Twilight Magnolia Part 8

20 Frostfall

We spent several days in Balmora, resting and training. Hoperfully,
it will pay off the nxt time we get in combat.

Seeing as Julan also had an interest in the Nerevarine and Sixth
House, we decided to go see if Caius had any more information. He
just gave me a list of errands to do in Vivec.

By the time we'd finished buying things and do a few more errands in
Balmora, it was past noon. I decided to travel to Vivec on foot as
Sugar Lips wanted some things done in Pelegiad and I had never taken
that ruby back to Zerdon in Haldenshore and what with the wonderful
rain soaking down the country side, I thought, why not walk?

We stopped at two different caves to get out of the rain. And ended
up covered with blood--mostly the blood of footpads and bandits,
though, not our own. It was dark when we reached Pelegiad. I bought
some potions from Ambika since Julan and Constance had used up most of
theirs. We spent the night in her safe house.

21 Frostfall

We got up early and made Haldenshore by dawn. Zerdon was pleased with
my work so far. Now he wants me to stop an assassin from killing
Sugar Lips. Hmm, I wonder which there are more of in Morrowind:
assassins, cliff racers or rats? I cooked up some scryb cabbage stew
and omelets at the fire in the club, then headed over to my little
shack in Seyda Neen to drop off some very pretty lanterns that I'd
found in the caves north of Pelegiad. We took the silt strider back
to Balmora as we didn't know when the assassin might strike.

At the Council Club, the Camona Tong talked tough. A bit too tough.
I decided to just taunt them one by one...or one by many as it turned
out...to try to take care of a little problem with them BEFORE taking
on the unknown assassin. It all went pretty well. The I noticed the
hatch to the sewers. And yes, the rumors are true, there are vampires
down there. Mostly, though, there were tarantulas. I caught a few
souls, wandered around a bit, then realized it was quite late. I went
up through another trap door, which turned out to be to a store room
at the Lucky Lockup. After selling some of the soul gems and buying
more silver arrows, we went off to spend the night at home.

22 Frostfall

Come dawn, we had to decide between exploring the dank, smelly,
tarantula-infested sewers beneath Balmora or to head to Vivec to get
that information for Caius. Hmm, slogging through sewers or shopping
in Vivec. Hmmm. I mentally flipped a Drake; it came up Vivec.

We found Huleeya easily as people in the Foreign Quarter knew where he
hung out. Then we decided to go through the Foreign Quarter Tomb and
collect some souls. I managed to get a Zombie soul and a few rats.
If I ever find a merchant with 60000 gold to pay for the soulgem, I'll
be rich. When we got to the trap door to the Underground Ruins, we
headed in. And right back out. I'm not sure what those skeleton
things were, but there glass armor and paralyzation spells were a clue
that we were outclassed. Stupid ruins.

We headed off to Saint Olms. In the Tanner and Dyers Hall, Tilare was
selling assorted cloth. If I had time to sew, I suppose I could make
something nice to wear. Mevure told me that I might find the shirt
and vest I needed for the Imperial Cult in Caldera, where western
styles were more popular.

Sleeps in Trees and I had a nice chat about assorted types of
crafting. I bought a smelter from him and trained a bit in
fletching. He also teaches smithing and mining. The smelter was
extremely heavy. Julan offered to carry it for me. But I don't think
he'll want to do so for very long.

Finding Addhiranirr took a while. Most people seemed to know her, but
not to know where she was at the moment. By then it was time to find
a bed.

23 Frostfall

It took a good while to finish Caius errands. Shopping and checking
in with the various Guilds took even longer.

27 Frostfall

We spent a few days training in Balmora. How many ways can you say
'boring.' Today we went into the West Sewers beneath the city. We
found a pair of adamantium boots for Julan, a pair of glass boots for
Constance and a fine sword, Sting, for me. Actually, I am mostly
using that glass dagger that I had enchanted to cast a Bound Longsword
on strike. My shortsword skills are quite good, and I think it is
time to train in a second weapon. Julan seems to approve.

We tried to find a way into the sewers that must be on the East side
of town, but could not find any entrance.

28 Frostfall

I had thought that surely I would begin to remember something by now.
I have been on this volcanic rock for 75 days, but am no closer to
knowing who I am than when I arrived. It must be magical, this memory
loss.

We tossed some bones and they said go to Suran. So we headed out
throught the pouring rain. I cast Buoyancy as we travled. It was not
that the rain was that thick. I just wanted to practice something
that would boost up my willpower. Paralyzation is a cruel spell to
have used on you when you have the magical resistance of wet
saltrice. By the time we reached Suran, I'd gotten my alteration
skill up from 16 to 21. I had also collected several petty souls in
gems to sell in the market.

After a bit of searching, I found a way into the Suran sewers. The
first thing I noticed is that they were quite well kept up--like the
sewers of Mournhold, not those decrepit ruins under Balmora. Well,
actually, the first thing I noticed is that they are really really
dark. After casting night eye and getting out a candle, I noticed
they were in good repair.

A Thugi from the Bloodfang Tong immediately hit me up for 750 drakes
for a sewer pass. Hey, if the Thugis keep out the rampaging undead, I
do not mind paying them a paltry 750 drakes. Although the entry price
was steep, the merchants certainly had nice goods to sell--all with
high prices. There were grand soul gems, secret master's alchemical
gear, fine spells and wondrous weapons. That ebony bow would surely
suit Constance. About all I actually bought was some nice lockpicks
and probes from a vendor in Beggar's Row. I did have a nice chat with
Ttam Semek, who seemed well traveled and well educated. He marked a
few places on my map, and told me that Suran was once the main port to
the Island, before Vivec settled his city to the south. I talked
briefly with Valaya, who recruits for the Tong. But as I knew little
about them, I dodged the subject of joining up.

By then, it was getting late. So I looked around for a bed that
wasn't being used and someplace quiet that I could practice that
Buoyancy spell. By the time I turned in, I had gotten my Alteration
skill up to 25. It was boring practice, but I just kept thinking of
those skeletons underneath Vivec and their terrible paralyzing spells.