Hello, my name is Virtue. You may have a lot of questions right now, such as "Why are there no words?", or "Where did these words come from?". Well, I will soon get to those answers, but while we're both here, why don't I tell you a story? I have lived many years, as a man, and as a spirit. I've heard many things, many stories. And I intend to pass them on to you. Now first, is a tale of an ambassador, and of his companion, a Redguard named Wilkan.

A Tale of Wilkan

Eraptor was preaching once again. In these five years, he had finished his play to widespread commercial success. He had heard of Cyrodil's need for an heir. He cared naught for politics and ceremonies. Rather, he spoke out against many of the candidates who vied for the title. He spoke freely in the town square. He hadn't lost his biting edge just yet.

"Look at these buffoons who wish to rule Cyrodil!" he shouted to the crowds. "They care not for you! They only want the power! They hide under poisonous masks and claim to be your friend, but be warned! In politics, there are daggers in their smiles. They speak of reform, but do not be fooled! The bastards desire rich, moist, tender foods, luxurious robes draped over their corrupt bodies, and jewelry. So much jewelry, they in fact become a walking sun! This, my friends! This is what the bastards want! You must oppose! Resist their pleas for your support!

"But how can we do such a thing? We are simple merchants, farmers, wives with many children. What possible way can we oppose the mighty candidates? My friends, I am certain this question lingers in your minds. And it is not a question to be passed off as pessimism. It is true! What can you do? You are but simple merchants, farmers, wives with many children! What possible thing can you do to oppose the mighty candidates?"

While Eraptor had been giving inspiration among the people, others had tended to their own daily lives... and secrets that would one day blossom into something more. Ebonice stood in her shop bustling around and being content with the hustle and bustle around here. It took her a while to get back into the swing of things, she had taken in Annalise and raised her as if she was her own daughter, she had even dyed Annalise's hair a darker color to make her look similar to herself. It was difficult for the first while to get used to having a smaller hand around here. Ebonice had taken the raising of this girl very seriously, and making sure that she would never be sought out by these men again, she had grown very protective of her. But what men, you ask? That is a story, for another time. Anna was manning the cash register, tending to customers, making sure everyone was tended to.

"Well sir I'm sorry but we have no moon sugar. You are going to need to make your skooma elsewhere. Perhaps in Elsweyr." She smiled, laughing.

Ebonice smiled softly and she said, "Or perhaps go find a Khajiit stall, they may have some." She said softly to him. The man mumbled and walked away. Annalise smiled, closing up shop for the day.

"Mother. May I go to town?" She asked.

"What do you need in town?" She asked her gently. "Do you want to go alone...?" She asked her now, feeling a little anxious about how this conversation was going.

"I was...going to go get some stock..." Annalise said with a sigh.

Ebonice sighed softly before she said, "Alright. Here, take this list." She said writing out a short list of things they needed. "Keep your hood up and stay safe." She said softly to her before she softly kissed her forehead.

"I will mother." Anna said with a nod, putting her cloak on and walking out to market with a smile on her face. She looked around and smelled the air. She hadn't been outside for a few days now, and even when she was she was normally with her adoptive mother. She was elated. Ebonice smiled and she watched her walk down the street before sighing and closing the door again before going upstairs to begin writing some things down.

A man named Relous leaned against a pillar not far away. As he listened to the man's speech he noticed the looks he got from the more common people, something he grew accustomed to over the years. "So amusing to hear the ignorant speak of politics" he softly mused to himself as he took a bite of an apple. Relous flicked the apple core away and began to walk away, heading towards the market, "I could use a drink" he thought as he walked with his usual spunk in his step.

Annalise tripped over a stone, her supplies spilling all over the sidewalk beneath Relous's feet. "I'm sorry!" she said, picking things up. Her hood had fallen down for a brief moment, and the sun caught her hair just right, making her look just like former empress Vermelle. She then pulled the hood back up and picked up her supplies.

Relous stopped as the girl fell, and he bent down, picking up an apple. "You missed this." he said in his smooth and comforting voice as his light blue eyes explored her discreetly. He had noted her resemblance to the former Empress but was unsure of what it meant.

"Oh, thank you." She said, taking the apple. "Wait...i don't think we got any...oh wait we did. Sorry my mind is all over the place." she said. "Thank you." she added quickly, turning to go quickly.

Relous stepped forward. "Wait, may I accompany you miss? I wouldn't want you to trip again, especially in this area of the city. These beggars can be quite vicious." he said to her.

"Umm no...That's okay." she said softly.

Relous smiled, "Oh okay, but be careful...hmm I never caught your name." he inquired.

"Annalise Roanlaan." she said softly, keeping her head down.

Relous noted the name. "Ah, well I am Relous Cemrelius, son of Chancellor Meridius." he quipped in a comedic tone.

"Oh? What do you mean by that?" She asked, picking up the pace a bit.

As you may have guessed, Anna was cautious around the stranger. She lead him to a house that didn't belong to her and stated it was hers in order to give him the slip. Unfortunately, while trying to sneak away, she ended up in an alley home to a skooma dealing gang. "Wrong alley love." one said, walking up to her face. Another came up behind her, ripping her hood off. "Well look at this, 'ho does she look like?" he asked, grabbing her dark hair and forcing her face to light. "Stand tall lil empress!" he jeered at her, pushing her to his buddies. "SOMEBODY HELP!" Anna screamed.

Of course, Relous, the one she didn't trust, came to her rescue. Although, he may have been close by for a different reason. He ran fast to the ally, stopping near the men. "You bastards let her go, now!" he said as he pulled two of his poison knives into his left hand.

