Check Arrille's prices on cheap iron armor, mortal and pestle, and soul gems.
[5] Arrille wants 300 drakes for a full set of iron armor, but you could fit the pauldrons and boots into your budget of 80 drakes. However, for the full 80 drakes you could also get a basic mortar and pestle. He says its full price is 100 but he's willing to mark down, given that alchemy as a basic source of income might make you a repeat customer. He's got a couple of petty soul gems that a traveler brought in the other day and would be willing to part with for 25 septims.
Purchase an iron sword and a set of nice clothes (expensive pants, expensive shirt, expensive shoes). The total ought to run me somewhere in the neighborhood of... well, let's say 45-50 septims at best (or so I would insist with my Mercantile and like 85 Personality).
Investigate this Hrisskar as well, see what kind of intriguing business he might have for me!
[6] The clothes you talk him down to 30 for the whole set, but the full price on the longsword is 60. However, you seem to hit it off rather well with Arrille, and manage to get your total down to 50. With a caveat. "I like your style, Polonius. You're a born salesman if I ever saw one. So, I wanna help you out, if you'll help me out. I know a boatload of new people just arrived. And there's always travelers and people making a living gathering out in the swamp. So, If you'll agree to send someone new my way, the sword is yours for 20 septims. Plus, next time you stop by, I'll have a little extra incentive for everyone you send my way." He gives you your clothes, and a minute to think about the sword deal.
[5] Upstairs, you find a nord hanging at the bar, a lowly Legionaire judging by his gear, and a definite Hrisskar if ever you saw one. He looks happy to meet you, says you look like someone looking to make some gold. When you tell him you hear he's looking for some help with business, he leans in close so no one overhears.
"That's right. See, I had a bad run of luck playing Nine-holes, and lost a bit of money. Normally, I'd be fine. We can usually keep some gold in our pockets just from the money the locals pay us for...protection. But I know some of them are holding out on me, especially that little fetcher Fargoth. He's come up light the past couple of weeks when I've shaken him down. I know he's stashing it somewhere. I'd like you to find Fargoth's hiding place. I know the little fetcher's got one somewhere in town. Just not sure where yet. I've already gone through his whole house, so I know he's not hiding it there. I'd like you find out where he's stashing his gold. If you can, I'll give you a share of the wealth. Are you up for it?"
((Yay, my initial plan of 'pickpocket some of his money, ask what he owes, and pay that alongside a bit of my own money' sounded a lot worse in contrast--NPC drinking buddy, go!
...They have non-alcoholic drinks right? I always play my characters similar to my experience: 0 experience with alcohol and most likely lightweight.
...Also I'm ok with traveling with anyone ._. I have no knowledge of Morrowind though--so I guess given the circumstances I'll be going alone!))
[Wow Draig. You got money just for! ]
Feeling quite happy at the surprise offer, and the kindness she hoped her intuition was right on, Tyri agreed wholeheartedly. She was happy with the honesty.
"Yeah! Nice to meet you Fargoth; I'm...it's been a long time since I've seen other Bosmer anyway, and I'm not that social in knowing who to stick with--I just serve and help whomever needs it. Worked as a hunter and healer all before this," she said, before giving her name in return. "How did you get to know this place?"
Walk with Fargoth! Get to know him! Ask about nearby paths or some passing caravans I could travel with after mentioning I'm headed somewhere.
[assuming I can check the tradehouse for goods--check for bow/arrows, light armor, and...err, accessories? Check the whole thing for everyone to see the general list of stuff anyway!]
"Oh, y'know. East Empire Company was paying people to move here back in the day. I've been here for about 13 years, since this island first got opened up. I haven't seen any other Bosmer in all that time. And recently the guards have been a real pain. But I make do." You reach the tradehouse, and upon opening the door you spy a well-dressed Altmer man behind a counter. "Hello, Arrille! These two are with me. The good Ms. Taahni found my ring for me! At last! And look at Tyrian here!" He winks at Arrille. "Can we get some drinks to celebrate the arrival of these fine people?"
"Sure thing. What would you like?"
