This was originally apart of chapter 3 but I thought it deserved it's own chapter
I do not own Skyrim.
Chapter 4. A Job Well Done.
"It was not curiosity that killed the goose who laid the golden egg, but an insatiable greed that devoured common sense."
―E.A. Bucchianeri,Brushstrokes of a Gadfly
Brodir thought himself a cunning man. He wasn't remarkable gifted in swordsmanship like most Nords, nor did he possess a silver tongue, but what he lacked in skill, and charisma he made up for in intuition, and deviousness.
That's why, when things were starting to go south with his old crew, he fled in the middle of the night, before Mikhail had him strung-up as an example to other potential mutineers.
While on the road he thought of ways to take his revenge on his old crew. He considered getting together a new crew, there was no shortage of bandits in Skyrim, but as a rule inter-bandits wars were avoided, so that wasn't an option. His next idea was to hire a sell sword to take them out, but no one mercenary could take out that many men, and he couldn't afford the number of them necessary to get the job done.
From that thought, he had the best idea any vagrant had ever had, true no single mercenary could eliminate a gang of bandits, but surely an assassin could, and not just any assassin a Dark Brotherhood assassin.
For the nest few weeks Brodir scoured all of Skyrim, visiting inns and bandit camps looking for any information he could on the Dark Brotherhood. Practices, rumors, sitings, but most importantly how to contact them. By the end of his quest Brodir could say with confidence, that he knew more about the group of assassins than anyone in Skyrim who wasn't a member himself, and still had no idea of how to contact them.
That was until he went to Windhelm. He had heard a rumor that a few years back a young boy had tried to contact the Dark Brotherhood and he thought it was worth investigating, but following the Emperors death no one would speak of it.
After leaving candle-hearth hall, he stumbled drunk through the streets of Windhelm, until he was approach by a boy no older than twelve.
The boy had black hair and wore clothes 2 sizes too large for him. He was out late and seemed completely unafraid of the older man so he was clearly an orphan.
"So, I heard your looking for a way to contact the Dark Brotherhood" the boy whispered to him.
Brodir was slightly shocked at the boy's question. "Yeah, so. Whats it to a guttersnipe like you" he slurred drunkenly.
"Well what if I told you I knew of a way" the boy asked
"A way to what"?
"A way to contact the Dark Brotherhood". The boy said.
Brodir sobered up instantly. "What? And how would a kid like you know how to contact 'em"?
"Because I've done it before". He answered staring into deep into the older mans eyes.
Brodir looked back at him he knew those eyes, they were the eyes of a natural killer. "This boys innocence was lost long ago".
"Alright brat, suppose I believe you, how do yo do it" he asked.
"Not here" he whispered "Meet me outside the cemetery in an hour and bring 50 gold"
"Why"? He asked indignantly.
"Finder's fee". In truth Aventus just needed the money to pay for a carriage to Riften.
"Shit. Fine brat". Aventus just nodded, and slipped away.
An hour later Brodir waited outside the Windhelm cemetery.
"Your late". Aventus Arentino slipped out from behind a tombstone.
"Shut up". He spat.
"Did you bring the gold". The boy asked.
"Yeah its right here". He tossed the boy a small coin purse. Arentino quickly counted it before stowing it away.
"Here". Aventus handed the older man a small book.
"WHAT IS THIS. SOME KIND OF JOKE". Brodir yelled in frustration.
"Shh. You're to loud."
"THIS IS A BOOK, YOU TRYING TO SWINDLE ME YOU LITTLE..."
"Not just any book, read the cover". The pointed out.
Brodir looked down at the cover The Black Sacrament it read in bold letters.
A book? What he had been searching for all this time. All of it was in a book?
"Is this it"? He asked the orphan boy. Never taking his eyes away from the book in his hands.
"Yeah. Everything you need to know about performing the black sacrament is in that book".
"Good" Brodir quickly drew a dagger and with it he attempted to stab the boy in the chest. However after almost 3 years of living on the streets of Windhelm fighting for food with older boys Aventus' reflexes had been honed, but a grown man with years of fighting experience was different from a starving young boy, and the orcish dagger ended up 3 inches deep into Aventus' shoulder.
