The first house was evidently empty. Or perhaps they denizens just chose not to answer. His second choice was much more fruitful, the door opening to the visage of a woman of dark skin: a Redguard. The woman stood in stunned silence for a moment, seemingly at a loss of words. How bothersome. Was it truly that odd he was here, knocking on a door in search of assistance? Fortunately she had the right mind to immediately fetch him some water and allow him to enter her home once her senses caught up to her.

The house was much cooler than the outside, likely due to the presence of actual shade within it. The woman had left almost immediately after he had entered, going to fetch her 'master'. Left all alone within the house, Ajax-Vei drank from the bota-bag until his dehydration was sated, and then dumped the rest onto his head, moistening his scales once more. His gills flared at the sudden wetness, having been dry for so long. He left the woman's belongings untouched; he was a hunter of treasures, not a thief. Patiently he waited for the woman's return, until the sound of a bell reached his ears and the door opened to reveal an aged Wood Elf and the woman from earlier, the former asking about his presence in these lands.

"I am a scholar of the history of Tamriel. I came to the desert to venture around the Dwemer ruins," Ajax-Vei spoke, voice coarse and deep. Obviously he didn't tell the full truth, just the technical one. He'd been on both sides of an ambush against someone who'd braved much to secure loot, and it wasn't as if he were in the best shape as it were. He'd need more water for that.

"What of you, Bosmer? This land is both far from and unlike the forests of Valenwood. What is it that calls yourself to the land of the Ra'Gada?"

Alfgore sighed "I see, and who prompted the idea to make these pendants?" Alfgore asked again softly, the warm smile never leaving his face, she didn't seem the one to trick her friends into making Daemora pendants, but then again they never did. Alfgore cursed these redguards, storming in here there pointing fingers ready to blame anyone who did something they didn't condone.

When the rogue Pisukisa entered the room she was greeted by M.r Yeomsley, a bretom around his middle 50s with noticeable baldness and dressed in elegant clothes. The breton jumped to the opposite wall, scared of the woman and from the wall he retrieved an ornamental jeweled short sword and pointed it at the girl while he shouted

"Who are you? Why are you here? You won't get anything more from me!"

However, just before the noble could call the guards, Heren busted into the room without breath and said

"Fear, uf, uf, uf, fear not, sir Alabistair. This is, uf uf, the woman I told you about, the one that will solve your problem, sir

Yeomsley dropped the sword and relaxed, "why did she entered like that? Oh for the love of..." He stood up and he talked solemnly

"Miss Pisukisa, there is one task that, from what I've heard, you are highly qualified to accomplish. Some hours ago, when the sun was rising, I was arriving at the city with such bad luck that I was assaulted by a group of bandits. I wouldn't have minded them taking the money I had with me, since it was a meaner amount of 30 coins, but the ruffians had the guts to rob me of my holy amulet. A mememto of my death father, an irreplaceable twinkle that I just adore"

The noble paused for a moment to make a dramatic expression that represented his sadness. He would make a horrible actor

"That's why I need someone who knows the way in the forest and can track the bandits back to their hideout, I would be willing to pay you a generous amount of gold if you could bring it back to me. Would you accept?

---

Yodrick raised two fingers, making a peace sing.

"Two. Me... and... you. If you don't count the ones that potentially won't be."

Yodrick spoke slowly and quietly, he grabbed the beer of his deceased companion and drank from it while he looked around. The rest of the nords were already in rooms sleeping.

"You got the wrong impression, Rusalka, your part is not to find the girl in this poster and help me hunt her. Any of these guys could help me with that and I can do it myself nowlatterifyouwantedIwouldgladlyacceptyourhelpbutthatnotthepointfornow AJEM! I needed these guys to arrive at Anticlere safely, but now that I'm here I don't need them no more and I don't feel like sharing the reward for the capture of this woman with them anymore. They do no trust me, which nord trust a magician anyway? And that's what I need from you.

The nord with black hair and green eyes emptied the jar before continuing

"Kill these nords for me, one by one, without being caught. Each of them carries around 500 gold coins, consider it your payment."

---

"Oh, a scholar? I must admit I had a wrong impression about scholars, I though all of them were boring magicians surrounded by books and who never stepped out of their room"

The Bosmer stretched and with his cane he hit his own legs, which suddendly seemed to get stronger and healthier

"Adamantium cane imbued with the Feet of Notorgo spell. Wonderful for an old man like me. I'm a merchant and a water seller. Unlike other merchants I do not travel around, instead, caravans arrive at my place and pay me to let them use my well and I buy their items to then resell to other caravans, I have been here for quite some years now, I rememver when I arrived as the servant of the previous owner of this place.

