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Chimerical

By Mantrid Brizon

Episode 3: A Moderate Score

The three companions travel through Vivec City, passing many merchant booths before entering the Canton of Saint Delyn. They make their way directly for Saint Delyn’s Inn, at Jo’dehki’s urging. Fjorn makes no complaints, and Nish is curious to see what Jo’dehki has up his sleeve. Entering the Inn, they take seats and order a few drinks. Jo’dehki notes Nish’s preference for honeyed drinks, which is not dissimilar to his own.

“So why are we here?” Nish asks.

“A popular tavern is always a good place for people with certain skills to look for work, yes?” Jo’dehki answers.

“You mean thieves?” Fjorn mutters.

“The fighter’s guild is just down the hall, if you would prefer that.” Jo’dehki remarks, taking a drink of his Barley Nectar.

“I prefer more honorable work.” Fjorn says.

“Honorable work didn’t seem to do well for you when you went solo.” Nish begins.

“I was merely having a bad day.” Fjorn grumbles.

“I don’t think I need to explain to you that bailing new friends out of prison isn’t the cheapest thing one can do. We need the coin, especially if we eventually want to leave Vvardenfell.” Nish explains.

Fjorn stands from the table, quickly leaving the two behind as he storms off.

“Is he alright?” Jo’dehki asks.

“He’s complicated, for a man. Melancholy, and always trying to prove himself. It’s because of his home life. He’ll get drunk, start a barfight, probably win, and be back to his old self in the morning; stoic and slightly less depressing.” Nish replies.

“And what about you? Are you complicated?”

“Hah! Anything but…” Nish chuckles.

“Perhaps, but perhaps not. You certainly are not an open book, yes?” Jo’dehki comments.

“Well, you aren’t either.”

“This one is just a humble thief. A rather accomplished thief, but one nonetheless. That’s how this one had provided for himself throughout his adult life outside of Elsweyr. Well, that and hunting. This one is as skilled with a bow as his own claws. This one never stole above his means, though. Too much coin can be a burden. Better to keep only enough for quick escapes, and a pleasant evening at a tavern.” Jo’dehki explains.

“How forthright of you.” Nish begins.

“This one is nothing if not honest.” Jo’dehki grins.

“An honest thief. Commendable. You must not be very old, to still have such a positive outlook.” Nish remarks.

“This one is twenty-four.”

They sit and quietly drink their drinks. When Nish finishes his mug, he leaves to find Fjorn, who still hasn’t returned. He leaves Jo’dehki to search for a client, while he wanders the Canton Waistworks looking for Fjorn. After a brief search, he spots him sitting on a bench, in a hall that leads to the fighter’s guild main entrance. Fjorn stairs at the banner, and seems to be deep in thought. Nish takes a seat beside him. He rests his hands on his knees and leans forward, taking a deep breath.

“I must admit that this is the last place I thought I would find you.” Nish sighs.

“I was just entertaining the thought. That’s all” Fjorn replies.

“Whatever Jo’dehki finds for us, you can sit it out; I’ll cut you in anyway.” Nish says.

Fjorn nods his head in silent agreement. Nish gets up from the bench and walks away, returning to Saint Delyn’s Inn. He looks around the inn, spotting Jo’dehki sitting with a very well dressed Dunmer man. He hesitates to interrupt their conversation, but Jo’dehki sees him and quickly waves him over. He takes a seat next to Jo’dehki.

“Is this the partner you spoke of?” The Dark Elf asks.

“He is.”

“Good. Then I will let you explain the situation. You may collect your payment after you retrieve what I have asked for.” The Mer continues.

He suddenly rises from his seat and takes his leave. The pair leave as well, walking toward the merchant booths outside of the Cantons, while Jo’dehki quickly explains, in Ta’agra, the nature of the job. The Dark Elf is a jewelry merchant within the Cantons, but a competitor has recently arrived; they sell valuable gems, primarily diamonds and rubies, at half the cost of their client. Though it can’t be proven, their client believes that his competitor is selling stolen merchandise, as his sale prices barely cover costs.

