#also I needed an excuse to draw a little Toadie again ^^

[elitadream]

Kids say the darndest things! xD

[the-hoarse-bard]

The ride to the embassy was uneventful, but cold. Azurah only knows why the embassy is atop a mountain outside of Solitude proper, I’d think there are some clear trust issues with the Thalmor even among Imperial loyalists. As I got off, I was greeted by a clearly inebriated Imperial. He was friendly enough for a random drunk, apparently he had also been invited. His drunken state was a common theme with him, according to a nearby Thalmor guard. I presented my invitation and headed inside ahead of the drunk man, I heard him cracking jokes about contraband to the door guard behind me.

The host of the party, the ambassador Elenwen herself, greeted me at the door, making a particular comment that she didn’t recognize me. I lied that I was sent an invitation as a local representative of Elsweyr, and that seemed to satisfy her. Unfortunately, she decided I was the perfect target for small talk and she continued to ask me about myself. Malborn’s bar station was nearby and, seeing my distress, asked Elenwen about a particular vintage wine they seemed to be out of. She was frustrated, commenting about his incompetence and excused herself to fetch a new bottle from the cellar.

I immediately went to Malborn and thanked him for the rescue. He said it was no problem, and then as per his profession, offered me a drink, which I accepted. Down to business, he then recommended I raise some kind of distraction so he could sneak me through to the kitchen, where he had stashed my equipment. Until then, I’d have to mingle and try to fit in.

Among the other guests, I recognized a few faces. Most of all Maven Black-Briar. I casually approached her from behind and got her attention, asking what she was doing here. She whispered she was on guild business and told me to go away to avoid suspicion. I whispered back that I’d be on call if she needed me and moved on, realizing she’d never risk her reputation on a distraction. Even for me.

The next person I recognized was Proventus, jarl Balgruuf’s steward. I tried to subtly ask the man for a favor, but he was as dense as a brick and continued to make small talk about how fortunate the Empire was to have Thalmor support, clearly not recognizing me in plain clothes. A toady to the end, that man. I had to make an excuse about needing a fresh drink to get away from his incessant yammering.

As I moved back toward the bar, I was intercepted by an elderly woman. She didn’t introduce herself and spoke strangely. She said something about lies and half-truths, and the Thalmor being fluent in both languages. I could detect some sadness in her words, but also a tone of warning. Thinking for a moment, I then recognized her as the jarl of Morthal. I had heard from many that she’s mad, but to hear her, she made a lot of sense, if you only choose to listen. I nodded that I understood her warning, she gave me a smile and walked away. I felt a shiver as she left me. I’d have to remember to visit her at a later time.

The last face I could name from the guests at the party was Jarl Elisif of Solitude. She had a reputation of being a bit.... Foolish, but I was desperate on that distraction. She clearly recognized me immediately from my meetings with Falk Firebeard, to my surprise, and asked how I was enjoying the party. For a moment, I almost felt guilty for drawing such an honestly innocent woman into my scheme, but I asked her to make a distraction for me, flat out. She initially said she didn’t feel like a juvenile prank was appropriate, all the better she thinks this is all just a joke. I did manage to convince her, however. She seemed almost giddy at the idea after I convinced her. I told her to wait until I gave a signal, and took my place over by the bar.

When I felt the time was right, I gave Elisif a nod from across the room, and she began accusing Proventus of making a pass at her, making quite the fuss and catching everyone’s attention. Maybe the stories about her were wrong and she was a mischievous soul just trapped in an extremely professional position. I turned to Malborn and told him that was the distraction, and we slipped into the kitchen unnoticed.

The Khajiit cook immediately raised objection to us being in there, but Malborn made up an excuse about me overindulging in drink and just needing a place to catch my breath. When she stated that it was against the rules to have guests in the kitchen, Malborn noted that so was having moon sugar in the kitchen, she hissed at him and immediately went back to her business.

Malborn lead me into the pantry, and indicated a crate where he had stashed the gear I had him smuggle in. He then said that he’d have to get back to the party, and pointed to a second door in the pantry, saying that it lead to the rest of the embassy, and he’d have to lock the door behind me to ensure I’m not followed. I grabbed my stuff, put on my armor and left, wishing him luck.

The door latch clicked as I stepped into the hall beyond, and I heard a trio of men up ahead. Peeking into the next room, I spied a pair of Thalmor guards talking with a wizard. They were talking about how many parties Elenwen was throwing and how it was a serious safety concern. Soon though, the wizard excused himself, as he had to go on patrol. 

Seeing an opportunity, I whispered the incantation for Nocturnal’s Shadowcloak, and followed the wizard. When I was sure we were out of sight of the other two, I drew one of my glass daggers and cut his throat, heading out into the cold of the courtyard.

The courtyard was relatively unguarded, considering I had just murdered one of the men who were supposed to be on patrol here. I followed the path from the main building a short ways and hid among some foliage around the edge of the yard. I stayed there until I saw a guard passed, then crept up to the door of the outbuilding.

There was a wizard leaning against the door, apparently dozing on the job. I was able to slip through the door behind him without causing a fuss.

As I entered the outbuilding, I immediately noticed the building was being used for torture from both the furniture and the sound of a prisoner groaning in pain, as well as the torturer ordering him to talk. I snuck down the stairs from the entrance, and planted a dagger in the torturers back. Unfortunately, a wizard was coming down the stairs right as I did the deed. I spun around and tackled him before he could raise an alarm, stabbing him through the chest.

The torturers handled, I turned my attention to the prisoner. To my shock and surprise, he was a guildmate! One of the local faces around the Ragged Flagon, we had just assumed he got pinched during a job. He was beyond relieved to see me, and I undid his shackles quickly, for which he was very grateful. When I asked about escape routes, he pointed out a trapdoor in the corner, saying he had seen the guards use it to dispose of bodies. I told him to go on ahead, I had some info to find.

A little rummaging around in the torturers chest revealed a few interesting dossiers. One about Delphine, Ulfric, and most interestingly one about a fellow named Esbern. It seems the Thalmor were after him on suspicion that HE knew something about the dragons returning. I was distracted from reading it fully by Etienne, the guildmate I had just rescued, cursing that the trap door was locked, followed by a commotion from the entrance. Etienne hid near the trapdoor and I quickly hid more toward the door, hoping to ambush whoever was coming in.

A pair of Thalmor guards kicked in the door, dragging in what sounded like Malborn with them. They shouted, “Alright spy! Come on out, we have your accomplice! You have five seconds before he dies!” Malborn yelled at me not to come out, though. He said he’d gladly sacrifice his life for this operation. The guard said, “Suit yourself.” and beheaded him. I couldn’t hold myself back, and leapt upon the guards, yelling all kinds of foul curses in Ta’agra at them. I hacked at the shaveskin snakes with my daggers again and again, long after they were dead. It took Etienne shaking me to get me to stop. He had found the key to the trap door in one of their pockets, and he said we had to go before more showed up. I nodded and we descended into the cavern under the embassy.

Etienne froze at a ledge, and said “Stop. Frost troll. You’ll have to take care of it, I don’t have any of my gear.” I cursed forgetting to pack flame powder, I’d have to be very careful here. I waited for the troll to wander close to the ledge and pounced down upon it, driving my dagger right into its third eye, followed by a quick slash for its throat, and it fell dead. I called Etienne down, and we continued on. Luckily, Etienne was able to find the remains of an unlucky mage, who happened to have a glass sword and a relatively fresh set of robes for him. We walked out of the cave together and said a short goodbye as he set off back to Riften, and I to Riverwood to deliver this intel to Delphine.