Story: The Pink Haired Pirate: An Old Norse Saying
Rated: M for language, future mature themes, violence, gore
Warnings: Spoiler alert for Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
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"This bleak, snow-blown hold in the northeast corner of Skyrim is utterly inhospitable. Perhaps the mages at the College of Winterhold chose to make their home there because they knew they would be left largely alone." - Anonymous Quote
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Sakura took step after step through the thick snowfall, and when she finally stepped inside the city, the Capital of Winterhold, she looked almost like a walking snowman. She covered her hair and wrapped the lower parts of her face in multiple scarves and shawls, but that didn't stop her from blazing any wolves, bandits, thieves or icy serpentine creatures which came on her tail. With some difficulty, she could make out the word 'Inn' on one of the signs posted outside, hanging from the roof of a cabin.
The city was relatively small. All she could see were a few ruined houses, a few standing houses, a larger cabin she supposed it belonged to the Jarl (or the ruler of the Hold - kind of like a Kage, but on a smaller area), the inn she had just spotted and maybe, a shop or so for either food or clutter, she wasn't sure yet. She made a mental note to visit it, but right now she had to get out of her snowman costume. Sakura shook her boots a little outside the inn, to not carry all that heavy snow and walked inside, pulling the scarves off her face.
"I'm sorry, could you describe the smell?"
"Like some horrible monster was turned inside out and then exploded. What did you do?"
"It was a minor miscalculation. I've already corrected it for future experiments."
"This, this is why people have a problem with your college, Nelacar."
Sakura tried not to be as messy as possible while making her way to the bar. Eavesdropping on the barkeeper's conversation with the man dressed in mage robes was impossible not to do. They weren't exactly discreet. Sakura was able to take a closer look at the mage's face, unobserved. Her eyes widened slightly.
Altmer. High elf.
Now if only she'd find a way to slit that throat and get the blood sucked in the machine...' No. Baka Sakura. I have to focus on finding rogue elves. Rogue elves which won't put a bounty on my head. I'm here as a tourist, I'm not in my home, I can't just go and cause a ruckus.'
"Hello, I'd like to get a room," Sakura spoke softly, bringing the attention of the barkeeper. Nelacar, the mage, rose from his seat and disappeared in one of the tavern's rooms. He seemed a little startled, and that was the usual reaction Sakura got while interacting with other people, directly or indirectly. Her footsteps and movements were silent after all.
"Oh, an adventurer? Or a young college initiate?" The blonde barkeeper resumed his cleaning. "We are pretty much the only ones which take in mages, they're not viewed so favorably by the rest of the city, not even the Jarl tolerates them too well," Dagur commented. "It will be 10 septims, and it's yours for a day."
Sakura fumbled and reached out in a small coin purse, counting 10 septims and handing them on the counter. Dagur put them inside a case under the bar and stood up straight.
"Well, come on, I'll show you to your room." Sakura was going to follow until he stopped. He sighed. "Do you think you could help me with something? There's no one I could ask for help."
Sakura looked at him, in concern. She wasn't saying no, she was not going to say no, and exploring new places might bring her closer to collecting the blood for the old man.
"What could I possibly be of help, sir?"
Dagur pointed discreetly at a brown-haired man. He was sitting at a table, drinking his sorrow to no end, and no matter one would try to talk to him, they'd be rudely dismissed. "My friend ...his lover ran away one night and he started drinking heavily. We are letting him stay as long as he pays; we decided not to interfere in his family business, but we think that finding out what happened to his lover, Isabelle Rolaine, might put him at ease."
"Consider it done, sir...normally I wouldn't take advantage of a sorrowful situation...but I'm a traveler with bare pockets..." Sakura chuckled humorlessly. Dagur immediately caught the meaning.
"Oh, of course. Follow me." Sakura followed the barkeeper in an empty room on the left. Strangely, it had no doors. It looked cozy, the barkeeper's wife must have been working hard to keep the inn as clean as it was. It was furnished with all the strict necessities. A single bed rested against the right corner of the room, covered by the same pelt type which served as a rug on the floor. In the left corner was pushed against the wall a small, round, wooden table, along with a chair on its left. A dresser rested against the left wall, with a wooden bucket and a basket resting on top, and the room was illuminated by a few wall sconces on the walls, and a single one on the table, along with a book with hard brown covers Sakura wanted to flip through.
