3rd of Sun's Dusk, 4E 171.The sun rises over the Goldmoor, along the southern coast of Hammerfell. Here, the harsh desert that the region is known for gives way to green scrubland, thanks to the humid air of the ocean and the pleasant chill of winter. This is where the River Tark flows into Hew's Bay, and where the city of Taneth stands proud. Thousands call this port home and ply their trades within its walls and as one of its many guards, it is your job to ensure the safety of these people.You work for the Imperial Guild of Bailiffs, as a sworn officer and enforcer of the Emperor's law. You have been keeping the streets of Taneth safe for over two years and just a month ago, your service was rewarded with a promotion. You are now a sergeant, the leader of your very own patrol, comprised of yourself and two other officers. It's not much, but the responsibility that you have been given is still a sign of trust, and an opportunity for you to prove yourself in the eyes of your superiors. With a little luck, you'll continue to climb the ranks and eventually claim a position of true authority.It won't be easy. Hammerfell is a vicious and unforgiving place and its people, the Redguards, are not unlike the land that they call home. They are divided into many factions, though most of the region is split between two of them – the Forebears and the Crowns. The Crowns claim to be the descendants of the Na-Totambu, who ruled over the lost Redguard homeland. They remain true to the ways of their ancestors and shun Imperial doctrine. The same cannot be said for the Forebears, who have abandoned the old gods in favour of the Eight Divines of the Empire. This cultural divide has been the cause of great enmity between the two groups for centuries, an animosity that is unlikely to die down anytime soon.Thanks to its proximity to the Imperial heartland of Cyrodiil, Taneth is considered a Forebear city and most of its population are proud to call themselves citizens of the Empire. However, not everyone that lives within the city's walls has abandoned the old ways. There are a rare few who stay true to the traditions of the Na-Totambu and bury their resentment deep within their hearts, so that they may live among the Forebears.
What of you? Who are you and where does your loyalty lie?>Your name is Janos and you are a Forebear. You are closer to the Empire than most, as you were sired by an Imperial merchant who you have never met. You think of Taneth as more of a parent than he ever was, and have never ventured more than a couple of miles beyond the city's walls.>Your name is Naruq and you are a Crown. Born into a nomadic tribe that wandered the wastes of Dak'fron, you left behind that unforgiving life in favour of the luxury of Taneth. In public, you do what you must to earn the favour of the Forebears. In private, you are true to your ancestors.>Your name is Radan and you are a Lhotunic, a moderate who tries to balance the tradition of the Crowns and the progressivism of the Forebears. You are from Sentinel, the current capital of Hammerfell, and were transferred to Taneth to promote the Lhutonic movement here.
>>6303179>>Your name is Naruq and you are a Crown. Born into a nomadic tribe that wandered the wastes of Dak'fron, you left behind that unforgiving life in favour of the luxury of Taneth. In public, you do what you must to earn the favour of the Forebears. In private, you are true to your ancestors.Ancestors smiling on me etc. etc.
>>6303179>Your name is Naruq and you are a Crown. Born into a nomadic tribe that wandered the wastes of Dak'fron, you left behind that unforgiving life in favour of the luxury of Taneth. In public, you do what you must to earn the favour of the Forebears. In private, you are true to your ancestors.
>>6303179>>Your name is Naruq and you are a Crown. Born into a nomadic tribe that wandered the wastes of Dak'fron, you left behind that unforgiving life in favour of the luxury of Taneth. In public, you do what you must to earn the favour of the Forebears. In private, you are true to your ancestors.
>>6303179>Your name is Naruq and you are a Crown. Born into a nomadic tribe that wandered the wastes of Dak'fron, you left behind that unforgiving life in favour of the luxury of Taneth. In public, you do what you must to earn the favour of the Forebears. In private, you are true to your ancestors.We wuz Yokudans and shit.
>>6303179>Your name is Radan and you are a Lhotunic, a moderate who tries to balance the tradition of the Crowns and the progressivism of the Forebears. You are from Sentinel, the current capital of Hammerfell, and were transferred to Taneth to promote the Lhutonic movement here.
