Chapter 1.A New Face in Town.
It was a typical day in the town of Seyda Neen.The sky was a shade of pale azure,a few wispy clouds scattered about drifting along lazily.A few bull netch hovered towards the east of town,attending a lone betty netch,while in the distance the cry of a cliff racer could be heard,intent on it's next meal.
The town was a coastal outpost of the District of Vvardenfell,of the province of Morrowind.Being a seaport,trade was possible with other cities in the province,and the main staple and game fish was the slaughterfish.The fish was a fierce predator,yet had boasted a succulent flesh.It was plentiful and therefor provided most of the local inhabitants with a modest income.The town was home also to a regional Census and Tax office and a small garrison of Imperial Legion troops.
I'm the local Bosmer minority around here,and while I like the town well enough,some of the locals,or rather the transplants have become a thorn in my side.the Legion garrison likes to pick on me,and they do it on a daily basis.It's not fun being a person of my stature,and if it wasn't for my treasured healing ring I wouldn't survive very long here.Like I said,I like the town,but the Imperials are forcing me to reconsider living here for too much longer.
My ring is missing again.Every day,a certain Nord brute by the name of Hrisskar gets his rocks off by teasing and poking fun at me.He is a sot of the dangerous kind,and he gets real mean during his drunks.His sobriety lasts from the time he wakes up to his first drink of the day.Hangs out at Arrille's and gets tanked up every day,until "fun with Fargoth" starts.I don't think he bathes,and that bear cuirass stinks up to Azura's star.He usually asks me for money,then turns to demanding it from me.I always say no,and the fight ensues.Every day!I then run with him in drunken pursuit,until his Legion buddies lend a hand in harrassing me.They catch me and "shake me down"until Hrisskar is content.They always take my beloved ring,and whatever septims I have on me.
Today's surely not going to be any different and I was trying to find my ring from the day before,when a Dunmer comes walking out of the Census office,almost bumping into me.He said "sorry",and I got a good look at the man.
He creeped me out to say the least,what with the facial tattoo and the wild stare upon his gaze at me.I noticed that he wasn't dressed very nice,his outfit consisting of matching sackcloth shirt and pants (which isn't too big a deal in my opinion),and the sandals upon his callused feet looked like they had seen better times.
"Don't worry about it",I replied.
"Just get off the boat?"
"Yeah",he answered,somewhat hesitantly.He looked kind of scared,or unsure of himself,I'm not sure which,and looked in all directions at where he was."Yeah.I just got released from prison today."
"Is there a place to eat around here?",he asked.
"There is,stranger,over at Arrille's Tradehouse"I indicated the large,dun-colored stone building over to our left.I had to ask-"Say,my friend,you haven't come across a ring lately,have you?"
"I lost...or rather had it hidden from me yesterday,and I really would like to get it back"I went on-"You probably think I'm crazy,but it's a very valued piece of property,no,not worth much,but it means a lot to me"He continued to look at me,not responding.Released from prison.Today.Just great...it's my lucky day!
"Damn,you do think I'm crazy,don't you?"I was getting desperate now,trusting an ex-prisoner.
He looked at me a moment and then reached into his sash or belt,I'm not sure what to call it,and pulled out my treasure!
"Is this it?"he asked.He smiled slightly,holding the ring up for me to see.
"Yes,Yes,that's it!",I cried out.
"Where did you find it?"
"It was in a rain barrel next to the door out back at the census office"The man started to suddenly sway slightly.
"Hey,are you allright?"I was afraid he would fall over at any moment.I took hold of his elbow to steady him.
"I really need something to eat",he whispered,apparently weak from hunger.
"Over to Arrile's right now.You'll get a hot meal,and a change of clothes for a pittance now after I tell Arrille about what a good friend you are to poor ol'Fargoth"
I steered him in the direction of the tradehouse.A Legion guard passed by with an all too obvious sneer on his face.Bah,damn Imperials and their 'I'm better than you attitude'.This place wasn't too bad before they showed up with their laws and rules for everything under the sun.Oh,but they loved harrassing me though,and there wasn't a day that they didn't get their fill of picking on me.The average Legion guard wasn't too bad,but there was one fellow in the bunch I couldn't stand.Hrisskar the Nord.He seemed to delight in bullying me.This guy was a mean one,and I wasn't actually the only one he picked on either.There was another person here,name of Foryn Gilnith who caught Hrisskar's attention,but it was because Gilnith hated to pay his taxes and Hrisskar was usually sent to make him pay,and Gilnith always claimed the big Nord took more than he was supposed to.