Dagur opened the wooden chest which sat in front of the bed. "Help yourself with anything you need. There are a bunch of septims and potions. I'm not expecting the search to be a walk in the park, so I advise taking a bottle or so with you." He smiled amiably. "Get rest, you can start the search tomorrow."
Sakura wanted to protest, but she realized she was probably too tired to do anything at that moment. "Alright then. Thank you, sir, I will do my best to find Isabella." She was left alone. The pink-haired woman took off her gray trench coat and all the scarves and gloves meant to protect herself against the harsh winds. Sakura cast a basic genjutsu, an illusion to conceal herself. To whoever was passing her room, she'd appear to be sleeping. Sakura found the lack of a door really inconvenient.
She took out a small scroll and unsealed the contents. It held, along with clothes, a basic cosmetic bag. Sakura laid down the coat on the bed. The hard wooden frame seemed so roughly polished, it surely might itch and turn her skin sore.
Sakura opened the two-sided mirror and set it on her lap, as with her hands she held her hair and started brushing it. She had released the genjutsu. One eye was a bluish shade of green. The other was gray, and the black pupil was surrounded by rings. It was the opposite eye of her brother's, Sasuke: the Rinnegan rested in her right eye socket. Her The Yin seal, the purple diamond which rested on her forehead, was visible as well in the middle of her a tad-bit wider forehead. But it wasn't as noticeable anymore. She hummed, brushing her long, pink tresses, and parted the bangs to the left, holding them in place with a blue hair clip. Afterward, she released a small amount of chakra through each of her pores.
It was a supplementary jutsu, based on nothing but practicability, the chakra which left the body was destroying away all the dirt, filth and sweat. It was very useful when traveling, you couldn't afford to just go take a shower and risk using scented soap or shampoo, then have your location compromised. This made your body almost odorless.
The pink-haired woman concealed her eye and laid down on the bed, on top of the trench coat. She started flipping through the pages of the book.
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"Welcome, friend. In our latest volume, we cover Solitude. Spatior could not be more pleased to be at the very seat of Imperial power in Skyrim. In the course of our tour, you'll see that Solitude's riches extend from her people to the history and the architecture that makes up the city itself."
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The Hearth Fire business was slow as usual. Sakura woke up, early in the morning, as usual, grabbed her trench coat and wrapped it around herself before walking inside the main hall of the inn. Dagur was up and early, opening the tavern for any weary travelers, and his wife greeted the pink-haired woman with a bright 'Good morning!' She sat down at one of the empty long tables and started to eat. The food was a little strange than what she was used to, maybe because Sanji was able to cook gourmet food on a pirate ship, but was still incredibly tasty.
"Good morning, Haran-san. How comes business is so slow?" Sakura asked, smiling amiably. Despite being able to speak Norse well enough, especially with the practice she had lately, reading even more and more books to understand the complicated words, she yet couldn't drop the special suffixes specific to her language. That, and she just happened to be a polite person. Haran made no questions about it. The older woman put the broom down and sat down next to her.
"Winterhold is not the friendliest place to leave in." Haran shook her head. "Our income comes mostly from mages, which want to study at the College, and Nelacar who pays his stay regularly. We'd complain that his experiments would scare away the patrons, but it's not like we have many to complain about." Her expression turned serious, with a hint of gratefulness. "Me and my husband want to thank you for offering to find her. He-" Sakura supposed that Haran wasn't using any names since Ranmir was drinking his days at the table opposite from hers. "-is been drinking away all his and his sister's money ever since she ran away." She kept her voice lowered down. "Maybe he would be more put at ease if he found out what happened to her. And maybe he'd pay all his debt afterward."
Sakura took a sip from her cup. All she ordered was water, she wasn't trusting well enough her tolerance to try mead or wine, so she stuck with water. "Can you...tell me anything about her disappearance? It's very important...anything, really. Something she said, weird behaviors on her account...anything as such."
