TES3: Sugar-Lips Habasi (Part 3)

Mehra and Okaw needed to find themselves a cover identity, and after a very brief conversation -- and promises of drakes and riches -- the two make their way back to the South Wall Cornerclub to meet up with Sugar-Lips Habasi.

"An interesting name," growls Okaw.

"Are you looking for me? You want to join the Thieves Guild?"

Well that was straightforward, thought Mehra. "Yeah, yeah lemme in."

Now, apparently Mehra was known as a "Toad" in the Thieves Guild, whatever that meant. Of course, one of the first things she asks is whether there are any jobs available. Apparently, a friend of Habasi's wants a diamond, and a local alchemist named Nalcarya of White Haven has some.

To the alchemist's we go! Okaw chooses to stay behind as, in his words, he doesn't have much love for the skills of a sneakthief.

The job was much easier than she expected. The diamonds, as promised, were in a small lockbox. A quick picklocking job and Mehra was on her way back to Habasi with the diamonds.

Now onto the next job. Apparently, Habasi wants a key to Nerano Manor. The owner, Ondres, obviously has a key, but Habasi also redirects Mehra to Sovor Trandel at the Council Club.

Yes, the Council Club, the known front for the Camonna Tong, local mafia and famous haters of the Thieves Guild. Great.

Well, there's more than one way to skin a Khajiit, so Mehra's next stop is at the manor itself.

The manor reveals nothing except many sets of exquisite clothing (which she nabs) and a set of enchanted throwing stars (which she also nabs), but no keys. She briefly considers pickpocketing the key from the owner's pocket... well, it can't be worse than going in the den of organized crime... can it?

Well, that plan failed miserably, and Ondres Narano throws the first punch.

The noble stands no chance against Mehra, and the battle is brief and bloody. Afterwards, Mehra takes the key off his body, along with everything else he owns.

After all is said and done, Mehra has the key, so mission success?

Apparently not. Habasi heard of the Nerano noble's murder, which makes her job much harder as a result, so Mehra has to forego her pay for the job.

Bummer.

Now, the day was dragging on, and Mehra was getting tired. Not necessarily feeling like sleeping at the inn again, she finds an abandoned home apparently belonging to someone by the name of Vori. Well, the lock was very easy to pick, and once inside she is impressed by the coziness of the setup. A nice, temporary place to call home... so long as the owner doesn't show up.

And I'm sure the owner won't mind Mehra, err, borrowing a set of robes. 

TES3: Blade And Breakfast (Part 2)

Last time we left our intrepid heroes, they were on their way to Balmora to begin their epic quest for freedom by joining up with the mysterious Caius Cosades and delivering a package.

Along the way there, they find the Imperial city of Pelagiad.

They eventually make their way to the foyada, the dark ash-strewn natural pathway created by the magma flows from Red Mountain, which they need to cross before reaching Balmora.

The two adventurers eventually pass by the Moonmoth Legion Fort, indicating that they are nearly at the dunmer town.

'Tis by a late-afternoon fog that our heroes eventually see their destination.

They pass by the silt strider, the giant insectoid creature the local dunmer use for transportation, and finally make their way to Balmora proper.

Now, the duo's first order of business is to offload their skooma and moon sugar. After searching a little, they find a khajiit pawnbroker by the name of Ra'virr who is more than happy to trade for their goods.

Now that that's out of the way, the next order of business is to offload much of the junk they found in Addamasartus, the cave from which Mehra freed Okaw. It is during this time that Mehra gets her hands on a Steel Frostsword, a blade with a frost damage enchantment which feels cool to the touch.

By the time they're done, the sun was setting on Balmora.

They settle for the night at the Blue Plates Cornerclub, and when morning comes, they begin asking around for Caius Cosades.

It doesn't seem that anyone at this particular cornerclub knows of the man. Asking around, it feels like not many people know where that person would live. By wandering through the town, they finally make their way to the South Wall Cornerclub.

Okaw shivers when walking into this place. He had never been too comfortable around places of ill-repute. Mehra, however, feels right at home. She finds the proprietor, an imperial by the name of Bacola. "Do you know where I might find Caius Cosades?" she asks.