We went inside,and I directed my new friend to a chair while I chatted with Arrille.
"Who's your new friend,Fargoth?"
"His name is,oh,I'm sorry-"I had completely forgot to ask the man his name!
"Name's Tannen...Tannen Soloth"the dunmer supplied.
"Um.. yeah,well anyway,my friend Tannen here needs some food quickly I might add,and maybe a fresh set of clothes.He just got off the ship at dockside,and I don't know when he ate last.Why not broil him up one of your famous guar steaks,okay?That would probably be just the thing he needs,along with a mug or two of some sujamma.I'll pay,of course;he doesn't have a lot of money just yet."After all,I wasn't poor,and a friend was a friend,and I was grateful for Tannas finding my ring.Arrille also had a soft spot for those in need and that was why,although not rich,he made a very comfortable living.After those he had helped got on their feet,they usually made sure to repay the kindness he had shown them by frequenting his shop. That and word of mouth from some very satisfied customers.
"Allright Fargoth,I'll see to it.Oh, and by the way,your nemesis Hrisskar is upstairs as usual,and he's been looking for you.I'd get going if I were you."I didn't wait to be told twice.
Hrisskar's probably been drinking since morning and like I said before, he'll follow his usual routine:ask me for a loan,and when I say no,he commences to chase me all over town.Since he's too drunk to follow very long,he'll enlist his Legion buddies to assist him.That's how they catch me every time.Then they 'shake me down',take my money and steal my ring.They then hide the ring and their sport is in watching me search all over town for it.Ha ha ha.What entertainment!
I decided to leave and after hearing Hrisskar's booming laughter and follow-up basso belch I moved quicker than usual.I left Tannen entrusted to the care of Arrille,and walked into the mid-afternoon sunlight.
I made my way back to my modest,very comfortable abode across the town square(if you can call it that),and pondered the recent events of the day so far.I had my ring found by an honest stranger and if you are familiar with how the average person treats us Bosmers it caught me by surprise that he didn't just keep the ring and hightail it out of town.After all- who really cares anyway?
I prepared my dinner,as it was past my lunch time and I was hungry.A nice plate of fresh,boiled kwama eggs,sauteed in a scrib jelly base,with a hint of crab.A goblet of fresh shein would do nicely to wash it all down with.
I ate slowly.You know that feeling you get that something is just not right,but you can't put you finger on it feels like?Well,that's what started gnawing at me-slightly at first,and almost unoticeable,but like...well,you know what I mean.I found my appetite had disappeared,replaced with an urgency to see to my new friend.
I washed up and went back outside.The afternoon saw patrons leaving Arrille's,fishermen going back out to sea,and the usual still-bored guards making their rounds.I went into Arrille's just as Tannen was coming back downstairs.He had a grave look upon him,and seemed to want to avoid me for some reason.
"Feel better?"I asked him.
He looked almost serious for some reason.
"I'm better,and..."he hesitated.
"Fargoth,I need to talk to you for a minute.Let's go outside."
Curious.
Alright,stop what your thinking right now!Yeah,funny,the Bosmer was curious,so what!
We went outside and Tannen guided me over to a dip in the shoreline,next to a short bridge just past the center of town.The ground was a little marshy,and my shoes were beginning to get soaked,but I waited patiently for him to begin.
"Fargoth,I've been given a proposition by that Nord upstairs at Arrille's;a proposal to join him in a theft,uh,concerning some personal property."He paused,and went on.
"It seems that Hrisskar wants me to assist him in finding your so-called 'stash',and to give it to him to divide between he and I."Tannen seemed embarrassed.
We paused,as two small Altmer children ran by,playing and laughing noisily,throwing handfulls of mud at each other.I was incensed to say the least.That damn barbarian oaf,always after my stuff,and no care at all as to the hard work it took me to obtain it!I worked hard,by the gods,and I'll be an alit's uncle if he was going to get my goods or money any longer.
"Tannen,I want to thank you for your honesty...most people couldn't care less about the well-being of a lowly wood elf,such as I." I said,getting madder by the minute.