"Well...it happened one night. Our inn ran out of Honningbrew Mead, and Ranmir flew into a rage. Isabella ran away to become a thief and make a better living for themselves, with a thief named Vex, who lives in Riften. If anything, she's the only one who can tell you what truly happened."
"So then I should travel to Riften...I see. Thanks a lot for everything, Haran-san. I will make sure I will eventually dig out the truth." Sakura smiled and walked over to the counter.
"Thanks for everything, I'll be on my way then." The blonde man stopped in his tracks and nodded.
"Oh. Anytime. Take the septims in the chest with you. They'll come in handy eventually."
Sakura smiled.
"I will make sure to pay back everything, Dagur-san." But along with the coins, she also took the book from the nightstand. It might come in handy, after all. And the open book in her hands was a dead giveaway she was a strange bookworm.
Sakura put on her gloves and the scarves, after tucking all 153 septims in an inner pocket, and once she stepped her foot outside, she made sure to drop a bluish senbon in the ground.
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"Solitude's Surroundings:
Before scaling to the city, you should be sure to take in the sights. Wander the track that leads down to the docks, and you can stop to enjoy one of the best views of the Great Arch.
Originally serving as both a landmark and windbreak for Solitude's port, the easily-defended Great Arch also provided an ideal building site for the ancient Nords.
The city gradually grew to extend across the entire length of the arch. This growth culminated in the building of the Blue Palace, home to the High Kings and Queens of Skyrim. We will visit the palace later."
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Sakura felt a strong resemblance with her former sensei as she ran through the trees of the autumn forest, calling chakra into her legs. She was running, with her hands occupied with the book she was reading, the book with hard-brown covers, and the map. She had already gotten lost a few times. Sakura has marked the places where has she dropped the senbon. It would allow her to get towards the marked spots faster. Some distances were too wide for her to teleport instantly. But for those close enough, she'd make sure to give everyone a mini-heart attack while emerging from thin air. The thought made Sakura chuckle a little.
But at least she knew she was in the same hold Riften belonged to, after a few hours of wrong turns. The Rift. Sakura could notice the climate change instantly and be able to discard the scarves and stuff them in her knapsack. And the forest was unbelievably beautiful. So beautiful she couldn't help but stop and pick a few mountain flower bunches. Maybe they had some medical uses and properties, but they looked too pretty. She'd conserve them with chakra so they wouldn't wilt.
No casualties happened. None could anyways. Nobody was able to spot her flying through the trees, and the dirt and cobblestone paths were empty, or at least until now. Sakura stopped on the branch, peeking through the leaves, to see a group of dark-robed individuals, leading in chains a ragged looking man. She supposed he was a Nord. The pink-haired woman dropped from her hiding spot, she could immediately see that she crossed their path.
"You're interfering with official Thalmor business."
High Elf. Again.
There was something hostile about their stature. And how scared the Nord prisoner looked.
Sakura tilted her head. "Who are you?" She had to be honest, she was hated to be looked down on. Even if the High Elves were usually much taller than her.
"I am a Thalmor Justiciar on important business that you are interfering with."
"Who are the Thalmor?"
The Thalmor agent both looked irritated, yet he decided to continue. She was a foreigner, that was clear. And as long as she had a residence in Skyrim, she had to abide by the law. The forehead creases of a Breton lacked, she in no way looked like a Mer, and her appearance was too different to be a Nord or an Imperial, a native of Cyrodill. The round eyes had a slight tilt, the purple forehead rhombus looked to be something more than a decorative accessory or tattoo and the strange hair coloring stood out like a sore thumb.
He wanted to humor her with more information.
"We are special envoys of the Aldmeri Dominion, the rightful rulers of Tamriel. If you'd like I can show you why. If you're smart you'll walk away."
Sakura looked confused.
"But what are you doing in Skyrim then?"
"We're making sure your Emperor wasn't lying to his elven masters when he agreed the Empire would give up false gods and foolish beliefs. Now go away." The Thalmor Justiciar wanted to take a step and walk past Sakura before the pink-haired little nuisance crossed his path again. She wasn't fully satisfied with his answers.
She crossed her arms stubbornly.
"Do all Thalmor have such a high opinion on themselves?"
