Chapitre 267: Catatoskr (4) : The Crimes of the Red Cat
A/n: a sponsored extra by Julian Weber.
~~~~~~~~~~
After receiving the Card from Vekel, Jon immediately went to the Market Square and stole the all the stall and the goods with a snap of his fingers leaving the card hanging through the air with a simple spell.
'Catatoskr is back!' that is how everyone understood it.
The person in question himself was sitting in a dark corner in the Bee and Barb in with a beauty on his lap, they were kissing and having fun together while some people started glancing at them.
A gigantic Nord man and a pale Dark Elf girl, a weird combination but not unusual in Riften.
They later started to 'disengage' when a third figure with a metallic mask joined them.
"I say you too go get a room." Alina said as she sat down.
"Sorry, it got to my head after seeing the stalls disappear just like that. So sexy!" Jull whispered quietly.
"Why is it your first time seeing Jon doing something… dare?"
"No, it is my first time seeing him being so naughty."
For the first time in a while, Alina and Jullanar had a difference in opinion about Jon's action.
Alina was somewhat not comfortable with Riften while Jullanar blended in nicely.
"So, how did you do it?" Alina asked.
"The market?"
"No, all of them." Still, Alina seemed to be a bit interested.
"Okay, ask away…" Jon sat back and relaxed ready to answer them all.
"They say the first impactful one was the Bell of the 'Temple of Mara'."
"Oh! That one was actually very easy. My friend Alessandra from the Temple of Mara…"
"Alessandra?"
"She is a priestess of Arkay who works in the temple's Hall of the Dead. A really unfortunate girl who is growing over the age of marriage without finding a partner."
"Oh, I see! Arkay priests marry Arkay priestesses, that's the custom among them. No one really likes to marry a priest of the God of the Dead."
"It sounded much sexier in Ancient Egypt but whatever! I was on a run with Vex which was pickpocketing, you know I don't like pickpocketing, right? Vex kinda like pickpocketing more than actual work even though she is the first pair of boobs I ever picked…"
"No details, Jon."
"... Right! Anyway, she made me meet her friend Alessandra, the two are Imperials you see, Alessandra tells me that she talked to her friend Dinya who is working as a priestess of Mara now, right? And she's married to that dude, Maramal, who's the head priest in Riften. And she tells him about the guards who are occupying a part of the temple saying it opened to the Ratway. Right? That one of them is like this scary face dude mixed up with criminals, but he's stealing corpses from the Hall of the Dead. And so, Maramal and Brynjolf are drinking buddies, and they get to talking, right? And here comes the good part. Maramal says, "Yo, man. This guy's got some shady business in our temple and chilling, the other guards listen to him and he may hurt us." Of course Brynjolf comes to me because he knows I got mad thieving skills. Of course, I ask him... "Did Alessandra tell Dinya to tell Maramal to tell you to tell Vex to come to me?" And he says, "Nah, lad. All she said is that it's super-legit and whatever's in it, it's up to no good." Jon told his story.
"... Huh?" Alina was completely lost.
""Pffft!!!"" Jon and Jullanar couldn't handle it anymore and fell on the ground laughing.
As they calmed down, Jullanar explained.
"That Alessandra reached out to Jon through a chain of mutual friends."
"Ah! I see."
Jon was obviously making fun of Alina who was out of her natural habitat but she still couldn't tell what's going on.
"Just spare us the story and tell us how you did it?" Jullanar said.
"Well, you see. Alessandra asked for someone who can deal with complicated situations when it comes to criminals who are in cahoots with the guards especially the criminal guards. There was that band of guards that started stealing corpses so I devised a plan to lead out the who townsfolk towards their location and catch them dirty-handed. Vex and I climbed the Temple's lighthouse and installed large mirror panels around the bell so people think it is stolen. Brynjolf made the people notice then a mob rushed at the temple and so they found the corpse robbers, Vex and I broke the mirrors and escaped afterward."
