4E 206: Last Seed 21st:

With the mummy disposed of and the absence of additional undead, the trio could breathe sighs of relief at having escaped the horde outside. Coleus did not move from the doors and Endava went to join him in keeping both closed. They could hear the honored dead outside scratching the doors and beating against them. But neither budged and within minutes it sounded like the undead were giving up. The two knights did not move until they were absolutely sure the honored dead's attention was no longer on their presence. While they were focusing on the doors, Krisra took the opportunity to gaze around the huge chamber they were in. A pungent odor assailed her nose which caused her to cover it and her mouth. The sight of something convulsing in a distant corner of the chamber told her all she needed to know. Coleus' shock spell struck another mummy, electrocuting it the same way it did the first one. She was about to point it out to her knights when it quit moving about. Krisra half-thought it was finally dead for good, but she wasn't entirely sure. "Sir Coleus…"

"Yes, Milady?" he asked before realizing what she was pointing at. "Do not worry, I shall go take care of that one." He began sauntering over to the fallen mummy as Endava stayed by their charge. The two of them watched as he cautiously approached the mummy, making sure no other honored dead were in the vicinity. That second mummy suddenly started to rise, having recovered from the shock spell. The Seneschal quickly made sure it would not, impaling the mummy through its face before it crumbled into ashen dust and bits of bandages. Thankfully, it was a silent death.

As he briefly knelt over its remains to examine them, Krisra resumed her own examination of the chamber. It was an entrance hall that appeared like it belonged in a castle from Cyrodiil or High Rock based on a painting she'd once seen. Three pillars stood to hold up the ceiling, but the bottom of the pillar in the opposite corner from where the shocked mummy had been was broken. A large gap was all that kept it attached to the base, weakening its hold on the ceiling which didn't collapse yet. The large cracks up there indicated it most likely would. Just past that one pillar was an open doorway leading to a collapsed corridor. Even if it had been cleared of debris, Krisra was reluctant to consider going that way because of the ceiling around the pillar. A second pair of doors like the ones they just stepped through were on the same wall across from it, just near Coleus and closed shut to keep anyone or anything from passing through. Two more single doorways were on the wall left of where Krisra stood, one of which was closed while the one nearest them was open. It led towards two staircases going up, one branching to the right and the other opposite the door.

On the other side of the entrance hall was another staircase which turned left sharply upon walking up, towards another set of stairs to a walkway above Coleus. It was held up by four pillars, each one thinner than the three main pillars. She could not see much of the walkway since a stone wall served as a railing around it to keep people from getting knocked over. There was a gap in it like the one pillar, but it was not enough for her to make out anything. The only things that could be made out were two more doors, one to the immediate right of the second stairs and another over at the far end. Just next to where the first stairs going up were was a final door, closed shut to them until they opened it. Six ways they could go, provided all of them were not blocked by any debris.

Of furniture and decorations, Krisra could only make out little from where she and Endava stood. A large, rectangular Na-Totambu rug lied across the center of the floor. Most of the furniture was in ruins, save for several wooden tables, stone cabinets, stone shelves, and a single chair made from wood. Three of the tables were circular and had fallen over whereas the only two rectangular ones remained upright. The wood of a few was split and some chunks had broken off even though what remained of their structure was still intact. The shelves and cabinets made from stone did not appear damaged at all, having been constructed in the Vakhaader style. And the lone chair, much like the tables with split wood, was obviously going to break if one of them sat on it. A low number of pristine Na-Totambu vases and urns were spotted in a few places, having stood the test of time. Most of the ones littering the floor had shattered into pieces, some maintaining just barely enough of their structure whereas others were completely broken. A handful even remained on the shelves.

Walking closer into the center of the entrance hall, the bones of scattered skeletal remains crunching underneath her feet as she tried not to slip, she noticed a second Na-Totambu rug on the floor in front of the double doors near Coleus. It looked like it went into the chamber beyond which made Krisra wonder if it was a corridor to more chambers. Or another chamber itself. She watched as the Breton stood and looked at the rug and then the two doors before stepping over to try opening one. The wooden door creaked on its hinges which must have rusted long ago, but it opened slowly. Coleus kept his blade at the ready in case more undead were on the other side. He stepped back as a lone skeleton armed with a wooden longsword and a wooden shield hurried out, but there were no more beyond that skeleton which broke apart easily from a single blow. After dispatching it, he stepped forward again and peered inside before turning back. But before he returned to the women, he went to the wall just under the top of where the stairs met the walkway. Seeing him open a door she and Endava had missed made Krisra wonder what was under the stairs. As it opened outward facing them, she was unsure if it was for storage or descended to another level of the palace below.

