Recovery and a Fruitful Meeting

The Dancing Chasm

Huddled beneath a pile of woolen blankets atop a sagging and lumpy mattress, Lazare awakens, sweltering beneath the bedding amidst the stench of old sweat. His muscles cry out from disuse as he slowly sits up. Taking stock of his surroundings, he has no memory of how he got here. Last he remembered he was sitting in front of the fireplace. He assumes the innkeeper had him moved to this small bedroom in the back of the Dancing Chasm.

Cool sunlight peeks through the greasy window, illuminating the cramped chamber somewhat. Other than the bed, the room bears little of note besides a few dusty cabinets and an impressive collection of cobwebs strung across the ceiling rafters.

At the foot of the bed, he finds some wool socks and a pair of scuffed leather boots left for him. Kicking away a small rat attempting to chew at the leather, he slides the boots on, quite worn but well-fitting and comfortable on his feet, which are still quite sore from his ordeal. Standing gingerly, he leaves the room and makes his way down to the common room.

Save for the same elder sitting aside the fire, no other patrons occupy the tavern hall at this early hour. The innkeeper futilely attempts to wipe down the warped bar with a filthy rag, only succeeding in spreading more grime across the surface. Without looking up from his task, he addresses Lazare in a gruff tone. “Full day and night you were out. Boots fit well?” Lazare nods, dropping a few septims on the bar. “For the boots and the room…” He pauses, eyeing the counter with some distaste before adding “…and a meal if you have it.” Regarding the coins with narrow eyes, the innkeeper quickly pockets them before disappearing into a back room. He appears a moment later with a tin spoon and a small bowl of gruel. “All I’ve got for now.” he grumbles, returning to his work with a studiousness that suggests the conversation is over.

Seating himself at a rickety table in a corner, Lazare bolts down the gruel, hardly exciting in flavor yet satisfying to his aching stomach. Returning the dish to the counter, he strides to the doorway and exits the tavern into a cold Winter day.

Shopping in Gothway Garden

After surviving the escape from Privateers’ Hold and getting some rest at the Dancing Chasm, it’s time for Lazare to get some decent equipment. Shops and taverns in Daggerfall all have an associated quality which affects prices and the availability of merchandise. A low-quality tavern (which affects the quality of rest and food with the Climates and Calories mod) may be described with ambient text as “crawling with rats” whereas high-quality shops might be described as “pristine” or “immaculate” in so many words.

Gothway Garden is a small village and has limited options, so we settle on Superior General Store, a high-quality and expensive shop, but we’ll take what we can get. Lazare gets set up with a bow, some basic clothing, and a formal cloak to keep the cold at bay, another feature of Climates and Calories.

After getting outfitted, it’s time to find a higher quality inn to get some proper rest in. Lazare asks around with the locals and eventually makes his way to the Dwarf and Huntsman.

A Mysterious Letter

Daggerfall City is a long journey on foot to the southeast, one Lazare does not feel ready for. Even if he were to make the trek, he has no idea where to begin his task of exorcising the spirit of Lysandus and recovering the Emperor’s letter. He takes the next several days to rest and recuperate, taking his meals in the tavern and enjoying the humble quiet of Gothway Garden, a far cry from the bustling cities and court intrigue he was used to. He feels his strength slowly returning to him, even stretching his legs with a quick run around the village on one quiet morning.

After several days, he makes ready to depart towards Daggerfall City. As he exits the tavern, a young courier approaches him, letter in hand. Lazare tosses the child a coin and opens the letter.

This is exactly the direction he needed. Wasting no time, he immediately departs for Whiteham, a small village to the Southeast. While it would likely be faster, he is still in no condition for a wilderness trek. He keeps to the roads and stops at inns along the way, keenly aware of his rapidly shrinking coin purse all the while.

A Meeting with Brisienna

The Thirsty Huntsman is a small, unassuming tavern. Within the gloomy interior, he steps up to the bar and orders an ale, his casual air well practiced as he scans the occupied tables for the mysterious Brisienna. He spies an attractive, well-dressed woman of unclear age leaning against a pillar in a corner of the common room near the fireplace. They lock eyes for just a moment, but it is clear to him that this is who he seeks. Ale in hand, he makes his way over to her.

After a brief introduction, she fills Lazare in. The ghost of Lysandus terrorizes the streets of Daggerfall at night, a violent spirit that howls one word ad nauseam, “vengeance.” She has no concrete leads to pursue but advises investigating those who may have wronged the deceased king in some way, namely the royal family of Daggerfall and those of the neighboring kingdoms Wayrest and Sentinel.

Regarding the letter, there is just as little to go on. The agent originally trusted with the letter was unable to reach Daggerfall Castle due to an increased security presence amidst the War of Betony and had passed the letter on to an unknown courier. It is not clear if the courier ever reached his destination. Lazare’s first task would be to see if the letter ever reached the castle.

After a brief pause, Brisienna bids her farewell. “I am leaving Daggerfall soon. My position here has been compromised and my life is in danger. Do not mention my name in court. It is more likely to hurt than help. Good luck and watch your back Lazare.”

With little fanfare, she departs into the night. He feels that he has come away from this conversation with even more questions than answers, but at least he has a clear direction forward. Soon he would need to contact the royal families and begin his investigation. However, he is not here in any official capacity, and an unknown entity could not simply stride into Daggerfall Castle and start asking suspicious questions. Both the Emperor and Brisienna had cautioned discretion in this matter. He needs a cover, contacts, resources, and of course there is more mundane matters like food, gold, and lodging to consider. Even in his privileged position within the Imperial Court, he is in the dark as to the identities of other agents stationed in the region. He needs to seek out a third party, and he knows just where he will start. It is time to gain the attention of the Thieves Guild.