[A/n: actually Riften's temple has not tower or bell but isn't that a temple dedicated to marriage?]
Alina and Jullanar nodded in understanding.
"So that's what happened? So underwhelming! I thought there would be some profound art of Illusion magic that made the town go insane." Alina said.
"Actually, it is brilliant. Some mirror panels and you fooled the whole town." Jullanar said.
Jon smiled as he saw the difference between the Thrill Seekers Jullanar and the Nerdy Alina.
"Tell about the City Gate's time."
"That one was actually hard to pull. There is that guy in the guild called Thrynn, he used to be a bandit before he joins in and so he had some relations with them, he heard that a band of brigands is going to raid the town from the north gate in the matter of days and the guards captain was bought by them as it seemed he is going to sabotage the hinges and locks of the gate and leave the area poorly guarded. We had to make a stance and even Delvin participated in this one. I went out as a 'Loki from maintenance' who came to fix the gate. Of course our associates joined in and disgusted themselves as guards. Once we drugged the actual guards, we took down the gate and carried it out of town towards the other gate then left it there and disappeared afterwards. The next day, the Jarl puked blood from rage and put the guards captain to death."
""..."" Even Jullanar was underwhelmed this time.
"Yes, I know. In reality, the most boring answer is the right answer." Jon defended himself.
"Tell us about the Ship that was left in the Market Square, this one got to be amazing." Alina said.
"Yes, it got to be." Even Jullanar agreed.
Jon sighed and shook his head.
"This is the easiest and the shortest so far. Nurina was drunk! End of story."
"... wait! That's all to it?" Jullanar asked.
"No heroics? No good deeds? Does this even count as your doing?"
"Well, I hate to brag but convincing a drunk Arch-Wizard to lift up a large fishing boat from the lake and put it into the middle of the market is still an achievement."
"Hmmm!"
"The reason?"
"In winter, food prices get doubled in Riften and fish is basically our main food here. In one winter, the fishery's owner, Bori, decided to hide a large catch of winter fish in his largest fishing boat and get it out once the price gets the highest. This means that Riften's people would starve because of that greedy bastard. And then, the Gods sent down a boat full of fishes to the town, how beautiful to have faith!"
"So there was a good deed after all."
"Ehem, I am a humble person but yeah."
"Humble? You just called yourself and Master 'Gods'!"
"Did I?"
"Whatever… how did you steal the Jarl's voice?"
"That was no good deed, it was just a prank. I only added some poison to her mead which numbed her vocal cords.
"Okay wait! How could you get to the Jarl's drink?"
"You see, like most dirty politicians, Lela Lawgiver likes to make speeches with orphans around so that she can gain the sympathy of the populace. Probably the only move in her notebook, she did that yearly. One year, I happened to be invited to be one of the kids standing around her and you can guess the rest."
"That is really interesting to know." Alina said.
"I know, right?" Jullanar was more excited though.
"What about today's?" Alina asked.
"This one will satisfy you, Alina. I used [Greed] as I can shred it into a million pieces and attach it on anything. I simply made [Greed] mark every stall and crate I wanted to steal and pulled it all back to the Haven Cube."
"Oh! I see, simple but smart." Alina was finally excited.
"The main objective about today is to locate the Skooma sellers in the Market. I had Jull and Nefertiti search the stalls in my Haven Cube thoroughly and locate all the Skooma secret stashes. The stalls were marked with a Shadow Mark known to Brynjolf and he will make sure that the guards arrest all the owners of these stalls."
Alina was smiling brightly at Jon.
"I know I don't like Riften and how people treat you here but the idea of the heroic thief is really interesting. I think it opened my eye to a new aspect in life… even thieves can be heroes."
""Yeah yeah."" Jon and Jullanar looked at each other and shook their heads. Alina was one of Skyrim's nobility and most of what she saw of Jon was how a heroic warlord and domineering ruler he can be which she was totally agreeing with.
Seeing Jon walk among the thieves in the slums of Riften, exchanging insults with them and accepting and changing to be like them was a bit new to her but realizing that there is a heroic meaning behind all that made her change her mind.
