Yew woke up the next morning feeling a bit hungover. He had spent much of the previous day drinking with Oden and the various tavern patrons that he was getting information from, then spent the night drinking while discussing the days events with his party. Now he regretted it a bit.
Faintly, he recalled that considering how much he drank, this was getting off light. Sure many of the drinks were watered down, but even so, he drank a lot. He was pretty sure that in normal circumstances on earth he'd be useless, instead of just being a bit groggy. And even then after his usual prayer and meditation routine, he felt pretty normal.
Regardless he had work to do. And that would probably require getting out of the Bee and Barb for the day.
He headed downstairs and ate breakfast with his companions. The women of the group seemed a bit closer. Sophia and Uthgerd didn't seem to get on each others nerves as much.
"What's our plan?" Uthgerd asked.
"We'll be making our way to another key establishment here. The owner of which might have a bit more information for us. Yew said.
"Oh? Where exactly is that?" Sophia asked.
"Haelga's bunkhouse." Yew said.
"Who in Oblivion is Haelga?" Uthgerd asked.
"A woman who runs a bunkhouse. As for her character, I haven't heard much. I just know that her clientele consists of a lot of the more humble denizens of this city. It wouldn't surprise me if she knows more then her position would suggest. " Yew said.
Riften felt like a city in controlled fear. People clutched their purses and knapsacks closer than in Whiterun. Those who had weapons gripped their hilts tightly. Brushing against someone accidentally was due for a stern reproach and shoving, occasionally flaring into arguments or brawls.
"There's a strange lack of whores in this city." Sophia said.
"Probably due to the Temple Of Mara's influence. They try to keep the amount of slatterns in the cities where their temples are located low. It can cause one to stray from the sacred path of love." Uthgerd said.
"Ridiculous. I acknowledge Mara's importance but that doesn't mean I'd ever forsake Dibella." Sophia said.
"It's not about forsaking Dibella. it's about a balance." Uthgerd said.
"Then why get rid of whores?" Sophia said.
"They don't get rid of whores. Greta can you explain?" Uthgerd said.
"O-Oh...well it's about moderation and...uh compromise between brothels and the Temple." Greta said.
"Compromise. What exactly is that supposed to mean?" Sophia said.
"You can discuss whores and clerics later. We are here." Yew said. A part of him felt a little twinge of guilt at calling sex workers whores, but considering the world he was in, there was little else he could address them as without getting strange looks. It was easy enough to cope with this world when he was "in character" but every now and then "earth him" would feel very wrong about how things were. Monsters were real here, and though it was probably among the best versions of a medieval world he could fall into, it was still a medieval, alien culture. He was coping fairly well, likely to how foggy his memories of earth life was and his residual memories of Nirn Yew floating in his mind, his knowledge of Isekei tropes probably helped somewhat too. But at the end of the day part of him was homesick for a life he could barely remember, and another part was horrified at being stuck in an alien world with no chance of escape.
Thankfully there was so many things to take those thoughts off his mind.
One of which was the exceptionally striking blonde nordic woman in front of him. She was shapely and it was quickly evident to Yew why men talked about her in such reverent tones and the women with such distaste. She was gorgeous in an almost spellbinding way.
"Greetings. You must be Haelga." Yew said.
"And you must be new in town. Something tells me your not a normal citizen." Haelga said.
"You would be correct. I'm a druid from High Rock, looking to make my fortune and pursue various other objectives for my order. Do you happen to know anything about another group of travelers that came here recently? Perhaps ones that were treated suspiciously well by the local criminal element?" Yew said.
"Why would you be looking for a group of travelers like that?" Haelga said.
"We are pursuing a bounty. Now don't worry. I won't turn you into the guards if your business isn't exactly on the level. Nor will I attempt to extort or strong-arm you. I'm not a crusader or a cutthroat, I merely do what is necessary to accomplish my objectives." Yew said.
"You're a member of this druidic order and you need to collect bounties?" Haelga asked.
"Yes. Do to a variety of circumstances I was given only a few resources, and I have since been parted with most of those. One needs to make a living and develop his skills in these trying times. Wouldn't you say?" Yew said.
"I suppose so. Still, even if I were to know about these...travelers, I would need assurances concerning my safety. I can handle myself against drunk miners and farmers, but any serious fighter could end my life in a moment. And if these people are so dangerous, giving you information might lead to my death." Haelga said.
"I wouldn't worry about that sweetie. My traveling companions and I can keep you safe." Yew said.
"Can you really? If these travelers are as well connected as you say...powerful forces in this city might want me dead. Can you really deal with an army of cutthroats and mercenaries tearing down the door?" Haelga said.
The look on Yew's face told Haelga all she needed to know.
"Sorry to say this then, sweetie. I don't know anything that can help you." Haelga said.
"I know that's not true." Yew said.
"You can know whatever you like. It won't get you that information." Haelga said.
Yew had encountered a dead end. The party left.
"Well, that was a waste of time." Uthgerd said.
"Not entirely. We now know that she has something. We just need to persuade her to give it up." Yew said.
"It's like seducing someone you know is interested. All it takes is one push and they'll give it up." Sophia said.
"It's not like that at all. Unless you routinely need to provide protection for your lovers." Oden said. Sophia gave him a wink.
