Chapter one - Plans to make changes
Sundas, Sun's Dawn 1, 4E 0 - Near Midnight
I've might have made a mistake, I know I might have.
After the former Gray Fox accepted his position as Count of Anvil, I was given the opportunity to become the Gray Fox, to continue on the legacy. Without properly giving decision and thought, I greedily accepted the gray cowl of Nocturnal, to be the Gray Fox, leader and Guildmaster of the Thieves Guild. What I didn't know, though, was after placing the cowl upon my head, my last identity was erased. My old friends, family, don't even recognize me. For all they know, I'm dead and was killed during the Oblivion Crisis that had just recently ended a month ago.
It's been a month since I've accepted the title of Guildmaster, and I struggle keeping the Guild in line, unprepared for all the responsibilities that I have, now that I lead this Guild. It's stressing, but I know I have a job to do. Posters of me are placed upon walls of every district of the Imperial City, posters that should've now been torn down after I reassigned Hieronymus Lex as the captain of the guard in Anvil. Maybe I should actually let them stay up, so that I can show my face to the public when I show that the Thieves Guild and the Gray Fox actually exists, that would be fun. Probably would be too risky though, so I won't give a full decision about that yet. I do know for a fact that, as I live as the legendary Gray Fox, I want to make sure my name is known and that history will be remembered.
I live in the house of Dareloth, the original Gray Fox and founder of the Thieves Guild. His home is Guild Hall for the Thieves Guild, where all members are welcome to visit and meet. I plan on making changes though, I have a room upstairs, but I don't need the living room. Why would i? I'm barely ever in it other than passing through. I will change it into a Guild bar, and place my doyen's to stay there where all members of the Guild unite here to receive quests and side jobs. My lieutenant Doyen, Armand Christophe, welcomes roughly 5 new thieves into the Guild a week, while most are not able to pass the admission test and end up behind bars or sentenced to death due to their lack of stealthy thieving. I have 24 loyal members in the Guild, 25 if that includes me, but I'd rather not.
Counting up the total number of recruits in the last month, the first month in my leadership, we now have a total of 41 members. Ever since the Ultimate Heist that I took on from the previous Gray Fox, counting at the first day in my leadership, recruits have been flooding in as the previous Gray Fox had spread so much influence upon Tamriel, he left all the work to me. I feel like I should despise him for that, but I won't judge him for wanting to return to his wife in Anvil. Not only will i change up the Guild Hall, but I need to assign my doyen's new jobs to hand out to members to bring in more coin. Busy with planning as I sit in my study area, a knock on the door so loud, killing the silence that stood in my room with me, caused me to jump.
"What is it? Come in!" I called behind me. Immediately, the door opened and footsteps become louder as they near me.
"Master?" A familiar rusty voice had spoken behind me.
"What is it?" I responded then turned around in my chair, to find both my personal assistants, Amusei and Methredhel, standing before me.
"Today dawn's a new month, as yesterdays have been buried in shadows. Our accounting shows that we've welcomed 17 new members into the Guild, master. We will need more outfits for future recruits. We have little left." Amusei requested.
I gave this some thought, and remembered I have a blacksmith to make the Guild more armor, or I can speak to the Dark Brotherhood? Forming a business alliance to benefit us both in profit. Maybe it's time to place all my plans in action starting today, this new month.
"I'm aware of that. Ever since that day after the Elder Scroll had been stolen from the White-Gold tower, fear and influence of the Thieves Guild had spread throughout Tamriel. Bringing in more recruits to the Guild at a dramatic rate, I may have to make some new changes to the Guild." This caught the attention of both Amusei and Methredhel, becoming amused.
"What changes do you plan on making, my master?" Methredhel asked first, intrigued to what she will hear next.
"Well. If you hadn't noticed, we've been making a lot of coin." I said as I pointed to my left, where against the west corner wall, a cupboard and chest stay as gold overfilled, leaking out onto the floor. Both Amusei and Methredhel smiled excitedly, and then I waved their attention back to me.
"I think we should give ourselves a new appearance," I told them, "a more stealthy approach as a thief remains one with the shadows. I'm getting quite worn out of this brown leather, and since our job is to remain as hidden as possible, I want to change it to black leather, just a color switch." Both seemed far too excited to receive this news, so much they couldn't hide their smiles.
