Hey guys.

Sorry that it took so long. Real life and all. But I am here and I'm posting a new chapter!

This chapter was originally going to be one big chapter but in the end I decided to make it a two parter. I hope that's okay. I should have part 2 of Chorrol posted most likely tomorrow or sometime this week.

As I said before, I do not know how long the rest of these chapters will be. I will try my best not to make the chapters not so short in case they have been.

I hope you enjoy this one and I will post the second half as soon as I can!

Chapter 6 – Chorrol, Part 1; The Missing Painting

The city of Chorrol was ruled by Countess Arriana Valga. Her husband, Count Charus Valga, was killed on the battlefield when he fought against Nord clansmen years ago. Their daughter, Alessia was the Countess of Leyawiin.

Chorrol was famous for its Great Oak Tree, which stood in the middle of the city near the guilds. In the western end of town was the Chapel of Stendarr. There were two inns, a smith shop, a bookstore, and a general goods store. It was indeed a lovely city. My favorite part of the city would always be the Great Oak.

When I entered the city, I was approached by a young Argonian female. She must have been a teenager. I didn't know exactly how old she was, but I knew she was young.

"Hello, Miss," she said smiling. "I don't think we've met. Are you new in town?"

"I don't think we've met either," I said smiling back. "I'm Sonja. And yes I am new in town."

"My name is Dar-Ma." She extended her hand.

I gladly shook it. "Pleased to meet you, Dar-Ma."

"Likewise!" she said. "I'm always glad to meet someone new. Welcome to Chorrol! I'm sure my mother would be glad to meet you as well! She owns the Northern Goods and Trade store. Hey…did you say your name was Sonja?"

"Yes, indeed."

She gasped. "Oh my! I thought I recognized you! Your face is all over the Black Horse Courier. Mythic Dawn agents looking for you, Gods blood! You're Sonja Valus! You're the Hero of Kvatch!"

I laughed nervously and rubbed my arm.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said. "I hope I didn't embarrass you. I just feel honored to be in your presence."

"No, no. I'm not embarrassed at all," I said. "I guess I just need to do better at getting used to this kind of attention."

"No worries, I understand. I probably should get back to the shop now. But it was nice meeting you, Sonja! Stop by the shop if you ever come back to Chorrol. Bye!" Dar-Ma skipped back to the shop which was to my left.

"Bye, Dar-Ma!" I said. "Stay out of trouble!"

Dar-Ma was a kind soul. She was raised well. There aren't a lot of people in the world who are as welcoming.

Castle Chorrol was to the northeast of the city. It was a beautiful castle too. Then again, I have always thought that castles were beautiful. The Great Hall was similar to the one in Castle Bruma, except the carpet colors were blue instead of yellow. The throne room was up the stairs and through a small hallway.

Countess Valga was sitting in her throne. She was an older, middle aged woman, wearing a radient royal blue gown with her gray hair up in a bun. She was very elegant and I could tell that she had a gentle nature. Everyone was sayin that she took care of her people and that they loved her as their Countess.

I approached the throne, took off my helmet, and placed my hand upon my heart before bowing my head. "Milady. I am Sonja Valus of Kvatch, Knight-Sister of the Blades."

The Countess smiled softly. "Welcome, Sonja, to Castle Chorrol. It is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard a lot about you and I heard that you closed the Gate outside my city. We are all in your debt."

"As long as you and the people are safe, I am satisfied," I said. "I come to Chorrol because I am in need of your help."

"I'd be glad to help you, but I am afraid I am in the middle of an investigation."

I got curious. "What kind of investigation, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Well, I suppose I can trust you," she said. "It seems someone has stolen an heirloom that is quite dear to me. It was a painting of my lost love, the Count Valga. It was taken from my bedchamber."

"That's terrible," I said. "Who would do such a thing?"

"I don't know. That's why I have been trying to investigate. The painting is all I have left that reminds me of the Count. I spend many a lonely night wishing that the words I speak to it will be heard and not just fall upon the lifeless pigments and canvas."

I felt bad for her. The painting meant so much to her. The sadness in her face told me enough that she loved her husband very much and that the painting made her feel as though he were still alive. Without the painting, she would feel miserable and lonely.

"Maybe…" I said. "Maybe I can help you find the painting?"

"You would do that?"

"Of course, Milady. I will help you find the painting. If that is alright with you?"

"That would help tremendously!" she said. "First, you must search for clues. When you find enough evidence, confront the suspect and see if they confess. I do not wish them any harm, but I do want them to face justice. Your best bet is to speak to the residents of the castle before looking for physical clues."

The Countess gave me some keys that granted me access to different parts of the castle. Some of them were restricted, but I was still authorized to enter for the sake of the investigation.