Acting purely on instinct Aventus grabbed the older mans arm to prevent him from driving the knife any deeper, and using strength he didn't know he had, kicked the man in the stomach winding him, and pushed away from him, taking the dagger with him.
Still winded from the blow and shocked by the boy's display of survival skills. Brodir stumbled away from the boy, but quickly recovered.
"Sorry kid, but a I can't take any chances. Loose ends and all that you understand". He flashed the boy a predatory grin.
Aventus stepped away from the man trying to formulate a plan while preventing himself from passing out.
"Any last words kid"? Brodir asked drawing a steel dagger.
Aventus choose this meeting place, because ever since all those murders a few years back. The guards patrolled this are heavily, a new guard walked by practically every five minutes, he just needed to buy time.
"Yeah, don't do the black sacrament". Aventus spat out bitterly.
"What"? Brodir asked confused.
"You heard me. Do. Not. Perform. The black sacrament". Aventus repeated between gasp.
"Oh and why not"? The former bandit asked the dying boy amused.
"Because, you won't survive it". The boy answered.
"WHAT"? It was impossible. Was this some kind of suicide pact? There was no way. The brotherhood would never have become as popular as they are if that was the case. The boy standing infront of him was proof. He had a hard time believing an organization known for killing any target no matter what would spare a young boy.
"They'll kill you". Aventus told him. 'Just a little more time I have to keep him talking'
"And what makes you say that". He gulped fearfully.
"The Dark Brotherhood assassin are heroes, they'll never kill for someone like you". Aventus gasped out.
Brodir stared in shock, before bursting into hardy laughter "HA HA HA. Is that what you think? That the dark brotherhood are heroes"? He continued laughing for a full 30 seconds
Wiping a tear from his eye Brodir continue speaking. "Oh that was good. I needed that. I haven't laughed like that in a long time. Let me guess they killed someone who was hurting you for almost no cost, so now you think they're heroes"?
Aventus remained silent. At this Brodir laughed once more.
"Oh that's rich. Listen kid the Dark Brotherhood are not heroes. They are a group of savage murders, albeit excellent murders but still murders".
'That's it keep on talking, just a little more time'. Aventus thought drastically.
Brodir continued speaking. "You think they killed some for you because they're allies of justice? WRONG. They killed because they enjoyed it. They would just as easily kill your or me for no reason at all, other than that they could. In fact if I murdered you here they'd probably offer me a job".
Aventus gulped he needed more time. "That maybe so but they'd never kill for you".
"Oh and why not for me". He asked again amused.
Aventus was all out of ideas so he decided to go for the truth. "Because your garbage. And believe me if you summon the brotherhood, they will kill you". Aventus spoke with true conviction.
Angered by the boys proclamation, Brodir raised his dagger. "Well either way it doesn't matter, because I'm going to kill you now..."
"Hey whats going on here" a female Windhelm guard asked accusatory
Startled Brodir did nothing, but Arentino capitalized on the distraction.
"HELP this mans attacking me". Seeing that the boy was griping a bleeding arm, the guard immediately drew her bow.
"Freeze". Brodir immediately turned around and ran toward the Windhelm gates barely dodging the guards arrows. "Someone stop him"! The guad debated chasing the criminal but noticed the boy was bleeding profusely. "I NEED A HEALER HERE, NOW".
Brodir escaped from Windhelm with a bounty of over 3000 and made his way to Dragon Bridge, just outside of Solitude.
After renting a room at a local inn he read the book he'd bought from the little urchin who had almost gotten him jailed.
The book said that in order to perform the Black Sacrament, the invoker must create an effigy of the intended victim, assembled from actual body parts, including a heart, skull, bones, and flesh. They must then encircle that effigy with candles. The ritual itself must then commence. The invoker must proceed to stab the effigy repeatedly with a dagger rubbed with petals of a Nightshade plant.