>>6303179>Your name is Naruq and you are a Crown. Born into a nomadic tribe that wandered the wastes of Dak'fron, you left behind that unforgiving life in favour of the luxury of Taneth. In public, you do what you must to earn the favour of the Forebears. In private, you are true to your ancestors.Can't wait to do magic sword shit
You are Naruq, a scion of the Na-Totambu. You do not know your people as the Redguards, but instead as the Ra Gada, the Warrior Waves that conquered Hammerfell after Yokuda sank beneath the sea. Your ancestral homeland may be gone, but your gods and traditions shall never be forgotten. When no one else is around to hear you, you offer your prayers not only to your ancestors, but to the true Yokudan pantheon. To Tall Papa Ruptga who put the stars in the sky, to Onsi the Boneshaver who taught mankind the secrets of the sword, and to many-armed Morwha who endlessly hunts for more husbands.You awaken to the first traces of sunlight pouring through the small, barred window in your bedroom's wall. Your quarters are humble, with barely enough space for a wardrobe, a desk and the bed that you lay on. With a groan, you push yourself from the hard mattress and stagger over to the table, where you fill a pewter basin with lukewarm water. You stare into your reflection for a moment, at your sun-baked skin and the stubble of your shaven head – a painful reminder of the sacrifices you have made to get this far. When you first came to this city, most of your face was hidden by a regal beard and your beautiful braids reached half-way down your back. Since then, you have had to conform to the Imperial style – clean-shaven with short hair, if you must have any at all. It's better to fit in, than to be spat upon as a filthy Crown in a city full of Forebears.Soaking a washcloth in the basin, you busy yourself scrubbing off all of the grime that accumulated over the night. A quick shave follows in order to keep yourself presentable, before you begin to dress yourself. For now, you put on a simple shirt and chausses worn over braies. You'll worry about the rest of your uniform after you've eaten – even during the colder months, it can be uncomfortable. During summer, it's almost unbearable.You leave your room behind and make your way down to the mess hall. It's quite a journey – the Vault is the largest structure in Taneth, even bigger than the magnifico's manor. Once upon a time, it was an impenetrable fortress, the most defensible stronghold in all of Hammerfell. These days, it only serves as a barracks for the city's guards and a prison for the city's ne'er-do-wells. You muse on how times change as you join the line for breakfast, a steaming bowl of pork and beets.You only manage to fill your belly with a few mouthfuls of the sour soup before you are joined by your patrolmen. Radan is the first of the two to join you, with his broad lips curved in an earnest smile. You can't help but think of the expression as condescending, though maybe that's just your prejudice against the Lhotunic at work.
“Good morning, sergeant,” Radan greets you cheerfully as he takes a seat beside you. “I pray that the light of Ruptga shone on you as you slept.”“Keep that nonsense to yourself.” These words come from Janos, your other underling, who looks almost as Imperial as his name sounds, with his hooked nose and amber skin. He has his unfortunate heritage to thank for that. He seats himself on the other side of the table, with his own bowl full of soup. “How many times do I have to remind you, that we worship the Divines in this city? Thank Stendarr, or Akatosh, or whoever else, for watching over you while you were sleeping instead.”>Don't get involved. You would rather finish your breakfast than waste your breath on yet another squabble between your patrolmen. It's not the first, it won't be the last.>Demand respect from Janos. You are his superior, which gives you the rare opportunity to reprimand a Forebear for daring to insult your faith and traditions.>Order Radan to follow the ways of the Forebears. This is their city and as long as he is here, he must live according to Imperial doctrine, as you have had to.>Rebuke Radan for his lip service. He is a Lhotunic – he doesn't actually follow the old gods or the old ways. You won't suffer him taking Tall Papa's name in vain.
>>6303309>Don't get involved. You would rather finish your breakfast than waste your breath on yet another squabble between your patrolmen. It's not the first, it won't be the last.
>>6303309>Don't get involved.>Keep it down, I don't want breakfast spoiled
>>6303309>Don't get involved. You would rather finish your breakfast than waste your breath on yet another squabble between your patrolmen. It's not the first, it won't be the last.>"I'll thank both of you to shut the hell up so I can eat my breakfast in peace"
>>6303309>Don't get involved. You would rather finish your breakfast than waste your breath on yet another squabble between your patrolmen. It's not the first, it won't be the last.I just noticed it's 4E 171. Uh oh.
Rolled 22 (1d100)>>6303309>>Demand respect from Janos. You are his superior, which gives you the rare opportunity to reprimand a Forebear for daring to insult your faith and traditions.>>Order Radan to follow the ways of the Forebears. This is their city and as long as he is here, he must live according to Imperial doctrine, as you have had to.
“If you're going to do this song and dance, you could at least keep it down.” You grumble these words between spoonfuls of ruby soup, without looking up from the bowl. “I'd like to eat my breakfast in peace.”Though you don't look directly at him, out of the corner of your eye, you notice the scornful expression that Janos wears. He expects you to defend your heritage, just like how he rushes to sing the praises of the Empire. The bastard boy of Cyrodiil doesn't know what it's like to be the underdog, he doesn't understand that he's punching down. Radan's reaction isn't much better, as he seems forlorn without your assistance. The Lhotunic often tries to win your favour and without it, he struggles to defend himself from the bastard's contempt.“Well,” Radan begins, “what are these names, but titles worn by the same gods? Are Akatosh and Ruptga not one and the same, is Stendarr not Onsi? I simply honour our ancestors by using the same names that they once did. Surely there is nothing wrong with this, sergeant?” The lapdog of Sentinel shoots a nervous glance towards you, after his hesitant explanation, in search of support.“I'm not getting into it.” There is everything wrong with it. Tall Papa Ruptga is the primordial spirit who devised the Walkabout, who carved the path to the Far Shores where your ancestors dwell, who placed all of the lights in the night sky to light the way to those distant sands. Radan spits on his name by daring to compare him to some trite draconic idol. Like the rest of the Lhotunics, he doesn't truly follow the old ways – he just borrows the names to try and appeal to the true adherents of tradition, like you. It doesn't work.“Like I said, this city belongs to the Empire, so it'd be wise for you to use the Imperial names while you're here. The dead aren't going to be offended, it's not like they can hear you.” Janos sees your lack of input as the opportunity to have the final word, something that Radan doesn't object to. Any other conversation between the three of you is limited, as you all focus on your breakfast instead. Sometimes you wonder why you were saddled with these eccentrics, a half-breed bastard who sees himself as more Imperial than Redguard and a Lhotunic lickspittle from the other side of the country.