Within a couple minutes he was stepping out which appeared to suggest he had gone down another staircase to a lower level or it was some kind of small storage space. He did not specify if it was either until he walked back to them, not wanting to raise his voice in case other undead were around to hear him. "A storage space," he confirmed one of their unspoken guesses and elaborated. "Some ruined crates and barrels are in there with a mess of old supplies. There is also a stone shelf with an ornate stone chest upon it. It was locked, though I cast an unlock spell on it to look inside."

"What did you find?" Krisra asked curiously, trying to contain her excitement.

Coleus held up a small pouch. "Ancient Na-Totambu coins," he answered, giving it to the Redguard noblewoman so she could pour the coins into her hand. "Hidden under a ruined cuirass and pauldrons that were in the same decrepit condition. An iron dagger broken into fragments was also under them. Both the fragments and the pouch of coins were resting on top of a torn banner."

"What kind of banner?" the noblewoman inquired excitedly after she finished counting the coins. There were eleven in total, four gold and seven silver, each type bearing two images on each side. The gold coins depicted Ruptga on one side and a Na-Totambu symbol on the other, whereas the silver coins depicted the HoonDing and a different Na-Totambu symbol. Although Krisra was unfamiliar with Na-Totambu numbers, she supposed the symbols were a way of showing what a single coin was worth. The coinage was one aspect of their history she had been unable to conduct significant research on due to how scarce it was in literature. Still, although the ancient coins were not used much across much of Hammerfell, the noblewoman knew what they looked like because her father had a small collection of the Na-Totambu coins. He considered the collection one of his greatest treasures and had often shared stories of how he acquired each individual coin. Accounts Krisra knew by heart very well from the number of times he told those stories to her in her youth.

It was a shame the old coins were no longer minted in Hammerfell. Drakes, the coins once named after the Septim Dynasty of the Third Empire, had become the most common currency in all of Tamriel. It had been that way ever since the years after the Tiber Wars when Tiber Septim decreed the minting of a universal coin to carry his face and the symbol of the Empire. A coin that was recognizable to the citizens and not subject to the transition of one currency to another across provincial borders. Its value was so common that not only did it dominate each of Tamriel's diverse economies, it replaced them almost entirely by rendering them inefficient. Some kingdoms minted their own coins to retain some economic relevance, but those coins became largely unnecessary as the Septim was all anyone needed for goods and services. In time, some economies vanished which made way for the Septim to secure its lucrative position as Tamriel's main currency. The value of gold decreased somewhat since all Septims were made from it. Shortages of gold were no problem since Imperial mages produced scrolls of transmutation to turn iron ore nuggets into silver nuggets and then into gold nuggets. The nuggets themselves could be sold for various prices, though using the scrolls on gold nuggets converted them into a total of fifty Septims per nugget. There were no other kinds of Septims produced, so it was be easier to understand and work with just a single coin.

Following the dynasty's extinction with Martin Septim's death, the Septim gradually began to lose its value as a universal currency. The secession of Argonia first and Elsweyr second harmed foreign markets that sold goods exported from those two provinces. Temporarily at the very least since those markets were able to recover. But the assassination of Potentate Ocato in 4E 10 along with the Third Empire's decline splintered it. Old currencies once replaced by the Septim regained their place as banks had to revive traditional means of trade and transporting those currencies into other provinces. That in of itself did not mean the provinces stopped using Septims; the currency's status simply merged with the other economies. Morrowind's referral to them as drakes gradually became adopted in each of the provinces still under the Empire. Even a few of Cyrodiil's counties started calling them drakes over Septims. It was the same exact coin, just with a different identity.

Eventually, when the Summerset Isles seceded and the Thalmor renamed the province after their city-state of Alinor, they too reportedly minted a new currency. That currency would've likely been used throughout Valenwood and Elsweyr when those two provinces joined the Third Aldmeri Dominion. The tensions between it and the Third Empire weakened the drakes' influence in High Rock, Skyrim, and Hammerfell. Especially after Hammerfell seceded during the First Great War and then later when Skyrim seceded as a result of the Stormcloak Rebellion. While Krisra did not know what currency the Stormcloaks would have minted under High King Ulfric Stormcloak, she imagined they would have tried to restore the drakes' prior name as Septims. It made sense given they were fighting to restore the worship of Talos in Skyrim, the god whom was Tiber Septim. Of course, it would have only been part of their economy; perhaps they might mint Ulfric's face on a new kind of coin. And their victory in the rebellion further devalued the drakes' use in High Rock which was empowering its diverse currencies. Thus turning that province's economy into a mess.