"Why should we? She's a pretty little lass. Looks like the former empress." their leader spat at Relous. Relous didn't flinch as the spit landed on him, instead tossing one of the knifes at his neck with expert precision and force. The bandit gripped at the knife as it impaled his throat.

Anna fell to the ground with a yelp. "Ah!" she yelled as a bandit stepped on her back. Relous showed the other knives that he gripped. "Go run before you share his fate, you low life scum." he threatened.

If you are still reading this by now, then you probably already know a bit of what's going on. Anna was the heir to the throne. But where did Wilkan fit in all of this? That will all be explained soon enough. Relous soon knocked on the door of their shop, with intentions to find out what was going on. Ebonice, Anna's adoptive mother, ignored him. Shortly after Relous's failed attempt Eraptor, who had known Ebonice five years ago, came up to defend her privacy. The two stood there and argued over the matter, much to the annoyance of Ebonice.

Wilkan walked down the paths of the city, book in his hand. "So close..." he said to himself. As he continued down, he started hearing voices. As Wilkan got closer, he thought he recognised the one of the men as the one speaking publicly earlier. "Best not to get involved with politics," he whispered to himself as he turned the opposite direction.

The men continued arguing even further. "-again you show your ignorance! These politicians that you slander hold this empire by the strings, and I am not a hypocrite, I stick to my morals to my sense of right. For someone who claims knowledge that politicians are as important to the air you breath" Relous replied.

Ebonice took an apple and then she aimed squarely between the two of them and she threw it down. "Boys! Off my doorstep!" She said firmly to them both. Wilkan stopped in his tracks as he heard a new voice sound behind him. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe it had nothing to do with politics. But it was still none of his business. He continued his walk. When Wilkan was certain he was out of earshot, he sat down in the cold, hard ground and began to think everything over, twiddling the handle of his blade. Soon, and un-expectantly, he fell asleep, worn out and exhausted from his day's work.

Wilkan awoke to a beggar over him, who attempted to lay his hand on him and take his gold. "Hey, I wouldn't go there if I were you." he said, standing up. Startled, the beggar ran off, and Wilkan suddenly remember the previous events. He walked back over to the shop wear it had occurred. "I wonder, what was their problem?" His stomach then let out a loose rumble, and after checking his supplies, he realized that he was out of food. He walked up to the shop and knocked on the door, hoping it was open.

Ebonice quietly kissed her forehead and she said, "I won't leave you Anna. I promised you that." She said smiling. She then heard knocking and she rolled her eyes, "and here we go..." she muttered.

"Hello, is anyone there?" said Wilkan, almost with a curious tinge in his voice. Anna pulled up her good and let her hair back down, walking downstairs to go help the customer. Wilkan heard thumping from inside, and assumed that someone was there. He reached for the handle like any other shop, but to his dismay, it was locked.

Ebonice sighed and she answered the door. "Yes? We are not open for another half an hour. Unless you are in need of absolute assistance." She said gently to him.

"Well, it is not a big deal. I will wait." he said, walking away. He went to the opposite side of the road and leaned against the wall. He pulled out a book, a brief history of the empire vol 2. He wasn't sure what time the shop opened, but guessing from experience and prior knowledge, he thought it opened around 9 or 8. So maybe it was 7 or 8:30. That gave him plenty time to do what he wanted to do. But what? He got up and walked around. Eventually, he found a spot that had blood splattered. A knife lay there, along with a bottle of skooma. The skooma looked but a day old. "The gang..." he thought to himself. "What have they done this time? Have they committed murder? Now they have gone too far." Wilkan walked up to a beggar and began questioning him. "Do you know where the usual gang around here is?" he asked, knowing that they were the eyes and ears of thieves guild"; they knew almost everything.

"It's gonna cost you..." said the beggar, smirking.

"Here, take it." said Wilkan, tossing a coin. "Now where are they?" The beggar gave one last smirk and said, "They should be meeting on the other side of the city tonight, around 11 PM."

Wilkan sighed and walked back to the shop. "Well at least it should be open by now..." Wilkan walked in the store and saw the people who owned the shop. He sat down in a chair and read a book, waiting for the current customer to finish his business.

"I haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about." Annalise said to a man, turning and walking to the next customer.

Wilkan stood up and walked over to the counter. "What do you have in stock?" he asked. "Weapons, armor, food?"

"Just de general goods Sir." Anna said, holding firm her fake accent.

Eraptor, who had already been in a conversation with the girl, simply shrugged off what they had been speaking about. "Goodbye!" he called to Anna as he exited the store.

"Goodbye sir! Come back soon!" she called out.

"You seem to know him," remarked Wilkan. "Anyways, I'd like a basic food ration. And minor health potions, if you've got any."

"Okay that comes out to ten gold pieces." Annalise said gently.

Wilkan took out the gold and sat it on the counter. He took his newly acquired items and made way to leave. Then he stopped in his tracks as he remembered something. He took out the knife he had found earlier. "How much is this worth?" he asked.

"I wouldn't know, that's my mothers territory." Anna said.

Wilkan thought for a second. "Well, could you ask her for me. I will be back later for it, okay?"

He sat the knife on the table and walked out of the shop. Wilkan ran to catch up to the previous customer; he intended to ask some questions, and he was certain he would get them. Eraptor turned and saw Wilkan running up to him. He simply walked slower, unsure if the man wanted to come talk to him. Wilkan finally caught up with the man, and slowed down to catch his breath. "You mind answering a few questions?" he said enquiringly.

Ah, you feel curious about Wilkan and Eraptor, don't you? Oh wait, you wonder how I know all of this? I have many different sources. One of them is in fact Wilkan himself.