Once your bowl is empty, you take your leave to finish dressing yourself and prepare for the muster. You don a chain mail hauberk and fasten a red surcoat over it, that proudly displays the golden heron of Taneth. You pull leather boots over your chausses and you secure a nasal helmet on your head, by fastening the strap beneath your chin. Not only is this uniform uncomfortably warm and heavy, but it's barbaric and inelegant. The only dignity that you are allowed is the blade that hangs by your hip, but even your sword is a straight thing wrought from dull, pitted iron. Every morning, you must remind yourself that this degradation is worth suffering, if it means you get to sleep beneath a roof and wake up to a warm meal every morning.By the time that the bell sounds, you have already arrived in the courtyard for the muster. Radan stands beside you and within a minute, you are joined by Janos as well. By the time that everyone has assembled, there are over fifty guardsmen of the Imperial Guild of Bailiffs standing ready in the yard, surrounded by the austere and ancient battlements of the Vault. Before all of you stands Chief Inspector Hahnin, a tall and wiry Redguard with a well-groomed moustache. Though he shares your uniform, he somehow makes it look good – maybe it's just because he wears it with pride.One by one, he cites a patrol and the section of the city that they will be assigned for the day. Once a patrol has received their assignment, they simply salute and depart. However, when it comes to you and the men who follow you, he lingers for a moment.“Sergeant Naruq at-Azah – split shift. Waterfront until second bell, Tavan Gate for the remainder.”Your heart sinks. Within the walls of Taneth, there is never much trouble at all. Unfortunately, both of these patrol routes take you outside of the city's fortifications. It's unlikely to be dangerous, but it's far more likely to be troublesome – the outer limits of Taneth are where most of the city's incidents occur. Nevertheless, you give the Chief Inspector a smart salute before you march towards the gate that leads out of the Vault and into the city proper, with Janos and Radan trailing behind you.
>This quest will feature a basic best-of-three 1d100 rolling system. I will let you know when you need to roll.>You have three health points. If you run out of health points, you will be incapacitated.>You have three magicka points. While magicka points can be spent on spells and supernatural abilities. At this point, you have nothing that you can spend magicka points on.>You replenish a health point and a magicka point after you wake up at the beginning of every day.Since you were born, you have been favoured by Tall Papa Ruptga and the stars that he put in the sky. You are certain of it. Yet which constellation shone on you when you were born, which stars offer your blessing and protection?>The Apprentice. You receive +20 to all rolls regarding magical activity.>The Atronach. You automatically succeed at all rolls to resist magic that does not directly harm or heal you.>The Lady. You have five health points instead of the default three health points.>The Lord. After every conflict, you replenish all of your lost health points.>The Mage. You have five magicka points instead of the default three magicka points.>The Ritual. Once every thread, you may restore all of a target's health points.>The Serpent. Once every thread, you may poison a character with a successful touch. Unless cured, the poison will kill the target within an hour.>The Shadow. Once every thread, you may render yourself invisible and undetectable for a short period of time.>The Steed. You automatically succeed at all rolls to outrun others, resist fatigue and resist attempts to physically restrain you.>The Thief. You receive +20 to all rolls regarding stealth and larceny.>The Tower. Once every thread, you may cause a locked door or container to unlock for you.>The Warrior. You receive +20 to all rolls regarding physical activity.
>>6303537>The steedIt was this, the lord or the warrior.The lord makes us always back on top if we don't die.The warrior applies to other shit.But redguards go zoom.
>>6303537>The Atronach.Sorcery is haram
>>6303537>The Steed. You automatically succeed at all rolls to outrun others, resist fatigue and resist attempts to physically restrain you.This seems like a fun quest.
>>6303537>The Steed. This one seems useful regardless what we choice specialize.