Not in Hammerfell where the economy endured despite the drakes' continued usage. Partly because it had become ingrained in the Redguards' civilization and, by proxy, because the former economy was very much outdated. At least at first when it was no longer part of the Third Empire. Once Hammerfell was on its own, the Forebears and Crowns combined the drakes with the former economy to produce something new. Whereas the old economy used coins depicting the Forebears and Crowns' symbols on one side and other images on the other, the new economy maintained the political symbols while using an image of Hammerfell for the other side. As such, the gold drakes gained a lot of value in the province. A single gold drake was worth fifty silver drakes and nearly a hundred copper drakes. Silver and copper coins were once part of the old economy, but they had made a comeback in the new one. Which made it somewhat easy to learn how the coins functioned.

Though sometimes Krisra wondered if the old economy could be restored fully and replace the drakes. But then she realized how difficult that would have been after it had been for the people of Hammerfell. Before the Third Empire, the province's economy had been split between the two political movements. The Crowns and Forebears each had their own types of coins that were named after both parties. And both types were split into copper, silver, and gold coins. But whereas copper Crowns were worth something in Crown kingdoms, their value was worthless within the Forebear kingdoms. The same was true with silver and gold Crowns and all three of the Forebear coins too. The one caveat shared by both was that each other's gold and silver coins were still tradable in the opposing kingdoms. Silver Crowns were worth less than silver Forebears, but gold Crowns shared the silver Crowns value. And vice versa, with only the copper coins being less valuable either way. Converting between the two different currencies in addition to foreign currencies was hard enough, especially with High Rock in particular because of that province's atrocious number of currencies.

As Krisra understood the history behind Hammerfell's old economy, it was actually based on the Yokudan currencies. The Na-Totambu and the Ra Gada each had the same kind of economy that Hammerfell had before the Third Empire. What differentiated it was that Ra Gada coins were actually more common than the Na-Totambu coins and had been Hammerfell's primary economy in the distant past. Na-Totambu coins were still used in the province, just not as frequently as the Ra Gada coins. It had to do with the fact the Na-Totambu had been placed on Herne while the Ra Gada sailed on to claim Hammerfell for themselves. The only reason why Na-Totambu coins were used at all in Hammerfell was that the political movement gradually gained enough traction in the province to warrant its use. But even then, it remained second to the Ra Gada currency despite the Crowns securing political offices in royal courts and then thrones for the kingdoms they founded.

However, from what she had learned, there were critical differences between the currencies as they were on Yokuda and then when in Hammerfell. Some Yokudan coins bore the continent's image on one side, whereas the coins minted in Hammerfell featured the province in place of their old homeland. And some of the Yokudan Divines' depictions on coins in Hammerfell were slightly different than how they were depicted in Yokuda. There were even coins minted nowadays which featured the Imperial Divines, considered by some to have been alternative representations of their pantheon from the Imperial perspective. While worth about the same value, coins with the Imperial Divines were worth less than coins with Yokudan Divines, more so after Hammerfell had seceded.

And now that the Lhotunics were reformed as one political movement comprised by both political parties, a new currency would probably be minted. Coins called the Lhotunics, named for the movement. Perhaps combining the two current currencies together so that banks would find it easier to transition from Crowns to Forebears and vice versa, making their split values equivalent.

"It looked like a Na-Totambu banner," Coleus' answered her inquiry. "I could not tell for certain since I did not fully examine it. Though it appeared not much was left of it to be examined."

Krisra pursed her lips. "Then I suppose it is of no importance then," she commented while turning towards the door where she and Endava saw the two sets of stairs going up. "Let us search another chamber for the time being. I wish to form a mental map of our current surroundings here."

"Shouldn't we be looking for something pertaining to the undead?" asked Endava.

"Of course," the Seneschal agreed. "Though we should know where these doors go."

As the trio walked towards the threshold, Coleus stepped through first with his longsword at the ready. No undead charged him yet, so he took a moment to examine the two sets of stairs on either side. The stairs to the right of where they entered were blocked up top by debris and a kind of barricade made from stone and wood. It kept the rubble from falling down the stairs, but blocked that way off. Leaving the other stairs to climb after Coleus gestured for the women to follow him. A moment prior to ascending, Krisra turned to look at the barricade and debris behind it. "I wonder what would have been up that way," she could not help but muse aloud as they began to climb up.

"Doesn't matter," said Endava, having stolen a glance at it too. "It's been blocked off for a reason. And I don't think it was to prevent all that rubble from avalanching down on top of us."

"You believe it was to stop something else?" the Redguard asked somewhat nervously.

