Twilight Magnolia part 5

27 Heartfire

I realize that I have gotten distracted from trying to figure out a
key part of my life: who am I and what am I doing here and why don't
I remember anything at all of my life before getting off that prison
ship in Seyda Neen? So far, about the only clue I have is that I am
very good at killing things and not much experienced in anything else
that I've come across. Well, those assassins that showed up for a
while were another clue; I still wear their armor. And that package
that was supposedly from the emperor. That could have been a clue,
too.

Since we were in Balmora, talking to that Caius fellow seemed easiest
to pursue. He wanted me to find out about the Neverine Cult and Sixth
House, and sent me to Hasphat at the Fighters Guild. Hasphat wanted a
dwemer puzzle box from a dwemer ruin. He neglected to mention that a
bevy of thieves in the ruin had the puzzle box. While exploring the
strange rusty ruin, I managed to capture that soul Thalemos wanted and
to find some dwemer bowls and cups and a tube that I hope will satisfy
Sugar Lips so I don't have to go looking for Hla Oad any time soon.
Hmmm, I wonder what did happen to the Dwemer. They disappeared
centuries ago, but their machinery still works. Some of it still
works, anyway.

As long as I was taking Dwemer gear to Habissi, I decided to get that
sword for her, too, so Zerdon could work the coast without conflicts.
She seemed to think it was a good trade. Since I didn't get caught
stealing the thing, so did I. I'd say that killing isn't the only
thing I'm good at, except, well, I used magic to help me out.

28 Heartfire

Hasphat's notes did not seem very helpful. Maybe Sharn's would. As I
already had an errand down near Pelegiad for the Mage's Guild, I
decided to go acquire the...humhm...item...that Sharn wanted.
Somehow, getting Itemerel to Pelegiad, raiding the tomb and selling
off a few trapped souls took most of the day. It was getting late by
the time I got to Haldenshore to tell Zerdon that he had his
permission to operate on the coast. He gave me almost 500 gold, so
maybe my "investment" in his guild house hasn't been wasted.

I Divined to Ebonheart to check in at the Imperial Cult and buy
another small house. I ended up with three: one in Caldera, one in
Pelegiad and one in Dagon Fel. By their cheap price, I assumed they
were dumps.

It was getting dark as I headed towards Vivec to buy a bit of
furniture for the houses. Mabye a crate and a light each? I stopped
by the Food of the Gods to see if they had gotten in any salt or
sugar. They had not. But I had a nice talk with Marianne about her
books, and she gave me her newest book! I am thrilled.

At the furniture store, I found that the crates and ceiling lanterns
were heavier than I remembered. I ended up taking three barrels and
candles to match. And ended up toddling out of the store barely able
to move.

We spent the night at Muin-Gei's in the Foreighn Quarter. Julan
wanted to talk for a change. But what he wanted to talk about was MY
past. Which was awkward as I don't recall anything at all before I
got off that prison ship.

29 Heartfire

First thing in the morning, Julan says he wants a drink. It is not
even dawn yet and he wants a drink. So, we stopped by the Black Shalk
Cornerclub and bought some Matze. I was so loaded down with barrels
and candles that I had to use my Fighter's Ring I got from helping the
Gateway get rid of a ghost to get a burst of strength to carry the
matze back to Julan and Constance. Fine use for a Figher's Ring,
carrying matze.

We reached Pelegiad in time for the noon meal. After eating, I
wandered around the town trying to find the house I'd bought. I was
amazed when my key opened the door to the guar ranch. It is a really
nice house. So nice that I had difficulty trying to decide where the
barrel I'd brought would not look completely out of place. It is also
quite dark, even with the two candles I left. Julan and Constance
made a point of carrying around their torches to light their way.

By late evening, we had dropped off assorted stuff in Balmora to
complete a handful of quests and made our way to my new cottage in
Caldera. It is quite small, but well built. The barrel did not look
completely out of place. To my disappointment, I was unable to use my
bedroll to sleep in the house. We ended up spending the night at the
local Blades' house.

30 Heartfire

Thinking that an effecient way to reach Dagon Fel would be to take
Thalemos his dwemer soul and use the teleportation chamber in Havish,
we Guilded to Ald'ruhn and headed north on the road. It was a bright
sunny day in the ashlands. I almost did not recognize the place.

It was dark of morning when we reached Havish, what with all the thugs
and footpads we had to fight. There must have been another prison
boat arrive from the mainland. I suppose dumping prisoners here is
one way to deal with unrest in the provinces. (One stupid way.) Why
is it that you have to actually let someone hit you before the guards
decide that YOU didn't start the fight. One would think that a few
crazy eyed people rushing at you with drawn weapons and yelling 'Die
Feltcher!' would be enough to count as an attack on one's person.
What exactly is a 'feltcher' anyway?

31 Heartfire

Since Valeria doesn't like my having companions, I sent Julan and
Constance back to Ald-ruhn before checking with her on the chamber.
Both are working now. I decided to spend the rest of the day training
in heavy armor to boost my endurance a bit.

1 Frostfall

I woke quite refreshed after my training the previous day. I took care
of that wild wolf that had broken into town quite easily, which
pleased the Fighter's Guild. If I just hadn't stopped in at the
Kissing Wench before heading to Dagon Fel, it would have been an
uneventful day. As it was, I found out that thievery is not my
forte. Not at all. I just hope the guards don't connect the stranger
who got caught picking the warehouse lock, the stranger who warned
them about the warehouse fire and the warehouse thefts together. At
least I got some glass armor out of it. Mostly sheilds, but hey, next
time we get back to Havish, Julan and Constance can have one.

2 Frostfall

My, but that was a busy night. When it was done and I was rested, I
asked Valeria for teleportation to Dagon Fel, where I eventually found
that shack I'd bought. I left my last barrel and candles there.

Almsiviing to Ald'ruhn brought on a lot more knowledge that theivery
is not my forte. At least the Mage's Guild never connected me with
the theft. Hopefully, no one will connect up the stranger that had a
ring made to open locks with that, either.

I was so glad Julan and Constance weren't around. Julan would
probably have not approved and Constance would have thought me
horribly inept. I'm having to face the fact that, well, killing
people must surely have been my profession. Most likely I was an
assassin. Most likely.

3 Frostfall

It was still dark when we woke, so I paid to have Julan trained for a
bit before we headed out to Maar Gan. Ash storms filled the air most
of the journey. I trapped a half a dozen petty souls from our battles
and we all survived that lunatic zombie Mage, so I guess the journey
went well. I found another scout who would take me places in the West
Gash hanging out with some renegade ashlanders who were camped on the
road. I paid 5 drakes to free a pilgrim the ashlanders had
kidnapped. Once we got to town, it didn't take long to clear up my
errands. So we had the evening to practice magic, meditate and get a
good night's rest. However, I am no closer to finding out what and
who I am. I'm not sure the guilds can help me find out anything about
my mysterious past.