5 months after the Thalmor incident in Winterhold.
For the most part the Thalmor ambassadors assigned to Winterhold had been surprisingly easy to deal with. Malfor, who was assigned to the Jarls court and Kriso, who had been assigned to the college, had acted very different than anyone had ever experienced from the Thalmor. Kriso, an unusually short and round faced Altmer, was a former student at the college herself many years ago and despite Yarwil doing his best to keep her out of any official business, seemed to be enjoying herself as simply an experienced mind for the students. He refused to allow her access in any official capacity to the administration of the college or the research lab but did allow her to participate in more
public experiments such as the shipping containers. She had a much more pleasant demeanor than any other Thalmor and most people were warming up to her presence even if they were a bit guarded.
Malfor on the other hand was not having quite the same experience. He was a very quiet man. He generally kept to himself and wasn't much for expressing opinions. He generally never gave any input unless he was specifically asked and that wasn't often. He spent his days in the longhouse mostly reading and spent his nights alone in his room. He was in attendance for the council meetings after the queen threatened sanctions if the Jarl did not allow him in but he never had any input, always just seemed to be listening. This caused a bit of distrust among him and the other council members.
Both of them were in attendance for this particular council meeting. M'Arques had been having issues with his caravans being harassed causing him plenty of delayed or damaged shipments and some of his customers were starting to find other companies and his employees morale was at an all time low.
"Do not tell one his caravans are not being targeted. We have had our caravans searched and have been robbed more in the last three months than I have the last two years combined." M'Arques said to Malfor.
"I have no knowledge of your caravans being targeted, we have had this discussion before." Malfor said to him with the same drab tone he seemed to always have.
"The moment one's caravans leave the borders of our hold they have a squad of Justicars who tear it apart. They ruin the customers property and damage M'Arques reputation and M'Arques profits every single time. They keep saying it's to look for Talos worship. Almost every single employee one has is Khajit. They are harassing Khajit for Talos worship. How many Khajit have you met that worship Talos? It is retaliation is all it is." He said as he glared at the Ambassadors.
Kriso wanted to see if she could diffuse his frustration.
"M'Arques, we need to eat just like everyone else. We enjoy the fresh fruits from Cyrodill and Elyswer as much as anyone else. We rely on your caravans for that same as everyone else. If you feel your caravans are being unfairly treated this is something I can bring up in my correspondences to Elenwen."
"As if that cunt is not the one sending the orders." He said
"Alright, I think this meeting has run its course. I'll see you all next week." Kraldar said to put an end to the tension.
Everyone got up from table and headed outside. As they walked through the doors M'Arques approached Travius.
"Can one steal a moment of your time, friend?" He asked as they walked down the street.
"Of course, what's on your mind?" Travius said to him assuredly.
"M'Arques is not quite sure what happened but one noticed this new "Isles of Paradise Reserve" was removed from the taverns and stopped showing up in one's deliveries after you last returned from Whiterun. Not long after, Maven Black-Brian started refusing this product at her city gates and rumored to have ordered it all disposed of. This One must assume you know why and I will respect your discretion in the matter. This one thought it would be fitting to inform you that the merchants one was buying from have returned and selling what are labeled as known brands. A caravanner noticed on oddity in their product though. That labels were in a poor condition as if they were removed and added to these bottles. This one thinks it is the same product being disguised for distribution." He said.
He was hoping to get an answer from Travius about why this popular item suddenly disappeared but he also trusted him enough to know he was keeping the secret for a reason.
"Where is it being shipped too?" Travius asked him.
"Everywhere, friend. Whichever label it carries at the time becomes the most sought after drink around. This One and others have noticed a connection between the false labels and whether or not damage occurs during these inspections." He answered
M'Arques then spoke again.
"More and more oddities are appearing as well. One has been told that the Thalmor have a militia who operate on their behalf. I was shown the crest and recognized it as the banner of Dominion Loyalists in Elyswer." He then looked at Travius and who was clearly having a debate in his mind.
He was bread crumbing Travius to show him how much he already knows to get Travius to help him fill in the blanks
"Does one not trust M'Arques?" He asked Travius.
