my great beast to be slain and my fortune comes from gratitude and trust."

"I can respect that. So you're Riften's Protector then."

"It's been difficult. I've taken the burdens of this city's problems upon myself and I keep running into impossible obstacles. Corruption, lies and deceit are the order of the day here. If it wasn't for Aerin, the young man who saved my life, I think I'd already have given up long ago."

"How did Aerin save your life?"

"It was Aerin who found me dying outside of a Dwemer ruin. If he hadn't brought me here and nursed me back to health, I would have died. When my strength returned and he told me about the problems plaguing Riften, I decided fate brought me here for a reason... so I stayed."

"Good on you. Well.. I should probably be going now, it was good talking to you."

"You too. Safe travels."

Knowing how much corruption Maven and her family have caused to Riften made me reconsider Sibbi's offer. So I headed back to the jail.

On my way, I encountered a shaken up looking girl on a bench near the market.

"Excuse me sera, have you seen my pa? We was trading at the market stalls and then he was gone and I can't find him.."

"Calm down.. Can you tell me what he looks like?"

"Well, he's got red hair, like me. and a bushy beard! Oh, won't you help me find him?"

"I'd like to, can you tell me anything else about him?"

"Um, he's got a scar on his chin shaped like a star.. And a big fat belly!"

"I'm sorry, but i haven't seen him."

"Fine. Stupid skeever brain."

As I turned to walk away I felt her tugging on my pocket.

Without turning around I said

"Don't think I didn't notice that. If you needed money you could've just asked."

"Notice what? I don't need money. I told you Pa has a big belly and keeps me fed. You need to get your eyes checked Cap'n. Seems to me you're just a bully harassing some poor kid. Maybe you tried to kidnap me and I stuck you where the sun don't shine."

"Hold on now, I'm not going to rat you out. I just want to talk."

"Sounds like you're stallin' till a guard walks past and nabs me. Why risk it? What's in it fer me?"

"A few septims, to get you a meal or two if I like what you have to say."

"Fair trade Cap'n. Fer a few clink I'll sing like a sparrow. So whaddaya want?"

"Where are your parents?"

"Name's Olette. Pa was a sailor with a kid in every port from Seyda Neen to Stros M'Kai. One of them ports is Windhelm, and one of them kids is me."

Ma's a skooma fiend. She likes to go where the skooma is. One day she went off into the Ratways to get her some more and never came back. Probably murdered for the clink she had on her. Or maybe it was the skooma that done her in. Don't matter all that much to me. If she showed up tomorrow right as rain I'd spit in her face and tell her to go kiss a daedroth. I take care of myself."

"Why not live at the orphanage?"

"I heard the lady who owns it is a Hagraven who gobbles up stupid children. 'Sides, no-one would want to adopt a dirty guttersnipe with broken teeth and blood under her nails like me."

"Where do you sleep?"

"I got me a bedroll right by the fire in Beggar's row. Would be aces if Edda didn't snore."

"Well, I guess I should get going."

"See you then Cap'n."

I then continued to the jail.

After speaking with him a bit and getting offered the same deal, I decided to badger him a bit and see if I could get more.

"You know, I bet Maven would pay me even more for this info.."

Now don't get me wrong, I'd never side with that hag in any way. This was just a bluff.

"Sure - take advantage of the guy in jail. Okay, fine. I can make the deal sweeter. I obviously don't have anything here, but... there's a hidden stash in the Lodge. And I did manage to hold on to the key... Take it. Oh, and the lodge is just west of Riften. I'll mark it on that map of yours."

"Alright. Consider it done."

"Then I think we're done talking."

After that, I walked to the other cell and adressed Inigo.

"Hello, my friend." He said happily.

"Come with me Inigo. I have another quest for us."

"Yes. We will fight side by side again!"

He then gathered his gear and we headed out.

"No matter what the weather, Riften always smells lovely. It is a good place to start a new adventure. So, what is on the agenda today?"

"Sibbi Black-Briar made a deal with Louis Letrush to sell Frost, a valuable breeding horse to him shortly before he was jailed for murder. I spoke with Sibbi and he told me that Frost is owned by Maven and is being stored at the Black-Briar lodge east of Riften.

Our job is to infiltrate the lodge guarded by mercenaries and steal both Frost, and the Lineage papers, then bring them to Letrush outside the city."

"Sounds like a plan. Let us go, my friend."

"Hey, Olette. Take this coin."

"Whaddaya want for it?"

"Nothing. Just take it."

"Oh. alright. Thanks, I s'pose."

Exiting the city, I checked my map to confirm the location of the lodge.

As I look at the map, Inigo watches and speaks up

"My friend. Skyrim is a big and often confusing place. We are bound to lose each other from time to time. Never fear, that map you have is special."

"Yeah.. It has some kind of enchantment on it from what I can tell. It can show the current desired destination of it's user."

"My brother once found one just like it on the remains of some poor old adventurer in Cyrodiil. It does not only mark locations, it can also show the position of items and people too. Watch this."

He grabbed the map for a moment and studied it.

"Where are you Inigo... There!"

He then handed it back to me.