The Lizard who Lived in a Cat-house
Jimaga strolled alone down the muddy streets of Senchal; high wooden buildings rose up several stories above him on either side. Being home didn't cause much nostalgia with him; rather he was preoccupied with a large burlap sack of Ubanei Nuts, cracking their shells, and tossing them haphazardly behind himself as he perused the expansive slums of Senchal.
Walking into yet another house of debauchery Jimaga's patience was running thin. It was lit all by soft blue paper lanterns, and in a nearby room someone was playing a lute; an Altmer woman in a silk robe slid out of a beaded curtain, she greeted him,
"10 septim entry fee."
No matter how many times Jimaga made the speech, it was still awkward;
"I'm not here for that; I'm looking for an Argonian man."
The prostitute smiled wryly "Well we only have women here, you should head elsewhere for your more… unusual tastes."
Having promised himself not to hit any more prostitutes with smart comments that night Jimaga bit his lip till it nearly bled,
"His name is Swims-In-Field…"
Her eyes grew wide,
"Oh… I see, yes one moment."
She scurried off leaving him standing alone; he felt the eyes of several unoccupied prostitutes watching him like vultures eyeing a fresh corpse. He just munched on some more nuts, tossing the shells on the rug carpet. Out of a back room the prostitute returned followed by a pair of Argonian men,
"Can I help you?" hissed one of them, he was quite tall and very strong looking with jet black scales broken only by a red streak from his nostrils to his back that made him a stark contrast in the soft blue environment,
"I'm just a clansman, doing as my Chiefs command; I thought maybe you could help me find a guy called Swims-in-Field?"
The other Argonian (who was a soft yellow with a wrinkly throat) nodded to his companion before extending his own hand,
"I am called Swims-in-Field, please come with us clansman."
He spun around leading Jimaga through the building, the black Argonian followed behind Jimaga, he felt trapped; maybe these two were supposed to kill him? No the council would not send him here just to die, would they? They must have passed through a twenty rooms (each full of different colored lanterns), all full of men downing heavy liquors while ladies tugged at their arms to join them in their chambers. Finally they reached a heavy wood and iron door, which Swims-in-Field (pulling out a hefty key chain) unlocked, leading them into a cool basement.
Walking down a flight of wooden steps, Jimaga felt he was walking the plank. Reaching the base Jimaga saw 2 Argonian women looking at him expectantly, sitting side by side on pillows at a low table covered in outlandish food. What was this?
Jimaga decided it was best in any case to suck up "I didn't mean to interrupt…"
"No, noooo, please join us clansman." Said the muscular black Argonian guiding Jimaga forcefully onto a pillow between Swims-in-Field (seated at the head of the table) and himself. After sitting down there was an awkward silence as no one ate, but just looked at Jimaga expectantly.
"……………………………"
"Ahem………" said the younger looking Argonian woman
"Please, be at ease in my home…eh…. clansman?" appealed Swims-in-Field
Finally Jimaga realized he had not introduced himself,
"Oh… thank you kindly, my name is Jimaga… thank you again for your hospitality."
Swims-in-Field waved a pale yellow hand,
"No, we are grateful for such company, meed my family friend Jimage. This is my wife Ejma (the older woman nodded humbly), my daughter Mimkee (the younger woman now), and you already met my son in law Leads-at-Run (the bulky black Argonian smiled in an attempt to be warm, revealing a column of ferociously pointed teeth)."
"Come now, we shall talk until the food rots!" chided Ejma
Everyone dug in; Jimaga tried to hide his shock at finding a family meal taking place in the cellar of a whore-house. He decided it would be best to join in the meal, but not knowing what to eat Jimaga put some of a green paste with chunks (of berries?) on his plate and found it much too bitter for his taste. He tried some bread and would have just eaten that all meal had Leads-at-Run not kept nudging him, pushing different foods onto his plate saving what he though were the best pieces for his clansman, almost every dish set Jimaga's tongue afire.
"You're lucky," the black Argonian whispered loud enough for everyone to hear "This is Ejma's night to cook" (Ejma covered her nose-tip with her hands as some sort of gesture)
"Let's just say a certain talent skipped a generation."
A juicy wad of something came from across the table hitting Leads-at-Run in the eye,
"I didn't say a name, and yet I am dishonored in front of our guest!" exclaimed Leads-at-Run in mock fury.
All in all not what Jimaga had expected.
After the meal the women went into another room to wash dishes, Swims-in-Field whispered something to Leads-at-Run, and the Argonian went into another room and began digging by the sound of it. Swims-in-Field lost his gracious host demeanor
"I'm guessing you know who I represent?"
"The Ral-Jakim Tribal Union… so the council really did make an alliance…"
"Yessss, and you are part of the payment…" (Jimaga swallowed a lump in his throat)
"Well your services actually."
Leads-at-Run came back covered in dust, holding a small, ornately decorated chest.
"What's the job?"
Swims-in-Field eyed the chest as he spoke,
"The… representative of a collective organization of plantations is coming to Senchal for a series of negotiations; he has been marked for death by the Ral-Jakim but has a very large group of personal body guards."
"We have tried killing Sir Ralas twice before, both times he has eluded us." Interjected Leads-at-Run as he placing the chest delicately on the table,
"However all but 3 of his body-guards are back home in Black Marsh," Swims-in-Field's eyes shot up to his son in law "show him the map."
Leads-at-Run pulled a floor plan to the posh Hotel their target (Sir Ralas) would be staying at, they reviewed their plan with Jimaga, making some minor alterations by his suggestion.
"And then I go in and slit his throat?"
"No," said Swims-in-Field shaking his head so that his throat folds shook as well "you will be stabbing him, but not killing him."
Jimaga was tired of being confused "What? All this just to scare him? He is just going to get more guards than ever before!"
The two Argonians looked at each other and burst out laughing,
"Heh, he he he he, forgive me I cry! Ha, he he, this is the most beautiful part, show him Leads-at-Run, aha he."
The tall Argonian opened the chest, revealing a small dagger with only one bladed side; it was rusted at the hilt, which was bound with broken down leather. Jimaga did not know anything about magic but he knew enough to see this blade was just what it appeared, a flimsy piece of scrap. Jimaga reached out to test it,
"NO! DO NOT TOUCH IT!" Leads-at-Run yelled slamming the box, he took a breath before continuing in a calmer tone,
"Handle that with the greatest caution friend Jimaga, for just one wrong touch and we would have to kill you, for your own sake."
Jimaga was indignant "Why! What's so great about that crummy old blade?"
Swims-in-Field was still smiling,
"That blade was the possession of a very powerful Telvanni sorcerer, and yes clansman, it is old and weak, and no it holds no magic…"
"It's a poisoned then?"
The old Argonian's grin broadened, "Of a sort, tell me Khajiit, have you ever heard of
Corprus?"