A fully completed story that is the precursor to another fully completed story and then another that I'm working on right now. I'll post once every 1-3 nights. Enjoy. _______________ It's about the time I wake up to a big, green face scarred by a big, yellow grin that I think I need to stop drinking so much. Admittedly, this is a conclusion that I probably should have come to earlier. Probably after my first six nights in the stockades. Maybe after the first time I was checked into a clinic and offered a hefty sum to donate my body to science. Regardless, as my eyes shift from the manic goblin's face to the manic goblin's knives at her belt, I think it might be time to admit I have a problem. I don't move, though. That would hurt too much. Maybe this is all a blessing. Maybe if I die right now, I can avoid the hangover. "Enekie is up! Rise and greet day!" Prier. Guess the gods don't love me as much as I had hoped. The goblin waits a little longer. I don't know how she got in without noticing the empty bottles lying around my bed, but she seems to get them now and doesn't seem to expect any reply forthcoming anytime soon. "Enekie...is up? Enekie should be up. Afternoon is here. Prier is here. Prier has problem." Prier is a member of the brutish alliance of undead, orcs, goblins, and the like, who has somehow snuck into Dawnguard during a period of high alert, where all the battlefield guilds are assembled. The two factions have been at war for a while. Prier has about as many problems as she has a poor grasp of proportion. "Prier is worried about Ephie." That catches my attention, as the mention of Ephie's name usually does. Dawnguard's own resident undead monstrosity and I have history. Not a lot, not much, but more than most people have with her. Mostly because I've lived to share it. I wave my hand, indicating that she should continue. A look of concern crosses the goblin's face. Not easy when you've got a permanent grin affixed to your face. "Enekie is...all right? Does Enekie need water?" "Just talk," I mutter. "Ephie is being framed! Many humans assembling! Say Ephie kill someone last night! Ephie not kill humans! Ephie love humans! Many humans say no, though. Want to hurt Ephie! Enekie needs to help!" If I had listened to my mother and been a priestess, I could be blessing rice cakes right now. "Help...how?" "Prier can't go through Dawnguard. Enekie needs to find Ephie and protect Ephie. Embassy needs chairman!" "Uh huh...who'd she kill?" "Prier not know. Prier hear that she started at Harbor and went on rampage! Ended at Cathedral! All guilds there right now! Hunting! Searching! Seeking Ephie! They will find her if Enekie doesn't first!" "Outstanding." I haul myself out of bed. I follow the trail of discarded clothes that lead from the door to my muggy mattress, grabbing up breeches, tunic, boots, gloves and, most importantly, mask. "Look, Prier, in exactly one hour, I'll be sober enough to realize how foolish I am to even be asking, but why'd you come to me?" "Prier knows Enekie is big supporter of Embassy! Supports peace, tranquility, good relations! Wants Enekie to contribute in exchange for Roguelaw." Prier's grasp of commonspeak isn't great, but she's not bad at the art of temptation. Goblin with an insane mission or not, Roguelaw isn't something you just dismiss out of hand. See, it's a small community, thugs like us. Small enough that we identify more with each other than our own factions. Roguelaw is our own currency, something we trade across cultural boundaries. It's the most valuable and dangerous thing a rogue could ever want: a favor. It's anything from a quick rescue to an act of treason. If you've ever seen a rogue dead in Morgelar's Hold with an envenomed dagger with Hellglaive's name on it and wondered how he got that far, chances are good another rogue let him in. We're a small community. A tight community. And one in dire need of favors. "Fine. Get lost and I'll contact you tomorrow." "That fine. Prier be here. Will clean up house." "I wish you wouldn't." "Prier wishes Enekie would stop drinking." Looks like no one's going to be happy today.