You were born under the Steed, a constellation typically associated with impatience and the desire for freedom. When you left the wastes of Dak'fron behind, your tribe blamed the stars that were born under. They claimed that your happiness would always be fleeting, that the Steed and your desire for a better life would always leave you unsatisfied with any home that you would find.As much as you adhere to the traditions of the Na-Totambu, you struggle to believe this particular superstition. All you know for certain is that you possess the strength and swiftness that is commonly associated with the speed. You do not tire easily, nor does your armour weigh you down when you run. You're a workhorse who always gets the job done, which is why you were able rise to the rank of sergeant, in spite of your heritage and beliefsOnce you are through the threshold, you have left behind the austerity of the Vault and entered the city proper. Sandstone structures line the cobbled streets, with colourful horse hair canopies hanging overhead to provide protection from the rising sun. Craftsmen are already hard at work, while vendors hawk their wares – dates, melons and citrus grown throughout the Goldmoor, as well as plenty of produce imported from Cyrodiil. Even the bleating of goats and squealing of swine can be heard, ready to be sold off and slaughtered. Never let it be said that Taneth is not a lively place.However, your duty demands that you leave behind the safety of the city's heart, in favour of its outskirts. A short walk down the bustling streets leads you to the southern gate of the city and then through it, out to the waterfront. Each time you step into this district, you are struck by the beauty of Hew's Bay. A vast blue ocean shining beneath the sun dominates your vision, with wharfs and piers lining the edges of it, yet there are almost no ships to seen. The largest vessels are simple fishing boats, yet to set out in search of their daily catch. From what you've heard, it's been like this for over a week. Idle dockworkers sit on crates and chatter among themselves while impatient merchants tap their feet as they stare into the distance, with their arms crossed and scowls etched into their usually smiling faces.“Must be a hurricane over the Abecean,” Janos mutters. “It's not like Anvil to leave us high and dry.”“Rihad is much closer, it's right next to the Imperial border. Perhaps it's just not economical to trade with Taneth any longer?” Radan's efforts to come up with an excuse earn nothing more than a glare from Janos, which causes the Lhotunic to cringe.
“The distance is half of the reason why they come here in the first place,” you explain. “Rihad must be almost as cold and damp as Anvil. If it wasn't for the Brena River, it would be only a day's travel between them. I doubt they grow anything there that can't be found on the Gold Coast.” Yet you can't offer a better reason for the lack of visitors. Hopefully when the dry spell is over and traders come to the city once more, they will be able to explain their absence.You relieve the night shift, who are grateful to return to the Vault and enjoy a little respite. They claim that there has been a small spike in theft, thanks to the lack of commerce. In the absence of pay, some workers have been stealing from the warehouses that they work at, hoping to pawn off whatever they are able to snatch. You take note of this and prepare for a busy morning.Sure enough, your patrol is regularly interrupted by irate merchants reporting missing stock. For each theft, you have Radan make a note of the suspects and the absent inventory, then you send Janos to the Vault with the information and a request for a warrant. After a couple of hours, you've already searched half a dozen houses and even arrested two workmen who you caught red-handed. Thankfully, neither of them put up a fight.Instead, the first truly troubling encounter of your day involves a witch.You are familiar with the Blackcaster Nalana – hardly a week goes by without the Vault receiving a complaint about her presence in the city. Few mages are brave enough to make their presence known in a Redguard city, even one as liberal as Taneth. Tradition demands that you feel revulsion when she approaches you, clad in jet black robes and with arcane symbols brazenly tattooed on her hairless head. Perhaps she was beautiful once, long before she made her eldritch nature so apparent. “Stendarr preserve us,” Janos grumbles when he catches sight of her, just before she's in earshot.“Officers,” Nalana begins, offering a stiff bow as she speaks, “forgive me for disturbing you, but I am afraid that I have been the target of vandalism.” Her tone is just as rigid as her posture. Though she is of Ra Gada stock, with tawny skin and strong, chiselled features, she clearly enjoys your company as much as you enjoy hers – not at all.“What makes you think that?” Even the usually polite and timid Radan has little patience for the witch.“The broken door of my workshop, the obscenities that have been painted all over the walls within it and the many reagents that have either been stolen or ruined. If it was a minor incident, I would not waste your time with this matter, let alone my own, but I believe, no, I know that I deserve justice and the return of that which was taken from me, no matter what the people of Taneth might think of my proclivity for the arcane.”
Radan scoffs at this, but you're the one in charge here. Tradition states that no true Redguard would stoop to using magic and by doing so, Nalana spits on her heritage. Does a woman who has no respect for the culture that you share deserve your assistance?>Dismiss her concerns. She has chosen to live among Redguards, even though she leads a life of witchcraft and weakness. Nalana deserves everything that has happened to her.>Demand payment. If she wants your protection, she is going to have to pay for it, with coin or with some sort of magical treatment. If she refuses, then you refuse to help her. Simple as that.>Do the bare minimum. You will investigate her workshop and if it has been vandalised, you will send a report detailing the damage to the Vault. You aren't obligated to do more than that.>Do everything you can. Not only will you investigate the damage, but you will personally seek out the culprit and bring them to justice. To do any less would be a betrayal of your duty.
>>6304112I don't think Naruq cares all that much for duty.of all the stuff he has said in his head, none of the guard duty stuff has been pleasant. It's a life of keeping his head down, uncomfortable uniforms and working his way through the mire.So with all that in mind>Do the bare minimum.
>>6304112>Do the bare minimum. You will investigate her workshop and if it has been vandalised, you will send a report detailing the damage to the Vault. You aren't obligated to do more than that.
>>6304112>Do everything you can. Not only will you investigate the damage, but you will personally seek out the culprit and bring them to justice. To do any less would be a betrayal of your duty.Naruq wouldn't have reached his current post if he was a half-assing slacker. He's a workhorse who does his job to its fullest extent even if its unpleasant.