"Who knows?" the Dunmer shrugged. "Whoever did it could've simply wanted to seal off the area if there was no use going there. Regardless, now we don't have to go that way." She had a point and did not seem to put much thought into the matter when it was not needed. It had been a long time since anyone had even been inside the palace and whatever had been that way was not significant enough to warrant their attention. For the time being, anyway, considering the honored dead walking. Perhaps it was more of the undead and the blockage saved them the trouble. Or any honored dead in that part of the palace had not been revived because they were unreachable. Unless there had been another way which could have been likely. They could not be sure until they found it, so there was no sense worrying about that area now when they had the area ahead to focus on.

Reaching the top of the stairs, they ended up in a corridor that was blocked by rubble much like the other stairs. No barricade made from wood and stone had been set up in front, suggesting it might have been in use before the collapse. A large gap in the floor replaced it, but they did not know if they could access whatever was down there. Enough of the corridor was intact enough for them to proceed, but the absence of undead was a concern they did not discard. There were two windows for them to look at the honored dead in the forum outside, so Coleus took the initiative in peering out of one. His intention was to see how high the windows were from the ground. The undead could easily climb through a window if they could reach it, but they could also climb on top of each other to reach windows higher than them. Since most of those undead were Vakhaader skeletons with just a tiny handful of Na-Totambu mummies, there was no need for them to worry. The skeletons would have easily fallen apart in on themselves, and the mummies were too few and too slow to catch up in time. It was a good thing the windows were high, allowing them to focus on just the honored dead that could have been inside the palace. A small comfort, if not too restful.

Also in the corridor were two torn Na-Totambu tapestries hanging from the wall and a third Na-Totambu rug like the second one they'd seen in the entrance hall. The corridor was very nearly devoid of furniture apart from a wooden table that remained intact despite the years and some urns of Na-Totambu design. The urns were not in good shape, having long since shattered into pieces. In between the tapestries was a closed door into either another corridor or chamber. Since it looked like the only way to proceed, Coleus held a hand up for the women to stop while he went over for a brief examination. The Breton had not gotten far when the door suddenly opened and a skeleton stepped out, wielding the shaft of a broken war axe and a broken wooden shield. It was on its own, so the Seneschal gave its shield a hard shove which struck the skeletal frame and knocked its bones all over the floor. No more undead emerged through the threshold, though Coleus raised his hand again to keep Krisra and Endava back. He wanted to be sure the undead outside hadn't heard that.

Convinced those skeletons and mummies had not following a couple minutes of near quiet, the Breton motioned for them to resume their approach. From outside came some guttural hissing loud enough for them to hear, though the distance muted it somewhat. As did the door's creaking when Coleus shut it behind them, deciding to use its noise as a way of pointing out if undead were going to enter. While he stood by the door with his blade sheathed but ready, Krisra started to look around the chamber with Endava at her side. The two women noted no other entrances, indicating the door they came through was the only way inside. That should have made it simple to defend.

The chamber they found themselves in appeared to have once been a bedroom. The identity of its occupant was unknown, but they had a feeling it must have been a servant. A cabinet stood against the right wall, remaining open by the left door hanging from its hinges and the other which rested on the floor. It was filled with torn clothing of Na-Totambu origin, though a single shirt had survived even after the rest had not. A chest high dresser residing next to it was also filled with a bunch of old clothes. The counter with cupboards underneath on the opposite wall, just across from the bed, was bare inside apart from a slightly small urn, whereas several ancient tools for sewing lied across the counter. By the counter sat the great wheel, a type of spinning wheel made for short-staple fibres and long-draw spinning. It was missing the mechanisms that operated it, only one of which could be found on the floor next to it. What could have once been a desk was overturned as was a table in the center of the room. And the bedroom's hallmark furniture, the bed, was severed in two. Its legs had split apart, causing both ends to lie on the floor as the middle ends jutted out.

The great wheel's presence was all that was needed to know the bedroom was occupied by a seamster or seamstress. Which made the chamber pretty unimportant because that was someone who likely would not have been of any significance. Still, Krisra did not turn down the idea of her ancestor having filled the occupation. She was hoping to have been descended from an important figure among the Na-Totambu because that would have improved the value of her claim. But being descended from even one of the lower-ranking Na-Totambu should have sufficed as long as it was enough to demonstrate the claim. Or at the very least more than what other noblewomen asserted.

The sight of a chest underneath the broken bed could have held a clue as to the lineage, so she approached it for a brief examination. She got on her knees, observing how the chest was what caused the middle of the severed bed to stick up like the sides of a decrepit triangle. The chest was ornate, made out of carved quartz painted blue down the middle with a lock keeping the lid closed. Slots for gems to be inserted into ran along the sides, starting underneath the lock and seeming to make their way around the chest. Two slots in particular were on either side of the lock. Some of the slots were empty because the gems had fallen out, a few of which could be found on the floor around the chest. Each of the gems were identified as amethysts, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds, all demonstrating just how regal the chest looked as a proper example of Na-Totambu craft. An attempt to pull the chest out seemed unlikely, so Krisra gathered the loose gems and got up to place them on the counter before turning to Endava. "Help me move this bed so I can get the chest," she instructed, walking back to the bed and grabbing onto one side while Endava assisted.