"How are you going to place this plan in effect, master?" Amusei asked.
"Well. I have a blacksmith, and I have ties with the Dark Brotherhood. I used to be a speaker for the Black Hand. After respectfully departing the Brotherhood, i gave myself to being Guildmaster full-time. I've heard also they were going through a hard time rebuilding their Guild. Offering a business proposal at this time would benefit both our guild and theirs. I plan on buying some of their unused armor, which is made in pitch black leather."
"Excellent idea, master!" Methredhel called out.
"Thank you. Not only that, soon after our return to the Brotherhood, I will replace my living room downstairs for a Guild bar. Reconstructing the entire room, I will hire a bartender and place tables and chairs around the room, and my doyen's will stay here, while all members come here to take on new duties."
"Oh my, that's perfect! A bar in the Guild Hall! What a brilliant idea, master!" Methredhel called out again, unable to hide her excitement. Amusei kept his under control.
"Thank you again, Methredhel. Also, I want those bedrolls in the basement out, and make it a living quarters placing single-sized beds for visiting members and beggars. I want to not only give up my home to our Guild, but giving my home to the Thieves Guild, where our brothers and sisters can come together and have a drink, to come and receive and complete tasks and jobs from our Doyen. This will be a new Guild Hall, home to all members of the Thieves Guild."
Both Amusei and Methredhel smiled, maybe too brightly, as if this were a dream come true for them. Once all my plans come into effect after a month of planning, this will be my dream come true, also. I don't have too much time, though. After a month spent in planning and leading the Guild, most don't pass the admission test, but some still do make it. I need to be prepared for this month's recruits. To begin, I need to go to the Dark Brotherhood, hopefully the password to the red door in the basement of the abandoned house in Cheydinhal still remained the same.
"Amusei, find Armand Christophe and tell him I want him to travel to Bravil and bring back S'Krivva with him. I shall have a meeting with my Doyen when I come back. As you do this, meet Methredhel and I at the stables after you've informed him." Amusei nodded then departed.
As I made way to the stables, bringing Methredhel with me as we wait for Amusei to arrive, we rode on horses to Cheydinhal. Riding non-stop as hours pass, the sun had completely erased itself from the sky, sacrificing itself to give the moon a night to breathe. We passed bandits time from time, trying to mug us, but we just rode right on past.
Morndas, Sun's Dawn 2, 4E 0 - Early Morning
"What is the color of night?" The tall red door asked as the three of us stood before it. Neither Amusei nor Methredhel knew the answer, standing there frozen on their feet with fear stretched across their faces.
"Sanguine, my brother." I responded back to the door, then a moment later the door opened wide enough for us to enter.
"Welcome home." The door darkly whispered behind after we stepped through.
Both my assistants shook in fear, scared at their unacknowledged of what they are getting themselves into. Walking up the path, immediate darkness lie ahead. Taking each step, I could see a flame burning itself in the direction we walked. Then I see a pink color of aura like smoke that flowed through and around what stood a dark figure as we neared. Walking slowly, cautiously, into the Dark Brotherhood, the figure that stood made out to be a tall person holding a torch dressed in complete pitch black robes that had been facing the opposite direction. I halted my assistants as we stand behind the tall black figure.
"Well hello, there." I said.
Instantly, the black tall robed person turned around to stare at the faces of each of us. I was able to make out her face in the light of her torch and remember who this person was. Her name is Arquen, an Altmer woman and Speaker for the Black Hand. As she stared at me, her eyes widen in surprise.
"Oh! The Gray Fox! You really do exist! How did you get in here? Speak now before you die tonight!" Arquen spoke aloud, and from behind me I heard Methredhel draw her bow and ready and arrow to aim it at her, as Amusei unsheathed his short-sword. I also seen two more pink auras appear in the darkness behind Arquen, probably had their weapons drawn already.
"I am the Gray Fox, I infiltrated the emperor's tower to steal an elder scroll. What makes you think I couldn't make my way in here? Relax, ma'am. I am here only to make a proposal."
I raised my fist above my shoulder and I head the tightened string of Methredhel's bow loosen, and Amusei's sword sheath. Arquen eyed each of us, then relaxed herself.
