>>43192350
interesting, go on

"... And here. This is your set of armor." Arterus hands you a set of clothing matching his own, along with an impressive looking ebony dagger. "Don't think of it as a uniform. You're free to wear whatever you want. These have some nice enchantments -- just think of it as a welcoming gift."
The first kill was exciting. It was your first test, though you didn't know it at the time. Armed with a dagger, you gutted a holy man. You don't know why you had to do it, only that it had to be done. Arterus watched you while you did it, and afterwards he invited you to join his family.
One hell of a family, the Dark Brotherhood. You'd heard stories of them as a child, but you never thought that you would be an initiate in their order. The armor feels good when you try it on; you feel significantly more imposing.
"Thank you, Arterus," you say, adjusting your gloves and belt.
"No need to thank me. After all, you're one of us now. I've got an assignment for you already, but first, why don't I show you around the sanctuary?"

>"I'd rather get right into it. I can rest once I'm finished."
>"That sounds good to me."
>Write-in

>>43192456
>"That sounds good to me."
>Write-in
So who're the other members here? What is Arterus's rank here?

>>43192350
>"That sounds good to me."
>Any special rules or circumstances I need to be aware of?

>>43192508
>>43192548

"That sounds good to me. By the way, who're the other members here? And what's your rank?"
The two of you begin to walk through the sanctuary. Arterus shows you some open areas and what looks like a small religious site, as well as the room you're free to stay in and a dining area. As you walk, he talks to you.
"There are many members of our family here in Cyrodil. In fact, we have the largest concentration of members in Tamriel. Most of the time they're out doing jobs. Me, I'm getting older. Even we Redguard warriors get tender with age! I'll admit, my skill with a blade isn't what it used to be... But anyway, I mostly go through with management here in Cheydinhal. When we hear about the Black Sacrament being performed, I'm the one who assigns someone to go out and get the job done. It's not as glorious as doing it myself, but I still provide an important service to our lord Sithis."
"Any special rules or circumstances I need to be aware of?" You ask.
"Well, there are a few tenets, but it's all mostly guidelines. Mostly, respect your family here and do your job the right way, and we'll get along nicely."
As the two of you reach a dining area, a slender Bosmer woman calls out from behind a mouthful of apple. She has dark red hair that sinks in curls down to her shoulders, and promptly removes her feet from the dining table as you two enter the room.
"Arterus! Fresh meat?"
"Ah, yes, Lyanna. A new brother. He'll surely do well here."
She stands, about a foot shorter than Arterus, and holds her hand out to you. "My name's Lyanna. Best crossbow on Nirn, or off it. What's your name?"

>ENTER NAME

>>43192594
>My name is Shalimar Uveran Miss Lyanna.

>>43192594
"Shalimar Uveran, a pleasure to meet you sister."

>>43192594
>Sintrak Uveran

>>43192594
>Shalimar Uveran

>>43192594
Looks like we have so far...
>Arterus, male elder redguard, A upper ranking member of the brotherhood Silencer or speaker maybe?
>Lyanna, Bosmer woman, probably ranked Assassin.

>>43192673
>>43192671
>>43192644
>>43192639

"My name is Shalimar Uveran. A pleasure to meet you, sister." You shake her hand. Her grip is strong, but you were ready for that. She gives you a sly smile.
"Aren't you polite?" She says, returning to her apple. "Don't let all of the ritual and formality intimidate you, Shalimar. Besides the killing, we're just a nice little social club."
"I wouldn't take it that far," Arterus says. "Sure, things can be relaxed here in the sanctuary, and we are all family here, but what we do is important. With the Night Mother's blessing, we go through with the will of Sithis."
"The Night Mother, Arterus? She went missing in Skyrim years ago."
"She has gone missing before, Lyanna. And she will be found again. For now, we'll just have to make due with the work we've been doing for centuries."
"No complaints here," Lyanna says, taking another bite of her apple. "Anyway, Shally -- can I call you Shally? I'm gonna call you Shally. Where are you from?"

Pick:
>Fine call me Shally.
>I'd rather you not call me Shally.
And:
>Cyrodil (Imperial)
>Skyrim (Nord)
>Black Marsh (Argonian)
>Elseweyr (Furry)
>High Rock (Breton)
>Hammerfell (Redguard)
>A nearby hold (Orc)
>Valenwood (Bosmer)
>Morrowind (Dark Elf)
>Summerset Isles (Altmer)

>>43192738
>They're worse nicknames I guess.
>Morrowind (Dark Elf)

>>43192738
>>Morrowind (Dark Elf)
>Fine call me Shally.