Coleus took one look at the chest for himself. "That is the same kind of chest I saw in that storage space," he remarked, observing the noblewoman moving the bed. "I should be doing that."

"It is alright, Sir Coleus," the noblewoman assured him as she and the Dunmer moved one half of the bed. "We need you to be vigilant." Though he received the order and followed it, Coleus made sure neither of them would have any trouble picking up the other half before turning back to the door. Since the bed was not too heavy as a result of having been split in two, both women were able to move it without the Seneschal's assistance. Once both ends were out of the way, they both took deep breaths and a few moments of rest. "There," Krisra was satisfied now that she had access to the chest, "that is no longer a problem." She stepped over to it and kneeled down again to check the lock. She thought the chest would not open, requiring either a key or an unlock spell, but found out the lock was actually pretty weak. It was rusted and partly broken, so Krisra was able to peek inside through the wide opening. Realizing the Redguard couldn't get it open, Endava walked over to join her at the chest. Without a word, she motioned for her charge to step back for just a moment.

Unsheathing her steel longsword, the Dunmeri Knight Sister gripped the hilt as she kneeled down too. The blade pointed up towards the ceiling as she took the lock in her free hand and tested the hilt's positioning to determine where to strike. Within seconds, she smashed the lock with such force that the blow, despite not immediately destroying the lock, crippled it further. It took a couple more hits before the now ruined lock collapsed to the floor with a light thud. "That should do it."

"Thank you, Endava," the noblewoman expressed her gratitude before moving back to the chest. Endava stood up to sheathe her longsword, kneeling back down to help check the loot inside. The chest mostly contained spindles of old yarn and other tools for sewing, plus another pouch of Na-Totambu coins and a few loose coins too. Picking up the pouch to empty it in her hands, Krisra quickly found a tear that caused all the coins to spill out. She took each one in pairs after throwing the torn pouch away, finding twelve silver coins and a gold coin. Comparing these coins with the ones in the intact pouch, Krisra could only guess that silver and gold Na-Totambu coins would be found inside the palace. The Haeknison Dynasty had been pretty wealthy during their reign over Honavoth, so she believed it was expected they would have a fortune and paid their servants good sums. As the intact pouch looked large enough to hold all the coins from the torn pouch in addition to the eleven already in there, she put them in it and tossed it up to feel its increased weight. Each of the coins clinked together as it came back down, landing perfectly within the palm of her hand.

While Krisra clipped the pouch to her belt, Endava began rummaging through the yarn and tools to see if there was anything hidden within. Removing some of the yarn, she immediately saw what looked like a sheath and threw more yarn out for confirmation. Her assumption was right and the removal of a few more bundles of yarn revealed it was a shortsword. The sheath looked totally exquisite, made from what appeared to be fine steel decorated at the top by a couple symbols that most likely were of Na-Totambu origin and an emerald encrusted into the sheathe. Gently picking it up and holding it in both hands, she let Krisra feel the sheathe for a bit before carefully drawing the shortsword from its scabbard. The shortsword looked just as gorgeous as its sheath, made from orichalcum. It shone before them as a display of its craftsmanship, its dark greenish hue seemingly glowing along its sharp edges to the tip of the blade. Its design looked slightly similar to Third Era Cyrodilic silver shortswords Endava had seen sketched into a book she read back in Taneth. "This is superb craftsmanship," she admired it. "A very unique blade. Fit for someone of the royal court."

"There was a sword hidden within the chest?" Coleus asked, turning around for a moment.

"An orichalcum shortsword," the Dunmeri Knight Sister answered as she continued to look at it with Krisra. "Of Na-Totambu origin for sure. Does not appear to be enchanted, nor was it used by this bedroom's occupant." Her observations caught Krisra's attention as she took the weapon.

"Why do you say that?" the Redguard noblewoman inquired, curious as to what she meant.

"Look at the blade," Endava instructed. "It would shimmer if enchanted. And its condition has not deteriorated since it was stored inside the chest. Hidden underneath all this yarn and tools."

"You believe this shortsword was secretly put inside without anyone else's knowledge?"

"How else would you hide a shortsword like this?" the Dunmer elaborated. "And why must it remain a secret from anyone else? My guess is its wielder was hiding something other than this shortsword and would've killed to keep it that way. Or would've plotted an assassination of sorts."