It was a different story to Jullanar who swore to live in his shadow and be his merciless blade even if he is a villain.
Jon didn't have any of those thoughts in mind though, he hated both heroes and villains equally. He valued professionality and serving the greater good. He can be both a heroic figure and a merciless villain depending on the situation and the aim, Niccolò Machiavelli once said: "Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times."
"Anyway, I am going to do something for tonight but I hope that you guys mix yourself with the people around Riften, as you already know, we are going to deal with them a lot in the future. Alina, you normally govern Winterhold in my stead so keep an eye on how the underworld works."
"Sure, I will do my best."
"Jull, you will try to get along with the guild members, you lead 'Team 0' and you need to keep up with the guild's operatives, it is not that hard but don't underestimate anyone."
"Fine, but at least tell me about the big ones."
"Okay, the one who appears in public the most is big bro Brynjolf. He is actually the closest to me but don't let his large build and quiet appearance fool you, this guy has abilities that can put a supercomputer to shame…"
"A what?"
"Nevermind it now, Brynjolf is a Nord who can smell money, calculate money, make money, give birth to money, lay money eggs, scam money from people… he just knows it all when it comes to money. Brynjolf is Delvin's true protege.
After Brynjolf comes Vex, the silver-haired Imperial. She is a total badass Black Widow material, she is the mistress of action around the guild, from pickpocketing to lockpicking, there is no place where Vex can't go through… she is a lesbian but don't tell that to Delvin, he may actually die from sadness.
Then there is Tonilia the Redguard. She is the fence, fixer, dealer, trader and the manager of the internal affairs. She also gives loans and makes the large trades. She is in a relationship with Vekel and may actually kill any woman who approaches Vekel.
Speaking of Vekel, he is the owner of the Ragged Flagon, don't let his appearance fool you, this guy is a pro when it comes to evaluating people, even Delvin listens to his opinion.
Then there are other juniors like Catatoskr the Red Cat, your humble Jon Dare, there is also Etienne who oversees the supplies and the best person who can navigate in the Ratway and there is Cynric, a professional Jailbreaker, as well as many other juniors.
Next up we come to the two on the top.
Delvin is the mentor of most of the thieves and he created the system of the Shadow Marks. He can be silly sometimes but he is the best of the best and he likes to teach others too. His main power, however, is business and from him, I learned a lot. He is an economic bomb that can dry a town of money and sink another in money.
After Delvin comes the top dog, Mercer. He is the guild master and let's just say it bluntly, I hate that guy. He is bad news and the reason why the guild is in bad luck. No one has any clue why but it is better to avoid him for the time being."
Jon introduced all the people he is close within the Thieves Guild to Jullanar. Of course, the part about Mercer was only kept to himself, he still has plans for Mercer but that needs some preparation.
"Anyway, after the market incident the city will be on high alert but I need this will be perfect for me. I will busy myself with something tonight. And Alina, I am giving you a task to enchant some items for me before tomorrow." Jon handed Alina a paper with the details.
"I will see to it. What will you busy yourself with anyway?"
Jon smiled evilly.
"There is a certain hag that needs to meet a miserable end but before doing so, I need to get this baby fully charged." Jon said as he took out the Skull of Corruption from the Cube.
"Tonight will be a nightmarish night."
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Chapitre 268: Catatoskr (5) : A Grelod Breakout
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~~~~~~~~~~
By a nightmarish night, it meant that I will go out in the city holding the [Skull of Corruption] in my hand and collecting the people dreams replacing them with nightmares. That's the first ability of the Skull, [Dreamsteal].
I went out in Riften wearing all black and flew in the night sky hidden from view, I started collecting the dreams from the sleeping people house by house.
While I was causing nightmares in town, I started to settle old grudges by drawing more dreams from the people I don't like and it was fun. I avoided the orphanage by all costs and made sure to annoy the corrupted people more.