>>63044192 years to sergeant?not a great pace honestly
“We'll have a look at the damage and send a report back to the Vault. It'll be up to the Chief Inspector whether or not this warrants further investigation.” Though the Blackcaster purses her lips, she bends at the waist and offers another stiff bow as a gesture of gratitude.“Thank you, officer. Just this way, please.”It doesn't take long for her to lead you to her workplace, a relatively small building close to the city walls. The door to the workshop is splintered and when you step inside, the damage is all too obvious. Almost every chest and cabinet has been forced open, smashed pots litter the floor with shimmering powder and odorous herbs scattered everywhere, and the walls have been smeared with red paint that spells out crude insults. 'Witch,' 'harlot,' 'you did this,' 'daedra slave.' It's not just a minor case of vandalism, the entire shop has been torn apart.“Gods,” Radan mutters, taken aback by the carnage. He might actually feel some sympathy for the sorceress. You're not sure that you do.“I believe that this 'warrants further investigation,' don't you, officer?” Nalana gestures at her workplace with a sweep of her arm.“That's not my call to make. We'll make a report of the damage and I'll have it sent to the Chief Inspector right away. Until he grants permission, there's nothing that I can do.” Honestly, there's a lot more that you could do, but you're not going to go the extra mile for a witch. “Radan, get the parchment ready. Janos, see if you can identify all of the... inventory that has been damaged. Miss, I'll need you to help us with this. I don't know what half of these things are.”It's a laborious process, especially as Janos refuses to venture too close to anything that looks too mystical. Reagents for alchemy, soul gems and arcane dust for enchantment and more than a few tattered, ruined scrolls and books that once harboured magical power, all wrecked thanks to the vandals that tore through Nalana's workshop. You're surprised by some of the claims that she makes about some of these items – potions that can double a man's strength, scrolls that render the one who reads them almost impervious to harm, and so much more. If only the use of magic wasn't so taboo, you could make use of such things.“Thankfully they didn't think to look for the trapdoor that leads to the basement, so I haven't lost everything.” As you've documented all of the damage, the sorceress has gradually softened and opened up. “I'm grateful for your assistance, though I do hope that the guild makes the right decision.”“It's out of my hands, miss. Radan, if you're finished, take the report back to the Vault and hand it in. You'll find us back on the road. Miss, I hope the rest of your day will be more pleasant than this. No one deserves this sort of treatment.” Having offered your farewell, you leave with Janos and step back outside onto the waterfront, while Radan hurries off to deliver the report.
“It'd be easier if we just banned witchcraft from this city,” Janos grumbles as the two of you walk away. “That way we wouldn't have to worry about nonsense like this.”“We're the Imperial Guild of Bailiffs and that's not Imperial law,” you remind him. “For as long as we remain citizens of the Empire, we're to practise tolerance, mercy and acceptance. Here I thought you'd be in favour of that, Janos.” You can't resist making that little jab, which earns a scowl from the bastard.“Tolerance has its limits,” is all that he has to say.You resume your patrol and before too long, Radan returns to join you once more. The next half an hour is mostly uneventful but eventually, you are stopped by a small group of workmen. In a reversal of today's trend, they claim that their foreman has stolen from them by docking their wages. They work for the East Empire Company and their contracts are more detailed than most – they stipulate a regular wage and the workers claim that even though trade has dried up over the past week, they've still earned their full pay by keeping the warehouses clean and keeping the cargo safe and secure. By making deductions, their foreman is in breach of contract.Though you have little patience for this sort of busywork, you pay a visit to the East Empire Company's warehouse to meet with the foreman, Stanno. He's a heavyset Imperial man, almost as dark as a Redguard thanks to the many years he's spent beneath the Hammerfell sun. He wears a cordial smile on that fat face of his, at least until you mention why you've come to speak with him. A sour frown quickly replaces his grin.“It's best that we take this to my office, gentlemen. Finances are a matter best discussed in private, don't you think?”Leading you away from all of the crates and all of the workmen, Stanno takes you to the comfort of his office, with its luxurious furnishings. Cushioned chairs, expensive paintings and an oaken desk large enough for all four of you to sit around without any trouble. The foreman pours a goblet full of rich red wine for each of you, though only Radan partakes.“I am aware that I am in breach of contract, officers,” Stanno explains, “yet my coffers are not limitless. My own finances come by ship and until the next company vessel arrives, there is only so much coin that I am able to hand out. That is why the wages must be rationed.”“As true as that might be,” Radan remarks over the rim of his goblet, “a contract is a contract and as the East Empire Company operates under an Imperial charter...”“We are not in Cyrodiil, gentlemen! This is Taneth and I respect the autonomy of this city, as well as the men who work so hard to protect it. Surely you are aware of my contributions to the Iron Wheel? Doesn't that offer me some degree of protection from these trifling matters?”
