Behind Enemy Lines

I will never know why spies want to get into all that trouble sneaking around and stealing things from the unaware. Succeeding in their line of work requires a lot of patience and light feet--I have neither, which is why I was surprised when Delphine sent me to gather Thalmor intelligence. Well, not really, as Kiya's face is all over Skyrim right now, and the mere glance of her war paint will cause guards to alert the whole town. I, on the other hand, am virtually unknown to the Thalmor. They were not present when the Civil war ended, a testament to their scum. I'd rather behead those filthy long-eared arseholes than sneak up from behind them and steal their things. 

Of course, Delphine told me it is of the utmost importance that I not be caught. Hence, I have to forgo my weapons and armor for some robes and other fancy garb. I was to attend a party for the... privileged, I should say. The people who make life a living hell for the poor. I had to control my temper, lest I be caught. In my mind, though, I know I can take them all down, the rich and the Thalmor. 

I left Kiya with Delphine at Riverwood while I went to Solitude to meet with this Malborn, the one who's going to smuggle me into the party. My gear, at least. I had an invitation prepared, and I was to get inside, not get caught, sneak out while everyone's busy, and rummage through Thalmor documents in order to find out their involvement with Alduin and the dragon problem. Sounds simple enough. 

YOU don't look like much. Jerk.

I reached Solitude a full week later. Malborn looked like he knows what needs to be done, although he doesn't think I'm the right man for the job. He's right--I am bulky, and maybe a few people would recognize me. I only hope that the people there did not care much for the war that I might be nobody to them. Malborn took this illumination of me after I've surrendered my gear to him and changed into everyday rich clothes:

Ah, that subtitle.

I felt a deja vu as I entered the Thalmor Embassy. It was not in good terms when I left this... prison. I left no one alive then, and it seems as though the High Elves do not remember who I am. That is good. Elenwen, the Thalmor Ambassador to Skyrim, approached me and welcomed me to the party. She doesn't believe she had seen me before during this annual party, but she is nonetheless sure that I am of importance. I am, indeed, but not one on your side. I kept my rage in check, as I smiled at people who passed me by. 

I'm sure you'll welcome those whose names are on your list, even ones you don't know personally.

Malborn was manning the wine. He told me to create a distraction so I can get away from the party unseen. I nodded, and proceeded to find a way. I started talking to the guests. The first guest I talked to was Erikur. I believe I have heard his name before, but I was unsure. His face is familiar too. As he opened his mouth, I realized he was the obnoxious Thane to Elisif of Solitude. If this bumbling fool is here, she must also be. I must talk to her. 

As do I.

Maven Black-Briar was here, too. I should have known. I talked to her, hoping she wouldn't recognize me. She believes the Thalmor are powerful, and so she attaches herself to them. She also believes I was not there to mingle with the most powerful men and women of Skyrim--I had to stop talking to her and get out of her way if I was to continue with my mission. Tss. Thieves.

Not that kind of relationship.

Elisif found me amongst the crowd. She approached me as I extracted myself from the presence of the biggest thief in Skyrim. She told me she was grateful that we had spared her life, and that she knows of my... involvement with her friend, Kiya. She had heard that a manhunt on Kiya was ongoing, and remarked, "Isn't it difficult when the one you love is on the other side?" I knew she meant that another way, but I obliged with a nod. I kept her talking to me. I knew I could talk her into creating my distraction--she was the least distrusting of all the patrons in this gathering, and I know of her weakness for scenes and plays.

I wonder why anyone in the party would want to start a childish prank.

As she shouted at one of the guests for apparently "not knowing her name", I backed into the shadows. It felt different to move around without making a sound and with nobody looking at me suspiciously. I managed to get to the kitchen door, and Malborn led me inside to retrieve my gear. 

I only had a few minutes before they came looking for the bartender, so I had to find the documents in a hurry. Unfortunately for the Thalmor guards, they heard the loud thuds my footsteps created, and showed up one by one. I had to take them out. Beheading your enemies won't let them utter a word, let alone a scream:

Once you pop...

It was easy to dispatch of the guards. The harder part was to find the documents. Delphine and Malborn certainly did not know their whereabouts. Luckily, I found this prisoner named Etienne who seemed to know where they are. A pretty observant Nord, given that he was being flogged day by day for Talos-knows-what reasons. I told him I will release him if he told me where the documents are found. He agreed somewhat halfheartedly, as if the mess he's in is worse than the fate he'll suffer if I was not to spare him.

...you can't stop.

Etienne seemed to know a lot of the ins and outs of the Thalmor Embassy, even though he looked as thought he had been tied up there for almost a week now. He knew of a passage underground, and told me to follow him out. The light of the outside as I exited the chasm blinded me for a short while; I opened my eyes to find Etienne gone. I wondered who he was, and how he was going to survive the harsh cold. I realized I had to find my way to Riverwood at once, having gathered important information from the Thalmor Embassy itself. 

I arrived at Riverwood a week later. Along the way, I had read the documents I stole, and reported them to Kiya and Delphine. It seems the Thalmor were looking for one other Blades member named Esbern, to which Delphine responded with surprise that he was still alive. He was said to be holed up in the Ratway, Kiya's domain. We have to get there, and fast. Kiya knows the way. I missed her badly during the two weeks I was away, but Esbern's life was more important. We will have our time together, once we have saved all of Skyrim.

So you'll send us looking for him, eh?