"You mean…?" Krisra's eyes widened at the thought. "The person meant to kill someone?" The target she had in mind was obviously a member of the Haeknison Dynasty or their royal court. But someone who had a connection with the dynasty, royal court, or both was just as likely to have been the intended victim. She kept examining the shortsword for traces of blood, but found none. That must have meant its wielder's plot was unveiled or that it was not used as the murder weapon.

"A shortsword is a good weapon in an assassin's arsenal," Endava went on. "It can murder someone from a longer reach than a dagger and be used to defend oneself if caught. A dagger could be better hidden on one's person if the point was to see the target somewhere else. But bringing a target to this bedroom and pretending to look for the yarn and tools in the chest is a decent enough ploy to pull off. Not without risk since someone might find the blade prior, but it could be done."

"But what if the person hid it with the intention of carrying it for defense when fleeing?"

Endava went back to rummaging through the chest for anything else of importance hidden amongst the yarn. "Makes sense, but feels too obvious a conclusion to make. This bedroom is close to the entrance hall, so the wielder could easily leave at any time and give a cover story to guards on duty. Not a great cover story if you ask me, but sounds like too much trouble with a shortsword."

"The wielder would have needed it to get by guards if they had suspected something," the Redguard countered. Although she herself knew how well-trained palace guards were, she figured the person who would have wielded this orichalcum shortsword might have had a decent chance.

"Do you know what kind of arms palace guards wield, Milady? What sort of armor they'll wear?" the Dunmeri woman countered Krisra's logic. "Only the best of what can be crafted in high quantities. Maybe not as good as what the lords might use, but better than the arms and armor local house guards wear. Who themselves are better equipped than common city guards; the city guards being better equipped than town guards. Same goes for the training they undergo. Even if someone possessed a shortsword of high quality like this one, they would not be able to do much in combat." Endava stood up and sheathed the blade before helping Krisra up. They hadn't found anything else of significance or value in the chest apart from those coins and the shortsword. Placing both hands on Krisra's shoulders to keep her still, she then set to clipping the shortsword to the noblewoman's belt, just by a satchel. "Still, it is a good fallback weapon should you run out of Magicka. But only if we were to perish in combat against the undead and you find yourself trapped among them. But do not ever wield it in open combat. Its reach is not long, but it can still be used for sneak attacks."

"As much as I should not, I suppose it would be smarter than going around with little to no Magicka," Krisra commented, accepting the blade and standing away from Endava once the other woman finished clipping the shortsword to her belt. Because the blade was on her right side, Krisra needed to draw it with her left hand. She was glad to have been left-handed, otherwise it was going to be awkward learning how to wield it. With enough space to maneuver without the risk of hitting either knight, she practiced unsheathing the blade with her left hand a few times before switching hands. Although she was not right-handed, she wanted to at least understand the feeling of drawing the shortsword and wielding it that way. That particular effort proved somewhat clumsy at best as she needed to slowly turn the blade right-side up without using her left hand. She never knew if or when her left hand would be injured in combat or severed completely, so it was good of her to try. Once she got the hang of unsheathing it, Krisra started turning the shortsword around as carefully she could and took several practice swings. She held the blade diagonally in front of her with both hands to practice blocking, aware that she was not strong enough to block with just one hand. And she even made a few motions of parrying even though neither of the knights drew their own blades.

"That is a decent enough start to wielding a shortsword, Lady Krisra," Coleus praised her.

The Redguard smiled in appreciation. "Thank you, Sir Coleus. I may not be as good as you and Endava, and the other knights too, but I do think I would be able to hold my own in combat."

"You won't," Endava criticized her. "As ample a start it was, you need more practice."

"As blunt as Endava put it, she is correct about you needing more experience wielding the shortsword," the Seneschal agreed. "It is much different than wielding a longsword or other kinds of swords due to its length. So its style of combat demands a greater degree of time and effort, and that especially goes for fighters adapting from a different form of combat. Given your race's strong expertise with swords, Lady Krisra, I am positive you would be able to become an expert, perhaps even a master. Of the shortsword at first until you expand to other swords, should you so choose."

"There's also the shortsword's weight to consider, like with any other blade," said Endava. "That one's orichalcum, twice heavier than an ebony shortsword and quarter heavier than dwarven. Quarter lighter than Daedric and steel. But it weighs around the same as iron, elven, mithril, and adamantium. And since we're dealing with undead wielding rubedite weapons, maybe around the same weight as rubedite or a bit heavier. Regardless, you appear able to wield that shortsword just fine; again, like Sir Coleus said, possibly because you're a Redguard with ancient Yokudan blood."