The bosmer moved outside with recovered strenght and made a sign to the argonian to follow him

"Come. If you are a scholar as you say you are perhaps you would like to see something in my collection"

---

The redguard girl talked again, this time more calmed, as the soathing voice of Alfgore seemed to be reassuring

"All the girls in the village have them. But it was Teresa the one who appeared with one first. Everyone though it was pretty and she taught us how to make them."

Pisukisa was not surprised by Yeomsley's first reaction, indeed she didn't even care about it. Once Heren explained everything and Yeomsley made his request Pisukisa just looked through the window.
After a few seconds she replied "Fine, I'll help you" She said knowing was wrong but decided to play along, at least for now.
Pisukisa didn't waste any time and headed to the forest with "her" horse

Alfgore rose "see?, now, you should probably confiscate the other's that were made, and then question this Teresa". Alfgore smiled "now I must go, unless you need something else". He said scratching his beard, he would love to do an investigation of sorts before heading to Dagger fall to find out what he needed to do.

A water salesman. A very prudent choice in profession, Ajax-Vei had to admit. There was indeed a market for that sort of thing in a barren desert such this. Though why he required any servants was beyond him. True, the Black Marsh had many plantations owned by humans or elves living along the more 'civilized' locales - Argonian slaves mostly, though it wasn't unusual for other races to serve as hired hands or slaves themselves - but they needed workers to work with plant-life and such. It was hardly glamorous work, or very ethical, but Ajax-Vei couldn't do anything to change it, so he didn't think it prudent to worry about such things. Meanwhile, the Argonian couldn't see why it was necessary here of all places. Surely all he required was a bucket, and a well or underground cistern?

Mmm... Underground cistern. He could really use one of those right now...

"Thhh.... Forget any ideas you have about dusty tomes, boring mages, and long nights cooped up in a study. Archaeology is about facts. I'm about lost cities, exotic travel, and digging up Tamriel. If I have to follow maps to buried treasures where X marks the spot, I will," the Argonian scholar explained as he followed after the elderly Bosmer.

"Oh one last thing"

Before the nord girl could leave the place she was interrupted by the noble Yeomsley

"They also took my account book. Not really as important as my holy amulet, but I would appreciate if you could retrieve it for me as well, I would gladly pay you a generous extra"

Pisukisa mounted the horse faster than the bretons predicted and off she ran to the forest. A few minutes later she was caught once again by Heren who said

"Where were you going? You need to know where the robbery occurred at least. I'll show you, since we are already close to the place."

Thus, the girl was guided to a path in the forest, quite unused, it wasn't very surprising to see why bandits would use this place for an ambush since it was rather hidden and separated from views of the main road. When they arrived they were greeted by sic people jumping of a tree and menacing them with daggers and axes

"Choose: your money or your life"

Both Pisukisa and Heren were still on their horses, but their scape route seemed difficult without getting the animals injured. Heren maneuvered his horse to get close to the girl and whispered

"For f*cks sake, I don't have anything to give them, what do we do?"

---

Of course, upon listening to the girl saying that some "Teresa" had been teaching how to make necklaces with daedric symbols the knight Caoldi had to ask imediately

"Where is this Teresa?"

"I don't know, she comes to the village once a month or so, but she actually lives in a place that she calls Kikus, or Kiker, or something..."

"KIKOS!?"

"Yes! Exactly that"

Blessed be the divines, finally the knights have gotten a lead of the witches's coven, and if this girl knew where was it they could go and raid the heretics.

"Monk, in case you don't know, the Kikos are a group of witches that we have been looking for. They are the ones involved in the daedra summoning and rituals and because of that we would appreciate your help in this matter. With taht said, and if your pilgrimage is too important, I recommend you to go to the temple that I mentioned, they will be able to help a Mara worshiper such as you"

---

The Bosmer flinched, he was actually going to show the young argonian a dusty tome of dwemer origin, but maybe such explorer would find it boring, considering that the book talked about crops and such. Followed by Ajax, the elder entered the fourth house, then he lit up a candle and he show him the way downstairs to a humonguous storage room that was litten by windows on the ceiling of trans lucid crystal.

