The Assassin

-----Wow, long chapter even for me. I don't even know how it got this long.-----

I dried my hands with a towel as I sat down at the table the small Argonian. She had come dressed in civilian clothes. Though the purple-white dress was clearly made from silk. I held out a handshake as I spoke. "Were you waiting long?"

She shook her head, and shook my hand. I took note of the white gloves covering them. "No, I was looking at the many many changes you made around here."

I smirked, "Ah yes, the addictive food cravings of finger food. We are already setting up boxed versions called Lunch packs. That requires us to invest in a bigger kitchen and as you can see the construction is under way."

Eezra nodded, "Hm, you are starting to create an economic vacuum, doesn't that concern you?"

I smirked again, "Are you paying for that info?"

She paused and dumped a bag of gold down and I checked it. I smiled, "Around 12% is going back to city expenses. For this we are getting full priority when it comes to city planning. This includes the surrounding area and connecting towns and settlements. 5% goes into buying investment opportunities in the mills, farms, and mines. While an unfortunate 30-50% is going toward recruitment of labor. To put simply we are engaging in a major commerce war."

She nodded, "Could I request something to be created?"

I thought about it, "I can't create trains or anything like that, it would require some serious political backing. Anything on that scale requires deep imperial connections."

Eezra shook her head, but in her eyes I could see amusement. "Nothing like that. Though I do now want to ask, why mention trains?"

I sighed, "Arch-Mage Gwen requested it."

Eezra paused and it was hard to decipher her emotion. "Ah, Arch-Mage Gwen. Perhaps I should've asked her. I was wondering about healthcare products."

I felt my whole body rattle from holding in a laugh. "Yeah, she has what you are looking for. I can't sell that stuff in large quantities though. It is an ethics dilemma rather than a political one. Many wouldn't accept it due to a mental distance. Many are more open to things like lingerie and flowery soaps, but more specific use items get rejected. A very simple example is bra hooks for easy wear, were rejected."

Eezra nodded, "Ah, I hadn't thought about that. So should I ask the Arch-mage for what I need?"

I nodded, "Pretty much, anything else?"

She tilted her head and began thinking. "Nothing off the top of my head. If I really need anything we can set up a dead drop system."

That meant we could finally get to the meat of our meeting. "Let's talk players, I mentioned the Arch-mage. Any interest in other players?"

Eezra nodded, "What are the Motives? Life goals, I ask because mine is rather simple."

I shrugged, "Not many of the players I have met have a grand mission like mine. I think someone is conquering Solstheim and I suspect a Falmer uprising, however besides those two... I'm pretty much the only one aggressively expanding in faction size. If that is what you mean."

Eezra froze when I mentioned the Falmer and she nodded. "Ah, I've noticed the lack of Falmer. You answered my question though. I have no other opinions about the players. You wish to know about the ones I had to kill?"

I nodded and took out my note book, "You said you killed three?"

She nodded, "I'll Start with Veezra, he was the most immersed person I've met. His whole backstory was that he was Veezra, his skills were Pickpocketing, Stealth and One-Handed. By the way..." She pointed to the thief who was eating in the corner grumbling as he stared at us. 

"Did he really not pick pickpocket? Why would a thief not pick the skill tree for theft?" Her head was tilted in question.

I blinked, "Ah, I don't think I asked him. Speaking of the skill tree, was that a bonus perk?"

Eezra nodded and raised her hands. "A unique Personal Skill tree was his bonus. It is called Numbing Agent. It is creative, as you know you can reverse pickpocket poison. Natural Toxin is a minor skill tree that is based on that perk point and was locked for me until I acquired a perk on the pickpocket skill tree."

I looked down at her gloves, "Ah, I see. That is why you want the tranquilizer."

She nodded, "Yes, my scales can absorb the tranquilizer and boost the skill tree. With a high enough threshold I will be able to unlock the higher perk points. The highest perk point is called Vital Theft. I am sure you can guess what it does. I look forward to unlocking it even if I never use it."