Arrille has some pricey Imperial beverages, the ever-popular Cyrodillic Brandy and the whiskey known as Flin, though he's willing to open those up for the special occasion. There's also the cheaper Dunmeri beverages: Greef, a fairly potent distilled spirits; Mazte, a beerish drink brewed from the local staple-grain, saltrice; Shein, a wine made from the native comberry; and Sujamma, another hard liquour. "Of course, and forgive me if I'm being presumptuous," says Arrille, "but if you're of a traditional Bosmeri leaning, I have some scrib jelly."
Fargoth and Arrille tell you about shipping routes to the city of Ebonheart in the East, and to the coastal fishing villages curving around the island to the North, particularly Gnaar Mok and Hla Oad. There's also the inland Silt Strider routes, which from here usually carry goods to and from the cities of Balmora, Suran, and Vivec. There's also some smaller outfits that run pack-guar caravans over the roads, though in general Seyda Neen sees the most custom from the boats, particularly local fishermen. For more details you'd be best off asking at the docks or the strider port.
[3] Arrille has nearly an entire set of some strange Dunmeri armor (minus a helmet), which he tells you is made from the chitin of native wildlife. A lot of big arthropods live on Vvardenfell. For such a good friend of Fargoth's, he could sell you the whole thing for 80 septims, though if you swapped out the torso pieces for the cheaper leather or nordic fur armor, he could also sell you a chitin shortbow and a few arrows. Arrille doesn't seem to have much in the way of lightly armored headgear, but he does have some charming traveling hates made of woven reeds, for keeping off the sun and rain. He cautions you that chitin armor breaks down quickly, and so you may want to speak to a local hunter or scout about how to maintain it. If you buy it, that is.
((Ugh I keep getting Bosmer and Breton mixed up.))
"Taahni would be very grateful for a recommendation. Perhaps I could walk to the tradehouse with Fargoth and, Tyrian, was it not?"
Go to the tradehouse with Fargoth and Tyrian. Purchase a chitin short bow and a dozen arrows, look at the rest of the goods(i.e. what else is there that isn't on the list you gave us.) and walk over to the corner and read the letter.
"Sure thing, friend! In fact, I insist!" You walk over to the Tradehouse with them, where the Altmer proprietor offers you a drink on the house. Arrille happily lets go of the bow and a dozen arrows for 20 gils.
Looking at his other merchandise, he seems to have a lot of everyday things: cloth, needles (fishbone, chitin, and steel alike), thread, eating utensils, fishing supplies, traveler's rations (dried fish, meat, fruit, colovian flatbread), wet-weather gear ("You'll be glad for some of that in the swamp"), camping supplies. He also has some luxury items: all manner of smoking pipes (from one made of something called "corkbulb" to a clearly Nord-made silver one), various things to smoke in them (mostly dried plants and something you're given to understand is a beetle extract, which is quite pricey. "I'll have nothing to do with the skooma, though," he insists.) Some soda-bread (with currants) imported all the way from High Rock, cheese imported from Cyrodil. "I had some Elswyr sweetmeats a week ago, but those are long gone. If you want stuff like that, your best bet would be in Ebonheart."
After your business is concluded, you take your letter over into the corner to read it:
Taahni,
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 tradehouse door opens, and an Imperial man walks in, looking pensive. "Hello, Vodunius," says Arrille. Fargoth waves, too. "Here for lunch?"
"Nah, just for a drink," he replies, and heads upstairs.
Purchase a sword and shield from the tradehouse, and then read my letter.
You join the two Bosmer and the Khajiit heading towards the tradehouse, and while the Altmer publican deals with them, you read your letter:
Constantine Mentorus,
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] Arrille says you look like a real straightforward man, and offers you a sturdy iron longsword for 65 drakes. You also spy an Imperial Legion shield, which would probably be outside your price range, even as beat-up as it looks, but Arrille offers to throw it in for your remaining 15 gold. Apparently someone pulled it out of the swamp a few days ago and brought it here. Given all that, and some odd graffiti carved onto a wooden slats in the back, everyone Arrille's shown it to so far has thought it too creepy to buy.
Purchase the Sabre and the Imperial Chain armor, if there's money enough for that. Nordic Ringmail if there isn't. Inquire as to a price for the limeware platter.
[2] Arrille won't sell you the ringmail for under 90, or the Imperial hauberk for under 100. However you could get the coif and the saber for 60.
[2] "That's a handsome limeware platter there. No chips or scratches. I'd be willing to give you, say, 500 for a piece like that."