The Iron Wheel.All three of you exchange a nervous glance. The legend of the Iron Wheel goes all the way back to the Interregnum of the Second Era – it was the name that the lawmen of Taneth went by when chaos reigned throughout Tamriel. They brought order and stability to the entire southern coast of Hammerfell and built great fortresses throughout the region, the mightiest of which was the Vault. Though they rejoined the Bailiffs Guild when the Third Era came about, their legacy has never been forgotten.These days, the Iron Wheel is the name for a not-so-secret society within Taneth's branch of the guild. Those who belong to it consider themselves loyal to the city before all else and believe that they will stop at nothing to protect the city's relative autonomy. Those who aren't a part of it consider it little more than a protection racket, a bunch of corrupt guards who look the other way whenever people put coins in their pockets. Chief Inspector Hahnin has never taken action against them however, so it's difficult to say just how much of a problem they are, or whether he's in on it.All you know is that you've inadvertently stepped into the Iron Wheel's business. They might not take kindly to you pestering Stanno, who claims to have paid for their protection.>Apologise for bothering the foreman and take your leave. You're not about to risk earning of the ire of the Iron Wheel.>Take advantage of the situation. Claim to belong to the Iron Wheel and demand payment from Stanno. If he pays up, you'll leave him alone.>Write up a report. The Vault needs to know about all of this, though you won't take any immediate action against Stanno or the Iron Wheel.>Bring him in. Not only has Stanno violated the contracts of his workmen, but he's confessed to bribing officers of the law.
>>6304450>Write up a report. The Vault needs to know about all of this, though you won't take any immediate action against Stanno or the Iron Wheel.Its the wisest course of action.>>6304426Tbf, he is working under people who are heavily prejudiced against him. The fact that he managed to get promoted at all is impressive.
>>6304450>Write up a report. The Vault needs to know about all of this, though you won't take any immediate action against Stanno or the Iron Wheel.We're simply doing our job, no? Well, at least I hope the Iron Wheel sees it that way.
>>6304450>Write a report.>Write him a Writ of censure/DrbtNow I'm not sure if we have this power, but here is my idea. Effectively get him to write out and sign 3 declarations."I Stanno have reduced the wages of my workers by so and so amount from.the date of [date it started] due to the exceptional circumstances of business and my coffer reserves, To retain as many people as possible in my employ.The pay will return to full and all owed wages will be returned when the next pay shipment comes in. Any individuals fired between the start of the cut and the arrival of the payship will be entitled to their dull dispensation."Give him.the benefit of the doubt, secure the dock workers jobs and avoid annoying the iron wheel.WHILE ALSO making Stanno legally nailed to a wall, since he has a copy, The workers get a copy and the balifs get a copy.
“No matter what connection you might have to this 'Iron Wheel,' I still need to report this breach of contract to the guild. I see no reason to take you into custody at this time, but it is only wise to make a record of the accusation levied against you and your... defence against it.”“With all due respect, officer, this is a waste of your time and mine alike. Surely there are more pressing matters that you need to take care, especially as nothing will come of anything that you write down.” Stanno's cordial behaviour quickly evaporates when you make it clear that you're not going to relent. The mention of the Iron Wheel still has both of your colleagues rattled, but you refuse to back down just because the foreman happens to know of this corrupt cabal.“The outcome of this investigation is for my superiors to decide, not you. Radan, give me the ink and parchment, I would like to write this myself. Stanno, I would be grateful if you produced a copy of the contract that your workmen sign, so that I read the wording of it for myself.”You don't know if either of your patrolmen have any ties to the Iron Wheel. While you doubt it, it's best if you take care of this yourself, so you send them away to continue the patrol. You're not a fast writer – back when you wandered the Dak'fron wastes, the only things you ever wrote were poetry and prayers, to earn the favour of Zeht so that he might bless the tribe with an abundance of game. It takes the best part of an hour for you to write everything down, but by the time that you're finished, you're satisfied with the report. You've even noted down a possible solution, a writ of debt that would ensure that the workers would get their payment in full as soon as the next shipment arrives and the warehouse's coffers are replenished.Stanno's glad to see the back of you when you take your leave. By the time that you run the report back to the Vault to be processed, the first bell of the afternoon has already rung. The first half of your shift is almost over. You have just enough time for a brief respite when you catch up with Janos and Radan, some water from your canteens and a few oranges that you bought from a fruit seller on your way back. While the three of you eat, Janos can't help but express some concern about your decision.“I know you're not from Taneth, sergeant, but you shouldn't mess around with the Iron Wheel. If someone says that you're involved with them, you leave them well alone. This is their city.”“I'm not messing around with anything, Janos. I'm doing my job. If the Iron Wheel is really in charge of the Vault and that man has their protection, then they can throw my report in the fire, no harm done. If they're not as powerful as people say, or if Stanno was lying to us, then maybe his workers might see some semblance of justice.”
