Author's response to review by GalacticHalfling. When deciding how the people of Morrowind think about these legends and prophecies, I considered it to be really important to establish points of view. After all, this is the setup for the major plot point of the game and there will be many consequences in a detailed story that the game got to skip over because it's a game. As to why Han lu knows so little about his parents homeland, yes there are reasons he wasn't taught much about the lands and culture. They will become clearer once I publish the parts where his parents are given backstory.

It had been two days since I'd reported to Caius. When I told him that Hasphat mentioned another source of information, an Orc in the mages guild, he'd wanted me to contact her right away. I'd put it off because of my injuries from the Dwemer ruin, saying I needed time to heal. In reality, I wasn't excited to risk life and limb again for the Empire. By now, I had had enough time to heal my injuries through my own restoration magic, but I kept telling myself I needed more time to replace the blood I'd lost.

I was a short walk north from Balmora. It was early in the morning and I'd picked a giant mushroom to practice my marksmanship on. The soft trunk made a good target and didn't damage my arrows on impact. The morning was chilly with dew on the grass. The sun was filtered by low hanging clouds that threatened rain.

My thoughts were scattered as I aimed each shot. So much had happened to me in the last week and despite the fact that I was making the money I needed, I didn't feel the sense of control that I always did when working with my mom and dad. I shook myself and drew another arrow.

"That's just something you're going to have to get used to," I told myself. All my options to make money were opportunistic, dependent on what established organizations needed done. I didn't have my own organization anymore, so I just needed to take what came along. At my current rate, I might make enough in a month, but that meant taking whatever dangerous jobs came my way and after the Dwemer ruin, I wasn't too keen on that idea. I'd only done one task for Caius so far and it had by far been my most dangerous. His payout had been good, but not that good. The longer I could put off his jobs for safer ones, the better.

My mind drifted back to the Dwemer ruin and the smugglers. An idea formed in my head and I let my bowstring go slack while I paused in thought. Obviously, the things the smugglers were taking were valuable. Most of the stuff was packed up already. If Hasphat and I didn't overlook any of the looters, all that stuff would still be there.

I ran to the mushrooms trunk and collected my arrows before heading back to the Fighters guild. I found Hasphat at Eyedis' desk, recording figures in a ledger.

"Hey egghead, I need advice."

Hasphat looked up tiredly. "I'm sorry, but I'm in the middle of some complicated calculations. Can it wait?"

I sank into the chair across from him, laying my bow across my lap. "Oh sure, pay no mind to the young elf who nearly died helping you the other day."

Hasphat sighed. "Fine, what do you need?"

"Well, I'm just wondering why smugglers were stealing from a Dwemer ruin. Seems to me that abandoned ruins like that ought to be first come first serve. You made them sound like criminals."

"They were," Hasphat confirmed. "The Empire owns all rights to all new discoveries of Dwemer artifacts. If you didn't own a Dwemer artifact before the law went into effect, then it is property of the Empire and owning it yourself is punishable by death."

I nodded. "But they must have had buyers. I'm sure there's a black market for this stuff."

Hasphat's stare turned serious as he realized what I was getting at. "Look Han-lu. I know money can be hard earned here in Vvardenfell, but don't turn to crime. Eyedis is turning up some very promising leads with house Hlaalu. We'll have work soon."

I grinned and let out a chuckle. "Hasphat, you underestimate me. I'm young, but I'm far from innocent. I'm not coming to you for moral advice. I want to know where I can pawn this stuff off without attracting attention from the Empire."

Hasphat turned angrily back to his ledger. "I wouldn't know anything about such things. I have no part in sordid affairs. The most morally negligible thing I do is gamble."

"Hmph," I looked away nonchalantly. "Well, if you were to give me a hint or a lead, I could cut you in on the score. You wouldn't even have to touch the merchandise."

"My answer is no Han-lu. I'm an upstanding citizen of the Empire and I make my living lawfully."

I sat and stared at him while he ignored me, writing figures in his ledger. "Eyedis doesn't know that, does she?" Hasphat paused slightly, trying to understand my meaning. I continued. "After all, you did take a dwemer relic from that ruin and surely Eyedis is aware of your gambling problem."

Hasphat looked at me incredulously and I shrugged. "It would be a shame if she heard you were smuggling illegal goods. That might ruin your reputation in the guild, not to mention your standing as a, 'law abiding citizen of the Empire,' I mocked."

Hasphat deliberately laid down his quill, making his expression as dangerous as he could. "You have no proof Dunmer. It's your word against mine."

"The thing is, I don't even have to accuse you. I'm just an inexperienced young adult, new to the adventures of life. All I'd have to do is let something slip in front of Eyedis. For example," I changed my tone of voice to make me sound young and impressionable. "Oh Hasphat, wasn't it fun raiding that old ruin the other day? Say, what was it that you found while we were there?

"Then Eyedis overhears and asks, 'What's this about raiding an ancient ruin?' From there, I just have to clam up as if I'm keeping a secret for you and you're cooked."

Hasphat stood suddenly, throwing his chair over backwards and roared in fury. "Curse you you ungrateful whelp! I kept my end of the bargain and gave you the information you wanted. Where is this coming from? Why do you treat me with such hatred?"

"This isn't out of hatred dear old man," I said calmly. "I need money and you can help me get it. Surely you know somebody disreputable from all your gambling. Just put me in touch with somebody useful and this can all go away." I waved my fingers through the air to simulate his problems drifting away on the breeze.

He met my gaze with frustration. I could see he was a man of conscience and he was being asked to go against his conscience. After a tense few moments, he sat back down in his seat. "There's a pawn broker named Ra'Virr, a Khajiit. I know he deals in skooma, but I don't know if he'll deal in Dwemer artifacts. His shop is just down the street."

I nodded in satisfaction. "Thank you Hasphat. I'll have to check in with him."

As I left, Hasphat called after me. "Remember, you didn't get this from me. If the Empire catches you, you're as good as dead."