Instead of scouring Skyrim for these things he just decided to murder a random stranger in order to perform the ritual, but first he needed somewhere to do it.
Luckily just east of dragons bridge he found a shack whose only inhabitant was a dog. In the shack he found everything he would need including an effigy. After chasing the dog away Brodir prepared the area for the Black Sacrament.
Nearly a day into the ritual Brodir met with a redguard man who was, apparently a representative of the brotherhood. After asking several details about the nature of the assignment the redguard pulled out a scroll for him to sign, and requested 350 gold.
After the formalities were done with, the redguard left, and informed him that the contract would be done in a timely manner and that within the next few weeks he would be hearing from another representative to inform him of its completion.
Now nearly a month later he was sitting in the local inn Dragon Bridge in drinking cheap ale.
"Hello are you Brodir"?
"Depends whose asking". Brodir turned around and was met with a young man. His face was youthful, with black windswept hair, confident black eyes and a mischievous arrogant smile that matched him perfectly, but what really caught his attention was the young mans clothing.
On his head he wore the finest gold and diamond circlet Brodir had ever seen. His clothing was black leather, with white fur around the neck and fine sturdy leather boots. He wore a gold diamond amulet, and a gold ruby ring on each hand.
He had to be a noble. Dragon Bridge was just outside of Solitude, so it wasn't uncommon for young lords to visit the inn to get a taste of life as one of the "common folk". The question was what did he want with him.
"That would be me". The young noblemen greeted him. "My name is Godric, pleased to meet you". He offer Brodir his hand, which he took hesitantly.
"Uh likewise" he responded shaking his hand. 'One of those rings is worth enough to fund an all new gang' Brodir speculated plotting how he would rob the young man.
"May I sit with you"? He asked politely
"Yes, yes of course sit down, please".
"Barkeep"? The young man asked
"Yes" the woman behind the bar asked
"A bottle of your finest drink for my friend here". He patted Brodir on the shoulder for emphasis.
Appraising the young mans clothing she quickly agreed. "Yes m'lord comin' right up"
"So uh to what do I owe the pleasure'. Brodir asked.
"I'm here in regards to business". He replied.
That was a surprise. "Business? What kind of business"? He asked suspicious of the young lord's intention.
"Ah yes, it is my pleasure to inform you as an assassin of the dark brotherhood, that Mikhail Donovan has been disposed of".
If nothing else bothered him today hearing this was the straw that broke the mammoth's back. "You. The Dark Brotherhood"?
"What? Let me guess you were expecting me to show up in your dreams dressed in shadowy armor"? He asked the older man.
"Well I mean". Brodir rubbed the back of his neck feeling foolish.
"Don't worry. It's a common misconception that we are all cloaked schemers. In truth if I walked around all day in my brotherhood uniform I'd be attacked on the spot". He explained
Brodir had to concede that point. "So this is what you wear during your time off". He asked motioning to the youths clothes.
"Hm, do you like. Murder is a high-paying trade after all". He explained motioning to the grisly looking dagger at his waist.
Brodir whistled "Wow who'd you have to kill to get a piece like that". Brodir asked jokingly before he remembered who he was speaking to.
The assassin smiled "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you" he joked.
Brodir laughed nervously internally debating whether or not that was true. "So uh I guess this concludes our business then".
The youth smiled once more, and a strange gleam entered his eye. "Yes I suppose it does for now, but my associates and I were wondering if you'd like to take this relationship a little further". He asked
Brodir gulped "What do you mean"?
"Now, now no need for that". The young assassin dug into his pockets and withdrew a key. "According to Donovan's journal, this key unlocks a secret chest, hidden near an old stump in the pond just south of Robber's Gorge". He offered the key to the man in front of him.
Brodir picked up the key and examined it. "But why give this to me"? Brodir asked. Why not claim it for yourself went unsaid.
"Well two reason's. Number one is money means next to nothing to the brotherhood, we kill for the thrill of it, and because it is the will of our Dread Lord". The devout way he said this frightened the nord man. "Two, well you can consider this an investment".
"Investment"?