"Here is my collection and the items of my trade. I have almost everything: weapons, armor, potions, scrolls, gold, silver and an interesting substance made from synthesized moon sugar that some khajits sold me, among other things. But what you might want is this

Around one corner the collection of items turned into a zoo. A subterranean farm and jails filled with things ranging from pigs and goats to one with a white tiger. The Bosmer stopped in front of a jail with some camels, all of them looking young and healthy and said

"If you want to cross the dessert you'll absolutely need one of these, so lets talk about business"

The argonian heard voices down the corridor for a brief moment and looking up he saw a heavy metal door enclosed on a wall that looked like a jail door

"Oh, that door caught your attention? I don't mind but I doubt you'll find it interesting anyway"

Of course, nothing would impede Ajax to take a peek if he wanted to

"What the hell was Yeomsley doing around here?!" Pisukisa yelled at Heren and punched his arm with some strenght.
She jumped off the horse still with her cloack on so her swords were not visible "You want my money? Come and get it" Pisukisa said, one of the bandits ran at her holding his axe high, Pisukisa used her left hand to pull the sword of her right side and with great speed cut the bandit's hand off

Amalvi said
The khajit retrieved the lockpicks from the padlock, it was clear that he wasn't going to open such a new and difficult lock without the specialized tools that he hadn't brought with him this time, but he would be prepared for the next day.

Well I do have to get inside the city somehow, may as well be by this way if there are no other options, Valen thought to himself and unintentionally giving the Khajit a intense stare as he got lost in thought. Slowly Valen focused back into reality as he noticed the Khajit was Beginning to shift from foot to foot in anticipation "Very well" he said as he made his way to the lock and crouched beside it. It was a typical iron lock commonly found on gates leading to places people don't much care for or on a entrance that has been forgotten to the ages much like this one. Valen waved his hands over the lock and a dim yellow light glowed over it for a few seconds before being lost to the night, the lock realesed itself with a quiet croak "And there you have it"

"Interesting," the Argonian hissed as he looked about the Bosmer's warehouse. It wasn't a lie. However his face was passive and unexpressive, though considering his race it was to be expected that he wasn't a smiley sort. Ajax-Vei was well aware of the sorts of things here. Some he'd seen on his plundering days on the high seas, like Skooma, some he'd encountered on his more research-oriented travels, like scrolls and potions.

The zoo had caught him a bit off guard, though. The sales-pitch on the other hand, did not. Merchants were merchants, after all. He noted strange sounds coming from a shady looking door, one which the Bosmer waved off as uninteresting. Curiosity piqued, and permission granted, Ajax-Vei stepped closer to the door and peaked in, a single hand on his hip, the other knocking on it.

"Hey, what are y... WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

The first shout of Heren was for the punch he received, the secon was for when he saw Pisukisa cutting the hand of a bandit, which was enough to leave everyone in the place astonished. The bandits, now enraged, charged against Pisukisa and Heren, who unsheathed his broadsword and charged on his horse towards two of the bandits, trampling on one and cutting the other, although the wound was not deep enough to finish it, so the breton had to turn around and block the axe of the bandit with his buckler, which was enough to throw him off balance and make him jump off the horse to fight on foot. Meanwhile, three of the bandits, one of them carrying a bow, were running towards Pisukisa with murderous intentions.

---

"Excellent, I'm very grateful for your cooperation. Now follow Darfair, the sewers are a labyrinth, and you wouldn't want to get lost, do you?"

With that said the khajit ventured first into the crevice and once inside he lit a torch. The passage was at first small and both Valen and Darfair had to go bent until they arrived at a much larger area, all of it pitch black if it wasn't thanks to Darfair's torch. They walked hastily, second to the right, one to the left, one to the right, up some stairs to the left, second to the left... As the khajit had said, the sewers were, indeed, a labyrinth. When they arrived at, yet another spacious and dark room where water came out of faucets in the walls, Darfair, who was going ahead, stopped immediately at the doorway and unlit the torch while he got in a sneaking position and then he whispered to the breton

"Oh my, it seems Darfair's activities were not the reason for the new padlock in the sewers."

The khajit pointed forwards, without the help of the torch it was more difficult to look, but a few seconds later the eyes of the Breton had acustomized a bit to the dark and were able to tell, thanks to the moonlight breaking through a window up above, that a bunch of spider monsters had been nesting in there, they looked weak, not matured enough, but they still presented a menace, and worst of all, they were in their way.

---

When The argonian looked through the window on the door he saw a poorly lit room filled with children. Most of them redguard children, but he also saw some bretons, nords and even a khajit and an argonian, most of them girls and none of them older than 12. The appearance of the argonian scared them, who, moving their fragile bodies in pitiful rags, gathered themselves in the other side of the cell and lowered their heads. The Bosmer approached Ajax

"My, my, you ended up looking at one of my best products, didn't ya? These slave boys and girls sell pretty well, specially to rich redguard kings (and even some queens). If you want to buy one go ahead, but I doubt that you'll have the money or that an archaeologist like you would have time for enjoying one, but you are lucky, since I'll make you a special offer for the argonian girl if you are still interested."