The High Elf could barely hold his eyebrow from twitching irritated. He did his best to keep up his cool facade, of someone of his status. "That we are superior to men is an established fact. For example, take this belief in Talos. The "ninth" divine. Heh. Certainly, you don't believe such things? Or perhaps there is something you'd like to confess?"
"But what's wrong in worshiping Talos?" Her first question would exactly be 'Who is Talos?' She has heard several names used in phrases, replacing the term 'God' or 'Kami-sama', but she has never heard of Talos before. She has never heard of the others either.
"It's immoral to worship a man. And it's also illegal. A faithful Imperial citizen would know that. Perhaps there's something you wish to confess?" The tilted eyes of the High Elf narrowed just slightly, challenging her to disobey.
"Oh but I have something to confess." Sakura crossed her arms. She looked at him in the eye, defying his whole authority built up with a single look. "I'm not a citizen of the Empire. I'm just a traveler. But I'm able to worship whatever God I want, and everyone is able to do so. What right do you have to drag people away like this?"
Sakura swiftly dodged a ball of fire sent by a Thalmor mage. She narrowly avoided the slash of a sword and vanished, before reappearing behind a swordman Thalmor agent. She sent a chakra filled kick to the head, sending her flying and crashing in a tree, the fractured skull ending her life instantly. She landed and took an offensive stance, and counted.
'1...2...3...4...Not bad.'
Her Eternal Mangekyo blazed wildly in her left eye as her hands moved in a Tiger seal.
"Mizu bunshinn no Jutsu!" Sakura called in her own foreign language and three, perfect identical clones to the real Sakura emerged from the water puddles around them, which appeared out of blue.
Sakura took the Thalmor Justiciar as her opponent. Her right hand glowed a deep blue as she parried his Elven sword. The cuts left by the sharp edge only managed to leave cuts in her gray trench coat, as the tissue of her skin repaired itself immediately. She blocked his arm with her own before sending a kick right to his ribs.
"P-Pathetic human..." Sakura lowered her arm and dismissed her clones. She walked closer. His comrades were laid down on the ground, breathless. The Justiciar was pinned to a tree, held by several kunai she sent in his direction. She wasn't going to put him out of his misery just yet.
"I'm not the one pinned to a tree, you know." She was met with a snort.
"The justiciars will know your face..they'll remember your face and we elves...we have long memories..." Sakura walked closer.
"I'm sorry but you'll have to leave now. You will leave, and you will never touch the Nords again. Unless you want to stay alive." The pinwheel of her left eye spun wildly, and he fell in a deep sleep.
Sakura sighed and let him go. She redirected her footsteps towards the prisoner, which managed to stay out of the way. The brown-haired man let out a sigh of relief as she undid his bindings. She helped him up.
"Talos may guide your path, young lady." He replied, completely grateful. Sakura smiled.
"Please. Tell me about your God."
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"The Gates of Solitude
Entrance to Solitude is guarded by two gates and three towers. The first of these towers, situated at the crossroads, is Sky Tower. It's mostly a lookout, although in times of war, barricades are erected across the nearby road to act as a first line of defense.
The second tower and first, smaller gate are collectively known as the Squall Gate. Here, attacking armies meet their first real resistance. Last and certainly most impressive is the Storm Gate.
While Castle Dour, found just within the city's main gate, has always been a massive walled structure, Solitude's outer walls and gates were not added until shortly after the coronation of High King Erling.
Looking up and to the left of the main gate, you can see a small hint of Erling's preference for a more rounded style of architecture that we will see later in the Castle Dour extension, as well as the interior arch and the windmill.
Now we pass through the gates and enter the main shopping district of Solitude."
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"Talos was a real man, known as Tiber Septim. He has managed to unify and conquer all of Tamriel. Before his death, he was known to have ascended to Godhood and has been granted the role of the Ninth Divine. He's the God of War and Man and is worshiped for the just rulership and civil society." The prisoner later revealed to be named as Vol, drank his tea in one go.
Whether the Nord disliked the idea of having tea instead of a strong mug of mead or not, he refrained from sharing it. He was too grateful for that. He also didn't question how a tea set and a few bags of tea appeared in a cloud of smoke above the scroll laid down by the pink-haired woman, filled with peculiar writing.