Tannen continued:"I'm to wait until nightfall at the top of the lighthouse to watch your comings and goings to see if I can spot out where you hide your loot." I nodded.
"Fargoth,I have a proposal for you.Instead let's get the hell out of here;I'm not ready to start betraying those who help me,no matter who they are,and I've had all I want of Seyda Neen anyway.Not that it's a bad place,but I need to get going on to... Balmora... to see some fellow... for what I don't know,but it's a condition of my release."
"Well I'm not really too sure about that...I mean you're not someone I've known very long,and you may be grateful for what I did for you,but..."I trailed off.I was confused and not sure about this new arrangement.
What did Seyda Neen have to offer me anyway?My life was here,my livelihood and I wasn't sure I wanted to just leave.Okay,so it wasn't that great.I came up with an alternative.
"Allright,I'll tell you what.I'll go with you and see what happens in Balmora-after all, I know the place a bit;sometimes I have to travel up there to trade and I have a friend who owns an armory in town.It may do me good to get away from Hrisskar for awhile anyway."I had heard that Hrisskar was only temporary,and was due to transfer up to Gnisis to join up with the famous 'Death Head' division there.The only problem was he wasn't due to leave for at least another month.
I reasoned that I could take my leave for awhile,and that would give me the chance to come back to a Hrisskar-less Seyda Neen.I would have to talk to Processus Vitellius about my taxes before I leave.I knew ol' Socucius Ergalla would have a fit if the books didn't balance.I wasn't leaving permanently so I had to make sure my records balanced out and perhaps pay before I left.The only problem was that Processus had been missing for the last two days,and no one had seen him around.I had seen his friend Tavere Vedrano(she works the lighthouse here)coming out of the census office in tears a couple of days ago,but I paid her no mind.Tavere and Processus were rumored to be having a love affair and it was apparent that they cared for each other very much.I had been over at Arrille's one day when Processus had come in and purchased a handsome ring for himself.Apparently it was to be a gift for Tavere and hinted as such to Arrille.
Processus Vitellius was not exactly what you would call well-loved around Seyda Neen.He wasn't well liked either for that matter.Of course tax collecting was a thankless job,and someone had to do it,but it didn't mean you'd win any friends,except maybe the Emperor.Still,roads had to be constructed,buildings built,and the police forces or guards had to be paid.That also included maintaining a Navy and a Legion,schools,and anything that a civilization found necessary.
There was one man,a Dunmer named Foryn Gilnith who had been in several shouting matches with Processus which had almost come to blows.Of course Gilnith wouldn't dare touch the taxman for fear of arrest,but Tavere had mentioned to Socucious that Processus had been particularly angry a couple of times over his trouble with Gilnith and his taxes.
I told Tannen okay,I'd go with him to Balmora,but explained that I would have to return to Seyda Neen to continue my life here and I'm sure he would do just fine without me.I mean come on,what business would I have hanging around anyway?
He told me that it would be okay.He then brightened up a bit and said he'd like some time to think things through-- about Hrisskar and his forced meeting with Cosades and since he had a lot to think about he'd like to do it in peace,no insult intended.Fine,I said.
After about an hour and a half,I hadn't seen Tannen around,so I went in search for him.I wandered around casually and made my way over to the west side of town.There is a small inlet jutting out to sea there,with a few scattered boulders laying about,and several fungus-encrusted trees here and there.Water lapped up to the shoreline in small waves,and i could see several slaughterfish darting to and fro.Very peaceful.
As I walked further,I could see a figure in the distance,standing still,yet eyeing something with intent at something on the ground.Pretty soon I recognized Tannen,and called out to him.He glanced quickly at me but his attention was on the object laying at his feet.
The object in question was the missing tax collector,Processus Vitellius.He was obviously quite dead,with a puddle of dried blood that had spread out to form a sort of halo around the man's head.This was not good.Not good at all.
Tannen started to say "I didn't do it",but I told him it was apparent the man was killed some time ago by the way the blood had dried,and I told him not to worry.
"Let's get the guard's"I told him,and we left the spot,both our moods suddenly very somber.
Two guard's had shown up,and while one examined the corpse,the other searched the area.It was done very quickly and then the body was carried off to the Census building to be reported to Agent Ergalla and Captain Sellus Gravius,the Legion officer in charge.