"What is it you want, Fox?" She sounded cautious.
"Well. I've heard your guild went through some trouble, now you're having a hard time rebuilding the Brotherhood," Arquen's eyebrows rose up, "so while my guild rises to fame, I thought I'd like to propose a business alliance, a profitable trade, of your unused black leather, for gold in return. I grow tired of our own outfits, same old light brown, I want to make them darker." I told her.
"You come here this night to propose a business trade in buying our armor? How do I know you wouldn't disguise yourselves as us?"
"Please. Let's be civil, shall we? Do we really need to use the Dark Brotherhood's identity as our own? Would that be necessary? I simply want your leather. You seem to be in need of the funds, however, since you only have two others to run the guild." Arquen turned around to look back as the other two figures appeared behind her.
"Besides, I would like to help your guild, as long as we continue a trade and work together, you will develop good coin to support your guild. Is there a reason we aren't allies? Listen. You sell me your armor; I'll spread word you're in need of more recruits." Arquen stared at me as she thought of this request.
"Okay, sounds like an honest proposition. In fact, changing our look would not be a bad idea, neither. Perhaps another color with black, red maybe?" She turned to her associates behind her.
"Sounds good, red and black, both colors go great together." One of her cutthroats responded back.
"Probably add some studs into the leggings and gloves to give it a more aggressive approach, too." Arquen included with approval.
"Well then," I said as Arquen turned her attention back to me, "seems like we both want an upgrade to our guild appearance. Perhaps we have an agreement?" I held out my hand to her, and a moment later, she grabbed and shook my hand in return.
"Yes, we do. I will make arrangements immediately to requesting more leather from other guild's of Tamriel. How many are you looking to buy?" Arquen asked.
"Well. In the past month, we've almost doubled in our guild population, so send me 60 outfits as a starter, and continue with 30 monthly. That should be good enough."
"Splendid. Sounds like a profitable and beneficial alliance to me. I look forward to doing some business with you, Mr. Fox." Arquen said.
"As do I, where shall we meet to introduce the new armor?" I asked.
A moment of thought, she reached her decision. "Fort Farragut, east up the road of Cheydinhal, on the 19th of Sun's Dawn, near nightfall." Arquen said.
"Capital! Thank you, I look forward to that day. Until then, stick to the shadows, Arquen."
Her eyebrows rose in surprise and confusion, unable to recall giving out her name before.
Riding back to the Imperial City, an Imperial horseman guard chased the three of us as I still had my cowl remained covering my face. We had to outride the guard, losing him near the ghost town of Aleswell. Leaving the horses at the Chestnut Handy Stables, we sneaked our way back to the Waterfront unseen and unnoticed. Armand had not been back with S'krivva, and he may not return till Mid-day. Until then, I stayed up late to write several invitational letters to all our guild members, all members that have been in the guild before my time as Guildmaster.
These letters will be sent out soon after the reconstruction of the Guild Hall, to bring all members for a Guild meeting. After a couple hours writing each invitation over and over on it's own parchment, I had finally finished and fallen asleep in bed.
Morndas, Sun's Dawn 2, 4E 0 - Midday
A loud and continuous knock had been at my door, waking me us as my eyes burned and bags under my eyes felt heavy. With the room pitch black of darkness, I stumbled my way to the door and cracked the door open.
"What is it?"
"Master, Armand Christophe and S'Krivva have arrived." Amusei responded.
"Alright, what time is it?"
"Midday, master."
"Okay, let them know to meet me here in half an hour from now."
"Yes, sir." Amusei said then took steps down the stairs.
Shutting the door, after a minute looking for my cowl, I lit candles to illuminate the room. Then I got dressed in the tiring and non-exciting leather armor. Setting things in place, bringing a couple chairs to the desk that stood next to the door, I sat behind the desk and cleared the top to place down two parchments. Waiting for a while longer while sitting, a knock at the door. Finally, time to make changes.
"Come in." I called out, and the door openly slowly as S'Krivva and Armand enter the room.
"Please, have a seat, my doyen's, we have much to discuss."
Without hesitation, both had sat in a seat across from my desk. Both stared at me, nervous, as they were not used to private meetings with the Guildmaster.