"Well, the Yokudans did wield orichalcum weapons against the Sinistral Mer according to legend," Krisra believed that explained it. "The HoonDing manifested as Diagna, Orichalc God of the Sideways Blade. His cult, perceived as thuggish and hoary, first rose during the Twenty-Seven Snake Folk Slaughter. It was he who bestowed orichalcum weaponry to the Yokudans for the war."

"I know the story well," Coleus commented. "He is part of the Eight of the Crowns across Hammerfell. But he is not widely worshipped like the god he is anymore and the faith is exclusive to the Dragontail Mountains where he has become nothing more than a power spirit. It is a shame that he has become so irrelevant throughout most of the province apart from there. His fame taken over by the Order of Diagna being more popular and often the answer received whenever someone is asked what the name 'Diagna' means to them. Tragic, but that is what happens as faith wanes."

"Wasn't the Order of Diagna's main headquarters moved to Wrothgar in High Rock?" the Dunmeri Knight Sister inquired, having heard of that before and curious as to why that happened.

"To devastate the First Orsinium founded by Torug gro-Igron in the Tenth Century of the First Era," the Seneschal explained. "It was destroyed at the end of a long campaign lasting a total of thirty-two years ever since it began in 1E 948. King Joile of Daggerfall led the charge together with the Kingdom of Sentinel and Gaiden Shinji, the Order of Diagna's leader at the time. Through their cooperation, Orsinium slowly fell; but the Order of Diagna believed it necessary to maintain their leadership from Wrothgar even without the two kingdoms' aid. They had made the right call; Orsinium, even after having fallen in 1E 980, was reconstructed in the same location. And a second reconstruction took place when the order defeated it again, followed by a third defeat, these events taking place over the span of several more centuries in the First Era. I am afraid I do not know just how many times Orsinium was rebuilt in the First and Second Eras, but the order helped defeat the city-state each time. An old Wrothgarian saying asserts that each time Orsinium falls, its calendars end with it; and with the birth of a new Orsinium, so too does time itself begin with the new year."

"But with Orsinium now between our province and Skyrim, should the order return?" the Redguard noblewoman inquired. "It no longer has a reason to remain in Wrothgar anymore, right?"

"While that is true, Lady Krisra, it is not so simple," Coleus answered. "The order does not belong to any one kingdom in Hammerfell, so it is seen as the province's knightly order instead of a kingdom's knightly order. It is not exclusive the same way our Order of the Fifth Doctrine is to the Kingdom of Taneth for example. But, its services in Wrothgar render it that region's de facto and de jure knightly order in spite of the fact Wrothgar, otherwise popularly called the Wrothgarian Mountains, or Wrothgaria, has no political court. It is not a march, county, barony, duchy, fiefdom, or kingdom. The Order of Diagna, obeying Hammerfell's laws first and High Rock's laws second, holds all the political power to control Wrothgar autonomously. Meaning that despite adhering to both provinces' laws, they are neither fully beholden to them either and can rule if they so choose."

"In other words," Krisra seemed to understand, "the Order of Diagna has enough power to establish Wrothgar as its own kingdom with the authority to maintain that status in the provinces."

"They do in theory," Coleus confirmed that to an extent. "Although, the order is not going to risk empowering themselves. It could benefit Hammerfell at High Rock's expense at the cost of provoking a war. The Breton kingdoms would not be pleased at having a knightly order from our province proclaim Wrothgar a Redguard kingdom in High Rock that answers to Hammerfell. Vice versa, the Order of Diagna could establish the kingdom for High Rock and start answering to that province more than it does to Hammerfell. Alternatively, the Order of Diagna could establish their kingdom in Wrothgar and attempt to secede from Hammerfell while turning Wrothgar into its own province. Thereby causing both provinces to side against it, similar to the situation of Orsinium. It is very tempting, but they are in no position to pursue any outcome that provides too much power. Especially since they, being a knightly order with chapters across Hammerfell, are not solidified."

"So, besides the convenience of having the order in the Wrothgarian Mountains, how come the Breton kingdoms permit the head branch of a Redguard knightly order in their province?" the noblewoman asked. She felt that was probably the only reason, but desired curiosity's satisfaction.

"That is just it, Lady Krisra," the Seneschal understood what she was getting at. "There is a level of tolerance towards the Order of Diagna keeping their headquarters in the region. Each of the Breton kingdoms and political courts under them are more concerned with immediate matters. The order's presence in Wrothgar does them a service they do not need to pay for. A couple do if only to keep the order funded because the Wrothgarian Mountains border their respective regions. And some of their funding comes from Hammerfell, mainly their other chapters and a few of the kingdoms. Although Orsinium's reconstruction between our province and Skyrim technically may allow for the Breton kingdoms to decrease funding or stop it altogether, they do not. There are still a number of Orc strongholds, witch covens, Reachmen, and sects of both Daedra worshippers and necromancers in Wrothgar. Without the Order of Diagna, those groups could expand out from their strongholds in the region. Even if they have the means and resources to protect themselves, leaving Wrothgar in the order's hands saves them the trouble by having the order take the responsibility."