Sakura set up a small camp for them, and the former prisoner of the Thalmor was more than happy to talk about the God he worshiped while Sakura brewed the chamomile and lavender tea. She had to confess, she picked a few of the lavender flowers and leaves on the way here, and dried them quickly using her chakra. The tea had a bitter but nice aroma.
"I see. But it means that Talos really has become a God. Why would the Thalmor think they're worthy to decide who to worship or not if the other eight divines have already made the choice."
Vol sighed grimly.
"The Thalmor has gotten their claws on the Empire, what's happened. The former High King of Skyrim has signed the White-Gold Concordat which bans the worship of Talos. Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak has bested and killed him in a duel; a duel he was obligated to accept anyways. And he lost."
Sakura blinked a few times.
"The death of a man is never a good thing...but it means he wasn't a strong High King if he lost the duel, right? He also renegaded the God of his people in favor of the Empire and the Thalmor. This..." She shook her head. "This is madness."
Vol stared at her and sat the cup down.
"You know...you sound more like a Nord than a true Nord does, sometimes..." He chuckled and shook his head. "But yes, that's the belief of the Stormcloaks and Ulfric's supporters as well. Speaking of the Stormcloacks..." He got up. "I have to return to service. I won't forget what happened here, so if you will ever need help with something, I'll make sure to help you. Until then, take this." Vol reached inside his pocket and pulled out a pellicular shaped talisman.
"This is..." Sakura gingerly took the talisman in her hands.
"This is the Amulet of Talos. It has divine properties...I'm going to get another eventually, but you can have mine. That's the least I can do." Sakura nodded and put it on immediately. She hid it in her trench coat. "If you will ever decide to join the Stormcloaks and fight by Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak's side, I will vouch for you."
"Thank you, Vol. Take care."
"May Talos guide your path." And with that, Sakura packed the makeshift camp and brushed her coat. When Volt was far enough from her visual camp, Sakura rummaged through her knapsack and got out Signus' blood extractor. She walked towards a random Thalmor agent who didn't happen to have bled to death and harvested the blood in the machine. She smiled.
'1/5.'
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"The Well District
Stepping inside Solitude's gates, you get your first view of the city itself. Rising tall and proud before you, banners waiving from its crown, is the Emperor's Tower. Home to the Kings of Haafingar before the consolidation of Skyrim and the creation of the Blue Palace, the Emperor's Tower is now used exclusively as guest quarters for Emperors who come to visit the city.
To your left and right are Solitude's inn and shops. Here can be found some of the finest imported goods in Skyrim. After all, Solitude is a wealthy city with ready access to the major shipping lanes of Tamriel.
Continuing ahead, you'll come to the ramp that takes you up to Castle Dour. From here, you can truly feel the weight of this stone bastion's looming presence. To the left-most tower, topped by the pointed roof of Erling's extension, was once the castle barracks and jail. Today, the tower is the center of military power here in Solitude.
Looking right past the looming Emperor's Tower, you can glimpse Solitude's natural bridge arcing gracefully over to the windmill. Built during High King Erling's day, the bridge was said to be used to discretely allow Captain Jytte, the famous privateer, to enter Castle Dour. Some historians claim that she and the High King were simply attempting to keep their business dealings quiet. Others believe the Jytte and Erling were involved on a more personal level.
At the end of the bridge is the windmill. The tower and the windmill serve as one of Solitude's most recognizable man-made landmarks. The Windmill's power was once used to open the gates to what is now the East Empire Company Warehouse, but today that task falls to the strong backs of the dock workers.
In the shadow of the windmill you'll find the outdoor market and the well. Here, you can buy a number of local delicacies including famous spiced wine made exclusively in Solitude.
From here we'll travel up the ramp and into Castle Dour Courtyard."
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A wide smile spread across Sakura's lips as the gates of Riften were slowly starting to make themselves visible. Something was interesting, Sakura has noticed. Each Hold had its own color scheme. The Eastmarch and The Winterhold Hold had both a different shade of blue, which was also visible on the shields of the guards and the cloth which draped over their armor. The Rift's colors were an interesting shade of purple.