“I couldn't think of a better solution, sergeant.” Radan is as cheerful as ever, his spirits lifted by your show of integrity in the face of corruption. Janos remains sceptical, though he's more interested in sneering at the Lhotunic than debunking your words.“No one likes a bootlicker,” the bastard grumbles.By the time that you hear the second bell ring, you have already left the waterfront behind and have made your way around the outskirts of the city, to where Tavan Gate stands. Here is where the road westward lies, that leads along the edge of Hew's Bay and towards the city of Gilane. This is where the Goldmoor's scrubland starts to give way to the sandy Alik'r to the west and stony Dak'fron to the north – this is where Hammerfell truly begins. For that reason, this is the gate through which nomads and tribesmen visit the city, where a day never goes by without some sort of culture clash.You have barely had time to relieve the previous patrol and begin your shift, by the time that you get your first complaint.“Officers!” A colourfully-dressed man calls out to you, waving a hand as he approaches. He's likely a vendor of some sort, hawking wares to travellers seeking to enter the city. “Ulbazar is at it again! For the love of the Divines, could you please ask him to move on?! He's scaring away my customers!”“Did you ask the last patrol the same thing?” You're familiar with old Ulbazar. Everyone who regularly patrols Tavan Gate knows the crazy old Crown and all of the complaints about him.“Well, yes, but they didn't do anything! You have to understand that the madman's babbling isn't good for business, it makes the city look bad!” You're half-tempted to shut down the whining merchant here and now, but a chat with Ulbazar might be refreshing after that business with Stanno. You relent.“Fine, I'll have a word with him. Janos, keep an eye on the road in the meantime.”“Understood.” Janos seems relieved by your decision. “Glad I'm not the one who has to deal with that mad bastard.”You don't need to walk down the westward road for long before you're able to hear Ulbazar, bellowing mantras for all to hear. A few steps further and you're able to see the old man, dressed in little more than rags and sat cross-legged by the roadside. His only true possessions are the wooden bowl resting beside him for the collection of alms, and the burnished scimitar that he balances on his head. The flat of the blade lies against his scalp, from which a wild mane of grey hair springs, almost as unkempt as his bushy beard.
“It is better to foolish with vigour, than to be timid in wisdom! There is no value in the sharpening of a blade, if you have not sharpened your mind first! What use is the finest sword, to a man who lacks the stomach to strike?! Grant a fool the bluntest steel and a scholar the most keen, and see who slays a thousand men before the other is able to bring an end to one!”“What page of the Book of Circles did you get that one from, old Crown?” As you call out to him, Ulbazar's head swivels to face you, yet the sword balanced on top of it hardly sways at all.“Eight hundred and sixty-two, Maxims of the Sixth Day. Have you come to hear the truths of Hunding, young Naruq, or have you been asked to rid the Forebears of me once more, in the same way that they might ask you to swat a fly?” Though his body is willowy and increasingly frail, every word that leaves Ulbazar's mouth is spoken with strength. You're still not sure if his confidence is born of madness or experience. In the end, it doesn't matter – he is technically disturbing the peace and it is your duty to do something about it.>Don't do anything about him. The last patrol didn't waste their time trying to move him on, nor should you. Just give him the usual warning and let him continue with his chanting.>Bribe him into moving on. The bowl he has laid out for alms is almost empty, perhaps he can be convinced to leave the road behind in exchange for a little charity from you.>Stay a while and listen. He won't have to bother the world with his bellowing if he's lecturing you and you alone. Besides, the old man might enjoy the company. You might too.>Order him to disturbing the peace. You need some sort of threat to make him comply – tell him that if he doesn't shut up and leave the roadside, you'll have to confiscate his sword.>Take him into custody. Honestly, he's better off in a cell than roasting beneath the Hammerfell sun, even at this time of year. You'd be doing the mad old fart a kindness.
>>6304568>Stay a while and listen. He won't have to bother the world with his bellowing if he's lecturing you and you alone. Besides, the old man might enjoy the company. You might too.Finally, some scripture.
>>6304568>Stay a while and listen. He won't have to bother the world with his bellowing if he's lecturing you and you alone. Besides, the old man might enjoy the company. You might too.Old people
>>6304568>Stay and listen>Leave him some charity anywayHe's one of us.
>>6304604>>6304568+1 support. It is important to look after others, especially those who hold true to your own values
>>6304604Support.
“That maxim speaks ill of scholars and wisdom, yet it claims that a sharp mind is important. Isn't that contradictory?” You seat yourself on the earth beside the old man as you speak, removing your helmet in the process. Perhaps if you keep him occupied, he won't cause such a commotion. “Not at all! For a keen mind is not a bowl that has been filled to the brim with needless knowledge, but one that has been broken and given a jagged edge. There is but one book that a man needs to read in his life and that is the word of Frandar Do Hunding Hel Ansei No Shira! His way is that of the sword and the knowing of any teachings other than his is frivolous, young Naruq.”Radan, who followed you over to speak with Ulbazar, gives you an awkward look. In return, you nod at him and gesture back towards the gates, where Janos is keeping an eye on things. The Lhotunic doesn't need to be told twice and takes his leave, to join the other bailiff while you talk with the old man.What follows is a lengthy conversation about the nature of knowledge and violence, a nostalgic reminder of all of the culture that you left behind. Others might think of Ulbazar as a religious man, but the truth is that all of his ranting and raving is founded in ancient philosophy. Even among your tribe, there was no one who was as knowledgeable about the Way of the Sword as he is. He doesn't look like he was ever much of a warrior, as he lacks the battle scars that come with a soldier's life, yet there is no denying that he has committed every word written by the Sword Saint to memory. You can't help but admire the old fellow and how he's able to balance that sword on top of his head, even when he laughs or makes a sweeping gesture.“You know, Ulbazar, you'd have a better chance of entering the city if you make yourself a little less... contentious. Get rid of the sword and keep your voice down, that sort of thing. Living outside of Taneth's walls can't be good for you.”“Adversity is the key to a life lived!” The old man's beard quivers with indignation at your suggestion. “Your words are wise, but have you not listened to a word that I have said? All those who lead lives of virtue and enjoy the peace have the belligerent and the wilful to thank! None of the soft little men of Mundus would have ever had the chance to walk the road of the learned man, if that path was not hewn for them by savages and fools! I bellow and bray, so that this truth might never be forgotten!”“Uh, forgive me for interrupting,” Radan says, having returned while Ulbazar was busy ranting, “but we need your assistance with something, sergeant – got a farmer reporting an issue with some trespassers.”With a grunt, you shove yourself upright, though you fish around in your coin pouch for a few septims. They audibly clatter when they land in Ulbazar's alms bowl. “Here, old Crown. Hopefully that'll keep you fed for a couple of days.”