The final perk point likely allowed the pickpocketing of Vital Components of a living creature. Numbing their body to the obvious theft of an organ sounds about right for skill tree called numbing agent. "Fair enough, sounds like a neat party trick, the pickpocket threshold is likely locked though right?"

She nodded, "Theft of an organ even a non-vital one is locked at 5% the perk points at most increase the success rate to a 15% percent of important organs and bones. It is obviously also a magic based skill since I cannot directly touch such organs unless I cut a person open."

I nodded, it was an impressive skill in combat if one could pickpocket an organ from an open wound. Out of combat it would count as a magical attack which obviously locks the success rate based on magical resistance.

"You were Veezra's sister though?" Eezra shook her head and took a bite of a french fry.

"This is very accurate, however you added a spice I cannot place. Is it snowberries?"

I nodded, "Ground it up and dried it. After that we mix it with salt and pepper to season the fries."

She gave acknowledgment at the seasoning. "It is good. Yes I am Veezra's sister in a sense. Not by blood though, more through... training. I have memories of us, him taking care of the rest of our siblings, the other shadowscales. I have memories of us acting as twin assassins and the destruction of our sect and joining the brotherhood. It is complicated, at times he felt less like a player and like a real... person? I am not as immersed as he was, and I thought I was the most immersed player besides him until I met you."

My mind prickled at her words. "About that, Viree told me Gwenn felt something similar. What do you mean immersed?"

She rolled a fry in her fingers, "You are immersed... I don't have any other word to describe it. It is like you are a character in the games. Like the story won't progress or advance forward without you. Before i killed Veezra it was like that for the brotherhood. It is hard to explain... I really can't put it into words."

I thought about it, "How long were you in skyrim?"

She tilted her head, "About three years? Oh! You understand?"

I nodded, "I think I do. I think I would rather describe it as an understanding of... not the physics, but like defining forces?"

She nodded slightly, "Yes, something along those lines. I never really noticed it after I met players less immersed than me and Veezra. The other players I killed felt like they were getting their bearings in the world. I acted quicker, My thoughts formed faster, and most of all I reacted as if certain things were normal."

I snapped my fingers, "That's the feeling. I'm going document it as Immersion level. Would you say a 1-10 and on scale is accurate or a 0.1- 10.1 scale and on is accurate."

She rubbed her chin, "A decimal system would be better, but harder to pinpoint who falls where. Perhaps a simple tier system is better. You feel more immersed than me, but no as immersed as Veezra was. Perhaps because he was Veezra a literal character in body and name."

I nodded, "I'll make 6 tiers, undefined being the bottom, character embodiment being the highest."

Eezra finished her french fries and brought us back to the players she killed. "Besides Veezra I killed a different Argonian who killed Grelod. He was cute, though I think that is based on my immersion. I no longer find humans very attractive and not many Argonians live in skyrim."

That was interesting, did I have influenced tastes? Eezra tilted her head, "You are always on guard, it is fascinating. I can't tell how, but you have a spell ready. Is it an ability or a trick using the player interface? I'm asking as it would benefit my arrow switching."

"An ability, speaking of, do you have a favorites menu? I can favorite items, but they don't have a quick access menu as far as I can tell."

She nodded, "Same, no quick access menu."

Hm, so that problem existed across players. I suppose favorite might mean it is equipped onto you. I can have both my swords equipped, but I can only use one obviously. I rubbed my chin in some thought, "What of that last player?"

She shrugged, "An idiot, walked up to the brotherhood's door. Said the passphrase, but as you can imagine he got stabbed the moment he entered the sanctuary. Technically it was Veezra who killed him, but since I killed Veezra..."

I nodded with so many players connected to the dark brotherhood it likely got messy. It might have caused some serious problems with Astrid's authority. "What of Astrid? As one of the dumbest characters I can only fear she thinks so many players undermine her authority."

Eezra sighed, "Ah, yes." She preformed a gesture similar to a facepalm, but it was wonky. Eezra shook off her annoyance and continued. "She is the absolute worse. She won't let any of the assassin take jobs. What is worse, I'm scared if the questline continues, the other's might be killed."