Sakura approached the guards, and just as she wanted to open her mouth to ask for permission, the guard stopped her.
"Halt!"
Sakura tilted her head. "Is there...something wrong?"
The guard snorted.
"You have to pay the visitor's tax, that's what's wrong. 100 septims, nothing more nothing less." Sakura's eyes turned a little suspicious.
"Is that so?" She hasn't been to many cities...that was true. But a visitor's tax was sounding a little too coated to be true. "So I suppose I could call your boss or something and he'd explain to a foreigner like me why should I pay a tax and for what, in the first place." Her eyes turned a little challenging. "It's obviously a hoax."
Something changed in the guard's expression, even if it was completely hidden by the helmet. He lowered his voice.
"Fine..fine. Just keep your voice down and get in." The guard opened the gate for her. He never missed the almost triumphant grin on the odd woman's face.
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"Castle Dour
As you enter the courtyard of Castle Dour, you are confronted with the banner of Solitude hanging over the door to what is now Castle Dour proper.
At the far end of the courtyard stands the impressive Temple of the Divines. The founders of Solitude were deeply devout and Solitude is the only place in Skyrim where all of the divines are worshipped in a single temple. All three of the buildings here are well worth taking a look inside, but only Temple and Castle Dour's military wing are open.
If you do venture inside the temple, take special note of the alcoves at the front. You can see the empty alcove that once held the shrine of Talos before Talos worship was outlawed.
From the courtyard, travel out the exit between Castle Dour and the Temple and you'll get your first sight of the Blue Palace. Along the way, be sure to stop outside Bards College, a large building on your left marked by the Flames of Callisos burning beside the steps.
Named for a famous bard, it is said that as long as the flame burns, the college will stand."
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Sakura was so engrossed in her new book, it was just wonderful. It was somewhere close to midnight, she guessed and decided that finding Vex would have to wait until at the very least next morning. The priority was to find an inn, and all she had was this guide book of Solitude. While she was not in Solitude. Sakura exhaled, a little annoyed. But it was not like Dagur-san or his wife could have predicted she'd need a Riften guide book. Looking at the bright side of the glass, the streets were swarmed with guards and people she could ask for, and she wouldn't have to get lost when she'd eventually reach Solitude. Yeah, it wasn't that bad.
Sakura wanted to stop a guard and ask for something, before getting quickly cut down.
"If it's a bed you need, just talk to Keerava at Bee and Barb. She'll set you up."
She nodded gratefully, smiling.
"Thank you, that's what I was wanted to ask about."
"All travelers do, in the middle of the night."
Sakura picked up her pace, looking for the said tavern. Her vision was kind of obscured; the lights were a little too few to try to remember the buildings. But she was able not to miss the sign hung outside the Bee and Barb tavern. She was instantly welcomed with a cozy feeling, as soon as she stepped inside. Despite being midnight, Bee and Barb was one of the few buildings which kept the lights on through the night. She was getting stares and weird looks, but Sakura tried her best to look as passive as ever. She simply smiled and sat down on a barstool.
"Good evening, I'd like a room please." Ten septims were already prepared to be handed. That was the usual fee for getting a room in any tavern. The barmaid kindly stored the septims away.
"Sure thing." The barmaid was an Argonian woman. "Would you like to try some of our special drinks?"
"Special drinks?"
"Yes, special drinks," Keerava confirmed, noticing Sakura's raised eyebrow. "We mix these on our own; I can sure you'll never see them in any tavern you'll ever cross."
Keerava seemed pretty confident in her and the owner's set of drinks. And the mild alcoholic in Sakura woke up, suddenly seeming interested.
"What do you have?"
"Talen-Jei is especially proud of them." The said Argonian walked over.
"But of course. We serve three of them, in fact. They're my own recipe. Brought them over here from my days as a bartender in Gideon. First is the "Velvet LeChance" which is a mixture of blackberry, honey, spiced wine and a touch of nightshade... perfectly safe, I assure you. Second, we have the "White-Gold Tower" which is heavy cream with a layer of blended mead, lavender and dragon's tongue on top. Last, and only for the bravest of souls, we have the "Cliff Racer" which is Firebrand Wine, Cyrodiilic Brandy, Flin, and Sujamma." They sounded...so interesting...all three of them. They were nothing like the ones Sakura has ever heard about, and she was dazed.