“Pah! All a man needs to sustain him is a little fire in his belly! Righteous hatred for a worthy foe can warm a man during the coldest night and keep the fiercest hunger at bay. Remember this, Naruq! Remember the word of the Sword Saint and make way! Make way!”Radan just shakes his head in disbelief as the two of you take your leave. Thankfully, the old man doesn't resume his hollering – despite his words, he's likely going to spend that coin you gave him on something to eat. By the time that you rejoin Janos on the road, the half-breed bailiff looks more than a little frustrated, with an equally annoyed farmer standing at his side.“About time, sergeant. Do you have any idea how much time you wasted on that fool?”“Watch your tone and have some respect for your elders,” you snap back at him. “You can make an old man's day, just by giving him just a few minutes of your time. Now, what's the problem?”“It's a band of drifters, officer, I think they're Alik'ri.” The exasperated farmer is all too happy to vent about his troubles, now that you're here. “The savages arrived on my land in the middle of the day, they've set up their rain catcher on the field where I grow my lentils. When I asked them to leave my land, they just looked at me like I was mad. One of them even drew her sword and chased me off!”“Finally, a little excitement,” Janos remarks. “I'm ready to teach these desert rats some manners.” His words stoke some anger in your heart, but you don't reprimand Janos for them. It would be a waste of breath.Instead, you follow the farmer down the road, further away from the city. You've easily walked half a mile by the time that you arrive at his farm, though it hardly seems worthy of the name. A lonely hut can be seen by the road's edge, surrounded by fields of dry, sandy soil. Some sprouts seem to growing out of the tilled earth, but they're not very impressive. In the middle of one of these fields, you see them – half a dozen figures that surround a strange structure. It looks almost like an inverted tent, several sheets of tarred canvas loosely hanging between a series of poles. The fearful farmer keeps his distance, while you and your men approach the nomads.“You are trespassing on the private land of an Imperial citizen!” You try to speak as loudly and clearly as Ulbazar did and sure enough, the travellers turn their heads to face you. “To make matters worse, you threatened him with physical violence! You have one chance to move on, or we will have no choice but to forcibly remove you from this property!”“I made no such threat,” one of them says. In the Alik'ri fashion, she has covered her face and most of her body in billowing fabric, loose and light enough to remain cool, but just thick enough to protect her from the sun. “I simply did this and the coward ran away, with his tail between his legs.” Sure enough, she draws the slender sabre that hangs by her side.
“I can't blame him for being threatened by such a gesture.” Your hand drops to the hilt of your own sword, which is far less elegant.“As I said, it was not a threat, but a challenge. He claims that this land is his, yet he is unwilling to defend it. Are you willing to fight on his behalf? If you are victorious then we shall take our leave – our honour will demand it. If I best you, then we shall remain, for I shall have proven my strength and virtue. What say you?”“Really, I don't think there's any need for...”“Let me face the drifter,” Janos snaps, interrupting Radan's protestation. “No need for you to fight your own kind, sergeant. I can take care of this.”>Let them be. You're not paid enough to deal with this and besides, it's not like the farmer's growing much here at all. The nomads are free to stay.>Write them up. You're not going to do anything about them right now, but you will take a report of their presence back to the Vault. They can be dealt with later.>Draw your sword. If this nomad wants to make this a matter of honour, then so be it. You shall fight her in a duel to first blood, as is customary.>Let Janos fight for you. This is an opportunity for the bastard to either prove that he is worthy of respect, or humiliate himself. You're fine with either outcome.>Arrest the lot of them. You gave them a chance and they spurned it. Worse, they threatened a man of the law. Custom be damned, they all belong behind bars.
>>6304957>Draw your sword. If this nomad wants to make this a matter of honour, then so be it. You shall fight her in a duel to first blood, as is customary.The foolish and willful, was it? Lets put Ulbazar's words to practice.
>>6304957>"There is a need. The matter is to first Blood Janos. Keep calm and focused.">Offer him the customs and strictures, if he finds a loophole then good on him.It's worth seeing if he is worth the respect.
