(Playing with post order a bit to make more sense)
Aulus Marcius grins as he spies a good-looking sign in the distance. All too easy to picture his own name on it. He turns to the others, clapping his hands together.
"Why, I do believe I spy the center of the local nightlife over yonder," he says and squints to make out the words. "Arrille's Tradehouse, is it? What say you ladies and gents that we walk on over to take a look? I may have a business proposition for you all!"
Read the missive I was given as I sashay over to the fourth-largest building in town, wonderful and homely Arrille's Tradehouse to make my arrival known and take in the local color. Introduce myself cordially to everyone within as Caius Polonius. Acquire rumors and information about the local area!
Actually, before I do that, do make sure to buy a decent set of clothes and some sensible traveling boots. Oh, and a nice long sword that I could adequately threaten and possibly even stab people with. Engage maximum haggling.
Bobs-In-Well nodded to himself. Yes, Balmora. What was a Balmora?
Follow the nice charlatan to Arrille's tradehouse.
Eetz shrugged at the elf. It didn't seem like an interesting problem to work on. At all. Besides, he had a plate! Eetz loved plates, they were flat and often bore many good things, and they came in such variety... Gold plates heaping with jewels, tin plates heaping with juicy bugs, wooden plates heaping with gruel...
Eetz' eyes momentarily unfocused as he though about plates. When he came back to reality he was still standing awkwardly in front of the bosmer. "Oh. Ring. Yes, Ring! I hear of ring. Little stories. Small words. Guard with running horses on his armor, I think he has ring. I think he has special woman. He wants to put the woman's finger through the ring, so he can put his thing through the woman's ring. This is how humans are, no?" Eetz smiled, baring his teeth extra far in order to be friendly. "You'll find another ring. Or I suppose you can chop of the woman's finger while she sleeeps. Either. I must leave now. Goodbye elf!"
Eetz checked to see if he had any other money on him, and, if he did, he'd set that aside to buy a sabre at Arrille's trade house.
Eetz did take a moment to eye the friendly imperial. "Hello human Polonius! I am Fondles-Doorknobs, a tradeship from the desert of Elsweyr, and I know much about the region. I'll tell you anything you want, for a price!""
One of your erstwhile shipmates, a Dunmer named Jiub, acquiesces. "Sounds like as good a start as any." The two Argonians also follow you.
Aulus Marcius,
You have been given these directions and a package of documents. Do not show them to anyone. Do not attempt to read the documents in the package. The package has been sealed, and your tampering will be discovered and punished.
Follow these directions.
Proceed to the town of Balmora in Vvardenfell District. Report to a man named Caius Cosades. He will be your superior and patron; you will follow his orders. His residence is not known, but ask at the cornerclub called "South Wall". People there will know where to find Caius Cosades. When you report to Caius Cosades, deliver the package of documents to him, and wait for further orders.
Remember. You owe your life and freedom to the Emperor. Serve him well, and you will be rewarded. Betray him, and you will suffer the fate of all traitors.
I have the Honor to prepare this at the direction of his Most Sovereign Majesty the Emperor Uriel Septim,
Glabrio Bellienus
Personal Secretary to the Emperor
The eponymous Arrille of the tradehouse seems to be a suave Altmer, who seems used to serving both small-town patrons and enterprising travelers in the area.
[3] Unfortunately, Arrille has no boots at the moment aside from rather uncomfortable looking armor. Some of it's rather strange, like it's made of pallid crabshells. He informs you that it's a Dunmeri thing, making armor and weapons from the carapaces of giant insects that live on this island territory. His weapons are all cheap iron, but that's within your current budget at least. And he does have one set of nicer clothes for you.
[3] It seems like this is a podunk little stopover-port, and there likely won't be much talk until later hours when some fishermen or sailors perhaps take a visit (and most of the regulars are at work at this hour in the morning), but you do hear a few things. Seems there's someone by the name of Hrisskar looking for help with "winning a wager." The offices you just left sometimes have odd jobs that need doing, too.
[4] Oh hey, an extra 15 gils! Eetz figures those guards at the imperial prison must have forgotten to check behind his ears, which is understandable, seeing as he doesn't have any. This brings his total to
95, easily enough for an iron saber.
Taahni, having overheard the Bosmer talking, walks over and begins conversation of her own.
"Perhaps Taahni has seen your ring. Could you describe it?"
Converse.
-Assuming description matches-
"Taahni did find your ring. You may have it."
Return the Breton's Bosmer's ring
The wood-elf's face lights up. "You found it! Amazing! Thank you, thank you! You are now among my favorite friends. I'll be sure to tell the others, especially my friend Arrille who runs the tradehouse here. Go see him, I'll put in a good word for you right now!"
"This was your chance for more money!" The voices said.
"You could've been caught! How could you!" Her voices said.
"Glad he's not forgetful." She thought to herself.
All before noticing that she might've done something more aligned to why she was convicted. Despite being fully innocent- but this was all musing. Tyri listened and merely replied a tactful "I'm new here, it's nice to meet you!" as she pondered how badly her action could imply malice, before listening more to the other Bosmer.
Sense around for certain words to help out. Coax info out on why there's this issue. Like this ring issue! [speechcraft test?]
Was it possible to get some of his coins--at least half of what I sensed out retroactively? Inquire what he owes!
Tyri then felt a certain paper to her package that she never noticed before.
Read the paper!
Also Hugo Luman I edited my sheet (Shifted out Restoration, replaced in Illusion; added Armorer to the duplicate 'Athletics', and moved hand to hand into the last major slot)
(I'll get it, don't worry)
You take a look at the letter while the others converse with the elf man.
Tyrian Estel,
You have been given these directions and a package of documents. Do not show them to anyone. Do not attempt to read the documents in the package. The package has been sealed, and your tampering will be discovered and punished.
Follow these directions.
Proceed to the town of Balmora in Vvardenfell District. Report to a man named Caius Cosades. He will be your superior and patron; you will follow his orders. His residence is not known, but ask at the cornerclub called "South Wall". People there will know where to find Caius Cosades. When you report to Caius Cosades, deliver the package of documents to him, and wait for further orders.
Remember. You owe your life and freedom to the Emperor. Serve him well, and you will be rewarded. Betray him, and you will suffer the fate of all traitors.
I have the Honor to prepare this at the direction of his Most Sovereign Majesty the Emperor Uriel Septim,
Glabrio Bellienus
Personal Secretary to the Emperor
[6] He scratches his neck, turning back to talk to you again. "So, hey, um... you want to come with? Me, to the tradehouse, that is? I could, um, buy you something... Since you're new in town and all, and us Bosmer gotta stick together, right? My name is Fargoth, by the way."
Well, that'd be one way to acquire his coin, so to speak.
Politely wait a moment for Taahni to finish speaking before I go in and look for the elf's ring.
If she happens to give it to him, thank Taahni and go to hear out Marcius's business proposal.
Well, it seems that everything worked out there. You reach the public house in time to overhear some of the talk about rumors. [5] Sounds like the best source of info at this time of day would be the people out about town, doing their daily business.