"Yes, I believe that you are a man who will come to need our services in the future so consider this favor to be a gesture of good-will on the brotherhood's part".
Brodir grinned. He knew hiring the brotherhood was a good idea, despite what that brat in Windhelm said. With the money stashed away in the cove, he'd have that little bastard killed by his beloved heroes. 'Yeah that'd teach him'.
The bar maiden returned with a bottle of fine ale. "Here you go". She sat the bottle on the table. "That'll be 65 septims".
Brodir stiffened. He knew that was more the five times the price of the drink. Surely the assassin would kill her for gouging him?
To his surprise the young man simply pulled out a handful of gold and handed to the women.
"Thank you, would you be needing anything else"? She asked perkily
"No thank you milady I'm afraid I have urgent business to attend, and must be going" he stood and prepared to leave.
"Thank you, for your help. Tell your superiors that it was a job well done, and that I'm sure that I'll be needing your services again soon" Brodir grinned a the black haired youngster, who merely smiled and waved.
~VII~
Brodir strolled happily back to his old hideout. Stepping the gates he passed the body of Ba-log the Orc guard. Brodir appraised the scene, it wasn't the clean efficient kills with a bow or a dagger like he had expected, no these men were brutalized. They were all lying in various poses, each one had received massive damage from various weapons, each kill was unique, special. The only shared wound on each man was that they were all missing their hearts.
'Must be some kind of signature'. He speculated.
Brodir entered the trap door leading to the secret tunnel beneath the camp. As he walked through he came across two bodies. One the rotting corpse of a small boy, the other was that of his former partner. Unlike the others whose heart removal appeared to be post-modem Mikhail's wound was jagged, and there was blood splatter everywhere, his heart had been removed while it was still beating.
"Tsk, tsk Mikhail I told you that your bad habit would catch up with you one day" Brodir entered the water and exited the cave via the secret passageway that lead out to a small island. Just south of the camp.
Rising from the water Brodir found what he had been searching for. Near an old stump on a small island in the middle of the pond was a small row-boat. In the row-boat; submerged in the water was a large chest.
Brodir grinned in anticipation. This was what he'd been waiting for with this gold he would have that runt from Windhelm burned alive and then he'd rebuild Robber's Gorge as the new chief. Brodir unlocked the chest, to find the largest coin purse he had ever seen.
'By the nine that's gotta be a thousand gold' the new bandit leader went to collect his spoils.
Faldrus was a dunmer elemental mage, walking through Hjaalmarch on his pilgrimage to the shrine of Azura.
"Hello whats this"? Floating in a large pond was a charred corpse with seven equally charred hearts floating around him.
Faldrus knelt down next to the corpse. "May Azura's star guide your soul". Faldrus stood once more and continued his pilgrimage.
~VIII!
Poor Brodir if in all his travels he had received two pieces maybe his life would've been spared.
One lightning runes can be cast on surfaces beneath the water, and two The Dark Brotherhood doesn't do favors'. He was right about one thing though he had needed the Dark Brotherhood to kill someone soon. A job well done indeed.
Omake.
Amredyn C'oge awoke to screaming.
"Ah" the redguard gripped his shoulder where an arrow was embedded through his flesh. He tried to move but felt immense pain. 'What happened? I remember watching the Menehor go down, I rushed to try and spot the assailant I was shot. I fell. Then nothing.
More screams were heard, 'I have to get out of here' the redguard outlaw fought through the pain, and dizzily stood to his feet.
"I may have a concussion, broken ribs fractures everywhere". After he heard another terrified wail his redguard blood kicked in. the adrenaline rush kicked in and he ran, while he ran only two desires kept him from passing out. He had to get away, to anywhere but here, and he had to avenge his fallen best friend, thinking of Menehor.
The listener exited the cave, and went to work on the bodies of the other bandits. By dawn he had seven human hearts for his plan, and if he ever paid attention to the number of people he killed he'd know that the number should've been eight.
Well what does everyone think? I'm thinking about incorporating weapons and quest from mods to the story if anyone has any ideas or questions let me know.