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!