>>43192738
>Fine call me shally
>Morrowind (Dark Elf)
aka Dunmer.

>>43192758
>>43192760
>>43192810

"Fine, call me Shally. There's worse nicknames out there. And I'm from Morrowind. At least, what's left of it. Came from a small village near the border of the Black Marsh."
"Oh my. You might be the most polite Dunmer I've ever met." She giggles to herself. "In any case, welcome to the family. Help yourself to some food. It isn't poisoned, I swear."
"Sounds good to me. I haven't eaten all day." You take a seat and help yourself to one of the apples.
"Well, it's good that you're getting along with everyone so quickly. And rest assured, we would never kill one of our own," Arterus says. "Say, Lyanna, weren't you on an assignment?"
"Oh, you mean that business with the shopkeeper? Hah! That was too easy, Art. One good shot from far outside the city limits and he was dead. Not even a challenge."
"Then why don't you tag along on Shalimar's first assignment? You could make sure he does everything right, just to get him started off."
"Well, Shally, how do you feel about that?"

>"I'd rather go off on my own. That's what the rest of you do, isn't it?"
>"I'd be glad to have you along, Lyanna."

>>43192866
>"I'd be glad to have you along, Lyanna."
Certainly couldn't hurt to have her tag along, give us pointers.

>>43192878
Point-ears, hueh hueh hueh

"I'd be glad to have you along, Lyanna."
Lyanna grins. "Good! Because Art would probably have me tailing you to make sure you do well anyway. This works out best for everyone."
"Alright, alright. Arterus, what did you have in mind?"
"The Black Sacrament has been performed in Kvatch by a woman named Jezebelle Tullius. You'll go there and complete the contract. Since this is your first time, I'll let you keep the whole reward, and I'm certain she'll pay a lot. She's a general's daughter, after all."

>"Do you know who she wants killed?"
>"How did you hear about her performing the Black Sacrament?"
>"Alright. Let's go, Lyanna."

>>43192866
>"I'd be glad to have you along, Lyanna."

>>43192936
>"Alright. Let's go, Lyanna."

>>43192936
>"Alright. Let's go, Lyanna."

>>43192936
"Alright. Let's go, Lyanna."

>>43192936
>"Alright. Let's go, Lyanna."

>>43192948
>>43193000
>>43193010
>>43193019

"Alright. Let's go, Lyanna."
"Straight to the point, huh? You'll fit in here, Shally."
The two of you stand and Lyanna retrieves a crossbow and bolt quiver that had been resting against the wall. She loads the crossbow and then attaches it to a spot on her belt built for holding the weapon for a quickdraw.
"Kvatch is pretty far away. Almost the opposite end of Cyrodil. Luckily for you, many a wagon owner owe me favors," Lyanna says. "I doubt you'd want to walk all the way there."
"That sounds like a pain, to be honest. So what route will we take?"
"Well, why don't we just ride straight to Kvatch? We can hit the Imperial City on the way back if you want to go shopping or something."

>"I'd like to stop by the city first to get some poisons."
>"Of course, that sounds great."
>"I'm not a shopping fan. Let's just get there and back."

>>43193052
>"Of course, that sounds great."

>>43193052
>"Of course, that sounds great."

>>43193067
>>43193085

"Of course, that sounds great."
"Alright then. Let's get going."
The two of you leave the sanctuary and make your way to a nearby stable. Lyanna approaches a man who seems to be relaxing in his wagon.
"Take us to Kvatch," she says. "On your septims."
"On my septims?" He asks, not bothering to look at Lyanna. "Why would I do that?"
"Because of what happened to your wife," she says. He turns and sees the two of you.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Of course, yes, you're free to have my services for free. Hop in back and we'll be off."
Lyanna climbs into the back of the wagon and you follow.

While you're riding, you feel the urge to spark up some conversation.

>"What happened with his wife?"
>"Have you been a member for long?"
>"Why did you join the brotherhood?"
>Write-in

>>43193147
>"Have you been a member for long?"
Seems like a bad time to run this, not many people on.

>>43193147
>"Have you been a member for long?"

>>43193162
>>43193172

The dead of night seems like a good time to run an assassin-y quest.