While Krisra and Coleus had been discussing the Order of Diagna's presence in Wrothgar, Endava took the initiative in checking out the small urn under the counter. Bending down to pick it up, she immediately discovered a small hole on the side and expected something like ash or sand to pour out. When nothing did, she lifted the lid and peered inside to find a piece of papyrus stood against the side. It was rolled up as she put the lid on the counter so she could pull the papyrus out without damaging it. Gently unfurling it at best she could even while wearing gauntlets, the Knight Sister gave it a brief analysis while the Redguard started speaking. "But, theoretically speaking, it puts the Order of Diagna in a position to tax High Rock's kingdoms and determine the price, yes?"

"That is how the order is handling their acquisition of funding in High Rock," the Seneschal confirmed. "A slight advantage of maintaining their main garrison in the Wrothgarian Mountains. Still, they know not to raise it any higher than those kingdoms are willing to pay. Well, perhaps a little at best, though the only opposition that raises is some complaining about having to pay more." Catching sight of Endava examining the papyrus behind Krisra, he diverted his attention past their charge towards the papyrus. "Have you found something, Endava?" he asked for her perspective.

"Some kind of ancient note or something," the Dunmer answered. "Written in Yokudan."

"In Yokudan?" Krisra's eyes widened at the mention of her people's ancestral dialect. She eagerly took it from Endava when the Knight Sister gave it to her. "Let me take a look…" Reading the papyrus as carefully as she could, she began looking for bits she could recognize from memory.

"Pretty sure it's Yokudan," Endava seemed somewhat unsure. "It should be since it was in a Yokudan urn. And the palace was taken over by the Haeknison Dynasty. But it has partly faded."

"That makes it seem more circumstantial than legitimately Yokudan," the Breton appeared suspicious based on the added information the uncertain Dunmer supplied. "Are you positive it is Yokudan and not Nedic? Written by the Na-Totambu and not the Vakhaader?" he asked to be sure.

"Looks Yokudan," the Knight Sister shrugged, still going with that first option.

"It is Yokudan," Krisra confirmed. "I can tell the language and I know a bit of what it says. Though I need time to go over this properly later." Removing her pack and walking to the counter, she set it down and opened the flap. Storing the papyrus inside and making sure it would be quite safe from being torn, she closed the flap up and ensured it remained closed so the papyrus wouldn't fall out. Slinging it over her shoulder and putting her arms through the straps, she gave it a glance and turned back towards the door. "Alright, I think we have found all we can here. Let us proceed."

"As you wish, Lady Krisra," said Coleus as he turned towards the door and stood up against it. Gesturing for the two women to be quiet, he listened carefully for the sounds of undead outside the chamber. All he could hear was the faint sound of guttural hissing coming from the forum, so it seemed safe enough to exit. Opening the door and stepping out into the corridor, he established it was quite devoid of animate honored dead and motioned for the women to come out. But before they started heading back, the Seneschal took a quick peek down the hole in the floor. All he could see was what had once been the floor in front of him, having collapsed into a pile of debris. It was comprised of the stone floor and broken furniture with torn banners blowing in the breeze passing through small holes in the wall. A single mummy lied underneath the rubble, its arms outstretched in the motion of trying to pull itself free. It did not look active despite appearing animate, and the mummy had not even moaned balefully. Maybe it had the strength to free itself and was trying to catch anyone who approached unaware. The mummy had not given them an indication it registered their presence; maybe it had and possessed some intelligence to be a trap. But it was best to let the mummy be rather than test the theory. Plus, putting it down could have generated unwanted noise.

"Nothing of importance?" Endava inquired softly so nearby undead would not hear her.

Coleus turned back to them. "Apart from a single mummy that we can leave alone, no. The rubble has left no way of descending to the floor below. Even if it did, I would be reluctant to try." His reluctance was understandable since the rubble could have collapsed under them while going down. Returning to the two women, Coleus took point as they went back to the stairs and climbed down. Making sure no undead had showed up while they were checking out that bedroom chamber, he stepped into the entrance hall and motioned for them to follow. After performing another quick onceover, he led the way towards the next door down the wall. The Seneschal slowed and made a gesture for them to follow his lead, keeping their ears open for the sounds of undead. When nothing seemed to catch their attention, Coleus went to the door and listened carefully before he opened it.