"I..." She laughed a little nervously. "I'm not sure what should I try really. It's been a while since I've drunk...so I'll try the Velvet LeChance, maybe?"
Keerava was more than happy to clean a mug as thoroughly as she could, and fill it up with Talen-Jei's prized drink. Sakura left an additional five septims on the table, before sipping her drink. The taste was sweet, she could taste the honey and the blackberries mixed with the wine, along with a foreign aroma she'd have to point towards the nightshades.
"Well, it tastes wonderful." She smiled amiably. "What's the word around the town?" Truth to be told, she was curious about what was going around. She knew she'd have to stick around a little. Finding Vex was one of the main priorities.
The barmaid resumed cleaning the mugs, as usual, while occasionally handing out the drinks or food to Talen-Jei to serve to their clients. "The Thieves Guild has been pushing hard to regain a foothold in this city. Rumor has it they're falling apart from the inside."
That gained her attention, and a certain someone never missed how her ears tilted slightly.
"The Thieves Guild?"
"They're vermin... garbage. They're exactly what makes this city such a horrible place to live. How appropriate they should live in the Ratway with the rest of the trash." Talen-Jei commented from behind her.
Ouch.
"The Ratway? Do you have any idea where could I find it?"
"Disgusting. Ruined sewers filled with goodness knows what. There's an entrance down by the canal, but I'd highly advise you to stay out of there... its the Thieves Guild's territory." He eyed her suspiciously. "Why would you try to go through that dirt hole?"
Sakura shrugged. "It's a promise I'm just intending to keep, that's all." she stretched her back.
"Could you please show me the room? I'm beaten, and I'd like to rest." The Argonian barmaid stopped cleaning.
"Of course, right this way."
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"Bards College
Looking up from the Bards College steps, you can see that the college stands taller than the Blue Palace itself. The bards who train here can be heard throughout Skyrim, singing songs that capture the history of ages. If you get a chance you should be sure to catch the Burning of King Olaf, an ancient festival where "King Olaf" is burned in effigy.
Continue up the road from the college and you'll reach the courtyard of the Blue Palace, our final destination."
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The room wasn't much better than what she has rented at The Frozen Hearth, Sakura noted. BUT she had a door. And she was very glad to have that door. Why? Because she could place her itty bitty seals around the place, and overall trap her room. Unlike in Winterhold, where you could count on your fingers the total number of residents and their local clients, Bee and Barb was full. And one could never be careful when living close to someone like the Thieves Guild.
She has heard rumors, whispers and outright screamed declarations how they're all falling apart, from the inside, but you could never be too careful. And by the looks of the city, it was rotten to the core. Sakura could start with the guard at the gate. Who knows how many has he scammed of septims and trinkets; people, easier to intimidate. At least they were merrier than in those frozen wastelands. Their hearts were easier.
Sakura laid down on the bed, placing her coat on top as usual, and kicked off her boots, opening the book again. There was a feeling she was unable to shake, that she was being watched. Just be cautious, Sakura intentionally slid one of her kunai under her pillow, as clear and visible as possible, so whoever was watching her, would know to take the warning.
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"The Blue Palace
The Blue Palace is home to the Jarls of Solitude, who for centuries have also served as the High Kings and High Queens of Skyrim. The northeast wing, on your left as you enter, holds the living quarters of the Jarl and her court on the top level and various servants below.
The southwest wing, known as the Pelagius Wing, has fallen into a state of disrepair. Named for the famous High King, Pelagius the Mad, the wing is rumored to be haunted by the king's ghost. The wing has been locked and left alone since shortly after Pelagius's death.
You should be sure to venture inside the Blue Palace. The grand atrium and court chambers are a sight not to be missed."
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The first thing in the morning Sakura noticed that she has been right about the gut feeling she felt a night before. A trap was successfully disarmed, but at least half went off and she couldn't help but chuckle sleepy. Whoever decided to visit Sakura during the night, had an experience they would not forget anytime soon.