"S'Krivva. Armand. Welcome." I greeted.
"Greetings, Guildmaster." S'Krivva responded.
"Good day, master." Armand responded also.
"I'm sure you both are wondering why I had summoned you both here today, but do not worry, relax. No bad news to give," giving both a moment to relax, I sat to recollect myself, then continued, "I am working on a change to the guild. As you both already know, you two are my doyen, all members of the guild come to you two to receive their tasks. Before you both, is a list for you to keep. Please feel free to review them."
Both had took their own parchment and read the list. After a few moments, both had realized what the list meant.
"You.. are assigning us responsibility to giving out side jobs?" S'Krivva asked first.
"That is correct. The quests you assign all members are tests for advancement to higher ranks and titles. However, I am assigning you both your own set of side jobs to give out. Each member, after this day, will have to complete 5 jobs from each of you before given an advancement test. This means every member will have a total of 10 jobs to complete."
"Master, may I ask, why is each member required to finish 10 jobs, before a testing quest for advancement?" Armand asked.
"Good question. I feel it wouldn't take long for a fellow thief in the guild to raise himself up to the top ranks in the guild, without truly deserving his title. I say it would take a month for a committed thief to rise up in ranks to the top, but with these new rules, it should take him more than a month."
"I completely agree, Guildmaster. It would slow down the process for a thief to rise so easy, giving him the time to earn his title without rush." S'Krivva agreed.
"Correct, S'Krivva. Now. I'm also going to make changes to the Guild Hall, replacing my living quarters with a Guild bar. When this is finished, I want both my doyen's to remain in the Guild bar as all members come here to receive jobs from both of you."
"But, master, I live in Bravil." S'Krivva included.
"Then perhaps I should replace you as a fence and bestow the title of doyen to another member who is willing to relocate? It's your choice."
Her face dropped, regretting to have mentioned her objection. "No sir, that's OK." She responded.
"Perhaps Armand can open up space for a bed for you in his home?" I suggested. S'Krivva turned her eyes to Armand, as he looked at her and smiled, then she returned her eyes back to me.
"Now. If you both will please, take another look at your list as I assign you both your jobs to give out." I said as both had looked upon their lists.
"There are a total of 7. So Armand, I will give you 4. You have the Burglary job, which is to steal a specific item from a home. The Heist job, to steal a specific item from a business. The Shill job, to plant a stolen item in someone's home to frame. And the Sweep job, to steal 3 specific items from a home. You understand?" I asked.
"Yes, sir. Burglary, heist, shill, and sweep." Armand responded.
"Good. S'Krivva? You will be in charge of the Bedlam job, to steal enough valuables in a home or business up to 500 in gold value. The Fishing job, to pickpocket an item from a given target. And the Numbers job, to modify a ledger book at a given business. The purpose, S'Krivva, of a numbers job is to change information in the business ledgers located in various stores and inns around Cyrodiil. These side jobs are to be given to all members before providing them the quest for advancement. Keep record of who you give a job to and how many they've completed. You two will stay all night in the Guild Hall, while during the day, you may rest. You two also will need to work together to find targets and locations all throughout Cyrodiil to assign members their jobs to different towns. Do you both understand?" I finally finished speaking.
"Yes, master." Both S'Krivva and Armand had agreed at the exact timing.
"Capital! Now. I will seek to reconstructing the Hall starting tomorrow, it should be done in a week. Until then, both of you work together to make more jobs for the Guild. Explore Cyrodiil more, find targets for the jobs you will give. If you need help in obtaining a map of each town with all the residencies and businesses, look to the First Edition bookstore in the Market District. If you also need help, of any assistance, call upon Methredhel or Amusei." I said.
"Very well, Guildmaster." S'Krivva said.
"Thank you, master." Armand said also.
"Thank you both for your time today, this meeting is now adjourned." I concluded.
All three of us had stood up, both giving me a handshake, then exiting the room. By tomorrow, I will have preparations being made to reconstruct the living room. This will be the Guild's future. I stood there, trying to remember what I forgot I was in need of doing. Then a large amount of air rushed up through my throat coming from my lungs, and I opened my mouth to yawn.
Ah, yes. Bedtime.
