Crafty Lerisa

"What brings you to this trashpit?"

How did you do that? "Sneak up on you? It's what I do. Now, answer my question. What are you doing here?"

I'm here to rescue Crafty Lerissa, captain of the Maiden's Breath. "How charming. The Maiden's wrecked on the sandy shore. As for Crafty Lerisa, you've found her. Just in time, too. Captain Helane's Sea Drakes have my crew. I won't leave without them. Help me rescue them, and I'll owe you a favor."

All right. What's the plan? "We're going to disguise my crew as Sea Drakes. Take these clothes. Look for a portly Breton, a sour Redguard, and a big Orc. The Drakes are keeping them in the large buildings. Once they're out, meet me by Helane's ship."

What if I need a disguise? "Look for hampers with clothes, or kill a Sea Drake and take theirs. Put on their clothes and you'll look just lovely. Oh, do watch out for the Sea Drakes with torches. They're not drunk. If you get too close, they'll spot you and alert the others."

I understand. Let's get started.

"You're a welcome sight. I've rescued everyone but Crenard, Haerdon, and Mekag. Any luck?"

Found all three. They're safely away. "Almost done then. Everyone's out except my first mate, Deregor. They've got him in the belly of Helane's ship. You'll find the keys below deck. Look for Deregor down in back."

How did you make yourself look like a fern? "Good trick that. Did I really disguise myself as a fern? Or did you see a fern because you weren't looking close enough?"

What are you going to do while I rescue Deregor? "I'll be visiting Helane in her cabin, to thank her for the hospitality she's extended my crew. Come on up after you release Deregor. You should really say hello."

How did you get the key to Helane's quarters? "Her cabin girl had a key. Poor little Bosmer lass, barely any meat on her bones. I think Helane was starving her. She's on her way to Port Hunding now and I'm one key richer."

"My, that felt good."

What did you do to her? "Me? Did I do that? Her starving little cabin girl may have poisoned her drink. Who can say? Did Deregor get out?"

Yes, he's free. "I'll just be going then. I told my crew to gather on the beach. I'm going to make sure they all made it out. Meet me there and we'll square up."

What kind of poison did you use on Helane? "Oh, it's jarrin root. A very nasty local poison. It won't kill her, not right away. It starts by dissolving the stomach lining, then goes from there.

You're just going to leave Helane to die? "I'd love to stay and watch, but no time. You can stay if you like. It's actually her poison. Kept for slaves who disobey. There's an antidote on the dresser, if your heart bleeds enough."

What would you do if I gave Helane the antidote? "I'd feel mildly disappointed, but I leave it up to you. Meet me on the beach once you're done here and we'll settle up. Just watch your boots. She'll start vomiting soon."

"My crew's safe and only a little bit tortured. I call that a win!"

Captain Helane is dead. "Many a captain who sails these waters will be glad of that news! Now, let's talk favors. I owe you a big one."

Help Captain Kaleen and I pull off her heist. "She's a bit too obsessed with old Fahara'jad for me, but I like her style. Seeing as I need a new ship, gold will come in handy. I'm in. Can't let what you did for us go unrewarded. See you back in town."

"Quite the motley crew, aren't we?"

What do you think of Captain Kaleen's plan? "She's right. You need a disguise to get anywhere near Bhosek. Fortunately, you have me. Just say the word and I can have servant clothes waiting for you at the palace."

Thanks, Lerisa. I'd love your help. "My pleasure. Meet me outside the palace. I'll pick out something special for you."

I can handle that on my own. [?]

"Well, look who's come to pay a visit."

Did you find a disguise for me? "Oh yes. Try these on. I'm sure they'll fit you just right. In the meantime, I'll just continue my sweep of the palace."

"Out for a stroll, enjoying the scenery?"

Lerisa! What are you doing here? "Just exploring the island. I came across these fine fellows disturbing the graves and decided to kill a few. I've collected some robes in this bag. Take one if you want the zombies to leave you alone."

Thanks, Lerisa. "I'll be hunting cultists while you're playing with your staff. If I find any more robes, I'll leave them for you. These necromancers are disgusting, but they do dress well."

"Never been in ruins this old before. Bet there's some good stuff just lying around, free for the taking."

What have you found out? "I overheard cultists talking about a portal. The relic that's causing all the trouble is in there. I lifted a uniform off a cultist who no longer needed it; it's waiting in the bag. Might help you get past some of the ones I left alive."

Thanks!

"What a pleasant surprise."

Lerisa! You're Sigil? "Don't blame me, my dear. I don't pick the fake names. If I'm Sigil, that makes you Arrowhead. It also makes you very late."

I'm not Arrowhead. Could that be a name for Captain Kaleen? "Kaleen's here? Well, that makes sense. When one of your spies turns on you, it's best not to spread it around town. King Fahara'jad would want someone he trusts. Seeing as you're here and she's not, I take it Kaleen's gone missing?"

Yes. Any idea how to find her? "None save the old fashioned kind. We'll talk to the city guards. If Kaleen left Shornhelm, someone was bound to see her. You don't strut like her and not attract attention. If Naruk nicked her, we're in trouble. He's not a nice man."

How have you been, Lerisa? "There's still a market for sensitive goods, and I'm doing well enough. Might even have enough for another ship soon, if Telonil keeps working his magic. This job was supposed to put me over the top. Guess that'll have to wait."

How's your crew doing? "Mekag's off with Lambur. The whole relic fuss never sat right with him. Haerdun and Deregor are still with me, along with Telonil. We left Kaleen's crew shortly after the Dominion hit Daggerfall. I like my sailing without giant fireballs."

How is Jakarn doing? "Funny story. Irien sends me letters. She says Jakarn's taken a fancy to me. She says he even wrote me a poem. I told him flat out I wasn't interested, but that seemed to have the opposite effect. He's turned into a lovelorn fool, Irien says."