Amalvi said
With that said the khajit ventured first into the crevice and once inside he lit a torch. The passage was at first small and both Valen and Darfair had to go bent until they arrived at a much larger area, all of it pitch black if it wasn't thanks to Darfair's torch. They walked hastily, second to the right, one to the left, one to the right, up some stairs to the left, second to the left... As the khajit had said, the seweres were, indeed, a labyrinth. When they arrived at, yet another spacious and dark room where water came out of faucets in the walls, Darfair, who was going ahead, stopped immediately at the doorway and unlit the torch while he got in a sneaking position while he whispered to the bretonThe khajit pointed forwards, without the help of the torch it was more difficult to look, but a few seconds later the eyes of the Breton had acustomized a bit to the dark and were able to tell, thanks to the moonlight breaking through a window up above, that a bunch of spider monsters had been nesting in there, they looked weak, not matured enough, but they still presented a menace, and worst of all, they were in their way.

Valen was thankful for the moonlight shining through the window for he was nearly about to step on their lair, although this made him wonder why the guards had not just killed the spiders and kept the same lock? And why replace it with a rusty one? Was the previous even worse? Surly the towns blacksmith had enough time to forge a measly padlock, no? But Valen realised this probably wasnt the best time to pomder such things as the spiders slowly but surely edge towards them, and not just on the floor Valen saw but also on the walls.

"Well now" he said as his fingers tingeled and flickers of flames came off them "It seems that we have to get past them if we wish to go on" Valen put his hand in front of him and a fireball suddenly appeared in it, he turned to the Khajit and said smiling "You may want to stand back". Valen turned back to the spiders and hurled the fireball at them. A bright but small explosion of flame set the spiders ablaze making the labryinth echo the cries of agony

Amalvi said
The first shout of Heren was for the punch he received, the secon was for when he saw Pisukisa cutting the hand of a bandit, which was enough to leave everyone in the place astonished. The bandits, now enraged, charged against Pisukisa and Heren, who unsheathed his broadsword and charged on his horse towards two of the bandits, trampling on one and cutting the other, although the wound was not deep enough to finish it, so the breton had to turn around and block the axe of the bandit with his buckler, which was enough to throw him off balance and make him jump off the horse to fight on foot. Meanwhile, three of the bandits, one of them carrying a bow, were running towards Pisukisa with murderous intentions.

Pisukisa enjoyed hearing the screams from the bandit, but didn't have time to waste, she then watched Heren fight "N-not bad.." she said trying to hold her laugh and then turned her attention to the three bandits. Two of them advanced with their swords, the other one behind with the bow, Pisukisa used only her left katana to fight the two bandits and when one of the lowered his guard thinking they had the adventage, Pisukisa got her right hand under her cloack and pulled out the katana hanging from her left side and cut the bandits stomach...The bandit could see his guts falling out before passing out and dying from the bleeding.
The bandit with the bow was ready too shoot, Pisukisa didn't have much time so she cut the leg of the bandit that was still fighting her and used him as human shield...just in time. She dropped the corpse and threw her right katana to the bandit, the blade got encrusted in the bandit's skull.

The explosion of fire felled many of the spiders that were in the room, but also depleted Valen's power, since he wasn't going to be able to re-cast such a powerful spell after a while. When the breton turned to warn the kahjit about standing back his naivete showed when he realized that the kahjit had taken the opportunity to sneak past the spiders and was now at the other side of the room, behind a set of metals bars that he had just put to close the way

"That's an impressive power you have, mage, but Darfair cannot stay to watch the fireworks since he has many other things to do. I can't risk anyone knowing about me sneaking through the sewers to the palace and the spiders will therefor do the cleanup for me. If I was you I would slit my throat before the venon of the spiders start to take effect, otherwise it can be extremely painful. Seeya"

A spider sneaked behind Darfair, but the kahjit took his claws out and slashed the critter to pieces before lightning the torch again and dissapearing through the maze, leaving Valen alone to face four spiders that were left.

---

The scream of agony of one of the bandits distracted the one attacking Heren enough for this to strike with the broadsword and slash his chest. When the fight was over Heren, without sheating his weapon, walked towards the trampled man, who had his legs and left arm broken by the heavy horse and was trying to crawl away towards his bow, which was kicked away by the breton, who was a bit exhausted after the struggle.

"Okay, uf.. uf... You are under arrest for assaulting and robbing and attempt to murder a noble servant, uf... uf..."