Gathering clues, I started to interview the Countess first.

"I was elsewhere at the time of the robbery, and the chamber was locked," she said. "The only other people who had access to the chamber and were still unaccounted for were the court mage, Chanel and the porter, Orgnolf."

The next person I spoke to was the Countess' herald, Laythe Waverick. He was already in the Great Hall. I asked hun where he was and what he was doing when the painting was stolen. He said, "My duties rely on watching no more than the throne and attending to visitors. But confidentially, I will say that Orgnolf has been acting a bit unusual. His abuse of drink has gotten worse lately. He has taken to asking for money from others to purchase spirits. A porter's wage does not befit his habit."

Orok gro-Ghoth, the Countess' steward, had returned from Northern Goods and Trade; the shop that Dar-Ma's mother owned. I asked Orok the same question I asked Laythe. Orok didn't trust me with anything that went on in the castle at first. But I told him that I was trying to help the Countess and reminded him that the painting meant a lot to her. I assured him that I meant no harm at all. Although I had to use some persuasion, I was still able to gain his trust. Laythe mentioned Orgnolf earlier and so I askd about him too.

Orok said, "Hmmm…I don't remember seeing Orgnolf that entire evening. Or Chanel. But then again, I stayed in my quarters for most of the night. There was no point in going on my usual walk with all the rain falling As far as Chanel and Orgnolf go, they seem fine to me. I only had a minor scrape with Orgnolf recently."

"What happened?" I asked.

"I caught him drinking in the West Tower on the upper level. I told him if he didn't stop, I would tell the Countess. He just grumbled and agreed. He hasn't bothered me since."

Both Laythe and Orok seemed to think that Orgnolf was showing some suspicious behavior. But Orok also mentioned Chanel even though he didn't say much about her.

Captain Bittneld the Curse-Bringer was out on patrol. He had returned to the castle courtyard when I interviewed him. He didn't provide me with a lot of information since he wasn't in the castle that evening, but it was enough to help with the case.

He said, "I was making my rounds of Chorrol. The only odd occurrence lately was with Chanel. I have seen her spending a lot of time in the West Tower. When I asked her about it, she said it involved her spell research. I suppose at the time it sounded good enough for me."

All of this led me to the conclusion that the two main suspects were Orgnolf and Chanel. And they both spend a lot of time in the West Tower. The Countess even said that they were the only other people who had access to the chamber where the painting was taken. I started with Orgnolf. I found him up in the upstairs hallways. He seemed like he had a chip on his shoulder as he seemed rude when I approached him and I could smell alcohol on his breath. But he was willing to provide his side of the story. He was, er…more than honest.

"The night of the theft, I was in the Great Hall, having an argument with a delivery boy from Bravil," he said. "It seems his horse lost his footing in the heavy rain we had that night and the shipment of port that it was carrying skipped to the ground. The fall broke most of the bottles. He refused to take responsibility for it, but I gave him what he wanted and sent him away. After that, I spend the rest of the night in my quarters…reading."

Was he actually reading? Or drinking? It didn't matter. I got what I needed from Orgnolf.

The final suspect I needed to talk to was Chanel, the court mage. I found her in her room. She was actually nice to talk to, perhaps too nice to be a suspect. But I still needed answers. Sometimes even the nice ones have to be interrogated.

"The night the painting was stolen, I was in the courtyard of the castle taking star readings," she said. "After a while, I decided to go to the dining room just off the Great Hall. I poured myself a glass of wine, and studied the charts I had made until it was time to sleep. From there, I came to my room and slept the rest of the night."

While I gathered clues from everyone in the castle, I still didn't have the final answer for who the culprit was. I couldn't accuse any of them just yet. But now that I had spoken to everyone, it was time to look for physical clues.

I started by going down to the dining room. The servants were cleaning the table and the decorations in the room. So far, there didn't seem to be anything in the room to be suspicious about. It was a normal castle dining room.

That was until I saw something on the carpet. There were yellow stained spots. I looked loser to see that they were paint stains and there was a paint stain in the shape of a footprint as well. Who would be painting in the dining room?

Orgnolf and Chanel were still my primary suspects. Everyone talked about them the most most. To reiterate, they both spent time in the West Tower. So I went to the West Tower and made my way to the upper level because that was where Orgnolf spent his time. No surprise, it was the drinking den. I looked everywhere for some for of evidence to use against him. I found a few empty bottles, but no evidence and no painting. So, Orgnolf was no longer a suspect and had nothing to do with the theft at all.

The only remaining suspect was Chanel.