That would be a problem. I was always disappointed when Veezra and Gabriella died, if Nazir and Babette died that would be an extreme loss. Thinking about it I began drawing up several notes and blueprints.

I ripped the pages out of the notebook and passed it to Eezra. "What are these?"

I smiled, "A game plan to raid the Dark Brotherhood. Including parts about torturing certain members to acquire their secrets. Things like Gabriella's prophetic instincts, Festus Krex's skills and knowledge about destruction magics, and finally Astrid and the method she uses to collect information and contracts."

I flipped one of the pages, "Including blueprints, weak points of the sanctuary, hiding places, and contacts that might want to end the dark brotherhood. All around the information is for a buyer's perspective..."

I pointed to a part of the notes, "Answering questions that the buyer wanted to know and so on. Overall as the seller of the information it might drift some bad blood toward me, but things like the acquisition of secrets will provide the right intentions. I can sell the information to a buyer and they acquire such things for me, or the members trade such information willingly. Besides I already know some of the information."

Eezra flipped through the torn papers and nodded, "You tore them out so I can say I discovered the pages in your office. What is the price?"

I smiled, "No gold for the contract on Aquillius Aeresius, I'll still provide the tranquilizer since you mentioned the numbing agent skill tree."

She nodded, "Fair enough, when should I reveal the information?"

I thought about it, "You would need to 'Acquire it' while still in Solitude. So you could say after you killed Gaius Maro, you stayed in the city for one more night to watch the Penitus Oculatus. That was when you saw Commander Maro come to me. From here I could see a few options."

I shifted and leaned back, "The first is you overheard Commander Maro mention someone in the dark brotherhood making a deal with the Penitus Oculatus. This choice splits into two directions, the first you tell the whole brotherhood. The second you tell everyone except Astrid and tell them you suspect her due to a description the leader of the information guild used."

Eezra nodded, "This either option could provide its benefits. The first could prevent Astrid into collusion, however could cost me trust. While the second could be planned ahead to trap Astrid when she does. You said a few options and that these are the two paths of the first option?"

I nodded, "The second option has only one path. You sell out the dark brotherhood, this one is really, really risky. Basically you spare Maro and tell him the truth. You stay in Solitude and I have a letter delivered to the brotherhood for you. Saying that you were captured by surprised because the Penitus Oculatus hired me after you killed Vittoria Vici. I would include that this letter was sent by paying off me before the Penitus Oculatus get to the sanctuary."

Eezra frowned, "I see why you would suggest this, it benefits you greatly and provides the best outcome. The problem is finishing the questline, even if the hit on Maro is called off the Night Mother will still tell me to kill the emperor. It says so in the quest description."

That was interesting, I suspect he must die though so it made sense to me. "Third option, this one gets messy around the edges. To put it simply I stab you..." I gave a dramatic pause, but she waited and I sighed. "You kill Boy Maro and while escaping you get 'stopped'. Simply put I stab you with Sable Wave. Nasty bugger of a sword which will cause you some serious problems. You will be put out of commission, but with Gabriella and Festus Krex's help you shouldn't die. Though life-long problems may persist."

Eezra previous frown was put to shame by this one. "How bad is it to be stabbed by your sword."

"It drains a person's lifespan, not just their health, but lifespan. I've tested it many times, the life drain is far stronger than when first forged due to its ability to strengthen itself with said lifespan and if you are stabbed while it is dark? Well... I haven't fully seen the effects, but it enchantment says it will continue to burn you down to your soul."

Eezra's newest frown eclipsed her entire face, "I can see how that could benefit me, I could mix the plans together and be cleared of any suspicion. However I don't think I like how you said you haven't fully seen the effects. So what is the fourth and do you have a fifth plan?"

I sighed, "I only have one more plan, this one is the most complex and requires some decent luck. it is a mix of all three previous plans. It starts with me speaking to Commander Maro and informing him of something he may want to hear. When he doesn't pay and you ultimately kill his son. I give him an invite back to my humble home and inform him of the information he should've paid for and ask him if he wants revenge."