Heren had to admit he wasn't in the best of shapes, it has been long since he had much exercise despite what his body build would suggest. Seeing that the bandit wasn't going to be able to go nowhere in his state he finally lowered his guard and looking inside a pouch he retrieved a handkerchief that used to clean the sword and then a sharpening rock that he threw to Pisukisa

"From what I heard those katanas get damaged pretty easily, so I guess you should re-sharpen them a bit."

He sat on the ground and looked to the bandit, who was still trying to crawl away unsuccessfully

"What do you suggest we do with our friend here?"

"I suggest we take him to the guards...naked..." Pisukisa said looking at the sharpening rock, then put it in her pocket and pulled her sword from the skull of the bandit, she sheathed the swords and walked to her horse "I'm sure i have a rope around here.." She said withher hand inside her bag, when she found it she pulled the bandit towards a tree and tied him.
"Let's get moving" The female nord said and jumped on her horse

Hos head always hurt after casting a spell but he was never worried about it as his former teacher said it was quite common, but for the moment that did not make him feel any better about the dizzying side effects of magic. His head spinning he came to realise what the Khajit was talking about but it was too late the khajit had already left him "Sneaky Bastard..!" He said in anger. Valen began to run aftr the Khajit and stepped on a few spiders in the process but his head was hurting too much too care. Valen was close now, he could see the Kahit in the distance "Hey...! Wait!"

"I'll head up there momentarily, if you could send someone to accompany me on this venture that would be most appreciated". The Monk hadn't run into any witch groups since he had arrived into the region, but it was time to suit up, this would be done and he would then head to Daggerfall to get some information on his job.

Heren scratched his head, surely leaving the bandit there would be enough for a guard to find later, and his duty wasn't really to arrest criminals, but he was just uneasy to leave it like that, and it wasn't mercy, that bandit had tried to kill them, so he could rot for all he cared, it was more instinct

"Oh well, where do you suggest we go? We don't know where these guys came from and we still need to retrieve the amulet, and the book.

---

Valen said Hey, wait!

The kahjit just waved a hand without turning back and before disappearing behind a corner he shouted one last time

"No, can't do mister mage. It's been a pleasure, seeya"

Just in that moment a spider jumped on Valen, luckily missing with the poisonous fangs, but struggling to kill the man who had entered its lair

---

"Of course, you will be accompanying us as in this mission. It will be our honor to have a Mara priest helping"

Caoldi's praise wasn't mere flattering, as she rally appreciate someone who wasn't a brute bloodthirsty warrior in this mission that required some arcane knowledge. When they were all together the group moved towards the location that were told by the little girl. After a while travelling through the desert night fell and they found what seemed the remnants of a place where a sabbath had been held in the distance. They couldn't see anyone from their position, but some tents and fires suggested the posibility. The procession hid behind a dune to plan their approach

"There are several plans of action. We could charge right in full strenght, we could get some capes and using the darkness of the night approach without being seen or we could send some people to do an inspection. No approach is free of risk."

Then the knights turned to Alfgore

"Since we are dealing with unknown forces and this is no ordinary quest we would like to have your expert opinion on what should be done"

Amalvi said
tThe kahjit just waved a hand without turning back and before disappearing behind a corner he shouted one last timeJust in that moment a spider jumped on Valen, luckily missing with the poisonous fangs, but struggling to kill the man who had entered its lair

"Gah!" Valen said in shock as the spider jumped in him. Luckily however the spider was smaller than he was, although still larger than the previous ones and after a few minute of struggling to keep the venomous fangs away from him Valen managed to wrestle his way away from the spider. Valen stood behind the spider now, panting from exhaustion, but he still had enough strength to pull out his sword and tried to run towards the spider in a attempt to stab it from behind, unfortunately his head was still spinning and he didn't get far before he stumbled into the wall. By now the spider had figured out where Valen was and begun to circle around him, edging closer slightly with each step. It was close now and Valen decided that it was kill or be killed, and he would much prefer if it was not the latter so he raised his sword and ran clumsily towards the spider. Valen realised that it would probably take him a few goes to take the spider down but by sheer luck he managed to cut it down in one fell swoop.

Panting, Valen stood over the spider. What was he too do now? He was lost, had no idea which direction he came and there were a series of multiple pathways leading in all different directions. Stumbling forwards, Valen picked a direction at random continued down that path, hoping he would have to deal with anymore spiders and would get out of this foul smelling sewer as soon as possible.

"That is your job" Pisukisa said and she cut some small branches and gave them a pointy tip.
"You go more friends right? where are them?" She asked the bandit, her face was really clsoe to his "WHERE ARE THEM!?" she shouted and stabbed the bandit under the nails causing him a terrible pain