EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Colors shrugged. "It could be dangerous, yes, but it is worth pointing out that they probably wouldn't attack us in the city. Far less dangerous to get us out of the city and ambush us along the road. Could make it easier to turn the ambush around on them." He commented. Though, when asked about the possibility of spying, Colors scratched his head as he thought on what options came to mind.

"Um, well...I honestly don't know. Like I said, I don't actually know these people. They won't trust us, or have any real reason to work with us unless we pay them. If they know about Viper at all. Might be able to try one of his rivals, but with these people, that could be more of a risk than just doing an ambush. It's really honestly hard to say. A lot of unknowns." Colors answered.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Colors nodded to Fendros. He kept his eyes on the crowds around them, making sure it was safe before he spoke. "Yes, a few. It's probably not going to do any good to interrogate this 'Viper' guy. If he's part of Vile's little cult, then he might be willing to die before saying anything. If he's just a contact they use, then he might not even know enough to make it worth it. Doubt the enemy tells criminal contacts where they're hiding. But, we do know that this guy probably turns over Talos worshipers to Vile's people, right? Why don't we just trick him into turning us over? We can act like Talos worshipers, then turn their inevitable ambush against them. All your call though, of course." He suggested.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Time for me to head to bed, goodnight.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The Breton waited until all three of them had left his bedroom before he even started to follow them back down to the main shop area. He put on a pleasant face for the rest of his customers, but a quick look that he gave Sabine showed that he wanted them out of his shop sooner rather than later. Fortunately, there was nothing stopping the trio from complying right away.

Heading outside, Colors started to look around to spot Fendros. There were not many Dunmer in Evermore, so he would not be hard to spot. "About as good as we could have hoped, I think. We didn't make any friends, but we have an alias and a location. Already have some ideas in mind of how to use that information, but I guess we'll need to talk to Fendros for our plan. You have any thoughts?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

While he had been cautiously willing to share information about this "Viper," the man quite firmly shook his head once Sabine became more bold with her questions. "No, I'll not say a single word more about him. Do whatever you want to Viper, but if there is even a small possibility of Hjorvand, or any of the others still being alive, then I'm not going to risk them. If you want to know any more about Viper, then you'll just have to find him yourself. Not much more of worth I could say anyway."

Colors looked at Sabine and shrugged. "It's something to go on, at least."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The Breton crossed his arms, still eyeing Sabine suspiciously. "He's not from here. He's a foreigner, an Imperial. I think Colovian. Never saw him myself, thank Talos, but there shouldn't be many people like that around. I don't know his name. He apparently liked to call himself 'Viper'. An appropriate moniker, I'd say. The people who told those faithful souls said he was just a businessman, and he'd honor his agreement if he was paid, but he's certainly a snake."

The pace of Sabine's questioning had caused the Breton to tense up further, but he had not yet decided to give up answering. "There's probably some way to arrange a meeting with him, but I don't know it. I think Hjorvand just waited around in the brothel for him to show up. Took him three days to actually contact him. The owners of that pit don't appreciate people loitering around their business without buying their skooma or hiring their women. He was a righteous enough man not to give into that filth, so he had to keep leaving. If you are honest about wanting to kill this man, do this whole city a favor and burn that place to the ground while you're at it."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I will not tell you anything about those good people, but..." The man began, his voice trailing off as he continued to stare down Sabine. He was obviously conflicted, and very much on guard for anything that his unwelcome guests might try. "What you say makes no sense. Why would some group, who are not those vile Elves from the Dominion, suddenly want to hunt those faithful to Talos? You are lying to me, hiding something."

Briefly, the man turned his gaze to Sabine's Argonian companions, allowing it to rest on Kaleeth for a time. "But...if it will convince you to leave me alone, I suppose there is not harm in telling you about my enemies. If you are trying to trick me, then you likely already know this anyways. Those people, four of them at least, took information from the same man. Supposedly proven not to have associations with the Thalmor, but a snake regardless. He was to help them flee from trouble, but they never made it to...the person they were supposed to meet. I warned them to be cautious with him. He is...how to even describe him? He is like a prince of thieves. He does not do the smuggling and the stealing himself, but he commands others. He is apparently very well connected in the city, which is why he claimed to be able to help these people. He conducts business out of a brothel and skooma den on the south side of the city. A sinful place for corrupt people; no one should ever have trusted him."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

There was hardly even a pause after Sabine stopped speaking before Colors picked up immediately afterwards. He had already had his hand on a parchment in his pouch, which he pulled out and began to read from quickly. "Guillome Danenne, Gaspard Monterick, Nalenne Frey, Hjorvand Ice-Eyes, and Ahran at-Faran. Four taken in the same group, one nabbed separately."

As much as he tried to hide it, the man recognized at least some of the names. Regardless, he was still being stubborn at any chance he could take. It was clear they would have to argue with him at every step. "What-, what reason do I have to trust you? You spy on my home, you come threaten me with information that could kill my entire family. Am I expected to believe that you just happen to be enemies with those that hunt us? You say you do not worship the mighty Talos yourself, so for what supposedly noble purpose do you supposedly seek to help us? I think you lie, like so many others. Take me, kill me, do what you will with me. It is clear I cannot stop you, but I will not betray anyone else to you."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The shopkeeper was at least willing to accept that Sabine did not intend to rob him, as her response would have been quite strange against a man who had already surrendered. But, that did not cause him to calm down. It took only a few moments of thinking on what Sabine was saying for him to start shaking his head. "What I bought? No...no I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about. I didn't buy anything yesterday, not anything worth talking about. I'm sure you have the wrong man. I shall help if I can, but you are in the wrong place."

Colors leaned forward onto the table, looking the man in the eyes. "The strongbox, in your room upstairs, built into the wall, hidden next to the bed. We know what we're talking about, and we've made no mistake. I implore you listen to this fair lady."

The man stared in silence for a good five seconds before letting out a sigh. "I can talk to you, but not here. Follow me upstairs."

Stepping out from behind the counter, the man addressed his other customers loudly. "I am dreadfully sorry, but I have something very pressing to tend to. But do not worry, I shall not be long." He said before hastily making his way up the stairs, motioning for the others to follow. Although, once they were in his room, he was petrified to speak.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

At first, the Breton shopkeeper was confused at Sabine's awkwardness, but not immediately alarmed. His first thoughts about the "private thing" she mentioned was that she perhaps needed her undergarments adjusted, given her anxiety, but that thought vanished when she mentioned his strongbox. It was a few seconds before he was able to take in what she was asking and come to a conclusion.

"My...strongbox? Is this...are you robbing me?" He questioned. He looked as if he was about to shout out for a moment, but as soon as he cast his gaze onto Kaleeth's sword, fear set into his expression and he raised up his hands slightly. His voice lowered to the point that Sabine would have had a hard time hearing him were it not for her enhanced senses. "I-I promise I won't give you any trouble madam, just please don't hurt me."

The shopkeeper was possibly trying to deny his identity as a Talos worshiper, though it was also perfectly reasonable that he would keep his coin in the same strongbox.