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"Other Points of Interest
Spatior has shown you Solitude in all its grandeur, but there are a few places more to see. The walls of the city are easily accessible and well worth the climbing for the remarkable view. The Solitude Docks are also worth a visit, as they are the largest in Skyrim.
That's all for Walking the World Volume XI. Spatior does not know his next destination yet, but you can be sure that where he does go he will leave you a record of the best things to see." - Walking the World, Volume XI: Solitude, Spatior Munius - World Traveller
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A/N: I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I have started writing at around 10 AM or something...and now is like...9 PM? I have taken breaks, obviously, but still... xD I started writing as soon as I got over my nasty headache.
What did you think about it? To be honest, I really wanted to add a more Riften-related book quote collection, but I couldn't. How realistic would that be? I literally launched my game, fast-traveled to The Frozen Hearth, walked to Dagur and booked a room. So the description of the room is as accurate as I could write it, and the book found on the table inside the room was exactly that one. Even the number of septims found in the chest is accurate. I'm estimating she has managed to loot a total of 50 septims by the time she has reached the inn. She paid ten to get her room, let's say an additional ten for food and drinks...So she arrived in Riften with a total of 183 septims. About 15 septims were paid to get the room and the special drink.
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Sakura's Balance: 168 septims.
Sakura's Inventory: Summoning scroll, several storage scrolls, Boethiah's Proving, Sakura's Journal, Quill, Inkwell, Walking the World, Volume XI: Solitude, Potion of Health.
Sakura's Storage Scroll (Total): Kunai set, exploding tags, sealed senbon, shuriken, bandages and wrappings, first-aid kit, several instant ramen cups, cosmetic bag, Akatsuki cloak, Akatsuki ring (Slate blue with the kanji of 'Sky'), both formal, casual and shinobi attire: at least three sets from each.
Sakura's Quest Log (Started): Discerning the Transmundane, Drowned Sorrows, Join the Stormcloaks (Ya know, from when she has talked to Vol)
Sakura's Quest Log (Completed): N/A
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Looks great. Know what? I'm actually going to add this at the end of every chapter. It will keep stuff realistic. Done, I even added the contents of the scroll. I didn't add her any fancy stuff, except for her usual, as her strength relies on her Sharingan, her new-found Rinnegan, ninjutsu, and her mountain-crushing fists. I think that's enough, sheesh.
Sakura has the Eternal in her left eye, while the Rinnegan resides in the right eye; opposite of Sasuke.
In case if you wonder who the hell she killed to get the Mangekyo, the answer is relatively simple: her father. She was not alone, but she was able to get his eyes to cure her almost-blindness. I mean...have you seen my fic? She's been using Mangekyo almost constantly.
Sakura's appearance is very similar to the original adult self. Ya know, Adult/Mother Sakura. A few differences: Her hair is long, her eyes are normally bluish-green and the facial features are sharper. So is her body shape. But I LOVE Sakura's outfit as an adult. Ya know which one I'm talking about. That sleeveless qipao, long but still exposing her belly button, those calf-length shorts pink pants and the heels. It's one of the outfits I classify as casual.
I'm wondering if you guessed who has been giving her creeps this entire time. I mean it's damn obvious they're from the Thief Guild, but who? :3
Vol is not an actual character. Usually, you can encounter Thalmor Justicars escorting a Nord prisoner, claiming the said prisoner has information about a cult of Talos. But that prisoner is never named for what I know. So what did I do? I decided to give the poor bloke a name and make him play a little role in the story. The name Vol comes from Elder Scrolls: Online I think? But really, all I did was search up 'Skyrim Nord names' and picked the one which had the less meaning to the game. Just in case somebody mistakes him for another person, even nobody's saying that two people can't have the same name.
All of the characters could be named Attila if one wanted. It kind of reminds me of that Phineas and Ferb episode wherein an alternate reality, Doofenschmirtz became the Emperor of the Tri-State Area, and all citizens had to change their names to Joe.
I'm rambling.
Well, as usual, leave me ideas if you want certain quests or adventures to be played. I kind of can't wait for the day Sakura's quest log will be so filled up it will take 2k words just for that xD
That's all folks so...
Bye-bye til later!