"Have you been a member for long?" You ask, trying to kill time.
"Not for too long. About seven years. It's been great to me so far. The work is usually pretty easy, and it pays well."
"Seven years seems kind of long to me," you say. "You must've seen a lot."
"Well, I've gotten pretty good at doing what we do," she says. "Time flies by when you're having fun."
"You're pretty casual about it all. Were you like that when you first started out?"
"Why?" She grins. "Got the first time jitters? Don't worry. After a few jobs, you get used to it. I used to be a mess, could barely shoot straight. But once you stop thinking of your target as a person, your hands get steadier. I wouldn't worry about it too much if I were you."
"Isn't it a dangerous job, though? Seven years seems like a long time to be in the game."
"In some situations, yes. But usually we don't do big political things anymore. Actually, in the past 10 years or so, we've been mostly picking off nobodies. Seems the Great War got people nervous about political jobs. And nobodies don't have bodyguards, and are rarely well trained."

>"So you're just in it for the fun?"
>"Why did you join the brotherhood?"
>"What happened with his wife?"
>Wait out the ride in silence.
>Write-in.

>>43193228
>"What happened with his wife?"

>>43193228

>"What happened with his wife?"

>>43193228
>"What happened with his wife?"

>>43193228
>What happened with his wife?"

>>43193239
>>43193243
>>43193245
>>43193251

"What happened with his wife?"
"Well, that's fairly obvious, isn't it? He performed the Black Sacrament and I killed her for him. Now he owes the brotherhood."
"Why would he want his own wife killed?"
"He caught her in bed with another man. I killed the man as well."
"And that's what a normal day is with the brotherhood?"
"For the most part, yes. It's easy jobs like that which gain you favors across the land, and keeps the brotherhood respected and feared."
You spend the rest of the trip talking with Lyanna about jobs she's done in the past. Eventually, the wagon stops at a sign marked "Kvatch".
"End of the line," the driver says.
"Stay in Kvatch until we come back," Lyanna says to him. "We'll need your services to return."
"Aye."

>Tip the man a few septims for his trouble.
>Suggest going to an inn before visiting the client.
>Go to see the client.
>Write-in.

>>43193382
>Tip the man a few septims for his trouble.

>>43193382
>Go see the client.

>>43193389
>>43193427

You drop a few septims in the man's hand as a tip. You know it's not his usual rate, but obviously he's in debt to the brotherhood. He thanks you.
Then you and Lyanna head through Kvatch until you find the woman's house. It's been marked on Lyanna's map, and she was able to find it with ease. You suspect she knows Cyrodil well enough to find a house without a map, but you don't ask her anything.
She pulls the doorknob. Unlocked. The two of you walk in.

"Sweet Mother, sweet Mother, send your child unto me, for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in blood and fear."

Jezebelle's voice rings through the building. You slowly make your way through the rooms until you come across her. It looks like she hasn't moved or eaten in days. She turns and sees you.
"Oh... thank the Eight, you're here. I knew it would work. Father always spoke out against this kind of thing, but I had no one else to turn to."

>"Who do you want killed?"
>"What do you offer the brotherhood?"
>"Why have you called us here?"
>Write-in.

>>43193485
>Write-in.
>Remain silent, listen

>>43193485
>>"Who do you want killed?"

>>43193485
>>Remain silent, listen

>>43193502
>>43193542

You stand there, saying nothing.
"I suppose you're wondering why I called out to you. It's the captain of the guard here in Kvatch. He's gone mad, talking about starting a revolution like the Stormcloaks did."
You observe the room around you. Imperial regalia everywhere. This girl is proud of the Empire.
"I need you to kill him, to preserve the wellbeing of those here in Kvatch. Please. There's payment in it for you, of course. I have 1000 septims that I can give you once it's done."
You stand there, saying nothing.
"Um... 1000 septims, and a magical ring?"
You turn away from her and walk out of the building. As you walk past Lyanna, you hear her say "It will be done." Then she follows you outside.

>"So how are we going to kill him?"
>"I don't think I'm ready for a daunting task like this."
>"Do you think she's ripping us off?"
>Write-in

>>43193575
>"Do you think she's ripping us off?"

>>43193575
>>"Do you think she's ripping us off?"
>>We need to prep. Watch this captain a bit. Look for vulnerabilities in his schedule.

>>43193579
>>43193599

"Do you think she's ripping us off?" You ask Lyanna.
"Maybe. But if you had an issue with the payment you should've said something. Now that you've made your leave, you've accepted the contract."
"I guess so." You sigh. "Well, that's still enough to keep me fed and comfortable for some time, at least."
"Don't forget that I'm doing this job for free. This time, at least."
"You're right. I shouldn't complain."
"So, Shally, do you have a plan?"
"We've got to figure out more about the captain. His schedule, for starters. Times when he's alone and away from the rest of the town guard."
"And then?"
"Then we kill him. You'll shoot him with a crossbow bolt and I'll finish the job."
"Sounds simple. We'll make it work."

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