Tales of Warrog: Chapter 7

The tales continue as Warrog begins to rethink his career choice in life.

Day 22
I arrived in Markarth today as a guy pulled a knife. Instinct took over and I sunk my axe into his back. After talking to some witnesses, I guess he was actually one of the women. She was grateful enough to give me an Emerald Silver Necklace.

The weird part was that a guy gave me a note by making it look like it was my note. It says to meet him at a Temple of Talos. The guards in Markarth are denying it has anything to do with the Forsworn which I found out are like bandits who live out in the wild. I guess they make it a habit of killing beautiful women who like to buy jewelry. Since it goes against my rule, I'll have to do something about it.

But first, I came here for a job. I found an old wizard who is finishing his work on the Falmer language, but he's being a bitch and won't let me see it. He wouldn't even take money. My only option was to "sneak" into his work area. That involved running past four or five guards because they noticed me after I stepped twenty feet in. I now have a bounty on my head. The next section had a bunch of Wizard's Guards. This guy must be loaded to be able to hire a dozen or more guards. My killing move of choice as of late has been my patented three-strikes-to-your-face-with-my-knee-and-you're-out maneuver.

I had been testing these Dwemer valves; each would set off some sort of trap. When I saw a room filled with guys in plate mail and a mage (I hate mages), I risked it, and sneaked across to turn the valve. One guard noticed me, but the others were too slow as the room filled with spinning blades and gouts of fire. The guard took a couple hits from my axe, and seeing that there was no more backup left, only my axe, he fled down the hall. I turned the traps off, and looted the bodies. The mage had a ring to help my lock picking abilities.

The door to the room connected to the outside in Markarth and led up some stairs to a tower. There I found a stone monument, some charcoal and a roll of paper. I etched the engravings onto the paper. As I was finishing, six guards walked in, but they didn't notice me as I was elevated. They weren't leaving, and I knew I could not beat them with no chance of bottle necking them. I jumped over them and ran for the door. The last thing I wanted was to get lost in that complex again, so I took an immediate right, found a tight gouge in the rock that lead to the waterfall. Not knowing the guards were right behind me, I jumped.

I climbed out of the water and into a Markarth guard's hands. Not wanting to lose the engraving if I was arrested, I offered him 198 gold to look the other way. He took it. So far in my thieving career, I have made 400 gold, and spent half of it for them. Whoever said "Crime doesn't pay," is very right.

Feeling depressed about my choice of career in life, I went to my home on the lake.

Day 23
Hard work will relieve what ails you. Unless what ails you is an injury, then hard work will not help. For me, I had enough materials on hand to finish that Hall expansion along with a cellar. I'm still lacking some iron ingots to start my very own blacksmith area.

Day 24
I did find an iron ore seam near my house. I'll have to take it to a smelter sometime before I can finish my work. The most I could do with my house was to build a fireplace. Now I can at least have a homecooked meal. I dropped some loot I'd like to keep for myself off in my house. If nothing else, I can create a testament to my abilities to find loot (we'll leave out my ability to be a thief).

Day 25
I stopped off at Winterhold and sold what I could. I looked for a new weapon, but the lady merchant there sold one weapon. Is everyone poor in this land? I found my contact in the basement of the Inn along with Karliah. He used the engraving to translate the journal, which only confirmed what we already knew. When he asked what the Twilight Sepuchal, or something, is, Karliah wouldn't tell him. When I asked Karliah what it was, she told me everything within earshot of the guy. Some women, I don't get. I guess it's some temple to Nocturnal. Karliah gave me a Nocturnal Blade. Looks nice, but not my type of weapon. We have to go inform the rest of the guild now. These long travels are tiring.

Day 26
I tried getting into the Thieves Guild through the hidden back door, but it was locked. The long way I went and found Karliah in the Ragged Flagon. They were ready for us, but we explained everything. Once they checked the vault and found it empty, everyone's now on our side. I mean Mercer was kind of a douche in the first place, so it's not a big surprise. Problem is, we don't know where Mercer is. It's up to me to investigate his house in Riften. At least I don't have to travel very far.

It was still the middle of the night so I wasn't able to sell my loot. I found a hired guard outside the house who attacked me on sight. After his death, I looted his body for valuables and the key. All of the doors were barred. I looked around until I found a mechanism leading to a balcony. A couple of arrows dislodged it, and a ramp fell down. Not exactly the most stealthy sound, but I'm not exactly known for being the quiet type.

Inside I found two bandits were quickly introduced to my axe. Downstairs I searched all of the wardrobes, and just like the one the Butcher used, I found a secret door. It lead to a tunnel that was trapped everywhere. I found some plans of his and more evidence that he can get into locked areas very easily. I also snagged a glass sword out of a locked case. I may be loud everywhere I go, but I can pick locks like it's nobody's business, and it's not.

I gave Mercer's plans to Bryjoff who in turn wanted to talk to Karliah. Long story short, he's hiding out in the most obvious place: The Spectacular Sepaculture, or whatever. Delvin's been bugging me about talking to him about other jobs. It's not like they pay good around here anyway. I mentioned I picked up a model boat back in a crypt, and he was willing to pay me 200 gold for it. I think that increases my total earnings from the Thieves Guild to 600 gold. Since I have nearly 5,000 gold on me, 600 is quite pitiful.

Day 27
Now that it's noon, I stopped over at the merchants to offload my loot. I made a quick detour over to the Jarl of Riften's place since they all have court wizards. I was hoping to learn something from these two new swords I got, but no such luck.

Day 28
I know it's out of the way, but I made a trip back to my home. With wolves around, I'm worried more might come back. I dropped off my two swords to lighten me up as much as possible before heading back to the Twilight's Sphincter.