"Trust is not the issue. My discretion on this matter is more for the protection of others than protection of the information. Although both should be considered in this matter." He said to him.
"The caravans and the couriers have traveled more than even someone such as yourself. They see an they hear what everyone else thinks is unimportant. Not just for their own gains but for survival. They are the eyes and the ears of the roads and the wilderness. Much like a beggar is to a thief or a spy is to the Emperor. They speak in whispers but M'Arques has ears for those soft words to fall upon. This one trades in information as much as goods in wares. You have no fear to burden this one with secrets." He said to him.
Travius knew he was right. M'Arques was without questing the most well respected and powerful Khajit in all of Skyrim. He started off with nothing but a few bottles of Skooma to sell and turned it into the largest caravan fleet in the province. His reach went quite deep as it was a poorly guarded secret that his business dealt with items both legal and not.
"Were not far my from my home. Let's have a drink and discuss this among safer company." He said.
The streets were crowded today and with so many people in Winterhold now, you had to be cautious of who could be listening in.
...
"No need to worry about these drinks. My wife makes them herself." Travius said to M' Arques as he poured them both a glass while they both sat at a small table in the armory.
M' Arques took a good look around the home.
"Quite the difference then the last time M' Arques was here. The empty ale bottles have been replaced with a child's dolls and a nursery. One saw a chicken coup in the backyard. How did you get Vhornyak to agree with that?." He asked.
Travius laughed a little. "The girls wanted them.
He may have a profound hatred of chickens but children will always be his greatest weakness."
"Well. This one thinks the home is better this way. A lively home makes for a healthy home." M' Arques said and then lifted his glass to Travius who met with his own for a cheers.
"Well, let's get to the matter at hand." Travius said as he finished his drink and poured another.
"I was given a contract by the Penitus Oculatis while in Whiterun. Their infiltrators had found a hidden distillery in an old ruin. When we arrived we found it was being run by what seems to be the same militia your men have run into and it was being guided by the Thalmor. This 'Isles of Paradise' reserve was being made there. I also found any narcotic you could dream of in there being weighed and packaged. I found one even I have not seen before. A strange blue powder. Yarwil and I have been studying the drinks and this powder for months now. We're not able to find out any immediate effect of this powder nor can we replicate it but we were able to determine they were using it as an ingredient in these drinks. Yarwil thinks its effects are meant to be activatied when the powder is consumed consistently." Travius said to him.
"Interesting indeed." M' Arques said.
"One has a suspicion that the Thalmor have been redistributing contraband for some time now. Maven Black-Briar had marked some moon sugar and sent them with a decoy to intentionally be found by the Thalmor. It worked and it was confiscated. Nearly two weeks later that marked product had made its way back to Riften. Manufacturing their own drugs and alcohol is new information to M' Arques though. One believes it is to de stabilize. She is trying a more subtle method than a war. Slowly poisoning the province. They have been flooding Skyrim with drugs for quite some time but your theory with the drinks makes perfect sense. Much easier to corrode peoples minds with substances when one doesn't even know they are consuming it."
Travius pondered this statement for a moment and realized M' Arques is absolutely right.
"How is Maven Black-Briar aware of this? Can you set up a meeting with her for me?" He asked him.
"The Thalmor most likely know it was you who destroyed their operations. With that information and what happened in the spring she will not be seen with a target as large as the one you most certainly have on your back. One can tell you that Maven hears more whispers than even M' Arques does. Most of them come from the Thieves Guild. They may be less wary of your enemies than Maven." M' Arques finished his own drink.
"You tell your wife how delightful these are. This one will be happy to help her monetize these if she pleases." He then took a more solemn tone.
"Are you ready for them Travius? You know after what happened in the spring, the Thalmor have more planned than just some docile Ambassadors, one has thought of this I'm sure. The Jarl is so pre occupied with the arena project that he is becoming too complacent. He thinks it a victory. This one and yourself know better than that though." He said
"I've had the Ire of the dominion for ten years now. I always have an eye open for them." He said