The client purchased a gold ruby ring, which had proven to be genuine. His competitor owns a sturdy lockbox, where he stores the merchandise. The client wants them to break into the lockbox and retrieve anything with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, and to do so without arising suspicion, getting caught, or hurting anyone. The client wants them to complete the job by the following morning. They are earning three-hundred drakes for the trouble, more than Nish had spent since arriving at Vvardenfell, but not enough to make it truly worthwhile.

They wander the merchant’s alley until they spot their target, a humble looking Altmer woman running a simple wooden jewelry stand. Though the woman doesn’t seem to have very many customers, the pair sit back and watch her stand from a considerable distance. Several citizens approach and make purchases, seemingly astounded by the quality of her wares, and by their affordable prices.

“So, what is your plan?” Nish asks, playing a fair card game with Jo’dehki.

“This one could pick the lock of her chest while you provide a distraction.” He answers.

“Simple and straight forward… I like it.” Nish grins.

They end their friendly game and move around the water’s edge. Nish has Jo’dehki keep watch while he takes off his brown leather light armor, and quickly switch clothes, donning a clean and rather expensive looking robe that he had tucked away in his backpack.

“What are you doing?” Jo’dehki asks.

“Look the part, be the part.” Nish responds.

Stowing his armor and clothes in his pack, he hides his weapon belt underneath his robe. He hides the pack behind a large rock formation near the shore, before casually approaching the Altmer’s stand. He begins to browse; her prices do not make sense, considering the value in the metals and gem stones.

“Is there something I can help you with, Imperial?” She asks.

“Yes, I’m looking for something to send back home, to someone very special.” Nish politely speaks.

“And how special is this someone?”

“Ring special.” Nish answers.

“I see. A woman of either Mer or Men would appreciate a diamond, and unlike many of my competitors, my wares will not leave you regretting your purchase.”

Nish silently looks over her wares, maintaining her attention while Jo’dehki walks along a fence behind the Altmer’s stand. He takes up a golden band with a moonstone imbedded in it.

“You have interesting taste…” She remarks.

“She would prefer it.”

“She wouldn’t prefer a ruby or emerald?” She presses him.

“No… She is Khajiit.” Nish grins.

“I beg your pardon?!” She exclaims in bewilderment.

“Is that a problem?” He asks, raising an eyebrow.

Jo’dehki slips over the rock fence, his eyes scanning for the lockbox. To his dismay, he sees it at her feet, right behind the stand. The High Elf seems to argue with Nish, who maintains a calm and polite demeanor. The woman moves away from her stand, as though to shoo him away, but Nish refuses. He brushes her hand away, moving closer to the woman in defiance. Jo’dehki considers picking the lock, but he worries that she’ll turn around and catch him at any moment. Nish watches in dismay as Jo’dehki walks away.

“Alright. I’ll leave.” Nish remarks.

He holds up his hands in surrender as he backs away from the woman and her stand. He walks away and returns to his pack, still hidden along the shore and behind the rocks, where Jo’dehki waits for him.

“So, what happened?” He asks Jo’dehki.

“She did not leave this one much time to pick the lock, and there were too many people around to witness the act.” He answers.

“Well, then it’s a good thing this one knows a few tricks.” Nish grins.

He holds up a keyring, pickpocketed from the Altmer.

“This one did not know that you were such a talented thief.” Jo’dehki chuckles.

“One of many talents.” Nish replies.

“So now what?”

“We’ll copy these keys right away, then I’ll return to the Altmer to apologize for being so confrontational. I’ll have to purchase something from her, to avoid arousing suspicion, and then leave. When she closes down for the night, we’ll follow her at a distance to wherever she lays her head, wait until the night, sneak in, and then remove the goods. Unfortunately, I may need to borrow some of your drakes.” Nish explains.

“Alright, so long as we earn them all back, yes?” Jo’dehki agrees with a head nod.

They walk to a nearby blacksmith, where they ask him to cold cast a set of bronze keys from the keyring. They pay the blacksmith and sit by his shop, resuming their card game. After a moment, Jo’dehki succumbs to his curiosity.

“Forgive this one for asking, but what where you talking about with the High Elf that made her so upset?”

“Hmm? Oh, I just told her that I had a Khajiit lover back home, and that I wanted to buy a ring for her. When she became visibly surprised, I simply accused her of hating Khajiit, and of judging me for my choice in a partner. I became exceptionally irate, causing her to force me out. When I saw you hesitate, I improvised.” Nish explains.