Does he have a chance? "The man is easy enough on the eyes, but I'm not looking for a fling right now. Jakarn may think he's in love, but I know his kind too well. We'll see if he's still interested when I have my own ship."

Have you heard anything from Neramo? "Oh, yes. Vimy sends letters. She's quite the gossip. Neramo's dig off Stonefalls dried up, but he found mention of ruins in the Alik'r desert, so he's headed there next. I've never understood what's so interesting about a bunch of missing dwarves."

What do you know about Naruk? "He's got a mess of sworn swords camped in the sewer beneath Shornhelm. Children of Yokuda. They're planning something nasty. I was going to sell my info to Arrowhead, but now that you're here, I seem to be working for free. Shame, really."

"Isn't that funny. I was just thinking about you! What brings you to this pious city? No, wait, don't answer that. I don't think I want to know. On the other hand, if you're interested in a little mischief, I could really use your help."

What do you have in mind? "Oh, just discrediting Grand Chanter Surus and his Society of the Dragon. They claim to be a religious order, but they're nothing more than a cult that loves Akatosh a bit too much. And anyone who questions their faith tends to disappear."

Why do you care about a cult? "I didn't until my sister Josseline joined them. She has no idea what Surus does to people. Take these notes and preach the word of Boethiah around town. After the Grand Chanter arrests you for heresy, my sister will see how he treats you and leave."

If you think that will help, I'll go spread a litte heresy around town. "Just like old times! After this, first drink's on me! Now go and spread Boethiah's word to the cult's initiates. Once they detain you, we'll show my sister exactly how Surus treats those who disagree with him. Just don't disappear along the way."

How will me getting detained convince your sister to leave the society of the Dragon? "Grand Chanter Surus isn't your typical priest. He enjoys filling impressionable heads with religious nonsense, and he has a violent streak as long as Varen's Wall. Rumor say that if he can't fill your head, he'll remove it - literally."

Do you have a plan for how I escape after getting detained? "A plan? Yes, I have a plan. But let's not spoil the surprise. Just be ready for my signal and follow my lead. Now get out there and spread some heresy. I can't wait to see how the society initiates squirm."

How did your sister come to join an Akatosh cult? "Who knows why a young woman in the prime of her life would throw away everything to take up with a bunch of religious fanatics? I suppose it had something to do with that job that went sideways when I had to kill Josseline's best friend …."

You killed your sister's best friend? "I'm afraid I had no choice. A rival of mine hired him to kill us when we attended a meeting. I learned his true intentions too late to decline the invitation. I never let my enemies make the first move. So I ended him before he could end us."

So she left you and joined the cult? "Josseline was mad at me, mad at him, mad at life in general. She decided that piracy wasn't for her. She wanted to serve a higher purpose. Unfortunately, this particular higher purpose is worse than piracy. It hides its killing behind religion."

Tell me more about Grand Chanter Surus and the Society of the Dragon. "Grand Chanter Surus is a high-ranking priest in the Cathedral, second only to Primate Artorius himself. He started the society for religious types who aren't ready to join the priesthood. They claim to be devoted to Akatosh and his teachings."

And this is a bad thing? "Only if you believe Akatosh requires the beheading of people the Grand Chanter doesn't like. When my sister refuses an order, I'd rather not have her head on the chopping block. Nothing against religion, but this cult isn't right for my sister."

And this is a bad thing? "Well, members that join the society are cut off from their friends and family. And anyone tries to quit disappears. No one knows what happens to them, by the way. Oh, and I did mention the secret beheadings, didn't I?"

"I appreciate you not slaughtering everyone in there. A holy bloodbath wouldn't have served us any better than you getting your head chopped off. Unfortunately, Josseline is as slippery as I am. She snuck away before we had a chance to talk."

So all that was for nothing? "Quite the opposite. Josseline fled with us, which means we gave her plenty to think about. I'd guess she's gone to one of the old Akatosh shrines along Varen's Wall. Let's split up. If you find her first, politely ask her to wait for me to arrive."

I'll look for your sister at the old Akatosh shrines.

"My sister appears to be safe and sound. She's surprisingly calm, even if she's still mad about what I did to her friend. That's better than I expected. Thank you for your help. I couldn't have exposed Grand Chanter Surus's corruption without you."

Is there anything else I can do to help? "That's sweet, but you've already done more than enough. You helped me show my sister the truth about the Society of the Dragon. She's safe now and our plan worked exactly as I'd hoped. I couldn't have saved Josseline without your help. Thank you."

"There goes Josseline, off to who knows what until I have to go and pull her hair out of the fire again. I could use a drink. A strong drink. Why don't you meet me in Anvil and we'll drink to our success."

So how things have been since you repaired the Maiden's Breath? "Wonderful. Telonil's done a remarkable job in growing our fortune, Haerdon and Merkag are in fighting shape, and patrols have grown sparse since the war in Cyrodiil. I've got nothing against Captain Kaleen, mind you, but a woman needs her own ship."

Is Jakarn still pursuing you? "Not that I'd ever kiss and tell, my dear, but if nothing else, I remain amused by his advances. Do you know he memorized a book of Redguard poetry and quoted it at me? That was almost charming. And of course, there was the trained monkey."

Trained monkey? "It wore an adorable heart and clutched a wrapped gift. Perhaps Jakarn thought that since I enjoy Howler's company, the way to my heart was through a monkey. Howler chased the creature off, so I have no idea what was in the box."

You seem all right with your sister disappearing again. "It's what we do. She'll come back when she gets bored or needs something. She always does. Howler's a bit disappointed he didn't get more time with her, but he'll get over it. Nothing a few dozen mugs of ale won't cure."