Chapter VI
The Odai River cut a decisive path through the bustling Dunmer city of Balmora. Meaning 'Stone Forest' in the Dark Elves native tongue, Balmora was definitely living up to its name, countless houses, shops and manors spread across the valley, all built in rich Hlaalu architecture. The city itself was in fact the District Seat of house Hlaalu, one of the powerful political factions governing Morrowind.
The city sat at the southernmost edge of the West Gash region. As such, it bordered the swamplands of the Bitter Coast, the lush farmlands of the Ascadian Isles and the dry, unforgiving landscape of the Ashlands. Due to this, Balmora had grown to become a thriving hub of trade, as well as playing host to all the major Imperial Guilds, such as the Fighters, Mages and Thieves Guilds. The assassins Guild, the Morag Tong, also had a base here, as well as countless other legal and illegal organisations.
House Hlaalu had sided with the Empire when the invasion came; they saw that it would pay to be on the winning side. This meant that Balmora, despite outward impressions, housed a strong Imperial presence. Fort Moonmoth was even located nearby, allowing the Empire access to an important strategic location.
Nevertheless, Balmora was Lucan Atrius' first sight of a true Dunmer city – he was impressed. Rather than seeing the sights, such as visiting a famous Dunmer temple or paying a visit to the House Hlaalu Manor, Lucan was sat in a cramped corner club in a rather seedy part of the city, sharing a table with a bulky, robed Orc.
Azuk Gro-Durolg was the Orc's name, he stood several feet taller than most other races and his skin was a dark, dirty green. He looked to be quite young, but Azuk had informed Lucan that he was in fact considered a little old by Orc standards. Lucan had done as his Spy Master, Caius Cosades, had advised, and met the Orc here in Balmora. As the pair of them sat drinking cheap Dunmer ale, Lucan wondered how the two of them were to possibly succeed in their task of tracking down the missing Dunmer prisoner.
"Don't get me wrong young Imperial," Azuk suddenly said after what seemed like an age of silence, "I am glad that someone cares about my friend," he continued, pausing to take a long gulp of ale, "but I worry about what your Empire's intentions are with him. As far as I am concerned, he is a friend. Not anyone who deserves to be mixed up in anything like this," Azuk finished, slamming his mug down on the table with his powerful Orc hands, causing several customers on the adjacent table, as well as Lucan, to jump.
"Our only concern is for his safety," Lucan replied.
"This is what worries me, what could my friend Jiub possibly have to do with you Imperials?" Azuk said.
"So that is the missing prisoner, I mean, your friend's name?" Lucan enquired.
"Yes, just Jiub, we met several years ago in Skyrim. I was a mage for hire and he was travelling the lands, he said he was simply looking to explore the beauty of the world. A silly notion of course, but we soon became good friends after I saved his sorry behind from a group of Mountain Trolls."
Lucan's eye flickered, "Mountain Trolls?" he said apprehensively.
The Orc laughed heartily, "Just because I am not a brawn over brains warrior like most of my people, doesn't mean I can't handle five times my better in a fight."
"I guess you're right," said Lucan. He was starting to admire the Orc. He had gone against all the conventions and societal norms of his people to follow a dream of mastering magic, and he had certainly succeeded if his tales were anything to go by. Azuk seemed like a good type of friend to have.
"Anyway," Azuk said, interrupting Lucan's train of thought, "We travelled Skyrim together, fighting, exploring and, at Jiub's insistence, 'admiring the world's beauty'," said Azuk in a faux mocking voice.
"Then we came to Cyrodiil. I wanted to advance my Mage studies to I signed up with the Mages Guild there for a brief time," Azuk explained, clearly moving over his brief tenure at the Mages Guild suspiciously quickly.
"Jiub retired to a secluded house deep in the Cyrodilic forests. We still met regularly, hunting deer at weekends."
Lucan sighed deeply, "And then he was arrested by the Imperials?" He said.
For the first time, Azuk's face hinted at true menace and anger,
"No Imperial, he was taken on false charges. Your Empire dragged him off and shipped him off to Vvardenfell real quick. Far quicker than how they usually get these things done at any rate."
"I am sorry for what happened to Jiub Azuk," Lucan said honestly.
"Well that doesn't matter now. I am angry at them taking him, but all I want to do now is find him," Azuk said.
Lucan proceeded to tell Azuk what he knew, deciding to skip over the bits about Jiub being used as a decoy. He did however say how Jiub was important to the Empire's cause in some way. Azuk was puzzled by this revelation, but knew that Lucan was being truthful when he said that he did not know anymore. Lucan also told of how the ship's crew was also presumed missing and that they needed to be found, when Azuk said,
"Have you considered the possibility that the entire crew planned to kidnap Jiub?" Azuk asked. Lucan was surprised, more so at the fact that the thought had not even crossed his mind. But how could it? It was completely implausible.
"That most certainly isn't the case, a whole Imperial crew abandoning the Empire to kidnap your friend? That's highly unlikely," Lucan replied curtly.
"Well all I'm saying is that we have to consider all possibilities. I want Jiub found no matter what," Azuk snarled. Lucan merely nodded and took a sip of ale.
"I have also received more recent news from my commander, both good and bad, Lucan said professionally. Azuk looked up hopefully.
"We now have a vague inclination as to Jiub's location. Imperial Agents found the ship scuttled in the Azura Coast region yesterday. All signs show that survivors, or the kidnappers, left the ship and took Jiub with them, there were no bodies found."
"This is excellent," roared Azuk, "more ale over here," he said, slamming his fist down onto the table, which by now looked close to breaking.
"But tell me, what is the bad news?" he said more seriously.
"There are two assassins who are also looking to find Jiub," Lucan replied grimly.