“That’s an interesting tactic… So… Have you ever had one before?” Jo’dehki asks.

“What? A lover?” Nish chuckles.

“A Khajiit lover.”

“That’s a very personal question…” Nish sternly remarks.

Jo’dehki ceases his questions; They sit in silence for a few moments. The blacksmith takes the bronze cast keys and dips them in a trough of water, quickly cooling them. He calls out to the pair who silently play cards in front of his shop. They collect both sets of keys before returning together to the rocks. Jo’dehki hands over his remaining drakes to Nish, and sits patiently for him by his pack along the shore, the bronze copies in his hands.

He sits back as Nish walks away from the shoreline and toward the Altmer’s stand. Jo’dehki can’t help but peak around the rocks, watching Nish as he approaches the High Elf woman. She seems immediately apprehensive, but Nish seems polite and apologetic. After a brief discussion, he looks at the same golden band with a moonstone imbedded in it. He purchases the ring, then approaches the woman, shaking her hand in peace. As he does so, he carefully slips her original keys back into her pocket.

She doesn’t seem to notice. Jo’dehki can’t help but admire Nish’s skills. Nish leaves her stand and walks in a roundabout way to the rocks, where he quickly returns to Jo’dehki. He hands him back several drakes.

“I’m sorry for having to borrow your drakes, but at least I was able to save you some.” Nish laments.

“You bargained with her after what you did?” Jo’dehki laughs.

“I’ve always been told how Imperials are supposed to be such shrewd and capable merchants, and I am wearing a very nice robe.” Nish grins.

Jo’dehki chuckles as Nish changes back into his clothes, removing the robe rather eagerly. He slips on his black cloth pants and dark orange tunic, black leather boots, leather cuirass, and then refastening his weapon belt.

“I never liked those fancy clothes anyway.” Nish comments.

They return to their post across from the woman’s stand, playing cards and maintaining idle banter for several hours until twilight approaches. The woman begins to close down her shop as they watch from a distance. She places her displayed jewelry into a large velvet sack, before placing it into her lockbox, along with her coin purse. She begins carrying the lockbox away from the booth, returning to her home. The two thieves follow a distance behind.

“Couldn’t we simply knock her out or paralyze her, then take the lockbox?” Jo’dehki poses.

“Not with so many witnesses around. Patience.” Nish replies, patting him on the back.

They follow her until she enters a small home just outside of the Cantons. They sit back for a moment, opting to wait until late at night to make their move. Suddenly, however, after only a few moments inside of her home, the Altmer woman leaves. With her home unattended, they cautiously approach her home. Nish knocks on the door, but no one answers. He knocks again, but again receives no response. He turns back to Jo’dehki.

“Jer yo ahziss?” He asks Jo’dehki.

Jo’dehki merely shrugs. Nish removes his lucky drake from his pocket and flips it. He catches the coin and places it on the back of his right hand.

“Heads you go, tails I go.”

Jo’dehki nods in agreement. He removes his hand to see the tail end of the coin facing him. Nish sighs.

“I’ll be quick. Knock three times very quickly if someone is coming. I can slip out some other way and you can claim you were looking for someone, and approached the wrong house.”

“Alright.” Jo’dehki agrees.

Nish uses the bronze keys to slip into the home; the keys are a perfect fit. Inside it is very conservatively furnished, as though the Altmer woman had just moved in. He quickly finds her lockbox and opens it. It is filled to the brim with gold and silver rings containing various precious gems, alongside her coin purse, and the velvet bag with her displays. He removes his pack, opens the main flap, and pours the contents of the lockbox inside of his pack.

Not wanting to waste any time, Nish relocks the lockbox and returns it, before slipping on his pack and quickly exiting the house. They return to the Saint Delyn Inn, entering the room that Nish shares with Fjorn. No one is inside. He takes out the stolen jewelry and immediately recognizes the value; even a handful of the haul is worth considerably more than three-hundred drakes, even at wholesale. They glance to each other for a moment, grinning wide.

“I think it’s time for a new plan.” Nish says.

“Agreed.”

They divvy up the gold from the coin purse, leaving a portion for Fjorn; Nish gives Jo’dehki extra, to make up for borrowing from him earlier. They return the jewelry to Nish’s pack. They exit the room and Nish stops, turning back to Jo’dehki.