After a while, I landed on a certain high building in the city and observed the town below with some nostalgic thoughts.
Riften, a city that the game didn't give justice at all. Actually, it is the most city that wasn't given justice.
Winterhold was a more tragic version of the game's version. Whiterun was much larger. Solitude was really a really majestic city. Falkreath was a calm mix between a forest and a city. Dawnstar was a large town on a bay. But Riften… oh man!
Riften is the place one would love to hate and love at the same time. A city with no discrimination whatsoever, even though it is in the gutter, Argonians and Dark Elves live peacefully here even though their homelands are currently at war. Nords here are as slimy as Bretons and love money as much as Imperials, they accept outsiders more than the people of Solitude themselves.
A really mysterious place!
I would compare it to a medieval rustic version of Gotham city but that doesn't make me Batman now, doesn't it? A super rich guy who came back to town after he trained outside… yep, I am Batman.
I also remember that I stayed in Riften more than any other town when I played the game. Something about it was just better than any other town in Skyrim. I remember adding a ton of mods to change many things in Riften from 'Sexy Riften' to 'Jk Riften' to 'Riften - Thief Edition' to 'Ravengate'. I modded the hell out of that town but the reality was still far better.
I always think of it as a blessing that I was reincarnated in Riften rather than anywhere else.
Anyway, I was done with the nostalgic feelings and focused on the matter in hand.
(Are you really going to kill the hag?)
'Goddammit, Shadow? Where do you pop up from, man?'
(I was just curious… hey, can I control that black thing?)
'Fine.'
I could feel that [Greed] was starting to take consciousness of its own and moved to form a figure beside me.
It looked like a really bad figure with an evil face and a fluid body, it felt like some sort of a Lovecraftian creature.
[A/n: 'Lovecraftian' is a subgenre of horror fiction where bad creatures are scary, moisty and gross.]
(Oh! It sure feels nice. How did you get that thing?)
'Like you don't know a thing about me.'
(Come on. There is a lot I don't know about you, you are really a very interesting guy.)
'... Thanks. Just don't possess me with that Dark Matter and call us Venom.'
(It is actually a very dope idea. I love that movie.)
'Maybe you should get out of my head.'
(I agree, too many movies in there! So, you are doing it, huh? Killing the old woman now?)
'Yeah… I am planning on something good.'
(Oh! I can't wait… but, are you really going to mess up the future?)
'You mean the future of the game?'
(Yes.)
Shadow was talking about killing Grelod and what would it affect in the future. Killing her will surely change things as she is the NPC the player kills in the game to start the Dark Brotherhood Questline. Surely killing her will change things but I had another idea in mind. The contract on her head wasn't even out yet.
'Well, look around you…'
I stared at Riften… a city that its true essence never appeared in the game. Tall buildings, rustic wood, stinky places.
'... This is no longer the game, man. This is a reality.'
(I know… but changing too much future may change the fates of many things.)
'I have already changed many things. I am not afraid anyway.'
(... You are right. But keep in mind that some events will happen out of the scenarios you know of from now on.)
'Yeah… but at least things will get better for some people.'
(A piece of advice… you haven't matured yet as Jon. Don't try to put obstacles in your fate. You already pissed off a Daedric Prince.)
I see… he is right.
'Tell me, Shadow. What is fate?'
(I want to say that I can answer that but I am not a mortal. I can't put a right answer to it so I will say that Fate is the potential of Mortals.)
'Come on, you are a celestial being, there is more right? Can my fate affect those who are around me.'
(Yours surely can. But strong fates have a problem you see… it is hard to be free of them and they backfire like a bitch, especially for people who have prophecies like you.)
'What about weak fates?'
(They are… unfortunate in a way. But think of it like the beings that evolve. Strong beings have less evolution potential and harder conditions, weak beings have more potential and fluid conditions. Still, the weak beings face more risks. All that applies to fates.)
'Interesting subject! I have never studied things like fates before.'
(It is hard to do so even for immortals. We don't have fates, you see.)