Since Orgnolf spent time in the upper level, I decided to check out the lower level. There was a trap door that led me there. According to Bittneld, Chanel went to the West Tower a lot for spell research. But I didn't find anything having to do with spell research. Instead, I found a painting. It wasn't the missing painting, but it still was enough to conclude that Chanel wasn't entirely honest about what she did in the West Tower.

Then it had me thinking. Chanel said that she went to the dining room on the night of the theft. Was it a coincidence that I found paint stains on the dining room rug? I don't think so. But I couldn't accuse her yet. I had to check her room to confirm my suspicions.

I exited the West Tower and made my way to Chanel's room. She left it cracked open, but she wasn't in there. I looked under her bed, in her drawers, her closet, even in every chest she had. Then, I noticed the lectern was placed in an odd spot. I opened the lectern and low and behold, there were paint supplies.

"Excuse me? What are you doing in my room?"

Chanel had caught me, but she looked like a deer in the torchlights when she saw that I was looking in her lectern.

"I'm going to ask again," I said. "Where were you when the painting was stolen?"

"I…said that I was in the courtyard," said Chanel.

"Oh really? Bittneld said that you spend a lot of time in the West Tower."

"Well, yes…I do spend time in the West Tower, but I was doing spell research."

"I don't think so, Chanel," I said. "I was just in the West Tower. I found a painting instead of research notes."

"Wh-What?"

"Where else did you go?"

"I-I went to the dining room," she said.

"Well at least you are telling the truth there," I said. "Because it just so happens, I found yellow paint stains on the rug. And now I found paint supplies in your room."

"I-I can explain."

"I am going to ask you once more question. And you better be honest with me. Did you steal the painting of Count Valga? Yes or no?"

Chanel looked down, swallowed, and took a deep breath. Then she closed the door before facing me again.

"Alright," she said. "I did it. I confess to the crime. But please understand. I only did it out of the great love I had in my heart for Count Valga."

"Start from the beginning."

"I was the one who painted the portrait. When the Count died, the Countess spent so much time with it that I became jealous."

"So you stole it."

"I am ashamed that I took the painting, but my love for the Count was greater than you could imagine."

"So, you were the one who painted the portrait," I said. "But instead of being grateful that the Countess admired it, you let envy get the better of you and you took it away from her when she was at her most vulnerable. Didn't you consider her feelings?"

"Well…yes. But-"

"But nothing, Chanel," I said. "He was her husband. The painting was the only thing she had left to remember him by. By taking away that painting, you took away something that was part of her."

Chanel sighed. "I suppose you are right. I was selfish and yes, envy did get the better of me."

"I'm glad you understand," I said. "But if the Countess asks who took the painting, I have to tell her the truth. Since you have shown that you are ashamed for what you have done, maybe the Countess will show mercy. Now where did you put the painting?"

"Its hiding behind the painting above the lectern," she said. "I'm ready to face what fate has in store for me. I know that the Countess will be upset with me, but I hope that she knows how sorry I am."

"Chanel? I am so shocked," said the Countess after I returned the painting. "She has always been such a nice member of our court, but I see that your evidence is without question."

"She's ashamed for what she did," I said. "I wouldn't normally speak for anyone, but I know that she is sorry for what she did and she will accept the consequences of her actions."

"I am glad that she took responsibility," said the Countess. "But I'm afraid it isn't enough to excuse her for what she did. She shall be stripped of her duties and banished from Castle Chorrol. However, I am not without pity, and therefore, she shall not be jailed. And if she is truly remorseful like you said, I will consider bringing her back but only if I feel she has learned her lesson. But until I decide otherwise, she is not to set foot in this castle again. That is as fair as I can be. And now, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for returning the painting. It truly meant a lot to me that you offered to help. Please. I want you to have this."

The Countess gave me a coin purse full of gold and an assortment of gems. She didn't have to, but I was still grateful.

"Now, I believe you had said you needed my help with something earlier?" she said.

"Oh! Yes, Milady," I said. "I'm traveling all over Cyrodiil to gather allies for Bruma. The Mythic Dawn are planning on opening a Great Gate in front of the city and so we need to build a garrison. If it is possible, would you be able to send some soldiers to Bruma?"

"Oh, this is indeed dreadful news," she said. "And after what happened to Kvatch…consider it done, Sonja Valus. I will gladly send soldiers to aid in the defense of Bruma."

I smiled. "Thank you, Milady. The people of Bruma will be grateful."

"In times like these, it is necessary that we stand together and support each other. I hope that my daughter and son-in-law in Leyawiin provide assistance as well. If you would like some extra help from Chorrol, I would suggest speaking with Vilena Donton. She is the leader of the Fighters Guild. The guild is lacking in members, but I just want to make sure that you get all the help that you need from the city. I truly hope that the other cities are willing to help. May Stendarr guide you the rest of your journey."