Eezra looked at me curiously, she would likely go with this plan. It meant my week just got busier, I continued explaining. "As I said I made it known I know information about the all the factions in skyrim. Including the dark brotherhood, when Maro realizes this he will take little persuasion to follow along. When Astrid comes to make a deal with Maro... or me actually. When i made this plan I hadn't taken that in account, let's just go with the basis she contacts Maro."

Eezra nodded so I continued, "When she contacts Maro I will capture her, and begin providing Maro the means to track down the rest of Dark Brotherhood. Of course, you will have used the information in your hands to convince the rest of the brotherhood to leave before the Penitus Oculatus arrive. That is where you will kill all of the Penitus Oculatus."

"This is where things might get messy. Depending on how Maro reacts he should try to take his frustration out of Astrid. I will provide the means to do so, while also removing him from the board. For this part I can't say how the process could go as it has too many possible outcomes. However if things go smoothly I will have the emperor himself send Maro and his men away. A few hiccups might occur here or there, but when this happens you finally complete the questline and move the brotherhood to dawnstar."

I didn't stop there though, "A few minor details to include though is the 'deaths' of the brotherhood members. The destruction of the falkreath sanctuary, but sustainment of the word wall there. As well as somewhere in this chain of events the death of Arnbjorn and possibly Astrid depending on how things go."

Eezra paused, "Why Arnbjorn?"

I shrugged, "I didn't want to do the companions questline, sent another player to do it. However the player will take some time to become the leader there. So if I get Arnbjorn's head before that I could send it to the companions as a peace offering. Some speechcraft will be needed, but it should bring me some good results."

I paused before adding, "In your case Arnbjorn disrespects the Nightmother and his absence will prevent certain frictions. After all, you left cicero alive. His death might also break Astrid if she is too resistant. Finally on moral grounds, the guy is a ripe bastard. Do you know why he was kicked out of the companions and how he married Astrid?"

Eezra paused and slowly shook her head, "I don't actually."

I nodded, "Well, he and Kodlak entered the circle around the same time. However the previous Harbinger kicked Arnbjorn out when he discovered Arnbjorn hired the Dark Brotherhood, aka Astrid to do his job for him. As you can imagine this was dishonorable to the companions. Kodlak also took this terribly. As someone blessed by the circle would now keep the lycanthropy while being banished from the companions. Astrid though took a liking to Arnbjorn and the two hit it off."

I preformed a lewd gesture as I continued, "On top of all this, Astrid has a thing for doggy cock. You didn't hear it from me though."

Eezra chuckled at the last comment. "I can see how Arnbjorn's death would be beneficial. Let's go with the fourth plan. Though i suspect you guess I would go with this one?"

I nodded, "It has the best results despite the difficulty. While the other plans depend entirely on you, this one means I have much more leg work. If the fourth plan fails it is less on you and more on me. Your major hiccups are showing the torn notes to the others while Astrid is gone, and fighting the Penitus Oculatus while the rest of the dark brotherhood disappears."

She nodded, "Speaking of you mentioned the 'deaths' of the members. Do you mean they stop taking contracts as a whole?"

I shook my head, "I mean they integrate back into society. They can still work for the dark brotherhood, but they would have to be done inside the sanctuary. After all, what do you think this shit storm will cause for you when Astrid is taken out of the picture? I mean you have the Nightmother so contracts will flow, but..."

Eezra sighed, "The other branches. She cut them off... If she is removed the other branches might contact us or do something worse. Purges have occurred before, meaning the only members which are safe are me as a listener, Nazir as a speaker and Cicero as a caretaker. Only Babette could be considered safe outside of the standard roles. I see your point in they would need to integrate back into society."

I shrugged, "I can help with that, but after taking in the refurbishment of the dawnstar sanctuary you guys will be flat broke."

Eezra slumped over, "I hadn't even thought about the possibility of a purge."

I shrugged, "Anything else you want to talk about?"

She looked up, "Got any business opportunities for me that would provide steady cash flow?"

I smiled, "Well, you would need to become thane, and later Jarl of Dawnstar. Would you like to hear it?"

Eezra paused, "Oh god, this is going to take all day won't it."