"Old Caius rents a little bed-and-basket just up the hill to the north edge of town," replies the man.

With a thanks and a wave, the two adventurers make their way to Caius' house.

The place is in a state of disarray, and the smell of poorly-washed clothes makes Okaw wrinkle his snout. Mehra eyes the moon sugar and skooma pipe unceremoniously tossed near the lone bed before setting her eyes on the shirtless, balding man.

The man seems confused. "I was told to report to you." She hands the man the package she was given in Seyda Neen.

"Yes. Very interesting. So. It says here the Emperor wants me to make you a Novice in the Blades. And that means you'll be following my orders. Are you ready to follow my orders, Mehra?"

"Yes." Ah, the illusion of choice.

The man gives a sarcastic smile. "Good. Welcome to the service, Novice Mehra."

She could feel the argonian shift behind her. "So, what are my orders? Sir?"

"First thing, pilgrim. You're new. And you look it. You need a cover identity. Around here, 'freelance adventurer' is a common profession. Gain skill and experience. Or go out on your own, look for freelance work, or trouble. Then, when you're ready, come back, and I'll have orders for you."

A cover identity, huh? Well, Mehra knows just where to find one...

TES3: To The East, To Morrowind (Part 1)

They have taken you from the Imperial City's prison, first by carriage and now by boat, to the east, to Morrowind. Fear not, for I am watchful. You, have been chosen.

She stood up... there we go. She was dreaming. What was her name?

"Mehra," she remembered. Well, not even last night's storm could wake her. Her fellow prisoner heard guards say they reached Morrowind, and he was sure they would let them go.

As she gets out the ship, down on the docks, and through the door, a stuffy-looking official stares at her. "Ah yes, we've been expecting you. You'll have to be recorded before you're officially released."

In her past life, Mehra had been many things: burglar, guard, medic, part-time diplomat. This time she chose to simply say: "Adventurer."

"Very good," the man continued, "the letter that preceded you mentioned you were born under a certain sign. And what would that be?"

Sign? Mehra wasn't certain when she was born, but she read something about the Lady being a starsign, so she said that. "Interesting," the man continued, sounding entirely disinterested. It wasn't long before she was asked to verify her information and sent on her way.

As she walked through the census and excise office, she immediately noticed how much they trusted this about-to-be-released prisoner. In the next room, unguarded, there's a lockpick and a locked chest. How fortuitous.

After taking everything that isn't nailed down, she moves to the courtyard. And in the courtyard, a discarded ring!

A few more hoops to jump through, and Mehra was now a free woman. Well, on the condition that she report to a certain man called Caius Cosades in a town called Balmora. So mostly-free.

Immediately her attention is drawn to a nearby Bosmer.

Aaaaah, so that's where the ring came from. "Yes, I found it! Here, take it." Well, returning the ring, the little Bosmer guarantees a good word with the local trader. How fortuitous once again.

She's not sure she'd like being the little mer's favourite friend, but she'll take the discount. Making her way to Arrille, she sees the little man wasn't lying. With her, err, rapidly-gotten gains, Mehra manages to purchase herself a sword and some basic armour.

It's a bit of a trek to Balmora, the town the warden pointed her to, so she sets off.

Oh?

She heard of such caves. Apparently smugglers use them for their operations. Deciding that this would be a good way to stretch out her rusted skills, Mehra makes her way inside. And is immediately attacked.

Rapidly dispatched. She finds two more smugglers deeper in the cave, and deeper still... some skooma and moon sugar, illegal drugs huzzah!

Well, Mehra pockets them for sale later. It was quite easy to find a shady merchant or two to offload some strange goods.

Now, this was a surprise. It turns out slavery is still legal, at least in Vvardenfell? It looks like this cave was used by slavers, and three pour unfortunate souls were locked in. Well, Mehra's not about to leave them stranded there.

It seems that one of them, Okaw, didn't really understand the assignment... and now considers Mehra their master?

Well, Mehra's not one to refuse companionship. She won't really treat him like a slave, but she won't refuse someone's company on the road.

With that, Mehra and Okaw continue their journey along to the town of Balmora!