'I know, I still never understood much about the higher realms at all.'
(One at a time, my mortal friend. One at a time… let's just move to the part where you kill the hag. You're keeping everyone on edge here.)
'Yeah, let's do it.'
***
The day following the Market Robbery was a day that the people of Riften expected and hoped to pass quietly… their wish came true for the day, but the night was the stage when Jon and his girlfriends started to act.
Jon was in a large cloak and walked towards Honorhall Orphanage. He was trying to avoid attention as he approached the door.
As he did so, he activated his spell [Third Eye: Eye of Magic], a unique spell only Jon have enough Magicka quality to use. It allowed him to see through Energy, Space, Objects but it was really a costly spell.
He checked the place until his eye landed on a room. There was a woman sleeping in a large room and seemed hateful in a glance.
Jon instantly teleported in the room quietly but the old hag woke up right away. She saw a large guy in her room and instantly jumped out of her bed with a dagger at hand.
"Who are you? Do you think you can get… oh!"
Jon removed his hood and the woman felt that his face was awfully familiar. Jon also looked at the familiar old woman whose face was as cruel as it used to be.
"Long time no see, Grelod."
Memories started to get back to her brain and her eyes widened.
"It… it is you, the witch's boy." She said.
"Hehehe! Yeah, it is me."
"Why are you here in my room? Do you think I won't call the guards for you?"
"Oh, this is just a dream… don't worry… I am not really here."
"A what… you are insane like that witch and look how she turned you into a freak…"
"No, I actually grew taller on my ow…"
"... Hehe, it is good you finally came. Lady Maven will be pleased that I finally have a clue on you…"
Grelod said something interesting.
"Oh, really? Keep going… what does Maven want with me?"
"Hehe, I don't care but you really messed with her at last, now she will get rid of you and that witch for good."
"... Maven will?"
"Yes, she is the strongest woman in Riften, she funds the orphanage now."
"Oh, I see… I see… now that Nurina left, you accepted funding from Maven and things are still this shitty. I knew nothing good would come from you. Anyway, I'll be leaving but before doing so…" Jon said and took out the Skull of Corruption.
"What… what evil sorcery is that?" Grelod jumped away from the evil appearance of the staff in Jon's hands.
"Nothing to concern yourself about." Jon cast the spell [Walking Nightmares] on Grelod.
"See you then." He then disappeared from the room.
"What… what did you do to me? Tsk! Dammit… I got to tell lady Maven."
Grelod was scared when Jon did something with magic to her then disappeared like that, she decided to run to Maven Black-Briar right away.
Two years ago, Maven came to see the orphanage and asked Grelod about Jon. She wanted to investigate the man she suspected to be her son's murderer but things didn't go well as Nurina and Jon didn't let anyone into their secrets. Still, Grelod promised Maven to interrogate the people in the Orphanage who were close to Jon and Nurina and not enough results came out. Still, Maven decided to fund the orphanage for whatever reason.
Grelod wanted to run to Maven right away to tell her about Jon being in Riften and so she did put on her cloak and ran outside the Orphanage towards the Black-Briar manor but she was stopped on the way… someone very familiar stopped her… too familiar for her to not recognize. It was her. She herself was standing in front of her own self.
She didn't understand. She didn't know how can there be two of her.
She felt that her guts were on fire from the shock… the resemblance was flawless.
She then remembered.
'The witch's boy. It got to be him!… what is he planning?'
Grelod tried to put her thoughts together but she didn't have the chance as a third Grelod appeared.
"Wha…"
A fourth!
A fifth!
A sixth!
A seventh!
A whole bunch!
A hundred or more!
There were just too many Grelods surrounding her in the middle of the road.
Onlookers noticed… people freaked out…
Grelod may be too idiot to understand Magic but she felt the crisis approaching… something very big was being brewed for her.
"""""""""AAAAAAAHHH!""""""""""
Hundreds of Grelod started screaming and shouting like savages… a thousand Feral Grelods broke-out in Riften.
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