“Do you need anything from your room?” Nish asks.

“This one travels very light.”

“Alright then. As soon as Fjorn gets back in here, I suppose we can leave for another city. Find somewhere to unload all of this stuff.” Nish suggests.

“This one knows someone in Suran who will be happy to buy in bulk, at a discount of course. We can travel there on foot rather quickly; perhaps in less than three hours, yes?” Jo’dehki offers.

“I like that plan. I’m excited to be a part of it.” Nish grins.

They return to the front counter where they each order a Honey Lager, before taking seats beside each other as they wait for Fjorn to arrive for the night. Jo’dehki seems nervous, as they wait for their Nord companion. Nish wonders where he could be, but is more concerned with calming Jo’dehki, before he draws unwanted attention to the both of them.

“… A few.” Nish suddenly says.

“Pardon?” Jo’dehki looks to him.

“Your question earlier… I’ve had a few Khajiit lovers.” Nish answers.

“Forgive the question, but this one must know… You were comfortable with them?” Jo’dehki wonders.

“I’m not sure I understand the question… The parts certainly fit, so yes, I was very comfortable. I believe they were too.” Nish grins. “If you are wondering why an Imperial would bother with a Khajiit, then I must confess that I did not grow up in Cyrodiil. I had never even been there before I turned twenty-two.” He continues.

“Where then were you raised?” Jo’dehki raises a brow.

“Let’s just say that I’m very comfortable around Khajiit.”

“This one is no good at riddles.” Jo’dehki remarks.

“Alright then… Here’s a more specific hint: I wasn’t raised in Morrowind, High Rock, Hammerfell, Skyrim, Black Marsh, Valenwood, or Summerset Isles either.” Nish smirks.

“Interesting… That explains quite a few things, yes?” Jo’dehki scratches his chin with his claws.

Nish takes out the gold and moonstone ring that he had purchased from the Altmer, looking it over. He seems deep in thought.

“Do you mind if this one asks you another question?”

“You’re going to ask anyway.” Nish remarks.

“True… Is that ring really for a special woman back in Elsweyr?”

“It is, but not a lover. It’s for my mother, S’Tari. Perhaps I can find one in this pile that my sister Jadhi would like.” Nish thinks aloud.

“This one cannot help but notice that those are not Imperial names. Is it safe for this one to assume that they are Khajiit?” Jo’dehki sits back in his chair.

“It is.” Nish nods. “My mother and father are both Suthay-Raht, as is my baby sister. My younger brother, however, is Cathay-Raht, as you are. Actually, my name should have been a big hint as to my background.” He laughs.

“Well, one can never be too sure these days. This could be a considerable trick by a very knowledgeable and well-traveled Imperial.” Jo’dehki poses.

“I suppose it could, but then I would be quite the trickster. I would have also had to keep the story straight for the time that Fjorn has known of it.” Nish takes a drink from his mug.

“This one wonders if you have an equally fascinating story; how an Imperial child was raised by Khajiit in Elsweyr.”

“Not really. I don’t recall any of it, as I was a toddler. I just know what my parents have told me.” Nish answers.

“And what is that?” Jo’dehki presses.

“… Some other time…” Nish sighs.

Moments after opening up to Jo’dehki, Fjorn walks into the inn. The pair quickly finish their drinks, as Fjorn approaches. Jo’dehki finishes before Nish.

“Ahh…” Jo’dehki sets down his mug, wiping his lips with the right sleeve of his tunic. “So, Ra’Kanishu is an Imperial, raised in Elsweyr by a family of Khajiit.”

Fjorn raises his eyebrows in surprise. He turns to Nish, who shrugs his shoulders.

“Well that didn’t take long!” Fjorn chuckles.

“What can this one say? He is quite charming, yes?” Jo’dehki grins.

“Yeah, I’ll bet. So, we’re having a drink?” Fjorn pulls up a chair.

“Mm-mm.” Nish shakes his head, lowering his now empty mug. “We’ve got to go now. Grab your stuff from the room. We’ll explain on the way out of Vivec. Oh! And here’s your current share.” He takes out a piece of cloth wrapped around a bundle of drakes, sliding them over to Fjorn.

“Well this sounds interesting.” Fjorn remarks.