Not as much action this time around, but as will soon be revealed, that is soon to change.
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I leave Vivec a bit disappointed with myself. I failed to make it into the Morag Tong headquarters, (assuming that trap door even LEADS to it,) due to my inexperience with the lockpick. Perhaps I had been a bit arrogant in my assumption that I was worthy. As I leave, I take some time to take note of the surrounding area.
There are quite a few Netch floating around, and over a hill, I find what seems to be a small village. Further investigation reveals it to be the Dren Plantation.
There are many Khajiit and Argonian slaves working the fields and tending the Netch. One quietly suggests that I may free them. A rather dangerous looking Dunmer who kind of looks like a sad mime quickly dispels this idea.
Deciding to make the trek back to Balmora on foot, despite some unfamiliar terrain, I stumble upon some things I hadn't noticed, or didn't have an opportunity to notice before. A small shrine to Vivec... This Vivec person is starting to increasingly seem like a real prick. I mean, shrines dedicated to his name, temples to his glorification, and a massive sprawling city named after him. What's the big deal about him, anyway?
Anyway, I manage to make it back to Balmora without incident. It doesn't take me long to decide what I have to do; I need lockpicks, and practice using them, cheap training too. Also, a way to lock things after unlocking them. Footnote here; I make a quick run between the Mages Guilds in Balmora and Caldera, and find an appropriate spell. It locks doors. Simple enough.
Caius told me about the Thieves Guild. I seek their local representative, and politely inquire as to joining.
She signs me up, and I speak to another member downstairs, to acquire a few lockpicks.
With that done, I return to Caius' house, but not to talk to him. I use the spell I acquired on his door, and go about unlocking it. I repeat this process far longer than I care to think about, but the experience was fruitful. In this time, I gain a great deal of knowledge about the art, but not enough.
It's been a long time since I slept; I had been running between Vivec and Balmora a lot, fighting a view minor beasts in between. I checked into the Corner Club again, and tried to sleep through the night... I couldn't. I woke up around midnight, holding my head. Then it hit me; and it seemed obvious, this whole time I had been acting with my head in the clouds far too often. I just need to settle down and focus, set my mind on figuring out this lockpicking thing, and soon I will be the Master of Unlocking.
I needed the Thieves to trust me more, as I was merely a Toad to them. I ask for a task from Sugar-Lips, and she instructs me to fetch a few diamonds from the Alchemist on the North side of the river.
I'm not proud of it, but I do.
I will say that in this period, I arrogantly returned to Vivec to try my hand at the trap door again, only to find I still hadn't a firm enough understanding for this more complex lock type. I beat myself up about it for a while, and went up to the top of the Foreign Quarter for a breath of fresh air.
It was a bit disappointing, all that practice and the trip over here to find that I hadn't progressed nearly as much as I thought I had.
Deflated a little, I took the Silt Strider back to Balmora, scrounged together every Drake I could earn, and paid the Thieves Guild trainer to teach me. She seemed impressed however... In fact, people were commenting on it lately, as if my progress and understanding was far more rapid than expected.
I reflect on this... Did the Emperor know that my progress would be rapid, that I was capable of more than I ever imagined? Is that why I was released and given to the Blades? Am I needed in Morrowind specifically because I am capable of progressing so quickly? I'd rather not think about it too much.
I make a lot of headway with the trainer, but it costs me just over two thousand drakes to get to the point where I felt I could do what was necessary. With only a hundred or so drakes in my pockets, I rented one more night in Balmora, before I would return to the Arena in Vivec to try one last time.
The next morning, I feel amazing. I feel like my feet could carry me faster and my heart beat easier. I could run and jump over my obstacles without thinking, I could pick a lock or parry a sword on instinct. I'm ready.
I don't remember much of my trip back to the Arena, until I make it to the locked trap door. I crouch over it. It only takes me one attempt to get it right.
I climb down with my heart racing... This must be the place; people are down here, quietly directing me through the hallways until I find their Grandmaster.
He tells me they've been watching me for a long time, which is somewhat unsettling, but grants me an opportunity to join their honorable ranks; he hands me a Writ of Honorable Execution for a local man in the Hlaalu canton, tells me he hangs out at The Elven Nations corner club there.
I can't wait to meet him.
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Topic: The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind Redux suggestions. (Read 51542 times)