"I need ideas." Yew said.
"M-maybe we could hire mercenaries of our own for back up." Greta said.
"That would be helpful in theory. But I'd rather not antagonize the powers of this city more then I need to in the first place. I also don't want to make the Bunkhouse my heroic last stand." Yew said.
"Make for one damn good song though." Oden said.
"Even still." Yew said.
"Just fuck her. She looks like the type who couldn't resist some pillow talk. I've lain with enough of her type of woman, I know." Sophia said.
"That will be taken under advisement. Any other ideas?" Yew said.
"Maybe we should just find the Thieves guild. Tell them where we stand. Their thieves, not murderers." Oden said.
"We were ambushed outside the city. Can we really trust that this thieves guild is not serving as a hit squad for the forces that control this city, or murder for their own objectives." Yew said.
"We haven't heard of any murders connected to the thieves guild, after an entire day talking to people about it." Oden said.
"Perhaps we will have to talk to them. However, I'd prefer to be in a better position then we are now." Yew said.
"Better position?" Greta said.
"We have no friends here. No solid contacts. Nowhere we can go if the city turns against us. We need to make some friends and gain influence here." Yew said.
"How do you suggest we go about that? I highly doubt we'd get anywhere with anyone if we don't buddy up to the Thieves guild." Oden said.
"Not true. We could instead make friends with the reformers here. Surely there are some stalwarts among the Temple of Mara. And this woman Mjoll the Lioness is said to struggle against the thieves guild." Yew said.
"So we intend to make enemies against the Thieves guild?" Oden said.
"Making friends is not the same as making enemies. There might be a razors edge in Riften but I intend to walk it." Yew said.
"I think you might be making a mistake there." Oden said.
"I agree with Yew...I think it should be his decision and I don't want to work for the Theives guild." Greta said.
"We don't have to work for them. Just have to make sure they let us go about our business." Oden said.
"We can do that while making friends elsewhere." Yew said.
"How?" Sophia asked.
"I've got a plan. Well, a loose plan. Some ideas. I'll discuss them with you over dinner. However, right now we need to work for our coin. For me that means alchemy. I believe their is an alchemy shop around these parts. I'll leave it up to you to decide how to spend your afternoon." Yew said.
"Don't you think we should be traveling as a group." Uthgerd said.
"We can take care of ourselves at this point. Besides if they try and kill us in broad daylight and the guards do nothing, we're doomed regardless." Yew said.
Yew headed down to the Alchemist shop of the city. Elgrim's Elixers it was called. He hoped that he could chat with the alchemist who owned it. Use their equipment. Maybe sell a few potions to them and see what their stocks were like. Maybe he could even buy a few things he had use of.
It wasn't long before his trip along the canal was interrupted. Yew heard footsteps behind him. Then in front of him. Soon he was surrounded.
"Your gonna come with us." Said an orc who was missing half his nose.
"Why would I do that?" Yew asked.
"Our mistress commands you. And people don't turn down her hospitality." The Orc said.
"And your mistress would be?" Yew asked. There was something inherently freeing about not needing to go for a weapon when in distress. He knew exactly how to activate his spells quickly and defend himself efficiently. He wasn't so confident in his fighting abilities that he thought he could go toe-toe with these 10-12 cutthroats but he felt like he could figure out a way to escape if he caused enough damage and confusion when hostilities broke out.
The orc gave Yew a glare and seemed to think this over.
"Lady Blackbriar." The Orc said.
"Ah...of Blackbrier mead?" Yew said.
"No one else." The Orc said.
"Hm. I suppose I can indulge her ladyship. Could we perhaps do this tomorrow? Today I had my heart set on some alchemy." Yew said.
"No. You come today." The orc said.
"Huh. Well, could I at least pop in for a few moments and then go find my companions. They've probably scattered themselves all over the city and I am sure your mistress would want all of us." Yew said.
Again the Orc had to think it over.
"Nah. Lady Blackbriar wanted you now. She said if you were scattered, to bring anyone of you we could find. You'll have to do." The orc said.
"But surely she'd prefer all of us to be there." Yew said.
"No. Your the one she wants the most. Pretty little Breton man in a dress." The orc said.
"This isn't exactly a dress. It's robes. I've unfortunately not managed to find a pretty enough dress anywhere I looked-" Yew said, but soon his sword was out and rested on the druid's throat.
"Now Breton. No more talk. You're a mage. Mage cast spells with words sometimes." The orc said.
"That you are correct. You're a smart orc. I will come along with you. Right away. No problem." Yew said. That was the first time he had a sword so close to his throat. A fear had seeped into him. He was important to this orcs mistress, sure. But he clearly prioritized his own life, and there were other group members to find. This orc wouldn't let him cast a spell. And Yew felt something too.
This orc was stronger than him. Disproportionately so. Yew felt that this orc was probably of a higher level. One Piercing thorn probably wouldn't do. He might have to exhaust all his spells on this one orc and he wasn't sure that would even be enough.
Yew felt, for once, considerably on the back foot. And for the first time in a while, his life here felt overwhelming.
The orc put his sword away and he was escorted to wherever he was going. The guards didn't seem to mind and if he called out for help, the orc would strike him dead with hardly a thought.
Yew wasn't in control here.